YATAI ramen + yakitori is one of our family’s favorite places to visit on the weekends. From the atmosphere to the drinks, YATAI offers a unique experience that you won’t find anywhere else in Savannah. Sure, you may be able to get ramen elsewhere in Savannah, but no other place hits like this. This visit we ordered tonkotsu (pork + chicken) ramen, spicy mala ramen, chicken yakitori and pork belly buns.
Food
As you can see in the pictures, the food looks great and the toppings are top-notch. Here at Yatai, they let you choose the broth, protein and toppings to ensure you get the perfect mix of texture and flavor. What really stood out to me was the marinated, soft-boiled eggs (Ajitsuke Tamago). This has always been my favorite topping on Ramen, but here in America, restaurants usually don’t give the eggs as much love as they should. Yatai doesn’t fail you here. I also added the Naruto fish cakes, bok choy, pork chasu and kimchi.
We also tried the spicy mala ramen. Overall, this dish is fulfilling and won’t leave you disappointed. If you’re a true fan of hot and spicy, you may find the ramen spicy mala broth is actually pretty mild. This time around, we paired the spicy mala broth with grilled marinated chicken, bean sprouts, shiitake mushrooms and a soft-boiled egg. The grilled marinated chicken was cooked perfectly tender and the extra toppings complimented the dish well. If you’re up for it, Yatai offers a spicy ramen challenge and a chance for your picture to be displayed in their hall of fame.
Moving over to the small plates, we chose to try the yakitori and pork belly buns. Both were nice additions to the ramen. The Yakitori was super tender and the pork belly buns were nice and rich.
Drinks
Sometimes we walk into Yatai exclusively for drinks to go. While they don’t have a giant beer and mixed drink selection, they have several drinks not commonly found around Savannah. While it sounds more pretentious than it actually is, the alcoholic kombucha is something we’ll usually buy. Another uncommon drink we’ve bought is the sake juice box. Why? More like why not?
Ambience
The inside of Yatai is one of a kind. Walking in, you’re immediately met by several beloved anime characters painted in murals all over the restaurant. Then, from the entrance to the register, you’ll catch several details like their neon sign and asian design elements that give the whole place a really nice atmosphere. Order some food, take some pictures, watch some anime and grab a drink on the way out.
Bottom Line
Yatai Savannah is without doubt, a Savannah Secret Society favorite. From ramen to pork buns, the menu at Yatai is great. Not only do they give you some great Japanese tastes, they also have all the flair. It’s a fun family experience to say the least.
Lastly, if you’re on the run. There’s still a good reason to stop by. Grab a Japanese beer or juice box sake and continue your trek through Savannah’s beautiful downtown.
