Eat well, sing loud: this is a night at Yatai Yatoi

Time Out

3 days ago

Friday night — a day to eat well and catch up with friends. The plan? Check out the new Yatai Yatoi spot in Palermo and feel like we're on a little trip. And why not, dare to sing some great hits in the cozy karaoke room. Here's how it went.
Drinks at Yatai Yatoi: The Bar as a Starting Point
We met at 8 p.m. and settled at the bar, ordering some drinks to set the mood: the week's over, time to relax. We asked the bartender for recommendations and ended up with two off-menu cocktails. For me, a Penicillin — made with whiskey, ginger (caramelized live with a kitchen torch in a fiery, aromatic show), honey syrup, and lemon juice. For my friend Meli, a classic Negroni. And Cami, who was driving, ordered a mocktail that the three of us loved: the Better Tha Melona, with green tea syrup, melon juice, and activated chia. Here are more can't-miss mocktails in Buenos Aires.
Drink in hand, we took on the challenge: try to win a plush toy from the claw machine. We played twice but no luck. Heads up: at one point we almost grabbed a very cute pink bear, but it slipped out of the claws before reaching the prize chute. Luckily, our appetizers arrived at the table, so there was no time to get sad.
What's on the Yatai Yatoi Menu?
We settled into our table, which looked like a set from a Korean movie. The whole Yatai Yatoi décor is spectacular: very kitsch, very cool. Tables with iridescent pandas that reminded me of the changing-image erasers I used to have in my pencil case (panda, dolphin, panda, dolphin). Posters of Mao, fans, paper lamps — every corner a different world, every table a party.
We started with a complimentary otoshi: trout for Meli and me, and cucumber for Cami, who is vegan. For starters, we ordered just one tempting dish: veggie baos with classic bao buns, oyster mushrooms, aioli, sriracha (yes, it's for the brave), and cilantro. They come two per order.
For mains, we didn't hold back. We shared Yatai Yatoi's take on a 'panchito': the Pancho teri, with bao bun, teriyaki sauce, Viennese sausage, cucumber pickles, kimchi, and aioli, served with memorable smoked paprika fries.
We also ordered the Pad Thai with shrimp, squid, and veggies... A squeeze of lime and pure enjoyment. For Cami, they made a veggie version with oyster mushrooms, just as delicious as the original.
And if that wasn't enough, we also tried the Ramen — chicken broth, noodles, naruto (fish cake), nori seaweed, and shiitake mushrooms. Amazing.
And then came dessert. Because we know life calls for appreciating the sweet stuff, we ordered a Taiyaki, which is a fish-shaped waffle filled with banana ice cream (the gourmet version of what you'd get at any Chinatown stall), and a Kuro roll: dulce de leche mousse, a sushi-shaped delight.
In Britney Mode: This Is Yatai Yatoi's Karaoke
Here's a key fact: the food is delicious, the décor transports you through time and space, but honestly, the real highlight of Yatai Yatoi is the karaoke. After eating, or whenever you want, you go into a little Korean-style room and sing your heart out.
Singing lets it all go. It's therapy, it's an exorcism. It's pretending to be Britney Spears and doing the same choreographies you did at 16 in your living room.
You probably know how private karaoke rooms work because you've seen it in the movies. You order drinks (or you can even eat there!), get comfortable on the couches, and play concert with your friends. You sing solo or together, each with a mic, reading the lyrics on the screen.
So we left with full bellies, slightly hoarse throats — but happy — and joyful hearts. Would we go back? Absolutely. But next time, we're going to win that plush toy.
Feeling tempted? Yatai Yatoi is open every day from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. Book, eat well, and sing your heart out.