Join our next Editors’ Preview night for a behind-the-scenes look at this spectacular new South Yarra restaurant. Expect incredible contemporary Asian dishes by Omnia and Yugen Tea Bar’s current chef, including seven pieces of dramatically presented sashimi sourced from around Australia and Japan. Plus, a Q&A with the restaurant’s head chef and culinary director.

 

Yugen Tea Bar landed in South Yarra last year, with a tea sommelier; more than 40 varieties of tea leaves, in their purest form, from 10 countries; and tea-infused cocktails. Now, beneath the tea bar, the Yugen team is opening an intriguing contemporary Asian restaurant. Descend in a glass-walled elevator to find a trio of subterranean dining spaces, including an expansive concrete basement with six-metre-high ceilings, and a six-seat omakase experience on the mezzanine level. It’s headed up by executive chef Alex Yu, who has worked at top Sydney restaurant Sokyo, and is backed by a team that’s racked up experience at Kisume, Nobu and The Fat Duck.

 

You could be one of the first to try Yugen when it opens exclusively to Access members for an Editors’ Preview night on Friday September 30 – days ahead of its official opening. Tickets (valued at $350) are $125 per person.

 

The night begins with crispy lamb ribs with a sweet warishita glaze, and yellowfin tuna tartare on sesame and puffed rice crackers, served with either an ume (similar to Japanese plum) Negroni or a sudachi (Japanese citrus) Margarita. Then, taste seven premium pieces of fish over a sashimi course matched with chablis before a main course of “reimagined” prawn toast and a delicate barbeque-pork-neck steamed bun. And for dessert, a chocolate delice with roasted soy and yuzu caramel paired with a hojicha tea Ruby on the Rocks .

 

On the night, a Broadsheet editor will chat to head chef Alex Yu and LK Hospitality’s culinary director Stephen Nairn about the restaurant’s inspiration.

 

Tables are available for groups of two, four or six. There are limited spots, so be quick to reserve yours via the link below.

 

The Editors’ Preview night at Yugen takes place at 7pm on Friday September 30. Dietary requests can’t be accommodated.