2 /5 Azuki: First time trying Yum Yum in Stoke Newington in May 2025. My friends often recommend it, so I was really looking forward to finally visiting. We came after an escape room on Saturday afternoon, and I was glad to see they open for lunch on weekends.
The restaurant itself is spacious and stylish, with a lovely outdoor area that must be great in warmer months. Inside, there are plenty of tables and even a space at the back that looks ideal for group gatherings. Service was friendly and attentive throughout, which I really appreciated.
We ordered a few starters (money bags, prawn toast, and pumpkin & sweet corn cakes), which were crispy and enjoyable — definitely my favourite part of the meal. For my main, I tried the Pad Woon Sen Ta Ray (mung bean glass noodles with seafood). I liked that it was something different from the usual pad Thai, and the variety of seafood and veg was good, but unfortunately it was much saltier than expected. Drinks were decent value during happy hour, though my mocktail had a lot of ice so felt a little watered down. I also ordered mango sticky rice to go — nicely presented but a small portion for the price.
The biggest downside for me was the basement toilets. The smell as I walked downstairs was very strong and quite off-putting, especially as it’s close to the lounge area. Thankfully it wasn’t noticeable in the main dining space, but it did take away from the overall experience.
Overall, Yum Yum has a lot going for it — great service, plenty of space, and an attractive setting. But the food and the facilities didn’t quite live up to the high expectations I had based on my friends’ recommendations. Hopefully these are things that can be improved, as I’d like to give it another try in future.
