Yunnan Eating Society (or YES for short) is a casual Chinese restaurant on Xiangyang Nan Lu, dishing out small plates of Yunnan street food and comfort classics.
The Space
It’s located in the old Kartel space on the fifth floor — yes, that Kartel. And yes, there’s a terrace, but it’s still under renovation. I’ve been assured that plans are being made for the outdoors to open.
This place is brought to you by Shanghai OUDE, the ground behind Bistro 11, J Boroski, The Upper Room, and HOXA, among others. They also have another Yunnan restaurant called Dian Fu. (The location in the Somekh Building has closed but there’s another one at Columbia Circle.) YES shares some similarities with Dian Fu, but as I’m told, it’s more snacky and approachable.
The Vibe & Who’s Going
As for the vibe, it’s hip and hella trendy.
It’s got an L-shaped dining room on a split level, giving it a sense of flow and separation. The lighting is moody, with red orb installations casting an amber glow over everything.
The crowd? Super young, super hip, and effortlessly cool — ordering lots of food and bottles of wine. It’s the kind of crowd that every casual restaurant covets. The music is upbeat but unobtrusive, channeling the same youthful energy. Oh — it’s also dog-friendly.
On The Menu
The menu is massive. The near-endless scroll on the QR code menu lists skewers, Yunnan classics, rice noodles, and even hot pot, as well as cocktails.
Thankfully, most dishes are small plates (except for the hot pot and whole fish), so you can order a bit of everything. The kicker: it’s affordable. Dianping lists the average check at around ¥130 per person, which means you can easily order a dozen dishes between three people. Which, by the way, is exactly what I did.
The favorite of the evening? Tengchong Stir-Fried Rice Cake. Chewy rice cakes, specifically thinly sliced Er Kuai (饵块) rice cakes, are stir-fried with garlic chives, tomatoes, cured salted pork, egg, pickled vegetables, and fermented chili paste. The dish is savory, tangy, salty, and slightly sweet, and oh-so comforting.
The Fried Shiping Tofu is a must-try for tofu enthusiasts. It’s crispy on the outside and has a creamy, custard-like center. Served with fermented tofu dipping sauce and chili powder, these little puffs are hard to put down once you start.
One for every table is Granny’s Potatoes, chunky mashed potatoes seasoned with pickled greens and topped with salted pork crumble. Simple and satisfying.
I loved the Fried Brisket Fat. It combines crunchy fried brisket fat with equally crunchy fava beans, tossed with fragrant chilies and sesame seeds. The dish is smoky, beefy, spicy, peppery, and salty — highly addictive!
One with a more tropical flavor profile is the Dai-Style Fried Beef. Tender beef slices stir-fried with litsea, garlic, and chives. It’s saucy and reminiscent of Thai-style stir-fries.
For carb-loading, there’s Rice Noodles, flavored with zhajiang sauce, pickled vegetables, chives, and tomato. It has a balanced mix of savory and sour notes that make it a satisfying choice for noodle lovers. A good option for lunch.
Another small snacky plate is the Kunming-Style Century Egg, topped with diced tiger skin peppers, green screw-shaped peppers, and red chilies, all served in a sweet-sour, slightly vinegary dressing. Unlike traditional century eggs, this version is less funky and lacks the iconic custardy or pasty yolk texture, making it more approachable for those new to century eggs.
The Roasted Mixed Mushrooms include a variety of mushrooms such as black morels, seasoned with Dai-style spices and roasted in a banana leaf. It’s earthy and mild, not bad, but I prefer the matsutake one at Lotus Eatery.
The Radish Rice Cake is best described as a radish-based version of hash browns. Crispy on the outside and almost liquid-like on the inside, it’s surprisingly light despite being fried.
More small snack items include Steamed Corn Pancake, which is smoother in consistency than expected, with a light texture that makes it a good accompaniment to saucier dishes. They also do a number of skewers and simple grilled veg item like Grilled Beef Ribs (¥59) and Grilled Zucchini (¥19).
Recommended: Granny’s Potatoes, Fried Shipping Tofu, Fried Beef Brisket Fat, Tengchong Stir-Fried Rice Cake, Rice Noodles, Radish Rice Cakes.
To Drink
For drinks, cocktails start at ¥48 (non-alcoholic versions are ¥38), beers from ¥30, and wines available too.
In Summary
The food is great, the design is killer, and the price is a steal. Service is a work in progress, but honestly, for the quality and the price, it’s hard to complain.
If you’re looking for a spot that’s cool, casual, and won’t break the bank — just say YES.
Yunnan Eating Society (YES)
Click here to view the venue listing.
