Yummy Yummy restaurant lives up to its name

• The restaurant offers sushi%2C Chinese%2C Japanese and Thai dishes.
• For more information call 740-928-2850 or go to ohioyummy.com.
• Yummy Yummy in Hebron has been serving up Asian cuisine for almost 10 years.

HEBRON – Jason Zhang is confident that the name of his restaurant, Yummy Yummy, is a good description of the food he serves.

Since 2006, he's been serving up Asian food and sushi at 620 S. Main St. The restaurant is so popular, customers often have to make reservations to come on on the weekends.

Some of their regulars come from as far away as Columbus for their sushi, Zhang said. People stop by for family gatherings or birthday meals and many students eat dinner there before heading to their high school prom.

"We just have a happy atmosphere," said manager Ruth McCollister. "With good food, everyone is happy."

Yummy Yummy is known for its General Tso's Chicken ($9.50) but many people enjoy the various seafood options on the menu, Zhang said.

Besides sushi, people like the seafood delight ($13.50) and their shrimp dishes, he said.

People appreciate the large, sharable portions and fresh ingredients.

Every day, the meat and vegetables are sliced and the fish is always fresh, McCollister said.

The egg rolls and dumplings are made by hand.

"I think we have some of the best food," she said. "The atmosphere and the cleanliness of the restaurant is consistent."

When photographer Sara Tobias and I arrived for lunch, we were greeted with plates of crab rangoon ($4.50 for 6) and coconut shrimp ($6.25).

I am a huge fan of coconut, and crab rangoon, so it was a great start to our meal.

We sampled several of the daily specials including shrimp with asparagus ($10.95) and mango chicken.

The vegetables, and the mango, were fresh and crisp and made the dishes look bright and colorful.

I really enjoyed the chicken pad Thai, ($10.50) which was spicy but had great texture.

The sesame chicken ($6.15) had a delicious sauce that was clearly homemade.

The meat and seafood in both the seafood delight ($13.50) and the Happy Family ($13.50) were perfectly prepared and paired with crisp veggies that gave both dishes wonderful flavor.

Everything was plated beautifully, making it look as great as it tasted.

It was clear that both Zhang and McCollister take a lot of pride in the food and customer service they provide.

"We have never ever heard anyone complain," McCollister said. "They always leave feeling great and treated wonderfully. We go out of our way to make sure we have everything they need."

ajeffries@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8544

Twitter: @amsjeffries

PROFILE: Sharing a love of cooking with others

HEBRON – Jason Zhang learned to cook from his father, Chun Zhang.

A chef for almost 30 years, Chun started cooking in China and continued when he came to the United States. Jason came to the U. S. in 2001, hoping to follow in his father's footsteps.

After opening an restaurant in New Jersey, Chun opened Yummy Yummy in Hebron in 2006.

Chun now focuses his attention on his east coast restaurant while Jason and his family operate the Licking County location.

Jason works in the kitchen, coming up with new menu items alongside his father's classic dishes.

Since it's a family owned restaurant, they try to make Yummy Yummy as family friendly as possible. It's a great place to bring children, he said.

Customers have been friendly and thankful that they can get a variety of authentic Asian cuisine without having to leave the Hebron area, Jason said.

He's enjoyed getting to know them and preparing them fresh, healthy options.

"I just love to cook," he said.

What you need to know

What's so special

• Fresh Asian dishes, including sushi

• Weekly specials

• Both dine in and take out options

Show me the door

Yummy Yummy is located at 620 E. Main St., Hebron. For more information call 740-928-2850 or go to ohioyummy.com.

Just tell me when

10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday

In his own words

Interview with owner Jason Zhang online at NewarkAdvocate.com