Duncan Yung, formerly a materials engineer, has rechanneled his expertise into cooking, bringing a touch of alchemical magic to his cooking. Alongside his wife Lisa, Duncan has launched Yane, a venture originally started as a delivery service in 2021, which quickly garnered significant attention. Yane, meaning ‘roof’ in Japanese, has now found its permanent home in Chorlton, designed to reflect a blend of traditional Japanese ryokan and the lively urban izakaya bars of Tokyo and Osaka.
Yane’s menu diverges from the common perception of Japanese cuisine in the West, which often overemphasises ramen and sushi. Duncan focuses on authentic Japanese home cooking, centred around rice dishes rather than noodle-based meals. The menu features a variety of donburi and kare (Japanese-style curry) dishes, representing true Japanese flavours. Everything at Yane is made from scratch, including the umami-rich dashi and the house pickles, showcasing Duncan’s commitment to authenticity.
This commitment extends beyond the menu to the ambience of Yane, offering customers a genuine Japanese dining experience. The restaurant layout combines the informal setting of an izakaya at the front with more private, ryokan-like dining rooms at the back. Yane is not just a restaurant but a representation of Japanese food culture in Manchester, bringing a diverse range of traditional styles and flavours to the local culinary scene.
