December 10, 2024 · Team HG
From the outside, you wouldn't immediately realize that behind the facade lies an establishment where over 180 guests can dine at the same time. Imono On Gelkingestraat in the city, there is an Asian restaurant with an all-you-can-eat concept. Enjoy unlimited sushi and other Asian dishes, or all-you-can-eat hotpot. And all this for a fixed price per person, with a 2.5-hour table stay.
Victor Wu is the owner of Imono and founded the business about 15 years ago. He is also the owner of the Korean BBQ restaurant. Yummy, which is located in the Oosterpoort.
The moment sushi became popular, Wu stepped in and opened Imono. ‘What started with 10 different types of sushi has now grown into a menu with 30/40 different types of sushi.’
Furthermore, the very extensive menu features many Asian dishes. While most restaurants struggle with a large menu, for Imono this is a very conscious choice. ‘We try to make our menu as extensive as possible for all target groups. We also continuously adjust our menu. We look at what sells well and what doesn't, and at what is popular at the moment. Nowadays, for example, there isn't as much enthusiasm for small sushi rolls with a single ingredient, such as cucumber (maki). So we stop serving those.’
To give you an idea of what you can choose from: there are meat dishes, noodle soup, poke bowls, dim sum, salads, and even satay. And to finish, you can choose a dessert such as fried banana, an apple-filled gyoza, and even churros.
Although sushi has been Imono’s calling card for years, Wu also understands that you have to keep a close eye on trends. ‘Currently, Korean cuisine is really on the rise,’ he says. ‘The beauty of Korean cuisine is that it also incorporates Dutch flavors. It is quite heavy, a bit spicy, and a bit sweet. Take Korean sushi and Korean fried chicken, for example. As a restaurant, we definitely need to capitalize on this.’
The familiar Imono as we know it is going to change slightly next year after all. Soon it will become more of an experience, with dishes getting a new look and many new dishes on the menu. You will have to keep an eye out for yourself to see exactly what that looks like.
For more information, see www.imono.nl.
