Yo Poznan!

It’s almost impossible to believe there’s a soul left in this city who hasn’t heard of Yetztu. But hey, Poznań’s moving fast. New faces arriving every day, new restaurants opening every five minutes (or so it feels), and sometimes we all need a little slap-around-the-head reminder. Yes, you. The one who thinks, “Been there, done that, got the chopsticks.”
Well guess what? You’re wrong. So very wrong.

What are we talking about? Only the first-ever ramen restaurant in Poland. That’s right. Let that sink in. First. Ever. Opened in 2013 by two wildly different brothers who somehow blended their yin and yang into the perfect bowl of umami-fueled goodness. We even filmed them back in the day (proof of our ramen street cred). It was good to be back!

Fun Fact

The name “Yetztu” by the way (stylized as YETZTU) is actually a playful, made-up name and doesn’t directly translate from Polish in a literal way. But here’s the fun part…

The “tu” in Polish means “here”, so some people cheekily interpret “Yetztu” as a creative mashup like “jedz tu”, which means “eat here” in Polish. It’s basically inspired by Japanese-sounding words to fit the ramen theme. Clever, right?

First Impressions (and a Sake tokkuri)

So we went back. Curiosity? Guilt? Nostalgia? Probably all of the above. And what did we find? Ohhh boy.
They’ve expanded into the space next door and built a whole new kitchen out front. You now walk through it to get to the garden out back. It’s giving Goodfellas, it’s giving VIP access, it’s giving yes please. The OG indoor entrance is still there, but summer mode = gangster kitchen stroll.

We started with something a little fancy fancy – the sake for (28 PLN). A jug of warm (or cold) sake served in a classic tokkuri — that sleek, narrow-necked Japanese flask that makes you feel instantly cooler just by pouring from it. This stuff was smooth, with a subtle fruity note, a warm hit, and just enough umami to remind you it means business. Not the cheapest on the menu, but hey – we’re worth it.

Shareables, Because We’re Generous Like That

We ordered a few side dishes to set the tone. First up
Gyoza – little Japanese dumplings sent from the heavens. We went for the vegan soy meat + veg version (6 pcs for 20 PLN). That’s just over 3 PLN per dumpling, which feels pretty fair when you consider someone probably hand-folded each one with love and a touch of perfectionism.

Next up: Kukani – that’s marinated pork belly with spicy mustard for the non-Polish crew. Served up in separate pieces, basically daring you to flex those chopstick skills (was it four pieces? five? who knows—flavour overload hit us like a freight train and all sense of counting vanished hahaha).

Think tender, juicy slabs of pork, slow-cooked to melt-in-your-mouth perfection, then hit with this bold, mustardy slap in the face that wakes your taste buds all the way up. Savage. Addictive. Gone in seconds.

The Newbie That Rocked Our Bowl

We came to test what’s new, so next up was the Japońskie aromatyczne curry – aromatic Japanese curry with crispy panko-fried chicken, fluffy rice, house-made pickles, soft-cooked veggies, and a dollop of tartar sauce for a creamy zing. 45 PLN.

You can choose between Udko Teryaki or Kurczak Karaage – we went for the karaage (Japanese-style fried chicken), which had this light, crispy crust and juicy, tender inside. The curry? Rich, spiced, but mellow. Comfort food done very right.

The Main Event: Ramen Showdown

Let’s be honest – this is what we came for. Ramen. Yetztu’s got 13 on the menu (don’t panic), from classic Tonkotsu styles – creamy, rich pork-bone broth that’s been bubbling for hours – to wild card house specials.

We had to go big, so we ordered the Kamo Ramen (49 PLN), a Yetztu signature made with a slightly salty, creamy pork broth, blended with a mix of soy sauces for deep, savory goodness.

It comes loaded with Seared duck breast slices (smoky and tender) Pea sprouts, Menma (fermented bamboo shoots), Mung bean sprouts, Nori, Ajitama (marinated soft egg)

Every bite? Balanced. Textural. Full of flavor. Pure soul in a bowl.

Final Slurp

So… does Yetztu still hold the crown in Poznań’s now-packed ramen kingdom?

Look – there’s competition now. A few other ramen joints are creeping into our top 3. But when you factor in the nostalgia, the know-how, and the innovation still coming out of that kitchen… yeah. They’re still kings and it was great to be back!

Maybe the brothers aren’t behind the bar anymore (probably sipping something strong on a beach in Thailand), but the vibe remains. There’s just something here you can’t fake. A certain je ne sais quoi — or maybe in this case:
“Wabi-sabi” – that uniquely Japanese feeling of imperfect perfection.

Still number one. Still iconic. Still worth your time.