Ginger Salad.

By Grace Boll

YaYa’s Cookbook, a Southeast Asian restaurant located in downtown Short Pump, is a boisterous spot to enjoy appetizing food and quality time with friends and family. On the evening of October 26, my mother Lisa Boll, a retired strategic marketing executive, my father Kevin Boll, Jr., a Senior Vice President at Davenport and Company, and my grandfather, Kevin Boll, Sr., a retired business owner, and I all travelled to Short Pump to enjoy dinner together. The very first thing that I noticed when I walked into the restaurant were the chairs that hang from the ceiling by the bar. My grandfather, also known as Poppop, described the atmosphere to be “small and intimate.” Sadly, the area that contained the hanging chairs was closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. The majority of the tables available for seating were filled with customers enjoying their meal.

While we were reviewing the menu, a server came over to recommend certain dishes to my father. She was very patient with him and did not display irritation when he asked an endless amount of questions, such as “Is this dish spicy or sweet?” He described the waitress as “very enthusiastic and knew a lot about the menu.” My mother and I wanted an appetizer, so we chose the ginger salad. It was not a typical ginger salad, with a tangy ginger-flavored dressing. Instead, the dressing had more of a creamy sweet citrus flavor. 

Surf and Turf Rolls.

The main courses came out so quickly that my mother and I were unable to finish our salads. My grandfather chose the surf and turf rolls, which he described as “unusual, because it does not resemble normal surf and turf. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed all aspects of the meal and sampling everyone’s dishes.” As an eyewitness, I can confirm that Poppop did, in fact, clear his plate, only taking short breaths between each bite. Unfortunately, I was unable to sample the surf and turf rolls before they were gone.

My mother and I split the mango and avocado sushi rolls, as well as the orange chicken. We chose the mango and avocado rolls because we thought it was an odd combination, and we wanted to investigate further. We ordered the orange chicken because it is a common dish found in Asian restaurants, and something that we had frequently, so we wanted to use our experience to determine if their orange chicken

Mango and Avocado Sushi Rolls.

was up to our standards. We were pleasantly surprised when the orange chicken arrived. The presentation was magnificent. Not only was there enough chicken for two people, but the cook placed a magenta-colored orchid on top, along with a side of broccoli and white rice, which we were not expecting. The color of the chicken was pleasing to the eye. My mom described the chicken to be “a typical Chinese dish. However, YaYa’s prepared it differently. There were lean cuts of chicken deep fried with a very light, very citrus-flavored sauce. It was delicious.” I agree; it is the best orange chicken I have ever tasted. 

The sushi that came out was displayed very neatly, and I was impressed with the bright colors of the avocado and mango. You could tell by looking at them that they were fresh. My mom agreed with me, and after tasting the dish, she said, “it tasted fresh, mango and avocado is not something I would think to be a good combination, but it was.” I prefer my sushi drenched in soy sauce, so the combination of the rice, mango, avocado, and soy sauce, left a sweet and salty, refreshing taste in my mouth.

Orange Chicken.

My father ordered a dish very different than what he normally selects, a pumpkin curry bowl with beef. He was very pleased when he had the first bite of his meal and immediately knew that he had made the right decision. He claimed to be “pleasantly surprised” with his entree. He also said, “I ordered something that I normally wouldn’t order, and had my taste buds exploding with happiness.” This dish held a surprising tropical taste and was very spicy, requiring a bit of ambition to enjoy. He looks forward to going back to try the pad thai and the lettuce wraps.

My father claims that in all the “time that I have been in Richmond, that space has been three different restaurants, and YaYa’s has definitely been my favorite out of all of them. It didn’t feel like we were dining in a strip mall. The atmosphere and decorations were very Polynesian.”

My mom thought that the restaurant was “friendly and cozy. It feels like it has been there for a long time. It was a very casual and fun place for dinner.” Similarly, Poppop believes that “the staff was really friendly and I thought the ambiance of the restaurant was different and delightful. The thing that most attracted my attention was the swings.”

Pictured: Pumpkin Curry Bowl with Beef.

Looking around at the restaurant, I noticed that the waiters and waitresses greeted everyone like family when they walked in, especially the people they knew. But no matter who walked through the door, they would always give the customer a warm greeting.

I will definitely continue to dine at YaYa’s Cookbook. I give this restaurant a 4.5 out of 5 stars, based on the staff, promptness, and the dishes. The overall experience was quite delightful, and I recommend it to anyone and everyone who enjoys Asian cuisine.

Can’t wait to go back to Yaya’s Cookbook!

All photos by Grace Boll.