When you imagine sushi, thoughts typically turn to light, delicate bites of fish and rice. However, one UK restaurant chain has thrown that concept out of the window with a festive creation that is anything but subtle. Yo! Sushi has launched what might be the most audacious Christmas menu item in the country: the Xmas Tempura Wrap.
A Festive Fusion That Defies Logic
This dish is a culinary collision of Christmas dinner and Japanese convenience. For less than £7, you get a deep-fried behemoth that the chain proudly describes on its website. The ingredient list is exhaustive, featuring cranberry teriyaki sauce, charsui chicken, pigs in blankets, pickled red onion, sautéed garlic Brussels sprouts, and carrot and mayo-dressed red cabbage. Each portion is served with a pot of rich gravy or katsu sauce for dipping.
Journalist Edward Easton visited a local Yo! Sushi branch on 18 December 2025 to put this festive monster to the test. His immediate impression? The sheer size is staggering. He described it as being "about the size of a baby's head," noting its appearance was more akin to a potential weapon from the game Cluedo than a dainty piece of sushi.
The Taste Test: An Overload of Flavour
So, does this £6.95 wrap actually taste good? According to Easton's exclusive review, one word sums it up: unreal. The combination of flavours is so complex it becomes difficult to deconstruct. Is it Christmassy? Yes. Does the seaweed wrapper add a fishy note? Also yes. But pinpointing individual tastes from the cacophony of ingredients proved nearly impossible for our reviewer.
Practicality is another consideration. The hard tempura shell renders chopsticks useless, making a knife and fork the sensible, if less exciting, option. Furthermore, the wrap's circumference demands a wide-mouthed approach, being roughly triple the size of an average person's bite.
Verdict and Other Menu Highlights
Despite the sensory overload, the reviewer concluded that, in a chaotic way, it works. He likened the experience to a "Boxing Day Christmas sandwich on steroids." It's far from fine dining, and you're unlikely to want a second one, but for those seeking a whacky festive food adventure, it comes recommended.
The Xmas Tempura Wrap is part of Yo! Sushi's broader Christmas offering, which also includes praised items like the miso corn ribs and a JFC (Japanese Fried Chicken) bucket. It seems the season of indulgence has found a new, deep-fried champion on the UK's high street.
