When Shige Express in Meridian closed last summer, it was the end of an era. Owner-chef Shigeki Matsuzawa, whose “Shige” name had been synonymous with sushi for decades in the Boise area, finally retired.
Giving hope to fans of Asian food, a similar concept soon took over the strip-mall space at 520 S. Meridian Road: Yume Japanese Cuisine.
But it didn’t last.
Yume Japanese Cuisine, which offered all-you-can-eat sushi, has shuttered. There’s no sign or note announcing the decision, but property manager Kristi Bowens of Alpine Investment Group confirmed the closure. The restaurant is listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace.
Yume had a rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars on Yelp and 4.2 out of 5 stars on Google. “This place was exactly what I wanted on my girls night out!” raved a Yelp reviewer this spring.
Other online opinions painted a not-so-rosy picture. “This was our favorite go-to sushi place when it was under the original owners …” a two-star Google review said. “Sad to say we will be not going back.”
For local diners, it will be interesting to see what pops up next in the space. Bustling Meridian Marketplace also includes restaurants such as standout Smokin’ Iron BBQ (4.7 out of 5 stars on Google) and popular Idaho chain Sarah’s Bagel Cafe.
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Michael Deeds is a long-serving entertainment reporter and opinion columnist at the Idaho Statesman, where he chronicles the Boise good life: restaurants, concerts, culture, cool stuff. He started as a summer intern after graduating from the University of Nebraska with a news-editorial journalism degree. Deeds’ prior Statesman roles have included sportswriter, music critic and features editor. His other writing has ranged from freelancing album reviews for The Washington Post to bragging about Boise in that inflight magazine you left on the plane.
