Yoo Mae Japanese Cuisine and Sushi
21 E Kiowa St, Colorado Springs, CO, 80903
Yoo Mae Japanese Cuisine and Sushi Menu
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Address :
21 E Kiowa St
Colorado Springs, CO, 80903 - Phone (719) 473-8105
- Website https://yoomae.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Trinity P.
I was really disappointed. I chose this sushi restaurant because of the great reviews on Yelp. It had a terrible atmosphere (well there was none) They were out of salmon and tried to make us eat chicken instead. My girlfriend ordered a sushi roll that did not have imitation crab anywhere in the description, but it had imitation crab in it. It was supposed to come with eel and it didn't. They seemed to think it was ridiculous that we wanted sushi that didn't come out of a can. Our waiter was cool though, and they have a sushi roll named after every state.
(2)Lisa K.
Another disappointing sushi experience in Colorado Springs... It is a small, quaint restaurant in a great downtown location. But, sadly that's were the positive attributes end. This place is charging pretty standard prices for very mediocre sushi. The state roll menu is a bit cheesy, but I guess everyone has there thing... Mine happens to be sashimi. Which can only be ordered in 1 fish, 7 pieces for about $15 or a large chef's choice platter. Problem with chef's choice is it's never our choice. Why can't the al a carte menu offer the choice of nigiri or sashimi style?? As many sushi restaurants do. So, we ordered nigiri... I will say the amount of rice used was good (so many places use way too much rice). However, there was no wasabi between the rice and fish, as is customary and the rice was not very sticky and completely fell apart when you tried to pick it up. The one roll we ordered was not rolled very tight and fell apart, as well. I wish I took a picture of the spicy scallops we ordered. Way to much 'sauce' which overpowered the delicate scallops and created a soupy mess. But honestly, the worst part of the experience was the service. The sushi chef was constantly yelling for his waiter. Where was the waiter? It got old fast listening to his name being yelled across the restaurant. Also, the sushi chef was answering his cell phone while filling orders. Should I even point out how germy cell phones are... The waiter was nice and meant well, but really wasn't to attentive. We were served soup with no utensils. And he couldn't be bothered to bus any dishes away. Even at the end when out check came we sat there with a table of dishes waiting to pay. And why did we have to eat our sushi off tea saucers? You know the little plates with a circle in the middle for the tea cup. Do they not have any cute sushi plates? In summary, the green tea and beer were good. Otherwise, save your time and $. There must be a decent sushi place in this city.
(2)Sibby S.
Ambiance: Unimpressive storefront. Inside, not much better. Tacky decorations, and run down interior. Small sushi sitting area - only six chairs. Modern rock music playing. Service: I have been here many, many times, and service is mediocre at best, and often very poor. Waitstaff seems they were plucked out of a sleazy bar or club (no previous restaurant or customer service experience). Water glasses and tea are never refilled without asking for it to be done. On last visit, the front door was jammed. I was greeted by a young waitress, who said "our door is retarded!". This waitress never smiled, said nothing when she plopped down my food nor said anything when she dropped the check at my table. (Waitress had zero personality). Other waitstaff has not been much better on previous visits. Sushi chef is friendly, but has a very disheveled look (wrinkled and soiled clothing, also questionable hygiene.) Food: First the good: The sushi here is really good! Very fresh and good variety of fish, some varieties not found at other sushi joints in town. I have never been disappointed by the sushi/ sashimi selection here. Great sunomono with octopus. Their sushi quality is worth 4- stars! Now the bad, every other food item is terrible. The tempura is heavily battered and very greasy (tastes like cheap fried food from the carnival.) The tempura dipping sauce tastes almost like straight vinegar. The chicken terriyaki is made from dark meat and is very grisly. Their miso soup tastes like they poured a half of a jar of salt in it. I have never liked any non-fish item I have ever ordered here. OK, so here is my dilemma. This place has no ambiance and pretty lousy service. All non-sushi/sashimi items are almost inedible. However, the sushi selection is very good (both in terms of quality and freshness). I came up with an overall rating of 3 (took into account the good and the bad.) I guess going forward, I will only patronize this place as a take out, and then only for sushi / sashimi. If part of your ultimate sushi experience includes good service / interaction with the sushi chef, and an authentic ambiance, you need to go elsewhere.
(3)Lauren D.
This was a really great little sushi joint! I loved the ambiance and it was the perfect size downtown. The sushi was PHENOMENAL and the selection was extensive. The service was sufficient and appreciated, and it was overall a really great experience! I will definitely be a returning customer!
(5)Rick L.
One of the top two sushi bars anywhere. JJ does amazing job in creating dishes not found anywhere. Fish is very fresh and atmosphere is great. Sit at the sushi bar if you can.
(5)Justin J.
AMAZING Being from CA I have had some pretty damn good sushi, but this place is by far THE BEST sushi I have ever had. The fish is ALWAYS fresh and the menu is really something unique. The owner J.J. is the nicest guy you would ever want to meet and will make anything you could ever think of without batting an eye lash. One of the things that threw me off though was their large selection of sake.....didn't see that coming. I would travel from anywhere in the world just to see jj and have his sushi. If you love sushi this is the only place you should ever go.
(5)Jeremy S.
You Mae in my opinion is the best sushi restaurant in the Colorado Springs area and has the largest selection of special rolls I've seen. One roll for each of the 50 states. The options are rather limited because the springs isn't really a mecca for the culinary arts to say the least. I remember the owner when he worked at Fujiyama, and that was the last time they were good. Its not a posh atmosphere but in my opinion I find that really pretentious and annoying. Yo Mae is quaint and they are very hospitable. He sometimes brings you free samples to try his new creations. Sushi is not cheap so don't throw your money away at pretentious trendy places that have bad sushi. GO TO YOO MAE.
(5)Jason C.
Great sushi artfully done. Stuff looks so good you don't want to eat it. Well, ok, you'll want to eat it but you'll want to take a picture. JJ is a master of the layout and the rolls are really, really tasty. My favorite so far is the Delaware roll. Oh yeah, they have a roll for each state. I've uploaded pics of the menus - I apologize for the quality but it will come in handy if you're ordering takeout. Ambiance is just ok.
(4)Betzy H.
I am from Southern CA so I was a little skeptical at first, but it was okay. The service was good. The sushi was pretty good, but there is so much to choose from on the menu that it can be a bit confusing.
(3)Danielle W.
They have 50 rolls, one for each state! I ordered the New Mexico roll which came with jalapeno peppers and bacon all wrapped and deep fried! It was quite tasty! I also ordered salmon sashimi which was a bit too mushy. The service was quick and my waitress came to check on me multiple times to make sure I had enough water and that my food was just right. I will definitely be back to try the other rolls.
(4)Christopher B.
As other reviewers have mentioned, the appearance of the restaurant is not going to do much to attract people walking by to come in. We stopped by this afternoon during lunch and were one of only three or four tables in the restaurant. Service was acceptable - relatively attentive, but did require prompting from time to time during our meal. Our sushi rolls did not take too long to arrive at the table and tasted very good. If we were in town again, I'd consider stopping by again for lunch -not sure if I'd go out of my way to stop here for dinner though.
(3)Chris S.
Great variety of sushi. High quality sashimi, and pretty reasonable prices for sushi. I will be going back for round two very soon.
(4)Heidy S.
I was initially hesitant to enter Yoo Mae because the exterior has the look and feel of a stereotypical Chinese take-out. Don't be fooled. Upon entrance, you're greeted with friendly service, a clean restaurant, and a massive list of sushi/rolls. Tasty.
(4)Russ J.
Colorado Springs, you have no idea what you have there! I have had sushi in the best places in LA, SF, and Oregon, but Yoo Mae actually cares about the quality of fish. One of the biggest problems I have found in irregular sushi places in misplaced places is the people around it have no idea how to experience sushi. You need to let go and let your chef do what he wants. We actually caught the owner off guard by telling him to serve anything he would like to us. That is a signal of expertise in the sushi experience. No one around the Springs seems to know this. JJ, after a few agonizing minutes finally picked up and understood what he had in front of him. He wasted no time after that in presenting the most tender and tantalizing sushi we have had in awhile. While the place is low key, the waitress kinda seeming off beat, it is the real deal. You just have to know how to light the fire. One of the ways is avoiding the hot saki and ordering the cold saki, a huge flavor difference and will announce, "Hey look at me I am an expert, give me attention!" you will soon get it. I am only here for a week but I am sure I will be back before I leave!
(5)Mike B.
JJ created exceptional sushi that was almost too pretty to eat. The flavor was wonderful. The Alabama was great. Steve, thanks for the great service!
(5)Bahman B.
Sushi is a passion to me. I have tasted Sushi all across the United States although, sadly I cannot say I have tasted Sushi in Asia or Eastern Asia. I have had "The best sushi" in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Laguna Beach, D.C., Maryland and Seattle. I would have to say that I have had my fair share of sushi from a fairly broad set of places. I moved to Colorado in 2007 to go to school and I managed to find myself at Yoo Mae one sunny day. The sushi was mind blowing. I had delicate sushi in what most would call a landlocked "sketchy" state. I was very surprised. I found myself coming back for more and more as time went on. I was intrigued by the state rolls and continued to enjoy new flavors and textures that I had never tried before. Of course I started out with the Alabama roll by suggestion, not realizing how tasty a sushi roll might be. I soon came to realize however that Yoo Mae had so much more to offer. The wait staff has always been very friendly and J.J. as always continues to suggest new and tantalizing options whenever I ask him to think of something special for me. The atmosphere is totally laid back and I feel very much at home whenever I stop by in the mood for something unique and succulent. J.J. cuts his sashimi a bit thinner than most sushi restaurants I have encountered. However I came to realize that the thin slices of Tuna and Yellow tail that I order bring out so much more flavor because the bites are more manageable than a great deal of the sushi places out there. Occasionally though I will find myself in a bit of a hungry state. When the time calls for it a Box or Combo dinner is what does the trick. The box dinner involve a huge variety at an affordable price. You get the meat, sushi and a bunch of other japanese goodies like dumpling and tempura all in a heaping portion sure to leave even the heftiest of fellows full. (and I can eat a lot!) If your in the mood for a lot and sushi. On top of that I would go for a combo dinner where you can get an entree meat and huge helping of sushi or sashimi. The restaurant is one of my top 3 favorites in the springs and I highly recommend it. Definitely give it a try and don't be shy to sit at the bar and ask J.J. for suggestions. He really knows his stuff.
(5)Stephen F.
Nice addition to the downtown dinning scene. I've only been there for lunch but it was very good and fairly priced. I didn't like that a couple of special sushi on the board were not available but I'll live.
(4)Andrew M.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable sushi restaurant in downtown Colorado Springs. The sushi is fresh, large and creative. The specialty rolls are amazing. This is a great alternative to other Japanese restaurants in COS. Highly recommended.
(5)Emily C.
Excellent sushi. Fresh, well prepared, and plain tasty! Very family friendly too. They are my kid's favorite restaurant.
(5)Kerwin M.
Awesome place!!!... I was born and raised in Hawaii I worked in the seafood for 12 years, This place has really good quality Sushi.... Great Japanese style food.
(5)Asher H.
This place is the lunch-time dream. The lunchtime specials are incredible, I personally recommend the bento-box. The staff is very friendly with a happy to serve attitude. My first time here, our waiter, Shane, helped modify my order to suit my dietary needs, and volunteered ingredients in the miso soup to prevent me from having exposure to fish oil. Their talented sushi chef was willing to modify every roll to be vegetarian just for me. That's not something that any sushi place is willing to do, so it speaks volumes of about the value they place on customer satisfaction. The environment is a no-frills, super casual feel. It's small, basic, and clean. I haven't had any sense of the "weird smell" that other reviewers have mentioned. The take reservations and are able to accommodate large parties despite their small space. I will absolutely be back, many many times.
(5)Kyrstyn B.
Best Sushi in town, and I've been to every single one. It could use a bit of a decoration upgrade, but I just can't stay away. The Arizona roll is my favorite, maybe because I'm an Arizona girl, but mostly because I love jalepenos! California state roll (not the same as a typical california roll) is also delicious! Highly reccomend.
(5)Roxanne K.
So, I go on down the street and find me some sushi... Yoo Mae was there with this mirror window and stuff scribbled on it. Sake, Beers, Info, etc... I found it through Yelp. So in I go without even realizing they didn't open for say, another 2 minutes. I thought the mirror front was way cheesy... the inside was kinda disappointing too for the 5 star reviews. I sit, wait staff arrives and I give her the order. Service was good the day I was there, but I'm guessing from reviews people may have a hit and miss. So, tuna tataki comes and I thought it was too thick... it had this coating that I guessed was salt and maybe some other seasonings? Really? on TT? I lived in Japan for two years and have eaten TT all over the world... VERY disappointing. Also, the plate was covered in some kind of oil, this REALLY thru me for a loop. So I move on to salmon and unagi nagiri... which faired well. but the "special" roll was really a miss. As a was afraid it might be, it was SO BIG you could not get it into your mouth... or maybe I need a bigger mouth? Seriously it so wasn't all that! I should have stuck with the regular rolls and been able to eat better. I have a friend who cuts regular sized rolls in half (which I find obscene) but she would have fainted at the sight of these... If it wasn't for the sake, and service I may have rated it lower. I didn't try the hot foods... so I can't speak to those, but I don't think the sushi itself is anything to jump up and down out. I sure miss good sushi...
(3)andrea t.
Yoo Mea want your money back! One step in the door and you are overcome with OLD deep fat fryer oil smell. Then the shabby worn interior with DUSTY nick knacks. Decent California roll but tempura had the ANCIENT oil taste. Beef teriyaki looked like dog food (tasted fair - too garlicy) and salmon (yucky bottled teriyaki glaze) looked gross both served on cast iron fajita platters (?) on a bed of cabbage. Slow service, empty waters, 5 minutes between appetizers. Just so very weak. JJ may have sushi talent but in his baggy white t-shirt and dirty apron say "I just don't give a *%#$ " I'd avoid this place for entrees, perhaps their sushi is more acceptable.
(1)Valerie B.
Not bad, cute little place to have lunch or dinner with a friend. Sushi is good and not as expensive as Fujiyama on Tejon. Staff is friendly- environment is casual
(4)S W.
It was my first visit, no idea why I waited so long! The sevice was great and very friendly. Some of the sushi places in town smell so fishy but yoo maes was so fresh! We sat up at the sushi bar which was fun as we were able to watch as it was being prepared. I was pleasantly surprised at how fast they were. They have the largest list Ive seen of rolls. well over fifty I believe. Each of the rolls we ordered were beautifully done and so good. Im usually a fan of Juns. But the sushi at Yoo maes was every bit as fresh, had more variety, and better service. This is my new favorite place for Sushi in the Springs.
(5)B R.
Had lunch here. Great Sushi! Very well done- great presentation- and very tasty fish!
(4)Shortcake S.
The description of the sushi made it sound good, but sadly I've had better. I ordered two different rolls and they weren't that good, portion was small, and too expensive. Service wise, don't know what happened, but my waiter wasn't too happy and I wasn't really greeted. The chef also forgot to put avocado in my sushi I had to ask for it. Will not be coming back.
(2)Anne S.
Yoo Mae, pronounced "You May", as in You May get terrible service. You may be fooled by the gimmicky menu of 50 states rolls. You May have to send your freezer-burned, overcooked edamame back (but still get charged for it.) You May get not-so-fresh fish. You May end up with stomach cramps and gastrointestinal issues in the middle of the night and the following day (your husband and son may, too.) You May wish you hadn't eaten there. You May write an unfavorable review to prevent this from happening to others.
(1)Roxanne B.
Wow! Fabulous, fresh fish. The rolls were outstanding and the presentation was eye-catching. We went on a Monday night thinking it might not be as fresh, boy were we wrong! No wonder the Broadmoor recommends this restaurant, it's wonderful! Our server was very knowledgeable, friendly and professional. I highly recommend Yoo Mae!
(5)John H.
Food is great. Service is...awkward. Uncomfortable too. The restaurant was entirely empty when we arrived. Myself and my fiancé. I asked for a 4 seat table so I could sit next to her instead of across from her. I was swiftly denied and told that "it's not an option". The server was attentive. Overly so, in fact. In 45 minutes he came to the table at least 23 times to "see how it's goin', man". He smelled like weed. Good weed, but still, come on! Food was good, but this place gives me the heebee jeebees. 2 stars.
(2)Action J.
Good service for starters. Ambience is pleasant without the loud music that you encounter in many restaurants. A good lunch crowd is always a good sign too. Miso is definitely authentic and quite tasty. Sushi is one of the best in town. Arizona Roll is a great choice as well as the Lamborghini Diablo (be prepared for some spicy crawfish!) Beef Bento box was good and meat was very tender. Tempura was pipping hot! Overall....good place to eat.
(3)Janny C.
FOOD: Sushi: OK Miso: Pretty standard with sufficient tofu and some seaweed Bento: Tempura could have fried a touch longer. Salad and dressing were weird and the standard iceberg & carrots type. Gyoza were ok. Chicken was ok. First Impression: Weird smell when walking in, dusty and some spider webs, counters cluttered, floor and sushi bar not 100% clean, needs an update on the paint and decor. Staff: Friendly, but bored. (Only 2 tables occupied on a Saturday evening) Bathroom: Ladies - needed overall THOROUGH cleaning and linoleum tiles were cracked/missing, door was DIRTY! Men's - bit shabby, but clean (according to the husband) OVERALL: Not going to go here again.
(2)Morgan F.
I went back and forth on coming here because I read through a lot of the bad reviews and they seemed really bad. This was one of two sushi restaurants that we were debating on going to, and since we'd been to the other one and didn't like it much, we decided to just give this place a try. It was very good. They've definitely earned their high overall rating. I think it's unfortunate that people have had bad experiences here and I'd encourage them to give it another try. Sushi is typically not the best choice when you've been really active all day and have a huge appetite, but we did it anyway. My friend ordered two sushi rolls and my husband and I got the same, plus some yakisoba and gyoza to split. We were all very happy with our meals. The yakisoba was very good; the noodles weren't over cooked, it wasn't insanely salty, and there was a good bit of veggies in the dish instead of just a bunch of noodles. I can't remember which rolls we all got, but we were happy with them. The fish tasted fresh, it was cold, and the rice wasn't over- or under-cooked. The gyoza threw me off at first because they're kinda teeny, but I ended up kinda liking their bite-size-ed-ness. Price wise I thought it was pretty typical for Springs sushi places. I feel like all of the sushi around here is very overpriced for what you get (a small roll as compared to the huge, meal-sized rolls I'm used to getting in AK for the same price) but that's a problem at all the restaurants around here have, not just this one. All of their non-standard rolls are named after one of the US states and they have some specials which are named after international countries. It's a creative, slightly goofy way of doing things. It's definitely worth coming here, at least to try, and this will probably be our go-to sushi place from now on.
(5)John S.
Tragically Hip. An cute sushi restaurant located downtown with some decent fare, but the likelihood of getting small, expensive, poorly executed offerings will probably leave you disappointed. The good. It's sorta cute and located downtown. Easy to get to. The service was fine. My bowl of udon was tasty, but not spectacular. My daughter's dumplings were tasty and the portion was ample for the price. The nigiri was ok, and tasted good. It seemed a bit dry, but fresh. I have no complaints about all of the above, but.... The bad. The California roll was possibly the worst California roll I've ever tasted. It appeared to be made out of some cheap seafood salad you'd find on an all-you-can-eat buffet, and tasted like fish going bad. The portion of salmon that my wife ordered was very small and tough, probably because of its preparation. We suspected it might have been cooked earlier and reheated in a microwave given a suspicious toughness on the edges of the portion, which is not characteristic of other methods of preparation. Finally, it was pricy for the quality and quantity of food received.
(2)Paul V.
*Hold the phone folks, because this is the best sushi I've ever had* ** Global Hall of Fame Inductee*** Star 1: How was the service and atmosphere? First and foremost, those looking for a purely authentic Japanese style restaurant may be a bit puzzled upon walking into Yoo Mae. Yes, those are trendy white boys that are beyond knowledgeable about the menu, and the decor blends trendy urban living with Japanese fung shui, but check behind the counter peeps, because that's a master Japanese chef of the purest degree that will be cooking up your rolled up heaven this eve. After all, if you were really looking for a pure Japanese experience? You wouldn't be getting maki roll style sushi that's about as American as baseball. In short, Yoo Mae dishes up Japanese fusion in an atmosphere that is as friendly and quick as it is delicious, and even having spent two years in Tokyo myself, I prefer Yoo Mae to any sashimi bar hands down. Star Granted. Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? We'll start with the starters, because, well, that's the very best place to start no? At $4.00, I can't complain one bit as to the price of my Yakitori and Steamed Gyoza dumplings. Check it out: yelp.com/user_local_phot… yelp.com/user_local_phot… Those are generous portions for a sub-$5 starter, and prices are right on par with the standard these days for Japanese premium cuisine. As far as my roll was concerned, $15.00 is once again in line with the weekly special, and there were plenty of more traditional sub-$10 rolls that fit essentially any budget. Well done: yelp.com/user_local_phot… Star Granted. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? Oh my lordy. Just believe me when I say the starters were good so that we can get onto the roll yeah? Let's recap. The Lamborghini Diablo roll, which was the daily special, has habanero sauce, spicy crawfish, asparagus, sriracha, and all kinds of other goodies that make this, without question, the best sushi that I've ever had in my life. No, it's not a traditional California roll or some weaksauce Tuna Roll, and as I mentioned before, don't gripe that this isn't "authentic". Maki roll-style sushi in and of itself is an American creation, and it's contemporary takes on roll sushi that makes the cuisine great. Not a fan of spicy? Fear not, because Yoo Mae has a roll for EVERY. SINGLE. STATE. based on the culinary regions of our great nation. From Alabama to Alaska, there's no doubt something for everyone, and I'm beyond excited that such an absolutely brilliant menu is available right here in Colorado Springs. A standing ovation good sirs. Dual Stars Granted. Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could? Without hesitation. Again, even as someone who was fortunate enough to spend two years in Tokyo, I prefer this contemporary take on Japanese cuisine to what I would find in any Tokyo sashimi bar. You need to go here, and I can't wait to dive into the menu further. Star Granted. ***Global Hall of Fame Inductee*** yelp.com/list/the-global…
(5)Jennifer M.
I'm a fan!!! Great sushi with great service. I visit so often the waiter knows my order. I'm originally from Hawaii and had some of the best sushi ever and Yoo Mae is at the top!
(5)Karen S.
I am confused by all the "great" reviews for this place.... When you first walk in a smell of urine hits you like a ton of bricks. The customer service was very cold and unfriendly. I told the waiter it was our first time there and he just walked off. Now on to the food... prices were even higher than on the website.... for what is offered in the state rolls it is pricey... the alabama roll was good, but still undecided if it was worth the money. the north carolina roll sat in a ponzu sauce and we were "directed" to dip the roll only in the sweet wasabi mayo that accompanied it. Weird flavor that needed assistance so we went against the advice and dipped in the soy. the decor is a bit out of place ... somewhat oriental with a porsche emblem in the middle of the wall?? an italian pizza statue by the door???? and "pigs" in some way shape or form, everywhere, this is a sushi restaurant???? the sushi bar was very tiny. with only "one" sushi chef working or for that fact, even able to fit behind the bar i wondered if the restaurant would get busy, how would they handle it with such a small work space and selection of fish??? anyway, the sushi was only okay and too pricey for what was given... disappointed with the customer service as well as the sushi..... in our opinion, if you are wanting a complete sushi meal this is not the place..... if you want a couple of standard boring rolls, come to this place.
(2)Bryan K.
Pros: Good service. Cons: Expensive. Poor fish quality (e.g. tuna was pale dead red). Poor roll quality (e.g. Basic California roll had rice, imitation crab and a thin sliver of avocado). Dusty and unclean restaurant...look at the dust covered decor. Never come here again. For the price, expecting a professional trained sushi chef. Food quality reminds me of fast food sushi at restaurant prices. My family and I would rather eat grocery store bought sushi.
(1)D E.
Came here on a whim for a birthday dinner. Let's just say they blew us out of the water with the awfulness. Ordered two rolls and three sushi pieces. Salmon sushi was decent, nothing special. Yellowtail looked like it had been slowly dying under plastic wrap for a week, dry and chewy. Tuna was just as dry and tasteless. Now for the rolls. Ordered a Kansas roll. It was gross. Smothered in some sort of sweet spicy green mayo. Oregon was just as disappointing. Not sure how this place is rated so highly. Service was bad (unless you like dirty hipsters that complain about 'yuppy' customers while you dine) and the interior is dingy (don't get me wrong I love hole in the wall joints but this is a joke) Save your money and eat bad sushi at Fujiyama (at least it's half price most of the time)
(1)Cristina M.
Best sushi in Colorado Springs! !! Food came out fast! Small quaint place with amazing sushi! Best I've ever had!
(5)Tiana M.
To be honest, I wasn't a big fan of the food here when I went. Granted, at the time, I was in a hurry, and only ordered a few rolls, and none of them were the specials...I may have to return to get a better sense of the menu. But, I digress. The one thing I really didn't like was the gyoza. Of the six pieces, two were still cold in the center. And they definitely tasted like the store-bought freezer brand that was just heated for a few minutes before being brought to my table. The sushi was a little better, but not my favorite. The unagi (eel) was probably my favorite of all the different kinds I ordered. The eel itself was actually bigger than most other places that serve sushi, so that was nice. It was tasty, too. The maguro (tuna) was so-so. There wasn't a whole lot of fat, which was disappointing, but it tasted like it had been lightly smoked, so that kind of made up for it, but not much. The Philadelphia roll (the "generic" kind, not Yoo Mae's state special) was decent, but I felt like there was a little too much cream cheese, and it kind of overpowered the salmon, which also tasted a little smoked. The tamago (egg custard) was probably my favorite of everything I ate, especially since the egg was more of a pocket instead of a slice on top of the rice, and it was on the sweeter side, which is usually how I determine if I like tamago or not. I liked the atmosphere of the place more than the food. It was small and personal, and I found the piggy banks at the sushi bar a cute touch. I particularly enjoyed the Iron Man and Bumblebee ones.
(3)Adam O.
This place is the best sushi spot in the springs. I don't care what the herd says. If you want OK sushi then follow the rest of the sheep or listen to the obsolete print papers to see who gets a gold star. If you want good sushi at a good price go to Yoo Mae. And tell them the Adam sent you! It wont get you anything extra but it will sound cool.
(5)David P.
Okay, if you were a regular, back in 2007, you may have seen me there nearly every night, in my gray Army camouflage.. While stationed in Carson, I patronized Yoo mae 3-4 times a weekly, religiously. Religiously, because sushi is my religion. I have had sushi in Japan, Korea, California, Hawaii, NYC, DC, NJ, GA, NC, TX, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and even in South Africa and Namibia. In over 1000 sushi restaurants I have been to, Yoo Mae actually rates the best! Not just me, but all my Asian guests(read, other sushi enthusiasts) brought in from both coasts have commented the same. When asked why he does not relocate to NYC or LA, JJ claims to like the quaint suburban atmosphere of COS over the hustle and bustle of real cities.. Also, among his regulars are members of the Olumpic Training community.. The female weight lifters were seen in there quite regularly. Of note was his "50 state special rolls", of his own creation, each roll named after a state. As of 2007, he had not yet completed all of the 50, but had a very fat selection of excellent, and many of them original, rolls. My favorites were North Carolina (kinda like a spring roll, but with sashimi inside!) and Orgeon (Several different types of nothing but salmon!) Caveat Emptor.. JJ makes his own spicy tuna. This spicy tuna paste is used in many of his special rolls. And it is very spicy, as in HOT!
(5)Andrew C.
Another great sushi place here in the Springs. The staff is friendly and the menu is very diverse, I love all of the different specialty rolls that are available. The prices are reasonable, and the service is great. This was my first fish sushi experience, I had sushi before but it never had the fish. I had it here for the first time. It was awesome, that first taste of the salmon sashimi was awesome, from there I moved onto the tuna, then the yellowtail, it was a great experience and I loved every bite.
(4)Jess s.
Cute little japanese restaurant in downtown with friendly service & a Rolls of America menu (they have a roll for every state of America) Probably one of the only two Japanese restaurants I've seen in Colorado Springs thus far & the one which actually looks authentic. Upon arrival I was greeted warmly by the servers who quickly seated me. Their enormous rolls of America menu was just too hard to pass up, after studying it for a bit I noticed a few things . 1) California roll outside of California is not the same California roll us Californians are used to. This one in particular was a deep fried Philadelphia roll. 2) there are freaking so many different possibilities you can make with fish. Seriously there were tuna, salmon, hamachi rolls & the next roll below that would be salmon, hamachi, eel. Oh my! After reading the description for each one I forgot which one i had wanted. After another 10 mins I decided on the Kansas roll & the Arkansas ( minus romain lettuce - IMO lettuce should be no where NEAR sashimi .. It should be a crime!) . All meals come with a complimentary bowl of pipping hot miso soup ( which was quite nice on a freezing cold day!) & the presentation of the food is pretty nice. However, it was only after the food had arrived did I notice I was 1200 miles away from the nearest ocean - but I can a testify I'm still alive and I did not have to run for the bathroom after dinner so it's good to go! After my meal, the servers offered some suggestions as to where else might be crackin in downtown Colorado Springs & some of the places were pretty cracking! Overall a pretty good restaurant for a town which seems to like fast food chains a little too much!
(4)Kim D.
Love this place! It's a bit of a hole-in-the-wall, but don't let looks deceive you! JJ the sushi chef is amazing. You must try the Alabama roll! The specialty rolls are great, but so are the basics. Decent prices too!
(5)Val A.
Oh yelp... when you get it wrong, you REALLY get it wrong. My girlfriend and I looked for the "best sushi" in Colorado Springs and this establishment rated as one of the highest in the city. The rolls we had were dry and not flavorful at all. We had three different rolls and each one was no better than the other. I really hope this is not the best sushi Denver has to offer.
(1)Sarah G.
Recommendations include : The Oregon, the Rhode Island, and Georgia. Tempura appetizer is enough to share between two people. It took me forever to find a consistent small sushi place and now I have a definite go to spot!!
(5)Amedee I.
Great Sushi, pricey but expect that not being on the coast. I am from California and this is on par to west coast sushi.
(4)James K.
Best sushi I've ever had. They have specialty rolls named after every state. I had the Michigan and Georgia rolls, and they were both equally fantastic. Service was attentive and friendly and place was very clean.
(5)Sarah P.
The service was great, don't believe the other reviews. We walked in with 6 people at dinner and the place was packed. Our waiter Ryan moved around the entire restaurant to accommodate our group. Sushi was super fresh; esides the standard roles, they have a roll for all 50 states...with selection like this you can definitely find something you'll like. Don't pass this place up because the outside....EXCELLENT
(5)Emily O.
Holy sushi! This place has a roll for each of the 50 states. The rolls are unique with ingredients such as bacon & jalapeno. We sat @ the sushi bar & the service was a little slow & awkward, but not too bad. Our favorites were the Arizona roll & the Hawaii roll. The fish was fresh, the sake was great, & the miso was good too. It was a Monday evening- very quiet & made the experience very enjoyable. I would definitely return when visiting Colorado Springs again.
(5)Cheryl W.
The majority of our group were not sushi lovers. The sushi lovers were very happy great sushi...all of other reviews absolutely true. We tried teriyaki beef ...sauce was very light, very flavorful without being too sweet. The beef was very thinly sliced, almost pile of shaved beef. i think my husband would have preferred larger pieces of high quality steak, but it tasted good. We also tried the chicken bento plate. This had tempura, California rolls, teriyaki chicken and dumplings. My daughter and I shared this, we enjoyed a taste of everything. Everything tasted as it should. We also tried a couple rolls that didn't have any fish in them at all, they were great...so something there for us non sushi folks as well.
(5)Victor M.
I have been to this place over 40 times, so if you want to know the truth from extensive experience....this is your review! I have sat at every table, but am usually alone and sit at the bar. JJ is an unbelievably talented sushi chef, at a level rarely seen. I have had sushi in nearly every city in America and throughout the world....including many times in San Francisco, New York, etc., most recently Vegas....and no one, NO ONE, can mess with JJ. I am not exajjerating. I have had most of the rolls, and that is saying something because he has 50 for each state plus a bunch for cars, and has started doing countries. My favorite is the Alabama, trust me, best roll in the world. My son likes Arizona and my wife Hawaii. I also love the white tuna sashimi and gyoza, although rolls are number one. If you are serious about sushi, and if you love rolls, drop everything and go see JJ right now...seriously....you will not be disappointed.
(5)Jenny L.
I think most sushi places are pretty much the same. I'm not nuts about fish or seafood either, however I still enjoy this place. The Arizona roll is right up my alley. They are happy to make adjustments to suit your tastes too. Don't let the decor stop you. If you want a shiney place to eat, go to Fujiyama. If you want to leave with a full belly, come here.
(4)Rosie S.
A friend introduced me to this sushi place as the best downtown. I have been frequenting it with another sushi-loving friend for a few months now. She wants to go through all of the 50 state rolls. I have to say, I think this one of the best sushi places in town. The rolls are creative and very fresh. All of the state rolls and/or special rolls I have had are delicious. The baked rolls are especially different and tasty. Yes, some of them are pretty big, but so what if you make a mess? It is ok to eat sushi with your hands. My friend also told me that it is unkosher in Japan to put the wasabi in your soy sauce and I do that too. As far as the staff, if you need more water they are there to fill it up, so no complaints. I also feel like they all get along as a team and there is a family sort of atmosphere between the staff. I don't think the inside of the restaurant is spectacular, but I think it is clean and comfortable. From what I have seen, JJ is a really nice guy and he knows his sushi and wants to make it right. After going here, chains like AI on Powers don't do YooMae justice. I don't go downtown much, but I will for certain reasons and YooMae is one of them.
(4)Dani T.
JJ can make a tasty roll, no doubt, but don't ask for service! Actually, our poor waiter was very sweet and did all he could to make it better, but if you are not one of JJ's friends sitting at the bar, just forget getting any food in under an hour. When we came there was only one other table and three men at the bar, but we waited 45 minutes at lunch time with our daughter (who handled the wait very well, by the way) and only received a California roll and a cucumber roll, a small part of our appetizer course. We let the waiter know that other tables and the bar had been served multiple times and our daughter was hungry and we needed to get back to work, and he tried to speed the service, but JJ apparently took offense at this and delayed our food further and then DROWNED it with Sriracha and let the noodles sit on the counter for 20 minutes before bringing them. We like hot stuff, but this was ridiculous and gross, and our daughter was left without any food when her noodles were overwhelmed with a strong five-spice taste and were mushy and the veggies scorched. We've ordered yakisoba for her here before, so I know they were good in the past. This was awful. So in 80 minutes and after $47, we all left hungry and angry. Poor waiter apologized again and again and offered to buy us an appetizer if we came back when he was on shift, but JJ wouldn't even look at my husband or bother to stop his conversation with men at the bar when approached. Seriously. There is FAR better service to be had. I own a small business and know how hard it is to keep a little place going, but I also know how easy it is to at least put on an appearance of caring about the people who choose to patronize your shop. I feel like we deserve our money back!
(1)Nadia M.
Came to Yoo Mae for the first time in years on Saturday, and I have clearly been missing out. Although it looks somewhat suspect from the outside the ambiance is actually cozy, and it is a nice place to enjoy a quiet meal. John, our server, was very nice and professional, and the sushi was by far the best I have had in the Springs. The spicy tuna and salmon rolls are delicious, and have a real kick. I highly reccommend the sashimi plate for one, the 12 pieces are enough to share and the fish is so fresh it melts in your mouth.
(5)Nicole T.
This place was a huge disappointment. Their specialty rolls named after the 50 states all had mayonnaise or another ingredients that did not sound appetizing with sushi, so we stuck to the regular rolls. We ordered yellow tail, salmon, eel and a couple others. But it turned out that it didn't matter what we ordered, it all tasted the same because the pieces of sushi were so tiny. When we left I was full.... of rice. Maybe we ordered the wrong things but I'm not willing to give this place a second chance. The best sushi I've had in Colorado Springs is at the Sushi Ring at 1861 South Nevada. If you don't want to leave downtown for sushi then just stick with Fujiyama
(1)Leila R.
I'm a fan, but I've only been once. There are other places I like the Springs that have better fish for less. So, I haven't been back. Food: It's good fish. No doubt. Better than most places in town. I got some sashimi. And my husband had a few rolls. I was going to try a roll, but honestly that menu was so huge I just kind of gave up. My husband liked his rolls. There was more rice than some places we go to. And their sizes vary. Some of them are the width of a baseball. No way you're fitting that in your mouth in one bite. But overall lots of options. Too many for my taste. Service: Our server was nice. Nothing great. Nothing bad. Ambiance: Small, authentic little place in down town. It's nice though. Clean. They are closed on Sundays though.
(4)Nick B.
I tried to come here a while back and unfortunately it was closed (sundays I believe). But I finally got my foot in the door and I'm so glad that I did. Yoo Mae is fantastic! They have a pretty extensive menu of rolls dedicated to each state. They are so unique and delicious that I might have to try every one before I leave this city. The fish here is sooo fresh that I thought I might be on the coast somewhere. The Yellow Tail was probably some of the freshest I've ever had anywhere else. The size of the rolls vary in size drastically. The rolls dedicated to the states tend to be quite large and fancy, but the generic rolls such as Yellow Tail, Spicy Tuna etc, are usually of a medium size. The rice to fish ratio is perfect and not over the top on either ingredient which can be a problem for some places. They have a nice little selection of Asian beer and Sake that compliment the sushi perfectly. I love their unfiltered Sake; the freshness and sweetness was very refreshing after gorging myself on multiple rolls. If sushi isn't your thing than you can order some Japanese cuisine to satisfy the less adventurous tastes of inlanders. I haven't tried any of it but it looked quite tasty. This is the place I will be eating at every time I'm downtown whether I'm alone or with friends. I just wish it didn't take me so many years to find this hidden gem. I'm disappointed in myself for wasting so much money at Fujiyama.
(5)Erika M.
Cute little sushi place! The wait seems a bit long because there was only one sushi chef working the orders but I think it was worth the wait. Sushi was yummy and well made. No complaints. The prices are affordable too!
(4)Josh R.
Best Sushi in Colorado I've had so far, and the closest/best place (10m from Manitou) if you're coming from the East/Mountains. I've been coming here for two years with my girlfriend and the quality has always been consistent when dining in or taking out. I highly recommend the Colorado roll (they also make good Tempura Udon) and have just tried the England roll which has Cod and avocado, with a garnish of potato frites - very nice flavor and texture. Their rolls overall taste is less "sweet" than other places, and much more nuanced - right down to the soy sauce - and the servers will give you good advice on what to get for what flavors you're going for. They are right next to the V Bar and Einstein Bagels on Kiowa - very discreet little corner and easy to slide in, get your awesome sushi, and go home with a happy belly. Try them out instead of the Corporate Monster around the corner sometime.
(4)Kenster A.
Great Sushi reasonably priced. Tiny little place, but good people and good food.
(5)Cathy T.
My friends came with me and want some sushi that are not spicy. Our waiter recommended Kansas and Illinois. We loved them but the Illinois comes with wasabi so it's not spicy but does give the tickling feeling in your nose a little bit. I never minded, still love them!
(5)Robert R.
This is one of my favorite sushi places in town. its small, low key but good solid sushi. The waiter was no frills, but efficient. He was quick with the drinks and got our order in place. My colleague got a platter and I got orders of maki rolls (tuna). Everything was great! Its way less crowded than Fujiyama down the street and is much better in my opinion. Give it a shot, you will enjoy it!
(4)Katie T.
Yoo Mae is my new favorite sushi/Japanese restaurant in Colorado Springs! From start to finish our meal was fantastic. I love the "50 State Rolls" - we tried the Kansas, Louisiana, and Michigan. Prices are reasonable for sushi and you won't be disappointed! The inside isn't anything fancy but that didn't have any impact on the deliciousness of the sushi. :) This is the place to go if you want really good Japanese food in the Springs.
(4)Todd O.
Best sushi in Colorado Springs; however, I'd stick to dining at sushi bar to avoid a pretentious wait staff.
(4)Martin J.
Very good sushi. Had a spicy California roll with eel and eel sauce on top. Had never had that before and it was great. Appropriate prices and very fresh fish for sashimi. I'd go back.
(4)Bahman B.
Sushi is a passion to me. I have tasted Sushi all across the United States although, sadly I cannot say I have tasted Sushi in Asia or Eastern Asia. I have had "The best sushi" in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Laguna Beach, D.C., Maryland and Seattle. I would have to say that I have had my fair share of sushi from a fairly broad set of places. I moved to Colorado in 2007 to go to school and I managed to find myself at Yoo Mae one sunny day. The sushi was mind blowing. I had delicate sushi in what most would call a landlocked "sketchy" state. I was very surprised. I found myself coming back for more and more as time went on. I was intrigued by the state rolls and continued to enjoy new flavors and textures that I had never tried before. Of course I started out with the Alabama roll by suggestion, not realizing how tasty a sushi roll might be. I soon came to realize however that Yoo Mae had so much more to offer. The wait staff has always been very friendly and J.J. as always continues to suggest new and tantalizing options whenever I ask him to think of something special for me. The atmosphere is totally laid back and I feel very much at home whenever I stop by in the mood for something unique and succulent. J.J. cuts his sashimi a bit thinner than most sushi restaurants I have encountered. However I came to realize that the thin slices of Tuna and Yellow tail that I order bring out so much more flavor because the bites are more manageable than a great deal of the sushi places out there. Occasionally though I will find myself in a bit of a hungry state. When the time calls for it a Box or Combo dinner is what does the trick. The box dinner involve a huge variety at an affordable price. You get the meat, sushi and a bunch of other japanese goodies like dumpling and tempura all in a heaping portion sure to leave even the heftiest of fellows full. (and I can eat a lot!) If your in the mood for a lot and sushi. On top of that I would go for a combo dinner where you can get an entree meat and huge helping of sushi or sashimi. The restaurant is one of my top 3 favorites in the springs and I highly recommend it. Definitely give it a try and don't be shy to sit at the bar and ask J.J. for suggestions. He really knows his stuff.
(5)Stephen F.
Nice addition to the downtown dinning scene. I've only been there for lunch but it was very good and fairly priced. I didn't like that a couple of special sushi on the board were not available but I'll live.
(4)Andrew M.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable sushi restaurant in downtown Colorado Springs. The sushi is fresh, large and creative. The specialty rolls are amazing. This is a great alternative to other Japanese restaurants in COS. Highly recommended.
(5)Emily C.
Excellent sushi. Fresh, well prepared, and plain tasty! Very family friendly too. They are my kid's favorite restaurant.
(5)Justina R.
Overall best sushi in town in my book! It was the very first meal I had while downtown, and I'd do it again anytime if I'm ever in downtown. Excellent all around!
(5)andrea t.
Yoo Mea want your money back! One step in the door and you are overcome with OLD deep fat fryer oil smell. Then the shabby worn interior with DUSTY nick knacks. Decent California roll but tempura had the ANCIENT oil taste. Beef teriyaki looked like dog food (tasted fair - too garlicy) and salmon (yucky bottled teriyaki glaze) looked gross both served on cast iron fajita platters (?) on a bed of cabbage. Slow service, empty waters, 5 minutes between appetizers. Just so very weak. JJ may have sushi talent but in his baggy white t-shirt and dirty apron say "I just don't give a *%#$ " I'd avoid this place for entrees, perhaps their sushi is more acceptable.
(1)Valerie B.
Not bad, cute little place to have lunch or dinner with a friend. Sushi is good and not as expensive as Fujiyama on Tejon. Staff is friendly- environment is casual
(4)Jeremy S.
You Mae in my opinion is the best sushi restaurant in the Colorado Springs area and has the largest selection of special rolls I've seen. One roll for each of the 50 states. The options are rather limited because the springs isn't really a mecca for the culinary arts to say the least. I remember the owner when he worked at Fujiyama, and that was the last time they were good. Its not a posh atmosphere but in my opinion I find that really pretentious and annoying. Yo Mae is quaint and they are very hospitable. He sometimes brings you free samples to try his new creations. Sushi is not cheap so don't throw your money away at pretentious trendy places that have bad sushi. GO TO YOO MAE.
(5)Jason C.
Great sushi artfully done. Stuff looks so good you don't want to eat it. Well, ok, you'll want to eat it but you'll want to take a picture. JJ is a master of the layout and the rolls are really, really tasty. My favorite so far is the Delaware roll. Oh yeah, they have a roll for each state. I've uploaded pics of the menus - I apologize for the quality but it will come in handy if you're ordering takeout. Ambiance is just ok.
(4)Betzy H.
I am from Southern CA so I was a little skeptical at first, but it was okay. The service was good. The sushi was pretty good, but there is so much to choose from on the menu that it can be a bit confusing.
(3)Danielle W.
They have 50 rolls, one for each state! I ordered the New Mexico roll which came with jalapeno peppers and bacon all wrapped and deep fried! It was quite tasty! I also ordered salmon sashimi which was a bit too mushy. The service was quick and my waitress came to check on me multiple times to make sure I had enough water and that my food was just right. I will definitely be back to try the other rolls.
(4)Christopher B.
As other reviewers have mentioned, the appearance of the restaurant is not going to do much to attract people walking by to come in. We stopped by this afternoon during lunch and were one of only three or four tables in the restaurant. Service was acceptable - relatively attentive, but did require prompting from time to time during our meal. Our sushi rolls did not take too long to arrive at the table and tasted very good. If we were in town again, I'd consider stopping by again for lunch -not sure if I'd go out of my way to stop here for dinner though.
(3)Chris S.
Great variety of sushi. High quality sashimi, and pretty reasonable prices for sushi. I will be going back for round two very soon.
(4)Heidy S.
I was initially hesitant to enter Yoo Mae because the exterior has the look and feel of a stereotypical Chinese take-out. Don't be fooled. Upon entrance, you're greeted with friendly service, a clean restaurant, and a massive list of sushi/rolls. Tasty.
(4)Anne S.
Yoo Mae, pronounced "You May", as in You May get terrible service. You may be fooled by the gimmicky menu of 50 states rolls. You May have to send your freezer-burned, overcooked edamame back (but still get charged for it.) You May get not-so-fresh fish. You May end up with stomach cramps and gastrointestinal issues in the middle of the night and the following day (your husband and son may, too.) You May wish you hadn't eaten there. You May write an unfavorable review to prevent this from happening to others.
(1)Rosie S.
A friend introduced me to this sushi place as the best downtown. I have been frequenting it with another sushi-loving friend for a few months now. She wants to go through all of the 50 state rolls. I have to say, I think this one of the best sushi places in town. The rolls are creative and very fresh. All of the state rolls and/or special rolls I have had are delicious. The baked rolls are especially different and tasty. Yes, some of them are pretty big, but so what if you make a mess? It is ok to eat sushi with your hands. My friend also told me that it is unkosher in Japan to put the wasabi in your soy sauce and I do that too. As far as the staff, if you need more water they are there to fill it up, so no complaints. I also feel like they all get along as a team and there is a family sort of atmosphere between the staff. I don't think the inside of the restaurant is spectacular, but I think it is clean and comfortable. From what I have seen, JJ is a really nice guy and he knows his sushi and wants to make it right. After going here, chains like AI on Powers don't do YooMae justice. I don't go downtown much, but I will for certain reasons and YooMae is one of them.
(4)Sarah P.
The service was great, don't believe the other reviews. We walked in with 6 people at dinner and the place was packed. Our waiter Ryan moved around the entire restaurant to accommodate our group. Sushi was super fresh; esides the standard roles, they have a roll for all 50 states...with selection like this you can definitely find something you'll like. Don't pass this place up because the outside....EXCELLENT
(5)B R.
Had lunch here. Great Sushi! Very well done- great presentation- and very tasty fish!
(4)Shortcake S.
The description of the sushi made it sound good, but sadly I've had better. I ordered two different rolls and they weren't that good, portion was small, and too expensive. Service wise, don't know what happened, but my waiter wasn't too happy and I wasn't really greeted. The chef also forgot to put avocado in my sushi I had to ask for it. Will not be coming back.
(2)Emily O.
Holy sushi! This place has a roll for each of the 50 states. The rolls are unique with ingredients such as bacon & jalapeno. We sat @ the sushi bar & the service was a little slow & awkward, but not too bad. Our favorites were the Arizona roll & the Hawaii roll. The fish was fresh, the sake was great, & the miso was good too. It was a Monday evening- very quiet & made the experience very enjoyable. I would definitely return when visiting Colorado Springs again.
(5)Andrew C.
Another great sushi place here in the Springs. The staff is friendly and the menu is very diverse, I love all of the different specialty rolls that are available. The prices are reasonable, and the service is great. This was my first fish sushi experience, I had sushi before but it never had the fish. I had it here for the first time. It was awesome, that first taste of the salmon sashimi was awesome, from there I moved onto the tuna, then the yellowtail, it was a great experience and I loved every bite.
(4)S W.
It was my first visit, no idea why I waited so long! The sevice was great and very friendly. Some of the sushi places in town smell so fishy but yoo maes was so fresh! We sat up at the sushi bar which was fun as we were able to watch as it was being prepared. I was pleasantly surprised at how fast they were. They have the largest list Ive seen of rolls. well over fifty I believe. Each of the rolls we ordered were beautifully done and so good. Im usually a fan of Juns. But the sushi at Yoo maes was every bit as fresh, had more variety, and better service. This is my new favorite place for Sushi in the Springs.
(5)Cheryl W.
The majority of our group were not sushi lovers. The sushi lovers were very happy great sushi...all of other reviews absolutely true. We tried teriyaki beef ...sauce was very light, very flavorful without being too sweet. The beef was very thinly sliced, almost pile of shaved beef. i think my husband would have preferred larger pieces of high quality steak, but it tasted good. We also tried the chicken bento plate. This had tempura, California rolls, teriyaki chicken and dumplings. My daughter and I shared this, we enjoyed a taste of everything. Everything tasted as it should. We also tried a couple rolls that didn't have any fish in them at all, they were great...so something there for us non sushi folks as well.
(5)Victor M.
I have been to this place over 40 times, so if you want to know the truth from extensive experience....this is your review! I have sat at every table, but am usually alone and sit at the bar. JJ is an unbelievably talented sushi chef, at a level rarely seen. I have had sushi in nearly every city in America and throughout the world....including many times in San Francisco, New York, etc., most recently Vegas....and no one, NO ONE, can mess with JJ. I am not exajjerating. I have had most of the rolls, and that is saying something because he has 50 for each state plus a bunch for cars, and has started doing countries. My favorite is the Alabama, trust me, best roll in the world. My son likes Arizona and my wife Hawaii. I also love the white tuna sashimi and gyoza, although rolls are number one. If you are serious about sushi, and if you love rolls, drop everything and go see JJ right now...seriously....you will not be disappointed.
(5)Justin J.
AMAZING Being from CA I have had some pretty damn good sushi, but this place is by far THE BEST sushi I have ever had. The fish is ALWAYS fresh and the menu is really something unique. The owner J.J. is the nicest guy you would ever want to meet and will make anything you could ever think of without batting an eye lash. One of the things that threw me off though was their large selection of sake.....didn't see that coming. I would travel from anywhere in the world just to see jj and have his sushi. If you love sushi this is the only place you should ever go.
(5)Dani T.
JJ can make a tasty roll, no doubt, but don't ask for service! Actually, our poor waiter was very sweet and did all he could to make it better, but if you are not one of JJ's friends sitting at the bar, just forget getting any food in under an hour. When we came there was only one other table and three men at the bar, but we waited 45 minutes at lunch time with our daughter (who handled the wait very well, by the way) and only received a California roll and a cucumber roll, a small part of our appetizer course. We let the waiter know that other tables and the bar had been served multiple times and our daughter was hungry and we needed to get back to work, and he tried to speed the service, but JJ apparently took offense at this and delayed our food further and then DROWNED it with Sriracha and let the noodles sit on the counter for 20 minutes before bringing them. We like hot stuff, but this was ridiculous and gross, and our daughter was left without any food when her noodles were overwhelmed with a strong five-spice taste and were mushy and the veggies scorched. We've ordered yakisoba for her here before, so I know they were good in the past. This was awful. So in 80 minutes and after $47, we all left hungry and angry. Poor waiter apologized again and again and offered to buy us an appetizer if we came back when he was on shift, but JJ wouldn't even look at my husband or bother to stop his conversation with men at the bar when approached. Seriously. There is FAR better service to be had. I own a small business and know how hard it is to keep a little place going, but I also know how easy it is to at least put on an appearance of caring about the people who choose to patronize your shop. I feel like we deserve our money back!
(1)Jenny L.
I think most sushi places are pretty much the same. I'm not nuts about fish or seafood either, however I still enjoy this place. The Arizona roll is right up my alley. They are happy to make adjustments to suit your tastes too. Don't let the decor stop you. If you want a shiney place to eat, go to Fujiyama. If you want to leave with a full belly, come here.
(4)Lauren D.
This was a really great little sushi joint! I loved the ambiance and it was the perfect size downtown. The sushi was PHENOMENAL and the selection was extensive. The service was sufficient and appreciated, and it was overall a really great experience! I will definitely be a returning customer!
(5)Rick L.
One of the top two sushi bars anywhere. JJ does amazing job in creating dishes not found anywhere. Fish is very fresh and atmosphere is great. Sit at the sushi bar if you can.
(5)David P.
Okay, if you were a regular, back in 2007, you may have seen me there nearly every night, in my gray Army camouflage.. While stationed in Carson, I patronized Yoo mae 3-4 times a weekly, religiously. Religiously, because sushi is my religion. I have had sushi in Japan, Korea, California, Hawaii, NYC, DC, NJ, GA, NC, TX, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and even in South Africa and Namibia. In over 1000 sushi restaurants I have been to, Yoo Mae actually rates the best! Not just me, but all my Asian guests(read, other sushi enthusiasts) brought in from both coasts have commented the same. When asked why he does not relocate to NYC or LA, JJ claims to like the quaint suburban atmosphere of COS over the hustle and bustle of real cities.. Also, among his regulars are members of the Olumpic Training community.. The female weight lifters were seen in there quite regularly. Of note was his "50 state special rolls", of his own creation, each roll named after a state. As of 2007, he had not yet completed all of the 50, but had a very fat selection of excellent, and many of them original, rolls. My favorites were North Carolina (kinda like a spring roll, but with sashimi inside!) and Orgeon (Several different types of nothing but salmon!) Caveat Emptor.. JJ makes his own spicy tuna. This spicy tuna paste is used in many of his special rolls. And it is very spicy, as in HOT!
(5)Sibby S.
Ambiance: Unimpressive storefront. Inside, not much better. Tacky decorations, and run down interior. Small sushi sitting area - only six chairs. Modern rock music playing. Service: I have been here many, many times, and service is mediocre at best, and often very poor. Waitstaff seems they were plucked out of a sleazy bar or club (no previous restaurant or customer service experience). Water glasses and tea are never refilled without asking for it to be done. On last visit, the front door was jammed. I was greeted by a young waitress, who said "our door is retarded!". This waitress never smiled, said nothing when she plopped down my food nor said anything when she dropped the check at my table. (Waitress had zero personality). Other waitstaff has not been much better on previous visits. Sushi chef is friendly, but has a very disheveled look (wrinkled and soiled clothing, also questionable hygiene.) Food: First the good: The sushi here is really good! Very fresh and good variety of fish, some varieties not found at other sushi joints in town. I have never been disappointed by the sushi/ sashimi selection here. Great sunomono with octopus. Their sushi quality is worth 4- stars! Now the bad, every other food item is terrible. The tempura is heavily battered and very greasy (tastes like cheap fried food from the carnival.) The tempura dipping sauce tastes almost like straight vinegar. The chicken terriyaki is made from dark meat and is very grisly. Their miso soup tastes like they poured a half of a jar of salt in it. I have never liked any non-fish item I have ever ordered here. OK, so here is my dilemma. This place has no ambiance and pretty lousy service. All non-sushi/sashimi items are almost inedible. However, the sushi selection is very good (both in terms of quality and freshness). I came up with an overall rating of 3 (took into account the good and the bad.) I guess going forward, I will only patronize this place as a take out, and then only for sushi / sashimi. If part of your ultimate sushi experience includes good service / interaction with the sushi chef, and an authentic ambiance, you need to go elsewhere.
(3)Russ J.
Colorado Springs, you have no idea what you have there! I have had sushi in the best places in LA, SF, and Oregon, but Yoo Mae actually cares about the quality of fish. One of the biggest problems I have found in irregular sushi places in misplaced places is the people around it have no idea how to experience sushi. You need to let go and let your chef do what he wants. We actually caught the owner off guard by telling him to serve anything he would like to us. That is a signal of expertise in the sushi experience. No one around the Springs seems to know this. JJ, after a few agonizing minutes finally picked up and understood what he had in front of him. He wasted no time after that in presenting the most tender and tantalizing sushi we have had in awhile. While the place is low key, the waitress kinda seeming off beat, it is the real deal. You just have to know how to light the fire. One of the ways is avoiding the hot saki and ordering the cold saki, a huge flavor difference and will announce, "Hey look at me I am an expert, give me attention!" you will soon get it. I am only here for a week but I am sure I will be back before I leave!
(5)Mike B.
JJ created exceptional sushi that was almost too pretty to eat. The flavor was wonderful. The Alabama was great. Steve, thanks for the great service!
(5)Albert H.
I had the Audi R8 (it's the name of a roll) and their teriyaki chicken plate. The R8 was decent, but the chicken was lame... it did not seem fresh at all. The chicken was hard and dry. The entire meal with unsweetened iced tea was approximately $35 with tip (i think..). Not worth it.
(3)Chris H.
My friends and I were going to go get %50 sushi at Fujiyama this past Monday, but we were a little late which means they were swamped with people with the wait time being 45 minutes. So we decided to go down the street to Yoo Mae instead. I have only had sushi 4 or 5 times and so I can't give 5 stars due to my lack of experience, but this stuff was delicious! The prices were pretty good too at around $5 for a cheaper roll. The spicy salmon and umari(I think that's what it is called haha) were delicious and the free soup before the meal was a nice touch
(4)Justina R.
Overall best sushi in town in my book! It was the very first meal I had while downtown, and I'd do it again anytime if I'm ever in downtown. Excellent all around!
(5)Asher H.
This place is the lunch-time dream. The lunchtime specials are incredible, I personally recommend the bento-box. The staff is very friendly with a happy to serve attitude. My first time here, our waiter, Shane, helped modify my order to suit my dietary needs, and volunteered ingredients in the miso soup to prevent me from having exposure to fish oil. Their talented sushi chef was willing to modify every roll to be vegetarian just for me. That's not something that any sushi place is willing to do, so it speaks volumes of about the value they place on customer satisfaction. The environment is a no-frills, super casual feel. It's small, basic, and clean. I haven't had any sense of the "weird smell" that other reviewers have mentioned. The take reservations and are able to accommodate large parties despite their small space. I will absolutely be back, many many times.
(5)Jess s.
Cute little japanese restaurant in downtown with friendly service & a Rolls of America menu (they have a roll for every state of America) Probably one of the only two Japanese restaurants I've seen in Colorado Springs thus far & the one which actually looks authentic. Upon arrival I was greeted warmly by the servers who quickly seated me. Their enormous rolls of America menu was just too hard to pass up, after studying it for a bit I noticed a few things . 1) California roll outside of California is not the same California roll us Californians are used to. This one in particular was a deep fried Philadelphia roll. 2) there are freaking so many different possibilities you can make with fish. Seriously there were tuna, salmon, hamachi rolls & the next roll below that would be salmon, hamachi, eel. Oh my! After reading the description for each one I forgot which one i had wanted. After another 10 mins I decided on the Kansas roll & the Arkansas ( minus romain lettuce - IMO lettuce should be no where NEAR sashimi .. It should be a crime!) . All meals come with a complimentary bowl of pipping hot miso soup ( which was quite nice on a freezing cold day!) & the presentation of the food is pretty nice. However, it was only after the food had arrived did I notice I was 1200 miles away from the nearest ocean - but I can a testify I'm still alive and I did not have to run for the bathroom after dinner so it's good to go! After my meal, the servers offered some suggestions as to where else might be crackin in downtown Colorado Springs & some of the places were pretty cracking! Overall a pretty good restaurant for a town which seems to like fast food chains a little too much!
(4)Kim D.
Love this place! It's a bit of a hole-in-the-wall, but don't let looks deceive you! JJ the sushi chef is amazing. You must try the Alabama roll! The specialty rolls are great, but so are the basics. Decent prices too!
(5)Val A.
Oh yelp... when you get it wrong, you REALLY get it wrong. My girlfriend and I looked for the "best sushi" in Colorado Springs and this establishment rated as one of the highest in the city. The rolls we had were dry and not flavorful at all. We had three different rolls and each one was no better than the other. I really hope this is not the best sushi Denver has to offer.
(1)Sarah G.
Recommendations include : The Oregon, the Rhode Island, and Georgia. Tempura appetizer is enough to share between two people. It took me forever to find a consistent small sushi place and now I have a definite go to spot!!
(5)Amedee I.
Great Sushi, pricey but expect that not being on the coast. I am from California and this is on par to west coast sushi.
(4)James K.
Best sushi I've ever had. They have specialty rolls named after every state. I had the Michigan and Georgia rolls, and they were both equally fantastic. Service was attentive and friendly and place was very clean.
(5)John H.
Food is great. Service is...awkward. Uncomfortable too. The restaurant was entirely empty when we arrived. Myself and my fiancé. I asked for a 4 seat table so I could sit next to her instead of across from her. I was swiftly denied and told that "it's not an option". The server was attentive. Overly so, in fact. In 45 minutes he came to the table at least 23 times to "see how it's goin', man". He smelled like weed. Good weed, but still, come on! Food was good, but this place gives me the heebee jeebees. 2 stars.
(2)Action J.
Good service for starters. Ambience is pleasant without the loud music that you encounter in many restaurants. A good lunch crowd is always a good sign too. Miso is definitely authentic and quite tasty. Sushi is one of the best in town. Arizona Roll is a great choice as well as the Lamborghini Diablo (be prepared for some spicy crawfish!) Beef Bento box was good and meat was very tender. Tempura was pipping hot! Overall....good place to eat.
(3)Janny C.
FOOD: Sushi: OK Miso: Pretty standard with sufficient tofu and some seaweed Bento: Tempura could have fried a touch longer. Salad and dressing were weird and the standard iceberg & carrots type. Gyoza were ok. Chicken was ok. First Impression: Weird smell when walking in, dusty and some spider webs, counters cluttered, floor and sushi bar not 100% clean, needs an update on the paint and decor. Staff: Friendly, but bored. (Only 2 tables occupied on a Saturday evening) Bathroom: Ladies - needed overall THOROUGH cleaning and linoleum tiles were cracked/missing, door was DIRTY! Men's - bit shabby, but clean (according to the husband) OVERALL: Not going to go here again.
(2)Kerwin M.
Awesome place!!!... I was born and raised in Hawaii I worked in the seafood for 12 years, This place has really good quality Sushi.... Great Japanese style food.
(5)Trinity P.
I was really disappointed. I chose this sushi restaurant because of the great reviews on Yelp. It had a terrible atmosphere (well there was none) They were out of salmon and tried to make us eat chicken instead. My girlfriend ordered a sushi roll that did not have imitation crab anywhere in the description, but it had imitation crab in it. It was supposed to come with eel and it didn't. They seemed to think it was ridiculous that we wanted sushi that didn't come out of a can. Our waiter was cool though, and they have a sushi roll named after every state.
(2)Roxanne B.
Wow! Fabulous, fresh fish. The rolls were outstanding and the presentation was eye-catching. We went on a Monday night thinking it might not be as fresh, boy were we wrong! No wonder the Broadmoor recommends this restaurant, it's wonderful! Our server was very knowledgeable, friendly and professional. I highly recommend Yoo Mae!
(5)Kyrstyn B.
Best Sushi in town, and I've been to every single one. It could use a bit of a decoration upgrade, but I just can't stay away. The Arizona roll is my favorite, maybe because I'm an Arizona girl, but mostly because I love jalepenos! California state roll (not the same as a typical california roll) is also delicious! Highly reccomend.
(5)Lisa K.
Another disappointing sushi experience in Colorado Springs... It is a small, quaint restaurant in a great downtown location. But, sadly that's were the positive attributes end. This place is charging pretty standard prices for very mediocre sushi. The state roll menu is a bit cheesy, but I guess everyone has there thing... Mine happens to be sashimi. Which can only be ordered in 1 fish, 7 pieces for about $15 or a large chef's choice platter. Problem with chef's choice is it's never our choice. Why can't the al a carte menu offer the choice of nigiri or sashimi style?? As many sushi restaurants do. So, we ordered nigiri... I will say the amount of rice used was good (so many places use way too much rice). However, there was no wasabi between the rice and fish, as is customary and the rice was not very sticky and completely fell apart when you tried to pick it up. The one roll we ordered was not rolled very tight and fell apart, as well. I wish I took a picture of the spicy scallops we ordered. Way to much 'sauce' which overpowered the delicate scallops and created a soupy mess. But honestly, the worst part of the experience was the service. The sushi chef was constantly yelling for his waiter. Where was the waiter? It got old fast listening to his name being yelled across the restaurant. Also, the sushi chef was answering his cell phone while filling orders. Should I even point out how germy cell phones are... The waiter was nice and meant well, but really wasn't to attentive. We were served soup with no utensils. And he couldn't be bothered to bus any dishes away. Even at the end when out check came we sat there with a table of dishes waiting to pay. And why did we have to eat our sushi off tea saucers? You know the little plates with a circle in the middle for the tea cup. Do they not have any cute sushi plates? In summary, the green tea and beer were good. Otherwise, save your time and $. There must be a decent sushi place in this city.
(2)Robert R.
This is one of my favorite sushi places in town. its small, low key but good solid sushi. The waiter was no frills, but efficient. He was quick with the drinks and got our order in place. My colleague got a platter and I got orders of maki rolls (tuna). Everything was great! Its way less crowded than Fujiyama down the street and is much better in my opinion. Give it a shot, you will enjoy it!
(4)Katie T.
Yoo Mae is my new favorite sushi/Japanese restaurant in Colorado Springs! From start to finish our meal was fantastic. I love the "50 State Rolls" - we tried the Kansas, Louisiana, and Michigan. Prices are reasonable for sushi and you won't be disappointed! The inside isn't anything fancy but that didn't have any impact on the deliciousness of the sushi. :) This is the place to go if you want really good Japanese food in the Springs.
(4)Todd O.
Best sushi in Colorado Springs; however, I'd stick to dining at sushi bar to avoid a pretentious wait staff.
(4)Martin J.
Very good sushi. Had a spicy California roll with eel and eel sauce on top. Had never had that before and it was great. Appropriate prices and very fresh fish for sashimi. I'd go back.
(4)Morgan F.
I went back and forth on coming here because I read through a lot of the bad reviews and they seemed really bad. This was one of two sushi restaurants that we were debating on going to, and since we'd been to the other one and didn't like it much, we decided to just give this place a try. It was very good. They've definitely earned their high overall rating. I think it's unfortunate that people have had bad experiences here and I'd encourage them to give it another try. Sushi is typically not the best choice when you've been really active all day and have a huge appetite, but we did it anyway. My friend ordered two sushi rolls and my husband and I got the same, plus some yakisoba and gyoza to split. We were all very happy with our meals. The yakisoba was very good; the noodles weren't over cooked, it wasn't insanely salty, and there was a good bit of veggies in the dish instead of just a bunch of noodles. I can't remember which rolls we all got, but we were happy with them. The fish tasted fresh, it was cold, and the rice wasn't over- or under-cooked. The gyoza threw me off at first because they're kinda teeny, but I ended up kinda liking their bite-size-ed-ness. Price wise I thought it was pretty typical for Springs sushi places. I feel like all of the sushi around here is very overpriced for what you get (a small roll as compared to the huge, meal-sized rolls I'm used to getting in AK for the same price) but that's a problem at all the restaurants around here have, not just this one. All of their non-standard rolls are named after one of the US states and they have some specials which are named after international countries. It's a creative, slightly goofy way of doing things. It's definitely worth coming here, at least to try, and this will probably be our go-to sushi place from now on.
(5)Nicole T.
This place was a huge disappointment. Their specialty rolls named after the 50 states all had mayonnaise or another ingredients that did not sound appetizing with sushi, so we stuck to the regular rolls. We ordered yellow tail, salmon, eel and a couple others. But it turned out that it didn't matter what we ordered, it all tasted the same because the pieces of sushi were so tiny. When we left I was full.... of rice. Maybe we ordered the wrong things but I'm not willing to give this place a second chance. The best sushi I've had in Colorado Springs is at the Sushi Ring at 1861 South Nevada. If you don't want to leave downtown for sushi then just stick with Fujiyama
(1)Leila R.
I'm a fan, but I've only been once. There are other places I like the Springs that have better fish for less. So, I haven't been back. Food: It's good fish. No doubt. Better than most places in town. I got some sashimi. And my husband had a few rolls. I was going to try a roll, but honestly that menu was so huge I just kind of gave up. My husband liked his rolls. There was more rice than some places we go to. And their sizes vary. Some of them are the width of a baseball. No way you're fitting that in your mouth in one bite. But overall lots of options. Too many for my taste. Service: Our server was nice. Nothing great. Nothing bad. Ambiance: Small, authentic little place in down town. It's nice though. Clean. They are closed on Sundays though.
(4)Nick B.
I tried to come here a while back and unfortunately it was closed (sundays I believe). But I finally got my foot in the door and I'm so glad that I did. Yoo Mae is fantastic! They have a pretty extensive menu of rolls dedicated to each state. They are so unique and delicious that I might have to try every one before I leave this city. The fish here is sooo fresh that I thought I might be on the coast somewhere. The Yellow Tail was probably some of the freshest I've ever had anywhere else. The size of the rolls vary in size drastically. The rolls dedicated to the states tend to be quite large and fancy, but the generic rolls such as Yellow Tail, Spicy Tuna etc, are usually of a medium size. The rice to fish ratio is perfect and not over the top on either ingredient which can be a problem for some places. They have a nice little selection of Asian beer and Sake that compliment the sushi perfectly. I love their unfiltered Sake; the freshness and sweetness was very refreshing after gorging myself on multiple rolls. If sushi isn't your thing than you can order some Japanese cuisine to satisfy the less adventurous tastes of inlanders. I haven't tried any of it but it looked quite tasty. This is the place I will be eating at every time I'm downtown whether I'm alone or with friends. I just wish it didn't take me so many years to find this hidden gem. I'm disappointed in myself for wasting so much money at Fujiyama.
(5)Erika M.
Cute little sushi place! The wait seems a bit long because there was only one sushi chef working the orders but I think it was worth the wait. Sushi was yummy and well made. No complaints. The prices are affordable too!
(4)D E.
Came here on a whim for a birthday dinner. Let's just say they blew us out of the water with the awfulness. Ordered two rolls and three sushi pieces. Salmon sushi was decent, nothing special. Yellowtail looked like it had been slowly dying under plastic wrap for a week, dry and chewy. Tuna was just as dry and tasteless. Now for the rolls. Ordered a Kansas roll. It was gross. Smothered in some sort of sweet spicy green mayo. Oregon was just as disappointing. Not sure how this place is rated so highly. Service was bad (unless you like dirty hipsters that complain about 'yuppy' customers while you dine) and the interior is dingy (don't get me wrong I love hole in the wall joints but this is a joke) Save your money and eat bad sushi at Fujiyama (at least it's half price most of the time)
(1)Cristina M.
Best sushi in Colorado Springs! !! Food came out fast! Small quaint place with amazing sushi! Best I've ever had!
(5)Tiana M.
To be honest, I wasn't a big fan of the food here when I went. Granted, at the time, I was in a hurry, and only ordered a few rolls, and none of them were the specials...I may have to return to get a better sense of the menu. But, I digress. The one thing I really didn't like was the gyoza. Of the six pieces, two were still cold in the center. And they definitely tasted like the store-bought freezer brand that was just heated for a few minutes before being brought to my table. The sushi was a little better, but not my favorite. The unagi (eel) was probably my favorite of all the different kinds I ordered. The eel itself was actually bigger than most other places that serve sushi, so that was nice. It was tasty, too. The maguro (tuna) was so-so. There wasn't a whole lot of fat, which was disappointing, but it tasted like it had been lightly smoked, so that kind of made up for it, but not much. The Philadelphia roll (the "generic" kind, not Yoo Mae's state special) was decent, but I felt like there was a little too much cream cheese, and it kind of overpowered the salmon, which also tasted a little smoked. The tamago (egg custard) was probably my favorite of everything I ate, especially since the egg was more of a pocket instead of a slice on top of the rice, and it was on the sweeter side, which is usually how I determine if I like tamago or not. I liked the atmosphere of the place more than the food. It was small and personal, and I found the piggy banks at the sushi bar a cute touch. I particularly enjoyed the Iron Man and Bumblebee ones.
(3)Adam O.
This place is the best sushi spot in the springs. I don't care what the herd says. If you want OK sushi then follow the rest of the sheep or listen to the obsolete print papers to see who gets a gold star. If you want good sushi at a good price go to Yoo Mae. And tell them the Adam sent you! It wont get you anything extra but it will sound cool.
(5)John S.
Tragically Hip. An cute sushi restaurant located downtown with some decent fare, but the likelihood of getting small, expensive, poorly executed offerings will probably leave you disappointed. The good. It's sorta cute and located downtown. Easy to get to. The service was fine. My bowl of udon was tasty, but not spectacular. My daughter's dumplings were tasty and the portion was ample for the price. The nigiri was ok, and tasted good. It seemed a bit dry, but fresh. I have no complaints about all of the above, but.... The bad. The California roll was possibly the worst California roll I've ever tasted. It appeared to be made out of some cheap seafood salad you'd find on an all-you-can-eat buffet, and tasted like fish going bad. The portion of salmon that my wife ordered was very small and tough, probably because of its preparation. We suspected it might have been cooked earlier and reheated in a microwave given a suspicious toughness on the edges of the portion, which is not characteristic of other methods of preparation. Finally, it was pricy for the quality and quantity of food received.
(2)Paul V.
*Hold the phone folks, because this is the best sushi I've ever had* ** Global Hall of Fame Inductee*** Star 1: How was the service and atmosphere? First and foremost, those looking for a purely authentic Japanese style restaurant may be a bit puzzled upon walking into Yoo Mae. Yes, those are trendy white boys that are beyond knowledgeable about the menu, and the decor blends trendy urban living with Japanese fung shui, but check behind the counter peeps, because that's a master Japanese chef of the purest degree that will be cooking up your rolled up heaven this eve. After all, if you were really looking for a pure Japanese experience? You wouldn't be getting maki roll style sushi that's about as American as baseball. In short, Yoo Mae dishes up Japanese fusion in an atmosphere that is as friendly and quick as it is delicious, and even having spent two years in Tokyo myself, I prefer Yoo Mae to any sashimi bar hands down. Star Granted. Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? We'll start with the starters, because, well, that's the very best place to start no? At $4.00, I can't complain one bit as to the price of my Yakitori and Steamed Gyoza dumplings. Check it out: yelp.com/user_local_phot… yelp.com/user_local_phot… Those are generous portions for a sub-$5 starter, and prices are right on par with the standard these days for Japanese premium cuisine. As far as my roll was concerned, $15.00 is once again in line with the weekly special, and there were plenty of more traditional sub-$10 rolls that fit essentially any budget. Well done: yelp.com/user_local_phot… Star Granted. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? Oh my lordy. Just believe me when I say the starters were good so that we can get onto the roll yeah? Let's recap. The Lamborghini Diablo roll, which was the daily special, has habanero sauce, spicy crawfish, asparagus, sriracha, and all kinds of other goodies that make this, without question, the best sushi that I've ever had in my life. No, it's not a traditional California roll or some weaksauce Tuna Roll, and as I mentioned before, don't gripe that this isn't "authentic". Maki roll-style sushi in and of itself is an American creation, and it's contemporary takes on roll sushi that makes the cuisine great. Not a fan of spicy? Fear not, because Yoo Mae has a roll for EVERY. SINGLE. STATE. based on the culinary regions of our great nation. From Alabama to Alaska, there's no doubt something for everyone, and I'm beyond excited that such an absolutely brilliant menu is available right here in Colorado Springs. A standing ovation good sirs. Dual Stars Granted. Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could? Without hesitation. Again, even as someone who was fortunate enough to spend two years in Tokyo, I prefer this contemporary take on Japanese cuisine to what I would find in any Tokyo sashimi bar. You need to go here, and I can't wait to dive into the menu further. Star Granted. ***Global Hall of Fame Inductee*** yelp.com/list/the-global…
(5)Jennifer M.
I'm a fan!!! Great sushi with great service. I visit so often the waiter knows my order. I'm originally from Hawaii and had some of the best sushi ever and Yoo Mae is at the top!
(5)Josh R.
Best Sushi in Colorado I've had so far, and the closest/best place (10m from Manitou) if you're coming from the East/Mountains. I've been coming here for two years with my girlfriend and the quality has always been consistent when dining in or taking out. I highly recommend the Colorado roll (they also make good Tempura Udon) and have just tried the England roll which has Cod and avocado, with a garnish of potato frites - very nice flavor and texture. Their rolls overall taste is less "sweet" than other places, and much more nuanced - right down to the soy sauce - and the servers will give you good advice on what to get for what flavors you're going for. They are right next to the V Bar and Einstein Bagels on Kiowa - very discreet little corner and easy to slide in, get your awesome sushi, and go home with a happy belly. Try them out instead of the Corporate Monster around the corner sometime.
(4)Kenster A.
Great Sushi reasonably priced. Tiny little place, but good people and good food.
(5)Cathy T.
My friends came with me and want some sushi that are not spicy. Our waiter recommended Kansas and Illinois. We loved them but the Illinois comes with wasabi so it's not spicy but does give the tickling feeling in your nose a little bit. I never minded, still love them!
(5)Karen S.
I am confused by all the "great" reviews for this place.... When you first walk in a smell of urine hits you like a ton of bricks. The customer service was very cold and unfriendly. I told the waiter it was our first time there and he just walked off. Now on to the food... prices were even higher than on the website.... for what is offered in the state rolls it is pricey... the alabama roll was good, but still undecided if it was worth the money. the north carolina roll sat in a ponzu sauce and we were "directed" to dip the roll only in the sweet wasabi mayo that accompanied it. Weird flavor that needed assistance so we went against the advice and dipped in the soy. the decor is a bit out of place ... somewhat oriental with a porsche emblem in the middle of the wall?? an italian pizza statue by the door???? and "pigs" in some way shape or form, everywhere, this is a sushi restaurant???? the sushi bar was very tiny. with only "one" sushi chef working or for that fact, even able to fit behind the bar i wondered if the restaurant would get busy, how would they handle it with such a small work space and selection of fish??? anyway, the sushi was only okay and too pricey for what was given... disappointed with the customer service as well as the sushi..... in our opinion, if you are wanting a complete sushi meal this is not the place..... if you want a couple of standard boring rolls, come to this place.
(2)Bryan K.
Pros: Good service. Cons: Expensive. Poor fish quality (e.g. tuna was pale dead red). Poor roll quality (e.g. Basic California roll had rice, imitation crab and a thin sliver of avocado). Dusty and unclean restaurant...look at the dust covered decor. Never come here again. For the price, expecting a professional trained sushi chef. Food quality reminds me of fast food sushi at restaurant prices. My family and I would rather eat grocery store bought sushi.
(1)Roxanne K.
So, I go on down the street and find me some sushi... Yoo Mae was there with this mirror window and stuff scribbled on it. Sake, Beers, Info, etc... I found it through Yelp. So in I go without even realizing they didn't open for say, another 2 minutes. I thought the mirror front was way cheesy... the inside was kinda disappointing too for the 5 star reviews. I sit, wait staff arrives and I give her the order. Service was good the day I was there, but I'm guessing from reviews people may have a hit and miss. So, tuna tataki comes and I thought it was too thick... it had this coating that I guessed was salt and maybe some other seasonings? Really? on TT? I lived in Japan for two years and have eaten TT all over the world... VERY disappointing. Also, the plate was covered in some kind of oil, this REALLY thru me for a loop. So I move on to salmon and unagi nagiri... which faired well. but the "special" roll was really a miss. As a was afraid it might be, it was SO BIG you could not get it into your mouth... or maybe I need a bigger mouth? Seriously it so wasn't all that! I should have stuck with the regular rolls and been able to eat better. I have a friend who cuts regular sized rolls in half (which I find obscene) but she would have fainted at the sight of these... If it wasn't for the sake, and service I may have rated it lower. I didn't try the hot foods... so I can't speak to those, but I don't think the sushi itself is anything to jump up and down out. I sure miss good sushi...
(3)Nadia M.
Came to Yoo Mae for the first time in years on Saturday, and I have clearly been missing out. Although it looks somewhat suspect from the outside the ambiance is actually cozy, and it is a nice place to enjoy a quiet meal. John, our server, was very nice and professional, and the sushi was by far the best I have had in the Springs. The spicy tuna and salmon rolls are delicious, and have a real kick. I highly reccommend the sashimi plate for one, the 12 pieces are enough to share and the fish is so fresh it melts in your mouth.
(5)Albert H.
I had the Audi R8 (it's the name of a roll) and their teriyaki chicken plate. The R8 was decent, but the chicken was lame... it did not seem fresh at all. The chicken was hard and dry. The entire meal with unsweetened iced tea was approximately $35 with tip (i think..). Not worth it.
(3)Chris H.
My friends and I were going to go get %50 sushi at Fujiyama this past Monday, but we were a little late which means they were swamped with people with the wait time being 45 minutes. So we decided to go down the street to Yoo Mae instead. I have only had sushi 4 or 5 times and so I can't give 5 stars due to my lack of experience, but this stuff was delicious! The prices were pretty good too at around $5 for a cheaper roll. The spicy salmon and umari(I think that's what it is called haha) were delicious and the free soup before the meal was a nice touch
(4)