A Japanese restaurant opened by Chinese. Had a Nabe Yaki Udon as lunch. The noodle soup and the shrimp tempura were both flavorless and the vegetable in it was not fresh. Please do not open a restaurant when you cannot tell whether a dish is tasty or not! Totally disappointed, don't know why the score on Yelp is so high.
(1)
Matt R.
Met up with a couple old friends here while in from out of town. After living in Boston for four years I never really ventured out into the burbs much...and I really have no good excuse. The restaurant was about a 10-15 min drive from Boston and well worth it. Highlights: 1. BYOB with no corkage fee. 2. The nasu dengaku eggplant appetizer - comes out piping hot and is delish. 3. The Smileboston Roll - invented by the friends of mine at Smileboston. Overall, the sushi tasted fresh and we all had a great time.
(4)
Chris C.
Not really a huge fan of this place. The service was subpar, keep in mind that this place is BYOB. For the food, I think the chef had an off night. It seemed like every single piece of sushi was falling apart as soon as we touched it, half of the meal was still left on the plate which is not what you want when you are eating sushi. Also we ordered the scallop roll and it came smothered in some mayo sauce, and I mean smothered, you better like mayo with your scallops. Overall, my experience here was extremely disappointing. Not sure this place deserves the four star rating. Might be some real generous reviews or they just had an off night, I'll chalk it up to an off night but I won't be back.
(2)
Timna N.
We made reservations for a birthday, so we wanted special seating. There was a party before us that took their time but we were seated in a different area until then. It is BYOB so we enjoyed that and they warmed up our Sake for us. They were super accommodating and stayed open later than usual on a Sunday evening for us. The food was delicious, the spicy scallop roll had been recommended in a previous review so we ordered that as well as the Naruto roll because me and my husband are fans of the Anime . Also ordered the Udon soup with everything in it. Fantastic. Quick service great food and atmosphere. Will come here again.
(5)
Francis W.
Good food, but i believe it is Wellesley prices for quality that is just a tad below the pricing. The bento box was great value, but the sashimi dinner fell a bit short of spectacular. It had some fish that I had not seen before and was hoping someone would explain what I was eating. Otherwise the service was good. The food comes out quickly. Its a good spot in the area, but nothing I would make a special trip to.
(4)
Reid F.
We've had mostly sushi there, so I can't really comment on the cooked food. The sushi is very good, but not as good as Oishii. However, a major factor in their favor is that they are a BYO with no corkage fee.
(4)
Victoria B.
This place has great food but inconsistent service. They start you out with a warm wet cloth to wash your hands which is always nice (especially in the the winter months) and some veggies to snack on. It sometimes takes a bit to get the waitress which is why I only gave them 4 stars because if we're just talking about the food 5 for sure. This place has THE BEST roll I've had in my life so far: SALMON SALAD MAKI. I'm telling you the best tasting roll I've ever had. Highly recommended. Idk what they do but that roll tastes so good. Go to Yama and try the salmon salad maki. You will not regret it.
(4)
Kim M.
My team at work ordered delivery from Yama for lunch last week to celebrate my coworker's birthday - BE ADVISED - we ordered through Yelp which uses Delivery.com and it took an hour and a half for a place that is only 10 minutes away from our office. An hour is generally my limit on waiting for delivery so it was quite annoying but I can't entirely blame the restaurant. I found out later (during our wait) that you could also order Yama through GrubHub or some other food delivery site/app - I recommend doing that instead of via Yelp; hopefully it's faster. The way they present the dragon-related rolls are cute; however, I found the color of the sushi meat to have that "washed out"/pale color versus the bright colors I normally associate with sushi. I ordered and Kappa Maki (cucumber) plus avocado ($1 extra) and the King Roll (tuna inside, salmon on top). Average quality sushi at an affordable price. I will say they do have great vegetable tempura though.
(3)
Angelica L.
Growing up in greater Boston in the early 90's this was one of the only sushi places I can remember. It has withstood the test of time by constantly providing good service, delicious food and a clean comfortable atmosphere without trying to be over trendy. Favorites - shrimp tempura role and the Red Sox role- their sashimi is also always fresh and satisfying Everything on their menu is great and they have awesome lunch special deals too!
(5)
Catherine W.
Ordered several of their lunch specials as a takeout when I was in the area for a group. Generous portions than I've experienced for other Japanese lunch specials, and the quality was good. We ordered the Yama Bento Box (the "special"), Chicken teriyaki, California roll, and the Yaki Udon. The Yaki Udon was a little soupy for my own personal taste (I usually like it a little more stir-fried, but of course every restaurant has a slightly different take on this). The restaurant is on a 2nd floor of a small strip on a busy street. I found street parking right in front. Inside was cute decor and very clean, though small. Would try again if I was in the area.
(4)
Ina K.
The only good thing about this place is that it delivers to Babson when you're craving noodles or sushi. Food is not cooked very well, and it doesn't taste like real Japanese food. I don't really know what to add except that the food whatever... Service is whatever too.
(2)
Robyn B.
One of my favorite restaurants in Wellesley. Everything is so fresh and delicious. The service is friendly and attentive. The sushi is awesome!! I've also tried the udon and chicken teriyaki, which were also good. But the sushi wins. Especially the dragon roll.
(5)
Penelope C.
I love this restaurant! The service is very good, the waiters/waitresses are very nice, and the food is excellent. Also, the bathrooms are nice. It is a great place to go with a group or just for a quick snack. You can also have a nice lunch or dinner sitting on a special platform looking out the window.
(5)
Samuel H.
Lots of people will rave about this place but I find it simply ok. There is better sushi to be found in the area.
(3)
Heather M.
Great place to get sushi in Wellesley. Authentic Japanese! They are gluten free friendly when you tell them about your dietary restrictions. I have gone here with my family and then again for a date. Great place for either one! This place has an authentic Japanese vibe, it reminds me of Tokyo where I spent sometime this summer.
(5)
Heather R.
Best sushi around. Friendly service, fair prices, very fresh. Worth a drive from anywhere in Boston. BYOB which allows you to focus on the fabulous food.
(5)
Amy M.
Once you find Yama (hidden above a row of lackluster Wellesley stores), get over the long wait to be seated (make reservations -- always!), and squeeze your way through the busy dining room... you'll fall in love with Yama. My first time here, I sat at the sushi bar since it was super busy. But I got to see the chefs prepare platters and sushi boats -- it was the perfect way to find out what looked appealing. The sushi is amazing, especially once you've tried a few things on the menu. The staff is super friendly, even in the middle of a busy dinner shift. Some things to note: Yama is BYOB, so you won't find drinks on the menu. Make reservations, even when you think "it won't be busy"... it's always busy here. Avoid delivery (quality doesn't compare to in-house, but it's still good). Finally, if you're looking for an intimate/quiet experience, find somewhere else.
(5)
Dmitry Z.
Tried their ramen - a reportedly new item on the menu. Bottom line: ramen must be cooked by a Japanese cook, not by a Chinese one. The broth tasted like.... like nothing special at all. Neither salty nor not salty. Neither sweet nor no. Neither spicy nor flat. Definitely not like a real ramen broth should taste. The maki was ok. The porcupine roll was over-over-over-salty (probably because of the mayo).
(3)
Sam S.
Fresh-tasting (but ultimately, made me sick) deluxe sashimi AFTER the server brought me a platter of deluxe sushi that I did not order. My sister's order did not arrive. After 45 minutes, we asked the server where her order was. But the server had never placed her order. When the soup finally arrived, it was terrible, with ingredients that were not fresh. The service was awful. I am sorry to say that we will never return. (Last summer, it was one of our favorite restaurants.)
(1)
Silvia V.
I dined at Yama twice so far. It's a Japanese restaurant in the burbs so I had low expectations before I went there the first time. The food is okay, but nothing to write home about. The service was rushed. The miso soup was cold, the green tea is made with a tea bag, the makis are either half hot or half cold and the flavors are not that good. The fish is not super fresh either. I think I am ruined by Fugakyu, because no other Japanese restaurant lives up to it for me, in New England at least. So my review for Yama is "Meh. I've experienced better."
(2)
Jessica W.
Yama is the best sushi restaurant in the metrowest area, not to mention its long history. The fish there is always fresh, the quality is never dissatisfied you. They have the decent service and warm host, the most important thing is the price is really reasonable. They also have the special table tatami in the back, which is an unforgettable dining in experience.
(5)
Daniel B.
The Boston area has many, many sushi restaurants. Yama is unique (for me) because the food quality is completely consistent: literally every piece of fish over the past 10+ years has been fresh and tasty. The dishes are not as creative as (say) Daikanyama or the mighty O Ya, but the staples are top quality. You will NOT get a "fishy-tasting" piece of hamachi here: it's sweet and fresh. There are plenty of "decent" sushi places closer to my home, but I'll travel to Wellesley for the quality. Yama has never let me down in over 40 visits.
(5)
Grace B.
Not amazing food, but with limited options in the close location, I keep going back. The teriyaki noodles are very good but the sushi- not so much.
(3)
Katie M.
Had a great meal here while visiting Boston. It's a casual spot, and has a great lively vibe, perfect for a relaxed evening out with my mom & sister. We ordered a ton of food (probably too much), but nearly everything we had was excellent. My favorite rolls were the Gokudo Maki (mackerel with ginger and scallions) and the Caterpillar Roll, and the ikura and tobiko sushi pieces were very tasty. I tend to judge sushi places from the quality of their uni (sea urchin), and I will note that it tasted pretty funky here - cold & musty. Gross. However, since everything else we ordered was fantastic, I don't think that piece of uni should tarnish my opinion of the generally excellent quality of food here. Service was notably great and I would definitely come back - BYOB woot woot!
(4)
Mindy S.
I am a satisfied and returning customer to Yama. Very fresh delicious sushi and a fantastic variety. My favorite is the Sushi Regular mix from the dinner menu that comes with Miso soup and salad. It's a pretty good deal. I highly recommend Yama.
(5)
Aleksandr C.
I love Sushi and this is one of the best for Sushi. It is a nice hidden gem. The place is nice and the atmosphere is great. It has the authentic Japanese feel to it. The staff is always friendly and the food is prepared fresh and in a timely manner. They do not have alcohol here but they do have the next best thing, B.Y.O.B, that's right. You are welcome to bring your own booze and have a nice night with friends. The place is somewhat pricey, but you pay for the quality of the food which is outstanding. One of the best spot for Sushi hands down. You do not have to take my word for it, just visit the place yourself and you be the judge.
(5)
Jeremy W.
A really god place for Japanese Cuisine. I got a dinner combo and it was a lot of food and was very full! I really like the decor of the restaurant too, really clean and designed really well. I came here a very long time ago, and then came recently again and it has definitely gotten better over the years. You have to walk upstairs for the restaurant which may confuse first time newbies.
(4)
Nicole C.
The rice was the most flavorful part of my meal. Got chicken teriyaki that seemed boiled, with no detectable amount of teriyaki sauce. It was presented over a bed of similarly flavorless lo mein noodles -- first time I've seen that combination before. The fire dragon maki was passable but not good. Both that and the crunchy roll supposedly had tempura, so I expected a contrast of textures, but they were mushy with salt as the predominant flavor. The mush may have been a result of the two hours it took for my food to be delivered. They called to let me know about the delay and waived the RIDICULOUS $7 delivery fee, but it was late even after telling me that it would arrive in "no longer than" thirty extra minutes. I feel very sorry for anyone who thinks this food is worthy of 4 or 5 stars. Please get out of Wellesley and eat real sushi. (I have yet to find food worth eating in Wellesley...this adds yet another disappointment to the list.)
(1)
Len C.
I have been to Yama several times over the years I have had both the sushi and the dinners. Always a good meal and friendly service. They do not rush you. The Restaurant is always clean with good pricing.
(4)
Melissa D.
This is now my go to sushi place for the suburbs! Service and food was spectacular. Located where Route 16 and Route 9 meet in Wellesley, you need to find street parking but on a Saturday night, it wasn't hard to find a spot. It looks like a lot of locals come by as the managers and owners talked with a lot of customers. The servers are in traditional kimonos. It is a BYOB spot so my brother and I brought Asahi to further enjoy the experience. The menu is huge and we went for their special rolls. Since I'm a sports fan, we ordered the Bruins, Patriots, Red Sox and Celtics rolls. They were all great! Highly recommend the Red Sox, and Bruins out of our choices. The rolls are thinner than what I'm used to but the fish was so fresh and the rice was cooked perfectly. Price was definitely reasonable, with the special rolls around the $9 range. service is kind of slow so not a place if you are looking to get in and out. Highly recommended though!
(5)
Anna C.
I went to this place few weeks ago simply because it was close for me at my friend and our main reason for choosing it was that we both love sushi and a LOTS of wine:))) The atmosphere was friendly, the stuff very nice and food was a good quality. A lot of local people were coming by for takeout but we were pleased to be seated at the nice corner table and we felt great . I would totally recommend this place for a casual party . The location is very convenient and there is plenty of parking space.
(3)
Austin J. A.
We've been regulars at Yama for over a year, and by "regulars" I mean "I eat at Yama at least once a week." My typical lunch at Yama is an alligator roll, the sushi lunch special (8 pieces of nigiri, 1 tuna roll, miso soup and a salad), and some hot green tea. It's Yama that is flexible with my schedule; when I need to get out the door in under an hour, I'm able to do that, but when I am able to linger, I get to linger. I think my regular server - who is a gem of a human being - has a sixth sense about these things. No matter where I lived in this area, I would go out of my way to come to Yama. For one thing, the staff is all really friendly. The food is always remarkably consistent. After many visits, I can't tell you a single visit that's been poor, or one time that they had a miss on their quality, or even that a server was having a crappy day. And for another thing? That alligator roll is something special. Shrimp tempura wrapped in nori and rice, topped with avocado and broiled eel in sauce. It's warm, crisp, flavorful, and hits all the right notes. It's my second favorite sushi after salmon nigiri, which is unbeatable. The best part about Yama, for me, is that it is versatile. It's not just for a quick, two-person lunch date. We've eaten at Yama on several different special occasions: the most memorable visits being for a ten-person birthday party, a five-person birthday party, and a four-person birthday party. It's a nice place to have a good-sized party, because it's welcoming and big enough inside. I still haven't eaten in their tatami area, which is sunken and lovely next to the window in back, but I want to. I would recommend Yama to anyone who was bringing a non-sushi-eater out for a meal; there's plenty of other food to choose from, and since a number of their rolls are cooked, I've seen people who "don't eat sushi" dive in and enjoy. I prefer to come in to eat, because I usually order at least some cooked rolls, and they are best when eaten immediately. So when I get delivery, I usually order nigiri and cold rolls. I've picked up hot rolls with no problem, though. Among their other outstanding-to-my-mouth offerings is the Red Sox maki, which is red tuna, tempura flake, yellowtail, scallion, tobiko and I think avocado. It's very pleasant and satisfying, and again, the tempura flake is always spot-on (plus, good tuna). We've had their soft-shell crab in several different rolls, which is a big deal because I have never before found that form of crab to be delicious; I believe that it's the tempura treatment that won me over. Their sashimi is excellent, fresh, and plated nicely. Also? I strongly recommend their fried ice cream. It's covered in thin-thin pound cake, battered, and then flash-fried. It is the size of a softball. Bring a friend! If you want to see (and touch, for luck) an old-school tanuki statue and get some gashapon after a satisfying Japanese food meal, come to Yama. If you have trouble parking in the tiny lot or on the street, don't panic. Just park past the gas station, or straight through the set of lights, or maybe even in the old Whole Foods parking lot. Most importantly, don't ever forget that Yama closes for a few hours in between lunch and dinner, at around 2:30PM, because you will be a sad squirrel if you psych yourself up for a trip and are temporarily thwarted!
(5)
Kun C.
It is one of my family favor place. The food is good, especially the noodle is my favor. Staff is friendly. Services is good. It is a small place on second floor but it is been there for more than ten years. I like it.
(4)
Melissa N.
Yama is my absolute favorite sushi restaurant, bar none! Yes, it's on the second floor of an office building. What of it? Yes, Fugakyu is also spectacular. But as good as Yama? Not in my opinion! Things I love: - I have to start with the fact that Yama is BYOB, and there's no corkage fee. I love picking up tall cans of Sapporo at the liquor store, loading up the cooler, and heading over to Yama for an evening of delicious food and (sort of) free booze. - Before the meal, you always get a free dish of carrots and celery with Russian dressing for dipping. It's a lovely starter. - They bring over hot towels after you sit, which makes the meal a more elegant experience. - The soft shell crab tempura appetizer is dynamite! It's hot, crunchy, savory, and the crab meat is so tender. You may want to order two if you have 4+ people in your party. - Other appetizers: the seaweed salad, tuna tataki, and shrimp tempura appetizers are all excellent. The steamed shrimp shumai is delicious, and it's served with yellow mustard for dipping. I know it sounds weird, but it actually complements the shumai perfectly! - Three words: SPICY SCALLOP ROLL. How can I emphasize this enough? It's my favorite sushi roll of all time. The inside of the roll is avocado and cucumber, and the six pieces are heavily topped with piping hot, rich, spicy cooked scallops. You'll want to lick the plate. - Other great rolls include the crunchy roll (to die for), caterpillar, fire dragon, Red Sox maki, and spider web. - They have two unique tables for special occasions. The seats are set into the floor and you have to take your shoes off. It's fun and festive! - Yama's wasabi is whipped, so it dissolves very easily into the soy sauce with minimal stirring. - The fried ice cream is a decadent treat for dessert! I like the green tea flavor. Things that could be improved: - Yama can be a bit rigid with substitutions. I used to come here with a friend for lunch, and I liked to order the sashimi lunch special. My one request was that I don't like the "white fish" that sometimes ended up on the plate. Each time I asked them to leave it off, I was met with resistance. Why not just substitute it for another piece of equally-priced fish? They were peeved even when I offered to pay extra. A couple tips: - Definitely make a reservation, otherwise you could be in for a wait. - If you want your sushi served in one of those wooden sushi boats, make sure to ask! I personally love the sushi boat (or sushi cruise ship, as we call it in my family), so I always request one. Otherwise they might bring the sushi on a series of white platters. All in all, I highly recommend Yama for amazing sushi and a fun experience! If you don't live in the area, you won't regret the trek to Wellesley. It's also right off of Rt. 9, which is nice.
(5)
Cassandra B.
I have been to Yama many, many times. It is not place I come for trendy atmosphere (the Wellesley address should be your first clue), I come for the great, reasonably priced sushi. The hot food is good, but nothing to write home about. I think that the best items are the specialty rolls (Wellesley, Hawaiian, Crazy, etc.) They have always been delicious. My only complaint is that they are sometimes rolled rather loosely, making them difficult to eat without looking like a fool. That being said, I really enjoy Yama and come here a lot. I eat Yama when I see my family in the suburbs- I do not know if I would take the train in from Boston just to come here, but if you live in the area, Yama is definitely worth a visit.
(4)
HB L.
Favorite roll: Wellesley roll (yummy) Love it!!!!
(5)
Colleen T.
Came here for lunch with a co-worker since I work about 5 minutes away. The decor was lovely and it was cute that the waitresses dressed up in kimonos. Really added that Japanese vibe to it. I was in the mood for sushi, so I chose the shrimp tempura maki. I was a little disappointed because it was literally ONLY shrimp tempura and rice in it... nothing else. I also had the yaki udon noodles with chicken that were kind of bland, but I added soy sauce and chili sauce to it which made it a little better. The waitress wasn't very attentive... there was only one waitress there but then again there were only about 3 tables occupied. Overall my experience was ALRIGHT. Maybe I'll come back and try out the other sushi rolls. The price was pretty decent at least.
(3)
Ray Z.
I like this place, good food, great service!! Only Kenichi in Worcester is better.
(4)
Mat B.
Good Japanese restaurant. Sushi is good and the entrees are delicious. The only thing keeping this from a four star review is the lack of a bar. They do allow BYOB, however.
(3)
Dee T.
My friend and I liked the hot towel upon arrival but the small plate of carrots and celery with mystery sauce felt like their way of saying 'please eat the ends of the veggies that we didn't want to use in our entrees' . Decent prices for all items. The spicy salmon tasted funky especially with asparagus in it (I ended up getting sick from it) and the caterpillar roll was average.
(2)
Jeff B.
I've been going here for years. They have great sushi and I love the lunch boxes. The second floor window seats are great, especially in the back, but they seldom seat there. Also, you can bring your own drinks, not that I have in the longest time.
(4)
Joe J.
I am literally eating Yama right now and it is great! I ordered the Sushi Box combo, and it was plentiful, fresh, and comes with salad and soup! It was only like $11 too! They delivered and it got here in 30 minutes. +1 Yama.
(4)
Leah K.
Discovered Yama while living in Wellesley and I drive out of my way to get sushi there now. It's consistently great!
(5)
Nuala G.
The sushi here is just okay. I wouldn't rave about it. I wish they served beer. Nothing better than eating sushi with a cold beer. Drinking a coke just doesn't do it for me!
(3)
Jennifer W.
Japanese cuisine is my favorite type of food. So having said that, I am very picky when it comes to Japanese cuisine. The food at Yama is nothing special. I ordered Ramen noodles and out came a bowl of soggy, overcooked egg noodles. I was expecting fresh, home made ramen noodles with good texture, but they used egg noodles as substitute and called it ramen noodles. We complained to the waitress, and we overheard the waitress telling the owner about our complaint, but the owner never came over to address the issue and the waitress also ignored the issue. Needless to say, we will not be going back again.
(1)
Victoria C.
Not sure what's up with all those 5 star reviews?! good service, but sushi is just so amateur ! Not impressed at all!
(2)
Liam P.
We eat Yama at least once a week as our local, delivery sushi. Great service, quick, and they always get our order right. Fish is always good but rarely great - but prices are reasonable.
(4)
Jon H.
No joke I eat at this place three times a week? Why? Because long hours at our client in Wellesley means we order dinner every night, and most of us scream and shout for Yama. The delivery is fast and gets it right (even labels the boxes for each person's order), the fish is fresh and doesn't get anybody sick, the variety is great with amazing special rolls that don't skimp on size or ingredients....and the price is reasonable. They start delivering at 5pm, we typically call with a six or more person order of at least 10-15 rolls and various dinner entrees- they almost always get it right and delivered in less than an hour...amazing efficiency. I usually get the fire dragon roll (pretty good), alaskan roll (really good), and the spider roll (awesome b/c of crispy fried crab). Even the avocado is bright green! As for the fish, its pretty fresh and no fishiness to it. The raw fish isn't scary to eat, and the flavors are very non-asian friendly. That being said, there are some pretty good rolls that would please us sushi-regulars and take a few more risks. Five stars for the overall experience. Although it doesn't measure up to a five star for a place like Hide Sushi in LA (a quality expensive sushi bar) or R23, its five star when comparing it to similar places that offer similar food.
(5)
Rick B.
Food was good but atmosphere is lacking. Service good, people nice. No frills but decent.
(4)
Lydia H.
I've been going to Yama since I was in middle school. They serve dependably delicious Japanese cuisine in a quiet, traditional Japanese setting (the waitstaff wear kimonos). I usually get the Chicken Teriyaki, and it's everything I could want in a lunch or dinner, always steaming hot and perfectly cooked, with thick egg noodles and roasted vegetables. Also, the veggie dipping sauce they bring before your order is so tasty.
(4)
Will N.
Great restaurant nestled in the burbs. This wasn't my first trip here, but it was nice to see that much hasn't changed since my last visit. The sushi was great and it is always nice to find a BYOB place in a town like Wellesley. I can't find a gripe about my experience. Well maybe that it is a bit far from Boston
(5)
Christina N.
One of my favorite Japanese restaurants around. The sushi is decent, and their bento boxes are so amazing. You can tell from the salad to the miso soup to the main dish that it's authentic. The service is always good, and I love the atmosphere. The only downside is getting in and out of the strange little parking lot.
(5)
David V.
What would make me hop in the car and drive 30+ minutes out to Wellesley and then have me pull into the parking lot of a nondescript office-looking building along Route 16? It would have to be Yama, a hidden little gem of a sushi place on the second floor of a bland looking building, right above a real estate office offering 3BR ranch homes for $900k. When you first sit down, the waitress brings over piping hot towels, something I've only seen at a couple of high-end sushi places. Next comes to the stalks of carrot and celery with dipping sauce - not really my thing, but a nice gesture. One of the highlights of this place is that it's BYOB - bring in a bottle of beer, sake or wine and they'll open it up and provide you with glasses. I might recommend bringing your own non-alcoholic beverages here too, because they'll charge you for every refill of coke or even soda water! It's rare to find a place that doesn't offer free n/a refills, and it's an unpleasant surprise when you get your bill to see that you've been charged for $8 worth of seltzer. The sushi - fancy maki seems to be the draw here, as they've got over two dozen special rolls ranging from the common (caterpillar, scorpion) to some rather creative ones. The prices are pretty good for the quality as well - all but 3 or 4 of the fanciest rolls featuring lobster and toro are all under $10. I'm more of a nigiri/sashimi kind of guy, and one of my favorite things of all time is simple-but-delicious salmon nigiri. Yama's offering gives you two respectable-sized pieces for $4.50. If you want to splurge a little, I highly recommend the otoro (fatty tuna) sashimi. They offer two pieces of nigiri for $12, or for a few bucks more ($18), you can get 5 decent-sized melt-in-your-mouth pieces of some of the best tuna belly around. The main drawback of Yama, besides the sneaky n/a drink refill policy, is probably with the service. Most of the waitresses are young Asian girls wearing traditional Japanese garb, and usually that means friendly, attentive and speedy service. However, on multiple occasions I've had girls forget part of the order, fail to bring water or other drinks when requested, or forget to bring out something else essential to the meal (soy sauce, for example).
(4)
Allie P.
I'm glad I am not the only one who feels like they are walking into a dentist's office every time they go to Yama... Anyway, my boyfriend and I are huge sushi fans. We have tried sushi all over the city, yet we still believe Yama has some of the best sushi at a great price. We have been there more times than we can count, and have never had a bad experience. On a quiet night, we are always willing to drive the 20 minutes to Wellesley for a nice night of sushi and wine (BYOB!). We have also gone in a large group and sat at the family style table in the back. We bring liquor and they supply juice for us. Always a great time! The owner is very friendly and is always sure to stop by our table to say hi each time we visit. My recommendation: Celtics maki (tuna, asparagus, tempura flakes, fresh salmon, wrapped in a soybean sheet). I tend to judge sushi places based on their spicy tuna roll and it is very good here, perfect proportions of spicy mayo and the tuna is very fresh. For non-sushi lovers: the ginger pork is very good, not too dry (which it can be at other places).
(5)
Allison R.
For Yama, a haiku... Sushi boats abound And you can sit in a pit But bring your own booze
(5)
Arinne B.
I *love* Yama. I'm particularly fond of their seaweed salad, salmon salad maki, eel avocado rolls, and sweet potato rolls. The ambiance is family-friendly and clean, and the service is attentive. Parking can be tricky as it's metered parking in front and an oddly-shaped lot that often fills up quickly. That lot is generally your better bet though. Please note--if you're planning on ordering delivery, you should be aware that it takes almost twice as long as it would to pick it up. Our family's standard order is ready in 20-30 mins. for pick up and is usually between an hour and hour and a half when being delivered. We usually pick-up rather than deal with the uncertainty. I find their vegetarian roll too big to eat without dropping in my lap. I had some yaki udon noodles the other day that were satisfying but a bit bland. I plan to stick with my sushi faves! We had a birthday bash last year and were delighted that they lent us a sushi boat to take home with us and serve the many yummy rolls we ordered for friends. It's the only good sushi place we've found out in the 'burbs.
(5)
C C.
Sushi and sashimi quality is average, but service was awful. They served apple juice to a 3 yr old toddler in wine glass!! Once it was spilled (of course), the waitress watches us scramble to contain the spill, but goes on with her business! On top of that, it took 45 minutes to get basic sushi rolls -- probably because of the takeout business since the restaurant was not busy. Not worth the hassle for average sushi.
(1)
Matthew A.
I just love Japanese food. Sushi menu is a bit more diverse than other places. Everything is so clean and fresh here. I always get the vegetable tempura as I find it addicting. Here once can actually sit on the FLOOR in the traditional Japanese style. Its BYOB so stop at the packie for some sake before you come.
(4)
G K.
great fresh sushi. Many different types of rolls. The Red Sox roll has great flavor and different textures.
(4)
Vivian L.
Cute restaurant in a unexpected location (2nd floor, next to business offices). They even have tables where you can sit on the ground! The service here is pretty good but not super duper fast. The sushi here is great and they have a decent variety of rolls. I like the fact that since it's a small restaurant, the sushi is made to order so it's fresh! I also tried the bento box here for lunch once. Half of it was delicious but half of it was meh. It felt slightly "westernized" to me (my miso soup was served with a soup spoon, *shrug*). I'd order again if I was in a bento box mood. Other than that, I'm sticking with their sushi.
(4)
Meems D.
Oh yama...why does it feel like I'm going to the dentist's office when I go to your little place? Went there for lunch yesterday and I can say, it wasn't busy at all and yet the wait for sushi was at least 40 minutes long...and what was absolutely most shocking and utterly depressing....the place doesn't serve any alcohol what-so-ever!!! Honestly, I don't know how a Japanese restaurant can function without serving some good ole' Sake!!! and charge you for tea...it's preposterous!!
(3)
Shaun S.
Went there on a Saturday at like 5:00 pm, the place was dead. Figured it had to be the restaurant, well it wasn't we actually just beat the early bird crowd. The waitress was very friendly, this was a different experience for the girlfriend and I. They leave a pencil and a list of maki and sushi you want; you write it down and choose. We choose Spicy Albacore Tuna Roll, Crazy Roll, Rising Sun, and Salmon Salad Maki. I will rate it from best to worst ( worst not actually being bad but not the best) Rising Sun, Crazy Roll, Salmon Salad, and Tuna. Tuna was not well put together and couldn't really enjoy the flavor. I seriously recommend the Rising Sun if you love Salmon it was very well put together and tasted great. Made me want more This place is very good, No alcohol but i drink water mostly so this wasn't a big problem. Come try out the doctors office i mean Yama if you are in the Wellesley area. ONLY ISSUE IS THE SIZES OF THE ROLLS VARY! ANNOYING TRYING TO EAT . AMERICAN SIZED ROLLS then Skinny rolls lol But OGA in natick is better
(4)
Alex B.
I'm a little confused by the buzz about this place. Anyways I'll just stick to my two experiences. My larger gripe was that the spicy scallop roll came out with like 3 lbs of mayo sauce drenched over everything... um I'm a huge mayo / spicy sauce lover to the point I've been made fun of for overdoing it but this was just gross. Couldn't just wipe it off either as the scallops were in the sauce not the roll. Everywhere else I've been its a roll just like a spicy tuna roll but with scallop and in most cases, yes, some spicy mayo built in (which I usually like). The other weird thing was asparagus instead of cuke or avocado in my spicy salmon roll. Just didn't dig it. The rolls were very small. My other gripe is that I find the lunch specials very lacking- no obvious choices / deals like Fugakyu or my other favorites (usually looking for something with a spicy tuna maki / boston maki / soup salad or something like that). I know this is Wellesley but if the price is higher I expected something better - when I grabbed a piece of salmon sashimi from my buddy's bowl it tasted fishy which was the last straw.
(2)
Hugh E.
Love love love. Our family fave. VERY fresh and tasty. Reasonable pricing. Sashimis are very generous and super fresh. No kids menu, but they are very kid friendly and accommodating. Mellow, but efficient.
(4)
Sasha R.
I wanna say this is one of the first places I had sushi whilst acquiring a taste for it when I was a dreamy youth. Haven't been in years, though, and coming back felt a little surreal, but there I was. Still the same strange location in an office building on the 2nd floor, and still the same waitresses in kimonos, flip flops and socks. They seem to be adjusting to the new trend of fancy rolls with creative combinations that original sushi probably never dreamed of, but it works. Fish is fresh, and whatever they mix up tastes good without any risk of implosion once in your stomach. Service a bit slow, though. Another huge plus: a BYOB. Booze it up! They hand you a glass and a corkscrew/bottle opener. Knock yourself out. Conclusion: decent!
(4)
Michael S.
Yama ! This is a great Japanese/Sushi restaurant. Not a conventional restaurant as it looks strangely like a Real Estate office as you enter the commercial building's 2nd floor. But don't let that fool you. Yama has some great service, all the waitresses are dressed the part and very friendly. The sushi and non-sushi dishes are very good........and it is BYOB. I can't argue with that. The Red Sox Rolls and Gyoza dumplings are darn tasty.
(4)
R B.
Very nice interior. Good prices. Nothing special otherwise. They've got the tatami tables in back. Nice place.
(3)
nicole z.
Who knew Wellesley had such a cute little, reasonably priced sushi place?! We love it here! We discovered it less than month ago and have already been twice---both weeknights! The food is fresh, the service is great. Everyone here has been very sweet and friendly. As mentioned in previous reviews, upon being seated the server brings you carrots and celery with dressing, it is a nice add on to have that extra munch while you are deciding what to order. I also thought that the warm towels were a nice gesture. Don't be fooled by this tucked in restaurant with the elevator, it is soooo good. Oh and if you like a little crunch, seaweed, and spicy tuna, the Tuna Tata - what it's called on their menu- is quite possibly the best I have ever had! :) 5 stars! Keep it up Yama!!!!
(5)
Zoe S.
Decent sushi... not as good as some other local places.
(4)
Loan L.
Very good, very fresh. I always base how fresh the food is after i have an ikura with quail egg. The ikura was fresh, well flavored, and did not have an ooey stickiness that some places have that are not fresh. We came in around 3pm on a Sunday after we saw a matinee and the place only had one couple. After we sat down, people started showing up. Maybe everyone else saw the same matinee we did. We ordered the scallop roll, spicy tuna maki, unagi roll and the ikura. Everything was reasonably priced and like I said, very fresh and very good. The other bonus I like about this place is that there is FREE PARKING!!! There is a little lot adjacent to the restaurant. We will definitely come back.
(5)
Lindsey V.
One of my favorites. I am a regular here, and would compare it to a Douzo quality or other top quality Boston sushi restaurant (maybe the rolls are not quit are decadent). Either way, the fire dragon roll, salmon salad roll.. and many others are better than anywhere I have been. Better yet, even the sashimi is just top quality. The fish is also extremely fresh, never fishy.. I am someone who has a hard time ever eating store bought sushi, and even some sashimi at standard restaurants.. but here everything is as fresh and tasty as possible. Giving this 5 stars! You just have to bring your own wine...
(5)
Saba N.
love this place! Cute and cozy on the inside. The sushi is totally unique, and made to order! A little over priced but a great spot overall. Plus, you can BYOB! A definite hidden gem in Wellesley.
(4)
David F.
Outstanding, superb quality and attention to detail, and with tamari (of note to gluten free patrons). Not inexpensive but very much worth it. In our familial assessment of places in the area, it's our only five star sushi in the area west of downtown/backbay/Brookline.
(5)
Sara C.
This is my favorite sushi place- their rolls are the best, bar none! Spicy salmon, red sox and fire dragon rolls are not to be missed. They also carry blue marlin, which is very hard to find in this area. Besides my addiction to their delicious and perfectly sized rolls, the thing that keeps me coming back is the value. You can find cheaper sushi other places and you can find better quality fish, but the quality you get here for the price you pay has never been beaten in my experience.
(5)
Juggy W.
I still don't get the average 4 star rating on yelp for this place. The price is high for what you get and I totally got scammed by the "Firecraker Salmon"... for $6.95 its nothing but finger sized spring rolls stuffed with steamed salmon... the description made it sound like its wrapped with fresh salmon then deep fried... how deceiving. Also... I found it ironic that all these jap places are actually flooded with chinese waitresses/owners... almost all the waitresses at Yama are chinese... same thing for fugakyu and sushi man... sometimes i feel like they are posers... even though its just a part of the business.
(3)
Alison Y.
Very mediocre food!!! I ordered the chicken teriyaki bento and my friend ordered the Tonkatsu. Chicken looked like it came out of the microwave and put on a George Foreman grill for the marks. There was no marinade and the sauce they provided on the side was just horrible. My friend's Tonkatsu was overcooked and dry. Very lousy Japanese food because the owners and chefs are not Japanese, so therefore not authentic. Do yourself a favor and eat at Toraya in Arlington that is authentic Japanese. Blows the doors off this place.
(1)
Julie A.
I don't know about this place. The positives... -nice friendly staff -cute atmosphere -nice selection of a menu -prices are OK negatives.... -the Teriyaki tofu is nasty -the shrimp tempura ain't so hot -the sushi is at best ok -the salmon teriyaki is off. -I have had 3 meals here and feel ill after every one of them. -servers can be slow
(3)
Hannah M.
Decent. Certainly not remarkable by any means. My husband and I went to celebrate my birthday and our cute and kimono-y waitress brought out a tempura birthday banana - nice touch, too bad I don't like bananas :( We had shrimp and veggie tempura, spicy salmon roll, miso, and salads. Tempura was OK, sauce was quite bland. Spicy salmon roll was good, but totally falling apart and hard to eat. Miso was delish. Salads were eh. We'll keep looking for our fav. Japanese restaurant. I say, if you're in Wellesley and craving Japanese, Yama is a fine bet, but don't go out of your way to go.
(3)
Mitchell P.
This is probably some of the worst sushi i have ever had. the quality of the fish is below average, their hand rolls are not that great. just not a great place typical wellesley bad food. slim pickins on good eats in Wellesley.
(1)
GORMET TEEN R.
My friend and I saw the sign for yama while we were walking in town roaming for something to eat for lunch. When we got there We were greeted by waving plastic cats and... a dead restaurant. At 12:00 the restaurant was empty except for one table. Everything was going great...until we saw the menu. For a two piece sushi p[ate...yeah that's right TWO PIECE it was over 10$ for most dishes. In order to actually eat enough to nourish our starving bodies we would have to pay 50$ each! We didn't have enough cash for this, and we were saving up anyway. The actual meals and things we really wanted were 20$ and even in the menu's pictures looks tiny... it was like "honey I shrunk the kids" meets "who want's to be a millionaire" My friends and I felt trapped... we couldn't just walk out! we had already had some of the free celery and water the waitress had brought us. It was one thing if the restaurant was busy, but we were one of the only people in the huge restaurant! The only thing we could afford was the fried icecream... so we just ordered it so we could get out of there! we ordered fried green tea icecream (one scoop was 5.50 however) it was delicious! The green tea icecream was fragrant and actually tasted like complex,aromatic tea. The fried casing was perfectly crispy! Although the icecream was a little hard. we then went to maugus and had pancakes at 1:00 in the afternoon!
(2)
Brian K.
Having grown up in Swells, I must say I am a bit partial to YAMA although the sushi is amazing. I love all the maki here especially the fire dragon roll, spider roll and all of the special rolls are unreal! This place beats any over priced and over hyped sushi place closer to Boston. Go here now! Sit in the back where you take your shoes off, relax, take in the music and BYOB and Wine! Enjoy!
(5)
Suzanne F.
Not bad for a suburban sushi joint. I don't quite like the fact that you enter through an office lobby that's kind of moldy-smelling and reminds me of being at work - but once you get upstairs and into the restaurant, it's fine. I would not say that the quality is as good as New Ginza in Watertown, but it's much easier to get into Yama on a Friday night - forget Ginza, you'll wait at least an hour. And yes, do stop off for a bottle of sake on your way.
(3)
Angela M.
We went here lastnight for dinner. It was disappointing. First of all, upon walking in the restaurant, I felt like I was walking into a playroom. There were brightly colored, shiny decorations all over, and the lighting was weird--I don't know how to describe it, other than it made me feel like I was walking into an arcade, or something. The food was, ok...I have definitely had better in the area. The fish wasn't the freshest, and I ordered Udon, and the noodles were hard in some spots, definitely not what I expected. The place is just strange--we are big fans of New Ginza in Watertown, and Fugakyu in Brookline--I think we'll just stay with those places for now.
(2)
S Y.
I cannot comment on the location or service or any physical aspect of this place because I've only ordered in about 28109 times. The service is sooo slow, it takes about 45 minutes to get to me and I have a knack of ordering when the weather is shit, which may have something to do with them getting lost all the time. Considering we're only about 10 minutes away and the only other college in the area, this makes no sense to me. The food, however, is superb. It comes in these little boxes that they'll cut air holes so that the tempura doesn't get soggy. I always get the almond chicken with peanut sauce, which is an appetizer so it's perfect for my small stomach. It seems like rice doesn't come with orders so order separately if you want. I think the best part is that they have an assortment of good sushi and they'll even make you a roll the way you like it if you ask. Miso soup also comes with the order. I always end up spending about $25 by myself, which isn't too bad I suppose for the amount of food I get (sushi roll + rice + miso soup + chicken + tempura ice cream). Try the fried ice cream if you can!
(5)
Rebecca Y.
I was really impressed with the freshness and menu options. While spicy tuna is my mark of a sushi restaurant that keeps bringing me back, I'm still wishing we ordered more white tuna and marlin. Yeah, marlin. Very cool to see something new on a sushi menu in this town. Admittedly, I'm the girl that ALWAYS orders spicy tuna and salmon sushi, but from there I like to branch out and not just to snapper. For the super-adventurous they had even more unique options: raw scallops and I'm pretty sure that sign said 'fish liver maki' but perhaps I read wrong. OK, so I didn't try those, but again, I give them high marks for unique options.
(5)
Andrew M.
We've been getting takeout from here for a while now--it's certainly decent food and it gave me at least a little taste of what Japanese food is supposed to be. My sisters really like the ginger pork.
(4)
Scott C.
Excellent sushi. Service is OK, parking is tough. See lots of negative comments about the sushi, but hey it's expensive everywhere, especially if you want it fresh. Key is not to order alacarte. Order the rolls and sushi/sashimi combo plates for value. With a bit of sushi, rice, salad & miso soup you can fill up!
(4)
josh k.
Go here! simple enough for you? I was new in town looked for sushi in the phone book (this was before yelp existed) and found Yama, been going there ever since. All the usual favorites, but also recommend the Wellesley roll, Red Sox roll, and Celtics Roll. And don't be afraid to tell them you want to design your own. Seriously I have never hurt myself on sushi like I have here, and never enjoyed it so much. Plus there's a Starbucks on the route as you head back toward 128, to top off a good outing... In fact i think I need a hit.
(5)
Isaac D.
Amazing sushi! To reiterate some of what others have said; the location is a bit unconventional, it IS BYOB (though they do keep your beer in the fridge and uncork the wine for you), and it is delicious. Some of the rolls seemed a little unconventional, like a specific scallop roll whose name escapes me with a yellow sauce that could have been butter and cheese for all I know, it was delicious. Our group of 8 was there for around an hour and a half, the service was great, the fact that our 2 full boats of sushi took less than 20 minutes to make on top of all the other orders there is also amazing. The atmosphere was great, traditional layout with old traditional asian sounding music. This is still the kind of place you don't have to dress fancy to unless you want to. The sushi bar seats do have a view at a very tiny TV which was showing the red sox. I would recommend the trip to anyone.
(5)
Anna P.
A really great sushi place in the suburbs - I'm jealous of the Wellesley kids being so close to it! You would never really think of it as a great place as it is in the top floor of an office building barely noticeable from the street. It's a typical sushi place in terms of decor inside. However, it's distinguishing factor is the food. They have absolutely amazing sushi! And trust me, I've been around the sushi block! I would highly recommed their signature spicy scallop rolls! they also have very original rolls names after Boston sports teams. Just a note, they dont serve alcohol but do BYOB.
(5)
Azzara O.
I've only had the Yaki Udon noodles with chicken, but I was underwhelmed. The delivery order took almost an hour and a half (after I was told 45 minutes) and the food was nothing special. For $12 ($17 with delivery), I got udon "soup" with basically no soup, very few actual noodles and an overwhelming amount of onions. It tasted pretty good, but if I wanted onions with a garnish of noodles.. I would have ordered that. Very disappointing and I would not order it again. I can't comment on the sushi though...
(2)
Ben T.
weak. lackluster/tasteless appetizers and the sushi rolls were smothered in mayonnaise, or at least one of the rolls we ordered was, smothered, in mayo. the others were average at best. for suburban sushi, would have preferred Mr. Sushi (Arlington).
(2)
Michael T.
I don't think my mother would reveal to anyone how often she eats here. They treat her very well. I've probably been well over a dozen times with her and never had a bad meal.
(4)
Joyce K.
Walking into the building that Yama is located in is like walking into an office building, it's so bizarre, but once you enter the actual restaurant, the ambiance is transformed from annual dental visit anxiety to sushi-in-my-tummy zen. The decor is very light and beautiful. There's a huge kimono hanging from the wall and a fully mirrored wall expands the size of the space (and also confused the hell out of me). Our party of 5 got to sit in the tatami room with the low tables which was really fun. The dwarfish chairs and the Asian floral embroidered cushions are so pretty. Hot towels are given to start and complimentary appetizers of carrots and celery with a fantasmic mayo sauce whetted our appetites as we perused the inventive menu. There are pictures of the special rolls and brown rice is an option (yay!!! yeahhh!!!!). I had the Wellesley roll (lobster meat, sweet potato, radish sprouts, 3 different tobiko, and a honey green tea sauce) and the North & South roll (salmon, avocado, and jalapeno). The house salad was AWESOME. The ginger dressing was smack-on-the-ass right on! The Wellesley roll was a little overwhelming and I usually stick to traditional sushi fare, but props for creativity and a nice medley of flavors. My only regret is Yama's use of tempura flakes in the rolls, ew. The North and South roll was good but not quite the bite I was expecting from the jalapeno. I tried my friend's udon which was cooked so perfectly, the noodles were slippery sex in my mouth (mmm...). The tempura was way too oily (although I do love sweet potato and taro). The experience was perfect and our waitress was the sweetest kimono-ed cutie. I'd love to go again and try some simple rolls and nigiri with the brown rice (whoo hooo!!!).
(4)
Sasha R.
This place used to be the only spot for miles to get good sushi. Now there is a better one, but I still give Yama props for their bento boxes and for introducing suburban Boston to the wonders of raw fish.
(4)
Lindsey M.
My last meal at Yama was mediocre. The edamame was cold and soggy, and sushi overall displeasing. The atmosphere is chill though, they have optional low Japanese tables with traditional floor pillows, which makes for a cozy and very authentic meal. Overall, the place is decent, considering it's located in a lame suburb like Wellesley.. If your in the area and need a sushi fix try them out, if not, don't bother.
(3)
Melissa Y.
Bring your own beer! They'll store it for you too so you can keep it cold while eating. The sushi is good and they have a lot of other different dishes too other than sushi. Prices are decent and they have a small parking lot off to the side but also plenty of parking on the street. When you go in it's a little strange because you have to go upstairs in this office building. Make reservations!
(4)
Josh P.
A very cozy, nice sushi place. The service is very good, and the food is great. The rolls have very cool names after teams and such. I would recommend...um... just about everything.
(4)
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Address :245 Washington St,2nd Fl
Wellesley, MA, 02481
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
Baobao F.
A Japanese restaurant opened by Chinese. Had a Nabe Yaki Udon as lunch. The noodle soup and the shrimp tempura were both flavorless and the vegetable in it was not fresh. Please do not open a restaurant when you cannot tell whether a dish is tasty or not! Totally disappointed, don't know why the score on Yelp is so high.
(1)Matt R.
Met up with a couple old friends here while in from out of town. After living in Boston for four years I never really ventured out into the burbs much...and I really have no good excuse. The restaurant was about a 10-15 min drive from Boston and well worth it. Highlights: 1. BYOB with no corkage fee. 2. The nasu dengaku eggplant appetizer - comes out piping hot and is delish. 3. The Smileboston Roll - invented by the friends of mine at Smileboston. Overall, the sushi tasted fresh and we all had a great time.
(4)Chris C.
Not really a huge fan of this place. The service was subpar, keep in mind that this place is BYOB. For the food, I think the chef had an off night. It seemed like every single piece of sushi was falling apart as soon as we touched it, half of the meal was still left on the plate which is not what you want when you are eating sushi. Also we ordered the scallop roll and it came smothered in some mayo sauce, and I mean smothered, you better like mayo with your scallops. Overall, my experience here was extremely disappointing. Not sure this place deserves the four star rating. Might be some real generous reviews or they just had an off night, I'll chalk it up to an off night but I won't be back.
(2)Timna N.
We made reservations for a birthday, so we wanted special seating. There was a party before us that took their time but we were seated in a different area until then. It is BYOB so we enjoyed that and they warmed up our Sake for us. They were super accommodating and stayed open later than usual on a Sunday evening for us. The food was delicious, the spicy scallop roll had been recommended in a previous review so we ordered that as well as the Naruto roll because me and my husband are fans of the Anime . Also ordered the Udon soup with everything in it. Fantastic. Quick service great food and atmosphere. Will come here again.
(5)Francis W.
Good food, but i believe it is Wellesley prices for quality that is just a tad below the pricing. The bento box was great value, but the sashimi dinner fell a bit short of spectacular. It had some fish that I had not seen before and was hoping someone would explain what I was eating. Otherwise the service was good. The food comes out quickly. Its a good spot in the area, but nothing I would make a special trip to.
(4)Reid F.
We've had mostly sushi there, so I can't really comment on the cooked food. The sushi is very good, but not as good as Oishii. However, a major factor in their favor is that they are a BYO with no corkage fee.
(4)Victoria B.
This place has great food but inconsistent service. They start you out with a warm wet cloth to wash your hands which is always nice (especially in the the winter months) and some veggies to snack on. It sometimes takes a bit to get the waitress which is why I only gave them 4 stars because if we're just talking about the food 5 for sure. This place has THE BEST roll I've had in my life so far: SALMON SALAD MAKI. I'm telling you the best tasting roll I've ever had. Highly recommended. Idk what they do but that roll tastes so good. Go to Yama and try the salmon salad maki. You will not regret it.
(4)Kim M.
My team at work ordered delivery from Yama for lunch last week to celebrate my coworker's birthday - BE ADVISED - we ordered through Yelp which uses Delivery.com and it took an hour and a half for a place that is only 10 minutes away from our office. An hour is generally my limit on waiting for delivery so it was quite annoying but I can't entirely blame the restaurant. I found out later (during our wait) that you could also order Yama through GrubHub or some other food delivery site/app - I recommend doing that instead of via Yelp; hopefully it's faster. The way they present the dragon-related rolls are cute; however, I found the color of the sushi meat to have that "washed out"/pale color versus the bright colors I normally associate with sushi. I ordered and Kappa Maki (cucumber) plus avocado ($1 extra) and the King Roll (tuna inside, salmon on top). Average quality sushi at an affordable price. I will say they do have great vegetable tempura though.
(3)Angelica L.
Growing up in greater Boston in the early 90's this was one of the only sushi places I can remember. It has withstood the test of time by constantly providing good service, delicious food and a clean comfortable atmosphere without trying to be over trendy. Favorites - shrimp tempura role and the Red Sox role- their sashimi is also always fresh and satisfying Everything on their menu is great and they have awesome lunch special deals too!
(5)Catherine W.
Ordered several of their lunch specials as a takeout when I was in the area for a group. Generous portions than I've experienced for other Japanese lunch specials, and the quality was good. We ordered the Yama Bento Box (the "special"), Chicken teriyaki, California roll, and the Yaki Udon. The Yaki Udon was a little soupy for my own personal taste (I usually like it a little more stir-fried, but of course every restaurant has a slightly different take on this). The restaurant is on a 2nd floor of a small strip on a busy street. I found street parking right in front. Inside was cute decor and very clean, though small. Would try again if I was in the area.
(4)Ina K.
The only good thing about this place is that it delivers to Babson when you're craving noodles or sushi. Food is not cooked very well, and it doesn't taste like real Japanese food. I don't really know what to add except that the food whatever... Service is whatever too.
(2)Robyn B.
One of my favorite restaurants in Wellesley. Everything is so fresh and delicious. The service is friendly and attentive. The sushi is awesome!! I've also tried the udon and chicken teriyaki, which were also good. But the sushi wins. Especially the dragon roll.
(5)Penelope C.
I love this restaurant! The service is very good, the waiters/waitresses are very nice, and the food is excellent. Also, the bathrooms are nice. It is a great place to go with a group or just for a quick snack. You can also have a nice lunch or dinner sitting on a special platform looking out the window.
(5)Samuel H.
Lots of people will rave about this place but I find it simply ok. There is better sushi to be found in the area.
(3)Heather M.
Great place to get sushi in Wellesley. Authentic Japanese! They are gluten free friendly when you tell them about your dietary restrictions. I have gone here with my family and then again for a date. Great place for either one! This place has an authentic Japanese vibe, it reminds me of Tokyo where I spent sometime this summer.
(5)Heather R.
Best sushi around. Friendly service, fair prices, very fresh. Worth a drive from anywhere in Boston. BYOB which allows you to focus on the fabulous food.
(5)Amy M.
Once you find Yama (hidden above a row of lackluster Wellesley stores), get over the long wait to be seated (make reservations -- always!), and squeeze your way through the busy dining room... you'll fall in love with Yama. My first time here, I sat at the sushi bar since it was super busy. But I got to see the chefs prepare platters and sushi boats -- it was the perfect way to find out what looked appealing. The sushi is amazing, especially once you've tried a few things on the menu. The staff is super friendly, even in the middle of a busy dinner shift. Some things to note: Yama is BYOB, so you won't find drinks on the menu. Make reservations, even when you think "it won't be busy"... it's always busy here. Avoid delivery (quality doesn't compare to in-house, but it's still good). Finally, if you're looking for an intimate/quiet experience, find somewhere else.
(5)Dmitry Z.
Tried their ramen - a reportedly new item on the menu. Bottom line: ramen must be cooked by a Japanese cook, not by a Chinese one. The broth tasted like.... like nothing special at all. Neither salty nor not salty. Neither sweet nor no. Neither spicy nor flat. Definitely not like a real ramen broth should taste. The maki was ok. The porcupine roll was over-over-over-salty (probably because of the mayo).
(3)Sam S.
Fresh-tasting (but ultimately, made me sick) deluxe sashimi AFTER the server brought me a platter of deluxe sushi that I did not order. My sister's order did not arrive. After 45 minutes, we asked the server where her order was. But the server had never placed her order. When the soup finally arrived, it was terrible, with ingredients that were not fresh. The service was awful. I am sorry to say that we will never return. (Last summer, it was one of our favorite restaurants.)
(1)Silvia V.
I dined at Yama twice so far. It's a Japanese restaurant in the burbs so I had low expectations before I went there the first time. The food is okay, but nothing to write home about. The service was rushed. The miso soup was cold, the green tea is made with a tea bag, the makis are either half hot or half cold and the flavors are not that good. The fish is not super fresh either. I think I am ruined by Fugakyu, because no other Japanese restaurant lives up to it for me, in New England at least. So my review for Yama is "Meh. I've experienced better."
(2)Jessica W.
Yama is the best sushi restaurant in the metrowest area, not to mention its long history. The fish there is always fresh, the quality is never dissatisfied you. They have the decent service and warm host, the most important thing is the price is really reasonable. They also have the special table tatami in the back, which is an unforgettable dining in experience.
(5)Daniel B.
The Boston area has many, many sushi restaurants. Yama is unique (for me) because the food quality is completely consistent: literally every piece of fish over the past 10+ years has been fresh and tasty. The dishes are not as creative as (say) Daikanyama or the mighty O Ya, but the staples are top quality. You will NOT get a "fishy-tasting" piece of hamachi here: it's sweet and fresh. There are plenty of "decent" sushi places closer to my home, but I'll travel to Wellesley for the quality. Yama has never let me down in over 40 visits.
(5)Grace B.
Not amazing food, but with limited options in the close location, I keep going back. The teriyaki noodles are very good but the sushi- not so much.
(3)Katie M.
Had a great meal here while visiting Boston. It's a casual spot, and has a great lively vibe, perfect for a relaxed evening out with my mom & sister. We ordered a ton of food (probably too much), but nearly everything we had was excellent. My favorite rolls were the Gokudo Maki (mackerel with ginger and scallions) and the Caterpillar Roll, and the ikura and tobiko sushi pieces were very tasty. I tend to judge sushi places from the quality of their uni (sea urchin), and I will note that it tasted pretty funky here - cold & musty. Gross. However, since everything else we ordered was fantastic, I don't think that piece of uni should tarnish my opinion of the generally excellent quality of food here. Service was notably great and I would definitely come back - BYOB woot woot!
(4)Mindy S.
I am a satisfied and returning customer to Yama. Very fresh delicious sushi and a fantastic variety. My favorite is the Sushi Regular mix from the dinner menu that comes with Miso soup and salad. It's a pretty good deal. I highly recommend Yama.
(5)Aleksandr C.
I love Sushi and this is one of the best for Sushi. It is a nice hidden gem. The place is nice and the atmosphere is great. It has the authentic Japanese feel to it. The staff is always friendly and the food is prepared fresh and in a timely manner. They do not have alcohol here but they do have the next best thing, B.Y.O.B, that's right. You are welcome to bring your own booze and have a nice night with friends. The place is somewhat pricey, but you pay for the quality of the food which is outstanding. One of the best spot for Sushi hands down. You do not have to take my word for it, just visit the place yourself and you be the judge.
(5)Jeremy W.
A really god place for Japanese Cuisine. I got a dinner combo and it was a lot of food and was very full! I really like the decor of the restaurant too, really clean and designed really well. I came here a very long time ago, and then came recently again and it has definitely gotten better over the years. You have to walk upstairs for the restaurant which may confuse first time newbies.
(4)Nicole C.
The rice was the most flavorful part of my meal. Got chicken teriyaki that seemed boiled, with no detectable amount of teriyaki sauce. It was presented over a bed of similarly flavorless lo mein noodles -- first time I've seen that combination before. The fire dragon maki was passable but not good. Both that and the crunchy roll supposedly had tempura, so I expected a contrast of textures, but they were mushy with salt as the predominant flavor. The mush may have been a result of the two hours it took for my food to be delivered. They called to let me know about the delay and waived the RIDICULOUS $7 delivery fee, but it was late even after telling me that it would arrive in "no longer than" thirty extra minutes. I feel very sorry for anyone who thinks this food is worthy of 4 or 5 stars. Please get out of Wellesley and eat real sushi. (I have yet to find food worth eating in Wellesley...this adds yet another disappointment to the list.)
(1)Len C.
I have been to Yama several times over the years I have had both the sushi and the dinners. Always a good meal and friendly service. They do not rush you. The Restaurant is always clean with good pricing.
(4)Melissa D.
This is now my go to sushi place for the suburbs! Service and food was spectacular. Located where Route 16 and Route 9 meet in Wellesley, you need to find street parking but on a Saturday night, it wasn't hard to find a spot. It looks like a lot of locals come by as the managers and owners talked with a lot of customers. The servers are in traditional kimonos. It is a BYOB spot so my brother and I brought Asahi to further enjoy the experience. The menu is huge and we went for their special rolls. Since I'm a sports fan, we ordered the Bruins, Patriots, Red Sox and Celtics rolls. They were all great! Highly recommend the Red Sox, and Bruins out of our choices. The rolls are thinner than what I'm used to but the fish was so fresh and the rice was cooked perfectly. Price was definitely reasonable, with the special rolls around the $9 range. service is kind of slow so not a place if you are looking to get in and out. Highly recommended though!
(5)Anna C.
I went to this place few weeks ago simply because it was close for me at my friend and our main reason for choosing it was that we both love sushi and a LOTS of wine:))) The atmosphere was friendly, the stuff very nice and food was a good quality. A lot of local people were coming by for takeout but we were pleased to be seated at the nice corner table and we felt great . I would totally recommend this place for a casual party . The location is very convenient and there is plenty of parking space.
(3)Austin J. A.
We've been regulars at Yama for over a year, and by "regulars" I mean "I eat at Yama at least once a week." My typical lunch at Yama is an alligator roll, the sushi lunch special (8 pieces of nigiri, 1 tuna roll, miso soup and a salad), and some hot green tea. It's Yama that is flexible with my schedule; when I need to get out the door in under an hour, I'm able to do that, but when I am able to linger, I get to linger. I think my regular server - who is a gem of a human being - has a sixth sense about these things. No matter where I lived in this area, I would go out of my way to come to Yama. For one thing, the staff is all really friendly. The food is always remarkably consistent. After many visits, I can't tell you a single visit that's been poor, or one time that they had a miss on their quality, or even that a server was having a crappy day. And for another thing? That alligator roll is something special. Shrimp tempura wrapped in nori and rice, topped with avocado and broiled eel in sauce. It's warm, crisp, flavorful, and hits all the right notes. It's my second favorite sushi after salmon nigiri, which is unbeatable. The best part about Yama, for me, is that it is versatile. It's not just for a quick, two-person lunch date. We've eaten at Yama on several different special occasions: the most memorable visits being for a ten-person birthday party, a five-person birthday party, and a four-person birthday party. It's a nice place to have a good-sized party, because it's welcoming and big enough inside. I still haven't eaten in their tatami area, which is sunken and lovely next to the window in back, but I want to. I would recommend Yama to anyone who was bringing a non-sushi-eater out for a meal; there's plenty of other food to choose from, and since a number of their rolls are cooked, I've seen people who "don't eat sushi" dive in and enjoy. I prefer to come in to eat, because I usually order at least some cooked rolls, and they are best when eaten immediately. So when I get delivery, I usually order nigiri and cold rolls. I've picked up hot rolls with no problem, though. Among their other outstanding-to-my-mouth offerings is the Red Sox maki, which is red tuna, tempura flake, yellowtail, scallion, tobiko and I think avocado. It's very pleasant and satisfying, and again, the tempura flake is always spot-on (plus, good tuna). We've had their soft-shell crab in several different rolls, which is a big deal because I have never before found that form of crab to be delicious; I believe that it's the tempura treatment that won me over. Their sashimi is excellent, fresh, and plated nicely. Also? I strongly recommend their fried ice cream. It's covered in thin-thin pound cake, battered, and then flash-fried. It is the size of a softball. Bring a friend! If you want to see (and touch, for luck) an old-school tanuki statue and get some gashapon after a satisfying Japanese food meal, come to Yama. If you have trouble parking in the tiny lot or on the street, don't panic. Just park past the gas station, or straight through the set of lights, or maybe even in the old Whole Foods parking lot. Most importantly, don't ever forget that Yama closes for a few hours in between lunch and dinner, at around 2:30PM, because you will be a sad squirrel if you psych yourself up for a trip and are temporarily thwarted!
(5)Kun C.
It is one of my family favor place. The food is good, especially the noodle is my favor. Staff is friendly. Services is good. It is a small place on second floor but it is been there for more than ten years. I like it.
(4)Melissa N.
Yama is my absolute favorite sushi restaurant, bar none! Yes, it's on the second floor of an office building. What of it? Yes, Fugakyu is also spectacular. But as good as Yama? Not in my opinion! Things I love: - I have to start with the fact that Yama is BYOB, and there's no corkage fee. I love picking up tall cans of Sapporo at the liquor store, loading up the cooler, and heading over to Yama for an evening of delicious food and (sort of) free booze. - Before the meal, you always get a free dish of carrots and celery with Russian dressing for dipping. It's a lovely starter. - They bring over hot towels after you sit, which makes the meal a more elegant experience. - The soft shell crab tempura appetizer is dynamite! It's hot, crunchy, savory, and the crab meat is so tender. You may want to order two if you have 4+ people in your party. - Other appetizers: the seaweed salad, tuna tataki, and shrimp tempura appetizers are all excellent. The steamed shrimp shumai is delicious, and it's served with yellow mustard for dipping. I know it sounds weird, but it actually complements the shumai perfectly! - Three words: SPICY SCALLOP ROLL. How can I emphasize this enough? It's my favorite sushi roll of all time. The inside of the roll is avocado and cucumber, and the six pieces are heavily topped with piping hot, rich, spicy cooked scallops. You'll want to lick the plate. - Other great rolls include the crunchy roll (to die for), caterpillar, fire dragon, Red Sox maki, and spider web. - They have two unique tables for special occasions. The seats are set into the floor and you have to take your shoes off. It's fun and festive! - Yama's wasabi is whipped, so it dissolves very easily into the soy sauce with minimal stirring. - The fried ice cream is a decadent treat for dessert! I like the green tea flavor. Things that could be improved: - Yama can be a bit rigid with substitutions. I used to come here with a friend for lunch, and I liked to order the sashimi lunch special. My one request was that I don't like the "white fish" that sometimes ended up on the plate. Each time I asked them to leave it off, I was met with resistance. Why not just substitute it for another piece of equally-priced fish? They were peeved even when I offered to pay extra. A couple tips: - Definitely make a reservation, otherwise you could be in for a wait. - If you want your sushi served in one of those wooden sushi boats, make sure to ask! I personally love the sushi boat (or sushi cruise ship, as we call it in my family), so I always request one. Otherwise they might bring the sushi on a series of white platters. All in all, I highly recommend Yama for amazing sushi and a fun experience! If you don't live in the area, you won't regret the trek to Wellesley. It's also right off of Rt. 9, which is nice.
(5)Cassandra B.
I have been to Yama many, many times. It is not place I come for trendy atmosphere (the Wellesley address should be your first clue), I come for the great, reasonably priced sushi. The hot food is good, but nothing to write home about. I think that the best items are the specialty rolls (Wellesley, Hawaiian, Crazy, etc.) They have always been delicious. My only complaint is that they are sometimes rolled rather loosely, making them difficult to eat without looking like a fool. That being said, I really enjoy Yama and come here a lot. I eat Yama when I see my family in the suburbs- I do not know if I would take the train in from Boston just to come here, but if you live in the area, Yama is definitely worth a visit.
(4)HB L.
Favorite roll: Wellesley roll (yummy) Love it!!!!
(5)Colleen T.
Came here for lunch with a co-worker since I work about 5 minutes away. The decor was lovely and it was cute that the waitresses dressed up in kimonos. Really added that Japanese vibe to it. I was in the mood for sushi, so I chose the shrimp tempura maki. I was a little disappointed because it was literally ONLY shrimp tempura and rice in it... nothing else. I also had the yaki udon noodles with chicken that were kind of bland, but I added soy sauce and chili sauce to it which made it a little better. The waitress wasn't very attentive... there was only one waitress there but then again there were only about 3 tables occupied. Overall my experience was ALRIGHT. Maybe I'll come back and try out the other sushi rolls. The price was pretty decent at least.
(3)Ray Z.
I like this place, good food, great service!! Only Kenichi in Worcester is better.
(4)Mat B.
Good Japanese restaurant. Sushi is good and the entrees are delicious. The only thing keeping this from a four star review is the lack of a bar. They do allow BYOB, however.
(3)Dee T.
My friend and I liked the hot towel upon arrival but the small plate of carrots and celery with mystery sauce felt like their way of saying 'please eat the ends of the veggies that we didn't want to use in our entrees' . Decent prices for all items. The spicy salmon tasted funky especially with asparagus in it (I ended up getting sick from it) and the caterpillar roll was average.
(2)Jeff B.
I've been going here for years. They have great sushi and I love the lunch boxes. The second floor window seats are great, especially in the back, but they seldom seat there. Also, you can bring your own drinks, not that I have in the longest time.
(4)Joe J.
I am literally eating Yama right now and it is great! I ordered the Sushi Box combo, and it was plentiful, fresh, and comes with salad and soup! It was only like $11 too! They delivered and it got here in 30 minutes. +1 Yama.
(4)Leah K.
Discovered Yama while living in Wellesley and I drive out of my way to get sushi there now. It's consistently great!
(5)Nuala G.
The sushi here is just okay. I wouldn't rave about it. I wish they served beer. Nothing better than eating sushi with a cold beer. Drinking a coke just doesn't do it for me!
(3)Jennifer W.
Japanese cuisine is my favorite type of food. So having said that, I am very picky when it comes to Japanese cuisine. The food at Yama is nothing special. I ordered Ramen noodles and out came a bowl of soggy, overcooked egg noodles. I was expecting fresh, home made ramen noodles with good texture, but they used egg noodles as substitute and called it ramen noodles. We complained to the waitress, and we overheard the waitress telling the owner about our complaint, but the owner never came over to address the issue and the waitress also ignored the issue. Needless to say, we will not be going back again.
(1)Victoria C.
Not sure what's up with all those 5 star reviews?! good service, but sushi is just so amateur ! Not impressed at all!
(2)Liam P.
We eat Yama at least once a week as our local, delivery sushi. Great service, quick, and they always get our order right. Fish is always good but rarely great - but prices are reasonable.
(4)Jon H.
No joke I eat at this place three times a week? Why? Because long hours at our client in Wellesley means we order dinner every night, and most of us scream and shout for Yama. The delivery is fast and gets it right (even labels the boxes for each person's order), the fish is fresh and doesn't get anybody sick, the variety is great with amazing special rolls that don't skimp on size or ingredients....and the price is reasonable. They start delivering at 5pm, we typically call with a six or more person order of at least 10-15 rolls and various dinner entrees- they almost always get it right and delivered in less than an hour...amazing efficiency. I usually get the fire dragon roll (pretty good), alaskan roll (really good), and the spider roll (awesome b/c of crispy fried crab). Even the avocado is bright green! As for the fish, its pretty fresh and no fishiness to it. The raw fish isn't scary to eat, and the flavors are very non-asian friendly. That being said, there are some pretty good rolls that would please us sushi-regulars and take a few more risks. Five stars for the overall experience. Although it doesn't measure up to a five star for a place like Hide Sushi in LA (a quality expensive sushi bar) or R23, its five star when comparing it to similar places that offer similar food.
(5)Rick B.
Food was good but atmosphere is lacking. Service good, people nice. No frills but decent.
(4)Lydia H.
I've been going to Yama since I was in middle school. They serve dependably delicious Japanese cuisine in a quiet, traditional Japanese setting (the waitstaff wear kimonos). I usually get the Chicken Teriyaki, and it's everything I could want in a lunch or dinner, always steaming hot and perfectly cooked, with thick egg noodles and roasted vegetables. Also, the veggie dipping sauce they bring before your order is so tasty.
(4)Will N.
Great restaurant nestled in the burbs. This wasn't my first trip here, but it was nice to see that much hasn't changed since my last visit. The sushi was great and it is always nice to find a BYOB place in a town like Wellesley. I can't find a gripe about my experience. Well maybe that it is a bit far from Boston
(5)Christina N.
One of my favorite Japanese restaurants around. The sushi is decent, and their bento boxes are so amazing. You can tell from the salad to the miso soup to the main dish that it's authentic. The service is always good, and I love the atmosphere. The only downside is getting in and out of the strange little parking lot.
(5)David V.
What would make me hop in the car and drive 30+ minutes out to Wellesley and then have me pull into the parking lot of a nondescript office-looking building along Route 16? It would have to be Yama, a hidden little gem of a sushi place on the second floor of a bland looking building, right above a real estate office offering 3BR ranch homes for $900k. When you first sit down, the waitress brings over piping hot towels, something I've only seen at a couple of high-end sushi places. Next comes to the stalks of carrot and celery with dipping sauce - not really my thing, but a nice gesture. One of the highlights of this place is that it's BYOB - bring in a bottle of beer, sake or wine and they'll open it up and provide you with glasses. I might recommend bringing your own non-alcoholic beverages here too, because they'll charge you for every refill of coke or even soda water! It's rare to find a place that doesn't offer free n/a refills, and it's an unpleasant surprise when you get your bill to see that you've been charged for $8 worth of seltzer. The sushi - fancy maki seems to be the draw here, as they've got over two dozen special rolls ranging from the common (caterpillar, scorpion) to some rather creative ones. The prices are pretty good for the quality as well - all but 3 or 4 of the fanciest rolls featuring lobster and toro are all under $10. I'm more of a nigiri/sashimi kind of guy, and one of my favorite things of all time is simple-but-delicious salmon nigiri. Yama's offering gives you two respectable-sized pieces for $4.50. If you want to splurge a little, I highly recommend the otoro (fatty tuna) sashimi. They offer two pieces of nigiri for $12, or for a few bucks more ($18), you can get 5 decent-sized melt-in-your-mouth pieces of some of the best tuna belly around. The main drawback of Yama, besides the sneaky n/a drink refill policy, is probably with the service. Most of the waitresses are young Asian girls wearing traditional Japanese garb, and usually that means friendly, attentive and speedy service. However, on multiple occasions I've had girls forget part of the order, fail to bring water or other drinks when requested, or forget to bring out something else essential to the meal (soy sauce, for example).
(4)Allie P.
I'm glad I am not the only one who feels like they are walking into a dentist's office every time they go to Yama... Anyway, my boyfriend and I are huge sushi fans. We have tried sushi all over the city, yet we still believe Yama has some of the best sushi at a great price. We have been there more times than we can count, and have never had a bad experience. On a quiet night, we are always willing to drive the 20 minutes to Wellesley for a nice night of sushi and wine (BYOB!). We have also gone in a large group and sat at the family style table in the back. We bring liquor and they supply juice for us. Always a great time! The owner is very friendly and is always sure to stop by our table to say hi each time we visit. My recommendation: Celtics maki (tuna, asparagus, tempura flakes, fresh salmon, wrapped in a soybean sheet). I tend to judge sushi places based on their spicy tuna roll and it is very good here, perfect proportions of spicy mayo and the tuna is very fresh. For non-sushi lovers: the ginger pork is very good, not too dry (which it can be at other places).
(5)Allison R.
For Yama, a haiku... Sushi boats abound And you can sit in a pit But bring your own booze
(5)Arinne B.
I *love* Yama. I'm particularly fond of their seaweed salad, salmon salad maki, eel avocado rolls, and sweet potato rolls. The ambiance is family-friendly and clean, and the service is attentive. Parking can be tricky as it's metered parking in front and an oddly-shaped lot that often fills up quickly. That lot is generally your better bet though. Please note--if you're planning on ordering delivery, you should be aware that it takes almost twice as long as it would to pick it up. Our family's standard order is ready in 20-30 mins. for pick up and is usually between an hour and hour and a half when being delivered. We usually pick-up rather than deal with the uncertainty. I find their vegetarian roll too big to eat without dropping in my lap. I had some yaki udon noodles the other day that were satisfying but a bit bland. I plan to stick with my sushi faves! We had a birthday bash last year and were delighted that they lent us a sushi boat to take home with us and serve the many yummy rolls we ordered for friends. It's the only good sushi place we've found out in the 'burbs.
(5)C C.
Sushi and sashimi quality is average, but service was awful. They served apple juice to a 3 yr old toddler in wine glass!! Once it was spilled (of course), the waitress watches us scramble to contain the spill, but goes on with her business! On top of that, it took 45 minutes to get basic sushi rolls -- probably because of the takeout business since the restaurant was not busy. Not worth the hassle for average sushi.
(1)Matthew A.
I just love Japanese food. Sushi menu is a bit more diverse than other places. Everything is so clean and fresh here. I always get the vegetable tempura as I find it addicting. Here once can actually sit on the FLOOR in the traditional Japanese style. Its BYOB so stop at the packie for some sake before you come.
(4)G K.
great fresh sushi. Many different types of rolls. The Red Sox roll has great flavor and different textures.
(4)Vivian L.
Cute restaurant in a unexpected location (2nd floor, next to business offices). They even have tables where you can sit on the ground! The service here is pretty good but not super duper fast. The sushi here is great and they have a decent variety of rolls. I like the fact that since it's a small restaurant, the sushi is made to order so it's fresh! I also tried the bento box here for lunch once. Half of it was delicious but half of it was meh. It felt slightly "westernized" to me (my miso soup was served with a soup spoon, *shrug*). I'd order again if I was in a bento box mood. Other than that, I'm sticking with their sushi.
(4)Meems D.
Oh yama...why does it feel like I'm going to the dentist's office when I go to your little place? Went there for lunch yesterday and I can say, it wasn't busy at all and yet the wait for sushi was at least 40 minutes long...and what was absolutely most shocking and utterly depressing....the place doesn't serve any alcohol what-so-ever!!! Honestly, I don't know how a Japanese restaurant can function without serving some good ole' Sake!!! and charge you for tea...it's preposterous!!
(3)Shaun S.
Went there on a Saturday at like 5:00 pm, the place was dead. Figured it had to be the restaurant, well it wasn't we actually just beat the early bird crowd. The waitress was very friendly, this was a different experience for the girlfriend and I. They leave a pencil and a list of maki and sushi you want; you write it down and choose. We choose Spicy Albacore Tuna Roll, Crazy Roll, Rising Sun, and Salmon Salad Maki. I will rate it from best to worst ( worst not actually being bad but not the best) Rising Sun, Crazy Roll, Salmon Salad, and Tuna. Tuna was not well put together and couldn't really enjoy the flavor. I seriously recommend the Rising Sun if you love Salmon it was very well put together and tasted great. Made me want more This place is very good, No alcohol but i drink water mostly so this wasn't a big problem. Come try out the doctors office i mean Yama if you are in the Wellesley area. ONLY ISSUE IS THE SIZES OF THE ROLLS VARY! ANNOYING TRYING TO EAT . AMERICAN SIZED ROLLS then Skinny rolls lol But OGA in natick is better
(4)Alex B.
I'm a little confused by the buzz about this place. Anyways I'll just stick to my two experiences. My larger gripe was that the spicy scallop roll came out with like 3 lbs of mayo sauce drenched over everything... um I'm a huge mayo / spicy sauce lover to the point I've been made fun of for overdoing it but this was just gross. Couldn't just wipe it off either as the scallops were in the sauce not the roll. Everywhere else I've been its a roll just like a spicy tuna roll but with scallop and in most cases, yes, some spicy mayo built in (which I usually like). The other weird thing was asparagus instead of cuke or avocado in my spicy salmon roll. Just didn't dig it. The rolls were very small. My other gripe is that I find the lunch specials very lacking- no obvious choices / deals like Fugakyu or my other favorites (usually looking for something with a spicy tuna maki / boston maki / soup salad or something like that). I know this is Wellesley but if the price is higher I expected something better - when I grabbed a piece of salmon sashimi from my buddy's bowl it tasted fishy which was the last straw.
(2)Hugh E.
Love love love. Our family fave. VERY fresh and tasty. Reasonable pricing. Sashimis are very generous and super fresh. No kids menu, but they are very kid friendly and accommodating. Mellow, but efficient.
(4)Sasha R.
I wanna say this is one of the first places I had sushi whilst acquiring a taste for it when I was a dreamy youth. Haven't been in years, though, and coming back felt a little surreal, but there I was. Still the same strange location in an office building on the 2nd floor, and still the same waitresses in kimonos, flip flops and socks. They seem to be adjusting to the new trend of fancy rolls with creative combinations that original sushi probably never dreamed of, but it works. Fish is fresh, and whatever they mix up tastes good without any risk of implosion once in your stomach. Service a bit slow, though. Another huge plus: a BYOB. Booze it up! They hand you a glass and a corkscrew/bottle opener. Knock yourself out. Conclusion: decent!
(4)Michael S.
Yama ! This is a great Japanese/Sushi restaurant. Not a conventional restaurant as it looks strangely like a Real Estate office as you enter the commercial building's 2nd floor. But don't let that fool you. Yama has some great service, all the waitresses are dressed the part and very friendly. The sushi and non-sushi dishes are very good........and it is BYOB. I can't argue with that. The Red Sox Rolls and Gyoza dumplings are darn tasty.
(4)R B.
Very nice interior. Good prices. Nothing special otherwise. They've got the tatami tables in back. Nice place.
(3)nicole z.
Who knew Wellesley had such a cute little, reasonably priced sushi place?! We love it here! We discovered it less than month ago and have already been twice---both weeknights! The food is fresh, the service is great. Everyone here has been very sweet and friendly. As mentioned in previous reviews, upon being seated the server brings you carrots and celery with dressing, it is a nice add on to have that extra munch while you are deciding what to order. I also thought that the warm towels were a nice gesture. Don't be fooled by this tucked in restaurant with the elevator, it is soooo good. Oh and if you like a little crunch, seaweed, and spicy tuna, the Tuna Tata - what it's called on their menu- is quite possibly the best I have ever had! :) 5 stars! Keep it up Yama!!!!
(5)Zoe S.
Decent sushi... not as good as some other local places.
(4)Loan L.
Very good, very fresh. I always base how fresh the food is after i have an ikura with quail egg. The ikura was fresh, well flavored, and did not have an ooey stickiness that some places have that are not fresh. We came in around 3pm on a Sunday after we saw a matinee and the place only had one couple. After we sat down, people started showing up. Maybe everyone else saw the same matinee we did. We ordered the scallop roll, spicy tuna maki, unagi roll and the ikura. Everything was reasonably priced and like I said, very fresh and very good. The other bonus I like about this place is that there is FREE PARKING!!! There is a little lot adjacent to the restaurant. We will definitely come back.
(5)Lindsey V.
One of my favorites. I am a regular here, and would compare it to a Douzo quality or other top quality Boston sushi restaurant (maybe the rolls are not quit are decadent). Either way, the fire dragon roll, salmon salad roll.. and many others are better than anywhere I have been. Better yet, even the sashimi is just top quality. The fish is also extremely fresh, never fishy.. I am someone who has a hard time ever eating store bought sushi, and even some sashimi at standard restaurants.. but here everything is as fresh and tasty as possible. Giving this 5 stars! You just have to bring your own wine...
(5)Saba N.
love this place! Cute and cozy on the inside. The sushi is totally unique, and made to order! A little over priced but a great spot overall. Plus, you can BYOB! A definite hidden gem in Wellesley.
(4)David F.
Outstanding, superb quality and attention to detail, and with tamari (of note to gluten free patrons). Not inexpensive but very much worth it. In our familial assessment of places in the area, it's our only five star sushi in the area west of downtown/backbay/Brookline.
(5)Sara C.
This is my favorite sushi place- their rolls are the best, bar none! Spicy salmon, red sox and fire dragon rolls are not to be missed. They also carry blue marlin, which is very hard to find in this area. Besides my addiction to their delicious and perfectly sized rolls, the thing that keeps me coming back is the value. You can find cheaper sushi other places and you can find better quality fish, but the quality you get here for the price you pay has never been beaten in my experience.
(5)Juggy W.
I still don't get the average 4 star rating on yelp for this place. The price is high for what you get and I totally got scammed by the "Firecraker Salmon"... for $6.95 its nothing but finger sized spring rolls stuffed with steamed salmon... the description made it sound like its wrapped with fresh salmon then deep fried... how deceiving. Also... I found it ironic that all these jap places are actually flooded with chinese waitresses/owners... almost all the waitresses at Yama are chinese... same thing for fugakyu and sushi man... sometimes i feel like they are posers... even though its just a part of the business.
(3)Alison Y.
Very mediocre food!!! I ordered the chicken teriyaki bento and my friend ordered the Tonkatsu. Chicken looked like it came out of the microwave and put on a George Foreman grill for the marks. There was no marinade and the sauce they provided on the side was just horrible. My friend's Tonkatsu was overcooked and dry. Very lousy Japanese food because the owners and chefs are not Japanese, so therefore not authentic. Do yourself a favor and eat at Toraya in Arlington that is authentic Japanese. Blows the doors off this place.
(1)Julie A.
I don't know about this place. The positives... -nice friendly staff -cute atmosphere -nice selection of a menu -prices are OK negatives.... -the Teriyaki tofu is nasty -the shrimp tempura ain't so hot -the sushi is at best ok -the salmon teriyaki is off. -I have had 3 meals here and feel ill after every one of them. -servers can be slow
(3)Hannah M.
Decent. Certainly not remarkable by any means. My husband and I went to celebrate my birthday and our cute and kimono-y waitress brought out a tempura birthday banana - nice touch, too bad I don't like bananas :( We had shrimp and veggie tempura, spicy salmon roll, miso, and salads. Tempura was OK, sauce was quite bland. Spicy salmon roll was good, but totally falling apart and hard to eat. Miso was delish. Salads were eh. We'll keep looking for our fav. Japanese restaurant. I say, if you're in Wellesley and craving Japanese, Yama is a fine bet, but don't go out of your way to go.
(3)Mitchell P.
This is probably some of the worst sushi i have ever had. the quality of the fish is below average, their hand rolls are not that great. just not a great place typical wellesley bad food. slim pickins on good eats in Wellesley.
(1)GORMET TEEN R.
My friend and I saw the sign for yama while we were walking in town roaming for something to eat for lunch. When we got there We were greeted by waving plastic cats and... a dead restaurant. At 12:00 the restaurant was empty except for one table. Everything was going great...until we saw the menu. For a two piece sushi p[ate...yeah that's right TWO PIECE it was over 10$ for most dishes. In order to actually eat enough to nourish our starving bodies we would have to pay 50$ each! We didn't have enough cash for this, and we were saving up anyway. The actual meals and things we really wanted were 20$ and even in the menu's pictures looks tiny... it was like "honey I shrunk the kids" meets "who want's to be a millionaire" My friends and I felt trapped... we couldn't just walk out! we had already had some of the free celery and water the waitress had brought us. It was one thing if the restaurant was busy, but we were one of the only people in the huge restaurant! The only thing we could afford was the fried icecream... so we just ordered it so we could get out of there! we ordered fried green tea icecream (one scoop was 5.50 however) it was delicious! The green tea icecream was fragrant and actually tasted like complex,aromatic tea. The fried casing was perfectly crispy! Although the icecream was a little hard. we then went to maugus and had pancakes at 1:00 in the afternoon!
(2)Brian K.
Having grown up in Swells, I must say I am a bit partial to YAMA although the sushi is amazing. I love all the maki here especially the fire dragon roll, spider roll and all of the special rolls are unreal! This place beats any over priced and over hyped sushi place closer to Boston. Go here now! Sit in the back where you take your shoes off, relax, take in the music and BYOB and Wine! Enjoy!
(5)Suzanne F.
Not bad for a suburban sushi joint. I don't quite like the fact that you enter through an office lobby that's kind of moldy-smelling and reminds me of being at work - but once you get upstairs and into the restaurant, it's fine. I would not say that the quality is as good as New Ginza in Watertown, but it's much easier to get into Yama on a Friday night - forget Ginza, you'll wait at least an hour. And yes, do stop off for a bottle of sake on your way.
(3)Angela M.
We went here lastnight for dinner. It was disappointing. First of all, upon walking in the restaurant, I felt like I was walking into a playroom. There were brightly colored, shiny decorations all over, and the lighting was weird--I don't know how to describe it, other than it made me feel like I was walking into an arcade, or something. The food was, ok...I have definitely had better in the area. The fish wasn't the freshest, and I ordered Udon, and the noodles were hard in some spots, definitely not what I expected. The place is just strange--we are big fans of New Ginza in Watertown, and Fugakyu in Brookline--I think we'll just stay with those places for now.
(2)S Y.
I cannot comment on the location or service or any physical aspect of this place because I've only ordered in about 28109 times. The service is sooo slow, it takes about 45 minutes to get to me and I have a knack of ordering when the weather is shit, which may have something to do with them getting lost all the time. Considering we're only about 10 minutes away and the only other college in the area, this makes no sense to me. The food, however, is superb. It comes in these little boxes that they'll cut air holes so that the tempura doesn't get soggy. I always get the almond chicken with peanut sauce, which is an appetizer so it's perfect for my small stomach. It seems like rice doesn't come with orders so order separately if you want. I think the best part is that they have an assortment of good sushi and they'll even make you a roll the way you like it if you ask. Miso soup also comes with the order. I always end up spending about $25 by myself, which isn't too bad I suppose for the amount of food I get (sushi roll + rice + miso soup + chicken + tempura ice cream). Try the fried ice cream if you can!
(5)Rebecca Y.
I was really impressed with the freshness and menu options. While spicy tuna is my mark of a sushi restaurant that keeps bringing me back, I'm still wishing we ordered more white tuna and marlin. Yeah, marlin. Very cool to see something new on a sushi menu in this town. Admittedly, I'm the girl that ALWAYS orders spicy tuna and salmon sushi, but from there I like to branch out and not just to snapper. For the super-adventurous they had even more unique options: raw scallops and I'm pretty sure that sign said 'fish liver maki' but perhaps I read wrong. OK, so I didn't try those, but again, I give them high marks for unique options.
(5)Andrew M.
We've been getting takeout from here for a while now--it's certainly decent food and it gave me at least a little taste of what Japanese food is supposed to be. My sisters really like the ginger pork.
(4)Scott C.
Excellent sushi. Service is OK, parking is tough. See lots of negative comments about the sushi, but hey it's expensive everywhere, especially if you want it fresh. Key is not to order alacarte. Order the rolls and sushi/sashimi combo plates for value. With a bit of sushi, rice, salad & miso soup you can fill up!
(4)josh k.
Go here! simple enough for you? I was new in town looked for sushi in the phone book (this was before yelp existed) and found Yama, been going there ever since. All the usual favorites, but also recommend the Wellesley roll, Red Sox roll, and Celtics Roll. And don't be afraid to tell them you want to design your own. Seriously I have never hurt myself on sushi like I have here, and never enjoyed it so much. Plus there's a Starbucks on the route as you head back toward 128, to top off a good outing... In fact i think I need a hit.
(5)Isaac D.
Amazing sushi! To reiterate some of what others have said; the location is a bit unconventional, it IS BYOB (though they do keep your beer in the fridge and uncork the wine for you), and it is delicious. Some of the rolls seemed a little unconventional, like a specific scallop roll whose name escapes me with a yellow sauce that could have been butter and cheese for all I know, it was delicious. Our group of 8 was there for around an hour and a half, the service was great, the fact that our 2 full boats of sushi took less than 20 minutes to make on top of all the other orders there is also amazing. The atmosphere was great, traditional layout with old traditional asian sounding music. This is still the kind of place you don't have to dress fancy to unless you want to. The sushi bar seats do have a view at a very tiny TV which was showing the red sox. I would recommend the trip to anyone.
(5)Anna P.
A really great sushi place in the suburbs - I'm jealous of the Wellesley kids being so close to it! You would never really think of it as a great place as it is in the top floor of an office building barely noticeable from the street. It's a typical sushi place in terms of decor inside. However, it's distinguishing factor is the food. They have absolutely amazing sushi! And trust me, I've been around the sushi block! I would highly recommed their signature spicy scallop rolls! they also have very original rolls names after Boston sports teams. Just a note, they dont serve alcohol but do BYOB.
(5)Azzara O.
I've only had the Yaki Udon noodles with chicken, but I was underwhelmed. The delivery order took almost an hour and a half (after I was told 45 minutes) and the food was nothing special. For $12 ($17 with delivery), I got udon "soup" with basically no soup, very few actual noodles and an overwhelming amount of onions. It tasted pretty good, but if I wanted onions with a garnish of noodles.. I would have ordered that. Very disappointing and I would not order it again. I can't comment on the sushi though...
(2)Ben T.
weak. lackluster/tasteless appetizers and the sushi rolls were smothered in mayonnaise, or at least one of the rolls we ordered was, smothered, in mayo. the others were average at best. for suburban sushi, would have preferred Mr. Sushi (Arlington).
(2)Michael T.
I don't think my mother would reveal to anyone how often she eats here. They treat her very well. I've probably been well over a dozen times with her and never had a bad meal.
(4)Joyce K.
Walking into the building that Yama is located in is like walking into an office building, it's so bizarre, but once you enter the actual restaurant, the ambiance is transformed from annual dental visit anxiety to sushi-in-my-tummy zen. The decor is very light and beautiful. There's a huge kimono hanging from the wall and a fully mirrored wall expands the size of the space (and also confused the hell out of me). Our party of 5 got to sit in the tatami room with the low tables which was really fun. The dwarfish chairs and the Asian floral embroidered cushions are so pretty. Hot towels are given to start and complimentary appetizers of carrots and celery with a fantasmic mayo sauce whetted our appetites as we perused the inventive menu. There are pictures of the special rolls and brown rice is an option (yay!!! yeahhh!!!!). I had the Wellesley roll (lobster meat, sweet potato, radish sprouts, 3 different tobiko, and a honey green tea sauce) and the North & South roll (salmon, avocado, and jalapeno). The house salad was AWESOME. The ginger dressing was smack-on-the-ass right on! The Wellesley roll was a little overwhelming and I usually stick to traditional sushi fare, but props for creativity and a nice medley of flavors. My only regret is Yama's use of tempura flakes in the rolls, ew. The North and South roll was good but not quite the bite I was expecting from the jalapeno. I tried my friend's udon which was cooked so perfectly, the noodles were slippery sex in my mouth (mmm...). The tempura was way too oily (although I do love sweet potato and taro). The experience was perfect and our waitress was the sweetest kimono-ed cutie. I'd love to go again and try some simple rolls and nigiri with the brown rice (whoo hooo!!!).
(4)Sasha R.
This place used to be the only spot for miles to get good sushi. Now there is a better one, but I still give Yama props for their bento boxes and for introducing suburban Boston to the wonders of raw fish.
(4)Lindsey M.
My last meal at Yama was mediocre. The edamame was cold and soggy, and sushi overall displeasing. The atmosphere is chill though, they have optional low Japanese tables with traditional floor pillows, which makes for a cozy and very authentic meal. Overall, the place is decent, considering it's located in a lame suburb like Wellesley.. If your in the area and need a sushi fix try them out, if not, don't bother.
(3)Melissa Y.
Bring your own beer! They'll store it for you too so you can keep it cold while eating. The sushi is good and they have a lot of other different dishes too other than sushi. Prices are decent and they have a small parking lot off to the side but also plenty of parking on the street. When you go in it's a little strange because you have to go upstairs in this office building. Make reservations!
(4)Josh P.
A very cozy, nice sushi place. The service is very good, and the food is great. The rolls have very cool names after teams and such. I would recommend...um... just about everything.
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