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Name: Yama Sushi & Sake Bar
Address: 926 NW 10th Ave, Portland, OR, 97209
Telephone: (503) 841-5463
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.27

Yama Sushi & Sake Bar

926 NW 10th Ave, Portland, OR, 97209

(503) 841-5463
Store is closed

Yama Sushi & Sake Bar Menu

Appetizers

Edamame

Gyoza

Tempura

Agedashi Tofu

Hawaiian Tuna Poke

Trio Sashimi Sampler

Edamame

Gyoza

Tempura

Agedashi Tofu

Hawaiian Tuna Poke

Trio Sashimi Sampler
Salad & Side Orders

Organic Farmers Mix Salad

Organic Spinach Salad

Wild Salmon Skin Salad

Seaweed Salad

Tako Sunomono

Yama Sunomono

White Rice

Brown Rice

Organic Miso Soup

Organic Miso with Clam Soup

Cucumber Salad

Japanese Pickle

Organic Farmers Mix Salad

Organic Spinach Salad

Wild Salmon Skin Salad

Seaweed Salad

Tako Sunomono

Yama Sunomono

White Rice

Brown Rice

Organic Miso Soup

Organic Miso with Clam Soup

Cucumber Salad

Japanese Pickle
Lunch Entrees

Ishi Nabe Bibimbob

Yasai itame with Seafood

Curry Tonkatsu

Yakiniku

Spicy Pork

Yosenabe

Tonkatsu

Wild King Salmon Teriyaki

Salmon Misoyaki

Sukiyaki

Chicken Teriyaki

Ishi Nabe Bibimbob

Yasai itame with Seafood

Curry Tonkatsu

Yakiniku

Spicy Pork

Yosenabe

Tonkatsu

Wild King Salmon Teriyaki

Salmon Misoyaki

Sukiyaki

Chicken Teriyaki
Noodle & Rice Bowl

Yakisoba with Shrimp 2

Yaki U Don with Shrimp add 2

U-Don Soup

Nabe Yaki U-Don Soup

Beef Curry U-Don

Katsu Donburi

Yakisoba with Shrimp 2

Yaki U Don with Shrimp add 2

U-Don Soup

Nabe Yaki U-Don Soup

Beef Curry U-Don

Katsu Donburi
Bento Box

Chicken teriyaki, Tonkatsu, Organic Salad

Salmon Misoyaki, Chicken Kara Age, Organic Salad

Spicy Chicken, 4P Cali Roll, Organic Salad

Yakiniku, Tonkatsu, Organic Salad

Stir Fried Vegetable, 2P Agedashi Toeu, Organic Salad

Ginger Tofu, 4P Avocado & Cucumber Roll, Organic Salad

Tempura 2P Shrimp 3P Vegetable, 4P Cali Roll, Organic Salad

Wild King Salmon Teriyaki, Nigiri Sushi 3P, Organic Salad

Sashimi 6P, Tempura 2P Shrimp 3P Vegetable, Organic Salad

Nigiri Sushi 3P, Saba Shoyaki, Organic Salad

Spicy Pork, 4P Cali Roll, Organic Salad

Chicken teriyaki, Tonkatsu, Organic Salad

Salmon Misoyaki, Chicken Kara Age, Organic Salad

Spicy Chicken, 4P Cali Roll, Organic Salad

Yakiniku, Tonkatsu, Organic Salad

Stir Fried Vegetable, 2P Agedashi Toeu, Organic Salad

Ginger Tofu, 4P Avocado & Cucumber Roll, Organic Salad

Tempura 2P Shrimp 3P Vegetable, 4P Cali Roll, Organic Salad

Wild King Salmon Teriyaki, Nigiri Sushi 3P, Organic Salad

Sashimi 6P, Tempura 2P Shrimp 3P Vegetable, Organic Salad

Nigiri Sushi 3P, Saba Shoyaki, Organic Salad

Spicy Pork, 4P Cali Roll, Organic Salad
Sushi Bar - Sushi Omakase

5Pcs Nigiri Sushi and Tuna Roll

6Pcs Nigiri Sushi and Cali with Real Crab Roll

4Pcs Each Roll of Cali

4Pcs Each Roll of Crazy Boy

5Pcs Nigiri Sushi and Tuna Roll

6Pcs Nigiri Sushi and Cali with Real Crab Roll

4Pcs Each Roll of Cali

4Pcs Each Roll of Crazy Boy
Sushi & Sashimi Omakase

5Pcs Nigiri Sushi and 6Pcs Sashimi

Sashimi Lunch 12 Pcs

Deluxe Sashimi Lunch 15Pcs

Chirashi Lunch

Tuna Don Lunch

5Pcs Nigiri Sushi and 6Pcs Sashimi

Sashimi Lunch 12 Pcs

Deluxe Sashimi Lunch 15Pcs

Chirashi Lunch

Tuna Don Lunch

Healthy Meal suggestions for Yama Sushi & Sake Bar

Appetizers

Edamame [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gyoza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tempura [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Agedashi Tofu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hawaiian Tuna Poke [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Trio Sashimi Sampler [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Edamame [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gyoza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tempura [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Agedashi Tofu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hawaiian Tuna Poke [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Trio Sashimi Sampler [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salad & Side Orders

Organic Farmers Mix Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Organic Spinach Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wild Salmon Skin Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seaweed Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tako Sunomono [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yama Sunomono [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

White Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Brown Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Organic Miso Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Organic Miso with Clam Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cucumber Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Japanese Pickle [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Organic Farmers Mix Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Organic Spinach Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wild Salmon Skin Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seaweed Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tako Sunomono [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yama Sunomono [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

White Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Brown Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Organic Miso Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Organic Miso with Clam Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cucumber Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Japanese Pickle [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Lunch Entrees

Ishi Nabe Bibimbob [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yasai itame with Seafood [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Curry Tonkatsu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yakiniku [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy Pork [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yosenabe [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tonkatsu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wild King Salmon Teriyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salmon Misoyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sukiyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Teriyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ishi Nabe Bibimbob [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yasai itame with Seafood [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Curry Tonkatsu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yakiniku [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy Pork [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yosenabe [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tonkatsu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wild King Salmon Teriyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salmon Misoyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sukiyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Teriyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Noodle & Rice Bowl

Yakisoba with Shrimp 2 [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yaki U Don with Shrimp add 2 [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

U-Don Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nabe Yaki U-Don Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef Curry U-Don [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Katsu Donburi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yakisoba with Shrimp 2 [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yaki U Don with Shrimp add 2 [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

U-Don Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nabe Yaki U-Don Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef Curry U-Don [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Katsu Donburi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Bento Box

Chicken teriyaki, Tonkatsu, Organic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salmon Misoyaki, Chicken Kara Age, Organic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy Chicken, 4P Cali Roll, Organic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yakiniku, Tonkatsu, Organic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stir Fried Vegetable, 2P Agedashi Toeu, Organic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ginger Tofu, 4P Avocado & Cucumber Roll, Organic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tempura 2P Shrimp 3P Vegetable, 4P Cali Roll, Organic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wild King Salmon Teriyaki, Nigiri Sushi 3P, Organic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sashimi 6P, Tempura 2P Shrimp 3P Vegetable, Organic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nigiri Sushi 3P, Saba Shoyaki, Organic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy Pork, 4P Cali Roll, Organic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken teriyaki, Tonkatsu, Organic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salmon Misoyaki, Chicken Kara Age, Organic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy Chicken, 4P Cali Roll, Organic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yakiniku, Tonkatsu, Organic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stir Fried Vegetable, 2P Agedashi Toeu, Organic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ginger Tofu, 4P Avocado & Cucumber Roll, Organic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tempura 2P Shrimp 3P Vegetable, 4P Cali Roll, Organic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wild King Salmon Teriyaki, Nigiri Sushi 3P, Organic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sashimi 6P, Tempura 2P Shrimp 3P Vegetable, Organic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nigiri Sushi 3P, Saba Shoyaki, Organic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy Pork, 4P Cali Roll, Organic Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sushi Bar - Sushi Omakase

5Pcs Nigiri Sushi and Tuna Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

6Pcs Nigiri Sushi and Cali with Real Crab Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

4Pcs Each Roll of Cali [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

4Pcs Each Roll of Crazy Boy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

5Pcs Nigiri Sushi and Tuna Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

6Pcs Nigiri Sushi and Cali with Real Crab Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

4Pcs Each Roll of Cali [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

4Pcs Each Roll of Crazy Boy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sushi & Sashimi Omakase

5Pcs Nigiri Sushi and 6Pcs Sashimi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sashimi Lunch 12 Pcs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Deluxe Sashimi Lunch 15Pcs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chirashi Lunch [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuna Don Lunch [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

5Pcs Nigiri Sushi and 6Pcs Sashimi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sashimi Lunch 12 Pcs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Deluxe Sashimi Lunch 15Pcs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chirashi Lunch [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuna Don Lunch [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

David G.

Better selection than Morimoto in Napa! Ducked out of work for an hour, and walked across the pearl to Yama. The selection of fish was better than most anywhere in the Bay Area (well maybe Hana is the same...) Service was great, and the prices were SO REASONABLE! Since we had to go back to work, we were unable to dive into the large sake selection. Next trip dinner for sure!
(5)
Shovelle S.

I have found it. The holy land of Sushi. I must go back. I must have a Tuna Tower. Yama will always have a special place in my holiday heart since my babe and I decided to have a very Sushi Christmas. It was the perfect storm of a relaxing Christmas Eve. Our server was super nice-laid back but informative, explaining all their house specialties. I'm particularly happy I've found out about Yama since it sustainably sources their seafood. (like Bamboo sushi..but sssh-this place is better) Accompanied by our favorite bottle of sake, we feasted like kings.. A couple of stand outs- Crazy Monkey-spicy tuna and salmon with pickled jalapeno Kobe Roll- surprisingly delicious. Kobe beef with spicy tuna and seared avocado TUNA TOWER!! a medley of assorted beings of the sea stacked together in perfect harmony. My new sushi home and welcome to it. ps. also, they have a large selection of Sake and have tastings every Thursday night.
(5)
Nate P.

Great sushi spot. Their sashimi was very good quality and the location is great. I will definitely return. The tuna tower is the bomb.
(4)
Tammi N.

Best japanese I have had in the States so far! Amazing sashimi, sushi and meat. We left very satisfied and would definitely recommend!
(5)
Josh S.

LIVE SEA URCHIN!!! Yummy!! Great Rolls, and Miso soup. Though service was a Bit slow.. The food here outweighed all that.. Love this place!! Always' Fresh!! Sustainable. and 5 Stars!!
(5)
John C.

By far the best sushi experience I have had in Portland. We ordered several of the salmon rolls and the salmon special plate. The freshness and flavor were out of this world. I loved the warmth and sweetness of our waitress. This is really a sushi lover's paradise! I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Heather H.

Great service, nice atmosphere and most important - fish was excellent and fresh! They had several varieties of tuna and had hamachi toro which you don't find at many places. I don't like to review sushi restaurants for their "non-sushi" characteristics but someone else in our party ordered a tofu appetizer that was also delicious and unique. They were large tofu pieces, about 5 of them, that had a light tempura coating and were served in a light broth seasoned with either fish flake or dashi - not sure but did enjoy.
(5)
Mikhail H.

I have found a favorite new sushi place! Excellent sake selection for starters. The service was phenomenal. I could write sonnets about the box sushi rolls. They have some very traditional rolls and also some unique fare. The pricing is very reasonable as well for its Pearl location.
(5)
Becky E.

Oh so good, daily fresh menu in addition to the regular menu. large selection of Sake. The sushi chef was like a wine stewart for Sake.
(5)
Yoshi G.

Incredible Sushi with a nice offering of other japanese favorites. Wide range of food is all well executed and served by attentive staff. The Sushi is really what stands out the most. High quality fresh fish which also happens to be sustainable. Another aspect of Yama that I admire is their roll combos. Each item on the sushi menu has a distinct flavor profile to offer. Unlike some sushi restaurants that seem to have the same few ingredients in slightly variated arrangements that are difficult to differentiate. Not a huge seating area so can get loud and crowded on busy nights. Awesome for late lunch and early dinners if you want to be around less people.
(4)
Tin C.

Food was fresher and better the first time around. Had a good experience with the bar keeper. Second experience was less so. Found hair in my sushi roll. The waiter dared ask was that hair there before. Made me more irritated that someone would ask that. Legit question but the implication is insulting. I said the hair is inside the roll. They redid the order and that's it. We got an apology but the night was ruined. Makes you wonder what other dirty things are going on that you can't see. **shudder***
(2)
David L.

I'm giving them 2.5 stars or an average rating to be generous. I have been going here since they opened. Note that I am comparing them to sushi restaurants not just in Portland but I travel a lot and and have sushi in major US cities. While the fish is fresh and the chefs are great, a better choice 50 yards away is Sinju at the corner of 10th and Johnson. Warning that their take-out service is not great with missing or the wrong type of fish - so check your order before leaving.
(2)
Jennifer C.

It made my day when I found this place only a few blocks from my new apartment. Wherever I live, I seek out a go-to Japanese place with fresh well-cut sushi and authentic nabeyaki udon, because these are my emergency antidotes in case of a bad day or serious case of the hungries. Yama does it for me. The seafood nabeyaki udon soup has fish fillets, scallops, clam, and many other quality seafood goodies, in addition to the obligatory tempura shrimp. It is such an amazing comfort food on a cold day. The bim bim bop was also very good, which surprised me because it is rare to find good BBB and equally good nabeyaki udon and sushi under one roof. The BBB comes in the hot stone pot and gets crispy on the bottom in just the right way, and the veggies and meat are thoughtfully marinated and tasty. As for the fish: better than Mio Sushi, a smidge down the ladder from Masu, but appropriately in-between for the price point. Tasty, tasty, tasty, fresh good cuts and excellent rolls. And they have lower entree prices for lunch. I can't wait to try everything on the menu. I went once with a friend and a baby in a stroller during lunch, and they sat us the back room, which was perfect. They provided excellent service even though (in my opinion) the stroller was probably too big for the place, so I can't imagine strolling through there during crowded dinner hours because of the space constraints.
(5)
L T.

Excellent service and many traditional items on the menu. Tako wasa, raw wasabi octopus, was a perfect app. Salmon sashimi app was above par. Chicken gizzards were spicy and perfectly cooked. Most of the sushi was spot on: hamachi toro, aji, tobiko, tuna, and natto. Live abalone special didn't have the sweetness but it was edible.
(4)
Dmitri G.

The food was ok, at best average. The items were falling apart. For that price, I expected more. Won't be coming back
(3)
Sean K.

Located in the heart of the Pearl District, Yama Sushi has rather misleading, typical sushi joint look. The interior, fancy and all, somehow gave the vibe that Yama was trying too hard to overcome the semi-pedestrian look from outside and draw its customers by its interior decor. But I was proven wrong by every single dish my friend and I were served with. From Ahi tuna tower to sashimi salad, special rolls and some nigiri, I was thoroughly impressed by the freshness of the ingredients, attentiveness of the servers, and the taste. Sure it is not cheap (but not too or outrageously expensive) but I believe that - esp with sushi - you have to pay more to get the better stuff. Yama is far better than any other sushi places I have been in Portland so far and I'm willing to pay some extra for it.
(5)
Lorie B.

Took my daughter there for lunch, today, after reading reviews on Yelp. I have to say the tempura was the best I've ever had and the sushi was so fresh! Will definitely be back for lunch and/or dinner. Easy streetcar access so you don't need to find a close place to park. Staff was very attentive and nice. :)
(5)
Jasmyn M.

This is probably the best sushi I've had in Portland. Truth be told, I've yet to try Bamboo but this place has no line, is probably cheaper, and parking is pretty accessible in the 'hood. This review is brought to you by Tazmanian salmon. Natural umami at it's finest. It will think their regular salmon is garbage...which it's not. Still some of the best non-Tazmanian sake I've had. The dude next to me today ordered LIVE sea urchin. LIVE! And it was served atop the sea urchin exterior...spikes and all! Dude said it's about the only place that serves it in Portland. Also said he's a frequent customer to this establishment. I'm guessing he knows what he's talking about if he's sought out LIVE sea urchin. Rolls are standard combinations of spicy tuna topped with something, tempura roll topped with something, california roll topped with spicy tuna or rolled in tempura. All fine and dandy but the sashimi is where it's at. I've also had the katsu donburri, tempura, and something else I can't recall but I can recall that all of the above were delicious. Friendly and funny chefs too. When asked, "How'd the Tazmanian salmon get here so fast?" as a joke, one responded with, "He swim fast!" with a double hand gesture of a swimming fish. Very cute.
(5)
Heather M.

Being full off of good sushi feels so good! Yama is a pretty small restaurant and on Saturday night they had three sushi chefs and four servers, which shows their commitment to great service. The service was indeed great. The sushi was great too! My boyfriend and I were craving it and we got our fix. The Oregon roll with shrimp tempura, eel, avocado, spicy mayo and eel sauce was our fave. I also gave Bamboo a 5 star review on yelp. The two places are very different. Go to Yama if you want a low-key nice sushi experience on the cheaper side. Go to Bamboo if you want a swanky atmosphere and are willing to spend more.
(5)
K C.

Love the Sushi! Yum! Yum! Yummy! Fresh! Tasty and great service! The staff is great and the sushi rolls are awesome. A must when in the Portland Oregon Area.
(5)
Louise J.

I've tried sashimi in many locations around the globe and several states in the US. Yama serves high quality food in very unique arrangements. The location in Portland is also a great place to visit. I ordered the sashimi deluxe which was served on a wooden boat and all fish tasted excellent. My wife and restaurant neighbors were similarly impressed.
(5)
Kyra S.

The sushi was quite good - the uni was noticeably fresh and flavorful. What stood out for me, though, was the service -- our waitress went out of her way to help my daughter, and even gave her some of her cookie she'd gotten from the bakery down the street. We felt very welcomed, enjoyed our experience, and would recommend Yama to anyone.
(4)
Tet W.

What a great place for sushi in the Pearl. It's small but sheek and I love the dark wood and contemporary decor. The have a sushi bar in the front and a separate dining area. I came here for Saturday lunch and it was somewhat empty which was nice and quiet. We started off with an order of gyoza and seaweed salad. Both were very good. The gyoza order came with 3 pieces filled with pork and vegetables. The gyoza was soft and the juices just burst in you mouth as soon as you bite into it. The dipping sauce was light and delightful. The seaweed salad was great as well and and I love the taste of sesame oil. Mmmmmmm! We also ordered 4 rolls. We had the rainbow roll, Dallas roll, Yama roll, and Hawaiian Roll. All the rolls were excellent. The Hawaiian roll was huge. I think it's a bit too big since it's a bit messy to eat it in one bite. The taste is excellent and the fish and mango went well together. The Dallas roll was great with the spicy sauce with fried shrimp inside. Yummm! The rainbow roll is always a favorite of mine because it has a variety of different fish on top of a California roll. It was solid and the portion size was generous. The Yama roll was the best but the most expensive. It also was the most flavorful. The crispy onions on top of the rolls was a nice touch and contrast in flavor and texture. The lobster in it was great and the green sauce drizzled over the roll was great as well. Overall, the price was a little steep but reasonable considering what we ordered. This is a great place for either lunch or dinner. Reservations are not always necessary as this place is a bit expensive for some but the quality of the fish and other ingredients is very fresh and organic. This would also be a good place for single diners or a great place to bring a date. I'll definitely keep Yama's Sushi and Sake Bar in mind whenever I'm having a serious sushi craving.
(5)
Pnw C.

Delicious fresh specials. Great service even out on the patio. Loved the patio option.
(5)
Scott O.

I have been visiting Yama since it opened and have been enjoying Yuki for years before. My #1 choice and my first recommendation for anyone craving the best sushi. The quality is top notch and the presentation is amazing. I am heading there tonight and I cannot wait!!!!
(5)
Jeff L.

Was my favorite sushi joint in Portland but definitely not anymore. Literally just walked out without any service. Incredibly rude service this time. Never again for me!
(1)
Evan W.

The rating is for the entire dining experience, and I will explain why I gave this restaurant 2 stars. I will start with the food. The fish was quite fresh and nicely cut. The chicken my girlfriend's mom got was advertised as spicy, and lived up to its descriptor. My girlfriend's sushi pieces had too much wasabi between the fish and the rice, but that was the biggest issue with the food. Now on to the service. More things went wrong than went right in our meal. We started our meal with a bottle of sake and an order of edamame. The sake took a long time to come, and the edamame didn't come until we were well into our meal. When the sake did come, our server spilled a glass of wine on our table and wiped it up with a napkin, which left our table sticky. Our soups and salads finally came and were good. When our main courses arrived, my girlfriend's mom's meal didn't have the rice it was supposed to come with. She told a hostess about this, and the rice was delivered later by another server with no apology. The edamame came when we were about halfway into the main course, by which time we no longer wanted it. We asked to speak with a manager, and she was not very helpful. She said that the server was new (which was obvious), and that another server had not shown up. This illustrated that the manager either didn't care about customer service or didn't know how to help out the waitstaff. After some prodding, the manager comped one of the three main dishes. I had high expectations from all the yelp reviews, but this was disappointing. This may have been an off night, but I will not be coming back.
(2)
Tiffany M.

We decided to have our mom's Birthday dinner here after reading the reviews and seeing the stars. However, it wasn't as good as we'd thought it'd be. First, we booked the "party room" since we had a group of 13. Got a confirmation phone call 10-15 minutes prior to our reservation time of 5pm... We arrived to learn that they had double booked the room so there was another group in there. How do you double book the one and only room especially when I had been told over the phone that they have a maximum capacity of 13 in the room because there isn't a lot of seating room...? Definitely disappointed we didn't get the room as we were seated right outside of the party room, and the place got busy. Server was pretty good, friendly. Took awhile to actually get the food, and our entire group got our foods at different times... I know different items take longer to cook, but I shouldn't be halfway (or more) through with my meal before the last person in my group gets their food.... hm. Food was just okay -- we've had better elsewhere for similar (or cheaper) pricing. Also, DISAPPOINTED that 18% GRATUITY is automatically added for parties of 5+.... like gee, families cant come here much, if at all. Will not return as it's not all that it's hyped up to be... Oh, well ya learn as you go!
(2)
Kirsten Z.

My daughter and I were looking for a late lunch...showed up after lunch and before dinner and they invited us to sit anyway. What amazing food and wonderful people. I can't say enough. I would give them the benefit of he doubt on the service(other reviews...ours was exceptional)..their hearts are definitely in it and sometimes it takes a bit to get in your groove. So, so happy they have come to Beaumont.
(5)
Ted R.

Lived in Tokyo for a spell and know fresh Sushi. Yama gets it right. Nice NW twist on rolls. Personal benchmark Amaebi was 1st rate. Sashimi and nigiri were a good temp with very nice presentation. Amazing Sake selection. They take bar reservations. Will return many times.
(5)
Jael J.

Hands down my favorite sushi joint in Portland. It's a little gem-in-the-wall in the pearl. Their service is amazing! Their list of rolls is super fun and creative and yet - they still let me put together a roll however I want...because they are THAT awesome! They also have this wall of chopsticks. I've seen people remove their chopsticks and then return them. I haven't gotten up the guts to ask what that's all about but it looks cool! They are EXTREMELY generous with their cuts - I mean their nigri looks like a small steak. They always seem to have the best fish too. Super tasty. Their staff is courteous and attentive. Once they asked us to move (right after we sat down) so that they could move two tables together for a larger party. Of course, we had no issues with that. And our flexibility didn't go unnoticed by their staff (no details). A group of us had a few bottles of sake once and the staff had fun with us! They enjoyed that we were having a good time. I'm also always obsessed with presentation and their is on point! Always impressed, every time I go there. I hear they are building a private party room - I can't wait to try it out!!
(5)
Christopher Y.

Excellent sushi Excellent customer service Great dining experience The toro sashimi was my favorite
(5)
Helene T.

California roll with fresh crab was delicious. The rice was perfectly flavored. The servers were great too. Great outdoor seating for a beautiful evening dinner.
(5)
Jesse H.

This place is a hidden gem. I hate sharing this review butas a yelper I feel its my duty to share. This place has a great amount of choices sushi and sake to choose from plus they even have some tasty poke. Things I love about this place: *Great prices *Very well decorated. *No long waits *Sushi bar *Good Sake selection *Very good food If you are on a budget or not then come here first.
(5)
T K.

The sushi and sake are impeccable. The service is hit-and-miss. Be prepared to wait, perhaps a long time. Don't go in starving and have your patience in your pocket and you will be rewarded. Wish they would get the service together.
(4)
Kyle R.

Yama Sushi is simply amazing. I've eaten a lot of sushi and Japanese food, and this is definitely on par with the (very few) other amazing places that I've been to. I have yet to be even slightly disappointed with anything I've had so far. Additionally, the employees are wonderful and helpful. I'd recommend the yakiniku if you eat beef. It's delicious in every way.
(5)
Mike D.

Great sushi at very reasonable prices. Fish is fresh and staff is very friendly. They have a mix of normal and exotic sushi. They have the largest selection of sake that I've seen in a long time.
(5)
Anthony K.

Very nice interior atmosphere, a little small but would be a good date spot. The owners also own Yuki on nw 23rd needless to say the menu is about 99% identical as far as the sushi rolls why not just call it Yuki too? I liked what I ordered and the service was good but I would say it is a little on the more expensive side probably just due to their location and super high rent im assuming.
(3)
Melissa K.

I was able to make reservations for two at the sushi bar on a Saturday night. Fyi, they only take reservations for tables for a party of six of greater (but I'm not complaining, I love sitting at the bar). The fish here is so fresh! I was worried that some of the rolls we ordered may come out too heavy, but they tasted light. Waiters and waitresses were very attentive. Would definitely come back here when I'm in town again!
(5)
K S.

Two words: Tuna Tower You're welcome.
(5)
Ruby G.

Great sushi and service!! The baked lobster and rainbow rolls were our favorites! The fish was like butter!!
(5)
Alexis T.

We were visiting our family in Washington and really wanted to try a good sushi restaurant, so after reading all the good reviews we decided to go to Portland and try Yama Sushi and Sake Bar. It was a Monday night, we waited over an hour to be seated even though they said the wait would be no longer than 30 minutes. Than it took another hour or more for our food to arrive, We were beyond upset and very hungry. Frankly after a 2 hours wait to eat dinner we were about to walk out. When the food arrived it was just okay, I am an avid sushi eater and I know my sushi and this was just eeh okay. We explained how we felt to the restaurant and they did not care at all. We will never come here again! What a horrible dinner experience! The management should really try to hire more waiters and sushi chefs. We had the worst service ever!!! Stay away from this place, it's not worth the stress!!!
(1)
Lisa S.

Best sushi in Portland. We finally decided to splurge & treat ourselves to the omakase. Every course was creative, thoughtful, & delicious. True artistry. We used absolutely no soy sauce & trusted the chef completely. This is how sushi is meant to be eaten & it was worth every penny.
(5)
Kaelee K.

The sushi has a very strong fishy taste - I was quite surprised for such good yelp reviews. A big let down and I won't be back. I went on a Monday so the fish should have been fresh, so there's no excuse there. While the location is theoretically great, the max train stopped for about a minute once every 19 minutes or so and made loud screeching and beeping noises, so our conversation was often interrupted
(1)
Suz N.

Food was expedient and delicious. Fresh beautiful cuts of salmon and tuna. Wait staff extremely nice and attentive. We sat at the bar the sushi chefs were helpful, knowledgable and friendly.
(5)
Joshua T.

This is a very clean place with A large menu and a variety of different kinds of sushi's. I ordered the California roll from this place for about $4.95. She's a bargain you can't really find sushi this cheap and this good. It was about a piece. Also they came with complementary cucumber slices. Happy hour also has California rolls for $2.50 for four pieces which is a good deal. This place is a good place to hang out very hipster soft music and people or just really enjoying it out here. The servers are very nice and always coming up and asking if anything else is needed. So everybody's on their game and which makes everything very comfortable here. It's in the center of downtown so I has a great view outside the window looking to the city as people are walking by
(5)
M R.

My boyfriend and I wanted sushi while we were visiting Portland in December and we came across Yama. AMAZING. I suggest the YELLOW TAIL NIGIRI (it's so nice and fresh), VEGAS FEVER (has everything you may want and its absolutely delicious) FLAMING JACK (whole other experience, it combines flavors that are so good together, eat it hot!) YAMA ROLL (is light and fresh) BAKED LOBSTER (delicious big chunks of lobster) PARADISE (is one of my favorites, its very simple and extremely tasty) We get 3 rolls (Vegas Fever and Flaming Jack are non-negotiable and then we choose a different 3rd to try something new). We leave very satisfied. At the Southeast Portland location (Yama Sushi & Izakaya) we were talking to a guy sitting next to us and he told us that the ramen there is amazing and he goes there regularly for it. It did look very delicious so much that we might try it next time I'm in town! Now my boyfriend lives in Portland and every time I go to visit, we go to Yama as soon as I get off the plane and we go for dinner the night before I leave. No exceptions. It's our favorite place to go in Portland and I think our favorite restaurant of all time really. I'd say it's a little bit on the pricey side but worth every penny. I love both locations and every time we have amazing service. Always have an amazing experience and eat delicious food.
(5)
Jessica K.

Not a fan of this place, the food is ok and the staff is rude. We order the large table but when we arrived it wasn't available and they made our group split up. The waitress tried to tell us we owed $10 more than we actually did because she didn't want to split up our check. Was not happy with the way we were treated, don't think I will be coming back.
(3)
Meghan '.

I am from the east coast and I would fly back for this sushi!! Seriously the best sushi we have ever had the presentation was excellent, and all the employees felt like family they were so attentive and kind and genuine people. If you're looking for sushi look no further THIS PLACE IS SUSHI HEAVEN!!
(5)
David S.

Excellent quality and selection Diverse options for both nigiri / sashimi and rolls. Not every sushi place has two kinds of mackerel, scallops 3 or 4 different ways including one with foie gras. It is all being made to order and popular so you will have to accept slow pace but it will be enjoyable.
(5)
Youxin Z.

Tried a lot of Japanese restaurant and this is one of the best in my mind. Kobe beef tataki and grilled squid are must tries
(5)
Gladys H.

I was there with two friends for a late lunch. One of the people was a young Japanese student who did not speak much English. It was disappointing to see that the menu is not also in Japanese and our server did not speak Japanese. The TV was on and American music was playing. The food was okay. I do not think I will go back there.
(3)
Kris H.

We came with no expectations and we were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the sushi. Very fresh sashimi, toro, unagi, and scallops. They did not have uni the night we dined. The grilled octopus was delicious. Very friendly service. Nice modern decor. Cozy ambiance. And it's so much better than Sinju.
(4)
Em R.

This place is delicious and the service is excellent. 4 rolls was more than enough for 2 people. The volcano roll was one of the best I've had. Friendly staff and good food! We'll definitely be back.
(5)
Denise K.

Omakase with Vincent was mind blowing! Loved every bite! Fish is extremely fresh and there's a huge fish selection. Not all sushi joints have kinmedai, engawa, mirugai, or fresh hotate.... but Yama had it ALL... and then some! Not only is the nigiri presentation beautiful, but the flavors were out of this world. I loved the nigiri here. The rice was perfect and the slices of fish were thick and flavorful. I asked Vincent to make me kani nigiri with cucumbers and lemon and he executed it perfectly. When we were getting full, he started recommending some things to us to ensure that we wouldn't miss out on their freshest items. I wish I could visit Vincent and Yama Sushi every week! Service was attentive and friendly. Atmosphere is for the cool kids. Yama is a must try! You won't regret it!
(5)
Kelley L.

Honestly, I'll eat sushi anywhere I go, even if Portland seems like a random area for a Californian to do that. Saw the reviews, and decided to go before heading to the airport! Seating was quick, but it literally took half an hour for one of the servers to finally take my friend's and my orders. We were looking forward to trying another local Oregonian sake, but sadly it was out. Took another fifteen minutes for food to start arriving, but we had to remind one of the servers about my chirashi order, so I did not get it until an hour after arriving. Sad. Fish quality was better than I expected! I mean, realistically, it is not on par with LA, SF, or NYC, but it was good. It was also expensive, I felt. I would have given this place 4 stars, but the lack of service was just so bad, so I am docking a star because of that. I know Portland is laid back, but service just needs to not be slow, that is all.
(2)
Andrew B.

On my 4th visit everything is still beautiful. I always stick to sushi but look forward to their more creative dinner offerings. Also, the sake menu is excellent and always fresh. I highly recommend trying unpasteurized sake as they have a half dozen when most sushi places have none b
(5)
Olivia O.

They should have called that movie Olivia Dreams of Sushi because after this place that's all I'm thinking about. Put the anago into my mouth directly, please and thanks. Top quality sushi that surprises you with it's subtly. I came in, sat at the bar, and the sushi chef asked me what I wanted. I said, what's fresh today? He pointed out some tuna, some salmon, some eel, some urchin, some oysters. I said, go ahead, surprise me. And boy the hell he did! I ate a variety of salmon nigiri, a soft piece of anago that blew my mind and was covered ever so delicately with a few large grains of salt, oysters garnished my urchin, dish after dish impressed me. The chefs flavor the fish so you don't have to. I hardly used any extra soy sauce or wasabi because the chef had such a great eye for adding just the right amount of salt or spice to his fish. I cleansed my palate with a piece of ginger when he brought me a new piece of fish and I polished off my meal with a cup of hot sake. I really enjoyed my meal and I ended up blowing more money than I ever intended to on lunch. The food was just so out of this world and the chef was on a roll (ha, on a sushi roll, get it? No? Okay I'll stop). Next time I come in I'll be a little more careful what I let the chef send my way only because it can get pricey, but uh, if you have a meal and a budget to take someone out, or you need to impress a friend or a business partner, bring them here. Will be back repeatedly and regret it when I can't pay rent.
(5)
Carleigh H.

Yama was good. I was a bit disappointed in my roll though. The description didn't list any raw fish which is why I chose it. It unfortunately did so I couldn't eat much of it. The gyoza was pretty yummy, but I have honestly had better. They were also out of the first bottle of chosen saki. We went with another that was tasty though. Nice steamed edamame. I would give it another try even after a rating of three. I do love sushi and find this establishment to be very authentic!
(3)
Vincent H.

Ouch! They charged us $2 per person for a tea bag tea without even informing us of the cost upfront. This place is a bit overrated. The miso soup was warm when served, not piping hot. The sushi and sashimi was decent and fresh. Even without the $2 tea complaint, I wouldn't rate it any more than 3 stars.
(3)
Joycelyn L.

Came here for dinner with a group of friends and were seated right away, we got there before 6pm. We mainly ordered from their signature rolls menu. I ended up trying the Crazy Monkey - spicy tuna, spicy salmon, pickled jalapeno & cucumber with sprouts and spicy mayo. Not bad. Service was good and they give you a fancy tea cup when you order hot tea.
(3)
Matthew M.

My wife and I were looking for a great sushi place while we were visiting Portland. Stoked we found this place. Great sushi. I had the Sake Bomb roll, which is spicy tuna, cucumber and avocado wrapped in salmon. Super simple but very, very good. My wife had the BSC roll and loved it as well. Staff was super friendly and welcoming. Overall great experience. We will definitely be back the next time we're in Portland.
(4)
Robert B.

Boy, looking at so many great reviews makes be feel bad about being something of a 'dog in the manger' here, but I have to be honest; this place didn't rock my world as much as I thought it would, and I left feeling, quite frankly, underwhelmed. THE ROSES: Delightful looking space well located in Portland's uber-trendy Pearl district. The palisades of sake bottles on the wall suggest this a great place to try all kinds of different sake, and the drinks menu bears that out; excellent selection of sakes, and they're well-described to help the diner make an educated choice. Service is very good, with a group of very attractive servers on hand who are prompt, attentive, professional, and very pleasant. Needless to say, with all this going for it, I reeeeeealy hate to offer.... THE THORNS: While everything was competent, everything was kind of, well, blah. I ordered a combo dinner of tonkatsu, salad, and California roll, and was very disappointed with what I recieved. The California roll was very basic and uninspired, and the pork tonkatsu seemed like it came off a SYSCO truck. It's almost as if the restaurant really doesn't like serving bento meals, and, to be brutally honest, it shows. The ala carte menu featured pix of a lot of specialty rolls that looked really good, but I I saw none of that magic applied to this humdrum meal. The sushi was also nothing special. This was, quite frankly, 'mall sushi'; I can do this at home. THE VERDICT: A case of the book not being anywhere near as interesting as the cover, I wonder if Yama Sushi needs someone to shake things up in the back of the house to bring it up to the quality implied by the polish in the front of the house. Bottom line, in a foodie town like Portland, this place is definitely punching below its weight; recommend you take a pass on this one. Sorry.
(2)
Sara W.

Went to Yama on a Friday night around 7:30. While it is definitely a popular spot, you can call and make a reservation to sit at the sushi bar (not the dining room unfortunately). But this is a great way if you are coming in with a group of only 2 or 3 and don't want to have to take a chance with waiting, Everything we ordered was great! The edamame, Spicy Salmon roll and the Salmon & Scallop roll were great! beautiful presentation and exceptionally fresh fish. When you walk into the restaurant you see the chefs and the fish right at the bar. Overall great experience. I will be back.
(4)
Elizabeth L.

We love and have frequented Yama many times before but had the most amazing dinner last night. We took our server's advice and ordered the chef's omakase. Out came course after course of delicious, fresh and beautifully plated assortment of sashimi and nigiri, as well as several cooked dishes. It was a feast for the stomach as well as the eyes! The black cod with foie gras was my absolute favorite dish of the evening. Our server, Mina, was extremely attentive and has an unbelievably extensive knowledge about sake. When we had our fill of wonderfully prepared and beautifully presented seafood and sake, out came dessert! It was truly a memorable dinner and we can't wait to return for more.
(5)
S B.

Delicious! So happy I found this place. Staff was very helpful and nice. Food was outstanding. Loved the tuna tower!!
(5)
Tin P.

My girlfriend and I stopped by this place during our weekend Portland trip. The place rests near Pearl District. The service was nice. It was not crowded as I thought it would be and the waitress quickly found us a table and made us feel like home. We opened the menu and was surprised by varieties of choice for Nigri and sushi. We started our usual order: sea urchin nigiri, sea urchin sushi, 3 kinds of salmon nigiri, ocean rolls, and blue ocean roll. The menu nigiri is very rich in options. You can find mostly any kind of fish in yama sushi for your taste without worrying. Let me start with the good stuffs. Sea urchin (Uni) in the shell was like injecting drug directly to your blood, rich creamy oceanary drug. It was served in the sea urchin shell. As soon as the uni makes contact with your taste bud, you soon realized what the hell on earth you are in this place for the first place. We paid 16$ for this dish but it more than totally worth it. It is one of the kind experience. If you can effort this, please please get it! After the sea urchin in the shell, we also ordered normal sea urchin nigiri with rice and 3 kinds of salmons. Both these dishes are not up to par like Uni in the shell but it was also satisfied. 3 kinds of salmons were absolutely fresh and flavorful. You can totally tasted the difference in the 3 salmons. After this, we were served Ocean rolls. There was no rice in the rolls, which is the plus and the fish is fresh at best. I would have given Yama Sushi 5 stars if we did not get the Blue Ocean 7 Rolls. This was the worst thing i ever get. It first came out, smothering in ponzu sauce, which made it super salty. Imagining yourself driniking soy sauce and you get what it exactly tasted like. Even after asking the waitress to take it back and replace it, it was still coming out very salty. This dish definitely should not be on the menu and brought Yama Sushi down 1 star
(4)
Jim K.

Went here last night for my birthday. Made a reservation, but didn't really need it at the time we arrived - 6 p.m. It got more busy as the night wore on. We ordered some nigiri and rolls to share. I liked all of the nigiri I had - the creamy scallops was especially excellent. Sweet shrimp was good, unagi good and escolar tasty. My wife thought that one of the rolls was "too fishy" for her. i think that it was the spicy tuna. I didn't mind, and the fish was OK in my book, but maybe a bit more fishy tasting that other spicy tunas that I've tasted. Not a deal breaker, and I got to eat the rest of the roll! I will definitely be back.
(4)
Masood S.

Food is good, but Ann is a very rude waitress. She notified all the tables around us about the kitchen's last call and walked right past our table. We will never come here again.
(1)
Angela H.

This is my second visit to Yama and I enjoyed it just as much as the first time. I love that they have so many sake samplers so that I can try a few different ones and figure out what I like.
(5)
Lois F.

Very clean restaurant and great menu. There is a variety of options with some custom sushi choices. We opted for the classic California Roll. We were not disappointed.
(5)
Shawn S.

Best Sushi that i have ever had traveling outside of California. This place definitely has there ducking in order and know what kind of Sake and Fish to serve to there Customers. Every single bite had a smile on my face. My Sushi chef was a woman, and she was outstanding. I will definitely be coming back to this Place and would Definitely Recommend trying this place out if you haven't already. The price is right if your looking for top quality sushi Eats: kampachi sushi Uni sushi Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon sushi Yellowtail Belly sushi Toro Belly sushi Aji sushi Ono sushi The Slices were thick enough and long enough to get a great bite and taste for what you were eating. The Toro and and yellowtail belly are amazing.
(5)
Janite S.

Walked in hungry and left completely satisfied! I stopped through before hitting road back to Tacoma, WA after long day of tax free shipping. I am happy I decided to stop. The atmosphere was nice and servers were excellent & prompt with drink refills. The sushi was fresh & delicious.
(4)
Amy L.

Service was good, and so was my lunch until I started throwing up profusely four hours later. Considering food poisoning takes 24-48 hours to cultivate, the culprit would be E.coli poisoning which has a rapid onset of 4-6 hours. That being said, I got two veggie rolls which were clearly made by a sushi chef who didn't wash his hands. The restaurant was nice enough to refund me, but I will never go back here, and I would never recommend this place to anyone. For sushi that won't make you sick, go to Sinju two blocks away. They have shitty service, but at least you won't be sick as hell.
(1)
April F.

AMAZING SUSHI PLACE!! Man i wish this place was in the bay area! Ok...so, I feel that the people who gave bad reviews did not order correctly - if you did then you would have had a similar food experience as me! With that said, I think a great sushi place really depends on what you order - we always stick with a few classics whenever we go somewhere for the first time: salmon, tuna, scallop sashimi and we pick a roll (something raw) and then we would pick a special of some kind, mostly from yelp recommendations. OUR ORDER Assorted sashimi (from the menu) Tuna Tower (based on yelp pictures) Black Cod Midtown Roll large Asahi (2 glasses!) We spent a bit under $95 after tipping a decent amount. Sashimi was delicious - not fishy tasting, decent quality. I overheard the waitress tell another couple that the fish comes from Santa Barbara. Highlight was the black Cod - it's an appetizer (around $7.50 I think) and it was my first time having it - THIS IS A MUST ORDER. IF YOU DO NOT GET THIS YOU ARE A FOOL (okay maybe not a fool but pretty foolish...). It tastes buttery and the skin is like candy - I can't describe it well but just get it. Tuna Tower was also very good, we were pleasantly surprised - with it being something that looks like it's just an attention-getting menu item, the flavoring was spot on - the rice was flavorful and the tuna was fresh. The waiter offered to mix it but I wanted to take a picture of it first. Everything we had was delicious, decent prices (we paid more for less in the bay area), and service was good! We were extremely satisfied :)
(5)
Christine B.

To be fair, my husband and I are sushi snobs. He's spent a lot of time in Japan and I worked at a top sushi restaurant in LA a long time ago. We went here for a late lunch today and it was not good at all. Both of us felt sick afterwards for a few hours. I had to force myself not to spit out one of the rolls we ordered. We didn't even finish our meal and we always finish our sushi. The quality of the fish was not that fresh and every piece was pretty fishy. One of the other main issues was the seaweed. It was exceptionally chewy and gross. On top of that, it was really overpriced especially for the quality. I don't mind spending a lot for top quality food, but it's so disappointing when you dropped a good deal of money for something so lackluster. We've had better sushi at the cheap conveyor belt type places. I would never come back here and I'm really not sure how this place has such glowing reviews. I feel bad to be so harsh, but I'm not normally a 1-star review kind of person and this was definitely a 1-star experience.
(1)
Jennifer H.

We were visiting Portland for the first time and wanted to eat somewhere nearby. Our waitress took drink orders, but a few minutes later, a different waitress came to ask for our drink orders. It was a little confusing and annoying to have to repeat all of our requests. I also noticed that the waitresses weren't very attentive. My sister waited for several minutes to use the restroom because one of the waitresses was brushing her teeth. I went to use the restroom at a later time and a group of them were standing around chatting. No one came to check on us or to see how we were enjoying the meal. I ordered sukiyaki. It tasted like soy sauce with tons of sugar, the meat was overcooked and tough and was not the type of meat normally used in sukiyaki, and there was barely any substance to it; 80% soup, 20% vegetables and meat. I couldn't finish it because the bad taste was so overwhelming. I'm Japanese and grew up eating authentic Japanese food. This really fell short. I actually feel bad that this is what Portlanders have as an example of highly-rated Japanese food.
(2)
Gaurav M.

Amazing. That's it. If u r looking for a good sushi place and browsing around on yelp trying to find a good place.... This is ur time to stop. You found it. Everything is top notch. Enjoy
(5)
Cezary W.

Excellent, authentic, fresh, great ambience. We cane to celebrate a special occasion. Could not be better. Good sushi, good noodles. Dazzling sake selection.
(5)
Susan F.

The scallop ceviche with truffle oil is to die for! The fish is so fresh here and some of the best sushi I have had anywhere. Live scallops amazing as well. Ready to go back for more. Check out their special list and order off it.
(5)
A. Jesse Jiryu D.

Slightly pricey and gimmicky, the actual sushi is excellent. Good service, never any trouble finding a spot to sit. Avoid the silly towers and sushi pizza and stuff, just get a good selection of rolls and ask for help with the large sake menu. A great place for a meal alone or a somewhat splurgy dinner for two. In good weather there are a few tables on the sidewalk. Service is a little slower outside but worth the chiller vibe. Dinner inside at the counter is comparatively cramped, tables are fine.
(4)
Keith M.

I really like this restaurant. My girlfriend and I celebrated my birthday here, on a Wednesday night. The service was super good! The server saw us being hesitant to order a bottle of Nigori sake, she immediately offered some tasting glasses. They have a lot of Sake selections here including some local ones. I didn't know Portland has its own Nigori until I visited this Restaurant. Definitely ask the server for a sake that fits best for you, they seem pretty knowledgeable. We were able to compare five different Nigoris before choosing one that we like the most. Our main dish came out really fast, which for us was two Chirashi bowl. They did forgot our appetizer the Tako Wasa, but the server was super friendly and it didn't take them more than five minutes to brought it to our table, after asked. The Chirashi was good, not the best I've tasted, but it was good. Some of the best fishes in our Chirashi bowl were Albacore, and Hamachi. They do have a Sashimi dish that is only about four dollars more from the Chirashi, but has more fish. I will try that next time I am back in Portland.
(4)
Nikhil B.

We stopped here for lunch the other day. What a great experience right from The sake to the meal. I am not a sushi expert but i had the best sushi I have tasted here. I got the tuna tower following advice from my fellow yelpers and I wasn't disappointed. It was awesome. My better half had the baked lobster which was equally good but totally different. We had sake recommended by our sever according to the kind of wine we usually drink and they were perfect with the sushi. It was a little on the pricy side though. I had to take a star away for the service though. If seemed like they were understaffed. Our server was great with recommendations but we hardly had any water refills and hardly anyone checked on us once we got served. Infact 2 females from an end table outside had to move closer to the entrance after 15 min of waiting to get someone to serve them. It's definitely a 5 star for food and we will definitely be back hoping for better service next time
(4)
Lizzy D.

In keeping with Japanese values of beauty simplicity and functionality in design, Yama chefs are truly artists. Expect the freshest and highest quality ingredients with incredible presentation. Yama is unmatched by rival sushi joints. I've sat bar-side and observed the visiting sushi connoisseur, had a large gathering join for a celebration, enjoyed quite dinners for two. In all situations the staff has been accommodating in guiding customers less familiar, and attentive but not intrusive in service.
(5)
Ray R.

We were in the mood for Japanese food and decided to try here based on many positive reviews. The staff seated us promptly and had our drinks to us quickly. We had a choice of sitting at the bar or at a table and opted for a table. The atmosphere is relaxing and filled with nice dark woods. We felt exceptionally comfortable. My girlfriend ordered chicken Yakisoba, which she thoroughly enjoyed. I ordered the deluxe Sushi, which was also very good. I just wish there were more pieces of Nigiri Sushi per order, as at many other sushi restaurants. The staff saw my girlfriend having problems with her chopsticks, so they were kind enough to ask if she wanted "training" chopsticks. Wonderful and nice! Thank you! We definitely enjoyed this place and would make another visit!
(4)
Erica K.

I've been coming to Yama for years and I've never had a bad experience. Servers are very attentive and friendly and the food is always excellent. I love their sake selection. The servers are very informative on sake and always have great recommendations. Their fresh Oregon albacore is to die for!
(5)
Tiffany M.

Delicious! We tried the items you can not get at just any sushi joint. We started with the beef tongue and honestly it was super tough and tasteless, but it didn't ruin the night because we were here for fish. Next up was the monk fish liver and it was so good, that we ordered again right afterward. Then we had the live scallops and they were very tasty. You put two of our favorite things together and you have oysters with uni. Ummm yummy! Last was the yellow tail collar not my favorite cause I don't like my fish cooked, but it was good. It is pretty pricey, but well worth it. If you like their facebook you get updates on what they have in fresh. I think that's cool. Oh and make a reservation on weekends, super busy.
(4)
Moriah H.

I love this place... and when I say Love... I mean- I came into Yama two days in a row! Their house sake is delicious, we ordered it hot, and of course their sushi was just as good. We ordered the volcano roll and the heaping pile of scallops was out of this world. The flaming jack was a head turner but not very tasty -too much sauce for my liking. As for their sashimi, its fresh and melts in your mouth. And for dessert, we ordered some shrimp tempura and it was the crispy-cherry-topper to our meal! I'm ecstatic to have discovered this place and can't wait to be back in Portland to eat here again.
(5)
Haleh N.

The sushi was delicious, the tools were creative. Staff was friendly. They even mix your tower! Reasonable price for fresh and tasty sushi.
(5)
Herbal P.

Yama is, hands down, the best sushi bar in PDX. Their staff is extremely friendly and attentive, they have a wide and constantly expanding selection of sake, and the sushi bar has the freshest fish you can find made into the most inventive and tasty rolls you can imagine. They also have izakaya items on their menu, but you should check out their SE Clinton location (Yama Izakaya) if you're in the mood for Japanese tapas. Definitely come here for their Thursday night sake flight, you won't regret it!
(5)
Jaime L.

Good Sushi but the service was awful so of course that made the sushi taste worse than it was.
(3)
Hayley P.

Amazing sushi and hot sake! You must order the flaming jack roll it's amazing!!!! The tuna tower is also delicious. The wait time for the restaurant is pretty long so be prepared
(4)
Lorisin W.

Chose this place to kick off our family vacation from reading all the good reviews on yelp. We arrived right around six and were seated right away. Prompt super friendly service. We had the tuna tower, crazy monkey, and the kobe beef roll. Everything was really good. The server brought our daughter some modified chopsticks to use. Awesome place.
(5)
San T.

Went here for lunch with my boyfriend and 3 friends on Sunday. We came around 12:30pm and it was pretty empty. Place looked pretty nice and clean. I ordered the Salmon and Scallop roll and the Waikiki roll while my boyfriend ordered the beef curry udon and 2 pieces of fatty tuna (toro) nigiri. My friends ordered some of their other rolls, though I can't recall what they were called. My boyfriend's fatty tuna came out first and while I didn't try it, since I knew how much he likes it, he was blown away. He said it was like butter and it just melted in your mouth. The color of the tuna was indeed on the lighter side and you could just tell how fatty it must be. Then came my two rolls. Although I tend to prefer my rolls to be spicy, the two rolls I picked this time were more on the mellow side. The Waikiki roll did have a sliver of jalapeÃ±o on each piece, but it didn't provide too much heat sadly. However, both rolls tasted very clean and fresh which I enjoyed. They were on the simple side, but I have to admit that I did favor the salmon and scallop roll over the Waikiki roll as I impressed with the texture and tenderness of the scallop. My boyfriend's beef curry udon came out soon after and although I can't comment on it, my boyfriend seemed to enjoy it. Overall, we all had a good experience. The only gripe would be the wait time for the orders to come out, but I think it's understandable as we came pretty soon after they opened. Definitely plan on coming back!
(4)
Tim B.

Was highly disappointed. Jonathan D's review was spot on. Waitress's were clearly to busy to wait the few tables and at least one couple got up and left while we were there. It took way to long for our rolls to come out. We got very simple rolls so I don't know why it took over 30 minutes to get our first order. Also the rice was way over cooked and the fish was bland. It was a big dissapointment from what I was expecting from the number 3 sushi restaurant on yelp. It may have just been a bad week but it seems unlikely.
(1)
Brooke V.

Geez, why am I the odd duck here?? Maybe I just had these crazy expectations after reading all these glowing reviews, but I just felt like.... very.... WHATEVER about it. That's the best description I've got! I had an overpriced and incredibly skimpy sake flight (although the sake flights were a cool option), a fancy roll smothered with sauce to the point I'd mostly classify it as a "sauce roll" (maybe there was some fish in there somewhere!? I'm not totally sure), and a tuna tower that not only looked really unappetizing after the waitress smushed it for us and mixed it into a bizarre paste/salad, it also tasted primarily like fake crab and mayo- yummmmmm...... To be fair, the Hefeweizen and edamame were awesome! But hard to screw up, true. I liked it like I like conveyor belt sushi. It meets a need when you just must stuff fish in your face, but that's where the enjoyment ends! It's like Pearl District-ized conveyor belt sushi. Sigh.
(2)
Laura P.

Great lunch spot in the Pearl. I've been in twice. The lunch specials are awesome. I like the bento box that has sashimi and tempura. You get 6 pieces of sashimi, two tempura shrimp and three tempura veggies, served with salad and Miso soup for 12.95! It's a great deal, great food and pleasant service.
(4)
Mollie D.

Amazing! Make sure you eat at the sushi bar and have Scott prepare yours! One of the best in Portland, hands down.
(5)
Diana P.

The best sushi I've tried in portland. My girl nat ended up loving it as well. Try the bst. My favorite. Will be yours too.
(5)
steven b.

A wonderfully friendly staff, an extensive selection of sake and top flight sushi make Yama a must stop for foodies.
(5)
Hawthorne A.

Everything at Yama is delicious!!! The sashimi is wonderful and the tuna tower is to die for. If you sit at the counter make sure to talk to Kaoru, he is so sweet and he makes beautiful/delicious rolls.
(5)
Justin M.

I think this is my first negative review, and I have to believe it was a fluke visit because 4.5 stars with over 300 reviews is usually bulletproof. Or maybe the whole "don't eat sushi on Monday" thing has some truth to it after all. Anyway, I just had the worst ahi tuni nigiri I've ever had, and my girlfriend (who agrees) is tired of hearing me talk about it so I'm yelping it instead. It was bad. Fishy flavor (the bad kind) along with degraded texture yielded an unpleasant experience with the ahi and yellowtail. The salmon nigiri was okay, and the scallop nigiri wasn't enjoyable but it was my first raw scallop so maybe that's just not my thing. The service was friendly, the atmosphere was nice, and the Oregon sake flight was good, but the sushi was depressing and I would expect better from even a 3 star sushi bar.. Unacceptable from a 4.5 star, but I hope everyone else has a better experience
(2)
Lisa W.

Great food and service! I was here on a work trip and I stopped in and sat at the sushi bar. It was great!
(5)
Erika Y.

My father is from Kyoto, so our family definitely has high standards for sushi. We are also a family of foodies so all four of us were pleasantly surprised by the exceptional quality, service and overall experience at Yama Sushi. The owner, Scott, was our chef at the sushi counter and every dish from the sashimi to the nigiri to creative sushi rolls were phenomenal and aesthetically beautiful. The scallops, blue fin tuna, albacore with truffle and jalapeÃ±o, and even the pana cotta with soy, balsamic and honey glaze for dessert were all wonderful and unique. Not a single disappointing dish. The sake and wine were delicious and the attention to detail surpasses most restaurant standards in the states. I would highly recommend this NW spot to anyone craving high quality sushi and a fine Japanese dining experience with an American twist.
(5)
Christina C.

I can't accurately describe how good this sushi is!!! Maybe I'm a little too excited because I've been living in North Carolina for the past year which is devoid of good sushi...but this sushi is still on point! Everything is very fresh with great flavor. Can't go wrong with any roll. I also have to eat gluten free and the server was very helpful - even brought out gf soy sauce.
(5)
Binna K.

Try Tuna Tower, Flaming Jack, and Kobe roll!!! You won't be disappointed! This is my fave sushi restaurant so far! i have tried Konteki sake, and this is awesome!
(5)
Jana-Lee G.

Luckily our favorite Sushi restaurant wasn't open till 4pm on Saturday forcing us to find an alternative for a late lunch. Yama is now, my new favorite sushi restaurant. The quality of the fish was fresh and amazing, the presentation? Wonderful. A little on the pricey side for lunch, which is why the 4, not 5 stars, but that's the only moderately 'down side'. We ordered 2 delish tuna rolls, a side of edamame, an oregon roll, and a fun new dish , similar to salad wraps, which had lettuce, tomatoes, mango, onion... , wrapped in rice paper, a perfect end to a yummy lunch. Every bite, was a pleasure! I'd be more than happy to find myself here again in the future.
(4)
Zach F.

Some of THE best sushi in town. Authentic. Great service. So flavorful! I wish the seating area outside was a little roomier, but indoor seating is cozy. Order a bunch of sushi and the staff treats you like gold so it's great for parties!
(5)
Julie M.

Thank you yelp!!! We saw the great reviews and were not let down!! We came for lunch and sat at the sushi bar. The sushi chef was so friendly and so were the rest of the staff. The place has a trendy, upscale atmosphere. My husband ordered the sushi and sashimi meal... Literally the best he has ever had he said. The fish is so fresh!! I had the Hawaiian roll.... Yum! The mango makes it!! I also had a hot pot with rice, thinly sliced beef, veggies, and a fried egg. Omg... So good!! The meals also come with field greens and arugula salad and miso soup. They use quality ingredients here!!! One of the best meals of our trip!!!!!
(5)
Hayden N.

I have always deterred from going to Yama Sushi & Sake Bar because of the three dollar signs on yelp. All the pictures posted look delicious, however, I was skeptical if the food would be worth the price. Finally decided to check it out for lunch during a weekday and found it to be reasonably priced. We walked in just before the lunch rush and was seated at the bar without a wait. Ordered a Mango Iced Tea--it was refreshing and tasty. Started off with an order of Agedashi Tofu, for $5.95 an order, it only came with four pieces which is a little steep and the broth does not set itself apart from others. The Flaming Jack, Mighty Mango, and a Salmon Skin Roll were decent. As impressive as it is to light the sushi roll wrapped in foil on fire with Everclear...it left an undesirable fuel-like aftertaste. I liked stylish Japanese inspired decor and the casual atmosphere of the restaurant. The service is a little slow--waiting to order, flagging down the waiter/waitress, and get our bill took way too long. I would come back for the Mango Iced Tea alone, but the food was alright.
(3)
melissa d.

My favorite in Portland! I don't want to ramble about beings connoisseur, but I know what good quality sushi tastes like. Maybe a little wait, but sometimes good food takes a bit longer. The hostess & sushi chef could have been a bit better, but I went there for food and it melted in my mouth. If you've ever had bad, inconsistent and/or subpar sushi experiences, you probably understand why I don't mind waiting for the good stuff, and I expect to pay a little more for higher quality. Cheap fish is never a good thing unless you catch it or buy it at the dock! Miki makes lovely sushi and friendly as well. After trying many others, Yama is my only sushi choice in Portland.
(5)
Christina Q.

My husband and I have been here at least 5 times and it is just AMAZING. We normally make reservations before going since we don't want to deal with waiting. Mina has been our server 4 times and she is the best! She seems to be very knowledgeable about whiskey and would make recommendations for my husband. Almost every single time, she'll present 2 small tastings of whiskey and tastings of sake for my husband to try before ordering. Sashimi - We love FRESH sashimi and we're glad they don't cut paper thin slices for us. Special rolls - i love that they don't drown their sushi rolls with sauce. Many individuals love a lot of sauce but what's the point in that when you can't even really taste all the 'real' stuff that in and around the roll? You might as well buy Safeway sushi and drown it with sweet and spicy sauce all over it. Sake - If you're going to order Sake, i recommend asking for a tasting. We got a large bottle every single time we dined here. Sushi's boring without sake! Oysters - absolutely fresh and delicious kumamoto oysters. 3 pieces was not enough for us. We had to order 2 more. Outstanding service and I always request to be seated in Mina's section. She's just that awesome.
(5)
Mary F.

The sushi at Yama was not only delicious, but I continued to eat long after I was full just to savor the tastes a little longer. You MUST try the Yuzu sake. It's a sweet little shot that tastes like lemon drops!
(5)
Adrienne A.

This place is definitely pricy, but you pay for what you get, right? Beautiful presentation, friendly wait staff and sushi chefs, and the food is a combination of the usual Japanese fare as well as some more innovative twists. We got the tuna tower (beautifully presented and then promptly demolished by our waitress in the interest of a better tasting experience), salmon sashimi from three different regions (you really can see and taste the difference), seaweed salad, and desserts. We sat at the bar and had a good time talking to the sushi chefs and other diners, but there are private tables as well.
(5)
Kevin H.

I live in San Diego and eat a lot of sushi and I can honestly say this is one of the best sushi bars I've visited. The owner, "Scott", is an amazing chef and recommended some incredible dishes. Definitely a regular stop for me now whenever I'm in Portland.
(5)
Erin W.

Phenomenal sushi! Incredibly fresh and very flavorful. We went in around 9:15 on a Saturday night and were seated almost immediately. We tried the salmon nigiri sampler and it was fabulous (I will have dreams about it). We also tried the Ocean Roll, Mango Roll, and the Dragon. The fish was melt in your mouth and nothing was doused in sauce. Also our server was just the best and the prices are really reasonable for what you get. They really do a great job here, I'd definitely recommend it :)
(5)
Lisa B.

I've never written a review before but I loved the sushi at Yama. The crazy monkey roll was to die for! You should def go if you have the chance.
(4)
phoithien d.

I am from California and when it comes to sushi or seafood I can be somewhat of a food snob. However, not one to normally exaggerate, this food was life changing. I did not want the experience here to end. Even though we had to wait 40 minutes to be seated without reservations, they allowed us to sit and order drinks. Once we were seated the service was friendly, efficient, and attentive. The Nigeri was amazing with generous portion of the fish. The Tuna and albacore were gorgeous and was on a bed of perfectly seasoned sushi rice. Soy sauce was not needed. We ordered melt in your mouth Kobe beef skewers with truffle salt. The grilled beef tongue was flavorful and kept the right textural integrity. (Tip:we kept the truffle salt on our table to dip the meat. Yum!). The Octopus salad was seasoned well and fresh. The star of our night was the toasted Unagi topped with seared foie gras. This was the game changer for me and brought out all flavor profiles on my palette- umami! It was rich and sumptuous with a pleasing Caramelized finish on the palette. Usually I do not care for haute cuisine when it comes to sushi, but Yama really got this one right. Well done, bravo. This is one place I will really be sad to leave but will have a special place in my heart/belly when I look back on my trip to Portland.
(5)
Michelle Pearl G.

If heaven was squished down into a sushi roll, it'd be the 'salmon and scallop roll.' Out of all of the rolls we ordered, this one made us do a happy shimmy in our chairs while chewing on the ever so perfectly concocted avocado+salmon+scallop medley. Oh, and their spicy mayo, best spicy mayo I've ever had. Perfectly balanced. Not just flavored mayo or overly spicy non-mayo. It just makes life better. Dip it. All of it. Whatever it is. It'll work. Don't ask questions. Just dip, eat, and smile. My only complaint is that the service is slow and time consuming. So come here knowing you'll be here for a while. Sushi bar gets backed up -- and when they say backed up, they really mean it. They also delivered our sushi to the wrong table, which added another 15 minutes to our wait. Both friends also said that they're known to make mistakes on take-out orders, while they're busy. Check everything before you leave. Overall, delicious food -- you'll just have to work for it.
(4)
Shahin K.

All dishes that we ordered were wonderful. My favorite was the tuna tower. The service was great
(5)
Peter B.

Impeccable. This is hands down the best sushi restaurant around. Amazing service. Incredible food. Artistic preparation. Great space. Fantastic cocktails (generous alcohol). I just can't write enough about Yama. There aren't enough stars.
(5)
Noel A.

I love to get a couple of rolls and a sashimi dish and sit at the sushi bar to watch the sushi chef make them. Delicious, delicious art.
(5)
Eileen A.

Not bad, but not the best either. I got the sunrise roll and substituted the salmon with tuna instead. The mango on the roll was a reallllllyyyyyy good touch. Also got the jack roll(?), salmon sampler, tuna tower and the tuna roll. The servers were super friendly and attentive!
(3)
Ziyan C.

Amazing sushi, and on top of that I think our server was the sweetest girl on Earth. Kind of painfully shy but in a totally adorable way, and yet when we asked questions you could see her get excited about the food and also have her own cute little jokes. When my friend asked for carbonated water, I don't think I've seen anyone so genuinely apologetic about the fact that they were out of carbon dioxide. But they had Pellegrino which totally made up for it. Their ingredients were incredibly fresh, their rice perfectly textured. I realize as I'm writing this review that most of the rolls we got were some combination of salmon/tuna w/ avocado so it's hard for me to distinctly remember every one, so I'm sorry my reviews of each roll aren't so specific! They were all crazy tasty though. Cost: About $170-$180 total (my friend was amazing and treated us! So I'm not sure of the exact amount. I think the total without tip was $150-$160) for a giant meal for 7 of us. Wait: None at 7pm on a Sunday night for a group of 7. MUST-HAVES: Live sea urchin, ahi tuna tower, mighty mango, yama roll. Free fresh cucumber starter (what a great and refreshing palate cleanser!): yelp.com/biz_photos/yamaâ€¦ Menu: yelp.com/biz_photos/yamaâ€¦ ~~YAMA SUSHI SPECIALS~~ * Live sea urchin - 5 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/yamaâ€¦ Technically this wasn't "live" as our server explained, but kept alive until about 15 minutes before serving. If you're an uni-lover, this is a must-have! Never have I had such amazingly fresh uni. You really don't know what you're missing out on until you have this. Menu: yelp.com/biz_photos/yamaâ€¦ ~~SPECIALTY PLATE~~ * Ahi Tuna Tower - 4.5 stars pic as it comes out: yelp.com/biz_photos/yamaâ€¦ pic after it's mixed at the table: yelp.com/biz_photos/yamaâ€¦ (seasoned rice, crab salad, spicy tuna, avocado, tuna, salsa, 3 kinds of tobiko w/ unagi sauce, spicy mayo, wasabi mayo. $14.95) This was great! Definitely a "wow" dish as it's beautiful when it comes out in the tower. Our server patiently let me take a few photos, then offered to break apart the tower for us. Even though it was less pretty, it tasted fantastic - a great blend of flavors, spicy, and really fresh tuna. Menu: yelp.com/biz_photos/yamaâ€¦ ~~YAMA'S SIGNATURE ROLLS~~ * Salmon & Scallop - 4 stars (fresh scallops, avocado & japanese mayo topped w/ wild king salmon, avocado & spicy mayo. $13.95) A great rich roll, lots of salmon, everything really fresh! * Mighty mango - 4.5 stars (spicy tuna & tempura shrimp, topped w/ mango, avocado. $11.95) Love anything tempura and the crunch in this one is fantastic, even better with the mix of spicy, sweet, and fatty avocado flavors/textures. pic (salmon & scallop/mighty mango): yelp.com/biz_photos/yamaâ€¦ * Yama roll - 4.5 stars (fried lobster, cucumber topped w/ sp salmon, cilantro, wasabi-mayo, tobiko, fried shallot, sun dried tomato, unagi sauce. $14.95) pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/yamaâ€¦ Lots of stuff going on here, but it all comes together really well. Of course, it's their namesake so it's gotta be good! * Volcano roll - 4 stars (tempura salmon & cucumber, topped w/ baked tempura shrimp, scallops, masago, green onions, spicy mayo & unagi sauce. $12.95) pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/yamaâ€¦ Great, but also a more heavy/creamy roll with all the sauces on top. It overcomes everything a bit (I don't remember a tempura element to this) but in a good way - just be aware it's definitely not your simple light roll! * Sake bomb - 4 stars (spicy tuna, cucumber & avocado wrapped w/ fresh salmon. $13.95) pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/yamaâ€¦ A very tasty one for us to end on. ~~ROLLS~~ * Spider roll - 4 stars (tempura crab roll) pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/yamaâ€¦ My friend and I have a deep affinity for spider rolls and had to get this. Did not disappoint! Really well done. Lots of crunch on the end pieces!
(5)
Tarandeep S.

Visited in July. One of my best Sushi meals in a long time. We sat at the bar and the atmosphere was great and so was the service. Tried many appetizers and sushi/sashimi and they were all top class. Chef guided us in ordering which was very nice. Toro was buttery and fresh. Would love to revisit.
(5)
Jen T.

I always try to get sashimi or nigiri in a place to see if the quality of the fish holds up and isn't just masked by tons of sauce. Yama passed the test -- they have melt-in-your-mouth fish here, and they really know how to use it to make your taste buds cry with joy. We waited for maybe ten minutes for a table on a Monday afternoon (around 1pm, after peak lunch time). That's how you know this place is popular. After the wait, though, service was fast and the waiters/waitresses were friendly and attentive. I had the king salmon bento box, which had two large pieces of teriyaki salmon, rice, organic salad, and three pieces of nigiri. The teriyaki salmon was really quite good, and even with all the sauce, I could tell that it was good quality salmon. The nigiri were wonderful, and the salad was nice. The miso that came with it was not overly salty, and perhaps had slightly more tofu/wakame than you might find in other places (a good thing!). My friend and I split the Volcano Roll, which was absolutely great. The scallops on top were so delicious and not at all fishy-tasting. Scallops, I think, are especially susceptible to tasting bad when not fresh. I was pleasantly surprised, and thoroughly enjoyed the volcano roll, though it wasn't as spicy as I was expecting given the name. My boyfriend ordered the Flaming Jack, and it really came out flaming, wrapped up in aluminum foil that was covered in flaming alcohol. Again, a wonderful roll, with high quality ingredients and delicious flavor, but not quite enough spice (then again, I am a spice fiend). Finally, we had the "three cups" sake with our meal, each of which had a unique flavor. I believe the descriptions for the sake cups were fruity & ____ (I forget), dry & expressive, and tangy & bright. The dry expressive one was my favorite, but all three were quite good. They have a very nice sake selection. Overall, not nearly as pricey as it could be, given the quality, but I could definitely see myself spending a pretty penny here if I let myself (it's just so good). Give it a try!
(5)
Preston P.

Can't comment on the food here as we didn't stay long enough to eat. We came on a Thursday night. Not particularly crowded. We were seated outside. Left after 20 minutes with no contact from the staff. Menu looked average. Went to Mio Sushi and had our order to the kitchen within 5 minutes.
(2)
Kayla B.

I can not believe now terrible the service I received. I was so excited come here after reading the reviews. After being seated I waited 15 minutes for someone to come take my order I had to ask someone to help me. Then the waitress was horrible. She had no sympathy and seemed not to care that I had to wait. Then the people sitting next to me got their rolls before I did. To top it off she forgot about my friends chicken so it was a horrible experience. I will say that my sushi was wonderful. I asked for the managers card and the waitress came back with a card that had the stores number on it. Then said I could go to the website for the contact information, but again it was the store number. I am so disappointed.
(1)
Colby N.

Went in with my girlfriend on our anniversary and had one of the most incredible high caliber sushi...the chefs were quite knowledgable and very efficient...i prefer the nigiri and sashimi sushi overall but the kobe roll is truly a blessing...definitely worth the price for a memorable experience
(5)
Jesse A.

This is the best place in Portland for sushi and sake. The sushi is very well made. The spicy (tuna, salmon, yellowtail) are all very clean tasting. Their other dishes are also delicious. I have tried their spicy pork and chicken teriyaki so far and both were fantastic. Finally, their sake selection is top notch. They have a number of awesome daiginjo grade sakes ranging from affordable all the way up to super expensive. Each one has it's own unique flavor profile and they are all wonderful. I highly recommend this place to any sushi, sake, and/or Japanese American food fan.
(5)
Armen M.

NYC LA and SF are sprinkled with amazing sushi places. and I've had the fortune to dine at many of them. Yama in Portland should be ranked up there with the likes of urusawa and matsuhisa. Owner Chef Scott has perfected his craft. the fish is fresh, the wasabi fresh, and the chef a master. sit at the bar, ask for Scott to serve you, order off the nigiri or sashimi menu only, and drink the sake. the chef knows his rice fire water, just be sure to offer a glass to him. go here.
(5)
Christine H.

Lunchtime is not very crowded the prices are a little steep but definitely worth it. We enjoyed several rolls with salmon tuna and shrimp. The spicy pork with vegetables was a great balance of sweet and spicy. Very filling great service great ambience. We split the bill at $20 apiece. Another person in our party order the Bento box with spicy chicken California roll and salad and she was very happy with her order
(4)
Stephanie C.

So glad we chose this restaurant tonight!Everything was delicious and so fresh. Yum! The service was impeccable. Our daughter is a vegetarian and had many options and left a happy camper.
(5)
Tiffany M.

I've been to quite a few sushi places in PDX, this one was by far the best I've had yet. Every roll was amazing. The servers were super sweet, and when we left all of the staff including the sushi chefs in front waved us goodbye. The prices were very reasonable. We left feeling very satisfied with the overall experience. Will definitely be going back soon.
(5)
Elizabeth S.

Food was phenomenal! We got the tuna tower based on other Yelp reviews and it did not disappoint. The sushi is displayed absolutely beautifully and the taste is even better. I have never had such an incredible mix of flavors, sauces, and fish. Next time I am in Portland I will be sure to come back and bring others! Service was also great and I thought the prices were reasonable.
(5)
Rossana Y.

Beautiful restaurant! I like the interior design with the dim lighting. We came here on a Saturday at around 7:30pm and surprisingly we were seated right away in the back without having to wait. I wasn't very hungry so I ordered the hamachi kama, some seaweed salad, and miso soup. My boyfriend had the chirashi bowl that came wtih a side salad and miso soup as well. The hamachi was perfectly grilled...crispy on the outside and flaky on the inside. The chirashi bowl was fairly substantial, but the only downside was that it consisted a lot of rice on the bottom of the bowl. Nonetheless, it was still reasonable for the price at $22.50. The service was amazing. Our food came out fairly quickly, and the waiters were attentive throughout our whole meal by consistently refilling our green tea and water when needed. I would definitely come back and try their sushi when I'm more hungry. I would make reservations next time just in case since the restaurant is not very large.
(4)
Cassandra A.

Amazing. Make reservations if you can. We arrived at 5pm on a Friday night. The place was half empty but we were strongly encouraged to have a reservation. After they set us down they proceeded to tell us that we needed to be gone by 7pm because the table was reserved for a group at that time. Despite their focus on this, the rest of our time here was awesome. For our group of three, we ordered five rolls, and two flights of sake. I really enjoyed the Oregon made sake's, specifically the pearl (which surprised me). The waitress was also really kind and gave us some samplings of her and her husband's favorite sakes'. Ordering sushi was a breeze. On their laminated menu you mark directly on the menu with an overhead marker which sushi you're ordering. The sushi order came out pretty quick from when we ordered, maybe 20 minutes tops? I've certainly waited much longer at many sushi restaurants. We ordered the sumo roll, California roll (not my choice), salmon and scallop roll, the flaming jack, and the volcano. The salmon and scallops roll was awesome. The second best in our order was the volcano (which was my husbands favorite). We did order one dessert to share amongst the three of us, but I cannot remember what it was and it was only okay. Overall, it was an awesome meal and awesome service. Great menu selection, easy ordering, and fast service makes me give this place all five starts. My water was never empty!
(5)
Esther K.

I went to Yama to celebrate a friend's birthday and we got a private room for 9 ppl. The room itself was really big and nice. As soon as we sat down, servers were there to greet us and asked us right away what we would like to drink. We ordered our drinks and appetizers and it came right away. We ordered their signature rolls and sashimi and the sushi was plated beautifully and the rolls were pretty big for the cost. The taste was amazing. My favorite was the Tuna Poke, Crazy Monkey, and the Sake Sashimi. The sushi was fresh and the portion was definitely worth the cost. I highly recommend this place to anyone who is looking for quality sushi and decent price. If you aren't into sushi, they also have a lot of other selections like their Bento Boxes, Tempura Dinner and Udon as well. I will definitely be coming back to Yama again soon! :]
(5)
James T.

Since a buddy of mine introduced me to this place i've had a hard time going anywhere else. Always a really good experience without any rush. If you have friends that don't like sushi they have a ton of other items on the menu that isn't raw fish.
(5)
Drury S.

Fresh and excellent quality of raw fish. The staffs are very friendly and efficient. I loved it so much, I came back the next day to try other items on the menu. I love the wide variety of the sake. I will definitely come back when visiting Portland.
(5)
Rod S.

The rolls were good, noodle/ curry soup very tasty( who would of thought). Waited 40 minutes for our rolls though. Service was very very slow. Disappointed at the wait time and it didn't seem that busy either. Good but not worth the wait.
(3)
Aaron P.

I came in as a party one, and was quickly told to take a seat "It will only be a minute" said the host. 35 minutes later I was seated at the bar, in a seat that was open the entire time I had been waiting. I'm a very patient person, and had I been told it was a 30 minute wait I would have gladly stayed with no issue. But I'm pretty upset about being mislead into this sort of waiting situation. The food was OK. I ordered 3 signature rolls, and I just wasn't happy with them, I can't say anything for the sashimi or nigiri. Nothing stood out to me. I see all these fantastic comments and am willing to give Yama a second chance, but I'm not keeping my hopes up.
(2)
Rachel T.

We had a great experience! All the fish was delicious. The eel nagiri was cooked to a delicate flakiness that was matched by the flavor. We really liked the lobster roll! The service was good, all the staff was friendly & our food came promptly! Next time we will try some of the delicious smelling entrees...
(5)
Mary H.

I almost don't want to give Yama a 5 star rating. It's so good I'd like to keep it as much to myself as I can. This is the best sushi experience I've had here in Portland. Their sashimi is top notch. They have an extensive menu, but I haven't been able to tear myself away from the fish to try any thing else. The sake selection is very good as well. I always look forward to my next trip to Yama.
(5)
Mitchell M.

I was very impressed with this Sushi spot. I expected it to be decent because I hadn't had a bad meal in Portland yet, but I didn't think they could make the simplest dish so extraordinarily delicious. All the sashimi and rolls we ordered were vibrant, fresh and very tasty. The sweetness of the mango in the Hawaiian roll does not overpower the great fish inside, but instead it makes the whole roll burst with flavor. The Ocean Drive roll is a great option if you want a clean roll without the rice. A little tough to eat due to it's size, but worth the challenge. Now to the surprise of the night. My wife ordered Pork Katsu. Normally this is considered a pretty boring, plain dish. That is what my wife expected. A little Japanese comfort food dish on a grey, rainy night. This turned out to be an unexpected highlight. The pork was tasty and moist beneath an amazingly light & crunchy fried breading. Fantastic. It barely needed the sauce! The restaurant itself is not that large, but has ample table seating which can be pushed together to accommodate larger parties. If you enjoy watching the chefs at work than pull up a seat at there sushi bar. The service is prompt and very friendly, and I always appreciate the ease of the "sushi order form template."
(4)
D C.

Visited Yama last night and had the best sushi I've come across in Portland. We also had an awesome server, Thomas, who had a positive attitude and some great recommendations. The food was nicely prepared and came out reasonably fast. I will definitely be back. My favorite items were the Kobe Beef sushi roll, Tuna Tower, and the Sashimi Salad. Overall, we couldn't have asked for a better experience. Thanks Thomas and Yama Sushi!
(5)
Bob P.

Outstanding! ! From the edemame to the salmon....very very good sushi. Took 3 business asspciates and they all raved. Great servive frpm beanie to boot!
(5)
Garon V.

So my phone crashed after trying to write this review the first time. Here we go again. The pictures don't lie, my brother and I loved it! I found these guys out after trying googling for good sushi in portland. I was lured in by the yelp pics and you caught me. What we tried tasted wonderful. I especially enjoyed the sampler, my uni and my sapporo. And my brother wants to say thank you for the sake knowledge, he liked the 7 samurai.
(5)
Helen Z.

I loved my experience here. I had a craving for chirashi and after googling options in Portland, Yama Sushi was the only place that came up as $$ instead of $$$ so I ended up driving here with my mom and little sister for lunch on a weekend. The restaurant decor was very cute and had a nice ambiance. However, the restaurant was eerily empty with only one other party when we arrived. (Luckily, it filled up a bit more later.) We asked to be seated near the window which I regretted after realizing how hard the wooden benches were compared to the cushion-y chairs. I really liked my food. I ordered the chirashi that I had been craving and man, did it satisfy. Served over purple rice, the slices of raw fish were fresh and tasty. I know very little about distinguishing fish beyond the standard tuna and salmon but I could distinguish the distinct tastes of each piece. (Note: I loved the juicy texture of the escarole and did not like the strong fishy taste of mackerel.) For $17, the dish also came with a flavorful miso soup and side salad. Definitely filled me up. My little sister ordered the Wild Salmon Teriyaki Bento Box and my mom, who is less adventurous, the Chicken Teriyaki. The bento box was cute and came with either 3 pieces of nigiri or 4 california rolls. The chicken teriyaki was the most bang for its buck (probably because it's not seafood) and stayed sizzling because it was served on a hot plate. Overall, a great experience and impressive presentation. I do wish we had the opportunity to try some sushi rolls but at this point, we were all pretty full and did not want to spend another 10+ dollars. The main reason I gave Yama 4 stars instead of 5 is because I didn't fall in love with the place but I definitely will revisit sometime to try their sushi or if I crave more chirashi!
(4)
Ali H.

Omg the most delicious sushi ever. We had the Kobe small plate which was mouth watering dankness The scallop rolls were also amazing. I highly recommend
(5)
Robert B.

REALLY PISSED. We made reservations on their website. We're coming from out of town and had planned to take our family there. Get into town and call to confirm and they say they had no record of it. They refused to do anything to try to accommodate us. With this kind of "customer service" I would suggest its not an appropriate establishment to frequent.
(1)
Dave L.

Horrible sushi! I have no idea why this place is rated so high. I noticed a lot of pics of live scallops and urchin. And those are probably good but the normal fair is totally wack! Wack! Don't be fooled by all the scrumptious looking pics that the owner posted. That's what drew me to the restaurant. Here's a quick list of what I tried: Wild salmon - decent but not the best I've had (3 stars) Miso black cod - decent but not the best I've had. This is a hard dish to mess up and a hard dish to make supreme. 4 stars Katsu Curry - Wack! Absolutely void of flavor. A huge upset. By far thee worst Japanese curry I've had my entire life. Worst! The Katsu pork was fried well. It was crunchy but not super moist as pork cutlet should be. The rice was purple, not brown. That's not a bad thing but a surprise. The sauce was just ridiculously watered down and lacking of any flavor. And for $13 what a rip off. Negative 10 stars. Pickled cucumbers - tasted like it was marinated in water and a hint of sugar. For a Korean owned sushi restaurant you'd think they knew how to make pickles. Chirashi - again...Wack! The sushi rice was overcooked and all the sushi had absolutely no flavor. Which means totally not fresh. What's worse is that the yellow tail was so gristly and chewy. Yech!!! Sushi should be cut masterfully in a way where it melts in your mouth. This was not! A waste of money and calories. Negative 20 stars. The staff is nice and people seem to enjoy it. I'm not sure how Yama got themselves 4.5 stars. In LA or Japan this place would be a 1 star fo sho.
(1)
Audrey G.

Love this place!! Friendly staff. Delicious food!!! Me and my daughter's favorite sushi spot :)
(5)
Adam O.

Amazing sushi! Glad I stopped by here while in Portland. Fish is fresh and the sake selection is plentiful, plus the chef's are very professional.
(5)
Genevieve F.

A real sushi place, although my boyfriend complained that a few pieces of fish weren't cut right. Good vegetarian rolls, and extensive sake menu. We had sparkling sake, which was a first for us.
(4)
Christopher S.

My dad lived in Japan for years, and he said this ranks up there with the best. A review shorter than most, but need I say more?
(5)
Erika S.

This sushi place blew my mind. I'm a bit of a sushi snob and I'm from the Bay Area so of course I've had delicious sushi here and in LA (even at katsuya) but I have to say this is the absolute BEST sushi I've ever had. Every single roll was delicious. We were in Portland only 3 nights and even thought about going back here a second time in our short stay(ended up trying other places but wish we would have come back here!)
(5)
Evelyn S.

For Portland this is great Sushi. If it were located in L.A. it would be just another Sushi place. I enjoyed 3 plates when I went for lunch on a business day, Tuna, Scallops and a Real Crab California Roll. We arrived at 11:30, before the lunch rush. We were seated immediately. The service was fine, although we did have to "catch" the servers attention both to order and to pay, but she was very nice when she was at our table. There are a few places that have better sushi in town, but their prices are higher. There are a ton of places that can't compete with the high quality fish that Yama serves, and they charge the same prices.
(4)
Aidan P.

My wife and I were HUGE fans of Yuki on 23rd, and used to visit Mina on a regular basis. She's not at Yama, and serving many of the dishes we enjoyed on 23rd. Get the Tuna Tower - it cannot be described in a way that gives it justice. All of the rolls are good, atmosphere is dark and quiet, and location is pretty convenient. This is the only place that my wife and I go for sushi.
(5)
Bella N.

Came here to eat a birthday dinner last week and the dinner was amazing. First of all, my boyfriend got a birthday card when we sat down, signed by the staff. So cute of them! We had a great service and we didn't have to wait for anything, they were so quick with the food which was nice because some places can be so slow. We had two sushi rolls, seaweed salad, beef teriyaki, dumplings and desert. We were happy with everything excepts for the beef teriyaki that could have been a little more creative. I was most happy with my Yama roll, so delicious! Overall the food was really good, but what we were most happy with was the amazing service; quick, genuine and welcoming. I felt that the people working at Yama sushi really loved their job, you don't see that very often. I'm so glad we found this place and we will be back soon!
(5)
Sarah R.

The sushi here is simply the best! Everything is fresh and clean, the rolls are full of flavor, the sashimi is cut thick and juicy, couldn't ask for a better night out.
(5)
Ashley M.

Excellent sushi, delicious and so fresh. Rolls are large and moderately high in price (totally worth every penny). The Flaming Jack is great to get once, though we weren't particularly impressed with the flavor, it was exciting and a fun experience. The presentation of the sushi is artistic and beautiful; I've never seen sushi look so appetizing. Smaller bar selection as they are limited to mostly beer and sake. But, they have a mango iced tea that is out of this world. I also loved that the meal came with cucumber salad which is light, refreshing and delicious. For fastest service and immediate seating, go in early evening.
(5)
Q Gyujin C.

I absolutly love this place!! When I got there I asked scott about todays special and he recommaned all totaly fresh sushi for me. Loved it so much!!! And one more thing I am the sake person hahah they have a lot of choices to choose. Try they re sake.
(5)
Marco C.

My wife just has to get her sushi fix whenever we are in a city with good choices. PacNW has some of the best seafood around. Although I can't eat fish, there's still a number of things I can enjoy at a sushi restaurant. I'm sure you have already written off this review not wanting to take it from a non-fish eater going to a sushi restaurant. It's not all about the sushi!! Take note of the name of this place - & Sake Bar. They have some great local cold sakes. I lived in Japan for 7 years so I've had my fair share of sake. Would have liked to try them all, but we were running out of time because they were cleaning up. If we hadn't walked all the way from Yamhill to NW 10th we probably would have made it a lot earlier. Quite a hike. Anyway, my wife (Japanese) loved the sushi and the live Abalone. They have traditional rolls and some americanized types. I had the natto maki. Love me some natto, but it's not for everyone. This is definitely a top pick next time we are in Portland.
(5)
Bryan A.

When traveling to the Northwest on business, sushi bars are my "go to" dinner spots; I don't feel as weird eating alone in them. What drew me to this place was the happy hour, the fact they had a TV for Monday Night Football, and price. Firstly, I wanted a bottle of sake, and I had a picture of the one I had in mind on my phone, so I showed the sushi chef and the hostess to see if they had it. Though they did not have the particular bottle that I wanted, the hostess brought over 3 different bottles and allowed me to sample the 3 types in hopes of matching my expectations free of charge. The gentleman sitting next to me said that he had been eating there for years and has never seen them do that before. That just won me over! You cannot beat great hospitality in my book. On to the sushi. I started off with hamachi sashimi, which pairs very well with the sake I had ordered (Extra, Extra dry Honkara). It was very delicious, wholesome, and fresh. I then wanted something a little more decadent, so I went with the the Dragon Roll. It was pretty standard, and nothing to write home about. For dessert, I ordered a piece of premium snapper Nigiri, which can be kind of plain by itself, so the chef prepared a dressing of eel sauce, a dab of chili extract, and a toasted garlic chip. Overall, the experience was very memorable. The chef, Ichiro, and the staff was very friendly and hospitable. With all that was ordered, including the glass of Sake ($7) and a bowl of white rice, my bill was just shy of $30.
(4)
J P.

The food was great and the staff was friendly...so i am going to be generous. the service was just plain slow, making it border on terrible. I have never been to a sushi bar that slow in my life. you don't have to cook the food! c'mon. We went in on a sat. night and I understand it was pretty packed for a sushi joint, downtown. However, it took 45min. just to get my edamame appetizers and and hour and a half just to get my veggie tempura. It took about that time just to get all our food. Then another half+ just to get the checks. There were 3 waitresses working our section, but we had to ask for things to be cleared from the table, etc. The rolls are also on the pricier side for the amount of food you are getting. We had another group come in and out next to us before we were even served. I am new to portland, but from my understanding there's tons of sushi joints that are cheaper and faster.
(3)
Josh B.

Everything that good sushi should be. A cool little spot that does it right.
(5)
Sung C.

Finally I am here in Portland!! My old friend Young J. You invited me at his favorite restaurant, Yama, Japanese restaurant. I've never been this kind of beautiful Japanese restautant even in San Francisco, my homw town. I made up my mind I will keep making a trip to Portland just for this restaurant. You will be satisfied with my recommendation. You can name my friend, Young, when you be there for special treat, LOL...
(5)
Rachel A.

Overall, I had a nice experience. The fish I had was pretty fresh, I got to try a few different nigiri options I had never had before, and they have an extensive sake selection. The only dissapointment was the roll selection - it was difficult to find an option that either did not have a fried component (shrimp tempura mostly), or did not have a spicy sauce. When I go out to sushi, I'm looking for something clean and fresh tasting, and fried food does not do that for me. In addition, spicy sauces tend to mask the flavor of the fish, and make me wonder if there is a "not so fresh" flavor they are trying to hide.
(4)
Young Y.

You want to have sush-like sush? I strongly recommend this Yama! Authentic dishes, unique dishes, modernized dishes. You name it, they show it. Most of all they served with sincere attitude presenting in respectable ambiance. I learned from my old time that food is not just for nutrition filling my stomach but for sprit awakening me as a human being. Food for Happiness. Don't waste your money and time on cheap imitation if you have real taste in Japanese foods. This is it. Yama. Some day when I ring the bell at Yama, I wish you would be there!!
(5)
Christine B.

Great happy hour!
(5)
Amy R.

Stick to the signature rolls; they are the most interesting and delightful. Fish is fresh, quality is good. We sat at the bar and asked what was fresh that day. The ahi tuna and yellow tail was perfecto.
(4)
Serina N.

Loved everything I had! Ocean Avenue roll was delicious, I think that is the name not 100% sure but its the one wrapped in cucumber. Baked mussels were also on point.
(5)
Alex L.

Came in here last Saturday evening and I can't stop thinking about it! I live in the neighborhood and it was recommended to me by a friend. Firstly, I have to talk about the Sake. I have no idea what the heck we drank, but it was good and it was only five bucks for a giant glass of it! The waitress was very informed and knew what was up with all the different types of sakes on their menu (and there is a lot!). They even serve the sake in a masu if you like, which is the best! I went with three friends and we all ordered different stuff. I ordered red snapper sashimi and the most perfect rainbow roll that I've had in a long time, and my friends got a various assortment of other delightful rolls. All of it was so good and so fresh. Overall the staff was very friendly and the atmosphere was nice. Definitely going back for seconds. Maybe even this weekend! Plus they have happy hour. This place is definitely worth a try, friends!
(5)
D D.

Amazing dinner and great service! Mussaman curry was especially good. Looking forward to coming back soon.
(5)
W R.

Very good stuff and service was great as well. Service was helpful and guided us. Food was great and seemed very reliable. We went two days in a row and were happily satisfied both times. It is a bit strange, however, that the California rolls come with fake crab. I don't mind paying more for real stuff, which we did, but it raises a flag in my mind.
(4)
Douglas C.

Yama is in that part of town where people wear Franck Mullers and drive Maybachs. I checked my Timex. It was 6:10 as we slid the Prius into on-street parking. The sign on the glass door read closed but the girl behind it waved us in. We sat at the bar and struck up a conversation with the sushi chief. Scott is a tall handsome man with a thin angular face, and a soft voice. He made a few recommendations and we ordered some of them, along with our normal sushi lineup. The sushi was fresh, tender, and cut into very generous wedges. The rice was perfect - just dense enough to hold together for the trip to your mouth. This is easily some of the best sushi in Portland. Scott offered us tastes of exotic offerings not on the menu - things I wouldn't have known about if Scott hadn't so kindly handed them to me with a knowing smile and a subtle bow. We took inventory of Yama's lovely selection of sake. We stayed a good long while, and ate and drank. I enjoyed my dinner at Yama Sushi, and I enjoyed getting to know Scott.
(5)
Angie L.

Another reason to move to the Pearl area besides Cool Moon. Dinner at Yama and dessert at Cool Moon, what can be better than that? This has become one of our favorite sushi joints in the city. The fish is fresh, the rolls are huge, prices are reasonable. Service is friendly and attentive. They leave you alone when you want to be left alone but they're around when you need them around, just how I like it. It's a keeper; we will definitely come back.
(4)
Jenn G.

Went here because of the yelp reviews and it didn't disappoint! Great fresh fish and rolls. Yummy!
(5)
Kevin S.

I haven't been to a ton of sushi places in Portland. Years of living in Seattle spoiled me and the first handful I visited were disappointing. But of the ones I have tried, this is the best. Went for a friend's birthday on a Monday night. 10 person group so I got to try many different items. Service was great, but they were not busy otherwise. I ordered a nigiri and sashimi combo so I could try a variety of fish. All seemed very fresh, nice size pieces as well. I can always do without Ebi but I expected a few less glamorous nigiri since I ordered a combo. Salmon and albacore were excellent. Was also offered items from friend's plates. Tried the seafood pancake (delicious), tuna and avacado salad (very pretty and tasty) and Ankimo (could have eaten a lot more of this if I ordered it myself). Sake pours were generous and well-priced.
(4)
Brandon D.

Sushi: simple but refined: comprised of only a few ingredients but yet highly complex and developed in flavor. Sake: unassuming yet bold, with variety that ebbs and flows with one's needs. I had been hankering for that perfect meal of sushi and sake; and although this place wasn't just quite there, it did just enough to subdue my desire for that meal a little longer. Me and four other friends tried this restaurant out after checking out the reviews, and it definitely didn't disappoint. For dinner, we split the Boat Combo Super Deluxe, an Orange Blossom, and then we ordered another chef's specialty roll that was on the boat, but not on the menu. Additionally, we ordered Chicken Teriyaki and Tonkatsu and as a starter, I got the Kumamoto Oyster. As for drinks, I ordered myself a Daiginjo flight. [Quick side note: I am so tired of people saying that sushi is about the fish. NO IT ISN'T! It's about the seasoned rice and the interplay with its accompanying ingredients. If you are savoring the fish, then we're talking about sashimi. I mean come on, there is a specific name for it! Don't get the two mixed up...] The Kumamoto oysters were very good and high quality. Portion size is dainty, but not too unreasonable. Miso soup was also very good. For the "safe dishes," the teriyaki was solid and the tonkatsu had the right balance of crisp and crunchy outside and tender inside. As for the sushi: Wonderful! The nuanced flavors of the su-meshi made each bite a pleasure. And I found the nigiri had the near-perfect balance of ingredients. Although, most of the rolls on the boat were great, but not spectacular. The play on varying flavor profiles gets trying after a while, but I guess that comes with the whole realm of westernized sushi (always trying to cram a new texture, ingredient and sauce with each iteration): the rainbow roll was solid, the lotus was creamy and bold, and the orange blossom was as expected. These flavors were all familiar (as in, can be found in other restaurants) but with a tinge of higher quality. However, one roll blew me away: the Nemu, except modified (per the chef's discretion). This roll was comprised of spicy tuna, asparagus and cucumber, and topped with white tuna and a dot of hot sauce on each piece. Delectable, scrumptious, amazing! Proof that you don't need over-bearing complexity to make a great roll! Okay, I may sound over-the-top, but it really was that good (as in it pushed us to order another one and go over-budget for the meal). And the Daiginjo flight to compliment this meal was just short of heavenly (although, I wish they had the "Nothingness" in stock; instead, I had to opt for the "Demon Slayer"). The Pure Dusk had the crisp, cool feel of a cold spring with subtle berry and licorice flavors. The Demon Slayer had firm yet blustery notes that bounced from warm sweet almonds to downright fresh melons. Finally, the Beauty of Akita had a peppery start that winds down to reveal an apricot flavor. DÃ©cor was pleasant and refined with ample space and authentic-feeling seating. I enjoyed the use of wood screens and overlays all over, although the wooden seats can feel slightly too firm at times. Unfortunately, the only subpar aspect of our meal was the mediocre service (our server seemed to lack full menu knowledge: he incorrectly identified two of our rolls, but fortunately we knew otherwise; however, he also made the error of splashing out part of my flight when placing it down and neglected to compensate for that!), but it was at least timely. All in all, it was a wonderful experience that left me happy, and what more can you ask for? Thank you Yama for a wonderful experience, excellent food, superb sake and an itch to return. I'll be sure to do so soon.
(5)
Julia H.

yama YESSSS!! i've been searching Portland for a neighborhood sushi spot! and was disappointed time and time again until I found YAMA! Bf and I went in xmas eve to celebrate and died of happiness. service..friendly, attentive, and sweet! prices...SO reasonable..especially for being located in the pearl. fish...INCREDIBLY fresh...you can taste it!! we sat at the bar and scott was kind enough to inform us they had just received a fresh order from Hawaii THAT day..my god. the sashimi melted like butter! 3 sushi rolls we let be chef's choice so i'm not sure what it is that we ate..but we left the restaurant feeling overly stuffed and incredibly happy that the search for fresh sushi has finally ended!
(4)
Kellee M.

I haven't dined in at Yama Sushi, so the experience may be different, but I wasn't impressed with the take out. I'm vegetarian, so I can't speak for the quality of the fish, etc....but I did get the super veggie roll and was disappointed. First, it tasted fishy - which was probably from the seaweed. (I swear I read somewhere that the more fishy seaweed tastes, the less fresh it is). Anyway, I've eaten a lot of veggie sushi and it rarely tastes fishy so I know something wasn't right here. Other than that, I could barely taste the peanut sauce and they failed to include any wasabi or ginger with my order. My husband (who is a fish eater) also said he wouldn't go back. We have had better sushi in Seattle and are bound to find a better place in Portland!
(2)
Christine M.

So amazing. We went Friday night for the first time and we were not disappointed! I have to say I was pretty impressed that it was a busy night and we were seated within 15 minutes of putting our names on the list. The restaurant itself is cozy, clean and modern with intimate seating. It's also in a perfect location in the Pearl right on the streetcar line. We ended up ordering the Boat Combo Deluxe which comes with miso and salad - both very simple and very delicious. I also took a chance and ordered the Momokawa sake flight. Incredible little selection of sakes, can't wait to try other flights here! The Momokawa flight featured Diamond, Pearl and Asian Pear sakes. Loved all three. The Diamond was crisp and clear, the Asian Pear slightly sweet with that lovely little hint of pear of course, and the Pearl was creamy and sweet and divine - I'm assuming that's an unfiltered sake, but nonetheless all true to their names and a perfect accompaniment to the sushi. The boat combo has 8 pieces of sashimi, 12 pieces of nigiri and three chef's choice rolls. The entire selection is actually chef's choice, but even though we were hoping to make our own selections on the nigiri and sashimi, we were so not disappointed! Some of the highlights were the salmon, tuna, raw scallop, and red snapper. Everything was so incredibly fresh and wonderful and the atmosphere was lovely. The staff was attentive and so nice. Can't wait to come back!
(5)
Stephanie O.

Went to this restaurant while on vacation. Absolutely delicious! Ordered the volcano and ocean rolls and extremely impressed with how fresh the ingredients were.The ocean roll has no rice and is wrapped with cucumber, but was delicious. Great for those wanting a low carb option. I'm from Florida and don't have no rice options at our Sushi restaurants, wish we did after eating the ocean. The volcano roll is popular in Florida, so wanted to compare their roll with what I've had in the past and their's blew away anything I've had in Florida. Fresh scallops in the sauce. Amazing! The most tasty Sushi I have ever had. Service was a little slow, but very nice and accommodating. Well worth the wait!
(5)
Khanh T.

I've been here 2 times now and always left the restaurant satisfied. The sushi chefs are extremely delicate with their hands and the way they make the sushi. Their view of sushi is extremely artistic and they cut the sushi fresh to order. The fish melts in your mouth. The crazy monkey roll was delicious and if you're going there for hot food must try their yakisoba. Not much of a yakisoba fan but man theirs is delicious!
(5)
Kevin S.

The absolute best sushi ever. It smelled like fresh fish right when I walked in. Looking forward to my return.
(5)
Jessica K.

We went here the other day after a long 20 hour drive up from LA. Sashimi and sushi were great, we went all out and ordered the live sea urchin, toro sashimi, dinner sashimi platter, and a few of the single pieces of sushi as well as a tiger roll. The sea urchin was TO DIE for, this sea urchin tasted different than any other sea urchin I have ever had. The toro was fatty and delicious as well. Everything was thoughtfully presented and our sushi chef, Kevin, was delightful! The only thing that irks me is that our orders of hot tea (tea pot + green tea bag) cost us $2 per person and miso soup that was totally not special was $2.50. I feel that since we paid a premium, little things like this should be included. For the two of us, our bill came out to over $85 + $16 for tip. Overall, I really enjoyed our meal!
(4)
Rachelle f.

Best sushi I have ever had, i ate every single last bite. Will be back for more.
(5)
Evelyn L.

It's a very good sushi restaurant, nice decor, great service. I can't really complain about anything here, but nothing in particular stands out either. I'm glad it's in my neighborhood I always stop by for lunch, good value!
(4)
Noelle L.

When you go, sit at the bar. Scott is amazing!!!! He makes the best recommendations and will always make sure your sushi is up to par. Everything here is delicious, but most especially the sashimi. Extremely fresh and tasty. Reasonably priced to for the quality. I've been back several times already.
(5)
Ingrid C.

Since this place was new, I rounded up my thoughts to three stars. The food was, after all, pretty good. The service was what kind of sucked. We were seated on a Friday night at 8pm with no problem. Of course, this is always a little sketchy, but since it's new, I didn't take this to be any indicator of problems. There was a TV in the dining room, which didn't seem to fit with the vibe. It was also distracting to conversation, since only half the table faced the TV. The exotic roles were pretty good (considering I generally don't like them). Most played on fancy variants of California or Spicy Tuna rolls (meaning it's one of those rolls with stuff on top, like Kobe beef, salmon, etc. etc.) The sake list was pretty extensive, as well. We ordered (off their wet-erase marker board menus, odd) two rolls each, and then were promptly served. Well, except me. I got one roll. And waited. And waited. And waited. My second roll came out after everyone else was done eating. They kept assuring me it was on its way, but that was ridiculous. The place wasn't full. You usually keep the orders from one table together, especially when you take the orders together. So yeah, my companions probably had a better experience than me, but hey, I was hungry and only half-fed.
(3)
Michelle S.

We started with dumplings, which lacked flavor and needed to be served with chili sauce. Had the yakisoba noodles and although tasty, they were a little dry. Sushi was fine, nothing bad, nothing special. Now for the bad part, it was the worse service I have ever had in my life. I can forgive bad service when there is a shortage of help and the place is slammed but this wasn't the case. It took 45 minutes to get our sushi. Our waiter stopped coming by and we had to ask someone else for the bill. None of the staff apologized for the food taking so long either.
(2)
Tore L.

first and last time I come here. Fish is frozen, rolls are made with Krab not Crab never again I can eat fake fish home.
(1)
Foodie E.

Did anyone else get diarrhea after eating dinner here on Friday May 31, 2013? If so, please post.
(1)
Andrea F.

Phenomenal sushi and traditional Japanese food! The staff was all very friendly and the food was absolutely incredible
(5)
Shirley L.

Alright... it's not the best sushi, but it's not bad. It's a bit expensive (just a bit), but the portion was good enough to fill you up. For about $20 (without alcohol), I got a roll (delicious) and one appetizer. I would give it another half star for being so close to home. I would go back if craving hits and don't want to go too far for a reasonable sushi roll.
(3)
Stephanie H.

I found it! I found it! I did, I did! Hands down favorite sushi place in Portland. Nice people and servers are so attentive never leaving a glass half empty. Fresh amazing sushi and fabulous miso soup. They have a great selection of sake for those who are interested. A small cozy gem in the pearl. Thank you and cheers to you Yama!
(5)
Andrea F.

Wow. Been a while since I've had sushi and was having a craving. The sushi chefs are true artists. Some of the best presentations I've seen - especially at this price point. Tend to go for rolls with little or no sauces, and the rolls we enjoyed were blended and prepared so that the delicate flavors of the fish were allowed to shine through and were not overpowered (Big Easy, Waikiki, Aburi Hamachi, and Ocean Drive [in a beautiful and refreshing thinly-sliced cucumber sheath wrap]). Fresh albacore was fabulous, and the other sashimi we had also did not disappoint. Only thing that was less than perfect was the live mirugai (geoduck), which tasted just a tad "off" but still good. Highly recommend this place. Wait staff needs to step up a bit to be on par with the sushi chefs and this restaurant would be flawless.
(5)
Julie P.

Delicious, fresh, elegant, upscale sushi in the Pearl. An instant favorite. This will be a regular in my restaurant rotation.
(5)
Eric A.

I have no other experience with Portland sushi bars, but I can't see anyone beating this place because it's a great meal - I tried about 10 different kinds of fish, and they were all above average to spectacular, especially the house-marinated escolar... wow!
(5)
Jeffrey P.

I recently moved to Portland from SF and this was my first sushi experience here. Yama is world class sushi dining! Everything that we ate, from miso to a bunch of exotic hand roles was fabulous. Both the service and ambiance was as good as the food. We spent a small fortune and like all great japanese food, it was worth every penny. Thank you Yama, I will see you again soon.
(5)
Naomi W.

Stopped in tonight after a nice coffee dude in the Pearl googled nearby sushi places for me after I made a sad face about the idea of Sushiland or Mio Sushi. I'm so glad! I have a new favorite sushi place with gluten-free tamari, very reasonable prices, lovely ambiance and fresh, high-quality food (I had the maguro tuna sashimi and a New York roll). The service was fast (I was one of 3 people on a Sunday at 6:00) and ever so nice. I will come back again very soon. I think I found my sushi home.
(5)
Lauren V.

My favorite sushi restaurant in Portland. People are always nice and the atmosphere is quiet. I've been to all of the highest rated sushi places in Portland and this one is my favorite.
(5)
Abby N.

Every time I'm in Portland I have to stop by here. It's relaxed and great for a date. Try the spicy crab rolls, they're amazing!!
(5)
Gehan K.

Great sushi place...the best i eaten. Freindly service and the sake is very smooth. I had the yama roll....very good. Great atmosphere. If you order enough rolls....it comes on boat.
(5)
David W.

Nothing special. Nothing bad.
(3)
Mike P.

This is by far the best sushi i've ever had. Simply Amazeballs!
(5)
Cal G.

Of all the sushi places we have been to so far in Portland this has been my favorite. The rolls are creative and different than what I've had elsewhere without being downright strange. The atmosphere is fun and feels more upscale than places like Mio or Gaya Gaya. My one real complaint is something that I have seen everywhere so far: Stop putting wasabi between the fish and rice on the nigiri salmon! A thin slice of lemon on top would be much better suited to this fish rather than completely overpowering the flavor with wasabi. This seems to be a Portland thing and I can't say that it's a good way to go. Lemon. Please. We've been wanting to go back for a month or so now, but it's sort of out of the way for us so it might be a while. Certainly a place I would bring friends who wanted sushi though which is much more than I can say for the other places we've been in Portland.
(4)
Aimee L.

One word - phenomenal. They are officially the best sushi bar in Portland. The fish was lovely, the sushi chef was kind, service was prompt, atmosphere was classy yet still relaxed enough to have a good repartee with the chef. Gorgeous albacore sashimi, truly perfect scallop nigiri, simple and luscious spicy tuna hand roll, and an incredible salmon skin roll. These are often 'average' tasting items at most sushi bars, but here it was (I'll say it again) phenomenal. Not just a slab of fish on some rice, OK? Subtle flavors added to each made me sigh happily with each bite. Oh and the artistry was lovely on the scallop and albacore, I must say. The staff was friendly and the chef spoke of some of the good things he had in (I've always hated it when you ask "what's good today?" to a sushi chef and he says "everything!") - super nice guy. In the Pearl but no more expensive than any other good sushi bar. I can't say enough about this place and look forward to more meals there in the future.
(5)
Casey P.

Great overall experience. Awesome food and good service. We went for lunch and sat at the bar. They were even filming something while we were there. The quality of the fish and size of the cuts were great. The sushi chef that was serving us was very friendly and engaging. He even let us try some other yummy tuna we didn't order. The Toro was heaven! Next time I am in Portland will for sure be going here for dinner.
(5)
Ian H.

Sushi is my favorite food and I often get cravings for it. I have eaten at many great sushi restaurants in the northeast (Philly/NY). On a vacation I ended up at Yama and really enjoyed lunch there. Salmon toro and yellowtail toro were excellent. Rolls were on point with very fresh fish. Service was great and the place was comfortable. Would go again when in Portland.
(5)
Jennifer D.

FANTASTIC. The sushi here is delicious (try the Oregon roll!) and the service is welcoming and friendly. This is my favorite sushi place in Portland.
(5)
Lauren W.

I would HIGHly recommend Yama. The reviews here give a pretty accurate picture of the experience. Definitely better than Bamboo and there was no wait on a Sunday night at 7pm. The service was very attentive, the menu was diverse and the food was prepared with a high degree of skill and extremely fresh. We ordered miso soup (and also got a free cucumber salad appetizer), the hamachi kama, sumo roll, unagi sashimi, toro sashimi, uni sashimi, and Hawaiian roll. Everything was very well-prepared and artfully presented. My only complaint was that the appetizers and main course were served too close together. Being in the Pearl (with lots of high rollers), prices were not as high as comparable restaurants nearby. Overall, the experience was highly favorable. The service was great. The atmosphere could have been a little more highbrow (softer lighting, no plastic sushi menus). The highlight was definitely the outstanding fresh fish! High five!
(4)
Grant K.

The sake selection is the best that I've seen in Portland. It'll take me months to try everything! The sashimi is fresh and thick and the rolls are creative and yummy. Apparently on thursdays and fridays, they have a live menu. This has to be on the top of the list, if not the top, of sushi restaurants in portland.
(5)
James M.

Bomb sushi! Everything is really fresh, including the miso, and it's just a cozy spot right in the pearl with really good service, food, and environment.
(5)
Carlos C.

This place is one of the best sushi restaurants in town. The service is excellent, friendly and attentive. The food presentation is delightful and the menu has several creative rolls that go beyond the more traditional (and also available) items in sushi restaurants. The ingredients are of the best quality. This place has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants. Very recommended
(5)
Alan M.

i've tried nearly every sushi joint in the portland area. I have not found another place better. FRESH FRESH FRESH. Need I say more? You need to try Yama to know what I'm talking about. Again, by far...the best I've had.
(5)
Bill G.

This is our new favorite Japanese restaurant. Minna - our waitress has adopted my wife Helen and I as her family, and makes sure we get the very best of everything. Last time there I had Yakisoba noodles while Helen had the Caterpillar Sushi roll. Helen was concerned that the rolls are too big around for her, so the sushi chef made them smaller! I had a Sake sampler, which really taught me a lot about Sake. We can't wait to get back
(5)
Laura G.

Yama is my go-to sushi spot. If you can't afford Bamboo, and Mio scares you, come here. It's great sushi at affordable prices, and the service is great.
(5)
Esteban C.

Stopped in for some cucumber rolls and sake and ended up staying much longer than expected. The service was fantastic, the atmosphere was authentic/modern and we had a great conversation with our server. I didn't know Yama was open, but I'm glad I stopped in. Coming back for more soon.
(5)
Jamie F.

Wonderful time. Staff was helpful & patient. I had my daughter & boyfriend with us. They were sushi neophytes. Got wonderful suggestions from waitress. Also lucked out since the first Thursday is their sake tasting. Excellent choices. I will definitely be back for more. Cost was extremely reasonable for all we ate & the sake flights we ordered.
(5)
p c.

I am giving 4 stars, though if I were to compare to other places outside of Portland I would give it a 3. Not to say it is bad or anything, just that I have been to nicer places. That said, Yama is a nice small place with excellent service. The food is good to very good, though it is what you expect. They do have a few interesting items that I haven't seen. I was told the sushi at the bar is a little better than at a table, but that is average. The guy doing the table orders may not be the top sushi chef. I ordered a few items that were non-sushi and they were good. The Hamachi Kana was very good. I will put this place on my rotation of sushi bars.
(4)
Violet B.

AHI TOWER!!!!! Must try!! Also they have very good baked sushi.
(5)
Sarah B.

Definitely the best sushi I've ever had in my life. The Mardis Gras, Sake Bomb, Vegas, and Oregon rolls were absolutely phenomenal. Their smoked salmon and mackerel sashimi were superb. Staff was great, very pleasant. The prices are extremely reasonable for such high quality food. This is the place I'd take family visiting Portland, to show off it's best food. I would highly recommend Yama Sushi to anyone who wants a fantastic meal!
(5)
Kelly D.

We did takeout - while it was pretty fresh fish and interesting combinations for the special maki rolls, they were pretty small-sized for the price. The gyoza only came with three pieces, usually for same price sushi places give six pieces. Also we really hate cucumber in the rolls, and one roll did not say on the menu that it had cucumber and came with cucumber instead of the avocado that should have been in it.
(2)
Jerome D.

Excellent sushi restaurant! Sushi as good as it gets. Great food selection, quiet restaurant, good service every time we ate there. After trying a few other places in town, we have finally found our go-to sushi place in Portland.
(5)
shanklin g.

Showed up and didn't realize it was happy hour. My girlfriend and I were seated right away. We had a great sashimi plate and the rolls were also delicious. The drinks were prices fair and we had an over all great time. The wait staff was super friendly and very helpful with their suggestions. Not a snobby place at all.
(4)
Guy L.

The best Sushi I've ever enjoyed! Really, it was that good. These talented sushi chefs don't overpower with heavy sauces, but rather elevate the subtleties of superior sushi fish to new heights. The abalone sashimi was surreal. Will visit this establishment every time we come to Portland. Kudos to the sushi staff - you rock! Oh yeah - the Rogue bomber of soba inspired ale worked wonders with the meal.
(5)
Boris P.

Great sushi and good service. As an avid eater of sushi all around the world I find it ridiculous to sell sushi in individual pieces. It's basically a way of tricking people to sit down by making them think the standard order of 2 pieces of Nigiri is a regular, sensible price. When you price a single piece it means the cost for 2 pieces - again the standard order - is too pricey to put on the menu. I'm not a fan of that practice at all. $6/$7 for 2 pieces is high. This isn't NYC. But again, good sushi and good service.
(3)
Amy B.

My husband and I went last night for dinner. We took our 14 month old daughter, and the servers were all very accommodating to her needs (they brought a special plate for her and unseasoned cucumbers... And one server kept coming over to play peekaboo!) The food was amazing... I'd been craving sushi for some time and had been led astray by Yelp before on this front. We had the oyster appetizer. They didn't have kumamotos, which are my favorite, but I was willing to try the other kind they had. These were literally the largest, sweetest oysters I'd ever had (I've been thinking about them all day). We ordered 4 rolls for 2 of us, as you never know how big a roll is going to be your first time at a sushi place. They were huge. (We will order 2 the next time we go). The fish was all delicious. The service was excellent. I will definitely be going back soon.
(5)
jus e.

Excellent!
(5)
David B.

Nice location and excellent staff make up for the average sushi. Great place to try, nothing wrong with it, but there is better sushi out there.
(3)
Annie L.

we had the 15pc sashimi platter and a yuki roll (fried lobster, cucumber topped with spicy salmon, cilantro, wasabi-mayo, tobiko, fried shallot, sun dried tomato, unagi sauce). the sashimi was really fresh...it melts in your mouth! i would definitely go back when i'm in portland!
(5)
Veggie L.

Decided to do sushi for my bday dinner instead of Jake's. We ordered sashimi, nigiri, chirashi sushi, their yakiniku, and some rolls. We thought we might be getting fresh awesome sushi because of the high prices. Wrong. Yellowtail was a bit fishy, the toro was not much different from the regular, yakiniku had a ton of sugar and maybe msg, the chirashi had some white fish we had never eaten as sashimi before, they use imitation crab meat, and the rolls... They forgot about them and we told them to cancel the order if they forgot before we got the check. when we got the bill, they snuck one roll on it thinking we wouldnt notice. None of the servers spoke japanese. Shoulda done jake's. I am still looking for decent sushi in portland.
(2)
Lola S.

We came here on a Sunday evening and the place was very busy but there was no wait for a table. Great! Service was wonderful. We ordered the tuna tower, sashimi salad, Kobe roll, Oregon roll, smoked salmon sashimi, qual egg nigiri with ikora, and seaweed salad. The seaweed salad was the best I've ever had. It was appallingly good. We also particularly enjoyed sashimi salad, the smoked salmon sashimi and the Kobe roll. Those are really really delicious dishes. I'll skip the tuna tower and Oregon roll next time to save room for more delicious things. :)
(5)
Tiara M.

If the food doesn't make your mouth salivate uncontrollably, then unfriend me NOW! Now for the rest that are still my friends, you will always be happy and jolly here. Sumo happiness... Minus one star for service. Don't get me wrong, the servers here are friendly enough. It's just that after frequenting Yama's often enough, we've noticed considerable difference in service and wait times when they get busy. Sushi (and I mean sashimi and nigiri) can take a while to arrive and it can take time to get your server's attention, especially if you are not sitting at the bar.
(4)
Moko S.

Pretentious. Okay fish. Bad rice. Meh service. Won't come back again. The sushi chef and owner are Korean, not Japanese. You will understand if you've ever been to an authentic Japanese owned japaneses restaurant.
(2)
Brittany F.

I wasn't all that impressed with Yama. We ordered the Mighty Mango, the Fiery Jack and the Volcano rolls. I really did enjoy the Mighty Mango a lot, but the other two left me feeling a little sick to my stomach. I didn't like all the sauce that was poured on top of those two rolls. We ordered the Fiery Jack and Volcano because our server recommended them. Their pictures on the menu looked good but when they arrived they were drenched in sauces and unfortunately that was all I could taste. It's nice sitting outside on a sunny day and their green tea was really great, along with the service. If I go again I will make sure not to order a roll with sauce on it since they seem to be a little heavy handed with the bottle...
(3)
Robert G.

I was here in 2014 and the rolls were much better. I recently went with another Yelp Elite and we both ordered specials and rolls for lunch. Four rolls specifically recommended by our waitress. There were only two waitresses and the restaurant was half full. She did a great job considering she had tables inside and outside. Overall, the rolls were mediocre at best. I don't know if the sushi chefs are different between lunch and dinner. There are now currently several better sushi restaurants in town. This place was my favorite last year.
(3)
Pei J.

Everything I had ordered are all very unbelievable! Black cod , tuna tower, deluxe boat they are all brilliant!
(5)
Steven C.

Great outdoor place and service. Oyster with uni is fresh and delicious. And the humongous water cup really shows how they are generous with water :)
(5)
G R.

Our Portland friends decided to treat us to a special sushi meal at theIr new favorite place: I got to share, it was a super duper memorable meal! We had omakase by Kaura San. He is truly a master of the craft. Upon arrival we were told by the owner that the chef was preparing for us the whole day. (Definitely a nice touch from the owner). The meal had so many courses, I lost track. Each was in its own right a masterpiece. From sashimi, to chawamushi, to nigiri, to miso cod to even his version of a panna cotta! It was an amazing meal! Sadly, we do not live in Portland but will be back soon! Keep up the delicious work!
(4)
Dorothy L.

I liked this place so much that we went twice in one weekend! The bf and I stopped by for dinner on a Friday night. They don't take reservations so we walked in around 8pm. The only space they had open for two was at the bar. Totally fine with us! We like seeing all the action behind the deliciousness. :) CUCUMBER SALAD - It was just sliced cucumbers in a ponzu like sauce. Very simple and refreshing. LIVE UNI - Uni is best fresh and this was super fresh! It came with quite a few pieces. Definitely a dish that should be shared.. unless you like uni-dose (uni-dose, overdose.. get it, get it?! *Crickets..*). SPICY HAMACHI POKE - Super fresh hamachi. I could have used a bit more heat, but this was good. TUNA TOWER - Such a pretty dish and then you mash it all together creating somewhat of a deconstructed sushi roll without the seaweed. This is creamy yumminess. We asked for some Sriracha to spice things up a bit, but this was tasty. YAKI UDON W CHICKEN - This was my favorite dish. The yaki udon sauce is savory and sweet and goes perfectly with the thick udon noodles, veggies, and chicken. Yum! Comes with miso soup too. Also good. The second time we came was the very next day for an early dinner. It was our last day in Portland and the only think I really wanted to eat was the Yaki Udon... What can I say? I love noodles! SCALLOPS FROM THE SPECIALS MENU - Sliced scallops in a very refreshing citrus sauce. Really delicious! YAKI UDON W BEEF - This was the only think that I wanted to eat for dinner.. hehe. The bf liked the beef option better. Just as good as the first time we had it! Food is reasonably priced - the specials are a bit more expensive, but worth it! Service was good. I can see why the locals frequent this place!
(5)
Vicky M.

Searched sushi places one day when craving sushi and this one came up at the top of the list so we decided to give it a try. Came in and were seated right away, the staff was very friendly. We ordered the Flaming jack and volcano roll and waited for our foods they brought complimentary cucumber also which was good- sweet and sour. When our rolls came, the presentation was awesome- the flaming jack was burning before my eyes. Taste wise, I didn't enjoy the flaming jack very much, but the volcano roll was good. Everything was fresh though. Prices are on the upper hand for usual sushi prices, but not too bad. I will definitely be back to try more of the menu!!
(4)
Kelsey H.

So good!! I am particular with my sushi and this place was top notch. We had the lobster roll, ocean roll, and the volcano. We even had some of the Fatty Tuna (toro), that was melt in your mouth delicious. I have been craving that since. The ocean roll was nice and fresh. No seaweed if you don't like that. The lobster roll was a cali roll with tempura lobster on top with some tobiko, served a bit warm and so good!! I want more of that too. The volcano had tiny scallops atop and also amazing. All really tasty and presented well. Service was attentive and everyone was very nice and informative! I am a stickler about service so this was refreshing! We tried the uni and were forewarned about it because it wasn't from Santa Barbara where they normally get it and it wasn't very good. I appreciated that the sushi chef warned us cause we only ordered one. He didn't have to tell us that but glad he did. Great little place, we sat at the sushi bar which I like to normally do but there is lots of inside seating and a few outdoor tables. I will definitely be back!!
(5)
Albert K.

3.5 Stars - I was in town visiting family and my 9 year-old niece wanted to grab sushi. I only mention her age, because I love the fact that she has such an adult palette at such a young age. I checked the reviews on Yelp and found Yama. This place is super cute and and is located in a prime area in the Pearl. After looking at the pictures, I had to order the Tuna Tower. It was a pretty as it looked like in the pictures, but after taking my pictures the waitress told me I had to smash it up, which I was hesitant to do. We also go a few rolls. Overall, the foods was good, but the rice was a bit off. However, the atmosphere and the staff makes this a good dining experience overall. In short, I have had better sushi, but I would definitely go back to this place, if I got the chance.
(4)
Prascilla P.

First time having sushi here and it's definitely on my top 3 sushi places I've ever been to! Best specialty rolls I've ever had! The Tuna Tower they have there is probably the best sushi dish I've ever had in just disappointed I shared it lol! Service was great as well and an overall good vibe! Loved it
(5)
Mallory S.

Wow. The octopus (tako) nigiri was friggin phenomenal! Deliciously tender and beautifully cut. Literally I could eat this everyday--best tako I've ever had. The rice was still warm and had a bit of tang which compliments the fish. The volcano roll was also delicious. Just the right amount of sauce. I hate when sushi places drench their rolls in sauce, but SuBe lets their fish quality speak for itself. Everything I had tasted so fresh! Also, for 1 large roll and 4 pieces of FRESH nigiri--$20.. Not bad. I don't wanna leave Portland and their delicious sushi :...(
(5)
Sylvia Y.

The Yuzu Hamachi roll was fantastic. The unagi sauce was the best part about it (a bit sweet to balance the fish). I also got the Big Easy, one of their House Classic Rolls. It was good but not great. A bit on the plain side. Next time, I'll just order 2 rolls from their Signature menu. Overall, this sushi joint has a classy but not stuffy ambience that's perfect for a meet up with friends or for a casual date night. 4.5
(5)
Nikki T.

Presentation was fabulous. Flavor was great. Service was phenomenal. I cannot say enough positive things about the staff. They each seemed happy to be there and happy to serve their guests.
(5)
In B.

If you can't tell already.. I'm a big fan of Yama~ =D I come here pretty often and this is definitely my go to sushi spot. I honestly refuse to go to any other joints because Yama has never disappointed me once! Prior to Yama, I was always a Nigiri or a Roll person but ever since being so spoiled by this place, I only eat sashimi. Its no surprise that the chefs are very meticulous about every dish they serve and it truly shows through their presentation. Next time you want to treat yourself, just go to yama. I always feel like every dollar was well spent and walk out of there like a million bucks. =D Also! They opened a second location in the SE area, but more focused on Izakaya! The space is beautiful and you'll love it!
(5)
Nique F.

Some of the freshest sushi and friendliest service in all the land! The famous tuna tower was the culinary highlight of our Portland trip - layers of rice, spicy tuna, crab salad, regular tuna, avocado, row, and spicy sauces - a perfect appetizer to share, or a meal for one person. Be sure to check out their daily specials menu, where we found a foie gras + uni nigiri dish that was divine. You can tell the fish is top notch here, but the prices are incredibly reseasonable. Our bill was $52 for 2, and we stuffed ourselves! God, I love Portland. The atmosphere is classy but low-key, with a small bar/lounge area and a separate dining room for larger groups. Service was incredible: smiley, energetic and attentive. For sushi cravings, nothing beats Yama. We will be dreaming of it until the next time we're in PDX. For sake fans, there's TONS of that too!
(5)
Michael L.

We came here on a Tuesday night. They were busier than I expected for the day, but I took that as a good sign. I am really happy that we decided to come here. I have difficulty choosing when I am provided many options, and they have a lot of options for sake, so I had to ask for a recommendation. I ended up choosing a flight of three types of sake, which was a pretty good value. The server also made it easy for me to decide on which sushi roll. I just stated my favorite ingredients, and ordered based on the recommendation, which was spot-on. It was so good that I had to order an additional roll! My wife doesn't like sushi, and always orders chicken teriyaki. It was cooked perfectly! Luckily, she was kind enough to let me try a bite. I will be back the next time I am in Portland.
(4)
P A.

Amazing- 5 Stars :) Went late on weeknight, had no wait. The restaurant is understated and classy and service was fast, friendly and unimposing. Garlic Albacore - The waitress recommended this dish. It was VERY fresh and the garlicy flavor definitely came through. Ahi Tuna Tower - So Yummy! A tower of rice, spicy tuna, avocado, crab, spicy mayo, wasabi mayo and three types of tobiko. This dish was not only beautifully presented, it also tasted delicious after the waitress "made it" for us by combining all of the components together on the plate. Yama Roll - This was my absolute favorite thing that we tried. The roll has a fried lobster and cucumber center with spicy salmon, cilantro, wasabi mayo, tobiko, fried shallot, sun dried tomato and unagi sauce on top. The flavors were so unique for a sushi roll and incredibly delicious! Volcano Roll - This was my next favorite thing on the menu! The roll has tempura salmon and cucumber on the inside with baked scallops, baked shrimp, masago, green onions, spicy mayo and unagi sauce on the outside. Again, the flavor was really unique but it was so addictively yummy. Nigiri - We got the Toro, Uni, Smoked Salmon, Creamy Scallop and Stripped Bass with Yuzu truffle oil. These were fresh but I didn't love them like I did the rest of our food! Overall, 5 stars for food, 4.5 stars for service and 4 stars for ambience. Definitely visit for Sushi in Portland!
(5)
Thuy N.

One of my favorite sushi spot. They have specialty rills which is quite rare in PDX. Some times the plain rolls are great and I love my specialty rolls. I recommend any of the specialty rolls. The age tofu is delicious and crispy. The cod is a great dish to start off. Portion is small. Quite a spendy place so get your wallets ready for an expensive palate.
(4)
Jan D.

Hmm.. I have mixed feelings about this place. Yes, the sashimi is pretty fresh and all, but the service was truly lacking. We went in at 11:30 am on a Weds. afternoon and the place was starting to get busy for the lunch hour rush... However, we weren't greeted right away and it took about 10 mins. for a waitress to come take our order and after that, another 15-20 mins. to get our order. We ordered the sushi boat which was about $65 enough for almost 3 people. Nothing super spectacular but the quality was also above decent. All in all, the quality was there, the service wasn't. Also, I we also got a little sick from eating the food there.. not sure what it is, but it has been lingering ever since we left there.. We def. won't be back when we are in the area.
(2)
Roger M.

Between Thanksgiving and New Year's many of us feast on turkey, ham and pork. Need a break? Here's the ticket! Try Yama Sushi for a bowl of organic miso soup, wild salmon teriyaki & veggies and a chicken & egg noodle stir fry. It's a little lighter cuisine, way different than the traditional holiday cuisine on my table--which my table is serving up dry aged prime rib on Christmas. Lot's of organic choices at Yama along with great sushi! Merry Christmas ya al!
(5)
Phoenix F.

my boyfriend and I came to Portland for dinner and really wanted Sushi. after reading reviews, we decided on Yuma. the ONLY reason I'm rating this 3 stars instead of 5 is because of the service. our waitress was very sweet but not helpful at all when we asked about the menu. our main problem was how long it took for our food to come. we ordered 2 sushi rolls (to start). it took a little over an hour to receive them. We ordered 2 more rolls but after another hour of waiting, we decided to cancel the order and get our check. the manager did however take off $10 but we would have rather gotten to try the 2 rolls we ordered. but . . the food . . AMAZING!!!!!!! I would suggest going during the day for lunch when it isn't so busy. we got the baked lobster roll & the spider roll! with 2 pieces of escolar !
(3)
donne s.

Fabulous ! Staff is everything a quality restaurant should have. Great presentation , had the crazy monkey , ocean and bacon wrapped scallops. None of this was a disappointment. Saki list a Japanese wine list of wonderful. Families , professionals and those just passing through . Local regulars have personalized chopsticks ! Beautiful. Pearl district jewel!
(5)
Kay N.

This place is located in a very cute area called Pearl district. The restaurant has this cool display of all their sake bottles at the bar. Overall, this place did not disappoint. Everything was delicious! Tuna Tower. You must order this dish (besides for the awesome presentation). The server can mix it for you, but we didn't want her too because the dish looked too pretty! Once you mix all the sauces together with the rest of the ingredients, it really ties the whole dish together. It was flavorful and fresh. Baked Green Lipped Mussels. This is one of my favorite dish of the night. It was so delicious! They baked the mussel with some creamy mayonnaise-like sauce. I wish I ordered more! Buta Kimachi (fried porkbelly with Kochujang sauce and kimchi). It is a little on the salty side but still very good. Kobe Roll. This roll was pretty tasty. We liked it, but it wasn't amazingly good that we would order it again. They have tons of specialty rolls so we would be inclined to try something else.
(4)
Aaron C.

Came here once prior, but unfortunately, this most recent visit wasn't a very good one. The sushi bar somehow became backed up and the chefs took quite awhile to get our deluxe sushi boat order out. The manager/owner/whoever she was, didn't seem to be very concerned about the amount of time the chefs took to get our order out and seemed to just dismiss us when inquiring about our order. They didn't even get our order right when it finally arrived to our table. The three stars are 100% because of the attentiveness and great customer service from our waiter Jay. This guy was not only apologetic for the delay, but he also corrected the mistake on the sushi boat order. He was also super flexible and divvied up all the sashimi orders by couple/patrons without us requesting such a courtesy. It totally would've been fine had he not done so, but he definitely went the extra mile and deserves an honorable mention. Give this guy a raise Yama, because this review would've been a lot worse had it not been for his exceptional service. Thank Jay, on behalf of my party, we were very appreciative of your service.
(3)
Taylor Y.

I've been dying to eat some fresh sushi for months now because in Eugene there aren't too many sushi places and definitely doesn't compare to the sushi I get from home (Oahu). My dad told me about a sushi place called Yama Sushi and Sake Bar that we could try out in Portland and I was all for it. When we got there all the tables were taken and the lady said it was about a 20 minute wait so we sat in their little waiting area looking over the menu. After about 15 minutes the lady said they could put a chair on the side of the table so we could be seated already and we said okay. They really try to accommodate you so you don't have to wait longer than you have to for a table. After being seated I ordered the chirashi. Talk about HEAVEN!!!! Chirashi is my all time favorite, that is my go to meal whenever I go to a sushi restaurant. The fish was like butter, it just melted in my mouth and was so tasty. It was a little pricey ($25.95) but considering you get around 20 pieces of fish I think it is definitely worth it. Whenever I get chirashi I would like there to be uni in it. The waitress said that it just depends on what the sushi chef wants to put in it so it can change from time to time the types of fish you get in your chirashi bowl. We also ordered a volcano roll which is a sushi roll topped with baked scallops and shrimp. The waitress had forgotten it and towards the end of our meal we reminded her. She was very apologetic about forgetting a piece of our order and to show how sorry she was she also gave use free green tea ice cream. The volcano roll was worth the wait because it was fresh out of the oven and the topping was nice and creamy. I definitely recommend this restaurant to people if they are in the Portland area and want some authentic Japanese food. Very yummy and worth every penny!!
(5)
Garrett T.

Wow! I got the mighty mango and the hurricane roll. Everything was fresh and the flavor was incredible. I've never had mango with sushi before but I loved it. The spicy tuna was perfect.
(5)
Judy L.

Order to go will take ~10-15 minutes. Plus: large portions of the raw deal, good quality of fish Minuses: the wait
(4)
Jonathan D.

It's rated the #1 sushi in town so the kids and I had to try it on our visit to PDX. The setting was very generic and the waitresses, though friendly, all seemed like they were too busy to handle the 8 tables in the entire place. The hostess wouldn't let my kids and I sit at the sushi bar even though there were 5 seats. When I asked why I was told "We have a reservation". It was 5:30 on a Thursday, half the seats at your sushi bar are open and you're waiting for a reservation? No way. I challenged her and she said "it's actually two reservations of 2 each". Having read the Yelp reviews I knew they didn't take reservations. Irritated, we were seated and handed about a dozen menus: hand written ones, drinks, giant laminated ones with pictures, traditional ones. Yet, none of them were the happy hour menu... The food was average. I felt like the gyoza was greasy & undercooked. The hamachi Kama came out about the same time the bill arrived and was dry and flaky. My daughter enjoyed the happy hour ramen (which came out 20 minutes after her edamame appetizer). The yakisoba soup took so long that we just had them box it up and we took it home. The experience was awkward overall. Nothing like some of the great sushi experiences I have had in other cities.
(2)
Susan L.

Best sushi in Portland hands down!! Soooooooo good!! You have too get the live uni and mirugai (my faves)!! Definitely coming back at least. Once a week
(5)
Sequoia S.

This place was the real deal. Good presentations, excellent service, and OUTSTANDING food!!! They were also so honest. They mistakenly gave away our table due to a mix up with the hostesses, so we had to wait a little longer. They didn't have to tell us that, but they did. They even comp'd us some edamame, which were deliciously warm and perfectly salted. We ordered: Nabeyaki Udon (Excellent!) Salmon Trio: Sockeye, Oregon Chinook, & I can't remember (Muy Excelente!) Live Mirugai (Geoduck Clam): (Even more Excellent!) Sushi Boat Deluxe (the $65 one): Beautiful presentation, Filling, Thick slices, got our money's worth! (Most excellent) Unagi topped with Foie Gras (Excellently over the top! Are you kidding me??? Heavenly!) If you come here and just order sukiyaki, you deserve to be slapped upside the head with your own one star review! The best part was that the price was not ridiculous!
(4)
Marina Z.

We mainly come here for sushi (they do serve many other foods). This place has a great variety of sushi. This place has a strong food smell, and sticks to you like no other. So, if you can leave your jackets in the car, then do. Other then that love coming here !
(5)
Brittany P.

Yama is the best sushi restaurant in Portland. They have a secret Chopstick Club. Omakase is superb & boat experience when owner/chef Scott is preparing. Friendly staff. Flaming Jack roll comes on fire. This place is !
(5)
Kathryn Grace T.

It's kinda difficult to park but once u do so, u walked into a small but very welcoming restaurant.The staff is very friendly, the menu has good variety.The service was prompt, the food came out in a timely manner and it was delicious.The sushi was fresh and tasty! Downside, not a place to bring a large group because the small sized seats and not the type of place to want to wait an hour or more just in case , other than the cramped seating the food is excellent! I appreciate the fact they brought in some frozen plates for my Lil girls, that was very thoughtful.
(4)
Marna G.

We have never had an issue finding a parking spot or finding a table. The food is great! Everything was outstanding! It's sort of cramped- that's okay. I'm a big girl so everything is sort of cramped. Service was outstanding. Way they present food is outstanding. Only reason that it's not getting five stars is because there is an odd smell in that restaurant. And I'm really not sure what it is. Thought it was just me the first time but we been there five times now and it's the same smell. They take reservations so make sure you make them!
(4)
Tiffanie R.

Very fresh fish and friendly staff. The salmon had a very clean and salty (good salty) strait out of the ocean taste. It actually tasted like the Ocean. Excellent local Orgeon Albacore Tuna with big flavors. We chose to order Nigiri pieces and the simplest sushi rolls with only a couple ingredients. Why mask the equisite flavors of the freshest fish? When the fish is that fresh - I say skip the fancy "specialty" rolls that can act as flavor intruders. I hate that what I'm about to say is so true: I ordered a CA roll - because it was made with REAL crab and really fresh crab. Normally that would be a major no-no at a good sushi spot, but it was well worth the space in my tummy.
(4)
Ashish G.

Finally after an hour wait in a non-busy restaurant, my food arrived. Here is the gist. It lacked finesse... It is not your typical sushi place. when i started eating, i felt as if I was in some other Japaneses restaurant, and not eating sushi. Also, there was too much sauce on the plate, and it was all mixed. Even visually it looked messy. Do not get me wrong. The food I ate had a nice taste, and but was too heavy for a sushi.
(3)
Anne-Marie G.

The tuna tower is to die for! Tried: Tuna tower, flaming jacks, Kobe beef, crazy monkey, and garlic onion albacore. By far the tuna tower is my fav! Definitely coming back here again with friends/family. My only complaint was our server...we asked if we could take a pic of the tower first and she rolled her eyes and said "you can get it online" before she mixed the dish. WTF?
(4)
David J.

Always an excellent meal. The sushi is extremely fresh and flavorful. The hot plates/cold plates and entrees are excellent and expertly prepared. I will be visiting weekly while I am in town because of how much I enjoy this establishment and the people who work there.
(5)
Ben L.

Came here for a birthday party and the ambience was amazing. They have a private room for larger groups which we were in. Servers were very attentive even though our party was behind doors. Food and presentaion was outstanding. I will be a regular of Yama from now on for sure.
(5)
Miya A.

My favorite sushi in Portland!
(5)
Cristy S.

Great atmosphere, great sushi - lots of options for vegetarians, too! The service was a little less attentive than I prefer but everyone was polite and in a good mood. The location is good and they have a fantastic saki menu!
(5)
Jordan L.

The food here is great. I have had the cod small plate twice and it is sooo good!!! Sashimi and tempura are also very good. The only negative is that on both occasions that I went there the food came out at different times so one person is almost done eating by the time the other gets there food. The waitress apologized for this and the staff in general are very good. I'm still giving it 5 stars because the food is so good. Also if you have children this is a great place. It does not seem like it would be just based on appearance (it is quite nice although not fancy) but there are lots of kids and they have highchairs. The waitress also brought food out for our baby free of charge which was very thoughtful and kind. Unfortunately there are no changing tables in the bathrooms.
(5)
Karim A.

This is by far the best place to eat sushi in Portland!! You must absolutely go for the Omakase ("i'll leave it to you" - Chef's Choice) . My chef was Scott. He was extremely kind, took his time, asked what I liked and what I didn't and created his masterpiece accordingly. My only regret - I didn't take any pictures of his incredible creations. Although, I did get some candid shots of the sushi bar.
(5)
Vadim V.

This place has the one of the best sushi in portland. Great service and the sushi is really fresh. Had 8 rolls. Sake bomb is the best raw sunshi in town. Flaming jack is a cool way to end the day
(5)
Shan C.

I love their location, environment, service, and food! There is no bad choice on the menu! I went there alone for the first time and was really impressed, so I brought more friends the second time. Definitely recommend!
(5)
Crystal H.

I can't say anything bad for this place. A real sushi lover would appreciate walking into the restaurant seeing authentic sushi chefs who greets you in a respectful manner with a genuine smile. Ordered the 18pc sashimi - got a lot more than 18 pieces after chef sliced them into pieces. Love their Yama roll and shrimp tempura is to die for. I also ordered two other rolls that I don't remember the name of. All in all, a very enjoyable experience this past weekend. It has been about a year since I came back, and nothing has changed! 5/5 on food, service, atmosphere, and price for sushi (quality over quantity)!
(5)
Jill N.

We are from all over the west coast, but have recently moved back from the Midwest. Sushi out there, good sushi, is hard to come by. We are excited to be back for the love of the cuisine here. The atmosphere is great. It is set up nicely but still has the echo most sushi bars do. The serving staff was very kind and patient, as we had a sushi newbie and 3 year old with us. The yakisoba was amazing! Great flavor in chicken, beef, and veggie! The sushi was presented well but was all together disappointed with the chosen rolls. Since we had a newbie we started out with the classic California roll and shrimp tempura roll. We like spicy, so asked them to create it so. This was the first time they mixed the spicy sauces in the roll instead of drizzling it on top. The tempura came with seaweed around it, instead of the more popular crunch. We had to put more effort in making it spicy with sides of sauces. Would have preferred it came done. All around good.
(4)
Elyse L.

I love Yama's crazy, creative rolls here! I've only been once but I want to go back because everything we ordered was delicious! The quality and freshness of their fish is what really makes the rolls taste extraordinary. The decor is upscale and the service is attentive. We asked to leave out wasabi and the sweet sauce on one roll and it turned out perfect, exactly what we ordered. The location is great too, right across from a nice bakery in the Pearl.
(4)
Allie L.

This is a great restaurant in a great neighborhood! We were planning to eat at another Japanese restaurant, but decided to try Yama because they offered chicken teriyaki (my daughter's favorite). We were so glad we came here. It was a Saturday night and the tables outside were already taken. We had our dog with us and we weren't sure how long we had to wait. When I asked about the wait time, the hostess asked me to wait a minute. They set-up a table for us and seated us within minutes. The menu had a wide variety of dishes, including sushi. We opted for their traditional dishes: the Salmon Misoyaki, Chicken Teriyaki, Curry Tonkatsu, and the Yasai Itame. And green tea ice cream for dessert! Everything was delicious! I had the salmon and it was grilled perfectly and the miso marinated flavor was so good - yum! We were also impressed with the great customer service and friendliness of the hostess and our server. Definitely worth a trip to this Pearl District gem and take a walk to Jamison Square park afterwards! You wouldn't be disappointed.
(4)
Danielle P.

I teeter between a 2 and a 3 on this one. Unfortunately the service left a lot to be desired and the baby squid was incredibly chewy and over cooked. The reviews on this place were the reason we came here, but we are pretty disappointed. The sushi was good and the rolls were interesting. But not enough for us to come back or even put it on the list for trips to the Pearl.
(3)
Amy K.

I really like this place! It's not necessarily the best sushi I've ever had, but it's pretty darn good. I've been here on two different occasions. For starters, I've had the Ankimo cocktail (monkfish liver pate). To be honest, not my favorite dish. I've had monkfish liver pate elsewhere, and this one was just a bit dry and lacking in flavor. I've had a couple of the rolls - Kobe roll was good, but I probably wouldn't order it again. The Waikiki roll was really yummy! I've also had a few of the sashimi and nigiri, all of which tasted fresh. The sea urchin (uni) is creamy goodness and doesn't have an off-putting fishy smell or taste like I've had before. The yellowtail toro is buttery and smooth. I especially love the variety of safe and sake flights they have available! Service is good, and the sushi comes out pretty fast. I'd definitely come back here, and it doesn't hurt that the place is only a few blocks from where I live.
(4)
Alan M.

My wife and I went for the 1st time. Japanese food is a primary source of sustenance for us. Frankly, Portland is lacking in a wide variety of authentic and flavorful Japanese food - IMO. I got Chirashi sushi (Omakase - chefs choice). My wife got their version of Bibimbop. We had different opinions of our meals. I felt very positive with the experience. Fish was fresh and tasty -- even the pieces I am not fond of i.e. octopus. Starter salad was good (dressing was tasty and there was arugula!). Miso soup was good -- very dependent on what you grew up with. Rice was seasoned lightly, a good thing. Presentation was professional. My wife felt the opposite regarding the salad. What can I say -- dressing can make or break. She liked the miso soup. Her Bibimbop was not as good as Korean versions, but was something she would get again. Prices were a little on the high side, but it is in the Pearl -- what do you expect. Overall 4/5. Not great, but our favorite places are not often accessible at lunch.
(4)
Lauren E.

For. The. Win. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Yama. The service is unreal, food is phenomenal. You HAVE to hit this spot for quality sushi. PS. The black cod - OMG. Order it, you'll thank me.
(5)
Jeffrey C.

Loved the drinks. Sushi was delicious.
(4)
Kris R.

We weren't sure what Sushi place to go to while visiting Portland. Using the Yelp app led me to one of the best sushi places I have ever been too. The service was excellent. The sushi was fresh and very tasty. We went 6-6 with the rolls that we ordered. The Kobi Roll is to die for! The Waikiki and the Sake Bomb were close seconds. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Kirt E.

I like to be seated in order looks like Ill be eating sushi somewhere else. Hostess needs a new j o b
(1)
Heather A.

Horrible sushi, horrible (horrible) service. My partner and I left feeling nauseated and confused.
(1)
Andrew N.

Great sushi - I've eaten here twice while on business. Their basic sushi is about as good as I've ever had, and their specials are melt in your mouth goodness - try the salmon sampler if you're there and they're still serving it. I stuck with beer and water so can't comment on the sake.
(4)
Linh N.

This is my favorite sushi restaurant in Portland! And my review for this place is long overdue since I come here to eat almost every other week--ever since I discovered this place back in August. I really don't like to eat at any other sushi restaurant as they tend to fail in comparison to Yama. This is a small but very nice looking restaurant. I love the quality and freshness of their sashimi and the meticulous care the sushi chefs take in preparing their dishes to make them visually appealing as we tend to also eat with our eyes. I love the staff and chefs there as they're always very friendly and polite. My favorite servers, Alice, Annie, and Mina, are very sweet, patient, super friendly, and helpful. Pretty Alice recommended the super white tuna sashimi and it was sOoOo buttery that it practically melted in my mouth. I love most of their special rolls, which are pretty spendy, but they're made so differently from other places and taste really great that it's worth the little extra money. My favorite roll is probably the Madri Gras. My nieces love their Lobster Bake and Crazy Boy rolls. If you have young kids (or friends) who like to eat sushi but nothing raw and with a lot of flavors, they'll love these rolls. You really can't go wrong with any of the special rolls and the preparation of them are always done nicely and with care. So, if you're looking for a sushi place that has a variety of rolls that you probably can't find elsewhere and with fresh/quality sashimi, this place won't disappoint. Just be prepared for a bit of a wait on the weekends if you don't have reservations.
(5)
Liz W.

Finally found a really good Japanese restaurant. The salmon sashimi sampler was so fresh, the uni sushi was my favorite!! We also had the tonkatsu curry as well as the yakiniku boxed dinner. All very tasty, perfectly cooked and the food was served with hardly any wait. Be here before 630 pm for a great happy hour deal! Love their saki overflowing for $5.00 and $2-$4 sushi deals! Our server was awesome and very friendly. Love this place!
(5)
Antoinette S.

The Good: the sushi creations are incredible tasting and well presented. I went and split three rolls with a good friend, and we were both satisfied. The volcano roll was particularly good. The staff was very attentive and flexible to our needs as well. The location is nice and easy to find in the pearl! The Bad: A little confusing with who is taking care of your table staffing wise. I think someone asked if we wanted anything to drink three times within the first 10 minutes of sitting. Maybe just stick with one dedicated server? In Short: the sushi is bomb. Go.
(4)
Tony G.

Very authentic, very good food. Friendly staff, awesome food, a bit pricey, but well worth the price.
(5)
Jeremy P.

Lately I have been visiting a lot of different cities, and in each city, I have had sushi for one meal. Yama came up as an option that received good reviews, and was conveniently located in the Pearl District. The disclaimer I always have to provide when I review a sushi restaurant is that I'm not the type of person who enjoys the rolls the most. I am, first and foremost, a fish guy. Give me the freshest, fishiest flavors you can, and I'll be happy. That said, my dining companions prefer rolls, so I did get to try the Rainbow Roll, the Hawaiian Roll, and the Philly Roll. When I looked at the specials, I was like a kid in a candy shop. Live Sea Urchin? Live Abalone? Whole Mackerel? Kumamoto Oysters with uni on them? Salmon sampler? Give me all of them! (I also got a few other nigiri options, but I don't even recall what I ordered, besides the toro) In order of awesomeness, here is my take: * Live Sea Urchin - Well, it's not "live" per se, but it's live when you order it. They kill it, pull out the edible material (the gonads - sorry if I ruined uni for anyone who is squeamish), and serve it on top of its "shell." I like to avoid hyperbole as much as possible, but this might be the most delicious thing I've ever tasted. If standard uni is an 11 on a scale of 1-10, this is a 15. Immediately after you put it on your tongue, it just melts, and the flavor rapidly spreads throughout your mouth. Amazing. * Kumamoto Oysters with Uni - I am a huge fan of oysters. I am a huge fan of uni. Yet, I would've never thought to put these two together. They complemented each other perfectly; it gives the oyster a slightly sweet flavor, but doesn't tone the ocean down at all. * Salmon Sampler - Came with three pieces of Alaskan Char, three pieces of King Salmon, and three pieces of a third salmon variety that slips my mind, all sashimi. They were all great; the Char was my favorite. * Whole Mackerel - I love mackerel; it's a little fishier than most sushi. This was a whole fish served with its sides cut off and diced. Having the fish stare at you while you eat its flesh puts a whole new spin on sushi. I only ate the pieces they cut off, but I suppose if you want to eat the little guy's head, you can. * Live Abalone - This was tasty, but I guess I didn't realize how cartilaginous raw abalone is. The texture was a little difficult. I think I prefer these things cooked. This really is a great little restaurant. If you go in there, don't ignore the specials.
(5)
Brent E.

This was the best sushi I've had in a year! I'll grant that I live in Nashville, not the hotbed of sushi cuisine, but the fish here was almost as good as what I had in Japan last summer. I had the sushi and sashimi dinner combo which came with salmon and white and red tuna sashimi (7 pieces) along with 6 pieces of nigiri including unagi, snapper, shrimp, tuna, and salmon again. It also came with a salad and miso soup. The soup and salad were good, but the sushi was so good I ordered a second course of two aburi (salmon seared with the blowtorch), red snapper, premium snapper (snapper with skin and a bit of fat), and escolar. Everything was delicious, and it was honestly labeled, which I appreciate. It's not cheap to get fish this good, but I left full after spending about $50. I ate at the sushi bar where the service was prompt and fairly welcoming. My sushi chef wasn't initially interested in chatting, but he warmed up after I complimented the food-we ended up having a fun conversation about Sapporo and traveling in Japan. I was there on Tuesday, and there was a fair bit of volume but no one waited for than a few minutes for a seat at either the bar or a small table. There are also a few tables outside if the weather is nice. If I'm back in Portland anytime soon, this spot will be on the agenda.
(5)
Momo B.

SURPRISED IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT My original intent was to try the renown PDX bakery across the street. But after checking out all those baguettes with them dainty fillers, I couldn't get my husband to get in line for the order counter. We walked a couple circles around the intersection of Lovejoy (This guy wanted to name the city Boston in honor of his home town) and 10th until we decided on Yama Sushi & Sake Bar. Normally I don't dine on sushi for lunch unless I'm in "808".... it's more of a dinner thing for us. During evenings there's more time to enjoy. Also my Yu-go chauffeur was more interested in a hardier lunch. If this sushi visit is meek, it could make this problematic especially with the hungry bear. Once we enter this restaurant, we were immediately impressed with the traditional Japanese greeting and the calming Japanese influenced decor of the restaurant. It's not super busy but there's three sushi chefs behind the counter... which means they have to be doing serious volume in order to justify their existence. Of course we're coming in at the tail end of the lunch rush... on purpose. I order the bento box of teriyaki chicken and pork katsu. I encourage my frugal Yelp partner to order the sashimi... the larger order that hopefully will satisfy his roaring hunger. Well I cleaned out the bento box as if I was a mechanical dishwasher and my hungry bear partner couldn't stop raving about the freshness, variety, generous portions plus presentation of the sashimi large plate. By the way, the uni was an additional order, that was "sea otter" delicious. I'll let my Yu-go chauffeur's photos do the rest of the talking.
(5)
Molly G.

This place is amazing! Their sashimi is reasonably priced and perfection. The salmon skin salad was the highlight of my meal. Definitely give it a try! Warning though: it's huge.
(5)
Charlie M.

I felt that the fish quality and flavor was just ok. But I'm spoiled because I live near the coast in California and get great sushi. The TC roll was the one roll out of 3 that I liked.
(3)
Woo K.

Yam Yam Yama! There's a reason why this place is just a scratch away from 5 stars, it's the freshest sushi joint around town. Finally got to visit this place and I was first awed by the cool and modern decor. I ordered an abundance of different dishes but my favorite by far was the Tuna Tower, and every nigiri we tried was super fresh. I've been wanting to try the Geo duck clam for quite some time now and finally got to have that experience, worth every dime. The waiters and waitresses are always attentive and my friends and I enjoyed our time as we got drunk off of bottles of Sake. Perfect for a weekend night if you're planning on bar hopping around the pearl. Yama is one of those places that you visit, are more than satisfied, and will come back for more. You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Sam K.

great sushi. yelp led me here as an option for ms. k.'s birthday dinner. it did not disappoint. we had a great meal with a large variety of sushi, plus edamame and soup for just over $40. good stuff.
(4)
Lara E.

I'm really not a fan of this restaurant. The chef in charge of our order ruined our plate of nigiri by slathering each piece with a ridiculous amount of horseradish/faux-wasabi. WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT? When it comes to high quality sushi/sashimi, all flavorings/seasonings (wasabi, shoyu, etc.) should be added by the diner, if at all. Anyway, I can't speak about the freshness or quality of the fish because the delicate flavors were completely overpowered. It's such a waste, I could cry. Service was somewhat inattentive, and it took FOREVER for them to refill our water glasses, even though the restaurant was empty save for us and two other tables. If you're going to drop some serious cash on sushi, I'd suggest going to one of the two Bamboo Sushi locations instead.
(2)
Valerie W.

Yama Sushi & Sake Bar is bomb.com/omgstuffmyface Upon arriving last night for dinner they have a cute seating area in front of the sushi bar where you wait. It didn't take but a quick minute before we were seating in a cozy table in the back of the room. Dim lighting and candles really set this place off. Great for a date night. The staff us uber friendly and really helpful with all my questions about the food & specials. They are also really accommodating if you want to switch something up in your meal. THE FOOD: Miso Soup - tasty and perfectly salty Cucumber Salad - well marinated in some vinegar sauce but still crunchy. Yum! Mighty Mango sushi roll - Fresh mango, avocado, spicy tuna, and tempura shrimp. We replaced the spicy tuna with regular tuna and it was excellent! Ocean Drive - for a roll with no rice...gah damn. So good. Tuna, Salmon, real crab, avocado all in a cucumber wrap with some spicy mayo and unagi sauce. Extremely fresh tasting and beautifully plated. Almost too pretty to eat! Paradise roll - basically a california roll topped with cooked salmon, aioli, and other yummy sauces. This one was by far my favorite. All the sushi is made fresh to order, comes out beautifully plated, and tastes great. Can't complain about a single thing here. The staff is super friendly and will check on you periodically and are very professional. They were just so happy it was our first time there! They recommended different rolls to try and even let us know what we should try next time! I will definitely be back! It is well worth the money for sure.
(5)
wen q.

I eat at Yama so often... And the inattentive customer service is driving crazier and crazier.... If Yama and Masu are both two blocks away from my house, I most likely wouldn't go back to Yama..
(3)
Natalie B.

I usually don't write reviews at the places my husband and I eat. However I wanted to make an exception because of the amazing customer service we received. Our servers name was Alex. He went above and beyond answering our questions about sushi and making suggestions. My husband ordered the fried razor clams and we loved them! (Best item on the menu!) However, a close second was the tuna tower. Absolutely will be back! Slightly pricier than other sushi restaurants around, but well worth it.
(5)
Chloe V.

The food was great. Probably the best sushi I have had in Portland. However, the food is really pricey if you're eating sushi, sashimi, or nigiri. The yellowtail is to die for but the menu said the nigiri was about 3.95 per piece but the bill charged 8.95 per nigiri that was ordered. So I don't really know o-o possibly they charged for sashimi price? I don't know.
(4)
Edward H.

Traveling for business and decided to try out Sushi in the city of Portland, I was dubious as some of the best Sushi outside of Tokyo is in Los Angeles and I have been amazed. I was seated promptly at the Sushi bar and was greeted by one of the sushi chefs who was feverishly producing. I got the feeling this place was far more positioned on the American approach to Sushi, rolls and mild Sashimi. I ordered an Omakase preparation to see what the brought and I knew I was in for a treat when my first course was monk fish liver, Ankimo that was delicious. Gorgeous fresh Uni that was still in the full form lobes on top of the urchin (difficult and delicate preperation), delicious oysters, and a remarkable soup were my most memorable. The remainder of the selections were impressive, delicate, and an incredible demonstration of the lead Sushi chefs capacity. The most off-putting part of the whole experience was the waiter tasked with taking care of the sushi bar customers. I am not going to ding the restaurant for this but the guy was terrible. From the way he dropped off my soup and cucumber salad in front of me without utensils or a napkin, NEVER followed up, and when I had to wave him down for everything from my chopsticks to another beer, he greeting was consistently "yah?" Sad because the rest of the servers seemed very polite and more polished, this guy belongs at a dive bar.
(5)
Sherry S.

Too pretty to eat.. seriously! yelp.com/biz_photos/gYHqâ€¦ Pictures are worth a thousand bites. Beautiful artistry in my sushi was behelded unto me. I was still going in. yelp.com/biz_photos/gYHqâ€¦ From the Ahi tuna tower, to the cajun crawfish rolls, I was eating art! All fresh and tasty as well. The sushi chef is extremely knowledgeable. He even gives you samples at the sushi bar but he does still charge for them so be careful. I have had some wonderful sushi I've never had before so am willing to risk it.
(4)
Cork B.

My boyfriend and I came here a few months ago and we had awesome service. Or server, Alex, knew his stuff. He was very knowledgeable about the menu, awesome recommendations, and he even told us of a few bars in the area to check out when we were done. Food was superb and the chef even dealt with a few of our special requests. Go check it out!
(5)
E C.

I want to give it a 4.5. Positives: asked what was fresh fish and was recommended their special fish, the oregon albacore. It was delicious! Not authentic japanese, but great mix of fresh fish, fried garlic pieces, green onions and some ponzu like sauce. Also had their tuna tower based on other yelp reviews. It looked fantastic (pre-crush) and it was delicious post-crush. However, if you don't spicy mayo, stay away. Def recommend for rolls.
(4)
Jorge S.

Just WoW! Amazing food and incredible service! I cant wait to try it again!... I Orderer the baked lobster roll and my wife a tuna roll (don't remember the name) and both were just as we expected!
(5)
Shayne H.

Fantastic! Fresh and delicious. One of Portland's best. Sitting outside on a nice day in the pearl district with great sushi is a great experience.
(4)
Jenni D.

I've been a to a few sushi places since moving to Portland - none which have been all that impressive (if we are being honest)... so I was pleasantly surprised when I sat down to grub on the boat (literally) of rolls handsomely displayed before me at the bar. My hubby and I were grubbing on these rolls in complete solitude - speechless. This NEVER happens... those who know me will tell you that I am never without words. The sushi was just so fresh, and the rice so sticky and delicious! I am a huge fan of the Tsunami, Spider, Oregon, and the Negi Hama melted in my mouth. I'm salivating just thinking about it!! And the service was on point - everyone was so friendly and attentive :)
(5)
Jonathan E.

Let me first start out by saying that we really enjoy the food. The sushi has always been fresh and the rolls have been exciting. I read the other reviews and did not notice anything being frozen. However, this 1 star review is in relation to their service. Last night would have been our 6th time eating here in the last 2 months, but alas, that did not happen. The customer service at Yama has been really hit and miss. It was a hit on the first night we went there, but has gone straight downhill in warp speed since then. Last night started and ended in 30 seconds and was the last time we will go back or attempt to order from them again. We called to place an order to go (something we have done before with minimal headache) and were told "we are too busy for to go orders". 'Start the awkward silence' with an "ok" from us and then the call ended with a hang up from their end. I totally understand the busy factor, but I do not understand why their answer was just a flat out 'no'. If they would have said "sorry, we are super slammed, at best a to go order will be ready in 1.5 hours", that would have been fine. We could have made alternate plans and ended the phone call with confidence in their service and been excited about going back. Instead, we got off of the phone with a 'what was that' mindset and were frustrated. So instead of being excited about returning to Yama, we found another sushi place in the Pearl only 5 or 6 blocks away and will continue to go there instead. Really disappointing.
(1)
Linda H.

The must order item here is the Tuna Tower. It comes out beautifully made and the server mixes it at the table for you. On it's own, it could be a meal in itself. It looks small but is substantial. I had a few of the other rolls (tiger, yama, kobe beef, and salmon skin) and they were all good but not mindblowing great or anything. I'd come back for the tuna tower and order less rolls next time. When making a reservation, ask for the main area. I was seated in the small back room and found that voices carry back there and made the experience of having to hear other people's conversations very loudly a bit annoying.
(4)
Kahvna C.

Best sushi I've had in a while. The scallop carpaccio is very good. Besides awesome scallops it comes with the scallop liver and skirt (my fave). Sat at the bar and service as great.
(5)
Bronson J.

For me, this is the best sushi I've had in Portland. Beautiful fish prepared in excellent fashion.
(5)
Marjory B.

I had the best salmon sashimi I have ever had here. We also got a bunch of rolls and some other entrees. I wish I could remember what specifically but we all just ordered what we wanted and shared everything (there were 6 of us). Everything was delicious, so I don't even know if it matters that I don't remember everything we had. I am not sure what our server's name was, but she had a super cute short haircut and was basically just awesome due to her attentiveness and personality. She was really entertaining at explaining to the table how to do a sake bomb properly, and she really made it a great dining experience for us. Love this place.
(5)
Captain B.

The absolute highlight of our meal was the fried lobster roll, which is basically lobster on top of a California roll with some incredible sauce mixed in. The atmosphere is casual (eg basketball is playing on the tv).
(4)
O M.

Service can be slow but the food is always good! (they did recently raise some of their prices).
(5)
Nick K.

I am a fan of sushi, but not a real afficianato. With that being said, it's hands down the best sushi I have ever had. Yakisoba noodles were very delicious as well. Would Definately come back.
(5)
Pak Y.

Sorry, been there twice but really not good food for both. My friend just had the chirashi last night, and end up have diarrhea. My Sashimi and sushi, Nah. Sashimi weren't fresh, not smooth, THICK and oily. For that price and reviews on yelp, I have a higher expectation. Now you're completely off my list.
(1)
Tien D.

SUPER FRESH sushi and attentive staff! The area I was seated at was small, but definitely more cozy than suffocating. I wish the red bean icecream tasted more strongly of red bean, but still delicious. But again, some of the freshest sushi I have tried.
(4)
Ian T.

This is my favorite sushi restaurant in town for the price range. I've never had anything that I didn't like here. Everything is aged or fresh perfectly. Calm, inviting, relaxing, mature environment. Great, pleasant service. Maybe not where you'd take a big party and it's not showy. But it's great.
(5)
Mike R.

A good choice for Sushi.
(4)
Tim B.

I am giving Yama 5 stars, but really, it is 4.51 stars :) I had an old college friend in town and we have been to Bamboo several times with him. We wanted to try another sushi place, and I had heard good things about Yama and read the yelp reviews, so I made a reservation (day off actually). My wife and I arrived a bit early and were seated right away. First off, no liquor license, so only sake, beer and wine. The sake selection is impressive. While I like sake, I am no connoisseur, so I asked the waitress for help navigating the extensive sake menu. Tried to order the spring flight but it was sold out. The waitress was very helpful, offering me free samples of some of the options. We were going to share a bottle, and after everyone sampled, we picked one, the 7 Samurai. Ordered a bottle, but turns out they were sold out, more free samples, and it turned out I was the only one that really wanted sake, so I ordered a glass of my favorite from the samples, the Kurosama. In any event, I found the staff very helpful which was awesome. We ordered a good bit of sushi, several house rolls, some sashimi, some nigiri. Three of us were sharing the sashimi, so I asked them to cut them into three pieces, and they were cool about that. We got a spread of the basics I like to try at a new sushi place, some salmon, some octopus, creamy scallops, sweet shrimp, and some classic rolls like the spider. On the sushi, almost everything I had was excellent, top notch fish prepared right, a cut above most of the sushi restaurants in town. The exceptions were the octopus was good, but not outstanding, the creamy scallops were not as fresh as I have had elsewhere, and the spider roll was just OK, not at the level of everything else. My wife is not down with the raw fish, so she orders the veggie sushi, and her review of the veggies sushi is that it is at best, average. One of the house rolls she ordered has peanut sauce in it, which just overpowers the rest of the flavors. The avocado maki was small and run of the mill. She was not a big fan so if you are into veggie sushi, might want to go somewhere else. So why 4.51 stars you ask? It isn't the best fish in town (um, bamboo), but we had a huge amount of food, and when we split the tab, it came out to about $45 per person with drinks and tip, and that is SO much cheaper. Yama is the best value I have had in town, the amounts and quality of the fish for what you pay make Yama well worth a visit. The deductions are for consistency, veggie sushi, and the fact that you have to go to the Pearl, ugh, I do not like the Pearl.
(5)
Elizabeth R.

I have been here for lunch and dinner. The food is fantastic but last night the food was backed up and we were waiting for a really long time. We had the kids with us so it could have been a disaster. I plan on going again and hope to not wait so long for our food so that I can give them a 5 star review. We ordered: Salmon sampler, mango madness roll, veggie roll with Gobo/Oshinko/ spinach, etc, seaweed salad and udon soup. All were fantastic.
(4)
Jenni H.

Came here to eat lunch with my boyfriend and the place was really packed, we figured it was because of the stellar reviews this place has... Sadly we were really disappointed with our rolls. They were warm and had a slight smell to them as if they had been sitting somewhere for a while. I couldn't even finish the meal the smell was just too off putting. Will not be returning anytime soon. I wish our experience was as awesome as some of these other guys :(
(2)
Terra S.

My boyfriend and I came here for my birthday dinner tonight. We ordered 4 things from the menu, so i'll start from best to worst. Tuna Tower-Similar to Yardhouse's Tuna ahi roll, but a thousand times better. the presentation is awesome as well as the taste. I would definitely order this again next time. Paradise roll-Fatty pieces with tempura...either baked or deepfried. i can't remember, but it was definitely my second favorite thing i ordered. Vegas Roll-Boyfriend's favorite. I liked it but it wasn't a memorable flavor for me. the pieces are on the smaller side as well. Flaming Jack- He had already come here once and was raving about the flaming jack, so we ordered it so i could try it. The flame had already gone out by the time the server came out to the table with it so she had to go back to get it relit. When we tried the sushi, the chemicals from the lighting fluid---or whatever they used--had soaked into the roll so it tasted really funky. i could only eat one slice.Maybe next time we come here it'll be better.
(4)
Corey H.

Crikey! We'd been drinking and eating all day for Sarah's birthday, and who knows why sushi had to happen... but it did and we ended up here. Between them having a full liquor license and the salmon sampler, we were simply beside ourselves with joy.
(4)
Tom L.

The food is always great, service is phenomenal, and the ingredients are of the highest quality. Do not pass this place up.
(5)
Ron T.

There are times when you just have to feed whatever you're craving. It so happened that I was almost delirious for sushi. Well, we got seated almost pronto and I've had to be replenished. I've had nigiri to rolls. 15 or so something minutes later, after guzzling half a bottle of my beer and some odd glasses of water later a big boat arrived. Delicious uni, sake, maguro, toro, rolls arrived like an armada that will die inside my belly! Go into my belly!!! The quality of the fish they have there are good, it almost melts in your mouth. I've had the baked lobster and the yuki rolls, but I prefer the Yuki roll better. I would also recommend the crazy monkey as it's not too spicy. I have yet to try their bento boxes but I'm not into much of generic food that I can easily prepare. I mean teriyaki's, bbq, fried food and whatnot.
(5)
Renee O.

Wowzers. This place is magical. I came in here today to fulfill my prolonged sushi craving. I ordered an assortment of sashimi and everything was heavenly. Some of the freshest fish I've had in a while. The tab was $20 for myself, which I consider a bit steep but definitely worth it. I may have to treat myself to the deliciousness on a monthly basis.
(4)
Steven B.

Pretty good. The Beast Roll didn't really taste like the shredded fried yams on the top. The Yama Roll also didn't taste like the fried Lobster that was inside, but the Wasabi mayo was potent and good.
(3)
Sophia C.

I'm more of a traditionalist so their sushi signature rolls were a little too innovative for me, but the quality of their fish was fantastic. I should have ordered more traditional rolls, but where is the fun in that when exploring a new restaurant? I LOVED their okonomiyaki, which merits Yama the four stars. Okonomiyaki is a savory pancake with your choice of vegetables, seafood, or pork mixed in with sauce and benito flakes on top. Our waiters were attentive and friendly, and the ambiance of the place was on the nice side with dim lighting and a good noise level.
(4)
Dian C.

I gave Yama another tried 2 days after my first visit, and this time the experience was good. We went there around 6:30pm and waited for 10 minutes then got seated. We ordered the beef curry udon and it's absolutely delicious. The beef was tender and not chewy, the curry flavor was not overwhelming and it was cooked well into the noodle and beef. We also tried 3 rolls and the tuna sashimi, they were ok. None of the rolls were from the Yama Signature Rolls section though, I tried one of them last time and think those are a little overpriced. I enjoyed the second visit, glad we didn't wait for 1 hour to get our food like last time.
(4)
Debbie P.

We went on a Saturday night and there was a short wait. The service seemed to take a little longer than we liked once we sat down but they redeemed themselves with the food. We ordered the ocean drive which is a roll wrapped in cucumber- and since I like to limit my rice intake this was perfect. The fish was super fresh and this roll was delicious. We also ordered the salmon and scallop roll which was also really good but nothing super special like the other roll. What makes this place get 3 stars instead of 4 is the smoked salmon sashimi. They had some of the best smoked salmon we have ever had. I could have just ordered plate after plate of that. 3 pieces for $5 seemed far given the cut and the quality. I would go back if I lived in the area.
(4)
Wanster L.

This is one place I always visit when I come to Portland. They are unpretentious and just plain LEGIT. I've been here and ordered sushi a la carte and omakase. Both have been done really well. I would have to say that you will have to have to be ready for omakase to really appreciate the progression of the meal and what is served. Scott has always been there to provide the best sushi. He stepped in on his day off when one of the sushi chefs had to leave early and I requested Omakase.
(5)
Emily C.

Sushi is delicious - great vegan options and wonderful presentation. And wait - a place in Portland that actually understands what it means to provide good service - good food service - and they are super friendly when you bring your family. We went three times in three days it was such a hit with our kids.
(5)
Janett R.

Both the sushi and Japanese food are great. + Beef Curry Udon are delicious and a great deal + Best gyoza I've had all year + Vegetarian and regular sushi is great + Staff is very knowledgable about sake Would refrain from ordering Tonkatsu. Slightly on the dry side, but everything else we ordered was spot on!
(5)
Emmy S.

Being unfamiliar with Portland was tricky when finding really quality restaurants and You never really know what you'll find, but we took a chance on Yama for our final dinner here and it was one of the best, if not THE best sushi restaurant I've ever been to. (and as a sushi connesure that's saying a lot) All though there were many people in front of us waiting, Sue, one of the owners so graciously got us a spot not even having to wait more than 5 minutes on a busy night. She recommended some amazing dishes to us that we had never heard of or tried before and every single one that came was amazing. The fish was superb and SO fresh. We tried the exotic live sea urchin and the razor clams and they were like nothing I had ever eaten. The rolls were also delicious and very unique, and the chirasa zushi sashimi bowl was also incredible. They give you so much food for what your paying and you will surely be satisfied. Great atmosphere, friendly and very accommodating staff, fast service and magnificent food. Yama sushi gets 10 stars from me if I could give it to them! Thanks again Sue!!
(5)
Don B.

Elegant and serene, I'm so very happy to have found Yama near the end of my trip. North of the main downtown area, near Jamison Square, the whole area is peaceful, and walking into restaurant continued that vibe. The long bar you first see invitingly makes you want to sit down (there are tables and booths to either side of the entrance). The servers come immediately and fairly often. I enjoyed a very delicious glass of sake from their well-defined menu, and an appetizer of uni on oysters - tasty (albeit smaller pieces than I expected). For my main dish I decided on Salmon and Scallops, which is a special roll topped with hefty pieces of, yes, salmon and scallops. The freshness of the fish (buttery) and mollusk (tender to the bite) made the dish, and the whole meal. Sitting by the bar, I did notice the care and precision of the chefs, and makes me all the more excited to drop by again on my next visit.
(5)
Annie T.

Sushi done right for the price you're paying here, nice ambiance and perfect for a day in the pearl with Jamison square right there and ice cream for dessert.
(4)
Geri W.

Came in for the free wifi, got some good vegetarian rolls... The Buddha roll is nice and crunchy, and the Super Veggie is fresh and wide. Friendly staff and nice ambiance and I hear their sake is good too.
(5)
Steve T.

We went here twice. The sushi was fresh and the service excellent. I loved their Saki flights. Coming from Chicago I blown away by the quality and size of their menu.
(5)
Hailey B.

I love Yama sushi! Their sushi is fresh and delicious. Thank you for the awesome service too! :)
(5)
Jeff W.

If you've read my reviews before you'll know my wife is Japanese and a very strong critic when it comes to sushi. I always start off with a Sapporo and an order of agedashi tofu and they were good. Then we moved on to the nigiri which was amazing. We had the toro (my absolute favorite sushi), squid, salmon and ika. Then the rolls came which is really "American" sushi and I loved the Yama Roll which comes with lobster, salmon and tuna. We will be back!
(5)
Jessica R.

somehow this place managed to have terrible, slow service, and be overstaffed at the same time. we sat for over 10 minutes before they brought water or even said a word and it took another 20 minutes for someone to take our order. all the while we sat and watched employees mindlessly pace around, while another 3 employees bussed a table together. we were confused as to why an empty table would get more attention than a party of 3 who were visibly hungry and ready to order. we got our sushi after being seated for almost an hour. and the sushi was just okay. I've had better sushi off a conveyor belt. It wasn't worth the price and it definitely was not worth the wait. I'd recommend going to sansai, where you'll receive the same quality of sushi for half the price. or bamboo sushi, where you'll pay about the same and actually enjoy the food, service, and ambiance.
(2)
Dianna D.

The sushi here was very good. I ordered a rock n roll and the negi hama. They ran out of uni when I ordered, but didn't tell me until after everyone's food arrived o.O The hamachi was reasonably fresh, and the unagi was warm from being just cooked, which I actually enjoyed a lot more than cold unagi I often receive with my rock n rolls. The Oregon-brewed Asian pear sake was quite delicious. Presentation points for serving in a nice bamboo box. They completely forgot to add both the sake and my friend's ice tea drink onto the bill. Not sure what happened, but we did notify them afterward. Probably just an inattentive moment. Otherwise, service was good.
(4)
Rose L.

I had sushi, oysters and the seaweed salad. Everything was delicious. I was sitting at the sushi bar and the rolls and sushi were all plated beautifully. If you like a bunch of crazy rolls and upscale atmosphere this is the place to go.
(5)
Brittany D.

FRESH FRESH FRESH! We drove over here after the noise and crowd at Bamboo was just too much to take. Everything was divine. Service was a little slow that night, but I think it was just our gal in particular, and we were not in a rush. Great yellow-tail belly, which is a standard marker for me when judging quality sashimi. Parking was easy. We were seated rather quickly on a weekend and it wasn't too packed or noisy feeling. They have some creative specials and a nice extensive sake menu. We've already been back to eat in and pick up take-out... does not disappoint.
(5)
Nancy P.

After returning to the Pearl we gave the restaurant a try again after last years disappointment and to our amazement they appear to be back to the restaurants former days of very good sushi. We truly enjoy having a good sushi restaurant in the neighborhood and look forward to future dining experiences.
(4)
Elaine S.

I was very dissapointed in the salmon misoyaki bento and the service. I asked for white rice and got brown, the bento was supposed to come with chicken but they were out so asked if the could sub pork tonkatsu. I said fine, and it would've been if it had been edible. It was dry and tasteless, and I had to ask for bulldog sauce as the waitress forgot to deliver it. Salmon was also overcooked. Wait staff never asked if the meal was okay, even after asking if I wanted to take the obviously full plate of pork home and I said no. I won't go back.
(1)
Yannie Y.

Came here for all the high rating... [+] No line, no wait, great, let's go here! Walked in, I'm instantly in love with this cute little place. Was greeted and seated quickly by a lovely waitress. Looked through pictures on yelp to help us decide what to order and of course, I would go and order the "prettiest" thing on the menus; which was the tuna tower thing. Hey! I like pretty thing, okay? Do not judge! Anyhow, when our server brought out the item, we asked her, "how do we eat this pretty thing". She said, well 'most people' just pick at it as is- HOWEVER, the 'real' way to eat it is-mix-mix-mix. Yes, we told her to make the way we're suppose to eat it... then here came the fun part. The pretty looking tower was turned into a puke like pile.. . hahahahahahahahha~ Not so pretty anymore... My appetite was no longer great. haha! Ahhh, good times. Overall, great service, great presentation and nice decors. Fresh. [-] The food itself was 'meh'. I've had better sushi, probably not as good presentation as this place though. A bit expensive, if you ask me. But you are paying for this awesome service and awesome atmosphere. It'll have to depend what you want to give up. haha [?] Nah, probably won't come back here. Been here,done that.
(3)
Lauren C.

Made a reservation...Smart move! It was really very busy for a Tuesday night. The sushi was excellent. We had the scallop Ceviche for a starter, and the Waikiki, Crazy Monkey, Mango something, and a wonderful snow crab roll which name also escapes and had avocado and jalapeÃ±o on top, yum! The Sake menu is very impressive and diverse. This is where I could not quite decide between a 4 and a 5: The servers were attentive, and friendly, but the food was incredibly slow. 40 minutes for appetizer, and near 50 for our sushi. The waiter did being us complimentary edamame and apologize for the wait. They apologized again when they brought out check. The sushi prices are also a bit steep. $15.00 seems a tad high for a roll, even a fabulous roll.
(4)
Mr And Mrs J.

So Yummy! Great for lunch but the service was so so :( Found it a bit odd that the waiter didn't finish with us...he brought us the check, sat down to talk his break or lunch. He didn't even let us know, then we got up to leave and no one said good bye...wtf? Thanks! If the service was better I totally would've given 4 stars...sorry :(
(3)
Makai H.

Visited in May 2014... Nice selection of sushi rolls & sake! Freshness impressive-the sashimi was rich in flavor and just melted in my mouth. Docked 1 star due to the waiter's demeanor. He seemed like he didn't want to be there-no smile/warmth. Service was decent, just no friendliness/personality/energy.
(4)
Zach S.

My friend and I have returned to this venue on multiple occasions. I'll be brief. The Omakase is absolutely wonderful. You name your price, and they being you bites of delightful sushi that are hard to beat. Though that route can be a bit spendy, it is worth it if it is only so often. Treat yourself with a little risk, and you'll be rewarded with some great fish, good service, and a wonderful night.
(5)
Matt M.

Awesome sushi and sashimi. Good service.
(5)
Lauren S.

Excellent food!! My mom and I got the Volcano Roll and were so happy with it! Everything they brought out looked and smelled delicious! Only four stars because the service took a while to notice us and give us our menus and drinks.
(4)
Haley A.

I went here with my partner on the 4th of July when everyone was on the waterfront.. we wanted a more intimate night together. Definitely a date atmosphere! They have chefs that seem authentically Japanese.. their sushi was to die for. I loved and devoured everything I got. They were beautiful rolls, as well. They were made with precision. I have had Sinju, a sushi place down the street & I liked it, but I must say, I am a Yama fan now and would prefer it over going to Sinju again!
(5)
Geoffrey P.

Yama sushi is one of the best sushi restaurants I've visited in a long time. They have a long list of house rolls along with many regular nori rolls. Their happy hour runs until 6:30 and while the drinks available on the list are limited it's nice to have a happy hour that runs past 6:00 I visited on a Saturday at 5:30 and was seated promptly. The place was busy by the time I left at 6:45 so I would recommend reservations if you are planning to arrive later than 6. All the sushi tasted very fresh and I really enjoyed the use of mango in several of the rolls. If you are a sake fan Yama offers several tasting flights and a long list of hard to find sakes.
(4)
Bobby W.

Great atmosphere, sushi is real fresh. My personal favorite roll is the flaming jack due to the flavor, but all specialties all have unique flavor.
(5)
Steph L.

My fiance and I just love this place - we won't betray our favorite sushi place for any other in Portland! We always sit by the sushi bar and receive fantastic service from our sushi chefs. The sashimi/sushi is so fresh it's like butter in your mouth. We verge on getting the more standard-type rolls without all the mayo/sauce/spiciness to cover up the sushi's purity. We always rotate between the: salmon cucumber, eel, salmon skin, both special hamachi rolls, yellowtail with scallion. Also a must-try - the house salad with ginger dressing - not overly dressed or too sweet at all, and the seaweed salad. Perfection at it's finest!
(5)
Shane S.

This is my go-to for any sort of sushi craving. The food comes out fresh and is made to order with fast service. The wait staff could be more attentive, but the quality of food is just excellent.
(5)
Jeff C.

We were in the mood for sushi while we were in town and this place had good reviews. We heard the sashimi was good, so we ordered some salmon, white tuna, saba (mackerel), and hamachi (yellow tail) to go along with two rolls, the Orange Blossom and Hawaiian. The atmosphere was nice, well lit, clean, and pretty attentive service. The sashimi was very fresh and tasty, we were definitely pleased with the fish. The rolls were pretty good as well. If I recall correctly, the Orange Blossom had tempura, avocado, salmon, and cucumber and the Hawaiian had tuna, avocado, and mango. Nice blend of flavors, we'd definitely be regulars if we lived in the area!
(4)
Taylor B.

I went here based on the reviews of other yelpers and I have to say that I was pretty disappointed. The sushi was mediocre and overly complicated which, in my opinion, took away from what is supposed to be the real star... the fish! Perhaps my taste in sushi is too simple but I don't think a nice cut of king salmon benefits from the addition of avocado and two different types of mayo. Nor do I believe that it is beneficial to add kobe beef to delicate cuts of fish because the beef, as delicious as it was, dominated the flavor of the roll. However, these and other rolls were the recommendations of our server and being that this was my first time in, I wanted to try some house specialities and recommendations. Sometimes less truly is more, an adage that Yama should take into consideration. Another major red flag, if you want real crab you need to specify that to your server and pay an additional several dollars. This is a sushi restaurant and I don't want to have to specify that I would like real seafood. This place just felt like it was catering to an Americanized taste in sushi and I suppose perhaps that's why it is so popular. All in all, this was a 3 star experience that was certainly not worth the $100 tab for a party of two (we each had one adult beverage). On a positive note, it did appear that they had a very nice selection of local and imported sake. The place also appeared very clean, important especially for a sushi restaurant. Apparently a lot of people like this style of sushi given that Yama has almost a 5 star review from over 125 reviewers, but it's just not how I roll.
(3)
Alyssa C.

This is Yuki Sushi's sister restaurant (Yuki on NW 23rd recently closed after Bamboo opened next door). Let me preface by saying how sad I am about Yuki's closing. Yuki owner if you're reading this, open back up please, oh pretty please! Now onto Yama. I'm having a hard time giving this 5 stars because I have a soft spot for Yuki's and this just isn't Yuki's. BUT it is fabulous. We had a great experience with some delicious rolls (some of my Yuki's throwbacks were on the menu like the Sake Bomb and the Salmon and Scallop - do yourself a favor and order these!) We sat outside and our waitress was super nice. When they found out we had come here after a failed attempt at Yuki's they even took 10% off our bill! Great place, I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Deyen S.

This is hands down the best sushi I have had in Portland. The fish is very fresh and the rolls unique and tasty. I think a good test of how good a sushi place is is how good their basic rolls are and this place passed the test with flying colors. They also have a large sampling of different kinds of saki from around the world
(5)
Yoshi K.

Deeeelicious! I got a rock and roll roll and a rainbow box. I underestimated just how much food it would be, so I brought some home and still delicious. The only thing I wish I did was I wish I had gotten chirashi. Most sushi places hide okay fish behind lots of rice; Yama does not need to do that at all. The fish is tasty, rich, and just wonderful. By the end, I was leaving the rice on the plate and ate just the fish. Yum! Huge props to them. Also, service was great. I went alone and sat at the bar which was great. I was thoroughly entertained and very well taken care of.
(5)
Ben J.

The sushi is awesome here both in taste and presentation, and I didn't think the cost was overly unreasonable considering it's a nicer sushi place. My new favorite roll of theirs is the Vegas Roll I highly suggest it, though the tower is an interesting order in and of itself and quite delicious. Overall I highly recommend this place based on all factors stated above and it is even located in the pearl close to the street car route and many other things. I would probably rate Yama as one of my favorite and one of the best sushi places in Portland though there are many for me still to try.
(5)
Curtis C.

After a failed attempt to try Bamboo Sushi on the night before Thanksgiving (closed for cleaning), I decided that it was a perfect chance to take my partner to Yama. Been once before for lunch, but never for dinner. I was really pleased with the "forced decision" to eat at Yama. Excellent spicy tuna rolls, loaded with fresh fish, and NOT loaded with spicy mayo. Their spicy roll is not a gelatinous mushy thing, you can actually see fish! Fresh fish. I had some hamachi sashimi... Butter. Melted in my mouth. Oh so good, and only $6 or so for 3 fat pieces. Wrapped it up with some tako, and a piece of unagi. Gotta end on a sweet note. We both left, pleasantly full for $45 including tip. Not bad at all for excellent sushi. Not much of a sake fan, but, from the look of the menu you won't be disappointed if that's your thing!
(5)
Vincent M.

Very friendly and the sushi was delicious. The sushi came a little slowly so this might not be the place to go if you are in a hurry. Otherwise I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Leslie O.

This place has the highest quality fish that I've tasted in all the places I've gone in town. Mind you, this of course comes with a price. However, if you are willing to dig deep into your pockets, you will not be at all disappointed at what you are getting. The salmon and tuna sashimi were superb! This was my first time coming to this restaurant and the wait was only 15 minutes until I could get seated. I did go on a Sunday night, so I'm not sure if any other days will be busier or not. 10/10 I would go back and eat more of what they have to offer.
(5)
Bob O.

Yama is back and the food is now back. Happy to see the previous slump is over.the fish is as fresh as can be and Yama is once again on top their game.
(4)
Renee J.

The B.S.C. roll was amazing. California rolls made with REAL crab? We didn't even know that anyone did that! Food was all great and the service was too. Loved that it was a teamwork effort, everyone was great, so much so that we left a 30% tip.
(5)
Kate F.

My friends and I showed up at 9:40 at night. They said they close at 10. We said yeah we know it is 9:40. They still wouldn't serve us. I've heard they're good but I'm never going back.
(1)
Sandra J.

Delicious sushi. I tried two specialty rolls and nigiri. Everything tasted fresh and high quality. One roll came with fresh scallops on top and they were heavenly. I would definitely come here again. It is on the pricier range. For two people it was about $45 before tip. We went during a busy time and waited about 30 minutes to be seated. I still give this place 5 stars because the food was amazing and they were working hard to keep their customers happy.
(5)
Jennifer T.

I had only had lunch there previous to last night. Dinner service was a little slow but definitely worth the wait. I had the Yakinku. Thinly sliced beef with teriyaki sauce. Absolutely delicious!
(5)
Melissa J.

Thank you fellow Yelpers for helping me find this restaurant. My husband and I were visiting from California and I was dying to try Portland sushi. I was over the top pleased with everything (except the college guys next to us). Miso was spectacular, not watered down, nice flavor that came out super hot, just the way we like it. I loved the mighty mango, never had a mango roll before. The salmon and snapper were SOOOOO fresh and the "real" crab was piled high!! I ordered iced green tea because of the heat wave and it was more than your average iced tea. Very refreshing, lightly sweetened with a lemon slice. Yum!! My husband does not eat seafood. He tried a new dish: Japanese Curry- so much pork! He could barely put a dent in it. He said the cutlets were cooked perfectly, crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside and the curry was filled with veggies. 5 stars Yama!! I wish we were staying longer so I could try the scallop ceviche or some tempura. I must say that service was delightful as well. Thankyou.
(5)
Mindy D.

Great sushi at a good price. Finally, I've found a sushi haven in Portlandia. Sure, there are plenty of sushi venues around town but most are so pretentious and overpriced. Although it's located in the Pearl, Yama is anything but those two things. In fact, they are priced just right and you get quality rolls! The fish is so fresh! The ahi poke is almost as good as in Hawaii... almost, I said. There's also a wide variety of rolls, nigiri, sashimi, and dinner entrees. Oh, who can forget the extensive sake menu! Sake bombs, anyone? I tried the coconut and lemongrass infused sake and it was quite delicious, definitely a good way to wash down all the fresh fish. It's a nice and trendy laid-back atmosphere and they don't charge you up the buttocks for it, unlike some unnamed places (see previous reviews). The place isn't too big, so service is prompt and attentive. Sit at the bar and you can chat it up with the awesome sushi chefs. I believe it's street parking only but we've never had problems finding a spot. On a nice day, it's great to park a bit farther so you can walk off your meal and enjoy the scenery too ;) One other thing- the sign and menu both say "Yama" but the receipt says "Yuki." I always forget to ask why that is... so I'm still confused.
(5)
Melissa T.

My husband and I came here for dinner last week and liked it so much that we went back tonight. I am a sushi aficionado and can say that I have found my new favorite sushi restaurant! We sat at the bar and the owner/sushi chef (Scott) prepared our sushi for us. He is very personable and friendly and made sure everything was made as ordered. I was impressed with the line up of fresh/live sushi available....scallops, claims, fresh horse mackerel. Of course, the list can change from week to week...since it's fresh. We tried the LIVE scallops this time and noted that he prepared it slightly different than the previous week. This is a sign of a great/experienced sushi chef because it shows that he is capable of new inventions and doesn't stick to the same ol' thing. We asked him if he had LIVE uni (sea urchin). He said that he has to special order it and that he would do so for us when we told him we'd be back in a couple of weeks. Live uni is about the freshest and best way to have it! I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Martin W.

this place is pretty good. definitely will not disappoint the discerning sushi diner.. it lacks something.... some kind of panache that sets it above and beyond and makes it a destination worthing singling out from the others. but fresh, quality fish. a good sake menu. solid. maybe i just needed to drink more...
(4)
Garrett L.

I should start by saying the sushi here is good, and that I did not have bad food here. Experience: This was my first time here, and I'll give the benefit of the doubt that it was just an off night for them. They misheard me saying I had a reservation and put me in the waiting area before realizing their error. Fortunately, they resolved it quickly and were very apologetic upon seating me and my guest. After ordering, the food took a really long time to come to our table. I realized that the sushi bar was backed up on tickets so I took that as a sign that this place was popular and I told myself it would be worth the wait. The wait staff recognized this and gave complementary appetizers (cucumber and edamame) to those still waiting for their food. Once my sushi arrived, I was told that they ran out of Sea Urchin, which was a huge bummer because it's one of my favorite things to order. But it happens, especially if its a popular item that particular day. Food: Overall, what I had from Yama's was good sushi. Nothing in particular really stood out in a way that exceeded expectations. Actually that was a lie, their Creamed Scallop nigiri was one of my favorite things that night. But the rest of my meal tasted like the other sushi places I've been to in Portland before, some of which do it a little better. For what you pay, you will get a good meal in which all that you order is tasty. I don't think I would come back here just because one nigiri was the bomb. But my meal was satisfactory, and I'm sure yours will be too if you eat here.
(3)
Holy-foo' X.

I had the pleasure to dine w/a couple, fellow sushi-n-sake enthusiasts down @ Yama recently, and the verdict, afterward was immediate and unanimous. This was, hands down, the best meal of ANY kind, any of us has had in 2013. The tuna towers, the Ocean 7, the sake bombs, boy howdy, the sake bombs! Whenever I think of any other sushi restaurants in the past forever, the unbridgeable chasm is immediately evident. That's when you KNOW you've got something special. This place, along with Andina, is dang tooting expensive fine-dining out on the town. But I'll be doggone, if you don't come away completely satisfied, and 100% certain that was a meal worth every stinkin' lil' penny, mang!
(5)
Ophelia Y.

I was lured to Yama Sushi by an expiring Google Offer I had purchased, and I have to say, it was a pleasant surprise! We wandered in without a reservation at 8pm on a Monday and all tables were filled except ours. Perfect. The ambiance was clean and classy--would be a super cute date spot. We ordered 3 rolls and the baked mussel, and everything was incredible! The baked mussel came with 3 mussels, and they let us do one spicy, two mild since I'm an absolutely wuss when it comes to spicy foods. It wasn't drowned in spicy mayo like most places do it, but it was tasty and flavorful as it was. With the Philly Roll, they were not stingy with the cream cheese one bit, and had the perfect ratio of fish to asparagus to cream cheese ratio. Yes, asparagus. Leave it to Yama to fill your night with pleasant surprises. Then to the Oregon Roll--nice crispy shrimp tempura, eel, avocado, and pure deliciousness. The spicy mayo wasn't overwhelming like most places do it--you could still taste the ingredients of the roll, which was a nice change of pace. Lastly was the Rock n' Roll--I was happy that I could actually taste eel in this roll, since that's another area of stinginess for most sushi restaurants. The service was fantastic--the waiter cracked a couple jokes with us, and kept our water glasses filled. They were especially kind to us even though we had a deal (a lot of places treat customers poorly when using a deal). At the end of our meal, the server provided us with two bills - one that showed the grand total, and one that showed the total with the certificate. Saved us a step! I'll be sure to come back to this place to fulfill my sushi cravings...it's conveniently located on the street car line!
(5)
Haroun K.

Be careful where you walk, or like me, you may nearly knock over all of the chopsticks they have against the wall. My better half (way better) was not very impressed with the sushi. I, the worse half, had the ginger tofu combo plate. It was very filling, and in that way, it was actually surprisingly satisfying. But it is kind of a one note dish, and it becomes a bit cloying, especially the sweetness. The veggie tempura is standard issue, and the tempura mushrooms are the best of the dish. The organic salad is just a small salad. Service was a bit eratic, and my food came out way before hers. I think I'd still send people here, but that's because I only know 2 sushi places in town so far.
(3)
Andrea S.

The food was quite good but the service was sub-par at best. We were a table of 8 on a busy Friday evening and arrived with a Portland executive who is a regular customer here and had highly recommended this place. A few of us have worked as restaurant servers and are familiar with the difficulties and challenges of the job. We know our server was not entirely responsible for the poor service - well-run restaurants foster teamwork and that was clearly missing here. The service was very slow - our server was overwhelmed with too many large parties at the same time and didn't appear to be getting help from other servers or staff. Our beer and drinks had still not been delivered when the appetizers and most of the entrees arrived. A few of the items our party ordered were sold out, but we were not informed of this until LONG after submitting our order - 40 minutes after - and then after all the entrees except for one (a sushi sampler platter) had been delivered AND eaten, we inquired, AGAIN, about the missing sushi platter entree (seemed obvious that she'd forgotten to submit the order) and were told that because it was so busy, there would be an additional 30-40 minute wait for the missing entree. This was after we'd already been seated for an hour and a half and everyone else in our party had already eaten. We couldn't wait any longer and so asked for the check with the undelivered entree subtracted. The server delivered the check, but the bill was a total only with no itemized list of the charges and when we asked for an itemized list, we were told that wasn't possible because the printer had run out of paper. We asked to see a manager who, after a rather uncomfortable conversation, managed to deliver an itemized receipt - which included the undelivered meal PLUS an 18% gratuity - neither of which had been previously disclosed. We asked to see the manager again, and had to insist the entree be removed and by this time every one was a bit peeved. The manager, when pressed, reluctantly discounted the bill by 10%. Of course mistakes happen, but this was handled very poorly and because of that, we will not be back.
(1)
Teresa N.

Bomb ass sushi rolls !! Service is slow but food is worth waiting for !
(5)
C L.

This is my new favorite sushi joint. Although I live 20 miles away, I still drive to get my sushi fix here. The fish is fresh, and you can't go wrong with the special rolls. Servers are friendly and the interior environment is delicately furnished with modern pieces and lighting. I'm surprised that this place isn't packed, which it deserves to be. Or better yet, I can enjoy my sushi without fighting to hear or speaking over the background noise.
(5)
Bartek K.

It really can't be better. Everything I've tried was delicious, presented beautifully and more than reasonably priced. The staff goes above and beyond to make you feel welcome and invited. The Sake menu is extensive. You just can't go wrong here. The only downside might be that it's somewhat small for a large group or that it's too close to my house and it's always on my mind.
(5)
Katie H.

I've now been able to try pretty much every roll in the place as well as chef recommendations of the day. Never been disappointed......not once. (and I'm picky with sushi....not a lot of great places in Portland) The rolls are fantastic, the sashimi fresh, and they have a great saki and wine list. The chefs here are friendly and accommodating. The decor is traditional and atmosphere quiet and relaxed. Also feel that the price is more than fair for the quality. Sit at the bar and get to know the sushi chefs here. Enjoy their recommendations. Will be back here to eat here over and over.
(5)
Wendy Z.

The sushi here is pretty good compared to most places. Everything was fresh but the reason it only gets two stars is because they've forgotten my order every time I've been here. Part of my food would come and then I would have to reorder the rest because they thought everything had already came. Honestly, I won't be back.
(2)
Hanh N.

The sashimi is fresh and tasty. The udon was perfectly cooked. They have live uni, which was delicious. 3 stars because the sushi rolls were not impressive at all.
(3)
Lauren E.

Wow. Wonderful. Service interactions are part of my every day and this beats my expectations because Alex went above and beyond. My birthday started rough, my table was given away, our server forgot about us and my friends didn't show up but it was still the best birthday. Alex jumped right in when and brought drinks to start the night correctly. He brought ice cream with a candle as a surprise, wow. It doesn't matter what went wrong, it matters how you recover. #bestsushiinportland
(5)
Angela S.

We ended up here one afternoon while craving some sashimi. At the time, the place was deserted. We couldn't be happier because we had the best sashimi we have ever had-wonderful size portions, great sake, and the rolls were wonderful and fresh. This is my "go to" place for sashimi now and everything else dims in its place.
(5)
Daphne W.

These are the people who ran Yuki Sushi on NW 23rd which was our favorite sushi place. Good food, nice people. Their new place is the same great food and people with twice as nice an atmosphere. Loved it. Excited for the discovery! We will be back.
(5)
Robyn S.

Really good! The salmon and scallop roll is to die for. The other rolls we ordered were also good. The nigiri was very fresh but a bit heavy on the wasabi for a couple members of our group. The sake menu was extensive as well. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Amiee H.

Food: 1) flaming jack: when it comes, it's on FIRE! Aside from this really cool gimmick, it's really not worth it. The sauce on top tasted like watered down ketchup. I didn't like this sushi roll for taste/flavor at all, it was more for just presentation! 2) spider/eel/avocado roll: forgot the name of this, but this one was good! My favorites all rolled into one delicious roll! 3) variety of sashimi: really good! Tasted really fresh! They give you pretty decently sized pieces of sashimi too so you get your money's worth! And we didn't get sick afterward, that's a good sign! :) 4) Tuna tower: MORE food than I expected! Loved the presentation! It came as a column of rice, avocado, some sauces, tuna cubes, and a bunch of other delicious ingredients that I'm not able to recall right now, but they all blended together wonderfully! It was just such a masterpiece when it was presented to us that it was sad to see it get destroyed/mixed so we could eat it. 5) avocado, asparagus, salmon? roll: I can't remember this last roll that we got, it was just pretty good, but nothing stood out so i can't remember what it was. Ambiance: Quiet and darker atmosphere here. It is a nice place to go for a date or wind down for a quiet dinner after a long day at work. There's a nice Japanese theme to this place, and it's pretty tastefully done. It's a neat and clean place. Service: Great service, no complaints here. Was good about refilling water/tea and checking up on our needs! Price: Decently priced, wasn't over the top expensive. I think the tuna tower was the most expensive thing on the menu but it was also a lot of food. The rolls were all around $10-ish, a little under or a little over. Pretty typical. Overall: I would come again, I had a good experience and the food was pretty good.
(4)
Annaliza S.

Went here for my sister's birthday a couple weeks back. There was 6 of us that went. We made reservations ahead of time, and all I have to say was the service was great. The staff was amazing. The food - wow. It was really delicious. We ordered from the main menu as well as from the sushi menu. The food was cooked to perfection, and the sushi - it all tasted fresh. Full of flavor. I've been to a lot of sushi places in town, and this is by far one of the best I have been too. Well worth the money!
(5)
David B.

Stopped in late at night in September 2013. I believe they were actually closing up, but they stayed open for our party of four. I'm a beginner when it comes to sushi, but it was extremely good. My favorite was the Tsunami. Next trip back to Portland, I'll be going back again. Great service, very friendly, and great food!
(5)
Todd M.

This review is overdue. I've been several times and it's fast becoming my favorite sushi place in the pdx. Live uni, abalone, ebi, salmon sashimi sampler, oustanding nigiri and artfully crafted rolls. Ichiban beer and momokawa sake, great service, nice atmosphere, ability to make reservations, and all of this for around $100 for 2 makes this place a winner in my book.
(4)
Leslie E.

Thank you Yelp for coming through yet again! My BF did a Yelp search for the highest rated sushi restaurants in the vicinity we were going to be in, and this was within the top two or three on the list. My first impression upon walking in was the smell...it definitely smelled like fish, but in a really fresh and positive way (not that stale sort of "fishy" smell that some of the cheaper places have), it smelled really delicious! The staff all greeted us as we walked through the door in a subdued and polite way. Our group of 7 had a reservation, we were seated at our table and presented with menus quickly. They have a full menu, a sushi menu, and a very extensive sake and alcohol list. The large table felt very comfortable. The only complaint i have about this place at all is that the service was very slow...for a large group that is willing and bale to entertain themselves this was not at all a problem, however i could see it being a bit annoying and inappropriate, especially if on an awkward first date. Our server was very nice and well informed about all the dishes and sakes. My BF and i shared a plate of sashimi and nigiri ordered off of the a la carte sushi menu (i like that it was dry erase markers and laminated menus instead of disposable paper). Everything was so fresh and excellent with very generous portions on the cuts of tuna and unagi. The octopus was some of the best i have ever had, firm but not chewy and overcooked like most places i have been to. The fatty tuna was so soft and wonderful. The Unagi (freshwater eel) and Hokkigai (surf clam) just blew me away....the best i have EVER had in my life. Both of them were tender, fresh, delicious and flavorful. Our whole table shared a bunch of the special fried/tempura style rolls and i was very impressed by all of them. The Beast and the Lobster rolls were unique and by far my favorite. Despite many of the special rolls being tempura battered and fried i felt like they were still quite light and each one was unique tasting (my usual problem with fried rolls at many other places is that they are often heavy due to too much batter or cream cheese, and all taste pretty much the same due to being very oily....not at all the case at all here). The sake menu itself is enough to make me go back there. Though prices range from average to expensive i think the selection is pretty exciting. We had the Momokawa pear sake chilled (a local one) and Bride of the Fox, both were totally distinctly different from each other and amazing! I would HIGHLY recommend this place as a treat for your palette and your senses.
(5)
Alex K.

I recently visited Portland from Los Angeles for a business trip with my co workers and this restaurant was just BEYOND on point. i was just craving Sushi so much so i decided to take my co workers to this place and it WAS a great choice. I liked pretty much everything that we ordered but Flaming Jack was my favorite. That roll was made out of everything that i love. I just wanted to TO GO that roll back to LA and share with my friends.....kind of making me want to go back for that roll.... mmm... anyway. the customer service satisfaction level was very high, everyone was friendly and attentive. I definitely have to dine here again if i go back to Portland!
(5)
Dian K.

I came here after watching a sushi movie ("Jiro dreams of sushi", great movie, btw) at the Portland International Film Fest. I was SURE I'm going to be disappointed with whatever Portland has to offer in the sushi department after seeing that movie.. but I decided to try my luck at Yama sushi. While they have enticing rolls, I went for the chirashi - my usual judge of a sushi restaurant I never been to. I was pleasantly surprised. All the fish was fresh and good, very tasty. The rice was the vinegary-sweet rice it should be and the ambiance was good. there's a wall of chopsticks the regulars leave, kinda neat. The service could've been a little better (we felt slightly ignored), but would definitely come back here again!
(4)
Katya L.

Stopped by early one Saturday evening for a quick bite with the boy. I know Yama is fairly new to the scene, so there are some kinks to be worked out - like the service. We sat with empty plates for quite some time, even though a server walked through the dining room, checked out everyone's table and walked away without clearing ours. It also took us a while to get our bill, but luckily we weren't in a hurry and were sufficiently satiated by the sushi so we didn't mind. The quality of sushi that Yama turns out wouldn't give away their relative youth. We tried two rolls and they were both perfect. I generally prefer nigiri to rolls, as I like to actually taste the fish and not just the sauce, but I took a chance this time and I'm ever so glad I did. The fish was so fresh, I felt like it slapped me in the face. The flavors and textures were spot-on, and the condiments didn't overwhelm the stars of the show. It took some self-restraint not to lick the plate. Yama isn't cheap - two rolls set us back $25 (ouch) but I was lucky enough to snag a deal a while back so the punch to the wallet was slightly lessened. However, you're definitely paying for quality here. Disregard the inconsistent service, bite the bullet and fork over the cash for some of the best sushi you'll have in Portland. I'll see you there for happy hour.
(4)
Alanna B.

Alright man. I've had Yama twice now. Twice. I wouldn't say I'm averse to going to the same restaurant multiple times, but being a newer resident of Portland I prefer not to do this (I'd like to add I have not followed this when it comes to bars--whatever). Yama has a classy, low-key ambiance that is aesthetically pleasing to my senses, especially when mowing down on crazy delicious rolls. If this kind of place is not your cup of tea I'd suggest grabbing some pre-made California rolls from Freddie's and eating them alone in bed while watching re-runs of Friends (so no one knows how lame you are). Ohhh jk (DONE IT). The wait time was average, so, having sat down unbearably excited to shove fishies in my cake hole it felt like forever. Eventually out waitress brought us this: Vegas Fever--cream cheese, shrimp, crab stick, salmon, avocado, spicy mayo, unagi sauce Super Veggie--asparagus, avocado, cucumber, carrot, peanut sauce, and cilantro Jfkl;wifwokfjla2389fjjk!!!111! Yeah. So good. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area.
(5)
Trisha B.

Love this place! I have been in search for my next sushi place since Guya Guya closed, and this place is better! Love the bar seating, the fish is top notch as is everything else they prepare! Endless sake options make this place a sure win!
(5)
Daphnie A.

Went to Yama by reviews. Nice atmosphere and looks very fresh. 8/17/13 Turned out to be as true and amazing. Sashimi and Toro on point. Fried Pork belly, and thinly sliced beef dinners were perfect and served with tasty miso and a delicious salad. We also had Kaki & Abalone. Our Sushi Chef Scott, very artistic and since we sat at the bar, we watched all our sushi prepared. The presentation is nothing like I've seen before. This is definately a must stop and come back for Portland. Located in the Pearl District, nice safe area. We were fortunate to find front parking. We are from the Bay Area and have not had a great japanese meal like this in a long time for a reasonable price!
(5)
Stephanie H.

After eating here I feel like I want to go back to all the other sushi joints that I have been to that I have given 5 stars to and knock them down a peg. This place was Incredible. l ate there a couple days ago and the scallop ceviche is still making my mouth water. The baked green mussels were huge and hot and delicious. The rolls were unique and large and very filling. we wanted to try a little bit of everything and really applied that to the rolls we chose. Ingredient included yellow tail, tune shrimp, mango, cilantro, smelt egg, crab, pretty much everything except salmon and eel, everything was exceptionally fresh and beautifully made. My date didn't like eel and I don't like salmon so thats how we eliminated our choices. A lot of the rolls here have salmon on them by the way.
(5)
Nicole E.

Went here tonight because of the awesome reviews and they did not disappoint. I had a couple of rolls and some sashimi and everything was fresh and tasty. The service was friendly and my only complaint was the time it took to get our food. That said the server kept us apprised and did apologize frequently so we felt looked after.
(4)
Liz P.

We went on Labor Day so maybe it was just the day. First because I have tattooed we were sat at the sushi bar next to two obnoxiously loud tattooed girls, every other word was "OMG like totally". Our server Alex had absolutely no sake suggestions so we got a flight, and our server immediately took the sake menu. He should've left it with us so we could've easily ordered our favorite by the glass from the flight. Then a lady next to us was sat got appetizers and dinner and paid before we even got our dinner. I ordered 9 pieces of nigiri and it came out 15 min before my dates spicy tuna roll. So I had to wait. They didn't give me two of my nigiri. The seaweed salad was bagged and slimy. Also the whole reason we even went was because of the live uni. They completely ran out of all uni but didn't bother to tell us until after we sent our order in. When my nigiri came a food runner just dropped it off and didn't even tell me which fish were which, and our soy sauce container was completely empty. The hostess ended up getting our drink order after our server ignored us. We will come back and try one more time, on an off night. Hopefully it will be better.
(1)

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Address : 926 NW 10th Ave
Portland, OR, 97209
Phone (503) 841-5463
Website https://yamasushiandsakebar.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Yama Sushi & Sake Bar

926 NW 10th Ave, Portland, OR, 97209

Yama Sushi & Sake Bar Menu

Appetizers

Salad & Side Orders

Lunch Entrees

Noodle & Rice Bowl

Bento Box

Sushi Bar - Sushi Omakase

Sushi & Sashimi Omakase

Healthy Meal suggestions for Yama Sushi & Sake Bar

Appetizers

Salad & Side Orders

Lunch Entrees

Noodle & Rice Bowl

Bento Box

Sushi Bar - Sushi Omakase

Sushi & Sashimi Omakase

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