Yama Sushi & Sake Bar Reviews

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 various cities and are bound to find a better place in Portland!

Next time I want to order one of the sushi boats because they look like so much fun, and even though they're $100 or more, they're probably a decent deal. The table next to us got one and it seemed they took home gobs of leftover sushi in a take-out container. We were just getting a late-dinner snack and weren't too adventurous, but although the restaurant clearly caters to those hoping for something new our more standard order came more elegantly presented than about 90% of sushi places and was excellent quality.

This is truly one of the best Japanese restaurants in Portland. They have an extensive menu, and every time I've ever eaten there, the food delicious. They have a special Signature Menu with incredible food, including my very favorite, the "Flaming Jack". The Lobster Roll is also delicious. They have a very impressive Saki menu, also. I have a lot of friends that go to Yama, and everyone I know that has ever gone there has loved it. I recommend it to everyone!

This used to be my favorite restaurant in Portland. Last week I was billed by a sushiman named Vincent. This guy lack respect, being aggressive to me and Laughing at me when I entered the premise. Never in my life this happened before. While they have this kind of people working there and not respecting the customer I suggest you go to Banboo Sushi.

This is a well established restaurant with nice style and great taste! decent prices, but then again good Sushi doesn't come cheap:)

A little gem located in the Pearl district! I ordered my 2 favorite items whenever I see them on the menu. Salmon Skin Salad and Chirashi. I start with Salad, which I thought would be a starter size, ended up a large entree salad (not a problem). The Chirashi as you can see was tailored a bit for me with no shell fish, the flavors and freshness was out of this world. Service and overall ambiance in the restaurant was top notch!

the sushi was a little pricey but sushi always seems to be the fish was very fresh, the rolls seemed very innovative they seated us quickly (even without a reservation) and had adequate service

Justifiably busy sushi restaurant in the northern section of the Pearl District. Sushi is well above average with some standouts. Just had some remarkably well-priced Copper River salmon sashimi on our most recent visit. The sunrise, sake bomb and kobe rolls are al excellent. The rolls are large, so order carefully. Recommend reserving for dinner - or you will either wait or end up at the sushi bar - which can be fun to watch them work but harder to converse with your dinner mate(s). Service is friendly and helpful.

Best place for Sushi in Portland, hands down Been here a lot and quality is constantly high Great service, great food quality, great location and atmosphere Even has tables outside for those few sunny days in Portland

This was our second visit to Yama Sushi & Saki Bar. Three years ago we were so impressed by the fresh sashimi that we had to return to eat here this trip to Portland. My wife loves their Ahi Tuna Tower entree and ordered it again. You won’t find fancy cocktails here but Japanese beers and the largest offering of Japanese saki I have ever seen. They also have another sister restaurant, Yama Sushi & Izakaya on Clinton St which is more of a small plate style restaurant I was told.

Our go-to Sushi place in Portland. We always hit the sushi bar, put the menu away and asking the sushi chefs "What's good today? Surprise us?" Believe me you won't be disappointed. They also have a great selection of Sake. If the owner Scott is there, ask him for a recommendation. He won't disappoint you. Love the staff and the friendliness

The ambiance was very nice. Our server was very friendly. The sushi arrived quickly and was delicious.

My husband and I both got shrimp yakisoba, which was amazing! Since most reviews are about the sushi, we weren't sure what to expect, but Yama is good at both! We also got the California Roll with real crab which was, of course, delicious. Entrees come with miso soup, and it was also wonderful, but you don't get a spoon (just drink from the bowl) - they will happily give you a spoon if you ask though. The only utensils are chop sticks, though I'm sure they'd give you something else if you asked. Server was extremely friendly as was the hostess and other staff we encountered. Would definitely recommend!!

In Portland on vacation for a few days and this was definitely the worst meal we had. There are many good Asian offerings in Portland, but this is definitely not one of them. The sushi was low grade and the cooked dishes were awful. Best described as mediocre Pan-Asian bar food that is over priced. Definitely cannot recommend this restaurant.

I am from Seattle and enjoy lots of good sushi. I must say this is the best that I have ever had. We had a sashimi plate, crunchy roll, Kobe roll and dragon roll. It was the best sashimi; all very fresh and great texture and combination. The Kobe roll has seared Kobe beef on the outside - delicious and perfectly made! We walked out very happy. Highly recommended! The set up is comfortable and the waitresses are pleasant.

I have eaten here three times, twice with my brother. The sushi is very good. The most memorable menu item was the Ahi Tuna Tower. It was fantastic and so well presented, like a work of art. What made it even more special is right before I was about to take my chop sticks to it, this beautiful Asian waitress asked me if I wanted her to dismantle the tower so it would be easier to eat. I easily relented like the biggest "Yes" man in the world. What happened next was the most incredible Sushi Ahi Tower dismantling I have ever witnessed. She was like a ballerina who deftly and delicately dismantled the tower in the most beautiful way I have ever seen. I was stuttering and stammering out a thank you and I am pretty sure my brother was thinking, "I'll go home and get my Daffy Duck suit, so Porky Pig here will feel at home." That was amazing service and I am confident if there is a heaven this young woman will definitely go there, she's got my vote anyway. All the sushi I ordered was very good, but I strongly recommend the Ahi Tuna Tower. Great sushi does not come cheap so eating here can be kind of expensive depending on your appetite.

Went to Yama on my first visit to Portland with a friend. We got a nice table in the shade out on the sidewalk with a beautiful light breeze. The Sapporo was nice & cold, and the service was fast and very friendly. I had the Waikiki roll with tuna & jalapenos - unbelievable with a nice healthy portion of wasabi and ginger on the side. My friend does not eat sushi, so she got the chicken teriyaki with grilled vegetables - she would not shut up about it. We loved this place!

The sushi was so good , a place id deff be a regular at if i lived in portland . Fresh sashimi , the sushi was so good

My husband and I were passing by Portland en route to Eugene and I researched to find the best sushi restaurant. Yama stood out and won our choice and we were soooo glad we went. Everything we ordered was divine and real taste treat. Yes, oysters with uni, the best monk fish pate ever, ikura with quail egg, hamachi poke, a cucumber wrapped roll of tuna, salmon and hamachi, and the topper, a special variety of scallop with seared foie gras! And, we finished it off with a hand roll of mouthwatering scallop and spicy sauce. The freshest, most creative sushi I've maybe ever eaten and I'm a big sushi fan. GO!

From a real Japanese point of view, food quality is average and it is obviously over priced. Not worth paying for what you get.

I've eaten here four times now and considering I've eaten at most sushi places in Portland this is a place I'll continue to go back to. I especially love their deluxe sashimi platter. I took my wife for dinner and we inadvertently ended up eating Omakase style and we were very impressed. I've taken my kids (4 and 5 years old) and the staff was incredibly friendly. They even brought them a very cool-shaped sliced up apple with a caramel sauce on it. If you live in Portland and haven't tried this place, give it a shot. Considering the number of mediocre sushi places in this town it's good to have excellent fish along with good service. Just one caveat to add... I would give this place an excellent rating but I have yet to find an "excellent rating" in Portland for sushi.

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!

The staff was great, very friendly, very quick to offer refills and check on us. The sushi was fresh and delicious. The oysters with uni were by far my favorite, though, I would go back for those!

While visiting in Portland, we searched for the highest rated sushi place near us. We walked past a couple of spots, because we knew that we wanted to try this place. Upon entering, we were immediately hit with the putrid smell of bad fish. It really made us wonder if we made the right decision for lunch. So, we got a table outside. When the sushi and wine (an Alsatian Gurwurztraminer that was the ideal pairing), our decision was vindicated. It was fresh and delicious, and our server was helpful. The roll with mango was especially good. So, despite the initial reaction, we're glad that we ate here. Looking back, our fabulous meal here on the streets of Portland on a beautiful day is now a cherished memory of an awesome vacation to the PNW.

Enjoyed a great dinner on our first visit to Portland thanks to our daughter's recommendation. On a busy Friday night 4 of us were seated in minutes and our adventure began. Shared four of the specialties- all outstanding in taste and freshness. Service was attentive & highly efficient. Warm, friendly atmosphere.

What an amazing sushi bar in the heart of the Pearl District. One of the most memorable sushi experiences. Every thing is fresh and delicious, great service, great value....just a great place.

After a long drive from Vancouver, BC, I rolled into Portland with a sushi craving. As I crossed over from Vancouver, WA, I asked Siri on my iPhone what the best places in Portland were for sushi. The top-rated place was described as expensive, while the second best place (Yama) was termed inexpensive. So, I decided to go here. I'll never regret that decision. What can I say about the sushi? Absolutely the freshest and tastiest sushi I have ever eaten anywhere in this world. Let me repeat: ANYWHERE. The fish pieces on the nigiri sushi were among the biggest I've ever come across. The rolls they have, such as their Oregon roll and Happy Hawaiian roll were both original and tasty. I was going to make it a point on my most recent trip to Portland to try a different restaurant for every meal, but on my last night there, I made an exception and went back to Yama. The only thing I can say that was a shock was the market price for toro (fatty tuna). I love toro at my local sushi spot, and figured that there might be a slight premium to the price for normal tuna. I ordered two pieces, and was a little shocked to see that the price was triple the price for normal tuna. That said, I will say that the toro was worth every penny I paid for it. I'm glad I didn't order 4 pieces of toro, but I will be dreaming of the two I had for years to come.

Nice décor, great, attentive service, and the food was amazing! I had the sashimi dinner salad and it was fresh and huge. My family had rolls that they loved. Really loved Yama and would definitely go back!

First visit to Portland and the front desk at the Marriott highly rec Yama's. People in line to check in said they had just come from there Glad we went. Staff so friendly and several of the chefs greeted us and then talked about they were doing. My wife had the wild caught salmon lunch and I had large assortment of tuna, salmon, shrimp and scallops. All extremely fresh and great just to look at. Would highly rec this restaurant .

The wait staff is attentive, the restaurant spotless, the food scrumptious and the atmosphere authentic. A great experience, if a little pricey

OK, the vibe is good, it seems authentic when you go in. Service was kinda slow and perhaps a little more hands-off than I prefer. I thoroughly enjoyed the sake taster which was the highlight. Sooooo heavy on the wasabi on my nigiri which I can't abide. Just mediocre all around. I guess my expectations were high so now my rating must reflect that.

Some of the freshest sushi and sashimi I've ever enjoyed, in a nice atmosphere, somewhere between casual and white table-cloth. The sever recommended the razor clam appetizer and he couldn't have been more correct. Nice window lighting. A very large selection and some accommodation for changes. My wife and I really appreciate that they are open on Sundays, when so many PDX restaurants close. This was Fathers' Day which might account for the 3 newborn children in the place, which must have been unusual. But because the music is soft, they were pretty happy kids. Only flaw: the 2 dining spaces, which are otherwise rather elegant and inviting can be dominated by a large screen TV with CNN's hyperventilating disaster of the moment. Toward the end we were almost the only ones there, but server was under orders not to turn it off. Quite jarring next to an otherwise spectacular meal. At least 1 of the 2 dining space could be TV-free! Otherwise great, and we'll go again.

Neither my wife nor I do sushi. However, our daughter and her boyfriend who were with us do, so we tried out the Yama Sushi & Sake Bar. One word: Fantastic First of all, our waiter (I wish I could remember his name!) was amazingly helpful. He explained all the menu options, and when we told him that a couple of us don't do sushi, he was all over it, telling us our options. My wife had the baked lobster (not on their online menu) which was served with rice and seaweed. Because she doesn't do fish, they were able to customize her selection and give her *exactly* what she wanted. She found it tasty and satisfying. I opted for the Chicken Teriyaki, Tempura and Organic Salad dinner combination. There was WAY too much food, and it was tasty beyond belief. As I said, the service was impeccable and helpful. I could not have asked for anything more. Our waiter suggested some Sapporo beer which was the perfect complement to our dinners. I plan to return to Portland next year, and Yama Sushi will definitely be on our list of places to go.

It's worth the wait to eat here. Everything was fresh and delicious. The Tuna Tower seems like a novelty, but it should not be missed. Huge selection of sakes. They are open until 11pm, but they seemed crowded all night long.

This attractive restaurant is convenient to the trolley that runs through Portland's Pearl District and is opposite Lovejoy Bakery (for those who like landmarks) near the corner of 10th and Lovejoy. This was Stop #1 on a series (to be continued) of sushi tastings across Portland, and I chose it because it is open for lunch, unlike many of the others. I chose the omikase sushi/sashimi special (five portions of each, plus miso soup and salad). The selection included salmon, tuna, yellowtail, and shrimp, and everything was as fresh as the best I've eaten in top Hawaiian sushi bars. The price was less than half the cost in Hawaii. My only reservation about this place was the conspicuous appearance of a badly grunged up broiler oven on the counter behind the prep surface. Sushi bars (and the people behind them) need to be conspicuously clean, not grungy in any way. Points off for that, but a messy broiler is probably no health hazard. It's attitude and mindset. If I had eaten the same food at a table, I would not have noticed. On the whole, a very big bargain at lunch. Dinner portions for the same order come in sevens and are priced significantly higher. The place has an awesome array of sakes--dozens if not hundreds of bottles.

Have dined here a few times and find the food alright. Service is a bit slow but the dishes come out looking nice. It's pricey for what you get, but it is in a lovely area of Portland. My real disappointment has to do not just with the ok food...but the absolute cheap 10 cent wooden chopsticks that they give you to eat with. I love eating with chopsticks but these were even cheaper than what you would get at Panda Express....small and break apart yourself. No pointed edge... Come on guys....no need for this....you can do better.

Excellent service and superb food. The waitress was really helpful in assisting our selection from the menu. The food was really delicious and excellently presented. I would strongly recommend this restaurant.

Great restaurant in The Pearl. The staff is great, especially the host at the door. He kept us informed as there was a wait for seating. Good sushi and ambiance. Outside seating in warmer weather.

Very good sushi! extensive Sake menu, however, I'm not a fan of sake so I didn't partake. Everything we tried was fabulous.

This small outpost in the Pearl District serves your favorites and cool specials. The night I was there I had some great King Salmon sashimi. I would also recommend the special marinated sashimi plates. Service was outstanding and friendly. If you like sake you will appreciate the many choices available. It’s small and we were lucky to get a table walking in.

We ate at Yama Sushi when we visited Portland last month. It was quite busy when we came to eat. But we were seated right away. We had the Tuna Tower which my son really enjoyed. We also had unagi, salmon nigiri as well as Baked Lobster. All of it fresh and just the right size. Really enjoyed our dinner.

We were here for lunch recently and had a delicious meal. Had a spicy signature shrimp dish with the heads still on - delicious, deep fried - and several specialty rolls, all were absolutely delicious and super fresh. Also enjoyed a great sake that was recommended.. Would definitely go back on our next visit!

This restaurant has been so consistent. We have been going here since the year it opened and never have been disappointed. The fish is fresh, rolls are very creative and combinations are excellent. The staff is very friendly too! Mina is our favourite in the staff! Our favourites are Sake bomb, Crazy monkey, Waikiki and Flaming Jack. The portions are very good too. A great choice for sushi in town!

Ate here July 2013. Extensive sushi menu & lengthy sake listings. All dishes come out as they are ready, both appetizers & sushi. Service impersonal and a bit slow. Tried 5 different rolls. While none were particularly unique, all tasted very very fresh. Least impressed with the volcano roll. Prices were typical from my sushi experience.

Visiting Portland for the weekend, we had our hearts set on finding good sushi. My research on other websites led me to this particular sushi restaurant and my husband and I were so pleased with our experience. Sushi was fresh, delicious, and presentation was very appealing. We sat at the sushi bar and were treated to great conversation by our chef, Ichiro. Had a lesson in sake by Myumi and tasted a smooth, somewhat sweet sake, Hananomai. Our dinner encompassed the following: Baked Lobster Roll, Salmon Sampler Sashimi, Dallas Roll, Spider Roll. Tasted sea urchin for the first time, compliments of Ichiro, but would not crave that again! Ha! Our dinner tab totaled $66.75 which included 2 large & 1 small Asahi beers and edamame. Ichiro and Myumi were direct from Japan....the real deal at a reasonable price!

Looking at pictures at Trip Advisor we discarded more popular choices like bamboo sushi. We loved our choice. We have ordered kampachi sashimi, which was excellent. Then ordered a boat with lots of sashimi and a couple of rolls. Rice is cooked right, which is the most important. Fish was of excellent quality. We were told they have two Japanese chefs, which I believe is important for a sushi place. Service was friendly. They had several tables outside, weather was perfect. Note that the parking is free after 7 pm.

Yama is the best Sushi restaurant in the Pearl without a doubt. In addition to the great sushi, Yama has a great selection of sake. For the non-fish lovers, Yama also has respectable bento boxes as well. Definitely worth the visit.

Service was fast and friendly. Food was wonderful, had the salmon skin salad and veggie roll, well rolled and dressing was yummy! Would highly recommend.

We typically don’t eat rolls but theirs were so creative we tried a couple and they were excellent. The sushi has minimal rice which we prefer. And the sashimi super fresh. Say at the sushi bar. Great atmosphere.

Enjoyed the food and the staff were terrific. They even brought us some samples of various Saki varieties to help us decide what to order. Food was very fresh and good.

My daughters are the sushi lovers, and they said that they thoroughly enjoyed this very good sushi. However, I am not a fan, so let me brag on the hot dish that I enjoyed: fajita-style vegetables with fish (salmon, white fish, mussels, clams, shrimp). SO DELICIOUS. I had to make myself stop eating. We also shared some dumplings as an appetizer. Everything was very, very good, and I recommend this restaurant.

I have always loved both Yama locations but things have seemed to have declined at the one in the Pearl unfortunately. First a dirty glass was presented to me for the sake, she stopped pouring, used her fingernail to pick off the baked on food debris, then continued to pour the sake. I had to insist on a fresh and clean glass. The salmon sampler, my go to favorite for years here, tasted fishy, perhaps not fresh enough for sushi. It makes me sad to write this so you know it had to be bad.

This place is popular and essentially unless you are a big party , you can only reserve seats at the same bar. That's what we did and just as well as there were lots of people waiting. No problem meeting the vegetarian requirement for my wife. She had a set dinner that she really enjoyed. Lots of tempura vegetables , miso soup and tasty salad along with a ginger tofu that I even enjoyed. I had some potstickers , the Yama roll and some sashimi txt just melted in my mouth. We both love good sushi and this was good. We enjoyed sitting at the bar watching the chefs, We shared a green tea brûlée for dessert. Excellent food, and we are glad we made the trek there.

The other place’s loss and our gain! We got tired of waiting for a table at another place so we ventured here. Might be the best sushi I have ever had. The service was fabulous, the price was decent, and the atmosphere was good, too! Wish we lived closer!

We own a condo across the street and are regular visitors to Yama. If you can, sit at the bar and talk to the chefs. They love to explain their craft and will recommend new flavors to try. The food is always amazing, but the whole experience is better when you get to know the experts. We have tried A LOT of sushi places in Portland. Yama is our favorite.

After going to a bad Asian restaurant two nights before ( Bamboo Sushi) we found Yama’s on 10 th Ave. this is really good Japanese food. The sushi rolls were great, the tempura and iidako was excellent and they had a good selection of sake. We ordered quite a bit of food and the prices weee reasonable! Would go again!

We eat here every time we come to PDX! Favorites are Hamachi Kama, tuna tower and G 50 Sake...(locally made believe it or not!) Service is great...and we love to sit outside or at the bar.

We reserved their back room for our gathering of relatives. In all candor it's not an easy task servicing 19 people. The Yama staff did it with ease and grace. The food was outstanding and the service amazing considering the task. Each and every member of group raved about their individual food selection. In contrast the next night we dined at another Pearl restaurant and it was a disaster. I mention the second dinner experience to contrast a great restaurant with one that was bush league. Hats off top the owner of Yama, who actually helped serve and her servers and chef.

Visiting Portland I expected to have really fresh sashimi but the portion size on my bento failed dismally, as did the freshness. Sorry, but Houston as you beat in this area. The artistry, creative assembly was fantastic. In all fairness I would rate this establishment a 3.5 stars out of 5. The tempura shrimp and vegetables were good. The Lobster roll was a disappointment. The salad and dressing were perfect. Good service. I think I expected better due to other reviews. Maybe it was an off day for our first time visit.

Best sushi I've found in Portland. I had the Omakase (Chef's choice) and it was delicious! Over 7 courses of fresh sushi and sashimi for $100. I was there this past Friday night for their sashimi salad dinner and the deluxe nigiri dinner. Both were excellent. Great staff and excellent service.

We go here often. Service is just barely OK sometimes. Come on people! They pool tips so this is not an incentive to give great service. We even met the owner once and seemed like she didn’t care that we were dining in their restaurant. Food is good though. Step up the service and make your customers feel welcome.

We were seated at the bar which was nice because we got to watch the sushi being made. I had the lobster roll which was very nice. My parents aren’t sushi fans so they ordered other items (breaded pork and cooked salmon). I think they thought there food was just ok. Service was good!

We are sushi fans and have eaten at sushi restaurants all over in our travels. Yama Sushi tonight was our best sushi meal outside Toyko. We had to wait 20 minutes because the restaurant was jammed. They offered us ringside seats in front of the sushi chefs which I gladly accepted. I knew this was going to be outstanding because there were these four serious looking veteran sushi chefs in front of me with hands moving in deft precision moves making these picture perfect sushi. Another hint was the quantity of primo looking fish filets in the refrigerated sushi domes in front of them. I started with pan fried razor clams that was so flavorful. Next I received the salmon nigiri slices with three types of local salmon. What a bargain for $15. Next my Volcano roll came with deep fried shrimp and a load of delicious bay scallops plated beautifully $14. My wife and I split an impressive Ahi Tuna Tower for only $15. For sides we ordered tempura and edamame. Everything was fresh, beautifully crafted and incredibly reasonable we thought. I couldn't believe my eyes at the low price at the end of the meal. Plus we just love the zero sales tax here on Oregon. If you are in the mood for sushi in Portland, this is the place!

I took a trip to Yama on the recommendation of a friend. I was more than excited to see the decor was cute and inviting, as well as being greeted by friendly staff. The sake menu was very extensive and impressive. There are many unique rolls, lots of options for nigiri and sashimi which you can get in 1 or 2 pieces. The regular menu has a wide array of foods that are all delicious from what I experienced so far. Some highlights of the meal were the hakaido, alma ebi, unagi, volcano roll, shishido peppers wrapped in bacon, and pork shumai. I can not wait to go back!

I was by myself and sat at the bar, which I regretted. I was great watching the chefs at work, my problem was that everything they created I wanted to intercept. These people are artists! Loved the sushi. Not all sushi is the same, Yama proves that!

We sat at the bar talking to the guys making the sushi. Great fun and great food. Can't get better than that!

If you are into sushi - then this is the place. I have lived in Japan, experience the higher end sushi bars there, and this is truly to form. The staff, predominately from Japan, strive to bring fresh sushi, but also have developed some great creations. Coupled with all this the price is reasonable.

Raw oysters were fantastic; baked oysters were ok. Sushi choices were varied and all good. Flaming salmon roll was interesting. Tempura was excellent. Crispy spring rolls good. Beef skewers a bit too peppery and, surprisingly, not very tender. Food for all did not come at same time; dishes trickled out. Service was good. Beer was cold. We were guests of friends and were glad they had made reservations.

Very Welcoming! Sitting is perfect inside and out! Very clean! Great sushi: the selections are sizable at lunch and dinner! Super attentive and gracious staff!

We've eaten sushi & sashimi for over 30 years, in many states, in many countries, the quality of Yama is exceptional. Great service, great menu variety, great beer (I had a HUB Organic IPA), good wine, and extensive sake list. We shared a seaweed salad appetizer, a Mighty Mango roll, a Baked Lobster roll, and a Volcano roll. Food was fantastic. They also had a "every 1st Thursday of the month" sake tasting going on, which we partook in on the. way out = fun & informative. Good ambience, awesome sushi bar. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

In Portland for a week this was our favourite. Great food, friendly staff and nice outdoor seating. It even had a reasonably priced wine list ( which we haven't seen in this town). We went twice and had to force ourselves to try new places as we just had such a good time here.

Very fresh, clean on the palate. Not overly done with too much going on. It was good fish. Very reasonable prices. Would definitely come back.

We had a great lunch at this place. Got the 3 piece Gyoza filled to the top with pork. Very flavorful. Also got a dragon roll, garden roll and Buddha roll with a seaweed salad. All solid choices.

I've been here several times and it's never fails. The best item is a crispy ahi tuna roll which comes on some toasted rice and topped with a jalapeño. Delicious! Excellent hh prices on rolls and saki. The daily specials are incredibly fresh and tasty.

This was our second visit to this bustling Pearl Neighborhood Japanese/Sushi restaurant with a very extensive menu. Tonight the grilled squid and the hamachi collar were very good but the raw fish dish called YamiYami was truely outstanding. This was a mixture of Hawaiian tuna, mango etc with a complex spicy sauce. This dish alone is worth a visit

I have traveled the entire US and I can easily say this is my favorite sushi spot! Amazing experience sitting at the bar with the chef. I will be back again soon!

We go to Yama frequently. They never miss in quality of the fish, the preparation nor the presentation. We have found everything to be outstanding and we would highly recommend the Stack, the lobster rolls, the sautéed razor clams, the udon soup when it's cold outside! We highly recommend Yama Sushi in the Pearl!

We were here for a Saturday lunch and were very impressed. The food was very well priced for what it was. My husband and I both ordered bento boxes, the sashimi box and the misoyaki salmon & karage chicken box, which were both really well sized and so delicious. The staff were friendly and food was delivered to our table quite quickly

We had a bunch of rolls for lunch and loved that they were made with fresh lobster and local crab. Ate on the patio and had great service. Thank you!

We went to Yama the night we arrived in Portland and the last evening before heading to the airport. The sushi chef, Scott, was welcoming and friendly. The Fish was so fresh it melted in your mouth. It is by far the best sushi I have ever eaten!

Called ahead for 2 orders of tuna poke as well as 2 miso soups. The soup was exactly what I expected though not super hot which is understandable as we got it to go. The tuna poke did have a lot of tuna which was nice but lacked anything more than that. We come from the west coast of Canada and order sushi and tuna poke very often so we may have fairly high standards but this tuna poke left a lot to be desired. Upon getting the order and checking it once we were in the vehicle we realized there wasn’t much substance beyond the tuna itself which is fine. We thought that we were possibly getting a tuna poke bowl but did not so we went back in to get a side of rice to add to the order and were told that all of the rice had been put away for the night, 15 minutes before close, which was super disappointing. We ended up going to a nearby Safeway and getting some rice, avocado and soya sauce to add to the tuna poke and at that point it was quite enjoyable. Just left us a bit disappointed that they couldn’t go out of their way to grab us a bit of rice to turn this review from a three star to something more.

Stopped here before going to a concert at the Roseland Theater. I'm a huge sushi fan and my buddy looked up this place on the way up to Portland. Wow. Beyond my expectations. Poke; great. Sushi; great. The food is as good as I have had for sushi on the mainland and the staff was great. It was a little crowded but as a walk in customer, I am not complaining. If you like sushi, try this place. I'm not a sake fan, but apparently it the selection is comprehensive and well priced.

Wow, wow! We had an excellent experience here. The fish was fresh, and the service was bright and succinct. This restaurant has a great vibe. We can’t wait to go back! Needless to say, please try Yama Sushi.

Sushi was very fresh. Tuna and salmon sampler nigiri were great. Excellent creative and spicy rolls. Chicken teriyaki was also very good. Friendly staff. Good ambiance.

We had dinner there a few nights ago and we were underwhelmed with the sushi...my wife and I had average sushi and our son had rolls that were better than average....will not return..

In my humble opinion it is one of the best sushi restaurants in Portland. We have had dinner there quite often and had two parties there. The restaurant never disappoints, what it described in the menu it produces in reality. The staff is friendly and helpful. The wine list is decent and the fairly priced.

We walked to this great location for sushi and were not disappointed. The food was fresh and quickly delivered to our table. I would definitely go back.

I'm from the Denver area and have enjoyed many excellent sushi in the past. My young adult daughters and I were spending 4 nights in downtown Portland at the Worldmark and enjoyed trying many new places for dinners since all our other meals were in the studio kitchenettes. I'm not one to return to a place if I'm visiting from out of town because I love new experiences, but this sushi was so fantastic that I broke out of my norm and we returned bringing a friend from Corvallis. We choose everything from the Sushi rolls and Signature rolls menu. Highly recommend their 'SakeBomb' and vege roll. Also, their bottles of chilled sake are reasonably priced and complimented the dishes. Worth the walking we did from the Worldmark! Respectful & kind wait staff.

This restaurant in the PearlDistrict has high quality sushi at very reasonable prices. They feature an extensive selection of Sakis, with many Saki events. Not trendy or high designer sushi. Just fresh fish, well prepared in a convenient location with reasonable parking. One of our basic stops in Portland.

Our family was happy after partaking in a meal at Yama on our most recent to Portland. With lots of great rolls, noodles and nigiri to choose from (plus many other options) the menu was full of great choices. We started with the standards: gyoza and edamame, and then proceeded to enjoy our kobe, crazy monkey, volcano, hurricane and dragon rolls. They were all quite enjoyable and the service, very good. They don't have a large outdoor dining area, however, so if you want to eat there, plan on arriving early or getting take out.

We ate there 3 times just so we could try all the delicious specialty rolls and traditional rolls. Everything was so fresh. The traditional rolls were all good, can't say I had a favorite. The specialty rolls were a lot of fun. You need to try the Lovejoy and the Mardi Gras rolls for sure! Both were so good and so unique. Oh the Flaming Jack is awesome too. It comes to the table as it's still cooking all a flame! It is pricey, but sushi usual is!

Great service and outdoor seating. We enjoyed the Aji, a whole fish (mackeral) served as Sashimi. When we finished, they deep fried the rest, which we ate in [almost] its entirety. They also served a generous portion of Copper River Salmon, which I suppose is quite seasonal.

Being a big fan of sushi and living in the middle of the sole Japantown in Germany I can only recommend this nice little sushi restaurant. The food was very fresh and the service charming. Price are really fair. My next time in Portland I will definitely return.

Busy restaurant that served authentic Japanese food in Pearl District. The whole Aji sashimi ($15.95) was fresh and they deep fried the bones once you finished with the sashimi. Signature rolls were colourful, fresh and delicious. The table next to us ordered "FLAMING JACK" and the tin foil was literally flaming when served!!! Hope they would tell us green tea had a $2 charge, which is usually free at the places we have been to.

Great place for lunch or diner. Prompt friendly service. Best sushi in town. Good vine and sake selection

My husband and I wandered into Yama after 9 for a quick bite and were surprised by the excellent sushi. He is a vegetarian and I'm pescatarian, and we both ate well! Service was quick and the food was excellent!

Checked out this place based on the great Yelp reviews. We had a couple of specialty rolls, the grilled squid and some gyoza. Everything was fresh, good mixing of flavours and the squid turned out to be our 2-year-old's favourite. The staff was friendly, and offered recommendations. It's on the pricier side for sushi, but it's appropriate given the restaurant, ingredients and overall experience.

Had dinner at Yama and it surpassed all my expectations. Staff was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Sushi/sashimi was so fresh you could taste it. All of this against a backdrop of tasteful decor. If you come to Portland you have to visit!

This place looked unassuming from the outside, but man-oh-man was the sushi DELICIOUS!! Not only was the presentation gorgeous, but the fish was incredibly fresh tasting and it's one of the few times that a sushi place doesn't over do it with the rice. It was perfection. My only regret is that I was so full I couldn't eat more and it had to end. I cannot wait to go back to this place when I'm visiting Portland again. YUMMMMMM

We were a table of six. All the rolls that arrives were delicious, creative and visually very appealing. Easily beats the standard sushi fare. A bit pricey but worth it for the flavors. Try the Lobster sushi roll. Next time, I'll part-take of the sake flight. The only hitch was the one dish that was from the entree meal (grilled salmon) took a loooong time to get to the table. Not the waitress' fault. But the dish didn't appear until we were nearly done with six plates of sushi rolls. Definitely will return.

Some of the best sushi in town. I can't count on them being open, drove 30 min across town for sushi just to find out they closed early and I don't have time to go somewhere else.

But also next sushi around town. Buy the flaming roll! Nice service. Great fresh sushi. Amazing amazing rolls.

Came here after a long day of work. I had an amazing Sashimi deluxe, green tea and enjoyed all until the end. The only problem was that I suffer a bit the cold (not sure if they had a problem with the heating system) but above all, amazing food!

Want two nights in a row. The roll I ordered the second night was awesome. I ordered the flaming shrimp jack. The 1st eve was just good. The sake flights were great too, awesome variety. Very friendly staff and good service.

This came pretty close to being an authentic Japanese dining experience. I ordered the miso-infused salmon and my partner ordered the Kobe steak. My meal was perfect and his was okay, but I attribute that to his mistake of ordering it too well done. I also recommend the Chuya sake.

Great sushi!! I'm all the way from the panhandle in Texas so fresh sushi is something I rarely see. The service was amazing and everyone was super friendly and helpful! Beautiful place that I would highly recommend to everyone!

Omg. I try and eat sushi wherever i travel. This is one of the best sushi ive ever had. Our waitress suggested the best items and the ambiance was fun for family and friends. And agreat saki assortment if you like that.

We got a recommendation to visit Yama Sushi from an Alaska Air flight attendant, and boy were we glad we did, despite the bill we ran up because the food was so good we couldn't stop ordering. Located in the center of the Pearl (between Powell's Books and Andina restaurant), Yama had the best sushi and sashimi we've had in many years. The tall owner/sushi chef was an artist. We put ourselves in his hands for hand rolls and he created two amazing combinations of crispy/cold/warm/spicy creations for us. He is a "thick" sashimi man, and his white tuna, mackerel, and salmon were almost flopping-fluke fresh. His salmon skin hand roll was perfection. His ikura, toro, and unagi sushi were delectable. His sushi rice was outstanding. We're not sake drinkers (heck, we're barely alcohol drinkers), but the selection looked pretty good to our untrained eyes. A high point of eating in Portland - or anywhere else.

From the moment we walked in the door we could tell this would be great tasting sushi by the smell. We ordered the sake bomb and lovejoy rolls. If you want more of the fish rather than sauces taste, the sake bomb is where it's at. We also got the sweet shrimp nigiri and it was hands down the best we have ever had! The service was fantastic!

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 jalapeño, 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.

I really like sushi that is simple with just great, fresh, raw fish in the rolls. This place has it. They also have crazy rolls with tempura this and that and fried with lots of sauce if you like that type of thing. Tons of sashimi choices as well. The staff was very kind and attentive and they helped me pick out a good sake. It was the best sushi I’ve had in a while.

Four of us went to lunch at this Resturant and there were four very different opinions. My pork dish was way too salty but the rice bed was good. The crust on the pork was also thick and soggy. My. Daughter enjoyed her sushi except the sea bass tasted spoiled and this was quickly disposed of by her. My wife enjoyed her soup but my daughter in law, who is Asian, felt the sushi was very average. On a scale of one to ten I voted it a 4; my wife gave it a 7; my daughter In law voted it a 7 and my daughter a 9.

We read the great reviews of this place and it didn't disappoint. We ate at the bar and the chefs were amazing to watch. Some of best sushi we've ever had too, at a decent price.

In the heart of the Pearl District. Classy atmosphere, incredible menu for all tastes and some of the best sushi and rolls I have ever had. Dishes for all budgets!

We visited Yama Sushi while vacationing in Portland in August 2019 and ordered a seaweed salad, sushi rolls and sake. There is indoor and outdoor seating. We waited a short time for a table indoors, but perhaps we would have been better off outdoors as the air conditioning was frigid and was blasting down on our table cooling off our hot sake! Portions were on the small side. No hot towels or complimentary edamame. Food and service were adequate, but not particularly memorable. Restaurant was very busy, seemed very popular. Nice decor. If you found this review useful, please click the thank button. :)

I live part time in Hawaii, where sushi huts are ubiquitous. I've had good sushi, and I've eaten sushi at places where I'd never go back (especially after hepatitis A outbreaks and ensuing litigation). Yama is one of my new faves in the Pearl District. It's near my Portland home, so I tried it a few months ago and now return regularly. The seafood at the sushi bar LOOKS wonderfully fresh, and you can watch the dishes prepared if you sit there. The food is absolutely outstanding! The menu is diverse; I sometimes like to get the hamachi kama (a cooked appetizer that is big enough for a small entree, or for sharing. Hint: a fork helps unless you're a chopstick master!). Miso soup is excellent as a starter, and the sashimi selections are VERY fresh tasting (as are the sushi offerings, but I prefer the clean protein of sashimi). I'll be back there soon, and I'll will again go a bit early as the place is deservedly popular and fills up to a roar by 6pm. You will love it!

After dropping off most of our luggage at the train station, we hoofed it over to the Pearl District to find an appetizer or something while we waited for boarding time. After 3 very big, fabulous foodie days in Portland, we were keeping our expectations low for the last bite of Portland. We ordered 2 rolls and some calamari for the 4 of us and some drinks. Sushi shouldn't be rushed, and we kinda rushed it. It was all very tasty. It would have been more magical if we hadn't had a train to catch. Go eat here. Take your time.

This is everything you want a sushi bar to be. Busy but accessible. Nice decor but casual attitudes. Attentive staff and excellent, fresh sushi. Highly recommend.

We have eaten here several times. The agedashi tofu is always good, as is the sashimi appetizer and the miso marinated cod. The staff are helpful and polite and service is good.

We really liked the food...once we got it. They sat us at an outside table, after about 10 minutes I managed to flag down a waitress to order drinks. Once delivered the food was excellent. Worth a try, just bring your patience, I guess.

Highly recommend Yama Sushi. I enjoyed it so much that I actually took my girlfriend back there and was only in Portland for a week. I sat at the sushi bar each time and was greeted with friendly staff. The salmon nigiri platter was delicious and highly recommend.

We have been loyal to Mio Sushi and Sinju for years, but were invited by friends and were not disappointed. Located on the Northeastern edge of the Pearl District, the environment is warm and environment, with a full bar and above average sake selection. All food was quickly prepared and delicious. We were especially impressed that the waitress brought out Hello Kitty plastic dinnerware for our friend's young girls.

When in Portland and in the mood for Shushi, we go to Yama Sushi. We always order the roll with Wagyu beef it it. Not sure the name.

We ordered multiple Dinner Entrees, 2 Appetizers (Tempura Ika and Chicken Karaage) and multiple beers. Food items all came out about the same time so we started with the Entrées which was excellent. Then we sampled the appetizers. We thought that the Chicken Karaage was way too salty and brought it up to the attention of our server. She told us she can’t do anything about it since every time she passed us, she would ask if everything is alright and we didn’t complain at that time. Well, it so happened because we didn’t even try the Chicken Karaage yet. I then explained the situation and she then grabbed our Tempura Ika and took it away. She then came back and said the manager/owner Sue, said she won’t do anything about it because we ate a lot off the Tempura Ika plate. I explained to her that we had a problem with the Chicken Karaage plate and not the Tempura Ika but the manager quickly came by and angrily made motions and pulled our server away. Moments later, both our original server and the manager completely avoided us. They chose to completely avoid our table and ensured not to make any eye contact. Different service employees came to clear our table and not one of them asked if we wanted anything else or ask how was everything. We were not even done with our food and they took away all our utensils When I came out of the bathroom, I saw the manager, she looked up and smiled but then realized who I was and her smile became an angry pouty frown and walked away from me. I called her saying “excuse me” to learn more about just what happened. It’s very appalling to think we would get this kind of treatment. I want to add that our total bill was over $180.00. When we left, there wasn’t any type of acknowledgement or appreciation for our patronage. Sue, the manager/owner, in my opinion, is such a coward for avoiding us and not trying to rectify the problem. Her mannerism in handling the situation is very unprofessional. You leave feeling as an unappreciated patron. just for that one, that I thought was small, incident.

We went for dinner. The Yama roll was very good. The cucumber salad was not so great, it did no have the normal sauce you expect. The pokee and the other roll was good. Good atmosphere. Overall 3 stars.

There is a very trendy, popular sushi place in Portland, and Yama blows them out of the water. Great, traditional Japanese options, along with some fun and interesting menu items. Do not visit Yama without ordering the razor clams - they are melt in your mouth fantastic.

The atmosphere was inviting, the staff was very friendly, but the food was unremarkable. The Salmon Sashimi was very fresh and good quality fish. But the portion was so small even by Sushi standards that I couldn't help be disappointed. We tried the Scallop roll and the Tuna Tower. Both were good but nothing special. Given all the outstanding restaurants in Portland, I can't say we'd go back.

we thought the food was very good - exceptionally fresh and well prepared. just wondering why such a nice place has to have two TV's on. plus, the tables are very close together and unfortunately we had two very loud gentlemen next to us. next time we would sit at the bar. this is definitely a place i'd go back to - it was very convenient to the Amtrak station.

When a group of us staying at several hotels decided on a half way house to meet for dinner...someone came up with this from a recommendation... it ticked every box. Great service, patient and helpful staff, ice cold Asahi beer and a lovely selection of sharing plates of all kinds of sushi, sashimi and tempura styles. Massive menu ... no out and out favourites as they were all good even chosen at random. Great pricing and a private booth to help us enjoy our international meeting in this wonderful city. Oh and the long walk?... from downtown it was worth every step !!

This restaurant is located in The Pearl District of Portland OR. It's very trendy & a great place for casual dining. Food is excellent, service is prompt, polite & professional, & has a wide selection of sake. Highly recommended.