Restaurant week menu
a plate of sushi with sauce on it
Beef teriyaki
a wooden table with two bowls of food and chopsticks
a plate of sushi on a table
Carpaccio
Cool entrance
a brick building with a sign on it
a man standing in front of a restaurant
How to order
Entrance
Eel Cucumber Roll and Spicy Salmon Roll
Wasabi Tobiko
entrance (descend the stairs)
Salad
Menu to tally your rolls. Descriptions and prices on the other side
Soba noodles
Plum wine
Miso Soup
Yasai Gyoza
Salmon Roe, Uni, Tuna Yellow Tail Roll
food, sushi and sashimi
Elianny S.
Dec 1, 2024
This place is very nondescript and you can easily walk by without noticing it's a short flight down the stairs. The decor is very simple, there is seating at sushi counter and a couple of tables. We came in around 9pm, when things were winding down so it was not very busy. We went with the omakasi special. The food came out pretty quickly, we started out with some soba noodles in a delicious peanut sauce. The sashimi was very fresh and the fish sizes were quite generous. My favorites were the sea urchin, fatty tuna and shrimp, but really all of the seafood was good. My friend who is Japanese pointed out that the staff here is not Japanese. Although the seafood was great, it was not as aesthetically pleasing due to the long uneven style cut of the fish. The rice was also not as great as you would find in a traditional Japanese sushi restaurant. The service was good and the price was great for the quality and quantity of what we ate.
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Emily G.
Oct 3, 2024
Funny enough, when I looked up Yama to write my review, I realized I ate here a few years ago... and ordered the exact same thing!Not the most surprisingly considering both times I dined with my uncle who is a creature of habit, but I hardly remembered that I ate here before, much less what I ordered.I ordered the Nabeyaki Udon while my uncle ordered a mix of different sushi pieces (fish + rice). I ordered one toro sushi.We started off with house salads, which were decent portions and had good dressing.I loved how hot my broth was, as it stayed hot throughout the entire dinner. I wished the shrimp tempura was left on the side because it got soggy quickly; I wished I could taste the crispiness of the tempura:( My uncle enjoyed his sushi selection, however I didn't love my piece of toro. Not sure if it's because I waited halfway through the meal or not, but the toro had a bland taste and watery somehow. I loved my udon soup, but wasn't a big fan of the sushi, so for that I give a 4/5. Service was very nice!
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Mary Katherine G.
Feb 26, 2025
Dark interior but solid sushi! Service is okay- a little spotty. Have been a few times and always want it to be better
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Kassidy K.
Jan 20, 2025
Walked in on Monday night and got seated right away. Quick and friendly service. There were a few others around and the vibe was nice and chill/calming. They have a variety of foods and they were honestly so good. The prices were pretty cheap too for how good the sushi was ! Little hidden spot being downstairs but so worth the visit !
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Rose L.
Oct 2, 2024
Still fantastic each time I return even after 20 years! Love their rolls, spicy sauce n freshness! So yummy.
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Karen H.
Dec 28, 2024
Classic local place that is kept in my heart - the dish I always get here is the hamachi crudo app w yuzu, radish ....it's memorable and delicious. I always tilt the plate and drink the sauce. So good!
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Tori B.
Feb 7, 2024
Simple and delicious location. Had the yasai (vegetarian) gyoza, veggie rolls, and a tuna/hamachi roll. Really tasty and fresh! Simple location with good flavor. Just know that the rolls are really big! My party was not prepared for that!
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Jane L.
Jul 1, 2024
I've been coming to Yama regularly since I used to work around the corner from it back in 2005, and it's criminal that I have not reviewed it on Yelp before (although I have reviewed it on other sites). It has remained my absolute favorite sushi restaurant for almost 20 years, ever since I first experienced their No. 5 roll. I have introduced many friends and family members to it, and every single one of them has been blown away. I should note that the ambiance is very casual and unassuming, and it hasn't changed throughout the years. The place is tucked away in the lower level of a residential building on Irving and East 17th. You would never know by looking at it from the outside that an epic journey of deliciousness awaits on the inside. The space is not large, and there is often times a wait, but they do offer outdoor patio dining now, and the staff is so efficient that the tables turn around quickly. Many of the employees here have been with the restaurant for years/decades, so they are on point and keep things moving while also offering a friendly smile and greeting when they see you (especially if you're a repeat customer). I haven't worked in the area for a long time but still try to visit Yama as often as possible, because I have yet to find another sushi spot that I love as much. I would choose Yama over the most high end omakase spots I've visited in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens, hands down.
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Angela C.
Nov 25, 2024
Food was delicious- everything we wanted and it was expertly prepared. Daughter had sushi and the presentation was beautiful and she said it was some of the best sushi she ever had. Fresh & delicious. Other daughter and I each had Chicken Teriyaki- the portions were so generous and everything was fantastic. Will go back next time we are in the area.
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Tess W.
Oct 2, 2024
Best Japanese food ever! Dined for the first time tonight here with my parents - who love it just as much as they did 30 years ago.
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