Yama

This unpretentious sushi restaurant will not disappoint. The sushi presentation is truly artistic as each piece is a masterpiece with incredible attention to detail. The sushi is a feast for the eyes as well as for the palate. However, Yama is so much more than sushi. They also have great fried and grill options. I had the shrimp tempura appetizer which was light and crunchy. I followed this up with the beef terriyaki. The thinly sliced beef was tender and smothered in a delicious sweet and savory terriyaki glaze. Service was very professional and patient. Excellent Japanese cuisine.

Sushi Yama is one of those dependable New York sushi spots that quietly earns its place in your regular rotation. It strikes that sweet balance between quality and value — fresh fish, generous portions, and a relaxed, no-frills atmosphere that makes it easy to enjoy whether you’re on a casual weeknight dinner or meeting friends. The fish tastes clean and fresh, especially in the sashimi and nigiri selections. The salmon and tuna are consistently buttery and well-cut, and the presentation is simple but appealing. Their specialty rolls lean creative without going overboard — flavorful combinations that don’t drown out the fish itself. Portion sizes are satisfying, particularly if you opt for one of their lunch or dinner combos. It’s the kind of place where you leave comfortably full without feeling like you overspent, which in New York is always a win. Service is typically prompt and friendly, and the vibe is comfortable rather than trendy — you’re there for good sushi, not a scene. Overall, Sushi Yama delivers reliable quality, fair prices, and a welcoming neighborhood feel — a solid choice when you’re craving fresh sushi in the city.

My husband and I had a really nice time here. The environment is cozy and inviting. Our food was delicious and looked beautifully presented. The service was friendly, and our food arrived very quickly. This restaurant is a classic that has been around for a while in NYC. We're happy it's here.

Been going here for 30+ yrs. Local secret spot. Consistently delivery amazing sushi at reasonable prices. Huge pieces. The spicy tuna rolls are the things that dreams are made of. Love this place so much.

One of my favorite spots for sushi if I want to splurge a bit for a special occasion but not break the bank. I like the sashimi no shellfish platter, and their yellowtail carpaccio (I forget the exact name on the menu) has tiny portions but is so good. I enjoy the house salad and the green tea as well, it compliments the meal.

I’ve been coming here with my family for 30+ years - there’s a reason they are still around! Delicious fresh fish, amazing special rolls, and the garden salad - they need to bottle the dressing! Order the special number 7, I like eel, and save room for the fried green tea ice scream.

I almost didn’t move to Brooklyn because I wanted to be close to Yama. This is hands down the best sushi in the city. I’ve been going here for 20+ years. The special number five is out of this world.

For a 店 where no one speaks Japanese the sushi was as good as one can get in Japan. The vegetable tempura while tasty was mainly starchy tubers. And cut hence,, presented not in a Japanese way.

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.

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!

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 !

Still fantastic each time I return even after 20 years! Love their rolls, spicy sauce n freshness! So yummy.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

Yama sushi is a reputable place given their long-term presence in Gramercy and their high quality yet affordable priced Japanese cuisine. The food was good but the wait time is longer than expected because the chefs are preparing delivery orders. The workers are not talkative. They aren't rude either, nor friendly - they kind of just want the turnaround time to be quick. The space is very limited so there will be a wait time.

Yama delivers authentic sushi with fast service in a pristine environment. The flavors are genuine and delectable, providing a true taste of Japan. The efficient staff ensures a smooth and enjoyable dining experience.

I've eaten at Yama many times and it has always been great. Last night I ordered for delivery and it came as a disgusting mess. Not sure who's to blame, the restaurant or the delivery service, but someone didn't care about the customer on the other side.

I was genuinely excited to try a sushi place nearby and given that it's been around decades we figured they had to be doing something right. Sadly we were quite disappointed. Let's dive in: Fish Sushi Rolls (2/5): The eel cucumber roll was fine. The eel was bland even with the sauce added and the cucumber was, well, cucumber. The roll however was falling apart. The spicy salmon roll was just salmon in a roll with spicy sauce poured on top - not how I usually see this and was not a fan of this method. The sauce was thin and runny. And - shocker - the roll was falling apart too. Vegetarian Sushi Rolls (2/5): Sadly, it wasn't just the fish rolls which were poorly rolled -- the vegetarian ones were also genuinely falling apart. The AAC roll was missing the avocado and the asparagus was bland and overcooked. Meanwhile, for the oshinko roll we added some cucumber and it was okay. But again falling apart - all of them ... Edamame (2/5): This was fine, nothing to write home about. No vinegary dipping sauce like some places provide. No salt on the edamame. Not impressed. Pork Gyoza Dumplings (3/5): The best dish of the meal and nothing fancy about them. Decent flavor and they were correctly pan fried. TL;DR: We will be walking the extra 20 blocks (or more likely using delivery) to order from our preferred sushi place - because Yama is certainly not taking that spot.

Visually you wouldn't think much of this place - small and not much of an ambiance but what it lacks in decor - it makes up for in food. The waiter was attentive and food was brought out quickly. Everything we tried was wonderful. Even basics like a house salad with ginger sauce. Broiled salmon teriyaki was excellent! Sushimi platter was fresh and good, same with sushi platter for two. And to wrap things up - cannot recommend enough fried green tea ice cream!

So gross. As a 30 plus year customer, it's time to say farewell. When a restaurant can't so much as change a carpet or add a fresh coat of paint to their place, it's obvious they aren't concerned with their patrons. The kitchen looked filthier than ever when I peeked in on way to bathroom. Maybe i'm just getting old and cranky and my stomach issues after the last 2 visits are just me, but it's time to move on from this dump. Sooo sad but it's just too disgusting in there to keep making excuses.

This was my first time here. My friend took me here. I was so, not impressed, but didn't say anything. I know this is a very old, popular establishment, BUT, first impression is everything. The interior needs to be revamped. Old, worn, dirty red carpeting, huge decayed, brown, large chairs, n tables: too large for low ceiling basement restaurant. Very tight and claustrophobic. Dingy walls. The Frier was broken. We were told this when ordering. We could not order 1/2 the items we wanted. FISH WAS VERY FRESH but presentation n plates were nothing to write home about. Japonica is way better as so light n airy n pretty establishment to patron. I do like to give good reviews but when 2 people spend almost $140 on dinner, the food, presentation, ambience n decor should reflect. I felt as if I was eating in a college dorm room. It was also extremely loud. Sorry Yama

Great quality, really good sushi for the price. I always get take out bc they always seem to have a long line out the door but my go to for takeout sushi.

Excellent sushi rolls, attentive waitstaff and relaxed atmosphere with no frills environment. My favorite rolls are the Special 5 roll which has spicy Mayo and generous amounts of salmon packed inside. The inside out version of Special 5 roll is also delicious. Other favorites are the twin tuna crispy and the shrimp tempura special 8 roll. A relaxed no-frills atmosphere on the ground floor with cozy quarters (entryway has some steps down). Nice to sit at the sushi bar and has two separate areas for seating - tables are placed close to each other - cozy atmosphere with delicious sushi.

Some of the best sashimi I've had on the east coast. The place is a little warm down and hard to find but absolutely worth it! Enjoy.

Terrible service .. bad attitude throughout the whole meal.. no "thank you" or any elements of normal expected service. Need to be more attentive. Sushi good not great .. questioned the tip when he was lucky to even receive one

It was ok! The fish was ok Not very juicy and fresh. Also the Asian elderly guy with bald hair he is super super super rude! NOT FRIENDLY at all. This is my first time and last time. If he doesn't like his job just quick. I couldn't hear him very well at first. So I was like I'm sorry can you please reply? I didn't hear you. Then he raise up his rude voice and he showed his attitude. I was like what did I do? Why you are showing me your NASTY attitude?! Jesus, I will tell all my friends and I will NEVER return. Good luck and BYE Xoxo

I used to come here all the time when I was very young with family but would only eat udon at that age haha. This was my first time back since and now I actually eat sushi haha. I was not disappointed at all. This is a very small restaurant in the basement so be sure to call ahead or be prepared to wait in a line that goes out the door. At first it may appear that the menu is pricey but you will soon understand when your food arrives. All of the fish is crazy fresh & tender with no fishiness at all. Normally I find sushi places load up on rice and give you very little fish. Yama's is the exact opposite. The sushi is stuffed with more fish than rice which I love. I was very impressed. Next time I'm craving sushi in the city and want a sit down dinner, I will return here.

Reasonably priced sushi joint on Irving. We joined for restaurant week - nice variety. The dressing for the salad was pretty thick, and I'd have loved a tiny bit more seasoning to the rice. Otherwise fresh fish, and yummy sake.

The best sushi in NYC is off of Union Square, down some steps, in a unassuming but welcoming spot. The menu and the spot itself aren't fancy, but the service is prompt and efficient, and the fish is unbelievably fresh and melts in your mouth, and the pricing is reasonable. Yama is out of this world good.

A long time family favorite, this cozy sushi spot nails it when it comes to fresh, delicious fish. We started with a few appetizers such as the carpaccio, tuna tartar, hotate Mille fille, all delicious. The rolls were yummy, the i like eel roll is wrapped in cucumber and the special roll #2 was good. Don't forget to order the fried green tea ice cream as well to finish!

This place is special. Very fresh fish and creative rolls. We usually do a number 1, number 2, spicy tuna hand rolls, special tuna rolls and miso soup. A side of spicy mayo is a must. I go here every time I'm in the neighborhood. Highly recommend!

I have been visiting Yama (both locations) for many years. It has always been my "go to" sushi place in the city. I liked both locations for different reasons. The Yama on 49th street has yet to disappoint me but yesterday this location (17th street) did just that. So as we always do, we went there yesterday. First, the place had a pungent scent of sewer and garbage. That alone should have been a reason to get up and leave. However, knowing the quality of the food, I decided to stay because I enjoy the rolls and hand rolls there. Next, the waiter was extremely rude. At first I was a bit indecisive about what I wanted to drink. He seemed very impatient and irritated. The food- we ordered the spicy tuna crispy rice appetizer and our usual rolls and spicy yellowtail hand rolls. We also got a bunch of different pieces. We ordered the Special no 7 (with scallop), spicy king crab roll, twin tuna crisp, and a spicy tuna roll. If you're one to complain about the amount of rice in a roll, this place is not for you. They add an exceptionally large amount of rice and the pieces of the roll are huge. I just eat as much of the rice as I can and then enjoy the inside. I have nothing negative to say about the quality of food except that it lacked the WOW factor I usually get from it. They have the best spicy mayo. So that def didn't change. I'll be visiting the 49th street location from now on. It is more clean, welcoming and the ambience is much better.

Yama has been in my mind lately. Tonight I had a chance to revisit my most favorite sushi place from years ago. When I saw Omakese on the menu, I got very excited. My memories told me that I was always happy with the food there, so I ordered it. BUT.... :( However, my omakase was not what I had in mind. I expected a little extra special sushi than simple sushi pieces (see picture). If I had known, I would have better off order rolls or something else. Oh well, I probably would NOT return there for omakase. Yama offers good sushi for the price, big pieces, big rolls, etc. you would probably enjoy it if you are hungry and on a budget. It's kind of sad that I left the place feeling unhappy after spending almost $90 Omakase 60 + hot sake 6 + tax + tip. This piece is for 1 person.

One of my favorite sushi spots in Manhattan - and I'd venture to say it's one of my best-kept secrets. The sushi is SO good, they could charge 3x the price but I'm so glad they don't. All of the portions are massive (one piece of nigiri would easily be two at another restaurant). Note that the Union Sq location is a much more low-key hole-in-the-wall type of place while the midtown east location is a bit more upscale - but same menu and incredible food! We usually order some soup, crispy rice with spicy tuna, a kani salad, and split some nigiri. Simple and perfect.

First time trying this place and it was so good! We've always walked by wondering how it was and finally went for dinner tonight. Got there at 7pm and sat outside... there was no one there when we got there but by the time we left there were people waiting to be seated!! We brought our dog and they kindly gave us a container of water for him. Our waiter Nishio was so kind and friendly! You could tell they were very busy and running around as they were busy but made sure to keep checking in on the tables. We got our apps within 5 minutes after ordering- super quick. We got.... - edamame - miso soup - soba salad - harumaki - spicy tuna on crispy rice - mango salmon roll - California roll - jalapeño special 1 roll Total came out to $78 after taxes. We were very satisfied... 2 thumbs up! Everything was delicious... all of the fish tasted so fresh. They have such a good menu I can't wait to come back again soon and try more things.

Oh Yama, I used to come here with my family two decades ago. My parents would swear by this place having some of the best sushi, at a low price tag. Some things don't change, including the interior. I mean yeah, Yama defintiely needs a facelift, but the sushi is excellent...and priced really well. Make a reservation, this place fills up. I was here at 7pm on a Saturday and it was already packed. My friend and I each ordered a glass of plum wine and it was SO good. Get it, it's $6 and delicious. All the combos come with either a soup or a salad, and I ordered a miso soup along with my sushi and sashimi platter. I typically don't like miso soup, but this one was fantastic, as was the sushi. Fresh, plentiful, great. We also shared the shumai as an appetizer and it was standard. All this, for $67 total. A bargain in Manhattan.

Overall, extremely satisfying and filling! We both agree that the chicken teriyaki is better than the beef teriyaki, which is pretty good in itself. Waitress was helpful and attentive, and kept checking in to make sure we were enjoying the food. The prices are reasonable too. Get the plum wine for a little extra on the side!

They've been in the game for decades & the Sushi is Great. The place needs some simple interior décor improvements. A simple paint job and replacing the old rug in the back room would do wonders.

Yama is back, and just as good as before the pandemic! Yelp should stop reporting this place as closed - they're definitely open now. I've been coming here for over 10 years (when we call, Andy immediately recognizes both my voice and my fiancee's voice since we order takeout so often). I'll admit - the pandemic and the previous reviewer's pictures scared me. The special roll #5 has been my favorite as well. But we decided to order anyway, and it's exactly like how we remember it. I don't normally write reviews here, but I needed to correct the record about Yama's famous #5. Delicious sushi that tastes very fresh. Oversized sushi and rolls. Great cooked food too, though we usually stick to the sushi.

This sushi place has been around for a while. Been coming here since I was young and it's just as good as the first time (granted I was like 8 years old the first time I came here lol). It's extremely small so I would recommend reservations! The sushi rolls are significantly bigger than your normal rolls and they serve everyone's rolls on one large plate. Perfect for ordering a bunch of different rolls and sharing with everyone! A bit pricey, but the sushi always tastes fresh and is wrapped to perfection. I like that the place has a tiny, hole-in-the-wall feel. Always a good time when I come here!

Love coming to Yama on special occasion dinners. That it's sort of under a staircase further adds to its charm. Their sushi is pretty decent - we ordered a few rolls and the sushi deluxe and were not disappointed. My favorite treat this past dinner was their special sea bass appetizer (pictured) cooked with a yummy miso sauce. Very, very delicious. A very classic and cute date spot, but also super appropriate for groups of friends and family! Space is a little bit tight (see before note about being under a staircase) but not terribly cramped.

We love it here! The tiny basement space will film up quickly and stay full entirely because the food is fresh, tasty and beautiful. We ordered quite a variety with the salmon tartar being my absolute favorite!

A literal dream! So delicious and so many options on their expansive menu. I really enjoyed this place for takeout and I would definitely go back again. Really has options for everyone!

Why this place has 3.5 stars is beyond me. If you like real sushi, do not come here. The pieces are HUGE - whether a piece of roll, or a slice of sashimi. Why are they so big?! Poor quality fish - the tuna was brown both times I went. The pieces of fake imitation crab are enormous and terrible, and should not come in a chirashi bowl. They add things like asparagus, citrus mayo, and mango - that should have been my sign to get out before actually ordering anything. Even the rice was strangely cooked, and strangely over-sized. Dining room is strange - overly packed, low ceilings, dirty, sticky, exposed mechanicals. Full of loud diners who just get drunk on their terrible cheap wine, so they order more terrible sushi.

This japanese restaurant is conveniently located near Union Square were we watched a show We were craving sushi and we were not disappointed. The fish was fresh and flavorful. The atmosphere relaxed. Tables covid safe distanced. The size of the sushi and sashimi pieces was perfect. We ordered a wide variety and I loved the uni and unagi. Takeout seemed extremely busy which is a good sign. Prices are very reasonable. I forgot my credit card at the restaurant, which they mailed to me as I live far away. First class people . Will definitely return

Probably the best quality sushi I've ever had in Lower Manhattan. Venue is a speak-easy like intimate setting right off of the hustle and bustle of Union Square.

Went here with my family of four after a co-worker raved about the place. I was underwhelmed (could've been the food, my high expectations or both!) We shared an appetizer of calamari and it was the most chewy calamari I've ever indulged in. Lesson learned: only order calamari at Thai restaurants. We also ordered miso soup which was very rich in flavor. We each got a variety of hand rolled sushi. I got the only vegan option which was bland in my opinion but understandably so because who gets sushi without raw fish? lol My family who are big sushi eaters were also underwhelmed by their dishes. They described it as "Just okay" The service was great and attentive and the small interior made for an intimate dining experience. Highlight of the night: two customers sitting next to us taught my family and I to use chopsticks!

Yama is a very discrete and cozy sushi spot near Union Square. I recent came here midweek for dinner. They nearly full and I'm not surprised! The sushi was excellent and the prices were basically unbeatable. We were shocked when the bill came considering the great quality of the sushi. We also did an order of the gyoza and it was delicious. Highly recommend!

The food is good, but the staff is rude. I don't appreciated being rushed to eat at 8:30 on a Thursday evening. They literally gave me a 30 minute last call order when they seated me. I've ordered throughout COVID to support them, but I will never go there again.

Been going to this spot for years. It's an underrated gem. All the $ goes towards the fresh fish. If you're looking for fancy decor to upload to Instagram, this isn't it. If you're looking for some of the best tasting sushi in the city, welcome to Yama.

Yama has great sushi. They have specials, appetizers and entrees in the menu or you can order rolls or pieces a la carte. Everything we got was great, I would recommend the mango salmon roll, which turned out to be pretty large and filling! The prices are fairly reasonable, a dinner for two, including an order of saki was less than $50. The staff was also very nice. The restaurant is on the lower level so it might be hard to find at first at first glance, however the place was packed! Yama is kind of small, so I do not recommend going with a large group. I would also recommend making a reservation in advanced, so you do not have to wait.

My go-to sushi spot in the city. Always fresh, incredibly generous serving sizes, and you just can't beat the value. Will always recommend.

As much as it pains me to do this I must leave a negative review. I don't know if they changed suppliers, or are using old fish from before the pandemic starting but something is off. The special no 5 roll salmon is white (salmon should be red/orange) and Yama sauce which has been a staple sauce is now bitter. Don't believe me? Just compare my pictures of the special number 5 vs. pics from before of the same roll. Stay away until they get there act together

You can eat created Japanese sushi and good Sake! It was really good. But restaurant was small and I wanted more nice interior for date...1.8.2016