Yama Sushi & Izakaya

Absolutely coming back. From the speed of service, friendly staff, bomb atmosphere. This sushi spot smells CLEAN! every speck of fish we ate was absolutely delicious, we also got a bottle of Joto sake (highly suggest) I thought I ordered too much but it was so good we ate every bit and literally hobbled out because we were so stuffed. I could taste the quality. Great for a classy date! 10/10 , gold medal, 100% win rate. (We got the Ahi tower, the monkey roll, the tuna-vo and the sashimi salad, with a side of edamame.) oh and the bottle of Joto.)

Such a great experience! I keep trying other restaurants but none really compare in authenticity or atmosphere. The nigiri (and rice) are on point and seasoned properly. Presentation is simple but well done. Kelli, the hostess, is so friendly and professional!

Dinner for 2-walk in no reservation required! Ate: Sashimi salad Tako su Agedashi tofu mochi & egg plant Spinach gomae Kumamoto & Shigoku oysters Kobe saikoro beef (sizzling plate) Boneless chicken wings (spicy!) Negitoro maki roll

Yama Sushi & Izakaya delivers a top-tier sushi experience in the heart of Portland. I ordered the smoked salmon nigiri, king salmon nigiri, seared salmon nigiri with tobiko on top, tamago nigiri, and tobiko nigiri, and every single piece was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully crafted. The seared salmon with tobiko was especially outstanding, with a perfect melt-in-your-mouth texture and a rich, smoky finish. The tamago had a delicate sweetness, and the tobiko brought a fun crunch and burst of flavor. A must-visit for sushi lovers looking for authentic quality and elegant presentation. Highly recommended!

starting off by saying we came in with a bigger party with no reservation and the staff was kind, accommodating, and swift in seating us. everything came out quickly and the plating was beautiful. this is definitely a higher scale sushi restaurant, would be a great date night spot! my only complaint was the portion sizes for the pricing. while the specialty rolls were delicious, we were shocked it was only 5 pieces at $20 a roll. our deep fried rolls were delicious, some of the best I've had. the vegetable rolls were the same as the specialty, pretty but small. All around pleasant experience as long as you're prepared to spend a good amount per person if you wanna feel full after dinner!

I come back time and time again for the fresh raw oysters. They're my absolute favorite in the city. The sushi is great, too, but trust me on the oysters.

Two words: tuna tower. So damn good. Now is the time to ask yourself, “why am I just reading about this food … when I could be eating this right now?” Live a little, stop scrolling and go hit Yama. It never disappoints.

We’ve been coming to this sushi spot for the past two years, and the food never disappoints. Everything is consistently fresh, beautifully prepared, and absolutely delicious. It’s become one of our go-to places when we’re craving quality sushi. If there’s one thing we’d love to see improve, it’s the vibe from the servers. They’re not rude or unprofessional, but there’s a certain air—kind of a sassy, “we’re a high-end place” attitude—that makes the service feel a bit cold. It’s subtle, but noticeable. A warmer, more welcoming approach would make the experience even better. That said, we keep coming back for a reason: the sushi is just that good. Highly recommend!

It's not bad outside patio is my favorite! Service is good food is good. No vibe very quiet and romantic!!

The food at Yama was delectable. Utterly scrumptious. Satisfyingly umami. Having arrived at rush hour, we waited about 40 minutes for a table. But let me tell you, the wait was certainly worthwhile. Upon being seated, service was fast and friendly. It was surprisingly and pleasantly quiet for the amount of people dining. We ordered a couple glasses of rosé, which paired nicely with our dinner. We started with the wakame salad and miso glazed eggplant (a special). For our entrees we shared the paradise roll, truffle avo cu roll, and the Waikiki roll. It was the perfect amount of food to fill us up. Delicious. Exquisitely fresh. Delicately crafted. The perfect balance of sushi rice to filling. This is likely the best sushi we have both ever had for the price range (so affordable!). Highly recommend if you're in Portland. No reservations, but come by early to put your name down on the waitlist. Dangerously good. Best bites: -fork tender umami eggplant. A balance of sweet and savory. Melt in your mouth. -blow torched salmon atop the paradise roll -crispy fried shallots atop the truffle avo cu roll

I came here for date night. Service was great! The servers were very attentive and came around several times making sure we had everything we needed. I'm a huge fan of scallops, a huge fan of pepper salted anything, so the popcorn scallops are naturally a hit. Warning, they come out scalding hot so refrain from popping them immediately in your mouth. I burnt my mouth pretty badly, but I would do it again. The chicken karaage is pretty standard. The volcano roll was more on the sweet side from the unagi sauce. The crazy boy roll had pickled jalapeños in it and I really enjoyed it! It was tangy and had a kick to it. The Kobe roll is another one that was very different. You can taste the smokiness on the meat. It melted in your mouth. Absolutely delicious and the last two rolls were so unique. 100% I recommend everyone try it. I would definitely go back. Everything was delicious. It makes me feel like I need to venture out from my usuals. I like what I like, but there are new gems out there to try.

Hubs took me out for my birthday here on a recent trip. We sat upstairs - it gets warm up there but I didn't mind! Everything that we got was great. We had: Scallop carpaccio, negi tuna roll, salmon sampler, japanese pickles, assorted mushrooms, oysters, kobe, and a bottle of sake. Hubs finished with a few additional pieces of sushi. The sushi and various plates we had were all outstanding. Would for sure go back here again.

Absolutely delicious. I loved that they have a salmon avocado roll. Can't wait to go back.

My friend chose to go here for her birthday. By the time she decided where she wanted to go, it was too late to make a reservation. So we walked in were told the wait would be 45 minutes. Not to bad for a weekend, so we said ok & got a text when our table was ready. I had been craving sushi for a while now, so I was so happy to see a bunch on the menu. Got a few simple rolls & takoyaki & oh did it hit the spot. The batter was a bit heavy on the takoyaki, but it was still really good. Loved the sauce on it! I did think it was odd though that 2 of our ramens came out really quick, but we waited at least 15 minutes for the last one. We thought they forgot, but it did come out. Other then that, service was great.

For being #68 on the Yelp 100 list, I have to say I am a bit disappointed. Here's what we had: Hokkaido Scallop Carpaccio - tasted like it had been sitting in the fridge Grilled Octopus - the octopus was tender and flavorful Kobe Saikoro Steak - dry, dry, dry Salmon Skin Salad - worth getting and eating Nasu Dengaku (miso glazed eggplant) - worth getting Negi-Toro Roll - tastes ok White Fish Carpaccio - tastes ok, well presented For a Sunday, there was minimal wait to be seated at the bar. When our server suggested the bar, I had this vision that I would be able to talk with the chef behind the counter and ask him to make me whatever he wanted, but not only did "the guy" behind the counter fail to greet me (he must not be Japanese), he didn't make eye contact or say anything to me during my entire dinner. What kind of sushi bar is this? In fact, no one was overly friendly.

This was a choice for us during our visit to Portland based on it being in the Yelp top 100 list. I would have to say that the ambience, service, speed, certainly rate the accolade. The food is top notch Japanese ... for Portland. However, I am from the SF Bay Area, so this seems merely good to me, not superior. That sounds more negative than it is meant to be, but nonetheless this place would still stand out for innovative presentation, but the dishes themselves would be just "solid" in, say, Burlingame or SF. That said, there are a few things that really stand out, and I once again believe this is the high water mark of J-food in PDX: I really liked the Salmon Skin salad. Crunchy and generous amounts of salmon skin, nicely seasoned, with radish sprouts and other greens. Great! Grilled Octopus - very good. Tender and nicely presented. Great! Miso Glazed Nasubi - tender and nicely seasoned. Expensive for two Nasubi! Very good. Kobe Saikoku - Steak bits. Seems too lean for what it is supposed to be - that is, tastes like lean siring not Kobe beef. So, I was a bit disappointed despite the nice presentation on the hot griddle. The meat was tender and well trimmed, but it just doesn't have that buttery taste that I would expect from actual "Kobe" beef. Scallop Carpaccio - It was just OK. Seemed a bit over-cured (pickled). not a disaster, but also not the "melt in your mouth" that had been reviewed by others. So, just OK to good for me. YMMV. Whitefish carpaccio - Kind of like the Scallops. The fish were fresh, but I'd say the oil and vinegar was too much for this mild fish. Just OK for me. YMMV. Negi Toro Rolls - These were decent. Nice tuna, Well rolled. So, I'd say "good". Not a lot of interesting other flavor. Since it was good tuna, I'd probably just get the sashimi. So, if you are getting sushi in Portland or want to go for other Japanese food, I think this is your place. If you are from a place like SFO, you are not going to think this is so exceptional, but it's gonna be still OK to good. That said, if you are from a hotbed of J-food I think the more exceptional choices are some of the highly rated WP food places in the area. Portland is much more cosmopolitan than when I grew up here (this was a 50 year HS reunion trip for me) but it's still not SF for Asian food, IMO. I'd embrace my inner WP and go for those biscuits and chicken somewhere.

We popped in early evening and sat at the counter. We tried a variety of menu items and really enjoyed most of them. The one 'not great' choice was the salmon skin roll, which should be an easy homer. The biggest surprise item was the fried bay scallops; really delish! The grilled octopus was also a standout dish. The service was great.

My parents were visiting and requested sushi. My friend helped me set up a private table upstairs for our large group. I requested a set menu based on chef recommendation and nothing disappointed! There are more dishes/ pics to add but Yelp limited it to 10. Everything was delicious, tasted fresh, & came out quickly. My parents said it was some of the best sushi, especially with presentation. Thank you Jay & team for a memorable dinner, especially with my parents.

This place is amazing, the ramen and ahi tuna tower are a favorite. The outside is really nice, and the staff is always friendly.

Best sushi in town! I highly recommend the paradise roll and the salmon carpaccio (if available). I also like their popcorn scallops and geso karaage. The service is excellent as well. It's a good spot for a date night or to take out of town guests if they're craving some fresh fish. It gets busy and there's usually a wait, but I've never waited for more than 30 mins. Parking can be hit or miss around the neighborhood.

Food was very good , huge portions, place very beautiful, extra spices additional $2 Waiter service can be better , need to improve , need to wave to get our water refills , waiter was making faces ,we asked help with menu choices.

It's in the A tier of sushi in Portland***. Don't expect this to taste like your all time favorite sushi spot. It's great for the price and the ambiance is good for small groups and couples. I would recommend the oysters, salmon sampler and the Hokkaido scallops (my favorite). If you feel like balling out, try the uni as well. Expect long wait time as it is FCFS, no reservations

Service was awesome ~ friendly & poised professional! Sushi always fresh & tasty. Awesome spot for the neighborhood.

The first time I had Yama Sushi was take-out and I was so surprised that it was still so delicious even though it had been sitting for a bit. The fish was so fresh and everything blended together so well. I decided to go dine-in a couple weeks later and it was an amazing experience (and I've gone multiple times since!). Be sure to make a reservation ahead if you plan to dine here for dinner though, because every time I've gone, there has been a waitlist. The ambience of the place is amazing, with very cozy decor and warm lighting. Although service here isn't very quick and it may take a while to get assistance or your food, everyone here has been really kind. Now, the sushi is DELICIOUS. Every time I've gone here I haven't been disappointed and I love trying out new things. Both the sauces and ingredients for the sushi melds together so well and compliments the dish perfectly. The fish is also SO SO fresh and tastes amazing. However, I also highly recommend the kobe beef roll as it is so unique to the place and AMAZING. I haven't tried the ramen but the appetizers are also great, although not outstanding. Overall, I highly recommend this place for dinner!

When Momoyama is closed Yama on Clinton is the next best spot. I prefer this location over the pearl location because the service is much better & their menu is slightly different than the other. Came here for lunch today & service was great per usual, food was also amazing per usual! Fish was fresh and full of flavor. Thank you Yama for always being consistent!

Let's go back to nursing style report on this patient, Yama Sushi. It was a lovely Sunday afternoon after gathering with my church (Hinson). Eight of us ate lunch at this wonderful establishment. We did not make reservations and we were seated fairly quickly. I ordered the chirashi bowl and sake bomb roll. Fish for both chirashi bowl were fresh to death. The rice was a bit dry and could have been more moist which would have helped the overall combination between the fish and rice. The sake bomb roll were a wonderful mix of spicy tuna with salmon. Both were excellent pieces to the orchestra of food. It is a yummy place to take for both small and large parties. I would say I will come back again.

I went in on a Sunday afternoon thinking I might be one of only a few diners. They were having a robust afternoon for a Sunday with a few tables clearly celebrating some thing with their whole family. Which is a good sign. If it's the kind of place that you'll bring your whole family to celebrate then the food must be good. I ordered a couple of oysters on the half shell which were absolutely delicious. Then at some Japanese pickles which was a great selection and not just the run-of-the-mill daikon or burdock. I had a Bento box which was a hearty serving. Ate all the sushi which was fresh and the rice was the perfect texture. I took the grilled salmon home with me and had it for lunch the next day.

We stopped in for a quick roll to hold us over and this place did not disappoint! All the staff were nice and friendly. The roll we shared was fresh and delicious! We also had edamame that was a great start! We were seated very close to two other couples which is the only reason for 4 stars rather than 5. However, I would still recommend stopping in for some amazing sushi!

This place is just consistently GOOD. Whenever I'm craving sushi and want to treat myself, I'll head here. There's usually a wait (so popular!) and parking can be hard to find, but it's worth it. Service has always been attentive and efficient. The ambiance is really relaxed. They have so much to choose from - ramen, sushi, apps, snacks! I wish they served cocktails but their sake selection is extensive. I love going here!

One of the Best sushi in Portland. The sushi here is so fresh and the ambiance there is amazing. it is high quality and just the right price. My favorite roll would be the lobster roll. If you love sashimi this is the place to go. They also have the best panna cotta I've ever had.

Delicious fresh sushi in a quiet and comfortable setting especially the tower of tuna!

Was able to get a table relatively quickly, took a minute for them to take my order, but afterwards great service. I got the agedashi tofu as an appetizer, and the salmon and scallop roll, as well as the ocean roll as my main dish. The agedashi tofu and salmon and scallop roll were a amazing so was the ocean roll however the ocean roll was hard to eat without it falling apart. That being said it is a great place to go with friends and family especially since majority of the dish seem shareable. The overall ambiance was chill and relax, it did get a little loud at one point but overall was relatively quiet. I loved the decor especially the giant sake jugs. Overall the experience was good and I would go back.

Wow! Incredible! I'd have to say this is in my top 3 sushi places of all time! Outstanding food and service! The place is also very nice, with indoor and outdoor seating options! We were definitely blown away with how great the sushi was! It was very fresh! The sauces and toppings on all their specialty rolls compliment the rolls so well. What's so great, is that they make ordering easy, with pictures of all the specialty rolls on the menu. You feast with your eyes first, and then the rest of your soul. We were a bit overly indulgent. We ordered two appetizers and six rolls for three people. It was so good, we couldn't leave without ordering one last roll! We left so stuffed! Mmmmm! So pleased with this meal and the overall dining experience!

Everything tasted great. They have a lot of variety. We asked how much to order and usually at these places they recommend more than you need. This time I suggest ordering more than they say. The servings were smaller than we expected so should have ordered more. Next time we will know and the food was really awesome so will be coming back. Loved the miso cod and the truffle salt wagu beef. Husband loved his salad and our friends really enjoyed their sushi. Enjoyed sitting upstairs and had a little area all to ourselves at the top of the stairs. Our waitress was attentive but not hovering.

Lovely spot with plenty of seating. Staff is friendly. They have lots of drink options and even a locally brewed sake. Love to go with a friend to share a sake bottle, some apps and rolls. I normally get at least one of the salads, a special and a big roll.

My husband and I were in the neighborhood and looking for dinner. I wanted ramen so that's what we ordered. The pork belly fell apart in my mouth and was perfectly cooked. The spice level "3" was great. I added seaweed and soft-boiled egg. Both were tasty. The saki I ordered had great flavor. My husband enjoyed the black sesame ice cream that we wanted to try. We found it interesting and enjoyable.

The Ramen with spicy pork is incredible. My husband loved the pork belly ramen. Delicious and comforting. Outdoor setting is lovely. Staff was attentive and customer service was on point.

Love this place, but just an FYI they stop seating at 2:05. Just want yall to know so you don't drive up only to be told that they can't seat you. Luckily they open back up at 5:00pm for dinner time.

My first sushi experience since moving from CA a year ago and it did not disappoint! The service was excellent, the ambiance was warm and inviting, and the rolls were phenomenal. We were celebrating a birthday and enjoyed the baked lobster roll as dessert

I love their Nigiri options. Great specials and happy hour. A nice selection on their menu. The restaurant is very classy and they have excellent service. Good for a date night.

Food, service and ambience is excellent. The best sushi in Portland. The staff are friendly, helpful and attentive. It's not over noisy, the lighting is just right.

I got the real crab California roll and spicy salmon roll, both were good. The wasabi was fresh and perfectly spicy. Unfortunately the ramen (both original tonkatsu and pork belly tonkatsu) were not good. The broth was bland, lacking flavor and the traditional creaminess that you would expect from a tonkatsu ramen. Pork was very bland and unseasoned. $20 for a bowl and didn't even come with egg. If you come here just stick to the sushi

Here in Portland there are two Yamas. In my opinion they are very different. The one on Clinton is hands down the best sushi you will ever have! I have been coming here for years and the food never disappoints. The staff and atmosphere can differ but you can always count on the food being consistent. The lobster roll is my (and everyone else I know) favorite thing on the menu. You can't really go wrong with anything but it is a must thing to order. It is a popular spot so check in early and get on list. They will text you when your table is ready. The space isn't very big so the wait can sometimes be 45 mins. I will say it can be a spendy meal. We will treat ourselves here. Overall, best sushi you will find in Portland!

Honestly hands-down probably one of the best sushi places I've ever had in Portland. Everything from their aesthetic to authenticity really shows that they care about the quality of food and presentations that they put together for this restaurant. There was a short wait but then we were able to sit inside after about 40 minutes getting there at 7:30 on a Friday night. Once we sat down we looked at the specials for the night and I was definitely excited to order the salmon ceviche. When it came out it was very fresh and delicious with the perfect amount of acidity and well balanced with the red onions and crispy wonton crackers. The yuzu amount was perfect. Next was a perfectly tasty and hot takoyaki. It was the perfect bite although I got a little bit excited and put it all in my mouth at once and it was definitely hot but it didn't burn my mouth which I was happy about. The flavors were also the perfect portion amount. Golden fried with enough sauce and flakey goodness. Next we had their are Yuzu Hamachi. It was super fresh and delicious. The portion sizes are really perfect because they make sure to really exemplify the fish in their roll by going east on the rice. It's simple meets sensational. I had to order the same roll to bring back home. I got the suggestion to enjoy an oyster fresh from Washington and the presentation was very cute. It was served in a shot glass with a sliver of lemon as well as having little bits of black fish eggs and green onions. To me I called that a great finisher and dessert because I would definitely come back again and again and try some of that green tea Creme brûlée, but maybe when I have more room. Another thing that I had also taken home to my bf was the negitoro roll. Very delicious small and packed with flavor. I think it speaks volumes about a restaurant when you can enjoy the same quality of food at their place or get round two served in a plastic takeout container and it taste just as amazing. I am already planning my next trip to bring all of my friends and family here. My only regret is not taking more pictures but I guess that's for next time!

Phenomenal sushi and Japanese food. Top quality fresh fish with outstanding service. Absolutely one of my favorite locally owned restaurants in Portland.

Been coming here for about 8 years now. Consistently delicious sushi, incredible service, never disappointed. Our favorite sushi spot by far.

Good sushi is like Adele`s music ,timeless and always a mood turner and if you don`t like it you are wrong ! I am never a fan of waiting and especially if its on a non-weekend night but I did not mind waiting for the Sushi at Yama . After about 30 minutes we were seated and It did take us that much amount of time to figure out what we wanted to try. We ordered a bunch of things and the house Sake and loved it all . : Baked Lobster -This was one of the best things we ordered . Highly Recommended. : Ahi Tuna Tower - very different kind of presentation and very filling . Don`t be fooled by the pictures , this one is a big sized portion . : Tonktsu Ramen - The Ramen was just an afterthought but I am glad we ordered it because it had everything I like in a Ramen , just the way I prefer. The broth was full of umami and the noodles were done just right . : Flaming Jack Roll - This might be the only thing that I would probably give a 4 star to . We took our servers recommendation on what to drink with our choice of Sushi and she recommended the House sake , which indeed was a great choice. Service was friendly , albeit took some time for the food to come out .I see a lot of visits to this place in my near future.

Everything, including the service, is still great in this new world. They have a nice patio area and the tables inside are spaced a good distance so you don't feel too close to others. As always the sushi is very delicious. I came for lunch recently and really loved the combo roll concept. It's like having everything you want without being overstuffed! Love it!

Ordered takeout from here. I paid an extra $8 dollars for a soft boiled egg in 4 orders of ramen but I didn't get a single egg. The worst part is that when I went to pick up my food, THE SERVER SKIMMED MY CARD. She was acting very nervous then she took my card to the back of the restaurant. She walked right past the POS system and stayed in the back for several minutes before coming back to process my order. I didn't think much of it but the next day, I started getting random doordash orders charged to my card. Keep in mind that this is a card that I haven't used in a while and the restaurant they had ordered from is 3 miles away from Yama. I already disputed the charges with my bank but the waitress totally skimmed my card.

lobster roll ahi tuna tower kobe beef everything is delicious!! if you're thinking of eating here- the answer is yes

Go ahead and get the edamame and gyoza for the table they're bomb starters! I love the interior decor of Yama; the lofted ceilings and bamboo decor really create a neutral energy. The staff were very friendly and started us out with a little sake tasting so we could all decide which one we preferred. I was craving Sushi and my friend suggested Yama for a beautiful sunny day. The spicy tuna/salmon roll I ordered didn't quite satisfy my craving but I had to make sure I was ordering one that was dairy free. The sake helped haha.

Really really good. Will definitely be coming back. We came in a large party and the wait wasn't too crazy. My favorite was the Hokkaido scallop. So good and melt in your mouth. I also really enjoyed the ahi tuna tower. I would recommend getting imitation crab since everything gets mixed up anyways. The rolls were all super good. Same with the oyster appetizers. The salmon was average in my opinion. My biggest critique is that items that came with any sort of spicy sriracha or spicy Mayo, the spice was way too overwhelming. Not that I don't enjoy spice but it was just too much. Wish I had gotten the creamy scallop not spicy. It just tasted like literal spice. Anyways, the ambiance and decor is nice.

Super happy with our dinner. There's no reservation allowed but the 1-hour wait was worth it. Super fun ambience, friendly and attentive service, and amazing food. Lots of variety for fresh seafood besides fish as well. We're big fans of the Mardi Gras Roll with crawfish, unagi, and fried garlic. The Agedashi Tofu with Mochi special won me over easily with its tasty broth and perfectly tempura tofu, eggplant, and mochi. The Ika Maru was also super fresh and grilled to the right doneness, making it moist and just the right amount of chewy. The Scallop Cappacio was the least appealing to me, scallop could have been fresher but overall the novelty of the dish was a win. Definitely will be back!

A great sushi spot with great service. Servings were a little small for the price but overall a worthwhile dining experience!

I'm not sure what I was expecting but this place was good. I wish it wasn't as pricey as it is. I think I saw on the menu that they charge $4 for fresh wasabi... but anyway, cute tableware. Sushi was fresh.

Exceptional service, I'd come here just because the staff is so accommodating. The food is exceptional as well, we ordered savory dishes and were loving every bite. Definitely on my list of best sushi places in Portland.

We were pleasantly surprised with the quality of this place. Coming from a background where we eat a lot of sushi and Japanese food, we didn't expect this place to live up to all of those standards, but it was actually fairly good. There was a bit of a wait, but after the wait, we were seated outside. We ordered the Tako Su, the Yama Yami, the Hokkaido Scallop Carpaccio, the Ahi Tuna Tower, and the Flaming Jack. Our favourite was the Ahi Tuna Tower, but the Flaming Jack was tasty (and really cool too)! Would definitely revisit again if I'm ever back in the area.

The worker was so funny and did such a well job at exposing the menu as well as the specials of the day. The fish was fresh but they didn't fully get out order right. It was worth a try though. The inside was super cute but you may have to wait a little bit. They have a little outdoor seating area as well but not much.