Yama Sushi Marketplace
Japanese grocery store · Harvard Heights ·
Fresh sushi, sashimi, musubi, karaage, and Japanese groceries.
Fresh sushi, sashimi, musubi, karaage, and Japanese groceries.
"With three LA locations, this is where to assemble a restaurant-quality sushi spread on a budget: coolers hold pre-cut rolls from salmon to toro alongside pickled garlic and assorted nigiri, while a hot rack stacks Spam musubi and crispy karaage. Staff can slice larger cuts for sashimi or build party trays, and beyond the fish case there are imported Japanese snacks, hard-to-find ingredients, and playful tchotchkes; plenty of rolls land under $10, with vegan options too. Must-try dishes: toro roll, Spam musubi, karaage." - Rebecca Roland
"A market-style sushi operation with multiple Los Angeles locations that delivers restaurant-quality sushi at approachable prices: a cooler stocked with pre-cut rolls (salmon, toro), pickled garlic, and assorted nigiri, plus a hot rack constantly refreshed with spam musubi and crispy karaage. Staff can prepare larger sashimi cuts or party trays, and the adjoining shop carries imported Japanese snacks, hard-to-find ingredients, and fun tchotchke. Many rolls are under $10 and there are vegan options, so it's an affordable choice for takeout or gatherings." - Eater Staff
"We’ve all picked up grocery store sushi in a pinch, but what you’ll find at Yama is a cut above. The third outpost of this Japanese market mini-chain sells freshly made sushi to-go at prices that won’t make you spiral. Most rolls hover around $7-8, and the sushi rice in them stays surprisingly fluffy even after refrigeration. There’s also a seafood counter where the chefs slice sashimi by weight, plus shelves stocked with Japanese snacks, pantry goods, mochi, and tea. Yama is a quick lunch option worth going out of your way for—grab a roll or order a bento box at the front and scarf it down with a yuzu soda at one of the umbrella-covered tables out front. Or don’t. This stuff travels. photo credit: Cathy Park Food Rundown Yama’s Famous California Roll You’ve seen this roll in cold cases everywhere, but not to this degree of greatness. Each piece is massive, which means you might pause mid-chopstick grab, wondering how to bite it. The crab inside is creamy and packed snugly with a thin layer of rice around the edges. Nigiri Assortment This under-$10 tray of nigiri is better than what we’ve been served at some neighborhood sushi spots. They come with a rotating mix of salmon, tuna, or albacore, and each piece has a generous slab of soft fish that’s chilled just right." - Cathy Park
"Musubi is presented as deceptively simple but demanding in execution: the pockets of rice and Spam tucked between sheets of seaweed require opening a can of Spam, frying the slab, and assembling it so it won’t fall apart. At this sushi marketplace the Spam musubi is notable: slices of Spam, fried like katsu, are tucked between a sheet of egg and bed of rice with a swipe of a sweet and savory sauce. It comes with six pieces to a tray, cut so that the musubi is gazing upwards. The write-up recommends pairing the musubi with a tray of sashimi, a few sushi rolls, and other Japanese nibbles to make it a meal. — Rebecca Roland, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest" - Eater Staff
"A quick-service sushi marketplace that recently expanded with a Koreatown location, bringing fresh-cut sashimi, sushi, musubi, and more to the neighborhood. While the sushi was outstanding, an unexpected favorite was the hot, crispy karaage: larger than a nugget but smaller than a whole tender, each piece of chicken was juicy and well-battered, maintaining a crunch on the outside even after sitting on the hot rack for a few minutes. Unlike some karaage that is strictly savory, this version had a pronounced sweetness that almost reminded the reviewer of a honey butter chip or a drizzle of maple syrup over fried chicken, and the writer says this will be in their shopping cart every time they go." - Eater Staff
