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    Rocky Yama Sushi

    4.7 (310 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Sushi Bars
    Closed 12:00 pm - 8:45 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Rocky Yama Sushi Takeout or Delivery

    Rocky Yama Sushi Photos

    ROCKY YAMA SUSHI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Rocky Yama Sushi

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    Hailey G.

    Such a gem! The fish was fresh, rich, and buttery, and everything was prepared with care. For how casual and easygoing the vibe is, the quality of the sushi is impressive and the prices are very reasonable. The staff was friendly and attentive, and the whole experience felt relaxed and welcoming. It's the perfect spot to enjoy top-notch sushi without the hassle of reservations. We'll definitely be back to try more + the happy hour!

    BOGO wine happy hour
    Ann K.

    We recently discovered Rocky Yama through Yelp reviews. What a great find! We came before seeing a play at the Buell and it was a great place for happy hour. The service was so friendly and quick. From the outside, it looked empty but once inside, we saw almost all the tables were full in the back room. Tables are clean and we sat in the half booth. We loved the BOGO wine and sake and beer options. The sushi was fresh. Lots of rolls to choose from. The hamachi collar was one of my favorites. I probably would order my own next time! The orenji roll and tempura shrimp were delicious. I tried the fatty tuna piece and it melted in my mouth. We will think of this place everytime we are craving sushi! Parking is easy along the street and we don't mind walking a block or two after a full meal.

    Maguro, Salmon, and Eel
    Rick K.

    We had such a lovely dinner at Rocky Yama. The sushi was excellent and at a fair price. I wish I had found this place sooner. Service was charming and ambiance was nice. Firecracker roll was my favorite but the maguro sushi was also delicious.

    Niles C.

    Portions were great here. Went with 2 friends and we had a little bit of everything. I had heard of this spot before and was thrilled at the chance to finally try it out for myself. I think it is a good mid tier sushi spot here in Denver. Everything was good but no wow factor. Solid but not my favorite.

    4 of their specialty rolls! SO delicious!  I believe we went with Lava, Red Dragon Roll, Philly, and I think Samurai?
    Nawaal F.

    My husband and I frequent Rocky often. I crave it regularly-- some of the best sushi I've had in general (and definitely in Denver). Everything is always so fresh and delicious, regardless of eating in restaurant or by delivery. I've been obsessed since they opened less than a decade ago. The flavors all go so well together and rolls are so perfectly crafted -- rolls never fall apart and are always a perfect bite. Service is always excellent as well-- we love chatting with the owners when we are there and service from others is excellent. I personally love the ambiance -- can come in casually and have an incredible meal and it's inviting + relaxing while there. The special BonBon roll is one of my favorites, it has torched salmon on top which is simply delectable.

    Rainbow Roll
    Rachel S.

    BIG FAN. Stopped in for sushi happy hour and was so pleased with quite a few GF options!! Enjoyed a rainbow roll and tuna roll, as well as fresh edamame. Efficient and kind service too.

    Hamachi Kama
    Laureen O.

    We came here on the recommendation of a friend. We were here twice at lunchtime. We are very particular about our sushi so I will qualify why we gave so many stars on this review. This is a place you can come to often and get your money's worth of good sushi. We ordered the Hamachi Kama (yellowtail collar) which was quite sizable and well prepared. We also ordered an unagi on rice which well prepared. The best roll they have is the Samurai roll if you like fresh flavors. Rex the owner is personable and attentive to his customers. I would recommend this place is you are looking for solid, every day sushi that will satisfy you, but might not excite you.

    Kate Y.

    Explored the beautiful Santa Fe art district on foot and came to Rocky Yama Sushi. The first thing that impressed me is people hanging out and bantering with the sushi chefs! What a great vibe! I sat at the bar and enjoyed myself. There is a happy hour every single day - even Saturday! 3-6. But once I tasted the sushi - I was floored. Just how do they make it so melt-in-your-mouth fresh?? I am from southern California and we have an ocean!! Where did they get this sushi?! Wonderfully prepared, with great service. This is now my weekly go-to place!!

    Lava Roll, Fire Cracker Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, & the Red Dragon Roll. All were EXCELLENT!!!
    John C.

    When people see my reviews, they must say that this guy gives every place 5 stars, well, if you only go to places that are 4 stars & above, you really can't go wrong! Now onto to the Rocky Yama review. This place is really, really good! The wife & I went on Thursday night for our 23rd Wedding Anniversary for the first time & I can safely say that it won't be our last time! We started off with the Yellowtail Jalapeño Sashimi, because it reminded us of a dish we used to get at our favorite Sushi place in NJ. I'm really glad we tried this dish, it was extremely fresh tasting, what I mean is the Cilantro was very dominant& this app was excellent, I highly recommend it! I really wanted to try the Toro Aburi, which was a piece of the Tuna belly, marinated & they used their special fire technique to finish it, again this was excellent!!! To top off our appetizer selection, we got their Crispy Tuna Bites & I have to say that these were the best of the bunch! For our entrees, we got the Spicy Tuna Roll(Whenever we try a new Sushi place, I always try the Spicy Tuna Roll to judge the quality) again, EXCELLENT! We also got the Lava Roll, Red Dragon Roll & the Fire Cracker Roll, and every roll was EXCELLENT as well! I'm really glad we went here & tried a new place, it was well worth the 30 minute ride from Highlands Ranch. We went for Happy Hour, which goes from 3pm-6pm & it's BOGO on Sake selections & some of their alcoholic beverages, as well as discounts on food. The service was excellent & she was very attentive. Ambiance was average, it was a great little Sushi restaurant & we definitely will be back!!! Try it, you won't be disappointed!

    Fire Cracker Roll

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    6 months ago

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    1 month ago

    Their food is always top tier quality and I went to the happy hour earlier this week with a gal pal. It's a great neighborhood spot

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    3 months ago

    Such a great sushi joint! Everything we ordered was fresh and tasted great. The staff were fantastic as well.

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    7 months ago

    The best!! Fabulous shushi that doesn't break the bank!! So, so delicious!! Great service and atmosphere! So fresh!!

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    7 months ago

    We love Rocky Yama! They have great sushi, good saki great service and good prices. Try the lunch special! What a deal!

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    6 months ago

    Fantastic, fresh sushi, reasonable prices, and terrific, attentive service. Best sushi I've had in Colorado, hands down!

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    1 year ago

    This place is Absolutely Amazing! Some of the best sushi I have ever had. The service was also great. You have got to try the spicy edamame.

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    Ask the Community - Rocky Yama Sushi

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    To celebrate our anniversary, we decided to come to Temaki Den and it did not disappoint (the hype…read moremakes a lot of sense). We thought we made a mistake choosing sushi bar instead of a table because we'll have back issues. Surprisingly, the chairs had a mini back so you could lean back occasionally. And we think our experience was better because the sushi chefs would explain the origin of the fish and all the ingredients they used into each roll and order. We also got a complimentary piece for sitting at the sushi bar which was a light fried yellow tail which was so good. Service is amazing. They're attentive and check in on you often. It does take some time to get your rolls but give its time to digest. From watching the sushi chefs at the bar, they're very precise in how they make each roll. Every roll has similar proportions from the slight wasabi they use to the amount of rice and fish. Everything that we had was amazing. The hamachi and salmon sashimi felt like butter. It just melts in your mouth. The aged toro was so delicious. Even the edamame was just so good. The unagi nigiri is some of the best I've had in the state (the nigri was better than the handroll and I think it's because I love unagi so I love the ratio in nigiri form). The Spicy Tuna Oshizushi was a surprising favorite of the night along with the Crème Fresh Salmon Belly. I could've done without the wagyu but it was good. Every order does come with only 1 so order based on the amount of people that are with your party. Some items we were unsure of like the wagyu so we ordered 1 and shared a bite. Overall, I understand the hype and the reservations. But it was worth it and I'm surprised we can get high quality fish in a landlock state. Of the high end sushi restaurants in CO, Temaki Den is probably my fave.

    Reservations were booked but I walked in for happy hour right when they opened and they got me in…read more I've been here twice before and I've loved it. This time I got a nigiri flight, which I loved. I'd say some of the best I've had in Denver. I also got the salmon oshizushi, which I really liked as well. It was warm and the jalepeno added a perfect spice. They spaced each course out perfectly so not everything came at once.

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    Uchi Denver

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    (1.1k reviews)
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    Uchi is dangerous for people like me…read more Not because of the raw fish. Because the place understands seduction. I've been eating at Uchi since it opened in Denver and today it still carries that same intoxicating balance of precision, warmth, swagger, and restraint. The room itself glows instead of shouts. Wood slats divide the dining room into little private theaters while the sushi counter hums with focused choreography. Expert hands moving constantly. Rice. Fish. Quiet communication. Tiny acts of discipline repeated hundreds of times a night. I sat down intending to have a civilized happy hour. That plan lasted maybe twelve minutes. The kurodai crudo arrived first. Gooseberry, leche de tigre, candied garlic. Bright, sharp, and alive. This is the kind of starter that wakes up your entire palate and you are reminded that you will absolutely be spending more money than originally intended. Next was the bincho temaki: cool albacore, kimchi, avocado, and a vividly garish orange sauce with some heat to keep the richness from becoming too much. Uchi understands something many restaurants don't: luxuriousness needs balance. Fatty fish without acid, spice, crunch, or brightness is palate exhaustion. And then one after another the deliciousness continued: the oysters were cold and perfect with cucumber, calamansi vinegar, and umeboshi. The day boat scallop nigiri nearly stopped time altogether. Just sweet scallops, rice, citrus, a little finishing salt. Incréable. Or whatever the French word is for "I briefly forgot my own name." And somewhere during martini number one, the staff adopted me. Apparently Uchi keeps notes on guests. Mine, I was told, says I'm "nice and a good eater," which may be the most flattering thing anyone has said to me in months. Suddenly more dishes started appearing. Gifted nigiri. Ikura glowing like little amber jewels (my favorite). A ridiculous and completely delicious carrot toro maki with green chili crunch and enough heat underneath the richness to make the whole thing flirt openly with your mouth. At one point the bartenders literally invented a "walu walu shot" on the fly just because the mood had drifted into improvisational chaos. This was somewhere between oyster shooter, seafood dare, and excellent bad decisions. Meanwhile, the guests next to me started talking to me and the entire energy of the evening shifted into communal sushi-bar joy. Suddenly we were all reacting to dishes, laughing, comparing bites, participating in the same ecosystem of salt, fish, alcohol, and temporary human connection. This is the real thing Uchi sells. Not merely sushi. Attention. Rhythm. Atmosphere. Memory. The feeling of being folded into a beautifully functioning machine dedicated entirely to pleasure. And yes, by the end I was emotional enough to remember being 20 years old eating sushi with an older woman named Alana who wore real fur and introduced me to this whole sensual adult world in the first place. That is what a martini and exceptional nigiri will do to a man. The final bill before tip was somehow only $141, which honestly feels mathematically impossible considering I briefly entered a spiritual relationship with the sushi counter. I tipped $50 because at that point we were basically family. Uchi remains one of the sexiest restaurants in Denver. Not performatively sexy. Not influencer sexy. Actually sexy. Confident. Observant. Generous. Precise. And just dangerous enough to make you order one more thing. Amazing dining experience.

    Uchi was the perfect place for an intimate birthday dinner. The atmosphere is elevated, and the…read moreservice was attentive throughout the entire meal. We had the somakase, and every dish seemed better than the last. The hama chili and walu walu were phenomenal. From the quality of the food to the overall experience, this was easily one of the best meals I've had in Denver. A must try for anyone who appreciates exceptional sushi, great service, and an experience that feels special from beginning to end.

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    Luffy roll, Cali roll and I forgot the other one lol
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    I've been to Kumoya twice now, once in 2023 and again recently, and I really wanted to love it. The…read morefood is good, the ambiance is great, and the staff is kind when you interact with them. Unfortunately, both visits had the same issue: very long gaps between dishes. On my most recent visit, we waited nearly 50 minutes between courses and never received the remaining three dishes. We ended up asking for the check instead. What made it more frustrating was the lack of service. No one checked on us, and we had to flag down another staff member just to get the check. Our server never came by. It was also surprising because the restaurant wasn't busy. There were open bar seats and plenty of open tables, so I'd be nervous to see what the experience is like on a busy night. It's disappointing because the food is solid, but the pacing and service make it hard to come back.

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    Rocky Yama Sushi - japanese - Updated June 2026

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