Service was great and this is a very cute place my friend took me to because she said it was her favorite! Extensive menu with many rolls to choose from so it was hard to pick but the server recommended the blue crab roll and i love anything with furikake so i was impressed that they had so many rolls featuring it! Highly recommend! read more

Yamato Japanese Restaurant - Blue crab roll and Edamame (soyabeans) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Grover Beach, California

Went here for lunch on Thursday with my husband. The food was good. The service was kind of slow. Even though the place wasn't busy, there was only one person making the sushi so it took like 20 mins to get a roll we ordered. The initial order came out faster than the second order we placed. The food was fresh and tasted delicious. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance was nice and relaxing.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Had some fun music playing in the background.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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PLEASE...Do not order sushi from here! There are many more spots in the area to choose from. The wait is long (even for take out), the sushi is poor quality, the rolls are very sloppy and Vons has better sushi at this point (I never get grocery sushi). I only ate half my order. I seriously thought I was going to get food poisoning as this sushi was rubbery, the color was off and it looked old. I ate here once before and it wasn't this bad. I don't know what happened overall but if you decide to go, you are taking your chances! Be forewarned. read more

The owner was at the restaurant making the sushi and over Memorial Day weekend. It was busy and we were seated immediately. The food was excellent service was excellent. We had a great time. read more

Discovered this spot in Grover. This was our second visit. We were there on a Thursday evening at opening. We were greeted by the owner, Steve, and gave us the perfect seats at the sushi bar. My husband was in the mood for some ramen, he had the short rib, galbi ramen. He enjoyed it very much. It hi the spot, being it was a cool rainy day in the Central Coast. I again had the Alaskan Roll, which was delicious, fresh and the best fried salmon skin topping. We also heard Sam, our sushi chef for that evening, who was great by the way, that they had freshly caught Spanish Mackerel. So we had to try it. And we were not disappointed. It was so tasty. We had sashimi and the rest of the body was deeply fried, we ate every single part of it. Even the eye . The staff was very sweet and service was on point. Sam was very hospitable and kind and even offered my husband a soju on the house. [[HIGHLIGHT]]A small place but will leave a great impression. We will be back[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]‼. Thank you Steve and Sam. read more

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I have passed by this place so many times. Fortunately I stopped today. So many unique rolls. Friendly staff and regular customers at sushi bar. I will be back. read more

We are new to the area and we were delighted we found Yamato The chef is fantastic and so is the sushi! We highly recommend the chef choice . A very cozy place. The service was excellent and we are looking forward to come back soon! read more

I have been going to Yamatos for many years and fish is always fresh and service is always good. It's a must try if your visiting or even a local read more

Yamato Japanese Restaurant - Fresh sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Grover Beach, California

There's so many good things I could say about this place. My family has been coming here since before I was born, and we will continue to come here as long as they are open. Steve and Jane are fantastic hosts, and the food is so good. The specials change all the time and are always amazing. My favorites are the albacore delight and a hamachi cut roll, but you can't go wrong with the yellowtail nigiri or even the classic spicy tuna roll. If you're looking for something other than sushi there is ramen and udon and many other entrees that hit the same standard. The service is fantastic and quick and if you have any questions or requests they are happy to accommodate. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place is not that big, but there are many tables and an outdoor patio for when it is nice outside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Could not recommend more! read more

Food was delicious! We had family with us that never had sushi rolls before and they loved it. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice casual location and well kept.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was excellent and was very responsive. read more

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I love the Hot Grover Beach Night. My favorite! Owner/staff are all very friendly. This is a great restaurant. read more

We finally got seats when they were crazy busy (although by mid-dinner, all seats were taken) and we loved every bite. I love that the rice wasn't super thick like at other places. This is my go-to local sushi spot now. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I also love how it's super cozy inside --it's not big but that's ok.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We loved it. read more

Kinda disappointed in the taste of everything we ordered. Seems like something changed.

Amazing experience at the bar here. Would come back if I didn't live so far away. Some of the rolls were very innovative and had a great japanese ambiance. Food took a while to come out and was pricey, but service was great and most of all one of the best sushi spots i've been to in the US! Although we didn't speak with the owner you can tell he puts his heart into his business the way he interacted with all of his regulars on a first name basis. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]We stopped in on a Friday evening into a pretty packed house.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Notice they had only table top settings upon entering so we grab what was left.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I ordered n enjoyed a steak n rice bowl few pieces of gristle but nothing out the ordinary and would order again. Friend enjoyed chicken n rice bowl. Another friend had some sort of sushi which he said thought would be more fresh. Wish they offered more cooked food options but would go again if and when in area read more

Excellent fresh sushi. Friendly staff and amazing chefs. Uni shooter was off the charts.

I was blown away by this place! The food is all good but the habanero tuna shusi roll had me rolling! The service is great! I called in advance and the server remembered my name and gave me a fist bump! [[HIGHLIGHT]]At another table someone was having a birthday and the celebration is awesome![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I can not wait to go back again! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The seating area could be a little wider though.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] No picture but will be coming back and will update. Thanks! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Best sushi and atmosphere in the central coast![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I'm a bit bias cause we've been coming here since I moved to the area in 2019, food always fresh and delicious! And Steve the owner is down to earth and always happy to see you! Get the albacore delight roll! My favorite and well everything else in here is good! read more

Always a pleasure to have good food! Every time the family and I go there, the portions are good size, the food quality is on point, [[HIGHLIGHT]]the atmosphere is welcoming[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], service is good and attentive and the drinks are nice and cold or hot (however you like it.) One of the best things is Steve (master sushi maker) brings a smile to all. Thanks for keeping it real! read more

I visited here for the dinner on the first day of our visit. Bad decision. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place is run down[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], food was aaverage sushi places, price was probably at least 20% to 50% higher based on item. read more

Steve is an excellent Sushi Chef and if you sit at the bar you're gonna have a great experience. If you show up when they're busy and you're seated in the dining area, be prepared for long waits and lack luster service. I've left with an annoying experience many times. Wish they'd up the service. read more

Food is always on point! We love coming here! They always impress! Fantastic crowd, crew, and overall awesome! read more

Yamato Japanese Restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - Grover Beach, California

We were seated pretty quickly. Food was so good, idk why I didn't come here sooner. My fav sushi spot and decently priced. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Small restaurant and tables alittle close but I kind of liked it so we could really see everyone else's food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

COVID-19 Disclaimer: Employees wear mask and gloves at all times. Patrons MUST WEAR MASKS to enter business. SOCIAL DISTANCING a MUST. Seating at Salon, nail salon, restaurants, cocktail lounges are 6 feet apart; plexi glass dividers at Salons. Stores have minimum number of entry. From 6-20 persons allowed in store. HOTELS w/restaurants have room service or patio service only. Elevators permit 4-6 individuals only. UBER or LYFT, Hotel car service YOU MUST WEAR YOUR MASK. BE SAFE. WEAR YOUR MASK. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HELP LESSEN THE SPREAD OF COVID-19. Yamato: Great sushi, sashimi, tempura, and other tasty sides. Amazing sake choices. FANTASTIC PRICES too! Service is great. Vibe is young and energetic. Yamato's has a sister restaurant in downtown San Luis Obispo "SHIN'S". Just reopened. I'm gonna give it a go. Yamato is YUMTASTIC! read more

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Food is tasty and fresh!! Service is Great Mike the owner will say Hi! as he's busy making orders. Small area but it makes the experience and reputation a part of the experience Sometimes crowed but worth the wait!! read more

Super cool sushi bar on the Central Coast. Get in early or wait, but worth it. Steve (owner) behind sushi bar. Great night of dining on great fish! read more

Yamato Japanese Restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - Grover Beach, California

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Best sushi place on the central coast. Fresh, fresh, fresh. A long wait though. Small pieces of rice (about 1/2 normal) but a larger piece of fish than normal. The service is so, so. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance is good but the parking is not at lunch time.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I will be a regular customer even though the prices are a bit high because it is about time we start backing the small business guys. Steve is a master at his craft too. read more

I have been to this restaurant a few times now with mixed reviews on the food. There's a few items that I really liked and others that I was a little disappointed with. [[HIGHLIGHT]]All in all, the staff and owner are very friendly, service was good and an upbeat atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Quality of sushi was very good. We had a young server who wasn't very attentive but overall was a good experience.

Got a togo order of the beef teriyaki, chicken teriyaki, and chirashi, and 2 rolls. The food was really good, but they use too much rice compared to the fish. The chirashi bowl was not worth it. The cut pieces of fish was very tiny and the togo container was 2/3 filled with ride. This place is the better sushi joint in the area. read more

We got a table for a Saturday night @ 5:15pm as a walk in. Lucky for us we came early enough because it got super busy right settee we were seated. It was a full house with people waiting for tables and also a lot of take outs. Food was good and filling. I liked the unagi nigiri the best. The only thing with this restaurant is the wait time for the food. They need more kitchen staff and waitstaff. The poor waitresses were working so hard like they were in the Olympics running a marathon! We waited over 1 hour for our food. The edamame appetizer dish and oyster shooters came with the meal and not as an appetizers. Oyster shooters had too much sauce, otherwise it was an interesting dish. We left feeling like we had a good dinner despite the long wait. read more

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The staff is very friendly, there is a small outdoor dining area, and the menu has a pretty good selection. There seems to be something for everyone. Everything looked clean, food was good. I'd say this is one of the few pricier sushi restaurants on the central coast, but the inside and atmosphere is a lot less "fancy" compared to the others within the sam price range. The inside is small, it's crowded, and it's loud. Not necessarily a bad thing, just depends on personal preference. Our total was $100 for 2 people: 1 soda, 1 hot tea, 1 appetizer, 1 roll, 1 entree, 1 dessert. Many items were overpriced. The dessert was disappointing. It was 1 overpriced green tea mochi of $4. It was covered in whip cream and chocolate. The flavors did not mix well, in my opinion chocolate and green tea tastes gross together. Also, I don't know how long it had just been standing out in the kitchen or counter, but it was already melted when it got to my table. For the appetizer we ordered the sampler. It was brought out to us pretty quickly. It was yummy. It's a little pricy for what it is, but I'd recommend it because of the variety it has. The Golden California Cheesy roll was good, and decently sized. The beef skillet was the most expensive, $43. The flavor was very good, the meat quality was ok. It was mostly pieces of fat, if you like that then you'll like the dish. It came with miso soup, and a little cucumber salad side. I personally felt it was overpriced for the portion since it's very thin sliced meat, but the sauce was very flavorful, so it's up to you to decide whether it's worth the price or not. read more

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Love this place. Steve and staff treats you well and the sushi is outstanding. Always makes me happy, and I always try to visit tomorrow! read more

Yamato Japanese Restaurant - Sea Urchin with Caviar - Sushi Bars Near Me - Grover Beach, California

In our never-ending quest to find a decent Japanese restaurant on the Central Coast (this side of the Grade), we decided to try Yamato. We usually give a place 3 visits before making our final judgement. The first time we ate here was just before the "plague Times" and the place was loud, crowded and bustling. The food, though pricey, was very good and the service was decent. Went here again recently, and the food was very good, as was the service (the tempura was excellently prepared). Our third and last visit, a few weeks ago, the food was such that I thought maybe the chef was off that day, and the busboy was standing in. We actually arrived a couple of minutes before opening time, and were first in and seated. Service was initially attentive, but faded fast, in spite of there being very few (as in NO customers yet). My wife's teriyaki fish was good enough, but not that good, considering the price. The Tempura that I thought that I was going to enjoy disappointed severely, as if the cook had no real idea how tempura, a simple dish, should be done. Basically, it was fried fish...sort of. Having been trained as sushi-ya and tempura chef in the early 80s, by a top rated ACTUAL Japanese chef, this experience put me off of any return visits. I guess I am just spoiled by having lived in Orange Co., then making our escape to the CC 8 years ago, leaving ALL fine ethnic dining behind. Sacrifices, I guess. read more

Came here for their opening dinner hour on a Sunday. It's located in a small strip mall type of area. Parking was easily found, but I can see it being an issue during busier times. Started out with the Kumamoto oysters (4) which were the smaller, but slightly pricier oyster option. They were very sweet and tasty. Sadly, they were out of uni, sweet shrimp, and sweet scallops today. I ended up ordering the Bluefin O-toro, bay scallops, and ikura nigiri. My favorite was definitely the O-toro. Would have ordered more of that if they weren't $18.99 for a nigiri order (two piece). Service was great and watching them work their magic at the bar side was nice. Will return when above missing items are available. read more

Yamato Japanese Restaurant - Kumamoto oysters (4) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Grover Beach, California

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First time. A hopping place with inside & outside seating. Many options on the menu. Food was of good quality, tasty, and well portioned to fill your dining need. Service staff was friendly. Good spot! read more

First of all this place gets 4 stars for customer service. Food quality more like 3 stars. This is a no for me especially when I have gone to other sushi places where fish is fresh. We ordered over $100 worth of apps, sushi,sake,etc. Overall, it was ok, but not a repeat when there are nearby sushi places that supercede in quality. read more

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Their parking lot that is shared to with other businesses can get full really quickly around the 11th hour but their service is dependable. We ordered, got our food and paid promptly in a timely manner for lunch. The place is quaint and I like staring at the ceiling that's covered with Polaroids of customers! I was impressed with the chef's pick of nigiri. The portions are big and at a glance, you forget that there is rice in the bottom! read more

Yamato Japanese Restaurant - Chef's pick - Sushi Bars Near Me - Grover Beach, California

Excellent food. Teriyaki salmon was amazing. Sushi was fresh. Would definitely come here again.

Cool Japanese resto in Pismo Beach area. A bit pricey but definitely satisfied our sushi craving. Great service!