Sushi restaurant serving a large menu. Two different menus with sushi rolls and appetizers were provided which was a little confusing. We ordered for 3 people and felt that it was an appropriate amount of food. - agedashi tofu: the sauce was tasty but i like my agedashi tofu to be crispy, this tofu had soggy breading which became stretchy as you bit into it, not a fan - karaage: good sized pieces, tasty chicken, aioli sauce paired well - snazzy roll: our table's favorite sushi from the three rolls we ordered. large cuts of tuna sashimi covered the roll and there were even pieces of lump crab inside which isn't common - ufo roll: uniquely fried, i liked that the tempura batter was just on the circumference and the pieces were cut larger so that the fried batter wasn't overpowering. typically i'm not a big fan of fried rolls but this was decent - green dragon roll: can't go wrong with the eel/avocado combination read more

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As long as the raw sushi doesn't taste fishy or makes me sick, then it's good with me!!!! My friends and I always go to Yamazaru for their chirashi bowl just because there's such a huge variety of sashimi laid on top of a bed of sushi rice. Also, it's super pretty and aesthetic... not to mention the fact that the people eating next to you at the sushi bar will definitely ask you what you're eating so it's a good conversation starter. For some reason, I always go with only one other person so a chirashi bowl, with one other roll is more than enough food for the both of us. I'd recommend either the Red Monkey or the Gladiator roll. Be prepared to wait if you're coming at prime dinner time. read more

Yamazaru - Red Monkey roll, chirashi bowl - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

First time here during the Covid pandemic so it was extremely busy with limited dining, to go, and delivery moving in and out of the restaurant. Despite how busy and how long the service was, the sushi was freshly made and taste great! Specialty roll prices range however, I spent $9-10 for each of my rolls. I recommend a side of spicy mayo for dipping if you are a huge fan like me. read more

This is in a location that's easy to walk or drive right by. Once you go in the restaurant is small but has quite a bit of seating and can hold a large amount of people. The service wasn't superb but it looks like they had a full restaurant and limited staff, they're polite but were clearly super busy. The quality of food was superb and I thoroughly enjoyed everything i ordered. I remarked that the fish was very fresh and high quality so I LOVED that. Overall, I'd be back. I came here actually per the recommendation of Hayden who works at Dogwood so it was nice to see another restaurant of equally great quality recommend another place. read more

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Great atmosphere, music and service. The owner on the floor taking care of all the guests. Everyone super friendly and nice. Food is fresh and delish read more

Yamazaru - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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On one of our nights out, we wanted some of our favorite foods from a nearby sushi restaurant. When we looked at the menu, we definitely had to go to Yamazaru. Naj loves the Hamachi Kama and Kimchi, we both love grilled squid and shishito, and cocktails. We were greeted warmly by the host and our waiter was polite. We had a lovely night eating outside in the pleasant brisk North Carolina air under one of the bright red umbrellas. read more

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[Grade: S+] Wow, just wow. I've been coming to this place for a long time, and I've still yet to go to somewhere that can beat this place in terms of quality, freshness, flavour, cost, and service. Unparalleled, unchallenged, and reigning as the number ONE sushi spot in Charlotte in my heart. Sure there might be some places that have a slightly better quality and a bit fancier but for how much you pay, you really can't beat Yamazaru. If I could give this place more stars, I would in a heart beat. The food and sushi is just wow. Everything is soo good no matter what you get I don't think you could go wrong. Sushi rolls, kitchen dishes, drinks, everything is great. Everything tastes fresh and honestly I don't think I can put it to words how good this place is. All I can really say is to come here and see for yourself. The service here is really great too! We had outdoor seating (it was nighttime so it was really dark so I'd prolly recommend that they add some more lighting too), and I was a bit worried they might forget about us because it was so busy. They always checked up on us, were really nice, and our food came out incredibly quick too! I usually try to put more into my reviews, but this place is soo good I don't want to spoil any surprises for you. Come to Yamazaru and see for yourself how incredibly delicious and mouthwatering the food is instead !! If you have a chance, I recommend eating in rather than taking out so that everything is still fresh and crispy when you get it ! read more

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The food quality of this place is AMAZING. I am guilty of using Postmate and UberEat, but let me tell you, the quality of the food that I am getting is just amazing for To-Go Food. I Love, I mean Love their CHIRASHI Bowl, its perfect and the quality of the fishes are fresh! I also get, TAKO YAKI which my Fiance Loves, it is crispy on the outside and a good amount of squid in the inside. The TUNA BOMB is a must try! The rice is fried and has fresh tuna on top. as for sushi, I usually get KISS of Fire which is good as well, the perfect size, I like my sushi smaller than the big rolls and this place just makes it perfect! I haven't had a chance to have time to go in and dine in, but I am looking forward to one day! This is my new place for sushi! read more

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The ambiance here isn't much to write home about.. but I think that may be why I love it? It's kind of got a NYC great local spot charm.. no real frills, some things seem a little thrown together (like our table directly outside of the kitchen exit) but it's the food that speaks so much to why this place is wonderful! The service is QUICK, the food is so fresh and full of flavor, and the price is really great for what you get. Our party of four was so pleased with the variety and prices for such great food! read more

I have been to Yamazaru 3 times now and BEST SUSHI in Charlotte hands down! Everything is always soooo fresh and the service is always great as well. It's pretty small inside but we've never had to wait for more than 20 minutes to get a seat. They have a couple tables outside for dining too. Anytime I want sushi this is the first place that comes to mine, never disappoints! read more

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I always crave sushi when I travel for some reason so I was excited! I ordered delivery and half my order was missing...I knew the bag was a bit light when I picked it up from the front desk of my hotel. I ordered a hand roll, several nigiri sushi, and a seaweed salad. I only received 1 nigiri sushi and my seaweed container was quite sad, seemed like half that was missing too or maybe I got someone's left overs. There was about a quarter cup of salad in a container that would have fit two cups of seaweed. What I did receive, my three bites of dinner, was decent. My hand roll was tuna and ikura, it was good, although a bit on the mushy side. I kinda felt like ordering a whole pizza after. Next time I want sushi I'll just walk somewhere around downtown and pick it up, skip the 40% delivery fees and the risk of going hungry for the night. read more

This place was super delicious and I would definitely come back again. I do not eat fish and so the two rolls that I did eat were the California roll which had imitation crab and a tofu roll (which I forgot the name I'm so sorry, but it was on the vegetarian menu) they were both so yummy and affordable. Each roll was six dollars and everyone who works there was so kind and welcoming. I highly recommend coming to this place for good service and a good ambience. read more

Yamazaru - Tofu roll (I forgot the name, but it was on the vegetarian menu) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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My absolute favorite sushi place in Charlotte (& yes, I've been to New Zealand Cafe on Sardis). Food is consistently delicious (although I always get the same thing!) & the service is always on point (we always sit at the bar). Stoli Dole pineapple martinis are where it's at! Eat the chunk of pineapple! The tuna bomb roll is probably my favorite roll ever! Warning: it is not a traditional sushi roll-they take the rice & form a cube & deep fry it and then lay the tuna on top! It's SO good-even better with the spicy mayo! My boyfriend gets a different roll almost every time & he always eats it all & enjoys it. I really miss them-I really hope to go there once I am able! read more

Yamazaru - Stoli Dole pineapple martini & what's left of a Tuna Bomb roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Place is very cute and has indoor and outdoor seating. Came on a Sunday night and it was very busy! Parking is limited- there is a lot on the side of the building or on the street. I would avoid driving on a Friday/ Saturday night as it maybe be hard to find a spot. Started with the pork Gyoza that were really good and three sushi rolls to share. My favorite was the Gladiator! Service was fast and attentive and I enjoyed the meal! read more

Yamazaru - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

my favorite dish to get here is the chirashi bowl! it is such high quality and delicious every time. during lunch, it comes with a miso soup. read more

Yamazaru - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I took James & Molly here in a Monday night to celebrate James' birthday. James is a sushi expert & has eaten it from coast to coast and has been to Japan & Korea. Me and Molly thought it was good and James agreed. Not the best he's had but a solid 4 stars. Don't expect attentive service, they seem to be understaffed like so many other restaurants in the post COVID world. We had to chase down our waiter to determine the status of a re-order. I had to go inside the restaurant and chase down our server to pay the bill. The food quality was good and the menu was creative. We all agreed that we liked the West Woods best. The dining room is VERY small. They have a small outside patio which fronts the parking lot and an apartment complex which is very busy. This is not a 'date' restaurant. It's a little more than upscale casual. If you are seated inside the place is so small, you won't be able to have a casual conversation. It was a happy occasion and James liked it so that was good enough for me. read more

One of our favorite Charlotte sushi spots. Great sushi and great staff so the experience is always on point. There can definitely be a wait because it's a smaller spot, but we always think it's worth it. We usually hop over to Sycamore to kill time if there's a wait which is always fun. Getting it to go through the walk up window is really easy as well. Parking is easy as well in the lot next to it, so no complaints! read more

Yamazaru - Chicken Katsu Mui Bueno Roll South End Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

WORST RAMEN I'VE EVER HAD I've had sushi from here and enjoyed it; nevertheless, DO NOT get the ramen. Maybe it's because I ordered it off Uber eats, but that is no excuse for subpar food. The broth in Tonkotsu Ramen should be bursting with flavor; what I had was colored water. I've never had tonkotsu ramen from a Japanese restaurant and thought to my self "maruchan ramen has 100x times more flavor than this". I almost threw the whole bowl on the ground in a fit of dissatisfaction & disgust. My first restaurant review ever. I just had to say something about this; I never complain about food but whoever is making ramen there needs to find a role more suitable for them (ie. not making ramen). Also to top it all off, the amount of pork they put in the ramen was laughable. I would have laughed and carried on if the ramen itself was edible; alas, it was not. read more

Yamazaru - Fake Ass Tonkotsu Ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The sushi was beyond perfect... We love the atmosphere and service your get here. The sushi is amazing and reasonably priced... they also have a great patio. read more

Yamazaru - What is the Waverley and one is the crunchy - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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After reading all the raving reviews, I expected a super-nice dining experience here. Sadly, I wasn't too impressed. The restaurant itself is very small...very narrow layout at that. Just basic wooden decor...nothing fancy or unusual. That itself is no big deal. Guess the bad impression started and ended with the service...or the lack thereof? First of all, I met up with a fairly big group of girls for an early dinner (reservations made in advance). The long table was ready for us, and the bus boy was there to fill the water (which was lukewarm, not even cold!) and fix the rocky table...but there was no waiter. ??? After at least 15 minutes, we actually had to ask for one. After taking our order, the waiter did not come by even once - at least to my side of the table - to ask if we needed anything. Usually when you dine with a group larger than 6 peeps, the service isn't the greatest. Still, this stood out as being one of the worst group dining service...in that there really wasn't one lol. Of course, they tipped themself 20% since it was a big group. SO undeserved in this case! As for the food, I ordered one of their Sushi/Maki Rolls, "West End Roll", along with a Tonkatsu Ramen. A-Plus for this Maki Roll (Maybe A-Minus, given not super-cool or creative in presentation), but the Ramen was so Blah, I'd give it a D! The Ramen was super-bland, even tasted as if it had been watered down. I didn't even bother drinking much of the broth since it was nearly tasteless. Most Tonkatsu Ramens I've had around town have been delicious (and much spicier), so this was a huge disappointment. Maybe this was an off night, but it just wasn't that great...any of it. I may go back one day to try another Maki Roll or two, but NEVER their Ramen again. read more

Yamazaru - "West End" Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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So many amazing rolls-super fresh! Love the service throughout the restaurant - never a bad seat in the house!! Also the place always has a good vibe! read more

I can't get enough Yamazaru! This is my favorite restaurant for sushi, but I don't get to go here often because of how crowded it is + the parking. This is one of the places I'll only visit on a random weekday. Everything I've tried has been delicious, even the drinks. The service has usually always been good. read more

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Visiting from out of town and was craving Japanese. We are so happy we found this place! The sushi, sashimi, and appetizers were amazing! We went on a Monday night and they were packed. read more

Came here for dinner. Yamazaru definitely caters to a more Western palate as majority of the offerings are of the fusion variety. There was one roll which I believe was called Krystal Rainbow. Inside the roll was a weird combo of imitation crab and lettuce. It wrapped in rice paper that you'd typically use for spring rolls. That was a real head scratcher for us. Would not order that again. We ordered a bunch of other rolls as well but none were memorable. On a positive note, we did not get food poisoning despite the blazing heat outside. Also, service was friendly and prices are very reasonable. read more

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Taste: Started with miso soup and a ginger salad. Both of which were very tasty. Then, moved on to the sushi rolls. The sushi was very fresh and up there with the best I've had in Charlotte. I'd say closest rival would be Oku. I had the Lemon Twist roll, Gladiator Roll and Spicy Salmon roll. All of which had great flavor. Service: Service was very quick and friendly. It's not a massive place and no reservations are taken. Make sure to budget some extra time if you've got a larger party. Atmosphere: Typical sushi/Japanese restaurant. Darker vibe, but sleek. There is a bar there as well. Cleanliness: No issues Overall: Whenever we are wanting sushi, we will be coming here. Good service, fresh sushi and very fair prices on their rolls. read more

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I've had dinner here a few times, the food is decent. My biggest gripe is with them charging a mandatory 10% fee on takeout orders when ordering directly through the restaurant (as opposed to a delivery service). They claim it's a "gratuity for servers" but takeout orders don't even come thru the main restaurant, you pick up from an outdoor takeout window around the side, attached to the kitchen. No interaction with servers at all. I typically throw a couple bucks tip on a takeout order but almost $5 is just a pure nickel-and-diming junk fee. There's plenty of other sushi spots in Charlotte. read more

Yamazaru - Salmon roll, shrimp tempura roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Food and service were good. Nice ambiance. Definitely plan to return. This place will be on my list of sushi restaurants.

I've tried yamazaru multiple times hoping to like it and I have always walked away disappointed. The shrimp tempura roll the shrimp tastes slimy. I also ordered yaki soba noodles as a meal and they were unseasoned noodles with no sauce on them. read more

The freshest and best tasting sushi in Charlotte. Great service and always enjoyable. Yamazaru is our favorite restaurant!

I love this spot in SouthEnd! It has such great sushi and the prices are fantastic! I really enjoyed dining inside at the sushi bar (pre-covid times). I've ordered takeout from here quite a bit since quarantine life. My go to order is: grinch roll, tuna fresh roll, veggie gyoza, and we alternate often between the kiss of fire/volcano/salmon madness rolls. The sushi and sashimi is really fresh, service has always been great, and the prices are right! They also make pretty good cocktails and have a good sake selection. read more

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Very busy restaurant with excellent sushi!! Great service lots of downtown "buzz" !! I highly recommend this place for some great sushi!!!! The BEST!!! read more

The food and sushi is always fresh. People are nice. It's usually quite busy so be prepared for weight to become in there at the last moment. But it's usually worth it. read more

Yamazaru never disappoints. All of these rolls are great, mango de tango was probably the least favorite but the sake made up for it. read more

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Great atmosphere. Amazing sushi. Friendly staff. Try the Sake Bomb. Been going here for years.

This is my go-to spot for sushi. The atmosphere is fantastic, the servers are always super friendly and accommodating, the owner and his wife are amazing people. 12/10 read more

Yamazaru - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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MY FAVORITE SPOT EVER! love this place, and love the people who work here. Food is unbelievable!!

I don't believe I've ever left a restaurant a review. But hands down- you guys won me over. I ordered Chefs choice sashimi plate and my goodness! Each slice of fish tasted like it was caught same day and I was still on the boat where we reeled it in! And this is after tasting phenomenal sashimi in California-my home base. The tuna sushi with the fried sushi rice and tuna tartare was mouthwatering. I wasn't sure what to expect after ordering the octopus appetizer but once again it didn't disappoint. I've lived in the city for 20 years and Sushi here has been so-so or extremely pricey. One or the other. Sushi here was fresh and to the point. Bravo! read more

Yamazaru - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Wow!!! This was our first time here. The sushi was to die for and the service was amazing - we will definitely be back! We chose the volcano roll, south end roll (no jalapeños), edamame & miso soup. South end roll will be new go to! read more

Yamazaru - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I loved the sushi here. Got a large takeout order and most dishes were delicious. The fish was fresh (no fishy flavor or smell at all) and the rolls were interesting and exciting. The best sushi rolls were the Snazzy (bursting with flavor and interesting texture combo), the Mango de Tango (fresh and juicy with broth sweetness and fruitiness), and the Krystal Rainbow (particularly the pieces with the tuna). The tiger shrimp appetizer was also delicious though the shrimp was a bit too crunchy for my taste. The chili sauce, however, was delicious. I wouldn't recommend the tempura bowl--it was very average. Finally, we placed a large order for our group and one item was omitted. Thankfully, I ordered through Grubhub and though the prices were higher for some items than listed on the website menu, they refunded us instantly. So this is a place to double-check your to-go orders. Overall, the sushi was delicious and fresh. On a COVID-19 note, I observed large groups entering the restaurant without masks. I wouldn't dine indoors anywhere but I would caution against considering Yamarazu as an indoor dining option. The safety and social distancing precautions, if any, aren't enforced. read more

Yamazaru - Tarzan Roll (green in the back) and Mango De Tango Roll (orange up front) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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My favorite place to get sushi. I highly recommend getting there early because there's not a ton of seating inside but you can sit at the bar. read more

Yamazaru - Mango De Tango Roll & Spicy Tuna Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina