I'm lying in beads of sweat, panting hysterically. Clutching my stomach, I hobble to the bathroom. Is it happening again? Yep, sure is. I clench to the side of the toilet, holding on for dear life. "Is this the last time I'm going to throw up tonight?" echoes in my mind. At this point it's beyond a prayer, I'm just pleading for it to stop. This was the aftermath of what seemed like it would be a decent meal from Yamazaru-- a fairly normal order of some overpriced pieces of Nigiri and the crispy rice and tuna appetizer. My total was $50 and I'd pay double that to feel better right now. I'm not sure how a business can be allowed to straight poison their customers; if I lived here I'd take them to small claims court. Shame on you for ruining what I had hoped would be a fun weekend in Charlotte / Asheville. Stay far far away from this place, unless you want to test the limits of your tummy and push yourself to the place where you feel like you're seeing stars from hurling so intensely. Never again!! read more

Bartender was awesome and food was so fresh and yummy. Will definitely be back here soon. read more

Yamazaru - Lychee martini and Nigori sake - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I give this place 3.5 stars. Everything is average here, nothing to rave about. It was our first sushi experience when we moved to Charlotte. We walked in and it felt very awkward with a few employees just staring at us haha. We appreciate the full bar and the choice of nigiri here. It's a very casual and dim restaurant; the atmosphere was not screaming "date night". The price tag was about $150 for two people including beer and cocktails. The price tag did not match the atmosphere of the restaurant. Overall, a good restaurant to try out but not one for me to return back to! read more

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My favorite place for sushi in Charlotte! Incredible and fresh food with a great staff. Definitely my go-to place and the one restaurant I'm always craving! read more

Always a 10 out of 10 here! I highly recommend:) the sushi is always amazing! the atmosphere is great, the prices are affordable and the service is fantastic. my fav spot in charlotte to get sushi! read more

This is our must go restaurant every time we visit Charlotte. Both adult and kids have their loved items on the menu. I order their Chirashi every time and kids get the chicken fried rice and katsu don. Never disappointed. Good portion and great price. Dinner time can be very busy though. read more

Some of the BEST sushi in Charlotte! Fresh high quality fish and flavors! Ambiance was nice whether you stir at the bar or a table. Dim modern lighting with a cozy feel. Good bar selection. There was a waitlist on a Saturday night but definitely worth wait!! You can grab drinks at numerous places close by while you wait. read more

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This place has become one of my go to spots for a cheap & tasty dinner! They have a small outdoor space if you wanna dine outside, indoor dining with a bar and a pick up window so you can pick up your take out without having to go inside. Some of my favorite menu items is the shrimp fired rice, the Brussels sprouts and the sushi... I like The Snazzy. Also the Tuna Bombs are bomb! Ask you waiter for a suggestion on the sushi if you can't decide! Don't forget to try some sake too! read more

I attended Yama after a recommendation from a friend raving about their sushi. She was right, their sushi and food is great! For this visit I ordered the tempura philly roll and the chicken lettuce wrap. The tempura philly roll had fresh salmon but the cream cheese was a little overpowering. The chicken lettuce wrap was great and the chicken was well seasoned! Their prices are unbeatable as well for such great food. I was however, not very impressed by the service. It seemed like they were understaffed and we didn't get very much attention. Overall for the food and price, I think this place is worth checking out. read more

Yamazaru - Chicken Lettuce Wrap - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Ordered takeout from here because it was the most affordable Chirashi bowl I could find at $22 and it didn't disappoint! There were two slices of fish in every bowl that included some interesting cuts that I had never tasted before. I always love salmon and tuna and was surprised by the deliciousness of the eel. The fish was fresh and I had plenty for leftovers. Also ordered octopus balls which were only so-so. They were a bit soggy probably from the drive over so ordering those in person may yield better results. Overall great experience! I will definitely be eating here again. read more

Yamazaru - Chirashi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The service was excellent and the price was very reasonable. I liked the Shoyu Ramen. Another plus is that it is one of the few restaurants in Southend that offer validated parking. read more

Been trying to make my way over here since opening, but this place looks like it will be around for a while. Had an early-ish dinner on a Wednesday evening and we were lucky to get a booth... by the time we finished eating, the place was packed and the bar was full. Hosts and servers were nice enough, and there are bus-ers that walk around to make sure empty plates get whisked away to the kitchen for clean up. Wednesday was $4 Draft Night! So we definitely took advantage. Ended up splitting Tuna Tacos as the appetizer and ordering a specialty roll AND a Tonkatzu Curry Rice Bowl. Everything was delicious and... "yes" I did finish EVERYTHING. I was super hungry and left super full. There's a sushi bar you can sit at... and also a separate "bar" bar you can sit at as well. Someone was eating by themselves with a laptop at the bar so it's pretty casual... I'm sure that would be frowned upon when the night progressed. There are also outdoor tables (not too many), but a really cool spot... there was japanese TV playing on the one TV I could see from my seat. Made for some interesting moments when I would glance up and try to figure out what was going on. read more

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First time coming here. Cute little spot and nice atmosphere. Service could use a little bit of help but the food was amazing and we will definitely be back! Price is reasonable as well. read more

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Food is delicious! I always get the Dancing With Star roll and it is very tasty! The Crab Rangoon are also to die for. The ambiance is nice, it can feel a little tight in there due to the limited space but the food makes up for it! read more

Yamazaru - Dancing with Star Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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The best sushi in Charlotte ! Service and food quality is super consistent ! For years the best in the city

This is my all time favorite sushi spot. The Crispy Tuna (no rice) and Mando de Tango rolls are out of this world. Everything served here is fresh and delicious. The service is quick and always friendly. If you're looking for a go-to sushi spot in Charlotte, check this place out! read more

Yamazaru is my boyfriend and I's favorite sushi place in all of Charlotte!! We go at least once a month but something about the sushi today was absolutely breathtaking! I just keep wanting to replay the experience in my head. Please never stop being awesome!!!! read more

Visited during Covid pandemic for 1st time so c couldn't really judge service given the circumstances,. So glad we came back..because based on the food and drinks alone...hands down best Sushi we've had in Charlotte. Been to most of the top spots O-Ku being our favorite before, but dollar for dollar this place wins. Only had Sushi but extremely fresh, well made and beautiful presentation. Specialty rolls are large and run between 10-13$! Always packed so be prepared to wait, but the service is super friendly and drinks are great as well! read more

Yamazaru - Menu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Somewhat hidden in an industrial area, but once you find it, you'll keep going back. Sushi, sashimi, nigiri, ramen, udon, katsu, the whole 9 yards. The curry rice is spicy and comes with a salty umami sauce to take the flavor up a notch. Chicken katsu don comes with an egg on top. Any kind of sushi you want. The people are nice and the atmosphere is casual. $70 for four adults before tip. Stop by if you love some Malaysian style food or want something with a Japanese kick. read more

Was one of my favorite places. Not sure if they had an off day but i was sadly disappointed and unfortunately will not be back. First the rice was mushy with no flavor, the calamari had no seasoning, the sushi was horrible with a fishy taste. I also had the tiger roll they added lettuce and u didn't even know if they even add the crab. Not sure what this was about im suspecting scam. This was the worst experience i gave it a 1 star just because i felt bad for the waiter trying to explain this horrible tasting food. I mean it was really bad. I will not be back. read more

We love this place! Great sushi at great prices. Workers are very nice and pleasant. Drinks also great.

Good sushi at a good price, parking on site which is a rare gem on that side of town. Service was mediocre... Had to ask for water pitcher refills more than once, and we actually were intending to order one more roll to share, but our server brought us the check (without us asking for it) so we were like "oh...ok then. Guess we're done." Our friends ordered drinks and liked them. It's pretty far away for us but if I were on that side of town more I'd definitely return. So many delicious-sounding rolls on the menu! read more

Yamazaru - Mango de Tango roll and Dancing with Star Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

My favorite sushi restaurant. It helps that right right next door to me. I highly recommend the toro nigiri. Basically melts in your mouth.

Food was good. I really like the jawbreaker roll. Our server was awesome but I forgot his name. Very attentive tall Asian dude with black hair. Came in on a Sunday at 3pm. Super fast service. Will be back for sure. read more

I love sushi and love that there is a new sushi restaurant in my neighborhood. Once I arrived I was impressed with the decor and design, on the trendy side. They have a few outside tables, multiple tables and a sushi bar. Service was on point, and one of my old waiters, from another sushi joint, is now here so it was nice to see a familiar face! I decided to start with miso soup, as I base sushi restaurants on a few things and miso is one of them. Let me say, it was great! Served in a covered bowl, was piping hot and not too salty or fake miso tasting. As for the sushi I ordered the sushi and sashimi platter, a good way to gage a sushi restaurant. The platter came with six pieces of sashimi, four pieces of nigiri and a roll, I chose the spicy tuna. Everything was great! A definite spot I will return. read more

Yamazaru - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Five stars! The service was super quick and well put together. We came after a wine date and continued with another glass of wine that was delicious. The dumplings were cooked perfectly and shareable. The sushi rolls were magnificent. I love my sushi rolls with a lot of toppings and spicy mayo and eel sauce. This was probably the best sushi I have found outside of Miami Florida. I will definitely be back as soon as possible. read more

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I have been to Yamazaru a few times and I have always had a great experience but this last time was not that. My friend and I decided to go on a Thursday night and we put our name down on the waitlist. We walked next door to Sycamore Brewing for a beer while we waited. The hostess said It would be about 30 min or so and It ended up being an hour. The hostess accidentally sat another table before us... They were super busy, so I put that aside but we were given the wrong sushi order, the waiter forgot my drink order and you have to pay for parking now if you park in the lot! They don't tell you this when you walk in, you have to read It on a flyer that Is taped to the table. The sign says they will validate parking but if you already paid on the app then there is nothing that can be done. It was all around not a great experience. I hope the next time we go is much better! read more

Best sushi restaurant in town! This place has been my favorite since 5 years ago! The fish is very fresh and excellent custom service!

If you are a young stupid kid that doesn't understand quality than this place is for you. It's cheap for a reason. Plus the bartender will make up lies. I'm very disappointed. This place is classless. Stay away. Not worth the cheap prices. read more

Pretty bummed. This is the second time I've had takeout from here and specified modifications for food allergies, and still be given food with my food allergies. When I reiterated, the person on the phone laughed saying "crunchies don't come on that roll, it won't be on there!" Lo and behold, there are crunchies inside the roll. Disappointed AGAIN that I can't eat the dinner that I paid for. read more

Yamazaru - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Got takeout from here and although the wait was long the sushi was absolutely delicious. Their rolls were more unique than ones I typically see, and I loved everything I tried. Highly recommend the hand rolls. Can't wait to go again! read more

Yamazaru - Gladiator Roll, Saru Hand Roll, Cali Sunset Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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One of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Charlotte! The location and prices are great. I don't think I can find another Chirashi bowl for the price they offer and as fresh. They do get pretty busy at night so expect a wait. Some of my favorites is the agedashi tofu, salmon jaw, salmon tacos, tonkotsu ramen, Chirashi rice bowl, Salmon rice bowl, and takoyaki. Highly recommended. If the parking lot is full, you can always park on the street. read more

Yamazaru - Ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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This place is right next to my job and they all rave about it but it's not open during lunch hours. So I had to try it after work with my husband. We got here about an hour after they opened we were seated right away and my husband wanted to sit out side. The umbrellas helps block the sun but we still got fried but that's our fault lol. Our waiter Bobby was so helpful he gave us suggestions and was very attentive. Everyone we came in contact with was so helpful and nice. Everything we had was fresh and cooked to order. I will continue to make this place one of my regular spots. read more

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Love this place. Great location and atmosphere. My favorite sushi in CLT. Trying to forget-- One time my dad and I waited for a table for about 30 minutes and got seated at a booth. We ordered drinks and appetizers and then the host came over and asked us to move tables so he could sit a larger party at our table. I was a hostess for many years and never asked anyone after they ordered to move tables. Once a party is sat and comfortable it was pretty rude to ask us to move after we placed an order. All I can say is get the Kiss Me Fire roll and a drink, they have great cocktails. read more

10/10 and amazing service as usual. I forgot the specific rolls we ordered but I don't believe you can go wrong with anything you order here. read more

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Great place. Went early so easy to get a table but was definitely crowded when we left. Service was decent and friendly and sushi was great. My second martini was def a better drink then the first but both were good. Had the ginger salad which was okay, shishito peppers were great, and octopus salad was also good. Sushi was delicious! Will definitely go back and try other things! And a place with parking in south end, bonus! read more

Yamazaru - Unagi Nigiri, Spicy Tuna Roll, connect 4 roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I've been going here for a couple years now as it's in a convenient spot in South End next to Sycamore. My friends and I (a party of 10) were able to grab a table with a 40 minute wait which wasn't too bad as we were next door at Sycamore passing time. Our drinks and food came out relatively quick. I ordered the Takoyaki as an appetizer which is one of my favorite Japanese snacks. It's Octopus that's been covered in batter and deep fried but it's very soft and chewy. This version of it didn't blow me away but my friends and I enjoyed it. For my main course I ordered the Chirashi bowl which is an assortment of sushi, tamago(Japanese omelette), and roe sitting on top of sushi rice. It wasn't bad but the fish wasn't as fresh as I was hoping. Our drinks were really good as we ordered their specialty cocktails and a round of sake bombs. read more

Yamazaru - Chirashi Bowl and Takoyaki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Always good food here and the staff are great. The outdoor dining area is small but it's good for a date night.

It felt like the best sushi I ever had. The roll variety and uniqueness was impressive. The ambience was very good. Best park? Super quick service. Somehow, depute the place being full, our order came out within minutes. Definitely my top 10! read more

This place is a step up from Ru San.. and I know they're sisters.. customer service was soo bad at ru San that I haven't been back since. Yama is the total opposite. Great customer service. Nice ambiance. But like Ru San. It's hard to hold a convo since the place is small and it can get loud in there.. I ordered 2 types of sushi which I like a lot.. However, I also order the Yaki Soba. Which I didn't like it at all. I didn't say anything because it's no point. I enjoyed my cold sake and finish my night with a full satisfied belly read more