Great sushi! Highly recommended for dine-in or take out but be prepared to wait (it's worth it). We've dined here many times through the years and have never been disappointed. Small space so be prepared to sit close to people next to you. Parking in the neighborhood is hard to find so take Uber. Recommended for great sushi! read more

Yamazaru is our go to place for Sushi nights, we always enjoy the food and great service, everyone in this place are great and care about the customers !!! read more

This is a spot my girlfriend and i have started frequenting in our search for tasty ramen and found that it has a wonderful variety of food and drink that is all delicious. The sushi is so fresh and flavorful with a balance of the flavors of the fish coupled with fresh vegetables and perfectly cooked rice. The steam bun had a wonderful combination of textures with the soft sticky bun with crunchy veggies and crispy pork inside and the flavors were to die for. For the main meal we had tonkotsu soup and spicy seafood udon and both were rich in flavor, steaming hot and plentiful in their portion sizes. Our drinks were all tasty and strong and the service was immaculate. We arrived at peak hours and there was no problem with sitting us down, and our server was attentive without being bothersome, when we needed another drink he was right there offering one but also gave us space to enjoy our conversation and food. The atmosphere is modern and eclectic with a lovely display of Asian artwork but more of a modern take on the music they play in the background. All in all this has become one of our favorite places to go in south end and i couldn't recommend it enough! read more

See all

My favorite sushi place in south end. 90% of the time I just get take out because this place is always slammed. But I just can't stay away

Couldn't be more disappointed in the food here and was just blown away by the rudeness of the staff. Food was so cheap and didnt even have the right toppings...I will never go back to this place. Baffled at all the good reviews. This place is really really BAD... read more

Yamazaru - My ramen without any of the ingredients that were supposed to be on the dish. Where is the mushrooms? Where is the pork belly?!?!? - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Great service and wonderful sushi. The bar staff was helpful and timely. Outside seating is good on nice days

We decided to try something new and he was in the mood for sushi. I'm so glad that I picked this place. I checked out the menu prior to to make sure there was something other than sushi that I'd want. We went off of staff recommendations. I had an udon spicy noodle dish that was a special on the menu that evening. I absolutely loved it. The texture of those noodles make the carbs worth it! He had two sushi rolls that are not on the menu, the Jawbreaker and the Goodness...he loved them both. I also had the sangria mojito. I thought it would be more like a typical sangria but with mint, but it was more like a pina colada, as it had a pineapple chunk and coconut rum. read more

Service was slow and generally harder to get a waiter's attention (It was dinner time on a Saturday to be fair, but it still felt like a good amount of time to just get a hold of someone for more water/the bill. Could be a staffing issue?). But the food itself was good for the price - been there a couple times and haven't had any issues once the food gets to the table. Just definitely not the place to go to for dinner if you're in a rush/time crunch. Their outdoor seating isn't awesome but feasible if they're busy and you can't get inside the restaurant. read more

Ordered take out for the first time. Got the grinch roll and it smelled horrific. Made me not want to eat the rest of the food. I ended up throwing away the roll and not loving enjoying the rest of it. read more

Terrible.... if you're wanting ramen you're better off getting the $0.25 ramen from the grocery store because this tastes exactly like the chicken flavor. We ordered takeout and was told it would be 30 minutes, ended up waiting an hour. Get home to find out half the ingredients were not in either of our ramen dishes. Just don't do it, it's not worth your time or money. read more

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

Favorite sushi spot in South End. Very reasonable prices and variety of rolls and other options. This is my regular take out spot!

I've been to Yamazaru several times. Restaurant is on the smaller side, with a very warm and inviting atmosphere. Service is almost always friendly and attentive. The menu is...extensive: offering Americanized sushi rolls, yakitori, udon, etc. For my last visit, I ordered the chirashi along with several nigiri. Chirashi was stuffed with a wide variety of sushi. I was pleasantly surprised to find chutoro, saba, and surf clam in my bowl. Their chirashi, at least that night, was incredible value! They were out of one of the items I wanted and they actually gave me an extra piece of saba! The nigiri I ordered were also very generous portions. Overall I've had great experiences with Yamazaru and would definitely recommend this place! read more

See all

One of my favorite sushi spots! A very large selection of rolls and great appetizers.

Ordered takeout from them and the only reason its a 4 star is because it took over double the time it said when we ordered. Was it Doordash's fault? Who knows. But the food was fantastic as always! We ordered the Tarzan again, Kiss of Fire and Snazzy. Snazzy was worth the cost, our favorite roll. Kiss of Fire was also very good but wish it had more fire. We also ordered the Curry Rice Ball (which we wish had been spicier but was very good) and the Crab Rangoon which were delicious. read more

I was around the airport and wanted to eat soup so I found this place on yelp. Entrance is kinda confusing and looks small but it's not small inside. They will have u wait first once u do your entrance to this restaurant and the server will come get you after. Let's talk about the ramen now... hands down I think this was my one of the favorite ramen noodles I have had. I ordered Tonkotsu ramen and seafood ramen noodles it came so good like perfect amount of noodles with ingredients I just loved it. The view wasn't that bad too I mean you can kinda see uptown through the window and some lights too. Customer service was great, they were pretty engaging and welcoming. I would definitely recommend this place for ramen noodles especially Btwn they have sushi as well. read more

Yamazaru - Seafood ramen and tonkotsu ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Let's start off with the front door experience... we're a party of four, we walk in, patiently wait. We see 4 spots open at the sushi bar (eeek my favorite sushi experiences occur at the sushi bar!) we try to get seated there. The host ushers us away and puts a reserved tag on the seats (it's 9:30pm in Charlotte ... no one was walking through those doors). We were seated pretty promptly after that. So while we didn't get the exact seats we wanted ... we were at least seated quite quickly. The waiter was kind, but possibly overwhelmed. We ordered a fried rice and it came to the table with no extra plates. It took forever to waive someone over to bring some forks and plates. After what seemed like an extended period of time the sushi came! The waited dropped it off and was about to leave when we kindly asked him to let us know what each roll was. He wasn't totally sure. This seemed sort of odd to all of us. I've never been to a sushi restaurant ordered multiple rolls and then not had the waiter or waitress tell me what's on the plate. Once we had an idea what each of the rolls were we dug in. The stand out -by far - was the West Woods roll. But to be completely honest, all the rolls, even the old faithful California rolls were spot on!we also ordered the Dancing W/ Star, the Tarzan and the Mango de Tango. The fried rice was very tasty too. Next time I think I would ask for it with "low oil". We noticed a lot of younger crowds enjoying sake. We did not partake this time, but definitely next time. We will absolutely be back and look forward to next time! read more

Yummm! Yamazaru has become my go to spot for sushi in Charlotte! They are located in South End (1 minute walk from Sycamore Brewery), so they draw in a younger crowd. There is limited parking and the restaurant is small so they seem to have a difficult time accommodating groups of 6 or more. The sushi is so good, and in my opinion it's the best value sushi in Charlotte - most rolls are right at $10.00. I also LOVE their fried rice. Our favorite rolls are the West Woods, Dancing with the Stars, and Tarzan. They also have good beer, wine, sake, and cocktail selections. I've eaten here a handful of times during the week, and each of these times I've been seated immediately and received fast and great service. I've eaten here twice on the weekend, and both times the service has been slow and I've had to wait for a table. It seems they have the weekday dinner rush under control, but on the weekends they seem a little understaffed and overwhelmed. This is the reason I've assigned just 4 stars. Also, on the weekend evenings it is SUPER LOUD in here, so if you're looking for a quiet date night - this isn't your spot on the weekends. read more

See all

We went to Yamazaru on a Tuesday night around 7 p.m. - it was busy, but not too busy to grab a table (outside - yay!). As several other reviewers have mentioned, service took awhile. I assumed this was because we were sitting outside, but based on other reviews, that may not be the case. I'm docking the star solely based on the service - everything took too long and we had to track down a server multiple times for drink orders. That being said, the food was outstanding. We enjoyed the tiger shrimp, chicken lettuce wraps, ahi poke, fatty tuna poke, and several pieces of nigiri. The fish was generously cut and the seasonings were very tasty. They also have a nice sake list with flights available. read more

See all

This has recently become my go to sushi place! The menu is extensive and has a wide variety of options. They have some epic rolls and the service is solid. Sometimes it can be a little challenging to get since it's so small and located in southend the place stays packed! Definitely suggest giving this Yamazaru a try if you haven't before, it's a great value! read more

Well I was a bit leery driving to this restaurant as it sits just on the fringe of a bit of a run down areA. That being said...I parked in the lot and walked in. Very full at 8:30pm with a younger crowd here for food and drink. But there was a spot at the sushi bar so I sat on down. I only had to wait a minute or two before a polite server came and took my drink order. The drink menu had a good selection of local and import beer as well as various sakes. For tonight I stuck with a local wheat beer on tap. To start with I had a jalapeño and yellowtail sashimi appetizer. Was very good (pictured). Next zinged two pieces of Uni which tasted very fresh. Next up I had the Tonkatsu Ramen (also pictured) and their "West Woods" roll. All were very good and despite how busy it seemed, I was served quickly. The ambiance was more on the chic, trendy side with a more modern twist on rustic decorations. I would highly recommend this place for anyone in the Charlotte area looking for sushi. read more

Yamazaru - Jalapeño Hamachi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

See all

Such a great find! I've been in charlotte for three years now and have never heard of or found Yamazaru in my search for sushi. I recently moved around the corner from it and decided to try it. Great decision! The service is so quick and and on top of things. The sushi is so so so good and the prices are cheap for sushi. I had the edamame, the ufo roll, and the mochi ice cream. The edamame, not so good. It was shriveled up as though it was microwaved. The ufo roll- amazing. Flavors and freshness on point. Good portions and price. Mochi was also delicious but I was disappointed as it listed chocolate and mango and when it came out t was 2 strawberry and 1 green tea. Nonetheless, delicious stuff. We went on a Saturday evening and with a party of two there was no wait even though others were waiting! The parking seems easy as they have a whole lot for the building but it's the only business open at night, but we chose to walk there on the light rail read more

Yamazaru - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

See all

It's a cute trendy place, it's packed with hip people, young crowds. The food it's ok, not anything espectacular. Pricey, but people seem to enjoy, I thought it was ok! read more

Food is usually good. Only a few issues in the many times I've been here. I don't typically dine-in as it's small + a 1-min walk gets me there. Made the mistake of dining in + had the absolute worst experience. Sat at the bar w/the most poorly trained + least experienced Bartender I've ever encountered. Order took forever to be placed, drinks were slow, then food items were missing as well as eating utensils. One food item arrived at the absolute end of the meal. No courtesy nor apology offered for the exceptional poor service. Though that might have been costly b/c many other ppl were experiencing similar issues. The meter went from never dine-in again to never return. You lost two that day. read more

Amazing food! Dancing with the Stars is the best! Vibes are great. Five stars!!!!!!!

Really well priced, but that's about it. It's a great setting, and has extensive menu, the food presentation looks great, but the taste...is just lacking. The sashimi platter just didn't taste fresh - maybe they had an off day or something. We ordered noodles and some rice bowls. The ramen didn't stand out, and the udon noodles had soggy tempura that wasn't even warm. It was clearly fried earlier in the day and just left sitting in the kitchen...The unami bowl was filled to the brim with white rice, but the sauce was just lacking. Overall, if you want a quick and cheap place to satisfy your Japanese cravings, come here. Otherwise, go somewhere else. read more

Yamazaru - Una don - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

See all

The drinks were wonderful but as a vegetarian in a sushi place, it is usually hit or miss. They do have some great options listed for vegetarians but I just wasn't the biggest fan. I wouldn't be upset if I had a company event there, but I wouldn't go there on my own choice. There was nothing absolutely wrong or terrible, there is just better sushi places in Charlotte with better ambiance and atmosphere as well. read more

I came here between 6 and 7 pm on a Friday night, and we took one of the few unreserved tables before everything filled up and quite a few parties were turned away. My husband and I wish we could have returned multiple times; the rolls are riotously cheap!-an average of $10/specialty roll, and these weren't wimpy, cheap rolls, either! We ordered the: - Lychee Martini @ $10 - additional lychee sake would have added to the flavor, but it was a great blend and perfect for a breezy night outside - Green Dragon Roll @ $10 - UFO Roll @ $10 - Volcano Roll @ $8 All of the rolls were absolutely delicious! We certainly did not expect such a fantastic sushi restaurant in NC, but wow!-they didn't disappoint. I especially loved the Volcano Roll with its perfect mix of crab salad and green onion. 10/10 would go again, so boohoo that we live in Dallas. read more

See all

Had an amazing experience here. The drinks were not good, but I forgot about that part because of how much I loved the food. Ordered rolls and the salmon cheek which was buttery, tender and fell off the bone. Will definitely be coming back. This is my new go to sushi spot read more

I don't usually go for sashimi, but the fish here tasted fresh and I came back a week later to get a whole platter of sashimi. It was a fun experience trying all new fish that I'd never had. I love the side options they have that you don't commonly find on menus. The curry rice ball was a delicious crispy ball of rice topped with flavorful Japanese curry and was the perfect amount for that "I could eat just a little more" feeling! Cocktails and sake were delicious (and the price was very reasonable). read more

Efficient. Punctual. Satisfied. 3 words to describe my dining experience. What can I say? Yamazaru is a well-oiled machine.

Yamazaru is my favorite Japanese spot in town. Unlike the hipster restaurants that slim their menu down to just a dozen options or so, Yamazaru boldly offers a great selection of appetizers, sushi, noodles, and more. My coworkers have said good things about the rolls they've ordered, but my personal favorites are the una don (unagi over rice) and tonkatsu ramen. The una don is a delicious and filling alternative to the fancier rolls, while the quality of the ramen noodles here is the best I've had in Charlotte (mmhmm I'm looking at you, Futo Buta, and your over cooked noodles). It's a shame they're only open for dinner, but even then their prices are reasonable for a Japanese restaurant. They're definitely packed during peak hours, but Sycamore Brewing is right around the corner, so it's not the end of the world to put your name down and grab a beer in the meantime. read more

This review is based solely on the experience of parking related to the restaurant and not the quality of food or service. BE WARNED, YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO DOWNLOAD AN APP TO PARK HERE. You can't just use the mobile website. There is also no free wifi so you must do this with your own data. I know this seems petty but some of us don't have unlimited. It's extremely annoying to have to do this all as you are sitting down and someone is trying to take your drink order. The staff was helpful in getting this done and was annoyed as well because they also have to do this. The food is good, but given the parking situation I will not be coming back to this location. read more

If you seek authentic Japanese food you should go here. If you seek desirable Japanese sake and spirits you should DEFINITELY go here. No more needs to be said. read more

This place charges a 10 percent gratuity in all takeout orders. This has not occured before. When asked, the manager has the audacity to say they had been doing this for the past 3 years. I've had been there countless times, and I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt, that is not true. Yamazaru. You disappoint me. read more

Yamazaru is my go to sushi restaurant in Charlotte. It's also in the heart of South End in case you want a great place to eat outside on their patio. I am a big fan of their specialized rolls, including the Gladiator Roll. Know that anything you order, you won't be disappointed. They also have a full liquor bar in case you want a strong drink with dinner. Parking can be a pain at times since it's in a very busy area, but that's what you expect for South End. read more

Went for dinner for 2 last night. I called at 4:30 to ask if they took reservations and they said no first come first serve. Totally fine - I asked if they could guess how long if a wait it would be for 2 people at 6 pm. The man told me 20-30 mins max, they wouldn't be very busy. I arrived at 6pm and the restaurant was packed, and it was an hour wait for any inside tables. The hostess was clearly overwhelmed and was pretty rude to me and everyone else coming in. I noticed people were sitting outside, so I asked if there was a wait for outside and there wasn't, so I was sat quickly but was disappointed I had to ask. Our server was great, the sun set and the wind picked up so it was pretty chilly and he brought us miso soup on the house to help warm up. I have a peanut allergy and so I asked one of the servers nearby if there was anything I needed to be aware of and she just looked at me and walked away. I followed up with our server and he said he didn't think they used peanuts in anything but he would mark it down which I appreciated. We started with edemame which was great and well seasoned. I got the UFO roll, spicy tuna roll and yellowtail scallion roll. All were amazing but was way too cold to take a picture. My boyfriend got Katsu ramen which was delicious. Overall food was fantastic, but 4 stars for the experience with majority of the staff (except our server). Will definitely be back - our server suggested to come during the week for less of a wait. read more

Amazing food and good price. I love everything we ordered. Very fresh and tasty! The sushi and tofu are my favorite! read more

Thanks to Yelp! we found our way here. And wow. This had to have been the best and freshest Sashimi. Not sure that my words can accurately describe it, the fish, we had salmon, tuna, hamachi and snapper, just melted in your mouth. It was sweet and tasted like it was swimming about an hour before it hit our table. FANTASTIC! The rolls were good too. The rice cooked perfect, with just a little bite. read more

I now have now visited most of sushi restaurants in Charlotte, Yamazaru is hands down the best. Yamazaru offers well priced sushi and I have enjoyed almost every roll I've tried so far. The location is medium sized and has gotten huge popular. I would expect a short wait during popular dinner hours. read more

See all

The sushi is fresh and high quality fish. The parking lot is a little small but there's street parking available too. We got there at 5:40 on a Saturday for four people and the wait was about 30 minutes. They use the yelp app that gives you a live update on your place in line. They don't have much of a waiting space so we waited outside in the cold. Food came out timely and the service wasn't overly friendly or anything but really nothing to complain about because they took our order, brought our water and food in a timely fashion. It's a crowded place but for good reason! read more

Yamazaru - Nigiri: Salmon, Tuna, yellowtail, toro, scallops - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

See all