The rolls here are sooooooo good. The ambiance is really fun. They were playing Studio Ghibli movies on the various screens. They had fun Studio Ghibli art up too. The rolls were the star of the show. We made the mistake of ordering the Japanese curry and it just wasn't good at all. The portion was generous but it just didn't have any flavor. Our rolls were super good. The nigiri was fresh and tasty. The other rolls were big and fresh and delicious. All in all this place is super fun for dates. Service is ok. Would go back and just order rolls this time. read more

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This is the original Yojimbo and I prefer this location over their other one, which is their newer one out of the 2. Parking is street parking and although they are located on a busy street / in a busy area, parking is not as bad here, as they are a bit further down at the less busy end of the street. I have not been here in awhile, so I had no high expectations. I ordered ahead and was told it would take about 10 minutes, so I came by in 15 minutes to give them some wiggle room, but when I arrived, the order still was not done yet, and it took about 20 minutes in total. I ordered an order of sake nigiri and 2 orders of salmon maki. I wished I asked for no wasabi though because I do not prefer it and they were a bit messy with the wasabi, as it was all over the sushi and on the outside of the takeout box as well. Overall, the salmon tasted decently fresh, and the portion and quality is decent compared to a lot of other sushi spots. read more

Most delicious fantastic sushi I have ever eaten (summer roll). I do not give this praise lightly and I have eaten at many places. Good, solid ramen, chewy noodles with very flavorful broth. The meat and egg on top are served cold and the egg is hard boiled, fyi. Cute Studio Ghibli art and movies playing! If you love sushi, ramen, and/or Studio Ghibli, this place is a must. read more

Yojimbo - Pork ramen in pork broth tempura combo, summer roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

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The only reason im giving this place 4 stars instead of 5 is because the ginger is covered with red dye and the unagi has a lot of bones. Other than that the atmosphere is good and i love all the complementary things like salad and donuts. Service is a little bit slow (depending on how many staff there are) but i will say this is a very well run resteraunt. read more

Yojimbo feels like a tiny sushi place hidden down a dark alley in a gritty anime yakuza film. You open the front door and enter the kitchen if you're not careful. Left to the kitchen, right to the tables. Maybe six tables scattered around food service equipment. We ordered a bunch of rolls, all of which were great. My wife ordered the Leftover roll. It's a chef's choice surprise roll of whatever is close at hand. I told her to look over at this great looking plate that someone ordered. It's her Leftover Roll!! The only downside here, no sashimi. The service and vibe make up for it. 100% the most low key, cool spot for sushi. As we're finishing up three straight up anime yakuza dudes all dressed in black come in to eat. We pay and leave, this guy walks out, looks both ways, looks at me, goes back in and closes the door. I love Yojimbo!!! read more

Yojimbo - Front door - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

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I am a sucker for something a little less run of the mill, and what a nice little spot I stumbled upon for date night with my beau. Now, in all fairness, this is one of his favorite restaurants: he celebrated TWO birthdays here and has fond memories coming for dinner. And what's even more quaint than the Japanese-inspired hole in the wall eatery styling, is the owner's artwork gorgeously displayed in the space amid tv's playing popular anime, and walls housing collectible figurines. It's a space that inspires conversations with those also enjoying the ambiance, and I say that from a deeply personal encounter I had my first time here. The sushi was massive, tasty, and perfectly priced for those living on a budget. Definitely a place where you can get your money's worth. And overall, the price tag on a dinner for two was $38 , three rolls, two miso soups, and with tea (alcohol is not served here). And I learned there is a second location that opened up in Alameda as well, but it appears the original is still the one to visit. I will have to visit the second location before I am willing to weigh in, though. So expect an updated review once I do. But, I offer you a nice place to grab dinner with you family, or some casual sushi dates with a loved one. Either case, it will make a mundane Monday night all the more magical. read more

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I loved it! Lots of food, but too good to leave any behind. The server was kind, even though it was packed. The decor was great to look at too, especially for anime fans. read more

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This place is so far from me but I make the drive anyway for some real awesome sushi. The inside is cute and cozy, service is fast efficient and kind. A lot of the places where I live do not give free miso soup when waiting for your roles but they do here which I always appreciate. The menu is small and not as wide as most spots. I have only tried the sushi here but when I do see people get the hot bentos, or ramen it does look really good. The Yojimbo role is a must! read more

Yojimbo - Yojimbo Roll,Dragon Roll Alabama Roll, California Roll You Dont Wanna Know Me Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

The ramen is horrible. Yes, the bowl is big, but it's practically twenty bucks and the broth tastes like dirty water. A ramen seasoning packet has more depth and flavor than their broth. It was so insultingly bad I didn't even eat more than a quarter. The sushi is meh. I got the yojimbo and it was nothing special. I'm not sure how this place is so popular. The anime interior design gets people in but don't let it fool you--the food could not make me stay even if I were starving. read more

Who isn't all in when it comes to Ramen? From that first smooth, creamy sip of the broth, down to the noodles and extras. Though for me, the added best part is always a perfectly made ramen egg (ajitsuke tamago). So much I always request a second one in my bowl. I mean come on, an egg marinated in a salty-sweet mixture of soy sauce and mirin, with a well timed soft jammy center... Hello Unami joy. To my surprise they all don't come this way. And when they don't, it's totally disappointing to have two eggs swimming in your bowl ready to be made into deviled eggs. Fully cooked, plain hard boiled eggs. Ok, ok, ok now for the ramen.. I really enjoyed the broth and the tender pork, I did. but even on a small/regular size order there was way to many noodles added to the bowl. So much, it overwhelmed the broth to be able to enjoy the extras in the bowl. Sadly I don't think I'll go out of my way to go for another try. Maybe I just keep trying to take the taste buds back to Totto Ramen in New York. If my locals know a better spot, definitely let a girl know! read more

Yojimbo - Pork ramen, with Pork.. and two hard boiled eggs. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

With all the raving reviews, I really had high hopes for Yojimbo... To start things off, parking is a major headache. Good luck finding street parking- and I'm not even talking about anything remotely close!! The streets on both sides are filled thanks to the many businesses within the vicinity. I was kind of confused at the initial entering of Yojimbo. It seems to be as though you enter through the quasi kitchen which eventually leads into seating. The restaurant is a narrow strip and an assortment of art decorates the entire restaurant. There are 2 tiny tables located outside for those who are interested in outdoor dining. The menu in itself offers appetizers, bento boxes, ramen, rice bowls, and nigiri ala carte. There are a number of sushi rolls which all come with pictures to help assist with your choice makings. Since we had a late lunch, our party decided to order lighter than we normally do. Dinner consisted of: -California Roll -Miso Soup -Sashimi Bento [comes with rice, salad, & miso soup] - sodas Food: -California roll was on the small side but I wasn't really mad. I kind liked the filling ration Vs the rice surrounding the nori- this was the perfect size for my 3yo to enjoy. The only downside was the rice being really blotchy and not evenly spread around the sushi roll. -The miso soup was amazing. This is by far the best miso soup we've had- flavorings were perfectly seasoned and the tofu and seaweed pieces were extremely generous. The tofu cubes weren't teeny tiny and didn't primarily consist of simply liquids. I'd come back solely for this!! -The sashimi bento was great when it came down to portion size but the quality was not there. The salad itself was so massive, it took over half of the container. The rice portion was no different- normally a small heaping of rice inverted from a small bowl is provided but Yojimbo uses those plastic soup containers. This place is a rice-lover's dream!! The sashimi is where things go downhill. There seemed to be 4 types of fish provided and cuts of the fish ranged from thick to misshaped smaller pieces as if leftover bits were just thrown in as fillers. Before anyone find this as a petty complaint, let me be clear that the random shapes and sizes didn't bother me. The problem with the fish was the tuna being still frozen in the middle- nothing fully solid but it was undeniably some bite due to the ice bits. A secondary fish was also extra chilly internally- not frozen but abnormally colder than normally. The remaining 2 assortment of fish didn't have any issues. 3 stars overall. Not only was the quality and dining experience lacking but it was super weird for the staff to stand right at the table while we were paying for the tab. She literally stood there and waited as cash was being pulled out and she immediately took the bill to process. I'm not sure if that's the normal protocol for the restaurant or if they just wanted a speedy turnover rate... but there was plenty of seating still available in the restaurant. The experience could only be defined as "meh". read more

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There are 2 Yojimbo locations in Alameda. This location is smaller and cozier. If you have a smaller party, I would recommend going to this location. If you have a larger party, I would recommend to visit the Santa Clara Ave location. Yojimbo is one of the most aesthetically pleasing restaurants to visit. While dining, you get to see art that are related to Studio Ghibli films and other Japanese pop culture. There are TV's playing Studio Ghibli movies and many figurines are posted around the restaurant. All the food options are great, but I always get the Box Combo. This option allows you to mix and match different Japanese dishes such as katsu, teriyaki, and sushi. This also has great value since they give a good portion for what you pay. read more

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ordered the Salmon Shioyaki bento box with sashimi and spicy tuna roll. As well as the vegetable tempura and salad. The salmon was a smaller portion than I imagined but grilled and peppered well. All of the Sashimi tasted very fresh but there was a piece that was cut jaggedly. The vegetable tempura (with pumpkin, carrots, and sweet potato) was amazing-perfectly crispy tempura batter on the inside and soft on the inside. The salad was a mix of salad mix/romaine/kale, and very simplistic, but the salad dressing was delicious. The miso soup was delicious and had a perfect mix of tofu/seaweed/miso. Service was great and the waitress was very nice/attentive. read more

Yojimbo - Sashimi Bento and Tempura Appetizer - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

Came here on a Friday afternoon after looking on yelp. The parking here is difficult, we had to park down the street and walk a few blocks down. The rolls were good, but nothing special... service was good and they were attentive. read more

Yojimbo - Rainbow Roll and 49ers Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

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My family went here for lunch and had a great time! I've also been here multiple times before and never had a bad experience. The server was really friendly I love how it's such a cozy atmosphere. The restaurant is clean and the music's at a good volume We ordered the 49'ers and Cowboy Be Bop sushi rolls Also a bento box mixer with fish and gyozas Everything was fresh and so so delicious!! Would definitely recommend this location :) read more

Yojimbo - Cowboy B Bob Roll, 49ers Roll ,Bento Mixer - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

As a first time customer, my experience at Yojimbo was amazing. As I walked in I was greeted with great customer service, offered a menu and water as I was ordering take out. The deco on the walls makes the place stand out with its unique action figures as display. The dragon roll along with the takoyaki was delicious. Definitely recommend! read more

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My experience here was not worth. My friend and I got the salmon donburi and dragon roll. For being a $$ place, the dragon rolls were definitely on the smaller side. Additionally, the salmon donburi had small pieces of salmon and was 92% vegetables (that didn't have any dressing?). I understand that the bowl isn't going to be piled on with fish, but even then, this is the smallest portion that I've ever gotten from a sushi place (also one of the most expensive). I felt like both of these would just barely make one person full let alone two people. To top it off, this meal costed us close to $50! Although the taste was decent, I definitely cannot justify the cost of this meal. If you decide to come here, definitely avoid the donburis. The bentos seem more bang for your buck. read more

waiting more than 50 mins for my to go, standing at front and the lady was never want to check in with you or service, the man ask me to pay for my to go, before 10 mins, the lady was rude, always telling me 5 mins. never answer ur questions, ignore me. Last chance still saying 5mins, i just walked out and decided to give up my order even though I paid for it including a 15% tips. very very bad experience and service. TERRIBLE!!!!!!!! read more

Cute hole in the wall Japanese place! Looks small from the outside but walk in and it's long and narrow. Two small outdoor tables, then the chefs in front, a step down into a long dining area with tables on sides. Beautiful art on walls including lots of Ghibli themes, Kurosawa, Pixar. Love the option of making your own bento! I don't like too much carb/rice so I loved being able to pick. Chose salad, CA rolls, sashimi, saba shioyaki. Loved the grilled mackerel which was juicy and very mackerel-y (oily and rich). Salad portion was hefty and dressing was on side to add as desired. Got lots of healthy fresh veg! CA rolls were solid and I really enjoyed my sashimi which was fresh and generous. Solid miso soup too. read more

Yojimbo - Make your own bento: saba shioyaki, salad, CA rolls, sashimi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

This place is a popular hole in the wall in Alameda. It was my second time at this restaurant and my partner took me here for my birthday. He ordered an omurice and tempura appetizer while I ordered a choose your own bento with mackeral, salmon and salad. The fishes were delicious and small. The salad was generous along with the tempura. The omurice was the star of the show and was savory, delicious and comforting. This place is great value with great service. The ceilings are low and is packed of cute art pieces and action figures from Studio Ghibli films, The Boy and the Beast, Demon Slayer, One Piece and more. read more

Yojimbo - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

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If you're looking for something decent and bang for the buck then this is it!!! The restaurant is a hole-in-the-wall but it truly reminds you those street restaurants in Japan! There might be a wait around dinner time since the restaurant is pretty small itself. But the service is quick. We've tried their sushi rolls and ramen. Not bad at all! My favorite is the bento box. It is huge and the portion is definitely good enough for 2 people. It comes with salad and miso soup. Typically I skip out on the miso soup because it always tastes super salty. But yojimbo miso soup is pretty great! We ordered the most basic bento box....chicken teriyaki. The meat wasn't dry and the amount of meat they give you...wowza. Definitely worth the money read more

Yojimbo - Chicken Teriyaki Bento - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

First-timer. Absolutely delicious. Wait time on a Monday was 15 minutes to be seated (5 people). They came and took our order pretty fast. Ordered the bento (minimum of 3 items) Gyozi (yum) CA roll (made spicy and damn, this is the way) Tempura (fried crab piece? Holy smokes) Chicken katsu (light and tender) They kept my tea cup full and they were super attentive. Next time, will try the ramen - looks and smells amazing! So darn good! Hubby just ordered the chicken teriyaki bento box and we were so impressed by the portion size. read more

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You want to feed a family of 4 with 1 bento box? Then this is the place for you! Even though quantity is the star of the show, they do not slack on quality. I got the chicken teriyaki full bento, came out be around $25. It was literally an entire tray of chicken! I didn't know it was going to be that big so I ordered some other sides. Tempuras and a roll. But honestly didn't even need it because the bento came with rice, salad and soup. Perfect super affordable and delicious dinner option to take home for the family! Love it! read more

Dragon roll is for sure my favorite! Love this cute little hole in the wall. The sushi and sashimi always tastes so fresh compared to other Japanese restaurants. I'll warn you that proportion sizes have changed over the years but the quality still stands. The owners are really welcoming and thought as well. The waitresses have always been super nice and helpful. It's always a pleasure to enjoy Yojimbo in Alameda. read more

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Such a hole in the wall type of restaurant. As you enter, you will see all kind of animation graphics, ceiling a tad bit low, but, no problem at all. Well ventilated, do not smell fried foods - not stuffy. yay! Ordered: Bento box w salmon teriyaki, saba shioyaki, spicy tuna roll. Perfectly cooked salmon; not too overdone. Saba Shioyaki is perfect; not too salty/bland. Portion is cute (small portion). Left over Rolls - interesting; provide all kind of fish with caviar on the top; good balance of sweet, savory, fresh fish! Yes, pricey Futomaki Roll (vegetarian) is interesting with garlicky seaweed. I always order Futomaki in any sushi place. This is diferent! Gotta try itkk read more

Yojimbo - Let over roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

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*Open for indoor dining, takeout, and limited outdoor dining* This was an interesting experience! Looking outside, we initially only saw a two-person table. We were bummed as our party had three people. The front was also blocked, so we assumed there wasn't any indoor seating. A staff member popped out of the restaurant to ask how many. An additional staff member then popped out to lead us down what felt like a Narnia-type situation. Food: We ordered various rolls and all were pretty decent in size. If you are super hungry, would recommend getting 3+ rolls. If you are moderately hungry, 2 may suffice. They have a wide selection of nigiri, rolls, non-sushi items (I.e. donburi, curry, gyoza, etc.). Overall, pretty decent sushi place and would come back. read more

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Every roll has imitation crab meat, and that is not clearly marked. I told the waitress I did not eat imitation crab and ordered one roll that did not appear to have it, and there it was. The eel was also sparse and not great. The vegetable miso ramen we tried was not good, had unusually thick noodles, and had a few asparagus slices as the 'vegetables', and also cost the same as the meat. The staff did not bring water or plates without us asking. The people were nice. Will not be returning. read more

Ah so good! I can honestly say this is my favorite sushi spot that i have ever been to. The service is great so chill. the ambiance is warm and comfortable. It is small inside but just the right size for a date or family dinner. we ordered some Chicken katsu curry and a couple rolls and they were all so good. read more

Yojimbo - Sushi restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

I've been here a few times in the past, and have never been disappointed. It's a small place with big servings. There's almost always a Hayao Miyazaki movie playing on the overhead TV screens, and lots of Japanese movie artwork on the walls. I've had their sushis, ramens, curries, and bentos, and they remind me of my visit to Japan. Their food is not fancy, it's just good cooking that leaves you satisfied. Today's takeout order: + Chicken teriyaki bento - for $20 this is at least a 2 person serving (if not 3). You get lots of grilled chicken pieces (dark meat), a huge salad, rice, and miso soup. The salad dressing and sauce are in separate containers so nothing is soggy. I did find the chicken to be a tiny bit dry, but once the teriyaki sauce is soaked in, it was satisfying and delicious. + Yojimbo roll - bbq eel over spider roll. This was really good. The spider roll was still crunchy and the eel was yummy. + Rainbow roll - sliced raw fish over California roll. Very tasty. + Summer roll - spicy tuna over California roll. Also tasty. + Tempura appetizer - this is a huge serving for an appetizer. There's 4 shrimps and the rest are veggies. + Gyoza - this was complimentary. Thank you Yojimbo! Whenever I have a craving a Japanese food and I'm in Alameda, this is my go-to spot. Unless it's a Sunday, when they are closed. read more

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Yo Jimbo is dope--the ambiance is really what you're here for. The walls are covered in amazing anime art created by local artists and the owner himself, so if you're an anime fan, this place is a must visit. You'll see art showing everything from my neighbor Totoro to more recent anime like Demon slayer or One Piece. They also usually have an anime playing on the TVs. There are two locations, and the Park Street location is a little bit smaller but slightly more aesthetic. The portion sizes for the bento boxes are freaking huge. The way that pile chicken on the bento boxes is truly a sight to behold-- you will absolutely have leftovers. The ramen is pretty good and a pretty large portion size as well. The sushi, however, come in smaller rolls, but are very tasty. Never had any issues with service, so I would definitely recommend this place to a friend. read more

Came in on Saturday. Place is small, when you get to the front it's kind of confusing because it looks like your in the kitchen area. It's a cute little place with drawings on the walls. The sushi was fresh and really good! The miso soup tasted like they just made it, really hot but good. The sushi rolls were a good size portion. I think the girl was new we had. I over heard a lady telling her to bring us water and I think she forgot. She went to other tables but forgot to get us water. Later she came by to bring us water. I understand she was new and probably going back and fourth between everyone. Maybe next time double check the people seated have water or ask. It's a really small place but I enjoyed the food and service. I forgot the name of my roll I just remembered it was a spider roll with eel on top that was really good. Tempura roll & deep fried California roll. The 4th roll was a salmon and lemon roll I liked that one too but one of them has the lemon seeds on it and that was not a pleasant thing to bite into, other than that everything else was great! read more

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Let's start with the best part about this place: the service. Our waitress was excellent! She was so kind and welcoming. I really appreciated her skill too because the back room of this place is kind of small. She maneuvered it so well, without ever bumping into any guests. Just excellent speed and attentiveness overall with the wait staff here. Next, the food. Really pretty standard Japanese food. Nothing really stood out to me too much about the quality of sushi here. I would rate the food 4/5 because it is not super special. What really makes this place great is the atmosphere. It's small, studio ghibli themed, and so cozy and intimate. I feel like a lot of people associate intimate with being overly small but this place makes you feel like you're in another country! Really love Yojimbo and will be coming here again on my visits to Alameda read more

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We really liked the "ambience" of yojimbo, felt like walking into a back alley in Edo in the 15th century, samurai and geta at the same time. Posters and decorations all over, actually a little claustrophobic because there are no windows. Still you feel transported to another time and place. Tonkatsu ramen was good, better than some others in Alameda. read more

Tried Yojimbo again and I'm glad I did. Large pork ramen was HUGE! The bowl was ginormous. The amount of meat was generous. The ramen noodles were cooked nicely and were a little chewy. Broth was flavorful. Came with mushrooms and seaweed, maybe more things. Def share the large. Build your own bento - Not an actual bento box, but bowls of the items I chose. Chicken katsu - looks better than it tastes, but still decent. 2 small pieces of katsu. Tamago - 2 cute cubes of tamago, not too sweet, more on the egg yolks side, reminded me of a Dan tat Tempura - fried nicely, sooo many pieces 49er roll (I think) - rice was seasoned well, just your typical sushi roll Restaurant is long and narrow. For the bento and ramen, you choose what you want and that determines the price. Service is friendly and relatively fast. I like the designs on the wall, I think the owner of the restaurant was sitting at the table in front of us and creating more art. Overall - would come again! read more

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We paid $27 (with taxes and tip) for this Salmon BENTO. We noticed after picking up and bringing to our car, that this bento didn't have rice. Wife went back to double check, for some odd reason they said the bento doesn't come with rice. So almost $30 for this. The sashimi didn't taste fresh, and the grilled salmon had a bad fishy after taste. We won't be wasting time/money here again! read more

Yojimbo - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

I normally gravitate toward the sashimi/donburi/raw items at a Japanese restaurant. But the quality of fish here was pretty bad. The tuna was very crunchy/hard. White tune had a long thick string that I couldn't chew through. Idk if it was a red snapper or hamachi - also hard. The salmon looked dark so I just didn't even bother. But their sushi rice was rly good! Their non-raw fish items are pretty decent. We had spicy tuna tempura roll, and I have no complaints about it. The CA roll, tempura roll and rock n roll are also as expected. Ofc, yojimbi is known for their generous portions. I think if I only got cooked items my review would've been 4 stars but I gave up on the raw fish and asked another family member to finish it. read more

Love this place. It's just like gone. Very quaint and authentic. Food is amazing . Excellent service and the art really make its a real experience. read more

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Love this place the art through out the place is amazing. Really adds to the vibe. The food is sooo yummy. I'm a sushi craver and this my go to place. I bring friends and family here to try it and everyone has loved it. The staff is always friendly and attentive. read more

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I've been coming to Yojimbo for years and it is one of my favorite Japanese restaurants I've ever been to. The food is excellent and well priced. I have so much I could say, but I've handed the rest of my review off my my seven year old: At Yojimbo the service was OUT OF THIS WORLD! I would so go there again. We had such a good time. The food came so quick and, even better, it was delicious! You should go and order the sake maki. The art all over the walls is great, too! read more

This place was so dope and delicious. Mix and match bento was really easy to customize your order all the way down to the rice and salad. Probably the best spicy tuna rolls we've ever had, which is saying a lot. Portions are huge and totally worth the price. read more

Yojimbo - Bento Mixer - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alameda, California