Fun ambiance for date night, obviously popular but this is not fine dining. It pains me to say it but my nigiri just wasn't fresh. I got the feeling it was a first-Japanese-food experience for many of the clients. read more

We've dined at Yo'sake numerous times! Tonight, my food was good, but the service was GREAT which is why I'm giving it 5 stars! I ordered the tropical roll which has tuna, cream cheese, pineapple, and cilantro. Very refreshing and honestly better than my main dish. I ordered the Udon noodle bowl with the pork belly. The pork belly was extremely tender and the broth of the bowl had a beefy taste with a slight spice. Topped with mushrooms and sliced pickled cucumbers and carrots, I really loved my meal! Now to the service. Emma was amazing! Not only was she very attentive, patient because I couldn't decide what I wanted, and very kind, she went above and beyond. Someone at our table ordered a dish that was not right. Normally it's pretty good at YoSake, but tonight the chicken was a little burned and the flavor was somewhat off. The person that ordered did not want to send it back to the kitchen. I completely understand that because I don't like to do that either. However, Emma took note and when she questioned if the meal was good, she knew she couldn't possibly accept yes as an answer knowing that none of it had been eaten. The guest pleaded with her not to say anything to the staff and to not send a manager over and Emma made sure to keep her customer happy. I'm so very impressed by how she handled the situation and made sure that the customer was happy and comfortable. She even made me feel more comfortable although it wasn't my meal. Anytime you are out to dinner with friends and someone has a meal that is not as good as yours, it can definitely put a damper on the night. Emma made it right! Thanks Emma! read more

Very fun atmosphere! I've been to this restaurant a few times and have had different things- sushi is average, poké bowl is pretty good, noodles are subpar. Saturdays are $5 sake bombs which are always fun with a group. The staff is attentive and quick. It's a fun location for a night out because it's sandwiches between two other popular drinking spots- dram+morsel and husk. Definitely a place to go with friends visiting in town! read more

Yosake - Maui wowie roll and shrimp sashimi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

We love Yosake! One of the best happy hours in the city. You really can't beat the 5-7 daily happy hour deals. Everything I've ever had has been awesome - get the firecracker shrimp! Those shrimp are like the perfect comfort food! Every day they have different specials and deals that are awesome. Try the blueberry mojito when cocktails are a special $5 on Tuesday, it's insanely good and so refreshing. We've always had great service at Yosake as well. read more

Yosake - Sushi Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

We had very high expectations and Yosake didn't deliver. The appetizers were very good but the service was not great. Sushi was okay. Probably wouldn't recommend it. read more

Yosake - Firecracker Shrimp - Sushi Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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This is one of the best sushi bars I've ever been too. The atmosphere was great as was the service. I had the Admiroll and the charred Korean bbq sauce on top, with salmon belly, was unreal! One of the best rolls I've ever eaten. The only "negative" is that the place is hard to find. It is on the 2nd floor above the Husk restaurant. They could use some better signage to help people find the place. read more

Yosake - Admiroll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Only been there twice. But they have a wonderful selection of sake. And the pork buns are out of this world. Service leaves something to be desired. One of my sushi platters came back wrong and the waitress said" yep that's missing something" and walked away. Missing an ingredient made them inedible. I will try again or just go for the lychee sake and pork buns. Worth the trip just for that. read more

What a great find! My friend and I stumbled across this tucked-away bistro and were quite happy we did. You can reach this restaurant and bar by going up one flight of stairs (not sure if it's wheelchair accessible) off of Front St in downtown Wilmington. The atmosphere is dark and busy, but not too loud where you can't hear those sitting across from you. I recommend reserving a table on busy nights. There's a fabulous drink menu with tons of drink specials, as well as happy hours on select days. They have everything from cocktails to Asian beers. There are appetizers, sushi, nigiri, sashimi, curries, and main entrees to choose from on the food menu. I ordered the coconut lemongrass soup to start - delicious and not too filling. It's not spicy for those who are worried about that. The main course was the star, however: the crispy salmon. Literally the best salmon I've ever had and that's saying a lot. It came with an interesting "black forbidden rice". Very tasty and something new! Highly recommend for a date night or night out with friends. It's not very pricy and still gives you a great dining experience :) read more

Yosake - Coconut Lemongrass Soup - Sushi Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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I currently live in Pittsburgh and my boyfriend lives in Wilmington and this is our go-to every time I visit! They happy hour is fantastic, particularly the Spicy Crab Dip, the Firecracker Shrimp and the CARP roll. Definitely go for the more specialty rolls, it'll be worth it. Even though NC isn't permitted to have alcohol on special during happy hour (definitely an adjustment!) the drinks are still reasonably priced and delicious! We try to branch out and go to other places to mix it up, but inevitably we end up back at Yosake. Additionally, the staff is very friendly and we enjoy sitting at the sushi bar being able to talk to the chefs who are very helpful and were teaching us about the process. I would definitely recommend Yosake, particularly for the happy hour appetizers. read more

Yosake - Pomegranate Ginger Mojito and Firecracker Shrimp! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Really good Asian fusion cuisine with generous portions. There is always a wait to get in - always a good sign! The Salmon is awesome - love the Brussels sprouts - great noodles and salads. I want to try the sushi - it looks amazing. I'll be back! read more

Yosake - Brussels Sprouts - Sushi Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Finally got a chance to sit at their sushi bar and watch them make the sushi! Such a great experience! The sushi chefs and servers were all so friendly and nice to each other, even when it is hectic for happy hour! They have a ton of sushi rolls on special during happy hour so it was crazy but the staff kept their composure. I even got to watch the sushi chef in front of me make my nigiri pieces! Ordered a bunch of nigiri pieces, the Thai ceviche, and miso soup! Great night for a me-date!!! read more

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A must go place!! Well seasoned food, great amount of portion and fair price :))))) ( i ordered firecracker shrimp, coconut lemongrass soup and crispy salmon read more

Yosake - Sushi Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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The happy hr is gangster!! Great service at the bar, awesome atmosphere. Don't listen to the crap about the elevator or bathroom / stair area. It's the same in every old building in downtown ILM. Nuff said bruh read more

Our server Elizabeth was amazing! The sushi was amazing as well. The ginormous roll was excellent and the data's dragon roll was so yummy!! 10/10 would recommend. Make a reservation in advance! read more

Came in with high expectations walked out wowed! Based on reviews and local recommendations gave this place a try on a Sunday evening when other restaurants where getting ready to close. Very cool looking place located above the Husk (likely owned by the same group). A side door without a sign leads to some very steep stairs and a very old retro lounge space that is really nice. We had a bottle of Sake to split up bitch at 12$ is very reasonable. Tried 3 rolls of sushi and an app...everything was amazing. We went with the Korean wings to start: amazing sauce with just with a good kick and cooked perfectly. We tried 3 rolls a Ginormous roll, spicy Generoll, and a Pimp shrimp..all 3 were amazing super fresh and well prepared, my only gripe would be the rolls were a bit loose which made them a bit tricky to pick up but the tastes were phenomenal and priced very well. We will definitely be back to try more! read more

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We were there during Happy Hour and the prices for a lot of apps, sushi rolls, soups, and salads were very reasonable. The seaweed salad and tom yum soup were delicious, and had complex flavors. The firecracker shrimp was great. We had the generoll and spicy tuna maki and both rolls were excellent. The tempura green beans were nothing special, but the wasabi mayo dipping sauce was terrific. I think the food here is great! Would definitely come back if I travelled to Wilmington again. read more

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I had a few orders of sashimi, which were not cut well but tasted okay. The horrible part was finding a bone in my salmon!!! I let the waitress know and she said "Oh I've never seen that before". I replied that I've never had this happen to me before either. And that was it. I would have felt better if she apologized or showed more concern. Also it took her three times to get our check correct. You'd think she would have checked after the first mistake. read more

Yosake - Sushi Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Went to Yosake tonight for dinner. We were enticed by the Restaurant Week offer but once we arrived it was happy hour, which was an even better deal. Both food and service were fantastic. My favorite of all the dishes was the Firecracker Shrimp. We also sampled the Generoll sushi roll, Chicken Satay, Pork Belly Banh Minis, and House Salad with ginger dressing, all of which were very tasty. I will definitely go back! read more

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I really love Yosake. I've always been there late at night when they have a "Happy Hour" menu for sushi rolls at good prices. They also mix good drinks! The atmosphere is really cool too. read more

Yosake - Chocolate Peanut Butter Wontons - Sushi Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Definitely go here during happy hour. I'm glad we were able to get the food at a discounted price, probably wouldn't want to pay full price. It was good, but overpriced for just basic rolls. Our server was not good, she left in the middle of me trying to ask a question, and didn't return for another 10 minutes, completely disappeared after taking our order, only to return with our check after we were given our food by someone else, and did not seem happy to be working. The good parts: The restaurant is really nice, and the menu is diverse, so everyone can easily find something they like! read more

Honestly, ive been here for 4 different times. Ive never left saying how good of an experience or how great the sushi was. Ive tried to give this place a chance over the years and for the price to pay to have a meal here, I expect way better.. Sushi is average, the sushi rolls are loaded up with fillers like cucumber. The service is inconsistent and in need of some overhaul. I can think of several other restaurants in town that I can get so much more value out of for the price, I unfortunately just dont see myself coming back. read more

From the drinks to the appetizers to our meal everything was delicious. We even received a complimentary bowl of fire cracker shrimp for waiting past our reservation time read more

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Probably the freshest sushi I have ever eaten. We got the boat and every piece of fish or roll was incredible. Too bad we don't live closer

We tried to go on a Sunday evening. The restaurant was empty. Actually empty and the hostess told us she could not seat us. She refused to seat us after she saw my (well-behaved and older) children with us. She told us their reservations were full for the evening and could not accommodate us. Meanwhile the restaurant was EMPTY. read more

FABULOUS dining experience! Amazing, fresh food, excellent friendly service! The only reason I didn't give this establishment 5 stars is because the rear stairs/elevator/bathroom areas are pretty grungy-looking. Unappetizing. Get past that, and you will not be disappointed. read more

honeslty one of my favorite sushi places now, prices are not bad at all especially during happy hour, The "How we roll" sushi roll was very good and the chef made something and not just something like a california roll. 10/10 me and my wife would come again read more

We were fortunate to find this little gem. Went with 24 people last night and the place was awesome, great atmosphere and the service exceeded all of our expectations. They didn't miss a beat and I think we must've tried everything on the menu. Highly recommend it. read more

Yosake - Part of our group - Sushi Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Amazing food and service. We will definitely be back here again. We were quickly seated and attended to with perfect timing.

Walked in as a one top with almost every table empty at 5:15. Was hoping to sit down and check emails for a quick appetizer but the hostess forced me to sit at the bar which I asked politely if a table would be okay instead, she did not accommodate. I enjoyed their happy hour menu as usual but will probably give somewhere else a chance next time if I am a single top. All tables were still available when I left. read more

For the price and quality of food, I wouldn't probably go to Yosake again. The style and set up was a fun, low key eclectic style which I absolutely adored: classy and casual. Our server was absolutely stellar and kind. But the sushi was sub par and my friends who ordered tempura green beans and noodles didn't even finish half of their meals. There are sooo many sushi options in close proximity that I wouldn't spend money here when I can get cheaper, more delicious sushi elsewhere. read more

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Every time I'm in Wilmington, I usually end up at Yosake. The hip and refined atmosphere is unlike any other restaurant around the city (seems like it should be in Raleigh or Charlotte). The space is super cool. To get there, you have to go up some steep stairs with small windows in each step to the room below. The dining room is decorated with large, wildly colorful anime paintings and dark seating. There is also a cute little deck/fire escape to people watch and enjoy a drink on. The bar is well stocked with large sake selection and a range of asian beers. The bartenders have always been welcoming and very helpful with drink choices. On the food side of things, you have the choice of sushi or pan-asian cuisine. Both menu sections have tons of options, which is quite overwhelming. I normally stick with the entree side of things and my latest trip consisted of the sesame seared tuna appetizer (seared rare; excellent quality fish) and the Yosake pad thai with shrimp (shrimp were perfectly cooked, but the spiciness of the dish wasn't there). Each time I visit Yosake, the dishes are always well made with super fresh ingredients, but just not mind blowing flavor for the price. I think the reason I keep returning is the funky atmosphere, prime location to other downtown hot spots, and consistently solid food offerings. read more

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Came here while visiting family living in Hampstead. I like this restaurant! Asian fusion plus sushi is offered in this trendy restaurant with brick walls, quirky Japanese paintings, and dim lighting. Love the menu concept. Sushi and appetizer plus drink happy hour. Also there are different discount specials every day of the week. When I went, locals get 20% off their check! That's great because some of the menu items are not cheap for Asian cuisine. For the most part sushi is decent. I ordered mostly off the happy hour menu which also includes edamame, bahn mi, and drink specials! The food is 3-4 stars depending on what you order, but for the quality of sushi I would definitely come here often to get my sushi fix during happy hour. I wish I had a place like this in NJ. When I come back to visit I'll be sure to come back here and have some sushi and try some of the other items in the menu. read more

Yosake - Sushi Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Good food and atmosphere. Good did not come out at the same time and service was a little slow but otherwise good place!

I wish I could leave a 4-5 star review because I enjoyed this restaurant. The venue and ambiance was very nice; however, I can't recommend the sushi. The quality of the fish was fine, no complaints but the rice was not made properly and anyone who actually knows sushi, understands that good short grained rice, seasoned properly is essential. For those who might not know...Sushi is actually vinegared rice - it's not raw fish.... Anyway, as soon as I took a bite of my Nigiri Salmon, I knew it was off. Again, the fish was fine but the rice was bland...not seasoned at all. That totally throws the meal off. read more

I've been coming here for almost 5 years and the quality has taken a steep decline. I've given this place chance upon chance, but they continue to disappoint. Fish is never fresh tasting with sushi. They try unnecessarily hard to make their sushi menu "interesting" and the recipes end up with a mix-up if confused flavors. When it comes to their main dishes... eh. It's just glaringly apparently they don't hire quality chefs. I've had just about everything on the menu and they continue to disappoint. Pad Thai (when thy had it) was flavorless. Chow Kevin came in a vat of overly sweet sauce, undercook noodles and vegetables, and chewy chicken. Their curry is laughable. Don't even bother. Really hate that this place became so crummy. Great location and potential. read more

Yosake - Sushi Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Went during happy hour 10-12. Cute decor and ambiance. I loved the plants by our table! Happy Hour is an amazing deal. Would recommend the Generoll ($8), Firecracker Shrimp ($6), and Coconut Lemongrass soup ($2). These are the Happy Hour prices. The Firecracker Shrimp was delightfully crunchy although a little heavy. The check was less than $40 for green tea, blackberry fizz, 3 appetizers, and two rolls. Overall, great deal with extremely fast, pleasant service. Definitely plan on coming back again. read more

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Have been here several times and always have been happy with the experience. Had friends in from out of town so we took them there. They advised us upon ordering that sushi would take 30 minutes. Unfortunately it took 90 minutes to get our dinner which ruined the night. The sushi ordered by my guest was good but my hot dish was not hot and had to be remade taking even longer. They rightfully comped my dinner and several drinks. It was appreciated but still didn't remove the frustration. We will go back down the road. read more

I wish i could give this place 10 stars. This place is absolutely amazing and the atmosphere makes it even better. It's in a great location of downtown and i recommend this place to anyone coming down to wilmington to visit! The staff is great and the food is just so amazing and tasty. i highly recommend the firecracker shrimp.. sooooo good b read more

Except for the hike up the stairs I really like the place. The food is tasty and the drink prices are reasonable. Parking in downtown Wilmington on the other hand is no joke. There are plenty of public lots and taxis around because the Po-Po is out in droves to catch drinkers who also drive. Beware. read more

Yosake - Doesn't look like it would be hard to find a park but it's hoppin! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Great sushi and curry, and healthy portions. I ate curry for days. It was nice to find a restaurant opened during covid times. Would come back even if there is no pandemic. read more