Wanting to have some authentic Japanese food and the path took us to Yama's Japanese Restaurant. It's a barely noticeable hole in the wall in Downtown Morgantown. There's a paid parking lot across the street as well as metered parking on High Street. Their awning has seen better days but after walking up a small flight of stairs, you enter a cozy restaurant and greeted by its staff. There's about 8 tables for seating and the walls are neatly decorated with Japanese art. The front wall displays photos of their food offerings and made ordering easy. The friendly cashier answered some questions and we placed our order of shoyu ramen, curry rice with chicken katsu, shumai, gyoza, and takoyaki as well as soft drinks. There were several other customers having their meals and more gradually filled the tables as others left. The food was served soon after and looked delicious. They formed a kitty cat with the rice, complete with nori for cat eyes on the curry katsu plate. Nice touch. The curry was very flavorful and just the right consistency and a little spicy which went great with the katsu. Only wish there was more katsu. My buddy's ramen looked fantastic and was told the noodles were delicious in the broth. Found out the noodles aren't made in house but bought from a vendor. The gyoza and shumai were very tasty alone and with its sauce. The takoyaki took some time to cook but was nicely sauced and served. There were sizable chunks of tako inside and was very tasty. The prices are reasonable for a specialty restaurant and the service was great. There's another Japanese restaurant in Morgantown which was very good but Yama's was a little better and I'd return if ever I'm in Morgantown. read more

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Ate here last week. I got the tempura rice bowl and the California roll. Both were excellent. The California roll was much bigger than I expected and it was filling. The service was very fast and I got the food much faster than expected. Highly recommend this place. Will be going back this week. read more

The food is always amazing. I've never had a bad meal or a bad experience at yama's The staff is always energetic and as quick as can be with your order. They're a small place maybe 20 or so seats. So sometimes you have to wait to order be seated and get your order. Lunch time seems to be alot easier to accommodate people who don't have patience. Personally I've eaten quite a few things on the menu. I enjoy the shoyu Ramen the shrimp shumei the gyoza. I've had the takoyaki a few times as well as the spicy tuna roll. Portions are good price is good and the staff is awesome. The decoration inside makes me think that that is what a japanese family type restaurant would look like in japan. Many light novels and manga on the book shelves to peruse through (all in japanese of course) which incidently your read from back to front right page to left page incase anyone wants to look at them. Can't recommend yama enough. read more

Everytime I've been to Yama, the food is phenomenal and comes out quickly. The staff is always polite and informative. Yama has a cozy atmosphere read more

I was visiting family in Morgantown and they wanted to come here for lunch. Very authentic Japanese cuisine. The food is very good I had soup And shrimp tempura over white rice and it was very filling and very flavorful. However there was so much rice and not much shrimp and veggies so I really didn't love it I just had so much rice left. Don't get me wrong the rice was very good but just plain white rice is not very good. The soup was very filling and it was very big so that was good. I would say my biggest complaint and the biggest issue that I have left this restaurant is the seating is awful. There are probably 12 maybe 14 seats And it will take me probably about 30 to 40 minutes I would say to eat everything unless you're in a hurry and rushing so people who just want to sit down and enjoy their food can't really do that read more

Yama - Japanese Near Me - Morgantown, West Virginia

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Omg Finally an awesome place to eat at West Virginia. We should started here since we for here. The food and service is wonderful. Place is small but it doesn't matter the food is so authentic and so yummy. read more

Yama - Food sone clean! - Japanese Near Me - Morgantown, West Virginia

This small cozy Japanese restaurant is a staple every time we visit family in WV. The staff is warm and welcoming. Some of the best Japanese food Morgantown has to offer! ...one more shout out to that spicy tuna roll!! read more

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Authentic Japanese in WV! The ramen is simple, pure, delicious. Believe the server and chef are from Japan. They have Japanese manga in the restaurant, very special. read more

Yama - Japanese Near Me - Morgantown, West Virginia

When I am in Morgantown, I always try to stop by this cozy Japanese restaurant. I've been to Japan several times and in my view, this is the most authentic Japanese restaurant within hundreds of miles of WV. It specializes in noodles, bento box style, and one-pot meals. At first, this might be confusing to customers whose idea of Japanese food extends no further than 7-11 sushi, but this is the real deal. For the most part, Yama offers dishes that the average person might eat in Tokyo: savory buckwheat Udon with shrimp tempura or Ramen unlike anything you have ever had. But my favorite is the Shrimp Tempura Bowl. The lightly battered shrimp compliments the rice very well and the assortment of Japanese condiments (pickles and sauce) allows you to customize your meal. However, it is Yama's authenticity that sometimes throws of the expectations of some customer's palates conditioned to expect an America style sushi. I think Yama's should almost put a disclaimer on the door which states: Sensai, this really isn't a sushi spot, but inside we have something much better. ;) read more

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A small restaurant with odd hours and delicious authentic Japanese food. The service was good and my order came out relatively fast. The restaurant is small and seating is limited, but personally I had no trouble sitting down. They do offer take out but if you decide to stay and eat they'll bring the food to your table. The food itself was amazing and I recommend the curry rice. Would and will eat here again. read more

Yama - Takoyaki and Curry Rice. - Japanese Near Me - Morgantown, West Virginia

My favorite place to eat out in Morgantown. I've been going here since it opened. And Yama-san is the best. He always is there to greet us when we come in and thanks everyone when they leave. He's an amazing man who has helped and mentored our students since he opened. But now for the food. It's the only authentic Japanese food in Morgantown, and I say that having eaten just about every Japanese place in town. And having eaten at restaurants all over Japan in my fourteen or so trips there It helps that he is the only Japanese chef in the city. I would call it family style Japanese home cooking: curry rice, shoyu ramen, takoyaki, and my favorite seaweed dish, hijiki. Try finding that dish anywhere else in Motown. The service is great, because the employees are attentive, mostly Japanese or Korean, so skilled in the amenities of hosting and serving. Anyway, there is a great variety of food. My favorite is the croquette bento box and gyoza dumplings. Yes, it is small and cramped and bright just like most good restaurants in Japan. That is the ambiance! Anyway I give Yama's an A+. The new owners are also wonderful people. read more

Their food is amazing. The Vegetarian special is worth a try! Only bad thing I can say about this place, they aren't open enough hours through the week/weekend. read more

If you enjoy good high quality authentic Japanese food then you need to stop here for lunch. The food is delicious. The staff is very helpful and nice. It is an excellent small local spot just off high street that is a must try. If you need a delicious lunch for an affordable price you need to stop by here. I recommend their shrimp tempura udon but their ramen is delicious as well. The broth has a great depth of flavor and everything always comes out nice and hot. I highly recommend going here. read more

Very authentic and delicious. The Takoyaki was out of this world. The pork katsu rice bowl was amazing. The staff were welcoming and friendly at Yama. The person who takes orders can speak Japanese and English. Overall I rate it a 9.3/10 read more

Yama - Takoyaki fully topped - Japanese Near Me - Morgantown, West Virginia

Don't be fooled by the street it is on. It is a family-owned restaurant that makes some good authentic Japanese food. The staff was amiable, always checking if you had a good time, and they all spoke Japanese and English very well. And for the restaurant's setting, it feels like you are in Japan with manga all in Japanese and television that takes place in Tokyo. I really recommend you try this restaurant. It's a fun, friendly, cozy restaurant that I know you will enjoy. read more

This place serves authentic Japanese food. I lived in Sendai for a year so I can communicate with the lady at the front desk and Mr. Yama (the chef) in Japanese. They are very friendly, the service is fast and the food is great. My Order: Yaki Soba read more

Yama - Yaki Soba - Japanese Near Me - Morgantown, West Virginia

Two of us came here for lunch on a very chilly windy January afternoon. Yama is a busy place! We had to wait for about 5 minutes just to order. You can enjoy a huge variety of manga while you wait. The young lady who took our order was lovely and charming. The Shoyu ramen was amazing-- fresh noodles, dried seaweed, and a fish cake all make a wonderful taste treat in this delicious bowl. My lunch companion had the Miso ramen and declared it toothsome. For about $15, the two of us had a tasty hot meal with fresh tea and a room full of happy lunch-ers. Thanks, Yama of Morgantown, West Virginia, we'll be back. read more

The absolutely best Sushi bar in Charlotte. Do not even consider anywhere else. This is the freshest and best sushi bar in this area !

On a cold January evening I came to this hole-in-the-wall gem! Not being from around here I didn't realize it sat off high st, with its entrance door facing Fayette Street. Even though it was a little difficult to find this location the effort to find it resulted in a good meal. I ordered the shrimp shumai and the shoyu ramen. The shrimp shumai was excellent, the crispy case and the tasty filling were excellent and would make a wonderful tapa. The broth for the shoyu ramen was very good, simple and well balanced. I wish that they included a ramen egg for the soup, and maybe some butter corn. While the ramen was good I wanted a little more even if I had to pay a little fore it. The service was excellent and very friendly! Overall I was very pleased with my experience and I would recommend you stop in and try some of their cuisine. If I get the opportunity to return to Morgantown, I will most definitely revisit this establishment. Yama's is a definite gem that needs to be experienced! read more

Yama - Menu as of 06 Jan 2020 - Japanese Near Me - Morgantown, West Virginia

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Morgantown! I went here once during the first week I came to school here and have been going ever since. Over the past four years, I've never had a meal here that wasn't completely yummy and satisfying. The gyoza is awesome as an appetizer. Their bento box style lunches are huge and worth it, but my current favorite meals are the eel bowl, tuna bowl, beef bowl, and curry rice. I stopped in just there other day while touring a friend considering going to grad school here around and she also agreed the curry rice and tuna bowl were fantastic, especially for the price. It's like homey Japanese grandmother food. You just can't go wrong here! read more

Yama - Curry Rice - Japanese Near Me - Morgantown, West Virginia

It took a while for me to add this to my Morgantown routine, I should not have waited this long. I loved this Ramen, and the shrimp dumplings were crunchy and chewy! Love it! I alway like a good hot bowl on a cold day and this fit the bill. The man at the counter was helpful with my order, and they bring it to the table. Priced right, combined with the quality and the service will bring me back to try other options on the very reasonable menu. read more

Yama - Japanese Near Me - Morgantown, West Virginia

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WOW! Who would possibly expect to find real Japanese food in Morgantown, WV, BUT, here it was a great surprise and discovery. I've spent time in Japan and appreciate the honest quality, subtle tastes of good Japanese food. The restaurant is small but efficient with an extensive and well-balanced menu. Currently, during the pandemic, it is only take-out but that should be changing soon. The wait-staff is well-trained and know what they are doing and can easily explain the various menu items. I'll be back and look forward to when I can sit inside the restaurant. read more

This place is FABULOUS. Yama is a great, little hidden gem in Morgantown. If you're looking for traditional and delicious Japanese fare, I highly suggest Yama. The menu isn't extensive, but still has plenty to choose from and is affordable. I had the miso ramen and my fiancé had the shrimp udon and we were pleased with both. They used to be cash only, but now accept credit cards with a $10.00 minimum. If you're in the area or looking for some great food, definitely check this place out. read more

Yama - Japanese Near Me - Morgantown, West Virginia

After reading the previous reviews, I was so excited to give this place a try. However, I wasn't overly impressed. The menu was very limited and there were numerous items that were out of stock. I went with the chicken teriyaki bowl and white rice. It was served piping hot and fresh but seemed very plain to me. I think it would have been better with some extra sauce or seasonings. The girl working the register was very friendly, and there seemed to be a steady flow of regular customers who came in for take out orders. read more

Authentic Japanese hidden gem. Great miso ramen, rice katsu, and Takoyaki. Service is always great and it's a very cozy place. Support this local joint! read more

Yama is truly a gem. The staff is so kind, and it's obvious they truly put care about creating amazing food. You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu. Will be back so soon! read more

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Perhaps the most authentic Japanese restaurant you'll find in Morgantown. Cute little restaurant with a cute and friendly vibe and great food. FOOD: As I said, this food is perhaps more authentic than any Japanese place you'll find in the city of Morgantown. The taste is consistently great and comes out in portions that are just the right size. If you come here hoping to be stuffed when you leave, then considering ordering two items. I recommend getting the Katsu Bowl or the Shrimp Teriyaki Bowl. ATMOSPHERE: Smaller than most restaurants, but still comfortable. The restaurant owners clearly choose to prioritize the quality of their food over the decoration - and are smart in doing so. Not that the decoration is lacking. There's an entire shelf of manga and anime titles that you can look through, and a constant feed of Japanese game shows playing on the TV that are guaranteed to entertain you. I find the place surprisingly charming and warm. SERVICE: The staff is jubilant and are happy to give you their recommendations. If you're willing to try some of their not-so-usual Japanese options (such as the soda that opens by slamming on the bottle with your palm) they'll be happy to guide you. Usually the cashier will be the one who serves you your food. The food is quick to arrive. read more

I'm giving this place a 5 because its locally owned, authentic, and well priced. I'm not the biggest Japanese food aficionado, so I can't say that I was blown away by the taste of the spicy tuna roll and the lunch special I ordered. It was good, but I was more impressed by the friendliness of Yama himself, and the kind lady who worked at the counter. My friend and I were so caught up in conversation (we hadn't seen each other in months, and needed to vent/catch up, so we totally lost track of time while eating. As it was our first time dining at Yama, we also had NO idea that they are closed between lunch and dinner. We had mindlessly talked over 30 minutes passed the lunchtime closing time, and no one interrupted us to ask us to leave. I would have completely understood if they had, since you just can have people who reserve to vacate the restaurant after they have enjoyed their meals. However, Yama and his staff were so kind to just go about their afternoon clean up and politely wait until we were ready to go. It is so rare to see genuinely kind people who care about their businesses and customers. I will definitely be back. read more

I've been eating Japanese from city-to-city, state-to-state, country-to-country, and I have yet to encounter a better authentic Japanese eatery. To think one of the most authentic Japanese restaurants would be located in West Virginia would be hard to believe. I have been going here since the mid 1990s and every time I come to my home town of Morgantown I have to stop at Yama - the quality is better each time I come. I always get once of the lunch box specials - fresh pan-fried fish, multiple fresh salads, a medley of pickled radishes, a generous bowl of perfectly cooked white rice, and most importantly one of the finest bowls of miso you can ever have. They also have this delicious chicken terriyaki made from the dark meat - delicious. The prices will leave you scratching your head - wondering how you've just had an incredible symphony of flavors and textures at such a low price. The owner's name is Yama - he is also a great man. This is one of my favorite restaurants period. read more

As others have mentioned, the nondescript and homey style of this place is a great contrast from the usual high-end sushi or hibachi places that one often finds in Japanese restaurants. Being small and family owned, all the items they offer are cheap, flavored just fine, and come out in decent serving sizes. The decor of the place, with all the random pictures and props and manga, helps a lot with the feel as well. They serve a huge variety of things, including specials that are not on the wall, like the mentaiko don. Nearly all the usual items are under $10 and equally tasty. A particular favorite was the oyakodon, in which the chicken was very tender and meshed well with the egg for lots of flavor. In terms of noodle, I probably enjoyed the udon the most, with spongy noodles and hearty broth. But it seems that you can't go wrong with anything, and it certainly made the drive down from Pittsburgh worth it. read more

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This is a great restaurant. It's basically a Morgantown institution. The owner, Yama, has been here forever. I love the food and the atmosphere. I usually get the Chicken Teriyaki bowl. The miso soup is also awesome. Everything is made by Yama; however, I have noticed lately he appears to be training an apprentice. Because it's a one man show the hours are a little different. He takes a break just after lunch. He closes at 2:30 and opens at 5 I believe. It's very important they DO NOT TAKE CREDIT. They are a cash only operation, and there is no place to get cash inside. read more

Yama - Teriyaki chicken!! - Japanese Near Me - Morgantown, West Virginia

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This place has fantastic, feel at home service. The food was fresh tasting and fantastic. I had the spicy tuna rolls and the shrimp tempura udon noodles. And every bite was great!!! Would highly recommend to anyone!! The women that were cooking and behind the counter were extremely friendly!! read more

Yama - Japanese Near Me - Morgantown, West Virginia

Gotta give this place five stars. Not very familiar with Japanese dishes but the woman at the front was very good at helping make my selection, and she'll let you know up front cash only. I got the yakisoba, which are noodles with vegetables and meat. The default meat is pork, but if you let them know they'll substitute it with something else. Also I tried one of the Japanese sodas, Ramune. It pretty much tastes like sprite/ginger ale but I thought the coolest thing was how you open it and then drink it without it closing on you. Suggestion, if you have trouble figuring it out, again the lady that works there was very helpful guiding us. The prices are very reasonable, and I'll definitely go back again. read more

Yama - Yakisoba - Japanese Near Me - Morgantown, West Virginia

Came for lunch on a Saturday and ordered the Yama Tuna Bowl and Shrimp Udon Soup. Both were very good. The soup was our favorite, as the shrimp was generous and the broth was ever so tasty. Would give this place 5 stars if it was a little less expensive. Also, the bathroom is pretty disgusting, and not accepting credit cards is a pain in the butt. Oh well. read more

Yama - Yama Tuna Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Morgantown, West Virginia

A Japanese restaurant that runs by a Japanese is hard to come by, especially in a small town like Morgantown, WV. To my surprise, this restaurant has been up and running for over 22 years but still remains a small mom and pop restaurant. Upon entering the restaurant you hear the television broadcasting a show in Japanese. The wall is lined with comic book series, the picture menu is hung by the cash register. It is a non pretentious restaurant. I almost give four stars if it is not for the lack of pork in my shoyu ramen. Takoyaki, the squid pancaked ball, is delicious and in perfect sphere. The shoyu ramen yields the aroma of roasted garlic and delicious broth. It lacks boiled eggs, seaweed nori, and thick slab of braised pork that I got accustomed to. The miso ramen contains too much bean sprout without at sign of meat. The broth is pretty good. The sukiyaki set is authentic and tastes great. I hope they add more into their ramen. I am sure their restaurant will be packed. read more

Yama - Takoyaki - Japanese Near Me - Morgantown, West Virginia

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The octopus cakes are awesome. Chicken teriyaki is high quality and very good but nothing special. Still have to try more things and continue updating this review. Definitely go here. read more

Yama - Udon vegetable tempura - Japanese Near Me - Morgantown, West Virginia

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Excellent little place and a Japanese chef = feeling in Japan! I came to Morgantown and did not expect to find an authentic place like this. Very happy! read more

Yama - Ginger salad - Japanese Near Me - Morgantown, West Virginia

Love the lunch we had here the other day!! We went with a bunch of friends , it was packed the local students love the food here, the husband and wife running the place work very hard, hopefully they got a third hand though, the wait was slightly longer than I would like, but 5 full stars because the food was amazing ***I went for lunch the other day and am coming back for lunch again today! The wait was short they've got some great help working there now and food again is phenomenal! I love the soup read more

The most authentic Japanese food you'll find in Morgantown. Just a small, hole in the wall kinda place so you know it's good as soon as you walk in. read more

Oh, my goodness, where to begin?! This is my husband's and my favorite local restaurant in town. Their dishes are top notch and clearly made with love and dedication. The owner always greets and bids you farewell after your visit. The wait staff is equally as kind! I highly recommend this place for vegetarians, too! read more

Yama - Japanese Near Me - Morgantown, West Virginia