You would think that the staff and owners at Yamato would be welcoming and accommodating to their customers, since it is a small, local restaurant that is not exactly raking in business. I have visited twice, and on both occasions I have found high prices, inconsistent food, and unfriendly service. We brought in a cup from Starbucks one time and the waitress actually lectured us that this wasn't allowed, and to not do it again. No problem, lady! I won't be back. The sushi we ordered was good, but the noodles in the soba noodle soup I ordered were very overcooked. Yamato has a good thing going, but attention to quality, more moderate prices, and a more welcoming attitude would likely fill more seats. read more

Best sushi in Tucson!!! I can say this even as a real Japanese. Sushi chef is Japanese and he has real skills and experiences. The size of the restaurant is kinda small compared to the other Japanese restaurants, but the tastes are real. read more

Yamato - Octopus, Tuna, Flounder, California rolls - Japanese Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Love this cozzy place! Authentic Japanese sushi, great flavors! Very good and friendly staff!!! Definitely I will keep coming back!!!

I am kicking myself for not coming here sooner. The food was nothing short of spectacular. The sushi was fresh and the hot food was AMAZING. The curry udon was one of the best dishes I've ever had. The staff was courteous and attentive without being overbearing. I'm already planning my next trip! read more

First off, I want to make it clear that the sushi was delicious - the eel roll and salmon nigiri we had were very good. That being said, much of the food on the pricier side, which was sometimes worth the extra money and sometimes WAY over priced. The first dish that came out was a $5 seaweed salad, which was the smallest portion I've ever received for five dollars at any sushi place. It was a super disappointing way to start since my partner and I split it, and it was gone in under a minute. Next came the best eel roll I've ever had at $7 (6 normal sized pieces), a much better value, and SO good. Unfortunately, we ended the meal with a tempura roll that was good, but strangely cut into 4 giant pieces that were impossible to eat in one bite (and I have a big mouth, so this normally isn't a problem). I couldn't get every flavor into one bite and my plate ended up looking like a hot mess. This roll was $10, a few dollars more expensive than most sushi places charge for a comparably sized shrimp tempura roll. My best guess is that this place is great for lunch specials and traditional Japanese food, but that for your standard Americanized sushi fair, there are better options in Tucson. I'll probably give this place another shot, but order a ramen or udon bowl instead. read more

Very intimate setting and friendly staff. The sushi was pretty good especially with a side of saki. Definitely plan on returning and sampling the other plates but I'll probably keep up with the amazing sushi selections. Totally recommend and bring a date and/or some friends and share the experience. read more

I really do love this place. The only reason why I am giving this 4 stars is because of the price. The owner is also the sushi chef who lived in Japan at one time and is an amazing sushi chef. I have not had anything bad here and the sushi seems fresh. The only thing I don't like is that they charge you for everything. A soda costs $3 and the miso soup $1.50. At a lot of other places the miso soup is included if you order food. Overall, this place is a hidden gem in Tucson and would highly recommend it. read more

Great place for fresh rolls, really good Gyoza and set within an unassuming and peaceful surroundings. The windows are closed off to the street view but that's great. Who wants to look at a parking lot anyway. Besides, it keeps people focused on conversations and keeps the looky Lous from looking in if you are by the window. Will definitely be back for the great tasting sushi! read more

I have lived in Tucson for 7 years and this was the worst dining experience I have ever had. Sushi aside (also very below average), service, quality of food, and ambiance all score a 1/10 in my book. My friend had to wait 45 minuets to be told that the waitress had forgotten to put his order into the kitchen. I then asked to speak to the manager. The managers response was: "Im sorry to hear that. Your waitress was just recently hired, and its not going to be perfect every time". Safe to say this place ruined my night. Do yourself a favor and stay far far away from this place! read more

Excellent sushi chef. High standards. Salmon always good, scallops fantastic, spicy tuna roll -- best ever, cured salmon great, try the shiitake - amazing. Spider roll quite good. I would prefer a little less rice. read more

Yamato - I recommend sitting at the sushi bar - Japanese Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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I would recommend this place. So nice and modern. Good price, nice people and parking is perfect too

We did take away tonight and it was absolutely delicious. Everything was perfectly fresh, our order was exactly right and we ate ourselves into food comas. Really happy that the quality of service and food has gone unchanged. read more

Wow. Good seafood is hard to come by in Tucson, yet there are a handful of places that are worthy - include Yamato on that list. Unassuming exterior meets unassuming interior, but don't be mistaken. Sat at the sushi bar in the early evening and watched the crowd start to fill the restaurant. The nigiri pieces were deliciously fresh and attention to detail was accounted for. The chain-sushi scene skimps whereas Yamato does not. And it makes all the difference. Perhaps my favorite other than the toro, which is always tasty, was the egg nigiri. No joke, my mouth just started watering thinking about it again. Person behind me complimented the sushi chef on enjoying the "best of" for a "whole fish-type dish" I didn't catch the name of..but I'll have to inquire on it soon. Very soon. read more

I used to come here on a weekly basis; it's the best sushi you can get in proximity to the U of A! I've never ordered any of the entrees, but I love the Chef's selection sashimi as well as (all of) the nigiri--always very fresh, thick cuts. The gyoza and geso (fried calamari legs) in the appetizers are really good as well. read more

Yamato - Chef's choice sashimi - Japanese Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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I must say from the beginning that my review rating is based partially on my ignorance. Tonight I had my first foray into "raw" sushi (sashimi). Therefore, this may be revised as I experiment with other places. With all that said, the ingredients were very fresh. The presentation was very nice for the sushi, but it was rather indifferent for the chicken curry. Presentation aside, the flavors of the curry were true and balanced. It had spice, but wasn't overwhelming. The rice needed improvement. Portion sizes were great. The server was very nice, if a little inattentive in that we had to ask for refills. The ambience was not terribly enticing, but for me taste is the focus. Overall, I will definitely try it again, especially once I know more about this type of cuisine. read more

Yamato - Caterpillar. Salmon. Spicy tuna. - Japanese Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

My partner-in-dine and I sat at the counter to sate our craving for nigiri sushi. I had wanted to order some things from the menu but sitting at the counter meant one could only order sushi. No complaints from us since our mission was to consume as much good-quality sushi as our tummies could stomach. Our meal wasn't cheap but it was definitely worth it. The fish was fresh and succulent and the service was friendly and prompt. The best part was watching the sushi chef make the sushi with quiet concentration and flawless execution. It's hard to find authentic Japanese places in Tucson but Yamato is like a shining beacon of hope for lovers of Japanese cuisine. You get what you pay for, and at Yamato you get the real deal. read more

Very authentic and great service. Staff is very friendly and the restaurant has been open 31 years! Sushi was fresh and hand rolled in front of us read more

Love this place! Great every time I've been here. Slightly on the pricy side but worth it. Fresh traditional sushi and the negihama is the way I was taught it's supposed to be. Tucked away along the big parking lot on 1st and Grant, it doesn't seem like it's going to be much, but it will surprise you, great little hidden sushi treasure in Tucson! read more

Not bad. A bit on the pricy side but it is average. Love their green tea and ginger. Very relaxing atmosphere. Good decor. Very friendly staff. read more

Having previously lived in Japan, the rice to fish ratio on sushi became an import factor in determining the quality of restaurant. Cheaper restaurants who want you to feel full and take advantage of your wallet by double rolling the fish with rice to create something that looks like sushi but is essentially rice with a small dab of fish. All-you-can eat buffets double roll their sushi but it's unfortunate to see the same tactic applied when you are paying $7-$12 per roll like Yamato. I ordered a spicy tuna roll and a Philadelphia roll but sadly both disappointed. The spicy tuna was mayo heavy, (you could barely taste the fish) and the phili roll had hardly any fish. In addition to small portions of fish, there was no complimentary edamame, miso soup and the restaurant made it very clear they do split checks. They do take credit cards but any restaurant in 2016 who refuses to split checks in my opinion should strongly consider the business they are in. read more

Yamato - Rice heavy Philadelphia roll. - Japanese Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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After some quick research on the Internet, I decided to give "Yamato" a try. A few minutes later, I arrive at a strip mall. And nestled between a CVS Pharmacy and 99 Cent Store -- amidst dilapidated construction -- I arrive. "This is going to be a big hit or miss," I thought to myself. As I entered, a waiter quickly brought me to a seat. I noted that there were two waiters, and two people cooking -- including an elder Japanese chef, who is presumably the owner. After reviewing the menu, I opt for the Amaebi (Sweet Shrimp) to begin. I then order a steak for the main course. I was impressed by both the attentiveness of the staff and the fast knife skills of the chef. After a few minutes, the miso soup and salad -- which came with my meal -- arrived. I was very satisfied with both. Then followed my Sweet Shrimp. The Sweet Shrimp was not very big -- which was a bit disappointing -- but good, nevertheless. A few minutes later, my steak arrived with steamed rice (which I had requested). The steak was excellent. The prices range from about $4 to $10 for rolls/sushi/sashimi. Entrées range from about $10 to $22. As I am about to exit the restaurant, the chef waves a friendly goodbye. I will return. read more

I'm from Japan, and I love this place!! Great sushi, sashimi, teritaki, tempura, and ramen!! The best and most authentic Japanese restaurant in T-town! The onwer is from Japan, and they are very nice people. I abosulely recommend Yamato!! read more

I've been raving about Yamoto for years, and I still haven't had even a mediocre piece of sushi here. Sushi amateurs can flock to the neon chopsticks, but Yamoto rolls the freshest, most succulent bites in town. The location in a downtrodden Grant Road strip mall is hardly appealing, but the spicy tuna, vegetable curry, and all raw items are simply the best in town. They serve my namesake mackerel (Saba) and it is always available, unlike most places, and it will melt in your mouth. The yellowtail is unparalleled in this town. read more

Authenticity is extremely valuable in sushi when it comes to Tucson. The sushi chef needs years of experience to create superb sushi. Great sushi chefs usually spend years in Japan refining their technique. Every little detail is perfected. Subtle rice seasoning, tight rolling, choosing the best fish... it all takes years of experience to master. Yamato is the big fish in Tucson's non-existent pond. It is located in a run down area of town, on Grant between 1st and Park. I stepped in and didn't regret it. The tiny place exuded authenticity and charm. I saw an older Japanese man behind the bar and heard Japanese karaoke playing in the background. It wasn't crowded, but there was a constant flow of small groups of people who appeared to be regulars. My companion and I sat at the sushi bar. Right after he finished making the other customers' rolls, he greeted us and handed us steaming hot damp towels. He could tell we were new customers. Next, he handed us some chilled refreshing edamame. I ordered the red snapper, halibut, and sweet shrimp. He asked me if I wanted the head for the sweet shrimp, but I declined since I'm not a fan of sucking fresh brains. Yamato gets brownie points for authenticity for even giving me the option, though. My companion ordered the more generic California roll and Philly roll. Through observing the chef, I could detect years of experience. His movements were quick and precise yet not in a rush. I also noticed that he had extremely long fingernails (just a tad longer than those of a Spanish guitarist). I do not know if they were for sushi work purposes, but they were clean so I had no worries. As he was preparing the sushi, he started some friendly conversation with us. He presented as much sushi as would fit on one plate, then transferred the rest onto it as my companion and I devoured a section of the plate. The food was extremely fresh-tasting. The tastes were subtle, not fishy. Each fish had the correct texture. It was prepared well so it did not fall apart. My fish sushi was also tied with a string of shiso, something I have never come across in another Tucson sushi joint. I was pleasantly surprised. Across the sushi bar, a business man came in. He was obviously a regular as he and the chef chatted often. I saw the chef shucking some oysters on the rocks, which also appeared extremely fresh. Paying good attention to my companion and I, the chef noticed quickly when we were done with our sushi. He called the hostess for a chef and handed us a plate of fruit. There were two slices each of watermelon and what my palate instantly recognized as Chinese pear. On my second trip, I ordered a rainbow roll. It was delicious and my date gobbled it up quickly. I ordered the red snapper again and it appeared to be the highlight of the meal, so I recommend it. I ordered the tempura ice cream. The ice cream was a little melted but the sliced fresh strawberries made up for it. Yamato is my favorite sushi place. The atmosphere is small, cozy, but not congested. The sushi is incredible for Tucson. It is in a poor location but is definitely worth the trip. read more

The place has the best quality of fish. The sushi chef has a reputation that hes been doing this for 20 years which says a lot but I'm also not sure how accurate that statement is. Either way, the food certainly tastes like he has been. Their chirashi bowl is so tasty and worth ordering. I love their sushi options and their sashimi option A is by far my go to for 12 pieces (4 kinds of fish x 3 pieces each). The fish is cut in decent sizes and not small at all. The service can be a bit slow or fast depending on who your server is. Order their ramen on the cold days! It's so tasty!!! read more

Wow, this is by far the best sushi I have had in Tucson. I used to drive by it everyday and I am so glad I finally stopped. The owner has been at that location for 20 years and is a native of Japan, he is also the only sushi chef in this small restaurant. Everyone except myself and some of the help was Asian. He told me that a majority of his customers are regulars and that he serves more sushi than anything else. I ordered the sashimi chef's choice and not only was the presentation awesome the sashimi was on point. It was fresh, diverse, delicious, and the serving size is above avarage. Even the fruit he gave me after my meal was so good. I must say that the prices are also very good. I will return many many too many times i am sure. read more

For sushi in Tucson, this is a five-star yo! If you must know, I don't give 5-star very often. So if that means anything to you, read on. The best way to start this review is to refer to the documentary named "Jiro dreams of sushi". If you have not seen it and you are a fan of sushi, you need to check it out. It's free on Netflix. And the sushi chef at Yamato is Tucson's version of Jiro. Yamato has been at the same location for over 20 years and Noboru-san (apologies if I mis-spelled your name) has been the one and only sushi chef working at the bar every night. That's incredible, but necessary. I've often said that sushi is all about the chef and the fish quality is a close second. In fact, his skills and knowledge are so good in a traditional way that I often tease him about passing his legacy on to someone else. He is so devoted to sushi and the quality of his food that he will not hesitate to tell you if what you like is rubbish, as he told me that my love for albacore tuna is un-warranted. Usually the bar is packed during the winter months and when UA is in session. Luckily for us locals, summer is the best time to come here and you'll get to talk to Noboru-san (although he appears quiet and focused on his sushi making). If you go, you must try his cured salmon, uni and toro, if any of these is available, especially the cured salmon as it is something uniquely made by Noboru-san himself. During our last visit, fresh scallops were available and they were heavenly. Everything is made fresh in front of you (if sitting at bar) when you order, for example spicy tuna is chopped and mixed right before it is rolled into a roll and served, not scooped out of a per-mix container, and you can ask him to make it as spicy as you like it ... or not. A gem in the Old Pueblo, indeed. P.S. Prepare to spend around $50 if you're eating solo and order alcohol. But you will get what you paid for. read more

Three words... Not Coming Back. I haven't been here in years, since college. I used to think the sushi was the best in town, but this time I was extremely disappointed. The quality of the fish just seemed mediocre. The rolls were ok. Nothing out of this world delicious. I even tried the Dynamite seafood dish which had so much sriracha that it took away from the overall taste of the dish. Be forewarned, the nigiri has Wasabi so if you don't like it, ask for it without. read more

Tried this place after driving by it for years. Enjoyed the creamy but spicy tuna roll. It was accompanied with genuine Wasabi. Also had rainbow roll which was large but had a little to much rice. Fish was very fresh. They also serve ramen which I will be return soon to try. read more

I got water spilled on me, it was an honest accident but that's how it started. Me and my roommate ordered an appetizer (chicken skewers and brown rice) because I wasn't hungry while my friends all ordered entrées/sushi. They all (minus one of them) got their food pretty quick. I ordered an appetizer and it took just under an hour to arrive. When we asked when our food would get here they said the restaurant is full which shouldn't be an excuse. We've been here for way longer than necessary. We complained to the manager and they took off almost nothing on the bill for the poor service. The bills are split so bizarrely we have homework to do now. I came here hungry and I'm leaving hungry. Yay. read more

This place had kinda alright food but the absolute worst service ever. I don't understand how it has as many stars as it does on here. Seriously.. we would ask for a side of sauce and the waitress would bluntly say "no". It also smells very strange inside. Just trying to save your next sushi experience. Drive elsewhere if you want to have an enjoyable meal! read more

Yamato - here's the scoop... I am not an expert on the authenticity of sushi. I like all kinds of sushi and will try all types of raw fish. I try to steer away from these sushi hybrids at buffets - I saw one with red cabbage, lettuce, and sriracha yesterday - what in the world! I have been to Japan, and I will eat anything, but I am not the type of person that thinks it's normal to spend $50 on sushi (or any meal for that matter). Spicy crab roll -- spicy enough and it was not just Sriracha mixed with mayonnaise - you could taste the Japanese mayonnaise (slightly different emulsion - more egg yolks and different vinegar) but almost too much so - slightly soggy. California roll -- the rolls that I have had from Japanese people cooking in my home when i lived in California include crab, avocado, cucumber, and green leaf lettuce and have the seaweed on the outside and lots of sushi vinegar powder in the rice. So that is how I learned to make it. That's just a random fact. Yamato was similar - in fact, the rice is more vinegary than most places. There were too many white sesame seeds on the roll for me though. Gyoza (potsticker dumpling) -- these are the antithesis of the potstickers you get at most places in Tucson, so you may not like them. They are similar to yaki-gyoza where the dumpling is fried and browned on one side and then steamed on the other. The texture almost seems inconsistent like that, but there was also a good amount of oil. I didn't find any meat in there, but there may have been. It was a filling of chives, cabbage, and some other green. Nigiri (raw fish plus molded rice ball)-- this is what I would save my $ for. It is pretty good in the fact that it tastes fresh and not fishy. The fish is rich tasting, and even with the strong wasabi and ginger, you still remember the taste of this fish. It is over $5 for two slices of fish. Though the taste was better than other places in Tucson, the issue I had was that the middle of the fish had a sinewy line in it. The rest was extremely thick and silky though. Yamato is not bad, but it is not prestigious in my mind. The inside is a nice respite though that would make an amazing tea house location. It is actually a place where I would want to try the traditional dishes that aren't sushi like $10 katsudon or other dishes. I know my review rating seems kinda low since I usually give buffets 4-stars, but it seemed more of a depends on what you order and prefer type of thing...Maybe 4 stars next time... read more

After reading a number of great reviews about Yamato it has definitely been on the list of places to visit in Tucson. We tried to go a couple weeks ago for a later lunch/early dinner hoping they might have a happy hour but they don't seem to have a happy hour and they were in fact closed. It seems like they're open for lunch then the close and don't open for dinner until 5pm. So, we came back this past weekend a little later in the day. The weren't at all crowded which was good because it's a pretty small place. It's not much to look at with cheap chairs and plastic covered tables but the staff is nice and the food was good. I really enjoyed the sushi... the fish seemed very fresh and flavorful. In retrospect I wish we would have sat at the sushi bar as recommended in some of the reviews I read... sounded like a neat experience. The sushi menu didn't have many options but I feel that perhaps if we sat at the sushi bar and talked to the sushi chef he might come up with different rolls (just a guess). We probably won't be coming back to Yamato because it's pretty inconvenient to where we live and the prices were higher than some of the other sushi places we've been to in Tucson and are fans of. For instance, the seaweed salad was a similar price to other places we've been (around $5) but the portion size was less than a quarter of what we're used to seeing, most of the specialty rolls are around $12, etc. Overall, glad we checked Yamato out and really enjoyed the sushi but personally won't be a regular here anytime soon. read more

Yamato - Chirashi - Japanese Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

After hearing all the rave reviews from trusted yelpers, Yamato has been bookmarked on yelp for awhile now. I finally had a chance to try it this week. I knew to expect no ambiance...but was hoping the food would make up for it. We had the squid appetizer, sushi rolls (spicy tuna, a green onion/yellow tail and the unagi eel) and sashimi (salmon and scallop). The smoked salmon sashimi with capers was the best thing I tried, but also reminded me of breakfast lox rather than sushi. The other rolls were fairly bland, in my opinion. The sushi menu is also quite limited and difficult to navigate between the paper checklist, photo sheet and one small laminated description sheet. While I will not return for the sushi, I will come back to try the ramen as it looked tasty!!! read more

We came on a Friday evening and were told sushi would be a 45 minute wait. No biggy. We figured we would order a bottle of sake and wait. We waited quite awhile for the waitress to come take our order, and when she finally returned, she informed us that the sushi wait would be an hour and a half. The restaurant was full, but not slammed. With a full restaurant, they should be able to accommodate everybody and the fact that they cannot is simply poor business and unacceptable. read more

This is such a great place to eat. The food is very authentic and the atmosphere is always booming. Highly recommend :)

Nice friendly staff, we had a great server who took care of us when we needed it. The place is a very cute, and quaint, little hole in the wall restaurant. The prices were not too bad but the Ramen was terrible, i couldnt even eat half of the bowl. I understand that they're mainly a sushi shop, which i did not taste, so i will give a rating of 3 stars. I may go back, but not for a while. read more

Amazing and unforgettable experience! Chef Noboru truly knows the art and tradition of sushi! So nice and quiet ambience adds to the wonderful taste :) Try cured salmon which you can get only in Yamato and also mushroom sushi! Even the fruit that came out for dessert is very tasty. Can't really go wrong with every other kind. I love Yamato and its friendly chef :D read more

Although our waitress was friendly, she was unfamiliar with a few items on the sushi menu and at one point begin to argue over my request for a "cooked" shrimp and cucumber roll. She was adament that shrimp is ONLY served uncooked? Because of her stubborness the sushi chef ended up sending the wrong dish out to my table. I informed the waitress that it was the wrong dish but agreed to pay for it anyway since it had already been prepared. She begin to argue further so I bypassed her and talked directly to the sushi chef who promptly made my sushi roll and refused to charge me for the wrong dish. He even went further by educating the waitress on "cooked" shrimp. I hope she learned something that night! read more

Yamato is a fine place with a nice sushi and sake selection. A handful of TV screens and a neighborhood atmosphere round out restaurant, I enjoy that it is next to Shere Punjab, a go to for home style Indian food. My only complaint is the lighting. Very well lit. It may seem petty but after a long days work all I want is some soft lighting and good food. Maybe dial back the dimmer switch just a titch for a little more ambiance? read more