I ate dinner here last night with five friends. I had the Curry Ramen ($14). The food was OK. However, the service was not. It wasn't the server's fault. Even though the place was only half full, there was roughly half an hour between when the first of us got our food and when the last one did. The kitchen apparently just couldn't keep up with the demand. Also, there was only one server for the whole restaurant. We were almost late for our movie even though we had left extra time. read more

Amazing sushi for a great price - the service was fantastic, food took a little to come out but it was worth it - the ambiance is awesome it's like I'm stepping out of Tucson when going into this little hole in the wall. Super convenient location, lots of parking! Definitely coming here again. read more

Yamato - The lads - Japanese Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

The best traditional sushi and Japanese food in town! Their sushi is always fresh and never fishy and food quality is always consistent. I have never witnessed Yamato having "an off day" and I have never been disappointed by what I've ordered. They are still open for pick up at this time, and even picking up the food and taking it home the food is just as good as it is in-restaurant. During quarantine, I've experienced being disappointed by food that tasted great for dine-in, but not for take-out. Not the case for Yamato! They have the best tamago I've ever had, and they offer freshly made takoyaki. I am a sucker for good takoyaki. Plus, their katsu curry is absolutely amazing! They aren't open for lunch on Saturdays because the family hosts traditional Japanese dance practice, so just keep that in mind! The family who owns Yamato is incredible and so friendly! It's a great, clean establishment with a homey feel hidden away in an unsuspecting shopping center next to an Ace Hardware. As cliche as it sounds, this place truly is a hidden gem! read more

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This is by far one of the best places for sushi in Tucson. You may need a reservation for dinner so call ahead to check- but you won't be disappointed in the food or the outstanding service. read more

Unbelievably freshness. The best Sushi restaurant in Tucson by far. So good. Very casual, but the staff is great. This place is a winner!

Came to Yamato on a Saturday for a date night with my wife. It's next to our favorite Indian place in town, Sher-e Punjab so we thought we'd give it a try. We arrived around 6:30p and were quickly seated. The restaurant was about half full. I like that you could choose between a table or sitting at the sushi bar. The service was somewhat lackluster. I don't know if they were having a bad day, but our server was grumpy and off-putting. We ordered some hot sake, nigiri sushi, an eel roll, tempura appetizer and beef udon noodles. The sake and sushi (roll and nigiri) arrived after 5-10 mins and were tasty. I got the octopus and they gave generous portions. After that it took an additional 25-30 mins for the tempura and udon to arrive. And there was a strange burning smell coming from the kitchen. The server apologized and told us the wait was because they were so busy, but the place was half empty. From other reviews it seems like our experience was not an isolated one. I wish them the best of luck, but we're not planning on returning any time soon and will probably stick with our usual spot at Sushi on Oracle. read more

I have a friend whose family are longtime residents of Tucson that recommended Yamato. She & I tried to go there mid/post Covid, but because of the mask requirement, we weren't willing to wait for a table. My husband & I finally tried it Friday evening (for my birthday) & the food & service were wonderful. We wanted to keep it super simple , so we ordered the Combination dinner for 2 which had excellent egg rolls for an appetizer -super crispy on the outside (which seems to be lacking in many Asian restaurants.) It was also served with Miso soup (great), assorted Vegetable Tempura, Sashimi, Sushi & Rolls. It also came with dessert. The sake was served very hot -yay! The Sushi Chef/owner (34 yrs in business), is a Master at his art. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because of the ambiance/decor. I imagine for some people, that isn't important, but for me, it is. I find that many restaurants in Tucson are lacking in this regard. I recommend making a reservation, as it's a very small restaurant. read more

Not sure what everyone is so happy about at this place. The sushi was extremely mediocre. Like, mediocre at best. read more

Came here on a whim with my wife, and she is a Japanese native. Best and most authentic food she's had since coming to the States years ago. Food and Atmosphere reminded her of home. It has a quiet ambiance, and the service is swift and courtious. 1000% recommend if looking for an AUTHENTIC Japanese experience. read more

Yamato - Tonkotsu Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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3 of us had dinner here tonight. It's very good! Here's the low down on the experience: I had a spicy tuna and Negihama, yellowtail & green onion. Also a small house salad with house dressing. The spicy tuna hand roll came out like a cone, I've not seen that before. YUMMO! The Negihama was nice. My SO had spicy tuna and Philadelphia roll. That Philly roll was great! Same spicy tuna cone, just delish. My daughter Salmon and salmon Don: salmon sashimi and salmon roe over rice. Also a side salad and a seaweed salad. Served in a bowl this was killer good! Just yummy! Oh, yes....this is worthy sushi! All fresh, all good! read more

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Very unassuming place. Reasonably priced. We loved the ramen (shoyu and tonkatsu), sashimi combo, and unagi don. Disappointed with the takoyaki (octopus) and yakitori (skewers). The takoyaki was too doughy and yakitori was under seasoned. The fried soft shell crab also lacked seasoning. Will definitely return to try other food items. Mask wear is enforced upon entry. Service was ok. read more

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As an Asian gal who grew up in the Bay Area, I have to say that this place is VERY mediocre even taking in consideration that yes I am in Tucson. The place is run by a older Japanese couple with the husband making the sushi out front and the wife manning the cooked food in the back kitchen. Service was good although the two members of the wait staff spent their time folding napkins while exchanging the latest gossip in their lives which wasn't the most professional. Tobiko was very small and served with one piece knocked over. Combination dinner was overpriced at $16 for tempura and chicken... no fish even! Smelled burning coming from the kitchen and my combo dinner took a LONG time to come out soooo something got burnt and had to be redone is my guess. Chicken came out over cooked and bland. There were grapes and watermelon in my teriyaki sauce. I tried this place because it was so close to where I live, but I won't be back. I shall continue on my quest to find decent sushi in Tucson.... read more

Yamato - Tempura and Chicken Teriyaki Combo - Japanese Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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It's a hidden jewel! Best authentic Japanese food in Tucson. I haven't found any better Japanese restaurant in Arizona yet. Sushi is fresh and well crafted. You can really tell the skills of the chef. Their tempura is golden and worth craving for!! It is crispy, delicious, and not greasy at all. Prices are reasonable and staff is helpful! I only wish I had found this place earlier! read more

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Great service. Quiet ambiance. Yummy and delicate food. A pleasant surprise was the ramen!! It is a must if you come here

As soon as I sat down I felt regret for coming here. The decor is cheap and felt like a VW hall with old chairs and long diner tables. The paper screen dividing the sushi bar from the dining area is torn and is far too low to create a suitable divide. Asian lanterns line the walls and I think it would have looked less tacky had they been illuminated above our tables. The menu is simple, especially the sushi menu which is very small. Don't come here if you like special rolls. They charge for every extra such as spicy mayo or ginger sauce. The spicy mayo sauce came with one of my rolls and was essentially just mayo as it lacked spice and flavor. I started with the miso soup which was as expected including seaweed, green onions, and tofu. I ordered the shrimp tempura roll which had many flaws. To begin it was only four pieces for $10. The size of the pieces was far too large and had two strips of shrimp tempura running through them. I think it would have been much easier to eat if it was one shrimp wide and made into eight pieces. The size wasn't the only thing that made eating this roll challenging, it was rolled very loose and fell apart on my plate. Another flaw was having lettuce inside, a huge mistake in my book as it felt cheap and could have just as easily been benefited by having a few more pieces of cucumber. The flavor was bland and could have greatly benefited by a spicy mayo that was properly seasoned. Second I ordered the spicy tuna roll which has avocado and fish eggs on top. This roll was also small with six pieces being offered. Although I did find the flavor to be better than my first roll, the tuna was tarnished by being saturated in mayonnaise causing the filling to ooze out. This roll was served with pickled ginger and wasabi, something I wish had some with the shrimp tempura roll. This roll was tight and small enough to eat which I was grateful for. Right as I was finishing my sushi my partners soup came out. The delay in food service allowed me time to write this review, but was very disappointing. I received my sushi rolls separately as well as they were served immediately after they were made by the single sushi chef working the counter. The soup that my partner ordered was the curry vegetable noodle soup. The noodles were clearly fresh made and very soft. As a dish he enjoyed the flavors but found the amount of vegetables to be lacking. This is clearly a small sushi joint and the sushi chef seemed at an age which would assume experience and pride in his creations. It is too bad that the items did not seem worth the money. read more

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Service was excellent. The sushi and sashimi were fresh and delicious. The gyoza & tempura excellent.

Just the best sushi in Arizona. How many places have a sushi cho trained in Japan by a family business? The cooked food is just as amazing as the sushi and sashimi. Try the tonkatsu ramen and you won't be disappointed, a savory broth glistening with the roast pork. read more

Found myself here in Tucson, AZ. As I was driving back to my hotel, I came across Yamato off of Grant Rd. They're a small Japanese owned restaurant and the staff is friendly and attentive. Masks are still required to enter but, not a big deal. Food is fresh and tasty. Their tempura was light and crispy and their chicken teriyaki is skinless and moist. I personally prefer some skin with a little bit of a char to it. Their chicken is boiled and not dry. Their teriyaki sauce is light and not very thick. The sushi was excellent. Overall, I had a wonderful dinner. read more

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Wonderful service, and very kind ! The food was fresh and the portions were perfect. The ambiance was absolutely unique, it felt like we were in a nice local restaurant in Japan (except for the TV hehe). read more

Am a Japanese American transplant from California so I was so fortunate to have found Yamato as I grew up on Japanese food and was having withdrawals. The sashimi is always fresh and good quality. The dishes are good as my Obachan (Japanese Grandmother) would prepare, so yummy it makes my tummy smile read more

I rarely complain.. Yamato was the worst of the worst. Took at least 25 minutes for my food and I could tell the waitress let my food sit so long she had to microwave it. Teriyaki chicken was dry, chewy and the whole bowl of food was superheated uniformly. Microwaved ! ! ! read more

First of all, you really should only come here if you're a fan of nigiri or sashimi sushi. If you're into rolls, especially all the Americanized-specials, this is not the place for you. But if you're looking for a more authentic Japanese style restaurant, this is it. An amazing quaint restaurant off of Grant, tucked away and very down to the essence of what Japanese cuisine is all about. It was a bit busy and the waiter forgot a couple things, but it didn't bother me because the food was delicious! Who would have known this place was in Tucson. The sushi chef is very kind and welcoming, acknowledging each customer that works through the doors. They offer special things during lunch that aren't offered at dinner, so I will making a lunch trip back here soon! We ordered a rainbow roll to share, my friend got ramen and I got combination #3. He said his ramen was even better than the ramen they serve at oban! The combination #3 came with an assortment of nigiri and I was ecstatic that there wasn't any raw squid, which isn't my favorite. The most interesting nigiri was a piece of fish with some sort of green chile/spicy addition, which was amazing! All of the fish was perfectly sliced, just the right ratio of fish to sushi rice and definitely reminded me of being back in Japan. I highly recommend coming out here and trying the food out! Having lived in Japan for 2 years, I would say that this place really reminds me of what sushi is supposed to be about: the simplicity and skill of the right fish selection and the chef's knife. read more

Yamato - Combination #3--chef's selection of 8 nigiri - Japanese Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Yamato is one of my top 3 favorite sushi places in town. I do not love the space nor the location, but the food is great. The sushi chef has been there for over 30 years. I consider it to be one of the pricier sushi restaurants in the area, but the dishes are tasty, higher quality, and well-presented. During COVID, you can only order takeout (whenever they choose to re-open the dining area I'll probably still eat takeout because the space is so small). Make sure you call ahead by at least 30-45 minutes. The service is a little slow. The chirashi bowl is my go-to. The sushi rice is the best in Tucson! You can tell the fish is better here than at other places. I just wish the pieces were bigger, but it's still delicious! read more

Yamato - Japanese Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Yamato is now out favorite sushi place in Tucson! The sushi is so fresh and delicious! All five stars go to the sole awesome Sushi Chef! It's currently opened for takeout only during the pandemic and we can't wait to come back for the dining in. This place makes me forget about all the other subpar sushi places we unfortunately have tried. The search for a great sushi place is finally over! read more

Yamato - Soft shell crab rolls, California rolls, Salmon rolls, Tuna & Salmon Sashimi - Japanese Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

This place is amazing. Finely crafted sushi and Tekka Don bowls of yumminess. Udon and soba noodles, fried veggies and such delightful presentation on every morsel. It has been a Tucson staple for years. Do yourself a favor and eat here for lunch/dinner/special occasions, because it is Wednesday and you are craving smoked salmon. Just go. read more

I'm blown away by this incredible food which is authentic and very fresh. Gracious service amidst a charming atmosphere with THE BEST sushi ever read more

We found this gem while traveling through Tucson. What an amazing and authentic Japanese food by a Japanese sushi chef trained in Japan. We wanted traditional Japanese food and this place did not disappoint with an extensive menu we went back two nights in a row. Excellent service too! Thank you for an unforgettable meal! read more

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!the absolute best sushi in tucson.. probably arizona... probably this whole country!!!!! the perfect sushi! handmade by the sushi master himself !!!! made with so much love and care! 1000/10! read more

Yamato - Japanese Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Great food, and very entertaining. I would definitely recommend. The staff was great. Food was amazing.

Is a party of 4 and we didn't know that we have to do reservation at 5:30pm because is TUESDAY so we were told if we dining in, we have to eat within ONE HOUR because of the reservation. We did the 1 hour and didn't complain; we order, we wait for the food for 20mins to serve us, we ate in 30 mins and leave BUT facts is we were told to eat and leave in ONE HOUR... Food is good. read more

Sushi wasn't fresh, I tried 3 different rolls and they were all overly sweet. Maybe it's the seaweed they use? In addition, customer service was lacking as the girl answering phones wasn't helpful at all when trying to place a carryout order. read more

The place opens at 5 and we tried to call for reservation before, no one answer. So we decided to do walk in. When we first walked into the door at 5:05, right away the chef gave us bad looks (May be because we are Chinese) and just said one word "mask". The waitress saw us and asked us how many we will need for dinner. Then she went over to the chef murmured for couple seconds then came over to tell us there is no seats for us (at this moment there are no one at the restaurant but us) the ENTIRE restaurant is all under reservation. We walked out in our disbelief and will never come back! read more

Until now, we've had zero success finding a legit, authentic Japanese restaurant in Tucson. Our search is over, this is it. Finally, a Japanese restaurant that is not just a Chinese or Korean place masquerading as Japanese. None of that awful Americanized sushi roll (sushi burrito) nonsense, simply legit, authentic Japanese food that could actually be successful in Japan. Grandpa out front slinging some great nigiri and Grandma in back cranking out some great Udon, Soba and all the mainstays you'd expect. By virtue of Grandma and Grandpa running the show, there's only ~5 tables, reservations are advised and be patient. You'll be rewarded with a great meal prepared with care. read more

The first time we came here was in 2019 on our last day of a road trip. Today, after driving all the way from Carlsbad New Mexico, we barely made it before closing time. They were nice enough to take our order. This is the best sushi we've ever tried and we wish it was closer to home. Anyways, do not hesitate to come here! The quality of the fish is amazing and the attention to detail is superb. read more

Yamato - Dragon roll and shrimp tempura roll - Japanese Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

This mom-and-pop joint screams authenticity through its Japanese-lantern decor and Enka music. Although I didn't sit up near the sushi bar, you can see the owner gleaming at his customer base. He seemed incredibly friendly and thanked every single customer who walked out of his door. The miso that was served to us was pretty good. I felt that it had a lot of flavor and copious amounts of tofu and kelp. I primarily selected this place because I saw that they had beefdon "gyudon" on the menu and I've been looking for something similar to Yoshinoya and Sukiya from Japan. Overall, the beef don was okay. The meat was kind of dry and I wasn't too impressed with portions, except for the fact that I paid $8 for it. The dish was beautifully displayed with some pickled vegetables on the side. In addition to the beef bowl, I also ordered two maguro nigiri. Upon seeing them, I was genuinely worried, since the coloration was not the vibrant red seen in some other joints - but the nose knows! Despite the coloration, the sushi held up. A nice sized chunk of tuna sat atop a bed of rice that was already delicately laced with wasabi. In the end, I really wish I ordered my sushi. So far, I'm having mixed feelings on this place. I think it absolutely portrays a "mom's home cooking" feel to Japanese cuisine. The prices are fair for Japanese food, but the wait and service has much to be desired. Our lunch lasted at least 30 minutes longer than I had allotted in my work schedule. This place clearly has a dedicated customer base, and I think it is likely I'll be back to try my hand at more of their sushi. read more

Yamato - Tuna nigiri and spice crab roll. Delicious! - Japanese Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Best sushi in Tucson. Fresh perfectly sized cuts of fish. Family owned with the same brilliant sushi chef for years.

Chef is the master. Best Sushi in Tucson. Be patient as they're all about quality, not pushing volume like at other sushi joints.

One of the many great restaurants at the Grant/First intersection, this little gem was fantastically delicious. Dropped in for a quick lunch and noticed there was one server (and one sushi chef) for the entire restaurant. It took a little while for the server to make it to our table and pretty soon he was nowhere to be found. I ordered the Oyaki Don (chicken, veggies, and egg over rice) and a spicy crab roll and both blew my mind. The crab roll was better than any roll I've had in Tucson and the chicken bowl was incredible. Chicken cooked perfectly and just the right amount of egg. Overall, this has become one of my favorite new restaurants and feel the need to share it with others. read more

Yamato - Japanese Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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have been several times and is always very very good!! restaurant is super clean and workers are very kind. would recommend making a reservation beforehand! love it so much!! read more

I have been to Yamato quite a few times over the past few years and have never had a bad experience there. It's definitely my favorite Japanese restaurant in Tucson for food quality and authenticity. The atmosphere is calm and humble with some Japanese decor, and I've always had a lovely dining experience. Whenever I come here I tend to stick to my old favorite, the katsudon. It's a dish that gives me such nostalgia for Japan, and Yamato has my favorite katsudon in Tucson. The oshinko is prefect as well, either in katsudon or as an appetizer. They also have fabulous sushi, but you do have to pay quite a bit for it. I can only ever afford two or four pieces of nigiri, but even so, this is the only Tucson sushi I can reliably count on for taste. This is also where I would recommend for the best bowl of ramen, as many of my friends and family agree. If you're looking for authentic Japanese flavor, Yamato is by far my recommendation, and that hasn't changed since my first visit. read more

Yamato - Katsudon - Japanese Near Me - Tucson, Arizona