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For someone who prefers sushi rolls over hand rolls - this place blew me away! The quality of the fish, thoughtfulness of the coursing, the cocktails, and the service - what an experience! They have pre-courses out flights but a lot of à la carte hand rolls as well you can sub out for or add on. 6 hand rolls seems to have been the right amount. I ended up ripping some of the seaweed off each time but absolutely no complaints. I still think about this place...can't wait to come back.
I was in town for a concert and I was hoping to find somewhere to have a great dinner before the show. I found this spot and hoped to be able to get in. I got lucky because they asked if I had a reservation, and I did not have one. I was surprised about the reservation, since it was a Thursday evening at 5pm. I understood later though. The dining room is small and intimate. It has a perfect Japanese flair to it. It took a little while to get service after I was seated, I was close to finding somewhere else to eat, But I am so glad i stayed! I opted for the OG handroll selection. I believe the simple dishes let the quality of the food shine through, since there is nothing to hide behind. Each roll is brought out individually on a wooden stand. They are left open so you can see the ingredients. I appreciate that the soy sauce is in a dropper bottle. It is meant as a seasoning, not to bathe the food in. I have not ever had soy sauce this good. It is their house recipe and it is so much better than any commercially avalable sauce. Even the ginger and wasabi were incredible. The Zuke Maguro was the best Tuna I have ever had. Negihama with green onion was delicious and fatty. The Salmon roll with lemon was phenomenal. Spicy Tuna with Tempura crunch was seasoned perfectly. Snow Crab and garlic chives was light and creamy. I had to get one more Salmon roll, It was so good! I had a Sake flight that paired so well with the hand rolls. I was ill prepared for the slower pace of this dining experience and I will say it was well worth the wait. This will be on my list of highly recommended places.
Super friendly service and a great selection of tasty rolls. Each roll comes out one at a time to ensure the roasted seaweed doesn't get soggy. They have hand roll flights that are fully customizable and an option to add additional rolls if you want. 6-7 rolls was a good amount for me without being overly stuffed. Faves were def the snow crab and chive, Calabrian chili ebi (some heat to this one), the toro caviar and the miso butter cod. A little fun and interactivity rolling the hand rolls yourself and easily instagrammable. It's a small spot so our party of 11 was split between two tables but they did a great job of keeping us taken care of. They share the bathrooms with the ramen spot next door, which looks like an equally good spot to check out next time.
KAZUNORI? Don't know her! Yonsei is my new handroll favorite and I am not looking back! Arrived at around 1:30pm on a Sunday and was completely blow away by all the yummy options. The system is super fun too! You order either a set of pre-selected rolls and/or you choose from the full menu. They then bring you rolls out one by one (such a great way too - lets your tummy actually get full) All of the rolls were great! My personal favorites were the salmon and the yellowtail. They put tons of fish in each one too. Absolutely loved it. Cocktails are incredible here too! Normally, im just used to sake, but they have some great libations here. Super creative and went with the meal perfectly. Loved loved loved my visit to Yonsei handrolls! Such a dangerous spot located to my new spot in the Bay.
Came here for lunch and there was no wait. Ordered a few hand rolls à la carte and one DIY lunch special. Fish is very fresh. Modern decor and loved their music playlist. However the service was incredibly slow. My boyfriend finished all his rolls before my meal ever came out so their timing was very poor.
Nice space and ambiance next to an adjoining ramen restaurant. The hand rolls were a bit off though: the coconut shrimp one was room temperature on the outside coating but inside the shrimp was very cold. The fish in the one I tried didn't seem too fresh and I had to use a lot of soy sauce to make it edible.
Black Cod Truffle Butter -- warm, truffle goodness on top of cooked soft cod! Buttery and creamy! Zuke Maguro -- soy sauce flavored tuna, no sauce needed for this handroll. Super soft and umami. Salmon Belly -- nice and fatty, very nice and soft. Hint of sauce pairs nicely with this handroll. Rolls are all warm and delicious. Loved all the rolls I picked! So fresh and fish was so yummy.
This place absolutely blew my mind. I've never had a handroll that was as good as how this place makes it! The service was impeccable and the handrolls were simply divine. Each roll cam out after you finished the previous roll to preserve freshness. I got the OG set which consisted of: Zuke Maguro - Soy cured ahi tuna was melt in your mouth. Fresh as if it was just reeled in straight from the ocean. My favorite piece of the night. Negihama - Yellowtail with green onions, sweet and smooth. Delicious. Salmon, sesame, lemon- Fragrant and slightly citrus-y, and a tad it buttery, delightful Spicy Tuna- Tuna with a tempura crunch, textures mixed well together and complimented each other well. Snow Crab- Chunks of crab mixed in with a sweet mayo. Simple, yet flavor was oddly more complex than it looked. Sweet, and savory, and buttery at the same time.
Nice ambiance with great hand roll selection. We ordered: 1. Spicy tuna crunch (I would skip this next time) $8 2. Black cod with truffle butter (this was good, but I couldn't really taste the truffle) $12 3. Toro & caviar (the toro masked the caviar in my opinion) $21 4. Seared albacore set (this was the most flavorful and our favorite) $8 5. Crab $7.50 6. Uni $19 7. Salmon belly (my second favorite) $10 Overall, it was nice to try this place. We went on a Monday night and there was plenty of street parking in front. We ordered a set ($65) + 4 handrolls, total was about $126 before tax. A bit on the pricey side, but worth a try.
The food is delicious! I love their hand rolls both of their locations have the best rolls! The staff were very nice and kind. They have a good amount of seating, they were able to accommodate our party of 10
Solid restaurant. Feeling peckish, wanted non fussy and clean food. Lunch special; $30 with three special rolls, and two appetizers are perfect to scratch that itch for fresh fish and nice texture of rice. Reservation tells you how to eat hand rolls, need to not to wait, bite in when the fish is prepared fresh; don't let the rice sit too long. I thought the food came very well prepared; and simple yet fresh; delicious and not heavy. I came by myself. And I wanted something extra so I ordered Jellyfish. I did not like that as much. I prefer raw fresh fish. So I will skip that. Would recommend making a reservation and come over for lunch - it was MLK day, and I had wanted to go to the Korean supermarket after. It is a good destination restaurant. Worth the trip!
Yonsei is knocking it out of the park with these handrolls! I'm ashamed to admit that this was my first time having proper handrolls, and I haven't been able to truly enjoy regular sushi rolls ever since. Yonsei kind of ruined it for me, but in the best way possible! I've been here a few times now and I can honestly say that I'm a fan. Came with a friend last year during Oakland Restaurant Week, and it was a wonderful introduction to what they're all about. First things first; don't skip out on the cocktails! They are super creative and tasty. We each ordered two drinks from their cocktail list and all of them were tasty. Yonsei specializes in progressive handroll sets. You can order the handrolls à la carte, but it makes more sense to indulge in one of their preset menus. I have stuck with the OG set and it has not stirred me wrong. The OG set is a great way to try their most popular varieties. Everything is super fresh and I love how they serve the rolls in cute little boxes for the esthetic. It also makes it easier to eat in my opinion. They serve each roll one or two at a time, which allows for an un-rushed and fresher tasting experience. The flavors are so jam packed in these things. Do yourself a huge favor and make sure to get the spicy tuna and the black cod with truffle oil rolls! As a previous non-tuna eater, the spicy tuna roll here is just so incredibly tasty! I also love that they top it with crispy tempura which gives it a nice little crunch. The black cod and truffle will just melt in your mouth. This roll costs a little more than the others, but it's so worth the upgrade. You honestly can't go wrong with any of their rolls because they are all damn delicious. A few other honorable mentions are their desserts and their sakes. I am not well versed on sake at all, but I thoroughly enjoyed the sake tasting and it was the perfect compliment to my meal. DON'T forgot dessert! The Yuzu olive oil cake is friggin' mouthwatering! The tart and sourness of the yuzu with the sweetness of the cake is a match MADE, baby! The service here is wonderful! The staff is super observant and attentive. This is a popular spot in the neighborhood, so you're most likely going to need a reservation or you'll be waiting at the door for a table. It's super tiny inside but cozy and comfy. The only small nitpick that I have about this place is that it cab easily turn into an expensive meal. Also, it might not be the most filling for heavy eaters. Other than that; Yonsei is absolutely golden! If you love handrolls or are looking to experience them for the first time, put Yonsei at the top of your list.
Right off the bat, I had a fantastic time here -- 5 service, ambiance, and food! I loooove a good handroll, and usually I try to find places where I can sit at the bar and watch them make it in front of me, but this small spot caught my eye because I drove by and saw it on the map. The interior is really cozy and there is a decent amount of seating. There is a cute table right at the window where I would love to sit next time if I go eat lunch by myself! We made a last-minute reservation through Resy for 7:15 PM, which was a good call because it was pretty busy when we walked in on a Friday night. I initially wanted to order their set, but then decided to just order five of my own choice: Salmon, Salmon Belly, Zuke Maguro, Tako-Wasa, and Negihama. Whole I don't have a particular order in which I liked the hand rolls, I have to say the Zuke Maguro was my favorite -- it was marinated in a sweet soy and didn't need any drops of soy sauce for me to enjoy it. The sake flight was also enjoyable, though I do wish there was a hot sake option! The servers and waitresses that helped us out were so very kind and checked up on us frequently to see if everything was okay! While this one dinner wasn't the cheapest, I definitely had a good time :)
I just started going to Yonsei within the last 2 months and I have to say this has become one of my favorite sushi spots in the Bay Area! I like going during the lunch hour, when it's not too crowded and I can get in and get out during my lunch break. The ambiance is very calm in the afternoon as well, I love the dark walls inside and I like sitting in the front at the high top facing the steeet while I people watch. The waitress Juju is sooo kind and sweet. She is so knowledgeable about the menu and the cocktails. She always takes amazing care of me- which also plays a huge part in why this has become one of my favorite sushi places in the bay read more
Yonsei is a quaint little spot serving up fresh, flavorful hand rolls that are sure to satisfy any sushi craving. You can order individual hand rolls or opt for one of their curated sets--we went with the set, and it was the perfect way to sample a variety of offerings. Every hand roll arrived freshly made with crisp nori, yummy fish, and well-balanced flavors. Simple, yet delicious. If you're a hand roll fan, this is definitely worth adding to your Oakland dining list. read more
Solid handroll spot! The fish was super fresh, and the staff were very sweet. The best handroll I tried was the salmon belly one! FYI the sets don't save any money, so you might as well a la carte the ones you like. My only critique was that the portion size of fish was a bit small, so if you're hungry you might need 6-7 handrolls! read more
For someone who prefers sushi rolls over hand rolls - this place blew me away! The quality of the fish, thoughtfulness of the coursing, the cocktails, and the service - what an experience! They have pre-courses out flights but a lot of à la carte hand rolls as well you can sub out for or add on. 6 hand rolls seems to have been the right amount. I ended up ripping some of the seaweed off each time but absolutely no complaints. I still think about this place...can't wait to come back. read more
I was in town for a concert and I was hoping to find somewhere to have a great dinner before the show. I found this spot and hoped to be able to get in. I got lucky because they asked if I had a reservation, and I did not have one. I was surprised about the reservation, since it was a Thursday evening at 5pm. I understood later though. The dining room is small and intimate. It has a perfect Japanese flair to it. It took a little while to get service after I was seated, I was close to finding somewhere else to eat, But I am so glad i stayed! I opted for the OG handroll selection. I believe the simple dishes let the quality of the food shine through, since there is nothing to hide behind. Each roll is brought out individually on a wooden stand. They are left open so you can see the ingredients. I appreciate that the soy sauce is in a dropper bottle. It is meant as a seasoning, not to bathe the food in. I have not ever had soy sauce this good. It is their house recipe and it is so much better than any commercially avalable sauce. Even the ginger and wasabi were incredible. The Zuke Maguro was the best Tuna I have ever had. Negihama with green onion was delicious and fatty. The Salmon roll with lemon was phenomenal. Spicy Tuna with Tempura crunch was seasoned perfectly. Snow Crab and garlic chives was light and creamy. I had to get one more Salmon roll, It was so good! I had a Sake flight that paired so well with the hand rolls. I was ill prepared for the slower pace of this dining experience and I will say it was well worth the wait. This will be on my list of highly recommended places. read more
4 months ago
Super friendly service and a great selection of tasty rolls. Each roll comes out one at a time to ensure the roasted seaweed doesn't get soggy. They have hand roll flights that are fully customizable and an option to add additional rolls if you want. 6-7 rolls was a good amount for me without being overly stuffed. Faves were def the snow crab and chive, Calabrian chili ebi (some heat to this one), the toro caviar and the miso butter cod. A little fun and interactivity rolling the hand rolls yourself and easily instagrammable. It's a small spot so our party of 11 was split between two tables but they did a great job of keeping us taken care of. They share the bathrooms with the ramen spot next door, which looks like an equally good spot to check out next time. read more
KAZUNORI? Don't know her! Yonsei is my new handroll favorite and I am not looking back! Arrived at around 1:30pm on a Sunday and was completely blow away by all the yummy options. The system is super fun too! You order either a set of pre-selected rolls and/or you choose from the full menu. They then bring you rolls out one by one (such a great way too - lets your tummy actually get full) All of the rolls were great! My personal favorites were the salmon and the yellowtail. They put tons of fish in each one too. Absolutely loved it. Cocktails are incredible here too! Normally, im just used to sake, but they have some great libations here. Super creative and went with the meal perfectly. Loved loved loved my visit to Yonsei handrolls! Such a dangerous spot located to my new spot in the Bay. read more
2 months ago
Came here for lunch and there was no wait. Ordered a few hand rolls à la carte and one DIY lunch special. Fish is very fresh. Modern decor and loved their music playlist. However the service was incredibly slow. My boyfriend finished all his rolls before my meal ever came out so their timing was very poor. read more
Nice space and ambiance next to an adjoining ramen restaurant. The hand rolls were a bit off though: the coconut shrimp one was room temperature on the outside coating but inside the shrimp was very cold. The fish in the one I tried didn't seem too fresh and I had to use a lot of soy sauce to make it edible. read more
5 months ago
Black Cod Truffle Butter -- warm, truffle goodness on top of cooked soft cod! Buttery and creamy! Zuke Maguro -- soy sauce flavored tuna, no sauce needed for this handroll. Super soft and umami. Salmon Belly -- nice and fatty, very nice and soft. Hint of sauce pairs nicely with this handroll. Rolls are all warm and delicious. Loved all the rolls I picked! So fresh and fish was so yummy. read more
This place absolutely blew my mind. I've never had a handroll that was as good as how this place makes it! The service was impeccable and the handrolls were simply divine. Each roll cam out after you finished the previous roll to preserve freshness. I got the OG set which consisted of: Zuke Maguro - Soy cured ahi tuna was melt in your mouth. Fresh as if it was just reeled in straight from the ocean. My favorite piece of the night. Negihama - Yellowtail with green onions, sweet and smooth. Delicious. Salmon, sesame, lemon- Fragrant and slightly citrus-y, and a tad it buttery, delightful Spicy Tuna- Tuna with a tempura crunch, textures mixed well together and complimented each other well. Snow Crab- Chunks of crab mixed in with a sweet mayo. Simple, yet flavor was oddly more complex than it looked. Sweet, and savory, and buttery at the same time. read more
6 months ago
Nice ambiance with great hand roll selection. We ordered: 1. Spicy tuna crunch (I would skip this next time) $8 2. Black cod with truffle butter (this was good, but I couldn't really taste the truffle) $12 3. Toro & caviar (the toro masked the caviar in my opinion) $21 4. Seared albacore set (this was the most flavorful and our favorite) $8 5. Crab $7.50 6. Uni $19 7. Salmon belly (my second favorite) $10 Overall, it was nice to try this place. We went on a Monday night and there was plenty of street parking in front. We ordered a set ($65) + 4 handrolls, total was about $126 before tax. A bit on the pricey side, but worth a try. read more
4 months ago
8 months ago
Solid restaurant. Feeling peckish, wanted non fussy and clean food. Lunch special; $30 with three special rolls, and two appetizers are perfect to scratch that itch for fresh fish and nice texture of rice. Reservation tells you how to eat hand rolls, need to not to wait, bite in when the fish is prepared fresh; don't let the rice sit too long. I thought the food came very well prepared; and simple yet fresh; delicious and not heavy. I came by myself. And I wanted something extra so I ordered Jellyfish. I did not like that as much. I prefer raw fresh fish. So I will skip that. Would recommend making a reservation and come over for lunch - it was MLK day, and I had wanted to go to the Korean supermarket after. It is a good destination restaurant. Worth the trip! read more
Yonsei is knocking it out of the park with these handrolls! I'm ashamed to admit that this was my first time having proper handrolls, and I haven't been able to truly enjoy regular sushi rolls ever since. Yonsei kind of ruined it for me, but in the best way possible! I've been here a few times now and I can honestly say that I'm a fan. Came with a friend last year during Oakland Restaurant Week, and it was a wonderful introduction to what they're all about. First things first; don't skip out on the cocktails! They are super creative and tasty. We each ordered two drinks from their cocktail list and all of them were tasty. Yonsei specializes in progressive handroll sets. You can order the handrolls à la carte, but it makes more sense to indulge in one of their preset menus. I have stuck with the OG set and it has not stirred me wrong. The OG set is a great way to try their most popular varieties. Everything is super fresh and I love how they serve the rolls in cute little boxes for the esthetic. It also makes it easier to eat in my opinion. They serve each roll one or two at a time, which allows for an un-rushed and fresher tasting experience. The flavors are so jam packed in these things. Do yourself a huge favor and make sure to get the spicy tuna and the black cod with truffle oil rolls! As a previous non-tuna eater, the spicy tuna roll here is just so incredibly tasty! I also love that they top it with crispy tempura which gives it a nice little crunch. The black cod and truffle will just melt in your mouth. This roll costs a little more than the others, but it's so worth the upgrade. You honestly can't go wrong with any of their rolls because they are all damn delicious. A few other honorable mentions are their desserts and their sakes. I am not well versed on sake at all, but I thoroughly enjoyed the sake tasting and it was the perfect compliment to my meal. DON'T forgot dessert! The Yuzu olive oil cake is friggin' mouthwatering! The tart and sourness of the yuzu with the sweetness of the cake is a match MADE, baby! The service here is wonderful! The staff is super observant and attentive. This is a popular spot in the neighborhood, so you're most likely going to need a reservation or you'll be waiting at the door for a table. It's super tiny inside but cozy and comfy. The only small nitpick that I have about this place is that it cab easily turn into an expensive meal. Also, it might not be the most filling for heavy eaters. Other than that; Yonsei is absolutely golden! If you love handrolls or are looking to experience them for the first time, put Yonsei at the top of your list. read more
10 months ago
Right off the bat, I had a fantastic time here -- 5 service, ambiance, and food! I loooove a good handroll, and usually I try to find places where I can sit at the bar and watch them make it in front of me, but this small spot caught my eye because I drove by and saw it on the map. The interior is really cozy and there is a decent amount of seating. There is a cute table right at the window where I would love to sit next time if I go eat lunch by myself! We made a last-minute reservation through Resy for 7:15 PM, which was a good call because it was pretty busy when we walked in on a Friday night. I initially wanted to order their set, but then decided to just order five of my own choice: Salmon, Salmon Belly, Zuke Maguro, Tako-Wasa, and Negihama. Whole I don't have a particular order in which I liked the hand rolls, I have to say the Zuke Maguro was my favorite -- it was marinated in a sweet soy and didn't need any drops of soy sauce for me to enjoy it. The sake flight was also enjoyable, though I do wish there was a hot sake option! The servers and waitresses that helped us out were so very kind and checked up on us frequently to see if everything was okay! While this one dinner wasn't the cheapest, I definitely had a good time :) read more
We had a reservation at 5pm and were seated promptly upon arrival. Street parking is a hit or a miss so plan accordingly! Service: 5/5 Staff were engaging, friendly, and efficient with their service. They were also knowledgeable on the menu so that was a huge plus for the staff. Ambiance: 5/5 Very intimate setting with dim lightings and table candles. Noise and music were minimal so the atmosphere was calm and enjoyable. Food: 5/5 We got the OG and Baller sets with a few single items. OG is for those who love simple handrolls with salmon. Baller is for those who love seared and soy cured different kinds of fish. read more
My boyfriend and I tried out Yonsei Handrolls using Resy before a movie nearby, and had a decent experience. There was plenty of street parking nearby and we had no issues with accessing the restaurant. We went at opening and the staff there was nice and came to greet us when they realized we were waiting outside for them to open. The ambiance was nice with dim lighting and minimal decorations. Since the omakase ended up being pretty comparable to ordering singles, we ended up choosing our own handrolls. The highlights were seared albacore, snow crab, and the uni ikura one. I'd say the zuke maguro was also pretty good. While black cod was a fan favorite, we did find it a bit strong that conflicted with the roasted seaweed, but the aroma was great and I still enjoyed it. For dessert we ordered yuzu olive cake and that was really good, especially all the almond brittle pieces that came with the cake. The only slight disappointment was that we were celebrating an anniversary, and while the staff acknowledged that upon check-in, we were a bit surprised they didn't anything at all. Overall, decent spot for a lighter dinner that can be booked through Resy. read more
We made a reservation for Saturday night and were seated right away, tucked in a little corner with a nice window facing the street. It was a cozy, romantic corner of the restaurant, perfect for a date night especially with the Christmas lights and rainy weather outside. We ordered the hamachi carpaccio to start, and then two of the OG sets with the extra 6th roll. The hamachi carpaccio was delicious with the tart ponzu sauce and microgreens on the side, but the portion was pretty small (only four slices). For the handrolls, each one was so fresh and went amazing with the soy sauce that came in a fun glass vial on the side. My personal favorites were the spicy tuna, which came with crunchy tempura bits and had an amazing sesame oil flavor, and the truffle butter cod, which was cooked and was decadent with the butter dripping down my fingers. Given that this is a handroll place, it would be great if there were wet wipes or wet towels provided to keep clean between rolls. Overall really amazing flavor. I'd absolutely make another trek here. read more
My husband & I ate here before attending a concert at the Paramount theater and enjoyed the whole experience! It was only a 5 minute walk! The service was outstanding. Everyone was so kind. I recommend making a reservation. It's a small space. Although they take walk ins, I can see how this can result in a long wait if coming on a busier day. Everyone who came after we arrived had a reservation. We opted for the OG set each & paid for the extra hand roll which was the black cod & truffle butter. This was my husband's favorite. It was very rich and delicious. I enjoyed everything and although it didn't seem like it was a lot of food at first, we were full at the end of our meal. We always order hamachi carpaccio if it's on the menu and it did not disappoint! I would definitely come again even if parking is hard. Lyft if you can! read more
1 month ago
Came here after a walk around lake Merritt and ooooweeeeeee it hit so good! It's a small, cute intimate restaurant and the servers were kind. The handrolls had so much taste! Came out fast. read more
5 months ago
Cute and intimate restaurant. Our waitress was very attentive. They have good quality fish. The spicy tuna tempura hand roll stood out the most as did the negihama. The crab was very disappointing though. read more
Very fresh hand-rolls! Cute, chill ambiance with excellent service. You can order their Omaka set or singles. I usually order the singles which consists of salmon, sesame, lemon / spicy tuna/ salmon belly/ black cod. MUST TRY! Parking can be difficult and more than likely you will have to park and walk to destination but I would recommend this place if you are in the area or craving quality hand-rolls. read more
2 months ago
What a lovely surprise! Was in downtown Oakland on a Saturday for a street fair event and saw the sign outside this restaurant, advertising DIY hand rolls. We were so glad we checked it out! Great ambience, great service, fresh perfect fish, and a unique DIY experience to boot. Definitely will be back! read more
Came here to celebrate a special occasion! The vibes are romantic and dimly lit. It's also connected to the ramen restaurant next door.i think they were trying to an intimate classy vibe but there was something missing. The tables look a bit cheap and the flooring too so it didn't fully match. My friend and I got the OG($36) and Yonsei house specialities($50). And split the rolls in half with each other so we can try more. I think the fish quality was good and well prepared. Most of the fish I had tasted cured with salt so the texture was firmer. The favorite bite of the night was 100% the snow crab hand roll. I would get 5 of those and dare I say the snow crab hand roll might be better than Kazunori's blue crab hand roll. The cod and truffle butter($10) was a miss for me. There was a lot of butter and a very light truffle flavor. I was really expecting more of a truffle flavor for the price of the hand roll so it was a bit disappointing. The toro, salmon, and hamachi were all amazing quality but nothing out of the ordinary that I couldn't get at a Japanese grocery store sashimi section. Everything else was good and fresh but it's sad to say it wasn't mind blowing or unique. I was also very disappointed by the soggy seaweed eventhough they try to bring it out individually the bottom of the seaweed was already soggy which was very disappointing. Overall I think the sets are expensive with a lack of more intricate flavors. It's not a place I would crave to come back to. read more
6 months ago
7 months ago
Food: 5/5 handrolls are really good quality, has a variety for all, and are made to order. I have tried nearly everything on their menu and I am always blown away. My most favorite, and must try, is the black cod! Service: 5/5 food comes out quick and staff here are always extremely attentive despite it being so busy. Ambiance: 5/5 simple and homey vibe. Space is a little smaller and intimate. Great for a date night! read more
If you're looking for delicious handrolls, Yonsei is the place! This restaurant is located across the street from the Fox Theatre so if you're looking for a nice dinner to splurge on before a show, this would be perfect. Street parking can definitely be difficult, but we parked at the Rotunda Garage, which is a block and a half away. The restaurant itself has a very intimate setting, and it is quite small on the inside, with mostly small tables and maybe 1-2 large tables. For food, I ordered the Yonsei set and my boyfriend ordered the OG set. The handroll that stood out to me the most was definitely the salmon belly with truffle salt; the salmon belly melted in my mouth and the truffle salt added an extra depth of flavor. I also loved how big these handrolls were and I thought the fish to rice ratio was perfect. The seaweed was super crispy too! My only complaint with my set was the takowasa roll wasn't described as traditional takowasa so while I was expecting raw marinated octopus, the roll turned out to be grilled octopus with barely any wasabi flavor; still good but just not what it was described. We also ordered the hamachi carpaccio and the fish was so soft and delicious. The Yonsei-rita was delicious and sweet, no taste of alcohol at all for those who love a sweet cocktail. I think if I were to come back, I would personally order the OG. I had some bites of my boyfriend's set, and basically every roll was delicious, and I had no complaints. More of his rolls stood out to me than the ones that came with my set. Maybe for handrolls, I do prefer just a simple fish and rice roll. read more
8 months ago
I work downtown and found this place when a coworker and I were actually going to go someplace else for lunch. This place seems fairly new and we weren't craving anything in particular so we decided to stop by. The lunch special is worth it the serving size. It's a deconstructed had roll and you make each roll yourself. It's a good amount of food! The service was slow, there was only one server during the lunch rush. She was kind but just couldn't manage all the tables solo. Cute vibe and we'd definitely come back! read more
9 months ago
7 months ago
Came back for the Valentines menu and thoroughly enjoyed the offerings. The staff is fantastic and checks in often. The Kuromitsu Old Fashioned is perfect. I am totally an uni gal but if you try one thing make it the black cod with the truffle butter, you will fall in love. read more
We were a walk in at a little after 5:00 pm on a Saturday and had no problems getting a table. Street parking was plentiful. We were excited to try Yonsei since we are big fans of Kazu Nori and Sugarfish. Yonsei has a similar set menu style of ordering. We both got the OG set and added a 6th roll. I added the black cod with truffle butter and my daughter ordered the jellyfish. The hand rolls were served one by one on a cool wooden bowl where you could see the fish before rolling it to eat. The serving was very generous and we were getting full by roll 5. The nori was so fresh. The fish so tasty. And their special shiitake and konbu soy sauce was so good. Loved the hand rolls. My least favorite was the crab roll as I felt it had a bit too much mayo but all others were delicious!!! Can't wait to come back! read more
1 month ago
It is really cute here. Perfect for a lil date night or small hangout. I've come here maybe 5-6 times since it opened a few years ago. It's definitely not as crazy packed as before so I never have an issue getting a seat(: the handrolls are all uniquely flavored here're my reviews of the sets: Soy sauce - homemade and comes in a little dropper bottle, it's perfect so don't have to dip(: OG - 9/10 great selection my favorite is the zuke maguro Yonsei - 9/10 also great selection my fave is the toro Baller - 8/10 the rolls are done well I just don't think the price of what you're getting is that much better than the other two sets FYI parking is pretty difficult here I'd recommend parking a few blocks away in a parking lot and walking. read more
1 year ago
I'm a handroll dining newbie. But we decided to check this place out before a fox show and it's literally across the street lol. We came around 6p on Wednesday and it was fairly empty but once it hit 7p. It started filling up real quick. Our waitress/server was really nice. Turns out the Kooks were just there and sat in our seats. Haha oh if we only dined a little earlier!! The hand rolls. We chose the OG omakase and added a few additional rolls in the end. My favorites were the spicy tuna, the jellyfish, that truffle cod...snow crab....yum. I definitely was full at about ...6-7 handrolls? My husband had maybe 9? We also got a sake flight each which were all actually very good sakes. They pair so nice with the handrolls. We also got to try their matcha mud pie. Matcha ice cream on top of a chocolate Oreo crust? It was delicious. A great way to end the meal. Would definitely be back! Great for a small group of friends or date night. read more
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More info about Yonsei Handrolls
1738 Telegraph Ave
Oakland, CA 94612
Uptown
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(510) 588-6924
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https://www.yonseihandrolls.com
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Ask the Community - Yonsei Handrolls
Are children ok to bring?
Yes but I'm not sure I would recommend it. Sort of an adult environment. Drinks with only handrolls on the menu. Nothing for children really IMP
Can you get takeout?
Yes but they have a set menu for take out. It's a hand-roll kit that comes with either 2 or 4 selections of fish, rice, nori, and ginger/wasabi. The fish selection is more limited than the menu so make sure you call!
Anyone get a table through walk in?
Yonsei Handrolls is requesting reservations for the time being. They are a small restaurant and on the night we went, they appeared to fill up. We had a 5:15 pm reservation.
Seems hard to get reservations, do you accept walk ins?
They will take walk ins. Some evening’s with shows at the Fox could make times, dates harder.
Are you able to accommodate for gluten-free?
Yes, while some of the roll preparations have gluten in them, others are gluten-free and we have gluten-free soy sauce for you to season them how you'd like.
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16 reviews that are not currently recommended
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