Yama Kitchen — Restaurant in Kelowna

Whether you are a local or a tourist, if you like traditional Japanese food you need to find your way here. Yama Kitchen is not on Bernard. It’s not right in the downtown hub. It is a bit out of the way, a ten minute walk from Bernard, past a couple of wineries and adjacent to a ballpark, and almost into an industrial area...but worth every step. Every Step. The beauty of an owner-operated restaurant is that they really care - about service, about quality, and definitely about authenticity. This is the best Japanese food in Kelowna - served casually and very politely - accompanied by the experience that the Japanese owners bring to the table. I’ve spent more than a year traveling in Japan spread over the past decade and feasting on their best - doesn’t make an expert but it does permit me to say that Yama Kitchen is the closest to being in Japan that the Okanagan...

The food is amazing 👏 customer service needs improving...

I came in just before 3 pm (temp closing time). Ordered food and asked the lady if I could eat at table. she said yes.

When she brought food out she started putting it in a bag. I asked her why she was doing that and she said they were closing. Seriously? I told her before that I had no where to go and eat but she insisted they had to close. That's not how you should treat customers. Having one customer in restaurant while you prepare for night shouldn't be an issue. It takes like 15 to 20 minutes to eat. (There was no one in the restaurant besides me)

I will think twice to come around 3 pm again. Which is usually the time I would be in this area. you might have lost a customer*

Even though I highly recommend your food. You should keep in mind...

Really glad I found this hidden gem in the neighbourhood! Moving from Vancouver, this is now my go-to place for sushi in Kelowna.

Pleasantly surprised by the generous portion sizes of the appetizers. Sushi is always freshly-made and delicious, great quality sashimi.

Service is friendly and efficient with take outs. I witnessed two customers demanding to eat their (already packed) take out order in store on a busy Friday night with all the tables reserved. I thought the lady accommodated their request professionally and admirably, making it clear that customers who reserved the table would need it at the scheduled time.

Proud to support this local, family-owned business, especially during these...