Yamakado Sushi Restaurant Fourways — Restaurant in Gauteng

Great sushi, mediocre service 🙄

It was my second time visiting this past Sunday. My girls & I love doing sushi dates, we've been to Yamakado before so we went back cause their sushi is so good. We did the buffet for R218 pp and of course, drinks. This Sunday must've been very hectic for them cause the service was sub par. Our waiter France seemed lost half the time, our orders were taking forever to come out, we even started taking sushi from the belt to nibble on - but I must say, the sushi from the belt doesn't slap as hard as the one you order (I'm not sure why).

Anyway, we sat from 12:30pm to about 18:30 so we had the whole day to experience the nonsense there. We were collectively unimpressed with how our drinks also kept coming in different glasses for the same drink. At one point France came to tell me that they ran out of bubble glasses for cocktails. Excuse me? That was the most bizarre thing I've ever heard at a restaurant. Luckily my girls and I were deep in some serious tea so it made everything bearable while we waited.

The manager on duty was not friendly at all, his energy was off-putting. We waited often for a waiter to come to us after a while, we got served by maybe 3-4 people at once. That's not a problem, however if messages are not being delivered and orders need to be confirmed repeatedly then we're not progressing, we're now spinning which makes the sitting experience unpleasant. Right at the end when we asked Grace for our second bill, she never returned to our table and we ended up standing up to go inside to ask about it, only to be told that it had been paid for but she didn't bother to have the courtesy to come tell us that. Like? Lol, it's the simple detail really.

Anyway, onto the food! THE BUFFET IS FABULOUS. I can't even fault their sushi. You should definitely give it a try. Make sure to follow the rules of ordering in small quantities instead ordering large amounts of plates that you won't finish. Also, the CHICKEN BAO is sublime! I even ordered it again a bit later. For drinks, try the Berry Daquari, Berry Wine Spritz (it was such a hit we all started ordering it together 😂), also try the Berry Mojito. Their drinks are really good, but stay away from the Martini & Long Island, the girls said those weren't so great.

All in all, a potentially great experience that was barred by the messy, dizzy, slow and accommodating service. Our previous visit (my first time there), was so much better than this...

Yamakado must be one of, if not the best value for money all-you-can-eat sushi buffets in the area; this is because of the quality, variety and flavour of food that you can choose from (Sushi, Spring Rolls, Fried Dumplings, Golden Parcels, Soup, Baos, Ice Cream, etc) at R249 per person at the time. Quite a few "higher-end" sushi places will charge between R180 and R500 for a 20 piece platter.

Seating area:: There is also a refreshing outdoor seating area, upper floor, overlooking some trees and the local area. The restaurant was pretty full by the time 6pm came, so a booking is suggested.

Sushi:: I have never seen such a full sushi train, the whole belt was full and stacked 4 plates high. My favourite was the Flamed Tuna Roll and the salmon roses, salmon was buttery soft, (you can only choose 1 x white plate though, but it's not a deal breaker). All the other sushi varieties were worthwhile, I wasn't a massive fan of the sushi with pickled veggies inside, think it was the GP Rainbow, but it wasn't bad. The sushi in general has a good ratio of fish and fillings compared to rice.

Baos:: Many have raved about this one. I believe the Crunch Chicken Bao is at least R70 if you order it without paying for the buffet. The bao is a decent size, however one bao would not be enough per person, I personally think that the price is not worthwhile unless taken as part of the buffet. Bao bun was fresh, chicken was fresh; it's not the best I've had, but I would give it a solid 9/10.

Service:: Our waiter was attentive, no complaints; the baos took roughly 15 to 20min to arrive but they were super fresh, so.

Spring Rolls & Golden Parcels:: Someone suggested to try the Cheese&Crab one, it's basically one crab stick and cheddar cheese inside; not blended or mixed together either. I was hoping it would be a crab and cream cheese sort of blended mixture. Thus I would not suggest this dish. I would also not suggest the prawn Golden Parcel, was over deep-fried and it had corn and peas inside too, didn't work for...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Yamakado in Cedar Square, and it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. Opting for the all-you-can-eat sushi buffet at R249 per person, we were delighted with the extensive and diverse menu. It included soups, starters, rice dishes, desserts, and, of course, a wide range of sushi—from the everyday varieties to truly mind-blowing specialty creations.

The atmosphere was enhanced by the incredibly friendly and enthusiastic staff. Our waiter, Miguel, was fantastic—welcoming and attentive, making sure we had everything we needed. The highlight of the evening, however, was our sushi chef, Malibongwe. His talent and skill in sushi preparation were evident in every dish he created. The sushi was not only beautifully crafted but also perfectly balanced in terms of taste and flavor.

One of the standout recommendations from Malibongwe was the creamy prawn designer maki, which was absolutely out of this world. But the dish that truly stole the show was the strawberry and cheese dessert California rolls. It’s a challenging combination that can easily be overpowered by too much cheese, but Malibongwe executed it flawlessly, rounding off our dining experience in style.

Yamakado easily earns a 10/10 from me. The combination of superb food, excellent service, and a welcoming atmosphere makes it a top choice for anyone looking to enjoy a memorable meal. I can’t wait to return soon. Highly...