Yujo Umi — Restaurant in Frisco

Yujo Umi is, in short, a poorly conceptualized and overpriced letdown of a replacement of Kyodai. See my review there for comparison. The handrolls used to be amazing and served a la minute. Now they’re gross and served like fast food. I will not be returning.

We arrived at Yujo because Google Maps said it was open in the place of one of our favorite sushi restaurants near home - Kyodai. I’d heard Yujo was a possibly rebrand from some foodie friends. The Carrollton location was equally rebranded so I was hopeful it was the same lovely Kyodai experience under a new name.

Upon arrival the outside was confusing. The building still says Kyodai, the front had the hours scraped off the door- but there was an open sign. We tried the door, guess it’s open!

We were given the option by the hostess of sitting at the sushi bar, some high top tables, or booths. Admittedly the new layout and new decor was pretty well done. I used to like the taller sushi bar - it’s low now. But overall it’s pretty nice inside. The new traditional booths were roomy and attractive. We sat in a booth. My side of the bench seat was dirty, covered in salt or some sort of grainy substance. I spent time wiping it off. Annoying but not the end of the world.

Most of the staff is the same people from Kyodai (curious why the re-brand). I was hopeful because the food a Kyodai was always on point and delicious. Our waitress brought over the new menus, plus an omakase menu and a drink menu. She explained that omakase was 20% off that day (Wednesday) and went through the options. There’s a smaller omakase for $60 and a larger one for $110 plus you can order any of it a-la-carte. But … wait, there’s a price gotcha. ONLY the expensive omakase is 20% off. The other options remain full price. Sigh.

I’m really here for the hand rolls though. I used to come get them about every other week. It was a can’t miss, fairly priced treat. 4 chef’s choice + 1 of my choice for $25. That’s gone, but there were 4 chef’s choice for $20. Cool.

The edamame came out pretty fast, and unfortunately the entire order of handrolls were all delivered right on top of it. Didn’t even get to enjoy the appetizer for a second before the food arrived. It felt rushed. And the quality of the food matched.

Taking the wrappers off the handrolls is a mess. Yes I know how to do it. I eat food for a hobby, I’ve been to Japan countless times. It’s a combination of the use case and the execution. It’s a bad idea. I might even say they wanted to punish anyone who didn’t go for the omakase.

The handrolls at Kyodai were hand crafted, served a la minute, and amazing. These handrolls? I wouldn’t wish them on my enemy.

Truffle Salmon Handroll - I used to tell Kyodai I didn’t want this one ever. Truffle oil is for French Fries. The menu just says “salmon” so I didn’t ask. Misleading and gross. Also the salmon still had skin on it in places. Avoid.

Snow crab roll - I love fresh crab rolls over the fake stuff. The previous rolls were delicious and one of my favorites. This roll was … gross, probably over stuffed, and heavily mayo forward. I bet it wasn’t even a nice Japanese kewpie mayo.

Toro roll - uh; it’s GREY. It tasted fishy. I’m scared for my future self

Shrimp tempura roll - pretty OK, too much rice.

Spicy tuna roll - Fine, but too much rice.

Please take the time to read the real reviews to find the reality about this restaurant, not the 5 ⭐️ spammed on here by their family and friends to help boost their rating. Interesting to see them using the words Japanese Restaurant so...

Review of Yujo Sushi Restaurant (formerly Kyodai)

Once upon a time, in a strip mall parking lot next to Walmart, there was a sushi restaurant called Kyodai. It was a humble place, offering three levels of omakase meals, starting at a reasonable $35. Even the entry-level option was a delight. But alas, the tides of change brought higher prices without any noticeable improvement in quality. Soon, the $35 option vanished, leaving $45 as the new minimum. Frustrating, but still somewhat tolerable.

Fast forward to today, and Kyodai has rebranded itself as Yujo. The old name still lingers on the building, causing some confusion. Inside, the decor remains largely unchanged, but the restaurant now exudes a more elitist vibe. Omakase is still on the menu, but the prices? They’re hidden. When asked, I was told there are two options: $60 and $100. Yes, you read that right—this is a sushi restaurant in a Walmart parking lot.

Unaware of the rebranding, I had already dragged my family there. Faced with the exorbitant prices, we opted for a few of the $60 omakase options. The fish was good, but nothing memorable, especially for someone like me who has sampled sushi from countless places in Japan, including Michelin-starred spots. Honestly, a standard kaiten (conveyor belt) sushi joint in Japan, costing a third of this, offers superior quality and taste.

Curious about the high price, I asked the server about the fish’s origin. The response? Japan and Spain. When I probed further, asking which fish came from where, the server got flustered and couldn't provide an answer. If you’re charging $60 for omakase, you should know your fish inside out. Even the folks at Burger King know their menu better. This was beyond disappointing.

It seems like many restaurants around here are all about the cash grab, with no added value for the increased cost. At Yujo, the “rolls” are so small they should be labeled as light appetizers.

In summary, I won’t be coming back to Yujo. The high prices simply aren’t justified by the experience. There are far better places out there that offer genuine value for your...

My wife and I recently celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary at Yujo Omi, and we couldn't have chosen a better place for such a special occasion. We both opted for the $100 Ultimate Omakase, and the entire experience exceeded our expectations from start to finish. The quality of the fish and ingredients was outstanding — incredibly fresh, beautifully presented, and thoughtfully prepared. What really impressed us was the level of customization and care the chefs provided. Knowing we were celebrating, they went the extra mile to accommodate my wife's special requests, including light smoking on select pieces and extra sauces on some of the Nigiri and Sashimi. These subtle touches made the experience even more personal and unforgettable. Beside the Ultimate Omakase, My wife and I added on some extra dishes to fulfill the night. If you’re new to Omakase and are considering trying it for the first time, I can’t recommend this course enough. It's a perfect introduction to the art of sushi — approachable, refined, and generous in portion and variety. Thank you to the entire Yujo Umi team for making our anniversary dinner so memorable. We’ll...