Yonsei Handrolls - Oakland — Restaurant in Oakland

New temaki restaurant by the folks who have brought us Hopscotch and Itani Ramen. They are currently soft-launched next door to Itani, and seats are only available by reservation (through Resy), but they hope to open up to walk-ins within a couple of weeks.

There were 3 tiers of "omaka-sets" offering 5 handrolls each, currently priced from $29 to $51 per person. The collections were based on tried-and-trues, more adventurous options (like kimchi fried rice with spam and egg), and "The Baller," with top-shelf ingredients like American Wagyu, toro, and king crab.

Ambience is utilitarian and minimal for now, but it was a lovely meal. The nori was premium and retained its crispness as you chewed your way through, rice was firm and subtly seasoned, and the fish quality was well worth the price point (higher quality and more variety than what you could normally get at Nikkei Sushi next door).

Short but solid sake list, a few appetizer options, and a larger selection of temaki is available to order ala carte. Overall, we had such a great experience, from the food to the service, it felt both fancy enough for a date but relaxed and with no pretension...plus it's delightful to be able to eat with your hands with your date. Can't...

I made a reservation for Yonsei Handrolls at 6:30 PM. It's crucial to book in advance as getting a seat without a reservation is extremely difficult. The restaurant is located in an area that might be considered somewhat rundown, so it's important to park in a safe spot.

Upon arrival, I noticed that there were two servers working inside, which was great because they were quite attentive and responsive throughout our meal. The restaurant has a dark and cozy ambiance, which creates a unique dining atmosphere. The setup is simple yet effective, contributing to an intimate dining experience.

For our meal, we opted for the BALLER set, which offered a variety of rolls. We decided to swap out the uni due to its high cost—an additional $8 on top of the $57 set price. Instead, we chose two different rolls from the menu. Among the rolls we tried, the toro roll was the standout, offering a delicious and memorable taste.

Overall, Yonsei Handrolls met my expectations. The attentive service, unique ambiance, and quality of the food made for a satisfying dining experience. If you're planning to visit, I highly recommend making a reservation and being mindful of parking in...

My friends and I have always loved the Oakland restaurant Hopscotch, so we were eager to try the chef’s new place Yonsei Handrolls. We were so pleased we did. We enjoyed every bite of the wonderful handrolls. The fish was fresh and plentiful, and the combination of ingredients was unique and tasty. You can order a special group of handrolls or individual ones, and what amazed us was they let us substitute within the special group. Plus, the service is fantastic. Our server was knowledgeable and could answer all our questions. He brought out each handroll separately, so we could enjoy the flavors. He guided me through the choices for the sake flight, which I recommend trying. The three sake servings were generous and very good, and the prices for the drinks and handrolls are reasonable. I have paid more for takeout sushi than I spent at Yonsei. My friends and I agreed that this is the best restaurant we have eaten at this year. This restaurant is next door to the chef’s ramen restaurant. This makes the block busy and fun. Hurray for chef Kyle Itani for bringing new life to...