Yama Sushi & Sake Bar — Restaurant in Portland

Disappointing service and the food could have been better too. At a sushi restaurant, service and cleanliness are paramount. I was served a dirty tea cup and very bland, weak green tea. I assume they steeped it about 1/2 the time required. No big deal, but $4 light green water is expensive. The miso soup was also weak and bland.

I was the first to arrive and was the only customer for 10 minutes or more. I placed my order and asked what the 3 nigiri were in the Bento Box, the answer, "chef's choice". I found it weird the waitress didn't ask the chef for me, as she was shooting the sh#t for 10 minutes with them. Not the end of the world, but not accommodating in the slightest. Wait staff was literally standing there doing nothing, since there was nothing to do. For a good 10-15 minutes.

Then the second guests came in, and the Hostess sat them at the same table as me. It was awkward as hell. Just us at the same table, alone in the entire restaurant. It felt punitive. Again, not the end of the world. Super nice folks. They face timed for about 15 minutes with a relative. Which is fine, but when someone is sitting at your table, it is impossible to ignore them and give them privacy.

The table has a 4 inch high divider separating a 2 top and a 4 top. 1 slab of wood, chairs all side by side.

Just odd, dismissive, slightly rude service and the food could have been better. The fish tasted fresh. Nigiri was fish and rice, nothing else, as expected and preferred. The teriyaki king salmon was sauce heavy, slightly over cooked and nothing special. I appreciated how they served it with a little skin that was not removed. The salad was a bore, as usual for...

When Judgment Replaces Hospitality

On June 14, 2025, I decided to go eat at the Yama Sushi & Sake Bar restaurant at the foot of my building with a friend who had just arrived from Europe. I’m almost a regular there, as I’ve been ordering takeout about once a month for the past two years.

The waitresses greeted us and seated us quickly. When it came time to order, my friend and I wanted to have two beers. The waitress told me she wouldn’t serve my friend because, according to her, he was already intoxicated. Surprised by this comment, I asked her what made her think that. She gestured that he strongly smelled of alcohol. I explained to her that he hadn’t had anything to drink all day. The waitress insisted. Shocked, we decided to leave.

I was outraged by this attitude, which seemed more like profiling than a genuine concern for someone’s health. It’s shameful to label someone as drunk based on a hypothetical assumption. Being welcomed, seated, and then refused service like that is just strange.

What’s even more absurd is that the restaurant is filled with a nauseating smell of cold fish — it spreads onto the sidewalk and even inside my building. That’s actually why I’ve always ordered takeout instead. I’ve seen their kitchen, which opens directly onto the trash room of my building. If the health department ever came by, I’m pretty sure it would cause a scene.

In short, the waitress’s inappropriate, judgmental, and insulting behavior opened my eyes to the values of this restaurant. I won’t be going back. Besides, there are far better Asian restaurants...

Yama Sushi & Sake Bar — A Must-Visit Sushi Spot in Portland!

We had an amazing lunch here today and everything about the experience was spot-on. Let’s start with the food — every piece of sushi was beautifully presented and incredibly fresh. • Uni Gunkan (Sea Urchin Sushi): Creamy, sweet, and melts in your mouth. The freshness was top-tier — no fishy taste, just pure ocean goodness. • Salmon & Red Tuna Nigiri: Perfectly sliced and served at the right temperature. You can tell they take care in how they handle their fish. • Fatty Tuna & Yellowtail Nigiri: Rich and buttery — legit melt-in-your-mouth texture. A real treat! • Signature Sushi Rolls: We tried the Yama Roll — loaded with eel, shrimp tempura, avocado, and topped with tobiko. Flavor bomb! • And of course, everything paired beautifully with a cold Asahi beer 🍺

The ambience was cozy but classy, and sitting at the counter gave us a front-row seat to the chefs preparing everything with precision and care. Staff were friendly and welcoming too!

Prices were very reasonable for the quality, and guess what? No sales tax in Portland! 🙌 That alone made me extra happy — high quality without the usual sting of tax.

Highly recommend this place if you’re visiting Portland and craving premium sushi in a relaxed setting. Would definitely come back...