Yamato

This used to be the best sushi place in Ann Arbor… and sadly, it closed last month =(But my friend and I found out that the sushi chef is going to be working at Passport. I’ve only been to Passport once and thought it was pretty good, but a lot of their reviews have been so disappointing, so I’m praying and hoping the sushi chef from Yamato can revive that place alive… as well as taking some of his own recipes to Passport.
My favorite thing that I got here was the Japanese version on fried chicken and their green tea soba noodles, that were so plain yet so flavorful. I’m über sad this place is no longer open, but I’m so happy I finally got to eat some tasty sushi and doesn’t feel like it came from 7 – 11.

I always like to read all the reviews and see what people have to say but I’ll admit, I was a bit heartbroken by how many people had negative things to say about Yamato. Granted, I only rarely get sushi here, but that’s because the rice bowls and udon are so awesome and well worth the price. I grew up eating Japanese food made by my Japanese godfather but on special occasions we would always go to Yamato for some quality Japanese comfort food.
Also, I was a bit perturbed that some people complained about the quantity of food but then again, this is America and people don’t just want a steak, they want to eat the whole f*cking cow.

So. fresh. So cheap! I always get the spicy tuna rolls (bargain basement price for freshfromtheocean flavor) and the vegetable dumplings plus a couple pieces of uni– savory briny little treats that melt in your mouth. One of my common friend-​date companions always gets a sampling of the various nigiri options, which he states is exceptional (and this person has high to quite high standards for sushi being a snob from L.A. that won’t even eat sushi in the Midwest other than Yamato). The service can be slow — slower if you order dumplings or something that requires a touch of cooking– but it’s absolutely worth it for the fantastic food they provide. And such a cute little old japanese couple that runs the place! It’s also an appropriate venue to go for a date or just with a girlfriend for lunch or dinner.
It is ABSOLUTELY the best sushi in ann arbor — and over the course of 6 years I’ve tried them all. Its location next to the fish market makes this little Kerrytown gem rival expensive sushi dinners I have had in San Diego, L.A. and Chicago. Go here quick before the owners retire!

Ok, I went here after reading reviews about the fresh quality of the fish. I have to say the tuna sashimi was fantastic, but pricey for «this» place. For $ 15.50 I got about 6 pieces of tuna, quite pricey for most sushi bars even in NYC.
What killed this place is cleanliness, ambiance, and lack of options. This place really grossed me out with gnats flying around everywhere. It’s dingy with layers of grime on everything. Water was served in disgusting beat up plastic coke cups, they used white out on the sushi order list (I understand being green, but this was clearly not thier intent). They only offered about 10 adult beverages as well.
Miso soup had amazing flavor, but not a single piece of tofu was to be found.
In short: order takeout, unless you like dirty restaurants that serve raw fish with gnats attacking your face!

I can honestly say that this is my favorite Japanese restaurant. Period.
I’ve had two lunches here so far. My first was a sushi lunch and my second was yakisoba. The ingredients here (perhaps due to its proximity to the Kerrytown shops) are FRESH. The fish is amazing. The rice in the sushi is slightly sweet, but it does not fall apart at all … it sticks! The key the sushi I feel, in this place, is simplicity. Most places overdecorate their sushi with excessive sauces (aka colored mayo) and ingredients (extra fish). I don’t think you find that on the menu here.
The place is run by an elderly Japanese couple. I’ve heard that the man used to work for Madonna. I actually believe it (because of how delicious the food is), though I’ve never asked, and I don’t recall any pictures that prove it. His wife wore a traditional kimono both times I went. Both were very kind and gentle; however, they usually had a Japanese American who handled most of the English with non-​Japanese customers (not sure if they were all related). Yes, I’ve seen customers both times speak Japanese. Surely, this place must serve authentic Japanese food!

I come to this place quite often, mostly because I live so nearby. And, I have to say, overall it’s the 2^nd best sushi restaurant in Ann Arbor. Here’s why.
Sushi — as fresh as you can get fish. The salmon is delicious, and even the avocado rolls are great because they put slices of fresh cucumber inside as well. And the whole time you just feel like everything is authentically made.
Non-​sushi. The chicken, egg, rice bowl is good. I love how tender the chicken is and just the home-​cooked flavor of the dish altogether. However, I was a bit disappointed with the duck udon. Very standard.
The atmosphere. Great! It’s located in one of the best parts in town — Kerrytown, right by the food market. I really love this location and half of the pleasure is just walking down 5^th to get here. The inside of the restaurant is nice as well.
Price. This is what gets me. Everything here is much pricier than the other sushi restaurants in Ann Arbor. I understand it’s due to location and everything is much more expensive here, but honestly, if Ayaka was just down the street, I would go there every time.
Convenience. Also a bit annoying given that they seem to have odd hours, i.e. closed between lunch and dinner. Given that my food eating habits are so random and round-​the-​clock, this style doesn’t exactly suit me. But no biggy.
Overall, probably the freshest sushi you could get in Ann Arbor if you’re willing to pay a price premium.

Yikes. I feel like I’m stepping the middle of a life or death battle by joining the extreme reviews here. It’s even ruffled my feathers a bit.
I am a huge fan of the sushi here. I have had nothing but the freshest, best cuts of fish. They are flavorful, melt-​in-​your-​mouth tasty. The rice is just a touch sweet, a touch salty, and a touch sticky, just as sushi rice should be. (although once, just once, they had a bad rice day)
To speak to the other reviews and to those that have concerns:
1. I am not from the Midwest. I’ve eaten fresh sushi in big coastal cities. This sushi is still very good. The chef knows just where to cut so you get none of that ‘tough part’ left on your nigiri. (Did you know the chef used to be Madonna’s personal sushi chef? Hah!)
They’ve always told me what was the freshest fish — I have gone on their recommendation without a single negative experience. Salmon, tuna, yellowtail, scallop, and so on — yes please. Ask and I’m sure they will tell.
2. I haven’t had any of their non-​sushi dishes so I can’t speak for the gyoza or anything else.
3. Yes. The menu is simple. You will not find any deep-​fried spicy tuna california roll with three kinds of sauces or some other sort of pan-​asian concoction. You’re supposed to taste raw fish here, not a bunch of nonsense covering up stale ingredients. [oops, sorry — I should probably take the face out of my words]
4. Their miso is really delicious.
5. As far as the price of sushi, it’s actually not any more than at any other decent sushi place. And keep in mind all of Ann Arbor is overpriced. At least at this restaurant, it’s worth it.
6. The interior is fairly simple but I like knowing that they’re not trying to compensate for their food by having some bourgie designer deck out the place. I enjoy sitting by the courtyard and having a peaceful, reflective meal with good company and skin-​tingling delicious food fare.
Ok, enough charging out with a sword and shield trying to defend Yamato’s honor. Give it a try and then give me a swift kick in the shins if you disagree.

Best sushi in Ann Arbor. Legitimately Japanese with the freshest fish. If you want ridiculously decorative rolls, go to Ayaka, this isn’t your place.
Oh, and the owner was Madonna’s personal sushi chef. Don’t hold it against him.

The sushi was ok, just ok. This is probably all that needs to be said, but I’ll continue because I’m getting a car oil changed right now, and well what else is there really to do? Also else can be more fun then pretending my opinion matters! Ha!
When you first walk in you feel like you came through the wrong door, for me this would normally be cool but not in this place. Looking around at the décor, I imagined a busy retired samari coming in and barking out orders to randomly place items throughout the place.
The miso soup was just slightly better then most, kinda like saying taking off your coat was slightly more fun then previous times. The food was ok, the carpet was dirty and the service… well. I just don’t remember.
I wanted to like this place more, but I guess I didn’t want it bad enough.
Atmosphere **
Food **
Service ***
Overall **

Oh dear me… i drafted a review on my phone, then i read other user reviews on here. Ann Arbor, WTF? How can people actually think this place is worth the $$? It doesn’t have atmosphere, authenticity or good food!
I know, I lived in Japan for 7 months! It isn’t good sushi by Japanese standards, never-​you-​mind completely lacking the amazing creativity American restaurant owners put into it… and its more expensive than eating at the f-​ing Lark.
Here is my suggestion, before anyone else decide something must be authentic due to its run down interior, shitty food, absurd menu, terrible prices and rate it as a 4 star restaurant; don’t. just don’t do it, then I won’t have to go there and see if you are right and piss myself off.

here is my initial review;
Something has changed here. The menu is smaller and more expensive since i was here last. And the food isn’t as good. In fact its mediocre and the sushi menu isn’t creative at all.
I ordered a soft-​shell crab app from a picture and it came out as a single crab, fried that’s it. Thats all there was… Perfect? Well it was also $ 20.
There are other $ 20 appetizers here as well… 6 fried oysters– $ 20 among them…
Total order;
1 Gyoza
1 Soft-​shell crab
1 salmon sashimi (rice, paper, salmon– no sesame. no vegetable)
1 spicy California roll (globs of spicy mayo on a shit california roll)
2 tempura shrimp roll (shrimp tempura, cucumber, rice, paper)
Bill total– $ 75 with tip.
I don’t mind dropping $ 75 on dinner for two at a nice place, but this isn’t anywhere near that kind of place.

It is pricey, that’s true. But, based only on lunch experiences, I’d be willing to put Yamato up against Miki, possibly Godaiko, too, in a taste-​off. This place doesn’t seem all that busy during lunch, but that just means that you won’t have to contend with crowds like at some of the cheaper lunch-​sushi places closer to campus.
If you’re feeling unsure you want to drop a whole lot of money on your sushi, give Yamato a try at lunch for a combo or share something with friends first.
However, given recent experiences with lunch, I’m willing to take a gamble here the next time I’m feeling like a spendy sushi supper is in order.

This place is very yummy. The cute japanese couple still run the show. Everything that i had there was amazing. The appetizers are good too esp the rice ball pork or chicken. Been a long time since I was there. Service is a bit slow but the food makes it up. They are a tad pricey but of course I didn’t have to pay. Best Japanese food in Ann Arbor.

Well its a bit pricey for AA sushi, but I believe that its also the best nigiri that I’ve had in the states.
Downside: The wife loves those mini-​ginger dressing salads that you get at a lot of sushi places, but Yamato mysteriously only has Italian dressing… wat?

I was in town on business and was experiencing my weekly sushi craving. My fiancé was kind enough to come with me, and I convinced him to check this place out with me since it was within reasonable walking distance from the Bell Tower Hotel where we were staying.
The place is quite small and cute with a lot of Japanese decorations. The servers and owners don’t speak the best English which is a major plus in my book since you know you’re getting authentic food.
We ordered the Sushi Combo B (7 pieces of various nigiri), California roll, Philadelphia roll, Spicy Tuna roll, and Chicken Teriyaki (yeah, we were super hungry, what can I say?) Upon the first bite, the rice was room-​temperature and moist… it took me back to when I used to live in Okinawa. Also, the proteins were fresh, and the maki rolls contained large chunks of it. This is the way it’s supposed to be!
Minus one star for the price. The sushi is priced comparable to that found in Chicago (if not more expensive) which was surprising to me for Ann Arbor. Nonetheless, fresh and tasty sushi and nigiri. I would come back here again!

You know how when you get all psyched up to go out to eat on a weekend night, and you decide on something like… Mexican? «Yeah, I’m gonna order me some chips and salsa and burritos and tacos and margaritas… it’s gonna be soooo good, I can’t wait to shove all that spicy goodness in my face.» And then, after imbibing and overindulging (maybe a bit) in all of the above, you realize you’re missing a button on your pants and you feel the need to sleep for 10 hours. So much for a night out.
Yamato, on the other hand, is different. Sushi, in my opinion, is clean eating. You get your appetizers (perfectly salted and steamy edamame and some miso soup), which are satisfying but light. You let that settle for a bit before readying your tiny, neat dishes with soy sauce and wasabi (making things spicy helps you feel full faster, more flavor!). The main course comes, and your rolls and sashimi are so artfully arranged that you have to pluck them one at a time from their dish with your chopsticks and admire them momentarily before making them part of your dinner. Mmmm. It’s the simple things. Rice. Avocado. Fish. Seaweed. No deep frying, no smothering in cheese. Just simple and clean. And delicious. And at the end of your meal, you don’t need to sleep, or unbutton. Aaaaah, zen.

I have to admit the reviews about this place have been dead on. The sushi, particularly the fish is the best in Ann Arbor. Their sushi unlike many of the other restaurants is dominated by the fish not the rice or seaweed. We had the yellowtail roll, a spicy tuna hand roll, and the soft shell crab roll, all very delicious and dominated by the meat. This is not the kind of place that is dominated by spicy mayonnaise or tempura latent Michigan rolls or Miki rolls.
This place is very traditional, as it is owned by a Japanese couple. The service is slow and depending on who’s there you might be served after someone who has gotten there after you as we saw two Japanese regulars there who were served immediately and received there order quicker than we did. The meal was pricey, but considering I have not had this quality of sushi anywhere in Ann Arbor, I guess its worth it. There single piece Octopus is the freshest all white very little purple Octopus I have ever eaten. Their appetizer fried Oysters were also really tasty and the sauce was good as well.
In short this is a very traditional Japanese without the American flare, and if you have time and can withstand the slow service and not really being able to communicate with the waitress, you will have some of the best and fresh sushi in Michigan!

Yamato has excellent Japanese food, but the prices are just a bit too steep for me to come here often. I don’t mind paying more for good food, but $ 13 or so for an order of chicken katsu just seems like a bit much to me.
The fish here is quite good and fresh, but again, a bit pricy. Yamato is not the place to go if you prefer Americanized food, as things here tend to be much more simple and traditional. As such, the ridiculous maki rolls you tend to see at many other sushi places (FIVE DIFFERENT KINDS OF FISH AND ASPARAGUS AND MAYONNAISE ALL DRENCHED IN TEMPURA BATTER AND DEEP FRIED AND THEN COVERED IN EEL SAUCE AND AVOCADO AND THEN ARRANGED LIKE A CATERPILLAR) don’t exist here. Instead, they have the more basic stuff, but they do it very well and it’s delicious. They have a good assortment of dishes, like soba, katsu, donburi, etc.
If you want to eat Japanese food in Ann Arbor, then Yamato is the place to go. If you want to eat American food that might have some Japanese influences but really isn’t Japanese food, then you’ll probably be disappointed.

In my opinion, it’s a toss-​up between Yamato and Café Japon for best Japanese restaurant in Ann Arbor. In any case, Yamato is definitely the better place for dinner.
You won’t find Americanized sushi «rolls» with wasabi mayonnaise, etc. here. The menu is traditional Japanese fare. So while the sushi might not be that exciting, it’s of consistently high quality. The udon is fantastic (the best in Ann Arbor) and the donburi is very good too. The karaage fried chicken appetizer is a must, as is the grilled mackerel (I know it smells bad, but it’s so good!). Most Americans who go out to Japanese restaurants usually just order sushi, but for those of you going to Yamato I suggest that you try some non-​sushi Japanese dishes – these are the things they do best.
Only two complaints. The biggest one is that they seem to be understaffed. The food usually takes longer to come out here than other places, but I’ve had a couple particularly bad experiences during the lunch rush. I’m not sure how many people usually work there other than the couple who own the place, but however many people it is it isn’t enough to keep the place running smoothly when it’s packed.
My second complaint is that the waitress/​owner is always elaborately dressed in a traditional Japanese outfit, which makes me, as someone who is half-​Japanese, a little uncomfortable. Here’s why: it seems like she’s trying to make a performance of authenticity that is rather incongruent with the general feel of the restaurant and its menu. Sure it’s a bit pricey, but ultimately Yamato is not that fancy. I would say it’s the Japanese equivalent of a bistro, and as such should feel casual. Yamato does more or less feel casual – except for the waitress/​owner that is. Of course, she might have a perfectly good reason to wear what she does. It just feels a little out of place is all.
Nonetheless, Yamato is probably the best place to get good Japanese food in Ann Arbor.

Do you know Miyake-​san used to be Madonna’s sushi chef in NYC?! Yes, you can ask him about it, and take a look at her auto-​graph on the wall. Miyake-​san relocated here from his NYC restaurant in the mid 90’s. He and his wife Kazuko-​san have opened this great little Japanese restaurant located here in Kerrytown.
The food is good and reasonably priced. You can trust that you will have great sushi here and everything is fresh and cooked from scratch. Since this is such small restaurant (eight or nine tables) you will get personalized service and have access to speak with Miyake-​san himself if you wish.
Some of the great things here are the deep fried oysters, katsu curry, tempura udon and tuna rolls. I like the agedashi tofu and chicken rice balls too. There are daily specials you should check out too.
This is the best Japanese restaurant in Ann Arbor.

This little restaurant is one of my favorite places on this green rock. The owners are two really nice people. Miyake-​san, the chef, has a real passion and touch for cooking. He lived in NYC for years, working for someone else and eventually struck out on his own and landed in Ann Arbor. I’d say we’re all the better for it.
Yamato might seem misleading. It is after all, located in Kerry Town. That might lead on to think it’s fake and pretentious but like all good Louisianan chefs, I guarantee it ain’t the case.
The décor is simple — a few Japanese style paintings and the like. Some mid 50’s to 60’s Japanese music along with traditional shakuhachi plays in the background. There’s often only one waitress there aside from Kazuko-​san, the wife. She dresses in traditional garb as she serves you. The husband-​wife team’s English is limited but they can get your order right. And it’s the menu that’s great. There’s the usual udon and California Rolls but that’s not why you go to Yamato. You go for the fried oysters. You go for the maguro with mountain potato. You go for the nicely laid out bento boxes. Yes, the sushi is fresh and yes all the food is good [I can’t vouch at the moment, but they used to make all manner of don-​buri which made me really happy].
Yamato is not about the flash — it’s not Iron Chef. It’s food that’s made in the spirit of home cooking but with a personal, professional and imaginative touch. I only wish they’d move to Philly!