Regular takeout spot for us via UberEats. I’ve never been to the restaurant so I can only comment on the food. The veg sushi platter has 16 pieces and is good value for money. The veg handroll is particularly delicious. The Husband has the veg fried noodles which he enjoys a lot. I actually prefer the plain fried noodles which is a bit expensive (~R60) however it is a very generous portion. The menu is quite extensive with some atypical items such as eel and salmon skin sushi also available.
Wow I was very impressed with the sushi. We ordered takeaways, I got a salmon lunchbox for R70, which was a real bargain for what I got. Portions are really big and the fish is so fresh. This might just be my new favorite sushi spot!😁
Great sushi , nothing fancy just super fresh ingredients and it’s made right in-front of you. The menu is wide and many options even have noodle dishes to suite most. Great food and great price as well!!
Yamada is the best!
From their service to their sushi, everything is fabulous.
I always receive top quality service from waiters who are very attentive and nothing is too much.
The sushi is always freshly prepared and this is important considering it is fish. No one wants to eat fish that isn't fresh!
The sushi is tasty and really amazing!
Another thing is the prices. Considering what you get, the value for money at Yamada is great. The sushi is affordable and really delicious!
My number one, go-to place for my sushi fix in Joburg! Highly recommended.
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What’s better than good Sushi? An awesome all-you-can eat Sushi Buffet of course! Apart from that, not much comes close. I'd been going to the Yamada Rivonia Junction branch for some time & only recently discovered that they have a branch in Melorse Arch in the Blubird shopping centre. So how do they stack up against each other?
The restaurant is on the first floor, nicely tucked away in the corner. They have the option of sitting around the conveyor belt inside the restaurant or “outside” area which has a terrarium kind of feel to it: there are tables laid out on a wooden deck, under a roof and enclosed by glass. It’s perfect for days where it’s too hot / cold to be outside but you still want that feel of ‘airiness’. The outside area in Rivonia branch is less attractive at it is eye level to the parking lot and has plastic tables and chairs which are shared with neighbouring restaurants (it reminds me of a food court). In general, the BluBird branch feels a bit more put together and cleaner.
I have no shame in saying that if there is a sushi buffet available, I’m going to opt for it and try get my money’s worth! As with most sushi buffets, you are restricted to the colour of the plates / types of sushi. Be sure to tell your waitress / waiter beforehand if you’re going to take up the challenge. The Rivonia branch is more flexible as they allow you to eat until you’re done and if you ate the amount of plates for it to be cheaper if you did the buffet, they charge you the buffet cost (plus any additional other plates that aren’t included in the buffet). For some reason the BluBird branch want to know upfront. Note: The BluBird branch only have the buffet special specific on Sundays to Thursdays (the menu loaded here must be outdated). The Rivonia branch buffet special runs every day.
Now onto the sushi: The short answer is that it’s really good! The times I have been there I have never questioned the freshness of the sushi and the rice is textured but soft and holds together nicely (i.e. not a soggy mush, contrary, I’ve only had once occasion where I felt the rice may have been slightly under cooked). The ratio of rice to fish is balanced (I feel that sometimes some restaurants pack in the rice to try get you to fill up quicker and save on the cost of the fish). There are even some buffet plates with fish and roe on them (minus seaweed and avocado). I’d recommend the salmon hand roll, strawberry and salmon California Rolls, salmon skin California Rolls and salmon spring California rolls (where they use rice paper instead of nori). I'd say the Rivonia branch is on par, again I had a once off "off" experience where I felt like the fish was a bit too room temperature for my liking.
They also have an assortment of Chinese food which can be ordered off the buffet menu if you like to change it up. I can only speak for the spring rolls which by virtue of being a spring roll are oily but so delicious and crispy.
They only offer bowties for dessert (some places offer ice cream as well) off their buffet menu. It's a nice way to end a meal if you have enough space and who are we kidding, there is always room for dessert, even if it is for the modest bowtie.
The service is fair and the waiters are always good with bringing me extra ginger and wasabi!
Overall, a good sushi place to pop into if you're in the area and want something of good quality that's fast, casual and convenient.
I'd pick Blubird over Rivonia Junction purely from an atmosphere and service perspective but the sushi, as mentioned are on par - both have their good and bad days - so very much lucky of the draw in that regard.
We tried Yamada for a Monday night lazy dinner. We ordered the Salmon platter to share. The sushi was tasty and not too stodgy rice. This is a decent outlet if you want to grab a quick bite sitting down or take away
Really great value for money. The sushi is super fresh and the sweet and sour sauce super tangy. Well worth the visit. Oh, and the staff are super friendly.
This franchise is known for fresh and delicious sushi and this branch delights - fresh sushi with generous portions of fresh fish and delicious fresh ingredients - a wide variety of seating a options...from outside tables, oriental table and chairs inside and of course the sushi table where you can take ready made sushi and eat as you wish. Very reasonable prices and even a "eat as much as you like" for R155 - this is a sushi spot to help you satisfy your sushi craving.
When the sushi craving hits. This has rapidly become one of my go to spots.
Unless you plan to go big. I would only order a few good dishes and enjoy sushi at its best.
Great value for money and service is always on point.
If staving there all you can eat is brilliant and great value for money. Sit at the conveyer and enjoy.
We popped in for the sushi buffet (R155 pp, no black plates such as sashimi and roses). We ate so much sushi and had black plates and didn't come close to the R155 - the bill ended up being R300 incl tip and drinks for the two of us (we didn't have any alcohol). The great thing is you don't need to commit to having the all you can eat - eat all you can and see which one is cheaper - R155 or what you actually had. Service was meh but The sushi was fresh, generous and well prepared. Definitely our new go to sushi spot!
Great sushi with a variety of styles and fish options. The service is fast and friendly and the prices are reasonable for sushi. Overall a great experience.
Good fresh sushi. Pretty popular lunch spot and pleasant atmosphere. Service is also friendly. I'll definitely keep going back. Also good place for take away if you're in the area. Overall good experience.
Lovely atmosphere although this place could use more seating as it is quite popular! The sushi is fresh, well made and well presented. A great sushi spot
Lovely new discovery. Yamada is a vibey little family run sushi restaurant. Fresh and delicious sushi prepared by Japanese sushi chefs. Service can be a little slow.
Jess & Francois お茶の目利き
+4.5
Delicious well-priced sushi!
However, I was a bit disappointed in the customer care, friendliness & promptness of the waiters.
Although completely unrelated to their food, I was disappointed that no Japanese were actually present - which I was itching for as a Japanese language learner keen for a brief conversation.
BUT, I highly recommend their buffet! I haven't eaten such a large amount of sushi in years!
Definitely will be back for more!
This is one of our favourite sushi places at the moment. The sushi is fresh and prepared by trained chinese/Japanese chefs. I also enjoy their spring rolls. The restaurant does tend to get quite busy during summer evenings though.
One of my favourite sushi places.fresh and unusual sushi. I especially like the deep fried rolls.Its a perfect spot for a quick lunch from the office.They do not serve coffee which is the only downside.
This is the best sushi in town!!!! Created by a Japanese family, who have a love for sushi. From Monday to Thursday is all you can eat for R150. Very affordable and very good!!! Their noodles are yummy too!!!
Probably one of my favourite sushi spots in Joburg. Taking the quality of their sushi into consideration, Yamada is more than reasonably priced. They are always quite busy when I come here, but the service is never slow. I also really like all of their platters.
Great sushi in Blubird Centre. Conveyer belt or made to order sushi thats alway fresh. Vibey and fun. Many other Japanese options on great menu. Well worth it. Avoid the Udon and non-sushi dishes. Pretty bad and oily.
Hands down best value for money sushi in central Joburg. It's fresh (made in front of you at the belt) and at R24 for a 4 piece portion you cannot beat the price. It is also, and this is an important one, consistent.
Blubird Centre is convenient as a drive on centre with no parking fees, ideal for a weeknight dinner or quick weekend pitstop.
If you haven't been here yet do yourself a favor and go, you'll wonder why it took you so long.
Visit if: You are looking for fresh, exceptionally affordable sushi (and who isn't?)
I'm by no means a sushi connoisseur, but I really enjoy sushi and I'm definitely a sucker for a good all you can eat special. I've been to Yamada a few times, and find the sushi delicious and at a very reasonable price.
Definitely one of my favourite spots in the area
This is one of my favourite sushi spots. What makes this place great for me is that they find a way to got someone who isn't completely obsessed with sushi (me) as everyone around me seems to be, to really enjoy my meal here.
The sushi is always fresh and when I requested some more of the vegetarian option the chef said that I could choose anything they offer and he'll make a vegetarian versions of that for me. I loved my experience here and this is the spot I suggest when we're having sushi.
I'd recommend this sushi hub. It is decently priced. They offer a variety of creative sushi items including Inari, the yamada special and a cucumber hand roll. Inari is rice pocketed in a tofu boat topped with some avocado and mayo. The Yamada special is a tempured salmon California roll. Cucumber hand rolls are wrapped in cucumber rather than seaweed.
Candice-Lee Gow Morgan
+4.5
As far as Sushi restaurants go- this is a great find. Good quality sushi and affordable. Easy and quick. Definitely top of my go back to....
Seating is a bit rudimentary, could do with a re-shuffle.
We decided to make Yamada the place where I would try sushi for the first time and I really enjoyed it, although I obviously have little to compare this to but the sushi was yummy, and the busyness of the restaurant on a Sunday clearly indicates it's a firm favourite of locals. This did mean service was a little slow but I enjoyed myself none the less and will probably be back.
Yamada has been a favourite of mine for years. This authentic little sushi place is located upstairs in the popular Blubird center.
Sporting a huge central conveyor belt and a few tables inside and out, the decor is suitably Japanese inspired. Their sushi chefs are expertly skilled - crafting little pieces of delicious art as you watch.
They are VERY reasonably priced and the food quality does not seem to be compromised by this. Definitely a big plus!
My kids are sushi mad and this is the perfect spot to take them for a treat, well priced and beautifully made sushi, we love Norwood and so often come out here
Excellent sushi - the lunchbox is particularly great value for money (R70 for 13 pieces) and the sushi is really awesome quality. This is a favourite for both family and friends
Had sushi - so delicious and fresh , chicken cashew noodles were so good , but portion and not oily. Tempura prawns were so tasty and also not oily and they were big and fresh . Really good food !
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Yamada sushi was a revelation.... Some of the nicest, freshest sushi I've had in a long time. One of the few places that's serves fresh white fish, octopus and eel amongst their myriad of traditional sushi, sashimi and California roll combinations.
Prepared by trained Chinese / Japanese chefs who know their craft we we sat at the sushi bar with the rotating carousel. I have to admit ( maybe it's psychological) but the sashimi and sushi prepared fresh for me tasted better than those already on the carousel, though I suspect that they weren't on long due to the restaurant being fairly busy.
That said we enjoyed excellent service from both the waiters and the chefs. Bring an adventurous eater I tried the white fish, octopus and eel ... All of which were extremely tasty. I even persuaded another patron to try the eel. .. Which was thoroughly enjoyed.
I'd definitely go back for the food quality and excellent service but next time I'd try a platter as the plates ( white, blue, red, yellow & black ) have a tendency to pile up on one.
A criticism would be to serve the hot sake and miso soup ...hot.. Not Luke warm.
The mutual of ancient fatties instantly draws you in and is complimented with artifacts of yesteryear as well as modern elements. The sushi is of excellent quality and presentation, fresh. Prices are highly affordable too, and won't leave your wallet gasping for air. Yum-ada.
The sushi here has always been good. From old classics to modern new ideas.
Fresh and tasty and delicious sushi. Really enjoy going for the food.
It always seems busy and the sushi chefs work very hard to keep the belt full.
Service is very slack, but if you are sitting at the conveyer belt it doesn't seem to matter unless you want a drink or something different.
I will go back for the sushi even though the salmons skin is a little chewy.
Yamada has some really interesting sushi. We shared a platter and were very happy with the service. I am keen to try some of their other offerings soon.
We mostly get take always when we come here, but it is always great and the sushi is always fresh. They also have a good deal during the week which is "all you can eat" buffet. For R145 you can eat as much sushi as you want, bar the black plates, as well as spring rolls, egg fried rice, now ties etc. really good value for money! Have always had a good meal here :)
I was a bit apprehensive about trying out Yamada after reading some of the Zomato reviews. I'm a sushi enthusiast and I find that I'm generally disappointed with the quality of sushi served up at most restaurants in Joburg, however I was pleasantly surprised by Yamada. Yes this may be a no frills type of restaurant, but their sushi is fresh and delicious, and not to mention incredibly well priced. Ive visited a few times since and have yet to be disappointed, it's fast become one of our favourite lunch spots
I have been here a few times and must admit the prices are brilliant. This time the salmon salad as good as previously had. The spring rolls were excellent and the prawn tempura hand rolls are Devine . The sushi is served quickly and Is very tasty. For good quality affordable sushi I highly recommend Yamada. The buffet at R145 is brilliant value as it includes spring rolls , noodles and of course bow ties .
Yamada in Blubird is a great spot for delicious sushi.
Clean place and more on the upmarket side of sushi restaurants.
Waiters are a bit unfriendly and lack enthusiasm.
However an overall great meal.
If you are looking for a healthy portion of Flippen delicious sushi at a great price, this is the place for you!!! Yamada sushi is always fresh and all round spot on! I would suggest a take out and pair it with a bit of white wine! Yamada thank you for being consistently great!
Really lovely, fresh sushi 🌟 5/5 for the sushi.. The only thing that brought my rating of Yamada down was the crab & cheese spring roll. Other than that, everything was good - service, ambience, wine & sushi. I've been to Yamada before, but sort of forgot about this gem. I'll definitely be back
What a lovely treat ! Sushi and wine !! Their sushi is delicious & fresh. Staff was very efficient and we received our order quite quickly . I was however very disappointed in their spring rolls. A real lack of taste and overall flavour. Very unappetizing in my opinion. Great place for a quick afternoon lunch on the patio. Would recommend.
Not the best looking restaurant and the service isn't really up to scratch but the sushi is absolutely delicious! Try the bamboo rolls, Yamada fashion and the hand rolls with cucumber instead of seaweed!
Yummy sushi although wish the portions were bigger (e.g. 6 fashion sandwiches instead of only 2, etc.) enjoyed a sushi dinner with my friends inside the cozy restaurant! I like the atmosphere and we had good service! Bit pricey compared to other sushi places i usually go to but still good!
If you are looking for a new sushi restaurant to try, then this would be a good bet. I really enjoy the sushi here. It is always nice to come here for a quick lunch stop during the week. The quality is good and the fish is always fresh. I have never experienced any problems with this place.
Michele Francesco Grech-Cumbo
+3.5
A nice place to stop off for a quirk lunch. Decent sushi, decent price, decent quality. They've got the conveyer running, so quick meals can be a real pleasure.
Brilliant! Spring rolls were so good we ordered 2 portions. Fresh tasty sushi. The place was packed and I understand why. The sushi we ordered came quickly and we also helped ourselves from the conveyor belt. I will go back to try the tempura menu cause it looks amazing.
Very good sushi it was fresh and even the seaweed was crunchy we only had a little starter of two hand rolls and a California rolls tempura prawn very nice vibe I'll def be back
Such a great sushi restaurant. Really enjoy the service and the staff, extremely friendly and a great environment for a quick or relaxed lunch with friends...I don't think they are expensive either for what you get...all in all what a great experience.
Chris Ballie Yannakakis
+3.5
Reasonably priced sushi. The all you can eat buffet doesn't have too much in the way of selection but does offer a full stomach. I would personally recommend the salmon platter.
Great sushi, efficient service, great prices! We loved the strawberry creamcheese California rolls and good old salmon hand rolls. We will be back!
This is a very nice restaurant situated upstairs. The view is also nice. Always see someone you know there. It's quite a popular place for sushi. You can sit inside or outside.
Delicious sushi which is very reasonable! Service was friendly and quick. Enjoyed my dinner at Yamada and will definitely be back. ---------
Dustin Andrew Ramdass
+3.5
My wife and I always enjoy the sushi here, especially when we don't want to cook at home. Yes service can be a bit slow, the rice not always perfect but hey...this isn't fast food people!
No major complaints from my 10 + dining experiences here. This sushi restaurant serves it's purpose neither magnificently nor poorly.
Look, if you're going to call me Ms. Soo every time I walk in the door, bring me a lemon ice tea without me having to ask for it, and automatically know that I'm going to need extra ginger half way through my meal, you actually deserve WAY more than a 5! But sorry. My hands are kind of tied here.
Obviously, I would need to be a regular for these things to happen. And I'm only ever a regular at places where delivery of exceptional quality goods and services is consistent.
This is, by far, the best quality sushi I've had in Joburg. I'm talking happy-squiggle-in-your-seat good here. The kind that forces those somewhat disturbing happy food sighs and hmmmmm's.
I honestly can't get enough of Yamada's :)
Not as good as the Rivonia branch but nonetheless great sushi.
Definitely try the salmon salad and seared salmon sashimi. In fact, try everything with salmon because it's amazing.
The sushi rice is just wrong.
The rice doesn't have the slight vinegar smell when you pick it up, and it doesn't have the tinge of sweetness when you chew it. It's also inconsistently cooked, some parts are mushy and some are clumpy. Also, the sushi falls apart when you pick it up.
I'm a sushi fanatic, and I've been to a fair share of sushi places, and Yamada is at best average. We went for all you can eat sushi on a week-night, and the service speed to the amount of customer ratio is quite poor. There aren't many varieties on the sushi menu either, but one thing that we do like is the salmon salad which is not on the menu. The portions of noodle dishes are quite large for the price, and the miso soup was decent.
Bottomline: Worth it for all you can it, but not for fine sushi.
Pros: Good price, good portion
Cons: Not the greatest sushi, bad rice, slow service
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This is my regular sushi joint! If you feel like yummy sushi at a really good price, this is the place for you. I often order takeaways during the week when I don't feel like cooking.
Their prices are reasonable and they are very generous with their portions, especially with their noodles.
The service is good most of the time; I find its better when they are busy!
My favourite dishes are the miso soup,The beef udon soup, the chicken or beef noodles and of course all the sushi. I usually order the lunchbox which consists of 6 avo maki, 4 salmon California rolls, 2 fashion sandwiches and 3 assorted nigiri, but I order all salmon nigiri :)
The beef udon soup is AMAZING! It can feed the whole family- it is that big! It is packed with so many veggies, delicious spices and a fragrant broth. I usually share the dish or take some home for lunch at work.
The prawn tempura and the crispy salmon skin options are amazing!!! They are definitely worth trying!
They offer an all you can eat buffet. I order it when I'm super hungry! It's a nice to have when you've never eaten there, so you can try just about anything (besides the black plates).
One thing I don't really like is their rice, sometimes the sushi falls apart, but maybe I’m too critical- it always tastes good!
Give it a try, especially if you’re looking for a place to go with some friends.
If you happen to be in the mood for some good quality sushi, definitely pop into Yamada Sushi in BluBird Shopping Centre (across the road from Melrose Arch).
They have a R138 Buffet Sushi special running from Sunday – Thursday.
Their sushi is the perfect balance between price and quality. The fish here is always fresh, but the service can be pretty bad if they're very busy.
For more reviews, check out: http://lexieats.tk/
Alexandra Du Plessis
+3.5
I came here in February 2014 to try out their Sushi Buffet.
The sushi was good, but not good enough to warrant their buffet being more expensive than most other places I've been to. Roses were completely out of the question which made me a little bit sad, as I've seen exceptions elsewhere.
Service was average...we eventually had to go pay the bill ourselves because our waiter hadn't checked on us for about 20 mins.
Other than that, it was a good experience. It occupies a nice little spot on the top level of Blubird with pretty views over a canopy of Joburg's trees.
Very pleasantly surprised.
Service was prompt, sashimi was amazing, prices reasonable, which you don't usually find in Melrose and there was a very nice vibe on a Sunday night.
Will definitely be returning
My favorite sushi spot in Jozi. Always fresh and very reasonable. They also have a great all u can eat special in case you are really hungry.
Being an obsessive sushi lover, we always had our regular sushi spot-and once I moved to around the corner, Yamada was it! Having tried many sushi restaurants in Joburg, I can say with some confidence, that Yamada is definitely among the top. The sushi is reasonably priced, always well presented, fresh and delicious, portion sizes always please me and the service is helpful and friendly. Love it!
a little bit hidden in the corner but ut was a great experience. Good fresh sushi and amazing salmon skins! :)
I really enjoy coming to this place for their sushi. Their portions are generous and food is always fresh. The rice is served at room temp and the fish is cold. Service leaves a bit to be desired but the food, which is what we come here for anyway, is exceptional. They have a new play area for kiddies but the menu caters for a more adult palette. 10/10 would come again.
This is honestly a hidden gem...
Its not traditional Chinese, Thai or Japanese but they make some of the best fresh sushi with high grade ingredients in JHB.
Pricing is reasonable & I highly recommend the Sushi Buffet at R239 per a person
Only gripe is the atmosphere while clean is often cold in winter.
Great Thai curries and must try Prawn tempura.
Delicious sushi and very affordable. Love the fact that they have a sushi belt. Nice and clean and helpful staff. Weekday local.
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Went there last night to celebrate our daughter's 20th birthday, because she LOVES Sushi. There are a variety of ways in which you can enjoy your sushi there. Order from the menu, use the conveyor belt system or go for an all-you-can eat buffet.
My hubby and l were a little more "boring" in our choices (although we do love sushi). My hubby went for the sweet and sour prawns with rice, and thoroughly enjoyed that. I had the chicken fried rice. Both my hubby and I ate a very generous portion - and both meals were great.
Our daughter ordered salmon maki rolls and salmon california rolls - and loved them! She eats like a bird, so these 8 pieces served her very well. She then went on to have the fried ice-cream, and loved that too. I opted for a bow tie and enjoyed it.
The place is busy, but not rushed. There seem to be a regular clientele who pop in, grab some of the plates on the conveyor belt, and kind of leave it at that.
The decor is tasteful and pleasant. Our waitress was a lovely young lady, full of smiles and cheer, without being too intrusive. All in all, a lovely evening!
Blu bird is a really nice little shopping centre and Yamada was perfect for lunch. I really enjoyed the yamada roof and I think I also had the yamada 4x4 (something with prawns) however, I personally found the sriracha tuna rolls a bit too sweet and strange. (Please bear in mind I am not a cream cheese in my sushi girly). Service was attentive and good.
I thoroughly enjoy this restraunt, it is reasonably priced eventhough it's in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Gauteng. The chefs are highly skilled and the sushi tastes better than practically anywhere else I've had sushi on all 5 continents (most of the time) if you haven't already tried Yamada out, what are you waiting for. It's romantic but relaxed, it's quick yet the food is prepared with skill and attention. It's all win win here
Food is good and tasty, service is great and they are very accommodating. It can be very noisy inside and the phones are often ringing constantly, so often better to sit outside
Very good food and service, area is a little cramped, but nothing inconveniencing, they're just busy
Fairly good Sushi, price is slightly higher, but convenience when you want some Sushi nearby.
Great tasting and good selection of fresh sushi that was very reasonably priced,-got take away as the sushi conveyer hasn't been working since post covid.ill be back
Casual dining, great sushi, rest of the menu also very good.
They've moved downstairs now at the blubird centre since I was last there, and the conveyor belt system is no longer being used, but the food was just as tasty as I remember it being. The sushi is generously portioned ultimately making it good value for money. The staff were friendly and efficient, overall a pleasant vibe and lunchtime experience
The best sushi I've had in a long time. Excellent service, fast and always correct. A choice of seating is available Traditional sushi belt for those on the run or Sit down. Everything is good, you can't make a poor decision. Best to get there early if possible.
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