Yama Sushi Marketplate proves that restaurant-quality sushi doesn’t have to come with a staggering price tag. The casual Japanese marketplace — which operates locations in Koreatown, West Los Angeles, and San Gabriel — fills its shelves with fresh ahi-topped nigiri, spicy tuna tightly rolled with nori and rice, and stuffed-to-the-brim California rolls that taste as if they came straight from a high-end sushi counter. Hot bar shelves get stacked with Spam musubi and crispy karaage, while fresh sashimi remains available at the check-out counter. Any reservations about pre-packaged sushi and its checkered reputation will quickly dissolve after the first bite (and seeing the bill).
What to order
- A spicy tuna roll comes with 12 generously sized pieces for about $10. The finely diced tuna filling has just enough mayonnaise to hold it together and balance the light spice.
- For less than $25, a chirashi bowl gets topped with hunks of salmon; yellowtail; tuna; scallops; octopus; squid; and globular, bright orange ikura. The fish gets bedded on gently packed rice with that signature sushi rice sweet-vinegar flavor and toothsome texture.
- Yama manages to keep its freshly fried karaage crispy, even while it sits in a hot case. Tender morsels of chicken are coated in a slightly sweet, craggy breading that doesn’t even need a dipping sauce.
Best for
A quick workday lunch or an at-home sushi feast that won’t break
the bank. Its multiple locations in town ensure good, easy-to-grab sushi never seems too far away.
Insider tip
Yama offers party-sized platters that can be ordered up to a day in advance. Options include a classic platter with California rolls, salmon avocado rolls, and cucumber rolls; an assorted sashimi set with approximately 70 pieces of salmon, tuna, and yellowtail; and a Spam musubi platter.
