HAL YAMASHITA Napa

Had a really wonderful dining experience, do not miss out if you are in the Napa Valley. Their presentation is stellar, and the cuisine follows suit.

Excellent Japanese food. You need to try this place.

Came here based on the recommendation on the owner of SHADOW BOX CELLARS and what a great choice. It’s a nice spaced restaurant on the corner which means lots of glass and windows. Greeted by host I chose to sit at the bar. Smiles from the cooks in the open kitchen made me feel welcomed. To my surprise I have a server though I’m sitting at a bar. My server is Froylan who is gentle and knowledgeable about wine. I catch the tail end of happy hour and go with the MI SUEÑO CHARDONNAY which is amazing and the TRUFFLE GRILLED EDAMAME!!!! There are two tasting menu options and a full a la carte menu. I go with the GOYOMATSU tasting menu and am pleasantly surprised. Tastes are as follows:
1- Japanese egg custard- just as it sounds custard texture, smooth, deep yellow in color
2-Tuna carpaccio is thin slices of amazingness, also tasty and fresh
3- wagyu sea urchin was amazing! Delicate in appearance and full of more flavor than what meets the eye
4-tempura , shrimp and veggies came out hot and was tempura good, especially liked the root
5- Black cod was the favorite. A nice cut, visually appealing and so savory. The cod was firm yet smooth with a buttery texture.
6- winter soup was nice, filling with mushrooms afloat
7-Nigiri sushi is chefs choice of sushi. Fresh cuts of fish, fresh ginger, it was nice. The guy next to me says EEL is a male aphrodisiac as his wife smiles ( I gave him the eel)
8- wagyu steak sliced and presented with pickled cucumber and a hint of wasabi on the side
9- dessert was a Japanese shaved ice which was impressive in taste and refreshing
10- machata tea made the meal complete.

Open space, more of a minimalist approach. Open kitchen makes watching the cooks enjoyable as they also interact with guests dining at the bar.
This place smells like a Michelin star experience...
It’s about the experience before the money.
Will be back soon!

Not only is the service delightful from start to finish, the food, ambiance and even the smallest details were all beautifully thought out. Not to mention... INDUSTRY HAPPY HOUR EVERY NIGHT!!! PLUS ... Also, separately they also have a 5 course Omakase Menu for $50/person on Monday nights. I chose the steak for my entree, the other option that night was the black cod. I'll definitely be back, it'll be hard not to make this a regular Monday night treat, because. .... treat yo-self!

I visited here again to get some of that delicious sushi. Same as last time, I ordered a course meal. But instead of getting a plate of sushi and then steak, I asked for 2 plates of sushi and the chef was totally cool with it. Awesome! Great customer service. Besides Kenzo, this is a very authentic Japanese sushi house. Other sushi/Japanese places like Morimoto, Eiko, and Miminashi are great, but they are very Americanized Japanese food. If you want great sushi in Napa, try Hal Yamashita.