Yama Loso

Every time we come here, the food is amazing, the service is phenomenal, and the drinks are flowing!! Everything from beginning to end is enjoyable. This restaurant is one we always come back to!! Highly recommend!

Naj took me on a surprise date to Yama Loso. It was quiet and had a nice ambience. The host was friendly and greeted us immediately. They seated us and we ordered from the menu. The food was so savory. We had a good meal. It was lovely.

First them here and loved it. Stylish interior, attentive staff. Their sushi menu sounds very basic but their flavors are unique! We enjoyed everything we ordered. Will definitely be back .

Yama LoSo is Charlotte's latest addition to the sushi dining scene, situated in the rejuvenated Lower South End, affectionately known as LoSo.

Parking in LoSo can be a bit of a puzzle, but there is a nearby garage when street parking eludes you.

As you walk in, you're greeted with options for where to settle: to your right, a friendly bar awaits the cocktail lovers, while to your left, a sushi bar offers the perfect spot for those who enjoy their seafood with a dash of conversation from the chef. Nestled between the two, booths and tables offer a cozy middle ground. The interior design balances a modern and traditional sushi bar aesthetic.

Let's dive into the welcome part, or should I say, the lack thereof. It felt a bit like I was invisible for a moment there at the host stand, just waiting for someone to notice. It wasn't until a waiter, quickly followed by the manager, came to my rescue and showed me to my booth. And honestly, given the choice, who wouldn't go for the booth over a chair, right?

Nicole, my waitress, was the epitome of hospitality. Her warm welcome, paired with insightful recommendations, made for a promising start. Despite her enthusiasm, the ambiance took a slight detour with a playlist that seemed to confuse "sushi night" with "teen birthday party.” From Ed Sheeran's "Bad Habits" setting a rather lively tone, we transitioned into Tori Kelly's vocal gymnastics, and just when I thought we'd pivot to something more fitting, Miley Cyrus's "Flowers" bloomed through the speakers. It felt like they were navigating through a teenager's Spotify playlist rather than curating a vibe for sushi diners.
I began my meal with harumaki, Japanese vegetable spring rolls(2) served with a sweet chili dipping sauce. They arrived hot and crispy from the fryer, though they didn't leave a lasting impression. Good, but not groundbreaking.

For my entrée, I ordered the Lobster Roll(8 pieces), a visual delight featuring fried lobster and asparagus, wrapped in seaweed and sushi rice, then topped with poached lobster, avocado, yuzu cream sauce, and black tobiko. Despite the promising description, the texture of the poached lobster was a letdown, leaning towards the overdone side. While the sushi rice and yuzu cream sauce hit the mark, the roll seemed to be missing a spark. Soy sauce provided the needed flavor boost but couldn't fully redeem the dish.

Hunger still lingering, I opted for Chicken Negi from the Kushiyaki menu. These skewered chicken teriyaki bites(2), paired with spring onions, were the highlight of my meal. Juicy chicken lavished in a teriyaki glaze that hit all the right notes—this dish alone merits a return visit.

While Yama LoSo might not top my list of Charlotte sushi spots, it's certainly worth a visit. The blend of traditional and modern Japanese cuisine, makes it a noteworthy addition to the LoSo dining landscape. Back at Yama LoSo for round two and wow, what a game-changer!

UPDATE:
After hearing the buzz on everyone's recent visits and their sushi snapshots, I had to give it another go, focusing on their sushi offerings this time.
Starting off, the salmon belly sushi (2 pieces) was an absolute dream. It literally melted in my mouth. The blend of torched salmon belly with sweet soy, yuzu crème, and yuzu tobiko was fantastic. Hands down, the star of the show!

Next up, the sablefish was prepared to perfection at a medium temperature, served as two filets. The presentation was beautiful, showcasing the sablefish on a tasty bed of garlic bok choy, surrounded by a skillfully drizzled miso glaze.

The Totoro Roll took fresh to a new level, with spicy negi toro and cucumber, topped with salmon, spring onions, eel sauce, and a hint of truffle oil. It's clear why this roll comes so highly recommended by the staff. Trust me, you'll want to make this a staple in your order.

And let's not forget about the kushiyaki tiger shrimp (4 skewers). These came out sizzling, accompanied by a spicy sesame ginger, garlic, cilantro dipping sauce that was so good, I contemplated drinking it if only there had been more.

Absolutley fantastic expereince! Opened the door and was immediately greeted with a warm smile and hello. The place looks awesome and has a very modern clean aesthetic. We decided to sit at the sushi bar and was immediately greeted by the chefs and our waiter Nicholas. We ordered apps and sushi, Nicholas gave us some wonderful recommendations and he was knowledgeable about anything was asked about on the menu. Management engaged with us and made sure that everything tasted wonderful. I cannot understate just how wonderful our meal was. RUN DONT WALK HERE.