- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Yagumo Sushi
Category: Restaurants Sushi Bars Sushi Bars [Edit]
14554 Vanowen StVan Nuys, CA 91405
Neighborhood: Van Nuys
(818) 787-9383
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Tue-Sat 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Sun 5:30 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Jim A. said: "I've been going to Irori for about 10 years now. This is one of those hidden Gems that not a lot of people know of. The restaurant is located in the Marina Del Rey shopping center near the CVS store. One thing I love about this…" read more »
82 reviews for Yagumo Sushi
Review Highlights
"Fish is fresh and spicy tuna crunchy roll def."
(in 23 reviews)
"One day i hope to come back and try the #10 challenge."
(in 24 reviews)
"The ingredient that will kick your ass is the wasabi oil."
(in 4 reviews)
Loading...
82 reviews in English
-
Review from Victor L.
Not eating their really spicy sushi has made my trips here much more enjoyable. I always get two Ninja Hand Roles (spicy level 5), Takoyaki, and two orders of mackerel. Best things on the menu in my opinion. After that I'll try something new. Last time I tried the Snow Crab Asparagus Hand Roll and it was pretty good.
Don't come on Mondays because they are not open. I learned that the hard way.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/15/2011
As I write this review a knife has been stabbing me in the stomach. I have gone to the bathroom… Read more »
-
-
Review from Caleb A.
Lake City, FL
12/30/2011
Doesn't matter who owns the joint or who's cooking in the kitchen- Asian, indo, whatever, the sushi sucks!
The prices are good, but its not enough to get me to come back.
I did get a #8 spicy hand roll and ate it without any trouble. On the othet hand, my brother was sweating like bullets trying to finish his #8 roll.
Weak sauce.
Id come back to try #9. -
Review from David B.
Santa Clarita, CA
11/8/2011
Hands down the best sushi bar in California. No other even comes close. We drive there from Valencia without even blinking an eye.
David Barlavi, Esq. -
Review from Daniel C.
Charlotte, NC
12/29/2011
You pretty much go here to try the spicy challenge, the sushi itself is sub-par. Reasonable prices for mediocre sushi, but I'd rather drop a little more cash-money for good sushi. Service was nice enough though.
I could only eat spicy level #8, and I was a mess. Sweating furiously, throat burning, runny nose, and hell, my leg fell asleep somehow! I respect the challenge, but won't be coming here anymore bc soot-zi isn't great. Do you want someone to read you a bedtime sto-WEE?
dmo out. -
Review from Scotty M.
Atlanta, GA
12/29/2011
Japanese restaurant run by Indian people. far cry from authentic. Quality is also not there, sushi tasted old and dried out. Now on to the level 10 challenge roll- if you think you can do it, you shouldn't. The heartburn, stomach pains, chest ache and nausea/vomiting is no way in hell worth the tee shirt and "fame" amongst van nuys patronage of this inauthentic, and gimmicky place. There is no sense of worth, or pride if u do finish this, its regret. Unadulterated shame and regret.
-
Review from Miso S.
Van Nuys, CA
1/1/2012
If you are a fan of dive sushi bars and hole in the wall finds and LOVE spicy handrolls; then this is your dream place. Don't deviate on the menu, handrolls are the way to go! Oh and it's only $3 a roll. (now $3.50)
-
Review from Steven K.
Studio City, CA
10/14/2011
They have the best spicy hand rolls! I've been coming here for over 10 years. It's my favorite spot in the valley for sushi. It's much cheaper then most places.
The staff is always friendly, and the chiefs can make anything you want if it's not on the menu.
It can get a little busy on weekends, but it is well worth the wait! -
Review from Lynn L.
North Hollywood, CA
10/23/2011
My friend described this restaurant as "easy, local, cheap....and good!" We found this place about a month ago and have been many times. The hand rolls are 2.95/ea!
We haven't had a bad experience and will continue to be regulars.
For someone who wants sushi with a wide variety of rolls with fancy names, this isn't your place. The menu isn't extensive, but I'm pretty sure they would make you whatever you want.
I usually stick with the spicy tuna or yellow tail hand rolls. You can pick your spice level...I've had up to 4, but usually stick with 2. One of our dinner group who can eat very spicy food tried the #10 challenge and didn't make it very far. It looked painful!
The staff is friendly!
Small parking lot, but it does have one. May be a random bum outside, but never been a problem. -
Review from Nina G.
Van Nuys, CA
9/21/2011
In case y'all were wondering what the #10 sushi challenge is like, watch this video if my friend describing his experience with it lol wacth it all because it only gets fummier towards the end(: and note that the video does contain some "not so tasteful language"... You have been warned! Lol
http://www.youtube.com... -
Review from Anne L.
Van Nuys, CA
11/25/2011
Came here for take out today. Had spicy tuna, yellow tail, eel cut rolls, small sashimi order and the rainbow roll. Not a crazy extensive menu, just the basics. Good sushi very reasonable prices.
-
Review from Nikol H.
Van Nuys, CA
4/27/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Who has two thumbs and ate two of the 10 spicy tuna handrolls? (Thumbs pointing at myself)
While they did make me sign a waiver, and they warned me about seventeen times not to try the 10 on my first time, they were all pretty supportive of my eventual first bite, standing by in anticipation of the pain.
But I didn't wince or whimper. Oh, no. I chowed those spicy hand rolls and now you should go and look for my picture on the wall. -
Review from Jeffrey J.
Los Angeles, CA
6/25/2011
I've passed by this plaza for years while going to school and never went to it until today.
My order was as follows:
1 BBQ Eel roll
1 Tuna Roll (no spicy tuna roll wtf?)
2 Dynamite hand roll
There was very little meat on the tuna roll and it felt as if I was eating rice with sushi. The BBQ eel roll was pretty good, though I did not taste much bbq sauce. The Dynamite roll was the saving factor of my meal as I loved the first one so much that I had to get another.
I might come back, but nothing really stood out from my visit. Parking is plentiful, decor is nothing to rave about, it was extremely cold and the prices were fairly cheap (6 bucks would get you a 10 piece roll or 7-8 for a specialty 8 piece roll). Worth it for a quick fix. -
Review from liz m.
6/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've passed by this sushi spot many times but never thought of trying it. In fact I was a little hesitant to try it just because of the location. Luckily thanks to Yelp and seeing the #10 spicy tuna challenge on TV, I knew I had to at least try them once. Bf and I were craving cheap but good sushi tonight so we decided on finally trying Yagumo. Called in our order for dinner and they advised it would take about 20 minutes, not bad at all.
Our order:
2 salmon skin rolls (don't think we've ever had a bad roll, but some restaurants really know how to hook you up with the salmon skin. We actually ordered a 2 handrolls but they were cut when we opened the box at home)
1 Spicy Yellowtail cut level #3 (Yum, there was a warning sign on their menu so we opted for this level, nice amount of heat but definitely gonna try a #5 next time.)
1 Albacore cut roll (wrapped in soy and with avocado, definitely a new way to have albacore, since I'm used to have it drizzled with ponzu and slivers of garlic, but this was still very good, and I'd order it again
Total bill about $14.
Yes we'll be back, and since it's up the street from bf's house we may just become regulars. -
Review from Toni R.
Sherman Oaks, CA
6/27/2011
Yagumo's is da bomb! Iv'e been going to Yagumo's for over 15 years! Hands down my favorite spot for sushi! The prices are fantastic & the portions are GREAT!
You've gotta try them out! They were even featured on the show Outrageous Food on the food network channel for their spicy # 10 challenge! If you're brave enough give it a try! I'm not!
Make sure to try the Alaskan, spicy tuna....awe hell, try EVERYTHING! it's all great!
The place is casual and the staff are super friendly! You'll love it! -
Review from Trayna N.
Van Nuys, CA
7/10/2011
Eh... Well I ditched school to come here to eat, and it was my first time. It's within walking distance, so why not? I heard it was a cheap sushi restaurant. So I gave it a try.
It's pretty cheap for some sushi. I'm not the type to venture out of my comfort zone, but I tried the spicy tuna roll... And I don't like it. The texture is just... not for me. However, I really like the California roll. That stuff is just so good. I plan on sticking with just California rolls, because right after I left, I HAD THE WORST STOMACH ACHE EVER. UGH... Bad fish or something?
They took pretty damn long to give us our food too. Like 15-20 minutes? The workers here are slow! And there was only two other tables with customers. Seriously? Step up your game a bit. It was so hard to get their attention for my bill. I also hate their hours. It sucks I can't make a quick visit here after school.
I might come by one more time, just to give them another chance. Maybe, maybe not. -
Review from Leo G.
Sylmar, CA
3/2/2011
If you're searching for a cheap, fast service and a tasty sushi spot in the San Fernando Valley, go to "Yagumo Sushi". Yes, the chefs are not Japanese, but that doesn't mean they can't make great sushi.
I've been to Japan and ate almost anything; from sushi, noodles and harajuku's girls. Well, enough said, but this place took me back eating sushi there. The decor is okay, but what can you expect when it's located in crappy Van Nuys.
Parking is tough, but the street has plenty, just watch for street signs.
-Sundayat6pm -
Review from Gena U.
9/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Honestly, the big draw is the #10 challenge... I went with a group of colleagues to watch one conquer the hottest sushi hand rolls, but he did not make it to the finish. (Feel free to read other reviews for the #10 roll description!) In the meantime, I had the beef teriyaki lunch special which came with soup, a small dish of bean sprouts, a salad, the plate of beef teriyaki and a bowl of steamed rice. It was definitely a lunch portion and not too big, but filling enough. The beef was soso, but not good enough to be memorable or call my name for a return visit.
-
Review from Denny Y.
Phoenix, AZ
1/19/2011
There is nothing I don't like about Yagumo Sushi (aka Sushi Aki)....
eeeexcept for the fact that it's 400 miles from my casa... :( lol
The quality & freshness is always great, seldom have I not experienced a packed house, which means quick turnover of product to me... so I'm willing to wait for a seat!! (usually not long)
The service is wonderful, very attentive happy people!
No silly frills here just a great quality fair priced neighborhood sushi joint!! -
Review from Alyssa A.
San Fernando Valley, CA
3/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been going to the former Sushi Aki for years. Since I was a child. I visited Yagumo a few times but not for a long time until recently. Spicy Tuna and Spicy Salmon handrolls are my ultimate favorite (#3, #4 if I feel adventurous) along with albacore tuna sushi.
I can imagine it becoming VERY busy on Fridays and weekends so Tuesday nights are perfect for me! -
Review from Jun W.
Alhambra, CA
12/6/2010
For you sushi snobs, this place is not for you. Why? Because the chefs are not Japanese, and the decor has no Japanese feel to it. It's more like a dive bar or local diner.
For you sushi newbs, this place will be the best you've ever had. Why? Because the fish is actually pretty decent and they have rolls for those who are not so adventurous.
For me, I think it's average, hence the 3 stars. Definitely not the best, but it's not crappy fish either. The best part is the value. I think for the price you pay (about $3 for 2 nigiri), you end up satisfied without making a dent in your wallet.
Don't expect much from the decor...rather drab. Yes, other yelpers have mentioned that the chefs and servers are not Asian...big deal. Judge the restaurant for its food, not for who's working behind the counter.
A word about the #10 challenge. The ingredient that will kick your ass is the wasabi oil. It's not the habenero or cayenne peppers, those are tolerable. So don't think that just cause you can eat spicy food that this will be a walk in the park. The wasabi oil will hit you like napalm through your nostrils and lungs. -
Review from Liz W.
Van Nuys, CA
8/29/2011
I have been here a few times. I have tried a lot of the specialty rolls and usually sit at the counter. You seem to get better and faster service that way. The staff is friendly, and attentive. I love mussels, so I ordered the green mussels....I've had better. But everything else I have had there is good. Parking sucks, and the lady next door will yell at you if she sees you walk into the sushi and you take one of her spots.
-
Review from Sammy N.
Los Angeles, CA
7/23/2010
If you give this place a good review, you are one of the following:
1) Never had sushi before in your life.
2) Normally live on a diet of mayo, cream cheese and old fish.
3) Prefer that all other ethnic foods be raped by mexico and america.... you think everything should have cheese, mayo, jalapenos and cilantro.
4) You have a problem with your self-esteem and find a thrill in the abuse you get from the servers.
First thing you notice when you walk in? Where are the Asian people??? The sushi chefs look Latino... the server looks Indian/Pakistani.... WTF? AND YES, I am saying that a good Asian restaurant usually has Asian Chefs! Its not racist, it's common sense.
All the rolls tasted like cheese or mayo.... or spicy cilantro/jalepeno relish... The server never refilled our drinks or gave a rats ass if we needed anything... she didn't even count the number of people who were seated and gave out a few too little plates and settings... Seriously... I'm steaming pissed that I gave this place over $250 in business by taking my co-workers...
BOTTOM LINE - If you like crappy sushi..... you should STILL roll a big fat turd in seaweed before eating at this place.Comment from Erphan A. of Yagumo Sushi 7/23/2010
Thank you for sharing your experience at Yagumo Sushi. We've… More » -
Review from Tikku S.
Los Angeles, CA
8/31/2010 3 Check-ins Here
I'm going to make a pretty bold statement right now:
Best sushi in the Valley. Including Katsu-ya.
I said it. And just so you know, my opinion on sushi is definitely worth something after eating sushi in over 5 different countries (Japan being one of them) by some of the most renowned sushi chefs in the field.
I'm a sushi purist in that I don't like all the crazy fancy rolls. I'm a sashimi and nigiri sushi kind of guy. First of all, the quality of the fish is exquisite. It's got that oh-so-rare melt in your mouth quality.
The presentation is very simple, but with a little bit here and there to jazz things up. It's not like more expensive places where it's the same thing, but very ornately presented, BOOM extra $15 presentation charge. I got a neatly arrayed set of nigiri style sushi with a teeny bit of a fairly innocuous brown sauce on a few of them, and some teeny tiny green onions on a few others that gave the plate some color and a subtle flavor. Delicious.
The only reason it gets docked a star is because the music in there is AWFUL. It's like all dance remixes and Top 40 club bangers. Why?!
Although I will say, if you get there before 2 PM, the lunch deal is pretty spectacular... -
Review from Jenny C.
Los Angeles, CA
8/2/2010
This is pretty much our favorite sushi joint in the valley. We found this place through word of mouth through homies. Its in a bit of a sketchy area, but once you get past that the sushi is killer and the price can't be beat!!
I love the spicy tuna handroll and the mussels and the albacore. The miso soup is yummers. I have loved everything I have ordered from there. In response to Sammy N:
1. I have had sushi before in my life. Many times, all over the place
2. I don't live off of mayo, cream cheese or old fish. (Really?)
3. I love my ethnic foods to retain their roots and not "raped by Mexico and America"
4. I have no problem with my self esteem, the servers are very nice and recognize us when we come. Which would be more often, if we didn't live so far!
The main sushi chef does not look Asian. He looks more Indian, but regardless, he makes great sushi! I love this place!
If you ever dare to take the spicy sushi challenge...maybe bring yourself a glass of milk. One of our party tried this once and he didn't finish, but it was pretty damn funny. I want to take the challenge, but I enjoy the taste of sushi and I don't want my taste buds to burn off!
I say.....if you live by this spot, or you are in the area - give it a try! I don't think you'll be disappointed. -
Review from Bonzai B.
Sherman Oaks, CA
2/22/2011
Overall: Would recommend if you are craving sushi but don't have good sushi funds...
A few people suggested that I try this place, so I decided to go one day when i wanted sushi, but didn't feel like spending a fortune. I will admit, at first I was hesitant because of the neighborhood and because it looks like a total hole in the wall- nothing against HITWs, BUT when it comes to fish, especially raw, you don't want to mess around and get sick. To my surprise, there were people in their parked cars waiting to get in, and when the clock hit 5:30 PM (they are only open for dinner on Sundays), there was a rush of people trying to get in.
Anyways, two of us ended up ordering a few sashimi pieces, some cut rolls, and some specialty rolls which came out to about $30. All were pretty good. The only complaint I would have is that they were a bit heavy with their use of mayo for some of their rolls. HOWEVER, you can customize the sauces and ask for light or no mayo or whatever sauce you want more or less of. Frankly, I've never heard of sushi places that gracefully take special orders without charging a fortune for every "substitution." AND, the customer service was pretty good for a cheap sushi place. Our water glass was always full and the sushi chefs took requests for customized rolls and plated them without hesitation.
Also, be prepared if you want to try their level 10. I am a spicy food lover, and I tried level 5 in my spicy tuna to gauge what would be appropriate. I felt that level 5 was enjoyably spicy, but my husband had only one roll and barely survived the heat. SO if you are not used to spicy foods, I would not recommend higher than a level 3. But if you're ready to pay the price, go on with your bad self. ; ) -
Review from Sahar K.
Woodland Hills, CA
5/19/2010
I'm not sure if ite the Ultimate Challenge or jokes from across the sushi bar that i enjoy most at Yagumo. The owner likes to keep his guests coming back so he offers specialty items on the menu, and the jalepenos fresh.
Quality: excellent
Service: unsurpassed
Parking: can be a little tricky
Unagi (eel) is always a must, and did I mention it's good for your health ;)
On a date in Van Nuys? This could be your next "couple spot". Every relationship has special places you frequent and this is sure to make the list. -
Review from Rochelle T.
Van Nuys, CA
8/16/2011
SO SO SO GOOD!!
The atmosphere is chill, the cooks and waitstaff are super friendly, and the fish is amazing! So fresh and melt-in-your-mouth-y! And prices are SO reasonable. It's our new favorite sushi spot. I could probably eat here every day...
Found it on Yelp! Thanks other reviewers!! :) -
Review from Pegah Y.
3/19/2011
I tried Yagumo for the first time last night and boy do I have a story to tell. I honestly think the best thing about this place are the hand rolls. For just $2.95 a piece, you get a pretty generous-sized hand roll, and they have a bunch of different kinds. I tried the spicy tuna, spicy salmon, and the spicy scallop hand rolls.
I had been warned about their spicy hand rolls. As a lover of spicy food in general, I figured I'd give it a try. Boy, was I in for a surprise... I'll get to that in a bit.
The place seemed really cozy, and I could tell that it's a place frequented by regulars who are already familiar with everything.
The service was decent. They were quick to fill our water, which is how I rate the service when a place serves really spicy food.
The food itself is good - not the highest quality, but good. I ordered the combo box, which is very generous for the price you pay (~ $10). I chose salmon teriyaki and mixed tempura as my two main dishes. The teriyaki sauce was good, though the salmon was a bit dry and not a big portion. I really liked the tempura though and I thought they were extremely generous with it. I got a few veggie tempura and a few shrimp tempura, which were amazing. The food also came with miso soup, salad (which had AMAZING dressing!) and ice cream (I got the mango kind, but you have a choice of mango, red bean, and green tea). The ice cream was handy at the end when I was trying to recover from the spicy tuna roll. They also served bean sprouts dipped in a savory dipping sauce at the beginning, which was great.
Then we decided to try the spicy tuna.... The restaurant serves sushi on a spicy scale of 1-10, the least spicy being 1 and the most spicy being a 10. To do the challenge, you must eat two level "10" spicy handrolls. Then you get a shirt and your picture on the wall. The "10" is not only spiciest but it's also dipped in wasabi oil, which none of the others are. The restaurant recommends that you shouldn't get anything spicier than a "5" if it's your first time there. Feeling up to a challenge, I first tried the "5" and didn't think it was too bad. It was OK on the way down, though it started stinging a bit a couple minutes later. Then, feeling adventurous, the two of us decided to try a "7." I was perfectly fine eating a "7." I didn't even have to drink any water. It did burn a bit, but it was mostly an unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach. It wasn't too bad though. Feeling happy that I'd survived a "7" my first time there, i quipped to the sushi chefs to make me an "8."
We saw two friends at the bar and decided to join together. One of the guys decided to try a "7" and the other a "9." The one who wanted to do a "9" had already done two "9s" the previous time he was there (he's a regular), and warned me that even after an "8" he felt sick for the following two days..
I started psyching myself, and by the time my "8" came out, I had three guys staring at me, encouraging me to do it. I braved myself to do it... It felt 100X stronger than a "7." It hit me instantly and burned my throat as I gulped it down. A word to the wise: eat it as quickly as possible. Just get it all down. That's what I did, and I immediately grabbed my water and drank all of it. I was already full after eating 3 handrolls before that and an entire combo meal, so I really thought I was going to explode because I was filling my stomach with even more water. I put the ice cream on my tongue to soothe it. It was unlike anything I'd eaten before (and I've eaten a regular "2" at Orochan ramen). I've been eating spicy foods my entire life, and I figured that being a Middle Eastern girl, I could handle it... but no, this was something else... After realizing that the water was not helping and that i could not drink any more of it without exploding, I ran to the bathroom. I found myself teetering on the edge, but thankfully did not throw up. I came out and soon it went away. My stomach just burned.
I felt good though, as two other guys could hardly muster a "7" and I managed to finish and survive an "8." I didn't feel good that night, though. A word to the wise: don't eat the really spicy rolls if you have anything important to do the next day. I was up half the night in the bathroom and my stomach burned like mad. I would recommend alka seltzer or bepto bismal, neither of which I had. The worst part was having to share a bathroom with someone who was in the same situation - having to take turns. Now it's the next morning and I'm ok. I think I got it out of my system last night, thankfully without throwing up.
But I can tell it's something I will crave and I do want to go back and try the "9." Overall, I loved the experience. Oh yeah, and we saw someone finish the "10" challenge. It's quite an accomplishment. -
Review from Bulmaro C.
Newhall, CA
3/10/2011
I won't recommend this place not even to my worst enemy,bad taste of the sushi,ugly attitude of the Indian girl almost got on a fight with my lady,never ever coming back!!!
-
Review from Christina L.
Fullerton, CA
5/11/2010
Its been a little while since Ive been here. Thanks to my stupid friends for bringing me to try the Level 10 challenge. Jerks.
Lets see... If you can eat 2 handrolls at Level 10 spiciness, you get a shirt and your photo on the wall. You get to choose your fish, I chose tuna. They basically get 2 tiny slices of Tuna and throw it in a food processor with various peppers (Habanero is one of them). They put so much peppers that the handroll is actually crunchy like a veggie - you cant taste the fish at all.
I tried to be 'smart'. I drenched my handroll in soy sauce from the get-go. Cmon, all the saltiness was sure to mask a bit of the spiciness, right!? OH HELLS NAW. Im a tough b*tch. ... But I got through about 3/4 of 1 handroll and couldnt do it anymore. I downed a tall glass of iced tea, ran to the bathroom and funneled the tap into my mouth with my hand. After 10min, it was still burning, so I ran over to the liquor store next door. They are soooo used to this, if they see anyone run in - they point you to the milk section. I got milk and cheese... Didnt help.
After what seemed like an eternity, the burning started to subside. I gave up and we left. I thought I was in the clear. After the 30min drive home, my tummy started burning. Not like you have to go potty - but the stupid food was actually burning my tummy!!! OMG! I went home and laid down and was miserable for an hour.
Anyhow - the other sushi is good, pricing is good and service is good too. Overall, I like the place, and if I still lived nearby - Id be back more often.
PS: There was some HUGE biker dude laughing at me while I was doing my challenge. He tried it after me and he ran to the liquor store for milk after only 1 bite. Haha punk! Thats what you get for laughing at me! ;) -
Review from Jenny C.
North Hills, CA
6/28/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Second year going to Yagumo! Love it every time.
I have to say, I read a lot of the reviews - so what if the owner is Indian or the Sou Chef is Latino or there isn't crappy Americanized Japanese decor all over the walls. Bottom line: it's a low-key place to enjoy good quality sushi for a reasonable price.
Some of my favorites are the hand rolls - usually raiging from a level 1-10 spiciness, you choice the level of hotness- but the best one is there SECRET Ninja roll. Oh so delicious.
The calamari and mussels are great appetizers! Look at the side of the bar as there is usually a black erase board with cool specials and what have you.
Most importantly, if you will be going often ask for a punch card! On your fifth stamp you get to spin the wheel. Free roll or drink, anyone? -
Review from Nina B.
Tarzana, CA
8/14/2010
A friend and I also found this place through word of mouth. We ate at the bar ($10/person minimum), and we had a great time. The sushi chef was friendly, and the atmosphere was fun. Everything was fresh and inexpensive, and the specialty rolls were creative.
If you've got your nose up in the air about sushi, or can't handle anything besides the traditional, maybe this isn't the place for you. Otherwise, ignore the few crappy reviews, and go for it :) -
Review from Erika B.
VALLEY VILLAGE, CA
6/29/2011
I love this place. Generally, I would be scared of a strip mall sushi joint. The rolls are yummy and its priced great. Is it the best sushi ive ever eaten? No. But, for the price and taste and fun ambiance...i go there alllll the time! Love it.
-
Review from innessa d.
Toluca Terrace, CA
6/22/2011
I have passed by this place a few times and a friend of mine recommended it a long time ago. Last night, bff and I tried it! its really good. Fish is fresh and spicy tuna crunchy roll def. hit the spot! service was great with a relaxing atmosphere!
-
Review from Kris A.
Thousand Oaks, CA
10/25/2009
SHORT review: Do NOT go.
LONG review:
Fellow yelpers, please, I'm not being dramatic when I say, please, please, please do not go. It's just not worth it. And I'm not trying to be a sushi snob, I'm just sayin...
Let me begin by explaining that it had all the things going for it: 4 stars from yelp, corner location of a random strip mall in the valley, pictures of people who have eaten their food on the wall, a history of first being Sushi Aki before Yagumo, sushi chefs that were Indian and Latino I(something different and I didn't want to judge), halloween decorations, one large flat screen tv to watch important sports games, cheap prices, a packed restaurant on a Saturday night, a spicy tuna challenge and even what appeared to be karaoke machine!
Alas all those seemingly cool qualities my fellow yelpers were just mere distractions. I don't care about the people who say they've been going there for 10 years - maybe they need to get out of the valley once in a while.
I don't have sushi/sashimi just for trendy modern stuff, but I do appreciate sushi/sashimi that has decent quality fish and at least a well formed roll folks. And neither of that happened. Sloppy. And I should have expected that when I spied the sushi chef just chuck the fish back in the case instead of lay it down. For me it's about cut, formation, taste and presentation and it just seemed like cheap imitations of the real thing.
That being said, the fish wasn't so bad that it made me sick. And even thought it's affordable, it's not worth the drive. The service? Mixed bag. Nice and friendly, but it took a long time to get the bill. And I've got to give it to them in regards to the portions. They do give a lot.
The spicy tuna challenge? Interesting. For all of their "spicy" handrolls you can choose a level of 1 - 10 in terms of spice. Eat two of their 10 spice handrolls and you can brag. We had three men in our party that took that challenge. Three up. Three DOWN! One guy, barely even had it in his mouth when he threw it right back into a napkin. The other guy took a nibble and just let it sit there. The last guy? Happened to be my hubby. He ate one whole one and said, "It's not that it's spicy. My lips and tongue aren't even burning, the problem is, it just tastes like SH*T!" With that, he didn't finish. But kudos to the guy at the sushi bar that finished his for the SECOND time. -
Review from Dev C.
North Hollywood, CA
Tried a level 9 handroll this time. I can feel the crunching from all the habanero peppers in there. Apparently if you eat two level 10's you will gain immortality. Lol... you almost have to be just to survive it.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/9/2010
This place is a gem. If you're a nigiri fan, try the Chirashi. It has the most bang for the buck...… Read more »
-
-
Review from Ellen F.
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA
11/5/2011
I've been going here for many, many years. Before it was Yagumo it was Sushi Aki and many of the original rolls are still the same thank goodness. Lately the consistency has been a little shaky, some visits have been much better than others. Still, it is tasty sushi at very fair prices. I have tried the majority of Sushi Restaurants in the valley and this still ranks in my top 5! The best hand rolls in my opinion are the Ninja, Dynamite and Spicy Tuna and the Albacore sushi. The dynamite served in the shell is also very yummy.
-
Review from Dani S.
Santa Clarita, CA
Updated - 7/28/2010
I want to address the two or three racist reviews - you guys are off your rocker. The owner is the indian fellow and he speaks four or five languages - including japanese, because he trained under japanese chefs. It really sucks that small minded jerks think ethic chefs whom are a different race than the food they serve are not tasty enough based on race. Who do you think makes the best food you ever ate? (answer: you don't really know unless you're in the kitchen watching someone make the food.)
Don't be ignorant, please. The food is great @Yagumo and the prices keep me coming back. I personally have no interest in the #10 challenge but I also do not have a small wein, so there's that going for me.
I always recommend this place when people ask where to eat sushi for a reasonable price in the valley.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
7/26/2010
This is my favorite place to eat sushi, hands down. My boyfriend and I visit every Friday evening… Read more »
-
-
Review from Jon H.
7/24/2008
This review is only for the sushi challenge. I give it five stars because this sushi challenge (eat two spicy tuna rolls on #10 level, complete with signing a liability waiver), reduced me to rubble.
Its like eating fire. No its like setting your tongue on fire, then gargling gasoline, then having fire ants crawl on your tongue. Then you destroy bathrooms for the next two nights.
Anyways, if you ever have a friend who says, "oh i can eat spicy food, nothing is ever TOO spicy", take them here, as I did and watch them cry like a child.
Other than that the food is okay. Challenge (5 stars), Food (3 stars) -
Review from Y-Nin P.
North Hills, CA
6/2/2011
At first, coming to Yagumo, I was a bit hesitant because of all the other reviews I read. My first time I visited Yagumo, I thought, "mm okay this is pretty decent". The service is quite excellent. They are always looking at you though, kinda creepy but I guess it's good. They serve you a bean sprout appetizer before you eat anything. It's pretty good. The facility is neat and the atmosphere is mostly comfortable. The only strange thing about Yagumo is that the chefs are not japanese. Which is one of the reasons why I was hesitant because I thought lowly of the quality. But it is pretty good! Especially for the amount of $$ you pay for it. It is actually cheap compared to other sushi joints and the generous portion sizes don't hurt either.
Leaving Yagumo the first time around, I was pretty content and satisfied. The second time that I had to go to Yagumo, I was still hesitant, mostly because I don't know I guess I wasn't use to non-asians making my sushi. But the second time, I ordered a couple different rolls than the first and I was sold. Everything I ate there that day was too good! I really enjoyed myself and by the end of that lunch, I couldn't even stand up! It wasn't pricey at all!
So would I recommend Yagumo? Yes! Absolutely! One day i hope to come back and try the #10 challenge. I'm only at #6. ha ha ha.
