Japanese Cuisine Yama in Rotterdam Centrum

Very stylish restaurant with a dining counter for only 8 people. The excellent tasting menu was excellent in terms of taste and the products were of the best quality. The recommended sake accompaniment was great. Everyone was very friendly and accommodating to us. We had a great time. Absolutely recommended.

Had a great meal at Yama. The skill of the chef, the quality of the ingredients, and the quiet, intimate atmosphere make this a very special experience.

We’ve had an amazing evening. The amount of respect, love and passion for the ingredients and equipment was really special to watch from such a close distance. We really enjoyed the food, especially with the sake pairing. We will be coming back!

An extraordinary and excellent Japanese experience. Classic hospitality and a great exclusive and intimate atmosphere. Without exception, the dishes are of an extremely high standard. Great flavors combined and varied in a well thought out menu. Everything is prepared right in front of you by the chef. Absolutely recommended!

Absolutely brilliant dining experience! The food was beyond delicious and the thought put into the dishes was amazing and the presentation was simply gorgeous! Would also highly recommend the saki pairing. The staff and Chef were fantastic explaining everything in detail. Would most definitely go again!

Wow, what an exceptional Japanese GEM in the Netherlands with a truly unique 3+ hour omakase experience. Chef Yama serves up an edible Japanese fairy tale in 26 unique pieces. Each dish is carefully and masterfully crafted and presented. Some ceramics are even handmade by Chef Yama himself! The dishes were innovative yet respecting and honoring traditional Japanese cuisine. Another truly unique aspect is his integration of some locally grown Japanese ingredients, such as wasabi from Delft, soy sauce brewed in Rotterdam, local fish, and Belgian caviar. This demonstrates his confidence and craftsmanship, stepping outside the traditional Japanese "norm." 🍣Food (5/5) What made this experience even more special was that chef made sure the focus was all about the food, not just the chef and his master skills, despite sitting at the "chef's table." Traditional Japanese cooking utensils were used such as the "donabe" (clay pot), the "binchotan" grill, sharkskin wasabi grater and chef made sure that we understood that even the eel, is sliced with a special Japanese eel knife. Highlights were obviously the ENTIRE experience, but if I HAD to choose, these were my favorites of the evening: ⭐️Beef sashimi - perfectly round and shaped like a planet ⭐️The”maguro jewel”. Toro tuna "tartare-like" dish with soy sauce jelly pearls - presented like a hydrangea in a vase ⭐️The Japan tour: 7 bites - each laid out on the respective region - the ceramic "map" made by Chef Yama himself - out of this world. ⭐️The sushi is of exceptional quality, with a truly unique style of rice. Chef serves these to you one by one by hand - the eel was my favorite. ⭐️From "Yama’s BBQ," the buttery, melting A5 wagyu grilled on the binchotan. Hands-down the best I've ever had in the Netherlands. ⭐️And the "friandises"… An edible chocolate tree and I suspect a "moss" of matcha? Even a tiny shovel as a spoon. A mochi roll(?) with a beautiful butterfly. Note: I really appreciated having a detailed menu on hand, it made the culinary journey much clearer! 🙋‍♀️Service (5/5) There is 1 beautiful maître who warmly welcomes you - a multitasker who supports chef, serves the food and drinks, and patiently explains each dish and sake. A nice detail is that my napkin was neatly folded and placed back on the table after each visit to the restroom. Showing formal hospitality knowledge. 🏡Ambiance (5/5) The ambiance at Yama is intimate. You step directly into his modern Japanese style "dining room." You are greeted by a beautiful long and modern chef's table. It's very calm, with classical music. During dessert, the kitchen lights are dimmed, adding to a gentle conclusion of the evening. Every detail has been carefully considered... One small thing I noticed: the visible street side through the windows can distract from the intimate and special atmosphere. The ambiance would be even more intimate and unique if the windows were blinded, giving you the feeling of being in an intimate omakase restaurant in Japan. However, perhaps it was deliberately chosen not to do this? ✅Conclusion Yama has given me an unforgettable and exceptional experience that I can't stop talking about. As a fine dining aficionada I highly recommend this gem for lovers of Japanese cuisine, who are searching for a one of a kind Japanese dining experience. 5 Google review stars reflect my overall feeling. I can't wait to secure a spot at this very unique chef's table again.

Surpassing dining experience where simplicity and complexity go hand in hand. Good simple atmosphere where the food is central. Years of experience translated into beautiful dishes.

I had dinner there last October. We had the meal booked 2 month ahead, dining experience was great, everything was delicious. But in the middle of the night i had the worst stomach pain, then puked and diarrhoea. Huisarts was sure it was food poisoning symptoms. I didnt contact the restaurant right away, because I didn’t want to get involved in accusations of any sort. But today i just decided to leave my personal experience here. Judge yourself, the taste and service was anyway worth the money.

My sister and I went here for my birthday, and it was one of the most special restaurants I ever attended. The intimate atmosphere and relaxed, yet sophisticated hosting all set the scene for a unique dining experience. Admiring the craftsmanship of chef Yama is one thing, the quality of the dishes is entirely another. I don't think I can do it justice with words. To top it off, I appreciated the thoughtfulness when I mentioned at the end of the night that it was my birthday. The hand written congratulatory note and the small gift bag were the perfect gesture and souvenir of this wonderful night. ありがとうございます！

We had an amazing experience at Yama.

It was an excellent diner. Beautiful to look at and delicious to eat. The grilled oyster was a blend of cod fish and oyster in a delicious sauce. Simply breathtaking. The shabushabu was so well balanced and tasteful. I had never tasted such combination. The sushi with tuna, Dutch yellowtail and eel was truly mind blowing. Too much text needed to mention all of the dishes;) The overall experience was great. The chef is truly in full control of everything. There is not a move he does without purpose. A pleasure to watch him prepare your food. The chef’s wife was busy in the background and serving out drinks and the food. I had some sake which paired beautifully with the dishes. I would certainly try one or two glasses of sake. Because of the small number of couverts (8) the price per couvert is relatively high, then again the overall experience was definitely worth it. Even though you are seated next to others facing the chef there is more than enough privacy to enjoy the diner without feeling the need to make a conversation with your ‘neighbours’. I also really appreciated that you can reserve quite easily one month in advance. Every day a new time slot is added to the chef’s calendar making it possible to enjoy an excellent diner one month in advance instead of somewhere next year, like many other high-end restaurants. To the Yama team thank you!

We visit fine dining restaurants around the world. Yama is by far the best of them all. The chef pays attention to every detail, including the customer. The hostess is attentive, kind, and loves her work. The location is flawless, there’s no pretension, just simple expertise and pride in the work. The food is innovative, presentation is thoughtful and the entire experience has meaning. The only reason this restaurant isn’t #1 in the country is because it’s hard to get a reservation (due to its size) and they don’t need accolades. Chef is an old-school craftsman and the hostess a custodian of her customers in the most dedicated sense of the word. Of the scores is not more Michelin and fine dining restaurants I’ve been to in my life… Yama is one of maybe 5 I would visit again and again. And have been lucky enough to do so. Even after months or sometimes more than a year between visits the hostess remembers you. And if you’re there more often than the menu changes, remembers this and lets you know what’s different. Amazing. Go here for what will probably be the single most intimate fine dining experience of your life.

Indulging in an unforgettable culinary experience at this Japanese restaurant was an absolute delight. The quality of the food surpassed all expectations, with each dish meticulously crafted to perfection. Their ingenious approach to traditional Japanese cuisine showcased remarkable creativity, offering a refreshing twist on classic flavors. The fusion of top-notch quality, innovative culinary creations, and the enchanting concept of private dining makes this Japanese restaurant a gem worth visiting. It's an oasis for those seeking not just a meal, but an unforgettable gastronomic journey.

Dit is veel beter dan de anderen. Simply the best. Jammer dat je zo lang van te voren moet reserveren, maar helaas wel erg begrijpelijk.

Le indicazioni fornite sono errate. L’indicazione era aperto la domenica fino alle 22 ma siamo arrivati fino a lì alle 19.30 ed era tutto chiuso

Amazing experience! Very tasty and the chef has enhanced the natural flavors of the high quality ingredients. Classic Japanese flavors sometimes with a twist. Lovely presentation and ambiance. Very authentic and you see the chef does his own thing.

This restaurant offers a top quality authentic Japanese kaiseki experience. Set menu for a fixed price. Eight counter seats only. Welcomed by the lady we took our places in comfortable seats and watched the serene interior and preparations by the Japanese chef Yama. All dishes were of top quality ingredients (often sourced locally, a very Japanese approach) and showed great knowledge of the Japanese kitchen and menu. Courses were served at a pleasant pace. Served on beautiful ceramics and glassware, sometimes hand crafted . Good sake pairing option. Expensive, but definitely worth the experience. Highly recommended. By reservation only.

Really fantastic! The taste sensations, layout, matching Sake and ambiance are great. The setting, a maximum of 8 people with a view of the kitchen and the friendly, knowledgeable chef who carried out his work in a very disciplined manner, is also a joy to watch. His partner who provides the Sake and service is extremely friendly. It almost feels like a private dining experience. There are plenty of photos to look at but I would just book. That is a challenge but very worthwhile. The nice thing about this booking system is that it is not fully booked indefinitely. It certainly would be if you could book more than a month in advance. We would love to come back again!

If you like Japanese flavors, this is the place to go. All the dishes are just mind-blowing, with strong, authentic flavors and a little bit of experimentation. Chef Yamamoto is a joy to watch, taking care of every little detail of every dish. It's a must-visit, and I will surely return.

Bijzondere ervaring bij twee zeer gepassioneerde mensen. Heerlijke gangen en ontzettend veel zorg om alles tot in de puntjes te regelen.

Top class Japanese restaurant. Good food, outstanding service. Very recommended.

今晚Yama带我们游览了日本，探索了海洋🌟好的米其林厨师是会讲故事的。每一道菜品都冲击着我的味蕾

Super ervaring. Dit was echt ‘out of this world’ heerlijk. Als je een plekje weet te bemachtigen ben je een bofkont. * in april 2023 heeft Cuisine Yama een 1 michelin ster ontvangen

Buitengewoon bijzonder gegeten en een fantastische avond gehad. Michelin ster waardig!

Van een andere wereld, zo geweldig!

Its so nice! This is the best japanese food i had so far in the netherlands. Make sure you make a reservation on time or either be lucky you get one! Its really hard to get a spot here but the owner is super friendly and the food itself is a-mah-zing!

Na onze reis door Japan zochten we een restaurant dat het eten in Japan kon evenaren, en dat doet Yama zeker! Alsof we ons weer even in Japan zelf wanen. Zeer zeker een aanrader. Het eten wordt met veel passie en liefde bereid en het is altijd een feestje hier weer te mogen komen eten.

Geweldig gegeten, het moet enorm veel uren gekost hebben om dit op tafel te kunnen zetten. Ieder gerecht bestaat eigenlijk uit drie gerechten op zich. De smaken zijn erg gebalanceerd. De service is vriendelijk en erg persoonlijk. Ik kan dit zeker aanraden!

Fantastische gegeten . Zeer mooi opgemaakte borden met erg veel verschillende smaken. De service is geweldig. Beste Japanse restaurant in de stad.

A very cosy experience that should be experienced by anyone that loves Omakase!

Amazing... just amazing. Excellent dining experience and great service!

Top plek! We komen hier met plezier terug.

Highly recommend for a fine dining of authentic Japanese food.

Heerlijk, rustig gegeten in een Japans restaurant wat voor je gevoel een stukje Japan in Nederland is! De passie en ijver straalt er vanaf.

The experience itself was simply wonderful, Chef Yama definitely pays a lot of attention to the ingredients he buys and puts a lot of thought into his dishes/creations. He chose many local items from both the Netherlands and his home country Japan, and turned them into amazing dishes. I must say I was skeptical of a few dishes, simply because I was not used to eating them but I tried everything (even the foie gras) and I could not have been happier with my taste buds. Chef Yama is also very humble and friendly, and you can see that he loves what he is doing. The lady serving us was also very friendly and lovely. I’m very happy with my experience with Japanese Cuisine Yama.

Best in class, was there before the rebuild.

Het was geweldig, leuk en heerlijk! Yama en Yoko zijn gastvrij, soms grappig en een geoliede machine. Ze werken gefocust en met tempo ook al oogt het zeer relaxed. Een bijzonder stukje Japan in Nederland! Alles is een lust voor het oog en een smaaksensatie voor het innerlijke lichaam, Zalige sake's en lekkere geroosterde Japanse thee. Wij zijn best verwend en hebben altijd wel wat op te merken maar dit maakte ons stil. Het enige minpuntje voor ons was de hectiek in het het drukke centrum van Rotterdam met zijn peperdure parkeergarages. Dit vonden we niet passen bij de rust van Yama. Binnen bij Yama merk je hier overigens niks van. Je eet maar met 8 gasten en daardoor voelt het als een privé diner. Mocht je een plekkie kunnen bemachtigen bij Yama? Ik zeg doen!

We hebben enorm genoten van het omakase menu. Naast dat de gerechten heerlijk van smaak waren werden ze ook enorm mooi gepresenteerd. Het eten bij yama is erg leuk omdat je met zijn allen aan de 'bar' zit te eten, je hebt ook goed zicht op chef die alle gerechten voor je neus bereidt.

Net voor de lockdown hebben wij hier nog kunnen genieten van een fantastisch menu. Het was de derde keer voor ons bij Yama en elke keer dat wij er waren is het nog beter geworden. Dit is echt een restaurant voor de liefhebber, je hebt echt het idee dat je even in Japan bent geweest. Wij kunnen niet wachten tot we weer een plekje kunnen bemachtigen.

Wow wow wow. Dit is wel echt de top Japanese cuisine. Vandaag ipv diner de lunch gehad en het was van a tot z geweldig. Wat een ervaring!

We've visited Yamamoto during our stay in Rotterdam. Being there was a very unique experience, the food is extraordinary good and all ingredients are selected with precision. Every dish has it's own little story and is served with the love of detail. It is enternaining at its own level. Thanks for having such a nice place in Europe. Greetings from Germany.

After you do manage to get a reservation, which is hard for a restaurant this good with only 8 seats, the experience makes it worth it. Beautiful dishes served on in some cases homemade ceramics, Yama’s lockdown pastime. Everything was great taste wise and service was excellent as well. Really enjoyed their sake pairing as I never had any good sake before.

Culinaire tour langs de Japanse eilanden op zelfgemaakt keramiek.

It does not get much better than this. It brought me back to my time in Tokyo. We had the full courses including the sake pairing. Fantastic!

Always a pleasure to eat here. Japanese hospitality and top grade ingredients.

Hands down the best Japanese cuisine in Rotterdam. Period.

Een van de beste restaurants waar ik ben geweest.

Tijdens coronatijd sushi afgehaald; meest japanse sushi die er is in NL! Zoals t hoort, en super vers

Omdat het restaurant nog steeds niet open is hebben we maar afgehaald. Via inschrijving van hun nieuwsbrief kun je takeaway menu's bestellen. We hebben voor 2 personen het Sushi Omakase Premium menu besteld. Hoewel alles in plastic bakjes ingepakt was smaakte het niet minder. De verseheid!! Echt geweldig. De Chopped toro met spring onion en de Misosoep vol van seafood smaak zijn mijn favorieten. Dank jullie wel Yama & Yuko voor de voortreffelijke kookkunst. Zodra het restaurant weer open gaat komen we!!