It’s Day 99 of eating at 100 Asian restaurants in Maryland, and we’re at Yama Sushi, a Japanese gem tucked into Ellicott City. Short version, Nomsters: their $60 omakase is one of the better sushi deals in Howard County, and the spicy tuna tartare was hands down my favorite bite of the day.
Full disclosure, Tina and the team recognized us while we were filming and ended up comping our meal, plus they brought out a bunch of extra dishes to try, but that never changes how I tell it to you. This is a fresh-fish, come-for-lunch-or-a-low-key-dinner kind of spot, it’s family-run (the same crew behind Hana in Hampden), and it’s the sort of neighborhood place where the omakase quietly out-punches its price tag. Let me put you on.
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What Makes Yama Sushi a Standout Japanese Spot in Ellicott City
Plenty of suburban sushi spots play it safe, but Yama’s calling card is an omakase that feels almost too generous for the price. For $60, you’re getting a spread of sushi with luxe pieces like uni and wagyu worked in, and if you’ve priced omakase in a big city lately, you know those same ingredients usually start north of $139 a head. Owners Tina and Danny Chen opened Yama back in 2019, and they’ve since added Hana in Hampden, so this is a family that clearly knows fish. If you like to shop around, my roundup of the best sushi restaurants in Maryland has more contenders, but for value-to-quality out in Ellicott City, Yama’s tough to beat.
What to Order at Yama Sushi
Here’s everything we got, and what I’d point you toward first.
Omakase ($60)
This is the move, full stop. For sixty bucks they hand you a generous run of sushi with premium pieces like uni and wagyu worked in, and it genuinely felt like a steal. If you’re only going to order one thing here, make it this, and come a little hungry so you can enjoy the whole progression.
Spicy Tuna Tartare ($14)
Probably my favorite dish of the whole visit. If you’re a tuna person, you NEED to get one of these, it was fantastic, clean and rich at the same time, and the kind of thing I was still thinking about later. Don’t skip it.
Dobin Mushi ($10)
This one was really lovely, and the presentation was too cute. If you’ve never had dobin mushi, it’s a comforting seafood broth steamed and served inside a little teapot, you pour the broth into a tiny cup and sip it like tea, then eat the goodies from the pot with chopsticks. It’s a warm, delicate change of pace between all the sushi, and a fun one if you’re dining with someone who’s never seen it.
A few more we tried and liked:
- Sushi and Sashimi Combo ($23): very fresh fish, and a great call if you’re in for lunch.
- Shishito Peppers ($8): super yummy, a must if you like peppers.
- Chicken Katsu ($20): standard but tasty, a solid pick for anyone at the table who isn’t big on raw fish.
- Tempura Cheesecake ($9.95): a lovely way to end the meal.
What Is Omakase, and Is $60 a Good Deal?
100% yes. Omakase means ‘I’ll leave it to you’, so instead of ordering off a menu, you let the chef send out their best pieces of the day. Here’s why $60 is such a strong number: at dedicated omakase counters in bigger cities, a spread that includes uni and wagyu usually starts around $139 a person and climbs from there. Getting those same luxe ingredients in a relaxed Ellicott City strip-mall spot for sixty bucks is legit rare. If you’re ever in the mood to splurge on the higher-end version of this experience, the best omakase in Washington, DC is worth the trip.
The Vibe and Experience
Yama sits in the Dorsey Hall shopping center, so parking’s easy and right out front, no garage roulette. The dining room’s on the smaller side and it fills up, so it’s cozy more than fancy. What really stuck with me was the hospitality: Tina and her team care deeply about their guests, and you really feel that love when you dine there.
Good to Know
- 📍 4725-G Dorsey Hall Dr, Ellicott City, MD 21042, in the Dorsey Hall shopping center.
- Hours: Sun 12 to 9:30PM, Mon to Thu 11 to 9:30PM, Fri and Sat 11 to 10:30PM.
- Lunch’s a great value: rolls-plus-soup-or-salad combos and sushi lunch sets generally run about $9.95 to $15.95 on weekdays.
- Parking’s free and right in front of the restaurant.
- Reservations are accepted and walk-ins are welcome, but seating’s limited, so a reservation helps at peak times.
- Vegetarian options are on the menu (veggie, avocado, cucumber, and sweet potato rolls). They’ll do gluten-free tamari if you ask, though celiac diners should know fried items and some sauces can mean cross-contamination.
- Exploring the area? My guide to the must-visit restaurants in Ellicott City has more spots nearby.
If you haven’t been to Yama yet, definitely go. They land high on my list for great sushi in Howard County: fresh fish, a $60 omakase that over-delivers, and a team that treats you like a regular from the jump. Come for a low-key lunch or bring a date for the omakase, and save a little room for that tempura cheesecake. It’s a gem, and I can’t wait to get back.
If you want more great Japanese sushi on Main Street in Old Ellicott City, UMI Sushi is another family-owned spot with air-shipped fish, creative specialty rolls like the Ruby Toro, and its own 10-piece chef’s-choice omakase nigiri worth trying.
Two more to go before we hit 100, Nomsters, and Yama was such a good one to be this close to the finish line with. Have you guys tried their omakase yet? Let me know what you’d order in the comments, and save this for your next sushi craving out in Ellicott City.