Tucked off Newington Causeway, about the size of a uni dorm room, is JAPANESE YAMA SUSHI. And Lord forbid you don’t spell it in all caps. Rarely overly busy, there are usually people sat in twos, either LSE students slurping donburi, silently facing each other, or longtime partners on casual, silent dates.
Following suit, I took my boyfriend there on a Wednesday night. The vibe was peaceful. Seating is for less than 20 people. The AI art curtain was a bit off-putting, draped along the corner of the small bright room, with Maneki-neko bunting strung across the ceiling. This is all part of the charm.
But the most charming part is that we were stuffed with SUSHI — not katsu, nor noodles — for the overall price of £22.98. Wow.
I offered to treat him, worried I’d end up paying over £30, but it wasn’t the case. We ordered the salmon poke (£9.99) and the omega box (£12.99), assuming we might need more. Instead, we could barely finish. The omega box — 20 pieces in total, eight salmon-avocado rolls and 12 maki — did not skimp on fish. The salmon was thick and juicy, the avocado fresh. This platter alone, with a small appetiser, could easily satisfy two.
The salmon poke bowl was bejewelled with large cubes of rich, melty salmon, bits of edamame, and fresh veg, all coated in a mysterious sweet-savoury sauce my boyfriend enjoyed. Both dishes were so good I found myself closing my eyes with every bite. The one negative: their soya sauce was heavily watered down, and I had to ask for packets instead.
This was my third visit. Three years ago, I came with two friends, splitting a rembo platter — 36 pieces of nigiri, sashimi, and rolls — for around £32. The sushi arrived on a bamboo boat with all food on deck. The display was amazing, and the sushi enough to fill us all. The platter had a diverse array of raw fish, all with a high-quality, buttery taste you do not find at Wasabi. A few months ago, I returned with two others, expecting price increases. But to my surprise, they hadn’t changed much. Again, we left stuffed, ordering that same boat platter and a tuna dish on the side.
I can say, with full confidence, JAPANESE YAMA SUSHI is a place where you can eat very well for just over £10 each — without sacrificing quality.
Millicent (Millie) Penner
Address: 6 Trinity St, London SE1 1DB