Yako Sushi House

I had been reading about Yako Sushi online for a while, so I finally drove out to Cottage Grove Road to see if it lived up to the hype. Spoiler: it did.

This is exactly the kind of sushi spot I love. You walk in and the small kitchen is right in front of you. To the left there are a few tables, but from the outside it looks like a tiny house tucked away from the main drag. Nothing flashy, just a place that clearly cares about the food.

The Lowdown

• City: Madison, WI
• Address: 515 Cottage Grove Rd, Madison, WI 53716
• Phone: 608-283-9075
• Hours: Tue–Thu 11am–9pm, Fri–Sat 11am–10pm, Sun 4pm–9pm, Mon closed

The lunch special is ridiculous

Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., any two rolls are $11.99 and any three rolls are $14.99. Three rolls for under fifteen bucks in today's economy is almost impossible to find, and the quality here is way better than the price suggests.

What I ordered

I started with the Dragon Ball appetizer: spicy crab wrapped with sliced avocado, topped with spicy mayo, eel sauce and crunch. It looked exactly like a dragon ball and tasted even better. Then I moved on to a spicy salmon roll and a shrimp tempura roll.

The gyoza was the real surprise. I will hands down say it was the best appetizer I have ever had at a sushi restaurant. Perfectly crispy, great filling, the kind of thing you keep reaching for until the plate is gone.

My thoughts on the food

Everything tasted fresh. Sometimes sushi places have that faint pre-made flavor, but nothing here tasted like it had been sitting around. The spicy salmon roll was on point, the tempura roll was exactly what you want from a classic, and out of the two I liked the spicy salmon more.

I order a shaggy dog roll everywhere I go if they have it. Yako did not disappoint. The ingredients were clean, the rice was well seasoned, and the sauces were balanced instead of overwhelming the fish.

Important & interesting info

• The lunch special runs Tuesday–Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Two rolls for $11.99, three rolls for $14.99.
• The restaurant is small and tucked into a house-like building on Cottage Grove Road. Seating is limited, so plan accordingly at peak times.
• The Dragon Ball and gyoza are both must-orders if it is your first visit.
• They do takeout, and the website at yakosushimadison.com has online ordering.

Conclusion

Yako Sushi House is the kind of place I want more people to know about. Great service, perfect low-key vibe for sushi, incredibly fresh fish, and everything I tried tasted better than I expected. If you have not been yet and you are anywhere near Madison, I highly recommend giving it a try.