The Full Story
About
A5 YAMA
Contemporary Japanese Cuisine in Naarden-Vesting (coming in Autumn 2025)
Yama & Angela
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With only 8 seats, Hiroaki Yamamoto (alias Chef Yama) and Angela Oosterling have created a omakase dining experience that is both highly personal and deeply intentional, designed to connect, surprise, and touch.
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“Omakase” is a Japanese term meaning “I leave it up to you” or “chef’s choice”. It’s a common Japanese fine dining concept where the guest trusts the chef to select and serve seasonal and carefully crafted dishes, creating an exclusive tasting menu.
Yama and Angela share a simple goal: to meaningfully do and create what they love. They have a deep appreciation for both the timeless and classic, as well as the excitement of creative, modern expression.
Together, they aim to respectfully blend classic Japanese traditions with their passion for originality.
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Yama is a deeply disciplined Japanese chef with over 20 years of experience. He closed his acclaimed (Rotterdam based) Michelin starred restaurant in 2024 with no plans to return. But Angela, his culinary counterpart and close friend, saw something still unfinished, and together, they began to imagine something new.
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Angela is the creative and operational force behind A5 YAMA.
With a background in food science, art, and a deep connection to both her own heritage and Japanese culture she brings depth, warmth, and a highly expressive perspective to their restaurant and menu.
“Angela makes my dishes better. Her palate is extraordinary precise and intuitive, unlike anything I've experienced before. She can articulate exactly what a dish needs ánd her artistic mind, challenges me to see beyond the strict structures I know. That’s why I chose to cook with her,” says Yama.
And here's a little secret: their restaurant’s name "A5 YAMA" honors not just the highest grade of Japanese A5 Wagyu, but also the 5 letter A’s their names share; a quiet symbol of their bond and unity in.
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A Conversation between Japan & The Netherlands
It’s in this spirit that A5 YAMA honors the traditions of Japan, while shining light to the richness of local terroir. Think honey from Naarden Vesting, vegetables from nearby farms, snoekbaars and eel from IJsselmeer, Dutch wasabi, soy sauce from Rotterdam, and even Dutch Yellowtail from Zeeland.
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And of course, the historic town of Naarden Vesting isn’t just the unique setting, it’s thoughtfully woven into their restaurant and fairytale-like menu.
Nothing here is accidental. Every ceramic piece, every movement, every ingredient and garnish is part of a story.
A5 YAMA is a conversation between Japan and the Netherlands, between two cultures, between two opposites, between two people who have created something both inevitable and entirely new.
About Chef Yama
Executive Chef · Co-owner
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Hiroaki Yamamoto, known as Chef Yama, started his culinary journey at the age of 20 when he moved to the Netherlands after graduating from cooking school in Japan. His passion for exceptional cuisine led him to work at the prestigious 5-star Hotel Okura in Amsterdam, where he spent 8 years honing his craft at the renowned Japanese restaurant, Yamazato, which holds a Michelin star. During this time, Chef Yama mastered a wide array of Japanese culinary techniques, including sushi, tempura, and the art of handling wagyu and fish with precision and care.
Eager to expand his skills, Chef Yama moved on to Restaurant Huson, a Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded establishment, where he connected with French culinary techniques, further refining his approach to cooking.
In 2013, Chef Yama took a bold step and opened his own restaurant, *Japanese Cuisine Yama* in Rotterdam. Over the course of 10 successful years, his dedication to Japanese traditional, authentic cuisine and extremely strict regime, while working alone in the kitchen earned him a Michelin star in 2023, marking a pinnacle in his illustrious career.
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At A5 YAMA Chef Yama is now ready to show something completely new. He is a man of few words, but driven by a deep passion for storytelling and originality. A5 YAMA will introduce a more personal, expressive side of Chef Yama through his craft.
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Every dish will reflect his deep-rooted respect for Japanese culture ánd the country he has called home since the age of 20: The Netherlands.
He wants to give his guests an experience unlike any they've had before; to surprise them and leave them with joy.​
About Angela Oosterling
Creative Director · Co-owner
With a Dutch-Peruvian background, a lifelong passion for (fine) food and art, Angela aims to bring cultural insight, an added layer of meaning, and heartfelt warmth to the A5 YAMA experience.
After attending art academy, she spent over a decade working in hospitality in Amsterdam. Her fascination with food led her to study BSc Nutrition & Dietetics, where she gained an encyclopaedic understanding of food through various specialisations. For more than 10 years, she helped people connect to better eating, blending emotion with knowledge.​​
Angela’s dual heritage shapes everything she does.
From her Dutch father’s side, Angela inherits a legacy of entrepreneurship and hospitality, a spirit that runs in the Oosterling bloodline.
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From her Peruvian mother, she inherited the gift making genuine connection with the people she meets, but also a deep culinary sensibility, rooted in rituals, respect for ingredients, and the belief that every dish is a chance to touch emotions.
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Angela fell in love with Japan’s rituals, depth, and attention to detail. It resonates with her Peruvian culture and with Angela’s own beliefs. It's this fascination for Japan that made her learn to understand the culture, etiquette, food, and even the language.
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And did you know Peru shares a century-old connection with Japan? The *Nikkei* cuisine is a perfect expression of that cultural blend.
Today, Angela’s mission is to offer guests an unforgettable experience that goes beyond expectations, revealing a menu where every element has meaning, and where people don’t just eat, but *feel* the story behind every bite.
Angela goes above and beyond to make her guests truly experience the spirit of “omotenashi.”