Maybe it’s all the water around us, or the strong Japanese influence that has been part of the city’s culture for more than 100 years. Whatever it is, get your chopsticks ready, these restaurants are all outstanding!
SHIRO’S 2401 Second Ave., (206) 443 9844 Hours: Daily, 5:30 pm – 9:45 pm. Since opening in 1994 sushi chef Shiro Kashiba’s restaurant has been at the top of every sushi list in Seattle. He and the restaurant have garnered national press for the way he combines traditional Japanese ingredients with the abundance of fresh local seafood available in Seattle. Kashiba trained in Japan and has been making sushi in Seattle since 1967. Sitting at the sushi bar here is a treat, and may be your best bet on a busy night when all 17 tables are occupied – the spider rolls are the best in Seattle, and the chef’s choice sashimi options are always exquisite. The estimated cost per diner, for dinner is $20- $60.
SHIKI 4 West Roy St., (206) 281 1352 Hours: Mon – Fri 11:30 am – 2 pm, Mon – Thurs, 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm, Fri – Sat, 5:30 pm – 10 pm, Sun 5 pm – 9 pm. In addition to the usual favorites - rolls, sashimi, and nigiri, Shiki, located in lower Queen Anne, emphasizes seasonal sushi. The staff and sushi chef Ken Yamamoto will be happy to talk to you about the specials. Don’t miss the 10 gallon fish tank and the terrarium at the end of the bar – that eel you ordered may well be swimming in the tank just minutes before arriving on your plate! The black and purple décor is casual, and Shiki often feels more like a neighborhood bar than the typical great sushi restaurant. Yamamoto trained in Japan and is one of the few US chefs licensed to prepare the potentially deadly puffer fish, Fugu. The estimated cost per diner, for dinner is $15-$45.
CHIRO 3250 Freemont Ave. N., (206) 632 3430 Hours: Wed – Fri, 11am – 2 pm, Mon – Thurs, 5 pm – 10 pm, Sun, 5pm – 9 pm. Tai Chi Kitamura's Chiro in Seattle’s Freemont neighborhood is modern and sleek – the interior features concrete walls and exposed duct work. The menu seems endless; there are twelve different types of Saki to try. The friendly staff is very helpful, and if you sit at the bar, the sushi chefs will be glad to give you suggestions. Chiro offers vegetarian rolls, and many different combination plates. Try one of the Chirasi platters – sashimi served on a bed of sushi rice. You won’t be disappointed. The tempura is also a treat here and the lunch menu really is a bargain. The estimated cost per diner, for dinner is $15-$45.
NISHINO 3130 East Madison St., (206) 322 5800 Hours: Mon – Sat, 5:30 pm – 10:30 pm, Sun, 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm. Nishino is a neighborhood favorite here in Madison Park and also one of the prettiest Japanese restaurants in Seattle. The curved wood sushi bar seats about a dozen, but the open kitchen makes sure that every seat has a view of the action. This is a busy spot – most nights two or three sushi chefs are working the bar. The seaweed-wrapped red-ceramic fish sculpture behind the bar is the restaurant’s icon. In addition to first rate sushi and sashimi, the entrée menu offers many good choices for those in your party who may not be in a sushi mood - the noodles and tempura are great choices. The estimated cost per diner, for dinner is $20- $60.
FUJI SUSHI 520 S Main St., (206) 624 1201 Hours: Mon –Thurs, 11:30 am - 2 pm, 5 pm - 9 pm, Fri, 11:30 am - 2 pm, 5-10 pm, Sat, 12 pm -3 pm, 5-10 pm, Sun, 12 pm -3 pm, 5-9 pm. Fuji Sushi is in Seattle’s old Japanese district, now known as the International District. But it doesn’t feel old world once inside; the décor is modern – the dark woods, maroon highlights and an informal atmosphere are welcoming, as is the staff. There may be a line at lunch time, but at dinner, getting a table is usually easy. The only trick is finding parking in this busy neighborhood. Prices here are a little lower than in most sushi spots around the city – but rest assured, the menu is up to standard– the hot California roll is a standout, and the bento and miso soup are also great options. Our personal favorite is the sashimi plate. The estimated cost per diner, for dinner is $15-$35.
SAITO’S JAPANESE CAFÉ AND BAR 2122 Second Ave., (206) 728 1333 Hours: Tues – Fri, 11:30 pm – 2 pm, Tues – Thurs, 5:30 pm – 10 pm, Fri – Sat, 5:30 pm – 11 pm. Saito’s is one of Belltown’s hidden treasures. From the outside it may not look like much, but inside, the white tablecloths, delicate woodwork, and skylights give it a formal air and make sure you’ll sit up and take notice. During baseball season, rumor has it that Saito’s is the favorite local spot for visiting Japanese major-league stars . The lunch specials, with miso soup and a light seaweed salad are a great bargain, and as a result it’s best to get here early, rather than late. The nigiri and the rolls are some of the best in town – if the mirugai (geoduck, a Pacific Northwest clam) is a choice, don’t miss it. The estimated cost per diner, for dinner is $15-$45.
MASHIKO 4725 California S.W., (206) 935 4339 Hours: Sun – Thurs, 5 pm – 9:30 pm, Fri – Sat, 5 pm – 11 pm. Hajimi Sato opened this West Seattle gem in 1995, well before the area had the buzz it enjoys today. Mashiko’s is a neighborhood favorite now and draws many a sushi aficionado across the bay for the experience. Mashinko is often described as sushi without pretense – you’ll feel comfortable asking the chef and the staff questions here. The menu is extensive; small plate sushi and sashimi combinations, curries, soups, bento boxes, but as a sushi lover, try one of the many intriguing assortment plates. Mashiko’s even offers nine different vegan rolls. When they can get it, you’ll find fresh wasabi here. The estimated cost per diner, for dinner is $15-$45.
KISAKU 2101 N. 55th St., (206)-545-9050 Hours: Mon, Wed, Sat, 11:30 am – 2 pm, Sun – Mon, Wed – Thurs, 5 pm – 9:30 pm, Fri – Sat, 5pm – 10 pm. Kisaku means “frank and easygoing”, and this unassuming spot in Seattle’s Green Lake area is all of that – you’ll feel comfortable here right away. The brick-store front may make you think strip mall, but the food will not. On Sunday nights, live guitar performances really bring the space alive. The 14-seat sushi bar is the best spot in the house, but at dinner those seats can be hard to nab. The Green Lake salmon roll is more interesting than your average California roll, and there are many vegetarian roll choices, but the nigiri is the real standout here. If you are more in the mood for a cooked entrée, don’t pass up the barbequed eel. The estimated cost per diner, for dinner is $15-$45.
I LOVE SUSHI 100 Fairview Ave. N., (206) 625 9604 Hours: Mon – Fri 11:30 am – 2 pm, Mon – Thurs, 5pm – 10 pm, Fri – Sat, 5pm – 10:30 pm, Sun 4:30 pm – 9 pm. Both I Love Sushi locations, the one here in Seattle near Lake Union, and its two eastside cousins in Bellevue are great places to introduce someone to sushi – they’re big, family friendly and easygoing, but the quality is terrific, and has been consistent since the main Bellevue location opened in 1986. Many of the city’s sushi chefs got their start right here. The combination plates are winners, and the more traditional Japanese selections like the sea urchin and abalone are great choices for the more experienced. Healthy techniques and organic ingredients are emphasized at I Love Sushi, and are a priority for founder Yoshi Yokoyama. The estimated cost per diner, for dinner is $20- $60.
OTOTO SUSHI 7 Boston St., (206) 691 3838 Hours: Sun – Thurs, 5 pm – 10 pm, Fri – Sat, 5 pm – 11 pm. Ototo Sushi’s décor and color scheme (black, white and red) are minimalist – but the service both at table and at the sushi bar couldn’t be warmer or friendlier. The restaurant is at the top of Queen Anne hill, tucked between a coffee shop and a barber, and it is perfectly at home in this slightly upscale, but widely varied neighborhood. The appetizer menu is a delightful list of mostly Japanese favorites, served small plate style. The servers, like the chefs, are happy to steer you to the best fish of day, and the combination plate options here usually reflect those recommendations. The green tea tiramisu offered for dessert may not be traditional, but it is terrific. The estimated cost per diner, for dinner is $15-$45.
The Top List of Sushi Restaurants - Seattle, WA