It's not bad, but with all the other Japanese restaurants in Seattle, I don't see why one would come here... unless you live nearby and don't own a car. The food isn't bad. The sushi is edible. The ramen is pretty bad though -- I wouldn't even call it ramen -- I'd call it chunky pho -- not bad, but definitely not ramen as I know and love it. I will say that I like the semi-diverse menu: ramen, udon, dinners, bento, etc. read more

Azuma Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Came here for dinner and it wasn't too busy. The atmosphere and service here was great, sort of had a romantic feel to it. I got the Azuma Bento Combo, and it was really filling, personally I thought it was kind of pricey though along with other items on the menu. read more

Azuma Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Not every sushi joint will be known for every sushi. There are other sushi restaurants nearby who may have found specific nigiri or maki where they shine. Imagine my surprise when I tried their Unagi. At least, here, I will not order another dish if it isn't their Unagi. Up and down the country, there is no other place that reminded me of Unagi that I had grilled for me at a seaside shack in Japan. The Unagi here has real char, not just-for-looks char, or get-it-hot char, but the flavorful char that sweetens and smokes your bite. It made me think about how they use their fire. Their consideration, their contemplation of it. Unagi is no easy meal. The slices were thick, nice long tails, jam-packed with juice. The sauce was delectable, how it oozed over the white rice was experiential. Every so often, I find a place where they master something, and really, it's unadvertised. So, I hope to add a few words. The first time I ordered Unagi, I came back another three times. It must have been creepy for them to see me looming outside, waiting for my order. I have taken it to-go, which can be sinful with sushi, but their Unagi held. Something about it can be so forgiving. They add onions, and other veggies slathered in the same sauce. The cuts are long, nicely presented. One serving seems small at first, but it's filling, well-balanced, a little heavy on the rice, but understandable. The rice is sweet, great vinegar, lovely and chewy. I hope that they add other Unagi dishes, like a simple don-buri. While I'm at it, I hope they bring the fire up front and let us watch them grill. read more

We had a great takeout dining experience from Azuma. We didn't try their sushi this time around, only their cooked dishes. However, their gyoza, edamame, teriyaki chicken and beef, as well as their udon soup are all fantastic. The broth in the udon soup was very flavorful and tasty, which we have had a hard time finding. We will be back to try their fresh fish next time around! read more

Maybe this is because I have had a lot of good sushi in my life and have been spoiled being surrounded by fresh fish. This place was not good at all. The only reason they have 2 stars is because their wait staff is really fast and the food comes out quickly. I ordered the crunchy California roll, butterfish roll, and I forget the other roll with spicy mayo sauce and scallop on top. The sushi rolls were not the most fresh and not worth the price. I thought that the price was reasonable but based on the freshness of the fish, quality of it, and way it was rolled, I don't think it's worth it. The other reason was when we were trying to pay, my friend and I wanted to split the bill. The woman wouldn't let us explain which was ours and asked me to come up to the counter and pay. I did and then waited for about 5 minutes. After that I tried to explain mine was the bottom three and my friends were the top three on the order sheet. She argued not seeing the gyoza at the very top and made me try remember which ones I ordered. I understand she was flustered but she wouldn't let me explain and only was nice after I paid. On the drive home, my stomach felt funny. I went straight to the bathroom and the biggest poop in a while. The sushi made me have a horrible stomach ache and I had cramps after with feeling nauseous and burping the sushi up into my breath. Maybe it was just this one round of sushi, but I won't be coming here again. read more

Another reason to love Azuma...a staff which is gracious to the extreme. I has hungry on a Sunday night, and asked them if I could still be served (it was 8:50, they close at 9). I offered to get my dinner 'to-go', but I really didn't feel like eating out of styrofoam at home. The nice gent who makes the sushi & his two servers wouldn't have any of the 'to go' bit; "come in, sit down, and enjoy!' was their attitude. They prepared a fine meal, and were very discreet about their 'shutting down' activities, so I wouldn't feel like I was imposing on them. In a lot of restaurants, if you come in just before closing, the staff makes sure you know that they want you gone - fast - so they can go home. Azuma makes you feel welcome. Now that I've shared this, please don't abuse them on this; if you do come in just before closing, be considerate, don't linger longer than you need, and don't be 'high maintenance'. These guys are my 'go to' homies for a last-minute fix of classic Japanese cuisine, and I don't want to see them in a bad mood! I'm starting to think Azuma is a really underrated gem in West Seattle. Check it out and see for yourself! read more

So bad. Soooo bad. I just left after having dinner here and both my boyfriend and I are sick. We ordered some nigiri and it was so incredibly old and fishy that I had to spit it in my napkin and we ended up leaving the rest of the plate. Even the rice they used was old, mushy, and just not good. Nothing was fresh. I also got tonkatsu which was really dry and a greenish-grey color on the inside- not appetizing. I don't think we will be back. Yikes! read more

I have always had a great experience at Azuma's. The sushi rolls are fresh and large. I can't stand it when I am craving sushi, spend the money (sushi is not the cheapest meal), and the rolls are small, mostly rice, and only a small amount inside the roll. This is NOT the case with Azuma. Last night I ordered the rainbow roll and it was excellent. The middle of the roll was bursting, and the ingredients were fresh. I ordered extra ginger and the staff did not forget to add it. Depending on the roll you order, they can be a little pricey. But, it is worth it! One roll was enough for me. Granted, I did not stuff myself full as I have been known to do. (OK... as I often do!) Also, let's face it, we are in an economic environment where prices have increased. I would rather pay a little more than at some sushi places then to have sub-par ingredients. The staff asked if I needed napkins, chop sticks, and/or soy sauce. I did not need these and appreciated them asking. At some restaurants, these are put in the bag automatically. When I don't need them, they either sit in my kitchen drawers for a few years or I feel guilty having to throw them away. Azuma is by far my favorite Sushi! read more

Place is ok not great not bad. Very limited menu and especially no great deals for lunch . The individual sushi pieces are not even on the menu but you have to look around. The place is in West Seattle but the prices are the downtown range . Nice decor and very sunny , the servers are not too nice but that's regular with sushi places. The food is good though not worth the price, especially the udon soups those are very small, all tastes pretty fresh though read more

I had the Bagel roll and the Alaska roll, which were both delicious. The bagel roll was a little rich for my taste but still so good. My mother had the chicken stir-fry and she loved it. Some of the best sushi I have had in Seattle. read more

Azuma Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Let's get things straight... There are fancier sushi restaurants in Seattle and ones that use sustainable fish on their menu. That being said, Azuma Sushi is a great casual, neighborhood sushi restaurant. Their menu is pretty broad. They have a large selection of classic and unique rolls, as well as other dishes like sashimi, Udon, and Yaki soba. My favorite roll is the spicy crunchy California roll. For a drink, you can order saki or beer as well as Ramune (Japanese marble soda). The service is prompt and they are always happy to see us. Come and enjoy a family sushi dinner at Azuma! read more

Ahi poke was okay, could've used more sauce. Spicy tuna roll was not good, too fishy. Seafood yakisoba was delicious. Salmon nigiri was yummy. Albacore nigiri didn't taste fresh. Service was good and super fast. Not bad for a local joint. read more

This place does not deserve to be in business. INCREDIBLY RACIST. I walk in to hear the owner of the restaurant telling the owner of a roofing company that his roofers had done a terrible job because" well they are all Mexicans!" The roofing company owner had to defend his people and replied that they all work very hard. The owner then sees me standing there waiting for my food and tells me I look like "I clean well." For context, I am Latina. I was dumbfounded. How can a person be so ignorant or so mean spirited? If you care about minorities, or are just a decent person please do not eat here. read more

Craving for some Japanese food. Since it was almost 9pm, Azuma was more of a choice of convenience as they close at 9:30pm on week days. I've been here a few times before and thought the food was so-so. However, the last time was probably in 2011. So maybe they've improved since then (I'm hoping!). Well, let's just say they are consistent - consistently mediocre. The 17 pieces sashimi order came with miso soup & rice. The assortment of fish was somewhat limited/basic and some pieces tasted fresher than others. The miso soup was tasty though. The shrimp tempura was just ok. The batter had a crunch to it, but it wasn't the light, flaky, fresh crispy crunch I seek. They did have Hamachi Kama - and I will say, it was quite good. This was the only highlight of the meal! Service was attentive. It could possibly be that we were the only two there and it was nearing closing time. Overall, I would return... again, only out of desperation. read more

I feel like I made a wrong choice to come here . It's disappointing for the price I paid . I am a sushi lover . I am so sorry to tell that this is not a good place to come for sushi . I tried this place twice. The first time was not that bad but not good either . I gave this place another try. This time is not worth my money at all . I ordered butterfish nigiri and the fatty tuna nigiri , cucumber salad and miso soup. They all are came out at once . The fish quality is not worth the price at all . -They charged me 13$ for the fatty tuna (it's said market price on the menu, it's my bad I should have asked how much it would be before I ordered , the color of the fish looks old and it taste a lil sour I know sushi is always expensive and I can pay for the quality . I eat a lot of sushi in different places and different part of the world so I know if the fish is fresh or not . -The cucumber salad (4.50$)is not fresh as well . It look like the cucumber had been cut and soaked in its dressing for long time ago . -miso soup is bland but I can't complain for the price. -butter fish (4.50$) is the only thing that edible and taste good here . - the rice of both nigiri was not good . When I try to use my chopsticks the fish fall apart from the rice . I gave this place 2 stars due to the friendly lady who works there but she has never come check if my food is ok or not . Well I think this will be my last time dining here . I want to support local business but so sorry your food is too expensive for the quality you gave to the customers read more

This review is based on Take-Out Orders: We have been having issues of not getting all of our food orders making it home and being charged for it. Last nite we ordered 14 items and I will admit I made the mistake of sending my friends son to pick it up for us so he could make some money. He paid $189 and came home with the 7-8 items we had ordered but not any of the 7 fried items. We didn't have much luck talking to them on the phone about their mistake. We again, drove back to ask for our missing food. She did acknowledge the mistake and gave us one free roll but did I seem to care much. We have enjoyed their food but will give our sushi business elsewhere. My suggestion to you if you do take-out, have them go thru every item you ordered before you leave the restaurant. read more

I've been a regular at Azuma for the past 8 years. Yes, there are many bizarrely creative and wildly bold sushi houses in Seattle. I'm not saying that's bad or that I oppose. Sometimes though, I want low-key, clean, mellow atmosphere, consistently good food that isn't all jacked up in price because the restaurant thinks they have made the first and one and only original sushi roll. This is precisely what Azuma Sushi is. Eights years, dozens of avocado rolls, noodles, gyoza, many pots of warm tea later, I can still go in there, know I will get excellent food, mindful portions, and fairly fair pricing, and my favorite, generous blobs of fresh wasabi. The servers are always friendly, never a sneer or underhand remark, not once, even at peak hour Friday evening. The sushi chef, he is almost always there, his white jacket always pristine and not wrinkled, and the "fish tank" always clean. If you are a frequent patron, he certainly makes an effort to remember what sushi you regularly order, or better yet, he will make amiable jokes with you. The place is comfortable, clean, reliable, and when you are super hungry and worried that the new fancy sushi place might not live up to its hype, leave the hard decision for tomorrow, and grab a table at Azuma's. read more

Azuma is definitely my favorite sushi restaurant in Seattle. I had never eaten sushi before moving to Seattle so I was definitely a "sushi virgin." After going to a couple places around town I began to love sushi, not only for the flavor but for the experience. Having lived in West Seattle, I was told that I had to try Azuma because it was the best- that was NO lie. When I go to Azuma I am always greeted with a smile and a warm welcome. The service is amazing (just like the food). On a weekend, I will usually pony-up to the sushi bar with a paper and an appetite and I am never left unsatisfied. They have great rolls but my favorite is the eel- the flavor and texture is perfect. So look no further if you want to try some great sushi. You won't be disappointed by the experience. read more

When I walked into the restaurant I loved the relaxed vibe I got. Everyone was laid back, including the chef and servers. I sat down at the sushi bar and the chef was super friendly and joked with me a bit. He seemed genuine too, it wasn't gimmicky to me which I could really appreciate. I ordered the Love Boat #A. When it came out it was much bigger then I thought haha. Needless to say, it was very, very good. I accidentally put too much wasabi on a piece and began to abruptly cough. The chef asked if I was O.K. and after explaining the mistake I had made, we laughed about it a bit. The fish was fresh and prepared right in front of me. I was still hungry and ordered a spicy Tuna roll. Again, it was delicious. After finishing my 2nd Sapporo ( I love japanese beer for some reason) I paid my check and left. Overall, it was a great experience. Really nice to come here after a long day of work and relax. The chef, and wait staff was friendly. The food was fresh, and the atmosphere was super chill. read more

We were hesitant to try Azuma due to the average reviews, but it has quickly become our regular West Seattle sushi spot. Tables can fill up, but you can always find a spot with no wait. Family owned with nice, friendly servers. Fish is fresh and rolls are creative. Portions are hefty and price is right too. Ambiance is not the sexiest, but it's clean and that's all we need. I'm gaga for the Dynamite Roll and it's a must havewith Tuna, salmon, butterfish, avocado that is lightly battered & flash-fried, then drizzled with housemade spicy mayo sauce. I'm also mad their Mango Fandango and Tropicana rolls with slices of fresh mango. I'm a sucker for a Salmon Skin roll, anything with a dash of cream cheese and mayo sauces. A new favorite is the Reno Roll with crab, cucumber, avocado topped with scallops that is drizzled with housemade spicy mayo sauce. In a addition to complex rolls with layers of fish, sauces or cheese, they have simple rolls too, salads, appetizers, desserts, sake, wine and beer. Happy to have Azuma in our hood. read more

a big resounding MEH. When I spend this much money on food, I expect it to be a treat. But I walked in at 9 when they were closing at 9:30 and they were clearly in a hurry to get me out the door. The waitress was asking me what i wanted before I could even put down the menu. I had some spectacularly unremarkable chicken curry with rice, some miso soup, and a pretty tasty but absolutely tiny side salad. the best part of my meal-- the Andes Candy they gave me with my bill. read more

Yes, Mashiko is right down the street, but Azuma is where you actually go for sushi at The Junction if you don't want to wait an hour or don't feel like dropping some serious cash for a few rolls. The staff is a bit more friendly and er, reverent, to boot. Unlike the place down the street, though, the selection is limited to the standard fare with no surprises or unique choices, and there isn't a particular focus on sustainable/organic/wild caught ingredients. But you will get consistent and tasty plates that won't break the bank. read more

Azuma isn't the kind of spectacular sushi restaurant that will wow you at every turn. There's no perfectly maintained salt water fish tank or fancy decor. The staff isn't going to make a big fuss over you. There's no tatami room. You won't find a billion yuppies here disussing their most recent scuba adventures. It's not the place that will bring you the most exotic fish or the most avant garde rolls. Despite all that, Azuma is by far my favorite sushi place on the planet. The sushi is consistantly delicious and fresh, served up by one of the friendliest sushi chefs around. Watching his hands work miracles with fish, seaweed and rice is poetry at high speeds. (Sit at the bar to get the full effect.) Your sushi will never be fishy or otherwise unpleasant. The edamame is always fresh and tasty. The miso soup is sublime. The staff are friendly and efficient. You never go long without having your drink refilled. Sure you could go someplace fancy and spend a lot of money, but if you're like me you'll love the balance of price, quality and service you get from the most unpretentious purveyors of raw fish in West Seattle. There's no one to impress here but your tastebuds. read more

Need a recommendation on Saki (face it...it takes some experience to even begin to understand the stuff), or perhaps even how it is best served? Looking for a kick-ass any kind of traditional roll or nigiri? Look no further - this is your place!! Forget the trendy sushi "clubs" and/or bars. These guys have been doing it forever. THESE GUYS have the knowledge and experience! And it doesn't end there. I have never had to wait and their wait staff is very attentive and friendly. Prices are quite reasonable and take-out service is fast. Look no further...whether sushi virgin or connoisseur...you are HOME! read more

mmm.... eating their sushi makes me want to close my eyes Azuma is the place in Seattle for sushi! It has a relaxed atmosphere with friendly and accommodating staff. The sushi man, Harry, is excellent and always has time to crack a few jokes. And lets not forget the sushi which is to DIE FOR. You must try the Dynamite, Spider, and Dragon Rolls. Again, I close my eyes every time to savor the flavor. I've quickly become a regular with their great value on bento boxes. Five Stars! read more

There are some meals that you remember for the rest of my life. You don't usually realize it in the moment, but years later you look back on them and think "that was just perfect." These meals don't tend to be very fancy or expensive. It is simple food, elegantly prepared, at the right time and place. I had one of those meals last night, at least I am pretty sure that I did. I am a regular customer at Azuma -- I pick up take-out orders once a week on average -- and I count on them for good, consistent sushi and other Japanese mainstays. It is much,much better than any supermarket sushi and on par with Mashiko for some items. So back to my AMAZING meal. Azuma is almost always quite good but last night was flawless. Every roll perfect, all fish fresh, rice flawless, salmon teriyaki seared to perfection. I sat with my wife watching House of Cards and realized that I am going to remember this moment, this meal, possibly for the rest of my life. So here is my secret formula for perfection at Azuma: Get teriyaki + whatever else you like, rolls, sushi, tempura, as your mood dictates. The teriyaki forms a great foundation, is generous in portion, and comes with a delicious salad (always with one little sprig of broccoli, like a treat!) and miso soup. Whatever you get, try to order something special. Get salmon teriyaki instead of chicken or, if you get rolls, get one of the chef special rolls. It might be just in my own head, but it seems like the sushi chef really appreciates when you get more than just the cheap basics, and gives the whole order a little special attention. On the note of the chef, make sure that when you pick up your order you don't just thank the cashier. Catch the chef's eye (unless he is crazy busy), nod, and say thank-you to him. He is a consummate professional, very serious and visibly passionate about what he does. Again, this might be in my head, but I always think of it as my way of making up for the fact that I don't take the time to sit at his bar and really respect the terrific food he prepares every night. Azuma, thank you for the memories! read more

i heart me some good sushi and this place has it...i think everyone should eat here a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! take your family ,friends and people you may only like a little worth every penny!!!! and the prices are not out of line. read more

I've been here a few times and it's been good until.... I would consider myself a regular. The food is good, both sushi and the beef sukiyaki. I've enjoyed many meals until the last time when I noticed the sushi chef with dirty nails. I was a bit taken back but I went ahead and ordered my usual lunch. I did not have anything else but in a few hours I was sick. Food poising, I've only felt this way once before and I knew exactly what it was. I hate to base my review on one meal when I've had several dozen good ones but I was so sick. I worked in several kitchens and basic hygiene is so important when your working with peoples food. I have not returned. read more

This review is almost completely based on what this place calls "Shiro Maguro" but is in fact something other than Albacore (my personal favorite). Butterfish. I had it at this restaurant over a year ago and found it to be the best piece of nigiri I've ever had. Upon returning, I was not disappointed at the repeat performance. Let's talk about the kind of sushi I like. Frankly, everyone has different tastes and sushi is even more extreme when it comes to personal preferences. Some people like very complex rolls that involve multiple types of fish or many flavors. I don't enjoy these as much as simple rolls. I enjoy sashimi.... surprisingly a lot of people that "like" sushi don't actually like raw fish and are more interested in fried rolls that only look pretty. Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed my fair share of fried rolls... I just think that it's important to make the distinction in this case. If someone goes to this restaurant expecting fancy rolls they wont be disappointed per se, they just wont have gone for the right reason. Tried the Tropicana Roll as recommended by someone else. The mango certainly was unusual and I would get it again, only I thought it overpowered the rest of the ingredients in the roll. Dynamite roll was pretty good and the caterpillar roll was decent. The Poki roll was disappointing, but good. It has a flash fire kind of burn to it, but I prefer a slow burn that accents the fish instead of stealing the show. Back to the butterfish. I've never had it anywhere else, have asked all my regular sushi places and nobody else seems to carry it. Poor me ;-) I make sushi and used to work at a sushi restaurant in Seattle (only 2 months before unexpectedly having to move from Seattle to Berkeley, but have been making sushi for 4 years now). I am particular about fish. I like the kind of sashimi or nigiri that melts in your mouth. Some salmon does this. More frequently albacore. Occasionally hamachi does this and takes the cake. I despise cold fish. I understand the health reasons for keeping fish cold and strictly adhere to that, but when fish is served to me I will let it sit until it has reached it's flavour peak. Eating cold nigiri is a crime and the only victim is you. The flavour is completely dead until the fish has warmed closer to room temperature. Flavourful sushi that melts in your mouth as you press your tongue up to the roof of your mouth is what I am after. Azuma's butterfish delivers in the best possible way. Allow me to make an analogy. Azuma's butterfish resembles opium. I just want to chase the dragon over and over. Each piece brings me that much closer to catching it. You can swear you're going to grab it's tail if you have just one more order. Go here for the butterfish! read more

Azuma Sushi - Azuma at the beginning of 2009 - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Love this place. Bento boxes are awesome value and very tasty. Great service, nice friendly people. read more

So happy Azuma is open again for takeout because I missed their food. I've been coming here for years and love their food and selection. I really like their tempura, salads, udon, fried rice, and curry rice. My dad likes their sushi. I've been coming here for takeout lately and am impressed with their cleanliness - there's two separated pickup areas and pens are sanitized between uses. Great Japanese food! read more

Azuma is essentially the only game in town (West Seattle) when it comes to Sushi. There's Mashiko, but good luck even getting a table. Azuma Sushi won't kill you, but you're not going to tell your friends about it. I've been here 6 or 7 times and there are always a ton of empty tables. There's a reason for that - the food is just not that good. read more

Expensive for what you get, but that could have been forgiven if we had received any utensils, napkins, or soy sauce packets in our orders, which included rice dishes, tempura, and sushi and sushimi. You shouldn't have to ask for this stuff. We had to sit in the car with the food getting colder and colder until we got home so we could eat it. By then the tempura was just a pasty gummy mess. Disappointing, especially for the price. read more

I have great appreciation for small, family-owned businesses. This is the type of restaurant where everyone is working - even granny is in the back cookin' up something delicious. The employees here are extremely gracious and friendly. The space that they have created is warm and inviting. Winning combination! The sushi itself is tasty. I ordered the Alaska roll (salmon and avocado) and the Cruncy Maki roll (seared tuna, scallions, panko, flash-fried). Both were presented beautifully and really fulfilled my sushi craving. We came at 8:00 PM, so the fish may not have been at the peak of freshness, but the flavors were all there. I don't think that I have ever been uncomfortably full from sushi, so it was definitely a first when I had to get help finishing my two rolls. They are definitely not stingy with their ingredients - the rolls are so fat that you have to take two to three bites to finish one piece. I think if they worked on serving up the freshest ingredients for reasonable prices, along with their great service, their business would really thrive. It may not be the best sushi I have ever had, but you know you will be treated better here than by their West Seattle competitors. Next time I find myself wanting sushi that is higher quality than cheap conveyor belt sushi, but cheaper than fancy sushi, I will definitely come to Azuma. read more

This place has the best house salad! They sell their dressing for $4... Been here a few times just for it. Very high quality fresh sushi had the dynamite and philly roll. Salad and 2 rolls came to only $24... Always friendly service... plenty of seating. 4 **** for me. read more

Azuma Sushi - Azumas sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My friend brought me here recently, and I'm so glad she did! I've been wanting to find a quality alternative to that trendy over-hyped joint down the street. Azuma is fantastic. It's not expensive, and all the fresh fish was great. I tried smoked sake nigiri for the first time here, and fell in love. I'll def be trying that at other sushi joints from now on, along with my other favs. I liked that the spicy tuna had big chunks, but could've used a bit more spice. I can't comment on their entrees or rolls, as I don't usually order that stuff. Unless I'm really starving, I stick to nigiri and maybe handrolls. This place reminds me of a very typical Japanese restaurant in decor/style, and being quiet inside and very unassuming whether you're walking by or seated inside. I'll be back soon, I promise! read more

Sushi was a highlight of my weekend...again. Any time of the week Azuma is my prefered sushi in West Seattle. The service is great, owner & chef is polite & present contributing to the experience with his fabulous sense of humor. Everything is fresh & it can not be said enough the Bento box is solid, especially for the Japanese neophite or anytime you want a little of everything. I love bringing my friends here to show them that West Seattle has great sushi too. read more

We have been in search of a new go-to super casual sushi joint in our neighborhood. Decided to give Azuma a try on Tuesday night. The atmosphere is clean and extremely casual. I would not recommend for a date or special occasion. For this reason, I think they do a lot of take-out business. The service was slow and awkward. There were two servers and maybe 8 tables of two. I think the servers were tag-teaming taking care of the tables because one came over to take our order right after we had placed it with the other. After we placed our order for a couple of small plates and a roll "to start", the food was dropped off and no one came to check on us after that. We would have ordered a couple more rolls, but never got a chance. While we were waiting to order our second round, we watched tables close out, tables cleaned off, new tables walk in, then saw them order and receive their first course. At that point, we decided to give up and go grab a bite next door at West 5. The food we did order was OK. We got Gyoza and a tempura fried California roll off the starters menu and tried a salmon mango roll off the sushi menu. The Gupta was good. Tempura California roll was good, but maybe lacking a spicy sauce or something. The salmon mango was sadly disappointing. The mango was flavorless so it tasted like salmon and cream cheese. I would have liked to try a couple more rolls because it's very possible we just ordered poorly. The fish seemed good quality. In summary, if you are thinking about trying them out, I'd recommend getting take-out, as the service is what really brought down my review of Azuma. read more

This was our first West Seattle sushi experience, and I am so disappointed. I read some of the other positive reviews and just had a completely different experience. We arrived before the Friday night dinner rush, at about 6:15 on a Friday night. As soon as our sushi arrived (we ordered a sushi boat), I realized that this was not a "traditional Japanese" experience, as some other people have noted. The generally sloppy display and dull colored sushi makes it appear that the sushi chef did not specifically get trained in the art. In Japan, sushi is considered to be an art form because its appearance is just as important as how it tastes. The rolls that came with our order were fine. They weren't tightly rolled, but as they contained minimal sashimi, they tasted fine. The rest of the nigiri was less fresh, and I even had to spit one out in my napkin because of the tough, leathery texture. I lost my appetite and left the rest on my plate. 1/3 of the way through our meal, the restaurant was full, and there was a family waiting for a table. One of the ladies working there put the bill on our table -- while we were still eating -- turned around to face the family, and while still standing next to us, said loudly, "Don't worry, they are leaving soon!" while pointing over her shoulder at us. We hadn't complained about anything -- not when they put a dirty pitcher of water on our table, hurriedly dropped off our sushi dinner loudly on the table, or even when our sushi was inedible. There was no reason to treat us rudely in order to try to rush us out. And it wasn't a cheap meal! This was supposed to be a treat out, a nice date night for us -- and honestly I've had better service (and food!) at a fast food restaurant. So sad, as we were really hoping to have a wonderful neighborhood sushi joint! We definitely will not be back and do not recommend this place to anyone. read more

We went on a busy Saturday night and got a seat relatively fast. Sushi was good, and though the staff were beyond busy they were very nice to us (if not entirely prompt in checking in). Would definitely go again. I would say this is a perfectly fine place - not particularly memorable or WOW - but love having it as a reasonably good local sushi option. read more