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Rondo Japanese Kitchen

4.4 (791 reviews)
Closed • 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

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RONDO JAPANESE KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Trendy
Classy

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Recommended Reviews - Rondo Japanese Kitchen

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Hamachi don
Jane V.

I tried this place with my son during our visit to Seattle. We did not have to wait and were seated right away, a good plus. Ambience: (5/5) The atmosphere here felt very authentically Japanese, and fun. Food: (5/5) We ordered the Ahi Tuna Goma Crispy Toast, which came with four pieces and had great flavor. It's a relatively small dish, but that's what we expected going in. We also had the Hamachi Rice Don, which is raw fish over rice, and it was perfect, topped with egg, seaweed strips, and more. At first, we thought the rice looked too plain and would need extra soy sauce, but we were wrong. The rice was already seasoned with some kind of delicious sauce, so no extra soy sauce was needed at all. Service: (5/5) Our waiter was very attentive without being pushy, and was always available whenever we needed something.

Katsu-curry set. Large quantity: we took some home with us. Curry taste was spot-on Japanese style.
Jeff B.

4.5 overall. Japanese native among us especially adored the food and ambiance. SERVICE: 4.5. Pro-active and friendly. AMBIANCE: 4.5. Felt like a relaxed casual local dining spot in Japan. Reservations recommended. A Miyazaki video was playing (muted with subtitles) on one wall. Two spacious and clean unisex bathrooms. FOOD: 5.0. - Beer: Sapporo on tap! One of us ordered and liked the WA Rice lager. - Hokke (mackeral): 5.0. As good as we ate weekly in Hokkaido for a couple of years. - Katsu curry: 5.0. Much volume - took some home with us. Curry was really good Japanese-tasting curry; Yum! Katsu excellent: the breading was fine and light (as found in Japan). Would be especially good on a chilly day. - Sashimi: 4.5. Very fresh. - Fried chicken (kara-age): 4.5. Came with an excellent creamy green sauce. - vegan Udon dish: 4.0.

Drinks menu
Wen C.

I went with a few friends during Restaurant Week. As expected during Restaurant Weeks, it was super packed. Thankfully, we were able to be seated at the main shared table. Tonkatsu Curry Udon Set ($35) - Panko tonkatsu with 224 umani curry and Japanese inaniwa udon, mini grilled BBQ Wagyu yakiniku don and umami poached egg. I love their curry! It's pretty complex in flavor with such amazing savoriness with the perfect consistency. The tonkatsu is crispy and yet the pork is super juicy and tender. The Wagyu has great beefy flavor over a bed of perfectly cooked rice. Taiwan Ramen ($17) - Oxtail broth, egg noodle, spiced ground pork, house made garlic oil, beansprout and chive. Hmm, I'm not sure what to make of this dish. The ground pork and noodle combination reminds me a bit of Zha Jiang Mian, Unfortunately the pork goes to the bottom of the bowl and then lost in the soup, making it hard to fish out. Mentaiko Cream Udon Set - I got to sample a bite of this and wow, it was amazing. It's super savory and creamy and coats their udon perfectly. I recommend getting this!

The karaage chicken with curry.
Marcus D.

Stopped by for a quick lunch. Although it was busy the service was quick. I got the karaage chicken with Japanese curry. It really hit the spot. I'll definitely be back to try more of their menu.

ALL ABOUT SEAFOOD BENTO and Salmon CHIRASHI DONBURI
Emily H.

The ambiance and service are great here! The food is eclectic and beautifully presented. I got the seafood bento, and it came filled with raw fish, uni croquette, salad, grilled fish, and pickled vegetables. The croquette was creamy and filling, and the fish was fresh and soft. It was more than enough for one person. The drinks are delicious as well, and are on the lighter side. I'd highly recommend coming for their affordable happy hour and making a reservation!

Ribs
Tim W.

Wow the food is flavorful and worth every dollar. We got the ribs as an appetizer and geez it was so delicious and fell right off the bones. The karage curry was yummmy. Service was great. It was a bit squish and wished they opened the outside part. P

Jackie N.

Rondo is a casual, izakaya style restaurant, yet still classy enough take a date to. It's always so lively in the evenings, and a great place to hang out with friends. They offer many Japanese dishes, small plates, and drinks. I've been here a couple times, and you truly can't go wrong with anything you choose. The restaurant is small and compact, so it can get quite crowded and loud inside. I'd recommend making a reservation on weekends, especially with a large group. Definitely would suggest trying Rondo at least once.

Lunch special ($20!!) Grilled beef tongue, chicken karaage, kalbi
Elizabeth L.

Favorite Japanese izakaya in Seattle. Authentic Japanese street eats done well. Excellent happy hour with solid food and drink specials. Recommend checking out lunch bento specials are great. Friendly staff, lively, rowdy vibes- always a good time at Rondo! Favorite dishes include the Bara Chirashi Donburi, uni cream croquette, spicy negitoro roll spicy tuna on crispy rice. Save room for the deluxe parfait - delicious and perfect for sharing.

Winnie L.

Had a great happy hour at Rondo Japanese Kitchen. I'd read that their bara chirashi donburi is a must-try, and luckily it's on the daily happy hour menu. I ordered that along with the spicy tuna on crispy sushi rice and a sake. The chirashi was a standout--loaded with sweet shrimp, wagyu beef, uni, and a generous variety of fresh seafood. The spicy tuna crispy rice was also solid, with a really interesting, flavorful twist. The vibe (as you can see in the photos) is warm and inviting, with an open kitchen that adds to the experience. Service was friendly and quick, which made everything even better. Highly recommend if you're in the neighborhood.

Tai N.

Flew in from San Diego and checked this spot out as our first meal. Parking on the street was easy but gotta pay a few bucks. Service was excellent! Server was very nice and had great recommendations. Food came out very fast which was a plus for us. The ribs were amazing. The bento boxes are huge. We got random noodles with soup for the kids and it was surprisingly one of the highlights. Highly recommend checking this place out!

rebecca h.

Rondo is a great spot for appetizers and fresh sushi, I also think their happy hour is a hidden gem in Seattle. The only reason I'm giving them a three star review is because I got the black garlic shoyu ramen and the oxtail was 95% fat. Although the broth and vegetables in the dish were great that was very off putting.

RONDO KATSU CURRY
Sheena L.

Fun authentic Japanese spot with great food! Has all the basics covered and then some. Came with 8 people and got a wide spread. I got the pork katsu curry and it was delicious. Good portions, fun spot.

BARA-CHIRASHI DONBURI
Evan Z.

I read some reviews and feel like most people think the same thing about the Bara Chirashi Donburi so I'll keep it succinct: great presentation and a great variety of ingredients, but they don't combine for a cohesive dish whatsoever. A good example is what is a random piece of beef doing at the front of my dish? I did enjoy some of the meats like the shrimp, but I thought most of the fish wasn't super fresh or high quality. There was still some flavor though so I wouldn't say I had an unpleasant experience by any means - just probably not an experience worth $25. We went around 3pm for happy hour - service was pretty fast but that might've been because there were around 4 other people inside eating. Ambience was pretty standard for a casual Japanese restaurant. 3.4/5

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24 days ago

Amazing food. The creamy udon is creative and tasty. The miso soup is very good. Sashimi is fresh. I highly recommend

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Ask the Community - Rondo Japanese Kitchen

What foods are served for happy hour? I only see a drinks HH menu on their website?

there's a happy hour menu on their website

How do you make reservations?

We use Yelp reservation website. Also our website tamaribarseattle.com or call 206.979.8800

Do they take reservations?

Yes they do!

Are there any gluten free options?

They have a wide variety of sushi, sashimi, and chirashi options available. But none of their katsu or noodle dishes are available gluten free.

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Shinya Shokudo - Where we are from originally.

Shinya Shokudo

4.3(988 reviews)
1.3 mi•Belltown
•$$$

Very sleek and pleasant restaurant to dine in! We came on a Saturday afternoon, nowhere near any…read moremeal time, so it was super empty. We weren't expecting much, but holy cow, this was a top-tier, 5-star meal for sure. We didn't eat much, because we were in between meals, but I'm so glad we stopped by: * Wagyu Suyiyaki - A little wrap with Wagyu strips on the outside, wrapping veggies on the inside. The meat was tender and flavorful. So much delicious packed into a small bite. * Wagyu Tataki Donburi - A small donburi but this was the perfect amount of food. The rice was lightly flavored by the sauce on the wagyu. The wagyu was cooked medium rare and although I don't *normally like raw egg yolk, this was a perfect addition to the meal. Definitely pricey, but for good food, I'll take it! This is a must if you're in the area, and I regret not coming back again during my time in Seattle!

The best thing I had here was the Eel / Unagi skewer. Very flavorful. It makes me want to try the…read moreEel with rice dish. 2nd place was the American Wagyu Skewer - I got salt and no saice it was a distant 2nd. Then the Waygu Rice Bowl with egg - it was good. Not great, but good. For the $25 price tag a bit underwhelming. The chicken thigh skewer with green onion was ok. Got the sauce with it and it was ok. I don't think the rice here is sushi or Japanese rice - it didnt have that stickiness and texture was more American rice - this was disappointing. So overall it's a-ok experience here. Had the Wagyu Rice Bowl been better we would be at 4 stars but that thing cost me $25 and it was underwhelming.

Photos
Shinya Shokudo - Our tradition of Yakitori

Our tradition of Yakitori

Shinya Shokudo - Belltown, Seattle

Belltown, Seattle

Shinya Shokudo - July 2020, Belltown Seattle

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July 2020, Belltown Seattle

Momiji

Momiji

4.2(2.1k reviews)
0.5 mi•Capitol Hill
•$$

I wanted to go out for sushi with my parents, so i settled on this place. great gem in cap hill…read more loved the little japanese tea garden in the middle of the restaurant. lots of seating, and there were still people waiting on a Wednesday night. the servers were attentive and speedy. they brought some edamame over. delicious. No notes or critiques I love edamame. To drink, I had one of their specialty cocktails. It was their take on a spicy Marg. It was honestly a stellar drink. It was a perfect balance of citrus and spice. I would order this drink again without a doubt good presentation too. We had the toro sampler which came with three different types of Toro with three different toppings. It was cool to get to try the different types of Toro, and I enjoyed tasting them side-by-side to see the differences. The toppings were one of their house, sauces, fried garlic, and chives. I enjoyed the house sauce the best. I was also looking forward to the Crispy Rice which came with crispy rice w/ salmon roe, wasabi aioli, & aonori with spicy tuna. You could choose what type of fish went on it, but obviously we got tuna. This was a yummy bite. Came out piping hot. Beautiful presentation. The tuna was perfectly prepared. The salmon roll was an interesting touch but actually worked well. I think it's sacrilegious to go out for sushi and not get miso soup, so We also added a miso soup to our order. Solid miso soup. No critiques. Came out piping hot. Because I felt like we needed a vegetable, we had the House Spring Mix which came with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes & cucumber w/ spicy garlic ponzu. I enjoy the salad dressings at Japanese restaurants because I feel like they're very distinct. I don't think this one was as distinct, but it was still good. The cherry tomatoes weren't mushy at all, which I appreciated. I do enjoy a spring mix, but Romain or arugula will always have my heart. Moving onto rolls. We started with the Capitol Hill Roll which came with snow crab mix, avocado & cucumber topped w/ seared salmon, scallions, tobiko, sweet aioli, sweet chili & soy glaze. This was my favorite roll of the night, but I would love to go back and try some of their other rolls. They have a huge menu. I love a sushi that has seared salmon, but IDK if that still makes it sushi. My dad loves asparagus, so we got the El Diablo shrimp tempura, shibazuke & asparagus topped w/ seared snow crab legs, pico de gallo & chipotle. It wasn't the most traditional roll, but I did enjoy it. I probably wouldn't order it again when there's so many other good things to try on their menu, but Im glad that I got to try two rolls. Because we're celebrating my mom's birthday, they brought ice cream. It was a solid ice cream, even though we just got vanilla. It had good flavoring, even for vanilla.

Stopped in for happy hour with some friends. Lots of options on the menu but still a bit on the…read morepricey side. We got there with an hour left on HH on a Wednesday night with no reservation and got seated pretty quickly. 1/5 Edamame came out cold and needed more salt - although complementary it should really come out hot 3/5 Bad boy 3/5 Crunch Seattle 3/5 Crunch cali 3/5 Seaweed salad Not a huge fan of the fried rolls. It was probably our fault, as we ordered three instead of getting a variety. The seaweed salad was topped on some greens which I would've just preferred the seaweed without it. Just a chill nice place. Cute garden in the middle and there's plenty of seating in the back.

Photos
Momiji - The bar facing the street has a beautiful washi light fixture. The best feature of this area.

The bar facing the street has a beautiful washi light fixture. The best feature of this area.

Momiji - Crunch cali

Crunch cali

Momiji - Samurai Spirit.

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Samurai Spirit.

Maneki - Sassy salmon roll

Maneki

4.2(1.4k reviews)
1.5 mi•Japantown, Chinatown International District
•$$

Maneki was easily one of the coolest dining experiences we had in Seattle. We were lucky enough to…read moresit in one of the tatami rooms, and taking our shoes off and sitting together in the traditional space made the entire meal feel so special and authentic. The service was fantastic. Every single person who came to our table was incredibly kind and attentive, and everything came out surprisingly quickly despite how much we ordered. And the food was delicious! We tried the sashimi, a couple of udon dishes, the charred fish, tofu, edamame, and honestly a few other dishes I'm probably forgetting because we ordered so much. We also had the hot tea, which was wonderful. Everything we tried was impressive. More than anything, though, Maneki felt like an experience rather than just a dinner. Our whole family loved it, including the kids, and it's one of those meals we'll be talking about for a long time. Absolutely worth visiting, and somewhere we would happily come back to the next time we're in Seattle.

With a history dating back to 1904, Maneki holds the distinction of being Seattle's oldest Japanese…read morerestaurant. Located in the historic Japantown area of Seattle's Chinatown-International District, it's definitely a place with a rich history and cultural significance. We made reservations to experience this iconic restaurant for ourselves, especially after reading so many positive reviews. Unfortunately, our experience was far from what we had hoped for. Let's start with the service. It was disappointing, to say the least. Our dishes arrived at different times, making it difficult for everyone at the table to enjoy their meals together. By the time some of us received our food, others were already finished. For me, dining out is just as much about the experience and enjoying a meal together as it is about the food itself. As for the food, I really wanted to love it, but most of the dishes fell flat. Everything seemed to lack flavor, depth, and that special touch of love and care that makes Japanese cuisine so enjoyable. Nothing really stood out or left me wanting another bite. The only saving grace was the sashimi and edamame, which I genuinely enjoyed. I understand that Maneki has been around for more than a century, and I absolutely respect the history and legacy behind this establishment. However, a restaurant's reputation should be reflected in both its food and hospitality. My final thoughts: Sometimes a restaurant's history and glowing reviews set expectations that the actual experience simply doesn't meet. Sadly, this was one of those occasions. As someone who appreciates good food, quality, and genuine hospitality, I believe in giving credit where it's due, but also being transparent when an experience falls short. Would I return? Probably not anytime soon. There are simply too many wonderful Japanese restaurants in Seattle worth exploring. A piece of Seattle history? Absolutely. A memorable dining experience? Unfortunately, not for us.

Photos
Maneki - Several private rooms with traditional floor seating

Several private rooms with traditional floor seating

Maneki - Wild Salmon

Wild Salmon

Maneki - Miso black cod

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Miso black cod

Umi Sake House - Chirashi

Umi Sake House

4.1(4.4k reviews)
1.3 mi•Belltown
•$$$

Loved our dinner at Umi Sake House! The food and service were both amazing. We had the crispy rice…read morespecial and three rolls, including the Casino Royale and a couple from the daily fresh list, and everything was delicious. Our server was also incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and gluten allergies, which made ordering so easy. They were very accommodating and helped us feel confident about what I could safely eat. Would definitely come back next time I'm in Seattle! Plus they are open later than many restaurants, which accommodated our 9pm arrival in Seattle.

Immediately upon entry of Umi you can tell that this is where all of the cool kids are hanging out…read morein Seattle. You should prepare your entire party ahead of time to stretch their vocal cords before your night out, otherwise you will not be able to hear each other. I'm not sure what is going on with the acoustics inside of Umi, but it is insanely loud (it might not be that way for everyone though, I do have a hearing problem). Umi is the Japanese word for ocean, which is very fitting since you can order any fish possible here. And somehow, my homie that I was with decided to order a steak. I can't fault him, he was ravenous at the time. Admittedly, the steak looked fantastic as well. My other homie is a vegetarian. And even though this is not the most vegetarian-friendly establishment, he was still able to have a nice meal. He explained to me that he is a tofu connoisseur, so we ordered the Agedashi tofu. I've never had tofu prepared this way, and it was some of the best I've ever had. It was bathing in a dashi broth, which was the perfect level of saltiness, almost like a miso soup. The tofu was fried, and when you let it sit in the broth for a bit, it creates a fantastic consistency to each bite. In order to test the true caliber of a sushi spot, you have to try a specialty roll. I was feeling a little spicy that day, so I elected for the Knockout. It didn't exactly knock me out, but I was impressed. First of all, this roll was a looooooong boy special. I always prefer sushi to be made this way, because if a roll is only 6 pieces, the experience is over far too quickly. The roll itself was very enjoyable, and I even convinced Mr Steak to have a bite (he seemed to like it too). A little bit of truffle oil took this thing to the next level, they're definitely innovating in the world of sushi over here. I'd love to come back and try more rolls from the extensive menu here. Maybe something like the Hottie Roll, which was my nickname in high school.

Photos
Umi Sake House - Entry lights

Entry lights

Umi Sake House - Legend Of The Rolls

Legend Of The Rolls

Umi Sake House - Chocolate mousse

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Chocolate mousse

Rondo Japanese Kitchen - sushi - Updated October 2026

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