Dinner from Nov, 2025 Writing an update as I went to Sushi Kappa Tamura for an omakase meal, very different from the original post of Restaurant Week (a discounted meal event). Sushi Kappa Tamura continues to be reliable at all levels. Service was warm and friendly, despite tipping is auto-included. Perhaps because we are dining the omakase at the sushi counter, we received top-tier attention. I don't know. Reserving a seat wasn't stressful (unlike some places in Seattle). We had some quality seafood that we thoroughly enjoyed. The interior vibe is modern Japanese. We were amongst the last diners to leave, as we were having fun with the staff. We added two more pieces and desserts; they comp'd my dessert for my birthday. All the seafoods are amazingly fresh. Similar to the Newyorkturk with his Michelin approach, Omakase is the best way to eat sushi. Both desserts are excellent! The Food (all individual photos are included): - Fresh oysters - Matsutake mushroom soup with snow crab, fish, yu choy. So, so good on a cold night. - Madai - Japanese red sea bream - Hirame - Flounder from Korea - King salmon from southern Alaska - Marinated coho salmon belly - Amberjack - Masaba - Japanese mackerel - Hokkaido scallops - Marinated Maguaro - O-Toro - Seared O-Toro - Unagi - Seared Sockeye salmon from Bristol Bay (added) - Amaebi with uni and Fried shrimp head - Uni (added). He opened a new pack of Hokkaido uni to make my one piece of sushi even though this is the last order of the night. - Added dessert - Uji matcha ice cream, generously comp'd - Dessert - Fried mochi with adzuki beans read more

See all

It's been ages since we've been to SKT and I have no idea why! It's so damn good and even with the road torn up it was packed and busy. We came for my kiddo's birthday and mom and dad had omakase while the kids had rolls and nigiri. Everything was super fresh, down to the one-of-a-kind unagi they source (SKT is the only restaurant in the US that imports this kind) to the uni chawanmushi and oyster starter. My husband loved all 13-14 pieces of his omakase so much but he still had room for a roll because he was eyeing out son's spider roll all night. Don't skip out on the desserts either - the chestnut crème brûlée is to die for. My son mentioned we didn't order the new roasted tea ice cream and the next thing we knew, Eugene (kitchen manager) brought him some to try for his birthday. So sweet and thoughtful. Service is impeccable, highly recommend Christy who made a thoughtful and genuine connection with all the tables she was attending to. We love SKT and won't wait that long again to be back. You won't be disappointed. read more

Finally got a chance to visit one of the restaurants that had been on my list for a while, Sushi Kappo Tamura! It is located in Eastlake side of Seattle right under I-5. Unfortunately, there's no water view from any of the tables. I also noticed that one of my long-time favorite spots, Eastlake Grill, has been torn down, which made me a bit sad. When I visited, there was road construction around the restaurant, which made parking more of a hassle. Parking itself is a bit tricky. The restaurant owns a few spots in the lot next door, but it's not obvious how to get there. The easiest way to find it is by Googling this address: 3105 Harvard Avenue East, Seattle. That will take you straight to the parking lot. I am sharing this because I had to call in advance to ask about parking information for myself. Making a reservation requires providing a credit card, and they charge $25 per person for a no-show. I wasn't comfortable giving my card number over the phone, but they told me I could book through OpenTable instead, which felt more secure. We were seated right away since we had a reservation. There was only one server and one manager working during Saturday lunch. Both were friendly, but our server seemed pretty disengaged. We had to ask for water refills and the check multiple times, and he kept forgetting the things we asked for. It felt like he was just going through the motions without paying attention to the tables. Before visiting, I checked their menu online and was interested in the 3-course meal for $60 under the combination section, but it was not available for lunch. So we each ordered a sushi combo and shared the Hamtastic Roll from the specials. The sushi combo comes with miso soup, 7 pieces of nigiris, and your choice of roll - salmon, spicy tuna, or yellowtail. I picked salmon, and my friend went with spicy tuna so we could try a bit of everything. It took quite a while for the food to come out, which surprised me given the small size of the restaurant and the number of kitchen staff I saw. The miso soup was excellent, and the sushi combo was decent. The Hamtastic roll was also fine, but considering the higher prices, I was not sure the quality matched the cost. The restaurant is small, so it's not ideal for group gatherings. I had pretty high expectations since it's listed as a $$$$ restaurant, but overall the food was good, not great, especially for the price point. What bothered me more was that the staff seemed to be rushing customers to leave, which felt inappropriate for a fine-dining sushi place. I ended up giving it 3 stars for two main reasons: 1. Mandatory 20% "living wage" charge. Their menu stated that "We would like to inform our guests that in place of gratuity a 20% living wage charge is included in the total (excludes take out). The house retains 100% of these charges to help fund higher wages and benefits to all staff. Additional gratuity is not expected." I understand the intention, but our server didn't seem to care about providing good service, not just to us, but to other tables, too. He often forgot what customers asked for and never checked in. I am certainly happy to tip a hardworking and cheerful server, but when a tip is guaranteed, there is little motivation to go above and beyond, and that showed. 2. Sales tax applied on top of the 20% service charge. In my view, the sales tax should be calculated before the service charge, not after. Some restaurants do this to squeeze out a bit more from customers, and I found that disappointing. Overall, Sushi Kappo Tamura is an okay restaurant, but considering the price, location, parking hassle, and service experience, I'm not sure it's worth a return visit. I think there are plenty of other Japanese restaurants in the Seattle area that offer better value and service. read more

See all

Wow, sat at the counter and had a wonderful time. Great conversation, awesome experience and a really fun time. There were several of us and although it was a wallet buster, that was a fun time and I need to do it more often. read more

See all

Sushi Kappo Tamura is a good sushi spot, but unfortunately that's it. The omakase is solid, it's not necessarily a good deal, it's priced fairly. If you want a good omakase come here and you can do exactly that - but I wish there was so much more. At the sushi bar we had a weird couple next to us that was very clearly drunk, very loud, and super annoying. They seemed in shock and awe at the price when the bill came, which was hilarious, but amazingly we were surprised at how much it cost too when the bill came compared to the value. While we obviously would have still tipped, it's clear that the couple next to us would likely have not, which was quite sad. The sushi pieces were all good - every piece was good. The more local pieces were the best - Ikura being the winner for me followed by a beautiful king salmon. All the tunas (from Baja California for the most part) were good. The Unagi was extra special. The Uni I thought was part of the omakase, but it wasn't, and that was less good and extremely expensive. Overall an experience I enjoyed, but not one I would repeat necessarily. The value for great omakase in NYC or LA is much better. However, if you're in Seattle, this is a good spot. FYI the parking situation is weird, but don't worry, it's close by - just follow the direction when making the reservation. It's a different address! read more

See all

The sushi was really good and the service was also good. The decor was classy with a lot of sleek wood furniture. The price vs. the portion sizes was a bit much but the quality was still very good. I'd probably not come back here for a casual meal but definitely for an occasion type of get together. read more

See all

It was good but I was a bit disappointed. Maybe it was because I had just come back from Tokyo, maybe it was because they were busy on Valentine day, but I was def a bit disappointed about the food. It was still better than most "American sushi" spots but I tasted the quality difference between this spot and places in Tokyo or Shiro's/ Kashiba in Seattle. Service was great. The only hiccup was their parking which had a do not enter signs in their entrance. Venue is nice, clean, and modern. There are not any private rooms but it should be decent for a date or business dinner. read more

Sushi Kappo Tamura - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

This place is my favorite which means that I don't even want everyone to know about it. Just enough that they make good money and stay open forever but not so many that I have trouble going whenever I want! Their food is the best. Their staff is the best. The space is the best. What else can I tell you? It's the best. read more

Highly recommend this place. Their sashimi combo was so good. Great portions and the fish were all very fresh. The sockeye salmon was sweet and almost melts in your mouth. The salad was fresh and flavorful with that miso sauce. Great selection of cocktails, wine and sake. You can also choose from 3 kinds of omakase course which I'm going to try next time. Love the ambiance of restaurant and service was delightful. Overall great gastronomical experience! Will definitely come back!! read more

See all

Very good and fresh sushi Got the chefs omakase and was very happy with our meal. Oysters to start, 12 nigiri to follow. All fresh and well seasoned and delightful. We added on the black sesame ice cream. I actually think the ice cream was not creamy enough, and although the flavor was decent, the texture was wrong. read more

See all

Quite possibly the best Sushi in the entire city. Service is always on top of it. Great spot for a date night if you feel like splurging!

Did omakase here and it was an amazing experience, definitely check this one out! Super intimate experience, chef delivered 12 great pieces of nigiri! read more

See all

Came here during a trip to Seattle for their omakase dinner. I started with the ginger yuzu drink as it was warm, and I was told that it was not very sweet as it just had some yuzu jam, but it was super sweet. The omakase consisted of oysters (3), a mushroom fish soup served in a darling teapot, and 12 pieces of nigiri. The seafood was all very fresh and the chefs seasoned them well, however, the rice was cold. We ended with 2 desserts - yuzu panna cotta and fried mochi with red bean. They were both excellent. Service was on point! read more

See all

I am a returning diner because I just love this place so much. Really impressed with the service as always at Sushi Kappo Tamura. My hojicha tea was refilled thrice without even me asking! Ambiance is perfect for a lovely date night meal. My husband and I chose which nigiri we wanted to eat as pictured. All delicious. Had to get two more of the ikura (not pictured because I just ate it right when it was delivered lol) because it's one of my favorites! The hamtastic roll was very fantastic. Some of the salmon skin in the roll was a little burnt and I could taste it which offset the taste a little bit. My all time favorite dessert is the yuzu panna cotta which they didn't have but I tried the green ume panna cotta instead and it was as delicious and I now have a new favorite!! I look forward to coming back again! read more

See all

New favorite sushi spot. High quality, fresh and flavorful. Some favorites were the spot prawn (sweet and buttery), hamachi (always my favorite and the quality here is a winner), the seared scallop (perfect and with a light citrus yuzu sauce), and oishi roll. Friendly and knowledgeable staff and fun to watch the sushi bar. Would love to sit at the bar next time. read more

Everything about Sushi Kappo Tamura is wonderful. We have done the omakase there several times and also done a La carte - every piece of sushi is always so fresh and delicious. The service is also always great, both at the tables and at the sushi bar. The staff is friendly and helpful, and they even remember what you like/didn't like from past visits. Best sushi (food and experience) in Seattle. 6/5 read more

Excellent sushi with good service. $100 omakase was very tasty. Lots of construction around the restaurant so the parking can be challenging. read more

Sushi Kappo Tamura - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Sushi is good quality and fresh. Oysters are briny and sweet. Thoroughly enjoyed each nigiri, it is worth every penny. read more

See all

I had a really great experience dining solo at the omakase counter. The overall quality of the fish was delightful, and I thoroughly enjoyed the meal. The oysters were delicious, and the chawan mushi was exceptionally yummy. My only critique would be to lighten up on the soy sauce as a lot of the nigiris were on the salty side and a bit overwhelming the balance. The rice was a bit mushy and overcooked throughout more the nigiri courses. However, the fish itself was spectacular. The service was excellent--friendly and prompt. I opted for the premium sake flight, which was good, although I wish there had been a specific sake pairing for the omakase. Nonetheless, the flavor profiles described on the provided card were helpful. The highlights of the meal included the Hirame with shiso, King Salmon from Bristol Bay, the Oysters appetizer, and the Chawan Mushi. Every fish was delicious; but the smoked Sockeye salmon stood out, being a bit heavy on salty soy. One significant downside was the otoro, it was heavily torched so most of it tasted cooked. I would've preferred to have it lightly seared. If you look at the photo you'll see it's completely cooked from the torch, so biting into it was not tender at all, but rather chewy, like cooked fish chewy. Besides these, they do a great job on the fish itself. Overall, I would return to try ordering a la carte next time, hoping for better rice preparation then. And asking for them not to season it but leave it on the side, (if I do omakase here again) Finding parking was initially challenging, but I eventually found a small lot across the street near what seemed to be a vacant building and paid for parking there. read more

See all

Food was delicious and service was great! The black dragon roll was the best. Had to get their black sesame ice cream for dessert. Street parking can be hard to find. read more

Sushi Kappo Tamura - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My husband took us here for my birthday. Parking can definitely be tricky and you're sort of looking at a burnt down building across the street, so that's a bit off-putting. The inside of the restaurant is nice and modern, bathrooms were very nice and clean. I appreciate their course-oriented menu choices, however you must be very comfortable and knowledgeable with Japanese food in order to know what you're ordering. We ended up ordering a few rolls (black dragon, golden dragon, oishi, negitoro) and some toro pieces (specifically from Spain). Quality and presentation were very nice, flavors were very fresh and tasty. I also got some drink I can't recall, and my husband really liked their house iced tea. I do recommend - bring an open wallet and patience for parking. read more

I had a wonderful omakase experience at Sushi Kappo Tamura. We stared with ikura on top of fresh oysters and chawanmushi topped with uni. They are both absolutely amazing, especially the chawanmushi with excellent broth on top. I love how they source the ingredients from various countries and states. I really enjoy all the pieces, especially with the light seasoning and toppings they placed on top. I would love to come back again! read more

See all

Amazing food and the best service! Our server Edward was awesome and we can't thank him enough for his hospitality! We got: - oysters with ponzu mignonette - a set of local - Washington and Alaska nigiri - spider roll - eel and avocado roll - negihama roll My faves were the oysters for sure but everything was fantastic and our server was so friendly! Would definitely come back again read more

Sushi Kappo Tamura - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I made reservations in advance for a special occasion. We were seated promptly. The space was clean and modern. I loved the lychee martini - fresh and fruity. We ordered 3 rolls - golden dragon, black dragon and something else...with a few orders of sashimi based on the recommendation of the waiter - I think we ordered salmon, yellowtail and snapper, which he recommended getting the snapper as nigiri. That might have been my favorite! I absolutely loved him. You could tell he knew his stuff. The fish was so fresh! I'd come back to do the omakase!! As for dinner, I did consume the rest of my boyfriends pick (creme brulee) in dessert instead of the panna cotta but he thoroughly enjoyed both. It was a special delight because one of the desserts was on the house for the celebration. I still think about the red snapper. read more

Sushi Kappo Tamura - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Wonderful, solidly good restaurant. We stumbled on this restaurant after being stuck in traffic and were happily surprised to find this little gem. Pleasant dining room with great service. The sushi was incredibly fresh and tasty. We over-ordered not being familiar with the menu. read more

Nestled on a quieter street of the bustling Eastlake neighborhood of Seattle, Sushi Kappo Tamura is an upscale sushi spot renowned for its commitment to authentic Japanese cuisine and sustainable sourcing. The restaurant's exterior is unassuming - blink and you'll miss the minimalist sign hovering over large, modern birch wood doors. Upon entering, we were immediately greeted by the hostess, who showed us to our table - we had a reservation for 6:30pm on a Saturday night. I would suggest using OpenTable or calling ahead to make a reservation, especially since the restaurant was completely full with no room for walk-ins. Despite the space being at capacity, the atmosphere was buzzy, not overwhelmingly loud - the perfect environment for an intimate dinner or a celebration with family. The restaurant's interior is similarly minimalist, with simple wooden furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows. Wood-and-canvas artwork that is very Japanese-inspired adorns the walls, and dim lighting gives the space a lovely glow. You can sit at the bar, which is great for an omakase order, or opt for a table for a more traditional dining experience. Our server was absolutely amazing - she listed off her favorite recommendations and had extensive knowledge of the menu, before handing us warm towelettes (it's little touches like this that truly enhance a dining experience!). Unfortunately, they were out of some of their dishes by around 6:45pm that night, such as their Madai Aradaki (grilled fish head), but our server recommended other similar dishes to try. My mom ordered the Three Course Menu ($55), which comes with your choice of three different courses. She chose the Shigoku Oysters on the Half Shell as her appetizer - these came with three oysters sitting in a slightly sweet, savory ponzu sauce. The oysters had a briny taste without being overly salty, and they paired nicely with the acidity of the Cava wine that we had ordered. For her entree, she ordered the Sushi Combination, which comes with seven pieces of nigiri sushi and a spicy tuna roll (6 pieces). You could truly taste the quality of each piece of sushi, and the spicy tuna roll was of similarly high caliber, and not just an afterthought (as many sushi rolls often are). One nice thing about their nigiri is that the slices of fish are generous, and they don't use too much rice, so the full flavor of the fish can shine. My dad ordered a variety of nigiri, with Hamachi/Yellowtail ($5/pc), Amberjack/Kanpachi ($9/pc), Hotate/Sea Scallops ($5/pc), Uni/Sea Urchin ($17/pc), Toro/Fatty Tuna ($9/pc), and Amaebi/Spot Prawns ($7/pc, comes with fried head upon request). The nigiri were plated beautifully, with the colors of the fresh fish popping off of the plate. Some of his favorites included the Toro/Fatty Tuna, which he described as "melt in the mouth" and the Uni/Sea Urchin, which was creamy, buttery, and the pinnacle of umami flavor (though at $17/pc), it's a steep price to pay for such a heavenly bite. Lastly, I ordered their Miso Soup ($5) and their Halibut (Neah Bay, WA) Kama Nitsuke with hari ginger and fresh gobo ($26). The miso soup was just okay - it's servd with Kabocha squash, yuchoy and fried tofu. I found the kabocha squash to be a bit too hard for my taste, and the fried tofu had lost all sense of crisp in the soup. However, the yuchoy tasted fresh, and the broth had a clean, seafood-forward flavor. The Halibut Kama (collar) was insanely delicious - while halibut is a lean fish, the collar is succulent and moist, with luscious layers practically flaking off the bone. It's cooked in a wonderful sweet and salty soy sauce that soaks into the fish and the vegetables (burdock root and yuchoy), which have retained a nice crunch. On top of the fish sits a mound of fresh ginger, which is an amazing palate cleanser for the richness of the fish and the sweetness of the sauce. Overall, it was the standout dish of the night, and a great value at $26 on an otherwise pricey menu. Lastly, my mom's three course meal came with her choice of dessert, and she picked the Chestnut and Butterscotch Creme Brûlée. While this was certainly an interesting flavor combination and they got the layer of caramelized sugar on top just right, we didn't enjoy the custard underneath. When you blend something like chestnut into a custard, it can become grainy, and it was a texture that we didn't love. Overall, we really enjoyed our meal at Sushi Kappo Tamura. Yes, it's on the pricier side, but you're paying a premium for outstanding service, sustainable and locally-sourced fish, an expensive location, and the chefs' skill and passion for Japanese cuisine. They do tack on an automatic 20% service charge in order to pay their staff a living wage, so take that into account if you choose to dine here. This is a lovely, upscale spot for a memorable sushi dinner, if you're willing to make the splurge! read more

See all

Sushi Kappo Tamura is a culinary gem nestled in the heart of the city of Seattle, where every bite is a symphony of flavors meticulously crafted by the masterful hands of Chef Matt. From the moment you step in, the ambiance envelops you in tranquility, setting the stage for an unforgettable dining experience. Chef Matt's passion for sushi is palpable in every piece of nigiri he presents, each one a work of art that celebrates the harmony of tradition and innovation. The freshness of the ingredients is exceptional, showcasing the finest cuts of fish sourced with utmost care. The omakase menu is a journey through taste, with Chef Matt guiding you through a succession of each exquisite creation, each more delightful than the last. His attention to detail is unparalleled, ensuring that every piece of sushi is not just a meal, but a moment to be savored. Whether you're a sushi aficionado or a newcomer to Japanese cuisine, Sushi Kappo Tamura and Chef Matt will leave you spellbound with their unparalleled culinary prowess. It is hands down the best sushi taste and experience I have ever had. It's not just a meal; it's an experience that lingers in your memory long after the last piece of sushi is enjoyed. Let's not forget the cocktails. The Suntori Sour is my recommendation if you like Japanese Whiskey. It is phenomenal. If you like my review and want to try this place out, you have to make reservations in advance to sit at the bar in front of "Mateo Cortez" aka Matt Curtis. read more

See all

This sushi place is small, quiet and outstanding. The fish quality is amazing and there is plenty of cooked food selections if you're dinning with someone who is not a fan of raw fish. The staff is friendly and very knowledgeable about the selection of items on the menu, which change weekly. One server in particular went above and beyond by bringing a special sauce used at the omakase sushi bar seating area to enhance our meal. The servers offered great recommendations on items to try based on our preferences. The neighborhood can be a challenge to park in so go early since there is only street parking. So go a little early to account for this. read more

Awesome sushi. Extremely fresh. Edward was a great waiter. The live sweet shrimp were amazing. Highly recommend. read more

Sushi Kappo Tamura - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Best to do the omakase at the counter. So much flavor is added to the sushi pieces that you don't get from sitting at a table. My favorite piece was smoked chutoro with some salt and yuzu. I also got the mochi with red bean for dessert and black sesame ice cream. Great combination! Service was quick and attentive especially for the drinks. Lots of tables were available to sit at. I was quickly seated when I got in. Would definitely be back! read more

See all

I had a great experience here!! The sushi was incredibly fresh and flavorful, and the staff were all very kind and attentive. Everything felt welcoming and well-prepared. I'll definitely be coming back! read more

Sushi Kappo Tamura - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Made reservations here for my sister's birthday since I've heard nothing but great things about this place. I was honestly so excited to have sushi. I feel like if I could, I would probably eat sushi everyday if I wasn't scared of mercury poisoning haha. Anywho we decided on the combination three because we wanted to save room to order extra nigiri on the side. The combination came with 3 courses. My sibling and I basically ordered the same thing except for dessert. Shigoku oysters, sushi combination, and I got the yuzu panna cotta while my siblings ordered the creme brûlée. We add an order of black cod nigiri, chu toro, seared otoro, amberjack, sweet shrimp, and scallop. Sushi was so good! You can taste the freshness. I didn't care for the sushi that came with the combination but the nigiri we added to our order was bomb. The seared otoro and black cod belly was my favorite. They were so buttery and the fish basically melted in your mouth. While our food was delicious, our server was also very friendly and attentive. She was really fun to talk to and recommended a few things to us. You can tell by being here that they are a popular choice for people that live near by as it was always busy. It was a really a solid choice to take my sister here for her birthday! read more

See all

Came here for dinner with a reservation, and it wasn't too busy on a weekday. Service was rather fast and professional, and we enjoyed the experience overall. We opted for the three course meal, which was enough food for us. I chose: Albacore & Mustard Green: a very saucy appetizer, obscuring much of the fish taste Bara Chirasi: good fish, tamagoyaki, and generous portion of rice, which was rather filling Yuzu Panna Cotta: an excellent dessert, especially if you're looking for something refreshing! I also tried the creme brulee (which was good but nothing new) and mochi (which wasn't worth the additional charge, in my opinion). I think the price is reflective of the quantity and quality, compared to Seattle sushi prices overall. If I were looking to splurge on an omakase experience, I would probably opt to go elsewhere, but for a place with mid-priced options, Sushi Kappo Tamura is a good choice! read more

See all

Overall, this is a quality sushi spot. Highlights were the Hamtastic roll, the oysters, and the toro sashimi. Service was pretty good, but we did have one round of rolls come out pretty slow. They may have forgotten that order, but it happens. I enjoyed the ambiance here. It isn't a huge space, so I would definitely recommend a reservation. FYI, there is a 20% service fee on the bill that serves as the tip. read more

I had a good experience here on a Friday night. The ambiance was lively and warm, and the quality of the sushi was great. I had the omakase and everything was fresh and delightful. read more

See all

Classy sushi spot with great service and fresh seafood! We had reservations for a Friday night. Check their website for the latest notices - when I visited, proof of vaccine was required and they automatically apply gratuity to all bills (which is also very clearly stated with the check). The food was amazing - I split the 3 course dinner with the sushi combination, and the sashimi combination with another person. The server even took the time to explain each fish to us! I may try something new next time to explore more of the menu since it all looked delicious, but I was extremely happy with our choice. read more

See all

Bit pricey, but it was a nice dining experience. I thought the omakase was delicious at best and interesting at worst. Probably won't go back because money, but as a one off place for a business meeting with an important business person, it got me a sale. read more

Sushi Kappo Tamura - shrimpy - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Food is average and very expensive. No complaints on service. As expected. 20% living wage service charge included. Ambiance is nice. But that alone ain't enough to move a place up in my mind. read more

OVERALL: 8/10 (Yelp Converted Score: 4/5). My partner and I showed up (with a dining reservation via OpenTable) about 10 minutes early for our 5:15pm reservation, to celebrate our 18-month anniversary. Verdict: Great experience, but doesn't usurp Kashiba as the best overall omakase experience in the greater Seattle area. I'd probably come back one day after we exhaust the remainder of "challenger omakase" places to Kashiba in Seattle, but this place is a bit above-budget for the quality of experience we expected. 1) VARIETY/SELECTION: 8/10. This place has plenty of options for table diners - whether you want multi-person combinations, just good ol' nigiri sushi, or other Japanese dishes (like karaage, tempura, or black cod), there's definitely something for everyone. They even note which dishes are sustainable and gluten free, so +1 for that. 2) FRESHNESS: 8.5/10. My partner commented that the rice wasn't the freshest, which I immediately noticed on the following nigiri piece. The sushi we had in the omakase tasted fresh, but also not very memorable (by comparison, I still remember how incredible other places' were for certain dishes). In terms of the appetizers, the oysters were good, but not life-changing, and the only "memorable" dish from the whole experience that I can recall was the chawanmushi (but it's a fleeting memory). 3) VALUE FOR MONEY: 7/10. The 4-course omakase we both ordered was $120 per person, which included an oyster starter, chawanmushi, and a chef's choice of 12 pieces of nigiri sushi. My partner and I both noticed that there was an inconsistent amount of rice used for each nigiri piece, which is odd, considering this is supposed to be one of the "premium" places in Seattle for sushi. In addition to both of us ordering the omakase, I ordered the sake pairing for an additional $37, as well as an $11 Goma (Black Sesame Ice cream) dessert. The dessert was definitely tasty, but not worth $11; the sake pairings were decent, and went well with the food, but for $37 I could have instead bought an entire bottle of sake somewhere else (or more - a bottle of Kizakura Matcha Nigori is only $12 at H-Mart) - the four pours that I had weren't equivalent to a bottle. We both left not feeling satiated, so that was a bit of a disappointment. NOTE: They automatically add a 20% "living wage" charge, so it's up to you if you want to add a gratuity on top of that. On their website, it's explained "Additional gratuity is not expected." 4) SERVICE: 8/10. Tea and water refills were plentiful, but I noticed an inconsistency in service that needs to be pointed out; the couple seated to our left both ordered the sake pairing, and had the server enthusiastically bring out (an empty, but the same) sake bottle, and explained the sake as well as it's intended pairings in a very methodical manner. While a server also explained the sake pairings to me, I didn't get the same explanation of the history of the sake, or what the bottle looked like (in case I wanted to buy some later... which I did, but I can't find the sake, so... their loss I guess?). 5) CONSISTENCY / FIRST IMPRESSION: 8.5/10. We had expressed our interest in the Omakase, and moved from a table (where our original reservation was for) to the sushi bar, directly facing the kitchen staff. It wasn't a busy night (I'd estimate around 40-60% capacity for the tables, but only 20-30% for hte sushi bar), but the server had to check with the front-of-house staff to make sure there weren't many sushi bar reservations before moving us from the table to the sushi bar. None of this takes away from my still great experience - but if you want the best, this isn't it. read more

See all

Man I got to be honest. I don't understand some of the four star reviews. The food was outstanding, Edward was super chill and took good care of us, and it's a cute spot. The sashimi omekase was delicious. It is a bit pricey but I didn't feel ripped off - you got what you paid for. The construction in the street outside sucks but that's not on them. Would go back. read more