Wataru is amazing! So far it is my favorite sushi restaurant in Seattle. This was my second time here and we booked the entire sushi bar. It was a great experience. You gotta make reservations in advance if you want to sit at the bar so we booked months earlier. At the bar you get the omakase and the chef makes each piece at a time and serves it to you. All the fish that he prepares is so tender, has amazing flavor and just melts in your mouth. Some pieces were smoked and the flavors were unbelievable. You can see the attention to detail in his food and that he really cares about what he puts out. I would definitely recommend any sushi lover to try Wataru. read more

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Beyond unaccommodating! They had tables reserved, but half the restaurant was empty. We were turned away or could wait 2 1/2 hours for a table! No thank you! We went next door and was offered a seat. read more

More like 4.2 star, I had high expectations for Wataru, and it didn't live up to the 5 star rave that everyone talks about. Sushi was fresh and delicious, but not a 5 star experience. Not saying the service was bad, as it was rather pleasant. We made reservations 3 weeks in advance and couldn't get a seat at the sushi bar, for the sushi chef omasake on a saturday night. However, we ordered the Wataru omasake table service, which comes with 3 small bite size appetizer, a variety of sashimi chefs choice, and 7 piece of sushi. We also ordered few more orders of nigiri sushi, chu-toro (fatty fish tuna), uni (sea urchin), and tamago (egg). We prefer O-toro (higher quality) more than the chu-toro, but our server told us O-Toro sushi was on the omasake for the day. If you're sitting at the table, about $80-100 per person, sushi bar $120-160 per person. Small, quiet, would not recommend bringing kids, as the menu selection didn't have much food for my kids to eat, mainly raw sushi. Price was reasonable for quality of food, and was delicious, we would come back again. read more

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Finally made it to this small, yet big name restaurant. Tiny tiny place, which probably seats no more 20-30 customers. I guess they opened less than a year ago and since it is located super close to my home, I have been wanting to go there for the longest time. Finally, one day, on our way home, we just decided to walk right in. It was around 5:30 and the place looked pretty empty. I alway look forward to sitting at the bar area because I can see the chefs working. So as usual, we asked for the sushi bar, but were told it is booked. Turns out the sushi bar is only for Omakase, and they only have two seatings, 5:30 and 7:30 and there are only 6 chairs at the bar. Therefore, you have to book at least a couple of weeks and optimally a month in advance for the sushi bar. Before we knew it, there were 6 people sitting at the bar and enjoying omakase. We ordered a few different items. Our appetizer was smoked albacore tataki, and a few different rolls, the Wataru, Negi albacore, Spicy tuna and Salmon shiso. While they all tasted good, they did not wow me. I have had better sushi at some other restaurants in the town. I have to come back for the Omakase to try a whole different version of this restaurant. Before we leave, we just tried a couple more of their other appetizers, the Nuta and the salmon in vinaigrette. I left a little bit underwhelmed and willing to explore more. So I will definitely be back. read more

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This is without a doubt the best sushi I've had in Seattle, and probably the best I've had in the U.S. I am going to daydream and nightdream about Wataru for a long, long time. I'll start with the most important part: the sushi and sashimi in the omakase was of sublime quality and prepared with some kind of magical care and skill that I just simply haven't experienced before. The fish was more tender and delicate than the tears of joy I wept while I ate it. Each type stood very well on its own, so to get 15 different experiences was just about too much for my senses...my poor friend had to watch me make the melting happy face over and over. Now for the full-on TL/DR treatment: --we didn't sit at the sushi bar for one of the special seatings at 5:30 or 7:30, but we had a great time anyway...don't worry if you can't get a reservation at the sushi bar. --ambiance is reserved and the light in the room is warm and golden. All servers were friendly and helpful and quite clearly proud of what they're doing (graceful-proud, not snobby-proud). --the small "appetizers" with the omakase were good-to-great...I always look forward to kinpira but Wataru's was a little sweet for my taste. The other little bites were very tasty but I honestly don't recall what they were...these were the most ingredient-rich parts of the meal. --the miso soup...the soup itself was delightful but the fish ball in it was odd. It tasted like exactly what it was: a big ball of ground-up fish. Not my thing. --the sashimi and sushi...see above, tender delicate tears of joy and melting happy face. Amazing x ten zillion billion. --the warm sake to wash it down: heck yeah. --after the omakase, dining pal and I were still hungry, so we split a few rolls that were quite good, and we finished with the black cod collars. This proved a very good choice, because the black cod collars were sweet and filling and hence almost dessert-like. You could seriously serve the black cod collars in place of French toast. Fantastic, just as good as at Maneki, and that's high praise coming from this particular fine diner. I can't wait to come back. Honestly. I don't want to come too often, lest familiarity start to lessen the experience, but I can't stop thinking about it, and the server said that the items in the omakase change frequently, so I'm counting the seconds. 1...2...3... read more

Wataru - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Just look at the marbling on that tuna. Hands down best value for quality fish in Seattle. Every piece from the Omakase was delicious read more

Wataru - The Omakase take out (during covid quarantine) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I'm calling it. This is the best sushi in Seattle. I have tasted all their pandemic takeout options. They are all awsome! All the takeout options are generously portioned. The sushi and chirashi are meticulously prepared and beautifully presented. Futomaki looks slightly less impressive, so I was expecting less. I was glad to be proven wrong. The Futomaki was full of surprises: a variety of deliciousness explode in the mouth. At $30, this really can't go wrong. To be honest, I can't even name most of the fish, but I can attest they are all delicious. :) By my count, I now order almost every week, and this has become my weekly ritual that I look forward to. Oh, did I mention the takeouts are also affordable? I totally did! The takeout options are just an incredible steal. read more

My friends and I finally got a reservation for their sushi bar seating 2 months in advance and I can definitely see why it's so popular! There are only 6 sushi bar seats with only 2 seatings (5:30 and 7:45) a night. The amuse bouche bouche was delicious and then we went into the sushi dishes. I really liked how each piece of fish was prepared differently and the chef describes each dish along the way. It was a very traditional omakase experience where you have the option to eat each piece with your fingers. They provide a small tray with a wet napkin to wipe your fingers after each round. Our favorites of the night were the black cod, chutoro and otoro, scallop, uni and roe dish, tamago, and may others! You have the option to stop whenever you're full but I decided, since it took so long to get a reservation, to do the full experience to the end. In total it was about 21 courses for ~$150. It's a great deal compared to other omakase restaurants I've been to in the past. I highly recommend this omakase experience if you manage to get a reservation! Another perk? FREE parking which is really rare in Seattle! It's a fairly residential area. read more

One of the best, good value sushi places in Seattle!! Definitely need a reservation but also definitely worth going. Every piece was made to the t. The smoked seabream was especially flavorful. The sushi and sashimi omakase portions were generous. read more

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Being a Customer at Wataru since it opened. The sushi experience has never disappointed, even during Covid. Hands down the best sushi place in Seattle - coming from a person who eats omakase every week at different sushi places. Highly recommended! read more

Wataru - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I came with my foodie friend. We have a foodie honor of selecting a type of cuisine, then both of us would pick an equivalent restaurant that we never experienced, and do the honor of hospitality to one another. Last weekend, my friend and I finally visited Shiro's. We left with a memorable taste and content experience at the Omakase bar. This weekend, we were excited to try Wateru, which has great reviews. Unfortunately, we weren't able to make our reservation at the bar bc there are only 6 seats, and since Chef Kotaro provides a considerate Omakase experience, each meal time is about 2 hours long at the bar. Table it is. We are satisfied with thoughtful and good quality fish, and we sure damn know how they taste like. We didn't go with their Omakase since we were at the table, we ordered oysters on half shell, black cod collar, then several nigiris. When our nigiris came, we kind of shrugged at the unimpressive plating. Most of the nigiris placed in one big plate, looking like an ayce experience. Never mind that, let's dig in for the palette sensation! We discussed each fish as we go through them. My adorable friend started to become apologetic since Wateru was her pick. We knew the quality was a let down (maybe bc we came on a Sunday when it was the end of their batch of fish for the week?) I definitely can go on about each bite of my meal, the details of what I tasted and how it should have been like, but I'm just going to stop it here. Meanwhile, we are hearing raves from the bar saying how "heavenly" it was. We looked over and at each other, wasn't sure to envy or laugh.. Overall experience leaves me the impression: Nope, i rather go to Shiro's and spend a tad more bc of the location. Food is decent but does not exceed the best quality title. I'd rate 3 stars for the food, due to the expectation and the disappointment. But I was watching Chef Kotaro from the closest table from the bar. He puts in his good efforts in explaining and carries an honorable passion. Maybe it was due to a Sunday. Maybe it was their off day? I here by give a 4 star. But I won't be returning. read more

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Amazing quality. Great, authentic, small place that feels like you're at home. The staff are friendly and the sushi does not disappoint. Heads up for fellow wasabi-haters like me: They put wasabi between the fish and rice in the nigiri. Make sure to ask for without if that's not something you enjoy. Every single thing I ordered (salmon nigiri, ebi nigiri, tamago nigiri, tuna rolls, etc.) was incredible. Their tea was great too :) Can't wait to go back! read more

Wataru - Yamato, king crab, albacore, and king salmon nigiri - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My wife and I did the sushi bar omakase (5:30 seating). The service was delightful and friendly, especially chef Kumita who answered all our questions while putting on quite a show. It was almost completely nigiri (other than monkfish liver (!) and a few amuse sized cooked pieces to start and tamago to finish, I think), but with interesting treatments (kelp, sauces, garnishes, charring, table-side marinades and salt rubs, etc). One piece each of tons of different things - 30+ smallish pieces, much of which I hadn't tried before, as well as similar types of fish from around the world. All very fresh. Pictures do it better justice than my words, here's a small subset... If you are in for a big night out, I would hold out for sushi bar omakase as the diners not at the bar had a completely different experience than those in the dining room. Currently my favorite omakase in Seattle after trying Nishino, Mashiko, and Sushi Kashiba. read more

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I had to update my review - I originally get it 5/5 stars and I feel like that wasn't a true review. So here it goes... The service was ok - as soon as we entered the restaurant, it took quite a few minutes until someone had acknowledged us. It wasn't very welcoming. Our server kept messing up in he order of where things where and when we were given water and said thank you, she just had a stern face on... service definitely needs a lot of work. That's mostly why I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. As far as food goes, the Fish was super fresh and the specials were so amazing! They do an amazing job making their tamago! Seriously one of the best I've had. I definitely recommend going here. Hopefully the service gets better next time. read more

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A TRUE SEATTLE DELIGHT. I am a huge sushi fan and have tried my fair share of Omakase and this is by far my favorite place in Seattle. Compared to other places I felt that there were more fish that "melted in your mouth" which was my preference. Here's a quick list of what we got and it came out to ~$180 Inada (baby yellow tail) Crimson bream Shima aze (yellow jack) Boston bluefish tuna Albacore belly Red snapper belly Hokkada - Baby shark (favorite of the chef, also likes blue fish) Shark bone Geoduck King Salmon - aged for one week, pickle by vinegar Chu Toro - from Spain (Malta Island) Mejina Alaska Black Cod Belly Ocean Smelt Hokkadio scallop with matcha sea salt Ottoro tuna Bamboo spot seesaw - prawn Ahi - Spanish Makerel Light salmon smoked Spanish Blue Fish Cod Hokkaido Makerel In addition to this fantastic 20pc meal, the chef creates an atmosphere for you to talk to other people at the bar and ask questions about the fish. The reservations here are hard to come by you will often have to wait 4-5 months in advance. read more

Holy Crap!! I think I just found the best sushi in Seattle and possibly in the whole nation! So far, my favorite sushi place is called Wako in SF, but Sushi Wataru is a tie, if not better. Closed Mondays, and open from 5:30 to 10 PM. This new sushi place is ran by Kotaro Kumita, an old chef at Shiro's who left when Shiro-San went into his brief retirement. 6 seats on the bar, which is omakase only (chefs choice) but you can tell him what you like or dislike and he will cater the sushi to your likings. In addition, you can make reservations on the bar, which is a HUGE plus. No more waiting in line before the restaurant opens in hopes of nabbing a spot on the bar. In addition, 5:30 and 7:30 are the times one can make a reservation on the sushi bar. The rest of the restaurant holds roughly about 15ish more people if you want to sit on a table and chat with your company. Sushi is extremely fresh, flavorful and delicious. Kumita San informed me that he imports most of his fish of Tsukiji Market in Tokyo, the largest fish market in the world. He also uses local fish from the NW and West Coast as well. Kumita focuses on Edomae style or Tokyo style sushi, which is basically focusing on nigiri sushi. What is unique is that he uses a traditional wooden box to house fish/seafood rather than the common glass sushi refrigerated display case. What is so awesome about this place is that Kumita San really focuses on quality and freshness. As the head and only sushi chef, he can control the quality of the fish. I can't say which sushi was my favorite, because honestly, every piece was heaven in my mouth. Definitely the memorable ones were the hamachi (Hokkaido), buri (larger yellowtail), scallop (Hokkaido) and chu toro and o toro were the highlights. Everything was extremely fresh and tasty!! Lastly, we had roughly 20 pieces and paid about $80 per person. A STEAL for the quality and freshness of the sushi. This place is going to be the new hot sushi spot once the word gets out. Check it out before this place blows up!! read more

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Wow. Just. Wow. Everyone's always asking, Shiro's or Kashiba? Answer is C) Wataru. No hate towards Shiro's or Kashiba - I rated them both 5 stars since they were both exquisite and I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at those establishments. Wataru takes it to another level though. 6 stars if I could. The first thing I noticed is that there aren't any fridge cases on the bar. Every place I've been to has these fridges for the fish in between you and the chef. Here, there is no bad seat in the house, since he doesn't use these, so you have full view of the chef at work. The chef has separate refrigeration underneath his workspace where he pulls wooden boxes of fish out of. The boxes have glass windows so you can see them on display when he takes them out. This was unique to any of the other omakase experiences I've been to, so I knew we were in for a special treat. Let me break this down in categories. RESERVATIONS: The first thing I noticed when I walked in was damn this place is small. With only a capacity of 24 and 25% (6 seats for people who don't want to do the math) of it being the reserved bar seating, you have to book in advance. If you're going to do omakase, go the full mile with the bar experience. If you want to do it on a weekend, get ready for a wait that can be up to 3 months. I had a specific day and time I had to reserve (Saturday at 5:30pm), so I was booked 3 months out. Don't bother trying to make a reservation online. Just call them. They have two seatings: One at 5:30 and one at 7:45. You will eat for 2 hours if you go all the way. All the way = 29 pieces. I got to 28 and died. Pro tip: Wear your stretchy pants. SERVICE: Attentive waiter who always came around to fill water and ask for drink orders. It's a small restaurant so staff are always available to help when called. COST: 4 people: 2 ate 28 pieces + 2 ate 27 + no extra drinks +20% tip already included = $650. Actually was less than what I anticipated for how much we ate. Sorry for making you scroll down for the best part - FOOD: Holy. Shit. Excuse my language but my god. I keep backspacing because I'm not sure how to start this summary since I have so many thoughts on my mind. Ok first, everything is methodically done. How the chef applies sauces, which side of the fish is seared, how gently he dabs fresh lemon juice on certain types of fish, the boxes he uses for seaweed, etc. The list goes on and on at how unique the chef and his practice are. Every motion is delicate and thoughtful. It's like watching a professional sculptor mold the perfect pieces. We started with a grouper which I wasn't jazzed about and honestly, I got a little nervous about starting the experience not so hot, but then it just escalated at an exponential rate as we continued the meal. With Kashiba and Shiro's, I'm wow'd from the get go but then it kind of flattens out. At Wataru, the best pieces will be in the middle of the meal. The best part: SO MUCH VARIETY. I can't emphasize that enough. At other places, you get many different cuts of salmon or tuna, but here, you get those + much more (geoduck, crab w/ brains, etc). I really appreciated how much variety there was. I knew this was a special place when I had their uni. I'm not a fan of uni, but this was the only uni I've had where I actually really enjoyed it. It wasn't too sweet or ocean-y and the flavor and texture were smooth and creamy. If you're into sauces, spice, sodium, and extras, this isn't the place for you. Wataru focuses on the natural flavors of the fish. Even the wasabi was incredibly light. Besides the occasional torch or the light sauce, the bulk of the flavor comes from the fish. The highest quality of fish I've ever had; they just melt in your mouth. 3 months is a long time to wait for a meal, but trust me, it's worth the wait. read more

UPDATE 4/17: Called them multiple times and left a message, finally go Here's where they lost me as a customer. After 65 minutes, the Japanese waitress after not having said a single word to us, suddenly asked us to leave as she points to people in the waiting area. The couple sitting next to us sat down at approximately the same time, but was not asked to leave; the foursome across from us sat down BEFORE we did and they were still chatting it up and was not asked to leave... So, I'm curious Wataru Management: Why did you single my party of four out? We were celebrating a rather big life moment and had ordered everything there was to order... 4 omakases, beer, tea, etcetera... the bill came out to over $350, and I had even paid it immediately so when we were done with dessert we could leave. Your decision tonight was in very poor taste and you've ruined a milestone birthday celebration for my family. By the way, your Otoro "all the way from Boston," was rather fishy and textured, not at all as Otoro shushi read more

Yum!! I had the most amazing birthday dinner here a couple nights ago. We managed to get reservations through yelp the night before for the 7:30 chef's omakase. I called around 5:00 the day of my reservation and made sure that we got reservations for the bar. This is an excellent feature which I think is much better than waiting in line at Shiro's or Sushi Kashiba. Seriously, they'll have to step up their game!! Once we got to the restaurant we waited about 10 minutes for Chef Kotaro to finish up his 5:30 omakase. We were seated promptly and our drink orders were taken. Chef Kotaro is extremely detail oriented and picks up on how large your bites are and what hand you use to eat your sushi and adjusts to it. The nigiri here is a little smaller than that of Shiro's and other establishments, but I actually prefer it this way because it allows me to try more and more fish. The fish is very fresh, the rice perfectly seasoned, and just the right amount of seasoning for each perfect morsel. I really like the intimate atmosphere that Wataru has- it feels very homey here. Chef Kotaro was very warm and welcoming, and kept a fluid conversation with the whole bar. He even gave suggestions of places to eat and see for my upcoming trip to Japan! My water and green tea were refilled often, and when I left to use the restroom, my napkin was folded when I came back. Excellent service! The bill came out to $300 after tax and tip, which was money well spent for about 40 pieces of sushi, green tea, and 2, 12 oz pours of sake. I look forward to coming back in the future. Chef Kotaro mentioned that he may be taking a couple weeks off towards the end of October for a family vacation so I'll definitely have to be back before he takes off!! read more

This is the best sushi in town! After trying it for my first time, I was back the next week. They fly the fish from around the world including the Tsukiji Fishing Market. I highly recommend this place to anyone that is looking for great quality sushi. The O-toro was by far my favorite. I ordered 8 pieces each visit. read more

Wataru - O-toro, Sockeye salmon, Maguro, king salmon - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Kumita-San is back! A wonderful neighborhood restaurant that just opened on 11/5/15. Kumita-San has loyal followers who've gone from restaurant to restaurant to be served by this great sushi chef. He has his own restaurant now! Kumita-San uses high quality ingredients (fresh grated wasabi, original soy sauce) and serves delicious fish (sourced locally, nationally and from Japan's Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo). It is a traditional Japanese style sushi place - edomae style sushi so don't expect fusion rolls and don't ask for them either. You can order omakase (chef's choice) at the sushi bar and let him pick out the freshest fish for you. We also enjoyed some of the side dishes and their sake collection. The restaurant is warm and welcoming. read more

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An amazing real multi course Omakase tonight (i think it ended up being 24 pieces of fresh delicious diverse pieces of seafood). Only 6 of us at the sushi bar, in an otherwise empty restaurant. It's interesting to watch Chef Kotaro Kumita meticulously preparing and serving each individual piece for us privately! No a la cart menu. Really highlighting the seafood. Loved the king crab, Tunas, Scallop and of course, Hokkaido Uni. Delicious evening that I didn't want to end. Being experienced in Omakase, I prepped by not eating lunch. $$$$ read more

Wataru is always my favorite sushi place to visit. I've been to Wataru many times, but this is the first time I post a review for them. My husband and I both love the food at Wataru; everything that we tried there tasted delicious. The atmosphere is also good since it is not crowded like other restaurants. You have to make a reservation before going. Really worth the price! read more

Wataru - Take out sushi omakase during COVID-19 - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

A small sushi restaurant, so I would recommend you to make reservations. I happened to not make reservations, however, we still got seated in less than 5 minutes. But if you want to sit at the bar, you would need to make reservations. We got omakase which is the chef's choice and it was about $85 per person. Fish was very fresh, but they told us that their menu is very limited tonight so we couldn't really order other things besides the 2 choices of omakase they had. read more

Incredible sushi! Absolutely recommend the Omekase at the bar. You have to make reservations well in advanced but the experience was truly worth the wait. Every piece served by Chef Kotaro Kumita was carefully made right in front of us and each piece truly brought out the best of all the ingredients used by Chef Kotaro. Absolutely wonderful! read more

Been here 4 times now and each time this place does not disappoint. Three of the times I sat at the sushi counter for omakase and once at the table and ordered from the sushi list. This is now my favorite sushi restaurant! I love the different methods Chef Kotaro Kumita prepares the fish. Wrapping it in kelp or straw smoking the fish are my two favorites. Every time I take a bite into it, I see a glimpse of heaven. Every piece of sushi he feeds me is better than the previous one, with the previous one being "my favorite." The omakase I've been having ranges between 15-24 pieces, and you can always call it quits before the end. I'm usually full by the 12th piece, but who can say no to such amazing sushi? I can't. And of course, we always end on a sweet note with a piece of tamago. I really can't ask for more. I always leave this place with my sushi cravings satisfied. Another thing I love about this place is that I can make a reservation. I work on the east side so waiting in line when the restaurant opens is out of the question. It also gives me peace in mind that I will get my sushi when I want it. The atmosphere here is friendly and Chef Kotaro will teach you a thing or two about sushi. I also love hearing his adventures in Japan, from visiting the largest fish market in Japan to eating sushi at Jiro's. He's always a pleasure to interact with. I can't wait to go back again. read more

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Hands down the best Japanese food there is. Make sure you call 2-3 months in advance to make a reservation for the sushi bar! So worth it and with the quality and amount of food you get, it's a great deal! Chef knows what he's doing and many others don't here in Seattle. The experience will not disappoint and this is going to change the way you look at Japanese food. read more

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Perhaps I missed out because I couldn't sit at the bar, but I had the most awful omakase experience here. And I consider myself to be an omakase snob (without shame). Upon arrival to our reservations, the server told us that we only have an hour or less to eat. Excuse me? A dinner should never feel rushed. You want to be felt relaxed. We went ahead and each ordered the omakase, two small sake bottles, and some appetizers. I asked her to provide a size of yuzu kosho, and she responded, "yuzu what? no sorry idk yuzu so no we probably dont have that" EXCUSE ME?! please check with your chef before assuming. She NEVER brought out our appetizers!!! and she kept asking one of my friends if she is okay. She had a few shots but she is fine. We typically spend over $1000 at omakase with large bottles. Please, do not be so judgmental, rush us, and forget our dishes. omakase plate was given to us and when I asked her to repeat the fishes for us because spoke so low the first time, she said oh idk its just the selection the chef picked and by the way remember to be finished before 7pm. WHAT AN AWFUL time here. Disappointing. I will never recommend this location to my friends visiting. read more

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Hands down the best sushi in Oregon and Washington. The fish is so fresh and delicious. We got the omakase 10 piece nigiri special.

A small little sushi restaurant around University Village in Seattle with friendly workers and an awesome chef! I didn't get a chance to sit at the sushi bar with a larger party but the omakase (basically the chef's choice/leave it up to the chef) menu with two options is fairly priced for fresh, quality seafood. I'd highly recommend coming here if you love good quality sushi, and I would also recommend RSVP'ing ahead of time to reserve a spot! For a full review with pictures, check out my blog post here: http://www.kfclovesyou.com/2015/12/wataru-seattle-sushi-restaurant-review.html read more

Wataru - 2nd part of my Kotaru (I think?) omakase ($45 option). Each piece was delicious. My favorites would have to be the amaebi & scallop. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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My mind was blown. This isn't the first time. The first time happened when I was lucky enough to have Kumita-San craft a magnificent omakase at a previous restaurant. I can still remember the scallop nigiri with a little lemon and salt. I can still taste it. This was the first piece of sushi I was served by Kumita-San and it changed my tastes forever. His skill and dedication for the art of sushi making is amazing, I can't say that enough, every cut and press of fish to rice is done with hands that have perfected it over thousands of hours. Honestly, the best way to appreciate and experience sushi is at the sushi bar, with a chef who is willing and excited to show you what is fresh and best for the day. This is the feeling I get every time I watch Kumita-San at work. I have been eating sushi for as long as I remember, from carry out at a grocery store, conveyor belt, quick lunch or dinner hybrid restaurants, to high grade sushi bars like Wataru. I can't afford to visit Wataru often, so I'm not constantly saturating myself with amazing ingredients; when the craving hits, I will often find myself going somewhere else to calm the urges. These places are good enough for me, probably great for some people. But when I want to really enjoy sushi, when I want to really experience sushi the way it was meant to be eaten, I will be visiting Kumita-San and Wataru 100% of the time. When I talk about experiencing sushi, it's not the same for everyone, someone's way of experiencing sushi could be completely different than mine and others may not even care to experience it at it's best. This is totally fine, we all have our own tastes and preferences. But to those of you who are looking to walk away with your mind blown, please let Kumita-San serve something for you! We went on Sunday, Nov.8, 2015 at 5:30. Initially, there was a family of three, but as the night progressed, the restaurant filled up. Near the end of our meal, Kumita-San said to us, "How are you feeling? I've served a little bit of everything to you!". We had a great laugh about that, considering it was just me and my girlfriend, eating the same amount. My favorites that night were the Spanish Mackerel and Smoked King Mackerel. I am not a huge Mackerel fan, I like it, but I prefer a firm, sweet, white fish, like Amber Jack, Red Snapper, and Yellowtail. I had all three of my favorites at dinner, but the Mackerel was THAT amazing. I don't know how he was able to get so much flavor packed into a fish that was only smoked on straw for five minutes. FIVE MINUTES?! He wasn't going to let me in on his secret, but I tried. My girlfriend's favorite, on the other hand, is Mackerel. I lost her a several times that night; her ears would shut down as savored every tasty bite; she would go off on her own wonderland. She was extremely happy. She really enjoyed the Smoked King Mackerel as well. I really want to support Kumita-San, for him to do well and keep on creating fantastic food! While we were talking during dinner, he noted that a lot of the work in getting the restaurant ready for opening, was done by his own hands. This is amazing to me, so much hard work went into Wataru, and it's beautiful. I will definitely be going back. If you haven't, you should! read more

Wataru - Amber Jack and Yellowtail - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Sit at the tiny six-seat sushi bar and leave it to Chef Kotaro Kumita, a former Shiro's apprentice and long-time Seattle sushi chef. This is no frills traditional sushi at its finest. Kotaro-san's attention to detail is impressive-- from the real grated wasabi root, the perfectly seasoned rice, carefully sourced seafood, to the temperature of the fish. There is no glass enclosed case separating customer from chef-- instead, Kotaro-san places the fish in a wooden box, preparing and slicing each piece of fish at the optimal temperature to bring out the umami in each bite. This neighborhood sushi bar stands in sharp contrast to the touristy, fast-paced, a bit over-priced but still delicious Shiro's in Belltown. Perhaps it was a Tuesday night or perhaps it was only a few days after opening night, but the place was not crowded and the pace of the meal was slower and more enjoyable. Kotaro-san gave us insights into his preparation and technique, even explaining his knife collection and sharpening method. My favorites of the night were the East coast sea urchin, the Oregon albacore, and surprisingly, the cooked shrimp (which I usually don't care for). The bill at the end of the night was reasonable for the value. Highly recommended. Just hope (selfishly) this place doesn't get too popular too fast. Well done Kotaro-san! read more

Wataru - Omakase at the sushi bar. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is my second time here but this time I made a reservation at the sushi bar. The first time I was here was at the table tops. I didn't understand what they meant by sushi bar reservation and table tops. You can only eat at the sushi bar if you reserve it at the times of 5:30 and 7:30. That's it. The two openings per day. I didn't know that in the beginning so my first experience was at the table top. I was told the dining experience is totally different from table tops verse sushi bar because he prepares and serves the fish in front of you. I waited two months for my reservation at the bar because it's so limited per day, making it really exclusive. I felt really lucky to be able to experience sushi bar. So we got there early and they seated us at the bar around 5:20. We sat there and waited till he's done prepping. He told us appetizers are coming out soon. We had blue fin tuna karaage. Eggplant. And oyster. Each with ponzu sauce on it. It was very yummy! As we finished up, he started to prepare the first sushi. Everything that he made, you can tell he put so much passion and puts a lot of effort into his work. Just watching him make all the sushi, it was memorizing and it was such an amazing experience to be able to see him make all the different fish with different seasonings. Different ways he cut the fish to make it the way it is. The texture. The taste. The presentation. Everything. Every little details he made was just... wow. Amazing. The sushi that he seared, just melted in your mouth. The toro that he serves was very fresh and just so delicious. I wish I could have more and more!! It was crazy how fast the time went by! And the service was very good! They made sure you always have enough tea and water. By the time we finished up, we got the check and for two people, the price was really good for what it was. They include tip already but that's okay cause they all do deserve the tip. For me, I even added more tip on there. Some people might say it's expensive but it's seriously worth every penny. So, I decided to make another reservation at the bar. I can't just not come here again. I just gotta come back again! Everything was just so amazing. I highly recommend this place for sushi lovers!! read more

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Long overdue but I forgot to post. My friends took me here for my bday celebration in sept. The omakase at the chef's table was an experience beyond words. Every piece presented was delicious and memorable and I would highly recommend the experience. I was informed you do have to make reservations weeks out if not a month or more in advance. But worth the experience. One of my friends who I recommended to brought her husband here for a special bday celebration recently and she couldn't be more thankful or the recommendation and experience read more

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I read about Wataru on Seattle's Eater 38 list, and was very excited to try the food here, especially since the prices are so much more reasonable than at his predecessor Shiro's restaurants. My friend and I both ordered the Wataru Omakase menu (at a table, not the bar), which included 3 vegetable dishes, unlimited tea, miso soup, a sashimi plate, and a nigiri plate. I was impressed with: - Eggplant, which came as part of the vegetable course -- delicious!! - Very good tea - Miso soup: the fish balls were a great addition Unfortunately, the main event(s), the sashimi and nigiri plates, were underwhelming, though very generous in quantity. For the price, it is a very reasonable amount of food and a good variety omakase menu...yet I was expecting a bit better on the quality front. The matcha ice cream was great -- not too sweet, and sprinkled with matcha powder. I would definitely go back to try items off the a la carte menu, or to do the omakase at the bar, which I hear is amazing. read more

I wish I had remembered to leave a review when we had come a few months back. We had to make reservations and we watched as many people were turned away from dining here (because they didn't have one). The sushi was super good, I just remember feeling like all of the fish was incredibly fresh and melt in your mouth. We didn't do the omakase but everything we did order was thoroughly enjoyable. My last memory when we we left was, 1) I think I'm still hungry and 2) this was so much better than Shiros. I really can't wait to come back. read more

What can I say? Just amazing. I think, our best Omakase experience in Seattle so far. There is only one other place I can think of that compares but it is in San Diego. Better than Shiro's for sure. The chef is careful, creative, and clearly passionate. It's worth the trouble with booking, waiting, and the price. I didn't take any pictures out of respect. The bar is tiny and the experience is intimate so I didn't want to be disruptive. One note is that the chef was openly loud and curt with his employees (in front of guests). It was a turn off for sure. I would revere him more if the team was well linked and if his leadership style was respectful and understanding. This didn't change the service experience except for in that one moment. The Server was amazing, attentive, and proactive. read more

I ate at Sushi Kashiba back in January, and it was incredibly wonderful. Wataru is significantly better. My wife and I joined friends for a 5:30 omakase seating at the 6 person sushi bar and then proceeded to eat the best damned sushi I've ever had in my life. As good as the omakase at Sushi Kashiba was (and it was amazing), Chef Kotaro has graduated to the next level of sushi grand master. I'm not sure I need to say anything more than that, really. It's the sort of thing that you cannot properly explain to someone - they have to experience it to get it. Fortunately, we here in the Seattle area are blessed to be living near Wataru and can experience the magic in person. Whereas Sushi Kashiba is a sleek and elegant modern dining masterpiece, Wataru is a very humble Japanese sushi joint. I really only suggest going to Wataru if you sit at the bar and enjoy watching the master at work. There are only two seatings each night - 5:30 and 7:30. Kotaro-san basically just kept feeding us amazing pieces of fish until we tapped out. It was one of the most amazing culinary experience of my life. I'm really looking forward to the next time I sit down in front of Chef Kotaro!! read more

Their fish tasted like butter. Heavenly Their uni, one tasted bitter and another one tasted good. Overall I liked the restaurant a lot. read more

The BEST SUSHI in Seattle. Period. Watching Chef Kotaro works at the sushi bar was a humbling experience. He takes pride in his work, and it shows with the quality of fish he presents to his guests. I skipped the cooked food and requested sushi only. I loved it all...uni, o-toro, geo duck, sockeye salmon...SO GOOD and so fresh! It's simply the best of the best. Chef even filleted a fish in front of us and served it right away. Very reminiscence of our sushi experience in Japan. We received great recommendation for Japanese sake as well. It has been awhile since I've dined at a restaurant and is excited to return to try all the stuff I didn't try from the first time! Wataru has won me over as a forever diner. I can't wait to come back! read more

Wataru - Sushi Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington