50 Best Japanese Restaurants in Seattle

“Had a Great Experience. Would definitely Recommend.“

“Excelente service thank you 🙏“

“One of my favorite Japanese restaurants (not to mention the oldest in Seattle) and it has never disappointed me. The food is delicious and the service is friendly and warm. It’s a difficult time we are in with the pandemic of 2020, but Maneki has transitioned to take out, which it never did before, and is so organized that it blew my mind when I saw how clearly labeled each item was when I got home. I could easily tell which was part of the teishoku 定食 or “set meal.” Support this small business because it needs us now more than ever. 01 DEC 2020.“

“Phenomenal restaurant. The best fresh fish I've had in this area, and at an incredible deal (for the area). The owner is super nice and welcoming, the food comes out faster than should be possible for the fact that I can see them cutting the fish fresh. Took like 1-2 minutes to get my food at 11:45 on Friday, there was no line. At around 12:15 there was a consistent line with 5ish people.
My only wish is that they were open on weekends.“

“I love Sushi Kappo Tamura and Taichi!! I have a hard time eating sushi anywhere else.“

“A very nice experience today with nice service and nice ambience. I'm not a big sushi fan but there are many other nice options too here. 5 out of 5.“

“Service is ON POINT !!!! Food is amazing and our waitress is amazing ! We had to bring our little one last min because child care wasn’t available. But they kindly accommodate my little one and gave her some cooked sushi !!! We really appreciate it ! We definitely will come back for a different menu because their menu changes every month ! I recommend anyone coming over to try it if they want an authentic Japanese meal in Seattle !!!“

“Nice place,good service,good food“

“One of the best sushi restaurants I’ve been part of!“

“Grilling is n art Issian has mastered . This is why we- my family and friends- love this place.“

“Best sushi. Joe is an exceptional sushi chef. His support staff are incredible. Vintage stereo equipment and vinyl records on the walls. Don’t miss out.“

“excellent sushi! everything was fresh and delicious! highly recommend checking them out!“

“Foodies, this is a must try if you are ever in the area. Most sushi houses have a hard time getting Uni, but we had 4 dishes with fresh Uni in it. You won't regret it.“

“Chef and staff went more than above and beyond with the entire experience. We went there after proposing and the entire course was delicious. Beautifully presented, and they even made us a cake as a congratulatory gift.

The entire staff made us feel very special“

“Great food, broad Japanese food menu and saki options. Good flawless service. Tiny space plan for it. Also bring your Covid vaccine card or recent test.“

“We tried 8 items and every single one was delicious. The New York roll was incredible. I had something that starts with a Y I forgot the name of (w/ tempura shrimp and spicy crab salad) and I could've eaten three. My kids liked their NY and spicy tuna rolls so much that they ordered seconds. The ramen bowl was petite enough that I could eat it plus two rolls (and share a dessert) and not explode, be super satisfied. The ramen was $6.95, fancy rolls were $8.95, edamame $2.95, and wine $6. The ube cheesecake, OMG. Unbelievable. I cannot believe how delicious this was for the price. Also, service was 👌Very kid friendly. I cannot wait to come back!“

“Stayed in Seattle for a week with a group of friends, and we all agree this is hands down the best food we had while there. Came in and was sat down right away, the staff was friendly and made sure we always had our drinks full without needing to say anything. I personally ordered 4 different rolls while the rest of the group got 1-2 rolls each and some of them got a meal meal they offer to try too.

While we were there, we were sharing food with each other and we all were falling in love with what we were all eating. We finally got to the Philly roll and let me tell you what, BEST SUSHI ROLL YOU WILL EVER EAT!!! Each of my friends were jealous they didn't get that roll and asked if they could have more of it because it was just that good. Of course I kept the 3 extra pieces left for myself because it was SO DAMN GOOOOOOD.

After we were finished eating we asked for the checks, and when they brought them out, they brought out 3 free deserts for us to share and enjoy. We were completely shocked by the kind gesture.

Better expect that every time I come back, this will be my first stop for something wonderful.“

“Great, filling (I'm a dude who likes to eat), Japanese feeling spot near waterfront in seattle. Spent 40 for 2 plates for 2 people and am stuffed. Spiry teriyaki and katsu are delicious. I like the salad dressing as well. Definitely better value and possibly quality than the places right at pikes market or the water front“

“Amazing, will go back in the next trip to Seattle“

“This place is hands down the best tonkatsu spot in the Seattle area! The katsu is incredibly crispy on the outside, but perfectly juicy and tender on the inside. You can tell they use high-quality meat. The portions are great, and the atmosphere is super cozy. If you're looking for authentic, top-tier tonkatsu, Kobuta & Ookami is absolutely the place to go. Highly recommend!“

“This was, without a doubt, the best sushi I have ever had in my life. I would go here every day of my life if I could.“

“Had a tasty lunch! Thank you!“

“We thoroughly enjoyed the Okina O Shiri experience with a variety of Sake pairings. Every dish was delectable, and well explained. Mariah is a true artisan, and the entire team is an absolute delight. Mariah-San, thank you for an incredible evening (I’ll be dreaming about that okra and octopus for a long time to come)!“

“Area is for the most part a restaurant desert. Parking lot is small. If you don't live nearby, please leave room for nearby residents by parking at Husky Stadium.“

“5 stars would recommend to everyone“

“This is truly one of my favorite sushi restaurants. I’m originally from Japan, and my grandparents used to sell fresh fish and crab, so fresh seafood has always been something very familiar and special to me. The quality of the fish here genuinely brings back those memories, which makes each visit feel a little nostalgic and meaningful.

I especially love the nigiri, and I always look forward to seeing what seasonal selections they have whenever I visit. The fish is consistently fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared, and you can really feel the care that goes into each piece.

What makes this place even more special is the people. The chefs and staff are always so kind and welcoming, and they make every visit feel warm and inviting.

There’s something about being here that reminds me of home, and that feeling is one of the reasons this restaurant has become so special to me. I’m always looking forward to coming back🙏🩵“

“This is by far my favorite teriyaki spot amd my go to! I love their chicken yakisoba, they don't skimp on anything. The food is always fresh and delicious. The helping is definitely worth the money spent. We ordered over the phone and then by the time we get there the food is ready. So service is standard time, which I would expect when the food is that good. I've never had a bad experience here like I've had at many other teriyaki places.“

“We had the sashimi and some offerings from the chef... to. die. for! Presentation was a work of art, and flavors matched!“

“If you’re looking for a fine dining experience while in Seattle, ShoMon is the place to go. We were lucky enough to grab a last minute reservation for their 8:15 PM service while in town for a concert. I do recommend making sure you’re on time as the courses are timed and meticulously made to be done over a certain time.

When we walked in, we were immediately greeted by the staff and brought to our seats at the Kappo Counter. We were greeted by name and even the special celebration that we were there for. Masaki was on our side of the counter and was very friendly and a true host while we were there. The service was amazing and filled with conversation and vibrant descriptions of the different courses we had through the night. The sushi was all amazing and full of flavor and it was quite mesmerizing to be able to watch them prepare it through out the night.

I highly recommend this experience for anyone looking for an omakase experience.“

“Toyota Sushi is a gem in our community! As a family-owned business, they truly go above and beyond to make every visit special. Their food is consistently amazing, with fresh ingredients and beautifully crafted dishes that never disappoint. The service is top-notch—always accommodating, friendly, and attentive to every detail. I've been a loyal customer for a while now, and I can confidently say I've never had a less-than-excellent experience here. If you're looking for a sushi spot that combines great food with warm, personalized service, Toyota Sushi is the place to go. Highly recommended! Five stars all the way. Ps. We love our Tia Helen ❤️“

“Absolutely LOVE this place! Special shoutout to Brian who works there every day. I come here once, sometimes twice a week enough to be a usual. Brian is friendly and even though at times it gets busy I can see his calm demeanor and he never fails to give me great and friendly service so hopefully you get to experience that too! 💪

FOOD: My favorite go to is the General Tsao's Chicken and the serving is enough for me to keep leftovers for dinner😋

I am so proud of the growth of this place and excited to see what else is in store! Definitely worth the visit ✨“

“unagi onigiri was especially delicious! the pork belly donburi was super flavorful, but a bit on the saltier side, while the sake ochazuke was hearty but perhaps a bit bland for my personal taste. staff were lovely & the vibes were v homey and cozy!“

“Out of this world Sake, Staff and Food!!! Hannyatou took me back to my years living in Japan! The tastes, the aromas and the friendly atmosphere flooded all my senses causing my brain to feel like I was back in time We live in Maryland and would come back to Seattle at the drop of a hat just to go to Hannyatou! Kanpai!“

“Tried this very special “takeout only omakase sushi box”, Edomae style ( use cured/aged fish, and red vinegar seasoning in rice). The executive chef, chef Ryo, has worked in many renowned restaurant including Michelin star sushi restaurant “Sushi Sho”. Before joining this new restaurant “Ltd Edition Sushi” in capitol hill, he worked side by side with chef Nakazawa-an icon of edomae style in Japan, at both Sushi Sho Tokyo and Sushi Sho Honolulu. The sushi omakase box and kids fish bowl are both very sophisticated, the curing and aging techniques brings out the deep complex flavor of each fish and gives each fish this extra tender texture, the taste profile as such is hard to find here in Seattle. Chef sake flight ( we tried Haneya Junmai Ginjo and Hidakami Junmai today), one is floral and one on the dry side, pair with his sushi very well. Sushi is in a very elegant wooden box and everything you will need for the experience including a separate soy sauce dipping dish is prepared for the guest. This is, truly, a perfect omakase takeout experience. 💕💕😋“

“Definitely some of the better teriyaki in the area! Both the chicken and the beef are tender and nicely charred. If you get the spicy variety, I'm pretty sure they just mix some sriracha into the sauce. The gyoza is nice and crispy—not sure if it's hand-made but it could be. The sushi is decent but I'll probably stick to the teriyaki. Reasonable prices, fast service. Ordered online and it was ready in under 10 minutes.“

“Seriously the best sushi around Capitol Hill 😍 🍣 Yes, you might have to wait a little bit sometimes because they are constantly flooded with high-volume orders and usually only have 1 or 2 sushi chefs working their magic—but let me tell you, every single bite is 100% worth the wait! The staff is incredibly sweet, friendly, and they work so hard to give you the best experience possible. I am so grateful for their dedication. I will definitely, without a doubt, be back again and again“

“I just want to say, I drive by this place all the time when I go run my dog in magnolia, finally stopped in. Quiet little spot but the lady taking my order was so sweet and nice, made me understand the order, because I wanted extra side of gyoza with my Teri chicken, she insisted I just do the combo. I don’t normally do combo because it usually means you get less chicken but she told me that’s not how they do it :). I was more than surprised and happy. I got a feel stack of chicken, two scoop rice (which is also rare) 6 gyoza on the side and side salad, and it was freaking delish! Want to try the katsu next. Also as a side note, the salad was so fresh.

Great stuff“

“It was a great experience for my family. We highly recommend Sai Sushi & Sake!“

“Just went there for the Gyudon and it exceeded my expectations. It was very delicious and on the spot. Down side is nothing to do with the restaurant but parking. It is hard to find a good parking spot. However will be coming back but probably picking up the food rather than dinning in.“

“It was fine, decently priced but food was pretty mid overall.

The Good:
The Karaage was well cooked and juicy
The Chicken thigh yakitori was good
Happy hour pricing was reasonable
Friendly servers

The Bad:
The ramen broth was....not good. It was like a watered down Costco ramen broth with noodles and toppings. The pork belly was overcooked. The toppings were haphazardly chosen and distributed.
The eel skewers were cold and not grilled at the time of order but were clearly pulled from the sushi case.

The rest was fine. If you're craving izakaya food late night it will do the job but if it is early enough consider other options.

Id give it 3.5 stars but I'll round up since the service was decent“

“Good was great, I ordered the chirashi and was really happy with it. Service was a little unintuitive, but after ordering at the kiosk we just waited at the table and our food was brought out to us. Definitely recommend ordering drinks though, forgot to do that...“

“Definitely freshest and highest quality fish in the Fremont area. Skip Fremont Bowl and come here. What especially stands out (and gives me a sense of how much they care about the food) is that the surimi, seaweed salad, and egg omelette have that homemade taste.“

“A riotous experience of hybrid Japanese food and interesting other accoutrement. Make sure to check out the specials board by the bar for some interesting other things. Try Japanese style hamburger steak and Japanese style spaghetti in a bento box of all things! Open a little bit later in Seattle so you can get in your late night munchies. Weekends are probably banging here, but I usually go during the week. And it's on the second floor of FYI.“

“Shiki is our go to restaurant when we have events around the Seattle center area. Best to have reservations as the dining area inside is cozy. Wonderful menu and I love their miso soup as they use a darker miso paste which gives it a richer flavor. Highly recommended!“

“Delicious food, great vibe“

“This was an amazing restaurant! Lots of dishes! Very good sushi and kaiseki dishes. Very good restaurant for those special occasions (anniversary or birthdays). Chef Taneda was very friendly as he makes the sushi dishes in front of you. All while the keiseki dishes come out in front of you.“

“The store's service is attentive and the workmanship is very detailed and painstaking.“

“Restaurant slow at 5pm on a Thursday but quickly picked up! There was only server but she did a great job. We liked the Outstanding, Aloha, and the Spider roll the best. The Thai tea was weak and too milky but other than that, it was a good experience.“

“Spicy tuna, crispy rice, you’re tired and is chasing the dragon.“

“The Salmon Bara-Chirashi Bento was quite literally the most phenomenal bento box I’ve ever had. The vibe of the restaurant was great, Japanese music, great decoration, and just felt perfect. The flavor of the rice combined with the soy sauce and salmon all summed up the perfect bowl. Totally would try again and recommended to anyone who loves themselves a good taste of Japanese cuisine.“