Sushi Ten

Neighborhood: Bellevue
Address: 2217 140th Ave NE Bellevue (map)
Phone: 425-643-6637
Web: N/A
Parking: Free parking space

Overall Rating: 7.3 / 10pts

ATMOSPHERE:
I like the interior of this place. It looks like a real izakaya or teishokuya you could walk into if you were in Japan instead of the Hollywood image of "cool sushi" place. The owner/chef is Japanese and similar to his personality, the place feels laid back and relaxed.

SUSHI:
The quality of the sashimi is decent. It's definitely not the freshest in town, but the price is one of the cheapest around (is Bellevue that much cheaper than Seattle?) Most of the sushi is half the price of what you would pay for in Belltown. If you love to eat tons of sushi, I highly recommend their all you can eat sushi for under $25. The best thing about this all you can eat is that the chef will make the sushi as you order instead of selecting the sushi that's been sitting around for who knows how long (like in Todai). One thing I would not recommend is their Shumai Roll, which sounded interesting, but it ended up being a roll with cheap tasting sausage inside.

OTHER DISHES:
Their sushi may not be the best, but they make up for it by having great traditional Japanese izakaya menu. Their bento special is very good deal where you can select two main dish (teriyaki, tempura, etc) for about $15. The yakitori, gyoza and seared scallop from the appetizer menu were also excellent. Their udon looked pretty good except that it had broccoli in it (you wouldn't see that in Japan).

SERVICE:
Since the place is not too crowded, the service is usually pretty good. If you sit at the sushi counter, you can see that they have some more good stuff posted on the wall (like shishamo), that is not listed on the menu. I recommend this place for decent level all you can eat sushi or izakaya style dinner with friends with a couple of sushi to fill you up in the end.

Sushi Maki

Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
Address: 1633 Bellevue Ave Seattle (map)
Phone: 206-264-0725
Web: N/A
Parking: Street

Overall Rating: 6.8 / 10pts

ATMOSPHERE:
This place is tiny. It's like two phone booths put together. From the outside, unless you were looking carefully you wouldn't know that it's a restaurant. It's that tiny. With that said, this is mostly a take out place. Sometimes, I'm surprised to see some people eating in here. At one moment, you could probably only have 4 to 5 people inside.

SUSHI:
They have a few nigiri on the menu that you can order (for mostly $1.50 each) but their thing is rolls. As this place is Korean owned, they have some special rolls that include kimchee or bulgogi inside. The biggest thing about Sushi Maki is their large padding of rice on their rolls. They are huge! Each order of rolls comes with 8 pieces, and I was pretty full after 6 pieces. They also have some special cooked sushi that looks like okonomiyaki (similar to Dynamite Rolls from Rolls n Sushi in downtown) but surprisingly tasty. If you are hungry and want some rolls, it's a good place, but their nigiri is nothing superb.

OTHER DISHES:
They don't have very many non sushi or roll dishes, but carry cold tofu (hiyayakko), cucumber sunomono and edamame.

SERVICE:
This is a popular take out place, so whenever I go there, there are always at least three people ahead of me waiting (though you have to wait outside since there is no space for all of us). I recommend calling ahead. One thing to note is that they only accept cash.

Wasabi Bistro

Neighborhood: Belltown
Address: 2311 2nd Ave Seattle (map)
Phone: 206-441-6044
Web: www.wasabibistro.biz/
Parking: Street

Overall Rating: 8.8 / 10pts

ATMOSPHERE:
Located on the 2nd Ave part of fancy Belltown district, this place has a fairly large bar area that serves light appetizer dish as well as big dining area. The interior feels very modern and American, instead of traditional Japanese style. They do have sushi counters and a few customers do sit there, but most of the crowds are hipsters that come to enjoy the cool atmosphere and be hip about eating sushi. Someone told me that they sometimes have live music there.

SUSHI:
I was surprised to find that 2/3 of their menu was all sushi. Of course, half of that was all fancy named rolls with avocados, cream cheese, tempura and mayo in it. I went with a Japanese friend of mine who was on a budget, so she tried to order rolls instead of nigiri, but she had a hard time finding a roll without those non-traditional items in it. We were shocked to find that one of the rolls had mangos in it (I just couldn't get myself to try that). On the other than, I was pleasantly surprised to find that they had "daily special" area where they listed a few selection of fresh fish of the day. They also had chef's choice which went from $25, but here at Wasabi Bistro, you could order one piece of nigiri sushi at a time instead of having to get two sushi per order. The price ranged from $2.50 to $4 per one nigiri, which was reasonable. I ordered all from the daily special, including kampachi, which was one of the best I've had all season. The cut is nice and thick, without it being too big and had nice rich flavor. The only non-daily special I ordered was uni, which wasn't as good as the one I had at Village Sushi last week. But everything else tasted more crips and fresh (at least on the daily special).

OTHER DISHES:
Since 2/3 of their menu consists of sushi rolls or nigiri, they only have about a dozen selection of non-sushi item (even less if you don't include seafood). The Albacore Tataki was fresh and tasty, and I also enjoyed the large serving of "Chop Chop Chicken Salad with Wasabi Aioli Dressing" even though it didn't taste like anything you would find at a traditional Japanese restaurant.

SERVICE:
Your service depends on how crowded the place is, but the waiting staff were quite knowledgeable about the fish in general, except they would tell me the names of the fish in English, which I had a hard time looking up the Japanese translation for on the menu, but I'm probably the minority on that one as people would rather hear "striped bass" instead of "suzuki." Overall, this is a safe place to go to impress your non-Japanese date, since it's fashionable and the selection, especially from the daily menu is fresh and tasty.

Village Sushi

Neighborhood: U-District
Address: 4741 12th Ave NE Seattle (map)
Phone: 206-985-6870
Web: N/A
Parking: Street

Overall Rating: 8.4 / 10pts

ATMOSPHERE:
Village Sushi just opened in University District, just a couple of blocks away from the Ave. Considering that there aren't any decent sushi place in the U-District, it's a great news to the local sushi lovers. Located on the quiet 12th Ave in between 47th and 50th St, this place looks like a big shared housing from the outside. Inside is nice and clean with a decent counter space. Due to owner's preference, there are some jazz albums decorated on the walls. Tables are put together quite closely to one another, so if you are a larger person, you might feel a little crowded, but compared to other tiny places such as Musashi, it feels a bit more spacious, probably for the taller ceiling.

SUSHI:
Overall, they serve fairly fresh and decent tasting sushi, but definitely not the freshest fish in town. They have some seasonal seafood specials (such as raw oysters), but when comes to sushi, they stick to their menu, and if you ask them, "what's fresh today?" they simply respond, "everything is fresh" and offer no recommendations. The main chef is Indonesian, but have worked for a long time in numerous local sushi restaurants, so he knows his stuff. The price is reasonable for decent level sushi. Their sushi regular comes with 6 pieces of nigiri plus 6 pieces of rolls (3 California and 3 spicy tuna) for $12.50 (you can also get Sushi Deluxe for 8 piece nigiril plus rolls for $15.50). Their uni was surprisingly good for $6 for 2 pieces, but everything else just tasted above average, and not that memorable.

OTHER DISHES:
Look for their seasonal specials posted at the entrance. When I went, they had rockfish usuzuke (just means ultra thin sliced sashimi flavored with ponzu-like citrusly sauce) which was quite tasty for about $7. Their chirashi is listed at $19, which sounds pricey, but it comes with more than enough load of various sashimi on top, so if you are in mood of lots of sashimi, or want to share with someone, it's great to try. They have very small sake menu, so if that's your thing, you may be disappointed by the selection.

SERVICE:
Service is usually pretty good. Some of the waitresses are more knowledgeable about the menu than others, but overall, they are all attentive and try to make your dining pleasurable.

Rolls n Sushi

Neighborhood: Downtown
Address: 823 3rd Ave #101 Seattle (map)
Phone: 206-903-1677
Web: N/A
Parking: Street

Overall Rating: 6.8 / 10pts

ATMOSPHERE:
It's a small take out place near inside the Marion Food Court. There are a few chairs and tiny counters inside that you could sit and eat, but majority of the people do a take out, or on a warm sunny day, sit outside where there are tables and chairs. But be careful! They are only open on weekdays from 10:30am to 4:30pm.

SUSHI:
Although they have general selectiton of nigiri sushi (all under $4.50 for two piece order), their thing as the name suggest is making rolls. Like I've said before, I don't consider these rolls to be "true" sushi, but I enjoy eating them sometimes for lunch. And Rolls n Sushi is actually pretty good at making these rolls. Their speciality is called Dynamite Roll which looks a lot like okonomiyaki, since it has mayo and sauce on top of California Rolls. This is definitely not a sushi by any Japanese standard, but it's pretty good. My American friends actually consider this to be one of the best sushi they've ever had. My personal recommendation is their Seared Salmon Roll which has salmon wrapped on the outside of the California Roll, and seared. I would say it's probably one of the best rolls I've had in Seattle at a non-traditional sushi restaurant.

OTHER DISHES:
They have a few non-sushi side order dish like cucumber sunomono or edamame. Their Eel Donburi is not so bad either.

SERVICE:
Since this place cater towards business people during lunch hours, it's crowded during their peak time of noon to 1pm. If there is no line, unless you order something that requires grilling or deep frying, you will get your order in about 5 minutes.

Shiro's Sushi Restaurant

Neighborhood: Belltown
Address: 2401 2nd Ave Seattle (map)
Phone: 206-985-6870
Web: www.shiros.com
Parking: Street

Overall Rating: 9.4 / 10pts

ATMOSPHERE:
Located on the 2nd Ave and corner of Battery St., Shiro's Sushi Restaurant, doesn't necessarily look that fancy from the outside. Actually it's not super fancy looking once you step inside either (compared to fine seafood restaurants near the waterfront). But what makes this place the most talked about sushi place in Seattle is the owner/chef, Shiro Kashiba, who trained in Tokyo, Japan, and has been in Seattle since 1966. But because of it's popularity, recently it had turned into more of a touristy spot. Does the food taste good? Absolutely, but is it worth the wait and dining in the packed house with slower service? Probably not, as there are other great options nearby such as Saito's who provide just as high quality of fish without all the hassle of touristy people.

SUSHI:
The master sushi chef, Shiro is probably the most famous sushi chef in Seattle. His name had appeared on almost every cuisine magazines and newspapers, and continues to do so. His sushi does indeed taste excellent and fresh, as he claims to personally select the fish every morning at various markets. The price is a little higher than your average sushi joints, but in Belltown recently, it maybe considered to be average.

OTHER DISHES:
They have decent selection of sake, which is nice. And their house specials are tasty as well. With so many people wanting to try Shiro's sushi, your sushi may take a while to show up (unless you are one of the luckily few that got the counter seat), so it's wise to order some appetizers as you wait. Gyoza in particular cooked to perfection. It was crispy on the outside and juicy in the inside (hard to find good fried gyoza in Seattle).

SERVICE:
Like I said before, since the place is always packed with people wanting to check out the so called "best sushi place in Seattle" the service is a little slower than your average sushi place as Shiro's sushi order is always backed up. The staff is usually pretty good about telling you that "your sushi should be coming soon" except it feels like long time. At least it's nice to know that they are "coming soon."

Dragonfish

Neighborhood: Downtown
Address: 722 Pine St. Seattle (map)
Phone: 206-467-7777
Web: www.dragonfishcafe.com
Parking: Street / Paid

Overall Rating: 4.5 / 10pts

ATMOSPHERE:
This slightly upscale restaurant is located in the heart of downtown. It’s often crowded and the food is expensive, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s a good sushi restaurant. The food is over-priced Asian fusion cuisine. Young business people and tourists staying at downtown hotels fill up the restaurant. Unlike many sushi restaurants, Dragonfish has a full bar, but that is one of the few good points of the restaurant. But don’t drink too much at the bar because you have to leave the restaurant and go to the hotel it is connected to, find an elevator and go upstairs to get to the bathroom.

SUSHI:
It’s a good thing they call themselves an Asian Fusion restaurant because they don’t serve any authentic sushi here. The only “sushi” they have here is rolls, and frankly they aren’t very good. The Bossa Nova Roll (ahi tuna, kaiware sprouts, nova salmon) has way too much wasabi for any sane person, leaving only a burning sensation in your mouth. Sesame & Soy Marinated Tuna is really oily and only tastes like sesame oil. Maybe that’s how they cover up the fact that they don’t have any authentic sushi chefs or know where to buy fresh fish.

OTHER DISHES:
Most of the things on the menu sound fancy (is that the fusion part?) but they all taste quite plain. If they charged $5/plate for their food, it would be more understandable, but for chicken yakisoba that is $12.85 and just tastes “okay”, it’s a rip off. You can get much better chicken yakisoba on the Ave for half the price.

SERVICE:
Talk about slow service - the hostess was literally moving in slow motion. She took 82 seconds to put a check mark on her table list, and 47 seconds to grab menus, which were right next to her. Then she took 54 seconds to move out from behind her podium and finally led us to our table. You may be picturing a very large woman or someone with a wooden peg leg, but that was not the case. She was just extremely slow. She wasn’t the only slow one. The place was maybe half full, but it took them 10 minutes to take our drink order and another 10 minutes to bring the drinks.

Kozue

Neighborhood: Wallingford
Address: 1608 N 45th St Seattle (map)
Phone: 206-547-2008
Web: www.kozue-on-45th.com
Parking: Street

Overall Rating: 8.5 / 10pts

ATMOSPHERE:
Kozue is a small, casual restaurant in Wallingford (on NE 45th St). It’s not as expensive as many other sushi restaurants in Seattle, and you notice this as soon as you step in the door because the atmosphere is more or less like a cheap Thai restaurant with a mom-and-pop feel. But don’t let this discourage you because the food is good, and it’s cheap. If you are a student with a tight budget but still want to enjoy decent sushi, you will fit right in with the rest of the crowd.

SUSHI:
Although nothing stands out as superb or memorable, overall they serve fairly fresh and decent tasting sushi. They stick to their menu, and don’t go out of their way to get seasonal fresh fish. If you ask them, “what’s fresh today?” they simply respond, “everything is fresh” and offer no recommendations.

OTHER DISHES:
They offer a lot more traditional Japanese dishes than most places, and you may have a hard time choosing what you want to eat. Their tempura is pretty good, but sometimes, it is coated in a little too much batter. Hamachi Kama (grilled yellowtail cheeks) is offered at a decent price, and sukiyaki is always fun to try. But if you are new to this place and want to try various things on the menu, try a combo meal.

SERVICE:
Service is usually pretty good, but some of the waitresses are more knowledgeable about the menu than others. Kozue is usually not too crowded, so the food comes out fairly quickly.

[CLOSED] Saito's Japanese Cafe & Bar

Neighborhood: Belltown
Address: 2120 2nd Ave Seattle (map)
Phone: 206-728-1333
Web: www.saitos-cafe.com
Parking: Street

Overall Rating: 9.7 / 10pts

ATMOSPHERE:
From the outside, you would never think it’s a fancy Japanese sushi restaurant. In fact it’s quite hard to spot with no bright signs and you may walk past it without even knowing it’s there. But be sure to make the effort to seek it out because the interior is quite upscale with candlelight and Japanese décor. The sushi counter is especially fancy and draws your attention.

SUSHI:
Saito’s offers some of the freshest fish in Seattle. The sushi is expertly prepared by Mr. Saito. If you get a chance to sit at the counter you should do so because the sushi chefs are exciting to watch with their speedy and precise sushi-making techniques. Also they can offer suggestions for fresh fish of the day or unusual types of fish that aren’t on the menu and you won’t find anywhere else in Seattle. If you are not too sure which fish to order they offer two types of sushi combos (one is around $20 and the other “omakase” is around $30). Their fresh sushi and sashimi particularly go well with their wide selection of chilled sake. Both the sushi and sake are offered at a premium price, but they are worth it for special occasions or when you want to splurge.

OTHER DISHES:
Although most of the food they offer here is pretty good, I recommend sticking to the sushi, since this is probably the best sushi place in Seattle (so far).

SREVICE:
If you manage to sit at the counter, the service is really quick because the sushi chefs work quickly and serve the people at the counter first. The table service is also good, and most of the wait staff speaks Japanese and can answer most questions about the menu.

Chiso

Neighborhood: Fremont
Address: 3520 Fremont Ave N (map)
Phone: 206-632-3430
Web: www.chisoseattle.com
Parking: Street

Overall Rating: 9.5 / 10pts

ATMOSPHERE:
Chiso is a stylish, modern restaurant with a relaxing environment. It’s slightly more upscale than many of the neighboring bars and restaurants in Fremont, and is a great place to go for a relaxing meal or late-night snack. For the ultimate experience, sit at the sushi counter and strike up a conversation with the friendly owner, Taichi, while enjoying the fresh fish of the day. If you come with a group, there are tables that can accommodate larger groups, but reservations are recommended for groups, especially on weekends.

SUSHI:
Chiso’s owner, Taichi, personally selects and tastes each fish, so he knows what is fresh each day. There are usually several fresh fish selections that are not on the menu, so be sure to ask what is fresh and what is available. The sockeye salmon and oysters are particularly good when they are fresh.

OTHER DISHES:
In addition to great sushi, Chiso also offers an array of traditional Japanese side dishes. The agedashi tofu (fried tofu in a Japanese soup stock), yakitori (skewered chicken), and kasuzuki (cod that has been soaked in sake and then grilled) are especially good at Chiso. Hamachi kama (grilled yellowtail cheeks) is another delicious dish, but due to it’s popularity, they often run out. Their meat dishes are less consistent than their fish dishes, but are usually tasty as well. If you are a vegetarian, Chiso offers a variety of vegetarian dishes to choose from.

SERVICE:
The staff members at Chiso are generally friendly and knowledgeable. They can recommend fresh fish of the day, and sake to go along with the fish. They are also happy to explain any of the side dishes if you have questions about them. Some of the staff speaks Japanese as well. If the restaurant is crowded and there’s a long wait for a table, give them your phone number and ask them to call you when your table is ready (so you can have a drink at on of the nearby bars while you wait for your table at Chiso).