50 Best Japanese Restaurants in Seattle

“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.“

“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.“

“Visiting Washington and on our Seattle day wanted sushi. Looked at a ton of places on line and saw this set away from downtown with great reviews, gave it a shot.

This was one of the better meals I’ve ever had, happy hour gets you a $1.50 off select items and drinks.

Got the fried pork gyoza (amazing)
Garlic green beans (best I’ve ever had)
Chicken karage (excellent, really good sauce)
A lemon salmon roll (can’t remember the name, but also incredible)

Very reasonably priced, friendly and prompt service, great atmosphere. I can’t say enough to let people fully understand how happy I was with this dinner. Go now!“

“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.“

“Nice place,good service,good food“

“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 !!!“

“A great spot for authentic kaiseki in Seattle. The dishes are creative and the presentation is thoughtful, extending to the beautiful ceramics and plating. It’s a quiet, intimate space that’s perfect for a focused meal or a date. Service was excellent and professional. They apply an automatic 20% service charge but don’t ask for tips on top of that, which simplifies the end of the meal. I’m looking forward to returning.“

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

“Love LOVE this place. I used to love their Kirkland location and was sad when I moved away, so I was absolutely ecstatic that they opened a Ballard location. The rolls are affordable and tasty, and the wine pours are the most generous in Ballard.“

“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.“

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

“I went in for the first time today for lunch after a pretty far walk from work. They are super nice, friendly and chatted with me a bit and explained their different menu options. They suggested the samurai which I got and it is very good to say the least. It’s super vibrant looking and very flavorful. I definitely highly recommend and will be coming back again“

“This is by far the most authentic Katsu Curry I’ve had in Seattle. 2 weeks removed from visiting Japan and dealing with post trip blues, this was an incredible meal that checks every box. The fried Shrimp (Ebi) was incredible. The Pork Katsu curry set was fried to absolute perfection.“

“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.“

“Had a Great Experience. Would definitely Recommend.“

“I have been craving Seattle style teriyaki for 25 years. (I lived in Seattle from 2001-2003) And I finally made it back to Seattle with my family this time. Okinawa Teriyaki was close to where we were down town, we walked from Pike Place Market. Very friendly service, and the teriyaki was just as I remembered it! So delicious! Thanks so much for the food and letting me share this memory with my wife and children!“

“Such a gem this place. We ordered sashimi, sushi candy, magma roll. The sake menu is delightful. Fish quality was good, service was great, cute cozy spot. Next time we will be back for the omakase special. Our server Angie was so welcoming, love restaurants like this.“

“I ordered the katsu bento, and the tonkatsu sauce was missing from the box. Since the sauce is a key part of the dish, the meal didn’t taste the way it should. The yaki niku fries were the best part—they were seasoned well and actually enjoyable.

When a dish is missing an expected component, especially a signature sauce, customers rate the meal as less satisfying and less worth the price. That’s exactly how this order felt.

I might come back for the fries, but I wouldn’t order the katsu bento again unless the sauce is included.“

“So good!! The onigiri were huge and delicious. We really liked the California and spicy tuna. Agedashi tofu was a delightful surprise too. Lychee iced tea was on the sweet side but also very refreshing. So glad to have visited! The wait for 2 wasn’t bad at all, and there’s a nice outdoor waiting area.“

“We lived in Japan and Akebono is for us as good as many of the restaurants we went to in Japan. If you are vegetarian you might enjoy the Inari Breeze Roll! We used to live near Inari - and my favorite sushi is Inari Sushi - they have that also but the Inari Breeze Roll has avacado, spring and cooked onions and tofu. Oh it's so good. So is the shrimp tempura appetizer, the salad, the Agedashi tofu and my husband love the Salmon Trio. I'm sure whatever you choose will be delcious. The atmosphere is very nice and it is very clean.“

“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 ❤️“

“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.“

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

“the sashimi cups are to die for, the portions aren't big but they are delicious!! only complaint is that the cashier will ask you if you want spicy mayo and they will not tell you that it costs extra :( so there will be an extra charge added to your account“

“Had a tasty lunch! Thank you!“

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

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

“Delicious food, great vibe“

“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“

“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.“

“Sooooo yummy, I highly recommend! I was really craving the onigiri that I had in Japan, so I found this place in seattle and am so grateful this place exists! Dedicated gluten free, delicious food (the potato salad is amazing and of course the many different onigiri to choose from), and most importantly the lady (owner?) is always sooo incredibly kind, thoughtful, and very nice (it makes you want to support local businesses because there is so much care in the food and overall experience). If I lived closer, I would regularly go there. Definitely check it out!“

“This has got to be the best small time sushi and teriyaki joint in washington. They are better on the budget and the appetite than anything around. Normally in the city you have to pay an arm and a leg to eat. Not here. You get a huge, well cooked, flavorful meal that doesn't hurt the wallet. Really hard to beat that. Even tacobell is expensive in Seattle. Not koibito. Its owned by a humble, quiet, and ridiculously kind family. They are like a mom and pop joint that secretly is way better than its humble appearance. I couldn't recommend koibito more. Anytime im in Seattle I make sure I stop by for food and service. They are wonderful people. And I hope more of you give them a try. You won't regret it.“

“Best fresh fish (sashimi) and an incredible environment for food & fun“

“Excellent sushi. Great and fast staff with easy menu on app ordering.“

“I Highlight recommend this place. I tried their Beef Bibimbap and it was really authentic and delicious. Don't underestimate the simple look of the small restaurant. They are giving a very good quality/price ratio.“

“Ordered the aji fry (horse mackerel fish) for $9, and salmon collar. The aji was perfectly crunchy and fried without being too greasy - highly recommend. Didn't come with rice or lettuce as it was served as an appetizer, so I'd suggest ordering those separately if you're looking for a meal!
Salmon collar was supposed to be grilled but appeared deep fried. Still delicious, just sharing for other seafood lovers.

For the price, drinks (good sake selection) and ambience, it was very worth it - hidden gemstone in Cap Hill, and fairly spacious (6+ tables with counter area that could easily seat 6+ ppl). Would be happy to come back.“

“This is A+++ sushi. It's always fresh and delicious! We always get the charasi bowl, karaage and recently the chicken katsu. The food always comes out quickly and beautiful! It's also very reasonable given the portions and freshness of the fish.“

“I’ve been coming to Nasai Teriyaki for just over 10 years for my Teriyaki fix, and they’re consistently the best around. It’s actually hard for me to eat teriyaki elsewhere because Nasai is just that good. Things are made to order (and they ask me for level of spice!), and the resulting flavor is perfectly charred and absolutely delicious.

I always get the spicy chicken & gyoza combo, but also love their chicken yakisoba. My household will always go out of our way to eat here when we have a teriyaki craving!

Easy strip mall location with a parking lot, and the folks running this small business are so kind and hardworking. I hope to continue to visit for many more years!“

“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!“

“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.“

“Their appetizers are so good I tend to get 2-3 instead of an entree.

- Agedashi tofu: simple but great, they just mastered this one
- The blackcod cheek is astonishingly good, basically half (the protein portion of) a fancy fish entree
- The vegetable or shrimp tempura: solid, high-quality instance of the category

There's also some sort of mountain yam slime option that I would get at least once, just because it's interesting.“

“Simply wonderful. The entire dining experience, from the lovely gentlemen crafting beautiful, tasty food, to the wait staff, to the food. Price. EVERYTHING. We loved it so much that we made a point to come back the same week on our trip. Will always be a must-stop in Seattle from now on!!! Thank you, Kisaku!!!“

“Can’t even remember how many times I’ve been here! I’ve tried the chicken teriyaki, shrimp yakisoba, beef short rib… my absolute favorite is the chicken katsu!! I think I’ve had it over 10 times already, it’s sooo GOOD!!
The service is always great too, super nice and friendly:) Definitely recommend! Great prices and big portions!“

“食物很美味肉質很優 ，而且店員有很親切及專業的服務，我超喜歡！值得再訪“

“Manna Deli Teriyaki is one of those classic Seattle teriyaki spots that keeps things simple and satisfying. The chicken teriyaki is tender and glazed just right — sweet, savory, and slightly smoky from the grill. The portions are generous, especially with the rice and salad on the side.

It’s casual, no-frills, and perfect for a quick, filling meal. Not fancy, but dependable comfort food that hits the spot every time.“

“Delicous! Excellent quality and provided by attentive and friendly wait staff. Definitely will come back for more! 😋
Ordered and enjoyed: JASMINE GREEN TEA, 4oz SEIKYO JUNMAI, NIJI BRITE, SALMON SKIN, NAMAZU, HOUSE MADE SODA, Miso Soup“

“This has got to be the best restaurant I’ve ever been to. Their staff is phenomenal and I’ve loved everything I’ve eaten there. They have a nice variety of dishes and appetizers. and it’s a restaurant I highly recommend for their delicious food and super sweet staff.“

“My long overdue review comes down to 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ words: Best Taiyaki Comfort Food Ever‼️‼️💯🥰😋😍 Need I say more? . Taiyaki, a popular Japanese fish-shaped pastry, has an interesting history rooted in the Edo period's imagawayaki, a round pancake filled with sweet red bean paste. The modern version of taiyaki was invented in 1909 during the Meiji era by Seijirō Kanbei, who owned a sweets shop called Naniwaya in Tokyo . Seeking to create a unique twist on imagawayaki, he used a mold shaped like a sea bream (tai in Japanese), a fish symbolizing good fortune. The delightful combination of its distinctive shape and delicious taste quickly made taiyaki a favorite across Japan, often sold by street vendors and enjoyed at festivals . Over time, taiyaki evolved to include various fillings such as custard, chocolate, cheese, sweet potato, and even savory options, and in BeanFish case, MmmBacon 😍😋🥰, though the iconic fish shape remains. Today, taiyaki has spread globally, becoming a beloved treat in many countries and appreciated for its nostalgic charm and the enjoyable experience of biting into its crispy exterior to reveal a warm, sweet filling!!! 🍥🥮🫘“