The food at Migaku is exquisite, and everything about the experience is crafted to highlight the food and enable you to appreciate it. We sat at the bar and enjoyed watching the chefs slice the fish and craft the nigiri sushi. The food, served course by course, and included traditional dishes as well as sushi, miso, chawanmushi, and beef. (The staff was very accommodating when we realized one member of our party wouldn't be able to eat the sauce on the beef dish. They prepared the beef grilled instead.) As a diner, you're part of the experience for the entire room, which means focusing on the food and gentle conversation (the chefs are happy to tell you about the dishes they're serving). The night we were there, all of the two- and four-person parties seemed quite tuned in to the serentity of the environment. It's a great way to appreciate food.
Barry
We were really looking forward to this omakase, especially at $170 per person, which puts it squarely in the same tier as the top sushi experiences in Seattle (LTD, Takai, etc.). Unfortunately, the meal didn't meet the standard that price point sets. The biggest issue was with the sushi itself. Several pieces had clearly been cut well in advance—easily 20–30 minutes before serving—rather than cut to order. At this level, that simply can't happen. Once fish is sliced and sits exposed, oxidation dulls the color, flavor, and texture. The surface starts to dry slightly, the fat changes character, and the overall bite loses the clean, bright quality that defines true omakase. Cutting-to-serve isn't a luxury; it's the baseline expectation when charging premium pricing. There were also some surprising omissions. No uni was included—again, unusual for a menu positioned at this level. And the wagyu course, which should be a highlight, was served buried in a stew-like preparation that overwhelmed the meat rather than showcasing it. Service was another disappointment. The person tending beverages and clearing plates was largely absent, leaving long gaps between courses on the table and empty glasses unnoticed—something that adds to the feeling that the experience just wasn't cared for end-to-end. None of this is written to be harsh; it's just a bummer. We wanted to love this meal, and there were a few bright spots, but overall, it didn't come close to delivering the quality or intentionality you expect from a $170 omakase. There are other spots in the city at the same price point offering a noticeably higher standard.
Gretchen
One of the best dinners I've had in ages! Absolutely stunning. There's so much attention made to the presentation and the actual tastes are just as good! Cannot recommend recommended enough. 
Karen Choe
Simply amazing. Extraordinary experience in simple understated atmosphere. Quintessentially Japanese.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Craig
Let me first say that we have eaten at many Kaiseki places (here and in Japan), so my review is based on those past experiences. Came here for my wife's birthday. Wanted to try something new and found this place. I read the reviews, and went back and forth on my decision based on some bad and so-so reviews. Since I take reviews with a grain of salt, I decided to eat here. I am glad (and so does my wife) that we did! The food is excellent! The sushi was very fresh, tasty and there were more than a few pieces that melted in our mouths. There were actually a couple types of fish that I haven't had before, which were also delicious. We also loved the hot dishes. The server is the one who mainly described the dishes. The chefs are Japanese and spoke very little English. They spoke very little until we spoke Japanese. Once we did, they brighten and opened up to us. Unfortunately, we learned that Migaku-san was not there and in Japan, so we didn't get to meet him. One small thing, which was mentioned on other reviews was the service. Although everyone was friendly and nice, the service fell a little short compared to other Kaiseki restaurants in the greater Seattle/Bellevue area. For example, one recommendation is if someone purchases a bottle of sake/wine, to at least do an initial pour/serving into their glass. We were surprise when the server explained the bottle, put it back into the chiller without serving us the initial pour. We actually laughed about this and poured the sake ourselves. Not a deal-breaker, but as mentioned, a small detail. Overall, we were happy with everything and do plan to return in the future.
Gregg Luskin
Absolutely incredible! Amazing dinner… only note is that it is slow paced and has few staff, not a bad thing just be ready for longer waits between courses - but they are well worth the waits. I’ll definitely be coming back!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Sushi
Nicole White
Sushi was delicious. Seasonal dishes were a treat.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chef’S Special Kaiseki Course
WolfsDigital Marketing
Matsui San was fantastic! Thank you very much, ごちそうさまでした。Came here for birthday dinner with my mom and he was amazing and personable. We will be coming again soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi, Chawanmushi, Sashimi
Brian
I don't usually write this kind of lengthy review, but this spot is a genuine gem that absolutely deserves more recognition. I’ve been a loyal customer here ever since I found it. Hands down, this is the best food I’ve ever had. The chef’s focus on every single detail in the dishes is simply better than what you get at a lot of those so-called high-end restaurants. The place might not be as flashy as some other ones, but the real quality is in the careful preparation and the plating of everything they serve. The ingredients are obviously top-tier, but the real genius here is how they consistently nail the perfect balance of temperature, texture, and flavor. The more you know and enjoy food, the more you will appreciate the level of skill and care involved. Moreover, I always appreciate the warm welcoming from the chefs and the staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chef’S Special Kaiseki Course
Brandon Bjarnason
I accidentally booked the wrong day and they were able to accommodate us. Very wonderful experience. Excellent food.
Pretty disappointing kaiseki experience compared to others in seattle given the near perfect reviews. The grilled and fried dishes were taken off the menu and the meal wasn’t very filling for $160. The nigiri, chawanmushi, and soup were fine but this is standard fare at other kaiseki / omakase places.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
April
What a find!! We all loved every single bite! Each dish was beautifully presented and an explosion of flavors. The staff was just as wonderful as the food! I'm still giggling over a comment made by our waiter. We were visiting Seattle and took our daughter and son in law. They will be visiting often and we will fly back from Florida for another fantastic meal. Next time we're doing the more expensive offering just so we can try more dishes. Well done, chef!
Vicki Mitchell
The sushi was so flavorful and melts I your mouth. I’ve never had anything like it! Chef was kind and professional. Highly recommended!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chef’S Special Kaiseki Course
Dave
We had an amazing Nigiri-sushi course at the bar. Such a great gem in Ballard. Highly recommend!
katie perkins
The entire experience was intimate and exceptional. The sushi chef made the night and the nigiri was the top.
The food at Migaku is exquisite, and everything about the experience is crafted to highlight the food and enable you to appreciate it. We sat at the bar and enjoyed watching the chefs slice the fish and craft the nigiri sushi. The food, served course by course, and included traditional dishes as well as sushi, miso, chawanmushi, and beef. (The staff was very accommodating when we realized one member of our party wouldn't be able to eat the sauce on the beef dish. They prepared the beef grilled instead.) As a diner, you're part of the experience for the entire room, which means focusing on the food and gentle conversation (the chefs are happy to tell you about the dishes they're serving). The night we were there, all of the two- and four-person parties seemed quite tuned in to the serentity of the environment. It's a great way to appreciate food.
We were really looking forward to this omakase, especially at $170 per person, which puts it squarely in the same tier as the top sushi experiences in Seattle (LTD, Takai, etc.). Unfortunately, the meal didn't meet the standard that price point sets. The biggest issue was with the sushi itself. Several pieces had clearly been cut well in advance—easily 20–30 minutes before serving—rather than cut to order. At this level, that simply can't happen. Once fish is sliced and sits exposed, oxidation dulls the color, flavor, and texture. The surface starts to dry slightly, the fat changes character, and the overall bite loses the clean, bright quality that defines true omakase. Cutting-to-serve isn't a luxury; it's the baseline expectation when charging premium pricing. There were also some surprising omissions. No uni was included—again, unusual for a menu positioned at this level. And the wagyu course, which should be a highlight, was served buried in a stew-like preparation that overwhelmed the meat rather than showcasing it. Service was another disappointment. The person tending beverages and clearing plates was largely absent, leaving long gaps between courses on the table and empty glasses unnoticed—something that adds to the feeling that the experience just wasn't cared for end-to-end. None of this is written to be harsh; it's just a bummer. We wanted to love this meal, and there were a few bright spots, but overall, it didn't come close to delivering the quality or intentionality you expect from a $170 omakase. There are other spots in the city at the same price point offering a noticeably higher standard.
One of the best dinners I've had in ages! Absolutely stunning. There's so much attention made to the presentation and the actual tastes are just as good! Cannot recommend recommended enough. 
Simply amazing. Extraordinary experience in simple understated atmosphere. Quintessentially Japanese.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Let me first say that we have eaten at many Kaiseki places (here and in Japan), so my review is based on those past experiences. Came here for my wife's birthday. Wanted to try something new and found this place. I read the reviews, and went back and forth on my decision based on some bad and so-so reviews. Since I take reviews with a grain of salt, I decided to eat here. I am glad (and so does my wife) that we did! The food is excellent! The sushi was very fresh, tasty and there were more than a few pieces that melted in our mouths. There were actually a couple types of fish that I haven't had before, which were also delicious. We also loved the hot dishes. The server is the one who mainly described the dishes. The chefs are Japanese and spoke very little English. They spoke very little until we spoke Japanese. Once we did, they brighten and opened up to us. Unfortunately, we learned that Migaku-san was not there and in Japan, so we didn't get to meet him. One small thing, which was mentioned on other reviews was the service. Although everyone was friendly and nice, the service fell a little short compared to other Kaiseki restaurants in the greater Seattle/Bellevue area. For example, one recommendation is if someone purchases a bottle of sake/wine, to at least do an initial pour/serving into their glass. We were surprise when the server explained the bottle, put it back into the chiller without serving us the initial pour. We actually laughed about this and poured the sake ourselves. Not a deal-breaker, but as mentioned, a small detail. Overall, we were happy with everything and do plan to return in the future.
Absolutely incredible! Amazing dinner… only note is that it is slow paced and has few staff, not a bad thing just be ready for longer waits between courses - but they are well worth the waits. I’ll definitely be coming back!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Sushi
Sushi was delicious. Seasonal dishes were a treat.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chef’S Special Kaiseki Course
Matsui San was fantastic! Thank you very much, ごちそうさまでした。Came here for birthday dinner with my mom and he was amazing and personable. We will be coming again soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi, Chawanmushi, Sashimi
I don't usually write this kind of lengthy review, but this spot is a genuine gem that absolutely deserves more recognition.
I’ve been a loyal customer here ever since I found it. Hands down, this is the best food I’ve ever had.
The chef’s focus on every single detail in the dishes is simply better than what you get at a lot of those so-called high-end restaurants. The place might not be as flashy as some other ones, but the real quality is in the careful preparation and the plating of everything they serve.
The ingredients are obviously top-tier, but the real genius here is how they consistently nail the perfect balance of temperature, texture, and flavor. The more you know and enjoy food, the more you will appreciate the level of skill and care involved.
Moreover, I always appreciate the warm welcoming from the chefs and the staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chef’S Special Kaiseki Course
I accidentally booked the wrong day and they were able to accommodate us. Very wonderful experience. Excellent food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Pretty disappointing kaiseki experience compared to others in seattle given the near perfect reviews. The grilled and fried dishes were taken off the menu and the meal wasn’t very filling for $160. The nigiri, chawanmushi, and soup were fine but this is standard fare at other kaiseki / omakase places.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
What a find!! We all loved every single bite! Each dish was beautifully presented and an explosion of flavors. The staff was just as wonderful as the food! I'm still giggling over a comment made by our waiter. We were visiting Seattle and took our daughter and son in law. They will be visiting often and we will fly back from Florida for another fantastic meal. Next time we're doing the more expensive offering just so we can try more dishes. Well done, chef!
The sushi was so flavorful and melts I your mouth. I’ve never had anything like it! Chef was kind and professional. Highly recommended!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chef’S Special Kaiseki Course
We had an amazing Nigiri-sushi course at the bar. Such a great gem in Ballard. Highly recommend!
The entire experience was intimate and
exceptional. The sushi chef made the night and the nigiri was the top.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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