This article on the best sushi restaurants in Seattle has been a long time coming. I eat sushi more than the average person and realized last year that I should be sharing my favorites with the world. But given there are so many places to get sushi in Seattle, I wanted to make sure I hit up the majority of them before staking a claim on the best.
Therefore I spent the better part of a year visiting and revisiting Seattle sushi places. I went to fancy omakases that cost hundreds of dollars per person and sushi spots in convenience stores selling rolls for under $8.
All of this is to say, I went deep on Seattle’s sushi scene so I can create a list with the best of the best just for you. And given Seattle’s obsession with seafood and availability of fresh fish, there are a lot of winners.
So if you’re looking for the best sushi restaurants in Seattle, consider this your definitive list. I share what each one is best for and the price point, as there is a place in our bellies for both the weeknight casual sushi joints and the special occasion blow outs. Get ready to explore them all!
Best Sushi Restaurants in Seattle
Save this to Pinterest for later, as I’ll update this as I find more great sushi (particularly on the Eastside, as I kept this list to Seattle proper for now so I could manage researching places and actually publish this article within a year!).
Taneda
website | 219 Broadway E (get directions) | neighborhood: Capitol Hill | price: $$$$ | best for: special occasion multi-course meal starting at ~$235 pp
There are two facts about Taneda. First, it’s arguably the best sushi restaurant on this list. Second, it’s a complete bitch to get a reservation.
That’s because there are only 9 seats at a tiny chef’s counter and 2 seatings per night. You need to wait for Taneda to announce on Instagram that new reservations are dropping and then be ready (already signed into Tock) to snag a reservation within 1-3 seconds.
I’m not even joking. I tried getting a reservation for THREE MONTHS before I finally got one. When the day came, I went into the meal thinking there is absolutely no way this sushi restaurant will be worth the effort to get a reservation. But friends, it IS worth it.
Owner and head chef Hideaki Taneda used to work at I Love Sushi in South Lake Union before opening Taneda in 2019. He has a webcam with his purveyors in Japan that allows him to speak to them daily and pick fresh fish right from the markets. He also sources a lot of seafood from Alaska, Washington, and Oregon to use in his multi-course meal that blends edomae and kaiseki styles of cooking.
If you’re not familiar, edomae style started in the early 1800s and requires a highly-skilled chef to create hand-rolled sushi quickly in front of customers using fish caught from the local waters. It catered to businesspeople who were impatient, but wanted to good food fast.
Kaiseki is a traditional multi-course meal that is a fancy expression of the seasons on a plate. The word is often used interchangeably with omakase since both are leaving your meal in the hands of the chef. However, at an omakase the chef will talk to you and adjust the menu on the fly based on your palate. Kaiseki means there are no choices and you get what you get and don’t get upset…and that’s what you can expect at Taneda.
You’ll get about 20 courses of meticulously created pieces of nigiri or sashimi and hot plates. I still remember standouts from my meal that consisted of some of the most buttery-tasting tuna, skipjack, perch, and salmon I’ve ever had. There was also a hand roll, wagyu, lobster tempura, and chestnut mousse, balancing out the meal with dishes other than just sushi.
Pro tip: Despite how pricey Taneda is, they have one of the most reasonable sake pairing prices I’ve seen at a kaiseki-style sushi restaurant. It was $35 for 3 when I went, plus they had reasonable a la carte options. I’m unfortunately note a sake fan, but I’ve heard they’re known for having great options available.
Want to see more? Check out my Instagram post with a video of my meal.
Sushi Kashiba
website | 86 Pine St (get directions) | neighborhood: Downtown | price: $$$$ | best for: a fancy multi-course meal made by a famous chef starting at ~$125 pp
Ask anyone about the best sushi restaurants in Seattle and I guarantee Sushi Kashiba will be high on the list. That’s because it’s in Pike Place Market and one of the quintessential Seattle restaurants run by a sushi master of local fame.
Shiro Kashiba came to Seattle from Japan and opened up the city’s first sushi bar in 1970. He was trained by sushi master Jiro Ono, who you may have heard of thanks to a Netflix documentary called Jiro Loves Sushi.
You’ll often find Chef Shiro Kashiba behind the sushi counter, still in the weeds of making guests a meal. While you can make a reservation in the dining room for a la carte dining or the omakase tasting menu, I highly recommend getting a chef’s counter seat. These are available first come, first serve starting a 5 pm.
Similar to Taneda, you can expect about 20 courses of nigiri, hand rolls, and a few non-sushi dishes. They’ll churn each dish out quickly with the expectation that you’ll eat it in one bite as prepared (no soy sauce for dipping, as is common at fancier kaiseki and omakase spots).
You can expect super high quality fish minimally prepared in order to coax out the best flavors. At the end of the meal they’ll ask you if you want to revisit anything, which will show up on your bill as an a la carte add-on price. I always do this whenever I’m here, as the sushi is too good to pass up!
Shiro’s
website | 2401 2nd Ave (get directions) | neighborhood: Belltown | price: $$$$ | best for: Edomae-style tasting menu starting at ~$125 pp
No list of the best sushi restaurants in Seattle is complete without mentioning Shiro’s. And no, you’re not experiencing déjà vu. Shiro’s was named after Shiro Kashiba, yet he’s not affiliated with the restaurant.
You may be thinking, “Say what?” But let me explain. Shiro used to be affiliated with this restaurant…in fact, he owned it. However, he decided to sell it and let them retain his name. So while Kashiba isn’t behind the counter at Shiro’s anymore, his legacy lives on.
Back in the day you used to be able to order a la carte at Shiro’s. I remember absolutely loving some of their hot plates, such as a buttery geoduck appetizer and the most perfectly-cooked glazed black cod.
Unfortunately since the pandemic they moved to an omakase-only menu. The meal is still top notch, but it’s less predictable whether you’ll get hot plates. It’s also more expensive than it used to be. However, you can eat here for less by reserving a table (~$85 pp) instead of the chef’s counter (~$125 pp).
Sushi by Scratch Restaurants
website | 2331 6th Ave (get directions) | neighborhood: South Lake Union | price: $$$$ | best for: chef-y, non-traditional omakase starting at ~$165 pp
Like Taneda, this is one of the most difficult-to-get reservations in the city thanks to their ~80,000 person waitlist. It’s one of the newer sushi spots in Seattle owned by Scratch Restaurants Group. They started in LA and have since opened 9 concepts in Seattle, Austin, Miami, Chicago, and Montecito.
The Montecito, CA location of their Sushi by Scratch Restaurants concept actually earned a Michelin star, so you can expect incredibly creative and well-executed dishes at their Seattle location. They’re similar to other kaisekis in that they offer a multi-course chef’s tasting menu without any substitutions. You’ll get 17 courses of strictly nigiri or mini hand roll pieces, plus a dessert course.
That’s where the similarities end, though. Chefs, co-owners, and life partners Phillip Frankland Lee and Margarita Kallas-Lee have fun with the dishes they create. While they source impeccable quality fish in true Japanese ethos, the ingredients they pair with each one are whimsical and irreverent.
For example, my meal consisted of hamachi nigiri with sweet corn pudding and sourdough breadcrumbs that added a Pop Rocks-like fizz to fish so high quality it melted in my mouth. There was a shima aji fish paired with fresno chili — I’ve never had a chili heat like that on sushi before and I loved it. And I’ll never forget the unagi eel with bone marrow or the white sesame ice cream bonbon served cold, the latter a creation from owner and pastry chef Margarita.
All in all, this place is difficult to get into and will run you ~$700 all in once for 2 people once you factor in tax, tip, and drink pairings. However, every since piece I had was flawlessly executed so it’s worth the splurge.
Pro tip: Join the waitlist. The lead chef the night we went said they get a surprising number of cancellations a night.
Want to see more? Check out my Instagram post with a video showing what the meal was like and some quirks for finding the space, as it’s a bit “speakeasy” style with a door bell!
Ltd Edition Sushi
website | 1641 Nagle Pl (get directions) | neighborhood: Capitol Hill | price: $$$$ | best for: unique seafood you won’t get elsewhere starting at ~$120 pp
Ltd Edition challenged me. They serve a wide variety of wild-caught fish and seafood that you don’t see at many sushi restaurants. For example, I ate baby firefly squid that glowed blue and little baby eels that had the cutest little faces staring at me. I’m admittedly pedestrian when it comes to my sushi, sticking to mostly fish and scallop. I don’t even like uni for god’s sake (I know, blasphemy)!
So Ltd pushed me out of my comfort zone. Yet even when eating dishes I wouldn’t order again, the freshness of the fish and caliber of technique were undeniable. So if you’re a sushi purist and have an adventurous palate, you will absolutely be floored with Ltd Edition.
Now, that’s not to say that you won’t get recognizable fish as part of your meal. I had the most divine smoked mackerel, scallop, fatty otoro tuna, and trout when I went. You get about 25 pieces of sushi spread across approximately 5 courses, so you’re bound to find many pieces you like.
All of the sushi will be prepared in a traditional style. No flashy ingredients or chef-y interpretations, just the lightest touch to let the nuances of each fish really shine. Owner and chef Keiji trained under Shiro Kashiba, so you know his technique is flawless.
Pro tips: This is another spot to get sake if you’re a fan. At just ~$48 for a flight, it was a great deal because it included some refills.
The meal costs about $140 pp at the sushi bar, but it’s only around $120 pp if you reserve a table.
SAI Sushi & Sake
website | 25 W Mercer St (get directions) | neighborhood: Queen Anne | price: $$$$ | best for: an inventive, under-the-radar omakase experience that’s ~$195 pp
SAI is one of the pricey sushi restaurants in Seattle on the same level as Kashiba, but I find a lot less people know about them. That’s a shame, as sushi chef Akiyoshi Saito is offering an inventive, ever-changing omakase.
Saito grew up in his parent’s sushi restaurant in Japan, so handling fish is in his DNA. Fish wise, you get 11 pieces of nigiri, sashimi, and a hand roll during your meal. I remember there were so many standouts, such as a fatty toro, sea bream, and blue fin tuna I kept gushing about.
You also get 2 appetizers, seasonal soup, miso soup, a hot dish, and dessert as part of your meal. My hot dish consisted of the most perfectly-cooked black cod with a tomato ball. It looked simple, but the flavors were surprisingly concentrated.
If you want to impress someone with a multi-course omakase dinner from a place that they likely haven’t heard of, consider making a reservation at SAI.
Sushi Kappo Tamura
website | 2968 Eastlake Ave E (get directions) | neighborhood: Eastlake | price: $$$ | best for: when you need a fancy night out, but not Kashiba level
Now we’re starting to get to the part of this best sushi restaurants in Seattle list that won’t make you cry when you look at the bill. Sushi Kappo Tamura is the perfect bridge between the pricey special occasion places and restaurants you’d pick for a regular-old date night. It’s fancier, but they serve an a la carte menu that lets you control how much you spend.
Like other greats on this list, head chef Taichi Kitamura trained under Shiro Kashiba. I actually first fell in love with his work at the late Chiso in Fremont. However, he closed that to open Sushi Kappo Tamura with his business partner, Steve Tamura.
Kappo describes a style where food is prepared in an open kitchen and served quickly to create a lively environment. This adds to the less stuffy environment, and the fact that they offer lunch, takeout, and delivery keeps things casual.
Yet you’ll still find high quality ingredients sourced from northwest fisheries and farms. They even have a rooftop garden. This attention to sustainability comes through on the menu, where you’ll find sushi pieces, rolls, and hot dishes.
Pro tip: You can enjoy a 3-5 course omakase at a lower price point than other spots on this list (~$50-$90 pp).
Mashiko
website | 4725 California Ave SW (get directions) | neighborhood: West Seattle | price: $$$ | best for: sustainable fish
Mashiko is Seattle’s first sustainable sushi bar and one of the best restaurants in West Seattle. They source fish based on a rubric of traceability, fish populations, fishing methods, and farming practices. The result is fresh fish you can feel good about.
Ranging from $120-$300, the pre fixe options are pricier than some of the others on this list. However, you can choose to order a la carte to keep costs down.
You’ll find a variety of sashimi, nigiri, and hot plates. There’s also a pretty large vegan sushi roll menu. I really like their fish pieces so I tend to get what’s fresh or my go-tos like salmon or scallop.
Reservations are recommended. If you can’t be bothered, they offer memberships where you get an at-home meal for 2 or 4 people sent directly to your door each month.
Daimonji
website | 5963 Corson Ave S (get directions) | neighborhood: Georgetown | price: $$ | best for: unexpected quality and finesse from a strip mall joint
This spot is an honorary mention on my self-guided Georgetown food tour. It’s in an unassuming strip mall, so chances are many people don’t give it a second look. However I’ve had some of the yummiest fish here, including blue fin tuna and hamachi belly. Everything is high quality, even down to the shiso that I swear is some the freshest I’ve ever had.
While I wouldn’t categorize Daimonji as “cheap”, they have a lo of combo options to help you save money. For example, you can get 6 sashimi, 3 nigiri, a tuna hand roll, and miso soup for under $30.
I like their focus on no-frills, quality fish instead of a long menu of fancy rolls for $20+ each. Give me some sushi pieces and their salmon happy roll and I’m all set.
Ichiro
website | 2434 32nd Ave W (get directions) | neighborhood: Magnolia | price: $$ | best for: affordable rolls and a hole-in-the-wall feel
Out of all the best sushi restaurants in Seattle, this one feels like the biggest hidden gem. Ichiro is a hole-in-the-wall sushi joint located in the sleepier commercial area of downtown Magnolia. No one is talking about them, yet they have an extensive roll list and teriyaki.
More than half the rolls are less than ~$15, so Ichiro won’t break the bank. I really enjoyed the Cherry Blossom Roll with salmon, avocado, and tuna wrapped around the outside. The Ichiro Roll with salmon, shrimp, tuna, cucumber, avocado, and radish sprouts was also a winner.
Nishino
website | 3130 E Madison (get directions) | neighborhood: Washington Park | price: $$$ | best for: clean, traditional flavors and a deep hot plate menu
Nishino is one of the OG sushi restaurants and a quintessential Seattle dining experience. It’s a neighborhood spot next to the Washington Arboretum that has white tablecloths, but isn’t too fancy. It’s a nice middle ground between your hole-in-the-walls and fancy sushi restaurants.
The focus on traditional sushi preparations so you won’t find wild rolls here. Instead there’s a revolving menu of fish specials and a surprisingly extensive hot plate menu. Locals love it, so prepare to make a reservation or order takeout.
The last time I went I got the sashimi chef’s choice sampler and was blown away by the quality. There was a white king salmon, hamachi belly, and toro that were like butter melting in my mouth. We didn’t give the staff much direction so it ended up costing $137 for 10 different fish (2 pieces each), but you can let them know what price point you want to stick to when you order this dish.
Kiriba Sushi
website | 323 N 145 St (get directions) | neighborhood: Shoreline | price: $$ | best for: cheap hand rolls
Kiriba is one of my favorite cheap eats in Seattle. While the majority of the menu is your typical mid-low price range, the hand rolls are a steal at about $5-$7 each. I absolutely love their high-quality salmon belly, so that’s my go-to hand roll every time I come to this neighborhood haunt.
Other affordable options include sushi rolls that are ~$13 or less and the chef’s select sushi with roll. The latter is only ~$21 for 8 sushi and a California or spicy tuna roll. All in all, the quality-to-price ratio of Kiriba Sushi is some of the best in the city so you’ll always find locals hurrying in and out.
Maruta Shoten
website | 1024 S Bailey St (get directions) | neighborhood: Georgetown | price: $ | best for: cheap sushi with higher quality than you’d expect
This is the best spot in Seattle for cheap sushi, hands down. While there are a few comparable cheap options in the U-District, this one wins on the price-to-quality ratio and the experience.
What I mean by experience is that this is an Asian grocery store. People are bustling in and out all day to grab ingredients or a quick bite at the hot meal counter to the right of the store upon entry. However, the must get here is the pre-packaged sushi lining the cold cases around the food counter.
You’ll find everything from rolls, sashimi, and nigiri to seaweed salads and other cold appetizers. I love the nigiri because you generally get a big hunk of fish. Some are even topped with interesting condiments to add an extra punch.
Want to see more? Check out my Instagram post with a video showing what to expect and how to find the sushi once you arrive.
Kamakura
website | 3520 Fremont Ave N (get directions) | neighborhood: Fremont | price: $$ | best for: vegan sushi
You’ll find your typical sushi restaurant fare like shrimp tempura, caterpillar rolls, and sashimi here. All of it is fine, but where they really shine is their vegan sushi rolls.
I’m not typically a big vegan sushi fan because I find most places rely on fake meat to mimic shrimp. My preference is when they use interesting veggies like sweet potato or mushroom to pack a punch of umami.
Kamakura doesn’t rely on just fake meat, but instead creates interesting concoctions you wouldn’t even know are vegan. That’s because they balance the veg with a lot of irresistible crunch and sauces.
For example, the Avocuddle Roll has tofu crab meat, cucumber, fried asparagus, avocado, unagi sauce, and mayo. It’s chewy, crunchy, and creamy all at once. Most sushi restaurants aren’t playing with texture like this, especially when it comes to crunch, so if you’re craving something different definitely give Kamakura try.
Momiji
website | 1522 12th Ave (get directions) & 731 Bell St (get directions) | neighborhood: Capitol Hill & South Lake Union | price: $$$ | best for: late-night and a bar-like atmosphere
Momiji is a hip spot where you come for the ambiance just as much as the sushi. Their Capitol Hill location in particular is quite large and has a clubby atmosphere (plus great drinks) come nighttime. However, if you’re downtown make sure to check out their location among the other best South Lake Union restaurants.
Fitting of their fun vibe is the playfulness of their rolls. You’ll find a large number of funky options like the Hotter Than Hell Roll with spicy tuna topped with 7-spice seared tuna, scallions, habanero tobiko, and habanero citrus-truffle oil.
One of the most interesting options on their menu though is the crispy rice sushi. It’s like nigiri, but the rice is extra crunchy. With the fish on top if reminds me of pressed sushi that’s been seared given the extra flavor the rice imparts in each bite.
Pro tip: This spot has a great happy hour from 4-6 pm daily.
Umi Sake House
website | 2230 1st Ave (get directions) | neighborhood: Belltown | price: $$ | best for: happy hour (both before dinner and late night)
I used to go to Umi Sake House all the time when I worked downtown. I wasn’t making much money at the time so it was our go-to spot for happy hour and after work drinks.
Admittedly I haven’t been to their happy hour in a while, but I still think it’s the best time to go because the prices skew on the more expensive side without it. However, if you go during happy hour you can’t get my favorite roll, the 007.
The 007 sushi roll has spicy tuna, avocado, and cucumber topped with cistrusy lime salmon, shishito peppers, and jalapeños. It’s beautifully balanced, particularly because their salmon quality is top notch.
Modern
website | 6108 Phinney Ave N (get directions) | neighborhood: Phinney Ridge | price: $$ | best for: when you want dessert with your sushi
Modern lives up to its name both in menu and ambiance. The space is small and minimalist, They used to have an indoor table and adorable back patio, but they’ve moved to takeout since the pandemic.
Upon entering to pick up your order you’ll notice a cold case filled with treats. This is what makes Modern the most special spot out of all the sushi restaurants in Seattle: they have amazing desserts for you to look forward to at the end of your meal.
Sushi wise you’ll find a lot of traditional rolls using high-quality fish. My got-to are the Tuna Trio Roll, salmon sashimi, and poke. But when it comes to desserts, I always have a hard time choosing.
My favorite dessert is the refreshing yuzu panna cotta. It’s slightly giggly and the perfect texture. However, I also always try to order their matcha cheesecake or tiramisu cup, but they sell out frequently (a testament to how good they are).
Toyoda Sushi
website | 12543 Lake City Way NE (get directions) | neighborhood: Lake City | price: $$ | best for: over-stuffed rolls
Toyoda Sushi is a family-owned sushi place that makes simple rolls without skimping on the fish. I find their rolls more stuffed than other places, which is refreshing given how much money I tend to drop when I eat sushi.
Besides sushi, one of the dishes I love getting here is the chicken karaage. Even when I get takeout, the breading stays crispy and is beautifully seasoned. Definitely add this fried chicken appetizer to your order!
Sam’s Sushi
website | 5506 22nd Ave NW (get directions) | neighborhood: Ballard | price: $$ | best for: a casual weeknight sushi meal
My nieces would be appalled if I wrote an article on the best sushi restaurants in Seattle an didn’t include Sam’s Sushi. It’s their favorite spot and therefore the place on this list I’ve eaten at the most.
It’s a no-frills place that has good quality fish and quick service. I always get their simple salmon avocado roll and Paradise Roll with yellowtail, salmon, avocado, cilantro, and tobiko. It’s the perfect comforting weeknight meal when you’re craving sushi without any fuss!
More Seattle sushi restaurant to try
These are the places high on my list to try or revisit. I’ll update this list once I do!
- Uminori (Madison Valley) – This is a hand roll spot I heard was great.
- W’az (Downtown) – This is the last fancy pre-fixe place I need to try.
- Wabi-Sabi (Columbia City) – My foodie friends who live in South Seattle rave about this spot.
- Sushi Blossom (Downtown) – They have killer Yelp reviews.
- Kozue (Wallingford) – I used to go here ALL the time in my early-mid 20s, but I suddenly stopped going. I need to go back and try again.
- Bamboo Sushi (U-District) – I remember enjoying their PDX restaurant, but haven’t made it to their Seattle location yet.
- Kisaku (Tangletown) – I used to go here a lot years ago but then suddenly stopped. There may be a reason or that, maybe not. I need more evidence.
- Japonessa (Downtown) – I used to go here a lot when I worked downtown but I haven’t been in about a decade. I need to change that!
- Liberty (Capitol Hill) – I’ve been here a few times and remember enjoying their sushi, but I usually come for drinks so I need to more intentionally pay attention the next time I come for sushi.
- I Love Sushi (South Lake Union) – I’ve gotten their sushi a few times and know a lot of great sushi chefs get their start here, but I need to go back for more research because I can never remember what I thought of it.
- Maneki (Chinatown-International District) – This is Seattle’s oldest sushi restaurant and a cult classic. I went once and wasn’t blown away, but I need to go back for more research. Note, it’s one of the few places to reserve private tatami rooms, which are separated by sliding doors and have floor mats/pillows arranged around a table.
Other places to eat in Seattle
Once you make it through this list of the best sushi restaurants in Seattle, check out my guides to other cuisines around the city.
- Best Fish Restaurants in Seattle
- Must-Try Poke in Seattle
- My Favorite Thai Restaurants in Seattle
- Best Indian Food in Seattle
- Seattle’s Top Mediterranean Restaurants
