Glhlavka World

Fresh, raw, slimy fish served with a side of sinus-clearing wasabi…..is there anything better? If I had to eat one type of food for the rest of my life, it would be Japanese. I have sushi at least once a week, but also love the full array of Japanese delicacies served at more traditional Japanese restaurants. These are my two cents on some of Seattle’s best (and worst) places to eat sushi –

1. Kozue
Grade: A+
Location: Wallingford

I hesitate to let anyone in on the delightful secret that is Kozue, as it is already hard enough to get a table at this tiny little place. I have yet to eat anything that isn’t absolutely terrific. The tuna tartare and supreme chirashi bowl (if you dig the raw fish) are musts. An extensive Japanese menu, in addition to a healthy sushi selection. Reasonable prices. Very fresh fish. Nice preparation. Comfy atmosphere – just like eating at your grandmother’s (if your grandmother is a little Japanese lady). Nothin’ fancy, just heaven on a plate.

2. Umi Sake House
Grade: A
Location: Belltown

It was a happy circumstance that I was accosted (in a good way) by Shane, an overly-helpful homeless dude, as I was making my way to Wasabi Bistro the other night. As we walked and chatted, Shane told me that the best sushi in Seattle is actually at Umi Sake House. It turns out that Shane collects the recycling for many local Belltown restaurants, including Umi Sake House, and has sampled all of their wares, so to speak. And that the man knows good eats. I was blown away by Umi Sake House, which is saying something considering the frequency with which I eat sushi. The restaurant appears to be minuscule from the exterior, but is actually quite huge (by Belltown standards), with a large bar, tables, and sushi bar in the back. The focus of the menu is definitely on sushi, with a selection sheet longer than your arm. While there are the traditional sashimi and nigiri selections, Umi Sake House has a vast array of inventive rolls (even rivaling out-of-the-box thinker Mashiko) that will have you in a dilemma as to what to order. According to Shane, the fish is brought in fresh every day, and you can really tell. The raw fish in my chirashi bowl could not have been any better, nor prepared with any finer of knife skills. Frankly, the only reason that I give Umi Sake House an “A” and not an “A+” is the poor acoustics and fact that the place is overrun with the pre-yuppie, post-fraternity Belltown types that I usually try to avoid.

3. Chiso
Grade: A-
Location: Fremont

Chiso is one of my favorite Japanese restaurants, hidden in a corner of Fremont. I rarely order the straight sushi, as I am addicted to the various chirashi bowls. The menu has a large selection of Japanese delights, and darn good sushi as well. The presentation is always lovely, the fish is always fresh, and the house cocktails are yummy (get the ginger pear martini). The atmosphere (and price) is a little more upscale than most sushi joints, but no need to dress up. Never had a bad meal there, and I have eaten at Chiso A LOT.

4. Shiro’s
Grade: A-
Location: Belltown

Rumor has it that Shiro’s is the favorite Seattle Japanese restaurant of the Mariner’s own Ichiro. The seafood is absolutely the freshest in town, and the food is prepared with precision. The price scales on the high side, but you will not be disappointed with the quality of your meal. On the other hand, I found the place to be a bit sterile for my taste (but keep in mind that I am an affectionado of dive bars). The menu emphasizes various Japanese dishes, with a so-so selection of traditional sushi items. That being said, the rainbow roll is the best I have ever had. The service is terrific (the ratio of waiters to customers has to be at least 1:2). A must for the Japanese food purist. Reservations strongly recommended.

5. Mashiko
Grade: B+
Location: West Seattle

Mashiko is best described as the trendy sushi spot of choice for the well-heeled Seattle hipster set. The restaurant focuses on sushi, and has absolutely the most inventive sushi menu in town. This is the place to go if you want sushi combinations that you won’t find anywhere else in the city (and maybe the world). The restaurant fills up fast, and the service has never been particularly good when I have been there, so be prepared to wait. A great place to go with friends and an open mind.

6. Nijo
Grade: B+
Location: Downtown

In the interest of full disclosure, I have only been to Nijo for lunch. The restaurant is hidden off an alley near Western Avenue. The food is contemporary, with fresh fish and clean preparation. The poke is the best in town (and, if you ask really nice, they will serve you the poke on top of a bed of sushi rice for an off-the-menu “poke don”). The atmosphere is relatively modern but entirely pleasant, and the staff is always very friendly. A thoroughly enjoyable experience.

7. Sam’s Sushi
Grade: B
Locations: Ballard and Queen Anne

I live in Ballard. Most of my friends live in Ballard. We often hang out in Ballard on the weekends. Sam’s Sushi is the only sushi place in Ballard. ‘Nuf said. I have eaten here more times than I care to admit, and get take-out at least twice a month. Although the restaurant is actually run by people who are Chinese, the sushi is pretty good. It’s not the fanciest food in the world, but I have no complaints as to the freshness of the seafood (and, if you haven’t figured this out already, I live for raw fish). The staff is very nice, and the place just feels like home. A nice neighborhood sushi joint – what more can you ask for?

8. Maneki
Grade: B
Location: International District

Maneki, at over 100, is the oldest Japanese restaurant in Seattle. A friend once told me that the restaurant originally catered to Japanese sailors, with the focus on affordable comfort food from home. The tradition continues to this day. The menu involves an extensive selection of Japanese dishes, with the requisite sushi menu thrown in for good measure. This is the place to go for Japanese dishes that you are unlikely to find anywhere else in town. And, the price is a bargain. Although the restaurant is by no means fancy, reservations are a must – or you better be prepared to wait at least two hours for a table. A true Seattle institution.

9. Fuji Sushi
Grade: B-
Location: International District

I have been to Fuji Sushi for the lunch a couple of times with friends who work in the ID. The sushi and bento boxes seem to be favorites among my cohorts. The food was pretty good. Prices were reasonable. A pleasant experience, but nothing that blew my socks off.

10. Aoki
Grade: B-
Location: Capital Hill

Aoki is probably the best sushi restaurant on Capital Hill. But frankly, that isn’t saying much as there is little competition for the honor. The sushi is decent and servicable. The atmosphere is relaxing. Not somewhere that I would drive across town to eat at, but a fine choice if I happen to be on the Hill, desparately craving sushi, and too lazy to drive elsewhere.

11. Kisaku
Grade: C
Location: Greenlake

Kisaku is often touted as one of the best sushi restaurants in Seattle. However, it had the misfortune of being the next sushi place that I tried after the sublime Shiro’s, and it unfortunately paled in every way that Shiro’s excelled. The food was prepared with a heavy, clumsy hand that lacked the supreme delicacy and precision of Shiro’s stellar touch. Moreover, I found that the seafood could not match the freshness of the fish served at Shiro’s or my other top rated sushi joints, nor was I impressed with the knife-work used in its preparation. My dining companions, however, did enjoy the california roll (which does not use mayo, a to-be-avoided ingredient for my sweetie), even if they found their other sushi rolls to be merely adequate. Combined with the “family friendly atmosphere” (i.e., lots of kids) and difficulty in parking in Tangletown, this place is a must miss for me.

12. Todai
Grade: C
Location: Downtown and Redmond

Want all the sushi you can stuff down your throat? Care to gorge yourself on cafeteria-style Japanese dishes, where the emphasis is quantity over quality? This is the place for you! For a moderate-to-high flat fee, you can grab a plate and dig in at any number of the teeming food stations – no one leaves Todai hungry. But, considering that this restaurant caters to the masses, the food is actually pretty edible, the selection is broad enough to satisfy most palates, and kids absolutely love the place. This restaurant is a bit of a novelty, and a good place to take out-of-towners who have little to no experience with sushi or high-end Japanese food.

13. Ototo Sushi
Grade: C
Location: Queen Anne

As soon as I read that Ototo Sushi was one of the best sushi restaurants in Seattle, I had to try it pronto. I can no longer recall what I had as an appetizer (my memory says poke, but it has been a while), but I do recall that it was particularly delicious and that I deeply regretted agreeing to share with my dining companions. My sushi was pretty good, but not terribly memorable. What I remember most about this place, however, is how much I hated the restaurant itself. It strives to be ultra-modern, but in a way that felt more Ikea than I.M. Pei. And, we were surrounded by tables and tables of families with very young children who spent the entire meal shrieking and throwing food on the floor (which, oddly, was carpet – not a good choice). If I had to guess, I would state that the typical clientele of Ototo’s is a yuppie couple with their requisite 2.5 children. Yuck.

14. Blue C Sushi
Grade: D
Location: Fremont

Blue C Sushi is one of those gimmicky sushi places where the food passes by you on an ever-moving conveyor belt and you grab whatever strikes your fancy. You pay by the plate (plates are color-coded by price). Everyone should try it once – and once will be enough. The food is pretty generic and doesn’t taste particularly fresh. Kids love the concept and will want to go back, but better sushi can be found pretty much anywhere else.

15. Musashi’s
Grade: F
Location: Wallingford

I cannot tell you how many people have raved to me about Mushashi’s. Granted the prices were low. But I do not think I have ever enjoyed a sushi meal less. The selection was disappointing, and (a complete sin, in my book) the sushi was much too warm. Plus, the restaurant itself was ungodly hot and stuffy. For the life of me, I cannot fathom why there is always a line to get into this place. Worst sushi I have ever had (and, considering that I lived in the South for 10 years, that’s saying something).