Best Japanese Restaurants in Seattle

Upscale crowds applaud this lovely restaurant for a sushi bar that delivers maki and sashimi fashioned from the day's freshest catches. In addition, cooked items and luscious omakase meals are available for diners who crave something besides sushi. Nishino's subdued atmosphere provides a perfect environment for enjoying a relaxing dinner, whether it's in the colorful dining room or on the peaceful outdoor patio. Located steps from the Arboretum, this restaurant has been delighting diners since 1995. Nishino features hand-picked wine from around the world, focusing on wines from the Pacific Northwest. The sake selection spotlights the distinctive flavors and regional characteristics of Japan's traditional beverage.

It's hard to keep great places secreted away, and Toyoda's reputation has, for better or worse, become public knowledge. Better for business, yes, but worse for relaxed dining, as you can tell by the crowds that descend on the small eatery. Still, the food is a wonderful treat. Sushi is fresh and well-presented, and the nigiri is particularly good. Gyoza, the Japanese version of potstickers, are also celebrated by patrons, who munch them eagerly. Geoduck clams continue the seafood theme, along with black cod broiled with sake paste and other seafood entrees. The ambience is laid-back and friendly, bolstered by the charm and ready smiles of Mr. Toyoda and his wife.

Chef Ken Yamamoto is the only chef in the state of Washington licensed to sell fugu, the potentially deadly (if not prepared correctly) Japanese blowfish. Whether you opt for this rare delicacy or one of the other carefully created entrees, you're assured of Ken's masterful hand in the exquisite textures and flavors on your plate. Choose from appetizers like kaki fry (deep-fried oysters) or gyoza, and main dishes like black cod with tempura, eel donburi, and salmon teriyaki. Shiki's sushi has a loyal following; sample toro nigiri, made with fatty tuna, or a crunchy shrimp tempura roll. The restaurant has been serving the Queen Anne and Seattle community since 2001.

Adopting a distinctly modern attitude toward Japanese cuisine, Wasabi Bistro has taken Belltown, and Seattle, by storm. Come for terrific happy hour specials on sake and sushi from 4pm to 6pm daily and 9pm to 1am Sunday through Thursday. The Japanese wine can be had for under $4, and maki options like an indulgent Seattle Tempura Roll (salmon, avocado, and cream cheese, fried) are a steal at half price. Traditional Japanese entrees are updated and given new life, including standards like tempura and yakisoba. This restaurant has wowed diners since it's opening in the summer of 2000; come find out what the talk is all about!

Serving excellent Pan-Asian cuisine from breakfast until late-night, this eatery happily accommodates a host of patrons in the Paramount Hotel. Skillfully prepared dishes incorporate the signature flavors of the entire East Asian region to Seattle, representing the cuisines of China, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. Needless to say, the menu offers a wide variety of imaginative selections. Sushi roll lunch boxes, lemon chicken and Chinese sausage fried rice are among the most popular choices. Servers are knowledgeable and friendly, bartenders are proficient, and prices are reasonable. Check out deals from a Happy Hour that happens to daily or Sake Cinema Sundays.

This is a prime spot for enjoying delicious food and a buzzing scene in Ballard. The venue prides itself on serving "top quality sushi, an innovative Izakaya menu, premium sakes and creative cocktails." This venue serves starters like miso soup, Goma Salad, edamame and ginger kabocha squash soup. Fresh sushi rolls range from the traditional to the exotic. Specialty rolls include the "Zig Zag" (spicy snow crab, soft shell crab, avocado and cream cheese) and the "Green Sea Monster" (jalapenos, seaweed salad, green onions and chopped tomatoes). Sakes include Gekkeikan Hat Sake and Hakutusuru House Sake, and cocktails include the Momo Iced Tea (sweet tea vodka, peach vodka, iced tea) and the Shiku Sunrise (Barcardi Limon, splash of Chambord, Malibu, and Peach Schnapps). Happy hours take place Mondays through Fridays 4:30 to 6:30pm and Fridays and Saturdays 11 pm to midnight plus Saturdays and Sundays midnight to 6 pm.

Diners at this Ballard venue find fresh fish selections at the sushi bar, tempting cocktail creations to complement the extensive list of food and a unique LED Sakura "tree" from Japan. Maki sushi rolls range from the more traditional (rainbow roll, eel avocado) to the Moshi Moshi 2.0 (jam-packed with ingredients like snow crab, scallops, mayo, cucumber, shiso, scallops and more). Choose from over 25 specialty cocktails to complement sushi selections, a wide array of Japanese and domestic beers (including Maritime Islander and Sapporo on draft) and an equally impressive sake program. The dinner menu delights omnivores and vegetarians alike, with options ranging from Yakitori Chicken to Vegetable Udon.

The straightforward decor at this popular restaurant allows taste buds to focus on the culinary adventure. Among the loyal patrons are sports celebrities, business people and local sushi-lovers. They come for the terrific food and also for the special treats available at the sushi bar. Before enjoying the tempura and sashimi choices, enjoy appetizers like the Poke Belltown (tuna with Shiro's signature spicy sauce) and Tako-su (octopus in ponzu or miso vinaigrette).

Chef Shota Nakajima recently closed Capitol Hill's Naka Kaiseki in order to open in its stunning space Adana (meaning �"nickname�"), a brand-new concept highlighting Shota�'s beautiful Japanese fare. Diners can enjoy his simple, clean and flavorful dishes thanks to rotating three-course menus (with three selections per course for a set price of $37 per person, plus tax and gratuity). Shota says, �"Adana�'s food will be more like what my family cooks at home, but still focused on highlighting seasonal ingredients from the Pacific Northwest. Guests will experience authentic Japanese cuisine but with multiple choices to curate their own tasting menu.�" Guests also enjoy à la carte-priced desserts as well as delicious bar food and beverages focused on Japanese whiskeys and spirits from barman extraordinaire Dustin Haarstad.