With the opening of a few buzzed-about sushi restaurants in the past six months on top of our already stellar lineup, Seattle’s foodies are spending a lot of time talking about raw fish. And why not? We’re positioned ideally to enjoy imports such as tuna and mackerel, as well as locally fished salmon, spot prawns, geoduck and more.

From offerings of fanciful rolls to simple sashimi, here are our favorite sushi spots.

Sushi Kashiba
Pike Place Market, 86 Pine St., Suite 1; 206.441.8844; sushikashiba.com
> If ever there was a place to drop a Benjamin (or more) on an omakase (chef’s choice), it is sushi master Shiro Kashiba’s gorgeous new space. Worth every penny.

Sushi Wataru
Ravenna, 2400 NE 65th St.; 206.525.2073; wataruseattle.com
> Kotaro Kumita’s first solo project is a win for the neighborhood—an intimate, cozy environment to enjoy no-frills sushi and delightfully little else. 

Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar
Downtown, 815 Pine St.; 206.402.4414; sanseiseattle.com
> This buzzworthy Hawaiian import opened in February, drawing attention from locals who, while visiting the islands, have sampled (and loved) the innovative rolls, such as the panko-crusted fresh tuna sashimi, and Pacific Rim–influenced seafood dishes.

Sushi Kappo Tamura
Eastlake, 2968 Eastlake Ave. E; 206.547.0937; sushikappotamura.com
> Seasonal produce and local, sustainable seafood play starring roles at this critically lauded upscale, modern restaurant, where an open kitchen gives diners the chance to watch chef Taichi Kitamura work.

Nishino
Madison Park, 3130 E Madison St.; 206.322.5800; nishinorestaurant.com
> This 20-plus-year-old gem comes through for consistently well-executed Japanese dishes—from nigiri and maki to udon and tempura—and expert service.

 

Mashiko
West Seattle, 4725 California Ave. SW; 206.935.4339; mashikorestaurant.com
> The city’s only fully sustainable sushi joint may be a little quirky—one of the “rules” is that chef Hajime Sato gets to choose the music—but it also offers one of the most affordable omakase options, starting at $70 for two people.

Blue C Sushi
University Village, 2675 Village Lane NE; 206.525.4601; bluecsushi.com
> For a family-friendly sushi meal, no one does the convenient conveyor-belt style better than this newly remodeled location of the local chain, which features a secondary track running hot gyoza and tempura from the kitchen right to your table.

Momiji
Capitol Hill, 1522 12th Ave.; 206.457.4068; momijiseattle.com
> Capitalizing on the neighborhood nightlife, this trendy eatery offers an extensive selection of sake by the glass and shochu cocktails to complement the menu of more than 50 different rolls.

Maneki
Chinatown/International District, 304 Sixth Ave. S; 206.622.2631; manekirestaurant.com
> The city’s oldest sushi restaurant has been serving fresh, raw seafood (and even steak, if you’re into that) to loyal fans for more than 100 years. It’s still worth a visit.

Go back to the main Seafood Guide article.