Musashi's
Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese [Edit]
Neighborhood: Wallingford1400 N 45th St
Seattle, WA 98103 (206) 633-0212
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Tue-Thu 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Fri 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
Sat 5:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
82 Reviews for Musashi's
For the negative reviews written about Musashi's-- you can't go there with high expectations. Musashi's is a cute little delightful place to eat for those who don't expect much. The combo is my favorite. It comes with steak sliders marinated in a very light but delicious sauce, cold white noodles (which I LOVE!), and sashimi. My friends and I don't ever order anything else. The restaurant really is so small that one time, I had to leave the restaurant b/c it was so crowded and hot. I just couldn't stand being neck-to-neck with the people around me. We didn't even dine-in! We always order take-out. In any case, besides the place being ridiculously small, which is really irrelevant to the quality of the food, I still am a local fan of Musashi's.
Meh. Really? 40 5-star reviews? Huh.
I probably should have left after they told me they were out of edamame and that any order of nigiri sushi would take a long time, but sushi rolls would be very quick.
Nigiri - that's putting a piece of fish (or whatever) on a rectangle of rice, right? That's much quicker than a roll?!? Are the sushi rolls pre-made? Don't know, they don't taste like it.
There's enough good sushi places in this town not to head back any time soon.
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (4)
Cool (3)
After reading all the great reviews for this place I decided to brave the crowds and try it one night. I am really surprised by all the high ratings for this place and how people can say that their sushi is that great. The only great thing about Musashi's is their cheap prices which in no way make ups for their lack of freshness and taste in both their nigiri and rolls. What baffles me even more is that people will wait to eat poor quality sushi. I've had better sushi from a conveyor belt, and that's no lie.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
You can't be clausterphobic if you want to eat here. The tables are close together and there are no frills at this place. There is also usually a line. If you want a lot of sushi for your money this is the place to go. You can call and order take out. If it's really busy and the weather is nice often I'll do take out and go down to Gasworks Park to eat.
This place certainly is a novelty and I can see why many bring their service. It's small, tightly packed sitting area seems to glimmer with authenticity and character.
But the food wasn't that great. The prices are great. No wait, they are spectacular. However the food simply wasn't up to snuff with the several other sushi places around Seattle. The California rolls, though large and plentiful, were pretty standard and very pedestrian. It was a classic "big roll" illusion. Lots of rice, little substance.
Bless the hearts of the hard working staff at Musashi's. They were busy with the mass of people all waiting to get in, get fed, and get going. The g/f and I got forgotten in the corner, leaving us to fend for ourselves for tea and utensils.
It's not the best place in the city for sushi, c'mon. If you want proof, compare Musashi's spicy tuna rolls with the same rolls at Izumi's. You'll see.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
Another secretly favorite sushi restaurant of mine...
I've kept this place a secret to the point that I've never taken any of my friends here. (This is my Musashi!) I have to step out of the darkness to defend my beloved Musashi. I love this place for the reasonable price and the large portions. With great food one has to have patience, can't be claustrophobic, and have the ability to zone out the loud discussion from your neighbor. That said.. I normally order to-go instead of dinning-in.
My typical nigiri order: tobiko, ikura, amaebi, unagi, toro.. etc
I also love their chirashzushi and salmon stuffed onigiri (rice triangle) -perfect as leftovers for next day's lunch.
Oh.. cash & checks only!!
Edit//I guess I should add that my dedication and love to this place comes from being their loyal customer for more then five years. Also the owner always gives me couple extra pieces of sushi whenever I order to-go.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
I have three words. CHEAP GOOD SUSHI.
and not to mention, Freshh fresh. Great, efficient service even if you have to wait to get it-- it's well worth it. I can't believe how cheap and affordable the Sushi is, too. You get hooked up with a fat bowl of edemame and a carafe of tea while you wait.
Two rolls of fresh sushi here beats the 5.99 gross kind sold at Safeway in those prepackaged sushi containers. :/
Take a quick seat in here next time you are in Wallingford. Good, cheap sushi never disappoints.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
It's a good place for a cheap meal if you know what to order. People have pointed out that the sushi here isn't good. True, it's not the best place for salmon or tuna sushi, but their grilled food is solid to very good. And their unagi, which is hard to mess up, is excellent and the biggest I've seen.
The food can't compare to Nishino or Shiki, and it's not trying to be like them. Musashi's great because you can get a great meal - if you know what to order - for 10 bucks.
1 Previous Review:
-
01/26/2008
Liking it more and more.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
They have the best California rolls I've ever had! Lately, I've been on a sushi kick and had to try Musashi's. This place is really small and gets really crowded. They definitely need a larger space. My husband and I shared the Nigiri Sushi, California rolls, and 2 pieces each of the Sweet Shrimp and Salmon. Their sushi pieces were so big! Our total bill was under $30 including tax and tip. Not bad for all that food. Next time I want to try their other dishes like the Special Bento Box.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
This place was da bomb.... now it's just a bomb. The fish just isn't fresh anymore compared to even a year ago when I frequent this place week after week. The hamachi cuts aren't even good anymore. The California rolls still are great as are the prices and the size of the fish.
Even then, I'm still giving a 5 stars for value. three stars off for quality and if you are smarter than a 5th grader, that equals 4 stars.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (2)
Ahh, I love this spot! Musashi's was the place that first exposed me to sushi and THANK GOD THEY DID. This place is ALWAYS packed...the restaurant is pretty small, but still. The wait is typically 15-20 min. They are consistently busy because you can get good sushi at a real good price. This place has more of a family restaurant feel, rather than the other sushi places in Belltown that I've reviewed. I've gone here a bunch of times with groups of friends and everyone loves it. Long live Musashi's!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Eating at Musashi's is like flying coach on a budget airline. No frills, no fanfare, and there's usually a line. But ultimately, it gets the job done. And sometimes that's all a person needs.
Great noodle salad, btw.
People thought this was:
Useful (7)
Funny (4)
Cool (5)
CHEAP-FRESH-FAST-FRIENDLY-DELICIOUS
I would eat here every night if I lived closer.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Start with 3 stars.
Take away one star because there are very few tables and there's often a huge wait.
Add one star for low prices. $10.50 is pretty nice for the sushi sampler that costs at least $15 at most places.
Take away one star for the limited menu. They don't even have geoduck. Incidentally, I like to pronounce it "geo" instead of "gooey" and I suggest that you do too. It just makes it more fun to say. It sounds like an arch-nemesis of Darkwing Duck.
Add one star for huge portions. The fish on each piece of sushi is about the size of my tongue.
Take away one star because they only take cash. Who the hell has cash?
Add one star because it's close to Kozue, where you should go instead.
And now we're back at 3 stars. (Side note: I try to evaluate sushi without putting too much weight on quality. Seriously, unless the fish is rotting, quantity is more important. If you weigh 75 pounds and can survive on the pathetically skimpy portions most sushi restaurants give you, then you can afford to worry about quality.)
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (4)
Cool (2)
If you don't like to wait in long lines to get into a small confined space and then wait another 20 minutes for food under bright fluorescent lighting, then keep on driving.
If you don't mind waiting in line and for your food then you are in for a real treat. Mind you, this is not the all-time best quality Japanese Sushi-Bar but it is quite affordable and it's convenient Wallingford location is pretty much on the way to anywhere.
O.K. I'm a Pescatarian 'cause I love Seafood and Pizza too much to deny myself those foods. I've been down the Vegan and Vegetarian road from the time I was 18 until now (how old am I? I forget) I must say that the Sashimi bowl has kept me coming back for more. I'm such a glutton when it comes to Unagi. Perhaps it's one of the more "fatty fishes" and that's why I like it, just like coconut & macadamia etc.. These guys do it right!
If you can't be bothered to drive down to the International District then this place will certainly do for your Sushi cravings.
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Musashi's has been a Seattle sushi destination for, like, ever maybe? After harassing my man for years about not ever taking me there (because he was always saying how great it is), we finally went. DIS-appointed. Was it because I had been hearing the hype for long? Maybe. Were my expectations unreasonably high? I don't think so.
We arrived at dinner time on a Friday, and surprisingly, no line! So we went in, had to negotiate our way through take-outers and got our name on the list. Next - yes! So when we saw the next table open up, we jumped up and rushed back inside. Somehow we slipped into some alternate universe where we were invisible. So after waiting a while, we walked up to the woman who had taken our name and asked if that table was for us, fully expecting it would be. Nope. She gestured to the table in the corner (3 seats exactly for the 3 of us) that faces the wall - that one. Tack on another few minutes. Okay, that's fair with the reported crowds and all. Our order was taken (a rather small selection of sushi). And we waited. And waited. We watched the couple next to us, who was seated 10-15 minutes after us order and be served. And served. The little one started to lose it. "Do you think she forgot? Should we ask her?" It's hard to disagree when, well, she's right.
Finally the food came. We had ordered a sushi combo platter, spicy tuna roll, onigiri, zucchini skewer and sukiyaki bowl. The salad never came until we asked for it - and boy was that waitress difficult to flag down. The rice was downright terrible - mushy! The sushi was ugh. The onigiri were good. The beef in the sukiyaki bowl was full of fat.
The close quarters made DH a little crazy, but it didn't bother me so much. Have to listen to the women next to us use foul language all through dinner was a little rough though, especially with the kid.
The only saving grace was that in the end the bill was reasonable.
Can't say we'll be returning. $ and good onigiri aren't enough to make up for everything else. Darn it.
Excellent value, especially the bento -- you get at least half a dozen pieces of sashimi plus sizable portions of chicken, beef and grilled vegetables with rice. And a delicious crab, egg and rice noodle salad that's kinda like a Japanese 'slaw but with a much more delicate texture thrown in for starters. The nigiri platter is also excellent value: each piece is simply HUGE and the fish decently fresh.
If you can stand the wait (at _least_ 20 minutes) and the tiny cramped tables, then this place is totally worth a visit. Next time I'm going to try the chirashi sushi; every third diner had one but it's off-menu so it must be a dish reserved for the Musashi eaterati. Just remember to put your name down on the inevitable waiting list and go for a coffee... There's a reason why there's always a crowd waiting for a table outside!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
People seem to love this place for the prices and the portions, but no matter how big a piece of low quality fish is, it is still of low quality. Additionally, the rice they use on the nigiri is far too sour, the maguro is consistently rubbery and the hamachi often feels as if it has not finished thawing. Even their beer selection leaves much to be desired; they do not have Asahi Super Dry! The horror! There is only one word that goes through my head when I see people huddled around outside in the rain waiting for up to an hour for such substandard food: Suckaaahs!
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Definitely the best sushi I've ever had. You won't find fancy decor or 80 different types of rolls, but after you've stuffed yourself with the freshest sushi around for under $10, you won't miss those things. I appreciate the fact that the rolls and nigiri include a bit of wasabi built-in, but be warned if you don't like the stuff.
Although the place is often full, it's not impossible to get a seat. 3 of us walked in at 7pm on a Saturday and immediately got seats at the "bar". It turned out to be a very convenient place to sit, as you get your order directly from the chef's hand.
People thought this was:
Useful (7)
Funny (1)
Cool (7)
I was a little hesitant about coming here on a Saturday night, as I recalled from my last visit that they dining room was TINY and you usually have to wait outside for a table. Because it is December and freaking freezing, I wasn't too excited about the high probability that I would turn into a popsicle while waiting for our table. But alas! To our great luck, our party of three snagged three open seats at the Sushi Bar upon walking in. I noticed that no one else that night had to wait longer than 5 minutes for a table, either.
On to the Sushi: Fast, fresh, and amazingly cheap. I normally have an unfortunate problem when eating sushi, especially nigiri. I can never eat it in one bite, and end up making a huge mess while trying to make a dainty bite of the fish and rice. (Usually half of it drops into my little dish of soy sauce, causing me and whoever is sitting close to be covered in soy droplets. Not fun) I have learned, though, that when the fish is unbelievably fresh, like at Musashi's, making a clean bite through the fish without destroying the sushi is a cinch. The rolls are tasty and bite size, with a touch of wasabi already tucked in there!
They also do take out, so if you don't want to risk waiting in the Seattle cold for a table, call ahead and make it an order to-go!
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
The ONLY reason that I give this more than 1 star is the price. If you can't afford to eat sushi, but really have to eat it, then this place is for you. But don't be fooled by the "good sushi" comments on this board. You can not buy good sushi for what they charge. They are buying lower grade fish and then are able to charge less because of it. If there were buying the best, they would be losing money at these prices.
If I ever become a poor college student again, then I may go back, but other than that, pretty much every other sushi place in seattle served better fish than this.
don't be fooled, size of the pieces and cost do not make good sushi.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Daaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!! (that's frustration)
The real question about Musashi's is does the price/portions outweigh the long wait time?
Answer: Sorta.
We had to wait an hour before we got our food--20 minutes of that was inside waiting for the waitresses to take our order. On a freakin' Tuesday at that.
There's good bang for your buck here if you just need some kind of base sushi fix. The onigiri ($3 for two of them) are sizable, warm and maybe one of the best bargains around.
Overall decent, but far from sublime. The food gets 4 stars--but the restaurant gets 3.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
OMG! Somebody said that this place is a hidden gem! I completely agree. They serve the freshest, fleshiest, fantastic fishes! Chirashi - a bowl of rice complete with various raw fishes like salmon, tuna, yellow-tail etc. is so spectacular. Its so fresh you think that they just caught it off their own backyard. The Onigiri is great too! However, vicinity is pretty small so you end up having to wait for at least half an hour before you can get a sit. But, its worth the wait!
Musashi's is the kind of place I will go to Wallingford for. Actually, it is one of two places I will go to Wallingford for. (The other is Teahouse Kuan Yin to get their awesome tea.) I am vegetarian, so I haven't actually ever had the REAL sushi, but I hear it is excellent for the price (which is super cheap)! They always bring out a huge pot of tea for you when you first arrive - what a nice welcome. Then I always order some miso soup, inari, and cucumber rolls. The sake is good, too, if you do that kind of thing. It's a good idea to arrive as soon as they open for dinner, otherwise you will probably have to wait outside for a table. They have very limited hours, so call before you show up!
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
Why did I never go here before? Because my wife was scared of it.
Why did we go last night? My wife's friend Ivy threatened her if she did not go.
The was the only place in Washington I've been to that made me feel like I was back in my old neighborhood in Tokyo.
You get one killer plate of sushi here for $10.50. You get great nigiri for $1.50 a piece. Fresh fresh fish. Mostly perfectly done (one bit of tuna had bloodline still in the cut). I'll give you some slack form $1.00 though, given that there were 10 pieces of fish on the Nigiri Plate.
My wife got the bento which had one skewer of teriyaki that transported me right back to Nishi-Ojima. American teriyaki is too sweet, too sauced, and too overdone. This was pure, light, grilled, and honest. And that was worth any amount of waiting.
So we left spending $22 and were stuffed.
I wouldn't be surprised to find myself back here many times in the very near future.
Thank you Musashi's for giving me a short trip back to Ojima without having to get on a plane, take the train into Tokyo, transfer to the Shinjuku line at Shinjuku station, and ride to Nisha Ojima, take the Meiji Doru North Exit, turn left, cross the street and walk half a block down to my favorite Teriyaki on earth.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (2)
Mushashi's is that place most people are always looking for - a non-pretentious sushi joint that serves deliciously fresh fresh at an affordable price. And because of that, the line for Musashi's will always be long... but worth it!
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Cool (2)
You know how people often joke about waiting in line to get into heaven?
Well if you're looking for fresh sushi, think of Musashi's as heaven. You have to wait in a ridiculously long line, and you know it's going to be crowded beyond belief once you DO get in, but you stay in the end to get to your rightful place through the pearly gates.
And your reward at the end of it all? A welcoming spot into Musashi's humble, yet heavenly abode and their eternally, mouth-watering fresh sashimi. Heaven was never so delicious!
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (3)
Cool (2)
Good food at a fair price. They don't have a wide selection but what they have they do very well. Order the Chirashi (sashimi over rice). It is not on the menu and the sushi chef hates to make it, but she will grudgingly (with a smile) make a bowl up for you if you ask nice.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
The place is tiny and crowded. The wait is eternal. But goddamn, this has got to be the FRESHEST tastiest sushi in North America.
AND.
It's cheap.
I'm not from Seattle, but I wouldn't mind going to Seattle just for Musashi's sushi.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (2)
Best sushi of my whole life. Seriously. This tiny place had a stunning reputation and came highly recommended when I first moved here. It's been a favorite of mine for the last five years.
Be aware that the joint is ALWAYS packed and there is ALWAYS a line. But definitely well worth the wait. I would suggest leaving your kids and making it a grown up event, since it is such close quarters - unless your kids are saints (and I'm sure they are...)
Good sushi, Good price for such amazing, fresh sushi, small, intimate, Delicious.
Don't you dare order a california roll here...
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
It wasn't the best sushi I've ever had, but it was good and fresh. The menu is microscopic, as was the dining area. The ambiance was lacking: ancient and very fluorescent. If you go, expect to wait (out in the cold, there's no room to wait inside) and expect to be cramped once you are seated.
It was fine... but not worth the trip to Wallingford for.
OH... and check or cash ONLY.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Very, very good sushi. The restaurant itself is tiny and cramped, the line is *always* long, the ambiance lacking - but they can have a to go order for you often in 10 minutes flat. Call in an order for takeout on the way home from work, then enjoy some of the best Seattle sushi in the comfort of your own home. Tip: if they don't answer on the first try, it's a safe bet you'll catch them if you just try again in a minute or two.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
I don't really see they hype on this place. Besides the HUGE peices for uber cheap they don't have much else going for them..
Normally this place has a 20-50 minute wait to get a seat and since this place is the size of my closet you have to wait outside. If I get sushi from this spot I call in an order and take it home.
Not bad, great price, long wait.
Not nearly as cheap or as good as people say. Went on a special trip to this place and then wondered why. Below average sushi at an average price.
People thought this was:
Funny (1)
this is a great intro to sushi place. If you've moved on to trying things more than rolls and nigiri with too much wasabi this isn't the best place for you.
Pro
-the fish was fresh
-you can get nigiri by the piece instead of two piece per order
-which mean you can try alot kind for very little money
-service once you are seat is prompt and soon you are eating the good stuff
-it local favorite and it has a homey feeling
-huge rolls, seriously not very authentic but a good deal
Cons
-the seafood was not as fresh as the fish, I left it rather than chance it
-the nigiri was not prepared right, the rice was too sticky and way too much wasabi
-no sashimi, no gomae, no tofu dishes, no ankimo, no seasonal specialities all basics that most Japanese places in the US have.
-this isn't a place where you can take your time and enjoy it
I can totally see why it is beloved by people and if someone else wanted to go there, I would but I wouldn't be coming here be myself, It reminded me of American Chinese places in the 70's where they gave you knifes and forks and most of the dishes were made up for Americans.
People thought this was:
Funny (1)
One of my cherished spots to consume the raw fishy goodness they serve.
If you want to sit on a tatami mat, listen annoyingly bad jazz or eat some overpriced sushi go somewhere else. If you like the feeling of a mom and pop spot with some of the freshest fish you'll get anywhere at an ultra cheap price then come here. I wish they were open 7 days a week (closed Sunday and Monday) but these folks need a break!
I swear the lady making the sushi always looks like she's in a panic.
Try the Chirashi bowl, not on the menu, but damn good.
Sure sometimes you'll have to wait 15 or 20 minutes but you can always go across the street to the cheesy wine spot or better yet, have an engaging conversation with the one you love because that's the only type of people you should be turning onto this place.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
I was really excited to try this place. I had heard really good things from people. I went and got the sampler - $10.50 for a huge plate of ngiri and about 5 rolls is a killer deal. *THEY ONLY TAKE CASH OR CHECK* I got take out and it only took about 5-7 minutes AND I was really lucky to get a close parking spot!
I brought my food home and dove right in. The pieces of fish were HUGE! I am on a low carbish kick so I took the pieces of fish off the rice and started with the rolls. (Ps. this sampler is really big enough for two people to share) The rolls were quite tasty and the fish tasted really good. They seem to randomly put wasabi in the rolls and it made my nose burn but it was still delicious. I finished off my rolls
and moved on to the ngiri. They gave me 6 pieces of fish all together; an albacore, yellow fin, two salmon and two prawn. The prawn was good - you can't really mess that up. The albacore was good - it was seared on the sides which I find strange for a sushi place but it was my favorite piece of fish on the plate. I moved on to the salmon next... not my favorite. It tasted reallllllly fishy and was extremely chewy. I just couldn't eat anymore and threw the rest out, not because I was full, but because the quality of the fish was well bad.
All in all this seems to be a place for rolls and I am more than willing to give it another chance.
The place is both tiny and crowded. The people that work there are so busy that they come off as unfriendly, yet somehow these things seem irrelevant because the sushi is that good. I typically go there for lunch because it is the same good sushi at a cheaper price. For those of you who have been to Saburro's in Portland, it is a similar kind of deal only the portions are not nearly as big.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Musashi's is a great place to find delicious, fresh, and well-portioned. sushi nigiri. Its menu is a little basic, but sometimes that's all you need.
The small, cramped restaurant is often packed. Drive by on Friday or Saturday night, and you'll often see a group of people huddled outside waiting for a table.
That's why I'm glad they also offer take-out. Call ahead and order a Nigiri Combo or a Special Bento. Make sure you bring a couple of Hamiltons with you since they do not accept cards.
It's like my korean aunties back at home.. All about being on Asian peops' time. It's like when you say, I'll be there in 15 minutes when really, you'll be there in about an hour and half..
I've stood out in the rain for them for 30 min, all the while, seeing three two-tops empty - but you just can't seem to leave the teensy sheltering lip of a roof because the food is just so damn economical. And, at times I want to bang my head at all the people who got there first and at those aunties - but you just can't because they are so nice when you do finally get seated.
I'd stay away from the cali rolls if you're a purist. They're really good but when you expect fake crab mixed with mayo and you get something just as good but it's not a california roll. But I'm going on a tangent. Love the random tight table setup and the steaming hot tea that just never stops coming round, kind of like that auntie who is always in your biz...
I highly recommend the miso soup and the Spicy Scallop roll (it's not on the menu but just ask..) - that is about $5. ridiculously cheap.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (2)
People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...
Related Lists
-
Neil's Best of Seattle
I visit Seattle pretty often. This list is my best… -
Actually not over-rated…
These places are good and live up to the hype..…
