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Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese [Edit]
Neighborhood: BelltownMon-Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Mon-Fri. 4:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Sat-Sun. 4:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
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This place is so awesome.
I have been here for happy hour, and it rocks. Small HH menu, but satisfying for sure. I'm a big eater... and when I can get three really good rolls for $13... yea I'm happy!
There rolls are NOT ordinary by any means. They are very original and delicious. My favorite would be Las Vegas roll. If you like REAL sushi this is the place to go, and its not too expensive.
Good Eats.
This review is for the table in the back near the hidden kitchen door: lighting sucks. Restaurants have a free pass for some dim lighting, but our table, and the one next to it, had near-zero lighting. We were holding the 2 table candles up to the menus to try and read them. My friends only discovered at the end of their sushi rolls that they'd had their cucumber, and avocado rolls swapped.
Granted, they mixed a good martini (and the other 2 my friends had were good too) --specifically, the fuji apple--but the sushi part was only ok, the prawns were sadly gone in 4 gulps (2, when you share it with your friend) for double-digit price, and ...well, I never thought lighting was such an issue until I ate here and could barely see the menu (tiny font seemed to grow even smaller). It was too high-priced for the general quality of the food.
Take the time to walk around the corner to a place that rhymes with sumi maki mouse instead..
I'm updating the review and adding stars since the general manager contacted me to follow up on my review. It's nice to know that they're listening and responding to customer concerns. I haven't replied back to him yet but I appreciated the sentiment at least.
My friends still love their happy hour so they won't lose any business from them based on my review.
Oh yeah, I'll give props to their cocktails. They were pretty tasty. I'd also like to emphasize that the waitstaff was professional and proficient, but just a bit overbearing with the water.
Before the TMBG concert, we decided to try Wasabi Bistro for dinner. My short review of this place… Read more »
Yes, it can be crowded and most likely you'll have to wait a while before getting seated and lots of Belltown bougies frequent this place. But their spicy tuna roll is my favorite in all of Seattle. Moist, fresh tuna tucked inside rice and nori with a little stalk of asparagus for some crunch. Simple and spectacular. I also recommend the baked Alaska roll, scallops and baked crab around salmon I believe. A little crunchy and a lot delicious. Be patient when coming here and you will be rewarded with beautifully presented and solidly satisfying food. I love to people-watch couples on first dates here, very entertaining.
Well, the food is OK, the service is OK, but I think it's a bit over priced.
The five times I've been there with friends, it seems to be filled with very pretentious 30-somethings from the East side.
My friend and I shared two rolls (spicy tuna and mango tango), sukiyaki, and the banana tempura split. The rolls were delicious but extremely (extremely) small as was the sukiyaki portion. The best deal was on the dessert. Though I really enjoyed the food, it was ridiculously expensive and I probably would not return because of what you get (or in this case don't get) for your money.
This place is def a great place to go for service as well as amazing Sushi!!!
When we arrived, it was very busy. We were told that the expected wait time would be about 15 mins. During that time, the staff already began to show us how fantastic this restaurant was going to be. They checked in with us often and ensured that we felt comfortable. Then after we were seated, I noticed that they didn't have what I was hoping to eat on the menu. I asked, Lindsey our waitress if they would be able to make it, and she replied, "of course, that won't be a problem, at all". The food was great, Lindsey was great and the manger Brett Wilson came over and asked how our meal was and was professional.
Awesome.
I've been missing good fish during my California travels. This place delivered excellent sashimi, coupled with amazing, friendly, helpful service.
Seriously, from the moment I walked in the hostess gave me a warm welcome, to the manager ensuring I had a menu waiting for me at the sushi bar when I returned from the restroom, to the busboy sneaking water refills, to my smiling, cheerful waitress who helped me identify the perfect selection of happy hour sashimi and roll plates (so good I had seconds-at late night happy hour prices how could I resist?).
I love the ambient electronica music, I love the classy relaxed feel, the food, the late hours.... Five stars. All the way.
Service at Wasabi Bistro is awesome. All three times I've been here our servers have been very… Read more »
Wasabi Bistro.
I used to frequent this place when it first opened, and my "crew" in '05 and I were VIP's every Saturday nights, when they had live jazz.
In all honestly, the service went away for a bit, then the past few months, some new friends have been requesting sushi in Belltown, so, Wasabi Bistro, here we go.
In the past 3 months, I've been here about 3 times.
Last night: I called ahead and asked for a table for 12, or two tables for 6. Was told there was an hour wait.
I head there anyways.
When I arrived, the managers both greeted me, and said they would get us a table within 10 minutes.
10 minutes later, we were all seated.
Since some guests wanted to wait for happy hour to start (11PM) I went ahead and ordered.....
Excellent service, excellent food, and they comp'ed my wine.
Thanks!
I love Wasabi Bistro! I also love that they sell certificates on http://restaurant.com. I bought a bunch when the $25 certificates were on sale for $1 each! What a steal...
Anyway, our party of three ordered the 2nd Ave roll, Godzilla roll and the Rainbow roll. They were definitely enough for three girls. We also ordered the green tea tempura ice cream... Wasabi Bistro is my FAVORITE place to get this... although I might have already mentioned that...
The service is always great and the free edamame doesn't hurt either :P After three rolls and dessert, the total came to be abou $25... of course that was after the $25 discount and the mandatory 18% tip... but it was worth it!
My bf and I had our first date here because I really wanted to try the place. And boy did I fall in… Read more »
This is one of my favorite sushi restaurants in Seattle. The draws are the very creative rolls and the freshness of the fish (very fresh). I have had good service every time I have visited. The only drawback is that it is slightly on the expensive side and the ambiance (packed with belltown HH hustling types, and noisy at times). By no means is it overpriced, just on the steep side. They do have a good HH though.
I honestly was underwhelmed with Wasabi BIstro. I have visited their sister restaurant, Wasabi Bay in Mill Creek, and really liked it a lot. I feel that Wasabi Bistro is pretty good, but definitely overpriced. The pork belly appetizer was very good, as was the tempura seafood and sweet potato fries. Portions were small for the $10 price tag.
The drink selection is huge. I thought that part of the menu was actually pretty decently priced. I ordered two different rolls, the Las Vegas, and a roll of the specials menu that contained uni. The LV roll is a tempura battered and fried roll. It was pretty luke-warm when it arrived. I also felt the rolls were skimpy. The LV roll contains cream cheese, and there was not much cream cheese in this roll. The only reason I was so disappointed was I have had the same roll from Wasabi Bay, and it was much better when I had it there. I thought for around $10 a roll, they were small and not very memorable. The roll containing uni was boring and lacking in flavor.
Probably the best thing I tasted that night was the Green Tea Tiramisu, ordered by another friend who dined with us. It was pretty amazing.
I doubt I would return, unless it was for lunch. We spent around $160 for three people who ordered multiple drinks, two appetizers, and three rolls. I know the drinks really spiked the total price, but I still left feeling overcharged and underwhelmed.
I've eaten here at least 5 times and it is still one of my favorite places in Seattle. Their sushi is usually outstanding but maybe not the best in the area. This is more than offset in that this is the most lively, fun environment/bar scene of any of the japanese places I've tried. Bar tenders are friendly but usually busy.
They offer a few fusion type roles which I like to try along with the more traditional.
Reservations are a good idea or plan to wait in Friday or Saturday night. You can usually squeeze into the bar while waiting. Service is good but sometimes a little slow when they are super busy.
Listen up...when a sushi place gives you free edamame, as much as you want--like chips in a Mexican restaurant, it is a big deal. At least for me it is because I LOVE edamame.
Wasabi Bistro is my new favorite sushi place for happy hour. Not only are their regular prices affordable, but happy hour is near ridiculous...in a good way. The happy hour menu is EXTENSIVE and includes not only sushi rolls, but appetizers, and side special plates. The drink specials are also great.
The vibe of the place is great with staff that is professional and nice (and who never let your water glass go empty). There's a separate bar area (for 21+ only--like most bar set-ups in the area), but anyone can get in so it's not restrictive for families with kids or teens.
The best finale for Wasabi Bistro is the molten chocolate cake-YUM!
Stopped by here this past weekend while I was in Seattle. Awesome food, awesome atmosphere, awesome service. Everything was exactly the same and the best part was the green tea tiramisu which makes an entrance at the end of every meal. This is definitely my favorite sushi restaurant in Seattle! Kudos!!!
I love this place and have for a couple of years now. This is probably my favorite sushi restaurant… Read more »
Great place to eat in the heart of Belltown. I have been to this place numerous times for birthday parties. They accommodate a large party catered to your needs. I would still prefer Umi Sake House on 1st Ave. but this place has a good atmosphere and the servers are friendly. They also serve HH for reasonable prices which not only includes sushi, but a variety of other appetizers, and side dishes and special dish plates.
Come check this place out.
I stopped by with some folks at the tail end of late night happy hour. I had just come from a party, so I wasn't too hungry, but come on. Sushi is like jello for me - there's always room for it.
A friend recommended the spicy crab roll. Even though I didn't get it, she was nice enough to let me try a piece of hers. Quite good! A nice blend of tastes. Take note that this maki is tempura fried, so if you aren't looking for fried fare, look elsewhere.
My eyes drifted to the $4 section, and I immediatley spied the spicy yellowtail maki. I loooove yellowtail, and I loooove spicy, so I figured this would be a good pick for me. Turns out, it wasn't particularly spicy, and even after loading up the wasabi, I barely got a burn from it. But hey. It was $4, so in my book, well worth the price.
I need to come back here again and get the full experience, but for now, I say it's solid 3 stars.
Ok place...but was expecting more
The Good - they are fast! No joke you order a roll and within seconds it seemed to appear. That being said the sushi cheft wasnt as personal as I typically enjoy - which is one of the reasons I love sitting a the bar.
Had one of their new rolls....coconut, shrimp and other yummy items. it was tasty - def. something worth trying.
The rolls are a decent size - but honestly nothing to write home about the reason for the 3 stars. The best part...FREE Edamame...NICE!
Update - the butterfish will still give you an orgasm.
I had it again last night, omfg.
The waitress was amazing, understood my desire to have 2 plates of the stuff and brought it out quickly.
I heart you butterfish, won't you be my neighbor?
GET THE BUTTERFISH. Im not playing with you - DO IT. You will like it, I promise. If you dont, you… Read more »
Succulent savory sushi can be found at this quaint premier bistro. Split the lunch special with a friend which included 2 rolls, Spicy tuna and California, 5 pieces of sushi, and a cup of miso soup for $15. You can substitute the rolls out and pay the price difference like my friend and I did.
So glad we took a gamble on the Los Vegas roll because we sure hit the jack pot with the euphoric blend of eel, crab, avocado, cream cheese, teriyaki sauce in a tempura batter! The Seattle roll was the other substitute and didn't find it quite as mind blowing as the Los Vegas roll even though it had a nice blend of salmon, avocado, cumber, and tabiko.
As delicious as the rolls were, nothing impressed me more then the freshness of the raw fish laid on top of the sushi pieces. Being from Texas, my standards are pretty low when it comes to sushi, and never did I think fish could taste as pure and tender like the kind I ate. Mmm... makes my mouth water just thinking about the fine cuts of yellow tail, red snapper, salmon, shrimp, and flounder. Ugh, don't know if I can go back to having lo standards again when I return home.
Topping off our delicious lunch was the mochi cream trio. You get two pieces of mango, to pieces of strawberry, and to pieces of green tea ice cream wrapped in rice gluten garnished with one sliced strawberry and a quarter size of whipped cream. The mochi should have been left to sit out of the freezer for a few minutes before being served as the rice paper was rock hard and should have been more like a semi soft dough around the ice cream. It was still pretty good, but not convinced that it was the best dessert on the menu.
Either way, give this restaurant a visit if your in the area.
I don't know if it was just because it was a busy Friday night or because the staff had no idea what they were doing, but the service we had was less than expected. First we asked to be seated in the bar (we saw about 3 open tables in the bar and even more in the restaurant) - they said it would be a 15-20 minute wait for 3 people so we decided to grab a spot in the standing room only bar and order a drink. 25 minutes passed and none of the tables had been filled and none of the 3 parties in front of us were seated. We were trying to be patient, but asked the host if we could order at the bar (where we had found 3 stools). They brought us menus and we finally got to order about 15 minutes later. I will say that the bar staff was great and checked on us frequently.
The food was good, but not worth the money. We ordered 6 of the specialty rolls (I wish I could remember which ones they were) but they were all very interesting and different. Their tempura rolls were all very tasty and they had quite an extensive drink menu. The Barbie Roll may sound girlie, but even the guys enjoyed it. All in all the sushi was good and fresh but the service was just not that great. As we were leaving, the same 3 tables in the bar were STILL open... interesting.
Anyone who has read any of my sushi reviews knows that my litmus test for a good sushi place is albacore. I know, I know, the proper litmus test is a cucumber roll (because it gives you a chance to really see how the rice is), but I'm a sucker for albacore.
And this is how Wasabi Bistro gets five stars from me - because they have a-freakin-mazing albacore.
It's the first place I've been to in awhile that didn't do something...extra...to their albacore. You know how it is - you order albacore and it comes seared on the edges. Topped with green oninos. Topped with freshly grated ginger. Topped with rooster sauce, topped with sesame oil, topped with smoked salt. Albacore always seems to come with something else, which is interesting because you don't really see that with other nigiri.
At Wasabi Bistro, the albacore comes pure and untouched, generous slices on smaller sushi rice "balls" - the way it should be. It melts in your mouth. It's perfect...the new holder of the "best albacore" throne.
It was good enough that we ordered another round. Which we've never done in any other sushi restaurant to date.
Albacore aside (for one cannot LIVE on albacore alone, though I'd be more than happy to try), the food's good. The sashimi is ridiculously fresh and gorgeous. The presentation is much more elaborate than any other sushi restaurant I can think of to date. The drinks are really, really good. The service was perfect - friendly without being overly-so (that's just creepy) and non-intrusive without being forgetful.
I'm less of a roll person these days, but the rolls weren't bad. Sitting at the bar was a good time - we got to watch the sushi chefs do their thing. Overall, it was pretty damn amazing. I don't think it's going to be a "regular" sushi place for me, but it'll be close to the top for special occasions, I'll tell you that.
It's tough to rate this place, but I'm giving it four stars keeping in mind that it is what it is. What I mean is that, if you want an authentic sushi place, this is not the locale to visit. Wasabi is owned by Koreans, first of all. Second, the goal has always been to turn it into a successful Belltown eatery. That right there should allow one to draw some conclusions. How can two sushi places exist within one block of each other? One is authentic and one is Wasabi Bistro. That being said, I like their food. They have a bunch of westernized rolls, yes, and other fare that you won't find in Japanese places, yes. But I have had consistently good fish there and, in the end, that's what matters (to me).
Now, I don't like the Belltown atmosphere, so I don't frequent the place. The food is also a bit overpriced - another reason not to frequent. AND, the last couple of times I have been, the service hasn't been that great. I guess I would give it a 3.5 stars.
I should mention that I worked there when it opened. But I don't think that this taints my review because I am not disgruntled, nor am I ripping them a new one.
Yeah I don't understand the hype around Wasabi Bistro other than the fact that celebrities go there, its in Beltown. and the ambiance is almost shi-shi. The sushi there is only good enough for me to get last minute takeout.
Go to RAIN in Wallingford!!!! Its worth the trip.
DELICIOUS! The Godzilla Roll was *clutch* The presentation was fantastic, general ambiance was great and the prices were reasonable. The only unfortunate was the lack of love from the waiter - he just seemed to not want to be there and required a few nudges just to hook us up with the bill.
I highly recommend it, though, and will likely return upon my next trip up to Sea-Town.
I have had my fair share of sushi and I am confident saying that Wasabi Bistro is within the top 3 best sushi restaurants I have tried. The fish is very fresh, the rolls are unique and the kitchen is willing to make rolls to order or make substitutions. If you are like me, and know how you like your sushi, the restaurant will accomodate those requests. Wasabi Bistro serves warm edamame when you are seated and they have an extensive bar menu. My boyfriend and I ordered a California Roll topped with unagi (notable that Wasabi Bistro only uses real crab!), sake nigiri, a Spider Roll, a roll with tuna, avocado and mango, among other dishes. Each was presented nicely on the platter and tasted incredible.
The restaurant has a nice ambience and the staff are very friendly and helpful. They accept reservations, but getting a table was not problematic on Saturday night around 7:30pm. We will absolutely return to Wasabi Bistro next time I am in Washington!
When I crave sushi at work, Wasabi Bistro is my fix. The fish is always fresh and they give big, succulent cuts of nigiri and sashimi. I usually get one of their combos for lunch, which is an assortment of nigiri and a roll or two. Plus they're cool about substituting a different roll in the combos (I imagine as long as it's of equal or lesser value).
They also offer a great bento box, which comes with rice, a spinach salad with a delicious sesame dressing, a roll and two selections from a list of about 20 different dishes (teriyaki, tempura, sushi, sashimi, and many others). This is a great way to sample a bunch of stuff, and it's all pretty reasonably priced. In my experience they always have prompt service at lunch, which is important.
Their lunch combos and bento boxes all come with a bowl of miso soup, which is among the best I've had--a well balanced flavor (not too salty) with bits of seaweed, tofu, green onion, mushroom and clam.
Wasabi Bistro is a great after-work happy hour destination. They have a great bar and a good selection of beers on tap. However, the real reason to come is for the cheap-ass sushi! They have some great discounts on rolls, including my favorite: the decadent Seattle tempura roll for $5 (salmon, cream cheese, avocado, teriyaki sauce, battered and deep fried--it's like dessert sushi).
If you're out late and have a sweet tooth they are a good spot for dessert too. I love the green tea tiramasu and the tempura green tea ice cream--using some miracle space-age technology the ice cream is still frozen inside, but tempura-fried on the outside!
I've always found the service here to be excellent, the quality consistent and the food delicious. This is why I've been coming here for so many years and will keep coming back.
This is my favorite place to go for happy hour. Their sushi and fish are always fresh. My favorites on the happy hour menu are the poki, king crab soup and the california roll. I love their calamari salad on the regular menu too! Their staff is pretty friendly too. I wish I could eat here weekly.
Their sushi is decent, but nothing to call home about.
What else can I say, other than that their food is mediocre and overpriced? I didn't know customers had to pay for the atmosphere of a restaurant, because that is what they are charging you on that overpriced bill.
Their waiters aren't that attentive, rolls are half-decent, and their sushi is quasi-fresh (there are good days and bad days; if you go on Monday, it'd probably be much better than Friday due to the freshness of the fish). If you want sushi, go to I Love Sushi.
VEGETARIANS! This is the sushi place for you. While the meaty sushi is quite delicious as well, if you're a vegetarian, I promise you: you want your friends to drag you here for sushi. The green decadence roll and the tofu tempura rolls are exactly what you've been waiting for.
As far as the rest of the sushi goes, it's not the best sushi place I've ever been to in my life, without question. But the excellent happy hour (both for drinks and rolls) and the atmosphere (a bit upscale without being super douchey) more than make up for it.
The second happy hour starts at 11pm, and they serve food until close, making this a rare place to get a decent late night meal and a good drink at the same time on a weekday. Outside of happy hour, you might find yourself slightly disappointed (I'd probably give it 3 stars if it weren't for the happy hour).
All in all, a solid choice that hasn't let me down yet.
Well what can I say about Wasabi I used to love it but the service has gone down hill!!! I have been rushed out or told my party only had 1hour to complete our dining experience. I have had added amounts to my credit card which I did not put down. I would advise you if you want good sushi and good service to go to Shiku!!!
Yup, I'm pretty sure Wasabi is still my very favorite sushi place! Their MVP Roll, filled with Scallops, Tobiko and Avocado is my very favorite roll! It's tempura style and served on a bed of Spicy Crab! It's always, always amazing and very fresh. The Seattle Roll.... or something like that, with Salmon, Avocado and Cream Cheese was just as good as I remember. The smokey, chewy salmon is a great, unusual addition to the sushi and while nowhere close to being authentic, it's an amazing roll.
The Green Tea Tempura Ice Cream is a great way to finish off your meal, and really, it's enough ice cream for two. As far as drinks go, I love Wasabi as they created my current, signature drink of Vanilla Vodka, Hypnotiq and Sprite. It's a perfect balance of creamy vanilla and Passion Fruit.... and Wasabi makes it better than any other establishment.
Service has been consistently good and upon my most recent visit this weekend I realized they have an awesome selection of vegetarian rolls. Score!
WARNING:
If you want "real" sushi, don't come here.
Wasabi has a great twist on sushi. Their rolls…
Read more »
Was meeting a friend Saturday but had no good suggestions on where to grab some food. I told I was willing to meet in Belltown and then left the decision making up to him. Wasabi Bistro was his unanimous vote.
I had walked by Wasabi Bistro but never felt compelled to go in. I don't eat seafood and wasn't educated enough on sushi to know if there were vegetarian options.
On Saturday night this place was busy. Thankfully for two people the wait for a table was nonexistent. I was seated quickly, given a menu, and waited for my friend. The waiter was dripping with sweat and was one of the most easy going waiters I've encountered in a while. He set a plate of edemame down and took my drink order.
I flipped open the menu and found veggie filled rolls but was in the mood for something fried as I spied a golden crispy edged roll on the couple's table across from me. For an appetizer fried tofu was offered.
My party arrived and since this was one of his favorite places to dine, he know what he wanted to order. I ordered the fried tofu and then named off three options to the waiter and asked which one of them was fried. None of them were but he excused himself to ask the chef if it would be possible to get them fried. My appreciation for this man soared when it told me it could happen. I decided to order the Mamba roll.
Our food arrived in a timely matter. The fried tofu came first and it was just okay. The tofu wasn't as crispy and I like it and the vegetables placed on top were missing a little something. Soon the main dish came and boy did it look good. A golden roll sat in front of me drizzled with brown sauce. I took my chopsticks and picked one up. The roll was crunchy as the rice and vegetables remained soft. I was very impressed and knew I wouldn't have been as satisfied if I ordered the roll in its original form. I spied a pile of white shavings at the end of my plate. I had to ask my friend what they were and he informed me it was pickled ginger. I took a nibble and wow that is excellent and wow does it make my nose run. I placed another slice on my roll and was blown away by how it enhanced the flavors.
Without a second thought we ordered dessert. My friend went with the friend green tea ice cream and I settled for the green tea tiramisu. Not knowing what to expect, I was a bit baffled as a green colored square edible item was set in front of me. I dug in and was mystified. The taste was indescribable but good. Although my full stomach begged me not to I continue to eat the dessert until my plate was empty.
I greatly enjoyed my experience at Wasabi Bistro from the food to the excellent wait staff.
I love coming to Wasabi Bistro. Last Friday, we went to Umi but were told that we need to wait 1 hr before they could seat us...so we headed right over to Wasabi instead. I really love the service at this restaurant. We got greeted as soon as we walked in the door. The manager, Brett still remembered me from when I had my bday party here a few months ago and seated us promptly.
The cocktails here are great...same with their selections of sake. You must try their lychee martini...delicious!
We ordered some rolls and appetizers to share. I enjoyed the monk fish liver a lot...so buttery and smooth. I also enjoyed the crispy coconut prawns. The sushi rolls were alright....this place is not one of the top sushi places in Seattle. However, I come here for the social atmosphere, cocktails and sake...so it's still great for those reasons.
TOP NOTCH Happy Hour!! 3-6pm then again 11pm-closing...
Seattle rolls are $5 and sooooo delicious! What a bargain! I also got some sort of Teriyaki skewer (go figure, me and Teriyaki...I'm a teriyaki freak!) It was very good too, a tad on the spicy side.
Had one lil shot of saki, alot of punch for such a small sip! ;)
Very cozy atmosphere, friendly staff & fantastic food!
I'm a BIG fan!
I've been here many times and the one roll I consistently order over and over again is the eel roll. I just absolutely love their unagi here because the sweet sauce they use to glaze the broiled unagi just makes my taste buds salivate. Even as I write about it now, I can feel my tummy rumble with desire and my mouth eager with anticipation. If you get the unagi roll during Happy Hour (4PM-6PM and 11PM -1AM everyday; Sundays-Thursdays starts at 10PM), then it's only $5! Pair it up with the $3 tempura tofu roll and get a friend to share the green tea tempura ice cream and you have yourself a very nice meal all for $10 (before tax/tip).
As a side note, one of my friends loves gawking at the waiters here because they are very hipster here -- they fill up your water glass every few minutes in their skin tight jeans. As for me, I just appreciate the fact that my water gets refilled, but watching my friend drool is always fun.
As well, I've hosted parties here before in the private room and it's been a pleasure working with them. They're willing to split checks without attitude and were very forgiving for the tardiness of my guests.
**Lunch Review Only**
Seeing as Umi wasn't open for lunch, we went to Wasabi bistro instead. Their lunch prices were average to high and you definitely get more bang for the buck with the lunch sets rather than rolls.
I had the bento box for $9 and added prawns and kalbi ribs for an additional $2. Ribs were tasty. Prawns were okay. Miso soup gets super high marks because the tofu was firm and they added mushrooms.
Yum mushrooms..
*Lunch Review*
The best thing was probably how GOOD they were at refilling waters. I felt all kinds of hydrated when I was done eating here!
The food and cost? Well, that depends on what you order. I got the sashimi lunch for $13, and it was a pretty good deal. The miso soup was great and had mushrooms in it, the slices of fish were big and ranged from tasting okay to good, and the rice was pretty good. It also had some greens (some edible, one ornamental) on the side, which was nice because I like variety in my meals.
My boyfriend got the spider roll and was pretty disappointed when he found out that $9 only got him 5 pieces (and he had to order the miso soup as a side).
Over all the experience of the place was okay. I'd be willing to go back, but I wouldn't jump at the opportunity. I'd like to try the other sushi joints in the area first!
I was skeptical when we first approached Wasabi Bistro in Belltown for multiple reasons: 1) I don't frequent Belltown 2) I presumed that it's highly westernized, i.e. expensive and unauthentic 3) sushi/ sashimi are my absolute favorites, thus set high bar to entry. It didn't help when the receptionist did little more than shrug her shoulders when we ask for a table for 8 and indicated that we were there for happy hour.
On the other hand, things started looking better when we finally got seated (after spinning around the bar for 10 minutes). We got edamame for starters, and service quickly improved when we ordered sake. My favorite part is the happy hour sampler - $13 for any of the 3 items listed (which would otherwise be $5 each). Their Seattle/ Alaska/ spicy tuna rolls got my approval. They also have the not-so-frequently-seen Takoyaki which are yummy. Right before we got our bill the manager came and apologized in person for the earlier mishap and offered unfiltered sake on the house. That kept us very happy.
I would return for happy hour if I were in Belltown again; but for the most part I'll probably stick to my staple hole in the wall sushi spots (Musashi/ Sushi Maki) or the nicer restaurants (Moshi moshi sushi/ Maneki).
hmmm Japanese food...
I want to say. I like sushi. I like progressive asian fusion cuisine. But this is crap. I don't hate on a lot of places, but man this is like a show and tell of Belltowns bridge and tunnel crowd. While waiting for a table we bestowed the great moniker of "hoe and tell". Just as Pesos is known on saturday and sunday mornings for its common resting point for the "walk of shame" this is the prequel.
Seeing Suzy sloppy pants and Mary Jane miss my mouth devour fish was one of the most frightening things yet entertaining moments.
Overall, walk a little further down to Shiro's better food, better atmosphere, better everything, way to expensive as well.
Liberty Loves You!
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
Happy Hour - $3 and Up…
Seattle, WA
Neighborhood: Belltown
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Belltown
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Belltown
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Belltown
Category: Japanese
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