13 Washington Sushi Bars That Locals Insist Are Worth The Bill
Washington State has quietly become one of the best places in America to eat sushi. I mean really good sushi, the kind that makes you close your eyes and forget you have a phone.
Between Seattle’s obsession with pristine fish and a wave of classically trained chefs who treat rice like poetry, the sushi here rivals what you’d find in Tokyo. Locals have their favorites, the spots they guard like secrets but can’t help bragging about after the third course.
These 13 bars represent the top tier, the places where every piece feels intentional and every bite tastes like the ocean just woke up.
1. Sushi Kashiba – Seattle, Pike Place Market
Salt air from the market, the hush of a chef’s counter, nigiri that tastes like a clean tide rolling in. Chef Shiro Kashiba opened this place after decades of defining Seattle sushi, and it still feels like a masterclass every single night.
Edomae-style omakase here is surgical in its precision. Each piece arrives with intention: the fish sourced from Japan and the Pacific Northwest, the rice seasoned just enough to let everything else sing.
Book the chef’s counter at 5:00, 7:00, or 9:00 pm, and whatever you do, order the Black Cod Kasuzuke. It’s sweet, smoky, and has converted more than a few sushi skeptics into believers.
2. Shiro’s Sushi – Seattle, Belltown
Quiet room, pristine fish, old-school cadence that lets the rice and neta do the talking. Shiro’s was the first restaurant in Seattle to champion true Edomae technique, and it still holds that standard like a flag.
I sat at the bar here on a rainy Tuesday and watched the chefs work in near silence. Every slice felt like a small ceremony, every plate a lesson in restraint and respect for the ingredient.
They offer open-end omakase at the counter, meaning you pay for what you eat. Three nightly seatings, all bookable on Resy, and trust me, you want that bar seat.
3. Wataru – Seattle, Ravenna
Small room, cedar and steam, sauces brushed just so, fish that pops like cool surf. Wataru sources seafood from both Toyosu Market in Tokyo and local waters, creating a menu that feels global and hyper-local at the same time.
Reservations drop at midnight on the first of each month, and they disappear faster than you can say toro. The omakase here is traditional Edomae, but the chef’s not afraid to play with texture and temperature in ways that surprise you.
Seats are limited, the vibe is intimate, and every course feels like a secret being shared.
4. Taneda Sushi in Kaiseki – Seattle, Capitol Hill
Ten-ish seats, whisper-soft service, a procession that feels ceremonial and somehow cozy. This is omakase rooted in kaiseki seasonality, where every course builds on the last like chapters in a very delicious book.
Chef Taneda trained in Japan, and it shows in the way he balances flavors and textures. One night I had a course with barely seared scallop that tasted like butter and brine had a baby, and I’m still thinking about it.
Reserve directly through the restaurant site. The space is tiny, the experience is huge, and you’ll leave feeling like you just attended something sacred.
5. Sushi Kappo Tamura – Seattle, Eastlake
Cedar planks, warm chatter, a chef who treats the Sound like a pantry. Sushi Kappo Tamura has built its reputation on sustainability, celebrating Northwest fish in classic Japanese forms without losing an ounce of flavor or finesse.
The sushi bar now offers chef omakase, which makes the whole experience interactive and personal. You can watch your meal being composed in real time, ask questions, and learn why certain fish pair with certain rice temperatures.
Open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner. The vibe is approachable, the skill level is anything but, and every bite tastes like care.
6. Ltd Edition Sushi – Seattle, Capitol Hill
Sixteen seats, two meticulous chefs, a menu that reads like a love letter to Toyosu. Ltd Edition serves only 32 omakase orders per night, and every single one is built around the highest-grade fish available that day.
Reservations drop monthly on Tock and sell out almost immediately. I’ve set alarms for this place, and I regret nothing. The pacing is deliberate, the flavors are clean, and the attention to detail borders on obsessive in the best possible way.
If you manage to snag a seat, clear your evening. This is not a quick dinner; it’s an event.
7. Takai by Kashiba – Bellevue
Soft lighting, porcelain gleam, and knife work that feels like calligraphy. Chef Jun Takai, a 2025 James Beard semifinalist, runs this Eastside spot with the same precision and grace that made his mentor Shiro Kashiba a Seattle legend.
You can choose omakase or order à la carte, and both options shine. The fish is immaculate, the rice is warm and perfectly seasoned, and the space itself feels like a quiet retreat from the chaos of the outside world.
Book through OpenTable via the official site. Bellevue locals know this is where you go when you want to impress someone, or yourself.
8. I Love Sushi on Lake Union – Seattle, South Lake Union
Boats bobbing outside, wasabi blooming inside, a classic that still hits. I Love Sushi has been a Seattle institution for years, serving nigiri standards and creative rolls with a lakeside vibe that never gets old.
The menu is big, the portions are generous, and the quality is consistent. Lunch runs on weekdays, dinner Monday through Saturday, and the whole place hums with the kind of energy that comes from being genuinely loved by the neighborhood.
It’s not fussy, it’s not trying to reinvent the wheel, and that’s exactly why it works.
9. Umi Sake House – Seattle, Belltown
Lantern glow, late-night hum, a sake list that reads like a passport. Umi Sake House brings big izakaya energy to Belltown, with a deep sushi lineup and a vibe that works just as well for a date as it does for a solo dinner at the bar.
Happy hour runs early and late, seven days a week, which is a gift to anyone who works weird hours or just wants good fish at a reasonable price. The rolls are inventive, the nigiri is fresh, and the sake selection could keep you busy for months.
It’s lively without being loud, polished without being pretentious.
10. Momiji – Seattle, Capitol Hill
Garden courtyard, crimson bar, rolls, and nigiri that keep the neighborhood buzzing. Momiji has carved out a loyal following on Capitol Hill by offering a solid sushi program, daily happy hour, and late-night bites that hit when you need them most.
I’ve ended more than a few nights here, sitting at the bar with a spicy tuna roll and a sense of deep contentment. The fish is fresh, the prices are fair, and the staff treats you like a regular, even if it’s your first visit.
Open nightly with a late menu that runs until close. Perfect for when hunger strikes after everything else has shut down.
11. Umi Kitchen & Sushi Bar – Spokane (North & Kendall Yards)
River breezes, sleek lounges, chef torches kissing toro to a gentle sizzle. Umi Kitchen operates two locations in Spokane, both offering a fresh-fish menu and a solid sushi line-up.
Kendall Yards takes reservations through Tock, and both spots offer online pickup if you’d rather enjoy your sushi at home. The vibe is polished but approachable, the kind of place where you can dress up or dress down and feel equally comfortable.
Spokane doesn’t always get credit for its sushi, but Umi is proof that the city can hang with the best of them.
12. Mashiko – Seattle, West Seattle
Bright walls, sustainable catch, a commitment to the planet that never compromises flavor. Mashiko pioneered the sustainable sushi movement in Seattle, proving you can care about the ocean and still serve knockout nigiri and wildly creative rolls.
Mashiko continues under new ownership and a new chef team (founder Hajime Sato departed in 2019), and the restaurant still sources with intention, avoiding overfished species and championing underutilized fish that deserve more attention.
The menu changes based on what’s available, which keeps things exciting and ensures you’re eating with the seasons.
West Seattle locals treat this place like a treasure. Reservations recommended, and prepare to leave both full and educated about what you just ate.
13. Maneki – Seattle, International District
Red booths, paper lanterns, and history soaked into every corner. Maneki is Seattle’s oldest Japanese restaurant (est. 1904) and introduced the city’s first proper sushi bar in 1969, and it still serves some of the most honest, straightforward Japanese food in the city.
This is not omakase temple dining. This is a neighborhood spot where families gather, where the menu includes both sushi and izakaya classics, and where the vibe feels like stepping into a time capsule in the best way possible.
I took my parents here once, and my dad still talks about the teriyaki. The sushi is traditional, the atmosphere is warm, and the legacy is undeniable.