4. Restaurants

Ginza

103 102nd Ave SE, Bellevue, WA, 98004
  • (425) 709-7072
  • Store is closed

Ginza Menu

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Visit below restaurant in Bellevue for healthy meals suggestion.

Bellevue Grille ( 100 112th Ave NE )
Bellevue Grill ( 5500 140th Ave NE )

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  • Quyen P.

    Cozy atmosphere, great food, friendly staff, reasonable price. Couldn't ask for more.

    (5)

  • tony z.

    Excellent food at fair prices. Four of us got in there for a bit less than $100, including sashimi plate and several rolls. Green tea quite authentic, I thought. Service was prompt, food wait was totally acceptable. I would definitely recommend this to anyone coming in from out of town, as we were. Casual dress fine. I'd take a nick off for the green tea pot running dry, and the soy sauce pot running dry, but they got it refilled on request, and all was good, so I won't ding them.

    (5)

  • Xu R.

    My favorite Japanese restaurant in Bellevue! The sushi is fresh and is very very well made - the sushi chef is japanese and knows what he's doing. I love the hotategai nigiri - the scallops are always very fresh. I prefer nigiris to sushi rolls, and all the nigiris I've had at Ginza are delicious. They're also priced more reasonably than Shiro's down in Seattle, which for all its hype from Jiro Dreams of Sushi is in my opinion overpriced for the quality. Their appetizer menu is extensive and thus far I've never had anything I don't like. The pumpkin fried rice is a must try! Served in an adorable little pumpkin with all the pumpkin flesh dug out and the pumpkin top as a lid, the fried rice is super taste with bacon bits and sweet pumpkin. Share it with a friend if you can though, it's pretty filling. Their fish dishes are also really good - the butter fish filet and miso cod are awesome and reasonably priced. If you want value for money, they have daily set meals that comes with usually 2 meats (salmon or katsu), rice, a soup and fruit for less than 20 bucks. Those are pretty decent and are very filling! Definitely give this place a try!

    (5)

  • Heidi M.

    Super friendly service. My sons and I ate here for lunch and enjoyed everything we ordered! We had a few rolls. All were delicious and fresh! There are two parts to this restraint a bit confusing! Great service. Excellent tea. Parking in the rear.

    (4)

  • Amanda B.

    Just fine for what we needed. We started at Pearl for happy hour and then made our way over to Ginza for sushi and sake. Fish was good, service was a bit all over the place. Sparse interior, but not unwelcoming. House sake is hot, FWIW. We had a rainbow roll and sashimi. Tasty, looked good. The good: easy to get a spot 6 PM on a Monday. The bad: service was hit or miss depending on what we needed.

    (3)

  • Ell C.

    This was a random choice one evening and we'll definitely be back! We came here with the kids - who were starving, of course! The kids sushi combination meal came with a little of everything and was the best I've seen at any Japanese restaurant! Everything was wonderful and presentation was perfect! Service was a little sparse...but when they did come around our needs were met.

    (4)

  • Victoria T.

    The service was spotty, at best. I ordered rice and never got it. This was probably a good thing since the sushi rice was actually cold (according to Spawn A). He was very disappointed in the quality of the overpriced Toro and Maguro. He deemed the Spicy Tuna Roll "meh". The Yakitori was chewy and dry and came out about ten minutes after the sushi was served. The Gyoza was okay but came out at the very end of the meal. Did I mention that the service was not so awesome? No one offered to refill our glasses or ask if we needed anything else or seemed at all interested in whether we planned to spend a pile of money in that particular bait shop. In the end, it didn't matter. I never actually saw the bill. I handed a waiter my card and expected that he would have brought the bill back with the slip. Nope. Just the slip. No condolences or gratitude. No well wishes or curses. Just a slip of paper and a Bic pen. It was all rather mundane and disappointing.

    (1)

  • Kiera M.

    From the moment my Japanese mom and I walked in here- we both felt the same sensation...why didn't we know about this place before!? In the hustle and bustle of Bellevue during a weekday lunch hour Ginza was very relaxing and welcoming. We came in and instantly were intrigued by all of the plates on tables around us, sashimi and nigiri boats, noodles and rolls. We ordered a few different rolls and some cold buckwheat dipping noodles it was all so delicious. I highly recommend the Ginza roll and poki roll. We were so impressed and wished we were hungrier, we will definitely be coming back.

    (5)

  • Kim L.

    This is my Bellevue staple for Japanese food. Usually I come here for To go orders or with pops when he's in town. Tonight I had dinner here with little bro. It was t too busy for a Thursday and everyone was really attentive and nice We ordered Pumpkin fried rice- so much starch, not enough protein lil bro said. I mentioned the amount of fiber and carotene he's eating, he said it didn't help with his gains. Fried rice wasn't overly salty or greasy. Went well with the pumpkin but the amount of pumpkin to rice ratio was a bit higher. Not sure if I'd want to order this again. Super dragon roll- was like unagi overflow, I enjoyed it Kanihama, was the right size and amount of fish really enjoyed it Uni- yummy and creamy. lil bros first time so he was impressed with the flavor as well Red trio roll was probably my fav cuz of the crab and lobster in it, really added a tougher texture that I enjoy Reminded me of how much I loveeee seafood

    (4)

  • Brian C.

    This is my favorite Japanese place in Bellevue hands down. The chef here makes great Sushi. It's tough to find a place to park here and or to get in but I have gone a few times for lunch and got in last minute. I usually spend about $50 here but I tend to eat some of the more exotic stuff. I am not a big sushi roll person. The one I have though is the spider roll as it is always one of my favorites. Nothing like a fried, soft shell crab and biting into that crunch with all these flavors exploding in your mouth. The Uni, Ikura and the Toro are all spot on. I like big flavors and Ginza's cut, style, and technique are worth every penny. Domo arigato Ginza!!

    (5)

  • Serena T.

    I believe if there are a lot of Asian patrons at an Asian restaurant, it translates to the fact that the place has succeeded in pleasing the palates of original consumers of that cuisine and thus that place is a must-try; well, that was the case for Ginza. We got to Ginza for a quick bite and decided to sit at the sushi bar, because nothing amuses me more than watching the chef rolling sushis and cutting raw fish. He was doing it with such delicacy that I spent a long time just watching him. Everyone seems to be a fan of pumpkin fried rice, because as I was sitting, more than 4 or 5 of those came out of the kitchen, and let's face it, they look pretty appealing. I was there for sushi though. I just got california roll and Baked scallop and that is because I am no sushi expert and I cannot take raw fish really well, I am much more into Americanized ones. The very much attentive server got us wet towels and some cucumber and shrimp appetizers, they also got us some three pieces of fruit as dessert once we were done; small gestures that go a long way for me. As for the sushi, they must have been the very best I have had so far. Very nicely rolled and it did not fall apart. The scallops tasted amazing. I genuinely loved the place!!!

    (5)

  • Doug T.

    Place is great. They have a sunken grill with that vents down so you don't smell like a fried chicken cook after leaving like most Asian bbq places. It has one of the most extensive Japanese menus including ramen, sushi, tepanyaki and tapas. The bbq is cook it yourself so if it's over or undercooked, blame your selfie pic. Price can range from 20 bucks sushi roll for two or around 250 wagyu beef bbq for a couple. Free parking in the back off Main Street is nice. Oh it has tatami sitting rooms In the non bbq side of the restaurant

    (5)

  • Rebecca W.

    Excellent sushi. The spider rolls are huge. I have never eaten any of the other foods, only the sushi. Parking can be difficult. One time I ordered a carry out and there was black hair on the sushi. Yuck. But accidents happen. Overall it's a nice neighborhood sushi place. Give it only 4 stars due to the hair.

    (4)

  • Rohan K.

    Went here with my wife for a birthday dinner last night. BEST DECISION EVER. After welcoming you with a warm napkin, they start you off with a complimentary palette cleanser of brined cucumber, toasted sesame seeds and a single small shrimp. It's very refreshing. We had the Omakase Sashimi and the Pumpkin fried rice. Ad all of you have already understood from past reviews, the rice was excellent. Very unique and flavorful. The pumpkin seemed a tad bit under-seasoned but when mixed with the rice and a tiny splash of soy sauce, it was awesome. Ok the Sashimi. It was phenomenally good. I've had a lot of great sashimi but this was definitely one of the best. Large melt in the mouth portions of a fine assortment of fish. And 28 pieces of high quality sashimi for $45 is a great deal IMO. It didn't have any of the normal cheap stuff, they went all out(see photo). They end you meal with a small plate of fruit and some shaved ice. Perfect. Since it was my birthday, our server brought out a green tea ice cream with a candle on the house. The ice-cream was really really good. Overall I would say Ginza has stellar food, very friendly and attentive service and a fantastic ambiance. The chef is clearly very talented and experienced with sushi. Well worth the slightly higher prices. I can't wait to go back here and will surely recommend it to my friends too.

    (5)

  • Trinh T.

    Ginza is a Japanese restaurant in Bellevue that offers a number of traditional Japanese dishes along with some additional pan Asian influenced cuisine. However, if there is one reason to visit this restaurant, it is to try out their pumpkin fried rice. It is a truly a unique and delicious dish. My Overall Rating - 3 Stars (Atmosphere, Food, Return) Atmosphere - There appears to be to separate entrances for Ginza, and the restaurant itself appears to be split into two. One side has table dining in the other side here to have the booths. Some of the booths also have those built-in grills for those who want to cook Korean style barbecue at the table. However, the restaurant is quite forgettable it seems to be a little older and in need for a makeover. 1/2 Star. Service - Unfortunately for us on a visit, the service was pretty slow and not that great. While we were seated right away, the restaurant was hardly packed. Then, in a period of about 20 minutes, the restaurant got full, and our waiter forgot about us. It took almost 35 minutes to place our order. We also requested the "omakase" or chef special. Our server told us that they do it by dollar amount, and at first we chose $50, but our server told us that would not be enough and recommended that we do $65. We did, but this turned out to be way too much and we discarded about a quarter of what we ordered. No Stars. Food - I'll begin with the "omakase" sashimi special. It was excellent, containing fresh slices of assorted sashimi. My favorites were the uni, seared ahi, and tuna belly. The portions were large and generous, and our order was more than enough to share with our group of four. Also, the pumpkin fried rice is as good as advertised. The fried rice comes served in a hollowed out pumpkin. It contains bits of soft pumpkin along with traditional fried rice ingredients. I've never had anything like this before it was truly a unique dish and one that I would return to the restaurant to eat again. The pumpkin added a mild flavor and the fried rice was not greasy. 1 1/2 Star. Will I Return? - Yes. Even though the service was off, the sashimi was high quality and the pumpkin fried rice is a very unique dish. There were several other Asian fusion dishes on the menu that I wanted to try; however, we just did not have enough people to help us eat. That is why I will certainly be back. 1 Star. My Yelp Rating Scale (Sum of all parts): 1 Star - Atmosphere - Is it a cool dive? Perhaps an upscale place? No matter the type, atmosphere plays a big part and I'll give a star if I like it or thinks it has great charm. 1 Star - Service - You can have a great meal with bad service. But that's also what can make a five star joint drop to four. It's important to the dining experience that service is great and on point. 2 Stars - Food - I'll award up to two stars for the food, since this is the main reason we dine out. Sometimes the extra star is given for value, but it's really all about the food. 1 Star - Will I come back? - If I know for a fact I'll return, I'll give this a star. A place has to make an impression for me to return. Each Category can be given up to 1 star except food (2 stars) because I consider all these categories important to the overall dining experience. I will sum them up to provide my final Yelp score.

    (3)

  • Ngân L.

    Great restaurant. Pretty packed on the weekend. But really everything here's great. Especislly the Super Dragon Rolls are to die for

    (5)

  • Denise L.

    I'm surprised I haven't written a review for this place yet given I live 2 minutes away and come here all the time. 1. Chirashi bowl is bomb diggity. So much variety. So pricy though! I might just stick with Musashi's chirashi bowl despite it being less of a variety. 2. Good size restaurant. Plenty of seating but can still get crowded during dinner time. 3. Never really had a disappointing dish here except for my friend's chicken teriyaki that fell very short. 4. Pumpkin fried rice is one of their specialties. So yum!! 5. Nice, clean restaurant. For big groups, get one of the "private" rooms (I use quotation marks because I'm not sure if you can close the door) 6. Overall, pretty solid food.

    (4)

  • Mary K.

    Been here a few times now over the years and I always leave confused about the hype. I quite literally come back to try a new recommendation, thinking I've missed out on something, and leave even more confused. Don't get me wrong, the food is decent with a handful of choice items from rolls to Japanese BBQ to HotPot and ramen. But it's pretty expensive for what is a mediocre venue with slow service. Last time I went, I ordered an Omakase for two to which they brought out sushi cut in half! I've ordered Omakase hundreds of times and never had the sushi cut in half, no matter who I was sharing the dish with. Plus it was a bit sloppily made. The spider crab hot pot was really small and overpriced for the large size. Basically, over-salted and filled with greens. The whole crab didn't even make it in, it was like half a crab. The pumpkin fried rice was good. I thought it would be more fried and less pumpkin mush but it was probably one of the more solid choices on the menu next to the fried oysters. Not very impressed with you Ginza.

    (2)

  • Hans M.

    Eaten here 3 times now with small groups of friends. Good sushi rolls, edamame, miso soup, and beef teriyaki. Very busy on weekends so service can be a little slow but everyone is very nice. I eat in Japan often and this is definitely not the same but the food is very good for the price.

    (4)

  • Stan Y.

    My wife and I went there at Tue noon for lunch, and we were really impressed by the freshness and nice portion of their sushi. My wife ordered sushi lunch special, which contains rice, miso soup, salad, four pieces of sashimi and two hand roll. For lunch special, the portion is pretty generous. My wife especially like the two hand rolls, spicy tuna and crab meat. Not only the hand roll's size is good, their ingredients are also fresh. Totally in the plus side. I ordered their sushi deluxe. $17.5 is a little expensive for lunch but I'm in the mood for some good sushi...it's been a while since I ate nice sushi...last time I got decent sushi was four months back in April at GUU Richmond, Vancouver BC...pls refer to my other review about that restaurant. Anyway I was very happy with what I got in Ginza's sushi deluxe. As you can see from the picture I posted, the sushi deluxe is composed by seven pieces of sushi and 6 pieces of small tuna sushi rolls. And all the fishes were really fresh juicy...I mean, the sashimi part literally shines under the light. And when you bite into it, it feels like you can taste the fresh flavor of ocean. It's simply satisfying. I have to say, it's one of the best sushi experience I've had in the east side. I will definitely visit them again some time. Some dish pictures uploaded to yelp for your reference.

    (5)

  • Amos Y.

    Parking is super limited here, you'll likely need to look around the neighboring residential streets. I enjoy ordering sashimi boats, but after ordering one here, I realized it's not quite worth it. Order the sashimi deluxe instead. The sashimi deluxe has around 20 pieces of sashimi for $27. The Assorted sashimi boat has maybe 6 more pieces but costs $36. It's cool that it's in a boat, but not worth the extra $9 IMHO. Also the sashimi deluxe comes with rice and miso soup whereas the boat doesn't. Pumpkin fried rice is definitely the most unique dish there. It's quite unique in flavor and presentation, it's served in a steamed green Japanese pumpkin, which you can eat. I would definitely try it at least once. The fried rice is a little more on the moist side so may not be a hit with everyone but I did enjoy it.

    (4)

  • Carmen K.

    We picked this place based on reviews but we were craving ramen. The ramen tasted way too salty and not special. The udon was okay but not great. The lunch special was good and plenty for lunch. Definitely would not come back for noodles but would come back for sashimi.

    (3)

  • Kathleen C.

    We got seated in the extended portion of the restaurant. The main part is much nicer. No reservation necessary for lunch, but may consider for dinner. For 2 people, we ordered the fried oysters lunch entree ($12.50) and chirashi bowl ($19.50). It was plenty of food, if not too much. 8 pieces of oysters! They're good! But 4 pieces was too many for me. The chirashi bowl was very good as well! Sashimi was yummy for the price and it probably came with 14 slices of fish and then some misc stuff like shrimp, eel, octopus. I def think extra $4 for this chirashi bowl is worth it over the Musashis one. One drawback was that there was little to no service. No one came to take our order for a long while and I had to find a server. I've dined in the main room before and it was fine. Maybe because we got the extended room and it wasn't full, we were just forgotten :/

    (4)

  • Stacy K.

    The combination rolls that I ordered were just okay, but I was extremely impressed with their chirashi! The portions of fish were extremely fresh, huge/thick (think cubes of fish), and bountiful. At about $25 for this, I thought it was an excellent deal. Also ordered the appetizer of deep fried soft shell crab, which was amazzzzing. Highly recommend :)

    (4)

  • Kenny V.

    I used to have a very up-and-down relationship with Ginza, but after my 7th visit I'm finally solidifying my opinion. Nestled in Old Bellevue, Ginza isn't your trendy sushi bar but it offers all the essentials, and then some at a reasonable price here on the Eastside. What to try: anything sashimi, orange roll, spider roll, hamachi kama (broiled fish) Quality, large assortment, and price are what's keeping my business. Parking is their biggest downfall; just a small lot for about 10 cars.

    (4)

  • Victoria L.

    Very small restaurant, always extremely busy but it's definitely worth it ! The best sushi place around ! If your wanting real sushi this is where you want to go. Warning ! Super long wait even if you made reservations. But it's definitely worth the wait. I give 5 stars because of the food is great. Try the pumpkin fried rice and any sushi is delicious.

    (5)

  • Kim L.

    I've been here a couple times. The first time, I had the lunch special, which was a good deal-I think it was cooked fish head, rice, veggies. Came here for my brother's birthday dinner with the family. I called ahead to reserve a table, since we had a large party of six. We got hot towels and hot tea when we were seated at our table. Started off with a small pickled cucumber & shrimp salad-it was light and refreshing. I ordered the shrimp tempura roll, the ginza roll and the sake (Atlantic salmon). My family also ordered other items, such as other various rolls, the pumpkin fried rice, fried oyster combo dinner, sashimi deluxe, and ramen. All of the rolls were yummy-the fish tasted fresh, flavorful & delicious! The pumpkin fried rice was pretty good-it was enough to feed my family of six. The fried oysters and the ramen noodles were good also. Our waitress was a nice lady-our teas & waters were refilled promptly and she always came by to check on us. At the end of the meal, we got andes chocolate mint and a small fruit platter, with a piece of honeydew melon, orange slice, and pineapple slice. I saw that there were grills also for Japanese BBQ. Didn't get a chance to try the BBQ out, but I want to try it next time, along with the chirashi bowl!

    (4)

  • KC C.

    The food is always good and fresh. I like the causal, friendly, unpretentious atmosphere that they are focusing on to serve you good food. My absolute favorite Japanese restaurant on the Eastside.

    (5)

  • Gabriel L.

    I got there by a coincidence and my experience was awesome. Food was amazing but also the level of detail to decorate the dishes was incredible. I specially recommend the rainbow roll. It is delicious.

    (5)

  • Alison G.

    I very much agree with those who dub this restaurant as home to the best Japanese food on the Eastside! I love ordering their nebeyaki udon... I'm even craving it as I type! The pumpkin fried rice is good too but definitely more an entree of hype. If you're not a big squash person I definitely wouldn't recommend it. There are two sides to the restaurant but I was told that the only difference is the sushi bar. Everything is clean, nicely presented, and the service is quick!

    (5)

  • Debbie P.

    I heart Ginza! The menu already has tons of options, but they also list over 100 Izakaya items too! Additionally, they recently added the yakiniku! I haven't tried it yet, but at some point I will. OK, so I'll +100 for the pumpkin fried rice (bacon and shrimp in a kobacha, just dig in and mix it all up). Their sushi and sashimi are super fresh! My husband's favorite dish is the tonkatsu, I tend towards any of their bentos or sashimi combo dinners. Also check out their specials listed on the dry-erase board as you walk in. Service can suffer at times, but generally, we've had no problems. At least they have their own private parking lot.

    (4)

  • Tin P.

    Celebrating my gf's birthday at Ginza. I am expected Ginza to live up to expectation and was not disappointed at all. This place is at the top of my list. Before starting anything, if you want to get some delicious premium belly-filling meat, please come to Ginza and get ready for spend some money. This place has some of the best Wagyu meat I ever taste. Hands down! We had a feast on the table with pretty much from the Legen....(Wait for it)...da-ry pumpkin fried rice to sushi to the most expensive Wagyu beef. So what you would like to hear first, good or bad? Let me start with Good. We ordered the Pumpkin fried rice as soon as we seating down to the table and the dish came out literally exploding on the plate (look at pics). This fried rice dish will plunge you into Asia itself with its exquisite ever-lasting flavor. Add a little Siracha on top will make your taste bud tingle. As you have heard, the pumpkin fried rice did not disappoint. I am not sure with some other comment on the fried rice but for me, it was living up to expectation and I am a very picky food eater, especially coming to fried rice. So judge it for yourself, GET IT! Next, let discuss the second amazingness, Ginza for 2, including Rib Eye. Wagyu Beef, Fatty Pork, sashimi and some other stuffs. Let focus on the meat, just meat, the Wagyu beef slice is full-flavored moist and juicy. The Thin cut Rib eye is the best, taste like butter, melted in your mouth, and mouth watering. You feel like you are succulent into the meat itself. Last but not least, the fatty pork is juicy and crispy, After all, no other words can best describe the meat, please get this at Ginza, nothing else, but this. Now the bad you may ask? Nothing really bad bad, I just consider average. Sushi and sashimi at Ginza, I rated it to be average to above average. Nothing outstanding but for what price we paid, we expected the sushi quality to be better and fresher. However, let not get hung up over this. After all, did i already tell you to go to Ginza to get meat so LISTEN! GET MEAT! Get sushi and sashimi somewhere else. ENJOY!

    (4)

  • John G.

    Nasty little place...smells like bleach...I'd only recommend it if you're dying of a gunshot wound and Ginza is the closest place you can crawl to if you're bleeding out and want a last meal...

    (1)

  • Kim D.

    So I thought I already reviewed this place... But it figures I have not. I was going to update my review from my last experience but I guess i'll start fresh! FOOD: I've only had their sushi and their pumpkin fried rice. (It's really a Japanese squash, not an American pumpkin) Food has always been on point here. I have to start with my favorite dish here which is the pumpkin fried rice because it is not a usual dish that you can find at other Japanese restaurants. It is unique because the fried rice is served in the actual squash that has been baked. The fried rice is not you usual fried rice. It is more sticky (more starchy). I love adding sriracha to the rice because it really enhances the flavor of the overall dish. I also mix in the squash and it is delicious. A load of carbs but worth every bite. On the flip side for this dish that can feed 1-2 people is about $16.95. In reality, it only cost about $5 to make if you get the ingredients at the asian market but it is a treat once a while. The sushi rolls are good not amazing. It is a little pricy compared to other sushi locations. SERVICE: I've been here a few times already and usually service is on point. When it gets busy, servers get a little hectic but I try to avoid those times. (especially prime dinner time) PRESENTATION: Usual sushi presentation. If you order a lot of sushi or their combo it usually comes in a big boat platter. Two parts of the restaurant, the front entrance and back entrance. Same restaurant but the front side also accommodates bbq type dinner while the other side accommodates hole in the ground type seating (asian seating). LOCATION: Old Bellevue. Corner of a 4 way stop light. Small parking lot. So far I always been able to score parking in their little lot so just a warning if you going during peak hours. WOULD I COME BACK: Yes, yes I would. ADVICE: I read some reviews saying that pumpkin fried rice takes awhile. I arrived when they opened for dinner time and ordered it right away and it was ready in minutes so order right when you get seated or go during off hours and it won't take long at all.

    (4)

  • Jessica C.

    I'm not really sure what the rave is all about. I ordered the ramen and it tasted awful. The miso ramen that my fiancé ordered (usually miso is a safe order) also did not taste very good. The volcano sushi and the pumpkin fried rice were alright, but I don't think that I would come back here again.

    (3)

  • Shirley W.

    Went there for the first time on a Friday night. I always walk by the place but it always looked packed, I guess there's a reason why it's always packed. It's one of the few sushi places I know that have Japanese people making your sushi. The sushi chefs were sooo nice, they made it so fast and it was sooo good. I can't wait to go back there soon! Waitresses there were very friendly too. They also have Japanese BBQ there. I was in love with their sushi. Spicy tuna, spicy salmon, spicy scallop, crunch roll were the rolls I got. Everyone there was incredibly nice. They probably need more waitresses there. Street parking. I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • AShley W.

    The sushi is good, but the service is awful. Parking can be quite a challenge as well.

    (2)

  • Amanda S.

    As a friend had warned me before, my life really changed after I had the pumpkin fried rice at Ginza! Honestly the fried rice was amazing. The pumpkin was sweet and tender, and the fried rice itself was perfect. The veggie portion was perfectly balanced with the rice portion and the veggies were crisp and flavorful. Just enough seasoning and herbs to make this easily one of the best fried rice I have ever had. AMAZING AMAZING! It's not easy to make someone WOW over something so simple. So I agree that once you try this Pumpkin fried rice, your life will change! The rolls were great as well, we had the Poke Roll, Spider Roll, Something-Bomb Roll (basically the spiciness challenge roll) and then a Dragon Roll. I thought the Poke roll was the best. The tuna was very fresh in my opinion. The Spider roll and Dragon roll were OK but nothing out of the ordinary. The Something-Bomb roll we ordered for fun to see who would cry first ( we all claim to take spice very well) and it definitely delivered the spice. I mean, I don't really know if I even know if the rest of the roll tasted good, because that pepper that was sitting in the middle of the roll took over almost immediately. It made for a fun night though! Aside from the food, I thought the restaurant was very adorable, nicely decorated and very clean. The wait staff was also very cordial and efficient. Parking wasn't bad on a Thursday night either. Plus you get a small salad and dessert before and after your meal. It's not much but it definitely sets you up for the whole experience. PS. Don't waste the pumpkin! Carve that meat out after you have finished the rice!

    (5)

  • Reba H.

    Today I picked Ginza for my sunny day lunch experience. There are three key reasons that I give this restaurant 4 stars. Portions, taste, and price. After my disappointing visit to FLO yesterday I am pleasantly surprised by Ginza. The welcome was warm and the staff friendly. The portions of food are very generous. I ordered the fried oysters, snow crab, and white fish nigri. Exactly what I had ordered yesterday at FLO Japanese restaurant in Bellevue. The difference was that Ginza has huge delicious oysters. The oysters were hot and perfectly crispy laying on a bed of delicious salad. Check out my pictures you will not be disappointed by the oysters. The lunch entree of oysters also includes salad, rice and miso soup. The sushi nigri was also generous and fresh! The only downside to this restaurant was the parking. Parking is limited on Main street (Old Bellevue.) They do have parking behind the restaurant which is limited to about 4 exclusives spots I believe. There is street parking as well so don't let this discourage you from going. Carpool :).

    (4)

  • Juliana E.

    Fantastic! I was going to take a picture but it all happened so fast..... Great combinations on the sushi. Very traditional with a little modernization-but not too much.

    (4)

  • Rosenna T.

    Had dinner here with two of my friends, we had the sashimi boat, hamachi, chicken grizzle, spider roll and squid with miso sauce. Everything were great, except for the squid...hmm...they were super tiny and it came with only four little squid...didn't think it was particularly tasty, and certainly not worth a dollar a squid. Other than that, the sashimi were big and fresh! Will definitely come again!

    (4)

  • Beatrice L.

    YUM! i found out about this place thru yelp. Searching for new sashimi places to try, I ended up reading almost all of Ginza's 200 something reviews here. The aftermath? 2 trips to Ginza w/i a two week span. PumPkin fried rice yum. i eat the pumpkin aftter devouring the fried rice Sashimi Mainly hamachi. Sooooooooo fresh. I mean it tastes SO fresh that it feels as though they go out fishing to make my sashimi. Ive tried a few if their appetizers too. Thumbs up if youre drinking Am looking forward to trying out their ramen and rolls Btw, it's japanese run/owned. So u know youre eating authentic food.

    (4)

  • CB C.

    We have eaten here now three times, and each time is better than the last. Our experience here is no fluke. Arguably the best overall Japanese cuisine in the Eastside area. Restaurant is exceptionally clean, and the aromas are enticing. The wait staff are all prompt and courteous. If you arrive with a group and no reservation, you may be in for a wait, as the seating is modest. They do have a number of private rooms, but we've not tried to reserve one. The menu is broad and varied and you'll find all the typical Japanese fare. Our several first hand experiences with many different items from the sushi/sashimi menu underscore the absolute freshness of their offerings. The presentation is excellent and portion sizes are ample if not large. The deep fried oysters are in a word, superb---lightly coated w/ Panko and fried in fresh hot oil; not greasy; the briny oyster flavor is incredibly fresh. I could go on and on with positive comments about other menu items, but the one item that deserves special note is their Pumpkin Fried Rice. This is their specialty. It is a deliciously seasoned fried rice w/ bacon bits, served in a beautifully cooked kabocha squash (Japanese pumpkin). One of these will serve 4 persons as a side, easily. The kabocha is tender and has absorbed the flavors of the fried rice while they cook together...absolutely yummy! Be sure to place your order for this as soon as you can, as it takes awhile to prepare.

    (5)

  • Vlad A.

    Best Sushi i've had. Been here MULTIPLE times, and everytime i order something different, and every time i am shocked on the quality and taste. Last time i went there with a friend who sells fish for a living, and he saw surprised at the quality of the fish, and the way they prepared it. He liked this place more than the place he ate in Japan. A+ Will be back!

    (5)

  • Imaani E.

    I came because of the strong eeviews. It was good. Not spectacular not exceptionally creative and the freshness. ..i actually felt like the tuna may not have been right.. but I'm sure I'll be fine... lol. Little to no ambiance. But I wouldn't tell u not to come here. ;)

    (3)

  • Jennifer B.

    So much to choose from and so little time! The sushi and Japanese food here is tastiness! A good sign there are lots of Japanese staff. I got the chirashi bowl but tried lots of other items and they always deliver. The pumpkin fried rice comes in a cute pumpkin. It's a small restaurant so reservations are a good plan.

    (4)

  • Lili P.

    impressed with their expansive izakaya-like menu. butter yaki's, shishamo, grilled ika, yakitori, beef tongue, sea turtle?! , jelly fish. a lot of interesting little appetizers. surprised to see matsutake on the menu in the summer since the mushrooms grow in the fall.. so im guessing its dried . but anyhow - kinda cool if you're craving dobinmushi in the summer :D Dishes ordered- Enoki butteryaki (sauted with butter) - pretty basic dishes. just enoki ,butter, and a slice of lemon. could have used a dash of salt , pepper for a hint of flavor. a little too bland for my taste. Akami/blue fin tuna- a little pricey. 8.50 for 2 piece of nigiri. normally i see akami for 6.50 at other restaurants in seattle.. Still, fish was fresh and good. chicken yakitori- a taaaddd bit on the dry side but my bf liked it. crunch veg tempura roll- I was craving pumpkin and sweet potato tempura at the time so this roll seemed like an excellent choice. pretty good . just a basic roll with pumpkin,sweet potato, and broc tempura . ika with chopped uni- sort of like ikura somen with just a bit of uni mixed in. a dollop of seaweed salad on the side . yum~ I think this would be better with a bit of ponzu or ikura or natto added to it. next time i'll have to try the pumpkin fried rice . sounded delish. service was attentive and good. servers / food runners seem to work together to get food out and refill waters. :) *thumbs up.

    (4)

  • Minnie L.

    Ginza is really good! The menu is in both Japanese and English, with another menu offering not very mainstream Japanese-American items you would normally find at a Japanese restaurant (it looked legit!). I went with a large party, the service was a little slow, but that was alright since we were in good company. We were served some pickled cucumber, and our entrees were served shortly after. Some people in the party got the pumpkin fried rice (needs to be ordered off of the "other" menu) and were very pleased with it! I got the shoyu ramen because it was quite cold (in June, of course), and that was pretty yummy too. I just wish they had more ramen selection. Another friend got the rice bowl with a bunch of sashimi (there's a better name for this that I don't remember) and he said it was legit - like the ones he used to get in Japan. It's an interesting place, price is reasonable, and I'm going to come back to the "other" menu!

    (5)

  • Tina L.

    sushi isn't bad here. it was my experience with our waiter that was unfortunately terrible. i asked him about an item on the menu, and after a full 2 minute conversation about similar options, i place my order for the sushi/sashimi individual order. my two friends get their orders, but mine is no where to be seen... mine was also the only order that didn't need to be cooked! anyways, he forgot to put in my order. the place was busy, i get it. so i let him know that i didn't receive my order. he says, "oh, let me check on that", goes back to the kitchen, after 5 minutes (the kitchen is an 8 second walk from our table), he comes back to ask me, "do you still want it?". well, considering i haven't eaten yet and just reminded you of my order, "yes, i still want it!" another 10minutes pass and my no-need-to-cook order still hasn't arrived. i tell another waiter the story, he goes back to the kitchen, and my order comes out within the next 5 minutes. finally! when i'm just about done with my meal, the original waiter that forgot my order comes walking out with what i ordered, sees that i'm just about done with my meal, turns right back around and walks back to the kitchen. *sigh* maybe he was new, maybe he was having a bad day, i dunno... just sucks that it was the day i was there and my order was the one that was forgotten. the food was good, but not good enough if i really had to wait that long to eat it.

    (2)

  • Peter Y.

    This is my new favorite Japanese restaurant in Bellevue. Great authentic Japanese food and sushi. Make a reservation as it is always packed. We tried several dishes - Pumpkin fried rice - Loved it like everyone else on here - the dish includes a mix of rice, japanese seasoning, pumpkin, and meat. It's great to eat the shell afterwards as well. Tea leaf roasted pork belly - This was a great dish as well but the portions are kind of small. Volcano roll - Probably the best volcano roll I've had in Seattle. The fish was perfectly seared, topped with eggs and Japanese mayo. Fried mackerel - This was the only dish that we didn't like, it's definitely an acquired taste

    (4)

  • Derek C.

    good solid japanese resturant in Bellevue. Pumpkin fried rice was good. Sushi quality was great as well - for that I recommend the uni and sweet shrimp.

    (4)

  • John D.

    It's always a good sign when i'm the only non-Japanese customer in the place, and it's packed on a weeknight. Great service, wonderful sushi with large pieces of fish, lots of non-sushi dishes as well (I tried the pumpkin/bacon spring rolls). Very very good experience. The only concern is that parking in the back is limited, so on a busy evening prepare to spend some time looking for a spot. Also, reservations are probably a good idea as it gets packed.

    (4)

  • warren k.

    I definitely found my favorite Japanese restaurant! Their food is such high quality you can taste it in every dish~ I always order the salmon teriyaki dinner which is amazing since its cooked to perfection, great flavor & best of all comes with a huge bowl of refreshing salad, miso soup, pickled cucumber, & rice. Their sushi is one of the best Ive tasted & so fresh. The only thing I did not like here is their chicken teriyaki (the chicken quality or texture just isnt what I like) Their pumpkin fried rice is really good too and their sukiyaki is excellent too. I crave this place all the time but the price isnt cheap~

    (5)

  • Christine Y.

    I don't like sushi with fancy names, tempura batter, mayonnaise, and hot sauce. So, I've never ordered anything beyond a california roll and spicy tuna--yes, I know, hot sauce. I do, however, like the variety of hot dishes on Ginza's menu. Of the dishes I've tried, I recommend the: --eel fried rice really flavorful, might be too much of the same note, though--same eel glaze--for one person to finish --mountain vegetable zosui rice porridge, japanese style. mild in taste. filling for it being all vegetables. --deep fried lotus root with minced shrimp dip in tempura sauce, perfection As far as things besides food... I think one of the guys tries too hard to strike up conversation with guests. His "friendliness" came off superficial. I feel the restaurant is overrun with Chinese people (I heard Cantonese from the kitchen and waitstaff throughout the meal) who do not fully know Japanese (food) culture. One of the girls did not know what shichimi is when I asked for it and when she finally understood, went into the kitchen, and never returned to my table. I also think service, within the same dining period, among the same waitstaff, can be both really attentive and extremely lacking. It's really odd. I started people watching as we waited for them to fix the computer system so we could pay by card... one table got constant attention (menus, drinks, appetizers, extra utensils) while another table, within the same time period, received their menus, and nearly 10 minutes later, their drinks. It's kind of a odd place, no? I mean, they serve sushi and sashimi with tapas style dishes and donburi and ramen, all under one roof. And the service can be so on it, or way off..

    (3)

  • Deborah D.

    I am signing in to give review to this restaurant. The food is good and special but the host is really bad at assigning table. We waited for 1.5 hours to get to the table, we are a larger group (5) and the host screwed up the sequence and give our table to somebody else. Plus, just before we finally can sit down, a larger group came and they give the bigger table to them and insist that we need to squeeze into the 4-person table. It's ridiculous. But the manager gave us a free appetizer so we feel a little better. The food is not bad and it's different - tapa style. Not so sure about the sushi because we only ordered 1 roll.

    (3)

  • Richard U.

    Another great asian food place on the east side! Ginza offers great sushi/sashimi but also sport a huge menu of other cooked items if you have picky eaters in your group. They do everthing really well! I had the O-toro which these days is like ordering a piece of the last unicorn or something. But so worth it! Nice sized buttery slab dwarfing the sushi rice it came on. Also went with the Poke roll (tuna, avodcao, green onion) which was very good. The pork belly grilled with tea leaves was AMAZING. I would definitely crawl over a sea of thumb tacks or broken glass or even drive across the 520 for this dish. The pumpkin fried rice was great, served inside an actual pumpkin which takes a bit longer to cook so be patient. Service was very fast and attentive. Will be back soon enough to go through all the menu items.

    (5)

  • Ume A.

    Good food but inconsistent customer service. I one day found a piece of nail on the table! :(

    (3)

  • Deven T.

    Ginza is the best authentic Japanese restaurant on the eastside. You know they're "authentic" when they have traditional dishes such as sukiyaki and do it right. Although pricey (go to Seattle's Maneki for the best traditional Japanese food at a great price), what do you expect for a popular restaurant on Main Street in downtown Bellevue!? Their sushi is also excellent. Be prepared for a wait if you go on busy evenings/ weekends.

    (4)

  • Pam L.

    Even though the reviews were diverse, we decided to go ahead and give Ginza a try, and boy are we glad we did! Everything was amazing! We started with a dry bottle of sake, Karatamba, served chilled. Very crisp and smooth. The miso soup and cucumber salad were traditional, but nicely prepared. My son and I had the Chirashi bowl, at least 10 types of sashimi on top of sushi rice (salmon, octopus, tuna, eel, yellow tail, tamago just to mention some of the items, along with crab salad ) All the fish was extremely fresh, by far one of the best Japanese dishes I have ever had! Artisticly presented. My husband had the black cod marinated in sake. Very light with excellent flavors. For dessert we had 2 green tea creme brulee and a mango creme brulee. Light and creamy with the crunchy sugar glaze. Highly recommend this restaurant! Service was excellent as well. Very attentive!

    (5)

  • Melissa F.

    First indication: It's got a bunch of 4 and 5 star Yelp reviews and I see a lot of exclamation points in the comments and the quick tips. Second indication: It's my sushi-loving friend's FAVORITE place ever. The only thing I can say is how ashamed I am that it took me over 2 years to try this place. I finally suggested this place as a work lunch. Good cop out, right? If it's not up to snuff, I don't have to feel bad because I'm not paying for it. /snicksnick I called about 30 minutes ahead of time and asked if I should make a reservation and the woman thought about it (really thought about it, rather than just giving me the brush off), and said that we should be fine. Sure enough, I arrived at 12:30 and was seated right away. I did notice that the tables and chairs and space felt a little cramped, but to me that just feels ..well, Japanese. I didn't see the Yelpy-FAMOUS pumpkin fried rice on the menu, but when I asked the waitress, she happily went to check with the chefs for me. I braced myself to be disappointed. Luckily she came back with good news: it's normally a dinner item, but they'd make it for me. YES! I ordered the PFR and a hamachi sushi, my companions ordered some rolls and chicken teriyaki. The teriyaki is rather ..deluxe. It comes bento style on a tray with a number of other things: small bowl of rice, little potato salad, miso soup, and a GIANT bowl of salad. I'm actually pretty surprised a Japanese place serves portions that large - it's enough to feed 2, maybe 3 people. The hamachi was delicious!!!! It was some of the best I've ever had - practically melted in my mouth. Do I need to review the PFR, really? Let's just say that I now have a total obsession with kabocha and rice. OBSESSION. I had a huge amount of leftovers that I couldn't wait to get home and eat for dinner. I've been squawking about the rice ever since. It's all over my Facebook, and my coworkers now have all heard about it. I would do more than recommend Ginza to friends, I will drag them there!

    (5)

  • Seiko S.

    I am Japanese. I can honestly tell you about their food. It was awful!!! Specially food from Kitchen. We tried yakitori, It was terrible. Not fresh meat, overcook? recooked?? They should come to Vancouver to retrain.

    (1)

  • Nina H.

    This place is so cute and home-y! The food is exceptional and really worth the price. That being said, the price is quite decent for the quality so that's a double bonus! I ordered the katsu don today, it wasn't as great as I had hoped it would be but I still really like coming here. I've also tried their sushi and ramen before, om nom nom!!! Very delicious. The service is friendly although one of them forgot to bring my iced water and took away our dishes really quickly... other than that, it was great! It's always busy inside and the parking lot can be very full and that's a bit frustrating but supposedly there is another lot? Or you can always opt for street parking, I guess.

    (4)

  • Jason F.

    I stopped for lunch at Ginza, my first visit of many! At this time the restaurant is under construction, but I could hardly notice it, except for some plastic barrier. I had the special of the day, which was a very hard choice, considering all the great things on the menu. The special was Halibut Teriyaki and Chicken Katsu accompanied by Miso soup, a small potato salad. The place was busy, but the service was quite good. The food was terrific, I just need to find a place to nap after taking a nap after one of these large lunches! As Arnold Schwarzenegger says, "I'll be baaack"

    (4)

  • Michael K.

    I don't go to Bellevue very often, but on occasion I will find an excuse to cross the bridge and wander around the slightly more classy and polished cousin of our dear Emerald City. If you're lucky and find the entry way to platform 9 3/4, you will find yourself in Ginza, a quaintly decorated restaurant with the best Japanese food I've ever consumed. The chefs are friendly, the waitstaff are charming and lightning fast, and the list of sushi rolls brings a tear to my eye. Before I get into the rolls, however, I'd like to discuss the deep fried oysters. Now, I'm no oyster-lover, not because I have a problem with the flavor, but because I don't quite understand the appeal of consuming a food in the manner an oyster calls for. That being said, a deep fried oyster eliminates the need for the slurp n' swallow, and leaves you with a lightly breaded, deep fried ball of wonderful. The flavors that exploded out of each little golden brown confection were so good I nearly ordered another round, but my companion assured me that the room left in my stomach needed to be reserved for the rolls. Sunflower Roll - I didn't even know what super white tuna was, but this one was delightful. A light and flavorful summertime roll, perfect for an appetizer or light snack with sake. I usually try to avoid roe, but it went well with the combination here, and I was not disappointed with the goofy bubbly texture it adds. American Dream Roll - The crab and shrimp tempura were perfect, so full of flavor, and then to have the tuna topping it off created a roll that I actually wished was a true representation of the American Dream. Who needs hard work and perseverence when you have perfect sushi? Fire Crunch Roll - YUM! Favorite - Easy. The tempura shrimp again was perfectly prepared and the jalapeno and spicy roe were such a wonderfully balanced kick. I find myself instinctively dipping sushi rolls into soy sauce at so many places, but at Ginza, it never happened once. Mega Rainbow Roll - Regardless of where I go, I always try the Rainbow Roll as a personal test of the quality of their fish. What can I say besides WOW. It was all wonderful. Not going to elaborate. Just order anything they make and I will bet my gas money you're going to love it. Definitely want to return to try some of their entrees, although I'm not sure how successful I'll be at letting my eyes stray from the Sushi Roll list. Simply fantastic.

    (5)

  • Jianchen T.

    Visit Ginza for over 5 times. Great sushi place though the quality is not very consistent. The first time was great while I got stomachache for the next two times. The sweet shrimp and squid are sometimes not fresh. Uni is always good. Every time I went there I always ordered the toro and Chu toro nigiri (happen to be the special, lucky) and the taste is unbelievable, definitely worth me doing extra exercises for the extra fat I gained.

    (4)

  • Ashley H.

    Ive been pretty pleased with the food and staff the few times I've been here. We had the spicy tuna roll, some sashimi, unagi roll, pumpkin fried rice, and tempera ice cream. Everything tasted great, especially the fried rice. Depending what time you go, it can get crowded trying to wait for a table.

    (4)

  • Bryan R.

    We are from out of town and I trusted that my sashimi would be fresh and as local as possible. I was not disappointed. Wow fresh sockeye salmon! Goedouck what? Fantastic!

    (5)

  • Chris O.

    Lets get straight to it. Came here with a larger group of people and they put us in the back in a private room. The menu is pretty big when I ended up with the Tonkatsu: yelp.com/biz_photos/vmy0… Ginza Roll: yelp.com/biz_photos/vmy0… For $15, I was expecting a bit more (at least more rice). You can kind of see it in my picture, but the tonkatsu is on a massive mound of salad/cabbage. The tonkatsu itself was thin and dry. I ended up eating ALL the salad/cabbage since the tonkatsu hardly put a dent in my appetite and I figured I'd try get my $15 worth out of this dish. It's tough coming from Hawaii knowing back at home I could get more, better quality, and for probably half the price. *SHRUG*

    (2)

  • nanu b.

    Sadly the quality of sushi has not been god for the past 2 times I have eaten at Ginza. Although the fish is fresh and literally overflowing out of the roll, the sushi rice was dry and with no taste. The rolls we tried- Spicy tuna, yellow fin tuna, crab, tempura shrimp The tea smoked pork belly was tasty however. Basically its thick slices of bacon smoked with green tea I suppose. For me it tasted like kebabs somehow. Quite good. Unfortunately if the sushi continues to be a disappointment I would have to bid ginza goodbye forever. Hope that's not the case.

    (3)

  • kevin z.

    Quite disappointed at this place, not sure how it got 4 stars from yelpers. The food quality is below average, extremely oily on cooked dishes and fishes are not fresh. Parking is a hassle during dinner hours. Not recommended if you care for quality Japanese food.

    (2)

  • Jeremy P.

    Having lived briefly in Japan I am pretty picky about my sushi. While living in North Bend and working in Everett I have tried just about every place on the Eastside whose 'main draw' is sushi. Of all of those, Ginza is definitely the best. The atmosphere is great (not as good in the newer part of the restaurant, which is meant mainly for yakiniku), the service is very friendly, and the sushi is consistently excellent. Many of the items off of the second menu are also good, although I haven't tried anything I don't somewhat recognize. The non-sushi items I've had are the tempura, zaru soba, pumpkin fried rice, fried oysters, and gyoza, all of which were great. While I am sure there are a great number of good sushi places in and around Seattle proper, for anyone who lives on the Eastside or who doesn't have a favorite place already, the trip to Ginza in Bellevue is well worth it!

    (4)

  • Charles K.

    One of the secret treasures in Bellevue (Old Main). One can expect a level of authenticity right when you walk in the room from smaller tables, a designated room for group dining and a sushi bar. The food overall is very good but can be hit or miss at times. You can expect freshness and big cuts of sashimi. A must order is the pumpkin fried rice that is baked in a sweet squash, thick slices of cured bacon and diced vegetables that will make your eyes roll back. The price is slightly higher than I would like to see given the portion size but it's a spot that I'd highly recommend for my friends visiting the area.

    (4)

  • Gisete K.

    From the bottom of my heart, I really wish I could give Ginza a higher rating. The service was nice and they seem like they care about the restaurant. From the hot towel they give you in the beginning to the small fruit plate they give you at the end. But the food just didn't cut it and that's just a disappointment. A lot reviews say they sushi is good and I have yet to try them, I've been here twice and only tried their hot plates. The first time I had ramen which was super salty. You kind of expect some saltiness when you have shoyu ramen but not at this level. The second time I had the yakisoba and it tasted like something they had made a couple days ago and re heated for me. A lot of noodles and just a few pieces od meat and not a whole lot of veggies., it was greasy and old. Their menu is HUGE and very confusing, anyone who has watched Kitchen Nightmares knows the downfall of having a big BIG menu. For their prices I was expecting a lot more.

    (2)

  • Tim F.

    Best sushi in Bellevue that I have had. I by sushi, I mean raw fish, not sliders. The pumpkin rice is the best fried rice I have ever had. A very solid spot.

    (4)

  • June W.

    What an terrible disappointment. Really bad service, like--beyond bad. Food is really good so it's a shame. We've always had positive experiences here but Friday night was not one of those They forgot to put my husband's dinner order in. Then just continued to lie about it. "oh the kitchen is so busy tonight" which doesn't make sense because my order was put in at the same time. We ate dinner completely separately. I was finished way before his plate even arrived and this was after asking 2 different servers what was going on. If we hadn't prodded them (very nicely) I think it would have NEVER arrived. Servers/bussers are just all over the place and don't talk to each other. All confused and offering the same thing over and over again. We were on the newer side so not sure if this is the problem. I feel bad because this place has really good food. I want to believe that what happened the other night was an anomaly. Insult to injury was that they took 10% off our bill. That's it. And only after we told them we were really disappointed, were regular customers and wanted our bill adjusted. So damn cheap. Bad move. So, for now, we are telling everyone we know NOT to eat there. Spend your money elsewhere. It'll be a long time before we return for sure. Get it together Ginza. This is really bad customer service.

    (2)

  • Lena K.

    Ginza has some good fresh fish. My only complaint is they had pre-seared albacore. Albacore is one of my favorite fish and would prefer it raw, or if they were to sear it they can do that immediately after cutting the fish. Service was good, and I like that it's a small place and more personal than some larger sushi chains.

    (4)

  • Andrey R.

    Sushi was okay but the service was lame, and at the end they didn't wanna split the check for our group. Not coming back.

    (1)

  • Shep G.

    Really one of the best places for Sushi on the eastside. Great people running a great business. The pumpkin rice is to die for too....

    (5)

  • Heather H.

    I feel as though anything said in this review would be much considered an understatement as I was left in awe of Ginza's variety. Between the two menus it can take a first visitor a fare chunk of time just to page through choosing its savory offerings. There are MANY standouts, choose wisely you'll be treated to the best! Our chosen winner's: Geoduck Butter Yaki Sauteed Beef tongue Gyoza pot stickers - so soft and stuffed yummy Seared Ahi Tuna salad - perfection tenderness and light flavor Soft tofu w/1,000 year egg All of these were so fresh I felt like any of the fish just melted into my mouth. At the end of the meal you are also served bite sized pieces of frozen fruit to cleanse the palate. Service is outstanding and fast as mentioned in other reviews. Extra go points for the exceptionally clean bathrooms here, as busy as it is. Ginza would put some serious competition for Umi Sake if it were to ever expand to Seattle. I almost wish it would.

    (5)

  • Amanda K.

    The success of an awesome Japanese meal continues. I came here with my boyfriend and parents for dinner after my SYSO concert at Benaroya. We had made a reservation for 6, and were right on time. The waitresses (actually we had a waiter for the first time) were as always, attentive and friendly to us. As for food, man did we order a variety! -Spicy tuna and scallops rolls -Albacore taro (2 pieces, they were out) and sweet shirmp nigiri (comes with fried heads) -Sake infused black cod -Miso broiled taro -Smoked pork belly -Tempura Meal came with cucumber/shrimp salad as a starter and fruit at the end. All was BEAST. Especially cause the fish is super fresh. Cooked food is also legit. The black cod was so flaky, moist, and delicious! The taro was a bit lacking, thankfully it was a small pieces of taro that were presented. I have read raves about the pork belly, it's like a top notch bacon. Not bad, not bad. They have the best tempura on this planet. Fried shrimp heads are definitely a treat! Coming back for more of this love!

    (5)

  • Kimmy C.

    Yum-o! Randomly came across this on yelp and decided to try this with a couple of friends. Fortunately, I thought ahead and called in for a reservation for a table because on a saturday night, its packed! They bumped us ahead of another party that was waiting for a table but were walk-ins =P Sorry! For three people we ordered the sashimi sushi boat which was around 30 dollars and the pumpkin fried rice. It was so filling and the fish was fresh! They have a very large menu. It was nice to try other japanese dishes that weren't sushi. This place is more on the pricey end but i think it is well worth the money! I can't wait to come back here again to try their other dishes. Seems like the pork belly dish is supposed to be amazing!! They have their own parking lot, but its generally pretty full. Tip #1: Call ahead to make a reservation! especially on a saturday night! Tip #2: Pumpkin fried rice!!

    (5)

  • Vishnu N.

    Simply put, the best Sushi on the east side. The Ginza plate makes for a fantastic lunch, probably one of my favorite in town.

    (4)

  • Allen U.

    One great Japanese Restaurant in old town Bellevue on Main St--now run in the Japanese Family tradition by the son of the Japanese owner--all the traditional dishes--Tempura for lunch @ $12.75 --Nabu udon @ $10.50 Sukiyaki @ $11.95 Black Cod Kasuzuke @ $15.95 all served with rice and miso soup of course by the way the miso soup is different than most --clear chicken broth and nori (seaweed) added--try one of the sushi rolls awesome-- Crunch Seattle Roll @ $7.75 Rainbow Roll @ $12.75 etc--nothing cheap--but this is Bellevue afterall--oh for lunch--get there at 11:30 when they open and you will get right in without a reservation--the crowd gets there after 12:00 only seats 49 people in the back area--with limited free parking in the back--new front area only open on weekends so far--Al

    (4)

  • Jenn W.

    Highlights: Tea smoked pork belly - the portion was really small, but each bite was flavor packed and super savory. Pumpkin fried rice - Also a small portion, but starchy enough to be filling. Plus, we ate most of the kabocha afterwards :) Fried oysters - I tried these for the first time and I absolutely loved it. Do not try the kalbi, it was nothing compared to a real korean restaurant. After a few other dishes, we decided we still weren't full enough and had space for some sushi. We got two rolls, tuna express roll (spicy tuna, avocado, white tuna, cucumber) and something with yellowtail, perilla, avocado. I really enjoyed both; the fish was fresh and the combination of flavors hit the spot. Very glad we were able to try the sushi. Total cost with tip for three of us was $95, but we were stuffed and super happy afterwards. Service was a bit slow slow, but they're expanding so I hope they step up their employee count while doing that.

    (4)

  • DD C.

    Too huge of a menu... mediocre sashimi quality from the chirashi or the sushi combination..... The fish are dried out !!! I got some cheap fish, tuna, red snapper, sweet egg, cooked shrimp, little scallop, and something not memorable for paying for $20.00 chirashi... After eating at Shiros, Izumi, or even Flo, the sashimi/sushi quality seen so inferior. The restaurant used to be very good a few years... don't know what happened to the quality of the food....

    (3)

  • Amol B.

    Excellent sushi. I also liked their Udon. The servers were pleasant and gladly refilled our hot tea several times. I will go again.

    (4)

  • Maria N.

    I loved the food here! Very fresh, beautifully served, and delicious. I thought this restaurant is somewhat similar to Seattle's Maneki - it is family-owned, relatively small, very authentic, and with slow service balanced out by truly awesome food. Do make a reservation, or else you are risking a long wait time, especially so on the weekends. PS The sushi, nigiri, and sashimi were all good though not cheap. Nabeyaki udon was heavenly.

    (5)

  • Minji W.

    this restaurant feels like different from a regular sushi takeout. the good looks delicious. seafood seems fresh. maybe it's just me I feel the food is too little, and it's too bland

    (3)

  • Amy B.

    I was torn between giving Ginza a three or a four star review. I chose four because I'm generous and I believe under better circumstances that I could have had better service. I brought Matt and friends to Ginza for a birthday dinner. There were atleast 11 of us. I reserved ahead of time and asked for a tatami room. They accommodated my requests and were very pleasant on the phone. I arrived. We were given a room after waiting for exactly my time slot and then were directed to the room and abandoned for a time. I saw the waitress twice during the entire meal: once to order, once to deliver food. The service wasn't exactly friendly, although maybe there was a language barrier. I'm not sure. It was also very busy. The tatami rooms are awkward for more than 10 people and more comfortable with just 8 people. At 11, I had the feeling that the waiter left us to our own devices as if we'd get along just fine without her. I liked the food but everyone noticed the absence of help at the restaurant. I would have liked to ask for recommendations or ordered more. Any additional interaction would have been nice! Clearly, I need to try the restaurant again, sitting at a table with just Matt. Maybe then I could feel confident in my four star review.

    (4)

  • Christine Y.

    Hellooooo pumpkin fried rice!! Yummy! We came here for the first time with some friends that were visiting from SoCal! Cute little place, good service, great food! I didn't know everything that we had but it was all so Yum! we ordered a couple omakase, Pumpkin fried rice, and a rainbow roll! the sushi was plump, buttery and delicious! there were even a couple of Uni rolls which was surprising considering how pricey they can cost! I'm craving more sushi and pumpkin fried rice so I'll see you there!

    (4)

  • Walter B.

    I've eaten sushi in many cities around the world and after coming to Ginza a number of times I have to admit it is some of the best sushi I've had. Fresh is the word that comes to mind. The service is good and the prices are about normal for a good sushi restaurant, but the freshness of the sushi is what I noticed the most.

    (5)

  • Opal D.

    Service was so-so (granted we were in a private-ish room and they were busy). Fish was fresh but I've had better at various places in Seattle. Not authentic (had things on the menu such as Seattle rolls). Clean and brightly lit; decor reminiscent of a small teriyaki shop. Not romantic at all, but great for a casual weekday dinner or a gathering with friends. In short: Good meal but not remarkable.

    (3)

  • Kirstin H.

    Ginza is hit or miss. I used to adore coming here, but lately, it seems like the quality of their food has diminished slightly. I prefer to order their hot dishes now as I find their sushi to be meh for the amount that they ask for. My favorite dish here has to be the Pumpkin Fried Rice. It's a whole kabocha that has been hollowed out and filled with yummy fried rice (and bacon!!), then baked and served warm. Heavenly! Their daily specials are always a good way to go as the portions are decent and you're typically served an appetizer (shrimp and cucumber pickle), main course with salad on the side, and fruit for dessert. It's a cute little place but there is usually a wait and parking can be frustrating due to the downtown location. It would be wise to make reservations or go early if you're not the sort to wait around.

    (4)

  • Sally M.

    We went there for an early dinner around 5pm on a Wednesday night. The place was EMPTY. The restaurant was fairly big, so it was a little bit awkward being the only customers in there but we decided to sit down anyway. I opened the menu and realized that this was a fairly expensive place. The menu had too many unfamiliar things and I wasn't in the mood to try anything new so we just ended up ordering deep fried oysters for an appetizer and chirashi for the main dish. The deep fried oysters were very delicious. Good portion and good quality for $7.95. Chirashi was also very delicious. Not like exceptionally better quality or taste for its price ($18.95) but it was still very delicious. However, I rated this place 3 stars because of their service. I read some of the reviews from the other yelpers and I can't agree anymore with all their crappy service. First, they forgot to give me wasabi with my chirashi so I had to ASK for it. When I did tell the server (this old Japanese lady) that I didn't get any wasabi with my chirashi, she kind of looked at me weird and kept questioning me and told me that I should look inside my chirashi bowl. I DID AND DIDN'T FIND ANY. So she finally grabbed me some wasabi. Second, after we asked for our check, we put the cash in the check tray and we were still chatting and eating the fruit desert. Before we even got up from our table, our server decides to come and take our check. Horrible service.

    (3)

  • Sophie W.

    This is the most authentic Japanese restaurant I have tried in Seattle area. Love the pork belly and the baked rice with clear soup!!

    (5)

  • Eveline Z.

    Love all of the food. Portions are a bit tiny but it just means you can try a lot of different dishes. Consistency is great, Sashimi is really fresh, very Japanese. Pumpkin Fried Rice is really good- a must try. I really wish they expand the restaurant so it's a bit larger.

    (4)

  • Jill C.

    i love this place! Two things I HAVE to get whenever I go to Ginza are pumpkin fried rice and tea leaf pork belly!!!!!! Ginza offer a lot of authentic Japanese food and the most important thing is that the food is so so so awesome. even though the tea leaf pork belly is a little over-priced for me, there is no way I won't order that dish!! so delicious!

    (5)

  • Shino O.

    If you look for traditional Japanese dishes created by skilled chef using fresh and seasonal ingredients, served in an eye-catching presentation, this is the place. I come here often with coworkers for lunch or dinner, and this place never turned me down. I think of this place on Thursday. (Rumor has it that they receive fish from the market on every Thu, which means their sushi is even more exceptional.) If you don't know what fish is in the season just ask "what's good today?" and the wait staff will be happy to list up whatever they have that night. What I like about this place is that everyone here wants to fill you well and keep you happy. I posted the picture of things I enjoyed one night of group dinner. Sashimi melted on my tongues, grilled mackerel was full of flavor, fried chicken + green pepper was juicy and soft. Oh I can't get over the pumpkin fried rice! Diced pumpkin, tons of shrimp, and green onion. Mmmmm. I'm sad that they didn't have a grilled king salmon head, but it just gave me an excuse to come back. Ginza-san, thank you for letting us stay almost until midnight. We really enjoyed the night :D

    (5)

  • Randall F.

    I just happened to be solo for dinner and felt like really fresh, authentic sushi. Especially did not want an 'Asian' Japanese restaurant, I wanted to be greeted in Japanese although I have no comprehension of what is being yelled in my direction, but it feels as though they welcome you. Sat alone at a table and was given a hot towel to clean my hands. Debated on a couple of fancy rolls or sushi but finally decided to order the CHIRASHI which was very fresh with just the right variety to make it a real delight! There were many other dishes parading by me that I will most definitely come back with another companion so we can try more. As I left, I was given a Japanese shout of appreciation!

    (5)

  • M A.

    Our favorite sushi place in Bellevue hands down! After discovering it we would go 2-3 times a week. Make sure to go early right around opening to have the best seat at the bar and best selection for the day. Chat up the sushi chef Fuji. He is AWESOME! We love him! He's really what makes this place great (along with the delicious food). He'll hook you up with the best cuts and steer you clear of anything that's not as good that day. Ask him to tell you about the sake and the rice polishing process that goes into them. Great selection of fresh fish (daily specials) Creative and extensive menu Friendly service - though the best is Fuji Short on space and parking though so make sure you get reservations or come early!

    (5)

  • Jo H.

    Place is great. Customer service is solid, fish is fresh and price is worth it. Definitely a go-to place if you want decent sushi and cannot make up your mind where you want to go.

    (4)

  • Debra B.

    This was an impromptu restaurant choice for celebrating my nephew's birthday when he was in town on business. We had a group of 6 and were given one of the private dining rooms which was nice. I was happy about the pit under the table for our legs since I don't do well seated cross-legged! I would probably still be there. The menu was diverse, the sushi rolls were fresh and tasted very good. We ordered a second round of the albacore & garlic - my favorite. Prices were very reasonable - tab with food, sake & tip was under $100 for six. This was good, but still not our go-to place for inventive sushi rolls.

    (3)

  • Lynn M.

    This is my second favorite sushi spot in Bellevue, with FLO being the first. I too loved the pumpkin. I think they also have some innovative recipes and I like the helpful attitude of the staff. The sashimi portions are decently large and their prices are good. The sashimi varies in taste quality. Sometimes it seems fresher than others, but that could just be me. There can be an aftertaste with certain dishes, unlike when I eat at FLO sushi. However, it is a good value. Sometimes there can be a wait, but if you are willing to eat at the sushi bar, it is seldom more than 10 minutes. It's a little chaotic inside at times, but it makes it feel very authentic to me. Parking is in a lot on the back side of Main Street, or in front on Main, if you can find it.

    (4)

  • Tom C.

    We had a terrible experience here for my mother in law birthday. 1. The food was spoiled and not fresh - especially the side dishes. 2. No apology 3. They didn't even offer to replace the meal 4. Terrible service

    (1)

  • Yoshihito T.

    First of all, I grew up in Japan and still visit there a couple times a year. So, I think I know what to expect when it comes to Japanese cuisine. I tried Ginza a long time ago and didn't like it there simply because the food wasn't good. They even microwaved my miso soup, which I still cannot believe. And then this new yakiniku establishment came along so I thought I'd give them another shot because this would be the only Japanese-style BBQ restaurant in Seattle. And .... I regretted it. Meats are way too over priced and the quality isn't as high as they are expected to be. Some of the cuts were showing clear oxidization because they were part dark brown so that means they aren't that fresh and not properly stored. We were also told that the meats were never frozen but I'm not sure if it was true given the texture. It also took quite a while for them to just bring cut pieces of meats to the table. I would probably not go back here again. I'd just wait until I visit either Vancouver or Japan for my next yakiniku meal.

    (1)

  • Olivia L.

    Came here with the old roomie for dinner and I must say that the sushi was good, the service was nice, and I loved that it was clearly a neighborhood spot with people of all ages (a son with 90-yo mom, teenagers, families, and friends). I got the chirashi and got more food than I could actually eat! Uniformly high quality fish, yay!

    (4)

  • Angie B.

    We were visiting from out of state and went here based off of previous Yelp reviews. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his sushi. I got the veggie platter which was great!

    (4)

  • Susan C.

    Visiting Seattle and found this place by recommendation. The service was good, the girls were really nice & friendly, and the ambience is more like a family style dining. We ordered varieties of rolls and I had the Pork Special which was really good. Unfortunately the sushi wasn't that great. Something was lacking and I think it was on flavor profile and presentation. Unfortunately we only found this place as we were staying in Bellevue area. We didn't get a chance to try other sushi establishments.

    (3)

  • Amara H.

    I really liked eating at Ginza but the most recent experience we had left me thinking that there are probably more professional sushi places outside of Kirkland. Management should seriously talk to their staff about speaking in Mandarin or Cantonese in front of customers especially thinking that no one will understand them and end up causing severe health problems. We had been sitting at the sushi bar and ordered the Chef's Special Sashimi plate and noted to the waiter and the two sushi chefs that I have serious shellfish allergies. Instead of listening to me, they gave me a plate mixed with raw clams and glared at me when I had to give it back explaining that it had touched everything else already. In turn, the chef turned to his co-worker saying in Chinese "Why the hell did she order Sashimi if she can't even eat shellfish. Stupid girl! Go eat this in the back so it doesn't waste!". My co-worker translated everything they were saying for me afterwards and I just couldn't wait to get the check. Thanks for almost killing me even after I told you I about my allergies! Really appreciated the sarcasm, dirty looks, and insults all throughout my meal.

    (1)

  • Jeff J.

    Dinner for 2. Table next to us: "Is the crab inside the California Roll raw?" First, imitation crab is not crab. Second, it's not raw. But, if you're sitting in a restaurant where the patrons are asking those types of questions, you start to wonder if the more exotic offerings, like say, uni... would have high enough turnover. Stay tuned. - Ambiance (3/5) It's clean, though a bit too "cold" for a Japanese place. It also has a weird duplex feel with one side in the back separated by up-and-down stairs from the front. - Service (3/5) Speedy, courteous. Abandoned us with the grill after she said she would help us cook it. I don't mind cooking it myself, but don't say you're doing it and then let us realize one side is burning b/c you didn't come back. - Chirashi, $23.50 (4/5) Generous cuts of fish and very fresh. They were also generous with types of fish (red snapper, sockeye salmon, surf clam). - Amaebi, $5.75 (5/5) Very fresh. Standard awesomeness. - Uni, $6.50 (1/5) Bitter, semi-rancid taste. Knew it had gone bad the second it went in my mouth but couldn't spit it out on account of company. Definitely should not have swallowed. Diarrhea for days. - Fatty Pork, for grill, $11.50 (5/5) Truly fatty and very well seasoned. - Giant Prawns, for grill, $6.50 (1/5) Certainly giant, but tasted frozen as the meat was quite mushy. - Value (4/5) Considering the generous cuts of fish for chirashi, it's pretty good value. We were stuffed after just the chirashi bowl. - Final Word I had diarrhea for 4 days after eating the uni. If you don't want diarrhea for days, don't get the uni. For this reason, I have to grade it harshly... unfortunate.

    (1)

  • An T.

    Read all the reviews and they are all pretty consistent. Even got a great tip from one yelper on the sashimi deluxe. I totally would have gone for the boat but I don't need to be fancy. The sushi was great! And of course the pumpkin fried rice did not disappoint. No the reviews on here are not exaggerated they are spot on it is awesome try it if you haven't its a must. 1 star short since parking was a hassle. Hard to come in to eat the great food if I can't get there...

    (4)

  • Jan B.

    I went here mainly for sushi and rolls. However, they were just average. The sushi did not look super fresh and did not taste that good. I ordered the spider roll but there were really sauce and even I ordered to get a spicy mayo sauce, still the roll did not taste like anything. However, the ramen that I ordered was really good. I think this place is better for other japanese dishes. Dont go for sushi but go for other dishes.

    (3)

  • Jerome B.

    This place was cute, they had refreshing towels and a nice pot of barley-green tea. The food was great too-they had a daily special of salmon yaki and chicken katsu for 11.25! Great for lunch time! Definitely try this place out, it's in Old Bellevue

    (4)

  • Thomas P.

    The food is delicious. From their super 100+ Asian appetizers from the "specials" menu (peppered gizzards, broiled beef tongue slices, duck, etc.) to their more "regular" American/Japanese rolls (Cali-rolls, Alaskan, Seattle rolls) you really can't go wrong. I would definitely recommend staying away from the "play it safe" options however and try something new, because it's so much better. Even if you're not into raw fish or some of the more eclectic cuts of an animal, try their pumpkin fried rice or their sukiyaki. They also have a sashimi boat which as the name suggest, a giant boat that's decked with different sashimi -- definitely sized to share for the table. The only two downside is A)their ramen is not the best in town; B)they can get backed up really quickly. With all the new ramen places that has opened in Bellevue and all around, it's easy to tell that ramen is not their specialty. I'm not sure who is more authentic and what not, I'm just saying that I like the flavors at the ramen shops better. That said, it's not terrible if you want ramen but the rest of your party wanted to go get sushi instead. Their organization is also somewhat on the lacking. Before their expansion, the wait was awful during prime-time simply because they lacked space. However, since their expansion, they have the space, but not the organizational skills to effectively manage the flow. there are a lot of waiters/busers running around but none of the new hires (read: younger staff) are training to properly host (i.e. greet/take down names and manage reservations) so prepare to wait a little still. That said, the little old Japanese woman that's always there is the sweetest waitress ever. Definitely my go-to sushi/sashimi restaurant on the east-side.

    (4)

  • Dave Q.

    Great service. Sushi bar was not crowded; however restaurant . Sushi chefs Really new their stuff. great cuts and focused on quality. Loved the wild sockeye sushi. The BOMB! Try it. U will love it.

    (4)

  • Polly B.

    Easily the best Japanese on the Eastside. I tend to send anyone who likes authentic and high quality dishes here. - They do do take out and are very curtieous about it. Want to get some sun and want to skip the wait (though the wait it worth it,) make yourself a couple of mugs of green tea, place a to-go order, pick up, and eat in the park. (Just don't leave your car in the parking lot; that would be rude.) - Guys at the sushi bar are so talented, funny, and very nice. They didn't seem like they minded my questions and seemed excited to educate me about what was fresh, what was good, and what I've been missing. - The staff: Lovely, lovely service. Very patient. Check on you, without overdoing it. - Great tea. (Nothing kills a lovely sushi experience like bad tea.) - Fishes: In season. Beautiful. Melt in your mouth good. When I lived nearby, I would stop in on a bad day and fill myself with sashimi. Just thinking of the salmon makes me drool. - Starters: Standards like miso, seaweed salad, and cucumber salad are everything they should be and more. - Desert: My sister is all about their green tea gelato (ice cream?) - Enders?: I love that they give you fruit and those yummy minty chocolates. You already won me over, Ginza. These little extras really make me feel loved. Dishes: We could be here all day so I'll say - Pumpkin fried rice. NOT OVERRATED. IT REALLY IS THAT GOOD. The rice is so perfect and tender. If you think you don't like pumpkin (thinking pumpkin pie?) you need to try this. It doesn't taste like that. Ask them to put one in as soon as you sit down. A delight to eat as leftovers for lunch if you can't finish. I felt healthier just for having eaten this dish. The American Dream Roll: /drool On our first visit, we described Kozui's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Tuna roll and our delightful sushi chef suggested this roll. Sorry Kozui, American Dream Roll is better. Sticky and sweet sauce. A little bit hot and spicy with the jalapenos (I like to think of them as the sushi's little hats). The tuna and the shrimp are perfect texture, fresh, flavorful. I could eat two rolls myself. Sometimes I do. I would worry about looking like a boring gaijin, but I don't care because I'm too busy out on my sushi island of splendor. Downers: The wait kinda sucks (but it's worth it) but for their space and attention to detail, it's not so bad. I do wish the waiting space was a dash bigger or there was a better wait list system. When it's cold and we're all cramped next to the door, I tend to get claustrophobic. Once some people with the same amount of people and no reservation got a table before me, but I think it was an honest mistake on a crazy night.

    (5)

  • Mike M.

    Before I left Bellevue, I knew that I had try their famous pumpkin fried rice. It was out of this world. It was absolutely delicious! If I ever go back to the Bellevue area, I will be sure to eat this again.

    (5)

  • Phebe S.

    Many years ago I decided to boycott Ginza due to the poor service. After about 5 years, I figure it's been long enough to give it another chance. Sadly, the boycott is reinstated. This time for life. Both the service and food were just not up to par. The hamachi collar and agedashi were just ok. The rolls we ordered were small and looked liked they'd been made by novices. In addition, they forgot to bring one of the rolls and it took over twenty minutes for them to bring the last one. Getting tea and water refilled was also sporadic. It's not the worst place in the world and apparently there is some good stuff here if you order the right things. However, with lots of other options around for good Asian food and in particular Japanese food, Ginza needs to up its game.

    (3)

  • Natalie D.

    I'm not gonna judge food quality now, I'd like to say a couple words about customer service. DISAPPOINTINGLY AWFUL! I had few attempts to order sushi to go by calling them: each time I was asked to wait a few seconds, and after that I was listening silence for long minutes, and no one would come back to me. One time I was really pissed-off of waiting, so I decided to actually go there and show my frustration, and when I stepped inside I immediately noticed a phone dropped on the table, and no one from Ginza's personnel didn't care about customers calling. I'd like to suggest Ginza management that they hire a hostess, who could only answer the calls, or add "Order online" option on your website. Of course, if you're interested in attracting new customers and keeping existing satisfied.

    (2)

  • Victoria H.

    I love the pumpkin fried rice. Daily special is always good value.

    (4)

  • Shirley K.

    My boyfriend and I came here for date night because we heard it was really good and I saw all of their great Yelp reviews. I was really excited because I've never had yakiniku (pretty much Japanese BBQ) and I heard their pumpkin fried rice was amazing. When we walked in, they seated us upstairs so we had to walk through the whole restaurant because we were having yakiniku. They have two entrances, one in the back where the parking lot is and one in the front on Main Street. The upstairs looked like it was for yakiniku and downstairs were normal tables without grills, a little weird but not a big deal. When we were seated, our server was extremely friendly and helpful. My boyfriend and I really like her and loved the service. We started off with some sushi and ordered otoro (tuna belly). I've never had it and my boyfriend always told me how he couldn't eat regular tuna anymore ever since he tried tuna belly so he wanted me to try it. I thought it was really good even though it was very rich and buttery. It was like $15 for two pieces but I probably couldn't have eaten more than a few because it was so rich. My boyfriend thought it was pretty good but didn't think it was very fresh. Then we had their yakiniku. We got a small plate of a various kinds of meats. I think we had shrimp and a few different cuts of beef. I thought it was okay but I loved how the server cooked our meat for us so we still enjoyed our meal. I would rather have Korean BBQ even though they are completely different. Then at the end, we had the pumpkin fried rice that everyone was raving about. I thought it was pretty good but I thought it was missing a little bit of seasoning and added some soy sauce. My boyfriend thought it was overpriced for what it was and wasn't as good as everyone said. I think people kept telling us it was really good that we expected it to be a certain way. I definitely would love to come back and try their other food! Great service and experience.

    (3)

  • Manjae P.

    I really like this location. They have a whole separate secret menu which is larger than there original menu. The asari ramen is always nice and pumpkin fried rice is good as well. There service is hit or miss; I've had both the greatest and closest to worst service here. Also, use the front door; the servers are very late to seat you if you go in through the back door near the parking lot.

    (4)

  • Paul Q.

    I am surprised that this place has so much good reviews. My palate is easily pleased but this place was not as amazing as how it was described. I ordered the beef tongue as appetizer. It was so tough and chewy, like I was eating squid. I guess I just had a different expectation of beef tongue - soft and tender, which is what Im used to. We also ordered a mushroom-shellfish rice in a stone pot. The stone pot was 95% rice and scanty meat barely made an impression on the dish. I expected the rice would be infused by the flavor of the mushrooms, but again I was wrong. Finally we ordered the hairy crab hot pot - very overpriced. The crab was so tiny and their large order was very small still. Sorry Ginza, the quality did not live up to the hype and price.

    (2)

  • Ron S.

    Solid as a rock Sushi Bar. I did not try the non Sushi menu. The Sushi is so small it only seats 5 so RESERVATIONS ONLY if you must sit at the bar. The quality here is above high. They excel and that's why they are so successful. I strongly recommend Ginza for Sushi.

    (4)

  • Tammie E.

    Delicious Japanese BBQ. A bit pricey; but it's also QUITE a bit delicious. Their rolls are really tasty and fresh. They have TONS of selection to choose from. And their sushi prices aren't too shabby. Their Japanese BBQ (first time having it) was REALLY good. This is a bit pricey compared with Korean BBQ. But, oh-so-good. *drooooool* Okay, so the service isn't the best and they can't really explain their food too well. But just go with your instinct and pick something that sounds good. I can almost guarantee that you'll LAVA it.

    (4)

  • Jeff A.

    Don't miss the pumpkin fried rice. It was the highlight of the meal. Service was slow and the sushi rolls lacked much flavor. All for a premium price.

    (3)

  • Steve C.

    Went there for lunch today. I have had a no less than 30 Chirashi's here in the last handful+ years. Their Chirashi's used to be really great. It was still good during lunch today but not as good as it used to be. Will be back again!

    (4)

  • Monica D.

    I ordered a sashimi boat here and it was awful. First off, they clearly forgot that I had ordered it. I tried to be patient and ordered a few appetizers and rolls in between but the sashimi never came. The rolls tasted fine I can't remember what they were. After we have eaten the rolls and appetizers I had finally I decided to tell the server that I wanted to cancel my order. She insists that the order was on its way and convinced us to keep our order by saying that she will give us a discount on the sashimi. (The discount turned out to be only 10%)Finally we received our order on a giant wooden "boat". The presentation was sloppy, it was evident that they just assembled it as fast as they could. The fish was sliced too thick and in different sizes. It was very chewy. Some pieces were still frozen. I did my best to eat most of it however I hit my limit when I bit into a piece of salmon that was mushy and frozen. This ruined my birthday dinner! I will never return.

    (1)

  • Mac F.

    Just dined here with a large group (22 of us) on a Friday evening. I walked in and stood, looking like an idiot, for nearly 10 minutes before one of the wait staff of, at least, 6 who saw me) finally took a second to recognized me. Yes, they were quite busy and I did not know that I could have accessed the group dining tatami room from another entrance. (They have two levels: one facing the Main Street and another lower level with an entrance opening to 102nd.) Again, granted we were a large group but the service was extremely slow. They initially assigned only one wait staff for our group. (I never even got a tea cup) poor gal took care of tea, sumimono, miso shiru, and order taking. She finally got some help to deliver the food. And, speaking of food ... I ordered their Ginza Plate (several nigiri sushi and a roll). Below average taste. More irritating is the small balls of rice with the sushi. While I appreciated the thick cut of the fish (more so if it had tasted better -- very low grade cut), more important is the well flavored sushi rice. On that they failed.

    (2)

  • Dylan L.

    we ate at Ginza this evening. the chef was totally unprofessional. the server placed a wrong item for us, she put in Hamachi instead of salmon; so we told him we ordered Salmon. Therefore, he put 12 pieces Sashimi for Assorted Sashimi Boat $38.95; Sashimi are in small pieces. we were sitting at the bar watching him. The $23.50 Sashimi Deluxe looks a lot bigger. please watch out / mindful the small shorter old chef upstairs. we have been eating there every month, sometime couple times per month, and some of the servers and chefs recognize us; we like to sit at the sushi bar area. this would be our worst dinner

    (1)

  • Angela B.

    Pleasant atmosphere. I originally thought the entrance was on Main but it was actually on the cross street. There was a parking lot but since we found street parking first, we just went for that. Glad to know there is a lot though if we hadn't found a spot right out front. Servers were pleasant and the food was good. Very pleased! Prices were reasonable. I also enjoy that they give you a warm wash cloth to start the meal. Nice touch! Highly recommend the gyoza, beef teriyaki steak, and the tempura! Really disliked the chicken teriyaki, would not eat that again.

    (4)

  • Khrystyna B.

    Hi to everyone. I went to this place last week and I really liked, but thought I will go somewhere else in this area to compare . No, I should not go ...because this place is one of the tastiest I have ever try. Thanks!

    (4)

  • Sourcer M.

    THE most Japanese tasting ramen I've had in the states, great atmosphere and services too!

    (5)

  • Tiffany W.

    I know everyone says it, but the pumpkin fried rice here is spectacular! The kabocha squash gives the fried rice a slightly creamy texture, but the rice is seared just the right amount so that there are bits of crunch in it as well. I wish I could just package this stuff up and have it whenever I want. Yummm! Vegetarian tip: They can make a vegetarian version of this fried rice, so don't hesitate to ask. There's also quite a selection of vegetarian items on their extremely extensive menu.

    (4)

  • Gelwguitar A.

    We waited for our pumpkin fried rice for almost 2 hours and never arrive. Poor service.

    (1)

  • Elisha T.

    In summary, Ginza offers lots of Japanese menu items without compromising the quality. I'm a regular at this restaurant. Their food is above the average compared to other Japanese restaurants in the Seattle area. Their price is little bit higher than comparable places but I think that's reasonable when you have a choice to order from more than hundred menu items including some traditional dish you can't get elsewhere. My favorite items: 1. Sushi rolls - Good selections, great taste I expect from authentic Japanese restaurants. I always try to get at least one sushi roll even if I get another entree. 2. Ramen - Surprisingly, their ramen is much better than some ramen specialties in the area. 3. Yakiniku - Overall I'm satisfied with the meat selection they have and it's always fun to bbq the meat with my friends.

    (5)

  • Pink P.

    Must go for Japanese foods lovers. Good price good foods and good people working. Lunch with my coworker and dinner wz good friends always. Thanks !!

    (5)

  • Justin H.

    For sure still a fan here.. The pumpkin fried rice is really delicious every time I get it and I haven't found another place that makes it. We went there on a busy Saturday night and was seated relatively quickly, the place is small but luckily we didn't get stuck standing too long. In addition to the pumpkin fried rice, I ordered chirashi and I fully enjoyed it.

    (4)

  • Shan T.

    This is my go-to sushi place if I am craving for some good quality sashimi and unagi! They only have about 10 parking spots so parking can be hard around peak hours. I can only speak on their sushi. You can also grill meat here too but I never tried it. The wait is not too long because they have another room on the street level floor. Customer service is great! Our waiter checked on us several times to refill out tea! We ordered the Omakase sashimi ($45), wild sake sashimi, two super dragon rolls, uni and sake nigiri and a pumpkin fried rice. The uni was amazing. It was fresh, creamy, sweet and it left a cooling after taste in my mouth. So good! The hamachi sashimi was great too. The super dragon roll is our must order at this place. The eel on the top is so fat! Some places, the unagi can taste fishy but definitely not the case here at Ginza. Unagi Goodness!!! We loved the uni so much that we ordered some uni nigiri. The uni is more tasty as sashimi but either way it was amazing and fresh. The one that I didn't care for is the pumpkin fried rice. I tried it before and the only time that it amazed me was the first time I had it. This time, It was too moist for my taste. I liked my fried rice on the drier side. The pumpkin was not that great. It doesn't have that creamy pumpkin texture to it like the Japnese pumpkin. I ordered it because it had been so long since I had it. They also give small pickled cucumber as appetizer and fresh fruits and mint chocolate as dessert. Overall, amazing sashimi and great customer service!

    (4)

  • Steve B.

    Simply the best Japanese restaurant in town ! This places probably marks the most authentic Japanese sashimi place in Wa. State. Love it, gotta try it. Parking is limited though.

    (5)

  • Michael G.

    Very cool place. Just my style, quite unassuming confidence, just like Japan itself. For starters, you can taste the clear difference in quality of the tako over other sushi places. The service is also rock solid. Friendly servers that operate very efficiently. Clearly, the place is managed well. Had a few other things, such as the broiled beef tongue, sake (sashimi sake, not drink sake), ramen and avocado and shrimp sushi, all of it meticulously prepared with carefully chosen ingredients. Our one regret was not ordering the squash fried rice, which seemed to go to every table but ours and something I've never seen before anywhere else.

    (4)

  • Memee C.

    Oh my god, oh my god! This place has definitely become my new favorite place!! Food here was soooo good! The first time I went there, my friend and I got the super dragon roll and the tempura+sashimi set. The super dragon roll was superb. They actually gave you a whole piece of unagi on top if your sushi. It cost like $17, which I found it was reasonable. However, the tempura + sashimi set was disappointed. I mean the food was good, but it was so expensive. I can't really remember how much it was, buy probably $20+. The second time I went there, I got ginza plate and another sushi roll (cant remember what's called, but probably something orange roll). This time was much impressive for me. The service was really good, and the food was nice too. For overall, I highly recommend that you should give this place a try.

    (4)

  • Michael G.

    I am very sad to downgrade my current review to two stars. It reflects multiple disappointing visits. The kitchen prepared food has really slipped on recent visits and has come out tasting poorly prepared, heavy, and very greasy, compared to the way it used to be. I sometimes almost feel ill from such a heavy intake of grease, oil, or fat in my food. I know this restaurant can be capable of doing so much better, and I am not sure what changed in the kitchen on some of my recent visits. Sushi has been good most of the time, but not always recently. Also, even though the servers typically do a wonderful job, there is a sushi chef in the sushi bar in the back dining room (South side of the restaurant) who I believe has shown a real disrespect of customers and a poor attitude. I also witnessed what I viewed to be very weak hospitality of another sushi chef on a different visit. I perceive this restaurant is really slipping and is not being carefully managed either in the kitchen or at the sushi bar. The only thing that I see to still be excellent is the servers who work very hard and do a great job. However, if the kitchen and sushi chefs can't perform at that same level, the whole experience becomes poor. This is a hint to the owners and managers that it is time to make some changes over there.

    (2)

  • Bonbon C.

    I come here every month with my good friend. The pumpkin fried rice was great, and I love the Japanese tea. The waiter was helpful, server was good. but I can't give them 5 stars, cause they don't have parking...

    (4)

  • Danny L.

    Udon was limp, the soup bland, sushi was not fresh (squid and scallop were particularly bad), the sushi rice all sticked to the wooden plate (the rice wasn't made right), the wasabi used was regular run of the mill powder mix, sushi kept falling apart. I will never return. Wish I ate at I love sushi.

    (1)

  • Scott F.

    Overall good quality food at reasonable prices. Tempura was light and crunchy 'some of the best I've ever had. Spicy tuna however was a disappointment as the fish was mushy. Our waitress spoke English with a very heavy Japanese accent so it was hard to get answers to our questions about the menu. We asked what kind of fish might be put in the chirashi and all she could repeat was "chef's choice" and that we could not request specific types of fish. We know one cannot order all hamachi or all toro but we wanted some assurance that we would not get only the cheaper less tasty types of fish or ika. No assurance was provided and so we did not order what is one of our favorite Japanese dishes. The chicken teriyaki was cooked to perfection and I would order it again. Miao soup was a bit too cool for my taste but was delicious nonetheless. I don't know what the health code requirements are but both sushi chefs were not wearing coverings over their heads of hair. Kind of a turnoff.

    (3)

  • Diana C.

    As much as I want to love this place... I feel like it's gone a little down hill. They have expanded their restaurant, but the wait is still long. The upper section feels more like a buffet/bbq place and doesn't feel like a sushi joint. The original section is still great. I'm not sure if maybe I went on a couple of their off days or what the deal was but it's really disappointing. The service is still friendly, but definitely not as knowledgeable as before. Fish is still pretty good, but the price is high for the portions you get (even for sashimi/sushi standards). I would still go, but it's just not quite 4* material anymore.

    (3)

  • Alanna M.

    I was quite disappointed with Ginza. I had high hopes considering Yelpers gave it 4 stars. My amaebi head came separate from the body (way late) and the head was too aged so I couldn't eat it. The meat of the shrimp was not sweet. The sashimi wasn't terrible, but it wasn't the best I've ever had or near the best. Service... we had to ask multiple times where our pork and veggies were. Our veggies came way after our beef. It wasn't a good experience. Something positive: corn was well seasoned. The wagyu was the highlight of the evening and also the most expensive hence it better have been! I don't dine at a restaurant and spend $200 for a meal to only have one piece of the evening be good. I expect to have an all around positive experience and unfortunately this was not the case here.

    (2)

  • Vivian W.

    Horrible service!!! Waited for 15 minute before even being greeted. Took forever with the order. Different dishes come out in 30 minutes intervals. Will not cancel food when you are sick of waiting. Will not go again that's for sure.

    (1)

  • Julie P.

    My 4 friends and I each order the sashimi regular and sashimi deluxe plates and they were so filling! The fish was super fresh, large cuts and had great flavor. The service was really good and they even accommodated us bringing in a birthday cake, sang HB to the birthday girl and even asked if we all wanted our check's splitted. Make sure to make reservations ahead of time because this place is a very popular spot for sushi. I look forward to coming back in the future!

    (4)

  • Chris W.

    Not your traditional traditional Japanese restaurant but it definitely is japanese with a nice easy modern twist. Sushi and sashimi is fresh and its a nice place to go. Just go and eat at this place already its great.

    (5)

  • TC L.

    The place smells so bad and the food tastes bad too!!! We ordered few things and didn't even finish one thing at all. I would give it a zero if yelp let me to do so. Definitely won't go back again for sure!

    (1)

  • Christina D.

    This place is huge! It's a sushi/Japanese BBQ hybrid establishment, and the back is presumably for parties that aren't BBQing, while the tables at the front of the restaurant have grills. My boyfriend and I were only there for sushi, but they took us to the front of the house without asking. Not too big of a deal, but the grill was kind of getting in the way of our plates, especially since we were sharing everything. The sushi was good, some of the fish could be fresher, but overall it was quite good. We got the kanihama roll, which had imitation crab, hamachi, and avocado ($7.25) and two pieces of toro nigiri ($13). The toro was okay, but it was cheaper than toro we normally get so expectations weren't that high. We also ordered the sushi deluxe ($26) that came with 4 pieces of some mystery charred fish, not the best tasting but it was interesting, eight pieces of tuna (two kinds), four pieces of salmon, two pieces of hamachi, two pieces of albacore, and two pieces of octopus. I would have preferred some other type of fish other than the charred/smoked fish, but I guess the sushi deluxe gives the chef some flexibility, omakase-style, even though we were told by the waiter the omakase had less but cost more. Our server spoke quickly and very softly, so it was hard to understand him, and he was not attentive at all. He only took our order and never came back to check up on us. It was an awkward exchange. In fact, the service here was very unorganized. As I mentioned before, it would have been nice to sit at a regular table, rather than a table with a grill in the middle, and we had our order taken twice. After our initial order, another waitress came to ask what we wanted and we told her that we got the omakase but wanted to add a roll, and she made a completely new ticket until our original waiter finally came over after watching our exchange. I expected more organized service considering only three tables at the front of the house were occupied. Pros: reasonably priced, easy parking, good food Cons: sub-par/disorganized/awkward service

    (4)

  • Joe M.

    At there last night with my fiancé and was not impressed. We opted for the deluxe $230 Wagyu beef selection for us to cook on their grills. First, a little about the grills. I was very disappointed to find the grills were gas and not Japanese charcoal. They warmed slowly and were no where near hot enough to sear the meat. Anyway, after selecting the most expensive meat combination available at Ginza, we went to work cooking it on the nearly sub-hot grill. Though highly marbled, the beef was tough and sinewy. Definitely not worth the nearly $300 bill we received at the end of the meal. Besides the beef selection, we had some sashimi appetizers that were very good. In my opinion, I left feeling like my wallet had been robbed. The feeling comes when I eat in a restaurant that has high prices and low quality. Your choice. Eat and be disappointed or seek a restaurant that does it right with Japanese charcoal and quality meats.

    (2)

  • Natalie Y.

    The whole dinner process definitely took at least 3 hours. The food took two hours. The wait to get seated took half an hour. The waitress was very nice and apologetic however. But holy crap, I don't think I would come back because the entire dinner took wayyy too long. Food was good, but not extraordinary. I'm thinking back on it now, and I can't remember anything too memorable. Their specialty is the pumpkin fried rice though, which was tasty but I am definitely not mind-blown by it.

    (2)

  • Tes H.

    My first review on yelp because I absolutely loved their salmon teriyaki and the sauce that goes with it! All of their fish tastes really fresh and the server was a really cute small Japanese lady. After the meal they give you a small treat as well :) I wish I lived here just so I can eat here!

    (5)

  • Kiersten D.

    Amazing sushi! Some of the best Toro I've ever had. I sat at the bar and watched them create the sushi it was beautiful.

    (5)

  • Lesa B.

    What a great little sushi place! Front and back.. We sat at the sushi bar... And had great service, we waited s long time for the spicy chicken wings.. They were well worth the wait! I'd certainly visit again!

    (5)

  • MannyAndKelly F.

    We had a very good meal here, the sashimi was top notch. Definitely order the premium cuts of fish, the wild salmon v the other kind is incomparable. The squid kim chi was a bit too spicy for us, but the chicken terayaki was great as was the red bean and green tea ice cream. Service was excellent, extremely courteous, and fast. Lots of Japanese folk in this place, both making the food and eating it. The only thing I didn't like so much was the lighting and minimal non alcoholic drink menu. The building is cursed with the low quality flourescent feeling american lights that detract from the atmosphere. However this is not going to stop us from going back!

    (4)

  • Luci R.

    Volcano sushi is the best, but everything is so delicious. I think it is the restaurant I miss the most from Seattle area since I moved.

    (5)

  • Julia Y.

    I was very impressed with their sashimi plate. My boyfriend and I shared a regular size and it was a decent amount. If you have more than two people, order the deluxe. We also tried the Ginza roll and croquettes. Enjoyed both very much, although the portions for those items were a little smaller. Our bill ended up being almost $50, and we both were not exactly full. It won't stop us from coming back, but definitely won't be a frequent place to visit. I really want to try the pumpkin fried rice everyone is raving about!

    (4)

  • Scott M.

    I recently went here with my wife and ate dinner. The food was great. It was authentic Japanese. Fresh sushi. It's a nice little gem in the heart of old downtown Bellevue.

    (5)

  • Joyce J.

    I have come here at least on two occasions since my initial visit. Once I came with a friend for dinner and sat at the sushi bar. I just ordered the assorted nigiri sushi which I thought everything was decently fresh. I came here by myself a few weeks back and ordered the dinner special ($14.95). The dinner special had fried oysters and grilled cod as part of the bento box. The fried oysters were nicely battered and fried but they did not taste fresh. The other sides in the special were decent. It's a shame that that the main parts of the special wasn't better. I probably will come again to try the dinner special to verify if "the special" a way for the restaurant to use up materials of borderlining freshness. Incidentally, this seems to be a gathering spot of summer Microsoft interns. I saw at least a ten during my dinner here (8 of them came as a group whereas the others appeared to be eating alone). I ordered grilled gizzards that night to see if that would redeem my lackluster dinner. And the gizzards were pretty nicely done so I have not given up on this place yet.

    (3)

  • V V.

    Enjoyed pumpkin fried rice and burning bomb roll and garlic albacore. Nice place!! Did not enjoy volcano - looks pleasing to the eye but not so much to the palate.

    (4)

  • Stephanie W.

    I'm not a sushi eater, or a squash eater...but when I was here I KILLED da pumpkin fried rice! Say WHAT? Indeed! I ate it all by myself... (well, mostly) The wait is atrocious, seating is quite limited and the parking is even worse! If you can, get here during off peak hours if you want to try. Don't even think about it on a Friday night

    (4)

  • Andrew L.

    I like Fish. I love well cut fish... and that's the secret for me, for a great sushi; it's a well cut piece of fish. This place knows how to cut a fish right. I have been here many of time, this was me looking for sashimi. I was looking for something that was just the flavor if the sea, as fresh as possible, and as amazing as possible. I think on my plate was just a beautiful selection, as I asked for a variety and I got it. From fresh Tuna, to Salmon, each piece was a melt in your mouth delicious. I think the real draw for me, is the delicious varieties of fish, from the basics of salmon sashimi, to the rolls immense flavor combinations, and the pumpkin fried rice during the holidays, I'm not going to lie, this place is pretty awesome. Seriously, it's a true hidden joy in Bellevue. Am I going to be here again, yes, and after that? Yes, and after that? Yes. Does Yelp love this place? I think they do.

    (4)

  • Wayne S.

    Amazing clean fish. Great and friendly staff. Food comes out quick and have gone back two nights in a row on my 4 day trip here. Check this place out if you love sushi.

    (5)

  • Rina R.

    My experience here was wonderful. I came here with a friend, and I was looking forward to an authentic Japanese meal, which is exactly what I got! Our waitress was even Japanese, which seems to be a rare thing these days. I ordered the chef's sushi and was really pleased with the portion size--perfect to get me full, but not enough to overeat, just like I'd been used to with Japanese cuisine growing up. The fish was fresh, the salad was small with cucumber and a little piece of shrimp, and the fruit was also small but exactly what I'd wanted for the end of a meal. Don't come here looking for big portions or cheap sushi. You'll get high quality, and cute mini dishes, with a few full-sized ones!

    (5)

  • Andrew H.

    This place is god damned amazing. Besides Shiro's, it's the best Japanese food I've had in Seattle. And I eat a LOT of Japanese food. A LOT. I'm a bit of snob with Japanese food to be honest - I tend to despise any that isn't up to the highest of standards. I got the Obento box. It had like fifty billion different things on it and they were all freaking delicious. It was like a culinary adventure due to the amount of variety in that beautiful little box (well, actually wasn't little at all). The fish was top notch. Teriyaki was delicious. Rolls were delicious. Tempura was fried to perfection. TO PERFECTION. My only gripe, believe it or not, was that there was actually a bit too much food in my bento box! I'm used to very small portions at Japanese restaurants so my mother and I ordered two appetizers. I managed to finish my bento box, but with my belly feeling a tad bit fuller than I wanted it to. But this is more due to poor judgment on my part than due to any failing of the restaurant itself. My mom mentioned the huge portion size to the waitress, and the waitress laughed and told my Mom in Japanese "well this is America". Highly, highly recommended. You won't find much better Japanese food in the price range.

    (5)

  • Ke X.

    I gave 5 star cuz this is the first time I had matsutake mushroom soup in a Japanese restaurant in US. previously I had this soup in china and it tasted so good. After I came US, I never see a restaurant has this soup. I am glad to find it in Ginza. And I am a sashimi lover but right now I have to stay away from them due to pregnancy :( but I will definitely come back later. Today I had dragon roll, pumpkin fried rice and mushroom soup. All are delicious!

    (5)

  • Dagny C.

    Honestly the food might be good, but the service is SO slow. I've been here almost and hour, after being told there was a ten minute wait. Servers are unapologetic and hostess keeps disappearing.

    (1)

  • Lily L.

    I used to come here quite often for Japanese food because I couldn't find anything better. It's been at least half a year since I've been here and this time, I went into the bbq room linked to the back of Ginza, or the one facing Main St. I was a little disappointed when there wasn't a yakitori-styled menu, but just the regular menu and a BBQ menu. Each of the BBQ combinations were so pricey. My friend pointed out the 2 person combo ($60/ea) which had about eight different cuts of beef (at least 4-8 pieces/slices each), one medium-sized salad bowl, one tempura plate per person, one sashimi plate (6 pieces) per person, and one vegetable plate (about 6 vegetables) per person. We also had the usual miso soup and sunomono before our meal. We were pretty shocked to see that much food, but it was worth the price we paid. The waitress was so amazed to see two ladies finish the amount of food we had. It made us comfortably full. I especially liked how the waitress showed us where each cut of meat was from. For the first time goers, this is extremely helpful. As every grill meat place, they also teach you how to grill the meat and switch out the grill every 30 minutes or so. If people don't come here for this, I highly recommend others to order off the special menu. Pumpkin rice is good; otherwise oden, sukiyaki pots, or animal innards are quite good.

    (4)

  • Susana J.

    Service was horrible!!! Could hardly understand the server. She could not communicate clearly in English and thus I wasn't able to understand her a bit. Asked for some bowls but no one return with any. Had to ask a second time. No server was within our visible range at any time. We went there with a party of 6 and therefore 18% gratuity was automatically added to the bill. Why charge gratuity when there is no service at all???? The plates were not cleaned properly (not one single one but most of them had leftover food on them). Even after I requested for the bill and gave my credit card, no one ever show up to pick it up. I had to personally go to the cashier to bring it over. Terrible!!!!! Overall experience was really terrible. Definitely will never go back again!

    (1)

  • Yee Gan O.

    Yay for Yelp! I originally found Yelp all those years ago when I googled 'best restaurants in New york' and this review site popped up Without Yelp, I probably wouldn't have found somewhere like Ginza. Whenever I'm on the west coast of the USA, I try to eat as much sushi as I can - it's effortlessly both higher in quality and lower in cost than in London Not realising that the restaurant has a large car park out of the back of the restaurant (accessed via 102nd Street), I did trawl a little to find parking on Main Street. No matter because the walk to the restaurant took me past a little gem in Amore Chocolates There was a friendly welcome as I stepped through the door and I scored a seat at the counter - my favourite seat in a sushi restaurant as I love to watch the chefs doing their thing. My tip is once again to get there early the place did fill up for lunch service Looking through their extensive menu, I did have a hard time choosing. In the end, I went for shio ramen - the waitress did warn me that the broth would have a strong seafood flavour. I also chose the chef's sashimi selection because the menu didn't offer a la carte sashimi, which was a shame. Both dishes were good. The shio ramen was indeed strongly flavoured and though I enjoyed it, I'd advise diners who don't like seafood to try one of the other milder ramens. The sashimi was fresh but my secret wish for some unagi (eel) and hotate (scallop) was sadly dashed. However, still a yummy lunch and Ginza will be on my lunch rotation on my next trip to Bellevue

    (4)

  • Kim O.

    This place is ALWAYS PACKED! I mean line out the door and people waiting in their cars for a seat! Parking is limited because they have a tiny lot but you can always find a spot on the street close by. Note to you: make reservations. When you come in a large group, hope that you get one of the tatami rooms or else you might be put in the new portion of the restaurant which has yakiniku options which is fine but the tatami room is just more private. I have frequented this restaurant a handful of times and each time it never disappoints. I like coming here with a group because you have the option to get many dishes and share amongst friends. You always start with an oshibori (wet towel) before your meal. I try to branch out and try new items here and there. But my favorites will always be the pumpkin fried rice served in a cute acorn squash shell and the tea leaf smoked pork belly. I typically order from their small plates menu- which is a book of all types of fishes, meats, and veggies- many of which are kushiyaki style. I have yet to try the yakiniku that they offer- maybe next time I'll be back for this menu.

    (5)

  • Jamie Yusun C.

    I love their pumpkin fried rice and sushi special. For yakiniku, I prefer Korean bbq, blue ginger

    (5)

  • Lucy W.

    Get the pumpkin fried rice when you come here! It's so good that I want to make it at home so I can eat it all the time.

    (5)

  • Firsto C.

    Many friendsof mine recomend this place so I decided to give a try. Pumpkin fried rice was on my mind i have seen a lot of picture from friends. They give you a whole pumpkin!! And serve on that! It also have prawns in in. Unfortunately, my pumpkin was burn otherwise would give 5 stars but yea will try again next time

    (4)

  • Rajiv P.

    Sushi is average nothing great. Service is terrible... Took for ever to place order and then took another hour to get the cards back.!!?

    (1)

  • Kristen L.

    I always order the black cod teriyaki and am never disappointed. The dish comes with a generous side salad, rice and miso. The food may be a tad pricey, but I think it's definitely worth it if you're craving Japanese food.

    (4)

  • Phil S.

    It's simply money! Sashimi and some good comfort food. Be ready for the bill though. Well worth it if you stick to the specials and recommendations.

    (5)

  • Herb C.

    You know how one bad experience will taint your view of a place? Yup, it happened here. Had many dinners here before my last time and the food was spectacular. Service was okay, but it was the food that did it. Pumpkin Fried Rice was good, as others have reviewed, and they have fresh sushi. Tried to get lunch here one day and the back portion (old part of the restaurant) was empty with a sign saying to go to the front. So we get to the front and the waitress told us to wait while they had to clean the tables. It looked like they hadn't cleaned/cleared any of the tables after the first lunch rush. Okay, so after 5-10 minutes, they cleared a table for us and proceeded to give us menus. Then asked what we wanted to drink. And then we wait.. we wait for the waitress who then goes back and forth between the kitchen to the other tables serving them food. Wait for the other waitress to sit another couple at another table. Wait for our original waitress to go to the other table to give them tea and take their order. Mind you, we got the attention of the waitress to take our order or serve us tea. In all, from the time we sat down to the time we left, we waited over 15 minutes. Walked out and told the sushi chef (the only asian there) that I guess they didn't want our business and he mumbled.. "sorry." Not "sorry" as in "oh shoot, we should do something about this." But "sorry" in the tone of "whatever, I want to go home" Maybe they thought that two white people would spend more money than two chinese people. Who knows? But I've found another sushi place to go to so everybody won't be fighting me for a spot in that restaurant who didn't want my business.

    (2)

  • Anna L.

    My family and I have been coming to Ginza for years. We adore all the employees! Sushi chef Fuji-san always remembers just how I like my Chirashi and that really shows how much customer service and their customer experience means to this adorable restaurant. The sushi is always fresh, the miso is one of the best I've had, and their Pumpkin Fried Rice IS SO GOOD! They have two menus to chose from, and honestly, I've never had a bad food or service experience. We try to go at least once a month! Keep up the good work, Ginza. Your veteran customers love you! :)

    (5)

  • Carrie M.

    I was surprised this place wasn't better. The short ribs and gyoza were tasteless. The ahi poke salad and rainbow roll was ok. I really did like the pumpkin, shrimp and bacon fried rice but my husband didn't like it at all. Disappointing for a Christmas eve dinner we wanted to make special.

    (2)

  • James J.

    I've never had a bad meal here. I travel to Bellevue for work a few times a year and I typically go to Ginza multiple times every trip. I've only ever had the sushi, but I've tried most of the nigiri and rolls on their menu. If you like eel, their super dragon roll has over a 1/4 lbs of eel (5 oz.) on top. I mean where else can you find that!?! I've ventured to a few of the other sushi places in both Bellevue and Seattle, and while they've all been good, Ginza is with out question my favorite.

    (5)

  • Charlie A.

    the sushi rolls we had were amazing and fresh, but my dad often goes deep water fishing and catches fresh tuna so i'm rarely impressed by sushi restaurants and cuts of shashimi. this place is amazing because of they have good sushi, but they have great pumpkin fried rice. it has been a year since i've been to washington, but i still have dreams about ginza's pumpkin fried rice. i've yelped for it in california but with no luck. maybe ginza should come and open a restaurant in california!

    (5)

  • Hemant K.

    I have enjoyed every visit to Ginza. The food is excellent. I love the pumpkin rice and have ordered it almost every time I have been here. The sushi is very good. The service is great. The cucumber-shrimp salad they give you at the start of your meal and the small fruit plate they give you at the end of your meals are nice treats. Cons: This is a small eatery and you might have to wait a while to get a table. Parking space is limited.

    (4)

  • Gavin N.

    Came by on Thursday night...immediately seated (YEAH!!!). Anyway, delicious food as usual. Great service. $7.50 for Chawanmushi?!? Christ I thought $6 for Chawanmushi at Nishino was ridiculous. Please remember that Chawanmushi in Japan is normally part of combo meals that cost like $7 total. Ah well, food still delicious. Total price definitely not cheap, but I definitely enjoy their quality of food. Will be back as soon as I can afford it. ~G

    (5)

  • Eclat L.

    Loved the pumpkin fried rice!!!

    (5)

  • Irmela C.

    Our favorite Japanese restaurant for a few years now. However this time everything was below expectations. The sushi was rather tasteless the only good thing were the gyoza. We hope the chef just had a bad day.

    (2)

  • Laura B.

    Find an excuse to be here for dinner. Unsuccessfully shop for Minimus shoes at Bellevue Square like we did (the women's are horribly ugly this spring). Accidentally take whatever bus goes to that area and fake a freak out if you must only to jump off the bus and run dramatically through the rain with your name magically on the reservation list. You have no idea how it got there, really-that's what you will tell the apparently way overtrusting friend you just dragged through like you're running from the cops(that's a great excuse to go-just pay cash so you can really savor your last real meal). Oh, and right before the slow-mo dramatic run, yes, to sing the same song everyone else has sung, call them and tell them to get started on the pumpkin fried rice. Don't eat pork? DON'T WORRY THEY GOT YOU COVERED and it's still RIDICULOUSLY good. Can't say whether it's awesome without the shrimp but hope your diet doesn't restrict cause dang they're tasty. I will say our other dish was a bit overwhelming in the way that made me regret it being her first time trying this fish... We got the black cod a la carte which means very small bit of fatty fish and buttload of cabbage with not enough vinaigrette. It wasn't nearly as well made as I've had OR made myself (just get some at Mutual Fish and over half the work's done-done well as their marinade is great, sickly as it looks all slimed on-besides it's much better with leafy greens not cabbage salad though it was necessary for how strong theirs is). Props for them apparently doing it in house-or being good liars-but it really makes me miss Ototo...sigh. I'd skip it-and I know from 3 restaurants and my own prep that I like the stuff. Still-that pumpkin fried rice was enough for two meaning we took some home (delicious leftover but because the pumpkin bowl the rice is brilliantly served in was very baked sweet potato in texture, it took some work and seasoning to get it close to the treat of the night prior...trust me when I say you want to toss it in a pan with a bit of heated peanut oil, NOT microwave the leftovers). I'm not saying don't get something else-honestly it's really rich and it's quite possible 4ppl breaking it into quarters while getting other stuff would be really happy with the amount as a hearty side. I'm saying your hostage should like sushi more than my hungry friend or find something else "clean" to balance the richness of the rice. Black cod there is a miss and I think other rich dishes like salmon would be overkill. Oh. I blame this place for my WTF purchase today... At PCC they had kabocha squash for two bucks a pound... guess who has that, shrimp, and apparently SO MUCH TIME I pretty well KNEW I wouldn't have? There goes my power bill, baking a freaking kabocha and taking rice I rarely make now that I lack roommates and doctoring it up like crazy? Stupidstupidstupid impulse. It's cheaper to just let them make it(granted not likely from organic sustainable stuff a la PCC but STILL). That-me buying the stuff to recreate it-is truly the highest testimony I can give. I think as far as Seattle's concerned, only Kabul and aforementioned Ototo have really presented me with something I just HAD to learn how to make. Dangit just when my kitchen was clean again.

    (5)

  • Jeff C.

    Lived in Seattle-Bellevue area for 40 years and eaten sushi all over the world. It is nice to find a new place to try. Surprised I overlooked this place before now that I live on the Eastside, but with family of 4, in order to eat sushi 1-2 times a week, it's usually conveyor belt style or we'd be poor. But I know all the best places and ocassionally eat there such as Nijo in Seattle. I can see the spotty reviews due to service. We had an older Japanese lady that was rough with the english but service was adequate. This place is as good as it gets with a huge menu of over 100 appetizer style plates. Had eggplant, sushi, sashimi, rolls, yakisoba. They have it all. Miso soup (a good measure of a good Japanese restaurant) was as good as it gets. Salmon Skin roll, best I ever had. Portions on the sashimi deluxe plate were huge. Pleasant interior. Off the beaten path in Old Bellevue. Not crowded on a weekday evening. We ordered way too much but I love eating sushi/sashimi for breakfast! Only complaint is this place is no bargain. Typical high-end sushi prices. You get what you pay for here as they don't skimp on portions like other places I've eaten at do. If you are a sushi connoisseur and like top-notch Japanese food with an incredible selection of dishes including beef tongue and jelly fish along with all the traditional dishes, you've your place here. Aside from the price is no bargain, I can see this place could be problematic on busy Friday or Saturday night as it is relatively small with limited parking. Go early!

    (4)

  • Yee V.

    My girl tells me that we're going out to a Japanese restaurant on Saturday for my birthday dinner. Well, we don't visit downtown Bellevue very much and so it took us a couple extra turns, but we found GINZA!! As we pull into the parking lot, I noticed a few familiar cars and I'm wondering why my friends are here, it turned out to be my surprise birthday party dinner! HAHA! Great!! Friends + new restaurant, it was surely gonna be a good time. We get in and I didn't see anyone I knew, okay.. that's puzzling. It turns out they have a sectioned off room for small parties! DOPE!! But you gotta remove your shoes to hop in here, they even have a small shelf to put your shoes. You step in and can pull the sliding door for privacy, but it can get a bit hot in there. LOL It was nice that they could accommodate our party of 20 people and put us all on desperate bills. It worked out well. The had added a 15% tip for gratuity, but no one seemed to claim about it. I had a lot of food, but I had to share... but it's okay, I was still pretty full afterwards. We ordered the deep fried oysters, burning bomb roll, ginza roll, a vegetarian roll and a tuna roll along with the pumpkin fried rice. What stood out? I'd have to say the pumpkin fried rice and the burning bomb roll. Their menu is quite large though, there are a lot of things on there that I would like to try next time!! It is a bit expensive, but I'd say it's a treat. I probably wouldn't come weekly, but once of month is surely affordable. The restaurant is pretty small, but I was very happy with my visit. I'm hoping to return again soon. Ginza, ARIGATO!!

    (4)

  • Winn T.

    outstanding sushi and Pumpkin Fried Rice is delicious

    (4)

  • Sandra Y.

    so.. I came back. And now I wish I hadn't. My first experience was so amazing here, Boyfriend and I decided to celebrate our 3 years with a delish japanese brunch. EEKS. bad idea. We walked in at 1220pm, so although it was right in the heart of lunch rush, there were plenty of un-occupied tables. When the server directed us towards the cramped area, I requested to sit at a larger table knowing we would be ordering a lot of food. She said that because of the lunch rush, it wouldn't be acceptable. So there we sat, so close to our neighbors it was impossible not to eavesdrop. I'm sorry, but that's so awkward. I don't want to hear about someone else's life problems when I'm trying to enjoy my sashimi plate. The service was bad this time around.... it was nearly impossible to grab the attention of a server, and when we DID get their attention we had to somehow get their attention again because they forgot to bring us what we asked for the first time... Not only that, the other 4-top tables we had originally requested never even got sat while we were there for our hour-long anniversary brunch. They were so adamant about not seating a group of two at one of the multiple open 4-tops they made two guests wait.... and they waited so long they eventually walked out. I'm sure I'll give them another chance, but not until the sour taste of annoying service has left my mouth. Or they learn how to properly seat their guests.

    (2)

  • Sean S.

    Great Japanese restaurant in old Bellevue. Small parking lot in the back. It is pricy, but good food. Get there early or make an appointment because this place gets busy.

    (5)

  • Yaki T.

    The restaurant is small and has very limited parking. I attempted to try it out on a Friday night and when pulled up there were no parking spaces available. So I came back to Ginza on a Wednesday night which was much better. Staff was friendly and attentive. Sushi was very fresh. Pricewise it is a little more expensive than most small sushi places, but it can be explained by its location on the Main St. What is unique to the place, they serve you cucumber salad complimentary before your meal as well as fruit salad after your meal, complimentary as well. If you are planning a visit in a group, they have two semi-private rooms in the back with low tables in Japanese style. Overall it is a decent sushi restaurant. Would come back if they had some sort of happy hour or special deals.

    (4)

  • John M.

    I would have to say Ginza is by far the best Japanese food and sushi restaurant in the Seattle area! I've been here many times and have tried other Japanese restaurants in the area and they just can't compare to Ginza! I would definitely recommend eating any of their sushi and their entrees will never disappoint you. Some of my favorites include the pumpkin fried rice, chicken katsu, ramen/somen, and definitely save room for their desserts! The black tea creme brulee is the best! Sushi-Chef Naka-san's fish selection is superb with fish being flown in from Japan and Hawaii on a weekly basis! Make sure to make reservations as it will get insanely busy during the peak times.

    (5)

  • Amir M.

    Ordered the Deluxe Sushi plate for lunch. The quality was definitely high. Fresh tasting and with large portions. Not quite as large as Azumi but above average. The rice kernels had nice texture and good flavor. Definitely in the top 3 sushi places on the east side as far as quality and taste of sushi. The miso soup was also good with nice flavor. The downer was the cost though. With no drink this set me back $21 for lunch! Very expensive. They had a smaller sampler but I wanted to try the Deluxe to get good sampling. Despite the name, the Deluxe is what I expected the average size to be. Should cost $5 less to be competitive. Atmosphere is a mixed bag. It is rather western looking so you don't quite get the feeling of being in Japan until you hear one of the waitresses talk. The sushi chefs were absolutely silent. I was sitting at the sushi bar but could not even make eye contact with them. Net, net, they get the important part right which is the quality of sushi.

    (4)

  • Vivian L.

    I went just for the sushi. The special order of sushi and rolls are great. But the Chirashi bowl which is the chef's pick is not as fresh as the review on yelp. Maybe I eat the special order first, Chirashi is just too much and too heavy for me. I did not try the pumpkin fired rice yet. I will go again and try it out next time. For sushi quality, I only can give a 3.

    (3)

  • Smart C.

    Favorite sushi spot in Bellevue. Always friendly and always welcoming. The prices match the highest quality of the ingredients. And my little one is a fan of the kid's sushi plate.

    (5)

  • Andrew F.

    Always disappointing when I go there. We frequent all the sushi places around for lunch and this is my least favorite. Paying more here actually gets you less food. I ordered some sashimi for about $20 and I got miso soup and 5 pieces of sashimi - total! Meanwhile the people I went with paid a little more than half that and actually got enough to constitute a meal. On the next trip I ordered the super grill special. It was a decent amount of food but they didn't serve any of it until the people I was with had finished their meal. If this place is so great I have yet to figure out what I'm supposed to be ordering.

    (2)

  • Laine P.

    This is my favorite Sushi place, hands down. I always want to go here, and always try to get my friends to come here too. They have great food, fresh high quality sushi and sashimi, and the pumpkin fried rice lives up to the hype. This place has been here forever, is always busy, and the food is very reasonably priced for the quality and its Main St location. They also have rooms for private parties. Go here, you will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Jackie L.

    reading the reviews on here i'd expect at least a decent meal. my friends and i ordered all sorts or rolls and it took quite a while for them to make the rolls and it wasn't even a busy night. the rolls weren't extraordinary if you ask me. it'll taste exactly like the sushi you get at SushiLand. the only difference is that it comes in a whole roll and it's about 3x as expensive compared to SushiLand. oh and plus the wait time. I'm giving this a two stars because there was a really nice waitress that was really polite. but -3 stars because of the price for ordinary tasting sushi and the crazy long wait time for the cooks to make the sushi. disappointed. my advice... if you're planning to get sushi here. go to Sushi land instead and save a couple bucks.

    (2)

  • Amanda K.

    I admit it, I don't like to venture into bellevue for anything but a haircut. However, since I was there for a haircut, I decided to look up some yummy sushi. This place definitely fit the bill. If you don't come to bellevue often it can be easy to miss this place. I drove by the place two times before parking on the street and walking toward where I believed it was locate. I would definitely recommend making reservations (which we did) because it seems to get pretty crowded. When you sit down the waitress comes around and gives everyone a hot towel and a little cucumber salad. My friend and I split the agedashi tofu which was so yummy, and 3 rolls. There was a large sushi menu to choose from, and it was very hard for me to choose just 3 rolls. All of the rolls that we chose were delicious. The bomb roll was especially good, but extremely spicy, so beware. There was a menu full of non sushi Japanese food that also looked good.The service was okay, but a bit slow. I am excited to come back next time I get a haircut especially now that I think I can find where it is, well maybe...

    (4)

  • Heidi G.

    4.5 star The Tea leaf roasted pork belly was amazing. Service from the wait staff and chef was simply exemplary!

    (4)

  • Marta B.

    Had a get together with an associate to chat about further plans in development.I arrived 10 min earlier,was excited since it was my idea to meet at Ginza. Restaurant was opened for 30 min or so for dinner.There were tables for four occupied by two people,some still available...I requested a table for four and it did not happen.Hostess put me smack in the middle of the place at a tiny table for two. Also, she suggested that while I am waiting for my guest I should wait outside.OUTSIDE??Restaurant is small and people were observing.Dang,I felt like an idiot and stood outside waiting for my friend. No bueno.

    (4)

  • Sheila L.

    I *heart* Ginza. Three words that makes it all worth to come here: Pumpkin Fried Rice!!! Now normally I don't order fried rice anywhere, especially when I know I can make it at home just as easily. But at Ginza, they make it so good that I'm not even sure how to make it at home. (I'm sure I can but after all that, it prob won't taste the same). So when I go with someone, I have to order the pumpkin fried rice along with a sushi roll and it's plenty with leftovers! I do also enjoy their Garlic Albacore Tuna roll and Volcano Roll - delicious. :) Side note - it tends to get very busy around dinnertime (around 6ish) and I don't recommend having a large party here because it tends to take a long time for service and something can be missed.. I've gone to and have had two birthday dinners here and both times we had to flag the waiter/waitress down for something that was forgotten. Not cool when everyone is finishing up their dishes and you're just getting your sushi roll. :( But 5 stars for the taste and service (with less people in your party!) Also I love how they give you little dishes of fruit at the end of your meal with cute little spears.

    (5)

  • John S.

    I would not call my self a sushi expert but have eaten at some of the best places on the west coast (San Francisco, Newport, Seattle ....) and have found Ginza to be on par with the best. I sat down at the sushi bar and was greeted by a very curious and attentive staff. Not knowing the Bellevue restaraunt seen, I wondered if it would be just another average experience. Wow talk about being blown away. I saw the Yelp recommendation that demanded that I order the pumpkin rice so I followed suit. Young James At the bar recommended I start with some sushi. I ordered the Toro and Yellowtail. OMG. I am used to small nigiri portions and was blown away with the huge pieces of toro and hamachi. Toro was unbelievably tender and hamachi was a very close second. Followed that up with some scallop dressed with nothing more than lemmon and a little salt. Fantastic. Talk about tasting the sea in your mouth. I couldn't have believed it could have gotten any better until they brought the pumpkin rice. This is where we left reality and began the trek toward nirvana. I mean the rice was perfectly seasoned in a small pumpkin shell with bacon, shrimp and onion. You must, repeat, must come and try this dish before you leave this earth. It will change the way you think about fried rice. Best I have ever had and makes the the list of my top ten dishes. Enjoy. I will be back again soon.

    (5)

  • Adine L.

    i LOVED this place. It's SUPER cute and the sushi is SO GOOD. the service was attentive as well. need i say more? i mean, really?

    (4)

  • Maksim M.

    Super fresh, not cheap but it worth it. Recommend.

    (5)

  • Kenji Y.

    Came here last night with my gf and mom after a long day sightseeing in Seattle. Just liked the reviews said, the place seemed quite down to earth and legit (Japanese-run) from the get-go. We only ordered the sushi (but ordered a ton!) so I was excited to see how this place stacks up against the only other sushi place I've been in Bellevue, Kiku Sushi. I'm not gonna even count Sushi Maru. Overall, the sushi was quite good...my Japanese mom was happy. We thought the tuna, salmon, yellowtail, squid, clam, and octopus were of excellent quality. But the mackerel and eel were a bit off... The sizes were quite big too which was a huge plus for me. Since we loved the first batch, we placed another order. 10 minutes went by...15....20...25...nothing. Really? The waitress said the order would be coming out shortly but it never came. After 30 minutes, we just cancelled the order and left. Kind of a crappy way to end an otherwise tasty meal. After round 1, Kiku Sushi is in the lead!

    (3)

  • Robert K.

    Taste is pretty good here, price and portion makes me prefer other places. I ordered izakaya style so was able to try a ton of different things. One way i can describe the food is that it tastes "clean" and one con was they missed on a few dishes fairly bad. Overall it's good with a wish for better pricing. Dishes: pumpkin fried rice was great, chicken karaage was good, sushi/sashimi average, eggplant was bad, and the rest fades in memory. :) Disclaimer: I've been here only once but definitely would go back on special occassions.

    (4)

  • Izzy H.

    Years ago, back when I was still in high school this was the place to go. They've got oshibori (nice touch), stellar food and decent service. Its a cute little place in the old downtown Bellevue. I used to come here for ramen, for their rolls and for their sushi. The last and final time I visited I was less than impressed. The wait was minimal, but the odd thing is as you step in the waitresses hardly give you a greeting and you stand there in an all awkward moment until 10 minutes later they give you a haphazard "please sit down quickly" motion. I ordered a chicken teriyaki lunch set, a sashimi appetizer set and the boyfriend got a chirashi. Perhaps its my fault for ordering a chicken teriyaki at a Japanese restaurant, but honestly? With a place with that many different little dishes you would think they could make their teriyaki better. It sucked. It was a dry piece of chicken. My freezer burned chicken that the boyfriend has left in the fridge for two months that if you defrost would taste better than that shitty piece of meat they served me. I've never had such lifeless chicken. I have better chicken teriyaki on the fuckin' Ave in the U-district. What does that tell you? So, for the first time ever in my life, I sent it back to the kitchen. Did they offer to remake it? No. Fine, whatever, forgivable. Did they even take it off my order, never mind the fact I only had one bite of the entire chicken teriyaki platter? No. Alright, whatever. Did the fuckin' server even apologize? No. She just took it off in a huff. Now, I understand that when you come into a restaurant, you should be kind and understanding towards the Chef, towards the kitchen and respectful. But there's a fine line between a customer flying off the handle over a 5 minute wait, and an obviously dry piece of chicken. (And why was it dry, dear yelpers? They precook their chicken, and just slightly heat it up and dump teriyaki sauce on it. When I'm paying 10 bucks for this lackluster piece of chicken teriyaki, I would much prefer it COOKED TO ORDER) And to add insult to injury, the lovely waitresses decided to circle, quite obviously the 18% tip amount on the receipt. Food is fine. But when it comes down to it, service will make or break your restaurant. If somebody sends food back, at least offer to remake it. And if that fails you - would it really kill the waitress to mumble an apology? I'm sure people have muttered sorry for lesser offenses.

    (2)

  • Akshaya M.

    Pumpkin Fried rice = divine! Remember to order the pumpkin fried rice without shrimp or bacon if you are a vegetarian. This place had some amazing veggie sushi rolls too - which make it all the more exciting! Some pretty innovative sushi and sashimi options too for the true sushi eaters :) There's always a wait in the evenings - so remember to call ahead for a reservation. There is ample parking space. Definitely my go-to plaace on the east-side for sushi!

    (4)

  • Mint N.

    Authentic Japanese place run by Japanese people. I got there on Friday evening, It was very busy but was seated immediately at the bar because I was all by myself. I had Tea leaf roasted pork belly for appetizer and Pumpkin fried rice which came in a huge pumpkin and was super delicious. I was a little disappointed that they didn't have O-Toro sushi on that day. So, I just had Chu-Toro and a few dishes of sushi. The total was 45$ including everything. Quite expensive. But the food is awesome, service is friendly and it's worth a visit.

    (5)

  • Peter H.

    Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Would go again: Yes I went here on Saturday, March 23rd, 2013 at about 7:30 pm. The parking lot was completely full when I got there. I actually circled around once and got lucky that someone left. Upon entering Ginza, I noticed the atmosphere was quaint. The whole place is aesthetically appealing and very classy. I already anticipated this for dinner on a Saturday so the 15 to 20 minute wait wasn't a big deal. Although I think if you call ahead of time you can actually make reservations. After we were seated, they gave us towels and an older lady who spoke very little English took our drink orders. As I was looking through the menu, I realized I knew very little about any of the food items. I texted a bunch of friends about recommendations and when the server came back I asked her about them. When I asked for an order of gyoza she recommended I try a different kind of gyoza and I said sure. I don't remember the name of it but it was very good. I also ordered a Chirashi and it was delicious.

    (5)

  • Bessie C.

    We arrived and there were already quite a few people waiting and the place was packed. We were waiting for one of the waitresses to have a spare minute to take our name when a couple of Japanese business men pushed their way past us and started speaking Japanese to older Japanese waitress that has been there forever. Although she was already carrying a tray of food to a table she took the food back to the register to put their names down. I decided I have better let them know I was waiting too and put our name on the list. I told her we were ahead of the other gentlemen and she smiled and nodded. She didn't change the list and we ended up being seated 15min after them. Hope the owner takes note of this review and teaches her the proper etiquette for seating customers. Terrible experience, but food is awesome especially for being on the Eastside!

    (2)

  • Kevin L.

    Place changed since they expanded. Service is lacking and food quality is bad.

    (2)

  • Janine S.

    Been here a few times, which already means its worthwhile to come back. They seem to have 2 menus - one for smaller dishes/specialty dishes and then their main menu. I usually get the pumpkin fried rice - where else can you get fried rice that's served in the pumpkin itself? Plus it still tastes good the next day. Sushi here is delicious here too - but watch out because those rolls add up! Don't get the duck - its cold and tastes weird, but DO get the pork belly! Decor is nice too (it is in Bellevue afterall) but service can be a hit or a miss. I've sat in the main area and service was fine because the waiters/waitresses could see us, but I've also been in the tatami room where we practically had to wave down the waiters to get service. Parking can also be a hit and miss (usually a miss) - they do have a parking lot but its usually full. I've parked at the Bellevue Park parking lot before, which is just a short walk away. Sooooo make reservations because it will probably be full (especially on weekends) and order pumpkin fried rice, pork belly, and maybe a sushi roll

    (4)

  • Chan N.

    What happened to Ginza that used to have great food? Ordered Nabeyaki Udon and it was the worst udon I ever tasted. It came in this really disgusting looking bowl and the noodle tasted like bloated ramen. Sushi Deluxe was not much better. Their rice used to be the best in Bellevue, but it tasted dry and undercooked. I will not be going back to Ginza.

    (1)

  • L A.

    I love this place! I only get out of the office for lunch one day per week and Ginza is almost always my first choice to decompress during my crazy day. This weekend, we decided to introduce a friend to sushi and took her to Ginza. Fugi (our sushi chef) totally took care of us. He was aware of her reaction after each piece of food and adjusted accordingly. She felt like a queen (they really catered to us) and had the best experience. Everything we ate was amazing (fresh and tasty); I wouldn't expect anything less. It does fill up quickly at lunch and one weekend evenings. Getting there earlier ensures you get what you need quickly. If you wait until closer to 1 PM, the sushi does take a little bit longer, merely because it's a small counter and a lot of customers. Oh, and the Chirashi is beautiful and not skimping on the variety or amount. The lunch Chirashi comes with soup and salad. It's closer to $20 and is incredibly filling. It's beautiful, too. I've watched several people order it thinking that it is an appetizer. It is definitely a meal. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Leslie F.

    We were slightly disappointed in our food after the reviews. It was very good and very FRESH, so great for that, but we have had better sushi elsewhere. The staff was so great, Very friendly & attentive to everyone there, engaging in conversation beyond ordering. Glad we went but not sure if we'll go back due to how pricy it was.

    (3)

  • Paul L.

    Since my first review, I've been raving about this place to all my friends and coworkers. I had the chance of bringing people here because of how much I have ranted and raved about this place. Usually when someone over-hypes a restaurant, it may seem over-rated (which I was afraid I was doing because I want EVERYONE to love this place as much as I do). However, the friends that I have brought here have all agreed that this is their new favorite spot for sushi and Japanese food! So there you have it folks, this place rocks.

    (5)

  • Matthew L.

    "Go-to Sushi on the Eastside." I came here recently with a party of four, and it was a delightful experience. While the interior was a little small due to the front remodeling, the entire ambiance was perfect despite being fully packed. On to the food, I really loved the miso ramen, chicken katsu, and tea smoked pork belly. The miso ramen soup was reminiscent of soothing asian soup, tender and flavorful pork pieces and soft noodles to complete the bowl. In comparison to other places like Boom Noodle & Samurai Noodle, I would hands-down come here for the ramen for some lovely comfort noodle soup on a chilly Washington evening. As far as the chicken katsu goes, it was fantastic. I've had a lot of chicken katsu dishes in my day and loved the crispy-side to this dish. When coupled with the sauce, rice, salad and additional garnishes, every mouthful was great. While it certainly was a little pricey ($15), I'm glad it came with miso soup as that was a great start to the meal. The tea smoked pork belly appetizer. Ohmygod. I told everyone at the table that I would be completely satisfied if I were to just get a main entree of that dish, with a salad, miso and rice. Pure happiness. The spice and saltiness of each tender piece was delectable. I was actually sad that it was an appetizer and we had to share :). Overall, I would definitely return to this place. My only wish is for Ginza to have a groupon or yelp deal as it is a little pricey.

    (4)

  • Myrna B.

    Love this place and I guess everyone else does too. The place is packed with lots of people waiting by the door. Come early if you want to park in their lot. I like sitting at the sushi bar. The sushi chefs are great. Their fish are always so fresh and buttery. I've been coming here for two years and never had a disappointing meal. Ginza is the best Japanese restaurant in Washington.

    (5)

  • Brian L.

    The food here is so delicious. I ordered the pumpkin fried rice, a cucumber roll, a phili roll, and a sweet potato roll. It's easy for me to say that this is some of the best oriental food I have ever had. The salad that came before the meal and the fruit after the meal was a nice compliment too. The only downside to the restaurant was that it took at least an 25 minutes to get our food and maybe an hour after that to finally leave. The service was nice but slow.

    (4)

  • Pat M.

    Apparently they've been sliding downhill for a while. The absolute last place I want to eat at is an unsanitary place. info.kingcounty.gov/heal…

    (1)

  • Jen L.

    Fresh, appropriately priced. Fun for small groups and friends dinner but always make a reservation since the place is small. Nice servers. Try any of the rolls (I love them), sashimi, pumpkin fried rice, fish. Parking is tricky since the lot is usually full on a weekend.

    (5)

  • Brian Y.

    It's nice to go to a Japanese restaurant that has more to eat than vanilla sushi. I had 3 small dishes: Pork Belly with Miso Scallion, Baked Oyster, and Squid Tempura. The pork belly was excellent and the miso scallions added just the right amount of kick to the pork. You get 2 oysters in the baked oyster order, but they're a decent size and they have great flavor. I also liked their squid tempura (5-6 pieces), but not that asparagus tempura that came with it. Ginza is very small, so make sure you get reservations if you're trying to go there for a weekend dinner or on the weekday after 6:30. I'm looking forward to trying many more of their small dishes.

    (4)

  • Jamie R.

    I'm still a bit of a Sushi novice... but I've been spreading my wings and trying it out. My biggest fear is eating at a BAD sushi place... but that is what Yelp is for right?? So Ginza is rated pretty good on Yelp and a great friend of mine who is Japanese, actually from Japan, says this is her go to place to eat like she is in Japan. I didn't get too adventurous... I got a philly roll type thing, that had smoked salmon and cream cheese in it, a spicy tuna type roll and some other jalapeno tuna roll. We also started with the tempura. The tempura was the best I've ever had anywhere, and I try it a lot when I am out to teriyaki and the likes. It was very crisp, and not too oily. The tempura fish was excellent. I absolutely LOVED all the rolls, especially the philly one. Everything tasted fresh and delicious. Service was so friendly and quick. We went early, right when they opened on Friday night, and didn't have to wait. By the time we left they were packed. I have no idea where you'd park if you got here late because the lot is very small. Love Ginza! Next time I come pumpkin fried rice is on my list!

    (4)

  • Sonny W.

    FOUR (4) stars for the sushi and good staff service--never seen so many people at work in a small place (but this may be due to ongoing renovations). TWO (2) stars for teriyaki chicken. Average: 3 stars Came here on advice of local conference participants. It was a short jaunt from the hotel. The place appears popular...seems they tend to accept/prefer reservations. Also have real tatami mats. As it stands, they have a really short sushi bar. As a visitor, I didn't bother asking when they will fully occupy the store. Some people making sushi and about half the waitresses are Japanese (a genuineness measurement I have is if the staff is somewhat of the relevant ethnicity). The sushi was great. We got the katsuo and saba catch of the day and it was fresh. The rice could have been better stickiness--it fell apart relatively easy when I dipped into my sauce. I remember the teriyaki chicken as THE WORST I ever had. Tasted blase, looked like it was cooked in boiling water, colored with some sauce, and then chopped up. There were no grill marks. They did not bother to drizzle with the obligatory teriyaki sauce. It tasted pretty lousy. So, if you come here, stick to the sushi. Oh, I also saw a lot of tables ordering the kabocha (pumpkin) fried rice later on. Wish I noticed earlier, as it appears to be a specialty of the restaurant. For parents, it's a good place. They have high chair, plastic plate and children utensils AND a floor mat (so if you kid decides to start flinging food, at least it'll limit the immediate carpet damage).

    (3)

  • Peter U.

    Seriously, I think I'm addicted to this place. I've only ordered their rolls and sashimi... it is sooo good. All of the rolls I've had so far are delicious - volcano roll (has a mountain of salmon on it... literally), rainbow roll, spider rolls, crunchy roll, the list continues. I still need to try their ramen. Couple of my friends have tried it, and they say its a must eat. Definitely give this place a chance - great service, yummy food, and nice area (a bit hidden) :)

    (4)

  • Irina M.

    Great neighborhood japanese restaurant and i think they are expanding in the old Christie's on Main spot! Good to see! I love their sushi but just wish they would add a happy hour. They are also closed on an odd day - can't remember which, i think its Tuesday so call ahead to make sure. Limited seating at this point so either call ahead or be prepared to wait during rush time.

    (4)

  • Mr. T.

    Easily the best sushi I have ever had. Their miso soup and green tea was by far the best I have ever encountered, and each had a character of its own. I recommend ordering both; to give you an idea of the amount of thought and care this establishment gives when it comes to making its food. The sashimi I ordered was the cleanest cut and freshest I have ever experienced (I eat sushi 3-5 times a month). I would definitely recommend this to anyone who's looking for a standard variety of sashimi (salmon, tuna, mackerel, etc. The sushi rolls we ordered were all fantastic as well. I can't recall the name of the one I enjoyed the most, but it was armed with habeneros, packed a spicy punch & was extremely flavorful. When it comes to food, it's all about the details that separates the 4 stars from the 5 stars and Ginza effortlessly surpasses that difference. Caveat - The food came quick but the service wasn't as great as the food was. I could care less about these sort of things, but for those who demand being pampered by the waiters - don't be surprised if you get something less than spectacular.

    (5)

  • Christina H.

    I would have given it 5 star rating, except... For party of two, we ordered Deluxe Sushi, Deluxe Sashimi, and White Peppered Chicken Gizzards. It also came with two miso soup and light salad. The first waitress did not know much (if anything) on the menu. We wanted hot soup and fresh fish, so we asked about a hot pot item in the menu. Is the hot pot too big for two if we also want Sashimi? She did not know what's in the soup, how big is it, should we order Deluxe or regular Sashimi. Then the 2nd waitress came to help. "Will two Deluxe orders be too much food for two women if we also want to try an appetizer?" She replied, o, no, not too much. I was suspicious but I did not want my guest to think I am cheap. Sure enough, there were too much food. One Deluxe Sashimi or Sushi was enough for both of us. I was underwhelmed with the tune that day, but the rest of dinner was very good. In Seattle, you have to settle with what seafood the restaurants can get at times. Chicken Gizzards were fried, dusted with white pepper, and garnished with finely chopped and lightly sautéed celery, green onion, and parsley. It's very good. My guest ate the green garnish on the rice and said the combo was really good. Sashimi was delicious enough to bring me back again, plus I want to try the grilled beef heart which they ran out that day. Waitress, tuna, and beef heart. Is that 3 strike?

    (4)

  • Avivos S.

    Authentic Japanese cuisine and really good sushi. The place is very warm and inviting., it's pretty small, however, they also have authentic private rooms with low Japanese style tables which seems great for groups or special occasions. The crew is very nice and inviting, you get free Green Tea when you sit down and warm and moist hand towels to clean up. Our server get it when I asked her if the towels are edible when I picked them up with my chopsticks and was going to dip them in the soy sauce :) Onto the food now. The menu is very traditional Japanese and features everything you expect from one. We sampled Agadashi Tofu, House Salad and a Sashimi Deluxe platter. The Agadashi was very disappointing which is a shame because it is one of my favorite dishes. the Sashimi was really fresh and good and featured at least 7 kinds of fish. the most surprising was the house salad!! yes, simeplicity at it's best. it's basically chopped cabbage and celery with a really nice lemony flavor, I don't know why, but it was just so -damn- good!! Bottom line: excellent quality for price. if you are in Bellevue and you crave Sushi or Japanese food, you will not go wrong with Ginza!

    (4)

  • S C.

    A really solid sushi / japanese place - the sushi was fresh and tasty. I also liked the other menu options including some not so mainstream items. They do also have a wide selection of sake and other drinks. My only ding here is the price - seems quite expensive to fill your stomach.

    (4)

  • Manali T.

    Authentic Japanese food served by a friendly staff. We showed up around 9 pm without reservations and we were a group of 10. The staff seated us in a private room and didn't scold us for not making reservations even though their kitchen was closing shortly. They took our orders and served up delicious food in a timely manner. Everyone enjoyed their sushi and sashimi.

    (4)

  • Rebecca L.

    delicious I was expecting this restaurant to be decent. I have had the pleasure of attending many japanese restaurants and some were liked more than others but by far, this restaurant takes the cake. I had the pleasure of meeting the owner and was introduced to some very delicious plates to satisfy my picky palate. Their lemon miso salmon is amazingly good. It is slow cooked so it traps all the flavor of the salmon and the lemon miso sauce really enhances the flavor of the said fish. As for their rolls, i tried their sweet potato, pumpkin roll and that was by far, the best roll vegetarian roll i have had thus far. Light and clean, the sweet rice intermingled nicely with the sweet potato and pumpkin. but if you are already full and want to go to a place after walking around the park, you should try their green tea creme brulee. Though they were raved for their green tea mochi, i enjoyed their creme brulee more. I can only describe their creme brulee as a prefect kiss: light and playful that lingers on your tongue. very good. Also, if you want the room, you have to have reservation (and the party has to be six or more) but they looked intimate so you can gashnab about anything and everything with those closest to you without embarassing yourself with the conversation at hand. go here... like... now. :)

    (5)

  • Alex K.

    The food at Ginza is decent! But what I feel is that for the price point it could be better. although the price is not overly excessive, the portions are a bit on the small side. On top of that I felt that some of the food was a little bland. but the sushi there was good, as well as the pumpkin fried rice, I cannot say I do not like ginza, but I would say it is safe to go if you know what you are ordering ahead of time!

    (3)

  • Patrick L.

    I come to Ginza regularly, so this is just an update to share some of my more recent more favs. The super dragon roll has unagi inside, and unagi on top. If you love eel, you can't miss out on this one. From the specialty menu, the fatty pork is amazing. Finally had the chance to dine in the tatami room at Ginza, and everyone in our party of 6 enjoyed it. Since they have Sapporo on tap, a couple pitchers didn't hurt, either.

    (5)

  • Anni Y.

    The pumpkin fried rice was good and it was fun eating it out of the pumpkin itself. Overall the food was okay.

    (3)

  • Becky N.

    I was in the area and saw all the great reviews on Yelp so I had to check it out and see what this place was all about. I came on a Tuesday night and the place was packed. I was lucky enough to find a spot in their tiny parking lot and ended up waiting 45 minutes for a spot at the sushi bar. I had to order the Pumpkin fried rice because that's what everyone seems to be raving about. I was not disappointed. It was sooooo good! The pumpkin was cooked perfectly gave a nice sweetness to this otherwise savory dish. It definitely tasted like Japanese style fried rice and was pleasantly surprised when I tasted bits of bacon throughout the dish. I love bacon! The fish was fresh, but the sushi rolls lacked flavor and distinctiveness. The only think I absolutely hated was the chawanmushi they served. I love any style of steamed or baked eggs (Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese), but this had no taste and the texture was not right. I will definitely come back to try other items on the menu and of course to get my pumpkin fried rice fix.

    (4)

  • Leonardo H.

    I've come here numerous times and have always had a good experience in both the service and quality of food. I don't know why I haven't gotten around to writing this review until now. But I just went back there for the first time in over a year and was reminded again of how wonderful they are. I love their 100+ items of small plates, of which I've tried many. I think this is Ginza's specialty and what sets them apart from other Japanese restaurants. Their sushi is great and their noodles (ramen, soba) aren't bad, either. But it's their izakaya-style tapas dishes that keep me coming back. The gems on that menu are the less-common dishes such as (I will attempt to remember all the good ones from the many visits I've made): _fig with sesame sauce _pumpkin fried rice : this is a classic. _beef tongue : they do it well here. _any of the eggplant dishes _kasuzuke cod : not cheap, but worth it WARNING: Don't be alarmed when you see the word 'RAPE' on your menu. No, they do not sell or condone the act of forcing yourself sexually onto another. The only crime involved here is that of misspelling. Broccoli rabe, or rapini. They had a new dessert item there I hadn't tried before: Kasuzuke ice cream. I love kasu (sake lees) which is often used to marinade vegetables or fish (as in the dish Black cod Kasuzuke). So to see it in ice cream was intriguing. It had a great flavor--almost chocolaty and nutty. But I thought the texture was a little bit coarse. This is the first time I've been back since their sushi and dessert chef, Naka-san, left (to open his own restaurant, I believe). I will definitely miss his creme brulee. It was one of the best desserts around. Be prepared to spend, Ginza is not cheap. Especially when you're ordering the small dishes. The price might seem low but it's a small portion. And it's always a good idea to make reservations; this place gets packed. They are renovating and expanding to the store next door, but I heard that it would be a different style restaurant, more of a street-food type grill. I'm excited!!

    (5)

  • Josh H.

    Best sushi on the Eastside! I really can't believe I've been missing out on Ginza all this time I've been living in Washington. It can get packed on the weekends, and even some week nights, so reservations are a must. The price is average for an upper end sushi joint, but the fish is so fresh and delicious, and it literally melts in your mouth. The quality is fantastic and they have a great sashimi platter with the chef's daily selection that is very filling. The pieces are huge too, not some measly small slices that you get at other sushi places. Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Price: 5/5 Ambiance: Busy, crowded and a little noisy, but who cares when the food is that good.

    (5)

  • Stacy J.

    I love this place. if you are adventurous, you will want to try some of the stuff on the dry-erase board. there are some items there that you wont find anywhere else. the sushi is always fresh seemingly every day of the week which is rare. My japanese friend introduced me here and claims it is one of the best! It does get a bit pricey, but i love the variety that you can get from a single visit.

    (4)

  • S P.

    Really enjoyed this place. Has a "small comfy" environment. Good service. Most importantly, the sushi was great. Wish I could go back again. They were generous with the fish and it was fresh. Prices were good for what you got. Don't miss the list of "special fish" posted on a small whiteboard near the door.

    (4)

  • Mimi L.

    This place has the absolutely WORST service out of any restaurant I have ever been to in my life! The first time I came here with a group of people was on a lunch break from work and they caused us to be over an hour late back to work because of their horrible and slow service. They were extremely rude to us and messed up on our bill... on top of that, they switched up our credit cards after we clearly explained it to them and charged them all wrong. Because of the horrible experience, we decided not to tip them. A few weeks later, we decided to give this place a second chance and came back once again on our lunch break. Everything went a little better this time so we were going to tip them... until the lady (who I assume is the manager) brought out our bill and she had already WRITTEN IN A 15% TIP AND TOTAL..... I have never in my life experienced anything like this! This is one of the rudest things I have experienced from a restaurant and we were all soo shocked and appalled by this that we never came back to this place! I have to admit that their food is pretty good, which is why we really wanted to like this place and give it another chance... but even the food is not worth being treated so rudely so I will never go back here.

    (1)

  • Sarah M.

    What a wonderful hidden gem in the heart of downtown Bellevue! I would have NEVER guessed that this place was here! The place is tiny inside but they've got these awesome backrooms for groups where you sit on little pillows and stick your feet through a hole. It would be great if you were coming with a large group of people!! The place is pretty small and gets crowded so I would definitely recommend a reservation, especially on the weekends. The food here is surprisingly good! I got a little quesy as my friends ordered tongue, liver, and gizzards...but I munched happily on my edamame and miso ramen. The pork in the miso ramen was really fatty and I didn't touch it...but other than that, the ramen had a great flavor to it and the broth was pretty decent. It came with fish cakes and a hard boiled egg that was still kind of gooey in the middle. It was good, but I would probably try something else the next time I'm here. Edemame...can't go wrong! The bf's beef teriyaki was really good, too! I enjoyed the tenderness and flavor of the beef. He commented that there were a few fatty pieces that he wouldn't touch...but I guess it's just our dislike of the taste of fat. Some people dig it. The service was pretty decent. Our water went unfilled a few times for a while, but they were happy to oblige with our ridiculous payment request at the end...so all was good. Oh, and they give you a little cucumber salad with shrimp at the beginning and fruit at the end. Always a nice little touch!! I wish I was a bigger fan of sushi because it looked beautiful here!

    (4)

  • Aaron C.

    Pretty damn good Japanese food at a fair price. You have to try out the pumpkin fried rice with BACON! At first I didn't like the idea of pumpkin in my fried rice but damn it was good! Also if you are in sushi mood, I would recommend the "white express roll."

    (4)

  • Belle A.

    Let me just say I have NO idea why everyone complains about the service here - it was, if anything, over attentive, and the place was packed when were there on a Friday night. Everyone was super friendly and accommodating - it's some of the best service I've had in recent times actually. I can also totally see why the place is packed. I ordered sushi, and my girl ordered sukiyaki, and we were both totally impressed. The fried oysters, as everyone as already said, were DELICIOUS - and then of course my sushi was the best I've had since moving back to Seattle from DC. There is no good sushi in Seattle, so stop looking - just drive a small distance and get to this place, it is AMAZING. Totally understated and yeah it's going to be packed but you will not regret it!! I had salmon roe, california roll (real crab! yes!), and yellowtail... they were so fresh it was amazing. I also had cold sake that was delicious - the waitress was kind enough to recommend one and she was right on, I loved it. My date's sukiyaki was tasty, hearty, and filling - it had the most delicious broth I've tasted. SO GOOD. Everything about this place was an absolute pleasure, we will definitely be going back. My one gripe is that there is no disabled parking available. If they changed that, this would be the perfect restaurant.

    (5)

  • Jeff B.

    I ordered some weird stuff here so it's hard for me to pull down to 3 stars, which I might have thought of doing if that damn Pumkin Fried Rice wasn't so freaking delicious. Seriously! The deep fried pork livers were pretty good (which surprised me) and the special of the day wasn't terribly memorable but palatable none the less. This place just has that vibe of a great neighborhood restaurant, unpretentious and simple with a clear focus on the food.

    (4)

  • Jasmine M.

    We were looking for a restaurant that didn't only serve sushi and teriyaki dishes like vast majority of other Japanese restaurants in Bellevue/Seattle. The restaurant has a big Izakaya style menu with lots of options. Ambiance: The three stars was earned merely because the host was very professional and welcoming. He was conversational and made us feel at home. The restaurant was clean and spacious, and they had good turnaround times with cleaning tables and seating patrons. Service: Service was quick and good. The host was our server for the most part. Meal: We were spectacularly underwhelmed. This review only covers a small sampling of the entrees and not the Sushi-- if we ever go back, we'll try the Sushi and write a separate review. -The Pumpkin Fried rice was relatively bland, and though the pumpkin itself was well cooked, it did have a bitter taste. We were surprised that the dish was as pricey as it was ($15) without a truly unique taste. It was regular fried rice stuffed into a pumpkin with some (flavorless) pumpkin bits mixed in. I don't think it's worth the novelty. -The Hamachi collar (the area right behind the fishes neck- very fatty and delicious) was better. Unfortunately, any Japanese restaurant worth their salt could have made the dish in the same way, so it wasn't really a good judge of the chef's talents. -The Maguro Natto was very good. The tuna was fresh and cut well. The Natto was also at the correct fermentation level, which cleanly blended with the fish texture to accent the dish. The portion was relatively small compared to other versions we have had of the dish. This will only be a place that we return to if we go out with friends as there was no "wow factor" that we tend to look for in our frequent dinning places. Not really comparable to Japan or Hawaii restaurants. Until next time, keep on eating, diners!

    (3)

  • Matthew K.

    This place is HOLY CRAP AMAZING!!! Which is above OMG AMAZING. Which in-turn trumps AMAZING and surpasses the simple uncapitalized amazing four-fold. wow... like whoa. The fish here is the best I have every had! It is all buttery soft, fresh, and perfectly sliced. I have yet to eat a piece that is less than phenomenal and come every other week. I love sitting at the sushi bar so I can watch the chefs expertly choose the piece they want to serve, cut it with precision and then again ponder whether this will be, much like the army slogan, all that it can be. It is clear they take pride in what they do. I have gotten both the Sushi Deluxe and Omakase and both are out of this world. With the slightly more expensive Omakase you get a couple of extra special delights but to be honest I usually go with the Sushi Deluxe and order a pair of Toro Nigiri to cap the evening. Just thinking about the food here causes me to cream my pan.... dammit, excuse me while I change into some dry undies. This is the BEST SUSHI PLACE EVER!!!! or in the words of Sheetal "EVA!" Smart girl, listen to what she has to say or you'll miss out on creaming yourself too.... crap, I was thinking about the toro again and just messed a fresh pair of boxer-briefs. Now that you are going too plan for a multi-orgasmic event and Ill look for a huge return from my stock in fruit-of-the-loom.

    (5)

  • Mona A.

    Even one star is too much for this place. We went there with a group of people after seeing nice reviews on Yelp. We ordered at about 8:25 pm, received our food around 10pm. We kept telling the waitress that we've been waiting for a really long time and she kept saying that the food is coming. We almost got up to leave and they brought one sushi plate for one of us. We waited for another 10 minutes and another plate came in. It was awful. After a horrible service like that, the manager came and said she is sorry and she'dd give us 10% discount!!!! who wanted discount? we just wanted our food on time...The food wasn't that great either, compared to the Sushi places in this area. Will never go there again. There are plenty better sushi places.

    (1)

  • Felix W.

    Service is ok, people said their service is great, but I say good service is standard for Japanese restaurant because of their traditional culture. I would rather not eat the tiny salad they gave out which I think that ruin my appetite of the whole meal. Portion size gets smaller and smaller every time i went, and gets more expensive. Last time I ordered a grilled salmon dinner, and the side salad is as tall as a mountain on the plate and the salmon becomes a tiny side dish. At their current price range, I don't get why people still go there instead of I love sushi.

    (1)

  • He M.

    I love this place, great sushi. Interesting lunch special where you grill your meat and vegetable selection.

    (4)

  • Nicole L.

    They expanded the place. It is much bigger than before and wait time is less now. I love all their rolls. They r fresh with reasonably priced. Atmosphere is relaxing. Definitely going there again. Btw I heard they are going to have bbq grill on the tables soon. Can't wait to check them out. Oh I tried pumpkin fried rice. It's alright. I don't like eating really soft pumpkin but the fried rice is abit above average.

    (4)

  • Jill J.

    pumpkin fried rice. that is all. Oh and the rest of the food on the menu is amazing too. Sashimi is fresh and flavorful; rolls are creative and very tasty.

    (4)

  • tyler w.

    This is my third time to Ginza and I figured it was about time to write a review. Why the sudden inspiration? Answer: I wanna help my white brothers from another mother. So this review may come off a bit racist but I'm only trying to help. At Ginza tonite, I saw all the white folks eating the standard sushi/sashimi/tempura fare. And while I'm a fan of sushi/sashimi/tempura, there's soooo much more at Ginza. For starters, the Izakaya menu is huge. It's practically bigger than the sushi/sashimi menu. That should be a hint. Ginza isn't your normal Japanese Sushi restaurant. It's an Izakaya Restaurant that also serves sushi. If you don't agree, I really don't care. What's Izakaya? Let's just call it Japanese Tapas or Asian Bar Food or Amazing Appetizers or in white talk "weird stuff." I know that sounds intimidating and rude but really it isn't and I'm here to help you ease into it. So let's dip our toes in and test the waters with some safe dishes. I'll provide white people analogies to help you get over the semantics. Tea smoked pork belly: (white translation: smoked bacon) if you can't get over the words pork belly, just stop reading here. Pumpkin fried rice: (white translation: sweet potato fried rice) don't be afraid by pumpkin. Think sweet potato. And even if you don't like it, you don't have to eat it. Just eat the fried rice with bacon and shrimps -- magical combination in any nation. Deep fried oysters: (white translation: po boy sandwich w/o the bread) Come on... you really don't need me to sell you on this, do you? Now after your toes have been acclimated to the water, if you want to wade in, here are some other treats I enjoy: Amaebi fry: (white translation: shrimp tempura) You might be saying this isn't so strange but with this dish you MUST eat the head. You heard me. It's delicious. Shell, antenna, brains, guts and all. Fried goodness with a hint of shrimpiness. Beef tongue: (white translation: roast beef) Haha, ok, ok, so it's not roast beef but really, it's not that bad. I've actually had better but Ginza's isn't so bad. It's a little on the tougher side but it tastes just like beef that's cut thin. Anyway... there are more crazy dishes on the menu and I encourage you to try them. You probably won't like them all and that's fine, but branch out a little. Take advantage of the diverse menu out there. Baby steps... maybe order your usual sushi fare and then one or two izakaya dishes. You can thank me later.

    (4)

  • Fumi S.

    My boyfriend and I went there for the first time last week. We loved it. We liked their izakaya (Japanese bar) type menu that reminds me of Japan. We also loved their ramen and ocha-zuke...yum! We especially appreciate the older Japanese lady who served us the other night because we all were drunk, but she was very patient. I'll definitely go back to the restaurant because I heard their lunch is good.

    (5)

  • William l.

    On the eastside, our top choice for sushi has always been I Love Sushi. But they are a bit spendy, and so we go to Kiku next to Uwajimaya a lot. Not sure how we missed it, but we only recently discovered Ginza, and it's definitely a step up from Kiku in terms of quality. It is now our our standard bearer. Good quality fish, and generous portion on the fish. I'd say that the sushi chef isn't the most experienced; he was hacking the fish with a dull slicer when we were at the sushi bar last time. Has an extensive non-sushi menu that's worth trying, though we have only tried a few things.

    (4)

  • Sean C.

    Despite Ginza being within walking distance, it took me over 3 years to get over here. I had heard good things, but finally though the power of a fellow Yelper who lives 2 blocks from there and the endorsement of his Japanese girlfriend (who is unfortunately in Japan right now so she could not help order,) I made it there for dinner. I didn't have any problem finding it on foot, but it is unlikely to be casually discovered, as it is south of the 102nd and Main intersection and there is only a small awning that can be seen from there - the front door faces the parking lot which is south of the restaurant. The menu is intimidatingly large, something I've only experienced before at Mashiko. After a few minutes of "deliberation," which was basically just being overwhelmed by the choice of traditional Japanese dishes and having no real way to navigate them, I settled on the chirashi ($20) which is my default if I don't know how to choose and there's no omakase option. It had a broad and a large selection of fish, including a few oddities like geoduck. While it was pricey, it was also correspondingly huge. I ordered the green tea mochi cake ($4.50) for dessert, which was a bit of a surprise. The mochi was actually baked into the cake, so it was a pleasantly but oddly spongy cake which was not too sweet - I recommend it, but unless you're familiar with this type of cake you may still have an adjustment to make when it arrives. Was I still unfaithful and thinking about Mashiko's chef's choice dinner while eating here? Yes. Would I come back here? Absolutely, although I think I would fare better with someone who could order for me.

    (4)

  • Sarah L.

    I go to Ginza so often that I really own it a good review. Ginza is a wonderful, unpretentious Japanese restaurant that serves fresh sashimi and delicious hot dishes. My favorite dish there is pumpkin fried rice. It is served in a squash with steamy pumpkin fried rice in the middle. Everything I have tried on the menu have not disappointed, including their sushi rolls, udon, ramen, and grilled snacks. If you have a big group, call ahead and reserve the back room that can accommodate up to 15-20 people. Good service and good food with reasonable prices. They even give you fruit and a piece of chocolate to finish your meal. Can we ask for more? I wish there were more restaurants like Ginza in Seattle.

    (5)

  • Tiffany W.

    While on a trip, I came to this restaurant. We stayed in Bellevue for 2 nites, so I didn't want to drive too far for a meal. I chose this restaurant after checking reviews on yelp. And so I was expecting pretty good Japanese food. I had lunch there and i thought it was just okay. Coming from SF, we've had much better. Nothing fancy. The price is a bit high. I got a sashimi appetizer and 3 orders of sushi nigiri. Perhaps better food in Seattle?

    (2)

  • Cherry M.

    This is a small, local spot with private parking, and they have an extensive menu for sushi rolls. Yay! We had a party of 7, so we sat in one of those private rooms where you take your shoes off and sit on a tatami mat (but Westernized where there's a hole under the table to let your legs swing through). I'm only rating it 4 stars because the service was super slow, but I'll still come back. Ambiance + food = fabulous. If you like sushi with a *kick*, then try any of the rolls with habanero roe. YUM. :)

    (4)

  • cindy f.

    Yum! Went there to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday last night. They put us in a tatami room which was nice for my 1 year old son. He can't stay put in a high chair for long. I've been to this place a few times and enjoyed the food each time. Here's a few of the dishes that I really enjoy ~ Pumpkin fried rice - Yummy! Very flavorful with diced pumpkins, green onions, and shrimp. Fried lotus root with shrimp paste - Yummy too! I just love lotus roots! Beef sukiyaki - I order this dish quite a lot whenever I go to Japanese restaurants. I really like Ginza's. The soup/broth makes the dish and this place has it right! Very flavorful & not too sweet. The place is small and there's almost always a wait on the weekends. Good thing they take reservations! They're also expanding the space, so that's a plus too!

    (4)

  • Sarah C.

    Hidden gem in Old Bellevue! I'm hardly ever on the eastside, but I will make the trip over 520 to eat here again. :) Lots of variety in the menu. My eyes were darting over at other tables. I wanted to try everything! I'm a sucker for presentation and yup, they got that too. The sushi rolls were really good. Good portions, fresh, and reasonably priced. The dessert: green tea creme brulee & panna cotta. (homemade!) They also give complimentary pickled cucumbers before your meal & after your meal, a cute fruit plate! The space was quaint & clean. & you know its authentic when a good number of customers are Japanese! the only minor minus is the parking lot is kinda small and it may be hard to find street parking on main.

    (5)

  • Kyle S.

    Delicious, and tons of different options! As all the other reviewers have said, the pumpkin fried rice is amazing, and something you're not going to see elsewhere. They have a ton of other great food as well, and their staff is awesome. I've been here a few times, at the sushi bar, at a table, and even in one of the banquet rooms, and every time was great. Do yourself a favor and check it out!

    (5)

  • A. W.

    My husband and I have been eating at Ginza for several years now. This place is very authentic, offers excellent Japanese food, and has a huuuge menu filled with everything from small plates, to noodles, to great ice cream. As people who love Japanese food, we have sampled a varied array of it in all price ranges. For their quality and selection, Ginza is very reasonably priced. I know that some reviews mention service as being less than optimal...I personally have not yet encountered issues with service. Staff has always been friendly to us and has tried to accommodate us as best as they can considering the constraints of the small locale. I do admit there have been times were our wait time to be seated has been rather long, but that is only due to Ginza's popularity.

    (5)

  • Sheetal R.

    Best Susshi Eva! I'm not the type of person so get sashimi in bulk, but luckily my fiance does. I tried it and it was the first time I felt like consuming the entire plate. It felt like clouds in my mouth...so good! Beware: if you order the Burning Bomb Roll, do not eat it first...you'll probably burn your taste buds and wont be able to enjoy the rest of your meal.

    (5)

  • Asashoryu S.

    I grew up in Japan and eat Yakiniku all the time, so I can tell you this is not Yakiniku!! It's a cheap overpriced awful knockoff!! Very upset about this restaurant , the food and pricing, service was awful. One of the worst restaurants I have ever been to. I ordered one of the most expensive beef dishes, the Harami and for $27 I got 6 pieces of small cut meat that probably should be more like $8. They don't know how to even cook rice properly and it was a soggy bowl of mush. They did take off the check one of the beef dishes that was obviously too hard to chew. This place has ok chinese food in it's Sushi restaurant because it is owned by Chinese people. They should just stick to what they know and not try to cook Japanese food. Japanese food is expensive because you get quality and skill for what you pay for, this place only is expensive and lacks the rest.

    (1)

  • J J.

    This place is no joke the best sushi I have ever had but the even better gem is he pumpkin fried rice. I have been here twice and have to say, this is the real deal! Everyone except us were Asian which tells you it has to be good. I did not give it a full 5 stars because like mentioned, it is the real deal which means if you are not Asian you will most likely experience some racism. Both times we have been here we have noticed sub-par service compared to other patrons. This last trip we were asked to leave after our meal because they needed our table. While I understand they want to turn tables over to maximize profit, we watched many others who had paid and were sitting and chatting without being asked to leave. Bummer because I could eat here daily....it's that good, but the treatment will keep me only coming when I need my sushi fix and have to have my pumpkin fried rice!

    (4)

  • Sunny L.

    Delicious! I tried the pumpkin fried rice as recommended by some of the reviews here and it did not disappoint. I loved it so much that I went out and bought a pumpkin the next day to make my own pumpkin fried rice! My friend and I shared the fried rice, a Ginza roll, a sausage appetizer, and an order of hot pot, and it was enough to fill us up with no leftovers (we almost always have leftovers). The portions are kind of small, but quality makes up for it. I didn't think the sushi roll was anything spectacular though. I'm glad I tried this place. I would never have known about it if it wasn't for Yelp. I've never been to this part of Bellevue even though I live here! Amazing :).

    (4)

  • Josh P.

    Tucked away in a part of Old Bellevue, Ginza is a great sushi/izakaya spot. I was introduced to this place awhile ago and remember how good it was in terms of the quality of the fish as well as variety of the menu. We had an assortment of sashimi and sushi. I only really like tuna and unagi and I can say that the quality was great at a reasonable price. My friend who took me there is a huge fan of scallops and vouched Ginza does them better than most places. In addition to sashimi/sushi we also ordered some izakaya(Japanese bar/street food) and were impressed; the sauteed baby octopus(I know it sounds cruel) were great. We went on a Friday night and were seated pretty quickly. Definitely recommend to everyone! Now to go back and try the takoyaki...

    (5)

  • Tim H.

    I live in Phoenix, AZ but have been spending time in Bellevue for work. I am a sushi fiend, so after reading the Yelp reviews, I had to try this place out. I went with a group of 6 and got one of the special "traditional" rooms in the back which added a nice touch. I ordered "omakase" and got a mix of sushi and sashimi. I would not call it a traditional omakase since it was just a plate of food verses the usual multi-course meal, but for $50 it was an excellent value and the quality of fish was excellent. Uni was creamy and sweet, Chu-toro was buttery and service was perfect. I look forward to going back. They also had an extensive traditional Japanese food menu that will have sampled over multiple trips. Sake recommendation: Okunomatsu Ginjo

    (4)

  • Paul B.

    This place hovers on a 3-4 star rating because of the food portions. Although, I should mention that the quality of food was excellent. Everything had multiple levels of taste. They have an assortment of rare Japanese foods that you wouldn't expect to find in America. The pumpkin fried rice was alright-- tasted more like pineapple fried rice to me. Some duck skewer thing in wasabi sauce was also very good. Everything came out in tapas sizes and for tapas prices. Though we ordered everything off of the special menu so this could be the reason why. Overall: All the service was really friendly, and it seems like this is one of those instilled institutions of Washington that people will always come to. I'll return in the near future to experiment with other things, but I won't come expecting to get full-full.

    (4)

  • Jeff D.

    Best sushi in Bellevue!

    (5)

  • Becky Y.

    Great as usual. Very authentic food, great service. Lots of choices. Make sure you check out the two special appetizer boards. LOVE the pumpkin fried rice.

    (5)

  • Matthew S.

    The sashimi and sushi here tastes very good. It's seems very fresh and tastes quite savory.

    (5)

  • Tony L.

    Went for the pumpkin fried rice. The draw of this is the pumpkin itself. It was soft and sweet. The actual fried rice itself was nothing spectacular. It was supposed to bacon, etc in it, but there was very little of it in there, and the fried rice itself was dry. Hard to find a good ramen place in Seattle, but I thought this was a pretty good one. I would come back for the ramen. The pork belly was the winner here though. Great taste, properly marinated and braised in a sweet soy sauce to form the gooey glaze over the dish. Heaven.

    (3)

  • Ando M.

    In contrast to a certain unnamed Mexican restaurant I've reviewed, Ginza is one of the finest dinning experiences I've ever had. It's uh... all good. The fish is fantastic and prepared well, the service is prompt (if a little disorganized), and everything we put in our mouths was followed promptly by "Mmm! This is so good!" Definitely check out the green tea mochi cake. It's a perfect book end to anything (especially if you've endured the hard burn of a Burning Bomb Roll) you've eaten here. Reasonably priced and delicious. My girlfriend and I got out of there pleasantly stuffed for under $50... a steal for awesome sushi.

    (5)

  • Dylan I.

    Here's my full review as promised in my "Check In". My wife, daughter, and I walk in and the place was packed but we managed to get a table. My initial thought was being so busy this place must be good. We looked at two menu sets and couldn't believe how many menu items there were, so many things sounded good. Today I was in the mood for tempura and I'm always in the mood for sushi so I chose the sushi / tempura combo. We also ordered the "Tea Leaf Roasted Pork Belly", kaki furai (deep fried oysters), nabeyaki udon, and chutoro nigiri (medium fatty tuna). Let's start with the "Tea Leaf Roasted Pork Belly". One word, awesome. It was seasoned just right, cooked to perfection, and literally melted in my mouth. Can't go wrong with pork belly so I'm not going to weigh my whole review on this one dish. Take my word when I say this is a must order when you are here. I give this a five out of five. The next dish that came was my wife's nabeyaki udon. First thought, before tasting it, was the noodles weren't your typical thick udon noodles. I know some dishes have different styles, depending on what part of Japan it comes from, but I never heard or seen different style of noodles. I'm not going to rate the noodle size effect the rating, my wife and I just thought it was strange. The broth was very good, the egg was cooked perfectly, the ebi (shrimp) tempura was ok, and the chicken was good. Overall I would give this a four out of five. Chutoro nigiri (medium fatty tuna) came next! Toro, chutoro, or otoro I like them all. This was very delicate and was starting to fall apart as I dipped into the shoyu (soy sauce), a good sign. What a wonderful experience, a piece of fish that was melting in my mouth along with the great texture of the sushi rice. Five out of five!!! Next was the sushi / tempura combo. The sushi: maguro, hamachi, sake, and tekka maki (tuna, yellowtail, salmon, and tuna roll). All sushi pieces were good, no complaints. The slices were generous cuts of fish and the sushi rice was perfect without being some big wad of rice. Tempura, the batter on the ebi (shrimp) was perfect while being so-so on the vegetables. The overall taste was great. The one thing I was happy about was to finally see a Japanese restaurant serve grated ginger and radish for the tempura sauce, something that is becoming rarer these days. For some reason my bowl of rice seemed like it was cooked with too much water, the bowl of rice my wife had was perfect. My rice just seemed to be like the kind of rice you would get at some bad teriyaki joint. This menu item earned a four from me. Last is the kaki furai (deep fried oysters). The taste of the oysters themselves was great while breading seemed to be on the heavy side. The breading wasn't crisp at all and it just seemed to be like oyster stuffing during Thanksgiving time. The plating wasn't that great either. Typically you might see it plated on top of some cabbage, well this cabbage was a big mound and the oysters were soaking up the dressing they used for the cabbage. I give this item a two and wasn't too impressed. The service was great with friendly servers and staff, they came around often to make sure everything was ok and water/tea levels were good. Prices were fair for being on the Eastside. Sushi was great. I would come here again while making sure to try the pumpkin fried rice. Overall rating: three stars.

    (3)

  • robert w.

    Great place for lunch, haven't eaten there for dinner but love their sushi lunch.

    (5)

  • Tonya N.

    OH gosh do i crave this place... I cannot believe how good the pumpkin fried rice is. AMAZING! I agree with another reviewer that... most fried rices you think oh so easy, i can make this but here at Ginza this dish is a freak of nature. The pumpkin is so sweet and gooey... the fried rice (I dont really like rice) is perfectly cooked, chewy and flavorful. I could have eaten the whole thing myself, but unfortunately i had to share :( boooooo I take a star off only bc the pork belly was uber salty but i hear its supposed to be bc its to go with beer and bf had a bone in his sushi GASP!!! Surprised that happened but the quality of the food over shadows a mishap. Excellent service too! Good luck finding a table on a weekend... believe me go early...

    (4)

  • Yolanda N.

    Tatami Room was kick ass!! We went here for a birthday party and there were about 20 of us there and I must say the service was amazing. The food was delicious I got to try a little bit of everything because everyone ordered something different and it was all so good! My favorite was the Pumpkin fried rice and the Geo duck! Yummy I would recommend :)

    (5)

  • Wing M.

    I have to give this place five stars on their green tea roasted pork belly (read: tea bacon) alone. It is a very delicate dish that could easily be screwed up but they did it so perfectly and flawlessly that all their flaws can be forgiven. Actually I've only observed one flaw: their "deep fried cheese" was not really deep fried cheese. It was more like lightly fried fishcakes with some cheese in between them. It was okay, but definitely not worth $8. We didn't order any sushi there because, well, there were so many other little things. Everything else we got (pumpkin croquette, stewed tendony beef, tofu with plum sauce, sake ice cream) were all really good but the pork belly really stood out. The service was simply wonderful. This is definitely a great place and I'll likely go back again at some point.

    (5)

  • Kevin L.

    Tried out this place given the 4 star on yelp. It was ok, taste was ok, not as good as I Love Sushi and not a very intimate setting. Went with my wife and sat across from her. Could hardly hear her during dinner. Good attentive service and good value.

    (3)

  • Jenny C.

    Delicious! We got the pumpkin fried rice based, unagi roll, Seattle roll and the Spicy Bomb Roll. Everything was delicious, the fried rice especially. The skin on the pumpkin was so soft that we could definitely eat it. They served us a small appetizer of cucumber and a few pieces of fruit after the meal with chocolate kisses. The service was fast and nice. We got there when they opened on a Sunday without a reservation but they were able to seat us. The place filled up fast though and it looked like most people made reservations. I would definitely go back again. I only wish some of the items were a little less expensive.

    (4)

  • Jacquie P.

    Ummmmmmmm wow. Just....wow. This was one of the best experiences I've had with Japanese food. I'm so glad we decided to skip Blue C and come here instead! We arrived at about 5:45 after 15 minutes of trying to find the place. It's pretty tucked away down the street and we would have missed it if it hadn't been for the black awning. We knew (after reading yelp, of course) that there wasn't much parking, so we swung by the downtown park and walked from there. It ended up being perfect for walking off our gluttony after the meal. We were the first people there, but by 6:15 it was packed and there was a short line forming at the door. This place offers so much more than a regular sushi joint - in fact, the menu was so extensive at one point that my friend and I literally had to stop trying to decide, have a drink, and then pick the menu back up again. Not that we needed an excuse to have a drink. But really, a single tanqueray was like $3 so how could you not? Highlights included the baked oyster app - perfectly smooth and creamy with just the right amount of that sea salt at the end. Perfection. The unagi was fantastic, and so was the black tea creme brulee. The gentleman next to us had a bento box that still looked good to me even after I had finished eating and was stuffed. I took that as a good sign. The only small annoyance was the service. We had three different servers who were all very pleasant, but the right hand didn't know what the left hand was doing. I had my plate cleared twice when I wasn't finished, chopsticks and all, and they brought our check out early. Perhaps if they hadn't been so busy things would have gone a little more smoothly. Nonetheless, I'm so glad to have it and can't wait to try more of the menu next time.

    (5)

  • Willis S.

    This place may not reflect all the glitz and fabulosity that surrounds it in downtown Bellevue however don't be fooled by the outside. Two things I have noticed about this place is the prices are pretty decent & and the food is fresh. My favorite thing to order here is the Bento because there seems to be a little bit of everything including my white Tuna sashimi...YUM! They also offer great lunch specials with good portions. Highly recommend this place if you are in the downtown Bellevue area.

    (4)

  • Jared S.

    Alright! Nanohana! (or possibly just broccolini...but) it was good! Big props for them accomodating the unanticipated arrival of three of our friends on Wed, bringing the total to 6 (especially since the place was already packed!).

    (5)

  • John V.

    Been here at least a dozen times. The entire family likes it, so did my sister and her family when they visited. It's my favorite Japanese restaurant in the Seattle area. There can be a wait at peak times, and parking can be tough. Very pleasant, bright interior, excellent woodblock prints on the wall. Service is very good. None of the food stood out, but has all been solid. Two rooms in the back have traditional seating, with the low table and even lower seats and shoes prohibited, for 8 or 10 people, that's where we ate with sis.

    (5)

  • Tracy I.

    This is probably my favorite sushi restaurant in Bellevue. I love everything on their menu. I especially love the jelly fish... yum! They're only open for dinner and is super busy. They open at 5pm so get there early or else you'll end up waiting for at least 30 minutes.

    (5)

  • Maple C.

    Best Japanese food that I've had on the Eastside!! I had the saba shioyaki (mackerel), and it was heavenly. My boyfriend had the sashimi deluxe, and he said it was really fresh, the color was amazing, the texture was good and there was absolutely no fishy aftertaste. We also got the pumpkin fried rice, and after the first bite, the first words out of my mouth were literally, "oh my god". For appetizers we got the gyoza and fried oysters. I know, it's a lot of food, but I'm a glutton, what can I say. =) The portions are great; our server had to come back twice to clear our table even after we had dishes cleared during the course of our meal. Note: They only take reservations for groups of four or more. There is a lot that you can park in, but it's a shared lot so at least half of the spaces are reserved for other stores nearby.

    (5)

  • Alexander J.

    Ginza will change the way you look at Japanese food. Sure they've got teriyaki, ramen and sushi but you really should order the small plates (dinner only) for something different. From mussels cooked in Japanese wine to sweet potato croquettes there were plenty of dishes I've never heard of, all perfectly cooked, though some flavor combinations may be a bit odd. My parents loved it, I loved it and if you like something well crafted and different, you'll love it.

    (5)

  • Helen H.

    Being from Vancouver, BC, there's no shortage of awesome sushi. The food at Ginza was quite good, especially the rolls we ordered. However, the salmon sashimi I ordered was not firm and looked like it had been around for a while (if you catch my drift). The part that killed my experience was the Server asking me why I 'tipped' so little after I had signed my bill. I had never been asked that before and was deeply shocked by her abruptiveness. I will never return to Ginza and will let everyone I know what the Server did. In this economy, Ginza should be happy to get customers coming into their establishment at all. Being in the restaurant industry for over 14 years, the mark-up on the sushi was astronomical for the quality and service my guest and I received. I guess I'll be having to travel back to Vancouver, BC to get good sushi.

    (1)

  • sreeja s.

    This cozy place tucked away from the main street has some amazing food to offer. For starters the cucumber sesame salad and the Miso soup are very flavorful. Their famous "pumpkin fried rice" which is actually served inside a pumpkin is simply delicious, truly a master piece! Day special "Teriyaki Halibut" which is to die for all you seafood lovers ! Overall completely worth waiting for a table :) will go back there to try more stuff

    (4)

  • Lilly T.

    I love Ginza! Their food tastes fresh and I love the salad they give you before your meal and the little fruits with cute utensils for dessert. They have fresh & delicious sushi and ramen. I have yet to try anything else though!

    (4)

  • Winnie Y.

    I had their signature bento, it was a pretty authentic bento. It's got a lot of pickles and side dishes that other Japanese restaurants don't have. Tempura was decent. Good value, but I'll definitely try their sushi next time. My friend who ordered ramen wasn't too impressed though. I noticed there were some Japanese customers who looked like regulars. I usually take that as a good indication of a quality Japanese restaurant.

    (4)

  • Michelle S.

    Meh...I don't think I'll be coming back. Here's why. Service...This place gets only 2 stars because of the service. First of all there are two menus of about 5 or 6 pages that you have to look through, and the waitresses come 2 seconds after you sit down for your order. I appreciate good service, but she had to come back 3 or 4 times because we still weren't ready. Mind you this was in a 5 minute span. Then when we signed for the bill, still working on the fruit that comes with our meal and chit chatting, the waitress comes in the middle of our conversation to pick up the bills. It was so rude. There was no one waiting to seated and it wasn't like they needed to turn the table over, which I would have understood. Is it wrong for me to expect this at a Chinese restaurant, but not a Japanese one? I had higher expectations for this place because of its 4-star Yelp rating. Food is alright here. Stick to the chirashi $18.95 or nigiri as it seems their fish is fresh. My Ginza roll $6 was boring. I would have hoped it tasted good since it was named after the restaurant but it was pretty much flavorless even though it had (lobster, avocado, cucumber and something else that I can't remember.) My friend ordered a Jalapeno roll which was too salty because of too much roe and they stuck mint in it, which gave it a weird taste. This place wasn't our first choice. We actually tried to go a new place but it wasn't officially open, near the Safeway. I am sure it will be open by the end of June 2009. It had a sushi boat in the center of the restaurant but not as cheesy as Blue C and the servers seemed friendlier. I'll go there next time.

    (2)

  • Vance S.

    Ginza... what can I say about this place except for pure awesomeness! I've been here over 20+ times and never get tired of it. The food (sashimi & sushi) is SO FRESH! Some stuff is flown in from Japan as well! The staff is friendly and professional. Authentic Japanese food, great selection on the menu. Desserts are awesome! If you have a bigger party, I suggest you call and get the Tatami Room (and PLEASE make sure that your guests have CLEAN socks on... NOBODY wants to smell no dirty feet! In a nutshell, all I have to really say is to go to Ginza and try it. You WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

    (5)

  • Nikolaos N.

    I'm from the east...all my friends from the west claim that the sushi in the west coast blows east coat sushi out of the water! So, I decided to see for myself. And BOY were they right on the mark. Ginza has fantastic Sushi, I couldn't stop eating! The Sashimi is fantastic the rolls are delectable everything is great at ginza...even the tea is delicious(and I'm not big tea drinker). If your in the Seattle area, visit Ginza you will no be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Adela K.

    1. i don't think the place is japanese owned. if the owner is japanese, none of the employees are. 2. they messed up miso butterfish. big time. how do you mess up butterfish. HOW. 3. the hamachi sushi was chopped and served in a way that didn't look appetizing. in fact, we couldn't really tell which was the hamachi and which was the albacore. WHAT. this was more of a 2 star experience but i'm giving it 1 star because the 4 star rating needs a reality check. srsly folks.

    (1)

  • J R.

    Super lunch special, great miso soup, perfectly sized salad, hot tea and generous portions.

    (3)

  • Robert C.

    Enjoyed Chirashi.

    (4)

  • Irene L.

    I feel like I've already tried quite a few Japanese restaurants in the Seattle-land area, yet I just keep learning about more...! fortunately, i like Japanese food. =) I was picking up some stuff I left in my friends car and they extended the casual dinner invite to Ginza. I had no idea where this was, but turns out it's a well sized restaurant off of Main St in old Bellevue with a little parking lot... parking is always a happy bonus (even if there's street parking)! We ordered a wide sampling of food - miso soup, rolls, sushi, tempura... miso soup was as you'd expect, but it was hot in temperature, which I like (some places just serve it warm and it's disappointing). the rolls were ok though not super noteworthy (we picked shiso hamachi and a rainbow-ish one). the sushi was good - salmon, hamachi, and amaebi. They even fried the heads of the sweet shrimp... it made for good dinner discussion i.e. whether or not you could eat parts of the shell on the head =) my friend did. And the tempura was as you'd expect too, though i was impressed that they had lotus root in the mix! Overall I had an enjoyable dinner. I think the food is slighly above average, though for the price, I would probably choose to go elsewhere next time.

    (3)

  • Cindy Y.

    I've been to Ginza several times but haven't Yelped about it til now. I have to say, that during my first few visits, I was very impressed with the quality of the sushi and variety of other menu items Ginza offers when compared to other Japanese restaurants in the area. However, my most recent visit tonight left me wishing I had gone to Moshi Moshi in Ballard instead. Tonight, we ordered two dishes at the recommendation of our server; what a mistake! The server recommended the special sake fish and grilled clams. The grilled clams were served with just salt and some lemon and were so so so fishy that we almost couldn't finish them. The worst part was that the sushi check had failed butcher the fish properly and my slice of sashimi had TWO BONES in it!!!! That is the first time in my life that that has ever happened! When my husband told the server, they apologized and said they would tell the sushi chef, but failed to take it off our bill!!! I finally tried the pumpkin fried rice, it was bland; the only part that spiced it up was the shrimp and lots of scallions. I much prefer their eel fried rice. Anyhow, I think I'll be treking from Bellevue to Moshi Moshi in the future, their sushi rice is far better and I don't get bones in my fish!!!

    (3)

  • Way S.

    I ate here a few weeks ago and I'm glad I did. I'm definitely a fan. However, it is a little pricey but it's definitely worth it. You get some good tasting, fresh Sushi and decent service. The fried oyster roll is probably my favorite roll of all time as of now (subject to change tho!). I would give it a 5 but I'm sucha cheapo. I can't front. I'm a good tipper but I don't like how they make you mark the percentage of gratuity on the bill. That's just me!! Overall, great place.

    (4)

  • Shana S.

    It used to be my favorite Japanese restaurant in Bellevue because of the freshness and reasonable price. Lately (I think since their sushi master left), I feel that the portion becomes much smaller and the food quality is not as good as it was. Sunflower roll was my favorite roll. The $13 roll is not so cheap but the size was really big that I was willing to pay for it (it was so big that I need to remove the fish they put on top to fit into my mouth). I ordered this roll again last week. It is now so TINY I can probably fit 2 pieces at once! The same portion applied to other food I ordered. I also ordered sushi. The fish is still fresh but it was on the ugliest/smallest sushi rice I have ever seen. Now, I think everything is overpriced. I really like this restaurant and the people there. I hope they will be back to where they were before or I will start looking for my new favorite Japanese restaurant.

    (3)

  • Jennifer B.

    five Starts for the food....wow. Did not have reservations and was twice the wait as stated. Service slow, but just too many people to not enought wait staff. The sushi and Everything else world class though!! Advice: make reservations if you can!!

    (4)

  • Heesun K.

    I think this is the only authentic Japanese restaurant i've been to. Most of them are owned by non-japanese.. Servers were very polite and service was great. So many selections on the menu! I had a hard time deciding what to eat. Numerous reviews mentioned Pumpkin fried rice as one of the major recommendations, so we decided to try it in addition to the Sushi+Tempura Combo. Everything was so fresh and delicious. Definitely Thumbs Up to the fried rice. =) I will be back-

    (4)

  • Mike D.

    Best sushi I've had in the entire Puget Sound area. I've tried at least a dozen places, mostly around Seattle, and this place is by far the best. The quality of the sushi is surprisingly noticeable. I didn't think there could be such a big difference in raw fish but there certainly is. If you live on the West side this place is worth the trip. If you're on the East side, you're lucky! Go here!

    (5)

  • L J.

    We got to ginza and it was very busy on a Sunday evening. There was a couple waiting for a table before us and another group of 3 people showed up after us. The hostess (the only white girl attending) got our name and party size and the 3 people name and party size. Needless to say they were seated before us even though we clearly arrived before them. I walked out before my husband could say something nasty to the hostess. Unfortunately this is my second experience of this kind in the state of WA. I will make sure to tell all my friends about the rude service they should not endure at this restaurant.

    (1)

  • Molly F.

    Best sushi on the East side. And they've got a huge variety of other fare as well. I've eaten here over 10 times and it's always consistent. It's gotten much busier over the past few years though, so I'd recommend calling ahead if you're coming for weekend nights. They've got a good variety of rolls, but I usually just go for the classics. Their miso eggplant is like candy and the tea-smoked pork belly is no joke (although if you're not into salt it's probably not your thing).

    (4)

  • Lucy C.

    i go here for one thing and one thing only - pumpkin fried rice. it comes with shrimp and bacon, so beware if you are a vegetarian/vegan.

    (5)

  • David X.

    Best Japanese restaurant in Bellevue, period. Forget trash like Blue C Sushi. Ginza is my favorite Japanese restaurant this side of the U.S.-Canadian border, along with Musashi's in Wallingford. Ginza is a quaint little place tucked away in the midst of downtown Bellevue and the commonplace sight of BMW's and Lexus's in its parking lot are the first sign that it won't be your commonly cheap Sushiland-esque meal. But for the $20-25 dollars, you get to put a huge smile on your belly. I highly recommend the Sushi+Sashimi combo, the Sashimi+Tempura combo, Chirashi bowl and Super Dragon roll (huge piece of unagi on it). Those four items alone are worth coming to Ginza for. Aside from those items, I thought the spicy tuna roll is kind of weird, or rather not the kind that I'm used to. It seems like it was mashed together with something, giving it a slight bitter/spicy taste. The udon was decent but are thinner than your typical udon noodles, which I don't really like. The consideration that bumps Ginza up to 5 stars to me is that the service was excellent. The food came in a nice order (that is something that I feel should be more commonplace in restaurants), with dishes coming right after we finished our current ones. The extremely nice middle-aged Japanese lady who served us gave extremely good service, especially considering how busy it was. Next time you are thinking of Sushiland in Bellevue, go to Ginza instead (well actually more like the next 2 times you are thinking of going to Sushiland, go to Ginza once because it will costs about twice as much as a sushiland trip).

    (5)

  • Regina L.

    I came to eat here several times now, and the first time I went was a month ago - which shows how good this place is. The staff here are very friendly. I wanted my parents to try their food since it's so good, but since they work long hours, I had to order to-go. I lost their phone number so I had to go there to order. The wait wasn't too bad considering how busy they were. The place was packed and there were 5 groups on the waiting list. My food came out about 20 minutes after I ordered, which I think it's legitimate in this case. I could have gone back to my car to wait, but I decided to wait in the store (I don't know because the waiting place itself is kind of small). I guessI looked incredibly pityful standing there because the lady who took my order came and served me tea and added free edamame in my order and apologized for keeping me from waiting. personally, I think this kind of service is kind of rare, because people expect you to wait, and if they do feel bad, they'll just apologize nad make you wait - they don't treat you as a "house guest" unless you are at a really fancy restaurant. And so, I was very pleased with her. Their sushi is extremerly good and fresh. I think they have one of the best sushi on the eastside. During the summer, order their soba noodles. They are in the seasonal menu. They are cold noodles that fill your tummy when you lost your appetite from the blazing heat. Their pumpkin fried rice is definitely to die for. When I saw the pumpkin fried rice in their menu, I was thinking of the fried rice with some pumpkins in it, but let me get you straight. In this pumpkin fried rice, you literally get a pumpkin and the fried rice is served inside of the pumpkin. You can eat the skin and all, SOOOO gooodddd!!!! I really hope they wash the pumpkin because I dont leave no pieces behind. - It's that good. One downside of this place is parking. Oh, and I would make a reservation if they allow it. They get busy FAST.

    (5)

  • Papa S.

    I read about Ginza and their AMAZING pumpkin fried rice but alas my two colleagues that I dined with were not as interested. I feel like I missed out on something special but I will definitely be coming back. Alright, what did we have? I think between the three of us we took down about 12 rolls and numerous pieces of nigiri. Starting with the nigiri the salmon and the yellowtail were extremely high quality pieces of fish and were absolutely delicious. All of the rolls, save for the Firebomb Roll (?) were great and of good (to large) size. Honestly, we ate way too much and you could easily split 2-3 rolls and be perfectly content. Going back to the Firebomb Roll, the only reason I didn't love it was because they had an asterisk that said "*spiciness challenge". Anytime you say "challenge" I am going to think of my friend Adam Richmond over at Man v Food but this roll was not spicy at all and was oddly salty. When I go back I will definitely be skipping it. Finishing off dinner I had the homemade sesame seed ice cream which I was highly skeptical but I was expensing the meal so I figured there was no risk. Taking the first bite was a bit odd but the it was the perfect balance of sesame taste and vanilla ice cream; an odd combination for sure but a great way to finish. All in with rolls, beers, sake, dessert, and tip it was $180 which isn't that bad considering how much we ate. I will definitely be returning here.

    (4)

  • Suzanna F.

    I ate dinner at Ginza tonight and was pleasantly surprised. We hadn't planned on eating Japanese food, but both were able to find something we wanted on their extensive (seriously!) menu. I had the Nabeyaki Udon and he had the shrimp tempura/chicken teriyaki. Both very delicious! The service was fast and the food tasted very fresh (mine was so hot, I had to wait awhile before I ate it). I'd definitely go back again.

    (4)

  • Farah F.

    Food wise, I would've given the place a 4 star, but the service was sloooooowwww. It took ages before any waitress realized that we have been seated for a good 10 minutes before bringing us the menu. Granted, they were curteous after that, offering us hot towels for some pre-meal washing, and the water glasses were never empty for long, but flagging one down for stuff you need is a bit of challenge, so just be ready to be patient if you come during rush hour. On to the food, which is actually very very yummy. The agedashi tofu was scrumptious, not over seasoned the way some restaurants have them, and the portion was perfect for sharing (you get 3 tofus in a bowl). The roll that stuck in my mind the most was the bomb roll, but be warned, it's incredibly spicy. The other two rolls that we got were also good, but probably just not that memorable since i can't for the life of me remember what they're called, and Ginza doesn't have a website that I can just look up the rolls. let's just say I remember being really happy with the quality of the ingredients used in the rolls, and at the same time cursing a bit at the habanero peppers present inside the bomb roll. All in all, I'd come here again, but probably when it's less crowded. Oh, parking-wise, there's actually a small lot for patrons, which is good because street parking is not easy to find.

    (3)

  • N S.

    An authentic Japanese restaurant with a huge menu.Simple and sleek was my first impression upon entering Ginza.My husband and I went there along with a friend. We chose 16 pieces of assorted sushi as our entree which comes with Miso soup. Service was quick.Our waiter served us efficiently and quickly although she did not understand a word of english. Hey who cares !! Our assorted plate contained Shrimp tempura,rainbow roll,salmon cucumber,dragon roll,king crab crunch to name a few.Dragon roll with avocado just melted in your mouth.The vinegarette, and wasabi mixture were in perfect harmony to give it just the right kick! Even though the rolls were good sized, we wanted more! we decided to order the dragon roll again along with california roll and tuna sushi. A wonderful place to have fresh and good sushi. A must go in my list.

    (4)

  • Jeff K.

    Dinner with uncle is always great, especially when's paying for the food and alcohol. =D Can't remember half the stuff I ate cause he ordered it all in Japanese. The pumpkin croquettes were pretty damn good though, never had one in my lifetime and it was very crisp and flavorful filling. Then came the beef tongue. My uncle asked me what I thought of it. I said, "It ain't liver cause I would've spit it out already..... but I like..." Taste very much like beef, just cut up differently. We had some fish, I don't know what kind. I just sat smiled and ate, drank a couple beers, that might have messed up the palette. And ironically, had no sushi or sashimi. Overall, I liked it and would definitely go back as long as I know there's no liver on the menu. I'll eat the fish, tongue, pumpkin croquettes and other stuff, but no liver. It'll take a lot of alcohol for me to eat liver. Probably about 3 big bottles of Asahi beer should do the trick.

    (3)

  • james s.

    We had dinner here last night. The server was a bit confused as to drink orders, but other than that very nice. The rolls and nigiri were ok, but the nigiri sushi, although big, was torn in multiple spots which came across as a little messy. Although the service was really nice, it seemed that the general tone of the staff was a bit provincial - they dealt with us, but they didn't really want to sort of thing - the sushi chefs weren't very welcoming or engaging. I'd go back again. A very cool, varied menu too. Much more varied than most Japanese restaurants.

    (3)

  • Miki K.

    Sushi is great, but hot food from kitchen is ok. Service is generally horrible. Also I think the back section of the restaurant (yakuniku section) is violation of fire hazard. Not sure City of Bellevue has been informed about it. They should not seat anyone until they get the permit.

    (1)

  • Stefanie H.

    I wouldn't consider myself a sushi expert or anything, but their sushi was really good. You could tell a lot of time and effort went into making it. It wasn't just thrown together. The gyoza are to die for and I love that they make it sort of like a mini 3 course dinner with the little cucumber salad and fruit. I didn't try the pumpkin fried rice, which apparently is the bomb (yes I used the phrase "the bomb) and I fully intend on going back soon to try it. The only reason they aren't a full 5 star rating is that it is a but spendy. But if you want great sushi, it's worth it.

    (4)

  • Nanako E.

    Four stars for having so many unique and legit Japanese dishes on their menu. But damn, they gotta cut down on the number of items because it is so hard to choose which one to order! My family ordered the beef tongue, bittermelon sauteed with eggs, chicken gizzards, tofu with yuzu miso, oden (fish cakes boiled in dashi), and fish collar (I don't know how to say the fish in English, but in Japanese it's 'kinki') to share. None of the dishes were memorable. It didn't have that extra....zing that makes you think "Wow, this is really good." I think what they need to do is cut down on the number of items in their menu and really focus on improving the dishes they decide to keep. We were too full to try their sushi. I ordered the pumpkin fried rice since everyone was RAVING about it on Yelp...but I didn't think it was anything special. To quote my mother: "Does't this taste like the fried rice I make at home?" And she's right. It tasted pretty damn similar to my mom's fried rice, just with pumpkin in it. Do people rave about it because it's served in a pumpkin? What's the big deal? I was disappointed. I guess my expectations were set too high. My brother also ordered the shio (salt) ramen and he couldn't stand how fishy it smelled. The waitress warned him about it smelling fishy but we didn't think it'd smell THAT bad. You know the smell of Asian grocery stores? That's what it smelled like. He couldn't finish it. Three stars instead of two because the waitress was just so, so sweet. I don't think we'll be coming back though. Sorry!

    (3)

  • Trish K.

    My best pick for Japanese food on the Eastside. I recommend the tea smoked pork belly, pumpkin fried rice and the chirashi. Oh fried oysters if you like oysters. Expect a bit of a wait if you come during dinner hours. Very nice staff and helpful if you have any questions about the menu. I'm here once or twice a month and not once have I ever been unhappy about anything that I have ordered.

    (4)

  • Thuy D.

    One of my favorite japanese restaurant on the East side. The restaurant is quite small and always full. So far all my dining experience here has been good. I especially like their ramen and more traditional japanese dishes. The sushi is not the best but much better than sushiland and todai standard. Has good menu selection that give me a chance to try something new everytime i go there. Staff are informative and knows their food well.

    (4)

  • Howard L.

    Traditional Japanese restaurant with a large variety of food. Fish here is fresh and they seem to have cargo / seasonal items on a regular basis. Out of all the Japanese restaurants in the Seattle and Bellevue area, I would count this one as tops for fish quality.

    (4)

  • Ingrid S.

    Only one word sums up this place, TRADITIONAL! There are two separate menus. One with your raw fish and rolls, the other a more extensive Japanese menu with stuff that was very intriguing like pork on hot rocks, or something presented in a bamboo bowl. Aaarrgh, I would like to just spend a month here to sample everything. At times it may seem you may need an interpreter but just ask. The waitstaff are informative without being snobs. There are two tatami rooms but I assume they are always full.

    (5)

  • T.J. S.

    So let's talk about Ginza. It's great Japanese food in a small intimate establishment. Walking in you get the sense of closeness without being overtly public. All the employees greet you with a genuine welcome. The bar where they make the sashimi and rolls showcase their talents of presentation and plating. You get front row seats to the show but don't feel like your being Benihana'd. From start to finish the wait staff was very attentive. It definitely added to the comfort of our experience. Besides eating at the bar, options included dining room seating throughout the restaurant or separate tatami style rooms for larger gatherings. The noise level and ambiance made our eating experience very intimate allowing us to enjoy each others company and conversation. The first bowl to come out was a light pickled cucumber salad with our drinks. Sake for her. Kirin for me. It was a nice palet warmer. The second dish was extremely well put together Agedashi Tofu. A tasty light broth surrounding 4 pieces of tofu fried gently on the outside but revealing the delicate inside goodness. My chopsticks flew around this dish like a butterfly. It was very tasty. I enjoyed stories of fond memories surrounding this comfort food. The third dish was geoduck sauteed with butter and mushrooms. This dish did not disappoint. It was cut in nice bite-size pieces just a bit smaller than the mushrooms served on its own half shell (poor little guy). My taste buds thanked me profusely despite lamenting his fate! Of course there was the main course. The sashimi....Mmmmm!! Every piece was fresh and delectable. Each with it's own character and subtle flavor. Like notes of music rising from the plate....I played every cord until I was exhausted. I felt dizzy with the music playing in my mouth. Our dessert rolled into a Green Tea Creme Broulee and a nice Japanese fruit plate with a bit of snow. Both were a satisfying finish and with an unspoken gaze we both knew that we would come back and try something new at Ginza.

    (4)

  • Trevor B.

    This is my families go to sushi joint. Great service, sushi is always fresh and not too pricey.

    (3)

  • Angie J.

    I don't know what the hell happened but I did not like this place. We had a bento, roll and appetizer and none of it was worth trying more than one bite of. I'm sorry I didn't find something that I liked, I won't be going back to see if I can. Even my husband who likes everything was less than enthusiastic. Maybe it was just an off night?

    (2)

  • Dan H.

    Very fresh seafood. The Deluxe Sushi plate was wonderful for lunch and a good value.

    (4)

  • Evan M.

    Very unique rolls, good sushi, terrible parking. I'd love to try the other stuff, I wish I'd read reviews before I went over.

    (4)

  • Megan M.

    Very good sushi and pretty reasonably priced. My only regret is that we didn't try very many different items. It sounds like there are lots of other interesting menu items to try.... so I'm definitely going back! Note - our server's English wasn't very good. Ordering was an interesting process and she ended up bringing out pretty much all our food almost at the same time, which meant that our table was overflowing with dishes.... next time I'll order in segments!

    (4)

  • S G.

    It's alright... and tastes okay if you're hungry... and service is sometimes good.

    (2)

  • Bill M.

    And then there were three. Ginza becomes one of my three favorite sushi places in the USA, joining Shibuya (Calabasas, CA) and Oriental Garden (Mt Pleasant, SC). Don't ask me for a fav or I'll ask you which of your three kids you love the most. I love all three, just in different ways. Not getting salmon here is like not going to the Louvre when in Paris, you've missed the best. I had the wild Sake, and it was a religious experience. As for the rest of the food: I enjoyed the Tobiko (they have wasabi Tobiko too), Ikura, Saba (if they have the Japanese saba, that's the one to get), and Hotetagai (fresh scallop done perfectly). I was less impressed with the Ebi (Oriental Garden does it much better, but shrimp is coming into the area everyday), hamachi and wild tuna. Both the hamachi and tuna were bland. All were good regardless. Everything I had was fresh. The service was excellent at the sushi bar. As others have said, the place has limited seating and parking. I walked in on Friday at 5PM, but by 5:45 the place was nearly full. The parking solution is pretty simple if you don't mind the walk. There's a park at the end of 102nd St with free parking. It's a walk of about a block-and-a-half. Thanks to the Seattle/Bellevue Yelpers who pointed this place out. They know their stuff.

    (5)

  • Lisa L.

    + fresh fish (nigiri, rolls, sashimi, and grilled) + large portions + bento box was great to try all their different dishes + attentive staff - too attentive of staff (they came over to get our order every 2 minutes when there was an extensive 2 sets of m

    (3)

  • Cat S.

    Basically just adding to all the 4-5 star reviews here. Great little sushi spot in old town Bellevue. Everything we got was delicious, service was slow as another yelper mentioned, but I would definitely recommend this place and will go back. There are SO many interesting dishes on the menu to try. The pumpkin fried rice did not disappoint. Thanks, fellow Yelpers, for the recommendation!

    (4)

  • J C.

    Not the cheapest place for sushi, but the sushi is quality. Place is small, cozy, service was pretty prompt even though it was busy. However, we did just miss the dinner rush. People were lined up out the door soon after (sign of a good restaurant!) and some were complaining about their reservations not being honored (the restaurant was behind about 15-20 minutes). Not a deal breaker in my book if you're willing to wait for good Japanese!

    (4)

  • michael p.

    First time visit to Ginza in downtown Bellevue. Fresh sushi. Good service. Next time I will try their special pumpkin dish.

    (4)

  • An-Chin C.

    Last nigh I gave the restaurant another try hoping the food would be better if I order something different than the last time. Sorry, still overpriced not-so-good food. The Chicken teriyaki was not edible. The sizzling hot plate dish has 2 tiny slices of beef, 2 small shirmp, 2 tiny pieces of scallop, 1 slice of onion and eggpant. I knew it was appetizer size but at $15.99 that was sad. The Miso ramen was meh, the tempura was meh. Both times when I visted I felt I was rushed by the waitress to order. It was just not good food and not good experience overall.

    (2)

  • Susie Q.

    Found this place on Yelp and I am glad that I did. Located in Old Bellevue, small, clean, good atmosphere, friendly, fast service. The food was awesome! I would definitely go back again! :)

    (4)

  • Joanne E.

    Okay, so the best part of this dining experience was the walk there and back from my hotel. We got to go through Downtown Park, which was really really a great park. On the way back we also went through part of the mall to get some ice cream. The restaurant itself. It was a little stressful waiting for a table. There were two of us and we were never sure what, exactly, was going on. At least one table (for four) was empty the entire half hour we waited. I thought perhaps there had been a reservation for four and they were waiting, but later, once I was seated, I noticed they just put two people there. Adding to the stress was a woman who arrived later looking for a table for two who was very hawkish. For a minute, when two seats at the sushi bar opened up, I thought she was going to swoop right in. Instead, the staff person in charge of seating people, who seemed to be doing about four jobs at once, beat her to it and kept her away. Turns out we got those coveted seats : ) . The menu - very very extensive. Kind of scary, actually, for someone who has not spent a lot of time in Japanese restaurants (Chinese - yes; sushi - yes) and who did not feel like spending oodles of money on sushi. I wanted to spend some time reviewing the extensive menu, but in the 5 minutes I tried to do so our wait person came by at least four times to ask what we wanted. I ordered some of the items that I had seen recommended on Yelp reviews (the pumpkin fried rice, for one) and also ordered some sushi rolls. Everything was very good, but I couldn't help thinking that I needed more time to review the menu. Bottom line, good food. I recommend making a reservation first. And if you are waiting for your table and don't know what you want, review the menu while you are waiting. Once you are seated, it seems, they don't like you to take too much time to read the menu. I highly recommend walking through Downtown Park on your way there or back (or both!)

    (3)

  • Tai T.

    Ginza has been around for a while and finally I found my way over there. Tucked away in Old Bellevue, it seems to have a special mystic about it. So let's start with the good. Large menu.... Full complement of sashimi, nigiri, rolls and unique cooked dishes... There aren't many home cooking type Japanese places in the area, so it was novel. You can get broiled squid, pumpkin fried rice, lots of more interesting pork dishes, and more The bad... I don't recommend the sushi rolls. The rice was over cooked and just too much of it on the roll. Service was friendly enough, but it was slow and disorganized. We had three people try to take our drink order... strange. Finally, while the small dishes were the star here (we didn't have the entrees) it's pricey for what it is. So lots for 5 star ratings on yelp... it's just OK for me...

    (3)

  • A W.

    Visited this place for the first time on Saturday for dinner. It's kind of tucked away in Old Bellevue but they do have their designated parking area so that was good. We walked in and it was busy but managed to get a table fairly quickly. I overheard another couple that had gotten reservations prior to coming... so that might be a good idea in the future. We ordered a few things off the daily specials menu and the jellyfish and Chef's Choice Regular Sashimi. The bill came out to about $55 and we were very satisfied. This place has decent portions and the quality was pretty high. One of the specials we got had Fried Oysters and that was delicious. The O-Toro that we ordered was so good too! If you get the chance, definitely make a trip here. Skip Blue C Sushi and Sushi Maru and come here.

    (4)

  • Mina R.

    I would thank yelp if it could add some negative starts so I could give to Ginza!! We were a group of 14 we went to Ginza on January of 2012. We reserved a table to make sure they can afford giving service to a large group! But guess what! It took 2 hours, literally two hours after we ordered that we got our food! We saw several groups of people coming to Ginza after we ordered, who ordered, ate their food, and left, long before we got our orders! We complained couple of times , so they brough one roll for one person ! and left the rest of us again for half an hour! Amazingly!!!!! they charged us for %18 gratuity too !!!! If I could come here and write a bad review for them every single night of my life I would do that ! The truth is, they did not care AT ALL ! to satisfy their customers. I DO NOT RECOMMEND GINZA!

    (1)

  • Todd L.

    This review is for the lunch special I just had at Ginzu. A large spincy tuna hand roll and a large shrimp hand roll with surf clam and escolar sashimi plus miso soup, salad and green tea, all for $10. Usually sushi places give you smaller portions during lunch but this was amazing. Large portions of the sushi I wanted and fantastic quality. I absolutely will return to Ginza for lunch or dinner. What a spot!

    (5)

  • King C.

    I like Ginza. It has the biggest menu selection I've seen in a Japanese restaurant. We ordered several tapas-like dishes, including a bamboo, duck, & mackerel dish. I also ordered chawamushi (spelling?). All of them were unique; I've never had anything like this in the past. However, it's not a restaurant I would consider as one of my top 3 favorite Japanese restaurant. I was disappointed by the small portion size, and I didn't find the flavor all too memorable.

    (4)

  • Ashley D.

    Well the only thing I tried was the pumpkin fried rice, but I can sincerely say that it was one of the best things I've ever had. It was so good I was shoveling it in my mouth as fast as I possibly could. At one point I considered just using my hands to shovel it in haha. I shared the portion with my friend because it's pretty expensive (15 dollars for a medium sized portion) and we were both eating it as fast as possible because it was so good, and we were trying to eat as much as possible before the other person ate it. It was served inside of an actual small pumpkin (adorable!) and cooked to perfection. I believe it had small shrimp, onions, green onions. The pumpkin was then cooked so that you got pieces/chunks of sweet pumpkin along with the rice. There may have been other things in it, however I was eating it so fast I don't even remember. The pumpkin was cooked just right and the contrast of sweet pumpkin with savory rice made the dish perfect. The food that I saw other people eating also looked delicious and was beautifully constructed. The only downside about this place is the price, all the items are pretty pricey. Although, I guess that's due to the restaurant being in Bellevue. But if you can't afford a lot (like me!) I recommend coming here and trying just the pumpkin fried rice.

    (4)

  • Lily B.

    Nice little local Japanese. Good sushis and alternate meals.

    (4)

  • J C.

    Ginza has excellent quality sashimi and sushi, I love their chirashi bowl. So fresh and so delicious. Most of the rolls we have tried are good as well. However, their menu is quite extensive, and certain items are disappointing. My friend ordered the black cod in miso sauce, we were expecting the usual, having had it at many other restaurants before, but when it came, it was the tiniest piece we've ever seen, and tasted dry and terrible, like it had been cooked wrong. We asked them about it, and they did not offer to give us a new dish or take it off of the bill. So the bottom line is that the sushi/sashimi is great, but the other items are hit and miss. And it's pretty pricey to order the wrong thing there, so go with what's safe unless someone else has tried the item and recommended it to you.

    (4)

  • Arica V.

    My coworker and I were craving sushi and yelp lead us here. I ordered the scorpion roll and the tuna poke salad. Delicious. The fish was fresh, there was a ton of soft shell crab in the roll, and the servings were good sized. Our waiter was awesome - totally friendly and gave us a ton of suggestions. They have their own parking lot and the restaurant is very relaxed. If I lived in the area, I would visit this place frequently.

    (4)

  • Julia C.

    Ginza has been my go-to japanese restaurant on the east side in recent years. :D Great service, but it gets packed and the parking lot is small. Nevertheless, it has excellent sushi and sashimi and izakaya style small plate dishes on their menu. I have never been unhappy with anything I have ordered here -- keep an eye out for the board that says what the sashimi specials are for the day. Fresh fish that melts in the mouth, everything with a very clean taste. The prices are average for what you would pay anywhere for good sushi. After I move, I will still come back whenever I can! Look out too -- they are expanding to include a yakiniku!

    (5)

  • Avitania B.

    You know you're in for a treat when you walk into a sushi joint, and you're one of the few diners that isn't Japanese. I could go on and on and on (and on and on) about the succulent, fat portions of fresh fish that were lovingly and carefully presented... or the perfectly seasoned sushi rice that had just the right amount of stickiness... or the cute little old Japanese lady who served our table but spoke very little English... or the pleasing bottom line of the bill, where we couldn't believe how much like kings we dined for relatively little (at least, compared to the expensive sushi joints *ahem*I Love Sushi*ahem*). But I'll shut up now and say, just go. You'll NOM NOM NOM your little sushi-loving heart out.

    (5)

  • John R.

    Best sashimi I've had in Bellevue. A bit expensive, but worth it. Service is usually good as well.

    (5)

  • jay j.

    Really cool place, traditional with working chef/owner. My pick? Gabocha filled with Japanese style fried rice =chopped bacon in them. Beef tongue, hmm. House roll; I like them because it has lots of fish filling and cheap! Call for reservation! Small parking lot!

    (4)

  • Matthias K.

    Fantastic Japanese food. I had the special, which included fried squid and some delicious chicken. Yikes, squid.... that is what I thought first too, but I was feeling adventurous and it was a pleasant surprise. The pumpkin rice is a must, we took the left-over home. Mhh, lunch tomorrow is half done ;) There were also two sushi masters working the counter and they were busy. Ginza is a very kid friendly place, and provided us with all kinds of kid specific utensils (And not the cheap throw away stuff as you often get in other places). That, in addition to the kids combination meal, was much appreciated. Now, the restaurant is a bit cramped, but not too much to make it uncomfortably. Noise level was surprisingly low. Reservations on a busy night is highly recommended. I may just have found my home base for Japanese food.

    (4)

  • Kevin W.

    I like Ginza. Living two blocks away and being an avid fan of Japanese food, I've come here on several occasions. My introduction to Ginza came from the Japanese-language monthly magazone, "You maga". My friend, Japanese, found it from an advertisement. She convinced me it was worth trying because, "..if they are advertising in the Japanese magazine, it must be reasonably authentic and good quality, or else Japanese will not come." The sushi is all good quality and fresh. In several visits, I have never had that one "bad" piece of fish that makes me question their buying frequency. Other menu choices I can safely recommend are the Kasuzuke, a personaly favorite, and of course, all of the small Japanese dishes. Another reviewer mentioned this, but it definitely helps to bring a native Japanese if you want to experiment successfully with the small dishes. The english descriptions are less than adequate and can lead to some surprises, but I tell you, coming with a Japanese person who knows your tastes and can order for you will make this a great dining experience. Like reviewer Sean C, I had the mochi cake for dessert which very much surprised me. Somehow, it wasn't what I was expecting, but was tasty regardless. The sweet mochi with matcha and baked as an actual cake was rewarding. I wish it was served with a small dab of matcha ice cream, but I can't fault them for that - just a personal craving at the time. Will I return? Of course. I can't give it 5 stars because nothing is exactly life-altering, but it's pretty darn good and definitely a step above your average Seattle Japanese eatery.

    (4)

  • Mike F.

    Outstanding sushi at very good prices (they ship in the specials from the Kyuushuu fish market - I've even put in special requests (oh, kanimiso) and they've ordered them for the following week). However, the real treat is all of the smaller home-style dishes. Bring on the turtle soup and deep fried pork liver!

    (5)

  • Marlyn C.

    Great service and super fresh sushi, as well as delicious traditional Japanese fare. One of my few favorite places in Bellevue- because in all honesty, I hate Bellevue. This is one of its very very few redeeming qualities.

    (4)

  • Erick P.

    One of the better Japanese/sushi places on the Eastside. I believe the owner is Chinese as she has that Canto accent. Believe me, I know a Cantonese person when I hear one having lived in Hong Kong, SF, LA, etc. Normally, this doesn't bode well for the food as I'm partial to ethnic eateries that are run by the same ethnic group. Most of time I've visited Japanese restaurants run by Korean or Chinese, they have been mediocre...at best. Main thing here is that the sushi chefs are of Japanese descent. The result is authentic food and more importantly a better grade of sushi with craftsmen who know how to assemble a nice piece of nigiri or hand roll. I would say that their fish is on par with I Love Sushi at a slightly lower price. Wifey still thinks Izumi in Kirkland (our go to sushi joint on the Eastside) has slightly better quality fish, but we're really splitting hair at this point. We've had Hamachi, Unagi (freshly grilled), Tuna Hand Roll, Spicy Scallop Roll, Scallop Nigiri and all were delicious and fresh. Have tried the tempura twice and it is a bit on the greasy side. Izumi does a better job with this. Haven't tasted the pumpkin fried rice yet as we're just warming up to this place and want to make sure they got the basics down before we attempt the "exotic" stuff. Minus one star for their suggestion on tips. We pay by credit card and they have recommended tip ranges on the bottom of the credit slip for those who are arithmetic-challenged. What I don't like it is the way the Ginza servers CIRCLE that area of the credit as if they're reminding me to leave a tip and HOW MUCH. Excuse me??!!! I will tip the amount I feel like and don't need to be REMINDED by a big circle to tip. It left a sour feeling. The first time they pulled that, I was taken aback. The second time was insulting. I believe Ginza is the only place where I experienced this as I would remember being biatch-slapped! If you can look beyond this insult at the end of the meal, and concentrate on the food, you won't be disappointed as this is one of the better places for Japanese food on the Eastside.

    (4)

  • Andrea Z.

    The service is horrible and the food is ok for being as expensive as it was. I will never come here again and expect much better for that price tag!

    (2)

  • Dan H.

    Always packed. Food is great! Sushi is fresh. There are two menus. The ala cart is worth ordering from. Ask the waitstaff, they have some neat suggestions. Portions are small but very tasty. Tempura is one of the best in town - the lightest and crispiest ever. Reservations are best, or you'll be waiting. Ambience is nothing amazing, but food makes up for it. Sometimes they have great dessert items which changes daily. If you like greentea, their matcha cake is awesome!

    (5)

  • M C.

    every time i drive by here there is always a line! sign of a good place right? wrong!, maybe when it comes to bellevue foodie. hahah jk Service = just OK, felt like they're working just enough Ambiance = OK food = OK, hence the 3 star Favorite = not much, OK food Worst = the very fact of mediocrity price = $$$ Final Say = just fork up the dough and go to Flo ppl

    (3)

  • Edward J.

    Pretty darn good and fair price. I would rate this place over I Love Sushi which most people praise about. Pretty much everything on the menu are my favorite. The only complaint that I have is parking. Parking lot is rather small and it is hard to find street parking around the restaurant. So if you are planning to go to Ginza I would suggest getting there early.

    (4)

  • Carmel P.

    Great local Japanese restaurant on the Eastside. The Pumpkin (really Kabocha squash) Fried Rice referenced here before is delicious. My husband and I have lived in the area for over 3 years and couldn't believe we hadn't noticed this restaurant before--thanks Yelpers! Yes much of it is homestyle food, but that is sometimes what a restaurant is for, when you are too tired to make dinner and want to let someone else do the cooking, but do a good job as well. We also liked the Tea Smoked Pork Belly, which can't be good for you, but tastes oh so yummy. UPDATE: We still eat here on a fairly regular basis. It's still good and we still have a ways to go trying out things on the menu (geez the menu is huge!). Green Tea Creme Brulee - Good Green Tea Mochi Cake - Weird Kushi Katsu - Interesting (because it's always a mystery! Deep fried meat?) Pumpkin Fried Rice - One of our favorites Anything sushi - Always good

    (4)

  • Judy W.

    This place is very authentic and has really high quality food. PUMPKIN FRIED RICE. It's super unique and utterly mouthwatering! It's even served in a little pumpkin! If you go on a weekend, be sure to make a reservation ahead of time - they get really busy.

    (5)

  • Paul C.

    This place rocks. Those looking for a sightly different Japanese experience should definitely go there. They serve traditional as well as Izukaya (sp?) cuisine which are like small appetizers or perhaps Japanese tapas if that makes sense. Perhaps the best Japanese food in Bellevue.

    (4)

  • Emi K.

    Great place with great food!!! We came here with my parents, the night before my sister's wedding. My dad was craving Japanese food, so we decided to go to this Izakaya. It was great!! Not only do they have the American-Japanese food, they also have authentic things, which my father loved. The sashimi was fresh and tasty, tempura was perfectly fried, and other vegetable dishes were great and nostalgic. I personally do not like most of the american rolls...so don't rely on my review about rolls! But my brother-in-law's brother's wife loved them. We were put in a private room which was nice, since it was the first time the 2 families got together. The restaurant itself is not awfully big, but it was full and probably better to make a reservation. My father paid for everything, but everyone was full and he said he paid about $30 per person. Pretty cheap for how much and what we ate. One japanese restaurant that I trust and will return if I want Japanese food in Bellevue!

    (4)

  • Chris F.

    Five stars for serving a sprawling menu that's generally well executed. It's so hard to find a good Japanese restaurant that serves something other than sushi. I really enjoyed the chawanmushi, pork belly and mackerel shioyaki.

    (5)

  • Jonelle T.

    Just ate here the other night for the 9,000th time. Definitely one of my favorite Japanese restaurants. They have an extensive menu and some of the freshest sushi in town. Standouts include the pumpkin friend rice, saba, tempura, and spider roll. They also have a daily dinner special that's always a superb deal. Super friendly and accommodating wait staff. Reservations are a must as the place is consistently packed.

    (5)

  • Mike H.

    The food is sooo damn good, fresh and full of flavor. The staff is friendly except for the kung fu panda look alike guy Ivan, he is always grouchy.

    (5)

  • Selena B.

    First Off, this place serves homestyle Japanese cooking. I've been to this placea few times now, and every single time, I wasn't that impressed. I'm always leaving wondering, 'why, do people think this amazingly good?' It's decent and it tastes Japanese. But some dishes are better than others. I tend to like the Saba and their desserts. In general, my Japanese mother makes much better food. But if you can't get home cooked Japanese meals this may be the place to go, but trust me, its better to find a Japanese friend to cook for you.

    (3)

  • Murat S.

    Good sushi for a reasonable price.

    (4)

  • Derek P.

    Somewhat hidden if you're not actively looking for the sign. Proven by the Treo juggling as my friend twisted the Google Maps display on the screen trying to make sense of Main St. and 102nd. We were sure it had to be where we were. True enough, as both of us said "where is it? It should be right there", we both locked in on the smallish black with white lettering sign. Very clean interior. Somewhat tight as far as seating arrangements are concerned. Patrons look to be the type of frequent the restaurant on a regular basis. Bar seating is limited to 5. The specials menu was located behind the bar. Not usually an issue but this particular venue decided to cram as much info on to the two boards as possible translating into minuscule lettering. I was about 5 ft. away and gave up on reading because it was too much of a hassle. I didn't feel like having the waitress read through all the specials nor did I feel it respectful to stand next to customers as they at so that I could lean across the bar to read. Might be worthwhile to leave the specials in a m ore visible / readable area. Sushi servings were tiny. Maybe I'm just used to serving portions at Maneki (international District). Amaebi pieces looked as though they would be better suited on a tossed salad. Same thing goes for the tiny portions of Uni. If the prices weren't what they were, the portions would have been justified.

    (3)

  • Miona H.

    I always go here for the pumpkin fried rice. Their sashimi selection beats Rikki Rikki and should really claim the "best sushi on the eastside" award in my opinion. They also have salted sweetfish (ayu), which I love but that's because I'm half-Japanese and it reminds me of the food I have with my family in Japan. The ayu is a very acquired taste and I wouldn't recommend it if you haven't had something similar to it. Regarding service, I always get treated well when I go with an Asian or Caucasian friend. The worst service I have noticed to date is whenever I'm with an Indian friend. They always seem to want to rush us for some reason and tell us not to stay too long after we're done and talk for hours. Doesn't really bother me much though. I just prepare myself now, lol.

    (4)

  • Robby C.

    Quaint little sushi restaurant located in the older portion of Bellevue and it was definitely worth visiting after receiving multiple suggestions from both family and friends. Before our arrival, the thought of pumpkin fried rice had been teasing our taste buds for the majority of the day, but somehow our mutual friend convinced us to try the traditional fair of regular sushi. Although we were a bit disappointed after the fact, especially since fellow reviewers have sworn on the extravagance that is pumpkin fried rice, we were still quite impressed with our order of a scorpion roll and a chirashi bowl. The ingredients that composed each dish were amazingly fresh and the restaurant has now taken over the top spot in our list of sushi restaurants in Bellevue. For those familiar with sushi, the scorpion rolls is a basic spider roll topped with roe and spicy tuna and the chirashi bowl is a simple bowl of sushi rice topped with a variety of sashimi and other various sushi ingredients such as tamago. While a bit expensive compared to similar establishments in Seattle, the price of each dish are what you would expect from a restaurant of this caliber in Bellevue. Service was attentive and the staff was friendly though, from our experience, it would be wise to plan an earlier dinner because the restaurant was quite busy even for a Tuesday evening. While the company we had the pleasure to dine with was amazing, we are sure to return with a larger group because we definitely would like to try out one of the two private rooms some time in the near future.

    (4)

  • Janelle A.

    My husband and I have been looking for our new local sushi joint since we moved to Bellevue about 2 months ago. The search ended Saturday night when we discovered Ginza. We tried Sushi N Joy, it was just okay (the rolls were puney) and Rolls n Rolls has good rolls and prices- but isn't much for dinner atmosphere. I Love Sushi is great but way more expensive than us Californians are used to paying for sushi (100 bucks and left hungry). So our next stop after lots of Yelp research was Ginza. We got there at 8 on a Saturday night and it was definitely busy (had to park down the street, found street parking easily nearby and sat at the sushi bar to avoid waiting for a table). We started with wine and edamame, 5 rolls and dessert. The White Express was the most expensive at 12.50 but SO worth it. Even their Spicy Tuna was well above average. We also tried the Garlic Albacore and crunch roll, except for the White Expres they were all under 7.50! We even had desssert and left paying less than 60 bucks and left pretty full. In our books that's pretty good and this was the perfect marriage of quality and price (it's hard to get a great balance). The only thing that would make it better would be if it was a better secret. : ) We'll definitely be regulars here.

    (5)

  • a a.

    Disgusting... Not fresh, overpriced, slosh se

    (1)

  • Malia F.

    I love sushi and I absolutely hate bad sushi. Sorry, this is not good sushi. I had the chirashi and it was horrible, please don't cut the bad part of the fish and array it to look better. I won't be back, even though there 101 izakaya style dishes looked interesting. Come on bellevue, where is the good sushi spots?

    (2)

  • Norbert M.

    I am not big Sushi person. However we tried take out option for some late night food. Phone was of the hook and we had to go to location to place order, so that part was not so great. However food was very good and fresh. Definitely worth a try if you are in the area.

    (4)

  • Tiffany L.

    Yum. Everything was good. Five stars for the food. They have an extensive menu. Service was not perfect; they were jammed packed yesterday and not super attentive. But the food makes it forgivable.

    (4)

  • Becka L.

    My friend brought me here after I'd had an unfortunate incident on the Ave (see my Thaiger Room review), and I was really, REALLY leery of eating at any restaurant. But, Japanese restaurants are typically very clean and meticulous, so I warily entered the door. First of all, the restaurant's clean. Clean and sparsely but tastefully decorated. Secondly, the service we received was stellar. The waitresses (we had two) were attentive without being obnoxious, and so polite! "Irrashaimase!" (Welcome!) they called out as we walked in. Thirdly, and this is important, the customers were mostly native Japanese, and appeared to be at ease. About 12 Japanese businessmen walked in shortly after we were seated, and let me tell you, my confidence in restaurants suddenly upped a notch. My friend is not so into the raw, so we ordered the shrimp tempura maki, another maki with shrimp tempura, and a salmon roll. I didn't realize until later that the salmon was raw, but she seemed to be ok with it. It was definitely my favorite. The sushi was really good - fresh and simple, and everything just seemed sharp at this restaurant - they are definitely on top of their game here. We also each ordered a cup of chawanmushi, a steamed egg custard that comes to you in a covered Japanese bowl/cup, and typically has shrimp and other tasty bits. This one had shrimp, gingko nuts, cilantro, and was topped with what I think was some lemon zest, which added a wonderful summery freshness to it. I've also had it in the past with shiitake mushrooms, kamaboko, and spinach. Ginza's chawanmushi was just as it should have been - smooth, light, and delicious as it warms your tummy. As we paid I noticed two white boards by the very small sushi bar (it had perhaps 4 stools) that listed about 100 specials. Wow! The next time I go I will have to try some of those. Many of them were fare that you would not typically find in a sushi restaurant. Altogether, highly recommended sushi restaurant - off the beaten path, which is awesome, because it wasn't crowded. Oh yes, and the meal came with sunomono at the beginning, and an iced fruit plate at the end. What service!

    (4)

  • Jessica D.

    Amazing Sushi!!! This is the 5th place I tried in WA (after reading about it on yelp!), and this is the one I'm sticking with! I had an awesome white tuna roll with baked scallop and spicy mayo on top - W O W. Excellent! So much to choose from on the menu as well. If you love fresh FRESH sushi and like to try new things, must check this place out!

    (5)

  • E C.

    Best sushi on the eastside by far, maybe even in the whole Seattle metro area.

    (5)

  • Leslie M.

    Ginza is probably one of the best authentic sushi restaurants on the eastside. Their fish is melt-in-your mouth fresh! My brother is a Japanese food snob and orders off of the authentic menu and is extremely happy with whatever he gets on there. Me... I just like the fish. It gets very busy on weekends so make sure to have a reservation. Sometimes the seating can be very tight because they are trying to serve as many people as they can! Understandable!

    (5)

  • Jay N.

    I'll be so bold as to say that this is the best Japanese restaurant on the Eastside and give this restaurant my first 5-star rating. This isn't fusion like Flo ( yelp.com/biz/flo-restaur… ) or Yama ( yelp.com/biz/yama-bellev… ) and definitely not your run-of-the-mill Japanese sushi bar. After enjoying meals there several times, I'll give the following "Great Scott!" comments: - "I've found my people!" - "Pumpkin Fried Rice?" - "Psst, they have ramen here." - "Woah, baby friendly..." - "Free dessert, nice." - "Houbou, need to look that up later..." - "Mmmm...Black Tea Crme Brule..." Confused? I'll explain. As a nisei coming from a little town called Lawai on the island of Kauai in the state of Hawaii to attend UW 15 years ago, I wondered where all those Japanese people were...besides the historical record, Uwajimaya exists after all... Koreans owned Japanese restaurants, which is cool (my wife is Korean), and there weren't any Japanese in my engineering classes. Well, I hit the mother load here. Perhaps the clientle has some indication of a cultural restaurant's authenticity--there are a lot of Japanese-speaking customers. But the good news is that the customer base isn't exclusively Japanese and there is no "secret Chinese menu" (which I get to enjoy in some Chinese restaurants because of my Chinese friends) and the subtitled menu isn't intimidating. Okay, back to Japanese cuisine. The menu at Ginza is extensive. There aren't a lot of Japanese restaurants with ramen and I believe there are 5 types at Ginza. It won't match a ramen-ya in Japan but it's there if you have the craving. But besides that, there are unique items such as Pumpkin Fried Rice, Tea Smoked Pork Belly (mentioned in earlier reviews), and Black Tea Creme Brule that are really must-try items. If the many Izakaya-like menu items aren't enough, try the sushi. Any place can have unique rolls (and this place has its share), but the sushi experience enlightens oneself when one encounters "non-standard" sushi fish. There's definitely nothing wrong with hamachi, maguro, and sake, but when you have a chance to try different fishes like the houbou, or the blue fin robin, your taste palate expands. I believe they also had suzuki and maybe even katsuo. Anyways, there were several fishes available that made the sushi experience unique. The night is topped off with a free fruit dessert. Nothing special but nice. Even if you happen to order a dessert, they bring you their complimentary dessert. When that's topped off with a very accommodating-to-babies atmosphere (free miso soup and rice for the baby, etc.), you've just enjoyed a good night out.

    (5)

  • Scott K.

    I tried this place last week because some of my friends posted relatively good comments on fb. Since I don't know much about the menu and the place, I ended up ordering a sushi/sashimi combo, a couple of rolls, and pumpkin fried rice. Okay, overall everything tasted ok and fish seemed fresh, however, I was quite surprised by the quantity of food... The sushi/sashimi combo was about $23 but only had 3 pieces of sushi (very small size), small tiny tuna roll (6 tiny pieces), and about 5 or 6 small pieces of sashimi pieces... I understand that food cost has gone up lately but not even close to what I would expect... Unfortunately this place did not meet my expectation and would not recommend to my friends.

    (2)

  • Chris C.

    If you are looking for Sushi in the general downtown area of Bellevue, there are really only two places to go - Ginza and I Love Sushi. Yes, there are others but I refuse to eat sushi off a conveyor belt and Flo doesn't make it into my book as a sushi experience. There are two negatives I can think of when it comes to Ginza. The first is that unless you have a reservation, you're going to wait for a table unless you go during off hours - which speaks to its popularity and overall greatness as a restaurant. The second is that if you do reserve one of their two rooms, you will literally be wisked out by the wait staff when the next reservation is up. I don't know if you can reserve the room for longer (never asked - but I will next time). At any rate, I've always found the food to be great, portions to be on the generous side, and overall a great experience. Don't go there if you want to have a private conversation as it's a little cramped, but do go if you are looking for a fairly consistent Sushi (and other Japanese offerings).

    (4)

  • Lalu B.

    What a surprise...in Bellevue of all places. In-laws took us here for a Japanese meal and instead of the regular menu (teriyakis, sushis, et. al.) I picked up their special menu first and it was so appealing, filled with surprising dishes and homecooked specialties. The atmosphere is cozy, clean, bright and intimate. Families with children will feel at home here but so will couples. Service is warm and attentive. Food is delicious -- ramen with bbq pork is scrumptious, gyoza delectable, great sushi, terrific homemade tofu. The pumpkin fried rice is served in a hollowed-out soft kabosha squash. The rice is tasty with crisp bits and goes perfectly with sweet kabosha pumpkin. Yummy. I wish we had a nice Japanese place like this in the bay area.

    (5)

  • lovetoeat a.

    Nestled on a side street near Bellevue Square is Ginza restaurant. A small restaurant, with two " Japanese seating" tables in the back that can accommodate larger parties. Many people were waiting by the front door, a good sign the food will be good. The menu offered many interesting items, but we just stuck with our usual order: combination sashimi and steak teriyaki, or chirashi, a beautiful combination of sashimi on top of sushi rice. And of course we had the scrumptious pumpkin fried rice!! That was just so delicious!! There were so many varieties of fish on top of the chirashi: salmon, sockeye salmon, tuna, yellowtail, albacore tuna, mackerel,...seaweed salad, wasabi caviar. The obento was a large tray of exquisitely presented food. There was sashimi, tempura, fried oyster, vegetables ( carrot cut into cherry blossom), the only thing we did not like was the chicken teriyaki, it tasted more like a braised chicken than a grilled chicken. The vegetarian combination sushi was an interesting presentation of vegetables, we had fun guessing what was what on top of the sushi! They served fresh fruit for dessert, but of course we also ordered green tea ice cream. This restaurant being not so far away from my daughter's house will be guaranteed of our returns every time we visit her!

    (4)

  • Karen C.

    Ginza has really authentic Japanese food with a lot of small dish options. My favorite is the pumpkin fried rice and the ramen.

    (5)

  • Amanda K.

    I came here because of other reviews written - and the recommendations to try the pumpkin fried rice. They had a great selection of unique dishes on the menu, which made it difficult to choose, but I stuck with trying what I had seen recommended. Luckily - it's the perfect time of year to try the pumpkin fried rice (I was told) because the pumpkins are grown locally in the fall, and are sweeter. It really was delicious - and wow - a lot of food to take home for later, too! But what really made this place special was the server - I believe he said he was the nephew of the owner. Extremely helpful, kind and even gave us great restaurant recommendations in our neck of the woods!! This is just the kind of place I like - where you can really get to know the people who work there. The place is brightly lit - I wouldn't say that it has a spectacular ambiance, so if you want something romantic - this may not be it - especially since most seating is at interior tables, and they are close together. But, they do also have a section for seating where it's a raised platform, so you can drop your legs down, and it mimics sitting on the floor cross legged, but without the discomfort for some.... that area you have to take off your shoes, but most of the dining is traditional, though - with shoes. :) We went on a Sunday night, around 8pm, and they were FULL - so I imagine for busy times - this is a pretty packed place.

    (5)

  • Kimberley D.

    I can't say I agree with other reviewers; I have no sense of direction and had no difficulty finding Ginza with the google map. Unfortunately, finding it didn't help because they apparently no longer serve lunch. They were closed and a sign seemed to indicate that they are dinner only now. Sad!

    (3)

  • Jill T.

    Wow, I have not experienced such horrible customer service from Japanese people, EVER! We went for lunch and got there around 1:40...they close at 2. Usually, when you go somewhere that closes a little after you get there, they allow you to eat at your own pace and don't try to rush you out of the restaurant. Well, not Ginza! We ordered our food and it came about 10-15 mins later and right after our food was delivered, the lady gave us our check and said, "Please pay now." My dad gave her the are you serious look and gave her his credit card. She ran the credit card and came back and said, "Please sign." My dad was so irritated! He said, "Can I sign AFTER I eat?!!!" She said, "No, the cash register is closed." Whatever that meant, that was rude. So my dad took a break from eating his just average nabeyaki udon to sign the slip, WHILE SHE WAITED THERE!!! He didn't add the tip or total so she stepped away and came back less than a minute later when she saw him eating again. We eat at Japanese restaurants very often and have never experienced one like Ginza. The food was average to below average and we couldn't believe how horrible the customer service was. My dad witnessed the same lady (not sure if she's the owner?) spilling hot soup on the customer next to us. DO NOT GO HERE!!! If you want good Japanese food and service, I recommend Shun by U Village, Kozue in Wallingford, I Love Sushi in Bellevue, or Nishino on Madison.

    (1)

  • edward w.

    They have a large menu and have some specials. Their omakase was decent, but expensive for $70. The other times I've just had their Chirashi which was almost as good but at only $20. The restaurant is Chinese-operated, not thats ok, the sushi chefs are authentic Japanese. A bit overpriced, and overrated, but reasonable quality.

    (3)

  • sarah l.

    my sister and brother in law bring us to this restaurant EVERY SINGLE TIME WE VISIT SEATTLE!! there is a reason for it - the fish is always fresh, the service is always accommodating, and the entrees are ingenious and served piping hot. favorites include: 1) pumpkin fried rice, where fried rice is cooked and served in a japanese pumpkin (kabota?) 2) agadashi tofu - super soft and juicy tofu 3) spicey tuna hand roll 4) fried oysters served with rice 5) any rolls or sashimi - the fish is so fresh and almost cartilege free! they also serve alcoholic beverages, so that helps with the young crowd. they also give everybody fruit for dessert to wash it all down! :) not only is this place hip for young people, but my parents and brother in law's parents love this place! good for family gatherings!

    (4)

  • Mary G.

    went there 2 months ago on a saturday night. it was busy, but we made a reservation and was seated immediately. it was my first time there. the fried chicken wings was delicious. goes really well with cold beer. the miso ramen was ok. acceptable but not as good as the ramen from that samurai place next to uwajimaya in seattle. i also had some sushi rolls. it was also good. i'm glad to find a sushi joint that i can go to on the east side. i'll give it another try

    (4)

  • A Q.

    Happened to be in the area right before 5 and snagged a table. The place filled up very fast. We had the pumpkin fried rice with shrimp and bacon, which was kind of disappointing. The kabocha squash was overcooked and really dry, and the rice was not very flavorful. The rest of the meal was outstanding, though. We had a small tempura set that was excellent (three shrimp, one small white fish, eggplant, lotus root, kabocha squash), some really nice nigiri (but watch out - they put A LOT of wasabi under the fish) and a roll with yellowtail and shiso. The small plate of fruit with crushed ice was a cute touch. We will be back for sure! A note: the menus we originally received didn't have the pumpkin fried rice on them so I asked the waitress and she came back with the *other menu* that had a variety of really interesting sounding cooked dishes. Definitely ask for the other menu if you don't get it at first.

    (4)

  • Anmol A.

    Best Sushi on the eastside. Do try the pumpkin rice

    (4)

  • Matthew P.

    just returned from a dinner at Ginza. had the edamame to start, then Miso Ramen, and the Ginza Rolls. finished it off with a tasty Green Tea Creme Brulee :D if you're looking for a sushi place with a LOT of rolls on their menu, Ginza is a good choice. definitely a lot of choices on the menu! the staff was very friendly and the atmosphere was very inviting. I will definitely go back! There are still 2 more flavors of creme brulee and a couple of ice creams to try :P

    (4)

  • Steven T.

    Biggest sushi cuts in town, really. If you like your sushi then you have to try this place. One of the best in the Seattle Belveue area.

    (5)

  • Mary K.

    My husband and I had just moved recently from Japan having lived there for 4 years and was recommended this restaurant by a coworker of his. I was kind of excited to go try it out, being the foodie that I am. The price was reasonable. They had a variety of choices for lunch. The decor was nice and casual -- but there were two flies or something flying around.. :( Something I rarely ever see in Japanese restaurants. Nonetheless, I had the soy sauce ramen (called 'Shoyu' ramen) and my husband the miso ramen. I was a bit disappointed because both us thought it a little bland.. Believe me, I've eaten a lot of ramen in Japan and though it might not be too fair to compare to Japanese restaurants in Japan, this place could have been much better!! I wonder if it was made to cater to more western tastes?? But I'm not one to turn up my nose after the first try. I'm willing to try it again of course. Overall, service was fine, depending on the waitress I believe. B/c there are lots of other food on the menu to try, I'll give it another go and update this review then. *************update***************** Ok, so I went back there again, this time for dinner. We were seated quickly and this time, no flies buzzing around. Off to a good start! I ordered salmon terriyaki (not sure why b/c I'm not too fond of terriyaki) and it was fine. The California role was good and so was the sukiyaki my husband ordered. The waitress who served us was polite and attentive. Overall, a better experience the 2nd time around. As for the stars, I'm not sure I could give it 4 stars.. 3 and 1/2 yeah. Nothing to rave about but edible, decent food and a menu with a variety of dishes at an affordable price and portion. Yes, I'd go back there again.

    (3)

  • Tammy V.

    every single time i've been here, the customer service has been awesome. this place is like hidden in dt/old bellevue and is really hard to find. me and my friends usually go there for their ramen b/c i just don't know anywhere else on the eastside that serves this good of ramen. the sushi is pretty good also but usually i prefer the conveyor belt places for cost and i like to be full (what can i say, i love food)!

    (4)

  • Ajit B.

    What a find! I have lived in Seattle near the Intl District for the last 4 years and found a gem hidden in Bellevue. Run to Ginza and gorge on the Matsutake soup, baby octopus and the squid pancakes. Seriously, it is worth the trip over the bridge. The sushi chef makes the desserts - you need to be there before they close the sushi bar to get the desserts as the wait staff are not even allowed to cut a slice of cake.

    (5)

  • Al H.

    Love this place! Staff is always so nice and the food is great. Ask for their specials - they always have a lot more than what's on the menu especially if you like traditional Japanese.

    (4)

  • Junghoon K.

    Worst geoduck sashimi I ever had. Geoduck had rotten smell and taste. We sent it back but the replacement wasn't any better. Service was worst ever. I spent $250 and this was the worst experience I ever had. We eat at this place at least once a month in the past but last night will be our last visit.

    (1)

  • Eli M.

    Not the fanciest place in town, but the sushi was great. The sushi portions were huge and the sushi chef was very friendly. We got a lesson in the cuts of tuna and the different types of toro. Next time I'm in town and staying at the Shaky Sheraton in Bellevue I'll be back; it's just a half mile away.

    (5)

  • Jingwen Y.

    After the addition, things seems more chaotic in every level: service, food orders, and checking in. Very disappointed from my original review. I think they are equally confused as I was with the flow of the entire restaurant.

    (3)

  • Choi C.

    Great food and service! The sashimi pieces were fat and rolls were unique. If you sit at the bar the chef will roll you up something new to try. Again, great service. However, seating at the bar is limited to about 6 seats. Fish was well prepared and well cut. Good quality, so no worries about salmonella. Love the ambience as it makes you feel like you're in japan the moment you step in the restaurant.

    (4)

  • Fed U.

    Best raw fish in Bellevue, WA Period!!! Chirashi and Pumpkin Fried Rice is Onolicious! :) Last visit, no Fuji-san??? Said he was no longer at Ginza... anyone no where Bellevue's Best Sushi Chef moved to?? Ginza still has decent food but lost a talented chef! ;)

    (4)

  • Gina K.

    The pumpkin fried rice never disappoints. I've had it multiple times here and each time, I am 100% satisfied! Pair one pumpkin fried rice with their Takana Ramen and split between 3-4 people - it will make for the perfect combo. There is one particular server that is beyond adorable - a petite grandma that defines what excellent customer service is. The takana ramen is not too greasy, and the noodles are PERFECT. I like my noodles a little more firm than soft, and the way they cook theirs is just right. Though the price tag is a bit steep at first sight ($12.95) it's worth a try.

    (5)

  • Brad S.

    Fast friendly service, the sushi was good and was delivered to the table quickly. The pumpkin fried rice took a little longer but was worth the wait.

    (4)

  • Vu D.

    I came here for Christmas dinner with my mom and sister and nothing was impressive at all! I heard from other people that the pumpkin fried rice is so good, but it actually wasnt that good. We was a bit disappointed. Then came the grill part with different kind of meat. 30 dollars for a portion for one person. The slices were just so so thin that it couldnt even fill 1/10 of my stomach. We ordered other things too such as the teriyaki salmon and deep fried eel. The teriyaki salmon was decent but nothing special. Deep fried eel came with only 4 pieces but tasted not very fresh and was kind raw. After only one bite of the eel my mom was like "yuck". We paid about 110 bucks for 3 peope but left hungry. Very disappointing meal on a christmas day but well...

    (3)

  • David S.

    I live in West Seattle and have made the trek to Bellevue time and time again for Ginza sushi fix. Their fish is always fresh, generous portions, and fairly priced. You can tell the restaurant is family owned and has a great sushi atmosphere. I have been putting off writing this review because I don't want it getting too popular... But I need to give respect where respect is due!

    (5)

  • Matt L.

    Some of the sushi in town! Always fresh and reasonably priced. Can't go wrong with the tempura shrimp or hand rolls. Service is great too!

    (5)

  • Jingjing Z.

    This is my favorite Japanese restaurant in Bellevue. They have fresh sashimi and yummy sushi rolls. Moreover their pumpkin fried rice is a killer! It's good, cheap and huge: my bf and I usually share it. Just discovered that they also have noodles on lunch menu. I'm excited to try that out. Would give it 4.9/5. Wish they had happy hour :)

    (5)

  • Jennie C.

    i won't even bother mentioning the pumpkin fried rice because im sure it is in every single review. okay i'll just say... THE BACON BITS ADDITION? goodness gracious - it elevates this dish from good to omg-my-pants-are-blown-off. well, literally it became the latter because rice expands in the stomach and pants have to be unbuttoned to make room. that said, the other kabocha dish we got was the croquettes. mmmmmm i love croquettes. anything mashed and piping hot then encased in a flour mixture THEN dumped into hot grease for a masterful crunchy finish? get the eff out. what i liked about this dish, though, was that it masqueraded itself as a modest secret fatty. what i mean is this: we all know there is nothing healthy about this dish -- like i said, it's a starch encased in a flour mixture then dumped into hot grease. but it's a modest secret fatty because i actually didn't feel terrible eating it after. the grease was nice and light (if ever grease can be nice and light) and it didn't make me feel like i was turning into that pumpkin being used to hold my bacon fried rice. these are the marks of a perfectly fried food. on top of those, we also got some rolls - jalapeno fisher roll and the garlic albacore roll. yes and yes. jalapeno was a kicker, in a delicious but potentially regrettable way the next morning. as for the other roll -- anything with garlic is always a win even if it's a lose for the person you're talking to. the menu is super extensive. it may take 800 trips to get everything in but anything worth having is worth fighting for -- said someone inspirational (probably not about sushi though)

    (4)

  • Jen H.

    The food is nothing spectacular, (EXCEPT for the pumpkin fried rice that is awesome). Parking is always an ordeal: they share the parking lot with other businesses so the spots are very limited. Note that you CANNOT PARK on the other spots even late in the evening when they are closed or it will cost your pocket $400 to retrieve your towed car! Also, I hate that they always try to push you to sit on the more casual and not as nice back room, even if there are seats available in the main room. So annoying! Nevertheless, we can get better Japanese food at other locations in the east side such as Izumi, Kiku, Flo, and I Love Sushi. Not worth the hassle unless you are really craving the pumpking fried rice.

    (3)

  • Yuri S.

    Le sad. The last few times I've been here the food just hasn't been that good! And gotten so much more expensive! The nasu dengaku was TINY and way too sweet. The legendary pumpkin fried rice was lacking in flavor...a dish with BACON was LACKING IN FLAVOR. So strange. The raw fish in the sushi was still very good. Four stars for the sushi. One star for the rest of the food. Two stars for service (like others have said, it was pretty bad). I'm afraid I will no longer go out of my way to go here. This pains me deeply. T_T ---- My previous review: I am of Japanese decent, have lived in Japan, and LOVE me some real Japanese food. I am EXTREMELY picky and I consider myself a connoisseur of Japanese food. I have eaten in some of the best restaurants in Tokyo, on the west coast, and DC - from hole in the wall dives to five star oh-my-gosh-that-cost-more -than-the-rent-on-my-apar tment places. That said, I think Ginza is my favorite Japanese restaurant in the Seattle area. Although Nishino's and Shiro's may be phenomenal, they are so expensive! And quite frankly, just not as enjoyable and welcoming in atmosphere either - bit too fancy to be able to relax. Plus Shiro's tends to be a bit old-fashioned and Nishino's can be a bit too fusion/new wave. Ginza is some down home Japanese goodness, the kind of food eaten by regular Japanese people on a daily basis. The presentation is lovely but simple (as it should be), and the food incredible. The nasu dengaku (broiled eggplant with miso sauce) was the BEST I have ever had, and I love this dish and order it everywhere I go. The eggplant was so buttery soft and delicious. The sauce was a perfect balance of sweet and salty! I wish I had ordered ten! I took pictures of it and posted it to my facebook, I was so in heaven! The kabocha fried rice (pumpkin fried rice) was, as many reviewers have said, AMAZING. And, as another reviewer said, it did taste like my mom's...and you have no idea how amazing that is! I have NEVER found a place, even in Japan, that did fried rice as good as my mom's!! My girlfriend said the shoyu ramen was as good as any she had had in Japan (I am allergic to wheat, so I couldn't taste it), and the broth really was exquisite. I was carefully watching the food being delivered around us and it all looked (and smelled) amazing and fully authentic. The cuts of raw fish on the sushi were generous and looked like excellent cuts. The service was quick and attentive, and we had no problem with our bill at all.

    (2)

  • Catherine D.

    I loved it here. Customer service was good and the food was great the otoro was delish. Th Saba was too, I would come back again

    (4)

  • Kim S.

    We experienced very poor service from this restaurant. Made reservations for a large party and 2 attendees were unable to arrive so our very unprofessional hostess told us they would squeeze us into 1/2 the tatami room which clearly could not seat our large group comfortably. Additionally, they mislead us on usage of the tatami room when we made reservations regarding the price. Although they acknowledged their error when they quoted us the price, they made matters worse and did not fix the situation so we left the restaurant (our large group ended up having a lovely dinner at a completely different restaurant in Bellevue). Beware when making reservations at this restaurant for use of the tatami room.

    (1)

  • Rod C.

    Sushi was great. The nigiri were fresh, thick and worth the price. We ordered the chirashi and was not disappointed. Loved it. Avoid the ramen and service was a bit slow, but still highly recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Jay H.

    I just wasn't impressed. And judging by the remarks my dinner mates made... they weren't either. The cuts of meat were a little bit larger than most places which is good but the quality of the meat just wasn't there. I found the few rolls I tried to be bland and just generally lacking flavor or appeal. Also, their teapots are nearly impossible to pour without dumping hot water all over the place; not so good. I was expecting to be WOW'd by Ginza and it just wasn't getting pulled off. From their weird front restaurant (which is not where you're intending to dine) to the slow service the whole meal was quite nearly a fail for me. I'd like to talk about the food I had but it was so unmemorable. The only good thing about my plate was when they cleared it off the table. I drove 40 minutes to eat here and it just wasn't worth it. Thankfully the pricing is pretty on par with other sushi spots. I came, I saw and I don't ever need to come back. Meh.

    (3)

  • Michelle F.

    Just kinda mediocre Japanese food. Good presentation, but the food lacked luster and had a steep price tag. Not bad, but not very good. I was not terribly impressed and won't be returning. The only dish I really liked was the ika natto. The asahi ramen was particularly disappointing. Broth, noodles, 7 clams, a bok choy sliced in quarters, and some green onion slices as garnish. I think the clams were not very fresh, either. Possibly cooked and frozen (though I am baffled as to why they would do that). Absolutely no wow factor, and $14. Hella super not worth it. Made for one sad Jap over here.

    (2)

  • Jason L.

    Great rolls at reasonable prices. Will have to come back to try the beef cooked table-side.

    (5)

  • Neha M.

    Great place for not just sushi but also a bunch of other Japanese fare. We always like to get 3 rolls or so and then try another dish or two. Pumpkin rice is of-course the most awesome thing but the yakisoba isn't and katsu chicken arent bad either. I wish they offered Katsu curry chicken as well. Find a place around 7pm is always tough and they dont take reservations either. Try to go there slightly earlier or later in the evening to avoid waiting time.

    (4)

  • Nelson Y.

    Great location off of Main Street, and while this is my 2nd time, I finally had the chance to order exactly what I wanted and to review this on Yelp. So here I go- Service- Attentive and friendly, despite a 20 minute wait for a table of 6 on a Friday night. Price- Pricey considering the lack of ambiance (neither too authentic or trendy). I think their dinner combo items are overpriced for what they give you- I got the Black Cod Sukiyaki and it was ~$21. Dishes- Broiled beef tongue appetizer: Chewy and not great considering the price. Broiled pork belly skewer: DELICIOUS. Uni nigiri: AMAZING. Good price at $6.50. Need to try the Toro next time, also seems like a good price. Black Cod Sukiyaki: The cod was flavorful and tender, well made. Way too pricey for quantity. Comes with basically a bowl of white rice and a pile of salad that isn't appealing at all. Rather go to Maneki for the black cod collar for $6. Pumpkin Fried Rice: FANTASTIC. Pricey, but worth getting it and splitting it 4-6 ways. Fills up about 5 or 6 bowls well. Really tasty and great texture. Came out of the kitchen last (not sure if it takes a while), but if you come to Ginza, this is a must-get. Signature dish.

    (4)

  • Kiki W.

    I would never come here anymore. Food is gross. The price does not worth with the food. I can have even fancy Japanese food with this price! Sigh..disappointed

    (1)

  • Lady H.

    I only have one thing to say, "Oh Toro!!!!!!!!!" If I was rich I would eat nothing but, "Oh Toro!!" OMG it was so good. Wish I had some Toro right now from Ginza if I wasn't 3,000 miles away.

    (4)

  • Crystal L.

    Get the pumpkin fried rice. It is soo good. Though the oil used in baking the squash kinda sits at the bottom of the plate. They stuff a whole kabocha squash with fried rice. It is amazing, about $16-$17 and will definitely fill 2 people up. its a little pricey here; bill racks up fast. But portions are filling for each item. Average price is about $3 per sashimi and $15 per entree. But the entree comes along with rice, 3-4 pieces of pickled vegetables, miso soup, and depending on your entree, a large bowl of salad. I have to say, it is a little formal (they bring out warm hand cleaning towels!) But once you get over the fact that they dont expect you to be high-class, youre ok. Try a lot of little things. The entrees are exactly what you expect. What i recommend is to try the small dishes that you never had before. Service is great, though a little slow. They let you take home leftovers. The only complaint i had was we waited about 10 min just to pay the bill. Not their fault though, they mustve been busy

    (5)

  • David O.

    The food was good, nothing too special. The problem was the service. It took 3 of us 45 minutes to be served. I felt as if there was no server. Overall, bad experience and I would choose another spot for sushi in the future.

    (2)

  • Hai L.

    Don't miss the tea smoked pork belly and the pumpkin fired rice. Can be crowded with long wait time during peak dinner hours.

    (4)

  • Song K.

    There is no other better sushi place than Ginza. I love living on the East Side because of this great privilege of visiting Ginza on a whim. I have visited Ginza about 5 times now and I will review on my last visit there as the service does change every time I go but the food is always great. I drove from the East Side to Shoreline to meet several friends. It was then decided that everyone wanted good sushi. . yup! we all hopped into one big car and drove to Bellevue! Through all the traffic coming back to the East Side, it was well worth it. I keep forgetting how awesome Gina really is! Everyone on the table got different things and we all came out to be about $30 for each person on the bill. No matter what, I always order the Sushi Bomb Roll since I enjoy their creativity with Habanero and infusing it with roe. It was not as spicy this time but still delicious. I usually get the Ramen. I always eat a lot but, Ginza is surely one of the places where I can just have one bowl of Ramen and be satisfied. The choices they make on their broth and toppings are an amazing combo of goodness in my mouth! The food is well worth the distance for Seattlites and although the place is very small. . . people try to eat fast and get out so the turnover should be ok and still worth the wait. The parking is difficult but I do see that neighboring areas have them and old Bellevue downtown is a small area to walk around.

    (5)

  • RL V.

    Sat at the sushi bar and enjoyed some sashimi and sushi. Everything was fresh, tasty and well prepared. There was plenty of staff attending to everything. Prices were reasonable considering the quality of the fish and location of the restaurant. I will definitely go back when in the area.

    (5)

  • Ken L.

    To me, Ginza is one of those special places I go when I want sushi rolls, hand rolls and miscellaneous dishes I can't order anywhere else. I have made numerous visits and have learned to go as early as possible when they open so I don't have to wait in agony. They have a large assortment of food items that really amount to a tapas (small plates) type menu for anything outside of sushi/rolls. The prices are higher than the average Japanese restaurant. However, this should be expected as all the fish and meats I have eaten thus far reflect their commitment to using the freshest and best cuts available. Oh yes, the PUMPKIN FRIED RICE was so mouthwateringly scrumptious as other yelpers have experienced! On one occasion, the beef tongue was too tough and they immediate offered to replace it with a different item with no issues! Service is great: the water and tea is always refilled constantly and they respond quickly to additional orders. Ginza has just improved their parking lot by repaving it though I don't understand all the wasted space in the center where they could possibly fit more cars in if they striped it right. As an FYI, they will be expanding their business to the side facing Main St. The owner has indicated to me that they will have a Japanese Grill similar to that of a Mongolian Grill set up. I look forward to trying that side out as well.

    (4)

  • Godwin M.

    Love the food. literally LONG menu of 160+ 'specials' (and yes, they have a regular menu too). very delicious homestyle Japanese tapas that would keep you there all night. pumpkin fried rice, tempura calamari, grilled saba, the oxen, everything tofu, and anything matsutake mushrooms are my favorites. but what's really keeping you all night there is their slow service. the servers are nice and friendly. but there's no apparent logic as to when your dishes are served and the sequencing between tables. very chaotic some time and your dinner could get long. no wonder people always have to wait a long time for a table without reservations.

    (4)

  • Sara L.

    Every time we've come here it's been wonderful and something I look forward to. The variety of food is such that you can order different combinations every visit. The portions of fish are quite generous, the small plates are well priced so you can order several and get a taste of many different items. It can get quite busy so reservations would be good, but even without I've never waited more than ten or so minutes. Service is quite friendly and they will suggest specials that go well with what you are ordering. Speaking of specials, definitely try them, they have such a great offering, many of which I have never seen at any other sushi restaurant. I haven't sat in the new section so I can't comment on that part, I've only sat in the front tables and at the sushi bar (which I recommend).

    (5)

  • Mark Y.

    One of the gems of Bellevue in my opinion. The sushi is relatively fresh - sure it's not Shiro's, but it's good. The rolls are tasty - well made The tempura is breaded nicely, not too heavy, and fried just right. It's priced a tad on the high side.. they're kind of in a tricky pricing tier.. it's not as cheap as a rotating sushi joint, but not a 'fancy' enough place to charge high dollars.. tough market to compete in.. But if i'm in the area, and crave sushi, i have no problem eating here.

    (4)

  • Clint W.

    this was the first time for me and i was completely faked out by the multiple entrances. i think it gets to a number of people because i saw people walking front to back and vice versa. i rolled with my normal chirashi and it was good. loved the salmon and everything was tasty, but i would stop short of it being outstanding. i thought it was solid. i didn't try the fried rice that everyone raves about. maybe that would have changed my mind, but i thought ginza was solid, but not 'shut the door' goodness. they do have a parking lot in the back, which is handy, and there was plenty of staff on hand. so i guess this should rate at 3.5 stars.

    (3)

  • Ivana J.

    I came here because of the good reviews but was a sadly disappointed by the sushi rolls. Apart from the uni avocado roll, which was great, the fish in the other rolls was rather lacking in taste. Perhaps the vinegar in the rice was overpowering? The pice was high for the quality, the menu was confusing, and the staff seemed a bit disorganized. The ambiance was nice though, and they have a lot of other food apart from sushi that we didn't try. I just wouldn't come here for the sushi rolls.

    (3)

  • Keith S.

    My wife and I were seated at the bar. The gentleman making the sushi seemed like he had been doing it for forty years or more. When he asked what I wanted, I told him I liked tuna and asked him to makes some recommendations. He made them alright. Bluefin, yellowfin, whitefin, I think I had six types of tuna. I asked him to make me his favorite and he did: Spanish mackerel. It melted in my mouth. My wife got the kitchen special and loved it, though I think she was enthralled with my dinner even more and she kept snitching! When the bill came I was surprised it wasn't a lot higher. For anyone wanting a low-key environment and reasonably-priced sushi (we paid about $100), I highly recommended Ginza.

    (5)

  • Zak B.

    I don't go anywhere else for sushi! I remember the first time I asked what was good and the waitress said to me, very sincerely, "everything". She wasn't kidding. I am usually picky when it comes to sushi but I've had almost everything on the menu at Ginza and it's spectacular.

    (5)

  • J L.

    I hate to write this Ginza- I have been a customer for YEARS! What has happened? Since the new addition the quality has gone downhill. And the smell of fish as you walk in, never used to be there. please hit the reset button and go back to what you used to do- quality food in a clean atmosphere.

    (3)

  • Caliope S.

    This place came highly recommended by a friend of mine who loves sushi as much as I do. Man, was I disappointed! First, it's a little confusing to have the main door on the side of the building, and not the one facing the street. Even though there is a sign directing people to the front door, we, and several other people we noticed while dining, did not see it before embarrassing ourselves by attempting to open that door. Given how often this happened, you'd think maybe the staff could rectify this in some way. Larger letting on the door, red strikeout circle...something. Next, perhaps it wasn't the restaurant's fault that we were seated next to a toddler who screamed her head off for twenty minutes before her parents finally realized everyone in the restaurant was staring at them with looks that could kill and took her outside to cool off. That really killed my appetite...which is hard to do when it comes to sushi, my absolute favorite food. It felt like we waited forever to get our food. People who were seated long after us got their food before we did. Apparently the kitchen was having an off night. The other really disappointing thing was that none of the five rolls we ordered were sealed properly, making it impossible to pick the pieces up with chopsticks without them completely falling apart, fillings splattering everywhere-- including mid-air as the food headed toward our mouths-- which was frustrating, embarrassing, and left us very hungry by meal's end, since most of the food ended up going back to the kitchen in pieces on the platter (or left on the floor). Yup, it looked like that screaming toddler had eaten at our table, even though we are proficient at the use of chopsticks. For the prices charged, this was unacceptable. We definitely won't be giving this place another chance, especially with FLO so close by!

    (1)

  • Sharon L.

    This is what I'm talking about. Everything here is good. My family and I are regulars here. There is something for everyone. From bento boxes for lunch, to sushi, and cooked Japanese dishes. You must get: PUMPKIN FRIED RICE. It's in all the reviews for a reason. I know, it's just fried rice. NO, it is not just fried rice. It's like.. so good. Just go try it. The sushi is well-made. I'd recommend sitting at the sushi bar if you just want sushi because it's more of a fun experience. The rolls are tasty, but a bit big. Other favorites: Black Miso Cod: very tender and flavorful Chicken and Eggplant: If you like eggplant, this is wonderful Nice service, nice atmosphere -- though it gets quite busy on the weekend (make a reservation if you can).

    (5)

  • Liz K.

    HUGE selection of food items on their menu! Great sushi- massive rolls (at least the mega rainbow was!). It was great fun sitting at the bar and watching chef do amazing things with sashimi. Definitely will be back to try more rolls.

    (4)

  • Rob S.

    Totally shocked at how bad the food was. Chicken teriyaki had no skin. It was just a chicken breast marinated with a little teriyaki sauce. The udon wasn't really udon. The fried tofu was a big block of tofu with almost no flavor. I love Japanese food both in Japan and in Seattle. I will stick with Ishoni, I Love Sushi or even just Sushiland if I'm on a budget. Seriously, where do all these positive reviews come from. Must be something wrong with me.

    (1)

  • M D.

    I have no idea why Ginza's review is so high. Their servers are always rude and food is not good quality at all. Tempura is way too oily cause they use too much batter. I don't think their chefs know how to make Japanese food properly.

    (1)

  • Irene G.

    I really really want to love this place more because it's so close to where we live and is such a convenient place for when the sushi cravings strike, but I really cannot justify the ridiculous pricing anymore and the mediocre service. :( I used to love coming here before they expanded because it had that authentic japanese sushi joint feel to it, and I really feel like service and food quality has suffered ever since they opened the new section upstairs. I still find that we get better service whenever we dine at the back section of the restaurant where you can see the sushi chefs at work. Their sushi rolls are still pretty great, but it's hard not to think about how much more sushi you can get for less money at other places. Also, because we live so near, we pass by this place everyday and have spotted their chefs just smoking outside in their uniforms and aprons too often, and that just does not feel right. We were there again last night because we didn't want to drive to eat out, ordered a couple of rolls, a bowl of miso soup and a glass of oolong tea, and our bill was nearly $50! On our way home, we had a little peek of their back kitchen and saw that it really isn't as clean as it should be and the pumpkins they use for the popular pumpkin fried rice (which i love!) were just sitting too close to the dirty floor. Ugh. Definitely never ordering that again, no matter how good it is. And we probably won't be visiting again anytime soon, too. :(

    (3)

  • Sunny K.

    Pumpkin Fried Rice is a bit overrated, but it's still decent. I get it because I like the pumpkin. Fire Crunch Roll.. is insane. You might die. I warned you! BTW Ginza is overpriced as well.

    (3)

  • April M.

    Went here for the first time last night with friends. By far the best sushi we have had in a long time...the cuts of fish were huge and the rolls were fantastic. Loved the little touches like cucumber salad before dinner and fruit after. Squash rice was good, glad we tried it, but next time I would rather just eat more sushi! Didn't try the BBQ but it look interesting, maybe next time. We will definitely go back.

    (5)

  • Flora C.

    Again people... This is not a four star restaurant. I came here because the grope vote for it. Appraiser: Large Tempura -raw veggie (how could this even happen) -deep fried color is so wrong and pale -portion is a joke Deep Fried Oysters -4 pieces only -unfair priced -deep fried is wrong again and it is deep brown color Sushi: -basic California roll with cheap ingredient (Safeway style) -Sashimi boat was so blend like a ghost boat The "famous" pumpkin fried rice... Why is it even a signature dish is highly questionable? The fried rice is tasteless and soggy =( However, the service is good and attentive. Note: Parking is limited.

    (1)

  • Jenn N.

    So far, I've been here twice...once for my birthday (best idea ever) and once for a work lunch. Pretty good :) If I want nicer sushi than Sushiland quality, I would pick Ginza over the other sushi places in DT Bellevue. What I've had: Spicy Tuna Roll - good Pumpkin Fried Rice - ! as you can see from the reviews, this is one of their popular dishes. It's worth it to try it at least once. The rice is served in a hollowed out pumpkin. You can eat the pumpkin after you finish the rice :) Sushi Boat - large slices of sashmi! I got the boat that is suppose to feed 2 for myself. It definitely put me over the edge.. Chirashi bowl - lots and lots of stuff in their chirashi bowl. I'm going to rank their chirashi bowl as my favorite (I've had the chirashi bowl at musashi's and i love sushi).

    (5)

  • Vanna P.

    If you go here, definitely try the Pumpkin Fried Rice!!! It is SO good! It sounded weird at first, but it's not actual pumpkin, it's more of a squash that's like sweet potato. They make is so good and it's the only place I know that actually serves this, so every time we go here, it is a must order! The sushi is also very good here.

    (4)

  • Some G.

    We were in the mood for Japanese during a recent visit, and Ginza was well-reviewed and close to the hotel. Works for us! We had to wait about 15 minutes for a table, which is fine - it's obviously a very popular restaurant. Our waitress was really nice and clearly wanted us to feel at home, which was a strong plus. The food (we ordered a variety of rolls, sashimi, entrees and noodle bowls) was very good and tasted wonderful! No complaints! Until... I don't know if my sashimi was handled with dirty hands or wasn't as fresh as it seemed, or if there was something else going on with my order, but within two hours I was sitting on the pot, a seat with which I became all too familiar over the next couple of days. Let's just say if I could do it over, I'd order all cooked items.

    (3)

  • Lydia N.

    Super tasty but a bit pricy. The best sashimi I can remember having - the flavors are just so fresh! And the fish are delightfully fatty. Besides the basic sashimi and rolls (which were also well-executed) my group got pumpkin fried rice and tea-smoked pork belly to share. The pumpkin fried rice made everyone happy! was everyone's favorite! (and the sashimi..) It came out all adorably packed into a kabocha squash with a little kabocha cap. The fried rice is simple - glutinous rice (aka sticky rice) with green onions, pumpkin cubes, and porky bits (like asian bacon bits). The whole dish was quite filling because after eating up the rice, you can also eat the squash! I'd love to come back and try the rest of the little bites on the menu, but it's a wee pricy.

    (4)

  • Myrtle B.

    3 stars -- Meets expectations. Pumpkin fried rice -- MUST. If you eat here, order this. It's well-seasoned and it has bacon and shrimp. Yum. Sashimi -- Fresh. Tea-smoked pork belly -- Meh. The people were nice, the space was clean, but if I didn't work in Bellevue, I wouldn't make the trek over the bridge specifically for this. I'm definitely glad I tried it though!

    (3)

  • Joy N.

    This is such a wonderful restaurant!!!! Please make a reservation before going down. When we arrived, there were at least ten people waiting for a table. This is an izakaya style restaurant, so small portions, ala carte. The hostess was very polite and accommodating. Our server came promptly and took our drink orders. My friends and I had the kabocha fried rice with bacon and shrimp, spicy ahi roll, broiled beef tongue, pork belly, pork katsu, crunch roll, sausage and uni. The kabocha fried rice was heaven!!! The kabocha was cooked to perfection, with the blend of bacon, shrimp, rice, and onions, every mouthful was a treat!!! The uni was quite fresh also. I always order green tea at Japanese restaurants and this one didn't disappoint. They have opened a yakiniku side of the restaurant, and I hope to try it next time I'm in town.

    (4)

  • Jenny K.

    OMG!!!!! We found big ANT in our salad!!!! We told the waitress and she didnt even say sorry....this place is just plain out rude and gross!!!! Be careful when you eat here and make sure you look through your food. Very dissapointing!!!!

    (1)

  • Kay C.

    Well I wish I could review the Yakiniku side separate from the original side. I would give 1 stars if it's just for the Yakiniku but since this is overall then I'll give 3 stars as an average from my previous 5 stars for the original side and 1 star for the Yakiniku side! My husband and I were so excited to see this finally open. We've been long time patrons of Ginza so we were really looking forward to it. Sadly I cannot rate you the food at all. I came in the door while hubby went to park. There was no clear "entrance" though there were a row of empty chairs along the side by the window. I stood for a few minutes and I see 3 different waitresses walk by looking "busy" and never once acknowledging me. They whiz back and forth, I think I counted about 10-12 tables max in that restaurant. Finally I have to stop one of them to be like - hey I'd like a table. She looks at me sort of surprised at first and then takes me to a table. I sit there by myself waiting for at least 5 if not 10 minutes. I get towels for my hands and they ask me if I am going to eat?? and drink? So I say I'd just like a glass of water and they bring that to me. The whole time I sit there they never look at me again or bring me a menu! They seem very busy but really... the first thing you should do is bring me a menu right? Am I not allowed to look at what you offer until my entire party arrives? I've noticed sporadic service in general here - on the other side, frequently I am brought the wrong order (one time they actually brought the wrong thing 3 times before the right dish came out). I guess I just did not have the patience for it last night. I'm willing to come back since I really do want to try the yakiniku and I've always loved their food but I guess I'll find a day when I have the patience to wait for a long time or where I'm willing to have to constantly feel like I'm flagging down the staff.

    (3)

  • L T.

    This place is great. I love the huge selection of food that is available. It's not just bentos and rolls. There are many many different kinds of appetizers, oden, noodles, rice, and I don't remember what else. The food was really good. I'm not sure it's the BEST sushi I've ever had but I will definitely return to try more of its expansive menu. It's a pretty busy place, so I recommend making a reservation if you have 3 or more people in your party.

    (4)

  • Leo K.

    I have been here a few times in the past couple years because well, there aren't many sushi places around Bellevue besides cheap, conveyor belt sushi attractions. There a a couple mediocre, over-priced sushi places I will not name, but that's besides the point. On to rating Ginza.. The sushi is decent, but like others have echoed, you don't really get what you pay for. The quality, portions, etc. don't justify the cost. I guess they can charge the premium because it's Bellevue and sushi is hip and you get to eat raw fish with chopsticks. I have tried a lot of their Japanese tapas plates and they are tasty, but small. A lot of people enjoy the pumpkin (squash?) fried rice, it's good, but not life altering. It's cool because the fried rice comes inside the shell of the squash or whatever. Try it for yourself people. Everyone has different standards for sushi. It sure as hell beats conveyor belt sushi.

    (3)

  • Cassandra G.

    This place is awesome!! Got a sashimi boat great fish!!! Miso soup was awesome!!!!

    (5)

  • DW K.

    Solid sushi on the East side. Used to be more consistent in terms of quality which would have given it 5 stars but over the past couple years this consistency has trended downward slightly. The yakiniku is pretty average so I wouldn't recommend as pricing is not cheap. They have some solid sushi chefs so I would recommend going for the chef's choice, or omakase. Sitting at the sushi bar usually scores you better quality fish.

    (4)

  • Henry L.

    Great variety of tasty items on the massive menu. Parking is very limited as they share spaces with surrounding businesses. Lunch is usually packed. Perfect idea to make a reservation especially for dinner. Good idea to get there ahead of the dinner service as there is a line at times. Very friendly and helpful waiters. Two parts of the restaurant that is fairly new. The pumpkin fried rice with bacon and shrimp was one of the best dishes. Highly recommended! The dish was served inside a medium sized pumpkin, which made it pretty unique. Contained green and white onions, bits of bacon and a small amount of shrimp. Can be better if it wasn't that oily. Dragon roll and spider sushi rolls was amongst the best. Fresh ingredients for every sushi roll. The yaki soba was pretty average compared to other Japanese restaurants. Small batch of beef, yaki soba noodles were quite dry w/ bits of vegetables and a salad that was more than half the giant serving plate, which was a major surprise. Miso soup that has seaweed and tofu cubes was tasty. Would consider another visit to taste the many other items available on the menu, Bonus: Free small plate of individualized pieces of fruit!!!

    (4)

  • Carolyn T.

    This place is incredibly over priced and not that great. My friend and I came here for dinner, didn't get served water till AFTER one of our dishes came out and we obnoxiously had to flag down a waitress for it. My friend had ordered some sort of beef cutlet dish. Incredibly dry and tasteless.. Service seems to be either good or really bad.

    (2)

  • Tina S.

    Let's start with: Pumpkin fried rices scares me - it just sounds odd. I'm sorry fellow yelpers, even after reading the rave reviews on it - couldn't do it. Wannabe foodie fail... maybe next time. The food I DID order was good - great even! I chose the Sashmi & Tempura combination (I was starving) and came close to finishing most of it, uncomfortably stuffed. Thick slices of fish, light and crispy tempura... yum. BF ordered a collection of rolls and was happy with all - and again, uncomfortably stuffed (we definitely need to work on getting to dinner prior to the point of I'm-starving-and-need-to-eat-everything-in-sight-­NOW). I'm sure we'll be back again, the food was all-in-all enjoyable - but what's holding me back from loving this place is there's just something odd about the restaurant. It might be the set up - someone else mentions the multiple entrances, that's confusing for sure - and I can't help but feel we maybe picked the wrong side to sit on??? For the prices they charged (I get it, REALLY fresh fish is pricey - and it was fresh) I guess I also expect a slightly nicer atmosphere... so maybe that's what the other side of the restaurant is about and we just picked the slightly more ghetto side. I'm just not sure, but we'll try the other entrance next time and see what we think!

    (3)

  • David P.

    Great hole-in-the-wall place for yaki and sushi. Have to be very sneaky to find it in Old Town Bellevue though. wish they had more seating during the rush mealtimes as the secret it sadly out. The best sushi option on the eastside

    (4)

  • Celine D.

    Overrated! Pumpkin rice is mushy and tastes like congee. Tea leaf pork is good though.

    (3)

  • Jeff B.

    Have had ramen for lunch here and it was quite good, so my wife (Japanese), daughter, and I decided to have dinner in the expanded Ginza. Won't have dinner at Ginza again anytime soon, unless we just go for the ramen. Two menus, so it was a bit difficult to choose the meal. One of the menus seemed to be focussed on Ginza's usual Japanese fare, whereas the other was more pan-Asian. We went for Japanese. FOOD: 2.0 - Wife had cooked saba (mackeral). Fish was fine. Salad etc other food with it a bit below expectations. - Daughter had tempura vegetables. quite bad. - I had sashimi makase. Well below expecations, and I won't order again. I was excited to have the o-toru (fatty tuna), but was disappointed by the taste and texture. It was well below my past experiences at other restaurants in Japan and Seattle area of o-toru that practically melted in my mouth. - Rice was not as moist and sticky as I would expect with Japanese cuisine. SERVICE: 3.5 Waitress was not very knowledgeable about the menu, but was attentive. All three of us found her engaging. AMBIANCE: 2.0 We ate in the newly opened part of the restaurant. A bit utilitarian. Minor nit, but one leg of a chair at our table was about a half-inch shorter than the other three legs. Stable sitting was a challenge--since there were only 3 of us and the table had 4 chairs, fortunately I was able to easily resolve the issue by swapping chairs.

    (2)

  • Jeff F.

    Good sushi option for lunch. Not sure I would commit to dinner here.

    (4)

  • Hannah L.

    I went here for lunch with some co-workers and we really enjoyed ourselves! I got the katsu bento box and the potato salad was so delicious! It was so good, I bought ingredients to make my own at home. The regular salad and katsu were also amazing as well. My only concern was the waitress wasn't very attentive and water refills were sparse. I will definitely go back!

    (4)

  • L G.

    Great location, new expansion of the restaurant. Sushi rolls are great and the wasabi is very fresh. If you're in the mood for great Japanese food, check out Ginza. Get there when they open for quick seating.

    (4)

  • Isy E.

    Oh man. This place is tiny, first off! I kind of like tiny joints, though, so this is not a point against them. I wasn't greeted as I first came in, but someone noticed, and took my name. I was seated right away after that, so the long wait was pretty much the same as if my name had been taken. We got the agedashi tofu, sashimi and tempura, and chirashi. Melt in the mouth, fresh goodness. Next time I come though, I'm definitely going to try their small dishes, but if the sushi is anything by which to judge, it's gonna be awesome! The waitstaff is friendly, and the people at the bar seemed to be having a good time with the... chefs? bartenders? I wasn't paying much attention, but everyone was having a good time.

    (5)

  • Neal M.

    I think that Ginza is so authentically Japanese that it gets docked stars by some people. Some of the izakaya items like the rape blossoms don't work that well with American pallettes. It is however something you see in Japan and you would be hard pressed to find 50 restaurants in all of the US that serve it. Other rare items are the kisu fish that they serve tempura style. Ginza does an amazing job on its food despite it being the Cheesecake Factory of Japanese food. What I mean is that the expansive menu basically covers all types of Japanese cuisine; ramen, sushi, izakaya, teriyaki, soba, yakiniku, and more. The prices here are higher than most Japanese places but I do believe that it is overall worth it.

    (5)

  • Alex S.

    I have been here enough to finally write a review. It's good. Not the best, but good. Probably the best here on the Eastside. Pricy but I think on a good day, they've done well with Sushi. Although the menu is a bit daunting and they try hard to cater to a wider audience, they do a good job maintaining quality of their food. recommended if you live on the Eastside.

    (4)

  • Lily X.

    Very fresh,very good. A little bit expensive.

    (4)

  • Jacob L.

    BBQ is on one side, sushi is on the other. Be sure you're on the right side when you first sit down. I came for the bbq. When I saw the menu, I noticed it was a bit pricier than what I was used to in LA, but the cuts of meat seemed to be above par. Overall, the food was good, but not great, and not worth the price. At one point, the waiter came over with another worker and fiddled with the settings on our bbq for several minutes, discussing something in Japanese for a few minutes. I found it quite odd, especially since it was mid-meal. I've had a lot of bad asian bbq, but this wasn't one of them. I've also had a lot of good asian bbq, and this wasn't one of them either. It beats the chain food that seems to dominate in Bellevue, but now very special.

    (3)

  • Sandy L.

    As good as it was 7 months ago, or even better!! I have been to this place at least 2-3 times a month in the last 3.5 yrs (except the last 7 months). I basically know everyone from the owner down to the wait staff (except the very new ones), so service can't be too bad (but can't expect excellent given they are just family owned small local restaurant) Food is the main reason to keep getting me back there, the sashimi is always fresh (moist and shinny), right cut, right thickness and nice presentation with great variety. Rolls are creative and right size with good flavor (i had either very spicy or very bland rolls elsewhere, meh...) Hot dishes are hit or miss, very depends and i mostly stay away unless i am very hungry. Price vs. food quality is the best in town compared with other famous places you can name on the Eastside. These days the expansion of the restaurant is completed and it will shorten the wait time during peak hours, which is my only complaint about this place.

    (5)

  • natalie n.

    Ginza expanded and now has a yakiniku side -- be sure to clearly specify if you want yakiniku when you make your reservation, since the original restaurant doesn't have the equipment set up for yakiniku. You can still order off the usual menu if you eat at the yakiniku side. Ginza is still my favorite all-around Japanese restaurant in the Seattle area. I've had a few misses here (was served still-frozen sashimi once.. extremely slow service..), so it's less than perfect, but I keep coming back because the food is great. The chirashi is a great value, and the pumpkin fried rice is a crowd-pleaser. The yakiniku is a great (though pricey) splurge. They have a few different set menus for yakiniku, which include some sashimi and tempura, and of course, a lot of meat. The set meals are designed for two people, but it's a lot of food -- we left super duper full. You could share with more than two people depending on your hunger level. The meat is really good quality and just melts in your mouth.

    (5)

  • Karen L.

    Alright, it's official: I LOVE THIS PLACE. Sure, prices are high, but the quality is there! This time, I got to try the pumpkin fried rice, and that itself deserves 5 stars! It was sooo delicious!! I'm definitely ordering that every time I come here to eat! It's THAT good!! We also ordered the tea smoked pork belly, and it was melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness. I'm salivating just thinking about it. I've realized that this place is not the place to go for sushi. Sushi here is good, but they have a tremendous array of appetizers that are definitely worth trying! I ordered the special that night, which was teriyaki halibut and beef tenderloin katsu. Very tasty and interesting, and only 15 bucks for a complete meal with miso soup and salad. However, next time we're definitely just going to try the appetizers, happy-hour style. There's so much good stuff on that menu!!

    (5)

  • Franklin C.

    I'm not a fan of their pumpkin fried rice. It tastes like a more starchy fried rice. I see others are so I'll chalk it up to personal preference. The service is always good and they're always nice to my group. Ginza is a nice and quiet place to go. Unlike a lot of the newer trendy sushi restaurants that have popped up around bellevue.

    (4)

  • Elizabethe A.

    I was shocked to find this place in Bellevue. Small, family owned, comfortable, quaint, and not posh at all. Which is not a bad thing when it comes to downtown Bellevue. Sometimes you wish that places would stop worrying about their ridiculous decor and focus on what's important, food. The food at Ginza is outstanding. They have the best sushi on the east side as far as I can tell. Their fish is fresh and they always have my favorites: uni, amaebi, and anago. The cuts of fish are generous and very fresh. However, I don't come here for the sushi. If I want really great sushi, I can find that on the west side. One thing I can't get over there? The PHENOMENAL pumpkin fried rice. Anyone who tells you it is overrated is wrong. Anyone who isn't impressed is wrong. Everyone is wrong, unless they tell you that it's one of the best things they've ever tasted. It's not just pumpkin fried rice either. It has shrimp and bacon in it too! Extremely flavorful, and nice and moist. I am not a fan of dry rice. In fact, when I make rice at home, I make it EXTRA mushy. That's just how I like it, and that's why Ginza works for me. Because of the nature of most fried rices, I tend to stay away from them, but this one I will come for again and again and yes, I could eat that entire pumpkin myself. I've also had the tea smoked pork belly which is delicious as well. Sukiyaki is equally tasty. Basically everything is tasty and I need to try more so I'm gonna go do that now k bye.

    (5)

  • Hiroyuki T.

    Because Yelp rated one of the best Japanese restaurant in Bellevue, WA, my friend and I were very excited to have a dinner there. But our excitement quickly turned into the disappointment. We had a regular omakase sushi, spicy tuna rolls, ramen noodles and so on. Sushi was about 20 dollars. I just don't understand why Yelp thinks this is the best Japanese restaurant in this neighborhood. We could get better sushi cheaper from Uwajiamaya grocery store. Kiku sushi serves better sushi. My friend's ramen noodle was not good either. I could tell just by looking at it. The location is good. But it looks that neighbors are taking advantage of their parking lot so that we couldn't park there. We had to park on the street and walked 5 mins. The restaurant should reserve the parking spots for their customers. Their customer services were good. Their waiters and waitresses were very polite. Unless they improve the quality of meals, I don't think I will go back there again.

    (1)

  • Nana O.

    Ginza is definitely my favorite sushi restaurant in Bellevue. This place just feels like authentic Japanese restaurant. They have a huge selection of food, but I have only tried sushi here butI would love to try their famous pumpkin fried rice near future! My favorite roll here so far is Shiso & Hamachi roll, and their sushi plate (9pcs of nigiri and tuna roll) was super good, too!

    (4)

  • Saphy L.

    NAAAP-Seattle just had a mixer at Ginza and the turn out was fantabulous! A great networking opportunity that was enhanced by the nutritious, oh-so delicious sushi. I ordered the Seattle-roll and Tempura icecream. Because we had such a big group sit-down, it took quite some time for our orders to be served. I only have 2 complaints. One is that though we had broken into smaller groups, and were seated separately, we were charged the 18% large party gratuity. Two, their parking lot is rather small and cannot accommodate such festivities and later patrons are relegated to circling the perimeters for an available parking space.

    (4)

  • Jon L.

    Ginza is one of those "Finally!" places for me. On my list to try for a while, but never finding the time to make it over. AmEx was holding their Small Business Saturday event last week and I decided to give Ginza a try finally. Ginza is located in Old Bellevue just off Main. The restaurant has a private lot, but the parking lot can get full due to the popularity of this spot. The front entrance is awkward and small. It always seems that there is a crowd huddled in this area. Probably enough room to comfortably fit a handful of people. Any additional people waiting will likely need to do it outside. Not a pleasant experience when it is cold out. The restaurant is divided into three areas. The main dining room, tatami rooms and the sushi bar. Grabbed a chair at the sushi bar which seats 5. There is a great food selection here. It is not just sushi and sashimi. They have traditional Japanese meals and their appetizer selection is quite impressive as well. Despite a formidable task of picking from a large menu, I decided to give the chirashi bowl ($22.50) and a broiled pork cheek dish ($4.75) a try. Technically, this was my first chirashi bowl. I am mostly a sushi person, so this is is a switch from the usual. First thing served was a bowl of miso soup which was warming, albeit standard. The pork cheek dish came next. It seemed like it was grilled with soy sauce. This was also my first time with this delicacy. It's quite tasty. The chewy texture being the reason why. Portion is a bit small, but okay to whet my appetite for the entree. The chirashi bowl is beautifully made. It looks too good to eat at first. Needed a plan of attack with it as it was like eating an ice cream cone. I say this because you don't want to eat all the good stuff first and have a ton of filler at the end. For the most part, I found the chirashi to be good. The seafood was fresh mostly and delicious. The shrimp was kind of eh, but the fish (salmon, tuna, etc.) was great. I get a little sick of eating sushi rice after a while and I got that feeling here. But again the comparison to eating an ice cream cone applies. It is all about the topping, not the base. And in the case of the chirashi bowl, the seafood offerings on top are great. Service was fine and sufficient. It was actually an eat and go type dining experience since the food came out pretty quickly. The ambiance at the sushi bar is not good anyway so that was fine by me. I liked my meal at Ginza. It is a bit on the pricey side for Japanese food. But the fact that they have a nice selection of offerings other than sushi helps it to stand out from other places.

    (4)

  • Jan H.

    One of he highlights of Bellevue! Salmon nigiris were great and the spicy bombshell roll was amazing. I didn't get to try the pumpkin fried rice but definitely will next time. Wasn't a huge fan of the eels...so I think I'll stick with the salmon!!

    (4)

  • Jeff C.

    I gave a 4 star rating because I really enjoyed the chirashi bowl. I didn't try the BBQ so please don't base this review on the overall restaurant. The fish were very very fresh and a lot of choices. I also tried the tea leaf pork belly, that was ok.... kinda tasted like Chinese roast pork... but heck... I came for chirashi and I was 100% satisfied!!!

    (4)

  • Tim H.

    I think I found my favorite sushi place. Thanks to a recommendation on Twitter, I checked out Ginza on Yelp and saw favorable reviews. The wife and I decided we'd check it out for date night. We were not disappointed. We were surprised when entering that they had table-top BBQ style seating as well (where you BBQ your own meat). We didn't do that this evening, but would come back to try that with friends for sure. We sat at the sushi bar for this evening. What we learned from the very friendly sushi chef was that apparently there was also a back side of the restaurant that had more 'dinner' style seating and not the BBQ type. We never ventured into the other room to check it out. We heard of the pumpkin fried rice from Yelp and definitely needed to check that out. We ordered 3 rolls, 2 nigiri and pumpkin fried rice (order that first as it takes a bit). All were truly outstanding sushi experience. The chef chatted us up a bit as well and was really friendly and fast. The pumpkin rice...amazing. Next time we'd slow our roll (pun intended) :-) and ensure we had enough room for the rice. It comes in a steamed pumpkin and was really, really good from our perspective. We had left overs and ate it in the morning it was so memorable. Told tons of friends about Ginza and will absolutely be back. Reservations recommended for this place though...it gets busy.

    (5)

  • Katie O.

    I should start by saying I don't like sushi. So this was not my favorite place. The noodle dish I ordered wasn't very flavorful, and I had to remind them that I'd ordered a soda. Not really the best.

    (3)

  • Kristy S.

    Ginza is hands down the best sushi in Bellevue. Friendly staff, but, in the Japanese style, very courteous and almost apologetic at times. The tables are filled with many, many Japanese patrons, and to me, that is always a good sign. Their lunch deals are amazing. If you like their fried oysters, which, I can't imagine you wouldn't, get them at lunch (only if you have someone to share with!!!!). The lunch order comes with Miso, Rice, a HUGE House Salad and 8, yes 8, fried oysters for $12.50. Note, the dinner appetizer is the same price and you get 6 oysters. Period! So, come for lunch. They also have a handroll/sashimi special each day for $10.75 with rotating items. Today it was a salmon handroll, tuna handroll, and sashimi of super white tuna and surf clam. It also comes with Miso and Rice. Their unagi is outstanding, as are many of their rolls. I would give them 5 stars, but occasionally you have to ask the staff for tea and water refills or the check. BFD!!! Skip all of those sushi "boat" imposters - Blue C (gag), Sushi Yama (food-borne illness just waiting to happen), Maru, etc. If you are by yourself, or with one other, sit at the sushi bar with Fuji-San. Ginza's fish is high quality, and their prices are very reasonable. Don't miss it!

    (5)

  • Matt N.

    I love their sushi. One of my favorite rolls they have there is the tuna lovers. The pieces of meat over the fish were large and fatty, which made it all the more tasty. The previous time I went, I tried some of their rolls with the yellow tail. It was all very tasty. I can't say this is the least expensive place, but this is a great place to take a date. I'm excited to try more of their rolls and their sushi.

    (4)

  • Srta L.

    I took my bf here for his bday and the food as good as always. Love the service. And i am so happy for them that they expanded their location right next door.

    (5)

  • Mimi L.

    This is for the new Yakiniku restaurant that is connected to Ginza and shares a kitchen. Ok, so we, 4 adults made a reservation to try this place with our under 1 y/o babies who were WELL-BEHAVED the entire time for dinner. The good and the bad: Good: They use good cuts of beef. --------------------------------------------------­---------- Bad: Price points are WAY off for this restaurant. Way too expensive for yakiniku and I am not one of THOSE people that balks at paying high prices for good food. Bad: Staff members wore too much cologne/perfume.. hello, this is a food establishment. You call yourselves a place to dine then you should know that a diner eats with all their senses. Bad: They, hand-wrote an 18% tip in for our table. WTF? Why?! Because we had 2 babies in tow that were quiet and caused NO trouble? And we cleaned up afterwards? Mind you, we cook our own meat here at this place and had to repeatedly ask for water/tea. Bad: Waitstaff didn't know the menu. I asked if the "sweet potato" on the menu was Japanese satsumaimo. (It IS a Japanese restaurant, right?) .. and she told me it was when in fact, it was NOT. Out came a bright orange sweet potato. Why did I order 2 of something I did not want? Sigh....

    (1)

  • Margaret S.

    Came here once. Ordered plenty of dishes (party of 6). The only thing that stands out is the pumpkin fried rice. Being Japanese, I have pretty high expectations when it comes to sushi (quality of fish, texture, freshness, etc). This place is over priced for the quality and not that great. To top it off the service isnt amazing either. Probably wont be back.

    (2)

  • Jamie L.

    I love their pumpkin fried rice. They said that is dinner menu but if you ask at lunch, they will check kindly.. Small parking lot-- you can park on the street or Bellevue downtown park

    (4)

  • Johnny W.

    I forget the exact occasion, but a good friend of mine took me out to dinner here about a year ago. In my search for tasty izakaya food in Seattle, Ginza probably came out highest, at a solid 3.5 stars. We ended up ordering the black cod (my baseline measurement for izakayas), pork belly, ground duck, and pumpkin fried rice. The black cod was nice and light, and certainly enjoyable, but lacked the flavor wow factor I usually look for in this dish. The pork belly was also pretty good, and would have been excellent if it actually had a bit more meat on it, as the extreme fat to meat ratio made it increasingly disgusting to eat with each bite - thinking back on this now, a bowl of rice would probably also have sufficed. The ground duck was just weird, and something I'd suggest passing on. The star of the bunch actually ended up being the pumpkin fried rice though, and this comes highly recommended.

    (3)

  • Cathi A.

    Must order the kabocha (Japanese pumpkin) fried rice. The whole pumpkin can be eaten with the rice. Very filling and very sweet. Not too salty and texture is perfect! Japanese sushi chefs are friendly and entertaining. The rolls we got were the ginza roll, jalapeño roll and the crunchy roll. Next time I'll order the Chirashi!

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : No
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Ginza

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