4. Restaurants

Mashiko Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar

4725 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA, 98116
  • (206) 935-4339
  • Store is closed

Mashiko Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

  • Anderson Q.

    My first time at Mashiko! I just want to start off by saying that the quality of fish and the service at Mashiko is superb and a cut above a lot of great sushi places in Seattle. I started off with some miso soup and a "tuna sampler" which consisted of three different kinds of tuna sashimi: local NW, Hawaiian and Skipjack, all of which was fresh and decadent. Following the sampler I had the Mashiko Sushi 101, consisting of their two most popular rolls, the red violin and the temptation, alongside of a piece of tuna nigiri and a piece of scallop nigiri. The red violin is garnished with some red pepper flakes with a dash of cilantro making it like "a salsa dance in your mouth". Dinner then was topped off with an incredible Jasmine Pearl crème brulée. This is a twist on classic. The cream of the brulée is nicely infused with some jasmine tea making the dessert a delicious and interesting treat. Sushi lovers: Mashiko is a must try!

    (5)

  • Erika P.

    I love this place so much I would eat here everyday if I could! There hasn't been a roll I've tried that I haven't liked so we make it a point to go back almost weekly and try something new. The toppers on our list of loves for this house of raw includes the Lemonade and the Red Violin. The ingredients are always fresh and fantastic. It's always good to get nigiri to test the freshness of the fish as well and it's a clear thumbs up! The service is always nice and whether at the sushi bar or at a table, we always seem to get our rolls in a timely manner. The only negative I have about Mashiko is that when they have a wait they won't to take out orders!!!! For those of us who don't live on that side of the bridge it sucks. So don't be alarmed if you call to place an order and get denied. Despite the fact, I'll still give it a 5 star since it is a place I would love to eat on a daily basis.

    (5)

  • Min T.

    Garlic edamame $5 Gyoza $7 Miso Soup $2 Chicken Yaki Udon $10 House salad $6 Alaska roll $7 Amberjack nigiri $6 Salmon nigiri $6 Amaebi $6 Geoduck $8 Spicy crab handroll $6 Oysters (3) $7.50 Ginger Ice Cream $4 Coco a gogo $7 Beer $8 ... Wow, we ate a lot for three people! I started with the house salad which came adorned with three fried pieces of lotus root. It was yummy though the tomatoes weren't the ripest in the salad. Still, it was good. Then I tried one of each of the available oysters. The largest, the Pacific oyster, was my fave. At $2.50 each, it was worth the splurge. Then I had 4 different nigiris; salmon, amberjack, amaebi and geoduck. I chose salmon because I love the taste but this salmon was the reddest I've ever seen it and quite mild. Not fatty tasting at all. The amberjack and geoduck were pretty good though. The amaebi with its deep fried heads were somewhat lukewarm. Hm, I guess the heads had a lot of time to cool down after frying. Then I had the crab hand roll to end. My friends were sensible and had actual dessert. That coco a gogo is a deep fried brownie encrusted with panko. Yeah, my heart stopped too after hearing the description. Friendly service, sassy menu rules and a heated toilet seat! This was a fun sushi joint to visit.

    (4)

  • Stephanie P.

    One of the most exciting things about moving to West Seattle (shut up, it's a step up from Northgate) was being in close proximity, maybe even walking distance, to multiple sushi bars. Better yet, Yelp seemed to approve of these sushi places - although the consensus seemed to be that Mashiko was "the spendy one." But when we were hungry for sushi at eight o' clock on a Saturday night, Mashiko was also "the open one," so that's where we went. When we crowded into the jam-packed waiting area, they told us 20-30 minutes, but it was clearly not spacious enough for an extended stay. Luckily, you can put down your cell number and wander around on California Ave., and they'll call when your table is ready. Resist the temptation to sneak into Cupcake Royale to get something to tide you over - if you must have a sweet treat, try Sugar Rush (aka Coffee to a Tea with Sugar) across the street. Really, though, you should be saving room for your sushi, because it is worth it. I was feeling indecisive, and the menu has many, many pages of options, so we opted for the "course meal" ($50 for two), a five-course prix fixe dinner for two that's all chef's choice. Not knowing the house specialties, we figured that the chef wouldn't steer us wrong, and he didn't. First was a seared tuna appetizer on a bed of spicy seaweed salad, then a sushi appetizer with three orders of nigiri (I especially liked the amberjack). Next was a ceviche with crackers - unexpected in a sushi joint, but refreshingly tangy and citrusy and well-prepared. Then we were presented with two big slabs of salmon smothered in mushrooms, with broccoli on the side. The salmon was rich and flavorful but not too fatty, the mushrooms were savory and tender, and the broccoli was... steamed. Next was a long roll with unagi, avocago, and some sort of tempura, which was very tasty. Finally, our waiter presented us with a slice of green tea tiramisu for dessert, which was light, creamy, and not too sweet. The course meal reflects the daily specials, so I'm guessing it changes from day to day, depending on what's good that day. Considering everything you get, I don't think the course meal is all that pricey; an omakase dinner is available for $40, and a la carte rolls and entrees are comparable to any of the nicer sushi places in town ($4 and up for sushi; $15-20 for entrees). Mashiko is known for its owner/head chef's gruff personality, and his Type A tendencies are apparent from the lists of house rules posted on the website, in the waiting area, and on your menu. Even the waiter had more rules for us; he looked sorrowfully at me when he saw that I had poured out some soy sauce, and said, "This dish is seasoned by the chef, so you really shouldn't need to use soy sauce at all." Later, I was permitted to apply soy sauce to my sushi, but only sparingly and fish-side-down. The final rule on the posted list reads, "Shut up and eat!" but it's not mean-spirited; everyone at Mashiko seems genuinely interested in your dining experience - if they give you all these rules, it's only because they care and they want the best for you. Unfortunately, that attention to detail and perfectionism leads to Mashiko's biggest problem: s-l-o-o-o-w service. We were there for well over two hours, and a good portion of that time was spent waiting between courses. I appreciate that it's a labor of love and quality can't be rushed and all, but it's not fun to feel like you've been stranded in no-man's-land, and while drink refills were prompt, our waiter never stopped by to check on us, only to drop off food. Not realizing how long dinner would take, we ended up being way late and had to miss the event we'd planned to go to afterward - so, plan generously if you're trying to be somewhere after dinner. Then again, after all that food, you might just want to roll on home and reminisce fondly about everything you just ate.

    (5)

  • Crystal B.

    The first time I went to Mashiko was on my birthday in August. My boyfriend got some recommendations for sushi restaurants and had heard that Mashiko was really good. My mother is from Japan so I really appreciate when sushi is made fresh and well. Place like Blue C Sushi where you can taste that the fish was already frozen really annoys me. We drove to West Seattle and parked at the Junction, which is where Mashiko is located. The restaurant is pretty small, dimly lit, but has a nice ambiance. There are lanterns hanging and they have a nice fish tank in the entry way. We didn't wait long after we got there to be seated. The menu was very different than the more "Americanized" sushi restaurants. Many things were written in Japanese with an American translation. The menu was also really large, which was exciting. They didnt' have the usual fish like sake (salmon) or Hamachi (yellowtail) because they are a sustainable restaurant and don't want contribute to the overfishing of certain fish. I would say this is both interesting, but also the reason I didn't give the restaurant 5 stars (the ONLY reason). It would have been nice to see something familiar on there, since I love, love, love sake and hamachi. Regardless, the fish I did choose, such as the NW Albacore, Shaba Shiso, scallops, etc. were amazingly delicious and fresh! They melted in my mouth and I kept eating more until I was stuffed. I would highly recommend Mashiko; it was a unique and delicious sushi experience. I just went there again last night and ordered different things. This time I also tried their vegetable tempura assortment and it was great! The Dynamite Roll is awesome and I couldn't resist ordering the NW Albacore with garlic sauce and green onion Nigiri again. My friend ordered the Lazy Hawaiian and the Crystal Shrimp Roll and liked them both. I thought the Crystal Shrimp Roll was tasty. Anytime, you're in West Seattle and want some Sushi, I would go to Mashiko!

    (4)

  • Ethan B.

    Really fun atmosphere, good service, and really excellent sushi. This is probably the best sushi I've had in Seattle after a lot of hunting around.

    (5)

  • T F.

    I do not recommend Mashiko's for take-out. The food was pricey, and though it was good, it was not phenomenal. They left out part of our order (should have checked before driving all the way home), and there was a 10% charge for ordering it to-go (mind you, not delivery, we picked it up ourselves). the ahi poki was good, but small portions and lacking service made for an overall mediocre experience. Perhaps they try harder when you dine in-house.

    (2)

  • Alex M.

    I went here on a whim with my girlfriend. I am glad we did. This place is sushi heaven. She got a spicy tuna roll, we shared an avocado and cucumber roll and I got vegetable yaki udon. All of it was superb. I don't know much about West Seattle but California Street seems like it has a ton of delicious eateries. I recommend this place highly.

    (5)

  • Greg G.

    My girlfriend's uncle had read about Mashiko in Edible Seattle, so we went in for dinner one night. Sustainable sushi is a noble cause - one that hasn't yet made it over to New York, sadly - so it seemed like it'd be good. We all got omakase. Honestly I can't relate to you every single dish we had, but there was a bunch of geoduck in there, a round of oysters, salmon, rainbow trout, and some tuna. Actually the tuna came poke-style that was combined with natto - an admittedly bizarre combination, but it worked out pretty well. Didn't have the usual stink of natto. There was a fair amount of cooked stuff which I happened to like, if only to show off the variety and ability to use sustainable fish in interesting ways. If I had to give two criticisms, it would be this: one, I got a masu of sake (comes served in a square wood container) that ended up tasting mostly of the wood; and there was a stir fry geoduck and shiitake dish that sort of fell flat, mostly due to the smooth shiitake making the geoduck feel overly chewy. But minor concerns in a night that was otherwise excellent. I didn't see the bill, but I doubt it was cheap. Well worth your time.

    (5)

  • Lisa B.

    If you enjoy being accosted by the smell of fish when you walk in the door and some serious attitude from the owner, this is the place for you. If you prefer a Seattle restaurant that is unpretentious and palatable, there are plenty of those along California Ave., but Mashiko isn't it. The sushi rolls are overly "creative," and the sauces generally overpower what should be the focal point of the dish -- that is, the fish. There are waaaaaaay too many options on the sushi menu for them to do (m)any of them well. Plus, the place just looks like a bit of a dump. If they put as much energy into making the place look nice as they did with writing snappy little rudisms onto the menu, I might be a little more lenient with Mashiko. As it stands, however, I suggest giving this place a miss.

    (1)

  • Sarah C.

    The only reason I would give Mashiko less than 5 stars would be to selfishly deter people away from this amazing place. Sustainable, other-wordly delicious, and just plain awesome. I highly recommend the Bowler Roller--the mere mention of this delectable treat has my mouth watering. I now live in Chicago and get back to Seattle only a few times a year. Regardless of how long I'm back in the 206, I always make a point of eating at Mashiko.

    (5)

  • Kat G.

    Best... sushi.. in Seattle... This place is my absolute favorite, and always will be. We're moving soon, and this was the first place I thought of that I would miss. The food is nothing short of exquisite, and Hajime's passion for what he does is palpable. I was a little worried when Mashiko went sustainable-- selfishly I worried that things just wouldn't be as good. I was sorely mistaken. I highly recommend doing anything that involves the word "expert" or "exotic," or just strike up a conversation with Hajime and let him give you ideas. The sake menu is always second to none. Recently they've had a turnover in staff so they're not as knowledgable about it, but everything on the sake menu is good so there's no real risk. I get in to Mashiko as often as I possibly can, it's always my first choice of places to spend money. And you will spend money, sadly, in order to really get the best experience you will order many things and come out with a much lighter wallet.

    (5)

  • Beth C.

    I'm amazed at all the 5-star reviews on here. My first impressions of the place were okay - cute place with a pretty, well-maintained fish tank and a fairly long wait, but they took our cell phone # so we could wander up and down California while we waited for a table. There was a list of "tips" on a small chalkboard by the door which included gems like "soy sauce is not a beverage"; "you don't always need spicy mayo"; "chopsticks are not drumsticks" and the like. While I think it's sad that there are people who would drum with their chopsticks while out at a restaurant, the sign rubbed me a bit the wrong way. These are their CUSTOMERS they're chiding like that. If your customer wants spicy mayo on everything including their tea, who are you to say they're wrong? They're a paying customer with their own preferences. The sign out front said "PLEASE WAIT TO BE SEATED (unless you're illiterate). This includes the sushi bar" and that left me cold, too. Maybe it's supposed to be funny, but it struck me as plain rude. Once we were seated and finally ordered (we weren't given menus and had to ask for them - no biggie, it was busy), the service was overall quick and friendly. The miso soup was really delicious. However, it came without spoons (neither my boyfriend nor I had encountered that), and we wondered whether it was an oversight (like the menus) or intentional, and we were supposed to just drink? When we asked the waitress she told us that the spoon-free was intentional and "how they roll", but it would've been nice if she'd mentioned that when she dropped off the soup, so we wouldn't have felt like big nerds. But the soup really was great. We shared a gyoza order, too, the pork, not the veg. It comes sort of...quesadilla style instead of dumplings, like in four flat wedges, sort of. It was really delicious with well-spiced filling and crispy/oily/chewy outer wrapper. Our rolls were okay - I didn't realize I'd ordered one with cream cheese (the Alaska), and really don't like cream cheese in sushi, and it wasn't great. Too much cream cheese in there, too - it overpowered the smoked salmon. Our avocado cucumber roll and spicy california roll were both average-good, and our red violin roll, which included cilantro (a risk!) was the best of the bunch in my opinion. So we left plenty full of decent sushi, but given the reviews, rumors and the wait, expected more. Especially for the price. The waitress brought the bill, and even AFTER I spotted she had charged us $11.00 instead of $5.50 for a roll (she double checked and corrected, and was nice), it was still far, far more expensive than other comparable sushi. For those kinds of prices, the sushi and service would both have to be pretty fantastic, and we found them average. I won't be back.

    (2)

  • v b.

    This is the world's bossiest restaurant. Bossy menu, bossy signs everywhere, bossy waitress and hostess. It makes me want to punch Mashiko in its bossy face. However! I usually get over my violent impulses for two reasons (1) OMG that sushi melts in your goddamn mouth; and (2) there is a bidet in the ladies room. That's right: sustainable raw fish in the front; in the back a coochie shower and blow dry. Go for the bidet, stay for the sushi and slap that bossy SOB for me.

    (3)

  • Ryan O.

    Second time here. Compared to all the places I have been in the northwest, New York or California, this sushi is the best. Hajime's sustainable model and environmental methodology is just super smart, and the quality of products he sources is amazing. No weird additives or preservatives in the uni, scallops, or anything is part of what makes it so good. I won't usually eat uni anywhere because the taste and texture is just gross. Here, it was honestly amazing. I had the omakase again, and was served by him at the bar. Everything from the food to the presentation to the conversations with him were awesome. One of the pieces was white king salmon with tomatoes picked from his own backyard. His attention to detail and desire for nothing but the best is impressive. I'm sure everyone has a unique experience here, but I would recommend this place to anyone, anytime if you really appreciate quality fish.

    (5)

  • Jovani V.

    We walked and in and right out....pretentious! It all started with the sign about waiting to be seated and then the hostess was snide and didn't really inform us of the length of the wait. She also was bossy when asking us to write our name on the wait list.

    (1)

  • John L.

    What a great experience! Experiences may vary depending on what type of sushi person you are. I enjoyed a seven piece chef's choice plate of nigiri, which included mackerel, white king salmon, scallop, tuna, and a few other pieces that I unfortunately do not recall. It was easily the best nigiri I have had in Seattle. I also had one of their spicy maki which, unfortunately, was rather low on heat. My dining companion also had several rolls of which I had a few pieces each. Of the makizushi we had, I was satisfied, but I was not as blown away as I had been by the nigiri. If I were in a roll mood, I might instead opt for Momiji or Umi. That said, for nigiri, this is THE place to go. Mashiko gets 5 stars for that alone.

    (5)

  • Anni A.

    Great veggie options! As a vegan I am always happy to see extensive options @ a japanese place. The menu denotes vegetarian items and all I've tried have been creative & tasty. I love the cozy space & service has been attentive. i like: sweet potato starter, seaweed salad, purple people eater & deep forest rolls, $5 glass of white. mashiko claims to be sustainable so I imagine you can feel better about eating the fresh yumminess here.The fish eating friends I've gone with would agree. On the downside it is small so you may be in for a wait. But, you can leave your number on the list and go across the street to Talarico's for a drink! :)

    (4)

  • Amy E.

    The best sushi in Seattle! Definitely sit at the bar. You get a show, good conversation and great recommendations. We tried things that we wouldn't normally have tried if we had not seen it at the bar and had the guy explain them to us. The fish was so premium and fresh that it was like butter. Good stuff all around.

    (5)

  • MrH H.

    This place is not for the purist, nor for the serious, but it is a fun and tasty spot for sushi in West Seattle. If you enter this place a bit impatient, you'll also quickly grow more so. It is nearly always crowded and very rarely can you sidle up to the sushi bar. They will give you beeper and send you away to wait. When you come back, you'll notice a "soup nazi" attitude all around. This does not go over well with the experienced sushi lover, but most can laugh it off and get on with things. The sushi is quite creative, indeed, and they get points for that. Not enough focus on the fish, in my opinion, and since we have the best fish in the lower 48 here, any Seattle sushi restaurant should be focused on the FISH, but....hey, creativity is a good thing, especially when it tastes good. Overall, this is a good place, but be prepared to pay out for decent sushi and a lot of attitude.

    (3)

  • Phoebe K.

    Mmmmm: Mouthwatering, creative, sustainable sushi. Hajime, the owner/chef also teaches cooking and is passionate and knowledgeable about sustainability and safety issues. His place has a unique feel, at once natural and artistic, at once fitting into its quirky neighborhood home and holding up as a top-notch dining experience. Tips: Be sure and make reservations! And do try ordering omikase here--you'll likely discover amazing new favorites.

    (5)

  • Nuemes N.

    Inspired food; smart, thoughtful service. If you've not been to Mashiko yet and are reading this stop your search and go there. Great place for people who are new or timid to sushi as well as the fearless. I've yet to find better sushi in Seattle (and it's bested the sushi I've had when living in the Bay Area as well). Only downside: it's a bit expensive. This is justifiable as they clearly put their funds into the food over marketing/atmosphere. Perfect, perfect, perfect every time.

    (5)

  • Koriann B.

    If I die and go to heaven, there will be a sushi restaurant. And, if I'm lucky, I'll know that sushi restaurant will be like Mashiko. Before eating at Mashiko, I would have assured you that I didn't like geoduck, oysters, or uni. I would have been wrong. At the very least, I would have been wrong if those dishes had been prepared by Hajime. This is what we had: Oysters, kumamoto and gold creek Geoduck with yuzu tobiko Nigiri consisting of: albacore belly, spotted mackerel, and toro Kombu marinated rockfish Grilled oyster with sake butter Cooked geoduck with uni butter Fried shiso leaf with uni Pacific saury roll with shiso and salmon roe Baked black cod Albacore poke (with seaweed, pine nuts, and onions) Black cod liver Salted squid with fermented cod eggs S. Carolina catfish, tempura sweet potato, and avocado roll Fresh jasmine pearl creme brulee Satono homare sake It was all good. Go to Mashiko. Get omakase. Trust in what Hajime has to serve you. You won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Holly M.

    I experienced this wonderful spot the Sunday after Thanksgiving. I was absolutely sick of leftovers and heavy food. I wish I lived in Seattle - I would go to Mashiko once a week. The fish was so fresh - loved everything I tried. Can't stop thinking about it - nothing in Chicago compares.

    (5)

  • Hungry B.

    This has become our favorite sushi restaurant in Seattle for a number of great reasons. We almost always order Omakase and rarely ever have the same thing twice. If there is something you particularly like or don't like, let them know. Top 3 reasons for repeat visits are... 1 - The Food. Some of my favorites are the emphasis on local Albacore, White King Salmon, Mackerel, and even trout and fresh sardine. Uni is great when in season. Hajime and staff are very creative in their preparations. I never feel like I would have gotten the same meal at another restaurant, which is often how I feel at average sushi restaurants. Its a good idea to order Omakase and get the recommendations of the day. 2 - Its fun. No stuffy music and lots of Sake to try. Nice fish tank. Knowledgeable staff. 3 - Its Sustainable. The word gets used a lot, but here you won't find any Unagi, or Bluefin Tuna. Other common seafood is only served when available in season. Toro and other favorites, when available, are from sustainable fisheries such as local Albacore. Hajime also focuses on making great things with seafood you don't always see in the sushi bar. I loved the fresh sardine we had the last time I was in there. I also appreciate that there are women working the sushi bar and not playing into stereotypes. Its about the food. You can also take a sushi making class, as well as attend a sake pairing dinner if you want to learn more. If you want a little bit different sushi experience and are interested in learning a little while you are there, this is a great choice. If you want large quantities of farmed atlantic dye pink salmon, farmed or endangered tuna that you often find at sushi restaurants you may want to go somewhere else.

    (5)

  • Ethan K.

    Buy far the best sushi Ive had in Seattle. Better even than places in the international district. This guy must have a dozen fish vendors because everything is so amazingly fresh and full of flavor. I don't eat there often due to the high prices but its really worth the cost if you are looking for good seafood. Also the atmosphere matches the cost so you don't feel like your overspending at all. No playing drums with your chopsticks!!!

    (5)

  • Shannon M.

    SO delicious. I drive to West Seattle for dinner here any time I get a sushi craving. They have a good variety of traditional and adventurous dishes (sauteed geoduck this evening) and the jasmine creme brulee is to die for. Do call ahead for reservations as the seating space is small and they are popular on weekends.

    (5)

  • Eric S.

    Hajime (chef/owner) is a true artist. One of the hardest things about moving away from West Seattle was no longer being able to eat regularly at Mashiko. The fish is extremely fresh, and the various rolls are incredible! I only wish it was closer to where we currently live.

    (5)

  • Ninja S.

    Huge sake menu. Great variety of daily specials. For you expert eaters, you can upgrade your chef's choice assortment to +Expert for some seriously awesome stuff. No Asahi, but they do have Orion, which is awesome in its own way. Thanks for not making me resort to Kirin or Saporo! The proprietor is not afraid to do creative stuff here. Nigiri of grilled salmon with ankimo. Toro in a roll? I would have thought that it was wrong until I was served it with asparagus. Nice place, excellent fast and responsive service, and full of dates. Not the best value in town, but a shining raw star of West Seattle.

    (5)

  • Will A.

    Pretty good Sushi. Always busy (good and bad) a little pricy.

    (4)

  • O.H. L.

    Want to give it 8 stars. My dinner friends are all sashimi guru and we were not disappointed. We went for the chef choice sashimi platter which is actually $50/person on that day. It was well worth it. We had some great cuts and many variety came with a chef's touch.. A little grated ginger on on one, a simple marinade on another. For those who are beyond your maguro, or salmon belly, this is highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Aimee G.

    Each roll was like an orgasm. How many can you have in a night?

    (5)

  • Jodi S.

    I have been here a couple of times now and have always enjoyed my experience. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable about their food and drink. Sitting at the bar is a fun time too! Be warned, they have a live feed camera to their website that "showcases" the bar patrons. I have always ordered some assortment of sushi. The last time me and my boyfriend did the Course Meal that comes with two shots each of two kinds of sake. The sushi is all chef's choice (I think we had Hajime Sato who is also the owner), I really enjoyed this meal. Everything was delicious! I had the plum wine once, it's a combination of sake and wine. It was nice, but way too sweet for me. Mashiko is an ideal place for a date. I would say coming here with more than four people is pushing it. The whole place seems to be more geared for a couples experience (not to mention the place is practically the size of a postage stamp). But the mood that is set is warm and inviting. I like that the fish tanks in the front aren't "dinner."

    (5)

  • Msval V.

    Fabulous place, I had no idea it was going to be so good and so popular. I Also love that they only serve sustainable fish. Thankful my family made a reservation because it is a must, and it is well worth it. I live down in CA, but this will be a top spot everytime I am up here visiting.. Mashiko has made me a true sushi whore!

    (4)

  • Pam R.

    Love this restaurant. I live in San Francisco and frequent Tataki (another sustainable sushi bar) and was curious about other restaurants with this philosophy on the West Coast. Wonderful service, incredibly fresh fish and a good value. The chawan mushi was off the hook as well. Cannot wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Terry P.

    Simply the BEST sushi in Seattle! Ok, now down to the nuts and bolts... If you're new to sushi, you might want to wait a while, not that you're not ready, but more because, well they take sushi very seriously here. Everything is sustainable, and they want you to love what they make for you as much as they love making it for you. So much so that the lady and I even learned from Hajime (while sitting at the sushi bar [so much fun!]) that he only orders the big Asahi cans, as its the only version of the beer available in the states that's true to the taste from Japan (it's imported from Japan). Mashiko's is not for someone who is afraid to try different sushi and its forms or for those who think chopsticks are specially, wrapped drumsticks. The ambiance is great! Dark, cool, and great music in the background. This would be a great place to have your children develop a love for quality sushi, but I'd suggest visiting without them first. It's all about the experience and the food. If I had to choose a last meal, well here it is folks.

    (5)

  • Chau V.

    Worst sushi place ever! Ordered Togo & still had to wait one hr. sushi was grainy, not fresh. Wayyyyy over priced & sooooo not worth the wait or money. Go down the street to kamei.

    (1)

  • Me H.

    This is by far my favorite Japanese restaurant in Seattle. I could eat there every day unfortunately my bank account does not allow it so twice a month is all I get. Their rolls are creative and delicious by far my favorite is the red violin yum! And with a website address of sushiwhore how could one not like Mashiko's? I highly suggest calling for reservations and being prepared to wait because trust me there will be a wait but it's worth it.

    (5)

  • foodfoodfood f.

    Oh man, was this place good. The first night I went in, there was an hour wait, so I asked if I could make a reservation for the following evening. The hostess forgot to write it down, but fortunately she remembered me, so she gave me a table next to the fish tank. There was so much good seasonal stuff available - geoduck clam in sea urchin butter, wild shrimp, local chinook, Spanish mackerel, I about lost my mind. I wanted to order much more than I did; I ended up with the sushi dinner and some seared black cod with tarako mayonnaise, and some miso soup and tea. I ordered my son some chicken katsu and rice, but he was more interested in watching the fish tank. I wish I lived right near this place. because I would be in there all the time. Alas...

    (5)

  • Laney S.

    This was a fantastic sushi restaurant and it was busy all night long. The spider rolls and dynamite rolls were well done and well presented at the table. The rice was perfectly cooked. I love this place. It is a bit of a drive so you have to be a die hard sushi fan to drive to get there but it is well worth the trip. My son loved the deep fried brownie at the end of the meal. Not very Japanese but hey, we were on vacation.

    (4)

  • Amie S.

    A friend and I were headed to Chiso for sushi goodness, but sadly - Chiso was closed (due to a family emergency), so he whisked me across the bridge in his little car and we arrived at Mashiko. I'd been before and thought it was good, but not perfect. Since my sushi craving was great last night, my friend suggested we try the Omakase dinner. Oh. My. GOD. Foodgasm! I can't even remember all of what we had, but some highlights were the Yellowtail, Striped Bass, Seared Tuna w/ponzu sauce, SOCKEYE (my absolute favorite), and big, fatty pieces of tuna nigiri. I tried everything, and even though I wasn't really sold on the scallops or the sea urchin, they were still good. The only thing I didn't dig on was the dessert: matcha creme brulee - the matcha just wasn't dessert-y to me, and hello, creme brulee does not go with sushi. :) We left stuffed and incredibly satisfied - even though we were missing Chiso. So good! Omakase was spendy, but totally worth it.

    (5)

  • dan c.

    As an avid sushi lover, and no longer a seattle resident, I am working my way through all of the sushi restaurants in the bay area one by one in search of something as special as Mashiko. Hajime knows fish. Not only sushi, but fish in general. He keeps amazing aquariums, dives, and gets in as much fish time as he can. He is now extending his love of fish towards his menu by finding ways to make sushi sustainable. And this is not just in a greenwashy marketing sense.. he is actually working with fish distributors to explore new products which are often more delicious than their traditional japanese counterparts but are sometimes discarded as waste products presently. I've lived in japan, and had sushi all over the world, including at most every sushi restaurant in the Seattle area. There are some stars amongst them.. Shiro, Maneki, Chiso for traditional, Umi for creativity. Seattle is really lucky for so many high quality sushi options. Hajime at Mashiko is really two steps above the rest, and I'm looking forward to making excuses to fly back to seattle for another meal with him.

    (5)

  • David L.

    Ikura! All I can say is they have the best ikura that I've eaten. I was told by the chef that all there ikura is freshly hand made/marinated and all natural which is a plus. The rest of there food was very fresh and tasty. Will come back for sure. A little pricier though. However, that's what you pay for sustainable grade seafood.

    (4)

  • Peter D.

    Mashiko gets my coveted 5 star rating! I have never had anything but great sushi here. I always sit at the bar when I can and take what he offers. I cant totally tell you what the rolls were, but the mahi mahi nigiri and salmon nigiri were great. A bit safer than I wanted since I said surprise me but its always great. They have the most memorable website sushiwhore.com !

    (5)

  • C C.

    One of my favorite sushi places in Seattle. Try the Omakase dinner! It's expensive but you get the freshest items not always available which would cost twice as much if ordered individually. Be prepared to wait in line or call for a table in advance. Yummy Sushi!

    (5)

  • Mickey K.

    Food: 3/5 Price: 2/5 Service: 4/5 Organization: 4/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Walked in, liked how the place is decorated and it seemed homey wish how small it was. The hostess told us there was a list, and we'll have to wait for about 20 minutes. That's fine, we go out, and wander back. They seemed organized enough. Food we ordered: $11 Poke of the Day On the menu, it says "our interpretation of traditional Hawaiian salad of sashimi..." Well, the fish was definitely very fresh, nice! But let's just say I don't agree with their interpretation. In fact, if you've lived in Hawai'i, or been there long enough, you would know Hawaiian poke does not taste like this..... it tastes better. $ 8 Red Violin This roll actually surprised me. The cilantro, tuna, avocado and sauce went well together. But then I personally love cilantro so I am biased. The rolls were a bit skinny, laaaame. But the for 8 bucks, I suppose it's the right portions. Although I rather pay 12 dollars for a larger Red Violin then look at that sad wimpy roll. $ 8 Ikura, Yamaimo, and Quail Egg Yeah. This was overpriced. It was a pretty small bowl for 8 bucks. Ikura was delicious, yamaimo was alright, quail egg, fine. Deduction on the service for not being considerate enough to offer us a spoon. Seriously, HOW did you expect us to eat it? Oh, what's that? Customers should ask for the spoon. Well okay, if only the waitress had even frequent on table enough. For a smaller restaurant, the waitresses were mediocre on checking customers. They actually forget this order the first time I ordered it too. $ 6 Grilled Ika Ichiyaboshi Didn't order this but asked questions about it. The waitresses mistakenly put in the order. I wouldn't have mind, if the dish wasn't so disappointing to me. The sauce on it was way too strong and killed the flavor. I've had better grilled squids. Also it costed money to have tea... really? They didn't even have the option of free roasted green tea, c'mon now. Tea and sushi always goes together and tea is often free. Overall, Mashiko's didn't leave a very deep impression on me. I left that place unfazed and am unlikely to return there any time soon. Don't really understand what the hype about that place is. Some of the food is good, but not at the prices they're asking for. Another matter to point out is the Edamame for the cost of 4 dollars. Really?

    (3)

  • Hiromi T.

    I don't know why this place is popular. I was really disappointed by their tsukemono and fried crab dishes because the tsukemono was Takuwan, Fukujin-zuke or Yama-gobo which I would not specially order in Izakaya and their fried crabs were only 5 pieces which we usually get a pile of for the same price in Japan. (Shinjirarenai!!) This restaurant was full of non-Japanese customers. Anyway, I felt all the other dishes we ordered were strange too. I won't recommend this place to my Japanese friends.

    (1)

  • andrew d.

    I have read elsewhere that Mashiko was known for bad service in the past, but I've never experienced this in the two years that I've been going. The Sushi is some of the best that I've had and if you sign up for the mailing list they are always having specials including occasional parties for events like new years. They are open late and play great music (usually alternative/electronic type stuff ). Try the Sake Sampler to broaden your taste! They make a ceviche that my wife won't shut up about. The seaweed and cucumber salads are great. I don't, however, like their noodle plates or their vegetables.

    (4)

  • Wilafur L.

    i'm a bit torn about mashiko. i love the fact that they firming believe in serving only sustainable items on the menu. however, that means a lot of the items i LOVE eating is not served at mashiko such as blue fin, ankimo, toro, etc. we elected to rock the omakase, which i thought was decent but very light on the actual nigiri sushi. - mirugai and hotate sashimi topped with tobiko: this was very good. the scallops were super sweet and tender. the mirugai was crisp and sweet. the tobiko added a contrasting texture that pulled things together. - rainbow trout sashimi: this was interesting. firm fish but mushy at the same time. not much flavor. not a fan. - uni: the urchins are harvested a bit north of seattle and was quite good. firm and creamy and sweet. yum. - spearfish poke: spearfish is considered a junk fish and i was quite surprised because this dish was excellent! i would have eaten 2lbs of it with crackers if they let me. - white king salmon tartare: this was a tartare wrapped in sliced avocado, topped with a quail egg and had hawaiian pink salt sprinkled around the dish. not a fan. the salmon was overly mushy and basically flavorless. the avocado did not add anything to this dish but the pink hawaiian salt was good. - tako nigiri: the tako was very good. very soft and tender. per the itamae, they source their octopus whole and prep the tako in house. - katsuo nigiri: the katsuo was not that good.....i've had it elsewhere and the katsuo here was a 3 on a 1-10 scale. hamachi toro: the hamachi toro was quite good. firm yet tender and very fatty. - chawanmushi w/ black cod: this was decent and was cooked well. it could have used a slight dash of salt though. - grilled white king salmon collar: this was very good. the salt and lemon juice really brought out and complimented the soft and light fish. - pan fried black cod w/ mushroom: this was decent but the mushroom sauce was much too sweet and overpowered the delicate cod. - saba zushi w/ ikura: this was a bust. much too much rice and the saba was just ok. i did enjoy the ikura....which they make in-house. - scallop w/ roe "dynamite": this was a baked dish consisting of scallops with roe on top of a bed of rice. the dish is baked and topped with a creamy and sweet mayo sauce. i really like the scallop roe, but the dish as whole didn't make a lot of sense to me. - tempura roll in soy paper: i do not like rolls with tempura and sweet sauce as i am a nigiri purist. this was a bad way to end the dinner. - green tea w/ fried brownie: the fried brownie rocked! - ginger ice cream: this was decent. since i'm not a fan of ginger, it was meh to me. overall the service was very pleasant and friendly. our itamae was a younger guy who was very nice as well but was a bit subdued in demeanor. perhaps sushi is a bit different in the pacific northwest and leans towards more "fusion" style sushi. too bad i'm a purist as i really only enjoy nigiri and sasihimi.

    (3)

  • D.R. W.

    Yelp has the wrong hours. Always call to confirm with yelp!

    (5)

  • Gabriela S.

    This place is great. I love the service and I love the food. I do the Omakase which is more expensive but so worth it! You get to try things you would never try and things that aren't on the menu. You just keep eating until you are full. The best of both worlds, however if you like to stick to the more traditional rolls etc, I would not suggest the Omakase. They have a full menu to delight anyone, no matter how adventurous you may or may not be.

    (4)

  • Sofie G.

    Just went there for the first time tonight, and for a chick that subsists on kaiten and the occasional bout of food poisoning that, once in a while, accompanies Seattle's cheaper sushi, all I can say is YUM! The last time I had such delicious rolls was in California! My favorite was the creamy scallop, by far. Also, the Limeade, ULTRA-MAN, and unagi + tempura prawn To be a nitpick, I'm more of a sashimi girl, but also a student, so I shied away from the pricey nigiri in favor of the rolls. I'm all for experimenting, but I'm also not a fan of the, so called, "American rolls" with the rice on the outside. The flavor ends up getting mooshed in the middle. Why do people do that? Also, enough with the spicy mayo already! And tea should be free with sushi!! Overall it was a really great, delicious, time, and we made some new fishy friends in the fish-tank (as well as in our tummies)! Now I'm going to pass out in a sushi coma...

    (5)

  • Tani S.

    Yes, the atmosphere and servers seem a bit on the serious side when it comes to sushi (to put it lightly). But the sushi is amazing.., from the limeade to the red violin and southern rolls.. We definitely haven't found anything better in Seattle. If only it wasn't so pricy!

    (4)

  • Stephan J.

    This place is still amazing. I sat at the bar this time and was treated to some fantastic dishes by Hajame. Ask for the tuna tartare if it is availlable. Yum!

    (5)

  • Allen L.

    Went to Mashiko's late (9:15p) on a Tuesday night. On the way there I didn't even give thought to when the place closes, luckily when we got there no mean faces were made at us for coming in 15 minutes before they stop seating. Please note - they will seat you. If you seat yourself it will be assumed that you are either illiterate or an ass or both since there is a sign explicitly stating that you will be seated. I had to check this place out again since I couldn't remember the last time I'd been there and I keep referring and recommending the joint. I just wanted to make sure it was the same as I remembered. And what I remembered is the sushi was good (though I'll admit I am no expert). It's nice to know Mashiko's hasn't changed too much at all since my last visit. We sat the bar which is the place to be - especially if you don't know anything about sushi since you can ask the sushi chef all the questions you can think of. I, unfortunately, didn't ask enough questions because what I ordered was not what I expected. Again, I don't know about sushi. Luckily, it was good anyway. And lucky, I'm all about trying new things. Also lucky i had another 9 bucks to order another roll. Pros: not busy on Tuesday night, no mean glances so close to closing (however, I don't intend to push my luck next time, I'll arrive earlier), food was delicious. Cons: none this night. Overall: I will continue to recommend this place to others; especially sushi noobs like myself.

    (4)

  • Susie B.

    Mashiko is delicious. I love their sustainability outlook and their sushi is awesome!!!! I think you get what you pay for here. I recommend the limeade, atomic salmon, and the snowflake!

    (5)

  • Mark B.

    Great sushi. Ask for Red Violin.

    (4)

  • Liz K.

    ahh mashiko, i dream of your food! My fiance and I discovered mashiko on the advice of a friend. They said 'best sushi in seattle, better than shiro's' well this sounded like blasphemy to us, so we decided to try it out... we haven't been back to shiro's since. Awesomely creative food, expertly prepared, and insanely GOOD. The owner, hajime is so cute and awesome, you can definitely tell that he pours his heart into the restaurant. oh wait.. i forgot to mention the most important part.. it's SUSTAINABLE SUSHI! always try to get the sushi bar, it will be an amazing experience and it's always so wonderful to talk to hajime. Once we tried ikura from a salmon that hajime's friend caught. woah! home cooking at it's best. Needless to say we ate up the entire stock of what he had left of that.. sorry. Awesome sake and perfectly paired. we just can't wait to go back! one word of advice, be sure to reserve in advance, there's always a wait.

    (5)

  • Kay Y.

    Best sushi in Seattle. Hajime is a genius. He is also incredibly dedicated to not only producing exceptional and innovative sushi, but also in doing so sustainably. He is a very strong advocate of sustainable fishing practices and only serving things that comply with that. Always call ahead, because odds are, if you walk in, they will be full with a wait already, but that speaks to how exemplary their food is. I love the offbeat humor of the place. You are just as likely to hear Motown playing as you are 80's punk or Sinatra. Everything is always beautiful and delicious.

    (5)

  • Alison W.

    I've been to Mashiko 3 times in the past 6 months. The first time I went we had problems with slow service, but the other two times we've visited Mashiko, we've had a perfect experience! Their sushi, especially the expert combination, is well-chosen and inspired. We've had geoduck sushi, sea trout, octopus, and many other interesting choices. The rolls at Mashiko are inspired and tasty. All the ingredients have been fresh. We especially like the Snowflake roll--the combination of tastes is amazing! It may be good to make reservations as they get pretty busy during the 6pm-9pm time-slot. Seriously though, it's a fun and yummy sushi place with a great attitude!

    (4)

  • Kendra L.

    We've been going to Mashiko for years and it's consistently delicious. There's a notable vegetarian presence on the menu, including a great (and huge) vegetarian bento. I love the Ultra Man roll, and the Noah roll (tuna, tuna, tuna). The fried Tiger Eye roll is a good appetizer to share. We've had the course meal many times over the years, and I've really enjoyed it, but it is a big time investment. When Chris is our waiter we usually ask him to choose a sake for us, and it's always great. I take this place for granted a bit because I live nearby, but I would be horribly sad if it went away.

    (5)

  • Rebekah D.

    I've only been to Mashiko once and it was delish. The snoot pants dude who one starred the place below not only ripped the restaurant but insulted people of Seattle and our "dramatic" tastes. I grew up in Hawaii and have had very traditional japanese cuisine and also foods that were mixed and influenced by all types of cultures, you see it's a melting pot and that's when the "traditions" of food get's blended with other cultures and I tend to think this is a good thing. To me and many people I know in Seattle Mashiko is one of the best much for those reasons. To one star a place because it doesn't live up to your much more snottified non-seattle palette, aesthetic and high expectations is ridiculous. I would understand if you received horrible service, or a pubic hair filled roll but really ONE STAR. Did you get your money back? Did you complain? Most likely not to them, just on yelp. People go to Mashiko, there are good reasons why the rest of us simple Seattle folks stand in line to get into this restaurant.....insert banjo hillbilly music.

    (4)

  • Djaouida F.

    This has been my favorite sushi place for 6 years. It's always busy, but it's worth the wait which is sometimes an hour for two people to be seated. Not only is the sushi the most delicious and beautiful display, but its all sustainable now. Which I personally think is amazing, the care and consideration behind that. Also Mashiko has a wonderful New Years Eve menu, special for that very night. Service is impeccable and they have a great sake menu as well. Yes its not the cheapest sushi place in West Seattle, but you can't compare the atmosphere and quality to anywhere else. I heart Mashiko.

    (5)

  • E S.

    Black cod sushi!!! I have been eating sushi my whole life and love it. This place is great because he will introduce you to different more sustainable options and I now find that I really like that he always has new and different things rather than what everyone else carries. We've been eating here for about 2+ years and have never been disappointed. Before this I had actually almost stopped eating sushi because I felt so guilty about it but Mashiko has made it pretty much guilt free. Thank you!

    (5)

  • Diana L.

    It's been our 3rd time to dine at this restaurant. We did the Omakasa in the first 2 tries and really enjoyed the food. I'd rate them as 4 stars or 5 stars. However, we didn't quite like its food this time. The oyster is too fishy. The sushi isn't that delicious as before. I mean this is not bad but we were expecting great from here. I would give it another shot and hopefully it would change my opinion.

    (3)

  • Brian B.

    A small place that has a nice feel to it, but we were stuck right near the front door which had a nice view of the fish tank but was freezing everytime someone entered or left. Our server was good but the food was nothing special. Not a single roll made a lasting impression on me and I will definitely explore some more sushi places before returning to this one. Even the jasmine creme brulee for dessert was just ok and I am a sucker for creme brulee. Very middle-of-the-road overall.

    (3)

  • Tony S.

    Omakase. I think it is some kind of Japanese torture method where you are slowly fed to death. I figured for my first time at Mashiko I'd do what everyone recommended and try this crazy tasting menu when the two sushi chefs are able to feed you whatever they damn well please until you can take no more. The way it works is you pay roughly $75 a head and they will keep sending you food, plate after plate after plate after plate. The meal starts off with little teases, sea snails cooked in broth, mahi mahi sashimi and a stupendous monkfish liver pate dish (oh no - Seafood Watch red alert!) to name but a few. The dishes got more substantial with the arrival of a plate of nigiri with some off piste ingredients. Canadian black cod, sea trout and more conventional hamachi turned up and delighted. The fish aside, the sushi rice was reminiscent of the rice I had in Tokyo, something I"ve never seen replicated in the US. Once the sushi-fest was over we started to get kitchen items, a delicious serving of kampachi followed with the only real dud of the night, a piece of salmon with this disgusting thai basil pesto smeared all over it. The thing I loved about the Omakase was it allowed the chef to push the boundaries of what you thought was acceptable, I had my palette challenged which rarely happens these days with the arrival of a toro cucumber roll with gratinated blue cheese. I still dont know whether I liked the combination of strong blue cheese and subtle fatty tuna but I'm glad I got to experience it. So if I didn't like some of the food served, why the five stars? Mashiko is a unique experience, it allows you to put yourself at the total mercy of the chefs, combined with the highest quality produce has made this one of the most memorable meals I've ever ate. Special mention must go to our server whose menu knowledge was one of the most comprehensive I've ever experienced. It almost became sport for us as we tried to fnd the depths of her knowledge, which we barely seemed to scratch the surface of. Omakase is a commitment, we were there for three hours and ate 15-16 courses. If this sounds like too much then just order a la carte, if it were even half as good as what we ate, you'll be in for a treat.

    (5)

  • Renee L.

    i live on the eastside and I specifically make a drive out to go to Mashiko if I want to treat myself. Their food is great and the menu is creative. The staff is always friendly. If you're going there for dinner, be prepared to wait (even on week nights). Fortunately, you can leave your phone number and explore the neighbourhood. No need to stand around the front entrance of the restaurant trying to keep yourself occupied :)

    (5)

  • Troy S.

    Can be a little bit of a wait sometimes but the sushi is excellent! I'm VERY picky when it comes to sushi and these guys do a great job:) EXTRA SPICY TUNA! YUMMY

    (4)

  • Sean K.

    OVER RATED! Descent sushi, but nothing special. Kind of dissapointing for a city that prides itself on having great seafood. Not to say that this retaurant is bad or anything, but it is just a mediocre sushi restaurant at best.

    (2)

  • Hanafi L.

    One word: Omakase. Just do it. I'd been told for years to throw myself in the hands of chef Hajime. Why did it take me so long to listen!? We told him we'd try anything when he asked how adventurous we felt. It was my friend's birthday, and in the process of wanting to give her a great food adventure, I got to have a stupendous one myself! I can't begin to describe exactly what we ate; Sometimes, Hajime started to give us the details, but at least once, he said: "Just eat it." We even tried to figure out the ingredients to his Japanese style vinaigrette that was the marinade for some geoduck. He laughed and said: "You don't think I'm going to tell you, do you?" There was a monkfish liver pate served with octopus that was fabulous, and the young and mature Hamachi nigiri was a new taste treat. Even the varieties of sake were terrific. We tried 4 different ones (I really liked the Kurosawa) and then shots of some type that was like nothing I've ever had before. Hajime gave it to us to have with his remarkable creme brule. I think the Omakase has a base cost of around $40 per person, plus drinks, but I have spent more for a far lesser quality meal. I will say the meal set a new benchmark for Japanese food. If you're gonna do it, sit at the sushi bar where you can chat with the chef. We reserved at 8PM at the bar and didn't leave until 10:30, blissed out. Go for it, I can't imagine you'll be disappointed.

    (5)

  • andrew m.

    Excellent food (not just sushi), and its amazing what Hajime can do with only sustainable seafood. Delicious guilt-free dining...how can it get any better. My wife and I have to eat gluten-free. Rather than picking through the menu for gluten-free items, I just leave us in the chef's hands, and it always worth it. Not every dish that comes out is a winner, but its never boring. And that's how really good food should be.

    (4)

  • Blake R.

    Two things impressed me when I went to Mashikos. Well, three actually, if you count the cool decor and laid back attitude of the staff (who seem to have taken an active stance against the usual attitude of stuffy primadonnas that work at some sushi joints.) The most fabulous thing I have ever seen at a sushi bar occurred when the waitress poured my sake bowl to overflowing and filled the saucer as well. I have eaten in sushi bars all over the world, on a weekly basis, for decades - and I have never been exposed to this custom! Maybe it's traditional, or maybe not - maybe it's Mashiko's idea - I don't care. I love it, and I think every sushi bar should be doing it. The last roll of the night was the best. The sushi chef, Jon, made a special roll for my friend Mingo. I don't remember what was in it (read above paragraph for the reason...) but it was green and awesome. I hope he calls it the Mingo Roll, but either way, it was divine evidence that when you ask an accomplished sushi chef to get creative, he can do so with gusto. Umai! At any rate, if you live in Seattle, or are just visiting, then you have to go to Mashikos. Order sake, and ask Jon to make you something special.

    (5)

  • Anthony B.

    Apparantly customer loyalty is not a factor here as they weren't willing to put me on the wait list as I was driving there and trying to save some time...here's one less regular you have to deal with. Good bye Mashiko, hello Azuma!

    (1)

  • Nicole A.

    This place is fantastic! Call ahead for reservations on weekends, it's well worth it! I have them programmed into my phone so if I'm going to be in the area it's super easy to call. The food is great, the service is great, and on top of it all every piece of seafood in the place is sourced from the most sustainable practices. No more guilt over by-catch or other wasteful fishing practices, or relying solely on your Seafood Watch card to try to figure out what to order. You'll see interesting things you won't see elsewhere, and my absolute favorite thing is to turn the control over the chef to bring me what he thinks is best at the moment for 5 surprising and tasty courses at a really reasonable price.

    (5)

  • Jeff G.

    If Elliot Spitzer had just spent his 5,000 bucks on SushiWhores instead of call girls he'd probably still be in office; and I'm sure his tummy would have been a lot happier. The place is small and the hours are short 5-10. But that means that they have just he right amount of fish everyday and it's always fresh. I'd walk the streets myself (and that would not be a pretty site) to earn enough money for their Spicy Tuna Roll which is the best I've had in this town. The Sukiyaki is also great. If you want to feel like a high class escort for streetwalker prices go for the course dinner for two for 50 bucks. It's a five course meal with a a kitchen appetizer, a sushi appetizer, a nigiri and roll plate an entree and dessert; for 10 bucks more you can each get a sake shot. It's different every day depending on the mood of the kitchen and what's fresh.

    (5)

  • Shari d.

    Based on many reviews we went Omakase. Leaving my meal at the mercy of another person can be slightly scary however when it comes to sushi I tend to worry less as I have rarely found any Japanese food that I did not like. In this case, even if we had chosen our own dishes, I fear that the food would have still been mediocre. We decided to order, in addition to the Omakase, Toro nigiri sushi and was severely disappointed. The Toro had been smashed to death...the consistency of a a slightly gritty toothpaste, constructed in the Gunkan Nigiri format. Why anyone would take such a beautiful piece of tuna and make it in the form of a toothpaste tells me that they either did not have enough or the quality was poor. In both cases...it should not have been served. Salad was over dressed, quail was overcooked and dry, ume infused rice was a horrible melange of flavors, asparagus roll was poorly constructed, and the whole fried smelt exploded with fish eggs and was soggy due to the excessive dressing. The only highlight was the dessert, which I suspect was not made at the restaurant. A green tea flavored cake that melted in your mouth! If I am ever in West Seattle again and craving sushi I will most likely drive over the bridge and head into Seattle.

    (2)

  • T A.

    if you're open minded, don't order from the menu. let the chef take care of you and keep coming back. this place is a great value for superlative food with soul.

    (5)

  • Tom T.

    Excellent Japanese food in a unique and unpretentious atmosphere. The chef uses sustainable seafood--hopefully others will follow his lead. The service is always the best too. I've never left Mashiko disappointed.

    (5)

  • Yvette B.

    My dinner date and I did the Omakase, the Chef was very intimidating. First thing he said was that we can "say anything" about the sushi. Only except that it was good. We couldn't eat the sea urchin, and he seemed angry and hurt. The sushi/food we ate was really good! It's a super small place, not meant for big groups. Their alcohol beverage selection contains beer and sake... thats it. Overall, it was a good experience, but next time i go, I will not eat at the sushi bar where the chef can stare at us.

    (3)

  • Sheila Y.

    Five stars because I went with a regular and therefore we got a total off the menu experience, including two seats waiting for us at the bar as a whole slew of people waited by the door to get in ;)...I'm talking toro with toasted sesame oil and macadamia nuts...umi on fried shiso leaves...and a super buttery salmon collar....just delicious! I therefore recommend calling...requesting some sort of omakase/chef's choice and letting the delightful and incredibly knowledgeable sushi artists go to work! ***FYI: where we were sitting at the bar it stated that we should smile because we were on their "sushi-cam"...thats right...check out their website and watch all the shiny-happy people gorging on some of the freshest fish in Seattle!

    (5)

  • Carrie L.

    To add insult to injury they called us back the day AFTER with the incorrect time. So we had a FRIDAY reservation for 6:45. They called back on SATURDAY claiming we had given them no notice before missing our 7:15 reservation. Are you serious, Mashiko?? You get the time and day wrong, offer us no explanation or apology, and then have the audacity to call us back and accuse us of missing our reservation time? Of course, when we explained to them again what happened, we were still offered nothing in the way of apology. A simple "Oh", and that was it. I seriously think I will never be back. Get your #$%* together, guys.

    (1)

  • Constance L.

    Mashiko is my favorite Japanese restaurant in America. I used to say it was my favorite sushi restaurant in America, but last Saturday my partner took me there for a Kaiseki dinner that she and Sato-san had planned for my birthday: very little sushi or sashimi, but 16 courses of mind-blowing awesome. Sato-san and his cooks prepared dishes that are rare and special even in Japan, including family recipes. Each course was tailored to the season, including fresh, local, sustainable ingredients, as well as to our individual tastes. Since I don't eat red meat or poultry, and my partner has texture issues, this was a huge challenge, but they pulled it off beautifully. In addition, the staff was quick, friendly, and helpful, above and beyond the call of duty. Mashiko has been our first choice for sushi for years, but now the restaurant has been elevated to our first choice for special occasions, as well. They turned what could have been the worst birthday ever (4.5 hours in the ER), into one my best birthdays ever. If I could give them more stars, I would. Epic win!!!

    (5)

  • Zane M.

    Good spot. Good fish. Good service. Fun saki.

    (4)

  • Chris B.

    I've lived in Asia for most of adult life, traveled a bit in Japan and am a fan of Japanese food in general, so Mashiko is a real treat. It's really different than a lot of Japanese restaurants that focus so much on presentation and traditional preparation. I like that this place experiments and also tries to educate customers about sushi culture and sustainability. Female sushi chefs? Yes. Generous portions, excellent sake, patient and genuine wait staff...need I go on?

    (5)

  • Beth G.

    Go for the chefs choice menu. Nice staff. Hard to get a cab back into Seattle - but still worth it!

    (4)

  • Starla S.

    Yes. Yes. Yes. If you are a true sushiwhore, this is your true sushi lair. This place bleeds fresh fish. The best way to go is just tell your server that you want to spend $x per person (usually $35 to $45 is a good number) and they'll do you up right. Be sure NOT to mention certain things you don't like... or they'll hide them in there to spite you. It's the best damn sushi in town with a grand sense of humor. Just be prepared to wait... don't worry though... tons of cute things to peruse in the hood.

    (5)

  • Bob M.

    So my first geoduck experience was not as good as I would have desired-- however, the chef sashimi special was unreal. There were eight different pieces of fish (only one of which I had ever even heard of) each of which was amazingly delicious. I love portland, but if this is just par for seattle, um......... SErvice was pretty good for a party of seven, and they were not pushy as we stayed until about midnight on a weeknight...oh yeah and sustainable like bamboo...if ur in the area, def check this spot out.

    (5)

  • Mimi L.

    Went here again last night for the omakase dinner. Worth every penny! I ate things that I have never even heard of before. My favorite dish was the soft geoduck sauteed with matsutake with butter. Simply delicious. Everything was super fresh, sustainable and creative. Sit at the sushi bar so the chef can explain to you what all the ingredients are. And wave at the webcam cuz you're broadcasted live. Thanks Mashiko for an unforgetable meal!

    (5)

  • Zoe S.

    Omakase! Every time I've been to Mashikos, I get Omakase (with a minimum of 4 people), the chef's special. Whats fresh is fresh is put before me and my crew of people. Every time a plate comes, I photograph before the food starts to fly into people's mouths. Its a magnificent experience: The parade of 10-14 dishes, seeing people's reaction, hearing about their review of each morsel they enjoyed or not. Don't go to Mashikos and expect conveyor belt sushi speed. And You must save room for the best dessert evar! Plum sorbet with tempera fried apples.

    (5)

  • Erin W.

    Hubbie and I had to come here on a Monday as it seems impossible to get a chair in this place on a weekend, unless you want to wait a ridiculous amount of time - we were once quoted 90 minutes. (When I worked in the restaurant business, that's what we told people when we were too busy and just wanted them to go away). Mashiko did not disappoint. The variety of the menu was fantastic. I had the best toro I have ever had in my life, and a wonderful spici himachi roll that had garlic and sriracha sauce. Yum. I wouldn't call the service slow - it was more 'paced', in my opinion. A good thing when you're eating sushi. Otherwise, the meal goes by too quickly. We were a little surprised at how expensive the bill was, but next time we'll skip the Sapporos and spend the money on more sushi instead.

    (4)

  • Calen K.

    Great sushi experience here, the fish choices are a little different as they stick with sustainable options, so namagi instead of unagi but I was happy with everything. The tuna on a show shoe was the perfect combo of crispy tempura batter (there was a leaf in the middle, but really it was batter) topped with meltingly tender tuna, a tasty treat. Service at the bar was prompt, can't speak for the floor. With beer, a very satisfying quantity of fish ended up costing about $35 but if you can reign in your gluttony (I can't) you could manage closer to $25, less if you choose entrees or rolls, so not cheap but not horrendous either My biggest issue was the size of the menu, it's enormous and I wanted to try everything. I'll have to come back and try some hot dishes.

    (4)

  • Glenn L.

    This is our favorite sushi bar around. The staff is always friendly and helpful. Great selection and prices. Small and cozy, not sterile like some of the other popular places. This is our restaurant of choice on date night.

    (5)

  • Amanda C.

    This is the best Japanese restaurant in Seattle. My boyfriend and I love sitting at the bar and chatting with Hajime. He is an amazing chef. We always get the sashimi platter. Trust me, sustainable fish taste way better than that cheap stuff. You'll pay a little extra, but it is totally worth it. His curry is very good -- tastes homemade. And the gyoza is amazing. If I had a higher income, I would eat here way more often!

    (5)

  • Kimberly F.

    My husband and I went there for the first time last night. We were quickly seated and were given friendly, attentive service by everyone. We felt that we got a lot for the money: for $54 plus tip, we had 2 misos, mussels dynamite, unagi, rainbow roll, atomic spicy tuna and spider roll (plus a free edamame). The sushi tasted great and was of excellent quality. The dynamite could have been a bit bigger, but maybe because it was so tasty it left us wanting more. We will definitely be going back!

    (5)

  • Amani Ellen L.

    The food is sublime, and if you sit at the sushi bar, you get grrrreat service. the wait staff consists of a few aloof, well-meaning people who tend to forget a lot of things. the good: the food, the proximity, the food the bad: the wait staff, the prices the ugly: they refuse to take orders to-go if they are busy, which is absolutely ridiculous. more expen$ive if you have drinks, natch. No liquor, just beer, wine and sake.

    (4)

  • Jeremy C.

    The best sushi in Seattle, bar none. This place has the freshest fish, and according to the sushi chef is one of the few places that sources their sushi somewhere different from most of the sushi places in Seattle. This explains the difference from most other sushi places. Also, they sometimes carry real wasabi ($3), which is a rare treat! The one downfall is that they are a bit on the expensive side...

    (5)

  • Heather J.

    Its the website that catches my eye and makes me want to dine here, who wouldn't want to try a place called sushi whore, although trying to remember the real name is often difficult. This might be hard for advertising purposes. It seems to be a favorite of west seattlies as everyone I know is always suggesting events here. Its good for a group event, but prices can add up fast making this an expensive night out where you might not be very full. There is something on the menu for everyone even for people who don't like sushi or seaweed or fish.

    (3)

  • Joey T.

    The sushi was great here, a little pricey but hey you get what you pay. The fishes we had were very fresh. Atmosphere was low light casual place with a mini sushi bar.

    (4)

  • Marilyn V.

    I was randomly craving Japanese food while in WS and remembered this restaurant was here. I completely forgot how great their food was! The fish was fresh, tonkatsu was AMAZING and prices were reasonable. They had a few specialty items made especially for their restaurant, such as Jasmine brewed beer and ginger ice cream. I'd say the only downside was upon entry, there was no hostess, only a sign: "please wait to be seating for table or bar seating." As we sat waiting, a couple came in and walked straight to the sushi bar (talk about rude). No waitresses corrected them, so we had to wait a few minutes more. Free sushiwhore.com buttons upfront, they're hilarious!

    (4)

  • T G.

    Great sushi, great prices.

    (5)

  • Ashley E.

    Mashiko has ruined me. I love sushi. Now I can't get the sashimi sampler from Mashiko out of my head. I don't think I'll ever have anything as good as that. It was the freshest sushi I have ever eaten. So tender it melts in your mouth. Yummmm..... 5 stars for quality. 5 stars for service. 5 stars for sustainability. 5 stars for pure awesomeness.

    (5)

  • Sacha P.

    My wife and I had a great dinner here and can't wait to go back. Service and food were excellent. The Red Violin roll was so good and the perfect amount of spice and refreshing taste of cilantro! The accompanying fried shrimp heads with the amaebi nigiri was a great touch. Would have been happy just eating a plate of those things. The spider roll was humongous and very tasty. Will have to try one of the sushi bowls or the Omakase next time. There is quite a selection of other traditional Japanese dishes on the menu that definitely sounded good.

    (5)

  • Perry B.

    With a website like Sushiwhore.com how could you go wrong. First off I have eaten sushi all over the world but to find this gem just 5 minutes from my house is amazing. The uni was one of the most incredible experiences I have had. Simple and pure the way sushi should be enjoyed. I can't wait to order the kaiseki someday. This is a sushi place that lives by a different mission. With a sustainable seafood menu it is a place that I can truly enjoy eating at guilt free.

    (5)

  • Erik k.

    as a huge fan of sushi..this is not the place that i looked for i had better expirence many other place in seattle area service was ok but too pricey

    (3)

  • Daniel L.

    I've been here twice, once for sit-down and once for take-out. The take-out was to surprise my house-bound wife/new mother on her birthday. I was given the snotty, passive-aggressive Seattitude for the temerity to request take out. My advice to Sushiwhore: get over yourselves - you ain't all THAT good.

    (1)

  • Manuel W.

    Over two visits so far I've experienced prompt, attentive service and fresh sushi. The chefs are not, let's say, traditional, but they "get it" in terms of matching ingredients & flavors to fish. Especially enjoyed a roll with tempura onion, albacore, green onion, and special Garlic sauce on top. The menu is long with dozens of rolls alone--the indecisive need not apply. If you eat only hot dishes you can stay under $20 w/drink, around $30 for sushi. Check the specials board above the bar.

    (4)

  • Matthew D.

    I think Mashiko is the best sushi in Seattle. The American style rolls are great. If you don't love the taste of seaweed, they offer soy paper wraps for the sushi rolls. Everything tastes very fresh, and there is never a fishy smell. There is a Cajun spiced shrimp roll that is incredible, and I like the crystal shrimp roll too. The service can be slow, because it is incredibly popular and also rather small. It is more expensive than some other sushi bars, but it is fresh, and inventive. Points for that. Just ignore the sad reviews that say things like, " not sure if they were trying to be funny when they said easy on the soy sauce or named their website www.sushiwhore.com". Some people have no sense of humor and are easily offended.

    (5)

  • Alice R.

    I can't believe I haven't yelped this yet. I go here so often it's ridiculous! How could I not love a place with live webcam trained on the sushi bar. C'mon! It's sushiwhore.com . but have you ever watched? It's like C-span for sushi. Not really all that interesting (to me). Mashiko is the ultimate neighborhood sushi place. It's the kind of place that makes me wish I lived in West Seattle. Hajime, the owner, has a great sense of humor and posts his rules for eating here which includes: "shut up and eat!" You clearly know what you're in for when you see a sign in the waiting area that reads: "Don't seat yourself unless you are illiterate." Besides the sushi which is EXCELLENT, this is a fun place, there are all kinds of fun little quirky things I love about Mashiko's. There are robot toys and knickknacks strewned about including a row of magic 8 balls in the tiny waiting area. When the host says it may be another 30-40mins, you can ask the magic 8 ball. "Should I wait and have them call me on my cell phone while I walk around California Ave?" Magic 8 ball says, "my sources say yes!" I spent 15 mins waiting for a space at the bar tonight because I knew it would be worth it and I always get great service. I have experienced the slow pace of service when seated at one of the tables, but that's why I sit at the bar. It's fun to talk to the sushi chefs Mariah or John. They are truly friendly and after a few repeat visits, they get to know you. Their other staff is also wonderful. You can ask Chris pratically anything about their extensive sake selection or wine.

    (5)

  • L Eldub W.

    So close to five stars... What do you do at a new sushi place? Chef's special of course! This is their chance to wow you with their best. How can one refuse? Mashiko has both the standard chef's sushi choice and chef's sashimi choice, but they also have a "Course" menu that expands into other items from the kitchen. We chose the Course menu and away we went. The started sliced and marinated hamachi, served with cucumber and seaweed. It was very nice and highlighted the fish. The followed with nigiri. Salmon, sawara and inada. This was very good and was complimented by the Sake they chose. But then came the reason this isn't a five-star review... the stir-fried udon. It had fish in it, but I couldn't tell you what kind. It was a white fish. It was overpowered by the vegetables and underseasoned by the sauce. Although edible, it was definitely a letdown after such a strong start. Fortunately, the unagi, avocado and fried yam roll put things back on course. They finished with a mango cheesecake which they say was made with honey, no sugar. It had an interesting texture (like a custard) but the taste was fine. Overall, $60 (menu price) for the course meal for two and four sake shots. Very reasonable considering the quality. I'll definitely go back, Reading other people's reviews, I'm going to guess I just caught an off night with the kitchen. The service was great and our waitress did a fantastic job selecting the sake.

    (4)

  • Jason T.

    Mashiko serves absolutely insulting food. Though it might be better if do the omakase thing, we found that nearly everything we ordered off the menu or from the specials list was presented bizarrely, sometimes with completely odd garnishes (from a Japanese culinary perspective, anyway), and was universally of unimpressive quality. An expensive, expensive plate of fried soft-shell crabs was presented in a manner that suggested a stop-motion animation of crabs crawling toward Hiromi. The most offensive thing was: we ordered tsukemono no moriawase, and were treated to an oversized portion of shibazuke, gobo, takuan and one or two others, straight out of the cheapest packages of pickles from Uwajimaya's refrigerator case, piled inelegantly on a little white plate, for $8. Three small portions of some housemade shiozuke or nukazuke and I'd be completely happy, but I can buy those $2 bags of pickles myself. We didn't order any of their "creative" stuff, just things that we'd expect any Japanese restaurant to pull off. Those are clearly not their strengths. For me, the fact that this place is so crowded is just proof that Seattle people, on average, don't know anything about Japanese food, and they prefer drama to quality. Mashiko is expensive and mediocre.

    (1)

  • Kris C.

    So good! Very creative and unique rolls that I had not seen before like the Limeade Roll. The fish was as I had expected. I wish that the drink/wine list was a bit more robust, but the place isnt that big, so it is fine.

    (5)

  • Diana S.

    YUM! A professional chef in Seattle told me to go to Mashiko. We were talking about the Japanese government's plan to certify what's "real" sushi, as they are apparently quite upset about the success of the California Roll. He explained this could create a serious philosophical conundrum for places like Mashiko's, where they love to innovate with new ingredients but train with classical Japanese sushi techniques. I guess it's like when someone with Cordon Bleu training moves to the Pacific Northwest...if that chef starts using local ingredients, is the food no longer French? Mull that over as you try nigiri with curry powder tucked between salmon and rice, rolls that include traditional fish and veggies but are topped with a spicy mayo, etc. The fish is high quality, the sushi is prepared superbly, but those flavors! Those flavors are excitingly old and new all at once. You can certainly order the classics, but this is the place to experiment with some brilliant breakaway Japanese artistry.

    (4)

  • Salvina B.

    really enjoyed my dinner here... so the place is a little small, but they seem to make the most of the space. atmosphere is relaxed, a little loud, but not too serious. i liked the artwork that was hanging up also :) now, on to the FOOD. it was really, really fresh and just so tasty. we had miso soup, which was comforting and just the right salty-ness, and edamame in a garlicy sauce that i could not stay away from. my fave piece of sashimi that night was the hawaiian albacore...great texture, buttery, and sliced perfectly. i also sampled the tuna, king white salmon, and geoduck. all fresh...i personally was not a fan of the geoduck, texture wasn't my cup of tea. i also shared some rolls...highlights were the white center roll, the bowler roller and the rainbow roll. i left very satisfied, some of the best, creative sushi i've had in a really long time. and its sustainable- big big big plus!

    (4)

  • Oren F.

    I think this is the best Sushi / Japanese cuisine in the city. Very fresh. Creative, quality preparation.

    (5)

  • Michael G.

    Unfortunately as a sushi lover I do not live near the ocean. So while in Seattle I made sure to stop at a couple sushi joints. Kisaku was first and Mashiko came last; Mashiko was definitely better. At Mashiko my wife and I shared the Chef's Course Meal. Everything we had was lively, perfectly prepared, and a little inventive. The jasmine creme brulee at the end was a perfect finish.

    (5)

  • Ngoc H.

    The food here was fairly good. I had the course meal for two. It came with a poke salad for an appetizer. The sushi courses were saba roll with shiso and nigiri: white king salmon, rainbow trout and some kind of yellowtail. The kitchen items were clams in a butter broth and saba misozuke. And a jasmine creme brulee for dessert. Overall the food was good. However, the saba misozuke was so salty that it was difficult to eat. I would definitely go back but I wouldn't order the saba.

    (4)

  • Ross M.

    The food wasgood and the server was nice enough, BUT SERIOUSLY, if you tell people it will be a 1 hour wait and they wait, DON'T MAKE THEM WAIT TWO FREAKIN HOURS. The good news is I am sure this won't heppen again, at least not to me.

    (1)

  • Jill B.

    Now that I have left West Seattle for good, Mashiko will be sorely missed. Great food, worth the wait. Enjoy the fun toilet in the ladies room!

    (5)

  • ML J.

    I've been attending services at Mashiko since they opened. Hajime has made it difficult for me to appreciate sushi anywhere else, and that includes my occasional trips to Japan. The food is rich with tradition, but everything else is uniquely Mashiko. Sit at the sushi bar, take some risks and let the chef do what they do best: improvise. The only downside to Mashiko is that Hajime has a hard time finding good table servers. However, last week I had a great experience with an attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable waiter. BEST. SUSHI. EVER.

    (5)

  • N J.

    Overall, the food was interesting and good. We did the omakase and really were impressed by the variety of dishes - rainbow trout sashimi! We really enjoyed the poke as well. We were given little squids as well and that was delicious! We definitely did NOT enjoy this whole scallop dish with mayo and served over rice... it was just too fishy or something. It was rather heavy too. To wrap it up, we had a jasmine creme brulee thing that was incredible. They also had a great sake selection. My main issue with this place is that I was served too much escolar - called white tuna. I SERIOUSLY paid for it through the night. Kind of dampened my enjoyment of the place, if you know what I mean.

    (4)

  • Arnnie S.

    Mashiko, Mashiko, Mashiko. . . What else can I say that hasn't been said about this place? OMAKASE! Let's see. . . 1. Sashimi of striped bass served with Yuzu and Yuzu-infused tobiko served with pickles to cleanse the palette. . . 2. A salad served with a liberal amount of ahi tuna and a wasabi-aoili for dressing 3. Three kinds of oysters with chili sauce, radish sprouts, and a tangy sauce that cleanses the palette from the last dish. . . 4. Three kinds of hors d'oeuvres? Snail, striped sea bass milk-sack, and a piece of raw geoduck with seaweed(tangy/sweet). The three go well together. The snail is very good and meaty. The milk-sack is creamy, reminds me of uni, but with a slight firmer texture. The last is the raw geoduck served with seaweed, which was very good. It's an adventure of textures and of palette notes. 5. Aji(Japanese mackerel) tataki served with its bones deep-fried. I have never loved eating fish bones like these. I do have to say that I like I prefer the plum-powder seasoned fried fish bones better, but this is great nonetheless. The amalgam of raw aji with its delicate flavor and soft texture is offset with its fried counterpart. 6. Chilean Sea Bass Kasuzuke style served with asparagus. Great texture combination between the asparagus and fish. It was cooked perfectly. The marinade was awesome. It penetrated the fish, but didn't overpower the fish. 7. Broiled/grilled black cod served with sauteed vegetables. The seasonings of the black cod were composed of salt and pepper, but was accentuated with the seasoning of the sauteed vegetables. I loved the skin of the fish. 8. Nigiri - What else can be said about their nigiri? That night I had Kanpachi, Toro, I forgot what the last one was. 9. Dessert Roll(Thanks John) - The marriage of egg and eel wrapped with soy paper and black sesame seeds and topped with sweet sauce? It was like eating a warm custard pie. Disclaimer: These were all from memory,so I might have forgotten something. We could've had more, but I was full and it was late. Everyone should try the Uni cooked with snowshoes. This has been the first place that made me want to get Uni. Thanks again John and Mariah. Although he wasn't there, thanks Hajime-san.

    (5)

  • Carol H.

    LOVE LOVE LOVE this restaurant! The chef's are friendly and helpful. My boyfriend and I typically order the sunomono for starters, a few peices of nigiri and a couple of rolls (try the Lemonade and The Red Violin) and that is usually enough to satisfy for the night. The prices are not conveyor belt cheap but the fish is phenomenal and NEVER old. The owner has a created an environment that is entertaining and a menu that any sushi lover should appreciate!

    (5)

  • David P.

    it blows my mind a little that mashiko only averages 4 stars on yelp. i thought it was one of best quality/value combinations i've ever seen. i'd recommend trying the chef's course. they bring out four courses of fantastic food. it's easy to forget that there's more to japanese food than just sushi. mashiko does a great job of mixing in some non-sushi courses to keep the meal more balanced. the whole thing is only $60 for two - a steal if you ask me. they actually have three levels of the chef's course. the next level is omakase - which presumably is similar but with more courses and more exotic stuff. they also have a top level called the kaiseki dinner which requires two weeks of advance notice! kaiseki dinner: you are my everest. i'm not ready yet but one day i will be...

    (5)

  • Michelle B.

    Do you have a sushi hater in your life? It's ok, admit it, they annoy you. It's understandable given the fact that when you get a sushi craving nothing but sushi is going to satisfy. Mashiko is here to unite sushi lovers and haters, making the world better one dining experience at a time. Serving up some damn fine sushi is great and all, but the fact that they add on an overwhelming menu of home cooked Japanese food makes this place extra special. We had a Japanese curry that my sister described as "how mom used to make it" but if you look at my photos you can tell we do not have a Japanese mother. So, I took the description a step further and described it as "packet curry" you know those packets in the grocery store (yes, by the gravy packets) that contain a mild curry. Yes, that's what it tastes like, and I for one think it is delicious! It's almost like stew, and seemed perfect for a yucky Seattle day. The tempura vegetables and shrimp were gone in about two minutes, we almost got in a fight over the last of the edamame beans, and the sizzling chicken platter was yum yum yum. All the food was good. Sure the decor could use a bit of work, and the service was just so-so, but the real draw is that the folks at Mashiko just plain old amuse me - their website is sushiwhore.com complete with live webcam, they have a bunch of rules including "we are not responsible if you burn your tongue", and they provide magic 8 balls to pass the time in the minuscule waiting area. Good food and good times. I'll be back.

    (4)

  • Shelbi ..

    Update 11/1/07 - I am reducing this to a 3 star. I am sorry but the state of the aquarium up front with algae overcoming and killing everything in it makes me wonder about how well the rest of the things are kept. This time the rolls were sort of sloppy and not even flavor thru out. **************************************************­********************** Used to be a staple in our going out restaurant selection. Not so much anymore, but to no fault of their own. Good quality food, decent portions etc. They used to have this fantastic waitress named Fish, but she's now at Elliot Bay, and it's just not the same. She would sit down with us and tell us about different things to try and just made that experience fun. Also it's better to sit at the bar than a table because you get more attention. :-) Guess I'm an attention whore, lol.

    (3)

  • A V.

    Over rated! If sustainable means pay over $80 for two people and leave hungry then this is your place. I've eaten here at least 6 times and each time I have high expectations that aren't met. I'm underwhelmed by the quality of the sushi. It's not bad but doesn't stand out compared to other sushi restaurants we frequent. I would even say it's comparable to the other two restaurants that serve sushi on California. The portion size of the sushi/sashimi you get is so small that you need to be prepared to spend some serious change to feel satisfied (and I'm not even talking full). My wife who is 5' 4" and weights 120 lbs can have soup, edamame and two rolls and still be thinking about having another roll. They probably serve the smallest rolls of any place we go to yet the charge the most. The service is average and can be fairly slow on a busy night. If you have a reservation don't expect to be seated on time.

    (1)

  • Linda C.

    I read the reviews yesterday before meeting my friend for dinner and noted the negative comments about the snarkiness of the wait staff especially with respect to take out orders. What I witnessed was one woman being denied the opportunity to place an order with a graciousness and civility that was truly commendable. Of course she was disappointed but, had she read the reviews, she would have been prepared. Dining out is about the experience as well as the food. I appreciated the customer focus. Below is a short quip I wrote to my husband about the evening. Hopefully it sums up what to expect for you. "We went to a sustainable sushi bar in West Seattle that was FANTASTIC! I didn't realize until just now that it was the first of its kind in the WORLD. Great service, and the food was artfully prepared without being pretentious. They also had these nifty 4 foot screens between tables so you had an illusion of privacy. We will definitely have to make it a destination when we bike the area again."

    (5)

  • Bridget L.

    I would love to eat at Mashiko everyday. Good thing it's in West Seattle or I'd be broke. Whether it's sushi or more home-style dishes like curried veggie and noodle soup, I've never been disappointed with anything I've ordered. I know better than to try and squeeze my way in on a weekend. Maybe that's why I've never experienced "bad" service that some reviews mentioned. It's fun to sit at the bar, watch the chefs, and play with the little wind-up toys while you wait. And great music, too!

    (5)

  • Marnie C.

    I am a regular. I highly recommend sitting at the bar and having the chefs take care of you. Hajime is wonderful. Super friendly staff. I always start with Miso, and am a creature of habit so I usually follow it up with Red Violin, the Limade, the White Center and going for the Chef's Choice sashimi. Also, visit their very cool website where you can view a live webcam.

    (4)

  • Cam O.

    Possibly the best sushi I've had. I love the funky atmosphere and the service is always great. Go for the Chef's menu and let Hajime and his people work their magic!

    (5)

  • Hitomi S.

    Authentic Japanese! Great taste, beautiful presentation, friendly service. Definitely 5 stars.

    (5)

  • Pooja S.

    Really really good sushi! Coming out of a self imposed vegetarian exile, I was craving sushi with a vengance. Dragged the husband here since I had heard this was the best place in Seattle for sushi. We werent disappointed although we did have some hits and misses. The Namagi which is like Unagi but is really catfish in bbq sauce was ok as was the caterpillar roll. Being unable to eat raw fish was something which made this sushi experience difficult but the labelling on the menu more than made up for it. The highlights were the crab nigri and the dragon roll. All of the fish was super fresh and tasty! also the staff is warm and really go out of their way to make you comfortable.

    (4)

  • Dawn A.

    We went here on our "Quest for Great Sushi in Seattle" and weren't entirely unhappy with our experience. The service was great and we had a neat table by the window with magic 8 balls to play with. We don't understand why there is a "best bathrooms in the NW" sticker on the door but it was a neat little place. As for the food, it was fine. The miso was okay, shrimp & veg tempura pretty standard, and the rolls were okay-tasting although inventive. There were plenty of options for us and we thought it was okay, but not a place we needed to come back to again and again with all the other places to explore.

    (3)

  • Johaun C.

    any japanese restaurant that can serve this quality food and has the humor to have "www.sushiwhore.com" as their domain of choice is a winner in my book. too often, high quality sushi comes with a side of pretentiousness (at least, in my own experience). that is, unless you're walking the streets of Japan. but this is Seattle. fantastic menu. i appreciate the subtle interplay between the modern and the traditional, the playful and the tasteful. the interior matches the whimsical playfulness throughout--seems to be Mashiko's mantra. out in the boonies of West Seattle, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better sushi experience. the gyoza appetizer is of the Tokyo-street-food variety, rather than the typical fresh-from-the-freezer-bag sort--highly recommended.

    (4)

  • Kim N.

    First, I'm rating both on the quality of the service and the food. The GOOD: We had an assortment of sushi, katsu, udon and agedashi tofu. The fish was excellent, melt in your mouth and very fresh. The cooked dishes were tasty as well. The udon noodles had just the right amount of tenderness and chew and the dish was flavored well with a variety of vegetables. The agedashi tofu was also good, the tofu was cooked perfectly (although I've had more flavorful broths). Overall, the food was well prepared and tasty. The BAD: When our reservation was made, we were told that we just needed to be finished within an hour and a half because they had a large party coming in later. That was fine with us as we're typically done with a meal in about an hour. When we arrived, the waitress seated us and immediately came to ask if we wanted appetizers since we had limited time and needed to leave soon. We had barely had a chance to look at the menu. RUDE. We were already aware of the time constraint. We then felt pressured to make quick decisions on ordering. Our food was delivered and the waitress disappeared. One of our dishes were wrong but we didn't see our waitress again until everyone was finished eating and by that time it was too late, especially since they were in a hurry. We cleared out with 30 minutes to spare and dinner only went that long because the waitress took so long to come back to us. Terrible service and based on their prices I would have expected more. Again, food was good which kept it as a 3-star. But for comparable prices, we'd probably head to Oshan or Shiro's.

    (3)

  • Lara O.

    I've been going here for at least 8 years and I've NEVER been disappointed. OK, so, if I forget to make a reservation (DUH, I knew I should have called), I have to wait- a L O N G time, so long sometimes, I'll run next door and get something to eat at Husky Deli or one of the other great places in West Seattle- but oh, it's worth the wait. For the novice or the experienced sushi lover, this is one of the best places in Seattle to get super fresh and creative sushi.

    (5)

  • Joy S.

    I need to go a second time and just skip the rolls. This will also give me an excuse to go on another date with the hot guy that took me there. First we ordered sake, and the glasses came out in little glass bowls that I assume had been filled with ice, but had melted, so our sake glasses were dripping water everywhere on our table. That was a little annoying. We ordered albacore sashimi, miso soups, albacore nigiri, the Fifth Element Roll, and the Temptation Island roll. The miso wasn't that bad, but it could have used more tofu. The rolls sounded more inventive than they tasted, but there were so many, I'm sure they didn't speak for the whole menu. The price for the Fifth Element, with real crabmeat subbed for that "krab" stuff, was $15, so I had my expectations set pretty high. Oh, well. The albacore was so amazing, though. Almost like velvet. This made me wonder if Mashiko does the raw fish thing better than the maki thing. I'm going the nigiri/sashimi route next time. The service was slow, but I can understand, since there were only two servers covering the place (and sushi restaurants always go a little slower, due to the level of detail in the food and answering everyone's sushi questions. I worked at a sushi joint once and it KILLED me!). Since the fellow taking care of us was really friendly, and even acknowleged our departure while I smoked outside after our meal, I didn't care. Suggestion for all you hurried panic-diners? USE THE DOWN TIME TO RELAX. Talk to your date/husband/buddy while service is running slow. This is what we chose to do while we waited for our food, and it gave us time to get to know eachother before stuffing our faces. I'm gonna give this place another shot. I've read the reviews on the other dishes and can't wait, but I'll need to save up if I go alone.

    (3)

  • Rowena D.

    I dined here a couple of weeks ago and loved it. We got there as the restaurant was opening so we were seated right away. The staff was super friendly and eager to answer any questions we had about their menu. My husband and I started out with the Salmon and Mushrooms appetizer which was delicious. The salmon was prepared perfectly with sake and a garlic butter sauce which was a good accompaniment. The salmon was also a good sized portion. We then shared a few sushi rolls and a few nigiri pieces. The nigiri pieces we chose were tasty and the sushi rolls - Rainbow, The Bowler Roller and Crystal Shrimp were great. Mashiko has a really extensive menu with so many different rolls that I would love to try in the future.

    (5)

  • lara s.

    great for special occasions and adventurous dining. I had the omakase once and it was divine but rilly spendy. never had anything bad here, but its pricy enough and there are often long waits that I wouldn't go here if I just wanted a tuna roll and gyoza. but if you want to try something besides the usual rolls/udon/ donburi, this is where you should go.

    (4)

  • Henry S.

    This is hands down the best sushi restaurant in Seattle. At least for the time being. But if you are looking for a top tier restaurant this is one of them. With sushi restaurants there are a couple of things that are worth paying attention to. Good sushi restaurants wont always have what you want. Period. If you are eating Uni in December there is something wrong. Sure its available but it is not in season. The best sushi restaurants will not serve out of season fish. I'm firm on this belief. The reason i say this is because we are talking about the BEST. It does make a difference in the quality of fish. This place is great. The atmosphere is perfect and calm, the chef and his trainees are great, prices are fair and the food is fantastic. I'm a Sashimi fan. Everything i had was fantastic. One of the cool new additions to the menu change recently is that they only serve sustainable fish. WHAT A GREAT AND AWESOME IDEA!!!!! An almost guilt free meal. Preparation of the rolls and sashimi are fantastic and the flavors are great. The sake and beer selection is great too. Seriously everything about this place is great.

    (5)

  • Vanessa F.

    Very creative and yummy place. Some of the best sushi I've had...ever. Also they serve Hitachino Nest Ale, which is such a good Japanese beer that I cant find anywhere. They are very family friendly and relaxed as well. I like this place. Alot.

    (5)

  • Shyam H.

    So, I took the wrong bus and landed in West Seattle instead of Wallingford, and ended going here just by chance for dinner. They had two seats at the sushi bar and we took them gladly. The menu felt a bit daunting (I was tired from the previous misadventure) and we didn;t feel like we'd be up for the highly reviewed chef's menu. So we ordered a bottle of sapporo and asked for a few things from the kitchen. Fried [fish] ribs with curry salt was quite nice and flavorful. As was the grilled Saba with dill. Seared ostrich salad was a-ok (won't order that again) -- what were we thinking anyway ordering ostrich at a sushi bar .. we couldn;t figure out what assorted seafood was on that dynamite thing, but it really hit the spot. All the while I was eyeing what the woman next to us was eating -- she had ordered the chef's special and what she was getting looked quite good. So to top it off, we asked them to make that fishy-thing with the tempura base and it was like dessert. Need to go here again, when we are more relaxed and perhaps with a couple of more people.

    (4)

  • Yiling W.

    At Mashiko, your sake sampler turns into a 'Journey' and your sashimi plate (which you ordered) is explained at length to test your patience. This place serves decently good sushi, udon noodles, and a generous portioned edamame order. That would've made at least three stars. Sadly, each of these comes with a small side of pretentious explanation you'll have to sit through as the dish is served (minus one star). Booooo. I guess that's why it's more expensive than the other Japanese place across and up the street that we'll be frequenting from now on.

    (2)

  • L F G.

    I was told this place was really good and we had to try it. After waiting 20 minutes for a table, we were seated right behind the fish tank as you walk in. After being seated, it was another 15 minutes before a server came by to get our drink orders, and informed us that he was not our server, but would be happy to take our drink orders. Being absolutely starving, we gave him our drink orders (3 kirins and one water with lemon) as well as our food order. He wasn't happy about having to take our food orders, but he did it, and promptly corrected a half-japanese friend on how to pronounce her beer properly (did i mention he was caucasian?). He delivered 3 beers which were warm, and water came with no lemon. Lemons were requested and he nodded and walked off. 10 minutes after, our waitress finally appeared to ask how we wanted our meals served, as one of ours was going to be multiple courses. Lemons were requested. Over 30 minutes later, and being bypassed by our waitress, multiple times, the ice had melted in my water, i had no lemons, and everyone's beers were only sipped as they were so warm they were deeemed undrinkable. We ran out of conversation about the sad state of the fish tank, and being as hungry as we were, i got cranky. Apparently I wasn't the only one thinking the same way, as we agreed to get up and leave. We caught our server who had yet to bring anything to the table. To her credit, she did not make excuses. She did mention they had new chef's in the kitchen, but didn't make excuses. She went back to the kitchen to cancel our meals, and came out to tell us that the first course out of 5 was actually prepared (chef's special/omakase) and she wanted to at least feed us that. We refused, and told her the beers were warm, and lemons were requested 3 times and we had been there long enough. She returned the $20 bill we had given her to cover the beers, as she said she was sorry the beers were warm, and that there were no excuses, but she hoped that we could come back and try them again in the future. I'm sure the sushi is good - if you can get served, but after this debacle, i'm loathe to try it again. I should mention this was a middle of the week day in early September.. and not a weekend.

    (1)

  • Sophia S.

    This is my favorite Japanese restaurant in Seattle. I usually have omakase where the chef chooses for you. This seems to work better on weeknights and days when Hajime is there. I feel a little lost in the shuffle on weekends. The creations are always beautifully presented and the flavors are never boring.

    (4)

  • dawn h.

    I really, REALLY want to like Mashiko. It's near my house, the atmosphere is cool and funky...but I've given it a couple of tries and am officially moving on. I like the atmosphere (although it has been really cold both times I've been there) and have had a good experience with the staff, but the sushi just doesn't taste very good to me... Sad. :(

    (2)

  • Karen R.

    Our first experience tonight and we enjoyed it thoroughly. Sitting at the sushi bar was the right choice considering both John and Hajime were friendly, approachable and just the right amount of being chatty for sushi chefs. Honestly, for us, going to a good sushi place is more then just good food. To feel like you're welcome when walking into a restaurant that you've been over and over again only to be treated like you're a first timer is annoying! While we're not there to make friends (even though we have cultivated some pretty good friendships with our sushi chefs over the years), it's nice to go eat at a place where the people working behind the sushi bar not only seem like they're enjoying themselves but also have a good sense of humor. Here at Mashiko, they succeed in that! They made us feel welcome, comfortable and liked. Yes, liked. I'm tired of stone face sushi chefs who stand there looking like their waiting to pass a bloody kidney stone, making rolls like it was an olympic sport. Look up and smile already!!! The food was very good. Solid four stars! We had the sashimi platter from the day's special board and the geoduck was absolutely delicious! The garnish was interesting but hey, who can say no to pickles even on a sashimi platter. The sole nanban was a little 'surprising' considering I was looking forward to a slight twist of the Miyazake nanban chicken I absolutely crave for... not quite... but it was tasty nonetheless. Go, be open minded, you'd enjoy yourself like we did. We're planning on returning very soon!

    (4)

  • marcy g.

    The sushi is good but the service is so incredibly slow...... and it wasn't just one incident, i wish it was because I love sushi and live close by!!! It was about 5 times over the past few years... and each time it was just as slow as the last. :(

    (2)

  • Dave G.

    Glad to be new to Yelp and talk about my FAV sushi joint in the whole freakin' planet. Mashiko is second to none. LOVE the new 'sustainable sushi' menu. Sure, I miss a few of the old standards, but Hajime has introduced me to a whole bunch of NEW sushi tastes and flavors. I'm always willing to experiment, and Mashiko's is never a dissapointment. Ever.

    (5)

  • howie f.

    He chose poorly. Dish after dish, that's what I thought of the chef when I had the omakase menu here. This place had been recommended to me by a number of Seattle foodies and it just plain sucked. I guess this goes to further my friend's assertion that "seattle sucks" -- if Seattle foodies like this place, then they are the ones who really suck. There were a couple good dishes here and there, but overall, the sushi wasn't fresh and the cooked food was just plain weird.

    (1)

  • Simon L.

    Their sushi is good. But it's not so good that I'll endure their terrible service for it. I can have better sushi with better service at quite a few other places in Seattle. The place is small. The service is slow. Two out of the three times I went there, the waitress behaved like I owned her a couple of hundred bucks. Forget about this place if you have kids. Also forget about this place if you want take out because they charge extra for that. My last advice: if you really love what you do, please behave like so.

    (2)

  • Evie K.

    Fifty bucks on a to-go order and they don't even include chop sticks!? C'mon, guys! The food is AWESOME, and they more than made up for the lack of chopsticks (and only three soy-sauce packets...) with the heap of ginger. (Thank you for that!) Not normally a complainer - I figure that by posting this I might help them improve their to-go orders. I have nothing bad to say about food and/or service... just need a few utensils and a bit more sauce. Thank you, Mashikos ;).

    (4)

  • Aram M.

    Call me sushi whore now! I went there today with my wife and son and absolutely loved it. Finally found best sushi place in Seattle. Worth every penny and wait time. Our waitress, Kelsey, was super nice and helpful. Everything on menu was creative and delicious. When we left, my wife and I already talked about going back there. And we will! Thank you very much for terrific food and service!

    (5)

  • Jen P.

    My standards are quite high for sushi, lots of places just don't do it right! This place was amazing, the rolls and specialty rolls were out of this world. Their super spicy tuna roll gave me a run for my taste buds. Their garlic edimame was unique and delicious.

    (5)

  • cindy f.

    We decided to come here last night for my mom's b-day after all the good reviews on Yelp. We were ALL disappointed. The service was ok. The food was NOT good. The sushi tasted weird. The rice was too sour and too tart. We asked for low sodium soy sauce and they said they do not have it. They said they make their own soy sauce and it's already lower in sodium... um...ok...whatever. Anyways..on with the food...my dad ordered the Mashiko Bento...it was huge alright...but definitely not good. The fried pork skewers tasted weird....even my brother who loves anything fried said they tasted weird...like it's been sitting in the freezer for a long, long time. The best tasting thing was the seaweed salad....and the mashiko nebayaki..however, that was TOTALLY overpriced. $19 for nebayaki??? We will NOT return again.

    (2)

  • Renah S.

    mashiko seriously has some of the best sushi in all of western washington. i can't speak for any other menu items as i have only had the sushi. i went there for the first time years ago when still not eating meat and found delicious things on the menu for vegetarians. my most recent visit to mashiko was a going away dinner for a dear friend. we ordered omakase (chefs choice). you get about 13 different dishes, which includes a desert. it's kind of expensive, but definitely the way to go. everything is beautifully prepared and you can try things you wouldn't normally order. if you like sushi, mashiko is a must.

    (4)

  • nausicaa i.

    I guess there isnt much decent japanese sushi place around here, and when a decent one come along, it received such raving. This place is what a sushi place should be.

    (3)

  • Henry L.

    I used to like this place. A lot. Then something happened. Bad service. Really bad. So bad that I went from going there once a month for a year to refusing to ever go back. The food is consistently good and well priced. I also like the variety of rolls. The chef is definitely very clever with his combinations. But his wait staff completely ruined the experience. We went there one weeknight (so it wasn't crazy busy) and we sat down. Before we got our menus we asked to switch tables because it was in the middle of a draft. We switched tables and from there everything went down hill. We got our water and about 30 minutes later the waitress came by and asked if anybody was helping us because though this was her table, nobody told her that we sat down. The place has, what, 10 tables? It's not like she couldn't see us. We put in our order and somewhere around 40 minutes later our food arrived. Cold. Cold curry rice is about as pleasant as eating luke warm ice cream. It was completely nasty. Our rolls that were in ponzu/soy sauce were completely soaked. The waitress said that she forgot that she had our table. Um, again, how big is this place? It's not like she wasn't already waiting the table 3ft away. All they ended up doing for us was taking something like $8 off of a $60 check. Be warned. Food might be good, but the service stinks.

    (2)

  • Steve P.

    If you're a fan of nigiri and/or sashimi, this is the place for you. The quality of the ingredients second to none and the chef has the skill to match. Not that the rolls aren't also foodgasmic, because they are. Ultimately, get whatever you want, for it will be win and awesome on a platter.

    (5)

  • wookie h.

    One of the best places in the city. Everything is sustainable and if you sit at the bar you will learn something. Highly suggest the Red Violin.

    (5)

  • Andrea R.

    My favorite sushi in the city. The most fresh, innovative and awesome sushi! It is all sustainable, so you won't get sushi that should not be served. Ultraman and Red Violin, I can't live without! Call for a reservation, it makes it easier or walk up the street for a drink while you wait, if you don't.

    (5)

  • Ficus K.

    There are two schools in the sushi world, and Mashiko definitely is not a member of the traditional one. Where this place shines is in the really creative stuff. Which is not to say it's all gimmicks -- the fish is of superb quality. Show up hungry with an open mind and order omakase. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll be sad when you are so full you can no longer eat. Without a doubt my favorite restaurant in Seattle.

    (5)

  • Sh D.

    I adore Mashiko's! Delicious, amazing, fun. I go there now and then as a special night out with a friend when she's in town. They've never disappointed. What I always order: Temptation Island and Mr. Oyanagi. I don't get it every time, but their miso is delicious. They have a variety of teas that are great too. I finally tried their dessert special: two small brownies from Bakery Nouveau and green tea ice cream. Delicious!! It's a little pricey for some, but ~$60 for 2 is worth it for these amazing rolls!

    (5)

  • adrienne m.

    my husband and I were celebrating our 2 yr anniversary and decided to spend a day trip in Seattle. While on the Pike's Place market tour, our super duper tour guide gave us the name of Mashiko as the BEST BEST japanese restaurant everrrr. since i definitely consider myself as a sushi whore (sashimi all the way)...i had to try this place. my husband isn't even remotely as nuts as i am about raw fish. he usually just orders cooked food and makes funny faces at me while i consume all this raw fish. we were tired and still a little full from the market tour but i had to come and try the omakaze at Mashiko. I WAS BLOWN AWAY. Mariah was the sushi chef that served me the most mind blowing creations. I even had to call my mom and friends in NY after we left because it was just such a life changing experience. Mariah had created such unique flavors and combinations. we sat at the sushi bar and everything i requested was fulfilled. the raw black cod sushi pieces were sooo fresh and amazing i had to order 3 extra pieces. amebi sushi was sooooo good and fresh fresh fresh. they only serve sustainable fish and we were very impressed by that. all of the other patrons that we had the pleasure of sitting next to were locals and they all were so shocked that we were able to find such a special restaurant on our first and only day in seattle. They also gave us some sushi stickers and keychains as souveniers. my husband and i will definitely be coming back in february with our friends for my birthday. you can call them and let them know 2 weeks ahead of time and they can order all of your favorite foods so the chefs can create special dishes for you. CANT WAIT UNTIL FEBRUARY!!!!

    (5)

  • Maria C.

    How can you not love a place that has a rule that states - Shut up and eat! Totally original and yummy sushi, fascinating fish tanks and decor and all kinds of music except traditional Japanese. Definitely go with chef's choice, because another rule is to try something new and they'll bring all sorts of things out you may never have seen before and it's always good. This is the most inventive sushi I've ever seen and it's great to find a decent sushi joint in West Seattle. There are also lots of non-sushi menu items totally worth a taste, like kastu donburi (try it, you'll like it) and udon and hot plates and tempura... I'm getting hungry just writing about it all.

    (5)

  • Kevin W.

    I've heard great things about Mashiko from other Sushi foodies so I had to try this place. It wassomewhat disconcerting at first to see almost all the staff to be Caucasian, because coming from the Bay Area - I'm used to seeing Asians (or Hispanics) working in a Japanese restaurant. The weirdness quickly dissipated as we sat down in the tiny restaurant (probably only enough seating for 40 or so...) - and our waitress introduced herself and demonstrated keen knowledge about all the items on the menu. The menu had standard items and a nice long list of sushi items and other Japanesey food items. One odd thing I saw was that Ochazuke was listed at "market price" - how can rice + green tea have a nonstandard market price? Weird. When trying a hyped up sushi place for the first time, I generally stick to the basics to determine quality. Usually I order nigiri to mainly judge the quality of the fish and the rice. This time, I splurged and ordered an "expert" Chirashi ($24). Chirashi is a bowl of sushi rice topped with an assortment of raw fish. The "expert", as explained by our waitress, contained items for the more adventurous folk, with the majority of items coming from the daily specials chalkboard. After a quick glance at the board and seeing toro & uni, I was sold. Our food came a tid bit later than I was expecting but it was well worth it. My Chirashi had cuts of Mahi Mahi, Toro, Uni, Calamari, Tako, Tobiko, Ikura, Stripped Sea bass, Sockeye Salmon (I think it was Sockeye, it was not a typical salmon cut, this had bright red and white flesh), Ama ebi, Fried shrimp head (yum! I order extra from I love Sushi), perilla leaf, and at the bottom of my sushi rice I found a surprise: a tuna & seaweed salad. Ordering the "expert" version was definitely a great deal. Every single piece of fish was fresh and delicious! This was probably the best Chirashi I've had in years - completely worth every penny! Although if I HAD to nag something, I wish some cuts of the fish were larger, I'd much rather have another piece of Toro than a third cut of Mahi Mahi (a less flavorful fish). The sushi rice was excellent as well, the perfect amount of sugar and rice vinegar. Expert Chirashi: A+ My friend ordered the Mashiko bento box which had a substantial amount of food. His order contained tempura, 3 meat dishes, and a serving of sashimi. Oddly enough, he was not served a bowl of rice or soup with his meal...different from other places that normally do this for bento boxes. Mashiko Bento box: B (fried items looked a little dark and heavy) One significant complaint I had was the miso soup. Maybe this could be my personal preference, but the miso soup contained Shiitake mushrooms - normally this is a good thing, but when preparing dried Shiitake mushrooms, they need to be soaked in water overnight to rehydrate, clean, and leech out the strong mushroom flavor. The miso soup was brown and completely dominated by the mushroom flavor to the point that I could not finish it after one taste - I knew immediately that the dried mushrooms must have been tossed in without a presoak in water. I thought presoaking was a standard practice (coming from a Chinese background, it is), but when dried mushrooms are tossed into any soup without a soak, the mushroom flavor will just completely ruin the dish. Miso Soup: F Although Mashiko is pricier than most other Japanese restaurants, it is definitely worth the money to the sushi and sashimi lover. I'd come here again to satisfy my cravings for sushi & sashimi!

    (4)

  • julia s.

    I have to weigh in on the miso issue because I grew up in Japan and Mashiko is the FIRST place I have been to in Seattle that actually serves a good variety of miso soup as is available in Japan. Keep in mind that in Japan, miso styles vary among regions, households and seasons, and the clean, light, white miso people are accustomed to around here is only one of MANY. The last two times I went to Mashiko they had a more red miso, once with mushrooms and once with clams, and both times with konbu - ALL of these are acceptable miso fillers in Japan people so settle down! Phew, glad I got that off my chest! IMHO, the sashimi and sushi here are some of the freshest and most original in Seattle. I highly recommend if you are tired of Wasabi or I Love Sushi and want to try something different but authentic.

    (5)

  • Felix S.

    Really good sushi at seattle. I came from Kansas and my good friend told me about this rest. Awesome service and fresh sushi. I definitely come back next summer.

    (5)

  • katie s.

    This is the best damn sushi place EVER! It is not conventional and a small location with some die hard locals squeezing in to every seat and still the service is good the food is amazing and I love fish tanks!

    (5)

  • Mary H.

    The sushi was fresh and very original, but it was a just a bit too Gen-X new-wave for my tastes. Of course, if you like quirky and different then you should by all means try this restaurant. Also I found it quite expensive for the amount of food we got. We paid $130 for 2 people and we didn't get all that much stuff. My overall feeling was that the sushi was good, but not $65/person good.

    (3)

  • Manuel A.

    Food was okay. Not sure why this place is so hard to get into. Anyway, 3 of us ate here a few weeks ago and we all got sick to varying degrees, and I have a stomach of iron. Will not go back.

    (2)

  • Amanda H.

    This is a fun and quirky place, with some of the best sushi I've ever had. They actually have a white woman behind the sushi bar, which at first I thought seemed less authentic, until I learned that the owner and head sushi chef is just a very progressive guy and is willing to train anyone, regardless of race or gender. He must've trained her well, because the sushi is delicious and always fresh. Just the right amount of wasabi to give it a kick without burning your sinuses. There's often a wait to be seated during peak dining times, but it's worth it. While you're waiting for your meal, they have fun and interesting stuff to look at around the restaurant, including a stack of trivial pursuit cards on your table so you can quiz your date/friends on their knowledge of random and unimportant stuff.

    (5)

  • samantha k. s.

    I have experience too many incredible meals here to rate it any other way. Just know I *know* the service and general Mashiko climate is erratic -- a bit clattery and standoffish at times, chummy and clubbish at times, distracted, dismissive -- I mean, yes to all of that. But order a round of the abundantly splashed sake and settle in. No need for Mashiko if you're all about Unagi -- no duh it's good here and all but it's hard to find really bad Unagi at even a just-reputable sushi shack (of note: In Philadelphia once on a gourmand tear through some dimly lit neighborhood we stopped in at Buddakan where this massive 10' golden buddha sits beaming on the ground floor and the tables at the upstairs bar glow from within. There, I was served my first and only truly memorable Unagi preparation -- They called it eel chop -- crisp, tender, delicate, coarsely chopped Unagi topped wasabi infused, perfect rectangles of rice. It was gorgeous to look at, clever, and the rice infusion was genius and really hard to replicate at home. So, anyway, my point is if you're going for the Unagi, fly east and get it over with). The thrill at Mashiko is in pairing your favorites, your hamachis and maguros, with bravery-test delicacies like lungfish liver, which is crazy and yummy. Served simply, it's a smooth, unassuming disk of pate. Oh, and they know how to present toro, glistening and chopped in a great mountain atop rice. If you're in a yes & yes again mood, and you're kicked back with friends and good beer and the tired children have all gone home with their tired parents and you're not trying to make a show at ArtsWest or something like that, when you're almost sated, ask for a palate cleansing round of chuka salad, or an order of delectable yakinasu -- tiny eggplant grilled and drizzled with a salty sweet sauce. Then maybe you'll be in the mood to share one last little sushi treat like the tuna poki salad ... or maybe a hot noodle soup. When I make it to Mashiko, I'm happy to let the evening roll on, nibbling this and that as I go, enjoying the moment and the really great food. And, you know, if they overcharge you and you can not stand the ordeal of waiting 20 minutes for them to make it right (understandably), I recommend you take a bold step and whip out your pen, correct the bill, and pay the right amount. No big deal, right? Isn't that a good idea?

    (5)

  • Chip R.

    My favorite sushi place in the city. Fun vibe, friendly staff (and sushi chefs) and terrific menu. I'm a big fan of the Tiger Eye, the ULTRA-MAN roll, and the agadasi dofu. A must try!

    (5)

  • K C.

    Best Sushi in West Seattle and they take reservations for parties of 2 or more which is great because the place is tiny. Wonderful Sake selection and the place is pretty reasonable for 2 people. We each had large Sake's, shared 3 specialty rolls, seaweed salad and miso and I think the bill total plus tip was around 70. Its a great date spot with casual appeal but not super romantic. Service is good and they are very fast. You can also get take out but they add 10% which kind of sucks. Its worth it for good sushi though:)

    (4)

  • Cranky M.

    I really, REALLY, R.E.A.L.L.Y. wanted to like this place. I was going to get to try one sushi place while in Seattle and after paging through all of the reviews, this was the place we decided on. Well, the hostess was so rude she refused to seat myself, husband and child (who is very well behaved) with a high chair because apparently it wouldn't "fit" at any of the empty tables. Well, so we'd order to go. While we tried to decide what to get, the couple behind us (this was almost as soon as they opened and there were TONS of empty tables) asked to be seated in a booth. She wouldn't do it. No explanation, nothing. She was totally the opposite of what a hostess should be. She had this look in her eyes that said we were the scum of the earth and how dare we enter her precious restaurant. It was like she got paid to make people want to eat elsewhere. Well, we were going to let this person ruin our night, we gave her an order to go- all nigiri because that's what we like, and she took it begrudgingly. However long later, we took it outside and anticipated that our patience with the hostess from h-e- double hockey sticks would have paid off. Well, not really. While it was fairly good, nothin was fantastic. Or even great. We were super excited to try geoduck since it isn't common, and I'm sure some people love it but it was just ok. The other things were pretty good. I but nothing special or particularly tasty. It is pretty cool that it is sustainable.

    (2)

  • Lil W.

    I may not be a sushi expert, but I do know pretty clearly what bad service is and it was bad the night I was there. At first everything seemed fine. We ordered the steamed potstickers and they were mediocre, but not bad. Then we waited for our sushi. And waited and waited and waited. People who were seated well after us were getting sushi rolls before us. Clearly our order had been lost (and it's not a big place). Instead of apologizing or bringing the rolls out as they were ready our server did nothing. We waited for over 40 minutes. When we finally got our sushi we told our server we'd try these and decide on another 2 rolls. However, our server never returned. And the sushi was just fine. Not the best, but good. At least 20 minutes later when our server came back I was wondering why I had waited so long in the first place. I give you an extra star, Mashiko, as a way of taking part of the blame. I should have said something during the first ridiculous wait and ordered more rolls when I had the chance.

    (3)

  • Burcu T.

    BEst Sushi in Seattle. Great menu, Chef's selection is AWESOME! We will be there many many more times. Omakase was great. The chef observes his customers and offers food accordingly. NYC, SF quality... Definitely a must go place!!!

    (5)

  • Kimby T.

    this was my first (and best) meal i had in seattle.

    (5)

  • Pink P.

    Awesome sushi! I take back my old review (of 1 star, back in 2006, for poor service), the service is friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful, even with a toddler in tow! So happy to be a sushi whore in West Seattle with Mashiko's.

    (5)

  • Thuha N.

    They offer the most exotic pieces of sushi. I recommend the omakase. The chef will create masterpieces of sashimi and sushi for you until you say stop. It is well worth it, but yesterday it was kind of slow. I do not suggest making late reservations (we were there at 8pm and did not get home until 11pm). I was still hungry after the first hour and having only received two dishes of the omakase.

    (4)

  • Rick L.

    This place is offbeat, and in the good way! It takes a non traditional approach to sushi craft and the chefs here are hilarious. I really love trying the chef's choice and allowing them to dazzle me with their own creations. The desserts are tasty as well, but nothing compares to some of the original rolls you will ONLY find here!

    (5)

  • Lani A.

    Portions here are generous, and prices are reasonable. However, the sushi is really quite unremarkable, and the miso soap always tastes soapy to me. I've tried on several occasions to overlook these two issues, but at this point I'd rather go to Wann Izakaya or Yama in Bellevue. Space is way too crowded.

    (3)

  • Mark R.

    Come on......their web site url is sushiwhore.com , for god's sake. You should obviously go there if for no other reason than that. Granted, the service is a tad slow. But that's also because the joint is kind of small, and it's busier than a whorehouse on dollar night. And for a good reason - the sushi is fantastic. Mashiko has some of the most creative rolls around. I see no point in even ordering regular nigiri here. The salmon skin hand roll is one of my favoritest rolls ever, and they make a damn fine one. They'll warn you that the Dynamite Roll is spicy, and they aren't screwing around. And if you love unagi as much as I do, you will want two of the Electric Eels. One to eat, and one just to treat as a pet - you'll love it that much. Say it with me - ooo-nog-eee. I want some now. Get out of my way, little children......I'm speeding down the road toward Mashiko, and I will run you down if you impede my progress.

    (4)

  • Jenny N.

    Dense menu of sushi, sashimi, and other Japanese dishes. Very popular spot, so go early or late to get a table. Or, check the sushi bar webcam at sushiwhore.com to see how crowded it looks before you head over.

    (4)

  • Jeremy Y.

    Unfortunately after eating here for the first time on my birthday last month, I can never have any other sushi other than at Mashiko's ever again! Besides it being sustainable fish (bonus points), the food here is the most delicious food I have ever had in my life. Once you walk in the doors, you enter into another world. I didn't even feel like I was there for 2 hours, but everyone makes you feel right at home. The wait staff is so friendly and super full of knowledge. It was a true treat to enjoy this place and it was the best birthday dinner ever. Thank you Mashiko!

    (5)

  • Olivia T.

    I went here for sushi because they have a lot of great reviews. The service is great. The place is busy and its best to have reservations. Why its so busy I dont understand. Its really not that great. The sushi doesn't taste fresh. It doesnt have that "so fresh it melts in your mouth" element at all. I shared a couple sushi rolls with a friend and neither of us were impressed. Its expensive for what you get.

    (2)

  • Peter K.

    Mashiko. What a puffer fish in a sea of albacore you are. Mashiko is different. They boast sustainable sushi ... I don't know what that means. If they use farmed fish that's not very sustainable because it generates a lot waste that's dumped back into the ocean. If they use line caught fish ... Well they're all over fished anyway. OK back to the food. It's ok. The sushi to me was 3 stars but the sushi chef was so cool he lifted it to 4. The sake selection though is wretched. Uwajimaya level stuff that's overpriced at the store and even more overpriced here. Stick with the kitchen food and some rolls. Drink beer and tea.

    (4)

  • Alvin N.

    Sushi Gets Sustainable at Mashiko Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar. This place gets my 5 Star Yelp Love! Good Stuff =) Hajime & his crew introduces you to new flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. Sustainable sushi--it satisfies the senses. Check out their website - sushiwhore.com ---maybe you'll see me on their live webcam devouring the Candy of the Sea! =D

    (5)

  • katrina m.

    This place really wowed me! The food was amazingly delicious and the ingredients are fresh and are handled with love and care. The only (little) misgiving I have is the lack of space but in sum, excellent sushi place! 5stars all the way :) So happy to have found this place!

    (5)

  • Ellen M.

    I've given this place 2 tries - the first about 6 months ago. Wandered in on a date, impressed by the sustainability touted everywhere. The wait was about 45 minutes, which was okay because we didn't have reservations. When we finally got a very cramped table we ordered the Chef's recommendation for 2, or whatever that option was. We are both big sushi fans, and know it's usually worth it to take the chef's word, so we were okay dropping $60 or so on the platter. Sadly, it was bland and unimpressive. The service was pretty slow too. We left disappointed. We decided to give it another shot last night. In attempt to improve our experience we sat at the sushi bar and asked the chef directly. We ordered based on the chef's recommendations (actually, he just told us to "read the fresh sheet") and had a 50% success rate. First we had the white salmon - that was really good. Next the local albacore - pretty good, though not great. Things went downhill from here - my sardine nigiri actually had tiny BONES in it, which i choked on, but tried to remain graceful. Our final taste was the Hawaiian albacore - it tasted old, dried out and fishy (in a bad way). Seriously, you want to charge me 6.50 for nigiri with bones in it? Whoever thinks this is the best sushi on the west side needs to go to Azuma - they are way better (service and quality both!) and cheaper too. If you think this is the best sushi in Seattle, you haven't been to enough restaurants! Try Shiros - then you'll know great sushi :) I love that they are sustainable. but it's too expensive for mediocre sushi. meh. no more sushiwhore.

    (2)

  • Adam K.

    Since I wrote my original review I moved to West Seattle and have been to Mashiko's several more times. I now like it quite a bit. The nigiri is good and fresh, though I think the rolls are gimmicky. That doesn't bother me, I can order around the weird rolls and end up with tasty fish. I also like the quirky atmosphere and general "differentness" of the place. If you're looking for a traditional sushi restaurant, you might be disappointed. If you're looking for a good combination of West Seattle oddity combined with Japanese flair, go have some fun.

    (4)

  • Hannah L.

    The paradox of sustainable sushi at Mashiko is the following: once you surprise your new foodie wife with dinner here, all subsequent culinary revelations risk being less lustrous. Forever. Making this, of course, the unsustainable sustainable sushi....And the potentially early pinnacle of many future meals together, meaning it may be downhill from here. A risk, however, worth taking. Two important facts about me worth noting at this point: I am nearly impossible to surprise when it comes to a restaurant dinner out, and I am deeply committed to following my principles for ethical eating. The first fact owes its existence in large part to Yelp!, which is why the man goes to great lengths to deliberately obscure destinations from me. "We'll walk to dinner tonight," says he. That night: "Too cool and rainy; we'll drive instead." We hop in the car, turn a corner or two. Meanwhile, my mind is constantly engaged in its calibration and re-calibration of possible destinations: a mobile dining GPS. Around the turning circle? Maybe Harvest Vine, maybe Rover's, maybe Voila! Bistrot. Toward downtown (re-calibrating): maybe Steelhead, maybe Tavolata, maybe Ventana. Getting onto I-5 at rush hour, re-calibrating: maybe Georgetown Liquor Company, maybe Corson Building. Exiting for the West Seattle Bridge, re-calibrating: maybe Spring Hill, maybe Skylark. Maybe...Mashiko. The second fact owes its existence to my life as a philosophy prof and as an aware eater. Although I've more recently become fully aware of the extent of human impact on fish populations in the past couple of years, I've carried my Monterey Seafood Guide in my wallet for several years. Over the last several months, I have given up eating sushi (beyond the occasional roll made only with wild-caught Alaskan salmon). The deep sadness that rolls through my mind when thinking about how thoughtless human appetite has destroyed populations of magnificent species of fish overrides any disappointment I feel when having to continually bypass many of seemingly excellent, but ultimately unsustainable, sushi restaurants in this town. So what is a girl to do when, earlier in the week, she suddenly, desperately has a craving for sushi? Of course, she ignores it as the unsustainable desire it is, and waits to fall back in love with whatever seasonal produce rests in the crisper. Yet somewhere, the craving lurks.... And those facts made flesh on a recent Friday evening explain why, when seated at a little table for two in Mashiko, I have never been quite so excited for a meal in my life. At a place such as this, where my culinary and ethical soul can integrate, there is only one way to fully relax into decadence: to yield yourself and your meal over to the capable and thoughtful hands of the chef. Yield we did, through the two-person sushi and sashimi course meal for two. At $60 (the same price for two people taking advantage of any Dine Around Seattle deal), plate after plate of succulent surprises appear on the table. Two appetizers. Eight pieces of nigiri. Two rolls. A dessert. Which in the end adds up to fully sustainable delight. Since not all courses were replicated on the menu, I can only speak to the overall perfection. Beginning with the day's poki salad along with thin slivers of striped bass (edged with the slightest glinting sliver of silvery scales) over seaweed and cucumber, through an assortment of buttery skipjack tuna and sockeye salmon and black cod, to rolls filled with tender-and-crispy rockfish tempura or bright flying fish roe, and ending with a sweet and earthy jasmine tea creme brulee, my every morsel offered a further lovely release into oblivion. Oblivion, or the kind of true abandonment created only in the presence of ultimate trust and surrender. An abandonment rare for this cook, this eater, this thinker. An abandonment that, in this case, owes its complete existence not to the meal alone.

    (5)

  • Greg L.

    We have been here twice now. The best of three local Japanese style restaurants in the area and of course with the best sushi. Service is prompt and generally friendly. We lived in Japan for 15+ years so are probably pickier than most patrons when it comes to most of the dishes but, we have been mostly pleased with what we have tried and we will be back.

    (4)

  • Sarah F.

    I was pleasantly surprised by the deliciousness of their sushi. Pros? -Unique rolls -Great sake choices -Friendly service -Fresh ingredients Cons? -A bit pricey -Small rolls Tips? -Try the "fifth element roll"... it's freaking called the fifth element! And delicious

    (4)

  • Alicia E.

    Best sushi in W. Seattle (probably in all of Seattle including the ID). You have a choice between really traditional and authentic sushi as well as more unconventional or Americanized versions, both of which are not only delicious, but sustainable. It's also a great place for non-sushi eaters, especially bentos. We've been in 3 or 4 times and the place keeps getting better and better. Last time we went we left it completely up to the server and chef's choice, including the sake, and if we could afford to, we would do this every time! That's the only downside- food this good has a bit of a price tag. It's not the MOST expensive, but on a teacher's + student's budget, it's more than we normally spend. ($90- but that got us 4 courses including sake) If you just go for a single course of sushi and sake, it usually ends up being around $40-$50. Since the place is so good, it gets crowded early and that includes middle of the week dinners, so make a reservation if possible.

    (5)

  • Chris O.

    I have now had the privilege of having had Omakase at Mashiko. At $60 per person and 10 courses, well worth the price for experience. Our waitress was a doll and helped us along the way by identifying the flavors and textures to look for. Each course seemed well staged in timing and presentation. We had a couple of pots of jasmine tea and set to work on our feast. There were so many dishes that I have trouble remembering them all. Some highlights though: a sushi's play on tartar of fish in an avocado round topped with a poached egg. Also the poke salad was phenomenal. One of the items from the kitchen was a couple of fried smelt that had been breaded and served with a bit of cucumber. There was a presentation of three Nigiri tuna sets ranging from light to dark and subsequently in depth/intensity of flavor. All in all, a great experience and definitely a business I will continue to frequent.

    (5)

  • Diego S.

    Some of the best sushi & saki I've had in a while. We ordered; Pear saki Poki salad Sashimi sampler Creamy scallop sushi bowl Pepe Grilled Saba w/dill

    (5)

  • Ryan P.

    Overpriced mediocre food. The service is real slow and the food was not worth the wait. Personally, it seems as though that their desire to be the only sustainable sushi restaurant has come at a price: decent food.

    (2)

  • Irina A.

    Those who come from Vancouver, BC have hard time finding great sushi. Thank God I found Mashiko! The most important part of Japanese restaurant is extremely fresh fish and... authentic Japanese food. I personally love they don't put too much rice. And fish literally melts in a mouth... I always go with Omakase and it never went wrong. Worth every minute of driving from Eastside!

    (5)

  • Reese C.

    Delicious and super fresh sushi! :) We went on a Saturday night and made reservations since there seemed to be a half hour to 45 minute wait for a table. Nice ambiance and a great waitstaff adds up to a very enjoyable and lovely evening. The sake made us giggle and that was a lot of fun! XO

    (5)

  • Clint W.

    We tried to walk in without reservations and I forgot how small it is. Oops. So we settled in at the bar and I think I liked it even better. While I waited for my friend, I had a Sapporo and edamame. I wasn't sitting quite high enough to watch the chef over the counter, but she did a pretty good job of taking care of us, a little eye contact and she was all over it. I'm a chirashi guy and this is the first time that I've seen a place hide little nuggets of fish and kelp in the rice. Tasty and it was a huge portion. Their version did not have the tamago (which is blah to me anyways) and any tako (which I love). It was a nice version, just the same. My friend had a variety of rolls, which she polished off in a hurry. Girl can eat! Whoa. Adding in the fact that this is all sustainable eats now, I have to ask why I don't come here more often? I need to make this part of my regular rotation! (Although I can do without being on the webcam.) Say hi to geoduck up by the ceiling for me the next time you're there.

    (5)

  • Justin B.

    Pros: Sustainable sushi, friendly staff, fresh fish Cons: A little pricey Went to visit my cousin Alvin N. and his girlfriend Christine Y. and I was craving some sushi. We decided to go Mashiko and I was blown away by the quality of the fish and the friendly staff. I don't remember exactly what I got, but I decided to get omakase and I was definitely impressed. The quality of the fish was great. The sushi chef/owner Hajime was friendly and willing to answer any questions about sustainable seafood. Finally, they have a "hardcore" omakase course called kaiseki. You have to order ahead 2 weeks ahead of time though. But if you're ready to step up your sushi game, give that a try. I know next time I visit Seattle and come back there, I'm definitely going to give this a try.

    (5)

  • Jonathan P.

    Completely overrated. The service was good I'll give them that. As in the waiter was nice. But the food took absolutely forever to come out, and the omakase style menu was completely mediocre. The fish didn't taste that great, and neither did the hot food. Went straight from here to Maneki to eat dinner again the right way.

    (2)

  • Richard U.

    I must admit, I do like the sustainability philosophy of the place which earns them an extra star in my bood. I eat so much sushi that I am positive that I am depleting the oceans of the likes of blue fin tuna and sea bass. hmm....tuna... anywho, beside the eco-mindedness, the food is pretty darn good. I tried many of the izakaya food items like the fried fish ribs and fish cheeks. Both were great but beware of bones! Also had the gyoza where were a flattened, larger version of your standard dumpling. Next time, will be the big baller and try the omakase!

    (4)

  • Jen C.

    I've been going to Mashiko intermittently for a few years. I've always been very happy with the food. I am not much of a sushi roll person, and usually opt for sashimi or a chirashi bowl. Mashiko is absolutely a great place for these. The reason is that their fish is excellent and needs no adornment. I'm impressed that they've become a "Sustainable Sushi" place, meaning that they don't serve fish that is caught or raised irresponsibly and that is clean and not endangered. I've pasted their definition of Sustainable below.* This really limits the options of what and you can serve but they manage to have an amazing selection, including some more unusual options like trout sashimi. Their menu is creative, I've learned new foods while dining there. I really applaud them for that. The only drawback to Mashiko is that it's tiny and if you are a spontaneous kind of person there's a 50/50 chance that you can get a table quickly. Reservations are highly encouraged, even for parties of 2. The other day the wait was 40 minutes, but we left our number and they called us when the table was ready. So my advice is don't go there if you are hungry and don't have a reservation. I wish they'd be open for lunch. I'd be a regular. The price is good for the quality of food. The service is friendly. *Sustainable seafood is defined by several factors, and I carefully investigate our distributors. We use seafood caught in a responsible manner with minimal bycatch. With farmed seafood, we choose from antibiotic-free farms that feed properly and do not harm surrounding waters. We will not use any seafood that has dangerously low populations due to overfishing.

    (5)

  • Jason B.

    I just ate here tonight. Its ok. I mean. Its good for West Seattle I suppose, but if you are charging as much as Shiro's for sushi, it better be better than ok. We ate a spicy rainbow roll, onigiri, halibut kama, and a glass of sake. Total was over 60 bucks w/ tip. The halibut kama was good, but how the hell is fatty halibut collar ever going to taste bad? They also have poke which is awesome since I am from Hawaii. It says the type varies, so I asked if it was ahi and she says "Either Hawaiian albacore, red tuna or Pacific NW Albacore". Weird. She goes to check and says "Hawaiian albacore". 11 bucks for a small bit of Tombo Ahi? Meh. Go to Tsukushinbo in the ID for good food at about 50-60 percent of the price, or Shiros instead.

    (3)

  • Jandi L.

    Love that everything is sustainable! Great sushi. Gave it only 4 stars because the sake was so-so, and the wait (even though we had a reservation) was about 25 minutes.

    (4)

  • Linda L.

    Food: Omakase is the way to go. The dishes served up is soooo fresh, and tasty. Rainbow trout dish, Oregon bay shrimp, tuna tartare with a quail egg are some of my favorite dishes. First time trying monkfish liver and it blew my taste buds away. So smooth and creamy! If you like raw, this is the place to go. I never tried any of their rolls because I can't get enough of their omakase. Service: great service, the waiters are always friendly, chefs are serious and knowledgable.

    (5)

  • Patrick L.

    Not long after I wrote my initial review, I received a love letter from Burcu T. It just occurred to me now to share it. Here's his profile showing a whopping 5 reviews, for reference: yelp.com/user_details?us… Burcu T. writes, "Looking at the number of raves and your weird comment, all I can say and think is that you should stay in that expensive East side where everything i pretensious and full of high rises a long with snobs. We like Mashiko along with all those other people." Well, loyal reader, all I can say and think is that I'm tempted to breakdown the idiocy in your misguided attempt at an insult, but it's so dismally stereotypical and obnoxiously clichéd--it doesn't even seem necessary. Sorry that my "scathing" review found this "beloved" sushi joint only average. Given this level of sensitivity on Yelp, one can only imagine how difficult it must be to face the real world each morning.

    (2)

  • Drew W.

    My wife and I went here a few weeks back. I gotta say I love sushi and wow Ioved this place! The presentation was superb, the flavors were spot on, the staff was prompt and attentive and the best part is I did not feel guilty after eating it! I ate nothing that was not sustainable or endangered. I tried a mix of items, Rolls, Sashimi, Bento, and Katsu. Everything I had was awesome and left me wanting to try more, and explore my pallet to find the next amazing thing. I kept saying oh they cant top the last one, oh wait they just did. Oh they cant top this one then... Oh what?! They did WHOA! Whats next!?

    (5)

  • Jgirl S.

    Best sushi in town, hands down. Always fresh and delicious. AND, it is sustainable sushi, you HAVE to love that! Their poke is always great. The only place I have ever gotten better poke is in Hawaii. I would give it 5 stars if it was easier to get in to. It is hard to get a table here, but I guess that is a good thing. Also, the wine selection is never appealing.

    (4)

  • al B.

    No argument as to quality and sustainability. But, $27.50 each for 2 salmon collars, Kama, is so far over the top, I have to say, it's over for us. The normal range is $3.00 at cheap conveyor joints, to $12.00 at better places. Goodbye. Maybe now I understand why he chose the handle for himself, "Sushiwhore" Mashiko has seen the last of Al B.

    (1)

  • Dennis D.

    This place can be a drive to get to if you're not in the area, but it's SOO worth it! Especially if you want 15 minutes of faux-fame... Because you can sit at the bar and you can check yourself out on their live web-cam. ;-p Buttons FUN! Free complimentary Japanese snack-mix.. YUM! A great place to take your....um...MUM? Ha. Anyways,... Their sushi is tasty and well prepared. I especially appreciate the WHOLE SECTION they devote to spicy rolls. ^_^ and.... they have DEEP FRIED BROWNIES! You'll seriously need to change your pants, they're THAT good. The only thing I think they should change would be that when ordered, to ask which the customer would prefer as the side/garnish.... the green-tea ice-cream, or the fried panco brownie. Because my obese inner-child would have been giddy if I had been offered a BIG decadent brownie square topped with a dollop of green-tea, instead of (relatively)thin brownie slices. Oh, and be sure you consult the league of magic (eight-balls) on your way out. Will you be satisfied and full after your visit?... All signs point to YES!

    (5)

  • Vangie G.

    I finally was able to eat here after my interest was peaked at the blog the owner wrote to people who criticized non-Japanese sushi chefs. I also was drawn to it since they only use sustainable fish. I thought 5:30 was early enough not to need a reservation but there was still a little wait and lots of reserved tables! 3 of the 4 of us were there so we started with garlic edamame and 2 rolls of the happy hour menu. I liked the black cod roll better than the shrimp one. I think I prefer traditional edamame with salt to the garlic but I still ate it. I ended up ordering the bana chirashi because I couldn't decide on a roll or two. I really wanted a variety. I liked it but I wanted bigger cuts of sashimi but for $12, it was plenty. I was full off tasting the food from my friends as well. With one friend not really acquainted with sushi but willing to try stuff, the rolls that were recommended were yummy! The only downside was that we were told that there was a reservation for that table at 7 so we'd have to leave then. I kept tabs on the time so we left right at 7 but did feel like we would have naturally stayed at least another 30 min because we were enjoying each others' company. Next time, a reservation will be made!

    (3)

  • George S.

    I loved this place for a whole bunch of reasons. First off they have some unique dishes that you do not find at many Sushi restaurants. One that I had was seasonal mushrooms and they were great. Also, had a octopus salad. Very good. I was lucky enough to sit at the Sushi bar and to watch the chef. She was great. Very engaging wanted to know how everything was. Her economical movement was great to watch. No wasted movement. A beautiful kitchen. And for those of you who love Sushi this is a thing you look for. Highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Nathan R.

    Headlines READ: LEGIT SUSHI BAR LIVES UP TO LEGIT SUSHI BAR HYPE Well, I have been meaning to get in here for the past two years, since moving to the West Syde- and I finally did it. How hard can it be to get into a sushi place you live a few blocks from- you may ask...well buck-o, harder than you think. My wifey is not a fan of Su nor is my good dining buddy...so, kids and wifey were away visiting moms-in-law and thus- time for yours truly to make a beeline for Mashiko. The decor inside was nice- casual nice, which was a good setting for the location. My waiter seemed a little preoccupied, I believe he really would rather have been watching the Olympics- I think the US soccer team was playing? At least I think I overheard him saying that. I made it just in time for the happy hour- so I ordered the Oregon shrimp and asparagus salad and the PNW Albacore roll. I was planning to go straight from there to watch a movie- so I passed on any drink offerings and just ordered water. I was told I needed to order from the happy hour drink menu as well. This perplexed me, as it did not state this anywhere on the happy hour menu. He seemed a little put off that I asked for water- but, again maybe he was thinking of slide tackles and GOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL- so I let it slide and ordered a Sapporo, somewhat to my chagrin. All in all- the shrimp salad was a fresh, balanced and delicate offering. The briny, sweet shrimp was matched perfectly with a light miso dressing atop some beautiful chilled asparagus. The lightness was matched by the lightness of the serving- I wanted more...which is good and bad. But hey- it's sushi. The albacore roll was great- the seaweed wrapping had texture and great flavor. The rice was perfectly cooked- and not overly starchy-sticky, wrapping up a lovely morsel of tuna. YES! LEGIT SUSHI BAR LIVES UP TO LEGIT SUSHI BAR HYPE!!!!!!! All in all- great experience. I understand some nights are off for some folks- so, I didn't let my aloof helper ruin any experience. I could tell that he is a great waiter on other nights- he had charm and moxie, just didn't work this night. And for that- it does take a star off my experience...but, that just leaves me wanting to go back and see if we can score a five.....GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!

    (4)

  • Jeff R.

    I'm giving Mashiko five stars *in spite* of their incessant and frankly silly talk of "sustainability"; there's no more over-used basically meaningless word in the english language right now. The food and vibe are that good.

    (5)

  • Ian G.

    absolutely fantastic. fresh, sustainable, and definitely some of the best around. I was taken here once in 2010, and now that I've come back to Seattle, couldn't wait to come back. started off with some garlic edamame (good gosh!) and some seaweed salad (they just do it better). since this is the start of the albacore season, we tried their nagitori roll, along with the dancing queen (traditional Japanese filled with incredible flavor and texture) and speed racer (pretty American, and to be honest, my least favorite of the three!) ending it all was some green tea ice cream filled mochi that was just banging. can't wait for my next trip to Seattle to come back again!

    (5)

  • Lydia G.

    The food was delicious and the atmosphere and service were great. I would definitely recommend. Be advised though it is a very small restaurant with a lot of customers, so making a reservation is important.

    (5)

  • Alvin T.

    I don't normally yelp, but the food and service at Mashiko was so overly the top gracious and excellent tonight that I'm now sitting at my laptop having only left the restaurant an hour ago. First off, when I made the reservations for my party of five I mentioned that three of us were having the Honkaku (my mother had reservations about some seafood, my uncle has a phobia about shellfish since having a bad clam a few years ago landed him in the hospital with hives all over). At the table I suggested they look over a menu and pick some things the kitchen could possibly time out with our omakase, but instead they decided to give it a shot. Fast forward, my uncle had to drop out of the honkaku and ordered some items off the menu. My family is very polite and nice, but through this and some other minor things (MANY tea refills, questions, etc) I'm sure we weren't the easiest table either. Chef Hajime-san and our server (David?) were very excellent at resolving any issues and answering questions, much like they were when I went back in September on a solo Honkaku meal. My uncle left the restaurant very happy and waved to Hajime-san. A few highlights: Sea Snails: My mom and cousin (a supposed sushi pro!) both hesitated at eating the sea snails, but after some encouragement our entire table loved it and for my mom was the highlight of the entire meal. Sweet, savory, with a texture like octopus. Octopus with Ground Sesame and Spinach: The octopus I had last time was very good, this time it was simply great! Sauteed Geoduck with Uni Butter Sauce & Black Maitake Mushrooms - I don't think this needs a description, I would come back just to get this dish and some rice. Rainbow Trout Sashimi with Ponzu & Shiso Oil - Very refreshing and reinforces the sustainable theme (which my Uncle really loved). As always the Shiso beer & Jasmine beer were both great, a light accent to the wheat beers. Thanks Mashiko! My mom had never had an Omakase meal before...in the car she reflected that this was probably the nicest Japanese meal she's had in the US.

    (5)

  • April S.

    Awesome!! Our waiter was super cool and the food was great. Really nice atmosphere as well. I will definitely be back here.

    (5)

  • Nina H.

    Wow. I had never been to this part of West Seattle before but when my roommate asked me to pick a spot for my birthday dinner. I knew to pick Mashiko because it had been on my "must-try" lists for awhile now. It is absolutely amazing. I would argue that this is probably one of the BEST sushi restaurants in Seattle, like the other Yelpers. The most memorable part of dinner was probably the poke, rainbow roll and the creamy scallops. I was totally digging the ambiance of the restaurant too. I definitely loved the photos and paintings for sale on the wall and how part of the contribution goes towards a charity of choice. The decorations were really cute too, I just really felt comfortable in that restaurant while I ate bomb-diggity sushi. I also loved the presentation of the sushi when it came out. Everything looked so picture worthy! I'll definitely be back soon - I already recommended this place to my friend to take his date to! Definitely worth the drive from North Seattle.

    (5)

  • Sara H.

    Sooooooooooo good! Before even stepping into the restaurant I knew I was going to like it because they had a cool vibe on the inside with a really nice salt water aquarium. We got seated right next to the aquarium which was awesome. The menu choices are huge with additional things written on some blackboards. I enjoyed the menu insert which basically highlighted 5-7 fish which were "in season" of which was white king salmon which i have never seen on a menu in a restaurant. The only time I've ever seen white king salmon before was at a smoked salmon spot on an indian reservation. Bonus points for having this "rare" fish on hand! At first glance the menu prices don't seem too pricy. However you'll need maybe 2 -3 dishes per person to get full which makes the whole experience pretty pricy-- it definitely deserves the $$$ yelp rating. The Osmanthus Green Tea was soooo good it was like a floral green tea version of jasmine tea (in my opinion). We had a bunch of things including the Salmon Nigiri (rice ball with cooked salmon and kelp on the inside) this was my favorite thing for the price/size. We also had the poke of the day which was albacore tuna mixed with seaweed salad. I feel like there was too much of the salad and not enough of the fish. However, the taste was really good. Also had the Lazy Hawaiian which was basically the poke mixture on top of a roll that had cucumber and avocado inside of it. I think this was better than just the poke alone. We had the ginger chicken which seemed like marinated chicken thighs w/skins cubed and breaded and fried. This was good....but would have rather had another nigiri. Last but not least was the White King Salmon sashimi. I liked that it came with some pickled cucumbers as garnish. However, $7 for 2 pieces was quite a high premium to pay. If I'm in west seattle I won't hesitate to stop here again...especially if someone else is paying :). I feel like this place is a solid 4.5 stars because I do care about sustainability....but the prices are a bit steep. Oh and btw... there is a parking lot behind the restaurant!

    (5)

  • Amy C.

    Fellow Yelper, Angel I., led me to Mashiko and it was one of the highlights of my second visit to Seattle. Call me a sushi snob, but I have a very discerning palette when it comes to seafood. My palette did not turn down anything at Mashiko. All the sushi tasted very fresh. They set a very high standard in terms of quality, taste, and using sustainable fish supplies.

    (5)

  • Angel I.

    Definitely the BEST Japanese and sushi restaurant in all of Seattle! :) It's as close to guilt-free sushi as one can experience as Mashiko only serves sushi that is on the sustainable list. Prices are very reasonable, and everything on the menu is delicious. I would recommend making reservations as it could be quite a wait without a reservation, especially on weekends.

    (5)

  • Mama M.

    Amazing! Everything here is delicious. The owner is personable and has a great sense of humor. Prices are fair and portions are generous. We love the fact this is a sustainable restaurant.

    (5)

  • Matthew F.

    We've been back several times since my first review. Each time was fantastic. My favorite by far. Make a reservation! It's a small dining room and you may not get a table unless you call ahead. :)

    (5)

  • Lauren L.

    The food here is a 5/5. I got the Sergey Sashimi. Each items was extremely fresh and delicious and I appreciate that the choices are sustainable. The service was a 3/5 for me. The server was polite, but forgot to bring the drinks and the requested side of wasabi, didn't refill water and it was hard to catch her eye when we were done and wanted the bill. I will return because of the food quality.

    (4)

  • Manish S.

    Among the best sushi I've had in Seattle so far. Definitely get the Umi or Nami Omakase as that is the best value for money if you're hungry and love sashimi and rolls both! The sake we had there was the new unfiltered one they have was not too great so I would avoid that unless you love unfiltered sakes.

    (5)

  • Sandy L.

    We were planning to try out Maneki in DT but was told no table till 9:30pm so no choice but went somewhere else. It was 7'ish pm at that moment. Then we called Mashiko as this is another `famous one'. Good, they had table available at 8:45, ok we took that at least it was more reasonable dinner time. It was a small restaurant and they didn't give us any table until 8:45 even though we showed up earlier. After we went through so much hassle to get there (not familiar with West Seattle), we were honestly tired and the food better to be GREAT i hope. These were what we ordered: -Sergey Sashimi market price (i asked the server so what was the price for 2 ppl, she said $60, high but still acceptable as i know this is a more high end sushi place. However after we finished the sashimi and ready to order other food, the server reminded us the sashimi is $100, $50/pp. In terms of taste/quality, this is the best for the entire meal, nice choice of fish and some unique selection not available elsewhere, real wasabi was perfect, just each slice was smaller/thinner than usual) -half order seafood & vegetables Tempura $10 ( i feel they have new definition of seafood tempura, cos there is absolutely NO seafood, NO shrimp, only if you count 2-3 pieces imitation japanese fish sticks as `seafood') -3 glasses of beer $5/ea - Futomaki, $11 (traditional japanese oversized roll, not a fan of this at all, loaded with low end all sour ingredents like ginger, seaweed salad, egg, pickles, and tons of rice, made me feel it is a overpriced roll) -the fifth element roll $14 (this is good but not great, very small portion, rice tends to have too much vingear) I listed all the price for each item here cos i disputed with the server over the sashimi price. I was under the impression of $60 for the whole thing, $100 is a rip-off considering the location (i believe they can get away if it is bay area/NY/Las Vegas) and amount of fish. We have been too many sushi restaurants and i have good idea on approx. price should be. Guess what, as soon i brought this up, the server immediately dropped the price to $75 from $100, Then few minutes later, she came back and said she will charge $100 for everything we had except the Futomaki. This meant the entire bill dropped from $139 to $100 (almost 30% off??). I appreciate she worked it out with me, however, it made me feel their pricing is very shady and depends on how big a sucker you are. Finally the bill wasn't computer generated and didn't accept AMEX, wow...i was surprised and suspicious.... Given there are so many famous japanese restaurants in town, i don't think i will come back unless no one can beat their sashimi quality. If you are there just for sushi rolll?? nah....

    (3)

  • Alex L.

    Mashiko is definitely the best Sushi restaurant on the west side with the main focus on sustainable and local ingredients. I have been here several times for dinner, but this visit was extra special because my gf and I got to sit at the sushi counter and interact with the chefs. During our meal we had the chirashi bowl, miso saba, and seaweed salad. The owner Chef Saito was very friendly and informative. It was great to have a good homely conversation about the area and of course the food. Can't wait to come back and make this a monthly trip!

    (5)

  • G E.

    I love this restaurant, but every time I go, I order too much and the bill is pretty astronomical. Still the quality and balance of flavors is always *just right*, which is critical for something as delicate as sushi. Now I can't really claim to be a sushi expert, as I'm largely afraid of the most adventurous options, but despite this I've had the most wonderful meal every time I've visited. Besides, how can you argue with a restaurant where their website is "sushiwhore.com" and the owner claims to be from the Renton of Tokyo (only 60 mi out of the city, of course). This is a restaurant where big groups are occasionally difficult and it's important to get there early and suck it up and wait, because you know what? You're not a wuss and you can handle a few extra minutes before you have a mouthgasm. And don't forget the miso soup and agadashi tofu to start...yum.

    (5)

  • Ying C.

    For the food it's 3 star but for the general experience it's 2. We got the omakase as many others have raved about, and it turned out that the best thing I had after 6 courses was my pomegranate soda. First, there is absolutely nothing special about anything I tried. This included the garlic clams, the shrimp croquette, and various raw fish rolls and scallop dish. There is no special spices to bring out flavor, and the seafood did not taste super fresh as I would expect at a highly rated restaurant. Second, I cannot believe how slow this restaurant was. Since the omakase is six courses, each one took about 15-20 minutes to come out. That is only reasonable if each dish is big or if the restaurant is really overwhelmed. It is completely unreasonable when it's literally two croquette for one course and 3 scallops for another. My boyfriend and I were getting so frustrated in between each dish that we ended up making a reservation at another restaurant and skipped desert. I have to say one saving grace is that the waiter was super nice. In general, it seems like a cool hip place with fun rules but the food is absolutely not worth a try and it will take a good chunk out of your night.

    (2)

  • Jason G.

    Went back for another round of Omakase at Mashiko. Want to add that not only was it as fresh and delicious as our last time, the service was also super friendly/attentive. It's also pretty affordable when you think of all you get.

    (5)

  • Chris C.

    Awesome fresh sushi. Albacore was the best I've ever had. Place fills up fast so make reserv or get there first 15 mins. Unagi not avail as its a non sustainable - major theme. Replacement to unagi was just soso. Small restaurant easy to miss driving by. Toro and hamachi also are incredible. Affordable for sushi

    (5)

  • Sean C.

    Mashiko is one of my favorite restaurants but largely ends up being relegated to a rare treat due to its somewhat far-off location in the heart of the West Seattle junction. I've hesitated to write this for a while, but after multiple visits over the years for dates, double dates, not a dates and a celebration, I finally feel like I can do it justice in writing. Mashiko is not the standard sushi bar or even standard restaurant: A white woman sushi chef? A commitment to only sustainable fish without becoming the most expensive venue in town? A long list of rules at the door? A website ( sushiwhore.com ) featuring a webcam view of the sushi bar area? A white waiter schooling a half-Japanese woman diner for pouring shoyu too early? Mashiko is a little bit different. Only the humorless should be put off by the owner Hajime's tongue-in-cheek rules. If this does happen to apply to you and you still want to come here, focus on the beauty of the large fish tank upon entry. (Avoid the collection of magic eight balls for the same reason.) Or, as Chef Hajime would say, just "shut up and eat." This is easily accomplished since eating is the focus here. The menu is expansive, but forget about it. Go for the fixed course selections - either the standard tako ($50/pair) for a mix of kitchen and sushi courses plus dessert, the umi ($60/pair) that foregoes any kitchen selections, or go all out for the omakase (~$55-$70/person) and prepare to be wowed over the 2-3 hours of food that will slowly proceed to the table. The flow of food can be somewhat influenced by requests, although short of allergies I'd suggest the only thing to consider negotiating over is the toxic CoCo-A-Go-Go, the locally sourced dessert that combines a brownie from Bakery Nouveau with coconut panko batter and green tea ice cream from Husky Deli to produce a heart attack that might just be worth it. Unless you're in a hurry, in which case I suggest returning on another day when dining is the focus of your evening, or hate Japanese food there is no excuse for not trying Mashiko. Where else can you enjoy delicious fresh fish while obtaining material to fuel one's personal halo and/or liberal self-righteousness?

    (5)

  • Jen L.

    Fresh truly fresh, high quality raw seafood 4 starts. Commitment to sustainable seafood +1 star = 5 stars! Usually we get the Umi Omakase ($60 for 2 ppl) and a few other dishes. I recommend: - eating Sans-soy sauce and sans-rolls - getting whatever the special seafood of the day is - appy: Sunomono, Tsukemon. Not a big fan of urchin... - sashimi/nigiri: albacore, seared tuna, scallop, geoduck, red tuna - entrees: Kama, Black cod, Grilled Saba I need to go back for the Kaiseki Omakase dining experience. Make sure you call ahead for a reservation since it's a 3-4 hour experience. Usually we arrive too late to order it.

    (5)

  • RONALD W.

    Shared the Sushi and Sashimi Serendipity with a friend. Good variety and fish seemed fresh though not really distinguished. Service was excellent. I really have a hard time with mid priced Sushi ($30 - 50/person) such as Mashiko and may not have had better in the Seattle area, but I have definitely had better in CA and Boston.

    (3)

  • Daren D.

    Great atmosphere. Pleasant customers manning the sushi bar with me. Most, if not all, there I'm guessing are somewhat regulars. Seemingly perfect balance and harmony of design, lighting, and layout. It might feel a smidge more frantic if you get the end bar seat I got, which is the Strait of Everyone's Passage (to kitchen, to bathroom, handles bills)... but wasn't too bad and has its perks. My sushi was fresh and awesome. I wish the white female sushi chef sporting a rope headband(?) looked more friendler, although she did seem cool. The garlic sauce edamame was freaking finger-licking awesomeness! I did NOT want to waste the excess sauce, so I got some side (not charged?) rice to soak it up. Great spot to pre-grub before going bowling at West Seattle Bowl.

    (5)

  • Nathan H.

    I came here on a recommendation from a friend. I think I owe that friend a bottle of scotch because, this place is awesome! First of all, if you are new to japanese food or sushi, the menu may be a little intimidating since it doesn't have pictures...it's okay...don't be afraid to ask questions. The waitstaff are friendly and knowledgeable. The wife and I decided to do the Omakase which is, essentially, a multi-course chefs choice meal for two. We went with the Toku which consisted of two appetizers from the sushi bar, an assortment of sushi, two creations from the kitchen, and dessert, all for only $50. The waiter asked how adventurous we were feeling. Being fairly experienced with Sushi and Japanese food, we told him to bring it on. I don't remember all the courses, I apologize. I know the second course was monk fish liver. I had never had it before and it was amazing. The Sushi Assortment was great with 2 types of mackerel and Skip Jack. There was a soup course with steamed muscles and mushrooms that was out of this world. And the dessert was poached apples with green tea ice cream...yummmmy! We will definitely be back. Fair warning though...if you want to go here...call ahead and make a reservation...the restaurant is small and it was busy the entire time we were there.

    (5)

  • Nick A.

    Mashiko serves fresh, local, sustainable product. It does NOT carry anything that isn't sustainable. Love hamachi? Look elsewhere, because it will likely never be sustainable. Things here taste better. The rice, the fish eggs, the uni (which I DESPISE anywhere else), and of course the fish. They even make their own soy sauce. If you're a purist, and you gravitate toward nigiri or sashimi. Maybe it's because we live in a society that is 'over-seasoned' (salty food everywhere to 'enhance' flavor), sometimes, SOMETIMES, the food at Mashiko can feel a bit bland. I've not yet had anything there that was 'bursting' with flavor. The food there could be described as "mellow". The chef and owner is friendly and EXTREMELY passionate about his restaurant. I would definitely recommend Mashiko. And yes, make reservations if you can.

    (4)

  • Gail T.

    Two words: horrible service. The restaurant opens at 5:03, we entered the restaurant at about 5:09 on a Sunday night. We were asked if we had reservations, when we said no she said she'd have to check "the book". There were FOUR tables seated and the rest were EMPTY. After standing there waiting for her to "check the book" for 5 minutes we left and decided to give our money to a restaurant that isn't a pretentious dive and actually acts like they want our money.

    (1)

  • Will b.

    During our ski trip to whistler, BC, my friends and i are taking a stopover in Seattle on our way back home. We all wanted to try a good Japanese restaurant in Seattle and decided to go to Mashiko because this place has a really good rating in YELP as well as was the only Japanese place that could accommodate our party's size on Sat's night. After checked the menu, 4 pair of us decided to go for their Omakase (the Toku) with the super adventurous level since we all have an Asian background and love to try strange stuff (especially seafood). We was so excited with the first course on raw oyster. Then, the level of 'adventurous' had gone downhill. There were nothing that blew our minds. The food and the fish quality was OK. Moreover, we are not sure about their approach on combining 4 orders of Omakase on two plates for each course. The waitress did not really explain about this approach at the beginning. This really confused us. As a result, 2 pair of us missed a course. The waitress and the chef did not even try to complement us anything for confusing and not telling us about this approach. Overall, the food and the fish quality was OK. The service was OK. The level of 'adventurous' was low for people who have an Asian background. The restaurant does NOT deserve a four star rating. I had better Japanese food in CA and the East coast area.

    (2)

  • David C.

    My favorite restaurant in the city. Can't be beat. Great service, fresh fish, and unique preparation. Awesome sake, and some good local beers. They also give you these way tasty gummi candies when you pay. Don't forget to put some coin in the 'electric cat' at the sushi bar.

    (5)

  • Jeff N.

    Mashiko has become one of my favorite places to eat. The strange thing is that I am not a sushi kind of guy. Chef Hajime runs a great place. The staff is, for the most part, very knowledgeable and helpful. The food is fresh and made with sustainable ingredients. Definitely call ahead for a reservation. The place is small and can be very crowded.

    (5)

  • Alex S.

    Best sushi in west Seattle, easily. This place is consistently very good, but the high prices reflect that as well (tea isn't free, for example). It's generally $70-$100 for two diners, depending on alcohol. Personally, I am not particularly impressed with their obsession with sustainability (I'd rather they focused more on value), but I suppose its nice.

    (5)

  • Sarah S.

    I ate at Mashiko for the third time this past weekend. We had the Toku for the third time as well and were very happy with our choice. Each experience has been completely different from the last, but the food remains equally delicious and beautiful. Each course is so carefully prepared and is such a fun surprise! Our only complaint this time were some of the other customers talking on their phones very loudly, something we had not experienced at Mashiko in the past. Hopefully they will not be back. We will definitely continue to frequent Mashiko. Yum!

    (5)

  • Anondah M.

    Menu looked very interesting, so we decided to give a try. I understand what they use are all sustainable, so they are a bit pricey for portion. I understand that...but are they really good quality? I wonder....sushi we had didn't really hit me as the greatest ever. I tried to keep telling myself..."Still, this is a good cause....environmentally right..", but my stomach said, "Nah...it's not worth the money, quality or quantity". $200 for four of us...feeling still hungry. Stuff we liked; sea urchin in shell, saba oshizushi Stuff we were disappointed; salmon sushi (doesn't taste like $3 piece), Utsunomiya gyoza, abalone (tiny tiny baby abalone), ankimo, agedashi tofu, ikura oroshi, Their services were very good, but my only suggestion would be that they should post sign outside for how long of wait. The place is almost impossible to get a table without reservation. We tried twice in the past without reservation. They told us the wait would be an hour to an hour and half. When we were at table that we have reserved a few days ago, we saw so many people without reservation have come and gone. Each time they come in, wait for somebody to come to tell them that there's no table....Seriously, a little sign outside the door would be nice. These people don't have to waste their time waiting to hear the bad news. Also, when I called to make the reservation, I was asked, "Is this a special occasion? Any special request or instruction?". I said, "no', but next time (which is if I decided to go there again), I will ask them for a table away from the front door. They gave us a booth right by the door and it was cold.

    (3)

  • Lisa N.

    Mashiko has been on my mental "to-try" list for at least three years and man oh man, was it worth the wait! The boy brought me here for my birthday last night and our experience was AMAZING. Without a reservation we were able to walk in and put ourselves down to reserve a spot at 7:15 (it was 6:30) which gave us plenty of time to stop into the Beer Junction to pick up some fun beer to re-stock after a miniature beer festival we threw a couple of weeks ago. We decided to leave it up to the sushi chefs and chose to do the Umi Omakase and it was definitely the right choice. We were started with some yellowtail sashimi, followed by lomi lomi salmon; both with fresh ingredients (not eating sushi on Mondays is a total myth) and light, refreshing, playful flavors. By the time we were halfway through our third course (salmon, albacore, tuna, and shrimp nigiri-- all wonderful) I was already starting to feel full which surprised me quite a bit. Our two rolls came next and both were fantastic! One was made with fresh sardines and shiso and the other was a tempura sweet onion topped with toro and a garlic ginger glaze which tasted heavenly. I never would have thought to order anything with tempura onions, but it was delightful. Miso washed it all down to prime our stomachs for dessert. Our meal was topped off with a shared jasmine creme brulee, easily the best I've ever had with delicious caramelization over a beautiful floral tea flavor. I could eat it forever. Service was TOP NOTCH and courses were perfectly timed. Our water glasses were never empty and the server was charming and the perfect amount of attentive. My server even noticed that I love kasugai gummies (which they give you with your check) and came back with extras! The best. Two final notes: heated toilet seats! I'm a sucker for heated toilet seats at Japanese restaurants! And! Their chopsticks. They're amazing. The only way I could describe it was referencing when Harry Potter found his wand. I bought two pairs to take home. I will be back so many times. New favorite sushi joint!

    (5)

  • Eric E.

    We had an outstanding experience. I've eaten at a lot of sushi restaurants in Seattle and Mashiko is my new favorite. Nishino is next..and maybe Shiro's (but I hear they have been going downhill, and my last experience there reflected that). We ordered Omakase Nami and it was AMAZING and a lot of food. The fish is very fresh and well-prepared. We made reservations at the sushi bar and Chef Mariah encouraged us to try Uni since it's in season. We have tried Uni at other places and were pretty grossed out, but it tasted so good here (because it was so fresh!). I also appreciate the unique offerings they have here. We went on a Saturday night and it was very busy. Not a problem with our reservation so make sure you make one! At one point in the evening, the service slowed down quite a bit and the employees were scrambling. They pulled it together, but just a warning that the service may get slow, particularly when they are slammed on a Fri or Sat evening. The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable. My waiter gave me a sake pairing to go with my meal and it was perfect. I can't wait to go back and bring some friends!

    (4)

  • Vivi Y.

    I was craving uni so I yelped "uni sushi" and this restaurant came up on the list. The reviews are so positive that I just decided that this would be my dinner tonight. (Plus their website is cool!) So we drove to West Seattle and most of the street parking were occupied...Parked in a parking lot nearby, $8 something. The restaurant is kind of tiny but gave me a very warm Japanese feeling. Yet, when I scanned across the restaurant, all the waiters and chefs seem to be non-Asian...Immediately my friend and I exchanged a look - this wouldn't be as authentic as the reviews have suggested. We had uni on a fried leaf thing, sashimi combination, seared salmon nigiri, seared tuna nigiri, flying fish roe gunkan, and the fifth element roll. The uni was alright, the leaf tasted like nothing so I actually preferred just eating the uni by itself...The sashimi combination...very disappointing, the fish tasted like plastic, they're like the very last thing I would expect from a $27 platter. I've had much better sashimi in the Seattle area. The seared salmon and tuna...on the menu, they're described as using wasabi aioli (which is just like normal mayo), and lots of other seasonings, but they tasted dry and dull. Seared sushis are supposed to be much more flavorful than that. As for the roll, very disappointing. $14 for 8 tiny pieces...I was anticipating more than that. The rice tasted flat and not "tight" enough...and the fish and stuff inside/on the sushi are just...(i don't even remember how they tasted like..)? Since my friend and I were positive that it was our first and only visit, we ordered two desserts - jasmine creme brulee & the coco thing (deep fried brownies w/ green tea icecream) I liked the flavor of the jasmine, but the creme brulee wasn't smooth enough. The brownie..tasted like supermarket stuff and the green tea icecream isn't green tea enough. (I tend to describe a nice piece of beef tastes like beef or a good black bubble milk tea very tea, etc.) Sooo basically it was a disappointing experience. It was like 110$ with tips (we didn't tip as much as we normally do because the server was horrible. she did not know the fish names when she brought us the sashimi platter/sushis, she completely placed the dishes on my chopsticks and did not move or said sorry or excuse me at all.) Bye sushiwhore.

    (2)

  • James S.

    I'm not a sushi fan or even a Japanese food fan, but my partner loves sushi, so we dine at sushi restaurants on a few occasions each year. This week we are visiting sushi-loving friends in West Seattle, so it's one of those occasions. The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable. It feels authentic, though I'm not in a position to judge that. I had raw oysters, and crispy ginger chicken. The oysters were fantastic: fresh, flavorful, and garnished with a wee bit of some kind of roe on top. The chicken was just what it sounded like. It came with a spicy mayonnaise sauce. Very tasty. Oh: I also had some miso, which was nice. My partner and friends were all happy with what they had: the uni sea urchin, the many kinds of rolls, the geoduck. The only thing that wasn't a 100% success was the raw yam included in a dish of roe and quail egg. It was pronounced "boring." The service was wonderful. The people working there seemed happy. They smiled at the customers, but not in a way that seemed forced. They came to the table at the right times. I am only vaguely aware of seafood sustainability issues. This restaurant works with a certifying organization to ensure that its sources and practices are supportive of sustainability. I suspect that makes the workers and the customers happy too.

    (4)

  • Evelyn S.

    We made reservations for 6:45pm. We arrived 10 minutes early and did not get acknowledged for at least 15minutes. Then we waited another half hour until we inquired about our reservation. The waitress was rude and unprofessional. We left after 45minutes of waiting, and by the conversations in the waiting area, other customers were very upset too about the wait and the fact that the host did not acknowledge anyone coming in.

    (1)

  • Anuj K.

    This place is a great addition to the growing number of sustainable sushi restaurants across the West Coast. I really enjoyed the dining atmosphere, the servers, and my company. We were easily able to make reservations for our group, and the price was really reasonable. My friend and I ordered the two person shared meal, which included a mussel appetizer, salmon sashimi poke type salad, a number of nigiri, and enough rolls to make us full. What really made me excited about this meal was the Shiso Beer - that stuff was amazing! If you have any sort of enjoyment out of eating shiso or green/earthy tasting things, you really need to try this. I would have drank more than one if I wasn't driving! The quality of fish was good, but it wasn't the best I've had - I'm still comparing places to Bamboo sushi in Portland and some really nice sushi joints in Los Angeles. That said, I can't wait to go back.

    (4)

  • Vivian T.

    Everything we tried was really good. Exquisitely fresh and seasonal modern Japanese food. Service was attentive and begins with warm washcloths. Everything is served on Japanese plates and beautifully presented.

    (5)

  • May N.

    I was in a group of 6 for a friend's birthday dinner. We all decided to give up picking out what we wanted from the enormous menu and go omakase. 2 pairs of us got the toku (1 adventurous, 1 super adventurous) and 1 pair got the umi (super adventurous). The food was decently good. It was good quality, although I don't know if anything blew my mind away. The fish quality was very nice but the rice wasn't as good as we all hoped it would be. I enjoyed their straight up nigiri more than anything else, since I could enjoy the fish more. I wasn't overly impressed by their cooked dishes, although they were fine. We all really enjoyed the dessert (Jasmine creme brulee with plum wine poached blueberries). That was the huge highlight! I think the levels of 'adventurous' were pretty tame for people who may come from an Asian background and therefore fairly accustomed to eating "stranger things". Next time we'll tell them we can handle more. However, it's nice that they started off slow to see how comfortable we were with things. Service was extremely nice and open to explaining anything we had questions on. It's nice that Mashiko uses sustainable products and seems to be very open to educating their customers on sustainability and Japanese culture/food. However, the fact that I need a dictionary in their menu and it takes a good half hour to decently review the menu is a turn off. I love their combination and options, but I'd appreciate a simpler approach.

    (4)

  • Bea N.

    Did I go on an off day? NOT KID FRIENDLY - We waited 53 minutes to be seated for a party of 4, 3 adults and 1 child. We saw a few people who signed in after us get seated and when I asked the host why were they seated before us (this is after the 3rd party I saw got seated first), she said because she's waiting for a spot to open up so my 4 year old can sit. Confused...I asked her what table are you waiting to open up? All the tables were the same! When we were finally seated we were seated in the middle table against the wall. What was so different about that table and all the other tables? That's still the million dollar question. WHAT WE ORDERED: Chirashi $27- It came with assorted sashimi over sushi rice. The fish was not fresh. After the first bite, that dish was put to the side. Mashiko Bento $18 - It came with meat, tempura, and sushi roll. The tempura was good. Nothing special about this dish but nothing to complain about either. It's just a typical bento box. Chicken Udon Soup $12- This taste like any other udon soup you can get pretty much anywhere.

    (1)

  • Jess H.

    My boyfriend and I came here on the first night of our vacation to Seattle. There was a lot of anticipation and build up of this place and it did not disappoint. Lots of vegan options for me, and my omnivore boyfriend tried things he never had before. We sat at the bar and were impressed that Hajime took note of our eating habits and preferences right away and catered to them. Friendly, informative staff and great food

    (5)

  • Kevin E.

    I'm so excited to write another five-star review for a sushi restaurant that is new to me as of tonight. My friend and I both ordered the Mashiko Sushi 101 dish and our other friend had the chicken katsu. I am gluten-free and the waitress and the chef made sure mine didn't have any gluten in it. Whereas, my friend who ordered the same thing got his with gluten. The waitress told me that all their sauces have gluten in them so that eliminated a lot of options for me, particularly the omakase, which I'd love to try regardless that it's not gluten-free. However, the waitress had strong communication with me about what they could do to make it gluten-free. It really was impressive that the waitress and the chef wanted ot make sure what they were serving me didn't have gluten in it. Since this was our first time there we really should have listened to the other Yelpers about making a reservation. We got there at 7 p.m. and finally got seated over an hour later. Luckily, it was a beautiful summer evening with hot weather and excellent people watching. The sushi was so incredibly fresh and delicious. I told my friends that now I'm going to have to edit some of my reviews that call Fuji Sushi the best sushi in Seattle. There are so many choices on their menu. The waitstaff we encountered was really knowledgeable, except for one thing, the rice crackers they put down in a bowl when we first got there. I asked if they were gluten-free and the waitstaff said she didn't know. She told me the package was in Japanese and there's no way for her to tell. I don't really mind that she didn't know but I'm pretty sure it would be nice to have an answer in case it ever came up again. Regardless, it was some of the freshest fish I think I've ever tasted and it was a great meal. I can't wait for another visit to this wonderful restaurant.

    (5)

  • natalie n.

    For our first time at Mashiko's, we reserved the honkaku omakase for two. We wound up sharing about 13 or so small plates and left VERY full and about $190 lighter (including four drinks -- shiso beer! -- and tip). I would say that we definitely could have tightened the budget, but my husband had a particularly hearty appetite and I honestly was just blown away by the quality and uniqueness of the dishes we got and wanted to keep tasting. You can set your budget up front. Often when you order omakase at other restaurants, you essentially get an upgraded nigiri platter with higher quality cuts of fish. At Mashiko's, we had a great variety of dishes and some things I've actually never tried before. To name a few courses, abalone sashimi, sake poached oysters, chrysanthemum greens, and yes, an awesome nigiri platter that was relatively unique (never had Puget Sound octopus or Alaskan black cod nigiri!). Each dish was well-composed -- the chef confiscated my soy sauce (politely), and it didn't take long to understand why. In many of the dishes, he had already drawn out the flavors of the fish in other ways -- a little lime with the geodock or shiso-infused oil with the sashimi helped enhance the flavors of the fish without overpowering it the way that many people do when they drown their food in soy sauce. The chef also asked us a bit about what we liked, so it was a more interactive and customer-centric omakase experience than many that I've had before. I also think everything just tasted a bit better knowing that it was sustainable and sometimes local. Definitely recommend, and will be back!

    (5)

  • David Z.

    Best. Sushi. In. Seattle. I've tried a few and this place had some of the freshest fish I have had (not an easy accomplishment in a city with lots of seafood options. What I loved: 1. The poke - every day they make a new kind. We tried a delicious one made with white salmon, and tossed with a seaweed/veggie salad. Incredible - i suggest you try it 2. The rolls were great - not too huge and not overdone with too much crap. 3. Presentation/service; top notch. The chefs had excellent suggestions on what to order and each dish was presented with style and elegance. it's a nice touch to a Japanese meal when the chefs care about this. The owner also practices "sustainable sushi" making - which means he is aware of current fishing practices and does not offer some kinds of fish that are endangered. That is a great practice to consider especially when the oceans are being overfished. It is a bit more expensive than other places, but the quality is worth it. I highly recommend this place.

    (5)

  • Aaron H.

    The fish is always fresh and I can't get enough of their Albacore Tataki Sashimi which is almost like a little salad since it comes with some micro greens and a great ponzu sauce. They have a wide array of rolls and other side dishes to choose from, but I have always stuck with nigiri and some rolls. Service is definitely spotty, sometimes good and other times completely absent. For all of the miscues we have encountered with service we still come back because we like the sushi and hanging out in W. Seattle for an evening out. They take reservations if you call, and even the night of you can throw your name onto a list and head out for an adult beverage elsewhere while you wait for a spot to open up. They will give you a call when they are ready. I love your fish, the location, but not the service. Just go there knowing that you are there for the food.

    (4)

  • Tom T.

    Decent sushi for west Seattle, not that I'm a major sushi snob, I just enjoy eating it... Went in late on a Sunday around 8:30pm, and we were the only two in the joint. Sushi chef was awesome, being very comical and chatting it up with us. I hear great things from others, and will be back for more!!!

    (4)

  • Melissa L.

    So I finally got to sit at Hajime's bar and enjoy the omakase experience again, after 2 years' absence. I wasn't sure what to expect given that Mashiko has switched over to a sustainable fish model, but it was every bit as good as I remembered, if not better. Hajime actually remembered me and the types of fish I like, and indulged me when I asked if my dinner could include the rare and elusive chiai. I actually think that the variety of fish here has actually gotten better since they switched over. Still the best sushi in Seattle, easily. I only wish I could find a sushi place half as good as it in my new home of Portland.

    (5)

  • Noriko A.

    My BF and I have been ordering everything from the special menu/fresh choices of the day and haven't been disappointed. Their home cured Ikura is to die for and so is Albacore tuna belly with a tiny bit of grated garlic on top. I finally got my boyfriend crave sushi these days after such wonderful experiences we've had here. I wish he would stop talking about this place all the time. It just makes me want to go there all the time!

    (4)

  • Christine H.

    Best sushi is West Seattle...hands down. The sushi is simply fantastic. They have an amazing selection to choose from. From their Omakase to their traditional, fried and spicy rolls you are going to be in sushi heaven. There are some very interesting options, such as alligator, as well as the standard ahi and salmon options. There is not a lot of seating so you may have to wait depending on what time you get there. They open at 5:03pm and are packed by 5:45.

    (5)

  • Harley Q.

    Not a fan of the reservation request (this is west Seattle not San Fran). The food is mediocre. There is nothing outstanding about this restaurant other than there policy to use only sustainable seafood. A better choice would be japonessa (downtown but worth the trek).

    (3)

  • George C.

    YUM! This is my favorite sushi spot in Seattle. The spicy tuna is awesome. Don't pass up on the White Center roll and Spider roll. Both are very good. The owner and staff will chat you up if you sit at the sushi bar. Order the chefs special if you are feeling adventurous. Service is always solid at Mashiko. Just make sure you follow the "House Rules" :) The only down side is the actual size of the restaurant. It's tiny and ALWAYS packed. Make a reservation or arrive early if you want to be in sushi heaven.

    (5)

  • Alik W.

    Excellent experience sitting at the sushi bar. Service from both our chef and drinks waiter was excellent, presentations were good and ingredients fairly novel, and actually quite reasonably priced given what we had (e.g., uni caught that same day and from Puget Sound). We'd definitely come back, though it'll involve scraping up some extra hours to build up the cash!

    (5)

  • Alexandra P.

    It saddens me to know that there was such an amazing sushi joint around and I didn't know about it or go there until yesterday. Big thank you to my Yelp friends that reviewed this place, I wouldn't have known about it without ya! Came here with my hunny yesterday, and like almost all the other reviews where it says to make a reservation, you probably should. We got there around 6:30 ish on a Wednesday night and still had to wait 45 minutes, so we went across the street to have a few drinks. The waitress called us when our table was ready and we were promptly seated. Love the atmosphere, small little joint, but truly a gem. We ordered three different rolls and the edamame with garlic-SO GOOD. My favorite roll of the night would have to be the Aligator roll that was fried, and I am in love! Everything was great, the staff was awesome, and how about the womens restroom ladies? Heated toilet, and a few other perks? Doesn't get much better than that! I will probably never want to go to sushi anywhere else but here, I have been ruined.

    (5)

  • Laura U.

    I was really looking forward to eating here based on the reviews and the fact that their blog is called sushiwhore.com (brave choices speak to me). We went on a weekend evening and there was a 2 hour wait for a seat, so we opted to get takeout. The hostess helped to make our choices. I have eaten a LOT of sushi over the years and am pretty adventurous (eg been to Nobu, been to places all over the world and the only thing I haven't liked in the past is sea urchin). I did not like this sushi and my boyfriend only ate one of his rolls (as in 1 piece). Perhaps we just chose the wrong dishes as a lot of it was totally unfamiliar, but our choices were guided by the hostess who asked us what we knew we liked and made suggestions for what would be comparable on their menu. It was very expensive for us to end up throwing half away. We won't be back.

    (3)

  • Matt E.

    It's fantastic, best I've had in Seattle. The sustainable menu is impressive, the product is as fresh and clean as it gets, and the chef/owner is a wonderful fellow too. Anyone rating it low is nitpicking about its modest location and casual ambience. The focus is rightly on the food, not the linens.

    (5)

  • Rachel S.

    This is very good sushi. What really sets it apart is the owner's passion for both sustainability and making people happy by putting tasty things in their bellies. We sat at the sushi bar and he was right on the other side, busy making sushi. Very friendly and knowledgeable. When I mentioned that my favorite roll from a sushi place back in Boston featured mango, he promptly called back to the kitchen and magically procured a mango. He threw together an AMAZING combo of mango, tuna, avocado, crunchy, and some sort of spicy red sauce. It was even better than the one I had been referencing. In addition, they sent us home with some pretty leftover oyster shells that my friend was admiring. Make a reservation. It gets crowded.

    (5)

  • Yasmien H.

    Pros: The sushi we ended up getting was delicious. (Except for the sabo Oshizushi which was yucky. Sabo (Mackeral) is just gross....) And I like the idea of sustainable fish only... it made me realize that all the good stuff is not sustainable... that sucks!. : Mackeral apparently is plenty sustainable. So, it took us forever to find a roll that A. Wasn't boring B. We couldn't get everywhere, like rainbow/dragon/etc. and C. Didn't have Mackeral. OH and D. we already got one spice and one deep fried, so not two of those. So that left us with very few choices. We ended up getting: Lazy Hawaiian: 5 stars; Red Violin: 5 starts; Snow flake: 5 stars!; Sabo Oshizushi; 1 star. so the rolls: 5 stars mostly lack of choices left for second visit: 1 star :( I don't worry about this place, it will do just fine. :)

    (3)

  • Opal D.

    Service was poor - asking for the omakase, the waitress basically told us we didn't know enough about sushi and that we should stick to something safer! I eat uni for breakfast and I've spent time in Japan (ok, maybe I was lying about the breakfast part... but dinner, yes.) Pretty sure I know what I'm getting myself into.

    (3)

  • Nick R.

    Will never go back to this place again! Ordered the Sergey sashimi plate which was listed at market price. When they brought the bill, it was $100!!! The quality of the platter and amount of fish on it was nowhere near worth $100. I get better sashimi platters at Toyoda in lake city for less than half the price. Ridiculous! When the other most expensive sashimi platter listed on the menu was $28, I don't understand how you would make the leap from that to $100 freakin' dollars! On top of that, the service was slow and inattentive. The waitress didn't check on our table nearly enough. We ordered two scoops of green tea ice cream that never made it to our table. I had heard good things about this place and was excited to try it. Sadly, it did not live up to expectations. Sorry west Seattle, better luck next time. I'll be sticking to my favorite place Toyoda in lake city from now on. Could've had two dinners there for the amount we ended up paying for this meal. Not worth it at all!

    (1)

  • Julie T.

    I love good sushi and Mashiko's never fails. I started coming here a couple years ago lured by it's advertising that they serve sustainable sushi. The dining area is small and if you have more than just you I recommend a reservation on weekend nights, if dining alone the wait for the bar is normally not that long. The sushi itself is excellent and if you let Chef Hajime work his magic and order the chefs special you will be treated very well. The sashimi is always well paired with subtle flavors to compliment and is made creatively, it not only tastes amazing, it is visually beautiful. My favorite sushi place in Seattle with huge props for their priority in sustainable seafood.

    (5)

  • Demonica M.

    Thanks to the owner Hajime, I can now eat a bit of raw fish. Maguro natto is what opened the gate to success. The scallops with Fuji apple are fantastic - crisp sweet and delicate. I still eat here as often as I can.

    (5)

  • Chris S.

    Wonderfully prepared sushi. There's not much else that I could say that the others who love this place have already said, but it is the first place I've tried Uni (sea urchin), and I loved it. Too bad I don't have the $$$ to eat here all the time. More of a place where you take friends and family who love sushi, and definitely not for amateurs. Take them to Blue C where they can get their California rolls.

    (5)

  • Erica M.

    You always have to wait for a seat, but it's worth it. The tiny place is smartly decorated with a really cool salt water tank and it has awesome humorous rules like chopsticks aren't drumsticks. I've had their Veggie Assortment Sushi, which included umeshiso roll, kampyo roll, avocado nigiri, grilled asparagus nigiri, grilled shiitake nigiri, and inari. It was all really great and they had a wonderful assortment of vegetable nigiri. My dinner companions had sushi and nigiri with fish and another sea creatures and gave it the same praise. Wonderful and some of the best sushi I've had in Seattle so far.

    (5)

  • Jenn B.

    This small hole in the wall joint is sushi lovers dream come true. For those who are regulars, I am sure they are not excited by the fact that I am exposing their favorite place as it will make their chance at getting a seat even harder. The best part of the entire experience is that you can choose your destiny. If you are feeling adventurous, you can choose a menu full of sea urchin roe. If your stomach is telling you to stay a little more mild, they have an entire list of "American Style Rolls" to choose from. The menu goes on and on. Yes please! Recently my husband and I went for a date night. We also went for a family night. Although it is the same restaurant, both experiences were entirely different. When we went as a family, they asked if our daughter would like to sit by the fish tank. We took one look at each other and said "yes, she would." The entire evening she spent staring into the tank, trying to find the fish while reaching for food on the table. She made it through the entire meal without a peep. A dream come true! When we went for a date night, we decided to get an Omakase Course Meal. We asked for the Toku version which was "a great way to sample items from both our sushi bar and kitchen. This six course meal for two includes two appetizers from the sushi bar, an assortment of sushi, two kitchen creations, and one dessert to share." Our first course was filled with abalone. Abalone done three different ways. Delicious. Our second course was Tuna Tartare, complete with capers and scallions. Oh my heart just skipped a beat. Our third course was Clams Sakamushi - "clams steamed with butter and sake". Need I say more? The most delicious broth I have tasted. I even asked for an extra bowl of rice to just pour the broth over. Our fourth course was an assortment of sushi from shiso to mackerel. Our fifth course was a candy smoked coho salmon cheeks over rice. 4 large pieces of salmon were displayed on a plate. My husband and I fought over the chunks of salmon. We were licking our lips! Our sixth course was the absolute most delicious dessert. A jasmine creme brulee. It was the perfect combination of sweetness. Between my husband and I, we fought over who was going to lick the bowl. I admit it, we were a bit ridiculous. I left the meal feeling as though I ate like a queen. If I was you, I would make reservations now to try the best sushi in town!

    (5)

  • Adam M.

    My wife and I love this restaurant! We were first drawn to Mashiko because of its standards of sustainability. We hoped that those standards would be reflected in all of the other areas of the restaurant as well; we have not been disappointed. If you get a chance to sit at the sushi bar, take it, you'll be glad you did. I suggest that you remain open-minded, adventurous, and go with a willingness to be treated; try their specials, take their suggestions. Not only is the quality of the sushi unmatched, the flavors are amazing. The sushi chefs' pride in their craft really shines through their food. They are not just rolling fish and rice, they are actually orchestrating flavor and texture combinations, artistically, as their expression for their passion of sushi. Sushi just might be the staff's religion.

    (5)

  • Nathan F.

    Fantastic. I go here as much as possible when I'm in Seattle, and if they have fresh sea urchin it will blow your mind. If you are looking for lots of rolls and gimmicks, you will probably be disappointed, but if you want extremely fresh and extremely well made sushi I'm not sure if there's a better place in the US.

    (5)

  • Yumiko K.

    Delicious Indecision is the name of the game. A 5-course meal for 2 people for $50? Yes, please! Regardless of the type of cuisine, I don't like it when chefs go berserk and put WAY too much sauce/seasoning on my seafood. If it is fresh, you really don't need much to make it tastier than it already is. I love that Mashiko offers fresh (very important!), sustainable, and simple food along with some creative dishes. Yes, they do still offer American style rolls (sacrilegious if you ask me, but that is because I am a Japanese food snob.) They also offer a myriad of tasty treats (Kama is deeelicious!!). The service is friendly and prompt. The only bummer was the guy picking up dirty dishes grabbed the top of the glass (where your lips touch) to pour some water in it. (This happens quite often at many other restaurants, but it is a pet peeve of my boyfriend's.) Otherwise, I really have no complaints. FYI: I also loved the tropical fish tank. While you are waiting for your table, it is pretty entertaining to look at some bright-coloured fishies go about their fish business.

    (5)

  • Warren B.

    Fantastic sustainable sushi. Your opinion of this place can vary quite a bit, but I'd never tell anyone not to go here. It's local and makes you feel good eating really good sustainable fish.

    (4)

  • T T.

    Yum. Awesome, thoughtful sushi with friendly, warm servers. I appreciate the sustainable fishing practices and education. Some of the most inventive and delicious sushi I've ever had. Great sake menu, too!

    (5)

  • Daisy M.

    The best hands down! Even non sushi items are great but it's so hard to try them because you can't get enough of the sushi!

    (5)

  • Michael K.

    I had some sushi here recently, and something was off - the rice was extremely sour, as if they went way overboard on the vinegar. It didn't taste very good, and I had to force my meal down. I can see only 3 reasons for the mouth-puckering sushi - either 1) I got a batch of rice with an accidental rice vinegar OD, 2) the rice got splashed by acidic ginger brine, or 3) they use leftover sushi rice to polish brass. I'm guessing this was just a fluke, just not the kind of fluke that tastes good as sashimi. Would I eat there again? Yes - I ate there years ago and enjoyed it, and like that they are serious about sustainable fisheries - we diners should be so serious.

    (2)

  • Celeste F.

    Easily the best sushi in Seattle.

    (4)

  • Jorgen M.

    I have must dined here on an off night? We found this on Yelp and saw all of the great reviews, so we drove 15 miles out of the way to give it a try, The Ahi Poke was very good and so was the Salmon sashimi. I am not really into trendy rolls, though I will eat them when others order. For the 4.5 average rating by yelpers I was expecting something out of this world for being in Seattle, to me it was good, fresh and just better than average.

    (3)

  • Xine L.

    These are some of the rolls that we come back for on the regular. The temptation island and southern were our favorites while the lemonade and crystal were just ok. The tonkatsu was dry and too lean although the black cod and tempura were good. Update: We love the karaage chicken and added the Ultra man roll to our favs list. We also decided the tempura was only worth getting without the shrimp as they were to little for the extra cost. Overall this is our fav good sushi joint. JZ and I usually frequent here at least once a month.

    (5)

  • R. S.

    There is no better sushi. We've even had sushi at Nobu in London and (under our breath of course so as not to be rude customers) kept remarking "Yikes, Mashiko is better," and "Mm, not bad, but it's not Mashiko..." Try to get here at 5pm, sit at the sushi bar, and let Hajime (sushi chef extraordinaire and owner) treat you to whatever comes out of his stunningly creative mind. Something not many people know... fish like hamachi (yellowtail) and unagi (eel) are just a few of the standard sushi fish that are seriously endangered. Hajime was the first in Seattle (and second in the nation) to pioneer "sustainable" sushi. You won't find anything badly farmed or endangered on his menu. Yeah, I wasn't sure how I'd feel giving up my "unagi for dessert," but he found a replacement (and has painstakingly concocted a sauce) that blew my mind. I don't feel like I'm missing anything and I'm truly glad he made me a much wiser consumer.

    (5)

  • Danielle F.

    Best sushi I've tried in Seattle. They have really interesting flavors like Limeade, Red Violin, Boxcar Racer, and several other rolls with lots of yummy spices and sauces. The fish is all amazingly fresh and delicious. As an added bonus, they can use soybean wrappers for those who do not care for nori. They also serve delicious Asian inspired beer brewed next door at Elliot Bay Brewery (think Jasmine beer - yum).

    (5)

  • Jen F.

    Yummy yummy yummy. Best place for sushi in West Seattle, although I tend to prefer the sweeter rice of places like Chinoise on Queen Anne. Loved the food, didn't care for the service. Maybe it was just me, but the gal at the bar didn't seem to take too much of a hankerin' to us. Sorry I didn't know eel isn't on the sustainability list!! Yeesh. Most sushi bar chefs like it when you say, "Surprise me". This person however, did not. So, I'll go back, but I won't be sitting at the bar.

    (4)

  • Kay C.

    Heard about this place for awhile, but hard to make the trek out to West Seattle from east side sometimes. Anyway, it was definitely worth it. We went w/ the omakase, 14 dishes and the chef would have kept going if weren't already full. Every single dish delicious and unique. Examples - uni in tempura, ostrich and tuna salad, fresh fish whose names I can't even remember :), etc etc. Definitely make a reservation if you're coming on the weekend.

    (5)

  • Brian M.

    WOW, Slap my Bum and call me Charlie! Holy fish balls! this was an awesome experience...perhaps that's a understatement....Uber?...Epic?...well It was more than good...and I am not a big fish eater! I first heard about Mashiko on TV promoting it being a sustainable sushi restaurant that does not serve fish that are endanger or in the verge of being endangered, Like Blue fin tuna , Monk fish or Tako (squid) I did some research online after seeing the news segment. I Visited their website that was helpful. The Website had funny video's to learn the proper educate of eating at a Japanese restaurant. In addition I also read everyone's reviews on Yelp which sealed the deal. I then knew I had to come to Mashiko...But I would never think about going to Mashiko without Yelper Joy S! She would never let me get a California roll or anything near from the ordinary! So I knew I would have a good experience with her guidance. We originally came to get the Chefs Special " Dinner for Two" which is an appetizer, assortment of rolls,sashimi and Nigiri, Two entries and desert for a great price of $60 at the time (check for current price) I am sure it would of been delicious but we wanted Sashimi and Nigiri! We felt that the Dinner for two deal would not fulfill our craving to broaden our pallet horizons. I got us resverations to sit at the bar. The chef made us a deal after hearing our vision. telling him about not wanting to get rolls and wanting sushi that we would never see at the conveyor belts...with all do respect.. He then asked us how much are we looking to spend. I said the same price we were going to spend on the dinner for two. He then gave us an Omakase experience for our budget. Which was totally rad for him to do. He started us with giant looking Sea Snails. I Pulled out the brown long snail out of it's shell that resembled Jubba the huts "tork". I let that thing slide in my mouth and I was blown away. It seemed to be marinated and seasoned in it's shell. It was full of flavor, not fishy and had a firm texture. I sadly forgot the name of the Monk fish liver alternative but it was outstanding . It was Creamy with a better than lobster taste that had a hint of smokey musk. It was served under a fried rice cake that gave a great crunch to the smooth liver. We then had abalone sliced ontop of a lemon that squirted every piece when picked up with a hint of juice. we were handed by our friendly and very skilled chef some Sea cucumber with sliced vegetable cucumbers in a brown sauce that went perfect with it. The Sea Cucumber had a earlobe texture and a sweet and vinegar cucumber taste. he gave us 3 kinds of Sushimi that were excellent and fresh Sea Urchant Gonads that where creamy, rich and the best Gonads that have been in my mouth.. & the first. desert, Our waitress handed us Strawberry and Orange Mochi. We were impressed the amount and quality of food on the amount of money we spent. The hospitality was wonderful, The chef was awesome and skilled and the food was beyound great. The ambiance was casual upscale with a sense of humor. The owner was beside our chef, I enjoy the establishment and philosophy on food, culture and sustainability by teaching his ways, his views and the Japanese culture with a sense of humor. Joy and I took some complimentary buttons..with funny sayings.I got "I like it Raw" and she got " Say No to boring food" I highly recommend Mashiko for sushi...do your self a treat and ask for the Omakase. Thanks Joy for coming out with me for this *joyful dining experience.

    (5)

  • Bianca T.

    We've been doing Mashiko for years now. I figure I should finally give them some props! Mashiko's is the place that I hold as the bar for all other sushi establishments. The food is super fresh, the selection always varied, and the rolls are adventerous. Hajime is a pretty cool dude too ;) Plus, the fact that they've heralded the sustainable sushi business in Seattle is another feather in their proverbial cap. Last night we had yet another wonderful dinner. Our choices? Well, we always start with an app. Usually the veggie tempura or garlic edamame. There's something deeply addictive about the edamame. To follow, I always have to have a vegetarian selection and Deep Forest is my current love. Those cajun spices are the best! Then Red Violin is my goto roll. To these we added the Lazy Hawaiian and Bowler Roller, our first time for both, and it won't be our last. We've tried multiple items here over the years and have never been disappointed. The bento boxes are huge and a great deal for the money. The curries are yum. The beer divine. Go to Mashiko. NOW.

    (5)

  • Laura Z.

    I started making the trek out to West Seattle for Bakery Nouveau. I will keep going back there, but now I have a new west Seattle love. This past week I visited Mashiko Sushi for my 3 year anniversary. We decided to get a bottle of extremely tasty kurosawa saké and ordered the Sushi and Sashimi Course Meal for Two. Every dish was better than the last. My personal favorite was the tuna with seaweed salad on top. It had toasted sesame flavors and perfect spice! Everything was followed by their jasmin crème brulée. I really appreciate thier emphasis on sustainability. The entire night was perfect. I will be going back again and again and again. Thank you for making our 3 year anniversary special!

    (5)

  • Dan M.

    Three cheers for Chef Hajime and his crew. We stopped in for my girlfriend's birthday last week and had a phenomenal meal. We nearly chose the prix fix with four rolls but chose the DIY route with nearly the same amount (which is to say generous) of great sushi, and it came out to about the same price. We sat at the bar with the master in front of us and he did a great job hosting and putting on a show. There was, unexpectedly, a webcam in the corner of the room, and we messaged a few friends to let them know to check in on us. Pretty gimmicky, but cute. Our far-away family could see quick clips of us at the end of the bar. Maybe if the camera had a wider or multiple views you might be able to check in to see if the place is full or not... But rest assured, it probably is, and for good reason!

    (5)

  • Paul K.

    Being from Illinois, we were ready for some delicious, fresh sushi. We were NOT disappointed. Probably the best spicy salmon ever. The staff was very friendly. We came on easter sunday an they had special fried or toasted peeps for free! Also, they accept reservations which was unexpected... luckily it wasn't a busy day or we may have been in trouble, call ahead!

    (5)

  • Zachary Sam Z.

    Hands down, the best sushi experience I've ever had. Now, in fairness, this was the first time I'd done omakase, and I know that had a lot to do with it. The company was also top notch! Sylvia W and Mimi L are excellent omakase partners because, like me, they will try anything! If you haven't scoped out Sylvia's photo documentation of our epic quest, you really should: yelp.com/biz_photos/XPoJ… Even if I assume omakase with Sylvia and Mimi would be awesome at another 5 star sushi joint, there are many things about Mashiko that warrant my coveted 5 star rating. Here are the first 10 that come to mind: [ONE] Their website is sushiwhore.com . [TWO] They have pins that you can take home. I now have a pin that says SUSHI WHORE. (Are you sensing a trend?) [THREE] Sustainable sushi!! It's a great concept - they have mini booklets that you can look over to inform you about which types of fish are sustainable in which regions. Note that this means they don't have Spider rolls - but personally, I think that's fine, since Spider rolls don't have enough meat to balance out the crunch. [FOUR] Their chopsticks are made from recycled material! They're reusable, really cool looking, and they have pairs for sale. I'm getting a couple next time I go. [FIVE] The food! Everything was awesome. The fish was fresh and delicious, and the desserts were very creative!! Have you looked at Sylvia's photos yet?? yelp.com/biz_photos/XPoJ… Do yourself a favor - get the fried coconut brownie. It was perfection in my mouth. [SIX] The signage. I know this is a dislike for some people, but for me, it sets a great tone for the restaurant. Especially the signs about the food - to me, it says: "Just chill. Don't be picky. Trust the sushi chefs, and they'll make you happy." [SEVEN] The stuffed geoduck on the counter above the sushi bar. Not only is it super cute, it's a perfect prop to explain different parts of the geoduck and why they have different texture. I WANT ONE. [EIGHT] Sushi bar webcam! You better believe that I set my facebook status to encourage everyone to watch me eat sushi. Mashiko helped me realize my exhibitionist potential. [NINE] Music selection. I read on their website that Hajime is all about creating a modern environment, and it shows in the music choices. [TEN] Maki variety!! Of course, I didn't get to try very much maki because I was doing omakase. But I will definitely try some of the maki next time I go back. If the taste lives up to the variety, Mashiko may unseat my #1 favorite sushi joint in the US! GO THERE.

    (5)

  • flitter k.

    Oh this was tasty beyond belief. Everything was pretty perfect. However it is too small for a large party. I'd say 8 is the max. Out 10 person group was seated oddly so some of the people got left out on the end, not so fun for them. Several of us had the smaller of the set menu's and it was delicious. I cannot wait to go back and try the larger set menu, and yes, I will probably explode, but it will be worth it. The individual items ordered by a couple people were also delicious. (it was my birthday so everyone shared a taste with me, yay!) I don't know what to recommend, everything we got was good. I have been back now several time since the first review, including a trip where we had Omakase at the bar. Everything has been utterly fantastic every time.

    (5)

  • Nicole M.

    Wow! Amazing food!! Amazing dinning experience!!! Other reviewers have said, and I'll reiterate it....MAKE A RESERVATION. We had a reservation for 4, showed up right on time and it still took 30 minutes for us to be seated....the people who were sitting at "our table" were enjoying themselves too much too leave. We didn't mind the wait because we were dinning with friends and without children. The wait was worth it. The food was amazingly great, the server was fun and knowledgeable, and the Sake was diving. We'll be making the trek from the eastside again to enjoy Mashiko's!

    (5)

  • Tim B.

    Don't be afraid of Hajime. I only mention this because several reviewers brought it up, and I'd like to share my take. Full disclosure, the last time I stopped by Mashiko was at the invitation of a friend, a very good friend, who sprung for a kaiseki dinner for himself and 3 buddies. For those of you unfamiliar, kaiseki is a traditional Japanese dinner that includes over a dozen courses (in this case, 19), and is enjoyed over several hours (in this case, 4). In addition to its deliciousness, it's also a real showcase of the chef's culinary skills. And Mashiko's owner, Hajime, is quite possibly the best kaiseki chef in the country. I'm very fortunate, because without the invitation of my friend - who dines there a few times a month - I would not have been able to finagle such a dinner. And this is where many people are turned off by the Mashiko experience. Hajime is not a short order cook; he is genius with food who wants to create an experience that you will remember for a long time afterward. Just showing up and flashing cash will not get you a kaiseki dinner, as the chef won't know what you like, what you avoid, etc. He's had enough bad experiences to want to get to know his patrons before he spends days in advance preparing a meal specifically for them. Provided you are able to enjoy a special dinner such as ours was, you will probably never forget it. Favorites from the night included: Kumamoto Oysters with ponzu sauce and daikon (some of the freshest-tasting oysters I've ever eaten), albacore belly tartare with a quail egg (holy smoke!), and spearfish rolled in cucumber with cilantro and spicy plum sauce (sweet and a little heat). It's almost impossible to make a list, though, since that would imply that the other 16 dishes were any less amazing. Which they weren't. The staff were exceedingly friendly and engaging, and enjoyed our many questions about the dishes. Since dinner took over 4 hours, my friends and I had plenty of time to enjoy each other's company and more than a little sake, too. I guess what it boils down to is if you're looking for a truly unique, memorable experience, then stop by Mashiko, get to know the chef a few times, and try to make a case for a kaiseki dinner for you and a few other adventurous friends. It will be worth it.

    (5)

  • Jacquelin B.

    Service was great! Sushi was fresh & delicious! Loved the available sake parings. The owner of the restaurant actually works in the back making sushi at the sushi bar... SUCH a nice guy!

    (5)

  • Sylvia W.

    I am indeed a fan. While this may not mean anything to you, I am a hard to please sushi eater. After taking marine science in school I rarely ever eat sashimi. (Nematodes anyone?) However, for Mashiko, I took the plunge w/2 friends (who are also yelpers, so, yes, we were a foodie group having found a foodie sushi haven) and enjoyed every bit of the omekase we partook of. I had food I'd never thought I'd ever try. I'm just going to let my pictures do most of the talking. Every bit of our $250+ bill was worth it & no, we did not have any alcohol. We maintained a simple beverage aesthetic of water w/english cucumber slice and genmaicha. Only neg was that we were to stunned to take a picture of our first dish, sea bass sashimi in ponzu shoyu. (All other picts are captioned w/their names.)

    (5)

  • Jeremy B.

    Mashiko is our favorite sushi eatery. We do not support any other sushi restaurant in the Seattle area now that Mashiko is committed to sustainable seafood. We have been coming here for over ten years and we typically order either something chef's choice, or from the specials board, supplemented by a few favorite rolls such a "red violin" and "ultraman" to name a few. Also, don't miss the "hotate burgers". This is an amazing dish -- an entire raw scallop and crab wrapped in prosciutto with a slice of avocado and some tobiko and lemon. Chef Sato offers several different chef's choice meals -- you can get course meal for two for $60 which includes many of the specials of the day and will definitely fill you up. The next omakase meal is "eat until you're full" --the chefs will just keep creating dishes until you're done. Chef Sato also does an amazing Kaiseki meal. My wife and I have done all of these. For kaiseki, you need to request it at least two weeks in advance, as Chef Sato will spend that time preparing the menu, gathering ingredients, and preparing some of the components. This is a truly amazing experience. We had a 18 course meal, including dessert. We did not eat the entire day before hand, to prepare, and we had just enough room to finish the meal over the course of about four hours. As an example of the care that is taken at Mashiko, the salmon roe is worth mentioning. Rather than the bright pink, dyed, and ultra-fishy tasting salmon roe used in most establishments, the salmon roe at Mashiko is custom cured, in-house. It has a sumptuous, smoky, briny flavor, and a natural color. Absolutely divine. Mashiko serves a number of desserts, but one of their signature desserts that you don't want to miss is the Jasmine Pearl Creme Brulee. Trust me. Mashiko is a small, intimate restaurant. Definitely make a reservation and if you are a novice to eating sushi, don't eat at the sushi bar -- you're on candid webcam.

    (5)

  • Inna B.

    Our most recent visit was a little stranger than the first, and I'd have to say that I definitely recommend grabbing a spot at the bar instead of getting a table. Important: They take reservations, and I recommend that you make one. Even if you think it might be an off night- it's so much better to be safe than sorry! We randomly dropped in both times and while we nabbed a seat at the bar the first time, the second time our "fifteen minute wait" ended up being more about... oh, 40? Whichever number it was, it happened to be way too long for a really hungry person and it resulted in me hurrying through my sushi before I could even stop to think about how I should take the time to eat slowly and enjoy it. I still loved it, but... well... I feel like I can't write much about the specifics of the sushi we ordered b/c my main thought at the time was about how good it tasted and how much I wanted to satiate my hunger. Bonus: Sustainability is good AND they have buttons. I picked up a few, including one that says "Sustain THIS!" Anyway. This all means that they now don't carry certain popular fish b/c it's not sustainable to do so, and it means they have some interesting things on the menu. Personally I'm all about trying new & different things, so I absolutely love that. Anyway. Great place. Great sushi. Great staff. LOVE IT! Next time I just won't be quite as hungry when I go (and will seriously consider making some reservations). Oh and their ~$60 2-person several-course dinner option sounds like a great idea when you just want to try a nice variety of good food.

    (5)

  • Rick S.

    Bottom Line - This used to be my favourite Japanese restaurant and I was addicted to the "expert chirashi" as all of the ingredients were so fresh. But not based on my last experience, and I'm no longer sure whether the drive over to West Seattle is worth it for Japanese food anymore... It had been about a year since I last visited Mashiko's due to me being out of town a lot for work. My friend and I wanted to grab dinner after my gym class on Monday, 23 August 2010, so I suggested we go to Mashiko's, my favourite place for sushi! The menu had slightly changed, and the restaurant had finished its conversion to fully sustainable. Cool! We ordered the following: Chirashi ($25.00) - The chirashi bowl we got was utterly disappointing. It was kind of at the end of the night (about 9pm), and most of the pieces of fish were dry. About half of the pieces were seared, which was the MOST disappointing part. I've never had seared sashimi pieces within a chirashi bowl before. If I wanted it cooked, I would have ordered something else. I used to religiously order the expert chirashi... it was so good and so fresh! But after this experience, I don't think I'd ever order it again. So sad. On top of the less than stellar quality of the seafppd, the rice was a bit dry. Either not enough water was used to cook it, or the rice was old. Disappointing. Creamy Scallop Roll ($5.00) - This roll was okay. Too much rice in the roll, just like QFC's sushi has too much rice in it. There really wasn't enough scallop inside the roll to feel any scallopy texture. But what do you expect for $5.00, I suppose. Like the chirashi, the texture of the rice was off. Atomic Tuna Roll ($12.00) - This roll was better than the creamy scallop roll. Like the chirashi, the texture of the rice was off. Including our tea, the total came to $50.05 + 10.00 tip = $60.05 Service was good as always. Unfortunately, I only rate on the quality and experience of the actual food. Sorry, Mashiko's, you're no longer my favourite Japanese restaurant in Seattle. Such a sad day!

    (2)

  • Jessica W.

    this place is sooooo good! It's kind of pricey and the service is a little slow but only because they are always so busy because the food is awesome!

    (5)

  • Tiffanie M.

    I love that their fish is sustainable. If they have the rainbow trout appetizer, I highly recommend it. Probably one of the best pieces of sushi I have ever had. The red violin (spicy tuna) was amazing too. If you have the chance to sit at the sushi bar, you will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • seattle m.

    Best sushi ever! We sat at the sushi bar and it was a most wonderful experience across the board. Food was fresh, fast and fantastic. The service was speedy and attentive without being intrusive. Awesome place.

    (5)

  • Daryll H.

    I have eaten a lot of sushi at a lot of great places. Mashiko is in my top 5 places of all time. Lately I've become a bit more skittish about seafood due to overfishing and bad environmental stuff, but I feel fairly guilt-free here, as the chef apparently is all about sustainability etc. I will pretty much eat whatever he gives me -- which is what you should do too. Omakase!!!

    (5)

  • Danielp S.

    Now, I live in Renton Highlands. It's an odyssey to get to Mashiko, but what can you do when you live in a culinary toxic zone? So, well, I've been to Mashiko maybe eight or nine times over the past couple of years. It's great. Freshest fish in Seattle. No, not cheap, and if you value your time and sanity, you will go at some off-hour because unfortunately a lot of other people know the fish is great. You will not like this place if your idea of sushi is Genkizushi. Forget it. No conveyor belt, no profusion of goofy rolls oozing with recycled gunk, and worst of all, the chef is willing to pay what good fish costs, which means so will you. But you know, if I'm going to be eating raw flesh, I'll just hang out here in back as everyone else races to the bottom in their quest for "bargains", thank you very much. You can get the sort of experience you'd get in Tokyo if that's what you want. Ordering o-makase will buy you bragging rights when you make your buddies squeamish describing all the bizarre things you willingly ate because you couldn't bear to waste it after you paid that much for it. Oddly, turns out it's good, and you'll be stuffed silly to boot. Or, you can just buy a "normal" sushi nigiri combo and get the best there is in Seattle--and which would still be quite respectable in Japan. Yes, I do know. Ate lots of sushi in Japan. And, I'm a snob. Enjoy.

    (5)

  • Robert B.

    If you look around, you may find joints as good as this one, but I rather doubt you'll find better. The sushi is simply excellent, and they go the extra distance by making seemingly routine stuff (bento box) one better with unusual offerings. Yes it's small, and yes, it's crowded, and you better not be in a hurry. But the service is competent, and once again, the food is the best! And another thing; this is the one place that I've found that's an exception to 'Bob's 1st Rule of Ethnic Restaurants'. 'Bob's Rule' is simply this: if the ethnicity of the kitchen staff doesn't match that of the cuisine -- RUN! No good will come of this experience. Mashiko very happily defies my rule. There are two sushi chefs. There's Hajime, and yes, he's Japanese. He makes the best sushi. And there's Kirsten. She's not Japanese. She makes the best sushi too! This dynamic duo are West Seattle's treasure, and our patron saints of sushi. Come and worship!

    (5)

  • Megan S.

    We were brought here by a local and didn't make reservations... we waited FOREVER for a table! It was totally worth it though, the sushi was fresh and amazing! Even though they say they want to make sushi accessible and for people to ask questions, you could tell that our waitress was judging us when we told her we weren't from Seattle and the menu wasn't very user friendly, even WITH the reference section at the back! That being said, we took her suggestions and almost every time they were a hit. Everything we tasted was fabulous and we broadened our sushi horizons a bit! It's probably too expensive to be your everyday sushi place but it's perfect for a special occasion... just make reservations!

    (4)

  • Ai Ling C.

    The omakase courses are the best part of this place. For as little as $50 for two people, tell them how adventurous you are and about any allergies you have, and then sit back and enjoy your evening as they take care of you. Sustainable sushi that tastes so good at this price? Hell yes I'm coming back.

    (5)

  • Kat T.

    Several of my friends recommended this place, so I jumped at the chance to try it. And then I sat in a chair for 40 minutes waiting for a table on a Sunday night. That's okay, since we didn't have a reservation, but we watched them seat a table of six with no reservation before us. To start, we ordered tea and prosciutto-wrapped scallops, both of which were pretty good. Then our sub-par sushi came. The creamy scallops were okay, but the rest of the rolls were pretty bland. Most notably, the 5th Element roll, which was on the list of spicy rolls, was delivered to us without any of its spicy sauces on it. When we told our waitress, instead of apologizing for the mistake and giving us the rolls as they were meant to be prepared, she brought out two soy dishes containing the sauces that were supposed to go on the rolls. My date and I were pretty surprised, but we had already spent enough time there and just wanted to finish our meal and leave. Our waitress was slow with the check, so while we waited, the manager (?) had a chance to come around and ask how our meal was. My date mentioned the mix-up and at that point, we received an apology. However, he chose to right the mistake not by removing the roll from the check or giving us some kind of coupon/discount to use next time, he foisted upon us a dish of red bean ice cream that neither of us wanted. We said we didn't want it before he brought it and he insisted on bringing it to us anyway. So we spent our evening waiting to eat mediocre sushi and then were rewarded with a mediocre dessert. Hooray.

    (2)

  • Candice B.

    I hadn't been to sushi since I moved here two years ago. We walked by this place probably a million times. When we finally tried to go in, it was packed. Over an hour to get in. I thought this sushi was great. A little on the pricey side though. They offer a great variety. They had the best Jasmine Brew, which was jasmine tea with beer from Elliot Bay. I'd suggest anything with the word dynamite in it and definitely try a lemonade roll! If you really want to get a table here, call in for a reservation and last, but not least....Visa, MasterCard, and washing dishes are acceptable methods of payment. ;)

    (4)

  • Nathan W.

    After the sad demise of Queen Anne's Ototo this is my favorite sushi spot in Seattle. Hajime prioritizes the freshest, most sustainable fish. If you are used to ordering the same 5-6 standbys, open your palette and try something new. Go for an omakase or chirashi bowl (with surprises)--you won't regret it.

    (5)

  • Marie V.

    Still amazing. Ordered another round of White Center and Temptation Island rolls, and this time we added to the order: Futomaki roll, Red Violin roll, and Utsunomiya Gyoza. Dee-lishus! Plus, free parking in the lot around back. Just go through the passageway and you're just a few doors down.

    (5)

  • Felicia C.

    This review is only for the rice bowls that were bad. Really unappetizing. Apparently the sushi is better.

    (2)

  • Kate M.

    I work at a sushi restaurant and have grown to not like sushi so much. But then I tried this place and felt like I've been saved - I see the light now! lol This place is pretty neat in that they only use sustainable sushi. That might make you say "hey, where's the Unagi?" I can assure you, you will not miss it. Instead of Atlantic Salmon, they use Salmon from OUR area. Everything is so fresh. And there are plenty of things you can try here that a lot of other places won't have. Sea Urchin? Yeah, that's from the frickin' Puget Sound! Even if you don't like sushi, you will love this place. Nothing feels slimy, the rice is never overpowering. It's just pure awesomeness. And if you don't know what to get, the staff is more than happy and knowledgeable and can help you find something you will love. If you get the chance to sit at the sushi bar, you might even run into the owner, Hajime. He's pretty awesome and does anything he can to answer your questions. He likes Sake by the way, or at least I'm guessing so because he talks about it with so much passion. This place can be hard to get into on the weekends. They love reservations, you should make some if you plan on getting in or have a big group. If you have to use the restroom before you come here (ladies), I would wait until you get here because they have heated toilets. Oh yeah! haha Go here, you won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Stephanie T.

    Sometimes I really, really wish I could give six stars. My dining experience at Mashiko tonight was one of those times. Two words: Chef's menu. They figure out six courses of awesome and serve it to you in a reasonably priced, beautifully presented, and well paced fashion. There are a couple of reasons I think this menu is much better than your ordinary sushi tasting menu. First, it incorporates non-sushi. I love sushi as much as the next guy (OK probably more) but in going the adventure route you're almost sure to get something you don't like. Second, the quantity of food. A lot of times tasting menus (particularly of the sushi variety) leave you ready for a second meal. Notably not true at Mashiko. Third, price. $30 might not be cheap for dinner but for 6 courses of awesome I'd call it a pretty good deal. Important tip - make sure you visit in multiples of two, since the chef's menu is a two person item. I would compromise a lot of things for the meal I just had but I didn't feel I had to at all - service, attention, pacing, water service, clustering of tables and size of restaurant to make it feel like a private dining space. On a relaxed Tuesday evening we were seated almost immediately and attended but not smothered. Perfection. Go! West Seattle might seem a little daunting but it's just not that far (cough, cough, Ballard) and believe me, it's well worth it.

    (5)

  • Midi J.

    Too bad. I am wondering what's happened to this restaurant. I have been here several times and last time was New Year's Eve. Till that time the food has been delicious and super fresh. This time my friend visit town and we had dinner at mashiko. I had hoped to treat my friend with Seattle's high quality Japanese food. But just got disappointed. We had Omasake course, of which Sushi and Sashimi are NOT FRESH! Chef 's special are fried things. They were all over fried and tasted bitter. Entering any Japanese restaurant in Seattle area, you can expect a better quality. It doesn't worth any bit of the 88 dollars bill. Don't go.

    (1)

  • Amber N.

    My sis and I randomly stumbled across this FABULOUS hole in the wall place as we were looking for a breakfast place one morning. Obviously, it wasn't open, so, we made a trip back and went there for dinner. I am soo happy that we did! We sat at the sushi bar and had the pleasure of being served by Hajime. He was full if knowledge and was very open about answering any questions we had. I tried uni for the first time...AMAZING! Even cooler that it is served right out of shell/body! And, I tried Monkfish pate - Hajime recommended a sake to try with and gave me a sample of it. What a combo! My step-dad just kept ordering more and more random items off the menu, everything was just scrumptious! A BONUS is that Hajime is very educated and can tout that his restaurant serves only sustainable fish...ask him to give you some details about it. I was floored by what he told me.

    (5)

  • Shannon S.

    If only there were a little more room this would be perfect 5!

    (4)

  • Brian H.

    Best sushi in Seattle. Period. No questions. Hajime and his team are experts in flavor and surprise. My partner and I have been there a few times now, and have always had an amazing time. The Omikase is the only way to go. If you can, sit at the bar and talk to Hajime-San and whoever is working with him - you won't be disappointed in the banter and the knowledge they will impart! The restaurant is small - probably only 50 seats. Make sure you have a reservation and, if you are doing the Omikase, ask for the sake pairings with it...and have a designated driver. The Omikase can run about 3 hours and for two people will be spendy (but oh so worth it)...so plan for that. :-) Whatever you decide, you can't go wrong with eating at Mashiko.

    (5)

  • Sandra Y.

    Okay seriously, with a website address of sushiwhore.com , how can one NOT expect to fall in love with Mashikos? Mashikos prides itself in being the first sustainable sushi restaurant in Seattle. This means they don't serve endangered or farmed (barf) fish. Or something quite honorable along those lines. All I know is the fish they DO serve is like a party in my mouth. My long time BFF Andrew moved out to West Seattle a few years ago and he treated me out to Mashikos for the first time. I've wanted to go back ever since but don't find myself out on California Ave that often. One menu item must have: Black Cod Kasuzuke (aka butterfish). Melts in your mouth and is sauced perfectly.

    (5)

  • Rich S.

    Mashiko has become our restaurant of choice for out of town guests visiting Seattle and looking for good seafood. I didn't fully appreciate this on my first trip to Mashiko, but wow, they've got one hell of a selection of sake. Served elegantly in glasses or boxes, warmed or cold, sweet or dry... I've become a true fan of not only their sushi, but of the wonderful sake they serve. If you're not familiar with sake, and its many varieties, Mashiko is a great place to take a brief guided tour of options. On top of that, if for some reason you're not ready to try sake and feel the need for wine instead, you're welcome to bring your own. There is a modest fee, and perhaps you'll want to pick up a favorite white wine from 'round the corner. While I have not taken advantage of this yet, I do appreciate the willingness to indulge in fine spirits.

    (4)

  • Frenzie R.

    The service was horrid. Our waitress had a giant chip on her shoulder and ignored us as much as possible. It took 15 minutes after seating before she finally acknowledged us, then another 40 minutes for the food to come out. Tables around us were getting served much faster. An example of the kind of attitude: I asked if the chirashi came with a sauce to which she replied: "Can you read? It comes with what the menu says." I don't know what the deal was; we were dressed like the rest of the clientele, we'd both had showers that morning, and we were just a normal couple looking for a nice dinner. We weren't impolite or rude, even after the awful way we were treated. While we are a mixed race couple, I'm loathe to cry racism although that's the only thing that distinguished us from the people who were being served in a professional manner. Unfortunately the hostile service literally left a bad taste in our mouths, so I can't really objectively review the food. We left feeling dehumanized, but left a 15% tip to show no hard feelings. Never, ever going back there. :(

    (1)

  • R L.

    i would like to echo doobie w's review. i few weeks ago i had a horrific experience as well. the owner chef is at best an insecure bully and i honestly believe eventually someone is going to punch him in the face. let me describe: half of my group consisted of my colleague and his japanese wife who just arrived one week earlier from japan. we were all pretty excited to try the more adventurous, three hour flavor of the "chef's choice" menu. if you order from this menu you're really looking for something special. so we were shocked when mediocre after mediocre dish kept arriving (probably seven dishes by this point). i don't recall everything but the dish that finally triggered some commentary on my part was some incredibly bland, very poorly executed pieces of asian sweet potato (which had drizzled on it the same sauce as the two previous dishes - one of which was some miserable mound of kale). at any rate, not being satisfied i politely mentioned this to waitress and the chef came over angrily. he asked what the problem was and when i explained we were not satisfied with the offerings he took incredible offense and began berating my taste in food, and very nearly making my friend's wife cry. the sweet potato dish is apparently his favorite and comes from his home town. he then started speaking in japanese. he claimed to have asked whether she liked it and she responded 'yes.' i later learned what he actually asked was , "do you like sweet potatoes?" well of course many people generically enjoy sweet potatoes but that was besides the point! he angrily told me, "well everyone at your table likes it so i am sorry you didn't, i'll just make you a bunch of rolls because you don't understand how this menu works!" he then proceeded to intimidatingly stare at our japanese guest from behind the sushi bar and she really wanted to leave. he made us all very uncomfortable and as promised the two dishes that came out subsequently were generic tasteless rolls. it was all i could do to maintain my composure. the guy was so rude i am almost embarrassed i stayed for even one more dish. it goes without saying i will never return. do yourself a favor and check out Sushi Kappo Tamura in Eastlake. it is categorically amazing and you won't have to worry about being provoked to violence by sitting down for your meal.

    (1)

  • J K.

    As a Japanese-American, it's a personal mission of mine to know the Japanese and Hawaiian restaurants inside and out. Mashiko is one of the best mostly-traditional Japanese restaurants in town. I've been to over 60 Japanese joints (and counting) in the Seattle area and this one is possibly 2nd on the list (behind Maneki). The Japanese owner, who works right behind the sushi bar, is very friendly -- this really means a lot to me. An absent or unfriendly owner taints a restaurant experience for me. I want to feel like I'm a guest in someone's house, not in a business. The service was friendly in a laid back way. A little slow at times. It's often crowded, so expect to wait at every stage. I've noticed that sushi comes fast, so if you're in a hurry, maybe you should just order rolls. It's a little pricey, but you get what you pay for. Their bentos are great. They're filled with quality staples. I love all the little tasty bites. You can tell the quality of a Japanese restaurant by their bento items -- and this joint delivers. One of the best menus in town: many selections, traditional and modern items, etc. They even had Orion, the Okinawan beer, which really impressed my Okinawan friend.

    (5)

  • Peter L.

    Mashiko has been around since 1994, but I never made it here until recently. They are the first fully sustainable sushi bar in Seattle, which means you won't find a lot of sushi favorites such as bluefin tuna or hamachi. But what they do have is very good and also a decent sake selection as well. The albacore tuna and ama-ebi were standouts, and the belly cut of the tuna made me forget about toro. The best small dish was one with scallops, crab, and prosciutto, which they aptly describe as complete happiness. The black cod kasuzuke was also good. With sake, there is the option to get a bottle or by varying sizes of masu, which are small wooden boxes used to hold the glass. They even had a namazake, which is an unpasteurized version which is refreshing and a little sweeter, which is not always easy to find, especially by the glass. Definitely a good place to drop by, but make reservations as the place is small and gets crowded fast.

    (5)

  • Aivanett N.

    The location is very small and cozy so make sure to call ahead for a reservation. The server was attentive and knowledgeable. We ended up ordering a 5 course chef selection and every single dish was fresh, clean and delicious. Loved the Scallop Nigiri and the Poke seaweed salad!!

    (4)

  • Em M.

    I've been coming to this place since it switched to all-sustainable sushi (in other words, years). Best place for sushi in the city. I've never had a bad dish, even during the free-for-all omakase. The uni (sourced from the Peninsula) is tremendous. Waitstaff has generally been friendly and helpful. The reservations/waitlist policies are the huge drawback. Either take reservations or don't. Don't change the policy based on how busy you are that night. Just be consistent. Warning: this place gets extremely busy. If you don't have reservations on a weekend, don't come hungry because you may have to wait two hours for a table.

    (4)

  • Tim L.

    I almost don't want to write a review for this place as I'd rather keep it as the hidden gem of West Seattle. However, the food is too good, and Hajime is too cool a person to not give the review this place deserves. As other's have stated, you probably want to make a reservation, at least a day in advance, as this place fills quickly after opening. If you show up right as they open, you shouldn't have a problem getting a table or sitting at the Sushi Bar. All of the Sushi Chefs are top notch and happy to share their knowledge about sushi, sake, and life. I've seen some comments on here about the food being a bit pricey, and while that may be true, you get what you pay for, and in that context I do not find them pricey. I am willing to pay the price, because I appreciate their sustainable practices, the freshness of their fish, and the care that goes into delivering an excellent product. Show up when they are packed with a line out the door? Put your name on the list with you cell phone number and hit any of the local bars or brewhouses. Enjoy a drink or two and get called when your seat is ready!

    (5)

  • Jasmine A.

    Best sushi in Seattle!!! A little pricey, but well worth it!

    (5)

  • J D.

    Best sushi I've had in Seattle, and I'm into the sustainable aspect for sure. We got the Sergy's Sashimi platter by recommendation of our waiter: fantastic. Really good uni, my first geoduck, salmon eggs, my first raw shrimp, deep fried shrimp heads and a bunch of good fish. Highly recommended along with the Japanese white beer they've got.

    (5)

  • Maddy T.

    PEOPLE IN MY LIFE BRIBE ME TO HELP THEM WITH THINGS BY TAKING ME TO MASHIKO DINNERS. They know that I absolutely LOVE this place. There was a time a few years ago when I would literally eat here two or three times a week if I wasn't on work trips...back when I made a little more moolah. I had to leave that job for a little work-life balance and unfortunately can only indulge in the good sushi occasionally. It can get a little pricey. My younger sister and I love to eat here and although we like to try new things and will order off the daily chalk board, we still have our die-hard favorites like the scallop burger, albacore tataki and the Dragon Roll. I tend to order more nigiri and sashimi then rolls since the rolls tend to fill me up too fast but the sushi roll menu is really awesome and interesting. It is a small place that can sometimes have a long wait list but just give them your name and cell phone number and go grab a beer or snack across the street until they call....or stop by right after they open at 5:03pm. It is usually quiet and you will have the full focus of the staff. Even though I am a big fan of their creative and fresh raw fish selection, I still love to bring my not-so-daring-new-to-sushi friends here because their kitchen items are delicious too. They have a huge menu so you are destined to find something you like. ...great Sake too.

    (5)

  • E H.

    Pros: Best sushi in town. Hands down. Cons: Small and sometimes takes a while to get a table.

    (5)

  • Rowena M.

    I love this place. Granted, I've only been here once, and my regular sushi place is Village Sushi which will always have a place in my heart, but the Village, like many traditional sushi places are not open on Monday. What were we to do when my man just came home after being gone for a month with an unimaginable craving for sushi? Find a place to satisfy that craving of course. Enter Mashiko. We didn't come here because of the "sustainability" buzzword. We came here because I heard it was good. And they didn't disappoint. Their menu is extensive and they offer several choices of meals for the sushi connoisseur. We opted for the chef's choice meal called "Delicious Indecision" which was a five course meal that consisted of a cold appetizer, an assortment of sushi, 2 small bite entrees and a dessert to share. Everything was cooked deliciously and our server was polite and attentive. I love this place. Next time I'd like to reserve the table next to the fish tank. Do you think the fish might think it's rude if I order the Sushi and Sashimi chef's choice dinner?

    (5)

  • Elizabeth J.

    I can claim with confidence that this place serves top notch sushi. It's fresh, tastes delicious and is presented beautifully. The half shell oysters are oh, so good. Like you just slurped a bit of the ocean with a dash of soy sauce. I can also recommend the Red Violin roll (it's got a spicy kick at the beginning, but finishes smoothly). I knocked off one star because of the prices and service. I know they are "sustainable" and all, but c'mon, it's not like I would order Blue Fin Tuna from any place anyways. Who cares if their chopsticks are made from, what was it, wheat? I felt a little bit better about seeing our bill served strewn with Japanese candies. Nice. The service we received was just okay. Our server seemed to get irritated if we asked any questions regarding the menu. I'll try other places in this area before making it back to Mashiko's next time I'm in the mood for sushi.

    (4)

  • Danual A.

    I'm sure there are a lot of things for people to like and dislike about Mashiko. While it's not my favorite sushi in Seattle - it's definitely my West Seattle favorite for the time. I got the "Fifth Element" roll, which is just a rainbow roll with spicy mayo and wasabi. Despite the kitschy name, the taste was great. The only issue (if you want to call it an issue) is that since they have a sustainable menu, they have substituted eel with catfish. While it still tastes delicious it's not quite the same. Not better or worse - just different :) Mashiko is in a rather small space on the junction, and I'm not in love with the cramped nature. They have admittedly done an excellent job working with what they have, and I enjoyed the ambiance overall. I think for the price I won't be making this a regular haunt, but when the wife and I are interested in treating ourselves we'll make a reservation and pop in. I've heard a lot of good things about the nigiri and the sashimi, so I think I might try sitting at the bar next time and letting the chef fix up what he thinks I'll enjoy. To summate: a bit pricey for a regular affair, make a reservation, and enjoy the scenery. Just deal with not having eel.

    (4)

  • Jacquie P.

    sushiwhore.com Ha! Love it. For our fourth anniversary we decided on Mashiko. They were a little late opening so we grabbed a beer at Talarico's across the street and watched in horror as a line began to form outside Mashiko and snake down the sidewalk. We chugged our beers and sprinted over to grab a spot at the back of the line. Point one: Get there early! And stay there! We ordered the sushi and sashimi course meal for two. Two appetizers, eight pieces of nigiri, two rolls, and a dessert - all chosen by the chef and each of them completely delicious and surprising. We also drank sake off a plate and gorged ourselves on kumamoto oysters. Point two: Order a lot of food. Eat, and repeat. Everything is good. Period. We left with some "swag," a sustainable seafood guide, some cute buttons, very full tummies, and some great memories for our anniversary. Third point: Just go!

    (5)

  • Dawn C.

    I love eating at Mashiko. To me, it's everything a west coast sushi joint should be: menu items that reinvent tradition, ingredients that are sourced sustainably, and a laid-back, irreverent while-at-the-same-time overachieving (bordering on the obsessive) style. I heart all of it. The menu is extensive, but I truly believe you'd be doing yourself a disservice to choose anything other than Omakase (i.e., 'It's up to you, chef.') and surrender to your meal. A more straightforward, but no less satisfying, option is the Sushi and Sashimi course meal for two. The chef will still surprise you, and the composition of each of these plates can vary by the hour depending on the mood of the chef. At $60 (total!) for the S&S course meal there's no way I can figure that you'll get a better value for your money. The price of admission gets you two appetizers, eight pieces of nigiri, two rolls, and a dessert. The only disappointment for the man and I was that we couldn't fit another roll in our bellies. Some recent menu highlights for me are listed below: - Trout sashimi served with shiso leaf and crisped rice. Although initially terrified (oily trout with no place to hide?), I was overjoyed at both the flavor and texture of the fish. Perfectly clean, and complemented well by a bit of sesame/soy reduction. - Wild Alaskan Salmon nigiri served with a slice of fresh lime. Prior to this experience, my favorite sashimi was halibut served with a slice of lemon. Well, the salmon is like that, but better. Oh, better. (the citrus is thinly sliced, rind removed, meant to be eaten with the bite of fish). - Tuna (I think it was albacore) belly roll, wrapped with asparagus and an angel hair piece of tempura batter. The texture of the tempura was a great complement to the fatty fish, and both played well with the crunch of the thin asparagus spear. - Scallop nigiri. First time I've had the "whole" scallop, including the muscly, connective tissue pieces. Wonderful! Although my highlights all focus on meat, veggians should take note that the vegetarian/vegan items here are extensive, diverse, and tasty. I lived the no animal protein lifestyle cleanly for three years, and loved Mashiko because I still got to feel like I was on a sushi adventure--and the veggie adventure at Mashiko is one that carnivorous friends enjoy too. So take advantage Seattlites! You've got this Eujeanian green with envy.

    (5)

  • Bob D.

    This is about as good as it gets, and guilt-free because Hajime is providing 100% sustainable sushi. The chefs and waitstaff are attentive and friendly, the ingredients are fresh, the sushi and maki are amazing, and the dishes from the kitchen can't be beat. If you're not sure what to get, leave it up to the chefs and try either the full dinner for two (one appetizer, a sushi / maki course, two kitchen courses and dessert) or the omakase (omakase-may-it-never-end!). There are plenty of veggie dishes, which they make a point to keep creative and tasty as well. Sit at the sushi bar and satisfy your inner paparazzi via the webcam. On the weekend Mashiko fills up quickly, so plan to get there early.

    (5)

  • Joshua K.

    Still my favorite after all these years! Love the sustainable sushi and if you have the opportunity to do the Omakase it's definitely worth it! The fifth element and southern roles are absolutely amazing!

    (5)

  • Alexander J.

    Dear Mashiko, I wanted to love you! I'd pretty much given up nigiri/sashimi due to sustainability issues, then I heard you had switched over to only sustainably fished seafood. Sure, your seafood was all fresh and your flavor combinations were bold. Unfortunately, your fish simply lacked flavor -- all of the curries, spices and garlics were simply a mask for the fact that your nigiri and rolls miss the flavor of traditional (and overfished) raw fishes. If the only raw fish that's in my future is your slightly flavorless nigiri, I'll stick to sustainably caught but cooked fish, the kind that's supposed to be gussied up and paired with other flavors. I'll leave your fish to those who can't live without sustainable yet raw. At least your jasmine creme brulee was both exciting and tasty. Sincerely, Alexander

    (3)

  • rosylen m.

    I've only been here once, but that is all it took to make me a fan and here's why: 1. They have buttons with all sorts of little slogans, etc., for free (I love free!)!!!! I took two buttons: one said, "Boring food sucks," and the other said, "Sushi Whore." Both true statements in my book. 2. The food I ate there was f'n delicious. Any place that will sell me a fried shrimp head has a soft spot in my heart. 3. They sell chopsticks made of recycled materials. 4. I like their fish tank.

    (4)

  • Jim B.

    I will crawl across the floor on my belly just to lick the dirty boots of the edible Dominatrix that is the Mashiko Omakase Dinner. Every day. This consumable sexual act started out BDSM & carried through the whole meal. Jim: I'd like the Omakase dinner. She: Have you been here before? J: No S: We really don't like to sell Omakase to first time customers. Ji I'd really like it. S: Chef would rather know you and know what you like and can tolerate. Ji I think I can handle it. She looks at me. J: I pretty much judge Japanese restaurants on Omakase. It's all I order. S: You've had a lot of them? Ji All over the world, including Japan. S: Okay. Ji How much is it? S: There's no set price. Ji How much food? S: As much as you can take. While we didn't set a safe word, she came throughout the meal to see how I was doing. I ordered a bottle of good Sake & prepared myself for ... something. I got something, a mixture of pleasure & pain that humbled me. Course 1 - Brothed snail. In the shell. Just a snail, a cup, and a toothpick. Not chewy, perfectly done, flavorful. C 2 - Three Oysters - tiny, medium, large. Artfully arranged on an ice bed. In the half shell. With a ponzu, radish sauce: spicy, sweet & perfectly balanced. Reassuring. Touches your soul. C 3 - Mountain potato over tofu - Two little cubes of tofu with mountain potato. A thrilling nutty taste - unexpected & penetrating. C 4 - Geoduck slices in a lemon cup. An artfully cut cup from a lemon holds many Geoduck slices (chunks). Perfectly fresh, with that "I'm perfect Geoduck" texture of just slightly crunchy. Pretty & personal. C 5 - Bluefin Poke with Nato and Bonito. I took my first bite, working it around in my mouth. "Is is good?" Kim asked. "Yes," I said. "You look like something is wrong." She said. "No, no, it just has the texture of oral sex." Nato is highly viscous. When you pull it out of the cup it trails long strings of viscous fluid, which is very much like ... well, you get the idea. People notoriously hate Nato, which is fermented soy bean. One person at our table tried it and declared, "ugh, I taste better than that!" I enjoyed the whole dish, the bluefin was perfect, the bonito wasn't overpowering and the nato showed me my place. C 6 - Japanese smelt in a complex ponzu sauce. By now I was having trouble taking notes. I was slipping into the control of the Omakase. I hate smelt and ate every last one. This was the point where I knew I would eat anything. My dislike aside, these were perfectly filleted and on little squares of something. I don't even know what they were! C 7 - Nigiri - three pieces. Albacore Belly, Sea Trout, & Black Cod. I ate them in reverse order, no soy sauce. The black cod was crispy, soft, perfect mouth feel. The sea trout: excellent, unique, flavorful. The Albacore Belly: like heaven on a little block of rice. I felt so grateful for that albacore belly. They use real wasabi and not dried. Just the right amount to get the flavor. I must also praise the Pickled Ginger. Vivian declared it to be the best she'd ever had. C 8 - Ahi (I think) & Tako. Slices of each (but I just don't think it was ahi) artfully interspersed to be eaten together. A light sauce drizzled over top. Clean & comforting. C 9 - Sea Squirt, Oyster shikasu, & sea trout mik sac. After taking me around and around, it was time for me to learn my place as an adventurous eater. Sea squirt tastes like it sounds: Briney, oceanic, natural. The fermented oyster was an experience. You take it in your mouth, all viscous and slippery, and get the initial taste of vinegar, quickly followed by the familiar flavor of oyster, then you bite it and get what can only be called a shocking blast of salt. Overpowering and humiliating. You cry when you eat it. It's humbling and you must respect it. My companions watched in bemused horror as I fought to survive it. It was a good three minutes before I was able to choke out, "that ... may .... be ... the saltiest thing .... on ... earrrrth." Dabbing the tears from my cheeks I marched right along to the milk sac which was placed there as a base to undo the flogger stings that was the fermented oyster. The milk sac was soothing and caring. It kindly brought me back to the world of the living. C 10 - 2 types of uni sushi. One (that we're used to seeing here) is the Alaskan Uni. Familiar to me in its tongueish look. The east coast uni was smooth. Alaskan - pungent, east coast - sweet. C 11 - Geoduck, gai lan, bean sprout, shitake stir fry with uni butter. I begged the woman to put this on the menu. This was perfection on a plate. C 12 - Fried black cod over a cold salad. This was clean & warm. C 13 - Creme brulee with something salty on top. I was in a food coma by now. Seventy dollars for that. Isn't that worth submitting to? 5,000 chars is not enoug

    (5)

  • Johana R.

    Great location, yummy food!

    (4)

  • Colleen W.

    "Shut up and eat!" - I wish more people abided by this Mashiko motto. This is my favorite place to eat sushi in Seattle. Why do I love thee? Let me count the ways. 1. It's fresh, creative, and delicious. 2. Favorite rolls are the Limeade, Atomic Tuna, and UltraMan. 3. It's sustainable. 4. The chefs and servers have always been friendly and encourage you to try new things. 5. It's in West Seattle (one of three sushi joints on the strip and THE clear winner, by far.) Tips: Make a reservation - this place gets hoppin. Sit at the bar and order the chef's choice. It's a dining experience not to be missed. Your stalkers can watch you do it on live web cam.

    (5)

  • Mutant O.

    Brilliant selection of classic sushi and hot dishes, plus new flavor combo spins, all with the added benefit of only sustainable sourcing. A truly killer sake list with choice of masu or glass carafe presentation. Room and seating is a bit rustic, but the staff attitude makes it all good. The house rules are hysterical and righteous. Here's a sample: * Prices are subject to change based on customers attitude * Talk to the people around you (as long as you do not have food in your mouth) * Chopsticks are not drum sticks * Soy sauce is not a beverage * Visa and master card and washing dishes are all acceptable methods of payment * Because Hajime said so Rats, how did I missed the mirugai !?!? (Hot tip: do try the Japanese after-dinner fruit gummies. Excellent stuff.)

    (5)

  • P H.

    one of the best sushi restaurants in Seattle, the best fully sustainable seafood restaurant in Seattle. An amazing amount of locally sourced fish and food. Sit at the bar and BS with Hajime while enjoying great food and drinks!

    (5)

  • Melissa O.

    Hands down the best Chirashi bowl ever. EVER! It's basically ruined me. I can't eat sushi anywhere else.

    (5)

  • R T.

    Hands down, Mashiko is the best sushi I've ever had. The service can be a bit slow sometimes, but who cares! I eat out for the food, not to have a complete stranger make me feel special. Always call ahead for a reservation & remember to try the "Temptation Island". It's absolutely orgasmic - No kidding. :)

    (5)

  • Dennis D.

    Best Shushi I've ever tasted and they do not serve seafood on the "endangered species list". Remarkable.

    (5)

  • Stephanie S.

    Mashikos is hands down one of the best sushi stops in the Seattle area. The rolls are all over the board so it's a crowd pleaser from the very authentic and raw to the very Americanized and cooked, but all are very tastey. They are completely sustainable and did an excellent job subbing out the previously unsustainable items with new ones that appease the environment and tastebuds alike. They started taking reservations so that is awesome because the wait can get out of control (over an hour for any given night during dinner rush). My only real complaint is that the wait staff and definitely the sushi chefs lean on the pretentious side, but what are you gonna do? Please don't leave without trying the Albacore Tataki Sashimi...it = magic.

    (5)

  • Jenny L.

    I find it a little weird that this Japanese restaurant didn't seem to have any Japanese people in it. That being said, I ordered the scallops, which were buttery and sweet. It was delicious! Definitely recommend the sake steamed clams. Those were soooo good! The oyakodon wasn't the best I had. It came on a huge bowl of rice, which I barely touched. I ate the topping and that was it. Also ordered some kind of roll with sweet potato in it. It wasn't memorable. I'd come back if I was craving the clams, but not for anything else.

    (3)

  • Scott K.

    Americans can be a pain... You know it, I know it, and the rest of the world knows it. We're impatient, hot headed, workaholics, that smell like hamburgers and taste, not unlike... plastic. It's no surprise to me that more then a few of you who left reviews for Mashiko complained that the wait is too long. It is however a great shock that those of you who have eaten here, don't love it enough not to care! I'd wait a week in a hole filled with poisonous blowfish, while waiters rubbed my nose in Wasabi to eat here again! The reason there's a long wait, is that this is not a fast food restaurant! It's high quality sushi served in courses at the customers leisure! It's a restaurant that prizes quality over quantity, and masterfully serves some of the freshest and most well thought out morsels I've ever placed past these sensitive flowers, I call, lips. Let it forever be known that I traditionally HATE Sea Urchin. I simply can not abide what I perceive as the old fish taste and gooey texture I believed was synonymous with the beast! An issue gracefully solved by serving me minutes fresh Sea Urchin on a crispy tempura round. A slightly squeezed lime wedge placed under it to soak up just a sparkle of flavor. You discard the lime wedge and when this art is placed inside of your mouth... a fireworks display of synapses push you to bliss! Now anyplace that can make me love something I hate... that's worth a sixth star! Close your eyes and dream of the best sushi you can... taste it passing over your lips, the textures complementary, the flavors tinting your throat with colors the likes you've never known. Now open your eyes and realize that food this good is worth waiting for. Most certainly worth savoring. There's no hurry here, only the careful and thoughtful care of the tastebud. Breathe. Eat. Learn to taste with new eyes. Fly my child. Fly.

    (5)

  • Marci A.

    What isn't there to love at Mashikos? Sustainably harvested foods, excellent flavor, great surroundings, awesome service. My favorites are still Temptation Island and Dragon, though every dish is guaranteed to be fresh and tasty! The menu is extensive, but there's nothing better than choosing Omakase. Hajime is a fantastic chef.

    (5)

  • Jess M.

    We love Mashikos! The service is always great and the food is delicious. We also really like their commitment to sustainable seafood. The restaurant is clean and the bathrooms are spotless. The poke of the day was super flavorful and the Namagi was fabulous. The Southern roll was our favorite. We wished we had gotten two! My husband loved the Ronin, but it was a little to spicy for me. And of course, the dessert was a decadent end to a delightful mean. Make sure to get reservations, they often have a several hour wait for walk in.

    (5)

  • Minnie M.

    Ordered the Toku Omakase for $38 and and really enjoyed how fresh everything tasted and what a great deal the meal was. It came with: 3 pieces each of tuna, octopus, scallop, and tuna sashimi, as well as salmon, shrimp, scallop, tuna and mackarel sushi. In addition to THAT, there was a salmon teriyaki and rice dish I couldn't even finish, but took leftovers to go. Finished it off with a black sesame creme brulee which was to die for. Service was great and prompt but the sushi wasn't very memorable so I probably won't be back.

    (3)

  • Phil L.

    Mashiko, reservations are definitely recommended. Being relatively new to town and single, it means I'll more than on one occasion eat alone and would think I would have zero problems getting a table anywhere. And well, this was the first time I was told flat out that even the bar was fully booked for the night........ON SUNDAY. Fortunately, living two blocks away, I ordered it to go and bellied up to the bar across the street while I waited 45 minutes for my order to be made. Since I'm a huge fan of bento boxes, I went with the Mashiko bento box (of course) and what a heck of a deal. Good sushi is never cheap and I was thoroughly impressed by everything that came with the bento box. The bento box contained an appetizer of fried fish, a roll, two small fillets of pan fried fish, tempura veggies, and everything was delicious. The fish was seasoned well, cooked perfectly, and the portion size was just right.

    (4)

  • Rhonda P.

    I'm a regular visitor at Mashiko's restaurant. The more sushi restaurants I visit, the more I appreciate Mashiko's. The sushi is delicious, they have a nice sake selection, the staff are very friendly and the restaurant is clean. I highly recommend trying out the course meals where the chefs surprise you with a wonderful assortment of sushi and hot dishes from the kitchen. I also highly recommend, as others have mentioned, that you get a reservation.

    (5)

  • Jo L.

    Holy crap that was some amazing sushi with a good sustainability ethic. We had a 5:00 reservation for dinner here and there was a bit of a wait, so we didn't even get in until about 5:15. I thought this was a bit weird as they were very emphatic about the time sensitivity of the reservation (i.e. basically we'd get out after an hour and a half), but once we were seated, we were down to business. We ordered the omakase and everything that came out was delicious. It was a multiple course meal with hot and cold dishes, and dessert to boot. Normally when I get sushi I eat enough to feel satisfied, but when I was done with this I was actually pretty full! I particularly liked the poke and seaweed salad; I like both of those things separately and together they were still really good. I'm not sure how I feel about the menu though. The "arbitrary rules" page was kind of funny, but one page was all in Japanese and I'm guessing you're just supposed to point at something and hope that what you ordered was something you'd actually eat. Maybe I'm just not that much of a risk-taker. Our server was lovely and attentive, and even though they were mega busy he checked on us regularly and took the time to make sure that each meal was perfect. He explained every dish to us and also told us about how the fish was farmed and prepared. I'd definitely want to come back, probably with friends to they can share the experience. And then we'd go to Bakery Nouveau down the street for some amazing dessert. The toilet is also pretty amazing.

    (5)

  • Priscilla S.

    Sushi was great they were really accomidating to get things out quickly. My brother was in town and I had no baby sitter so had to take my 2year old with me not fun for her. I did make a reservation so that helped .

    (4)

  • Thuy D.

    Picked this place to celebrate an event and I'm so glad that we came here! I decided to splurge a little bit and went with the Honkaku omakase meal. There was so much food, I lost count of how many dishes we had but for the most part everything was outstanding! - King mackerel batera was very good, love smell of grilled fish - Marinated coho ikura and tofu was light and ikura tasted very fresh - King salmon with asparagus was another light dish, the asparagus was a great contrast with the salmon - Sauteed geoduck was flavorful, I could eat alot of this! - Poached Abalone - has a nice sauce - Tuna tartar with poached egg, amazing one of the best I've had - All the nigiri that we had was very fresh, ika was one of the best I've ever had Service was very good considering they were very busy. Would love to come back here again, although it's a bit out of the way.

    (5)

  • Mel G.

    Great service and mostly awesome food. The "tuna on tempura wasabi leaves" was particularly good! Overall, great fish and dishes but with some exceptions: the bay shrimp roll and the agadashi mochi were only so so. The prices are reasonable for the quality and the place is bordering 5 stars. Oh, one small note for improvement: all items on the itemized check either say 'sushi' or 'kitchen' without further description. I found it odd and nearly impossible to examine and verify.

    (4)

  • Matt S.

    Our new favorite spot for nice sushi in Seattle! The food is fresh and their menu is always getting updated with some new, innovative dishes. The omakase meals offer an _incredible_ value for excellent sushi in Seattle. We used to spend so much more on Shiro's, I Love Sushi on the Lake, Nishino, Flo, etc. before being introduced to Mashiko. I am not super concerned about sustainability, it's great that it's something they are conscious of, and we do appreciate it but we prioritize food quality over everything else... We like Mashiko because it's delicious, has excellent service, and is very reasonably priced for the quality. I also really enjoy their shiso leaf and jasmine flavored beers - don't miss those. We live on the eastside and drive all the way to west Seattle just to eat at Mashiko, it's worth the drive. Ignore the mediocre reviews from the "California roll sushi crowd" and just head to Mashiko and try out one of their omakase meals - real sushi fans will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Shaunt B.

    Best. Sushi. Ever. I haven't been to Japan yet, but I've been to a LOT of sushi spots up and down the west and east coast, and I make it a point to eat here any time I'm in Seattle. It's actually one of the reasons I love Seattle. Fresh fish comes in, not daily, but hourly! I recommend the bar where the chef can feed you some fun stuff. Only 7 seats at the bar and the rest of the restaurant books up fast, so you better make a reservation.

    (5)

  • Christine V.

    This place ranks second fav sushi after Miyabi for me. It's got the same cute comfortable cozy vibe with amazing sushi. The only reason I say second is because it's a little further away from me. I can't wait to go here again!

    (5)

  • Laura R.

    Make a reservation. Make a reservation. Make a reservation. That is, make a reservation if you're able to get through. Every time we've shown up without one, the wait was around 2 hours, and a few times when I have called ahead, they were having phone trouble or it was too busy or something. . .and I was not able to actually talk to anyone. Very, very frustrating. However, if you get someone on the phone, and get to make a reservation, and are okay waiting a little while anyway, and being rushed out for the next reservation, you will find some really amazing sushi. A great mix of authentic and slightly "Americanized" options, very fresh, all from sustainable sources. Certainly no better options in West Seattle. Just be prepared to jump over a few hurdles to get at the delicousness.

    (4)

  • Tanya P.

    The service was wonderful! I just have to put that out there. Our waiter was amazing as we're all the other people who were working. I personally do not eat fish so I had to trust the people I was with for their opinion on the sushi and they loved each and every dish. I watched them devour each course that was placed on the table and basically lick the plate clean. I had a couple different veterinarian rolls both of which were very good. I would eat here again without a second thought.

    (5)

  • Gus P.

    My party of 4 had a wonderful meal at Mashiko's. The sushi was fantastic. Fresh, wonderful flavors, creative rolls, absolutely delicious. Great sake selection as well. The service was also friendly and on top of our every need. Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Kim V.

    If for nothing else, go here for the fresh albacore sashimi-- it's unreal; hands down the best piece of fish I have ever had in my life and I have been to a lot of sushi places! I got a few rolls and pieces of fish and topped it off with a couple glasses of the plum blossom wine. Everything was amazing- from the presentation, to the service, to the meal. I am so happy I love close enough to walk here. Thank you Steve for for service and for such a great experience! I can't wait to be back :)

    (5)

  • Ryan W.

    Had an omakase dinner here for my birthday and walked out extremely satisfied. My wife and I opted for the "Nami" dinner which is geared more towards sushi/sashimi fans. Everything served was delicious and fresh. A couple of stand-outs were the tako, white king salmon, iwashi, and uni. Each piece was excellently prepared and brought awesome flavors that you look for with sashimi. Our server was very informative with everything that was served and prompt with his service. Mashiko's is a sustainable sushi bar which is also a plus. I have some pictures and a little more in-depth review at my blog: nwgourmand.wordpress.com…

    (5)

  • Ka L.

    The best deal for omakase I've had in Seattle. And best for exotic sashimi - have you ever had rainbow trout or abalone sashimi?!?! A small cozy restaurant with rather tightly packed tables and very attentive chefs and servers. Even though you might only be able to sit 20 people comfortably in the restaurant, the cute Japanese curtains between side by side tables gives you much more privacy than the space would have otherwise allowed. I'm very impressed by the attentiveness of the chef, she always makes sure you have food on your table and wait time is really short. I've heard her multiple times during dinner asking the servers how fast the tables were going through the food and adjusting what dishes to prepare next. I loved the food and sake selection. I also love that they are very aware of sustainability of their ingredients. Very impressive variety. My only complaint was that all of the 15-16 dishes we had were all paired with some kind of sauce. I wished I had some plain old sashimi, just very basic. I do agree that most of the time the sauce enhances the dish's flavor, but I just couldn't do it all the time. Favorite dishes: Rainbow trout. Pickled cucumber. Daikon. Ponzu. Shiso infused oil Certified drinking water. Organic feed. Wild fish need to be frozen. Not for sashimi. - so gooooooood. the trout was heavenly. Oregon bay shrimp. Miso. Kaiwari. Tofu Fried shallots - sweet sweet shrimp Pickled okra. Octopus. - the octopus was so chewy and flavorful Closed system abalone from big island, Hawaii. Originally from Hokkaido. Poached. - abalone!!!!!!!! King salmon tartare. With capers. Quail egg. - salmon is so fresh!! Albacore tuna belly. Tempura wasabi leave. With garlic on top - love the softness of tuna and crispiness of the leave. Fried mountain potatoes skin with Ikura and radish. - So good!! very nice flavor Bakery nouveau brownie. Dipped in coconut batter and fried. Green tea ice cream. Wine soaked rainier cherries. - the fried brownie is so so so delicious. and green tea ice cream was so flavorful!! Best part, it's all you can eat omakase. My boyfriend and I both paid $70 although he had 3 more dishes, and the chef still offered him more if he was up for it. Come hungry, and be ready!!

    (5)

  • Kim L.

    This is my favorite sushi joint in Seattle I will drive to west Seattle just to eat here which I have lately once a month! All of the fish is fresh and top notch. Love the chef dishes as well. This place lives on the amazing ingredients and love for sushi. Also +1 for the toilets #sushiwhore4lyf

    (5)

  • Katie B.

    Amazing experience and food. The fish is so fresh and everyone is very knowledgeable. The owner knows a lot about sake. My husband and I love coming here for our date nights. Be sure to call for reservations.

    (5)

  • Milissa O.

    Amazing dinner! Hands down the best sushi I've had in years. If you want to get away from all the fancy rolls and just enjoy fabulous fresh fish with a more traditional Japanese flair with a bit of a twist?! This is your place. I suggest reservations. Smaller restaurant and very popular. We couldn't get in the first night so we made reservations and came back the next night. We loved every bite. We did the chef choice for two (ordered two of them) was worth every penny and was so fun to see what was next.

    (5)

  • Kt G.

    My bill was a thousand dollars here "$970" to be exact. What we got was great service from our 2 servers. They were very informational, friendly and attentive the whole entire time. The sushi was not awesome, it was only ok for what they charge. The server are very very afraid of their chef. Shoot we couldn't even ask for wasbi. We heard about this famous local sushi chef that's why we came here. Turns out he is pretty creative, but also arrogant, closed minded, and no one can call him out on bs hype. Everything we asked he had an excuses for. Plus this place claim to be sake certified and trained. Ummm then why would you pour our over price sake in wooden sake boxes that leaked. Lol not one leaked, not two leaked, all 7 wooden sake boxes leaked. Before we got our food we lost 1/3 of a bottle. Our last dish we had was so nasty we ended session, got up and left. Your place is not bad but you charge way too much and all that hype can give you a really big head. Not everything was bad, there were a few good ones but the last dish was not cool at all. At the end of the day you run a business and we paid way too much for your sushi and over prices sake. "Sustainable sushi is sexy" your price hype and arrogant excuses are distasteful as your last salty dish. Chef negative -5 stars Servers 5 stars Sushi 2.5 star overall Sake 2 stars

    (1)

  • Jasmine A.

    I love this staff and everything they stand for - sustainable sushi. If you're not familiar with what fish is sustainable, then you may ask for things that are not on the menu and they won't be available. They have a daily menu of rotating specials depending on what's in season. It is expensive, but I've never had anything less than high quality food here. All of the sushi chefs are amazing and very knowledgeable in their specialized craft. I can't recommend this place high enough. However, you need to know what you like. there is a good blend of traditional and American style sushi here. If you prefer American style rolls, then you might not be very happy with what you find for the price you're paying. If you're an adventurous eater or a sushi connoisseur and willing to put your trust in your chef, then call ahead and ask to make a reservation at the bar. Learn your chef's name and ask questions about your food. Definitely try the Poke!!!

    (5)

  • Patrick S.

    I don't know. I've had good experiences here in the past but it's not been spectacular. The service here is very good. Knowledgeable waitstaff. I just cannot brag on the food here. I've had better at many other Japanese restaurants in the US. The menu looks really interesting. But when your food arrives, it totally underwhelms.

    (3)

  • Sierra X.

    The sushi here was great. It was fresh and melted in my mouth. We sat at the sushi bar and Chef took very good care of us. Dessert was also delicious.

    (5)

  • Monkey T.

    Score yourself a table at 5:03pm without a reservation and enjoy Happy Hour. Shortly after being seated, the restaurant filled. Service is warm, patient and informative. Monkey loved the privacy curtain between small tables so that others may speak without spitting into your food. Street parking available out front and shared lot in back. Monkey do HH: MASHIKO JASMINE BREW - good local beer with notes of Jasmine MOMOKAWA ORGANIC sake - this is poured into a square cup, overflowing into a square saucer? Don't waste a drop by spilling unto your shirt. Unless, of course, you're doing it on purpose. UNI on SNOWSHOES - by far the most interesting presentation and freshest Uni Monkey's had HI ALBACORE POKE - good TAMAGO & TEMPURA SHRIMP ROLL - good KAKI FRY 3pc- over cooked tough chewiness SOBA NOODLES w/Spinach - soggy noodles no bueno KING SALMON NIGIRI - Monkey can't do Sushi place without Salmon DANCING QUEEN ROLL-Saba, shiso, yamaimo, ume- pickled flavor & potato texture was odd for me. This is a more traditional flavor, meaning less sweet, less fried. Monkey shall return at 5:03 for more beer and give more items a try...

    (4)

  • Huong N.

    Good sushi, good service. The place is small though. And parking is not easily accessible. I liked it. We had the omakase and loved it. Would I come back? Yes.

    (4)

  • Jeanny M.

    Mashiko is a wonderful place for special occasions or just because. We've spent two anniversaries here and one 'just because' visit. Each time we enjoyed the 'expert' level of omakase (market price). Twice at the bar and once at a nearby table (which we wouldn't recommend for omakase, just order regular food if you're not at the bar because bar seating is awesome). Sitting at the bar is an experience, something to get used to and something to enjoy. The first time, I did feel a bit weird for staring at the chef the whole time and then gobbling up the bites as they were presented. But when you're young and hungry, you're young and hungry. This time around at the bar, it was just more natural and relaxed. We initially didn't reserve the expert omakase (takes place over 3hrs), but we changed our minds when we got there and Blaine accommodated us graciously, tasty-fully, and professionally. He is a true artist of this cuisine. There was a point in our last meal where he hadn't provided us with anything (but we still had something left on the plate, so it didn't really matter), but he was working on two gorgeous and intricate platters, for probably half an hour. He acknowledged how much time he was spending on these platters and apologized, but we told him we enjoyed watching him create them! I learned they were the "Sergey Sashimi" Market, which I would totally order next time if I didn't go with the omakase. We usually order a sake while here, and the 'middle' option is sake served in a wooden box, which is what we selected. It was a nice fragrant green appley sake which I thoroughly enjoyed. Our evening wrapped up around their closing time. I watched as the staff carefully cleaned the entire workspace and surrounding areas. They clearly take pride in keeping a nice and tidy shop. Everyone we interacted with at the restaurant (and occasionally other guests) are super nice and we always look forward to a visit here!

    (5)

  • Ann V.

    I lived in West Seattle about 10 years ago, right down the street from Mashiko's, and came here often. At the time, I don't think they had booths, and found the service to be hit or miss unless I ate early (like 5PM early!!) so that no other patrons were competing for attention. The food was always very good--my only quibble was with the service when it was busy. I'm very happy to be back in Seattle, and have made the trek to West Seattle twice over the past few months to eat here. Love that there are now booths, had an easy time getting a reservation by phone and special props for the little stand/sign with a banner that separates the tables located close together. It's a small detail, but it makes a HUGE difference to have even a small barrier between myself and the adjacent table. After eating at many restaurants in the Bay Area where we were squished in with total strangers, I'm particularly appreciative of something like this. The food is just as tasty as I remember, if not better, and the service is now wonderful as well. During both of our visits, the restaurant was busy but our server (same gentleman both times, unfortunately didn't get his name) was attentive and very pleasant. It's great to see that Mashiko has improved over time! Bravo!!

    (5)

  • Brad E.

    This is absolutely my new go to place for sushi. The service was great and the staff was extremely friendly. We got the privilege to sit at the bar (which i would absolutely recommend if there is seating open) for our meal. What I loved so much about this place was the passion that Hajime had for making his dishes. We loved learning about sushi and trying new creations with the help of Hajime. Every dish we had was truly spectacular. I'm still full from our meal but am already excited to go back!

    (5)

  • Ninette C.

    The honaku meal here has been on my list of meals to try for forever and I'm glad we did it. What they call honaku is what many places call an omakase where the chef chooses dishes for you until you say stop. You can also tell them to stop at a certain price. Some of the dishes we had included raw oysters, geoduck sashimi, poke with potato crisps, snails, rockfish tempura, nigiri and hamachi collar. It was all excellent except the snails. I'm all for exotic and I usually love escargot but the snails were slimy and rather creepy. We also had a seared black cod nigiri which we thought was very unique and delicious! My two favorites were smoked octopus with daikon and tuna tartare with a runny egg and taro chips. The smoked octopus dish was very unique and smoked perfectly whereas the tuna tartare was perfect and the taro chips fried to perfection. Our only criticism was there there were only two nigiri courses. The other dishes were cool but we wanted more sushi. The service here was a little slow but we enjoyed chatting with the chef at the sushi bar. The meal, in total, was $75 per person for 12 courses, took about two hours and we had a great time. I would definitely recommend the honaku meal for fellow sushi lovers!

    (4)

  • Seth O.

    My wife and I come here maybe 1-2 times a year. Always delicious. Always something new and fun to try. Always great service. Pro tip: make a reservation. There was a line out the door last time we were there.

    (5)

  • Heath F.

    Japanese cuisine is my favorite. Especially as a birthday dinner! So, to find out that I would be spending it at a sushi bar, I was more than thrilled. My girlfriend checked yelp, and said it sounded like a great place, and that it had amazing reviews. We live in Mountlake Terrace, so I assumed the ratings must have been really good for this drive to West Seattle. Since we arrived early, the establishment was closed. It was a little more "hole in the wall" style than I expected, but my expectations were still high after confirming some good reviews here on yelp. When they finally opened at 5. We entered, and told the hostess that we had a reservation for 5:15. She came back and told us that she had us written down for 6:30. She apologized for the misunderstanding, but said she would see if it was possible to pencil us in. She conversed with someone else, and came back and said we were lucky and that two seats were available. Quick note: there is a lot of hype about how packed it is in there, even the hostess made it sound like we were super lucky, but in the hour and a half we were there, it never filled up past half capacity. Our server was nice, and was very prompt. So, I have nothing bad to say about that. I did notice a few of the lesser rated reviews had complaints about the staff. My quarrel, is with the quality of the food. I am all for sustainable resources, and a lot of the five star reviews make mention of that about this place. But out of the, around 50 or more sushi bars I have been to, The presentation, quality, and taste of the sushi here was horrendous. We got 5 different kinds of rolls, one of which was a rainbow roll (our go to, because how could it go wrong?), and nothing tasted right. My girlfriend was a trooper and tried each kind, but it was as if it got worse and worse. We have had better sushi from the grocery stores made hours in advance. This place is overpriced for the hype. And I would not recommend going here if you are going to actually enjoy the flavor of your meal. If you are going for the atmosphere, and to support sustainable fishing...knock yourself out......literally.....it's the only way you'll be able to digest the food....and the hefty bill.

    (2)

  • Catherine C.

    First time at Mashiko (visiting from out of town), and I had a fantastic experience! The service was wonderful- polite and courteous, totally professional! The food was outstanding! I took recommendations from the female sushi chef (who was a true artist), and nothing disappointed! I even tried something new, geoduck, and discovered that I like it! The sake sommelier was knowledgable and didn't make me feel like an idiot (which I appreciated), and went out of his way to educate me about the various offerings. The only (tiny!) negative was the single scale that was on my tuna sashimi- but everything was so delicious and wonderful that I don't even care! Fabulous restaurant, highly recommended!!! Bravo, Mashiko!!!

    (5)

  • Hee Jin B.

    Excellent sushi. Came here for dinner on Saturday. My gf and I were lucky and made a reservation day of for two at 8 pm. The shop is quite small and dimly lit, however well decorated in my opinion. It took a while for our waiter to do much of anything at first but I'll excuse it because it was very busy. However the waiter was polite, courteous, friendly, and very helpful. This place is well known for their sake selection, and so I got their sake sampler, along with a beer for the meal. To eat, we ordered the toku omakase. The sake was pretty good. The sampler came with three different kinds. all three were interesting and pretty good I must say. Our first course was rainbow trout sashimi. I normally don't like trout, but this was delicious. Next was a tuna poké which was AMAZING. I wish I had ordered an extra one. The sushi course was next, tuna salmon and squid nigiri along with a some roll. The fish was all fresh and delicious. Not too much rice either. The first kitchen course was some small fish cooked or fried whole. The next course was part of a different fish (cod?) with some sauce on top. Surprisingly I enjoyed the small fish a lot. The second kitchen course was good too, the fish was soft and moist, but I did not particularly enjoy the sauce. The dessert was jasmine or lavender infused creme brûlée. We also decided to order a spider roll. Everything was amazing! Honestly there's nothing to say except go and eat there. You won't regret it!

    (5)

  • Sa K.

    Not bad, not good. It is a very small the place. When I was going in there was a guy going out of the restaurant. He belched very loud. Then, when I sat down I realized that he works in the kitchen. I thought that his attitude says a lot of how he is and he's cleanliness so I didn't eat. My son and daughter ordered sushi. Not bad food.

    (2)

  • LisaMarie M.

    Guilt free sushi. We're taking the best of the best here. Poke is always great. They have a happy hour with specials that change everyday. That is cool.

    (4)

  • Mark T.

    Hajime Sato and Maraha do a fabulous job on 100% sustainable seafood. The way to go is to leave it to the chef to serve you and decide whats best that evening. I believe in promoting sustainability of our oceans and Mashiko's is committed to not serving over-fished species. Many people do not care or take the time to learn and understand what Mashiko's is all about. I do and honor everything they promote.

    (5)

  • Meiloni E.

    Great, fresh sushi! Speed racer roll had just the right spice. Make a reservation if possible, but they got us in without one.

    (5)

  • Alan T.

    Coming to Seattle I knew that seafood was a must. I got this place recommended to me by a coworker and immediately requested my friend to make a reservation. It wasn't too hard to find parking when we got there either. Once we arrived, we were seated very quickly as they had a table for us already. Restaurant - the place is not that big but never felt cramped at all. It was definitely a good thing we got a reservation because the place was packed even at 7:30 - 8:00pm. Service - top notch. Our waiter was friendly, informative and made sure that our every need was taken care of. Our waters were refilled more times than I could count and we were served new napkins and utensils when we ordered dessert. Food - Oh my god. The food. I ordered their best Sergey Sashimi plate which was Market Price on the menu. That's how you know that this plate was serious. I asked what was in it and our waiter said it contained every best cut they had in available that day. I was totally game. The order came with roughly 14 different sashimi; 11 of that I never tried. Many fish were local and probably will not be found anywhere else so this was the first time I have heard of them. To the best of my knowledge, mine came with sardine, albacore tuna, sweet shrimp, mackerel, two kinds local oily fish, jumbo scallop, uni (sea urchin), king salmon (the texture is less chewy than regular salmon ), clam, regular tuna, and sea snail. All were some of the most fresh and delicious sashimi that I ever had. The price was definitely high but the experience was worth it. My only criticism of the order that day was the lack of fatty fish cuts. The waiter agreed with me and treated me to some albacore otoro and it was spectacular. Melted in my mouth!! Alternatively, if you don't want to order their best plate, my friends ordered Chirashi and they all claimed were really good and filling. The order is quite large and comes with a good amount of rice. Definitely a good order if your wallet is a bit tight. For dessert - we got mochi ice cream and green tea creme brulee. The mochi ice cream was as good as they get. The creme brulee was interesting as a green tea flavor but quite good. Overall - this place is spectacular. The food is amazing and they have course meals directly from the chef and a rotating menu. The waiters are very knowledgeable and their website is sushiwhore.com . What an amazing time. Thank you Mashiko.

    (5)

  • Lamont B.

    Great service didn't really have a clue of what to eat gave me five wonderful dishes. I'm not really good at remember what to order. Hands down every piece was delicious. ..YUMMY.

    (5)

  • Josh B.

    Wish we'd had a better experience. Despite a reservation we were seated late and served even later. Our meal took nearly three hours, and not because we were savory get every bite or had ordered tricky dishes. All around us others were served faster. The $14 poke has just a few pieces of tobiko in it. The appetizers in our prix fix meal took 45 minutes to arrive. One of the entrees was a plate of very fishy pickled smelt staring back at us. I know that's a common dish but it didn't seem a natural fit in this menu. At least they face is a replacement dish. But overall our waiter seemed oblivious and not sympathetic to how long everything was taking. Our beverages were rarely refilled. What food we got was very good. Maybe just an off night.

    (3)

  • The Sushi Legend ..

    Sushi Mashiko almost didn't happen for me. When I called to make a reservation, I - as usually is the courtesy - told the restaurant that I would be ordering the omakase. The response? "Have you eaten with us before sir? Because if not, we recommend trying out the medium level omakase". Immediately two thoughts went through my mind: 1) I guess The Sushi Legend isn't as popular as I thought 2) What in the world is on the main omakase menu? Though it actually took some convincing, I ended up booking the main omakase. But upon showing up to Mashiko, it became pretty apparent why the warning exists; the menu is about as far from traditional as you can get, as are the sushi chefs - and those chefs freely admit both. The concept of the food is sustainablely sourced fish from the region; that alone makes Mashiko different from other high-end sushi restaurants from across the country. While the others might charge a significant amount for traditional omakase featuring nigiri, Mashiko prepares dishes that are borne out of the tapas style. I lost a bit of the thread, but if I had less than 10 appetizer size plates, I would be surprised. Witness for instance the kumamoto oysters to the right, the uni tofu above or the octopus below - sure it's not traditional sushi, but they don't pretend to be. The sushi chef was more than obliged to tell me that people from New York are often shocked (read: upset) to get the omakase at find it to not be strictly 20 pieces of Nigiri. I smiled politely, despite the fact that I freely was expecting only nigiri when I made the reservation. There was nigiri at the end, and it was delicious - but this is an omakase that all types of foodies can enjoy. Pics are on my blog. The Atmopshere is fun and inviting - but would you expect anything less from a restaurant with a web address of "www.sushiwhore.com"? I went on a Wednesday night at 9:15, and to it's credit, the restaurant was still packed. The servers and staff were helpful, although be forewarned - I found the sushi chefs to be overly committed, so you might find - as I did - that your meal takes a bit longer than planned. That said, the beverage menu (alcoholic and other) is substantial, so the wait isn't too onerous. I found Seattle to be unique and well worth visiting, which is much the same I would say for Mashiko. It's a truly different sushi experience, one that I haven't had yet in my travels anywhere else. It's certainly the best that Seattle has to offer and a definite recommend.

    (5)

  • Tiffany G.

    OMG! This is the best sushi restaurant in West Seattle! It is my husband and I's favorite date spot! The seafood is fresh and absolutely delicious. We often do the 5 course meal for $60 and find it fun and love the chef's choice! I cannot say how many times we have been to Mashiko's and I see no end in sight. And sushiwhore.com Nailed it!

    (5)

  • Damien N.

    Great atmosphere, cosey little spot, great quality sushi and they even provide a sustainability card for when you purchase sushi in the future in other cafes. The server was very nice, he provided recommendations for which sake went best with which sushi. He always pointed out which sushi is which when the food arrived and the presentation was awesome. I will definitely come back

    (4)

  • Shereen A.

    The 21 course omakase will leave you speechless.

    (4)

  • Colin M.

    I can't believe it's taken me this long to write a review of Mashiko. I think I first went with a friend around 2003-2004 and we were so overwhelmed by the size & variety of the menu (and specials) that we decided just to go for the omakase. And OMG it was fantastic - so much so that I've made a point of getting the omakase every time I have eaten there since. In the dozen or so times since then, I've only had a couple of dud dishes and only a couple of repeats. I'm an adventurous eater in general, but Hajime and his colleagues have introduced me to a huge range of flavors and ingredients that I would likely never have thought to order. And knowing that everything served is sustainably sourced & harvested is a huge bonus. Mashiko is far and away my favourite Japanese restaurant in Seattle. Oh, and the shiso beer is delicious!

    (5)

  • Adrienne B.

    Two words: sushi bowl. All the goodness of sushi, and yet no awkward expectation of sharing! (And no seaweed, which can be a good thing. Unless you're a seaweed aficionado.) You're welcome.

    (5)

  • Annie U.

    This place has really great and really fresh sushi. The guy that owns it really knows his shit and you have to give him credit for trying to run a sushi restaurant with all sustainably sourced fish. Make a reservation or have a back up restaurant in case they can't seat you. There are two other sushi places on California if you can't get in to Mashikos. They're not nearly as good, though.

    (5)

  • Lou K.

    Terrible hostess on this day, couldn't figure out how to seat two at 5:30pm, lost a customer, not good for business

    (1)

  • Sarah N.

    This place was awesome!! Called this place when I was headed back to the city and asked if they were busy and the guy -very helpful and friendly on the phone btw- said that they were but helped me make a non-strict reservation (you know how the ferry's are) when we got there it seemed like the place had claimed down a little but it's in a super cute place with a cool ambiance. Originally we were going to only stop in for a quick bite of an appetizer but the menu is so compelling.... Super creative and a friendly menu. The chef has standards that make you think this is how the world should work. We sat at the sushi bar and the chef (one of two) was who took our food order and was very nice and pleasant to be around (I think his name was Brent, or brad or brennon or something-- either way kudos to this artist) We ordered the pokè of the day- very delicious appetizer I suggest you try it. Edamame with garlic sauce- 100% A rainbow trout sashimi appetizer A special spicy tuna appetizer that was to die for And a chefs special roll which consisted of bay shrimp asparagus

    (5)

  • Y Z.

    I really don't like this place which is too bad since it's close by. It's really just too pretentious - the hostesses are on some high horse and it's really off putting and the food is average at best and actually can be bad. If you want real good sushi in a relaxed atmosphere head down the street to Azumas, the people are friendly, the food is delicious and the price is right.

    (1)

  • Jon D.

    This is a really tough review to write. I really wanted to like this place. I really love the idea of a sustainable sushi bar. It's such an important issue, and I'm in love with the idea of being able to enjoy ocean delicacies 20 years from now. Unfortunately, the food just wasn't all that good. Like most of the negative reviews of this place, I'll include a caveat, however ignored it might be: I love seafood, and I am passionate about Japanese cuisine. I have spent a lot of time in Japan and scouring the Earth for amazing Japanese food. I like to think I know what I'm talking about. Before I arrived, I read a really obnoxious blog post from the owner about some reviewers who didn't like the food and who might have attributed their distaste to the white, female chef; these people were of course racist, sexist, bigots and Literally Hitler® . Ok, they might be. Or, like me, maybe they just really didn't enjoy their experience. So please feel free to dismiss this review since I'm a white guy who didn't like the food here. That wouldn't be racist or sexist at all. I ordered the Omakase Honkaku with sake pairings. I had a vision in my head of each dish being served with a different sake. That wasn't the case. My cup had runneth dry several times over the course of the meal. The sushi chef eventually asked me if I wanted more sake, which I enthusiastically agreed to. But it did take a while for anyone to notice. Of the 14 courses I had, I'd say 3 were excellent, 10 were OK to good, and 1 was repulsive. Nearly everything was served with some kind of overpowering sauce or seasoning. This sets alarm bells ringing in my head. The fish, for the most part, was bland and didn't taste all that fresh. The uni was pretty terrible (for the record, I love uni and I know what good, fresh, in-season uni tastes like). Even the best pieces, the nigiri, each had some kind of strong sauce or herb on them. Why would you ruin Black Cod with a strong flavored sauce? What's the the point in "marinating" ikura? Isn't it delicious on it's own? That's what I wanted to taste. Nearly everything was marinated in "lots of sake, soy sauce, .... ". What's the point then? I'll just drink the sake and eat some fried rice. The raw dishes were mostly OK. The cooked dishes were really bad. There was this poached oyster dish (in "lots of sake and soy sauce") that was so bad I actually gagged trying to eat it. I tried to be as polite as possible but I actually could not eat more than 1.5 bites. It tasted and smelled like canned oysters that everyone's grandpa used to eat. It should be a crime to cook the delicious oysters that are available in the Seattle area. What. A. Waste. Of course, when I said that I didn't really like it, the waiter said that "oysters aren't for everyone." I guess he was right. Only fresh, raw, delicious oysters are for me I guess. I was really disappointed. This was the first place I had visited in Seattle that really let me down. At least it wasn't crazy expensive. I did get to try a few interesting sakes. Also the jasmine creme brule was very good. I dunno. This is a power-pass for me. Sorry!

    (2)

  • Victoria A.

    Top 3 best sushi restaurants in Seattle. Great service, got an awesome table next to the fish tank (very well done fish tank), one of the best meals I've ever had (we got a set dinner menu that had about 6 dishes). I would definitely recommend going with the multi-course pre-decided meal. Simply amazing. Wish I remembered waiter's name because he was great!

    (5)

  • Alanna M.

    Delicious sushi. Absolutely fresh. Small space. Authentic. Menu is clear and concise. Service was excellent. Love the house rules -- humorous and honest! Reservations accepted and recommended. You can walk in and put your name on the list, but it could take awhile. It really is a gem in the middle of the West Seattle junction. Extensive sake selection. Arnold said it best, "I'll be back".

    (5)

  • Stef M.

    WHAT?! How have I not reviewed Mashiko yet? It's only the BEST and most sustainably-minded sushi joint in Seattle. It only has the most amazing and quirky owner, Hajime, who not only rolls some delicious sushi but can also be found around town extolling the virtues of sustainable fish choices and teaching sushi classes at Diane's Market Kitchen (if you have a chance, take this class!). The servers are cool and funny, there are many options for omakase, and they even have their own beers that Elliott Bay Brewing brews for them. The jasmie and shiso beers are both really good. Amazing selection of sake, too - and they don't skimp on the sake pours, as tradition dictates. Some of the must-trys here: poke (by itself or in a roll), omakase, garlic edamame, poke of the day, tuna on a snowshoe, and lazy hawaiian roll (topped with poke of the day!) So good!

    (5)

  • Antoine D.

    Ingredients of the highest quality. I have had an Omakase meal in a Tokyo restaurant that's been open since the 5th year of Meiji. Ok? I know what I'm talking about. A good diner-hack here is to get the Sashimi sampler of the day, and the Nigiri sampler of the day as a substitute for Omakase for one, which is not on the menu. That'll run you around $50 bucks. Double it and add tip for two people. Ciao.

    (5)

  • Alyxx B.

    Best sushi in Seattle, if not the whole PNW. Amazing service, fantastic food, and the most responsible and skilled sushi chefs anywhere. The website is no longer sushiwhore.com but is mashikorestaurant.com instead. Best. Nicest. Go!

    (5)

  • Taylor S.

    Awesome experience! Sat at the bar at had great sushi and conversation with the owner. Had a bunch of stuff but the clams and the tombo tuna suck out as my favorites. Prob a good idea to make a rezy when coming here. We lucked out and got seated decently quick. New fave Seattle!

    (5)

  • Melinda T.

    I would love to be reviewing the food but am not because unless you book a table weeks out you'll need to wait until 10pm to eat. Silly us, tried to walk in on a Friday night at 6:45 pm. While half the tables were still empty, the cheery staff informed that the earliest we could have a table for 4 would be 10pm. Seems they don't keep any tables for walk in. We were advised to call 3 weeks out. Forget spontaneity here! Guess that's why it's been years since we last dined at Mashiko.

    (3)

  • Kim M.

    Absolutely fantastic. The only place to eat sushi. Everything else pales in comparison.

    (5)

  • Jessica W.

    This review is for two visits bundled in one ... My first visit was for a celebration .. the hostess asked if we were celebrating and I told her our occassion but no mention of it from our server so maybe she was just making small talk? My entree was good .. I had the Katsu Curry and Jasmine Creme Brulee .. the creme brulee is a bit overrated .. I didn't think it was very yummy. Agedashi tofu was a bit soggy .. i like it when theres a bit of a crunch on the outside. The bf had some sashimi platter .. idk he liked it. My second visit I had the same Katsu Curry and I must say it's not very consistent .. though still yummy .. the portion was definitely different .. my first time there was barely any curry just a huge bowl of rice .. but my second time the portion was better with the curry .. I had to take it home this time b/c there was so much curry left whereas last time I had a huge bowl of rice left. The sides were different .. no seaweed/sesame seeds included the second time. But this time for dessert I got the coco something .. it's AMAZING .. bakery nouveau brownie is already delicious but with the panko batter and green tea ice cream .. omgggg yum :) The bf had the katsu don .. which he liked .. he mentioned somewhere else was better .. I didn't really like it .. but I'll always come back for the curry and coco a something dessert

    (4)

  • Erin M.

    surprised with how much attention this restaurant gets. When we walked in the host ignored us for quite a while, as did all the other staff in the restaurant. When we were finally acknowledged she told us in a strange way we had only a set amount of time to eat. Which was confusing. I feel that at any establishment the staff should know if they can or cannot accommodate a party of three between their reservations. (The tables were mostly empty at this point with maybe three other small parties, and were still half empty by the time we left) The interaction was Very off putting to begin with. Then she just walked away, did random tasks elsewhere around the tables which were empty and ignored us for ten more minutes. She tried to seat is in a booth and when we reminded her of the high chair required she wanted to make us wait again for another table. So we opted for a booster instead to speed up our limited time we had available/were offered there. The server was fantastic however. He was kind, quick and attentive. So, 5 stars for him. The food, was interesting? To say the least. very fusion/modern/new age type sushi I guess. We weren't impressed with most of the flavors though the presentation is nice. I don't see our family returning and will continue our hunt for good Japanese food in west seattle...

    (1)

  • Jen H.

    This is a 4.5-star review. Came here twice and ordered the Nami omakase (for 2) both times. It is a great deal for the quality of food you get: - Appetizer - Sashimi platter (about 18-20 pieces) - Nigiri platter (10 pieces) - Grilled fish - Dessert Now that I'm writing down, it does not seem like a lot of food for 2 people but it is. The cool thing is that the only repeat we had between both times was the dessert (black sesame creme brulee) which I didn't mind because it is actually delicious. And still, there was a nice addition of some mochi on the second time. It took a looong time for the hostess to notice us and she was not the friendliest either but the waiter we had both times was so attentive and knowledgeable that it made up for the bad start.

    (4)

  • Kristin W.

    Stop looking. You've found the best sushi in Seattle. Mashiko is an unassuming storefront on California in West Seattle, but inside, past the saltwater fish tank, is a wonderland of sushi both new and innovative and uber-traditional. The interior is small but welcoming with not too many tables, walls covered in art and an open view of the sushi bar. Even at capacity it doesn't seem to get TOO noisy, but it is lively. This isn't a serious, overbearing sushi experience. All the ingredients they use are impossibly fresh, local, and sustainable. You can taste the quality in every bite! This is the one place in the city I am NEVER afraid to try something new. This is my go-to for any special occasion. Got a job? Mashiko. Anniversary? Mashiko. Birthday? Mashiko. The staff is passionate, knowledgable, and helpful, so if you don't know what you want or if you have questions, they can help. I suggest making a reservation, but I've also come by as a walk-in and not had to wait too long. Definitely try the seared salmon nigiri, the rainbow trout sashimi and the "lemonade roll", an inventive American style roll with salmon, lemon, and tempura green beans.

    (5)

  • Thomas M.

    I have been to at least 100+ different sushi restaurants in my life. And this one is my US favorite (although Nobu is certainly tied at the top for its innovative cuisine. This place is truly special. The fish is fabulous - it's local, sustainable, and ultra fresh. In fact, I swore never to eat uni in the US. But I tried uni here, and it was the best I have ever had. Our server explained that it is always super fresh, and that it was just prepared direct from the sea urchin. You can't get any fresher even in the fish markets in Japan. A few tips: If you like the same thing all the time, check first. They serve what they can get seasonally, so often something different on the menu. If you do business with people from Japan, you know that they want sushi when they are here. This place will really wow! them, and show them a great side of Seattle that they may never have realized existed. Grab a reservation, or go late at night just before they stop seating (like 9:30-9:45). Ask for recommendations from the servers - they really know the menu and what is best. Sit at the sushi bar if you can. It has been three days, and I have to go back!

    (5)

  • Haruko S.

    Best in Sushi in Seattle.

    (5)

  • Paul O.

    Good God this sushi is on another level. Chef Sato has a wonderful sense of balance, texture, and overall execution. He uses only sustainable seafood which really is the major trust in his food. He substitutes eel with catfish for crying out loud! The man is a genius. If I can make a suggestion, try the no soy challenge. That is enjoy his offerings without adding any soy sauce. You will not regret it. This place is worth a visit. Everyone is friendly and go above and beyond the call of duty. This is the kind of place that I hope to eat at 20 years from now.

    (5)

  • Lily L.

    Next to Shiro's, this Japanese restaurant is by far the BEST sushi bar in all of Seattle. Although a ways pass Alki Beach, the drive is well worth the meal you're about to embark when you sit down. It is an experience and if you care at all, it's sustainable. (Even their chopsticks are reusable, conpostable, non-toxic, and recyclable!) The menu encompasses all authentic Japanese dishes even in the appetizer list. I always think, it's the simplest dishes that are the hardest to make satisfying. Mashiko does a good job of executing every dish they present. It must come from Chef Hajime's name, which means "beginning," and there is always a beginning to the making of sushi. You need the right fundamentals to make a good Japanese dish. For example: -Most restaurants that serve miso with clams provides an itty bitty bowl that's generally tasteless and has 1-2 not so appetizing clams. They lack satisfaction. Mashiko presents a clay pot with about 3-4 bowls worth of soup and about 5-6 clean and mouth watering clams. I give it 3 stars in a rank from 1-3. -Tsukemono or Sunomono is not hard to butcher, but they put in enough vinegar for the taste and the vegetables are not ugly, dry, or watery looking. - Any of their given sake are provided in a masu and even though modern day sake drinkers think the masu (wooden box) affects the taste of the sake, I feel it has not damaged the taste of mine. - OMAKASE (chef's choice)- the best way to enjoy exotic fish without making any decisions. The chef will make them for you, but it is safe to ask if you have a favorite. My favorites were the fish belly (oh-so-buttery-goodness!), bluefin tuna, toro, and uni. My mouth waters just looking back at the photo. Mashiko runs on the pricier side, but fresh and exotic fish is nothing less of the price I paid. Make reservations if you are a party of 6+ because the capacity is about 20 people and it would be quite the wait if you do not reserve.

    (5)

  • Kurt K.

    Mashiko is a cool little place in West Seattle with the best sushi I've had in quite a while. We shared four unique rolls and they were all amazing. The service was great and all the employees were very friendly. I would have liked a better selection of some local craft beers, but enjoyed the ale they were serving. Definitely a place to try if your in the area.

    (5)

  • Sindy H.

    It's phenomenal! Great service and tasty food! Although the wait was a little long but it all turned out worth everything!

    (5)

  • Amish S.

    First time visiting Seattle and a good friend brought me here. 2 words: F&@?ing Awesome. The staff are extremely attentive and friendly. The chefs, Mariah and Blake, created the most amazing dishes for our omakase. I highly recommend eating here

    (5)

  • Dana C.

    Fresh and tasty but on the clean and simple side. I am used to the wild sushi with bawdy menus which this is not. Just good clean sushi.

    (4)

  • Lili P.

    This is my favorite W Seattle restaurant. A really cute neighborhood sushi joint with a great seasonal menu . Mashiko caters to both western taste and Japanese palate. There is an extensive list of " Americanized/ fusion" rolls and small plates. Dragon roll, baked rolls, tempura rolls yup they gots it. There is also a "super Japanese " section with ikura oroshi, Maguro natto, natto miso, ochazuke etc.. I love variety. They also showcase a very nice selection of sake from premium dai ginjo , aged sake, nigori to unpasteurized sakes . The servers are always very attentive and friendly. Please note that the food does take a little longer than most places but I think it's just because they take the time to craft each dish. Also.. I wouldn't expect neighborhood prices either . The prices are comparable to the restaurants in downtown but you are paying for exceptional quality. 2 people , with a drink each , probably averages 100$ . But so worth it!

    (4)

  • Liz S.

    My favorite sushi restaurant! I may be biased, since I've been coming here since I was little, and slowly graduating from bento box to sashimi. I love that they have moved to serve only sustainable seafood. At my last visit I got a kunamoto raw oyster, ahi poke, scallop nigiri with lemon and tobiko, and something off the specials menu (miso crusted smelt, maybe?) Everything was delicious, particularly the scallops which were creamy, delicately flavored and so good we got a second order. I'd highly recommend this sushi restaurant to anyone who loves sushi and eating consciously!

    (5)

  • Alex M.

    Wow! Cannot say enough about this place. If you go I recommend sitting at the sushi bar, I felt as though i received the full VIP treatment. Before I came to Mashiko I had only ever tried rolls, after leaving I feel like I have a whole new perspective on sushi! Truly an amazing experience! Food was incredible so many unique dishes. The staff was great, so friendly and funny. Overall felt feeling extremely happy and full. I don't know why you would go anywhere else. If this is your first time going, don't even look at the menu and just get the specials or ask for chef Hajime recommendations. He will serve you something based on what you usually like, and he will never disappoint. This place gets even a picky eater like me too step out of the box and try new things. Can't wait to go back for me.

    (5)

  • Jillian A.

    Best sushi ever. Also- for people like me with a million allergies, they are very attentive and always do a great job. I had a problem on valentines day, but they took care of it and refunded our entire meal. Mashiko really has a high standard for customer service and their food. The only thing I will say about them is, if you do the pre fixe menu, you will end up with more cooked food than necessary. It didn't used to be like that, but I think the chef has become a little more lax and perhaps finds it easier to have cooked fish on one or two of the courses. The last couple visits, it was on at least two. I came here for sushi and that is what they do best. So I will stick to ordering off the menu and skipping the Umi (where the chef picks your meal)

    (5)

  • Lauren H.

    Absolutely exquisite sushi. Simple, surprising flavors, gorgeous presentation. I love their dedication to sustainability, and the friendliness of the staff. It's a wonderful place to enjoy some very unusual treats.

    (5)

  • Subie C.

    Admittedly I was suspect about the whole sustainable thing and whether this would fully satisfy my sushi cravings (yes, slaughter me environmentalists, I have a Japanese husband). It has become my favorite sushi spot for consistently fresh fare. No it's not a purist and traditional sushi place, but I'm a convert! Their uni (when in season and they have it) is delicious, order from the specials, as that is always the freshest selection. We've also enjoyed their local ikura, toro, San Juan island amaebi, sanma. The prices are super reasonable, we never spend more than 80-90ish for 2. If you can, get a spot at the sushi bar. Hajime is such a nice guy and recommends stellar dishes that you wouldn't normally try if you're just around for your shellfish/fish fix. We once had these amazing pickled (?) oysters. It's got a total neighborhood restaurant vibe, but it is getting more difficult to snag a seat at peak times. Oh and last tip, I promise -- the special shiso brew Elliot Bay does for them. I'd roll home a keg of it if they let me.

    (4)

  • Melody P.

    I came here twice. First time was my friend Sean C's birthday party. We got a table for 6-8 (18% tips added to the bill) and had a birthday dinner party there. Second time was my sister's birthday. I took her to Mashiko to experience some Japanese adventure and delicacy. Location: I am not familiar with West Seattle. I think Mashiko is in "Junction." There's a free parking near by where you can park 2 or 3 hours for free. Or, you can walk a little further down and park on the residential street. Decor: It's not a big restaurant. There may be 4 booths on the left and about 6 tables behind fish tank. The big booth for 6-8 people is on the right corner. In addition, there's a sushi bar where you can sit and watch the chefs cooking. The restaurant has Japanese style decorations, but also has the modern feel. It's a very nice and cozy spot. ** totally irrelevant, but, I have to say, they have the best toilet set ever! It's warm and clean. You must use it when you visit! Food: Both times, we had Omakase Honkaku (15-16 dishes). All those dishes were seasonal fresh seafood in bite size. They were awesome and I personally thought it was a great experience. However, It was a little bit tiring waiting 2-3 hours for 15 bite size dishes to show up. And, the end of the night, I didn't feel fed and I almost fell asleep :-| (sorry chef, I didn't mean to be disrespectful. I was just really hungry and tired). Regardless, food was great! We had dessert too. It was Coco-A-Go-Go. It's a piece of fried coconut brownie with a scoop of green tea ice cream on the side. So good! This is the MUST ORDER ITEM! Service: Great, a Japanese Restaurant, but a Caucasian servers, but they know pretty much everything served in the restaurant. Impressive If you are an adventurous eater and don't mind spend $$$$ on food, I think you should totally try Omakase. If you are not an adventurous eater, they also have a great selections of rolls and hot dishes. You won't miss out on anything!

    (4)

  • Kate B.

    O.M.F.G. Where do I even begin? Jeez oh man, this place is amazing. Huge thanks to Clint W. on Yelp for recommending this joint! I called and made a reservation with only about 2 hrs before the time I wanted to go there for, and the guy who answered the phone said they'd try to squeeze me in and to show up at around 7:40 ish (instead of 7:30) well we actually got there a bit early and we were seated, no biggie. Yay! They pride themselves on sustainable seafood, which is admirable. I was worried this would make it expensive though. But nope! It wasn't. For the umi omakase, two floral beers, and a to-go order of izakaya udon chicken, it was around $50 or so and then I left some tip. Really not bad at all considering it was all effing amazingly delicious! :D I wish I lived in Seattle so I could go back here again and again. They really make every effort to satisfy people. My memory is getting fuzzy on the courses but I uploaded photos for you all to see. One of them had my favorite (and requested) uni sashimi (sea urchin) but it was on top of tofu. I hate tofu so I didn't eat that, just the urchin and ikura (salmon eggs.) But even with that minor hiccup, everything else was fab. I had rainbow trout nigiri for the first time in my life and let me tell you, it was PHENOMENAL. It was NOT fishy at all like when I cook trout at home (yes I am using fresh fish, lol!) and it had the most incredible unique flavor ever, as did their other nigiri! I would just go back here and only order nigiri it was so good. My dessert was a jasmine tea flavored creme brulee and it took me out of this world. Also I had two floral beers (forgot the name sorry) but they are handcrafted at a local brewery just for Mashiko. Dang, yo. Whoever said this place wasn't good is crazyyyy! I loved it so much but to each their own, right? ;) Our waitress was brilliant, btw. She was so kind and answered all of my insane questions and requests quite well although I think by the end of the meal she was dreading hearing me exclaim "omg sooooo goooood!" for the 15th time! :) Also wanted to point out that my dining companion hates sushi and does not like seafood, period, so I was a little wary of taking her here. But man, they have an extensive menu and she got udon noodles with chicken and broccoli. I tried some and I was FLOORED. Her noodles tasted HOMEMADE. And I was about to bet her $100 that they were when the waitress came to the table and I asked and she said no, they're not homemade (they just taste like sexgasms in your mouth because they are cooked to perfection) but that they buy them from the Uwajimaya grocery place in town. Loved the freebie pins at the door and the fancy chopsticks. Also love their sense of humor and willing to please their patrons. I would return x1000 if I actually lived in Seattle! :( Now I am back in St. Louis and longing for fresher fish!!

    (5)

  • DeAnne E.

    After watching Jiro Dreams of Sushi I have a deeper appreciation for sushi chefs. I've been to many sushi restaurants around Seattle and so far Mashiko is my favorite one. I respect and admire that they practice sustainability. I found the bidet in the women's restroom to be astonishing and fearful. My fam member and I were lucky to have the table near the window. The little nook was a plus because the main dining area was really loud. The food was fresh and fantastic. The hostess was very friendly and I noticed she smiled at every customer who walked in. I highly recommend making a reservation.

    (4)

  • Arnold P.

    This place is phenomenal! Only serving sustainable seafood might leave one thinking that the menu could be limited, however that couldn't be further from the truth. I'll keep this short; get the scallop burgers and the rainbow trout sashimi. Everything else I've had has been wonderful as well, but those are my favorites...you won't be disappointed! Mashiko is truly a gem!

    (5)

  • Danielle C.

    My review is going to be a bit odd and perhaps incomplete because I did not partake in the Omakase, and also I'm not a huge sushi person. Just a forewarning. My friends and I came here to send off a friend who's going back to the East Coast. They all opted to eat Omakase, and meanwhile, anti-seafood me ordered other dishes. Their chicken curry is ridiculously large. It feeds like three meals for me. The bowl was one of the largest I have seen, and it was packed to the brim with rice and curry. The curry itself is delicious and the chicken was tender. The flavor is what you want out of Japanese curry, and the best part that all that food was only like $13. Even my friends thought it was delicious. While I am mostly anti-seafood, I will eat ikura (salmon roe) ironically. This order was really expensive. $6.50 for two pieces. The ikura were small and rather slimey. I was disappointed that they tasted like this because I can get much better tasting ones for a lot cheaper ($4) at other Japanese places. I also tried their eggplant appetizer with sesame sauce. The dish was rather good but a bit pricey. You don't get a whole lot for $6.50. However, I would eat this again. The omakase looked great. The dishes were not typical dishes (according to my boyfriend). I saw a variety of fish - abalone, tuna, etc. (sorry, I should grab the full list from my friend). My boyfriend did express great distaste at the kama dish flavor though. The dessert was amazing. It was a side of green tea ice cream paired with a chocolate brownie from the delicious Bakery Nouveau next door, which was panfried with coconut. Everyone at the table was raving about how awesome this dish was. Our waitress was really cute and attentive to our table. The ambiance was nice and relaxing. You can even see the head chef (owner) of the restaurant behind the sushi bar. Anyway I would definitely come back for the curry alone and would try some other items on the menu. Props to the restaurant for being sustainable!

    (4)

  • Annie B.

    Love the sushi here, its down the street from my work. They are always fast and friendly and I get my sushi fill and leave feeling satisfied. Always love West Seattle restaurants, especially this one.

    (4)

  • D G.

    The food here is AMAZING. We eat here whenever we get a chance and even pick up food to take home (note - there is a 10% box fee). The service is so friendly and amazing too. I once ordered something on the "sushi" menu thinking it was sushi, but it turned out to be something else (was super delicious, but not what I wanted). They were so nice and understanding, they removed it from the bill and still left it for me to eat.

    (5)

  • Raymond U.

    Brilliant. I would go everyday if I could

    (5)

  • Joel R.

    Wow is all I can say. Best sushi I have ever had. It's not always about getting rolls bur open your mind an try some of the chefs own creative fish ideas. The poached saki oysters were amazing. You must go!

    (5)

  • Chris A.

    So if you like good well prepared Sushi this is not the place. If your into the idea of sustainability seafood and extra small portion's of not very good food at a high price then this is your place. We spent 84.00 for 2 adults and 2 kids we left and 1 1/2 hrs latter we stopped to get dinner. If the food is good a tinny portion is Ok but when the food is of poor quality not a good thing. The only reason they call this a sustainable seafood restaurant is they use one fish and make it last 2 week.

    (2)

  • Valeria C.

    SUSTAINABLE SUSHI!!!! To me that is the hottest ticket in town. This chef picks the freshest ingredients himself. The staff is super knowledgeable. The sushi chef's are great and there are absolutely no fresher sushi houses in the entire town of Seattle. In fact, my husband who's been to Japan many times, said no fresher even in Japan. The Uni was by far the best we have ever had. They have great drinks, great sake and a good local, vibe. It is a very small location, so you need to make sure you have reservation because there is no waiting room either and since they are so small, if it happens to be cold, you might want to make sure you do not sit too close to the door. Anyway, really, really good quality. Probably the BEST sushi in Seattle right now!!!! A must go to!!!!!

    (4)

  • Grace H.

    If this isn't good sushi, then I don't know what is... I've known about Mashiko for years now and finally went out of my way to dine here for a friend's birthday. (She's a sushi connoisseur & knows her fish -- she's even been to Jiro's in Japan.) Anyway, we started off the night with a fabulous Japanese pear sake. It was perfect for anyone who wants a nice and sweet sake with their fish. We then ordered the nami omakase meal. It was so good and so filling. The omakase meal was your standard sashimi and sushi, a grilled fish, two onigiri (rice balls), and the best dessert ever...the jasmine creme brulee. Every bite was a taste of dessert heaven. It was creamy, decadent yet lightly flavored. I was just in awe of how unique and creative this take on the classic creme brulee was. I've seen green tea creme brulees, but never a jasmine tea one. The fish was good, but the real hit with me was the jasmine tea creme brulee. This place is definitely worth every dollar, but it can add up. I'd say save it for special occasions and celebrations. It's definitely worth saving up and your appetite for.

    (5)

  • Lily S.

    GARLIC EDAMAME. Yes. For reals. This is the best appetizer on the planet of sushi planets. Atomic salmon: fried jalapeno, cucumber, spicy sauce, and spicy salmon. I mean, COME ON. This is what sushi dreams are made of. We also ordered the chicken katsu - which was the best katsu I've ever had. And believe me when I tell you I've eaten a lot of katsu in my 42 years. Excellent service and if you're able to make a reservation, you'll get in w/ no waiting at all. I loves me some Mashiko. I'll be venturing out to Wee Sea again to enjoy this little gem!

    (5)

  • Valerie K.

    Maybe I'm used to more Americanized sushi. But, I've eaten a lot of sushi and I really wasn't impressed with Mashiko. First of all, when we called to make a reservation, they told us we'd need to leave by 7. Okay... Our reservation was for 5:30, so we felt like, "Isn't that up to your staff to make sure we're served in a timely manner?" When we got there, they were super busy. They seated us at the bar, and the hostess AGAIN reminded us that we needed to be gone by 7. Okay. Ouch. This was getting a little tacky. We were starting to feel very unwelcome. We ordered: miso soup, tea, a cucumber roll, a tuna and onion roll, and a king salmon cucumber roll. I HATED that they include wasabi inside any roll with cucumber. I like to control my amount of wasabi. That was a huge turn off. The rolls were okay, but not very flavorful. Our waiter forgot my miso soup, and brought it after we'd finished everything else. Then he didn't even take it off the bill. Overall, we just felt really awkward here and unwelcome. The servers were visibly stressed and overwhelmed, as were the kitchen staff. Ugh! It was not an enjoyable experience.

    (2)

  • Kari A.

    Awesome! Can't wait to return. Wonderful services and fresh, fresh fish.

    (5)

  • Megan A.

    Geoduck! Geoduck? Geoduck...Bueller...Bueller...Anyone? *crickets* My first Mashiko experience was lackluster due to poor service. We were served the incorrect tea, received our meals at different times, and never did get the geoduck that we ordered. However, I went back a second time, and a third, and fourth, then a fifth, and I am glad that I did, because the experience just keeps getting better and better! My go-to rolls are the Red Violin (tuna, avocado, cilantro, and spicy garlic sauce) and the Bowler Roller (salmon, tempura green beans, scallions, spicy mayo, and spicy sauce). The key to a perfect Mashiko experience is to: 1. Make a reservation. You will be happier when you can actually get a seat. 2. Hajime said so. Follow his rules. Sit at the sushi bar. Respect him. Learn from him. 3. Don't be afraid to try something new! I never thought I would enjoy eating sushi with namagi and sweet potato or a black cod/benishoga combo, but when combined, the flavors are harmonious and beautiful! The fish is always fresh and top-quality, so just trust that you are going to get something awesome! My last experience is really what pushed this restaurant to a five-star rating. I made reservations for two at the sushi bar for a birthday. I was so disappointed when I received a call saying that they had overbooked. They still had a table for us and made up for the mistake with awesome service. We were given edamame and overflowing boxes of sake, which was a very generous gesture. The service was stellar and the food was fantastic. The special with fresh tuna on top of a fried shiso leaf was one of the tastiest things I have ever eaten. I am a sushiwhore.

    (5)

  • Dan L.

    Hajime and his team are doing something very special in this small gem on the west side. Most of the reviews on here pertain to the sushi, and I concur wholeheartedly with all the accolades. Interestingly, because the sushi is so good, many people don't know that the food coming out of the kitchen is equally amazing. Hajime and his team are creative with their flavors take time and care with their presentation. All the waiters understand the menu and are able to offer helpful sake and wine pairing suggestions. The only drawback is a byproduct of Mashiko's popularity - getting a table without reservation can be tough. At the end of the day, this is my favorite place for Sushi and a good meal from start to finish (including the Green Tea Ice Cream). Go and you will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • James R.

    5-Stars, that is all I need to put because it's that great!

    (5)

  • Jessica S.

    Each bite was amazing. That simple. They have such a high standards here. I mostly ordered from the specials menu and will be back again soon!

    (5)

  • Ruth C.

    Best sushi experience of my life, hands down. I know some people are skeptical whether a completely sustainable sushi restaurant can, in fact, fulfill their sushi needs. Well, it absolutely can, and then some. We have been meaning to try this place for some time, so we finally made a reservation. When we showed up, they were running a bit behind and didn't have any tables immediately available, but did have a spot at the sushi. Best "mistake" ever made! Hajime was behind the bar and introduced us to aspects of sushi and kinds of fish that changed the way I thought about sushi. Everyone there was incredibly kind, helpful, and friendly. This place has incredible service. A couple of tips to make sure you, also, have a great experience: 1. Make a reservation. This place is popular, and for good reason. We made it the day of and had no problems. 2. Request the sushi bar. Especially since it's sustainable, there are different specialties than many places, and you don't want to miss out. The educational experience is phenomenal. 3. If you drink beer, order the Elliott Bay Shiso beer. It won't disappoint. This night was one of the greatest restaurant experiences I have ever had. Thanks, Hajime!

    (5)

  • Sarah T.

    Amazing sushi! I can't get enough of this place. I alway get the chefs choice and have not been disappointed!

    (5)

  • Joshua B.

    Great, fresh food. Amazing sake selection. Awesome seasonal/what's new menu. Went there with a friend to have a small meal, ended up having three different sakes, a couple of rolls and plates, and a bowl of the kombucha red miso soup (blew my frickin mind). The ankimo (something I've had before at other places and was not impressed) was savoy like a great French pate. Next time I go will be with the intent on having a full meal there omakase style.

    (5)

  • Mary K.

    I like this place a lot. The sushi is ver fresh and I like the concept of the restaurant. But the rolls are not as good as sushi. I think the sushi here is better than Shiro's. Highly recommend!

    (5)

  • Ivan T.

    This is a great place in West Seattle for Sushi. I have been here many times and I am always impressed with the food and service. I do suggest making a reservation, as it is almost impossible to get a walk in table.

    (5)

  • Jennifer S.

    This place actually blew me away and exceeded my expectations. The sushi was really fresh and the rolls were so good. All of them had their own kick and flavor to it. The seevice was great too. One of my new favorite sushi spots in a cute neighborhood :)

    (5)

  • Arry Y.

    Mashiko's is delicious! And also very socially conscious, which I love. Went again recently with my husband for one of our date nights: -- too bad, kinda out there in West Seattle. -- very delicious, loved the nigiri's. Very new-shi -- parking is tricky, street parking -- service good -- kind of weird to have female Caucasian sushi chefs.... Just weird All in all, would go back, but I have my go to places when needing some excellent sushi (Shiro's or Nishino's). No rolls, rolls are not sushi.

    (3)

  • Ashley E.

    I think this is one of my favorite places that I have eaten sushi in Seattle, I still have a lot to try but this one is at the top of my list so far. I tried some new things, Uni, not fan but it was prepared the way it was supposed to be so if you like Uni you would probably enjoy the preparation as it is a good portion. I also tried geoduck for the first time and loved it! One of my favorite items was the scallop and crab with prosciutto, I had two orders of that by myself. All the sushi we ordered was super fresh and really flavorful, I had a Charlie's Angel roll which was also amazing and uniquely prepared. The prices weren't over the top and I was really happy with my meal and will be returning soon.

    (5)

  • Koji B.

    incredible, unique, and satisfying food. You can't go wrong with this place... bit on the pricey side but the content makes up for it. Don't forget to get the shiso infused beer. Staff are extremely friendly except for a couple, in my years going there, seeming like I should be honored to get a seat and be served. Hajime san, the owner, sure knows what's up.

    (4)

  • Chris L.

    Really delicious sushi in a fun environment. It's obvious that the owner takes sushi very seriously, but still has a sense of humor about things. The service was great as well.

    (5)

  • Michael K.

    Gochisousama deshita! Only the highest of praise for this awesome sustainable Sushi bar. Had been meaning to get in here for years and finally went for my birthday with a couple friends who rode the ferry over from the Kitsap Peninsula. My BFF and I love good sushi and his wife humored us by coming along though she truly enjoyed her meal as well, so bring your non-sushi loving friends as well, there is something on the menu for everyone. Though I am heartily intrigued with their 3 hour Omakase feast, we selected the shorter and seafood heavy Nora Omakase dinner. Started off with a bowl of Miso which is not part of this meal, but I have to have my Miso before I eat sushi. We were served a wonderful assortment of sashimi selected from the best fish of the day, another plate of 10 nigiri selections, a grilled white salmon, and a fried brownie with green tea ice cream for dessert. Also requested to have a pairing of several different Sakes to go with each course. Started with one with great notes of pear and, the second more traditional dry sake, and finally an unfiltered creamy white and sweet sake. I wish I would have written down the names of each of the sakes as they were all fantastic. Was so much fun to sit right at the sushi bar and watch them prepare everyones' selections. Will definitely return here, I must block out 3 hours sometime and do the full on Omakase feast next time. EDIT: Forgot to mention how out of this world the white salmon was. Only better tasting salmon I have had was spring run Chinook I caught myself out of Astoria, OR. Nothing better than that, and this was on par.

    (5)

  • Eric S.

    Don't get the comments about the race or gender of the staff in the negative reviews. Are we in 1960? Mashiko is by far the best omakase I have ever had. Super fresh and creative. Worth the wait and the sometimes less-than-perfect service (that being said, i've experienced nothing but top-notch service when sitting at the sushi bar - and this is where you should sit). It's a small place that gets slammed - deal with it and enjoy the sushi or get the hell out of my way so I can get in!

    (5)

  • Katya O.

    My boyfriend and I went here for one of our anniversaries and we ordered the Toku Omasake course meal. It was basically chefs choice of two appetizers, a sushi plate, two kitchen creation and a dessert. The waitress asks you about food allergies (which I really liked because I absolutely hate cilantro so it reminded me to let her know) and how adventurous we feel. The food was pretty delicious and unique (sea urchin, raw scallops). The service was also great, our waitress was super attentive and nice. Every time a new dish was brought out she took time to explain what it was. Overall really cool experience, I loved the jasmine creme brule dessert and on top of everything our dinner was paid for by a stranger (his party was sitting next to us and was pretty loud, so he felt bad and paid for our $70 dinner!)

    (5)

  • david tetsuo b.

    Excellent selection of fresh, sustainable fish. You can choose from both more traditional Japanese sushi or popular Americanized options with a flair. Very good selection of sakes.

    (5)

  • Marie O.

    My friend and I went to Mashiko because sustainability efforts are important to us, and we were so excited to find out that a sustainable sushi restaurant exists in Seattle. We had dinner omakase style and, long story short, I am never going to another sushi restaurant. The difference between their sashimi versus the trendy downtown Seattle sushi restaurants that I usually frequent is incredible. Mashiko wins, 100%. Their taste, cuts, and quality are so good. We weren't totally psyched about our roles, both of which were from the "American" side, but I think we just ordered wrong. Service was also great - thanks David! (?) Thank you for existing, Mashiko! I hope more sushi restaurants follow suit.

    (5)

  • Danielle V.

    We had a fantastic evening sitting at the sushi bar last night listening to Hajime tell us all about sustainable seafood and sake and creating for us the most interesting and creative sushi dishes, many of which I've never had before. Great food, great conversation, great atmosphere. We will definitely be back ... with friends.

    (5)

  • Daniel P.

    a place for ppl who have never had sushi before much like gas station or american grocesry store.

    (1)

  • Jess L.

    The omakase was amazing!! I loved every bit of it! Freshest sashimi I've ever had. The service was great, and they explained everything to us. I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Raina B.

    Awesome sustainable sushi, awesome sake...sh!tty utensils - minus a star for wheatware bs that made my tongue break out. Seriously, I have to bring my own chop sticks? Suckage. -1. (Next time I'll eat with my hands, apologies in advance) Anyways, on to the good stuff - the food! (Which is amazing) Highlights: **Tuna on a Snow Shoe - must get this, the Mr. was making his food 'O' face Sunomono - cucumber seaweed salad, strong flavor and a nice kick to start Tobiko Nigiri - always a favorite, try it with a Quail's egg for a little spot of sweetness on top Chef's Sashimi Assortment - yum! Everything was super fresh and it included some of the best octopus I've had in a while. Real Crab California - nice to have it default to a 'C' and be fresh Mitsuye Roll - black cod, benishoga, scallion, and curry powder. This was a surprise, very tasty, though the curry seemed to beat up a bit on the fish. I'd get it again though, it was a fun twist without being over the top. Actually, I'm all over the place on this one, loved it and wasn't sure, we'll probably have an affair at some point and then get married. Annnnd, I don't really remember everything else we ate, we had an adorable waitress who was amazing and had tons of sake recommendations. We may have sampled a few of them and had a great time. I couldn't tell you which because she just brought us her favorites (I love asking for whatever someone would order themselves). Towards the end of the evening we ended up chatting with her about the different Chef's selection menus, and explaining how we didn't know if that would work with my allergies. She wrote down all my allergens and checked with the chef to see if they could offer a menu that would still be worth it. We felt well cared for, attended to, and catered to - it was a phenomenal example of excellent service. We will most certainly be back for an evening of sushi surprises!

    (4)

Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.

Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.

Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :5:00 pm - 9:00pm

Specialities

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

Mashiko Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar

Share with your social network

WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES

Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online

Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.

© 2024 Restaurant Listings. All rights reserved.