Tried the regular Omakase. I like all of the courses except the sushi. It was a pity that there were no eel or uni. But the overall experience is great.
(5)
Matthew S.
Nishino is always great (I've eaten there about a half dozen times) the decor, service and of course amazing food make it a fantastic experience. Only for special occasions, because it's very expensive.
(5)
Khris L.
While this place may have had glory in it's day, those days are over. What remains of the folklore are merely the high prices. The food quality is good, the service was very good, & the atmosphere pleasant and comfortable. However, as 4 or 5 star sushi restaurants go, this isn't even close to todays standards. I ordered the Omakase, which by definition, is the chefs choice presented with their own interpretation of the fish. What I received was an uninspired plate of regular cut fish. The message was clear, the original vision was gone and what remained was cold knives and cold fish. This is easily the harshest review I have ever given but I do so hopes it sparks internal soul searching and a renewed sense of purpose to rebuild.
(3)
Chad F.
Eh I don't know about this place... the sushi was ok, the specialties that I tried were interesting, but not mind-blowing, the wait staff seems a little disorganized, and the bill was quite high. I was visiting and looked for the highest reviewed sushi restaurant in town and after eating here I didn't feel like the price justified the food, and the sushi was not nearly as good as my home town neighborhood sushi bar (although, I am spoiled in that department).
(2)
Noni W.
Think of Nishino as a tapas styled Japanese restaurant. To get the most out of it, come as a group and order a bunch of dishes. My favorite dishes were the hamachi jalapeno, popcorn shrimp tempura, soft shell crab, and oysters on the half shell. They also had a lot of unique mochi ice cream flavors. Service was attentive and fast. My only advice to the staff is to regularly check the bathrooms to make sure it's clean and fully stocked.
Almost a 5 star, Nishino, almost. Behind Shiro's, I would put Nishino as second best place in Seattle for sushi. The differentiating factor is the hot food. My last dining experience at Nishino left an awkward taste in my mouth and quite a first impression, since I normally don't order hot food at Nishino aside from the asari clam miso soup. Let me start by listing the foods that were devoured: - Sake, uni, maguro, and oyster nigiri. Quality of fish was excellent, and the amount of rice was spot on. A+ for the sushi, no doubt - Ankimo. Yes. What else can I say? Creamy, fresh, and lightly garnished with a soy sauce base. One of the highlights of the night - ika sugatayaki. This flame broiled squid was ok. Had a nice crunch on the outside, but it was only lukewarm in temperature. When set atop cold salad greens, the dish cools down even faster - Mochicko chicken. This was the most unremarkable dish of the evening. The chicken itself was lightly breaded, so that was good. The problem is *what* the chicken was supplemented with...namely, the odd mixture of julienne red/yellow peppers, shitake mushrooms, onions [that were not cooked well] and an overbearingly sweet sauce. The customer service was awesome, but this is typical for Nishino. The gentleman waiter was patient, helpful, and stood ready to clean our table in preparation for the subsequent courses. So, in closing, Nishino provides a consistent, high quality sushi experience. Although I didn't have the best experience with the a la carte items, I might just chalk it up to a fluke. All I know is that I will always look forward to dining at this restaurant.
(4)
M L.
Boy, it's frustrating to read the positive reviews here. We were excited about having dinner at Nishino tonight - we love sushi and had anticipated an exceptional experience at one of Seattle's most esteemed Japanese restaurants. As we were led at our table we told the man who seated us how much we were looking forward to our meal. He smiled and said, "You're really going to enjoy it." We didn't hear another word from a server that night. We sat there watching as waiters glided through the half-filled dining room, attending to neighboring tables, bringing food, clearing plates, and taking orders (from, among others, a couple who had been seated after us). It felt surreal. It was as though we were invisible to the staff who passed back and forth without giving us a glance. After 20 minutes we half-jokingly agreed that we'd give them five minutes more and then leave - we expected at any moment someone would appear before us and apologize, and we'd proceed with our meal. It never happened. Five more minutes went by, and we exited. If we'd been in a diner I would have gotten up and corraled some service, but this was supposed to be a special occasion, and the neglect ruined the experience. I guess there was confusion about which waiter was responsible for our table, but at a purportedly sophisticated restaurant someone should have recognized the problem and fixed it. As we were leaving we told the hostess at the door what we'd experienced and she said, "I'm sorry. I noticed that no one was serving you." It was cold comfort to learn someone had in fact realized we were there and that we were being ignored. She just hadn't bothered to do anything about it. A truly disappointing experience. With so many other great places to eat in Seattle, we'll definitely never be returning.
(1)
Lili T.
Let me just start off by saying that this is the best sushi I've ever had. I went to this sushi place with a friend after hearing that it was the CEO of Valve's favorite restaurant. Our waiter was friendly and helped us decide what to order. I ordered a flowery-tasting sake (obviously), it was not too sweet and it went down smoothly. Being a total oyster lover, I had to order the oyster appetizer and was it amazing!!! It was a couple of fried oysters in a delicious brown sauce. Then afterwards came the sushi. I can't even begin to tell you why this sushi was so amazing, I can't even pinpoint it myself. Maybe it was the fishy-freshness of it or maybe it was the texture of the fish, or maybe I was just so hammered after the sake anything tasted good. (Kidding about the last part lol) But anyway, it was amazing. I would highly recommend the toro (tuna belly) or the salmon. The salmon was different from the salmon sushi on the east coast, it was a lot more fishier and had a more stringy texture. The only downside about this place was the bill, between the two of us it was around $200 bucks. Thankfully, I was in the area for an interview so it didn't cost me a cent :). *Two thumbs up* Otherwise, I would only come to this place on special occasions or risk getting my bank account drained!
(5)
Niniane W.
Amazing sushi and sake. I really enjoyed the tempura also. The service is friendly.
(5)
Yanlin P.
We came here in the dine around Seattle week. Although I did not order the set. I ordered chef's choice sashimi. The service was very good, the food is good, but somehow not as good as I expected. The fish is sashimi is relatively cheap part. I ordered uni sushi. Uni is a little dark and small and is definitely not the best I had around Seattle. Not meet my expectation.
(4)
Ashley T.
My boyfriend brought me here for our annual holiday dinner, and it was one of the best Japanese restaurants I have been to in Seattle. The quality of the fish is comparable to some of my favorites in San Francisco, with extra touches that made it unique to Nishino. We started with one of the monthly specials, which was new style salmon sashimi salad. It was a little small, but it was a great way to start the meal, with half-smoked pieces of salmon over a bed of greens and a ponzu vinaigrette. Next, I had the black cod, which was one of the most well-cooked pieces of cod that I have ever had. The outside was perfectly crisp, while the inside was buttery and flakey. It came with some pickled vegetables that balanced the saltiness of the fish. My boyfriend had the chirashi, which was not only presented beautifully, but also generously portioned with amazing fish. We shared the house sushi roll, which was extremely fresh. The crispness of the asparagus complemented the butteriness of the fish in a way that I haven't tasted in a sushi roll before. Be prepared to spend quite a bit on a meal when coming to Nishino, however, the food is genuinely worth every penny. They provide high-quality Japanese food in a homey atmosphere, and I'll undoubtedly be back for more visits in the future!
(5)
SilkSam R.
Is the food good? Depends on the dish. Service? Let's just say, it is a failed attempt to disguise mediocrity with snobbery. Waitress who didn't care to share her name was pleasant, but lacking training. When staff parks itself near the POS system along with presumably the chef or owner, it's a bad omen. Japanese eateries are usually polite and casual. This is not the case here. It is clean and food is decent. Leave your ego at home along with expectations of being served. Better yet make it to go, if you cannot find another place. Suffer able with a coupon or a discount, or in the case of " must eat now"
(2)
Cynthia L.
If somebody travels across the pond to eat at a specific restaurant here in Seattle, I have to take note. And starting from the service, this is the most engaged service I have ever received in a restaurant in memory; but then again, the entire staff seemed to know Yee Gan from his prior visits! We had the Omakase menu: chef's choice of 9 plates. At the beginning of the meal, the server reviewed what ingredients would be part of our selections, since I'm the one that doesn't eat red meat products. Brilliant. We started with a sampling of fish that included seaweed and cucumber-wrapped fish, the tastiest King crab prepared in a salt bath, and ikura (salmon roe.) I have never been fond of ikura, but I am pretty sure it's because I haven't had that great of quality, because after the bite I had, I really wanted more. We moved seamlessly to the tuna with cucumber and kelp, presented in a martini glass, followed by a miso soup with salmon, and a mushroom that by itself would have been a meaty-savory bite, but the miso-infused flavor made it even more delectable. But the most delicious thing I ate had to be the foie over tuna and mushroom. The sauce was extremely flavorful, without being so salty it blinded your tastebuds. The Arctic Char flavor was described as a lighter-flavored salmon, which was an accurate description. It was served over green beans and sweet potato with a lotus root slice. Very nice, but not my favorite thing. The Maine lobster tempura was not only generous in its portion, but was terrific in that form. I would never to think to "ruin" lobster by frying it, but the soft integrity remained. Very well-executed. The flounder sashimi over a sesame oil salad made me pause; I wasn't sure what I thought about the texture at first, but by the second bite, I really liked it. By the next course of mixed nigiri and a roll, I was pretty full but kept on with some Spanish Mackerel (I LOVE mackerel, even if some people think it's a cheap fish) And, this is the BEST sushi rice I have ever had. Yeah, it's true. Glossy, firm, and seasoned so well, I wanted more rice by itself. The fatty Toro sent me to the moon. It was the perfect temp, cut very well (I hate it when it's cut poorly, it can send the texture sensation sideways.) Our final course was a raspberry, mango, and lychee mochi, imported from Hawaii. The lychee is the star of the show, and the fruit was sweet and light. I kinda feel bad that I took YGO to an upscale diner on his last visit here, and he brought me here. I'll do better next time ;)
(5)
Andrea J.
5 star sushi baby! That's why you come here. Happy hour raw oysters nestled in a tangy spicy sauce. Slurrrp. As usual the place was packed but we got sushi bar seating by the door. It was a chilly night and the hostess offered to move us to a table when one opened up. As we settled in , I began to comment that it was actually quite cozy when I noticed they had placed a small space heater behind us. Very thoughtful staff. We proceeded to order our fav sashimi like yellow tail, ago, toro, scallops,etc. also got a soft shell crab roll, yumdelicious! Now let me take a moment to lament on technique which was my issue with Umi. The blades at nishino finely slice their fish exposing their freshness and texture . This is so important to enjoy sashimi. The roll was clean cut and right sized. A mouthful of sushi is lost on the gluttons. Sushi is about the fish, not anything else. Ok I get off my sap box now. All in all people, done here, pace yourself and enjoy these succulent morsels of ocean goodness. Sayonara. Ps: I intend to try the chefs meal $50 per person so I'll be back with an update. Now to work hard for some dollas!
(5)
Normand C.
Amazing service, helpful, friendly and extremely accommodating to our spur of the moment dinner with our 11 month old. Everything was delicious. The hamachi jalapeño was delectable, with a tangy spicy kick; I'm still thinking about it. The sashimi was some of the best I've had in a long while, excellent selection too. The morel, squid and asparagus special was fantastic. Baby enjoyed the udon. Elegant, yet still family friendly and low key, lots of kids there. We'll definitely be back, but will probably get a baby sitter. Yum! Absolutely recommend!
(5)
Suie C.
I like Nishino. It's been on my to try list for a while, and we finally made it out here for a SRW/Bday celebration. For appetizers, I ordered a salmon capparcio dish (or similar) while others at our table had the fried oysters and salad. Everything was so fresh and the flavors were spot on. Entree wise, I ordered the miso black cod which was amazing. Soft, tender flakes of fish marinated in an incredible sauce. The bf got the sushi platter so I was able to try some of the nigiri. Dessert wise, I can't remember exactly what we ordered, but I believe one was a cake and the other was ice cream/sorbet. I like the feel of Nishino, it's casual and comfortable and service was great.
(4)
Charlie L.
I have heard from so many people that this is the best sushi place in town, so I came, and I ate, and I was very disappointed. Brought my friend Ramy (a foodie visiting from Boston) here, and met up with 2 others, and we decided as a group, "what the hell, let's just let the chef pick." The server asked what each of our favorite fish was... most of us said salmon, and we somewhat expected it to show up... but it never did, until the final nigiri course, and only one piece per person. That in itself wouldn't have been that bad if it weren't for the fact that the fish didn't seem remotely worth the hype. It was fresh, but not any fresher than any other sushi joint. And the appetizers were very very flat. For what we paid ($60 / person for food only) at least two of us left hungry, and I totally felt it was completely not worth the money... or the horrendous trek to the Madison area. I would not recommend it unless you're already in the neighborhood.
(3)
Jeranel J.
Really fabulous sushi experience. Best sushi I have had in Seattle. I made reservations for the Omakase Executive menu. It was just wonderful. I wish I knew something else to say but I dont. I couldn't tell you all of the dishes I had, they explained it all to me but I don't remember now. All I can tell you is, I ate it all! And it was GREAT! I really loved the spicy tuna. THE BEST I have ever had. Usually that dish bores me but, WOW! Not this time. A very casual place. More casual that I expected. Shocked to see so many families.
(4)
Adam K.
All around a great trip. The food was really good, fresh and the presentation was good as well. They did a very good job at accomodating our group and that helped a lot. We had made a reservation for 6 - somehow forgetting there were 7 of us. They didn't put up a stink and quickly brought another chair before the 7th was back from parking the car. We ordered a lot... I mean a LOT. One item was the chef's choice Sushi platter. We should have stressed quality over quantity. We got a lot more albacore than we would have liked. Monkfish liver and tempura were very good ways to kick off the meal. We also had a couple rolls - the arboretum and the house roll - both good. Personally I felt the price must have included a fee for the privilege of eating there. Quality was good, but for the price I prefer my standard go-to near Tangletown. Food and such gets a 3 - but service bumps half a star so 4 is what they get.
(4)
Yavnika K.
Nishino is for those who appreciate creativity in their lives. It is not ONLY for the sushi purists. It serves the purists well, but to me their differentiation lies in fusing influences to create a modern, Japanese cuisine for the american clientele. Rated highly in the US, they describe themselves rightly in their website's opening line as "serving traditional and innovative Japanese cuisine since 1995." Innovative for sure! Where else you would find on their signature menu the exotic fusion "Salmon tartare crispy rice sushi" or the "hamachi jalapeno"? With Dine Around Seattle as an excuse, we tried this place and went back fully delighted. For appetizers all three of us had the Sockeye Salmon New Style Sashimi- which was sheer flavor festival. I had the very delicious Mochiko roasted Seabass cheek which was served with (not so tasty) mashed kabocha (pumpkin compote). My husband ordered the sushi assortment- Tuna, salmon, yellowtail, albacore tuna, shrimp, surf clam, vegetarian roll plate. And our friend ordered the Black Cod marinated in Miso. All the dishes were world-class and novel. The tea flaoured Tiramisu was the favorite on the table though I was pretty happy with my mango-honey cake. Our server was very hospitable and made us comfortable with our orders. He could sense that may be the food wasn't enough for us and asked us again for our order, we ordered 6 more pieces of salmon and tuna sushi. A must go, especially if you are a sushi fan or are looking for a elegant cultural experience with those you love.
(5)
Jeff B.
4.5 -- the food was a 5.0. Had dinner (without reservations) with my wife (Japanese) and son, on a snowy Saturday evening. AMBIANCE: 4.0. We sat at the sushi bar as we arrived without reservations and the bar is first-come, first-served. Sushi bar was comfortable and a nice experience, and is the one place small kids seemed comfortable. Table seating ambiance appeared fine, though not as intimate as the sushi bar. SERVICE: 4.5. Attentive and timely. The sushi chef was personable and cheery. FOOD: 5.0. Two of us had the regular O-makase dinner, and one had orders of sashimi. - Omakase (regular): 8 courses, all excellent. Cooked fish, sashimi, mushrooms, etc. - Sashimi: Various, including O-Toro and Uni. Outstanding. - Spicy calmari appetizer: Mushrooms, squid, veggie. Kirin on tap. (about $6 a glass)
(4)
Brenda A.
Went for a date night with the hubby and decided to try the exclusive Omakase dinner (9 courses). The staff and service was great. My husband is avoiding fried foods and they switched out his tempura course for something non-fried without any issue. I personally didn't like all the dishes but I think it was just my preference and nothing against the food as my husband enjoyed everything. Only thing I wished they had was some sort of sake or wine pairing.
(4)
Jon M Photography ..
Hands Down the Best Dinner of My Life!!! No Exaggeration. The Restaurant... We decided last minute to get sushi, we called an hour before the restaurant opened and they were already booked for most of the night, they had one spot left at 5.30 when they opened. We showed up a little early and when we walked in we were taken back by the pristine decor of the restaurant. I immediately then knew the food would be pricey and was hopeful that it would be equally as good. The Service... Once we sat down our waitress asked if we had eaten here before, being from california our answer was no. She then went into the menu and talked about the different kinds of food for the different kinds of eaters. She mentioned the Chef's Choice was for more adventurous eaters, those who want more than just Salmon and Tuna. She also recommended the Prawn starter, and said we could request for the discarded heads to be deap fried, that it would be an adventurous and delicious meal. We took her advice and ordered the Chef's Choice, and the Prawn Starter with the Fried heads on the side. The Food... When the food came out it was exciting. We first got the prawns and the fried heads. It was spectacular, the main meal was very acidic and delicious. The fried heads were like savory chips, we all ate every part of them. Then came the Chef's Choice. We spent about $50 for the 2 of us for this dish. It came with about 16 pieces of sushi. But the pieces werent what you normally see. We had beautiful scallops, multiple forms of salmon, tuna, sea bass, and a few others i forget the name too. These cuts had much more flavor to them, and they were amazing. So much so I asked for more after, and requested to go even more adventurous and to get the belly cuts. Those were so amazing. Each piece although having strong flavor had an amazing and apparent freshness to it, not like those cheap places with a bad strong taste. In Conclusion... Now that we are back in California we are already looking forward to our trip back, and will be putting a portion of our budget to spend at this amazing place. I cant wait to go back and order the chef's special asking them to emphasize on the more adventurous fish and cuts, with a larger budget of course. Having eaten great sushi throughout California and Japan I feel comfortable saying this was the best sushi experience I have ever had from start to finish. It was the Perfect Meal.
Very nice sushi house/Japanese restaurant. Friendly service, Kirin on tap, and fresh and flavorful sushi.
(4)
Jennifer B.
Modern sushi and Japanese food I find this place to be more modern and less traditional style Japanese food and sushi, which is more my thing. It has excellent fish. We've tried the different omakase menus and enjoyed them. The sake selection is good too. The service is great. Parking can be tricky.
(4)
Ian J.
Delicious place and the chef and wait staff were attentive and wanted to make sure I had an enjoyable meal. I coincidentally ended up there during restaurant week, the selection they offered was generous and the quality of fish was really up there. They even gave me a little complimentary bowl of sunomono! And the dessert, granted it isn't made in-house, but it was delicious: a mango jelly cheesecake with caramel that was so fluffy... Granted it isn't a cheap place but if you're willing to spend the extra money you seem to get a great meal.
(5)
Jenn L.
great ambiance! great service! we had the omasake for a special occasion. each dish was so amazing. the drinks were excellent. we didn't expect to get so full but alas we could not finish the last dish of sashimi before dessert. we plan on taking all of our visiting friends and family here for sushi. it was a treat.
(5)
Stephen S.
This was probably the worst sushi I've ever had. We were too late for the multi course option, which I was sad about at the time but thankful for by the end. The seared tuna with foie gras was tough and overpowered by a sweet sauce, the tuna and chips appetizer was boring, the Madison roll had no flavor at all (I've had better rolls from Costco), and the $28 lobster tempura came with terrible miso and was boring and tough. Having been to literally close to 100 sushi places in my life in multiple cities this was easily the worst, in addition to being one of the worst of any nationality in Seattle - I'm basing that solely on the food, not even talking about the hard-to-understand server, lack of parking, and unjustifiably high prices.
(1)
Lusha Z.
Nice environment and service. Food quality is good but I wouldn't say the best sushi I've ever had, so four stars.
(4)
Meghan F.
Delicious! What a great way to kick off my first visit to Seattle. We got the omakase and every dish was incredible. Hands down the best Japanese (and the most authentic) I have ever had. The person who brought me there lived in Japan for a number of years and could attest to the authenticity. A general overview of our dinner: - Trio of small bites of different tunas and crab, each with a special sauce. - Salmon and tuna in poke sauce with avocado, cucumber & seaweed salad - Pine mushroom soup with flounder & ginkgo nuts - Tempura veggies and oysters - Salmon over baby arugula with pink peppercorn - A white fish (can't remember the name...) over lightly fried green beans and sweet potatoes - Sushi and sashimi selections - Various flavors of mochi with fruit for dessert Everything was very, very tasty! I was also impressed with some of the unique ingredients and the server's knowledge about the preparation of each dish. We also had some oysters on the half shell, beers and sake. All fabulous! I will definitely recommend Nishino to my East Coast friends when they travel to Seattle!
(5)
Tony L.
I went to Nishino to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday, and had a great dinner. After having the exclusive omakase dinner here, I would have to say I have had the best Japanese dinner in Seattle at Nishino. We were able to sit at the sushi bar, which makes the experience more fun. We also got great service from our server (Erica). I should have asked her to write down all of the descriptions of the courses (since there were 9 total, including dessert), but here is what I remember: 1st: 5 little bites, including monk fish liver, salmon, an oyster, kampachi (?) and fried smelt. This was a nice way to start the meal. 2nd: a ceviche-type dish made with albacore and avocado. This was good (liked the texture of the fish). 3rd: mushroom, tuna and seared foie gras with red wine and soy sauce. This was incredible: rich and tasty: probably my favorite dish of the night. 4th: soup with clams and maitake mushrooms. Soup and clams were nice, and a good way to continue the meal after the foie gras. 5th: white king salmon and greens. This course was decent (I liked the lotus root chip on the salad). 6th: lobster and green bean tempura. I liked this dish a lot. The lobster was fresh, and everything was fried nicely (light, not oily). The sauce was a little too lemony, though. 7th: arctic char, mushrooms and greens. The fish was decent, but the greens had too much lemony (ponzu) taste. This was probably my least favorite dish. 8th: kampachi roll with unagi, hamachi and toro sushi. The roll was ok (I was pretty full by this course), but the unagi was good, and the hamachi and toro were great. 9th: honey mango cheesecake with fruit. This was a nice way to end the meal, with a light dessert to share. Although the meal wasn't cheap (the exclusive omakase was $80 per person), we both felt that we got good value for what we paid: the quality of the food was high, and the service was great. Nishino has set my standard for omakase in Seattle, so I will need to head back to Shiro's to try theirs (although it is nice to get a balance of cooked and raw food like we got at Nishino).
(5)
Pooja V.
I was there for Dine Around Seattle last night and had the gin cocktail, seafood miso soup and black cod in miso. The ambiance was fresh and the service was great. The food was tasty - the starter was a good size but I thought the main was a little too small a portion. That said, the cod was absolutely delicious and the sides that came with it were yummy too. I would definitely go back to try the sushi and have cod again but it is a little expensive so I would go return selectively.
(4)
James C.
Food was good, service was even greater. And the atmosphere, that's the reason why it is so expensive. We had a party of 10 so we do have one waiter serving us at all time. food is expensive, but consider the freshness and the environment, it is worth it. We all ordered different food items, from chief pick to lobster tempura, rolls, and sushi. It seems like everyone of us enjoyed our dinner that night. If you don't like paying overprice food to compensate the luxury atmosphere, then this is not the place for you.
(4)
Natalie P.
I'm not originally from Seattle and wasn't sure when I'd be able to come back again so got the Omakase to try but next time I go I'll probably just do a la carte. Staff was really friendly and liked the food but didn't feel like it was exceptional but I'd go back!
(3)
Samantha G.
I've been wanting to check out Nishino for the last few months due to the reviews on Yelp. When I found out they were participating with Dine Around Seattle, I immediately booked a reservation for two. My date and I decided to order off the Dine Around Seattle Menu, as well as order some other items. Our meal was started off with a bowl of miso soup, which I enjoyed especially since the tofu melted in my mouth. Since Nishino is known for their foie gras sushi, my date and I decided to have an order of that. For those not familiar with this dish, it contains seared tuna sandwiched between foie gras and a shitake mushroom. Oh my, this was so rich and blissful! So what if this isn't really Japanese? I thought it was very creative and definitely one of my favorites at Nishino. Now onto the Dine Around Seattle appetizers. I ordered the Albacore Tuna sashimi salad, while my date had the oyster and french beans tempura on Seaweed Salad. I liked the freshness of the tuna and the lightness of the salad. As for the oyster and french beans app, that was very enjoyable. The fried oysters were huge and the dipping sauce that accompanied the fried food was good. I probably would have gone with this instead of the salad since I thought the flavors were more interesting. For the entrees, I had the broiled cod marinated in miso. WOW. This was definitely the highlight of my meal. This fish was perfect: moist, easily fell apart when i cut into it and oh that flavor! It definitely had that umami factor for me. My date ordered the sushi platter which had the following: veggie roll, tuna roll, salmon, yellow tail, super white tuna, shrimp, and surf clam. I tried my date's salmon nigiri and at first I was enjoying it but then all of a sudden, BAM. Too much wasabi. My date also noticed that with the rest of his nigiri as well. After trying that, I now know how Yoshikazu Ono was feeling in Jiro Dreams of Sushi. For dessert, we decided to split the mango cheesecake, white chocolate raspberry mochi and pumpkin mochi. All were very delicious. I couldn't really pick a favorite since I enjoyed the light texture of the cheesecake and the mochi was perfect in terms of texture and flavor. From this, it seems like you really can't go wrong with the desserts here. Overall, Nishino definitely had to be one of the most satisfying meals I've had. The prices are on high side but for the quality it's worth it. The next time I dine here, I would love to try their the omakase since it seems like its worth it based on the reviews. Now, when they do fix the wasabi ratio on their nigiri I'll bump this up from 4.5 to 5 solid stars.
(4)
Jon N.
Easily my favorite sushi in greater Seattle. I come here whenever I can.
(5)
Christine C.
Best sushi in Washington! Hands down. Spend the money. It's worth it. Fresh. Beautiful. Flavorful. Not too much flavor though. All the sauces enhance the dish instead of covering it up or overwhelming the palate. The salmon tartar over crispy, fried rice was so good! That crunch followed by melting in your mouth. A must try at least once. New plates with each course. Food came at a timely manner. Server informed us of what each dish was and the busser was quick and professional.
(5)
Arisa C.
One of the best Japanese restaurant in Seattle area, all the sashimi are extremely fresh, if you're a fans of Sea Urchin, you absolutely try the uni shooter here, it's the best.
(5)
Kent L.
Came to Nishinos for the Valentines Day Omakase dinner. Coming from Tokyo I had hopes for nice Authentic Japanese kaiseki but with a Pacific Northwest twist - in particular looking at some of the photos in Yelp it appeared the nigiri was of high quality (ootoro looked nicely marbled) and there appeared to be some creative appetizers (various seafood in martini glass). All the items in Vday course (6 courses) was good, but underwhelming. Standouts included Shikoku oyster (may have been more oyster than preparation), grapeseed oil with honey dressing and peppercorn on hamachi was a nice twist. Mains of tempura was standard - came with ponzu but not salt or green tea salt (often given). The beef filet was melt in your mouth and good, but the sauce which was supposed to balsamic was not very different from the teriyaki sauce you would get at a quick lunch place which did a disservice to an otherwise beautiful piece of meat. It seemed the course was toned down/catered for a more mainstream than authentic experience - at a steep Vday price premium versus uneven taste experience, would suggest avoiding sets - perhaps talking with the Japanese chefs behind the counter would yield a better culinary experience.
(3)
Ryan P.
I think sushi restaurants are the most difficult to rate, just because it's harder to drastically screw up sushi than any other type of food unless the meat just isn't fresh. Great atmosphere and good service. I tried 3 different kinds of sushi (albacore, shrimp and salmon), which were all excellent. I also tried the House Special Roll and Madison Park Roll. I would have to say both rolls had way too much rice in the wrap and very little meat. The miso soup was on the salty side. Aside from the trendy location and the nice atmosphere, I would say this is an above average sushi restaurant, but not outstanding.
(4)
kunal k.
Some of the most quality sushi in Seattle. Do it.
(5)
Margaret S.
Miso soup is like bread. Usually, the bread is usually telling of the quality of the rest of the food at a restaurant. In the U.S., where miso soup comes first (in Japan, miso comes with the meal, and not before), miso is telling of how good the rest of the food is going to be at a Japanese restaurant. At Nishino, we were excited when the miso soup came piping hot, with flavorful dashi (the base fish broth) and with good, plentiful miso. The dashi was likely made from scratch (and not from powder/pellets). Both my husband and I ordered their sushi set. The fish was fresh and the rice was perfect (good rice, not too vinegary and the perfect amount). (In regards to sushi, Shiro is still the best we have had in Seattle). The only thing a bit disappointing was the chicken tatsutage. The breading was closer to U.S. style popcorn chicken, than authentic Japanese tatsutage. Edward, our waiter, was simply AWESOME. He was low key, friendly and super efficient. He definitely sets the standard for great service. The hostess was also great. She squeezed us in a Friday night on a very last minute basis. Definitely one of the better Japanese restaurants in Seattle!
(4)
Kaitlin W.
This is by far the best sushi I've ever eaten . Their food is consistently high quality and I have tried most things on the menu... all delicious! I highly recommend you give this place a try.
(5)
Karen L.
I took my boyfriend here for dinner to try their exclusive omakase ($80 per person). I chose this place based on their incredible rating and what everyone has been saying about their omakase. I won't go into too much detail since you can just scroll down to read Tony L.'s review to get a gist of the courses they serve (the ones we were served differed slightly), but I will say that we had a pretty good experience. The food, of course, was delicious, although I wasn't completely blown away or anything. There were definitely a couple courses that stood out, like the dish with seared foie gras on top of seared tuna on top of a slice of shiitake mushroom. It was two tiny bites but it was amazing. I don't like shiitake mushrooms, but in this dish, it was phenomenal. The first course had 5 small bites, and I loved 2 of them: fried black cod and hamachi (with some other stuff I forget). Everything else was good although the BF and I both agreed that if we came back, we'd order a la carte and not do the omakase again. It was definitely a good experience but I wasn't so amazed that I'd fork over 80 bucks a pop again. I will say that their sushi is super fresh--we ordered the super white tuna nigiri, and it was melt-in-your-mouth deliciously fresh. Service was great, too, and we left with full, happy tummies (though my wallet left a lot lighter, haha).
(4)
Matt S.
Always epic! My favorite Japanese place in the Seattle area :) The halibut cheeks, deep fried sweet shrimp (w/ heads!), geoduck, etc. are delicious and I've never tasted a bad dish. It's a great place to bring a date to, I'd highly recommend trying it out. Parking is a pain, but if you go later you can park in front of the closed businesses across the street.
(5)
Pinky And The B.
First I wanted to link the menu so you can see for yourself the prices are reasonable. I am not sure what people are talking about saying it is expensive. 10best.com/destinations/… As far as the food goes I want to tell you I am not a sushi novice. I have had sushi in Japan and Honolulu and my experience was it was better in Honolulu and was cheaper and had bigger portions than in Japan. Here is my nation wide Japanese restaurant list. yelp.com/list/my-nation-… Here is my sushi list for NYC. yelp.com/list/nyc-sushi-… Here is my list for my favorite sushi in the country. yelp.com/list/my-favorit… If it was in Brooklyn New York I would give it 5 stars since nothing in Brooklyn comes close. The same for Los Angeles and Queens ,New York. If it was in New York ,New York 3 and half to 4 stars. If it was in Honolulu 3 stars. But I am giving you my sushi credentials so you will understand my rating. I was not blown away but I rarely am when it comes to sushi. I have never been blown away by any sushi restaurant in the lower 48. The closest for me was Sushi Ota in San Diego and that was more for the price and portion size. The value was better than anything in NYC and so portions were larger and Teriyaki was better than anything in NYC. So the sushi at Nishino was good. Not something that needs to be on your bucket list but good if in Seattle. But Nishino does have authentic Japanese desserts and not many Japanese restaurants do.I did not think it was a splurge. I thought it was a good value compared to other sushi restaurants I have been to in the rest of the country. 4 stars for value, freshness, service and decor. The decor is nice, the place is clean. The service was good, no complaints!
(4)
J K.
Lots of places in Seattle have decent sushi, but Nishino's other Japanese menu items are what put it ahead of the rest. So far it's my favorite Japanese restaurant in Seattle. The service is consistently excellent, the atmosphere is good and appropriate for friends, dates, and business, and the food is outstanding. It's a bit pricey, but there are enough transcendent items that justify the price and I have yet to have a dish that was a let down. There are some items I avoid because they seem a bit overpriced (e.g., noodles, salmon teriyaki) A couple of especially memorable dishes: - Hamachi jalapeno appetizer - great pairing of mild hamachi with the spicy snap of jalapeno - Tara saikyoyaki - incredibly flavorful, flaky, naturally buttery black cod that's grilled to perfection The sushi is consistently good, but it's the two dishes above that keep me coming back. If you can't find a spot in the parking lot in front of the restaurant, drive around to the back of the building and take advantage of the building's free parking garage.
(5)
Mrs. E.
We went here for dinner on a Saturday and thought that the service was great. We called the day-of to get reservations and were able to squeeze in. It's a good thing we called because the place was packed when we arrived. I started with the crab and asparagus tempura roll, which was ok. I had the Udon for my entree and it was probably the best udon broth I'd ever had in the States, though I was a little disappointed with the shrimp tempura. My husband and our friends had an assortment of sashimi/nigiri/rolls and said that it was all good to great, but not the best sushi they'd ever had. Overall, I'm giving this place 4 stars because the atmosphere was pleasant, the service was attentive, and the food was solid .
(4)
Lawrence L.
My oh my does this place know how to do Sushi! I've heard about it a lot but I finally made it out. I balked at the $60 Omakase ($75 executive Omakase which you must call ahead for) which I'll save for a very special occasion later. A 7 course omakase that includes Sushi and other hot foods? A must try some time! Our party shared a very reasonable and very good sake served inside a Bamboo and poured into bamboo sake cups. I had the Moriawase with very fresh and flavourful Tuna, Whitefish, Yellowtail, Octopus and King Salmon. The salmon and the octopus was the best I ever had anywhere, including Japan and Vancouver! Great texture and flavour. Nishino sure knows hot to pick 'em. I supplemented this Sashimi platter with the Arboretum roll which had Hamachi and Jalapeno as well as a nice crunchy Salmon Skin roll that includes Bonito and other fillings. Both rolls were small but delicious. For dessert I had the Shiso Sorbet, which was an interesting Japanese Basil apparently blended and frozen. I'd recommend trying something else. But I won't let that affect my 5-star rating. I'll be back!
(5)
Ric M.
You can't do much better than Nishino. It has become a Madison Park institution because it has great atmosphere, really high quality fish, and a very creative menu. You get what you pay for at Nishino.
(5)
Janice S.
Had dinner at Nishino tonight. This restaurant NEVER disappoints. Hand roll with king crab, avocado and cucumber, was wonderful. Nishino is the best Japanese restaurant in Seattle. We dine there a couple of times a month, service is always perfect, always outstanding!
(5)
Warren B.
Quality is superb. This is not a roll place, so if you like fancy rolls drizzled in blueberries, go to another place. For nigiri, Nishino is my favorite place in Seattle. It's also pricey but most places are that serve this quality of fish (Shiro, Kappo Tamura).
(4)
Amy H.
Stand out Japanese in a weirdly sterile complex in Madison Park (aka stroller country). Make a reservation or prepare to wait, ignore the strange (frankly, hideous) large format "art" and take your seat in the overly bright, corporate cafeteria-styled dining room, or better yet: sit at the sushi bar with your attention on the chefs and your back to the walls, and settle in for stellar sushi, traditional Japanese offerings and attentive service. The daily specials sheet is always full of outstanding fare and some of the best rolls aren't found on the menu - just ask your server what these are. You can also invent your own and the chefs will create it for you (and it just might make a permanent appearance on their secret off-menu sushi list)! Some non-sushi options that are not to be missed include the shiso shrimp dumplings, the eggplant dish (nasu dengaku), the miso black cod, and the oshitashi spinach (very refreshing and a nice alternative to the now-ubiquitous edamame). We also love the soups and always save room for moshi! It's the best here - not too soft, not too mushy, not too thick of a rice paper wrapping - just the perfect end to a filling, but not at all heavy meal. People say that Nishino is expensive but we always feel that it's extremely reasonable for the quality and amount; especially compared to our old comparable standby in New York, Nobu. p.s. Nishino is better.
(4)
Kasumi L.
My family has been going to Nishino for years now and seems like every time we visit, we end up having some type of religious experience or something... I don't know how else to describe it. The fish is so fresh it's ridiculous. The only other time we've experienced sushi this fresh was when we stayed in a small fishing village in Japan. When my family eats here together, the concept of dinner conversation is pretty much null because we're usually so enamored by the food. There's really not room for any other thoughts besides, "oh my god.. what ever is in my mouth right now is the best thing that has ever been in my mouth." Tip: Sitting at the counter is amazing! It fills up fast though so it's a good idea to get there early. Sometimes we get there so early we have to wait outside the door for a little. Obsessive? Yes.. but so very worth it.. (For one thing... if you order a roll wrapped in seaweed, the seaweed will still be crispy! It's a real treat. Sometimes when you order a roll from a table the seaweed will be soggy by the time it gets to you. But at the sushi bar, the roll is handed to you the second it's done being prepared and you can enjoy the crispy crunch of fresh nori. . ) Some other things we've ordered that are amazing include: oysters on a half shell, agedashi tofu, steamed clams, any tempura dish and the green tea ice cream. Oh and the spicy tuna here is unique because they don't dredge it in mayo like most places too. Seems like they just use crushed red pepper flakes or something to give it a real clean fresh taste. Can't wait to go back again!!
Went here for my birthday and had one of the best meals ever. It may have been the sake that took a hold of me, but everything from the carpaccio to the sushi set to the cakes from hiroki's bakery had me loving life. Obviously, other reviews emphasize how great it is to dine here, but if you are an aspiring sake sommelier, this is also the best place to try different premium sake. I did the sampler. The way it works is simple, they keep serving you until you say stop. You pay by the glass, but you really get to explore different grades, daiginjo, ginjo, junmai, honjozo, and style ranges from sweet to dry. Each is served in a shot glass slightly chilled, which is the way I like it. Every sake I tasted was very unique and of high quality. I don't think I got a single dud in the 7 tastings, which tells me that they really pay attention to the selection. My favorite was the umenishiki junmai ginjo. Not necessarily relevant but we also spotted the actor Tom Skerritt eating there on the same night. If you don't know who that is, he played the Sheriff in Picket Fences and Viper in Top Gun. I refrained from serenading him with a rendition of Danger Zone.
(5)
Zameer R.
More like NishiYES. We took our friends here for dinner last night to thank them for watching our puppy over the holidays (how's that for extraneous backstory?) and boom went the dynamite. The service was fantastic, the sushi was so fresh and so clean, and the black cod was amazing. I wonder if they sell more black cod on Martin Luther King Jr day.
(4)
Jenn N.
I guess I didn't get the same experience as everyone else who gave 4 or 5 stars here. They didn't have that many choices of sushi rolls and the choices that were listed are just your normal rolls you can get elsewhere, nothing special. We paid $15 for soft shell crab spring rolls which was literally one crab leg wrapped in a bunch of leafy greens. For $15?! Yes, the sushi was good ...but I wouldn't drive out of my way to eat here. Again, nothing spectacular. I gave them 3 stars because the service was awesome, the atmosphere was great and the restaurant looked very posh/fancy.
(3)
Paul M.
I had a very pleasant dinner here. Despite being very busy (almost all tables full and with lively conversations), it still was quiet enough for a private conversation. Atmosphere was real nice. Staff were polite and knowledgeable. When I was unsure of which sake I wanted, the waiter was able to give me a very good recommendation. The food, of course, was also very good. Next time I find myself in Seattle, I'll be back I'm sure.
(5)
Arif V.
Awesome place to enjoy some sushi... Awesome staff cute too... Again the counter is the best place to be and enjoy the artful experience. The interesting twist here is the chilled bamboo Sake bottle, very yummy this way. Sushi was awesome and again the Hamachi like butter. I will go back and give more of a review. I do have to say parking is a bit of a challenge but hey anything this good is going to be a bit difficult to get to.
(4)
Danielle H.
Hands down, the best sushi I have had in Seattle. There is a place in San Diego that has me so spoiled that I haven't been able to land an amazing place in Seattle and I believe I have discovered it! The restaurant is very nice and I enjoy the small touches, like the warm towel served at the beginning of your meal, pretty menus and smooth rocks to rest your chop sticks on when you are not using them. Oh yeah, and the really neat tea cups inspired me to go take some ceramics classes and crank some of my own out. Now, to the food. We ordered the edamame, which was perfectly steamed and salted, the snow crab fresh rolls *a special*, the house special roll, the madison park roll and the hamachi nigiri sushi. Let me just say that the hamachi blew my mind. I have never tasted yellowtail that melted in my mouth like this did. I kind of wish I had just ordered six of those and nothing else, they were that good. So good that I was irritated that I wasted one by dipping it in soy sauce. The flavor of yellowtail is so faint that you just can't dip it and I forgot how wonderful GOOD hamachi is. That being said, the rolls were delicious as well. The house special roll is quite possibly my favorite roll thus far, considering how inventive it was. Instead of being wrapped in seaweed, the roll was wrapped in an egg crepe. I know it sounds strange, but it provided this sweet flavor that really intensified the fish inside. The service was GREAT and I really enjoyed our server (Edward). He was on it and always refilling our tea and making sure we were happy. I was happy with our dining experience and look forward to my next visit so that I can try some other creations (like the tempura banana dessert or green tea tiramisu!).
(5)
Joyce J.
I revisited Nishino last November for Dine Around Seattle (DAS). This was by far my favorite restaurant in Seattle when I came here in 2006 for business. I tried both their omakase and ordering a la carte the previous times and was happy with the food. I am a fan of its Asian fusion style as its food managed to strike a balance of the east meeting the west. On my last visit, three years after my first visit, I thought the restaurant did a good job maintaining consistency. It was almost as good as I remember. Although after taking into consideration that things are always better in memory and the fact it was DAS, it was probably on par. The menu changes seasonally so I am not going to recommend a specific dish. Definitely ask the server what to order when you visit and you are most likely not going to be disappointed. =D
(4)
Sammie N.
I've dined here twice and each time we've ordered from the omakase menu. Both times, the omakase menu was different, but very good. Each dish is very unique. We also ordered side orders of oysters and soft shell crab, which were just delicious! My most favorite thing about the menu is the mochi dessert served with fruit! For me, this is probably the best Japanese restaurant in the Seattle area. It's definitely more on the fine dining side, so it would definitely be a good place for a romantic date.
(5)
Slamit Q.
This place is packed but worth the wait!
(5)
Craig H.
Nothing short of INCREDIBLE Masaki is an awesome chef ask him to surprise you and you will be wowed.
(5)
Yifei M.
The Omasake is soo good and the red shrimp is delicious.Also the Umi is good.
(4)
Yuri S.
I am half-Japanese, have lived in Japan, and am VERY picky about my Japanese food! I have eaten in five star restaurants the world over, and to be very clear my criteria is not price, appearance, or popularity - it is the _food_. That said, Nishino's is some of the _best_ Japanese food I have ever had, even in Tokyo! They have an amazing ability to make traditional Japanese food _and_ modern twists! They make everything from scratch - for instance their dashi (soup stock/sauce flavoring), and even their tsukemono (pickled vegetables)! The omakase (chef's choice), is absolutely sublime. It can be expensive, but you can also get a moderately portioned meal for $10-12, like the nasu dengaku - grilled eggplant with miso sauce and homemade tsukemono (pickled vegetables). This is _the_ go to place when my Japanese relatives are in town, especially my father. One reviewer said there weren't many asians in there, but in my experience there are always not only asians, but nihonjin (japanese people from japan). (oh, and the decor is very elegant and beautiful and the service is phenomenal)
(5)
Claire S.
I love love love this place. Went to Seattle this past weekend and it was my favorite place that we went to eat the entire time. My gentleman caller and I decided to do the chef's tasting for $60 since you can't do the deluxe/extreme one unless you call them at least 24 hours in advance; which I will definitely do next time I am in Seattle since I will be coming back here for sure. OH MA F***in GAHHH SO GOOODDDD. The inside of the place is nice and cozy, take your date here he/she will love you forever and maybe stay with you just because they hope that you will someday take them back to this restaurant. Started with a traditional appetizer which had 2 types of sashimi and an oyster. I love oysters, this one was great. Next was really thin sliced sashimi that was marinated in lemon and some other stuff and this was sooo sooo sooo good I could have just eaten that. After that was the salmon sashimi salad which was amazing. Will dream about it forever. This was raw salmon on a bed of greens with sesame oil and some sauce that was hot that partially cooked the salmon a little bit and it was absolutely perfect. Next we had garlic butter miso soup with mushrooms. I love miso soup, this was a rich and tasty version of a familiar classic; nice twist. After that I was full but they just kept feeding me. Next they brought out their popcorn shrimp tempura with green bean tempura; it was in a butter and white wine sauce; this was amazing. Then came my least favorite course which was still amazing; fried whitefish on a bed of chard... I'm not that into fried but it was still great and the chard went so well with it because the bitterness offset the richness of the fish. Then they brought out a giant plate of rolls and sashimi for us to share; tuna and white tuna sashimi, their signature rolls with asparagus, salmon, and idk what else...and uni rolls. All were very good and so fresh. Finally came dessert, 3 different kinds of mochi--espresso, white chocolate raspberry, and mango; with berries on the plate mmmmmm.. After dinner we couldn't really do anything besides lay around. I love this place, service is great, atmosphere is nice, and the sushi is amazing.
(5)
Bruce K.
This is a true gem hidden amonst other stores in Madison Park. There are Japanese restaurants and then there's Nishino. The Sushi is fantastic. There are so many dishes that are coupled with different sauces and creative chef's fixings. It's about as close as you can get to ordering a "special chef choice" dinner yet all the items are readily availabe on the menu or fresh sheet. There hot food is also superb. It's great for people that are not sushi fans as they can select from an array of freshly prepared hot dishes. A favorite is the shrimp Gyozo. It seems to be boiled, not fried, and fresh suculent shrimp are served in a wrapping that could compete with the freshest of pasta. The plate is then covered with a very mild sauce. Try their different sushi preparations. Leave the ususal stuff for the "usual" sushi restaurants. Make reservations. This place is filled almost every night.
(5)
Kelly C.
Wonderful in every way a restaurant should be!
(5)
Avivos S.
awesome tasting menu dinner - every dish was unique and well prepared. good selection of sake and all in all a very nice atmosphere, this is definitely one of the best japanese restaurants in Seattle. and no, it's not that expensive. it may be 30% more expensive than other similar style restaurants but the return and quality of the product is 100% better. so go and enjoy!
(4)
Kate B.
This is wah-wah sushi, ladies and gentlemen, and yes, you will pay for it, but it is so, so good. I would recommend ordering the sushi and small plates in a slow fashion to draw out the loveliness. There are lots of wine, sake and beer options and they do have limited hard alcohol available. The sushi is excellent. I must admit to not being a nigiri sushi but it did *look* excellent as it whisked by my table. The dragon roll is excellent. There was a Rome Roll on special that I am hoping will be a regular feature. I will be asking about it next time. We liked it so much that we ordered two of them. It was various types of shrimp, lightly tempura'd, arranged into a rainbow shape and then covered in a cilantro aioli. Sweet love of mankind. Delicious. Nishino shines in the non-sushi category as well. I can't believe I am saying it but, my favorite dish of the night was not sushi. On a lark I commandeered the table and ordered the baked dungeness crab over mushrooms. Oh...my...god. Every bite had me scooting in my seat. It is rich, rich, rich but the crab is hot and creamy and was kind of broiled on the top. Amazing. It will definitely be added to the rotation for all future visits. Be warned that this place gets packed. Make reservations as there isn't a bar to have a drink and wait and wait you will most of the time. The service is friendly and efficient but I definitely recommend taking your time and savoring this little piece of Madison Park goodness. As an aside, Theo Chocolates is directly across the street if they happen to be open when you are walking by. Awesomely awesome chocolate and treats and the family that owns it is way, way cool.
(5)
Barbara S.
Best sushi bar I have ever been to anywhere. We had Omakasa...it was amazing. Worth the money.
(5)
Aly M.
We had not gone here yet, but had heard some good things, so we decided the Dine Around Seattle was the perfect reason. Our picks: -A saki drink that was ok for the price, and interesting to try--it helped clean the palate with the different foods -Complimentary miso soups (good if you like miso) -Crab Cake with Pineapple Salsa on Nappa Cole Slaw (this was good, so I guess the change to the salsa was a good one!) -Maitake Mushroom and Green Beans Tempura on Seaweed Salad (this was good, but nothing special) -Assorted Sushi and Roll, Tuna, Salmon, Yellowtail, Albacore, Shrimp, Surf Clam, Vegetarian Roll, Today's Special Roll (these were good, and it was a nice way of discovering what kinds of sushi we prefer) -Tara Saikyoyaki, (Broiled Black Cod Marinated in Miso) (YUM!! wow . . . so good, we are trying to make it ourselves) -Cake Selections from Hiroki's Specialty Desserts (we got one each of the cakes which were ok--the Green Tea one was better than the Cassis-flavored one, but the flavors weren't our style) The service was good, especially the fun-tastic water pourer. The place was nice, but we can find sushi at a better price (when looking at the regular menu) just as good somewhere else. If you want a more formal, attractive sushi place (especially for a date), then this is a great place to go. No complaints, but I'm not ready to give it 5 stars until I try more sushi places in the area.
(4)
Mimi L.
This place is by far my favorite sushi place in Seattle. This is where I take my sushi whores to impress them (yes, I got that word from Mashiko's website). Everything is always fresh here. Go for the omakase if possible but for a week night dinner, I usually stick to some favorites such as uni, hotate, hamachi kama, amaebi. Oh, you have to try their clam miso soup. The clam adds a certain sweetness to the miso broth that elevates this common starter to another level. Tips: call ahead for reservation. This place is always packed.
(5)
Michelle Z.
A little slice of sushi heaven. I can't say enough good things about NIshino. I've tried my share of sushi restaurants in the city, and this one was definitely my fave of the bunch. Don't let this hefty price tag deter you, NIshino may not be your everyday sushi locale, but it's definitely worth the splurge. Everything was amazing here: the hamachi jalapeno hamachi, meguro sashimi, soft shell crab roll, arboretum roll, the special: crispy rice + salmon tartare, all topped off with a superb (and cleverly designed) bottle of sake. So good in fact, I'm pretty confident I will continue to have sushi dreams about this place.
(5)
Jerome B.
Not really impressed with this restaurant. I think the service was horrible but the food tasted pretty good, but the price was still not worth it in my opinion. Honestly, In retrospect I don't even remember what sushi roll I got which isn't a good sign. I guess that just means that it wasn't outstanding but also not bad. The one thing that stood out during my experience here was the rude ass service and attitude that I received from the hostess. Honey, if you don't like your job... then quit! She practically told me and informed half of the restaurant (including the sushi chefs 15 feet away) that I need to stop taking pictures with flash. Sweety, also if you grab my shoulder again I will have defensive reflexes and you won't be too thrilled to get elbowed. I won't come here any time soon. I may consider if someone paid me to go though...
(2)
Erin O.
This was one of the best meals I've ever had. Not to mention, it's the best bang for your buck if you're planning on spending some money anyway. Their deluxe omakase meal (at least when I went), was $65. Think now...for the cheapest omikase meal at Nobu, it's $80. This one had 9 courses, and was served by an impeccable staff that timed the courses perfectly. The sake cup was never empty, the sake selected for us (on the budget we requested) was excellent, and it complemented the dishes very well. Do make reservations, as it was crowded, but crowds mean fresh food, and keeping the place in business. It was excellent dining in Seattle, and I'm comparing this to a few places that always get super high ratings.
(5)
Theresa M.
With the closing of Saitos, this instantly became a close second. The sushi is definitely top notch, with huge cuts of nigiri and top notch fish. The only reason I will not give it flying colors despite the fancy atmosphere might be that I am a purist. I feel the atmosphere could be more traditional, and i feel the appetizers were not as amazing for the price as they could have been. When i return I will definitely stick to sushi. Also the green tea tiramisu is to die for.
(4)
Jessica N.
The sushi is good and the fish seems to be fresh but the prices here are just way too high to justify. I don't have any complaints per se, but the menu was fairly standard and pretty expensive. It would probably be a good place for a date if you don't mind spending a little ;)
(3)
Jessie C.
This was a friend's suggestion for a birthday meal with the family and I'm happy I went. The sushi was GREAT. I got to try sea water eel (eel is my favorite) and the hamachi collar was really good. Tempura oysters were also very good. The only disappointment was the halibut - a bit overcooked and bland. Other than that, it was a great meal.
(4)
Brian P.
Omakase was nice. Wished for more sushi preparations but the food was good. Ordering a la carte, really liked the dynamite geoduck clam. Service was great. I really appreciated that they don't force the whole table to order omakase. It fills up fast so definitely make reservations. Oh they had a nice sake selection as well.
(5)
Merri P.
I found this place on Yelp while visiting Seattle this week. It received such rave reviews that I thought we should try it! Nishino lived up to the hype-it was amazing! Now, make sure you make a reservation or go before 715/730pm because it gets busy, and the place is tiny. The menu is interesting...has traditional Japanese food/sushi mixed with a non-traditional/modern twist! For a starter, I ordered the Foie Gras and Seared Tuna dish which was amazing! Two peices of perfectly seares tuna, atop a slice of nicely done foie gras, laying on a shitake mushroom drizzled with a red wine reduction. It melted in my mouth! For my entree I ordered the Arboretum Roll, Hamachi Nigiri and Shiromaguro Nigiri-DELISH! The fish was creamy, fresh and just melted in my mouth! Our waiter was SO personable, friendly and helpful in the selection process, as well! Thanks Edward! He was very knowledgable about the ingredients, menu and drink pairings. I recommend this place if you are looking for great sushi...however, it is rather expensive-$150 for 2 people.
(5)
Fenom H.
These are the things I was told about this town when I first came to Seattle: -Jesus Christ Made Seattle Under Protest (downtown streetname mnemonic) -don't jaywalk downtown and: -do try the Holy Trinity of High End sushi (Shiro's, Nishino, and Saito...which closed last year--sayonara, Saito). Thing is, a) there is so much decent middle-end Sushi that I'd never gotten around to trying the Trinity, and b) no amount of mnemonics can remind me whether Pike comes before Pine. So it was the 15th anniversary omakase special ($45 instead of the usual $60 per person, which means a step up in how much you wanna spend on Sake) that finally drew us out to Madison Park. Nishino is unassuming from the outside, and the inside is dominated by some slightly creepy large surrealist paintings that are vaguely reminiscent of Marc Chagall and involve subject matter as diverse as donkeys, parakeets, and strangely colored people. But that's beside the point. Omakase, in our experience, is typically Burger King's "have it your way" in reverse--it means trusting your dining to the sushi chef's selection, usually resulting in creativity and the day's finest cuts. At Nishino, omakase seems to be more a prix fixe multi-course set menu of well-presented small plates. In short, an exciting parade of high quality, fresh seafood with an occasional fusion-y creative twist. (Trust me, I don't always think of Fusion as a good thing--see my Japadog review--but Nishino's inventiveness usually starts with high caliber ingredients and turns out well. Their regular menu includes such intriguing standouts as foie gras with seared tuna.) The omakase this night was 8 courses long, including appetizers, soup, salad, tempura, cooked fish, sushi, and dessert. Notables included the fresh oyster, the tofu mushroom fish-stock soup, the albacore sashimi green salad garnished with fried lotus root, the avocado (yes, avocado) tempura with tempura popcorn shrimp, the pan-friend halibut cheek over a bed of swiss chard (the swiss chard was the best part of that dish), and the sushi, which was unadulterated with any fusion-y touches to let shine the amazingly fresh hamachi, tuna, and salmon--specifically local wild-caught sockeye salmon from Lummi (with two 'M's) Island up by Bellingham--YUMMMMMM (with many more 'M's). Also, the mochi and fresh fruit dessert plate was a nice finish, and our server Edward was awesome--friendly, knowledgeable and presented and paced the dishes exceptionally well, reading our cues without being overbearing. As for the Trinity--and then there were two. Haven't been to Shiro's yet, but all in all, Nishino lives up to its longstanding reputation. PS if you wanna avoid steet parking in Madison Park, there is a semi-secret garage in the alley behind the retail complex with free parking for customers of Nishino and the surrounding businesses.
(5)
Kari K.
Recommended rolls: madison park roll (salmon, shrimp, crab and egg crepe outside) house special roll (tuna, yellowtail, salmon and whitefish) this place had great decor, excellent service, and a great sake list! The fish was very fresh.
(5)
Tonya N.
We went here recently for dinner and overall had a great time. Its definitely on the pricier side, I personally would stick to the Nishino Speciality dishes and sashimi. The rolls for me were average. Very nicely done small dishes that are great for sharing. The foie gras sushi as well as the salmon over crispy rice were wonderful.
(4)
Maureen K.
Definitely, the best sushi in town. Their other entrees are pretty good too, but it might not blow your mind. Now back to the sushi . . . let's just say it's so fresh that it literally melts in your mouth and you might do it harm than good by dipping it in soy sauce/wasabi. Their sake selection is freaking spectacular too. My husband is a sake newbie and got a chance to try their sampler. They charge by the 2 ounce glass, but you can taste as many as you want, whenever you want. None of them had that restaurant grade alcohol finish taste to them. All of them were smooth and tasted polished in their own way. They get nudged to 5 stars because they had a high chair ready at the table for our 7 month old. I wouldn't say this place is necessariliy "kid friendly", but they do make it a point to provide the necessary accomodations prior to your arrival. TIP: Do make reservations because this place gets packed fast!
(5)
Stiliyana S.
Nishino is hands down one of my favorite (if not my most favorite) sushi place in Seattle. They always have fresh fish and their preparation is often different from most other sushi places. They do have traditional rolls, sushi and sashimi, but they also have fascinating dishes such as their foie gras and tuna. Their seasonal specials are also always excellent. The sushi chefs are friendly and the service tends to be good. The only negative to Nishino is that the check quickly gets large as you order your delicious fish. Definitely try the spicy salmon on crispy rice and the Arboretum roll!
(5)
Lisa F.
This is my neighborhood sushi joint. We go at least once a month. Great sashimi, rolls, and udon. I never eat their desserts because I never save room. The albacore tuna sashimi salad literally melts in your mouth. Sit at the counter and let them surprise you. Or just ask for the spicy salmon with toasted rice on the "special menu". You will thank me.
(5)
J. A. C.
I ate raw seafood with wasabi and rice and liked it. I never usually venture out and try something like this. But the key is that I freakin' ate raw fish. ...and look what I rated it. wtf. am i hooked?
(5)
Mel T.
The best sushi I have ever had. Fish / seafood is extremely fresh, the presentation is delicate and the ambiance of the restaurant is great. I have ordered arboretum roll, house special roll and soft shell crab roll and all three were amazing. But I am especially impressed with the arboretum roll, yellow tail and jalapeno is a great combination. The service can be a little slow on weekends but that is expected as all the tables are full.
(5)
Austria G.
I have wined (Plum Wine- refreshing) and dined (Baked Dungeness Crab and the Super White Tuna as sushi, sashimi or roll- melts in your mouth, no joke!) for almost a decade. Many friends and family, and dates, I have introduced this place to. I love the ambiance with the colorful abstract paintings adorning the walls. I noticed once-in-a-while they switch out the paintings, but not too often. Entering and leaving, you will always be greeted by all the sushi chefs Japanese style. They are always booked and busling, so a reservation is definitely required. Quality of the food exceptional and everything on the menu worth trying. This is the ultimate of Japanese restaurants in my opinion. Thanks to Eri Nishino and staff for always taking care of me.. usually last minute accomodations and walk-in. I need to adhere to the make reservation rule. Yah, I know, I know..
(5)
Eric M.
This is our favorite neighborhood spot. The room is so cool with Scott Oki's fabulous art collection and it's clean lines. The chefs give you a warm greeting when you arrive and there is almost always room at the sushi bar for 2. Great people watching too. In the summer you can sit outside on the patio and enjoy the street scene overlooking Madison St. The food and service are always first rate. They do wonderful things with mushrooms and dashi broth; an umami bomb! I also like the hamachi collar and black cod menu items. The quality and freshness of their sushi and nigiri are well documented by other Yelpers so I'll just heartily agree that it's great.
(5)
Robby C.
Before starting this review, please note that because both of the primary sushi chefs that work at Nishino are amazingly funny and it is endearing to see them love their work, as well as their customers, to a degree that it actually makes the food more delicious and enjoyable. With that said, our visit here was for a weekend dinner and we decided to sit down at the sushi counter instead of a table located in the back. Aside from the typical individual make and nigiri sushi dishes, which were served to us in generous portions and thick cuts, we were also treated to the locally inspired Madison Park roll and arboretum roll. Loaded with salmon and shrimp, the Madison Park roll is rolled not with the traditional seaweed, but instead with a thinly cooked spread of scrambled egg. As for the arboretum roll, the roll consisted of yellowtail and avocado and, to the dismay of spice-hating partner, generous helpings of jalapeños. And, per my continuing mission to find the perfect chirashi bowl, it is my personal suggestion to avoid Nishino for its overpriced bowl of chirashi and instead stick to the traditional sushi rolls that are treated with a much greater level of delicacy as well as being more worthwhile in regards to overall expense to the amount of food received.
(4)
Lime P.
Awesome omakase dinner. Best uni in town, though they did serve it out of season. Foie gras amazing.
(5)
Sunny L.
I was taken here for my birthday dinner and the food was SO GOOD! We ordered the omakase dinner (7 courses!) and I enjoyed almost every single one of them. The raw dishes were soooo good that I could have just ate that the entire night and been a happy girl. The cooked dishes were pretty good too, but they weren't my favorite of the night. I'm a raw fish girl :). I walked out way too full, but happy! I love great food. Will be back.
(5)
Jennifer B.
Best sushi in Seattle as far as I'm concerned. The dining room is attractive and pleasant. Sushi is so fresh and flavorful. We've had almost every roll on the menu and they are excellent. Chefs are always happy to make something that's not on the menu (I love a good Seattle roll, and it's not on their menu). Hamachi sashimi is always fantastic. Tempura french beans are yummy, snow crab tempura and asparagus roll starter with wasabi cram dipping sauce is terrific, as is the hamachi jalepeno. They also have a decent wine list for those who prefer a glass of pinot noir over sake with their pinot noir. YUM YUM YUM.
(5)
Denise W.
As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by the sushi chefs behind the counter. That was very nice. You can always count on service at a Japanese restaurant. The restaurant reminded me of many sushi, Japanese restaurant, Asian themed. What I found disturbing was the art on the wall. I'm not sure how to describe it so you'll have to see for yourself. It was not the usual calm,soothing art but more in your face type of art. Or maybe I just can't appreciate it. My friends and I were able to partake in the Dine Around Seattle special so it was 3 courses for $30. This came with a choice of appetizers, entree, and dessert. I ordered the white salmon carpaccio, Sushi assortment, and green tea tiramisu from Hiroki's. So dessert did not count. Our meal started with complimentary miso soup. It was plain miso soup, nothing special. I have had great complimentary miso soup where they had pork and some winter melon in it. This was just plain seaweed and tofu. I can't tell you how the carpaccio was as the waiter got my order wrong and gave me the deep fried oysters instead of my white salmon carpaccio. I didn't mind taking the oysters when the server brought it over as I had never had it before. No big deal as it was just deep fried oysters. On to the sushi assortment. It was nice. I think there was about 12 pieces of sushi and rolls. I remembered the tuna, shrimp, and surf clam. The sushi was very fresh although I don't recall tasting the sweetness of the fish like I have had before at other sushi restaurants. The other thing that bugged me about the sushi was the the rice. Way too much water so it was soggy. Sushi 101, never serve rice that is not perfect otherwise it ruins the whole sushi experience. I don't mind paying for excellent food and superb service. Nishino for me was not that place, especially because it is on the pricier side and the food was just ok. It was an enjoyable evening because of the great company.
(3)
Dale T.
One of the best Japanese restaurant in Seattle. They emphasize on the originality of the food. Food taste great and fresh! Service is also great. Environment is clean and upscale. There are many many Japanese restaurants in Seattle but Nishino remains one of my favorite!
(5)
evelyn E.
One of the best Japanese restaurants I have ever tried.
(5)
Brad W.
Great sushi, although the omakase was not as creative as I would've liked. The cooked food is very good as well. Pricey however. Ambiance is great.
(4)
Jed S.
Having lived 8 years in Japan I have experienced fine sushi and I've gotta say Nishino is the real deal. Really they go beyond traditional Japanese Sushi by being more creative and contemporary, exploring new ideas and flavors. The quality is superb, it's a great feeling to know you'll be having the best sushi in Seattle.
(5)
Katrina E.
Pretty good sushi. I love places that have something a little different like here. The toro tartare was amazing. It looks small, but gives a decent amount of the fat belly tuna. Tempura is delicious here and not like those cheap places where the fried batter falls right off the insides. Noodles are ok, I would not eat them here. Desserts were good. If you like shiso, try the shiso sorbet. An amazing mix of the shiso taste in a green ice ball.
(4)
Joyce B.
This review is Part 1 of 2. It's starts at Nishino, and ends at Sushi Kappo Tamura. Let me preface this review with a couple of facts: I consider myself a sushi snob; a highly experienced sushi diner. I am half-Japanese and lived in Japan for a (combined) number of years, speak enough to be entertained without crossing the lines of religion and politics, and have majority of relatives still in Japan. I am not the salmon-tuna-yellow tail kind of sushi eater. I judge by the Omakase, as this is truly the opportunity for the chef to "WOW" his customers, show his creativity and give customers food that is normally not on the menu. We went to Nishino because we heard it was fantastic...it's where the Japanese baseball players go. It has to be good, and maybe that's where I made my first mistake....setting expectations. The atmosphere is wonderful. The hostess is friendly and accommodating. The chefs behind the counter are Japanese (a requisite). It's packed. We're excited. We order Omakase, but there is a caveat: My husband is allergic to fish. There are plenty of non-gilled-but-comes-from-the-sea items that can be consumed in Japanese restaurant: crab, shrimp, octopus, squid, scallops, clams, sea urchin, tobiko, geoduck, etc; and many different ways to prepare any of those items. We never have a problem dining at Shiro's in Belltown, or I Love Sushi on the Lake in Bellevue, or Tojo's in Vancouver BC. While other diners were ordering seared scallops, and other creative dishes off the menu, our chef at Nishino was not engaging. He was not creative. He gave us nothing exciting. He presented nigiri sushi....fish/shellfish on top of rice. Boring. He did not shine. We were not WOW'd. We were highly disappointed. Was he afraid of the challenge of the fish allergy? Perhaps. On the up side, the fish is fresh. If you like to order off the menu, or do not venture far outside of the salmon-tuna-yellow tail realm, Nishino's is fine. We won't be going back as there are many GREAT sushi restaurants in Puget Sound. Now, check out Sushi Kappo Tamura...
(2)
Adam S.
I'm no expert on sushi (in fact I can't even use chop sticks so I usually look like a dumb-dumb eating it). Went here anyways because of a recommendation, and I am glad I did. Got the $60 chef's tasting. It is 8 courses of goodness. My favorite was the salmon salad. Just amazing... Maybe the best salad I've eaten. There was also some raw fish served paper thin with some kind of citrus sauce that was amazing as well. The fried shrimp was melt in your mouth good. Service was great as was the environment. Really impressive stuff here.
(5)
Christian D.
Crushed it. I'm not sure what anyone would have to complain about.
(5)
Kaoru S.
Very special Sushi experience. Both authentic style and very creative modern dishes. One of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. Omakesei is unique and really tasty!
(5)
Robert K.
Probably one of the best sushi places in WA. It could be a 5 but giving it a 4 because for the price and quality, there is one other spot I deem best and must give a higher rating in comparison. Dishes: All the sushi and sashimi here is quite good. Other entrees are very good as well but I would say it's a fairly "fancified" place and makes it slightly over-rated. It accomodates to non-authentic customers very well who will likely give this place a 5. Hint: it's quite busy, parking is not very good, so adjust accordingly like make a reservation and get there early to find parking? just saying...lol
(4)
Dale S.
I have already given Nishino my highest possible rating; I took my mother there for her 60th birthday. Chosen by my father and me, Nishino is one of a few restaurants in Seattle that offers culinary art along with exquisite ingredients and wonderful service. Our group also included two very adventurous youngsters who alone ate an entire sashimi platter, all age groups left extremely pleaesed. I can not say enough about the color, presentation, and uniqueness of the majority of the menu. It is beautiful in it's simplicity and quality of the products themselves. Tuna belly with gold leaf and American sturgeon is unreal, and the fois gras-tuna-shitaki mushroom bite will make your head turn. We were lucky enough to go in the winter so I believe I ordered 16 Uni nigiri and possibly ate 9 on my own. Maybe I have not said enough about the service or the ambiance but even if this place was in my garage with my 90 year old grandmother serving I think it would still get 5 stars.
(5)
Beatrice L.
Great place to go to if you're in the mood for top quality meal w/ top quality service. It is located in the Madison area, which is a fairly nice neighborhood. Nishino is more western than eastern in terms of its decor, and their cuisine is a mix of traditional and modern Japanese food infused w/ a hint of western twist. The presentation of every plate that they bring out is quite artistic as well. Make sure to calla and make reservations if planning on visiting during the weekend.
(4)
Erickson E.
Nishino's status as one of Seattle's best Japanese restaurants has always vaguely bothered be. In my opinion, it's better described as pan-asian fusion cuisine -- not traditional Japanese. I took my parents here, based on its reputation. We lived in Japan and were hoping to find Nishino an authentic, traditional restaurant. The menu is missing many of the items I enjoy from Japanese cuisine, and is instead focused on various fusion dishes with fish, vegetables, noodles, chicken... perfectly fine for any restaurant, and tasty at that; but not genuine Japanese. The prices are also a bit steep. Maneki in the I-District, Tokyo Japanese in Factoria and Koharu in Federal Way all offer better Japanese food at better prices. Visit Nishino for unique and creative fish dishes, good sushi and a fun, modern atmosphere. Don't visit for authentic, traditional Japanese food.
(3)
Philip L.
Nishino was a fairly underwhelming experience. I ordered a few appetizers and nigiri and found the fish fairly bland. I had otoro, which is my absolute favorite, and it just lacked the rich, fatty succulence I hope for. All the sushi I had was quite bland. I'm not sure what it was, but despite the simple preparation and seemingly fresh fish, the flavors just didn't pop. There was a mix up in service that ended up with us waiting about 15 minutes for our server to take our drink order. Which, really isn't a big deal, but the place is a bit pricey so adroit service is something I would expect. It's a nice, if somewhat dated, space. Compared to the host of sushi places in Seattle, many of which have comparable prices if not cheaper, I can't see myself making a return trip.
(3)
Mike G.
Best Sushi in Seattle, hands down. Friends recommended we try it, and we will be going back this weekend. I could not say enough wonderful things. You will not be disapointed. Great Service to.
Nishino offers reliably excellent sushi and a menu mixed with traditional Japanese delights and creative recipes. So often when a Japanese or fusion restaurant comes up with its own nontraditional flair, it's limited to how many things you can wrap around a #&$% California roll. Well not here! They do beautiful things with halibut cheeks, have a remarkable tuna tartare, and when their ever-changing specials menu contains mushrooms, you simply MUST order them. The chefs at Nishino are masters with the shrooms! The service is always great. The setting is beautiful, with contemporary art and furnishings. It can get noisy so I wouldn't say this is a romantic place. It's more like a fine, bustling neighborhood restaurant. Try it. You will love it.
(5)
Eric K.
A couple of years ago I went to Hong Kong and stumbled on a Japanese restaurant with the best sushi I have ever had (I haven't been to Japan). And now every time I have sushi I judge it against my five star sushi meal in Hong Kong. So far I haven't found anything that compares. In comparison Nishino gets 3.5 stars. I only round up to four stars because the ambiance and interior of the restaurant. But you would expect that Nishino would be nice since it is in Madison Park. Here is what I had for dinner: -Maitake mushroom and green beans tempura on seaweed salad -Halibut cheeks -Assorted sushi -Cassis flavored cake The standouts were the seaweed and the cake. Everything else was just OK. I could tell the sushi was fresh but it didn't particularly stand out to me. The halibut cheeks were also OK but the dish was definitely Asian fusion. Nishino is a nice place and I wouldn't protest if my friends wanted to check it out but I can't see myself craving a trip here. If you would like an upscale sushi restaurant I would suggest checking out Nishino.
(4)
Mitsuaki M.
My must visit every time I'm in Seattle. One of my friends is a friend of the owner, and tipped me to this place during my first visit. Ever since, I'm hooked! I love the freshness of the fish, the preparation, everything. The chefs are friendly, and once I went out to drink with one after hours (^_^).
(5)
Cathy S.
I was at Nishino last weekend for a good friend's birthday. There were 15 of us and a 6PM reservation was the earliest we could get. Almost all of our party arrived on time for our reservation. Our server immediately took drink orders for each person as they arrived. Our table was split 50/50 for those who chose to order from the Dining Around Seattle (3 course meal for $30) and those who chose to order ala carte. My husband and I chose to order ala carte since it seemed for almost the same price we could order a bigger spread of sushi and side dishes. It ended up working out well for us. The mushroom tempura was amazing, the miso soup was amazing, and the sushi rolls were so fresh! I subtracted one star because while the service was top notch, it was a bit on the slow side. I would definitely consider coming back here though on a less crowded night (and with a smaller party).
(4)
Vanessa A.
My bf took me here for omakase on my birthday. It was awesome. Each dish was excellent. Beautifully plated, fresh, and delicious. Having said that I don't know if I'd come back because 1. it is pretty spendy and I have no money, and I can get sushi of this quality at a much lower price when I go to Vancouver, BC. 2. Maybe it's me but it feels weird to be the only Asian person in an Asian restaurant. Everyone there was older, rich looking and white. But if that's not odd for you and you have money to spend, go here and get omakase (chef's choice).
(4)
Peter L.
Over the past 13 years, Nishino has defined upscale Japanese food in Seattle, and it was the first place I tried ankimo (monkfish liver) in 1996. Chef Tatsu Nishino, formerly of sushi legend Matsuhisa of LA, has brought a unique combination of traditional fresh sushi and sashimi and more innovative small plates. On a recent visit this weekend, the fish was fresh and solid, starting with a hamachi sushi and going through various nigiri-zushi such as salmon, ama-ebi, kaki, ika, and unagi. Quality was very good, although other places seem to offer fish as good at a lower price. But what other sushi places do not offer is an excellent menu of small plates. Our favorite by far was a combination of seared foie gras, maguro sashimi, and soy reduction. Indulgence and richness do not even begin to start to describe the dish. Two pieces for $15 may seem high, but it was totally worth it. Other small plates we tried included an excellent sake steamed manila clam (the broth was so light and flavorful) and a very generous portion of hamachi-kama. The sushi list seems pretty short but had some decent choices. You can also have the cold sake served in bamboo with bamboo cups, which was nice until we started to think how they could clean the container afterwards. But for $30 it was a very generous portion, and with the small cups, seemed endless. Overall, I would have to say that Nishino is pretty much the only place for upscale Japanese cuisine in Seattle. The sushi is definitely some of the best in town, but it wold be a mistake to ignore some of the smaller plates as well.
(5)
Jeanna L.
Nishino probably has the best ambiance out of all the sushi restaurants I visit in the greater Seattle area. It also has some of the best sushi around. I love having omakase sushi at the bar from Mori-san. I went the other day and sat with a different chef and it wasn't a very exciting mix of sushi, but the quality was still excellent. I usually only come here for sushi, but their black cod entree is DELICIOUS! Definitely worth a try if you're not in the mood for raw fish. I've only been disappointed once by Nishino, when I came with my family during dine around seattle. It was really busy and the sushi was barely better than grocery store sushi. So maybe avoid coming here during big promotions. Thankfully, I didn't let that one bad experience keep me from coming back!
(5)
Jason A.
Excellent food and service, warm, contemporary decor. We arrived early for our reserved table and were promptly seated, and enjoyed an unforgettable dinner. Can't recommend Nishino highly enough.
(5)
Zachary Sam Z.
Nishino is the place I go when I have visitors from out of town who want a good sushi experience, and don't mind splurging a little bit. The food is great, and whenever I go there, my party always leaves happy. I'm a fan of their chirashi - a great assortment of fish, and each piece is delicious. A bit more rice than one person needs underneath... personally, I'd rather have more fish for the price that you're paying. I also took the yelp advice and got the seared maguro special with shiitake mushrooms and fois gras. My verdict is the same as the chirashi: Delicious, but not quiiiite worth the price in my book. Because of the price, Nishino is never going to be a place that I go when I want to splurge on sushi - I think you can stretch your dollar at plenty of awesome sushi places here in Seattle. But Nishino will continue to be my destination with family and friends from out of town - I know it will always be a good experience!
(4)
Linda C.
Solid omakase experience. Definitely a fusion-y place. Doesn't look like much from the outside. That entire area has small-ish, cookie-cutter looking store fronts. The outside is a little reminiscent of a dental clinic exterior... but, no worries, you're at the right place, and the food is good. Interior decor and ambience was well done. Service was excellent. Sushi chefs were very attentive. Food? Omakase presentation is good, flavors are subtle but mix well. There were quite a number of non-sashimi plates (ceviche, crab cake, oyster tempura, etc), which provided some variety. Sashimi was very fresh. Solid 3.5 stars. Tip? Sit at the bar. The sushi chefs are very nice. When it slows down a bit, chat them up - it was the best part of the night!
(4)
Jennifer M.
I'm honestly not a fan of sushi, but I wasn't going to turn down a work related invite to this place. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised. This was some of the best food I've EVER had, not just sushi-wise. Their sashimi was to die for - everything seems to melt in your mouth. The blackened cod was my favorite. Superb.
(5)
Ty L.
excellent service excellent sushi good ambiance priced fairly i don't think you should come here for rolls. if you are into sashimi, higher grade sashimi, its definitely worth it.
(5)
natalie n.
I had an enjoyable experience at Nishino's at least year's dine about town, so when I saw that that they were offering their omakase at a reduced price at $45 (normally $60), I was pretty quick to make reservations. Omakase means "leave it to me" in Japanese. In the case of both Kappo Tamura and Nishino's, you get a multi-course meal that encompasses much more than just sushi. The menu is subject to change at the chef's whim or selection of ingredients. The food? Overall, really pretty enjoyable. I've never tried omakase at other restaurants in Seattle save Kappo Tamura (which was much more expensive at $100 per). There were some dishes that felt a wee bit underwhelming/uninspiring. I wasn't a big fan of the popcorn shrimp served with avocado tempura and the tangy chili sauce, and I felt they sort of cheated by giving us a fair bit of greens in the salad dish as filler. But there were still dishes that did rock my socks, like the heavenly piece of black cod served with enoki mushrooms and tofu in soup. Any place that serves me kumamoto oysters can't be bad. The sushi, as one would hope, was excellent and included a nice piece of chuutoro. The meal was topped off with a simple but beautiful presentation of mochi ice cream and fruit. I know what you're thinking -- you can get mochi ice cream and fruit from the supermarket ... but we're talking pumpkin ice cream mochi with persimmons! A yummy meal that left us comfortably full that incorporated lots of fish and veggies. The ambiance? I find the restaurant space a little weird with the peach walls and strange paintings, but I guess it makes for good conversation. We were tucked away in the back where we were a bit cramped. It is a pretty noisy restaurant, but I didn't find it detracting. The service? I thought our waiter had a slight "surfer dude" inflection to an amusing effect. The courses felt a bit slow at the onset, but after the first few dishes everything was perfectly paced. All in all, it was definitely worth it at the anniversary price and I would argue the normal price as well. I think this place does have a bit less of a "wow" factor than places like Shiro's, but the price didn't leave my jaw hanging like Shiro's does!
(4)
crystal y.
Went in tonight for Dining Around Seattle and here are my thoughts: Appetizer: Tuna Sashimi Salad - I would have to say that although I enjoyed the tuna, I thought the salad greens underneath looked a little wilted. Not sure if it had been sitting for a bit before it came out. Entree: Beef Negimaki with Swiss Chard and Sweet Potato Fries: I liked my entree a lot. I struggled between choosing sushi and this, but decided on the Negimaki because I don't see it on menus all that often so it'd be something new. The Beef Negimaki was very flavorful - I went with one bite of that and then one bite of rice. The sweet potato fries were great. This was my first time eating Swiss chard. I like eating dark greens, but not sure it would be first on my list. Dessert: I took the Green Tea Tiramisu which was just very light, smooth, and just lovely. I would definitely order this again. I think the meal was very well balanced. I am not 100% sure I was wowed, but I definitely enjoyed my meal. Service was great- no complaints there.
(3)
JOHN L.
Let me clarify: 4 stars for sushi, since the fish was quite fresh 2 stars for everything else The 2 stars is mainly based on the price relative to what you get and also the abyssmal geoduck dish. The geoduck appetizer had about 5 tiny pieces of geoduck, a load of sliced crimini mushrooms, 2 small scallops, and SMOTHERED on top with some salty overpowering cheesy concoction. Oh, and for $14 dollars. What the?! For $14, I expected a decent portion of geoduck and some slivers of shitaki or matsutake or some other non-Safeway style mushroom. I wouldn't order it if it was complimentary. The spinach gomae was a bit heavy on bonito, but fine. Also, generally, the appetizers were so so for the prices, i.e., go to Kisaku instead! Kisaku's appetizers are half the price but twice as tasty, and I do mean every word of that. 4 stars for sushi because the fish was fresh, but the rolls were huge, i.e., I got 3 giant pieces. Were they too lazy to cut the fish?! I felt like a squirrel collecting sushi pieces in my cheeks. Where are the 5 star crazy reviews coming from?! Have these people only eaten at the serviceable places in Ballard?
(3)
Jon S.
It's alright. Nothing to write home about. The fish in any of the sushi selections was fresh. Some of the dishes were unique, but the overall menu is a sampling of a broader sushi menu. Prices are ok, could be better. Ambiance is nice; very clean and well decorated.
(3)
Jen P.
We came here on our continued quest to conquer the 3 for 30 list. I completely agree with the other reviews about the decor--I felt like I was in an aging strip mall. I normally wouldn't pick on this so much, but the food is so superior to the visual experience, it made the interior more noticeably mediocre. However, the sushi was phenomenal. While we got a tasty tempura first course, and the green tea tiramisu and cheesecake were delightful, the fish was the real standout. I've never had sushi/sashimi so unbelievably tender. I usually can't take a whole piece at once and end up gnawing my way through it to get half at a time, but this just sliced apart like butter. The white king salmon with pink peppercorn appetizer was probably my favorite. Just 1-2 little corns added a nice punch to the light, fresh fish. I'd also like to tip my hat to the sommelier who chose the wine pairings for the meal. The viognier instantly decimated the heat from the fresh wasabi in our rolls. It was like mad science. I'd definitely choose to come back for a special occasion meal, or to treat our out-of-town sushiphile friends to a real treat.
(4)
Kate M.
Best sushi in Seattle, hands down. The service, location, drinks, etc. are all great, but go here for the fish - it's freakin' awesome. I feasted mostly on sashimi and nigiri - the rolls were more of an afterthought. The other highlight was the hamachi collar - an amazing dish at a phenomenal price - buttery and delicious. I can't write any more - I'm salivating all over my keyboard just thinking about that meal ...
(5)
Andrew k.
Had the omakase menu with a friend. We opted for a mix of sushi and sashimi, although we also had the option of having food from the kitchen. My favorites were the deep fried shrimp heads, the sweet shrimp, hamachi sushi, salmon sashimi, and albacore sushi in that order. The shrimp and the salmon in particular had great flavor. Mori-san expertly cut and prepared each of our dishes and was very insightful to our probing foodie questions on preparation techniques and freshness of fish. If I lived in the area, I would come here quite often, which is probably then a good thing I don't for my wallet's sake. Which reminds me, we had lots of the house sake, which might not be the smoothest, but had great flavor. I'm somewhat of a food snob so only 4 stars here, but I'm sure it would be 5 on most people's list. Some things that would have made it 5 stars: The toro, and o-toro, although good, could have been of better quality. My motto is, if you're going to pay for the good stuff, get the best. Some of the fancier preparations with jalepeno, roe or other flavor enhancers came with lesser quality fish. A lot of places do this (think spicy tuna/hamachi/salmon rolls) but it makes a big difference if the quality is still there. Try it. Sit at the bar. You won't regret it.
(4)
Darth V.
Oh, the tortures I put myself through in order to complete this Foodie 100 list. Little factoid leading into this review: I am deathly allergic to mushrooms of any kind. Can't eat em. They do baaaaaad things to me ranging from inability to breathe (even with this damn respirator that makes it sound like I'm land-scuba diving) to losing sensation in my extremities/lips/tongue to body shakes right down to the nasty number it works on my innards. Not even The Force can overcome this reaction. Factoid no. 2: Not only do I hate anything with liver in it, but I find foie gras offensive. And that's saying something, since I'm about the most unapologetic carnivore this side of the land of the Hutts. Next to me, even Chewbacca goes "Daaaaaamn dude, eat some veg!". Well, actually he just goes "Rrrawwaarrawwaaahhhhhaaaahhhwaaaahhh", but I think he's saying the other thing. So what's on the 100 list for tonight? A piece of sushi with a huge chunk of foie gras on the top side and a huge Shiitake mushroom on the other. Lovely. If I survive this, so help me I'm going to kill every living soul within a 10 parsec radius of here. OK, Top 100 list item exempted, this place is the gold standard for sushi in the region. There is not a place anywhere that serves fish that is more fresh, more high-quality, and more masterfully prepared than Nishino. None. I might as well have gone into the ocean and killed these creatures myself, they're so fresh. Or at the very least did a Jedi mind trick to get them to jump into a boat for me. After all, it's hard to swim with all this gear. The Lady Vader will undoubtedly disagree since all she had was the ngiri menu and thus found their lack of creativity upsetting, but I'll turn her on to the place next time, when we order the other 80% of the menu that is "different". The itamaes are true masters of their craft, and create flawless items of tasty goodness in everything they do. The staff is always pleasant and professional. I have no doubt that if I replaced their sashimi knives with lightsabers, they would be able to flick a single hair off the head of a Rebellion member without harming them in the slightest....and then lop off that person's head right afterwards, because that's what I'd demand they do. As to the item on the Foodie 100? Well, if you're into foie gras, and like mushrooms, it's probably outstanding. Lady Vader seemed to enjoy it. I was too busy fighting my gag reflex from the foie gras at first, and then fighting my throat from completely closing up and suffocating me from the mushroom afterwards to really take a lot of note as to just how the flavour was. Since I don't like the taste of mushrooms on top of being allergic to them, I don't so much imagine I enjoyed it all that much, but I'm probably in the minority here. The Lady Vader wanted to film it so she could put this event on Youtube, convinced it would go viral. While this may be the case, it probably won't help my image any; especially in light of them catching that footage of Mini-Me trying to Force Choke a Volkswagen. I can say the red wine reduction sauce was flawless, so there is that, at least. I ordered a couple of pieces of sushi after this experience and couldn't taste anything at that point, so had to call it an early night. I've spent the rest of the evening pumping Benedryl and Clariton as I try to survive the whole thing. But I did eat it, and that's the important thing. So why am I giving Nishino a 4 instead of a 5? Well, it's not because I'm sitting here wheezing more than usual trying to recover from this incredibly stupid thing I did (seriously, this one ranks right up there with me trying to work a deal with Lando; anyone with a mustache like that is not to be trusted). It's simply the price. It's a little bit expensive compared to what I think a fair value is. This doesn't stop me from going here when the mood strikes, and the place is always packed so they clearly don't have to adjust pricing, but it is a bit high. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go cave in to the demands of my rebelling stomach. 4 Deathstars.
(4)
Chet F.
Great Sushi, late 80's outdated interior... Woah, we destroyed this sushi bar. I think between the two of us we ordered about 20 pieces(x2) of sushi and sashimi, and a couple rolls. If you are gonna do it, do it right, and we went for the full chef's choice all night. What a great decision it is to let the chef choose, expensive, but fun! Mori is a talented sushi chef that served us a unique selection from one end of the spectrum to the other. I had things I have never tried before, for instance: super white tuna, white king salmon, butterfish, extra extra fatty tuna, and many more. We also tried the seasonal Matsutake (Pine) mushroom soup which I described as 'happy fall campfire soup'. It was very cozy and had a smooth smokiness to it. Served out of a small tea pot into shot size sipping bowls. By the time we left, I was half lit from the overdose of sushi, plus 2 large Asahi's and 16oz of Harushika sake. It was a very enjoyable experience overall. Also try the green tea tiramisu, I really enjoyed the creamy smooth texture, the fun green color, all encompassing a subtle green tea hint. The interior seems a bit outdated, almost late 80's mod. It's very bright and sterile with hits of pink and light blue, maybe? Not as warm and comfortable as Shiro's. Overall great place to get your raw fish on!
(4)
M M.
The salmon is great in the Seattle area, but this was some of the best we've had. Even the octopus was tender. You know it's gonna be good when the chef is smiling for no apparent reason as he works.
(5)
priss l.
The restaurant is great! My boyfriend and I went to Nishino on a friday night. We ordered two Omakase dinners for a romantic date. The dinner comes with seven courses. Our waiter was really attentive. he took the time to explain everything on the dish (at least he tried to), including what the ingredients were, how they were prepared, and where the main seafood was from. However, he seemed a little forgetful on words when presenting the dishes. The food was really awesome. The oyster tempura was the best, fattiest, juiciest cooked oyster I've ever had!!! We also had a few fish dishes, including black cod, hamachi, and tuna. The fish was cooked to perfection, and the seasoning was really really good. Even the appetizers were really tasty. We had a trio of appetizers and a shrimp fruit salad. I think the flavors were spectacular because of the sauces. The chef seems to use a lot of acid in his sauces. Interestingly, the course I enjoyed the least was the sushi course. We thought we wouldn't be filled at the end of the dinner; however, we were so full after! Throughout the meal, we were saying, "mmm" "mmmm!" The decor at the restaurant was pretty well done. The wall paper behind the glass panel was interesting. I don't know what it is though, people tended to be really loud that night. The walls/ceiling probably don't absorb sound very well. I could hear what these people were talking about half way across the restaurant. And of course, the guy right next to us kept saying adamantly "facebook is for real personalities, not fake names. facebook is designed for REAL human interactions...." The prefix dinner could be a little pricey, but they have other menu items that you could order. If you'd like some fine dining Japanese cuisine with an American cooking technique, and attentive service, give Omakase dinner a try! It'll be quite an experience.
(5)
stacey d.
OMFG! Seriously? How do they do it?!@#@$@!$ This place is OUTSTANDING. Not only does it serve the best sushi I have ever had (and that is saying a LOT), but it is actually my all time favorite restaurant. It's ridiculous how much I love this place. Nishino has it all - incredibly fresh sushi, both traditional and inventive. The service is over the top - everyone is super friendly, very knowledgeable (all with super sushi, food and sake recommendations), and extremely attentive. Eliza is the best! Ambiance is really nice - lots of natural light, plants, little gold lights, unique art and local glassybaby votives in unique colors on each table. Nishino (THE Nishino) is there nightly, overseeing his amazing restaurant, and is very cool and friendly. The Sake selection is the best I've ever seen. My favorite is getting a bamboo carafe. The sushi is so fresh and outstanding. Of course, all of the traditional items are there - amazing sashimi, nigiri, etc.. Some of my favorite innovative menu items include the albacore tuna tartar (with delicious homeade taro chips), hamachi jalapeno (sashimi pieces topped with thin sliced jalapeno, a crispy onion and an amazing secret sauce), curry halibut cheeks, nasu dengaku (japanese eggplant broiled with sticky sweet miso sauce), and the mochi ice cream. HOLY CRAP! Nishino brings this in from Hawaii - flavors like cherry blossom and vanilla (my favorite), white chocolate raspberry, chocolate espresso, and then traditional favorites mango, green tea, red bean, etc. It's seriously so so so so so damn good! I could go on forever, but I think this conveys the highlights, and the fact that I am a compete slave to this place. It is a bit on the pricey side, but worth every penny. I recommend reservations. Now go enjoy some Nishino sushi!@$@#$#@%@#%@#%@#%
(5)
Rey M.
Was on our way to Shinois down at Madison but its not there anymore! Some new Asian restaurant took its place so we decided to try Nishino for the first time. Here is what I thought..... Service : Excellent! Sat at the Sushi bar with my wife and one of my daughters. We had a good conversations with the people around us as well as the Sushi Chefs. The Staff was very attentive and made sure things where moving along. Always had a clean area and filled cup. Atmosphere: This place leaned more towards being elegant then the normal Japanese traditional decor you see at most restaurants. Nice change. Very clean and the tables where well placed. Most place I go it feels like your sharing elbow space with the next table. Sushi and food: I have to give it a mix review here. I only have 2 complaints. 1. The Saba ( Mackerel ) was on the dry side. This is my favorite Nigiri piece and it did not meet my freshness standard I come to expect from all Sushi Bars. Typically this alone would gear me towards the bias side but everything else we had tasted very fresh so I will let it pass this time around. 2. The portions of the Rolls where on the small end. C'mon 4 piece rolls. I'm use to the 6-8. And these pieces wern't that large either. Price: Its very reasonable, maybe a slight bit higher then most Japanese restaurants but then again its in Madison. :) Maybe it wouldn't have been to bad if the Rolls where bigger. I must add though they sold Deep Fried Shrimp heads for 1$ a pair. I order 8 pieces for 4$. That alone with a bowl of rice could have been a meal on its own for me. Overall: I give it 4 stars based on overall experience. We had fun eating here. Good hospitality and a warm family friendly environment along with fresh fish ( aside from the Mackerel ) highlights this establishment. Just kinda wished the price of some of the dishes weren't so high based on the portion you received. Beside my few complaints I would definitely come here again. Enjoy!
(4)
Evan M.
Got the omakasse. 5 stars. Dear lord. Also, get the super-fatty tuna. It'll melt your brain with it's awesomeness. it's like a pale white porcelain fish. It looks rare. It looks endangered. It looks yummy.
(5)
Ninja S.
I may have had an overly positive experience here as we were the first people through their doors that evening. Service was immediate. The people running this place are clearly thinkers. They have interesting takes on a variety of traditional offerings. I was intrigued, but you pay a hefty premium for it. Even their miso soup is untraditional. I'm not even sure I would call this a Japanese restaurant. It's kind of like a whiteboyyuppie-california-Japanese fusion effort. It's not bad. It's quite good. It is also exceptionally targeted for the area it is located. One minor point of annoyance to look for is that the cold sake is served in a cool looking chilled bamboo decanter. The interesting thing is that about half as much sake came out of the second than was enjoyed from the first. Sketchy sake-business!
(4)
Ed C.
Nishino Omakase dinner - this isn't really Japanese food. It's more of an overworked fusion cuisine. We went last night for the regular omakase dinner at 7:30. The restaurant is just one big room, so it was really noisy and the way it is lit it is not very romantic. Pros - I think the ingredient quality was good and the cuts of fish were tender. - Our server was really nice. She made several mistakes and was really worried about it. We told her to relax. Cons - Each of the dishes was way over worked. The taste of the fine quality cuts of sashimi used, were lost under layers of chili oil, cilantro, jalapenos, yellow curry, red wine sauce, etc... They served an asari sake mushi, which should have been light an refreshing. They threw so much into the pot it was almost like a stew. The broth was heavy and oily with garlic and cayenne pepper. Very strange. - The dishes were not traditional in any way. Maybe for some people this should be in the Pros category. - The room was very noisy and was not cozy. - There wasn't anything that gave a traditional feeling of Japan - Really expensive. We decided to try it because they were having the anniversary $45 omakase. Dinner for two with a small sake and tip was about $150. I've had a much better meal at about half the price. The people were very nice, but I will probably take my dining dollars somewhere else in the future.
(3)
Lisa L.
Their sushi is one of the best, but too damn pricey for college students! One of the best ways to end off a meal is with their fried ice cream with caramel sauce on top! Super delish!
(3)
Andrea S.
I went here on Sunday night with a large group of friends (about 10 of us) to celebrate a birthday recently. We arrived at 6 pm (couldn't get a reservation any later than that) and were seated right away. While waiting for a few in our party to arrive we were able to peruse the menu and decide whether or not we were going to do the 3 courses for $30 menu (available during the month of November) or eat a la carte. When we did order, our group was split with some of us doing the 3 courses and some of us not which wasn't a problem with the server at all. I ended up getting a small house salad (the dressing was awesome), a spicy yellowtail roll and two pieces of maguro sushi. The fish was VERY fresh and the rolls and sushi seemed very reasonably priced. Once we were finished the server even offered to split our checks which made figuring out the bill really easy. My only complaint about Nishino was that it took 3 hours for our entire meal. Now i know we were a pretty large group and that some of us had 3 courses but 3 hours seems a little long. Overall, the food was good, the prices were reasonable, and the service was helpful but a little slow.
(4)
Andrea Z.
Came here with a few friends and loved it. I was a bit disappointed because we were doing the Omakase and we were seated halfway across the room. I kind of wanted to see the chef preparing everything. Next time I will request to be at the sushi bar. Everything tasted amazing, ok there was one pickled fish thing that I could not choke down, but hey, you can't ask for too much! The foie gras was amazing. I had never been that adventurous but I am glad I did. I would recommend doing the Omakase, it was truly and an experience to remember.
(4)
Karen R.
If you're in the neighborhood (Madison Park/Arboretum) and in the mood for new-sushi, this is the place to go in Seattle. ...and always always make a reservation! I can't say I've ever had a bad meal here but I will admit to the time when I had to swallow a bad piece of uni - with a smile lol! Oooh that was painful. We were seated at the sushi bar and the sushi chef was practically staring at me waiting to see if I liked it after I told him uni's my favorite. There are not many places in America I would eat uni and I was positive Nishino wouldn't let me down. So after that first time, I have not tried that stunt again there. I have, however, had really good uni at Saitos located in downtown Seattle! Actually a good place for sushi starters and kids - lots of option for cooked or semi cooked fish and other delicious goodies. Good place to splurge and have a good time. Yes, it can be over-priced.
(4)
Jessica W.
Get the omakase. Get the omakase. I'm always impressed by this restaurant. The atmosphere is warm, the staff is friendly, the presentation is fantastic and the food is great. It's just an all-around good restaurant, you know?
(5)
Me H.
I took a friend here for her birthday and we both decided to do the Dine around Seattle deal taking place. I started with the albacore tuna tataki with ponzu sauce and it was delicious and the sliced jalapeno placed on top gave each piece a nice little kick, the albacore melted in my mouth. The birthday girl went for the Pacific oyster and maitake mushroom tempura with the seaweed salad, in her words it was delicious and I take her word for it. For my main entree I wanted to go for the assorted sushi and roll but there was salmon and I'm odd and do not like salmon so I skipped it and went for the broiled black cod which was marinated in miso, the cod was amazing, the three pickled like salads that accompanied it were not so amazing and neither were the eight bones I pulled out of my mouth from the cod, one poked the roof of my mouth and it still itches, one bone is acceptable but eight bones in one tiny piece of fish not so acceptable to me even though the cod was amazing. The birthday girl went with the assorted sushi and roll she said she enjoyed everything but the salmon skin roll, it just wasn't to her liking but everything else was wonderful. For dessert we both went with the sorbet of the day which was a nice refreshing ending to the meal and the server was nice enough to put a candle in the birthday girls. Our server was actually outstanding the whole night, explaining every dish, making sure everything was fine and never letting our tea or water glasses become empty. I will definitely be back to try their sushi because everything I saw looked fresh and tasty.
(4)
Erica D.
I came here with my friends on a Sunday evening at 8:15. We got the last 4 person table so even later on Sundays if you want to be certain to get a table, call ahead for a reservation (we didnt have one but were lucky). This is an absolutely great sushi and Japanese restaurant. This was my first time here and we only got sushi but it was great quality and unique. The "Madison Park Roll' had an egg crepe instead of seaweed wrapper. The other food coming to other tables looked excellent and I plan on going back to try more of the main dishes and I may update this. Price is usual for Japanese which is never super cheap. I would recommend this place, but will come with a reservation next time!
(5)
Tmo T.
The seafood here is the freshest and very high quality. Highly recommenfed!
(5)
Katie C.
By far, one of the best meals I have had in Seattle- or anywhere, for that matter. We had the omakase menu. Every bite here was an experience. Amazing food. The best sashimi I have ever tasted. Just amazing. Seriously, I think every other review I have written needs to be bumped down a notch to make up for the experience we had at Nishino. It was THAT good. ;) Our server was fantastic too- we admitted to not knowing much about sake, and had her choose different kinds for us to try. She picked some really wonderful matches to go with our food, and was just all-around awesome in every way. What a FANTASTIC experience. This is what we had, as best as I can remember it. :) First Course: Hamachi wrapped around asparagus, on top of cucumber, with ponzu sauce and pink peppercorn Green mussel with ginger relish Salmon wrapped in pickled cucumber with wasabi sauce Second Course: Cocktail of sunomono, crab, mango Third Course: Greens, sesame-ginger dressing, super white tuna sashimi, fried lotus root Fourth Course: Soup with matsutake (pine mushroom), nuts and white fish Fifth Course: Oyster tempura with a miso sauce Sixth Course: Cod with seaweed oil ponzu and cabbage Seventh Course: Sushi plate with tuna, hamachi, salmon, slice of Nishino Roll (wrapped in tamago), slice of another roll (asparagus, tobiko, salmon & tuna) Dessert: Kiwi Orange Grapes Pomegrante and Strawberries, Mochi (Mango, Chocolate Espresso, Cherry Blossom)
(5)
David M.
For some reason we walked upstairs into the "office" area, only to return to the bemused staff waiting for us at the door- we aim to please. We had pre-ordered the premium omakasse, and everything was delicious, beautifully presented and super fresh. It's not all freestyle and flash- it's more like a French multi-course. Our server knew every ingredient like the back of her hand, and totally put up with us- I only spilled sake 2 or 3 times, after all.
(4)
Derek R.
Finally got to try Nishino last night! My complete break down (each out of five stars): Quality of fish/seafood - 5 Creativity of rolls - 4 Other Menu Options (aside from sushi) - 4 Tea - 5 Service - 5 Friendliness of other staff (chefs, hostess, etc.) - 3 Atmosphere - 3 Value (price vs. what you receive) - 4 Parking - 2 Exciting stories: I had never tried hokki (a surf clam) it was DEE-lish!
(4)
kevin z.
food is 5 stars, location is not great, parking is difficult - depending on when you go, service was excellent. you will find freshness in nishino, they take quality very seriously. waiters are knowledgeable enough for what they offer in the menu and how the foods are prepared, the source of the fish etc. simply you can't go wrong with nishino. It it's a bit far from seattle downtown, parking is not easy. but these will not stop me from going back again.
(4)
Jason O.
Hands down some of the best sushi I've ever had! Yes, I've been to Japan and this is the closest you will ever find! The Halibut cheeks and Himachi are to die for! Come and try it out--you will not be dissapointed!
(5)
Peter C.
would've given this 5 stars except that had a not so great experience the last time I went. Usually I go for the Omakase which is great, the waiter come out explaning for 5 minutes on like 2 pieces of edamame and its origin. (But it's the best 2 pieces of edamame I had for a while, especially after listening to the story). However, the last time I went, they said they were too busy to serve the Omakase, so I was really disappointed... then I ordered all the regular dishes, but for some reason all the hot dishes all tasted quite similar, all kind of buttery. But next time, just make sure you call in before hand and go for the Omakase and skip the regular menu
(4)
Kath U.
Okay I debated whether it should be 4 stars or 5. Having had sushi many times in Japan, I can honestly say that Nishino brought back memories of great sushi. Hence the 5 stars. The freshness here can be counted on. The hamachi here is SO good. Tempura is also done right here as in NOT all greasy & stale tasting. Great traditional sushi & then the chef does some creative "fusion" dishes that are really interesting and very good. Fusion can be a disaster if the person creating it doesn't know what they are doing. Here they know and they deliver some great things to try. The toro tartare with caviar is incredible. So is the new style sashimi which is arugula wrapped in whitefish seared with extra virgin olive oil. More traditional is the negi hama (hamachi and scallion) and one of our faves was the kampachi usuzukuri which is thinly sliced kampachi with ponzu sauce. Nice atmosphere, good service with an outstanding wine & sake list I would love to try the omakase dinner. And BTW the chef owner Tatsu Nishino was the chef at Nobu Matsuhisa's original Los Angeles restaurant. Need I say more... Love this place.
(5)
Powell Y.
My dinner companion flaked, so I was left along to explore the Seattle dining scene. Searching for omakase in Seattle, brought up Nishino as one of the choices. After looking over the menu on-line, I decided to jump in my electric blue PT Cruiser rental car and give it a shot. Took a seat at the sushi bar and ordered a Echigo to clean my palate. A daily special caught my eyes, Tara Nabe, perfect on a cold rainy night in Seattle (remind me again why I left the mid-70s Napa?). While feasting on this wonderful nabe, got me thinking, clear broth soup isn't very common in Western cuisine, is it? Not that I don't like clam chowder or French onion soup, but nothing beats a clear broth Japanese or Chinese soup. Also went with a few sets of nigiris, my only requests were Amaebi and Uni. Chef Mori san took care the rest, Hotate, Kampachi, and Toro arrived in front of me as well. The rice is perfectly luke warm, topped with impeccably fresh fish. Each and every set was wonderful. Got talking with Chef Mori, discovered he is a fellow wine lover and has an affinity for Pauillac wines. He went on to mention Bill Harlan had stopped in for dinner in the past, as well as Naoko Dalla Valle and her daughter Maya. Although I am full after the nigiris and nabe, I can't pass on another clear broth dish, so Kani Tofu was ordered to finish the evening. This dish along with the nabe from earlier, paired very well with an Alsatian Riesling. I will return to Nishino next time I head back to Seattle, armed with a bottle of choice Pauillac to share with Chef Mori.
(5)
Diana L.
We tried the Omakasa dinner. Overall they are decent but not outstanding. Many of them were with too much pontsu scace.
(3)
Ann M.
I was wanting traditional Japanese but got asian-fusion. The quality was good, but I'm not a huge fan of asian-fusion. On top of that, I had high expectations due to the reputation of the restaurant. We had the exclusive omakase dinner which was just okay. The two dishes that were highly disappointing were the grilled cod with miso sauce that was placed on top of stir fried veggies in a soy sauce. The flavors DID NOT compliment each other at all and it was just plain strange. The cod was really good but the veggies were like some greasy/bitter/burnt Chinese stir-fry. 2nd, our dessert was mochi icecream with fruit....I felt utterly cheated. I can buy mochi icecream at Trader Joe's for like 5 bucks. Other dishes included, a shitake mushroom/foie gras dish that was interesting and tasty, but again not really Japanese. A tempura dish that was okay but nothing special. A sushi dish which was traditional and very good...it came with fresh wasabi. And then there was the white salmon carpaccio in which I did not like the red peppercorns... Way too strong for the fish IMO. Overall, it was a good experience because it reinforced my love of traditional Japanese cuisine, but I would not come back again. Our service was excellent by the way, so if you love asian-fusion come to this place, or maybe just belly up to the sushi bar and order sushi only? Whatever, I'm over it.
(3)
Anastasia N.
Yum yum yum... So yes I love sushi, and that is why I went to Nishino after reading all the awesome reviews, but guess what!?! By the time I was done ordering from the appetizers and specials menu I had soo much food coming to me there was no way I could eat it all...and it was all so good. If you love Miso soup and/or mushrooms and spices you must try the mushroom soup! The halibut cheeks are ridiculous and the "whole octopus" is outstanding. You can also ask for a half order on something so you can try more yummy things from the menu, which is what I have to do when I go to this AWFUL yummy place hahaha Lastly if you like hot bananas:) try the fried banana tempura with coconut ice cream desert its delish! I usually try that anywhere they serve it and this place's got it DOWN! So y 4 stars you ask? I don't really know, maybe cuz I am yet to try the actual sushi part and then I will revise my ratings... Cheers
(4)
Boro B.
"meh I've experienced better" just about sums it up about my experience at this place when my friends and I dined there Tuesday evening. Hama Sushi in LA is my benchmark for west coast sushi; and this place is just about as far off as Hama as one could be. We ordered the excl. omakase and to say I was disappointed would be an understatement. I don't mind the lack of raw dishes. I do mind the fact that the flavours are too salty, the sauces are repetitive in the dishes and overall it's uninspiring. I'd go to Maneki (which I went to the night after just to wipe Nishino from my memory for Japanese food in Seattle) any day of the week. Nishino, not so much.
(2)
Nuri G.
My experience tonight at Nishino embodied what a five-star rating should be. I had the Omakase dinner which spanned mild to wild, delicate to bold, soft to crunchy, and plain to extravagant. Where other sushi establishments get an element or two right -- some may have a supreme quality of fish but epic fail with the rice -- Nishino was holistically incredible. The rice was made properly with healthy amounts of mirin and had a perfect consistency and temperature. The fish was delicious and delicate. The presentation was both thoughtful and complimentary. The service was quick and friendly. I was most impressed by watching the lead chef. He seemed so serene and at peace with himself and his surroundings. He smiled while preparing the food, didn't talk much, and worked with surgical precision. He is a master at his craft and a true artist. My friend asked me tonight "So, does this mean you have a new place to take your ladies out to impress them?" The answer is yes. I have found a new favorite in Seattle for sushi.
(5)
Elise L.
Honestly? I can't tell you if the sushi here is good. I assume it is - I see people eating lots of it, everything smells fresh, the ingredients all look gorgeous. And it's not that I don't love sushi - I do. But every time I go here I end up ordering the dynamite. Geoduck, mushrooms, and scallops baked perfectly in Japanese mayonnaise so that the scallops and geoduck stay perfectly tender? And it has an awesome name? Yes please. This is a great place for a sushi-lover to take a sushi-hater - both parties can be equally satisfied with the food. Word to the wise - yeah, Nishino is on the 30 for 30 list. But the prices and portion sizes don't typically make it worth doing. Order off the regular menu and you'll spend less. Also, I understand they're great if you're gluten-free. My boy's dad has celiac and is very careful about what and where he eats, and this is one of the few places that has earned his unequivocal trust.
(4)
John W.
I've only been here once. It really confused me seeing that 95% of the people eating at this establishment were non Asian. Hmm.. not the best sign, but I was there, yelpers gave it decent marks, so I figure i give it a shot. All in all I wasn't overly impressed, but then again, I wasn't turned off at all. I asked the chef to give me whatever he thought was really good .. -- The toro wasn't oily.. In my opinion, it wasn't even chutoro -- it tasted really close to regular blue fin tuna. The local albacore was good.. and all the fish was really fresh.. but.. for some reason nothing really stood out in my mind that was outstanding. Perhaps i need to retry this place again. As for the atmosphere -- well a bit too large of a restaurant.. and a bit too noisy. Prices were absolutely reasonable. Service was good for a Friday night.. (waiters were pretty attentive seeing how the place was packed to the gills) I'd consider this place to be pretty good, and I would come back if I was in the area and craving sushi.
(3)
Rick R.
We host students. Yoshio had been living with us for three months, and on his last night in Seattle, offered to take us out for dinner. He sprung for the omakase (chef's choice). It cost $75 per person. The food was fabulous. It came in waves. He thought the service was a bit slow. But I think, for $75, let us take our time. It turned out to be a three hour dinner. It was absolutely memorable. The abalone salad had an onion-based house dressing that is to-die for. Another dish was called shrimp dumplings - whole shrimp wrapped in noodle, with a chili sauce. It took everything in my power to keep from licking the plate. Also very yummy was the halibut cheek with cilantro-aoli sauce, on a bed of cooked kale. Dessert was over the top too - ice cream stuffed mochi with fresh fruit. Wait-staff was very helpful. I hope Yoshio left a big tip. I wonder. . . .
(4)
Danika M.
My family has been going here for EVER. My dad loves it. For X-Mas he gave me a $150 gift card... I took a friend out for the omakase dinner. WOW... Tasty, delicate, fresh... with an amazing variety in tastes and textures, not overly filling, just right. Paired with a big frozen bamboo stalk filled with sake, it hit a spot that doesn't get hit that often for me: I get to eat like a rich person and not sweat about the other things I need to spend my money on (in real life!) Thanks, dad.
(5)
emily r.
YEEESSSSSSSSSS it really is the best sushi in town. And it better be, because it can be hard to get in, and it isn't exactly the cheapest. Although sometimes they do the 3 for $30 thing, so that rocks. For out of towners though, especially landlocked ones, this is THE sushi place to show off. Love sitting at the sushi bar. My date used to live in Japan, and he was blown away by the miso. "This is what miso is supposed to be like," he kept saying. I like all miso, so I can't add to that except to say it was darn good. Chef Nishino was behind the bar when we were there and he was soooo personable and awesome. Service was impeccable - friendly, great suggestions, waters always full, etc. But the main event here - the sushi - is AWESOME. I'm a sashimi girl, and just couldn't believe it. Best toro, best mackerel, best unagi (okay so that isn't sashimi but still), best best best. I'll try sushi damn near anywhere. And I end up eating in my neighborhood at Ototo a lot. But Nishino is an experience that a sushi lover MUST HAVE. MUST!
(5)
Becca C.
Very expensive, so I'd go if I weren't paying for all of it! The quality is second-to-none. I couldn't tell you what I had, but the overall experience was pleasant. Servers were jovial and helpful; the ambiance doesn't make me feel like I'm in Japan though. White table cloths and mood lighting, I think I'm in a french restaurant, until I see the seaweed wraps.
(4)
John W.
Was in town for business and decided to check out this place after reading about it on yelp. Overall an above average sushi place by LA standards - sushi was 4 stars, service was 4 and overall atmosphere was 4 stars. I definitely consider this as a 'value' sushi place where nothing is spectacular about the sushi but you get the feeling that you got what you paid for.
(4)
Patrick J.
I'm new to the Pacific Northwest and was given a recommendation of Nishino when I asked a local friend for advice on the best sushi in Seattle. He responded with a suggestion of Nishino as a great location and I'm glad he did. The meal began with a calamari and fried vegetable on a chili sauce appetizer, this was fantastic though the vegetables were overwhelmed by the sauce. After that my wife ordered three different rolls, one was a daily special and two were off their standard menu. She was ecstatic with all three of them and raved about them on the drive home. My meal was an order of otoro sushi (bluefin tuna nigiri) and ebi sushi (shrimp). The otoro was also part of my friend's recommendation and it did not disappoint, it was delicious and a wonderful portion, albeit definitely pricey (market price tonight was $13.) I also had an order of a soba bowl with chicken, this is where the meal fell flat for me, while enjoyable the bowl was simply passable and the seasoning was purely in the mushroom in the bowl. The chicken was underwhelming and bland. However everything else was fantastic. The martini was on the smaller side of what you get at restaurants but my wife was pleased with the quality and alcohol content. We will definitely be going back in the future.
(4)
James and Carla F.
Excellent sushi, period. Had a very nice dinner, good service and good wine list.
(5)
Rozz P.
Amazing quality. Albacore tartar is a must have. Service was great, food was better.
(4)
Glinda W.
Lets start with the service. Eri, the wife of the chef, always greets your warmly. I do not know how she remembers so many peoples names! The food is wonderful, and so fresh. I sometimes crave the sushi, but also enjoy some of their other tasty dishes, especially the halibut cheeks. I heard from a friend the this is Ichiro Suzuki's, from the Seattle Mariners, favorite sushi place - I can see why.
(5)
Diane L.
I went here last friday with some friends to celebrate a birthday. We followed the waiter's advice and got the Omakase $60/per person (chef's choice). The waiter exlaimed "it's the way to go" along with a majority of the yelp reviewers! I am so glad went with it. I loved being able to sample multiple dishes and I was surprisingly very full by the end. In fact, I was struggling to eat my share of the sushi rolls! There was sushi, sashimi, amaebi, crab cakes, cod and other things. Dessert was awesome! mango, green tea and a chocolate/coffee (i think) mochi ice cream with fruit. Definitely will go back again and take my parents for the omakase.
(5)
Mo Riza ..
Lovely place with lovely food. I had a couple of appetizers; slices of hamachi with jalapeno and crispy garlic, popcorn shrimp on a bed of potato and lettuce salad, both were fabulous. The waiter suggested Ichiban beer to go along, it was delicious. But, my main courses of sushi was a disappointing one. I had imagined it would be as fresh and succulent as something I got a t Tomoe in NYC, or as tasty and creatively prepared as in Shiro in Seattle. IT was not even close. The uni was good and fresh but the other, was so so. The rice and sea weed are in the chewy side. It was not that bad. I just had a very high expectation.
(3)
Tom N.
My friend checked yelp for a good sushi joint. We drove and found they open at 5pm. We ate some terrible japanese food, went back to the house, played some catherine and beat the game, amazing game by the way, I LOVE YOU ATLUS. Okay, it's time to go to Nishino, but it's 9PM and they close at 10PM. The smart man that I am called right ahead and reserved a table for six, but a seventh one joined on the way. I found out their last call for food was at 10:30PM, sweet. We drove down, couldn't find parking since it was packed like hell. My friend saw a sign about parking by the alley. We went to the alley and shit, it was for residents and we have to drive back and we decided to park at the gas station, which was shells I believe. We got our parking and was ready for our last meal, before our friends go away for a few months, they're from Canada by the way :( On to the food.... If you love sashimi, you should definitely come here, however I'm not a big fan at all. My friends saved a last piece of sashimi for me and they kept nagging me to try it, but I don't get peer pressure at all, so I let that shit rot till my friends decided to finish it. Two of my friends ordered udon noodles and they seem to love it. They noted about their mushroom having massive flavors, I tried one as well and yeah that shit was sweet. Did they marinate their mushrooms with honey goodness or are they breeding incredible magic mushrooms? Who knows, but I ordered my beef steak, which was served with some gross dark ginger and some chinese veggie that I'm used to, but man am I disappointed in their steak... about 8 small pieces for $20ish bucks and with teriyaki sauce? get the fuck outta here with that, please invent some top notch seasoning and serve kobe beef or something, but I should've known, this place specialize in sushi. I looked at their sushi menu a few times, trying to find some good fried rolls, such as Las vegas rolls, but nothing great...so I freeload off my friend's madison park roll, which had some fresh shrimp, egg wrapped and some other stuff. I also ordered their spicy garlic chicken and it was delicious, I manged to finish the whole thing and was quite happy after my hatred towards my small steak with yucky teriyaki sauce. At the end, I was still hungry... so I ordered their garlic spicy calamari, but it turns out they weren't fried at all, which is something I'm not used to. The calamari was fresh, but the portion this time was huge... like wow, an appetizer is huger than main dishes, how disappointing. The bill for me was $70 bucks for 3 plates, was it worth it? fuck no, that's two good video games right there. I tried everything I wanted here, but I would only recommend their sushi.
(3)
Samantha C.
One of the best sushi restaurants I have had . Very fresh, unique, and utterly relaxing; this is a place I will frequent again, and again, and again!
(5)
Lor B.
Hands down - the best sushi in Seattle. I'm not usually a huge sushi eater - but the Toro and Super White Tuna is to die for here. Came with friends for a birthday dinner and everything was outstanding. Ordered the following: Broiled Black Cod w/Miso & Sake, Tempura Snow Crab (so good!), Chicken Tatsuka (Like Karaage), Toro Tartare with Cavier (Spectacular), Shrimp Heads, Arboretum, Madison & Salmon Skin Roll - (All were fabulous). Ended the evening with some Mochi & Green Tea. Experience was amazing from start to finish. I've been to Nishino many years ago and remember it being great - our dinner tonight did not disappoint. No wonder why they say this place is the Nobu of Seattle. Definitely as good as it gets!
(5)
Tammie P.
On my first trip to Seattle last weekend, I yelped sushi and this place came up. I thought it was OK. The toro sushi does not melt in your mouth like some other places, the salmon and tuna sushi did not look that fresh either. I ordered a softshell crab app, which was fishy-tasting, and not very good at all. Most places use tempura batter, but this one was just fried. We ordered a tempura maki and spicy tuna maki, and they were huge because there was so much rice! The only thing I really liked was the Madison Park maki, which despite the excessive rice, was really good. It had real crab and avocado (I think) and it was wrapped in a thin egg omelet. Interesting combination, but not good enough to bring me back here.
(3)
Steve C.
Came here by myself on a business trip. Sushi is pretty fresh overall, and the sushi chef at the bar was friendly. Overall a positive experience.
(4)
Maeve C.
I'll start by explaining that I don't eat fish, so I can't comment on the quality of the sushi. Except that I was expecting it to be great, and my sushi loving bf seemed underwhelmed. But, I did make the reservations - they have this silly system where you have to call and leave a message and then they'll call you back sometime and let you know if you actually have reservations or not. That's weird enough, but then we showed up, and had to wait in a cramped entrance with about 20 other people for half an hour - this is after I got the confirmation on my RESERVATIONS. I guess they don't actually take reservations, they just humor you by letting you leave a message. Once we were finally seated, the service was still very slow. And our waiter rarely checked on us - I ran out of wine, and would have ordered a second glass, but he didn't come by for the last 20 minutes of our meal while my empty glass was just sitting there in plane site. And, after reading the menu, I was kind of excited that they seemed to have some vegetarian friendly options, but our waiter explained that actually most everything had fish in it. So, I settled for some edamame, salad, and some very boring veggie rolls. I know this probably doesn't matter to most people looking for a good sushi place, but should you ever find yourself looking for a veggie friendly sushi joint - this is not it.
(2)
Jerry W.
I am a little surprised that this place is considered one of the best if not the best in Seattle. Went here based on the stellar Yelp reviews. There is no character to the place. It doesn't need to be chintzy, but it would be nice if it at least looks Japanese. And maybe I am wrong to think this, but I would like to see more Japanese people working in a high end Japanese restaurant. Helps with the atmosphere especially if the cuisine is traditional and not neo-Japanese. The prices are sky high and we did not feel the value was there. Service was also a bit spotty. At least the fish is fresh. It probably would have been better to order the omakase, but unfortunately you have to prebook this. While I understand it takes longer to prepare, at least have an omakase menu that can be ordered by anyone and then a special omakase that is preordered. Nishino has both types of omakase but both have to be preordered.
(3)
Scott O.
I have had two meals here - one amazing a couple of years ago that lived up to the price and one blah meal that did not. The amazing meal echoed much of what I've read in other Yelp reviews - excellent quality and freshness, innovative sushi and non-sushi creations, and the feeling of being at a sushi restaurant that is on a higher level than most. Although it was on a weekend and the place was crowded, it still felt relaxing. The blah meal also took place on a weekend, but this time it was noisy - I mean, to the point I could have been at a Belltown bar practically. We chose Nishino specifically for our out-of-town guests, one of whom hankered geoduck sushi in June, when it typically isn't available. Nishino had it, and I knew they wouldn't serve it if it wasn't up to their standards. Although the geoduck was good and my omikari (set meal of 8 pieces) were fresh, other sushi ordered were sub-par in terms of freshness. The non-sushi items were also a bust, as well as my wife's grilled salmon which was overcooked. (No, she didn't return it) Our server was inattentive and flaky, something that doesn't fit with a swank sushi joint in Madison Park such as Nishino. Maybe we had an off night, but there were enough things wrong that it seemed systematic - loose management and lack of quality control - that would put us off making a return trip. This place commands a premium price and once bitten, twice shy.
(3)
Charene M.
A real Japanese restaurant owned by a Nihongo - not like a majority of other "Japanese restaurants". I am in love with their Udon. The sushi chefs are very skilled and the food is fresh. The owner is often there and greets you when you enter. Very trendy decor and the wait staff seem to stick around. When I go there, I see the usual wait people and that is telling. A favorite gathering spot for business people. It is my birthday must do, every year and in between as well.
(5)
Becky N.
This is one of my favorite japanese restaurants in Seattle. The fish is very fresh and they have a large variety of food to choose from. We started with the toro tartare with caviar. The toro was chewy at times and had very little flavor. Good toro is supposed to be soft and buttery. Although it looks appetizing on the menu, save yourself $22 and order something else. We then moved on the the hamachi jalapeno and the snow crab tempura, both of which were delicious. The broiled black cod was tender and melt in your mouth good. We also had the spicy tuna and spicy hamachi roll, also good. One of the best dishes was a special they had that was a delicate seafood broth with white fish in it.. I don't remember what it was called, but it was sooooo good.
(4)
Jody N.
I would have never thought that so much goodness could be tucked away in a strip mall like building in Madison Park. Nishino is dining to DIE for! I have never been a huge fan of sashimi (I have had some pretty bad raw fish in the past), but this place has converted me. We decided to order a huge selection of sashimi and ever piece melted in my mouth. There was no need to eat it with anything else, like ginger or sauces...it was that good! I also ordered the cod cooked with Miso. It was really small, but one of the BEST fish I have ever eaten. Pair all of this amazing food with a bottle of white wine, and I was one happy girl. If you haven't been there yet...GO!
(5)
Lisa F.
I planned a party for a large group at Nishino. I needed a cake last minute. They were VERY accommodating, and even picked up the cake for me. GREAT service!
(5)
Owlburt L.
Went here in March for the 30 for 30 menu and have gone back ever since. I love sushi and sashimi but mostly sashimi. I try not to mess too much with the rice since it takes up valuable stomach space. This place has got all the great intangibles like great service, nice dining area, great ambiance, and most importantly an all Japanese group of sushi chefs. No offense to any other sushi chefs who are of other ethnicity but I believe that Japanese food should be made by the people how invented it, the Japanese. Like Italian food should be made by Italians and not some pimple face college kid at Olive Garden. Tried the white tuna sashimi which was excellent and fresh. Definitely sashimi grade stuff. Then we tried the Toro (Fatty Tuna from the belly area). The Toro was amazing, it was like butter and it literally melted in your mouth. I lived in the So Cal area my whole life and sushi/sashimi there is is a common part of everyone's diet so I would say I have had lots of good sushi and sashimi. I just didn't think I would ever find a sushi restaurant here that would be up to those standards but Nishino, happily, has proved me wrong. I would say this place is as good if not better than the best sushi restaurants I have been to in So Cal. Just a word of warning. If you are the California roll, crunchy roll, and no raw fish type of "sushi" eater. This might not be the place for you. Although their crunchy roll was good, you might be wasting your money since you can't try the best of what this place has to offer, the top sashimi grade raw fish!!!
(5)
Shera M.
Call me a conformist; I don't care! I L O V E Nishino sushi. My husband and I are in our first year in this neighborhood and we both quickly fell in love with the sushi and environment here. The fish is super fresh, the food is healthy and satisfying, staff is great and grabbing a seat at the sushi bar is all you need for entertainment if you fly solo for a quick (but delicious) meal. I've recently had to put myself on Nishino restriction because the twice a week habit I had developed is easy on the lips but heavy on the wallet. Nishino is a bit more expensive than other sushi joints in Seattle but it is completely worth it. Stuffed to the gills!
(5)
Bryce S.
Shiso sorbet: lightly sweet, refreshing and *definitely* an original. Sushi's also great, just like everyone says. Case in point (don't read if you don't like gross stuff): Sea urchins in most other restaurants have this glistening watery film on its surface, which I think reflects its age. Here? My piece was velvety, feathery, buttery and had no excess moisture. Just as fresh as can be. 1/9/08 Update: ...and an upgrade to 5 stars. Rock shrimp tempura- light with unexpectedly complex flavors, chawanmushi- best balance between flavor and price ($6) with that same smoky note that's in their miso soup. Salmon sashimi- melt in your mouth. Spicy tuna- big roll with more tuna than rice... how often does THAT happen??? If there's any downside, it's that their amazing items makes "standard" stuff like California rolls seem almost mundane, but here it's still great.
(5)
Michael A.
Simply the best Sushi in Seattle. Super fresh and the specials sheet always has something exciting to mix it up. We have been going here for years. The staff is friendly and treat us like family. They remember our faves and always help out when we want to try something new. If you sit at the Sushi Bar with Chef Mori, you are in for a treat! If you sit at a table, Jared and/or Eliza are Fab!
(5)
Tommy K.
By far, the best Japanese restaurant in Seattle ... there's not another place that touches it. The sushi is awesome but if you go there only for the sushi then you're missing out. Do yourself a favor, fill your wallet with cash, head over to Nishino and order the omakase. This is the chef's choice menu. There's no better way to experience good Japanese food than to put yourself in the master's hands. Admittedly, it's a bit on the pricey side but you will not regret it. Also, make sure to take advantage of the great Sake collection (served ice-cold in bamboo containers). Mmmmm ... think I'll get me some Nishino tonight.
(5)
Push U.
Just got back from Nishino. The summary verdict is that it's a good sushi joint. My wife (being pregnant) opted for a shrimp tempura roll, and some egg sushi. I had the house roll and tempura udon (it's cold.) We also split the sunomono salad with king crab. The rolls were good. Packed with fresh fish and tasty rice. Although, they were a bit asparagus crazy as both of our rolls had copious amounts. The udon was a treat. I particularly liked the soy/sugar/mirin marinated mushrooms in the broth. My wife isn't a fan of mushrooms but enjoyed the flavor. I'd give this 5 stars, but we just saw "Max Payne" tonight and it ruined our night. Crap movie.
(4)
Hai Yen N.
A very understated, elegant neighborhood spot with lovely service and friendly sushi chefs. I thought prices would be much higher but they are really affordable! Many high quality and interesting rolls; my favorites are the tuna and yellowtail rolls. Chinoise is also around these parts but Nishino is hands-down the winning choice for sushi. Jazz music and original paintings complete the easygoing vibe of this restaurant. Don't think, just go and enjoy.
(4)
J K.
One of the top twenty Japanese restaurants in Seattle. Quality food. Classy joint. Great service. But small menu. Their menu is a little lame though. Not many selections. No bento. Short sushi list. Some staples aren't represented. For me, this is what brought it down to 4-stars. The atmosphere is sort of modern bland. The service is great. The sushi chefs are cool. It's in a nice quiet neighborhood. If you're looking for quality sushi, you're not going to find better than this. But if you looking for style and flair, this is not the place for you.
(4)
Sweet P.
dear god, remind me not to go there after even one drink. everything is so tasty i'm not sure if it's my dulling taste buds or actual instinct that tells me the food is this good. so my first experience eating sea urchin was here. i'm not sure if it was because it was fresh or of decent quality or what...all i know is i was shocked to learn that uni isn't as horrid as everyone made it out to be. not quite sure that i'd order it again (see my previous alcohol stmt) but man, i was impressed. i'd go into detail about what i liked and what was great but in the tiniest of nutshells nishino is awesome. our server wasn't as refined as the menu but it was a great experience. watch out, nishino--i'll be back.
(5)
Brian Y.
foie gras tuna svelte tuna soft like a sofa fish always classy
(4)
Evil W.
I can't afford to go here as often as I used to go, but when I was there it was top of the heap. Their fish is flown in daily from Japan or something ridiculous like that, and you can tell. It's also an occasional haunt for celebrities, so if you walk in and see someone just gawk quietly and leave them alone so they can enjoy their food. It's sushi, so it's not inexpensive, but for the money it's some of the best that Seattle has to offer.
(5)
Neil K.
When you walk into a sushi joint and the first thing you see is a display hawking their t-shirts and baseball caps, your expectations for the quality of their fish starts to drop. And when you look around and see a pretty bland and uninspiring decor, your hopes really beging to fade. Despite all of my first impressions, Nishino managed to win me over with really fresh fish, an extensive menu and a good sake selection. We started with the local oysters on the half shell (which were amazing), a kanpanchi sashimi plate and then moved on to our favorite nigiris. Everything was super fresh and served with fresh wasabi (you know the fake powered stuff thats really green horseradish with green food coloring - seriously, if you are not aware of the difference, look it up - wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasabi ). In the end, I'd suggest Nishino as a good destination for people who want really good sushi and aren't looking for a hip/modern style or presentation.
(4)
Starla S.
I forgot to call in reservations so made a 2:00 call on Friday afternoon for that night at 6:30. Left a voicemail and crossed my fingers as I texted my crew that we were "all set." Showed up at 6:35 to a packed waiting area and breathed a sigh of relief as I saw my brother and sister in laws already seated. Kudos to Nishino for not enacting that "has your entire party arrived" BS rule. We had 3 bottles of Sake, a kind and knowledgeable server and $200 worth of sushi + specials. The food was all good. Not mindblowing ... but good (however DON'T miss the baked Dungeness). We'd go back if invited but won't plan for it.
(3)
Ben L.
Having being offered a choice between Sacramento and Seattle, I quickly accepted the Seattle assignment and promptly headed to Yelp. Exclusive omakase anyone? For exclusive omakase you need to reserve a seat 24 hours prior to going, ostensibly so that they can procure the exclusive ingredients. I should have been more specific and requested a seat in front of Nishino. Overall, service was impeccable all night. Like Matsuhisa, the chefs direct the wait staff to ensure prompt service. The seats in front of Nishino were packed so Mori (skinny tall guy) was my chef. He did a great job although mostly by the book. Perhaps on my next trip he'll open up a bit and serve me some crazier things. I did get a chance to talk to Nishino a bit at the end, he was amused by my enthusiasm for sushi. So here is the list for exclusive omakase: - first appetizer: raw oyster, sockeye salmon rolled over a single piece of asparagus, amaebi with wasabi aioli and tomato, and something else cooked. No ankimo tho, disappointed! - Spanish mackerel servered in a wine glass with a slice of carrot and the tail end of the mackerel fried and sitting up in the glass. Interesting twist on aji tataki, although I prefer it sashimi or sushi style. - Seared tuna with foie gras, shiitake and red wine reduction. Perfection... While many of the cooked specials owes a lot to Nobu's distinct style, the shittake/seared tuna/foie gras pretty much trumps anything I've had at Matsuhisa. Personally served to me by Nishino (yeah!), this was the shining star of the night. - Albacore sashimi salad with fried lotus root and red onion soy dressing. Very good although I felt that if they had cut up the albacore into more pieces (instead of leaving it as two huge chunks) it would have been better. - Maitake Mushrooms, squid, asparagus salad with yuzu dressing. This one was great, I definitely appreciate good mushrooms.... especially Maitake. - broiled eggplant with crab meat on top. Totally forgettable dish. The eggplant was good but overpowered everything on top of it. - halibut cheek served with greens and golden mushrooms in a dashi filled soup. Very very good, although at this point I was feeling full and eager to see how they would handle the sushi part. - sushi. Mori asked me if I liked uni and I replied "are you kidding me?" So one piece uni (super fresh), one piece toro (unbelievably soft, melted in my mouth), one piece kani. Then six pieces of their special roll which is hamachi with jalapeo, avocado on top and ell sauce. The jalapeo gave it a good kick without being too overpowering. After seeing the couple next to me order a multitude of choice sushi, I started feeling left out and told Mori to "keep it coming." He gave me two more pieces of toro, shiro maguro, spanish mackerel (yum). I also requested one piece hamachi, one piece kanpachi and Mori hooked up belly cuts of each. Their sushi was excellent in terms of quality and execution, it definitely ranks up with Kitsho and Oga's. However, it was somewhat lacking in uniqueness i.e. Howard at Kitsho pairing up salmon/king salmon, toro/chutoro, searing the sushi. Or the insanely creative sushi from every omakase dinner I've had from Toru Oga (hint: check out my profile pics). - new style sashimi (scallops). I saw the picture on yelp so I had to get it. Unfortunately the presentation was not the same. Mine was less artistic and had diced celery on top. Still tasted great, but I prefer new style whitefish sashimi. - desert: lemon-lime and shiso sorbet served in a wine glass. At this point I was defeated and mildly protested when the waitress said I had dessert left. The shiso was very unique and tasted great. I mentioned to Mori that they should serve black sesame sorbet which I have only seen at Oga's. Damage: Definitely not as bad as Nobu's. The base cost of the omakase was $70. The sushi itself is priced very reasonably. I was pleasantly surprised. Note to sane people: $70 for good omakase really IS a good deal. My friends all still think I'm crazy though ... Overall it was a great fusion omakase dinner and definitely recommended. Their fish is extremely fresh and the cooked specials are on par with the dishes you'll find at Nobu's. I was a bit disappointed with the lack of raw dishes on the omakase, but rectified that by ordering more afterwards. If you are into the traditional omakase you'll need to tell them up front. But definitely get that foie gras dish ...
(4)
Jack B.
Nishino is a fabulous restaurant and probably THE sushi place I would recommend. It's great, so get off the computer and go eat there. Make reservations too because they were at about 80% capacity on a Tuesday night so I imagine it's a nightmare on more popular nights. Also, you can totally park at the Shell gas station next to the restaurant. It doesn't earn that fifth star for me because some of the really expensive menu items are not worth it. Unless you have a delicate tastes of a princess, you'll not get your money's worth. Instead, go for the more standard fare: sushi rolls, sashimi, etc. I recommend their "Madison Park" roll, it's cute and delicious.
(4)
Amy A.
Best sushi in all of Seattle. Try the Hamachi sashimi starter. Amazing.
(5)
kelly c.
Nishino is the closest thing I have to a lover. Seriously. If my husband calls and wonders whether I've run off with someone, tell him that Nishino finally got the best of me. Here is all you need to know: The fish is damn fresh and high quality. The service is wonderful. Yum. If you put on your thinking cap and really think about how much money you spend on food and drinks at other places (McDonald's excepted, of course), you'll realize this place is not super-spendy-out-of-control. Oh. And if the food isn't enough to lure you in here, maybe the prospect of seeing famous people will. I sat at a table next to Conan-- that's Conan O'Brien-- last month. It was cool. And another thing: just make a reservation. It's worth it.
(5)
Ash T.
When dining at Nishino in November, my boyfriend and I tried the Omakase which is Japanese for "leave it to me." Everything was outstanding -- innovative and freshly prepared. The sushi is more traditional, so keep this in mind if you're more of a fan of American-style sushi. The waitstaff was excellent and explained the intricacies of each course we tried. The restaurant is small, intimate, and aesthetically pleasing. This was one of the best meals I've had in a very long time.
(5)
Mary K.
Just as the rating says, it is "A-OK" but with a .5. I couldn't really give it 4 stars because that says "I'm a fan" and I am not really a fan. I had the 3 course dine around Seattle deal with my hubby. My impression was that the food was very good in a simple and clean sort of way. I mean, there's only so much difference in sushi quality you can get and if you are particular about how fresh you want your sushi and like classic sushi, then you'd love this place. About our experience: the sushi was very fresh sushi, perhaps the best you could have around Seattle. The ambiance was casual elegance. The service was courteous and attentive. Seating was prompt with our reservations. The 3 course meal wasn't enough to fill neither my husband nor myself up. The crowd seemed pretty well off and 25 years and older. So 3.5 begs the questions of whether we would return and it is rather a subjective rating. If I had more money to dine like a gourmand on a regular basis and lived closer, perhaps I would revisit to try some other dishes, but this isn't something I would pay that much for, especially when I can have almost as good sushi at a lower price and just as good service as this elsewhere.
(3)
Maddie S.
Delicious Japanese food--for a price! I wish I could afford to eat here more regularly, but I guess that you get what you pay for :) I'm not much of a sushi person (my first roll ever was unagi-- yummy, but I think something about eating eel scarred me for life) so I was a little skeptical of trying out a restaurant known so well for their excellent sushi. I opted for the chicken teryaki dish and it was really tasty! Their rice is perfectly cooked and their teryaki sauce tastes fresh and sweet, not too salty--just right! Order the ice cream afterward (they have a million flavors--coconut is my absolute favorite) and you won't be disappointed! This is a great place for an elegant evening out--they have awesome atmosphere, attentive staff and delicious food, what more could you ask for...that is, besides a lower price tag?? :)
(4)
Brian L.
Came here for Dine Around Seattle. I'm not a sushi pro, by any means. I have had my share of sushi, however (usually of the cheap variety). For that reason, I was looking to try high quality sushi. I was disappointed. Either I've had very high quality cheap sushi, or this place just wasn't that different, because I could hardly tell the difference. That said, my miso soup was amazing, as well as my seaweed salad. I'd get both again in a heartbeat. The service was merely decent. Our waiter was slow on the beers and confused some of our orders. The dedicated water-filler did his job well and with flash (though he smelled a bit as he leaned over us). Overall, I'd say it's ok. I probably won't be back as I don't think what I paid was worth what I got.
(3)
Jon X.
Ok, I know I said that Shiro's is the best sushi in Seattle but that was before I really re-acquainted myself with Nishino. I know this sounds obvious but good sushi really depends on two things: 1. Good cut of a fresh piece of fish 2. Sushi rice consistency and taste In my opinion, Nishino masterfully meets the highest standard for both of these requirements. The cut for each piece of sushi is delicate and leaves you wanting more. If you ever have the 25-for-25 menu, the added pieces are necessary as the 25-for-25 items are usually not enough to fill your normal hunger level. The nigiri is costly ($5-7 per 2 piece order) but well worth the money.
(5)
Karen N.
Went with a few friends for Nov 3 for $30. This place was really tasty, and the atmosphere is warm and friendly. Its rare that I go to a Japanese restaurant and order anything but sushi, but the three course dinner pushed me in the direction of trying other things. Their menu is a bit on the pricey side, so if you are just looking for straight sushi, this probably wont be easy on your wallet. Would probably go again sooner if it was closer to my neighborhood
(4)
Jojo L.
don't get me wrong, i won't discouraged any seattle people from coming here.. which they apparently LOVE, since most have given 4-5 stars.. but i gotta be fair, and i will not recommend this place to any Angelenos to come here if they want sushi that match those in LA.. i think the food is at best average: - nigiri: rice is too hard for my taste, and the portion is too big so makes a single bite hard to chew we ordered toro, eel, tamago, uni, white fish..etc but none seems too outstanding, not even my favorite toro! :( - seared tuna + foie gras: foie gras is too burnt - creamy dungness crab? hm.. i think it's just a fancy name for dynamite - cod & mushroon hotpot: great for cold & rainy weather for sure - green tea tiramisu: i won't be able to tell it's green tea flavor if the cake is not green haven't got around trying other sushi places in seattle, so.. maybe this IS the BEST there is in seattle?!?!
(3)
Jen S.
This place is divine. Well, the sushi is divine. I had the omakase and the flavor combinations were astounding and delectable. I like the atmosphere too - not loud, full of people to check out, good service. They do have to watch how close the tables are, though. Servers kept bumping into my chair, which I hate. This is the best sushi I have ever had, actually.
(5)
Chira V.
this is one of the best places i've had for sushi. its always great quality. may be priced a little more then others but worth it.
(5)
Kate W.
So I went to Nishino tonight for their 30 for $30 deal (okay, Dine Around Seattle, but is anyone calling it that? Our server even called it "30 for $30") and it was amazing. I've never been before, but I can now tell you that when I'm in the mood to spend a bunch of money on delicious sushi, Nishino is the place. From the Dine Around Seattle menu, I ordered: seared tuna sashimi appetizer, black cod entree, and mochi dessert. (AND you also get a complimentary miso soup or sunomono salad - both were delicious.) Since I am selfish and also a glutton, I forced/convinced my boyfriend to order the other things I really wanted to try - the mussels appetizer and the sushi sampler entree. We also ordered salmon, mackerel, and super white tuna (why have I never had this before??? And does it have another [Japanese] name??? It was amazing!) sushi (see: I am a glutton). Everything was delicious - the only tiny problem was when the server got my order wrong (she thought I ordered the sushi sampler instead of the black cod), but she quickly fixed the problem and apologized several times. Great service, good wine list, delicious food, expensive but totally worth it.
(5)
Eugene C.
I decided to try this restaurant based on the great reviews on Yelp and the Dine Around Seattle promotion. I was not at all dissapointed. The atmosphere is relaxed and casual, but at the same time not "Mom and Pop" like some other authentic Japanese establishments. Service was friendly and excellent all the way from the sushi chefs to the waitstaff and hostess--all smiles and happy to see you. The food was great as well. For appetizers I had the miso soup (complementary) and the fried oyster and green bean tempura with pickled radish. The miso soup was actually the best I have ever had. It had a smoky, almost bacony flavor to it. More complex flavor than any I have had before. The fried oysters and green beans were perfecctly crisp, flavorful, and with minimal greasiness. For main course, I had the sushi sampler. All the pieces were exceptionally fresh, clean, and melt in the mouth. Possibly the best sushi I have had in Seattle (I will have to try this place and I Love Sushi again for my final verdict). For dessert, choices were limited to sorbet and mochi (they were out of pastry that particular day). I went with the mochi. The flavors were interesting and had a nice chewy texture. All in all, an exceptional meal and enjoyable experience.
(5)
Nestor P.
Nishino is definitely my favorite place for Japanese food in Seattle area. The restaurant has a perfect combination of traditional Japanese food/taste and the America ingredients. My wife who is a chef told me that the way that they prepare the rice is almost perfect. The menu has a balanced offer between cold and hot dishes and the service is awesome. I really like the grilled squid (hot dish), the sushi, the rolls and the sashimi. The Kirin beer is always cold and the service is superior. I didn't try the chef special (degustation plate) but I saw some guys ordering it and looks very good. The tuna is also worth to try, the spicy tuna roll is awesome and the sushi is good too.
(5)
Mandy R.
my GOD this is good sooshi. That's all.
(5)
Moses H.
Just had my second meal here this past Saturday night and it was even better than my first. The first time, three years ago, I had the omakase; this time, just sashimi and some appetizers. I was with a group of 11 ($40 per person, with tip, and we drank a LOT of sake and ate a lot of food) so we had a little bit of everything, and it was absolutely fantastic. My birthday, too, so there was mochi, a picture from the waitress and a card signed by the chef. The plate full of quarter-stick-of-butter chunks of the smoothest pinkest toro I have ever seen or tasted - it just melted in my mouth - was quite possibly the best fish I've ever had anywhere. I would say that along with Tojo in Vancouver, this is the best sushi and seasonal Japanese food available in the western United States, and I don't think that's exaggerating. It really is that good, and it's quite affordable given the quality of the food and the fantastic service.
(5)
Will F.
Best sushi restaurant in town, and probably one of the top in the country - my only 5 star so far. Plus, they have a menu full of other Japanese cuisine. The decor is pretty lame but the food rocks, and that's why you go to Nishino. Suck it up and open your wallet.
(5)
james s.
If money were no object and all other considerations aside, nishino is my pick for best sushi in seatle. why? presentation, variety, freshness, reputation, 'feel', etc. It's the canlis of sushi in seattle. The mercedes benz! chiso is AWESOME too, and i've had amazing fish at wasabi bistro. I hear red fin can be good. the place in lake city - a little over rated. musashis? go to qfc or whole foods instead. blue c is totally acceptable and fine and fun for what you pay. shiro's: good nights and bad. chinoise - very nice. can be quite good. toyoda is in lake city..I knew it would come to me. still, overrated in my humble opinion. kisaku in greenlake - can be quite nice. but I find nishino elegantly pushes it over the top each time. the bar is set for sushi in seattle at nishino.
(5)
simon B.
Really excellent. Nishino is a super spot. It's not cheap, but its not a rip off. The sushi and sashimi is outstanding. We had two a la carte dishes. the tuna tartare was lovely, but the portion was very small indeed. The black cod, though lovely was dry - it wasn't the moist, light lovelt dish you get at Nobu. None the less, it's a lovely spot.
(4)
Chance J.
I highly recommend the omakase ("leave it to me") dinner. It's a multi course dinner featuring the chefs best selections of the day. You have to make a reservation so the chefs can prepare for your dinner. It's a little spendy but well worth it. My girlfriend and I went there on valentines day expecting a great dinner and left feeling more as if we had experienced art. Nishino truly creates a memorable dining experience and it's hard to put a price on that.
(5)
King C.
I came here for the 2nd time for the 30 for 30 Dine Around Town deal. I had the crabcake appetizer (best crabcake I've had in Seattle), miso-glazed black cod (better than the one I had at Maneki), and the tapioca dessert. Nishino is one of my favorite sushi restaurants. In addition to fantastic food, they have stellar service.
(4)
Kimberley D.
My boyfriend took me here for my birthday for the 30 for $30 fixed price dinner special ( dinearoundseattle.org ). It was clear that this was a good deal for what would normally be a very pricy meal. I ordered the crab cake, sushi, and ginger ice cream with a chocolate cookie. He had the spicy miso soup, cod, and sorbet. The service was excellent. Everything was perfectly timed and a great balance of giving us enough attention without being creepy/overpowering. I found the atmosphere pretty bland, if not outright strange (baseball caps for sale by the door? bland/inoffensive art?) You can really tell the difference in quality fish when it comes to sashimi. It was buttery and smooth and wonderful. The rest of my dinner was good but not incredible. I'd definitely return if someone else was footing the bill, but I can't say I'd be motivated to pay that much on my own.
(3)
Lindsey D.
I'm not gonna lie - I don't even remember what I ate here. Must've been some sort of vegetarian roll, as that is my only choice. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and would certainly return again. People that enjoy sushi definitely seem to love it.
(4)
S B.
Excellent Sushi and great atmosphere!
(5)
Gavin N.
First off, let me say, I would give this place 4 1/2 stars if I could. I was a little hesitant at first to come here after checking the menu prices on-line. I go to Japan about twice a year, and lived in Guam for many years (which has great Japanese food being so close by and having many Japanese tourists)..so I know what good quality Japanese food is and more importantly...that it shouldn't cost a fortune either. Nonetheless after seeing reviews, and finding Nishino in the 25for$25 I figured it was worth a shot. Anyway so I made my reservation via phone (wish they took them via opentable.com ) for 8:15 pm last night..got there around 8:13. Took awhile to get greeted, but once greeted, the hostess was very friendly, and we were seated very quickly. (BTW I highly suggest reservations, the place was quite full even on a late Thursday night..and I think the group next to me was quite angry that we just walked in and were seated before then..I assumed they didn't have a reservation). The environment: It's a decent size restaurant, but pretty small given how popular the place is. They had a pretty nice sushi bar, and the decor was quite nice. I do like the choice of decorations they used, elegant, Japanese, but not cheesy like so many other places. On to the food: My girlfriend ordered the Seared Albacore Tuna Sashimi appetizer, while I had the Dungeness Crab Cake. The Sashimi was quite good, although a little too much lemon for my taste. The crab cake had a very nice amount of panko breading to it, and the mango salsa-ish sauce was quite nice. As for entrees we had the assorted sushi and roll, while I had the Mochiko Shichimi Chicken. The assorted Sushi and roll were very good in quality and taste, the fish melted in your mouth. The wasabi was also nice and fresh, although I found myself needing more than what was given, but they were quick to give me more. The Chicken dish was also quite good with a slight teriyaki (very light) sauce on the side. I loved the mushrooms in it. The chicken was very tender, however, typical Japanese dishes of that type usually use dark meat, so I was very surprised to be getting chicken breast meat..healthier..yes..but when you go out to eat..it's not for health reasons, and dark meat always tastes better (hence why it's found in more Asian dishes anyway). Lastly, for dessert my girlfriend had the ginger brownie, while I had the coconut milk tapioca (which is traditionally Thai or Chinese). The ginger brownie was a little interesting at first, but it was good, especially Ala mode...not really a traditional Japanese thing, but I guess a nice fusion of cultures (usually not my bag..I like my cuisines separate from each other). The coconut milk tapioca was served cold..which was new to me..but with the fresh fruit slices in it, it was very delicious. overall the food was very high quality, tasty, and plated very well. Service was fast and friendly, although my server forgot to bring out my dinner sake until I reminded her after we got our bill..but she was quick to offer compensation..and it was quite a busy night..so i didn't hold it against her that bad. Added bonus: I found it very pleasant that Chef Nishino himself was standing around and checked on several tables to see how everything was..he checked on my table surprisingly a few times (maybe because I was 1 of 4 one of the few Asians in the restaurant?). My only real gripe is the price of the normal entrees. i am a huge fan of chawan mushi and miso soup..it's a great way to end your meal. However, $2.50 for miso soup w/tofu and $6.50 for Chawanmushi is outrageous...Usually miso and/or chawanmushi comes w/most Japanese meals..and if ever Ala carte..they are only $1.00-3.00 most. So i was very turned off by the pricing. overall the food, environment, service, is very good. For people who complained that there was no creative rolls..guess what..all these so-called creative rolls i.e. "philly rolls, seattle rolls..etc" is an American concept, don't act like you know sushi if you don't. The price is just a little high in my view, but still worth a visit or two. I do suggest the wine pairing for $15...you definitely leave a little tipsy, and it's a good pairing, the dessert Sake is quite good.. ~G
(4)
Aggie M.
Best sushi in Seattle so far. I used to LOVE Matsuhisa in LA (back when it was heaven) when I lived there, and this is almost on that level. Melt-in-your-mouth slices of fresh fish, YUM! Try the Super White Tuna there, absolutely amazing. And now I must go eat sushi. Awesome food, great service, good ambiance - my favorite Seattle restaurant!
(5)
Alice R.
When I'm craving for sushi done right and money is no object, this is the spot. It's a bit spendy but it's well worth it.
(5)
Colleen G.
YUMMY!!!!!!! About 3 months ago, I was 'playing' here on Yelp and typed in sushi bars, seattle, search by highest rating first and came across Nishino. Finally...today...we were able to go - why, oh why, did we wait so long?!! When we first walked in, all the chefs behind the sushi bar stopped what they were doing to greet us, all of the wait staff said, "Hello" as they walked by, we wanted to sit at the sushi bar and only had to wait about 10 minutes. The sushi and the rolls were wonderful - fresh and flavorful. Our server was Douglas and he made us feel like royalty, whisking away our used plates, keeping our water glasses full and taking time to make some suggestions on what we might like (and we did). I based my choice of price range on what we paid...however, we believe that the excellent sushi here wasn't all that spendy. We now plan on making Nishino a regular part of our date nights :-) Our only regret was that we did not get the name of our Sushi Chef.
(5)
maruko c.
As a matter of fact, it was more like 3.5 star. And I really have mixed feelings about Nishino. I had both fantastic and mediocre sushi there. Their white tuna toro, super white salmon(when available), and kanpachi were really, really good. But their saba, kohada alike fish family were not impressive in a good way. The service was courteous and attentive though I kind of missed when Masa san was still the head sushi chef there (more than a year ago, I guess), he'd greet everyone walking into the restaurant, and he'd always go extra mile to make his diners happier.
(3)
Margaret D.
Hands down the best sushi restaurant in Seattle. Their sashimi is so fresh and the waiters and sushi chefs are very knowledgeable and friendly. Great date spot too as it is a small, intimate restaurant.
(5)
Brent F.
The Sushi here is awesome. It is the best I have had in Seattle. I recommend sitting at the sushi bar and talking to the sushi masters. These guys have been trained for years in the art of sushi preparation and have interesting stories to tell if you are willing to talk to them. I also want to recommend that you request real wasabi. They charge more for it, but the difference between what most places give you and the real stuff is huge. Great sushi, really nice environment and interesting chefs to speak with. I highly recommend it. One caveat: it is a bit on the expensive side, so you should be prepared to spend around $50 for a good meal. But well worth it.
(5)
Rachel B.
A number of years ago, after tromping around the Arboretum on a misty day, dressed in typical Seattle fashion, my sister, her husband and my young niece and I were hungry. Hungry for sushi. I had heard good things about Nishino, so we drove over there. It was the very very start of the dinner hour. Like 5pm or something. We walked in and there was not a customer in sight. Which wasn't surprising since it was so early on a Saturday evening. The host took one look at us and said that all the tables were reserved. As if. I'll never go there. It was so rude. We weren't that ragamuffiny AND no one else was in there. Expletive, expletive, expletive!
(1)
AAA n S.
the food is very good and fresh, the best way to get best food here is to make reservation 1 day before, and ask for chef's random prepared choices, then u can get best food here !!!
(4)
John H.
Seaweed Salad - OK. A weird mix of 3 different kinds. And $8? Ouch. Soup - Mushroom clam miso sounded like a great idea, but after a few sips I wanted to put it through a stainer and drink it plain. Osyters - Mediocre. That's really all I can say. Saki - good, but $16 for a small bottle? Also, it was served in a clay (not ceramic) jar, causing it to go cold after 15 minutes. Granted I was in a weird mood, but at a good Japanese restaurant you expect more hits than misses. Based on the other reviews here, it sounds like if you don't go for the 5 course Omakasse you're in for a let-down in term of quality and a big hit on the wallet.
(2)
P H.
Excellent sushi, but the prices reflect that.
(4)
Cameron O.
Amazing..
(5)
Erin V.
There is a starter on the Nishino menu that I would commit crimes for. Heinous crimes. It's that good. A shitake mushroom cap, perfect tuna, seared foie gras, and a red wine reduction. Two mouthfuls of bliss. This is one of the most well-executed examples of fusion that I can imagine. The sushi is impeccable, and there are many other lovely and delicious dishes on the menu - all well worth trying. Great sake selection, and a Pearl Martini that should not be missed. Nice service, but it is definitely crowded - and the last time I visited, the dining room was far too warm to be comfortable. ...But that amazing appetizer is what lingers. Make reservations. Dress lightly. And consider having a criminal defense attorney on retainer - just in case.
(5)
Lauren B.
I could eat here every night. Fantastic food and service.
(5)
Carlie B.
Everytime I go to Nishino I'm greeted with prompt accurate service and consistently perfect food. Do not miss the tuna carpaccio or the green tea tiramisu. It's great for groups or for a date. The one and only down side is the atmosphere. The strip mall look doesn't reflect the elegance of the food.
(4)
Breanna G.
Amazing. The service was very attentive. The fish quality was excellent and the rolls were creative and delicious.
(5)
Jon B.
I am spoiled. I live in San Francisco, where very good sushi is as ubiquitious as a good burrito. In Seattle, visiting my friend who just moved here, we decided to scour yelp, friends brains, and other sources to try and find some really good sush. This place came up a few times, so we decided to give it a try. The foie gras that Erin V. would commit "heinous crimes" for, was BURNED, and FLAVORLESS, and the sauce was thin and pretty meaningless. Seriously, for $14.50, i would have rather eaten 2 california rolls. The uni was the highlight for me - fresh, delicious, excellent. While the sashimi was fresh, and the other sushi items on par with decent places elsewhere, the uni was really above average. Uni is generally the barometer for me, but in the case of Nishimo, it was unfortunately NOT a very good indicator of overall tastiness. For the price (I admit, my buddy paid so I can't complain), i'd get a burrito and a bottle of veuve clicquot
(3)
sara l.
This is my favorite place for sushi! I absolutely love this restaurant. You get great service and great fresh seafood. This is hands down the best place for sushi in Washington!
(5)
Chris T.
Quality is ok, price is the killer. You can get cheaper and better quality sushi at Shiro's. This is probably the second best sushi joint I've tried around Seattle, and personally, don't think it's worth the money.
(2)
Mark E.
Great place. Can't go wrong. Priced like a good sushi restaurant would be expected.
(4)
Emily B.
Wow - sushilicious! We met our best friends here last night and everything was over the top fresh, tasty and absolutely delicious. The presentation was impressive and we couldn't get enough of the cold sake served in a beautiful bamboo carafe. Service was top notch and we definitely put this at the top of our list for best sushi in Seattle!
(5)
Danny K.
Must try! Yes it is on the pricy side, but when is sushi... GOOD sushi not expensive? The fish here is fresh and all there dishes are garnished with simple elegance. Basically...it tastes as good as it looks, sometime even better. It's not only their sushi but their kitchen food is right on the money! May I suggest the Tara Saikyoyaki (Black cod) with a sweet miso glaze. The meat just melts in your mouth and it's sweet and buttery but not at all heavy in oil or grease... it's cooked and flavored to perfection. I have yet to have their omakase that everyone raves about...thats next time. For salads, the albacore sashimi salad (Albacore sashimi layed over a bed of greens topped with a lotus root chip served with the house dressing) is the way to go! AMAZZZZING For those of you who usually order agedashi tofu in Japanese restaurants, you might want to upgrade to the Kinoko Tofu. Light tempura-ed tofu for slight crisp served in a thicker soy and mixed mushroomsauce. Absolutely amazing...esp. the left over sauce with a side of rice!!! Other dishes that I want to try and are pretty popular are the albacore tartare, jalapeno hamachi, Seared tuna foie gras, and a bunch of others. Try it out for yourselves!
(5)
Alan M.
Everything was delicious - the sushi was fresh and the hot dishes were all interesting and tasty (especially the baked geoduck). The service was helpful. Other patrons seemed to be having a good time judging by the volume of their chatter and laughter.
(5)
Chris D.
When a place has 72 fantastic reviews what more can the 73rd person add? The chefs are really, really fantastically friendly with my children when we eat at the bar.
(4)
Traci W.
Great for sashimi yes however if you're looking for your traditional American infused sushi go elsewear didn't even see a roll made with rice- overpriced IMO
(3)
Ryan L.
We also came here recently during the 30 for $30 "prix fixe" promotion. We ordered two sets of dinners - Crab cakes, miso cod, mochi, and tempura, sushi, and sorbet. The first meal was pretty good but not great. The crab cakes were not as flavorful and crab tasting as we had hoped - this is compared to other great crab cakes found in the area. They were a bit too moist and felt more breaded than anything. The miso cod was very tasty; it was rich and flavorful and left me full for the evening. The mochi was very simple and really wasn't too impressive. The tempura on the second meal was decent; it was more hearty than we expected since we like our tempura light and crisp. The sushi was very good and fresh. The dessert sorbet was a good finish to the meal and worth trying on its own. Overall, the place was okay but still a bit pricy for what you get.
(3)
Ellen Mae L.
My first experience with ordering "omakase" style where the chef decides what to send to the table. It was absolutely amazing! I felt taken of and like a celebrity where only the freshest fish, delicious, and unique dishes are served. It becomes a social experience as well because each dish is presented, then they come and clear the table to get ready for the next and in the meantime, I'm talking with my friends and we're discussing how beautiful the presentation or how wonderful everything tasted. Awesome eating that night. Highly recommended!
(5)
Miki M.
Definitely one of the top Sushi restaurants in the United States. NOTE: this is not a cheap place (some Yelpers who reviewed Nishino before me were bitchin' heavily about the price.. from their reviews it was clear they had no idea what to order..). If your main agenda is to save money from food, go to Dennis or something! However, an experienced connoisseur of Japanese cuisine that is not freaking out about their financial situation and is more concerned with getting supreme ingredient quality, virtuoso culinary art, and prompt & friendly service, will know how to appreciate this restaurant. The chefs are experienced and originally from Japan (our chef was from Kyoto)- they are very kind and friendly to newcomers. If we get a chance to visit Seattle again, this will be one of our top dinning choices! PS. I am really surprised by some of the negative reviews of Nishino. You guys should understand- this place is definitely not for just anyone. I can only say one thing: through the prism of being a Los Angelino. if Nishino was here, in Los Angeles, it would have definitely got a full 5 stars rating (average). For some reason that I find hard to comprehend, this restaurant of of high-end taste is not fully appreciated and accepted in Seattle... Is Sushi an acquired taste to most of you?
(5)
Momo M.
My boyfriend and I went here for our 2 year anniversary. I believe we also made reservations, but there weren't any available reservations until 8pm, probably because we booked day of. This place caught me off guard when I first saw it. It's much nicer looking inside. There wasn't much of a wait to get our seats since we had reservations and it was pretty late. Our server was really nice. We ordered the mushroom clam soup, several nigiri, the baked geoduck and baked dungeness crab with rice, a sushi roll, and two desserts. As you can we ordered a lot for two people, but it was for a special occasion. When our soup arrived I noticed it didn't have mushrooms in it; turned out they gave us the wrong soup, which I noticed before we touched it. And they fixed the problem. Despite the slight mishap, the evening went very well. The baked geoduck was really delicious. Big fat pieces of geoduck - definitely worth your money. It tastes much better with rice though, so be sure to order rice. Both entrees seemed to have a lot of butter in it, which probably isn't good if you're trying to eat healthy. But both entrees were delicious and had mushrooms in them. The nigiri was melt in your mouth good. I'm not that big fan of nigiri, but I did love their albacore and yellowtail or whitetail (I don't remember which) nigiri. If I have the money, I will definitely come back here again. Pros: Nigiri is top quality, Geoduck!!! =D Cons: Lots of butter in some entrees, very expensive
(4)
Lou K.
What can I say that has not already been said, this Sushi restaurant is clearly one of the best in the West Coast, the freshness and selection says it all. It is an upscale setting and so the pricing reflects it, expect the level of service, quality of food and presentation to match. The owners are wonderful and the servers are great.
(5)
Chris B.
This is my favorite restaurant in Seattle. I get an omakase every time, and it's always quite delicious. My most recent trip was a month ago for a birthday dinner, and the courses went a little somethin' like this: 1) Five little amuse bouche: a piece of crab, amaebi with a tomato, hamachi with jalapeno and garlic on a cucumber, escolar with salmon roe, and some monkfish liver. 2) Salmon "ceviche" in an acidic broth broth with wasabi and caviar with cream 3) Small towers of shitake, maguro, and foie gras with a red wine sauce 4) Ginger crab cakes with a pineapple mint salsa on napa slaw 5) Sake steamed manilla clams in broth with ginger, butter, shichimi, maitake, and basil 6) Ginger yuzu chili sauce over shrimp shiso dumpling with bok choy 7) A salad of bitter greens (server said "mizuno?" I don't know what that is) with grilled black cod, red peppers, and enoki 8) The sushi course: amber jack, otoro, unagi, hamachi and avocado roll, nishino roll (wrapped in tamago) 9) Dessert: fruit and mochi ice cream I had some new things this time and it always gets mixed up a little, but not too much. The food here is so well prepared and tasty it usually blows my mind, but I do have to admit that this most recent visit fell a little short of the standard that I've built up for this place. The bitter green plate stunk (they weren't dressed or seasoned), some of the little appetizers didn't work as a whole, and the pineapple salsa on the crab cakes was... well, maybe Tatsu shouldn't try salsa. I'm hoping it's a one-time fluke, because I definitely plan to go back--this place is worth the money and still my favorite.
(5)
Jenna l.
This took Japanese food to a new level for me. I concur with the Pearl Martini recommendation, even though I have no idea what it was.
(5)
Daryn N.
I love Nishino. Yes, it's pricey, which yelpers love to bitch about, but it is by far the best sushi in Seattle. The atmosphere is a little boring/suburban feeling, but if you're looking for great sushi, and some other interesting japanese eats, and you don't mind spending a little extra, you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Tai T.
Nishino is top notch. They are a very traditional, upscale, and authentic restaurant using high quality ingredients in their dishes. That said for the price I expected more. There isn't anything specifically special with thier menu. If you're looking for good food you won't be disappointed, but I was left wanting more...
(4)
CJ B.
Wonderful sushi. Sit at the bar and allow the chef free reign. One of the very best Japanese restaurants in town. A bit pricey but well worth it.
(5)
Susie G.
Absolutely the best Japanese restaurant in the city. It is a little bit expensive but well worth the price. Every time I get sushi at an averagely priced restaurant I wish I had spent the extra $20 to eat at Nishino. The service is excellent and they always provide great recommendations. Nishino is one of those Japanese restaurants that does not put all of their offerings on the menu. For the best sushi, you need to ask the server what they have that is not on the menu. There is always both rolls and nigiri that aren't on the menu and tend to be the best things to order. I highly highly recommend Nishino for a great date when you aren't ready to get too romantic yet.
(5)
Julie H.
Definitely the best sushi in Washington state. I visited during the 25 for $25 special, a three course meal for $25. The menu was limited for this, but for the price you can't go wrong. We made reservations hours before as I had been told the place was popular and not very large (but I spaced at making reservations earlier). We ended up being about a half hour early to our reservation but it still only took them 5 minutes to seat us (pretty good since we were there around peak dining time!), probably would have been impossible to sit at the sushi bar though... For the appetizer I had crab cakes, which were lightly fried and had a great flavor. My main course was the cod marinated in miso, which was perhaps to die for. I hadn't had fish cooked this way since I'd been living in Japan; it was delicate and flaky with a really great flavor. Dessert was another choice, I went with their home-made sorbets - mango, raspberry, and shiso (if I remember correctly). I had forgotten that I really don't like shiso (a Japanese mint leaf, sometimes found with tuna sushi) but the sorbets were delicious. In addition to the fixed courses, we had also ordered a few pieces of sushi. Everything came out perfectly - the rice was seasoned well, and the fish was fresh and delicious. We also had great service, a rather knowledgeable server who was really attentive and ready to offer suggestions. The restaraunt itself has a really nice atmosphere - not too crowded or dark.
(5)
Cathy C.
My all time favorite Japanese Restaurant. The fish is the freshest in Seattle. Masahirosan always takes good care of us when we go. He is very skillful with his knife. We love to sit at the sushi bar and watch him work his magic. Must order the Otoro Sashimi, Black Cod, and Hamachi Collar. And when in season, make sure you get the live amaebi. You can watch it jumping around in the sushi case. I've got to say that my mouth is watering as I write this review. I wish I could go there everyday. The only downfall to nishino is that it is way too busy. But can you blame Seattle for wanting the best sashimi and sushi in town?
(5)
Alix H.
Definitely have to do the Omakase dinner. It is Chef's choice of a 5 course dinner (or 7 if you pay a little more) that is out of this world. The price is very reasonable for both quality and quanity of food ($55 for 5 course Omakase). You need to call at least 24 hours ahead and let them know of any food allergies that you have so they will avoid using those items in the dinner. My absolute two favorite things that was part of the Omakase dinner were the halibut cheeks (it melted in my mouth) and the mushroom soup that was delivered in individual tea kettles. The food presentation is artsy, which enhances the entire experience. In my opinion, this is the best Japanese restaurant in town.
(5)
M S.
This place has extremely fresh and well prepared sushi. Met in your mouth fucking delicious. That is all you need to know.
(5)
Gnat S.
Except for some of the sushi, this is fusion food. If you like your your food cross cultural this place might appeal to you. If you stick to the one-piece-of fish sushi and steer well clear of the silly supermarket-style rolls you can have a nice meal here. The "Japanese" food gets the usual American treatment: sweet sauces, giant beds of greens and overly complex combinations of flavors. We ordered about 8 items from the menu. The ika sugatayaki (flayed squid) was soft and succulent, but the sauce (olive oil, lemon and salt) was almost Greek, and the salad bed swaddling it distinctly American. It was fine, but squid-on-a-stick in Japan, costing only a few bucks, tastes a thousand times better. It is painful to see such a simple dish done up like a harlot. The foie gras and tuna came in tasty little piles. Nothing Japanese here though. This is the kind of thing you pop into your mouth at a cocktail party. It is far too savory and sweet to be on a Japanese menu. The soft shell crab rolls (also not Japanese) were delivered in tight little tubes of lettuce the thickness of cigars. Not a fan of compressed greens, I had to dissect them to dislodge the crab within, which was prepared in a similar manner to the squid. Soft shell crab is one of my favorite foods and almost any preparation will please me. This did not. Why hide the crab! Everything looked sad and wilted, with little consideration for color and placement. Another favorite of mine, saba nanbanzuke, contained too much vinegar and, more egregiously, was too soft in texture, as if it had been sitting around a while. That Nishino could not pull off such a simple, common Japanese dish, was a red flag. We ordered zaru soba off menu. It came in too large of a pile, diminishing the simplicity of this Japanese summer delight. I had a wonderful glass of rose, and the uni and mirugai sushi were very fresh. Sit at the bar and stick to the simple sushi, unless you enjoy fusion cuisine and like your food in sweat heaps or packed in plant leaves. You do get some quality people-watching here, and the artwork is great. In summary the food is fresh and tasty, but is rather ordinary and definitely not Japanese. (Disclaimer: I've lived in Japan for over a decade.)
(2)
Modern L.
Service was great. Super nice staff when it came to making reservations. We were put in for an exclusive omakase (us being a fan of Masa NYC, Matushisa in LA). It started off good, but quickly became slightly less imaginative than we hoped for. I think the most disappointing things were over saucing a couple of the dishes - causing for a very salty dish. Also the final sushi flight had a big roll in it, which usually with other omakase's, it's featured some of the BEST sushi. No uni, geoduck, giant clam, monkfish liver or anything special. The roll was salmon, tuna, yellowtail with asparagus. Took up the rest of our room in our stomachs. :( Fresh water eel was another piece - heavily sauced. Shout outs tho go to the salmon with pink peppercorns, the crispy raw fiddlehead, and of course the foie gras and shitake (matsuhisa adds gold filaments to this dish to really put it over the top). So, we've seen a lot of this - was hoping for more ideas. It will be hard ever topping Masa's $400/person omakase in NYC, but I can certainly keep trying!
(3)
Kevin C.
Want to impress your date? Take them here. This place is top notch! Probably the classiest, most consistent sushi place in town. The fish is always the best quality. As for price, it might be on the high end, but it is worth it. You can't skimp on sushi.
(5)
Jeff S.
Just got back from Nishino's with a friend and we can't stop talking about how great it was. We sat at the bar w/o a reservation late on a Thursday night. Everyone was overly friendly and service was quick but not rushed. We started off with my personal favorite, Toro. OMG I think the toro was the best thing that I have ever eaten (and I don't take that statement lightly). We next moved onto some rolls, the arboretum and Madison park, which were absolutely delicious. After some miso soup and edamame we both agreed that we had to give the toro another go-round. Well same story the toro was absolutly to die for. I'm glad I live so close.
(5)
Natalie W.
I am not in love! and I really wanted to be. My experience with Nishino was like a date were the conversation is fun, continuous, and wonderful but then a comment made stops the flow or makes you bite your tongue and smile. Really good and then huh? You have to know what I am taking about. We enjoyed the crab cake (as in 1) and tempura to start. Both were light and flavorful. The crab cake was breaded- which should have brought it down but it didn't. The tempura was mushrooms and asparagus. Both were crisp tender and not overwhelmed by their coating. Delicious! Pickled sides to the tempura had a finishing taste note of vinegar Pringles that we found fun. For entrees- The sushi sampler... I was not blown away by any of the nigri, rolls, or offerings. The rice was spot on though. Not bad/ Not amazing- fish texture much like I had a Musashi's. The tofu with eggplant, mushrooms, spice broth, and a cream sauce was amazing. The cream was actually a dense tender mound on top of the mixture. Spoons were needed for this entree and fights over the tender yet light tofu emerged. For dessert we did moki ice cream. Espresso, Red Bean, and Lychee were flavors tried- Red bean was the favorite. Things I enjoyed at Nishino: The ambiance was good and our server adjusted his style to each table worked with- ie- joking with us sarcastically and smiling and nodding at the sushi uneducated businessmen table. Also, we made a game out of studying the modern artwork while the other was in the washroom and giving our interpretations upon return. There is a sushi bar that looked inviting and hot towels were offered upon being seated. At Nishino- the portions are on the small side, the prices per piece or set are on the high side, and the chef/owner a fun smiling man in a uniform of Hammer style pants and a chef jacket. I can see why Madison loves Nishino... Overall, I was slightly thrilled at some of the flavors and slightly disappointed in others.
(4)
nuwy N.
nishino is definitely an upscale Japanese restaurant in Seattle. The sushi is fresh, but spendy. I only go there to eat the Nabeyaki Udon noodles which are thick , chewy, and topped with crab, scallop, spinach, egg, pre-sweetened shitake mushrooms, and shrimp tempura. The savory broth is made with bonito flakes and possibly some kelp-definitely not the instant noodle broth. Even though it costs $18 for a medium sized bowl, it is worth spending your money on. You will not find another udon noodle soup as good as this one in other upscale Japanese restaurants in Seattle.
(3)
Rachel S.
The sushi here is AMAZING. Everything is very fresh. It was wonderful to be able to sit at the sushi bar and see pieces being prepared. The chefs and wait staff were knowledgeable and very friendly. The prices are terrific for the quality you get. I would definitely come here again.
(5)
Kevin S.
So my general rule for ethnic food of any type is that the ethnicity of the patrons tells you a lot about the food. Well, when it comes to the ethnicity of Nishino's patrons - well its mostly white. There are typically a handful of asians there, but often times they are part of a larger group. Now this doesn't mean that the food is bad cause there aren't a lot of japanese folks here - it just means this place is over priced and a bit more fusion that traditional Japanese. As for the food itself, well I think its pretty good, but if you're looking for traditional japanese cuisine you can do much much better (see Maneki, Fuji Sushi, etc). That said, the atmosphere is pretty cool, but very loud as this place seemingly has ZERO sound absorbing materials. Deserts here are great so always make sure to save room. As a side note.... I HATE their parking lot which is really small with very narrow stalls.
(4)
E H.
BEST SUSHI in Seattle. I've tried many sushi places around Seattle, from Shiro's to Saito's, but dont waste your time there...Go to NISHINO! I'm a picky guy when it comes to sushi, and this place always satisfies every time. The sashimi and sushi are always fresh, and the sushi chefs are friendly and welcoming. Ask for any specials that may not be on the sushi menu. Make sure you make a reservation, or get there when they open, so you can sit on the sushi bar w/o a reservation. Place gets packed by 6:30. GREAT SUSHI!
(5)
Nelson T.
Nishino is very refined food. It's not a "party in your mouth" and Japanese food never should be. It IS the purest cleanest essential flavor of the ingredients, brought out and tastefully presented. You have to understand that this IS sushi. It is raw and sparse on the ingredients for a reason. Everything extraneous is discarded. Every bite is to be savored for the beautiful yet simple sensation that it is. The staff are very polite and professional, and I have never felt a delay in service. The ambiance is lovely, because as a previous reviewer said, they deny filthy hippies tables. Also, someone knocked the place for foie gras? Grow the fuck up. Either start your own vegan farm in cambodia and eat exclusively from that or accept that you are causing great suffering worldwide by your existence no matter what you do. Your luxury of being "like, totally, against foie gras" and your typical american attitude about it causes more suffering than any frenchman piping grain down a duck's throat. The only drawback to this place is the price, and until you've seen a Japanese man pay 80 dollars a pound for tuna, you will never understand it.
(5)
S T.
Love it - it is very classy with great food. Worth the price.
(5)
Mike R.
This place has fantastic fish. Really, really fantastic. Everything is delicious. Even the miso soup is a cut above. If you have the cash, GET THE TORO -- Diminishing returns, my ass! The service is great -- we told our server we were just there because once a month we like to get really good sushi, so he decided to call it a celebration and gave us higher quality sake for free. (But what is up with the terrible art? Hope they rotate that out before next month's visit.)
(5)
Jeannette L.
DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELICIOUS. Best sushi ever? Maybe not, but definitely one of the top Seattle places to eat sushi. The Spicy Clam Mushroom MIso Soup is delicious - (must like mushroom+clams). Probably one of the most flavorful miso soups that was just perfect (i.e. not overly salty). Everything was rich in flavor - had the dynamite, spicy clam miso soup, a pick of the freshest sashimi of the day (chef's choice of 12 pieces), rice, chawanmushi, green tea tiramisu. I'd have to say everything was amazing, except the chawanmushi in which I've had better - it just didn't surprise me or excite me. I'm sure you really can't go too wrong on this menu so just get what your wallet can afford... even if it is just a house special roll. Note you might be hungry if it is just the cash in your wallet. Expect to spend around $50-100/person - depending on how hungry you are and the market prices of the pieces you are getting. I wish I could have gotten the omakase but couldn't convince anyone else at the table to get it (min. 2 per table to receive omakase).
(5)
S C.
Been here twice. Had chirashi don, combo tempura, & bunch of different sushi. Tempura was ok. Their miso soup has some fancy seasoning that I am not too fond of and I cannot figure out what it is, but it tasted more like osuimono with miso added onto it. I usually like the straight up katsuo-kombu broth for miso, so it was a bit too much. The sashimi & sushi were mostly pretty good, except their fresh salmon was seriously bland the other day. I mean, it just tasted like water and was rather mushy, too, and the uni had very very slightly foul aftertaste instead of the usual creamy sweetness. Hence the 3 stars, instead of 4. But, they have the best rice!! It's seasoned so that it's not too overwhelming, while complimenting fish very well. I wonder if they added sweet rice to their sushi rice because there was this almost nutty sweet taste to their sushi rice. I would go back for their rice!
(3)
Plug N.
not just the best sushi in seattle, it's the best restaurant in seattle (that i've been to). toro!!!
(5)
Kenny C.
It's good, I like the atmosphere here. It's comfortable and nice without being try-hard or trendy. There are some weirdos that dine here. 40+ year-old dudes with boat shoes lookin' like they're going on 65 that aren't fooling anyone with the haircut they got from the Gene Juarez stylist they were trying to pickup. And their girlfriends who are the same age but are trying to dress 20 years younger like they're in a Far East Movement music video. Either or, I come for the food so it doesn't bother me. Just, someone let them know we all know they work for Amazon and no one thinks they're in an episode of Entourage. They've got a lot of customers so you know the fish is going to be consistently fresh. Their geoduck dish was delicious. I can see why Nishino has so many fans.
(5)
Stephanie L.
Come for the sushi and stay for the tapas. This Seattle gem is perfect for a cozy dinner with friends, or to bring a date. Tucked into the corner of a shopping center, Nishino was a pleasant surprise. Sharing is definitely the way to go as it allows for optimization of the options. I was blown away by the unique chawanmushi, a savory steamed custard egg soup that was an interesting take on a texture I'm far more used to enjoying as a sweet dessert. Another huge hit was the nasu dengaku, a japanese eggplant with miso sauce. The dish was so incredible I could have ordered 6 of these and left happy. Additionally, the dungeness crab, which was baked with mushrooms with spicy creamy sauce was decadent PNW seafood at its best. A heaping pile of fresh crabmeat atop a mountain of umami mushrooms. It was delightful. I know I was happy with the sushi as well, but honestly it was the small plates that I found the most memorable. Mochi made for a ideal finish to an already fantastic meal. I'm already looking forward to returning the next time I'm in Seattle.
I don't live in Seattle. I live in San Francisco. I thought I was a bit of a sushi snob when I moved from NYC to SF, but now I realize how big of a sushi snob I am after dining at Nishino. Nishino is a good neighborhood Japanese restaurant. However, if you expect really good quality sushi, then you'll be disappointed like I was. I was surprised to see how the restaurant received a 29 rating according to Zagat, but the rating is given by the residents of the area. So maybe I am saying something about the sushi scene in Seattle...
(3)
Lauren S.
I've been going to this restaurant for years and have always loved it. From when I was a picky kid and would only eat plain rice with miso soup, to now, where my palate is far more adventurous. The fish is always fresh, they have a wide variety of dishes, all of which are fantastic. I went here for the first time in a year or so. I had a special roll, it had salmon, avocado, and mushroom and was cooked tempura style, I have never had anything like it and it was absolutely delicious. I loved everything I had. I loved the tartare, crab roll, crab spring roll, tuna salad, I even loved the tofu salad. You can have a nice light meal here, or a heartier meal. This will always be a favorite restaurant of mine.
(5)
Chris H.
Nishino has been my favorite sushi place in Seattle for as long as I've lived here, so this 4-star review will just be a placeholder for the 5-star update that will someday follow. I took my sweetie here tonight for her birthday...the sushi was wonderful (especially the albacore and toro and the arboretum roll...all amazing flavor and melt-in-yer-mouth texture), as were the cocktails and the service, but I swear it was the loudest restaurant I've ever been in. We could barely hear each other. Normally Nishino has great ambiance, but the ambiance tonight was like an English soccer game. Our server said it was pretty normal for a Saturday...point taken! I'll stick to weeknights in the future.
(4)
Tiffany K.
Ooh baby like it raw like shimmy shimmy ya ~~~ I'll keep it short. First time? All you need to know, OMAKASE EXCLUSIVE is $85/ person and absolutely worth it. Call ahead to make a reservation. Leave it to the chef to curate an unforgettable dinner. TK x Chautime Ep. 2 First course: felt like Eve - Let me blow ya mind was playing in the background as I was eating. Standouts: hamachi, tuna belly, kampachi, sweet shrimp, toro, and seafood miso. To say that every slice of fish was fresh is an understatement. Dessert: mochi ice cream w/ fruit. Best mochi ice cream I've ever had. Give me that funk, that sweet, that na$ty, that gushi stuff. Nishino is perfect for any occasion. Currently, my favorite sushi restaurant in Seattle!
(5)
Saejin K.
I went to nishino and got the Dine Around Seattle menu. What a cozy little restaurant! We started with a complimentary bowl of miso soup, then the first course was the tempura bean and oyster, followed by the sushi set with the wine pairing, and finished with green tea tiramisu. I also ordered a tekka roll. My date got the mushroom and asparagus salad, beef negimaki, and cranberry orange sorbet. Everything was delicious! The miso soup in particular was really good and smokey and had a more complex flavor than other restaurants I've been to, but my favorite part of the dinner was the gruner veltiliner that was paired with my sushi set. When it comes to the sushi, the tekka maki had a lot of wasabi, which I personally love but some people dont. The only thing I wasn't really a fan of was the veggie roll. This place is great if you're a sushi purist. They don't have any crazy rolls with lots of sauce or cream cheese. If you want some heartier, the beef negimaki was really delicious and perfectly seasoned. I think I preferred the mushroom and asparagus salad to the tempura but they were both good. I don't think any of our dishes are on the normal menu, but I could tell it's just a high quality restaurant with really really good wine (and probably sake). I just don't recommend you come here if you are looking for more "Americanized" sushi rolls with lots of toppings and sauce. If you want that, go to umi!
(5)
egan w.
Over 90 degrees summer heat + sushi = BAD There is questionably a health code violation or a sushi chef code of ethics for serving sushi at 90 degrees with no A/C. It is impossible to enjoy any food when we are sweating the entire time. It ought to stay close during hot days or just get A/C.
(1)
Erin H.
A nice fancy place for fancy dinner with fancy friends! I had a great time at Nishino with the great food, service, and ambience. Since I was just visiting and hadn't rented a car, it would've been difficult to access but since my friends were able to drive, it was nice to be able to experience this. My boyfriend and I decided to order a few things off the special and appetizer menu; however, we didn't actually pick any sushi. This might not have been the best choice since it is a sushi house, but the food was still very good. We shared the geoduck, which was a very interesting dish with unfamiliar texture and taste, the softshell crab, which was very tasty, and other dishes that I can't remember at this time. While it is a bit pricey, it's very good quality. As with all sushi restaurants, the portions are a bit small, so check out the menu and get a few things to share and try! Also, the parking lot is very tight and pretty small. You could park on the streets/ in the neighborhoods, but watch out for cars.
(4)
Lucy L.
We were visiting Seattle and our friends took us to this place. We had one of the best meals of our lives. Amazing , delish , fresh sushi! We enjoyed it so much .Great service and beautiful presentation as well. I can't wait to come back to Seattle so I can come back to Nishino!
(5)
Yang C.
I've been to 15 of the top 20 rated sushi restaurants in the greater Seattle area and this place is hands down the best. I guess that's why I keep coming back. I've never had anything but the sushi, and never sat anywhere but at the bar with Chef Brian. All I can say is just order the omakase and let Brian work his magic, you'll be glad you did. Ankimo is in season, do try the pate of the sea!
(5)
Toyo K.
Had a number of appetizers along with sashimi and sushi. Everything was excellent - you can really see and taste the quality here. Service was top notch. A very pleasant place to dine with a nice, comfortable atmosphere. Favorite dish was the foie gras with seared tuna.
(5)
Jen M.
I gave this place a try two times, and both times I was underimpressed. My first visit, all the food was just ok- ordered the hamachi w jalapeño, which was good but so small. Was not a fan of the oiled crispy rice that came w the spicy salmon tartare - super small portion as well. The other sushi and rolls we had were all ordinary. Left with a hefty bill and both of us were still hungry enough to have another meal. The second time, while the company, atmosphere and service was wonderful, the food was still just ok. We tried the tuna tartare ( this was fresh and enjoyed) , the shiso shrimp dumplings (had an odd sour taste to it), soft crab spring rolls (meh - the sauce was the best part of this), an eggplant dish (very small on the portion size, but our favorite of the night), mochiko chicken ( this was good, but ordinary), tempura ( the batter is great! Crispy and light), madison roll (the roll had way too much rice and barely any fish nor flavor). The individual salmon, hamachi, and tuna sushi and sashimi we had were all good, though I admit I expected more due to the hype. From what I can derive, the fish here is good quality and fresh...so if you come, spend your money here vs on appetizers, entrees or rolls. Perhaps I will try omakase next time.
(3)
Piyali F.
One of the best sushi places in Seattle - everything is meticulously prepared, extremely fresh, incredible flavor, and NOT a gimmicky "dynamo fried cream cheese roll" type spot. Service is wonderful, great cocktails, and the closest you'll get to good ambiance in a sushi place that actually serves quality cuts and focuses on simplicity and not just a bunch of fried/cream cheese based stuff. It's not super swanky - i.e. Japonessa style -but the sushi is far more authentic and fresh! Try the spicy salmon tartare on crispy rice - I drool just thinking about it
New sushi spot for us -- would come back. The arboretum roll was fresh and light. No mayo or extra fillers to distract from the true highlight: tuna. Portion size was right on point, too. In fact, it was one of the smaller rolls I've ever had and fully appreciated that fact. Felt healthy. My Mom ordered unagi sushi and claimed it was some of the best she's ever had. Other items included a half garden salad and the full crispy chicken salad. Crispy chicken was good, a little salty, but not drenched in dressing or oil. Adding this to the list of sushi options in the city, though wouldn't necessarily recommend for out of town guests. Umi downtown would be better for someone looking to make an impression.
(4)
Aprameya R.
A meal at Nishino is a well orchestrated experience. The moment you step in you are greeted by an elegant, peaceful environment. From the pastel walls, the tree in the lobby, the little rock garden in the waiting area, Nishino proclaims, "let us please your senses". The service was very good. Our server was courteous, attentive and knowledgeable. We came for a dine around Seattle meal. All of us got the salmon sashimi appetizer which was very well done. The presentation was great, the sauce on the salmon was great and the salmon was great. My friend got the pan seared cod which I felt was the weakest dish. It had a sweet tinge that I did not like. My wife got the sea bass cheek which we all liked. It is a very different meat (muscle as the waiter put it) and was very good. I got the sushi platter and that is the best choice. The tuna, salmon and albacore were outstanding. The rolls were not moist but nice. The desserts matched up. The mango cheesecake was good (I found it a little bitter) the green tea tiramisu (yes, you heard it right, tiramisu at Japanese restaurant) was amazing. The sorbet was frigid (this is how they are supposed to be :P). I will call out the beauty of the food. It looked just as good as it tasted. Overall, Nishino is a great special occasion place. I will gladly go here again.
(4)
David L.
Food: 3 Decor: 3 Service: 4 3.5 stars, rounding down. I've been here and Shiro's three times each, and I have to say that I still prefer Shiro's. 1. Selection of nigiri: tuna, salmon, sweet shrimp, kampachi, snow crab, and egg ~Pretty good, although I think Shiro's is marginally better. I liked the egg and sweet shrimp at Nishino more, but I thought the others were all better at Shiro's. 2. hamachi jalapeno 12 ~Pretty good. Nicely balanced and a good kick from the jalapeno. 3. tara saikyoyaki 18 broiled black cod with mushrooms marinated with saikyo miso ~Pretty good. Cod was poached nicely, and the mushrooms were tasty. 4. soft shell crab spring roll 18 ~Okay. Crab got a bit overpowered, and I wasn't a huge fan of the sauce. Service was pretty good, although the ambiance is rather casual.
(3)
Kari G.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place before, but now I must! Atmosphere, Value, Service, Blah blah blah... borinnnnggg, all great. 5 stars! Where this place is simply perfection is in the unadorned, raw (no pun intended... ok maybe pun intended) materials: The nigiri and sashimi here are among the best in Seattle and each piece is fresh, delicious, in perfect proportion, of heavenly texture and wonderful in appearance. Any discussion I have about nigiri fish ends with Nishino. It's so perfect, you don't even need to use soy sauce or wasabi (unless you want to). I very much also recommend anything they have with soft shell crab. I have spent quite a bit of time around the Bay in Maryland/Virginia where the best blue crabs come from (none of this Gulf of Mexico crap) so I know where the party be. After several rather disappointing attempts to get some juicy delicious soft shell crabs in my gullet, I gingerly tried Nishino... Et Voila!! It was a holiday on a plate. Seriously, do yourself a flavor and try the soft shell crab -- you can tell it's freshly dead and also that the chefs know what they're doing (the tempura proportions are spot on and never overpowering). This place truly espouses the quote "Less is more." Don't have much else to add other than bring your gold card and enjoy savoring every second of this delectable delight :)
(5)
Justine F.
One could say I am a sushi snob... so I came to Nishino because I heard it was good. What I heard from the grapevine was true! Nishino has fantastic and fresh fish and the servers are incredibly nice. I got the omakase which I believe is seasonal so they might not be serving the same things long term, but it was all delicious! Can't wait to go back, sit at the sushi bar, and see take a different route by ordering a bunch of rolls instead of omakase
(5)
Nina S.
The best by far sushi in Seattle. It is high quality and the menu has a lot of variety. I have been here many times. It is better to make reservations. I get my usual here - salmon and hamachi sashimi. They used to serve hiroki bakery green tea tiramisu which is my favorite.
(5)
Joyce L.
I have chosen to have my birthday dinner here twice in the last 4 years, so clearly this place has my vote :) The sushi is wonderful and simply executed, but they also have a wide selection of both traditional and more fusion type dishes. On my last visit, I had the sushi combo, spicy garlic calamari (cooked with tons of mushrooms and packed with flavor), popcorn shrimp with creamy napa coleslaw (love the contrast of textures and flavors), and the soft shell crab fresh rolls (light and refreshing). The restaurant itself is beautiful and tastefully decorated. It's usually busy, but not to the point that you feel rushed or crowded. The waitress was very accommodating and attentive without being overbearing. Even better, I was able to get a Saturday night reservation the day of. All of these are good things. Sushi and good Japanese food does not come cheap, but I'll continue to choose this place for those special occasions when you want to splurge a little.
(4)
Oliver D.
Unbelievably good Sushi - not sure I've had better. On the pricier side, but worth every penny. Presentation was immaculate, sushi was so fresh and tastes were sensational. Completely lives up to its reputation.
(5)
Zack X.
One of the best sushi place I've been to. We had omakase, every dish was liking opening a gift, they look and taste stunning. Except the sushi plate at the end consists of ~15 sushi, could be better made & presented.
(5)
Tami H.
Nishino offers a truly special sushi experience. We sat at the sushi bar and the quality of the fish is outstanding. Specials are inventive and beautifully prepared. All the presentation is just beautiful. Sake and cocktail list are good as well. This place is always packed. Pricing is on the high side for Seattle sushi -- think San Francisco/New York pricing. But worth it if you want exceptional quality.
(5)
Elle L.
Absolutely DELICIOUS. Fresh food and unique flavors. Cannot wait to go back!
(5)
A O.
If you want some of the best sushi in the United States, this is the place to go. It is a little out of our price range but we went for our 5-year anniversary and really enjoyed it. They have some unique menu options that are hard to find in other sushi restaurants, and the service is out of this world. Despite being such a high-end place, the wait staff was very down-to-earth and seemed to recognize regulars and enjoy working there. A very positive atmosphere with delicious food!
(5)
Jenny C.
Lucky to have stumbled upon this place after visiting the Seattle Japanese Garden. Excellent food and service. Sublime and divine. We started with the Hamachi jalapeños and it was superb. Wonderful fish. We ordered about 6 other excellent dishes -stringed beans, two soft shell crab dishes, Tuna Tartar - and ended with Mochi Ice Cream - Yum!! and Green Tea Tiramisu, also yummy. My advice is to be fearless and try anything on the menu because it is likely to be superb or very good, so no worries.
(5)
Sierra X.
It was our first time and we weren't sure what to order. Our server was patient and kindly made recommendations without being pushy. The sushi was excellent. The fish was high quality and fresh. There was too much wasabi in the nigiri for my preference but it was fine for my friends. We got dessert but it wasn't as impressive as the rest of our meal. It was presented well but it would have been nice to have more options for dessert.
(5)
Dae Y.
updated review down to 4 stars because of the SNAFU in the service that caused something like a $33 overcharge on our bill that we didn't figure out until one night later. we got our usual Baked Dungeness Crab dish. it is so fantastic! this time we got two bowls of steamed rice to go along with it. one for each of us. And as we expected, the steamed rice went perfectly with the soupy bottom of the Baked Dungeness Crab. now jump to one night later as i'm ready to do my yelp review, i recalled an interaction that i confirmed with my wife, that further explains why the server (Pom) messed up our order to the tune of about $33 more than what it should have been. the food was still fantastic. here's how it went: we ordered one platter of the mixed sashimi ($29). a quick half minute later Pom came back and asked us if we wanted an extra miso soup since the mixed sashimi plate comes with only one miso soup. we quickly said yes. when the sushi chef in front of us (we were seated at the sushi bar) presented our mixed sashimi plates, it looked as if he split the order for us. he gave us two plates. it made sense that he would split the order into two plates for consumption. all seemed fine. when we got our bill, we saw 2x$29=$58 for TWO SASHIMI PLATES. we looked at each other, and figured "well, we every single bite, and it was good, so eff it. just pay for it." And then now about 27hrs after the dinner i notice there is a charge for a single miso soup. so that means somewhere between the time Pom came back to confirm we wanted an extra miso soup, we were served an extra sashimi platter, and we devoured one miso soup each, but according to the final bill there should have been an extra miso soup given to us. I'm going to have to be EXTRA EXPLICIT next time we order food. no more errors like this one will ever happen in the future. yes, the food is still completely fantastic. and we got really lucky to get seated immediately at the sushi bar as soon as we walked in :)
(4)
Tiffany T.
Did the regular omakase and I felt so fancy. You won't regret ordering it for the experience of feeling so full, you can barely move (but not to worry, you can always take a doggie bag home - I totally forgot), but also the context provided by your waiter/waitress in regards to what's on your plate. I will admit that it's pretty loud in the restaurant, so you'll have to talk a little louder than you're used to (not that I have a problem, being Vietnamese and all). Parking is a little weird too, so plan for that.
(4)
Saira R.
The three stars is for the service and the high-quality fish. I ordered the omakase, which I think should be the most perfected meal for any sushi restaurant. This is the worst omakase I've ever had. I likely won't return because it was that bad. The dishes I tried were somewhat interesting but the flavor was overkill--- way too strong for most palates, and other dishes were simply lacking inspiration. I was unimpressed based on the hype this place has received. There are far better sushi places within this price point.
(3)
Linda W.
Absolutely the freshest fish in Seattle!! I LOVE and appreciate how SIMPLE, fresh and seasonal (morels!) the menu is here but that hidden beneath it is an additional layer... INSIDER TIP: You must absolutely ask the chef what's fresh/recommended that night. When you inquire if there are special items (!!) which aren't listed on the regular/special menu (in my case Aji, Kampachi)--you *may* find that there are treasures to be found. Do inquire. Sushi chef Brian made great menu suggestions and prepared beautiful sushi while simultaneously handling overly chatty/overly curious patrons...which happened to be the only bummer to my experience; them not him. The service was spot on however and nothing was missed. Five stars. There is complimentary parking that fills up quickly but you may get lucky! As an alternative street parking is plentiful and so far has never been a problem. Overall Nishino is a very solid Japanese/sushi experience that I HIGHLY recommend.
(5)
Nancy T.
This is the absolute best sushi place we have found in Seattle. We sit at the sushi bar (usually wait for up to half an hour, but well worth the wait) and then ask the sushi chef to make selections for us. The fish is always super fresh and flavorful, the portions fairly sized, the service excellent.
(5)
Maggie O.
High quality fish and amazing creativity make for an outstanding meal. If you have the time, try the exclusive omakase dinner, which requires 24 hour notice as the chef's go shopping for special ingredients. This 9 course 2 hour + tasting experience is filled with the freshest cuts of fish, exquisite sauces, and beautiful plating; it includes soups, tempura, sushi, and general fish courses. Plus the mochi and fruit dessert is incredibly refreshing, and the perfect size for two. The service is fantastic and our waiter was incredibly well-informed about the menu. This place is busy throughout the week, so make a reservation even if not trying the omakase dinner.
(5)
Rich T.
Run don't walk to the sushi bar. Nishino has always been fabulous but I wish they had six stars because chef Aaron is the master of the sushi bar and I wish I could give it six stars. Just sit down and if ur a foodie let him just serve u. We've always loved the omakase here and it is still incredible. But the incredibly inventive tour of this is truly amazing. For instance this night we started with flounder sashimi with monk fish liver. Incredible. The special super white tuna seared nigiri with spicy Cajun was terrific. And the highlight was the uni and spicy tuna tempura. But the most incredible highlight was lightly seared Alaskan spot prawns with quail egg. Amazing!!!! The sake is good and the staff attentive. The main advice is to be open of mind and let the staff take u on an adventure. Good luck all! Thursday-Saturday they are very busy with omakase so the best time to come for this Jiro Loves Sushi in Seattle Is mid week. Particularly Tuesday or if ur lucky on Weds Tetsu himself is at the sushi bar so make plans accordingly :-)
(5)
Alexander L.
Outstanding service, great price and quality and tasty food.
(5)
Sarah R.
Nishino was one of many restaurants that took part in the "Dine Around Seattle" deal (limited time only) where you get a 3 course meal for $33! So I thought, what a great time to go check them out! They are located in the Madison Park neighborhood in a small business plaza. The restaurant has a good amount of seating and seating at the sushi bar. It's pretty open so you can see everything, even the chefs at work at the sushi bar. Parking is limited in the plaza, but I believe there may be parking in the back of the building and then there's street parking. Before you start they give you a wet warm towel to wipe your hands, very nice! The first course I ordered their SEARED TUNA SASHIMI SALAD. The tuna was slightly seared and was really soft. It was on a bed of mixed greens, white onions, and dressing that went well with it. MISO TOFU soup also came with our meal and it was to my satisfaction because I usually order miso soup, yay! For the second course I ordered their ASSORTED SUSHI AND ROLL option that came with TUNA, SALMON, YELLOWTAIL, ALBACORE, SHRIMP, SURF CLAM, VEGETARIAN ROLL, and a SPECIAL ROLL FOR THE DAY which was a spicy tuna roll. I don't normally order a variety of raw sushi like this but since I was here I had to give it a try. I forget that some make them with wasabi and I am not a fan of wasabi so I didn't fully enjoy it. I ate half of each avoiding the wasabi as best as I could. Other than that it was all good! My date and I switched dishes and I got to try their PAN SEARED SOCKEYE SALMON WITH MANGO SALSA. I really liked this dish, not like anything I have ever had before! The flavor was soo good, portion was small though, but enough for me I'd say. Last came our desserts! I tried their GREEN TEA TIRAMISU which I thought was okay, I've had better. We also ordered their HONEY MANGO CHEESECAKE. I did not like it at all. It had an odd taste like caramel and I didn't taste honey or mango. Service was excellent!
(4)
Ali S.
The quality of the fish I had in my nigiri the other night was of much poorer quality than it was when I had it two years ago. On the Seattle scene, this place has average sushi that is slightly more expensive than other places. So basically, I will not come back given seattle's other options.
(3)
Anthony N.
I came here for my birthday and it was amazing. We did the omakase at the bar and it was a lot of fun. Our chef had a heavy accent and it was a little difficult understanding him, but Brian (I think that's his name) was really cool about repeating what we got. Besides the omakase, we had the hamachi kama (yellowtail collar) with salt and that was on point (don't get it teriyaki style). We started off with several slices of hamachi in a light soy sauce. The hamachi here was very good; it pretty much melts in your mouth! Next, we got a sashimi set of escolar tuna (super white tuna), tuna, snow crab and fresh shrimp. I've never had escolar before and it was good. It was very buttery and succulent. The tuna was normal and both the crab and shrimp were very sweet! We also got the shrimp heads deep fried, yum! Shortly after we finished, the hamachi kama came out and it was very good. I don't think you can really go wrong with it since there's not much to it than grilling it for a bit, but I could be wrong. Our next sushi set was: chutoro, flounder, mackerel and kampachi. We finished off with shiso sorbet with azuki and it was very different. I've never had shiso before and it's some sort of Japanese mint. It went really well with the azuki. Seriously, everything was amazing here (food and service) and I would highly recommend checking it out!
(5)
Tina M.
We came here for dinner on a Thursday dinner with a reservation and were seated immediately. We decided to get the omakase, which is an 8 course dinner that the chef comes up with. Even though the food was delicious, I was disappointed in it because I thought it was going to be primarily sushi but instead, the only sushi we got was 1 plate of 5 pieces of sushi each at the end. And the 2 pieces of rolled sushi weren't that good. The rest of the dishes were very good though, I was just really in the mood for sushi. My favorite was the salmon with kale salad and a lemon vinaigrette dressing. Service was also very good. I would come back to try more sushi the next time I'm in Seattle.
(4)
Wunan L.
it's probably one of the Japanese restaurants in the Seattle area. Here are some highlights: Pros: Fresh and clean ingredients Authentic Japanese- Mot Chinese/Korean Japanese food good customer service a great saki selection Cons: it can be a bit expensive compare to others
(5)
Clint W.
We came here during the Dine Around event and I even ordered off the fixed menu. I sort of broke my own rule here. Carpaccio was great as a starter. I wish I had more. Tender with citrus threaded throughout each bite. The sushi was fresh and flavorful, although I wish there was a piece of tako. Those dishes, plus a belly full of Asahi kept me a happy camper this night. Still a fan of Nishino.
(4)
C S.
Place : Small and good Service : Awesome, they can answer anything except how much you earn :) Food: Foods we tried were awesome, moshiko chicken and lots of sushi and sashimi I thought another lephant is ging to come out of my stomach after eating that many sushis Food is amazing, certainly a place to try
(5)
Jessica L.
A mostly excellent Japanese restaurant with an emphasis on sushi and sashimi. FIrst of all the fish, it is fresh, brought in daily, and of the highest quality. The sushi is mostly excellent. Highlights include grilled shiitake mushroom nigiri, and tobiko uzura no tamago. Lowlights include the almost inedibly fishy salmon skin roll. Don't miss the non-sushi items, perfectly prepared baby bok choy is a simple delight. Halibut cheeks are the best I've had anywhere. One of the better sushi places in town
(4)
Yuan W.
This place is great, so I feel like a jerk for only giving it 4 stars...but I actually like Shiro's in Belltown better. We waited around 45 minutes to have omakase at the sushi bar on a Saturday. The ingredients were all really fresh and Nishino had a unique spin on some typical recipes. For example, we had uni on top of raw oysters and salmon roe. While I thought this was interesting, some of the flavor and texture combinations also didn't quite work together. In terms of this place vs. Shiro's, I think whether you prefer one or the other probably comes down to personal taste. Shiro's is probably a little more traditional in its omakase, but gets it really perfect. Nishino seems a bit more adventurous to me, and the results can be a bit more mixed. Nishino also served a mix of sushi and cooked food for omakase. Our chef at Nishino was polite, but not as friendly or personable as at Shiro's. Again, whether you prefer one or the other probably just depends on your personality. For me, one of the fun parts of omakase is getting to chat with the chef. Ambiance and decor at Nishino was a little more modern/fancy, while Shiro's feels like a homey restaurant that just happens to be really popular. One plus I'll give Nishino is the wait for the sushi bar seems to be much shorter, so if you don't really want to devote a whole evening to waiting/eating, then go for Nishino. Overall, a solid place, but if I were to spend that much money on sushi, I'd go to Shiro's.
(4)
Jenn W.
Love this place!!! Great ambience, service, and food!!! We started with Oshitashi Spinach, Fresh Oysters, New Style Sashimi, and a Hamachi dish. We shared an order of Toro and I had the Chirashi as my main course. Every item that we had was amazing!!! It was all super fresh and delicious!!! This is definitely one of my favorite sushi places in Seattle! Definitely worth it!
(5)
CJ P.
It was my dear friend's BD. So we decided to go there and have it a try as we heard so many good things how great the restaurant is. We all did Omakaze. They were ok but we all think next time we'll try a la cart. This place was packed even monday night so I would recommend to make a reservation. The service here was very good. From the Host... The server... and The Buss Boy. Loved to go back there again and try something else from the menu. BTW their sushi was super fresh!!!!
(4)
Brittany I.
My absolute favorite sushi restaurant in Seattle! Despite looking like you're in someone's home, Nishino is world-class in service and quality. Some of my favorites are the Shake (salmon) nigiri, Fried Oyster Special, Shiso Shrimp Dumplings and House Special Roll. I don't know what it is but no salmon nigiri has EVER tasted so good! Would highly recommend to any (authentic) sushi lover - not to those who opt for rolls that have five different sauces and toppings on it because you won't find that nonsense here!
(5)
Jacky L.
Definitely a hidden spot with the best of Japanese cuisine in town! We had a OMEKASHE and both the taste and service were superb!
(4)
David Z.
Best. Sushi. Ever. Seriously this is some of the best I have ever had. My partner and I agreed on this and we have tried many places up and down the west coast. To experience it is to be pulled into a higher realm of greatness. My suggestion is to go see for yourselves, ask lots of questions and try a few things. And prepare yourself to be amazed.
(5)
Peter C.
I've been aware of Nishiro's for years, but it has always been a bit out-of-the-way and never top-of-mind for me when looking for restaurant. Recently, my memory of this place finally coincided with my frequent calling for sushi. To the bat mobile! While all good sushi restaurants are expensive, Nishiro's is in the white table cloth set. Both expensive and more upscale than average. What's great about it though is the creative approach to the menu that has all the traditional items with several unique and tasty specials. And of course, there is an abundant sake list which, in my opinion, is a must. The food is great, the sushi counter is informative and fun, and the table service is friendly and informative. There's really nothing to quibble with here except for parking, which is a common hassle in this part of Madison Valley. The have a small lot but it fills up quickly and will likely be full during peak hours. Nishiro's is easy to miss/forget in Seattle's crowed sushi scene, but as Zagat's #1 restaurant in Seattle for 2013, it's worth the trip. Make a plan and don't wait till it comes to mind.
(5)
Madison R.
Outstanding sushi! Some of the best sushi I've had in Seattle. I've been there dressed up before an opera & all messed up after a day of golf in the rain. Both were just fine, to me. Darn their food is intoxicatingly fabulous! Their seaweed salad cannot be missed! Good 4 a date too! If they had booths it'd b even better! It's very open w/ comfy chairs & tables. Or, sit @ the sushi bar.
(5)
Daniel B.
Absolutely fantastic! Went for Dine Around Seattle and all the found was perfect. I got the oyster tempura, the miso cod, and cake for desert and all wow! The cod was like butter, so tasty. The cake was a green tea tiramisu, wow! My girlfriend got the seafood miso soup and the char and both were just as good!
(5)
Paul B.
We've been here more times than I can count, and the sushi is consistently great. My wife loves the uni, and I love, well everything I've ordered off the sushi menu. The prices are reasonable for the high quality as well. Enough said.
(5)
Manjae P.
Nice but not amazing. Top tier among seattle sushi places.
(4)
Gavin P.
reservation nightmare! This place is so popular that it is nearly impossible to get a reservation. Reason is, because they like to clear the table a good hour before the party arrives. TIP: offer to sit anywhere and promise to leave before the party arrives... trust me you will never finish late. An hour is plenty of time. Food: FANTASTIC! The freshest sushi I have had in the city and the largest menu of it. Plus the chefs are so well trained, you can just say you want "something new with eel" and they will design it for you brand new. Be sure to ask them afterwards how to order it again. The tea is also really sweet unlike most sushi restaurants which can be a tad bit bitter. Small comment but one worth mentioning. I also really like the crab and mushroom plate. Diet killer I know, but the sauce and crab are so worth it.
(4)
Jean Louise P.
Best place for sushi. Very knowledgable and friendly staff. The owners are amazing. Just go. Try everything. Ask for specialty rolls that are not on the menu - you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Jerome K.
Grade: A. Top Notch Sushi Nishino is on par with Shiro's and the two restaurants are arguably the best sushi spots in Seattle. Great sushi - if you have the opportunity, sitting at the bar is a must. The omakase is more than generous in terms of portion, size and quality. Fatty toro and uni were the standouts.
(5)
Barry R.
This is a cumulative review for 12 years I have been coming here. I want to make it short and sweet. This review has waited way too long. If I can give it 6 stars, I would. The quality of the sushi and service are superior. This is a rare find. We always sit at the sushi bar and order as we go. The sushi chef often suggests things that are not on the menu and they are excellent. It's a wonderful place for a date or for a group. It is our special sushi date place and we take all of our out-of-town sushi lovers here. Mr. Nishino and his wife are often there and make you feel very welcome.
(5)
Margery S.
My party of four went there on a Saturday night, and there wasn't an empty table in the place. The food was great, the service was excellent, and they accommodated my vegetarian needs. We ordered the regular omakase and everything was fresh, creative, and beautifully presented. I especially liked the little salad served in martini glasses. Parking can be challenging on the road and side streets, but well worth a little walk.
(4)
Elizabeth L.
Recommend the exclusive omakase. CUISINE Ranked in order of recommendation: - Seared Foie Gras, Maguro & Shiitake Mushroom with Red Wine Soy Reduction - Tara saikyoyaki, broiled black cod marinated with saikyo miso - New style sashimi: arugula wrapped in whitefish seared w/e.v.o.o. - Albacore on a Cucumber Slice. - Ama ebi ceviche: ceviche was very fresh and citrusy, topped with a fried prawn head. - Chef's choice of sushi: unagi and toro were outstanding - beautiful cuts, the toro richly marbled - kusshi oysters: fresh, delightfully sweet - Mushroom dashi soup with mizuna, enoki, tofu: a delightfully light, aromatic soup. - Lobster tempura: lobster was fresh and tasty, but otherwise this was fairly bland - Green tea tiramisu: Could barely finish another bite at this point, all for the better, since this was the least notable of the meal. SERVICE Edward took handsome care of us, understood and presented each dish expertly. SETTING Ambiance and decor are unassuming - food is focus at Nishino, with the skill of its kitchen complemented by good service.
(5)
Sisi Z.
Good restaurant. Sashimi is awesome but sushi is just OK. Foie grass and tuna is interesting. Egg omelette is worth of trying. I don't have feelings on eel but my friend said it's good. Love the toro here. They have tasting menu!
(4)
Trevor C.
Had the 9 course meal, it was amazing, service was fast and friendly, amazing experience!
(5)
Mandy W.
My boyfriend and I stayed at Seattle for almost a week and being sushi lovers, we looked up the some of the best sushi places in the area and we found Nishino. High rating on yelp so we had quite an expectation for this place. Little did we know we would end up eating something very overpriced and taste-wise is worth 2-3 stars. I'm not sure if this is the standard in Seattle, which I'm guessing it is... It seems to be a westernized sushi restaurant; pertaining to the style of the sushi and it was in fact majorly occupied by western people when we were there. Onto what we had... we had salmon sashimi, hamachi nigiri, (day special) tempura onion rings, negitoro roll, futomaki roll, and tempura udon. Tempura udon lacked a lot of taste, it was very plain and the shrimp tempura did not have much flavor in it versus majority of the shrimp tempura i've had in my life. Rice in the sushi didn't taste fresh and was rather a bit cold, which didn't hold up the sushi roll quite well. Salmon sashimi was far from being fresh... I've had real fresh sashimi and I did not enjoy paying such high price for just decent sashimi. The special of the day (tempura onion rings) was the most tasteless out of all we ordered that night. Other than the onion itself having onion taste, it was essentially tasteless. It came with spice powders to sprinkle on top of the onions, but that barely made it better. Bottom line: Price: High Food quality: 2-3 stars Service: 4 stars If we ever decide to go back to Seattle, we definitely won't be visiting Nishino. It's either the majority of these 5 stars rating are fake or this is just simply standard in Seattle. If you're from another state or country, just be aware. Want real amazing 5 stars sushi for the same price? Visit Vancouver Canada.
(2)
Merion W.
Excellent sushi- our favorite in Seattle!
(5)
Nancy W.
My boyfriend brought me here for my birthday and it did not disappoint. We did the Omakase (chef's choice, many courses) and we loved every course and it was plenty of food for us. The service was wonderful and so was the fish. They recommend reservations for Omakase. This might be the best sushi in Seattle...
(5)
Robert B.
Outstanding, albeit a bit spendy, Japanese restaurant and sushi bar in upscale Madison Valley. Nishino features a sushi bar staffed with skilled artisans who also understand the importance of interaction with the clientele. They make all the usuals, and have some really creative stuff as well. Service is attentive and efficient, but I think they're gouging you a bit on the booze. THE VERDICT: As good as any, and better than most, Nishino's culinary skill is only marred by a rather high margin on it's alcohol. Have cocktail hour at home, and then come down and enjoy!
(4)
Brandy C.
Not my fav sushi in Seattle. My boy friend thought the $1 shrimp heads were delicious.
(3)
Tyler L.
Amazing seaweed salad, great veggie rolls, and delish inari. Veg sushi rocks!
(5)
Tammy C.
I'm never disappointed and always get fantastic service, fresh and innovative rolls. I feel comfortable going alone and seating at the sushi bar and having a small meal and glass of sake.
(5)
Jeremy P.
During my recent trip to Seattle, I pegged this place as the most promising sushi restaurant. I made a reservation, and managed to find my way down there. The menu looked like it had a reasonable variety, with some sushi and some a la carte small plates. I started with the miso soup, and then ordered the following: - Dynamite. Baked geoduck, scallops, and mushrooms. This was pretty awesome. It's a hot dish, which is not something I usually get when I eat sushi, but it was good. - Foie Gras and Seared Tuna. This was pretty good. The sauce gave it a nice touch. - Scallop sashimi. I think this may have been a special. It was excellent; one of the first dishes I had, and one that made a good first impression. - Uni sashimi. I'd give this a B. Wasn't the best uni I've had by virtue of the fact that they didn't have live sea urchins on hand, but it was much better than the uni I had a couple days prior. - Toro Tartare with Caviar. This was the highlight of the evening. Not only was it topped with caviar...it also had gold leaf on top of it. At $24 for a few ounces of food, it's not the cheapest dish, but it was absolutely worth it. After I ate all this, I asked the chef to surprise me with something. He came up with the hamachi jalapeno, which I didn't particularly care for. I then decided I should get some actual sushi before I left, so I got the hamachi belly. This was pretty tasty. Overall, this place is pretty good... They have some creative dishes, and fresh fish. I have been to places that are even more of an adventure, but there is no doubt this is a quality sushi restaurant. I got into a conversation with a regular sitting next to me at the bar, and I got the impression that this is a place where, if you get to know the chefs, they can continue to surprise you with new things.
(4)
Yee Gan O.
I had another fantastic special omakase menu at Nishino. Trust me - leave yourself in the hands of chef Tatsu Nishino and he won't let you down. Is wife Eri runs a tight ship front of house and I've been lucky to have been looked after by Edward on my last 2 visits - as Hannah L puts it, he's probably the best waiter in Seattle! The question today is whether a single mouthful of food can be worth $8? After you've dined at Nishino, the answer is emphatically YES! The shitake, seared tuna, seared foie gras in red wine and soy reduction is a mouthful of heaven - the soft unctuous mix of foie gras and tuna lent some meaty texture from the shitake mushroom and sweetened delicately by the sauce. I would also happily pay $8 for a mouthful of the melt in the mouth o toro (fatty tuna belly). I've had o toro elsewhere and it's never been as good. My favourite sushi restaurant in the USA
(5)
Tony C.
This restaurant should be commended for its fantastic food as well as the character of those running the place. We had a minor miscommunication regarding the bill and it was quickly and respectably rectified with sincere understanding. This upright treatment of customers and their experience of dining must be an intentional way of thinking and acting that becomes very evident in the treatment of their food. We stopped multiple times to turn to each other and share awe in the deliciousness of the dishes. We had a wonderful time and hope that others will have the opportunity to enjoy the same sometime.
(5)
Charlie W.
We ordered the chef's choice of sashimi, trusting that he would pick a decent selection-- instead we got very mediocre, pedestrian choices like salmon and plain old tuna. The fish itself was okay but nothing special. At the waitress' suggestion, we were served the oddest asparagus egg crab roll. The waitress also treated us like we weren't able to afford dessert. Mochi ice cream was overpriced and unappetizing. Overhyped and quite frankly a waste of $60/person
(2)
James L.
If anyone tell you this place is good, they must have super good patience. We waited for our food super long. I mean 20 minutes in between our sashimi and our sushi dish. It got so bad that we had to stop our order because we are not hungry anymore. Definitely not coming back again.
(1)
Mimi H.
Delicious place to stop by if you are near the arboretum area. Parking is a little tricky, we almost passed the alley way in the back. We were kindly greeted by who seemed to be the owner of the restaurant. Luckily for us, the wait was only 20mins for drop in and were seated at the bar. I really enjoyed their decorations. It is really bright and comfortable, although the table set up did remind me of dimsum restaurants. Service was wonderful. All the waitresses were friendly and we enjoyed watching the Chef's interact with the customers. Had the Sake in the iced bamboo -- enough for two or three people. Ordered the hamachi kama and sashimi dinner with more albacore, amaebi, geoduck, salmon, and yellowtail sushi. (Ran out of Uni =[!) The quality of the fish was really good. Loved the taste of the yellowtail and albacore. The kama was delicious and had a lot of yummy fatty meat. It also came with a side salad and dressing that balanced out the fish. For dessert, we had fried bananas with vanilla bean ice cream. Pretty good and filling.
(5)
Matt M.
Oh the food is great! The sushi (nigiri) was great! Rice was cooked just right and was a well balanced sushi rice. The kitchen items were awesome too. Some of the dishes were a little "Americanized" but still good. Totally will be going back.
(5)
Dan P.
I had the exclusive omakase! Overall, it was very good. I called the night before and got a reservation. The exclusive omakase is a kaiseki style omakase so there is a good mix of hot and cold dishes. It is not a sushi only omakase so if you are here for sushi or just sashimi, the exclusive omakase is not for you. I do not have any dietary restrictions so I wanted to see what they had to offer. I was a single diner and they had a table reserved for me. They also asked if I would prefer the sushi bar so I said that either one is fine but if they have space at the bar, I would prefer that. They were quick to seat me at the bar. The courses were (off memory so the order may be a bit off): Course #1 - Appetizer: albacore sashimi, uni/caviar/halibut over cucumber, etc. This was an excellent dish and a great start to the meal. Course #2 - Ceviche: The ceviche was very tart. I liked the tartness but it may be over the top for some. It was very refreshing and contained red onion, avocado, amaebi, and a fried shrimp head. Course #3 - shitake mushroom with maguro (tuna), foie gras, and sauce. This was a winner. Of course it was really rich and creamy because of the foie gras but I absolutely loved it. Course #4 - New style sashimi: The sashimi was good and it came with some salad. They drizzled some warm olive oil + sesame oil mix so that reduced the salad leaves a bit and sightly cooked some of the sashimi. It was very good though and had a similar affect as using truffle oil, etc. Course #5 - Soup: This was actually my second favorite dish of the night (favorite was the foie gras). The soup had some japanese mushrooms and clams. The broth was excellent and full of flavor. Course #6 - Lobster tempura: This was probably the loser of the night. They just didn't make it very well. The tempura was soggy and full of batter. It didn't have the crisp flakiness of tempura and it had about 2x the amount of batter that it needed. The sauce was also lacking in flavor. Course #7 - Flash fried icelandic salmon and vegetables. This was very good. The sauce was a little dominating and a little too sweet and I think they flash fried the salmon a little too long (rather than being seared, it was basically cooked salmon) but I do give them some props for being creative. Course #8 - Nigiri sushi: toro, albacore tuna, (not sure but similar to an aji), negitoro cut rolls. The sushi was excellent. There was a little too much rice though. The (aji-like) sushi was very good and the negitoro roll was excellent. Course #9 - shiro sorbet with red bean. The shiro sorbet is home made and was very refreshing. I love sorbet. The red bean was a nice topping. I knocked off one star because I would have preferred that they serve real wasabi with the toro at least. I understand that real wasabi is expensive but they do seem to go the extra mile sometimes. The sushi chef made a beautiful toro tar tar with caviar and he put some edible gold on top so I know that they care. Real wasabi would have made this a 5 star review. On another note...I get a little annoyed when I see some mistakes. Yes, I know they are minor but it's just me I guess. One customer was sitting at the sushi bar with a woman and they ordered spicy tuna hand rolls. The sushi chef made them well but rather than hand them to the customer as he finished making them (to keep the nori crunchy), he put it in an ornate box instead. The chef then went on to make the second hand roll. I had a slight cringe because I knew that the first hand roll would no longer be crunchy. He did finish the second one and handed the customer the box with the 2 hand rolls. It looked beautiful. But the customer (to my horror) didn't touch the hand rolls for another 20 minutes. They just sat there in front of them in the box. A soggy hand roll? eeewwww... The exclusive omakase is an excellent meal for the price. It isn't overpriced and I was pleasantly surprised when I got my bill. But anyway, I will return and sit at the bar and just try their sushi next time. I hope they don't disappoint. Then I can tell you all if the sushi here is better than Shiro's or not...:) As for parking, there is a small lot under the restaurant. There was a sign indicating parking in the back. There's also some street parking in the area as well. I read the reviews here and though parking would be a pain so I took the bus but I'm going to drive next time.
(4)
Sharon L.
My second favorite sushi restaurant (tired with Shiro's) in Seattle. I always try to sit at the bar, which means I usually only go on weeknights, since it can be crazy on the weekend and we're not ones to love a big crowd. The sushi chefs are amazing -- we always order omakase. The fish is fresh, the assortment is great, and it's all good quality food. I have been very happy every time.
(5)
Katy H.
Who doesn't love sushi? And with the rave reviews that Nishino is pulling in, it seemed like an obvious choice for dinner with my family visiting from out of town. The service was great, the food was also great, and the ambiance was lovely. I wish I'd tried more food but the tempura was awesome, the octopus salad, the ceviche, and even the California rolls. (I know, I know! Someone else ordered them.) In fact, this place was great because the menu catered to the needs of avid sushi eaters as well as newbies and people intimated by foreign cuisine. Everyone had a lovely time.
(4)
Alice P.
Consistent, fresh sushi! We've been coming to Nishino's for almost a year and it has never disappointed. We are huge sushi lovers and are quite picky. There are the fun, sushi places with Americanized rolls (Umi Sake), fast food sushi (all over), and then there are GOOD sushi restaurants you take people that actually love raw fish. Nishino's is great for all around Japanese food as well for those that aren't big on raw fish (think noodle and rice dishes), in case you're with a mixed group of folks who may not like sushi. We often get their chirashi bowls and they are amazing. Their appetizer specials are often very good as well (soft shell crab fresh spring rolls...deeeelish!). Service is great and parking can be tricky as many others have said.
(4)
Andrew M.
*BOOM* The sound of a mind-blowing....... Just stunning, period. I would easily put Nishino up against any of my favorites on the west coast, and in terms of pure fish quality is at a minimum, equal to Shiro's in Seattle. But what sets Nishino apart in Seattle from the Godliness that is Shiro's are a few things. First, the ambiance is much nicer. Better vibe, better decor, better, better, etc. Second, they have a more varied and creative selection of "other" dishes. From the dumplings, to the soft shell crab spring rolls, they were all fantastic. Third, the service is much better. Not that's it's bad at Shiro's, but to me if you aren't sitting at the Sushi bar there you are missing out. Here the servers seemed a little more in step with the Sushi bar. The real showstopper though is the fish. I'll say this again, if you are looking for the best "rolls" in town, just disregard my reviews on any sushi entirely. I could care less about the rolls. When I go to sushi I am there for the fish. That cut of nigiri that literally tastes like butter and would likely dissolve in your mouth if you let it. Every single things we tried, from the insanely fresh albacore, to the probably-still-kicking salmon, to the EVERYTHING ELSE, was just mind-blowing. I could not possibly recommend this place any higher. Only caveat, is that if you are eating and drinking, and ordering like we did, the bill is going to be up there, and if you are a rookie, it may blow "your" mind. =)
(5)
Claudius P.
This is THE place to go for sushi in Seattle. The service is bar-none. Super friendly and informative. I eat a lot of sushi and this is my go-to. It's really a close competitor with Sushi Kappo Tamura on Eastlake.. But I just love how easy and comfortable it is to go to Nishino, especially on date night. I definitely recommend omakase. The servers are more than happy to help teach you how to eat your food and what you are getting. Parking is easy. Next time I go I really want to sit at the sushi bar.
(5)
Amanda L.
By far my favorite traditional sushi restaurant in Seattle. You get the best bag for your buck here in my opinion. I've never had a dish here I didn't like. The all time best dishes I would say are the steamed egg, black cod, spicy salmon tartare on crispy rice, and of course sushi. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
M T.
This is one of my favorite sushi restaurants in Seattle. I usually come here for special occasions (or when I have really good sushi). My husband and I always sit in the sushi bar because we like an interaction with a sushi chef. We ask the chef today's recommendations for sushi and we always end up with ordering those twice because they are so fresh and tasty. When you order AMAEBI (row sweet shrimp) sushi, you get friend shrimp head, which is a good snack for beer or sake! I can't really speak of rolls because I usually have appetizers and sushi nigiri only here. You can't make reservation for sushi bar, but I recommend all to make a reservation for weekend because it gets very busy. They call you before reservation to confirm, which is a nice reminder. Sake selections are great although they don't carry many beers. There are parking spaces in front and basement (entrance is on the narrow alley behind the store complex).
(5)
Gardner Y.
Seared Foie gras, curry seared halibut cheeks, jalapeño sashimi, banana tempura with coconut ice cream are amazing! The combination & flavors were explosive to my taste buds! We had a wonderful experience & we will be back soon :) Thanks Edward for all your suggestions.
(5)
Adrianne W.
Just ate here, simply awesome sushi. Everything was good. Plan to go back to try more on the menu.
(5)
Eric H.
The best sushi in Seattle - no contest.
(5)
Juliette L.
During my last trip to Seattle, I was able to make a visit to both Nishino and Shiro. Both a different experience, but of course I'll only be writing about Nishino here. Service was good. We had omakase paired with their nigori sake. Anyway, I don't know if it's just me, but when I have omakase, I hope to have more raw dishes than just 2-3. Don't get me wrong- the food was all great, but maybe my expectations got in the way. We were served tempura as one of the courses. Tempura is not something I typically order and definitely not something I would think of getting with omakase. But I gave it a chance and even then, I wasn't blown away. Am I being pretentious here? Well at the end of our meal, as full as we were, we were starved for some raw fish so we ordered toro separately, which was delicious and wished was a part of the omakase. I would come back if I'm ever in the area again, but will order off the menu.
(3)
Darlene K.
Num nums! 2nd time at Nishino and it was delish. Ate the following: - ankimo (monkfish liver) - new style sashimi - black cod - mochiko chicken - and several pieces of white salmon, yellow tail, saba sushi Overall pretty tasty meal but probably wouldn't get ankimo there again since it was super rich and felt like they could have done that dish differently. Missing a starch or something. It's like eating chicken liver mousse with no crostini or fancy crackers. Mochiko chicken could be pass as well. Not bad but there are other things I'd rather eat at this place. Service and ambiance was lovely. Get reservations since it can get busy! Sushi get in my belly NOW!
(4)
Nik A.
Expensive, we knew it. The rolls were disappointing. Sushi & specials were great.
(4)
Chi N.
This restaurant is uber fancy looking, very modern decor, nice comfortable seats, and a pretty long wine list. No tea before the meal, but they do give you a warm towel before you kick off your dining experience here. We ordered the sashimi among a bunch of other dishes. But the sashimi stood out to me because the choices were AWESOME! There was maguro (tuna), hamachi, king crab and amaebi (sweet shrimp). I was particularly impressed by the amaebi, which had just right amount of sweetness, tasted clean and fresh. Maguro and hamachi were good cut of the meat, again, fresh and very tasty. King crab took the prize though, it was so good! 4 stars because I do like more traditional sushi restaurants with less fancy rolls and simple menu, but still, quality is there for sure and the service was great.
(4)
C S.
You'll have to adjust your standards for Washington. This may be one of the better sushi place in the Seattle area, unfortunately they can't make rice quite right, it was a bit dry and stale tasting for me. The toro and umi were quite good however (minus the rice), the cooked hamachi kama was overdone to the point of chewy. Sake is overpriced.
(3)
Jorgen M.
We had the premium Omakase and it was fantastic from start to finish. All of the sushi is Uber fresh and prepared to perfection
(5)
Tricia R.
Was rated highest sushi in Seattle area. Great albacore sushi. Salmon okay. Hand rolls and sushi dissapointed. Very overpriced. Suggest for people who like straight fish and no fancy rolls.
(3)
Shannon H.
This is our favorite sushi place in Seattle. The service is excellent and you can literally order anything on the menu and never be disappointed. We are almost tempted to order at random just to see what surprises come out. The restaurant is small, so reservations are a must, and plan to spend a bit on dinner. Don't skip the sake either, they have a great selection and it is really an exceptional sushi house. Enjoy!
(5)
Deborah J.
Wanted to go get sushi from a place I had never been to and a couple of recommendations brought me here. Service - 5 stars Atmosphere - 5 stars Knowledgeable staff - 5 stars Food - 3.5 stars My only gripe was that we had a reservation for 8 PM and weren't seated until 8:20 which was a little annoying because I was starving, but I was over it pretty quickly.
(4)
Jonathan Y.
Diane L. steered us this way for the amazing omakase as a great example of Seattle fare. Nishino totally blew us out of the water and started our weekend trip off on the right foot. I'm not going to bother going through the different courses in the omakase, I can only use the same descriptions so often so instead I'll just highlight the amazing quality, freshness and creativity of some of the dishes. The omakase is $60/person, and since we had 2 couples we decided to order one round per couple while ordering some extra side dishes. My favorites for the evening were the scallop ceviche, hamachi in jalapeno oil and miso black cod. The black cod especially was crusted in a sweet and smoky shell, with soft, melting meat. The highlight was when at the end of our meal, we received an unexpected dessert course of mochi imported from Bubbies in Hawaii! I haven't been to Bubbies in almost a decade and it felt like seeing an old lover. An old, dark chocolate and espresso flavored lover.
(5)
Christie B.
Last night was my second visit to Nishino and I can tell you that it certainly will not be my last. We just moved very close to Nishino's and anticipate dining here several times a month in the future. Even if we didn't live so close, my husband and I would travel far to dine here. It's just that good. I have tried some great sushi before (Matsuhisha in Beverly Hills, Katsuya in Los Angeles, sushi from the restaurants at the Four Seasons Hualalai, etc) and this place is just as good, if not better, than these other establishments. We are so excited that this place is so close to our new home! On our last visit we tried a couple rolls, but thought they were not really anything special so opted to keep things simple for the most part this time and did not get a special roll. Good call! Everything that we had was perfect. My husband and I enjoyed the following last night: hamachi jalapeno, albacore tuna tartare, spicy salmon tartare on crispy rice (2 orders), salmon sushi (2 orders) and yellowtail sushi (2 orders). Yes, we left stuffed, but it was so hard to stop! All of the fish was extremely fresh. It seems to just melt in your mouth! We also noticed that Nishino does take out, which we will definitely consider in the future. Can't wait to go back soon!
(5)
Jen H.
LOVE their black cod miso and the hiroki's green tea tiramisu they have for dessert. Luckily, both items are available on their dine around seattle menu so we get amazing food for reasonable prices. For sushi I would rather go to Shiro (although I heard their chef recently moved to NY so I'm not sure if the quality remains there).
(5)
Cynthia C.
Nishino is a bit of everything: souvenir shop, Japanese sushi bar, peach colored walls reminiscent of a Chinese resto and part art gallery. Bamboo sake holders are REALLY difficult to use, especially towards the end of dinner when I'm loaded, even though half ended up on the tablecloth, the junmai daiginjo seemed to never end. Prices are fairly easy to swallow: -Madison Park Roll, $11, large, maybe even obnoxiously large rolls, but not much flavor to them. -Aji, so-so quality, the rice was packed too hard -Shrimp dumplings, unique presentation, tail on shrimp wrapped in a wonton, bland. -Dynamite, w/geoduck, scallop, overcooked and heavy handed -Black Cod, $22, delicious buttery fish in a bonito broth & maitake shrooms. Food 3 stars Service 4 stars The lighting is bright, so it's not great for romance, but has a bit of the the flair higher end restaurants have. Food was nothing to write home about.
(3)
John S.
This place has so many reviews, just read a few of them and you will get an idea of how great this place is. For anyone that has not gone, the only thing that I would add is that the prices aren't nearly as high as the $$$ rating it has received on Yelp. If you are buying sushi or rolls the prices aren't that much more then your average sushi joint. They do offer several more exotic dishes that can run up your tab. Don't let the $$$ rating from Yelp keep you away, the food is excellent and you will find the price to be very reasonable for the incredible food quality, service and atmosphere.
(5)
Kelly L.
When my boss asked me if I wanted to go out to dinner with a client at Nishino, I jumped at the chance as I've been dying to try it out! The only good sushi place that I've been to so far was Shiros and was eager to compare. I walked in and it had the same amount of "fanciness" in terms of decor, atmosphere and service. My boss and client did most of the ordering so we ordered mostly sushi and sashimi dishes. We had the O-toro and it was probably some of the best sashimi I've ever had. Just melted in my mouth like butter. I am usually a sushi or maki person since sashimi tastes a bit fishy to me but the O-Toro somehow made me forget that. We also had a roll where the rice was crispy. Am thinking they torched the outside of the rice and was topped with Spicy Tuna? That was probably one of the most innovative rolls I've ever had. We ordered a lot of random things that I can't remember but I just remember everything tasting amazing. For me, I usually like to judge a restaurant not just by its sushi/sashimi/rolls but also by it's tapa style dishes. I love izakayas and the different dishes so am always looking for innovative dishes and familiar dishes. Unfortunately, didn't get to try any this time. Will just have to come back!
(4)
Rheanna S.
I decided to try Nishino after seeing it had such a high rating on Yelp. My favorite sushi restaurant is Umi Sake House, but I wanted to branch out and try some other places (I had already tried Shiro's). Since so many people said this was the best or one of the best sushi restaurants in Seattle, I had high expectations. I thought Nishino was okay, but it didn't measure up to the 4.5 star rating and all the glowing reviews I read. I thought the prices were on par with a few other sushi restaurants, but when the rolls came out they were small and didn't have very many pieces, so I felt like I was paying a lot and not getting much in return (whereas at Umi, I'd pay a little more but get double what I got here). The thing I didn't like was the rice. Even though it doesn't seem that important, rice can make or break a sushi roll. This rice had a similar taste to the rice that I would get in Publix sushi (Publix is a southeastern grocery store). One of the things I ordered was the spicy salmon tartare on top of crispy rice. The taste of the rice overpowered the salmon tartare, and the tartare could have used some salt and wasn't spicy at all. The salmon itself was good, but the overall dish lacked the flavor I was expecting. Nishino has good quality ingredients and fish, but it was too pricey for the small amount of food I got and there wasn't anything special about it. I don't know what I missed that most reviewers seem to love, but I was underwhelmed and probably wouldn't go out of my way to go back.
I dream of crispy rice. It is one of life's greatest things. I used to get my fix in LA, at the Katsuya establishments. I'm so happy I found a place in Seattle that offers this. Nishino is located in the pretty, upscale Madison Park neighborhood. There's a small lot, but we found street parking since it was after 8pm. I definitely recommend making a reservation. We were a party of five and had a nice round table in the back that was great for conversation. The restaurant is one room, on the small side, but bright and very cozy. I liked starting off with a hot washcloth. We ordered a ton of the signature dishes including the salmon and crispy rice, hamachi w/ jalapeño, and the tuna tartare with taro chips, etc. They were all DELICIOUS. The different textures of the hamachi dish were fabulous. The hamachi and the salmon tartare on crispy rice dishes were my favorites of the night. We ordered several plates of these. I recommend sticking to fish here because that's where they shine (the two chicken dishes we had weren't very memorable). We also had a dragon roll, the cutely-named arboretum roll, and the house roll. The wasabi was a little strong in some of the pieces (I don't like wasabi and prefer when it's just left on the side.). I had a delicious local white wine that went perfectly with the fish. For dessert, we shared a few green tiramisus- I'm not a tiramisu fan but the people in my group are and they loved it. The service at this place is one of the best I've experienced in Seattle hands-down. It is 5-star, seamless, professional, friendly, and unobtrusive. We had a combination of two female servers and they were great the whole meal. They put up with my brother's silliness, including his desire to keep the ponzu sauce after the food was gone and they tried to remove the plates. Like any fine sushi establishment, this place is not cheap, considering you have to order a lot of food to fill your belly. It's definitely a special-occasion place, especially for a big group. I'll definitely come back the next time I need to celebrate. day 25 of 30 for 30
(5)
Margaret F.
Day dreamed about the Yellow Tail (Hamachi) sushi I ate last night on the commute home tonight... So fresh. Melted in your mouth. Large, but not too large, slices of fish. Temperature was right also... not warm... but not too cold. Last night was my first time here, but I can tell they have a lot of love for regulars. It's not too expensive, either. I'm looking forward to becoming a regular....
(5)
Jungah K.
I would say Nishino is not just a place to eat but also an experience. The sushi just melts in your mouth and its wonderful. On a different level from other sushi places. Omakase is what we had. That is expensive and the chef chooses what you get . I would recommend letting them know ahead of time if that's what you want. Only thing that wasn't my cup of tea was art work on the wall. Not sure I liked the eyes looking at me ... Seemed a little creepy :(
(5)
Tracy I.
One of my favorite place for sushi! A little more on the pricier side and I do recommend making reservations, but certainly well worth it! This place is cute and clean, set in a little strip mall area. A great way to sample their dishes is start with the Omakase, which is worth it. I will say that I didn't think there was enough raw fish and sushi, so we just ordered on them on the side. Parking kind of sucks though. There's a small underground lot, but can get confusing when going up the elevator because there are no clear signs to direct you to the restaurant.
(5)
Jasmine M.
No time for a long review, but had a really great time here. Service was good, food delivered on all points; definitely an excellent restaurant that fills the niche for tastey Japanese food in Seattle. Shiro's does Sushi well, so having a restaurant like Nishino's that does dishes well is a good compliment for the culinary climate of the city. I would say Nishino's takes a bit more of a modern/contemporary spin on Japanese dishes, but doesn't disappoint. Keep on eating, diners!
(4)
Wilson U.
From the outside, nestled in a little strip mall next to some kind of gym, who would know that this would be an excellent sushi place. I wondered in on having stumbled across the name on the web. I figured that I would just order a few items to sample and move on to other places in capital hill area. Little did I know how hard it would be to move on from this establishment. The deep fried oyster was delicious. Not overcooked and a good sauce although you have to eat it fast or it will get soggy in the sauce. Two servings of uni since it was so buttery goodness. Unagi, wow, just so good and fresh.Shiromaguro was a good cut of fish. Hotate was pretty much melt in your mouth goodness. Kampachi was an interesting taste/texture. Kaki was good. If you sit at the sushi bar, the hot items are ordered from the server and the sushi items from the sushi bar directly. Service was friendly. And I will have to say that it is on the pricier side of things but it is also very good. There is a parking lot/garage. The 'short' term parking is in front of the restaurant and the longer term parking in the back. I was there on a Thursday night and it was busy up until about 9:30 and then it was pretty open for the time I was still there. So reservation or go late seems like the best bet.
(5)
Darrell C.
By far our favorite sushi restaurant in town. We have kids that love to go to the sushi bar, and the sushi chefs are always friendly and fun with them, letting them order up custom roles that that make. Its sometimes hard to get a spot if you don't book a reservation first... but worth the effort to plan ahead.
(5)
Wes E.
I have had Japanese food all over the world, this is among the best, fresh ingredients, friendly atmosphere, and unique dished are the reason we keep returning. Omakase dinner is a multi course chef's dinner featuring the best of the menu. innovative good taste and visual elegance. omakase is japanese for "leave it to me." leave it to our chef for an unforgettable meal. We order it every time!!
(5)
Graeme G.
We;ve been back since, and we have yet to be disappointed. The most telling thing was the fact that my wife and I ate at another local restaurant and were able to tell how overcooked our salmon was...because it was PERFECT at Nishino. This is simply a great place to eat, and cannot wait to back.
(5)
Griffin E.
There are lots of pretty good sushi restaurants in and around Seattle -- Chiso, Shiros and Nishino. I'm not including places like Umi or Wasabi since they take a slightly different approach with their rolls. For some of the more traditional stuff, the three I mentioned earlier are supposedly the best of the best. I had the pleasure of dining at Nishino for the first time this week. It was a great experience all around and I'd certainly come back to try other things on their menu. We had reservations for 5. Some of us ordered off the Dine Around Seattle menu but I wanted to try some of the regular menu stuff as well. The great thing about eating with lots of other friends is you can sample what they have and vice versa. First off, the place is located in a multi-use complex, next to a local fitness center. The decor is warming and bustling with activity. Patrons are seated relatively close to each other and the open kitchen is full of noise and energy. In spite of all this, I still felt comfortable and didn't ever feel the need to shout in order to talk with my friends. I ordered the broiled black cod, a couple pieces of shake (salmon) and the special roll that consisted of tuna, salmon and yellowtail. Other people in my party had the mochiko chicken, hamachi rolls, and other assorted pieces of fish. My cod was amazing. I love black cod in general but this was prepared very well. The fish wasn't over done, still flaky and smooth. It really just melts in your mouth and the accompanying lotus root/pickled sides really help balance the sweetness of the fish. I might also add that they use real wasabi here, so it has a bit of a fine grainy texture but is much more potent. If you're a wasabi wimp, beware -- otherwise enjoy it - it's awesome! There are a lot of great little details the restaurant provides during your dining experience... I'll just wrap it up and say that the service was excellent, the food was great and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone. I will need to try the omakase menu the next time around!
(5)
Marty G.
Great food. Great atmosphere. The sushi we ate was extremely fresh and tasted so good. As always we wanted to try it all and had way too much food. But it was do delicious. I recommend this place over the others. Well be back often. Thanks.
(5)
Sunny H.
Fancy fancy. Good stuff. We are rarely in Seattle anymore, so it was a good treat. Great service and great food. I am not - however - in love with it. Not sure why. It's definitely a great place and I'd return very soon if feasible.
(4)
Brian C.
Recently celebrated my wife's birthday here and got the Omakase. It did NOT disappoint. It was sooooo good, we took pictures of every dish! The presentation and tastes were superb. Every dish was like a work of art...both in sight and taste. The atmosphere was perfect. Not a large bustling restaurant, but intimate. Service staff was attentive and treated us like VIPs, even though it was our first time there. They even offered us Sake to celebrate (we turned it down as we don't imbibe). I highly recommend Nishinos!
(5)
Lyndsey G.
so GOOD! The sashimi was amazing-- so, so good. I wasn't as big a fan of the non-sushi dishes, but it could of just been my tastes that night. I'd come back for the sushi though, i can't say enough good things about the cut of fish!
(4)
Hannah L.
Oh, my. You're never too old to learn new things, such as the following: Edward may be the best waiter in Seattle; Real (and therefore rare) wasabi is MEANT to be eaten alone. Morsel by spicy eye-watering decadently hotly freshly spicy morsel; Taylor Shellfish Farm's sweet, fleshy oysters make tempura unforgettable; Black cod and butter share more than a mere consonant; Fried crustacean carapace is a delicacy; I have no idea where mochi ice cream was all my life; No one gets more excited about a birthday than I do, no matter whose it is, if that means a night of omakase at Nishino. I could go on...but I cannot remember more than literal bits and pieces, palate snapshots, of various lovely delightful bites of fish (much from our own Pacific waters) and vegetables and little laps of sauces and nibbles of crisply fried garlic slices....Suffice it to say that it was a true delight to arrive at our table, order a bottle of wine, and never once even so much as glance at a menu, trusting instead the expertly skilled hands of the chefs (and our fantastic and truly expert server) to deliver an original and fascinating multi-course birthday dinner for my dearest man and me. Do you need to know anything more? There's an outdoor deck with a happy hour menu, you can stop by and get sushi and sashimi and other dishes for takeout, a lengthy sake menu exists to please those of you who are aficionados, and whatever you do, order the omakase (in advance). Get to finding your special occasion....
I don't think it is anything special at all. It wasn't horrible, but for the price and the hype I would have expected fresher sushi and a wider range of cuts. It's fine if you're around and want some sushi but I wouldn't go out of my way for it and I wouldn't wait either.
(2)
Mike G.
I love this place! Recommend.
(5)
Arry Y.
One of the best sushi places EVER. -- Great ambiance -- Great service -- The Dungenous crab bake is A-MAZ-ING. AWESOME. -- New style sashimi - YUM, I love that sauce. -- Seaweed Salad -- Maguro tona with fois gras (pricey bite of goodness) -- Tara Nabe (When they have it in season) - amazing!!!!! -- Mochi Ice Cream (white chocolate raspberry is my absolute favorite) Oh - and their sushi is awesome. Any of it - all nigiri sushi's are my favorite there. Great quality. I always get the escolar (aka super white tuna), albacore, hamachi, unagi, amaebi, ... those are my staples along with whatever else is freshest. My beau ordered a spicy tuna roll - and thought it was the best he's ever had. I never order rolls here (preferring nigiri/sashimi) - and I was super pleased he loved his staple go-to roll. I first discovered this place back in 2002 - loved it so much I used to go practically every month. (I can't believe I never wrote a review for this restaurant.) I took a break for a year or two and recently got a chance to go back last week with my beau - it's STILL AMAZING. Great place for a night out with your hunny. I LOVE YOU, Nishino.
(5)
Scott S.
Went back last night. This time went with a number of cooked dishes, including halibut cheeks... Just as great of an experience as the first time. You definitely need to go.
(5)
Andrew D.
Wow. I have eaten sushi all around Seattle and consider myself a pretty well rounded sushi eater :-). This place was exceptional. Amazing. We had a variety of dishes and all were superb. We had * Foie Gras and seared tuna. Superb. Rich taste and full of flavor. Would by again * Snow Crab and Asparagus Tempura - amazing. Would buy again * Arboretum Roll - amazing. Super taste and great combination. Would buy again * Curried Seared Halibut Cheek - quite salty, interesting taste against the white meat of the halibut. Would not buy again * Kampachi Usuzukuri - exceptional taste and favors. Would buy again. * Nigiri - Maguro, Shake, Hamachi - wow. Can't say enough about the exceptional quality - would buy again. Will return for sure. Not something for every day of the week (pricey) but exceptional for a date night or special occasion!
(5)
Lisa E. L.
I came here during the Dine Around Seattle with a group of 7 people. I arrived 10 mins prior to the reservation time and was asked to wait for our table to be ready. I sat down and chatted with couple friends until the rest of the group showed up. It's about 10 mins after our reservation and the server said it'll take "one more sec". Surprisingly, it was really about 3 seconds instead of 30 min wait that we were expecting since the place is packed on a Sunday night. Service was good, although the server forgot to bring out my ice tea until i asked for it. Their sushi tasted authentic. You can tell by just looking at the way the rice is shaped and the way they sliced the fish. Onkimo was pretty tasty! That's def a big plus. Will consider going back for the Omakase!
(4)
Libby W.
The 4-star review is kind of an average between the 5-star quality nigiri and 3-star everything else. My boyfriend took me here for a surprise "fancy dinner" date last Saturday around 7pm or so. He had been before, but not within the last several years. He has mentioned how good he remembered it being many times. He didn't make a reservation because he wanted for us to sit at the sushi bar. When we got there, of course it was packed (7pm on a Saturday, duh). Not a single seat at the sushi bar, and all of the tables were full, as well, so we had to wait. It wasn't long - maybe 10-15 mins. The host was very friendly, and brought us ice water and green tea while we waited (although my bf's tea was cold; mine was fine, though). We ordered a couple of appetizers - spicy tuna (or was it salmon?) tartare on crispy rice, soft shell crab spring rolls, and seaweed salad. Crispy rice is my favorite sushi-restaurant appetizer of all time! I have had it a million times, at many different restaurants in different cities, and it's usually pretty much the same thing wherever you go. I was expecting something sensational, since they were charging twice what I normally expect to pay, whereas the rest of the appetizers were priced normally. There was nothing special about the crispy rice - same quality and amount I'd get anywhere else, but way more expensive. My bf didn't like it at all - he said he liked it better at the last place I'd ordered it (a far more casual/inexpensive spot). I thought it was fine, just overpriced. I thought the soft shell crab spring rolls were pretty good. Bf thought they were just ok. The seaweed salad was one of the nicer ones we've had - there were 3 different greens in it. We liked that one. Bf got several nigiri, and this was the highlight of the meal. I really recommend coming here if you stick to nigiri and sashimi. He ordered the scallop, mackerel, and shrimp, and all 3 were some of the best I've ever tasted. I ordered the house roll, which has tuna, salmon, whitefish, and yellowtail. These are 4 of my faves, so I was really excited about it. For being their "house roll," I have to say that it was kind of disappointing. Well, first, the sushi chef forgot about it, so I didn't get it until we reminded him after my bf was long since finished. But once it came, for having 4 different kinds of fish, it seemed really heavy on the rice and light on the fish. I couldn't taste anything, and my bf's fish had been SO flavorful. That's just a lesson learned on my part - I would not order maki next time, and will just stick to nigiri or sashimi. My bf also got a pickled veggie roll, and this was pretty good. I had one cocktail - a specialty pear martini of some kind - and it was a little sweet for me, but not bad. The specialty cocktails are expensive ($12+). Next time I will just stick with tried-and-true sake. We split a sorbet topped with red beans for dessert - I wish I could remember what it was called. It was some sort of herbal sorbet (not green tea). Anyway, it was light and delicious. Service was friendly, but left a little to be desired. Our teas were only refilled once during the couple of hours we were there, and we had to ask. The restaurant was slammed, but we saw servers standing around chatting while our waters and teas sat empty for the majority of the time we were there. Not necessarily our server, but that's sort of irrelevant. If you have downtime and the restaurant is that busy, maybe see if one of your coworkers needs help instead of just standing around. I was a server for years and I'd be lying if I said I never stood by the main wait station chatting with coworkers, but not during Saturday night dinner rush. Hello. I don't want to get anyone in trouble, but it is something that we both noticed, so it came up in the car on the way home, and like...that's probably not how you want to be remembered. Just saying. Anyway, the fish here is really, REALLY good, and that's what you want when you go out for sushi (right?). Just plain ol' fish - no fancy rolls or appetizers. Get it straight up, and you will be really impressed with the quality.
(4)
goldfish m.
Just stopped our omakase midway because our sushi dish never showed up after 40 minutes of waiting. If you enjoy this kind of service, this is the place for you.
(1)
Maureen B.
Everything has been perfect here! Have gone for two celebration dinners & the service, drinks, sushi & rolls have been impressive each time! A must fit anyone who loves sushi & has high standards!
(5)
Akiko O.
I would recommend Nishino to anyone who I know for any of their important occasions. It's good for dates, dinners with good friends, business meals, family gatherings and nice solo meals. I've been to Nishino only twice for difference occasions, but both times were absolutely FANTASTIC. They have a huge menu for food. Regular menu is already big, but they do amazing seasonal dishes too. All sound good, and all I've eaten so far were actually incredible! As we were eating, their food itself made our tables smile. And servers at Nishino are pros. They helped us to have really good times. I wish Nishino were close to where I live! I can't wait to go back there.
(5)
Joseph A.
Great Japanese (a bit fusion) restaurant! Had combination of several raw fish starters fusion style (ceviche, carpaccio, tartar). Then miso cod and nigiri sushi. Enjoyed every dish! Excellent service.
(5)
Dawn B.
I have been underwhelmed with sushi since moving to Seattle. I knew that I just hadn't found the right place yet. This is the place I have been waiting for! Problem is, it costs a small fortune to eat here. Know wonder it's located in Madison Park.
(4)
Micah R.
I'm writing this because it pains me that Nishino has an average rating less than 5 stars, and I should have long ago thrown my $0.02 in the hat. Tatsu and his staff have created the best sushi value for the money that I have encountered anywhere outside Japan. And given that I haven't *been* to Japan, well, that's saying something isn't it?! I've been on sushi quest all over the West Coast for the past few years, and the totality of the experience - great fresh fish, creative ingredients and amazing flavors, and friendly service with a neighborhood feel - is unmatched. Nobu competes on freshness, creativity and taste, but at 4x the price and 10x the pretention, I'd take Nishino 10 times out of 10. Plus, it was right down the street when I lived in Seattle, and how can you beat that. Only downside is that the interior and ambiance are a bit plain vanilla, but I can live with that since it's a neighborhood joint. Go there 4 or 5 times, and Nishino or the servers are likely to greet you by name. Favorite dishes include the miso black cod, mushroom soup (only available in Fall - and I don't even *like* mushrooms!), pumpkin mochi (only around Turkey Day), seared white tuna, all of the sashimi but especially toro, foie gras with red wine reduction (an absolute party. in. my. mouth.). I could go on, but instead I'll just tell you to go and order the omakase or the exclusive omakase. At $65/75, you won't be sorry. For the ideal experience, book ahead and get Edward Toma as your server. The man is fantastic, a lot of fun to dine with / be served by, with knowledgeable recommendations on fish, sake, and everything else, always delivered with enthusiasm. As a closing thought, be warned: if you go here, you will be forever comparing other sushi restaurants to Nishino, and they will always fall short. So be prepared to have your bar raised.
(5)
Greg S.
The food is so good that you can never order wrong. I've never had a bad dish. What makes it better is the environment/ very tastefully decorated, beautiful artwork and a warm and friendly staff. Say hi to Mori! Treat yourself- you'll be glad you did.
(5)
Christian D.
Incredibly good sushi. Fairly expensive but incredibly good. Would go back in a heart beat.
(5)
Riki H.
Ridiculous. Overpriced sake and sushi. The food is very good but, this is where rich white people go for sushi. The atmosphere reminded me of CT rather than Japanese restaurant.
(3)
Nick R.
I consider myself a pretty experienced sushi eater, and Nishino is by far the best in my book. A fun, relaxed atmosphere compliments amazing, fresh sushi at reasonable prices. Their shrimp tempura, and udon noodles are to die for. The mochi is also a great end to a delicious meal. You can really tell with every bite that the fish is absolutely fresh and high quality. Make sure to call in a reservation, as drop-ins are hard to be seated.
(5)
Tom C.
I love sushi - good sushi. As far as fresh, good quality sushi goes, this is one of the best I have encountered in Seattle - if not the best. It is also one of the most expensive sushi bars I have been to - which I don't mind as much, because the sushi is so good. Just be aware. Also, parking can be a bit of challenge as well. What really does it for me though - not only do they know what a shrimp boat is, they can make it the right way!!
(5)
Christopher C.
Okay, I'm a bit excited I went here because I feel like I discovered a new favorite of mine! Walking in, I smelled the fresh fish - and I do mean fresh. It is the difference between the fishy smell at the market and a much cleaner scent of food. The hostess fit us in before a reservation so I was treated to excellent, 5-star customer service. The waiter was attentive but not pushy and made easy recommendations from experience. I noticed he had a "personal touch" to his service but the entire staff seemed to be attentive of our table. When the food arrived, it was excellent! I had mushroom garlic soup and an asparagus and crab roll with chicken miso for the others. It also looks like I have a bunch of choices for next time I return. Perhaps with a reservation and appropriate attire, this time!
(5)
Sara Q.
this place is pretty consistent. i came here for dine around seattle. i got a seafood miso soup with garlic chip to start, there were two jumbo prawns in there, piece of salmon, a clam and baby bok choy. it was pretty dang tasty, probably my favorite of the three dishes i had today. i got the beef negimaki with a lemony swiss chard and sweet potato fries. while i didn't think everything on my plate meld together harmoniously, i do feel each component was delicious by it's self. they gave me a side of rice which was helpful before the beef component was super salty. it reminded me of chicken adobo or vietnamese thit kho flavor. for dessert i got the green tea tiramisu .. which wasn't really tiramisu but more of a sponge cake with a green tea infused whipped cream. i almost wish they didn't call it a tiramisu, because it wasn't really one.. idk. my friend had the white salmon carpaccio with arugula which was good, the salmon was thinly slice which was a joy. it was nicely seasoned. his sushi was not bad but it wasn't the best i've had either. they gave him a variety of sushi and all the fish looked good, just not super fresh.. i thought it was just alright. the mochi was good.. it was coffee (which seriously tasted like haagen daz coffee ice cream.. i'm pretty sure it was!) but the white chocolate raspberry mochi was delish! the mochi was flavored with the raspberry flavor that worked so well with the ice cream. i probably won't jump up and down to come back to this place especially because the drive is kind of out of the way, but it was a good experience. edward was our server and he was super attentive.
(3)
Jayme D.
AMAZING! That is the only way I can describe this sushi. The menu is simple and relatively traditional. The albacore and arboretum roll were delicious. I highly suggest the salmon on crispy rice. It was so flavorful and had great texture. I can't wait to come back to order this again. We also ordered the udon. The shitake mushrooms are the best I've ever had in an udon bowl.They were sweet and full of flavor. The mushrooms add a nice suprise to the dish. I was very impressed. The staff is very professional and friendly. Our waitress recommended the salmon on crispy rice and we are so grateful that she did. This has been one of the better sushi restaurants I've ate at in Seattle thus far. They keep it simple, fresh, and delicious.
(5)
Ninette C.
I have been wanting to come here for over a year, but it just never happened. When they were featured on Dine Around Seattle, I jumped at the chance. We went on a double-date and each couple ordered the oyster and french beans tempura salad, white salmon carpacio with arugula, sushi and roll platter and tara saikyoyaki, broiled black cod marinated in miso. For dessert, I tried the espresso mochi ice cream and the honey mango cheesecake. Now I understand you don't put your most expensive dishes forward for Dine Around Seattle. The food was all nice enough, but nothing special. One excellent thing I must add: the Asian pear wine. Refreshing and very pear-y. The ambiance was nice...fancier than most Japanese places in Seattle, but that was the thing...our food didn't match the ambiance. I would come back again if I was looking to shell out for the very best and most unique dishes and a special occasion. Otherwise, I'll just stick with my other Japanese favorites (Maneki and Musashi)...
(3)
Jeff P.
Nishino was a wonderful dinner last night, as with every time before. The sushi is top notch, even the ones that can be challenging to get right, like uni and ikura. Our service was just a tad slow, but nothing I would complain about--just a bit off for a 5-star restaurant. I would bring anyone to Nishino for a special evening.
(5)
Lei S.
My husband took me here for dinner for my birthday and it was such a great experience. We eat sushi quite a bit (My family is from Japan so I really enjoy good sushi and authentic Japanese food) so I thought it was a bit odd for my husband to choose this restaurant. Well, there's a reason why there are so many good reviews for this place. Our server was extremely professional yet not pretentious at all. He was very attentive but let us enjoy a relaxed dinner at our own pace. The food was amazing and I'm a bit ashamed to admit that we ordered one dessert to share and ended up ordering another after we devoured the first one in 3 seconds flat. Delish!
(5)
Splandie J.
Nishino is consistently one of the best restaurants in Seattle. Beautiful presentation, food that's fresh fresh fresh, and welcoming staff makes every visit a pleasure. I especially like the Tuna Tartare. I wish they had more room as I forget to make reservations. They are usually booked during main dinner hours, which makes drop-in visits problematic. Take out is just as tasty as dine in. (The only down side is the poor live shrimp in the sushi windows struggling.)
(5)
Allen U.
This is one high class sushi joint--not your average good sushi--great sushi--but you pay for it--a special occasion sushi stop--try the Arboretum Roll @ $10--Maguro tuna @ $6.50-- Fresh Sea Urchin @ $8.50--Shrimp Dumpling @ $10--or Spicy Calamari @ $12--Vegetable Tempura @ $11--all perfectly prepared and different than you think--yummy yummy--but don't look at the bill--just sign it--and enjoy the moment--Al
(5)
Mary F.
We did the chef's choice menu here. Oh, my, god. We agree it's the best japanese food we've ever had. This is iron chef stuff here. First, the ingredient quality is stellar. But everything is elevated. For example, miso soup prepared divinely and to perfection with lobster? Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. I've had some good japanese food in my life. This is the best. No cons. It is pricey but we never felt for a second we didn't get what we paid for. The patrons are diverse..........so really good for people watching too.
(5)
Michael T.
This is the best sushi we've had in Seattle thus far, and in the running for best I've had anywhere. There are no misses here - service, food, atmosphere are all very good. We usually go for nigiri and rolls, but we tried a few of the special items (soft shell crab spring rolls, tempura lobster) and everything was spot on. Reservations a must. Highly recommended.
(5)
Evan P.
I would give Nishino 4 1/2 stars but am rounding up to 5 stars because they have been consistently very good since I can remember. The Halibut Cheeks are delicious and the quality of fish they serve at Nishino is invariably exceptional. The only reason why I'd give them 4 1/2 stars rather than 5 is because their decor is somewhat dated. Not dated in the sense of frayed cushions or a dingy ceiling but their overall ambience and tapestries feels very mid to late 90's to me. If they could freshen up the feel somewhat, it would serve them well and wouldn't take much effort (or money).
(5)
Kerry Q.
super fresh and delicious... every detail is taken into consideration to create a stellar experience. it's a must on the seattle food tour.... last time i made it back twice in the same week!
(5)
Habu H.
Chirashi was pleasant. Good assortment of items on a bed of rice. Tuna 'pick' was ok, texture slightly brittle. Had the dungeness crab and found it a tad salty. It was definitely over reduced. Flavor was consistent and pretty good. Overall: Refer
(4)
Mrs K.
Came here for Valentine's night and it was packed so I'm thankful I made reservations early on! Love that this restaurant is unpretentious and yet they served the best highest quality fish. Their takeout must be extremely good as well since they were constantly lining up their counters with to-go bags. I ordered the omakase dinner for 2 and it was the perfect meal for Valentine's Day. Our server confidently explained every plate that was served with a genuine smile. Loved the lobster and the soup broth was perfection. Not overly salted. I can't wait to go back! Mixed feelings about the ambiance - it is not as romantic since it was well-lit and seating was very tight so you could practically hear everyone's conversation. I would skip the cocktails next time and just go for sake to pair with my sushi next time. Yes, there will certainly be a next time!
(5)
Foodie P.
Maybe I'm spoiled coming from California, but this place didn't live up to the hype or the prices. Very mediocre but nice room and atmosphere
(3)
Aaron B.
It's a little drive from downtown but worth it. I would sit at the bar, unless you are making it romantic. Fresh fish,
(4)
Bethany M.
So... We usually dine at Nishino once a week, and it's consistently good. Not spectacular, but good. The past few weeks, and last night in particular, have been disappointing. We come here primarily for the fresh Japanese fish available on a day-to-day basis, and we understand that the restaurant runs out of said fish on a given night due to limited availability. However, the last couple of times we've placed a sushi/sashimi order, 30-45 minutes goes by, and then our server shows up to let us know that they've run out of a number of items on our order. Okay, no problem with that, BUT: why is it that after you inform us of that that it takes another 45-60 minutes to receive the stuff that you DO have available? This has now happened repeatedly, and it's really frustrating, especially when you're dining with kids on a school night, and a 2-2 1/2 hour meal is just not feasible. The wait staff is never apologetic when this happens, and an apology would certainly go a long way. I think we're taking our business elsewhere, which makes me sad because this has been our go-to location for Japanese cuisine for a while. But they're slipping, for sure.
This is my second time eating here and the food is so amazing! The special crab spring roll was perfect and the hamachi & jalapeño dish along with the shrimp was out of this world! You get all the favors a dish should consist of: spicy, sour, sweet, salty and just perfect! I suggest skipping the actual rolls and going for the special appetizer plates...those dishes are beautiful, flavorful and what this place really represents. The service is just as amazing! Our server described some dishes and recommended a few in which he displayed knowledge of the menu. He coursed our orders out perfectly and made sure my tea was always full! Thank you Christopher R. For such a wonderful experience! This is one of the best sushi places in seattle!
(5)
Laura P.
After a while of not visiting Nishino due to parenthood, we had date night. To our great pleasure, the quality has not changed. . Onto the food- we loved the new style sashimi (seared whitefish wrapped in arugula) so much we ordered seconds. I retract my opinion of the rolls not being worthy. We had the arboretum roll (yellowtail, jalapeno and avocado) and the madison park roll (salmon, shrimp, crab and egg crepe outside) - they both rocked. The ceviche was delicious as was the fiddlehead fern salad. To my surprise, there were several kiddos there! There were babies, toddlers, and older kids so we are bringing the bug next time. Our bug really is into sushi so they won't have to worry about her wandering all over the restaurant as another new walker was. Nishino here we come!
(5)
Sarah C.
Let me start by saying the fish here is some of the freshest and most delicious I have ever had, and I've had sushi/sashimi all over the world. Came here as part of dine around Seattle, this restaurant has been on my list for ages, and the sushi certainly lived up to it's reputation. Melt in your mouth yummy bites of heaven. For appetizers my date and I ordered the Tuna sashimi salad and seafood miso, respectively. Having known what I know now I would have gotten the Tuna as well, I did love all the complex layers of flavors in the miso, but to be totally honest, the seafood in it was a little bit overcooked and dry. The Tuna was out of this world, and the dressing was subtle, some kind of soy/ginger concoction that really made the Tuna the star of the dish. We followed this with three dishes off the menu. Scallop sashimi, Mushroom Tempura, and Tuna with Foie Gras. The Scallop sashima was an exceptionally well composed dish. I would have never though to pair them with Kiwi, but the balance of flavors really brought out a citrus flavor in the sauce on top of the scallops. The Mushroom Tempura was what you would expect, nothing out of this world or amazing, I will not the dipping sauce had wonderful flavor and the tempura texture had that perfect combination of lightness and crunch. The Tuna with Foie Gras came with a sauce that could made an well mannered adult want to lick their plate. Once again, great balance and delicious flavor combinations, I only wish I could have had MORE!! For our main dish we both went for the assorted sushi plate with the daily special roll. Everything on that plate was memorable. I could have easily eaten 3 of these. The fish was insanely fresh, and totally stole the show. I read a couple of reviews that they were heavy on the wasabi, but as a wasabi fan myself, I thought it was perfectly executed, but this totally personal preference. Not totally satisfied yet, we decided to make one final order from the main menu, the Salmon Tartar on crispy rice that I'd read a review on yelp for early that day. And boy was that probably the best decision I made that night!! YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM!!! The toasted sushi rice cooked in clarified butter using just the butter fats tasted like the most amazing combination of delicious fresh toast and rice that one could possibly fathom. And I don't even know where to start with the Salmon Tartar, creamy and amazing just like every other piece of fresh fish we at, the seasoning was perfect and the combination of herbs really made the tuna sing! I'm salivating just writing about it! I WANT MORE! If I go back, and I likely will, mind you only for a special occasion given the price, I will stick to the sushi and sashimi for sure. Oh, and an order of the Salmon Tartar on crispy rice! What an awesome Yelp recommendation!
(4)
Zachary S.
VERY fresh and inventive. Had the regular Omakase dinner here for my birthday. The portions were good, though I left wishing for more raw fish. The flavors were very subtle, typical of many PNW restaurants. We requested the miso cod to be included and they happily substituted it into the Omakase dinner. The cod and the monkfish liver were definitely the standouts. I had never had monkfish liver before and it was excellent. I've tried it at restaurants since then, and none have lived up to the quality of Nishino's. Overall a very good but not outstanding meal. Next time I would probably order off of the regular menu to try out more of their raw fish.
(4)
Stephanie D.
By far the worst Japanese restaurant I've ever been to in the world. I am a foodie and my choice of better Japanese restaurants in Seattle include Tsukashinbo and Shiro's. I decided to give this place a try after the good reviews here on Yelp. I was disappointment the second I walked in. Sushi chefs without hats, gross and so not authentic. You are tell if it is an authentic/traditional Japanese restaurant by observing if the sushi chefs wear hats. Well, I deicded to not start judging until I got the food. I tried a bunch of cooked and raw food and none was good. The only thing that tasted okay was a mushroom dish. How can this place still exist as a highly rated Japanese restaurant? Must have been only reviewed on here by people who had never have real good Japanese food. I'd suggest trying the two places I mentioned above if you are looking for a good Japanese restaurant in Seattle. They are the closest you can find here comparable to the ones in Japan. I would never go back to this place even if they paid me. That's how bad it was!
(1)
Connie C.
Ok, so I'm all the way up in Seattle at one of the top rated sushi restaurants, but what do I order? Not sushi. I don't know, but it wasn't the sushi that caught our eyes. The more inventive dishes were more appealing to us, and it's probably because we're already spoiled with good sushi in the Bay Area. We started with the albacore tuna tartare - minced albacore with ginger salsa, garnished with taro chips. The tuna was very fresh (closest thing we got to sushi!) and loved combining it with the crisp taro chips. We got a few items off the specials menu, which were delicious: the shrimp dumplings in ponzu sauce and a Japanese version of steak frites. My favorite dish of all though was the tara saikyoyaki - the broiled black cod marinated with saikyo miso. The cod was extremely tender and flaky... mmmm!!! We ended the meal with a green tea tiramisu cake, which was spongy and light. It was the perfect amount for two petite gals, especially after a whole day of eating! I'm certain the sushi is fresh and some of the best in Seattle - take everyone else's word for it and try it out for yourself!
(4)
Elisabeth K.
Exquisite food in a calm, comfortable and authentic environment. Loved.
(4)
Amy T.
Nishino is impeccable. It was the perfect place for my birthday dinner last week. The calamari was DELICIOUS. They gave us free mochi ice cream as a birthday treat and we ordered the green tea tiramisu--my mind was blown! This is a great place for a special occasion and for excellent food- sushi or otherwise.
(5)
Terri W.
We had an exceptional dining experience at Nishino. My lady usually gets the omikase but at this restaurant you have to have 2 people order it so she couldn't get it because i'm not as big of a sushi fan. Our waiter suggested to her that he could bring her dishes until she was full so that is what she did. I only have a few things but according to her it was very good. And, we sat next to Kristopher Kristopherson. Fun night!
(4)
Larena H.
It's a known fact that I love sushi like Richard Simmons loves his sequins -- I just can't get enough of the stuff! Nishino is definitely the gold standard when it comes to quality sushi. One of these days, I'll make it over here for the Omakase. Until then, I'll have to base my review off the few sushi dishes I've tried. Naturally, we had to try the foie gras and seared tuna on the Seattle Foodie 100 list. It is a foie gras on a seared tuna with a shiitake mushroom and red wine soy reduction. I'm not all that big on foie gras. Prior to this, I had it once. It was squishy. Would I order this item again? No. Was it prepared well? Absolutely. How did my dude handle it? Not well. At all. He's highly allergic to mushrooms, but he knew what he was getting into by eating this thing. I tried to warn him to only take a small bite, but oh no.. he just *had* to swallow the whole thing. Oh the sacrifices we make for the sake of posterity in completing this list... Everything else here at Nishino is done incredibly well. My one and only complaint is that they don't have a lot of unique rolls available. That's just a matter of my personal preference. I realize I am in the minority in this preference, and I am perfectly okay with that. I still highly recommend this place to people who are in search of great sushi. The atmosphere is quite lovely, and service is incredibly friendly and attentive. They pay great attention to detail in creating aesthetically pleasing dishes. Even though I'm not very big on their item on "the list", this is still a great restaurant. We'll be back!
(4)
LeeLee C.
The most favorite restaurant in town from my foodie friend is this place. Nishino, a Japanese restaurant tucks in a small square away from Seattle downtown, attracts repeating clientele for good reasons. The food! We are lucky to have the chef on site and gives us an omakase experience. For the rushed time, we skip the sake but the quality of food is not compromised in any way. The ingredients are fresh in season and the preparation is careful and skillful. We had sashimi in sesame oil, mushroom tempura, ceviche, fresh in season Aji sashimi and deep fried fish head, fatty toro sushi, geoduck clams sushi, deep fried halibut fish cheek among other dishes. They're all VERY FRESH, boucy texture and well soaked in flavors.
(5)
Andrew W.
While my girlfriend and I were looking for the best sushi experience in Seattle, we found Nishino on yelp. The 4.5 star rating is a huge discount to what the restaurant actually deserves: 5 stars. The waiter was very friendly and engaging, introducing to us some of their popular items. Their albacore tuna tartare and toro tartare with caviar which were absolutely must haves. I wish I have the opportunity to try Omakase dinner on Valentine's Day, maybe next year.
(5)
Sa Y.
Good service. Sushi is a bit too modern for me, but it's high quality. I loved their wasabi. It wasn't a joke. They even have real wasabi root they will grind up for me. Wow. I can't wait to go back.
(4)
Raymond H.
Overall a pleasant dining experience. I wouldn't come here too often because it's a bit flat in terms of atmosphere, but a great spot for Japanese food. Something small to mention, but odd: metal faucets that are shaped like bamboo. Well, I thought they were cool enough to mention. Anyway, the highlights... WASABI: You have to ask for fresh wasabi if you want real wasabi. Otherwise, they'll give you the horseradish with green food coloring every other place calls wasabi. In fact, I only found two places in Seattle that have real wasabi and this is one of them. PRICE: A bit spendy, but worth the price. Be prepared to spend $$$ if you're going for sushi on an appetite. PARKING: Not good. Small parking lot for several businesses. Can be a challenge if you're driving a large vehicle. FOOD: I've only had the sushi. Nishino certainly uses the freshest ingredients. The rice amazingly holds together after drenching it with soy sauce. The cuts are thicker than anywhere else I've been in the Seattle metro. This place definitely merits its culinary awards it has on its walls. CHOPSTICKS: Why are they using wooden disposable sticks??? AMBIENCE: Definitely a classy place. It's a good neutral environment for taking business clients. I'm a bit of an eccentric personality and stick out in this crowd, but ... SERVICE: ...the staff have been stellar with their service.
(5)
Andy S.
Superb sushi and reasonable prices. A must visit in Seattle- perhaps one of the 10 best sushi places I have been to in the USA. Great quality nigiri, great selection (lots of fresh fish specials), excellent service, and again- very reasonable prices- we guessed wrong (by $100) when our bill arrived! O-toro/chu-toro was great and VERY reasonably priced. For my friends in the SF bay area- Nishino compares very favorably to Sushi Ran in Sausalito. Plenty of non-sushi alternatives as well. A must and I will be back at least once every time when in the Seattle area. Thanks for a great meal Nishino!
(5)
Sarah S.
The first time I went to Nishino I LOVED it. Thought it was by far the best sushi restaurant in Seattle. I was so excited to go a second time, taking a friend with me from out of town. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with my second visit. The sushi rolls we got had too much rice, not enough fish. If you plan to go, I recommend sticking to their sashimi.
(3)
Joe O.
I had a friend in town this weekend and her last request before heading back was that we try some Seattle sushi. Since we're familiar with the sushi joints in the Belltown area, we thought something closer might be a good idea. We've heard about this place for a very long time and had been meaning to check it out so this was the perfect opportunity. It was a fairly busy Sunday night and we couldn't get reservations for 4 so we sat at the bar and found that to be a lovely dining experience. We ordered sushi straight from the sushi chef, all the while, having the dinner apps, beers and "hot" plates served to us by a very diligent waitstaff. We tried a lot of the stuff on the other menu but really, since we were sitting at the bar and because this is, for all intense purposes, a sushi restaurant, we had sushi. Lots of sashimi was consumed, the best being the maguro, the hamachi and the "super white" tuna - the last one, I had never tried before. Now I've eaten at many a sushi restaurant, here and even in Japan - I could honestly say this place is definitely up there in my top 10. Lucky for us it's only about 10 minutes down the road, I'll definitely be heading here again, probably on a weekday to avoid the crowds.
(5)
Melissa L.
our waiter was superrrrrr nice, but oh my lordy the boy was slow as a slug. in his defense, i think he was our waitor AND the bartender. you really can't go wrong here, everything is yummy. i did the dine around seattle menu miso seafood - delicious, smooth, and almost buttery tasting. it was loaded with tons of seafood white salmon carpaccio - melts in your mouth sushi platter - the fish is fresh and it's all in good portions. they slightly over did it with the wasabi, but i survived. you just get a nice kick at the end :). mochi ice cream - their mochi icecream is my favorite here!!!! i just wish they gave you more than 2 pieces. mango cheesecake - light and fluffy yumminess. doesn't make sense that a cheesecake is light and fluffy right? its more like a cheesecake had a babies with a traditonal cake and created a new breed of goodness. they get their cakes and pastries from a local japanese bakery called hiroki and their stuff is awesome. if this were my first time coming to nishino, i might've thrown a 3 star at them just because our wait time was painfully long and i was extremely famished, but the other times i've been here everything was just fine. next time i come i'm going for the omakase!
(4)
Johnson S.
I really, really like Nishino. The sushi here is consistently fresh and delicious. Their sashimi plate is one of the best I've ever had. Price-wise, Nishino very reasonable for what you get: great food served in a gorgeous dining room. My one gripe about this place is the bar. I ordered a gin martini and it came in a small cocktail shaker with a tiny martini glass to pour it into as I drank it. This may seem cute (or whatever) but it's a dreadful way to serve a martini. By the time I was halfway done with my drink, it was so watered down and overly cold that I could barely enjoy it. 5 stars for Nishino when they stop serving their cocktails on ice. Seriously... STOP IT!
(4)
Jacqueline M.
Im literally spoiled for life. I was reluctant to try bc so many people commented on the expense. However, BF and I have eaten and had drinks for about $100 total. We both have decent appetites and have two to three drinks each. I think this is reasonable.
(5)
Andrea R.
Hands down, the best sushi in all Seattle. I've been here a few different times, but last night was there for a birthday celebration with my hubby. First off, everyone we spoke with from the hostess, to our waiter, to the owner behind the sushi counter bidding us fairwell, - everyone was very friendly and attentive. Now the food, a little pricier than your average sushi place but the food is reflective and worth every penny. We started with miso soup & their house salad (get the half - it's big). Then two rolls, and the salmon, albacore, and tuna sushi. Everything was delicious, but the albacore was by far the best. Tastes like sushi butter. Also, another thing to note is the place looks super kid friendly for the parents out there. And I would make reservations for a weekend night - the place was packed.
(5)
Mengyu Z.
Great Japanese restaurant but sushi is not top notch.
(4)
B J.
AMBIENCE - A SERVICE - A+ FOOD - A PRICE - A This is my 3rd time and first time ordering the Regular Omakase $60/per person (chef's choice) This was a set 8 course meal... decided by the chef. Overall, It was unique and original experiences for some dishes but ALL was delicious. Mia my server was excellent in explaining all the dishes and ingredients as she served them and even like the special touch of changing out tea cups to cleaner cups mid-service. Pricey, but great experience and excellent food today! July 20, 2010 REGULAR OMAKASE -------------------------------- 1st - Appetizer - Geoduck sashimi / 3 day marinated vinegar smelt fried/ white salmon wrapped asparagus with ponsu sauce. - 1st experience eating raw geoduck - firm and delectable. 2nd - Fried spotted prawn head with the body made into a ceviche in citrus combo. - very fresh and delish! and the head actually had lots of meat and crispy all the way down to the antennas! I hear you can buy 2 shrimp heads for $1... I'll have to order more next time! 3rd - Albacore sashimi salad w/soy onion vinaigrette garnished with fried lotus root. - nice sized pieces of sweet albacore. 4th - Sauteed squid/ morel mushrooms/ asparagus in a EVOO soy garlic sauce. - the morels should have tasted woody but for some reason they were a little salty, but overall a nice tasting dish. 5th - Fried tempura pacific oyster - in a daikon / ponsu? sauce - this was my favorite as the the oysters were perfectly soft, sinuous, and milky oysters! 6th - pan fried halibut cheeks over swiss chard and mushroom medley served with wasabi mayo. - it was okay - 7th - Sushi Platter - Wild Salmon (delish) / Super wht. tuna (escolar)-delish / special roll of tuna/flounder/wht.fish/flounder (not my favorite) and UNI! (my 3rd time in my life and finally was able to eat again and enjoy the moment... just to make sure I didn't toss my cookies, I chased with some wasabi and ginger!) 8th - Dessert/fruit plate - fresh fruit with Moochi - frozen doughy desserts - strawberry/white chocolate - espresso - green tea... Nice way to finish and clean palate! Overall I can't wait to go back and experience the "Special Omakase" $75 ( I hear it may just include an additional bite on the appetizer and giving one additional dish - which tonight I heard was the seared foie gras with tuna - mmm... that sounded good) Can't wait to go back!
(5)
cecilia h.
Excellent service- the waiter basically ordered for me as im the person who doesnt eat meat or seafood.. and he did an amazing job.. my boyfriend and I have been to Japan, and the food here was just as great.
(5)
Dawn A.
This is close to us so we had to go and visit, especially after we'd heard good things. It was definitely pricy and I didn't find too many inventive rolls on the menu. We didn't like the miso but the rolls were okay. The fish quality was good but we don't need to revisit.
(3)
Mark C.
Best Sushi in town. Order the Omikasa and let the Sushi chef take control. He will deliver several unique creation that are off the menu. Well worth the try. I have never been disappointed!
(5)
jenilee p.
i've nothing but praise for nishino's excellent service, the freshness of its fish, the creativity of its dishes, and the generally welcoming atmosphere inside the restaurant. but...and there's a but here... nishino didn't receive a perfect score, because during the omakase meal, i think there was a slight disruption of culinary "flow". the omakase does come at a very reasonable price for such a creative set of dishes. and i will refrain from taking you through every succulent detail, because other yelpers have given a pretty thorough description (enough so for me to make a special trip during a venture to seattle). so we had several dishes in order in our party of three taking us through the impressive gamut of fresh fish, and creative fusion cuisine, each with asian flavors and flare. excellent presentation. to our surprise, halfway through the meal, with high expectations, they gave us what could only be described as a delicious izakaya dish. it was a japanese eggplant, covered with a delicious cheese, tomato, and crab topping. was it good? delicious. however, in an omakase tasting menu, it sort of disrupted the flow of the meal. we went from asian flavors, to something clearly more mediterranean. i think it was more appropriate for a snack with a cool beer on a hot summer day than in the flow of a pricey sushi meal. was it good? yes! but did it throw off the "journey" in a tasting menu? yeah...kinda...bummer... after that, to boot, we had a salad course, mixed spinach greens it seemed like, with a few lotus chips and then two slices of albacore tuna. the salad dressing was delicious, as were the lotus chips, and kudos to the adventurous chef that throws in a salad course in the dead of winter. but this again threw us off. not because it wasn't asian-based in flavor...but more because...it was...er... bad. fresh albacore has never been my favorite, but the combination of a very mushy fish with some chewy (not crunchy) salad greens wasn't up to par for this restaurant's other courses. i think that if a salad course was key to this meal, it would have been good to substitute the albacore into some sort of a house-made naruto (fish) cake. i'm just sayin... anyway, the meal continued with an extremely impressive japanese hot pot dish, with mushrooms and a delicious broth. wonderful idea for a winter dreary seattle day. the sushi course, though i had been looking forward to it, was a bit disappointing. fresh fish, and lots of rolls, but i think i may have been more psyched with a couple of the hand rolls they feature on advertisements. the sushi that they gave seemed like you could actually pick up from any takeout joint on the east coast. good sushi...not great sushi... if you have the chance to go to nishino, please do! it's just lovely! but i would recommend against the omakase, because i think that the choice of course order, and the salad course were the two flaws that threw off the entire meal. if i were to rank sugiyama (new york), uni (boston), and nishino (seattle), i would have to rank nishino as last out of the bunch.
(4)
Louise M.
The food here is good. But the portions are very small, and very expensive. The problem I have is that the restaurant is VERY LOUD. and they pack the tables together so you feel like a sardine. I could have a conversation with everyone around me and sniff the people in the table next to me if I had wanted to. The other problem was the service. The staff took our plates before we were finished, twice! never asked us if we were done. They rushed us through our meal, which is inexcusable when you are paying premium prices and have a reservation. I would go again if it was free.
(2)
Lexy W.
Sushi is amazing -- every piece perfection. Some of the cooked specials were disappointing and expensive though.
(4)
Jeff G.
A little piece of Nobu lives in Seattle. Nobu is world famous Sushi restaurant that started in New York with branches in several cities. Many of Nobu's chefs have gone on to bigger and bright things such as Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. Tatsu Nishino's Madison Park restaurant is sort of a laid back Seattle version of his more famous former employer. The place is elegant yet simple. The service is friendly, and very helpful which for Sushi is extremely important. All of the Sushi is fresh and creative. Things are presented with flourish. If you are really looking for a spectacular night out and have the money to spend. Call in advance and order the Omakasse meal. Omakasse is chef's choice. You'll consult briefly with the waiter who will ask about food allergies and such. And then you will get 6 or 7 courses of the fines sushi the restaurant has. On the night we were there one of the courses included a yellow tail, fish egg and Foi Gras course. I probably wouldn't go here for a casual Japanese or sushi dinner, but for a special night this is a great place.
(4)
M S.
When we want interesting rolls we go to Wasabi Bistro, when we want sashimi we go to Nishino and only Nishino. Their fish has always been superb in taste and mouthfeel. It is expensive for the average person, but it is worth it when it comes to eating raw fish.. and the quality alone is what you are paying for and consuming. Their entrees have always been average to above average, but never a disappointment. It is busy though, so you will definitely need reservations on a weekend.
(5)
judy n.
caveat: i've only eaten here during the 25for$25 promotions so i may not have the full picture & i KNOW that it's probably more expensive on a regular night... that said, here's what we had: shiitake, enoki & maitake mushroom soup: amazing. savory & tangy & packed with mushrooms ginger dungeness crab cake: just eh. that's what i get for ordering a crabcake @ a japanese restaurant. broiled black cod marinated in miso: lovely & moist w/ a nice accompaniment of pickled items. assorted sushi plate: the fish slices weren't especially generous but they were very fresh & the rolled item was very different & good. desserts: not worth mentioning. japanese restaurants rarely do good desserts (except ototo). overall, very good & surprisingly good service given how crowded the place was. one of these days i'll go back on a regular night, sit @ the sushi bar & really see what's what.
(3)
Jummy T.
Wow- Five stars, FOR SURE! We wen't there for a special date and treated ourselves to the omakase dinner. We're both sushi lovers and this was our first visit to Nishino. It was absolutely delightful. We weren't blown away by every single dish but there were some that made us believers. The sushi was fantastic and going back we will primarily focus on that and some of the hot dishes that were not included in the chef's choice dinner. It's pricey and we don't regret paying for it. We'll be back for years to come! We will ALWAYS order the halibut cheeks if they're available. Also- the service was some of the best we've had anywhere.
(5)
tong t.
pretty good. the beef sashimi, toro, and hamachi were soo good. but not the best ive had! =)
(4)
Nina N.
can I get a server please? You would think that since we were probably the only people there getting omakase you would get treated a little bit better with than everyone else right? Right yes no maybe so? Well nope, they ignored us like the plague, and with california rolls flying at every table and the random tables of 4 for the 3 for 30 dining special they had no time for the little people like us. So dinner started like this 8 dishes - a 8 oz bamboo cold sake and a busy staff.... I felt like I needed to take a Xanax to just calm down my anxiety from all the hussel and bussel!!! Anyhow the food was pretty good I would have loved it if they had a palate cleanser in between the dishes like most omakase's and if they came in a perfect harmonist order..it would have made the experience fun and exciting... To add onto that why the room temperature food? That almost made me gag... Seriously two of the dishes would have been breathtaking if they had bumped it up a couple of degrees.. Honestly was it premade? Really? Hmmmm still contemplating if this place was as good as the hype.. But on a good note the other half of the omakase was tasty!! And the sherbety trio with fruit platter amazing... ---- if you have never tried omakase usually it's a customized dinner for you, and for you to take a step outside of the box.. It's an experience and is suppose to be fun and make you appreciate food and the art of food.. Pretty much a reflection of the chef and staff... We were really bummed out that the chef didnt personally come out to meet us and see how the food was... That was once again wierd. Wouldn't you want to know what someone thought of your creation!? Again baffled.. Dont get me wrong it was good but not amazing still shiro's is on my top best sushi places....--------- Granted it was late and gloomy outside but really ignore the omakase patrons? The people that actually come to sample the "art of sushi" and shun us like we were poor and couldnt pay for our dinner? So pissed.... Maybe it is true what they say about restaurants in Seattle.. Once they get good reviews the quality goes down because they dont have to try as hard.. :( I so didn't want nishino's to be one of them :( update : may 2008 came here with a couple of my friends, and they really wanted to try nishino's out.. why because of the nobu chef, and such.. I have bitched about the nishino omakase story to them, and since they are not so much into food snobbery, they just wanted to come, and damn it the regular menu was delightful, and was a much better experience. I guess omakase at the last moment is a faux paux, and no one should do it.. but I've done it before and have received an amazing dining experience... boooo on omakase, but hooray for normal dining experience... :( try the roll with the tempura snow crab :) beyond delightful
(4)
Eric F.
The best sushi in Seattle, hands down. Expensive, to be sure, but this kind of quality, knowledge, skill, and culinary artistry does not come cheaply.
(5)
Jason C.
Several attempts have been made by Seattle foodies to determine "the best sushi in Seattle". Any conversation of this variety includes (as it should) Nishino's. Tucked in the quaint and near-un-Seattle-like region of Madison Park, this place is the real deal. However I don't believe that it deserves the crown as "the best". Really, I don't even think it comes close. Sure the raw ingredients are fresh and the skilled chefs know what they are doing, but it didn't have that BANG, that great sushi is supposed to supply. There was something a bit too commercial about this place. As strange as if might sound, every time I see a sushi place with a branded logo on paraphernalia a part of me thinks "wow, you could have spent the money on more quality fish instead of a logo". I know it's ridiculous, but there's something sacred and more legitimate when a sushi place is less of a restaurant and more of a skilled chef and his fish. For that scene, my vote for the best goes to Shiro's.
(3)
Bubble P.
Best Japanese food I've had in Seattle. Superb service. I'd eat there more often if I could afford it.
(5)
Ada C.
One of the best Japanese restaurants in Seattle in my opinion. I like the decor and the style of the restaurant, but adore the food. Great place to celebrate a special event. They serve extremely fresh and good quality sushi. I had tuna sashimi there recently and it was amazing. Be prepared for the hefty price though! One of my favorite starters there is a flame broiled squid on their menu.
(5)
Lance Q.
My wife treated me to such a fine dining experience here a couple years ago for my birthday. I ordered a sushi combination that made a lasting impression on me with such top-notch quality. Service was great and very attentive. During our last stop in earlier in the year, we learned about the Omakase Dinner which we vowed to try on our next visit. With friends visiting over Labor Day Weekend, we thought that it would be a good opportunity to try it. We were not disappointed in the very least . The chef-inspired dishes varied from one dish to the next, beautifully presented and full of flavor. They were all served in a timely manner, so you had the chance to enjoy it and talk about it afterwards. We definitely plan on doing it again on another special occasion, or if we have out of town guests who like sushi and are interested in leaving it up to the Chefs.
(5)
Aditya A.
I went to Nishino with my wife and a couple of friends and while the ambiance is quite nice, we found the overall mood of this restaurant to be a stuffy. The sushi (we had the Madison, House Special, and Spicy Tuna rolls) and appetizers (asparagus, seaweed salad, edamame) were quite good, but not fantastic...and at the prices you have to pay at Nishino, you are expecting something quite incredible. Overall though, it was more the service and atmosphere that would not have us going back there again.
(2)
Joe S.
Hands down the best in Seattle. Yes, it can be a little expensive but to me, going to eat sushi is supposed to be like going to a fancy french restaurant (I treat it like a special event). When you do go you have to sit at the sushi bar to truly get the whole experience and at Nishino there is no better sushi bar to sit at. You place your order and they give to you a little at a time fresh off the knife so you can taste the freshness and savor each bite. Try the escolar seared or ask Masahirosan to make you something special. You will NOT be dissapointed. I also recommend the live ama ebi ceviche (its seasonal so they won't have it all the time) and the tempura maitake mushrooms. Yes, I said tempura only because they do it right and they don't use the oil to fry anything else.
(5)
Todd L.
Even though Nishino's prices creep on me EVERY time I go, I still can't find one other detractor about this place and therefor must award five stars. My wife and I met my parents there for our anniversary dinner last Sunday and the meal was amazing. You know how at some sushi restaurants you have to cautiously order one of each thing to figure out which ones are good that night then order more of them? Not at Nishino. You can order every single thing on the menu and be confident it will be amazing. Particularly wonderful was the confit of maguro, the broiled black cod, the escolar, ankimo (pickled monkfish liver...oh my so good), and the ikura. I can pretty much judge a sushi place by ordering ikura first. Nishino's ikura is so good! I'm a sushi nut so the majority of my order at Nishino is the raw stuff but it's a Japanese restaurant and their cooked dishes do not disappoint. Go there, bring a fat wallet and expect a wonderful meal. We always leave happy.
(5)
Amy T.
Very good japanese food. The fois gras appetizer is the best amuze bouche I have ever had. It's $15 for two little pieces of fois gras with red tuna and shitake mushrooms, but it's well worth the money. IT'S AMAZING! Everything is delicious, just be prepared when the bill comes.
(5)
Steven T.
A little expensive but great food and service.
(4)
Rick L.
It's okay. I mean, I've seen a lot of people tell this place is excellent and the best in the city - but I mean.. it was GOOD, but it wasn't five star good.. I'd go again, but I'm not in a hurry or anything. I did adore the avocado rolls though.
(3)
Angie B.
The food is fresh & tastes amazing - I'll give you that. Unfortunately it's usually so busy that it takes a while to get seated (not much room to wait if there are other people waiting as well) & I've had good & bad service. Especially for the price (always an issue w/ sushi, I know), it can be hard to justify the tough parking, wait to get in & spotty service. If you can ignore all of that & just go for the sushi - I'd give it 5 stars no doubt. I have never eaten out on the deck during the summer. Not that there is much to look at out there, but I'm a sucker for outdoor seating when the weather is great...
(3)
Ryan J.
Holy crap dude. Opening the door to a crowd of Japanese business men sets high expectations, and Nishino does not disappoint in any way. Priced to match.
(5)
michele m.
So, my perspective is this: I'm a bigtime foodie, cooking, restaurants, magazines, etc. I don't mind if a restaurant is expensive unless it's really bad. I prefer my fish raw and I love most things Japanese. I've been going to Nishino for so long I don't remember when I started. I meet old friends in there who I introduced to it 10 years ago. So, for me, this is the best restaurant in Seattle right now. My top reason is that I had an omikase meal there once that I remember as my favorite meal ever. It was the Valentine's Day special I think. And then I've had other holiday omikases' that were close seconds. I have a bias because I love sushi so much. I have had meals at Rover's that were awesome too. But I just love Nishino more. I love the spicy scallop sushi, omg, the dynamite, the foie gras appetizer, any sushi/sashimi i'm in the mood for, the italianish appetizer with the white fish and arugula they have sometimes. There are things on the menu that I don't like, like the green salad. So i can certainly understand some of the comments that what you order makes a big difference. I think the decor is just fine and am consistently happy with the service. And I regularly tell Mr. Nishino he has the best restaurant in Seattle. Oh, and here's another thing my husband showed me about Nishino. When you get a special Omikase, like Valentine's day, they lay the food out like a painting. So, the painting will have symbols in it like the symbol of 2 for Valentine's. I just love that.
(5)
Tom S.
This is definitely one of the best sushi place in Seattle. We went there for 25 for $25 event, she had the plate of various rolls & nigiri sushi, I had a dish called the Dynamite, outside of the 25 menu. The sushi was very fresh, fish was smooth like butta' . I definitely like it a lot, even the vegetarian roll was very well made, fresh and tastes great. Dynamite is a mix of Scallop, Geoduck and mushroom soaked in broth, topped with some cream in a gratin dish. This was pretty rich, but it goes great with some steamed rice. I would definitely recommend Nishino to anybody. Prices are just about what you'd expect for a sushi place. We had Oyster on half shell appetizer - $8. My dynamite dish is $12 It's not overly expensive, I would say it's fair for the quality we're getting.
(5)
Steve S.
one of the most overrated sushi places i have ever bwwn to. i've eaten here twice, and both times i have spent an obscene amount of money for very pedestrian sushi, i mean, its real pretty in there, so its nice for a date, but you might want to go dutch if you aren't packing a lot of cash
(2)
M W.
This restaurant boasts extremely delicious sushi and excellent service. I think that their prices are too high. The high prices do not seem to slow down business--my experience has been that you need to make a reservation to eat here...I am now questioning the wisdom of writing a review that might cause MORE people to go here...
(4)
Sheila Y.
Nishino is by far my favorite sushi spot in Seattle. I went here on a date awhile back and it was quite impressive. We both ordered the Chef's Special Omakase. I wish I could wax poetic about each of the dishes, but alas my memory fails me. All I remember is wonderfully prepared nouveau Japanese with the freshest seafood imaginable. One dish that still stands out is the halibut cheeks. This was a first for me and it was love at first bite. Immediately after this the bf at the time and myself planned a weekend trip to Pike Market and loaded up! I also remember still being hungry afterwards so we ordered some sushi rolls as well. The simple tuna roll was buttery and dense and the scallop nigiri was creamy. The art in this place is for lack of a better word, Unique. I am planning on a return trip soon so that I can give it another look over and see if there is something I can appreciate about the huge scary clown mural on the back wall. Oh well....I don't let childhood phobias keep me from fresh fish!
(5)
S S.
i went to Nishino with my family for mother's day. Their parking space is limited, by the way. The food is good and is pretty pricey. I wouldn't go all the way there to eat Japanese food.
(4)
bonne b.
We LOVE Nishino and have been eating at their Sushi Bar once a week since they opened 10 years ago. The BEST fish, the MOST CREATIVE sushi chefs, SOOTHING yet COOL ambiance, EXPERT service. Order off their Specials Menu, or better yet, don't order at all and let the chefs just make dinner for you. You're in for a treat!
(5)
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Address :3130 E Madison St,Ste 106
Seattle, WA, 98112
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Yi F.
Tried the regular Omakase. I like all of the courses except the sushi. It was a pity that there were no eel or uni. But the overall experience is great.
(5)Matthew S.
Nishino is always great (I've eaten there about a half dozen times) the decor, service and of course amazing food make it a fantastic experience. Only for special occasions, because it's very expensive.
(5)Khris L.
While this place may have had glory in it's day, those days are over. What remains of the folklore are merely the high prices. The food quality is good, the service was very good, & the atmosphere pleasant and comfortable. However, as 4 or 5 star sushi restaurants go, this isn't even close to todays standards. I ordered the Omakase, which by definition, is the chefs choice presented with their own interpretation of the fish. What I received was an uninspired plate of regular cut fish. The message was clear, the original vision was gone and what remained was cold knives and cold fish. This is easily the harshest review I have ever given but I do so hopes it sparks internal soul searching and a renewed sense of purpose to rebuild.
(3)Chad F.
Eh I don't know about this place... the sushi was ok, the specialties that I tried were interesting, but not mind-blowing, the wait staff seems a little disorganized, and the bill was quite high. I was visiting and looked for the highest reviewed sushi restaurant in town and after eating here I didn't feel like the price justified the food, and the sushi was not nearly as good as my home town neighborhood sushi bar (although, I am spoiled in that department).
(2)Noni W.
Think of Nishino as a tapas styled Japanese restaurant. To get the most out of it, come as a group and order a bunch of dishes. My favorite dishes were the hamachi jalapeno, popcorn shrimp tempura, soft shell crab, and oysters on the half shell. They also had a lot of unique mochi ice cream flavors. Service was attentive and fast. My only advice to the staff is to regularly check the bathrooms to make sure it's clean and fully stocked.
(5)Paris F.
The food was delicious but overall is very much overpriced. Sushi, the rice is firm but it fell apart even when I dip the top of the sushi with little soy sauce. The nigiri was too tight. The rice on sushi was too firm and less flavorful. What I loved about Shiro was the rice for the sushi was perfected with right amount of vinegar, sugar and firmness. Shiros reminded me of the tsukiji market sushi. The halibut cheek cod with sautéed mushrooms in the middle was bit too salty. Also 8 Oz warm sake for 16.50 is bit ridiculous to me. I probably won't come back here again and stick with Shiro omakase.
(3)Ian R.
Almost a 5 star, Nishino, almost. Behind Shiro's, I would put Nishino as second best place in Seattle for sushi. The differentiating factor is the hot food. My last dining experience at Nishino left an awkward taste in my mouth and quite a first impression, since I normally don't order hot food at Nishino aside from the asari clam miso soup. Let me start by listing the foods that were devoured: - Sake, uni, maguro, and oyster nigiri. Quality of fish was excellent, and the amount of rice was spot on. A+ for the sushi, no doubt - Ankimo. Yes. What else can I say? Creamy, fresh, and lightly garnished with a soy sauce base. One of the highlights of the night - ika sugatayaki. This flame broiled squid was ok. Had a nice crunch on the outside, but it was only lukewarm in temperature. When set atop cold salad greens, the dish cools down even faster - Mochicko chicken. This was the most unremarkable dish of the evening. The chicken itself was lightly breaded, so that was good. The problem is *what* the chicken was supplemented with...namely, the odd mixture of julienne red/yellow peppers, shitake mushrooms, onions [that were not cooked well] and an overbearingly sweet sauce. The customer service was awesome, but this is typical for Nishino. The gentleman waiter was patient, helpful, and stood ready to clean our table in preparation for the subsequent courses. So, in closing, Nishino provides a consistent, high quality sushi experience. Although I didn't have the best experience with the a la carte items, I might just chalk it up to a fluke. All I know is that I will always look forward to dining at this restaurant.
(4)M L.
Boy, it's frustrating to read the positive reviews here. We were excited about having dinner at Nishino tonight - we love sushi and had anticipated an exceptional experience at one of Seattle's most esteemed Japanese restaurants. As we were led at our table we told the man who seated us how much we were looking forward to our meal. He smiled and said, "You're really going to enjoy it." We didn't hear another word from a server that night. We sat there watching as waiters glided through the half-filled dining room, attending to neighboring tables, bringing food, clearing plates, and taking orders (from, among others, a couple who had been seated after us). It felt surreal. It was as though we were invisible to the staff who passed back and forth without giving us a glance. After 20 minutes we half-jokingly agreed that we'd give them five minutes more and then leave - we expected at any moment someone would appear before us and apologize, and we'd proceed with our meal. It never happened. Five more minutes went by, and we exited. If we'd been in a diner I would have gotten up and corraled some service, but this was supposed to be a special occasion, and the neglect ruined the experience. I guess there was confusion about which waiter was responsible for our table, but at a purportedly sophisticated restaurant someone should have recognized the problem and fixed it. As we were leaving we told the hostess at the door what we'd experienced and she said, "I'm sorry. I noticed that no one was serving you." It was cold comfort to learn someone had in fact realized we were there and that we were being ignored. She just hadn't bothered to do anything about it. A truly disappointing experience. With so many other great places to eat in Seattle, we'll definitely never be returning.
(1)Lili T.
Let me just start off by saying that this is the best sushi I've ever had. I went to this sushi place with a friend after hearing that it was the CEO of Valve's favorite restaurant. Our waiter was friendly and helped us decide what to order. I ordered a flowery-tasting sake (obviously), it was not too sweet and it went down smoothly. Being a total oyster lover, I had to order the oyster appetizer and was it amazing!!! It was a couple of fried oysters in a delicious brown sauce. Then afterwards came the sushi. I can't even begin to tell you why this sushi was so amazing, I can't even pinpoint it myself. Maybe it was the fishy-freshness of it or maybe it was the texture of the fish, or maybe I was just so hammered after the sake anything tasted good. (Kidding about the last part lol) But anyway, it was amazing. I would highly recommend the toro (tuna belly) or the salmon. The salmon was different from the salmon sushi on the east coast, it was a lot more fishier and had a more stringy texture. The only downside about this place was the bill, between the two of us it was around $200 bucks. Thankfully, I was in the area for an interview so it didn't cost me a cent :). *Two thumbs up* Otherwise, I would only come to this place on special occasions or risk getting my bank account drained!
(5)Niniane W.
Amazing sushi and sake. I really enjoyed the tempura also. The service is friendly.
(5)Yanlin P.
We came here in the dine around Seattle week. Although I did not order the set. I ordered chef's choice sashimi. The service was very good, the food is good, but somehow not as good as I expected. The fish is sashimi is relatively cheap part. I ordered uni sushi. Uni is a little dark and small and is definitely not the best I had around Seattle. Not meet my expectation.
(4)Ashley T.
My boyfriend brought me here for our annual holiday dinner, and it was one of the best Japanese restaurants I have been to in Seattle. The quality of the fish is comparable to some of my favorites in San Francisco, with extra touches that made it unique to Nishino. We started with one of the monthly specials, which was new style salmon sashimi salad. It was a little small, but it was a great way to start the meal, with half-smoked pieces of salmon over a bed of greens and a ponzu vinaigrette. Next, I had the black cod, which was one of the most well-cooked pieces of cod that I have ever had. The outside was perfectly crisp, while the inside was buttery and flakey. It came with some pickled vegetables that balanced the saltiness of the fish. My boyfriend had the chirashi, which was not only presented beautifully, but also generously portioned with amazing fish. We shared the house sushi roll, which was extremely fresh. The crispness of the asparagus complemented the butteriness of the fish in a way that I haven't tasted in a sushi roll before. Be prepared to spend quite a bit on a meal when coming to Nishino, however, the food is genuinely worth every penny. They provide high-quality Japanese food in a homey atmosphere, and I'll undoubtedly be back for more visits in the future!
(5)SilkSam R.
Is the food good? Depends on the dish. Service? Let's just say, it is a failed attempt to disguise mediocrity with snobbery. Waitress who didn't care to share her name was pleasant, but lacking training. When staff parks itself near the POS system along with presumably the chef or owner, it's a bad omen. Japanese eateries are usually polite and casual. This is not the case here. It is clean and food is decent. Leave your ego at home along with expectations of being served. Better yet make it to go, if you cannot find another place. Suffer able with a coupon or a discount, or in the case of " must eat now"
(2)Cynthia L.
If somebody travels across the pond to eat at a specific restaurant here in Seattle, I have to take note. And starting from the service, this is the most engaged service I have ever received in a restaurant in memory; but then again, the entire staff seemed to know Yee Gan from his prior visits! We had the Omakase menu: chef's choice of 9 plates. At the beginning of the meal, the server reviewed what ingredients would be part of our selections, since I'm the one that doesn't eat red meat products. Brilliant. We started with a sampling of fish that included seaweed and cucumber-wrapped fish, the tastiest King crab prepared in a salt bath, and ikura (salmon roe.) I have never been fond of ikura, but I am pretty sure it's because I haven't had that great of quality, because after the bite I had, I really wanted more. We moved seamlessly to the tuna with cucumber and kelp, presented in a martini glass, followed by a miso soup with salmon, and a mushroom that by itself would have been a meaty-savory bite, but the miso-infused flavor made it even more delectable. But the most delicious thing I ate had to be the foie over tuna and mushroom. The sauce was extremely flavorful, without being so salty it blinded your tastebuds. The Arctic Char flavor was described as a lighter-flavored salmon, which was an accurate description. It was served over green beans and sweet potato with a lotus root slice. Very nice, but not my favorite thing. The Maine lobster tempura was not only generous in its portion, but was terrific in that form. I would never to think to "ruin" lobster by frying it, but the soft integrity remained. Very well-executed. The flounder sashimi over a sesame oil salad made me pause; I wasn't sure what I thought about the texture at first, but by the second bite, I really liked it. By the next course of mixed nigiri and a roll, I was pretty full but kept on with some Spanish Mackerel (I LOVE mackerel, even if some people think it's a cheap fish) And, this is the BEST sushi rice I have ever had. Yeah, it's true. Glossy, firm, and seasoned so well, I wanted more rice by itself. The fatty Toro sent me to the moon. It was the perfect temp, cut very well (I hate it when it's cut poorly, it can send the texture sensation sideways.) Our final course was a raspberry, mango, and lychee mochi, imported from Hawaii. The lychee is the star of the show, and the fruit was sweet and light. I kinda feel bad that I took YGO to an upscale diner on his last visit here, and he brought me here. I'll do better next time ;)
(5)Andrea J.
5 star sushi baby! That's why you come here. Happy hour raw oysters nestled in a tangy spicy sauce. Slurrrp. As usual the place was packed but we got sushi bar seating by the door. It was a chilly night and the hostess offered to move us to a table when one opened up. As we settled in , I began to comment that it was actually quite cozy when I noticed they had placed a small space heater behind us. Very thoughtful staff. We proceeded to order our fav sashimi like yellow tail, ago, toro, scallops,etc. also got a soft shell crab roll, yumdelicious! Now let me take a moment to lament on technique which was my issue with Umi. The blades at nishino finely slice their fish exposing their freshness and texture . This is so important to enjoy sashimi. The roll was clean cut and right sized. A mouthful of sushi is lost on the gluttons. Sushi is about the fish, not anything else. Ok I get off my sap box now. All in all people, done here, pace yourself and enjoy these succulent morsels of ocean goodness. Sayonara. Ps: I intend to try the chefs meal $50 per person so I'll be back with an update. Now to work hard for some dollas!
(5)Normand C.
Amazing service, helpful, friendly and extremely accommodating to our spur of the moment dinner with our 11 month old. Everything was delicious. The hamachi jalapeño was delectable, with a tangy spicy kick; I'm still thinking about it. The sashimi was some of the best I've had in a long while, excellent selection too. The morel, squid and asparagus special was fantastic. Baby enjoyed the udon. Elegant, yet still family friendly and low key, lots of kids there. We'll definitely be back, but will probably get a baby sitter. Yum! Absolutely recommend!
(5)Suie C.
I like Nishino. It's been on my to try list for a while, and we finally made it out here for a SRW/Bday celebration. For appetizers, I ordered a salmon capparcio dish (or similar) while others at our table had the fried oysters and salad. Everything was so fresh and the flavors were spot on. Entree wise, I ordered the miso black cod which was amazing. Soft, tender flakes of fish marinated in an incredible sauce. The bf got the sushi platter so I was able to try some of the nigiri. Dessert wise, I can't remember exactly what we ordered, but I believe one was a cake and the other was ice cream/sorbet. I like the feel of Nishino, it's casual and comfortable and service was great.
(4)Charlie L.
I have heard from so many people that this is the best sushi place in town, so I came, and I ate, and I was very disappointed. Brought my friend Ramy (a foodie visiting from Boston) here, and met up with 2 others, and we decided as a group, "what the hell, let's just let the chef pick." The server asked what each of our favorite fish was... most of us said salmon, and we somewhat expected it to show up... but it never did, until the final nigiri course, and only one piece per person. That in itself wouldn't have been that bad if it weren't for the fact that the fish didn't seem remotely worth the hype. It was fresh, but not any fresher than any other sushi joint. And the appetizers were very very flat. For what we paid ($60 / person for food only) at least two of us left hungry, and I totally felt it was completely not worth the money... or the horrendous trek to the Madison area. I would not recommend it unless you're already in the neighborhood.
(3)Jeranel J.
Really fabulous sushi experience. Best sushi I have had in Seattle. I made reservations for the Omakase Executive menu. It was just wonderful. I wish I knew something else to say but I dont. I couldn't tell you all of the dishes I had, they explained it all to me but I don't remember now. All I can tell you is, I ate it all! And it was GREAT! I really loved the spicy tuna. THE BEST I have ever had. Usually that dish bores me but, WOW! Not this time. A very casual place. More casual that I expected. Shocked to see so many families.
(4)Adam K.
All around a great trip. The food was really good, fresh and the presentation was good as well. They did a very good job at accomodating our group and that helped a lot. We had made a reservation for 6 - somehow forgetting there were 7 of us. They didn't put up a stink and quickly brought another chair before the 7th was back from parking the car. We ordered a lot... I mean a LOT. One item was the chef's choice Sushi platter. We should have stressed quality over quantity. We got a lot more albacore than we would have liked. Monkfish liver and tempura were very good ways to kick off the meal. We also had a couple rolls - the arboretum and the house roll - both good. Personally I felt the price must have included a fee for the privilege of eating there. Quality was good, but for the price I prefer my standard go-to near Tangletown. Food and such gets a 3 - but service bumps half a star so 4 is what they get.
(4)Yavnika K.
Nishino is for those who appreciate creativity in their lives. It is not ONLY for the sushi purists. It serves the purists well, but to me their differentiation lies in fusing influences to create a modern, Japanese cuisine for the american clientele. Rated highly in the US, they describe themselves rightly in their website's opening line as "serving traditional and innovative Japanese cuisine since 1995." Innovative for sure! Where else you would find on their signature menu the exotic fusion "Salmon tartare crispy rice sushi" or the "hamachi jalapeno"? With Dine Around Seattle as an excuse, we tried this place and went back fully delighted. For appetizers all three of us had the Sockeye Salmon New Style Sashimi- which was sheer flavor festival. I had the very delicious Mochiko roasted Seabass cheek which was served with (not so tasty) mashed kabocha (pumpkin compote). My husband ordered the sushi assortment- Tuna, salmon, yellowtail, albacore tuna, shrimp, surf clam, vegetarian roll plate. And our friend ordered the Black Cod marinated in Miso. All the dishes were world-class and novel. The tea flaoured Tiramisu was the favorite on the table though I was pretty happy with my mango-honey cake. Our server was very hospitable and made us comfortable with our orders. He could sense that may be the food wasn't enough for us and asked us again for our order, we ordered 6 more pieces of salmon and tuna sushi. A must go, especially if you are a sushi fan or are looking for a elegant cultural experience with those you love.
(5)Jeff B.
4.5 -- the food was a 5.0. Had dinner (without reservations) with my wife (Japanese) and son, on a snowy Saturday evening. AMBIANCE: 4.0. We sat at the sushi bar as we arrived without reservations and the bar is first-come, first-served. Sushi bar was comfortable and a nice experience, and is the one place small kids seemed comfortable. Table seating ambiance appeared fine, though not as intimate as the sushi bar. SERVICE: 4.5. Attentive and timely. The sushi chef was personable and cheery. FOOD: 5.0. Two of us had the regular O-makase dinner, and one had orders of sashimi. - Omakase (regular): 8 courses, all excellent. Cooked fish, sashimi, mushrooms, etc. - Sashimi: Various, including O-Toro and Uni. Outstanding. - Spicy calmari appetizer: Mushrooms, squid, veggie. Kirin on tap. (about $6 a glass)
(4)Brenda A.
Went for a date night with the hubby and decided to try the exclusive Omakase dinner (9 courses). The staff and service was great. My husband is avoiding fried foods and they switched out his tempura course for something non-fried without any issue. I personally didn't like all the dishes but I think it was just my preference and nothing against the food as my husband enjoyed everything. Only thing I wished they had was some sort of sake or wine pairing.
(4)Jon M Photography ..
Hands Down the Best Dinner of My Life!!! No Exaggeration. The Restaurant... We decided last minute to get sushi, we called an hour before the restaurant opened and they were already booked for most of the night, they had one spot left at 5.30 when they opened. We showed up a little early and when we walked in we were taken back by the pristine decor of the restaurant. I immediately then knew the food would be pricey and was hopeful that it would be equally as good. The Service... Once we sat down our waitress asked if we had eaten here before, being from california our answer was no. She then went into the menu and talked about the different kinds of food for the different kinds of eaters. She mentioned the Chef's Choice was for more adventurous eaters, those who want more than just Salmon and Tuna. She also recommended the Prawn starter, and said we could request for the discarded heads to be deap fried, that it would be an adventurous and delicious meal. We took her advice and ordered the Chef's Choice, and the Prawn Starter with the Fried heads on the side. The Food... When the food came out it was exciting. We first got the prawns and the fried heads. It was spectacular, the main meal was very acidic and delicious. The fried heads were like savory chips, we all ate every part of them. Then came the Chef's Choice. We spent about $50 for the 2 of us for this dish. It came with about 16 pieces of sushi. But the pieces werent what you normally see. We had beautiful scallops, multiple forms of salmon, tuna, sea bass, and a few others i forget the name too. These cuts had much more flavor to them, and they were amazing. So much so I asked for more after, and requested to go even more adventurous and to get the belly cuts. Those were so amazing. Each piece although having strong flavor had an amazing and apparent freshness to it, not like those cheap places with a bad strong taste. In Conclusion... Now that we are back in California we are already looking forward to our trip back, and will be putting a portion of our budget to spend at this amazing place. I cant wait to go back and order the chef's special asking them to emphasize on the more adventurous fish and cuts, with a larger budget of course. Having eaten great sushi throughout California and Japan I feel comfortable saying this was the best sushi experience I have ever had from start to finish. It was the Perfect Meal.
(5)Ken L.
Omakase shimasu [1] for Valentine's day dinner. Just choose your entrée and dessert for the special menu. Drink of choice (Valentine's day special drink) - Sweet dreams - made with tequila, blackberry purée, lime juice and mint. Tasty, sweet and stiff, yum. 1 - Seafood trio sampler appetizer: a) White king salmon wrapped around asparagus with a yuzu [2] mustard sauce on top. b) Pacific oyster with ginger salsa, finely chopped with cucumber and tomatoes. c) Roe crab with a little bit of sweet egg omelete wrapped on the outside, caviar on top. Everything contains sauce so you don't need soy. An exciting beginning to get our taste buds revved up. 2 - Salad Mixed green salad with curly leaf frisée, arugula and rachicco- lightly bitter greens with twin slices of Hawaiian kampachi. Fish is firm and clean like a whitefish that contains a nice ratio of fattiness. The dressing - a sesame puree' and balsamic reduction with a hint of soy sauce. Fried lotus roots top it off that breaks crispy much like a chip crouton. 3- Sushi Hamachi, tuna, and sushi rolls stuffed with snowcrab with Japanese yam, cucumbers, & real wasabi [3]. Fresh taste and wasabi is powerful! 4 - Main entrées Pan roasted mochiko Black cod with ponzu sauce, buried under sautéed mushrooms, baby bok choy and mizuna, the server offered optional steamed, white rice. Buttery tender fish. The mushrooms and vegetable that smother over the cod didn't enhance the overall dish. I could do without that. Roasted rack of lamb - mustard miso glaze, sautéed Japanese eggplant, swiss chard, and mushrooms. My sweetheart did not favor this entree for the miso glaze, which is a cross between a teriyaki sauce and peanut sauce and with the eggplant, chard and mushrooms further detracting as an accompanying side item. Credit to the chef that offered to replace the dish, however we were already quite full to enjoy any replacement so we had to decline. 5 - Dessert Japanese chestnut dressing and adzuki (similar to the familiar Chinese red bean paste) constructed like a pie with a cookie crust. I love red bean and chestnut but not a fan of this dessert. Ice cream, drop fried tempura style decorated with swirls of raspberry puree'. Uninspiring to us as it a chocolate/rocky road ice cream fried in a not so crispy and bordering soggy, tempura shell. Summary of experience: Romantic dining setting, smaller dishes - perfect and are 5 star, entrées and dessert items did not match at 3.5 stars. Overall, we enjoyed ourselves and would return for their regular omakase. ________________________________________ [1] I loosely interpret as a tasting menu, Japanese style. [2] Japanese citrus with sour tones, believed to be a hybrid of sour mandarin and Ichang papeda [3] Fake "wasabi", served in most resturants is a mixture of horseradish, green food coloring, mustard, corn starch to bind and shape. Note that these ingredients do not contain any actual wasabi. Nishino imports theirs from Japan.
(4)Chris C.
Very nice sushi house/Japanese restaurant. Friendly service, Kirin on tap, and fresh and flavorful sushi.
(4)Jennifer B.
Modern sushi and Japanese food I find this place to be more modern and less traditional style Japanese food and sushi, which is more my thing. It has excellent fish. We've tried the different omakase menus and enjoyed them. The sake selection is good too. The service is great. Parking can be tricky.
(4)Ian J.
Delicious place and the chef and wait staff were attentive and wanted to make sure I had an enjoyable meal. I coincidentally ended up there during restaurant week, the selection they offered was generous and the quality of fish was really up there. They even gave me a little complimentary bowl of sunomono! And the dessert, granted it isn't made in-house, but it was delicious: a mango jelly cheesecake with caramel that was so fluffy... Granted it isn't a cheap place but if you're willing to spend the extra money you seem to get a great meal.
(5)Jenn L.
great ambiance! great service! we had the omasake for a special occasion. each dish was so amazing. the drinks were excellent. we didn't expect to get so full but alas we could not finish the last dish of sashimi before dessert. we plan on taking all of our visiting friends and family here for sushi. it was a treat.
(5)Stephen S.
This was probably the worst sushi I've ever had. We were too late for the multi course option, which I was sad about at the time but thankful for by the end. The seared tuna with foie gras was tough and overpowered by a sweet sauce, the tuna and chips appetizer was boring, the Madison roll had no flavor at all (I've had better rolls from Costco), and the $28 lobster tempura came with terrible miso and was boring and tough. Having been to literally close to 100 sushi places in my life in multiple cities this was easily the worst, in addition to being one of the worst of any nationality in Seattle - I'm basing that solely on the food, not even talking about the hard-to-understand server, lack of parking, and unjustifiably high prices.
(1)Lusha Z.
Nice environment and service. Food quality is good but I wouldn't say the best sushi I've ever had, so four stars.
(4)Meghan F.
Delicious! What a great way to kick off my first visit to Seattle. We got the omakase and every dish was incredible. Hands down the best Japanese (and the most authentic) I have ever had. The person who brought me there lived in Japan for a number of years and could attest to the authenticity. A general overview of our dinner: - Trio of small bites of different tunas and crab, each with a special sauce. - Salmon and tuna in poke sauce with avocado, cucumber & seaweed salad - Pine mushroom soup with flounder & ginkgo nuts - Tempura veggies and oysters - Salmon over baby arugula with pink peppercorn - A white fish (can't remember the name...) over lightly fried green beans and sweet potatoes - Sushi and sashimi selections - Various flavors of mochi with fruit for dessert Everything was very, very tasty! I was also impressed with some of the unique ingredients and the server's knowledge about the preparation of each dish. We also had some oysters on the half shell, beers and sake. All fabulous! I will definitely recommend Nishino to my East Coast friends when they travel to Seattle!
(5)Tony L.
I went to Nishino to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday, and had a great dinner. After having the exclusive omakase dinner here, I would have to say I have had the best Japanese dinner in Seattle at Nishino. We were able to sit at the sushi bar, which makes the experience more fun. We also got great service from our server (Erica). I should have asked her to write down all of the descriptions of the courses (since there were 9 total, including dessert), but here is what I remember: 1st: 5 little bites, including monk fish liver, salmon, an oyster, kampachi (?) and fried smelt. This was a nice way to start the meal. 2nd: a ceviche-type dish made with albacore and avocado. This was good (liked the texture of the fish). 3rd: mushroom, tuna and seared foie gras with red wine and soy sauce. This was incredible: rich and tasty: probably my favorite dish of the night. 4th: soup with clams and maitake mushrooms. Soup and clams were nice, and a good way to continue the meal after the foie gras. 5th: white king salmon and greens. This course was decent (I liked the lotus root chip on the salad). 6th: lobster and green bean tempura. I liked this dish a lot. The lobster was fresh, and everything was fried nicely (light, not oily). The sauce was a little too lemony, though. 7th: arctic char, mushrooms and greens. The fish was decent, but the greens had too much lemony (ponzu) taste. This was probably my least favorite dish. 8th: kampachi roll with unagi, hamachi and toro sushi. The roll was ok (I was pretty full by this course), but the unagi was good, and the hamachi and toro were great. 9th: honey mango cheesecake with fruit. This was a nice way to end the meal, with a light dessert to share. Although the meal wasn't cheap (the exclusive omakase was $80 per person), we both felt that we got good value for what we paid: the quality of the food was high, and the service was great. Nishino has set my standard for omakase in Seattle, so I will need to head back to Shiro's to try theirs (although it is nice to get a balance of cooked and raw food like we got at Nishino).
(5)Pooja V.
I was there for Dine Around Seattle last night and had the gin cocktail, seafood miso soup and black cod in miso. The ambiance was fresh and the service was great. The food was tasty - the starter was a good size but I thought the main was a little too small a portion. That said, the cod was absolutely delicious and the sides that came with it were yummy too. I would definitely go back to try the sushi and have cod again but it is a little expensive so I would go return selectively.
(4)James C.
Food was good, service was even greater. And the atmosphere, that's the reason why it is so expensive. We had a party of 10 so we do have one waiter serving us at all time. food is expensive, but consider the freshness and the environment, it is worth it. We all ordered different food items, from chief pick to lobster tempura, rolls, and sushi. It seems like everyone of us enjoyed our dinner that night. If you don't like paying overprice food to compensate the luxury atmosphere, then this is not the place for you.
(4)Natalie P.
I'm not originally from Seattle and wasn't sure when I'd be able to come back again so got the Omakase to try but next time I go I'll probably just do a la carte. Staff was really friendly and liked the food but didn't feel like it was exceptional but I'd go back!
(3)Samantha G.
I've been wanting to check out Nishino for the last few months due to the reviews on Yelp. When I found out they were participating with Dine Around Seattle, I immediately booked a reservation for two. My date and I decided to order off the Dine Around Seattle Menu, as well as order some other items. Our meal was started off with a bowl of miso soup, which I enjoyed especially since the tofu melted in my mouth. Since Nishino is known for their foie gras sushi, my date and I decided to have an order of that. For those not familiar with this dish, it contains seared tuna sandwiched between foie gras and a shitake mushroom. Oh my, this was so rich and blissful! So what if this isn't really Japanese? I thought it was very creative and definitely one of my favorites at Nishino. Now onto the Dine Around Seattle appetizers. I ordered the Albacore Tuna sashimi salad, while my date had the oyster and french beans tempura on Seaweed Salad. I liked the freshness of the tuna and the lightness of the salad. As for the oyster and french beans app, that was very enjoyable. The fried oysters were huge and the dipping sauce that accompanied the fried food was good. I probably would have gone with this instead of the salad since I thought the flavors were more interesting. For the entrees, I had the broiled cod marinated in miso. WOW. This was definitely the highlight of my meal. This fish was perfect: moist, easily fell apart when i cut into it and oh that flavor! It definitely had that umami factor for me. My date ordered the sushi platter which had the following: veggie roll, tuna roll, salmon, yellow tail, super white tuna, shrimp, and surf clam. I tried my date's salmon nigiri and at first I was enjoying it but then all of a sudden, BAM. Too much wasabi. My date also noticed that with the rest of his nigiri as well. After trying that, I now know how Yoshikazu Ono was feeling in Jiro Dreams of Sushi. For dessert, we decided to split the mango cheesecake, white chocolate raspberry mochi and pumpkin mochi. All were very delicious. I couldn't really pick a favorite since I enjoyed the light texture of the cheesecake and the mochi was perfect in terms of texture and flavor. From this, it seems like you really can't go wrong with the desserts here. Overall, Nishino definitely had to be one of the most satisfying meals I've had. The prices are on high side but for the quality it's worth it. The next time I dine here, I would love to try their the omakase since it seems like its worth it based on the reviews. Now, when they do fix the wasabi ratio on their nigiri I'll bump this up from 4.5 to 5 solid stars.
(4)Jon N.
Easily my favorite sushi in greater Seattle. I come here whenever I can.
(5)Christine C.
Best sushi in Washington! Hands down. Spend the money. It's worth it. Fresh. Beautiful. Flavorful. Not too much flavor though. All the sauces enhance the dish instead of covering it up or overwhelming the palate. The salmon tartar over crispy, fried rice was so good! That crunch followed by melting in your mouth. A must try at least once. New plates with each course. Food came at a timely manner. Server informed us of what each dish was and the busser was quick and professional.
(5)Arisa C.
One of the best Japanese restaurant in Seattle area, all the sashimi are extremely fresh, if you're a fans of Sea Urchin, you absolutely try the uni shooter here, it's the best.
(5)Kent L.
Came to Nishinos for the Valentines Day Omakase dinner. Coming from Tokyo I had hopes for nice Authentic Japanese kaiseki but with a Pacific Northwest twist - in particular looking at some of the photos in Yelp it appeared the nigiri was of high quality (ootoro looked nicely marbled) and there appeared to be some creative appetizers (various seafood in martini glass). All the items in Vday course (6 courses) was good, but underwhelming. Standouts included Shikoku oyster (may have been more oyster than preparation), grapeseed oil with honey dressing and peppercorn on hamachi was a nice twist. Mains of tempura was standard - came with ponzu but not salt or green tea salt (often given). The beef filet was melt in your mouth and good, but the sauce which was supposed to balsamic was not very different from the teriyaki sauce you would get at a quick lunch place which did a disservice to an otherwise beautiful piece of meat. It seemed the course was toned down/catered for a more mainstream than authentic experience - at a steep Vday price premium versus uneven taste experience, would suggest avoiding sets - perhaps talking with the Japanese chefs behind the counter would yield a better culinary experience.
(3)Ryan P.
I think sushi restaurants are the most difficult to rate, just because it's harder to drastically screw up sushi than any other type of food unless the meat just isn't fresh. Great atmosphere and good service. I tried 3 different kinds of sushi (albacore, shrimp and salmon), which were all excellent. I also tried the House Special Roll and Madison Park Roll. I would have to say both rolls had way too much rice in the wrap and very little meat. The miso soup was on the salty side. Aside from the trendy location and the nice atmosphere, I would say this is an above average sushi restaurant, but not outstanding.
(4)kunal k.
Some of the most quality sushi in Seattle. Do it.
(5)Margaret S.
Miso soup is like bread. Usually, the bread is usually telling of the quality of the rest of the food at a restaurant. In the U.S., where miso soup comes first (in Japan, miso comes with the meal, and not before), miso is telling of how good the rest of the food is going to be at a Japanese restaurant. At Nishino, we were excited when the miso soup came piping hot, with flavorful dashi (the base fish broth) and with good, plentiful miso. The dashi was likely made from scratch (and not from powder/pellets). Both my husband and I ordered their sushi set. The fish was fresh and the rice was perfect (good rice, not too vinegary and the perfect amount). (In regards to sushi, Shiro is still the best we have had in Seattle). The only thing a bit disappointing was the chicken tatsutage. The breading was closer to U.S. style popcorn chicken, than authentic Japanese tatsutage. Edward, our waiter, was simply AWESOME. He was low key, friendly and super efficient. He definitely sets the standard for great service. The hostess was also great. She squeezed us in a Friday night on a very last minute basis. Definitely one of the better Japanese restaurants in Seattle!
(4)Kaitlin W.
This is by far the best sushi I've ever eaten . Their food is consistently high quality and I have tried most things on the menu... all delicious! I highly recommend you give this place a try.
(5)Karen L.
I took my boyfriend here for dinner to try their exclusive omakase ($80 per person). I chose this place based on their incredible rating and what everyone has been saying about their omakase. I won't go into too much detail since you can just scroll down to read Tony L.'s review to get a gist of the courses they serve (the ones we were served differed slightly), but I will say that we had a pretty good experience. The food, of course, was delicious, although I wasn't completely blown away or anything. There were definitely a couple courses that stood out, like the dish with seared foie gras on top of seared tuna on top of a slice of shiitake mushroom. It was two tiny bites but it was amazing. I don't like shiitake mushrooms, but in this dish, it was phenomenal. The first course had 5 small bites, and I loved 2 of them: fried black cod and hamachi (with some other stuff I forget). Everything else was good although the BF and I both agreed that if we came back, we'd order a la carte and not do the omakase again. It was definitely a good experience but I wasn't so amazed that I'd fork over 80 bucks a pop again. I will say that their sushi is super fresh--we ordered the super white tuna nigiri, and it was melt-in-your-mouth deliciously fresh. Service was great, too, and we left with full, happy tummies (though my wallet left a lot lighter, haha).
(4)Matt S.
Always epic! My favorite Japanese place in the Seattle area :) The halibut cheeks, deep fried sweet shrimp (w/ heads!), geoduck, etc. are delicious and I've never tasted a bad dish. It's a great place to bring a date to, I'd highly recommend trying it out. Parking is a pain, but if you go later you can park in front of the closed businesses across the street.
(5)Pinky And The B.
First I wanted to link the menu so you can see for yourself the prices are reasonable. I am not sure what people are talking about saying it is expensive. 10best.com/destinations/… As far as the food goes I want to tell you I am not a sushi novice. I have had sushi in Japan and Honolulu and my experience was it was better in Honolulu and was cheaper and had bigger portions than in Japan. Here is my nation wide Japanese restaurant list. yelp.com/list/my-nation-… Here is my sushi list for NYC. yelp.com/list/nyc-sushi-… Here is my list for my favorite sushi in the country. yelp.com/list/my-favorit… If it was in Brooklyn New York I would give it 5 stars since nothing in Brooklyn comes close. The same for Los Angeles and Queens ,New York. If it was in New York ,New York 3 and half to 4 stars. If it was in Honolulu 3 stars. But I am giving you my sushi credentials so you will understand my rating. I was not blown away but I rarely am when it comes to sushi. I have never been blown away by any sushi restaurant in the lower 48. The closest for me was Sushi Ota in San Diego and that was more for the price and portion size. The value was better than anything in NYC and so portions were larger and Teriyaki was better than anything in NYC. So the sushi at Nishino was good. Not something that needs to be on your bucket list but good if in Seattle. But Nishino does have authentic Japanese desserts and not many Japanese restaurants do.I did not think it was a splurge. I thought it was a good value compared to other sushi restaurants I have been to in the rest of the country. 4 stars for value, freshness, service and decor. The decor is nice, the place is clean. The service was good, no complaints!
(4)J K.
Lots of places in Seattle have decent sushi, but Nishino's other Japanese menu items are what put it ahead of the rest. So far it's my favorite Japanese restaurant in Seattle. The service is consistently excellent, the atmosphere is good and appropriate for friends, dates, and business, and the food is outstanding. It's a bit pricey, but there are enough transcendent items that justify the price and I have yet to have a dish that was a let down. There are some items I avoid because they seem a bit overpriced (e.g., noodles, salmon teriyaki) A couple of especially memorable dishes: - Hamachi jalapeno appetizer - great pairing of mild hamachi with the spicy snap of jalapeno - Tara saikyoyaki - incredibly flavorful, flaky, naturally buttery black cod that's grilled to perfection The sushi is consistently good, but it's the two dishes above that keep me coming back. If you can't find a spot in the parking lot in front of the restaurant, drive around to the back of the building and take advantage of the building's free parking garage.
(5)Mrs. E.
We went here for dinner on a Saturday and thought that the service was great. We called the day-of to get reservations and were able to squeeze in. It's a good thing we called because the place was packed when we arrived. I started with the crab and asparagus tempura roll, which was ok. I had the Udon for my entree and it was probably the best udon broth I'd ever had in the States, though I was a little disappointed with the shrimp tempura. My husband and our friends had an assortment of sashimi/nigiri/rolls and said that it was all good to great, but not the best sushi they'd ever had. Overall, I'm giving this place 4 stars because the atmosphere was pleasant, the service was attentive, and the food was solid .
(4)Lawrence L.
My oh my does this place know how to do Sushi! I've heard about it a lot but I finally made it out. I balked at the $60 Omakase ($75 executive Omakase which you must call ahead for) which I'll save for a very special occasion later. A 7 course omakase that includes Sushi and other hot foods? A must try some time! Our party shared a very reasonable and very good sake served inside a Bamboo and poured into bamboo sake cups. I had the Moriawase with very fresh and flavourful Tuna, Whitefish, Yellowtail, Octopus and King Salmon. The salmon and the octopus was the best I ever had anywhere, including Japan and Vancouver! Great texture and flavour. Nishino sure knows hot to pick 'em. I supplemented this Sashimi platter with the Arboretum roll which had Hamachi and Jalapeno as well as a nice crunchy Salmon Skin roll that includes Bonito and other fillings. Both rolls were small but delicious. For dessert I had the Shiso Sorbet, which was an interesting Japanese Basil apparently blended and frozen. I'd recommend trying something else. But I won't let that affect my 5-star rating. I'll be back!
(5)Ric M.
You can't do much better than Nishino. It has become a Madison Park institution because it has great atmosphere, really high quality fish, and a very creative menu. You get what you pay for at Nishino.
(5)Janice S.
Had dinner at Nishino tonight. This restaurant NEVER disappoints. Hand roll with king crab, avocado and cucumber, was wonderful. Nishino is the best Japanese restaurant in Seattle. We dine there a couple of times a month, service is always perfect, always outstanding!
(5)Warren B.
Quality is superb. This is not a roll place, so if you like fancy rolls drizzled in blueberries, go to another place. For nigiri, Nishino is my favorite place in Seattle. It's also pricey but most places are that serve this quality of fish (Shiro, Kappo Tamura).
(4)Amy H.
Stand out Japanese in a weirdly sterile complex in Madison Park (aka stroller country). Make a reservation or prepare to wait, ignore the strange (frankly, hideous) large format "art" and take your seat in the overly bright, corporate cafeteria-styled dining room, or better yet: sit at the sushi bar with your attention on the chefs and your back to the walls, and settle in for stellar sushi, traditional Japanese offerings and attentive service. The daily specials sheet is always full of outstanding fare and some of the best rolls aren't found on the menu - just ask your server what these are. You can also invent your own and the chefs will create it for you (and it just might make a permanent appearance on their secret off-menu sushi list)! Some non-sushi options that are not to be missed include the shiso shrimp dumplings, the eggplant dish (nasu dengaku), the miso black cod, and the oshitashi spinach (very refreshing and a nice alternative to the now-ubiquitous edamame). We also love the soups and always save room for moshi! It's the best here - not too soft, not too mushy, not too thick of a rice paper wrapping - just the perfect end to a filling, but not at all heavy meal. People say that Nishino is expensive but we always feel that it's extremely reasonable for the quality and amount; especially compared to our old comparable standby in New York, Nobu. p.s. Nishino is better.
(4)Kasumi L.
My family has been going to Nishino for years now and seems like every time we visit, we end up having some type of religious experience or something... I don't know how else to describe it. The fish is so fresh it's ridiculous. The only other time we've experienced sushi this fresh was when we stayed in a small fishing village in Japan. When my family eats here together, the concept of dinner conversation is pretty much null because we're usually so enamored by the food. There's really not room for any other thoughts besides, "oh my god.. what ever is in my mouth right now is the best thing that has ever been in my mouth." Tip: Sitting at the counter is amazing! It fills up fast though so it's a good idea to get there early. Sometimes we get there so early we have to wait outside the door for a little. Obsessive? Yes.. but so very worth it.. (For one thing... if you order a roll wrapped in seaweed, the seaweed will still be crispy! It's a real treat. Sometimes when you order a roll from a table the seaweed will be soggy by the time it gets to you. But at the sushi bar, the roll is handed to you the second it's done being prepared and you can enjoy the crispy crunch of fresh nori. . ) Some other things we've ordered that are amazing include: oysters on a half shell, agedashi tofu, steamed clams, any tempura dish and the green tea ice cream. Oh and the spicy tuna here is unique because they don't dredge it in mayo like most places too. Seems like they just use crushed red pepper flakes or something to give it a real clean fresh taste. Can't wait to go back again!!
(5)Wendy K.
My fiancé, friend, and I celebrated my fiancé's birthday here the other weekend. Luckily, they took a reservation for us the popular 7:30 time on a Saturday night. My friend headed the creation of the Seattle 100 ( yelp.com/topic/seattle-1… ), which consists of 100 amazing dishes to try at restaurants around the city. Wouldn't you know that the Maguro with Seared Foie Gras, Shiitake, and Red Wine Reduction was on the list? So of course we had to order it. One order comes with 2 servings, and since we were 3, our server added half a serving so we could all try it. Melt-in-your mouth good, though I thought the foie gras overpowered the tuna a bit, so if you're a sushi purist, steer clear. Here's what else we ordered: Both my fiancé and friend ordered chirashi, and the fish looked amazing! They said it was really fresh, which is exactly what we're all looking for in a sushi dinner. I was in the mood for certain things in one roll, and when they didn't have that on the menu, our server said they would be happy to create a custom roll for me and that they have more items that aren't listed on the menu. Huh? Why wouldn't they want everyone to know what they can make? I felt a little limited by the selection printed on the menu, so I think it would benefit them to include ALL options. Anyway, I ordered an avocado, unagi, and tuna. I also ordered tekka maki and an order of hamachi nigiri. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/rDtJ… ) I loved how fresh the ingredients were. My friend and I also made sure to let our server know it was my fiancé's birthday, so at the end of our meal, our server brought over a complimentary dessert (2 different types of mochi/ice cream) with a candle. Nice touch. The service was good, since the server kept our water glasses full and didn't push us to order anything we didn't want. Since there are so many other sushi places in Seattle, I think I'd prefer to try a different one (or two or three) on our next trip. I know I can return to Nishino if we want an old standby.
(4)Keith H.
The sushi Gods
(5)Don T.
Went here for my birthday and had one of the best meals ever. It may have been the sake that took a hold of me, but everything from the carpaccio to the sushi set to the cakes from hiroki's bakery had me loving life. Obviously, other reviews emphasize how great it is to dine here, but if you are an aspiring sake sommelier, this is also the best place to try different premium sake. I did the sampler. The way it works is simple, they keep serving you until you say stop. You pay by the glass, but you really get to explore different grades, daiginjo, ginjo, junmai, honjozo, and style ranges from sweet to dry. Each is served in a shot glass slightly chilled, which is the way I like it. Every sake I tasted was very unique and of high quality. I don't think I got a single dud in the 7 tastings, which tells me that they really pay attention to the selection. My favorite was the umenishiki junmai ginjo. Not necessarily relevant but we also spotted the actor Tom Skerritt eating there on the same night. If you don't know who that is, he played the Sheriff in Picket Fences and Viper in Top Gun. I refrained from serenading him with a rendition of Danger Zone.
(5)Zameer R.
More like NishiYES. We took our friends here for dinner last night to thank them for watching our puppy over the holidays (how's that for extraneous backstory?) and boom went the dynamite. The service was fantastic, the sushi was so fresh and so clean, and the black cod was amazing. I wonder if they sell more black cod on Martin Luther King Jr day.
(4)Jenn N.
I guess I didn't get the same experience as everyone else who gave 4 or 5 stars here. They didn't have that many choices of sushi rolls and the choices that were listed are just your normal rolls you can get elsewhere, nothing special. We paid $15 for soft shell crab spring rolls which was literally one crab leg wrapped in a bunch of leafy greens. For $15?! Yes, the sushi was good ...but I wouldn't drive out of my way to eat here. Again, nothing spectacular. I gave them 3 stars because the service was awesome, the atmosphere was great and the restaurant looked very posh/fancy.
(3)Paul M.
I had a very pleasant dinner here. Despite being very busy (almost all tables full and with lively conversations), it still was quiet enough for a private conversation. Atmosphere was real nice. Staff were polite and knowledgeable. When I was unsure of which sake I wanted, the waiter was able to give me a very good recommendation. The food, of course, was also very good. Next time I find myself in Seattle, I'll be back I'm sure.
(5)Arif V.
Awesome place to enjoy some sushi... Awesome staff cute too... Again the counter is the best place to be and enjoy the artful experience. The interesting twist here is the chilled bamboo Sake bottle, very yummy this way. Sushi was awesome and again the Hamachi like butter. I will go back and give more of a review. I do have to say parking is a bit of a challenge but hey anything this good is going to be a bit difficult to get to.
(4)Danielle H.
Hands down, the best sushi I have had in Seattle. There is a place in San Diego that has me so spoiled that I haven't been able to land an amazing place in Seattle and I believe I have discovered it! The restaurant is very nice and I enjoy the small touches, like the warm towel served at the beginning of your meal, pretty menus and smooth rocks to rest your chop sticks on when you are not using them. Oh yeah, and the really neat tea cups inspired me to go take some ceramics classes and crank some of my own out. Now, to the food. We ordered the edamame, which was perfectly steamed and salted, the snow crab fresh rolls *a special*, the house special roll, the madison park roll and the hamachi nigiri sushi. Let me just say that the hamachi blew my mind. I have never tasted yellowtail that melted in my mouth like this did. I kind of wish I had just ordered six of those and nothing else, they were that good. So good that I was irritated that I wasted one by dipping it in soy sauce. The flavor of yellowtail is so faint that you just can't dip it and I forgot how wonderful GOOD hamachi is. That being said, the rolls were delicious as well. The house special roll is quite possibly my favorite roll thus far, considering how inventive it was. Instead of being wrapped in seaweed, the roll was wrapped in an egg crepe. I know it sounds strange, but it provided this sweet flavor that really intensified the fish inside. The service was GREAT and I really enjoyed our server (Edward). He was on it and always refilling our tea and making sure we were happy. I was happy with our dining experience and look forward to my next visit so that I can try some other creations (like the tempura banana dessert or green tea tiramisu!).
(5)Joyce J.
I revisited Nishino last November for Dine Around Seattle (DAS). This was by far my favorite restaurant in Seattle when I came here in 2006 for business. I tried both their omakase and ordering a la carte the previous times and was happy with the food. I am a fan of its Asian fusion style as its food managed to strike a balance of the east meeting the west. On my last visit, three years after my first visit, I thought the restaurant did a good job maintaining consistency. It was almost as good as I remember. Although after taking into consideration that things are always better in memory and the fact it was DAS, it was probably on par. The menu changes seasonally so I am not going to recommend a specific dish. Definitely ask the server what to order when you visit and you are most likely not going to be disappointed. =D
(4)Sammie N.
I've dined here twice and each time we've ordered from the omakase menu. Both times, the omakase menu was different, but very good. Each dish is very unique. We also ordered side orders of oysters and soft shell crab, which were just delicious! My most favorite thing about the menu is the mochi dessert served with fruit! For me, this is probably the best Japanese restaurant in the Seattle area. It's definitely more on the fine dining side, so it would definitely be a good place for a romantic date.
(5)Slamit Q.
This place is packed but worth the wait!
(5)Craig H.
Nothing short of INCREDIBLE Masaki is an awesome chef ask him to surprise you and you will be wowed.
(5)Yifei M.
The Omasake is soo good and the red shrimp is delicious.Also the Umi is good.
(4)Yuri S.
I am half-Japanese, have lived in Japan, and am VERY picky about my Japanese food! I have eaten in five star restaurants the world over, and to be very clear my criteria is not price, appearance, or popularity - it is the _food_. That said, Nishino's is some of the _best_ Japanese food I have ever had, even in Tokyo! They have an amazing ability to make traditional Japanese food _and_ modern twists! They make everything from scratch - for instance their dashi (soup stock/sauce flavoring), and even their tsukemono (pickled vegetables)! The omakase (chef's choice), is absolutely sublime. It can be expensive, but you can also get a moderately portioned meal for $10-12, like the nasu dengaku - grilled eggplant with miso sauce and homemade tsukemono (pickled vegetables). This is _the_ go to place when my Japanese relatives are in town, especially my father. One reviewer said there weren't many asians in there, but in my experience there are always not only asians, but nihonjin (japanese people from japan). (oh, and the decor is very elegant and beautiful and the service is phenomenal)
(5)Claire S.
I love love love this place. Went to Seattle this past weekend and it was my favorite place that we went to eat the entire time. My gentleman caller and I decided to do the chef's tasting for $60 since you can't do the deluxe/extreme one unless you call them at least 24 hours in advance; which I will definitely do next time I am in Seattle since I will be coming back here for sure. OH MA F***in GAHHH SO GOOODDDD. The inside of the place is nice and cozy, take your date here he/she will love you forever and maybe stay with you just because they hope that you will someday take them back to this restaurant. Started with a traditional appetizer which had 2 types of sashimi and an oyster. I love oysters, this one was great. Next was really thin sliced sashimi that was marinated in lemon and some other stuff and this was sooo sooo sooo good I could have just eaten that. After that was the salmon sashimi salad which was amazing. Will dream about it forever. This was raw salmon on a bed of greens with sesame oil and some sauce that was hot that partially cooked the salmon a little bit and it was absolutely perfect. Next we had garlic butter miso soup with mushrooms. I love miso soup, this was a rich and tasty version of a familiar classic; nice twist. After that I was full but they just kept feeding me. Next they brought out their popcorn shrimp tempura with green bean tempura; it was in a butter and white wine sauce; this was amazing. Then came my least favorite course which was still amazing; fried whitefish on a bed of chard... I'm not that into fried but it was still great and the chard went so well with it because the bitterness offset the richness of the fish. Then they brought out a giant plate of rolls and sashimi for us to share; tuna and white tuna sashimi, their signature rolls with asparagus, salmon, and idk what else...and uni rolls. All were very good and so fresh. Finally came dessert, 3 different kinds of mochi--espresso, white chocolate raspberry, and mango; with berries on the plate mmmmmm.. After dinner we couldn't really do anything besides lay around. I love this place, service is great, atmosphere is nice, and the sushi is amazing.
(5)Bruce K.
This is a true gem hidden amonst other stores in Madison Park. There are Japanese restaurants and then there's Nishino. The Sushi is fantastic. There are so many dishes that are coupled with different sauces and creative chef's fixings. It's about as close as you can get to ordering a "special chef choice" dinner yet all the items are readily availabe on the menu or fresh sheet. There hot food is also superb. It's great for people that are not sushi fans as they can select from an array of freshly prepared hot dishes. A favorite is the shrimp Gyozo. It seems to be boiled, not fried, and fresh suculent shrimp are served in a wrapping that could compete with the freshest of pasta. The plate is then covered with a very mild sauce. Try their different sushi preparations. Leave the ususal stuff for the "usual" sushi restaurants. Make reservations. This place is filled almost every night.
(5)Kelly C.
Wonderful in every way a restaurant should be!
(5)Avivos S.
awesome tasting menu dinner - every dish was unique and well prepared. good selection of sake and all in all a very nice atmosphere, this is definitely one of the best japanese restaurants in Seattle. and no, it's not that expensive. it may be 30% more expensive than other similar style restaurants but the return and quality of the product is 100% better. so go and enjoy!
(4)Kate B.
This is wah-wah sushi, ladies and gentlemen, and yes, you will pay for it, but it is so, so good. I would recommend ordering the sushi and small plates in a slow fashion to draw out the loveliness. There are lots of wine, sake and beer options and they do have limited hard alcohol available. The sushi is excellent. I must admit to not being a nigiri sushi but it did *look* excellent as it whisked by my table. The dragon roll is excellent. There was a Rome Roll on special that I am hoping will be a regular feature. I will be asking about it next time. We liked it so much that we ordered two of them. It was various types of shrimp, lightly tempura'd, arranged into a rainbow shape and then covered in a cilantro aioli. Sweet love of mankind. Delicious. Nishino shines in the non-sushi category as well. I can't believe I am saying it but, my favorite dish of the night was not sushi. On a lark I commandeered the table and ordered the baked dungeness crab over mushrooms. Oh...my...god. Every bite had me scooting in my seat. It is rich, rich, rich but the crab is hot and creamy and was kind of broiled on the top. Amazing. It will definitely be added to the rotation for all future visits. Be warned that this place gets packed. Make reservations as there isn't a bar to have a drink and wait and wait you will most of the time. The service is friendly and efficient but I definitely recommend taking your time and savoring this little piece of Madison Park goodness. As an aside, Theo Chocolates is directly across the street if they happen to be open when you are walking by. Awesomely awesome chocolate and treats and the family that owns it is way, way cool.
(5)Barbara S.
Best sushi bar I have ever been to anywhere. We had Omakasa...it was amazing. Worth the money.
(5)Aly M.
We had not gone here yet, but had heard some good things, so we decided the Dine Around Seattle was the perfect reason. Our picks: -A saki drink that was ok for the price, and interesting to try--it helped clean the palate with the different foods -Complimentary miso soups (good if you like miso) -Crab Cake with Pineapple Salsa on Nappa Cole Slaw (this was good, so I guess the change to the salsa was a good one!) -Maitake Mushroom and Green Beans Tempura on Seaweed Salad (this was good, but nothing special) -Assorted Sushi and Roll, Tuna, Salmon, Yellowtail, Albacore, Shrimp, Surf Clam, Vegetarian Roll, Today's Special Roll (these were good, and it was a nice way of discovering what kinds of sushi we prefer) -Tara Saikyoyaki, (Broiled Black Cod Marinated in Miso) (YUM!! wow . . . so good, we are trying to make it ourselves) -Cake Selections from Hiroki's Specialty Desserts (we got one each of the cakes which were ok--the Green Tea one was better than the Cassis-flavored one, but the flavors weren't our style) The service was good, especially the fun-tastic water pourer. The place was nice, but we can find sushi at a better price (when looking at the regular menu) just as good somewhere else. If you want a more formal, attractive sushi place (especially for a date), then this is a great place to go. No complaints, but I'm not ready to give it 5 stars until I try more sushi places in the area.
(4)Mimi L.
This place is by far my favorite sushi place in Seattle. This is where I take my sushi whores to impress them (yes, I got that word from Mashiko's website). Everything is always fresh here. Go for the omakase if possible but for a week night dinner, I usually stick to some favorites such as uni, hotate, hamachi kama, amaebi. Oh, you have to try their clam miso soup. The clam adds a certain sweetness to the miso broth that elevates this common starter to another level. Tips: call ahead for reservation. This place is always packed.
(5)Michelle Z.
A little slice of sushi heaven. I can't say enough good things about NIshino. I've tried my share of sushi restaurants in the city, and this one was definitely my fave of the bunch. Don't let this hefty price tag deter you, NIshino may not be your everyday sushi locale, but it's definitely worth the splurge. Everything was amazing here: the hamachi jalapeno hamachi, meguro sashimi, soft shell crab roll, arboretum roll, the special: crispy rice + salmon tartare, all topped off with a superb (and cleverly designed) bottle of sake. So good in fact, I'm pretty confident I will continue to have sushi dreams about this place.
(5)Jerome B.
Not really impressed with this restaurant. I think the service was horrible but the food tasted pretty good, but the price was still not worth it in my opinion. Honestly, In retrospect I don't even remember what sushi roll I got which isn't a good sign. I guess that just means that it wasn't outstanding but also not bad. The one thing that stood out during my experience here was the rude ass service and attitude that I received from the hostess. Honey, if you don't like your job... then quit! She practically told me and informed half of the restaurant (including the sushi chefs 15 feet away) that I need to stop taking pictures with flash. Sweety, also if you grab my shoulder again I will have defensive reflexes and you won't be too thrilled to get elbowed. I won't come here any time soon. I may consider if someone paid me to go though...
(2)Erin O.
This was one of the best meals I've ever had. Not to mention, it's the best bang for your buck if you're planning on spending some money anyway. Their deluxe omakase meal (at least when I went), was $65. Think now...for the cheapest omikase meal at Nobu, it's $80. This one had 9 courses, and was served by an impeccable staff that timed the courses perfectly. The sake cup was never empty, the sake selected for us (on the budget we requested) was excellent, and it complemented the dishes very well. Do make reservations, as it was crowded, but crowds mean fresh food, and keeping the place in business. It was excellent dining in Seattle, and I'm comparing this to a few places that always get super high ratings.
(5)Theresa M.
With the closing of Saitos, this instantly became a close second. The sushi is definitely top notch, with huge cuts of nigiri and top notch fish. The only reason I will not give it flying colors despite the fancy atmosphere might be that I am a purist. I feel the atmosphere could be more traditional, and i feel the appetizers were not as amazing for the price as they could have been. When i return I will definitely stick to sushi. Also the green tea tiramisu is to die for.
(4)Jessica N.
The sushi is good and the fish seems to be fresh but the prices here are just way too high to justify. I don't have any complaints per se, but the menu was fairly standard and pretty expensive. It would probably be a good place for a date if you don't mind spending a little ;)
(3)Jessie C.
This was a friend's suggestion for a birthday meal with the family and I'm happy I went. The sushi was GREAT. I got to try sea water eel (eel is my favorite) and the hamachi collar was really good. Tempura oysters were also very good. The only disappointment was the halibut - a bit overcooked and bland. Other than that, it was a great meal.
(4)Brian P.
Omakase was nice. Wished for more sushi preparations but the food was good. Ordering a la carte, really liked the dynamite geoduck clam. Service was great. I really appreciated that they don't force the whole table to order omakase. It fills up fast so definitely make reservations. Oh they had a nice sake selection as well.
(5)Merri P.
I found this place on Yelp while visiting Seattle this week. It received such rave reviews that I thought we should try it! Nishino lived up to the hype-it was amazing! Now, make sure you make a reservation or go before 715/730pm because it gets busy, and the place is tiny. The menu is interesting...has traditional Japanese food/sushi mixed with a non-traditional/modern twist! For a starter, I ordered the Foie Gras and Seared Tuna dish which was amazing! Two peices of perfectly seares tuna, atop a slice of nicely done foie gras, laying on a shitake mushroom drizzled with a red wine reduction. It melted in my mouth! For my entree I ordered the Arboretum Roll, Hamachi Nigiri and Shiromaguro Nigiri-DELISH! The fish was creamy, fresh and just melted in my mouth! Our waiter was SO personable, friendly and helpful in the selection process, as well! Thanks Edward! He was very knowledgable about the ingredients, menu and drink pairings. I recommend this place if you are looking for great sushi...however, it is rather expensive-$150 for 2 people.
(5)Fenom H.
These are the things I was told about this town when I first came to Seattle: -Jesus Christ Made Seattle Under Protest (downtown streetname mnemonic) -don't jaywalk downtown and: -do try the Holy Trinity of High End sushi (Shiro's, Nishino, and Saito...which closed last year--sayonara, Saito). Thing is, a) there is so much decent middle-end Sushi that I'd never gotten around to trying the Trinity, and b) no amount of mnemonics can remind me whether Pike comes before Pine. So it was the 15th anniversary omakase special ($45 instead of the usual $60 per person, which means a step up in how much you wanna spend on Sake) that finally drew us out to Madison Park. Nishino is unassuming from the outside, and the inside is dominated by some slightly creepy large surrealist paintings that are vaguely reminiscent of Marc Chagall and involve subject matter as diverse as donkeys, parakeets, and strangely colored people. But that's beside the point. Omakase, in our experience, is typically Burger King's "have it your way" in reverse--it means trusting your dining to the sushi chef's selection, usually resulting in creativity and the day's finest cuts. At Nishino, omakase seems to be more a prix fixe multi-course set menu of well-presented small plates. In short, an exciting parade of high quality, fresh seafood with an occasional fusion-y creative twist. (Trust me, I don't always think of Fusion as a good thing--see my Japadog review--but Nishino's inventiveness usually starts with high caliber ingredients and turns out well. Their regular menu includes such intriguing standouts as foie gras with seared tuna.) The omakase this night was 8 courses long, including appetizers, soup, salad, tempura, cooked fish, sushi, and dessert. Notables included the fresh oyster, the tofu mushroom fish-stock soup, the albacore sashimi green salad garnished with fried lotus root, the avocado (yes, avocado) tempura with tempura popcorn shrimp, the pan-friend halibut cheek over a bed of swiss chard (the swiss chard was the best part of that dish), and the sushi, which was unadulterated with any fusion-y touches to let shine the amazingly fresh hamachi, tuna, and salmon--specifically local wild-caught sockeye salmon from Lummi (with two 'M's) Island up by Bellingham--YUMMMMMM (with many more 'M's). Also, the mochi and fresh fruit dessert plate was a nice finish, and our server Edward was awesome--friendly, knowledgeable and presented and paced the dishes exceptionally well, reading our cues without being overbearing. As for the Trinity--and then there were two. Haven't been to Shiro's yet, but all in all, Nishino lives up to its longstanding reputation. PS if you wanna avoid steet parking in Madison Park, there is a semi-secret garage in the alley behind the retail complex with free parking for customers of Nishino and the surrounding businesses.
(5)Kari K.
Recommended rolls: madison park roll (salmon, shrimp, crab and egg crepe outside) house special roll (tuna, yellowtail, salmon and whitefish) this place had great decor, excellent service, and a great sake list! The fish was very fresh.
(5)Tonya N.
We went here recently for dinner and overall had a great time. Its definitely on the pricier side, I personally would stick to the Nishino Speciality dishes and sashimi. The rolls for me were average. Very nicely done small dishes that are great for sharing. The foie gras sushi as well as the salmon over crispy rice were wonderful.
(4)Maureen K.
Definitely, the best sushi in town. Their other entrees are pretty good too, but it might not blow your mind. Now back to the sushi . . . let's just say it's so fresh that it literally melts in your mouth and you might do it harm than good by dipping it in soy sauce/wasabi. Their sake selection is freaking spectacular too. My husband is a sake newbie and got a chance to try their sampler. They charge by the 2 ounce glass, but you can taste as many as you want, whenever you want. None of them had that restaurant grade alcohol finish taste to them. All of them were smooth and tasted polished in their own way. They get nudged to 5 stars because they had a high chair ready at the table for our 7 month old. I wouldn't say this place is necessariliy "kid friendly", but they do make it a point to provide the necessary accomodations prior to your arrival. TIP: Do make reservations because this place gets packed fast!
(5)Stiliyana S.
Nishino is hands down one of my favorite (if not my most favorite) sushi place in Seattle. They always have fresh fish and their preparation is often different from most other sushi places. They do have traditional rolls, sushi and sashimi, but they also have fascinating dishes such as their foie gras and tuna. Their seasonal specials are also always excellent. The sushi chefs are friendly and the service tends to be good. The only negative to Nishino is that the check quickly gets large as you order your delicious fish. Definitely try the spicy salmon on crispy rice and the Arboretum roll!
(5)Lisa F.
This is my neighborhood sushi joint. We go at least once a month. Great sashimi, rolls, and udon. I never eat their desserts because I never save room. The albacore tuna sashimi salad literally melts in your mouth. Sit at the counter and let them surprise you. Or just ask for the spicy salmon with toasted rice on the "special menu". You will thank me.
(5)J. A. C.
I ate raw seafood with wasabi and rice and liked it. I never usually venture out and try something like this. But the key is that I freakin' ate raw fish. ...and look what I rated it. wtf. am i hooked?
(5)Mel T.
The best sushi I have ever had. Fish / seafood is extremely fresh, the presentation is delicate and the ambiance of the restaurant is great. I have ordered arboretum roll, house special roll and soft shell crab roll and all three were amazing. But I am especially impressed with the arboretum roll, yellow tail and jalapeno is a great combination. The service can be a little slow on weekends but that is expected as all the tables are full.
(5)Austria G.
I have wined (Plum Wine- refreshing) and dined (Baked Dungeness Crab and the Super White Tuna as sushi, sashimi or roll- melts in your mouth, no joke!) for almost a decade. Many friends and family, and dates, I have introduced this place to. I love the ambiance with the colorful abstract paintings adorning the walls. I noticed once-in-a-while they switch out the paintings, but not too often. Entering and leaving, you will always be greeted by all the sushi chefs Japanese style. They are always booked and busling, so a reservation is definitely required. Quality of the food exceptional and everything on the menu worth trying. This is the ultimate of Japanese restaurants in my opinion. Thanks to Eri Nishino and staff for always taking care of me.. usually last minute accomodations and walk-in. I need to adhere to the make reservation rule. Yah, I know, I know..
(5)Eric M.
This is our favorite neighborhood spot. The room is so cool with Scott Oki's fabulous art collection and it's clean lines. The chefs give you a warm greeting when you arrive and there is almost always room at the sushi bar for 2. Great people watching too. In the summer you can sit outside on the patio and enjoy the street scene overlooking Madison St. The food and service are always first rate. They do wonderful things with mushrooms and dashi broth; an umami bomb! I also like the hamachi collar and black cod menu items. The quality and freshness of their sushi and nigiri are well documented by other Yelpers so I'll just heartily agree that it's great.
(5)Robby C.
Before starting this review, please note that because both of the primary sushi chefs that work at Nishino are amazingly funny and it is endearing to see them love their work, as well as their customers, to a degree that it actually makes the food more delicious and enjoyable. With that said, our visit here was for a weekend dinner and we decided to sit down at the sushi counter instead of a table located in the back. Aside from the typical individual make and nigiri sushi dishes, which were served to us in generous portions and thick cuts, we were also treated to the locally inspired Madison Park roll and arboretum roll. Loaded with salmon and shrimp, the Madison Park roll is rolled not with the traditional seaweed, but instead with a thinly cooked spread of scrambled egg. As for the arboretum roll, the roll consisted of yellowtail and avocado and, to the dismay of spice-hating partner, generous helpings of jalapeños. And, per my continuing mission to find the perfect chirashi bowl, it is my personal suggestion to avoid Nishino for its overpriced bowl of chirashi and instead stick to the traditional sushi rolls that are treated with a much greater level of delicacy as well as being more worthwhile in regards to overall expense to the amount of food received.
(4)Lime P.
Awesome omakase dinner. Best uni in town, though they did serve it out of season. Foie gras amazing.
(5)Sunny L.
I was taken here for my birthday dinner and the food was SO GOOD! We ordered the omakase dinner (7 courses!) and I enjoyed almost every single one of them. The raw dishes were soooo good that I could have just ate that the entire night and been a happy girl. The cooked dishes were pretty good too, but they weren't my favorite of the night. I'm a raw fish girl :). I walked out way too full, but happy! I love great food. Will be back.
(5)Jennifer B.
Best sushi in Seattle as far as I'm concerned. The dining room is attractive and pleasant. Sushi is so fresh and flavorful. We've had almost every roll on the menu and they are excellent. Chefs are always happy to make something that's not on the menu (I love a good Seattle roll, and it's not on their menu). Hamachi sashimi is always fantastic. Tempura french beans are yummy, snow crab tempura and asparagus roll starter with wasabi cram dipping sauce is terrific, as is the hamachi jalepeno. They also have a decent wine list for those who prefer a glass of pinot noir over sake with their pinot noir. YUM YUM YUM.
(5)Denise W.
As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by the sushi chefs behind the counter. That was very nice. You can always count on service at a Japanese restaurant. The restaurant reminded me of many sushi, Japanese restaurant, Asian themed. What I found disturbing was the art on the wall. I'm not sure how to describe it so you'll have to see for yourself. It was not the usual calm,soothing art but more in your face type of art. Or maybe I just can't appreciate it. My friends and I were able to partake in the Dine Around Seattle special so it was 3 courses for $30. This came with a choice of appetizers, entree, and dessert. I ordered the white salmon carpaccio, Sushi assortment, and green tea tiramisu from Hiroki's. So dessert did not count. Our meal started with complimentary miso soup. It was plain miso soup, nothing special. I have had great complimentary miso soup where they had pork and some winter melon in it. This was just plain seaweed and tofu. I can't tell you how the carpaccio was as the waiter got my order wrong and gave me the deep fried oysters instead of my white salmon carpaccio. I didn't mind taking the oysters when the server brought it over as I had never had it before. No big deal as it was just deep fried oysters. On to the sushi assortment. It was nice. I think there was about 12 pieces of sushi and rolls. I remembered the tuna, shrimp, and surf clam. The sushi was very fresh although I don't recall tasting the sweetness of the fish like I have had before at other sushi restaurants. The other thing that bugged me about the sushi was the the rice. Way too much water so it was soggy. Sushi 101, never serve rice that is not perfect otherwise it ruins the whole sushi experience. I don't mind paying for excellent food and superb service. Nishino for me was not that place, especially because it is on the pricier side and the food was just ok. It was an enjoyable evening because of the great company.
(3)Dale T.
One of the best Japanese restaurant in Seattle. They emphasize on the originality of the food. Food taste great and fresh! Service is also great. Environment is clean and upscale. There are many many Japanese restaurants in Seattle but Nishino remains one of my favorite!
(5)evelyn E.
One of the best Japanese restaurants I have ever tried.
(5)Brad W.
Great sushi, although the omakase was not as creative as I would've liked. The cooked food is very good as well. Pricey however. Ambiance is great.
(4)Jed S.
Having lived 8 years in Japan I have experienced fine sushi and I've gotta say Nishino is the real deal. Really they go beyond traditional Japanese Sushi by being more creative and contemporary, exploring new ideas and flavors. The quality is superb, it's a great feeling to know you'll be having the best sushi in Seattle.
(5)Katrina E.
Pretty good sushi. I love places that have something a little different like here. The toro tartare was amazing. It looks small, but gives a decent amount of the fat belly tuna. Tempura is delicious here and not like those cheap places where the fried batter falls right off the insides. Noodles are ok, I would not eat them here. Desserts were good. If you like shiso, try the shiso sorbet. An amazing mix of the shiso taste in a green ice ball.
(4)Joyce B.
This review is Part 1 of 2. It's starts at Nishino, and ends at Sushi Kappo Tamura. Let me preface this review with a couple of facts: I consider myself a sushi snob; a highly experienced sushi diner. I am half-Japanese and lived in Japan for a (combined) number of years, speak enough to be entertained without crossing the lines of religion and politics, and have majority of relatives still in Japan. I am not the salmon-tuna-yellow tail kind of sushi eater. I judge by the Omakase, as this is truly the opportunity for the chef to "WOW" his customers, show his creativity and give customers food that is normally not on the menu. We went to Nishino because we heard it was fantastic...it's where the Japanese baseball players go. It has to be good, and maybe that's where I made my first mistake....setting expectations. The atmosphere is wonderful. The hostess is friendly and accommodating. The chefs behind the counter are Japanese (a requisite). It's packed. We're excited. We order Omakase, but there is a caveat: My husband is allergic to fish. There are plenty of non-gilled-but-comes-from-the-sea items that can be consumed in Japanese restaurant: crab, shrimp, octopus, squid, scallops, clams, sea urchin, tobiko, geoduck, etc; and many different ways to prepare any of those items. We never have a problem dining at Shiro's in Belltown, or I Love Sushi on the Lake in Bellevue, or Tojo's in Vancouver BC. While other diners were ordering seared scallops, and other creative dishes off the menu, our chef at Nishino was not engaging. He was not creative. He gave us nothing exciting. He presented nigiri sushi....fish/shellfish on top of rice. Boring. He did not shine. We were not WOW'd. We were highly disappointed. Was he afraid of the challenge of the fish allergy? Perhaps. On the up side, the fish is fresh. If you like to order off the menu, or do not venture far outside of the salmon-tuna-yellow tail realm, Nishino's is fine. We won't be going back as there are many GREAT sushi restaurants in Puget Sound. Now, check out Sushi Kappo Tamura...
(2)Adam S.
I'm no expert on sushi (in fact I can't even use chop sticks so I usually look like a dumb-dumb eating it). Went here anyways because of a recommendation, and I am glad I did. Got the $60 chef's tasting. It is 8 courses of goodness. My favorite was the salmon salad. Just amazing... Maybe the best salad I've eaten. There was also some raw fish served paper thin with some kind of citrus sauce that was amazing as well. The fried shrimp was melt in your mouth good. Service was great as was the environment. Really impressive stuff here.
(5)Christian D.
Crushed it. I'm not sure what anyone would have to complain about.
(5)Kaoru S.
Very special Sushi experience. Both authentic style and very creative modern dishes. One of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. Omakesei is unique and really tasty!
(5)Robert K.
Probably one of the best sushi places in WA. It could be a 5 but giving it a 4 because for the price and quality, there is one other spot I deem best and must give a higher rating in comparison. Dishes: All the sushi and sashimi here is quite good. Other entrees are very good as well but I would say it's a fairly "fancified" place and makes it slightly over-rated. It accomodates to non-authentic customers very well who will likely give this place a 5. Hint: it's quite busy, parking is not very good, so adjust accordingly like make a reservation and get there early to find parking? just saying...lol
(4)Dale S.
I have already given Nishino my highest possible rating; I took my mother there for her 60th birthday. Chosen by my father and me, Nishino is one of a few restaurants in Seattle that offers culinary art along with exquisite ingredients and wonderful service. Our group also included two very adventurous youngsters who alone ate an entire sashimi platter, all age groups left extremely pleaesed. I can not say enough about the color, presentation, and uniqueness of the majority of the menu. It is beautiful in it's simplicity and quality of the products themselves. Tuna belly with gold leaf and American sturgeon is unreal, and the fois gras-tuna-shitaki mushroom bite will make your head turn. We were lucky enough to go in the winter so I believe I ordered 16 Uni nigiri and possibly ate 9 on my own. Maybe I have not said enough about the service or the ambiance but even if this place was in my garage with my 90 year old grandmother serving I think it would still get 5 stars.
(5)Beatrice L.
Great place to go to if you're in the mood for top quality meal w/ top quality service. It is located in the Madison area, which is a fairly nice neighborhood. Nishino is more western than eastern in terms of its decor, and their cuisine is a mix of traditional and modern Japanese food infused w/ a hint of western twist. The presentation of every plate that they bring out is quite artistic as well. Make sure to calla and make reservations if planning on visiting during the weekend.
(4)Erickson E.
Nishino's status as one of Seattle's best Japanese restaurants has always vaguely bothered be. In my opinion, it's better described as pan-asian fusion cuisine -- not traditional Japanese. I took my parents here, based on its reputation. We lived in Japan and were hoping to find Nishino an authentic, traditional restaurant. The menu is missing many of the items I enjoy from Japanese cuisine, and is instead focused on various fusion dishes with fish, vegetables, noodles, chicken... perfectly fine for any restaurant, and tasty at that; but not genuine Japanese. The prices are also a bit steep. Maneki in the I-District, Tokyo Japanese in Factoria and Koharu in Federal Way all offer better Japanese food at better prices. Visit Nishino for unique and creative fish dishes, good sushi and a fun, modern atmosphere. Don't visit for authentic, traditional Japanese food.
(3)Philip L.
Nishino was a fairly underwhelming experience. I ordered a few appetizers and nigiri and found the fish fairly bland. I had otoro, which is my absolute favorite, and it just lacked the rich, fatty succulence I hope for. All the sushi I had was quite bland. I'm not sure what it was, but despite the simple preparation and seemingly fresh fish, the flavors just didn't pop. There was a mix up in service that ended up with us waiting about 15 minutes for our server to take our drink order. Which, really isn't a big deal, but the place is a bit pricey so adroit service is something I would expect. It's a nice, if somewhat dated, space. Compared to the host of sushi places in Seattle, many of which have comparable prices if not cheaper, I can't see myself making a return trip.
(3)Mike G.
Best Sushi in Seattle, hands down. Friends recommended we try it, and we will be going back this weekend. I could not say enough wonderful things. You will not be disapointed. Great Service to.
(5)Amol P.
we were seated at the sushi bar which was a bit discomforting (price you pay for not making a reservation?). We are not big sushi fans hence it was only after we looked at the online menu did we realise that there were some appealing dishes this place had to offer. Our first taste was pickled ginger with wasabi. Our chef was serving other guests seated at the bar with zeal creating his own preparations from the fresh fish on offer. Given we were at a sushi place it was weird to not order a sushi or a roll, so we ordered the Madison park roll (salmon, shrimp, crab and egg crepe outside) which was quite scrumptious. We ordered the shrimp dumplings for appetizer with yuzu sauce which I must say was quite strong but tasty. For entree we had the curried seared halibut cheek with sautéed mushroom and swiss chard and cilantro aioli. This dish is so heavenly and satiating that we had a hard time finishing it off .. We finished off with the banana tempura with coconut ice cream which was the perfect way to end a satisfying meal.
(3)Letha F.
Nishino offers reliably excellent sushi and a menu mixed with traditional Japanese delights and creative recipes. So often when a Japanese or fusion restaurant comes up with its own nontraditional flair, it's limited to how many things you can wrap around a #&$% California roll. Well not here! They do beautiful things with halibut cheeks, have a remarkable tuna tartare, and when their ever-changing specials menu contains mushrooms, you simply MUST order them. The chefs at Nishino are masters with the shrooms! The service is always great. The setting is beautiful, with contemporary art and furnishings. It can get noisy so I wouldn't say this is a romantic place. It's more like a fine, bustling neighborhood restaurant. Try it. You will love it.
(5)Eric K.
A couple of years ago I went to Hong Kong and stumbled on a Japanese restaurant with the best sushi I have ever had (I haven't been to Japan). And now every time I have sushi I judge it against my five star sushi meal in Hong Kong. So far I haven't found anything that compares. In comparison Nishino gets 3.5 stars. I only round up to four stars because the ambiance and interior of the restaurant. But you would expect that Nishino would be nice since it is in Madison Park. Here is what I had for dinner: -Maitake mushroom and green beans tempura on seaweed salad -Halibut cheeks -Assorted sushi -Cassis flavored cake The standouts were the seaweed and the cake. Everything else was just OK. I could tell the sushi was fresh but it didn't particularly stand out to me. The halibut cheeks were also OK but the dish was definitely Asian fusion. Nishino is a nice place and I wouldn't protest if my friends wanted to check it out but I can't see myself craving a trip here. If you would like an upscale sushi restaurant I would suggest checking out Nishino.
(4)Mitsuaki M.
My must visit every time I'm in Seattle. One of my friends is a friend of the owner, and tipped me to this place during my first visit. Ever since, I'm hooked! I love the freshness of the fish, the preparation, everything. The chefs are friendly, and once I went out to drink with one after hours (^_^).
(5)Cathy S.
I was at Nishino last weekend for a good friend's birthday. There were 15 of us and a 6PM reservation was the earliest we could get. Almost all of our party arrived on time for our reservation. Our server immediately took drink orders for each person as they arrived. Our table was split 50/50 for those who chose to order from the Dining Around Seattle (3 course meal for $30) and those who chose to order ala carte. My husband and I chose to order ala carte since it seemed for almost the same price we could order a bigger spread of sushi and side dishes. It ended up working out well for us. The mushroom tempura was amazing, the miso soup was amazing, and the sushi rolls were so fresh! I subtracted one star because while the service was top notch, it was a bit on the slow side. I would definitely consider coming back here though on a less crowded night (and with a smaller party).
(4)Vanessa A.
My bf took me here for omakase on my birthday. It was awesome. Each dish was excellent. Beautifully plated, fresh, and delicious. Having said that I don't know if I'd come back because 1. it is pretty spendy and I have no money, and I can get sushi of this quality at a much lower price when I go to Vancouver, BC. 2. Maybe it's me but it feels weird to be the only Asian person in an Asian restaurant. Everyone there was older, rich looking and white. But if that's not odd for you and you have money to spend, go here and get omakase (chef's choice).
(4)Peter L.
Over the past 13 years, Nishino has defined upscale Japanese food in Seattle, and it was the first place I tried ankimo (monkfish liver) in 1996. Chef Tatsu Nishino, formerly of sushi legend Matsuhisa of LA, has brought a unique combination of traditional fresh sushi and sashimi and more innovative small plates. On a recent visit this weekend, the fish was fresh and solid, starting with a hamachi sushi and going through various nigiri-zushi such as salmon, ama-ebi, kaki, ika, and unagi. Quality was very good, although other places seem to offer fish as good at a lower price. But what other sushi places do not offer is an excellent menu of small plates. Our favorite by far was a combination of seared foie gras, maguro sashimi, and soy reduction. Indulgence and richness do not even begin to start to describe the dish. Two pieces for $15 may seem high, but it was totally worth it. Other small plates we tried included an excellent sake steamed manila clam (the broth was so light and flavorful) and a very generous portion of hamachi-kama. The sushi list seems pretty short but had some decent choices. You can also have the cold sake served in bamboo with bamboo cups, which was nice until we started to think how they could clean the container afterwards. But for $30 it was a very generous portion, and with the small cups, seemed endless. Overall, I would have to say that Nishino is pretty much the only place for upscale Japanese cuisine in Seattle. The sushi is definitely some of the best in town, but it wold be a mistake to ignore some of the smaller plates as well.
(5)Jeanna L.
Nishino probably has the best ambiance out of all the sushi restaurants I visit in the greater Seattle area. It also has some of the best sushi around. I love having omakase sushi at the bar from Mori-san. I went the other day and sat with a different chef and it wasn't a very exciting mix of sushi, but the quality was still excellent. I usually only come here for sushi, but their black cod entree is DELICIOUS! Definitely worth a try if you're not in the mood for raw fish. I've only been disappointed once by Nishino, when I came with my family during dine around seattle. It was really busy and the sushi was barely better than grocery store sushi. So maybe avoid coming here during big promotions. Thankfully, I didn't let that one bad experience keep me from coming back!
(5)Jason A.
Excellent food and service, warm, contemporary decor. We arrived early for our reserved table and were promptly seated, and enjoyed an unforgettable dinner. Can't recommend Nishino highly enough.
(5)Zachary Sam Z.
Nishino is the place I go when I have visitors from out of town who want a good sushi experience, and don't mind splurging a little bit. The food is great, and whenever I go there, my party always leaves happy. I'm a fan of their chirashi - a great assortment of fish, and each piece is delicious. A bit more rice than one person needs underneath... personally, I'd rather have more fish for the price that you're paying. I also took the yelp advice and got the seared maguro special with shiitake mushrooms and fois gras. My verdict is the same as the chirashi: Delicious, but not quiiiite worth the price in my book. Because of the price, Nishino is never going to be a place that I go when I want to splurge on sushi - I think you can stretch your dollar at plenty of awesome sushi places here in Seattle. But Nishino will continue to be my destination with family and friends from out of town - I know it will always be a good experience!
(4)Linda C.
Solid omakase experience. Definitely a fusion-y place. Doesn't look like much from the outside. That entire area has small-ish, cookie-cutter looking store fronts. The outside is a little reminiscent of a dental clinic exterior... but, no worries, you're at the right place, and the food is good. Interior decor and ambience was well done. Service was excellent. Sushi chefs were very attentive. Food? Omakase presentation is good, flavors are subtle but mix well. There were quite a number of non-sashimi plates (ceviche, crab cake, oyster tempura, etc), which provided some variety. Sashimi was very fresh. Solid 3.5 stars. Tip? Sit at the bar. The sushi chefs are very nice. When it slows down a bit, chat them up - it was the best part of the night!
(4)Jennifer M.
I'm honestly not a fan of sushi, but I wasn't going to turn down a work related invite to this place. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised. This was some of the best food I've EVER had, not just sushi-wise. Their sashimi was to die for - everything seems to melt in your mouth. The blackened cod was my favorite. Superb.
(5)Ty L.
excellent service excellent sushi good ambiance priced fairly i don't think you should come here for rolls. if you are into sashimi, higher grade sashimi, its definitely worth it.
(5)natalie n.
I had an enjoyable experience at Nishino's at least year's dine about town, so when I saw that that they were offering their omakase at a reduced price at $45 (normally $60), I was pretty quick to make reservations. Omakase means "leave it to me" in Japanese. In the case of both Kappo Tamura and Nishino's, you get a multi-course meal that encompasses much more than just sushi. The menu is subject to change at the chef's whim or selection of ingredients. The food? Overall, really pretty enjoyable. I've never tried omakase at other restaurants in Seattle save Kappo Tamura (which was much more expensive at $100 per). There were some dishes that felt a wee bit underwhelming/uninspiring. I wasn't a big fan of the popcorn shrimp served with avocado tempura and the tangy chili sauce, and I felt they sort of cheated by giving us a fair bit of greens in the salad dish as filler. But there were still dishes that did rock my socks, like the heavenly piece of black cod served with enoki mushrooms and tofu in soup. Any place that serves me kumamoto oysters can't be bad. The sushi, as one would hope, was excellent and included a nice piece of chuutoro. The meal was topped off with a simple but beautiful presentation of mochi ice cream and fruit. I know what you're thinking -- you can get mochi ice cream and fruit from the supermarket ... but we're talking pumpkin ice cream mochi with persimmons! A yummy meal that left us comfortably full that incorporated lots of fish and veggies. The ambiance? I find the restaurant space a little weird with the peach walls and strange paintings, but I guess it makes for good conversation. We were tucked away in the back where we were a bit cramped. It is a pretty noisy restaurant, but I didn't find it detracting. The service? I thought our waiter had a slight "surfer dude" inflection to an amusing effect. The courses felt a bit slow at the onset, but after the first few dishes everything was perfectly paced. All in all, it was definitely worth it at the anniversary price and I would argue the normal price as well. I think this place does have a bit less of a "wow" factor than places like Shiro's, but the price didn't leave my jaw hanging like Shiro's does!
(4)crystal y.
Went in tonight for Dining Around Seattle and here are my thoughts: Appetizer: Tuna Sashimi Salad - I would have to say that although I enjoyed the tuna, I thought the salad greens underneath looked a little wilted. Not sure if it had been sitting for a bit before it came out. Entree: Beef Negimaki with Swiss Chard and Sweet Potato Fries: I liked my entree a lot. I struggled between choosing sushi and this, but decided on the Negimaki because I don't see it on menus all that often so it'd be something new. The Beef Negimaki was very flavorful - I went with one bite of that and then one bite of rice. The sweet potato fries were great. This was my first time eating Swiss chard. I like eating dark greens, but not sure it would be first on my list. Dessert: I took the Green Tea Tiramisu which was just very light, smooth, and just lovely. I would definitely order this again. I think the meal was very well balanced. I am not 100% sure I was wowed, but I definitely enjoyed my meal. Service was great- no complaints there.
(3)JOHN L.
Let me clarify: 4 stars for sushi, since the fish was quite fresh 2 stars for everything else The 2 stars is mainly based on the price relative to what you get and also the abyssmal geoduck dish. The geoduck appetizer had about 5 tiny pieces of geoduck, a load of sliced crimini mushrooms, 2 small scallops, and SMOTHERED on top with some salty overpowering cheesy concoction. Oh, and for $14 dollars. What the?! For $14, I expected a decent portion of geoduck and some slivers of shitaki or matsutake or some other non-Safeway style mushroom. I wouldn't order it if it was complimentary. The spinach gomae was a bit heavy on bonito, but fine. Also, generally, the appetizers were so so for the prices, i.e., go to Kisaku instead! Kisaku's appetizers are half the price but twice as tasty, and I do mean every word of that. 4 stars for sushi because the fish was fresh, but the rolls were huge, i.e., I got 3 giant pieces. Were they too lazy to cut the fish?! I felt like a squirrel collecting sushi pieces in my cheeks. Where are the 5 star crazy reviews coming from?! Have these people only eaten at the serviceable places in Ballard?
(3)Jon S.
It's alright. Nothing to write home about. The fish in any of the sushi selections was fresh. Some of the dishes were unique, but the overall menu is a sampling of a broader sushi menu. Prices are ok, could be better. Ambiance is nice; very clean and well decorated.
(3)Jen P.
We came here on our continued quest to conquer the 3 for 30 list. I completely agree with the other reviews about the decor--I felt like I was in an aging strip mall. I normally wouldn't pick on this so much, but the food is so superior to the visual experience, it made the interior more noticeably mediocre. However, the sushi was phenomenal. While we got a tasty tempura first course, and the green tea tiramisu and cheesecake were delightful, the fish was the real standout. I've never had sushi/sashimi so unbelievably tender. I usually can't take a whole piece at once and end up gnawing my way through it to get half at a time, but this just sliced apart like butter. The white king salmon with pink peppercorn appetizer was probably my favorite. Just 1-2 little corns added a nice punch to the light, fresh fish. I'd also like to tip my hat to the sommelier who chose the wine pairings for the meal. The viognier instantly decimated the heat from the fresh wasabi in our rolls. It was like mad science. I'd definitely choose to come back for a special occasion meal, or to treat our out-of-town sushiphile friends to a real treat.
(4)Kate M.
Best sushi in Seattle, hands down. The service, location, drinks, etc. are all great, but go here for the fish - it's freakin' awesome. I feasted mostly on sashimi and nigiri - the rolls were more of an afterthought. The other highlight was the hamachi collar - an amazing dish at a phenomenal price - buttery and delicious. I can't write any more - I'm salivating all over my keyboard just thinking about that meal ...
(5)Andrew k.
Had the omakase menu with a friend. We opted for a mix of sushi and sashimi, although we also had the option of having food from the kitchen. My favorites were the deep fried shrimp heads, the sweet shrimp, hamachi sushi, salmon sashimi, and albacore sushi in that order. The shrimp and the salmon in particular had great flavor. Mori-san expertly cut and prepared each of our dishes and was very insightful to our probing foodie questions on preparation techniques and freshness of fish. If I lived in the area, I would come here quite often, which is probably then a good thing I don't for my wallet's sake. Which reminds me, we had lots of the house sake, which might not be the smoothest, but had great flavor. I'm somewhat of a food snob so only 4 stars here, but I'm sure it would be 5 on most people's list. Some things that would have made it 5 stars: The toro, and o-toro, although good, could have been of better quality. My motto is, if you're going to pay for the good stuff, get the best. Some of the fancier preparations with jalepeno, roe or other flavor enhancers came with lesser quality fish. A lot of places do this (think spicy tuna/hamachi/salmon rolls) but it makes a big difference if the quality is still there. Try it. Sit at the bar. You won't regret it.
(4)Darth V.
Oh, the tortures I put myself through in order to complete this Foodie 100 list. Little factoid leading into this review: I am deathly allergic to mushrooms of any kind. Can't eat em. They do baaaaaad things to me ranging from inability to breathe (even with this damn respirator that makes it sound like I'm land-scuba diving) to losing sensation in my extremities/lips/tongue to body shakes right down to the nasty number it works on my innards. Not even The Force can overcome this reaction. Factoid no. 2: Not only do I hate anything with liver in it, but I find foie gras offensive. And that's saying something, since I'm about the most unapologetic carnivore this side of the land of the Hutts. Next to me, even Chewbacca goes "Daaaaaamn dude, eat some veg!". Well, actually he just goes "Rrrawwaarrawwaaahhhhhaaaahhhwaaaahhh", but I think he's saying the other thing. So what's on the 100 list for tonight? A piece of sushi with a huge chunk of foie gras on the top side and a huge Shiitake mushroom on the other. Lovely. If I survive this, so help me I'm going to kill every living soul within a 10 parsec radius of here. OK, Top 100 list item exempted, this place is the gold standard for sushi in the region. There is not a place anywhere that serves fish that is more fresh, more high-quality, and more masterfully prepared than Nishino. None. I might as well have gone into the ocean and killed these creatures myself, they're so fresh. Or at the very least did a Jedi mind trick to get them to jump into a boat for me. After all, it's hard to swim with all this gear. The Lady Vader will undoubtedly disagree since all she had was the ngiri menu and thus found their lack of creativity upsetting, but I'll turn her on to the place next time, when we order the other 80% of the menu that is "different". The itamaes are true masters of their craft, and create flawless items of tasty goodness in everything they do. The staff is always pleasant and professional. I have no doubt that if I replaced their sashimi knives with lightsabers, they would be able to flick a single hair off the head of a Rebellion member without harming them in the slightest....and then lop off that person's head right afterwards, because that's what I'd demand they do. As to the item on the Foodie 100? Well, if you're into foie gras, and like mushrooms, it's probably outstanding. Lady Vader seemed to enjoy it. I was too busy fighting my gag reflex from the foie gras at first, and then fighting my throat from completely closing up and suffocating me from the mushroom afterwards to really take a lot of note as to just how the flavour was. Since I don't like the taste of mushrooms on top of being allergic to them, I don't so much imagine I enjoyed it all that much, but I'm probably in the minority here. The Lady Vader wanted to film it so she could put this event on Youtube, convinced it would go viral. While this may be the case, it probably won't help my image any; especially in light of them catching that footage of Mini-Me trying to Force Choke a Volkswagen. I can say the red wine reduction sauce was flawless, so there is that, at least. I ordered a couple of pieces of sushi after this experience and couldn't taste anything at that point, so had to call it an early night. I've spent the rest of the evening pumping Benedryl and Clariton as I try to survive the whole thing. But I did eat it, and that's the important thing. So why am I giving Nishino a 4 instead of a 5? Well, it's not because I'm sitting here wheezing more than usual trying to recover from this incredibly stupid thing I did (seriously, this one ranks right up there with me trying to work a deal with Lando; anyone with a mustache like that is not to be trusted). It's simply the price. It's a little bit expensive compared to what I think a fair value is. This doesn't stop me from going here when the mood strikes, and the place is always packed so they clearly don't have to adjust pricing, but it is a bit high. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go cave in to the demands of my rebelling stomach. 4 Deathstars.
(4)Chet F.
Great Sushi, late 80's outdated interior... Woah, we destroyed this sushi bar. I think between the two of us we ordered about 20 pieces(x2) of sushi and sashimi, and a couple rolls. If you are gonna do it, do it right, and we went for the full chef's choice all night. What a great decision it is to let the chef choose, expensive, but fun! Mori is a talented sushi chef that served us a unique selection from one end of the spectrum to the other. I had things I have never tried before, for instance: super white tuna, white king salmon, butterfish, extra extra fatty tuna, and many more. We also tried the seasonal Matsutake (Pine) mushroom soup which I described as 'happy fall campfire soup'. It was very cozy and had a smooth smokiness to it. Served out of a small tea pot into shot size sipping bowls. By the time we left, I was half lit from the overdose of sushi, plus 2 large Asahi's and 16oz of Harushika sake. It was a very enjoyable experience overall. Also try the green tea tiramisu, I really enjoyed the creamy smooth texture, the fun green color, all encompassing a subtle green tea hint. The interior seems a bit outdated, almost late 80's mod. It's very bright and sterile with hits of pink and light blue, maybe? Not as warm and comfortable as Shiro's. Overall great place to get your raw fish on!
(4)M M.
The salmon is great in the Seattle area, but this was some of the best we've had. Even the octopus was tender. You know it's gonna be good when the chef is smiling for no apparent reason as he works.
(5)priss l.
The restaurant is great! My boyfriend and I went to Nishino on a friday night. We ordered two Omakase dinners for a romantic date. The dinner comes with seven courses. Our waiter was really attentive. he took the time to explain everything on the dish (at least he tried to), including what the ingredients were, how they were prepared, and where the main seafood was from. However, he seemed a little forgetful on words when presenting the dishes. The food was really awesome. The oyster tempura was the best, fattiest, juiciest cooked oyster I've ever had!!! We also had a few fish dishes, including black cod, hamachi, and tuna. The fish was cooked to perfection, and the seasoning was really really good. Even the appetizers were really tasty. We had a trio of appetizers and a shrimp fruit salad. I think the flavors were spectacular because of the sauces. The chef seems to use a lot of acid in his sauces. Interestingly, the course I enjoyed the least was the sushi course. We thought we wouldn't be filled at the end of the dinner; however, we were so full after! Throughout the meal, we were saying, "mmm" "mmmm!" The decor at the restaurant was pretty well done. The wall paper behind the glass panel was interesting. I don't know what it is though, people tended to be really loud that night. The walls/ceiling probably don't absorb sound very well. I could hear what these people were talking about half way across the restaurant. And of course, the guy right next to us kept saying adamantly "facebook is for real personalities, not fake names. facebook is designed for REAL human interactions...." The prefix dinner could be a little pricey, but they have other menu items that you could order. If you'd like some fine dining Japanese cuisine with an American cooking technique, and attentive service, give Omakase dinner a try! It'll be quite an experience.
(5)stacey d.
OMFG! Seriously? How do they do it?!@#@$@!$ This place is OUTSTANDING. Not only does it serve the best sushi I have ever had (and that is saying a LOT), but it is actually my all time favorite restaurant. It's ridiculous how much I love this place. Nishino has it all - incredibly fresh sushi, both traditional and inventive. The service is over the top - everyone is super friendly, very knowledgeable (all with super sushi, food and sake recommendations), and extremely attentive. Eliza is the best! Ambiance is really nice - lots of natural light, plants, little gold lights, unique art and local glassybaby votives in unique colors on each table. Nishino (THE Nishino) is there nightly, overseeing his amazing restaurant, and is very cool and friendly. The Sake selection is the best I've ever seen. My favorite is getting a bamboo carafe. The sushi is so fresh and outstanding. Of course, all of the traditional items are there - amazing sashimi, nigiri, etc.. Some of my favorite innovative menu items include the albacore tuna tartar (with delicious homeade taro chips), hamachi jalapeno (sashimi pieces topped with thin sliced jalapeno, a crispy onion and an amazing secret sauce), curry halibut cheeks, nasu dengaku (japanese eggplant broiled with sticky sweet miso sauce), and the mochi ice cream. HOLY CRAP! Nishino brings this in from Hawaii - flavors like cherry blossom and vanilla (my favorite), white chocolate raspberry, chocolate espresso, and then traditional favorites mango, green tea, red bean, etc. It's seriously so so so so so damn good! I could go on forever, but I think this conveys the highlights, and the fact that I am a compete slave to this place. It is a bit on the pricey side, but worth every penny. I recommend reservations. Now go enjoy some Nishino sushi!@$@#$#@%@#%@#%@#%
(5)Rey M.
Was on our way to Shinois down at Madison but its not there anymore! Some new Asian restaurant took its place so we decided to try Nishino for the first time. Here is what I thought..... Service : Excellent! Sat at the Sushi bar with my wife and one of my daughters. We had a good conversations with the people around us as well as the Sushi Chefs. The Staff was very attentive and made sure things where moving along. Always had a clean area and filled cup. Atmosphere: This place leaned more towards being elegant then the normal Japanese traditional decor you see at most restaurants. Nice change. Very clean and the tables where well placed. Most place I go it feels like your sharing elbow space with the next table. Sushi and food: I have to give it a mix review here. I only have 2 complaints. 1. The Saba ( Mackerel ) was on the dry side. This is my favorite Nigiri piece and it did not meet my freshness standard I come to expect from all Sushi Bars. Typically this alone would gear me towards the bias side but everything else we had tasted very fresh so I will let it pass this time around. 2. The portions of the Rolls where on the small end. C'mon 4 piece rolls. I'm use to the 6-8. And these pieces wern't that large either. Price: Its very reasonable, maybe a slight bit higher then most Japanese restaurants but then again its in Madison. :) Maybe it wouldn't have been to bad if the Rolls where bigger. I must add though they sold Deep Fried Shrimp heads for 1$ a pair. I order 8 pieces for 4$. That alone with a bowl of rice could have been a meal on its own for me. Overall: I give it 4 stars based on overall experience. We had fun eating here. Good hospitality and a warm family friendly environment along with fresh fish ( aside from the Mackerel ) highlights this establishment. Just kinda wished the price of some of the dishes weren't so high based on the portion you received. Beside my few complaints I would definitely come here again. Enjoy!
(4)Evan M.
Got the omakasse. 5 stars. Dear lord. Also, get the super-fatty tuna. It'll melt your brain with it's awesomeness. it's like a pale white porcelain fish. It looks rare. It looks endangered. It looks yummy.
(5)Ninja S.
I may have had an overly positive experience here as we were the first people through their doors that evening. Service was immediate. The people running this place are clearly thinkers. They have interesting takes on a variety of traditional offerings. I was intrigued, but you pay a hefty premium for it. Even their miso soup is untraditional. I'm not even sure I would call this a Japanese restaurant. It's kind of like a whiteboyyuppie-california-Japanese fusion effort. It's not bad. It's quite good. It is also exceptionally targeted for the area it is located. One minor point of annoyance to look for is that the cold sake is served in a cool looking chilled bamboo decanter. The interesting thing is that about half as much sake came out of the second than was enjoyed from the first. Sketchy sake-business!
(4)Ed C.
Nishino Omakase dinner - this isn't really Japanese food. It's more of an overworked fusion cuisine. We went last night for the regular omakase dinner at 7:30. The restaurant is just one big room, so it was really noisy and the way it is lit it is not very romantic. Pros - I think the ingredient quality was good and the cuts of fish were tender. - Our server was really nice. She made several mistakes and was really worried about it. We told her to relax. Cons - Each of the dishes was way over worked. The taste of the fine quality cuts of sashimi used, were lost under layers of chili oil, cilantro, jalapenos, yellow curry, red wine sauce, etc... They served an asari sake mushi, which should have been light an refreshing. They threw so much into the pot it was almost like a stew. The broth was heavy and oily with garlic and cayenne pepper. Very strange. - The dishes were not traditional in any way. Maybe for some people this should be in the Pros category. - The room was very noisy and was not cozy. - There wasn't anything that gave a traditional feeling of Japan - Really expensive. We decided to try it because they were having the anniversary $45 omakase. Dinner for two with a small sake and tip was about $150. I've had a much better meal at about half the price. The people were very nice, but I will probably take my dining dollars somewhere else in the future.
(3)Lisa L.
Their sushi is one of the best, but too damn pricey for college students! One of the best ways to end off a meal is with their fried ice cream with caramel sauce on top! Super delish!
(3)Andrea S.
I went here on Sunday night with a large group of friends (about 10 of us) to celebrate a birthday recently. We arrived at 6 pm (couldn't get a reservation any later than that) and were seated right away. While waiting for a few in our party to arrive we were able to peruse the menu and decide whether or not we were going to do the 3 courses for $30 menu (available during the month of November) or eat a la carte. When we did order, our group was split with some of us doing the 3 courses and some of us not which wasn't a problem with the server at all. I ended up getting a small house salad (the dressing was awesome), a spicy yellowtail roll and two pieces of maguro sushi. The fish was VERY fresh and the rolls and sushi seemed very reasonably priced. Once we were finished the server even offered to split our checks which made figuring out the bill really easy. My only complaint about Nishino was that it took 3 hours for our entire meal. Now i know we were a pretty large group and that some of us had 3 courses but 3 hours seems a little long. Overall, the food was good, the prices were reasonable, and the service was helpful but a little slow.
(4)Andrea Z.
Came here with a few friends and loved it. I was a bit disappointed because we were doing the Omakase and we were seated halfway across the room. I kind of wanted to see the chef preparing everything. Next time I will request to be at the sushi bar. Everything tasted amazing, ok there was one pickled fish thing that I could not choke down, but hey, you can't ask for too much! The foie gras was amazing. I had never been that adventurous but I am glad I did. I would recommend doing the Omakase, it was truly and an experience to remember.
(4)Karen R.
If you're in the neighborhood (Madison Park/Arboretum) and in the mood for new-sushi, this is the place to go in Seattle. ...and always always make a reservation! I can't say I've ever had a bad meal here but I will admit to the time when I had to swallow a bad piece of uni - with a smile lol! Oooh that was painful. We were seated at the sushi bar and the sushi chef was practically staring at me waiting to see if I liked it after I told him uni's my favorite. There are not many places in America I would eat uni and I was positive Nishino wouldn't let me down. So after that first time, I have not tried that stunt again there. I have, however, had really good uni at Saitos located in downtown Seattle! Actually a good place for sushi starters and kids - lots of option for cooked or semi cooked fish and other delicious goodies. Good place to splurge and have a good time. Yes, it can be over-priced.
(4)Jessica W.
Get the omakase. Get the omakase. I'm always impressed by this restaurant. The atmosphere is warm, the staff is friendly, the presentation is fantastic and the food is great. It's just an all-around good restaurant, you know?
(5)Me H.
I took a friend here for her birthday and we both decided to do the Dine around Seattle deal taking place. I started with the albacore tuna tataki with ponzu sauce and it was delicious and the sliced jalapeno placed on top gave each piece a nice little kick, the albacore melted in my mouth. The birthday girl went for the Pacific oyster and maitake mushroom tempura with the seaweed salad, in her words it was delicious and I take her word for it. For my main entree I wanted to go for the assorted sushi and roll but there was salmon and I'm odd and do not like salmon so I skipped it and went for the broiled black cod which was marinated in miso, the cod was amazing, the three pickled like salads that accompanied it were not so amazing and neither were the eight bones I pulled out of my mouth from the cod, one poked the roof of my mouth and it still itches, one bone is acceptable but eight bones in one tiny piece of fish not so acceptable to me even though the cod was amazing. The birthday girl went with the assorted sushi and roll she said she enjoyed everything but the salmon skin roll, it just wasn't to her liking but everything else was wonderful. For dessert we both went with the sorbet of the day which was a nice refreshing ending to the meal and the server was nice enough to put a candle in the birthday girls. Our server was actually outstanding the whole night, explaining every dish, making sure everything was fine and never letting our tea or water glasses become empty. I will definitely be back to try their sushi because everything I saw looked fresh and tasty.
(4)Erica D.
I came here with my friends on a Sunday evening at 8:15. We got the last 4 person table so even later on Sundays if you want to be certain to get a table, call ahead for a reservation (we didnt have one but were lucky). This is an absolutely great sushi and Japanese restaurant. This was my first time here and we only got sushi but it was great quality and unique. The "Madison Park Roll' had an egg crepe instead of seaweed wrapper. The other food coming to other tables looked excellent and I plan on going back to try more of the main dishes and I may update this. Price is usual for Japanese which is never super cheap. I would recommend this place, but will come with a reservation next time!
(5)Tmo T.
The seafood here is the freshest and very high quality. Highly recommenfed!
(5)Katie C.
By far, one of the best meals I have had in Seattle- or anywhere, for that matter. We had the omakase menu. Every bite here was an experience. Amazing food. The best sashimi I have ever tasted. Just amazing. Seriously, I think every other review I have written needs to be bumped down a notch to make up for the experience we had at Nishino. It was THAT good. ;) Our server was fantastic too- we admitted to not knowing much about sake, and had her choose different kinds for us to try. She picked some really wonderful matches to go with our food, and was just all-around awesome in every way. What a FANTASTIC experience. This is what we had, as best as I can remember it. :) First Course: Hamachi wrapped around asparagus, on top of cucumber, with ponzu sauce and pink peppercorn Green mussel with ginger relish Salmon wrapped in pickled cucumber with wasabi sauce Second Course: Cocktail of sunomono, crab, mango Third Course: Greens, sesame-ginger dressing, super white tuna sashimi, fried lotus root Fourth Course: Soup with matsutake (pine mushroom), nuts and white fish Fifth Course: Oyster tempura with a miso sauce Sixth Course: Cod with seaweed oil ponzu and cabbage Seventh Course: Sushi plate with tuna, hamachi, salmon, slice of Nishino Roll (wrapped in tamago), slice of another roll (asparagus, tobiko, salmon & tuna) Dessert: Kiwi Orange Grapes Pomegrante and Strawberries, Mochi (Mango, Chocolate Espresso, Cherry Blossom)
(5)David M.
For some reason we walked upstairs into the "office" area, only to return to the bemused staff waiting for us at the door- we aim to please. We had pre-ordered the premium omakasse, and everything was delicious, beautifully presented and super fresh. It's not all freestyle and flash- it's more like a French multi-course. Our server knew every ingredient like the back of her hand, and totally put up with us- I only spilled sake 2 or 3 times, after all.
(4)Derek R.
Finally got to try Nishino last night! My complete break down (each out of five stars): Quality of fish/seafood - 5 Creativity of rolls - 4 Other Menu Options (aside from sushi) - 4 Tea - 5 Service - 5 Friendliness of other staff (chefs, hostess, etc.) - 3 Atmosphere - 3 Value (price vs. what you receive) - 4 Parking - 2 Exciting stories: I had never tried hokki (a surf clam) it was DEE-lish!
(4)kevin z.
food is 5 stars, location is not great, parking is difficult - depending on when you go, service was excellent. you will find freshness in nishino, they take quality very seriously. waiters are knowledgeable enough for what they offer in the menu and how the foods are prepared, the source of the fish etc. simply you can't go wrong with nishino. It it's a bit far from seattle downtown, parking is not easy. but these will not stop me from going back again.
(4)Jason O.
Hands down some of the best sushi I've ever had! Yes, I've been to Japan and this is the closest you will ever find! The Halibut cheeks and Himachi are to die for! Come and try it out--you will not be dissapointed!
(5)Peter C.
would've given this 5 stars except that had a not so great experience the last time I went. Usually I go for the Omakase which is great, the waiter come out explaning for 5 minutes on like 2 pieces of edamame and its origin. (But it's the best 2 pieces of edamame I had for a while, especially after listening to the story). However, the last time I went, they said they were too busy to serve the Omakase, so I was really disappointed... then I ordered all the regular dishes, but for some reason all the hot dishes all tasted quite similar, all kind of buttery. But next time, just make sure you call in before hand and go for the Omakase and skip the regular menu
(4)Kath U.
Okay I debated whether it should be 4 stars or 5. Having had sushi many times in Japan, I can honestly say that Nishino brought back memories of great sushi. Hence the 5 stars. The freshness here can be counted on. The hamachi here is SO good. Tempura is also done right here as in NOT all greasy & stale tasting. Great traditional sushi & then the chef does some creative "fusion" dishes that are really interesting and very good. Fusion can be a disaster if the person creating it doesn't know what they are doing. Here they know and they deliver some great things to try. The toro tartare with caviar is incredible. So is the new style sashimi which is arugula wrapped in whitefish seared with extra virgin olive oil. More traditional is the negi hama (hamachi and scallion) and one of our faves was the kampachi usuzukuri which is thinly sliced kampachi with ponzu sauce. Nice atmosphere, good service with an outstanding wine & sake list I would love to try the omakase dinner. And BTW the chef owner Tatsu Nishino was the chef at Nobu Matsuhisa's original Los Angeles restaurant. Need I say more... Love this place.
(5)Powell Y.
My dinner companion flaked, so I was left along to explore the Seattle dining scene. Searching for omakase in Seattle, brought up Nishino as one of the choices. After looking over the menu on-line, I decided to jump in my electric blue PT Cruiser rental car and give it a shot. Took a seat at the sushi bar and ordered a Echigo to clean my palate. A daily special caught my eyes, Tara Nabe, perfect on a cold rainy night in Seattle (remind me again why I left the mid-70s Napa?). While feasting on this wonderful nabe, got me thinking, clear broth soup isn't very common in Western cuisine, is it? Not that I don't like clam chowder or French onion soup, but nothing beats a clear broth Japanese or Chinese soup. Also went with a few sets of nigiris, my only requests were Amaebi and Uni. Chef Mori san took care the rest, Hotate, Kampachi, and Toro arrived in front of me as well. The rice is perfectly luke warm, topped with impeccably fresh fish. Each and every set was wonderful. Got talking with Chef Mori, discovered he is a fellow wine lover and has an affinity for Pauillac wines. He went on to mention Bill Harlan had stopped in for dinner in the past, as well as Naoko Dalla Valle and her daughter Maya. Although I am full after the nigiris and nabe, I can't pass on another clear broth dish, so Kani Tofu was ordered to finish the evening. This dish along with the nabe from earlier, paired very well with an Alsatian Riesling. I will return to Nishino next time I head back to Seattle, armed with a bottle of choice Pauillac to share with Chef Mori.
(5)Diana L.
We tried the Omakasa dinner. Overall they are decent but not outstanding. Many of them were with too much pontsu scace.
(3)Ann M.
I was wanting traditional Japanese but got asian-fusion. The quality was good, but I'm not a huge fan of asian-fusion. On top of that, I had high expectations due to the reputation of the restaurant. We had the exclusive omakase dinner which was just okay. The two dishes that were highly disappointing were the grilled cod with miso sauce that was placed on top of stir fried veggies in a soy sauce. The flavors DID NOT compliment each other at all and it was just plain strange. The cod was really good but the veggies were like some greasy/bitter/burnt Chinese stir-fry. 2nd, our dessert was mochi icecream with fruit....I felt utterly cheated. I can buy mochi icecream at Trader Joe's for like 5 bucks. Other dishes included, a shitake mushroom/foie gras dish that was interesting and tasty, but again not really Japanese. A tempura dish that was okay but nothing special. A sushi dish which was traditional and very good...it came with fresh wasabi. And then there was the white salmon carpaccio in which I did not like the red peppercorns... Way too strong for the fish IMO. Overall, it was a good experience because it reinforced my love of traditional Japanese cuisine, but I would not come back again. Our service was excellent by the way, so if you love asian-fusion come to this place, or maybe just belly up to the sushi bar and order sushi only? Whatever, I'm over it.
(3)Anastasia N.
Yum yum yum... So yes I love sushi, and that is why I went to Nishino after reading all the awesome reviews, but guess what!?! By the time I was done ordering from the appetizers and specials menu I had soo much food coming to me there was no way I could eat it all...and it was all so good. If you love Miso soup and/or mushrooms and spices you must try the mushroom soup! The halibut cheeks are ridiculous and the "whole octopus" is outstanding. You can also ask for a half order on something so you can try more yummy things from the menu, which is what I have to do when I go to this AWFUL yummy place hahaha Lastly if you like hot bananas:) try the fried banana tempura with coconut ice cream desert its delish! I usually try that anywhere they serve it and this place's got it DOWN! So y 4 stars you ask? I don't really know, maybe cuz I am yet to try the actual sushi part and then I will revise my ratings... Cheers
(4)Boro B.
"meh I've experienced better" just about sums it up about my experience at this place when my friends and I dined there Tuesday evening. Hama Sushi in LA is my benchmark for west coast sushi; and this place is just about as far off as Hama as one could be. We ordered the excl. omakase and to say I was disappointed would be an understatement. I don't mind the lack of raw dishes. I do mind the fact that the flavours are too salty, the sauces are repetitive in the dishes and overall it's uninspiring. I'd go to Maneki (which I went to the night after just to wipe Nishino from my memory for Japanese food in Seattle) any day of the week. Nishino, not so much.
(2)Nuri G.
My experience tonight at Nishino embodied what a five-star rating should be. I had the Omakase dinner which spanned mild to wild, delicate to bold, soft to crunchy, and plain to extravagant. Where other sushi establishments get an element or two right -- some may have a supreme quality of fish but epic fail with the rice -- Nishino was holistically incredible. The rice was made properly with healthy amounts of mirin and had a perfect consistency and temperature. The fish was delicious and delicate. The presentation was both thoughtful and complimentary. The service was quick and friendly. I was most impressed by watching the lead chef. He seemed so serene and at peace with himself and his surroundings. He smiled while preparing the food, didn't talk much, and worked with surgical precision. He is a master at his craft and a true artist. My friend asked me tonight "So, does this mean you have a new place to take your ladies out to impress them?" The answer is yes. I have found a new favorite in Seattle for sushi.
(5)Elise L.
Honestly? I can't tell you if the sushi here is good. I assume it is - I see people eating lots of it, everything smells fresh, the ingredients all look gorgeous. And it's not that I don't love sushi - I do. But every time I go here I end up ordering the dynamite. Geoduck, mushrooms, and scallops baked perfectly in Japanese mayonnaise so that the scallops and geoduck stay perfectly tender? And it has an awesome name? Yes please. This is a great place for a sushi-lover to take a sushi-hater - both parties can be equally satisfied with the food. Word to the wise - yeah, Nishino is on the 30 for 30 list. But the prices and portion sizes don't typically make it worth doing. Order off the regular menu and you'll spend less. Also, I understand they're great if you're gluten-free. My boy's dad has celiac and is very careful about what and where he eats, and this is one of the few places that has earned his unequivocal trust.
(4)John W.
I've only been here once. It really confused me seeing that 95% of the people eating at this establishment were non Asian. Hmm.. not the best sign, but I was there, yelpers gave it decent marks, so I figure i give it a shot. All in all I wasn't overly impressed, but then again, I wasn't turned off at all. I asked the chef to give me whatever he thought was really good .. -- The toro wasn't oily.. In my opinion, it wasn't even chutoro -- it tasted really close to regular blue fin tuna. The local albacore was good.. and all the fish was really fresh.. but.. for some reason nothing really stood out in my mind that was outstanding. Perhaps i need to retry this place again. As for the atmosphere -- well a bit too large of a restaurant.. and a bit too noisy. Prices were absolutely reasonable. Service was good for a Friday night.. (waiters were pretty attentive seeing how the place was packed to the gills) I'd consider this place to be pretty good, and I would come back if I was in the area and craving sushi.
(3)Rick R.
We host students. Yoshio had been living with us for three months, and on his last night in Seattle, offered to take us out for dinner. He sprung for the omakase (chef's choice). It cost $75 per person. The food was fabulous. It came in waves. He thought the service was a bit slow. But I think, for $75, let us take our time. It turned out to be a three hour dinner. It was absolutely memorable. The abalone salad had an onion-based house dressing that is to-die for. Another dish was called shrimp dumplings - whole shrimp wrapped in noodle, with a chili sauce. It took everything in my power to keep from licking the plate. Also very yummy was the halibut cheek with cilantro-aoli sauce, on a bed of cooked kale. Dessert was over the top too - ice cream stuffed mochi with fresh fruit. Wait-staff was very helpful. I hope Yoshio left a big tip. I wonder. . . .
(4)Danika M.
My family has been going here for EVER. My dad loves it. For X-Mas he gave me a $150 gift card... I took a friend out for the omakase dinner. WOW... Tasty, delicate, fresh... with an amazing variety in tastes and textures, not overly filling, just right. Paired with a big frozen bamboo stalk filled with sake, it hit a spot that doesn't get hit that often for me: I get to eat like a rich person and not sweat about the other things I need to spend my money on (in real life!) Thanks, dad.
(5)emily r.
YEEESSSSSSSSSS it really is the best sushi in town. And it better be, because it can be hard to get in, and it isn't exactly the cheapest. Although sometimes they do the 3 for $30 thing, so that rocks. For out of towners though, especially landlocked ones, this is THE sushi place to show off. Love sitting at the sushi bar. My date used to live in Japan, and he was blown away by the miso. "This is what miso is supposed to be like," he kept saying. I like all miso, so I can't add to that except to say it was darn good. Chef Nishino was behind the bar when we were there and he was soooo personable and awesome. Service was impeccable - friendly, great suggestions, waters always full, etc. But the main event here - the sushi - is AWESOME. I'm a sashimi girl, and just couldn't believe it. Best toro, best mackerel, best unagi (okay so that isn't sashimi but still), best best best. I'll try sushi damn near anywhere. And I end up eating in my neighborhood at Ototo a lot. But Nishino is an experience that a sushi lover MUST HAVE. MUST!
(5)Becca C.
Very expensive, so I'd go if I weren't paying for all of it! The quality is second-to-none. I couldn't tell you what I had, but the overall experience was pleasant. Servers were jovial and helpful; the ambiance doesn't make me feel like I'm in Japan though. White table cloths and mood lighting, I think I'm in a french restaurant, until I see the seaweed wraps.
(4)John W.
Was in town for business and decided to check out this place after reading about it on yelp. Overall an above average sushi place by LA standards - sushi was 4 stars, service was 4 and overall atmosphere was 4 stars. I definitely consider this as a 'value' sushi place where nothing is spectacular about the sushi but you get the feeling that you got what you paid for.
(4)Patrick J.
I'm new to the Pacific Northwest and was given a recommendation of Nishino when I asked a local friend for advice on the best sushi in Seattle. He responded with a suggestion of Nishino as a great location and I'm glad he did. The meal began with a calamari and fried vegetable on a chili sauce appetizer, this was fantastic though the vegetables were overwhelmed by the sauce. After that my wife ordered three different rolls, one was a daily special and two were off their standard menu. She was ecstatic with all three of them and raved about them on the drive home. My meal was an order of otoro sushi (bluefin tuna nigiri) and ebi sushi (shrimp). The otoro was also part of my friend's recommendation and it did not disappoint, it was delicious and a wonderful portion, albeit definitely pricey (market price tonight was $13.) I also had an order of a soba bowl with chicken, this is where the meal fell flat for me, while enjoyable the bowl was simply passable and the seasoning was purely in the mushroom in the bowl. The chicken was underwhelming and bland. However everything else was fantastic. The martini was on the smaller side of what you get at restaurants but my wife was pleased with the quality and alcohol content. We will definitely be going back in the future.
(4)James and Carla F.
Excellent sushi, period. Had a very nice dinner, good service and good wine list.
(5)Rozz P.
Amazing quality. Albacore tartar is a must have. Service was great, food was better.
(4)Glinda W.
Lets start with the service. Eri, the wife of the chef, always greets your warmly. I do not know how she remembers so many peoples names! The food is wonderful, and so fresh. I sometimes crave the sushi, but also enjoy some of their other tasty dishes, especially the halibut cheeks. I heard from a friend the this is Ichiro Suzuki's, from the Seattle Mariners, favorite sushi place - I can see why.
(5)Diane L.
I went here last friday with some friends to celebrate a birthday. We followed the waiter's advice and got the Omakase $60/per person (chef's choice). The waiter exlaimed "it's the way to go" along with a majority of the yelp reviewers! I am so glad went with it. I loved being able to sample multiple dishes and I was surprisingly very full by the end. In fact, I was struggling to eat my share of the sushi rolls! There was sushi, sashimi, amaebi, crab cakes, cod and other things. Dessert was awesome! mango, green tea and a chocolate/coffee (i think) mochi ice cream with fruit. Definitely will go back again and take my parents for the omakase.
(5)Mo Riza ..
Lovely place with lovely food. I had a couple of appetizers; slices of hamachi with jalapeno and crispy garlic, popcorn shrimp on a bed of potato and lettuce salad, both were fabulous. The waiter suggested Ichiban beer to go along, it was delicious. But, my main courses of sushi was a disappointing one. I had imagined it would be as fresh and succulent as something I got a t Tomoe in NYC, or as tasty and creatively prepared as in Shiro in Seattle. IT was not even close. The uni was good and fresh but the other, was so so. The rice and sea weed are in the chewy side. It was not that bad. I just had a very high expectation.
(3)Tom N.
My friend checked yelp for a good sushi joint. We drove and found they open at 5pm. We ate some terrible japanese food, went back to the house, played some catherine and beat the game, amazing game by the way, I LOVE YOU ATLUS. Okay, it's time to go to Nishino, but it's 9PM and they close at 10PM. The smart man that I am called right ahead and reserved a table for six, but a seventh one joined on the way. I found out their last call for food was at 10:30PM, sweet. We drove down, couldn't find parking since it was packed like hell. My friend saw a sign about parking by the alley. We went to the alley and shit, it was for residents and we have to drive back and we decided to park at the gas station, which was shells I believe. We got our parking and was ready for our last meal, before our friends go away for a few months, they're from Canada by the way :( On to the food.... If you love sashimi, you should definitely come here, however I'm not a big fan at all. My friends saved a last piece of sashimi for me and they kept nagging me to try it, but I don't get peer pressure at all, so I let that shit rot till my friends decided to finish it. Two of my friends ordered udon noodles and they seem to love it. They noted about their mushroom having massive flavors, I tried one as well and yeah that shit was sweet. Did they marinate their mushrooms with honey goodness or are they breeding incredible magic mushrooms? Who knows, but I ordered my beef steak, which was served with some gross dark ginger and some chinese veggie that I'm used to, but man am I disappointed in their steak... about 8 small pieces for $20ish bucks and with teriyaki sauce? get the fuck outta here with that, please invent some top notch seasoning and serve kobe beef or something, but I should've known, this place specialize in sushi. I looked at their sushi menu a few times, trying to find some good fried rolls, such as Las vegas rolls, but nothing great...so I freeload off my friend's madison park roll, which had some fresh shrimp, egg wrapped and some other stuff. I also ordered their spicy garlic chicken and it was delicious, I manged to finish the whole thing and was quite happy after my hatred towards my small steak with yucky teriyaki sauce. At the end, I was still hungry... so I ordered their garlic spicy calamari, but it turns out they weren't fried at all, which is something I'm not used to. The calamari was fresh, but the portion this time was huge... like wow, an appetizer is huger than main dishes, how disappointing. The bill for me was $70 bucks for 3 plates, was it worth it? fuck no, that's two good video games right there. I tried everything I wanted here, but I would only recommend their sushi.
(3)Samantha C.
One of the best sushi restaurants I have had . Very fresh, unique, and utterly relaxing; this is a place I will frequent again, and again, and again!
(5)Lor B.
Hands down - the best sushi in Seattle. I'm not usually a huge sushi eater - but the Toro and Super White Tuna is to die for here. Came with friends for a birthday dinner and everything was outstanding. Ordered the following: Broiled Black Cod w/Miso & Sake, Tempura Snow Crab (so good!), Chicken Tatsuka (Like Karaage), Toro Tartare with Cavier (Spectacular), Shrimp Heads, Arboretum, Madison & Salmon Skin Roll - (All were fabulous). Ended the evening with some Mochi & Green Tea. Experience was amazing from start to finish. I've been to Nishino many years ago and remember it being great - our dinner tonight did not disappoint. No wonder why they say this place is the Nobu of Seattle. Definitely as good as it gets!
(5)Tammie P.
On my first trip to Seattle last weekend, I yelped sushi and this place came up. I thought it was OK. The toro sushi does not melt in your mouth like some other places, the salmon and tuna sushi did not look that fresh either. I ordered a softshell crab app, which was fishy-tasting, and not very good at all. Most places use tempura batter, but this one was just fried. We ordered a tempura maki and spicy tuna maki, and they were huge because there was so much rice! The only thing I really liked was the Madison Park maki, which despite the excessive rice, was really good. It had real crab and avocado (I think) and it was wrapped in a thin egg omelet. Interesting combination, but not good enough to bring me back here.
(3)Steve C.
Came here by myself on a business trip. Sushi is pretty fresh overall, and the sushi chef at the bar was friendly. Overall a positive experience.
(4)Maeve C.
I'll start by explaining that I don't eat fish, so I can't comment on the quality of the sushi. Except that I was expecting it to be great, and my sushi loving bf seemed underwhelmed. But, I did make the reservations - they have this silly system where you have to call and leave a message and then they'll call you back sometime and let you know if you actually have reservations or not. That's weird enough, but then we showed up, and had to wait in a cramped entrance with about 20 other people for half an hour - this is after I got the confirmation on my RESERVATIONS. I guess they don't actually take reservations, they just humor you by letting you leave a message. Once we were finally seated, the service was still very slow. And our waiter rarely checked on us - I ran out of wine, and would have ordered a second glass, but he didn't come by for the last 20 minutes of our meal while my empty glass was just sitting there in plane site. And, after reading the menu, I was kind of excited that they seemed to have some vegetarian friendly options, but our waiter explained that actually most everything had fish in it. So, I settled for some edamame, salad, and some very boring veggie rolls. I know this probably doesn't matter to most people looking for a good sushi place, but should you ever find yourself looking for a veggie friendly sushi joint - this is not it.
(2)Jerry W.
I am a little surprised that this place is considered one of the best if not the best in Seattle. Went here based on the stellar Yelp reviews. There is no character to the place. It doesn't need to be chintzy, but it would be nice if it at least looks Japanese. And maybe I am wrong to think this, but I would like to see more Japanese people working in a high end Japanese restaurant. Helps with the atmosphere especially if the cuisine is traditional and not neo-Japanese. The prices are sky high and we did not feel the value was there. Service was also a bit spotty. At least the fish is fresh. It probably would have been better to order the omakase, but unfortunately you have to prebook this. While I understand it takes longer to prepare, at least have an omakase menu that can be ordered by anyone and then a special omakase that is preordered. Nishino has both types of omakase but both have to be preordered.
(3)Scott O.
I have had two meals here - one amazing a couple of years ago that lived up to the price and one blah meal that did not. The amazing meal echoed much of what I've read in other Yelp reviews - excellent quality and freshness, innovative sushi and non-sushi creations, and the feeling of being at a sushi restaurant that is on a higher level than most. Although it was on a weekend and the place was crowded, it still felt relaxing. The blah meal also took place on a weekend, but this time it was noisy - I mean, to the point I could have been at a Belltown bar practically. We chose Nishino specifically for our out-of-town guests, one of whom hankered geoduck sushi in June, when it typically isn't available. Nishino had it, and I knew they wouldn't serve it if it wasn't up to their standards. Although the geoduck was good and my omikari (set meal of 8 pieces) were fresh, other sushi ordered were sub-par in terms of freshness. The non-sushi items were also a bust, as well as my wife's grilled salmon which was overcooked. (No, she didn't return it) Our server was inattentive and flaky, something that doesn't fit with a swank sushi joint in Madison Park such as Nishino. Maybe we had an off night, but there were enough things wrong that it seemed systematic - loose management and lack of quality control - that would put us off making a return trip. This place commands a premium price and once bitten, twice shy.
(3)Charene M.
A real Japanese restaurant owned by a Nihongo - not like a majority of other "Japanese restaurants". I am in love with their Udon. The sushi chefs are very skilled and the food is fresh. The owner is often there and greets you when you enter. Very trendy decor and the wait staff seem to stick around. When I go there, I see the usual wait people and that is telling. A favorite gathering spot for business people. It is my birthday must do, every year and in between as well.
(5)Becky N.
This is one of my favorite japanese restaurants in Seattle. The fish is very fresh and they have a large variety of food to choose from. We started with the toro tartare with caviar. The toro was chewy at times and had very little flavor. Good toro is supposed to be soft and buttery. Although it looks appetizing on the menu, save yourself $22 and order something else. We then moved on the the hamachi jalapeno and the snow crab tempura, both of which were delicious. The broiled black cod was tender and melt in your mouth good. We also had the spicy tuna and spicy hamachi roll, also good. One of the best dishes was a special they had that was a delicate seafood broth with white fish in it.. I don't remember what it was called, but it was sooooo good.
(4)Jody N.
I would have never thought that so much goodness could be tucked away in a strip mall like building in Madison Park. Nishino is dining to DIE for! I have never been a huge fan of sashimi (I have had some pretty bad raw fish in the past), but this place has converted me. We decided to order a huge selection of sashimi and ever piece melted in my mouth. There was no need to eat it with anything else, like ginger or sauces...it was that good! I also ordered the cod cooked with Miso. It was really small, but one of the BEST fish I have ever eaten. Pair all of this amazing food with a bottle of white wine, and I was one happy girl. If you haven't been there yet...GO!
(5)Lisa F.
I planned a party for a large group at Nishino. I needed a cake last minute. They were VERY accommodating, and even picked up the cake for me. GREAT service!
(5)Owlburt L.
Went here in March for the 30 for 30 menu and have gone back ever since. I love sushi and sashimi but mostly sashimi. I try not to mess too much with the rice since it takes up valuable stomach space. This place has got all the great intangibles like great service, nice dining area, great ambiance, and most importantly an all Japanese group of sushi chefs. No offense to any other sushi chefs who are of other ethnicity but I believe that Japanese food should be made by the people how invented it, the Japanese. Like Italian food should be made by Italians and not some pimple face college kid at Olive Garden. Tried the white tuna sashimi which was excellent and fresh. Definitely sashimi grade stuff. Then we tried the Toro (Fatty Tuna from the belly area). The Toro was amazing, it was like butter and it literally melted in your mouth. I lived in the So Cal area my whole life and sushi/sashimi there is is a common part of everyone's diet so I would say I have had lots of good sushi and sashimi. I just didn't think I would ever find a sushi restaurant here that would be up to those standards but Nishino, happily, has proved me wrong. I would say this place is as good if not better than the best sushi restaurants I have been to in So Cal. Just a word of warning. If you are the California roll, crunchy roll, and no raw fish type of "sushi" eater. This might not be the place for you. Although their crunchy roll was good, you might be wasting your money since you can't try the best of what this place has to offer, the top sashimi grade raw fish!!!
(5)Shera M.
Call me a conformist; I don't care! I L O V E Nishino sushi. My husband and I are in our first year in this neighborhood and we both quickly fell in love with the sushi and environment here. The fish is super fresh, the food is healthy and satisfying, staff is great and grabbing a seat at the sushi bar is all you need for entertainment if you fly solo for a quick (but delicious) meal. I've recently had to put myself on Nishino restriction because the twice a week habit I had developed is easy on the lips but heavy on the wallet. Nishino is a bit more expensive than other sushi joints in Seattle but it is completely worth it. Stuffed to the gills!
(5)Bryce S.
Shiso sorbet: lightly sweet, refreshing and *definitely* an original. Sushi's also great, just like everyone says. Case in point (don't read if you don't like gross stuff): Sea urchins in most other restaurants have this glistening watery film on its surface, which I think reflects its age. Here? My piece was velvety, feathery, buttery and had no excess moisture. Just as fresh as can be. 1/9/08 Update: ...and an upgrade to 5 stars. Rock shrimp tempura- light with unexpectedly complex flavors, chawanmushi- best balance between flavor and price ($6) with that same smoky note that's in their miso soup. Salmon sashimi- melt in your mouth. Spicy tuna- big roll with more tuna than rice... how often does THAT happen??? If there's any downside, it's that their amazing items makes "standard" stuff like California rolls seem almost mundane, but here it's still great.
(5)Michael A.
Simply the best Sushi in Seattle. Super fresh and the specials sheet always has something exciting to mix it up. We have been going here for years. The staff is friendly and treat us like family. They remember our faves and always help out when we want to try something new. If you sit at the Sushi Bar with Chef Mori, you are in for a treat! If you sit at a table, Jared and/or Eliza are Fab!
(5)Tommy K.
By far, the best Japanese restaurant in Seattle ... there's not another place that touches it. The sushi is awesome but if you go there only for the sushi then you're missing out. Do yourself a favor, fill your wallet with cash, head over to Nishino and order the omakase. This is the chef's choice menu. There's no better way to experience good Japanese food than to put yourself in the master's hands. Admittedly, it's a bit on the pricey side but you will not regret it. Also, make sure to take advantage of the great Sake collection (served ice-cold in bamboo containers). Mmmmm ... think I'll get me some Nishino tonight.
(5)Push U.
Just got back from Nishino. The summary verdict is that it's a good sushi joint. My wife (being pregnant) opted for a shrimp tempura roll, and some egg sushi. I had the house roll and tempura udon (it's cold.) We also split the sunomono salad with king crab. The rolls were good. Packed with fresh fish and tasty rice. Although, they were a bit asparagus crazy as both of our rolls had copious amounts. The udon was a treat. I particularly liked the soy/sugar/mirin marinated mushrooms in the broth. My wife isn't a fan of mushrooms but enjoyed the flavor. I'd give this 5 stars, but we just saw "Max Payne" tonight and it ruined our night. Crap movie.
(4)Hai Yen N.
A very understated, elegant neighborhood spot with lovely service and friendly sushi chefs. I thought prices would be much higher but they are really affordable! Many high quality and interesting rolls; my favorites are the tuna and yellowtail rolls. Chinoise is also around these parts but Nishino is hands-down the winning choice for sushi. Jazz music and original paintings complete the easygoing vibe of this restaurant. Don't think, just go and enjoy.
(4)J K.
One of the top twenty Japanese restaurants in Seattle. Quality food. Classy joint. Great service. But small menu. Their menu is a little lame though. Not many selections. No bento. Short sushi list. Some staples aren't represented. For me, this is what brought it down to 4-stars. The atmosphere is sort of modern bland. The service is great. The sushi chefs are cool. It's in a nice quiet neighborhood. If you're looking for quality sushi, you're not going to find better than this. But if you looking for style and flair, this is not the place for you.
(4)Sweet P.
dear god, remind me not to go there after even one drink. everything is so tasty i'm not sure if it's my dulling taste buds or actual instinct that tells me the food is this good. so my first experience eating sea urchin was here. i'm not sure if it was because it was fresh or of decent quality or what...all i know is i was shocked to learn that uni isn't as horrid as everyone made it out to be. not quite sure that i'd order it again (see my previous alcohol stmt) but man, i was impressed. i'd go into detail about what i liked and what was great but in the tiniest of nutshells nishino is awesome. our server wasn't as refined as the menu but it was a great experience. watch out, nishino--i'll be back.
(5)Brian Y.
foie gras tuna svelte tuna soft like a sofa fish always classy
(4)Evil W.
I can't afford to go here as often as I used to go, but when I was there it was top of the heap. Their fish is flown in daily from Japan or something ridiculous like that, and you can tell. It's also an occasional haunt for celebrities, so if you walk in and see someone just gawk quietly and leave them alone so they can enjoy their food. It's sushi, so it's not inexpensive, but for the money it's some of the best that Seattle has to offer.
(5)Neil K.
When you walk into a sushi joint and the first thing you see is a display hawking their t-shirts and baseball caps, your expectations for the quality of their fish starts to drop. And when you look around and see a pretty bland and uninspiring decor, your hopes really beging to fade. Despite all of my first impressions, Nishino managed to win me over with really fresh fish, an extensive menu and a good sake selection. We started with the local oysters on the half shell (which were amazing), a kanpanchi sashimi plate and then moved on to our favorite nigiris. Everything was super fresh and served with fresh wasabi (you know the fake powered stuff thats really green horseradish with green food coloring - seriously, if you are not aware of the difference, look it up - wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasabi ). In the end, I'd suggest Nishino as a good destination for people who want really good sushi and aren't looking for a hip/modern style or presentation.
(4)Starla S.
I forgot to call in reservations so made a 2:00 call on Friday afternoon for that night at 6:30. Left a voicemail and crossed my fingers as I texted my crew that we were "all set." Showed up at 6:35 to a packed waiting area and breathed a sigh of relief as I saw my brother and sister in laws already seated. Kudos to Nishino for not enacting that "has your entire party arrived" BS rule. We had 3 bottles of Sake, a kind and knowledgeable server and $200 worth of sushi + specials. The food was all good. Not mindblowing ... but good (however DON'T miss the baked Dungeness). We'd go back if invited but won't plan for it.
(3)Ben L.
Having being offered a choice between Sacramento and Seattle, I quickly accepted the Seattle assignment and promptly headed to Yelp. Exclusive omakase anyone? For exclusive omakase you need to reserve a seat 24 hours prior to going, ostensibly so that they can procure the exclusive ingredients. I should have been more specific and requested a seat in front of Nishino. Overall, service was impeccable all night. Like Matsuhisa, the chefs direct the wait staff to ensure prompt service. The seats in front of Nishino were packed so Mori (skinny tall guy) was my chef. He did a great job although mostly by the book. Perhaps on my next trip he'll open up a bit and serve me some crazier things. I did get a chance to talk to Nishino a bit at the end, he was amused by my enthusiasm for sushi. So here is the list for exclusive omakase: - first appetizer: raw oyster, sockeye salmon rolled over a single piece of asparagus, amaebi with wasabi aioli and tomato, and something else cooked. No ankimo tho, disappointed! - Spanish mackerel servered in a wine glass with a slice of carrot and the tail end of the mackerel fried and sitting up in the glass. Interesting twist on aji tataki, although I prefer it sashimi or sushi style. - Seared tuna with foie gras, shiitake and red wine reduction. Perfection... While many of the cooked specials owes a lot to Nobu's distinct style, the shittake/seared tuna/foie gras pretty much trumps anything I've had at Matsuhisa. Personally served to me by Nishino (yeah!), this was the shining star of the night. - Albacore sashimi salad with fried lotus root and red onion soy dressing. Very good although I felt that if they had cut up the albacore into more pieces (instead of leaving it as two huge chunks) it would have been better. - Maitake Mushrooms, squid, asparagus salad with yuzu dressing. This one was great, I definitely appreciate good mushrooms.... especially Maitake. - broiled eggplant with crab meat on top. Totally forgettable dish. The eggplant was good but overpowered everything on top of it. - halibut cheek served with greens and golden mushrooms in a dashi filled soup. Very very good, although at this point I was feeling full and eager to see how they would handle the sushi part. - sushi. Mori asked me if I liked uni and I replied "are you kidding me?" So one piece uni (super fresh), one piece toro (unbelievably soft, melted in my mouth), one piece kani. Then six pieces of their special roll which is hamachi with jalapeo, avocado on top and ell sauce. The jalapeo gave it a good kick without being too overpowering. After seeing the couple next to me order a multitude of choice sushi, I started feeling left out and told Mori to "keep it coming." He gave me two more pieces of toro, shiro maguro, spanish mackerel (yum). I also requested one piece hamachi, one piece kanpachi and Mori hooked up belly cuts of each. Their sushi was excellent in terms of quality and execution, it definitely ranks up with Kitsho and Oga's. However, it was somewhat lacking in uniqueness i.e. Howard at Kitsho pairing up salmon/king salmon, toro/chutoro, searing the sushi. Or the insanely creative sushi from every omakase dinner I've had from Toru Oga (hint: check out my profile pics). - new style sashimi (scallops). I saw the picture on yelp so I had to get it. Unfortunately the presentation was not the same. Mine was less artistic and had diced celery on top. Still tasted great, but I prefer new style whitefish sashimi. - desert: lemon-lime and shiso sorbet served in a wine glass. At this point I was defeated and mildly protested when the waitress said I had dessert left. The shiso was very unique and tasted great. I mentioned to Mori that they should serve black sesame sorbet which I have only seen at Oga's. Damage: Definitely not as bad as Nobu's. The base cost of the omakase was $70. The sushi itself is priced very reasonably. I was pleasantly surprised. Note to sane people: $70 for good omakase really IS a good deal. My friends all still think I'm crazy though ... Overall it was a great fusion omakase dinner and definitely recommended. Their fish is extremely fresh and the cooked specials are on par with the dishes you'll find at Nobu's. I was a bit disappointed with the lack of raw dishes on the omakase, but rectified that by ordering more afterwards. If you are into the traditional omakase you'll need to tell them up front. But definitely get that foie gras dish ...
(4)Jack B.
Nishino is a fabulous restaurant and probably THE sushi place I would recommend. It's great, so get off the computer and go eat there. Make reservations too because they were at about 80% capacity on a Tuesday night so I imagine it's a nightmare on more popular nights. Also, you can totally park at the Shell gas station next to the restaurant. It doesn't earn that fifth star for me because some of the really expensive menu items are not worth it. Unless you have a delicate tastes of a princess, you'll not get your money's worth. Instead, go for the more standard fare: sushi rolls, sashimi, etc. I recommend their "Madison Park" roll, it's cute and delicious.
(4)Amy A.
Best sushi in all of Seattle. Try the Hamachi sashimi starter. Amazing.
(5)kelly c.
Nishino is the closest thing I have to a lover. Seriously. If my husband calls and wonders whether I've run off with someone, tell him that Nishino finally got the best of me. Here is all you need to know: The fish is damn fresh and high quality. The service is wonderful. Yum. If you put on your thinking cap and really think about how much money you spend on food and drinks at other places (McDonald's excepted, of course), you'll realize this place is not super-spendy-out-of-control. Oh. And if the food isn't enough to lure you in here, maybe the prospect of seeing famous people will. I sat at a table next to Conan-- that's Conan O'Brien-- last month. It was cool. And another thing: just make a reservation. It's worth it.
(5)Ash T.
When dining at Nishino in November, my boyfriend and I tried the Omakase which is Japanese for "leave it to me." Everything was outstanding -- innovative and freshly prepared. The sushi is more traditional, so keep this in mind if you're more of a fan of American-style sushi. The waitstaff was excellent and explained the intricacies of each course we tried. The restaurant is small, intimate, and aesthetically pleasing. This was one of the best meals I've had in a very long time.
(5)Mary K.
Just as the rating says, it is "A-OK" but with a .5. I couldn't really give it 4 stars because that says "I'm a fan" and I am not really a fan. I had the 3 course dine around Seattle deal with my hubby. My impression was that the food was very good in a simple and clean sort of way. I mean, there's only so much difference in sushi quality you can get and if you are particular about how fresh you want your sushi and like classic sushi, then you'd love this place. About our experience: the sushi was very fresh sushi, perhaps the best you could have around Seattle. The ambiance was casual elegance. The service was courteous and attentive. Seating was prompt with our reservations. The 3 course meal wasn't enough to fill neither my husband nor myself up. The crowd seemed pretty well off and 25 years and older. So 3.5 begs the questions of whether we would return and it is rather a subjective rating. If I had more money to dine like a gourmand on a regular basis and lived closer, perhaps I would revisit to try some other dishes, but this isn't something I would pay that much for, especially when I can have almost as good sushi at a lower price and just as good service as this elsewhere.
(3)Maddie S.
Delicious Japanese food--for a price! I wish I could afford to eat here more regularly, but I guess that you get what you pay for :) I'm not much of a sushi person (my first roll ever was unagi-- yummy, but I think something about eating eel scarred me for life) so I was a little skeptical of trying out a restaurant known so well for their excellent sushi. I opted for the chicken teryaki dish and it was really tasty! Their rice is perfectly cooked and their teryaki sauce tastes fresh and sweet, not too salty--just right! Order the ice cream afterward (they have a million flavors--coconut is my absolute favorite) and you won't be disappointed! This is a great place for an elegant evening out--they have awesome atmosphere, attentive staff and delicious food, what more could you ask for...that is, besides a lower price tag?? :)
(4)Brian L.
Came here for Dine Around Seattle. I'm not a sushi pro, by any means. I have had my share of sushi, however (usually of the cheap variety). For that reason, I was looking to try high quality sushi. I was disappointed. Either I've had very high quality cheap sushi, or this place just wasn't that different, because I could hardly tell the difference. That said, my miso soup was amazing, as well as my seaweed salad. I'd get both again in a heartbeat. The service was merely decent. Our waiter was slow on the beers and confused some of our orders. The dedicated water-filler did his job well and with flash (though he smelled a bit as he leaned over us). Overall, I'd say it's ok. I probably won't be back as I don't think what I paid was worth what I got.
(3)Jon X.
Ok, I know I said that Shiro's is the best sushi in Seattle but that was before I really re-acquainted myself with Nishino. I know this sounds obvious but good sushi really depends on two things: 1. Good cut of a fresh piece of fish 2. Sushi rice consistency and taste In my opinion, Nishino masterfully meets the highest standard for both of these requirements. The cut for each piece of sushi is delicate and leaves you wanting more. If you ever have the 25-for-25 menu, the added pieces are necessary as the 25-for-25 items are usually not enough to fill your normal hunger level. The nigiri is costly ($5-7 per 2 piece order) but well worth the money.
(5)Karen N.
Went with a few friends for Nov 3 for $30. This place was really tasty, and the atmosphere is warm and friendly. Its rare that I go to a Japanese restaurant and order anything but sushi, but the three course dinner pushed me in the direction of trying other things. Their menu is a bit on the pricey side, so if you are just looking for straight sushi, this probably wont be easy on your wallet. Would probably go again sooner if it was closer to my neighborhood
(4)Jojo L.
don't get me wrong, i won't discouraged any seattle people from coming here.. which they apparently LOVE, since most have given 4-5 stars.. but i gotta be fair, and i will not recommend this place to any Angelenos to come here if they want sushi that match those in LA.. i think the food is at best average: - nigiri: rice is too hard for my taste, and the portion is too big so makes a single bite hard to chew we ordered toro, eel, tamago, uni, white fish..etc but none seems too outstanding, not even my favorite toro! :( - seared tuna + foie gras: foie gras is too burnt - creamy dungness crab? hm.. i think it's just a fancy name for dynamite - cod & mushroon hotpot: great for cold & rainy weather for sure - green tea tiramisu: i won't be able to tell it's green tea flavor if the cake is not green haven't got around trying other sushi places in seattle, so.. maybe this IS the BEST there is in seattle?!?!
(3)Jen S.
This place is divine. Well, the sushi is divine. I had the omakase and the flavor combinations were astounding and delectable. I like the atmosphere too - not loud, full of people to check out, good service. They do have to watch how close the tables are, though. Servers kept bumping into my chair, which I hate. This is the best sushi I have ever had, actually.
(5)Chira V.
this is one of the best places i've had for sushi. its always great quality. may be priced a little more then others but worth it.
(5)Kate W.
So I went to Nishino tonight for their 30 for $30 deal (okay, Dine Around Seattle, but is anyone calling it that? Our server even called it "30 for $30") and it was amazing. I've never been before, but I can now tell you that when I'm in the mood to spend a bunch of money on delicious sushi, Nishino is the place. From the Dine Around Seattle menu, I ordered: seared tuna sashimi appetizer, black cod entree, and mochi dessert. (AND you also get a complimentary miso soup or sunomono salad - both were delicious.) Since I am selfish and also a glutton, I forced/convinced my boyfriend to order the other things I really wanted to try - the mussels appetizer and the sushi sampler entree. We also ordered salmon, mackerel, and super white tuna (why have I never had this before??? And does it have another [Japanese] name??? It was amazing!) sushi (see: I am a glutton). Everything was delicious - the only tiny problem was when the server got my order wrong (she thought I ordered the sushi sampler instead of the black cod), but she quickly fixed the problem and apologized several times. Great service, good wine list, delicious food, expensive but totally worth it.
(5)Eugene C.
I decided to try this restaurant based on the great reviews on Yelp and the Dine Around Seattle promotion. I was not at all dissapointed. The atmosphere is relaxed and casual, but at the same time not "Mom and Pop" like some other authentic Japanese establishments. Service was friendly and excellent all the way from the sushi chefs to the waitstaff and hostess--all smiles and happy to see you. The food was great as well. For appetizers I had the miso soup (complementary) and the fried oyster and green bean tempura with pickled radish. The miso soup was actually the best I have ever had. It had a smoky, almost bacony flavor to it. More complex flavor than any I have had before. The fried oysters and green beans were perfecctly crisp, flavorful, and with minimal greasiness. For main course, I had the sushi sampler. All the pieces were exceptionally fresh, clean, and melt in the mouth. Possibly the best sushi I have had in Seattle (I will have to try this place and I Love Sushi again for my final verdict). For dessert, choices were limited to sorbet and mochi (they were out of pastry that particular day). I went with the mochi. The flavors were interesting and had a nice chewy texture. All in all, an exceptional meal and enjoyable experience.
(5)Nestor P.
Nishino is definitely my favorite place for Japanese food in Seattle area. The restaurant has a perfect combination of traditional Japanese food/taste and the America ingredients. My wife who is a chef told me that the way that they prepare the rice is almost perfect. The menu has a balanced offer between cold and hot dishes and the service is awesome. I really like the grilled squid (hot dish), the sushi, the rolls and the sashimi. The Kirin beer is always cold and the service is superior. I didn't try the chef special (degustation plate) but I saw some guys ordering it and looks very good. The tuna is also worth to try, the spicy tuna roll is awesome and the sushi is good too.
(5)Mandy R.
my GOD this is good sooshi. That's all.
(5)Moses H.
Just had my second meal here this past Saturday night and it was even better than my first. The first time, three years ago, I had the omakase; this time, just sashimi and some appetizers. I was with a group of 11 ($40 per person, with tip, and we drank a LOT of sake and ate a lot of food) so we had a little bit of everything, and it was absolutely fantastic. My birthday, too, so there was mochi, a picture from the waitress and a card signed by the chef. The plate full of quarter-stick-of-butter chunks of the smoothest pinkest toro I have ever seen or tasted - it just melted in my mouth - was quite possibly the best fish I've ever had anywhere. I would say that along with Tojo in Vancouver, this is the best sushi and seasonal Japanese food available in the western United States, and I don't think that's exaggerating. It really is that good, and it's quite affordable given the quality of the food and the fantastic service.
(5)Will F.
Best sushi restaurant in town, and probably one of the top in the country - my only 5 star so far. Plus, they have a menu full of other Japanese cuisine. The decor is pretty lame but the food rocks, and that's why you go to Nishino. Suck it up and open your wallet.
(5)james s.
If money were no object and all other considerations aside, nishino is my pick for best sushi in seatle. why? presentation, variety, freshness, reputation, 'feel', etc. It's the canlis of sushi in seattle. The mercedes benz! chiso is AWESOME too, and i've had amazing fish at wasabi bistro. I hear red fin can be good. the place in lake city - a little over rated. musashis? go to qfc or whole foods instead. blue c is totally acceptable and fine and fun for what you pay. shiro's: good nights and bad. chinoise - very nice. can be quite good. toyoda is in lake city..I knew it would come to me. still, overrated in my humble opinion. kisaku in greenlake - can be quite nice. but I find nishino elegantly pushes it over the top each time. the bar is set for sushi in seattle at nishino.
(5)simon B.
Really excellent. Nishino is a super spot. It's not cheap, but its not a rip off. The sushi and sashimi is outstanding. We had two a la carte dishes. the tuna tartare was lovely, but the portion was very small indeed. The black cod, though lovely was dry - it wasn't the moist, light lovelt dish you get at Nobu. None the less, it's a lovely spot.
(4)Chance J.
I highly recommend the omakase ("leave it to me") dinner. It's a multi course dinner featuring the chefs best selections of the day. You have to make a reservation so the chefs can prepare for your dinner. It's a little spendy but well worth it. My girlfriend and I went there on valentines day expecting a great dinner and left feeling more as if we had experienced art. Nishino truly creates a memorable dining experience and it's hard to put a price on that.
(5)King C.
I came here for the 2nd time for the 30 for 30 Dine Around Town deal. I had the crabcake appetizer (best crabcake I've had in Seattle), miso-glazed black cod (better than the one I had at Maneki), and the tapioca dessert. Nishino is one of my favorite sushi restaurants. In addition to fantastic food, they have stellar service.
(4)Kimberley D.
My boyfriend took me here for my birthday for the 30 for $30 fixed price dinner special ( dinearoundseattle.org ). It was clear that this was a good deal for what would normally be a very pricy meal. I ordered the crab cake, sushi, and ginger ice cream with a chocolate cookie. He had the spicy miso soup, cod, and sorbet. The service was excellent. Everything was perfectly timed and a great balance of giving us enough attention without being creepy/overpowering. I found the atmosphere pretty bland, if not outright strange (baseball caps for sale by the door? bland/inoffensive art?) You can really tell the difference in quality fish when it comes to sashimi. It was buttery and smooth and wonderful. The rest of my dinner was good but not incredible. I'd definitely return if someone else was footing the bill, but I can't say I'd be motivated to pay that much on my own.
(3)Lindsey D.
I'm not gonna lie - I don't even remember what I ate here. Must've been some sort of vegetarian roll, as that is my only choice. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and would certainly return again. People that enjoy sushi definitely seem to love it.
(4)S B.
Excellent Sushi and great atmosphere!
(5)Gavin N.
First off, let me say, I would give this place 4 1/2 stars if I could. I was a little hesitant at first to come here after checking the menu prices on-line. I go to Japan about twice a year, and lived in Guam for many years (which has great Japanese food being so close by and having many Japanese tourists)..so I know what good quality Japanese food is and more importantly...that it shouldn't cost a fortune either. Nonetheless after seeing reviews, and finding Nishino in the 25for$25 I figured it was worth a shot. Anyway so I made my reservation via phone (wish they took them via opentable.com ) for 8:15 pm last night..got there around 8:13. Took awhile to get greeted, but once greeted, the hostess was very friendly, and we were seated very quickly. (BTW I highly suggest reservations, the place was quite full even on a late Thursday night..and I think the group next to me was quite angry that we just walked in and were seated before then..I assumed they didn't have a reservation). The environment: It's a decent size restaurant, but pretty small given how popular the place is. They had a pretty nice sushi bar, and the decor was quite nice. I do like the choice of decorations they used, elegant, Japanese, but not cheesy like so many other places. On to the food: My girlfriend ordered the Seared Albacore Tuna Sashimi appetizer, while I had the Dungeness Crab Cake. The Sashimi was quite good, although a little too much lemon for my taste. The crab cake had a very nice amount of panko breading to it, and the mango salsa-ish sauce was quite nice. As for entrees we had the assorted sushi and roll, while I had the Mochiko Shichimi Chicken. The assorted Sushi and roll were very good in quality and taste, the fish melted in your mouth. The wasabi was also nice and fresh, although I found myself needing more than what was given, but they were quick to give me more. The Chicken dish was also quite good with a slight teriyaki (very light) sauce on the side. I loved the mushrooms in it. The chicken was very tender, however, typical Japanese dishes of that type usually use dark meat, so I was very surprised to be getting chicken breast meat..healthier..yes..but when you go out to eat..it's not for health reasons, and dark meat always tastes better (hence why it's found in more Asian dishes anyway). Lastly, for dessert my girlfriend had the ginger brownie, while I had the coconut milk tapioca (which is traditionally Thai or Chinese). The ginger brownie was a little interesting at first, but it was good, especially Ala mode...not really a traditional Japanese thing, but I guess a nice fusion of cultures (usually not my bag..I like my cuisines separate from each other). The coconut milk tapioca was served cold..which was new to me..but with the fresh fruit slices in it, it was very delicious. overall the food was very high quality, tasty, and plated very well. Service was fast and friendly, although my server forgot to bring out my dinner sake until I reminded her after we got our bill..but she was quick to offer compensation..and it was quite a busy night..so i didn't hold it against her that bad. Added bonus: I found it very pleasant that Chef Nishino himself was standing around and checked on several tables to see how everything was..he checked on my table surprisingly a few times (maybe because I was 1 of 4 one of the few Asians in the restaurant?). My only real gripe is the price of the normal entrees. i am a huge fan of chawan mushi and miso soup..it's a great way to end your meal. However, $2.50 for miso soup w/tofu and $6.50 for Chawanmushi is outrageous...Usually miso and/or chawanmushi comes w/most Japanese meals..and if ever Ala carte..they are only $1.00-3.00 most. So i was very turned off by the pricing. overall the food, environment, service, is very good. For people who complained that there was no creative rolls..guess what..all these so-called creative rolls i.e. "philly rolls, seattle rolls..etc" is an American concept, don't act like you know sushi if you don't. The price is just a little high in my view, but still worth a visit or two. I do suggest the wine pairing for $15...you definitely leave a little tipsy, and it's a good pairing, the dessert Sake is quite good.. ~G
(4)Aggie M.
Best sushi in Seattle so far. I used to LOVE Matsuhisa in LA (back when it was heaven) when I lived there, and this is almost on that level. Melt-in-your-mouth slices of fresh fish, YUM! Try the Super White Tuna there, absolutely amazing. And now I must go eat sushi. Awesome food, great service, good ambiance - my favorite Seattle restaurant!
(5)Alice R.
When I'm craving for sushi done right and money is no object, this is the spot. It's a bit spendy but it's well worth it.
(5)Colleen G.
YUMMY!!!!!!! About 3 months ago, I was 'playing' here on Yelp and typed in sushi bars, seattle, search by highest rating first and came across Nishino. Finally...today...we were able to go - why, oh why, did we wait so long?!! When we first walked in, all the chefs behind the sushi bar stopped what they were doing to greet us, all of the wait staff said, "Hello" as they walked by, we wanted to sit at the sushi bar and only had to wait about 10 minutes. The sushi and the rolls were wonderful - fresh and flavorful. Our server was Douglas and he made us feel like royalty, whisking away our used plates, keeping our water glasses full and taking time to make some suggestions on what we might like (and we did). I based my choice of price range on what we paid...however, we believe that the excellent sushi here wasn't all that spendy. We now plan on making Nishino a regular part of our date nights :-) Our only regret was that we did not get the name of our Sushi Chef.
(5)maruko c.
As a matter of fact, it was more like 3.5 star. And I really have mixed feelings about Nishino. I had both fantastic and mediocre sushi there. Their white tuna toro, super white salmon(when available), and kanpachi were really, really good. But their saba, kohada alike fish family were not impressive in a good way. The service was courteous and attentive though I kind of missed when Masa san was still the head sushi chef there (more than a year ago, I guess), he'd greet everyone walking into the restaurant, and he'd always go extra mile to make his diners happier.
(3)Margaret D.
Hands down the best sushi restaurant in Seattle. Their sashimi is so fresh and the waiters and sushi chefs are very knowledgeable and friendly. Great date spot too as it is a small, intimate restaurant.
(5)Brent F.
The Sushi here is awesome. It is the best I have had in Seattle. I recommend sitting at the sushi bar and talking to the sushi masters. These guys have been trained for years in the art of sushi preparation and have interesting stories to tell if you are willing to talk to them. I also want to recommend that you request real wasabi. They charge more for it, but the difference between what most places give you and the real stuff is huge. Great sushi, really nice environment and interesting chefs to speak with. I highly recommend it. One caveat: it is a bit on the expensive side, so you should be prepared to spend around $50 for a good meal. But well worth it.
(5)Rachel B.
A number of years ago, after tromping around the Arboretum on a misty day, dressed in typical Seattle fashion, my sister, her husband and my young niece and I were hungry. Hungry for sushi. I had heard good things about Nishino, so we drove over there. It was the very very start of the dinner hour. Like 5pm or something. We walked in and there was not a customer in sight. Which wasn't surprising since it was so early on a Saturday evening. The host took one look at us and said that all the tables were reserved. As if. I'll never go there. It was so rude. We weren't that ragamuffiny AND no one else was in there. Expletive, expletive, expletive!
(1)AAA n S.
the food is very good and fresh, the best way to get best food here is to make reservation 1 day before, and ask for chef's random prepared choices, then u can get best food here !!!
(4)John H.
Seaweed Salad - OK. A weird mix of 3 different kinds. And $8? Ouch. Soup - Mushroom clam miso sounded like a great idea, but after a few sips I wanted to put it through a stainer and drink it plain. Osyters - Mediocre. That's really all I can say. Saki - good, but $16 for a small bottle? Also, it was served in a clay (not ceramic) jar, causing it to go cold after 15 minutes. Granted I was in a weird mood, but at a good Japanese restaurant you expect more hits than misses. Based on the other reviews here, it sounds like if you don't go for the 5 course Omakasse you're in for a let-down in term of quality and a big hit on the wallet.
(2)P H.
Excellent sushi, but the prices reflect that.
(4)Cameron O.
Amazing..
(5)Erin V.
There is a starter on the Nishino menu that I would commit crimes for. Heinous crimes. It's that good. A shitake mushroom cap, perfect tuna, seared foie gras, and a red wine reduction. Two mouthfuls of bliss. This is one of the most well-executed examples of fusion that I can imagine. The sushi is impeccable, and there are many other lovely and delicious dishes on the menu - all well worth trying. Great sake selection, and a Pearl Martini that should not be missed. Nice service, but it is definitely crowded - and the last time I visited, the dining room was far too warm to be comfortable. ...But that amazing appetizer is what lingers. Make reservations. Dress lightly. And consider having a criminal defense attorney on retainer - just in case.
(5)Lauren B.
I could eat here every night. Fantastic food and service.
(5)Carlie B.
Everytime I go to Nishino I'm greeted with prompt accurate service and consistently perfect food. Do not miss the tuna carpaccio or the green tea tiramisu. It's great for groups or for a date. The one and only down side is the atmosphere. The strip mall look doesn't reflect the elegance of the food.
(4)Breanna G.
Amazing. The service was very attentive. The fish quality was excellent and the rolls were creative and delicious.
(5)Jon B.
I am spoiled. I live in San Francisco, where very good sushi is as ubiquitious as a good burrito. In Seattle, visiting my friend who just moved here, we decided to scour yelp, friends brains, and other sources to try and find some really good sush. This place came up a few times, so we decided to give it a try. The foie gras that Erin V. would commit "heinous crimes" for, was BURNED, and FLAVORLESS, and the sauce was thin and pretty meaningless. Seriously, for $14.50, i would have rather eaten 2 california rolls. The uni was the highlight for me - fresh, delicious, excellent. While the sashimi was fresh, and the other sushi items on par with decent places elsewhere, the uni was really above average. Uni is generally the barometer for me, but in the case of Nishimo, it was unfortunately NOT a very good indicator of overall tastiness. For the price (I admit, my buddy paid so I can't complain), i'd get a burrito and a bottle of veuve clicquot
(3)sara l.
This is my favorite place for sushi! I absolutely love this restaurant. You get great service and great fresh seafood. This is hands down the best place for sushi in Washington!
(5)Chris T.
Quality is ok, price is the killer. You can get cheaper and better quality sushi at Shiro's. This is probably the second best sushi joint I've tried around Seattle, and personally, don't think it's worth the money.
(2)Mark E.
Great place. Can't go wrong. Priced like a good sushi restaurant would be expected.
(4)Emily B.
Wow - sushilicious! We met our best friends here last night and everything was over the top fresh, tasty and absolutely delicious. The presentation was impressive and we couldn't get enough of the cold sake served in a beautiful bamboo carafe. Service was top notch and we definitely put this at the top of our list for best sushi in Seattle!
(5)Danny K.
Must try! Yes it is on the pricy side, but when is sushi... GOOD sushi not expensive? The fish here is fresh and all there dishes are garnished with simple elegance. Basically...it tastes as good as it looks, sometime even better. It's not only their sushi but their kitchen food is right on the money! May I suggest the Tara Saikyoyaki (Black cod) with a sweet miso glaze. The meat just melts in your mouth and it's sweet and buttery but not at all heavy in oil or grease... it's cooked and flavored to perfection. I have yet to have their omakase that everyone raves about...thats next time. For salads, the albacore sashimi salad (Albacore sashimi layed over a bed of greens topped with a lotus root chip served with the house dressing) is the way to go! AMAZZZZING For those of you who usually order agedashi tofu in Japanese restaurants, you might want to upgrade to the Kinoko Tofu. Light tempura-ed tofu for slight crisp served in a thicker soy and mixed mushroomsauce. Absolutely amazing...esp. the left over sauce with a side of rice!!! Other dishes that I want to try and are pretty popular are the albacore tartare, jalapeno hamachi, Seared tuna foie gras, and a bunch of others. Try it out for yourselves!
(5)Alan M.
Everything was delicious - the sushi was fresh and the hot dishes were all interesting and tasty (especially the baked geoduck). The service was helpful. Other patrons seemed to be having a good time judging by the volume of their chatter and laughter.
(5)Chris D.
When a place has 72 fantastic reviews what more can the 73rd person add? The chefs are really, really fantastically friendly with my children when we eat at the bar.
(4)Traci W.
Great for sashimi yes however if you're looking for your traditional American infused sushi go elsewear didn't even see a roll made with rice- overpriced IMO
(3)Ryan L.
We also came here recently during the 30 for $30 "prix fixe" promotion. We ordered two sets of dinners - Crab cakes, miso cod, mochi, and tempura, sushi, and sorbet. The first meal was pretty good but not great. The crab cakes were not as flavorful and crab tasting as we had hoped - this is compared to other great crab cakes found in the area. They were a bit too moist and felt more breaded than anything. The miso cod was very tasty; it was rich and flavorful and left me full for the evening. The mochi was very simple and really wasn't too impressive. The tempura on the second meal was decent; it was more hearty than we expected since we like our tempura light and crisp. The sushi was very good and fresh. The dessert sorbet was a good finish to the meal and worth trying on its own. Overall, the place was okay but still a bit pricy for what you get.
(3)Ellen Mae L.
My first experience with ordering "omakase" style where the chef decides what to send to the table. It was absolutely amazing! I felt taken of and like a celebrity where only the freshest fish, delicious, and unique dishes are served. It becomes a social experience as well because each dish is presented, then they come and clear the table to get ready for the next and in the meantime, I'm talking with my friends and we're discussing how beautiful the presentation or how wonderful everything tasted. Awesome eating that night. Highly recommended!
(5)Miki M.
Definitely one of the top Sushi restaurants in the United States. NOTE: this is not a cheap place (some Yelpers who reviewed Nishino before me were bitchin' heavily about the price.. from their reviews it was clear they had no idea what to order..). If your main agenda is to save money from food, go to Dennis or something! However, an experienced connoisseur of Japanese cuisine that is not freaking out about their financial situation and is more concerned with getting supreme ingredient quality, virtuoso culinary art, and prompt & friendly service, will know how to appreciate this restaurant. The chefs are experienced and originally from Japan (our chef was from Kyoto)- they are very kind and friendly to newcomers. If we get a chance to visit Seattle again, this will be one of our top dinning choices! PS. I am really surprised by some of the negative reviews of Nishino. You guys should understand- this place is definitely not for just anyone. I can only say one thing: through the prism of being a Los Angelino. if Nishino was here, in Los Angeles, it would have definitely got a full 5 stars rating (average). For some reason that I find hard to comprehend, this restaurant of of high-end taste is not fully appreciated and accepted in Seattle... Is Sushi an acquired taste to most of you?
(5)Momo M.
My boyfriend and I went here for our 2 year anniversary. I believe we also made reservations, but there weren't any available reservations until 8pm, probably because we booked day of. This place caught me off guard when I first saw it. It's much nicer looking inside. There wasn't much of a wait to get our seats since we had reservations and it was pretty late. Our server was really nice. We ordered the mushroom clam soup, several nigiri, the baked geoduck and baked dungeness crab with rice, a sushi roll, and two desserts. As you can we ordered a lot for two people, but it was for a special occasion. When our soup arrived I noticed it didn't have mushrooms in it; turned out they gave us the wrong soup, which I noticed before we touched it. And they fixed the problem. Despite the slight mishap, the evening went very well. The baked geoduck was really delicious. Big fat pieces of geoduck - definitely worth your money. It tastes much better with rice though, so be sure to order rice. Both entrees seemed to have a lot of butter in it, which probably isn't good if you're trying to eat healthy. But both entrees were delicious and had mushrooms in them. The nigiri was melt in your mouth good. I'm not that big fan of nigiri, but I did love their albacore and yellowtail or whitetail (I don't remember which) nigiri. If I have the money, I will definitely come back here again. Pros: Nigiri is top quality, Geoduck!!! =D Cons: Lots of butter in some entrees, very expensive
(4)Lou K.
What can I say that has not already been said, this Sushi restaurant is clearly one of the best in the West Coast, the freshness and selection says it all. It is an upscale setting and so the pricing reflects it, expect the level of service, quality of food and presentation to match. The owners are wonderful and the servers are great.
(5)Chris B.
This is my favorite restaurant in Seattle. I get an omakase every time, and it's always quite delicious. My most recent trip was a month ago for a birthday dinner, and the courses went a little somethin' like this: 1) Five little amuse bouche: a piece of crab, amaebi with a tomato, hamachi with jalapeno and garlic on a cucumber, escolar with salmon roe, and some monkfish liver. 2) Salmon "ceviche" in an acidic broth broth with wasabi and caviar with cream 3) Small towers of shitake, maguro, and foie gras with a red wine sauce 4) Ginger crab cakes with a pineapple mint salsa on napa slaw 5) Sake steamed manilla clams in broth with ginger, butter, shichimi, maitake, and basil 6) Ginger yuzu chili sauce over shrimp shiso dumpling with bok choy 7) A salad of bitter greens (server said "mizuno?" I don't know what that is) with grilled black cod, red peppers, and enoki 8) The sushi course: amber jack, otoro, unagi, hamachi and avocado roll, nishino roll (wrapped in tamago) 9) Dessert: fruit and mochi ice cream I had some new things this time and it always gets mixed up a little, but not too much. The food here is so well prepared and tasty it usually blows my mind, but I do have to admit that this most recent visit fell a little short of the standard that I've built up for this place. The bitter green plate stunk (they weren't dressed or seasoned), some of the little appetizers didn't work as a whole, and the pineapple salsa on the crab cakes was... well, maybe Tatsu shouldn't try salsa. I'm hoping it's a one-time fluke, because I definitely plan to go back--this place is worth the money and still my favorite.
(5)Jenna l.
This took Japanese food to a new level for me. I concur with the Pearl Martini recommendation, even though I have no idea what it was.
(5)Daryn N.
I love Nishino. Yes, it's pricey, which yelpers love to bitch about, but it is by far the best sushi in Seattle. The atmosphere is a little boring/suburban feeling, but if you're looking for great sushi, and some other interesting japanese eats, and you don't mind spending a little extra, you won't be disappointed!
(5)Tai T.
Nishino is top notch. They are a very traditional, upscale, and authentic restaurant using high quality ingredients in their dishes. That said for the price I expected more. There isn't anything specifically special with thier menu. If you're looking for good food you won't be disappointed, but I was left wanting more...
(4)CJ B.
Wonderful sushi. Sit at the bar and allow the chef free reign. One of the very best Japanese restaurants in town. A bit pricey but well worth it.
(5)Susie G.
Absolutely the best Japanese restaurant in the city. It is a little bit expensive but well worth the price. Every time I get sushi at an averagely priced restaurant I wish I had spent the extra $20 to eat at Nishino. The service is excellent and they always provide great recommendations. Nishino is one of those Japanese restaurants that does not put all of their offerings on the menu. For the best sushi, you need to ask the server what they have that is not on the menu. There is always both rolls and nigiri that aren't on the menu and tend to be the best things to order. I highly highly recommend Nishino for a great date when you aren't ready to get too romantic yet.
(5)Julie H.
Definitely the best sushi in Washington state. I visited during the 25 for $25 special, a three course meal for $25. The menu was limited for this, but for the price you can't go wrong. We made reservations hours before as I had been told the place was popular and not very large (but I spaced at making reservations earlier). We ended up being about a half hour early to our reservation but it still only took them 5 minutes to seat us (pretty good since we were there around peak dining time!), probably would have been impossible to sit at the sushi bar though... For the appetizer I had crab cakes, which were lightly fried and had a great flavor. My main course was the cod marinated in miso, which was perhaps to die for. I hadn't had fish cooked this way since I'd been living in Japan; it was delicate and flaky with a really great flavor. Dessert was another choice, I went with their home-made sorbets - mango, raspberry, and shiso (if I remember correctly). I had forgotten that I really don't like shiso (a Japanese mint leaf, sometimes found with tuna sushi) but the sorbets were delicious. In addition to the fixed courses, we had also ordered a few pieces of sushi. Everything came out perfectly - the rice was seasoned well, and the fish was fresh and delicious. We also had great service, a rather knowledgeable server who was really attentive and ready to offer suggestions. The restaraunt itself has a really nice atmosphere - not too crowded or dark.
(5)Cathy C.
My all time favorite Japanese Restaurant. The fish is the freshest in Seattle. Masahirosan always takes good care of us when we go. He is very skillful with his knife. We love to sit at the sushi bar and watch him work his magic. Must order the Otoro Sashimi, Black Cod, and Hamachi Collar. And when in season, make sure you get the live amaebi. You can watch it jumping around in the sushi case. I've got to say that my mouth is watering as I write this review. I wish I could go there everyday. The only downfall to nishino is that it is way too busy. But can you blame Seattle for wanting the best sashimi and sushi in town?
(5)Alix H.
Definitely have to do the Omakase dinner. It is Chef's choice of a 5 course dinner (or 7 if you pay a little more) that is out of this world. The price is very reasonable for both quality and quanity of food ($55 for 5 course Omakase). You need to call at least 24 hours ahead and let them know of any food allergies that you have so they will avoid using those items in the dinner. My absolute two favorite things that was part of the Omakase dinner were the halibut cheeks (it melted in my mouth) and the mushroom soup that was delivered in individual tea kettles. The food presentation is artsy, which enhances the entire experience. In my opinion, this is the best Japanese restaurant in town.
(5)M S.
This place has extremely fresh and well prepared sushi. Met in your mouth fucking delicious. That is all you need to know.
(5)Gnat S.
Except for some of the sushi, this is fusion food. If you like your your food cross cultural this place might appeal to you. If you stick to the one-piece-of fish sushi and steer well clear of the silly supermarket-style rolls you can have a nice meal here. The "Japanese" food gets the usual American treatment: sweet sauces, giant beds of greens and overly complex combinations of flavors. We ordered about 8 items from the menu. The ika sugatayaki (flayed squid) was soft and succulent, but the sauce (olive oil, lemon and salt) was almost Greek, and the salad bed swaddling it distinctly American. It was fine, but squid-on-a-stick in Japan, costing only a few bucks, tastes a thousand times better. It is painful to see such a simple dish done up like a harlot. The foie gras and tuna came in tasty little piles. Nothing Japanese here though. This is the kind of thing you pop into your mouth at a cocktail party. It is far too savory and sweet to be on a Japanese menu. The soft shell crab rolls (also not Japanese) were delivered in tight little tubes of lettuce the thickness of cigars. Not a fan of compressed greens, I had to dissect them to dislodge the crab within, which was prepared in a similar manner to the squid. Soft shell crab is one of my favorite foods and almost any preparation will please me. This did not. Why hide the crab! Everything looked sad and wilted, with little consideration for color and placement. Another favorite of mine, saba nanbanzuke, contained too much vinegar and, more egregiously, was too soft in texture, as if it had been sitting around a while. That Nishino could not pull off such a simple, common Japanese dish, was a red flag. We ordered zaru soba off menu. It came in too large of a pile, diminishing the simplicity of this Japanese summer delight. I had a wonderful glass of rose, and the uni and mirugai sushi were very fresh. Sit at the bar and stick to the simple sushi, unless you enjoy fusion cuisine and like your food in sweat heaps or packed in plant leaves. You do get some quality people-watching here, and the artwork is great. In summary the food is fresh and tasty, but is rather ordinary and definitely not Japanese. (Disclaimer: I've lived in Japan for over a decade.)
(2)Modern L.
Service was great. Super nice staff when it came to making reservations. We were put in for an exclusive omakase (us being a fan of Masa NYC, Matushisa in LA). It started off good, but quickly became slightly less imaginative than we hoped for. I think the most disappointing things were over saucing a couple of the dishes - causing for a very salty dish. Also the final sushi flight had a big roll in it, which usually with other omakase's, it's featured some of the BEST sushi. No uni, geoduck, giant clam, monkfish liver or anything special. The roll was salmon, tuna, yellowtail with asparagus. Took up the rest of our room in our stomachs. :( Fresh water eel was another piece - heavily sauced. Shout outs tho go to the salmon with pink peppercorns, the crispy raw fiddlehead, and of course the foie gras and shitake (matsuhisa adds gold filaments to this dish to really put it over the top). So, we've seen a lot of this - was hoping for more ideas. It will be hard ever topping Masa's $400/person omakase in NYC, but I can certainly keep trying!
(3)Kevin C.
Want to impress your date? Take them here. This place is top notch! Probably the classiest, most consistent sushi place in town. The fish is always the best quality. As for price, it might be on the high end, but it is worth it. You can't skimp on sushi.
(5)Jeff S.
Just got back from Nishino's with a friend and we can't stop talking about how great it was. We sat at the bar w/o a reservation late on a Thursday night. Everyone was overly friendly and service was quick but not rushed. We started off with my personal favorite, Toro. OMG I think the toro was the best thing that I have ever eaten (and I don't take that statement lightly). We next moved onto some rolls, the arboretum and Madison park, which were absolutely delicious. After some miso soup and edamame we both agreed that we had to give the toro another go-round. Well same story the toro was absolutly to die for. I'm glad I live so close.
(5)Natalie W.
I am not in love! and I really wanted to be. My experience with Nishino was like a date were the conversation is fun, continuous, and wonderful but then a comment made stops the flow or makes you bite your tongue and smile. Really good and then huh? You have to know what I am taking about. We enjoyed the crab cake (as in 1) and tempura to start. Both were light and flavorful. The crab cake was breaded- which should have brought it down but it didn't. The tempura was mushrooms and asparagus. Both were crisp tender and not overwhelmed by their coating. Delicious! Pickled sides to the tempura had a finishing taste note of vinegar Pringles that we found fun. For entrees- The sushi sampler... I was not blown away by any of the nigri, rolls, or offerings. The rice was spot on though. Not bad/ Not amazing- fish texture much like I had a Musashi's. The tofu with eggplant, mushrooms, spice broth, and a cream sauce was amazing. The cream was actually a dense tender mound on top of the mixture. Spoons were needed for this entree and fights over the tender yet light tofu emerged. For dessert we did moki ice cream. Espresso, Red Bean, and Lychee were flavors tried- Red bean was the favorite. Things I enjoyed at Nishino: The ambiance was good and our server adjusted his style to each table worked with- ie- joking with us sarcastically and smiling and nodding at the sushi uneducated businessmen table. Also, we made a game out of studying the modern artwork while the other was in the washroom and giving our interpretations upon return. There is a sushi bar that looked inviting and hot towels were offered upon being seated. At Nishino- the portions are on the small side, the prices per piece or set are on the high side, and the chef/owner a fun smiling man in a uniform of Hammer style pants and a chef jacket. I can see why Madison loves Nishino... Overall, I was slightly thrilled at some of the flavors and slightly disappointed in others.
(4)nuwy N.
nishino is definitely an upscale Japanese restaurant in Seattle. The sushi is fresh, but spendy. I only go there to eat the Nabeyaki Udon noodles which are thick , chewy, and topped with crab, scallop, spinach, egg, pre-sweetened shitake mushrooms, and shrimp tempura. The savory broth is made with bonito flakes and possibly some kelp-definitely not the instant noodle broth. Even though it costs $18 for a medium sized bowl, it is worth spending your money on. You will not find another udon noodle soup as good as this one in other upscale Japanese restaurants in Seattle.
(3)Rachel S.
The sushi here is AMAZING. Everything is very fresh. It was wonderful to be able to sit at the sushi bar and see pieces being prepared. The chefs and wait staff were knowledgeable and very friendly. The prices are terrific for the quality you get. I would definitely come here again.
(5)Kevin S.
So my general rule for ethnic food of any type is that the ethnicity of the patrons tells you a lot about the food. Well, when it comes to the ethnicity of Nishino's patrons - well its mostly white. There are typically a handful of asians there, but often times they are part of a larger group. Now this doesn't mean that the food is bad cause there aren't a lot of japanese folks here - it just means this place is over priced and a bit more fusion that traditional Japanese. As for the food itself, well I think its pretty good, but if you're looking for traditional japanese cuisine you can do much much better (see Maneki, Fuji Sushi, etc). That said, the atmosphere is pretty cool, but very loud as this place seemingly has ZERO sound absorbing materials. Deserts here are great so always make sure to save room. As a side note.... I HATE their parking lot which is really small with very narrow stalls.
(4)E H.
BEST SUSHI in Seattle. I've tried many sushi places around Seattle, from Shiro's to Saito's, but dont waste your time there...Go to NISHINO! I'm a picky guy when it comes to sushi, and this place always satisfies every time. The sashimi and sushi are always fresh, and the sushi chefs are friendly and welcoming. Ask for any specials that may not be on the sushi menu. Make sure you make a reservation, or get there when they open, so you can sit on the sushi bar w/o a reservation. Place gets packed by 6:30. GREAT SUSHI!
(5)Nelson T.
Nishino is very refined food. It's not a "party in your mouth" and Japanese food never should be. It IS the purest cleanest essential flavor of the ingredients, brought out and tastefully presented. You have to understand that this IS sushi. It is raw and sparse on the ingredients for a reason. Everything extraneous is discarded. Every bite is to be savored for the beautiful yet simple sensation that it is. The staff are very polite and professional, and I have never felt a delay in service. The ambiance is lovely, because as a previous reviewer said, they deny filthy hippies tables. Also, someone knocked the place for foie gras? Grow the fuck up. Either start your own vegan farm in cambodia and eat exclusively from that or accept that you are causing great suffering worldwide by your existence no matter what you do. Your luxury of being "like, totally, against foie gras" and your typical american attitude about it causes more suffering than any frenchman piping grain down a duck's throat. The only drawback to this place is the price, and until you've seen a Japanese man pay 80 dollars a pound for tuna, you will never understand it.
(5)S T.
Love it - it is very classy with great food. Worth the price.
(5)Mike R.
This place has fantastic fish. Really, really fantastic. Everything is delicious. Even the miso soup is a cut above. If you have the cash, GET THE TORO -- Diminishing returns, my ass! The service is great -- we told our server we were just there because once a month we like to get really good sushi, so he decided to call it a celebration and gave us higher quality sake for free. (But what is up with the terrible art? Hope they rotate that out before next month's visit.)
(5)Jeannette L.
DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELICIOUS. Best sushi ever? Maybe not, but definitely one of the top Seattle places to eat sushi. The Spicy Clam Mushroom MIso Soup is delicious - (must like mushroom+clams). Probably one of the most flavorful miso soups that was just perfect (i.e. not overly salty). Everything was rich in flavor - had the dynamite, spicy clam miso soup, a pick of the freshest sashimi of the day (chef's choice of 12 pieces), rice, chawanmushi, green tea tiramisu. I'd have to say everything was amazing, except the chawanmushi in which I've had better - it just didn't surprise me or excite me. I'm sure you really can't go too wrong on this menu so just get what your wallet can afford... even if it is just a house special roll. Note you might be hungry if it is just the cash in your wallet. Expect to spend around $50-100/person - depending on how hungry you are and the market prices of the pieces you are getting. I wish I could have gotten the omakase but couldn't convince anyone else at the table to get it (min. 2 per table to receive omakase).
(5)S C.
Been here twice. Had chirashi don, combo tempura, & bunch of different sushi. Tempura was ok. Their miso soup has some fancy seasoning that I am not too fond of and I cannot figure out what it is, but it tasted more like osuimono with miso added onto it. I usually like the straight up katsuo-kombu broth for miso, so it was a bit too much. The sashimi & sushi were mostly pretty good, except their fresh salmon was seriously bland the other day. I mean, it just tasted like water and was rather mushy, too, and the uni had very very slightly foul aftertaste instead of the usual creamy sweetness. Hence the 3 stars, instead of 4. But, they have the best rice!! It's seasoned so that it's not too overwhelming, while complimenting fish very well. I wonder if they added sweet rice to their sushi rice because there was this almost nutty sweet taste to their sushi rice. I would go back for their rice!
(3)Plug N.
not just the best sushi in seattle, it's the best restaurant in seattle (that i've been to). toro!!!
(5)Kenny C.
It's good, I like the atmosphere here. It's comfortable and nice without being try-hard or trendy. There are some weirdos that dine here. 40+ year-old dudes with boat shoes lookin' like they're going on 65 that aren't fooling anyone with the haircut they got from the Gene Juarez stylist they were trying to pickup. And their girlfriends who are the same age but are trying to dress 20 years younger like they're in a Far East Movement music video. Either or, I come for the food so it doesn't bother me. Just, someone let them know we all know they work for Amazon and no one thinks they're in an episode of Entourage. They've got a lot of customers so you know the fish is going to be consistently fresh. Their geoduck dish was delicious. I can see why Nishino has so many fans.
(5)Stephanie L.
Come for the sushi and stay for the tapas. This Seattle gem is perfect for a cozy dinner with friends, or to bring a date. Tucked into the corner of a shopping center, Nishino was a pleasant surprise. Sharing is definitely the way to go as it allows for optimization of the options. I was blown away by the unique chawanmushi, a savory steamed custard egg soup that was an interesting take on a texture I'm far more used to enjoying as a sweet dessert. Another huge hit was the nasu dengaku, a japanese eggplant with miso sauce. The dish was so incredible I could have ordered 6 of these and left happy. Additionally, the dungeness crab, which was baked with mushrooms with spicy creamy sauce was decadent PNW seafood at its best. A heaping pile of fresh crabmeat atop a mountain of umami mushrooms. It was delightful. I know I was happy with the sushi as well, but honestly it was the small plates that I found the most memorable. Mochi made for a ideal finish to an already fantastic meal. I'm already looking forward to returning the next time I'm in Seattle.
(4)Cristina P.
Standouts: - service; always attentive and friendly - hamachi jalapeño - perfect 'kick' - spicy salmon tartare - sitting on a bed of crispy rice aka awesome mini hash brown - dessert - deep fried banana with Madagascar vanilla ice cream - the perfect finish -sablefish - smooth and moist and creamy Decent efforts: - whitefish and arugula roll - don't be fooled, it's actually a tiny piece of arugula rolled in a tiny piece of whitefish (warm). While actually quite delicious, the portions were miniscule. 'A' for flavour, though! - tuna tartare - it was good and services with a few taro sticks...bit felt a little dry and that something was missing For reference: - the 'calamari' is not deep fried, it is grilled and sautéed. Still delicious, but it's good to know this. Overall great effort and good food. The reason I am giving it 4 starts instead of 5 is for the service; very attentive and helpful all steps along the way.
(4)Kai C.
I don't live in Seattle. I live in San Francisco. I thought I was a bit of a sushi snob when I moved from NYC to SF, but now I realize how big of a sushi snob I am after dining at Nishino. Nishino is a good neighborhood Japanese restaurant. However, if you expect really good quality sushi, then you'll be disappointed like I was. I was surprised to see how the restaurant received a 29 rating according to Zagat, but the rating is given by the residents of the area. So maybe I am saying something about the sushi scene in Seattle...
(3)Lauren S.
I've been going to this restaurant for years and have always loved it. From when I was a picky kid and would only eat plain rice with miso soup, to now, where my palate is far more adventurous. The fish is always fresh, they have a wide variety of dishes, all of which are fantastic. I went here for the first time in a year or so. I had a special roll, it had salmon, avocado, and mushroom and was cooked tempura style, I have never had anything like it and it was absolutely delicious. I loved everything I had. I loved the tartare, crab roll, crab spring roll, tuna salad, I even loved the tofu salad. You can have a nice light meal here, or a heartier meal. This will always be a favorite restaurant of mine.
(5)Chris H.
Nishino has been my favorite sushi place in Seattle for as long as I've lived here, so this 4-star review will just be a placeholder for the 5-star update that will someday follow. I took my sweetie here tonight for her birthday...the sushi was wonderful (especially the albacore and toro and the arboretum roll...all amazing flavor and melt-in-yer-mouth texture), as were the cocktails and the service, but I swear it was the loudest restaurant I've ever been in. We could barely hear each other. Normally Nishino has great ambiance, but the ambiance tonight was like an English soccer game. Our server said it was pretty normal for a Saturday...point taken! I'll stick to weeknights in the future.
(4)Tiffany K.
Ooh baby like it raw like shimmy shimmy ya ~~~ I'll keep it short. First time? All you need to know, OMAKASE EXCLUSIVE is $85/ person and absolutely worth it. Call ahead to make a reservation. Leave it to the chef to curate an unforgettable dinner. TK x Chautime Ep. 2 First course: felt like Eve - Let me blow ya mind was playing in the background as I was eating. Standouts: hamachi, tuna belly, kampachi, sweet shrimp, toro, and seafood miso. To say that every slice of fish was fresh is an understatement. Dessert: mochi ice cream w/ fruit. Best mochi ice cream I've ever had. Give me that funk, that sweet, that na$ty, that gushi stuff. Nishino is perfect for any occasion. Currently, my favorite sushi restaurant in Seattle!
(5)Saejin K.
I went to nishino and got the Dine Around Seattle menu. What a cozy little restaurant! We started with a complimentary bowl of miso soup, then the first course was the tempura bean and oyster, followed by the sushi set with the wine pairing, and finished with green tea tiramisu. I also ordered a tekka roll. My date got the mushroom and asparagus salad, beef negimaki, and cranberry orange sorbet. Everything was delicious! The miso soup in particular was really good and smokey and had a more complex flavor than other restaurants I've been to, but my favorite part of the dinner was the gruner veltiliner that was paired with my sushi set. When it comes to the sushi, the tekka maki had a lot of wasabi, which I personally love but some people dont. The only thing I wasn't really a fan of was the veggie roll. This place is great if you're a sushi purist. They don't have any crazy rolls with lots of sauce or cream cheese. If you want some heartier, the beef negimaki was really delicious and perfectly seasoned. I think I preferred the mushroom and asparagus salad to the tempura but they were both good. I don't think any of our dishes are on the normal menu, but I could tell it's just a high quality restaurant with really really good wine (and probably sake). I just don't recommend you come here if you are looking for more "Americanized" sushi rolls with lots of toppings and sauce. If you want that, go to umi!
(5)egan w.
Over 90 degrees summer heat + sushi = BAD There is questionably a health code violation or a sushi chef code of ethics for serving sushi at 90 degrees with no A/C. It is impossible to enjoy any food when we are sweating the entire time. It ought to stay close during hot days or just get A/C.
(1)Erin H.
A nice fancy place for fancy dinner with fancy friends! I had a great time at Nishino with the great food, service, and ambience. Since I was just visiting and hadn't rented a car, it would've been difficult to access but since my friends were able to drive, it was nice to be able to experience this. My boyfriend and I decided to order a few things off the special and appetizer menu; however, we didn't actually pick any sushi. This might not have been the best choice since it is a sushi house, but the food was still very good. We shared the geoduck, which was a very interesting dish with unfamiliar texture and taste, the softshell crab, which was very tasty, and other dishes that I can't remember at this time. While it is a bit pricey, it's very good quality. As with all sushi restaurants, the portions are a bit small, so check out the menu and get a few things to share and try! Also, the parking lot is very tight and pretty small. You could park on the streets/ in the neighborhoods, but watch out for cars.
(4)Lucy L.
We were visiting Seattle and our friends took us to this place. We had one of the best meals of our lives. Amazing , delish , fresh sushi! We enjoyed it so much .Great service and beautiful presentation as well. I can't wait to come back to Seattle so I can come back to Nishino!
(5)Yang C.
I've been to 15 of the top 20 rated sushi restaurants in the greater Seattle area and this place is hands down the best. I guess that's why I keep coming back. I've never had anything but the sushi, and never sat anywhere but at the bar with Chef Brian. All I can say is just order the omakase and let Brian work his magic, you'll be glad you did. Ankimo is in season, do try the pate of the sea!
(5)Toyo K.
Had a number of appetizers along with sashimi and sushi. Everything was excellent - you can really see and taste the quality here. Service was top notch. A very pleasant place to dine with a nice, comfortable atmosphere. Favorite dish was the foie gras with seared tuna.
(5)Jen M.
I gave this place a try two times, and both times I was underimpressed. My first visit, all the food was just ok- ordered the hamachi w jalapeño, which was good but so small. Was not a fan of the oiled crispy rice that came w the spicy salmon tartare - super small portion as well. The other sushi and rolls we had were all ordinary. Left with a hefty bill and both of us were still hungry enough to have another meal. The second time, while the company, atmosphere and service was wonderful, the food was still just ok. We tried the tuna tartare ( this was fresh and enjoyed) , the shiso shrimp dumplings (had an odd sour taste to it), soft crab spring rolls (meh - the sauce was the best part of this), an eggplant dish (very small on the portion size, but our favorite of the night), mochiko chicken ( this was good, but ordinary), tempura ( the batter is great! Crispy and light), madison roll (the roll had way too much rice and barely any fish nor flavor). The individual salmon, hamachi, and tuna sushi and sashimi we had were all good, though I admit I expected more due to the hype. From what I can derive, the fish here is good quality and fresh...so if you come, spend your money here vs on appetizers, entrees or rolls. Perhaps I will try omakase next time.
(3)Piyali F.
One of the best sushi places in Seattle - everything is meticulously prepared, extremely fresh, incredible flavor, and NOT a gimmicky "dynamo fried cream cheese roll" type spot. Service is wonderful, great cocktails, and the closest you'll get to good ambiance in a sushi place that actually serves quality cuts and focuses on simplicity and not just a bunch of fried/cream cheese based stuff. It's not super swanky - i.e. Japonessa style -but the sushi is far more authentic and fresh! Try the spicy salmon tartare on crispy rice - I drool just thinking about it
(4)Rosa M.
Outstanding service, great quality ingredients, creative dishes. Love the décor. They have a delicious pear cocktail, which I order every time. The new style sashimi is my favorite starter; the fish in this restaurant is always tender, delicious, fresh. Mmm... This is a restaurant we keep for special occasions, everytime we go we leave feeling happy, loved and wondering about the next time we'll get to enjoy it again.
(5)Madison S.
New sushi spot for us -- would come back. The arboretum roll was fresh and light. No mayo or extra fillers to distract from the true highlight: tuna. Portion size was right on point, too. In fact, it was one of the smaller rolls I've ever had and fully appreciated that fact. Felt healthy. My Mom ordered unagi sushi and claimed it was some of the best she's ever had. Other items included a half garden salad and the full crispy chicken salad. Crispy chicken was good, a little salty, but not drenched in dressing or oil. Adding this to the list of sushi options in the city, though wouldn't necessarily recommend for out of town guests. Umi downtown would be better for someone looking to make an impression.
(4)Aprameya R.
A meal at Nishino is a well orchestrated experience. The moment you step in you are greeted by an elegant, peaceful environment. From the pastel walls, the tree in the lobby, the little rock garden in the waiting area, Nishino proclaims, "let us please your senses". The service was very good. Our server was courteous, attentive and knowledgeable. We came for a dine around Seattle meal. All of us got the salmon sashimi appetizer which was very well done. The presentation was great, the sauce on the salmon was great and the salmon was great. My friend got the pan seared cod which I felt was the weakest dish. It had a sweet tinge that I did not like. My wife got the sea bass cheek which we all liked. It is a very different meat (muscle as the waiter put it) and was very good. I got the sushi platter and that is the best choice. The tuna, salmon and albacore were outstanding. The rolls were not moist but nice. The desserts matched up. The mango cheesecake was good (I found it a little bitter) the green tea tiramisu (yes, you heard it right, tiramisu at Japanese restaurant) was amazing. The sorbet was frigid (this is how they are supposed to be :P). I will call out the beauty of the food. It looked just as good as it tasted. Overall, Nishino is a great special occasion place. I will gladly go here again.
(4)David L.
Food: 3 Decor: 3 Service: 4 3.5 stars, rounding down. I've been here and Shiro's three times each, and I have to say that I still prefer Shiro's. 1. Selection of nigiri: tuna, salmon, sweet shrimp, kampachi, snow crab, and egg ~Pretty good, although I think Shiro's is marginally better. I liked the egg and sweet shrimp at Nishino more, but I thought the others were all better at Shiro's. 2. hamachi jalapeno 12 ~Pretty good. Nicely balanced and a good kick from the jalapeno. 3. tara saikyoyaki 18 broiled black cod with mushrooms marinated with saikyo miso ~Pretty good. Cod was poached nicely, and the mushrooms were tasty. 4. soft shell crab spring roll 18 ~Okay. Crab got a bit overpowered, and I wasn't a huge fan of the sauce. Service was pretty good, although the ambiance is rather casual.
(3)Kari G.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place before, but now I must! Atmosphere, Value, Service, Blah blah blah... borinnnnggg, all great. 5 stars! Where this place is simply perfection is in the unadorned, raw (no pun intended... ok maybe pun intended) materials: The nigiri and sashimi here are among the best in Seattle and each piece is fresh, delicious, in perfect proportion, of heavenly texture and wonderful in appearance. Any discussion I have about nigiri fish ends with Nishino. It's so perfect, you don't even need to use soy sauce or wasabi (unless you want to). I very much also recommend anything they have with soft shell crab. I have spent quite a bit of time around the Bay in Maryland/Virginia where the best blue crabs come from (none of this Gulf of Mexico crap) so I know where the party be. After several rather disappointing attempts to get some juicy delicious soft shell crabs in my gullet, I gingerly tried Nishino... Et Voila!! It was a holiday on a plate. Seriously, do yourself a flavor and try the soft shell crab -- you can tell it's freshly dead and also that the chefs know what they're doing (the tempura proportions are spot on and never overpowering). This place truly espouses the quote "Less is more." Don't have much else to add other than bring your gold card and enjoy savoring every second of this delectable delight :)
(5)Justine F.
One could say I am a sushi snob... so I came to Nishino because I heard it was good. What I heard from the grapevine was true! Nishino has fantastic and fresh fish and the servers are incredibly nice. I got the omakase which I believe is seasonal so they might not be serving the same things long term, but it was all delicious! Can't wait to go back, sit at the sushi bar, and see take a different route by ordering a bunch of rolls instead of omakase
(5)Nina S.
The best by far sushi in Seattle. It is high quality and the menu has a lot of variety. I have been here many times. It is better to make reservations. I get my usual here - salmon and hamachi sashimi. They used to serve hiroki bakery green tea tiramisu which is my favorite.
(5)Joyce L.
I have chosen to have my birthday dinner here twice in the last 4 years, so clearly this place has my vote :) The sushi is wonderful and simply executed, but they also have a wide selection of both traditional and more fusion type dishes. On my last visit, I had the sushi combo, spicy garlic calamari (cooked with tons of mushrooms and packed with flavor), popcorn shrimp with creamy napa coleslaw (love the contrast of textures and flavors), and the soft shell crab fresh rolls (light and refreshing). The restaurant itself is beautiful and tastefully decorated. It's usually busy, but not to the point that you feel rushed or crowded. The waitress was very accommodating and attentive without being overbearing. Even better, I was able to get a Saturday night reservation the day of. All of these are good things. Sushi and good Japanese food does not come cheap, but I'll continue to choose this place for those special occasions when you want to splurge a little.
(4)Oliver D.
Unbelievably good Sushi - not sure I've had better. On the pricier side, but worth every penny. Presentation was immaculate, sushi was so fresh and tastes were sensational. Completely lives up to its reputation.
(5)Zack X.
One of the best sushi place I've been to. We had omakase, every dish was liking opening a gift, they look and taste stunning. Except the sushi plate at the end consists of ~15 sushi, could be better made & presented.
(5)Tami H.
Nishino offers a truly special sushi experience. We sat at the sushi bar and the quality of the fish is outstanding. Specials are inventive and beautifully prepared. All the presentation is just beautiful. Sake and cocktail list are good as well. This place is always packed. Pricing is on the high side for Seattle sushi -- think San Francisco/New York pricing. But worth it if you want exceptional quality.
(5)Elle L.
Absolutely DELICIOUS. Fresh food and unique flavors. Cannot wait to go back!
(5)A O.
If you want some of the best sushi in the United States, this is the place to go. It is a little out of our price range but we went for our 5-year anniversary and really enjoyed it. They have some unique menu options that are hard to find in other sushi restaurants, and the service is out of this world. Despite being such a high-end place, the wait staff was very down-to-earth and seemed to recognize regulars and enjoy working there. A very positive atmosphere with delicious food!
(5)Jenny C.
Lucky to have stumbled upon this place after visiting the Seattle Japanese Garden. Excellent food and service. Sublime and divine. We started with the Hamachi jalapeños and it was superb. Wonderful fish. We ordered about 6 other excellent dishes -stringed beans, two soft shell crab dishes, Tuna Tartar - and ended with Mochi Ice Cream - Yum!! and Green Tea Tiramisu, also yummy. My advice is to be fearless and try anything on the menu because it is likely to be superb or very good, so no worries.
(5)Sierra X.
It was our first time and we weren't sure what to order. Our server was patient and kindly made recommendations without being pushy. The sushi was excellent. The fish was high quality and fresh. There was too much wasabi in the nigiri for my preference but it was fine for my friends. We got dessert but it wasn't as impressive as the rest of our meal. It was presented well but it would have been nice to have more options for dessert.
(5)Dae Y.
updated review down to 4 stars because of the SNAFU in the service that caused something like a $33 overcharge on our bill that we didn't figure out until one night later. we got our usual Baked Dungeness Crab dish. it is so fantastic! this time we got two bowls of steamed rice to go along with it. one for each of us. And as we expected, the steamed rice went perfectly with the soupy bottom of the Baked Dungeness Crab. now jump to one night later as i'm ready to do my yelp review, i recalled an interaction that i confirmed with my wife, that further explains why the server (Pom) messed up our order to the tune of about $33 more than what it should have been. the food was still fantastic. here's how it went: we ordered one platter of the mixed sashimi ($29). a quick half minute later Pom came back and asked us if we wanted an extra miso soup since the mixed sashimi plate comes with only one miso soup. we quickly said yes. when the sushi chef in front of us (we were seated at the sushi bar) presented our mixed sashimi plates, it looked as if he split the order for us. he gave us two plates. it made sense that he would split the order into two plates for consumption. all seemed fine. when we got our bill, we saw 2x$29=$58 for TWO SASHIMI PLATES. we looked at each other, and figured "well, we every single bite, and it was good, so eff it. just pay for it." And then now about 27hrs after the dinner i notice there is a charge for a single miso soup. so that means somewhere between the time Pom came back to confirm we wanted an extra miso soup, we were served an extra sashimi platter, and we devoured one miso soup each, but according to the final bill there should have been an extra miso soup given to us. I'm going to have to be EXTRA EXPLICIT next time we order food. no more errors like this one will ever happen in the future. yes, the food is still completely fantastic. and we got really lucky to get seated immediately at the sushi bar as soon as we walked in :)
(4)Tiffany T.
Did the regular omakase and I felt so fancy. You won't regret ordering it for the experience of feeling so full, you can barely move (but not to worry, you can always take a doggie bag home - I totally forgot), but also the context provided by your waiter/waitress in regards to what's on your plate. I will admit that it's pretty loud in the restaurant, so you'll have to talk a little louder than you're used to (not that I have a problem, being Vietnamese and all). Parking is a little weird too, so plan for that.
(4)Saira R.
The three stars is for the service and the high-quality fish. I ordered the omakase, which I think should be the most perfected meal for any sushi restaurant. This is the worst omakase I've ever had. I likely won't return because it was that bad. The dishes I tried were somewhat interesting but the flavor was overkill--- way too strong for most palates, and other dishes were simply lacking inspiration. I was unimpressed based on the hype this place has received. There are far better sushi places within this price point.
(3)Linda W.
Absolutely the freshest fish in Seattle!! I LOVE and appreciate how SIMPLE, fresh and seasonal (morels!) the menu is here but that hidden beneath it is an additional layer... INSIDER TIP: You must absolutely ask the chef what's fresh/recommended that night. When you inquire if there are special items (!!) which aren't listed on the regular/special menu (in my case Aji, Kampachi)--you *may* find that there are treasures to be found. Do inquire. Sushi chef Brian made great menu suggestions and prepared beautiful sushi while simultaneously handling overly chatty/overly curious patrons...which happened to be the only bummer to my experience; them not him. The service was spot on however and nothing was missed. Five stars. There is complimentary parking that fills up quickly but you may get lucky! As an alternative street parking is plentiful and so far has never been a problem. Overall Nishino is a very solid Japanese/sushi experience that I HIGHLY recommend.
(5)Nancy T.
This is the absolute best sushi place we have found in Seattle. We sit at the sushi bar (usually wait for up to half an hour, but well worth the wait) and then ask the sushi chef to make selections for us. The fish is always super fresh and flavorful, the portions fairly sized, the service excellent.
(5)Maggie O.
High quality fish and amazing creativity make for an outstanding meal. If you have the time, try the exclusive omakase dinner, which requires 24 hour notice as the chef's go shopping for special ingredients. This 9 course 2 hour + tasting experience is filled with the freshest cuts of fish, exquisite sauces, and beautiful plating; it includes soups, tempura, sushi, and general fish courses. Plus the mochi and fruit dessert is incredibly refreshing, and the perfect size for two. The service is fantastic and our waiter was incredibly well-informed about the menu. This place is busy throughout the week, so make a reservation even if not trying the omakase dinner.
(5)Rich T.
Run don't walk to the sushi bar. Nishino has always been fabulous but I wish they had six stars because chef Aaron is the master of the sushi bar and I wish I could give it six stars. Just sit down and if ur a foodie let him just serve u. We've always loved the omakase here and it is still incredible. But the incredibly inventive tour of this is truly amazing. For instance this night we started with flounder sashimi with monk fish liver. Incredible. The special super white tuna seared nigiri with spicy Cajun was terrific. And the highlight was the uni and spicy tuna tempura. But the most incredible highlight was lightly seared Alaskan spot prawns with quail egg. Amazing!!!! The sake is good and the staff attentive. The main advice is to be open of mind and let the staff take u on an adventure. Good luck all! Thursday-Saturday they are very busy with omakase so the best time to come for this Jiro Loves Sushi in Seattle Is mid week. Particularly Tuesday or if ur lucky on Weds Tetsu himself is at the sushi bar so make plans accordingly :-)
(5)Alexander L.
Outstanding service, great price and quality and tasty food.
(5)Sarah R.
Nishino was one of many restaurants that took part in the "Dine Around Seattle" deal (limited time only) where you get a 3 course meal for $33! So I thought, what a great time to go check them out! They are located in the Madison Park neighborhood in a small business plaza. The restaurant has a good amount of seating and seating at the sushi bar. It's pretty open so you can see everything, even the chefs at work at the sushi bar. Parking is limited in the plaza, but I believe there may be parking in the back of the building and then there's street parking. Before you start they give you a wet warm towel to wipe your hands, very nice! The first course I ordered their SEARED TUNA SASHIMI SALAD. The tuna was slightly seared and was really soft. It was on a bed of mixed greens, white onions, and dressing that went well with it. MISO TOFU soup also came with our meal and it was to my satisfaction because I usually order miso soup, yay! For the second course I ordered their ASSORTED SUSHI AND ROLL option that came with TUNA, SALMON, YELLOWTAIL, ALBACORE, SHRIMP, SURF CLAM, VEGETARIAN ROLL, and a SPECIAL ROLL FOR THE DAY which was a spicy tuna roll. I don't normally order a variety of raw sushi like this but since I was here I had to give it a try. I forget that some make them with wasabi and I am not a fan of wasabi so I didn't fully enjoy it. I ate half of each avoiding the wasabi as best as I could. Other than that it was all good! My date and I switched dishes and I got to try their PAN SEARED SOCKEYE SALMON WITH MANGO SALSA. I really liked this dish, not like anything I have ever had before! The flavor was soo good, portion was small though, but enough for me I'd say. Last came our desserts! I tried their GREEN TEA TIRAMISU which I thought was okay, I've had better. We also ordered their HONEY MANGO CHEESECAKE. I did not like it at all. It had an odd taste like caramel and I didn't taste honey or mango. Service was excellent!
(4)Ali S.
The quality of the fish I had in my nigiri the other night was of much poorer quality than it was when I had it two years ago. On the Seattle scene, this place has average sushi that is slightly more expensive than other places. So basically, I will not come back given seattle's other options.
(3)Anthony N.
I came here for my birthday and it was amazing. We did the omakase at the bar and it was a lot of fun. Our chef had a heavy accent and it was a little difficult understanding him, but Brian (I think that's his name) was really cool about repeating what we got. Besides the omakase, we had the hamachi kama (yellowtail collar) with salt and that was on point (don't get it teriyaki style). We started off with several slices of hamachi in a light soy sauce. The hamachi here was very good; it pretty much melts in your mouth! Next, we got a sashimi set of escolar tuna (super white tuna), tuna, snow crab and fresh shrimp. I've never had escolar before and it was good. It was very buttery and succulent. The tuna was normal and both the crab and shrimp were very sweet! We also got the shrimp heads deep fried, yum! Shortly after we finished, the hamachi kama came out and it was very good. I don't think you can really go wrong with it since there's not much to it than grilling it for a bit, but I could be wrong. Our next sushi set was: chutoro, flounder, mackerel and kampachi. We finished off with shiso sorbet with azuki and it was very different. I've never had shiso before and it's some sort of Japanese mint. It went really well with the azuki. Seriously, everything was amazing here (food and service) and I would highly recommend checking it out!
(5)Tina M.
We came here for dinner on a Thursday dinner with a reservation and were seated immediately. We decided to get the omakase, which is an 8 course dinner that the chef comes up with. Even though the food was delicious, I was disappointed in it because I thought it was going to be primarily sushi but instead, the only sushi we got was 1 plate of 5 pieces of sushi each at the end. And the 2 pieces of rolled sushi weren't that good. The rest of the dishes were very good though, I was just really in the mood for sushi. My favorite was the salmon with kale salad and a lemon vinaigrette dressing. Service was also very good. I would come back to try more sushi the next time I'm in Seattle.
(4)Wunan L.
it's probably one of the Japanese restaurants in the Seattle area. Here are some highlights: Pros: Fresh and clean ingredients Authentic Japanese- Mot Chinese/Korean Japanese food good customer service a great saki selection Cons: it can be a bit expensive compare to others
(5)Clint W.
We came here during the Dine Around event and I even ordered off the fixed menu. I sort of broke my own rule here. Carpaccio was great as a starter. I wish I had more. Tender with citrus threaded throughout each bite. The sushi was fresh and flavorful, although I wish there was a piece of tako. Those dishes, plus a belly full of Asahi kept me a happy camper this night. Still a fan of Nishino.
(4)C S.
Place : Small and good Service : Awesome, they can answer anything except how much you earn :) Food: Foods we tried were awesome, moshiko chicken and lots of sushi and sashimi I thought another lephant is ging to come out of my stomach after eating that many sushis Food is amazing, certainly a place to try
(5)Jessica L.
A mostly excellent Japanese restaurant with an emphasis on sushi and sashimi. FIrst of all the fish, it is fresh, brought in daily, and of the highest quality. The sushi is mostly excellent. Highlights include grilled shiitake mushroom nigiri, and tobiko uzura no tamago. Lowlights include the almost inedibly fishy salmon skin roll. Don't miss the non-sushi items, perfectly prepared baby bok choy is a simple delight. Halibut cheeks are the best I've had anywhere. One of the better sushi places in town
(4)Yuan W.
This place is great, so I feel like a jerk for only giving it 4 stars...but I actually like Shiro's in Belltown better. We waited around 45 minutes to have omakase at the sushi bar on a Saturday. The ingredients were all really fresh and Nishino had a unique spin on some typical recipes. For example, we had uni on top of raw oysters and salmon roe. While I thought this was interesting, some of the flavor and texture combinations also didn't quite work together. In terms of this place vs. Shiro's, I think whether you prefer one or the other probably comes down to personal taste. Shiro's is probably a little more traditional in its omakase, but gets it really perfect. Nishino seems a bit more adventurous to me, and the results can be a bit more mixed. Nishino also served a mix of sushi and cooked food for omakase. Our chef at Nishino was polite, but not as friendly or personable as at Shiro's. Again, whether you prefer one or the other probably just depends on your personality. For me, one of the fun parts of omakase is getting to chat with the chef. Ambiance and decor at Nishino was a little more modern/fancy, while Shiro's feels like a homey restaurant that just happens to be really popular. One plus I'll give Nishino is the wait for the sushi bar seems to be much shorter, so if you don't really want to devote a whole evening to waiting/eating, then go for Nishino. Overall, a solid place, but if I were to spend that much money on sushi, I'd go to Shiro's.
(4)Jenn W.
Love this place!!! Great ambience, service, and food!!! We started with Oshitashi Spinach, Fresh Oysters, New Style Sashimi, and a Hamachi dish. We shared an order of Toro and I had the Chirashi as my main course. Every item that we had was amazing!!! It was all super fresh and delicious!!! This is definitely one of my favorite sushi places in Seattle! Definitely worth it!
(5)CJ P.
It was my dear friend's BD. So we decided to go there and have it a try as we heard so many good things how great the restaurant is. We all did Omakaze. They were ok but we all think next time we'll try a la cart. This place was packed even monday night so I would recommend to make a reservation. The service here was very good. From the Host... The server... and The Buss Boy. Loved to go back there again and try something else from the menu. BTW their sushi was super fresh!!!!
(4)Brittany I.
My absolute favorite sushi restaurant in Seattle! Despite looking like you're in someone's home, Nishino is world-class in service and quality. Some of my favorites are the Shake (salmon) nigiri, Fried Oyster Special, Shiso Shrimp Dumplings and House Special Roll. I don't know what it is but no salmon nigiri has EVER tasted so good! Would highly recommend to any (authentic) sushi lover - not to those who opt for rolls that have five different sauces and toppings on it because you won't find that nonsense here!
(5)Jacky L.
Definitely a hidden spot with the best of Japanese cuisine in town! We had a OMEKASHE and both the taste and service were superb!
(4)David Z.
Best. Sushi. Ever. Seriously this is some of the best I have ever had. My partner and I agreed on this and we have tried many places up and down the west coast. To experience it is to be pulled into a higher realm of greatness. My suggestion is to go see for yourselves, ask lots of questions and try a few things. And prepare yourself to be amazed.
(5)Peter C.
I've been aware of Nishiro's for years, but it has always been a bit out-of-the-way and never top-of-mind for me when looking for restaurant. Recently, my memory of this place finally coincided with my frequent calling for sushi. To the bat mobile! While all good sushi restaurants are expensive, Nishiro's is in the white table cloth set. Both expensive and more upscale than average. What's great about it though is the creative approach to the menu that has all the traditional items with several unique and tasty specials. And of course, there is an abundant sake list which, in my opinion, is a must. The food is great, the sushi counter is informative and fun, and the table service is friendly and informative. There's really nothing to quibble with here except for parking, which is a common hassle in this part of Madison Valley. The have a small lot but it fills up quickly and will likely be full during peak hours. Nishiro's is easy to miss/forget in Seattle's crowed sushi scene, but as Zagat's #1 restaurant in Seattle for 2013, it's worth the trip. Make a plan and don't wait till it comes to mind.
(5)Madison R.
Outstanding sushi! Some of the best sushi I've had in Seattle. I've been there dressed up before an opera & all messed up after a day of golf in the rain. Both were just fine, to me. Darn their food is intoxicatingly fabulous! Their seaweed salad cannot be missed! Good 4 a date too! If they had booths it'd b even better! It's very open w/ comfy chairs & tables. Or, sit @ the sushi bar.
(5)Daniel B.
Absolutely fantastic! Went for Dine Around Seattle and all the found was perfect. I got the oyster tempura, the miso cod, and cake for desert and all wow! The cod was like butter, so tasty. The cake was a green tea tiramisu, wow! My girlfriend got the seafood miso soup and the char and both were just as good!
(5)Paul B.
We've been here more times than I can count, and the sushi is consistently great. My wife loves the uni, and I love, well everything I've ordered off the sushi menu. The prices are reasonable for the high quality as well. Enough said.
(5)Manjae P.
Nice but not amazing. Top tier among seattle sushi places.
(4)Gavin P.
reservation nightmare! This place is so popular that it is nearly impossible to get a reservation. Reason is, because they like to clear the table a good hour before the party arrives. TIP: offer to sit anywhere and promise to leave before the party arrives... trust me you will never finish late. An hour is plenty of time. Food: FANTASTIC! The freshest sushi I have had in the city and the largest menu of it. Plus the chefs are so well trained, you can just say you want "something new with eel" and they will design it for you brand new. Be sure to ask them afterwards how to order it again. The tea is also really sweet unlike most sushi restaurants which can be a tad bit bitter. Small comment but one worth mentioning. I also really like the crab and mushroom plate. Diet killer I know, but the sauce and crab are so worth it.
(4)Jean Louise P.
Best place for sushi. Very knowledgable and friendly staff. The owners are amazing. Just go. Try everything. Ask for specialty rolls that are not on the menu - you won't be disappointed!
(5)Jerome K.
Grade: A. Top Notch Sushi Nishino is on par with Shiro's and the two restaurants are arguably the best sushi spots in Seattle. Great sushi - if you have the opportunity, sitting at the bar is a must. The omakase is more than generous in terms of portion, size and quality. Fatty toro and uni were the standouts.
(5)Barry R.
This is a cumulative review for 12 years I have been coming here. I want to make it short and sweet. This review has waited way too long. If I can give it 6 stars, I would. The quality of the sushi and service are superior. This is a rare find. We always sit at the sushi bar and order as we go. The sushi chef often suggests things that are not on the menu and they are excellent. It's a wonderful place for a date or for a group. It is our special sushi date place and we take all of our out-of-town sushi lovers here. Mr. Nishino and his wife are often there and make you feel very welcome.
(5)Margery S.
My party of four went there on a Saturday night, and there wasn't an empty table in the place. The food was great, the service was excellent, and they accommodated my vegetarian needs. We ordered the regular omakase and everything was fresh, creative, and beautifully presented. I especially liked the little salad served in martini glasses. Parking can be challenging on the road and side streets, but well worth a little walk.
(4)Elizabeth L.
Recommend the exclusive omakase. CUISINE Ranked in order of recommendation: - Seared Foie Gras, Maguro & Shiitake Mushroom with Red Wine Soy Reduction - Tara saikyoyaki, broiled black cod marinated with saikyo miso - New style sashimi: arugula wrapped in whitefish seared w/e.v.o.o. - Albacore on a Cucumber Slice. - Ama ebi ceviche: ceviche was very fresh and citrusy, topped with a fried prawn head. - Chef's choice of sushi: unagi and toro were outstanding - beautiful cuts, the toro richly marbled - kusshi oysters: fresh, delightfully sweet - Mushroom dashi soup with mizuna, enoki, tofu: a delightfully light, aromatic soup. - Lobster tempura: lobster was fresh and tasty, but otherwise this was fairly bland - Green tea tiramisu: Could barely finish another bite at this point, all for the better, since this was the least notable of the meal. SERVICE Edward took handsome care of us, understood and presented each dish expertly. SETTING Ambiance and decor are unassuming - food is focus at Nishino, with the skill of its kitchen complemented by good service.
(5)Sisi Z.
Good restaurant. Sashimi is awesome but sushi is just OK. Foie grass and tuna is interesting. Egg omelette is worth of trying. I don't have feelings on eel but my friend said it's good. Love the toro here. They have tasting menu!
(4)Trevor C.
Had the 9 course meal, it was amazing, service was fast and friendly, amazing experience!
(5)Mandy W.
My boyfriend and I stayed at Seattle for almost a week and being sushi lovers, we looked up the some of the best sushi places in the area and we found Nishino. High rating on yelp so we had quite an expectation for this place. Little did we know we would end up eating something very overpriced and taste-wise is worth 2-3 stars. I'm not sure if this is the standard in Seattle, which I'm guessing it is... It seems to be a westernized sushi restaurant; pertaining to the style of the sushi and it was in fact majorly occupied by western people when we were there. Onto what we had... we had salmon sashimi, hamachi nigiri, (day special) tempura onion rings, negitoro roll, futomaki roll, and tempura udon. Tempura udon lacked a lot of taste, it was very plain and the shrimp tempura did not have much flavor in it versus majority of the shrimp tempura i've had in my life. Rice in the sushi didn't taste fresh and was rather a bit cold, which didn't hold up the sushi roll quite well. Salmon sashimi was far from being fresh... I've had real fresh sashimi and I did not enjoy paying such high price for just decent sashimi. The special of the day (tempura onion rings) was the most tasteless out of all we ordered that night. Other than the onion itself having onion taste, it was essentially tasteless. It came with spice powders to sprinkle on top of the onions, but that barely made it better. Bottom line: Price: High Food quality: 2-3 stars Service: 4 stars If we ever decide to go back to Seattle, we definitely won't be visiting Nishino. It's either the majority of these 5 stars rating are fake or this is just simply standard in Seattle. If you're from another state or country, just be aware. Want real amazing 5 stars sushi for the same price? Visit Vancouver Canada.
(2)Merion W.
Excellent sushi- our favorite in Seattle!
(5)Nancy W.
My boyfriend brought me here for my birthday and it did not disappoint. We did the Omakase (chef's choice, many courses) and we loved every course and it was plenty of food for us. The service was wonderful and so was the fish. They recommend reservations for Omakase. This might be the best sushi in Seattle...
(5)Robert B.
Outstanding, albeit a bit spendy, Japanese restaurant and sushi bar in upscale Madison Valley. Nishino features a sushi bar staffed with skilled artisans who also understand the importance of interaction with the clientele. They make all the usuals, and have some really creative stuff as well. Service is attentive and efficient, but I think they're gouging you a bit on the booze. THE VERDICT: As good as any, and better than most, Nishino's culinary skill is only marred by a rather high margin on it's alcohol. Have cocktail hour at home, and then come down and enjoy!
(4)Brandy C.
Not my fav sushi in Seattle. My boy friend thought the $1 shrimp heads were delicious.
(3)Tyler L.
Amazing seaweed salad, great veggie rolls, and delish inari. Veg sushi rocks!
(5)Tammy C.
I'm never disappointed and always get fantastic service, fresh and innovative rolls. I feel comfortable going alone and seating at the sushi bar and having a small meal and glass of sake.
(5)Jeremy P.
During my recent trip to Seattle, I pegged this place as the most promising sushi restaurant. I made a reservation, and managed to find my way down there. The menu looked like it had a reasonable variety, with some sushi and some a la carte small plates. I started with the miso soup, and then ordered the following: - Dynamite. Baked geoduck, scallops, and mushrooms. This was pretty awesome. It's a hot dish, which is not something I usually get when I eat sushi, but it was good. - Foie Gras and Seared Tuna. This was pretty good. The sauce gave it a nice touch. - Scallop sashimi. I think this may have been a special. It was excellent; one of the first dishes I had, and one that made a good first impression. - Uni sashimi. I'd give this a B. Wasn't the best uni I've had by virtue of the fact that they didn't have live sea urchins on hand, but it was much better than the uni I had a couple days prior. - Toro Tartare with Caviar. This was the highlight of the evening. Not only was it topped with caviar...it also had gold leaf on top of it. At $24 for a few ounces of food, it's not the cheapest dish, but it was absolutely worth it. After I ate all this, I asked the chef to surprise me with something. He came up with the hamachi jalapeno, which I didn't particularly care for. I then decided I should get some actual sushi before I left, so I got the hamachi belly. This was pretty tasty. Overall, this place is pretty good... They have some creative dishes, and fresh fish. I have been to places that are even more of an adventure, but there is no doubt this is a quality sushi restaurant. I got into a conversation with a regular sitting next to me at the bar, and I got the impression that this is a place where, if you get to know the chefs, they can continue to surprise you with new things.
(4)Yee Gan O.
I had another fantastic special omakase menu at Nishino. Trust me - leave yourself in the hands of chef Tatsu Nishino and he won't let you down. Is wife Eri runs a tight ship front of house and I've been lucky to have been looked after by Edward on my last 2 visits - as Hannah L puts it, he's probably the best waiter in Seattle! The question today is whether a single mouthful of food can be worth $8? After you've dined at Nishino, the answer is emphatically YES! The shitake, seared tuna, seared foie gras in red wine and soy reduction is a mouthful of heaven - the soft unctuous mix of foie gras and tuna lent some meaty texture from the shitake mushroom and sweetened delicately by the sauce. I would also happily pay $8 for a mouthful of the melt in the mouth o toro (fatty tuna belly). I've had o toro elsewhere and it's never been as good. My favourite sushi restaurant in the USA
(5)Tony C.
This restaurant should be commended for its fantastic food as well as the character of those running the place. We had a minor miscommunication regarding the bill and it was quickly and respectably rectified with sincere understanding. This upright treatment of customers and their experience of dining must be an intentional way of thinking and acting that becomes very evident in the treatment of their food. We stopped multiple times to turn to each other and share awe in the deliciousness of the dishes. We had a wonderful time and hope that others will have the opportunity to enjoy the same sometime.
(5)Charlie W.
We ordered the chef's choice of sashimi, trusting that he would pick a decent selection-- instead we got very mediocre, pedestrian choices like salmon and plain old tuna. The fish itself was okay but nothing special. At the waitress' suggestion, we were served the oddest asparagus egg crab roll. The waitress also treated us like we weren't able to afford dessert. Mochi ice cream was overpriced and unappetizing. Overhyped and quite frankly a waste of $60/person
(2)James L.
If anyone tell you this place is good, they must have super good patience. We waited for our food super long. I mean 20 minutes in between our sashimi and our sushi dish. It got so bad that we had to stop our order because we are not hungry anymore. Definitely not coming back again.
(1)Mimi H.
Delicious place to stop by if you are near the arboretum area. Parking is a little tricky, we almost passed the alley way in the back. We were kindly greeted by who seemed to be the owner of the restaurant. Luckily for us, the wait was only 20mins for drop in and were seated at the bar. I really enjoyed their decorations. It is really bright and comfortable, although the table set up did remind me of dimsum restaurants. Service was wonderful. All the waitresses were friendly and we enjoyed watching the Chef's interact with the customers. Had the Sake in the iced bamboo -- enough for two or three people. Ordered the hamachi kama and sashimi dinner with more albacore, amaebi, geoduck, salmon, and yellowtail sushi. (Ran out of Uni =[!) The quality of the fish was really good. Loved the taste of the yellowtail and albacore. The kama was delicious and had a lot of yummy fatty meat. It also came with a side salad and dressing that balanced out the fish. For dessert, we had fried bananas with vanilla bean ice cream. Pretty good and filling.
(5)Matt M.
Oh the food is great! The sushi (nigiri) was great! Rice was cooked just right and was a well balanced sushi rice. The kitchen items were awesome too. Some of the dishes were a little "Americanized" but still good. Totally will be going back.
(5)Dan P.
I had the exclusive omakase! Overall, it was very good. I called the night before and got a reservation. The exclusive omakase is a kaiseki style omakase so there is a good mix of hot and cold dishes. It is not a sushi only omakase so if you are here for sushi or just sashimi, the exclusive omakase is not for you. I do not have any dietary restrictions so I wanted to see what they had to offer. I was a single diner and they had a table reserved for me. They also asked if I would prefer the sushi bar so I said that either one is fine but if they have space at the bar, I would prefer that. They were quick to seat me at the bar. The courses were (off memory so the order may be a bit off): Course #1 - Appetizer: albacore sashimi, uni/caviar/halibut over cucumber, etc. This was an excellent dish and a great start to the meal. Course #2 - Ceviche: The ceviche was very tart. I liked the tartness but it may be over the top for some. It was very refreshing and contained red onion, avocado, amaebi, and a fried shrimp head. Course #3 - shitake mushroom with maguro (tuna), foie gras, and sauce. This was a winner. Of course it was really rich and creamy because of the foie gras but I absolutely loved it. Course #4 - New style sashimi: The sashimi was good and it came with some salad. They drizzled some warm olive oil + sesame oil mix so that reduced the salad leaves a bit and sightly cooked some of the sashimi. It was very good though and had a similar affect as using truffle oil, etc. Course #5 - Soup: This was actually my second favorite dish of the night (favorite was the foie gras). The soup had some japanese mushrooms and clams. The broth was excellent and full of flavor. Course #6 - Lobster tempura: This was probably the loser of the night. They just didn't make it very well. The tempura was soggy and full of batter. It didn't have the crisp flakiness of tempura and it had about 2x the amount of batter that it needed. The sauce was also lacking in flavor. Course #7 - Flash fried icelandic salmon and vegetables. This was very good. The sauce was a little dominating and a little too sweet and I think they flash fried the salmon a little too long (rather than being seared, it was basically cooked salmon) but I do give them some props for being creative. Course #8 - Nigiri sushi: toro, albacore tuna, (not sure but similar to an aji), negitoro cut rolls. The sushi was excellent. There was a little too much rice though. The (aji-like) sushi was very good and the negitoro roll was excellent. Course #9 - shiro sorbet with red bean. The shiro sorbet is home made and was very refreshing. I love sorbet. The red bean was a nice topping. I knocked off one star because I would have preferred that they serve real wasabi with the toro at least. I understand that real wasabi is expensive but they do seem to go the extra mile sometimes. The sushi chef made a beautiful toro tar tar with caviar and he put some edible gold on top so I know that they care. Real wasabi would have made this a 5 star review. On another note...I get a little annoyed when I see some mistakes. Yes, I know they are minor but it's just me I guess. One customer was sitting at the sushi bar with a woman and they ordered spicy tuna hand rolls. The sushi chef made them well but rather than hand them to the customer as he finished making them (to keep the nori crunchy), he put it in an ornate box instead. The chef then went on to make the second hand roll. I had a slight cringe because I knew that the first hand roll would no longer be crunchy. He did finish the second one and handed the customer the box with the 2 hand rolls. It looked beautiful. But the customer (to my horror) didn't touch the hand rolls for another 20 minutes. They just sat there in front of them in the box. A soggy hand roll? eeewwww... The exclusive omakase is an excellent meal for the price. It isn't overpriced and I was pleasantly surprised when I got my bill. But anyway, I will return and sit at the bar and just try their sushi next time. I hope they don't disappoint. Then I can tell you all if the sushi here is better than Shiro's or not...:) As for parking, there is a small lot under the restaurant. There was a sign indicating parking in the back. There's also some street parking in the area as well. I read the reviews here and though parking would be a pain so I took the bus but I'm going to drive next time.
(4)Sharon L.
My second favorite sushi restaurant (tired with Shiro's) in Seattle. I always try to sit at the bar, which means I usually only go on weeknights, since it can be crazy on the weekend and we're not ones to love a big crowd. The sushi chefs are amazing -- we always order omakase. The fish is fresh, the assortment is great, and it's all good quality food. I have been very happy every time.
(5)Katy H.
Who doesn't love sushi? And with the rave reviews that Nishino is pulling in, it seemed like an obvious choice for dinner with my family visiting from out of town. The service was great, the food was also great, and the ambiance was lovely. I wish I'd tried more food but the tempura was awesome, the octopus salad, the ceviche, and even the California rolls. (I know, I know! Someone else ordered them.) In fact, this place was great because the menu catered to the needs of avid sushi eaters as well as newbies and people intimated by foreign cuisine. Everyone had a lovely time.
(4)Alice P.
Consistent, fresh sushi! We've been coming to Nishino's for almost a year and it has never disappointed. We are huge sushi lovers and are quite picky. There are the fun, sushi places with Americanized rolls (Umi Sake), fast food sushi (all over), and then there are GOOD sushi restaurants you take people that actually love raw fish. Nishino's is great for all around Japanese food as well for those that aren't big on raw fish (think noodle and rice dishes), in case you're with a mixed group of folks who may not like sushi. We often get their chirashi bowls and they are amazing. Their appetizer specials are often very good as well (soft shell crab fresh spring rolls...deeeelish!). Service is great and parking can be tricky as many others have said.
(4)Andrew M.
*BOOM* The sound of a mind-blowing....... Just stunning, period. I would easily put Nishino up against any of my favorites on the west coast, and in terms of pure fish quality is at a minimum, equal to Shiro's in Seattle. But what sets Nishino apart in Seattle from the Godliness that is Shiro's are a few things. First, the ambiance is much nicer. Better vibe, better decor, better, better, etc. Second, they have a more varied and creative selection of "other" dishes. From the dumplings, to the soft shell crab spring rolls, they were all fantastic. Third, the service is much better. Not that's it's bad at Shiro's, but to me if you aren't sitting at the Sushi bar there you are missing out. Here the servers seemed a little more in step with the Sushi bar. The real showstopper though is the fish. I'll say this again, if you are looking for the best "rolls" in town, just disregard my reviews on any sushi entirely. I could care less about the rolls. When I go to sushi I am there for the fish. That cut of nigiri that literally tastes like butter and would likely dissolve in your mouth if you let it. Every single things we tried, from the insanely fresh albacore, to the probably-still-kicking salmon, to the EVERYTHING ELSE, was just mind-blowing. I could not possibly recommend this place any higher. Only caveat, is that if you are eating and drinking, and ordering like we did, the bill is going to be up there, and if you are a rookie, it may blow "your" mind. =)
(5)Claudius P.
This is THE place to go for sushi in Seattle. The service is bar-none. Super friendly and informative. I eat a lot of sushi and this is my go-to. It's really a close competitor with Sushi Kappo Tamura on Eastlake.. But I just love how easy and comfortable it is to go to Nishino, especially on date night. I definitely recommend omakase. The servers are more than happy to help teach you how to eat your food and what you are getting. Parking is easy. Next time I go I really want to sit at the sushi bar.
(5)Amanda L.
By far my favorite traditional sushi restaurant in Seattle. You get the best bag for your buck here in my opinion. I've never had a dish here I didn't like. The all time best dishes I would say are the steamed egg, black cod, spicy salmon tartare on crispy rice, and of course sushi. I highly recommend this place.
(5)M T.
This is one of my favorite sushi restaurants in Seattle. I usually come here for special occasions (or when I have really good sushi). My husband and I always sit in the sushi bar because we like an interaction with a sushi chef. We ask the chef today's recommendations for sushi and we always end up with ordering those twice because they are so fresh and tasty. When you order AMAEBI (row sweet shrimp) sushi, you get friend shrimp head, which is a good snack for beer or sake! I can't really speak of rolls because I usually have appetizers and sushi nigiri only here. You can't make reservation for sushi bar, but I recommend all to make a reservation for weekend because it gets very busy. They call you before reservation to confirm, which is a nice reminder. Sake selections are great although they don't carry many beers. There are parking spaces in front and basement (entrance is on the narrow alley behind the store complex).
(5)Gardner Y.
Seared Foie gras, curry seared halibut cheeks, jalapeño sashimi, banana tempura with coconut ice cream are amazing! The combination & flavors were explosive to my taste buds! We had a wonderful experience & we will be back soon :) Thanks Edward for all your suggestions.
(5)Adrianne W.
Just ate here, simply awesome sushi. Everything was good. Plan to go back to try more on the menu.
(5)Eric H.
The best sushi in Seattle - no contest.
(5)Juliette L.
During my last trip to Seattle, I was able to make a visit to both Nishino and Shiro. Both a different experience, but of course I'll only be writing about Nishino here. Service was good. We had omakase paired with their nigori sake. Anyway, I don't know if it's just me, but when I have omakase, I hope to have more raw dishes than just 2-3. Don't get me wrong- the food was all great, but maybe my expectations got in the way. We were served tempura as one of the courses. Tempura is not something I typically order and definitely not something I would think of getting with omakase. But I gave it a chance and even then, I wasn't blown away. Am I being pretentious here? Well at the end of our meal, as full as we were, we were starved for some raw fish so we ordered toro separately, which was delicious and wished was a part of the omakase. I would come back if I'm ever in the area again, but will order off the menu.
(3)Darlene K.
Num nums! 2nd time at Nishino and it was delish. Ate the following: - ankimo (monkfish liver) - new style sashimi - black cod - mochiko chicken - and several pieces of white salmon, yellow tail, saba sushi Overall pretty tasty meal but probably wouldn't get ankimo there again since it was super rich and felt like they could have done that dish differently. Missing a starch or something. It's like eating chicken liver mousse with no crostini or fancy crackers. Mochiko chicken could be pass as well. Not bad but there are other things I'd rather eat at this place. Service and ambiance was lovely. Get reservations since it can get busy! Sushi get in my belly NOW!
(4)Nik A.
Expensive, we knew it. The rolls were disappointing. Sushi & specials were great.
(4)Chi N.
This restaurant is uber fancy looking, very modern decor, nice comfortable seats, and a pretty long wine list. No tea before the meal, but they do give you a warm towel before you kick off your dining experience here. We ordered the sashimi among a bunch of other dishes. But the sashimi stood out to me because the choices were AWESOME! There was maguro (tuna), hamachi, king crab and amaebi (sweet shrimp). I was particularly impressed by the amaebi, which had just right amount of sweetness, tasted clean and fresh. Maguro and hamachi were good cut of the meat, again, fresh and very tasty. King crab took the prize though, it was so good! 4 stars because I do like more traditional sushi restaurants with less fancy rolls and simple menu, but still, quality is there for sure and the service was great.
(4)C S.
You'll have to adjust your standards for Washington. This may be one of the better sushi place in the Seattle area, unfortunately they can't make rice quite right, it was a bit dry and stale tasting for me. The toro and umi were quite good however (minus the rice), the cooked hamachi kama was overdone to the point of chewy. Sake is overpriced.
(3)Jorgen M.
We had the premium Omakase and it was fantastic from start to finish. All of the sushi is Uber fresh and prepared to perfection
(5)Tricia R.
Was rated highest sushi in Seattle area. Great albacore sushi. Salmon okay. Hand rolls and sushi dissapointed. Very overpriced. Suggest for people who like straight fish and no fancy rolls.
(3)Shannon H.
This is our favorite sushi place in Seattle. The service is excellent and you can literally order anything on the menu and never be disappointed. We are almost tempted to order at random just to see what surprises come out. The restaurant is small, so reservations are a must, and plan to spend a bit on dinner. Don't skip the sake either, they have a great selection and it is really an exceptional sushi house. Enjoy!
(5)Deborah J.
Wanted to go get sushi from a place I had never been to and a couple of recommendations brought me here. Service - 5 stars Atmosphere - 5 stars Knowledgeable staff - 5 stars Food - 3.5 stars My only gripe was that we had a reservation for 8 PM and weren't seated until 8:20 which was a little annoying because I was starving, but I was over it pretty quickly.
(4)Jonathan Y.
Diane L. steered us this way for the amazing omakase as a great example of Seattle fare. Nishino totally blew us out of the water and started our weekend trip off on the right foot. I'm not going to bother going through the different courses in the omakase, I can only use the same descriptions so often so instead I'll just highlight the amazing quality, freshness and creativity of some of the dishes. The omakase is $60/person, and since we had 2 couples we decided to order one round per couple while ordering some extra side dishes. My favorites for the evening were the scallop ceviche, hamachi in jalapeno oil and miso black cod. The black cod especially was crusted in a sweet and smoky shell, with soft, melting meat. The highlight was when at the end of our meal, we received an unexpected dessert course of mochi imported from Bubbies in Hawaii! I haven't been to Bubbies in almost a decade and it felt like seeing an old lover. An old, dark chocolate and espresso flavored lover.
(5)Christie B.
Last night was my second visit to Nishino and I can tell you that it certainly will not be my last. We just moved very close to Nishino's and anticipate dining here several times a month in the future. Even if we didn't live so close, my husband and I would travel far to dine here. It's just that good. I have tried some great sushi before (Matsuhisha in Beverly Hills, Katsuya in Los Angeles, sushi from the restaurants at the Four Seasons Hualalai, etc) and this place is just as good, if not better, than these other establishments. We are so excited that this place is so close to our new home! On our last visit we tried a couple rolls, but thought they were not really anything special so opted to keep things simple for the most part this time and did not get a special roll. Good call! Everything that we had was perfect. My husband and I enjoyed the following last night: hamachi jalapeno, albacore tuna tartare, spicy salmon tartare on crispy rice (2 orders), salmon sushi (2 orders) and yellowtail sushi (2 orders). Yes, we left stuffed, but it was so hard to stop! All of the fish was extremely fresh. It seems to just melt in your mouth! We also noticed that Nishino does take out, which we will definitely consider in the future. Can't wait to go back soon!
(5)Jen H.
LOVE their black cod miso and the hiroki's green tea tiramisu they have for dessert. Luckily, both items are available on their dine around seattle menu so we get amazing food for reasonable prices. For sushi I would rather go to Shiro (although I heard their chef recently moved to NY so I'm not sure if the quality remains there).
(5)Cynthia C.
Nishino is a bit of everything: souvenir shop, Japanese sushi bar, peach colored walls reminiscent of a Chinese resto and part art gallery. Bamboo sake holders are REALLY difficult to use, especially towards the end of dinner when I'm loaded, even though half ended up on the tablecloth, the junmai daiginjo seemed to never end. Prices are fairly easy to swallow: -Madison Park Roll, $11, large, maybe even obnoxiously large rolls, but not much flavor to them. -Aji, so-so quality, the rice was packed too hard -Shrimp dumplings, unique presentation, tail on shrimp wrapped in a wonton, bland. -Dynamite, w/geoduck, scallop, overcooked and heavy handed -Black Cod, $22, delicious buttery fish in a bonito broth & maitake shrooms. Food 3 stars Service 4 stars The lighting is bright, so it's not great for romance, but has a bit of the the flair higher end restaurants have. Food was nothing to write home about.
(3)John S.
This place has so many reviews, just read a few of them and you will get an idea of how great this place is. For anyone that has not gone, the only thing that I would add is that the prices aren't nearly as high as the $$$ rating it has received on Yelp. If you are buying sushi or rolls the prices aren't that much more then your average sushi joint. They do offer several more exotic dishes that can run up your tab. Don't let the $$$ rating from Yelp keep you away, the food is excellent and you will find the price to be very reasonable for the incredible food quality, service and atmosphere.
(5)Kelly L.
When my boss asked me if I wanted to go out to dinner with a client at Nishino, I jumped at the chance as I've been dying to try it out! The only good sushi place that I've been to so far was Shiros and was eager to compare. I walked in and it had the same amount of "fanciness" in terms of decor, atmosphere and service. My boss and client did most of the ordering so we ordered mostly sushi and sashimi dishes. We had the O-toro and it was probably some of the best sashimi I've ever had. Just melted in my mouth like butter. I am usually a sushi or maki person since sashimi tastes a bit fishy to me but the O-Toro somehow made me forget that. We also had a roll where the rice was crispy. Am thinking they torched the outside of the rice and was topped with Spicy Tuna? That was probably one of the most innovative rolls I've ever had. We ordered a lot of random things that I can't remember but I just remember everything tasting amazing. For me, I usually like to judge a restaurant not just by its sushi/sashimi/rolls but also by it's tapa style dishes. I love izakayas and the different dishes so am always looking for innovative dishes and familiar dishes. Unfortunately, didn't get to try any this time. Will just have to come back!
(4)Rheanna S.
I decided to try Nishino after seeing it had such a high rating on Yelp. My favorite sushi restaurant is Umi Sake House, but I wanted to branch out and try some other places (I had already tried Shiro's). Since so many people said this was the best or one of the best sushi restaurants in Seattle, I had high expectations. I thought Nishino was okay, but it didn't measure up to the 4.5 star rating and all the glowing reviews I read. I thought the prices were on par with a few other sushi restaurants, but when the rolls came out they were small and didn't have very many pieces, so I felt like I was paying a lot and not getting much in return (whereas at Umi, I'd pay a little more but get double what I got here). The thing I didn't like was the rice. Even though it doesn't seem that important, rice can make or break a sushi roll. This rice had a similar taste to the rice that I would get in Publix sushi (Publix is a southeastern grocery store). One of the things I ordered was the spicy salmon tartare on top of crispy rice. The taste of the rice overpowered the salmon tartare, and the tartare could have used some salt and wasn't spicy at all. The salmon itself was good, but the overall dish lacked the flavor I was expecting. Nishino has good quality ingredients and fish, but it was too pricey for the small amount of food I got and there wasn't anything special about it. I don't know what I missed that most reviewers seem to love, but I was underwhelmed and probably wouldn't go out of my way to go back.
(3)G B.
Seating was a little tight, and this is a reservations must. But the food was fantastic. Everything a sushi foody probably has already seen in any other sushi place, they have on this menu. Maybe with a twist. It is not traditional, no boats. Classy décor. This would be a more high end sushi place, so I think you don't want to dress in flip flops and a baseball cap, but jeans and a nice shirt is fine. Nice date place for sushi lovers. Definitely on the high end of cost. But delicious.
(5)Munya S.
I dream of crispy rice. It is one of life's greatest things. I used to get my fix in LA, at the Katsuya establishments. I'm so happy I found a place in Seattle that offers this. Nishino is located in the pretty, upscale Madison Park neighborhood. There's a small lot, but we found street parking since it was after 8pm. I definitely recommend making a reservation. We were a party of five and had a nice round table in the back that was great for conversation. The restaurant is one room, on the small side, but bright and very cozy. I liked starting off with a hot washcloth. We ordered a ton of the signature dishes including the salmon and crispy rice, hamachi w/ jalapeño, and the tuna tartare with taro chips, etc. They were all DELICIOUS. The different textures of the hamachi dish were fabulous. The hamachi and the salmon tartare on crispy rice dishes were my favorites of the night. We ordered several plates of these. I recommend sticking to fish here because that's where they shine (the two chicken dishes we had weren't very memorable). We also had a dragon roll, the cutely-named arboretum roll, and the house roll. The wasabi was a little strong in some of the pieces (I don't like wasabi and prefer when it's just left on the side.). I had a delicious local white wine that went perfectly with the fish. For dessert, we shared a few green tiramisus- I'm not a tiramisu fan but the people in my group are and they loved it. The service at this place is one of the best I've experienced in Seattle hands-down. It is 5-star, seamless, professional, friendly, and unobtrusive. We had a combination of two female servers and they were great the whole meal. They put up with my brother's silliness, including his desire to keep the ponzu sauce after the food was gone and they tried to remove the plates. Like any fine sushi establishment, this place is not cheap, considering you have to order a lot of food to fill your belly. It's definitely a special-occasion place, especially for a big group. I'll definitely come back the next time I need to celebrate. day 25 of 30 for 30
(5)Margaret F.
Day dreamed about the Yellow Tail (Hamachi) sushi I ate last night on the commute home tonight... So fresh. Melted in your mouth. Large, but not too large, slices of fish. Temperature was right also... not warm... but not too cold. Last night was my first time here, but I can tell they have a lot of love for regulars. It's not too expensive, either. I'm looking forward to becoming a regular....
(5)Jungah K.
I would say Nishino is not just a place to eat but also an experience. The sushi just melts in your mouth and its wonderful. On a different level from other sushi places. Omakase is what we had. That is expensive and the chef chooses what you get . I would recommend letting them know ahead of time if that's what you want. Only thing that wasn't my cup of tea was art work on the wall. Not sure I liked the eyes looking at me ... Seemed a little creepy :(
(5)Tracy I.
One of my favorite place for sushi! A little more on the pricier side and I do recommend making reservations, but certainly well worth it! This place is cute and clean, set in a little strip mall area. A great way to sample their dishes is start with the Omakase, which is worth it. I will say that I didn't think there was enough raw fish and sushi, so we just ordered on them on the side. Parking kind of sucks though. There's a small underground lot, but can get confusing when going up the elevator because there are no clear signs to direct you to the restaurant.
(5)Jasmine M.
No time for a long review, but had a really great time here. Service was good, food delivered on all points; definitely an excellent restaurant that fills the niche for tastey Japanese food in Seattle. Shiro's does Sushi well, so having a restaurant like Nishino's that does dishes well is a good compliment for the culinary climate of the city. I would say Nishino's takes a bit more of a modern/contemporary spin on Japanese dishes, but doesn't disappoint. Keep on eating, diners!
(4)Wilson U.
From the outside, nestled in a little strip mall next to some kind of gym, who would know that this would be an excellent sushi place. I wondered in on having stumbled across the name on the web. I figured that I would just order a few items to sample and move on to other places in capital hill area. Little did I know how hard it would be to move on from this establishment. The deep fried oyster was delicious. Not overcooked and a good sauce although you have to eat it fast or it will get soggy in the sauce. Two servings of uni since it was so buttery goodness. Unagi, wow, just so good and fresh.Shiromaguro was a good cut of fish. Hotate was pretty much melt in your mouth goodness. Kampachi was an interesting taste/texture. Kaki was good. If you sit at the sushi bar, the hot items are ordered from the server and the sushi items from the sushi bar directly. Service was friendly. And I will have to say that it is on the pricier side of things but it is also very good. There is a parking lot/garage. The 'short' term parking is in front of the restaurant and the longer term parking in the back. I was there on a Thursday night and it was busy up until about 9:30 and then it was pretty open for the time I was still there. So reservation or go late seems like the best bet.
(5)Darrell C.
By far our favorite sushi restaurant in town. We have kids that love to go to the sushi bar, and the sushi chefs are always friendly and fun with them, letting them order up custom roles that that make. Its sometimes hard to get a spot if you don't book a reservation first... but worth the effort to plan ahead.
(5)Wes E.
I have had Japanese food all over the world, this is among the best, fresh ingredients, friendly atmosphere, and unique dished are the reason we keep returning. Omakase dinner is a multi course chef's dinner featuring the best of the menu. innovative good taste and visual elegance. omakase is japanese for "leave it to me." leave it to our chef for an unforgettable meal. We order it every time!!
(5)Graeme G.
We;ve been back since, and we have yet to be disappointed. The most telling thing was the fact that my wife and I ate at another local restaurant and were able to tell how overcooked our salmon was...because it was PERFECT at Nishino. This is simply a great place to eat, and cannot wait to back.
(5)Griffin E.
There are lots of pretty good sushi restaurants in and around Seattle -- Chiso, Shiros and Nishino. I'm not including places like Umi or Wasabi since they take a slightly different approach with their rolls. For some of the more traditional stuff, the three I mentioned earlier are supposedly the best of the best. I had the pleasure of dining at Nishino for the first time this week. It was a great experience all around and I'd certainly come back to try other things on their menu. We had reservations for 5. Some of us ordered off the Dine Around Seattle menu but I wanted to try some of the regular menu stuff as well. The great thing about eating with lots of other friends is you can sample what they have and vice versa. First off, the place is located in a multi-use complex, next to a local fitness center. The decor is warming and bustling with activity. Patrons are seated relatively close to each other and the open kitchen is full of noise and energy. In spite of all this, I still felt comfortable and didn't ever feel the need to shout in order to talk with my friends. I ordered the broiled black cod, a couple pieces of shake (salmon) and the special roll that consisted of tuna, salmon and yellowtail. Other people in my party had the mochiko chicken, hamachi rolls, and other assorted pieces of fish. My cod was amazing. I love black cod in general but this was prepared very well. The fish wasn't over done, still flaky and smooth. It really just melts in your mouth and the accompanying lotus root/pickled sides really help balance the sweetness of the fish. I might also add that they use real wasabi here, so it has a bit of a fine grainy texture but is much more potent. If you're a wasabi wimp, beware -- otherwise enjoy it - it's awesome! There are a lot of great little details the restaurant provides during your dining experience... I'll just wrap it up and say that the service was excellent, the food was great and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone. I will need to try the omakase menu the next time around!
(5)Marty G.
Great food. Great atmosphere. The sushi we ate was extremely fresh and tasted so good. As always we wanted to try it all and had way too much food. But it was do delicious. I recommend this place over the others. Well be back often. Thanks.
(5)Sunny H.
Fancy fancy. Good stuff. We are rarely in Seattle anymore, so it was a good treat. Great service and great food. I am not - however - in love with it. Not sure why. It's definitely a great place and I'd return very soon if feasible.
(4)Brian C.
Recently celebrated my wife's birthday here and got the Omakase. It did NOT disappoint. It was sooooo good, we took pictures of every dish! The presentation and tastes were superb. Every dish was like a work of art...both in sight and taste. The atmosphere was perfect. Not a large bustling restaurant, but intimate. Service staff was attentive and treated us like VIPs, even though it was our first time there. They even offered us Sake to celebrate (we turned it down as we don't imbibe). I highly recommend Nishinos!
(5)Lyndsey G.
so GOOD! The sashimi was amazing-- so, so good. I wasn't as big a fan of the non-sushi dishes, but it could of just been my tastes that night. I'd come back for the sushi though, i can't say enough good things about the cut of fish!
(4)Hannah L.
Oh, my. You're never too old to learn new things, such as the following: Edward may be the best waiter in Seattle; Real (and therefore rare) wasabi is MEANT to be eaten alone. Morsel by spicy eye-watering decadently hotly freshly spicy morsel; Taylor Shellfish Farm's sweet, fleshy oysters make tempura unforgettable; Black cod and butter share more than a mere consonant; Fried crustacean carapace is a delicacy; I have no idea where mochi ice cream was all my life; No one gets more excited about a birthday than I do, no matter whose it is, if that means a night of omakase at Nishino. I could go on...but I cannot remember more than literal bits and pieces, palate snapshots, of various lovely delightful bites of fish (much from our own Pacific waters) and vegetables and little laps of sauces and nibbles of crisply fried garlic slices....Suffice it to say that it was a true delight to arrive at our table, order a bottle of wine, and never once even so much as glance at a menu, trusting instead the expertly skilled hands of the chefs (and our fantastic and truly expert server) to deliver an original and fascinating multi-course birthday dinner for my dearest man and me. Do you need to know anything more? There's an outdoor deck with a happy hour menu, you can stop by and get sushi and sashimi and other dishes for takeout, a lengthy sake menu exists to please those of you who are aficionados, and whatever you do, order the omakase (in advance). Get to finding your special occasion....
(5)Scott H.
I had the pleasure of dining here in July. And let me tell you, if I were a local, I'd be back again, and again and again. In fact, I sat at the bar next to a local that did exactly that! Nishino showed truly great composition, flavors, presentation, timing, atmosphere, and service. The first sign that this was going to be a great meal was strolling in during the middle of the week at 6:30pm to find the restaurant full - always a good sign!. The interior is very nicely decorated in neutral creme colors. The walls are accented with some great art from a local artist - Fay Johnson. (Thanks for that tidbit, Paige!) As usual in a Japanese restaurant that shows promise, I ordered Omakae - essentially allowing the chef to "Leave it to me". In a good Sushi / Sashimi restaurant, I think this is the only way to go. What I then received was an outstanding seven course meal for $60 which is a bargain in my book. To compare I dined at Morimoto in Napa, CA and also had a seven course meal with desert- which ran $120! Here are the seven courses, the desert, and my notes: Course 1: Wild white Alaska king salmon with daikon sprout with yuzu vinaigrette Octopus with cooked shrimp with yuzu miso sauce Hamaci with ginger tomato sauce , garlic chip, jalapeno with ponzu sauce The salmon was very fresh and tender and the diakon and sauce added a wonder compliment with out overpowering the delicate salmon. The shrimp and octopus were perfectly prepared - very tender with a nuance of salt at the finish. The hamachi flavor mix was amazing with the jalapeno adding a wonderful hot bite at the end. Course 2: Ama ebi savichi, cucumber, tomato, red onion, orange, avocado, marinated in lemon juice and jalapeno, cilantro on top with fried shrimp head Wow, love the shrimp and the marinade - very refreshing and definitely woke the pallet! The friend shrimp was crunch and had a wonderful deep crustacean flavor. The cucumber and tomato lowered the acidity a bit, but I loved it. Course 3: Albacore Sashimi salad, toasted lotus chip, mixed greens house dressing ( extra virgin olive oil, sesame seed oil, soy sauce, grated onion) The salad green were chilled and crisp and the house dressing is fantastic and the albacore was super fresh and sweet. I could have this as a main course and be completely happy! Course 4 Curry seared halibut cheeks over sautéed Swiss chard, with cilantro yozu sauce on side. The chard was prepared lightly wilted and had a light garlic flavor. The cod was perfectly prepared with a complimentary, but again, not distracting or overpowering curry. Course 5 Oyster and French bean tempura, sashimi on top with Japanese chili powder, yuzu soy sauce with daikon powder I loved the thin crispy coating on the oysters and beans and loved the spice level on the oysters in particular. The oysters flavor was wonderful, but, well, they were too big. Too much of a mouthful to enjoy in one bite, and splitting an oyster with chopsticks is well, uh, one shouldn't do that. Course 6 Mochico roasted black cod - pan seared then dusted with rice flour then roasted, saluted asparagus oysters, shitake, schemezi, ponzu sauce This was one of my favorite courses. The cod was tender, juicy and flaky and the asparagus was crunchy. A very nice combo. I loved, loved, loved the three mushroom combo and the accompanying sauce. Course 7 - Oh am I getting full! Maguro (tuna), hamaci (yellow tail), unagi (eel) , soft shell crab, avocado and tobico wrapped with nori then wrapped with cucumber, fresh wasabi and ginger. The tuna was bright red and melt in your mouth tender with incredible flavor. The yellow tail was likewise wonderful. The eel was a bit overcooked and was a touch tough. The roll was very good, but again the bites were too much for one mouthful and needed to be split up. And heavens to homemade wasabi - I can't breath and my eyes are watering! Desert Mango mochi, chocolate espresso mochi, cherry blossom mochi, (sweet rice flour with ice cream) and fresh fruit Wow...perfect compliment to an outstanding meal. Service throughout was excellent (very friendly server) with about 10 minutes between courses. Just about perfect in my book. Atmosphere: A Food: A Service: A+ Price: A
(5)BR S.
I don't think it is anything special at all. It wasn't horrible, but for the price and the hype I would have expected fresher sushi and a wider range of cuts. It's fine if you're around and want some sushi but I wouldn't go out of my way for it and I wouldn't wait either.
(2)Mike G.
I love this place! Recommend.
(5)Arry Y.
One of the best sushi places EVER. -- Great ambiance -- Great service -- The Dungenous crab bake is A-MAZ-ING. AWESOME. -- New style sashimi - YUM, I love that sauce. -- Seaweed Salad -- Maguro tona with fois gras (pricey bite of goodness) -- Tara Nabe (When they have it in season) - amazing!!!!! -- Mochi Ice Cream (white chocolate raspberry is my absolute favorite) Oh - and their sushi is awesome. Any of it - all nigiri sushi's are my favorite there. Great quality. I always get the escolar (aka super white tuna), albacore, hamachi, unagi, amaebi, ... those are my staples along with whatever else is freshest. My beau ordered a spicy tuna roll - and thought it was the best he's ever had. I never order rolls here (preferring nigiri/sashimi) - and I was super pleased he loved his staple go-to roll. I first discovered this place back in 2002 - loved it so much I used to go practically every month. (I can't believe I never wrote a review for this restaurant.) I took a break for a year or two and recently got a chance to go back last week with my beau - it's STILL AMAZING. Great place for a night out with your hunny. I LOVE YOU, Nishino.
(5)Scott S.
Went back last night. This time went with a number of cooked dishes, including halibut cheeks... Just as great of an experience as the first time. You definitely need to go.
(5)Andrew D.
Wow. I have eaten sushi all around Seattle and consider myself a pretty well rounded sushi eater :-). This place was exceptional. Amazing. We had a variety of dishes and all were superb. We had * Foie Gras and seared tuna. Superb. Rich taste and full of flavor. Would by again * Snow Crab and Asparagus Tempura - amazing. Would buy again * Arboretum Roll - amazing. Super taste and great combination. Would buy again * Curried Seared Halibut Cheek - quite salty, interesting taste against the white meat of the halibut. Would not buy again * Kampachi Usuzukuri - exceptional taste and favors. Would buy again. * Nigiri - Maguro, Shake, Hamachi - wow. Can't say enough about the exceptional quality - would buy again. Will return for sure. Not something for every day of the week (pricey) but exceptional for a date night or special occasion!
(5)Lisa E. L.
I came here during the Dine Around Seattle with a group of 7 people. I arrived 10 mins prior to the reservation time and was asked to wait for our table to be ready. I sat down and chatted with couple friends until the rest of the group showed up. It's about 10 mins after our reservation and the server said it'll take "one more sec". Surprisingly, it was really about 3 seconds instead of 30 min wait that we were expecting since the place is packed on a Sunday night. Service was good, although the server forgot to bring out my ice tea until i asked for it. Their sushi tasted authentic. You can tell by just looking at the way the rice is shaped and the way they sliced the fish. Onkimo was pretty tasty! That's def a big plus. Will consider going back for the Omakase!
(4)Libby W.
The 4-star review is kind of an average between the 5-star quality nigiri and 3-star everything else. My boyfriend took me here for a surprise "fancy dinner" date last Saturday around 7pm or so. He had been before, but not within the last several years. He has mentioned how good he remembered it being many times. He didn't make a reservation because he wanted for us to sit at the sushi bar. When we got there, of course it was packed (7pm on a Saturday, duh). Not a single seat at the sushi bar, and all of the tables were full, as well, so we had to wait. It wasn't long - maybe 10-15 mins. The host was very friendly, and brought us ice water and green tea while we waited (although my bf's tea was cold; mine was fine, though). We ordered a couple of appetizers - spicy tuna (or was it salmon?) tartare on crispy rice, soft shell crab spring rolls, and seaweed salad. Crispy rice is my favorite sushi-restaurant appetizer of all time! I have had it a million times, at many different restaurants in different cities, and it's usually pretty much the same thing wherever you go. I was expecting something sensational, since they were charging twice what I normally expect to pay, whereas the rest of the appetizers were priced normally. There was nothing special about the crispy rice - same quality and amount I'd get anywhere else, but way more expensive. My bf didn't like it at all - he said he liked it better at the last place I'd ordered it (a far more casual/inexpensive spot). I thought it was fine, just overpriced. I thought the soft shell crab spring rolls were pretty good. Bf thought they were just ok. The seaweed salad was one of the nicer ones we've had - there were 3 different greens in it. We liked that one. Bf got several nigiri, and this was the highlight of the meal. I really recommend coming here if you stick to nigiri and sashimi. He ordered the scallop, mackerel, and shrimp, and all 3 were some of the best I've ever tasted. I ordered the house roll, which has tuna, salmon, whitefish, and yellowtail. These are 4 of my faves, so I was really excited about it. For being their "house roll," I have to say that it was kind of disappointing. Well, first, the sushi chef forgot about it, so I didn't get it until we reminded him after my bf was long since finished. But once it came, for having 4 different kinds of fish, it seemed really heavy on the rice and light on the fish. I couldn't taste anything, and my bf's fish had been SO flavorful. That's just a lesson learned on my part - I would not order maki next time, and will just stick to nigiri or sashimi. My bf also got a pickled veggie roll, and this was pretty good. I had one cocktail - a specialty pear martini of some kind - and it was a little sweet for me, but not bad. The specialty cocktails are expensive ($12+). Next time I will just stick with tried-and-true sake. We split a sorbet topped with red beans for dessert - I wish I could remember what it was called. It was some sort of herbal sorbet (not green tea). Anyway, it was light and delicious. Service was friendly, but left a little to be desired. Our teas were only refilled once during the couple of hours we were there, and we had to ask. The restaurant was slammed, but we saw servers standing around chatting while our waters and teas sat empty for the majority of the time we were there. Not necessarily our server, but that's sort of irrelevant. If you have downtime and the restaurant is that busy, maybe see if one of your coworkers needs help instead of just standing around. I was a server for years and I'd be lying if I said I never stood by the main wait station chatting with coworkers, but not during Saturday night dinner rush. Hello. I don't want to get anyone in trouble, but it is something that we both noticed, so it came up in the car on the way home, and like...that's probably not how you want to be remembered. Just saying. Anyway, the fish here is really, REALLY good, and that's what you want when you go out for sushi (right?). Just plain ol' fish - no fancy rolls or appetizers. Get it straight up, and you will be really impressed with the quality.
(4)goldfish m.
Just stopped our omakase midway because our sushi dish never showed up after 40 minutes of waiting. If you enjoy this kind of service, this is the place for you.
(1)Maureen B.
Everything has been perfect here! Have gone for two celebration dinners & the service, drinks, sushi & rolls have been impressive each time! A must fit anyone who loves sushi & has high standards!
(5)Akiko O.
I would recommend Nishino to anyone who I know for any of their important occasions. It's good for dates, dinners with good friends, business meals, family gatherings and nice solo meals. I've been to Nishino only twice for difference occasions, but both times were absolutely FANTASTIC. They have a huge menu for food. Regular menu is already big, but they do amazing seasonal dishes too. All sound good, and all I've eaten so far were actually incredible! As we were eating, their food itself made our tables smile. And servers at Nishino are pros. They helped us to have really good times. I wish Nishino were close to where I live! I can't wait to go back there.
(5)Joseph A.
Great Japanese (a bit fusion) restaurant! Had combination of several raw fish starters fusion style (ceviche, carpaccio, tartar). Then miso cod and nigiri sushi. Enjoyed every dish! Excellent service.
(5)Dawn B.
I have been underwhelmed with sushi since moving to Seattle. I knew that I just hadn't found the right place yet. This is the place I have been waiting for! Problem is, it costs a small fortune to eat here. Know wonder it's located in Madison Park.
(4)Micah R.
I'm writing this because it pains me that Nishino has an average rating less than 5 stars, and I should have long ago thrown my $0.02 in the hat. Tatsu and his staff have created the best sushi value for the money that I have encountered anywhere outside Japan. And given that I haven't *been* to Japan, well, that's saying something isn't it?! I've been on sushi quest all over the West Coast for the past few years, and the totality of the experience - great fresh fish, creative ingredients and amazing flavors, and friendly service with a neighborhood feel - is unmatched. Nobu competes on freshness, creativity and taste, but at 4x the price and 10x the pretention, I'd take Nishino 10 times out of 10. Plus, it was right down the street when I lived in Seattle, and how can you beat that. Only downside is that the interior and ambiance are a bit plain vanilla, but I can live with that since it's a neighborhood joint. Go there 4 or 5 times, and Nishino or the servers are likely to greet you by name. Favorite dishes include the miso black cod, mushroom soup (only available in Fall - and I don't even *like* mushrooms!), pumpkin mochi (only around Turkey Day), seared white tuna, all of the sashimi but especially toro, foie gras with red wine reduction (an absolute party. in. my. mouth.). I could go on, but instead I'll just tell you to go and order the omakase or the exclusive omakase. At $65/75, you won't be sorry. For the ideal experience, book ahead and get Edward Toma as your server. The man is fantastic, a lot of fun to dine with / be served by, with knowledgeable recommendations on fish, sake, and everything else, always delivered with enthusiasm. As a closing thought, be warned: if you go here, you will be forever comparing other sushi restaurants to Nishino, and they will always fall short. So be prepared to have your bar raised.
(5)Greg S.
The food is so good that you can never order wrong. I've never had a bad dish. What makes it better is the environment/ very tastefully decorated, beautiful artwork and a warm and friendly staff. Say hi to Mori! Treat yourself- you'll be glad you did.
(5)Christian D.
Incredibly good sushi. Fairly expensive but incredibly good. Would go back in a heart beat.
(5)Riki H.
Ridiculous. Overpriced sake and sushi. The food is very good but, this is where rich white people go for sushi. The atmosphere reminded me of CT rather than Japanese restaurant.
(3)Nick R.
I consider myself a pretty experienced sushi eater, and Nishino is by far the best in my book. A fun, relaxed atmosphere compliments amazing, fresh sushi at reasonable prices. Their shrimp tempura, and udon noodles are to die for. The mochi is also a great end to a delicious meal. You can really tell with every bite that the fish is absolutely fresh and high quality. Make sure to call in a reservation, as drop-ins are hard to be seated.
(5)Tom C.
I love sushi - good sushi. As far as fresh, good quality sushi goes, this is one of the best I have encountered in Seattle - if not the best. It is also one of the most expensive sushi bars I have been to - which I don't mind as much, because the sushi is so good. Just be aware. Also, parking can be a bit of challenge as well. What really does it for me though - not only do they know what a shrimp boat is, they can make it the right way!!
(5)Christopher C.
Okay, I'm a bit excited I went here because I feel like I discovered a new favorite of mine! Walking in, I smelled the fresh fish - and I do mean fresh. It is the difference between the fishy smell at the market and a much cleaner scent of food. The hostess fit us in before a reservation so I was treated to excellent, 5-star customer service. The waiter was attentive but not pushy and made easy recommendations from experience. I noticed he had a "personal touch" to his service but the entire staff seemed to be attentive of our table. When the food arrived, it was excellent! I had mushroom garlic soup and an asparagus and crab roll with chicken miso for the others. It also looks like I have a bunch of choices for next time I return. Perhaps with a reservation and appropriate attire, this time!
(5)Sara Q.
this place is pretty consistent. i came here for dine around seattle. i got a seafood miso soup with garlic chip to start, there were two jumbo prawns in there, piece of salmon, a clam and baby bok choy. it was pretty dang tasty, probably my favorite of the three dishes i had today. i got the beef negimaki with a lemony swiss chard and sweet potato fries. while i didn't think everything on my plate meld together harmoniously, i do feel each component was delicious by it's self. they gave me a side of rice which was helpful before the beef component was super salty. it reminded me of chicken adobo or vietnamese thit kho flavor. for dessert i got the green tea tiramisu .. which wasn't really tiramisu but more of a sponge cake with a green tea infused whipped cream. i almost wish they didn't call it a tiramisu, because it wasn't really one.. idk. my friend had the white salmon carpaccio with arugula which was good, the salmon was thinly slice which was a joy. it was nicely seasoned. his sushi was not bad but it wasn't the best i've had either. they gave him a variety of sushi and all the fish looked good, just not super fresh.. i thought it was just alright. the mochi was good.. it was coffee (which seriously tasted like haagen daz coffee ice cream.. i'm pretty sure it was!) but the white chocolate raspberry mochi was delish! the mochi was flavored with the raspberry flavor that worked so well with the ice cream. i probably won't jump up and down to come back to this place especially because the drive is kind of out of the way, but it was a good experience. edward was our server and he was super attentive.
(3)Jayme D.
AMAZING! That is the only way I can describe this sushi. The menu is simple and relatively traditional. The albacore and arboretum roll were delicious. I highly suggest the salmon on crispy rice. It was so flavorful and had great texture. I can't wait to come back to order this again. We also ordered the udon. The shitake mushrooms are the best I've ever had in an udon bowl.They were sweet and full of flavor. The mushrooms add a nice suprise to the dish. I was very impressed. The staff is very professional and friendly. Our waitress recommended the salmon on crispy rice and we are so grateful that she did. This has been one of the better sushi restaurants I've ate at in Seattle thus far. They keep it simple, fresh, and delicious.
(5)Ninette C.
I have been wanting to come here for over a year, but it just never happened. When they were featured on Dine Around Seattle, I jumped at the chance. We went on a double-date and each couple ordered the oyster and french beans tempura salad, white salmon carpacio with arugula, sushi and roll platter and tara saikyoyaki, broiled black cod marinated in miso. For dessert, I tried the espresso mochi ice cream and the honey mango cheesecake. Now I understand you don't put your most expensive dishes forward for Dine Around Seattle. The food was all nice enough, but nothing special. One excellent thing I must add: the Asian pear wine. Refreshing and very pear-y. The ambiance was nice...fancier than most Japanese places in Seattle, but that was the thing...our food didn't match the ambiance. I would come back again if I was looking to shell out for the very best and most unique dishes and a special occasion. Otherwise, I'll just stick with my other Japanese favorites (Maneki and Musashi)...
(3)Jeff P.
Nishino was a wonderful dinner last night, as with every time before. The sushi is top notch, even the ones that can be challenging to get right, like uni and ikura. Our service was just a tad slow, but nothing I would complain about--just a bit off for a 5-star restaurant. I would bring anyone to Nishino for a special evening.
(5)Lei S.
My husband took me here for dinner for my birthday and it was such a great experience. We eat sushi quite a bit (My family is from Japan so I really enjoy good sushi and authentic Japanese food) so I thought it was a bit odd for my husband to choose this restaurant. Well, there's a reason why there are so many good reviews for this place. Our server was extremely professional yet not pretentious at all. He was very attentive but let us enjoy a relaxed dinner at our own pace. The food was amazing and I'm a bit ashamed to admit that we ordered one dessert to share and ended up ordering another after we devoured the first one in 3 seconds flat. Delish!
(5)Splandie J.
Nishino is consistently one of the best restaurants in Seattle. Beautiful presentation, food that's fresh fresh fresh, and welcoming staff makes every visit a pleasure. I especially like the Tuna Tartare. I wish they had more room as I forget to make reservations. They are usually booked during main dinner hours, which makes drop-in visits problematic. Take out is just as tasty as dine in. (The only down side is the poor live shrimp in the sushi windows struggling.)
(5)Allen U.
This is one high class sushi joint--not your average good sushi--great sushi--but you pay for it--a special occasion sushi stop--try the Arboretum Roll @ $10--Maguro tuna @ $6.50-- Fresh Sea Urchin @ $8.50--Shrimp Dumpling @ $10--or Spicy Calamari @ $12--Vegetable Tempura @ $11--all perfectly prepared and different than you think--yummy yummy--but don't look at the bill--just sign it--and enjoy the moment--Al
(5)Mary F.
We did the chef's choice menu here. Oh, my, god. We agree it's the best japanese food we've ever had. This is iron chef stuff here. First, the ingredient quality is stellar. But everything is elevated. For example, miso soup prepared divinely and to perfection with lobster? Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. I've had some good japanese food in my life. This is the best. No cons. It is pricey but we never felt for a second we didn't get what we paid for. The patrons are diverse..........so really good for people watching too.
(5)Michael T.
This is the best sushi we've had in Seattle thus far, and in the running for best I've had anywhere. There are no misses here - service, food, atmosphere are all very good. We usually go for nigiri and rolls, but we tried a few of the special items (soft shell crab spring rolls, tempura lobster) and everything was spot on. Reservations a must. Highly recommended.
(5)Evan P.
I would give Nishino 4 1/2 stars but am rounding up to 5 stars because they have been consistently very good since I can remember. The Halibut Cheeks are delicious and the quality of fish they serve at Nishino is invariably exceptional. The only reason why I'd give them 4 1/2 stars rather than 5 is because their decor is somewhat dated. Not dated in the sense of frayed cushions or a dingy ceiling but their overall ambience and tapestries feels very mid to late 90's to me. If they could freshen up the feel somewhat, it would serve them well and wouldn't take much effort (or money).
(5)Kerry Q.
super fresh and delicious... every detail is taken into consideration to create a stellar experience. it's a must on the seattle food tour.... last time i made it back twice in the same week!
(5)Habu H.
Chirashi was pleasant. Good assortment of items on a bed of rice. Tuna 'pick' was ok, texture slightly brittle. Had the dungeness crab and found it a tad salty. It was definitely over reduced. Flavor was consistent and pretty good. Overall: Refer
(4)Mrs K.
Came here for Valentine's night and it was packed so I'm thankful I made reservations early on! Love that this restaurant is unpretentious and yet they served the best highest quality fish. Their takeout must be extremely good as well since they were constantly lining up their counters with to-go bags. I ordered the omakase dinner for 2 and it was the perfect meal for Valentine's Day. Our server confidently explained every plate that was served with a genuine smile. Loved the lobster and the soup broth was perfection. Not overly salted. I can't wait to go back! Mixed feelings about the ambiance - it is not as romantic since it was well-lit and seating was very tight so you could practically hear everyone's conversation. I would skip the cocktails next time and just go for sake to pair with my sushi next time. Yes, there will certainly be a next time!
(5)Foodie P.
Maybe I'm spoiled coming from California, but this place didn't live up to the hype or the prices. Very mediocre but nice room and atmosphere
(3)Aaron B.
It's a little drive from downtown but worth it. I would sit at the bar, unless you are making it romantic. Fresh fish,
(4)Bethany M.
So... We usually dine at Nishino once a week, and it's consistently good. Not spectacular, but good. The past few weeks, and last night in particular, have been disappointing. We come here primarily for the fresh Japanese fish available on a day-to-day basis, and we understand that the restaurant runs out of said fish on a given night due to limited availability. However, the last couple of times we've placed a sushi/sashimi order, 30-45 minutes goes by, and then our server shows up to let us know that they've run out of a number of items on our order. Okay, no problem with that, BUT: why is it that after you inform us of that that it takes another 45-60 minutes to receive the stuff that you DO have available? This has now happened repeatedly, and it's really frustrating, especially when you're dining with kids on a school night, and a 2-2 1/2 hour meal is just not feasible. The wait staff is never apologetic when this happens, and an apology would certainly go a long way. I think we're taking our business elsewhere, which makes me sad because this has been our go-to location for Japanese cuisine for a while. But they're slipping, for sure.
(2)Ceci I.
I went to Nishino with my fiancé's family last night and I am glad they were very happy. The salmon was perfect; it's actually a good salmon since it's a delicacy and it is fresh. I must say their eel is better than Shiro's and the service is fantastic. The server was honest if she didn't know the answer to the questions and is on point about the food/drinks. The atmosphere is great and calm. I would definitely go back there again. Don't forget to order the Banana fried tempura ice cream!!
(5)H.T. N.
This is my second time eating here and the food is so amazing! The special crab spring roll was perfect and the hamachi & jalapeño dish along with the shrimp was out of this world! You get all the favors a dish should consist of: spicy, sour, sweet, salty and just perfect! I suggest skipping the actual rolls and going for the special appetizer plates...those dishes are beautiful, flavorful and what this place really represents. The service is just as amazing! Our server described some dishes and recommended a few in which he displayed knowledge of the menu. He coursed our orders out perfectly and made sure my tea was always full! Thank you Christopher R. For such a wonderful experience! This is one of the best sushi places in seattle!
(5)Laura P.
After a while of not visiting Nishino due to parenthood, we had date night. To our great pleasure, the quality has not changed. . Onto the food- we loved the new style sashimi (seared whitefish wrapped in arugula) so much we ordered seconds. I retract my opinion of the rolls not being worthy. We had the arboretum roll (yellowtail, jalapeno and avocado) and the madison park roll (salmon, shrimp, crab and egg crepe outside) - they both rocked. The ceviche was delicious as was the fiddlehead fern salad. To my surprise, there were several kiddos there! There were babies, toddlers, and older kids so we are bringing the bug next time. Our bug really is into sushi so they won't have to worry about her wandering all over the restaurant as another new walker was. Nishino here we come!
(5)Sarah C.
Let me start by saying the fish here is some of the freshest and most delicious I have ever had, and I've had sushi/sashimi all over the world. Came here as part of dine around Seattle, this restaurant has been on my list for ages, and the sushi certainly lived up to it's reputation. Melt in your mouth yummy bites of heaven. For appetizers my date and I ordered the Tuna sashimi salad and seafood miso, respectively. Having known what I know now I would have gotten the Tuna as well, I did love all the complex layers of flavors in the miso, but to be totally honest, the seafood in it was a little bit overcooked and dry. The Tuna was out of this world, and the dressing was subtle, some kind of soy/ginger concoction that really made the Tuna the star of the dish. We followed this with three dishes off the menu. Scallop sashimi, Mushroom Tempura, and Tuna with Foie Gras. The Scallop sashima was an exceptionally well composed dish. I would have never though to pair them with Kiwi, but the balance of flavors really brought out a citrus flavor in the sauce on top of the scallops. The Mushroom Tempura was what you would expect, nothing out of this world or amazing, I will not the dipping sauce had wonderful flavor and the tempura texture had that perfect combination of lightness and crunch. The Tuna with Foie Gras came with a sauce that could made an well mannered adult want to lick their plate. Once again, great balance and delicious flavor combinations, I only wish I could have had MORE!! For our main dish we both went for the assorted sushi plate with the daily special roll. Everything on that plate was memorable. I could have easily eaten 3 of these. The fish was insanely fresh, and totally stole the show. I read a couple of reviews that they were heavy on the wasabi, but as a wasabi fan myself, I thought it was perfectly executed, but this totally personal preference. Not totally satisfied yet, we decided to make one final order from the main menu, the Salmon Tartar on crispy rice that I'd read a review on yelp for early that day. And boy was that probably the best decision I made that night!! YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM!!! The toasted sushi rice cooked in clarified butter using just the butter fats tasted like the most amazing combination of delicious fresh toast and rice that one could possibly fathom. And I don't even know where to start with the Salmon Tartar, creamy and amazing just like every other piece of fresh fish we at, the seasoning was perfect and the combination of herbs really made the tuna sing! I'm salivating just writing about it! I WANT MORE! If I go back, and I likely will, mind you only for a special occasion given the price, I will stick to the sushi and sashimi for sure. Oh, and an order of the Salmon Tartar on crispy rice! What an awesome Yelp recommendation!
(4)Zachary S.
VERY fresh and inventive. Had the regular Omakase dinner here for my birthday. The portions were good, though I left wishing for more raw fish. The flavors were very subtle, typical of many PNW restaurants. We requested the miso cod to be included and they happily substituted it into the Omakase dinner. The cod and the monkfish liver were definitely the standouts. I had never had monkfish liver before and it was excellent. I've tried it at restaurants since then, and none have lived up to the quality of Nishino's. Overall a very good but not outstanding meal. Next time I would probably order off of the regular menu to try out more of their raw fish.
(4)Stephanie D.
By far the worst Japanese restaurant I've ever been to in the world. I am a foodie and my choice of better Japanese restaurants in Seattle include Tsukashinbo and Shiro's. I decided to give this place a try after the good reviews here on Yelp. I was disappointment the second I walked in. Sushi chefs without hats, gross and so not authentic. You are tell if it is an authentic/traditional Japanese restaurant by observing if the sushi chefs wear hats. Well, I deicded to not start judging until I got the food. I tried a bunch of cooked and raw food and none was good. The only thing that tasted okay was a mushroom dish. How can this place still exist as a highly rated Japanese restaurant? Must have been only reviewed on here by people who had never have real good Japanese food. I'd suggest trying the two places I mentioned above if you are looking for a good Japanese restaurant in Seattle. They are the closest you can find here comparable to the ones in Japan. I would never go back to this place even if they paid me. That's how bad it was!
(1)Connie C.
Ok, so I'm all the way up in Seattle at one of the top rated sushi restaurants, but what do I order? Not sushi. I don't know, but it wasn't the sushi that caught our eyes. The more inventive dishes were more appealing to us, and it's probably because we're already spoiled with good sushi in the Bay Area. We started with the albacore tuna tartare - minced albacore with ginger salsa, garnished with taro chips. The tuna was very fresh (closest thing we got to sushi!) and loved combining it with the crisp taro chips. We got a few items off the specials menu, which were delicious: the shrimp dumplings in ponzu sauce and a Japanese version of steak frites. My favorite dish of all though was the tara saikyoyaki - the broiled black cod marinated with saikyo miso. The cod was extremely tender and flaky... mmmm!!! We ended the meal with a green tea tiramisu cake, which was spongy and light. It was the perfect amount for two petite gals, especially after a whole day of eating! I'm certain the sushi is fresh and some of the best in Seattle - take everyone else's word for it and try it out for yourself!
(4)Elisabeth K.
Exquisite food in a calm, comfortable and authentic environment. Loved.
(4)Amy T.
Nishino is impeccable. It was the perfect place for my birthday dinner last week. The calamari was DELICIOUS. They gave us free mochi ice cream as a birthday treat and we ordered the green tea tiramisu--my mind was blown! This is a great place for a special occasion and for excellent food- sushi or otherwise.
(5)Terri W.
We had an exceptional dining experience at Nishino. My lady usually gets the omikase but at this restaurant you have to have 2 people order it so she couldn't get it because i'm not as big of a sushi fan. Our waiter suggested to her that he could bring her dishes until she was full so that is what she did. I only have a few things but according to her it was very good. And, we sat next to Kristopher Kristopherson. Fun night!
(4)Larena H.
It's a known fact that I love sushi like Richard Simmons loves his sequins -- I just can't get enough of the stuff! Nishino is definitely the gold standard when it comes to quality sushi. One of these days, I'll make it over here for the Omakase. Until then, I'll have to base my review off the few sushi dishes I've tried. Naturally, we had to try the foie gras and seared tuna on the Seattle Foodie 100 list. It is a foie gras on a seared tuna with a shiitake mushroom and red wine soy reduction. I'm not all that big on foie gras. Prior to this, I had it once. It was squishy. Would I order this item again? No. Was it prepared well? Absolutely. How did my dude handle it? Not well. At all. He's highly allergic to mushrooms, but he knew what he was getting into by eating this thing. I tried to warn him to only take a small bite, but oh no.. he just *had* to swallow the whole thing. Oh the sacrifices we make for the sake of posterity in completing this list... Everything else here at Nishino is done incredibly well. My one and only complaint is that they don't have a lot of unique rolls available. That's just a matter of my personal preference. I realize I am in the minority in this preference, and I am perfectly okay with that. I still highly recommend this place to people who are in search of great sushi. The atmosphere is quite lovely, and service is incredibly friendly and attentive. They pay great attention to detail in creating aesthetically pleasing dishes. Even though I'm not very big on their item on "the list", this is still a great restaurant. We'll be back!
(4)LeeLee C.
The most favorite restaurant in town from my foodie friend is this place. Nishino, a Japanese restaurant tucks in a small square away from Seattle downtown, attracts repeating clientele for good reasons. The food! We are lucky to have the chef on site and gives us an omakase experience. For the rushed time, we skip the sake but the quality of food is not compromised in any way. The ingredients are fresh in season and the preparation is careful and skillful. We had sashimi in sesame oil, mushroom tempura, ceviche, fresh in season Aji sashimi and deep fried fish head, fatty toro sushi, geoduck clams sushi, deep fried halibut fish cheek among other dishes. They're all VERY FRESH, boucy texture and well soaked in flavors.
(5)Andrew W.
While my girlfriend and I were looking for the best sushi experience in Seattle, we found Nishino on yelp. The 4.5 star rating is a huge discount to what the restaurant actually deserves: 5 stars. The waiter was very friendly and engaging, introducing to us some of their popular items. Their albacore tuna tartare and toro tartare with caviar which were absolutely must haves. I wish I have the opportunity to try Omakase dinner on Valentine's Day, maybe next year.
(5)Sa Y.
Good service. Sushi is a bit too modern for me, but it's high quality. I loved their wasabi. It wasn't a joke. They even have real wasabi root they will grind up for me. Wow. I can't wait to go back.
(4)Raymond H.
Overall a pleasant dining experience. I wouldn't come here too often because it's a bit flat in terms of atmosphere, but a great spot for Japanese food. Something small to mention, but odd: metal faucets that are shaped like bamboo. Well, I thought they were cool enough to mention. Anyway, the highlights... WASABI: You have to ask for fresh wasabi if you want real wasabi. Otherwise, they'll give you the horseradish with green food coloring every other place calls wasabi. In fact, I only found two places in Seattle that have real wasabi and this is one of them. PRICE: A bit spendy, but worth the price. Be prepared to spend $$$ if you're going for sushi on an appetite. PARKING: Not good. Small parking lot for several businesses. Can be a challenge if you're driving a large vehicle. FOOD: I've only had the sushi. Nishino certainly uses the freshest ingredients. The rice amazingly holds together after drenching it with soy sauce. The cuts are thicker than anywhere else I've been in the Seattle metro. This place definitely merits its culinary awards it has on its walls. CHOPSTICKS: Why are they using wooden disposable sticks??? AMBIENCE: Definitely a classy place. It's a good neutral environment for taking business clients. I'm a bit of an eccentric personality and stick out in this crowd, but ... SERVICE: ...the staff have been stellar with their service.
(5)Andy S.
Superb sushi and reasonable prices. A must visit in Seattle- perhaps one of the 10 best sushi places I have been to in the USA. Great quality nigiri, great selection (lots of fresh fish specials), excellent service, and again- very reasonable prices- we guessed wrong (by $100) when our bill arrived! O-toro/chu-toro was great and VERY reasonably priced. For my friends in the SF bay area- Nishino compares very favorably to Sushi Ran in Sausalito. Plenty of non-sushi alternatives as well. A must and I will be back at least once every time when in the Seattle area. Thanks for a great meal Nishino!
(5)Sarah S.
The first time I went to Nishino I LOVED it. Thought it was by far the best sushi restaurant in Seattle. I was so excited to go a second time, taking a friend with me from out of town. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with my second visit. The sushi rolls we got had too much rice, not enough fish. If you plan to go, I recommend sticking to their sashimi.
(3)Joe O.
I had a friend in town this weekend and her last request before heading back was that we try some Seattle sushi. Since we're familiar with the sushi joints in the Belltown area, we thought something closer might be a good idea. We've heard about this place for a very long time and had been meaning to check it out so this was the perfect opportunity. It was a fairly busy Sunday night and we couldn't get reservations for 4 so we sat at the bar and found that to be a lovely dining experience. We ordered sushi straight from the sushi chef, all the while, having the dinner apps, beers and "hot" plates served to us by a very diligent waitstaff. We tried a lot of the stuff on the other menu but really, since we were sitting at the bar and because this is, for all intense purposes, a sushi restaurant, we had sushi. Lots of sashimi was consumed, the best being the maguro, the hamachi and the "super white" tuna - the last one, I had never tried before. Now I've eaten at many a sushi restaurant, here and even in Japan - I could honestly say this place is definitely up there in my top 10. Lucky for us it's only about 10 minutes down the road, I'll definitely be heading here again, probably on a weekday to avoid the crowds.
(5)Melissa L.
our waiter was superrrrrr nice, but oh my lordy the boy was slow as a slug. in his defense, i think he was our waitor AND the bartender. you really can't go wrong here, everything is yummy. i did the dine around seattle menu miso seafood - delicious, smooth, and almost buttery tasting. it was loaded with tons of seafood white salmon carpaccio - melts in your mouth sushi platter - the fish is fresh and it's all in good portions. they slightly over did it with the wasabi, but i survived. you just get a nice kick at the end :). mochi ice cream - their mochi icecream is my favorite here!!!! i just wish they gave you more than 2 pieces. mango cheesecake - light and fluffy yumminess. doesn't make sense that a cheesecake is light and fluffy right? its more like a cheesecake had a babies with a traditonal cake and created a new breed of goodness. they get their cakes and pastries from a local japanese bakery called hiroki and their stuff is awesome. if this were my first time coming to nishino, i might've thrown a 3 star at them just because our wait time was painfully long and i was extremely famished, but the other times i've been here everything was just fine. next time i come i'm going for the omakase!
(4)Johnson S.
I really, really like Nishino. The sushi here is consistently fresh and delicious. Their sashimi plate is one of the best I've ever had. Price-wise, Nishino very reasonable for what you get: great food served in a gorgeous dining room. My one gripe about this place is the bar. I ordered a gin martini and it came in a small cocktail shaker with a tiny martini glass to pour it into as I drank it. This may seem cute (or whatever) but it's a dreadful way to serve a martini. By the time I was halfway done with my drink, it was so watered down and overly cold that I could barely enjoy it. 5 stars for Nishino when they stop serving their cocktails on ice. Seriously... STOP IT!
(4)Jacqueline M.
Im literally spoiled for life. I was reluctant to try bc so many people commented on the expense. However, BF and I have eaten and had drinks for about $100 total. We both have decent appetites and have two to three drinks each. I think this is reasonable.
(5)Andrea R.
Hands down, the best sushi in all Seattle. I've been here a few different times, but last night was there for a birthday celebration with my hubby. First off, everyone we spoke with from the hostess, to our waiter, to the owner behind the sushi counter bidding us fairwell, - everyone was very friendly and attentive. Now the food, a little pricier than your average sushi place but the food is reflective and worth every penny. We started with miso soup & their house salad (get the half - it's big). Then two rolls, and the salmon, albacore, and tuna sushi. Everything was delicious, but the albacore was by far the best. Tastes like sushi butter. Also, another thing to note is the place looks super kid friendly for the parents out there. And I would make reservations for a weekend night - the place was packed.
(5)Mengyu Z.
Great Japanese restaurant but sushi is not top notch.
(4)B J.
AMBIENCE - A SERVICE - A+ FOOD - A PRICE - A This is my 3rd time and first time ordering the Regular Omakase $60/per person (chef's choice) This was a set 8 course meal... decided by the chef. Overall, It was unique and original experiences for some dishes but ALL was delicious. Mia my server was excellent in explaining all the dishes and ingredients as she served them and even like the special touch of changing out tea cups to cleaner cups mid-service. Pricey, but great experience and excellent food today! July 20, 2010 REGULAR OMAKASE -------------------------------- 1st - Appetizer - Geoduck sashimi / 3 day marinated vinegar smelt fried/ white salmon wrapped asparagus with ponsu sauce. - 1st experience eating raw geoduck - firm and delectable. 2nd - Fried spotted prawn head with the body made into a ceviche in citrus combo. - very fresh and delish! and the head actually had lots of meat and crispy all the way down to the antennas! I hear you can buy 2 shrimp heads for $1... I'll have to order more next time! 3rd - Albacore sashimi salad w/soy onion vinaigrette garnished with fried lotus root. - nice sized pieces of sweet albacore. 4th - Sauteed squid/ morel mushrooms/ asparagus in a EVOO soy garlic sauce. - the morels should have tasted woody but for some reason they were a little salty, but overall a nice tasting dish. 5th - Fried tempura pacific oyster - in a daikon / ponsu? sauce - this was my favorite as the the oysters were perfectly soft, sinuous, and milky oysters! 6th - pan fried halibut cheeks over swiss chard and mushroom medley served with wasabi mayo. - it was okay - 7th - Sushi Platter - Wild Salmon (delish) / Super wht. tuna (escolar)-delish / special roll of tuna/flounder/wht.fish/flounder (not my favorite) and UNI! (my 3rd time in my life and finally was able to eat again and enjoy the moment... just to make sure I didn't toss my cookies, I chased with some wasabi and ginger!) 8th - Dessert/fruit plate - fresh fruit with Moochi - frozen doughy desserts - strawberry/white chocolate - espresso - green tea... Nice way to finish and clean palate! Overall I can't wait to go back and experience the "Special Omakase" $75 ( I hear it may just include an additional bite on the appetizer and giving one additional dish - which tonight I heard was the seared foie gras with tuna - mmm... that sounded good) Can't wait to go back!
(5)cecilia h.
Excellent service- the waiter basically ordered for me as im the person who doesnt eat meat or seafood.. and he did an amazing job.. my boyfriend and I have been to Japan, and the food here was just as great.
(5)Dawn A.
This is close to us so we had to go and visit, especially after we'd heard good things. It was definitely pricy and I didn't find too many inventive rolls on the menu. We didn't like the miso but the rolls were okay. The fish quality was good but we don't need to revisit.
(3)Mark C.
Best Sushi in town. Order the Omikasa and let the Sushi chef take control. He will deliver several unique creation that are off the menu. Well worth the try. I have never been disappointed!
(5)jenilee p.
i've nothing but praise for nishino's excellent service, the freshness of its fish, the creativity of its dishes, and the generally welcoming atmosphere inside the restaurant. but...and there's a but here... nishino didn't receive a perfect score, because during the omakase meal, i think there was a slight disruption of culinary "flow". the omakase does come at a very reasonable price for such a creative set of dishes. and i will refrain from taking you through every succulent detail, because other yelpers have given a pretty thorough description (enough so for me to make a special trip during a venture to seattle). so we had several dishes in order in our party of three taking us through the impressive gamut of fresh fish, and creative fusion cuisine, each with asian flavors and flare. excellent presentation. to our surprise, halfway through the meal, with high expectations, they gave us what could only be described as a delicious izakaya dish. it was a japanese eggplant, covered with a delicious cheese, tomato, and crab topping. was it good? delicious. however, in an omakase tasting menu, it sort of disrupted the flow of the meal. we went from asian flavors, to something clearly more mediterranean. i think it was more appropriate for a snack with a cool beer on a hot summer day than in the flow of a pricey sushi meal. was it good? yes! but did it throw off the "journey" in a tasting menu? yeah...kinda...bummer... after that, to boot, we had a salad course, mixed spinach greens it seemed like, with a few lotus chips and then two slices of albacore tuna. the salad dressing was delicious, as were the lotus chips, and kudos to the adventurous chef that throws in a salad course in the dead of winter. but this again threw us off. not because it wasn't asian-based in flavor...but more because...it was...er... bad. fresh albacore has never been my favorite, but the combination of a very mushy fish with some chewy (not crunchy) salad greens wasn't up to par for this restaurant's other courses. i think that if a salad course was key to this meal, it would have been good to substitute the albacore into some sort of a house-made naruto (fish) cake. i'm just sayin... anyway, the meal continued with an extremely impressive japanese hot pot dish, with mushrooms and a delicious broth. wonderful idea for a winter dreary seattle day. the sushi course, though i had been looking forward to it, was a bit disappointing. fresh fish, and lots of rolls, but i think i may have been more psyched with a couple of the hand rolls they feature on advertisements. the sushi that they gave seemed like you could actually pick up from any takeout joint on the east coast. good sushi...not great sushi... if you have the chance to go to nishino, please do! it's just lovely! but i would recommend against the omakase, because i think that the choice of course order, and the salad course were the two flaws that threw off the entire meal. if i were to rank sugiyama (new york), uni (boston), and nishino (seattle), i would have to rank nishino as last out of the bunch.
(4)Louise M.
The food here is good. But the portions are very small, and very expensive. The problem I have is that the restaurant is VERY LOUD. and they pack the tables together so you feel like a sardine. I could have a conversation with everyone around me and sniff the people in the table next to me if I had wanted to. The other problem was the service. The staff took our plates before we were finished, twice! never asked us if we were done. They rushed us through our meal, which is inexcusable when you are paying premium prices and have a reservation. I would go again if it was free.
(2)Lexy W.
Sushi is amazing -- every piece perfection. Some of the cooked specials were disappointing and expensive though.
(4)Jeff G.
A little piece of Nobu lives in Seattle. Nobu is world famous Sushi restaurant that started in New York with branches in several cities. Many of Nobu's chefs have gone on to bigger and bright things such as Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. Tatsu Nishino's Madison Park restaurant is sort of a laid back Seattle version of his more famous former employer. The place is elegant yet simple. The service is friendly, and very helpful which for Sushi is extremely important. All of the Sushi is fresh and creative. Things are presented with flourish. If you are really looking for a spectacular night out and have the money to spend. Call in advance and order the Omakasse meal. Omakasse is chef's choice. You'll consult briefly with the waiter who will ask about food allergies and such. And then you will get 6 or 7 courses of the fines sushi the restaurant has. On the night we were there one of the courses included a yellow tail, fish egg and Foi Gras course. I probably wouldn't go here for a casual Japanese or sushi dinner, but for a special night this is a great place.
(4)M S.
When we want interesting rolls we go to Wasabi Bistro, when we want sashimi we go to Nishino and only Nishino. Their fish has always been superb in taste and mouthfeel. It is expensive for the average person, but it is worth it when it comes to eating raw fish.. and the quality alone is what you are paying for and consuming. Their entrees have always been average to above average, but never a disappointment. It is busy though, so you will definitely need reservations on a weekend.
(5)judy n.
caveat: i've only eaten here during the 25for$25 promotions so i may not have the full picture & i KNOW that it's probably more expensive on a regular night... that said, here's what we had: shiitake, enoki & maitake mushroom soup: amazing. savory & tangy & packed with mushrooms ginger dungeness crab cake: just eh. that's what i get for ordering a crabcake @ a japanese restaurant. broiled black cod marinated in miso: lovely & moist w/ a nice accompaniment of pickled items. assorted sushi plate: the fish slices weren't especially generous but they were very fresh & the rolled item was very different & good. desserts: not worth mentioning. japanese restaurants rarely do good desserts (except ototo). overall, very good & surprisingly good service given how crowded the place was. one of these days i'll go back on a regular night, sit @ the sushi bar & really see what's what.
(3)Jummy T.
Wow- Five stars, FOR SURE! We wen't there for a special date and treated ourselves to the omakase dinner. We're both sushi lovers and this was our first visit to Nishino. It was absolutely delightful. We weren't blown away by every single dish but there were some that made us believers. The sushi was fantastic and going back we will primarily focus on that and some of the hot dishes that were not included in the chef's choice dinner. It's pricey and we don't regret paying for it. We'll be back for years to come! We will ALWAYS order the halibut cheeks if they're available. Also- the service was some of the best we've had anywhere.
(5)tong t.
pretty good. the beef sashimi, toro, and hamachi were soo good. but not the best ive had! =)
(4)Nina N.
can I get a server please? You would think that since we were probably the only people there getting omakase you would get treated a little bit better with than everyone else right? Right yes no maybe so? Well nope, they ignored us like the plague, and with california rolls flying at every table and the random tables of 4 for the 3 for 30 dining special they had no time for the little people like us. So dinner started like this 8 dishes - a 8 oz bamboo cold sake and a busy staff.... I felt like I needed to take a Xanax to just calm down my anxiety from all the hussel and bussel!!! Anyhow the food was pretty good I would have loved it if they had a palate cleanser in between the dishes like most omakase's and if they came in a perfect harmonist order..it would have made the experience fun and exciting... To add onto that why the room temperature food? That almost made me gag... Seriously two of the dishes would have been breathtaking if they had bumped it up a couple of degrees.. Honestly was it premade? Really? Hmmmm still contemplating if this place was as good as the hype.. But on a good note the other half of the omakase was tasty!! And the sherbety trio with fruit platter amazing... ---- if you have never tried omakase usually it's a customized dinner for you, and for you to take a step outside of the box.. It's an experience and is suppose to be fun and make you appreciate food and the art of food.. Pretty much a reflection of the chef and staff... We were really bummed out that the chef didnt personally come out to meet us and see how the food was... That was once again wierd. Wouldn't you want to know what someone thought of your creation!? Again baffled.. Dont get me wrong it was good but not amazing still shiro's is on my top best sushi places....--------- Granted it was late and gloomy outside but really ignore the omakase patrons? The people that actually come to sample the "art of sushi" and shun us like we were poor and couldnt pay for our dinner? So pissed.... Maybe it is true what they say about restaurants in Seattle.. Once they get good reviews the quality goes down because they dont have to try as hard.. :( I so didn't want nishino's to be one of them :( update : may 2008 came here with a couple of my friends, and they really wanted to try nishino's out.. why because of the nobu chef, and such.. I have bitched about the nishino omakase story to them, and since they are not so much into food snobbery, they just wanted to come, and damn it the regular menu was delightful, and was a much better experience. I guess omakase at the last moment is a faux paux, and no one should do it.. but I've done it before and have received an amazing dining experience... boooo on omakase, but hooray for normal dining experience... :( try the roll with the tempura snow crab :) beyond delightful
(4)Eric F.
The best sushi in Seattle, hands down. Expensive, to be sure, but this kind of quality, knowledge, skill, and culinary artistry does not come cheaply.
(5)Jason C.
Several attempts have been made by Seattle foodies to determine "the best sushi in Seattle". Any conversation of this variety includes (as it should) Nishino's. Tucked in the quaint and near-un-Seattle-like region of Madison Park, this place is the real deal. However I don't believe that it deserves the crown as "the best". Really, I don't even think it comes close. Sure the raw ingredients are fresh and the skilled chefs know what they are doing, but it didn't have that BANG, that great sushi is supposed to supply. There was something a bit too commercial about this place. As strange as if might sound, every time I see a sushi place with a branded logo on paraphernalia a part of me thinks "wow, you could have spent the money on more quality fish instead of a logo". I know it's ridiculous, but there's something sacred and more legitimate when a sushi place is less of a restaurant and more of a skilled chef and his fish. For that scene, my vote for the best goes to Shiro's.
(3)Bubble P.
Best Japanese food I've had in Seattle. Superb service. I'd eat there more often if I could afford it.
(5)Ada C.
One of the best Japanese restaurants in Seattle in my opinion. I like the decor and the style of the restaurant, but adore the food. Great place to celebrate a special event. They serve extremely fresh and good quality sushi. I had tuna sashimi there recently and it was amazing. Be prepared for the hefty price though! One of my favorite starters there is a flame broiled squid on their menu.
(5)Lance Q.
My wife treated me to such a fine dining experience here a couple years ago for my birthday. I ordered a sushi combination that made a lasting impression on me with such top-notch quality. Service was great and very attentive. During our last stop in earlier in the year, we learned about the Omakase Dinner which we vowed to try on our next visit. With friends visiting over Labor Day Weekend, we thought that it would be a good opportunity to try it. We were not disappointed in the very least . The chef-inspired dishes varied from one dish to the next, beautifully presented and full of flavor. They were all served in a timely manner, so you had the chance to enjoy it and talk about it afterwards. We definitely plan on doing it again on another special occasion, or if we have out of town guests who like sushi and are interested in leaving it up to the Chefs.
(5)Aditya A.
I went to Nishino with my wife and a couple of friends and while the ambiance is quite nice, we found the overall mood of this restaurant to be a stuffy. The sushi (we had the Madison, House Special, and Spicy Tuna rolls) and appetizers (asparagus, seaweed salad, edamame) were quite good, but not fantastic...and at the prices you have to pay at Nishino, you are expecting something quite incredible. Overall though, it was more the service and atmosphere that would not have us going back there again.
(2)Joe S.
Hands down the best in Seattle. Yes, it can be a little expensive but to me, going to eat sushi is supposed to be like going to a fancy french restaurant (I treat it like a special event). When you do go you have to sit at the sushi bar to truly get the whole experience and at Nishino there is no better sushi bar to sit at. You place your order and they give to you a little at a time fresh off the knife so you can taste the freshness and savor each bite. Try the escolar seared or ask Masahirosan to make you something special. You will NOT be dissapointed. I also recommend the live ama ebi ceviche (its seasonal so they won't have it all the time) and the tempura maitake mushrooms. Yes, I said tempura only because they do it right and they don't use the oil to fry anything else.
(5)Todd L.
Even though Nishino's prices creep on me EVERY time I go, I still can't find one other detractor about this place and therefor must award five stars. My wife and I met my parents there for our anniversary dinner last Sunday and the meal was amazing. You know how at some sushi restaurants you have to cautiously order one of each thing to figure out which ones are good that night then order more of them? Not at Nishino. You can order every single thing on the menu and be confident it will be amazing. Particularly wonderful was the confit of maguro, the broiled black cod, the escolar, ankimo (pickled monkfish liver...oh my so good), and the ikura. I can pretty much judge a sushi place by ordering ikura first. Nishino's ikura is so good! I'm a sushi nut so the majority of my order at Nishino is the raw stuff but it's a Japanese restaurant and their cooked dishes do not disappoint. Go there, bring a fat wallet and expect a wonderful meal. We always leave happy.
(5)Amy T.
Very good japanese food. The fois gras appetizer is the best amuze bouche I have ever had. It's $15 for two little pieces of fois gras with red tuna and shitake mushrooms, but it's well worth the money. IT'S AMAZING! Everything is delicious, just be prepared when the bill comes.
(5)Steven T.
A little expensive but great food and service.
(4)Rick L.
It's okay. I mean, I've seen a lot of people tell this place is excellent and the best in the city - but I mean.. it was GOOD, but it wasn't five star good.. I'd go again, but I'm not in a hurry or anything. I did adore the avocado rolls though.
(3)Angie B.
The food is fresh & tastes amazing - I'll give you that. Unfortunately it's usually so busy that it takes a while to get seated (not much room to wait if there are other people waiting as well) & I've had good & bad service. Especially for the price (always an issue w/ sushi, I know), it can be hard to justify the tough parking, wait to get in & spotty service. If you can ignore all of that & just go for the sushi - I'd give it 5 stars no doubt. I have never eaten out on the deck during the summer. Not that there is much to look at out there, but I'm a sucker for outdoor seating when the weather is great...
(3)Ryan J.
Holy crap dude. Opening the door to a crowd of Japanese business men sets high expectations, and Nishino does not disappoint in any way. Priced to match.
(5)michele m.
So, my perspective is this: I'm a bigtime foodie, cooking, restaurants, magazines, etc. I don't mind if a restaurant is expensive unless it's really bad. I prefer my fish raw and I love most things Japanese. I've been going to Nishino for so long I don't remember when I started. I meet old friends in there who I introduced to it 10 years ago. So, for me, this is the best restaurant in Seattle right now. My top reason is that I had an omikase meal there once that I remember as my favorite meal ever. It was the Valentine's Day special I think. And then I've had other holiday omikases' that were close seconds. I have a bias because I love sushi so much. I have had meals at Rover's that were awesome too. But I just love Nishino more. I love the spicy scallop sushi, omg, the dynamite, the foie gras appetizer, any sushi/sashimi i'm in the mood for, the italianish appetizer with the white fish and arugula they have sometimes. There are things on the menu that I don't like, like the green salad. So i can certainly understand some of the comments that what you order makes a big difference. I think the decor is just fine and am consistently happy with the service. And I regularly tell Mr. Nishino he has the best restaurant in Seattle. Oh, and here's another thing my husband showed me about Nishino. When you get a special Omikase, like Valentine's day, they lay the food out like a painting. So, the painting will have symbols in it like the symbol of 2 for Valentine's. I just love that.
(5)Tom S.
This is definitely one of the best sushi place in Seattle. We went there for 25 for $25 event, she had the plate of various rolls & nigiri sushi, I had a dish called the Dynamite, outside of the 25 menu. The sushi was very fresh, fish was smooth like butta' . I definitely like it a lot, even the vegetarian roll was very well made, fresh and tastes great. Dynamite is a mix of Scallop, Geoduck and mushroom soaked in broth, topped with some cream in a gratin dish. This was pretty rich, but it goes great with some steamed rice. I would definitely recommend Nishino to anybody. Prices are just about what you'd expect for a sushi place. We had Oyster on half shell appetizer - $8. My dynamite dish is $12 It's not overly expensive, I would say it's fair for the quality we're getting.
(5)Steve S.
one of the most overrated sushi places i have ever bwwn to. i've eaten here twice, and both times i have spent an obscene amount of money for very pedestrian sushi, i mean, its real pretty in there, so its nice for a date, but you might want to go dutch if you aren't packing a lot of cash
(2)M W.
This restaurant boasts extremely delicious sushi and excellent service. I think that their prices are too high. The high prices do not seem to slow down business--my experience has been that you need to make a reservation to eat here...I am now questioning the wisdom of writing a review that might cause MORE people to go here...
(4)Sheila Y.
Nishino is by far my favorite sushi spot in Seattle. I went here on a date awhile back and it was quite impressive. We both ordered the Chef's Special Omakase. I wish I could wax poetic about each of the dishes, but alas my memory fails me. All I remember is wonderfully prepared nouveau Japanese with the freshest seafood imaginable. One dish that still stands out is the halibut cheeks. This was a first for me and it was love at first bite. Immediately after this the bf at the time and myself planned a weekend trip to Pike Market and loaded up! I also remember still being hungry afterwards so we ordered some sushi rolls as well. The simple tuna roll was buttery and dense and the scallop nigiri was creamy. The art in this place is for lack of a better word, Unique. I am planning on a return trip soon so that I can give it another look over and see if there is something I can appreciate about the huge scary clown mural on the back wall. Oh well....I don't let childhood phobias keep me from fresh fish!
(5)S S.
i went to Nishino with my family for mother's day. Their parking space is limited, by the way. The food is good and is pretty pricey. I wouldn't go all the way there to eat Japanese food.
(4)bonne b.
We LOVE Nishino and have been eating at their Sushi Bar once a week since they opened 10 years ago. The BEST fish, the MOST CREATIVE sushi chefs, SOOTHING yet COOL ambiance, EXPERT service. Order off their Specials Menu, or better yet, don't order at all and let the chefs just make dinner for you. You're in for a treat!
(5)