Shiku Sushi
5310 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA, 98107
Shiku Sushi Menu
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Address :
5310 Ballard Ave NW
Seattle, WA, 98107 - Phone (206) 588-2151
- Website https://shikusushi.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :4:30 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Becky G.
This place kicks ass. It gets 4 stars because it is a little pricey! We saw all these people standing around out front and we were worried, we were hungry and we had a group of 5! But those people must have been waiting for something else because when we got in the hostess seated us right away. My friends and I each ordered a roll and all shared. I got the Bruce Lee roll, spicy and yum, the homeless and honey rolls are good too. We've been there before for Happy Hour, and we were all drunk so I don't remember it very well but I remember the warm sake on the happy hour menu was terrible! So stay away from the sake and you're good to go! And the staff is friendly, they all say good bye when you leave, like you're an old friend. I love it! oh and I love the black hats the sushi chefs wear :) cute!
(4)Miss S.
I've been to Shiku 4 or 5 times since it's opened and I have enjoyed myself each time I've visited. It's a definate improvement over the old place in that space, DeVino! Happy hour is until 6:30 which is nice. The happy hour menu is small, but cheap with dishes under $6. Shiku has an awesome specialty cocktail list with drinks that incorporate more than one kind of booze. They have super cute cold sake carafes. The hot menu is extensive and almost everything I've tried is delicious. Some of the dishes may be a bit overpriced for the portion amount. I do like the crab stuffed jalepenos and the pork dish. Their special rolls are huge and decadent. Service has always been very good, if not excellent. I'll keep going back fo sho. Oh yeah, the toilet does kick ass, ladies. Try all of the settings! Front, rear, dryer...nice.
(4)Heather H.
First of all, I moved here last year and was VERY excited to finally be in a city with multitudes of delicious sushi joints. Considering Seattle's proximity to the ocean, it shouldn't be too hard to find awesome fish in this city. Sadly, I've only found a select few restaurants that serve yummy sushi. Lucky for me, Shiku turned out to be one of them. We go here at least once a week and have NEVER had a bad piece of nigri or a mushy roll. The staff is very friendly and remembers us every time we return. If they are busy and the wait is longer than usual, they will actually bring miso soup (on the house of course) to tide you over. My favorite roll is the Bruce Lee roll. I actually crave it. And be sure to ask which fish are fresh on a particular day...the servers always have excellent recommendations. They served us a piece of Aji that melted in my mouth.
(5)Megan S.
My boyfriend and I went here for a lovely Friday evening date. Afterwards we both commented that this had to have been our best dining experience ever. That's right. Best DINING Experience EVER. ever...ever... We sat at the bar and the main man runnin' the show was amazingly on point. At the end of the meal he asked if we'd enjoy desert but we were much too full. My boyfriend was joking around and asked if the bartender could make a drink that tasted like a Butterfinger and by golly, if that man didn't do it! I thought it was really cool that he would play along and show us what he's got. Besides the amazing service, the rolls and fish are some of the freshest. The bartender even pointed out to us that our wasabi was freshly grated. They make good food and they know it and are damn proud of it. Plus the sushi chefs in their cute little mobster hats are sexy! Welcome to Ballard!!!
(5)Jake F.
This place is amazing. The "Dream" Roll was the best I've ever had. And at $12.50, was quite worth the price. I love the menu, and the atmosphere is very clean and comfortable. I would take anyone here. They have Laughing Buddha! The one thing I didn't much care for was the entrance. When you get in, there is no space to wait for a table with your party. And no one is on the door constantly, so it was awkward waiting for someone to greet us even with just a party of two. Other than that, it was great. I'm a big fan.
(4)Megan M.
I really enjoyed Shiku. Nice ambience - would be a good date spot or a place you could go in a group. Interesting rolls (albiet some were a bit on the heavy side - if you're not into that you might want to pay close attention to the descriptions and look for the additions of mayo or stuff that's deep fried). Service was excellent. A nice touch was the toilet, complete with bidet! I lived in Japan for a summer and they must have shipped this one directly from there because it was just like the one where I lived! I'd highly recommend trying it out!
(5)Karli F.
this is my FAVORITE sushi place in Seattle. I know that is a bold statement but i stand behind it. I had moved to Ballard and was looking for a local sushi place so i hit up Yelp and found this little gem. I know have been at least ten times. Everything i have eaten here is to die for. The rolls as well as the sashimi are delicious. The dream roll is on the top of my list and my boyfriends is the Bruce lee roll. They have a great happy hour and are open late on the weekend for your stumble home late night eat. The staff here is so friendly and are very knowledgeable about their dishes. i appreciate the little picture flip menu on each table to give you a sneak preview of what you might want to eat. the jalapeno crab stuffed app is heaven! There is also a complimentary fruit dessert served. Its a hidden secret so you usually have to ask for it if in the mood.
(5)r b.
Attn: Seattle Foodies!!! If you know Seattle sushi than you know why Shiro, Mashiko, Nishino etc are worth the money. Atmosphere is nice but it's all about that "oh my god" moment when you put some really fresh, cool, buttery smooth nigiri in your mouth...and as a result, you cease being able to settle for anything else...Shiku is in this league. We can argue details but if you sit at the (sushi) bar, order a few of your faves...then ask Johnny to take you the rest of the way. You will NOT be disappointed. And with all due respect to those that think it's too pricy...you'll be happy to know a conveyor belt robo-sushi is coming in just a few hundred feet away...so we can allllll be happy.
(5)Billy T.
Great service and excellent sushi! The Dream Roll and 7-Up roll are 5 stars.
(5)Emily C.
My favorite sushi in the city. The quality of their fish is as good as it gets and the flavor combos are right up my palate. The 7-up rolls are my favorite (salmon and avacado with wafer thin lemon and lime, yum!). I also highly, highly recommend the brie shisho cheese sticks. I've liked just about everything I've tried here.
(5)Cindy L.
We were in the area and decided to come in due to the good reviews on yelp. We were extremely disappointed. First of all, the waitress did not tell us about the Happy Hour nor give us the happy hour menus, we found out after we have ordered from the regular menu. We sat right across from the sushi bar and where the food comes out of the kitchen, so I can see exactly when the food comes out. Each item that we order will sit on the kitchen counter for a LONG time before the waitress notice it and bring it over to us. Needless to say we waited a long time for our food and by the time the hot food came to us, it was already warm or cooled (and they weren't that busy at the time either). The quality of the sushi / sashimi and the taste was also very bad. It's more like sushi you get from teriyaki shops and low quality sushi belt places rather than a Japanese sushi restaurant. The sauces and fillers are over powering and you don't get much of the fish. This is truly one of the worst Japanese / sushi restaurant I have been to. And they're prices are ridiculously expensive for the quality they provide. I would say overall bad service and very bad food. The other sushi restaurant just down the street from them (I can't remember the name) is a lot better than them. If you want good quality sushi and authentic Japanese food, go to Taka Sushi in Lynnwood, Umi in Seattle, or Miyabi in Southcenter.
(2)Leslie T.
I went during the middle of the week with my friend. We had delicious rolls, friendly service, and an over-all good time at the bar. I went back on a Friday with my boyfriend and another couple and realized that this place hasn't figured out how to handle high volume. It took us 2 hours to get our full order. Our Miso soup, which should be one of the first things out, took 45 minutes to arrive. Our waiter...clueless. Alas, the food was good. They tried to make up for the awful service and ridiculously long wait for our food by bringing us free desert. I had already left at that point, being so frustrated. Desert didn't make up for not getting all of my food until 2 hours had gone by. My advice, check it out during the week. Don't go on the weekends unless you aren't very hungry, you don't order much, and you don't have expectations about getting your food in a timely manner. By the way, it was the most expensive sushi that I have ever paid for in Seattle... there are places out there that are MUCH better and don't rip you off. NOTE: STAY AWAY FROM THE "LOBSTER" DISH...YUCK...they just microwave a bunch of cheese on top of FAKE lobster.
(2)Joshua J.
The girlfriend and I came here before the Clinton Fearon concert at the Tractor. I thought, perfect, proximal and highly rated! Score! We had the edamame, steamed to perfection, the fried jalepenos, a homeless roll, and a dream roll. I won't pretend like I am a skilled sushi enthusiast. In fact, I know very little about the art. Minus, of course, that it is delicious when properly prepared, and can be heinous and sickening otherwise. Shiku was the... most... amazing... sushi. This was seriously beyond my imagination, in terms of freshness, taste, and presentation. The specialty rolls were like scrumptious fishy little works of art. Even the soy sauce seemed to taste of a higher caliber. Ahh, soy sauce... another thing I know so little about. But, like I said, tasted better than any soy sauce I've had! The service is the only reason that I don't give this place 5 stars. Our waitress was not very attentive, generally uninterested, and let our water and tab with card sit for quite a while in an un-full-filled (get it?) state. It wasn't very busy at all, so it would have been nice to have a little friendliness, but hey, I've worked in the food industry, I know those days.... At any rate, everyone should try their sushi at least once in their lifetime. The albacore was seriously melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I loved it how they had one long, tender, solid piece delicately cut over the entire roll. Mmmm, gotta head back here, with friends!
(4)JP P.
Tried a variety of rolls.... but I had alot better than them for cheaper price.... I really like to atmosphere...
(3)Zach P.
So far the best sushi I have has in Seattle. You have to try the Homeless and the Honey roll. If you are feeling spicy try the Bruce Lee roll. Try the sashimi roll as well. I also tried some of the Asian Pear sake which had an excellent flavor. The staff was very nice and the atmosphere was great.
(5)Sandra S.
I had a very enjoyable meal here on a busy Saturday night. Often when a place is slammed busy, things start to suffer - whether it be service, food, drinks or atmosphere. Shiku came through on all accounts! We did wait about 20 minutes for a seat, but what do you expect on a Saturday night? Once around the block on a lovely fall evening, and we were immediately seated. We started with two of their signature drinks -one that had mango vodka, mango puree, and Sprite, and the other a lime-centered drink. The mango drink could have been much too sweet for my palate, but was right on. In fact, if was so good I had to order another! The lime drink tasted just like limeade and still was not overly sweet. Perfect. We then ordered the owner recommended halibut cheeks and the jalapeno poppers off of the Izakaya menu, one of their specialty rolls, and an order of salmon nigiri. The sushi came out first, and although it was good (we didn't order any of the crazier rolls on the menu), it wasn't eye-rolling good. Decent sushi, for sure. The eye-rolling commenced with the arrival of the halibut cheeks and jalapeno poppers. Now, most of you think of jalapeno poppers, and you think Applebees fried bits of greasy bland. Shiku's poppers are a completely different breed! They are lightly fried (nary a grease spot) and are actually spicy! Beware if you are a spice lightweight. They are delicious and clearly a bright spot on the menu. But the true amazement came with the halibut cheeks - these things were cooked to perfection, melted in your mouth, and sat upon some flavorful mushrooms and sweet onions, melded into a gravy of sorts. It was a steal - if you put the halibut alongside some mashed potatoes and veggies, you would spend over $20 at a "fine dining" establishment. Here you can go straight to the good stuff for about $10. Sweet. We also had the pork in a soy/sugar sauce, which although tasty, was a tad bit too fatty for my liking - plus separating the fat from the rest of the bits is hard to do with chopsticks! I used my hands, gross, I know. Our waitress was perfect, our water was always replenished promptly, and we never wanted for anything. I would definitely agree that Ballard needed a place like this to kick back with some great food and no pretension. I will definitely visit this place again and try more off of their Izakaya menu!
(4)Lisa K.
Went here last night for the first time. Everyone at the restaurant was SO friendly! I wanted to put our waitress in my pocket and take her home with me! The food was equally as fantastic, and I will definitely be back. My only complaint was that most of their special rolls had tempura involved. I personally am not a huge tempura fan, so really it is just a personal thing, but everything we had was delicious!
(4)Eugene C.
This place is okay, not great. There is a large selection of elaborate rolls with special sauces, fillings, and toppings. Some people like this sort of thing. But, for me good sushi is all about the freshness of the fish, and allowing the freshness to come through with clean, simple flavors. If you are looking for the latter, you might want to look somewhere else.
(3)Meghan K.
This place serves good sushi! I had the caterpillar roll and miso soup was not disappointed. It soup was delicious and the roll was very elegant and very tasty. The waitress was pleasant and friendly. There are numerous good sushi restaurants in the Seattle area though, and this one of the many and doesn't really stand out. If I was in the area and wanted sushi I would consider stopping in but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here.
(3)Belinda N.
The honeyroll, the crispy spicy tuna - well, I have no words. EAT and by VERY MERRY.
(5)kim h.
Shiku has a really nice happy hour. I love going to the sunday farmers market and hitting up the happy hour which is 12-6 on sundays. Some of the best seattle sushi and definitely awesome location. I do tend to stick to the happy hour menu and specialty rolls.
(4)Randi L.
I have only gone to Shiku for happy hour and have found it is a really good deal. The Salt and pepper roll is one of my absolute favorites and the baked green mussels are perfect! Service is outstanding and always with a smile.
(4)R. C.
First off the obvious (were you to be looking at us): we are a black professional couple, very urbane and attracted to areas like Ballard due to its boutiques and restaurants (and until we get back to NYC or London, it'll have to do). In other words, we can afford it. Now we've actually met the owner of Shiku, a really cool guy but I don't think he knows how unwelcome a lot of people feel when they come into this restaurants, especially us. Its happened on more than a few occasions with me, my wife, daughter and when I've brought friends from work down for sushi. Some of the folks who work there have seemed deliberate in their desire for us to not be there (I won't get into the last time we tried and ended up walking out in a total huff due to the bartender who went out of his way to screw up our order after we didn't leave despite his disrespect). Now the food is not terrible, quite good actually--though Moshi Moshi just next door is far superior. Moshi Moshi, however, is more expensive and a bit less casual. Now my complaints are probably general complaints about many places in Ballard and in Seattle; but as long as we live here we intend to enjoy all of the city's delights--which means we have the right to complain about how we are treated.
(2)Sharon F.
Finally a respectable Sushi place in humble little Ballard. No more embarrassed looks as I bring out of town guests into Sam's while whispering "Sorry, it's what's close". They had a BEAUTIFUL fatty tuna the night that we were there. It was the best Toro I've ever eaten. Everything else was delicious as well, and I am sad to say I did not try any of their specialty rolls. Based on the other reviews I was missing out, and I'll try them for sure next time. Their cocktail menu is extensive and delicious. We tried four different cocktails, and we all enjoyed them immensely. The Host was amazing. He offered to call my cell when a table became available, but we decided to sit by the door and warm up with cocktails instead. He expertly guided through the cocktail menu and he even offered a beer taste to my friend who was on the fence about his selection. The only reason this wasn't a five star review is because there was a serious mix up with my order and I wound up having to cancel the part I was looking forward to most when we were approaching dessert and it still hadn't arrived. I wasn't offered an apology or a substitute, just an "oops we forgot to make that". The best part? If you don't have a date you can always go visit the bathroom autolets for that warm tingly feeling.
(4)Josh A.
Ever since Shiku opened and I was introduced to Rob and his uncle, I've been ruined for other sushi restaurants. I haven't eaten sushi, nor experienced an atmosphere like Shiku has anywhere else in Seattle. The fish is incredibly fresh, the menu has numerous, interesting choices, the giner beer on tap is fantastic, and the staff are knowledgeable and very friendly. Shiku is a great place for any occasion desiring great food, good drinks and a fun atmosphere. Go there...you won't be disappointed!
(5)Sarah W.
A little pricy, but the atmosphere and food can't be beat!
(5)Michelle B.
Sushi and happy hour? My two favorites! But I was hoping for a bit more of a deal... I left Shiku Sushi a little buzzed with a belly full of sushi and $100 less in my pocket. The overall experience was positive; the bartender was also the owner and very friendly. He was big on the up selling and convinced us to order way more than we originally went in for. I won't hold that against him, but my wallet might! We tried several drinks, sake and bites off the menu. The sushi roll we ordered was huge and tasty though a little over the top. We also sampled a fair amount of the nigiri and the oysters which were on special. It was a decent experience and the atmosphere was nice, but "meh". When I think happy hour, I think great specials on booze and food I would order at the higher price but get to enjoy for a lower one. I want happy hour to make me feel special, exclusive, like they offer those spectacular deals just for me. I didn't really feel that way at this place, which was disappointing and means I won't be a regular. I may try it again, but won't be in a hurry to do so. Bottom line, it was good, but not great and there's better sushi in town. PS. The ladies room also has the fanciest toilet I've ever seen in my life. No joke. Check it out.
(3)Debs L.
I went on Monday night with 2 friends and sat at the bar with the sushi chef. He was extremely personable, not to mention quick-like in turning roll after roll out. We ordered a significant amount of sashimi and were delighted with the fresh cuts, presentation, and again--- personality of the sushi chef. I love that they also serve cold sake with a significant amount of milled rice. Being that Ballard Ave. is our home turf, we will definitely be back.
(5)Jamie U.
Middle road, decently good sushi with not so good prices.
(3)Liana R.
Can I tell you that the draw to the restaurant wasn't their delicious Nagari Tofu or their spectacular fried spaghetti noodles that ate like biscotti; nor was it their fabulous fried brie wontons or made-to-order veggie rolls; no, kids, the draw was the Toto Washlet S400 (yes, I looked it up when I got home) toilet...oscillating, high-heat, front and rear wash...Ahhh, heaven.
(4)Deserae W.
Awesome service! Happy hour from 12-6 on Saturday/Sunday! The sushi was delicious. The rolls are huge-8 pieces! I will definitely be back!
(5)Philip L.
Big, flavorful rolls, good service and an awesome toilet. Went here with friends last night and shared a boat (literally) of sushi rolls. We tried a variety - Bruce Lee, Honey, Zig Zag, Veggie Deluxe, Philadelphia, and one, that I think was called the Green Monster - which were all pretty good, but really just too busy. The fish (the most important part in my opinion) gets lost in overabundant toppings. The service was very good and the atmosphere is cozy. The women in our group loved the toilet in the ladies room.
(3)Iris M.
I went there last night with my boyfriend and we were really happy with our first experience. The decor was simple, but the ambiance was still nice. Unfortunately, we went on a busy Saturday night so there was a twenty minute wait. Instead of waiting, we dined at the bar. They have a really large Izakaya menu and many of the items listed sounded delicious; however, we were blown away by the description of their sushi rolls. They had a photo book of the rolls too and they all looked so tasty. I love anything deep fried and they had a lot of deep fried options. Deep fried prawns, soft shell crab, the entire roll itself, and tempura flakes. Yum! We had the traditional Caterpillar roll, but instead of having the unagi on the inside, but was place on top with the avocado. :( The Dream roll was super. It was jumbo shrimp tempura, cream cheese, and avocado on the inside and on the outside it had kani and albacore drizzled with tempura flakes and spicy mayo. Yummy! The Crunch roll was similar to the other rolls, but I like it the most. We also tried some sake and ebi nigiri sushi. Other than the food, we decided to have some drinks. My boyfriend had the Laughing Buddha Brown Ale, which he liked a lot and I had the Mt Fuji Mist cocktail, which was a little strong for me. It was sake with a mix of midori and apple pucker. Are total bill was around $60.00. I was still a little hungry afterward, which is always a problem when you eat sushi. :( Next time, I really want to try their Homeless Roll and their Bruce Lee roll. I would definitely go back to this place soon, since we live in Ballard. Since they are a new restaurant, the food service was as slow as molasses, which is why I gave four stars instead of five.
(4)Jessica E.
Q-U-A-L-I-T-Y!! I've been to Shiku at least 6 times now. I try to branch out and get more than the featured rolls on the table top menus but I just can't get enough of the Bruce Lee, Honey roll, Lemon and Lime, Homeless, ETC... Although their entire menu looks delicious, I would higly recommend the specialty rolls and nigiri (amazing cuts). Also: the servers are very nice and consistently pleasant. The chefs: bomb-tastic as well. If you are feeling creative and want to make up your own roll or have something in mind that's not on the menu, they are happy to accomodate. Ambiance is just up my alley too: elegant yet nice and cozy. Cool bar, yummy cocktails, great place to go for a romantic date or a fun girls (or guys!) night out.
(4)J K.
Great izakaya joint. Great menu. The pork was delicious. The kara-age was the best kara-age I've ever had. The Bruce Lee roll was one of the best rolls I've ever had. You can tell the chef has really done his/her research. Although, my friend said the maguro was a little weak. A little pricey. Fancy-modern, dark atmosphere. Great service. Somewhat uncomfortable seats. Not too big, not too small. Good neighborhood. Not-so-good parking options. The sushi chefs wear cute fedoras.
(5)Tim E.
Went for lunch on Sunday right after opening. Seated right away - no wait and prompt service. Sushi was excellent - the homeless and dream rolls in particular were very good. Location right near the Ballard Farmers Market makes shopping and lunch a convenient combo. Overall, I highly recommend Shiku as one of the best sushi places I've yet visited in Seattle.
(5)Gary H.
As a sushi-lover and with a vegan girlfriend, Shiku gets my 5 stars! Their Bruce Lee roll kicks ass!!! I like that Shiku doesn't suffer from the stuffy, sterile atmosphere at other sushi spots. The Shiku team are friendly and helpful with menu explanations. Great Saki selection too. Mmmmm, now I'm hungry!
(5)Claire D.
Shiku is my favorite sushi place in Seattle. Why, you might ask? Well, start with super-friendly owner, Rob (who remembered my name after one meeting), then move on to the freshest fish in town, innovative rolls, extensive sake menu, delicious cocktails and wonderful service. You can't go wrong. Try the Salt&Pepper roll (not on the menu yet..just ask for it). Simple roll of avacado with seared escarol on top, salt/pepper and a jalapeño hidden inside...wow! I'd give this place 10 stars if I could!
(5)Jules P.
I went to this place last night and it was delicious, highly recommended! The owner came to our table and greeted us, it made it very personable. The ambiance was good, very well decorated. The place also had a lively atmosphere so it didn't feel very pretencious. I'll defnitly be a regualar here. I would say the place is good if you're having either a medium size group (4-5 people) or a date night. The owner said they're going to start happy hour soon. So for all of you with shallow wallets, like myself, this is probably the best time to come and get some good sushi. Things we tried and recommend: Jalepeno poppers The Bruce Lee roll The Homless roll- (this was awesome!) Things they need: Chirashi bowl !
(5)Cecile R.
For the boyfriends b-day we were finally able to try dessert. We had the fried green-tea ice cream with homemade cream and caramel. Oh goodness, I could come here for dessert and drinks alone hands down. Simply so delicious. I believe he describes it as 'a mouth orgasm.' Yes, I could not agree more. We thought we were so full, and somehow we were able to finish dessert. I don't know how. But we licked the plate clean. (or were tempted too!)
(5)Penny W.
We have been coming here since it opened and will keep coming back for more. The fish is always of the highest quality. Rolls are inventive and delicious, and the nigiri will melt in your mouth! Wonderful staff and service. My favorite sushi place in Seattle!
(5)Jennifer A.
We had such good food here! My only complaint was the scallops were on the cold side. However, the Puget Sound Roll was The. Best. Roll. EVER. The Bruce Lee Roll was awesome too, and the nigiri was some of the best I've tasted. Our service was very nice, if a little slow (which I thought was surprising for a Wednesday). And the heated toilet seats in the ladies bathroom felt SOOO good, as the dining area was a little chilly for the cold winter weather.
(4)Bryan J.
One of the best sushi places in town! I loved it went with 3 friends and we were all blown away by not only the quality of the sushi but the different types as well.Great staff who helped up pair sake with our meal and the ambience was fantastic!!
(5)Vida A.
I really like the Izakaya menu and the rolls are tasty and big. It seemed like a lot of the rolls had snow crab, would love to see more veggie selections. Overall, tasty and i'll be back again. Cool toilets too!
(4)Karen H.
Went to Shiku last night with a friend. The service was fantastic - a server even opened a door for us when we left. It was a nice touch. Overall, I thought the sushi was quite good - the fish was fresh and the rice was very well prepared. The sushi chef was a total character - I highly recommend sitting at the sushi bar. Since I am a bit of a sushi purist, I was surprised by some of their crazier rolls that seem to have way too much going on. I guess it's a matter of preference. I didn't have anything on the Izakaya menu - my appetite just wasn't up for it...so I can't comment on that part of the menu, but it did look very tasty. Overall Shiku has a good vibe, ambience is a little trendy but not too clubby. The music is pumping, but isn't obnoxious. I showed up around 6:30 on a Wednesday and the restaurant was about half full - when we Ieft, there was no line but the only seats were the ones we had just vacated. The only thing I could not get over is how tricked out some of the rolls were - I saw them torching one with a cooking torch they use typically for creme brulee (again I am a purist and have spent some time in Japan, so maybe I need to get over myself). I was hoping for fuller menu of traditional options...so my expectations were a little off, making it hard to give Shiku 5 stars. There was an table-top ad for a red wine, which I did think was a bit cheesy. I surprised that there wasn't a cocktail menu in sight - perhaps I should have asked for it. I must say I was hoping for a sake option other than 'hot sake'. Overall, a great experience and I will definitely go back. I might lean towards 5 stars in the future - I need a few more visits to feel it out.
(4)Chris B.
I didn't try the rolls, but the hot food was amazing. And you can't beat the prices. It's completely worth it. Great cocktails, too. It's a fun place. We went before all the snow, and all of a sudden the lights went out. Everyone froze. Turns out there was a birthday and the waiter turned the lights off so the whole place could sing happy birthday. Everyone joined in out of sheer happiness the place didn't lose power for real.
(4)Bill E.
This is the best sushi I've had in Seattle, and I've been eating sushi here for 9 years. The food, all of it, was delicious. The service was spot on, attentive and genuine. I was shocked and surprised... did not expect this when we walked in. Oh, don't forget the bathroom, the womens bathroom... sit and enjoy.
(5)Lyca F.
Good times.
(5)Jennie R.
The scallops were absolutely delicious, but $7 for three seemed a bit too pricey. I would like an entire dish of them, instead of just an appetizer. I didn't try any sushi other than the california roll, as I was pregnant at the time. My friends had sushi and seemed to enjoy it but were not absolutely wowed either. It's very dark inside, but nicely decorated with dark wood. My friend and I peeked in the bathroom to check out the crazy Japanese toilet, but were not brave enough to try it! The service was okay, again not spectacular.
(3)King T.
Great sushi bar. Head sushi chef is very nice and explained what we were eating. Drinks are interesting. But nothing for the person who doesn't Like sweet drinks with their sushi.
(4)Meghan S.
So, I was craving sushi while in the Ballard neighborhood and I decided to go to this little charmer. I love the way it looks; exposed brick against a deep wine colored wall right behind a semicircle sushi bar. It was kind of like a blind date when you have a sigh of relief after seeing what they look like and then have high hopes for the rest of the night. But, just like a first date, I really wanted it to work out but we just didn't click. Although the sushi bar seemed like a good seating atmosphere, I wasn't too committed to the other seating in the restaurant (really high uncomfortable booths that make you feel like you are in a college cheep beer/pizza dive after a hangover). The food was good and the sushi tasted fresh, but it wasn't anything unique or superb; just ordinary. I think I would have considered it if the price was a little lower to match the caliber of food. Would I say that I will never go there again? No. However, will it be my top sushi spot? Certainly not.
(3)Ryan K.
The sushi here is very good and reasonably priced for the quality. The ambiance is nice but what's up with the flat screen TV's everywhere?
(5)Ally S.
One of my favorites in Seattle. The servers are extremely nice and always remember their regulars :) The sushi is so fresh and when I told them I was gluten-free my first time in the made sure every dish was gluten free for me and gave me wheat free soy sauce without me having to ask! Love this place.
(5)K. S.
This place rocks - sooooo much better than the over the top yuppie sushi palace down the street - Moshi Moshi. This was our first time going to Shiku after hearing from so many of our friends how good it was. Lots of variety on the menu, high quality, reasonable prices, great atmosphere. Some of the specialty drinks are a little spendy, but they have a killer happy hour. We can't wait to eat there again !!!!!
(5)Sunny C.
It has nice atmosphere and professional server but it's overly priced for the quality of food they serve.Maybe we are paying for the place itself. The rolls have too much stuff on top and it wasn't too flavorful either even with all those stuffing.
(3)Victor T.
I am a big fan of sushi. I like Chiso in Fremont, Musashi's in Wallingford, and Shiro's in Belltown. And now I like Shiku in Ballard. I can go to Shiku and drink Thunderbird Manhattans, Lychee Martinis, or sip Cloudy Dreams sake for hours while eating fine-ass cuisine AND even watch a little basketball or see if the Mariner's are winning. Shiku is not only a delicious sushi restaurant, it is an awesome cocktail lounge. Notice I did not say "Sports Bar." Although there are a couple TVs, the only sounds in this bar are music and people chatting and laughing (no loud sports commentators yakking). The bartender makes great cocktails and puts up with my stupid bullshit. The sushi chefs look like Yakuza hitmen (easily the toughest sushi chefs in Seattle). The waitstaff is friendly and attractive. Last, but not least, the ladies room has a TOTO toilet that will jet wash your cooch. My only complaint about this establishment is that there isn't a fancy, ball-washing toilet for the fellas. Finally, bad ass sushi in Ballard.
(5)Taylor B.
Hello all...if your idea of "eating sushi" is to order some novelty rolls with 348 things in them, fried and drizzled with sweet sauce...all washed down with huge bottles of beer...then please pay no attention to the following, which is all about the fish which Shiku uses for sashimi...and it is terrific! My most recent meal at the sushi bar included a couple of fine sunomono and seaweed salads, and a large selection of sashimi which included wonderful toro, aji, sockeye salmon, and wonder of wonder FRESH and fantastic abalone! Some of the finest fish I've had in some time...all it needed was a little squeeze of lemon or lime juice and it was ready to eat! Sushi chef Johnny is great at his job and will take real good care of you if he realizes you like the taste of fish rather than batter or honey or cream cheese or whatever else people put into the novelty rolls. I will say if you just focus on the fine fish that you WILL spend more money than on the rolls...but it will be worth it. Not to be harsh, gang, but...consider letting your taste buds grow up a little. Or do you still crave Captain Crunch for breakfast?
(4)Stephanie W.
We ate at the sushi bar on a Friday night and we were extremely pleased with the food and service. We ordered the ahi poke salad, chef's choice sashimi plate, and the Zig Zag roll. The ahi poke salad was good and seasoned really well. Whenever I order ahi poke it's usually hit or miss but I can never resist trying it if I see it on the menu. The chef's choice sashimi plate was plated in a visually appealing way and was definitely fresh. I wasn't sure I'd like the Zig Zag roll (Spicy snow crab, soft shell crab, avocado & cream cheese wrapped in soy paper. Half a fried soft shell crab on side) since I'm usually not a fan of cream cheese with my sushi. The cream cheese was very subtle and the spicy snow crab and soft shell crab were definitely the stars in this roll. You also can't beat having half a fried soft shell crab on the side! If you find yourself in Ballard and craving sushi, I'd go to Shiku and not the other place a few doors down.
(5)Malia F.
I was really excited to try a new sushi spot with fantastic reviews, I was very disappointed to say the least. I give it merely two stars based on ambiance and the hostess alone. The restaurant has a nice layout and the heated toiled reminded of days in Japan. The hostess was sweet with great customer service, she politely asked if we had dined with them, and when she found out it was our first time, she took time to explain the izakaya menu and the regular menu. We started off by ordering sake, it was a whopping $17 for around 6-7 oz carafe. It was a junmai ginjyo but I found the sake to be mediocre and not to complex or pleasing for the price. We moved on to the recommendations of the server: the slow braised kakuni beef, katsu bites, and the halibut cheeks. The kakuni beef was tasty but nothing to write home about. The katsu bites were inventive with shiso and ume stuffed in the chicken ones; I felt that they were overcooked and the outer panko was way too dark compared to traditional golden hue. The halibut cheeks were of decent size for the price, but the shitake mushrooms underneath were way too salty and buttery. We moved on to eat the waiters suggested rolls: the bruce lee and the homeless roll, I really felt that the pricing was way too much for the quality and taste of the roll, it was around $12 or $14 for each. I ordered hamachi sushi, ikura sushi, and a salmon roll. I may be very picky but the hamachi looked sad over the sushi rice, it was a small cut and just didn't look fresh, the taste was okay. The ikura was just okay and the salmon roll was made with the rice on the outside and not seaweed, pretty strange for a traditional makimono and it was $9.50. They forgot to put wasabi on our dish, but I can get over those things. We ordered another of their signature rolls a vegetarian one, but it never came out. We had waited over 20 minutes, so we politely told the waiter that we no longer wanted it; he later forgot to take it off our check. We had one more sake that again was $17 and a dessert that I can hardly remember. Am I missing a beat on this restaurant, did the server have a bad day, did I order the worst on the menu? Where did I go wrong, I wanted a culinary experience mixed with excellent sushi, I got neither! I think this place is truly over priced for their quality. Their location and ambiance should give them business, but for $140 for two I will never be back, there are too many good sushi eateries in Seattle.
(2)matt p.
we've eaten here a bunch of times since the place opened late last year. as fans of slightly inauthentic sushi (i.e. sushi spiced up with jalapenos and at times made to taste almost ceviche-esque) in addition to the more traditional stuff, we love this place! the bruce lee and ninja rolls are teh bmob, and the quality of the sashimi and sushi is consistently great. one other thing we love is that this place is kid friendly as well - they have high chairs and a selection of cooked appetizers / entrees for squeamish kiddies who can't eat raw fish yet. the one change we'd recommend is dropping the tvs from above the bar and sushi bar - it takes the atmosphere down a notch, and it's hard to sit at the sushi bar and not be distracted by the tv (just a little). still, we love this place enough to give it 5*'s.
(5)Micaiah M.
Great fresh fish, Innovative specialty rolls, and excellent service. Wasabi cream tomato is excellent, as well as the Honey roll. We had an assortment of sashimi including the uni which was very fresh. Overall an outstanding restaurant.
(4)Hunter O.
ok so i have been here 2 times now once was like 2 years ago and then last night. so the food here is at best middle of the road sushi wise. the size for what you pay for is small the taste are not like thats amazing raw fish. the staff is super nice and very on the job. and the place looks great. The price is pretty high dinner for 4 and 5 beers and one ginn and tonic ran over a hundo alittle bucks plus tip. i was not overly full even at that. now i know that price range for 4 peps plus drinks in that not a bad price i know but if you still leave hungry thats not great. i eat alot of sushi in the seattle and ballard area this is on the high price scale for 4people. so thats what i got to say about this place. I like the place down the street with the big light tree way better. i would recomend it over this place. and if you like this place your going to love the place i recomend. have a nice day.
(3)Joe S.
I think that service goes a long long way and there isn't a more comfortable place to hang out and eat delicious rolls and great apps than Shiku. The staff is so friendly and they remember your name. Maybe they should've called themselves "Cheers". I'll be back for the homeless roll and that braised pork dish real soon.
(5)Indranil G.
Once upon a time this place was great. Truly great. Now not so much. Two very different days. Different circumstances. The first time my wife and I went in on a Saturday night, much as we've being doing for 3 years. Just the two of us on our "date night'. Shiku had always been our first choice for great Sushi close to home, so that's what we were expecting. This time, the service was terrible, and although the fish retained the same great quality it always had, the rice was marginal at best. The obviously new waitperson was sloppy and inattentive. We chalked it up to a busy and bad night. Every good place is allowed to have one, right? Fast forward - a slow Tuesday night, we were on Ballard Ave with our kids - yes they are small but very well behaved - it was early so we decided to take them to Shiku with us... the waiter was very nice and told us that they had Atlantic Salmon (read farmed crap), Chilean King (not so fresh?) and Alaskan Sockeye... dude get a clue - this is Seattle! Nobody in their right minds eats "Atlantic" salmon here... anyway the food took nearly an hour for a simple order - Edamame, Rice, simple Nigiri, Ama-Ebi and two rolls. In fact we didn't get the two rolls, which we had ordered later. I hear the owner is no longer present at Shiku and has a new restaurant he spends his time at. Shiku is rapidly sliding downhill as a result. So come back, and maybe we will too... there is competition next door now....
(2)eats a.
good drinks for happy hour, solid service, and the sushi is ok. nothing special (the rice a bit dry), but overall the atmosphere is great so go here for that :) moshi moshi up the street seems to be a step above in terms of sushi quality.
(3)Richard W.
Stafff is friendly and helpful but the sushi is average at best and by 8PM, when I was there, the Sushi was room temperature suggesting it may not have been stored well. Fat Bastard cab pinot and merlot is their only wine and the cocktail list is mainly designer variations of vodka including a mix of Ciroc vodka (made from grapes and sparkling white wine, The ambience is schizophrenic TV above the bar (no sound) , a sushi bar with a few seats and a restaurant with booths and tables offering various Japanese and American dishes ranging from fried dumplings to bacon-wrapped scallops,
(2)Sara H.
Best sushi in Ballard if you ask me. Oh and, ladies, you have to try the bathroom while you are here. Heated seat and "front stream" setting, need I say more?
(4)G T.
Shiku has got great service. Sushi and sashimi are fresh. Uni was a little too separated for my liking. It says "$$" but if you don't stick to the happy hour items... it goes from "$$" to "$$$", maybe "$$$$" very quickly. Parking can be a problem if you go during the dinner rush.
(4)Stephanie l.
Shiku is one of the best sushi places I've been to. There are a few sushi places in Ballard and each time I get a craving for sushi, Shiku is the first place that comes to mind. The atmosphere is great and the service is good. I always end up ordering way too much because everything on the menu look good even though I've had each roll on the menu like 3 times. One of my favorite roll is the Puget Sound Roll. YUM!
(5)M S.
Today we tried a range of dishes from their appetizer and sushi menu including 2 Puget Sound Spicy handrolls, which were our favourite. As part of our order we had the Chef's Choice Medium Sashimi selection and the eel nigiri, which we really liked. There was a trout nigiri similar to salmon that my husband loved but I could have lived without - wasn't bad, just not butter like the salmon I prefer. Overall, we were very pleased. The staff were delightful. We felt the pricing was more than fair value for the quality of the food. This was our first visit and we'll return. (We had no designer type rolls so can't address those.)
(4)Laura L.
Good sake, yummy spicy tuna rolls, and cheap during happy hour (all afternoon on Sundays). PLUS heated toilet seat in the ladies bathroom ;).
(5)Lisa W.
Oh my goodness, they have a sashimi roll! I usually don't order rolls because I always order sashimi. This is the best of both worlds for me! Yummy bits of salmon, tuna, albacore and snow crab surrounded in a cucumber sliced wrap. My new favorite! My bf, being in a different food world than myself, ordered the samarai roll, a gorgeous shrimp and crab tempura roll masterpiece. He loves colorful, rich, and delectable...the more calories, the better. I love delicious and healthy...the less calories, the better. Shiku appeases any palate.
(5)Chris B.
Great happy hour - probably one the best spicy tuna rolls I've had...had a tasty crispy layer it's bottom, just like your mother.
(4)Tim K.
Yelp steered me in right direction here. Visiong Seattle and was craving sushi. This place delivered perfectly. Started with the Kanpachi - light savory. Coho - bright pink, succulent. Crispy spicy Tuna - had to order a second round - incredible. Hirame delicious, unique, fresh oceanic. Hamachu handroll - masterful. Salt and pepper roll - very good, though a little boring compared to rest. Ballard ave roll - classic, simple. What a meal. Service understated and gentle. Interior simple not distracting and clean. Great place to focus on some masterfully prepared fish. This reminds me how bad the sushi in New York is on average.
(5)