Sushi Samurai
1817 Queen Anne Ave N,Unit a, Seattle, WA, 98109
Sushi Samurai Menu
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Address :
1817 Queen Anne Ave N,Unit a
Seattle, WA, 98109 - Phone (206) 766-0298
- Website https://www.thesushisamurai.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Jojo S.
Those of us who mourned the closing of Ototo Sushi on top of Queen Anne will now have somewhere new to go. Sushi Samurai brings sushi back to the top of the Counterbalance! The space is small, with perhaps 8 tables. If you're a party of 6, you might have a long wait. Singles have a primo view at the sushi bar. If you're into sushi, great. That's pretty much all they serve. If you're hoping for ramen, tempura, yakitori, udon or teriyaki, you're better off elsewhere. The sushi is "sustainable," the new buzzword for seafood these days. Yes, that's great, but for my money, it's more important how the food tastes. For that, Sushi Samurai mostly fills the bill. The sushi is not bad. Not mind-blowing, but not bad. The rice is not firmly packed, so nigiri will fall apart. The rolls have a bit too much mayonnaise for my taste, but some people really dig the rich caloric taste. There's a decent selection of rolls, and they're mostly amenable to small changes, i.e. "leave out the shiso leaves" or "skip cucumber." The one item I would recommend NOT getting is the Chirashi bowl. I dare say, Chirashi is one of the least predictable items on ANY japanese menu: it can mean a huge selection of wonderful sashimi plus roe plus tamago on top of sushi rice. OR it can be a few slices of fish on normal rice. Sushi Samurai is a bit on the stingy side of Chirashi. Not worth the $25. In short, this is a neighborhood sushi place. Don't expect Shiro's. Don't expect a long menu. But for a quick fix on sushi, especially a week night, this place does the trick!
(3)Marco M.
This is an awesome, albeit small, sushi place on the top of Queen Anne. Food is fresh, service friendly and attentive, and the fish portions are generous. No slivers of see through sushi here. The sushi chef makes an effort to make the platters attractive with creative garnishes. They have a great happy hour deal so check them out.
(5)milos d.
Not much to say, other than this place lived up to all my expectations (which are high) for sushi. I can't comment on the service because I was there at 3pm, but I will definitely be back.
(5)Roman B.
Surprisingly good. I walked in to order chirashi to go. I have to admit I gave the chef a bit of a hard time because I didn't like the color of the fish in his sushi bar fridge. I accused him of selling CO2 treated fish. It did occurred to me that it was possibly due to color of lights in his fridge. Turns out that was the case. I just opened the box at home and the fish is beautiful and tasty.
(4)Mike S.
Hands down the best presentation for sushi I've seen. Ray, the head chef, is amazing at what he does and takes his time to provide a great experience with excellent quality. Will be back again! Great spot to take a date!
(5)Jessica D.
Very good and decent price I particularly like the crunchy salmon roll. You get more bang for your buck here than several other places that have similar quality. I don't enjoy eating there, I think the service is unnecessarily slow. I do like to order take out from here but they sometimes don't have as good of an attention to detail. For example, they may Not give you enough wasabi, or forget to drizzle the sauce on top. That's happened twice.. And certain rolls are really not complete without the sauce.
(4)Jin W.
Be honest, sashimi is chewy and smell fishy. I had a hard time to swallow and i drank more water than I ever had. I didnt want to turn down the chef, so I ordered a dragon rolls to give a second try and i thought I was done with this place. I think staffs and chef are friendly, but to open a business in a wellknown neighborhood and to compete with other businessesmaybe you have to gain more skills. Different people have different opinions, but to spend money to enjoy good food or to show off your restaurant choices, you'd better try Shiros or Shiki before give this restaurant a review.
(1)Jim B.
Small, cozy space. There were some really good and some average menu items. The tako sunamono was decent but I've enjoyed better. We enjoyed a couple of special sushi rolls, my wife loved one while I loved the other. The miso soup had some nice goodies in it. The sushi was fresh. Overall a good meal, but I prefer another local place for regular visits.
(3)Cory M.
Really nice new sushi place in Queen Anne. Simple and modern looking. I got a 5 pc chefs choice nigiri along with a crunchy salmon role. Both were delicious, and I'll be coming back soon.
(4)Nyuki S.
Sushi Samurai is one of the best sushi restaurant in the entire Wa state. I'd like to say they are a bit pricey in the eyes of some people because it's very hard to find sustainable seafood and that's why there's only 2 100% sustainable sushi restaurants in the entire Wa state. They have friendly happy hour too.
(5)Sanja S.
Went there last night in search of a neighborhood sushi place, and wasn't too impressed. Decor is very plain, and although it is never a deal breaker for me, i just thought to mention it. Selection of the rolls was very common, nothing too exciting. Rolls themselves were fine, rice is very good, but that is a personal preference (we tried 4 different rolls, one of them that was supposed to be hot, was not hot at all, even with slices of jalapeno on top of it). The biggest disappointment of the evening was the nigiri. We had tuna and salmon, which is what I always order when trying new places, and they were bad. Like in a fish-that-has-been-deep-frozen-then-thawed-and-Âleft-sitting-in-water-forever bad. I am afraid we will not be going back.
(3)Holly M.
Wandered around Queen Anne wishing for a great sushi place after Calva shut down. I was so excited when I saw the Sushi Coming Soon sign go up, and went in a few days after they opened. The owner/chef was really nice and talked to me at the bar. He made me a beautiful Seattle Roll, and it was delicious. Can't wait to go back again.
(5)Lis H.
I'm pregnant and was craving sushi, so decided to come here with my daughter and husband and only order cooked rolls. We should have asked which rolls were fully cooked as the descriptions on the menu would say smoked, baked, fried and then there would be a piece of raw fish in the roll as well. Bummer! But still a decent place to eat sushi for Queen Anne where we don't have to have the huge stress of parking in bell town/downtown for good sushi. Very low key, smaller space, and casual.
(4)David O.
Loved Sushi Samurai!! Great sushi and great value for what you spend. We love their crunchy salmon, spicy tuna, and philly roll. Also their salmon tempura was incredibly good.
(4)Donna S.
The sushi here is so good!! Ray the owner is pretty awesome too!! The sushi is super fresh & made with love! Will definitely come back!
(5)Peter M.
Great, melt in your mouth sustainable sushi. Ray and his crew are great. I highly recommend this place. Get the shrimp asparagus roll. Have fun.
(5)Dan C.
Alright!! Really great sushi is back on Queen Anne. Raymond (THE Sushi Samurai), the former Sushi master at Chinoise, has opened his own place and the sushi doesn't get any better. The portions are generous, the sushi is super fresh and the standards (hamachi and unagi, my favorites) and original rolls (samurai and red dragon) were outstanding. This is easily the best sushi place in the QA neighborhood and i'd put it up there with any in the city. My only criticism is that the decor is quite plain. But, when the sushi is so good and the Sushi Samurai is doing his thing, we don't' worry about the scenery.
(5)Monica J.
I wanted to try this place out with my boyfriend for awhile and I figured a Saturday night would be the perfect time. We first walked in and were not greeted and were standing by the door unsure of whether to seat ourselves or wait longer. We finally asked the waitress if we could just sit at the bar and she nodded. After about five more minutes of us waiting at the bar my boyfriend asked for menus and she dropped them off and said she'd be right back with our waters. We waited for about ten more minutes before just getting fed up. I heard her servicing other tables and she sounded very friendly. I couldn't help but feel offended with how we were being treated and had to wonder why. I understand it was a busy saturday night but every guest that is willing to support a business should be treated like they matter. We ended up leaving without ordering or without even seeing the waitress again. Very distasteful service and not sure if I will return no matter how tasty the food is.
(1)Tana B.
Cozy little place. Good atmosphere, and the sushi chef was super nice! Talked to us about why he started the place and answered our questions we had about the food. The sushi was good, kind of "California" type sushi. Little pricy. 4/5
(4)A R.
Great food and atmosphere. Once it is able to serve sake, this place should be rocking!!! The portions are generous, the sushi is outstanding, specially the green dragon!
(4)Kelly L.
I have lived in Seattle for 10 years and this has got to be the best sushi and service I've had in this city! The atmosphere is small and cozy and has a very welcoming feel. The service is excellent and the food melts in your mouth! The presentation is a bonus, it's truly a work of art, almost makes you feel bad for eating it. I went with my mom and 8 year old son, we asked the chef to just make us several rolls, his choice...I'm not sure exactly what we ate but it was the best way to order for sure :). They had a basketball hoop hanging on the door and gave my son the basketball to shoot a few hoops, I love that they welcomed him because a lot of sushi places aren't super kid friendly, but they were so great! We will absolutely be back and I would highly recommend the Sushi Samurai!
(5)Amie T.
We are visiting from Portland and just stopped in cause we were craving sushi. We were pleasantly surprised of how amazing each roll was and the seaweed salad was to die for! Not only was the food exceptional but the owner was very informative about sustainable sushi and we are definitely behind his movement! Go support! It's amazing!
(5)Elizabeth H.
Had a great chat with owner/sushi chef Ray while we ate. Clearly passionate about his craft and a bit of an artist too, it was the best looking sushi we've ever seen! Looking forward to them getting their beer and wine license soon for some sake.
(5)Lauren C.
We had 4 rolls and miso soup and each roll was better than the next. Super fresh, high quality fish, great presentation, and really reasonably priced. The only reason for not giving 5 stars was they didn't have alcohol but perhaps they are working on that. One of the better sushi restaurants I have been to in Seattle.
(4)Kurt W.
amazing sushi, understated décor. This place will get better and better. A queen anne secret.... only exposing it because the owner is so friendly.
(5)Harrison S.
The sushi here is so mediocre, that it's actually the worst sushi I've ever had. Add to that the fact that everything is WAY overpriced, and there is clearly no reason to ever go here. Save yourself the trouble and find a good sushi place.
(2)Braxten T.
Spectacular service! I came in tonight at 9, Ray and the gentleman still had me covered with 2 delicious rolls in a timely manner! Very courteous and professional crew, with this experience I'll absolutely keep sushi samurai on the top of my list! Thanks again
(5)Stacy K.
I have to agree with a fellow reviewer of this place, the visual presentation is great, but I really didn't find anything we ordered to be outstanding. It wasn't bad, it just was average and I expected more. I ordered sashimi and was given nigiri. I was going to send it back, but didn't want to wait to have it redone. We all had rolls with many ingredients in them, but they just didn't have a ton of flavor. The waiter was really doing the "upsell" push, which I wasn't a big fan of. He talked my friends into trying a Saki that was more expensive then what they originally ordered and they both did not like it at all. On the plus side, he was very accommodating to special requests. Again, there was nothing bad, just nothing that stood out. I may give it another try because I like to support merchants in my neighborhood, but if this was someplace I had to drive too, I don't think I would go back as we have so much great sushi in the area.
(3)Joe F.
I have been coming to Sushi Samurai for a year now. I honestly can say that this is my favorite spot. I have stopped frequenting other sushi spots, simply because I get it all here. Unless you are into some real exotic sushi and paying a lot, this place does the job. I have never had a bad experience here....Well except when the waiter acts depressed when you tell him you don't want an alcoholic drink on a Friday Happy Hour!! Ray the owner and Chef is the man. So is his Bro. Ben!
(5)Kodi M.
I've worked in Queen Anne for over a year now, I've heard so many great things about the place but never really had the time to go. My boyfriend and I decided we would drive down to try it out, not only was the service amazing but food was OUTSTANDING! we got the new samurai, red dragon and the Karen. My fave was the red dragon, but the were all amazing. If you like REAL sushi, definitely check this place out.
(5)Sabrina A.
Love this place! Living here in Queen Anne means great places to eat and friendly people, you get both from Sushi Samurai. Ray and Ben make some mean sushi, the staff is awesome, always attentive, friendly, and fire back some hilarious jokes if you joke with them. That's refreshing, a laid back, but still professional restaurant where you can actually enjoy yourself and for a little while savor a meal and feel like you're around friends and family. Sustainable fish is a bonus, awesome orange dragons a plus for the kids, and smiles all around. Definitely returning to this place time and time again.
(5)Kelly E.
I'm in no way a sushi connoisseur, but that was quite possibly the best sushi I have ever had. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because my dishes piled up at my table before they were removed. Minor detail though.
(4)Arie L.
Ordered Syrah with my sushi, odd. But it somehow worked out. This restaurant is small, so it's better for a date or just one on one with a friend. There was only one person waiting for everyone in the restaurant, so be patient. Ordered the sashimi platter for two. Fish was fresh, but the waiter didn't tell us what cuts or what fish was on my plate. Good thing we know our sushi -somewhat? Also the sashimi was cut into rather larger chunks than what I'm used to versus the thinner pieces I usually crave. The restaurant only uses and serves sustainable fish and seafood. This can be great for the environment. After reading the reviews I had high expectations for this restaurant. However palate wise, the nigiri wasn't the best I've had.
(5)Whitney S.
I love this place. The sushi is always fresh and phenomenal, and the service is stellar. They recently remodeled and the space is bigger and stylish (which is good since they were getting too popular for their small amount of seating). The Maui roll was a favorite and the albacore sashimi was melt-in-your-mouth good! The staff is always super friendly and great with recommendations
(5)Nena P.
Best kept secret in QA. Can wait for my next Friday not date! Good food + good service + good location + fair price = great date night with my honey!
(4)Lori C.
Great service, ambiance, and delicious Sushi! We love the Karen roll, definitely give it a try. A little bit of lemon zest on the top of it makes it unforgettable. This is one of our favorite Sushi spots in Seattle. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Heather S.
Finally checked this place out. Great sushi and service. We are lucky enough to have this place within walking distance. Looking forward to the revamp of the menu coming soon.
(5)Justin L.
My wife and I go here fairly often because it's only a couple blocks from our apartment. Two weeks ago I would have given it two stars for pretty good sushi but a terrible atmosphere. They recently renovated and made this a wonderful place when you're craving sushi. The sushi is good, not great and I would love to give five stars but I've had better. If you're in Queen Anne and wanting sushi I can now say that this is a go to spot. Fair prices and tasty food.
(4)Jennifer Arlem M.
Ok, so this place deserves nothing but 5 stars. Best sushi in Queen Anne! I started working in the area a few months ago and my coworkers took me there for lunch. I must say, I was very impressed with the quality and presentation of the sushi. The customer service was divine, the food was fresh and freaky fast. It is definitely my go-to sushi spot in the area.
(5)Shereen A.
Came here with a friend last night for dinner. I'm always down for sushi. Well, who isn't? Anyways. We got there just in time (kind of). Our wait was no longer than 10 minutes and as soon as we sat down there was a flood of people waiting to be seated. This restaurant is pretty intimate, no more than 25 people at full capacity. The decor is humble and the people that work there are friendly and accommodating. If you get seated at the table that's between the last seat of the bar and next to the fridge, I suggest you move because you will be bumped into each time someone passes behind your chair. After about 10 minutes of this, we asked to move to another table. The legs on that table aren't diagonal, so there isn't any space to sit. The waitress was flying solo for the evening, servicing the entire restaurant. I felt pretty bad for her, you could see how stressed out she was. I'm not sure if it's normal for them to be that understaffed; but if so, she should come up with some sort of system to be more organized. We got everything out of order: waters, appetizer, chopsticks, one drink, plates, soy sauce bowl and had to ask for everything individually. Second drink didn't come until about 15 minutes later, after kindly reminding her. One thing that struck me about Sushi Samurai prior to coming here was how beautiful the presentation looked in other people's pictures. While, visually our sushi lived up to the same expectations, unfortunately the flavor did not. Honestly, I wasn't impressed. The fish was bland and you couldn't taste the difference between teach type of fish, the vegetables added in each roll didn't bring out any flavor. It just...didn't...pop. They were also out of yellowtail, a specialty roll listed as one of their regular menu items. Seemed a little weird to be out of a staple, but we ordered a special instead. Check the whiteboard when you get in, one of our favorite rolls was from there. Others who had a bigger party and ordered after us received their food first. Before our last roll came out, the waitress brought us our bill. Friend told her we hadn't received our last roll and she said, "Oh!" almost as if she was surprised about us not getting it yet. Something that did catch my eye as soon as I came in was their beta fish, swimming in a cloud of dirty water. I felt bad for that fish, the water was so thick and murky. And, if he could see past the cloudiness, he'd see his fellow fishies being cut up and served; I'm sure he's unfazed by it. I feel like this speaks to the details in this restaurant. For instance, we ordered the kaiso as an appetizer (which we both enjoyed). The people next to us also ordered it and they had different ingredients in it. I was slightly jealous because I liked what was in theirs better lol. Maybe they were just running low on certain ingredients? Also, they didn't have enough soy sauce bowls so one of us was given this GIANT bowl instead. A lot of things seemed to be mismatched, but that goes along with the unpretentious feeling of this place. I'll stop rambling. To sum it up: Service 2.5 Food 3 Ambiance: cozy and intimate. Will I be back? Maybe.
(3)Marc A.
Love that they focus on serving only sustainable seafood here. Had two rolls, both very good. Red Dragon roll and Crunchy Salmon roll. Both rolls had one pepper to indicate the spice level, but they were only a tad spicy. We also ate the escolar (butterfish) and yellowtail nigiri, and it was fresh and delicious. Service was prompt and attentive and the sushi was very well done. Prices are also very reasonable for the quality.
(4)Melissa N.
I've been here twice and the staff here is super nice! They have a small set up with a few tables and bar seats. This sushi place is literally next door to us so why not stop by! We came for the happy hour and they have some good pretty deals. My boyfriend and I sat at the bar (we like to watch the chefs work). We were immediately offered their complimentary edemame. We ordered the yellowtail & salmon sashimi, crunch roll, california, and eel nigiri. It was definitely a good amount of food! We were pretty full by the end. The presentation of everything was also beautiful! They shaped a butterfly out of a carrot. :) I would definitely come back since it's so close and the staff is really friendly. They always checked up on us to make sure we were enjoying our food. There's a real homey feel to this place. It seems like the customers that come in are regulars.
(4)Rosario S.
Very very delicious! The sushi/sashimi is Tokyo, Japan level! I highly recommend this sushi restaurant! Good job chef!
(5)Emily H.
This little sushi place somehow manages to keep itself tucked away even though it sits on the main drag of Queen Anne near the counterbalance - my boyfriend and I walked past it twice before finally spotting it! What you find inside is no frills - a very basic table and chairs setup that you might find at your favorite lunch counter. But the restaurant is clean, the servers are attentive, and the sushi is tasty and well-priced. We only went here once, but I would still say we ate enough sushi to make a decent judgment about this spot (in spite of the fact that we were a party of two, they had to push two tables together because we ordered enough sushi for four...ahem). The miso soup was some of the tastiest I've had. I got three different rolls, and all were well made and tasty (if you're looking for an interesting vegetarian roll, try the Yoga roll. Comes topped with sweet chili sauce, yum!). Boyfriend ordered a few rounds of sashimi, and the volume of sashimi that was delivered was impressive, especially when comparing against the prices you'd pay at other "trendier" sushi restaurants. Overall really enjoyed this spot. Docking just one star for ambience - not that I need the perfect feng shui to enjoy a good sushi dinner, but it feels a bit more like a quick lunch spot than a sit-down dinner place on the inside. But a great option for tasty sushi, good service, and fresh, sustainable fish that won't break the bank.
(4)Sheryl C.
Cute little place and very friendly and funny staff. The fish was very good and in general we preferred the maguro over the rolls but all of it was pretty darn good. I would definitely go back and hopefully soon.
(4)Garrett T.
I thought it was ok, nothing special. The fish was fresh but nothing about this place stood out to me. I had seaweed salad, 2 rolls and some sashimi. Considering all of the sushi options, I won't be back. Great location though.
(3)Ross B.
wowowowowowowow. That's a word i just made up for the incredible presentation this place has. The sushi came out after delightful conversation with the manager and chef.. and to my surprise.. i didn't feel like eating it. It was just so stinkin pretty! Had a ton of nigiri (some butter fish.... which tasted oddly like butter) and some amazing rolls, some of which are unique only to samurai. It's a small space, so best just bring a couple folks (and not the whole fam) because it would get squished pretty quick. One of the rolls (i'm forgetting the name of it, maybe the Bombero?) was basically a flavor journey through time and space. It was incredible and is unique to this establishment. Anywho, what i'm trying to say is go, go and eat and be merry.
(5)Stephanie B.
Love this place! Ray and his staff provide fantastic service and the sushi is amazing. My husband and I go about 2-4 times a month and we've tried a variety of their dishes and we can honestly say there isn't a bad thing on the menu. This place is our go-to sushi spot and a must try!
(5)Matt S.
Great menu! The special rolls were all making my mouth water. I went for the Las Vegas roll that was lightly tempura fried...delicious! Service was great and not at all slow as referred to by some. This place is 500 sf, so not hard to get attention of waiter in any case.
(5)Shana G.
I have frequented this place after my first visit, and I will have to say this is now my favorite sushi spot! Since my first review, they have switched to using all sustainable fish on their menu. Let me tell you, you can definitely taste the difference. As OutKast would say, so fresh and so clean!! I come here often with my coworkers after work, and their staff is always friendly, fun, and accommodating. Everyone I know raves about this place, and I know you will too if you give it a try.
(5)Eli S.
Outstanding! Fresh fish; tastefully rolled in proper proportion with the other ingredients. Great service too. Will be back again for sure.
(5)Mia P.
The plates are done beautifully, love that they use sustainable fish and that is always perfect and fresh.
(4)Chelsea H.
I love this place. Pretty small but the sushi chefs are super nice. AND they make good sushi to boot! :-) A great little find at the top of Queen Anne hill!!
(4)Elisabeth D.
Came here for New Years Eve with a group and we had the best service. So patient, fun, and accommodating. Sushi was delicious and I have found a new favorite place! Thank you Curtis aka Estaban for making it such a great night!
(5)Maia R.
I just ordered Bitesquad from Sushi Samurai because I had been craving sushi. I've been to a lot of sushi restaurants in Seattle and other places and know what I like. I just want to say first of all that there are a lot of things about my order from Sushi Samurai that I like--I love the fact that they put fruit in with your sushi order. It brightens up the plate but also is just a nice sweet touch. I also thought the quality of the sushi overall was pretty good. The pieces of fish they served were also HUGE, which I always really appreciate because I feel like I'm getting what I'm paying for. That being said, the RICE. The rice ruined this whole dinner for me. I ended up peeling all the fish off of my nigiri and just eating it like sashimi because I couldn't deal with the rice. I was super disappointed because I do really like to eat sushi rice with my fish (duh, otherwise I would have ordered sashimi), and the quality of the fish was actually pretty good. To be honest I'd rather have bad quality sushi rice than bad quality fish, but I still didn't want to eat it. The texture was a little off and the rice managed to taste too vinegar-y but also tasteless at the same time...? Not sure how that happens, but it did. If you're a fan of sashimi I'm sure your experience will be completely different and better than mine. People who like fancy rolls with lots of flavors might also be fine with it. But for people like me who enjoy their simple nigiri, Sushi Samurai may not be the best choice.
(2)Erin M.
Great service and atmosphere. Ray and his staff are amazing. Try the Karen roll :)
(5)Craig A.
I thought it was alright. Fantastic atmosphere, clean establishment, and my server Curtis was very kind. He addressed me by first name! I was there for happy hour, so I got the Nigiri #2. The fish was just OK, I wouldn't rave about it. I had to use a little soy sauce and wasabi to pep up the flavor. Not a bad amount of fish for the price I suppose, fortunately still filled me up for $10!
(3)Neil M.
We've been to every sushi place in Seattle and this is the best! Honestly - you wont find a better place for sushi in Seattle. The fish is always very fresh, the chef's presentation of each dish is creative and unique. Try the Lindsay roll - its phenomenal!! The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable- get there early because it fills up quickly. Rumor has it - the most interesting man in the world dines there.
(5)Jessica G.
This is my first hate review I have ever written. I ate there about a year ago and whenever I walk by the restaurant I become angry due to the terrible experience I had there. Ordered carryout one evening. Waited 2 hours for my food. About 1 at home and 1 in the restaurant. The food was exceptionally overpriced. The rice was mushy and did not stick together. The fish looked like it was cut with an old serrated steak knife. I really really regretted spending SO much money there for 1 tiny meal. IF you are looking for sushi on Queen Anne, go to Shiki, it's just down the hill and it's the real deal.
(1)David M.
Excellent sushi spot in Queen Anne with fair prices and fresh (sustainable) fish. The restaurant is small and the decor is more eatery than evening dining style.
(4)Peter F.
I have always been a big fan of sushi. Walking into sushi samurai I was not expecting much from this place for it looked small. However as soon as I walked in I found the atmosphere to be quite warming and welcoming. The design was clever and had its own unique style to it and I felt at home right away When we were shown to our table our waiter Curtis who was such a great person and fun to talk to gave us good advice and ideas towards what to get. Since we arrived during happy hour it made sense to try sushi from that menu. I ordered the nigiri set 2 and a crunchy salmon roll and what surprised me the most was the plate presentation. There was a variety of colors and shapes that made the food look amazing. I had a hard time starting to eat the sushi because the presentation was beautiful. The nigiri was fresh and great tasting and I could tell that they used high quality sustainable fish and that it was local. The crunchy salmon was great providing a nice crunch along with the other flavirs from the vegetables in the roll. The food was fresh and well prepared. The hot tea was well prepared and went beautifully with the sushi. This place was very creative with the sushi and it is hard to find places where creativity shows. Sushi Samurai is a great place and I will be going back soon
(5)Karin D.
As new residents of the Queen Anne neighborhood, we quickly became regulars for Friday happy hour here! Amazing fresh sushi, nigiri, the spicy edamame is awesome and the sake perfect. Great service and ambience and we love the small setting. Thanks for some great meals so far!
(5)Jaylyn B.
Great presentation, expecially with their male waiter ;) Sushi was above average but not the best and pricing is about right.
(4)T J.
Pretty delish! Very fresh seeming. The menu is 99% sushi so don't expect a lot of hot choices- they have miso and gyoza, but I think that's it. The sushi was very tasty and served with a lovely presentation. The server (Curtis?) was extremely friendly and fun. We will go back.
(4)Christine C.
Super impressed with the quality and presentation of the sushi here. We ordered the sashimi platter 1, which is the smaller of the 2 platters they have and the crunchy salmon roll.... Both were delicious! The sashimi was a bit thicker cut than most places, yet it was so tender and flavorful. The sushi chef was very engaging and super attentive of our needs, considering he was constantly making sushi. Our waitress was not the best.... But the overall experience made up for her lack of service. Can't wait to go back again! Best sushi place in seattle so far.
(5)Stefani B.
Omg!!! Best sushi I've had in a long time. They have snow crab on the menu instead of that fake crap. I have a gluten allergy and they have those items listed on the menu. And they are knowledgeable enough to convert the rolls so that we can all enjoy the same rolls. Very impressed. Found my new sushi place for shore. And its sustainable too!!! Love it. Be back soon
(5)Brad B.
very good sushi, very nice staff, small cozy sushi bar. I will definitely be going there again
(5)Jeff C.
Back on my second trip to the little hole in the wall called Sushi Samurai. While the menu is very small here (basic sushi and no cooked entrees of any significance) you can still find something to fill your belly. Quality of fish is good, presentation is excellent, prices are average to a little above average - the combos provide a bit better value.The sushi chef doesn't look Japanese but he knows what he's doing. Nigiri cuts are generously sized but average for a high-end sushi place (this place has a casual, bare-bones atmosphere.) The poke salad was excellent with a huge heap of fish but a little heavy handed on the sauce/dressing. I wish they had some more selections of fish on their sushi menu such as Aji, Uni, King Crab, Monkfish Liver Pate, etc. What they do offer they do well. If you are a 'fufu' roll lover (complex looking dressed up rolls) you will really like this place but expect to pay around $10-$14 per roll. So close to 4 stars. Just needs (a) a little bit better selection, and (b) maybe a little lower prices ($4.50 for mackerel nigiri is pretty high) or (c) a bit bigger and more upscale atmosphere to justify the prices. Complimentary edamame is a nice touch. A very high 3 stars. Easily 4 stars when they have Happy Hour.
(3)Tyler H.
I've been here twice now, and don't plan on returning. The sushi itself is fine, but easily overpriced. The place is dirty - the mirror hasn't been cleaned in months and there's cobwebs hanging from the lights. The service was not good. I can understand there's only one waiter for a small place, but each time I've come, I've had to wait and specifically ask for my water to be refilled (It's right there, you can see it, please do your job). The waiter has been standing around doing nothing or just talking about non-order related matters for much of that time. I've noticed those ordering alcohol get better service. Additionally, the waiter has intentionally tried to make me feel bad each time for not ordering more food. I know how much food is appropriate for me - don't try to oversell me. In fact, the first time I thought why not, and took his suggestion - and I did not care for what I got. I clearly am in the minority here, but after two times with the same bad experience, I thought it would be helpful to throw my opinion in the mix so people aren't surprised when they encounter this. I recommend going just about anywhere else if you want to be shown common courtesy. I am sure if you give indication to the waiter that you'll be spending what he considers the appropriate amount on a meal, you will experience things differently.
(1)Stefan H.
this place deserves nothing but 5 stars. This place is hella good probably one of the top 5 sushi places i have been to in my life. Waitress is almost super model status to, which is a nice plus! Guy who made sushi... very talented. will come back for sure definitely sooner than later.
(5)Vici K.
I've worked in the area a few months & have wanted to try this place for months. But....sushi is a bit of a food journey, not to be rushed or constrained by a lunch hour. Also sushi is usually what I consider a bit pricey for lunch. However, ate here last night & it was delicious! Great cozy atmosphere. Friendly, efficient staff. This will definitely become one of my take out haunts! Nice happy hour pricing delicious fresh fish. Tasty unique rolls and delicious nigiri. Already considering stopping again tonight....hhmmmmm.
(5)Tiffany G.
This is one of the BEST SUSHI restaurants in Seattle. The quality is superb, presentation is beautiful! The brothers that own the joint are also wonderful hosts that love to chat, if you are up for it. If not, then sit at one of their tables instead of the sushi bar and bask in the flavors and freshness - from the fish, to the ginger, to the orange slices. I rarely exceed a $40 bill, for two people - that's after tax and tip, and a completely filling meal. That's really outstanding and rare in Seattle. On a final note - this is one of the only SUSTAINABLE sushi restaurants in Seattle. That means that they only serve fish that isn't over fished and/or is sustainably caught. If this isn't an issue to you, it should be. Do some research. This place is a must try. Do it. You'll thank us later.
(5)Melissa S.
These gentlemen are some of the best in the industry. Always so hospitable and accommodating. They only serve sustainable fish. Love the unagi and specialty rolls here. Also they are going to be adding a bar. Can't wait this is one of the best places on the Ave.
(5)Richard R.
Best sushi in Seattle and really great customer service. AND you can have it delivered through. Bite Squad! Will definitely be returning.
(5)Suzanne L.
Delicious fresh sushi! Terrific waiter with good recommendations. Small but worth the wait for a table.
(5)Jacob Y.
I've eaten at many sushi places around Seattle over the past dozen or so years. Without a doubt, Ray the Sushi Samurai is the reason I keep coming back to the Sushi Samurai. Ray has many connections in Seattle, and uses those to be sure that he gets the freshest fish possible. He is extremely talented with his knifework and is able to get creative when you let him choose from the freshest of the fresh. The staples are covered, and so are the more modern takes on sushi. I recommend that you sit at the bar, get to know Ray, and tell him you want to experience what he has to offer. This would be Omakase style, and Ray will definitely hook you up with the best sushi you have ever had. For those who have mentioned price as being an issue, I wonder if you have ever ventured down to San Francisco for sushi? It's a bargain here compared to that, and by my measure, comparable to other sushi spots in Seattle. That's just my $0.02.
(5)T M.
The service is good, sushi is good. I'm really disappointed in the take out, not the quality of the food but how many times you have to add your specifications to your order and then to actually not have them add it. Today is my second time ordering and this is the second time I didn't receive the spicy mayo on the side. I may go back for a sit down meal but I will not be ordering take out from them again.
(2)Chris L.
My wife and I had dinner at Sushi Samurai last night and were extremely underwhelmed by the experience. We both agreed that the sushi was good and the prices were reasonable, but the service was on the verge of unacceptable. When we arrived it was busy--every table was in use--but the service was the absolute worst at the end of the meal when the place was much calmer. To start, it took 15 minutes for our orders to be taken, and while the food arrived quickly, this should be attributed to the sushi chefs (they seemed great and appeared friendly with those seated at the sushi bar). Again, the sushi was good and the portions were great for the price. When it came time to get the check, the waitress acknowledged she would get our voucher, but then 10 minutes or so later finally returned with the check and no discount. I quickly tried to give her my card, but she ignored me and ran off to make the adjustment to the check, thereby forcing us to continue waiting to pay. I can understand failing to get the voucher, but it becomes a problem when the simple task of producing and correcting a check takes an unreasonable amount of time. I doubt we will be back because the location isn't exactly convenient for us, but I was hoping for better based on strong Yelp reviews. Oh well, at least the sushi was good, which would make it a good option for take-out.
(2)Sylvia P.
This take-out though! With some Sushi Samurai magic, 15 minutes and $15 transforms into a delicious dinner. Highly recommend it if you're looking for a quick meal.
(4)Kelly T.
Ray makes his sushi with love! So good, so fresh and so pretty.
(5)Tommy K.
I really wanted to like this place. After Ototo shut down, I was really happy to see a new sushi restaurant on top of the hill. The fish here is quite good and, as many others have pointed out, their commitment to using sustainable fish is definitely a plus. The service was also fine. Everything here was good but for one major problem: the rice. For all the focus on fish, the key ingredient to sushi is the rice and I have to say that the rice tasted rather bland. Good sushi shouldn't need additional soy sauce but here I really felt it was needed. The rice just didn't have that subtle vinegary tang that you normally get from well-made sushi rice.
(3)Danielle M.
cold miso soup, understaffed, very bland food. plates overdecorated with random fruit and carved celery does not good sushi make.
(2)Tricia G.
Love this place. It's my go-to for all sushi intake, especially takeout often after a long day at work. The sushi is fresh and I love that it's sustainable. You really can't go wrong with anything on this menu-I've tried most of it. The miso soup is unique-a bit sweet, which surprisingly, I loved at first taste. The staff is super nice, as well.
(5)Daniel S.
Great staff, great food. It's a small place - nice neighborhood joint to meet up, grab a glass of sake, and snack.
(5)Bob P.
This place is cool if you're looking for a quick bite, and reasonably priced too. The service is great, and make you feel like they have known you for years. The only draw back was spicy mayo. Most of the menu and rolls have the common ingredient, and it's something that I wasn't used to. The food came out fresh and promptly which is a huge plus if you're diving into this place looking to restore your appetite quickly.
(3)Chris D.
Finally! A sushi extraordinaire that remembers the presentation! My wife and two kids visited Sushi Samurai after climbing the hill and were very pleasantly surprised. The service was fantastic! The server made my 2 year old chopsticks with a rubber band that he could use from scratch! The platter we were served had ornamental carrots and celery that were masterfully crafted and beautiful... it almost hurt to eat it! but we did... It tasted fantastic as well. Both the static menu items and the items on the board were inventive and a personal touch put on every bite. I even dared the chef to give me his worst in terms of spice and he complied with a custom creation! All in all it was a great experience and I find myself refreshed for having visited. If I were a Seattle native, I would definitely frequent!
(5)Katharine J.
Ray, the owner and sushi chef, is an artist. Sushi Samurai is SUSTAINABLE and delicious! I return at least once a week. Server Curtis is handsome, charismatic, and always makes my day. Ask Ray to surprise you. It's better than even the fanciest sushi places in Los Angeles and is certainly the best one in all of Seattle.
(5)Giorgio P.
This one is a classic neighborhood sushi restaurant and thy get extra points because they only serve sustainably caught fish. Somehow it just feels fresh and better for you. The owner is the cook and the ambiance is relaxing, warm and welcoming. The presentation of the dishes is a notch above most sushi restaurants and the overall selection is good. I gave it a full five stars because it hits the mark in every category (quality, ambiance, price, staff, reliability) and is one of few sushi restaurants that serves only sustainable fish.
(5)Candace H.
Oh my goodness. I could not be happier with this place! Not only do they use sustainable seafood, but they are affordable and freakin delicious! Definitely will be back.
(5)Kiki Cooley L.
Looked nice and was decently full. However, when I asked for to-go they said it would be a 45 minute wait. Really?! Not impressed. Might try sometime, but it's not on the top of my list after that.
(2)A K.
Decided to try this place (finally!) and wasn't disappointed. As others have commented, the plates were very well presented and each roll was great. The staff are very friendly and I will be visiting again!
(5)Kat H.
First visit, used a groupon, took my daughter for lunch yesterday, a rainy Friday. Straight away showed the server the groupon, asked for suggestions. Notably there was no attitude about the groupon(not always the case in some establishments), didn't make any difference in the welcoming, friendly service. The sushi, sakes and service all excellent! We had house sake, tempura, gyoza to start, lovely presentation and very tasty tempura( prawns and vegetables) and gyoza was yummy.We tried the Karen and Bombero rolls and a side of Negri Saba(mackerel),all impeccably fresh, Saba is the litmus test on freshness, perfect.. The rolls were delicious., and not the run of the mill, creative nicely presented and fantastic flavors. We enjoyed our lunch, nice calm ambience in an intimate space, service was attentive, friendly and helpful, sushi chef's are talented. What a nice treat, a pleasure in fact.
(5)Michelle Y.
This is a restaurant that manages to be both awesome to customers AND serve amazing food. We've only been in three times over the last three months, and yet, they remember us and treat us like we're actually welcome. I love that they serve sustainable fish, but even more than that, I love that the food is inspiring, and the people who work there are incredible. It's not cheap food, and it's not fast, but they're honest, straightforward people dishing up some of the most refreshing sashimi, etc. in Seattle. It's a small place, and yet, for some reason it never feels cramped. How they pull that off beats me. Whatever you're doing, keep doing it, you guys.
(5)Bitsy G.
I typically review after 2 or 3 visits to confirm consistency, but I was so impressed, I had to review asap! They have a happy hour menu! When my bf and I stopped in, it just happened to be happy hour, so we ordered several items off that, and then also ordered a roll from their "special roll" selection; I think it was the samurai roll (it had pineapple and baked scallop, and it was amazing!). The service was great, the space was clean, cozy and even a little romantic, if you can picture a romantic sushi restaurant. Now for the sushi... it was incredibly fresh and impeccably plated. The presentation is just amazing. You'll want to get a pic of the celery snail (or whatever you happen to receive) before digging in! Even though I've only been once, I'm giving Sushi Samurai 5 stars. I see myself getting sushi on a weekly basis from now on!
(5)Faith R.
Went here last night and LOVED it. So tasty. I don't know that I prefer it over conveyor belt sushi, though, because I love the instant gratification and variety available with conveyor belt sushi. We ordered the red and green dragon rolls and loved both of them. Small, intimate place with great quality. Might be hard to get a large group in because of the limited space, but it may be worth the wait. Our rolls were $10-12 each, and the miso soup was $2 a bowl.
(5)Mark T.
Came here last night with the family. We were all impressed! Great sushi here, very fresh; indeed, there are no noodles or hot dishes other than the tempura that is put into the sushi. Their care about the presentation is superb! We got carved veggies with our order and every plate presentation was spectacular. I wish I had my camera. My only qualm was the miso; the mushrooms were very chewy - reminiscent of dried mushrooms that didn't get a chance to fully rehydrate. Well, the prices weren't low, either, but for the quality of food and attention to detail on the sushi, it was worth it. This isn't Sushiland! Wait staff was very attentive and helpful; nice ambience; the interior was never loud, so all in all it was a very pleasant dining experience. This will be our go-to sushi place now that Ototo and Calva are gone on top of Queen Anne Hill.
(4)sammick d.
Hooray A sushi place in upper Queen Anne Nice people,,good food,,
(4)amy n.
Very disappointed... Over priced for not authentic sushi. We ordered 10 pieces sushi plate comes with 5 different kinds of fishes... They does not seems like sushi trained chefs because they does not prepare Saba at their kitchen. They use a frozen Saba so it is way salty!!! Yuck!!! They are not qualified to claim themselves as sushi place. Give me a brake!!!
(1)Jerrick G.
This brand-new sushi restaurant and well-performed sushi chef Ray Maranon is amazing. Really great with customers, with fresh fish everyday. This spot I can consider any day. The space is good enough for a large party to accommodate but you have to get in there at the right time. I love this place!
(5)Jennifer A.
Save your money.... This place is absolutely not worth it. I've had better sushi from Trader Joes. Me and a friend went in one night to try out our neighborhood sushi spot. We sat down and after about five minutes the waiter brought us dirty water glasses. We should have gotten up and ran, but we decided to give it a chance... The presentation was nice, but the fish was dry, flavorless, and just plain disgusting. We were virtually ignored the entire time by the wait staff and when we had barely touched our plates at the end of the meal they didn't even bother to ask what was wrong. I will NOT be coming back here.
(1)Nic M.
Yummy iced orange/cucumber water was served as we sat down. Ordered tea, edamame and miso soup to start. Edamame could be better. Miso was surprisingly different (sweet) but good! Ordered three rolls and hamachi nigiri. ALL excellent and exceptional presentation. End the meal satisfied and was surprise further with candy treats that came along with our check. Will definitely comeback.
(5)Jonathan F.
Appalling service and mediocre food. I don't know if Sunday is an off day, but our dinner experience tonight was horrid. Wait staff was clueless - neglected to set up our table after cleaning, didn't know the menu or much at all about sushi, failed to deduct from the bill something we outright found unpalatable. But the crowning touch was when the waitress, moving through a cramped corner, knocked over a chair on top of me but didn't notice it. I had to call attention to it to our server. No one apologized. The food was at best mediocre. Rice was over watered, sashimi roughly cut, sushi preparations a jumble of poorly matched tastes. Overall, a zero.
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