The Seattle area is full of great sushi options and many of the best restaurants are increasingly located in Bellevue. That being said, I know that there are sushi lovers of all types. Some love great rolls, others fusion options, and some want a high-end omakase experience.
Fortunately, Bellevue has plenty to offer from all these categories! Below we’ve compiled 10 of the best sushi options in Bellevue. We’ll describe what’s best about each sushi restaurant so you can find the one that’s perfect for you!
The Best Sushi Restaurants in Bellevue
- Takai By Kashiba
- Ginza
- I Love Sushi
- Minamoto
- Japonessa
- FLO Japanese
- Sushi J
- Sushi in Joy
- Seastar
- Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi
1. Takai By Kashiba
Takai by Kashiba is a new restaurant from chef Shiro Kashiba’s head apprentice Jun Takai. Those who are fans of sushi in the Seattle area will likely recognize Shiro’s name, as his restaurants in Seattle continue to be the gold standard for sushi in the area.
It’s also worth noting that ‘Takai’ also means expensive in Japanese, which is fitting. The restaurant’s 22-course omakase will likely set you back $300 (or more) per person after accounting for taxes and drinks. Of course, that cost is for a memorable dinner that includes some of the highest-quality fish that are expertly prepared by Takai’s team.
If you’ve been to Kashiba’s flagship Seattle restaurant, there are enough differences at Takai by Kashiba that it’s well worth a trip. While Kashiba focuses on more Northwest ingredients, Takai tasks more risks on aging fish and serving an international menu. Our call: Takai By Kashiba stands up against the best sushi restaurants not just in Seattle, but the entire Pacific Northwest.
2. Ginza
One of the most discerning sushi eaters I know (who has spent plenty of time eating sushi across Japan) had this to say about Ginza: “Exceptional quality. It’s a Japanese restaurant for Japanese people.”
This is to say, if you’re looking for fusion options or sushi for a wide audience, we’ll have that later on our list. Ginza is the place to eat if you want an authentic experience.
Ginza is a small restaurant and can be hard to find. It’s located near Main Street on 102nd. I’d walked down Main Street dozens of times without noticing it before spotting its name on the awning on the side of the restaurant.
However, you won’t be disappointed if you stop in. The sashimi is cut thick and full of flavor. In addition, the restaurant has plenty of traditional Japanese options like pumpkin fried rice which are great additions to your meal. Don’t be deterred by its 3.5-star Yelp ranking as many of these reviews are older. Ginza is a hidden gem in downtown Bellevue.
3. I Love Sushi
Lake Bellevue is a weird place. You could live in the city for decades and not even know it exists. That’s because it’s completely covered by buildings and hidden behind a row of car dealerships. More to the point, it’s most famous for being the home of the Crab Pot. Which, while I’m a fan, is about as different a “vibe” as you can get from a great sushi restaurant.
And yet, on Lake Bellevue you’ll find one of the best sushi restaurants in the Seattle area. One reason for I Love Sushi’s greatness is that it was led by Jun Takai, the same chef that now heads Takai By Kashiba. Simply put, I Love Sushi has a staff trained in serving some of the best cuts of sushi available.
One recommendation I’ll make if it’s available: try the tuna tasting. The quality of each tuna is exceptional and it’s a great value ($30 for a selection that includes O-toro). Another option I frequently order is the 14-piece omakase. While more expensive the selections have always been top-notch.
4. Minamoto
Minamoto offers a more upscale dining room than some of our cheaper options on the list such as Ginza. With its upscale appearance comes higher prices as well. For example, specialty rolls generally cost $20 to $30.
Yet, the menu is expansive. Beyond a substantial amount of raw bar options, you’ll also have a choice of entrees like donburi, grilled duck breast, and miso black cod. At the end of the day, Minamoto is best thought of as a location for a date night. The sushi is good and competitive with some of the city’s best. However, its atmosphere is among the best if you’re meeting a date or looking to celebrate a special day like a birthday.
5. Japonessa
We want to include sushi for all types of sushi lovers. Japonessa is our selection for the best “fusion” entry on the list. The restaurant bills itself as a sushi cocina, which is to say it fuses Japanese with Latin flavors in a stylish space.
Japonessa is in Lincoln Square South and on the more expensive side of rolls. Signature rolls are generally $20 to $25 each. Their names will likely be different than what you order at other restaurants on this list. There’s the Mexican Ninja, the Wicked Sensation, Skin on Skin, and Madrid Moon.
As we said, it’s a little different. However, if you’re not a traditionalist about sushi there are likely to be some rolls you find very enjoyable. Make no mistake, the rolls are the specialty here, but if you’re interested in sashimi there are plenty of options. Omakase offerings run from $50 to $200, depending on the quantity of food.
6. FLO Japanese
FLO is probably the second “nicest” sushi restaurant on our list. The restaurant is open for dinner only on Tuesday through Saturday. Beyond its cuts of sushi, it also serves a list of hot and cold starters and entrees. Many of them are beautifully plated.
My recommendation if you’re stopping by: try the sashimi platters. They’re available between $60 and $120, depending on the amount of food. If you’re with a date you can pair that with one of their cold or hot options. One that’s especially popular is the calamari tempura, which makes a great starter.
7. Sushi J
Crossroads Food Court is an absolute gem. There are all kinds of international cuisine like Russian, Indian, Korean, Mediterranean, and Italian. Suhii J is an unassuming booth in Crossroads that adds fresh sushi to the food court’s options.
You won’t find Omakase at Sushi J. The menu is fairly spartan. Sushi pieces feature many favorites like salmon, tuna, hamachi, unagi, and shrimp. But that’s it. There’s no uni, otoro, or many of the other cuts you’ll find at high-end sushi houses.
Instead, you’ll find sushi a la carte, bowls, combos, and rolls that allow you to eat well often for $20 or less. If you’re a fan of seared sushi, try their “Seared Combo” which combines salmon, unagi, and tamago. It’s very filling, flavorful, and costs less than $20.
8. Sushi In Joy
It would be easy to miss Sushi In Joy. The restaurant is located in a strip mall on Bellevue Way north of downtown headed toward Kirkland. I speak from experience, I drove by it dozens of times without ever noticing it! However, passing up this hidden gem would be a mistake.
First off, it needs to be noted that you’ll love the traditional dining room. Sushi In Joy has “tatami rooms” that are decorated with wood lattices and many of their tables provide high levels of privacy.
The food is also excellent. Cuts of sashimi at Sushi In Joy are generous and taste extremely fresh. If you’re looking for rolls or dinner entrees like chicken katsu or even bulgogi, there are plenty of options available.
The bottom line is that Sushi In Joy provides an excellent option if you’re near downtown and want a cheaper option than alternatives like FLO Sushi or I Love Sushi. It’s worth trying at least once, and you might find it to be a more “budget conscious” alternative to other nearby favorites.
9. Seastar
Seastar is one of the best seafood restaurants in Bellevue, and one of its top restaurants overall. Right off the bat, I’m going to say that while it’s one of the best restaurants, I wouldn’t come here exclusively for sushi.
Seatstar is best when you’re enjoying fresh entrees like diver scallops, jambalaya, or its Northwest Shellstock Stew.
However, it does provide plenty of raw bar options on its menu. So if you’re going with a group and want the option of sushi while also providing more traditional entrees, Seastar is an excellent option. Nigiri options include toro, unagi, salmon, and other seasonal fish. In addition, they normally have about 10 rolls on their menu.
10. Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi
Let me get this out of the way, Ascend is NOT a place to go for great value sushi. Ascend is frankly, extremely expensive. Yet, as we noted at the start of this list, we want to provide options for all kinds of sushi fans.
So, if you’re meeting a date, or just looking to impress an out-of-town friend with incredible views, Ascend is an excellent option. The restaurant keeps a large list of sushi options from cured chu-toro (very expensive) to a fairly long list of sashimi cuts and rolls.
One piece of advice if you’re looking to save money, check out their happy hour. You won’t find cuts of salmon belly on it, but there are normally a couple types of rolls that are discounted.
