Sushi Kashiba

Sushi Kashiba is the restaurant of Shiro Kashiba, a chef who has been making sushi for more than 50 years and is often described as the grandfather of Seattle sushi. He founded the city's first sushi counter decades ago, has been nominated three times for the James Beard Award for Outstanding Chef, and in 2024 received Japan's Order of the Rising Sun for his work promoting Japanese food culture. The restaurant is on Pine Street, right beside Pike Place Market, in a calm room with plain white walls.

The sushi counter is the heart of the place. Watching the chefs work and receiving pieces one by one is the main reason to come, and the menu has included flounder fin, Norwegian smoked mackerel, tuna, uni, fried prawn heads and sweet egg, with sake to drink. What is served depends on the day, so ask what is best.

Doors open at 5pm. The sushi counter has seatings at 5pm, 7pm and 9pm. A few seats at each counter seating can be reserved on OpenTable, while the rest are first come, first served; you can also put your name down in person for same-day counter seats during business hours. Demand is high, so arriving early improves your chances.

The restaurant has returned to a traditional tipping system for most guests, but an automatic service charge still applies to parties of five or more. Check the website for any changes to this policy before booking.

Sushi Kashiba suits couples and food lovers prepared to plan ahead, and solo diners do well at the counter. It is an expensive meal, especially if you order many pieces, so set your budget in advance. Allow around two hours for dinner. If you miss out on a counter seat, try again on another day or ask about the later seatings. Let staff know about any allergies or foods you avoid when you sit down, so the chefs can plan around them. For a first visit, a counter seat is strongly preferable to a table, as watching the chefs is half the experience.

Getting there is easy on foot from downtown hotels, and the restaurant is a short walk from the Pike Place Market entrance at First Avenue and Pike Street. If you have to wait for a later seating, the market's bars and Post Alley are nearby.