The vibes are chill and great. The food is just okay. I like how they put a lot of creative thought into the menu and making each dish come to appreciation. But having eaten and made these kinds of foods myself, I was expecting more. Would I come back? Probably if a group of friends wanted somewhere to go chill in the evening. If there's a new menu, I'd be curious to try the food again. read more

Hannyatou - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Got here in time for their happy hour, can't recommend it enough. I had no idea they had a back patio, It's super cute and covered so you get shade from the summer sun. Tons of snacks and good drinks at a discount, we ordered the sake 101 flight as well. The server gave us background on the 3 sakes in the flight, and they were all really delicious and refreshing on the hot day. All the food we had was really good! My friend had the katsu sandwich, made perfectly. Staff was super friendly, everything came out pretty fast. If you want an authentic sake bar experience, this is the spot! read more

Hannyatou - Outdoor back patio - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

I had so much fun at this place. I know nothing about sake, so the sake flight was a really fun experience for me. Bartender/waiter was passionate and enthusiastic about explaining each pour. A unique way to try something new in Seattle! read more

Where do I even begin? How a place be so humble, rough, upper echelon yet refined at the same time is BEYOND me but they fucking did it. Doing my usual TL;DR would be doing a complete injustice to how special this place is so please just bear with my probably long-winded review... I had first read about Matsuko Soma in the Eater article that came out in April for Hannyatou. Sake bar? Say no more. I had heard stirrings of the name usually interwoven with "James Beard Nominee" 9 times out of 10. Embarrassingly due to my need for all things familiar, I tend to read about these amazing eats out side of my Capitol Hill bubble rather than actually indulge. Sake was what really motivated me to venture out here (as if it's some long trek, lol). We ended up falling in love with the Fremont area and I attribute some of that to the bar-hopping we did after our spectacular time here. The location is unassuming. It really reminds me of the little baachan and jiichan japanese spots back in Hawaii. Not the ones in Honolulu but out there near China Man's hat and Makapuu. The space is very small and I'm shocked we were seated immediately. It was around 7pm on a Friday. It is next to Soma's Kamonegi so coming here before your dinner plans there for a sake flight seems like an educated option, in my opinion. (We're going there next time). The food was simple, elegant and also downright gritty. I love the quirky and adventourous pairings...chicken liver pate with spam?!? We see you Soma, you cheeky, culinary artist, you! Fucking brilliant and wacky. My absolute mus try was the tamago salad sandwich. This is not your mother's school lunch in a brown bag. Just see my photos it is the best sando I have ever put in my mouth. I did the jaw gape thing I do when food makes me feel some type of way. I crave this weekly now. The service, among everything else is what sets Hannyatou a part. They care. They know their shit. They can read you. They know where everything is sourced and about the culinary pallet. They are knowledgeable and approachable. We had the best service I have ever had here. WOW. Of course every note and body was explained to use about our sakes. Newbie to connoisseur alike, this will be a well worth trip for you. Thank you for an incredible experience! read more

See all

How to capture the essence of Hannyatou? Try haiku: precious sake bar menu? tIny fishy bites. dinner waits elsewhere Pardon me if I wax poetic over Hannyatou, but it was truly a singular experience, and one that I won't forget for a long time. The staff was perfectly attentive without hovering (not easy in such close quarters) and the food was creative and ingeniously presented. If you are a sake lover, you will adore this place. The waiter was passionate and chatted freely about the sake choices. We tried three different types. How surprising to discover that we preferred "tahoma fuji," the Washington State sake. It was also the least expensive of the three we sampled. Economical and brewed in Ballard, too. Soon after our sake cups clinked, a dozen hama hama oysters were beautifully presented, perched atop tiny piles of rock salt. And what perfect oysters they were, with deeply-cupped shells full of oyster brine that tasted as fresh as ocean spray. We followed the hama hamas with an order of tsukemono pickles and the funky squid. That's right, I said Funky Squid. The waitress wasn't sure we would like it, and she nearly dissuaded us from ordering it. Exactly two tiny, fermented, half-putrescent squid sat in the teensiest little bowl, rotting away in a fetid pool of salty brine, topped with grated radish in two colors. Oh brother, was it ever funky, but surprisingly, not as horrible to eat as I had expected. My partner loved it. Thankfully, sake #2 came to the rescue, and the tsukemono also provided some gustatory relief from that stinking squid. Saltine crackers and cod liver in the can arrived next, alongside sake #3. Happy Hour was nearly over. We had gone from slurping the most sublimely briney oysters to digging fish liver out of a pop-top can. It was time to stop. The single Ben Franklin in my pocket wouldn't cover our bill, even if the house did accept cash (which it doesn't), so we decided to charge it and move on to another Japanese restaurant where we could eat a decent meal without breaking the bank. Yes, we were still hungry after all those darling itty-bitty mini-bites; it was all very shishi-odoshi. Bottom line: Hannyatou is a precious little sake bar and a delightfully cute spot to linger over a cuppa hooch before going out to dinner someplace else. It offers an unusual, enchanting experience, and it would make a superb destination for a birthday toast or milestone event. Return I will. read more

See all

Hannytatou is a small sake bar/retail store that is quite unique in Seattle. They have a great selection and a dealer's choice of 3 different sakes is a good way to start. I appreciate the different serving sizes, and if you were ever curious about the differences between nama-zake versus nigori vs daiginjo, this is the place. The staff here know their sake, and it's a great place to learn about the drink. As for food, they have a menu of umami-rich small plates/snacks that go well with sake. The firefly squid with garlic and anchovies was good, while the monkfish liver had good flavor although it could be a little silkier. The fried chicken skin is a must, and the monthly special for charity included a shoyu hot dog which was absolutely delicious. Having the same owner and just steps away from Kamonegi, you can also order anything from their menu including their soba and have it delivered to your table. They also have a nice patio which is perfect for the warmer weather. Definitely a unique spot and highly recommended for sake lovers! read more

Had a lovely time here! The back patio is very tranquil and service was super helpful and cool. Felt like we were in Japan, plus you can order food from their sister restaurant Kamonegi and they let you take home the sake bottle if you don't finish. read more

Wow....came here last night on a whim and I can only say I was blown away. We ordered the cod liver, mapo pork nachos, and katsu sando. Everything was delicious. Special shout-out to the cod liver as it was very unique and the sauce was refreshing! Definitely a unique experience! The mapo pork nachos were also phenomenal! Who would think a sichuan dish and nachos can be paired so well!? A slight slight numbing effect! Also the drinks were delicious. Now service also was 10/10! Everyone was so kind and friendly! We were running out of saltine crackers and the server gave us a few more! The ambiance definitely resonated a Japanese izakaya! A little tight, but it was certainly warm and cozy! Will be back again! read more

Hannyatou - Mapo Pork Nachos, Cod Liver, Katsu Sando - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This not-so-hidden gem in the Fremont/Wallingford is the perfect respite from your weekly beer and wine bar rotation. My favorite part of every visit is experiencing the vibe that the staff has curated. A lot has evolved since Day 1, but the one thing that hasn't changed is the friendly staff making it easy to have a relaxed and non-intimidating sake experience. read more

Blown away by the bites and sake. Service is A+, incredibly knowledgeable. They let my dog come hang too

Very cute and cozy Japanese snack bar with drinks and small bites - the perfect spot to wait for your reservation timeslot at Kamonegi! The chicken chicharon was delicious - we could've probably eaten a whole bucket of that. The clam dip was good too, although we were expecting something beyond just Frito Lay ruffle potato chips (maybe actual fried/baked potato skins?). Note that 20% gratuity is automatically included on all bills regardless of party size. Worth visiting if you're in the area and in the mood for light snacks in a cozy ambience - plus, they open till midnight! read more

Cute tiny izakaya place. My wife and I came here late at night after our plane landed in Seattle. They had a happy hour menu which we almost ordered everything from. Highlights were the katsu sandwiches and the monkfish liver. They also have a sake flight where the waiter will also tell you a little bit about the different types and how to drink sake. At the end, there is a small market for bottled drinks to take anything home. read more

See all

Amazing experience and I'm definitely coming back. This is 100% the best place to come with a friend, a date, or even by yourself to learn and enjoy sake. ATMOSPHERE 5/5 Interior is very Japanese-izakaya-pub-like. Clean, small (probably 6ish tables that can seat 2-4 people, and a bar that can fit up to 6). SERVICE 5/5 This is why I'll come back. My friend and I knew nothing about sake but our server took the time to go over their menu with us and they even gave us samples of different sakes to explore! I had no idea sake could be so savory, umami, and funky!! The only sake I had known was fruity or dry. FOOD 5/5 The food was so delicious and small, bar-style eats. I wouldn't come here for a full meal but their sandwiches were good (we had the Uzaku Sando which is eel, cucumbers on toasted white bread!) and the appetizers are so tasty and nothing that I've had in Seattle. The foie gras was amazing and rich! I definitely recommend ordering the foie gras. SAKE 5/5 The selection is pretty much endless. The menu is intimidating at first but I recommend going through it! The servers are warm and they welcome questions. Don't be scared to tell them it's your first time (I mean...I even asked for hot sake and they didn't judge me LOL don't worry, I didn't get it hot). They even took the time to describe the sake making process and inspiration from different brewers. You can just see their passion for sake and how they want to educate others. read more

Hannyatou - foie gras - definitely recommend! it's non-dairy! - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Awesome sake bar that we stumbled upon. A variety of interesting sake and snack food, the octopus hotdogs were surprisingly good.

Fun "sister restaurant" next to Kamonegi next door. There was a wide variety of tasty cocktails on the menu, I had the Tokyo Hai which was very good, my partner had a plum and sparkling wine cocktail which was also very good. There are a lot of good looking snacks with the drinks. I really enjoyed the crispy top Ramen "chips" with dip. I would recommend this restaurant, however I would plan to eat somewhere else to get full unless you want to order a lot of snacks portion size. They also had a tasting flight of sake which our friends got and our server was very friendly and what's the difference varieties of sake. The dish I really wanted to try didn't have time for Katsu sando which looked awesome, will have to go back to try it! read more

Great addition to the Kamonegi empire! Two doors down serving small bites and great saki! My favs are the eggplant, raw oysters of course, and the salmon onigiri. Come for happy hour- it's a great way to sample their menu. If your still hungry, check and see if they have an open seat at Kamonegi. read more

See all

Amazing little place! Food was great, sake was fantastic. The staff was very helpful finding options for sake and easily seated us. People that come here for the sake stay here but a lot come while waiting for the restaurant next door so there is decent table turnover. Check it out if you want a something a little different and slightly intimate without feeling too fancy. read more

See all

Met the owner by accident at the restaurant. Her food is nuanced and so oishi. The staff made excellent recommendations and was helpful in all ways. read more

Charming and intimate spot with personable, friendly service, amazing food, and incredible sake. We often stop by before going to dinner at neighboring Kamonegi (same owner) for some small bites and drinks, but their menu is worth making it a point to eat here for its own merit. read more

Hannyatou - Katsu sando - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

A small and intimate space that really feels like your own secret spot. I personally have not had bery great experiences with sake in the past, but the reviews for Hannyatou have been so positive, & I found out that this place stocks Kyoto beer's matcha IPA that I've been looking all over so I thought I would just drop in quickly to finally try it. We came around 6pm on a Saturday, and luckily right when a table opened. There is only the bar and ~2-3 tables available so it really is a small space, & is also a space meant for customers to linger as they try different sake offerings, so I don't imagine there would be a fast turnover. The staff was very engaged with the customers at the bar and it was lovely to observe. We didn't get much interactions with them at the table, but that was fine with me. Their sake menu was extensive, and the staff seemed so genuine and passionate, I have no doubt that if I were to come back to try something they recommend, I would have a good experience. What I can tell you is that the eel sandwich was aaaaaaaahmazing. So crispy, and the eel was plump, I'm drooling again just thinking about it. I didn't even want to write a review because I was hoping it wouldn't get too popular and busy the next time I come to Seattle, but it would be a crime to not share positivity about Hannyatou. read more

On my first visit, the food was great. Appreciated the inventive menu, with smoked cod liver taking a play at elevating comfort tastes, skuna bay salmon nanbanzuke was surprisingly flavorful, and the tsukemono trio balanced the umami well. However, at our bar seating, we also overheard the staff bad-mouthing a good number of the customers. On the second time around, we were offered outdoor patio seating with heating, although the offered heating is very mild and everyone sitting outdoors was wearing full winter gear as a nod to the ineffectiveness of the heaters. Our party of two was not prepared for this, so we requested to wait for seating indoors. A rude staff member (one of the owners) replied that absolutely no indoor seats would open up before closing, despite the closing time being over 2 hours away with no one waiting in line. In a ploy to force us to keep our seats, it backfired and we left. I just hope that the staff can learn to respect customers a little more and improve on their professionalism. Unfortunately, I won't be coming back and I cannot recommend this restaurant with its current culture. read more

I have been running sushi restaurant in LA for many years and loosing my ambitions gradually This little sake bar and members working there remind me and encourage me so much Thank you !! You guys working w joy and happy to sharing Your love for food Next visit to Seattle definitely coming back to this spot read more

Very cute sake place right next to Kamonegi (same owner). Had a sake flight and tasted another sake off their menu. Didn't try any bites as I came here after lunch at Kamonegi. But next time I will since the staff were knowledgeable in pairings with sake and food. Very helpful and informative staff. read more

Hannyatou - Sake flight - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Friendly service and some of the most wonderful tasty bites in the city! We tried over half the menu and it was hard to pick a clear winner because they were all delicious and unique. The sake parring was fun and the knowledgeable staff told us which dishes complemented all of the sakes. We also lucked out and enjoyed our little feast on their cute back patio. I'll need to venture back to polish off the rest of the menu! read more

See all

I meant to write this review sooner. My husband and I went to Hannyatou on one of our late afternoon HH dates. Getting away is hard these days with a baby, so we try to make our time count. We had our dog with us and we tied her up outside where we could see her. The owner was nice enough to allow us to bring her to the back patio through the side gate. That made our day and probably hers too! (PS - don't think this is standard for them so please everyone don't start bringing your dogs.) Everything we ordered was delicious and our server was very knowledgeable about sake. I didn't catch her name but she was Asian. The chicken and spam liver mousse was a standout--as well as the octopus with a kick of wasabi. I think Hannyatou is the perfect place for drinks and small bites. We will definitely be back! read more

See all

The concept of this restaurant is really fun, but the food and experience was just okay. We came assuming it was like a tapas restaurant, but honestly the portion size were quite small and I would only recommend for a light dinner or drinks and snacks before going somewhere else. Out of what we tried, favorites were the sake marinated cheese and the yuzu edamame. Both of these are definitely in the small snacks category. The 2 larger dishes, the hot dog and the pork katsu sandwich were incredibly underwhelming. The hotdog was good, but nothing special. The katsu was a small portion for the price and was served on sad, hard toast. They put swiss cheese on it, but the cheese tasted like nothing. I felt like this restaurant is trying to mimic Momofuku's innovative East meets West comfort food cuisine, but this place doesn't meet the bar. Best part of the night was trying the sake. We ordered the dealers choice sampler which allows you to try 3 different sakes. I'm not sure I'm a sake lover now, but it was fun getting to taste the different types and experience the drink's diversity. Service overall was fine, we came early with no reservation and were made to wait outside for 5 minutes despite the restaurant being almost empty. We assumed that the other tables had reservations, but by the time we left the place was less than half full, so unclear why we were made to wait outside. Not the most welcoming vibes. NOTE: Previous reviewers have mentioned that you can also order from Kamonegi next door. This option is no longer available. So be prepared to limit yourself to Hannyatau's small plate menu only. read more

This is my go to place for taking people visiting from out of town. Everyone I've taken here also loves it. Staff is knowledgeable and personable. The sake exquisite and the food delicious. read more

Great atmosphere. Got the sando, rice cakes and pate. Loved their take on it all. Will return

New sake bar in Fremont! Friendly and competent servers with high quality sake and food. Can't wait to come back!

We came in during their soft opening week. Knowing nothing about sake it was so refreshing to find the staff was not only kind but very knowledgeable about the sake and the food pairings offered. We had the housemade tofu, onigiri, seasoned pickles, and both of their sandwiches, everything we ate was outstanding and paired really well with the different sakes that were recommended. It's a really cozy place, with great ambiance and I can't wait to come back and enjoy their outside patio area. read more

See all

Great sake selection! Our server was very knowledgeable and made great recommendations. They have a beautiful patio space, and allow takeaway from Kamonegi which offers great Japanese food. Our server made great food recommendations too that paired well with the various sake we tried. Their house made ice cream was amazing too. Overall a delightful experience. Can't wait to go back. read more

Really cute sake bar. We came in here to grab a drink while waiting for a table to open up at the restaurant next door. The guy who helped us out was very friendly and knowledgeable and helped me find a sake I would like considering this was my first time. Would totally come back again! read more

Hannyatou is a hidden sake bar gem located in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle. In addition to their wide but thoughtful collection of sake, the bar also focuses on Japanese fermentation through their bites and snacks that pair well with sake. This is a perfect spot for those looking for an elevated culinary happy hour. read more

See all

Overall I like this place--great selection of beer and sake and really good small plates. Im not sure if this restaurant is miscategorized, I would not recommend this spot for dinner. The menu is limited and mainly has small plates and sandwiches. I come here for a drink when I waiting for a table at kamonegi, which is perfect for waiting--drinks and small plates. But for dinner its a but underwhelming. read more

Great cozy restaurant for drinks and light Japanese food. Reasonably priced and great service.

This place is really awesome! Small sake bar a couple blocks off Stoneway and a bit away from the crowds. The sake list was great with tasting flights perfect for newbies. We didn't get food but it looked stellar as well. Ambiance was cozy, and the staff was very friendly. So excited to have this in the neighborhood! read more

This is hands down the best sake bar in Seattle! The staff are all very knowledgeable and friendly and can recommend sake to accompany any of their delicious small plates. I recommend the premium sake sampler. Shout out to Chef Soma, Russ, and Bruce for welcoming us! read more

Great experience and friendly people The flights are a great choice to try a lot of sakes

What an incredible experience! I've tried a bit of sake before, but never like this. The team was so incredibly knowledgable and made me think of (and taste) sake in an entirely new way. The food is creative, original, delicious and clearly a work of art/passion. read more

I went here about a week ago - the selection is sakes is really large. The servers and owner are really nice and attentive, and they'll take the time to guide you through options if you aren't sure what you want or don't have a ton of experience with sake. read more