Fantastic experience with high standard wagyu short ribs , beef tongue, and better filet, definitely come back again.

My family and friends have been Ishoni long term fans in the past years, at both the Bellevue and Capitol Hill locations. Been going back many times. With my recent dining experience, however, I'm not sure if I would go back. I went to Ishoni for dinner with a couple of friends last Saturday (3/29). We noticed that the grill didn't seem to be hot enough to cook the meat. The cubed meat was still half raw after sitting on the grill for 15 minutes. As a regular customer, I knew it was unusual, so we talked to the manager to see if there was anything he could do. He offered to move us to two other tables, but he said he can't guarantee the grill at those tables would work better. When you are in a yakiniku business, aren't you supposed to provide a functional grill that allows customers to cook their food? As a store manager, aren't you supposed to make sure your equipment works properly? That statement from the manager sounds irresponsible. We ended up moving to another table and the manager was right. The grill didn't get any better. All the meat that we cooked at low heat that night was dry and chewy. The whole meal and experience was very unsatisfying, so we just left the restaurant with a half full stomach. No one from the restaurant ever apologized to us. The manager was well aware of the issue, but he did not admit the problem and apologize. Since we were a party of 7, we had to pay a mandatory gratuity of 18% even though the service was extremely disappointing! Food: 2/5 Service: 1/5 read more

The overall quality of food is amazing. The beef tongue is so thick and juicy. But. ..you can only one per table, that's not good. The servers seems overwhelmed and busy running around, kinda hard to get their attention. We have to ask for plates, utensils,and more water or to add more food. They limit your eating time there depends on numbers of people in your group. I know they are busy, but you want to enjoy your food with your friends and family especially you are celebrating special occasions. Street parking. It's Broadway. To be expected. Happy with the food read more

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The food is amazing, the beef was so tender. My favourite is the beef tongue. First time should try the combo. The service was wonderful and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the restaurant looked beautiful![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Ishoni Yakiniku is an absolutely awesome JBBQ restaurant located in Seattle. We came in for a Thursday night dinner in July with a group of 5 (with reservations) and were seated promptly. The tables are the classic JBBQ style with a big grate over fire in the middle for table side cooking. They have a pretty large menu and a lot of the options can be pretty intimidating if you have never been, but I highly recommend just going right for the Ishoni Beef Combo. It is a pretty good size I'd say feeds ~2 people comfortably and it contains what we all dream of - WAGYU. Since we had a larger group, we ordered some other stuff to open with such as Takoyaki, Calamari, and Fried Chicken. The calamari was my favorite of the 3 followed by the takoyaki. The chicken was good but not as good as the rest of the food I had here. The beef combo was mindblowingly good, but you have to eat it in the order that we did which is wagyu last. There is nothing better than wagyu so if you work your way up to it at the end, then you leave extremely happy. If you peak too early and eat it at the beginning, then you'll never be satisfied with regular beef. Overall, an absolutely awesome experience and super glad to have finally had some Japanese wagyu! read more

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This is my first time trying this establishment but I've had Japanese BBQ before. I arrived at 6pm (30 mins after they opened) without a reservation and it was a 60-90 minutes wait. I recommend having a reservation beforehand. They added me to the waitlist and I received a text & call once my table was ready. I was given 15 minutes to make it back. My bf and I ordered the meat sampler with 5 different types of meat and a few veggies on it. It's a good option if you're unfamiliar with Japanese BBQ or don't know which protein you'll like. It's $50 for the set. The meat is very tender and grills quickly. I also got their ishoni rice which didn't seem any different than regular white rice besides green onions and furikake mix. Wasn't worth the extra $1 difference. As for the meat, none were marinaded so I didn't appreciate the flavor as much. It was juicy though. They do give two dipping sauces (lemon and soy sauce) as well as butter to dip the meat in. My fav item was probably the free yuzu sorbet they give in the end for a complimentary dessert. It's a small shot glass size. The service though was phenomenal! Everyone was so friendly and accommodating with how to grill the meat. They refilled waters quickly too. I'm not from the area so overall, I don't think I would go back. But it was a great experience. Also, street parking and public parking is available. read more

Ishoni Yakiniku - Barbeque Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place was stellar! I love the classy vibes of the restaurant, the ambiance helps set the tone for a sophisticated dining experience. I highly recommend making a reservation, especially on weekends. We came on a not so busy Saturday night but regardless, our reservation helped us get a table right away. We had a few questions about the menu and our waitress was very helpful and gave us recommendations to order. We went with the Ishoni Beef Combo, Cucumber appetizer, along with additional orders of Premium Beef Tongue, Beef Short Rib, Zucchini, and Pumpkin. The beef was such great quality and tasted amazing, even with little to no sauce. I really enjoyed the combo of beef tongue dipped in the lemon juice, it really elevated the flavor of the beef tongue. Didn't expect a lot from the cucumber but they really packed in a lot of garlic and sesame flavor into that dish! 100% want to go back right now! read more

Ishoni Yakiniku - Ishoni Beef Combo, Cucumber - Barbeque Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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My friend and I walked in around 6pm on a wednesday night and was told that we needed to make a reservation on yelp which we weren't aware of, so make sure you make a reservation before showing up! We ended up being put on the waitlist and had to wait a little less than 2 hours and got seated around 7:45pm. We ordered different kinds of meat like beef and pork and they were delicious! The meat quality is definitely top notch which was worth the price we paid for, around $50 per person. I would definitely want to come back again but with a reservation in advance. read more

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Absolutely terrible service! We were a table of four and spent over $300 and had terrible service from staff and the manager (I eventually asked for the manager). It took them over 30 minutes to give us bowls of white rice, appetizers, and a bottle of sake AFTER I had gone up and asked for the manager to deliver our order. They still took over 45 minutes to deliver other food dishes that they forgot about. The manager ended up serving us the rest of the night and was quite rude and rolled his eyes at me and would directly speak to me being like "is this okay now?". For spending over $300 at this restaurant the food should not be forgotten. Food was absolutely delicious but service was terrible. I will not be coming back and I will be letting all of my friends and peers to not come to this restaurant. It's one thing to have bad service from servers - but having bad service from a manager that's also rude is NOT good. read more

The cuts were really good! Get their Wagyu Short Rib Karubi, i always come back for this specific cut. Tender and juicy! Staff are attentive and friendly. read more

Ishoni Yakiniku - Wagyu Short Rib Karubi - Barbeque Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Food here is super high quality! The beef combo was definitely the way to go to try all kinds of cut for your first time. If available, get the thick cut beef tongue. It's definitely one of the best things on the menu! It's limited tho so make sure you go early. I went one hour after opening and they only had one left! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambience of the place is really nice too and would be a good place for a date![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Also, you actually don't smell too much like smoke so they did a good job with the ventilation![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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amazing yakiniku restaurant the beef quality is really amazing ! It's tender and juicy, and it's just the right thickness! Especially ox tongue, really not enough duck breast is also fat and not greasy ~ their meat only with salt and some black pepper to marinate, retain the original taste of ingredients, love is suddenly full ~ tea rice ordered salmon and Ming prince these two, but in fact, there is no difference in taste after mixing. For dessert, we have baked ice cream , sweet vanilla ice cream with a crisp caramel crust and chocolate sauce, which is delicious The three girls ordered a beef platter + a duck breast + two bowls of tea rice + a dessert, a total of $115.46 including tip, very full, I think the price is very cost-effective, to tell the truth, I think this restaurant is better than the Japanese barbecue I have eaten in Vancouver, the dining environment and service attitude are also very good! After dinner also sent a small cup of grapefruit smoothie to solve the greasy, don't be too intimate ah ~ read more

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More of a 3.5. Came here with a group of 4 with a reservation. We ordered 1 isohoni beef combo, pork jowl, pumpkin, salmon ochazuke, and 2 ishoni rice to share. We took our time to enjoy the grilling and meat tasting. Portions may seem small, but does fill you up if you take your time. Although I wouldn't say it was the greatest vibes. You can definitely taste the quality of the meat here. I enjoyed the beef short rib karubi from the set the most. The ochazuke was just okay and the ishoni rice was kind of underwhelming. However, I think that this is a try once and done place for me as I was not blown away by anything in particular. read more

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One of the best Japanese BBQ I've ever tried in the US. Great selection of meat of high quality.

One of my favorite places to eat in Seattle! The meats they provide are high quality and cooking them on top of a charcoal grill gives the meat a crispy texture and deep, savory flavor. I also thought that the meats paired well with their flavorful Ishoni rice and Ochazuke (both salmon and cod roe options are great). I've noticed that the dining tables offer lots of room and that the restaurant in general is pretty open and spacious. The staff is always attentive and follows up in case you need to order more. Would highly recommend this spot! read more

Ishoni Yakiniku - Ishoni Beef Combo and Pork Belly marinated with Spicy Miso - Barbeque Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Our go to Asian bbq place in Seattle that many have loved and recommended. Prices are higher but you're also paying for higher quality. Make sure to reserve in advance as they can hit capacity quite easily. read more

This was my first time trying Ishoni Yakiniku. We were a group of 3 and made a dinner reservation beforehand. The space was clean and seating was confortable. The service didn't stand out but it had some nice surprises. We ordered the A5 Nigiri and they torched the beef at our table. The dish was amazing - definitely a must-have. We also ordered the Ishoni Beef Combo, Vegetable Combo, and a few other appetizers and rice bowls. This seems like a lot for 3 people but it ended up being the right amount because the combos are pretty small. At the end, we each received a small complimentary sorbet. Overall, great food and great service. I'll probably come back sometime read more

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I had went here for a special occasion, and omg most the meat was really good, the meat had melted in my mouth. I just recommend the combo to get a variety of meat to try and the ishoni rice to complement it; It was different from what I'm used to (ayce kbbq). Service was standard, they will cook the A5 Wagyu for you. Interior is nice and big but you will need a reservation to get seating read more

Ishoni Yakiniku - Barbeque Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Those of you who have been to the original Ishoni spot in Bellevue where they seated like 8 tables only.. you'll know what I'm talking about. I was excited to hear that they had reopened in this new location, although street parking is more of a hassle to find. I had booked a reservation for my mom's birthday dinner, and we were able to be seated immediately. For walk-ins, I recommend going as soon as they open for a lesser wait time. We ordered: beef tongue, beef combo, beef short rib karubi, flap meat, pork jowl, vegetable combo, mushroom medley, creamy seafood udon, and rice/ishoni rice. The first portion of food arrived quickly but we realized it was not enough food for 3 people so we added a few extra repeat orders. The combos are a good option to explore the different meat cuts. The mushroom medley that we added in the second round, took SO long to arrive that I had to check in with our sever, who let us know that they had actually forgotten to put the order in. Overall, the food was okay, cuts were fresh, but it just doesn't compare to the old ishoni spot. This was also a very expensive meal (~$65 per person) and we were still not full by the end. If I have to be honest, this is more of a 3.5 star. read more

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right when they opened i put my name on their waitlist and we waited about 2 and half hours for a table. they only gave us 10 mins grace period to come back but still made us wait 10-15 mins for a table to be cleared and cleaned. this place gets busy, id recommend making reservations. tried their Seattle Restaurant Week set for $35. we were able to try a variety of cuts: 3 beef, 1 chicken, 1 pork and 1 seafood. a bit disappointed about the yuzu sorbet being a miniature shot glass of yuzu slushi. the cuts were decent and sides of miso soup, rice, and kimchi was included. i'm a bit picky with my Yakiniku spots coming from Japan and Hawaii, i'd give it a 3.5/5 for overall experience but rounded up. they had a good SWR deal but not worth the 2-3 hr wait read more

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My husband and I come here almost every month, but this was the first time I checked in using my phone number. We waited about 50 minutes for a table and another 15 minutes before anyone came to serve us -- which we understood, since we didn't have a reservation. Unfortunately, the experience this time was disappointing. Two of our food items were missing, the dishes had a strong dishwasher smell, and our dipping sauce also missing . I even had to use a shell as a makeshift spoon because the spoon smell very strong. My soup tasted like plain water this time and I ordered the soup every time I come. The staff seemed nice, but they were clearly overwhelmed. The first thing our server said was, "You have 10 minutes until last call," which felt rushed and unwelcoming. If this is the level of service and food quality during busy times, I'd honestly prefer you let us know in advance rather than seating us. We love coming here, but this visit was a letdown. read more

Meat quality was great! The meat seasonings weren't overpowering, so I got to enjoy the freshness of the different cuts of meat. If you're looking for more flavorful marinades, I'd recommend Gyukaku. The restaurant venue was nice and clean! Honestly great for a date night or if you're looking for something a little less casual but not quite formal. read more

Ishoni Yakiniku - Barbeque Near Me - Seattle, Washington

By far, one of the best yakiniku restaurants I have ever been to! We visited Seattle for the weekend and found this place with simple a craving for yakiniku to guide us. My boyfriend surprised me with it and I couldn't have been happier! [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a cute little spot, very classy inside and the service was great.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Servers kept checking on us to make sure we were okay, they assured us our food would be coming soon. We didn't mind the wait but it was so worth it in the end! The miso soup was delicious! I am extremely picky with my miso soup (i hate restaurants that charge $3 for packet soup, and I will gladly pay a few bucks more for homemade!) the Wagyu combo was to die for! Kimchi tasted homemade and the furikake on our rice was definitely the best I have ever had. Complimentary lemon ice for dessert was just the icing on the cake. This was such an amazing meal I'm making it a habit to come back every visit to the city! read more

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Taste: 5/5 Value: 5/5 Presentation: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Beef combo was a great value to try different cuts! Tongue is a must try! read more

Ishoni Yakiniku - Beef combo - Barbeque Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The beef here is really amazing! The marinade was soo good. We got the beef combo which was a great way to try the various meats they have (which is not too many, but I guess a smaller menu yields higher quality). The beef combo itself won't fill you up but we did have it with a side of Ishoni rice and we also ordered the mentaiko yams and another beef rice bowl and that about filled us up (along with some beers). Dessert was sesame panna cotta--nothing crazy! I actually didn't even bother finishing it and I go crazy for dessert lol read more

Ishoni Yakiniku - Beef combo and mentaiko yams - Barbeque Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Ishoni used to be our fav spot when they were in the Bellevue location. Since the move to Seattle, we noticed they expanded their menu but portion seems smaller and higher prices. Service is still great and taste is good but not the same. We will still visit Ishoni whenever we have the Japanese bbq craving. read more

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Got a reservation for 8:30 (closes at 9:30) and i'm glad I did, because the place was packed for a weeknight. (Like everywhere in CapHill these days) We tried the Beef combo ($50), the seafood combo ($25?), takoyaki (only 4 pcs), butter garlic chicken thighs, and spicy miso pork. The best out of the meats was from the beef combo. The worst also was from the beef combo (short rib fingers). The shoyu based sauce was nothing special, but it does allow you to focus on the flavor of the meat itself. Beef tongue was oddly not as tender as it should be IMO. (I grew up on a Mishima beef cattle farm in Japan and will admit I am spoiled when it comes to expectations of quality) The restaurant itself was quite loud and sound bounces off the walls. Very lively. It would be nice if there were more side dish offerings since the meat selection is limited. Misoyaki tofu, or nikujaga type of dishes would have made our meal feel much more complete. Still on the fence if we want to return. read more

Ishoni Yakiniku - Beef combo, seafood combo - Barbeque Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I have been here two times, and I had a good experience both times! We have had an ishoni beef combo both times and it is a good selection and high-quality cut of meat combo. Thick-cut Beef tongue is a must! It is so juicy and delicious. It's marked limited on the menu, so make sure to ask your server if it's available. We have tried the A5 truffle sandwich two times. One order can serve 4 people (4 mini sandwiches) and the server cooks for you. It is good but I am not a big fan of it, because it is a little pricey and not that mind-blowing. FYI, Mandatory 18% tips for 4 people party. usually my bill is $70+ Make a reservation before you come, I have seen some walk-ins were turned down on busy days or be informed of at least 1-hour wait; Parking is difficult because it's Capitol Hill, so be prepared and leave early. The restaurant is clean and the servers are nice. read more

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Exploring self grill perfection in Seattle! Wagyu cuts that redefine indulgence, tantalizing Donburi bowls, and drinks that elevate the experience. An unforgettable journey for your taste buds! Tried: Beef Donburi: 9.5/10 OMG COMFORT JAPANESE FOOD FOR SURE! So warm and inviting, the Donburi was not too sweet. It was a nice side pairing with the bbq meats. Served in a warm stone bowl. This I would 100% get again. . Ishoni Beef Combo: 8/10 For my first time here, I wasn't sure about the portions and which cuts of wagyu I wanted so the beef combo was choice to go with. They sample the more popular cuts of meats. The server was kind enough to tell us how to cook each wagyu cut to our cooked meat preference. It gets a 9/10 because I wish the some of the wagyu cuts didn't have the marinade. In my opinion, wagyu shouldn't need the extra added marinades. But still solid high quality cuts of meat. . Ume Shi High- this drink was divine. Well balanced with the plum flavor and whisky. It was a great cocktail to drink while having the grill on. read more

Came here in November during Seattle restaurant week. We ordered the Ishoni beef combo and the Seattle restaurant week combo. All the food/drinks/desserts were pretty good. The meat wasn't as tender as I thought it was going to be, especially the wagyu beef short rib. It was good but I wasn't blown away and I probably wouldn't come back. The restaurant inside was beautiful, nice decor. Service is comparable to any other Japanese/korean bbq restaurant, meaning you don't know who to order through and you won't see the server who took your order for a while after your initial order. The bussers were great. Minus a star for value for price and service. read more

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I've been craving some meats so it was the perfect place to go! We got there around 7PM on a Friday and it was busy. We waited about an hour to get a table for five but they were able to just text us when it was ready and we grabbed drinks at a bar beforehand. The grill is pretty nice and I like that they give everyone tongs to help with the grilling. We ordered the beef combo, pork shoulder, tofu salad, ishoni rice, vegetable combo, takoyaki, and Japanese yam with anchovy sauce. Quite a spread! And it was enough for the five of us. I think we could have eaten a little more meat but the bill was adding up pretty quick, sadly. Service was good, refilling our waters and taking our order pretty efficiently. We ended the meal with fried ice cream which was very tasty! Overall a very nice experience! read more

Ishoni Yakiniku - Ishoni beef combo - Barbeque Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Food was good, I just don't like their aggressive way to get rid of us after the meal. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We were aware of how busy it was and people were waiting but we didn't even mean to occupy the table for long.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It was actually their fault to make the paying process so complicated and messed it up. read more

Great Japanese BBQ! The parking maybe a problem. I recommend to park across the street. There are parking lots around, but you have to pay. If you want to save money, you can park at QFC and work here. The meat quality is super great! And the dishes are delicious. The staff here is friendly. But their ordering machine had a problem and they forgot our order because that machine didn't print out our order. But after asking them why our table was empty, the staff soon figured out the problem and brought our meat and dishes very quick. read more

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I've eaten here quite a few times and it never disappoints! We always go for the combo, it has a little bit of everything and hits the spot every time. Don't forget to ask for the habanero sauce on the side, it's perfect for dipping. The hamachi collar is rich and flavorful, and I'm obsessed with the truffle wagyu sandwiches and their tofu salad. Everything is fresh, and the staff are always quick and friendly. Definitely recommend! read more

AMAZING WAGYU!!! Definitely visit this amazing restaurant again and again! Best Niku in Seattle! read more

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Visited during Seattle Restaurant Week when they served their $35 tasting menu. I arrived at 5:30 as soon as they opened since we didnt have a reservation, yet we ended up waiting about 45 minutes before getting seated which is to be expected during a busy Saturday evening. Highly recommend booking a reservation. The meats offered were varied both in types and quality. Some cuts were better than others but I think as a whole package it works really well. I think if you have a big appetite, perhaps you may leave slightly hungry. Service was good! read more

Ishoni Yakiniku - Seattle Restaurant Week Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Mmmmmm Ishoni was goood. I went on a Saturday night with reservation and got seated right away. Service was great - our server was polite, friendly and efficient. Food: - Beef Combo (5/5): Delicious! The quality was excellent and the portion was just right. It was perfect for two people. - Mushroom Medley (5/5): I love mushrooms so this dish was a must-have. I'm happy to report that it did not disappoint. One thing to note is that it takes a while to make the dish, so expect to wait about 20mins. - Clam Soup (0/5): It was more like clam water to me. Like literally, clams in hot water with some ginger and green onions to garnish. There was absolutely zero flavor to the dish. I was so disappointed! On top of that, the clams were somewhat fishy too. Do not recommend. - Side dish: cucumber (3/5), and kimchi (4/5). - Panna Cotta (3/5): Good thing is it wasn't too sweet, but it was nothing special. Drinks: - Lychee Beer (5/5): Yes get this! Tasty strong lychee flavor, yum. - Premium Sake Flight (2.5/5): Ehhh it was alright. Pretty pricey for 3 shots of sake. I wouldn't order it again. Overall, I enjoyed the meal a lot and would totally come back. read more

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It's the definition of fine dining, but don't expect to feel satiated. A relatively pricey spot that provide very high quality meat. Very low quantity. Going with a group enhances the experience and you can enjoy the variety of cuts together. My group and I had a "pre-dinner" snack knowing that the spot would be enough to feel full. We had sushi lol. Went in not feeling too hungry and the bbq from Ishoni helped us feel complete by the end of the night. read more

Ishoni Yakiniku - Beef combo - Barbeque Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We love the quality of the bbq here. We had the set which included beef, pork jowl and cuttle fish.

Great quality food! Will definitely come again! Reservation in advance is recommended!