I saw them put a plate down on a table, 5-10 mins pass, then they realize it's the wrong order, remove that plate from that table and try to give that plate to us. When I called out the waitress on it, she said, "oh they didn't touch it but okay I'll bring you a new one." Pretty sure that's a health code violation and plain gross. Gonna pass on this place from now on! The food was decent but it makes you wonder what other shortcuts they take. It just reflects so poorly on them. read more

I was about to give this place 3 stars for the service alone but the food was good enough that I will bump it up to 4 stars. I came here with some friends on a Friday night and the place was rather busy. However, that is no excuse for the extremely long wait times. In fact, the table seated behind us even left before ordering dinner - I am pretty sure they had waited 30-60 minutes before deciding to leave. Our table also took about 30-45 minutes to get properly acknowledged and orders placed, which is a bit long and thus dragged the dinner out. For the dinner, I got the sukiyaki. The portion size was huge! You could definitely feed two people with this. The broth was delicious though and there was plenty of beef pieces for me to eat. My boyfriend had leftovers and thought the food was great. He couldn't stop eating it. I had the ikura as well, and it was decent. Nothing wrong with it. read more

Izumi - Beef sukiyaki!! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

Food: I sat at the sushi bar and got omakase (10 pieces). The pieces of ngiri were too big for one bite. Then when I try to bite it in half, many of them were really hard to bite off. Tendon? I don't know what's up with it but I couldn't gracefully eat my ngiri. Super chewy. Not a great experience. Appetite wise, I coulda had more food, but I didn't want to bother with just ok/not that great sushi. Service: It was really difficult to understand the sushi chef. I asked him to repeat a couple times what he was serving and sometimes still didn't get it and just gave up. Sooo yah at a few that I had no idea what it was. I feel like he would say it real fast the first time and when I asked him what he said he wouldn't make it any easier to understand the second time around. Maybe speak a little slower? Prices: Pretty normal. Maybe a tad more affordable. Roughly $45 for my omakase w/ tax and tip. I liked Shiros a lot and was looking for something like that, but this place was not it. I guess not a 2 star bc it's better than places like sushiland I guess. read more

Izumi - What is this? I don't know. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

We went there for dinner last nigh; fortunately, we got seated right away. We ordered, appetizer, sliced octopus and seaweed, small sashimi platter, large sushi platter a soft shell crab roll and a spicy tuna roll. The miso soup came with the large sushi patter so we ordered more soups. The flavor of soup tasted great and it is not too salty or cloudy. The seafood were fresh and delicious. The service is upbeat and efficient. It is also a good sign to see many older Japanese customers. You must try this place if you are in Kirkland. read more

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My first experience at IZUMI tonight was pretty amazing. I always wanted to come here for dinner and here am I! Sushi quality is absolutely amazing, and every sushi neta was so fresh. I think this is the best Sushi placed in Kirkland. We ordered Sushi Comb, Agedashi Tofu, Edamame, and Red bean Ice cream. We were still hungry so ordered Tempura. The service was great. They came and check our table to make sure we are doing ok and they refill our brown tea frequently. I'd love to come back here for dinner again. read more

Izumi - Sushi combo - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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We took our daughter here for her birthday dinner. Can't remember every dish we ordered - include sashimi, sushi, Tatsuage, Agedashi Tofu, and a bento that was combo sashimi and tempura. All good and service was efficient and friendly. Always good here. read more

If you're looking for a bunch of types of rolls or "American sushi," this is not your place. If you're looking for home style cooking and nigiri sushi, look no further. The sushi rice is not overly seasoned, the fish to rice ratio is in the fish's favor, as it should be. They put the wasabi in between the fish and rice, like it should be. The fish is fresh and flavorful, the tempura light and crisp. I cannot recommend this place enough. read more

Izumi - Sushi Lunch - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

Great sushi! A busy and crowded authentic Japanese restaurant. We had the tempura lunch with fresh pickled cucumbers, salad and soup. The tempura has a nice variety of vegetables along with three big shrimp. We sat at the sushi bar and also order a few nigiri. We started with ebi (cooked shrimp) then had my favorite unagi (bbq eel) and then the saki (salmon). Each was fantastic! I highly recommend this spot! It's not much to look at from the outside or inside but the food is the best. read more

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My daughter and I arrived 15 min early for Birthday Dinner and wanted to sit to order a drink and snack while we waited for two others but the older lady head waitress refused to seat us even though many tables were open. We could not sit down to eat or drink. They take no reservations either so you can't reserve seating for special events. They gave us no options. Wanted to leave but already made plans with others. Food was not bad but expensive. I Love Sushi better food better service. Would give 3/5 for sushi but having to wait 15 min while looking at empty tables was sad as I wanted to order and couldn't. read more

Wow! A Japanese restaurant run by Japanese people. It opens at 11:30 on weekdays and there was already a line of people outside, us included. I noticed right away that the service was a little slow. I ordered the soba and some toro. The toro came out first, the piece was huge -- was planning on eating it in 2 bites but decided to mash it all into one bite. It was okay, not the best toro I've ever had but not the worst -- it was a little fishy tasting so I had to add some soy sauce :(. It was expensive, too! It was $16 for two pieces -- this is more expensive (and obviously not nearly as good) as Kashiba, that blows my mind. My friend had the uni which she thought was kind of disgusting and it immediately destroyed her stomach for the rest of the day. The soba was delicious, though. It was a larger portion than I'm used to receiving. The tempura was also perfect. I'd go back, but I wouldn't order any nigiri next time. read more

Izumi - Toro and uni - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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I want to give negative rating if I can. I ordered takeout on the phone. When I arrived, I found they directly charged 15% tips without telling me and asked me to sign. I asked why I have to pay 15% for a takeout. Their answer is this is required for all customers and everyone SHOULD know it - I SHOULD pay tips since they wrap the food for my take out. I said I have never been to a place that 15% tip is required for a take out. The manager said "we are different". I then said at least they should tell me when I ordered the food. The manager said "now you know for next time." I was super upset and said "there is no next time". The manager said "WHATEVER" and left. I DONT UNDERSTAND! read more

This place is one of the best (or not so) kept secrets of Kirkland!! A hidden gem in an unassuming strip mall and some of the best quality sushi in the area!! Tip: SIT AT THE SUSHI BAR!!! Seriously. Just do it. Not only are the chefs incredibly friendly and super talented, they will whip you up really interesting off-menu items, and you get to watch them make it, which is such a cool experience! (Note: you cant order the normal menu sitting here, I don't think you can get anything but sashimi/rolls and no hot food from the kitchen so keep that in mind if you are eating with picky eaters, etc.) The sushi tastes so fresh and you can tell the business is family owned and has been there for a long time. Why I stayed this place is not a well kept secret is that, especially on the weekends, you will find people lined up and wrapping AROUND THE BUILDING waiting for it to open (they close and reopen between lunch and dinner hours), so you'll need to plan accordingly and I recommend a reservation if you have a special event or a big group because they get BUSY! You won't be disappointed. The price point is on lower, or par with other "swankier/trendy" sushi places in the area and the value is there! read more

We tried Chirashi (lunch), chicken teriyaki and lunch special, and all tasted excellent. I will go there again if we have a chance. Authentic Japanese restaurant. read more

Pretty good and authentic (seems to be Japanese owned) Japanese food. We've gotten their curry udon and various sushi options. Cozy and intimate vibes. read more

Visiting from out of town, my friend brought me out to Izumi for "the best Japanese food in the area". On a Friday night around 6:45pm, we waited only 10 minutes or so for a table for 2. I ordered the nabeyaki udon ($14.50), my friend got the teriyaki chicken and tempura dinner combo ($23), and we got a spicy sake maki (salmon roll - $8) to share. While a little on the pricey side, the dinner combo came with a soup, salad, sunomono, and rice and more than filled my friend up. My udon was steaming hot and delicious. The spicy roll was excellent as well. Overall, great quality sushi and entrees for a moderate price point! It looked like a lot of people ordered the beef sukiyaki, so it's definitely next on my list to try! read more

Izumi - Nabeyaki udon - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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This is a very small Japanese restaurant in Kirkland. It is located in a small open mall and the whole area has that 80's architectural look. The front of the restaurant is not attractive at all but after you pass the front door you have the feeling of being in a traditional Japanese restaurant. Lots of people speaking Japanese, from the servers to the client. I had the tempura + chicken teriyaki...the portion may look small if you compared to other restaurant but everything tasted really good. My server made a mistake in my order but she graciously fixed it as soon as she found out. All the workers seem to be in a very good mood! Arigatou gozaimasu! read more

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This has been that Sushi place that i don't want to show up on any "best" lists because it's so darn good I don't want to share lol. That said they stopped doing sushi bar service after COVID and that is such a shame because the the owner and head chef has such a great passion for his craft, it was always enjoyable to interact with him. Table service and sushi still as awesome as ever. read more

My family and I have been regulars for over 35yrs since they first opened. The staff, atmosphere, especially the food, are all authentic! Unfortunate that this restaurant is currently takeout-only due to COVID-19, but you can't beat its dine-in experience. read more

Izumi - House Makunouchi Izumi Special (pickled vegetables, teriyaki, tempura, sashimi, & sushi) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

Don't get takeout, overpriced tiny portions, missing salad and wasabi. Called and told them about the missing items, they didn't even try to make it right. Deceptive practices: Chirasi bowl is listed on yelp as 27$ under popular items, it's more like 40$ when picked up. Automatically charges tip on takeout. I used to love Izumi, never again read more

My first review was in 2017. Fast forward to 2019. I am still so so in love. This is the family owned shop that loves what they do. They are traditional in every way. If you are looking for the Americanized Sushi experience, this is NOT your place. You are not going to get your Seattle roll here friends and we are so blessed for having a place who actually cares about traditions than pleasing uncultured palates. The quality of their seafood is unparalleled. The sushi chef Master Shito and Yoshi works 15+ hour shifts daily to provide consistent and fresh rolls and sushi. Respect that please! These are hard working people who are making an honest living. Second, the Master chef cares about quality sourcing above selling you "just ok" quality seafood. They care about this so much that they will throw out fresh Uni if they are not at the standard they want to serve their customers. Third, how often does your sushi chef actually care and know about the current fishery impact and environment sustainability? All and all, this place is better than even some of the legit omakase experiences in Japan. We are truly blessed to have them in our community. I highly recommend always ordering their fresh daily rotations. Their rolls are to die for! Their house-made pickle ginger and wasabi has so much more class than the commercial ready-made pickled ginger and wasabi paste. read more

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So I am updating my review because the last few times I went to Izumi the omakaze sushi has been disappointing. The cut of the fish is too blunt and big (way too much protein) and the rice no longer feels airy but feels like a dense block. The shrimp tempura has changed. The size of the shrimp is now miniscule. The Nabeyaki udon broth is delicious as ever. The teriyaki sauce was good. Even the tamago nigiri portions were too big. I'm just wondering what happened to this place and what changes there have been recently. read more

Be aware of the added tip when you pick up your order. I don't know when they started to collect 12% of your order for tip but I do know they will NOT mention it in advance. Food is always good, unfortunately they forgot my dessert that come with the combo meal. Better check your order at pick up as well. read more

Tiny portions and pricey menu. We ordered the spicy tuna & shrimp tempura rolls and the veggie tempura. The veggie tempura was soaked in oil, I even broiled it when we came home from pickup and it was still dripping oil. The portions are really small so plan to order way more than you normally would. The miso soup, eh, nothing amazing, definitely in all not worth the price. read more

Consistently yum, great friendly service, fresh ingredients, my fav sushi restaurant on the Eastside. I always order sweet shrimp (comes with fried shrimp head) and either go to rolls, bento special lunch, or the super delish curry udon. Nothing fancy, just unpretentious atmosphere in a mom and pop type small neighborhood restaurant hidden in a strip mall. Lots of parking. Love how they have been at the same spot for years. Go!!! read more

Good quality traditional Japanese restaurant on the Eastside. We dined in for a late dinner on a Saturday evening. A cute little Japanese lady wearing a kimono greeted and seated us promptly. Service was super friendly and warm, and they gave us wet lemon scented towelettes to clean our hands before the meal. The restaurant is cute and clean, nestled in a strip mall. We ordered the Chirashi, the Izumi Special Makunouchi, and uni sushi. Chirashi: assorted sliced raw fish served on top of sushi rice in a bento box. the toppings included salmon, yellowtail, tamago, fish cake, shrimp, tuna, mushroom, lotus root, seaweed and daikon. I was also given the option of smelt roe or ikura egg, and I selected ikura. The sashimi slices were generous in size and quantity and the quality was fresh and tasty. The presentation in the multilayered bento box was beautiful, and it even came with miso soup. Izumi Special Makinouchi: This was the fanciest bento box I had ever seen, and I was thoroughly impressed when all of the components arrived to our table. This traditional Japanese bento box included sushi, sashimi, tempura, teriyaki chicken, teriyaki beef, and side of vegetables including carrot, tamago, taro, mushroom, lotus root, and daikon. There was also a side of rice, salad, miso soup, and cucumber. My husband loved this dish and happily ate the entire thing. Coffee Jelly: The Izumi Special Makinouchi dinner order also came with a coffee jelly dessert at the end. The dessert came out in a little glass, and consisted of small blocks coffee flavored gelatin swimming in a sweet milky liquid. The jelly cubes were a strong coffee flavor with a little bitter aftertaste, and the milk liquid was very sweet and tasted like watered down milk and sugar water. We thought that the coffee jelly at Izumi was okay compared to other Japanese restaurants we have had this dessert, but appreciated that they offered this on their menu. At the end of our dinner, we were never served the uni sushi that I ordered. Even though the waitress said that they had it available when I asked her while we were ordering. When the bill came out, they still charged us for the uni. So I had to kindly ask the waitress to cancel the uni since we did not receive it and take it off our bill. After the waitresses and sushi chefs conversed about the missing uni in Japanese, they apologized and took it off our bill. This was a bummer since I would have really liked to try their uni. Maybe next time. Overall, we were very happy with Izumi. The food was great, the service was prompt and polite, and the location is convenient and clean. We look forward to coming back for more sushi goodness soon. Itadakimasu! read more

Izumi - Izumi Special Makunouchi and Chirashi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

I don't even know where to start... - the freshest sashimi (good size pieces too) - the kindest, most efficient staff - the most impressive sushi chefs - the best authentic sashimi/sushi creations. Izumi is the best of the best you can ask for in a sushi restaurant. The best seat is at the sushi bar. It's like a work of art watching the sushi chefs create their masterpieces. It's mind blowing how detailed each and every plate is that goes out to the customers The real amazing quality of Izumi is how efficient their order to table process is. It's like watching a well run machine. I can't get over the volume of people that the staff has to serve just for the lunch period. Note: Don't forget to get there before the doors open. There is usually a line. One of the best Eastside sushi experiences. read more

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Izumi is my favorite sushi place in town and today was my first time making a to go order after "No dine in" restriction has put in place in WA. As always, all of the sushi pieces I ordered came very fresh and delicious, however I don't understand their current tipping system. After they brought me a check, I was told there is a 12% tip for my pickup order. I wish they could let me informed about this before I made an order, and for a to go order I think 12% is quite high. read more

Izumi - Maguro, Otoro, hamachi, Scallops, salmon, mekerel, eel. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

My favorite sushi spot in the PNW. Shito-San serves excellent Japanese meals with some of the best sushi dishes I have ever had. The lines @ Izumi during popular hours may be discouraging but the food is well worth the wait. read more

One of the best sushi places on the east side. Big pieces of fresh fish, a nice combo set for lunch. Get there early for lunch as it will be packed. Reasonably priced for the healthy portions you get. read more

We had a good time with a lot of friends there. They kept their quality well through the years

A bit pricy but very delicious and authentic. It's definitely a place to celebrate a special occasion.

Great sushi! Staff was very friendly. The steak was delicious and melts in your mouth.

Came for an early dinner before the Rolling Stones concert. Wonderful. My date and I had Gyoza and Eduname for an appetizer. For our main course, my date had the Tempura dinner. Two pieces of shrimp with eight pieces of vegetable tempura. My course was Sushi. All of my favorites Toro, salmon, uni, and a soft shell crab roll. All were served quickly. The hot dishes arrived hot the Sushi tasted great. My date raved about her Tempura and stole one of my Toro (which she loved). We will be back. read more

In Seattle, you'll generally find two types of sushi restaurants: 1) The trendy "fusion" sushi restaurant that serve mostly sushi rolls with skittles, cotton candy, and even dairy products - cream cheese, anyone? If you're lucky, the restaurant might serve deep-fried rolls with 585 different types of fish, 7 sauces on top and serve with peanut butter. Places that serve this type of sushi can be found in Belltown, among a few other areas in the city. Think Umi, Wasabi Bistro, Momiji and Japonessa. 2) Alternatively, there are sushi restaurants that serve edomaezushi (pron: eh-doh-mah-eh-zuu-shee), or what is considered to be traditional Japanese sushi. This type of sushi is simple, most of the time made of just sashimi and seasoned rice. That's it. For those of you who like the former type of sushi, please stop reading this and search for Umi or some other restaurant. This place is not for you. If instead, you like the latter type of sushi - that is, real sushi, stick with me because Izumi serves the best sushi in Seattle. PERIOD. If you're continuing to read on, then your sushi cred is high. Okay, so let me set up my review correctly. Your first question is who the hell is writing this and what do I actually know about sushi? To be truthful, I think I have a pretty good sushi resume. To tell you a little bit about it, I've been eating sushi since before it was trendy (yes, I'm a total sushi-hipster) and have lived in Osaka, Yokohama, and Tokyo. During my life, I'd say I've eaten some pretty good sushi and consider my cred to be rather high. So, forgive me if I chuckle at claims of knowing Asian food because you're from "SoCal." So how does Izumi stack up here in Seattle? I've already said it - it's the best sushi in Seattle. And yes, I've been to Shiro's (several times), I've been to Mashiko, I've been to Nishino, Kisaku, Chiso, Fuji, Nishino, Miyabi... You name it. These places are all great and I'm not taking anything away from them, but for me, Izumi is simply the best - and it's not very close... It's consistently incredible and always offers fresh fish, great rice (I can't understate the importance of good rice), and their staff is great. It also offers items that I don't find in many other places. So who should come here? This is a place I'd recommend just for people who like traditional Japanese cuisine and want real sushi (read: great fish and great rice served by trained sushi chefs). Seriously - Izumi is place is legit and if you can hang at the sushi bar, then your cred is high. Really - put it on your resume and add me as a reference. However, if instead the thought of sitting at the Izumi sushi bar makes you want to runaway screaming, then PLEASE - I beg you - go to Umi. You will love their california rolls. read more

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Seriously, Izumi is still the BEST place to eat sushi for lunch in Kirkland. Came here for lunch during a weekday, this place filled up as soon as they opened their door. Their Bento Box is so yummy delicious. For 15 buck you get a sushi, grilled chicken, tempura, bowl of rice, miso soup and salad. The appearance of the sushi was vibrant and shiny, super moist and tender. I ordered a side of Uni and that was just amazing since the Uni disperses once it hits your mouth and without having that pungent odor.....yummy! Service: Quick and they are so polite. Price: For the amount of food and the high quality of sushi, the price were reasonable. Highly recommended to anyone that love Sushi and near Kirkland. read more

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You want really good sushi? This is the BEST in Seattle no matter what others say. I swear. Rule #1: Skip the menu. Yes, don't even open it. Rule #2: Request to sit at the sushi bar and order "omakase" sushi. Ask the friendly sushi chef with confidence what is the best fish that night and he'll give you only the fresh, melt-in-your-mouth, awe-inspiring fish and shellfish. Rule #3: Ask the chef questions! Get to know him! Be inquisitive. He will remember you and give you great treatment the next time you visit and a little extra too if you are lucky. Rule #4: Don't expect super efficient services. Japanese old ladies aren't meant to move so fast. (I mean, what do you expect?) Rule #5: Expect to spend a lot of money. You will get what you pay for. It is not El Gaucho expensive but the omakase sushi dinner (12~14 pieces) will set you back $50-60. I love this place and keep bringing my friends (new customers). They have all turned regulars in no time. read more

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I've been coming here for 20 years because of the amazing service and the wonderful food. A hidden gem here in Kirkland.

If you want to satisfy your regular sushi craving while maintaining a nice relationship with your wallet, Izumi is for you. I love myself a good omakase, and I crave it more often than I should. Knowing that I'm not able to pay a visit to Shiro Kashiba in Pike Place every month, Izumi is my best alternative. For just $30, you could get a great assortment of omakase selections - including your staple cuts of toro, uni, and fried shrimp head. I have heard the line for Izumi could get atrociously long, but we came on a Saturday night right when it opened and did not have to wait for a bar seating. The chef offered us a delicious selection and our bill didn't exceed $40 per person - did not know this was possible for a decent omakase. I've also heard the katsu and bentos here are great. Give Izumi a try if you're around Kirkland or paying a visit to the Costco near there. Beware of potential lines, but this is an excellent find for all omakase addicts. read more

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This is by far one of the best sushi places I've eaten in WA. Especially the Eastside. The wait staff is always friendly and attentive to your water/tea levels. Yesterday, I went with a group of 4 before doors opened for dinner @ 5 and there was already a large line forming. We got seated and I had to order the curry udon and ask for a specific wooden spoon (Per friend's recommendation- the calls the spoon 'the game changer'). When we got finished and got up to leave, I noticed the restaurant was completely full and there was at least 4 groups waiting at the door to be seated. Glad we got there early. read more

Izumi - Curry udon with 'the game changer' spoon - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

I love this place. It's a hidden gem. You get 5 star restaurant quality for 1/3 of the price which is incredibly rare in the Seattle area. The maitre'd is an older woman who always wears a kimono. She'll speak Japanese to you which feels comforting since the whole restaurant feels like you just stepped into Japan. Knowing Japanese helps (like myself) but almost all of the staff knows English and can help you out. The portion sizes are perfect and I don't feel like this place is uber Americanized. They give you a moist towelette to wipe your hands before meal time. Another great thing is that they're constantly paying attention to you if you need more of your drink. It's not in an annoying way but as someone who drinks probably 7 glasses of water in a sitting, I hate having to flag the waiter over non-stop. The only bad part about this place is that you have to sign in and sometimes they overlook you if it's crowded. If you haven't been here yet, you're truly missing out! read more

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