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    Minamoto Japanese Cuisine

    3.8 (411 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 4:30 PM - 9:30 PM

    Order Minamoto Japanese Cuisine Takeout or Delivery

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    MINAMOTO JAPANESE CUISINE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Upscale
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Minamoto Japanese Cuisine

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    MinJung K.

    I came to Minamoto with a couple of friends to try it for the first time, and overall we all felt it was just okay. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance is nice--dimly lit and modern[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]--but both the food and service fell short for the price point. I ordered the sushi sandwich roll with spicy tuna, and it tasted unusually fishy. I've had spicy tuna at many places, including more casual and less expensive spots, and this one really caught me off guard. I ended up using a lot of ginger and wasabi just to mask the flavor. The miso soup was also disappointing--the wooden spoon tasted strongly of what seemed like cleaning solution, as if it hadn't been fully rinsed. I had to drink the soup without using the spoon because of the chemical taste. The service was also strange. We ordered a shared appetizer and three rolls, but the rolls came out one at a time with about 20-30 minutes between each. When we asked about the missing roll, the server simply pointed toward the sushi counter and said it was coming, which felt off-putting. Since each of us ordered one roll, we expected them to arrive together, or at least for the situation to be communicated more clearly.

    Erin B.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Minamoto is great! Lovely setting, great service.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They have a fantastic Japanese whiskey menu which was exciting to see, and some very cool sakes. The nigiri omakase was delicious and came with miso soup. The shishito peppers were some of my favorite ever. Perfectly cooked with salt and lemon. We hope to come back for the omakase at the sushi bar.

    Weekday Lunch Special Chirashi ($28)
    Kimmy L.

    My friend and I went to Minamoto for our work lunch break on a sunny Friday afternoon. This was our first time trying Minamoto, but my friend had heard positive raves about Minamoto from an acquaintance and so we thus ventured out to Downtown Bellevue to give them a try. Minamoto is open for both lunch and dinner on weekdays and weekends. They have affordable weekday lunch specials (as far as Japanese food goes), ranging anywhere from $14 for three sushi rolls to $28 for a chirashi. They also have a variety of appetizers like fried calamari, chicken karaage, and takoyaki and a wide selection of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverage choices. My friend and I each ordered a WEEKDAY LUNCH SPECIAL CHIRASHI ($28) which came with a 4-piece side roll (salmon or tuna) and choice of soup or salad. I went with the salmon roll and salad and my friend went with salmon roll and miso soup. The WEEKDAY LUNCH SPECIAL CHIRASHI was a lot larger than I had expected and came with a lot more ingredients than usual. I was especially surprised to see pieces of uni (sea urchin) and spheres of Ikura (salmon roe) in the dish as those are usually reserved as premium ingredients. Besides the Ikura and uni, the dish had a mountain of chopped salmon, tuna, white fish, cucumber, sweet egg (tamago), and edamame on top of a bed of perfectly cooked sushi rice topped with microgreens. All the different fish were fresh and flavorful, and I especially enjoyed the uni which is a rare delicacy for me. With that said, I found the white fish (which I think was hamachi) unpleasantly fatty and gelatinous in texture. I felt like I was just eating cubes of solid fat which were not to my palate. Since the chirashi was rich from the uni and Ikura already, these fatty pieces were overkill, even with the light veggies to balance out the dish. My only other comment is that I would've preferred larger pieces of fish instead of chopped off pieces of fish. However, popular places like Gyudon in Westlake also do chopped up fish on top of rice for their chirashi and so I think it's just personal preference. The complimentary side salad was excellent and had a fantastic ginger dressing on top of fresh greens. The salmon roll was also good, but nothing out of the ordinary. With the amount of food they give, I could barely finish the chirashi bowl much less the salmon roll. [[HIGHLIGHT]]As far as atmosphere, the interior is modern, trendy, and clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The owners and stuff must be Swifties because all they played was Taylor Swift throughout our entire meal which was a vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was decent and we got our food within 15min after ordering. In terms of parking, Minamoto is located underneath an apartment complex and shares a parking lot with the apartment building and other stores. They will validate for up to 2 hours of free parking so make sure you bring the parking slip with you into the restaurant! Overall: 4/5 for for food, 4/5 for service, 4/5 for atmosphere

    Wagyu Fried Rice
    Julia W.

    so glad that I finally was able to stop by and try minamoto. We came for my boyfriend's birthday and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the ambience was absolutely perfect. It's an amazing location with beautiful interior and the lighting isn't too dim for you to see what you're eating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We ordered the perfect amount of food (we're big eaters) and the highlight was definitely the sashimi platter. Just look at it! absolutely beautiful and it was my first time having fish that was chilled to perfection like this. The food arrived super quickly, and I have no complaints. I will be coming back to celebrate other family members' birthdays in the future too. they do not do special birthday celebration items like desserts, but it's still a great place to take your next event!

    Nigiri And Sashimi Combo
    Irwan N.

    The ambience is classy perfect for guests but friendly and casual for families. The food is amazing and authentic. Starts off with Agedashi Tofu - silky smooth tofu with tsuyu sauce. And Seafood Carpaccio that comes with assorted fresh fish (uncooked) with house yuzu sauce. We also ordered Crispy Jumbo Softshell Crab as an appetizer. Our main dishes are the Nigiri and Sashimi Combo and Beef Gyudon. Our wait staff is very friendly and attentive.

    Fantastic Roll
    Peter L.

    Very positive first visit to Minamoto for a late lunch on a Sunday. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The dining room is beautiful and very comfortable with large tables that are well-spaced apart.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] There is a wide range of dishes on the menu, and we started off with the crab miso soup and chawanmushi. The crab miso soup was full of umami and the chawanmushi was very flavorful as well especially with some nice mushroom notes. We moved on to sushi, and while the selection of fish is not as great as some other spots, the quality of the fish and rice were top notch. The presentation of the saba was very unique and had a more smoked flavor to it which was nice. The amaebi head was also fried very lightly and perfect. We also tried one roll, the fantastic roll, which was a little pricey but very loaded with fish. We also had the grilled Hamachi-kama which was really good - grilled perfectly and not burned. Sake selection was better than average and we tried two very solid ones. They had a very extensive Japanese whiskey list, which we didn't try. Service was very good, being attentive but not hovering. Minamoto does run a little pricier than usual, but is well worth it if you are looking for good sushi and more in a luxurious space.

    20 piece sashimi plate
    Areej A.

    For me, good sushi starts with buttery, melt-in-your-mouth sashimi that doesn't taste fishy at all and shines without any sauces. I always test a new sushi spot by ordering sashimi--it's my ultimate fish freshness check! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The in-person dining experience was fantastic--amazing food, good service, and a great atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] However, the next day, I decided to order via DoorDash, and things got a bit tricky. DoorDash doesn't have an option for adding notes about dietary restrictions, so I called the restaurant right after placing my order to make sure my food would be gluten-free. The gentleman I spoke with wasn't exactly thrilled. He told me I should've called "right away" (which I had!) and pointed out that I could add notes if I used Uber Eats instead. While he eventually agreed to accommodate my request, the whole interaction left me feeling a bit uneasy--when it comes to allergies, I don't like to take chances! So, I placed a fresh order on Uber Eats just to be safe. Lesson learned: I'll stick to dining in or using Uber Eats for this spot. The food is too good to give up, but I'd rather avoid the stress. So yes, I'll definitely be back--just with a little extra planning next time!

    Wagyu lava stone
    Maggie W.

    My boyfriend and I were here for the first time to celebrate our 4 year anniversary. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior of the restaurant was very clean and beautiful.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was great. Food was good and you could tell the fish quality was good as well. Food was very pricey for small to decent size portions. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Wouldn't come here for casual dining.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Informed staff about our special celebratory anniversary dinner and seems like restaurant doesn't do anything special to acknowledge it. Unfortunately for future occasions, we probably would not come back here.

    Emelina W.

    If you are looking for sushi, this place is expensive kind of sushi place. But the overall food quality is good, service is good, and free parking. If you want to have great price, maybe order rolls or rice pot. Not an everyday sushi place, but will definitely come back. ( Still a little bit pricey.)

    Chicken kaarage

    Food: 10/10, service: 10/10, ambiance: 10/10 Definitely recommend this place! Parking is easy because the restaurant is located in the same building as an Apartment complex, they validate parking. All the food was amazing and fairly priced, service was great too and [[HIGHLIGHT]]environment seemed clean[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. Presentation of all the food items was also amazing, so much detail.

    Kailey C.

    A very professionally run restaurant! Quick and attentive service, and the food was incredibly fresh and came out instantly. My water was refilled several times, and they checked on me often. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance is calming and refined, great for business meals or formal dinners.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They have a reasonably-priced lunch menu - I got the chirashi ($28) which came with a surprise 4-piece tekka maki! Looking forward to coming back to eat my way through their menu!

    wagyu fried frice
    Tony J.

    Mid-sized upscale Japanese restaurant near the eastern edge of downtown Bellevue. It's on the first floor of the Alley 111 building. The restaurant validate parking for the building garage. Interior is very modern, a bit fancy looking. Ended up being about half full for a weeknight. Menu has a variety of Japanese cuisine items, up to an omakase that you have book a few days ahead. I ended up getting the king crab miso soup, wagyu fried rice and the nigiri and sashimi combo. The miso soup tasted decent, and has a few pieces of crab. The fried rice was pretty good in that it's dry enough, although you don't get that much wagyu beef in it. The wagyu is in small pieces, so you don't really appreciate its texture. The nigiri and sashimi combo was the highlight, especially due to the presentation. It's on a a platter on top of a bowl of ice. There's 5 pieces of nigiri, 4 types of sashimi with each having 2 slices, and a few pieces of a sushi roll. Tasted fresh. Also tried some of the different rolls that others at the table ordered. They have a variety of rolls with some interesting combinations. The rolls are pricey but the serving is sizable. Overall food was good, presentation and service were excellent. Ended up being $100+ per person, but it was a work dinner so I didn't have to pay for it, which makes it better.

    A5 Wagyu Lava Stone
    Katrina C.

    Restaurant is a little hidden but across from The Bravern in Bellevue. Food was delicious! The Wagyu Lava Stone was definitely the highlight. Thinly sliced A5 wagyu presented with a hot stone plate. You cook the meat to your liking and it just melts in your mouth. The sashimi was also really fresh and in generous thick pieces. Only knocked off a star because the service was slow. Not sure if they were just understaffed but it wasn't too busy on a Monday night and it took awhile to order and get our drinks/food.

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    Minamoto Japanese Cuisine Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Minamoto Japanese Cuisine

    Omakase asks for a $50 deposit per person during tock reservations. Is that non refundable in the event of cancelation? If the reservation is completed is the 50 per person deposit added as a credit to the omakase bill?

    Do you offer dine-in at the moment for 6 people party?

    We offer 2 separate table for party of 5+ due to covid regulation

    How much is the Omakase? Out of curiosity

    $150 per person, 15-17 courses. You MUST have a reservation for the omakase, and I believe that it is only available at the sushi bar (so that the chefs can actively interact with you). ENJOY!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    WOW! Not often do I get blown away by a restaurant and immediately text friends and family about…read moreit, but Itadaki IS that place. From the moment I stepped inside to the decor and service to the taste and quality of food, I was impressed the entire night. Most bbq places are laid back and loud, but this place is refined, sophisticated, and everything you'd want for a date night or celebration. Starting off with service, everyone we spoke with was lovely and inviting. We felt welcomed and our server kept checking on us, but wasn't too invasive, so we were able to catch up. We were greeted with hand towels and 3 options for water. Cutlery and tableware were nicely set up and I'm obsessed with their plates! I was blown away by all of the dishes we ordered but my favorites were definitely the Uni Toast, Wagyu Volcano, and honestly all the meats we ordered to grill. They grill your meats for you, so it is a bit awkward because the person stands there until everything is done, but it's cooked to perfection! Highly recommend for a nice date night or celebration dinner.

    Three of us did the Omakase (chef's choice). You choose the price and then they add items based on…read morethe tier. Everything we had was excellent. We started with a wagyu toast and the meat just melted in your mouth. We also had alaska king crab with A5. Kind of a surf and turf nigiri. The uni toast was a little too much toast but it was a generous amount of uni. The Rubik's cube was a literal cube of meat. They cook it to perfection in front of you. Lots of sauces and sides to try. Everything was very good. It's amazing how different each cut of meat tastes. I loved the silky egg yolk in the volcano. They offer bottle service as well as drinks and their drinks were excellent. Would definitely go back!

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    Shabu Shabu Kyoto Japanese Restaurant

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    4.2
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    We came here for lunch on a Sunday for our 18th anniversary and we were met with a smile by the…read moregreeter who greeted us with a Happy Anniversary. They were celebrating their 8th anniversary with some Anniversary specials, so my husband and I ordered the premium Wagyu combo which came with an appetizer, sparkling wine (we opted for just regular drink) and bonus Yuzu sherbet dessert for our anniversary. I got the American Wagyu and husband got the A5 Japanese cut. Both soooo delicious, light and very good quality. The selections and portions were more than enough for us and our Dads. We also got the Happy Hour Sake Sampler set for $20 which was tasty as well. The server and workers there were so amazing. Friendly and came by our table numerous times to make sure we were ok. Took pictures for us and just great all around. This was my 2nd time at this location and I know I'll be back more times again. We loved that it wasn't as crowded as dinner hours. It's one of very few hot pot spots where you get your own pot so you can enjoy it the way you like it...Such a lovely spot, a hidden gem in Bellevue. MUST GO FOR SURE.

    I visited Shabu Shabu Kyoto for a weekend dinner. Parking was very easy as there a bunch of other…read morerestaurants in the area. Although it was pretty busy inside, we were able to be seated in about 10 minutes, which was great for a last minute decision for Shabu Shabu. I haven't done many Shabu Shabu places, but this one is a bit different since you get a set of vegetables and meat rather than ordering multiple rounds. The quality of the meat and vegetables, in my opinion, was much higher compared to those places where you're able to get multiple rounds of meat or select your own vegetables/sides. The broth (I had kombu) was pretty light, so it wasn't the best. The service was pretty friendly and the only fault to them was they didn't come around to refill our pots with hot water. I enjoyed dinner here and would definitely come back again. The quality of the food, the calm restaurant atmosphere, and the polite staff made it an enjoyable experience.

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    Ginza

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    Came here for a birthday dinner on a Sunday and called ahead to make a reservation so there was no…read morewait. The restaurant is very small, a few tables and a back room that had a traditional Japanese seating. They have their own small parking lot too right in front. The service was okay. After we got our order it was kind of hard to get someone's attention. Getting the check and paying took a long time. I thought the food was good. The seared salmon was my favorite and they don't put a lot of rice so you can eat lots of it. I kind of liked the ramen it just took a few sips to get used to it and it comes in a big bowl too!! The yaki (not pictured) I misread for soup but it was a sautéed dish and it was also good since I like udon noodles and comes in a huge plate too. So the servings are very big for the entrees and soups. I didn't get to try a lot of the sushi due to most of it having an avocado allergy but had mixed reviews at the table. Overall this place is good!!

    A complete hidden gem of a spot! They have designated parking spaces for their restaurant customers…read morewhich is genuinely one of the nicest things since parking in downtown Bellevue can be rough. We came for lunch on a weekday and it wasn't too busy but there were still a decent number of people inside. We each got the sushi combo which came with 9 pieces of nigiri, and a roll. We chose to upgrade the tuna roll to negitoro, which was completely worth it - it was so buttery and delicious. The set itself was super generous in portion size, and each piece of fish tasted so fresh! I loved the toro piece so much. We also got the pumpkin fried rice to share since it was highly recommended, and WOW that did not disappoint either. It was packed with pumpkin and had a good wok hei aroma. Definitely worth it. All in all, I would absolutely come back here and it is probably one of my favorite spots I've tried yet!

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    Minamoto Japanese Cuisine - japanese - Updated August 2026

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