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    Saké Nomi

    4.6 (103 reviews)
    Closed 2:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Saké Nomi Photos

    Business Info

    SAKÉ NOMI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

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    Karen T.

    The owner is very nice and knowledgeable. Great sake and a wide selection as well! We tried their flight and was surpised to find some unique notes and flavors that we liked.

    My second visit that sealed the deal.
    Alexis M.

    Sake nomi is an 18 year old gem in Downtown Seattle. Sake enthusiast, Johnnie, is very knowledgeable about the drinks and is friendly to chat with. I ordered and enjoyed the first sake flight (1,2,3). It was also a nice place to stay cool during this heatwave. I visited Sake Nomi a second time and delighted in a 4oz pour of extremely limited sake. This sealed the deal and I left with a bottle of it. I have been promoting this place to Seattle locals while on my trip! I had a great time.

    2 sake tasting flights
    Yossi G.

    I was really debating whether i should write a review or not but decided to write it since i do have an obligation to give people heads up in case they were looking forward to get to this nice and impressive sake shop so they wont be disappointed.. I am a huge sake enthusiast and was on a road trip to Seattle from Los Angeles, four months before my trip I already planned to stop at sake nomi for tasting and grab a few bottles. Sake is all about the people and their stories, if it's the brewery owner, the family, the toji, their kids and the rice, yeast and mold they use. Sake is a sofisticate and fascinating drink that has a lot of information exchange especially when you are doing a tasting, its a learning experience anywhere you go, but not here! Johnny seems like a nice guy but I wish he knew more about customer service and experience delivery. We were three people in the store altogether, me my gf and a friend and nobody else. At first when we came in I rushed to the back of the store to appreciate all the amazing bottles he has to offer which is indeed very impressive, after we chatted for a bit i decided to do two sake flights, each priced at 26$ for 3 glasses which is not so cheap. The communication was a bit off already in the beginning since it felt like you have to "milk" answers or information from him but i brushed it off because i do believe in redemption and giving people more than one try. Anyone can see I am very enthusiastic about sake and eager to learn from someone more knowledgable than me which in this case was Johnny, but this tasting was the worst I've ever had and the most awkward scene I've ever been to in a business setting. And this is an understatement. He poured me 6 bottles in a row and put all of them back into the fridge right away after each pour, which usually the tasting will have some structure and guidance to teach the customer something cool or fascinating about the sake your drinking, about the character and the notes, something! Basically to some it all up, i was poured sake and then he took a sit on a bar stool at the other end of the bar sitting with his arms crossed and started watching TV. I was so upset and shocked.. I honestly would have just gone up and leave but I couldn't waste the good sake he just poured. I personally would not recommend anyone to go there for tasting or any interaction more than a transaction at the register since the sake selection is truly great and Johnny has a lot of knowledge so you could buy a bottle or two but nothing more. Don't expect anything else and I know there are tons of people who had the same experience as me. As for Johnny, I would recommend him to hire someone younger with more positive energy and life to them so this place might have a better name and vibe other than "too lazy/don't care" attitude which is the opposite of anything in the service world. This experience really ruined my trip as I was looking forward going to this store and also try and learn more about sake. What a shame...

    Sue F.

    I'm a regular so of course I love coming here! Love the sake tastings and grab bottles to go. Videos always playing can range from television shows to sumo wrestling.

    tasting menu
    Curt F.

    just came out of this shop. what's funny is we thought it was a Japanese restaurant. but it is just a sake bar. so we ate a little, and came back. good call i have been interested in tasting good sake. and this is comparable to a good wine tasting. there are differences in different distilleries. the owner pour our tasting and we sampled. 2 of us, we got the 2 samplers. it is interesting of how complex the each sake was good education from the owner. i would visit again

    a menu for a meal
    Marah H.

    One thing I really enjoyed about this place is the option to order a flight aka sampler tray. This features 3 of the 6 sakés that they have on the menu at the time. If you are like me and not super familiar with sake this is a great way to try several different varieties. This also helped me to learn which ones I like and don't like. The reason for three stars is because the service was weird to put it nicely. The bar tender seemed to be annoyed with our existence. He was standoffish and inattentive. There were only two of us and we are both super mellow so I wasn't sure what the issue was. Overall I would come here again because I enjoyed sake, but part of me hopes there is someone else there when we stop in again.

    Storefront
    John C K.

    Talk about eclectic ! All the trappings of a wine tasting room, only sake. The owner lived in Japan for 7 years and, besides becoming a big Japanese baseball fan, also became quite knowledgeable about sake. So much so that he knows, properly, this is cold sake season and that is what he served. Great flight of sakes, all having different tastes in a similar manner a merlot would to a cabernet to a malbec, for example. So it is a great place to start your education - or continue it - on the wonderful drink that is sake. (Sidebar to my family and friends who may read this - I want to be pickled in a barrel of sake when I die. Skip the Viking boat thing.) And for us Japanophiles, the owner can easily go ashinoyubi to ashinoyubi with you on the crazy world of Japan and them some, All the while wearing a Seattle Sounders jersey! I will cut him some slack because he is a BayStars fan (I am solidly a Hanshin Tiger) This is added to my "I hate franchises" list of unique owner operated businesses.

    Carolyn P.

    You have probably walked by this place 100 times and not realized that there is a sake bar behind an unassuming door in Pioneer Square. The signage is terrible, there is currently construction everywhere, and you don't really know what you're getting into until you walk inside. I was pleasantly surprised by the knowledge of the staff and the breadth of their sake offerings. If you've never had sake before, ask plenty of questions and the staff will guide you. There are options for "flights" to try several different styles. Kanpai!

    Chris J.

    Man I love this place. Hidden in little bit of a rough area in pioneer square, this shop is a magical little realm all its own. You walk in to a place filled with sake bottles, boxes, and all kind of Japanese decor with a homey smell and a comforting atmosphere. The owner is this great chill guy who lived in Japan for many years growing up and came back to Seattle to open this fantastic little spot showcasing and selling all kinds of sake. Every week is a different tasting menu of about 8 different sakes, all very interesting and delicious. Every time I come to Seattle I try to stop by and get them all and just hang out with the owner who makes you feel like a friend while you watch documentaries on Japan, sumo, and all manners of fun video. I wish sake had more traction in American culture because even though it is nuanced it is flavorful and varied. Here's hoping to a rise in popularity and awareness that Sake Nomi is the best stop for sake!

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    4 years ago

    Fantastic selection and the owner is knowledgeable and also lovely. Had a great time. Highly recommend the tasting flights.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Saké Nomi

    Review Highlights - Saké Nomi

    The owner (Johnnie) is such an interesting person and taught us a lot about sake and neat facts about Japan.

    Mentioned in 25 reviews

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    Maneki - Sassy salmon roll

    Maneki

    4.2(1.4k reviews)
    0.4 miJapantown, Chinatown International District
    $$

    Cozy place for a special occasion. Small restaurant. Appears family run…read more Price point for the quality of fish and thickness of cut is reasonable. The popular sashimi plate had sockeye salmon, scallops, king salmon, yellowtail, snapper, and shima aji. 3-4 slices per fish so total about 20ish pieces for $ 75 dollars. Also included salmon roe. Ask which fish is in the plate since it seems to change. Service was good. They serve distilled water which is appropriate for eating raw dish so you actually taste the fish and not the tap water. The star of the night was the miso black cod. Soft buttery and flavorful. Just enough miso to bring out the sweetness of the fish. Some may find it not flavorful enough. It depends on if you are looking for fish flavor or seasoning flavor in my opinion. The only down side is that it's a fatty cut of fish so by the third piece it can be a bit heavy. Ended up cutting the fat with a bit of lemon toward the end and using the shredded pink diakon. For the price of $ 17 dollars, it is quite a good deal as other spots in the area would charge more or give less.

    Vibes: retro mom and pop Japanese; bring a friend or a small group…read more Tasting notes: - Kinpira: very lightly seasoned; very subtly sweet; overall crunchy and refreshing - Sakana Dinner: sunomono is very lightly pickled; sashimi is thick cut; tempura is excellently crisp; sides come before the fish; salt-broiled mackerel was perfectly broiled and just salty enough, pairing nicely with fluffy white rice - Hamachi Kama: very generous, meaty portion; served with lemon and slightly vinegary dashi dipping sauce Other thoughts: - Dishes come free flowing from the kitchen - Hamachi Kama did take about 25 minutes along with mackerel and was effectively an entree in itself Impression: so glad I got to stop in this historical gem on my first trip to Seattle!

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    Maneki - Several private rooms with traditional floor seating

    Several private rooms with traditional floor seating

    Maneki - Wild Salmon

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    Ringo Curry - Chicken cutlet curry omelette.

    Ringo Curry

    4.3(162 reviews)
    0.6 miChinatown, Chinatown International District
    $$

    I have been wanting to come here since I saw they first opened on social medias. The food here…read morealways looked amazing, the reviews are very high and many friends who have visited this spot make it a weekly stop. My boyfriend and I finally had the chance to visit with one of our friends who have stopped by here saying that the food here is really good. I got their pork tonkatsu with omelet set A, my boyfriend got their chicken tonkatsu, and we got a ebi curry udon to share too. The service here is friendly. They do check up on you every so often, especially for water refills. The space is quite big and they can seat lots of people, they even had a big party of 10 when we dined in but without enough space to walk around and still seat many in booth or chair seating. Food didn't take too long to arrive which was nice as we were starving. The food portions are pretty big! The breading on the katsus were crunchy and flavorful. The udon was perfect: gooey hard boiled eggs, huge ebi katsu, chewy noodles and the same comforting curry. The chicken katsu was good but the chicken was on the dry side for me. My boyfriend was very pleased with the curry and katsu saying that we had to come back and try the other dishes. The iced green tea was refreshing, the salad's dressing for the side salad was pleasant and the miso soup had tofu, seaweed and green onion so it was excellent! Definitely recommend this spot to those who enjoy Japanese cuisine.

    YESSSSS! Ringo Curry is my jam...or my favorite curry! Katsu, rice, and level 2 curry is my happy…read moreplace. Great fast service, was given a window booth, and enjoyed sipping my Thai ice tea until my dish came! Huge portion, perfectly cooked rice, chicken katsu was perfectly breaded and nicely fried, and the curry makes you want to lick the plate clean. Save room for the matcha ice cream mochi! You'll need it if you order above level !

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    Ringo Curry - (2/1/25)

    (2/1/25)

    Ringo Curry - Chicken Karake

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    Rondo Japanese Kitchen

    Rondo Japanese Kitchen

    4.4(784 reviews)
    1.4 miCapitol Hill
    $$

    I tried this place with my son during our visit to Seattle. We did not have to wait and were…read moreseated right away, a good plus. Ambience: (5/5) The atmosphere here felt very authentically Japanese, and fun. Food: (5/5) We ordered the Ahi Tuna Goma Crispy Toast, which came with four pieces and had great flavor. It's a relatively small dish, but that's what we expected going in. We also had the Hamachi Rice Don, which is raw fish over rice, and it was perfect, topped with egg, seaweed strips, and more. At first, we thought the rice looked too plain and would need extra soy sauce, but we were wrong. The rice was already seasoned with some kind of delicious sauce, so no extra soy sauce was needed at all. Service: (5/5) Our waiter was very attentive without being pushy, and was always available whenever we needed something.

    Went here for lunch with my extended family including a couple of young kids. The staff was…read moreincredibly friendly and very accommodating to their dietary preferences. Bonus points for the recommendations and modifications they made to make a roll more kid friendly. I got the Katsu Curry Don and it was genuinely one of the nicest ones I've had in the Seattle area. The pork was perfectly juicy and tender yet crispy, the rice was actually seasoned nicely and made with care, and the curry was so well balanced with a tiny bit of heat to it as requested. They also serve it with a little kimchi with works as a perfect palate cleanser between rich bites. My wife for the Vegan Maze-Udon while my family for the Omakase and they all really liked their food too. We then split a couple of extremely cold soft-serves. The yuzu sauce was not bad but the matcha was absolutely outstanding and super flavorful. It paired really well with the ice cream and I'd highly recommend it. Overall the place is genuinely worth a visit. A tad pricey, but that's Cap Hill for you. At least the food is fantastic and the service on point. Will visit again.

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    Rondo Japanese Kitchen - Sashimi bento

    Sashimi bento

    Rondo Japanese Kitchen - UNI SHOOTER

    UNI SHOOTER

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    Katsu-Ya - Westlake Roll

    Katsu-Ya

    4.3(350 reviews)
    1.2 miSouth Lake Union
    $$

    A lively atmosphere in SLU to grab sushi, sashimi, and more. The service is prompt and attentive…read more There is a lot of seating and even good for groups. I sat at the sushi bar as it was just myself. For lunch, I opted in for the Power Lunch and it was fantastic. Served with 5 pieces of nigiri, seared salmon, miso soup, salad, edamame and more. The salad is great with the ginger dressing and the miso soup was flavorful with tofu. The nigiri was fresh and flavorful. Also got a shrimp tempura roll which was great with tempura shrimp and fresh avacado. Overall no complaints here. There are so many dishes I want to try and will be back soon for more.

    **Thursday evening around 5:00 p.m., party of 2. No wait.**…read more Unfortunately, I'm going to have to echo several of the recent reviews about the slow service. When we were seated, there were only about three other occupied tables, all with couples. Two of those tables were already being served their food. We placed our order, but our food didn't arrive for about an hour despite the restaurant appearing to be fully staffed. To make matters worse, multiple tables that were seated after us received their food before we did. The long wait might have been easier to overlook if the food had been worth it, but it wasn't. I ordered the seven-piece sushi assortment with a baked crab roll, and more than four pieces of the fish were still partially frozen. The fish did not taste fresh, which was especially disappointing after such a long wait. An hour to assemble seven pieces of sushi seemed excessive. Seeing that more than half of the fish was still partially frozen made the hour-long wait make a lot more sense. Maybe they were waiting for it to defrost before serving it. My sister ordered a baked crab roll and two pieces of seared snow crab. The seared snow crab was completely forgotten until I had already finished my meal. We had to remind the staff before they rushed to prepare it. The baked crab roll itself was decent, but the combination of the extremely slow service, disorganized order handling, partially frozen fish, and forgetting an entire dish until we asked about it means we won't be returning.

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    Katsu-Ya
    Katsu-Ya - Sashimi

    Sashimi

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    Momiji

    Momiji

    4.2(2.1k reviews)
    1.2 miCapitol Hill
    $$

    I visited here for happy hour on a Monday and really enjoyed it! The happy hour items are very…read moreaffordable considering the prime location in SLU - rolls and kitchen items ~$10-15. The best part is the complimentary edamame with flaky salt. I'd come back for this detail alone. The setting inside is nice and bright, and the servers are very friendly. You'll probably want to make a reservation to be on the safe side because the restaurant isn't very large.

    Had a very disappointing experience. The service was good, we came and were seated pretty quickly…read morewith no reservations. The waitress was nice and understanding. The food is where it all went south. We ordered ginger beer and the ginger beer wasn't true ginger beer (it was a soft drink with ginger flavor and almost 50 grams of sugar + all sorts of gums). Calamari 1/5 - this was one of the worse, soggy Luke warm calamari that tasted reheated. It sort of tasted like it was in a Tupperware for a while or cooked in rancid oil. Unagi Roll 1/5 - this is actually the worse roll I've ever had. The rice was like warm, the whole roll was mushy and tasted like spoiled fish oil. I've never had to spit out a sushi roll before and this was a first for me. The roll was cut Into super uneven pieces, some were unusually large and some super thin. It was so bad that unfortunately we had to send it back. Nigiri 3/5 - We got a selection of nigiri and it was better than the roll but still you can tell the fish quality just wasn't there. The salmon belly, toro, and others are supposed to taste buttery, but instead they were super stringy. I think the fish was fresh, but the quality was meh. We will not be returning here unfortunately and it's wild to see the amount of positive reviews.

    Photos
    Momiji - The bar facing the street has a beautiful washi light fixture. The best feature of this area.

    The bar facing the street has a beautiful washi light fixture. The best feature of this area.

    Momiji - Samurai Spirit.

    Samurai Spirit.

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    Saké Nomi - beer_and_wine - Updated September 2026

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