We've been here twice for special birthday trips into Seattle and their onigiri is some of the best I've ever had (including the ones I make at home). Perfect rice to "filling" ratio, great flavor combos, and an adorable little booth inside a market. I also get their miso and it's delicious. Miso isn't burnt, perfect amount of dashi broth to miso paste. read more

Sankaku Onigiri Cafe & Bar - Ume Kombu onigiri - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Wow! We are always on the hunt for a good onigiri shop and I have to say this place ranks high up there amongst onigiri shops I've been to in Little Tokyo LA and Japantown SF. There are so many average onigiri places these days that just plop mushy rice together with a few ingredients and call it onigiri - but it's clear this shop places emphasis on quality which makes it clearly stand out. We had the Ume Konbu & Tuna Mayo and both were excellent 10/10. The rice is cooked perfectly and the ingredients are high quality. Reminds me of the onigiri I had in the streets of Japan. Service was prompt. There was a huge line at Eggslut next door - skip that line and try some bomb ass onigiri. read more

Cute little cafe tucked away in Melrose Market. I think it's owned by an Asian woman and I want to support her! Flavors were tasty and unique. I'm sure she put a lot of effort into refining the recipes and the art of making the onigiri. I wish I could afford to eat it everyday for lunch since I work across the street. Prices are on par with Seattle. read more

Sankaku Onigiri Cafe & Bar - Salmon basil and Corn Onigiri - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

What a wonderful spot! Sankaku feels like a hidden gem tucked away inside Melrose Market. I feel like it has the vibes of little shops inside Chelsea Market of New York. Got the bento with different appetizers, hijiki, and 3 onigiri. The hijiki was addicting. I couldn't stop eating it. Rice is so soft and comforting. I especially loved the nasu miso. The owner is so sweet and even gave us 2 red bean cookies on the house which I totally recommend if they're available. They were thin and crispy on the edges with a chewy center - kind of like a red bean oatmeal cookie. Love supporting local businesses like this! read more

Sankaku Onigiri Cafe & Bar - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I went to Japan last summer and fell in love with onigiri and was so excited when I found out there was a spot to get some near the house! This tuna mayo is soooo good! It's actually was my favorite thing to get from 7/11 and this one hit the spot! The salmon basil one is also delicious and has chunks of salmon throughout! I did get a guava sparkling water to wash it all down! The owner was soooo sweet she gave me an extra tuna mayo! After driving off I realized I need to go back to get some more for my trip tomorrow! I fear she just got a loyal customer read more

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stumbled upon this place while looking for a quick bite! it's in some sort of food hall. the employee at the front was super sweet and helpful. i'm in love with the potato salad wish i bought some more to take home! the onigiri was super fresh and perfect for a quick little snack read more

Sankaku Onigiri Cafe & Bar - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I stumbled onto this onigiri bar after being downtown Saturday and it did NOT disappoint! This was my first time having onigiri and it was so yummy and warm. The cook made our onigiri in around 5 minutes and sat us at the only table. There's not a lot of seating here but it contributes to a more intimate environment and there's bar seating. I enjoyed both the onigiri I got equally because their flavor profiles were super unique from each other. I also got the sweet potato salad and it was super yummy, it has a lot of pepper though so i would be cautious. My only suggestion is that the food stall itself gets more lively lights because I came here around 4 and it kind of felt closed but it was still an awesome experience !! read more

Sankaku Onigiri Cafe & Bar - Sweet potato salad - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Visited today for a quick bite and got the Nasu Miso (eggplant) and tuna mayo. Both were really good! Will definitely come back to try the rest. Also a huge plus is that the place is gluten free read more

Sankaku Onigiri Cafe & Bar - Tuna mayo and Nasu Miso - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place hit the spot. The onigiri has just the right amount of flavor--not in your face, but made just right, with the subtlety you expect from authentic Japanese cuisine. The hojicha latte is strong, also as expected. Get it if you want that caffeine boost and are craving a deep, dark roast. And the miso soup was not what you normally get at other Japanese restaurants; it was exponentially better! I skipped ordering it at first, assuming it would be basic, but the owner gave us free miso, and it was the kindest gesture I could imagine on a cold Seattle afternoon because the miso may be the best not-so-secret dish on the menu. It was hearty and made with love and care, like real home cooking, but at the Melrose Market. So good that I just wrote a whole paragraph dedicated to it. Skip the other shops in the building and come sit at this intimate cafe. You'll be taken care of, inside and out. Sankaku deserves every single one of these five stars . read more

**vegetarian review** I have been trying to go to this spot for a while and finally made it. The menu is simple and focused. I got 3 onigiri - sweet potato, ume, and eggplant. I loved how flavoursome these were. There was a good amount of stuffing and the rice was also flavoured. My favourite was ume and then eggplant. The onigiri are definitely on expensive side -$6.5 each but very delicious. The sweet potato salad was wonderful. Very balanced. Overall I like the place and would definitely go back. It's a little pricey so maybe not too often read more

Sankaku Onigiri Cafe & Bar - Not the best photo but onigiri - sweet potato, ume, eggplant - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Yummy, simple onigiri selection with nice cocktails. I enjoyed the tuna mayo and the green pea onigiri. Got a yuzu fizz cocktail and the staff made it sweet at my request, which was lovely. I enjoyed the food and how fast it came out . read more

Sankaku Onigiri Cafe & Bar - Tuna mayo onigiri, green pea onigiri, yuzu fizz cocktail, sweet potato salad - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place is like the luxury brand on onigiri! The onigiri is really well seasoned throughout with sesame oil and salt, so the rice doesn't just taste plain and brings its own flavor. The fillings are delicious as well and they're filled generously so you get a little with each bite. The only downside is that they're quite small and pricey. My favorites are the tuna mayo and nasu miso. Tuna mayo is such a classic, the creamy mayo and light meaty fishiness from the tuna pair really well with the subtle sweetness of the rice rounded out with the nuttiness of sesame. The nasu miso is also amazing but I love eggplant so I might be a bit biased. The eggplant with the umami and complexity of miso makes an extremely delicious onigiri. They also have box sets occasionally which I really like because it feels more like a full meal rather than just onigiri. The Sankaku box set was filled with different vegetables and salads that were super fresh and tasty. I love the sweet potato salad because Japanese sweet potatoes are so buttery and creamy and the sweetness isn't overwhelming. read more

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I didn't realize it was inside a market rather than its own storefront. It has barstool seating and one or two small tables. I ordered the salmon basil, nasu miso, edamame yuzu, and hijiki. I think the onigiri are reasonably priced, packed with ingredients, and handmade--I saw the restaurant owner making them. I really liked the seasoning, with the great texture of the rice and sesame oil. The only downside was that the salmon one was a bit too salty. The eggplant had a mix of super soft pieces and some crunchy ones. The miso flavor was subtle and didn't overpower the other seasonings in the rice. I enjoyed the edamame yuzu, as the light yuzu taste was refreshing and slightly peppery. The hijiki was just okay, as I'm not a huge fan of seaweed texture. Overall, I really enjoyed the onigiri and would recommend it for a quick meal or snack. read more

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Super solid onigiri! I got the shiso potato, tuna mayo and the salmon basil. The salmon was slightly on the salty side, but the shiso potato and a nice slight sweetness to it. The tuna mayo was a bit too heavy for me, but delicious if you love mayo. Service was decently fast but be aware the place isn't very big! It's located in a food hall. I'd definitely come back again to try their other flavours. read more

Sankaku Onigiri Cafe & Bar - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

It was ok but I wouldn't go out of my way to go again. I had higher expectations. For the Sankaku spicy tuna roll they used tunafish and not fresh fish. I thought that was strange. read more

I freaking love this place !!! So so so in love. The onigiris are so cute and also so good! The lady who worked there also gave us so many others to try !! So glad I found this place !! Will come back again when I'm in town !! read more

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I think the onigiri are good but the portions seems very small for the price. We had salmon , tuna and the eggplant onigiri. Salmon is good and tuna as well, not so much the eggplant(i feel though the eggplant needs to be more tender). We encountered salmon fish bones in our onigiri so be careful. We also had the sweet potatoes basically potato salad but uses sweet potatoes instead. The yuzu soda is very refreshing. And we ordered miso soup. These are definitely on the expensive side of things. Also the miso soup costs more than the onigiri so I think there is a disparity in pricing in the menu. This is more of a 'to-go' concept than dine in though they do have some seating but definitely not a lot to accommodate big groups. There's only one server and she's doing everything. Most of the onigiri are readily cooked and constructed, and they're just serving it customers. Parking is horrible since only street is available. This is good for people who are on the go or perhaps just want a quick bite. read more

I'm a fan! Stopped in for takeout right before they closed. Everything was super tasty! Loved the creamy sweet potato salad and the crisp cabbage salad, too. Bummed they were out of the seaweed salad on my visit but I'll be back and try it next time. Tuna and ume onigiri were both tasty enough to order again, but my fave was the nasu miso with eggplant and giner- sooooo delish! Food tastes fresh and prices are reasonable. read more

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Great onigiri spot; the individual onigiri were flavorful and well balanced. They had some other sides as well that tasted great, but I'd say the stars of the show were the ume konbu onigiri and the tuna Mayo read more

I love the concept and the store itself is super cute, but it is a bit pricy if you're looking to eat a full meal here. I got the kinoko and salmon basil onigiri, and they were both pretty tasty! The rice was the perfect texture, but the flavors were good but they didn't necessarily blow my mind. If I was hungry, I could probably eat two or three, which at around $6 each can add up to be more expensive than I would expect to pay. Still a great spot to stop by in Melrose Market though, especially if you're looking for a snack. read more

Sankaku Onigiri Cafe & Bar - Kinoko and salmon basil onigiri - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place is located in a larger food court area. I stopped by here late at night before their closing time to pickup some onigiri rice balls. Staff that was helping me was nice and friendly. I had Salmon Basil, Shiso Potato, and Tuna Mayo. My favorite was the Tuna Mayo, super tasty! There were a few onigiri flavors that were all sold out when I came late at night so I'd like to come back earlier in the day the next time to try other options! read more

Sankaku Onigiri Cafe & Bar - Shiso potato - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Thrilled to have a place to get wonderful fresh onigiri in Seattle. We were missing this Japanese staple and decided to give these a try. We got 3 onigiri (tuna mayo, sweet potato, and nasu miso) and a bowl of miso soup. The miso soup was warm and comforting and complimented our onigiri perfectly. The rice on all three was a highlight, perfectly soft and warm, just what you would expect. All three fillings were tasty and flavorful, the tuna mayo was perfectly balanced and salty and the nasu miso was super flavorful. At $6.50 each, they are a far cry from Japanese prices, but it's to be expected in Seattle and we'd certainly return here when our onigiri craving returns. read more

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This owner and restaurant is 10/10. Had a lunch box with salmon. Cabbage slaw, potato salad, egg side dish. She knows flavor. Perfection. The quality in the ingredients top notch. Wonderful salmon. There's a ton of food and care that goes into this. I found out well worth the price. Not to even mention she does all of this gluten free?!!!!!! Amazing. Onigiri are delicious. My favorite is the tuna read more

Sankaku Onigiri Cafe & Bar - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I got the Tuna onigiri and the salmon onigiri- def preferred the Tuna one since the salmon felt a bit too salty for me. I also ate the salmon one immediately so it was room temperature vs the tuna one I had left in the fridge for a few hours and I liked that it was cold. Each one was $6.50, a bit small, but filling nonetheless. The place is in Melrose Market with a couple of tables and bar stools and I got my onigiri immediately I didn't have to wait at all! read more

We stopped by Sankaku for a quick lunch snack. We got one of each flavor and our favorites were the Corn, Tuna Mayo, and Nasu Miso. The corn, dill, soy sauce combination was so unique! I loved how it was very sweet, savory, and fresh. The onigiri is pretty large, so 2-3 ongiri per person was pretty filling for us. I liked the lime shiso and yuzu sodas a lot, but it's definitely on the sweeter side so I just diluted mine with more water. The pop-up is rather small so the seating is limited if they're busy. read more

Sankaku Onigiri Cafe & Bar - All onigiri - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Sankaku is a favorite of mine- I love the onigiri, but today I wanted to highlight the tuna mayo onigiri in particular. It was my first time having it and I was afraid it might be dry and bland, but it was SO GOOD!! Well seasoned, nice texture. Unfortunately no photos because I scarfed it down, but I hope that's telling by of how worth it it is to go to Sankaku!! Plus the owner is always kind and friendly :) read more

Cozy little cafe that sells onigiri! I got the Ume Konbu and it was good, you can really taste the pickled plum flavor. It's a lil pricey but it's a nice stop for a quick snack. read more

Sankaku Onigiri Cafe & Bar - Ume Konbu Onigiri (pickled plum flavor) - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Sankaku is a delicious and very overpriced onigiri spot. My husband and I both got the tuna and salmon onigiri, shared the sweet potato salad as mentioned in other reviews, and the yuzu soda + yuzu fizz with gin. The yuzu drinks were refreshing and tasted good. We both preferred the tuna over the salmon onigiri. I think if it were 3 for $10, the meal would feel more worth it. We spent over $50+tip for what felt like a snack and a 2nd dinner did happen later that evening. I would pay more if it they were specialty onigiri, but the flavor profiles were pretty standard for someone who has had onigiri before. Other than price, the vibes were good and the staff was super nice! read more

Sankaku Onigiri Cafe & Bar - two pastries on a plate - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Really yummy, main downside is they are a bit smaller. Even though they're small, I'd say the onigiri here are compact and dense. They can be fairly filling, but you'll need around three or four which is about $15-20 and the same as a full meal (each one is roughly $5-6). Wish there were more flavors, hopefully in the future. I got the salmon and tuna. I heavily preferred the tuna. The salmon was a bit saltier and the fish was more spread out as you can see salmon pieces between the rice. As for the tuna, it was more standard where the tuna was centralized and nested inside the rice. Obviously though, you'll need to like tuna, if you like tuna sandwiches this is a dream. Service is pretty great for such a small spot. I believe it's the owner running everything and she's extremely friendly and welcoming. If you're dining in, she brings some water, which comes in a nice glass, and honestly I wasn't expecting water so I thought it was worth pointing out. Will definitely be back if I'm around the area but wouldn't come here just for the onigiri unless I was craving it like crazy. Parking can be annoying though as Melrose Market has no real parking so it's all street parking. We had to park a 10 minute walk away. Alternatively we could have paid at one of the $6 parking lots, but saved a little bit by parking on the street just further. read more

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I'm not sure what the negative reviews on here are about, but we had quite a great experience at Sankaku! I had picked up onigiri in the past before back when Sankaku was a pop-up at Marseille. It was good back then but I have to say that now it's somehow even better! The onigiri rice was the perfect texture, the onigiri filling was delicious. The sides were tasty and felt very healthy. I ordered the yuzu lemon soda and that was such a refreshing drink. I don't come to Capitol Hill as often as I used to, but will definitely try to swing by again when I'm around :) read more

Sankaku Onigiri Cafe & Bar - Yuzu lemon soda at Sankaku in Capitol Hill. - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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tl;dr - fresh and tasty onigiri, cute bar style seating, inside Melrose Market This place is a hidden gem. The onigiri is really tasty here, especially the nasty miso. It's also a great snack to have on the go. It's tucked in the middle of Melrose Market and has a small seating area if you want to dine in. They also have a variety of tasty sides for a more complete meal. My only complaint is that it's not closer to me...or maybe that's a good thing because I'd probably have onigiri every other day read more

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Let me start with- GET A COCKTAIL. I had the yuzu with gin and the amount of drink is a lot! Even with the ice, I was able to take more than a few actual sips! I've been wanting to try this place for a while, but somehow always missed the pop-ups and their hours are a little limited if your a little away from the area. Tried the tuna and it had a bit too much mayo and made the Nori a little soggy even though it was made to order. The flavor was great, not too salty. The rice was tender and I like how it wasn't skimpy on the filling. One is a great snack, 2 makes a meal! I would definitely go back hungry so I can try the other ! read more

Sankaku Onigiri Cafe & Bar - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

It was kind of difficult to find this place, as it's located in a building with multiple restaurants in one. The place is small and quaint, which was nice especially since it wasn't busy when I went. The service was fast, as the onigiri was pre made. I tried the miso, tuna mayo, and the salmon basil and my favorite one that I would get again would be the tuna mayo. The hijiki was good too and was a unique taste. They were priced around $6-$7 each which I honestly think is a bit expensive for the size. Would I go again? Yeah probably. But I would need to try all the other flavors as well. If you love sushi or onigiri in general, this is a good place to try as i don't think there's another place that offers onigiri in Seattle that I know of. read more

Sankaku Onigiri Cafe & Bar - Naso miso, tuna mayo, salmon basil, Hijiki - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Ordered the Salmon Basil Onigiri, Shiso Potato Onigiri, Nasu Miso Onigiri, Ume Konbu, and Tuna Mayo. All were very tasty. If you are in a mood for some legit onigiri, stop by Sankaku. read more

Sankaku Onigiri Cafe & Bar - Nasu Miso, Tuna Mayo, Salmon Basil, Ume Konbu, Shiso Potato Onigiri - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My wife and I love onigiri, so we walked quite a long way (uphill!) to try this place based on the reviews, and it did not disappoint. We ordered three onigiri (salmon, sweet potato w/shiso, and umeboshi) along with two miso soups and a yuzu soda. Everything was delicious. Of the three, the umeboshi was my favorite. The miso soup was wonderful and light and warm on a cold day. The yuzu soda was bright, sweet and tart just how I like it! Otsuka-san (owner and chef) prepared everything quickly and everything tasted amazing. We sat at the counter, and after asking Otsuka-san about one of the sake bottles she had displayed, we started a long conversation. Otsuka-san attended all of the other customers coming in, but kept chatting with us while we ate. Eventually she gave us a free tuna mayo onigiri to try, which wound up being my overall favorite. I think we ended up staying nearly two hours just chatting with Otsuka-san, and before we left, she gave us three more onigiri to go. "A midnight snack," she called it. They wound up being the best quick breakfast ever at the airport the next day. Just put them in the fridge and they're good to go. I don't say all this so you'll try to get free food or anything. It's just that Otsuka-san gave us such a wonderful experience that we'll never forget, and was crazy generous to us on top of that. We made sure to buy an adorable Sankaku tote bag at the bodega next door so we'll always have something to remember her and her wonderful food by. I don't think she even knows about Yelp, but if you're reading this, thank you, Otsuka-san! We will definitely come back the next time we visit Seattle! read more

Sankaku Onigiri Cafe & Bar - Tuna mayo onigiri. Only photo I remembered to take and only the next day. Just as good cold as it was warm! - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I was thrilled when a friend recommended we meet here for lunch, as it seemed to be a perfect niche find. Sankaku is tucked within Melrose Market with intimate bar seating and a few small tables. We each had 2-3 onigiris, and shared the sweet potato salad and sesame cucumber. Amongst our meat-eating group, the favorite onigiris were actually the vegetarian ones: ume konbu, shiso potato, nasu miso, and roasted corn. All were impeccably seasoned! The potato salad was seriously the best I've ever had, and it's obvious how much craft and care goes into each dish here. Within the potato salad, you can see each and every ingredient (shoutout to the pink peppercorns!) instead of everything being mushed into an unidentifiable pulp. I'm definitely looking forward to repeated return visits! read more

Okay. I cannot say enough good things about this place. The food 10/10, service 10/10, ambiance 10/10. We love coming here to grab snacks for picnics or to sit at the bar and have a drink/eat delicious food. If you're in Seattle and like onigiri, I highly recommend this spot. read more

Super yummy onigiri! The owner is super sweet! Was visiting Seattle and had this place on our bucket list. Its a small little cafe located inside the Melrose Market. We order 4 onigiri (salmon basil, tuna mayo, shiso potato, corn). They had sold out of the ume and we're closing early, so the owner kindly gave us 4 extras for free! We got to try the nasu/eggplant. Every onigiri was huge with generous portions of ingredients. My favorite was the Tuna Mayo Onigiri! Definitely recommend stopping by! read more

I just picked these up! So yummy! I got the tuna, salmon, and nasu miso. They were all good but if I were to rank them. 1. Tuna so yummy creamy and fresh, 2. Nasu miso flavorful and juicy, 3. Salmon and basil. Super quick service, order, tap and pay, get the bag of onigiri. I will be coming back!! read more

Sankaku Onigiri Cafe & Bar - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We saw a post on social media of Sankaku, and we had to run here and try their origini. It was almost closing time, so we were hoping to snag the last origini before they sold out. We tried the nasu miso, salmon basil, tuna. In total, we paid around $18 for all three. The prices were pretty expensive for the size of the rice balls. I wished that they were a bit bigger. In terms of taste, I really enjoyed nasu miso and tuna. The miso had a generous amount of eggplant, which was seasoned to a perfect umami taste. The tuna reminded me of one I had gotten when I visited Japan years ago. The tuna went well with the mayo, and this added a nice creaminess to the origini. The salmon basil fell a bit short of my expectations. There wasn't much flavor in this one, and it contained a small amount of salmon. read more

Sankaku Onigiri Cafe & Bar - Nasu miso, salmon basil, tuna origini! - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington