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    Sushi By Scratch Restaurants

    4.4 (118 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndSushi Bars
    Closed 4:30 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    Sushi By Scratch Restaurants Photos

    Business Info

    SUSHI BY SCRATCH RESTAURANTS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Upscale

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    Reviews With Photos - Sushi By Scratch Restaurants

    Tammy L.

    I absolutely LOVE this omakase place. All the pieces are absolutely delicious and unique! The service here is also welcoming and friendly. I enjoyed meeting the chef's and the experience. The ambiance is also private, which I love. Definitely a go to spot for omakase in Washington!

    MinJung K.

    This was such a treat of a meal. My friend and I were craving omakase, and luckily she snagged us a reservation--so off we went. The experience felt very intimate, with everyone seated around the sushi counter and the restaurant welcoming only a set number of guests at a time. The food was fantastic--lots of familiar classics, but elevated. Every piece had a clean, refined finish, something I can't say for every omakase I've tried. It is on the pricier side, but if you're a sushi lover, it's absolutely worth trying. They start you off with a small amuse-bouche before the main courses, which is such a nice touch and really sets the tone for the meal. They also offer pairings--both alcoholic and non-alcoholic--and I thought they were excellent. If you want to go all out, there are additional add-ons available, rich and delicious in their own right. Service throughout was attentive and truly impeccable. Overall: refined, memorable, and well worth the reservation.

    Bianca B.

    Food, service, and ambiance were absolutely amazing. The 17 course omakase has been one of the best I've had in Seattle. Definitely go early to get a complimentary cocktail and a few small food items. Very intimate. Very fun. You will use your hands to eat instead of chopsticks. This place is absolutely magical!

    Very limited seating and incredibly hard to book -- but absolutely worth it.

    My friend and I had an incredible omakase experience at Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Seattle. The restaurant has very limited seating, and reservations are extremely hard to get -- but it was absolutely worth it. The atmosphere was quiet, intimate, and exclusive. Every course was beautifully presented and incredibly delicious. The chefs were talented, welcoming, and passionate about their craft. One of the most memorable sushi experiences we've ever had in Seattle.

    Valerie Y.

    I have been looking forward to eating at Sushi by Scratch, so we decided to come for my birthday! It was a wonderful experience starting from the very beginning. We came early for the pre-dinner experience, which consisted of a cocktail and a couple bites (oyster and tuna bite). The space is dark but cozy, in downtown but feels so private since the windows are all blacked out. After a little bit, we were moved over to the main dining room where all the magic happens. When we came in, our names were on our assigned seats, which felt so personal. I really loved our chefs (Chef Kevin and Chef Han, I think). They were so open about their experiences, their thoughts on food in Seattle, and the menu! I always love watching food being prepared and this was super exciting because the chefs are so precise with how each bite is prepared. There were 17 bites in all, and we were told to only use our hands. I think my favorites were the Uni hand roll and the Hotate (scallop). It was super cool how they used the Bone Marrow drippings on the Unagi bite too! Overall such a great experience. We were told that they swap out menu items every month or so, so we'll have to come back in half a year :)

    Emily J.

    I booked this reservation and then our friends gave us mixed reviews but we decided to go anyways. We walked right past the door as it is easily disguised as just a plan door on building on a busy street. The front man will open the door occasionally to check for those arriving which we observed once we were inside. We went early for the complimentary drink which also turned out to include 2 small bites (oysters and sushi) that we were not expecting. Maybe it said it on the description and I missed it? But they were yummy so I was glad we went early. The drink was a mixed drink with Suntori whiskey and ginger; average at best. For the meal, we were each seated at a place setting that already had our name written out. Those who put a reason for celebrating had little "happy anniversary" cards in front of their places as well. A personal touch if you will. Before we ate, we got an introduction and then the bartender took over with options for sake pairings, cocktails, wine, etc. I went with the Bee's Japanese; roku gin, yuzu, honey. The nigiri was delicious. Each bite with its own twist and flavor. The theme (sauce or way the fish was prepared) complimented each fish/protein. There were some that the sauce definitely overpowered any other flavor but I liked it. I think those for who like the more simple, umami, natural flavors or style of omakase may not enjoy this meal. Those who like fusion and sauce and vibrant flavors probably will. In my opinion the price was a little high but it was a fun and different experience to your traditional omakase and I am glad we went. It probably was a one time experience but a good one. To the restaurant - I probably would put a black curtain between the eating area and the bathroom. I didn't find it pleasant eating with a view inside the bathroom for those who didn't close the door after.

    Salina P.

    What a fun experience! Sushi by Scratch is not your traditional omakase style restaurant. They have more of a speakeasy vibe and modern flavors. The sign is very discreet and you will use a doorbell to be let in. Parking is pretty easy to find on the street, or you can opt to walk to the Amazon garage that has free parking in the evenings. We opted to come 30 min early to experience the welcome beverage and complimentary bites. Everything was already tasting so good. Once we were finished with those, we were led into the dining area where our assigned seats were. All of the staff were wonderful and would check in on us pretty often. Although I enjoyed pretty much each course, the most memorable one was definitely the unagi. This was served after the bone marrow course, so all of the remaining bone marrow juice was torched right onto the unagi. The combined flavors knocked me tf out. At the end, they took a polaroid photo of each party to take home as a souvenir, which was a cute touch.

    Lights / Ceiling art at the bar
    Spanky M.

    Welp with the recent report of this establishment operating without a permit and soooo many health violations I'm happy I can take the gloves off an be honest. Yea the experience and execution were high, for seattle. Buuuuutttt Escolar....wtaf is that? It's literally a trash fish that is so fatty it can make you sick. I've grilled it and my grill caught on fire from all the oil. Pro-tip if you see escolar on the menu 1.) At least they're being honest and not calling it super white tuna 2.) It's a big red flag walk the eff out, IMMEDIATELY! For what they are charging per person there is literally no excuse to run an operation so poorly. Wa my experience all smoke and mirrors? There's a reason you have to take courses and be certified to be a sushi chef in Japan. But no in the great old USA. Anyone with a knife and hustle can serve raw fish to people. For the money paid here Subi Kashiba, Hummingbird, Tamura (too name a few) are all better value. Given theire health score kaiten sushi is probably safer. But if you hate money and like a show....we'll go ahead and get your reservation now! This is sad but the red flags were there. I recall being very conflicted in my first review and am relieved I can speak openly given the new info.

    Fenny C.

    Message from the restaurant upon reservation via Tock. Please note that your reservation begins promptly at the time selected, but we encourage you to show up as much as 30 minutes prior to your reservation to enjoy a complimentary welcome beverage! Arriving more than 15 minutes past your scheduled reservation may result in forfeiting your seat. The entrance to the restaurant is through the black double doors at 2331 6th Ave, where you will find a doorbell to alert us of your arrival. The price of the Sushi by Scratch Restaurants omakase menu is $185. Your $25 per person deposit will be applied to your bill upon dining. A 20% Service Charge will be applied to all checks. All deposits are final and non-refundable but fully transferrable. We charge $160 per person for all cancellations made less than 48 hours in advance. Please note: Sushi by Scratch Restaurants is not able to accommodate vegetarian guests. Reservation: Via tock, deposit $25pp And you can list your allergies. Parking: Paid street parking Free parking after 4pm at Day 1 Garage amazon just 2 blocks away. Seating: Max 10 people 3 rotation: 5pm, 7pm and 9:30pm Ambiance is nice. Too dark in the bar during welcoming beverage time. Restroom: only one There's a bunch of flies flying around the front door when you try to get in and out. So yes, we arrived at 4:30pm. You can either get non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverage. After that, we moved to the chef table area for our omakase. They have the name board and you sit as your assigned seating. We came in a group of 7, so they mixed all of us. You can move your name plate and sit to whoever you like to, of course. All the 16 omakase comes in order as shown in the board. All 3 chefs were korean born, and comes from different states and experience. They are very friendly and welcoming. We finished in 1.5hr. They don't rush us to leave for their next seating. Overall food is good. I am more the traditional omakase style, let the fish speaks for itself.

    Kaelin H.

    I loved this modern take on an omakase! There were 19 dishes including two welcome dishes in the waiting/bar area before the main dining room and a dessert at the end. Mostly nigiri style with each dish dressed with unique sauces, techniques, and salts to make for a flavorful bite. No utensils are given as you are expected to eat with your hands. I also love how it's a speakeasy vibe where you have to ring a doorbell to get in. It feels so secretive and is a really great ambiance setting to start with! All of the sushi felt very well prepared, well thought out with how each piece was prepared, and also the sushi chefs preparing the dishes were all extremely friendly and welcoming. Everyone was having little conversations with customers which made for a warm and intimate experience. Highly recommend for a special occasion and fine dining experience!

    Mayu D.

    We were looking forward to finally try their omakase. Long story short, all of us felt that it's not worth coming back. Ambience - 4/5. Their private bar with lighting makes it cool. Service - 3/5. They lack on a special care. Drinks - 4/5. Their Japanese fusion cocktails were great! Sake is over priced, but that's expected. Sushi - 2/5. I honestly wanted to love this place. You have no idea how excited I was to try their sushi omakase finally. When we first got seated at the bar, I was quickly let down with the quality and choice of fish they were about to serve to us for the price we were paying for. But I decided to wait for the sushi chef to surprise us. Surprisingly, the fishy taste bothered me from the get-go, and all the sushi were over powered by seasoning and couldn't even enjoy each ingredients. I can see that this overly flavored sushi attracts sushi beginners, but they could not fool any one of us who have been eating all sorts of amazing sushi omakase in life. I'm really sad to say this, but I did not enjoy their sushi omakase experience. It was definitely 2 stars for me and is worth $50 to me. Not a few hundred dollars per person... I decided to give 3 stars as an overall score because of the ambiance and drinks. Also their sushi is not terrible, but they are so meh.... I have unfortunately no desire to come back here. If you are open to spend a few hundred dollars per person for sushi omakase, we all agreed that Kashiba or Taneda in Seattle would be the ones worth going back again and again.

    Tien N.

    What are the best birthday dinners I've had in a long time was at sushi by scratch. The atmosphere service and food was incredible and I cannot recommend it enough. When first arriving, you go to a small bar area where you served a nice house cocktail, raw oyster on the half shell and a small bite. I would call the staging area before you go into the actual dining space in the next room. On the menu at the time we got to try 16 different sushi. These are my top 5: 1. Hamachi 2. Sake - Salmon 3. Madai 4. Ama Ebi 5. Albacore I'd have to say everything was so methodically crafted and well done by the sushi chef.. I could not have asked for a more delicious sushi dining experience for my birthday. I even made some friends with the girls sitting next to us at the bar. How fun! They also took our picture and signed the menu. So cute! Although my review is short, everything about this experience was nothing short of being memorable and amazing to me.

    Kelly S.

    If you want to make someone feel special, take her/him/them here. Not only was the food delicious, the entire experience from entry to service was remarkable. Harkening back to the old "Worth It" vids, it was so.worth.it. Make sure to arrive 30min early to take advantage of the welcome drink and two starter bites. In this case, it was oysters and a toro "cannoli". My friends and I had done many omakases before, but Kevin, the sushi chef in front of us assured us this would be different. And he was right. The creative toppings on each of the fish were surprising and delightful. If you want old school sushi where you just wanna taste the fish without all the fuss, this is not the place for you. But if you like tantalizing flavors, make your reservation as soon as you can. It's at least 6 weeks out before you can get in (at least for a group of 4). Well done, friends!

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    Page 2 of 3

    Ask the Community - Sushi By Scratch Restaurants

    Would an all sashimi experience be an option (for carnivore friendly)?

    No, they do not offer an all sashimi experience.

    Can you accommodate gluten free?

    Yes, we are able to accommodate your Gluten-Free request at Sushi by Scratch Restaurants as we offer a gluten-free omakase.… 

    Do you have to over 21 years of age?

    I see nothing on their website saying there’s age restrictions.

    Do you accept the payment from inKind application?

    Yes, you can use inKind there for the entire bill.

    How long does omakase dinner roughly take?

    Hi! Our omakase inspired tasting menu lasts around 2-2.5hr from arrival to departure. We look… 

    Is there a dress code?

    Hi, We do not currently enforce a dress code!… 

    Are there any vegan options/ a vegan menu?

    No, there is only a predefined menu. You cannot choose the sushi you can get.

    What times are the seatings?

    5pm, 730pm, 930pm

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Shiro's

    Shiro's

    4.4
    (2.8k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$$$

    Shiro's provided a memorable and surprisingly relaxed omakase experience. We reserved seats at the…read moresushi bar, which I highly recommend because it allows you to watch the chefs work and hear the explanation behind each course. The progression of the meal was thoughtful, moving from lighter white fish to richer pieces such as medium-fatty and fatty tuna. The scallop was delicate and naturally sweet, while the sweet shrimp and sea urchin were especially fresh. The rice had a pleasant texture and complemented the fish without overwhelming it. We also enjoyed the black cod, which was tender, flavorful, and a nice contrast to the nigiri courses. The chefs were knowledgeable and welcoming, explaining the origin and preparation of each item along with whether it should be eaten with soy sauce. The service team was equally attentive, keeping drinks filled and maintaining a comfortable pace throughout dinner. We finished with the matcha tiramisu, which was light, creamy, and not overly sweet. Shiro's is expensive, but the quality of the ingredients and personal interaction at the sushi bar make it worthwhile for a special occasion. Reserve well in advance if you want bar seating, and review the bill because a service charge may already be included.

    4.5 stars (5 for the price point). We tried the happy hour omakase (the 19 course, at a table/not…read moreat the counter) which is a great deal (their regular omakase is very affordable too, as compared to a lot of places especially NYC). It seems great for special occasions (we saw them coming by with a polaroid for those celebrating such as birthdays or anniversaries. I enjoyed how relaxed the vibes are at this place. I wish they had more cold tea options for the summer and more non-alcoholic drinks in general, but still had a great experience. The fish selection is fresh and the pieces are very manageable. It feels like there is a local touch with the salmon course/pieces. My husband is left handed and I was very impressed our waiter noticed and adjusted accordingly. I especially loved their soy sauce (which they said was house made). Fun little date night out and we really did enjoy it. Highly recommend making a reservation as that is what we did.

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    Seating area
    Seating area
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    Sweet Shrimp
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    Momiji

    Momiji

    4.2
    (2k reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    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.

    Steve and I got out of a movie in Seattle a few weeks ago and it was on the threshold (seems like…read morewe are always there) where it was late enough that quite a few restaurants were closing which left a few still open with later hours. Momiji was one of those and it was extremely close to the movie theater we were walking out of. Sushi sounded great so we strolled over to get some. The sushi didn't disappoint... not in the slightest! We got some specialty rolls off of that portion of the menu and they were so very good! Fresh and extremely flavorful! Moonraker was one of the rolls we got. I highly recommend it! In addition to that we got an order of the Spicy Tofu... again delicious and made an excellent side with our sushi! I got a hard alcohol I wasn't used to getting. It was fun and it was quite good! It was Shochu which is a distilled beverage and involves sweet potato. If memory serves I got the one with sweet potato and pear. Very different but very good. It had a nice dryness to it. To wrap it all up we got some deep fried mochi ice cream. It held up nicely to being a great finish to a very high quality meal. We are definitely coming back!

    Photos
    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.
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    Sushi Kashiba

    Sushi Kashiba

    4.4
    (1.6k reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$$$

    My boyfriend took me here to celebrate my birthday and reserved seats at the chef's counter for the…read moreomakase experience. Since my birthday fell on a Wednesday, we were lucky enough to have Chef Shiro Kashiba himself behind the counter preparing and serving our meal. The entire experience was incredible. The service was organized, attentive, and made the evening feel truly special. Chef Shiro Kashiba is knowledgeable, entertaining, and incredibly passionate about his craft. With every course, from salmon and tuna to white fish, mackerel, shellfish, and eel, he explained how each piece should be eaten, where the fish was sourced, and even shared personal stories from his career. It felt like he was telling a story through every piece of sushi he prepared, making the experience both captivating and unforgettable. Chef Shiro Kashiba is truly inspiring. It was also wonderful to see that everyone seated at our counter had traveled from out of state just to experience his omakase, which speaks volumes about his reputation. This was, without a doubt, the best sushi omakase experience I've ever had. The fish was exceptionally fresh, and every bite was thoughtfully prepared. The flavors were unlike any sushi I've had before and gave me a whole new appreciation for how extraordinary sushi can be when it's crafted by a chef with such deep knowledge and experience. I would absolutely love to come back again. I left feeling completely satisfied and fulfilled, yet hungry for more of this amazing sushi experience. Thank you, Chef Shiro Kashiba, for making my birthday so memorable!

    Get a cup of coffee and take a deep breath. This is a long-winded story…read more About 13 years ago, while vacationing in Seattle, we took a food tour. Our food tour was very intimate, just the two of us plus the guide. One of the restaurants we visited was called Shiro. We arrived mid-afternoon, while the restaurant was closed to the public. We were each served two pieces of Nigiri and told the story about Shiro. The two pieces that we were served were phenomenal and the story fascinating. We found out when Chef Shiro would be working next and cancelled another dinner reservation so we could try more of his food. When we arrived before opening time, there was already a woman waiting at the door. After us, a Seattle software engineer and three of his Canadian co-workers arrived. We had all arrived early because sitting at the bar in front of Shiro was on a first come, first served basis, reservations were not taken for that privilege. The year after we dined, we read that Shiro had retired. We were so disappointed that we would not get to eat his food again. Then we learned that Shiro opened a new restaurant and we planned on making a trip up to Seattle. Twelve years later, we finally made it. Reservations were made through opentable.com two months in advance. We wanted the Omakase, sitting at the bar, in front of the Master. Well, when we arrived, we found that Shiro only works on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. (sigh) Still, we had a great meal prepared by an amazing chef who hailed from Laos, whose name escapes me now. We had a pretty good conversation despite the background noise from the rest of the restaurant. The presentation was beautiful as you can see from my pictures. We asked for and received a menu list that detailed what we were being served. If you take the time to look at the photo captions, you can follow along with the menu list to see what each fish looked like. And then, on our way out, there was Shiro! We greeted him, thanked him and his Sushi Chef for a great meal. We asked for a photo and he had a staff member take the picture for us. Yes, Shiro is a slight man but not quite as small as the picture makes him look. The staffer changed my camera setting from 1x to .5x and because he was standing one step behind us, we look huge! At any rate, it was a meal that will remain with us to the end of our days. Domo Arigato Gozaimasu Shiro Kashiba & Staff!

    Photos
    Bar area
    Bar area
    Summer 2025 omakase - tuna hand roll
    Summer 2025 omakase - tuna hand roll
    Fried eel with sweet glaze and tamago made with mountain yam.

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    Fried eel with sweet glaze and tamago made with mountain yam.
    FOB Sushi Bar

    FOB Sushi Bar

    4.5
    (518 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    So good! There was a line when I went but it goes by very fast! Fish is fresh and their staff is…read moresuper on top of refilling all the nigiri and rolls! 1000/10 and bringing my friends here the next time I'm in Seattle. Shout out to the salmon belly and seared chili salmon! I'm drooling again just thinking about it! $15.99/lb for this quality is a steal! Like the salmon was thick HAHA

    FOB Sushi Bar has been living rent-free in my head ever since I first visited about two years ago…read more I finally made it back to Seattle this month and knew I had to stop by again! FOB is a build-your-own sushi spot so instead of ordering from a menu, you grab a takeout box (either a tray or large box), pick up a pair of tongs, walk down the sushi line, choose whatever catches your eye, then weigh and pay. It's currently around $15 per pound, and filling up one of the larger boxes usually costs me a little over $30, depending on what I pick. One thing I noticed this visit is that the price has definitely gone up since my first trip. I was also tempted by the giant inari nigiri so selected a few to bring home, but found out that it turned out to be mostly rice with just a little fish on top so I'm thinking next time, I'll probably stick more with the sushi rolls or smaller nigiri since they felt like the better value. The selection is HUGE though: sushi rolls, nigiri, gunkan, etc. The only negative for me is how fast-paced the experience feels. Every time I've visited (I guess just twice so far), the line has been packed and practically out the door, so there's not much time to stand there by the actual sushi bar and browse your options, especially since the shop is small and tight with the cluster of customers (you're literally standing inches away from each other). You're basically moving along with everyone else and making quick decisions as you go. I understand it keeps the line moving, but I personally prefer having a little more time to look. However, I did notice that the staff is constantly replenishing the options and keeping everything clean, so nothing seems to sit out for long. The fish tastes fresh, clean, and never fishy, and the texture is just right. Seating inside is pretty limited, so it's mostly a takeout spot. I have taken my box back to my hotel to enjoy in solitude (when I travelled to Seattle) or take it home to share with my kid (50+ mile drive since I recently moved to WA, but still tastes yummy after the ride). I also noticed plenty of people enjoying their sushi on the steps outside. Regarding price, my box usually ends up costing about the same as ordering about two specialty sushi rolls elsewhere, but being able to mix and match a variety of different pieces makes it a fun experience, especially since their rolls are creative, delicious, and worth trying. If you're a sushi lover (or even just looking to try a variety of sushi in one meal), I definitely recommend checking out FOB Sushi Bar!

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    Sushi choices
    Sushi selection
    Sushi selection
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    Maneki

    Maneki

    4.2
    (1.4k reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    My local friends recommended we come here for some authentic Japanese food while we were visiting…read more We texted ahead to reserve a table for 5 since it is a popular place. They don't take phone calls or reservations online - very old school. Which I think makes it more desirable. We ended up getting a special room with a "chabudai" style table! I was super excited because I've never experienced it before. What I did find pleasant was that although it was a lower table, there was an opening beneath the table that allowed your legs to hang rather than having to sit Indian style. Tyson was an amazing server. Was attentive, accommodated our allergies and was thoughtful with us having a young child. He was so pleasant and polite! We enjoyed the following: Baked miso glazed eggplant - YUM and melts in your mouth. Black Miso Cod Collar - this was pleasantly surprising and so delicious. Eat bite was tender and flavorful. Simple yet so appetizing. Sushi rolls were both fresh and well prepared. The nigiri was also great and fresh- not fishy. We additionally ordered takoyaki - which I normally don't love but this one was very tasty and I enjoyed the texture. Lastly karage chicken which came with a creamy slaw. Overall it was such a pleasant experience and we look forward to coming back!

    Seattle's oldest Japanese restaurant, Maneki is awash in history and tradition, from the Beckoning…read moreCat decor that greets you at the entry, to the private Tatami rooms where you can eat at an authentic, low-slung chabudai table, seated on cushions on the floor. Established in 1904 in the heart of Japantown, the restaurant relocated to the ground floor of the NP Hotel after its original structure was ransacked during World War II, when Seattle's Japanese community was relocated to internment camps outside the city. The hotel where Maneki now resides served as repository for family heirlooms that were left behind during that embarrassing and tragic period of American history. The joy of dining at Maneki goes well beyond the restaurant's incomparable history. The traditional Japanese menu has something for every taste, from delicious Nigiri and Maki Sushi to noodle dishes and local seafood. Pair your meal with a classic Japanese cocktail or a cold bottle of Sake, and you'll understand why this is one of Seattle's best culinary experiences. Highly recommended.

    Photos
    Several private rooms with traditional floor seating
    Several private rooms with traditional floor seating
    Wild Salmon
    Wild Salmon
    Miso black cod

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    Miso black cod

    Sushi By Scratch Restaurants - sushi - Updated July 2026

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