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    Takai by Kashiba

    4.2 (189 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndSushi Bars, Japanese
    Closed Closed

    Takai by Kashiba Photos

    Business Info

    TAKAI BY KASHIBA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Classy
    Upscale

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    Chef Takai!
    Hanna K.

    My go-to omakase spot! I've been to Takai three times now over the course of a year, and Chef Takai must have amazing memory because he recognized me on both of my return trips. Chef Takai's omakase leans on the traditional side, which is my preference, and the portions of fish are great. I appreciate he incorporates both familiar fish and also newer or very seasonal fish as well - each time I've visited, I'd say about a third of the courses were different. I also love that non-sushi courses are interspersed throughout the meal, all of which are executed very well. Some standouts from my most recent visit: the matcha tofu (very memorable, amazing texture), hairy crab, and the anago. There was not a single course I did not like though! There is a paid lot right next to the restaurant, which seems like can get packed during rush hour. Waitstaff service was particularly good on my last visit, and Chef Takai was as personable as ever. The ambiance is pretty formal and reserved, and there is both counter and table seating. I'd definitely recommend counter seats if they're available so that you can interact with the chefs, who are all lovely!

    Molinda K.

    We experienced our omakase experience at Takai by Kashiba and we were so blown away by the freshness and service. Upon walking in they offer to take your jacket from you- it was a cold and breezy day so when walking in you can field the warm ambiance. We had around over 15 pieces of nigiri it felt like with 4-5 kitchen items. My favorite one was the toro, we actually ordered another round because it was so good. At the end, they offered a little dessert that was also very yummy. Bonus points, if you use your sapphire you can get cash back on your dining experience!

    Calista C.

    Delicious and intimate omakase spot! The service was very attentive and nice :) provided complimentary champagne as it was a birthday celebration. food is what you would expect from a high end omakase spot, not too impressive or different compared to other spots. It's nice that it's one of the nice omakase spots in Bellevue vs driving to Seattle. With their spot on the main road, it's difficult to find parking unless you walk from a nearby parking lot or the mall.

    Chefs favorite (my new favorite!)
    Steven M.

    TLDR: Well rounded dinner, with flavors that make you crave the next bite or think about the last one. If you're wanting an omakase that hits all of the flavor profiles, Takai by Kashiba is worth stopping and will not disappoint. Tab was 664 (with tip) in the end, for 23 course + two sake glasses + 1 extra sushi bite. Oh man, this was our third fine dining experience that we're hoping to continue going on! Takai by Kashiba is one of those places that you're going to think about for a while. If you're planning a special occasion meal whether it be for valentines, birthdays, promotions, it's totally worth it. We came in at 5:30 for Valentine's Day dinner on Sunday, and it wasn't too crowded. There's an intimate seating arrangement of 8 seats in front of Chef Jun. The floor seating is spacious and gives off a classy vibe. For Valentine's Day, we had a 23 course dinner. Each bite was fantastic, flavorful, and Chef Jun has a killer presentation. Our top 3 favorites were the hand roll (BANGER), the appetizer (baby eel, enoki mushroom, and seared steak), and Chef Jun's favorite which I didn't quite get the name, but I got an extra one at the end and it was amazing. We also received complementary rose wine and a valentines dessert! While it's true from other reviews that this is pricier, it's one of those special meals that I would still come back for once in a while. For the flavor, textures, aesthetic, and great experience.

    Take out Deluxe Omakase Dinner Box!
    Laurie C.

    Fantastic deluxe omakase dinner box for take out! Must pre-order ahead on the website, highly recommended! They also have an executive lunch bento option as well. Great way to treat yourself, even on nights you want to stay in. Presentation was perfect!

    Executive Lunch Box
    Brian C.

    Was in the area, so decided to pickup lunch from Takai. They are not open for in-room dining at lunch, just pre-order pickup. The Executive Lunch Box was packaged with precision, everything was neatly prepared and there was a nice variety that was fresh and high quality. It's definitely worth a visit if you're in the area. $45 for the lunch box which seemed pretty reasonable to me for what you get.

    Marie R.

    We've gone to Takai before for Omakase and we had an amazing experience. This time, I made a reservation for an ala carte dinner for a simpler experience. For starters, we got the tempura and edamame. For the main course, my husband and I both for the nigiri set. Overall, it was a decent portion and the price is reasonable. We'd love to come back again for omakase to celebrate a special occasion or if we just want a fancier meal! The service is impeccable and the ambiance is perfect for a date night or if you just want to celebrate any occasion.

    Hand roll
    Sarah M.

    We arrived at a quiet setting with jazz playing softly in the background. There was an Interesting variety in the sashimi plate, featuring six different types of fish (two moderate pieces per fish) including fatty tuna, belt fish, sweet shrimp, and jack fish. The quality was excellent and it was nice to try out some of the less common selections. We ordered a side of rice which was good to have with the sashimi, along with a side of very tender and succulent black cod. The agedashi tofu was of course delicious too, with their version elevated with crab broth. The service was very professional and courteous. The black cod was the dish I thought about post dinner, and if there's a next home we might like to try the sushi plate along with the cod.

    Dining area
    James A.

    My wife and I were in Bellevue visiting our daughter, and I wanted to try to use the bi-annual Chase Sapphire restaurant credit at a nearby (walkable) location from her condo. Takai by Kashiba popped up on OpenTable, and even though my daughter had been here before, was willing to treat me to an Omakase experience for dinner. It was a good experience. I made reservations via OpenTable the same week, and non-bar seating was available. They required a credit card number as a deposit for any reservation, being charged a penalty for no-shows. Like most places in downtown Bellevue, parking is a challenge. In this case, there was a parking lot across the street, charging $6 for 2 hours of parking. As for the name of the restaurant, it signifies the lineage of the owner/chef. The co-owner/chef is Chef Takai, who was nominated by the James Beard foundation for best chef Pacific Northwest 2025. Reading more on-line, it was neat to follow the 'family' tree: starting with Chef Shiro Kashiba (considered the godfather of sushi in Seattle), who apprenticed with Jiro Ono (considered a benchmark for sushi artistry in the world: see movie 'Jiro Dreams of Sushi'). The restaurant opened in 2022, specializing in Edomae-style omakase. It is a traditional Tokyo sushi experience focusing on, curing, marinating, and aging seafood to enhance flavor. The Omakase is marketed as 22 items, This day, we got two bonus ones. Takai is definitely a restaurant where taking pictures of the dishes to better remember, is definitely worth it. Cost was $160 per person, if served at the table (barside dining is a bit more). The term 'shari' is used here, and later learned it's the word for sushi rice. First plate (3): cold snapper, cooked tuna, octopus, I liked that the tako item was mostly tenacles. Second course (1): tuna hand roll. It was wonderful, the best bite(s) of the whole night. The nori was thicker than I'm used to, and it went perfect for this hand roll. It also showed the quality of the tuna being used. Third course (6): snapper, cured king mackerel, horse mackerel, scallop, flounder, king salmon. The amount of rice was smaller than I'm used to, and ended up being just right. I really loved the scallop. Thought the aged king mackerel was very firm and ended up being chewy/unpleasant. The horse mackerel had been aged, causing it to be even more fishy than normal. Grilled pike mackerel is one of my favorite cooked fish...so continuing to learn that mackerel sushi will not become a first choice for me. Fourth (1): egg mushroom souffle, served warm. It was different and I enjoyed the small pieces of cooked seafood that one could discover. Fifth (3): three types of tuna, eaten from most lean to most fatty (otoro). Otoro was the piece I was the most looking forward to, and it disappointed. Sixth (1): two pieces of monkfish karage. It was well done, served hot. Seventh (6): uni, giant clam, sweet shrimp, seared sea bass, skipjack tuna, egg custard. None of it really stood out to me. Eighth (1): shrimp head tempura: a welcome surprise and really enjoyed. Ninth (2): miso soup and green tea ice cream. It was intentionally served together to create a hot/cold effect. Not really effective. Service was OK/good. Our main server was Mira. She and her fellow servers were extremely efficient. One has to listen very carefully as they will go through each item very quickly. As mentioned by others, feedback from the guest will get more dialogue, however, the ambience didn't really make me want to ask questions. One high note was being able to choose complementary still or sparkling water, served right from the bottle (not sure if only offered for omakase or for all guests). Once the servers realized I tend to drink a lot of water while dining, the glasses were kept full. Our coats were taken (it was snowing in Seattle) but unlike what other reviews, it was not put in a warming closet...it came back to us as cold as it was put in. Definitely possible that I wasn't fully appreciative for many of the courses...makes me remember how I felt trying uncooked food as an adult (when I had a choice). Sashimi was the first, then beef carpaccio, then fish carpaccio (which I much prefer over sashimi). Got to learn to love it slowly...so possible that will happen here with aged fish That being said, I'm glad that I tried Takai, learning that I much prefer fresh fish over ones that have been aged (at least for now)

    Brittany D.

    This was my first time at Takai by Kashiba, and the food and dining experience blew me away. We came here for the omakase, and we definitely will be back for it because it was an incredible experience. The price is pretty steep, but we left with full and happy bellies. We also got the black cod on the side, and it was tasty. My favorite parts of the omakase were the fatty tuna, chawanmushi, and the hojicha soft serve. The service was fantastic, too, and we got complimentary champagne/cider for our anniversary. When we arrived, they took our jackets and when we got them back after the dinner, they were warm from the heater in the coat closet, which was so nice with the cold weather outside. I'm definitely looking forward to my next meal here.

    Chicken karage
    Matt N.

    I went to go as a solo dinner for myself because chase sapphire reserve had open table credit to use. It was an amazing experience sitting at the sushi counter. One of the things that I liked about the experience was sparkling sand Pellegrino water was included for no extra charge. It was fun to watch them make the wasabi paste from the wasabi root and the pickled ginger was made there on site as it had a distinct strong flavor that you're not going to get from premade ginger. Also, the amount of rice that you get with each piece of Nigiri is way less than most of your everyday sushi places. I really liked my experience there in the warmth of the restaurant in the service of the staff. Besides me, there were three other people eating solo into other couples enjoy enjoying a meal together. Thank you, Ed, Chef Jun, and team they're making this an unforgettable experience.

    Kristine N.

    Service was immaculate and everything served to us was delicious. From Uni to scallop to amberjack and toro tuna, we loved it all! Definitely a high-end experience but well worth it for a special occasion.

    Lunch bento
    Huong L.

    This review is only for the lunch bento. I been wanting to try kashiba in Bellevue for a while now but was hesitant since it's pretty pricey, so I decided to try the bento first. I ordered it a week in advance and it was pretty straightforward. When I got there, it was a little weird because they don't open until 5 but my order was for 1130am...I just waited outside until someone saw me and opened the door for me. I was greeted just sat and wait for my order. It was less than 5 minutes when one of the cooks brought out a very pretty box and handed to me. The place is very relaxing and the people there are very welcoming. For $45 (before tax and tip) -- this box was such a deal. You get high quality food and very intricate detailing. These fish was definitely smooth like butter. I was very impressed. My husband and his friend thought I paid closer to $75 for this but once i told them the cost, they were already planning their next bento there. Overall the Bento was delicious. I have no feedback. I definitely will come back to dine in.

    10 piece Nigiri set

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Takai by Kashiba

    Want to purchase a gift card as a thank you - what would be a good amount for two for dinner?

    Our set course Omakase dinner at the Chef's counter is currently approximately $190/person and $160/person in the regular dining room. We do have a la carte options in the dining room which can vary the total price as well as a robust beverage… 

    Are the children welcomed? Any age restrictions? Thank you!

    Answer is easy to find on the restaurant's website: "Infants/toddlers: In our effort to provide a… 

    Can you bring your own wine/sake? Is so, what is the corkage fee?

    As of this posting, corkage fee is $60/bottle with a maximum of 2 bottles.

    What time do they release new seats/tables everyday on OpenTable? I want counter but sold out always

    Open Table releases a new day (30 days out) of seating at 12 midnight PST.

    Do we pay the full omakase price upon reservation? Or just for $25 if you cancel within 24h of rsvp?

    Currently, it is not for the full omakase price. Only the $25 per guest to hold the reservation. This is retained if the reservation is canceled within 24 hours of the booking or in the case of no-shows.

    Is there dining reservations for 1 person or does it have to be minimum of 2 people?

    Reservations for single diners may be made at the Chef's Sushi Counter Omakase experience. Also, there is limited seating at the secret whisky bar for single diners available for omakase on a first come, first served basis. Must be over 21 years of… 

    Do they have kids menu?

    I don't believe so. It's omakase style.

    Is the counter experience walk in only or do we have to make a reservation?

    Reservations for all

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Everything is incredibly fresh here at Japonessa. Their lunch prices are pretty good and you save a…read morefew dollars for many items. I got the Chirashi bowl with chef's choice of fish and it was really good and fresh. The chef picked scallops, tuna, yellowtail, surf clam, salmon, and I was very pleased with this option. Located in the mall so it may be hard to find, but you'll see it.

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    Ginza

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    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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    Yakitori

    Takai by Kashiba - sushi - Updated August 2026

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