Dinner from late 2025 Customers seem to have a love-hate relationship with Tomo, an Asian fusion restaurant, in White Center. Originally opened as a high-end restaurant with tasting menu only, the restaurant has since evolved to an la carte (optional family set), with a mix of Asian fusion and adapting to moderate-price offerings with larger portions. The owner/chef has a worthy pedigree, having worked at Canlis; Brady Ishiwata Williams presents a menu leveraging recipes from his Japanese grandmother with influences of local ingredients and other Asian flavors. The results are flavorful (occasionally salty), imaginative, and visually pleasing. The staff is very kind and helpful with menu explanations. The restaurant ambiance is streamlined modern. The Food: Klingemann Farms Pork Rib Chop, $48 - 4 Stars Impeccably covered in a tamarind glaze and served with broccolini, the pork rib chop is served slice with slices of butter lettuce for wrapping. Despite being slightly salty, it was a brilliantly prepared dish. Sablefish, $46 - 4 Stars The sablefish is seared and served with manila clams and kale. This is a 'brothy' dish, and I have to say I wanted to drink the broth. Alas, it was a touch too salty to literally drink the broth. The combination of clams on fish is unusual; they work well together. The kale hiding under the fish soaked up all the broth wonderfully. Tomo Caesar, $18 - 4 Stars Their signature salad adapts flavors of the chefs' Japanese side with bonito dressing and furikake. Lightly dressed and delicate in flavor, it is my kind of salad. Dry-Aged Steam Burger, $5 - 4.5 Stars This humble steam burger is their most popular dish, a bargain at $5. Served with caramelized onion and American cheese, it was surprisingly good, and I am not a burger fan. When we asked if we can order more (nearly closing time), the server winked at us and gifted us two more. Thank you! Albacore Taraki, $26 - 3.5 Stars Albacore slices are served in a ponzu and yuzu dressing. Delicate and delicious (but spendy for albacore). Chawanmushi, $16 - 2.5 Stars Their Japanese egg custard is served with sweet corn, enoki, and brown rice vinegar. While I love a good chawanmushi, the high-end variants all include seafood. The $16 price is very high for its ingredients. This restaurant has a 22% included service charge and no additional gratuity is requested. For the level of service we received, the 22% is legit. read more

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First, I'll start with the lens I am rating this from. I have eaten at The French Laundry, SingleThread, La Toque, Commis, Eleven Madison, and other popular fine dining establishments. I say this to explain that my rating comes from the lens of fine dining, especially when a place has three recommendations. I was highly disappointed when I came here. The day I visited with two colleagues was: 6/18 at 5:00 PM My rating breakdown: - 1 star: Ambiance - 1 star: Food - 1 star: Experience (including service) - 1 star: Greeting (the "wow factor") - 1 star: Wine list / bar Ambiance (1 star) The ambiance was great: dim lighting, with a mix of mid-century design evolving into a postmodern theme. The shotgun style walkway with an open kitchen was very clean and organized. There was a great waiting area for a small restaurant. Definitely a plus to the designer. Greeting (-1 star) When first entering the restaurant, it felt almost misplaced. Visiting here, I could tell the area is undergoing some gentrification. That was fine, but when I entered, the host was highly rude to me and my guests, very short and dismissive. It gave the impression of, "What do you want? It doesn't look like you belong here." I asked for the menu to see what they had to offer because nothing was presented in the window. We decided to continue because they have little competition in the area, so why not? As we were seated, the server came around and really changed our decision to leave. He was very pleasant, respectful, and when we asked about things to do in the area, he answered our questions. Please recruit more staff like him. He was very knowledgeable about the menu items and explained the flavors well enough that I could imagine how the dishes would taste. We ordered the majority of the sides and two drinks. Bar ( 1 star) I ordered the Miss Knick at Night, and it was a beautifully crafted drink. A plus for the bartender saying hello and goodbye -- I forgot to add that. Wine list was modest for a small restaurant had some unique picks. Food (-1 star) The food we ordered: Tomo Caesar This was more of a Southwestern style salad: mildly dressed, finely shaved cheese (maybe Parmesan), toasted corn, and some other toppings. It wasn't really a crowd pleaser. The salad was bitter and barely dressed enough to bring out the flavors. Crab Fried Rice This received mixed reviews. Some people may like it, some may not. For me, it was too rich. I'll leave it there because others may enjoy it, try it for yourself. 1/2 Dozen Steam Burgers Just cheese, a Hawaiian bun, dry-aged beef, and onion. This felt more like a gastropub item than something that fit into the Asian fusion category. We just didn't understand how it connected to the overall concept. Fried Chicken Finally, the fried chicken... I liked it. However, for others, it felt drenched in grease, which I understood. For an elevated restaurant, you're not expecting to order gastropub-style food. I was going to order dessert, which I almost always do, but I decided not to. I couldn't handle another surprise. I also didn't appreciate that we didn't receive water service at this caliber of restaurant. Maybe it was just the server, but those are basics of fine dining that need attention. Experience (-1 star) When we received the check, we really didn't appreciate the 22% service charge. I have paid more before, but for this experience especially with the host interaction and overall service, it did not feel worth 22%. We didn't really take a journey through the dishes. There was no clear theme connecting them, so I didn't understand what we were eating or why at that price point. Maybe the chef understands the vision and the execution just missed the mark, or maybe the training needs improvement. Either way, something was missing. Would I recommend it? No. Would I come back? Never. I should have just driven to the city and taken my friends to How to Cook a Wolf. Final rating: 2/5 read more

Tomo - Proof of order - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Tomo has decent service, though diners should know there is an automatic 22% gratuity added to the bill. The standout dish was the Dungeness crab rice, which was easily the best bite of the meal. It was rich and well balanced, and the one dish I would strongly recommend ordering. Most of the other dishes were underwhelming. The cacio e pepe rice cakes in particular sounded promising but didn't deliver much flavor and ended up being disappointing. It's also quite far to get to, and given the overall experience, it's hard to say the trip was worth it beyond the crab rice. Overall: worth trying the crab rice, but the rest of the menu didn't stand out. read more

Can't believe it took me so long to try this place out but I'm glad I finally did. I had an absolutely amazing meal last night. Everything was perfect for me. I was seated quickly and got a great table overlooking the kitchen. I enjoyed watching that action and felt like I was part of a cooking show =) I ordered a dirty martini which was made perfectly and the blue cheese olives were divine. For food we did their family feast which consisted of: Tomo Caesar- we really enjoyed it, not overly drenched, lots of favlor and crunch Albacore Tataki - nearly melts in your mouth, fresh and the ponzu was so good Dan Dan Beets - I'm not a huge beet fan but it was good and the citrus added really makes the dish Cacio e Pepe Rice Cakes - literally one of the best things I've ever had, amazing, warm, gooey, flavorful and comforting...a 10 for me Dry-Aged Steam Burgers - a mini bite of heaven, people who don't appreciate these are not real burger eaters...they are absolutely delicious, soft and cheesey... I could've ate 6 of these alone Klingemann Farms Pork Chop - grilled perfectly, and the sauce that is laid over it is like drink in a cup delicious, I wish I had white rice to soak it up because we did not want to waste it Cara cara orange + coconut pandan Kakigori - shaved ice dessert, very refreshing and light even though it's like a foot high when it comes out, we devoured it All that came as part of the feast but we also added the Dungeness Crab Rice - this was like a wet risotto and it was incredible, the flavor is packed, the brown butter dashi is like liquid gold and the only thing to make it better would be to triple the size because you don't want to stop eating it!!! The restaurant itself is pretty small but that sort of makes it even better, everyone is socializing and enjoying the food, the staff is great and attentive but not overbearing and the chefs are doing beautiful work. I look forward to coming back and trying the items we didn't get to try this round. 10/10 recommend!! read more

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Came here since it's one of the restaurant options for Chase Sapphire Reserve credit. Ambiance is very sleek and minimalistic. We were seated in front of the kitchen and they seat parties of 2 on the same side of the bench facing the kitchen which I ended up really liking. Got to observe the chefs plating the food. Ate the family feast and the portions were the perfect amount to be satisfied but not stuffed. Loved the caesar salad and the albacore tataki. The dry aged steam burgers were very juicy and tender with a nice sweet + savory taste with the hawaiian buns. The pork rib chop was also very soft and juicy. Was going to give them a 5 but there was a hair in my burger and they just replaced both burgers but offered no other compensation and there is an automatic 22% gratuity read more

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Hidden restaurant in white center. The food honestly is just alright for the cost. We had 2 apps, sliders and 15 oz steak for over $200 without drinks. Theres an automatic 22% gratuity. The fried chicken was probably our favorite. The chicken is tender and outside is crispy. The steamed slider was alright as well. The steak was salty and the sauce seemed like just a light gravy which didn't really match for us. We're glad we tried this place because it was hard to get a reservation but didn't really hit our expectations. read more

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Great interior design: minimalist setup, beautiful bar, japanese inspired restroom. Perfect for date night. Food was slightly disappointing for the price we've paid. Drinks were actually better than the food (wine & oolong sour). Spicy cucumber wasn't spicy enough, hazelnuts were overpowering, and cucumbers weren't thinly sliced to absorb the flavor. Great portion size for the albacore tataki, but was slightly fishy. Gravy ruined the perfectly cooked medium rate ribeye. Crab rice had strong crab flavor, but was too heavy. Scallop handroll was executed perfectly and was our favorite. Service was great and attentive. And I highly recommend a reservation through Open Table b/c it's hard to snag a table w/o one. read more

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Came here for date night with my husband to try the famous NYT crab rice. It's definitely a perfect date night spot; the ambiance is upscale but still cool and modern. Albacore Tataki: really nicely marinated albacore sashimi. Dressing was a ponzu + yuzu, and I think fish sauce but not sure. I love fried shallots and I think it pairs perfectly with the fish. Definitely Asian flavors which I enjoyed. Dungeness crab rice: so good and flavorful. It tasted like a seafood risotto. The broth had a really nice seafood ocean flavor, the brown butter added a really nice rich nutty flavor, and the strawberry I think adds the acidity the dish needs to not make it too rich. Overall my husbands favorite dish! Pork rib chop: wow really nice portion and filling. I would describe it as a crying tiger but with pork. The tamarind glaze made it feel like I was eating at a Thai / southeast Asian restaurant. The pork was cooked perfectly and paired with the butter lettuce it made the pork chop balanced and not too salty. Lowkey wish I had a bowl of rice. Kakigori (Cara Cara Orange + Coconut Pandan / Apple, Peach + Saweed Meringue): perfect dessert ending. We opted for half and half and got 2 mini portions of each. It was so good and unique flavor profiles. The apple tasted like apple cider or an apple pie, so much flavor in that bowl. The Cara Cara orange was good - had a more bitter taste like grapefruit. Overall we really enjoyed our date night. The service was so good and everyone was attentive. Would recommend to try this place out :) read more

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The meal was overall okay, and for a fine-dining experience, the family-style menu offers very generous portions, you definitely won't need a stop at McDonald's afterward. The Fall family-style menu included: Tomo Caesar, Albacore Tataki, Gai Lan Gomae, Cacio e Pepe Rice Cakes, Dry-Aged Steam Burgers, Pork Rib Chop, and Cara Cara Orange + Coconut Pandan Kakigori. Since this is a seasonal menu, I recommend checking their website for updates. The service was excellent. Our server was attentive, thoughtful, and proactive in offering suggestions based on our preferences. The ambiance was intimate and romantic, and we were seated at the end of the dining room, which made the experience even more enjoyable. I also appreciated being able to watch the open kitchen and see the team in action. Dish Highlights & Notes: Tomo Caesar Nothing particularly memorable here, essentially a standard Caesar salad with cheese and corn nuts. Albacore Tataki Very refreshing and one of the standout appetizers. A great way to start the meal. Gai Lan Gomae While I understand this is a fusion restaurant, the Sichuan-style oily sauce didn't pair well with the vegetables. The flavor leaned bitter rather than spicy and felt overly oily. Cacio e Pepe Rice Cakes Surprisingly addictive. I was skeptical about combining Korean rice cakes with Italian cacio e pepe, but it works just fine, you'll find yourself reaching for more. Dry-Aged Steam Burgers Solid and satisfying, though straightforward. A burger served on a Hawaiian sweet roll with American cheese. Good, but nothing groundbreaking. Pork Rib Chop A very generous portion, which I appreciated. That said, about half of it was quite fatty. The broccoli pairing was a smart and balanced choice. Cara Cara Orange + Coconut Pandan Kakigori Extremely refreshing and a lovely way to end the meal. The orange and coconut flavors shine and would be especially perfect during the summer. read more

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Very chill and modern restaurant in white center. Had reservations for a party of 1 and tried their family experience (handful of preset dishes) and stayed for about 2 hours. Menu: 1) TOMO Caesar Salad (probably my favorite dish because it's so light and topped with Furikake for umami finish) 2) Abacore Tataki - very light 3) Gai LAN (Chinese broccoli) 4) Rice cakes with melted cheese (this was different) 5) Steamed Burger (I sat in front of the kitchen and this was a popular dish - lots of orders for it) 6) Pork Rib Chops (another popular dish - if I could do this again I would request for sauce on the side so that I can control how much sauce goes on the chops but a very savory dish that was very very popular saw lots of orders for this) 7) Shaved Ice (meant for 2-4 people) Staff was friendly. My family style experience for party of 1 was solid. I left content and tried a variety of dishes. Ordered the fried chicken to go (this was probably the weakest link for me - too much batter and too sweet for my personal liking but all the other dishes that I had was good) read more

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Food - excellent. Started with drinks. The ceasar was good and very seasoned. The corn chawanmushi was super good but I also love corn. The texture made me think of hot sweet tofu. But I think it's a custard. Me and my husband split the fried chicken and pork. This might be my fav fried chicken ever. It's kinda candied? I dunno how to describe it but tljas a crisp outside shell with juicy chicken inside. Pork lettuce wraps we're also good but the chicken was my fav. For dessert we got the yuzu which was very tart. Prob not my husband's fav but I liked it. Very light even with the meringue. Service - excellent. Sad quickly. Our ours were taken quickly and our drinks and food came out quickly. Great all around. Ambiance - intimate romance kinda lighting. Modern sleek interior. Felt like I maybe should have dressed a little nicer! Also had very classy Christmas deco. Good for date night. read more

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Tomo is a very expensive restaurant situated in a community undergoing gentrification. This space use to be a porn shop, but was configured into a dark, intimate space that is open and inviting. The front door does not latch well , so when left open, smoke from passerby and cold air rushes in -I sat at the bar and had to move. The service staff are very good and professional. The bartender is engaging, but does not over indulge you in conversation. I had the Tomo Caesar salad and sweet n stick fried chicken. Now, their Caesar salad is made with bonito dressing and sprinkled with furikake. This is my favorite salad and I have had many variations on this. The dressing, made with fish flakes and Japanese seasoning was different. I found the dressing more on the watery side and less on the Caesar experience. It was nicely presented. I will assume that the intention is to add a new experience. This should be called something else than a Caesar salad or improve the dressing to have more of a surprise or so different experience that I'd be willing to get a second one while I'm there. This salad is priced at $18. The sweet n sticky fried chicken hit a few good notes for me. Don't fry chicken unless you are serving crispy skin. This was done expertly. Also, make sure the chicken is cooked to the bone- done beautifully. I consider myself to be an expert on chicken and the skin and cooking it completely are the first to hurdles to clear- well done. This was like eating candy, it was that sweet. It could use some cayenne or basic pepper to give it a kick or something to finish the candy-like taste. This is priced at $26 dollars. I point out the price because with higher prices so goes the expectation. The serving portions are enough to get you somewhat full, but not stuffed. Now the bartender offered me a sample of Chartreuse Liqueur (golden). This was heavenly, and although sweet, it packs a powerful peppery taste at the end that complements the chicken nicely. Also, the sour cream adds absolutely nothing to the experience, but a spicy sauce just might. I would recommend trying this if you get the sticky chicken. When the menu changes, I will go back and sample something else. read more

Tomo - Sweet n sticky chicken with cucumbers and a light sauce. - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I'm shocked TOMO doesn't have a higher Yelp rating! This is a great intimate restaurant with high quality food. I especially enjoyed the pork rib chop and tuna tataki, while my husband called the chawanmushi the best he's ever had. Everything was good although my husband would have preferred the fried rice to be dryer. It's not your typical fried rice as it's cooked in brown butter. The staff gave us the tuna app for free which was so nice. The pacing of the meal was well done. I'd like to come back for the kakigori dessert, we were too stuffed to order it. read more

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Omg what a mouthwatering culinary experience! Went here to use my Chase credit and sat at the bar. Place has a chill ambiance and you definitely need a reservation. Definitely get the tuna and the Dungeness crab rice. I wanted to try everything and will definitely be coming back as the menu does change seasonally. read more

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Taste: 5/5 Value: 5/5 Presentation: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Dishes are perfect for family style, everything was delicious. Highly recommend the crab rice dish.... It was maybe our top dish we have in 2025 read more

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I went to Tomo to try their Family Feast menu, and I was so happy that even though I was dining alone, they let me order it! I started with a Tokyo Drifter cocktail, which was excellent. I got lucky and was seated right next to the kitchen, so I could watch the team in action--it felt like being front-row at a cooking show. The crew was incredibly organized and focused. My favorites from the feast were the Caesar salad, albacore tataki, and the pork rib chop. Truly a fantastic experience! read more

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Great presentation, service and food. I would come again for sure. The wine glasses are very pretty (you can get them for 40 each). I was pleasantly surprised by the neighborhood area as well, loved the quirky little town vibes of west seattle. I did feel like the chawannushi was a bit too sour and the kakigori slightly blend, but otherwise everything was exceptional. read more

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A curious restaurant in an edgy part of town with a whimsical menu. These discordant menued items seem rather random and are served with various degrees of success. Service and cocktails were universally wonderful. My Pathfinder Mule a non alcoholic cocktail was Fantastic! read more

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The works cup watch party was a scam with terrible food, including cup noodles and reheated gyoza.

Food was extraordinary and well prepared. We did the Dungeness crab rice as an add-on to the family style dinner for two, and we left full and happy. Service was snappy and the kitchen was timely. The restaurant was comfortable and had nice restrooms. Drinks were good. I very much liked the "Salud!" and thought the Miss Nick at Night was pretty good. The matcha shaved ice was also stupendous. read more

Dined at Tomo in Seattle as a party of two and ordered the Caesar salad, fried chicken, Japanese sweet potato, pork chop, and a slider. It was definitely more than enough food for two people. The Caesar salad was solid and well-executed. The fried chicken is the standout dish here -- absolutely the star and worth ordering. The pork chop was decent, but not particularly memorable. The Japanese sweet potato was tasty, but be prepared to pay $22 for half a sweet potato, which feels hard to justify. The slider was fine, but easily skippable. Ambience-wise, there were a couple of distractions. The wood panels were noticeably dusty, which took away from the otherwise nice atmosphere. Also, if you're seated in the front, be ready to be cold -- the door lets in a lot of breeze, and it was fairly disruptive throughout the meal. Overall, some excellent food (especially the chicken), but pricing and comfort issues keep this from being a top-tier experience. read more

Many restaurants in Seattle feel like they're playing it too safe and following the same template or like they're jamming together concepts that don't really work. Not Tomo. Tomo has an identity, a clear vision of what it is...you notice it in the lighting, the soundtrack, the glassware, the bathroom! Tomo pulls together flavors from around the world, with a strong backbone of Japanese tastes and techniques that never feels forced. In my meals over the years, I've loved the food (current highlights are the albacore tataki, the cacio e pepe rice cakes, and that steam burger). You might love the food, you might not (just check the menu first at least), but Tomo will definitely give you an experience that feels special, unique, and different than so much of what you'll find in Seattle. And for that it's worth seeking out...and you will most likely love it too. read more

Expertly prepared, approachable, and delicious ... shared with 5 people: Caesar salad, cold spicy cucumbers, Japanese sweet potato, Dungeness crab rice, Cacio e Pepe rice cakes, sweet/sticky fried chicken, sablefish, and Pork rib chop. Uniformly, balanced and nuanced flavor, great texture, and perfectly cooked. Nice presentation and very good service too. All outstanding, but my favorites - 1st: Dungeness crab rice - beautiful small rice grains, cooked perfectly, lovely (identifiable) whole pieces of crab, and addictive sauce. 2nd: Sweet/sticky friend chicken ... perfectly crispy, tender and flavorful chicken, with sauce and pickles ... yum. Lovely, intimate inside - nice, small bar with stools ... nondescript outer door ... angled street parking ... we'll definitely be back. read more

The food was great and the atmosphere was great at tomo, so not complaining about that. But while we were there the whole time it seemed like they wanted to rush us out for some reason. They rushed all our food and brought us our check. We were in and out of the restaurant in 45 minutes. While we tried to enjoy a date night they gave us our check and we felt we had to leave while no one else that came before us with food and drinks on their table before we sat down left. To come and spend a few hundred dollars at a place this seems a little ridiculous. read more

One of few fine dining experiences in the south end of Seattle. They do a great job creating a classy but casual ambiance that feels special when walking in. I love the experimental and playful take on fixed menus Tomo puts forward. However, that makes their food a bit inconsistent, especially for the price point. For example, the amuse bouche was a salt bomb, but the tomato and tofu dish was textured, playful and creative. There was some lack of attention to detail as well in preparation. The albacore katsu, had three bones in it. My spouse's cauliflower katsu was essentially breaded raw cauliflower. The pork was delicious but hard to cut even with a steak knife. Although the servers must have seen the bones and the struggle sawing there was not any acknowledgment or remedy offered. We also had the wine pairing - which was worth it. A great job balancing out each dish. And of course the kakigori - this time peach and black sesame - makes the evening. read more

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Tonight was our second visit to Tomo. It had been a while. Tonight was our first visit since switching to an à la carte menu. Our experience was fantastic. The staff were above -the-bar professional, our food was innovative and delicious, as were our cocktails. The only negative was that the bill includes both a 22% service charge and a tip line. It's confusing and makes you leave wondering if you've done something wrong. Still, even with the weirdness at the end, 5 stars read more

Finally got a reservation to try this place out. Its always booked! Got seated in the back porch. With the 4 of us, we ordered 6 dishes. It came out of a weird order and there were slow periods. The water was not filled often. The dishes were fairly good. Most of the dishes were sweet to me. The Caesar was very fishy and had a nice smokiness. The cacio e pepe sauce was good. Probably much better with pasta rather than rice cakes. The sliders were good but it was underwhelming. There was nothing wow about it. I thought the fried chicken was a massive bone in. There was a nice crunch. The outside was sweet and the inside tasted like a fried pastry. The pork chop was very well cooked. Not dry at all. The sauce was my favorite. The steak was also well cooked. The butter and mushrooms were delicious. Honestly not sure what the hype is. If you like your food on the sweeter side then its for you. Also not much of the food felt like japanese cuisine besides the Caesar and maybe the chicken. read more

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IG: @seattle.finds It's literally next to an adult shop... took me a hot sec to find it ). Here's my review on the $78 per person family-style menu: Tomo Caesar -- not bad, but nothing crazy. Albacore Tataki -- not my fav, kinda underwhelming. Gai Lan Gomae -- also not my fav, a bit salty... Cacio e Pepe Rice Cakes -- chewy rice cakes with cheese and a salty kick... I'm still deciding how I feel about it The rice cake scent + the cheesy is just not it for me. Dry-Aged Steam Burgers -- MY FAV!! These were actually so good I ordered 4 more to take home Klingemann Farms Pork Rib Chop -- tasty, but on the salty side. We brought some home and enjoyed with a small salad. Cara Cara Orange + Coconut Pandan Kakigori -- super refreshing and ended the meal on a high note! The presentation? Gorgeous. The vibe? Cozy and chill. The service? Super friendly. But overall... the food didn't really wow me, it was too salty. I love the concept, but at $155 per person (+ drinks), I'm not sure I'd come back unless I'm using a dining credit read more

The unique flavours of each dish and cocktail pair SO well together. The chef took his time to explain each dish which I really appreciated. We had the Spicy Cucumbers, Dungeness Crab Rice, Japanese Sweet Potato and the Klingemann Farms Pork Rib Chop. We ended the night with the seasonal Apple, Peach + Seaweed Meringue. Nothing disappointed and I was left satisfied. As another review would say, "if you're an adventurous eater, I would recommend it." The staff was also very attentive and informative! read more

Tomo - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I agree with another reviewer when they say this place is very mid. I don't know if it was necessarily the food that didn't do it for me or the service. But something was off. We made a reservation (btw you have to put down a deposit that gets deducted when you pay the check). But we arrived on time and they still weren't ready to seat us... it was definitely unexpected. We maybe waited an additional 15-20min? But even still, our reservation was for 6:45pm which I get was prime time and seating was very limited given the space but still. For something that required a deposit should be on point. No excuses. I think the only two memorable items were the crab fried rice and the daikon. Everything else was meh. I am glad I got to try the set menu at $105pp. It's definitely on the less expensive side of other set menus. Overall, very mid. read more

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Delicious food. We had the Tomo Caesar salad, Albacore Tataki, Sweet and sticky fried chicken, sweet corn Chawanmushi, Cacio e Pepe rice cakes, and the Cara Cara orange and coconut pandan shaved ice for desert. Service was very good, we were seated in the back overlooking the kitchen which was pleasantly entertaining. A lovely evening. read more

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I will admit to trepidation after reading some recent negative reviews, but we thought the food and service were first-rate. The three of us had the "family feast" (tasting menu) which, considering the quality and the prices at other stellar restaurants, was quite reasonable. We thought the courses were delicious and imaginative. One of us had the wine pairing, liked three of the four wines, and would choose it again. We found all staff unpretentiously friendly. We will return! read more

I must have been eating at a completely different place than the low reviews. This was one of the best meals I've had in Seattle. We had the Family Feast and it was an excellent progression of flavors and dishes. Started with a salad, to a light fish dish, sliders, a take on pasta, and finished with a pork dish. Everything was spot on Service was attentive but not intrusive. We had some questions on the wine list and were recommended an excellent pairing with dinner. Finally, the ambiance was intimate and fit the vibe. We will absolutely be back to check out what will be next on the rotating menu. read more

The new Ala Carte format at Tomo should not be missed. Dishes are sorted into categories to help you choose a variety. Servers are great and always happy to help make suggestions for your meal journey. They even have a family style pre-coursed if you want to lean back and let them make all the decisions for you. The Caesar Salad is the best I have EVER had, and I've eaten many. The triple fried chicken, the famous crab rice still killing it, the steamed sliders that are everything you want a White Castle burger to be (even though they aren't). Awesome seasonal options like scallop hand rolls and Furikake sweet potatoes thrown in, it's like a choose your own adventure where every path has the most delicious ending. The bartenders and the cocktails are outstanding, choose something from the menu or tell them what you like and let them go nuts, you will never be disappointed, they know what they are doing. Don't miss out, make a reservation and go have an epic meal out! read more

completely disagree with the negative reviews on this restaurant, our experience was very positive and we enjoyed every minute. we've found that reservations here are hard to come by and now we know why. the service was great, we were seated within 2 minutes of arriving and the ambiance is very hip and modern. drinks and food brought to our table quickly, one dish after the other and empty plates and bowls cleared promptly. they refreshed the menu about three weeks ago and we ordered a little bit of everything and shared it all. our favorites were the caesar salad, the fried chicken, and the prawns. the cocktails were well made and the dessert was very unique. we will definitely be back! read more

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My sister and brother-in-law gifted me a gift card to Tomo for Christmas. My husband and I have cut back on the dining out, so we were excited for this opportunity to try something new. Reviews for Tomo seem very hit or miss on Yelp. We arrived in the area early to get a quick snack at a taco truck (2 tacos each) and to give us time to find the place. Surprisingly, it was not difficult to find Tomo. They're located next to an adult video store, and they have huge windows with Tomo on it. We were immediately greeted and led to sit at the bar. I personally wouldn't have it any other way. Our bartender took good care of us, checkin in at the right moments, some light banter, and even bringing us extra boquerones for the leek salad that came with the steak without us asking. This alone is worth a 5 star rating. After consulting with the bartender, we went for the tasting menu. They started us off with a snack from the kitchen: 2 Daikon cakes with plum sauce for each of us. I'm glad the bartender warned us about taking a small bite as they are piping out. I enjoyed the nice crips exterior and the hot and fluffy interior of the cake. Here is what we have from the tasting menu: - Sea Lettuce Parker House Rolls (supplemental) I enjoy the light seaweed taste of the rolls, which reminded me of the pizza crust from Kobo in Capital Hill. These rolls are fluffy and I think 2 rolls per person was just enough. - Dungeness Crab & Enoki Chawamushi This was my husband's favorite dish. I appreciate that Tomo did not skimp on the lumps of crab. It is custardy and full of flavor. We did not leave any drops behind. - Celery root, Mustard Greens, Carrot, Molasses Tomo could have fooled me into thinking I was being served ahi. The way it was presented appeared to be like sliced bbq ahi! I took one bite, and I couldn't believe all the different savory/umami flavors I was getting out of the celery root. This is my personal favorite from the set menu. - Albacore, Savoy Cabbage, Tomatoes, Currant While I thought the fish was cooked fine (slightly under), I did think it needed a little more salt. The sauce it was in was on the sweeter side but nevertheless enjoyable enough to eat it all - Dry-Aged Steak, Leek, Parsnip, Au Poivre. Steak was tender and tasty. I appreciate the bartender for bringing the extra boquerones as that elevated the leek salad. - Cheese Semifreddo, Chestnut, Sweet Potato, Quince This was a great dessert to round up the tasting menu. I appreciate that you get the cheesy taste and how the fruit compliments it. The flavor profile is similar to Mora Ice Cream's fig & goat cheese ice cream for reference. - Kakigori for 2: Winter Citrus, Popcorn Mousse, Sansyo (supplemental) We ended our meal with the kakigori thanks to our bartender's suggestion. They told us they recently switched up the flavors qnd highly recommends it. Also, they shape it in a block which is different from how they present it in a bowl. Luckily, kakigori is a shave ice so it wasn't going to make us feel overly stuffed. What I found most interesting is the popcorn mousse: you get hints of butter, kernel and light caramel. For the drinks, I went with bourbon-based cocktails. I like each one for different reasons. I found the Aki Milk Punch so refreshing with the mix of bourbon & apple cider. For something with punches of flavor & texture, I got that from the Parallel Lines (Bourbon, grapefruit, blackberry, egg white). I was very happy with both drinks. As for portions, I thought they were just right, and it was not necessary for me to snack before dinner. Then again, I have been macro counting for the past month so that plays a role on how much I can eat during a meal without feeling stuffed. I had such a wonderful experience at Tomo, and I would go again to dine/drink at the bar. read more

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Simply wonderful tasting menu with great ambiance. We sat outside in a well heated deck space. Everything was amazing, even the simplest food was made just right. read more

Tomo in White Center is a lovely gem with delicious Japanese-inspired food. Japan is one of my favorite places I've visited, so it's special to find a spot that brings back those flavors. The food was amazing, the staff were wonderful, and while it's a bit on the higher end, it's well worth it. Highly recommend if you're craving great Japanese-inspired cuisine. read more

I would tell anyone do not waste your money at this overpriced restaurant (both food and service were overpriced). The built in service fee was about $60. We ordered the family style dinner and not a single course had anything remotely close to a wow factor. Flavors were boring. If not flat out awful, Service was slow and inattentive...and we were charged a 22% service charge, which we were not made aware of until receiving the bill...22% for poor service?? There was little explanation of the dishes as they were "thrown" on our table. The flow of the dishes was bizarre with no consistency in timing and the flavors did not work from one course to the next...ie: moving from a weird gummy rice cake dish to a steamed slider with American cheese..and all at $349 for a party of three (with no alcohol). We added an order of their sweet and sticky fried chicken which was two pieces of what appeared to be thigh meat surrounded a bread bomb and basically under-flavored lumps on a plate. I would've much rather gone down the street and had a burger at Little Woody's for less than their service fee and would have been much more satisfied... and finally,the dessert was a joke, shaved, ice, tiramisu, really? It had little flavor and was very disappointing. read more

Literally. Abysmal. This place is having a full blown identity crisis. Food is very mid, and service was horrendous. They are treating this as fine dining, providing fast food service, and diner quality food. The $24 Kauai Prawns on their IG and menu, and front door advertised/ shown as spot prawns were farm raised white shrimp. It took 15 minutes from seating to get service and food was literally slammed on table. When asking the server about if the "prawns" were farm raised and why it wasn't spot Prawns, she was abrasively rude and condescending. So shocked how horrible this place was. They really should stick to fine dining or lower their prices to reflect the quality of food and service. A mandatory 22% service fee would be fine if they actually even tried even just a little. read more

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