Sushi Kappo Tamura Reviews

I love this local place, the sashimi is good that we order delivery if we are too lazy to drive in. Other standouts include the miso black cod, it's like butter

I did not know where I was being taken for dinner. After I was guided to my seat I opened my eyes. No bells of familiarity started ringing because I had never been here before. Hmmmm, I wondered. Would it be good? And it was. The waitress suggested albacore toro which neither of us had eaten before. It was tastey. It was all tastey. I would return. The food was scrumptious, the atmosphere was vibrant and the waitress was very helpful with ideas.

I was looking for a new place (to me) to try for dinner. I was able to get a seat at the sushi bar. Instead of ordering ala carte I opted for the sushi combo, leaving the order in the hands of the sushi chef. Started with a salad of asparagus with mushrooms, followed by a cup of miso soup, and then a selection of sushi. It was fresh, well prepared, and tasty.

This easily one of my favorite restaurants of all time. Living in the area, I went when Chef Taichi was in Fremont. I was so excited for this place to open. I have been going since the day it opened. The omakase menu is astounding. I find the flavors new and exciting. Every course is a surprise. The brunch is incredible! Nothing like a beautiful duck udon bowl!

Most folks know there are levels of Sushi based on freshness, ingredients used, and authenticity. After eating at several sushi places in Seattle I have to say Sushi Kappo is at the top of the list. The owners are super friendly and helpful (experiment and let them serve you what they think is best as the bar) and the staff is more than accommodating. Don’t expect tons of sauces draped all of your rolls to hide the quality. Try the Avocado/Cucumber roll which is cheap but will articulate all of what I’m saying in a bite. As for Nigiri, big fan of the salmon belly.

We enjoyed a meal at Sushi Kappo Tamura with friends and family. If you have a party of more than 2, reservations are highly recommended. Otherwise, you might be able to slide in at the bar and watch the chefs in action. We started off with some Kasumi Tsuru sake ($17 for a small container) and ordered many items to be shared so we could taste many entrees. The asparagus salad was good, the organic salad with lettuce grown on their rooftop was excellent ($13). The smoked Sakura Tofu ($12) was supposed to be rolled and eaten with the chopsticks, but was a bit big for one bite, so awkward although tasty. The Tempura with assorted vegetables fairly predictable and definitely needed the salt. ($14). The Black Cod Yuan Yak was excellent although a very tiny piece for $20, barely a bite when shared among a table of 5. We tried the Geoduck saute ($17) just to say we'd tried it, kind of a cross between calamari and oyster mushrooms. Not sure I'd order again... The deep fat fried Chicken Karaage ($15) was good, but definitely went through the fryer. We ended the meal with Sushi rice (Bara Chirashi $25) but I wasn't sure why it was so expensive. A couple desserts and drinks plus the included 20% gratuity brought us up to a little over $300. I suppose an average of $60 each isn't unusual but does make for a dinner that one wouldn't do every day. The service was excellent, and the atmosphere very pleasing. Give it a try!

In May, I had an opportunity to take my team out for some sushi. One might think that in Seattle (a city next to the sound & ocean) it would be easy to find numerous solid sushi restaurants within the city. Unfortunately, that is not the case. It's ironic that in a city full of Asians, the various Asian cuisine offered could and should be much much better. To our pleasant surprise, Sushi Kappo Tamura delivered! The experience starts with the elegant and genuine friendliness of the staff. Our server Toshi was just a delight throughout the entire evening while guiding us from the right sake to the plethora of amazing dishes offered. The food is masterfully prepared by Chef/Owner Taichi Kitamura. He is known in Seattle as the chef who beat Bobby Flay. I can see why. Each dish came to our table expertly presented with flavors that complimented each ingredient. And it's very difficult to find sushi with this level of freshness. If you're looking for inexpensive sushi, you should go & grab your California roll at a local sushi joint or wholefood grocery store. But if your in search of freshness, flavor and hospitality, then you will not be disappointed with Sushi Kappo Tamura!

Wonderful sushi restaurant - such fresh fish the menu is printed daily. We booked ahead to secure a table on a Saturday night and were not disappointed- wonderful food and such friendly and helpful staff too. Would recommend the special rolls - we had the Golden Dragon and Hamtastic ones - stunning.

I don't usually get to eat sushi because the really high quality stuff is really expensive. A friend and I decided to splurge for a girl's night out and we were not disappointed. Sushi Kappo Tamura had the most tender, melt in your mouth sushi that I've had in a long time. Favorites: Neah Bay Black Cod Belly, King Mackeral, Hamachi Belly and the Toro. We also got the Duck Breast Sansho Yaki that was splendid. The Shiso Mojito was definitely the right way to start the evening. The restaurant is about a 1/2 mile from Eastlake "proper" - closer to Eastlake Bar & Grill than Louisa's. Highly recommended. We'll be back with hubbies in tow.

Looking for a place to beat the heat, we chose this tastefully designed restaurant. My husband chose the special anniversary price fixe meal. Since neither of us was that hungry, the plan was for me to share his food plus a few ala carte dishes that I ordered. I would say our experience was somewhat mixed but mostly positive. The two negatives were the blandness of some items. The tofu dressing on the impeccably fresh asparagus, for instance, I also felt that the sushi I had off my husband's plate could have been more flavorful. He, on the other hand, enjoyed it. The side dishes in the anniversary set, however, were delicious! Special mention goes to the oysters on the half shell and the tiny chawan mushi topped with uni! I had chawan mushi off the ala carte menu. It was the best I've ever had! Just wished the portion had been larger. Desserts were excellent: we had the chestnut creme brulee and the housemade black sesame ice cream. I also tried the millet mochi with sweetened bean sauce. Mochi is usually made of rice. I enjoyed this dish, which had a coarser but not unpleasant texture and a nutty flavor. If you're not a mochi person, however, this might not be for you.Service was good and the noise level was moderate.

Tamura has the best sushi I've eaten in the United States. My son and his girlfriend took me there the last night on a recent visit to Seattle. I live in Atlanta and I've searched out the better sushi places—they all fall short compared to Tamura. The access in Seattle to fresh fish daily is what makes the difference. I started with an eel roll and Frasier River Sockeye nigiri. My son had the King Salmon and cucumber roll, eel nigiri and egg nigiri. Following that, we ordered big eye tuna (maguro) and yellowtail (hamachi) nigiri. Every morsel of fish was fresh that day and delicious. Take a look at the pictures. Highly recommended if you're in Seattle. I've eaten at several other sushi places in Seattle and this is by far the best. Wix Simon -author of A LOST GUN @WixSimon

We brought our 15 and 9 years old to this and they enjoyed the food. The sashimi and sushi are fresh, and the items in the ippins menu are special. The mochi dessert is a must have. We had a great meal and highly recommend this restaurant.

Sounds like an oxymoron, right? Sushi and Seattle? My cousin recommended we meet at Sushi Kappo Tamura. It's outside of Seattle downtown, which is great. Quaint place under the freeway. Great service, really good sushi. I always judge a sushi place by how good of a classic maki sushi they make. Tamura did a very good job! Fish was very fresh, good selection.

Excellent service, chic atmosphere in this Japanese restaurant. Outstanding sushi and sashimi, can be very expensive (we had the chef select our assorted sushi and sashimi at market prices, so a bit surprised), but absolutely delicious. Surprisingly creative and delicious desserts

Seattle is a powerhouse sushi city behind maybe only LA, NY & SF in the USA. Kappo Tamura is as good as any sushi I have had in Seattle (I still have not tried Wataru). It’s on par with Kashiba. You’ll be challenged to get a seat at the sushi bar but if you plan ahead you should succeed. Parking is challenging so Uber/Lyft might be your best option.

We came here on the advice of our daughter and son-in-law who ate here during restaurant week and wanted a return visit. Reservations were at 6:15 on a Sunday night at the sushi bar. The chef that we interacted with was Bobby who was very friendly and chatted with us about the fish choices. We enjoyed our interaction with him. I had the 3 course meal which included a tuna/mustard green salad (had a delightful peanut flavored 'dressing'), a 9 piece 'sampler' of nigiri sushi (including fresh local salmon which runs during this season) plus a very tender tuna roll, and yummy chestnut/butterscotch creme brûlée . Ama ebi and unagi were enjoyed by my husband along with the cod belly which was substituted for eel. The chef explained that eel from the Far East was not sustainable but the cod was local and sustainable. Glad to see the concern for local sustainable products. The miso soup was enjoyed by 2 of us (much more hearty than the ordinary Japanese restaurant bland miso). Our newlyweds ordered a spicy tuna roll (not too spicy)and rising sun salmon roll (quite spicy). All of the fish was very fresh. A bottle of sake was shared by the 4 of us.

Outstanding food. We had eel, scallops, oysters, cod, sushi roll..... all at the bar, and with very reasonable prices. Must go back for more sushimi.

Sublime sushi, with light rice, light fish, wonderful service and memorable dinner The black seaweed was unique and tasty. No matter what we tried, it was sublime. A sushi treat to the max

We visited Tamura again this trip and we were just as pleased with the experience as when we visited three years ago. We sat at the sushi bar, as the restaurant was fully booked. Some smokers outside slightly spoiled the experience as cigarette smoke kept wafting in. The menu was fun to explore. We started with cocktails, a shiso mojito was fabulous and my friend enjoyed her lychee martini. We ate predominantly sushi but started with the geoduck with mustard greens in a sake sauce that was delicious. The quality of the fish is excellent, beautifully fresh and the serving sizes were good. Tempura was light and crisp. Service was very good. A must for sushi lovers.

We live in the Eastlake neighborhood and are so happy to have Sushi Kappo Tamura down the street. We might go broke visiting as much as we would like, but we can't help ourselves. The sushi is crave worthy and fresh as the sea! Just talking about it makes me need some now. Lucky for me I can and will just stroll down for my usual. I recommend it all and especially our family favorite the Hamtastic roll.

I love sushi!!!!!!!! And I have been to every sushi restaurant in Seattle, and many many more elsewhere. Kappo Tamura is the crown jewel on what is already a sparkling tiara. Super fresh, expertly handled, sincere and polite staff (some of who remember my name upon return), great decor and a nice location. Their miso soup is unlike anything anyone else in Seattle is serving. And the Sake menu is perfect, good price range and clear descriptions. And the sushi, well, it is perfect!!!! And that's where the art of Kappo is made abundantly obvious. Been there five times now and never anything less impeccable fish.

Spending time in Seattle with family, I wanted to try one of a Condé Nast’s 10 best Seattle sushi places. I’m so glad we landed here. The service was outstanding with a helpful, knowledgeable, down to earth server. We tried many items on the Ippins menu and found a lot to love: black cod, mustard greens, asparagus, etc, etc. the sashimi/nigiri were fresh, local and sustainable. And delicious. Yes, it’s pricey but well worth it.

Really good sushi in a cozy neighborhood venue. Your have to be local to find it. Well-attended room, twin Japanese women hosting and a familiar group at the counter There were 4-5 chefs all mature and quick. A wide menu of standard exotic and unique sushi sashimi and rolls. No BS on sale. Not sure if there were meat options. Many standard sushi joints call for the burger to avoid frozen farmed fish. Kappo Tamura is as good as Tokyo Yeah it’s expensive. No problem

Flew all the way from Philly and found Sushi Kappo on a whim, and we were glad we did. Attentive and friendly service from everyone. We tried a number of different items including a wonderful mustard greens with wasabi albacore tuna as an alternative to seaweed salad. Our daughter liked it so much she had 2. If you are looking for a quiet but very tasty spot for dinner, I highly recommend this spot.

Sushi Kappo Tamura is one of, if not, the best sushi restaurant in Seattle, easily. I have traveled all over Japan and can quite comfortably say it is on par with the best Japanese restaurants in Japan. The thing that makes Sushi Kappo Tamura stand out is there attention to detail. The presentation, the wait staff and the food! Their wait staff is very helpful and professional, especially, the caucasian server (who was awesome by the way)...who spoke Japanese. They have a wonderful a Sake list. The overall experience was wonderful. I will go back!

We had an amazing mother-daugher birthday dinner in April. Picked it because it was rated best new restaurant in Seattle magazine for 2011. While the location was slightly out of the way as we were staying in a downtown hotel, it was absolutely worth the trip. Fish was perfectly fresh and everything we ordered was delicious, including the mochi for dessert. Service was just right-very friendly, and children are clearly welcome there. We will definitely return next time we are in Seattle!!!

This is a great restaurant that is a bit off the beaten path, but well worth the trip. The Sushi was fantastic, but so was everything else on the menu. They have a lot of selection and we really enjoyed it.

We took our dad out for his 75th birthday last weekend. We have been wanting to try this restaurant for a while! We were not disappointed! I highly recommend the Omakase! 7 courses that gets you a few special items not on the menu and more than enough to fill anyone up. My mom got the Omakase and shared, the rest of us shared about 12 other dishes with highlights being: Chawan Mushi with snow crab (Omakase had King Crab) Black Cod Yuan Yaki- silky and not overseasoned, perfect! Tonkatsu- super tender, guessing tenderloin cut with house tonkatsu sauce (delicious)! Bara Chirashi- super fresh sashimi! Braised Wagyu skirt steak with Maitake mushroom- I could have eaten 5 of these with 5 bows of rice! Melts on your mouth, delicate yet bold flavors! Maitake mushrooms compliment the beef perfectly! Japanese sea scallop Shumai- big and paired perfectly with their dipping sauce! We had a few select sushi and rolls. The fish is very fresh and they use only the choicest cuts. With the Omakase you also get a special shoyu (soy sauce) more like tamari sauce. For dessert we had a couple of roasted chestnut creme brulee, the panna cotta and house made mochi with azuki beans. All were delicious and should be sampled by all! I am confident in saying that you cannot go wrong ordering anything on their menu. Their service is not lightning fast, but I believe that is on purpose. It allows you to enjoy each course thoroughly. We were there for almost two hours and never felt rushed. Water glasses and tea cups were constantly refilled, never more than half empty. If you're thinking you want to try Sushi Kappo Tamura's, call and make your reservation now! Afterwards you will only wonder why you waited so long and how you have only deprived yourself of culinary excellence!

Reservations were recommended, but we lucked out and got a table right away. The establishment is clean and well lit and staff is VERY attentive to your every need (from wet napkins to clean your hands, to refilling your drinks, hot water, ice water - you name it!) And food is the best part of the whole experience! We ordered hiru gozen meal (with octopus), rising salmon roll, and spider roll. So delicious, it will leave you speechless! It is on the spendy side with 20% gratuity included. We paid $68 for our lunch...

When I say serious seafood person I mean this - my husband and I went for the Valentine's Day set menu and it was an incredibly creative, inspired, talented, and sometimes challenging experience. My husband was slightly overwhelmed. I was delighted. It was pricey but for 3 hours and 6 courses the impeccably turned out fare was worth the spend. Their regular menu looks only moderately expensive and the locals rave about it. I had local oysters in a soy mignonette with salmon roe, an amazing crab pudding, miso cod, a truly wild-tasting raw tuna just caught off the WA coast (who knew?), a piercingly fresh, cold selection of sushi including raw fish and scallops. The restaurant prides itself on local sustainable fish and it was an immersive oceanic experience. We were greeted by the chef when we arrived. The service was perfect. At the end of the meal they offered a rare aged sake that tasted like sherry. The space is elegant. Outstanding experience.

Every time I go to the Pacific North West, I have dinner at Sushi Kappo Tamura. The service is good, the food excellent and well presented, the menu based on seasonal produce and sea food or fish which are not over harvested and show a real concern for sustainability. All ingredients are at their prime. The staff is very knowledgeable about the food and the drinks. Finally, ordering "a la carte" is great, but "omaskaze" (chef menu) also leaves a lot of flexibility as several set menus are available (different number of courses) and allows one to try innovative and surprising selection of dishes. Great experience!

This restaurant is on an ego trip! Friday night, restaurant is half empty, and a 45 minute wait to be seated...don't think so. I Love Sushi is right down the road. That's where we went, and that's where we should have gone first!.

We ate here during Seattle's Restaurant week. we ordered from the fixed menu and off of it. The sushi was well prepared and tasty, but small in portion size.

Very cute place 10 min uber ride from downtown. The twin hostesses are quite lovely and accommodating. Specialty rolls are expensive and does not really work. Everything had jalapeños and it just was not right for my taste. The basic sushi rolls like the California roll we're done very well I should've just ordered those. Service was just OK our main server was good but the rest of the servers were just meh. There is a mandatory service charge of 20% which I totally do not agree with because it does not give servers the incentive to work hard for their tips. I happily give 18 to 20% if I really like the service I give 15 if it's just ok. If I were to go back here I would stick with the basic rolls but I doubt that I would because of this mandatory 20% service charge.

We have a very enjoyable dinner there this evening. My husband had the 3 course sushi dinner and I chose from the "Ippin" menu--hijiki nimono, chawan mushi with snow crab, black cod and greens, and the miso black cod. For dessert (all desserts are house-made), my husband enjoyed the chestnut and butterscotch creme brulee, while I had one scoop of matcha ice cream and one scoop of black sesame ice cream. Everything was delicious and our waitperson was superb. I would give this place a 4.5, only because the ippin menu doesn't change very much. One word of warning, however, is that in the colder months, the restaurant can be a bit chilly because the ceiling is quite high.

Had wonderful meal, ordering a bit of sushi, a couple of cooked items, and working our way through the menu until we were full. Pleasant, good waitstaff. Wide selection of sake, good wine list as well. Matcha ice cream is to die for!

We live in the Seattle area; my partner is of Japanese ancestry, so looking for tasty, and unique, Japanese food (Sushi Specially) is one of our hobbies. Sushi Kappo Tamura is by far at the top of our list in terms of taste, presentation, freshness, and uniqueness. The restaurant grows their own herbs and greens, they also contract with local fishermen for the best fresh fish. We had a great dinner there two days ago. Leave space for their Yogurt Panna Cotta dessert. It is light and heavenly!

It's no accident that this restaurant has been picked as one of the best new sushi destinations in the country. Our meal, despite some minor imperfections, was overall outstanding, and a good value as well. The menu is extensive and creative. There were so many intriguing choices that we went a bit overboard to try as many dishes as we could. Some of my absolute favorites from the sushi menu were the seared sea scallops, Puget Sound salmon roe, masago (smelt roe), saba (mackerel), gari saba (mackerel, ginger and shiso roll), and the grilled black cod avocado cucumber roll. Those last two rolls were just amazing. Sadly, there was no uni (sea urchin) on the menu, even though it's listed on the website menu. As for larger dishes, I had the geoduck with mustard greens and shimeji mushrooms (excellent, except for the greens, which were tough to chew) and the black cod miso yuan yaki (very delicate, cooked to perfection). The highlight, however, was the Monkfish liver, which was simply exquisite (if you like such things). My wife had the duck breast, which was also cooked to perfection. The mustard greens that came with the dish, though, were also too tough to chew. The only dish which was a little disappointing in its entirety was the vegetable tempura, which was just average. The coating was not as delicate as we would have expected, and had a bland taste. For a special treat, try the chestnut and butterscotch creme brulee, It was unusual, and very tasty. The portions are reasonable, and the prices quite reasonable. Parking in the Eastlake neighborhood is a bit of a challenge. Try parking across the street on the small street that goes downhill toward the water. This is a first-rate destination for Japanese cuisine, and I can't wait to return.

This has become our go to place for amazing Sushi. The Sushi Chefs are friendly. The sushi quality is great. We always feel welcome here from the friendly greeting at the door by the host and manager, to the waiter to the Sushi Chefs ensuring we have a great meal. We feel like part of the family here and they even remember details about seeing us last. Make this your next stop! Conveniently located on Eastlake

After many visits over the year, we recently took Wasabi Bistro off our list of places to eat...so have been searching for a high quality Sushi spot in the Seattle area. We found it in Sushi Kappo Tamura! We will be back, on those occasions when we are ready to spend big money for high quality food and great service. We are fairly pedestrian in our sushi tastes, so some of the special stuff that SKT has are wasted on us...but we really enjoyed the Black Cod, California roll, Spicy Tuna roll. We will probably avoid the sashimi next time (had the tasty king salmon) as it is just too expensive for what you get ($10 for 2 thin slices). If this were downtown or bell town, then the prices might make more sense, but as its on Eastlake just South of the UW, it is quite overpriced.

On a recent trip to the Seattle I got to eat at a place on my bucket list, Sushi Kappo Tamura. While the food and atmosphere were as expected, top notch. Our evening was made by our server, Edward T. I had two guests with me and we all agreed that we have never had service that comes close as to what we received from Edward. His service only enhanced the experience of the food and for me made this by far one of the best restaurants I have ever eaten at.

TaiChi is an outstanding sushi chef in every way. The sushi is always super fresh and excellently prepared. And he is a smililng and charming presence at the sushi bar, willing to explain each dish and prepare special treats for you. The cooked food is also great. His partner, Steve, runs the restaurant smoothly and has developed some very interesting sake flights. The restaurant is consistently excellent. It is one of the very best restaurants in Seattle!

We ate here for my son's birthday. The salad was delicious, so was the miso soup and the tofu appetizer. Did I mention the dessert. I would go back for all of that. My son said that the sushi was some of the best he has ever eaten. We look forward to going back for more. The service was wonderful and the ambiance cozy.

We went during Seattle restaurant week. It was a good way to experience the restaurant. I am a traditionalist, when it comes to Japanese food. I enjoy having my food traditionally served and this restaurant is modern Japanese. It was enjoyable, and the food was good, just not traditional. Excellent service, modern decor, beautifully plated food.

Nothing to dislike about TA MU RA. Beautiful, modest room, a wide selection of fresh fish and wonderful service. The sashimi is cut with skill - perfectly sized, for sushi, the rice is fragrant, but not overpowering and we were presented with delightful appetizers. Masters in the kitchen at this location. We went on a Saturday evening and were seated without a wait (something I'm not used to coming from NYC) - seemingly common on my trip to Seattle. It's a food lover's city and this is a must stop if you are one.

Dining at the sushi bar is probably the best place to be; up close and personal with the chefs who deliver fantastic, fresh sashimi! The prices are on the steep side, but well worth it for the freshness. Make a reservation! Go early as it fills up quickly. All dishes are winners! I appreciate the hot towels offered upon sitting down to wipe the day away and refresh yourself with sake as well. Good for small gatherings, or date night. I don't recommend this space for people with kids. Quiet and yet comfortable setting.

We were a party of three sitting at the counter having dinner. One member of our party had mostly non sushi dishes and they looked good. Two of us dined on sushi. First though, we had the best miso soup I have ever tasted. The sushi that followed was delicate and flavorful, seasoned exactly right, served at exactly the right temperature, and presented beautifully. This was washed down with a rice beer. Wonderful. Atmosphere: Calm. Noise Level: Quiet to Moderate. Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent. Price: On the low side of expensive. Recommended.

We were told reservations were recommended, so we made a Sunday brunch reservation and arrived just as they opened. It was very quiet, no other customers. The food is excellent Japanese traditional food. We were told the dress code is business casual, but a couple came in later that were dressed very casually and they were allowed in, so maybe the dress code isn't enforced. Lovely place to eat. The only reason I can't give it 5 stars is the parking. Only street parking. Nightmare.

I enjoyed sushi. Their fish are fresh, quality of fish is great! I had great time! But now, one month later, they made me very disappointed, I found out they charged more on my credit card. I wrote $70.28, but charged $75.76. Who does those tric? It's cashier/ waitress. I am Japanese. I don't think I was mean to them or giving bad attitude to them. But, they returned me this upset news. So,I decide to write this review to let people know those are exist, so watch out.

We ordered a lot of dishes to share. The oysters were very nice, tasty, fresh. Beautiful presentation. We tried geoduck for the first time. It looked interesting, but I personally didn't like it - somewhat rubbery, very fishy tasting. Not for me,but it may have been fine for those who like it. We had a beef stew-like dish that was really tasty. I get excited about black cod, and theirs was cooked nicely, though I have had tastier marinade/sauce. We had a little mishap during the evening, and the staff was quick to make it all good. I appreciate their attentiveness and generosity. The staff was very courteous and service was great. The presentation was really nice, down to the wet washcloths at the beginning of dinner.

We really liked this place. One of the best we have been to in Seattle or Vancouver. Not too fancy and great atmosphere. The sushi and sashimi was top quality. We will definitely come back. My highlights were the geoduck nigiri and yellowtail belly nigiri. We also had a geoduck meal (cooked) that was fantastic (sorry that I don't recall the name).

Kitamura-san is the master, both in food and gregarious hospitality, but even when he's not there you will have excellent food. Sit at the sushi bar if at all possible. Open yourself to new adventures and let yourself be well taken care of! Emphasis on sustainable and locally-sourced ingredients whenever possible. Yes, it's expensive but you can spend more and get less at many places in Japan. This is the epitome of modern Japanese restaurants in Seattle.

The sushi is good but so expensive. We spent over $150 and we were still hungry. Service too slow to order more.

I've been in Seattle for business reasons more than 20 times in the last 8 years, and every time I'm in the city this is a mandatory visit I cannot miss, so it's time to describe at least once my experience. First of all, in my humble opinion of sushi lover and amateur sushi chef, this is the best sushi in the city and one of the best I ever had all around the world, and I visited 15 countries last year. Chef Taichi and his team are able to drive you through an amazing experience of delicate flavors and textures, with top quality and seasonal ingredients, committed with the sustainability and vegetables harvested in their own rooftop garden. For me, this demonstrates the passion for what they do, and how it is translated to every course served from their open kitchen. You can take a look to the faces of the people before ordering, and you'll have an idea about how much are you going to enjoy your visit. If you love to observe the artistic work of the Chef handling the yanagi knife preparing every plate, every cut I would say, so if you can find a free seat in the bar, you'll enjoy even more the experience. I could go through almost all the options in the menu, I think I tasted all of them from appetizers to sushi rolls (my favorites are the spicy ones), including the outstanding Omakase menu with 7 courses. I enjoyed every visit having a great dinner but concretely about the dinner that night we ordered all for sharing. We started with some Oysters, amazingly delicated and marinated. We asked for the Chef's Sashimi selection for sharing and the picture speaks by itself... No words to describe this wonderful course, from prawns in two different preparations and temperatures, three different kind of salmon, yellowtail, albacore... a truly mouthwatering experience every slice that requires some seconds to enjoy before changing to a different one. We finished with some sushi including sea eel and ikura, I love how rice and fish proportions and temperatures are perfectly balanced in every piece. We finished with a delicious tuna temaki, to fulfill a great dinner night. Finally, I never pay attention to the check when I enjoy so much, but in my opinion price is good according to this exceptional quality, anyway there are a variety of options and menus that fit every pocket. A wonderful experience, as always, so needles to say I strongly recommend Sushi Kappo Tamura for any sushi lover visiting the city. Dōmo arigatōgozaimashita

Hidden Gem! This spot was fantastic, fresh fish all day! Couldn’t be happier with the quality of food at this spot. They have some hidden menu items, just ask Edward about them. I must say Edward treated us extremely well and was very knowledgeable not to mention he provided us with excellent service!

I’m not kidding. I had the nine piece chef’s choice sushi with a spicy tuna roll. The sushi was perfectly fresh and flavorful: tuna, scallop (best I’ve ever tasted), shrimp, roe, octopus...with impeccable service. It’s a good value for the quality.

This restaurant gives one the opportunity to eat more than just sushi. The broth of dobin mushi is excellent--clam nectar with hints of black cod, crab, and lots of matsutake mushrooms. I would have been happy just drinking the broth with a bowl of rice. My husband enjoyed his black cod, lightly marinated in miso. The asparagus-shimeji mushroom in tofu dressing was delicious--just the right level of sweetness. I occasionally encountered a somewhat tough piece of asparagus, but overall the dish was a success. We split an order of vegetable tempura--nicely deep fried, but I would have appreciated a slightly more assertive sauce or even a special salt, as is often done in Japan.The gari saba sushi roll was delicious. The black sesame ice cream was the best I've had. The chestnut-butterscotch brulee didn't taste much of butterscotch, but was yummy even so. Service was pretty good except for the waiter who spilled a lot of the dobin mushi broth. Every drop was precious to my mind. We'll be back.

We loved our dinner at Sushi Kappo Tamura. It is a high end classy Japanese restaurant. We enjoyed their tempura as our starter. We then had their Chawan Mushi with Jidori eggs, Dungeness crab and Neah Bay black cod. Superb. We ordered an exquisite array of sushi. So amazing! Just perfect. For dessert we had their house made Millet Mochi topped with sweet azuki red beans and also their Watermelon and Shiro. We had a nice bottle of saki selected by our server that was perfect. Service was superb. Staff is amazing. We booked our reservations on Open Table and so happy we were able to dine here while in Seattle.

Tamura Sushi is amazing! Chef Kitamura has a diamond of a place! My husband & I took advatange of the Restaurant Week $28 for three course meal. Wow! Amazing menu items they offered! The regular menu offerings are also fabulous and tasty as well. Good for date night, a family or even groups. It's not a huge place but good enough for a group of 8 or so. Reasonable prices. Not much on water view; it's on the street underneath I-5 on Eastlake. Service was very good. Sit at the sushi bar if possible.

We celebrated a birthday there with four of us having the 5-course tasting menu. The tastes were incredible. Every course was exceptional. Only one course was a variety of sushi and the rest were other types of Japanese food. Every bite of every course was simply scrumptious. And be sure to have the sake paring. Each glass was perfectly paired with the course and delightfully complemented the food. Service was great. We enjoyed talking with our waiter as he explained the food and the sake. Highly recommend enjoying an evening with the tasting menu at Sushi Kappo Tamura

Not sure how this place made the best sushi list (multiple lists). We've gone to most of the others on the lists, and this one certainly disappointed. The presentation of the food was very pretty, but the sushi was just average in taste. Tako was like chewing a giant rubber band (and yes, I order it everywhere I go). The uni didn't taste as fresh as it should have. Our server had NO sense of urgency. There were only a few tables occupied, and yet we had to wait over 10 minutes for 2 beers (while we listened to him chit chat with another server). It was obvious that a 20% service charge was being added to the check, because he definitely was not working for tips. He also had a bit of an attitude, which was very annoying. Finally, the food was SO overpriced! Lunch here cost us as much as dinner at Sushi Kashiba. Glad we tried it, so we can take it off our list. If you want a killer, authentic sushi lunch, go to Izumi in Kirkland.

Well executed dishes across the board, and equally excellent service. Even the desserts were great (try the mochi cake with red beans)!

Likely the best sushi I have had in the Seattle area to date. While the portions were small, they were absolutely delicious. I chose the 12 piece omakase, followed by another 6 piece omakase. While I tend to eat a lot, in this case it was driven by the small sushi pieces. Service was excellent and the restaurant had some excellent sake. Overall a fun experience, except for the $900 we spent for 3 people.

I wanted to like this place. I wanted to add it to my extremely short list of best sushi places in Seattle, but after three disappointing visits, Tamura has been relegated to the set of things I avoid in life along with Stephanie Meyer novels and Nickelback albums. Compared to its price-equivalent peers Tamura falls flat on many dimensions. Tamura is like a 20ish year old girl that thinks they're the hottest thing in the crowd but in reality has bad breath and daddy issues. In short Tamura thinks it's something it's not and here's why: The cuts are few and generally quite small but generally flavorful. The variety though is somewhat disappointing. Omaksase at a high end sushi restaurant doesn't mean just load a plate with gobs of tuna and salmon and call it good, but that's been my consistent experience here so far. The attention to detail in presentation is also disappointing. A few scraps of daikon on a bare wooden plank doesn't really cut it. A bit of seaweed salad and some cucumber and maybe a bit of fried Mackarel would go a long way. Still I have to admit that for what little fish I received, the quality was good and the real fresh wasabi is a nice touch. The wait staff is indifferent to somewhat rude -- though my experience has always been with the same particular server who seems as happy working there as she would be locked up in a Turkish prison. At times it feels like the waitstaff thinks it's doing me favor just by waiting on me. Service is generally slow and not the kind of slow where you don't feel rushed -- more like 'I've lost my buzz from those two martinis' slow. Interactions are generally impersonal and brusk which is fine for a grab and go type place but when you're paying $50 a plate… The menu, while relatively complete doesn't offer anything adventurous or interesting -- just your basics at marginally inflated prices. The miso soup is ok but served with fried tofu that has to be eaten separately with chop sticks. I ordered a creme brule dish for dessert that hadn't been reheated properly. At one point I've been denied a chef's choice omakase point because they were too busy to prepare the dish, so the very much not Japanese waitress selected the cuts herself. Oh and the edamame isn't complimentary either -- though I think they'll throw in the salt for free. For as much as Tamura portrays itself as an authentic sushi establishment, it doesn't attract an authentic crowd. I've never seen any Japanese patrons at this place and come to think of it, on the three occasions I've been there I don't think I've seen any asians in there at all. Is this a conspiracy or just a reflection that there are several better high end places out there? Even Art Bell wouldn't buy into that one. Do yourself a favor and head elsewhere for your high end sushi needs. Shiro's, Umi, Wasabi Bistro, or Nishino's will all give you a better experience for your hard earned money. If you are a masochist and still want to try Tamura be my guest, but I think you'll find better ways to have strangers inflict pain on you on Craig's List.

I always stick to sushi while here. I love that there are so many options with local/sustainable seafood. The sake list is also wonderful, although I don't consider myself a sake expert. The staff and chefs are very friendly and helpful. Highly recommended!

We lived in Japan for over two years. The food here is as good as we remember there, with some "twists" or updates. All fresh. Great service.

I was in Seattle for two weeks on business and visited this restaurant 5-6 times for two reasons. First, the food is exceptionally fresh, delicious and beautifully presented (I have been to Tokyo and this is similar). Second, the friendly atmosphere and service. The chefs not only want to provide great food - they also know how to chat and interact with guests. If you want to have a great social experience with "perfect strangers" and interact with the chefs sit at the counter - otherwise go for the tables (I prefer the counter). One plus of the counter is having the chef prepare different sushi, one at a time, until you are full - great way to get to know different types of seafood. Very broad selection of whiskies and sake that I didn't try.

Our favorite sushi restaurant was closed today so we thought we'd give another sushi restaurant a try. Arrived at 6pm. There were only 4 other people dining when we arrived. Sat at the sushi bar. Sushi chefs were very friendly. Started off with Asahi Super Dry on tap. The albacore sashimi was fresh and delicious and the spider roll was prepared perfectly with just the right amount of crunch. We asked for a spicy scallop roll which was not on the menu and they happily made it for us. It was fabulous! We also ordered the sautéed geoduck with kale and mushrooms....OMG...so delicious. Dessert was a yuzu yogurt pannacotta. What a great way to end a meal, very light and delicious dessert! The only negative is the limited street parking and I felt that maybe there was a little too much rice in the rolls. We will definitely return!

Everything about our meal here was great. The fish was all super fresh, the restaurant's atmosphere is very nice, and our server was incredibly helpful. The sushi was amazing -- we tried things we'd never eaten before -- but even the salad was delicious! And the yuzu and yogurst panna cotta we had for desert was such a great way to cap off an already great meal. Really great from starting to end! And I applaude the 20% gratuity that is included. I want to go to restaurants that treat their employees with respect and dignity.

Friendly staff, large selection, delicious ice cream. Method of ordering a bit quirky, but I guess it works when they're very busy.

Fish are fresh, service is excellent for 20% automatically added, and before tax. They have veggie! Great presentation and variety of selections and perhaps authentic ingredients, but we’ve not visited Japan, only comparing to the other Japanese restaurants in the States. Well, perhaps we’ll try again in a month or so. This time, one of us got diarrhea and we didn’t try anything that’s exotic, just fresh fish selections, couldn’t tell which one though. Dinner for two on a Saturday before closing set us back $112, without wine or saki. Perhaps we should saki to kill the bacteria, but we had wine/saki the night before. The sushi rice is different in the rolls and in Nigari, the rolls are flaky, not expected in high end sushi, why is that. We skipped the question to the waiters. Wasabi is freshly grated is a big plus but sweet, no lingering hot, why is that…. We kept asking for more and all tasted sweet. We’ll re-rate when we visit again. Somewhat disappointed this time.

I splurged a bit and went with a friend - ordered Omakase with a sake pairing... WOW. Every dish was expertly and artfully prepared. So fresh. So tasty. A generous six course adventure; each one surprised and delighted me. Even the dessert was magnificent. It was so good that we saved to come back and do it over again. One of the chefs beat Bobby Flay, and we were able to taste his menu the second time (also Omakase) - another new and amazing taste bud experience! Pricey but worth every penny. All sushi that I've had since then (and I've eaten well) has paled in comparison. I almost don't want to share this experience because I want to keep it to myself, but they deserve it. They obviously take pride in their restaurant in presentation, ingredients, staff, and location. Amazing.

The reviews of the food at Tamura had given me very high expectations of outstanding sushi. The prices only confirmed the expectations. This place is not cheap. The fish just tasted tired and I wasn't a fan of putting sweet potato in miso soup. I'm prepared to think they had an off-day (it was Presidents' Day after all). So many people can't be wrong about the freshness and taste of the sushi. Cocktails were too sweet as well.

I had a sushi blowout dinner here with my wife. We asked for the Omakase (chef's choice), and we were not disappointed. Sushi man Bobby took us on a tour of the best local seafood (and this being Seattle, some of the freshest seafood in the US) which started with raw local oysters topped with ikura, progressed to some delicious seafood soup, on to the best sashimi platter I've eaten, then a local fish, cooked Japanese style, the sushi platter, culminating in dessert. All washed down with beer, sake and whiskey (they have a full bar too). I've eaten sushi throughout California and São Paulo, and this is by far the best. It wasn't cheap though, perhaps because we ordered the most expensive thing on the menu. Despite that fact, I hope to return soon.

On a rainy Seattle evening, we savoured a dinner of rolls — Tempura, Seattle and Spicy Tuna Rolls and indulged in really mochi and matcha ice cream.

this medium sized sushi place has great atmosphere and attentive servers. The sushi was above average, but not spectacular. The prices were good. Good place to enjoy a drink and sushi in a relaxed atmosphere!

We visited Sushi Kappo Tamura and were wowed by the food. The black cod was delicious, the sashimi was very fresh, tasty, and exquisitely presented. Service was excellent. Prices were higher than expected but more than justified by the food, service, and experience.

My 87-year old Dad turned to me and said he wanted to try Sushi. Thank goodness Sushi Kappo Tamura is near his Mercer Island home. It was the prefect place to introduce him to sushi.. The hostess was gracious, the sushi was fresh and so amazing and the chef was totally into our story and the best part is my Dad wants to go back when I visit him in August. Bravo!!!

Came during restaurant week. I got the chef's sushi selection and thought the sushi was just okay. The texture was a little on the tough side and it was a bit dry. There is better sushi in the area for less money. I did, however, think that my boyfriend's beef wagyu was SO GOOD. Recommend that for sure!

Desperately seeking something to wow me like the good ol days of Shiros. Tempura here was bland, rice bland and cold, nigiri fish cold. Not coming back. :-(

Third time I’ve been here for lunch and second time I’ve sat at the sushi counter. Each time I’ve been impressed by the quality and creativity of the food and courtesy of the staff. One of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Seattle.

Went to this new establishment at the recommendation of a Japanese friend. It was about $10 cab ride from Westlake along the Lake Union. The place was new and modern with kappo style open kitchen. The plates were handmade potteries, and each was unique. Decor was modern yet inviting. Now the food... we had kakiage, sushi (platter and individual pieces), and deserts. Kakiage was crispy and not greasy at all. Sushi were fresh and the server was ready to explain what each pieces were. I have eaten sushi at most famous restaurants in New York City, but these were as good as theirs. I wish I had eaten non-sushi items as kappo is usually famous for small dishes. But it was hard not to go for sushi! Service was superb, and he called a cab to get us back to the hotel for us. It is certainly not in the tourist area, but it was worth the trip if you would like to try Japanese kappo foods as well as sushi in the quiet yet sosphisticated setting.

For our last dinner in Seattle we went to Tamura with my long time college friend. I started off with a refreshing lycee martini, sesame beans, maitake beef (it does come with some fat) but the broth was excellent, shrimp tempura, a sushi plate, chawan mushi (it comes in a small cup) it's an egglike custard with crab, a single serving only. Ended with green tea creme brulee (color was not enticing) and delicious panna cotta. The portions are small so order accordingly.

tried the place. wasn't impressed. bus boy and waitress seemed to hate their jobs. food was good. needs a better ambience and friendly staff.

This is some of the best sushi we have ever eaten! If I lived in Seattle, I would eat here as often as I could afford to!

Sushi Kappo Tamura is a great find in Eastlake! We found last minute reservations via Open Table and were lucky enough to sit at the sushi bar. Great fresh sashimi selection, good appetizers, good beer, wine and sake selections. Music was noticeable but not loud. Excellent! can't wait to return

We were visiting Eastlake in Seattle and decided to stop in for lunch at Sushi Kappo Tamura. We had so idea we were in for such a treat! The food was outstanding, especially the salmon. We tasted several different types of salmon and they were all DELISH! Highly recommend if you are nearby!

What an experience! I had the omakase here and was personally served by executive chef and co-owner Taichi Kitamura. It is clear that his standards are exceptionally high. The fish that he selected was among the freshest with the best texture that I've had anywhere in the United States. Going beyond the sashimi, the ippins served between the fish courses were notably creative and refined in their finish. Talking with Chef Kitamura was fun as well. Despite his reputation, he is humble in his manner and passionate talking about his work. Even if you don't get the omakase, this not an inexpensive restaurant, but it's definitely one of the best sushi restaurants I've visited on the West Coast.

Spectacular sashimi and amazing service! Thank you Mel for your brilliance at the sushi bar! We will definitely be returning!

The restaurant is in walking distance from our relatives who live just north of downtown Seattle. We arrived on a Friday afternoon, hoping that we get a table despite not having made reservations in time. Our server was very helpful and within less than fifteen minutes we were seated. She continued to provide outstanding service throughout the evening. We started with a Sushi Combo that came with nigiri sushi and miso soup. We then moved on to Spider Roll, Maguro (tuna), Saba (Mackerel), Seared scallops, Ebi (prawns), Seattle Roll and Tako (delicious octopus). We also had sashimi interspersed with the other plates. We drank beer and green tea and had a great conversation - a great time. We are now planning another trip to Seattle and will definitely visit Tamura. This is a very unique restaurant with exceptional food, so I strongly recommend, that you stop for a meal! You should make reservations, especially if there are more than four in our party.

We dined here last time we visited Settle and had it on our 'must do' list this trip. Either people don't venture out of downtown or this place is kept a secret since it really should be listed higher on TripAdvisor. Service is exception, the quality of the seafood is amazing and the atmosphere is comfortable and relaxing. Truly the best sushi experience in Seattle. Everything we tried was perfection. The extra flavors/ingredients/spices were subtle complimenting, not altering, the taste of the sushi. Try one of their tasting menus for a nice variety. Sitting at the sushi bar is fun here and David was wonderful with my tween getting him to try new things. Holding out hope they open a restaurant in Boston some day. If not, we will be back.

Our favorite place for sushi in Seattle and this time we'll be there two consecutive nights at the sushi counter. Telling all our friends who appreciate this kind of food

We have been enjoying Kappo Tamura since it opened and although we don’t get here often enough, we always enjoy it when we do. Our favorite part of dining here is the opportunity to enjoy creative dishes inspired by fresh local ingredients including the best fish from the Salish Sea. This might include fresh-caught halibut or black cod, ikura prepared from a local salmon run, or uni (sea urchin) from local waters. This is a great place to dine for a special occasion. If you are visiting, it’s a great place to sample the freshest local seafood and some of the best Japanese cuisine this side of the Pacific. Order the Chef’s Omakse Course for a spectacular 7-course meal with dishes selected by the chef and artfully prepared. We are never disappointed.

One of the top sushi places in Seattle. Great service, Nice ambience. Outstanding sushi and shasimi. We started with miso soup, which was delicately flavored. Definitely will be back. Not cheap, but well worth it.

Traveling to East Lake from downtown Seattle well worth the ride. Lovely modest restaurant with a large viewable cooking prep area and bar stools. This is a no tipping restaurant... 20% added to bill so can pay higher wages. Ambitious menu requires considerable thought. Wait staff happy to take you through choices. We 4 shared- Shigoku oysters tempura vegetables black Cod, Konab, 4 marvelous rolls. Green tea and delightful sweet endings-Gina ice cream black sesame w an inside of peanut butter;and, Creme Brukee of butternut squash. All fish were very fresh and tasty.

Let's get these out of the way first. Yes parking can be a headache, with Lyft/Uber your ibuprofen. Yes it is pricey. Why? Because it's worth it. For the finest, freshest, local, sustainably farmed ingredients transformed by a master. Better than Sansei in Kapalua. And the chef Kitamura Beat Bobby Flay gyoza are not even on the menu. Particularly exceptional are: tonkatsu (by far the best I've ever had); miso soup (homemade miso); chawan mushi (silky smooth, with crab and fish); oishi roll; black dragon roll; albacore belly (the Wagyu of tuna); oysters with momiji ponzu; black cod misoyaki; chicken karaage; green tea ice cream (matcha); panna cotta (better than most Italian versions). Tip - make an early reservation because every night various items sell out before closing.

Tamura came highly recommended by friends in Seattle… and it didn't disappoint at all. I booked with Open Table and totally forgot that I put down that we were visiting from South Carolina and it was our 10th anniversary celebration. From the minute we walked in they congratulated us and we had a chat with several members of the staff about South Carolina. We asked to be seated at the sushi bar -- we loved it. It was a very attentive and social experience. The sushi, was great. We loved everything about it. The quality, the pace, it was perfect. We loved the entire experience, they way they made us not feel like visitors, they made us feel like regulars. A great experience.

Sushi Kappo Tamura offers one of the best Omakase (Chef's special) Japanese dinners in town. It includes some small dishes and fish, and a few sushi pieces. Be sure to bring good appetite. The main chef was a winner of Iron Chef competition.

Visited Sushi Kappo Tamura for Sunday brunch in November 2019. This is one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Seattle. They focus on locally procured ingredients, with some fish from Japan. We tried sushi gozen and hiru gozen. Both were very good. Both came with miso soup and a few appetizers such as agedadhi tofu, marinated beans, and hijiki. Yes, they charge 20% surcharge, but no tip was added. So I’d consider prices to be fair (not cheap for sure).

The food and the service here were awesome! We had a deal from Bloomspot which included 7 courses each with a paired saki. It was amazing! I can't wait to go back!!!

Small, solid place near UW. A complete experience. Elegant décor, with a variety of textures: paper, leather, concrete, wood. Calm, friendly, professional staff. The cocktail menu is limited but imaginative, and the drinks rhyme with the food. Consistent food-- high-quality ingredients lovingly prepared. A great value-- high quality at a reasonable price. Go and let things unfold.