bocastephen

We have a quandary. After being blessed with an always available 'Endless Sushi' dining option at our local Georgetown Benihana's, the move out to Seattle has left us - well, sushi-less.

The Benihana Endless Sushi is an all-u-can-eat ($35) fresh made-to-order non-buffet sushi experience. It was a blessing and made sushi buffet places like Todai look like a bad joke.

Now sushi-less in Seattle, we're on the hunt for a replacement. The local Benihana locations do not offer Endless Sushi. Although the Redmond Todai is actually quite good (for a Todai), it's just not the same. It would be almost like satisfying a craving for In-N-Out burger with Carl's Jr.

Could anyone recommend a good quality sushi spot in the Seattle-Tacoma area which is either all-u-can-eat or get-your-fill-for-cheap?

WonderDude

While it isn't all-you-can-eat, the Kaiten, or "conveyor-belt" sushi joints in the area are kinda fun: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/food/124839_dine04.html

WonderDude

Here's a sushi buffet in Seattle: http://seattle.citysearch.com/profil...estaurant.html, with reviews.

bocastephen

Thank you...the Todai in Redmond is the place we're currently going to, but it would be nice if a real sushi bar would offer an all-u-can-eat option like Benihana.

westcoastman

I personally prefer Pacific Place Todai over Redmond. While Todai is typically thought of as low quality sushi I think it is a reasonably good value for sushi in the Seattle area and better than your average Todai for some reason. Lunch is clearly the best value at $13.95 AND $15.95 on weekends includes endless pieces of large unagi sushi as well. While they do serve sashimi for dinner it is hard to justify the $24.95 - $26.95 price since the hot food is only slightly better than the Super China Buffet in Shoreline. The staff could care less you much you eat unlike places like Mikado that has showdowns between customers and owner.
At $35 per person in Georgetown I think that is going a bit over the top for AYCE sushi. Family of four costs $140? How much can one eat even at a really expensive sushi place if you pay per piece?

westcoastman

Benihana does have AYCE sushi for lunch on weekdays for $13.95 but I am sure you already knew that.

SEAUAKID

Why don't you visit the Sushiland in the Bella Bottega area of Redmond? I used to live in Redmond and went there about 5x a week. Its a conveyor belt, with sushi starting at $1 per plate.

There is also a Sushiland in Bellevue, but it sucks. Don't go there. Its always full of high school brats who demand rap music on the speakers.

There a Sushiland at Southcenter that I haven't been to. The Sushiland in Lower Queen Anne is just okay. Redmond is the best, by far.

bocastephen

Thanks for the additional tips. We will try the Pacific Place Todai location next weekend. I knew about the Benihana option, but it won't work for us as we only have time for dinner.

Actually, the $35 that Georgetown (and the other DC location) charged was a bargain - it included sushi, sashimi and almost their entire list of rolls. Any hot item on the menu could be ordered, and it also included a choice of ice cream for dessert. We calculated that our 'true cost' was often in the $50-$75 per person range by the time we were done, given the copious amounts of sashimi we devoured.

We may also give Sushiland a try, but we're pretty much sashimi eaters so that option might not work out as well. Todai does have fairly decent, though moderate quality sashimi - if only they would make the pieces bigger. Some of their sashimi is cut like cat snacks.

westcoastman

Yeah, Sashimi is the way to go and so many of these places have rules about hiding or wasting your nigiri sushi rice. I avoid most sushi rolls myself but I know that ordering a single $12 sushi roll has become the hotest thing now. There are people like myself that prefer the delicious fish and raw seafood. And there are those that only do the basic rolls and maybe inari or tomago. These people proudly proclaim "I don't eat raw foods" and wear it like a badge of honor.

Back to the subject - I have found the majority of the hot food at Pacific Place not that special (probably similar to Redmond) but who's paying $25 for AYCE hot food anyway. They did offer spider rolls (soft shell crabs) for dinner so if you don't see them just ask and they will make you some. But you probably already knew that.

chexfan

The horrors! With all the great sushi places in Seattle, you're looking for the best All You Can Eat places? Yikes!

The Westin used to have an amazing ALCE Sushi bar for lunch, but it's been gone for the past 6 or 7 years.

bocastephen

OK...if we take AYCE out of the equation and also skip the sushi boat places (the family won't eat there), which sushi restaurant would you recommend that offers the best balance of quality and value - especially from the perspective of a heavy sashimi eater.

chexfan

I dunno. I guess whenever I'm in the mood for good sushi, value simply isn't on my mind.

westcoastman

One of my favorite "sushi value" places (but mainly has locals and students) is Hana on Broadway Ave. The sushi ranges from $1-$1.5 per piece so for $20 - $30 a couple can order more sushi than they can possibly eat. It's slightly a "hole in the wall" but the sushi chefs are very much the real thing and most of them have been there for over a decade. If you are someone that cannot eat much sushi and demands the finest quality then stick with places like I Love Sushi. Hana is for the value seeker.

ldsant

QFC offers sushi that is reasonably priced.

SLC-YYZ

^
I must chime in on Hana ... i agree. I am not based in SEA but Hana is one of my cheap and cheerful spots when I am there.