5pm, 7pm and 9pm sushi counter seatings have a few reserveable seats available on Open Table. Any remaining seats are first come-first served. You may sign-up for available, same-day sushi counter seats in-person during business hours. Doors open at 5pm. ANNOUNCING - Effective April 1st, we will be removing the automatic 20% surcharge from the check and returning to the traditional tipping system. The auto-surcharge will remain in effect for parties of 5 or more guests. Thank you very much for supporting our team!
CHEF SHIRO KASHIBA
Our Story
“Fifty years ago, a young Japanese chef landed in Seattle and taught us the ways of Edomae sushi. Now with his third restaurant, Shiro Kashiba is doing it again.”
– Allecia Vermillion, SeattleMet
To Chef Shiro Kashiba, it feels like it was just yesterday.
But in 1970, Kashiba introduced the city of Seattle to its first sushi bar.
Chef Kashiba had just completed years of grueling apprenticeships in Tokyo under the watchful eye of his senior supervisor, sushi maestro, Jiro Ono (Jiro Dreams of Sushi).
Pictured: Kashiba (left) and his instructor Jiro Ono (right) with fellow apprentice on one of their mountain climbing trips.
Kashiba leaving for Seattle at Haneda Airport. His father (left), instructor Jiro Ono (second from left), his mother (center) and fellow apprentices bid him farewell.
Unlike his fellow apprentices, Kashiba had his focus on America.
He was convinced that he could import the Edo-mae style and “shun” (local & seasonal) philosophy of Japan to the delectable seafood offerings of the Pacific Northwest.
He was right.
Kashiba at his first restaurant, Nikko, in Seattle's International District.
A three-time James Beard Award nominee for Outstanding Chef, Kashiba has cooked for Japanese Prime Ministers, Fortune 500 CEOs, Hollywood celebrities, star athletes, and served as Executive Chef for the Westin Hotels.
In 2019, Chef Kashiba was appointed as a Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador by the Government of Japan.
In 2021, Chef was awarded the Minister's Award for Overseas Promotion of Japanese Food by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
In 2024, Chef was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, in recognition of his contributions to the promotion of Japanese food culture and training the next generation of Japanese food chefs.