Sushi Suzuki

In Madison Park, Porsches and dogs with beautiful blowouts line the streets. Every aspirational home we’ve ever stalked on Zillow is here, too. So the existence of a hidden back alley sushi spot also makes sense. But despite the ritzy neighborhood surroundings and very serious sushi, Sushi Suzuki is the most laid-back omakase experience in Seattle.

Squished between a bookstore and hair salon, the 10-seat space could easily be confused for a Ballard brewery. No stuffy silence here. Just keep in mind that laid-back doesn't mean cheap. You’ll still spend at least $180 per person on a meal of 20 very small courses.

photo credit: Ben Yan

The sushi style here relies on quality fish to do the heavy lifting, and in most cases, the nigiri only gets a gentle swipe of soy, shiso leaf, or a bit of yuzu—and that's all it needs. There are three different cuts of tuna, a sweet spot prawn that you’ll probably have popped into your mouth before anyone can remind you to “chew it slowly,” and yuzu-topped snapper that has us swearing in front of nine perfect strangers. 

You don't need an encyclopedic knowledge of raw fish to enjoy yourself here. It feels a little more like a neighborhood diner than a sushi counter. The couple next to you might make small talk, the server may crack a one-liner like a character from a '90s sitcom, and the bathroom has a silly theme. And sure, $180 is a good amount of money, but an omakase meal is a more affordable (and effective) way to deal with a mid-life crisis than a Porsche purchase.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Ben Yan

Omakase

Omakase at Sushi Suzuki has 20 courses with an additional five that could be anything from monkfish liver to wagyu topped with uni and caviar, or even more tuna. The menu changes often, and the clear standout from previous meals have been a chilled egg custard with tender dungeness crab, okra, and tomatoes, or a meaty belt fish stamped with char marks. In-between it all, you’ll be snacking on pickled ginger cube palette cleansers, which are oustanding and not just an afterthought. They are sweet, juicy, and more refreshing than a blue Slurpee. The meal closes with a square of smooth tamago (that cuts like Jell-O) and a cup of hot green tea. Then, all that’s left to do is to pick up a packet of mouthwash from the Oval Office—whoops, we mean the bathroom.