Fresh sushi with Latino flair.

In this edition of Food Porn, we feature Japonessa, a modern Japanese restaurant with hints of Latino flair. Using ingredients like mango, jalapeño, and cilantro, Chef Owner Billy Beach creates an unique and exciting experience for sushi lovers in Seattle. He uses traditional Japanese cooking techniques and combines them with Latino flavors and ingredients for balanced and harmonious dishes.

Japonessa offers almost a full page of innovative sushi rolls. Tarantula Extreme has snow crab, cucumber, jalapeño, topped with avocado, spicy snow crab, tobiko, and drizzled with wasabi and chili aioli. Super Bad Boy features eel, snow crab mix, avocado, cream cheese (Seattleites love their cream cheese, right?), with spicy seared crab, and drizzled with a chili aioli and a soy glaze. We’ll have to come back for the Madrid Moon roll, which includes spicy yellowtail, cucumber, cilantro, topped with seared spicy crab, black tobiko, and drizzled with a jalapeño citrus and truffle oil. Truffle oil? That’s a first.

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Photos by Sean D.

Japonessa offers more than just sashimi, nigiri, and sushi rolls. Appetizers include Oyster Shooters, Pulpo (Octopus) Carpaccio, and zesty spiced sorbets paired with fresh seafood. From the kitchen, Japonessa offers many delicious cooked dishes as well, including Eggplant & Mochi, Garlic Short Ribs, Yakitori (skewered chicken cooked on the grill), and Bacon-wrapped Scallops with lime peppers.

Definitely check out their Happy Hour, offered daily from open to 6:30 pm and in the bar from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Late night happy hour runs from 10:00 pm to close.

Open Monday through Thursday and Sunday, 11:30 am to 11:00 pm, Friday from 11:30 am to 1:00 am, and Saturday from 12:00 pm to 1:00 am.

 Japonessa   |      1400 1st Avenue, Seattle      |  (206) 971 – 7979