Shiro’s new place is open and it’s better than ever.

It’s 4:43 pm on a Wednesday and there are already nine people lined up outside of Sushi Kashiba. The rain decided to take a break, but it’s dark and cold and there’s another 17 minutes to wait. Promptly at 5:00 pm, the hostess opens the door and we patiently wait as each party in front of us asks for the sushi bar. We’re nervous; will there be any sushi bar seats for us? If no, should we wait until the next seating or should we come back another day? Luckily, we snagged the last two sushi bar seats.

Shiro Kashiba trained with Jiro Ono of Jiro Dreams of Sushi in Tokyo (if you haven’t seen it and you love beautiful cinematography and looking at food, watch it, but not on an empty stomach). Shiro came to Seattle and opened Shiro’s in Belltown before selling it to another establishment last year.

Sushi Kashiba is nestled in Pike Place Market, across from Chan.  New places tend to have a “breaking in” period where the service and food are a bit rough the first few weeks or even the first few months. I tend to give new restaurants a month or two before visiting, but in only its third week, the standards are noticeably high. The first thing we notice—aside from the attractive, yet simple modern decor—is the friendly and attentive service.

We ordered omakase (a meal selected by the sushi chef) because it’s simply the best. After nearly 40 pieces between the two of us, we reluctantly threw in the towel. Every piece was delicately prepared and the pace was perfect. From local salmon to red snapper and mackerel fished in Japan the day before, it was quite the meal. Two of my favorites were the Bluefin tuna rib meat lightly seared with a smoky, savory finish and the Yellowtail belly that just melted in my mouth.

If it’s your first time here, omakase lets you try a variety of sushi prepared in new and surprising ways. This is truly an elevated sushi experience and we can’t wait to go back.

Open daily from 5:00 pm to 10:30 pm.

Photos by Jennifer Liu.

Sushi Kashiba                    |                86 Pine Street, Seattle                  |               (206) 441-8844