Insider Pages Reviews for Shiro's

5 Stars: excellent sushi (by wseattleresident)

wseattleresident — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:00:00 GMT

My boyfriend and I have been to Shiro's several times for sushi and love it. Excellent service and the best sushi I have ever had. We have taken friends and family there who have all agreed with us. We will definitely continue going to Shiro's!

4 Stars: Good Dining (by Anli J.)

Anli J. — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:30:00 GMT

Shiro's is an authentic Japanese restaurant, and you can tell by the chef, servers, and quality of food. The menu is limited but only to the best Japanese dishes. If you are looking for authentic Japanese food, go here.

5 Stars: The best! (by golito)

golito — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Simply the best. If you have a japanese client and don't know where to go, take them here. The quality is high and the presentation is perfect.

3 Stars: Trying hard to make money but just okay (by T S.)

T S. — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 22:44:00 GMT

Shiro's is okay but nothing to get excited about. The atmosphere is a little commercial, the menue is limited and the food is so-so. This restaurant tries to be chic but doesn't quite pull it off.

5 Stars: Amazing Authentic Sushi! (by FrankTheTankWSU)

FrankTheTankWSU — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 09:00:00 GMT

You won't find the American sushi staples here - don't bother asking for avacado or imitation crab here, they don't serve it. The rolls are pretty good, with one of the best Spicy Tuna's i've ever had and a must try Dungunous Crab roll, with whole deep friend crabs. The chef will make just about any roll you want, even if they are not on the menu. Try the eel roll, it isn't listed but its good.

The real spotlight at Shiro's is real deal sushi, the extremly fresh variety of well cut and served Sashimi (whole large pieces of raw fish served over small rolled servings of rice). The fish here is the best I have ever had.

Sit at the Sushi bar if you can, the Sushi chefs are a great time and if you give them the green light, they will serve you a number of interesting and varied pieces, all really good.

All in all I sat at the bar for about an hour and a half, ate 3 different rolls (Spicy Tuna, Dungenous Crab and Eel) and sampled maybe 5 different pieces of Sashimi. My tab was only 30 bucks, I left extremly full and satisfied without breaking the bank. Must try spot.

1 Stars: Not worth the trip (by scottjz)

scottjz — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:00:00 GMT

This place isn't worth the trip or money. Fish was average at best with nothing out of the ordinary. They didn't even have wild salmon as an option even though we are in the heart of the northwest. Prices are high and service was average. "I Love Sushi" on Lake Union is much, much better, go there instead.

2 Stars: Very Disappointing (by JC10)

JC10 — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:00:00 GMT

My girlfriend and I went to Shiro's a couple of weeks ago and after about 10 minutes in the "holding cell" were seated at the left end of the sushi bar. The sushi chef was this old cranky guy who once came very close to cracking a smile but quickly recovered. It was very hard to tell if he heard or understood our orders but we hung in there and it ended up being a fairly tolerable experience. (nothing exceptional) I order Maguro sashimi once and when we got our bill it was on there twice. We ordered nothing a second time. Nevertheless, the item for this sashimi item alone, was $45!!! We've had sushi all over the country and my girlfriend's Japanese so we have pretty fair frame of reference. We'll not be back or ever recommend this place.

5 Stars: Wonderful (by billycar)

billycar — Thu, 15 May 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I love sushi. Sometimes I crave sushi so much I go on a binge and eat it for days in a row. My favorite spot is sitting at Shiro's sushi bar. The atmosphere is very plain jane but the quality of the fish is amazing. Extremely fresh and oh so delicious. Watching Shiro is really like watching an artist at work. Don't order off the menu, just sit back and let Shiro san feed you. It's pricey but sushi is one thing that you shouldn't pinch pennies on.

5 Stars: Real Good Sushi (by Micky3)

Micky3 — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Just so good sushi. I really recommend.
Price is reasonable as such good suchi. Service was great.I really want to go back.

5 Stars: Best Sushi in Seattle (by Mishaspr)

Mishaspr — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I've been going to Shiro's for about a year now, and is BY FAR, the best place for sushi in Seattle.
The trick is to get there early to get a seat at the sushi bar. The experience of just letting the chefs make you their unique concoctions, puts you into sushi heaven. And everything is so fresh. I've never been disappointed.

5 Stars: Highest Quality (by hirokon)

hirokon — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I've enjoyed many memorable sushi experiences at Shiro's. The experience is much different when choosing table service versus the sushi bar. I always sit at the sushi bar and put myself in Shirosan's hands. He always suprises me with the freshest items of the day and continues to feed me until I cannot eat another bite. The fish served is the highest quality. The decor is nothing to rave about but who cares when the food is this good?

3 Stars: sushi was great but service was terrible (by littlelmr)

littlelmr — Thu, 10 May 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I can only say how good the sushi was, but how terrible the service was. It was like they didn't even care that we were there. The staff bumped into me numerous times and seemed to completely forget about us. We would have stayed and ordered more, but the though of staying there much longer was more than we could bare!

1 Stars: Terrible service (by noff72)

noff72 — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I've had drinks spilled on me, I've been ignored and otherwise have had some of the worst service ever.

The food is otherwise acceptable but I've cross this restaurant off my list of places to go.

5 Stars: Outstanding Sashimi (by caymanislandmama)

caymanislandmama — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I haven't had sushi in a few months and my visit to Shiro's reminded me how much I love sashimi. This was absolutely the freshest I've tasted. The sushi rolls we had were outstanding as well. I will definitely be back soon.

1 Stars: Very Poor on June 4, 2006 (by seattlenate)

seattlenate — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I ordered a broad assortment of nigiri and maki sushi. Table service was fast , so disappointment came quickly.

Only the miso soup was good. The quality of the fish, quality of preparation, portion size and presentation were all poor.

Nigiri sushi looked dry and the tuna was almost as grey as the albacore. Flavors were wan or nonexistent -- I love subtle tastes, but when the ikura is bland something is deeply wrong. The unagi was chiller-cold. Albacore was tough to chew (poorly sliced?). The rainbow roll was insipid and divided into uneven slices. Presentation was haphazard with dissimilar nigiri pieces crammed against others so that picking one up pulled the seaweed of another apart. We returned the gyoza and the asparagus salad because they tasted bad.

I would love to taste Shiro-san's food sometime after reading about him. But whoever prepared my family's meal tonight should feel ashamed.

5 Stars: Sushi Snob's #1 Sushi Pick (by foodie1980)

foodie1980 — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

If you like sushi, put down whatever you're doing and run to Shiro! I highly recommend that you sit at the sushi bar where you will be not only educated by Chef Shiro, but delightfully entertained. Even sushi scholars will learn something new. Chef Shiro trained with master sushi chefs in Tokyo and came to Seattle early on to build the unbeatable reputation he has today. All food is fresh and full of flavor. Not sure what to order? No problem, Chef Shiro will create something and have you craving more!

5 Stars: Amazing Sashimi (by gte190f)

gte190f — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Try the sashimi; it is perhaps the best I have ever had. I like it so much, I have been reluctant to try anything else on the menu. The service may be average and the prices high, but the food is simply amazing, for that reason I will continue to come. Try it on a weeknight if you find it too slow on the weekend.

5 Stars: Watching a Master At Work (by petergv)

petergv — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I've been to Shiro's about half a dozen times, and have taken numerous colleagues who are sushi cognocenti. We all agree: Shiro's redefines quality sushi.

Sit at the sushi bar and let Shiro-san choose what to feed you. Then sit back, and watch the master work. He starts with a simple, less-challenging, type of sushi... maybe yellowtail. He watches the reaction of your party. He moves on to something more challenging. Again, he gauges what to serve based on what your party likes, how attentive they are to the food, and what's available that day.

You wanna go someplace to hammer down a California roll and get plastered on cheap sake, go someplace else. But if you want to see a master at work... Go to Shiro's and wait for seats at the sushi bar.

5 Stars: Incredible sushi (by ryko)

ryko — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I've had some of the best sushi meals in Seattle at Shiro's. The trick is to sit at the sushi bar - let Shiro recommend the fish as you go along, you'll get the best cuts and freshest fish that way. The experience at the sushi bar is noticeably different from sitting in the restaurant. Decor is reminiscent of a strip mall... not the best place for a nice evening out or a date, but let Shiro guide you at the bar and you'll likely leave very happy!

1 Stars: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE (by redjuniper)

redjuniper — Sun, 09 Oct 2005 09:00:00 GMT

This wasn't our first visit to Shiro's. We had good experiences there in the past. We ordered the same thing every time. This time they added ingredients to our sushi that had NEVER been there before. Not expecting the sushi to be different, we ate a couple pieces before noticing there were eel and fish eggs added deeply within our shrimp tempura rolls.

The waitress argued with us that it is always prepared this way. Not true. We check each time we go somewhere new, what ingredients are in the dishes we eat.

They offered us no compensation. They did not offer to bring us something we could eat, though after eating the sushi they gave us, neither of us could have ate. With most of the sushi untouched, we were still presented the full bill.

We will not return.

5 Stars: Best place on our visit (by nybitch)

nybitch — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 09:00:00 GMT

4 restaurants in 4 nights. The sushi here is top quality. I agree that taking advice is the good way to go. If we return in the near future we would consider giving it another go if we are in the sushi mood. The highlight of our trip.

5 Stars: The Master (by psnewman)

psnewman — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 09:00:00 GMT

Put your hands in the Master. Do not ask for wasabi. It's like asking for catsup at Canlis. He knows how much to put on. Sit, ask, eat, enjoy. The place is charming, the food beyond compare. Always accept the advice to try something that is fresh. Best sushi anywhere!

5 Stars: Magnificent! (by sarika_24)

sarika_24 — Thu, 26 Aug 2004 09:00:00 GMT

my husband and i happened upon this delightful sushi joint when we tired of waiting for a table at wasabi bistro. what a wonderful surprise. the sushi was fantastic, the service was attentive without being overbearing, and the decor was pleasant. i'd recommend the shiro crab wrap. it was divine.

5 Stars: GREAT SUSHI (by tgb26)

tgb26 — Wed, 09 Jun 2004 09:00:00 GMT

All that I can say is sit at the bar and let the sushi chefs order for you. No need even looking at the menu. Best sushi I've ever had

5 Stars: WOW! (by cjandsuper)

cjandsuper — Sun, 30 May 2004 09:00:00 GMT

We were so WOW'ed by ths food and service here! They do not overpower the sushi with too much rice and too big of pieces. The rolls have a great balance of ingredients so that you can taste each one in each bite. It was the best sushi we have had.

5 Stars: amazing! (by holybetty)

holybetty — Thu, 22 Apr 2004 09:00:00 GMT

the sushi here is the best seattle has to offer, and the service is amazing. thay always remember you and know your favorites!

3 Stars: Average (by tuner)

tuner — Mon, 15 Sep 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I've heard so much about Shiro's but never visited until last week. The yellow tail was amazing, so was the uni even though the cuts were pretty thin. However, the service was not very good, considering how many servers they have for such a small place. When we first walked in, the place was nearly empty yet the hostess let us stand around akwardly for a few minutes before even saying hello. It was expensive. Dinner for the two of us was $115 and we only split one bottle of beer.... I wouldn't really recommend SHiro's over any of the other sushi houses in Seattle. Insider tip - we came out of there with the smell of tempura clinging to our clothes.

3 Stars: Prices way high.. (by jon_cassidy)

jon_cassidy — Sun, 27 Apr 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Prices have become much more expensive recently. Dropped $70 on din for 2 with no appetizer and no alcohol! A year ago we paid about $40 for the same meal at Shiro's! The single-nigiri servings are now at 2-piece nigiri prices. Result is shocking- I won't be back, especially with many great sushi places in Seattle.

1 Stars: Too Expensive (by sfdiner1207)

sfdiner1207 — Fri, 24 Jan 2003 09:00:00 GMT

The sushi here is good but not worth the price. The prices here is comparable to San Francisco and New York's. Head to Musashi's for a slightly lower quality sushi for 1/2 the price.

2 Stars: Great, if you don't like value. (by t0adman)

t0adman — Thu, 14 Nov 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Last night was my second visit to the highly touted Shiro's. My first visit a couple months ago was disappointing but I figured I would try it again to be fair. Second time was not a charm. Fish was unimpressive some fresh but not outstanding, especially considering the price. The salmon roe was salty and from a jar, the salmon was seared (while our city is inundated with fresh salmon), and the albacore almost frozen in the middle. The atmosphere, although its improved, is still stale and painfully fluorescent. A $60 tab for one person left me wishing I'd gone back to Wasabi Bistro. Not that great, period.

5 Stars: Shiro - Seattle's Sushi God (by Version_1)

Version_1 — Thu, 10 Oct 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Shiro has been making the best sushi in Seattle for almost 30 years. He is an institution going back two decades before the popularity of sushi became widespread. He was serving fabulous yellowtail back when 'good tuna' meant adding relish to your tuna fish sandwhich. Sitting at the bar at Shiro's is an education in more ways than one.

5 Stars: No Contest (by kenwine)

kenwine — Fri, 20 Sep 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Shiro's is the finest sushi in or out of the city

5 Stars: best sushi. must sit at the sushi bar (by cgrafwal)

cgrafwal — Mon, 02 Sep 2002 09:00:00 GMT

We've been going to Shiro's for many years. If you haven't eaten at the sushi bar, then you must! It's the only way. If you don't know what to order, then just leave it up to Shiro-san and he will dazzle you with different wonderful things. The broiled cod is one of my favorites, as well as the nagitoro hand roll!

2 Stars: traditional sushi only (by kietak)

kietak — Thu, 15 Aug 2002 09:00:00 GMT

They have a very limited menu if you only like rolls. The rolls they have are very traditional. They don't have rolls that have avocado, cream cheese, shrimp, and other ingredients that I have seen at many other restaurants across the nation. We had to wait about 15 minutes before the waitress asked us what we wanted to drink.

4 Stars: Where did the Waitress Go? (by ginapopovic)

ginapopovic — Thu, 25 Jul 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Sublime sushi. My husband and I sat at the sushi bar and let Aki-San serve us whatever he felt we needed to try. I felt like royalty.... that is until I requested a beverage. The waitresses (there were 4 of them and a hostess for 20 customers most of which were sitting at the sushi bar) were no where to be found. We had to hunt for the green tea, beg for some water and practically pilfer the beer. I will go back, but only to sit at the bar... really, Shiro, you need to get a handle on the waitstaff!

3 Stars: Terrible service, bad bang for buck (by sushi1)

sushi1 — Sat, 06 Jul 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I've been to Shiro nearly a dozen times and their sevice is going down hill and their sushi quality is headed in the same direction. It took us nearly 1/2 hour to order and our waitress came back to check up on us once (excluing our bill). This is unstandable if she was busy but that didn't seem to be the case and we kept on looking over in her to direction for a refill on our water but ended up giving up and just finishing up our meals so that we could get our of there. Our sushi was just average (it's appears to be hit or miss since I've had really fresh sushi before) and about half our sushi had way too much wasabi on it. The last few times have been disappointing and I will never be back.

3 Stars: Great sushi but... (by food_dude)

food_dude — Tue, 02 Jul 2002 09:00:00 GMT

...I've had it with the service at Shiro's. The sushi chefs are attentive and friendly, but the wait staff service is abysmal. I've been there about 50 times over the last few years and the service has been hit or miss, but the last 3 times were just flat out ridiculous. They'd be better off telling you where everything is and letting you get it yourself...at least that way you can enjoy some primo sushi without wondering where your glass of water or green tea is. Hire some professionals to serve your customers....

4 Stars: Sit at the counter or don't bother (by taniguchi)

taniguchi — Sat, 29 Jun 2002 09:00:00 GMT

The first time I went, I sat at the counter and the sushi was amazing. The second time I went, I had to sit at a table and the sushi was the worst that I've ever had. FYI

4 Stars: Your mouth will thank you (by holborne)

holborne — Mon, 24 Jun 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Although Shiro's sushi is excellent, the outstanding thing here is the service--my waitress was very friendly, helpful, and attentive. The sushi is quite fresh and of excellent quality. And Shiro himself is also pleasant and outgoing, which sushi chefs frequently aren't, in my experience--he called out to me from the sushi bar to make sure I was enjoying everything. My one complaint was that the pieces of sushi are a little large, which is non-traditional for sushi (although in fairness, I think most Americans like it that way, so Shiro is probably bowing to demand). Highly recommended.

4 Stars: They know what they're doing here... (by juiceguy101)

juiceguy101 — Wed, 19 Jun 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Shiro's sets the standard. You can go to Nishino for more innovative fare but Shiro's is straight up freshness. The service is fine, the sushi bar is fun, and the ambience isn't pretentious. Unlike it's Belltown competitors, Shiro's is a real restaurant.

5 Stars: Great sushi (by Rudeboy)

Rudeboy — Wed, 29 May 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Shiro's is a regular for me and I dine there whenever it's a small group and quality of fish is important. The only drawbacks are the small dining room which gets crowded - reservations recommended (and a X:XX reservation is EXACTLY X:XX).

I rank Shiro's on par with Nishino and I Love Sushi which are my other two regular sushi joints.