I will never go back to Koji, I went there on a friend's recommendation for lunch. My goal was to order and carry it back to my office, it took 45 minutes to recieve my order. The sad thing was... More

I will never go back to Koji, I went there on a friend's recommendation for lunch. My goal was to order and carry it back to my office, it took 45 minutes to recieve my order. The sad thing was I noticed a couple showed up 15 minutes after I placed my order dined in and recieved the same order I had requested. The food was okay, definitely it wasn't good enough to offset my frustrations.
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I would like to like Koji Osakaya, I really would. Being located in the in the same downtown building where the restaurant is located, I would love to be able to go down and enjoy the restaurant. ... More

I would like to like Koji Osakaya, I really would. Being located in the in the same downtown building where the restaurant is located, I would love to be able to go down and enjoy the restaurant. Unfortunately the service is always so bad that by the time I get my food I'm so steamed that I can't enjoy it. Hosestly, the food is fine, not the best, but not the worst. The service on the other hand could hardly be worse - it takes forever to get the attention of a host/hostess, and when they show up they pay no attention to the order of arrivals, they are rude and short. Once you have a table, they appear to be so short staffed that you get no attention. Too bad, but not worth trying again. Pros: food Cons: service
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Although the address is not correct as it is located under the Harbor Steps on Post Alley/University Ave. Koji is a place I'll go back to. The food is traditional and it may seem a little too... More

Although the address is not correct as it is located under the Harbor Steps on Post Alley/University Ave. Koji is a place I'll go back to. The food is traditional and it may seem a little too traditional for some. But I love ramen and the ramen here is tasty. Whether its the wakame ramen, the pork ramen, or plain, its DELICIOUS. Ramen in my heart will always be above pho or any other soup noodle dish even the long list of Korean noodle soup dishes I've had in my life. Its full of flavor...and probably msg...but its good. I'm rather ambivalent about the other dishes, which can be a little too salty for my taste, but during lunch they have amazingly filling and splitting good deals ESPECIALLY as downtown restaurants go. The sushi is something that some can't appreciate. It is traditional. It might be a little lackluster. But I can almost say that the nigiri and the rolls are consistently average or maybe above average. I have yet to have a meal here that wasn't as expected. Seattle sushi has definitely let me down so many times that its nice to find a place that doesn't try to wow you, rather just satisfy the simple needs at a decent price. Happy hour prices make it affordable vs. Sushi-land prices for lesser quality. The fish is fresh (another inconsistency in seattle). And if you read my other reviews you might wonder why my ratings are a little wacky, its because it rates my experience not the quality or the level of service of the restaurant offers. And for an economical japanese restaurant, I'd rate this place 5 stars. Is the ramen as good as takohachi's was? no. Is its sushi better than musashi's in wallingford or saitos or shiros or etc...? not really. But as a jack of all trades, is it something that will satisfy my wants when cash is low but I dont want to go to fast food joints? YES, very much so. Pros: Free tea, good lunch combos, fresh sushi, view of water Cons: parking, sometimes too traditional food
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I haven't eaten at the Westlake location, but the Harbor Steps location is my favorite unpretentious sushi place downtown. The happy hour specials are good, the service is attentive and very... More

I haven't eaten at the Westlake location, but the Harbor Steps location is my favorite unpretentious sushi place downtown. The happy hour specials are good, the service is attentive and very helpful, the sushi is as good as I've had in Seattle, but give everything else on the menu a try also. The tempura is the best I've had anywhere, ever. The yakitori skewers are a good option for folks who shy away from the raw stuff. Last time I was there, a group of half a dozen Japanese women were having a late lunch. This has become my new rule of thumb in seeking out good, authentic ethnic food. If the people who should know are eating there, it must be good. As a postscript, you are likely to see some sumo on TV. And you really should try a shochu cocktail. You may not like it, but you'll be a better person for it. Pros: Good happy hour, excellent food (not just the sushi), great service Cons: Limited parking options, but easy walk from the Pike Market
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That's what we call Koji's, as we know we could live there, dining for ages on the superb nigiri, miso, and warm soba (get the toritoji!). I prefer the downtown location on the Bell Harbor steps,... More

That's what we call Koji's, as we know we could live there, dining for ages on the superb nigiri, miso, and warm soba (get the toritoji!). I prefer the downtown location on the Bell Harbor steps, but this one on Westlake Ave is equal in quality. Sit at the sushi bar and watch the chefs make magic against the backdrop of sumo wrestler tv. I always recommend trying one of the fresh specials of the day--inventive and refreshing. The tempura is light and flavorful, a must-try. Forget I *heart* Sushi and Todai. Koji's is your only downtown choice. Pros: quality seafood, consistent service Cons: no sumo wrestlers
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