Head north on Aurora (hwy 99) past Home Depot, Car Toys and Sams club (and all the other assorted retailers on this fine highway)...and head for a japanese bistro in a strip mall on aurora. it... More

Head north on Aurora (hwy 99) past Home Depot, Car Toys and Sams club (and all the other assorted retailers on this fine highway)...and head for a japanese bistro in a strip mall on aurora. it sounds crazy, I generally feel snobbish towards most thing strip-mallish, but I love this place, and have been there 5+ times. The food is very good, starting with the fresh, delicate, well made sushi. If you like sushi, I give it a solid 4/5. One time it was perfect. IF YOU GO, PLEASE TRY THE GREEN DECADENCE ROLL....my wife's favorite roll in Seattle, hands down (vegetarian) Beyond the sushi, though, the restaurant has great bistro-like specials, including their salt and pepper chicken, tuna dishes, creative appetizers and beer on tap. they prolly have OK wine, but I cant speak for it. The sake is standard. Here is the reason to go, though: its never crowded, and the prices are very reasonable if you are used to paying a small fortune for sushi. I like to go for dinner with a few guys here, as you can sit at the bar and watch Sports Center, while downing the food and drinking a Manny's off the tap... Another option is going here for the ultimate inexpensive date night, where you can follow dinner with a $2 movie over at the Crest Theatre ( I think that is the name) on 5th Ave NE
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i've always thought of sushi restaurants as coming in 2 categories; traditional and experimentive. traditional sushi restaurants refine age old ingredients and techniques, while experimentive sushi... More

i've always thought of sushi restaurants as coming in 2 categories; traditional and experimentive. traditional sushi restaurants refine age old ingredients and techniques, while experimentive sushi restaurants try new ingredients, techniques and presentation styles. yamashiro is an example of a great experimentive sushi restaurant. korean owned and tucked away across from a hyundai dealership, the inside of the restaurant is sleek, stylish and open. there 2 bar areas (sushi bar and drink bar) situated across from each other and divided by sit-down tables. as with many sushi restaurants, the menu is populated with a lot of choices. in addition to ordering sushi, there are also salads and entrees. i have not tried any of the entrees, but i did try the wasabi shumai, which was delicious and attacked the nose a little. for anyone visiting the restaurant for the first time, i would recommend the yamashiro roll, which is topped with baked scallops in a savory sauce. for the more daring, there is the dragon's eye roll, which incorporates pieces of habanero and jalepeno pepper. the happy hour is also a steal, with full rolls priced at 2 for $8.50. there is also a full bar that features liquor, wine, sake, and soju mixed drinks. soju is a korean alcohol distilled traditionally from rice. it shares a lot of qualities with vodka, but at around 30-50 proof (stronger than sake). being korean-american, this is personally an added bonus. the only caveat to dining at yamashiro's is the wait time for food. there is usually only 1-2 sushi chefs on staff and i have never seen turnaround time less than 30 minutes, even on slow business days. i usually counteract this by making my first order count. so check yamashiro's out. you'll never expect such great sushi to come out of aurora. just remember to keep your patience and you'll be rewarded with a happy stomach.
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I admit I'm a bit of a restaurant snob who considers most restaurants north of 85th St., especially along Aurora, the domain of fast food outlets or questionable fare. But this fresh and clean... More

I admit I'm a bit of a restaurant snob who considers most restaurants north of 85th St., especially along Aurora, the domain of fast food outlets or questionable fare. But this fresh and clean enclave of good sushi and upscale saki and cocktails is a pleasant surprise in the no-man's land of 137th and Aurora. Tucked in between an auto repair shop, a bubble tea shop and a teriyaki joint, Yamashiro is easy to miss although once inside you could be anywhere. The sushi is good quality and portions generous for the price. The owner is excited about bringing downtown sushidom to northend denizens. *And* they're open till 11pm on weeknights, which almost unheard outside of downtown. What more could you ask for? (Besides a better location.)
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Cheers guys, you know I love you all and your sushi. I tell everyone about this joint cuz it's rolls are almost orgasmic and the price is right! Happy hour = so much sushi that you about blow up!... More

Cheers guys, you know I love you all and your sushi. I tell everyone about this joint cuz it's rolls are almost orgasmic and the price is right! Happy hour = so much sushi that you about blow up! Thanks guys, I am addicted!
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From it's location, it's hard to believe that this place turns out such high quality sushi! It's just north of Sam's Club on Aurora. Don't let this stop you from trying this place! The interior is... More

From it's location, it's hard to believe that this place turns out such high quality sushi! It's just north of Sam's Club on Aurora. Don't let this stop you from trying this place! The interior is clean, sleek, and modern. Almost minimalistic. It almost feels more like a downtown hotspot! Their sushi selection is the most creative and extensive that I have seen in this area. They even have fried sushi. It may not sound good, but it tastes fantastic! I would also like to recommend the whole salt and pepper fried chicken. It is amazingly crisp on the outside and super tender on the inside. This one dish, at $16, can feed 4 people. The prices at this restaurant seem a little higher than your average sushi joint, but it is well worth it! The entree portions are large and they have high quality, delicious sushi. Try it!
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This is a pretty nice spot with a hip vibe to it. The food is awesome especially the sushi. All the food is fresh and delicious. At the bar, the happy hour is pretty good, with deals on Mac and... More

This is a pretty nice spot with a hip vibe to it. The food is awesome especially the sushi. All the food is fresh and delicious. At the bar, the happy hour is pretty good, with deals on Mac and Jack and Japanese beers. The food during happy hour use to be better. They recently raised the prices to all the sushi but it is still a deal for quality sushi.
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