If you’ve ever spent a day wandering through Seattle’s Pike Place Market, you’ve surely seen the “world-famous” fish flying overhead. Located on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, Washington, Oregon and the entire Pacific Northwest are host to some of the best seafood east of Japan, with markets like Pike Place providing passersby with plentiful options for eating fresh. Of course, if you don’t feel like dragging home a shopping bag filled with seafood to prepare in your own kitchen, you can sate your craving with an instant hit of fresh flavor down the street at Seattle’s popular Japonessa.
Offering all your sushi favorites, as well as a variety of items infused with “Latino flair,” Japonessa is a popular spot for date nights, lunch breaks, happy hour and more, all within walking distance from Pike Place Market and the surrounding downtown area.
Japonessa’s menu, which boasts a variety of classic sushi options as well as some more inventive creations, is the handiwork of Japonessa Chef and Owner, Billy Beach. Beach, came up with the Japanese-Latino fusion concept while working alongside of his fellow sushi chefs, who inspired him to experiment using Latin flavors. The result is traditional Japanese style sushi kicked-up a notch with flavors like jalapeño, cilantro, mango and more.
Japonessa’s menu, which is extensive, offers everything from classic sashimi to signature rolls like Tango de Mango (red bell pepper, cilantro and mango topped with tuna and drizzled with a mango shiso glaze), the Super Bad Boy (a tempura’d combination of eel, snow crab mix, avocado and cream cheese topped with spicy seared crab and drizzled with a chili aioli soy glaze), and more.
Guests of Japonessa can order off the regular menu, or enjoy happy hour options in the dining room from open to 6:30 pm, and in the bar from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, and again from 10:00 pm to close. While a more limited menu, happy hour still boasts a variety of toothsome offerings, including an array of sushi rolls (the spicy tuna is top-notch), kitchen favorites like yakitori and garlic short ribs (to name a few), as well as side items like miso soup and edamame to munch on while you wait for the main course.
To wash it all down, Japonessa’s signature drink menu is equally as impressive as its food menu. To follow suit with their “Latino flair,” drinks like their Poquito Nellie and the Aztec Warrior will hit the spot, or you can opt to go classic with a sip of sake—there are nearly 20 to choose from on the menu. If cocktails and sake aren’t your forte, opt for one of the usual suspects and order off of Japonessa’s beer or wine menu.
An eclectic, inventive and wildly affordable selection of fresh, flavorful sushi and other Japanese-style fare means there’s something for everyone at Japonessa. And, within walking distance of downtown, it’s conveniently located where you are.
Japonessa || 1400 1st Ave, Seattle || japonessa.com
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Track on Twitter: @JaponessaSushiC
