Sarah and Chris Elder
Stepping into this restaurant felt like a delightful journey to Hiroshima itself. The culinary experience was nothing short of excellent, with every dish on the menu delivering authentic flavors that transported us to Japan. But what truly elevated this dining experience was the exceptional service provided by the staff.
The team working here is not just attentive but also incredibly friendly and polite. Their dedication to ensuring our visit was enjoyable made a significant difference. From their warm welcomes to the quick and efficient service, it was evident that they take great pride in creating a memorable atmosphere.
This charming Japanese restaurant goes beyond satisfying your taste buds; it offers a brief yet immersive escape into Japanese culture. It’s not just a place to grab a quick Japanese lunch; it’s a place where you can momentarily find yourself embraced by the traditions, flavors, and warmth of Japan. I wholeheartedly recommend it for anyone seeking an authentic and delightful Japanese dining experience.
Kimberly Pham
Upon approaching this establishment, I was greeted by a tantalizing aroma of deep-fried goodness. Stepping inside, I found the atmosphere to be cozy and unpretentious. The menu, conveniently accessible through QR codes, seemed to be a common trend these days. As for the food, it was undeniably satisfying, with a wide selection of mouthwatering options like fried chicken and various sides. While admittedly not the healthiest fare, it was delicious. And the best part? The prices were reasonable. If you're looking for some delectable indulgence, I highly recommend giving this place a try.
Daniela Bailey
The service was excellent. Very attentive. Easy to order (self online) and the food comes quickly.
Setsuna fries were amazingly buttery. A bit salty but still very good.
Green beans were crunchy and tasty.
The start was the setsuna karaage. Juicy, tender and crispy on the outside.
The grape and peach sodas were also delicious.
JS
I came upon this place on a stroll to the ocean. I'm vegan and was excited to see the Veggie Roll so I tried it (I double-checked with the server that it could be made vegan). When I wasn't vegan I was a sushi junkie and I remember the checklist I'd keep in mind for what would make or break a good roll IMO: 1) how well the rice is cooked, 2) the combo of flavors inside the roll, and 3) the structural integrity of the roll (i.e., does it hold together well when I pick a piece up).This role was pleasantly surprising - it was crisp, fresh, held together well, and the rice was cooked perfectly! I've never had green beans in a sushi roll before but it really pairs well with the softer sushi rice. The veggie roll is a great option if you want something light and tasty. Overall, an inviting atmosphere, friendly and quick service, and a good veggie roll :).
Billy Xia
The best karage (Japanese fried chicken) you can find in Seattle! We always go for the spicy ones or over Japanese curry. 😋
The loco moco and beef patty with curry are also really yummy.
Kevin “TheGentlemanWalrus” Harris
An excellent and affordable quick stop. Crispy Karaage with a variety of flavorful sauces and a good selection of casual Japanese fare.
We enjoyed Char Sui Udon: rich and thick and succulent, and refreshing kimchi as well as the chicken. The service was very quick and attentive, the bathrooms were nice, and I was maybe most impressed at how generous the sauces were - each was plenty to dip a serving/one person's dish in.
Jeanne Barnes
Karaage Setsuna is such a find! From the mouthwatering poke bowl (full of super-soft, delicious tuna, sticky rice, veg and sliced ginger) to the chilled sake and white peach soda! The ambience is simple and lets the waitstaff shine, which they did. The experience is streamlined with online self-ordering which was seamless. Mahalo for a scrumptious dinner!
Daidai C
Karaage is very soft and juicy inside, with thin flour layer. Crispy while soft, perfect and light! It’s the best fried chicken I ever had in the past year, not too oily at all.
Tofu soup and spicy tuna sushi roll are also delicious.
melissa rose
Ethereal experience with sushi, curry gyoza soup, kara-age and Yuzu butter salmon! So so so delicious!!
Andrew Knight
What a delightful restaurant! The Karaage (fried chicken) was some of the best fried bird I’ve had. Try the house sodas, too. The peach one was a treat! I’d definitely come back.
Ray Moon
Best Karaage I’ve had as a meal in Seattle. They are homemade and fresh.
Chicken batters are soft yet crispy. Super juicy!
Loco Mocos were huge. Definitely homemade with chopped onions inside, well cooked.
servings of rice and salad were generous.
This was just plain too good!
Chris F
I was looking for sushi/Japanese restaurants in the area and this one came highly recommended and it didn't disappoint.
The restaurant is located in Belltown and pretty easy to get to. The inside is quaint with portions decorated with SPAM cans (a staple of the Pacific islands). You order through your phone via QR code and they will bring out your food to your table. You can order online for take out and it seems like delivery services do pick up here. We arrived after the evening opening time and it filled up by the time we finished so make sure you arrive early.
The namesake of this restaurant, the chicken karaage, is superb. It was hot and very juicy. The chicken thighs were marinated nicely. The Takoyaki was also toasty hot when it came out and had good dough to tako (octopus) ratio. We also shared the poke roll sushi which tasted great. The main entree of the Karaage plate and Loco Moco were very filling. The entree plates come with white rice, Island Mac salad and miso soup (if dining in). There are also a variety of dipping sauces available but it tasted wonderful just by itself.
I'll definitely come back if I'm in the area again.
Ithomiid Inc.
We got the large plate of kara age and 2 small plates. It was enough to feed 3 of us. Good, fresh fried chicken. You order on your phone and service is quick.
Mei Fu Lee
We walked over here from the Space Needle for a quick lunch. It was a super small hole in the wall. It was also super hot inside, even with a fan and the windows open. I'm sure this isn't a usual issue in Seattle, but the heat from the kitchen was really hitting us. We were seated almost immediately at around 1 PM.
We ordered the karaage curry and the loco moco. The portions were really big. While the curry is mainly rice, there were only a few pieces of chicken. The curry sauce tasted really good with the rice. Our friend really liked the loco moco with the macaroni salad. We also tried the grape soda and it was pretty refreshing.
While I did enjoy their curry, I probably would want to try another place to eat. It was definitely affordable, being in a busy part of town. I think it would be good for take-out orders.
dongying jiang
Relatively small place, but it is comfortable. The Karaage is amazing. They do have plenty different types of sauces for you to pick to dip the Karaage. Although They charge you on the sauces you pick. Adding Some drops of lemons on the Karaage makes it better. It is the first time I come here, so I ordered half macoroni and half rice. I personally prefer rice over macoroni. The eggs are good, but it does not come with the platte. It is $2/each. Miso soup has no tofu in it. There are so many SPAM as decorations of the restaurant. Most likely it is a restaurant ooenned by Hawaiian Japanese. They do provide friendly services.
Toge Inumaki
If you're hesitating on this spot like I did because you've had dry, sub-par karaage in the past, you played yourself.
This place only uses chicken thighs and this karaage is juicy as hell for it. So tasty and well marinated. I recommend getting regular and if you're sitting down, ask for the spicy seasoning on the side (it's nanami togarashi).
Takoyaki is crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and the best I've had.
They have tons of sauce options too. This place makes me feel seen.
Fantastic, fast, friendly service that will chat if you initiate.
Great people making a great product.
New favorite spot.
-EDIT- 2 Months Later:
Still my favorite spot. I can't bring myself to pass on the chicken or takoyaki to try their whole menu fast enough.
All the sauces are good but my favorites are Onion Ponzu, Sweet Chili, Spicy Mayo, and RED (spicy miso). HM: Mango Mayo.
Setsuna fries are delicious and the small is still enough to share.
The White Peach drink is great!
You can now get lemon pepper chicken and you can still order the seasoning on the side. I liked it!
Not a fan of the Agedashi Tofu; good tofu but I may just not like straight dashi.
Protect this staff and give them the love they deserve, they work so hard and do great work.
Gochisosamadeshita!
Claire Hoon
A family-run restaurant with one of the most friendly, jovial owners you'll ever meet! I felt very welcomed in there despite dining alone.
The karaage was one of the crispiest, most succulent I've ever tasted. The shichiri added a good kick, and the mango BBQ sauce the lady owner recommended elevated it to sweet tangy heaven.
I originally thought the macaroni salad was an odd choice, but it definitely helped to balance the chicken pieces that were bursting with flavor.
Portions were generous (I wiped my plate clean and was so full I had to skip dinner!) and prices were extremely fair, especially at happy hour. Take note that they don't have change for cash.
All in all, a meal I will remember for the ages. Warm, filling, delicious and affordable.
Debbie B
This place is so good! Ordering from our phone is convenient and fast, the staff are very friendly, and the food is incredible. Definitely get the grape or peach house sodas! The karaage is so yummy-moist, crispy, flavorful. The sauces are really, really good. The poutine gravy has a yummy curry flavor, the macaroni salad is creamy, and the yakisoba seasoning for the fries is really good.
I recommend getting a big plate of karaage to share along with a side. It was a better deal, in my opinion, than getting the individual karaage plates, which I did the first time I ate here.
The only thing I would change is the table arrangement at the front. It feels a little like we aren't supposed to be there when we walk in and are greeted by a barricade of tables. This was a common thing we saw in restaurants that were take out only due to covid, so when I entered for the first time I was worried we couldn't eat in. When we were invited to sit at a table we had to squeeze through a small-ish gap between the table and wall. Someone with a mobility assistance device could not fit through without the staff moving a table. I would suggest removing the table that blocks the main path into the restaurant since it is open for business as usual.
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