Sushi Wave

The sushi is decent and open for lunch in Belltown. Can’t beat that! Their combo sushi plates are amazing for lunch — and the people there are super sweet.

My husband and I went here for lunch today and absolutely loved it! We ordered the spicy calamari roll, the firecracker roll, spicy scallop roll and the super tuna roll. The firecracker was my favorite, but they all were delicious!!!

Can’t beat the happy hour prices.
We’ve been there twice.
Once we were the only patrons.
Once only one other couple.
Service is attentive-​and while once we were brought soup without asking-​they didn’t charge us for it.
On the other hand… The fish is not that fresh/​flavorful.
We may go back… It is so convenient in north Belltown.
Manage your expectations and the experience is pleasant.

I live in the same building as this place and have been grateful many times of its’ proximity to my apartment.
While it is definitely not the best sushi I have ever had, it still is pretty darn good. Great lunch specials, and always exceptional service. They are the sweetest people!

I’ve only ever ordered the W lunch option. Six pieces of chef’s pick nagiri, six pieces of either California Roll or spicy tuna (both real creamy and delicious, super fresh), and miso soup AND salad. WHAT?! You heard me. A lot of tasty food for $ 10, consistent service and food quality every time too.

Is Sushi Wave the best sushi place in town? No. However, it is the perfect spot for lunch if you happen to be in Belltown and are craving some good Japanese food.
Sushi Wave has long been a regular place for me (I go at least once a week) and I’ve never left disappointed. At this point, I’ve worked my way through everything on the lunch menu and am venturing into the undiscovered off-​menu territory during the lunch hour now too. Aside from phở, there is no better comfort food than nabeyaki udon and whenever I’m in the mood, Sushi Wave is happy to oblige even though it’s not on the lunch menu. …and it’s really good too! Just the right combination of ingredients leaves me feeling happy and content as I drag myself off to work.
…getting back to the lunch menu… It’s really very well rounded and the prices are just right. I know that some of the reviews mentioned the quality of the sushi but in my experience, I’ve definitely seen an improvement in the quality of the fish as time has gone by and I also understand that they are treading a thin line between quality and value since this part of Belltown seems to be pretty brutal to local restaurants. (Witness the recent closing of Sushi Mori, for example) I think they nail it perfectly and I’ve really been happy with both the selection and freshness of their seafood. I generally go with either a bento box (when REALLY hungry) or tend towards either the sushi plates or chirashi, who both always have a nice selection of fresh fish by their great sushi chef. You really can’t miss with anything on the lunch menu, though, so go for it!
On to the service. If you manage to make it in before noon and they are overrun with customers, everything runs quickly and smoothly. However, if you are there once things heat up, expect to wait a bit as they have one sushi chef and one person on service (though the chef will sometimes help out when she is able). Again, not totally unexpected as I realize they need to keep costs low to make sure they can keep prices low and quality high. That said, Setsuko does an incredible job in keeping up with everyone and always offers a ready smile when interacting with me. Not only that, but she consistently remembers special requests I have and always provides for them in the future, even without me asking for them. She’s really great. :-)
To wrap up, Sushi Wave is a great little lunch time sushi place that would be sad to miss if you are in the neighborhood. I haven’t tried them for happy hour or dinner yet, but that is definitely in the cards for the future. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that they take LevelUp! Check out that great app for ease of paying and loyalty bonuses!
Sushi Wave, if you are reading this, the only suggestion I have is that you might want to try mixing up the lunch menu a bit. Offering new combos, specials, etc. that will expose the lunch crowd to more of your menu and them them interested in coming back more often to see what’s new and interesting! ;-) See you soon!

I almost picked 3 stars but the headline for two was ‘Meh. I’ve experienced better.’ which is exactly how I feel.
The service was fine. The one waitress was kind but I could tell she was stressed as it was lunch time, I did not take offense.
This was also my first time here so take my opinion with a grain of salt. I was craving teriyaki so I ordered a lunch combo of Beef Teriyaki with California rolls & Tempura. The rolls were a little warm & very small. It’s possible that the teriyaki was more authentic than what I’ve experienced in most teriyaki joints in North Seattle but the flavor did not impress me. The tempura was pretty good.
I’m a huge fan of Wasabi Bistro & Umi but am always rooting for the underdog restaurant. However, I personally would rather eat sushi from Blue C Sushi. I gave it 2 stars because I felt very unsatisfied after wards, but hey I’ve also had worse. I say try it for yourself!

The prices are quite nice for what you get. I had a lunch special which consisted of Miso soup, spicy tuna roll and a seattle roll. Filled me up nice and full. The sushi was a little warm for my taste, but still very tasty. I ordered take out, which took about 15 minutes so this is not a place to grab and go.
The staff was friendly and they gave plenty of soy sauce and wasabi, which I have found lacking at other take out places. I would come back again, but not my go to place.

I really like this place and in fact have reviewed it very well before (8÷31÷2008). I have recommended it to countless friends as well. In general I have always like it. I used to live a block from it and went weekly. Decided to stop in again a month or two ago prior to running to a downtown event.
We arrived about an hour prior to the time we needed to leave our event and were promptly seated. We waited upwards of probably 15 minutes before the waitress took our order which included a couple rolls, and a tempura appetizer from the Happy Hour menu. We waited an additional 25 minutes without anything coming out from the kitchen.
At this point we needed to leave as our event started in only 10 minutes. We asked for the food to go instead of eating in since it took so long, and I went up to pay. I was then lectured that happy hour food isn’t allowed for take out. This was particularly aggravating considering I 100% planned on eating in, but everything took so long that we couldn’t any longer. I also would have expected more considering I have been a regular there for a long time so it wasn’t like I was trying to put them out intentionally.
As far as food goes, it was fine but the experience left a lot to be desired.

Simple sushi café located conveniently in Belltown/​L. Queen Anne. Sushi is nothing to rave about but enjoyed the seafood udon — flavorful broth with decent ingredients, satisfying for winter. Friendly staff.

Went for lunch on a Monday, and I was one of three tables in the restaurant. Despite that ominous sign, I enjoyed my meal at Sushi Wave. The Hot Body roll was top notch and I ordered one of lunch special roll combinations (Seattle Roll and Spicy Tuna Roll) to go with it. Total bill was $ 17, what a steal! The great lunch pricing and excellent sushi is a good combination.
My only word of warning is do NOT go to Sushi Wave for ambiance, it has none. :)

A good value in Belltown.
It’s your basic Japanese restaurant. No frills. The lunch menu is a little short. The food was slightly above average. The service was great. From the outside, it looks like a dump, but it’s actually not that bad on the inside.

This is the first time I’ve been totally happy with a sushi experience. Lunch special is killer. Miso soup, 8pc california, 6pc spicy tuna for $ 6.50. And these rolls are not dainty little things, talking inch and half diameter. That’s right, I measure quality in inches.
Both the waitress and the sushi chef greeted me as I walked in, in a genuinely friendly way. You can tell they are happy to be here.

This was some tasty sushi! Picked to go here to lunch with some family from out of town, because we needed somewhere that had both sushi and tasty non-​sushi items for the family member that doesn’t like seafood. Luckily both were delicious!
I ordered the Hot Body roll (shrimp tempura roll with spicy tuna & green onion on top) which was absolutely delicious! Two of my favorite things on one roll = perfect. My mother ordered the creamy scallop roll and loved it. Two of our party got the 8 piece nigiri special and had nothing but good things to say. The chicken katsu that was ordered had a great sauce and texture to it. We all agreed that their presentation for the food was also well-​done.
Overall, great little lunch spot, service may take a little while even if they’re slow, but the food hit the spot and was worth the wait!

Would you like some tasty sushi for lunch? Happen to be in Belltown (but near QA)? This is a good spot!
I had a hard time choosing between all their lunch options, but I ended up going with their 6pc nigiri+spicy tuna+miso+salad combination. The sushi was arranged very nicely and the lunch was very filling and delicious. Perfect!
I do agree with Rebecca S. about them being understaffed (or perhaps service was just really slow). It took almost 5 minutes of being ready to order and starting to wonder if I should walk out (I was in a bit of a rush) before they finally came by to see what I’d like to have for lunch.

I went to Sushi Wave for lunch today. That was a mistake and not because the food is bad, but because they are understaffed!
There was one poor girl working the register, clearing tables, taking orders, refilling tea, and serving the food and then two other people making the sushi. Almost every table was filled, so it was just a disaster. The girl looked so flustered and everyone was getting upset with her and asking where their food was and for to go boxes.
I arrived at 12:20, and ordered right away, and the food didn’t show up until 1. I had to be back at work at 1 and I work downtown, so I didn’t actually taste the food in my hurry to get back. From what I could tell, it was decent — nothing spectacular, but not horrible. The rice could have been a bit stickier, but that’s my only complaint there. The prices were good too. For $ 8, I got miso soup, California roll, and a Seattle roll.
Now I’m not swearing this place off entirely, but I am never going there for lunch again. They deliver within Belltown, so next time I’m too lazy to walk to Umi, I might give them a try again.

Sushi Wave is the perfect solution for frequent sushi consumers. Fresh fish, great lunch and happy hour specials, and a clean, friendly environment make this my favorite place for sushi that doesn’t’ break the bank.
They do take out, and dinner time Belltown delivery. With a fantastic lunch and happy hour menu.
Favorites?
Lunch: $ 7.95 Gets you a Spicy Tuna Roll, a Seattle Tempura Roll (smoked salmon, avocado, and cream cheese, dipped in tempura and flash-​fried), and some miso soup at lunch. The perfect mid-​day pick me up!
Dinner: Tuna Poki, Cool Springs Roll, Jala Jala, and Salmon Skin rolls.

Good thing I didn’t see the Unilocal reviews before eating here, else I never would have gone. Went for dinner with some friends because we decided to try something new on our way to Umi, and I figured hey, maybe I’ll get away with spending less than the $ 47 I dropped at Umi last time.
None of us ordered rolls (not nearly as much selection as Umi), each choosing to go with a particular entrée. I got the ahi tuna cooked in wasabi, which I’m starting to slowly become a fan of. Not bad, but nothing compared to the ahi I had at Guu up in Vancouver. I kept questioning how fresh it was during my meal though — it was a bit softer and bloodier than I would have liked, and there was this constant «off» smell while I was eating it. But considering it didn’t taste bad, and I didn’t get sick, I think it may have just been the hint of wasabi confusing me. We also shared their unfiltered sake, which was darned good, but you’re better off buying it for much cheaper yourself.
Service was friendly, and like some of the other Unilocalers have mentioned, Sushi Wave is pretty empty, which I attribute mostly to it’s odd location in town. Our bill came out to roughly $ 25 per, which I think was mostly due to the sake (I’m pretty sure my ahi was under $ 20). Will probably go again eventually, but a bit lower on my list until I develop a real liking for sashimi.

Let me begin by saying the only reason I tried this place was because there was a 45min wait for Umi.
There is a decent selection of rolls – cheap ones from $ 4.25 for the California Roll to $ 13.45 for the Super Dragon (eel/​crab/​cucumber/​avocado). Most are around $ 6 though. In addition to the rolls, there are other dishes including teriyaki, yakisoba and udon.
I came in on a Tuesday evening and the place was completely empty. There were only 2 – 3 people working and the sushi chef looked bored out of his mind. We ordered 4 rolls – Crunch, Spider, Rainbow and Philly.
The Spider roll was pretty bad (let’s just say, Sushiland have better ones). They were mushy (same consistency as oysters) and i’m pretty sure the crab was sitting out for awhile.
The Rainbow wasn’t too bad minus the fact that they used cheap fish to top it off. Definitely not fresh at all. I wouldn’t dare to try the sashimi here.
The other two rolls were mediocre. Better than Safeway and Sushiland. For a restaurant located in Belltown, this was pretty disappointing. If you’re on a budget or if you want a quick bite to eat in Belltown without having to wait, this is the place to go. Good customer service and the place is clean.

I go to Sushi Wave about 2 – 3 times/​week and think it’s top-​notch on all levels.
Sushi = always fresh & tasty and made w/​care; presentation is always creative & elegant and prompts me to take a few photos
Service = awesome; restaurant is run by a young, cool couple (Dona & Spencer) and staff who are really dedicated/​attentive
Atmosphere = chill/​comfortable/​good music/​outdoor seating as well
When I moved to Seattle from LA, I was looking for a place like the one I frequented there and this is the one.
I’ve taken my girlfriend, office colleagues and my brother-​in-​law from NYC and they loved it too.
I usually order nigiri sushi (yellowtail, salmon, unagi, ikura, white tuna — all awesome), gyoza, and sake/​beer. Sometimes tempura and shumai. I’ve also had the seaweed salad and sunomono w/​shrimp & octopus — both excellent. SW has a lot of creative maki/​rolls, but I usually keep it simple.
It’s easily the best meal (s) I eat all week. Highly recommended.