Dining

Sushi Kashiba 🍣

Posted by markhadland on
Sunset view of the iconic 'Public Market' sign at Pike Place Market in Seattle, with vibrant orange and purple clouds in the sky.
A perfect night to wait.
A platter of assorted sushi, featuring multiple pieces of nigiri, including seared eel and various types of fish, garnished with pickled ginger on a black plate.

Sushi Kashiba, located in the Pike Place Market, in the former Campagne Restaurant location, is the best and most storied sushi restaurant in Seattle, period. There are some other great spots, but Shiro Kashibi studied under Jiro in Japan, and that lineage spans over 100 years. I have been fortunate to dine with Shiro-san many times, and he always greets me on each visit. He also published his memoirs, which is a great read. He has lived a wonderful, rich life, and I am much better for knowing him. This post is a montage of my many visits, sharing my love of sushi and Shiro’s sushi with my loved family and friends.

Night view of the iconic entrance to Pike Place Market in Seattle, featuring the bright neon signs for 'PUBLIC MARKET' and 'FARMERS MARKET'.
The Pike Place Market

A selfie of a man with a beard and a gentleman wearing traditional sushi chef attire, taken in a contemporary sushi restaurant setting.
The master himself

A plate of sushi featuring a variety of nigiri, including pieces of tuna and other fish, arranged beautifully on a black dish.
Toro sampling

A black plate with four pieces of sushi, including three pieces of fish sushi with a garnish on top and one piece of shrimp sushi with the shrimp heads still attached.
seared toto and amaebi

A beautifully arranged plate of sushi featuring five pieces of nigiri, including different types of fish, served on a blue decorative plate with pickled ginger on the side.
Otoro and Chu Toro

A platter of various types of sushi, featuring a selection of tuna nigiri presented on a dark stone-like plate.
Sampling of tuna

A platter of assorted sushi featuring various types: a translucent piece, a piece topped with garnishes, and several slices of different colored fish on a dark rectangular plate.
A black plate with two pieces of sushi on it, one topped with red tuna and another with a different sushi topping, with remnants of sauce on the plate.
I always love the orgnic artfulness in Japanese dishware
A plate of assorted sushi featuring different types of tuna, arranged neatly on a black ceramic dish.
A platter of assorted sushi, featuring various types of nigiri, including fish with different colors and toppings, served on a black textured plate.

An assortment of six pieces of sushi arranged on a textured black plate, featuring various types of fish and shrimp.
A selection of sushi pieces displayed on a black plate, featuring various types of fish, garnished with wasabi and pickled ginger.
An elegant sushi platter featuring slices of sashimi, garnished with cucumber and seaweed, accompanied by a small dish of dipping sauce and a unique green seafood preparation.

A platter of various types of sushi, including different cuts of tuna, served with pickled ginger on a dark wooden surface.
A sushi roll wrapped in seaweed, resting on a dark surface.
Tuna roll blends in with dishes
A platter of sushi featuring an arrangement of various sushi pieces, including white fish and tuna, garnished with green onions and other toppings, served on a black plate.
A menu featuring sushi nigiri items with descriptions and prices, highlighting various types of fish and seafood available at a sushi restaurant.
Close-up of a bottle with the label 'WAKEZE' on a wooden surface, suggesting a beverage associated with sushi dining.
An assortment of sushi pieces displayed on a dark plate, including various types of fish such as tuna and salmon, set against a wooden table.
A man and a woman smiling together in a restaurant setting.
A young man with long hair and a black cap sits at a wooden table in a restaurant, looking contemplative. Various dishes and drinks are placed on the table, including a small dish with pieces of food and a glass of whiskey.
A man with short hair wearing a blue suit and glasses poses with an elderly man in a white shirt and black cap in a restaurant setting, with an exit sign visible in the background.
A close-up of sushi on a black plate, featuring a piece of eel sushi topped with a strip of nori and a piece of scallop sushi.
A close-up of an assortment of sushi pieces arranged on a blue plate, featuring various types of fish and sushi styles.
A close-up of a white spoon holding vibrant orange salmon roe, garnished with wasabi, next to pieces of sushi on a black plate.

It’s Counter Time

A view of the Pike Place Market sign illuminated at dusk, with a scenic backdrop of the water and clouds in the sky.

Queue some MC Hammer. I’ve enjoyed the Omakase counter with Shiro, along with my friends Nick Haddow, Carter, Mitch, and Sam. Although this is a great experience and a must-do with Shiro, I actually prefer la Carte with a toro-centric order, accompanied by hotate, amaebi, uni, hamachi with jalapeño, and a few other favorites – never mackerel, especially Spanish Mackerel, which I intensely dislike.

Two smiling men pose together in front of a sushi restaurant, with a sign visible that reads 'SUSHI'.
Looking up at a brick building with balconies adorned with plants and a clear sky visible between the upper levels. String lights are hanging across the courtyard.
Reflection of two people smiling in front of the Sushi Kashiba restaurant sign, which reads 'SUSHI BA JAPANESE CUISINE'.
A bottle of Koshihikari Echigo Beer next to a glass filled with the beer, set on a blue tablecloth.
Waiting outside in the courtyard in summer for a counter seat is a challenging task.
A sushi chef in a black uniform and face mask gives a thumbs up from behind a sushi counter, with a stone wall in the background.
Finally the thumbs up!
Interior view of Sushi Kashiba restaurant featuring a wooden counter and chefs preparing sushi.
A rare sight.
Interior view of a sushi restaurant featuring a wooden counter, sake glasses, and a selection of sushi ingredients being prepared by chefs in the background.
An elderly sushi chef wearing a mask prepares sushi at a wooden counter in a sushi restaurant, with a glass of water visible in the foreground.
An interior view of Sushi Kashiba restaurant, featuring a sushi counter with wooden tables set for dining. Glasses of water and whiskey are visible, along with chopsticks. The ambiance includes modern lighting and a decorated ceiling.
A variety of sushi pieces displayed on a black plate, featuring different types of fish atop sushi rice.
A beautifully arranged plate of sushi featuring various types, including scallop, a sushi roll with sea urchin, and shrimp, presented on a dark rectangular plate with pickled ginger on the side.
A platter of sushi featuring four types of nigiri, accompanied by pickled ginger.
A plate of sushi featuring sea urchin, a deep-fried shrimp head, and a piece of raw shrimp, displayed beautifully on a black slate board.
A plate featuring two sushi pieces: one topped with green onions and a sauce, and a piece of grilled sushi showcasing a golden sear.
A plate of sushi showcasing three pieces of sashimi-style fish, including fatty tuna, and a small piece of sushi with sea urchin, alongside a side of pickled ginger, with a roll of sushi in the background.
Sliced sushi pieces with rice on a wooden plate, showcasing two different types of sushi: one with a red fish topping and another with a grilled fish topping.
Two pieces of sushi on a black plate, featuring a slice of seared beef on one and a piece of sushi topped with fatty tuna on the other, with a selection of sashimi in the background.
Two pieces of sushi on a black rectangular plate, featuring a piece of eel sushi wrapped in seaweed and a piece of scallop sushi.
Three pieces of sushi on a black serving plate, showcasing different types of fish with toppings.
A close-up of a piece of sushi placed on a textured black plate. The sushi features a slice of translucent fish, garnished with green onions and a small amount of wasabi.
A sushi chef wearing a mask and gloves prepares sushi at the counter, with various sushi pieces displayed on a black plate in the foreground.
Close-up of sushi featuring a piece of uni (sea urchin) atop a ball of sushi rice, presented on a textured surface.
A piece of sushi featuring a slice of salmon on top of sushi rice, served on a black stone plate, with additional sushi pieces visible in the background.
A close-up of a sushi plate featuring three pieces of sushi, including two slices of different types of tuna and one piece of salmon, presented on a textured black plate.
Three pieces of sushi arranged on a wooden serving board. The sushi includes various types of tuna, showcasing a blend of fatty and lean cuts.
A plate of sushi featuring various types of nigiri, including bright red tuna and salmon, accompanied by pickled ginger.
Close-up of a piece of sushi featuring salmon atop vinegared rice, presented on a textured black plate.
A close-up photo of a sushi piece featuring salmon and a slice of fish, served on a textured plate.
A piece of sushi with a light, seared exterior, topped with a small amount of garnish, resting on a textured black plate.
Three pieces of sushi on a black stone plate: a seared sushi piece topped with green onion, a salmon sushi piece garnished with a thin slice of onion, and a vibrant salmon nigiri.
A beautifully arranged plate of sushi featuring several types of sashimi, including tuna and a grilled fish, accompanied by garnishes like wasabi and pickled ginger.
Extra course.

Back again with the boys.

A group of four friends enjoying a meal at Sushi Kashiba, smiling at the camera while seated at the sushi counter.
A close-up of a sushi restaurant menu showcasing the Omakase Experience with pricing and details, set on a wooden table.
A sushi chef in a black apron and hat prepares sushi at a counter, wearing gloves and a mask, with various ingredients and tools on the surface.
A bottle of sake with a yellow label sits on a wooden counter, with a blurred figure of a chef visible in the background.
A sushi chef wearing a black apron and cap prepares sushi in a kitchen setting, focusing on a wooden cutting board with sushi ingredients.
A hand wearing a glove holds a black plate with three slices of sushi-grade tuna, showcasing different cuts and colors.
Close-up of a sushi piece topped with orange fish roe, resting on a textured black plate.
A piece of sushi, specifically a grilled slice of fish, presented on a dark wooden plate.
A piece of sushi featuring a slice of tuna atop a molded rice base, presented on a dark wooden plate.
A piece of sushi, specifically a slice of toro (fatty tuna), resting on a textured black plate.
A piece of sushi featuring a red slice of tuna placed on a dark stone plate.
A piece of salmon sushi on a rectangular sushi plate, garnished with a strip of seaweed and thinly sliced onion.
A piece of sushi, featuring a translucent slice of fish on top of a small mound of rice, served on a dark stone plate. Fresh greens are visible in the background.
Grilled sushi nigiri featuring a piece of fish on a black slate plate.
Close-up of a piece of sushi with red fish topping on a dark plate.
A close-up of sushi featuring several pieces of orange uni arranged neatly on a black stone plate, with a background of fresh salmon and garnished with parsley.
A piece of sushi is presented on a black stone plate, showcasing a grilled fish topping on a bed of rice, with a blurred background of leafy greens and other sushi ingredients.
A piece of sushi featuring a shrimp served on a wooden platter, with sushi ingredients visible in the background.
A piece of sushi resting on a dark stone plate, showcasing its delicate texture and subtle colors.
A piece of sushi featuring a salmon fillet placed on a dark stone plate, with a wooden surface in the background.
A piece of sushi sits on a black plate, showcasing its glistening surface, with a blurred background of additional sushi ingredients.
A selection of sushi pieces featuring various types of fish, including tuna, arranged on a dark plate.
A plate featuring four pieces of sushi, including various types of fish garnished with wasabi and other toppings, served alongside pickled ginger.
A plate of sushi featuring various types including scallop, sea urchin, and shrimp, accompanied by pickled ginger on the side.
A plate of sushi featuring four pieces: two pieces of sushi on the left, one with sesame seeds, a wrapped piece in the center, and another topped with green onion on the right, accompanied by pickled ginger.
A plate of sushi featuring four pieces of nigiri: two pieces of toro (fatty tuna), one piece of white fish, and one piece of uni (sea urchin), accompanied by pickled ginger. In the background, a plate of sushi rolls is visible.
A selection of sushi pieces displayed on a black plate, including different types of fish and garnishes. In the background, there are sushi options visible in trays.
Cover of Shiro Kashiba's memoir featuring title 'SHIRO', images of sushi, and photographs of Shiro Kashiba.
Read this book! Shiro has lived in the Pacific Northwest for many years and is also an avid mountaineer.
A wooden shelf display featuring a traditional sushi knife, books about sushi, a black bear figurine, two cups, and a ceramic Maneki-neko cat with a raised paw.

Shiro and his Son Ed run another sushi restaurant in Bellevue, Takai by Kashiba. Carter and I visited.

A close-up of a bottle of sake, held by a hand, featuring Japanese characters and a label indicating its origin from Yamagata. The bottle is placed on a wooden surface.
Close-up of a bottle of Dewazakura Daiginjo 'Mountain Cherry' sake, featuring a detailed label highlighting its flavor profile and tasting notes.
A wooden platter featuring a variety of sushi pieces, including different types of fish and seafood, arranged in two rows.
A plate of sushi featuring four pieces of nigiri topped with various types of seared fish, garnished with green wasabi paste and accompanied by pickled ginger.
A plate of sushi featuring several pieces of toro, a type of fatty tuna, artfully arranged with a side of pickled ginger.

Takai by Kashiba is pretty good, but I prefer Sushi Kashiba, in part as I can walk there. I’ve become pals with Ed and have enjoyed the view from his roof, which is magnificent.

A panoramic view of the water with a large cargo ship and a smaller boat navigating through the calm sea under a cloudy sky.
Two men taking a selfie in Seattle with the city skyline and Space Needle in the background.
Two people posing for a selfie against a panoramic view of Seattle, showcasing buildings, water, and the Space Needle in the background.
Two men posing for a photo outdoors with a city skyline in the background. One man has a serious expression, while the other makes a playful gesture with two fingers.
A beautifully arranged platter of various sushi pieces, including salmon, crab, tuna, and sea urchin, presented on a dark slate plate.

Thanks for enjoying my dining story.

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