Mashiko sushi

Mike and I don't get out to West Seattle too often - sometimes it feels like it's another planet - but when we do, I always find myself saying, "I would love to live out here when I'm older." The scenery is breathtaking, the beach is um, awesome and the restaurant/bar scene has always treated us well. Last night we strapped on our rollerblades for the first time this summer. Alki is a great place to rollerblade, bike ride or walk. If you park immediately off to the right as soon as you get off at Harbor Avenue, it's a good distance to the end of Alki Avenue and back. We spent 50 minutes rollerblading it - and if you're not from Seattle - Alki/West Seattle is where all the postcard pictures are taken of the Seattle skyline. It's breathtaking. (Except, you'll notice the Space Needle way off to the left. Postcards usually Photoshop it into the middle. Lol)

After burning 415 calories (!!!) we were in dire need of some food. We headed up to California Avenue to Mashiko sushi - the number one sushi place in West Seattle, according to UrbanSpoon. From the outside, the restaurant looks like a little hole in the wall, but on the inside it's cozy with funky little touches. Read: humor is rampant in this place. When you walk in, there's a saltwater fish tank, a ledge with every different type of Magic 8 ball you can think of, and a sign that says, "Please wait to be seated (unless you're illiterate)." We were led to our seats underneath a string of colored lamps, and on the ledge of the sushi bar were kitchsy toys and a little bowl of homemade buttons for the taking with funky sayings like, "I love spicy tuna," "Soy sauce is not a beverage," and "Shut up and eat."

We were sat at the sushi bar, and the service was amazing. Our order was taken, and our rolls created immediately. In the span of a couple minutes, a waiter brought us a bowl of Asian crunchy snacks, cucumber water (!!!) and hot towels to wipe off our hands. Three little things that made me change from, "Uh, this place is cool," to "Um, this place is amazing." The menu includes appetizers, salads, sushi rice bowls, hand rolls, Japanese dishes, nigiri, sashimi, traditional rolls (seaweed on outside), American style rolls (rice on outside), etc. etc. What I love best about the menu was the GLOSSARY on the front page. I'm always wondering what ingredients like shiso are, so that was a great touch.

We ordered three rolls: The Red Violin (tuna, avocado, cilantro & spicy garlic sauce), Limeade (shiso, tempura asparagus w/ salmon & lime on top) and Cajun Tempura Shrimp (tempura shrimp, Cajun spice, spicy mayo & cucumber). We were able to watch our sushi chef make our rolls in front of us, and were actually probably on their Web cam at the time since it's live on their Web site during business hours!

The sushi = awesome! We both agreed that the Cajun Tempura Shrimp roll was the best. The Cajun seasoning they sprinkled on top added a great kick to the sushi, and I think we'll try it at home when making our own sushi rolls. As we ate, I asked the sushi chefs questions about the rolls they were making - it was great to put a visual to all the rolls on the menu, and super informative for our still-new sushi loving minds. We recommend sitting at the sushi bar next time you go to a Japanese restaurant!

Final Verdict: Most definitely go back. We were beyond impressed with this place. When our bill came, it was accompanied with a comment card. We gave the highest marks to all categories - food, atmosphere, service. And we wrote, "We'll be back!" which is something to be said since more often than not West Seattle is too far of a trek for us, but Mashiko might change that. And next time, I want to check out this supposed "most amazing bathroom in Seattle" that I missed this time. (Luxury heated toilets with bidets, showers and a dryer? Crazy!)

Where: Mashiko sushi
4725 California Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98116
(206) 935-4339
Web site
Category: Japanese - Sushi
Neighborhood: West Seattle
Atmosphere: Funky, eclectic and casual
Price range: $4 (hand rolls, nigiri) -$14 (Detailed rolls)
Service: Great! We loved the service at the sushi bar. Staff was great with water refills and brought the check swiftly, which is always something that annoys me when it takes forever.
Cool features: Cucumber water, gummy candies when you leave, buttons with funny phrases to take, luxury toilets.