Tanuki Izakaya - Seattle

The sushi and izakaya dishes here are exceptionally fresh and of high quality, all at reasonable prices. The atmosphere is enjoyable, and the wait staff is enthusiastic and attentive.

After arriving in Seattle, my first meal was at Seattle Winner, where I indulged in some Japanese cuisine. The difference between Japanese food in the U.S. and Taiwan? The conclusion is clear: it’s expensive—very expensive! Although the overall taste was reasonably good, the value for money was quite low. That day, my friends and I ordered the Pearl Box SET, which cost around $65. The contents of the box included various types of Japanese food arranged in a rectangular pattern, and honestly, this would probably cost half that in Taiwan! We also tried some skewers and enjoyed a few glasses of sake. The skewers had a decent taste, reminiscent of authentic flavors, but again, the prices felt a bit steep. Interestingly, this Japanese restaurant seems to be run by Chinese staff. Perhaps due to the late hour, the employees had gathered at their own table and were enjoying themselves, which detracted from the overall service experience. The attitude of the staff wasn't particularly warm or welcoming. On a positive note, the ambiance was quite nice, resembling a cozy, dimly lit Japanese eatery. This seems to be a standard for Japanese restaurants in the U.S., so maybe I should lower my expectations. **Food:** ⭐⭐⭐⭐ **Drinks:** ⭐⭐⭐ **Atmosphere:** ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ **Service:** ⭐⭐⭐ **Price:** ⭐⭐⭐ **Location:** ⭐⭐⭐⭐ **Summary:** Overall, while the food was good and the atmosphere pleasant, the high prices and mediocre service may deter me from returning.

The food here is quite good, and I've visited multiple times. The rating for this place seems to be significantly lower than what I would expect.

This spot was alright. I think we maybe just got thrown off by some aspects of the service, and some of the items were a little pricey. My partner was brought, and I'm not exaggerating, three wrong meals that belonged to other customers before finally getting his correct dishes. I had been served all of my food a good 15-20 minutes before his correct dish was served to him, leaving him waiting while I ate. At first it was kinda silly and we laughed it off, but by the third time we were a little on edge. I did enjoy my spicy salmon pressed sushi, but I'm used to getting a much larger portion of a similar dish here in the area for the same price (sushi j). Overall I don't think we'll be stopping in again, we'll stick to our favorite Seattle Izakaya in Belltown, Shinya Shokudo. Sorry!

I ordered Katsudon and karaage.The flavors were lovely. Portion size was alright, but it was expensive, and I was not made to feel welcome. When my sister visits from Japan, I might get an order to go (as it is that authentic and tasty), but...