"After some delays due to the pandemic, new Japanese restaurant Aki Kushiyaki opens Friday, March 5, at 2106 E Madison Street in Madison Valley, bringing an omakase menu focused on skewers. The new place comes from the team behind the popular Tukwila and Ballard destination Arashi Ramen. Instead of noodle dishes, though, the restaurant is going all-in on an upscale kushiyaki experience that emphasizes technique and high-end ingredients, with a 13-course omakase menu at $129 per person. Though individual dishes will rotate seasonally, current offerings include lamb, sous vide duck breast, and A5 Miyazaki wagyu cooked with Binchotan charcoal, favored for its ability to maintain consistent heat for a long period of time. Each meal is rounded out with a selection of apps, truffle-seasoned rice, and grilled ice cream for dessert. There’s no takeout offerings at this time, only indoor seating reservations via Tock (two seatings per night capped at 10 people per seating). Capitol Hill Seattle reported on the restaurant when the project was first announced in 2020." - Gabe Guarente
