"As Seattleites, we’re so proud of the seafood here that one of our most cherished tourist activities is watching burly fishermen toss around their fresh catches. And while there are plenty of crab cakes and deep-fried halibut to try, our highest nautical achievements can be found at Sushi Kashiba. A night at this institution, run by Shiro Kashiba who was trained by Jiro Ono (yeah, that Jiro) is going to be perfect, and the couple hundred dollars you’ll spend on raw fish will be worth it, whether you’re at a table or you showed up before they open to secure seats at the bar. It’s all a blur of sake, soy-brushed tuna, silky uni, fried prawn heads, seared flounder fin, Norwegian smoked mackerel, and a sweet egg finale that deserves its own extended tribute on our NPR affiliate. (Quick, someone send this to Bill Radke.) If you want a spot at the sushi counter, there are no reservations. For your best shot at a spot, you have to line up outside the restaurant before they open at 5pm (if you want to be first, start waiting at 3:30). Once they open, a host will tell you if you got a spot at the first seating or if you need to come back. For a regular table, Kashiba takes online reservations, with late-night availability starting about two weeks in advance and more flexibility if you book further out." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley