Akebono Japanese Cuisine

Pleasantly surprised. Good sushi rolls, kids shared a bento box, and wife and sashimi salad. Everything was good and served quickly. Customer service great as well. A pretty solid first experience overall. I’m rooting for these guys. Wedgwood needs a good new restaurant (and really needs sushi). It was great to see the place fill up on a Saturday night. Hoping for the best.

Exactly what the neighborhood needed!! We’ve been several times since it opened and it has been excellent every time. The owner is so kind and welcoming. The staff are all hardworking and attentive. The food is AMAZING. Every dish we’ve tried, we love. We have a pretty high bar for sushi, and this exceeded our expectations. Excited to try to the ramen next! Highly recommend.

What a lovely addition to the NE Seattle restaurant scene! My family and I are so excited to see a new Japanese restaurant open up. Not only sushi, but udon, katsu, tempura, lots of veggie options - menu is very diverse! We ordered veggie croquettes to start and they were crisp and delicious. For dinner the three of us ordered four special rolls…they were very good, beautifully presented, and good size. The akebuno cocktail is yummy! Prices relative to quality and size were very reasonable. We will definitely be back for lunch and dinner!

We recently had the pleasure of trying Akebono, a new Japanese restaurant tucked away in Wedgwood, and it’s already one of our favorites. The food is absolutely fantastic — everything we ordered was fresh, beautifully prepared, and packed with flavor. It’s clear a lot of care goes into the ingredients and presentation. One of the standout features of Akebono is their thoughtful range of vegan options, which is still rare to find at many Japanese restaurants. Whether you’re plant-based or just looking to try something new, the vegan dishes here are just as delicious and satisfying as the traditional offerings. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, making it perfect for a casual dinner or a relaxed night out. It feels like exactly the kind of neighborhood spot you hope to discover: authentic, friendly, and genuinely passionate about the food they’re serving. Highly recommend checking out Akebono — a real gem in Wedgwood!

My son and I had a lovely lunch at this new sushi restaurant in our neighborhood. Extensive menu, large portions and a friendly staff! We’ll definitely be back. Pro tip: There are a few typos on the menu. Don’t be an enormous jerk about it, like the guy we sat next to.

Really fresh sashimi and sushi, thick cut! Solid bento box options and desserts that strike a good balance of sweetness to flavor. What a gem of a place in this unexpected neighborhood.

Every neighborhood needs a good, reliable, reasonably priced sushi joint…and I’m so glad this place is here! Our first time here and we were very impressed. They have a pretty extensive menu; from sushi, katsu, rice bowls, curry, ramen, and the list goes on and on! Even a kids bento meal that comes with a Caprisun! We had the pink spider roll, tuna poki bowl, Chirashi bowl, and a kids meal. For being a small neighborhood Japanese restaurant, everything was very good and tasted fresh! And was beautifully presented. Very friendly and quick service! it’s a lot bigger than what it looks from the outside. Although the parking lot is tiny. You’re better off finding street parking across the street. I highly recommend this place! We will be definitely coming back to try more!!

This place just opened and is within walking distance from my place, so I had to check it out. I ordered: Takoyaki. Served sizzling on a cast iron skillet. 8 pieces (!). Perfectly crisp dough balls, just how you want them. Tamago maki. Moderately sized. Fresh rice, pieces didn't fall apart. What more can you ask for? Chicken kaarage curry. Kaarage chicken is what you'd expect. Chicken was fresh, juicy. Batter was nice and crisp and held together between bites. The curry sauce stood out and was delicious. The menu hints at the use of fruit/s in the curry roux, and it's apparent as the sauce carries a distinct sweet fruity taste to it. I was tempted to drink the rest of the curry sauce by itself at the end! Cold sake. I swear the tokkuri the sake was served in had magical properties... the sake never seemed to stop flowing from it. I'm loath to leave pricey water substitute drink unfinished but I eventually had to stop pouring sake from the carafe because it just never seemed to end. Would go again, to try more of their sushi. (=

Outstanding food and service A must visit for fantastic rolls The prices are very fair for the quality

Akebono is a four months old sushi restaurant in Ravenna. Naturally, it is new and pretty. The owner is the sushi chef who was also working at the sushi counter (always a good sign) when we went. Three enthusiastic and exuberant servers kept the restaurant floor running smoothly. Bravo to them. The seafood quality is excellent, ditto for the fish to rice ratio for both nigiri and rolls. The tempura is acceptable, though not the best. This is a neighborhood gem with reasonable prices that is very worth going. We are adding this to our U-district area rotation when we desire sushi. The Food: Toro, $18, and Snow Crab, $12, Nigiri - 5 Stars Excellent quality fish cuts at reasonable prices for this area. They provided freshly grated genuine wasabi with this pair. That never happened anywhere else unless I was eating omakase. 5 Stars! Salmon Trio Nigiri, $13 - 4.5 Stars Also excellent quality and cuts of salmon on each nigiri. I appreciate each piece is dressed differently. Cherry Blossom Roll, $19 - 4.5 Stars Menu: Salmon, avocado, cucumber, topped with albacore tuna, tobiko, fried onion, scallion, amazu sauce Hubby really liked this. Each bite is fish filled. The server mentioned this is one of their top sellers. Mexican Roll, $17 - 4.5 Stars Menu: Spicy tuna, cucumber, topped with hamachi, avocado, jalapeno, spicy sauce, cilantro, lemon sauce I picked off some/most of the cilantro before eating. It was a bit much. I chose this roll for the hamachi on top. The combination was quite good. Shrimp Tempura set, $14 - 4 Stars The menu says 6 pieces of shrimp tempura, but it comes with vegetables. I welcome them! The crispiness and sizes are good, but they don't quite have as much of the panko flakes on the outside for that airy look. The overall rating is 4.5 Stars. I am rounding up due to service.

I came here for dinner with a friend last Sunday, and this is definitely my new top Japanese restaurant in the Seattle area! The price and portions are reasonable, affordable, and tasty, and the service is excellent. I ordered the chicken karaage curry and crème brûlée for dessert, and my friend ordered a beer and Sakura roll, which took longer to arrive. When the curry plate was served, I surprised by how big the dish was. It's no wonder the server asked if we were sharing the plate! The curry is very flavorful, and the karaage was perfectly crisp and tender. I couldn't finish the dish on my own, so I had enough leftover for second meal to enjoy the following day. After the curry was served, around 15 minutes later, I was getting worried that my friend's order was forgotten. When she asked a passing server, we were reassured and told the sushi preparation was backed up. My friend received her order around 5 minutes later, and we were both impressed by the presentation and amount given (unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of the sushi). I got to try some of her sushi, and I personally believe the taste was worth the wait! I'd love to order one the next time I visit. My dessert was served later after our food was eaten, and throughout our meal a server would come by occasionally to check in on us. I really appreciate how attentive the service is despite the restaurant space being small and busy. Overall, the delicious food and clear communication added to a really enjoyable experience. I honestly don't have much else to critique. I'm looking forward to coming back and sharing this restaurant to my friends and family!

Great new Japanese restaurant in the area! Fish is very fresh, flavors are authentic and we like the restaurant space! They have a parking lot in front and plenty of indoor seating. My husband and I got a variety of rolls and everything tastes very delicious! We really love the Akebobo roll! The omelette was also very tasty! We will definitely be back to try more of their items!

It is tucked away in a small plaza with limited parking. I ordered the chirashi bowl and the bento box set. The portions were generous and the pricing was affordable. The bento box didn't particularly stand out, but everything was good. I highly recommend the chirashi bowl. All the ingredients tasted fresh and high-quality. My 5/5 rating is for the price point and the quality of the chirashi bowl.

Came here on a Wednesday for dinner with a large group. I called ahead to make same day reservations and they made accommodations to have the 9 of us seated in the back! Parking is tough since the lot is small but we walked from our nearby Airbnb. A few of us ordered tonkotsu ramen, some ordered sushi rolls, temaki (hand rolls) and I ordered the karaage chicken curry with the chicken on the side. Karaage chicken itself was nice and hot, with a light crispy outside and meaty inside. It came with around 5 large chunks of chicken. The curry was on the lighter side, not as strong and flavorful as I enjoy my Japanese curry. Per the menu it seemed like it was made in house, but I couldn't really tell if it was just boxed curry. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals without any complaint except that the guys were still pretty hungry after one roll each. Friends said the ramen was pretty good! Once we were done, they were in no rush to bring the check or ask us to leave, giving us plenty of time to chat and catch up. Gratuity of 18% was already added to our large party. I'm no Seattle local but I think this is a decent option for Japanese food! They spotted an omakase option but I'm not sure if I would order that myself. Worth checking out!

My mom's favorite food is Japanese so I decided to take her to try a new place. Fortunately, we were able to find a parking spot inside this small strip mall. The establishment decor was simple and clean. I ordered the dragon rolls ($16) fried oyster plate ($18) and mom got the Sashimi Bento A ($26). Miso soup and salad arrived promptly followed by the dragon rolls. The rolls were made well and tasted fresh. The oysters lacked flavor even after I added soy sauce to the tartar sauce. It came with a bowl of rice which I didn't touch because it wasn't needed to compliment or neutralize anything salty. Mom's 3 karaage chicken chunks were tough but she enjoyed the sashimi. Our waitress offered to refill our miso soup which we accepted. Service was attentive. When our waitress presented me with the handheld credit card device, it showed a $70 total with no breakdown. In hindsight, I should have asked for a detail receipt to make sure we were charged correctly. Items were $16+$18+26-=$60 and even with a 10.35 % tax, it should be around $66.21 unless we were charged for the miso refill? The total after tax and 15% tip was $80.23 for the two of us. Our experience was ok, but it would have been better if we were given a detailed receipt and were told if something was going to cost extra.

Akebono Maple Leaf, Seattle Although food wasn't exceptional, it was pretty good. We had the Salmon Ikura Bowl and the Chirashi. Fish was fresh, artfully presented. The sushi rice was a bit loose, very subtle vinegar flavor. It could have used more. But sprinkling furikake added depth. The restaurant lacks ambience, or didn't put any thought on the decor. Pretty straightforward. Location isn't ideal and parking difficult and limited. Service is attentive and friendly. Prices are not bad. I would give it another try, maybe just to try the other dishes.

Every neighborhood needs a good, reliable, reasonably priced sushi joint...and I'm so glad this place is here! Our first time here and we were very impressed. They have a pretty extensive menu; from sushi, katsu, rice bowls, curry, ramen, and the list goes on and on! Even a kids bento meal that comes with a Caprisun! We had the pink spider roll, tuna poki bowl, Chirashi bowl, and a kids meal. For being a small neighborhood Japanese restaurant, everything was very good and tasted fresh! And was beautifully presented. Very friendly and quick service! it's a lot bigger than what it looks from the outside. Although the parking lot is tiny. You're better off finding street parking across the street. I highly recommend this place! We will be definitely coming back to try more!!

Wow! So nice to find another yummy Japanese restaurant in the north end of Seattle :) Came here for dinner with friends and overall, it was a pretty pleasant and delicious experience. Things to note: Soft Opening: If you're coming here before May 2nd, please note that Akebono is still in their soft opening phase Parking: Tiny free lot in front of the restaurant, which also serves 5 other small businesses as well Interior: Spacious! If you're coming with a big group, make sure to call in a reservation in case Service: Friendly and attentive! My water cup was never empty for long Menu Options: Extensive list of food here, ranging from sushi, ramen, curry, bento boxes and etc. Food: Opted to share a couple of rolls with my friends and ordered a salmon set meal. --For the rolls, very tasty!! The fire dragon had a nice light spicy kick to it and the Autumn Roll was nicely baked and packed full of flavors. --For the salmon meal, love how it's served on the hot plate to keep the fish warm. Flavor wise, it was a wee bit too sweet for me but texture was great with the softness of the fish. Food Portion: For the entrees, fairly small/individual size. If you want to share dishes, would recommend going with the yummy sushi rolls or appetizers Definitely will swing by again to try other dishes here!

We are so fortunate to have this new Restaurant in the neighborhood! Everything we tried was amazing! We look forward to coming back and trying it all. Parking is awful! Park on the street or down the street!

Akebono is a newcomer to Wedgewood and judging from the busy dining room, seems to be a much needed Asian option in the neighborhood. The menu is expansive with sushi, rice bowls, set meals and even ramen. After 3 visits, I would say that the sushi, while fresh, could be better. The ratio of rice to fish was high, especially in the rolls, and the cut of the fish was inconsistent. The set meals though were solid, and I really enjoyed the katsudon. Decent options for sake as well. Overall, Akebono is a nice neighborhood spot for Japanese food, and while the sushi could be better, the set meals are a good option and prices are very reasonable.

Akebono Japanese is located in Maple Leaf right in front of a Safeway. Surrounding eateries next to it is a Subway, and a fish n chips place. Parking can be difficult because there might only be 15 spots. The menu of this place is enormous. A lot to choose from, but we always love chirashi. We ordered one of those and a salmon ikura bowl. My chirashi was great. Generous amount of fish/seafood: from salmon. mackerel., tuna, hamachi, scallops, crab, and ikura. The rice was not sticky at all, I think they did not use sushi rice. I had to ask for a spoon because I had difficulty getting the rice with the chopsticks. They however, put some furakake which is good I would love to try other things in the menu when I visit next. They also have bento boxes. We were served miso soup with our dinner and it was piping hot and really good. Service was great. They keep on checking if you are ok, need anything else and what next. Only thing I can say the restaurant was not in a good location or spot. There was a homeless guy infront of the window where I was seated and he make me uncomfortable because he was throwing rocks not on people but on the street. I just made sure that I will not exit where he was to avoid an accident. I will definitely give this restaurant another try. We enjoyed our meal so I'm excited to try other things.

What a great addition to the neighborhood. Really felt like we don't have anything like this anywhere close. Came in for a quick lunch with my husband. Server was attentive and friendly. Food was great! We'd eat everything again. Lots of options to pick from. We had the seafood carpaccio, tofu and seaweed salad, and citrus crush roll.

Good for celebrations. Able to have a great family gathering. Recommended by our nephew. Great choice.

Really appreciate their expansive menu. They had sushi, ramen, tonkatsu, etc. we ordered the tuna poke bowl, agedashi tofu, Garlic lovers roll, spicy tuna roll and pork tonkatsu(to go). Great friendly service, reasonable prices, yummy dishes. A great addition to our neighborhood. Highly recommend.

The atmosphere here is bright and welcoming. The staff is honest and attentive. The rooms we got were tasty. The miso was delicious and the salmon nigiri had a wonderful little dollop of something herbatious that was delightful. Kai or server was excellent. Itadakimasu!

Ikura and salmon sashimi were delicious. Generous portions and great service. Highly recommend!

3.5 stars The restaurant is really cute and standard. Sushi bar and other tables. Seemed to have a pretty busy takeout area as well. Parking might be a bit tight but we got lucky with a spot in front. Service was really good and server checked in periodically. Agadashi tofu was very good (4 pieces) Spicy edamame was not what we expected as it seemed to have too much chile sauce instead of garlic and pepper flakes like we are used to. Teriyaki chicken (did not have fried sesame chicken) is the whole breast/thigh and still had skin (a bit too rubbery and the dark meat was not preferred). Sauce was under the chicken and very thin/watery. Ramen was very hot and had all of the yummy additions. Did not get a chance to try sushi.......hopefully the rolls are better than the bento style.

I lived in Wedgewood for years, and dreamed of a place like this! Alas, I no longer do, but I talked the husband into taking a mile-long field trip to visit (don't try the parking lot unless you want advanced parking credit). Everything was absolutely delicious, the staff was efficient and friendly, and the presentation was impeccable. Prices are more than fair for the food and atmosphere. I can't imagine how anyone would give this place a bad review. It's that good.

Sushi was really good! I got the Aburi Salmon roll (8/10), Dragon roll (9/10), and the Mexican Roll (8/10). But ratings are subjective to everyone's tastebuds. Also got the chirashi bowl! Fish quality is high. Looking to come back and try other things!

Great presentation. Sushi was delicious as well miso and salads and sashimi. Fried rolls were good. Bento box fried chicken and tempura were too greasy. Overall restaurant food was truly delicious minus fried food. Service was exceptional and truly surprisingly friendly and helpful.

Akebono has been a welcomed surprise in the neighborhood. We have already been here four times with our family of five and we have never had a bad dish and only have had amazing experiences. The food is excellent - try the Japanese curry, Mexican Role, ramen, Salmon and Avocado Salad, and Karage to name a few. We are on a long term mission to try everything on the menu. Everything is stellar and the staff have always been kind and welcoming. This is a place we will continue to frequent and support.

I had lunch yesterday,it was excellent. The place is convenient and walkable in a great neighborhood of Wedgwood. For anyone looking for Japanese cuisine, give this one a try and be open to try new menu choices. Thank you for the service and the chef and his staff. With Gratitude, Ana

Good food. Large Bento which I'd get again! Parking is tight but was about to get it alright.

Wow! We were really lacking a good Japanese restaurant in the neighborhood and I'm so glad there's one here conveniently across from Safeway. They have everything you could possibly want in Japanese cuisine, including a variety of bento box options. Will be coming back to try more.

We were excited to try this new sushi joint in Wedgwood during their soft opening. The portions were generous and the flavors were exceptional. We had the Deluxe Sushi Plate with salmon and shrimp nigiri and California roll (the girls devoured it), and the Rainbow Roll and popular Cherry Blossom roll, which was amazing. The edamame serving was also generous. Finally we had the creme brûlée for dessert, an unexpected delight. The custard was delectable.

Welcome to the neighborhood! We are so excited for sushi walking distance from our home. Ramen was great. Creative tempura vegetable blend. Kids loved the fried chicken. Wish we'd gotten Spam musubi to go for lunches tomorrow. Food took a bit to come out. Be patient. They just opened.

Fantastic sushi and great service! We enjoyed the Vegas Roll and recommend the hot green tea.

This place is excellent in every regard. Great location (we've missed a good Japanese restaurant since I Love Bento left). A small, convenient parking lot. A bright, open, clean, welcoming space (it's never been the same since Judy Fu left, when it was formerly Panda's, to start Snappy Dragon). Friendly, professional, attentive staff. A huge menu: everything from sushi, sashimi, tempura, ramen, donburi, tonkatsu and more. Excellent and plentiful food that is well-plated and tasty. And great prices. What's not to like???!!!

Went in on a Friday night. Got the spider roll, cherry blossom roll, godzilla, and rainbow roll. The fish was very fresh and the presentation of the curved roll pieces was meticulous. My favorites were the cherry blossom and spider roll because the flavor was distinct. One had a savory sauce on it and the other had fried onions lightly scattered on top. Godzilla roll was very precise in the fried layer and the texture was good, but the others just outshone it. The interior has a nice moon and cherry blossom decoration in it. It's got a very casual vibe but the food was quite high quality. I imagine during day time it must feel pretty pleasant. The parking lot is a small, somewhat cramped lot--it was easy to park at the time we went. Service was fine, waitstaff were nice, and the chefs spoke Japanese. The decor behind the bar is a little sparse. Overall food was really good, hope this place stays open for a long time if it can keep this quality.

Easily the best new restaurant in Seattle. The atmosphere is beautiful, the staff is incredibly friendly, and everything on the menu is crafted with care. Highly recommend the tofu steak and Japanese omelette -- both were packed with flavor and perfectly cooked. Akebono is a must-visit if you love authentic Japanese cuisine.

Our friend came here during soft opening and recommended the ramen so we came back as a group during opening day. Everything we ordered was great, some feedback I would leave for the food would be the chicken karaage was a bit dry/tough and a tad salty, a bit more sauce would have been appreciated too for the tartar dish. The rolls were delicious and everything was very solid, we were all quite pleased. Staff is also very friendly and food was delivered quickly.

I ordered sushi to go - the rolls were a good size, fresh and delicious! Everyone was super friendly. SO happy to have a sushi restaurant in Wedgwood!!

We went to Akebono first because it was open later than other places. We were pleasantly surprised when we arrived at the nice, clean space and the friendly service. We ordered a Miso ramen, Takoyaki, fried mushroom salad, Seattle roll, chirashi sushi, Kara-age dinner set. Everything was super fresh and tasty. The takoyaki was a little doughy but the flavors were great. The miso ramen broth was tasty and rich and the noodles were perfectly cooked. The fried mushroom salad was large but mostly lettuce. We loved it though because we wanted some greens. The Kara-age pieces were fried nicely and were crisp and juicy. The pieces were very large. Overall, we really liked the restaurant and plan to return.

Everything was delicious with amazing presentation. We had deluxe sushi, dragon roll, and octopus karaage. Will definitely be back!

This little place has just opened in my neighborhood. Though a little pricey I got the tuna trio and was amazed by the freshness. If you're looking for an amazing bite I would check this place out.

New favorite spot in Seattle! The karaage chicken was crispy perfection, and the miso black cod just melts in your mouth. Great energy, friendly staff, and a sleek atmosphere. Akebono is the real deal -- can't wait to come back!

Amazing service, sushi chefs and server were really nice, scallop was the softest I've ever had and blew my mind, but all the nigiri they had was mind-blowing and fresh. We started off ordering just the sushi combo, but it was so good we had to end our meal with the deluxe sushi plate. 10/10 overall

My family and I have lived in the neighborhood forever and this restaurant is just what the neighborhood needed (especially on 35th). The restaurant was full with people but wasn't too loud for conversations not to be able to happen. Great service and delicious food! Recommend the salmon trio!

This restaurant is not worth your a while. I got the Katsu bowl and it's worse than I can make at home. Don't come here.

Great service, everyone is super nice and there's a great selection of food. The music is fun and calming.

The food was very good. Sushi was tasty and fresh. The rainbow rolls we ordered were big portions. Great, friendly service. So glad to have this neighborhood option.

Great addition to the neighborhood. Very friendly and attentive staff, good food, generous portions. We got a rainbow roll, spicy dragon roll, ramen, salmon plate, edamame, and vegetable tempura. Only complaint was that the edamame were too salty, but other than that, I was happy with the food. The veggie tempura was crispy and unusual, with trumpet mushrooms and young bamboo alongside the usual potatoes and carrots. Prices were reasonable. We'll be going back!

Excellent quality! Chirashi bowl and Tonkatsu ramen are fantastic. Friendly staff. Perfect new restaurant for the neighborhood.

Friendly staff. It just opened so I have not tried many dishes but they seem authentic Japanese cuisine. Karate set was good. Salad was great. I will go back to try different dishes.

An amazing taste experience. Especially loved the Autumn roll. The eel sauce stepped it up!

We were glad to find this new Japanese restaurant in our neighborhood, sadly short on Asian options. Akebono is sparkly clean, friendly -- and affordable! They offer a wide ranging menu, a nice change from just ramen or just sushi, though theirs are both are excellent. Their chicken karaage is crispier than crisp, and the curry is more subtle than the usual. Couples could sit a the little bar, set off from the family friendly tables. We're definitely going back!