Japanese Cuisine Towa

Japanese Cuisine Towa is hands down the best Japanese restaurant experience I have ever had in the greater Seattle area. We recently celebrated my wife's birthday here and the entire evening felt like a masterclass in dining. The omakase journey crafted by Chef Nori Morita was phenomenal. He is extremely professional and dedicated, meticulously preparing each piece of ingredients right before our eyes. Every single dish was delicious and highlighted the unbelievable freshness of the ingredients. The service was topnotch; the staff was attentive without being intrusive, ensuring a flawless pace throughout the meal. The restaurant itself is a haven of calm. The atmosphere was pleasant and the space was extremely clean, contributing to the luxurious feel of the experience. The highlight of the night was the very special dessert provided for my wife's birthday. It was a thoughtful and elegant gesture that truly elevated our celebration and made her feel incredibly special. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. If you are looking for an authentic, dedicated, and unforgettable Japanese meal, look no further than Towa. We will absolutely be coming again.

My wife and I celebrated our anniversary today (on a Monday evening) and we were very pleasantly surprised that we were the only people dining here this evening. Everything was absolutely perfect: the food, the hospitality, and the service. The sukiyaki was arguably the best dish I've had in 2025. Also, having a private dinner where chef Nori was cooking for just us two made things extra special. We've dined at Michelin starred restaurants but the dining experience here will leave a more lasting impression for my wife and I.

tl;dr Please do not waste your money here and eat at an actual omakase such as Wataru, Taneda, Suzuki, or any other. This is not an omakase. They have pretty plating with extremely small serving sizes with mediocre quality of the food. --- For context, my wife and I have been to many omakases in the Greater Seattle Area for our own curiosity and reviewing, and Towa doesn't even make the list. Before my review, let me first state that unlike other Omakases, Towa: - Despite reserving for the omakase, the bar is first-come first-serve (unless specified otherwise in the reservation) and you can end up sitting at a table. This was not in the website last I checked and was confirmed by our waitress. - Omakase is "chef chooses", yet my wife and I had no idea what the chef's purpose here was. We were sat at a table, and the chef only talked to us in the middle of the course to light the fire for the sukiyaki and quickly to say bye at the end. I was watching the bar closely, and there was little to no discussion on where the fish came from, the order of eating, or any other discussion on the food. When looking at the other tables, they were all either loudly talking or on their phones despite also ordering omakase as there was no chef to talk to. - For the little nigiri/sashimi provided (we ordered the $200 course), there was little to no technique. For the fatty pieces, usually there is some scoring done or searing. The pieces could have been at any other regular sushi place. - Despite the omakase price, you end up receiving a regular sushi restaurant experience. The bio of the chef on their website also doesn't mention any apprenticeship as well. Putting the omakase issues aside, here are the issues with the food itself. - The temperature control was very poor. The tempura, rice, and sukiyaki were at burning temperatures so we had to wait before eating. - The waitresses did more of the explanation and handling despite being an omakase. Additionally, a lot of time was spent discussing the history of the bowls and utensils during 10-20min wait between courses. - The portion sizes are EXTREMELY small despite the price. Don't be fooled by the photos. For context, Taneda is a similar price and a Kaiseki with 23 courses then a dessert. Towa's $250 is only 9 courses with nothing extraordinary. - Because they have so many reservations with three different courses, everyone eats at a different pace resulting in diminished quality. For example, our gunkan-maki for our Uni did not have crisp, fresh nori that you'd expect for an omakase. - Among the 8 courses of the $200, 3 are very fatty (amberjack, wagyu, otoro) resulting in a very sick feeling. A regular omakase carefully balances out the course to provide balance. - For only 8 courses, the total time took around 2.5 hours. The only good points I can mention are: - The waitresses and chef are very friendly - The restroom is very clean - The fruit in the dessert was pretty delicious and was the highlight of the otherwise average course. - Parking is easy and free. There are many more issues that I can go on about, but I will stop here as the review is long already. To restate, please don't spend your money here but instead at a proper omakase. 150/200/250 for only 8 or 9 courses with nothing really impressive is not worth it at all.

Absolutely beautiful, delicious Japanese kaiseki style meal. Chef Morita and his team prepared elegant, classic food with twists and delights. We came last month for my wife's birthday and had an amazing meal. Clean flavors, interesting combinations, and a wonderful variety of dishes. My favorites were the stone pot rice with scallops, grill combination plate, and ice cream dessert. Each dish came with detailed explanations of how they were made and the flavor accents to note. We also got a sake and wine pairing that showed a thoughtful, curated selection to go with each item. The kicker on top of all that, for my wife they prepared a special spun sugar treat to go with her dessert that included a special tempered chocolate Happy Birthday sign. We noticed the sugar work taking place but didn't see it written on the menu and then only her plate included the decorative piece making the night truly fantastic.

Towa is a hidden gem with both traditional Japanese cuisine and creative usage of ingredients with a new spin. Lots of Japanese restaurants try to throw in fusion elements and it's lost on me. Chef Nori uses the freshest Ingredients, and mostly directly from Japan, to create a thoughtful and well balanced menu that hits your taste buds throughout the multi course menu. He is the best Japanese food chef around here. The service staff is very attentive with service details that pleasant surprises you. My kids also love their food and they look forward to it every time. If you like fresh Japanese food, excellent service, and a monthly variety, try Towa!

Dining at Towa is a journey that feels both intimate and refined. This is not just dinner, but a thoughtfully composed kaiseki-style experience where each dish arrives like a chapter in a story. From the very first bite, the chef’s passion and playfulness shine through. The Kyoto yuba with ikura was one of my favorites—silky, delicate tofu skin paired with the briny pop of salmon roe, a simple combination elevated into something memorable. The omakase sashimi was another highlight, presented beautifully over ice with pristine cuts of tuna, salmon, and king crab that melted in the mouth. The tempura course showed off a perfect light batter—crisp without heaviness—encasing tiger shrimp, okra, lotus root, and eggplant. The charcoal-grilled A5 wagyu with Hokkaido uni and egg tofu was indulgence at its peak: smoky, buttery beef balanced by the rich sweetness of uni. Comfort came in the form of the Nambu Tekki iron pot rice with snow crab and corn, fragrant and gently sweet, followed by a bubbling king crab miso hot pot that was both hearty and elegant. Dessert closed the evening with a playful trio, including a velvety sweet potato cream brûlée, the kind of ending that leaves you smiling. What sets Towa apart is not just the ingredients or presentation, but the heart behind it all. The chef brings warmth, humor, and a clear sense of care to the table, making the whole experience feel personal. A true gem for fine Japanese dining in Redmond—perfect for those who want more than just a meal, but an experience worth savoring.

Celebrated my 2 birthdays and Valentine’s Day here. Chef Nori never disappoints! The quality of the food and the presentation are just amazing! Appreciate the attention to every little detail, from the table setting when you sit down, warm greetings from the staffs, sake pairing, and the courses of food. We enjoyed every meal and always look forward to our next time! This time coming back to celebrate my birthday again, Chef Nori even remembered the dishes that I liked last time! I was beyond touched! Thank you Chef Nori and the team for all the great food and fond memories at Towa! We will be back soon!

A little hidden gem in Redmond. Reserved seating at the bar table so we got to see how the food was prepared. A well balanced kaiseki with a good combination of fish, meat and vegetables. Everything is delicately prepared and delicious including the dessert. Will be coming back for their different seasonal ingredients. Highly recommend this and their rice dish can be ordered for to go.

fantastic meal! highly recommended for special occasions. service was very attentive to accompany the food and drinks in the best possible way. place is quiet and conducive to a relaxing quality evening.

Japanese Cuisine Towa offers a unique and memorable dining experience. Their focus on Kaiseki, a traditional Japanese multi-course meal, highlights the beauty of seasonality and the chef's craftsmanship. The restaurant's name, meaning 'eternity,' reflects their commitment to creating a lasting impression. The 4.7-star rating is well-deserved, and the ambiance is elegant. The restaurant is open from Tuesday through Sunday, 4:30 PM to 10:00 PM, making it a perfect spot for a special dinner. While the experience is undoubtedly refined, it might be on the pricier side, hence the 4-star rating instead of 5. Overall, it's a must-try for those seeking an authentic and high-quality Japanese culinary journey in Washington.

This place is so unassuming in a mall ish area but it's so nice and high quality. This is truly a fine dining experience and the price point is super reasonable. It kind of reminds me of Wa'z but you don't have to trek down into the city and it's sooooo elegant and elevated and the food was superb. The service was also top notch.

4/12/2024 I had the pleasure of dining at Towa Japanese Cuisine From the moment I stepped into your intimate 20-seat space, I knew I was in for something special! The ambiance, the attention to detail, and the anticipation of what awaited me--all of it contributed to a sense of wonder! All member was very welcome and the service was spectacular!! Chef Nori, with his 22 years of culinary expertise in both French and Japanese cuisine, curated an unforgettable course Kaiseki dinner. Each dish was a masterpiece, a symphony of flavors that danced on my palate. Towa is that exquisite food but also the commitment to seasonality, artistry, and balance. Each plate is a canvas, where colors, textures, and presentation harmonize seamlessly! I would love to come back for another course!

I enjoyed my experience here and felt the food was fantastic. However it did not blow my mind. While it was a good experience I don't know if everyone needs to, "try it once". The food was absolutely delicious as well as the service. Not sure what was missing for me.

This is a reservations only kaiseki Japanese restaurant which means that you are served a set number of courses varying in unique Japanese dishes which may or may not include raw fish/sushi. This is not an omakase restaurant which refers to Chef's choice in sushi/sashimi/raw fish courses. The availability of ingredients are based on seasonality here. It was a little tricky finding the restaurant since it doesn't have a sign on the building it's just on the window. It is next asiana bistro. If you look for the suite number 144 then you will find it easily. We dined here for our wedding anniversary which happened to land on a Wednesday. It was quiet and quaint and perfect for a night out with our infant. The restaurant is small yet spacious. There are 4-5 tables plus counter seating right in front of Chef Nori. Service was friendly and fast. Chef Nori was very kind and accommodating. We chose the 9 course set for $165/each. Some of the items were modified according to our taste preference which was amazing. We opted out of uni bc that's just not the vibe for us. Everything was flavorful and unique. Our favorites included the sashimi set with yuzu ponzu and homemade soy sauce. We had toro (fatty tuna) for the first time ever and WOW we have been missing out. It's so tender and succulent. We also had fresh wasabi for the first time, too, and it was delightful. The geoduck was also perfect. So fresh! The cold somen noodles were fantastic. The shrimp was cooked perfectly and the little anchovies were exploding with umami goodness. The uni was replaced with bell fish and it was amazing! Our favorite part of the dessert course was the rice cracker matcha ice cream sandwich with red bean. So much texture and flavor happening! Not too sweet & was the perfect ending to our meal. Overall, it was a lovely experience, but we both agreed that we would have loved another raw fish dish of some sort. The sashimi course was so fresh and we enjoyed it immensely. It was fun to try and most likely not revisit since the menus don't change that drastically throughout the year. Thank you Towa for a lovely evening and helping us celebrate our 10 year anniversary!

My recent dining experience at this establishment left a lasting impression. The food, without a doubt, was exceptional. Opting for the $180 8-course meal turned out to be a wonderful and well worth the investment. Chef Nori and the entire staff contributed significantly to the positive atmosphere. Their friendliness and attentiveness added a personal touch to the dining experience, making it more than just a meal but a delightful occasion. You can really tell they're all about top-notch ingredients, and it makes the whole dining experience something to look forward to. Looking forward to a return visit!

If you are looking for a nice intimate night with minimal crowd and QUALITY Japanese cuisine, this place is the one for you. Our first time trying kaiseki and OMG, when I say amazing I mean AMAZING!! Great staff/host who break everything down for you. We had 8 courses (to include dessert). It was our 23 yr anniversary and what a celebration it was. Every course was WOW. I can't even describe it in words. These flavors and textures are nothing like I've had before. It may look like small portions but the way they pace your courses, you get full. We brought home leftovers!! It was $150/pp but well worth it!! I loved every second of this fine dining experience. Chef even gifted us with an anniversary dessert!! So sweet of him!! Made it that much more special. Oh AND he walked us out as well. Yes yes yes, we will be returning!!!

Japanese kaiseki in Redmond! Towa opened 2 weeks ago. We wanted to get in early since kaiseki is popular in Seattle and there aren't too many places to go. Chef Morita-san was so friendly and kind, we felt welcomed to the restaurant. The staff was also very nice. We did the smaller menu and felt full at the end. I posted pictures of what we got and the menu. All the dishes were well done, beautiful, seasonal, and delicious. The inside is really nice with a large counter and tables. The location was hard to find and they don't have a phone number to call. If you're facing the restaurant it is to the right of Inspa and left of a new sushi place that use to be Asiana Bistro teriyaki. It's in a location which was formally a poke place. It's in a strip mall near Whole Food's grocery store. There's lots of parking lot parking.

AMAZING!!! AMAZING!!! AMAZING!! If you really want to try real Japanese kaiseki, you'll definitely want to try here. Towa is absolutely authentic, THE BEST JAPANESE RESTAURANT in Greater Seattle/Bellevue!! They know what real "umami" is. Their way of creating sensitive yet simply delicious flavor from each ingredient is just breathtaking. You will enjoy seasonal ingredients at their best time. I think price of alcohols are more reasonable than any other Japanese restaurant such as Taneda, the Ltd edition, and Kashiba. Their foods remind me of the real Japanese foods in Japan, NOT fake Japanese foods in most restaurants in Seattle/Bellevue. Needless to say, they have great hospitality as well! As a native Japanese, I highly recommend Towa.

"A huge thank you to the entire team at Towa for an incredible birthday celebration! From the delicious food to the attentive service, every detail was perfect. You went above and beyond to make the night special, and I'm so grateful. Looking forward to dining with you again soon!" Sarah

Lovely dinner for five at the bar, Such excellent service, and warm, delightful ambience.

It's been a while since the last time I left a food review. I've given up on taking my phone out to take pictures of my food but this time at Towa, I just had to because the experience was just as once in a life time for me not to keep a record of it. As you can see from these pictures, each dish was presented as a complete creation, so it does not need any extra inedible elements to elevate its look like other fine dining places I've been to. I just know the chef took pride in his craft and was confident in his skills and knowledge to be able to craft and deliver this menu. I'm no expert in Japanese cuisine nor fine dining but I surely know to appreciate your outstanding customer service, artistry, skills, and knowledge of the cuisine that I received through my unforgettable kaiseki experience at Towa. For that I thank you very much! I will be back very soon!

Before I start, I want to emphasize that this is a Kaiseki restaurant, NOT a sushi restaurant. There are some reviewers mentioning they wished there was sushi, but sushi is not traditionally served in Kaiseki courses. When I arrived at my reserved time, the staff at the store welcomed me with a smile. There were no other customers when we arrived (perhaps because I had made a reservation for a later time at 7:30 on a weekday), so I was able to enjoy my meal at a leisurely pace. I highly recommend sitting at the counter, as you can watch Chef Morita cook and chat with him about the dishes. Chef Morita is a very friendly, thoughtful, and attentive person. His detailed explanations of the ingredients and dishes, as well as stories of his home, Hokkaido, was really interesting and fun to listen to. He told us that the rice was freshly harvested this fall in Hokkaido, and the conger eel (anago) was also flown in from Japan (as well as various other ingredients), which showed the chef's commitment to quality ingredients. Each dish is carefully prepared in front of you before being served, and I was impressed by each dish that was served. The menu changes every month, so you can enjoy seasonal ingredients too. The 8-course meal was a well-balanced combination of seafood, meat, and vegetables, and I was completely full by the time I ate the dessert. The steamed sea urchin sushi served as an appetizer was especially exquisite. In addition, for the sake flight, there was careful consideration in not only providing a variety of hot and cold sakes, but also in the ceramics that they used to serve the sake, so it was a lot of fun to enjoy with the food. While I was in this restaurant, I felt like I was transported to Japan. I'm glad that Redmond has such an authentic Japanese restaurant. The prices are a bit high, perhaps because the quality of the ingredients is good, but if you want to enjoy delicious drinks and food in a calm atmosphere, particularly for special occasions, I highly recommend this restaurant. ----- My review in Japanese: 予約した時間に伺うと、お店の方々が笑顔で迎えてくださいました。少し遅い 7:30の予約だったからか、他のお客様はおらず、貸し切り状態でゆっくりとお料理をたのしむことができました。 シェフのMoritaさんは大変フレンドリー且つ気配りの行き届いた方で、食材やお料理の説明に加えて、出身地である北海道の話も少し聞くことができ興味深かったです。またお米は北海道産の新米、穴子は兵庫県からとわざわざ日本から空輸して仕入れたものもありシェフの食材へのこだわりを感じました。お料理は一品一品、目の前で丁寧に仕上げをしてから出され、一品運ばれる度に器やお料理に小さな感動があります。メニューは毎月変わるとのことでその時期の旬の食材を楽しめます。魚介類、肉、野菜などバランスよく取り入れられたコース料理はデザートまで食べるとお腹いっぱいになりました。前菜で出されたウニの蒸し寿司は絶品でした。 また5種類のお酒の飲み比べセットは熱燗や冷酒など入り混じり種類だけではなく、温度や器にも拘ったもので、お料理と共にとても楽しめるものでした。 このレストランにいる間はまるで日本にいるような感覚になりました。Redmondにこんな本格的な日本料理レストランがあることを嬉しく思います。 食材の質が良いためか、お値段は少々高めですが、落ち着いた雰囲気の中でゆっくりと美味しいお酒とお料理を楽しみたいのであればこのレストランをおすすめします。

This new Japanese Cuisine Restaurant in Redmond is a hidden new gem. Literally... no signage outside! An authentic Kaiseki restaurant that easily transports you to Japan the minute you enter its sliding doors.

The staff at Towa were very welcoming and assistive to us as a couple new to the Omakase experience. The food was fresh and delicious and the sake flight was wonderful.

Towa is a true kaiseki experience with original dishes stemming from Nori-Sans hometown in Sapporo, JP which he now planted in the heart of Redmond, WA. Nori-San the executive head chef carefully curates each course menu by selecting only the finest, freshest and local produce, fish, and products available. Beautiful experience.

Beautiful dining experience. Food was delicious and we enjoyed watching it being prepared. Special occasion dinning and we hope to have another one again soon

The food here was incredible! Everything was so fresh and very good quality. We had the 8 course meal including the desert, and it was very much worth it! I've lived in Okinawa, Japan for 2 years and have visited Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto during my times there and this meal made me miss it very much! The chef was incredible, very attentive and skilled. Along with the great service by the staff. It's a really authentic, high end Japanese restaurant that I recommend

Small restaurant with just a few bar seats and tables. Great service from the staff, and Chef Nori was excellent. Clearly they care about the quality of the ingredients and also the presentation. Would definitely recommend for a nice date spot. The iron pot seabream and shiitake mushroom and the eel dishes were stand out dishes for us.

This is one of THE BEST Kaiseki experiences in the Seattle area. Chef Hiro is masterful at preparing and plating his dishes. There is no lapse in service and he offers his full attention to all patrons, especially those sitting at the counter. We highly recommend dining here for any special occasion you may have. The food is such high quality and the ambiance is very elegant, romantic and comfortable. If I could describe this restaurant in one word, it would be intentional. Highly recommend this experience to anyone who wants to try amazing Japanese cuisine.

Keep away from this one. I mean seriously chef, you serve customers ground CHICKEN with colorful peppers and rice for entree of a near $200 per person omakase?? Who does that? How did you convince yourself? Quite a shame. The taste overall is hardly to say average comparing with any basic sushi bar in town if not even below. The difference is you pay huge load of money for the "vibe" not the food. Definitely will not come again. Edited after Towa's reply on Google: dear Towa, please be aware that I don't have any problem with chicken. My problem is with your absolutely non high quality of food materials considering a $200 meal. Anyone reading this comment, please check the menu below (don't get fooled by the fancy name) and make your judgement about whether it deserves the price and the arrogance shown by the restaurant's reply I consider myself as a sushi enthusiast, and I've been to countless Omakase meals in Seattle (Taneda, shiro, waz, kashiba, etc, you name it), also across the states, and around the world, including Japan mainland. I've had more expensive or less costly ones, and I can be very responsible to say this is so far one of those at the bottom of the recommended list. The octopus and pork belly were clearly over cooked and hard to chew. The wine pairing was hilarious, which was obviously done by some amateur "chef" with little knowledge about sake, or wine. The only something that could be considered as "good stuff" is 4 pieces of bluefin tuna Sashimi, what a joke.

I want this place to be successful because the people who work there are so nice and it's very convenient. Plus, Redmond lacks a fine dining Japanese experience and I really want this place to be it. So take my feedback below with this intent in mind. First, 8 courses are not going to do it for $250. The variety of experiences are so important. Also, not doing nigiri sushi is a negative as well. You have to do at least some. The sake list is also very short. The whisky list is non existent. Other than that, you can tell that the place is brand new and really trying. I'll keep supporting them.

We came here for our anniversary! Very happy with our choice. The experience was very intimate and relaxing... The place is small and very cozy the service was impeccable from the moment we stepped in front of the door. We were warmly welcome at the door right away. Everyone was very attentive right to the very end. And the food was very good. I know it might look simply to the eye but you can tell that every single dish they served required a lot of preparation to maximize the flavor in every bite. You can be eating the same dish but you get so many variation of flavors. We both really appreciated that. Will definitely come back again! I can't stress enough how much we enjoy the cozy relaxing environment and the meal.