SanKai

We drove 45 min from Bellevue to Edmonds to go to my cousin's favorite Japanese restaurant. If my stomach was not queezy from the overly creamy seafood chowder from Salty's (in Alki) I would definitely get the 14 piece omakase nigiri or sashimi. It was a good deal. I took a pic of his dinner. Bummer, I was had to eat lightly. They also had outdoor dining pods (private clear tent bubbles.) Good happy hour specials. Again, if my stomach was so queezy I'd be indulging in all the options.of fresh seafood. Located in the quaint and charming downtown of the City of Edmonds. I'll be back.

Overall, very pleasant dinner. We ran a few minutes behind our reservation time and they didn’t seem to mind. The service and quality of sushi were excellent. Server was on top of refilling water and checking on us. We ordered tempura and we found the veggies to be on the harder side - not cooked quite long enough. Although we came during happy hour and took advantage of some of the items from the happy hour menu, my friend and I both thought the bill was quite high. I have been to many other sushi restaurants, just as good for a cheaper price. Nevertheless, service and food was excellent!

I asked Gemini for the best Sushi in Snohomish County and it answered SanKai. Of the sushi places I have gone to, I would also concur. My one nitpick, and this is a nitpick, is that sitting at the sushi bar means your back is to the door. So when the door opens, you might feel the breeze. If it's winter, you might want to keep your jacket one throughout the meal. Not enough of a negative for me to deduct a point.

Make reservation Omakase is my way to “roll” here. A chef who really pays attention to how I enjoy my meal at his present. 🙏🏼

WHAT AN EXPERIENCE! It took me back to Japan. I am very picky eating Japanese food. And this restaurant went above and beyond. Specially with UNI, here in Seattle it is very difficult to find a GOOD uni. At Sankai you will have one of the best Uni. All the sushi it was absolutely amazing and the service was STELLAR. I highly recommend you this restaurant.

We ordered the 14-piece omakase nigiri set and left more than satisfied. Each piece showcased exceptional freshness and quality, making every bite memorable. The chef thoughtfully explained each selection, and the pacing was perfect, with each course arriving promptly. For the price, their omakase is highly recommended!

What a great find in Edmonds. We wanted to try a new Sushi restaurant and decided on SanKai. We loved it! Super service, fabulous sushi, and Banks, a very interesting, cordial and accomplished sushi chef, made our dining experience a memorable one!

Been here multiple times now and haven’t been impressed. Sushi is really expensive with little quantity and I always leave still feeling hungry but paying $100. I recommend going for a light meal and not expect to get full.

One of my favorite spots for sushi in the northend. The restaurant is a cute spot serving about 25/30 people inside and has 4 igloo heating pods for outdoors. The food is always fresh. Highly recommend! Our group ordered the following: Apps: karaage, agedashi tofu, hotate gyoza Entreees: omasake nigiri, spider roll, tempura udon, great pacific north west roll, red dragon roll, and Sankai roll.

This is probably the most affordable omakases in the greater Seattle area. I was so excited to hear about it and made a reservation on open table since I heard it gets really busy. The restaurant was clean and spacious. My boyfriend and I sat at the sushi bar. We got the 14 piece omakase for $58 which is a steal for the experience. They have 3 options for the omakase: 11 piece for $47, 14 piece for $58, and sashimi 14 piece for $56! Omakase is chef's choice so you just sit back and let them decide. If you want rolls, hot food, or other options other than omakase then they have it all too! All the sushi pieces were excellent! I'm looking forward to coming again:)

Delicious sushi in Edmonds! I really like San Kai. It has a great ambience and I enjoy sitting at the sushi bar in front of Nakano-san. I miss him owning Kisaku as it was closer to get to but I will make the trek up north to visit him and enjoy his omakase. We celebrated our friend's birthday the last time we were here and they kindly gave him an ice cream mochi. I highly recommend this place!

I would say this is the best sushi spot I've been to in Edmonds, and I love getting takeout from here too. I did dine in once at the counter during restaurant week and it was also a great experience. The staff were all friendly and helpful and the food was superb with many authentic options that aren't in every run of the mill sushi joint.

I came back here for the second time and I have to say the quality has increased. Each slice of fish was incredibly fresh and perfect. I was so impressed that each dish was memorable and delicious!!

Comestibles and Potables: ANY sushi place in the PNW compared to the midwest should be great -- including overhyped premiere sushi bars in Detroit area. So with that said, I am trying to compare apples to apples -- and this joint was lovely all around. Fresh, interesting, quality ingredients; meal was satisfying and flilling. Reasonable HH menu; 4-6 daily. Service: Friendly, KNOWLEDGEABLE, helpful, accommodating. Ambiance: Make reservations; place is small and BUSY; seats about 20 inside and about 15 for outside. Sat outside in igloo. It was a bit rainy (surprise!); and was kept warm because of the portable heater in ingloo. Music was chill, indiscernable and not overpowering; I can hear myself and others in conversations; a music speaker was inside our igloo. DETAILS. Of note: Street parking. Loo was cleaned and stocked. Photodocumented the experience.

Very attentive and kind servers. Sushi quality is one of the best I've had. Will definitely be coming back again! I got my own choice of nigiri and rolls as well as the restaurant week dinner 3 course special (forgot to take pics of the special). You can't miss out on the soufflé cheesecake! The yuzu cake was a bit sweet for me but it wasn't overly sweet. The restaurant is on the smaller side, make reservations before coming. It gets packed fairly quickly.

Highly recommend making reservations on Open Table, they are usually pretty busy. They offer table, bar, and outdoor heated seated. Parking is parallel parking. We came here to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary. We were seated at the bar & served by the head chef which is always more fun since the chef paces the food & only serves about 2 pieces at a time. SanKai is our top 3 omakase in all of Seattle area. The quality is always amazing & it's not overpriced like other Omakase servings in Seattle which can go for $150 or higher per person. Everything was delicious - starting with Toro Tartare, the Omakase, and ending it with Japanese Cheesecake. I always recommend this place to friends!

Made a reservations for dinner for two on at Saturday at 4pm for their Happy hour menu. Didn't have any issues finding street parking. Mini unagi donburi was one of my favorite things we ordered. It wasn't that tiny, and it packed a flavor punch from the unagi sauce as well as the dried up seaweed. Must try for any unagi fan. The black cod was delectable. I didn't know cooked fish can taste like that. Buttery and easy to eat, and the acidity from the lemon helps cut down from the overwhelming richness of the cod. Careful of the two or three pieces of bone though. I found the 4 pc nigiri and the 4 pc sashimi happy hour a solid option as a sampler. The fish tasted great. I found the service to be friendly and fast. We were literally seated and out in like 30 minutes.

Sankai is located in downtown Edmonds. During the busy weekends, a reservation is highly recommended. We stepped in and was seated immediately at the sushi counter per my reservation request. Our place setting is ready, and we had menus available. Service was swift. Our water glasses were refilled in a timely manner. The restaurant has simple deco, which is just fine with me. They have outside heated dome seatings; they look pretty neat. I feel bad for the servers coming in and out of the rain, though. Overall, I think Sankai is a great neighborhood gem. The Food: Cured Bristol Bay sockeye salmon, $17 - 5 Stars Marinated with sake, mirin, and soy sauce, served with pickled onion and shiso oil, each bite of this salmon is divine. Highly recommend ordering this. Shichimi crusted maguro tataki, $18 - 3 Stars Menu: Shichimi crusted and flash seared bluefin tuna, served on radish salad with hibiscus ponzu. I am a big tuna fan, but this maguro is too "meaty" with not enough fat. The hibiscus ponzu didn't penetrate the meat, so that each bite of the fish didn't stand out. Negitoro Roll, $11 - 4.5 Stars Seattle Roll, $9 - 4.5 Stars Both rolls are reliable and very fresh and appropriately priced for the moderate 6-pc set. Sometimes, I have a disdain for the $20+ rolls that are over-exaggerated, and the only seafood is the fake krab. These are not it. Omakase - 4.5 Stars L: Koshinaga maguro (longtail tuna), $5.00, R: Ishigakidai (spotted knifejaw), $4.50 L: Sockeye salmon, $3.50, R: Buri (large wild yellowtail), $5.50 L: Medai (barrel fish), $4.50, R: Iwashi (sardine), $4.50 L: Aji (horse mackerel), $4.50, R: Katsuo (bonito), $5.00 L: Kawahagi (black scraper), $5.00, R: Nodoguro (black throat perch), $6.50 L: Mongo ika (baby cuttlefish), $4.50, Mid: Tairagai (fanshell clam), $5.00, R: Aka uni (Hokkaido sea urchin), $8.00. I requested an open ended omakase, and I appreciate SanKai has all their fish varieties listed on their fresh sheet. With every bite, I am not surprised by the end total cost. The fishes tasted fresh. Though I did up the dressing a bit (both soy sauce and wasabi), each bite was a delight. The quality is excellent. Their overall rating is closer to 4.5 Stars. I decided to up them to 5 Stars, because the greater Seattle area doesn't have high quality sushi restaurants that don't also cost $150 per person easily. This place is unique in delivering quality without excessive cost.

Great little spot in Edmonds for some very tasty sushi! I don't typically get to go to Edmonds that often, but I wanted to try this spot out after my cousin mentioned how much he liked it. We ordered a few items, including omakase sushi (14 pieces for $58), omakase sashimi (14 pieces for $56), and a few rolls to share plus desserts. The fish was very fresh and a great price! The rolls were pretty good, too, with my favorite being the Great Pacific Northwest one. I'm also a big fan of their yuzu mousse cake! The place is on the smaller side so definitely make rsvp if you can!

It took me awhile to figure out there was sushi in Edmonds. So we scheduled a HH run after work. We kept it simple and kept to the basics. I thought everything was fine and the staff checked in regularly. Nothing memorable but it was a solid outing.

We were craving good sushi so came here for restaurant week. There was street parking available if you got lucky. We made reservation but were late 10 minutes. Staff notified us that they will need our table in one hour 45 mins. Fair enough. Ambiance was minimalist yet elegant. When we got sat, we started to order 2 sets of meals from restaurant week menu, hot tea and draft beef and a couple of items on Happy hour menu. In the beginning, some staff dropped off dishes without saying the names so we were not sure what we got. Later, another server seemed to be more experience and approached to us. Overall, it's great. Seafood was fresh and well prepared. It's worth stopping by if you are craving sushi.

I had been really looking forward to dining at this restaurant, especially the outdoor dome experience, and had made reservations for myself and my two young daughters. Our group ended up growing to include four adults and two kids, as when we saw my brother and his wife walking by with his dog, we welcomed them to join us. I've worked in the service industry before, so I understand the value of a bigger group for both the restaurant and the server. Unfortunately, our experience was disappointing. We waited over 20 minutes before anyone checked on us, and when they did, they seemed unhappy about our group growing in size. The server canceled our order after we had waited for 30 minutes for her to take it, and there were issues with our dog being outside, as we were told they weren't "certified" for pets outside... I didn't know we couldn't have a dog outside. In the end, the experience was far from what we had hoped for, and it really detracted from the enjoyment of what should have been a special night... we will not return, it sincerely hope the restaurant takes this feedback to heart and improves its customer service. Wishing them a better holiday season and hope others have a more positive experience.

We ordered the 14-piece omakase nigiri set and left more than satisfied. Each piece showcased exceptional freshness and quality, making every bite memorable. The chef thoughtfully explained each selection, and the pacing was perfect, with each course arriving promptly. For the price, their omakase is highly recommended!

Here I am at San Kai again! This time we had an opportunity with Chef Nguyen at the counter. Go do yourself a favor and book a spot at the counter with him. You won't regret it.

Cute addition to Edmonds. As far as Sushi goes its not bad for the location. There are not many good "date" spot sushi places up this North but realistically the price per quality is not amazing. You can find same quality at lower prices around the area so likely this was an ambiance tax.

If you like sushi it's a must try, Food is so fresh and customer service is always amazing.

I'm obsessssed with this place because I already have another reservation booked with my friends even though I was JUST here this past weekend. I'm not one to gatekeep but I have thought very hard about sharing this place. This place really hit all the marks for me. I had gone to sushi a few weeks back and that left a lot to be desired. The neighborhood SanKai is located at is SO cute even though 45min away for me. My sister and I noticed the bubble seating they had outside and wonder how cold it was because it looks like a neat experience to dine outdoor. Decor inside was minimal but there were some Japanese artwork on the wall. Inside was fairly larger than what I was expecting which was a pleasant surprised as other reviews have noted this place to be tiny. Our server was great, she was very kind and accommodating of my sister's allergies. The restaurant offers a daily HH which is very cool, dont see that very often. We ordered HH hot sake and brussels spouts tempura, 2x chef choice omakase; 11pieces, 2x Hokkaido uni, 2x chutoro, I added an additional piece of kinmeddai and snow crab. My sister also wanted dessert so an order of Japanese souffle. Everything was delicious! You can definitely tell this place serves quality fish, it was so fresh and every bite of nigiri from mackerel to scallop to otoro, LITERALLY melted n your mouth. I was loving this whole experience. It's been a good year where I've had an omakase like this. I have been raving about it all weekend. My sister now know what I mean when I talk about melt in your mouth sushi. Twas a good night to share with her. We're definitely going to come back and I dont quite mind the drive because I know this place is amazing.

We made reservations and had to put in a credit card to reserve. We arrived and were excited about the lovely ambiance. Place is a bit on the noisy side. We felt the sushi was fair and ordered some rolls but they were like the ones you get at the grocery store with fish on inside only. We felt it was overpriced and they hurried our dishes out, small pieces too, nothing great to write home about . We felt like it was an assembly line, and things were rushed to turn the tables. No plans to return

SanKai continues to be my favorite north-of-Seattle sushi restaurant, and I'd argue it's on-par with some of the top-tier sushi restaurants in Seattle too. At this point, we almost always order the Omakase with some sides. We always try to sit at the sushi bar, if possible, however the last two times we sat outside and had a normal table seat, and still enjoy ourselves. I think it goes without saying that sitting at the sushi bar, anywhere, is always a more enjoyable experience because you get to know the chef(s) which create a more unique experience. But when the quality (especially for the price) is as good as SanKai, then sitting at a table isn't too bad.

What we ordered: - Shiso calamari - Lobster roll - Nigri omakase ($47 for 11 pieces) Tucked away in a little corner, SanKai offers fresh sushi and a stunning view of the water in Edmonds. Omakase is a steal given the amount of pieces you get and the quality that comes with it. Shiso calamari was soft, not rubbery in texture. Pesto had quite a strong basil taste. Lobster roll was generously portioned. Consisted of great quality lobster as well! Nigiri omakase consisted of 11 pieces. Highlights of the night were the snapper, sea bass (suzuki), scallop, and bonito (katsuo). Snapper and sea bass were quite similar, buttery soft. Scallop was up there with the best we have had, dissolved in the mouth with a nice citrus element. Bonito had the smokiness of mackerel and meatiness of tuna, our first time having it and really enjoyed it!

First time back since COVID, and I will definitely be back more often! Four years ago I had their sushi omakase, so got it again and really enjoyed. I appreciate the chef substituting out geoduck which I just cannot eat, and the slices of fish were generous and delicious. Rice was flavored well too, which is so important. We also ordered the braised pork and daikon appetizer and this was nice comfort food on a cold autumn evening. Service was attentive and quick, and I highly recommend reservations because this place fills up fast.

We always enjoy our dinners at SanKai, and will be returning for our 39th anniversary celebration in August 2024. Food is perfect, service is on point, and the space is lovely.

This is the best sushi I've ever had! Every roll is fantastic. Favorites include the spider roll, lobster roll, and Edmonds roll! Must try for dessert the Japanese cheesecake! So light and fluffy The service is always great! Our server was so kind. I love that they still have the outdoor igloos, heated for the winter! So cute for date night.

Seattle has loads of fancy sushi spots, where you can end up shelling out $150 or more per person, not to mention the initial hurdle of trying to book a table a month or two in advance. But then there's SanKai Sushi, a sushi restaurant nestled in the hustle and bustle of downtown Edmonds. It's not massive, but if you book a week ahead, you can snag a spot easily. There's seating outside too, but in the colder months, you probably want to sit in indoors. I made a reservation for a Friday night and the ambiance was lively. On that particular night, walk-ins had to wait about an hour, but that's not the norm. My friend and I decided to skip the rolls and go for small plates and nigiri. For small plates, we got: -Braised daikon -Hotate gyoza -Saba nanban For nigiri we got: -Nodoguro (special) -Freshwater eel -Scallop -Aji -Chutoro -Otoro -Uni And ended with a yuzu mousse cake. Everything was really delicious - and considering what you'd pay in other Seattle spots, it's a steal. I'd say it's worth going a little out of your way to check it out. The service was on point, too, giving me those warm vibes I used to get at sushi places in Southern California when I was growing up. So do yourself a favor and visit SanKai :)

In short: Small but mighty. A tidy and visually clean space with incredible fish, an interesting menu, warm service, and good value. In long: We came in on a Saturday night when they were booked heavily but there were occasional open seats. We finished quickly but had a wonderful time. It's in a row of kinda vintage-y older business buildings down in the Edmonds Bowl. Big decorative sash on the door. You walk in to a small host station (I seriously felt like I should stoop over to talk to the hostess so I wouldn't speak too loudly). There are bar seats, a couple window seats, and a dozen or so table seats against a banquette along the wall. The decor is muted and unobtrusive. You get a welcoming feeling even if it takes you several minutes to notice details. We sat at the bar, expecting even before we got a reservation that we would have omakase--which we did. The online menu explains everything in the same detail you get with the printed menu in house. I have to say as a great big dude that the chairs don't work at all, I either had sharp pains from the knobs digging into my legs or I had to squeeze my thighs so tightly that things got uncomfortable in other ways. For 90+% of the population, though, this won't be an issue at all, so don't hesitate to book. We had the omakase and a bottle of sauvignon blanc. The wine didn't really work; much too tart with the fish. We each ate 14 pieces of sashimi, all nice and buttery and flavorful. Some were unfamiliar, and when it's busy, you might not get the chance to ask about each piece, but that's fine. I kinda hurried through dinner, thanks to the fit of the chair, but it was delicious. We were out the door in under 30 minutes. We'll be back soon and book a table next time so we can stretch out the meal and get more of a sense of the rest of the menu. Awesome spot.

Fresh and delicious! This was our first time here and the perfect spot for a romantic night out. Amazing service and the atmosphere was on point. We couldn't choose what we wanted so shared and a few different dishes. All of the items were amazing, the Nigiri was my absolute favorite.

Food was amazing. Some of the best sushi I have had. The service was amazing as well. Not too far of a drive from Seattle either.

Another visit to Sankai for sushi with my daughter. We tried the igloo outside before it's gone next month. We ordered variety of nigiris as usual. I appreciate Sankai offers per piece nigiri unlike other places. After trying some of my favorite, I order what I thought was best for the second order. The quality of fish is different every time. We liked Maguro this time, both of us ordered more maguro. I thought maguro was a lot better than chutoro. Igloo was very pretty and warm inside with a small space heater surprisingly. We tried the tent last year or the year before, it was so cold I could not stand. So we brought blankets, beanie and gloves just in case. But I ended up taking off my down jacket. It could be nicer if the weather cooperates. Overcast, rain, typical Seattle weather at this time of the year.. The service was excellent even outside. The staff here is very attentive and courteous. This restaurant is the one to visit when we want authentic sushi in north side.

5 of us went here to celebrate my birthday. It was our first time going to SanKai and we are talking about our next rip across the water to enjoy it again. Really good sushi. Great service. Make sure to get the sparkling saki!

Great sushi and really good dessert. I recommend the cheesecake especially. It can get loud inside but the light-up bubbles outside are great. Overall worth it!

I love this place and will take the ferry to have a meal there. Ambiance-wise, it's a small, modest-looking but cosy restaurant that offers an intimate atmosphere. For small parties or individual diners, it offers a sushi bar. When the weather isn't too cold, they put up three geodesic domes made of clear plastic, if you don't mind eating outside. Each has enough room for a table. It's a curious and unique way to dine. It's rather nice at dusk and at night, or on a cloudy day that's not too hot. Food-wise, this restaurant offers very nice, very fresh sushi - definitely one of the better places. It's got such a wide variety of fish and shellfish, including some that are rather hard to find (imports, and locally-sourced products that are usually geared for export to Asia). I don't eat sea urchin and geoduck anywhere, because it's not available most places, but also because when it is, it can have an unpleasant very easily if the chef doesn't take the most care with it. But I have them at SanKai! Drinks-wise, you've got some nice sakes and imported beers available.

Great bang for the buck. The 14 piece omakase with 2 more pieces of otoro sashimi, a nodaguro piece, an octopus piece and a green eyed mackerel piece only cost $120 after tax and tip. I even got tempura brussel sprouts on the happy hour menu. Service was quick and friendly. There's only 12 bar seats but they're totally worth it. There's also lots of seating and the ambiance is cozy. Would return

Had to come back for their Omakase, which is super affordable compared to most places in Seattle. Nonetheless, everything was super fresh and delicious. We asked for the 11 piece nigiri omakase ($47) and our chef asked us if we were wanting more, after our 11 pieces but we were pretty full since we had also gotten a few appetizers and rolls as well. Our chef was fairly quick to present our pieces of nigiri to us and maybe it's because we were having a conversation of our own but our chef didn't talk much besides quietly announcing the sushi we were eating next, so expect a more intimate experience. I've recommended this place to countless friends and have visited quite a few times, always satisfied, so I highly recommend checking this place out! Though it is cheaper than most sushi places in Seattle, it isn't a cheap meal for sure. Remember to make reservations before you go (even on weekdays) because this little restaurant fills up quickly.

I love love San Kai. I almost don't want to leave this 5 star review because I want to say this is Seattle's best kept secret for sushi. People are going to start flocking here!! Eek. If you're into edomae nigiri at places like of Shiro's, Kashiba, Taneda, Wataru, Kappo Tamura, you're going to love San Kai. It is worth the trek all the way to Edmonds. I've been 3 times and Chef Nakano tells me he gets his fish fresh from Japan on Wednesdays and Thursdays. I'm just so impressed by the exotic selection on the fresh fish list, things you would have to pay a premium for at fancier places like Kashiba. Some examples include Sakura trout, firefly squid, copper river king salmon, black snapper, buri, green eyes, belt fish, giant pacific octopus, etc. all kinds of things you would not normally see elsewhere or probably never tried! You can try the same fish caught in different regions in Alaska and Washington. Ever try the difference between mackerel, herring, sardine? Difference between king salmon, sockeye, and trout? Well you can try it all here. I've tried enough omakase to know exactly what pieces of fish I like to eat and I just order a la cart. The prices are extremely good, too, 20% less than Seattle proper. If you're just going to get regular sushi rolls go anywhere else but if nigiri and sashimi is your thing, definitely come here! I like San Kai more than Sushi Kappo Tamura. I would say only Taneda and Sushi Kashiba would top San Kai in quality/presentation and sushi bar experience but only 20-40% more and you're going to pay 2x. One last thing, the dessert isn't anything to write home about. They don't make it in house and I remember they had a weird jello consistency even for things that was supposed to be a creamy mousse. I would skip.

We made reservations for a table in one of the igloos. It was cool! Atmosphere awesome and food OH SO GOOD! Ordered many rolls, appetizers, and plenty of sake for our party. Prices were fair too! The service was top notch. Highly recommend this place

It can be pretty tough to find a decent sushi place that offers edomae style sushi north of Seattle. Fortunately, San Kai in downtown Edmonds offers the the experience and quality sushi that I'm looking for. Although my recent visit wasn't the edomae sushi bar experience that I all so enjoy greatly, I still had an enjoyable meal sitting by the window. After a long day of work, I decided to go all out for the start of my weekend and got myself a nice draft of Sapporo beer and sake to go along with an order of gyoza. The combination of these compliments each other very well. I feel like I have an old soul eating and drinking like this. Haha! We ordered almost all the seasonal nigiri sushi and then some for our main meal. Very satisfying, but it's unfortunate that I need to ask them to brush the sweet soy sauce (nikiri) on them every single time I order nigiri. I feel like this should be an expected treatment for a more high end sushi restaurant, but that's just my personal preference. The service has been very good every time I come here. Just make sure to reserve a table online since the place fills up easily since it's a pretty small restaurant. There's also outdoor seating available if anyone prefers that. I will always go for the bar seat so I can converse with the chef when possible. Be a bit worrisome though. Nigiri sushi tends to slip off of the dish with the slanted table at the bar. I've seen it slide into someone's water once which was funny, but still sad to see it happen. It's fair to say I'll return here again because I have already came back more than once already. Sushi here is for sure worth your time and money.

Almost don't want to review this place so it's more of a secret but SanKai is easily one of the best sushi places in the Seattle region and definitely the best north of Seattle. The chef and staff greet your warmly when you enter the small and intimate restaurant. Make reservations bc it gets busy. If you want a unique experience you can reserve outdoor seating in the heated plastic bubbles! Sushi and all the food we ate are exemplar. It's our go-to sushi place. Ambiance is modern with warm wood decor and nice sushi bar seats; service is excellent--wait staff very attentive and the head sushi chef so welcoming and attentive. We didn't make reservations and tried our luck for two at the sushi bar. Wait staff ending up moving some seating around so we had 2 hours to enjoy our meal! Highly recommend! And try to make reservations! What we ate: miso soup, fried oysters, miso cod, brackett's landing roll, caterpillar roll, seattle roll, eel nigiri, yellowtail nigiri, chutoro (fatty tuna) nigiri, dairy-free mochi strawberry & chocolate

First of two reviews - "obaasan's birthday" - grandma wanted sushi (maguro, hamachi, tako), tsukemono, sunomono, panko oysters, and a raw egg over hot rice. The last one I had to make myself (old school, haha). Sankai supplied the rest. Omago (grandchildren) and my otouto (younger brother) wanted sushi and tempura. As with the previous visits, the food was excellent...beautiful in appearance (even in a "to-go" box)," aroma, and flavor. Stimulating our senses' perceptions, Sankai's attention to detail is exquisite: tenderizing the tako (touch/texture), wakame in the crab sunomono (color/contrast), and of course, the balanced flavors (umami, salt, sweet, sour) of the all the dishes. Obaason reminisced about the kaiseki dinner, served at her otousan's (father's) Beiju (88th birthday) at Togetsu in the old Frye hotel lobby. Otouto (younger brother), from Danville, said the food was as good as the top Japanese restaurants in the bay area. Second review - date-night - my wife and I finally visited, fulfilling my wish to experience the ambiance of my new favorite Japanese restaurant. Friday night, the restaurant is quite busy, we were invited to a two-top facing the street...best seats in the house...watching Edmonds-ites walk up and down Fourth, and the frequent "u-turn" of a Tesla. Most of our dinner was selected from the night's special's menu. As expected, and not to be disappointed, the food was excellent in flavor profile, aroma and appearance. Tempura green beans - tempura served hot is the best! There are few people who work as hard as a dishwasher in a Japanese restaurant. Every menu item is served on a separate plate, with condiments often on another plate or bowl. The benefit (for the customer) is the beauty of each menu item is framed by the dish. For example, my order of five nigiri came on a "right-sized" plate, perfect for the presentation of my food as art. We matched a French "Domaine Louis Moreau Chablis 1st Dru" with our meal, and like the "Drops of God," it was an excellent paring. In a time, when "indifferent" service is accepted as a baseline, Sankai's service was excellent, top-notch. This high praise is based not only on the waitstaff's attentiveness and teamwork, but also their expediency, politeness and mannerisms...a prefect reflection of the Japanese service and hospitality. This dining experience as a whole reminded me of the old school Seattle Japanese restaurants. Tsukushinbo - the street front view. Nikko - the sound of the dining room. Kayo and Bush Garden - the crafting of the sushi. Oishii deshita!

Best sushi in snohomish county for my money. Really enjoy the novelty of the outdoor bubble seating as well. Great for those who like a bit of a private experience while still enjoying dining out.

It's another wonderful dinner by SanKai and crew. From appetizers to sushi to dessert... all dishes are made with fresh ingredients and well thought of Umami in mind. We walked out of SanKai with a happy stomach and full heart ... into a 8ish sunset in the PNW. It's just perfect. Thank you. Note: Reservation is highly recommended

Lovely spot--amaebi w quail egg 4 best bite, like a delightful shrimp custard in your mouth

Better fish quality than other sushi places which are double the price. Best value I have ever had. And I hate using the word value because it makes it sound mediocre...it was incredible. Mouth gasms every bite. This is my new place.

I LOVE Sankai. I have been here multiple times and there is always something new to try as well as a good variety of fish. I literally will eat until my stomach hurts from being full, it's that good. I think out of most places, sankai has the best rotating menu with seasonal fish and lots of options for sushi lovers. The cuts are really good and it's not overwhelming with rice. They didn't put wasabi on all of the nigiri so it was nice to adjust the wasabi amount by adding on top. We got a variety of things: two hot sakes, assortment of nigiri (at least 16 pieces total), two rolls (negitori and spider), sea cucumber, braised/pork dish + rice, and salad with onion/carrot dressing. The total came out to about 180 after the tips/tax which really wasn't bad considering everything that we ordered. DO make a reservation, it's been pretty busy every time I come here, even on the random weekdays. Food Info: The pork/daikon is a dish that isn't found too often at restaurants but was so nostalgic since this is a dish my family makes in the winter time, it truly did not disappoint. Paired with rice makes for a filling but very balanced appetizer. Some of the seasonal fish that we enjoyed was hotaru ika and ebodai (butter fish). In addition enjoyed red snapper, snapper, flounder, the toro was so good-- we kept ordering more every round. The service was exceptional, we had questions about the sea cucumber and the server took time to explain how the dish was prepared (boiled briefly in hojicha which I didn't realize). When the chef heard us asking questions, he offered a small sample before committing to the entire appetizer which was very nice.

The best bang for your buck at San Kai is going for their sashimi/nigiri selection. They have great quality fish and it's always fresh. The price for everything else on the menu is going to be on the high end which makes this place somewhere you'd go for special occasions. This is my third time going to San Kai and each time I explore a new item on the menu so that makes the experience fun. Recommendation: fatty tuna (Otoro) sashimi.

In downtown Edmonds om middle.of.no where a true gem for.Japanese.cuisine Happy hour and.more -try Unagi Donburi @$13 Tempura Brussels Sprouts @$7 Green Bean Tempura @$8 Panko Osyters @$14.50 And if you like Foie Gras try.the amazing Ankimo (Monkfish Liver) Heaven @$12 oh by.the.way sushi is great.too--cozy and.comfortable with.great service with a smile

Tonight my husband and kids surprised me with a birthday meal at San Kai our favorite sushi place! We have been fans of Nakano-San since his early days in Seattle. He had a well deserved night off. James took us on an amazing omakase adventure! He has an exquisite, sensitive and creative touch! I will always remember my very first meal at Kisaku with Nakano-San. Tonight will live amongst that night in my memory! Thank you so much James!

Nasty. They're serving a lot of stuff that just isn't fresh and they've been letting it sit around. The 14 piece nigiri. The rolls. Gross. Stale nasty and old. Sushi that's been sitting around getting old. It's fake. The guys in front aren't actually making your sushi. Recommend you order off the a la carte menu so they have to make it fresh. This was very disappointing at the price point. Blehh!! Restaurant is cute. Service is good. Sushi is plain nasty.