Umigawa Sushi
Totem Lake, Kirkland
Restaurant in Kirkland, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Umigawa Sushi is a practical Kirkland pick for an easy sushi meal, especially when dinner timing matters more than a formal occasion. Choose it for lunch, weeknight dinner, or a casual date; look to Café Juanita or The Herbfarm when the meal needs more ceremony.
About Umigawa Sushi
Umigawa Sushi is a Kirkland venue where timing is the main practical detail to plan around. It opens for lunch Monday through Saturday, serves dinner every day, has a slightly longer evening window on Friday and Saturday. The dress code is smart casual, so it works best as a neat but not overly formal outing.
If the goal is to compare it with another named dining option, Café Juanita is a useful point of reference. If the goal is simply to decide when Umigawa Sushi fits into a Kirkland plan, the hours are the most useful guide.
Use it when the schedule fits
The strongest case here is availability across the week. Lunch is listed Monday through Saturday from 11:30 AM to 2 PM, while dinner is listed daily. Monday through Thursday dinner runs from 5 to 8 PM, Friday and Saturday from 4:30 to 8:30 PM, Sunday from 5 to 8 PM.
For broader planning around the area, compare it with Cafe Veloce for another named option, or consider Café Juanita as another reference point. Readers building a full night in town can also use our full Kirkland restaurants guide for wider local planning.
The booking decision is mostly about timing
Choose lunch if the Monday-to-Saturday midday window is the most convenient part of the day. Choose dinner if the evening schedule works better, especially Friday or Saturday when the dinner window starts at 4:30 PM and runs until 8:30 PM. For reservations, pricing, seating, booking difficulty, or other planning-sensitive details, confirm directly before making the trip.
Cross-shopping beyond Kirkland only makes sense if the broader meal plan matters more than the venue itself. The Herbfarm and Café Juanita are useful regional reference points, while Umigawa Sushi is best assessed through its Kirkland location, smart-casual dress code, weekly hours.
Planning details
- Location
- 12670 120th Ave NE suite 174, Kirkland, WA 98034
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- umigawasushi.com
- Phone
- +14252421223
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Umigawa Sushi reads like a serious neighborhood sushi bar tucked into a Totem Lake strip mall: low-overhead, owner-operated, and focused on the fundamentals. The writing highlights a restrained, technically minded approach to Japanese cooking rather than flashy, sauce-forward fare. That chef-driven intent plays out most clearly at the omakase counter, where knife work and fish quality take center stage. The result feels intimate and quietly confident — a spot that rewards regulars and diners who come to appreciate precise nigiri and a measured, chef-led rhythm rather than loud or theatrical service.
Best For
This is a place for diners who prioritize fish quality and technique: couples seeking a focused date-night experience, solo diners at the counter, and neighborhood regulars who return weekly. The omakase format and signature items such as Omakase Nigiri, Toro Tartar and Black Cod Kasuzuke point toward an evening meal built around taste and texture rather than family-style sharing or casual roll-heavy formats. Visitors who enjoy watching a chef curate a progression of bites will get the most from a visit.
Ordering Tips
When you visit, lean into the chef-driven service: the copy explicitly references an omakase counter where the chef dictates the meal, so choosing the omakase or a focused sequence of nigiri is a clear way to experience the kitchen's strengths. If you prefer à la carte, prioritize fish-forward items and the listed signatures — Omakase Nigiri, Toro Tartar and Black Cod Kasuzuke — which showcase the kitchen’s technique. Expect a restrained, precise style rather than heavily sauced rolls; ask the chef or staff about today's fish to tailor the experience.
Venue details
Ambiance
Pleasant, swanky vibe in an intimate and modern room with moderate noise levels.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Intimate
Signature Dishes
- Omakase Nigiri
- Toro Tartar
- Black Cod Kasuzuke
Planning details
Location
12670 120th Ave NE suite 174, Kirkland, WA 98034 · Directions
Also consider
Where to go if this does not fit
If the group wants a more formal celebration, choose Café Juanita over Umigawa Sushi. If the goal is a longer destination meal outside the everyday Kirkland lane, The Herbfarm is the stronger alternative.
Restaurant context
How it compares for Kirkland dinner plans
Umigawa Sushi is the lower-friction choice in this set: easier to place into a normal weeknight and better suited to a casual sushi dinner than a long celebration meal. Cafe Veloce is the better comparison for a relaxed Italian-leaning meal in Kirkland, while Kathakali, An Indian Eatery is the stronger cross-shop when the group wants bolder spice and a more shareable dinner format.
For a special occasion, Café Juanita is the better bet than Umigawa Sushi because it signals a more composed Italian dining experience. The Herbfarm sits even further into occasion territory as a New American destination, so choose it only when the dinner is the event. Von's 1000Spirits - Woodinville makes more sense when drinks and a lively group meal matter more than sushi.
Explore Kirkland
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Umigawa Sushi guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Umigawa Sushi
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Umigawa Sushi | Kirkland | ; | No published awards |
| Cafe Veloce | Kirkland | ; | No published awards |
| Kathakali, An Indian Eatery | Kirkland | ; | No published awards |
| Café Juanita | Seattle | Italian | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #852025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #902024 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #832023 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #92 |
| Von's 1000Spirits - Woodinville | Woodinville | ; | No published awards |
| The Herbfarm | Seattle | New American | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Recommended2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #4072025 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 AAA 5 Diamond Restaurant2024 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #5262023 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Recommended |
How Umigawa Sushi Kirkland compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I eat at the bar at Umigawa Sushi?
If bar seating matters, ask the restaurant directly before you go. Umigawa Sushi is in Kirkland, has a smart-casual dress code, lists lunch Monday through Saturday plus dinner daily.
What are alternatives to Umigawa Sushi in Kirkland?
If you want another named option to compare, Café Juanita and Cafe Veloce are useful references. Umigawa Sushi is the better fit when its Kirkland location and posted hours match your plans.
Is lunch or dinner better at Umigawa Sushi?
Lunch is available Monday through Saturday from 11:30 AM to 2 PM. Dinner is available daily: Monday through Thursday from 5 to 8 PM, Friday and Saturday from 4:30 to 8:30 PM, Sunday from 5 to 8 PM.
What should a first-timer know about Umigawa Sushi?
Plan around the basics: Umigawa Sushi is in Kirkland, the dress code is smart casual, the schedule includes lunch Monday through Saturday plus dinner every day. Confirm any menu, seating, price, or reservation details directly before relying on them.
