Seattle Fish Guys — Restaurant in Seattle

They came all the way from Austin Texas and their priority was to visit the Seattle Fish Guys in the Central District. Having lived there in the past I was very familiar with this iconic place. Super cool humans from Hawaii open this a little while before Covid, and then during Covid they expanded their offerings and became a Mecca for all good things raw fish and Asian comfort food.

There was a line when we arrived, of course but the lines moved very quickly because the staff are so adept... and charming. Besides the line gives you a chance to figure out what you want because you walk in with one idea and then you see everything else and begin to change your mind. It's when you see the eel/Inagi and the salmon belly on display.

When we walked in we were thinking pokey when we walked out we had also ordered three of the just shucked fresh Uni which were 3/$10 -- a fantastic price, as well as the iconic Hood Famous Ube cheesecake, and we ordered the spicy tuna poke, the creamy salmon poke, spicy salmon poke, and some scallops. The sides we chose included: the seaweed salad, kimchi, and the mac salad -- which should not be underestimated.

We also tried for the first time Inari Sushi: five pieces for just $9.99 -- it is the best deal in the house and the flavors are extraordinarily good: Hokkaido scallops with truffle, spicy Otoro tuna, basil garlic salmon with fresh ikura caviar (salmon roe), and uni. If you try nothing else while you're there take one of these home.

Also to home some salmon chirashi because as the photos show: the salmon slices were so thick and fresh. This place is always innovating and one of the new products I saw was travel bags of smoked salmon that you can take back to family. The price was amazing (6 POUNDS of smoked salmon for $150 -- that will take care of any family gathering and no one will say that you scrimped) and I'll be back to pick that up for Christmas holiday travel. There were also advertising shrimp udon! They're simply wasn't enough stomach for all the food we wanted to try.

They coolers packed with the right sake or the specialty drinks that we had growing up, ranging from the sweet stuff like Calpico,to familiar bottles of chilled green tea.

And just when you think you can leave, at the counter they plant warm spam musubi -- slay me now. It's hard not to take one home for the kids.

Expect to throw down while you're there, but because the value is so great and the food tastes so amazing, you'll feel like that was the best money you spent.

Highly recommend. And that's an...

Food is alright but the customer service falls well below par, to do it justice I will provide the full scope:

First time ordering, I had family coming into town and wanted to enjoy some sashimi at home. I called and ordered a small plate with some oysters (shucked). Day of, family flight got canceled and I know it’s a small business so I didn’t want to not show. I went in and asked if I can downgrade the order or what they could do; if not, I was willing to pay. After attitude about how I should’ve given them a heads up… I paid for the full thing and invited some friends over and it was fine. I dont think the attitude was proportional to a customer willing to pay, but I shrugged it off, as my family’s flight got canceled last minute.

Fast forward to today. Family rebooked their flight and I called for a medium order. This time, it was a larger group. After discussing with the family, we decided we wanted a large platter. I called and a gentlemen picked up who didn’t speak English very well. I asked if he could upgrade my order to a large and he explained he didn’t know how and they just closed. I told him I understood and will just order oysters and poke day of. When I went in to pick up, I ordered the salmon and oysters as I said I would, but I noticed it was upgraded to a large… I explained to them I was told it couldn’t be upgraded the previous day. Mind you, I’m still willing to pay. Just curious about the communication error. Same lady giving me attitude from the first time, started going how I called and had her upgraded and how I’m just doing this again. Mind you, I never spoke to her, nor was not willing to pay at any point. The gentlemen helping said they could put the poke back and I said sure, paid for everything. The another gentlemen who helped with the oysters said I need to make sure I get my order right next time and there’s no way they spoke to me the previous day….. I told him I could pull up my phone log as proof that I spoke to someone. Once again, lady from the back is yelling about how it’s a trend and I need to get it right….

Honestly, I was willing to pay the entire time during this excursion, I simply just asked clarifying question. As an international traveler and foodie, this has been the worst experience, customer service wise.

Secondly…. I never threatened nor was unwilling to pay. Even after all of that, I paid and left.

It just did not sit well with me, thus why I decided to...

I came with my boyfriend the Thursday after Labor Day. Also got catfished in by the number of great reviews but didn’t feel it was anywhere near a high 4 star establishment. We’re from New York and we came around 6pm and weather was in the mid 60s and we’re in the middle of a 11% inflation - so take this review with a grain of salt. (Heads up, located in a somewhat suss part of neighborhood)

We ordered about $70 worth of food. Two pokes (one with spicy salmon which was the most popular and the other with scallop which a young girl recommended) and Mac & Crab / Seaweed Salad as sides. We also got a crab panini w clam chowder. We also picked up two large musubis (shrimp tempura and pork katsu)

I’ll start by saying the most redeeming character is the staff. Super friendly, probably family owned. The other star is for the immense selection of interesting drinks and the $1 Calpico fountain drink made from concentrate (which was very reminiscent to me because that’s how my mom made it when I was younger).

Now for the actual meal… Spicy salmon was definitely not the freshest. You can see that the corners of the fish have started to brown. There’s a fishiness that grows in your mouth as your keep eating. The scallop (which I feel like is actually clam) tasted like clam and is neither sweet nor creamy as fresh scallop typically is. The mac and crab salad was ok and you can’t go wrong with seaweed salad. The warm rice was quite delicious though with a nice seaweed dusting. So awesome job there.

The crab panini I believe is imitation crab and when toasted had a twinge of sourness to it. The clam chowder was absolutely sour (Ie: it tastes like the cream was spoiled) - we took one sip and threw out the remaining. Goodbye $19.99.

We haven’t had the musubi yet. We’re betting this is probably the safest but will let you know how it tastes.

I really, really wanted to like this place - especially because it seemed like a family run place. But unless the quality of the food picks back up - I’m afraid this place will continue to fall on hard times.

Travelers, please don’t make the same...