MIGAKU

  4.9 – 272 reviews   • Japanese restaurant

Social Profile:

Migaku Sushi Kaiseki, located in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, offers authentic Japanese kaiseki cuisine crafted by owner-chef Migaku, who has over 20 years of experience in Japan. Each dish is carefully prepared using fresh local seafood and premium ingredients imported from Japan, delivering an exceptional dining experience. The restaurant’s serene interior features handcrafted furnishings and warm lighting, creating the perfect atmosphere for special occasions or a refined evening out. Reservations are recommended. Visit our website or contact us for more details. We look forward to welcoming you to Migaku Sushi Kaiseki.

✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in MIGAKU 98107

Address and Contact Information

Address: 6201 15th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107

Phone: (206) 373-1570

Website: https://migaku-seattle.com/

Menu Photos

migaku-seattle.com

Photo Gallery

Related Web Results

Migaku | Authentic Japanese Sushi Kaiseki Courses | Ballard …

Migaku is located in Ballard, Seattle, WA. Chef Inaba from Japan serves authentic Japanese omakase sushi kaiseki cuisine courses.

migaku.sushi_kaiseki.seattle – Instagram

MIGAKU Sushi & Kaiseki | Ballard, Seattle ✨ Seasonal ingredients, crafted with precision 6201 15th Ave NW, Seattle, WA Opened Dec 23, 2024 …

Menu | Migaku | North Seattle, WA

Experience the elegance of traditional Japanese dining with Migaku Seasonal Kaiseki Course, carefully curated menu offers a delightful journey through the …

Last Updates

Reviews

Kaitlyn Corley
Honestly, an incredible experience. I would do this any day. The food was incredible, intimate, and the chefs were amazing.

Each course felt like a different experience, all delicious, tasteful, and beautiful. I could tell everyone around me was enjoying the experience just as much as I was.

This was a beautiful gift for my partner for Valentine’s Day and it felt like such a special moment that I would come back here for any special occasion just to experience it again.

The attentiveness of the chef and service was beyond what you can get at just a fine dining restaurant. This was a step above that in so many ways.

To be honest—my favorite was how excited and happy the chef was to serve his menu for us. It left you feeling happy and satisfied. The food was the best omakase I have had in the Seattle area.
… more
Emily Hernandez
My fiancé took me here on my birthday and I will say this was the best birthday ever! The chef is so nice and the food is absolutely spectacular! Every single thing was delicious and you could tell he has a passion for what he does. We came on a Thursday and had a private chef experience We left stuffed with our bellies full and so so happy! Will be coming back ❤️
… more
Jack Hsue
Migaku is a revelation in Seattle’s culinary scene – a masterclass in authentic Japanese cuisine that’s transported straight from the streets of Shizuoka. The Kaiseki-style dinner is a sublime journey, with each course showcasing the chef’s unwavering dedication to tradition and innovation. The fish, shipped from Japan within 24 hours, is a revelation – its freshness and flavor evoke the revered fish markets of Japan. This is omakase at its finest, elevating the senses with every bite. For those seeking a genuine taste of Japan, Migaku is an absolute must – a restaurant that redefines the boundaries of Japanese cuisine on the West Coast. Menu changes once a month. Can wait to taste February.
… more
Grace Skowronski
Everything was AMAZING here. I sometimes have a hard time eating things depending on the texture, and have gone to an omakase dinner at another restaurant before and it was difficult for me to get through (completely on me, not the restaurant’s fault at all). This place had so much variety though and was so so enjoyable, so even if you’re someone that struggles with certain textures, I’d say this is still a good bet! Everything was delicious, and they were so thoughtful. I gave my partner my shrimp nigiri, because I’m not a huge fan of shrimp. I went to the bathroom, and when I came back there was a different nigiri on my plate that they had made me since I didn’t eat the shrimp! How kind! They were humble and fun to watch. Definitely will be back.
… more
Tuyen Truong
My husband and I came to celebrate our anniversary and got seated at the counter, right in front of the chef. We got the kaiseki course. Every dish was exquisite, marked with thoughtful intention—from the thinly sliced sashimi to the decorative herbs and fruit on each handcrafted ceramic plate.

Even though we knew the menu structure, we were delightfully surprised with each food item, which rotates monthly. Everything was like edible art.

The chef noticed that I was struggling to eat the large sashimi pieces because I kept biting them in half, so he started cutting them in half for me. This speaks to their high level of attention and service. He made us feel welcome and cared for, which made the dining experience that much more enjoyable and memorable.

It’s impossible to choose a favorite food item because everything was so delicious. However, I was really impressed with the uni because it was the most creamy I’ve ever had. I usually avoid uni because all the ones I’ve had prior left a foul taste in my mouth, but this one did not do that at all. All the fish were fresh from Japan or other local sources. The chef prepared every sashimi in front of us at the counter.

We’ll definitely be back to try other creative menu items.
… more
Erika Doan
I discovered Migaku on Google last night and immediately went to their website to make a reservation. The earliest availability online was several days out, so on a whim, I decided to call. I’m so glad I did. The staff was incredibly kind and accommodating, and they graciously fit us into their schedule with less than two hours’ notice that same day. Pro tip: if you’re hoping for a last-minute reservation, give them a call…you may get lucky with a cancellation.

A quick note on logistics, the restaurant offers street parking only. We arrived around 7:15 PM and had no trouble finding a spot nearby.

For dinner, we chose the Kaiseki Dinner Course ($170 per person) and initially planned to order the five-sake flight ($80) each. Our waiter thoughtfully suggested that we share the 5 sake flight, as the pours are generous. We truly appreciated his honesty and guidance. It was exactly the right call. By the second sake, I was already feeling a bit Tipsy.

Each course was beautifully crafted and thoughtfully presented. The experience felt as authentic as it get. Take it from someone who visits Japan yearly. The chef’s attention to detail and quiet dedication to his craft were evident in every dish. At one point, he surprised us with extra toro, and when I mentioned how much I love uni, it seemed he added a little extra just for me. Such a kind and unnecessary gesture, but one that made the evening feel even more special.

I’ve noticed some comments mentioning that the chef isn’t very talkative. In my experience, that’s quite customary in Japan. Chefs are often fully immersed in preparing each course with precision and prefer to let the food speak for itself, allowing guests to savor the experience without interruption.

It’s also worth noting that the menu changes every Wednesday, which makes each visit unique. I wholeheartedly recommend Migaku to anyone who appreciates authentic kaiseki/omakase-style dining. It was truly a memorable and heartfelt experience. We would definitely come again.
… more
Jason Diu
Felt quite underwhelmed by Migaku despite the rave reviews. The highlights were the yakimono (grilled salmon was the seasonal dish) and the nigiri, but the rest of the courses fell flat. The ambience is quiet, making it easy to talk but I would’ve liked some soft music in the background lighten the vibe and cut through the eeriness – it felt a bit “sterile” in that sense.

Service was friendly and attentive.
… more
Nata
If you’ve ever wanted to experience authentic Japanese fine dining in an omakase format, MIGAKU truly delivers.

Each course is thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and crafted with exceptional attention to detail. The freshness and balance of flavors were outstanding.

Perfect for a date night or a special evening to share with friends.

Reservations are highly recommended — it’s an intimate space and tends to fill up quickly.
… more
Annalise Sittser
Great experience for my birthday at Migaku! So many flavors, so much delicious food, and great wine. The presentation and thoughtfulness on the each portion was stunning. Everything was a masterpiece! I cannot wait to go back and will be telling all my friends to go!
… more
Vivian Ta
Heard that this place was new so I had to give it a try. There were 3 choices that one could choose from at booking, the season kaiseki for $140/pp, the migaku kaiseki for $170/pp, and the chef’s special kaiseki for $300/pp. Since it was my first time, I chose the mid tier hoping to get a good baseline. For $170, the price is was on par with some of the well established omakase/kaiseki locations such as LTD Sushi, Sushi Suzuku, and etc.

My overall feeling of the night was a mixture of this is just OK and oh that was different. The food unfortunately didn’t leave that memorable of an impression on me. Like another reviewer had already mentioned, because there’s a mixture of tables and bar seating and what seemed like lack of staff, the chef had to cut all the fish for everyone dining there that night and leave it sitting out for 30-45 min. He presented it on a nice platter, but it was still just sitting out for a long time before they were served.

The only piece of fish that I thought was really good and different was the akami served with a touch of honey mustard. The akami was prepared super well, very soft and the honey mustard added an unexpected flavor that I didn’t know was going to hit the way it did. So kudos on that.

There were also some weird ones like the orange potato au gratin dish that replaced the chawanmushi. It was oddly sweet…and was just really weird and didn’t feel like it was a good addition/replacement on the menu.

Service wise, our servers were really attentive in terms of removing finished plates and refilling water, but where it really left a bad taste in our mouths was how it felt like we were treated by the head chef. The couple next to us got the $300/pp kaiseki and it felt like they were treated better than us because they had spent more money. The head chef was on their side the whole time, smiling and exchanging playful banter (as much as he could since he wasn’t a fluent English speaker) but didn’t look at us once. It was only us and the other couple at the bar so you can imagine how awkward this was. I tried many times to make eye contact but felt like his gaze was somehow averted every time.

What really hit home was the fact that the person who served us our nigiri at the bar was their hot foods chef that didn’t seem to know what he was doing. He had to ask the head chef numerous times throughout the night on whether or not the nigiri was prepped correctly before serving it to us…and he looked like he had trouble handling the nigiri in general. They turned out fine, but it really felt like we were given second class treatment because we paid less. If this place left a better impression on me with the $170/pp option, I was considering going back for the $300/pp option, but after seeing what the other couple got in terms of food and my experience, I think this place is a one time try for me.
… more
… View more

Leave a Comment