Sushispotting: I Love Sushi, Sushi Yama,

Sushispotting is a multipart series to review all 15 sushi restaurants in Downtown Bellevue. See the whole Sushispotting series here.

#11 Sushispotting: I Love Sushi

Growing up in Bellevue, I think I Love Sushi was the first sushi restaurant in the downtown area when it opened in 1986. I can’t even remember the first time I went there, though the most memorable time was when my husband and I watched a sake-inebriated patron throw his car into drive instead of reverse, and crash through the floor-length windows into the restaurant. All of us eating were very intent on not losing our hard-won tables on a Friday night, thus nobody bothered to get up and inspect the damage. The sushi is that good.

I Love Sushi’s location on Lake Bellevue, however, is not so great for someone who walks or bikes everywhere. It was a veritable Frogger game for me and my friend Ryan to walk from 112th, over 405, use the “crosswalks” on the freeway onramps, and maneuver around the railroad tracks to the Lake Bellevue area.

Once we arrived at I Love Sushi, however, all was forgiven. The staff greeted us with a warm “irasshaimase,” and we were seated and brought (free!) green tea quickly. I was pleased to see that I Love Sushi’s prices were still pretty reasonable; for a full sushi bar-style Japanese restaurant, the prices reflected quality sushi at a neighborhood-joint price point.

As usual, I ordered the daily special bento box for about $12. I received a miso-dressed salad, miso soup, a perfectly cooked salmon teriyaki, white rice, shrimp and vegetable tempura (and they were not stingy on the shrimp- I received 3!), a delicious spicy tuna roll, and possibly the best tuna poke I’ve ever had. Overall, I Love Sushi is in the running with Ginza for Denise’s Favorite Sushi Join in Bellevue. After all, it was yummy, totally worth the scary walk, and isn’t it always pleasing when the oldies are still the goodies.

Freshness: 5 fishies
Roll/Menu Variety: 4 fishies
Value/Cost: 4 fishies
Downtown Bellevue Core Walking Distance: 1 fishies
Proper Sushi Ambience: 5 fishies
Overall Deliciousness: 5 fishies
TOTAL: 24 fishies

I Love Sushi
11818 NE 8th St (on Lake Bellevue)
(425) 455-9090
http://www.ILoveSushi.com/
Monday-Thursday 11:30am-10pm
Friday 11:30am-10:30pm
Saturday 12pm-10:30pm
Sunday 12pm-9pm
#12 Sushispotting: Sushi Yama

I have been eating at Sushi Yama for many years. For me, when a restaurant’s staff knows you, remembers your order, and greets you happily by name when you enter, that goes a long way with me. And so it is with Sushi Yama.

Sushi Yama, yet another of Downtown Bellevue’s 4 kaiten sushi joints, distinguishes itself by being a small, warm, family-owned (and pretty cheap) operation. They’ve definitely had their highs and lows- during the long, protracted Safeway construction, they struggled to maintain a clientele while being trapped behind a large, noisy, dirty construction site. And then, once Safeway opened and business flourished (enough to open a second location in Woodinville), Sushi Maru, another kaiten, opened right across the street. So let’s just say they’re an underdog (and who doesn’t love an underdog?).

When I visited last week, I noticed the conveyor belt wasn’t as varied as it used to be at the height of lunch hour, nor was the waiting area filled with eager sushi eaters. But the owner was warmly welcomed me with a hug, and brought my delicious agadashi tofu soup without my even having to ask. And for all the plates my friend Ani and I ate, my total came to about $20 for both of us. So while Sushi Yama doesn’t have the flash or variety of Sushi Maru, if you want to go where everybody knows your name, and save money to boot, I highly recommend a tasty lunch at Sushi Yama. A friendly, local small business is worth 10 chains any day!

Freshness: 3 fishies
Roll/Menu Variety: 3 fishies
Value/Cost: 5 fishies
Downtown Bellevue Core Walking Distance: 5 fishies
Proper Sushi Ambience: 4 fishies
Overall Deliciousness: 3 fishies
TOTAL: 23 fishies

Sushi Yama
304 105th Ave NE
(425) 451-1111