Takai by Kashiba in Downtown Bellevue.
The Edomae omakase counter that carries Shiro Kashiba’s lineage to Bellevue Way — a James Beard nominee’s counter, a whisky bar for walk-ins, and reservations worth the planning.
Takai by Kashiba is the most serious sushi counter on the Eastside, and it sits in an unlikely spot: the ground floor of the One88 condominium tower on Bellevue Way, a few blocks south of the Square and a short walk from Downtown Park. The room is small and quiet by design — a chef’s counter, a handful of dining-room tables, and a whisky bar tucked to the side — and dinner runs Tuesday through Saturday in timed seatings, so the whole counter starts together and moves through the courses as one.
The name is the pedigree. Shiro Kashiba is the chef credited with bringing traditional Edomae sushi to Seattle decades ago; Jun Takai, a Kyoto fishmonger’s son who trained in Tokyo and Yokohama, was recruited by Kashiba more than a decade ago and ran the counters at Shiro’s and I Love Sushi before opening this room with the Kashiba family in September 2022. DBN covered the opening, then the takeaway omakase box in 2024, then the weekday bento in 2025 — the same year Takai was named a James Beard Award nominee and Visit Bellevue named the restaurant a Business of the Year.
Downtown has more sushi than any other cuisine, from conveyor belts to the big Lincoln Square rooms, and most of it is fine. This is the one to book for the fish itself — the rice-and-fish relationship Edomae is built on, served at temperature by the hand that made it. Where it fits among the rest is in our guide to the best Japanese restaurants in downtown Bellevue.
What to Order at Takai by Kashiba
There is no printed dish list to pick from — you choose a format. These are the five ways to eat here.
Chef’s Counter Omakase
The full Edomae progression served piece by piece by Chef Jun Takai at the counter. Fixed menu, market price, every seat starts together, no substitutions — this is the reason the restaurant exists.
Dining Room Omakase or A La Carte
Same chef’s omakase at a table, or order from the a la carte list — nigiri and sashimi sets included. The way to bring a guest who wants to pick.
The Whisky Bar
An open-seating whisky bar with a small bar menu for walk-in guests 21 and over. The only part of the room you can visit without a reservation.
Deluxe Omakase Dinner Box
Premium nigiri, sashimi, chirashi, tamago, and seasonal sides packed to go — a limited number each day, ordered ahead on Tock.
Executive Lunch Box
Premium fish and shredded bluefin belly over the house sushi rice, weekday lunch only, limited daily count. The best desk lunch in downtown, ordered ahead.
Takai by Kashiba Through the Years on DBN
DBN has reported on downtown Bellevue since 2005. This is Takai by Kashiba’s story as we covered it, as it happened.
Sushi Restaurant on Bellevue Way, Takai by Kashiba, to Open Sept 8
Chef Jun Takai, recruited years earlier by Shiro Kashiba and lately of Shiro’s and I Love Sushi, opened his own Edomae counter on the ground floor of the new One88 tower.
Omakase at Home? Takai by Kashiba Launches Its Deluxe Omakase Box
A limited daily run of takeaway omakase boxes went on sale through Tock, with managing director Ed Kashiba explaining the idea.
Takai by Kashiba Launches Premium Bento Box Lunch Takeaway in Bellevue
The Executive Lunch Box arrived the same year Chef Takai was named a James Beard Award nominee and the city named the restaurant a Business of the Year.
Browse all Takai by Kashiba coverage in the DBN archive.
Getting There & When to Go
One88 sits between Bellevue Square and Old Bellevue, which makes it easy to walk to and slightly harder to park at.
Getting There & Parking
- Drive: Street parking along Bellevue Way and the numbered side streets, plus paid garages nearby; the closest is One88’s own paid garage with its entrance on NE 2nd Street. No validation, so allow extra time on weekend evenings.
- Light rail: 2 Line to Bellevue Downtown Station, then a roughly 15-minute walk west and south along NE 4th or NE 2nd to Bellevue Way — see our light rail guide
- On foot: From Bellevue Square it is a five-minute walk south on Bellevue Way; from Old Bellevue’s Main Street a five-minute walk north, past Downtown Park.
Best Times to Go
Reservations open on Tock and weekend seatings go first, often weeks ahead; Tuesday, newly added to the schedule, and Wednesday are the easiest nights to land the counter. Seatings are timed, so arrive on time — late arrivals are not seated at the counter once the progression has begun. If you cannot get a table, the whisky bar is walk-in and the takeaway boxes sell out early in the day.
Make It a Night
Keep the rest of the evening on foot: a walk through Downtown Park before your seating, a Main Street bar in Old Bellevue for a nightcap, or a downtown hotel within walking distance if you are making a night of it.
Good to Know
As of August 2026: dinner only, Tuesday through Saturday, in seatings of about an hour and forty-five minutes. Smart casual dress; no infants or toddlers and no children’s menu. Corkage is charged per bottle with a two-bottle maximum, no outside food or cake, and parties of 5 or more carry an automatic 20% surcharge. Private dining and full buyouts are arranged by phone. Wine and sake pairings are offered on a limited basis.
Takai by Kashiba FAQ
Do you need a reservation at Takai by Kashiba?
Yes, for the counter and the dining room. As of August 2026 Takai by Kashiba books through Tock, seatings run about an hour and forty-five minutes, and only a limited number of walk-in seats open up from cancellations. The whisky bar is the exception: open seating for walk-in guests 21 and over, with a small bar menu.
How much is the omakase at Takai by Kashiba?
The restaurant lists the Chef’s Counter Experience at market price rather than a fixed number, so check the current figure on Tock when you book. Plan for a special-occasion tab. Parties of 5 or more carry an automatic 20% surcharge, and the takeaway lunch and dinner boxes are the accessible way to taste the kitchen.
Is there a dress code at Takai by Kashiba?
Smart casual. The restaurant also asks that guests not bring infants or toddlers, does not offer a children’s menu, charges corkage per bottle with a two-bottle maximum, and does not allow outside food or cake.
Where do you park for Takai by Kashiba?
Street parking along Bellevue Way and the side streets, plus paid garages nearby. The closest is the One88 building’s own paid garage, entered from NE 2nd Street. There is no validation, so add a few minutes on weekend evenings.
Can you get Takai by Kashiba to go?
Yes. The Deluxe Omakase Dinner Box and the weekday Executive Lunch Box are made in limited daily quantities and ordered ahead through Tock, with a same-day cutoff. They sell out, so order early in the day.