Setsuna Japanese Restaurant, Seattle

Sample Menu

• Small plate: karaage—fried, boneless chicken thighs flavored with a special secret sauce
• Entree: udon noodle soup with shrimp and vegetable tempura on the side
• Dessert: coffee jelly, a traditional Japanese gelatin made from cooled coffee

When to Go

• Any day except Monday, when the restaurant is closed.
• Between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. if you want to sit in the dining room, otherwise you’ll have to move to the bar, which serves dinner and drinks until midnight Sunday and Tuesday–Thursday and until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

What to Drink: Setsuna serves a variety of beer, wine, and liquor imported directly from Japan to help make the experience as authentic as possible. Sample some sweet plum wine, grab a bottle of Sapporo lager, or sip on some 12-year Hakushu whiskey.

Inside Tips

• Stop by on the weekends for a chance to take the stage during karaoke.
• If you missed the one-hour happy hour at 5 p.m., don’t fret—there’s another one that runs 9–11 p.m.

Vocab Lesson
Izakaya: a Japanese style of dining where dishes are ordered and brought to the table in a consistent, casual fashion designed to encourage sharing.
Hamachi: young yellowtail, popular in sushi.

If You Can't Make It, Try This: I Love Bento (7500 35th Avenue NE) serves up Japanese cuisine such as chicken teriyaki and tuna rolls in an unpretentious setting.