Sushi Kappo Tamura Menu — What to Order
Published
Verdict: Book the $185 omakase; Taichi Kitamura runs eighteen edomae courses over two hours, Seattle's most serious sushi counter outside Kashiba.
Not for: Not for a quick bite or a big group. This is a twelve-seat counter and a two-hour commitment, wasted on anyone rushing or wanting a scene.
The Sushi Kappo Tamura menu has one headline order: chef Taichi Kitamura's edomae omakase at $185 per person, eighteen to twenty courses across roughly two hours. Behind it sits a serious a la carte nigiri-and-roll programme, one of Seattle's deepest sake lists, and a short Riesling-led wine card. This is a counter for the sushi-led diner, not a scene.
What Sushi Kappo Tamura Actually Is
Taichi Kitamura opened Sushi Kappo Tamura at 2968 Eastlake Avenue East in 2010 with partner Steve Tamura, on the proposition that Seattle needed a serious omakase room outside the Sushi Kashiba bracket. The James Beard Foundation has shortlisted Kitamura for Best Chef Northwest across multiple years. Our Sushi Kappo Tamura review ranks it among Seattle's best sushi, and the Tamura booking guide has the reservation detail.
What to Order at Sushi Kappo Tamura
The omakase counter at $185 per person is the order — eighteen to twenty edomae courses over about two hours, seated at the twelve-seat counter facing the chef. The fish follows the seasonal rotation that Toyosu and the Pacific make possible.
Off the omakase, the a la carte nigiri-and-roll programme is genuinely serious, so a counter seat with a few pieces and sake works if you are not committing to the full run. Kitamura sources from Northwest names like Taylor Shellfish and Skagit River Ranch and keeps a rooftop garden for produce. Pair with the sake list, one of the city's deepest; the wine card is short and Riesling-led.
When to Go and How to Book
Book the omakase counter ahead through OpenTable — twelve seats means it fills, and a weekend counter seat needs a lead time. The a la carte tables are easier for a shorter visit. It is a solo-dining counter as much as a first-date one; Kitamura will run the omakase at the right pace either way.
The Smart Play
If you are sushi-led, take the full omakase and add the sake pairing; if you want a lighter evening, sit at the counter and order a la carte with a couple of pours. Either way it rewards patience over speed. If Tamura is booked, Sushi Kashiba is the higher-profile counter and Sushi by Scratch Seattle the intimate tasting alternative. For the wider field, see our best sushi restaurants worldwide and the broader Japanese dining guide.
View Sushi Kappo Tamura on Restaurants for Kings →
Related Reading
- Our full profile: Sushi Kappo Tamura review.
- How to get the seat: Tamura reservation guide.
- The wider city: Seattle dining guide.
- The higher-profile counter: Sushi Kashiba.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at Sushi Kappo Tamura?
Order the omakase at $185 per person — eighteen to twenty edomae courses over roughly two hours at the twelve-seat counter, with the fish drawn from the Toyosu-and-Pacific seasonal rotation. If you want something lighter, the a la carte nigiri-and-roll programme is serious in its own right. Add the sake pairing; the list is one of Seattle's deepest.
How much is the omakase at Sushi Kappo Tamura?
The omakase runs $185 per person for eighteen to twenty courses across about two hours. That is the counter's headline experience and the reason to book ahead. Sake pairings add to the bill. For a shorter, cheaper visit, the a la carte tables let you order nigiri and rolls without committing to the full omakase run.
Who is the chef at Sushi Kappo Tamura?
Taichi Kitamura, who opened the restaurant on Eastlake Avenue in 2010 with partner Steve Tamura after training under Shiro Kashiba. The James Beard Foundation has shortlisted Kitamura for Best Chef Northwest across multiple years, and he keeps a rooftop garden and Northwest sourcing from names like Taylor Shellfish and Skagit River Ranch.
Where is Sushi Kappo Tamura in Seattle?
It is at 2968 Eastlake Avenue East in the Eastlake neighbourhood, a small room with a twelve-seat sushi counter at the front and four-tops along the wall. It sits a short drive from downtown and is one of the most-considered sushi seats in Seattle's dining scene, an edomae alternative to Sushi Kashiba.