The Verdict
Hiro Tawara opened wa'z on Tilikum Place in Belltown in March 2018, after years cooking kaiseki in Japan. He writes one menu a month and resets it on the first Wednesday, so the room never serves the same dinner twice in a season.
The format is the point. A six-course kaiseki runs in the dining room; the eight-course version at the counter, narrated course by course by Tawara himself, is the one to book. It is priced at $175 before service, built on set kaiseki courses such as the hassun seasonal medley, a clear dashi suimono and a binchotan-grilled fish, drawn from Pacific Northwest produce and the Japanese calendar of 24 solar terms.
The Kitchen
Chef-owner Hiro Tawara cooks one kaiseki menu a month and resets it on the first Wednesday, so each visit tracks the season and the 24 solar terms of the Japanese calendar. The eight-course counter menu is the signature experience: Tawara plates and explains each course himself, moving from the hassun seasonal medley through a clear dashi suimono to a binchotan-grilled fish and a rice course. It is $175 before service; the six-course dining-room version is shorter and a little less involved. Ingredients lean Pacific Northwest, with local seafood, mushrooms and vegetables handled in classic Kyoto technique. Seattle Met and the Seattle Times both reviewed it after the March 2018 opening.
The Room
wa'z is a small, spare room on Tilikum Place, the little Belltown plaza around the Chief Seattle fountain. Pale wood, low light and a short counter set the tone; the counter, with its view of the pass, is where the eight-course menu is served and where the evening makes the most sense. It seats a handful at a time and runs hushed and deliberate rather than busy, which suits a long tasting. Reservations open sixty days out for up to six guests, and the menu theme rotates with each month.
Best for a Quiet Dinner for Two
Book wa'z for an anniversary or a calm celebration dinner where the meal is the conversation. The counter seats only a few, the pace is unhurried, and a single narrated kaiseki removes every ordering decision. It suits couples and solo diners who want ceremony and seasonal Japanese cooking over a long, quiet evening rather than a loud night out.
Not For
Not for a group, a quick bite, or a budget night. wa'z serves one set kaiseki at $175 before service, runs several hours, and seats only a handful at the counter, so there is no a la carte, no fast option, and no room for a large party.
Reservations
wa'z releases reservations sixty days ahead for up to six guests, and the counter goes first, so book early and ask for it when you do. The restaurant is at 411 Cedar Street on Tilikum Place in Belltown; the menu changes on the first Wednesday of each month. Choose between the six-course dining-room menu and the eight-course counter when you reserve, and note any dietary needs in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is wa'z worth it?
Yes, if you want a quiet, set kaiseki rather than a flashy night out. Chef Hiro Tawara writes one menu a month and serves the eight-course version at the counter himself for $175. The Seattle Times found the value uneven, so book the counter, where the cooking and the course-by-course narration justify the price most clearly.
How do I book wa'z and what does it cost?
wa'z opens reservations sixty days in advance for up to six guests, and the chef's counter sells out first, so reserve the moment the date opens. The eight-course counter kaiseki is $175 before drinks and service; the six-course dining-room menu is shorter and lower. The menu changes on the first Wednesday of each month.
What should I expect to eat at wa'z?
Expect a single seasonal kaiseki, not a la carte. Each menu moves through set courses such as a hassun seasonal medley, a clear dashi suimono, a binchotan-grilled fish, sashimi and a rice course, built from Pacific Northwest seafood and produce with Kyoto technique. Chef Hiro Tawara resets the whole menu monthly to track Japan's 24 solar terms.
Is wa'z good for a date or special occasion?
wa'z suits an anniversary or a quiet celebration for two better than a big group night. The counter seats only a handful, the room is hushed, and the narrated kaiseki gives a couple a shared, unhurried experience. For a date in Seattle, request the counter and let the chef set the pace across the full eight courses.
Also in Seattle
Explore the full Seattle dining guide, or compare it with Sushi Kashiba and Canlis. See our tasting-menu and fine-dining guides, and the best tables for an anniversary.