Moshi Moshi Sushi is Yummy Yummy
Alyssa March 15th, 2009
I’ve walked by Moshi Moshi Sushi on Ballard Ave. many times while visiting the Sunday market, and wished they were open for lunch. Finally I broke down and visited this lovely new sushi restaurant for dinner, and I’m glad I did. Everything I tasted was divine.
Their cocktail menu is full of intriguing drinks, including ingredients like banana chip infused rum, absinthe and egg white. I eventually settled on a Swedish Punch (made with rum, cognac, batavia arrack, lemon, and orange), which was fruity and invigorating.
I spoke with Erik Carlson, who created Moshi Moshi’s bar program from scratch. After spending eleven years in San Francisco managing and tending bars, Carlson returned to his hometown Seattle.
“I was really excited to bring home all my ideas and create my dream cocktail menu,” said Carlson. “We currently have 25 drinks on the menu. We use all premium spirits and fresh squeeze all the citrus daily.”
The food arrived quickly. I sampled the California Roll, Ume Shiso Roll, Chicken Kara Age (fried chicken) and Saba Shio (grilled salted mackerel). The Saba was delicious and buttery, and the Chicken Kara Age was tasty with a bit of squeezed lemon. The sushi rice was just the right temperature and consistency, and the flavor of the rolls I tried was excellent.
According to Carlson, the sushi at Moshi Moshi is more traditional than you might find at some other area sushi restaurants, many of which take a “fusion” approach.
My nearly four-year old daughter came along to the restaurant and although this is not a typical kid-friendly restaurant (i.e. no kids’ menu, crayons or play zone), they did have booster seats and high chairs on offer. She enjoyed her Kappa Roll and ate nearly all of it, including the seaweed. (Though I have to admit my daughter has been eating kappa rolls in restaurants since before she could walk).
It was my husband’s birthday so for dessert we had a surprise green tea crème brûlée with a birthday candle in it, courtesy of the kitchen. Crispy on top, sweet and creamy underneath, it was a perfect finisher.
If you’re trying to save money (and who isn’t in this economy), you might consider visiting Moshi Moshi during one of its two daily happy hours, which feature food and drink specials. Happy hours are Monday through Thursday 4:30-6pm & 10-11:30pm, and Friday & Saturday 4:30-6pm & 11pm-1am.
Carlson points out, “Happy hours are allowing people to eat at their favorite restaurants several times a week.“
Moshi Moshi Sushi - 5324 Ballard Avenue, Seattle, WA 98107 (206) 971-7424
Atmosphere was cool and the design was interesting & fun, leaning more toward fancy cocktails than the streamlined and moderately boring menu. It was nice to see some emphasis on traditional but a bummer to not see it balanced out with anything innovative. Food was ok. Service was prompt. Seemingly reasonably priced and seemingly small portions. We were starving, we spent 50 bux or so, we came home afterward made sandwiches.
It’s a cool place if you want to look cool.
I’m going back to Sam’s.
This place is so great! I had dinner with a friend there last night and I can’t say enough good things about it. The drinks were spectacular, the fish literally melted in our mouths, and the staff was so, so gracious. We ordered Chef’s choice (still can’t pronounce it) and Yoshi brought it out himself! What service! We both found it to be really reasonably priced for sushi, and the portions were ample. Will definitely be back.