Wann Japanese Izakaya

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mango4444

Joined 6 years ago

Authentic. Great food...my favorite is the beef tataki! The prices are very reasonable, especially for being in Belltown. I talked to one of the managers and found out that the chefs are all from Japan and don't speak English (I'm not sure how much more authentic you can get than that). Great decor, service varies depending on who you get, and the presentation is amazing.

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pikake21

Joined 7 years ago

When they say spicy, they mean it!. I came here with a friend, and was pleasantly surprised at the tastes I was able to indulge in. I ordered a couple of small dishes that the server warned me would be spicy (oh come on, I eat spicy food all the time! Bring it on!)...well they were. Really spicy. And I won't even say that I was upset about it...but usually someone will tell you that, and then you pump yourself up to get ready for a super-spicy meal, and it's nothing of the sort. They definitely live up to the expectation. The only thing I would say was a little awkward for me, is that we were one of two tables that actually had patrons sitting at it! I don't know why it was so empty? I understand that it's not the typical Izakaya, but the food is nice and worth a try! I hope that they are now getting busier, because the food was worth the extra cash and the staff was so friendly.

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cristalla

Joined 6 years ago

Not exactly casual, but so darn good!. So I guess "izakaya" refers to a casual after-work hang-out, but this place looks so fancy inside! Maybe that's why it hasn't found its fan-base yet. It's a pity. The food is great. Really great. I've been several times (I work across the street) and have not been disappointed yet. But it's never busy. I hope they make it. This is the most extensive japanese menu I've come across (definitely NOT just sushi) and they've also got an incredibly diverse and original drink menu thanks to James who is Seattle's second best bartender--honestly. (Murray just has a few years on him.)

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m_w_t

Joined 6 years ago

The Best Place Hidden on the Edge of Belltown. I've had my eye on Wann since it opened last year but was reluctant to go because of turn-off reviews I had read.

However, I decided to give it a shot since I was terribly unsatisfied with all the other places in Belltown with mediocre ambience and crappy sushi.

In a nutshell, I was shocked at how good their food and drinks were! My friends and I tried their house salad, chicken tatsu something (basically really good fried chicken), daikon gratin with sesame and miso sauce, short ribs, the wann roll, and a platter of various sashimi - all perfect and reasonably priced, especially for Belltown.

The mix drinks on the menu were light and refreshing, complementing the food. I tried the uzu (apparently a japanese cirtus fruit) sour and creme de cassis oolong tea. I also tried my friend's green apple sour.

To top it off, we each ordered a dessert- the chocolate mousse which was on special that day, the sweet potato cake, and uzu sherbert. Damn! They were all delicious.

After taking care of the check, I noticed a dope graffiti/mural on the wall outside the bar window and decided to lounge in the bar area for a while. They had a full bar with some interesting drinks that weren't on the menu. The bartender suggested a really smooth japanese vodka distilled from rice on the rocks which was good as promised. While I sipped on that, he made my friend a "sunset drink" that starts off as a kamikaze and slowly turned into a cosmo (you'll just have to go and see how it is done) very creative.

The thing that really shocked me though was that the place wasn't packed! Come on Seattle, get off your butt and try this place out. It will show just how outdated the Japanese-style dining scene has been here.

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el_juan

Joined 6 years ago

Best Spicy Tuna Roll. Great Happy Hour!

5 happy hour dishes, 2 alcoholic drinks, green tea, and some juice came out to < $40. Original drinks, elegant dishes, and cold japanese beer on tap make this a favorite of mine. Plus they have the best spicy tuna roll I've ever had and I've been to ALOT of sushi places.

Ambience is chill/romantic. This is a great group and date place.

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trackbike

Joined 7 years ago

Elegant Izakaya. Apparently Izakaya in Japan is more like pub food - inexpensive small plates for an informal after-work bite. Wann is not quite that. It's somewhat expensive, or at least in the same price range as other Japanese restaurants, and the decor is quite elegant. It would be fine to go with a group, but it is also somewhere you might take a date. I think this is a really nice addition to the Japanese restaurants in Belltown, which are more sushi oriented. I was not familiar with a lot of the dishes so it was kind of an adventure. We ordered a bunch of small plates and found the food to be very good to excellent. Our server was also friendly and helpful, the food was served promptly and the presentation was excellent, like you'd expect. I like that Wann is open late (2am) so it is a great option for a late night snack. As this is a neighborhood restaurant for me, I will certainly go back, although it is a little pricey for my budget to go on a regular basis.

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aah35

Joined 8 years ago

Japanese Comfort Food. It's not the sort of Izakaya that I expected. It wasn't smoky enough, rowdy enough, loud enough. I've always associated Izakayas with pub grub and atmosphere, but Wann is decidedly upscale in decor and culinary presentation.

The food is excellent and reasonably priced. A fair number of menu items can't be found anywhere else in Seattle. The cocktails are pricey but top notch - subtle, not too sweet. Cheaper and better option to Umi Sake House.

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Anna Roth

Joined 8 years ago

The Japanese version of a tapas bar, this sleek, modern Belltown space offers small plates paired with innovative cocktails.. The Scene
All the rage in Japan for the after-work crowd, the izakaya craze is just catching on this side of the Pacific. Designed as a spot for friends to nibble small plates while they drink, the space offers a variety of seating options: Groups can cozy up in a booth along the far wall, join the see-and-be-seen crowd at the bar or take a table front and center. The food comes gorgeously arranged and is--almost--too pretty to eat.

The Food
While the usual Japanese suspects are on the menu, the appetizer section, tsumami, holds the best munchies. Fried aonori potatoes, seasoned with dried seaweed, make excellent drinking companions. Little korobuta sausages are flavorful upscale hot dogs. The more substantial duck yanagawa comes bubbling in a stone hot pot, a soothing mix of sliced duck, egg and fried tofu. Dessert is ruled by the not-too-sweet satsumaimo clafoutis--cream layered with sweet potato.