My Quest For All You Can Eat Sushi In Seattle (4 Options)

I’ve always felt that Seattle doesn’t quite get the recognition it deserves when it comes to food.

Despite having no Michelin-starred restaurants (through no fault of its own), Seattle can hold its own in nearly every genre of dining.

Except one: all-you-can-eat places.

For some reason, buffets and AYCE joints are in short supply here—which isn’t exactly helpful in an overpriced city. After all, how am I supposed to enjoy the supposedly world-class seafood of the PNW if I can barely afford my $2,400 apartment? Enter all-you-can-eat sushi.

Seattle has a few decent all-you-can-eat sushi places, although you have to stay up to date—they tend to come and go regularly.

So, as of now, these are my favorite places to get all-you-can-eat sushi when I’m in the city. I should also mention: they’re the only places I know of.

Also, if you’re a sushi fan, don’t come to Seattle thinking you’re going to get excellent bargain sushi. Seattle has excellent sushi—but the lower-tier stuff is the same as everywhere else.

Add in the fact that most AYCE sushi places run around $30 or more, and it gets harder to justify when you could just spend the same and get higher-quality sushi a la carte.

But if you won’t be deterred, let’s get to it!

Best AYCE Sushi Restaurants In Seattle

Trappers (Multiple Locations)

Trapper’s is first on this list for a couple of reasons. First off, it’s the best. Second, it’s the only actual sushi house I know of that does all-you-can-eat.

Most places have a lower-grade (or smaller portion) AYCE option, but at Trapper’s you get access to nearly the full menu, and the rolls are full-size.

The biggest drawback at Trapper’s is the wait. You can only order the all-you-can-eat option if you’re seated at the sushi bar, where seating is limited. You can usually get seated quickly if you’re ordering off the regular menu, but we’ve waited up to an hour for a bar seat.

Prices vary (as does the menu) based on the time of day. On my last visit, lunch was around $25 per person and dinner was closer to $35.

Unless you’re pinching pennies or need to accommodate someone in your group who isn’t a sushi fan, Trapper’s is your best bet for AYCE sushi in Seattle.

Bonus tip: the best Trapper’s location isn’t in Seattle—it’s about 30 minutes away in North Bend.

Asian Buffets With Sushi

Mandarin Buffet (14850 NE 24th St, Redmond)

Mandarin Buffet—and the rest of the places below—aren’t sushi-centric. Yes, they offer AYCE sushi, but they’re primarily Asian buffets that also happen to have a sushi bar.

That said, you can eat all the average sushi you want here, along with shrimp, crab legs, and even lobster if you hit the right time of day.

Mandarin is a solid choice overall, not just for sushi. In fact, I’ll go ahead and say it’s the best Asian buffet at this price point in the Seattle area… even though it’s technically in Redmond.

Feast Buffet (485 Renton Center Way SW, Renton)

Feast is another option where you can load up on sushi. It’s not my top pick, but I’ve been here a couple of times and I’ll probably end up here again.

The main issue is value—if you’re only here for sushi, the $35 price tag feels steep for what you get. If I’m paying that much, I’d rather be at Trapper’s. If I want a buffet that includes sushi, I’d head to Mandarin. If I’m already down the street and someone wants to go, sure—I’ll go to Feast.

Mizuki Buffet (17950 Southcenter Pkwy, Tukwila)

Rounding out the list, Mizuki Buffet is another large buffet that includes sushi among its offerings.

Full disclosure: I haven’t actually been to Mizuki myself. Friends advised me not to bother—but it’s still around, so it must be doing something right for someone.

Last I checked, lunch was $21, dinner was $30, weekends were $37, and prices are higher on holidays or during special seafood nights.

Non-AYCE Sushi Recommendations

Now, if you aren’t totally set on AYCE you can probably spend the same amount of money (or less) and get better sushi. In a city known for having decent food, buffets probably shouldn’t be on the top of your list.

If you need your fix but don’t want your shoes sticking to the floor in the buffet line, here are a couple of other options.

If You’re Looking To Save Money – Sushi Blossom

In the “best sushi for the price” category we have a relative newcomer to the Seattle food scene: Sushi Blossom.

Sushi Blossom is a takeout-only place but they do generous service of very fresh sushi and sashimi for around $25.

Sushi Blossom actually does have a couple (like 4) seats at a narrow bar that is available if you ask. Otherwise, there are quite a few spots in the area where you can relax if the weather is nice.

If you don’t want a take-out or AYCE place, just go to Trapper’s and don’t sit at the bar.

If You Want Seattle’s Best Sushi Experience

I won’t get into any spats about what the “best” sushi place is in Seattle as my palate simply isn’t discerning enough to know.

However, in any conversation about Seattle’s sushi, you’ll be respected if you can name-drop either Sai or Taneda.

Both are in ultra-high demand so you’ll have to get reservations well in advance and pay a pretty penny for the evening. However, it’s probably the best sushi you’ll find anywhere in the PNW and has to be up there on the west coast as a whole.

Conclusion

I hope I didn’t burst your bubble too much, but the AYCE options in Seattle are pretty limited—and the truly great ones are even rarer.

I can fully recommend Trapper’s…and that’s about it. Mandarin’s a decent second-tier choice if you’re more buffet-minded. Beyond that, you’ll need to decide how much sushi you want, how far you’re willing to drive, and whether quality or quantity matters more that day.

Know a spot I missed? Let me know—I’d love to add it to the list.