Sushi Samurai: What’s Vegetarian Editorial Review

The Sushi Samurai is Seattle’s only 100% plant-based sushi restaurant, and it’s genuinely worth your attention whether you’re vegetarian or not. Located in Queen Anne, it went fully vegan in June 2022, making every roll, nigiri, and appetizer on the menu entirely animal-free. PETA named it one of the top vegan sushi spots in the country. The Google rating sits at 4.7 stars across nearly 800 reviews. That’s not a fluke.

What’s vegan and vegetarian at Sushi Samurai

Everything is. The Sushi Samurai is 100% plant-based, so there’s no need to quiz your server or scan ingredient lists for hidden fish sauce. The entire menu qualifies, including all rolls, nigiri, sashimi, appetizers, and desserts. Gluten-free options are clearly marked, and the kitchen sends gluten-free tamari with takeout orders. If you’re celiac or gluten-sensitive, it’s worth calling ahead to confirm prep precautions, but the staff has a reputation for being accommodating.

Signature dishes to order

Start with the gyoza or edamame to warm up, then go straight to the rolls. The Yoga Roll (tofu, cucumber, and cilantro in sweet chili sauce) gets mentioned in review after review as a crowd favorite. The Queen Anne Roll and Green Goddess Roll, loaded with avocado and sesame, are solid picks for first-timers. For something more impressive, the Seattle Tempura Roll features plant-based salmon with a convincing coral-pink color, avocado, and cream cheese.

The kitchen makes its own vegan proteins from scratch. Vegan salmon comes from konjac root and tapioca starch. Vegan shrimp and prawns use konjac root and potato starch. The spicy tuna is marinated tomato, which sounds unusual until you try it. The tempura-battered konjac shrimp is a highlight, crisp and satisfying in a way that holds up against the real thing. Save room for the mango cheesecake, which is entirely plant-based and regularly gets called out by reviewers as a must-order.

How to order

Make a reservation. The dining room is small, and the restaurant fills up quickly, especially on weekends. You can book through the website or walk in and hope for the best, but the safer bet is to plan ahead. Saturday has a lunch service from noon to 2pm in addition to the evening window, which makes it a good option if you prefer an earlier meal. Online pickup ordering is available if you’d rather eat at home. Catering is also offered and reportedly does well at events.

Expect to spend around $20 to $30 per person for a full meal with appetizers and a couple of rolls. That’s in line with mid-range sushi in Seattle, and the portion sizes are reasonable for the price point.

What to watch out for

The nigiri is the one area where expectations matter. Critics from The Infatuation noted that the imitation salmon nigiri lacks the texture of real fish, describing it as closer to opaque gelatin than fresh fish. That’s a fair read. Vegan nigiri is a hard thing to get right, and the restaurant does better with rolls and tempura items where the konjac proteins get coated and fried rather than served raw-style.

The space is intimate, which is a nice way of saying it’s compact. If you’re coming with a group larger than four, call ahead to confirm they can seat you. Outdoor seating with a covered patio and heaters extends the capacity, but it still fills up.

Is Sushi Samurai worth it?

Yes, clearly. You don’t earn a 4.7 on Google from nearly 800 diners, a PETA national spotlight, and a HappyCow 5.0 by accident. The Sushi Samurai has built a real following, and it draws in non-vegans along with the plant-based crowd. If you’re vegetarian or vegan and want sushi in Seattle, there’s no better dedicated option in the city. The all-vegan kitchen means zero guesswork, the staff knows the menu cold, and the creative use of konjac, marinated tomato, and house-made proteins shows genuine effort rather than afterthought substitutions. Go for the rolls, skip the nigiri if texture purity matters to you, and order the cheesecake.