One of the great late night eats in the country is Angel's Share in NYC which serves all forms of japanese street food. If you're ever in the city, bar hopping and hungry at 2am, get in a cab and ask to be taken there (3rd ave and E 9th st); you can thank me later when you sober up. Just like cocoa beans go with milk and sugar, japanese street food goes great with being drunk off your ass.
I have been looking for a place like that in Seattle and one finally opened up. Kushi Bar sits in a newly renovated spot on 2nd ave. The place is shaped like an L with a long narrow room along the street that they open up when full. I think this gives it a very weird, cool vibe enhanced by the bare concrete decor. You sit at simple tables, many of them communal. Perfect, considering the whole point of going to this kind of a restaurant is to order many small dishes to share with close friends as you wind down the night with a few more drinks. It might be a little too clean for a yakitori joint, though.
Yakitori (basically food on a stick) is a very common street food in japan and probably the main reason to go here. They have the common yakitori selections, although not as varied as most. Considering they are one of the few yakitori joints in the northwest, I'm not complaining. You have to order the dark meat chicken and scallions; after that feel free to go nuts. They put a little too much sauce on the meat but seem to be improving. I always order some kind of tempura which is perfectly fried and crisp. The fried rice is also a great choice if you are still hungry. There are a few items I would stay away from. The fish cakes are overcooked and the broth is not seasoned properly. The pancake has the right flavor but cooked too large and thick. Since they just opened, I am hoping things will get better with time.
The service is great and prompt. However, since I am outgrowing my bar hopping days, I end up going here for drinks after work when they tend to be less busy. Near Bell on 2nd. Here are the scores; I follow the Zagat format. P.S.-Unlike Angel's Share, Kushi Bar closes at 2am.
Food: 18
Decor: 20
Service: 22
Cost: $35
http://www.kushibar.com/
206-448-2488
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