Bellingham’s sushi scene rewards a discerning palate with fresh fish, comfortable rooms, and prices that suit both a casual lunch and a relaxed evening. From pristine nigiri to playful rolls, poke, and bento friendly plates, there is a fit for date night, family gatherings, and easy takeout.
Let’s get to it.
Blue Fin Sushi
Value quietly wins at Blue Fin Sushi. In a tidy strip-mall nook on Bellingham’s north side, it turns out dependable fish and generous bento boxes that make weeknights easy.
The menu straddles classic and crowd-pleasing. Order à la carte nigiri or sashimi, and note that salmon gets frequent praise for freshness. Then add a roll for fun: Seattle roll, Sushi Dragon, California, spicy tuna, all nicely built without drowning in sauce.
For mixed groups, bento boxes are the play. Unagi bento, chicken teriyaki, and crisp tempura keep non-raw eaters happy, while vegetarians have vegetable rolls, kappa maki, and veggie tempura. Prices sit in the casual to mid range, bento offers the best value, and even the pricier picks stay mainstream for Bellingham.
Seating is cozy and limited, so many favor takeout or quick pickup. Given the small room, beer and a modest sake list are welcome additions. No omakase theatrics, just solid everyday sushi that travels well and hits the spot.
Goji Fusion Bistro
Sushi that plays well with others. A long-running local favorite, Goji Fusion Bistro leans into the fun side of fusion, placing crisp rolls next to Korean, Japanese, and Thai comfort dishes without losing freshness or balance.
Expect roll forward plates, from California and shrimp tempura to a bulgogi riff. Combos pair teriyaki with a maki set for a satisfyingly full table. Portions are generous, seafood tastes freshly prepped, and prices stay friendly.
It is casual in the best way, with an open dining room, outdoor tables, and a lively, family friendly hum. Lunch specials land in the 8 to 15 dollar range, a smart weekday stop. A small bar backs it up with signature cocktails and a tidy sake selection.
Choose this spot when a group wants variety and value. Vegetarians and the gluten aware get real options, and staff handles substitutions without fuss. Takeout and delivery are efficient, and catering is available. Omakase purists, look elsewhere; roll lovers will be happy.
Kuru Kuru Sushi
Plates glide past on a tiny track, and the fun is deciding when to pounce. Kuru Kuru Sushi keeps conveyor-belt dining lively without bruising the budget.
Most plates are modestly priced, so sampling feels guilt free. Start with salmon or tuna nigiri, then a Seared Salmon Roll or the baked-scallop number. The per-plate format makes portion control simple, and it is easy to share.
Quality here reads as fresh, everyday sushi, not hushed omakase. Nigiri draws praise, though busy nights can be inconsistent, a conveyor quirk. When something catches the eye but seems scarce, ordering it made to order often pays off.
Grab from the belt, or ask for made to order hot items and specialty rolls. Seating mixes bar seats with a few small tables, and waits can build, so earlier arrivals tend to fare better.
Set in the Bellwether waterfront area, it suits a casual lunch, a low-key date, or an easy family outing. Vegetarian rolls and cooked options keep non-raw eaters happy. Takeout is available if the belt bustle sounds like too much today.
B-Town Kitchen And Raw Bar
Seafood towers steal the spotlight here, and the sushi leans modern. B-Town Kitchen and Raw Bar treats the Pacific Northwest like a pantry, layering Asian and Mediterranean touches onto oysters, sashimi-style bites, and poke bowls.
Set within the Four Points by Sheraton Bellingham, it behaves like a polished hotel dining room, not a hushed sushi counter. No chef’s-counter theatrics, just a friendly raw bar and a menu broad enough for mixed groups, including fish and chips or a steak. Prices sit in the mid-to-upscale casual zone, with poke and starters in the 20s and seafood towers climbing higher.
Order a dozen from the tide list, then share a roll that favors creativity over strict nigiri tradition. Sourcing skews sustainable and regional, with catches from Washington, British Columbia, California, and Alaska.
The bar earns its keep. Expect smart cocktails, 16 taps heavy on local craft, and a Northwest-leaning wine list, plus attentive service. The heated patio with fire pits sweetens an evening, while reservations and to-go make planning painless.
Best suited to shellfish lovers and groups who want a lively, comfortable setting with thoughtful service, rather than a temple of sushi. Bring an appetite for briny things and a willingness to share.
Asian 1 Restaurant Bellingham
A big-tent menu and easy prices define Asian 1 near Bellis Fair. It reads casual, it prices fair, and it is designed for groups that do not all crave raw fish.
Rolls lead the show. Think spicy tuna, salmon, eel, tobiko, plus a parade of specialty numbers like Dragonfly and Golden Asian. Nigiri is present, but the experience is roll forward, à la carte, and served at tables rather than a traditional sushi counter. No omakase here, just choose your own.
Budget notes matter. Lunch specials run in the single digit to low teens and stretch nicely, and reports of a pre-evening happy hour make it even kinder on the wallet. There is a full bar for a cocktail or beer, while sake details are not front and center.
Cooked and crunchy rolls abound, alongside vegetarian standbys, gluten friendly markings, and lighter entrées for the sushi curious. Takeout and online ordering are straightforward, and reservations are accepted for easier planning.
Service leans casual and can bog down at peak times, and some reviewers note occasional dips in sushi freshness. If a chef’s counter and precise omakase are nonnegotiable, this will not be your stop. For comfortable prices, broad variety, and a group friendly setting, it delivers.
Oishii Teriyaki
Value first, flavor right behind it. Oishii Teriyaki pairs a roll-happy sushi board with comforting teriyaki, so mixed groups win.
With over 30 specialty rolls made to order and prepared fresh daily, the sushi leans playful rather than purist. Crunch, Golden Cali, Philadelphia, and a local nod to Bellingham show up, along with vegetarian-friendly combinations. It is not a high-end nigiri temple, and that is the point. You get variety and crowd-pleasing flavors at neighborhood prices.
Beyond the rolls, teriyaki bento boxes, yakisoba, seaweed salad, and unagi keep non-sushi eaters happy. Family-run since 1993, the place keeps a quick-service rhythm in the Bakerview area, with compact seating and fast carryout. Prices stay kind, and popular items can sell out late, so earlier visits tend to yield the best selection.
Skip it if you want a sake list and a long, lingering dinner. Choose it when convenience, value, and a broad menu matter, whether you are feeding teens, coworkers, or a roll craving that will not quit.
Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse
Fire, flying shrimp, and a solid sushi list share the stage at Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse. The hibachi chefs put on a lively show that keeps kids wide-eyed and grownups grinning, while the sushi bar offers a calmer perch for a more focused bite.
Nigiri and sashimi stay in steady rotation, joined by classic and playful specialty rolls. The fish is presented as fresh and local, though sourcing details are light. There is no set omakase, though a chef’s-choice combo is sometimes available on request.
Beyond sushi, non-sushi eaters and vegetarians are fine here. Tempura, katsu, udon, and teriyaki cover the comfort side, and hibachi entrees arrive with rice or noodles. Pricing sits mid-range, though full hibachi dinners can push the check higher. Takeout makes weeknights easy. The bar pours beers, wine, and sake.
Best for birthdays, team outings, and mixed groups in the Meridian corridor. Reserve hibachi seats and larger tables to avoid long waits. Feedback trends positive overall, with occasional hiccups in pace on packed nights. Purists seeking boutique, sourcing-driven sushi may look elsewhere. For a lively night and dependable rolls, Kyoto delivers solid value.
Chois Teriyaki
Wallet-friendly and fast, Chois Teriyaki is a south Bellingham counter-service spot where teriyaki plates headline while sushi rolls play a supporting role.
The roll list stays straightforward: spicy tuna, vegetable, and other familiar combos. Many order them for takeout. Feedback runs mixed on texture, with a few soggy reports alongside plenty of satisfied notes. There is no omakase, chef counter, or deep sake list, so call ahead if sourcing and pairings matter to you.
Where Chois shines is the teriyaki. Generous portions, friendly prices, and quick turnaround suit a grab-and-go lunch or a low-fuss weeknight. The strip-mall dining room offers simple seating if you want to linger, but the flow favors in-and-out efficiency.
Best fit? Budget-minded eaters who want a hearty teriyaki plate and a couple of basic rolls on the side, including vegetarian options. If the goal is pristine nigiri and a curated experience, keep driving.
Little Tokyo Restaurant
Fusion without fuss. Little Tokyo blends Japanese staples with Korean comfort in a compact dining room where specialty rolls share the menu with bento plates.
On the sushi side, the lineup runs from spicy tuna and Alaskan to playful picks like Hali Hali, Double Hamachi, and a Giant Roll. Yellowtail shows up Wednesday through Saturday, with seared and sashimi style rolls when you want something cleaner. There is no formal omakase, but chef’s sushi specials and made to order handrolls keep it interesting. With one sushi chef, timing can stretch during peak hours.
Not into raw? Korean fried chicken, bulgogi, and bibimbap carry their weight, alongside tempura, curries, and teriyaki. Vegetarians are covered, while vegan needs vary, so ask the staff.
Prices hit that casual to mid range sweet spot. Most rolls land in the teens, and bento meals include complimentary miso for dine in. Beer, wine, and sake are on hand, and a patio helps on sunny days.
Reservations are accepted. Large parties see automatic gratuity and time limits. Prefer a cozy night in? Call ahead for takeout or use local delivery. Great fit for mixed groups and budget minded sushi fans.
Fairhaven Poke
Think poke shop first, sushi stop second. Fairhaven Poke leans into Hawaii’s build-a-bowl rhythm, not the ceremony of a traditional sushi bar. It lives in the Fairhaven neighborhood and reads more like a seafood deli than a sit-down spot.
The menu centers on diced, sauced fish over rice or greens. Raw tuna, salmon, and scallop rotate in alongside smoked salmon and occasional specials, so the lineup stays lively. You select bases, sauces, and add-ons, then let the team assemble a bright, clean bowl. There is no omakase here, and no roll list to memorize.
Musubi is a draw, especially the classic Spam version, plus sides like seaweed salad, pickles, and furikake to keep things fun. Non-raw eaters are covered with tofu and smoked options, which makes it easy to please a mixed group without compromise.
Service is counter-style with a small dine-in area, most people grab and go. Pricing lands in the casual to midrange lane, with portions that some call generous and others call modest, so consider sizing up if you have a big appetite. Fish deliveries are frequent, with tuna often sourced from Hawaii.
One note, hours and status have changed over time, so a quick check that they are open is wise. In short, choose this for fresh poke fast, not for a lingering sushi-bar experience.
