Moshi Moshi Sushi & Izakaya

What Moshi Moshi Sushi & Izakaya does

Moshi Moshi Sushi & Izakaya is a privately held, woman-and-PoC-owned full-service Japanese restaurant founded in 2009 and located at 5324 Ballard Ave NW in Seattle's historic Ballard neighborhood. It serves traditional Japanese cuisine — nigiri, sashimi, specialty rolls, hot entrees, and a rotating "fresh sheet" of seasonal specials — alongside an extensive beverage program of craft cocktails, Japanese spirits, sake, Japanese and domestic beers, and a growing lineup of non-alcoholic options including zero-proof cocktails. Signature in-restaurant features include a 2-story LED sakura tree imported from Japan, a lofted mezzanine dining area, and a sushi bar; vegetarian and gluten-conscious options are available. The business operates daily for lunch and dinner with happy hour until 6 PM (all day on Sundays).

The revenue model is direct-to-consumer transaction-based across four streams: dine-in service (the core), online takeout via Heartland POS, party platter catering (four platter SKUs priced $85-$105 serving 4-6 guests each), and private events spanning the upstairs mezzanine (25 seated/30 standing) and full restaurant buyouts (up to 80 seated). Reservations are managed through OpenTable for parties of 2-12 with credit card confirmation required for six or more guests; larger groups and buyouts are booked by phone or email. Leadership consists of Executive Sushi Chef Michael Kimura (promoted internally in 2024) and Front of House Manager Jeannine Kapteyn (13+ year tenure). With ~8 employees and no second location, the business is a single-site neighborhood institution rather than a multi-unit concept; it carries no public funding, M&A, or institutional investor footprint.

Name

Moshi Moshi Sushi & Izakaya

Legal name

Moshi Moshi Sushi & Izakaya

Website

https://moshimoshiseattle.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Woman-and-PoC owned full-service Japanese restaurant in Ballard, Seattle, founded 2009, serving traditional sushi, craft cocktails, party platters, and private events for neighborhood diners, group celebrations, and off-premise catering customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Japanese Restaurant

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Caterers (722320)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Asian Fast Casual (Pan-Asian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Korean) (THAFABAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Specialty & Dietary Catering (Vegan, Kosher, Halal, Allergy-Friendly) (HSACAGAH)

Keywords

• Japanese restaurant
• Sushi bar
• Craft cocktails
• Party platter catering
• Private event dining

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Dine-in Service: Revenue from food and beverage sales during lunch and dinner service. Operating hours vary by day, with Happy Hour available daily until 6pm during dinner service.
2. Party Platter Catering: Off-premise catering through pre-ordered party platters. Orders of 1-2 platters require 1 hour notice; 3+ platters require 1 day advance notice. Four platter options ranging from $85-$105.
3. Private Events & Space Rental: Revenue from private party bookings and restaurant buyouts. Upstairs mezzanine accommodates 25 seated/30 standing; full buyout seats up to 80 guests. Customized menus and service styles available.
4. Takeout & Online Ordering: Online ordering system for takeout orders processed through their Heartland POS system.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Moshi Moshi Sushi & Izakaya is a full-service Japanese restaurant operating dine-in lunch, dinner, and daily happy hour service. Its core product is traditional Japanese sushi and cuisine (nigiri, sashimi, specialty rolls, and hot entrees) paired with a craft cocktail, sake, Japanese spirits, and non-alcoholic beverage program. Supporting offerings include party platter off-site catering, private event hosting in the upstairs mezzanine and full restaurant buyouts, and takeout via online ordering.

Product overview

Moshi Moshi Sushi & Izakaya operates as a full-service Japanese restaurant offering a unified dining experience centered on traditional sushi and Japanese cuisine. The core offering consists of the Main Menu (nigiri, sashimi, specialty rolls, and entrees) complemented by the Bar Menu (craft cocktails, sake, and Japanese spirits). Additional revenue streams include Happy Hour promotions, Party Platters for off-site catering, and Private Parties & Events hosting with semi-private mezzanine seating or full restaurant buyouts. Online reservations are managed through OpenTable, and takeout ordering is available via Heartland POS.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Main Menu Full dining menu featuring traditional Japanese sushi including nigiri, sashimi, specialty rolls, classic rolls, starters, and hot entrees, with a rotating fresh sheet of seasonal specials based on daily fish deliveries. Includes vegetarian and gluten-sensitive options for dine-in guests.
• Bar Menu Beverage program featuring craft cocktails, Japanese spirits, sake, Japanese and domestic beers, and a growing selection of non-alcoholic options including zero-proof cocktails, non-alcoholic beers, and Japanese sodas; cocktail menu rotates seasonally.
• Party Platters Off-site catering offering four platter options (Moshi Moshi Platter $105, Ballard Platter $85, Crunchy Platter $85, Rumi's Platter $85), each serving approximately 4-6 guests. Orders of 1-2 platters require 1 hour advance notice; 3+ platters require 1 day advance notice.
• Private Parties & Events Event hosting including semi-private upstairs mezzanine seating for up to 25 seated or 30 standing guests, and full restaurant buyouts for up to 80 seated guests, with customized menus, drinks, and service styles available.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 15 years of continuous operation in Ballard since 2009
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• OpenTablecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOpenTable is used as the online reservation platform for booking tables at Moshi Moshi. Online reservations are accepted for parties of 2-12 through OpenTable. The platform is described as the fastest and easiest way to book reservations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Yasuko's Teriyaki: Long-running Seattle Japanese restaurant with strong neighborhood recognition. Comparable as a Japanese cuisine operator in Seattle with established brand equity and dine-in focus.
• Shiro's Sushi: Long-running, full-service sushi restaurant in Seattle founded by renowned chef Shiro Kashiba. Highly comparable as a similarly positioned, craft-focused Seattle sushi institution serving dine-in and sushi-bar customers.
• Tsukushinbo: Intimate, chef-driven Japanese izakaya in Seattle's International District. Comparable as a full-service Japanese restaurant focused on authentic cuisine, sake, and small-plate offerings.
• Sushi Ronin: Contemporary sushi restaurant in Seattle offering omakase and à la carte service. Comparable as a Seattle sushi operator with similar full-service format and strong craft positioning.
• Sushiya (Seattle): Casual-to-mid-scale sushi restaurant in Seattle offering dine-in, takeout, and a broad menu. Comparable as a neighborhood-style Seattle sushi competitor with overlapping value positioning.
• Sushi Kashiba: Seattle sushi restaurant operating from Pike Place Market. Directly comparable as a high-end, full-service sushi counter experience with strong brand recognition in the Seattle market.
• Taneda Sushi: Seattle sushi restaurant emphasizing fresh, traditional Edomae-style nigiri. Comparable as a Seattle-based full-service sushi counter focused on ingredient quality and traditional technique.
• Umi Sake House: Downtown Seattle Japanese restaurant and sake house offering sushi, izakaya-style small plates, and an extensive sake program. Comparable in menu breadth, beverage focus, and full-service dining format.

Broad incumbents

• Kura Revolving Sushi Bar: Multi-location sushi chain offering tech-driven, conveyor-belt dining. Comparable as a sushi operator serving a broader, more price-sensitive audience across multiple US geographies.

Others

• The Pink Door: Long-running Italian restaurant on Post Alley in Seattle. Not a sushi competitor, but comparable as an established, single-location Seattle institution with strong private-event and experiential dining positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MoshiMoshiSeattle
• Instagraminstagram.com/moshimoshisushi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/moshi-moshi-sushi-izakaya

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Moshi Moshi Sushi & Izakaya