The world's first certified sustainable sushi restaurant has officially arrived in Downtown Kirkland!
Bamboo Sushi has officially opened its newest location at 128 Lake Street, right in the heart of downtown and just steps from the shores of Lake Washington. And while the location alone is reason enough to get excited, the story behind this restaurant makes it even more interesting. Bamboo Sushi started in Portland, Oregon, in 2008 with a pretty ambitious idea: create a restaurant that serves incredible sushi without compromising the health of our oceans. That same year, it became the world's first certified sustainable sushi restaurant. Since then, the company has expanded throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond, but its original mission remains at the center of everything it does.
Bamboo Sushi carefully considers where its seafood comes from, how it's caught or raised, and what impact those practices have on marine ecosystems. The restaurant works with organizations and certification programs such as the Marine Stewardship Council, Aquaculture Stewardship Council, and Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program to guide its sourcing decisions. For example, its wild-caught black cod comes from a fishery that was once struggling but has since recovered through responsible management and conservation efforts. Its Hawaiian kanpachi is raised in open-ocean conditions designed around the fish's natural environment, while its New Zealand king salmon comes from a producer recognized for responsible aquaculture practices.
Even the restaurant's approach to the materials and resources behind its operations reflects a larger philosophy: sustainability isn't just about the fish on your plate. It's about considering the impact a restaurant has on people, communities, and the planet, from the ingredients it purchases to the environmental organizations it supports. Giving back isn't an occasional fundraiser or seasonal promotion for the company. It's built into the business. As a member of 1% for the Planet, Bamboo Sushi supports environmental nonprofits working to protect and restore fisheries, watersheds, and ecosystems. Its community partners have included the Wild Salmon Center, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, The Freshwater Trust, Oregon Wild, and Tilth Alliance, among others.
Through Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Restaurants program, Bamboo Sushi has taken additional steps to reduce its environmental footprint, including cutting back on single-use plastics by offering certain disposable items only upon request. According to Surfrider, that simple change resulted in a measurable reduction in plastic use. The two organizations have also worked together on environmental initiatives over the years, demonstrating how restaurants can play a meaningful role in protecting our waterways. And with their newest location sitting just steps from Lake Washington, that commitment feels especially close to home. It's refreshing to see a restaurant recognize that protecting the environment isn't just about where our food comes from, but also about the waste we leave behind.
The restaurant also connects specific menu items to its environmental mission, contributing a portion of sales from its Green Machine Roll and Sushi Boards to organizations working to protect our natural resources. Let's pause on that for a moment. You can sit down for dinner, order a sushi roll, and know that a portion of your purchase is helping support the health of the very ecosystems that make that meal possible! And now we get to enjoy all of this in one of the best neighborhoods on the Eastside.
The new Kirkland restaurant sits along Lake Street, surrounded by the shops, restaurants, and waterfront charm that make Downtown Kirkland such a wonderful place to spend an afternoon or evening. You can enjoy a walk through Marina Park, watch the boats on Lake Washington, explore the neighborhood, and then settle in for sushi and drinks. The restaurant is currently open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday, with lunch service available on weekends.
I love seeing businesses like Bamboo Sushi choose to become part of our Eastside community. As Kirkland continues to grow, it's exciting to welcome restaurants that bring something new to the neighborhood while also standing for something bigger than themselves. And considering how much we value our lakes, rivers, forests, and the natural beauty surrounding us here in Washington, Bamboo Sushi's mission feels especially fitting. Great sushi, a beautiful location, and a business actively working to protect the planet? Who's in?
