Bush Garden Restaurant

Personable servers. Traditional Japanese food. Cheap drinks. Family favorite! Also, the only place in town where you can get an $ 11 Rib Eye steak

Only on Monday nights. Really nice and good looking bartender. I would go every Monday just to see her. That’s the only good thing I have to say about this place. The food sucks. Only on Mondays nights will I go. The people singing is very loud and off tune. Thank you bartender Nancy, she the best ever at BG… hot and sexy… it’s only a 5 star on Mondays nights only…

Came at 10 pm. Gave a $ 10 tip after the disaffected KJ begged for it. Waited 2 and a half hours and still wasn’t given a chance to sing. This was despite the fact that she put the same 7 or 8 hipsters up who didn’t spend any money at all at the bar. Will never go back. This used to be a great place 5 years ago. Now it is just full of rude, brusque hipsters.

It Kills me to write this review. I remember being there as a Kid. Take your shoes off when going in the private dining rooms. The Staff in Kimonos and the beauty of the establishment. I have not been there in years and brought Friends there for dinner. My childhood dreams were dashed but the bar was hopping. The Fountain in the lobby, and I had a pocket of pennies… drained…the upstairs… closed off. Like an old song. maybe it was better then.

First time at Bush. Pleasantly surprised! Great soups, reasonable sushi and loved the shabu shabu. Fresh, plentiful and filling. Atmosphere was rundown, but the food made up for it. Free parking across the street was a huge plus. We will be back!

Great food! Fresh and traditional Japanese dishes that had great prices.

Being a Seattle native I’ve been hear probably a half dozen times over 30 years. It is spooky considering the fact very little here has changed. What’s nice is one of the things that has changed very little are the prices! The sushi prices here are about ²⁄₃ the price of most Japanese restaurants (aside from the cheapo conveyor places). The quality and size of cuts is average but still a decent deal for the price. The bathrooms looks like they haven’t been renovated since the place was built but they are clean.
The main thing is this place is «old school» traditional, no-​frills, no fancy interior, decent (not gourmet) Japanese Food. The main draw of this place has always really been the bar and the Karaōke. I consider this place one of the birthplaces of Karaōke in Seattle. Service is good, everyone is friendly and if you need a bite to eat before boozing it up, it won’t break the bank.
3.5 star food
4 star service
3 star atmosphere restaurant, 4-​star during Karaōke
4 star value

My first and last time at this place! My phone was stolen last Saturday during the Holiday season. Apparently the karaōke host said theft happens a lot there, so keep your items close and be alert at all times! (Side note: I assume its the Karaōke host that stole it because at one point he was wearing my jacket)
If anyone else experiences theft here, I highly suggest you report to the police. I already reported my stolen phone to SPD and the more theft reports tied to this place, the higher the chances this place and the staff can get searched.
Although the night was fun and the wait staff were friendly, I think they should get camera’s installed.

My last visit of Bush Garden was a few years ago and it was very pleasant. However, my lunch at this place last week turned out to be terrible. The price was quite cheap, but the quality was poor.
The unagi don costs $ 7.75. Sounds a great price? Prepare to see the smallest eel piece in any unagi don you’ve ever ordered. The price is not that good anymore when you see those tiny fish pieces.
Most Japanese restaurants put tempura on the side for udon. It’s OK to put the tempura in the udon broth, as long as it’s still crispy. But in this restaurant, it’s very soggy, and fails apart when pick it up from the soup. A big no no. And the broth is way too salty.
Sukiyaki was not very good either. The flavor is way off, and they replaced the clear noodle with lots of bean sprouts, which is too soft and soggy in the broth. Another disappointment.
Not sure what has happened to the restaurant in the last few years, but the food quality is definitely dropped to a poor level. If its food keeps on tasting like this, I won’t visit them again.

It was my first time at Bush (ever) on Aug 15^th and I was excited because of the word-​of-​mouth ravings from friends! We were only there for karaōke and the Kj that was working (obnoxious, maybe intoxicated, darkish Asian dude) ruined it for me.
He made some offensive comments on-​stage into the mic with regards to dyslexia (claiming my friend wrote his song number down wrong), forced me to tip when I put my song choice in (never had to do that before in any other karaōke place in Seattle or the world), he yelled at someone when one of our friends asked if the mic was on and he was like «IT’S ON! IT’S ON!» While hitting the mic!, we didn’t even get to sing because our songs were too far down the list.
I’d come back, because I liked the umbeyoncè but not if that douchebag is working. Find me on the street, I’ll cuss you out to your face fucker.

I’ve never had dinner here, but the bar is awesome. It’s just like Cheers. If you’re there earlier in the evening, it’s incredibly obvious that there’s a group of regulars and nobody calls your bluff if you pretend to be one of them. The look and feel of the place is great and everybody is friendly as can be. Love it.

I do prefer Asian karaōke places. Those have private rooms for group of friends to sing together. That being said there is nothing private about Bush Garden’s karaōke setting. But I do like that its FREE!
They have tons of old songs to select from and basically nothing new… kinda sucks, but whatever! IT’S FREE!

I ~could~ describe this restaurant in two words: SHAMEFUL TRASH,
But instead I’d like to shine a light on my experience at this…“establishment” to hopefully prevent further passerby from wandering inside. I journeyed into the restaurant with three other people to catch Thursday night Karaōke for a friends’ birthday party.
The building had a sign on the opposite side of the street which confused me, and upon entry into the gloomy hallway (littered with gaudy decorations) a familiar scent of moldy socks wafted into the air. The inside was barely lit, and there was only one measly table seated in the dining area. Next to them a puddle of water or oil lay uncleaned. I also visited the bathroom during my stay. I walked in, and had to hover!
We walked into the bar, after being LITERALLY barked out of the dining area by the waitress (we WERE going to buy some entrees before the party, but got shooed out of the dining area! Twice!)
In the bar, the tables that unevenly dotted the dingy floor resembled something you’d see in a cheap bowling alley. The young DJ sang Lady Gaga at the top of his lungs while hitting on the unsuspecting boys in the audience.
Old plates of food and cups with melted ice were a staple on every table. Nothing had been cleaned all day. Dust EVERYWHERE.
But let’s get to the real reason this place is a steaming heap, shall we?
The blonde coked-​out (I’m not talking about the soda…) bartender.
Seems harsh? Maybe if it was just me who noticed. The entire bar was snickering about her blundering way.
No one knew if she’d pulled out the flask during her break in between hits of meth, or had cocaine in the salt jar. Whatever she was on, no one wanted any.
She stumbled over to us, and a few people order drinks, she had to think REAL hard to write it down. She walked back to the bar, COUGHED on her hand and then grabbed the clean (?) glass to pour drinks. My girlfriend and I decided not to order anything, and even after we had told her repeatedly that we were going to order food after the party; she kept asking how we were and if we wanted a drink. (.AND not in the friendly way… in the I don’t recognize a person I just talked to way.)
Two friends of mine went to the bar to order some wells. One of my friends… watching her mix them notices she hasn’t added but a cap full of vodka in the glass, and asks her to make another (they were over priced as it is!).
She looks him dead in the eyes and says «How do you know there isn’t alcohol in it?» He replied that he’d watched her pour it.
The owner’s wife who is also bar-​tending starts to tell my friend that she did not make it, because the druggie starts making a scene (on the job). No one will own up to the drink, or apologize, or just remake it. Then the coke addict also replies that she doesn’t even know who MADE the drink to the owner and to my friend repeatedly. She was just so confused.
Everyone in line raised an eyebrow, for they had all seen her make it.
Later in the night she came up to my girlfriend and I… yet again. This time to ask if we had bought *everyone* a round of shots. She wasn’t joking. We were both rather confused, and kept trying to tell her we hadn’t ordered anything at all (we were going to get food, but they said they had nothing truly vegetarian), but she asked another three times as if we were lying about it.
I wish I could give this sorry hole zero stars. I shudder to think poor souls will stumble into there thinking it is worthy of their money.
So do yourselves a favor, stay away!

I want to love this place, but aside from cheap $ 3 gut-​rot food, it’s just a disappointment almost every time. Friday nights used to be fun for karaōke, but it’s routinely been disappointing and just downright offensive. High (low)lights:
Awful table service. The woman who (I assume) was employed to work on tables is unreliable and never shows up. She literally has spent 15 minutes chatting up singles at the bar (away from the tables) and fussing around on her phone. When she does decide to grace you with her unpleasantness, she makes it quite clear how much of imposition it was for her to pay attention to you.
The karaōke DJ on Fridays is offensive and just crude in general. He’s Filipino? Vietnamese? Chinese? Korean? Doesn’t matter, he’ll just take it upon himself to pepper the night with a spat of accents to berate white guests or demean anyone else in attendance of Asian descent. Also, he literally farts on stage. While you’re singing.
Star for cheap, basic drinks.
Star for non-​Friday night (read: WORK night) service.
MINUS stars for disappointing and insulting service on the busiest night of the week.
Honestly, I really want to love this place.

Good food at great prices, can’t go wrong with that. Their tuna sashimi is quite delicious, give it a try.

Only 4 instead of 5 because I’ve never eaten here (pretty sure I never will). The bar and restaurant are like a time capsule of Seattle Chinatown history. The regulars are fun and friendly and Sid the bartender rocks! Drinks are super strong and super cheap to get you loosey goosey for their amazingly chill, supportive and non-​douchie karaōke. Must stop dive in the ID.

I read the review from 12÷26÷14 and it made me suspicious as to whether it was a legit review or not. I went tonight with friends. It is still a dive but the food is tolerable…
However, the new DJ Jarod has to be the worst I have ever experienced. The guy is horrible, dead air between songs, weird sound effects that killed the vibe in the room.
What is sad, is that it appears that he is related in some way to the owner. I will NEVER go back as long as he is there. Your karaōke needs can be fulfilled better elsewhere.

Been coming here for karaōke for a while and it has always been a good experience. After last night (¹²⁄₂₆) I will definitely not be back on a Friday night until that DJ is fired. He was rude and mocked most of the singers. He broke a glass when he slammed it down because he didn’t like one of the singers. He got in a fist fight and then got on the microphone and went on and on about it. There was total dead air at one point in the night for at least 5 min. This guy is horrible. Prob the worst I’ve ever seen!
I see there are other terrible reviews about this guy. How is he still working here???

I didn’t come here for the food so this review is for the late night karaōke that they have here…
I really don’t know what my «standard» is for a karaōke bar but this definitely wasn’t it. it was dark, it was cramped. a dive might be a compliment to this place. there was no where to sit and barely any room to walk. the crowd was eclectic to say the least — from middle aged folks, to a few young people drinkin in the corner, a large just over middle aged bachorlette parties… people dressed up, people dressed down. I suppose the common denominator was that they were all drunk and having fun.
Is it a good thing? a bad thing? that’s for you to decide but this scene definitely wasn’t my cup of tea. i’ll have to come back in the day time for the food though because i’ve heard good things!

I love Bush Garden. It is the ultimate spot for karaōke, for it is so diverse and supportive. It’s amazing when Allen is the DJ. Karaōke cannot get any better. Jarrod is an awful DJ, and unfortunately he works most nights these days. He is a talented singer, but he is rude and generally unhelpful. Jarrod makes karaōke an unpleasant experience. I still love Bush Garden, though. Bring back Allen. Or at least someone who isn’t Jarrod.

I’ve come here now a few times for happy hour and karaōke night on the weekend. Overall, it’s a pretty divey Japanese restaurant bar, but it’s really fun. Service can be hit or miss, but just be patient!
The deals are super. If you catch their dinner specials, appetizers and their special beers (Asahi, Sapporo, etc.) are only $ 3 each.
We ordered a bunch of apps to share like the black cod kasuzuke, saba, chicken karaage, fried calamari, Japanese style ribs, tempura, etc. We ordered a lot! The sizes were great and we got to try everything so that was awesome.
One of the very few places in the ID with parking so it’s convenient.
I haven’t tried their sushi, and probably won’t, but will maybe come back to try their sukiyaki and shabu shabu when it gets cooler.

It saddens me to write a negative review because I’ve been going to Bush Garden for years and it used to be a jewel of the ID. The drinks are cheap and decent, the dive bar atmosphere is wonderful, and the karaōke used to be super fun. But the old KJ who was there forever sadly passed away a couple of years ago, and now they have a new guy (younger, stocky, Asian, often wears a hat) who is a total sociopath.
We went to Bush Garden a few weeks ago for my friend’s birthday. At first the KJ was only mildly hostile/​annoying, getting on stage and trying to upstage the performers by grinding on people as they sang (even after being asked repeatedly to stop). At one point, he got in front of a woman as she sang and lifted up his shirt to show off his belly like an attention-​hungry child. But the real kicker came towards the end of the night as he was walking to the bathroom. I looked at him and made eye contact and he proceeded to SHOVE ME IN THE FACE WITH HIS HAND as he walked by.
Seriously. The KJ touched me, in the face, with his dirty hand. I told the bartender (older woman, very nice), and she apologized for him. Then on our way out, my friend confronted the guy and he reacted predictably, acting surprised, saying «OH NO! I’M SO SORRY!» then wandering off while my friend was still talking to go be a jerk some more.
I found this experience totally baffling and won’t be back until that guy is gone.

I’ve only gone for karaōke night, and what a night that was! From what I remember (because it was a long time ago) it was my friend’s birthday we made him sing The Thong Song and he did it terribly, I still occasionally watch the video on Youtube. The old guy hosting it was hilarious, and the crowd was awesome. My friend (whose birthday it was) ended up falling asleep and drooling on his iPho (not iPhone, but a knockoff version from China). On the way home we stopped at Jack n’ the Box, where my friend stayed passed out in the car. That was a great night, I think Bush Garden kicked us out because my friend was so drunk, but it was still a fantastic night and I keep meaning to go back for karaōke night and get Honey Court afterwards.

Went there for Lunch and ordered the Sukiyaki.
I loved the entry way, it feels like the waiting area’s in Disney when you are about to go on a ride. The Sukiyaki was plentiful and tasted very Homey.
I think that I might be adding this place to my lunchtime rotation just because I liked the environment. Ya, it feels old and outdated… But I enjoyed it just the same. Our waitress was very attentive. And my lunch buddy whom hates Green Beans tried one of the Green Beans with his Bento and actually enjoyed it.

Good value, decent food.
I ordered the teriyaki salmon and tempura bento which comes with miso soup, rice, salad, some veggies and a slice of orange for $ 7.75. The little chunk of salmon was the size of my index and middle finger, which for $ 7.75, is about what you’d expect. The tempura was OK but the batter seemed a little doughy.
It’s an alright place to go for lunch; you won’t be wowed, but you’re not paying much either.