Aa in Ballard raises the bar for casual sushi in Seattle so high, it smashes through the ceiling and bonks an unsuspecting seagull. It's incredibly easy to walk in with a small group and get seated right away in the bare-bones-but-comfy dining room. And for the same cost as a typical one-person omakase, it’s feasible to fill the table with over a dozen luxury-level nigiri, rolls galore, and practically a gallon of miso soup. But a meal here is not just a good value—the sushi is downright excellent. Rice is cooked well enough to clump without veering toward gummy, and kept at a temperature that softens slightly upon contact with buttery yellowtail belly. Rolls, while not as majestic as the nigiri, are tight and tasty. And if you wanted to tack on something like tamago Spam musubi or a platter of lemon-squeezed chicken karaage, spontaneity pays off. It’s only a matter of time before the masses catch on, so show up unannounced for those weekend raw fish-a-paloozas while you can.