Kinja Japanese Restaurant

2025 update: this place has really gone downhill. There's no a.c. so it's super hot in the summer so far. Portions have drastically gotten smaller and smaller and our sushi has been missing ingredients to the point where a 5 ingredient roll only has 2 of the 4 items inside the rolls. Really disappointed in how this has played out. - original review below - Very charming little Japanese restaurant with authentic menu options. Staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and quick. This is definitely one of the better restaurants around Yelm. We came close to closing and they didn't make us feel rushed at all and the food was still really good with good portion sizes as well.

I came here to have dinner with my friend, who loves this place. They did not disappoint - the food was great, the service was great, and it's a nice small place with great atmosphere. Will definitely come back, not to mention the sushi was divine

Update 12/14/25: TL:DR non-katsu stuff was rocking again, good stuff. The quality is back to what I remember, awesome. I may need to try their katsu again in the future, but I'm apprehensive since it was so bad the last time. Maybe having it to-go lowers the quality due to travel, idk. Anyhow, they were great, again, when we decided to give them a shot. ************ I used to love this place, but as other reviews stated, the quality has gone way downhill.. Specifically the chicken katsu, as that's normally my go-to if I can't decide, has tanked in quality. It was chewy and tasted like they reheated one from a week ago. Their salad dressing has become very watery, and the sushi is, okay. I cannot recommend Kinja anymore...

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you’re not eating at Kinja in Yelm, what are you even doing with your life? I’m not saying their sushi changed me as a person, but I did leave with a renewed sense of purpose and possibly a wasabi-induced out-of-body experience. The fish is so fresh, I half expected it to still be filling out a W-2. Every bite was like a flavor symphony playing in my mouth—if Beethoven was a sushi chef. Service? Top-notch. The staff is friendly, fast, and somehow always knows when you’re low on soy sauce without even asking—like culinary ninjas. 10/10, would trade my left sock just to sit at the sushi bar again. Go. Eat. Thank me later. 🍣🔥 Still need to try the Bento box though!

Our favorite sushi place in Washington State, hands down. Fresh fish, fast friendly service...period. We visit often and have always had a wonderful time. Families are always there with well behaved children. Kinja is closed on Mondays.