Takohachi is one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle, a non-sushi Japanese lunch spot specializing in stuff like ramen, tonkatsu, and bento boxes. Their saba shioyaki (broiled mackerel) and bacon fried rice are legendary.

I had lunch at Takohachi today and noticed something amusing. On the wall was a certificate presented by International Community Health Services to Takohachi, “for its outstanding efforts and commitment to creating a healthy living environment.” (Specifically, this was for being a smoke-free restaurant, before the smoking ban took effect.)

Meanwhile, everyone there was digging into their plates of greasy fried rice, fried chicken, fried pork cutlet, and broiled mackerel. Maybe mackerel counts as health food because of those omega-3s, but this mackerel has your RDA of sodium several times over.

Don’t get me wrong. I love the place. I just don’t love it for its commitment to a healthy living environment.

**Takohachi**
610 S. Jackson St.
Seattle WA 98104
(206) 682-1828

Mon-Fri: 11:30am-1:30pm, 5:30pm-8:30pm
Sat: 5:30pm-8:30pm
Sun: Closed