50 Best Japanese Restaurants in Washington

“Amazing! The sushi tasting menu was exceptional and filling! Delicious and whimsical cocktails. Bar in the back, very hip and chic workout being pretentious. Wagyu beef skewers from the bar was one of the best things I’ve ever had. All the skewers were amazing and the fried chicken and other bar snacks are classic bar foods, but way elevated- can not wait for the rest of the space to open!“

“I stopped in with friends before a event Sunday evening. The staff was warm and welcoming. I had the lentil sambusas and a peanut-infused coffee at the staff’s recommendation. The food was fast and delicious- the sambusas were warm and spicy, and the peanut coffee was delicious! In a kind gesture, the chef sent over a sampling of sushi to our table. Fresh and refreshing, the sushi was a nice complement to my sambusas and hot beverage. I’m not on this side of town often, but now I have a reason to come back.“

“Came for the happy hour and it did not disappoint. The first 12 in line get to sit for the happy hour. The line hit 12 by 4:35ish this past Friday.

It was all delicious but favorites were the habanero scallop, fatty tuna & scallion, and king salmon.“

“Outstanding performers and great food!“

“Best Ramen I've ever eaten“

“Highly recommend!! I found Uma Nori when I was traveling for work in DC. The service, food and menu were all very impressive. The people working their were incredibly kind and welcoming. The prices were very reasonable and the food was ourstanding. I cannot wait to return !“

“❤️ Oku. hits everytime. every 🍾 celebration we (my fam) head straightforward there.“

“My wife and I were in DC for the weekend and decided to stop by Shoto because it was close to our hotel, and I'm so glad we did. We chose the Omakase signature selection so we could get a sense of every course they had to offer, and everything was great. This was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had. I plan to return the next time I'm in DC.“

“A delicious wagyu omakase experience. The course was well put together, and everything was good. At the end, they served complimentary black sesame chocolates and hojicha tea, which I really enjoyed. I’ve seen mixed reviews about this place, but I had a great experience and would definitely recommend it.“

“Had a Great time celebrating a friend’s birthday! Food is amazing, sushi is fresh! Good atmosphere! Owners are Super cool and really knows how to make their guests feel special. Kudos to the entire staff for the Great service. Highly recommend!“

“Came here for the Casa Kantuta x Kyojin collab and absolutely loved the service Quynh provided was exceptional. I’ve been here many times and she made this experience special. She recommended so many different items to us based off what we ordered. We took one of her recommendations and LOVED it.“

“One of the best sushi experiences we’ve had on the East Coast. The Omakase was exceptional and absolutely worth every penny. A must‑try is The Heaven sake — incredibly smooth, crisp, and perfectly paired with the meal.

We celebrated my brother’s birthday here, and the entire family is still talking about how amazing everything was. Highly recommend!“

“One of my patients let me know that this would be their last week in business - the owners are retiring. Wonderful, cozy restaurant with the best sushi and home style dishes in the entire metro area. I have been coming here for 20 years. Sad to see them go, but glad it is of their own decision. Thank you, Kotobuki, for 20+ wonderful years.“

“I chose Akeno Sushi to celebrate my bachelorette weekend, and I couldn’t have made a better choice! It’s my absolute favorite restaurant in DC, and this experience just confirmed why it’s one of my top spots. From start to finish, the staff was incredibly warm, accommodating, and genuinely thrilled to help us celebrate. Nadia, in particular, was a joy to work with and supported me every step of the way in planning. The food was phenomenal, with each dish beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. The drinks were equally impressive, featuring thoughtful details like fresh flowers that added a special touch to the celebration. The ambiance was perfect, with lovely decorations that made the night feel even more festive. Whether you’re planning a special event, a casual dinner, or a date night, Akeno Sushi is versatile, delicious, and always delivers a memorable experience. I highly recommend it!“

“Every bite was perfect, the space is just right and the wine pairings were great. We were a large group and were seated at the Chef’s table where we had the pleasure of observing each round of fresh ingredients expertly crafted into a sublime dining experience. Cannot wait to go back!“

“We had an absolutely outstanding experience! Our very kind server Randy was attentive, knowledgeable and gave great reccomendations on dishes to eat & cocktails. Food was very flavorful! Atmosphere lovely! Highly reccomend. Really a great kick-off to our families weekend away 🎄“

“A favorite neighborhood spot“

“Discovered this place by accident while on the Crescent trail, and oh my what a happy coincidence. This is by far (!) the best sushi that I’ve had so far in DC: the rice is well cooked and seasoned, it sticks well to the sushi but at the same time is spread very thinly (a hallmark of a good place), and the rolls are so full of filling that they look like they’re bursting. The fish is fresh and flavourful. The price is more than reasonable (around 12 to 15 dollars for a dish). The owner/cook is obviously extremely competent and very fast in preparing your order. Fantastic place, I have to come back here as soon as I can.“

“Hands-down best ramen I have ever had.“

“Great food and fantastic staff“

“Great food and fresh ingredients“

“The whole menu here is excellent. Both the sushi and the sake are thoughtfully and chosen and prepared. The attention to detail both in the menu and the decor shows the care and dedication they put into the food. I highly recommend Shinwa to anyone who appreciates exceptional sushi.“

“Had a perfect time with my wife. Had the nigiri and hand roll omakase and loved it. Super fresh sushi and excellent preparation. Better quality and taste, and a way better value than other top spots like nakazawa and sushi taro. Will be back and highly recommend if you are really into great sushi“

“Very Nice atmosphere customer service was great and the food was superb“

“Bento Box was a little different than I’m used to. I ordered the salmon sushi box and it came with three salmon sushi. I guess you could call it that they were cooked on top then with a drizzle of wasabi dressing. The tempura was two pieces of an egg plant and two pieces of potato. The miso soup was, I guess dark red miso because it tasted rather strange to me, but I couldn’t decide if it was dark red miso so or salty beef lol.“

“We chose the omakase experience and it was exceptional. Chef Zach takes you on an incredible culinary journey, with each course carefully crafted and explained. The amount and range of food more than justify the price. The setting is intimate and relaxed and the staff are friendly and attentive. Easily the best sushi we've ever had. We'll definitely be back.“

“Sushi Hachi is the best sushi restaurant I have ever been to; it was so good that my boyfriend and I went back two nights in a row. Their cocktails are great, and my personal favourite was the 8th street specialty sushi. The atmosphere and mood is calm and pleasant, and the staff and service is top notch. I have to mention our waitress too from the second time, Soko. She remembered us from the previous night, she even remembered which drink she had made me! And she took the time to make some recommendations for us, and brought us some miso on the house and was just the most pleasant and friendly waitress I have had in a while. Thank you!!! We will definitely be back again for as long as we are in/near DC.“

“Great food and excellent service.“

“There were many DMV favorites I discovered at this restaurant. It is well worth the elevated price because the food is fresh, plentiful, and tasty. Best bacon and egg sandwich and seasoned fries in town! The decor is top notch with very comfortable chairs. Couldn’t recommend highly enough!“

“We ended up being late for our reservation and everyone was so incredibly nice and accommodating that it made our experience there all the more special. From the Gentleman at the door to the waitress going above and beyond, i cannot recommend this place more. The vibe was on point and the atmosphere was electric. Looking forward to going again and spending more time there. Thanks guys.“

“Legit Japanese food. I’ve visited 6 cities in Japan and this is exactly the type of food I’ve had there. 🍱 🍜 🍣“

“EXCELLENCE“

“Sushi Sato is a welcoming spot if you want a venue where you can actually hear your dinner company/date due to the table seating arrangement (not crammed 6 inches from another table) and also for solo diners (dining service for bar seating is top tier).

I’ve been here a few times in July, August and Sept 2025 and have tried both the AYCE and à la carte dining options. But I was recently impressed most by my last visit (August 2026); Alexander the bartender (or was his name Alejandro and I misheard? ) had some great roll recommendations (Sato, Pacific), made a great lychee cocktail, and he was super patient when I changed my mind on an à la carte order literally 30 seconds after he placed it into the system. 😬

I hadn’t tried dessert there until recently. The passionfruit cheesecake was delish. 😊“

“I love this place, been here since I was a small child! There food is absolutely amazing! The owner is so nice and friendly along with the waiters and sushi chefs! Other places can’t compare to this place!“

“If you haven’t tried it then you need to get over there. The sushi is outstanding and if you get the stirfry, the steak is tender and very, very good. At least it has been the two times I was there. For people giving this 1/2 stars, try it again.“

“Enjoyed delicious sushi and curry coconut udon! The service was great and the atmosphere perfect!“

“This place was great. We thought it was just gonna be aesthetic with views, but the food is actually phenomenal. The only thing I didn't like was the steak and cheese, but literally ordered almost every other dish and they were fantastic. Edamame was even superior, which is usually super basic anywhere. Cocktails are incredible. The sunset views were great. None of the plates were actually particularly small, they were pretty good portions.“

“Had a phenomenal omakase experience at Sushi Snob. The fish was fresh and delicious, and the sake pairings were on point. They also served a wide variety of fish. I love good tuna as much as any sushi lover, but they also served several fish I had never tried before, with some uniquely delicious flavor combinations. Highly recommend Sushi Snob!“

“I have eaten sushi here many times and enjoy it every time! The fish is very fresh since they get if from the fish market next door, I especially enjoyed the king roll and a custom one I had them make as they also do custom rolls! Will definitely come again!“

“Best daily spot in the foggy bottom area. I’ve been a student here at GW and now in my senior year I’ve realized this place is a part of my daily life. The staff is more than welcoming and serve me and multiple friends with love and care. There’s a reason we are here 3x a week and the food definitely is a huge role in that too.

Chicken Katsudon Boxed Entree is my go to!

P.s. regarding the racism part, my group and I are from all walks of life and I don’t say that lightly. We have never personally ever had any form of racism in our experience. Regardless on our skin color, facial hair or physical appearance at all.“

“The best sushi (to go) I’ve ever eaten...and I’ve eaten a lot of sushi 😅“

“My wife and I had a great experience at Khin's. Amazing staff, delicious food, not expensive whatsoever. If we lived in the area, this would be a regular spot indeed. Just give 'em a try, c'mon. They're awesome. Oh what did I order? Well you see, I had a caterpillar roll and one of those fancy volcano dishes, and my wife had a philly roll with some other roll that had salmon on top. Good quality. Ten out of ten, five out of five, same same.“

“We have enjoyed several lunches here and have always felt satisfied. The quality is top-tier and great service.“

“The food is always excellent“

“I frequently visit this location, in fact this is the only location I come to here in Dc to have Quickway. The staff are really nice, I never have problems with them, they are very accommodating, and the food is always great. The best part about coming here is, the staff have my order memorized and all I have to do is come in and pay for my food.“

“Great service, good sushi, delicious mochi, and great location.“

“Yes, this restaurant is highly recommended for a casual dining experience.“

“Little charming sushi restaurant in the heart of Georgetown, wonderful, taste and fresh food. Excellent service, highly recommend. 👏👏👏“

“I stopped by here for a quick bite for lunch and got the Banh Mi Combo. The bread had a nice crisp after every bite. The sandwich sauce heavily leaned on the creaminess of the mayo and didn't have any spice to it surprisingly. The chicken and pork were tender and enjoyable to devour but the beef was a bit too tough to bite through while being on a sandwich. The onions added a different type of crunch to the sandwich. The lemongrass and vegetables added a fresh taste to the ensemble.“

“Easily one of the best bars in the city, hands down“