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.“

“Best Ramen I've ever eaten“

“There's a reason this is THE restaurant that visiting Japanese dignitaries go to. Genuinely one of the top Japanese restaurants in the *world* outside of Japan. (And with the accolades to prove it.)

Come for happy hour, or a fancy dinner, or try the outstanding omakase... you can't go wrong, and you can eat well at every price point from $20-200.“

“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 !“

“Outstanding performers and great food!“

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

“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!“

“Everything was delicious, staff and atmosphere were all top notch. We typically have trouble finishing entire entrees in restaraunt, 4 of the small plates ended up being the perfect amount of food with no room for desert. With 2 beers and a mocktail our total came to only $130. Given the quality and entire experience it felt like a great value.“

“Best sushi restaurant me and my family have ever been to. Our server, Jay made our experience even better with his service that went above expectations. They also gave complimentary matcha ice cream for our birthdays that was insanely good.“

“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!“

“This is, without question, one of my favorite restaurants in DC. I’ve been coming here for over three years, and every single visit leaves me impressed—their menu changes with the seasons, and it never fails to delight. This summer’s offerings might be my favorite yet; the food is creative, delicious, and made with real care. What keeps me coming back just as much, though, is the service. They remember you, they make you feel welcome, and every visit feels a little like coming home. I’m already looking forward to the next one!“

“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!“

“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.“

“Tried the sushi here and ordered a few specialty rolls. One had a nice citrus flavor, another had crispy onions on top, and the spicy tuna roll brought some heat. I liked that each roll had a completely different combination, which made the meal fun to try“

“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 🎄“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“Great food and fantastic staff“

“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“

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

“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.“

“Don't let the exterior of the building fool you. Closed on Sundays. Visited on a Monday at 3pm and the door was locked, but opened very fast (they were on lunch break!). Let me tell you, the couple that own and operate this restaurant are the kindest, most amazing people. The husband took out order and served us while his wife prepared the sushi. Oh, and the SUSHI!!! Expectations exceeded, by far! Ordered the Chicken Teriyaki Box, A roll of Spicy Salmon Sushi and a roll of Shrimp Tempura Sushi (shared by 2 people). The Teriyaki Box was good but the Sushi Rolls were outstanding!!! Whole meal with 2 non alcoholic drinks came to about $65 without tip, which was WELL worth it! I will be returning, most definitely!!!“

“Absolutely a must in DuPont. Creative and unique menu. The Roses drink was fantastic- staff and servers were so incredible and the music was perfect. Loved it! The sweet server/host even ran after us to give me a sweater I left behind. 10/10 recommend.“

“Great food and excellent service.“

“Great food and fresh ingredients“

“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!“

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

“A favorite neighborhood spot“

“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!“

“Omakase experience was perfect. From start to finish, cannot recommend this place enough. Other Omakase experiences we have had have been very stiff / efficient, with a goal of getting customers in and out very quickly. This experience is so much better than that - intimate, not rushed, high quality.“

“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.“

“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.“

“The food is always excellent“

“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.“

“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!“

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

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

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

“EXCELLENCE“

“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.“

“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.“

“It was a great experience.. food was good and customer service was even better and fast.“

“Solid pho, plus it came out extremely fast and the place seems clean. Would happily try other things there. The worst part was the noodles: not great but ok given that it’s a casual and fast spot; the noodles were almost exclusively short and there were few long ones, perhaps overcooked and they fell apart.“

“Excellent sushi with impressively large portions honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen rolls this big anywhere else. The sashimi slices were generous, fresh, and beautifully cut. I was also given a complimentary bowl of Miso soup and a free dessert, which was a great touch. The staff were exceptionally kind, welcoming, and attentive throughout the meal. I’d highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for quality food and standout service.“

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

“I work near this restaurant, so I’m here pretty often. Always like their crunchy spicy tuna, and salmon avocado cilantro rolls. The people who work here are really nice, and today they gave me an extra soup that they had as well as some delicious hot sauce (not wasabi) to dip my sushi in. Recommend if you’re yearning for sushi“

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