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“

“Overall five stars for the service. We made a mistake with the original reservation and they were so kind in accommodating us. Generally, everyone was so professional and kind.

We did the tasting menu along with the sake pairing. Overall, the food was solid but it seemed a little pricey for the quality we got. A few dishes did blow us away: the fish and chips with the vinegar sauce, the shabu shabu, the gizzard chad, and the fish cake. The sake pairing generally worked, but the one that came with the nigiri seemed more like a palette cleanser than a pairing.

Also, shoutout to Alan our server who was kind, thoughtful, and even ran after us when we left something. We really appreciated his knowledge about the food and his service. All the service made our night exceptional and memorable - hence the five stars overall.“

“It was a pleasant experience and friendly service.

the atmosphere was nice and welcoming.

The restaurant was tidy and clean 9/10

Talking about the food:
I tried the following:
● Signature CATERPILLAR
● Signature SUICIDE SQUAD
● CRAB WONTON starter (I would say less cheese more crab)
● Specialty rolls:
○ Roll me a fatty
○ 911
○ Rainbow
● Nigiri (Tuna (Maguro), Yellow tail (Hamachi), Kanpachi (Amber Jack), Flunder (Hirame),
Anago (sea eel)
● Classic Rolls
○ Salmon Avocado Roll
○ Hamachi negi
○ California Roll
○ Shrimp tempura Roll
○ Spider Roll

Food quality was great, everything was delicious and most importantly the fish was fresh.

Would I come back? Yes, I will definitely comeback.“

“Outstanding performers and great food!“

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

“I recently visited this Japanese restaurant and had an absolutely amazing dining experience. The sushi was incredibly fresh, beautifully presented, and full of authentic flavor. I also tried the ramen and tempura, and both dishes were prepared perfectly with high-quality ingredients. The atmosphere was calm, elegant, and welcoming, making it a perfect place to relax and enjoy a meal. The staff members were attentive, polite, and provided excellent customer service throughout the visit.“

“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!“

“My bf and I loved this spot, it was so cute and intimate. I will say it's much lighter than we were expecting about half of the dishes had wagyu and the other half were lighter bites. I thought it was a great balance and was satisfied.

The chef Jason was really the standout for us, he handles all the dessert in house and it was incredible. We'll come back just to see Jason.“

“Incredible dinner experience. Chawanmushi (egg custard) is to die for. Each dish was prepared with such care. I felt like I was back in Japan. A wonderful service - chef Urara is lovely. A great wine selection. I can’t wait to go back.“

“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!“

“I'm so sad we found out about this place just as we were leaving DC. The seared salmon belly had that delicious char flavor and melted in my mouth. The salmon sashimi with wasabi olive oil was a punch of wasabi in the best way, and also melted like butter. All the nigiri is divine with how fresh and thick the cuts are, and the wasabi is pure. The rolls are uniquely flavorful -- we loved the salmon skin and white tuna especially. I would skip the tempura roll as the texture was too soft for my liking.“

“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.“

“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!“

“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“

“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!!!“

“Press Club (1506 19th Street)**

From the moment you walk into Press Club, you’re greeted by a super stylish vibe. The decor is sleek with neutral, natural woods that give off a warm yet modern feel—so inviting and perfect for hanging out.

Their cocktails? Absolutely on point—beautifully crafted and totally delicious—plus the small bites are such savory surprises, fresh yummy. .

The music? Eclectic and cool—something for everyone and keeps the vibe lively. The crowd is diverse and friendly .

And I have to say—**Will, the bartender, is too gorgeous for words**—he makes every drink look as good as it tastes. The staff are quick and super friendly, always making you feel at home.

Bravo !
Elizabeth Faiella. Winter Park Florida“

“I love visiting new places, especially when traveling.

This gem in Washington was so good! The atmosphere when you get inside the restaurant can’t be on the photo.

Staff was kind and great! Drinks and food were delicious. Most creative interpretation of banitsa I ever tried - loved it!

Definitely recommended!“

“It was interesting place. Contactless order and dine in on 2nd floor. For lunch, that's actually convenient. I tried mini chirashi. It was good but the sashimi was too chopped. I felt like I was eating leftover from dinner. I wish it was served in a bowl. Being served in a disaposable mini plate made the eating experience uncomfortable and inconvenient.“

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

“Great food and excellent service.“

“Great food and fresh ingredients“

“A favorite neighborhood spot“

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

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

“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!“

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

“Absolutely enchanted by my omakase experience!

Steer clear of other spots; this one transcends expectations. Having explored omakase across the states, even the renowned ones fall short of this hidden gem, breaking free from sushi snobbery.

The highlight? Undeniably the superbly curated fish selection. Each piece, a testament to culinary artistry, surpassed my expectations. What set this experience apart were the exquisite hot dishes seamlessly woven between courses, elevating the tasting journey.

The owners and chefs? They're the cherries on top, sealing the experience like a wax-sealed envelope—sophisticated and perfect. Can't contain my excitement to introduce this culinary haven to all my friends. It's a gastronomic adventure that deserves to be shared!

Updated 6/19
Even after traveling all over Asia, I still missed coming here. Amazing sushi, great staff, and consistently one of my favorite spots. I honestly can't believe this place still isn't getting more media attention. The quality is incredible, and I'm surprised more people don't know about it yet. Definitely a hidden gem“

“Absolutely a vibe, you pay a premium for the beautiful surroundings and being at the waterfront, very cozy and small tables as a 6 foot one adult it felt a bit tight and restricted, but I think that's what they're going forward to give it a trendy or more chic feel either“

“Kusshi is my sisters and I favorite restaurant, and we’re upset that it’s closing down. I don’t know why these other people is putting bad reviews but this restaurant has SUCH good service, there food IS amazing, and the food didn’t take long to come, but other people has their own opinion but it’s disappointing it’s closing down.😢 we would’ve gave Kusshi ten stars but of course it doesn’t let us, or actually more. But we you guys don’t permanently close it down. 🙏🙏🙏“

“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.“

“The food is always excellent“

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

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“Kusshi is my sisters and I favorite restaurant, and we’re upset that it’s closing down. I don’t know why these other people is putting bad reviews but this restaurant has SUCH good service, there food IS amazing, and the food didn’t take long to come, but other people has their own opinion but it’s disappointing it’s closing down.😢 we would’ve gave Kusshi ten stars but of course it doesn’t let us, or actually more. But we you guys don’t permanently close it down. 🙏🙏🙏“

“I visited Onkei recently for lunch and was very pleased with my meal. I had the chicken gyudon and it was very tasty. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the portion was generous. It came with a side of miso soup. In addition, the service was quick and I received my order promptly.

I was even lucky enough to meet the owner that day, who happened to be there during my visit. He was very nice and friendly.

I highly recommend Onkei for a delicious and quick Japanese meal.“

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

“Great friendly welcoming service and the food was delicious- I would HIGHLY recommend 🤩“