9 Best Japanese Restaurants in Bethesda

“A place I visit regularly, about once a month.

Among nearby sushi spots, this is the best place for nigiri. The balance between the sushi rice and the fish is excellent..the thickness and aging of the fish pair perfectly with the rice portion.

I often order the sashimi platter as well, which is always generous in portion. The udon and tempura are also great additions to enjoy alongside the sashimi.

There are just two areas that could be improved. First, using fresh wasabi would better match both the quality and the price point. Second, the front-of-house service could use more attention...each visit, we tend to be left waiting for a while upon arrival, which is a bit disappointing.“

“Imagine you get out of work late, want sushi.
Go here.
The atmosphere is calm and quiet, soft jazz is playing and the only other noise is the motion of the chef making your order.
This is perfection.
I want every experience here to be like this.
*chefs kiss*“

“My second visit, and the first one for two companions, we went for lunch. The atmosphere is very nice, quiet but not overly so. The staff greeting at the door is very pleasant, with smiles all around. Takumi offers specials for lunch, for $16-$18, including a Sushi one. The specials are served on a beautiful dark wooden tray, which includes the appetizer (salad or miso soup), a choice of 4 main courses (I enjoyed both Don, a bowl or rice with either eel or chirashi, a mix of raw fish; also on offer is a shrimp tempura, and the third dish is a nigiri sushi roll, (choice of 4). With this comes a small tray with three compartments, one with a salad (I had squid once and seaweed once), two and a piece of soft tofu in a slightly sweet syrup to wrap up the meal. The a la carte menu is very tempting as well, and the special rolls are delicious. All fish is flown fresh from Japan, and included Hokkaido uni (sea urshin) which was wonderful. All around, a lovely experience. We will be back!“

“5 stars - Have loved Tako for years! I miss the grill but the food is consistently tasty and presented beautifully.“

“I love coming to Aji Nippon when I feel like eating sushi. It is run by the nicest couple and they are always so welcoming when me and my family come in. The atmosphere is great, everything is very clean, and the food is delicious! I would absolutely recommend coming here if you are in the mood for sushi and want to support a small business at the same time!“

“This place is a little hidden gem.
Food is southeast Asian: a mix of Japanese, Thai food options.
Its much menu is both delish & economically friendly.
It is small restaurant where the host greet you well, serve you well, and make sure you are at ease.
I have dined in & took takeaway from time to time. Menus so far u tried are: fried rice, masamaan red curry chicken, green curry vegetarian, rice with salmon, hot & sour soup, cucumber avocado maki roll, green tea, sake, desserts-“

“Kusshi in Downtown Rockville and Bethesda have the best quality fish in Maryland it’s always fresh. We visit this location at least a couple times a week. Jay always goes out of her way to make sure we have a great dining experience. Always friendly service, good food and drinks.“

“It is a good place to eat and have fun.“

“Back to the scene of Lan’s and my first date!“