13 Best Japanese Restaurants in Bethesda

“Excellent choice of sushi resturant that fits in between casual and fine dining. It has an extensive menu of Japanese choices so you are not limited to sushi. I went with their sushi special offered with finer cuts of fish and was impressed with the selection. I also tried their truffle shoyu ramen and did not think it was that great. The egg which should be one of the best parts is not properly prepared. The broth just felt lacking and not rich in flavor. They gave a lot of noodles but did not find them to be very tasty. It was my fault because this is a sushi resturant and ramen is not their speciality.“

“Totally underrated sushi restaurant! I lived in Japan for the better part of my adult life and every time I come to Maki Bar (at least once a month at this point) I'm impressed by the size of the cuts of sashimi, the amount and flavor of the tempura shrimp udon (my go to order!), and all my friends and family I've brought have been equally blown away. Their special rolls have all tasted great too. The Salmon Special is the photo I've attached and was a dream for a salmon lover like me! Can't recommend them enough!“

“Ordered hamachi kama and chicken teriyaki at the front desk. Promised ready to go in about 25 minutes. However, after checking three times, two boxes were not ready for us to go until 40 minutes… At home, two items were tasted average. The hamachi kama (priced $25) was expected to come with more vegetables.“

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

“I knew as soon as I stepped inside that this was an authentic Japanese restaurant. The smell, the decor, not trying to be anything other than a place to get a meal.

The portions are not huge this is true but it’s tasty and well made. I had the shrimp and vegetable tempura, the soup with mushrooms and the sashimi appetiser. I thought it was all delicious and well made.

Not for you if you’re looking for large American sized portions with over the top service.

Wish I had taken photos.“

“I’ve been going here now for about 8 years and Passion Fin has the most remarkable sushi in the DMV. It’s definitely in my top 3 sushi restaurants in Maryland. I can tell the pandemic hit them hard and they now are closed on Mondays due to understaffing. Prices have been raised so I can only justify getting some during lunch happy hour which ends at 2:45. They have good Miso soups to go and they have mastered their packaging for carry-out. There’s a few tables outside where I often enjoy my food outside but whenever I’m there closer to 3pm the inside of the restaurant is barren.“

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

“Doki Doki Sushi at The Heights Foodhall in Bethesda delivers an outstanding sushi experience with its diverse menu of fresh, high-quality dishes. Co-founded by James Beard-nominated chef Kevin Tien, the restaurant is known for its meticulously crafted maki rolls, crudo, and sashimi. The casual yet refined setting, combined with attentive service and convenient QR code ordering, makes it a top choice for sushi lovers.“

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

“This is a great spot to share a meal with family, a hangout with friends, or a solo meal. I enjoy happy hour here most. The food is tasty, with good portions for the price. Sushi is tasty and fresh, the dumplings are yummy and full of flavor. The drinks are on point, the bar tender is great. The customer service is great, staff is cheerful, friendly, and helpful. The restaurant is decorated nicely with many windows for natural lighting and a nice view. I recommend visiting this spot, one of my favs in the area.“

“Gives a hole in the wall mom and pop shop type of vibe. Food has always been good for me. Servings are plentiful too. I am a flexitarian..love the plant based meats dishes they have but also love the Ostrich dishes too. Service is always fast and the people are always nice. I have gone inside to make a takeout order, used an app to make a pickup order as well as delivery.“

“Good, cheap, quick sushi.

Food is decent for the price, especially their lunch specials (nearly half price). There are fancier options even in Bethesda if that is what you want, yet I come here about once a week.

A true gem if your expectations match their hole-in-the-wall vibe, with American-style (sweet) but good-tasting sushi, soft jazz music playing in the background. This is fully comparable with other similar options in Rockville (noticeably better imho in some ways - faster service, fewer menu choices).

Most customers seem to order either delivery or pickup, so seating never seems an issue (since the pandemic, even at lunchtime, while the nearby NIH still hasn't demanded full return to the workplace). Servers vary depending on who is there but food is always consistently high quality, at least over the last year.

I will definitely return, again and again and again.:-)“

“Not first time eating at this place. Food was amazing and delicious. Service was great 2 people working fast. I waited for my order like 5 minutes. Regular rolls were great. First time trying the Hawaii Bowl and it was amazing ? if you trying get full definitely recommend it.“