50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Marlow Heights

“Amazing place food really good“

“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!“

“Best Ramen I've ever eaten“

“Sushi Taro used to be considered one of the top Japanese restaurants in the city, but it is not surprising they no longer are on the Michelin guide in 2025. The table service was good, but the rest of the service was mediocre. The food itself does feel overpriced for the quality, only a few select items were notable. Really not a destination for sushi or sashimi. Nothing they are doing terribly wrong per se, just nothing to write home about.“

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

“Took my husband here for his birthday and he loved it! We chose from the a la carte menu and every bite was phenomenal. Service was impeccable, elite fine dining kind of Service. The atmosphere really tied everything together. From the decor and low lighting to the excellent selection of music, we were really blown away. Highly recommend this spoy“

“Outstanding performers and great food!“

“every time i come here, i have the best sushi of my life, if you want a life changing sushi experience, come here! the kevin bacon sushi was insane 😵‍💫 & stg, soup is fire too!! they also gave my bf something for his birthday & that was so sweet & unexpected ❤️ every one was so sweet“

“Lovely sashimi! Authentic Japanese dishes.“

“Had a really nice time upstairs with Ash as our bartender! Sooo sweet! My best friend andnI had a blast. 🩷🙌🏽“

“just want to tell you...the best in DMV 5☆“

“Dining at Koryou Urara was one of the most exquisite culinary experiences I’ve had in DC! The food was beautifully simple but the freshness was unreal. It felt like each ingredient had just landed from Japan (pretty sure it did) and Chef Urara’s take on every dish was so thoughtful and unexpected, I found myself genuinely excited for what was coming next.

There was a quiet confidence in the way everything was presented from the plating to the pacing to the atmosphere. Nothing felt overdone but everything felt intentional and authentic.“

“I finally had the chance to experience Sushiko's omakase, and I only wish I had gone sooner because it was absolutely incredible. Our sushi chef was wonderful and incredibly accommodating; it was clear he genuinely wanted our food to be perfect and our experience to be positive. Although the omakase is priced at $140 per person and was supposed to be a fourteen-course meal, we received more than fourteen courses. That extra surprise made the price feel easy to justify.

A tip for those planning on coming for the omakase who want to save a little on drinks is to arrive slightly early and grab beverages in the bar area, as the omakase tasting takes place during their happy hour (which runs from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM). You do have to close your tab at the bar and move to the sushi counter, but we were able to bring our drinks over without any problem.“

“I never write reviews but our anniversary dinner yesterday was amazing. The food was outstanding and the service was impeccable. The pre-fixe menu is worth it, especially for a first time diner. We're planning our next reservation already.“

“Delicious spicy beef noodle soup“

“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!“

“Love this place! It’s absolutely beautiful and the staff is incredibly friendly. I came once and sat at the bar, and now it’s become my weekly spot for fresh sushi and handcrafted cocktails!
Helen is amazing—always smiling and giving off such positive, welcoming energy. She really makes you feel invited and appreciated. And Vanessa is SO sweet! She always checks in to make sure I’m doing okay.
Highly recommend!“

“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!“

“A small sushi & Reman shop, clean and fresh, only one person cook and serve. I tried the poke with tuna, Not only I tasted the freshness and abundance nutrition to the body but also was touched by the sincerity and dedication to the food from the owner! He must made tremendous efforts to prepare such healthy food with fresh ingredients at very affordable price! In such a profit driven business environment, it is so precious to have such a germ shop to make you feel happy and surprise in life! Thanks for the great food! Appreciated and Strong recommendation!

One thing I’d like to point out is that the ordering machine does not provide picture nor the detail ingredients of the dishes (I understand that it is only one man in charge of everything it would be great to have the ingredients shows in the ordering menu) but you can easily refer to the menu from google map it provides clear information.“

“I love hole-in-the-walls, and it's rare you find a reasonably priced non-chain restaurant this close to the mall. And filling too!

Tucked down 2nd St NW, in an unassuming townhouse behind the Department of Labor, this is a cosy spot to dine-in. Unpretentious, this atmosphere is inviting to solo dinners. I had my eye on it for a while when working nearby, and am glad I got the chance to stop by. If you're in the area, it's worth a visit.

Had the vegetable bibimbap, but the boxes looked just as good. Will bring a friend next time to split.“

“Love this place, sushi & ramen is consistently delicious. I also love the matcha latte, and mango mousse cake. Solid choice for dine in or takeout. The broth reminds me of home. And the prices are very reasonable. Street parking/ pickup available.“

“A favorite neighborhood spot“

“Great food and fantastic staff“

“Great food and excellent service.“

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

“When I say moving to this area there are not a lot of fast food spots I like to eat in! This one here though I must say is one I will! The atmosphere for lunch was very nice and tranquil! No overly loud music just a nice little vibe!! It was clean and the service was fast! The gentlemen that help me was nice and pleasant! I got the lunch special and it was more than enough food!!! I do recommend just off cleanliness and customer service!!! So overall clean, good customer service, and great deal for your buck!!$$$“

“Great food and fresh ingredients“

“Nothing less than phenomenal. Everything was hot, everything was fresh, and everything tasted amazing. Will definitely be coming back whenever in the area. Fairly priced as well...can't beat that.“

“on point!! don't shy away from the menu, everything we had was delicious.“

“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.“

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

“The Food Is Outstanding. I Never Had Fast Cooked Hibachi Like This. Today Is My Second Day In A Row Coming In Here For Some Food And I’m Very Pleased With The Food. It’s Not Expensive. Very Affordable and A Great Amount Of Food For The Cost. I Got 3 meals For $50 In My Eyes That’s Great.“

“Fresh and interesting sushi items. Extensive menu. Good service. I like what I’m eating :)“

“Hinata Sushi is my family’s go-to Japanese restaurant in Alexandria. The food is consistently really delicious, with good portions and fair prices. The lunch specials are a really great deal— highly recommend.

The menu has a broad range of Japanese appetizers and dinner options, and both the hot food and sushi are excellent. Sometimes at other restaurants, the hot food is better than the sushi or vice versa, and that is not the case at Hinata. The kitchen dishes and sushi are always delicious. I especially love how fresh the sushi dishes are.

The service is also gracious and attentive, and the restaurant environment is not loud and always clean.

Hinata is a neighborhood gem on every level!“

“The pork shoulder, eggplant and harissa sweet potato fries were all fantastic-knocked out of the park. Great seasoning on all. My girlfriend doesn't usually like sweet potato fries and would have probably liked a second order. Really nice quiet ambience and great service.“

“What a pleasure it is to dine here. The DMV has never known an omakase experience until the arrival of Two Nine. The care and attention that’s taken into each bite is an out of body experience. As someone who was lucky enough to experience omakase dinners in Tokyo, this is an authentic and memorable experience as it gets in the US. Everything moves so fast in this world, I encourage anyone to come here and slow down and savor each and every bite. Drink lots of sake too, their menu is outstanding!!“

“Just amazing. You can see why they are Michelin. We sat at the counter and had the complete experience. We felt like we were the only two in the restaurant and learned so much about each carefully curated delicious dish. They spared no expense and cut no corners. Exquisite.“

“Small place up some stairs, but after just coming back from two weeks in Japan, this place knocked it out of the park with their sushi rolls. Took my sister’s family out for lunch and we just kept ordering, everything we had was amazing both in taste and in presentation. Very assuming place from the outside, but well worth going up the stairs and ordering a meal. This place is the real deal.“

“it was great especially the music, if like Anime.“

“Excellent foods, good vibes, great services!“

“The Moonraker's hosting of the Holiday Boat Parade was magnificent! This was our first Boat Parade, and the set up at the Moonraker will likely make this an annual holiday tradition. At first, the appetizers were a bit scant (... the circulation and selection of food increased during the parade)but the warm beverages were in ready supply, as were warm seating options and our door heaters. Everyone was able to get a great view of the parade, and staff walked around with blankets to ensure everyone was comfortable. I hate the cold but this was fantastic! We will be back next year!“

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

“Delicious food and very friendly services. Been there many times.“

“Great sushi spot! The fish is always fresh, the flavors are well-balanced, and everything is prepared really neatly. I order from here often and have tried plenty of other sushi places in the area, but this one consistently delivers top quality. Definitely recommend! 🍣✨“

“Went last night for the soft opening and was very impressed from start to finish. The bartender, Chi, was personable and very attentive and we enjoyed various foods that were all top notch and some nice wine. Other staff who are coming and going were also very nice and you would never have known it was their first night. I worked in various aspects of the restaurant business for 15 years and have been to various soft openings, and these guys did a fantastic job. The owner Jay came by and chatted with us to make sure everything was going well and you can tell he really cares about everything. Pak Soii is a very welcome addition to Del Ray Alexandria and I can't wait to go back.“

“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!“

“My wife and I love coming to Press Club to have nice cocktails and listen to good music. The house cocktails and small bites are solid. Most importantly, the staff is always very welcoming and friendly. Frank behind the bar is fantastic. It's hard to walk in, so reservations are a must.“

“I've been to Shibuya several times since they opened. The quality of the ingredients is very high. Each individual part of the dishes whether it is the amazing pork belly, the marinated bamboo shoots, the rich broth or little marinated vegetable dishes, are outstanding. Service is kind and very helpful. Shibuya is a wonderful addition to the neighborhood.“

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

“Great food options and drinks. Very friendly staff especially our server, Khuan!“