I'm a lover of Japanese food, since I grew up in Japan for 18 years. After coming back to the US, it's been a journey to find a place that hit almost all the right buttons. I first started coming here back in 2012, and the owner, an elder Japanese gentleman was running the show. It was spectacular! I got to know him a little bit, because I speak fluent Japanese, and I had to tell him that I'd been looking for a place that would rekindle my taste memories from when I lived in Japan. My wife and I went there regularly for the next 12 years, about every other month or so. A few years ago, right after Covid, I learned that the elder gentleman had retired and returned to Japan. Over the course of the last 3 years, the quality has steadily decreased, since there wasn't the guiding hand of a true Japanese Master Chef, who trained his people of many nationalities to do a wonderful job. We went there today to get the "taste of Home" and were VERY disappointed. The quality of the dishes were sub-par at best. My wife got the Unagi-don, broiled and seared eel, with an "eel sauce" that was, well, pure trash. It was vinegary, and thin. Not any kind of eel sauce that I have ever tasted. It tasted more like the gyoza dumpling dipping sauce. Terrible! Then, I got the Chashu Pork Ramen, which has 3 or 4 thick slices of pork, along with bean sprouts, sliced fish cake, and 1/2 of a boiled egg.... The pork was so cold, the ramen soup got cold within 3 minutes of it being served to me. And, since the original Cha-shu ramen hails from Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan, it would normally have a miso-based soup. Not this stuff. It was a vinegary, soy sauce based soup. So, we didn't order any real appetizer, and definitely didn't want dessert. I'm afraid that we won't be returning there any more. It was quite the let down. Service was great, though!
rockie cornett cruz
We visited for the first time this evening, on the recommendation of a friend who’s been dining at Temari for years. Just as she told us it would be, the atmosphere was warm and cozy. Business was steady. When we left, there were two parties waiting to be seated, which for a small establishment speaks volumes. Despite being busy, the servers were engaging and attentive (always offering to clear debris and empty dishes from the table, too). The food presentation was timely and appealing. When seated, we ordered tea, which was lovely, and served in the most beautiful - possibly handmade? - mugs. I look forward to returning.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Biginto
Good still good but got more pricy .
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tamara Thompson
My friends took me to their fav spot. They've been coming here for years.
It was a lot more casual than I realized but still very cozy. The service was friendly.
My food was excellent. My friends recommended the dish and I wasn't disappointed. The salmon was prefect and the rice and miso soup were great. Definately recommend.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rosa Perez
I enjoyed my meal very much! The food was delicious and comforting, and it was very filling as well. I highly recommend this restaurant. The portions are reasonable and all the food was fresh!! The dishes were well-paired, and I can’t wait to try more of their menu. 100% recommend trying the Hokke
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jason Bell
Real good food. Real good service. Place is on the smaller side so when it's busy you're not getting in but the most we have had to wait around lunch time is like 10 minutes.
Anna K
The service was super warm and welcoming! The Tonkatsu Ramen is DELICIOUS!
lovely little place with a homey atmosphere, the lady who was helping me with my to go order was extremely nice and attentive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ziwei
First visit here with local friends and I’m impressed! I had the Unagi don (eel rice bowl) and it was so delicious. Don’t miss their shaved ice! The green tea milk with sweet red bean is so refreshing! The steak is just fine.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Unagi Don
Laura Ko
First visit here, I ordered the chirashi bowl. The taste was decent and the presentation was nice. Unfortunately, I experienced stomach issues a couple of hours later. I can’t say for certain it was from here, but it has made me hesitant to return.
“Authenticity” is a factor I used to care very little for at American restaurants until traveling to Japan myself and realizing what is actually Japanese and what is American Japanese. Temari Cafe is one of the 3 truly authentic feeling Japanese restaurants I have had in the DMV area SO FAR.
Temari makes an excellent no frills bowl of ramen, much to the spirit of the ramen we had in Tokyo. The bowl comes out quite unassuming, much like the restaurant itself. The broth (tonkotsu this time) was the deepest broth I have had here, you can just taste how long it’s been soaking in the flavor of the bone. The pickled ginger was a fantastic touch, and I don’t even like regular ginger!! HUGE cut of naruto I’ve never seen so much lol and good meat. The noodles…. Freshest I’ve had here; it was just fantastic.
While the ramen was very good and the craving led us to Temari, I will note that based on online reviewers and what other customers were ordering… it does not seem like it’s even what they are mainly known for! I will have to try the rice dishes they have here. Rice dishes coming from the kitchen looked amazing and it's hard to find a Japanese place these days that does anything more than apps, ramen, and sushi.
As an app we just got salmon onigiri and it was a thicc boi! We wanted to get strawberry daifuku for desert (have been hunting for the item ever since tasting it at common street vendors at Tsukiji market Tokyo and Dotonbori Osaka) but they were out, but they have a huge menu and I even saw someone get a really cool parfait looking item.
Bonus: when you’re done go upstairs to the also incredibly authentic grocery store. There are other “Japanese” stores in the area, but just like with Temari, this one actually feels authentic.
Final note: the main lady working is Japanese and will often speak small common Japanese work phrases (no need to respond). If you want to say thanks to her in Japanese, it’s not just arigato, that would be rude as it is very very casual. It’s arigato gozaimas!!
Edit: the guy taking a star off complaining that this meal would be cheaper in Japan is out of his mind lol. Of course it would be, the USD has been overpowering the Yen the last two years….. the prices here are consistent with the area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Vladimer Shioshvili
There was a considerable wait to get seated, but it was all worth it. The food was great and so was the service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Claire Tseng
It's a classic Japanese family restaurant. Their food was ok it was slightly crowded and busy so the service was a little slow, the vibe is a typical small Japanese restaurant with some cute decorations so the atmosphere is good to relax and hangout with friends. I think their cooked food is great the grilled fish was just the right amount of salt and taste. The chirashi was ok, not the best quality of fish I had
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Chau Nguyen
Excellent Yellow tail jaw with a pinch of salt. I love sitting at the counter and talking with the staff
I'm a lover of Japanese food, since I grew up in Japan for 18 years. After coming back to the US, it's been a journey to find a place that hit almost all the right buttons. I first started coming here back in 2012, and the owner, an elder Japanese gentleman was running the show. It was spectacular! I got to know him a little bit, because I speak fluent Japanese, and I had to tell him that I'd been looking for a place that would rekindle my taste memories from when I lived in Japan. My wife and I went there regularly for the next 12 years, about every other month or so. A few years ago, right after Covid, I learned that the elder gentleman had retired and returned to Japan. Over the course of the last 3 years, the quality has steadily decreased, since there wasn't the guiding hand of a true Japanese Master Chef, who trained his people of many nationalities to do a wonderful job. We went there today to get the "taste of Home" and were VERY disappointed. The quality of the dishes were sub-par at best. My wife got the Unagi-don, broiled and seared eel, with an "eel sauce" that was, well, pure trash. It was vinegary, and thin. Not any kind of eel sauce that I have ever tasted. It tasted more like the gyoza dumpling dipping sauce. Terrible! Then, I got the Chashu Pork Ramen, which has 3 or 4 thick slices of pork, along with bean sprouts, sliced fish cake, and 1/2 of a boiled egg.... The pork was so cold, the ramen soup got cold within 3 minutes of it being served to me. And, since the original Cha-shu ramen hails from Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan, it would normally have a miso-based soup. Not this stuff. It was a vinegary, soy sauce based soup. So, we didn't order any real appetizer, and definitely didn't want dessert. I'm afraid that we won't be returning there any more. It was quite the let down. Service was great, though!
We visited for the first time this evening, on the recommendation of a friend who’s been dining at Temari for years. Just as she told us it would be, the atmosphere was warm and cozy. Business was steady. When we left, there were two parties waiting to be seated, which for a small establishment speaks volumes. Despite being busy, the servers were engaging and attentive (always offering to clear debris and empty dishes from the table, too). The food presentation was timely and appealing. When seated, we ordered tea, which was lovely, and served in the most beautiful - possibly handmade? - mugs. I look forward to returning.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Good still good but got more pricy .
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My friends took me to their fav spot. They've been coming here for years.
It was a lot more casual than I realized but still very cozy. The service was friendly.
My food was excellent. My friends recommended the dish and I wasn't disappointed. The salmon was prefect and the rice and miso soup were great. Definately recommend.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
I enjoyed my meal very much! The food was delicious and comforting, and it was very filling as well. I highly recommend this restaurant. The portions are reasonable and all the food was fresh!! The dishes were well-paired, and I can’t wait to try more of their menu. 100% recommend trying the Hokke
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Real good food. Real good service. Place is on the smaller side so when it's busy you're not getting in but the most we have had to wait around lunch time is like 10 minutes.
The service was super warm and welcoming! The Tonkatsu Ramen is DELICIOUS!
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Katsu Curry Rice, Omu Rice, Tonkotsu Ramen, Miso Soup and Vegetable Salad
lovely little place with a homey atmosphere, the lady who was helping me with my to go order was extremely nice and attentive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
First visit here with local friends and I’m impressed! I had the Unagi don (eel rice bowl) and it was so delicious. Don’t miss their shaved ice! The green tea milk with sweet red bean is so refreshing! The steak is just fine.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Unagi Don
First visit here, I ordered the chirashi bowl. The taste was decent and the presentation was nice. Unfortunately, I experienced stomach issues a couple of hours later. I can’t say for certain it was from here, but it has made me hesitant to return.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Food is good, big portion
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
“Authenticity” is a factor I used to care very little for at American restaurants until traveling to Japan myself and realizing what is actually Japanese and what is American Japanese. Temari Cafe is one of the 3 truly authentic feeling Japanese restaurants I have had in the DMV area SO FAR.
Temari makes an excellent no frills bowl of ramen, much to the spirit of the ramen we had in Tokyo. The bowl comes out quite unassuming, much like the restaurant itself. The broth (tonkotsu this time) was the deepest broth I have had here, you can just taste how long it’s been soaking in the flavor of the bone. The pickled ginger was a fantastic touch, and I don’t even like regular ginger!! HUGE cut of naruto I’ve never seen so much lol and good meat. The noodles…. Freshest I’ve had here; it was just fantastic.
While the ramen was very good and the craving led us to Temari, I will note that based on online reviewers and what other customers were ordering… it does not seem like it’s even what they are mainly known for! I will have to try the rice dishes they have here. Rice dishes coming from the kitchen looked amazing and it's hard to find a Japanese place these days that does anything more than apps, ramen, and sushi.
As an app we just got salmon onigiri and it was a thicc boi! We wanted to get strawberry daifuku for desert (have been hunting for the item ever since tasting it at common street vendors at Tsukiji market Tokyo and Dotonbori Osaka) but they were out, but they have a huge menu and I even saw someone get a really cool parfait looking item.
Bonus: when you’re done go upstairs to the also incredibly authentic grocery store. There are other “Japanese” stores in the area, but just like with Temari, this one actually feels authentic.
Final note: the main lady working is Japanese and will often speak small common Japanese work phrases (no need to respond). If you want to say thanks to her in Japanese, it’s not just arigato, that would be rude as it is very very casual. It’s arigato gozaimas!!
Edit: the guy taking a star off complaining that this meal would be cheaper in Japan is out of his mind lol. Of course it would be, the USD has been overpowering the Yen the last two years….. the prices here are consistent with the area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
There was a considerable wait to get seated, but it was all worth it. The food was great and so was the service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It's a classic Japanese family restaurant. Their food was ok it was slightly crowded and busy so the service was a little slow, the vibe is a typical small Japanese restaurant with some cute decorations so the atmosphere is good to relax and hangout with friends. I think their cooked food is great the grilled fish was just the right amount of salt and taste. The chirashi was ok, not the best quality of fish I had
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Excellent Yellow tail jaw with a pinch of salt. I love sitting at the counter and talking with the staff
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Broiled Mackerel, Salmon Teriyaki, Tuna
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