Tonkatsu was delicious! Outside was perfect crispy crunchy fry. And their tonkatsu sauce is made in-house - delicious! I usually don't like the bottled sauce so this was a nice surprise! Sushi was all fresh and delicious too. Miso soup was on the saltier side but it's only a light appetizer so it didn't take away any stars. Waitress was kind enough to ask us for our honest options so we shared that the tonkatsu meat could have been seasoned a little more and the miso soup was salty. She noted it and bc she asked first it didn't feel rude. I appreciated their desire for honest feedback so they can improve. Outdoor seating seemed nice and shaded. May be we'll go back and sit outside. Inside was nice. A bit small/cozy but didn't notice the other customers so it wasn't bad. Noise was perfect too (we could hold a convo and we didn't hear anyone around us). read more

The sushi melts in your mouth, and the vibe is great! We had the ramen on the special menu (as of 3/4/26) and got it less spicy, but it was still packed with flavor. We still think about it. Plenty of seating and parking, but it does get busy at Dinner! Service is still phenomenal. read more

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A disclaimer: I'm not the biggest sushi fan in general so my opinion can only be taken too seriously. However my primary issue with this place is the price of the sushi. For example a simple roll such as the Philly roll should not cost what it does. I think you can get very similar quality sushi for a lower price at other places such as Tsunami sushi in fairlakes shopping center. read more

Our party of six went to Ariake Japanese Restaurant in Reston for dinner on Monday night. Although the restaurant isn't very large and was quite busy, we were seated within 10 minutes. Our waitress, Cindy, was friendly and attentive. We ordered the sushi regular, à la carte items (nigiri and rolls), stir-fried udon noodles, and katsu curry. The sushi was fresh and delicious, especially the toro salmon sushi, which was tender and flavorful. We also enjoyed the udon noodles and the katsu curry. I thought we ordered too much but we ended up finishing everything. Highly recommend this place! read more

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This Sushi place is tried and true sushi restaurant. We have been coming here for over a decade and will continue to come for the delicious sushi and Sashimi. read more

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I will say their omakase is a little underwhelming if you're hoping for a meal similar to their inventive sushi rolls. Good quality fish. The one thing that threw me off was the avocado salad with dressing. It was lettuce and avocado with miso dressing. They also brought the maki roll after the black sesame ice cream... Black sesame ice cream was unexpectedly SO GOOD though. Good tiny bits of sesame seeds, lovely dark grey color, and not too sweet. Definitely requesting this next time I'm here. read more

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I experienced great service and got chirashi, which had generous portions of sashimi pictured as well. Got the uni nigiri (sea urchin), which was delicious, but not priced and learned was $15/one piece from receipt-sharing as heads up in case people may be surprised by price later. We were able to walk in and thought atmosphere was casual/comfortable and pretty tasty overall especially depending on what you order. Had a great time with friends and definitely interested in going back! read more

Ariake - Chirashi - Japanese Near Me - Reston, Virginia

Let's just say I'll be back... a lot. Very good experience all around. Food was awesome. 10/10. read more

Ariake - Seafood Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Reston, Virginia

Had a great lunch date with my youngest the day after Christmas. We're new to the area and testing out sushi restaurants and this ranks right up there with the best we've had so far. Great selection for both the sushi and non sushi lovers in your life. We chose the Ariake, Submarine, Tuna Avocado Roll and California Rolls and they were all great! Service was wonderful and attentive. We'll definitely be back. read more

Ariake - Jumping right in! - Japanese Near Me - Reston, Virginia

Our go-to sushi place. Timing is everything because it's a pretty busy place. Hamachi kama is the best and sushi is always fresh. Service is not very warm but efficient. Never had a meal we didn't enjoy. read more

Ariake - Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Reston, Virginia

We love both Ariake restaurants in NOVA, their lunch menus are great deals. I tried the spicy chirashi which had an assortment of sushi on top of spicy rice which was delicious, this is a must try dish, the Hamachi Kama lunch with grilled yellowtail served with ponzu sauce is also a favorite. Reston is a bit smaller but has more natural light with all the windows and staff have always been great. The miso soup always comes out super hot which I love. Best Japanese in NOVA IMHO. read more

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This is our favorite sushi place in the tristate area. We came here frequently when we lived closer, and even now that we live an hour away, we still make the drive from time to time. The quality of the fish and the combinations of flavors are head and shoulders above the other sushi spots I've been to, and holds up well in comparison to the sushi I had in Japan. Price is good, service is good, ambiance is good; the sushi is fantastic. read more

Ariake - Sushi rolls - Japanese Near Me - Reston, Virginia

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FOOD We ordered the roll combo, salmon avocado roll, and Florida roll. The roll combo is one of the best bang for your buck on the menu-- all of which were light yet filling and can definitely leave leftovers for a second meal. The salmon avocado was simple yet delicious, but the Florida roll was an acquired taste. The half raw and half cooked/seared texture wasn't something I liked, but the roll itself is one of their bestsellers. SERVICE The staff are kind and friendly. AMBIANCE Spacious seating is available inside the store, and a great spot for lunch/dinner. It can get busy during peak meal times, but I highly recommend Ariake if you're looking for great sushi! PARKING Ample parking is available at the lot in front of the restaurant. read more

Ariake - Top row: Salmon Avocado Roll Bottom row: Florida roll - Japanese Near Me - Reston, Virginia

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Wanted to change my review to five stars! Visited a few more times since my last review and I wanted to say each time I have dined the food has been exceptional. Last visited I tried the Negi Maki which was scallions rolled in beef with teriyaki sauce. I was worried it would be chewy but it was great! The scallions was fresh and the meat was tender. The sauce complimented the dish and tied everything together! Really having been enjoying our time here! read more

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This has been our "go to" Japanese restaurant for many years. But on a recent weekend dinner meal, we ordered multiple California rolls. The rolls were presented beautifully; but, the pieces of roll were all rolled loosely and fell apart. Perhaps one of the new sushi chefs was having a bad evening. We will be back again soon. read more

I was craving sushi and came here for dinner on Wednesday evening per a friend's recommendation! The restaurant was almost full around 7:30 pm, so I would recommend making a reservation (only available Monday-Thursday; they're walk-in only from Friday-Sunday). I ordered off the specials menu for dinner (I attached a photo if you'd like to see details for each item): Uni Flight ($45) and Bluefin Tuna Special ($40). Both were delicious and SO fresh. My favorites for each dish were the Japanese Uni in the Uni Flight (obviously) and the Toro Melt in the Bluefin Tuna Special - it really lives up to its name! If you like black sesame anything, don't miss out on their homemade black sesame ice cream for dessert! It's delicious! Very creamy with a rich, nutty flavor. The service was quick for how busy it was and I was super happy with my meal! It was pricy, but for what I specifically ordered, that's to be expected lol. If I ordered anything else, I might've deducted a star because of the overpriced general menu. Otherwise, highly recommend :) read more

Ariake - Specials 10/2/2024 - Japanese Near Me - Reston, Virginia

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We've been coming here for years for the best shrimp tempura in the DMV and also the best chicken teriyaki as well. read more

Ariake - Chicken Teriyaki Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Reston, Virginia

Definitely my low-budget go-to sushi spot. I would recommend to only order the sushi / sashimi here because the fish always tastes fresh. The hot foods are just okay -- wouldn't go here for that, but if you're craving it, it's not bad. My go-to order is the Sashimi Combo. Happy hour menu offers good options as well! read more

Ariake is one of my family's go-to sushi places in the area. My wife and I appreciate the small but tasty selections of specialty rolls, which include generous cuts of reasonably fresh fish. Our favorite rolls are the special Toro Power, the hamachi and fried scallion YTS, and the surprisingly fresh Spicy Scallop rolls. While the rolls are not very large, the quantities are on par with area competitors. We have also ordered nigiri from here and found the cuts of fish quite thick, albeit with suboptimal knife work and strictly mediocre rice. The prices are fair relative to other nearby sushi restaurants. We have only ever ordered takeout here, but the restaurant seems consistently packed with patrons even on weeknights. read more

Great food, good service, simple vibes. Ordered the Assorted Nigiri, Hamachi box, Hamachi Kama, Negi Maki, Salmon Skin roll & Tempura Udon. The quality of sushi was great. I'd return. Hamachi box made me especially happy-- a little plate of yellowtail heaven. All food was good. Nice staff. The restaurant was pretty packed on a Sunday evening. They still gave good, timely service. Food didn't take too long. read more

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Had a great time coming here! We were sat pretty quickly and has salmon tatake, sushi deluxe platter, sashimi deluxe platter. Our appetizers came with miso soup and a side salad. All items were pretty fresh, and came out in a timely manner. I've heard great reviews about this place as the fish has never been a miss especially in the Northern Virginia area! I would come here again! It is pretty busy inside but the service was still too tier! read more

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Service is always great even when it's packed and it does get packed during evenings. I've been going here for a number of years since it's my wife's favorite sushi place nearby so I'm a bit biased obviously. I've tried Michelin rated sushi and a variety of different places and I frankly can't tell the difference. Maybe my palate is unrefined but overall ariake is a very nice and cozy place for families, couples, even work lunch crowds. Highly recommend the chirashi bowl. read more

Ariake - Chirashi - Japanese Near Me - Reston, Virginia

A staple as one of my go to Sushi restaurant for Chirashi. The fish selection on the Chirashi is usually very reasonable. What makes it a favorite for me is their spicy mayo. For me, that separate their Chirashi from others. We also usually get a variety of hand rolled, some nigiri, and chicken Karaage. Today, we tried the Bento box. Decent selection for the price. Service is spotty at times with needing to ask for hot tea and water refill. Restaurant is not very fancy but comfortable. read more

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It's can't believe this was my first time trying this place. I am a fan! It's tucked away in Reston. The parking can be a bit hard as this place was really busy. Cars had to park on the grass. The food here is delicious! We started off with the shrimp tempura entree, takoyaki, and agedashi tofu as a starter. All of these were seasoned well. We then shared several rolls and some toro. The sushi is really good. I will definitely come back for it! The service was okay. They were busy but I don't think that excuses not coming to our table to check on us for long durations. They have outdoor seating which was full. Inside was fine and typical Japanese decor. I'll definitely come back and try this place out again. Hopefully service is better next time. read more

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First time in the Reston area and wanted to know how good its Japanese/sushi game was. Happy to report that Ariake passed my test with flying colors!! Ariake has a pretty extensive menu besides sushi. The offer Japanese favorites like tempura, teriyaki, katsu, and even donburi. Wifey ordered the Assorted Sashimi (15 pcs of sashimi) and I ordered the chicken katsu curry. We also ordered a few nigiri pieces: hamachi belly, unagi, and hotate (scallop). All of the nigiri and sashimi pieces were very fresh as the pictures can attest. It helped that this restaurant is quite busy, even on a Wednesday night, providing a quick turnover of sushi orders. Every table ordered some kind of sushi rolls and nigiri. Chicken Katsu curry was also quite delicious and definitely satisfied my curry cravings. Chicken was properly breaded with panko and fried to perfection. Curry sauce is made in-house so it has its own unique but familiar Japanese curry flavor. Wait staff was courteous and efficient, but don't expect them to engage in long conversations. Luckily, we were able to have small talk with one of their servers and she even recommended her favorite Thai restaurants in town! Only drawback for some people is that this restaurant is quite loud owing to its popularity. Reston folks really know their Japanese food and sushi and Ariake does not disappoint. If I ever decide to move to this area, I can be rest assured that my Japanese food and sushi cravings will be met here. read more

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The best sushi in all of Northern Virginia! Toro Power Roll, Florida Roll, and Beef Tataki is a must try. Have eaten at Ariake for years and the quality has always exceeded my expectations. read more

Ariake - Toro Power Roll - Japanese Near Me - Reston, Virginia

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Ambiance: 4/5 Well spaced and we had more than enough room for all of our food. Food: 5/5 Shared a Sparkling Mio with the table. Nice and not too sweet and easy to go down with the delicious sushi. They had a great selection of cooked sushi for my brother's partner, since she's not a big fan of raw fish. Got the set menu for a very reasonable price, had a salad with yummy ginger dressing for my starter, my entre was prepared beautifully with quality sashimi, and desert was sesame ice cream, which was delish. Service. 4/5 Our waiter was attentive. Despite us continuously adding to our order (it was so yummy we kept wanting more) they were happy to help. We had a birthday girl at the table and got a complimentary ice cream to celebrate her special day. Can't wait to visit again in the future! Loved the food. If you love sushi this is the spot. read more

Ariake - Japanese Near Me - Reston, Virginia

Ordered a large amount of sushi rolls. They also have other dishes available, but I think this place is known for its sushi. Small parking area dedicated to the restaurant - looks like plenty for the restaurant size. Service and interior were nice. Pretty standard sushi dining experience overall. Great for small or large groups. read more

Ariake - Yum - Japanese Near Me - Reston, Virginia

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We had the dinner bento box, hit all our senses. Flavorful and filling, but leave space for dessert, the fried banana tempura is pretty good. The service was great and the space is cozy with outside seating. read more

Really nice traditional sushi restaurant next to the Hunters Woods shopping center. My partner and I went for an early dinner without a reservation, but the place filled up very quickly so it would be a good idea to have a reservation if you go after 5:30 pm. My partner and I shared the Maguro Box, which had several pieces of raw tuna sushi, sashimi, roll, and spicy tuna salad. It had excellent spicy flavors, the tuna was fresh, and it came with a basic side salad and miso soup. Since we started with the box we didn't have room for anything else beyond a few sips of Junmai sake. It was a lovely experience with attentive service and I would recommend for lunch or dinner. read more

For mid/high-level sushi, this place was great! out of the following that we ordered only one looked better than it tasted: Lion King Roll, Eel Cucumber Roll, Ariake Roll, Rainbow Roll, Dragon Roll, Super Dynamite Roll, and a sashimi lunch. The Lion King roll was a miss (and the most expensive of the bunch at $20). Our favorite was the eel cucumber roll (a steal at just over $7). In the sashimi lunch, our favorite was the yellowtail. If we went back I would get just the yellowtail, the eel cucumber roll, the fatty salmon, and then try some of the rolls we didn't get. The quality is great and the fish was fresh. My main note is that we didn't get nearly enough ginger for the amount we ordered, the amount of avocado on and in the rolls was too much, and our waiter was hard to understand. read more

Ariake - miso and salad - Japanese Near Me - Reston, Virginia

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This was my first time at Ariake but certainly won't be my last! Some of the freshest Sushi I have ever had. It was somewhat busy but our waitress was good about letting us know about where our foot was in the process. It did take a bit longer and would have been nice to get a little sample to tide us over but as you can see the sushi was worth the wait. read more

Ariake - Japanese Near Me - Reston, Virginia

My friend recommended this place for lunch and I was satisfied when I left the restaurant. The restaurant was cozy, clean, and spacious. The service was great. Our server was very attentive, refilling our water, and making sure we were satisfied with our meal. Although it was busy, they server checked up on us frequently. I got the chicken karaage for an appetizer and it was light. Although it was fried, it did not feel heavy. The sauce that accompanied the dish was a creamy spicy mayo, and it went well with the chicken. My friend and I enjoyed our bento boxes, it was a great price with a glimpse of different stuff on the menu. It came with steaming tempura sauce (it came out hot), salad, miso soup, tempura, rice, 2 california rolls, and a meat of choice. Everything was fresh and delicious. My favorite was the crab stick tempura. My friend got the ramen and the bowl was hefty! This location does not skimp out on the portion. The broth was delicious and addicting. The noodles were cooked perfectly and had the umami taste absorbed in the noodles. Although they do give a lot of toppings, the pork was on the tougher/ chewier side, but it was good regardless. The spicy tuna roll was fresh and was a great way to end the meal. I will be visiting again if I am in the area. read more

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Ariake is a great spot for Japanese food. The sushi was fresh and delicious, and the beef teriyaki was amazing. We also tried the noodles, which were very good (wish I had taken a picture!). The outdoor patio has a wonderful ambiance, and the service was excellent. read more

Toro melt in my mouth. Best sushi I had in awhile. 5 star they have a great happy hour with good tempura read more

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I felt compelled to post an update after my experience on New Year's Eve. Ariake was very busy and closed online orders early on in the night. I was super bummed because I had been planning on Ariake takeout for my kid-free solo night in for months. I called multiple times for updates on whether/when online orders would reopen and they were so patient and friendly despite being very busy. I ordered sashimi (salmon, toro salmon, unagi), miso soup, and seaweed salad. Everything was delicious - salmon basically melted in my mouth! I've tried other local sushi and Ariake is hands down the best (and not much more expensive). Their sashimi is thicker and larger pieces than most other places and always fresh. I definitely opt for sashimi here (the rolls are good, but not the selling point for me compared to other sushi restaurants). I also find their seaweed salad to be more interesting than other places. I also like that online it's easy to select "no wasabi." Parking is a little difficult during peak hours and I've had times where I'm unable to find a spot (people end up making their own spots). read more

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Honestly, I would have given Ariake 4 stars if I didn't get sick towards the end of my meal. This is the first time I've ever had food poisoning and it was not fun at all! I am flabbergasted as I don't know what happened! Staff was attentive and brought out the food fairly quick considering it was very busy. The edamame was good, pretty standard with a hint of salt. The miso soup was meh, not the best but ok for a chilly evening. The sushi tasted very fresh and just melts in your mouth. The dragon roll was delicious and had the perfect rice ratio. I really wish I left with better memories of Ariake and am hesitant to give it another try. read more

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Best sushi in Reston, service is great. Sushi is fresh. I love their scallop and uni Avoid going on weekends, it may take longer waits read more

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I was nervous heading here for a birthday dinner on a Saturday night because one, I've heard they get very busy, and two, they do not take reservations on weekend days. My party of four arrived at exactly the right table turnover though and we were immediately seated. The staff is attentive and quickly worked out our drink orders, then our starters, and finally our sushi rolls and other entrees. For sushi, there is a white paper ordering card for you to use to identify the number of which type of rolls you'd like. We also ordered chicken teriyaki. Everything was good. Like really good. And colorful and plated to be appealing! I was also surprised at how much we ordered compared to the final bill (surprised in a good way). While we were there, the line out the door started to form. Some parties were groups of six or more. I don't know how long they would have to wait, but for all that my party had attentive wait staff and had finished our meal and were drinking down our waters while finishing our conversations and good time, I never felt rushed to leave. Highly recommend! read more

Ariake - Chicken Teriyaki - Japanese Near Me - Reston, Virginia

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Ariake is one of our favorite work lunch spots. Service is quick and friendly. The bento box is a great deal and so delicious. I always go for the bulgogi - the meat is flavorful and the sauce is great for dipping the rice in. You get miso soup, tempura veggies and shrimp, salad, rice, and two pieces of California roll on the side. You won't leave hungry. The restaurant has a lot of open windows and it's a nice getaway for lunch during the work day. I've only had sushi a few times here but it was also great. Would definitely like to come back for ramen as well. read more

Ariake - Bulgogi bento box - Japanese Near Me - Reston, Virginia

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