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    Banana Leaves

    3.3 (440 reviews)
    Open 10:30 am - 2:30 pm, 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Banana Leaves Takeout or Delivery

    Banana Leaves Photos

    Business Info

    BANANA LEAVES ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Banana Leaves

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    Kyle S.

    Swung by here on a lunch break and would definitely do so again! Tucked into this old townhouse is an excellent restaurant. Note that those with mobility difficulties will not be well-deserved here. The stairs inside and out are steep and plentiful. If you can climb stairs, get in here! The menu and ability to pay individually is available via the QR code at each table. If you're old school, full printed menus are available and there was no issue splitting checks. The food was extremely good and service was quick and helpful. Importantly for me, they brought big bottles of water to the table for filling. Ambiance wasn't much to speak of, but the building is very nice in and of itself.

    Chicken pad thai and drunken noodle
    Kesanee S.

    The pad thai was plain, dry and doesn't taste like original pad thai with tamarin sauce. Drunken noodle was OK even if it should be spicy with herbs and noodle should stir fry with the sauce instead of separated by pouring the sauce on top of white wide noodle. I ordered with Uber eat, haven't experience the service or feel the ambiance there.

    Susie W.

    I drive by Banana Leaves every day on my way to work, it was finally time to try it out! I ordered for take out the other night, and was pretty satisfied with my experience! I really liked the hot and sour soup! The pad see ew was a bit dry, but I still enjoyed and felt like I got a hearty portion size. I would love to come back and try more of this menu!

    Lo Mein Sushi Grand
    Princess C.

    The service here is interesting, they have no menus so you just scan a QR code. I am not a big fan of this as I feel like it takes away from the experience. When I entered the building they seemed confused I wanted to sit and eat and was not just grabbing takeout. The food came quick which was the best thing about this place. I ordered the lo mein which is alright. The sushi was unfortunately not the best. It did not feel fresh and was not super cold when I received it. I don't think I would return unfortunately.

    Pad See Ew
    Kerri C.

    We went to Banana Leaves because it had good reviews and my mom was in town staying at a hotel nearby. This is a hidden gem in the city- not terribly expensive, kind workers, and absolutely delicious food. I live about 10 miles away and am specifically going to go into the city to return. We ordered the vegetable spring rolls, pork dumplings, chicken wonton soup, chicken pad see ew and vegetable tempura. The vegetable spring rolls were crispy, chock full of veggies, and delicious. The dumplings were perfectly fried and had so much flavor. I will dream about the chicken wonton soup- it's not like what I grew up eating in NY with just broth and a wonton. It was so much more flavorful, had multiple wontons, pieces of chicken, and vegetables too. By far the best wonton soup I've ever had. The shrimp tempura also may have been the best tempura I've had- it wasn't greasy at all and super crispy, and came out piping hot. The pad see ew had lots of chicken and broccoli- definitely wasn't a cheap helping. It was a tad salty and a little bit too saucy but that's my personal preference. I'm looking forward to returning for date night! I want to try their cocktails! Thank you for an amazing lunch.

    Wrinkled String Bean
    Bessy G.

    We intended to go to Bucca Di Beppo across the street and that was a mistake. We couldn't get seated despite reservations, so we left and walked over to Banana Leaves. So glad we did. Service was attentive and quick. We ordered various dishes: edamame, chicken pad see ewe, string beans, Chinese fried rice, tofu with vegetables. All were yummy. Drinks are not refillable and come in bottles. Will be back.

    Unagidon
    Caleb J.

    I liked the ambiance for a solo meal with a book. It's a small restaurant with a few tables and a counter. The crab rangoon was fine, but the unagidon I ordered was way too saucy. The sauce was a bit syrupy and sweet. Others might enjoy it, but wasn't my cup of tea.

    Ummmmm... panang chicken but mostly potatoes
    Ali M.

    So wanted to love this place- great restaurant name, solid looking menu and a good 2-for-1 offer on Uber Eats. We gave it a shot, but making other food for the fam now. All pretty bland... even the panang chicken (which has five pieces of chicken and the rest is potatoes and a few green beans)... and the 2-for-1 is pretty much one order total. The order was late and we walked to the main road to find the driver- no worries as it's a beautiful night. Overall, wouldn't order again, but wish the restaurant well, assuming we just got an "off" order and hope this helps them make improvements. Thank you for the effort! :)

    Thai Style Fried Rice
    Drishti G.

    I went to this place twice in one day to try out the different menu items and boy do they have variety. They have Chinese, Japanese, and Thai cuisine, and do a great job of showcasing all three menu types. The service is extremely quick, and was crowded for lunch and dinner which was great to see. The food was a little bit bland, but some menu items (spicy chicken wontons) were extremely spicy. Overall, I'd come back here again just to try out their Japanese cuisine and see how their sushi rolls are, but definitely a great sit down lunch/dinner spot for any occasion :)

    Vegetable Spring Rolls (2 PCS)

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    9 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Favorite sushi restaurant in DC, high quality sushi and such a cute spot! The servers are also very nice

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    1 year ago

    Delicious food, attractive surroundings, in the heart of DuPont. My son and I both love this place!

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    Ask the Community - Banana Leaves

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    Kyojin DC

    Kyojin DC

    4.4(327 reviews)
    1.3 miGeorgetown

    I went actively searching for this restaurant, yet still found it easy to miss. It's tucked away…read moreand for good reason. It's a secret that you wish never got out. I went alone and sat at the sushi bar and did the premium omakase. Non traditional in that it was all served on one plate, but worth it. Nice presentation. I even watched a fish delivery from a vendor. It strikes you as too trendy to be good, but that's not the case.

    Birthday dinner brought us to Kyojin Sushi on a Monday night, and while the food definitely…read moreimpressed, the service kept this from being a five-star experience. We had a reservation for 7:30 p.m. for a party of 12, and I think that was the first issue. A group our size really needed a dedicated server, but instead we had one server covering our entire section. To be fair, he may have been stretched thin, but unfortunately, the service itself also left a lot to be desired. We were seated at 7:30, but our drink orders weren't taken until around 7:50. Then he disappeared for another 20 minutes before returning to take additional drink orders from people who had arrived later. We were ready to order food, but kept hearing, "I'll be right back." Throughout the night, drinks and items were forgotten. One friend finished her first glass of wine, ordered a second, and didn't receive it until we were literally asking for the check. At that point... we're leaving, friend. To make matters worse, several menu items we wanted weren't available. The mochi? Sold out. The Wagyu? Sold out. There were three or four different items people at our table ordered that were unavailable. On a Monday, that was a little surprising. Now for the good part... the sushi was REALLY good. I ordered the Yume Roll and the Tiger Roll, and both were incredibly fresh. The Yume Roll was especially unique and one of my favorite specialty rolls I've had in a while. It was made with spicy tuna, avocado, seared tuna, jalapeño, spicy mayo, eel sauce, and crunchy tempura bits, which gave it the perfect combination of heat, texture, and richness. The Tiger Roll was another standout, made with lump crab, avocado, cucumber, spicy mayo, steamed tiger shrimp, and a mango tobiko sauce. The combination of flavors was fresh, light, and perfectly balanced. I also ordered the edamame with the spicy black garlic sauce, and I absolutely loved that twist. It was a nice change from the usual salted edamame. One dish that completely missed the mark was the Tempura Rice with Chicken, which I shared with the table. Unfortunately, this was the only thing we ordered that I genuinely didn't enjoy. The chicken was dark meat, lacked seasoning, and honestly tasted like it had come straight from a bag of frozen Tyson nuggets. It didn't have the crispy, flavorful bite I was expecting and felt completely out of place compared to how fresh and well-executed the sushi was. I'd definitely skip this one on my next visit. My cocktail was just as impressive as the food. It was made with Ilegal Mezcal, pomegranate, hibiscus yuzu, simple syrup, and egg white, and it was absolutely gorgeous. The egg white gave it a silky, frothy finish, while the pomegranate and hibiscus yuzu added a bright, slightly tart flavor that paired beautifully with the subtle smokiness of the mezcal. It was as pretty as it was delicious. The restaurant itself is gorgeous. It's tucked away in an alley, so it's a little easy to miss, but once you're inside, the space is modern, spacious, and has a really cool stone bar that gives the restaurant a sleek, upscale vibe. I was also pleasantly surprised by the prices. Specialty rolls ranged from about $12-$20, with only a few premium options around $25. The edamame was about $8, so overall I thought the pricing was very fair, especially for Georgetown. Would I come back? Yes... but probably with a much smaller group. The food and ambiance are worth another visit, but I'd definitely be hoping for a better service experience next time. I also hope they have a better handle on inventory because I'd still love to try the Wagyu and finish dinner with the mochi.

    Photos
    Kyojin DC - Inside the restaurant

    Inside the restaurant

    Kyojin DC - Lobster Volcano

    Lobster Volcano

    Kyojin DC - Kyojin きょうじん:raw platter

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    Kyojin きょうじん:raw platter

    Umai Nori - Sashimi platter was a 10/10

    Umai Nori

    4.5(288 reviews)
    0.6 miDowntown

    It is so hard to give this a rating because the food is good but the service is bad and I would not…read morego back! I do NOT recommend for dine in but the food was yummy so maybe opt for takeout...We had a reservation and upon checking in they offered bartop instead of a table unless we wanted to wait which isn't a huge deal so we waited and got sat at a table after a short wait. Then someone was sat after us (next table over) and got greeted, waters, and placed orders before we were so much as greeted. After less than an hour (most of which involved waiting to be greeted and served) we were handed the check and essentially nudged out while still eating our food. They seemed to want to close early. The drinks also didn't match their descriptions, missing key ingredients that were listed. We were barely tended to or checked on at all. We also had a bug buzzing around us that eventually flew into my drink. The staff was very nice but overall the service and quality did not match the cost at all.

    Upon entering, you are greeted by a multi-level establishment with sushi bar and small dining area…read moredownstairs and a larger dining room upstairs all laid out in subdued, modern chic, Asian vibe. The staff is amazing, attentive, friendly and efficient! Thank you Kay, for taking such good care of us! We started off with the Kara-age Lollipop chicken, which was finger lickin' delicious. For our entrees we shared the 6 Set Umai Temaki and Sashimi Nori. Super fresh, flavorful and beautifully presented. I got a kick out of the canned sake and maybe over indulged...but so much fun! We felt the value was very good, 27 pieces of generously portioned and fresh sashimi for under $60! We'll make this a regular stop when in DC. Cheers!

    Photos
    Umai Nori - Complimentary birthday mochi!

    Complimentary birthday mochi!

    Umai Nori - Sushi rolls

    Sushi rolls

    Umai Nori - 5 hand rolls

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    5 hand rolls

    Sushi Gaku

    Sushi Gaku

    4.2(17 reviews)
    1.1 miGeorgetown

    Welcome to Georgetown, Chef Ota and Sushi Gaku!…read more Fun fact: Chef Ota is one of the only chefs in the area to hole a fugu preparation license! Making a dinner reservation on their online platform was a breeze and seamless. Try their Okimari Prix Fixe, as it comes with miso soup, a choice of a sashimi carpaccio, 10 pieces of premium nigiri, a choice of maki, and ice cream. There is also Gakyu Omakase specialties, where one is a sushi course and one is a fugu course (that is seasonal). They also have Signature Sushi Sets, in which the Edo Style Nigiri and the Gaku Sushi Assortment are recommended! We enjoyed the Chef's Langoustine Lobster roll and the Chef's Crunchy Spicy Tuna roll, several nigiris (Aburi-style), and the sushi sets. Other options include various soups, apps, and a la carte items. Service was kind, friendly, and attentive. Look for the Sushi Gaku sign/plaque, and go downstairs. The space is bright and clean, and I liked the 'sparkly' fabrics they used for the furniture. Metered street parking can be found in the area. +omakase +sushi sets +online reservations available

    Thrilled to have an authentic sushi option so close. The menu included chef designed pre-fixe…read moremeals, but also allowed you to order a la carte from an impressive selection of sashimi, sushi and maki rolls. The yellowtail sashimi carpaccio is absolutely worth trying. The soft shell crab rolls were perfectly crisped. The staff was incredibly welcoming and attentive. Beautiful mini orchids adorned all the tables. And even though it was raining today, their back courtyard looks like it will eventually be a delight for outdoor dining. Looking forward to my next visit.

    Photos
    Sushi Gaku - Sashimi carpaccio

    Sashimi carpaccio

    Sushi Gaku - Handmade fresh udon noodles with crispy shrimp Tempura.

    Handmade fresh udon noodles with crispy shrimp Tempura.

    Sushi Gaku

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    Susheria - 3 types of sushi roll, Mate, Georgetown Roll, and Hinode

    Susheria

    3.9(449 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Came to experience the Thursday night grown folks R&B night. The music was on point and the food…read morewas good but the service was lacking. If you love old & new R&B this is the place to be on Thursday & Sunday nights. My only complaint is that the music is so loud it's hard to have a conversation or even place your order. We had to ask our waitress multiple times for limes, soy sauce and a to go box. I don't blame her for being overwhelmed since the music was so loud but there is room for improvement! Sebastian Roll: 10/10 fried crab roll was delicious. This is my new go to roll! Buenos Aires Roll: 7/10 nothing crazy. Reminded me of an elevated California roll with torched salmon on top. Vegetable Gyoza: 7/10 pan fried instead of boiled which I prefer! Kind of bland. Would be better with a different sauce or added protein. Calamari: 7/10 good but it did not stand out. Comes with both rings & tentacles. We don't like tentacles so we ate around them.

    This place feels like it tried to be a hit in the 90s and failed. The sushi just isn't that good,…read morethe whole menu is white washed mid sushi at high prices. The ceviches and crudos and such are all fine, but they're not good. It makes it hard to want to enjoy them at all. Service is nice and friendly, but understaffed. Everything took incredibly long. Why are they understaffing this place?!? Especially at the prices. The cocktails are actually pretty good, though the wine list is uninteresting. It's a fine spot if you're looking for a quick meal in Georgetown, but it's not a destination spot by any means.

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    Susheria
    Susheria - Lomo Saltado

    Lomo Saltado

    Susheria - The kale and vegetable filling tasted like puréed vegetable soup.

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    The kale and vegetable filling tasted like puréed vegetable soup.

    Onggi - Dalg Nalgae

    Onggi

    4.5(58 reviews)
    0.3 miDupont Circle, Downtown

    I had a fantastic lunch at Onggi. My husband and I sat at the bar and experienced top notch…read morehospitality. The bartender went out of their way to discuss with the chef vegan options to ensure we had a fully plant based meal. We started with the Clay & Craft soju flight. This was such a treat! We have never tried soju with such high alcohol proofs. It felt so upscale and unique. We shared the Onggi Lunch Jeongsik Set modified to be vegan. This was a great portion size of food to share among two people. The pajeon was my husband's favorite part of the meal. I enjoyed the vegan jigae the most. Overall there was no weak part of this meal and we did not leave a single morsel of food behind. I will note that the vegan bulgogi tasted almost identical to the bulgogi you can buy at Trader Joe's. We love that bulgogi so that is not a problem. It was just funny to taste something very familiar to us. The rest of the meal was new flavors for me, and reminded my husband of his 4 years living in Korea. My husband has not had authentic Korean flavors made vegan before so this was a major treat. We saved room for dessert and enjoyed this soft nutty sweet treat. It was the perfect finish to a delicious lunch. Thank you Onggi for being so vegan friendly! We cannot wait to enjoy another meal here.

    Relaxed atmosphere, carefully prepared food, congenial service, and seating that's spread out. Put…read morethose all together in a restaurant and that's a winning combo for me. Also, one of my close friends is vegan, so fairly challenging to find a nice spot for her. She enjoyed everything that she ordered, and it made us both happy. Went with jeyuk bokkeum as a main. The sauce is just how I like it--tasty zing, very light consistency, not on fire, pleasant. Sampled some of the jabche and split a vegan kimbap--all delicious. If this is considered extraordinary Korean fare, I couldn't say, but think their cooking is pretty darn good. Once inside, it's hard to tell you're in Dupont Circle, with all of the horrible construction that's perpetually on-going in the neighborhood. It's an escape of sorts. Onggi is a keeper.

    Photos
    Onggi - Restaurant interior

    Restaurant interior

    Onggi - Galbi Set

    Galbi Set

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    Bibimbap

    Banana Leaves - asianfusion - Updated August 2026

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