Kema By KENAKI
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I really liked their other locations (DC and Gaithersburg) but this location is by far my favorite. In an unsuspecting small mall in Potomac, their sushi is so fresh and delicious and they have the BEST bento boxes. I'll just let my photos do the talking.
Another visit to Kema, and another fantastic sushi dinner. We got our usual arugula salad and miso soup, followed by the nigiri moriwase for me and assorted nigiri and rolls for everybody else. As always, the fish was fresh, smooth, and not fishy. This time, however, we got the Parfait for dessert - a chocolate mousse-ish concoction in a fun little crystal fish bowl, topped with torched whipped cream - an unexpected dose of happiness at the end of the meal. Just another reason to get to Kema again! I still think this is the best sushi in Montgomery County. If you haven't been to Kema, what are you waiting for?
I have been dying to try this sushi spot, since it opened, and I finally got my chance. Service was very good, thank you, Nina. She was very good about refilling water glasses and giving us her personal take, on what dishes she recommends. We decided to splurge on the roll named "Quiet Luxury". It had lobster tempura, shiso, chives, garlicky qp, and topped with french trout caviar. We also ordered California rolls and salmon with avocado, and cucumber rolls. Truthfully, our favorite was the California rolls. They were fresh and delicious. The salmon rolls,with avocado, and cucumber were good and the fish was fresh. The most expensive of our trio and the one we had the highest hopes for had a little too much going on. There was too much of the garlicky qp, and not enough of the lobster tempura in this $25 roll. The caviar was a nice touch. But, this roll was too small for the price. I am also used to getting a larger roll with more fish at my favorite sushi restaurant. So, I liked the food, the fish was fresh, the service was good. I liked the variety of sushi combinations to order. But, for the price, I expected a little more. So, a solid 4 star rating. We enjoyed our meal.
Kema has been around for a few years now, but today was my first time dining here. They have a nice selection of rolls, but I opted for their bento box and a pork belly bun. The pork belly bun is under their small plates. I thought it would include at least 2 buns since it's usually a shareable item, but I also know the times we are in. The bun was super fresh and soft. The slaw paired nicely with the tender pork, and it reminded me of a mini mini version of Bao Bei's bun. The udon bento box was also good. It is considered a kid's item, and I would definitely say it would be filling for a child. The blueberry compote paired with the fried banana was the main reason I opted for the bento!
Excellent sushi spot! We loved the crispy rice spicy tuna and miso soup as appetizers. For sushi, we tried the old bae, which was a unique and very Maryland centric flavor, and also the shrimp tempura. Greatly enjoyed both rolls. Kaarage was the only dish that was just fine. They also gave us delicious ice cream because we were celebrating my friend's birthday . Service was great and friendly. Will be back soon!
Very nice service!! Our waiter was super nice and gave us good recommendations and answered our many questions thoughtfully! The restaurant is nicely decorated and clean. The food was absolutely delicious and well priced! I haven't had better tempura ever! Perfectly fried, not even greasy. The cucumber salad was incredible. And the avocado roll was somehow the best avocado roll I've ever had despite being so simple. This restaurant really takes pride in their work.
I got a bento which is a lot of food. My husband got the jpop roll which was a baked sushi roll and was pretty good. My fatty tuna bento came with a salad, 2 karage pieces, and a dessert. Everything tasted good, it was just difficult to eat the fish with the rice in such a small bowl. I also would avoid the fish eggs they were super salty and took away from the taste of the tuna. We got the krispy rice tuna appetizer, which I think makes for a really neat picture. The taste was pretty average, but I would get it again with friends just for a new experience. My husband's sushi was really flavorful, I think next time I'll just get a sushi rolls instead of the bento. The service wasn't as good as their other location. No one came to clear our appetizer plates and we didn't get water until the people next to us asked for it. I'm guessing it was just understaffed that day so it didn't bother me.
Trying to figure out what to have for dinner, we stumble upon Kema. Such a great gem to find! We ordered a few dishes (two rolls, a bento box, two hand rolls) to share. The sushi was amazing! We ordered the old bae and green monster. Perfectly executed and the flavors all worked together. The nigiri bento box came with 5 pieces of nigiri, karaage, salad, and dessert. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint. The fish was super fresh and had a clean taste. The kale salad was different but I loved the dressing on it. The chicken karaage was light and crispy. Lastly the dessert was a banana fritter with blueberry sauce and it was delicious, not too sweet either. The two hand rolls we ordered were chu toro and spicy scallop. Each bite was tasty, very fresh and melted in your mouth. There was a lot of tuna and scallop in each hand roll. Not overpowering with all the flavors going on. I'm not in Cabin John area often, but if I happen to be up this way, I am definitely coming back here. It's a great spot if you are craving sushi or want to have a meal with friends or a date night.
Let me tell yall.....this is the best sushi i ever had on the east coast so far from nyc to miami to the dmv. It's in what looks like an office building but let me tell you, this is thee hidden gem of gems. Went here to celebrate my bd's birthday and i couldn't have found a better place. Lets start with the food - everything is phenomenal. We got the quiet luxury, 3xseared salmon nigiri, 2x crispy rice spicy tuna, spicy scallop handroll, crunchy shrimp roll and some beers. All that food just for $100 and it's high quality fish. They told me they dont do much for birthdays but still gave us a free desert. The staff is so friendly and the ambiance is amazing - clean and simple & playing the best music. I drove an hour to get here and i'd do it over and over and over again! Please come here it will not disappoint!!!!!!
Innovative sushi rolls and unique cocktails We dined in on a Friday night. We were given a spot that oversees the kitchen. It was fun to see the rolls being made for in restaurant patrons and to go orders. Service was interesting. We were told to order at the counter which was a short walk around the restaurant. I think it would have been nicer if we had our own server. At one point we served ourselves water since the pitcher was seated next to us. Sushi was very fresh and flavorful. They had a lot of options. The crispy rice with spicy tuna was fantastic. We enjoyed the Magnolia cocktails. One of the main reasons we dined in was for the strawberry banana parfait served in a fish container. It lived up to the hype.
On a Friday night around 5, it was easy to get a table for me and my mom. We sat, ordered, and the food came out quickly. The service was great and everything was tasty. We ordered the crispy rice + spicy tuna, which was the perfect two bites for each of us. The rice was crunchy and the tuna was the perfect amount of spiciness. Our Maki (Mango Tango and Soft Shell Crab) were delicious, the Nigiri Moriawase was fresh and the spicy Cucumbers were salty, but flavorful. Would recommend this place for a slightly elevated date night.
Overall this place was pretty good! However it just was not a personal favorite! But I still recommend giving it a try for yourself! Very good spot for small lunch tapas style! The sushi is a standard yummy across the board and the apps were great too! The flavor was there & the staff was very friendly!
Went to Kema after running into a full house at Rakugaki. It's a short drive. The ambiance was casual/elegant, seating was quick. Ordered 3 sushi types. Favorite is oddly enough old bae with potato chip savory combined with crab as brilliant comfort sushi. The donkey Kong didn't quite stick the landing for me but was still good! The hojicha ice cream was interesting: roasted matcha has a slightly different flavor profile versus standard green. The addition of miso to sweet ice cream is an unusual experience worth repeating!
3 months ago
6/26/26: Kema by Kenaki exceeded every expectation and was easily one of the best meals we had during our trip. The restaurant has a modern, inviting atmosphere, and the staff was warm, attentive, and knowledgeable throughout the entire meal. We ordered the Black Magic Roll, the Mini Masunosuke Don Bento, and the Mini Unadon Bento, and every dish was exceptional. The Black Magic Roll was the standout of the meal, with incredibly fresh fish, great texture, and a unique combination of flavors that made every bite memorable. The Mini Masunosuke Don Bento featured king salmon topped with ikura over rice, along with karaage, salad, miso soup, and dessert. Everything was fresh, well-balanced, and beautifully presented, making it feel like much more than a typical bento box. The Mini Unadon Bento was just as impressive. The grilled unagi was tender, flavorful, and perfectly glazed, served over rice with crispy karaage, salad, miso soup, and dessert. It was comforting, satisfying, and executed exceptionally well. What really stood out was the attention to detail. Every plate looked beautiful, the ingredients tasted incredibly fresh, and the quality was consistent across every dish we ordered. You can tell the chefs put a lot of care into both presentation and execution. If you're looking for high-quality Japanese cuisine in the Gaithersburg area, Kema by Kenaki is absolutely worth the visit. Between the creative sushi, outstanding seafood, and excellent service, it's an easy 5/5. I'll definitely be back to explore more of the menu. read more
Stopped by this sushi spot for lunch today with my family, and it was another great experience. We were the first ones in the restaurant, which made for a calm and relaxing start to the meal. We ordered the ribeye Japanese fried rice, Green Monster roll, J-Pop roll, California roll, Crunchy Shrimp roll, Crunchy Spicy Salmon roll, Shrimp Tempura roll, miso soup, and Deep Sea hand roll. Everything came out quickly, fresh, and flavorful - exactly what we've come to expect from this place. The ribeye in the fried rice dish was incredibly tender and cooked perfectly, while the rice itself was seasoned so well that every bite was packed with flavor. My favorite roll was definitely the Green Monster Roll - fresh, delicious, and full of flavor. I also appreciate that the maki rolls here are never skimpy, which makes them very filling and well worth the price. The service was excellent from beginning to end - quick, attentive and consistent throughout our visit. Our waters and hot green tea were always refilled without having to ask, and every request, from extra pickled ginger to additional plates, was handled promptly and politely. Overall, another solid dining experience with no issues at all. I would absolutely recommend this spot for either lunch or dinner if you're craving sushi. One thing to keep in mind is that they do close for a part of the afternoon to prepare for dinner service, so plan accordingly! read more
I really liked their other locations (DC and Gaithersburg) but this location is by far my favorite. In an unsuspecting small mall in Potomac, their sushi is so fresh and delicious and they have the BEST bento boxes. I'll just let my photos do the talking. read more
Another visit to Kema, and another fantastic sushi dinner. We got our usual arugula salad and miso soup, followed by the nigiri moriwase for me and assorted nigiri and rolls for everybody else. As always, the fish was fresh, smooth, and not fishy. This time, however, we got the Parfait for dessert - a chocolate mousse-ish concoction in a fun little crystal fish bowl, topped with torched whipped cream - an unexpected dose of happiness at the end of the meal. Just another reason to get to Kema again! I still think this is the best sushi in Montgomery County. If you haven't been to Kema, what are you waiting for? read more
I have been dying to try this sushi spot, since it opened, and I finally got my chance. Service was very good, thank you, Nina. She was very good about refilling water glasses and giving us her personal take, on what dishes she recommends. We decided to splurge on the roll named "Quiet Luxury". It had lobster tempura, shiso, chives, garlicky qp, and topped with french trout caviar. We also ordered California rolls and salmon with avocado, and cucumber rolls. Truthfully, our favorite was the California rolls. They were fresh and delicious. The salmon rolls,with avocado, and cucumber were good and the fish was fresh. The most expensive of our trio and the one we had the highest hopes for had a little too much going on. There was too much of the garlicky qp, and not enough of the lobster tempura in this $25 roll. The caviar was a nice touch. But, this roll was too small for the price. I am also used to getting a larger roll with more fish at my favorite sushi restaurant. So, I liked the food, the fish was fresh, the service was good. I liked the variety of sushi combinations to order. But, for the price, I expected a little more. So, a solid 4 star rating. We enjoyed our meal. read more
Kema has been around for a few years now, but today was my first time dining here. They have a nice selection of rolls, but I opted for their bento box and a pork belly bun. The pork belly bun is under their small plates. I thought it would include at least 2 buns since it's usually a shareable item, but I also know the times we are in. The bun was super fresh and soft. The slaw paired nicely with the tender pork, and it reminded me of a mini mini version of Bao Bei's bun. The udon bento box was also good. It is considered a kid's item, and I would definitely say it would be filling for a child. The blueberry compote paired with the fried banana was the main reason I opted for the bento! read more
1 month ago
6 months ago
9 months ago
Excellent sushi spot! We loved the crispy rice spicy tuna and miso soup as appetizers. For sushi, we tried the old bae, which was a unique and very Maryland centric flavor, and also the shrimp tempura. Greatly enjoyed both rolls. Kaarage was the only dish that was just fine. They also gave us delicious ice cream because we were celebrating my friend's birthday . Service was great and friendly. Will be back soon! read more
3 months ago
Very nice service!! Our waiter was super nice and gave us good recommendations and answered our many questions thoughtfully! The restaurant is nicely decorated and clean. The food was absolutely delicious and well priced! I haven't had better tempura ever! Perfectly fried, not even greasy. The cucumber salad was incredible. And the avocado roll was somehow the best avocado roll I've ever had despite being so simple. This restaurant really takes pride in their work. read more
2 months ago
I got a bento which is a lot of food. My husband got the jpop roll which was a baked sushi roll and was pretty good. My fatty tuna bento came with a salad, 2 karage pieces, and a dessert. Everything tasted good, it was just difficult to eat the fish with the rice in such a small bowl. I also would avoid the fish eggs they were super salty and took away from the taste of the tuna. We got the krispy rice tuna appetizer, which I think makes for a really neat picture. The taste was pretty average, but I would get it again with friends just for a new experience. My husband's sushi was really flavorful, I think next time I'll just get a sushi rolls instead of the bento. The service wasn't as good as their other location. No one came to clear our appetizer plates and we didn't get water until the people next to us asked for it. I'm guessing it was just understaffed that day so it didn't bother me. read more
2 years ago
Trying to figure out what to have for dinner, we stumble upon Kema. Such a great gem to find! We ordered a few dishes (two rolls, a bento box, two hand rolls) to share. The sushi was amazing! We ordered the old bae and green monster. Perfectly executed and the flavors all worked together. The nigiri bento box came with 5 pieces of nigiri, karaage, salad, and dessert. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint. The fish was super fresh and had a clean taste. The kale salad was different but I loved the dressing on it. The chicken karaage was light and crispy. Lastly the dessert was a banana fritter with blueberry sauce and it was delicious, not too sweet either. The two hand rolls we ordered were chu toro and spicy scallop. Each bite was tasty, very fresh and melted in your mouth. There was a lot of tuna and scallop in each hand roll. Not overpowering with all the flavors going on. I'm not in Cabin John area often, but if I happen to be up this way, I am definitely coming back here. It's a great spot if you are craving sushi or want to have a meal with friends or a date night. read more
5 months ago
Let me tell yall.....this is the best sushi i ever had on the east coast so far from nyc to miami to the dmv. It's in what looks like an office building but let me tell you, this is thee hidden gem of gems. Went here to celebrate my bd's birthday and i couldn't have found a better place. Lets start with the food - everything is phenomenal. We got the quiet luxury, 3xseared salmon nigiri, 2x crispy rice spicy tuna, spicy scallop handroll, crunchy shrimp roll and some beers. All that food just for $100 and it's high quality fish. They told me they dont do much for birthdays but still gave us a free desert. The staff is so friendly and the ambiance is amazing - clean and simple & playing the best music. I drove an hour to get here and i'd do it over and over and over again! Please come here it will not disappoint!!!!!! read more
11 months ago
Innovative sushi rolls and unique cocktails We dined in on a Friday night. We were given a spot that oversees the kitchen. It was fun to see the rolls being made for in restaurant patrons and to go orders. Service was interesting. We were told to order at the counter which was a short walk around the restaurant. I think it would have been nicer if we had our own server. At one point we served ourselves water since the pitcher was seated next to us. Sushi was very fresh and flavorful. They had a lot of options. The crispy rice with spicy tuna was fantastic. We enjoyed the Magnolia cocktails. One of the main reasons we dined in was for the strawberry banana parfait served in a fish container. It lived up to the hype. read more
On a Friday night around 5, it was easy to get a table for me and my mom. We sat, ordered, and the food came out quickly. The service was great and everything was tasty. We ordered the crispy rice + spicy tuna, which was the perfect two bites for each of us. The rice was crunchy and the tuna was the perfect amount of spiciness. Our Maki (Mango Tango and Soft Shell Crab) were delicious, the Nigiri Moriawase was fresh and the spicy Cucumbers were salty, but flavorful. Would recommend this place for a slightly elevated date night. read more
Overall this place was pretty good! However it just was not a personal favorite! But I still recommend giving it a try for yourself! Very good spot for small lunch tapas style! The sushi is a standard yummy across the board and the apps were great too! The flavor was there & the staff was very friendly! read more
2 years ago
Went to Kema after running into a full house at Rakugaki. It's a short drive. The ambiance was casual/elegant, seating was quick. Ordered 3 sushi types. Favorite is oddly enough old bae with potato chip savory combined with crab as brilliant comfort sushi. The donkey Kong didn't quite stick the landing for me but was still good! The hojicha ice cream was interesting: roasted matcha has a slightly different flavor profile versus standard green. The addition of miso to sweet ice cream is an unusual experience worth repeating! read more
Love love love that Kema by Kenaki has opened in Cabin John! I love the original location in the Kentlands but having this new location is great and convenient. Since this is on the mall side, there's plenty of parking and it's a little quieter than the main strip shopping center end. Kema is to the left as you enter on the street facing side of the mall. The entrance is open and inviting. I ordered carryout online and my order was ready when I went to pickup. I got there just as they opened. Warm greeting from the hostess and Chef Ken! Ordered a couple rolls and everything was packaged nicely. Rolls were tasty and my kid was happy. Love the spicy tuna on crispy rice app. My kid would have liked a bit more on the spicy level, but it was perfect for me! Will definitely be back soon! read more
My husband and I have been here a few times and it's quickly becoming one of our favorite sushi restaurants! My favorites include the chirashi, the deep sea hand roll, and the strawberry and banana parfait. The chirashi is always great quality with a melt-in-your-mouth freshness; even the tuna is buttery and isn't sinewy or tough to chew. While small, the deep sea hand roll includes tempura battered Chilean sea bass and it's so hot and juicy, it's best to eat it as soon as it arrives at your table! The strawberry and banana parfait comes in a cute glass fish and there's marshmallow fluff in it as well, the combination isn't too sweet and all balances well together. You order using a table QR code and the service is quick when it comes to delivering your food. When the restaurant isn't too busy the staff are very attentive with constantly refilling your water and tea. The ambiance is also clean and modern with an open kitchen format. Overall, we really enjoyed our experiences at Kema and although it can be a bit pricy, the quality has been worth it. read more
3 years ago
Probably my new favorite sushi spot in town, with it competing head-to-head with Kenaki. The fish tastes just as fresh as Kenaki with a couple of new dishes like the banana dessert and fried rice appetizers. Just like Kenaki, some dishes are hit or miss but the ones that are a hit, really knock it out of the park. Really loved the deep sea hand roll, chirashi, chicken karage, and the banana desert. Those 3 meals alone have every flavor profile done perfectly. Service is timely so I really enjoyed how fast you get food and how quick it is to order through the qr code. read more
4 months ago
We ordered from Kema recently as our regular go to spot was closed. It was a great experience and the food was really good. The miso was spot on and rolls (new spicy tuna, eel avocado, spicy salmon crunch and the Philly) were all very flavorful and good quality. We have already ordered twice! It is a bit pricey especially for the nigiri, but that's the only downside so far! read more
3 years ago
If you enjoy Kenaki in Kentlands, this is a fast-casual abridged version of that: order at the counter or through the app, service is minimal, menu is trimmed down, but food is still same same. Spicy Cucumber - Were more pickle-y than spicy (I had to ask for more of the chunky rayu sauce) Crispy Rice Spicy Tuna - I don't think we ever tried this but it was the star of the show. Tuna wasn't terribly spicy but that crispy crunchy rice was nice. Rolls- we've tried all the rolls at Kenaki minus the Hot Chick, but hubs thoroughly enjoyed it (I mean, who doesn't love fried chicken). This roll had more of a kick than the two apps we ordered. I might stay away from their cocktails as they put almost no alcohol for the price they charge. Place had a similar vibe to Kenaki: minimalist, dark ceiling, wood elements, and clean. The service was great and food came out fairly quickly. This shopping center is certainly building its way up and getting way more foot traffic than it has in the past. Kudos Kema! read more
2 years ago
Still delicious! It's a gem and I've now gone to this location as well as the location in DC. They make the crunchy tuna slightly different differently, but both delicious. I love the lunch special because I work a couple days a week nearby. I wish it went a little bit later than 12 PM, but it still works! read more
I was so excited to see that Kenaki opened a spot closer to Bethesda. Kema did not disappoint! It's self described as fast casual but aside from ordering and paying before you eat either on your phone or at the counter, there's really full service. Service is friendly, helpful, and attentive. The decor inside is simple but tasteful and inviting. On my first visit, I shared three rolls (spicy crunchy salmon, tuna cucumber avocado, and shrimp tempura), and the spicy tekka (tuna, avocado, salmon roe) donburi bowl which comes with a bowl of miso soup. The quality of fish was excellent. The only item I would skip next time is the shrimp tempura as the tempura wasn't at all crispy. The spicy tekka was really delicious. On my second, I tried the fatty tuna rice bowl which was great but I think the spicy tekka is more balanced (and it's a couple of bucks cheaper). The eel roll was excellent and not overly sweet or soft as can happen. Also the kale salad is really excellent and refreshing and fresh and zingy and perfectly done so it isn't just a plate of raw inedible leaves as is so often the case. I love this place! I can't wait to come back to try much of the rest of the menu! This will be our new and frequented neighborhood haunt! read more
Finally got to eat in after 2 rounds of takeout. Excellent quality sushi. The best I've had in the area and DC. All the servers were excellent and the vibe is very relaxed. My one issue is w the host who also helps w service. On pickups she has been a bit cold. Fine whatever. But tonight she tried to clear our table while we were actively eating dessert. Saw her treat one customer she knew well way different than anyone else. Not a good look. Otherwise amazing food and highly recommended in every way. read more
Stopped by for lunch to check out Kenakis sister restaurant and wasn't disappointed! If you love hand rolls you have to come here. Normally you only see one options but this menu has at least 4-5 different hand roll options! The bento was great and dessert addition was delicious. The cocktails were strong but well balanced and all of the fish tasted fresh and high quality! My only criticism is that I wished the spicy ahi had a bit more of a punch but as far as sushi goes this was a great experience. The service was also great and the ambiance for lunch vibes was nice as well! I'm really glad I came for lunch and can't wait to come for dinner I think this would make for a great date night spot read more
6 months ago
A last minute decision since Kenaki just opened this week. It's located in the revitalized cabin John mini mall, across from McD. Besides ordering at the counter, everything else is served, water, host, wait staff etc. Friendly service. Shrimp tempura ($8) was freshly made - warm to the touch. Uni ($15)was creamy and minty, and and both were delicious. 5 stars for their quality and service. read more
11 months ago
I've been dying to try Kenaki's new sushi place bc of the wide variety of options they had. I appreciated that the plates were so shareable so we could try a lot of items at once. Some honorable mentions go to the chu-toro donburi special, sake & green grape salmon crudo, and chu-toro hand roll. The chu-toro was surprisingly flavorful with its garlic-ginger shoyu sauce and the crudo was well-balanced with its addition of red onions along w the sweeter grape sauce. In general, Kema has great quality fish and I would love to return to try more of their unique dishes! read more
2 years ago
Loved the food and a great attentive wait staff! Definitely will be back. We had the crispy rice tuna, spicy scallop & Chu toro temaki and a chirashi bowl. Everything came out perfect and delicious. read more
I was so happy to have a sushi place nearby and ordered the spicy hamachi roll to go. I was initially taken aback by the prices but everything seems overpriced in the Cabin John eatery area! When I picked it up, I was also taken aback by the size...it was a fairly small 8 piece roll and not a lot of hamachi on it. It was good, not great, or anything special. I won't be ordering from here again...it's just too pricey for the quantity, but I guess that's sushi! read more
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