Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Koryouri Urara

    4.7 (19 reviews)
    Open 5:00 pm - 11:00 PM

    Koryouri Urara Photos

    Business Info

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Koryouri Urara

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Anna N.

    I had a wonderful experience with the tasting menu! The staff is very kind and explained each dish properly. They also made sure everyone was full which was nice offering some extra rice for those who still had room. Everything was so flavorful with all the different sauces! I loved the different types of meats and being able to watch the chefs cut and prepare everything in front of you. The inside is small and intimate with both counter and table seating. There's no waiting room so you aren't able to show up to your reservation time early. I definitely want to come back to try their omakase experience!

    Jenny T.

    So good. I really enjoyed our time here. Minimal decor and restroom. Small space, but I loved their tableware. Interesting that they do wine pairings instead of sake, and it's clear they've carefully curated the list. I appreciated their ability to sub out the dessert for me due to my allergy. Every dish was unique, flavorful, and carefully prepared. My personal favorites of the courses: wafu fish and chips, scallops, chawanmushi, curry, and the chilled cream soup. Chef Iwasaki was super welcoming and down to Earth, and service was great. I think the meal is also very reasonably priced, we left pretty full. Excited to come back in the fall for their upstairs sushi omakase.

    Duck Salad
    Britney B.

    What an unforgettable tasting experience curated by Chef Urara Iwasaki. I celebrated my birthday here and truly couldn't have chosen a better spot. No regrets at all. The 10-course tasting menu was a beautiful expression of Chef Urara's interpretation of Japanese comfort food, and every dish felt like a work of art. The atmosphere: The space is intimate, with bar seating and a few tables in the dining room. While the decor is minimal, the wall behind the chef's counter is lined with beautiful bowls and plates that add a touch of charm and elegance. The food: I almost cried after every dish because it was THAT good. Chef Urara clearly pours her heart into each creation, and it shows. I especially appreciated how she thoughtfully explained the ingredients and where they were sourced. Personal standouts for me were the Chawanmushi and the Roast Wagyu. Both were absolutely divine. The service: Truly exceptional. The staff was incredibly warm, attentive, and welcoming from start to finish. They made the evening feel even more special. Street parking and nearby garages are available. We had no trouble finding a spot on a weekday evening, though it may be more challenging on weekends.

    Erica L.

    Incredible omakase newcomer: super balanced, fresh, yet luxurious dishes with a perfect progression from lobster chawanmushi to wagyu beef and grilled fish and eel rice mochi with red bean ice cream. There wasn't a single dish I didn't love. Very friendly, helpful, and laid back service with knowledgeable chefs at chefs counter and a smaller yet excellent wine list (no cocktails or beer). This is a real gem.

    Super fresh sashimi & Uni
    Christine L.

    Koryouri Urara is a hidden gem in Washington, D.C. Dining here feels like stepping straight into a cozy restaurant in Japan -- from the warm, intimate atmosphere to the exquisite presentation of every dish. Chef Urama pours heart, creativity, and meticulous care into crafting each course, introducing diners to the soul of Japanese home-style cooking with a refined, modern twist. I visited with friends at 8 p.m. on a Tuesday and, to our delight, we had the entire restaurant to ourselves -- a rare treat that made the evening even more special. Every dish was incredibly fresh, balanced, and bursting with flavor. It's clear that nothing leaves the kitchen without Chef Urama's personal touch. Koryouri Urara now firmly holds a spot in my top three restaurants in D.C., and I'm already counting down the days until I can return for their fall omakase. Arigato, Chef Urama -- we'll be back soon!

    Lily H.

    When we heard the chef was previously with Kappo, we were a bit concerned as we had left that restaurant not full and therefore had concerns here. Glad we gave it a try as it is certainly not the case! Similar to chef urara's prior establishment, you are seated right on the dot for your reservation - no sooner. Each course seemed to be thoughtfully composed and crafted, and of course, tasted delicious. The duck salad was probably some of the best-cooked duck we have ever had. Also appreciated the wide variety of dishes within the 10 courses. One downside to consider working on would be the timing between courses and wine pairings. Each course does not take long to consume, and the staff is behind setting up the next course's pairing. Guests not drinking must wait for everyone's pairings to be poured before the next course can be served, which is inefficient. Otherwise, a great meal. It was great to see some familiar faces of staff who came from Kappo. We will be back to try another menu offering. We were advised the menu changes monthly.

    10-course
    Iris P.

    10-course tasting menu / kaiseki for the first 7 courses, each bite brought me to heaven. some of the best steak i've ever had and the seasonal fish was amazing, paired with ikura. damn. and the uni was indulgent, buttery and soft. miso soup and the eel rice were just alright. the ice cream dessert was incredible too. service could've been better: there was a long wait even though there are only 2 seatings

    James W.

    Koryouri Urara is a great addition to the DC fine dining omakase scene. They deserve to be recognized for their tasting menu and creative flair. A few insights: If your reservation is at 5pm which is when they open don't attempt to enter earlier, space is limited and you will be asked politely to come back at 5pm sharp. Parking is sometimes challenging due to the areas limited residential street availability close by. If you want to experience the omakase dinner 18 course sushi experience , you must reserve by emailing them directly instead of booking through Resy. The Resy app only books for the tasting menu experience, which is a 10 course meal with a variety of Japanese delights including comfort foods that was carefully crafted with style. The chawanmushi starter was one of the best I have ever tried, the taste was perfection and you will enjoy the complexity of each flavorful bite. I was engaged after that and really keen on the explanation of each course by chef Urara, she was very accommodating and even was able to substitute a request to deviate from the tastings that was unexpected due to a personal preference, very impressive. Each course was very well plated and I could tell chef Urara has great precision with a distinct palate of taste that I can appreciate. I couldn't help but wonder what was on the omakase menu on the other side of the counter which was going in simultaneously, although our hand picked choices presented by chef Urara was so well executed. We should definitely have to try the omakase menu next and will visit again!

    Wizard E.

    This is the perfect 5 out of 5 Japanese Cuisine Experience. The service PERFECT. The atmosphere PERFECT. The food, heaven in every bite! The chefs were friendly, knowledgeable and experienced! I felt as if I was hosted at their home. Seasonal menu changes will make you want to come back for more !

    Sashimi

    See all

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    12 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jenny T.
    599
    1026
    3789

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lily H.
    193
    1179
    4664

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of George D.
    135
    15
    10

    4 months ago

    The owner chef was willing to take us on late on a weekday night and it was unforgettable. Best sushi is G'town!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Momo N.
    143
    109
    52

    11 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Koryouri Urara

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Japanese 7,077 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Love Makoto - Hand rolls

    Love Makoto

    4.5(557 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$$$

    Hi, so I was at Makoto Love for dinner. It was a dinner for a birthday party for an 11-year-old…read moregreeting. Staff was very friendly management. Staff was very commentating put my issue is that the service staff upon arriving we received it and we were told that a group of Aiden More would be obviously more but Moving forward skip past we seated in our server. I forget the name and I will find out again. A game moving forward were accommodated as two different seats. There was a kids table, and there was an adult table. All the initial orders came from the adult table, but the server decided to ring in from the children's table when initially that was not how the order method rolled Anything ordered from the adult table, but this server decides to go to the children's table and orders takes in orders from the kids and as a parent very concerning one because said there had been an allergy that we did not know about and said that, but anyhow, the food orders that were coming from the children's table were rang in I just so happened to look up and I see the server at the kids table and she's reading stuff for the children when that's not how it goes if the initial order came in. From the pants table then only the parents should be ordering food so at the end of the night we received the bill and there are items that the kids ordered that the server did not check with the adult. Who initially did to order God forbid that there were any allergies that were not taking any consideration. God forbid there were any intolerance that were taken into consideration. God forbid that anyone gotten sick because the server did not Come to the parents table but automatically and we're not talking oh one order or two order we're talking about multiple orders of things that these children don't know it was a lovely experience. Truly, it was but for this to happen and for us to get a bill that the server decided on her own that it's OK to take a Orders from a child when the initiating ordering party was from the adult table is my issue at a lot of mission star places we do not allow children or servers to make an or place orders. I am writing this review and I plan antennal going to the next platform to write the same review because this cannot happen one of the children from the party that was not even the party one of the initial children from the gathering has so many allergenic red flags where we need the server to confirm verify first and confirm orders with the adults

    Really enjoyed going to this place for was for the sushi brunch which was great I thought the…read moreselection of food was good and the drinks were great value. Sushi is definitely the star of the show and there are a bunch of options. Service was very nice and quick. Inside the restaurant looks great normally it's more of a food hall except on Sunday.

    Photos
    Love Makoto - Pick up area

    Pick up area

    Love Makoto - Omakase Express Lunch came with these 5 sushi. Otoro, hamachi; bluefin tina, salmon, snapper.

    Omakase Express Lunch came with these 5 sushi. Otoro, hamachi; bluefin tina, salmon, snapper.

    Love Makoto - Emperor butterfly mocktail

    See all

    Emperor butterfly mocktail

    Ko Japanese Dining

    Ko Japanese Dining

    4.5(70 reviews)
    1.1 miDupont Circle

    Great authentic homemade Japanese food. Unfortunately they were out of Japanese hamburger and beef…read moretendon curry but everything we ordered was amazing!

    I have had this restaurant bookmarked for the last two years since they opened and finally got a…read morechance to eat dinner there. I was impressed and by the experience and would definitely come back for a Japanese meal that did not focus solely on ramen or sushi. The ambiance is well done, and the service was excellent. Our waiter was very attentive and able to answer any of our questions. To share, we got the spicy salmon roll, Karaage appetizer, and eggplant cheese appetizer. The spicy tuna roll was the most lackluster of the dishes, but the fish was fresh and the portion was decent for $12. The karaage appetizer was excellent. The chicken was moist and the coating was crunchy and super hot. The eggplant cheese was a surprise highlight of the meal. Pieces of eggplant in a melted cheese bowl made of eggplant was a simple combination. That was a very pleasant mix of textures. The pork Katsu was a highlight of the meal. Unfortunately forgot to take a picture, but the coding was super crispy and the portion size was pretty solid. The Unagidon or grilled eel bowl was also very well made and tasted great with the pickled ginger and seasoning on the side. The set came with miso soup which was very nice as well. My companions also got drinks which they said were well priced and good quality. Our overall meal cost somewhere in the range of $160 before tip which was reasonable given all of the items that we got. I look forward to my next visit!

    Photos
    Ko Japanese Dining - The dining room can seat two, four, six, eight...you name it.

    The dining room can seat two, four, six, eight...you name it.

    Ko Japanese Dining - Beef Sukiyaki

    Beef Sukiyaki

    Ko Japanese Dining - Delicious chilled sake

    See all

    Delicious chilled sake

    Izakaya Seki - Sashimi platter

    Izakaya Seki

    4.0(517 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$$

    I am writing reviews now that I am being more effusive, to replace earlier entries on Yelp that…read morewere not as descriptive. I recommend Izakaya Seki with enthusiasm. I have been there three times. My wife's family is in St. Louis. The chef moved to Washington, D.C. from there. His establishment in the Midwest was not bad. But his new venture in the capitol is excellent. I would gladly go anytime the opportunity presented itself. The only issue is reservations at the tiny place. (They have a time limit for tables.) They offer standard fare for a izakaya. They also have sashimi and sushi (that is not always available on a pub menu), and it is among the best you'd find in the city. The dish that has been written about in the NY Times is the ara yaki. That is prepared from leftovers, scraps that otherwise might be tossed as trash: heads, jaws, fins, bones, etc., broiled with a bit of salt. The explanation is insufficient. For this by itself, the restaurant is worth visiting. It will make you want to try to prepare the same quality from leavings. I'd bet it is like much else: simple in concept, easy to execute poorly or at a level that would be deemed middling, and frustrating or maddening to try to perfect. That also is true with the only imperfection, which was the tamago. Brought at the end, which is a custom (it can be the first course or the last course), the omelet was more rustic. It would not have passed muster with Jiro of the acclaimed documentary. The issue was the shape; it was crude. But by any standard short of perfectionism, the meal was great.

    The sushi was actually pretty good, but unfortunately the experience was ruined by the attitude of…read morethe owner's daughter. She constantly looked annoyed, unwelcoming, and acted like customers were bothering her whenever anyone asked a question. Several of my friends have said the exact same thing and refuse to come back because of how uncomfortable she makes people feel. Good food alone is not enough when the service and attitude are

    Photos
    Izakaya Seki - Interior

    Interior

    Izakaya Seki - Salmon Roe and Yukari Riceball in Nori

    Salmon Roe and Yukari Riceball in Nori

    Izakaya Seki - Tempura Special, sake

    See all

    Tempura Special, sake

    Kyojin DC

    Kyojin DC

    4.5(306 reviews)
    0.4 miGeorgetown

    I went to this place on a Saturday for a night out with friends. It was a fun place to get dressed…read moreup. The vibe was great. It's a place with brick walls everywhere and a great vibe. The moment we entered, we felt welcome and the waiter provided some wonderful suggestions for us. We shared a lot of different sushi and each had our favorite. We shared the salmon lovers roll, crunchy salsa roll, garlic butter scallops, edamame and tuna appetizer. My favorite is definitely the garlic butter scallops - so unique and good, If you love sushi, definitely come here for some great food and a wonderful dinner out.

    The sushi was really fresh and delicious. The atmosphere was uptempo and loud, we were seated right…read morenext to a DJ. We traveled in the day we visited and needed to find something open late night so we weren't as dressed up or prepared for the lively environment. It's a super cute spot for a girls night or date night (it's loud though, so don't expect to converse much) My rolls: Scallop Sunlight Roll - I was intrigued by the kiwi on top so wanted to give this a try. I enjoyed it!! The spicy tuna was fresh and had a decent amount of spice to it. Crazy Monkey Roll - the lavender smoked salmon was amazing. Highly recommend. It's pricey, but high quality sushi, all was well except for the waitress mixed up the roll my friend ordered and there was like a $40 difference between the roll she wanted and was was ordered. No one likes a surprise on their bill, but otherwise everything was good.

    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

    See all

    Kyojin きょうじん:raw platter

    O-Ku - Salmon Usuzukuri

    O-Ku

    4.5(784 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    We came here for Valentine's Day. Managed to snag a reservation for 5 PM, right when they open, at…read morethe sushi bar. The staff were all absolutely lovely. And we even got a cute little Valentines gift. I can't say enough nice things about our server - she was so great. Sitting at the sushi bar was neat as we got to see everything being made. We also got to try some complimentary bites. Great experience! The cocktails were crazy good. Everything we ordered was delicious. The salmon usuzukuri was so good we ordered it twice. The Kobe baller was another standout. The scallops were also fantastic. Such a yummy meal! Highly recommend! We will definitely be back.

    I might give them another shot given the rave reviews, but tonight I'm disappointed. At this point,…read moreI haven't even seen my check so the price is not the issue, but the service and overall flavor for the price point definitely are. My Hotote crudo app which should be served cold was served cold on a super hot plate which means by the time I ate it, it was thus weird hot/semi-luke warm temp and honestly, not appetizing. I tried the Moriawase after and told my server I wanted to add caviar if it was possible and since I didn't get any, I assume it is only an option for the nigiri/sashimi. Silly but no problem. I was still sooooo hungry I ordered a Surf&turf roll and it was less than appetizing. It had no flavor which was terribly unfortunate. I didn't make a review about the sake mixup or my server only to be polite but there are definitely low points, and those make the list. I hope it's better for everyone else!

    Photos
    O-Ku
    O-Ku - Complementary cucumber salad (tasty AF) @ O-Ku!

    Complementary cucumber salad (tasty AF) @ O-Ku!

    O-Ku - Tempura shrimp roll!

    See all

    Tempura shrimp roll!

    Sakaki Izakaya - Wagyu Uni

    Sakaki Izakaya

    4.4(309 reviews)
    2.4 miClarendon

    This is an awesome addition to the Clarendon area and I'm so happy something like this has finally…read morecome into the neighborhood. The food at Sakaki is full of flavor and the prices are reasonable for the amount. I think, after being twice, that the AYCE is not as worth it for me personally because I'm not a big eater, but it's totally worth it if you want a lot of variety and you have a good appetite. I really liked the rolls in particular. The service was excellent- it was a nice balance of coming over once in a while to ask how we were doing without coming over too much. The vibes are awesome with a really nice interior- definitely a nice place to go for a date,!just to go with friends to have a nice meal, or even to grab a meal alone since the center has a large area for single seating. Fyi- for the AYCE menu, note that once you put in an order for a round, you can't order for another 10 min so be sure to order enough at a time. Also, there is a time limit to the AYCE (I think it was 90 min). This'll definitely be a place I go to regularly in the future!

    I missed lunch so AYCE sushi was very much needed! The silver level at $29 is a great deal with…read moreplenty of options including a variety or rolls as well as appetizer/side dish items. I tried as much of the menu as I could and the rolls and nigiris were definitely the highlight. I wouldn't recommend the crab korokke (too liquidy, and no crab that I could taste) or the karagge - save space for other items! The AYCE is 90mins and you can order every 10 minutes from a tablet. Service was FAST, they definitely weren't playing games. The restaurant itself is also super spacious and well decorated.

    Photos
    Sakaki Izakaya
    Sakaki Izakaya - Uni & Oyster Croquette

    Uni & Oyster Croquette

    Sakaki Izakaya - Sweet potato with vanilla ice cream. Absolutely delicious!

    See all

    Sweet potato with vanilla ice cream. Absolutely delicious!

    Koryouri Urara - japanese - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...