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I just had the pleasure of visiting Kotobuki for a second time earlier this week during my visit to Washington, D.C., and it was as fantastic as ever! The photo of the large platter of sushi is what my group and I ordered this past visit, and it was absolutely delicious! As you can tell, we are big salmon fans, and Kotobuki is the perfect place for salmon lovers! It is unbelievably fresh, and I could easily eat a dozen salmon nigiri myself! They have a decently wide variety of rolls and fish on their menu, but a select variety that you know that whatever you order, it will be top-notch. The environment is very calming and quaint in Kotobuki. Be prepared for a fair number of steps to get up to the small restaurant, but it is 110% worth it! The restaurant itself has fewer than 10 tables, plus a small Omakase bar, making it a nice, relaxing experience. The servers and all workers are very kind and easily make genuine relations with the customers, which makes it the perfect neighborhood restaurant to keep coming back to! They are very welcoming and ensure to provide you with excellent service. I will definitely be coming back to Kotobuki the next time I am in Washington, D.C., and I can't wait for another delicious tray of amazing sushi!
Best best best value sushi ever. I think they share the same sushi supplier as makoto downstairs which is $$$$. Service is great and the sushi is amazing! Parking can be a pain but well with the effort
TL;DR: Toro is where it's at Came here close to the end of lunch time and was able to snag a seat. Interior is small and minimally decorated, but very cute. Service is very fast and friendly. FOOD: ~Toro Sashimi (5/5): they let the product speak for itself. Very good ~Chirashi Deluxe (3.9/5): I love the variety of fish they give. Flavor/quality varies depending on the fish. I LOVED the mushrooms that came with this, I thought about asking for a bowl of it. Favorite fish we liked from here were: toro, crab stick (surprisingly), and white tuna. ~Eel and avocado roll (3.5/5): basic ~CA uni (4/5): yummy and fresh ~Hamachi (3/5): mid quality and flavor ~Scallop (3/5): again, not up to par ~Saba (2.5/5): didn't have that pungent flavor that mackerel usually has ~Aburi salmon (2.5/5): was over charred and couldn't taste anything but bitterness Overall, if we stick to the main things we liked, this place would easily be a 5/5. But if you want a variety of things every time you visit, then you MIGHT be disappointed.
I came here for the first time in probably a decade or more a couple of weeks ago. It's a small spot with about 8 tables. Service is attentive and friendly. Most importantly, the food was excellent quality and a good deal, especially in the current inflationary environment. For appetizers we got the ohitashi (poached cress/spinach with a refreshing soy based sauce), and ankimo (monk fish liver with roe and soy vinegar). Both were excellent and perfectly salted, a great and bright and healthy start to the meal. This time I got a bunch of rolls. The spicy rolls use spicy flakes not a mayo based sauce. The salmon, tuna, scallops, and salmon skin were all very fresh--the tuna is quite tender and flavorful. Next time we visit we might try to special clam hot pot meal, chirashi, and sashimi/sushi now that we know the fish quality is high. We will make this one of our regular neighborhood spots. It's a true gem!
Had a chance to come to Kotobiki on a Friday night before new years. Situated upstairs in a small cozy shop, kotobuki really made you feel like you were in a no frills, "all about the fish", sushi shop. The food also didn't disappoint. We started off with a miso soup and a clam miso soup. Both were good but the clam miso had a fresh seafood flavor that elevated it above the traditional miso soup. For our entree we got the chirashi and the sushi and sashimi combo. Not too much to say here except that the fish tasted very fresh. The price was a bit high but I feel like you can say that about any Japanese restaurant in the DC metro area. Overall was a good experience and would definitely be willing to come back!
This restaurant is in a quieter part of DC. It had a cozy atmosphere and seemed authentic. I liked the edamame, shumai, and shrimp tempura roll. It was cool how the sake came in a box with some salt to put in the corner which I've never seen done before. The service was good and I had a nice experience overall.
I've been hearing about Kotobuki for a good 10 years or so as the 'casual sushi joint above Makoto where they source the same fish'. Makoto was probably the best sushi experience I've had in the DMV but that is no longer available since their closing a few years back. We were in the Tysons/Mclean area and needed to kill a few hours for dinner and we see no traffic to Palisades on Waze and, to top it off, when we call Kotobuki...no wait! So we head over...finally I have my chance. I am very tempted by the Kamameshi as others have mentioned but I decide on the Chirashi Deluxe. My fellow diners go with the Sushi Deluxe and the unadon set. The complementary miso soup is top notch...the dashi broth is so flavorful and you can immediately tell this is owned by Japanese folks (although you should be able to distinguish that even outside the miso). Good start...the main dishes come out immediately after and the sushi looks very fresh and it doesn't disappoint. The chirashi bowl is actually quite large with a heaping mound of rice and tasty seasoned mushrooms underneath. The unadon is also excellent and I really enjoy the authentic veggies provided in the set...not the usual stuff provided in a bento box which adds to the authenticity. The wife asks what I think...I enjoyed all our dishes and would make the trip out to the Palisades again to try the Kamameshi and other dishes. As the Terminator said..'I'll be back...'
This place is gold! I first discovered this place when I went to school at GW and this was close to the Vern campus. I remembered I thought the sushi was really good here but once I graduated and didn't have a car, I haven't been back in a while. Recently, when I had sushi cravings I remembered this spot and mentioned it to my husband so we came to check it out again. I am kicking myself for not coming back sooner! I love getting chirashis and not only do they give a generous amount of fish in their chirashi, they are all extremely high quality and fresh fish--all at very reasonable price too! I also got the clam miso soup which was very tasty and the clams are shell-on so it's extra flavorful. Staff is super attentive and friendly too, and the place is small but cozy! I do wonder if on busy nights there'll be long waits. I will definitely be back often!!
Parking is challenging with new construction across the street. The sushi are amazing. Fresh. Tasty. Well cut. Patronizing for 20+ years.
Kotobuki notably offers kamameshi, a unique Japanese dish, in a small spare room above the space that previously housed the acclaimed Makoto sushi restaurant. I've never seen kamameshi offered elsewhere in DC, a steaming rice bowl with eel, chicken, or vegetables cooked to toasty perfection in an iron pot, set on a thick wooden trencher and accompanied by miso soup, sashimi, and a variety of small dishes of fresh and pickled vegetables. It was filling and savory - perfect after our hike on a blustery day. The menu otherwise offers a selection of sushi and sashimi, including a special menu with large sushi trays that would be good for a catered event. The restaurant itself is just one room with a few small tables and seats around the sushi bar, well lit and clean. It's intimate in it's small size and simplicity. Food 4, service 4, ambiance 3
Not sure why this place has such high reviews. The only good thing is you can get a lot of sushi for relatively cheap at happy hour. But even for that I wouldn't go back. The rice doesn't taste fresh. The tuna in my tuna roll was not a cut of fish and was instead just mushy ground up tuna bits. The salmon skin was chewy and flavorless. The spicy salmon roll was for some reason chopped up cuts of fish with green onion and no spice. The only edible thing was the avocado roll and the eel roll.
Sad to say that I will not be returning to this restaurant because the chirashi bowl I ordered did not sit well in my stomach and I was hurting for the entire evening. We ordered two deluxe chirashi bowl, and had to sub out some items, and although hesitant, they were accommodating. The staff is friendly, and the presentation of the food is superb. They just might not be busy enough to have fresh fish at this time. There was pink color from the fish stained onto my rice as well, which might indicate that the fish was dyed to look fresher than it is. Regardless, I really wanted to like this restaurant, as their rice was delectable, but I would be very weary to try this again as the food made me feel miserable after.
9 years ago
I'm always up for finding amazing traditional Japanese restaurants. I think I've hit the jackpot with Kotobuki. The parking around here is kind of weird, so I suggest you come during off hour so you can find parking on the street as this place has no parking lot. We came here around 8pm on a Saturday, got a little confused, but just walk upstairs right above another Japanese restaurant called Makoto. It's very small hidden hole in the wall place. We tried two of the sashimi and ever since coming back from Japan, we don't really eat sashimi as nothing compare to Japan. However, Kotobuki had pretty decent sashimi that we were pretty impressed. We both got the eel Kamameshi as we've never had it before, even in Japan. It was such an interesting concept we had to wiki what kamameshi was. It's "kettle rice" made popular after the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake. It's pretty to similar what is "clay pot" in China. The eel here is really good, next time I think I'm going to try the eel unagi. Overall, great Japanese food, can't wait to come back! read more
You have to try their Kamameshi - maybe the only place in DC that offers this hearty yet light meal. Kamameshi is translated in Japanese as kettle rice and has very toasty smell after it's cooking process. It's really something you can enjoy in winter and summer while the flavor stays enriched but not heavy. read more
I've been recommending Kotobuki for years (since before I even discovered Yelp), yet I haven't written a review for it yet? How'd -that- happen? Solid, delicious, filling rolls on the cheap. Possibly fresh cuts of fish for nigiri. These are some prices that you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. Just try and point me to a $3-4 spicy scallop roll anywhere else in the DMV. Six rolls, a filling meal for three people, all for under $25? It makes me wonder just a -little- bit what would make people go to Makoto downstairs. I won't say this is the most delicious or consistent sushi I've had in the area, but the prices will keep me coming back again and again. read more
Kotobuki used to be my favorite place for sushi in DC. With fresh ingredients, Japanese chefs, and $1 nigiri sushi, it was unbeatable. The prices have doubled or even quadrupled now but I don't see anything that miraculously different. It's not worth it anymore and I'm so disappointed in them. We went again recently to give them one more chance and we tried the kamameshi. It wasn't that good or special either. Kotobuki has lost its charm and magic. Such a tragedy. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
Dinner at Kotobuki was an absolute treat! After wandering around DC all day, we wanted to settle down somewhere comfortable and tasty. Fortunately, their small space was heightened by friendly service and comfortable atmosphere. I ordered the unagi clay pot teishoku, which came with different sides (including slices of sashimi). The unagi was quite tasty, although it was nearly cooked into the hot clay pot itself. Some of the pieces were difficult to remove, but combined with the fragrant rice, it was a great meal. The sashimi was good as well, and I was slowly tempted to order some more pieces of sushi to compliment the entire meal. The real kicker here was overhearing this pretentious White guy talking to his Asian female friend about people of color in America, and being an unreasonable bigot when she tried defending her points. It was hard not to judge some of these folks that live and work in DC huh! Overall, service was friendly and attentive, food was great, and you'll be sure to get a show from some of these patrons that stop on by. read more
Solid spot. In the Palisades area which I had no idea existed...so it is at least in MY opinion a hidden gem. This is a pretty small authentic spot upstairs, with legit sushi chefs at the sushi bar, and a lot of different choices for fresh sashimi and sushi. My only concern is that I ordered shrimp sashimi and it came cooked...but I'm not sure if only ama-ebi shrimp comes raw? Anyway... I had a little 'discussion' with the server, and she insisted that sashimi meant 'without rice'..... but I've been under the impression for some time now that sashimi is definitely 'raw fish'. Any expert sashimi-ists out there to confirm / refute??? Anyway, this place has freshhhh food, very nice presentation. I'm a little amused at the wall decorations, though. Definitely very.... homemade touch to it. Hand-painted for sure. read more
Craving sushi one night but not wanting to drag our lazy asses all the way out to the 'burbs in Maryland or Virginia where the better sushi spots are or trading our sweatpants for something presentable to be deemed worthy of trendy sushi in DC, my boyfriend and I decided to finally check out Kotobuki in the Palisades. What a cute neighborhood gem! Getting straight to business. Don't get the shrimp tempura roll, it was soggy, chewy, and tasted reheated. The sushi deluxe was excellent though! The sashimi and eel were fresh and the rice was soft and well seasoned. Having never even heard of kamakeshi, we knew we had to get the eel kamakeshi set. Essentially, rice, veggies, and eel were cooked in a traditional iron pot, which is what you also eat out of. The set came with three slices of sashimi, three small side dishes, and a bowl of miso soup. The combination of everything was very tasty and felt homey! Since Kotobuki is a tiny restaurant on the second floor, it isn't be the best place for big groups since you'll probably have a longer wait. If you're tall, this might also not be the most comfortable. The only way to stop my 6-foot boyfriend's whining about his cramped legs was to stuff his mouth with delicious food. He'd say it was worth it! read more
6 years ago
This has been one of my favorite sushi restaurants since high school. The service has always been great and the sushi is always fresh! The prices here are pretty good as well compared to other places in dc. I love the spicy scallop rolls and salmon skin rolls are delicious as well! The place itself is a bit small and it can get crowded at times but the wait is never too long. Check this place out! read more
I love this place, they have sushi grade fish! My boyfriend introduced me to this hole in the wall and I feel in love with their Chirashi bowl (see photo). Matter of fact, that's all I ever get so this rating is for that only lol. The only downside is that the place is sort of in the middle of nowhere (not metro accessible) and that you will have to wait in line to get a seat 9 times out of 10, but it's worth the 10-20 minute wait. read more
4 years ago
8 years ago
So happy to have quality sushi for a reasonable price! My boyfriend and I came here for dinner a little before 6 pm on a Saturday, and there was no wait at all. We ordered eel kamemeshi, sushi deluxe, and uni. We also received two miso soups as complimentary appetizers. We both thought the food was great, especially the eel nigiri and hamachi nigiri included in my sushi deluxe. The hamachi was so soft and full of flavor. The eel had a tender texture and the sauce was very sweet. The kamemeshi came with four appetizers, almost none of which we particularly liked (except the sashimi.) They were a little too traditional for us. The main dish itself was homey and yummy - it came out really hot in a small pot. It reminded me of the Chinese clay pot rice my mom used to make during my childhood. The dish contained eel, carrots, kikurage, and a leafy sansai vegetable (reminds me of yu choy but sweeter.) Such a delicious combination! The uni was sweet and creamy. I definitely want to come here again for lunch sometime. Prices are at least $10 cheaper than dinner, though I'm not sure if portion is smaller too. read more
5 years ago
Great food, extremely authentic, and all ingredients are fresh. I totally recommend the scallop and the spicy tuna. read more
8 years ago
Wow! Ordered the chirashi, a gorgeous little bowl of gems. The fish is clean and fragrant. Generous selection. Cool and quiet ambience with Beatles playing quietly, quick service. Couldn't have improved on it at all. As good as it get. read more
8 years ago
I don't often eat sushi out here because I feel like there aren't a lot of places around DC. However, a friend and I decided to try Kotobuki since we were craving some sushi. The place is a small restaurant on a second floor in the Palisades with a cozy feel. We arrived a little after they opened at 5pm so naturally we were the only ones there. I was surprised to see that during our hour visit there though, at least 6 groups came in to order pick up. It must be a local staple for most families. We ordered 6 rolls off their paper sushi self-selection menu: spicy scallop, hamachi, salmon and avocado, California roll, tempura, and spicy tuna. The fish was fresh and delicious and the service was good. They made sure to fill our water and hot tea promptly (both of which are free). It was about 20$ before tip for each of us which is reasonable considering how full we were afterwards. I'll definitely be back! read more
4 years ago
Kotobuki is a great place that serves consistently high-quality sushi without breaking the bank. Their chirashi bowls are always great and if you want to customize and pick your own sushi/sashimi, they have a decent variety of fish to choose from. Some of my favorites are the salmon, scallop, toro, and yellowtail. They also have some pretty great appetizers such as the monkfish liver. I've also tried their eel kamameshi which was good but personally, I prefer their sushi more. The restaurant is tiny but we've never had to wait too long for a table before. I would not recommend this place for large groups though. read more
8 years ago
Ambiance: 4/5 Service: 3/5 Food: 3/5 Review is mostly about delivery. My bf and I were on a really tight schedule for lunch so we didn't have time to sit in. We were feeling sushi so picked a place that was closest to us, which happened to be Kotobuki. Called in around 1PM and was answered promptly but they were kind of rude. They hanging up on us before I had finished saying everything. They also got my order wrong. I'd asked for tuna & avocado but they gave us avocado & avocado instead., which we didn't notice until we'd already left so that was a bummer. The inside of the place was very small, so something to keep in mind if you're going to eat inside but it was still pretty cute interior! The sushi itself was average. Not amazingly fresh in any way and small portion wise, even for sushi, but still hit the spot for our craving. I'm not sure I would necessarily go out of my way to go here though. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
Been here twice already with my coworkers and we were all satisfied both times. The service is reasonably quick and the quality of the food is amazing. The chirashi bowl always had fresh fish and the kamameshi (eel one) was delicious and came with some yummy sides. The price is also very reasonable for lunch! Definitely a cute place to visit for a lunch break. (Love the atmosphere too.) read more
3 years ago
I don't come here as often as I'd like to. This is a great local institution in the Palisades area. This gives you one of the best value sushi in the DC area. For a long time they have received lots of praise because of the great value you get for the food. The one thing that people often criticize about this place is the lack of variety. It is not very often that they change or update their menu. For. e that is not a bad thing because they deliver consistent good quality sushi. Aside from that, they have kamameshi which I love. These steamed rice bowls with veggies and eel (you could also choose chicken or just veggies) is a great deal. It is a big portion of rice and it comes with several wonderful side dishes. Definitely worth a try. I have a feeling the toppings in the kamameshi are just placed in the end rather than having it cooked with the rice. It is not such an issue because it is still tasty. I guess it would be too long to make it if it was done the old fashioned way. If you're in the area this place is worth a try especially for lunch... If you want a fancier experience, there is a Japanese restaurant downstairs. They are not the same owners but I believe they are related. read more
4 years ago
5 years ago
OK, I've finally found my sushi home in the DC area. This is the real deal and you won't find any supercalifragilistic rolls here. Sorry. No spatulas twirling, no fire breathing hibachis or egg balancing. Only great tasting, fresh sushi prepared authentic by real Japanese sushi chefs. Many may not realize, but almost all of the maki rolls Americans consume over here are never even served in Japan. They were actually invented in the West to be more acceptable to western tastes. Even though Kotobuki has a few selections of maki rolls, this restaurant is about as authentic as can be for Washington. But not only are they authentic, they are also dirt cheap! My sashimi lunch was only 13.50, where a comparable order everywhere else is usually over $20. Even so, the service doesn't match the price, the waitress that served me was very kind and extra attentive to my needs. This place is really small, as it is on the second level of a row house up a one lane staircase. Parking is hit or miss. I found a metered spot about a block away at around lunchtime on a weekday. Fortunately this isn't in the city proper and is in a kind of residential section not far from Georgetown. Some may complain of Kotobuki's small size and modest appearance, but just like their people - small packages sometimes retain the most exquisite quality. read more
I had been wanting to try this highly touted sushi joint for a while, and this evening seemed like a good time for a road trip into DC. Found parking on Reservoir Road just around the corner, checking the signs carefully. Small, practically unadorned space on the second floor of a townhouse, about 10 tables and six seats at the bar, at one of which I was immediately seated. No Kirin, so I went for Sapporo and sprang for the Chirashi Deluxe. Miso soup was full bodied but a bit salty. The chirashi was served in a narrow bowl, stacked high but with no regard to the order in which the fish ought to be eaten. That would be from delicate to robust in flavor (much like tasting wines), and the mackerel (most robust) was on top and I was half way through before uncovering the scallops (most delicate). And what the hell are tomago (over sweetened, no caramelization) and surimai (which I ate only because it was a long trip and I was hungry) doing in a "Deluxe"? Rice was seasoned, albeit mildly, and decorated with salmon roe and slices of pickled shiitake. Good variety of fish, snapper, albacore, yellowtail, salmon, eel, but no octopus or cuttlefish. Quality was very good but not mind blowing. The tab was $28 + $5 for the beer. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but I cannot get to the fourth ****. High noise level due to the bare walls, a steady stream of people placing and picking up takeout orders two seats away, no wa (harmony, serenity, balance, tranquility) to the room, and the price/value. Sushi Capitol charges less for better fish. I think the headline on the City Paper review on the wall said it perfectly: "a bargain at half the price". I may try Makoto (very upscale prix fixe downstairs) some time, but I'll leave Kotobuki to the maki munching Millennials. read more
Let me preface this by saying I'm not a Japanese food connoisseur. I know my unagi from my ebi and the slight subtleties between various misos, but that's where it ends. That's why I didn't go to Makoto downstairs; you've gotta really know your sushi to appreciate what they've got going. But I love sushi. I love it. And that's why I came to Kotobuki. This place was great. We were seated immediately, properly attended to, and ordered anything that sounded remotely delicious (i.e., everything). The prices were fair and the food was fresh and delicious. read more
12 years ago
Fresh fish. Fresh uni. Affordable! Kotobuki is a one true love. The prices of toro, yellowtail, and uni seem to be the cheapest here and quality is on par with some of my favorite sushi places. Toro, yellowtail, and uni is $3.95 per piece. Quite cheap, as I've paid $15 for two pieces of toro before and $10 for two pieces of uni, elsewhere. I love the Chirashi here. I've had it for lunch and also the dinner Deluxe Chirashi. The lunch is a steal, for $10.95...chunks of delectable, fresh fish! The deluxe dinner one is delightful as well, with twice the amount of fish as the lunch one, for about $25? This is the best chirashi in the DC metro area. I've also tried the Dinner Sashimi ($21) and the House Dinner Special Eel Kamameshi and it was delicious ($19.50). The Miso soup with Clams is quite skippable, unless you have extra cash to spend. My love has tried several rolls from here: eel roll ($4.75?! Steal!) and softshell crab rolls and quite likes it. Overall, its a casual and cozy Japanese sushi place with a small and affordable menu. Did I mention the free hot tea? So good. read more
More info about Kotobuki
4822 MacArthur Blvd NW
Washington, DC 20007
Palisades
Directions
(202) 625-9080
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http://www.kotobukidc.com
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