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    Kotobuki

    4.0 (572 reviews)
    ModerateSushi Bars, Japanese
    Open 12:00 pm - 2:30 PM, 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Kotobuki Photos

    Business Info

    KOTOBUKI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Kotobuki

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    Sushi rolls:  salmon skin, salmon, tuna avocado, scallop
    Erica L.

    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!

    Chirashi
    Richard L.

    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!

    Edamame
    Rebecca H.

    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.

    Sushi Deluxe, Chirashi Deluxe, Unadon set...
    Darrell L.

    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...'

    Chirashi Deluxe
    Cynthia M.

    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!!

    Chirashi
    Steve K.

    Parking is challenging with new construction across the street. The sushi are amazing. Fresh. Tasty. Well cut. Patronizing for 20+ years.

    Eel Kamameshi
    Zhiqi L.

    $25 for this set was great! Food was fresh. A little bit less salty but tastes very healthy

    Vegetarian Kamameshi
    Vivian R.

    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

    Anna F.

    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.

    Chirashi Deluxe
    Evangeline C.

    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.

    Tekka Don
    Jason S.

    (3.5 stars) Love the lunch specials here, fish was fresh and portions are plentiful. Also a really pleasant atmosphere to relax and dine in. Just wasn't crazy about the spicy tuna roll.

    Yum

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    2 years ago

    Great cozy sushi place. Unassuming but caring service and wonderful food. Will be back for sure. Chirashi was bomb.

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    4 years ago

    I haven't been there for a long while but their sushi are still good like before and the price is reasonable considering the location.

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    Page 2 of 15

    Ask the Community - Kotobuki

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    Love Makoto - Hand rolls

    Love Makoto

    4.5(557 reviews)
    4.6 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

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    Emperor butterfly mocktail

    Sakaki Izakaya

    Sakaki Izakaya

    4.4(309 reviews)
    2.1 miClarendon
    All you can eat
    Happy hour specials

    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 - Drink Menu

    Drink Menu

    Sakaki Izakaya - Old fashion

    Old fashion

    Sakaki Izakaya - All you can eat menu

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    All you can eat menu

    Tachibana Japanese Restaurant

    Tachibana Japanese Restaurant

    3.9(1k reviews)
    4.4 mi
    $$

    I will give 5 stars for the days of yore. For the sake cups…read moreraised And nights at the sushi bar. I will say a toast for the freshest fish And for the stories of the days When the chef reeled them in I will wave my chopsticks For the long-time locals lined up On their nights, they were nice enough I will raise an Ichiban For my servers working hard And for the nights ushered in To the back sushi bar I figured a sea shanty for one of my all-time favorite sushi restaurants was in order. Because you know, they are serving raw fish and those fish are caught by fishermen. If you love sushi, I'm fairly certain you cannot go wrong at Tachibana McLean. It's hard to believe the years I spent here might have been a part of the glory days at Tachibana. When they lost their Itamae and were weathered by covid lockdowns, I think the pace of service changed. But the quality of food never has and I've enjoyed every meal here before and since. This is a classic sushi restaurant so you will not get any sort of innovative fusion rolls here. What you will get is a strict adherence to old school tradition and a focus on quality that is worth a visit. It's hard to say favorite dishes because there are so many delicious choices here. If you are sitting at the main sushi bar, you first may enjoy a free gift of whatever the Ittamae is featuring. If you like that fish, then order more of it. For sushi and sashimi, get what you enjoy here because it's fresh and lovely. Do not miss the Philadelphia rolls here because they are extra creamy and the scallions make them a real delight. I also love the New York roll and the spicy tuna and spicy salmon rolls. Back in the day, my go-to was a spicy, crunchy salmon roll. This was always a special request but they humored me since I was a regular. I was also forever asking for a very thin slice of jalapeño in my tuna roll but you could only get that in the less-friendly and ambient sushi cafe down the street. Years later, times have changed and you can now order jalapeños, as well as tempura crumbs and spicy mayo on any roll. They have so many vegetarian rolls here, as well, so that is a whole experience if choose. You can order Japanese pickles, fermented soybean and scallion rolls, a plum and shiso roll, a gourd roll, a cucumber roll and an avocado roll. I so enjoy a big plate of veggie and shrimp tempura here. The tempura batter is not thick and just right. I also have very much liked the katsu's here: either crispy Berkshire pork loin or crispy chicken. It's an old familiar taste which you should not miss out on. The bento dinner boxes are also awesome. I usually get salmon, beef negimake, shrimp and veggie tempura, shumai dumplings and salmon sashimi. A delightful treat. The buckwheat noodles and udon soups are a bit plain and while they are classically good, i more enjoy the sushi. As for the cold sake, I recommend: the Shochikubai Nigori, the Junmai Ginjo and the cloudy pearl junmai if it's on hand. They also have Choya plum wine and a beer and wine list. You will love the green tea presentation in the gorgeous pottery, as well as that they are diligent on tea refills. Their desserts are nice but make sure you at least taste green tea ice cream once. You can get it here! It's not easy to find this at restaurants, even sushi restaurants, recently.

    It had been a while since I came here after coming here a few times while growing up in McLean…read more Lots of famous people come by allegedly so I hoped the food would deliver. I went with a spicy scallop roll and the tonkotsku ramen. I'd recommend just sticking with sushi, which was awesome. Ramen was just average unfortunately. Service was also quite slow- we were waiting almost an hour for our food. It was very busy, to be fair.

    Photos
    Tachibana Japanese Restaurant
    Tachibana Japanese Restaurant - Soft shell crab

    Soft shell crab

    Tachibana Japanese Restaurant - Large Sake

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    Large Sake

    Izakaya Nana

    Izakaya Nana

    4.4(381 reviews)
    17.7 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    Free parking

    Found this place while searching where to meet friends near Dulles Airport. Great place to have a…read moremini reunion with great food. Was able to easily make reservations online. They were able to sit us on a special private booth. Each room has some theme. The menu is pretty extensive with good selection of cocktails and beers. Food was pretty good. Sushi was good. Grilled skewers were Flavorful. Service was excellent. Definitely coming back to this place when we are in the area.

    Tried this place on a whim, I placed an online order for gyoza at 1:25, called to ask about it at…read more1:45 because I hadn't gotten a confirmation text. The person who picked up was nice enough, until I asked the status of my order. I watched it change from "still working" to "ready for pickup" right in front of me as she said "you just put the order in, you need to be more patient." So I hung up because I couldn't believe what just happened, and walked over to get it. The flavor is decent, but the wrappers are cold and gummy, probably from sitting. Who knows when I would've been notified if I hadn't called? I wasted my hard earned money, and I am very disappointed. Will not be returning, and telling all my coworkers and friends to stay away. Cute take out bag though.

    Photos
    Izakaya Nana - Private room (they had many). All looked uniquely decorated. Had a lot of fun translating the plaques with google translate!

    Private room (they had many). All looked uniquely decorated. Had a lot of fun translating the plaques with google translate!

    Izakaya Nana - Crazy Nana Roll

    Crazy Nana Roll

    Izakaya Nana - Sashimi platter

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    Sashimi platter

    Ko Japanese Dining

    Ko Japanese Dining

    4.5(70 reviews)
    2.8 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

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    Delicious chilled sake

    Koryouri Urara - Dessert

    Koryouri Urara

    4.7(19 reviews)
    1.7 miGeorgetown

    Koryouri Urara has been on my list ever since it first opened last year, and I finally experienced…read moretheir 10-course tasting menu (which features a variety of Japanese comfort food) this past Friday. Even though I arrived 20 minutes late for my reservation, the staff was incredibly accommodating. I was seated and fortunately arrived before the first course. The interior is simple and without frills, almost cafe-like in its casualness. However, the staff was very hospitable and attentive, and the experience was engaging (with Chef Urara) and intimate. CHAWANMUSHI This was incredibly seaweed rich, which added strong "sea sweet" and umami. The egg was silky and soft underneath an abundant of warm and flavorful broth. Incredibly flavorful, but a bit too salty. Great course to begin with. SEA TROUT SALAD The salad was cool and refreshing, composing of a couple pieces of sea trout sashimi, sea jelly dressing, and cucumber. Flavors were bright and citrusy, also pretty herb-forward from the shiso mint. Very playful salad. SABLEFISH TEMPURA The sablefish tempura was light and perfectly crispy with buttery fish underneath. It was prepared with bits of seaweed for a subtle brininess, served alongside a creamy yuzu kosho sauce. The sauce was bright and lightly sweet with lingering yuzu notes. The flavors of fish and sauce worked harmoniously without being overpowering. This was definitely one of my favorite courses of the night. BLACK SNAPPER FISH The black snapper was clean and delicate, accompanied by blanched crown daisy on the side, which added a lovely earthiness and crunch. Both were topped with a nutty sesame dressing that enhanced the flavors of the fish and the slight bitterness of the greens. HARUMAKI The harumaki featured tender pork belly and crunchy lotus root wrapped with cheese and Tokyo leeks. Served with a side of rice vinegar and karashi (spicy Japanese mustard), it was the richest course thus far -- decadently fried but perfectly balanced by the sauce's slightly acidic tang. The contrast between the tender pork and the snap of the lotus root made every bite delicious and addictive. SASHIMI This course featured pieces of lean tuna (akami), fatty tuna (otoro), topped with uni from Hokkaido. The uni was incredibly creamy and on the sweeter side. While the akami was smooth, the standout was the otoro, which melted instantly in my mouth and was incredibly satisfying. On the side, the dashi-forward greens was refreshing and complemented the umami-rich uni perfectly. WAGYU The A5 wagyu was marinated in a savory red miso sauce and grilled right before our eyes. It was served with a vibrant side of celery and watermelon radish, which provided a nice crunch and a hint of spice. The beef was grilled to perfection -- tender, with a delicate char, it melted in my mouth instantly. The salad's bright, soy-based dressing paired well with the fatty marbling of the beef. MISO SOUP Unlike most restaurant-served miso soups, this version was incredibly hearty, packed with carrots, homemade meatballs, and lots of onions. It was sweet and flavorful, with a subtle acidity from the onions. Much more robust than your typical miso soup, it felt warm and homey. TAKANA MESHI This course was just as homey and unpretentious as the miso soup. The flavors were beautifully mild, highlighting light dashi flavors and subtle umami. Rather than being fried, the rice felt steamed, similar to a claypot preparation. This was a light, delicious conclusion to the savory portion of the tasting menu. The simplicity and homey flavors was so comforting it left me wanting more. Fortunately, there was still some left in the pot, and Chef Urara offered me a second serving -- say less. DESSERT To end the night, we were served green tea ice cream over a red bean base, topped with mochi and a drizzle of brown sugar syrup. It wasn't too sweet, and the green tea ice cream was very smooth and pleasantly tea-forward. The mochi was chewy without the excessive stretchy stickiness I don't enjoy. Very good. As we wrapped up the meal, we were served a warm hojicha, which was the perfect roasty-ness and strength. The courses were delicious and playful, often with heavier bases paired with something bright and refreshing to balance out the rich flavors. Overall, this was a phenomenal experience that I enjoyed on my own, and I would love to come back for a different tasting menu or for their sushi omakase.

    This is a review for the Sushi Omakase menu. The sushi was good, but the barebones decor and…read moreservice and ridiculous alcohol prices mean I can't recommend it over other omakase restaurants (and its location in Georgetown is not as easy to get to). The omakase menu costs $120 per person (+22% tip and 10% tax) and requires an advance reservation with a $50/person non-refundable deposit later applied to the check. We visited on a Tuesday for the 5:30 PM seating with an advance reservation. The ambiance was disappointing. The decor is very sparse and does not feel like a fancy restaurant; it feels more like someone's kitchen. The vibe was very subdued because there were only four guests in the entire restaurant. Service was also a let down. The sushi chef had very little showmanship. He quietly told us the name of the fish he was serving, and that was it. The other server only refilled water and brought one round of drinks. They did not give us a printed menu at the end. The lackluster service was unacceptable for 22% auto-grat. If the decor and service were better, this could have felt like an exciting, intimate experience. Instead, it just felt a bit sad. The alcohol prices are completely out of touch with the restaurant atmosphere and the omakase pricing. No sake bottle was under $100, no glass of wine was under $20, and it was $14 for a basic Orion beer. I normally order at least two drinks at dinner, and we only ordered one per person. It seemed the other couple was similarly holding back. I was shocked at the pricing. The sushi itself was good. There were about 18 courses, including one dessert course that came with some tea. I took photos of many, but not all, courses. They were mostly nigiri and also one soup; one small bowl of fish, roe, and egg; one oyster; and one handroll. The sushi quality might be on par with other omakase counters, but the decor and service is not. Cannot recommend.

    Photos
    Koryouri Urara
    Koryouri Urara - Sea Trout Salad

    Sea Trout Salad

    Koryouri Urara - Wagyu

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    Wagyu

    Toryumon Japanese House - Fantastic Roll and Yellowtail Jalapeno | Instagram: GaoGirlsGrubbin

    Toryumon Japanese House

    4.2(287 reviews)
    1.9 miRosslyn
    $$

    If you're looking for a spot that offers more than just ayce sushi, Toryumon is the spot for you!…read more We came at a peak dinner time so it did get a little crowded, luckily they take reservations so highly recommended! While we were there multiple larger parties arrived so it does look like they can handle the larger crowds. We were seated closer to the sushi bar/kitchen area but it appeared that there was a larger dining area on the other end of the restaurant. Food wise, i highly recommend the sweet shrimp and scallop sushi! The pieces melted like butter and tasted so creamy! The rice quantity is on the bigger side as well as the portions so be careful when ordering. The ramen was also a hit along with the aged tofu! Those were my top favorites!! Service was decent! Nothing over the top, our server checked in a few times, and the overall service wasn't too slow given the crowd. There is no dedicated parking lot so street parking is it for this area. However, we parked in a garage and it was about a 5-7 min walk so not bad if that's the route you want to go.

    I've gotten take-out from here several times. I've tried several ramen dishes, sushi, and the…read moregrilled mixed veggies. All scrumptious! My husband and I dined in for the first time today, and we were both very impressed with the atmosphere and friendly, attentive staff. Hayden was our server, and he showed exemplary hospitality skills. He made us feel welcome, checked in on us frequently without feeling overbearing, and made sure we knew the AYCE menu is double-sided. Speaking of, the AYCE is such a great deal! I used to live in Vegas, where AYCE sushi is very common. Unfortunately, for most of them, since the focus is on quantity, the quality suffers. This is not the case for Toryumon! Maybe it's because it isn't strictly an AYCE place. You can absolutely order items a-la-carte from their regular menu (as I had done previously for take-out). The items are exactly the same whether you order from the regular menu or the AYCE. Same quality, and, this is important, same size! Yes, you will receive a FULL-SIZED bowl of ramen if you order it from the AYCE menu. Not all of the menu items have descriptions, and I was surprised by some of them (not in a bad way, just wasn't what I was expecting), such as: The avocado salad. I was expecting it to be cubes/chunks of avocado tossed with a dressing. What came out was a lettuce salad with sliced avocado on top. The dressing was good, slightly sweet. It was a good salad, just not at all what I was expecting. The sweet potato sushi roll is served warm, the sweet potato is deep fried, and there is eel sauce on top. The sweet potato rolls I had other places were not fried, and served cold. I really enjoyed this one! Everything seemed very fresh, not a hint of wilting greens or brown avocado to be seen! I am so grateful to live right down the road from this amazing establishment. If you enjoy ramen, sushi, and other Japanese items, def give them a try! There are bathrooms available for guests. What my stars mean: 5 is outstanding, memorable, a place to write home about! A must-experience. Someplace I would love to recommend to tourists, and visit myself again and again. 4 is great, somewhere I'd love to return again and again. Back-up recommendation for tourists. 3 is good. A solid option if I am in the area. I may recommend to locals, but would probably leave it off my list of recommendations for tourists. 2 is ok, but only because it a great value, unique, and/or convenient. 1 means I would not return.

    Photos
    Toryumon Japanese House - Entrance at the Toryumon Japanese House, Arlington VA.

    Entrance at the Toryumon Japanese House, Arlington VA.

    Toryumon Japanese House - King Crab

    King Crab

    Toryumon Japanese House - Chicken Karaage | Instagram: GaoGirlsGrubbin

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    Chicken Karaage | Instagram: GaoGirlsGrubbin

    Kotobuki - sushi - Updated May 2026

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