The decor was interesting but the food was minimal, extremely expensive based on the micro portions served and the ambiance very loud. We noticed the noise when we arrived, but decided to stick it out because we were hungry and the colorful decorations promoted the potential for a good dining experience. The main dining area desperately needs some sound deadening material to mute the echos, which reverberate throughout the restaurant. The menu was minimal with not a lot of selection. The food would be best described as fusion Japanese. Many of the items on the menu were an eclectic mix of half Japanese and half something else. What the second half of the ingredients was remains a mystery as there was no theme to it. No katsu of any kind, no edamame, no miso soup... which are the mainstays for any Japanese restaurant. We ordered the dumplings as an appetizer as they were a special. The dumplings were delivered long after we'd finished our main courses with no explanation for the delay. The dumplings tasted good, albeit were very oily. None the less they tasted decent and were the lone bright spot in the meal and the only reason why we provided a one star rating. For a main course I ordered the Smoked Wagyu Tartare for $31. What I got was a small 2" diameter saucer of something that looked like a form of French pate accompanied by 4 pieces of seaweed chips. The minuscule serving was insufficient for an appetizer let alone a main course. My wife ordered the Tuna Zuke and the small portion defies explanation. It looked good, tasted "ok" but was hardly what can be considered a meal. Before either of us finished the main course we agreed we'd never be back again. Then came the bill... We ordered one bottle of sparkling water. With one order of dumplings, one Wagyu and one Tuna, our bill came to $126. This included an automatic 20% gratuity, which was added to the bill along with the option to tip even more. The term outrageous comes to mind. For sure we'll never go back, ever. read more

This one is tough. The decor of the restaurant is beautiful. The food quality was similar to your local sushi restaurant. The sushi didn't taste any different from where the local restaurants sourced it. The quantity was really small especially for the price. At that price range, you could get a lot more quality and value at an actual omakase Japanese restaurant. read more

Let me start by saying...phenomenal place! Located at the newly renovated Wharf in Southwest this place is definitely a charm. Went without some beautiful ladies on a mini brunch outing and I must say we fell in love with our visit . The dishes were lovely. Unlike other unlimited brunches, the staff brings you the brunch items according to your group. At first I said hmm but then realized that's a great idea. Dennis our server(great service BTW) informed us on this. The best best we're definitely the Roasted Potatoes, Matcha Pancakes, California Roll. Oh wait I said the best lol so yes those three for sure. They also offer the Steak n Eggs(10/10), chicken& waffles and so much more. Wasn't a fan of the chicken that was with the waffle. If going for brunch and you want to be around less people definitely go before 1p. Only down part was we didn't get to try other Salmon sushi ; they never brought it out to us which sucks because we requested twice. They had bottomless drinks but we just did the one because our guest was running late. Their policy is if one orders unlimited every one at the table has to do unlimited. So that takes a way the one star. Definitely will be going back for Dinner. So another review awaits soon. Thank you Nara-Ya for the lovely experience ! read more

Going to the wharf the expectation is that the food will be overpriced, this was anticipated as I arrived for my reservation last night. However, at arrival we had to wait for our table for 10 minutes with no where to stand. Once we were seated at 8:05 we waited 20 minutes to get water and place our order. We got our food very fast after ordering and while it was good it was very underwhelming for a 8 piece roll that cost $22. I've had equivalent sushi from the wegmens hot bar. While the restaurant was very cute our whirlwind of a trip was ending at 8:45 by the manager who told us they needed the table and we needed to leave. We had only gotten our food 15 minutes prior and hadn't even finished our drinks. Honestly, expect better from the Wharf. Will not be going back. read more

I adjusted my expectations because reviews said food was mediocre. So I was pleasantly surprised because I thought it was excellent! We actually ended up over ordering because I heard about the small plates. Some of the food we ordered were lobster dynamite, edamame hummus (this was especially yummy), Nara-Ya roll, crispy cauliflower (this was really good considering I don't normally eat cauliflower). Our waiter, Marcus, was fantastic. He made great recommendations on food and drink. read more

The venue caught my eye because of the aesthetics. And it is beautiful. Service was great. But the food was pretty average. Drinks were a step above the food but everything was so expensive that the quality was not appropriate. Also considering what that same value can get you at other locations. It was fun to go once, but I wouldn't go again. 3.5 read more

Excellent experience at Nara-Ya. Couldn't have asked for better food, service, and cleanliness. I am gluten free and our waitress was very knowledgeable about how gluten free modifications could be made to all the dishes I was interested in. The king Kaiba sushi roll, gluten free calamari and our drinks were top notch from both a flavor and presentation perspective! read more

Go. Amazing. Atmosphere, food, and drinks are all amazing. Wagu roll with snow crab was mouth watering. Will be back on my next trip.

The food was good. However, the server was very unfriendly and gave us an impression that we did not deserve his service, and apparently looked down on us, not sure because of our race or what. He spoke very fast and with very heavy accent, even our children grown up here could not understand well. There was a service charge of 20% for a table of 4 on the bill, but the notes on the table post said it was 20% gratuity charge. The bill did say + additional tip. We still added 15% tip. However, that kind of attitude did not deserve any gratuity, even less for the additional tip. The meal experience left a sour taste on us, especially when we left, the server was at the exit and not only did not say thanks but even showed contempt on his face. The restaurant was not busy with only a few customers at dinner time in early October. That was the only bad experience in our week long DC trip! read more

I brought a friend ti NaRa-Ya for happy hour to celebrate his birthday. We just had drinks; two gin and tonics and I had 2 Shirley Temple's 'cause I don't drink at all. The Shirley Temple's were $6. I was charge over $20 for each one of the gin and tonics. Then they had the nerve to put a $10 gratuity on my check! My bill was $63 for two gin and tonics during happy hour. I believe I was overcharged. I didn't feel very welcome there. My guest kept asking me not to say anything so I let it go. I won't go back there again. There are too many other nice places nearby. Ex. The Grill, Ilili, Bistro De Jour, etc. read more

So refreshing to go to a place with amazing service. The hostess and the server noticed all the small details and really took care of us. The food was also good, and we particularly appreciated that everything was perfectly seasoned -- very light flavors that didn't overwhelm. read more

Can't say enough about Nara-Ya! We've visited three times so far and each one was better than the last. Most impressively, they've seriously expanded their menu since our first visit in Autumn 2021. We've tried a number of dishes at this point and favorites are the Kani Okonomiyaki, Crispy Cauliflower, the Kaiba King roll, and the lobster fried rice. The dining room isn't terribly loud and service is prompt. Currently looking for another reason to go back! read more

Our experience was very lackluster. It was our first time dining here and the server did not walk us through the menu or make any recommendations. The drinks were good but overpriced. The kampachi didn't taste fresh - it had a hardening to it. The sushi was just okay and most of the offerings are cooked. We were super surprised to have the wagyu roll and the beef was brown as in cooked/well done! Overall, the experience, portions and service didn't feel like a good value for the hiked up pricing. And they have the nerve to include a 20% gratuity which likely explains our server's lack of enthusiasm to provide good service or an experience. It was disappointing and we won't be returning. read more

Consistent in service. Great flavors, and an even better happy hour. You won't feel overdressed even if it's 530 on a Tuesday because the decor is that good. read more

Nara-Ya is my ultimate go-to for date nights, special occasions, visiting guests and for anytime I just want a great meal and service. The ambiance speaks for itself with the elaborate and elegant decor. The service is so impeccable and feels very personalized. The food is the best Japanese cuisine in DC with beautiful presentations. This restaurant is a must whether you're visiting or a DMV local! read more

The best spot for dates. Food is delicious, and the service is exquisite. 10/10 Highly recommended

Food is not worth the price. I am from La. I eat at cheapest sushi places but the quality of fish is amazing. It melts in my mouth. Nara-Ya fish was like rubber and tasted like nothing. We spent about 200$ and we felt so sad after. We left to eat at Tatte because we were hungry. read more

The sushi's were delicious had a fabulous birthday at and the staff were very accommodating

Great experience. Amazing food, solid service and spectacular views. Looking forward to my next visit already!

Nara-Ya was GREAT! I felt well informed as to what was GF and what was not, the waiter did a great job at providing direction for the menu. I was just traveling to DC for the weekend, and thought this was a perfect spot for a treat! read more

Absolutely love this restaurant! Amazing food and service. Great ambiance and beautiful view. Drinks are wow ! A must visit in DC

Cool Instagrammable entrance, interesting cocktails, tasty food and a really hip and diverse group of diners when we went on a Friday night. Definitely recommend the chef's omakase tasting menu (not the lux one with more food, the standard one was plenty). read more

This place blew me away! The ambiance alone is worth it but let's not stop there. Every item we had for dinner was delicious. Don't skip the edamame cuz it's banging. The sushi was fresh and the scallops were melt in your mouth amazing. Now the drinks... let me just say, I'm not a drinker but I had two drinks. Again both were so good. You know your drink has been mixed well when you can't taste the alcohol but you can feel it. Don't skip it you will not be disappointed. read more

Mediocre sushi. Ambience was great, service was fine, cool place on the wharf, but got charged $20 for 2 bottles of still water. $140 for 2 rolls and 2 gin and tonics. Rolls were gimmicky and not great. I had canned pineapple in my roll and my partner had burnt bacon in her shrimp tempura roll with rice. Wouldn't come back and would rather gorge myself on better quality sushi for a much cheaper price. More than willing to spend money on a good meal but this place was not it. read more

Excellent customer service and great quality sushi I recommend everyone to come to Nara-Ya

Amazing service overall. From being greeted at the entrance to the dining experience, it was a time. Great view of the water! Food was also excellent. Will definitely be back soon! read more

Super yummy especially if you come for happy hour for the deals!! Loved the cocktail and sapa. Ambiance was good as well. Overall loved it although expensive if not doing happy hour menu read more

not really an izakaiya, as it doesn't have the broad selection an izakaiya would offer. it's basically a mediocre sushi restaurant with weak 20 dollar cocktails, 300 dollar ribeye and a mandatory 20% tip added to all bills. The service was good, the view was ok. In the end, overpriced (even for DC) and, not worth it. read more

I was shocked to know that my mocktail which consisted of passion fruit + ice cost $12. I ordered two sushi rolls which were great but definitely not worth $45. I would say you are definitely going here for the IG pics but the food itself is not worth the price. I am still stuck on the fact that I paid $12 for a mocktail. Complete rip-off! read more

I absolutely loved it there for my birthday . Great service and food. Aesthetics are super nice. I wish I remember the servers name but he was so nice and funny. It was like he was part of my party. The dessert ? ... wow, absolutely one of the best. I got two dessert options they brought out to sing happy birthday. I almost didn't wanna share with my guest, it was so damn good lol. I was a very happy girl that night. I would absolutely recommend this place. I'm already dying to go back as soon as possible. read more

I dined at Nara-Ya for the first time this weekend and everything was amazing! The restaurant is beautiful, the environment is great, and the food is excellent. All of the staff were very friendly, helpful and kind. Additionally, the number of vegan options on the menu was great. Our waiter was very helpful when I told him I was vegan, and he was able to recommend a lot of tasty dishes. I enjoyed the drinks, appetizers, sushi and even vegan dessert! I was so impressed with this restaurant, that I went back to the wharf to get food from the Yatai by Nara-Ya stand the next day for lunch. I would highly recommend this restaurant for many reasons and would be happy to dine here again! read more

Everything about this restaurant was great. Perfect for a night out in DC! Amazing aesthetic! The staff and greeter was very nice. Our waiter was awesome, the entire staff was very friendly. There was a variety of food and drinks. Perfect for a group dinner or fancy date night. Then we also had dessert and that was really good as well. Great atmosphere with really nice people. read more

I've visited Nara-Ya so many times and it never disappoints. I absolutely LOVE this place!!! The hosts and servers are extremely professional and friendly. My questions about the menu were never left unanswered and the servers go above and beyond to make sure you have everything you need to enjoy your dining experience. I've tried so many items off the menu, it's hard to choose a favorite. They have a wide variety of sushi and it's so fresh with unique flavors. You also can't go wrong with the vegan chocolate ganache and Japanese wagyu. It's so mouth watering, it melts in your mouth! This place is so worth the hype and I highly recommend that everyone visit! read more

DON'T GO THERE!!! We are family of four went for the dinner and it was very disappointing. The restaurant is so called "Japanese Fusion" and it means adding cream cheese to majority of the sushi rolls, plus, the menu is poor if you just want to get some half way decent Japanese food. The service is terrible as the tall male server was not paying attention to our needs at all. Forgot about my drink, serving 1/2 of the table first while the other parties are watching and waiting for their food. After I asked for the food and he has completely forgotten our other orders!!! The atmosphere is also cheesy and cheap. I've got the bill and it charged 20% tips plus another 5% of restaurant surcharge. It's unbelievable!! We walked out hungry and searched for another place to grab a decent bite. This is one of the very worse places I've ever been to especially with the $$$$ they charge for food and service!!! BAD PLACE TO GO FOR JAPANESE FOOD AND SERVICES WITH HIGH PRICE!!! read more

Came here for a friends birthday few weeks ago. Service was great. Ambiance was great love the decor and windows on the water- but menu/food was disappointing for the most part. I got the rhythm of the River cocktail which was amazing not too sweet but not strong either alcohol wise but very refreshing. We got a bunch of apps and they do have a lot of vegetarian options. We got the Shishito peppers ok/good but nobus are better. The crispy cauliflower was actually the best thing I ate that night so deff recommend that. I got the soft shell crab sushi roll, spicy tuna, and another roll. They were ok nothing amazing I deff prefer other sushi places like susheria or sushi rock and so on. Spicy tuna was the best but that's just a basic roll. I tried a bite of my friends squid ink lobster couscous- first of all she got like no lobster almost and the squid ink couscous didn't taste good in my opinion I felt bad for her she was excited for all the hype I've seen people coming here on social media but deff underwhelming in food department. Again you pay for the water views not the food. I wouldn't return and I think everyone at the table agreed read more

Some of the best sushi I've ever had, killer ambiance, amazing staff. Love the whole vibe

Such an amazing experience! The food is delicious and the decor is so cool and unique. They have a bathroom that is decorated like Versace which is really cool and can't forget the instagramable entrance. One of their new dessert items is the banana miso tart which is to die for. Staff is very friendly as well. Overall 10/10! read more

Excellent experience! Easy to book a reservation. The staff is amazing. Lulu was the best server. She selected us the perfect bottle of sake. The food was great too. It's not cheap, but nothing good is! read more

Beautiful but overpriced. We ordered a bunch of small plates, large plates, and sushi rolls. The crispy cauliflower and soft shell crab entrée were standouts. Everything else was good but forgettable. They hyped up the A5 Japanese Wagyu that "melts in your mouth" (it did not). At $100+ for a small portion it better be amazing or bust, and I've had better A5 Wagyu in the DC area for half the price. Drinks were fun and our server was friendly and attentive. Overall a good experience, gorgeous all around, but I just was not impressed by the food itself at this price point. read more

everything from service to presentation to taste was incredible. Our server Luis was so helpful with recommendations and amazing and kind service. The sushi was some of the best I have had in a very long time and the cocktails were on point as well!! Will definitely be returning!!! read more