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Raku

4.2 (321 reviews)
Open • 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 4:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Updated 2 months ago

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RAKU ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Trendy
Moderate noise
Good for kids
Happy hour specials

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Recommended Reviews - Raku

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Fatty Tuna Nigiri
Evbu O.

Visited Raku on a Sunday with no reservations. It was a very large restaurant on a busy street but it wasn't busy. There were only 2 of us so we were seated pretty quickly. The server came around pretty regularly and she was attentive enough. I know I ordered toro nigiri but I don't remember the exact roll. The nigiri was DELICIOUS but the roll was not. I'd come again for the nigiri.

Beef Tokyo Dashi Broth
Brandon J.

Weather was fitting for comfort food and our appetites were ready. The place was clean and aesthetically pleasing. Our servers were nice, attentive, and patient in giving us time to decide what to order. We enjoyed the bowls and the dessert was amazing! We're definitely coming back.

Daniel R.

I came here with some friends after a great concert at the National Cathedral, and overall we enjoyed parts of the meal! The croissant pudding dessert is definitely a huge highlight. However, there was a significant issue with freshness. I had a salmon sushi roll, and it tasted like the fish had been sitting out--not the best feeling for a sushi spot. The gyoza also had a sauce that did not taste fresh. I hope to give it another try!

Ameena A.

My friend and I came here on a Saturday night and it was super busy! A good sign :) and with that, service was still good. The ambiance is also super cute - we were in the room with the hanging, changing lights! We both got wine and sushi and thought it was all delicious and fresh. Probably one of the more "quality" sushi fish that I've had recently. The primary downside (in my opinion) is finding parking nearby. It's a bustling area, so just expect that when you come to Raku!

Sunday night dinner and drinks were amazing! Our server was quick with checking in with us to make sure we had everything and that we were enjoying our experience. The restaurant is really beautiful with a collection of bottles diving the bar area from the main dining area.

Beef NY Strip Steak
Chanaprued T.

Visiting from other states and this place is a must. food , vibe , drink and server especially we've got pat who was our sever. she was a thumbs up. really recommended

Shrimp Tempura Tokyo Dashi Broth
Camille J.

loveee this place!! only giving 4 stars bc it used to be better like 5 years ago fr but it's still really good make sure to get the cake

Alice J.

Bento is just as lavish (if a bit overpriced) as before. The sashimi that came with the bento box is fresh and delicious. The grilled octopus / shrimp salad is fantastic (first time trying it). Beware there are small bones in the cod (eat slowly!) We ordered on their own website, and food was ready in a timely manner. I miss their previous bento box (the actual, beautiful box). They have gone cheap since the pandemic. Just an ugly plastic box. No Japanese bento box charm any more.

Assortment of sushi
Maya M.

Great prices & great service. Restaurant is clean with a nice bar and plenty of outdoor space too! They great happy hour prices as well. Can't go wrong with any of the sushi rolls here, seriously!

Crab California
Caryna F.

We had a great affordable dinner here, party of 7...service was great. The vibe of the place was very much fun Asian fusion. (The bathroom sink was particularly creative lol.). You will certainly be happy if you order the sushi, Nigiri, and the rolls. Soups are also a great choice. My brother ordered the Bibimbop and that looked pretty good, along with an Asian spin on Calamari. He ate every bite. My husband ordered the big bowl of red curry soup. It's great for someone with a big appetite. Very filling for $15! It was nice to be able to either order a full meal, or to eat lightly. No pressure. There were specials available...all very interesting choices. The rolls were very fresh and well done. When my daughter wanted one more roll, she ordered mid-meal and it arrived quickly. Appreciated the overall presentation and the way things were plated. If I recall- Raku was founded by west coast (Berkeley CA) chef Mark Miller. I'm a big fan of Mark's southwestern cooking. I enjoy his Asian fusion menu as well.

Agedashi tofu
Suzie Z.

Chanced upon this spot which is a sister restaurant of the more well known Rakuya resto due to its strategic location at DuPont circle. Raku offers a slightly different menu and has lunch specials featuring seasonal items. I got the set meal from the regular menu as I simply can't say no to Unagi. The Unagi is pretty fresh and tastes better than the one I had at Momo cafe.

Anna P.

Had an absolute feast at Raku tonight. Everything that I had was absolutely delicious and prepared very quickly. For the sushi rolls, I'd highly recommend the black snake and the red dragon. The nigiri was scrumptious--and the portions of fish relative to the rice very generous. The dessert (chocolate cake) was also very good. Overall, I would highly recommend this place and will be back again.

Charashi Udon combo

Love this place. Their udon is nice chewy- like the bubble tea chewy in a good way. The rice that came with chirashi is slightly warm which give a nice contrast to the fish. The veggie on top give a nice crunch when eat with fish and rice. Last but not least the tamago and the fish roes on the rice also bring out the sweet from the egg and salty nice flavor. 5 stars for food , ambience, price. Service was ok .

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Reviews are largely positive. Diners praise the fresh sushi, large menu variety, and inviting ambiance. Many also appreciate the friendly staff.

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9 years ago

This restaurant was delicious. The decor was very nice and service was good. I would definitely eat there again on my next trip to DC

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10 years ago

Beautiful space and renovation. I miss the extensive old menu and the green beans. I hope they make it with this new concept.

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7 years ago

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9 years ago

I like this place, so delicious asian foods and good service. I usually come here with my workmate two times one week.

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10 years ago

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9 years ago

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7 years ago

How can you not love it but costumer service is a 2/10 the server gets annoyed if my kid just asks a question

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10 years ago

I love the Jo Nigiri sushi here. Definitely will be coming back!

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9 years ago

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11 years ago

Our secret weekday pleasure. Great food and friendly service. The salmon is my favorite. The miso soup is also a great start.

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10 years ago

My go-to neighbourhood sushi place. Sushi and sashimi are fresh, and of good quality, for the price. The bento boxes are my favourite!

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8 years ago

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9 years ago

One of the best meals we've ever had. Incredibly fresh sushi and the curried chicken noodle soup was amazing.

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10 years ago

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8 years ago

I like very much Raku, specially the sushi rolls and their nice Bento Boxes. Their tempura and dumplings are good as well.

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11 years ago

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Ask the Community - Raku

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Astoria DC - Fried chicken wing flats

Astoria DC

4.3(646 reviews)
2.5 mi•Dupont Circle
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I've been hearing about this place for a while now, so our daughter made reservations for our visit…read moreand we were not disappointed! We were greeted and seated right away. Our server was new and very helpful. The space is tight in there so walking back to our table was a bit of a challenge trying not to hit someone while they were taking a drink, but the energy is high and lively! We ordered cocktails to start, and there were so many interesting choices that it was a difficult choice. We all thought we got the best one! Every dish was fresh, flavorful and fire! The scallion lamb was tender and savory. The crab fried rice was total comfort food and I could eat this every day! All those flavors! The dish that stole the show; however, was the eggplant! Wow! What a wonderful surprise. Hot, fresh and full of flavor, the eggplant was perfectly cooked and we couldn't stop talking about it long after we left!

First time visiting this place after saving it on my list for a while now. Well, let's just say…read morethat it's worth the hype! Advice: sitting outside might be better in the cooler weather because we were being eaten alive by mosquitoes and fighting off flies. I really hope that they consider some type of nature oils near the tables to help guests feel more comfortable outdoors. Also, it would help to get more than one fan. Hospitality: aside from the bugs encounter, I would say that we did not have reservations (they were packed inside) so the hostess was nice enough to accommodate us outdoor. Our waiter, Anthony was a ball of energy and he really understands the dishes and was able to give great recommendations, some of which we plan to try on our next visit. Portions: the dishes are shareable so we only ordered the beef noodles and walnut shrimp and both were more than enough for a party of 2. DRINKS: I ordered the dark and stormy which can best be described as not too sweet and perfect for anyone desiring a well balanced drink. The bourbon smash was also really good. Well balanced with a smoky flavor which I loved. FOOD: Beef noodles- gosh this was so divine! Be warned however, there is a bit of spice to it but nothing that you won't be able to handle. I think the spices paired with the preparation of the noodles and the beef all made this dish memorable. Walnut shrimp- another memorable dish which came with a side of white rice. The shrimps were HUGE! But the flavors on each shrimp paired with that crunchy texture and creamy sauce, spectacular! Safe to say that we enjoyed both dishes and cannot wait to return and reserve indoor tables lol

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Shōtō - Pork belly skewers

Shōtō

4.0(717 reviews)
2.9 mi•Downtown

I love this place. Beautiful atmosphere, great drinks and delicious food. I recommend coming here…read morefor a girls night or date night. Very romantic. It's always busy. Our server Branco was incredible - so friendly, accommodating and helpful. I love coming back here. All their sashimi's are delicious and so are their drinks. If you like lychee martinis I'd get that. Their desserts are also delicious. Can't wait to come back!

Came back a second time here for a girlfriend's birthday dinner--not quite sure overall how I feel…read moreabout coming back a third time... FOOD: Was a little bit better than my first experience. Wagyu Taco ($19) and Grilled Scallops Skewer ($29) were good but overpriced for their small portions. Ebi Tempura Roll & Unagi Abokado Maki Roll were decent. Tiger Prawns came in 6 pieces, good dish for sharing. Mixed Green Leaf with Miso Salad was better than the Baby Lettuce with Wasabi Salad (says there's avocado but there was none). Grilled Chilean Seabass was flavorful, but also small portion. 12oz. Ribeye was just okay--meat was tender but not very flavorful, needed more salt too. For desserts, the Traditional Fluffy Cheesecake and Churros were both delicious! AMBIANCE: It's very energetic and lively atmosphere here on a Friday evening. They had a live DJ playing music and it's very loud so if you're trying to enjoy a quiet dinner this is NOT the place to be. We were struggling trying to talk to each other. Also, it's really dim lit in the restaurant--decor is nice though! SERVICE: Our server TJ was nice, but he was too busy running around and was not as attentive as he could be. Our final bill came out with a few questionable charges and luckily I caught them--they did end up removing those charges. HOST: I called ahead (day of) to inform the restaurant that our party had a handicap with scooter (I was in a leg cast from a foot fracture) and their first reaction was "how come I didn't give them more advance notice", followed by "oh I wasn't trying to reprimand you"--not sure why I'm even obligated to notify them of anything, I was calling just being courteous. So this left a very sour distaste feeling. Then later that evening, my friends arrived first, checked-in at the host stand, and the host was very rude to them as well. They really need to do better with customer service here.

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Shōtō - The beautiful bar

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ANJU - Yukhoe

ANJU

4.3(685 reviews)
2.2 mi•Dupont Circle
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We went to Anju with friends and had the best time sharing several dishes! The restaurant has a…read morenice ambiance, and they were playing a bunch of 2010s hits this evening (which was a fun throwback). Fig Around and Find Out: 4/5, not too sweet, and you could really taste the prosecco Chikin: 5/5, you can't go wrong with this Anju classic! This is a perfect appetizer for four people. Our waiter provided some hand wipes so we could clean our hands off afterwards. Yukhoe: 3/5, this was sweeter than I expected, and the sugar/nuts/chili basil overpowered any beef flavor. Chadolbaegi Fried Rice: 4/5, great smoky flavor but I wish the butternut squash had been cut bigger to enjoy more with each bite. More pork also would've been nice. Kimchi Jjigae: 5/5, we added noodles, which was a great move. This was such a delicious stew, and I loved the kimchi.

I debated whether I wanted to give this place 3 or 4 stars…read more 1. Mandu (3/5) - while it tasted good, the temperature was lukewarm which was disappointing. 2. Half chikin (4/5) - why do they call it chikin? It made me think it wasn't real chicken like what veggie grill calls their fake chicken. Anyway, it was messy but it was crispy and hot - it was fine. I've had better. 3. Lobster steamed egg (1/5) - the lobster was rubbery and I'm not a big fan of mixing sweet and savory together and for me, the sweet peppers ruined the entire dish. For me, the dish as a whole was less than the sum of its parts. 4. Ssam (5/5) - this dish saved the rest of the meal. The meat was tender the pear was nice and refreshing but to be honest, I consider this hard to mess up as long as the meat is good. My wife said that she wishes we just ordered two of these and nothing else lol. 5. Drinks (non-alcoholic - one was yakult and the other I think was passionfruit) - my wife really enjoyed both drinks so I guess I'll round up the review to 4 stars. If I lived in DC, I would probably go back here but since we're from out of state and visit DC once a year for work, we probably wouldn't come back here.

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Reren Lamen & Bar

Reren Lamen & Bar

4.1(2.5k reviews)
3.6 mi•Chinatown
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I happened to stop by Reren Lamen & Bar because I was nearby and feeling tired. The exterior didn't…read moreparticularly catch my eye, but I'm so glad I decided to give it a try! I ordered the cold noodles, and the noodles were delicious. There are plenty of other options on the menu, and they also make cocktails. The staff were friendly, attentive, and welcoming, which made the experience even better. It's a great spot, and I'd definitely recommend it!

We ordered the mixed tempura, curry chicken, and stir-fried noodles…read more The standout dish was definitely the mixed tempura. It was perfectly crispy, light, and flavorful--both my husband and I really enjoyed it. The curry chicken was decent. My husband loved it, but I thought it was just okay. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't particularly memorable either. As for the stir-fried noodles, they were average and didn't leave much of an impression. Unfortunately, what really changed our overall experience wasn't the food--it was the service at the end of the meal. When it was time to pay, my husband used his card but intended to leave the tip in cash. As the waitress was processing the payment, she said, "You know the tip is not included." It wasn't what she said, but how she said it. It came across as if she was demanding a tip rather than providing the kind of service that would naturally earn one. The interaction left us feeling uncomfortable and ended the meal on a disappointing note. Because of that experience, I can't recommend this restaurant. Chinatown has plenty of other restaurants that offer not only better food but also friendlier, more welcoming service.

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4.5(799 reviews)
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OKU was a quick happy hour meet up after a long day and it did not disappoint…read more Union Market makes it easy with a gated lot right there for parking. The entrance is grand compared to everything else on the block and once you walk in you understand why. Dimly lit with romantic vibes, the bar is immediately to your right so it was easy to spot and settle in. Happy hour was packed but surprisingly reasonable for how busy it was. My friend went early and saved us a spot which we were grateful for. The drinks were a hit from the jump. Shogun and Sugar and Spice at $11 and $12 respectively with an attentive bartender meant the rounds kept coming. The patrons at the bar were friendly and we all ended up ordering similar dishes as we watched them come out. That kind of energy is what makes a happy hour worth showing up for. The Rock Shrimp was an Asian inspired take on bang bang shrimp, cooked perfectly with just the right amount of spice. The Wild Mushrooms were not on the happy hour menu but we ordered them anyway and were glad we did, tender and buttery with a sweet sauce that made them memorable. The Spicy Tuna and Tuna Tataki Roll were both solid but the Snow King Roll was the showstopper. Never tasted anything quite like it and so glad we tried it. We took a peek at the dessert menu which looked great but we were too full to order. On the way out we put in a Karaage Chicken to go order for a friend which also secured our next stop at Gold Clover, one of our favorites. Ask for Aaron or Gene when you get there. OKU is a bar worth visiting again and again especially for a low-key happy hour with all the positive vibes. It's also a great pregame before dinner although dinner here is still on the list to try for sure..

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Tiger Fork - Vegetable Fried Rice (ordered without the tofu)

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3.9(982 reviews)
3.2 mi•Shaw, Downtown
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Food was just ok, certainly not authentic, and fairly expensive. I'd skip the pork belly - fine for…read morea bite or two but it was so crispy that it ripped up my mouth, and yet somehow the fat wasn't quite fully rendered either. The service was absolutely stellar and earned them an extra star in my review. Extremely attentive but not overbearing. We never had to ask for more water, our glasses were always filled. When I was disappointed with my first entree, I was looking at a menu to get something else and the waitress noticed and came right over (although she didn't ask how the food was / if I didn't like it / why I was asking for a box for an untouched entree). Overall I wouldn't come back, but I can understand why some people would enjoy this restaurant.

Came for restaurant week and thought my meal was just okay. Everything we ordered was average…read moretasting or dry, except for the tuna crudo, crab Rangoon beignets, and black pepper steak I'd say. Pork croquettes were very dry, that I couldn't initially tell what it is. I didn't like the fruit dessert they offered, as it was too icy and the blend of textures didn't work. I like the crunch that was added on the lo mein, but the noodles were overall meh. Chicken was somewhat bland. The honeycomb cake wasn't anything special, but it fit my palette at least. Service was attentive and nice at least. It's a nice spot to look at, but should have maybe known why this place wasn't that busy on a Saturday evening.

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Raku - sushi - Updated October 2026

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