I live in the area but never really think to go to Rakuya, though a friend recently suggested it for dinner and I'm glad they did. Everything we ordered was fresh and well-prepared, with a few standout dishes: the black sesame yellowtail, deluxe tuna roll, and tuna crispy rice were all excellent. Service was a bit inconsistent, and toward the end of our meal they started cleaning up around us, including spraying chemicals with a pretty strong smell, which took away from the experience a bit. That said, the food really impressed me, and I'd definitely come back. read more

Vibe: cozy and upscale without feeling stuffy Service: great and quick service during happy hour Value: love their happy hour Our happy hour experience was great! We particularly loved the chicken kara age, hangar steak with lettuce wraps, Dragon roll, and Soul train roll. Not sure about their dinner pricing, but happy hour feels like a great deal. Get there early for seating! read more

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Stopped in for lunch and got the Black Cod Misozuke Teishoku . Everything was amazing . The space is very clean , bright and fun. Would definitely recommend. Our server was great and helpful as well . read more

Rakuya - Black cod lunch - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Rakuya was such a gem to dine at! First of all this place def gets packed so as walk-ins we were surprised but once we sat down to eat it was clear why. We had a short wait of about 15 mins around rush hour time . The menu is large and the sushi and drinks were absolutely delicious. The Chu toro nigiri was so good! We also tried their ramen and drinks and there were no complaints there either! The ambience is amazing as it takes you out of DuPont and into an authentic Japanese wooden themed / designed space! The waiters are also friendly, polite and able to help with questions on the menu or selections. read more

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I love Rakuya, it is always such a hit and exactly what I'm in the mood for. I came with two friends and we had a great time. We got to the restaurant before our reservation and ordered drinks at the bar. It's a mid-sized bar where you can order food or drinks, and the bartender was very nice. When we got to our table we split the tuna tartar, which was a good sized portion. It comes with a side salad, and gherkin pickles, which are surprising additions and while good, aren't necessary in my opinion. But the tuna was very good. For entrees I got the Tokyo Dash with udon noodles and chicken, and it is my absolute favorite dish. It's a HUGE portion that you can easily take home for leftovers. My friends got the Tan Tan ramen (which doesn't have broth) and sushi. Both spoke very highly of their dishes. I often visit Rakuya because it's consistent and always delicious. read more

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One of the best bento spots in Washington, D.C. Each bento comes with several sweet, savory, and pickled accompaniments that pair perfectly with the fish or meat or vegetarian option of your choice. read more

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Such a cute little DC sushi joint!! As always, love when the staff is knowledgable about gluten free sushi options and when they carry gluten free soy sauce (so I don't have to bring my own) :) I thought the quality was great - so did my friend. Prices were also (somewhat) reasonable for DC, always a win. I do recommend a reservation, because it was pretty packed and there was a wait when we went. read more

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Solid spot in Dupont with happy hour weekdays from 4-6 PM. We came around 7 PM on Friday and were able to sit at the bar (group of 4 but 2 were leaving at 7:30 PM). I got a hojicha latte for $5 that was good as well as the double salmon roll. My friend got the warm house sake, a volcano roll, and a red dragon roll. Everything was good and the pricing felt fair, especially considering the area. read more

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Service was so friendly! It was a busy night and they still let us sit at the bar with no reservation. Food came quick for how busy it was and it was delicious!! read more

Rakuya - 8 Piece White Tiger Dinner - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Had a nice dinner here! Ordered a few sushi rolls which were pretty good, with the crunchy eel being my favorite. Also tried a cocktail, the Tokyo mule which was delicious! Service was very quick and friendly! Happy hour runs until 6 and was a pretty good deal with a lot of options. read more

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The food here was good overall, but I have to say I did not like the way they do Tantan men ramen here. Tantan is my favorite ramen, but for some reason here, they basically only give you all the ingredients sitting in the oils but WITHOUT the broth. This is the only ramen on the menu they serve without broth and I can't understand why. I wouldn't order this one again if we were to go back here. The service was decent, no complaints. Bathroom doesn't have a changing table so good luck if you have a young child with you. The seating arrangements aren't bad and you get a nice view of the outer street. read more

Rakuya - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

One of our favorite Japanese and sushi spots in the city. Great weekly happy hour - my go to order is the crispy calamari, chicken karage, salmon avocado roll, and Seoul train roll (great spicy kimchee flavor). We are also fans of their brunch - a variety of Japanese brunch options are available in bento box and other formats with a variety of small plates. You can even add bottomless sangria and mimosas for $15 (one of the best prices in the city). Staff is always attentive, and great outdoor and indoor seating options. read more

Rakuya - Japanese brunch with sangria. Pictured: Danburi combo (Chicken Tare Katsudon). Tan Tan ramen. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've been a fan of Rakuya for about six or seven years, ever since I moved to the area, and it's still one of my go-to spots for happy hour. Their sushi is always top-notch and offers great value. This past week, I went for dinner and tried the Tokyo Dashi with vegetables and tofu for the first time. It was delicious--flavorful but not overwhelming, and the noodles and veggies were perfectly balanced. The ambiance is cozy and cute, and it's super convenient being right off the Dupont metro. I'd definitely recommend it for a date night or a happy hour with friends! read more

Rakuya - Vegetable & Tofu Tokyo Dashi Broth Dinner - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Come here often for dinner and food and service is always consistent. Pretty good prices as well.

We were walking around Dupont with our pup and got a craving for sushi. Not a lot of sushi places in DC have a patio for pups - but Rakuya did! The staff were incredibly sweet, bringing treats and a bowl of water for him while we ate. It had been a few months since we dined there, but it was exactly as we remembered - great sashimi, attentive staff, cute vibe. If you have the opportunity to request a server - I suggest Vee. She was incredible. read more

3.5 Food is mid. I got the Black Cod Misozuke set, the Zen Refresher and the Ikura sushi. The quality and taste aren't bad but also not exactly that good. I expected more given the price. Service felt rushed but I don't think the staff wanted to come off as rude on purpose. I sat in the outdoor area. It's a nice spot. read more

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I've always had a great time at Rakuya, and this time was no different. Actually if anything, it was better because we discovered their unlimited mimosa/sangria option. I got their udon/rice bowl combo that is truly just an unparalleled combo. I've previously had a second meal from leftovers, but I was so hungry, I finished the full platter, and it was so yummy. The mimosa/sangria offer was $15 for 90 minutes, and those glasses were fulllll. The staff were also so so kind and great. Consistently, . I would recommend making a reservation for dinner and Saturday brunch, but I haven't had an issue with Sunday brunch/lunch times! read more

Rakuya - Tare Katsu Don Donburi Combo Set (includes udon tokyo dashi, tempura, and side salad), the egg does not come with the meal - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The quality of the fish has gone down. We were pretty disappointed and the prices were steep for three pieces of yellowtail sashimi at 18 dollars, when the quality isn't all there. Sad because we have loved this place a long time. read more

Decent food, good outdoor seating area. The drinks were fine and the sushi didn't feel very fresh. The veggie tempura was surprisingly good! read more

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Some friends and I grabbed some seats at the bar after attending an event at the hotel across the street. I was only stopping by briefly for a roll and a drink before heading off to another bar. The service was fast and I enjoyed both the roll and cocktail. I had the shrimp tempura roll and the lychee saketini. I would definitely come back for the full sit down experience. read more

Rakuya - Lychee saketini - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I ordered takeout and the sushi was not very fresh, in small portions, and overall very lackluster. I would not order from here again.

I had a good time here. The service was excellent, especially the host that was able to get my party seated in a pretty busy restaurant. Kudos to him. I ordered the ramen, which was really flavorful and plenty of thin noodles. The drinks were good too. My only one complaint was the seating. It was really uncomfortable, which prevented me from staying longer than I intended. read more

Rakuya - Ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Met up with a friend here to catch up over dinner. This place was busy on a Tuesday evening! We ordered a Japanese beer and a Lemon fizz drink. I really wanted the lemon fizz for the pea blossom tea - love the way it looks! My drink was balanced and not too sweet or boozy and it was so refreshing- perfect for a hot spring day. My friend and I both got the Shoyu ramen and it was very good! I was happy with the broth and the noodles were not too heavy. My friend noted she wished the noodles were a *little* thicker but I had no complaints. Overall would come back here again to try other things in their menu, especially their spicy ramen and sushi rolls. read more

Rakuya - Shoyu Ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We came here for a quick snack in the afternoon, and we already want to go back! We were seated outside, since it was such a nice day. There was enough space to hear my friends, and we were well spaced from other tables. My friends and I shared some great veggie sushi, for my vegetarian friend. We liked everything and are already planning on going back in the future. read more

The ramen was mediocre with sub par pork. Didn't enjoy the broth at all. Staff was friendly. read more

I think I've found my new favorite sushi place in DC! I took an Uber from my downtown hotel and the ride took me through quaint neighborhoods. I did take out so I can't really write about the wait staff or the ambience. The sushi was melt in your mouth! My order consisted of Deluxe Spicy Tuna, Wasabi Dynamite and Avocado Roll. Not too much rice, fish fresh and melt in your mouth. Yum! read more

Rakuya - Deluxe Spicy Tuna, Wasabi Dynamite, and 2 Avocado rolls (for extra measure). Highly recommend! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I really enjoyed this spot! I was in town and staying down the street for work. They had a happy hour with drinks and sushi. I enjoyed California and a special spicy tuna role. Both were delicious and priced very reasonable which was perfect for a tight budget. Service was quick and friendly also. I sat at a table over looking the street which was perfect on a beautiful day. I definitely will be back next time I'm in the area. read more

Rakuya - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The ramen is hit or miss, one too many times it's missed for me. Broth - ok, noodles - ok, pork - below par. There is a pretty good lunch deal for a bento box. The tempura was solid, but then again it's veggies covered in fried dough. Overall meh, not close to genuine Japanese food but is priced that way. read more

*happy hour review* Happy hour is 4:15-6pm. RAKUYA has become my favorite new spot for happy hour. Why? 1. Sushi. On. Happy. Hour. Say less. They have many rolls you can choose from for $6-$11. And the sushi is good. 2. Outdoor patio - they have tons of outdoor seating. 3. You are guaranteed a spot outside. No reservations are needed, you can walk up and get a table for pretty much any sized group. 4. Drinks- they have a good assortment of HH drinks from very large beers, sake, etc. 5. They also have gyoza, edamame, etc on happy hour, it's not just sushi. read more

Rakuya - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I love Rakuya for their vegan bento box. They have such a great grasp on how to make multiple types of dishes and flavors with similar ingredients - that's what gives vegan dishes depth! The salad was my favorite part because of the dressing - so tasty and flavorful! If you are vegan, make sure to specify to your waiter that you are vegan and not vegetarian as the vegetarian bento box may have egg/fish sauce present. They were very accommodating when we specified vegan. read more

Rakuya - Vegan bento box - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Happened upon this gem on my first day when i moved to dc 3 years ago and have been coming ever sense. Praw was my server in the bar and she made the experience special then and still does to this day. Including today! Rakuya and its staff and food are always consistent and amazing. read more

Rakuya - Deluxe Bento Entree Dinner - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Really large menu, but I believe every dish to probably be made with great quality and care. Would reccomend ordering in a style where you could try multiple things or share because of the large menu and generous portions. the set I received had great big slices of fish that hung over the rice, which is a great sign. In the same way, they did not skimp on the amount of fish in the basic rolls and the rice layer was extremely thin. Miso soup was a great accompaniment, had all the ingredients you would expect. Admittedly, the rice was a pretty unseasoned so I found myself needing to dip in soy and wasabi a lot to compensate, but as a result of not working the rice, the nigiri and rolls would often break if you tried to hold it for too long, or take multiple bites, or dipped in soy. Dessert was a pleasant treat, the Crossaint Pudding was custard and crispy on top from the flaky layers. It was served warmed with a cute scoop of ice cream. Not really sure how that fits into the theme of the restaurant but dessert is great regardless. The overall vibe felt very intergraded with the concept of the restaurant, and staff were very attentive and constantly monitored for questions, substitutions, new additions, and waters. read more

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We were looking for brunch on a beautful sunday late-morning and didn't have reservations anywhere. The 'brunch' places in Dupont were all full with waiting lines. As we walked by it and noticed plentiful available outdoor seating my gf suggested we try Rakuya. Neither of us have much experience with Japanese food and we were seeking brunch but what the heck. Great visit. We both got the traditional Japanese breakfast although we noticed that waffles and other traditional American foods were available. The salmon was grilled perfectly, the 68-degree egg was tasty, miso soup was very nice. I had to ask how to eat the egg as my experience with that kind of thing is very limited - I placed it in the rice and that was very tasty. All in all I'd revisit. Seems kinda like an under-the-radar sunday afternoon eatery in the heart of dupont FTW. read more

Pretty decent sushi. I got the Seoul Train and it was alright. I think it's pretty expensive for how small each roll is but compared to other sushi places around DC, it's not bad. The service was pretty good and they made sure we were accommodated. read more

Rakuya - 'Seoul' Train - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Pretty decent sushi! Have been here a few times over the years and this lunch was better than my last. There was a $3 up charge to swap the CA roll for spicy tuna but worth it in my opinion. read more

Rakuya - Lunch sushi assortment (spicy tuna subbed for CA roll) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I had actually forgotten about this spot and hadn't been here in years. Still a solid choice for sushi in Dupont. I definitely recommend going for happy hour. The outside seating is great for people watching while you grub. read more

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Decent Japanese food. We visited Rakuya close to when they opened on a Sunday, and it was mostly empty. The restaurant leans into the Japanese theme with cute Japanese decor that is incongruous with the American pop music that played during our visit. We split the Maryland roll, the Seoul roll, and the Shoyu ramen. The sushi was fine but not the best that I have tried. The ramen broth was great and the eggs were delicious, but the pork was tough and overcooked. Overall, I had a decent experience at Rakuya, but I hope there are better options for Japanese cuisine in DC. read more

Right off the Dupont Circle Metro Stop is Rakuya, a cute Japanese resturant that is perfect Spring/Summer spot with its outdoor seating. I went for Happy Hour and enjoyed their fruity Very Berry cocktail. The drink's strawberry blossom and lemon juice paired perfectly! My personal favorites on the menu were the Calamari, Chicken Kaarage, and Shishito Peppers. All were tasty, flavorful, and were in decent amounts to be shared for two. As a lemon lover, I also appreciated the wedge on nearly all the plates I loved the rolls! The Golden Dragon, Shrimp Tempura, and Volcano were all fresh. While it is a small place, it feels a bit cramped at times. However, the service was speedy and kind during such a busy evening. Great Happy Hour selection! Excited to try more of their dinner menu and drinks. read more

Rakuya - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Absolutely NEVER eating here again. We're locals and used to love coming here. We reserved a table by the lights on their patio. They seated someone in front of us at the table we reserved. Then a waiter or manager tried to tell us that they can't accommodate requests. But they have a "requests/accommodations" section on their reservation system, which is on their OWN website (not a third-party cookie cutter thing). Then a different waiter tried to claim they called us "two hours ago to confirm." When I said, "no you absolutely did not, you're just lying," another woman stepped up and said "yes he tried to say the same thing to me, just totally lying, he didn't call." These people are rude, unethical, and arrogant. Their food isn't worth it and the prices have increased in recent years. AVOID AT ALL COSTS. We are loyal customers and used to eat here often. Now, I will not only go to any other ramen place, but I will make sure my numerous friends in DuPont Circle avoid this place. With all the wonderful restaurant closures this year, this place is simply awful and does not deserve our money. Take your time and money elsewhere to establishments more deserving! read more

The sushi was great. The fish is fresh and the rest of the ingredients are too. Highly recommend the black snake roll with brown rice or regular rice, it's not as good with the purple rice. read more

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