Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Sushi Taro

    3.9 (1.7k reviews)
    Ultra High-EndSushi Bars, Japanese
    Closed Closed
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Sushi Taro Photos

    Business Info

    SUSHI TARO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Sushi Taro

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Tuna, aburi toro, tartare, sockeye salmon, king, steelhead, ikura and half roll of spicy tuna
    Angela L.

    We arrived at our dinner reservation time and were seated quickly. The interior is well decorated and we were seated a table which felt intimate, it didn't feel crowded or noisy around us. I ordered the hamachi tataki to start, beef sukiyaki, and the sushi (tuna, aburi toro, tartare, sockeye salmon, king, steelhead, ikura and half roll of spicy tuna). The fish was very fresh, and the beef in the sukiyaki was extremely tender. My favorite sushi place to date - would recommend!

    Betty L.

    My friends brought me here for a special birthday dinner. It was an amazing choice. Walkable from the metro. We had early reservations since we booked late. Got seated in a cozy booth. We got the the kaiseki menu and shared a sake pairing. Every course was delicious. The shared sake was plenty for me. It was a great opportunity to try so many different sake and really taste the differences. My sushi favorites are always salmon and scallop so I got those in my choice nigiri, along with otoro. All melt in your mouth. My least favorite, but was still good, was the hot dish/cooked fishMy preference will always be more sushi. The purin and pumpkin brulee with port were a great finish. Overall, bottom line price for the experience is high as expected. It's definitely a pay for water type of place. For the quality and quantity and service, I have to say it doesn't seem too bad of a value though.

    Tiffany C.

    I will always give sushi taro a 5/5 for restaurant week Came here 2025 Aug as well as 2026 Jan restaurant week and the food never disappoints. in my opinion, the best quality / freshness of fish i love everything they make in the tempura batter/ fried - it tastes so light still one year, I came with 4 (of us) and we all shared everything on the restaurant week options (4 options) the panna cotta desserts not shown in my photos are soooo tasty. the hojicha and coffee flavored ones. I have come only once on a regular time and it was so expensive I told myself I am only coming here on repeat for restaurant week!!

    Agedashi Tofu
    Christopher L.

    SOO GOOD!! I've been wanting to go here for a long time (during the pandemic when I heard they did take out orders) since they are a Michelin star restaurant in DC! Such good fresh sashimi! It's really hard to come by good sashimi in DC imo, but this place has incredibly fresh fish. Make sure to make reservations as this place was really busy and it took a while to get a seat for us. Perfect for date night!

    Tako Karaage
    Jay S.

    My friends and I came here because of its Michelin Star status and overall we had a good time tasting every dish that we ordered. It was clear that all the dishes were curated very carefully to ensure that every bite was worth it. While I still thought the price was exuberant, the overall experience was good enough for me to recommend this establishment if one is looking for good sushi around the area with little to no budget limitations. The live soft-shell crab tempura looked like it was burnt since it looked so black, but it wasn't the case in reality. Every bite had very potent crab flavor which was pleasantly surprising, even if each small piece was really thin. The dish that had the cooked salmon and salmon roe had very tasty bites, because the salmon had just the right amount of crisp on the outside, good flavor inside, and the koshihikari rice itself was flavorful, too. The urchin sushi pieces had very potent flavor because urchin itself was like that, which testified its authenticity. Pretty much all the other pieces of nigiri, rolls, and sashimi were good, but the dishes that I mentioned were the big highlights. Since the rest of the pieces didn't leave as much impression on me, I think it's fair for me to give this establishment a 4 instead due to its exuberant price. They have various styles of dining, ranging from a la carte to their omakase experience, which my friends had tried before. While I am not an omakase person, I would encourage those that are okay with a fancy experience to give it a try, because the dishes when ordered a la carte were already more than decent.

    Nigiri happy hour
    katherine t.

    Surprised sushi taro isn't rated higher, imo they deserve a 4.5! I'm a big, big sushi eater, and have tried most sushi restaurants in DC. Sushi Taro is easily some of the freshest fish I've had. Their happy hour (5-7 pm at the bar) is a solid deal, I believe it's 25% off nigiri and maki rolls. It's still pricey, but well worth it. They also have a solid sake offering, which is also 25% off for happy hour. Highly recommend!

    Bradley L.

    Reviewing this for the standard Omakase experience. We came here to celebrate a birthday on a Tuesday. We were well taken care of. The omakase counter is in a small, semi private area in the back of the restaurant. There's cloth backed screens that separate you from the normal dining room, but sound definitely can travel to and from the omakase counter from the main room. The vibe of the restaurant was definitely peaceful though, so this was not a problem at all. The food was top tier. We've had Sushi Nakazawa before, and felt that we enjoyed both experiences equally. We could not definitively say which was better! It started with a few prepared dishes, then we moved onto the sashimi portion of the meal. The chef brought out large boxes of fresh fish which we were able to look through and pick out our favorites. We only picked 3 or 4 which we were interested in, and had the chef pick for us for the rest of the portion of the meal. Every bite was delicious. The sashimi was not just plain sliced meat, there were sauces and dressings applied to each one that complimented the meat perfectly. After sashimi, we moved onto the next portion of the meal which featured a few more small dishes, including some a5 Wagyu. This was followed by the nigiri. Similar to the sashimi, the boxes were brought out again and we were able to provide input into what we were interested in eating. Of course, we followed asked and followed the chef's recommendations other than calling out our favorites. By the end of this part of the meal, we were absolutely stuffed and were so pleased with our experience. Sitting at the counter was also an awesome experience. Watching the chef create food right in front of us was mesmerizing and being able to interact with him directly was something that I was surprised to enjoy. You definitely won't feel pressured to do so if you'd rather sit and enjoy yourselves.

    Sushi platter from restaurant week
    Jessica O.

    Restaurant week review. The short of it: Highly quality sushi. Amazing hojicha at the end!!! Attentive server. Unassuming entrance. Make reservations! 4 courses (tiny app, small warm plate, sushi platter, dessert). Ofc you can order more a la carte. We were slightly hungry at the end but we are big eaters. For comparison, sushi omakases usually are sufficient. The hamachi to start had a bit fusion flair - so fans of fusion will really enjoy. The warm plates were a bit small but good quality ingredients, although also on the salty side (both the salmon and ramen). The sushi (nigiri's) - both options were wonderful!!! The more diverse plate (not tuna/salmon selections) has fatty tuna as part of the tray, but I personally just love it so much and got extra. @$10 per piece ($20 for two), I think I expected a little bit better but it was still very good and fresh. Loved their wasabi and ginger. This was my favorite part! The table is for 90 min but we were done in an hour. And when you reserve, I think reserving a regular table (I got the high tables) might be more cozy and nice. Definitely recommend checking out resto week (going on until 8/30/25 for them!!) I also would love to return to try some other dishes on the menu! Hard to find parking but not impossible, definitely give yourself 10-20 min extra if you're gonna drive. They don't seat you until the whole party is there!

    Fatty tuna roll with scallions
    Trung T.

    Wow this sushi restaurant's food quality is off the charts. Only came here for a late night bite so I only ordered one roll, but this fatty tuna roll with scallions was one of the most melt in your mouth sushi rolls I've ever had! The service was spot on and we were well taken care of and the ambiance was nice and quiet which is exactly what we needed to wind down the evening. Highly recommend sushi taro!

    Restaurant week 2025 Sushi Set
    S H.

    I went here during restaurant week and had the three course set plus dessert. I have to say I expected more from this restaurant. I did love the first course which I think is a yuzu jelly. It was sour-umami and very refreshing. The thoughtful combination of texture and taste is quite amazing and I've been thinking about it even after a month or so. It was odd that they didn't provide any spoons and chose to serve it in a plate. Like, chopsticks and jelly? The second course was I believe salmon misozuke? The third course a choice between two types of sushi platter. I got the upgraded Hojicha Pudding for dessert. These are not particularly memorable and not worth the price imo. Service is good and the interior is classy.

    Restaurant week offering: tuna and salmon trio + salmon and avo roll and spicy tuna roll
    Christina B.

    Went for restaurant week and had a lovely time! Definitely choose the ramen over the salmon, you get more bang for your buck. The ramen is spicy, but not overkill. We chose option A: tuna and salmon trio + salmon and avo roll and spicy tuna roll. The two rolls were melt in your mouth, and the light salmon at the bottom of the plate tasted like butter. The dessert was surprisingly good. Solid service.

    MD shore roll, rainbow roll, yellowtail & scallion roll and for nigiri: fatty tuna, king salmon, mackerel & scallop
    Allie W.

    My favorite sushi place! Popped in for last minute happy hour which is a very good deal. Every piece and roll was incredible.

    Annie C.

    One of my favorite sushi restaurants in DC. Good sushi is hard to find in DC. It's all in the rice and it well flavored with the right texture. Haven't had their omakase but it's on my list! I've been back a few times and everything on the menu is has been good!

    A La cart Sushi

    See all

    13 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jay S.
    112
    388
    3131

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of S H.
    0
    20
    55

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Annie C.
    245
    170
    333

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jinny Y.
    496
    25
    30

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Candice U.
    370
    17
    20

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Derek C.
    13
    161
    476

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sarah P.
    0
    188
    700

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dana Z.
    62
    12
    9

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    Page 1 of 42

    Sushi Taro Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Sushi Taro

    Are there any additional charges for split bills?

    not for smaller parties, unsure about large ones

    Are the non-sushi cooked items available for both lunch and dinner?

    Yes.

    Is a reservation necessary for regular dine in?

    More likely than not, yes, a reservation is usually necessary.

    We were on the waitlist for omakase, and then received an email asking if we wanted the particular date. We confirmed, but since then nothing. Tried emailing/calling for confirmation but can't seem to reach anyone? Not sure what to do... suggestions?

    They are usually terrible at answering you but if you confirmed you should be good to go. It's a very busy place and the sushi is incredible. Service there is also a little hit or miss but if your going for the food you won't be disappointed.

    Can I order dinner menu items at lunch? The website (per phone browser) did not display a separate lunch vs dinner menu.

    They seem pretty set in the type of menus they have but asking won't hurt they have pretty good service.

    Is it possible to get a reservation for one at this restaurant? I don't seem to be able to do that and I think it's highly discriminatory to be unable to dine at this restaurant as a single individual

    I've never had to make a resy for one but have walked up after happy hour (the later the better) for a seat at the bar area without a problem. Their bar-only happy hour is really popular (and a great deal) so I would advise against going at opening… 

    How early should we get in line for HH on Friday?

    Depends on the day. Figure and hour before it starts. Remember they'll only take the first 15 people, and people ARE allowed to save spots for others in line.

    Do they use vinegar to cook the sushi rice?

    Yes, they do.

    Does anyone know what brand green tea they have here? It was so delicious !

    If I want to walk in as a single diner and get some nigiri at 8, what is the likelihood of that happening if I'm willing to wait half an hour?

    Hit or miss to find a spot at the bar.

    Do you have to make a reservation for lunch special menu?

    If you want the omakase lunch, yes. Regular lunch no. But a general rule of thumb, it's always better to have a reservation.

    View All 21 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Sushi Bars 26,294 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Love Makoto - Hand rolls

    Love Makoto

    4.5(569 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$$$

    This place is pretty freaking cool. It's a Japanese food hall with 4 individual spaces inside one…read morelarge space ( the owner also owns the Italian spot on the other side). I went for the buffet brunch at Dear Sushi. I'm not a hugh sushi eater but I loved the cooked stuff. I'm not super adventurous on the raw lol. The buffet is $65 and a 20% gratuity is added. The price was ok with me. There were plenty of food options for me to chose from and the service was good. We sat the bar, Jose and Molly were awesome and mixed up some delicious drinks. The food was delicious. Highlights for me were the fried chicken ( not sure of the correct name), milk bread (had to limit myself, I love bread lol), dumplings ( could have takien the whole tray lol), grilled salmon, and the tempura cauliflower. Another standout was the donuts from the dessert section. These donuts were so lite and airy. Almost guilt free when you bit into them. I would definitely return for brunch or to try out one of the other spots.

    We didn't have the best experience that we had hoped for a Love Makoto. As a sushi lover, we had to…read moretry this Omakase. I really liked the concept of one "old school" and one "new school" style of the same fish. But, the sushi just didn't live up to the hype. First, the pieces of fish were way too big. The fish was far larger than the rice and very difficult to eat. More like 2-3 bites. Also, some fish had skin on - which I know is a chef's choice - but I found it very unappetizing. Had to choke those down. And the "new school" hand-roll had imitation crab in it. So odd and doesn't feel upscale. We enjoyed the frozen strawberry for dessert. They're super cute and tasty. Just wish we had a better experience with the sushi.

    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

    See all

    Emperor butterfly mocktail

    Ko Japanese Dining

    Ko Japanese Dining

    4.5(73 reviews)
    0.4 miDupont Circle

    It was sufficient…read more Ko is centrally located by Dupont Circle as a second floor restaurant (next to Zorba's). Interior is simple and open. A/C was nice and cool which I appreciated but found the place to be too loud for me once it filled out with more people. Service is courteous. I ordered the tomato salad and two sushi rolls. Yes I committed the sin of ordering just sushi at a kaiseki restaurant, gasp! So I guess I did this to myself since I found the food to be just ok. The spicy tuna roll was just not happening since all they did was drizzle hot sauce over the roll. I've been noticing this more at places, can we just say tuna roll with spicy dipping sauce instead? It's a bit misleading... but I guess I'll have to make sure to ask everywhere whenever I order spicy tuna. I am a believer in that if you're eating at a good restaurant and you ordered their less popular menu item that it should still be good but in this case, Ko didn't deliver. Anyways, I didn't have much of an appetite because of the hot weather so take this review with a grain of salt but I don't plan on returning unless someone can convince me otherwise and if I do, I'm not ordering sushi here.

    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

    See all

    Delicious chilled sake

    Umai Nori - Sashimi platter was a 10/10

    Umai Nori

    4.5(288 reviews)
    0.5 miDowntown

    It is so hard to give this a rating because the food is good but the service is bad and I would not…read morego back! I do NOT recommend for dine in but the food was yummy so maybe opt for takeout...We had a reservation and upon checking in they offered bartop instead of a table unless we wanted to wait which isn't a huge deal so we waited and got sat at a table after a short wait. Then someone was sat after us (next table over) and got greeted, waters, and placed orders before we were so much as greeted. After less than an hour (most of which involved waiting to be greeted and served) we were handed the check and essentially nudged out while still eating our food. They seemed to want to close early. The drinks also didn't match their descriptions, missing key ingredients that were listed. We were barely tended to or checked on at all. We also had a bug buzzing around us that eventually flew into my drink. The staff was very nice but overall the service and quality did not match the cost at all.

    Upon entering, you are greeted by a multi-level establishment with sushi bar and small dining area…read moredownstairs and a larger dining room upstairs all laid out in subdued, modern chic, Asian vibe. The staff is amazing, attentive, friendly and efficient! Thank you Kay, for taking such good care of us! We started off with the Kara-age Lollipop chicken, which was finger lickin' delicious. For our entrees we shared the 6 Set Umai Temaki and Sashimi Nori. Super fresh, flavorful and beautifully presented. I got a kick out of the canned sake and maybe over indulged...but so much fun! We felt the value was very good, 27 pieces of generously portioned and fresh sashimi for under $60! We'll make this a regular stop when in DC. Cheers!

    Photos
    Umai Nori - Complimentary birthday mochi!

    Complimentary birthday mochi!

    Umai Nori - Sushi rolls

    Sushi rolls

    Umai Nori - 5 hand rolls

    See all

    5 hand rolls

    Sushi Nakazawa

    Sushi Nakazawa

    4.4(533 reviews)
    1.3 miFederal Triangle
    $$$$

    This was my first omakase where it only featured nigiri sushi and wow, was I impressed with Sushi…read moreNakazawa. We sat at the counter, and the classic omakase was priced at $190 each. We also added the A5 Wagyu Nigiri for $18 additional. If you choose to dine at the dining room, it's $160, but they exclude several items such as their fantastic tiger prawn. The classic omakase consists of 20 items of sushi. I wish I had written notes on each one, but basically from what I recalled, we had chum salmon, soy marinated king salmon, scallops, squid, tiger prawn, mackerel, sea bass, crab w/ tomalley, ⁠⁠Spanish mackerel, hay smoked mackerel and others. The main course was the four different types of tuna. Of course, the best ones were the chutoro and otoro. The A5 Wagyu was really good as well. The omakase ended with some hand rolls (the toro one was my favorite), uni, eel and the tamago. It's hard to pick a favorite dish since they were all so good. I think this was the first time I had sushi rice that was flavored. That was really good. Service was fantastic. I only wish they had a full bar, because I really wanted to drink some Old Fashioned with this meal, but opted for some Japanese beers instead. My water was replenished frequently, and it was fun interacting with the sushi chef. This is a great place to celebrate a special occasion.

    An enjoyable omakase for lunch - a quicker pace with fewer dishes - that still requires a few…read moreadd-ons (pushing the price up) to really wow. It's a solid one-star Japanese place sourcing ingredients from around the world, but there was nothing too surprising or impressive about the experience, other than this was "very good." I enjoyed lunch - it allows a look without the full three-hour commitment.

    Photos
    Sushi Nakazawa
    Sushi Nakazawa - ? Black Skipjacks

    ? Black Skipjacks

    Sushi Nakazawa - Kama Toro (cheek)

    See all

    Kama Toro (cheek)

    Shōtō - Pork belly skewers

    Shōtō

    4.0(705 reviews)
    0.4 miDowntown

    We had such a great time exploring Shōtō. We started with sushi and California maki rolls. The…read moresashimi was very fresh, and the hamachi was my favorite. From there, we moved on to the skewers, chicken and pork, then grilled steak and scallops. And of course, there's nothing quite like the feeling of Wagyu beef melting in your mouth. It was a lot of food, but everything tasted so good that at some point, you just stopped setting boundaries and kept exploring. You can tell how adventurous everyone was by the variety of desserts we ordered. Some had a perfect Japanese twist, especially the matcha tiramisu and yuzu cheesecake. The interior and ambiance are nice, stylish without being over the top. I think it's a great place for team building or business dinner.

    Took my girlfriend here for her birthday and it was the right call. The edamame was a simple,…read morewell-executed starter -- nothing fancy, but it set the tone before the real highlights arrived. The toro tacos were a standout -- rich, buttery toro paired with a crisp shell, the kind of bite that balances luxury with a little bit of fun. We rounded things out with several maki rolls, all fresh and well put together, each one distinct enough that ordering a few felt worth it rather than repetitive. Beyond the food, the service made the night -- attentive without being intrusive, which is exactly what you want for a birthday dinner. The ambience matched too: romantic, trendy, dim lighting that made it feel like an occasion without trying too hard. Great pick for a celebration -- between the toro tacos, the maki, and the overall vibe, Shoto delivered on every front.

    Photos
    Shōtō - The beautiful bar

    The beautiful bar

    Shōtō - Premium omakase (tempura)

    Premium omakase (tempura)

    Shōtō - Dessert. Very artistic.  Churros and sauce was delightful

    See all

    Dessert. Very artistic. Churros and sauce was delightful

    Izakaya Seki - Sashimi platter

    Izakaya Seki

    4.0(521 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$$

    I had pretty authentic eating experience here. Food quality was good and the price was reasonable…read morefor DC. I liked how they fixed up little townhome and made it a cozy restaurant. The owner served us and she was nice.

    We were looking forward to a mildly adventurous night out and approached this open to trying and…read morelearning about new things. Unfortunately, the restaurant staff wasn't particularly helpful or supportive in this endeavor. Asking for details on the menu and suggestions seemed like either a burden eliciting sighs and slight eyerolls or an inability to offer any meaningful suggestions; so, alas, we were left to ourselves. The space, at least on the first floor, is tiny - just counter bar seats in front of the kitchen in a narrow rectangular room. We were excited to use this as an opportunity to learn more by watching and interacting with the cooks, but that did not occur. Without guidance, we ordered hamachi, salmon, and kampachi sashimi. The portions were generous - 5 slices of each. The salmon was buttery and the kampachi fantastic - rich and interesting flavor. The hamachi was not liked - it was streaked with some sinewy type substance that didn't help the otherwise unflavorful fish. The soba noodles came with a rich, smoky/strong fish-flavored broth that was interesting. Unfortunately, there is no gluten-free option for the broth. The yakatori skewers (only ordered because they were the only gluten-free skewers) were nothing interesting. The wine list is quite small (understandable considering the tiny size of the restaurant) and the chilled red and the Italian rose were both quite good. The pricing was reasonable in general and considering the quality of the meal and the overall experience.

    Photos
    Izakaya Seki - Interior

    Interior

    Izakaya Seki - Salmon Roe and Yukari Riceball in Nori

    Salmon Roe and Yukari Riceball in Nori

    Izakaya Seki - Tempura Special, sake

    See all

    Tempura Special, sake

    Kyojin DC

    Kyojin DC

    4.4(326 reviews)
    1.6 miGeorgetown

    I went actively searching for this restaurant, yet still found it easy to miss. It's tucked away…read moreand for good reason. It's a secret that you wish never got out. I went alone and sat at the sushi bar and did the premium omakase. Non traditional in that it was all served on one plate, but worth it. Nice presentation. I even watched a fish delivery from a vendor. It strikes you as too trendy to be good, but that's not the case.

    Birthday dinner brought us to Kyojin Sushi on a Monday night, and while the food definitely…read moreimpressed, the service kept this from being a five-star experience. We had a reservation for 7:30 p.m. for a party of 12, and I think that was the first issue. A group our size really needed a dedicated server, but instead we had one server covering our entire section. To be fair, he may have been stretched thin, but unfortunately, the service itself also left a lot to be desired. We were seated at 7:30, but our drink orders weren't taken until around 7:50. Then he disappeared for another 20 minutes before returning to take additional drink orders from people who had arrived later. We were ready to order food, but kept hearing, "I'll be right back." Throughout the night, drinks and items were forgotten. One friend finished her first glass of wine, ordered a second, and didn't receive it until we were literally asking for the check. At that point... we're leaving, friend. To make matters worse, several menu items we wanted weren't available. The mochi? Sold out. The Wagyu? Sold out. There were three or four different items people at our table ordered that were unavailable. On a Monday, that was a little surprising. Now for the good part... the sushi was REALLY good. I ordered the Yume Roll and the Tiger Roll, and both were incredibly fresh. The Yume Roll was especially unique and one of my favorite specialty rolls I've had in a while. It was made with spicy tuna, avocado, seared tuna, jalapeño, spicy mayo, eel sauce, and crunchy tempura bits, which gave it the perfect combination of heat, texture, and richness. The Tiger Roll was another standout, made with lump crab, avocado, cucumber, spicy mayo, steamed tiger shrimp, and a mango tobiko sauce. The combination of flavors was fresh, light, and perfectly balanced. I also ordered the edamame with the spicy black garlic sauce, and I absolutely loved that twist. It was a nice change from the usual salted edamame. One dish that completely missed the mark was the Tempura Rice with Chicken, which I shared with the table. Unfortunately, this was the only thing we ordered that I genuinely didn't enjoy. The chicken was dark meat, lacked seasoning, and honestly tasted like it had come straight from a bag of frozen Tyson nuggets. It didn't have the crispy, flavorful bite I was expecting and felt completely out of place compared to how fresh and well-executed the sushi was. I'd definitely skip this one on my next visit. My cocktail was just as impressive as the food. It was made with Ilegal Mezcal, pomegranate, hibiscus yuzu, simple syrup, and egg white, and it was absolutely gorgeous. The egg white gave it a silky, frothy finish, while the pomegranate and hibiscus yuzu added a bright, slightly tart flavor that paired beautifully with the subtle smokiness of the mezcal. It was as pretty as it was delicious. The restaurant itself is gorgeous. It's tucked away in an alley, so it's a little easy to miss, but once you're inside, the space is modern, spacious, and has a really cool stone bar that gives the restaurant a sleek, upscale vibe. I was also pleasantly surprised by the prices. Specialty rolls ranged from about $12-$20, with only a few premium options around $25. The edamame was about $8, so overall I thought the pricing was very fair, especially for Georgetown. Would I come back? Yes... but probably with a much smaller group. The food and ambiance are worth another visit, but I'd definitely be hoping for a better service experience next time. I also hope they have a better handle on inventory because I'd still love to try the Wagyu and finish dinner with the mochi.

    Photos
    Kyojin DC - Inside the restaurant

    Inside the restaurant

    Kyojin DC - Lobster Volcano

    Lobster Volcano

    Kyojin DC - Kyojin きょうじん:raw platter

    See all

    Kyojin きょうじん:raw platter

    Sakaki Izakaya

    Sakaki Izakaya

    4.4(323 reviews)
    3.6 miClarendon
    All you can eat
    Happy hour specials

    When I hear sushi and all you can eat in the same sentence I typically proceed with caution. No…read moreneed for caution here. From the moment I walked in Kay gave prompt, professional service. He walked me through the options and ordering was a breeze. The price point is a little higher than your average all you can eat dining experience, but well worth it. I must've had 15 pieces of nigiri. Having worked in a sushi restaurant I can tell you it was phenomenally well done. Beautifully fresh and buttery and the sushi rice was perfect. The eel kamameshi was a highlight and came with a showing amount of eel. Finished everything off with the matcha tiramisu and a cup of green tea. I won't need to eat for days. Will definitely be coming back! Thank you Kay and team!

    First off, let me just say.... If I'm honest, whenever I…read moreshow up to an AYCE I'm always skeptical with the quality of the food, especially when it comes to sushi but wow, I was blown away how great it was for AYCE. The set- up and the ambiance is very comfortable and sleek/modern with the main sushi chefs in the middle and the tables around them. The tables have waiters and a tablet at the table like most hot pot/kbbq places and you can order everything off of there. I have only been here once and wanted to try to low tier without going "all in" on the top tier option of diamond without knowing how the basics would taste. Let me say if the bottom tier was as good as it was, I'm excited to come back to try the next tier! Anyway, the basic tier already comes with a lot of sushi options and should be enough for those who are craving just sushi. All of the cuts of nigiri was great, all tender with great flavor, but what stood out to me the most was actually the yellowtail, super buttery and great flavor. The eel was also a top choice! All the rolls were good basic to the fancier ones, I would say that most of the bang for the buck would be the nigiri. The rolls are good but a little too much rice for me personally. The appetizers, didn't spend too much time on them but the chicken karaage was solid and the seaweed salad was my two favorite. Overall, super solid for the price and I'd totally want to go again to try more of their options! 100% recommend!

    Photos
    Sakaki Izakaya - Drink Menu

    Drink Menu

    Sakaki Izakaya - Old fashion

    Old fashion

    Sakaki Izakaya - All you can eat menu

    See all

    All you can eat menu

    Sushi Taro - sushi - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...