So good I almost don't want to share it! I was craving some sushi/nigiri and came across this place. The few reviews all seemed positive and I wanted to give it a shot - I'm so glad I did. I ordered from them for a week straight. All of the fish is SO fresh and tasty. The Sushi Jumbo for lunch is the perfect amount to keep you full and then some - I'm not particularly fond of salmon and saved those pieces for my friend the first day, but the second day i ate them and they were good! Not fishy but you could tell it was salmon (i can't explain the exact taste). The Yummy Yummy roll was so good. I wasn't a fan of the spicy chicken bowl, it wasn't to my liking. It was a little too ginger forward, and not spicy and overall wouldn't get it again. I've never gone in person, but the staff was able to accommodate the little roll included to be just tuna so that was nice. I can't wait to visit them in person. read more

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Wish I had taken a picture of the sashimi we ordered as the cuts were generous! Small eating area with three tables plus counter sitting. A Barrack's Row neighborhood gem. We'll be back. read more

Torai Sushi - Gyoza - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I will preface with saying the only reason this is 4 stars is because we've been burned multiple times on the pick-up wait time at Torai. Other than that 10/10 recommend. Torai, is a lovely local sushi and ramen spot on Barracks Row where the sushi is reasonably priced, of great quality, and delicious. We are regulars here either dine in or take out. As they are amazing - the wait time for pick up tends to be long and unfortunately tends to be severely underestimated - thus, prompting the 4 stars. We've experienced multiple times where our wait time says 45mins and ends up being over an hour. After this past week where I waited outside in the cold with our pup while my husband went inside pick up food, that's when I really felt the extra time. If I could give any constructive feedback to management would be to look into revising your wait times and accuracy for pick up. If the max it allows you to put is 45 mins, and the wait is over an hour, that is a large gap. read more

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

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I dined here for dinner with the guidance of Yelp, which never steers me wrong. We were greeted by a lady who saw there were three in my family , she quickly made a table to seat us. The restaurant is very tiny and had maybe 5 dine in chairs with seating at a sushi bar. The prices were very reasonable so we ended up ordering a boat for two. Honestly, it's a bad for three because both my husband and I couldn't finish it. The fish used was delicious and everything tasted great. Service was wonderful. The sweet lady who served us was just so nice. Small cozy place, great sushi. They also offer catering too! Which I was surprised because it's such a small restaurant. read more

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

Such a cute location! It's very small, cannot accommodate large parties but the food is delicious - loved their tempura shrimp! Service was great. Cutest mom and pop shop! read more

Torai Sushi - Mio sparkling sake - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Solid spot! You order and then sit... there's limited seating - little hole in the wall, but yummy! The sweet potato tempura was my fav! Wish they had a full bar... they were the only sushi place open late in that area on a Friday night. Would def go back! Also, their bathroom has a bidet! read more

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I really like the restaurant. The sushi entrees and service is top notch. Tiny space with a few tables, but truly authentic with reasonable prices. Highly recommend over the saturated sushi spots with inflated prices. Staff is extremely nice. read more

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Really in the mood for sushi. Out of town in DC Took a chance on a short Uber ride from my hotel WOW! What a find, right across from a Marine Barracks in the Washington Naval Yard area. Small hole in the wall, with some of the best sushi I've had in a while. Made it here for a late lunch. Fast service and high quality very fresh sushi. Will definitely be back next time I'm staying in the area. read more

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

The salmon here is outstanding. The other fish are good too, but I find the salmon especially scrumptious. Be aware that for their sushi, they already add a little bit of wasabi in there, so tell them ahead of time if you don't like wasabi. Friendly woman at the counter. Cute, cozy atmosphere. read more

Torai Sushi - Salmon set - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This is my go to sushi spot! Always good quality, always fast and super friendly service, and amazing prices!! Highly recommend!

Food is actually a 4 but often experience underestimated wait times and poor customer service. Go often but today had a 30-minute wait turn into over an hour, with no apology, people who came after us prioritized, our order given to another customer who brought it back (it was given to us with no check or confirmation) and no apology at all! Not the first time I've dealt with this dismissive, unapologetic behavior and lack of consideration for people's time. Better estimated times or an acknowledgment of extended wait times would be respectful. Had an accurate time been provided we could've opted to leave, get a refund or go do something else. Unfortunately, will not be returning! read more

Incredible sushi for the cheapest around! Cute hole in the wall spot with a few seats. Sashimi was amazing! read more

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

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Very small and cozy sushi restaurant located in the Eastern Market area. It has limited seating, but perfect to go to on a Saturday night. The workers were nice and greeted us when we came in. I enjoy the plants at the front of the store, adding a bit to the simple decorations inside. Wife and I were confused at first because you order and pay at the register first, I looked a little silly waiting for a server. You can't go wrong (hopefully) with a simple appetizer, miso soup, that comes with the Sushi Lover (for 2). The sushi was very delicious and tasted amazing. They put the right amount of wasabi within the nigiri, which hit nicely. The rolls that came with the nigiri was delicious and I enjoyed it a lot. Unfortunately, my only issue was that some of the fish on the nigiri was not as fresh tasting or looking. Willing to go here again at an earlier time. read more

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Ok, but nothing really special to us. Perhaps we have been spoiled by the really amazing sushi in Manhattan, and Japan. But I have not found a really good place for sushi in DC and I am unwilling to waste money on crazy-expensive omakases read more

Came here for the first time with a friend recently and had a lovely time! The inside is very no frills, but the menu is EXTENSIVE and the food was very good! They give you a full, regular menu, and also a slip of paper for a la carte sushi rolls that you can mark with a golf pencil. My friend and I each ordered 3 rolls from their a la carte menu and we were stuffed! We each got two normal ones (like avocado rolls and spicy tuna rolls) and each got a "chef special" (like shrimp tempura). Everything came out on one big plate, so be aware that you might just not know what is what unless you order very distinctive things. My friend is gluten free, but thankfully the only one she couldn't eat (tempura) was readily identifiable and we knew that one was mine. Otherwise, we just decided to split the other rolls, since they all looked good and we have similar tastes. Everything was nice and fresh and the portions were very generous for the price. We also split a bottle of sake, which was very yummy. The sake we had wanted was out of stock, but the server was able to recommend another one that was similar and we really liked the one she picked (I forget the name, but the description says something like "subtle flavor"). They were very busy with to-go orders, but still brought out our food really quickly and you can pay at the counter, so the whole experience was very efficient. I'd definitely return to try more sushi and find that sake brand again! read more

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Cozy, no frills sushi spot. Great fish quality, with very affordable prices. My partner and I got the sushi love boat for $55 and we were both full after. Such a great deal. Service was friendly and quick. There isn't much seating and it's pretty closely packed, and was very busy for a Wednesday night. I would recommend getting there around 7 to beat the evening rush. I might deem this place the best value sushi spot in DC. I would highly recommend and say it's worth going out of the way for. read more

Torai Sushi - Our half eaten boat - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I was about a week into a multi-city road trip and needed something that was not fried or ridiculously overpriced. Thank you Torai Sushi for being there in my need. For a Washington restaurant that serves Sushi, Torai is remarkably affordable. It's vibe is definitely a small local eatery that provides good quality food while being very modest in appearance and seating capacity. It was nice to see that they also had a brisk take-out/pick-up business as this place deserves to succeed. The neighbourhood feels very safe, the shop is across from a Marine Barracks and there was plenty of street parking. We were greeted and seated promptly and our orders arrived quickly. The Pork Shumai arrived first and were quickly consumed. These were followed by Tune Poké for me and my brother went with Pork Belly Ramen. We were very satisfied with the quality of our meals, the portion sizes, and the service received. We would most definitely return. read more

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An unassuming spot, with 2 tables and some bar sets. From the outside, it looks like a little hallway/takeaway only, but this is excellent quality sushi and unbeatable prices. The fish is SO fresh and delicious, I can't believe it's available in DC! You'll leave well fed and within budget! read more

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

Decent sushi and okay service but a cute location. Torai was a pretty small location, but we were really keen on having sushi and were glad we found this place to satisfy that craving. We must've come on a day where it was fairly busy and understaffed, because service was a bit slow, but friendly. Prices are fairly reasonable and sushi was decent, so I think we just came on an off day for them. I wouldn't count this place out just yet, but I'm not gunning to return unless I were in the area and this was convenient. read more

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

I have yet to find a price to quality ratio as good as Torai sushi. This is some great sushi for a decent price. The fish is so fresh and flavorful. Perfect rice to fish ratio. The spicy tuna is as good as it gets. I also love the salmon. Just about every sushi here is pretty good, have yet to taste a bad one. It's a lil mom and pop spot and they are so kind and caring. My go to sushi spot even though I live in Maryland. read more

I have gone here almost every day for months. It's always fast service. It's always delicious. I've gotten almost every roll and a poke bowl once. It's a creat local sushi spot and I've gone to other places in dc and haven't had the same experience. It's cute inside. Not a large amount of tables but for a little intimate date it would work. read more

Torai Sushi - MD Crab Roll Boston Roll salmon Salmon&Avocado Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Always wanted to try it, so I went inside and ordered 4*Chirashi Lunch which included a small bowl of miso soup, assorted fish, shrimp, scallop, salmon, eel & sushi rice. Everything was fresh and tasted natural with original flavors. It was a small family restaurant. Traditional Japanese decor and quiet atmosphere. Service was slow and steady. Food portion was generous, prices were reasonable. It's a nice place for a quick healthy lunch. read more

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Torai Sushi is a Korean-owned sushi restaurant, located literally across from the Marine Barracks. We came at an odd hour, but the place was busy with online orders, carry-out orders, as well as people coming in to dine-in! The menu offers appetizers, soups & salads, donburi, bento boxes, poke, maki, nigiri, and sashimi; they also have weekday lunch specials. We ordered: +a Sushi B - 11 nigiri pieces and a tuna roll - I enjoyed each of the nigiri pieces; the rice was prepared well, and each slice of fish was fresh; defnitely would probably stick to this platter in future visits +2 orders of Toro nigiri - each order comes with 2 pieces; generous slices, and one order would have sufficed! +Sun Set Roll - shrimp tempura and avocado, topped with salmon, tobiko, masago, wasabi, eel sauce, spicy mayo, and wasabi sauce maki roll; I liked that these were smaller than the typical maki rolls, as it was a great ratio between the fish and the rice; this was a little bit more sweeter in taste than I would have liked +a Chicken Teriyaki Bento - came with 3 pieces of California rolls, tempura (shrimp, onion, and sweet potato), a spring roll, a gyoza, a Japanese seaweed salad, salad with ginger dressing, kimchi, and rice; I enjoyed the California rolls; the chicken teriyaki sauce was actually pretty good - great to use the side of white rice to mix in with the leftover sauce! The chicken teriyaki was very tender and meaty +Bulgogi Dumpbap - bulgogi over rice, with a side of kimchi and salad with ginger dressing; the bulgogi was just okay for me - I prefer mine more sweeter, saucy, and caramelized Service was super friendly, kind, and welcoming! I just wished that they include green tea and/or miso soup with the entrees. I loved the intimate space, where it was cozy and clean. You can tell that this place is a favorite amongst the locals! There's plenty of metered parking around the area. +good nigiri +friendly & kind staff! +located across from the Marine Barracks +metered parking available read more

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Do not be mistaken by the size of this little hole in the wall - it is some of the very best sushi in DC! They have amazing lunch specials, and I never order anything other than the chirashi special because their fish is next level fresh. It's also an incredibly generous portion! The interior is cute and intimate with several tables and a counter bar. I love eating lunch there and have been constantly impressed by the freshness of their takeout. Though there are other sushi spots nearby, this one is undisputedly the best. read more

Torai Sushi - Chirashi special - generous portions of incredibly fresh fish. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

a restaurant with only two tables on capital hill? what a vibe and a half - this is tiny tiny little spot where you order at the counter with a filled out al la carte form and off the regular menu - really sweet staff and happy vibes, the sushi makers behind the counter were hard at work the entire time with the endless takeout orders coming in - regular rolls were 8-10 dollars with specials at around 12-15! - I got the tuna poke bowl which was delicious and made with such care. it had mango and two variations of seaweed. - my companion got 4 (FOUR) rolls, ranked: 1. the tempura Alaska 2. spicy yellowtail 3. the eel roll 4. the Philadelphia roll read more

Torai Sushi - Tuna Poke Bowl - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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A solid sushi spot to get ask your sushi and sake dreams met. They have all the favorites, veggie ash's shrimp tempura, miso soup, spider rolls and tempura rolls, hand rolls and a simple but delicious classic edamame. Everything was so tasty and it's a cute shop with a pop 40's radio playing. Service was very good from a mom and pop. read more

Torai Sushi - Sparking sake for the win! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The best authentic sushi and Japanese restaurant in DC. The owner is so sweet and friendly!

Easily the best sushi not only in the Capitol Hill/Barracks Row area, but probably in all of DC. Torai has never once disappointed over 6+ years of dine in and take out. Seating is fairly limited (only a handful of seats), but service is fast and friendly. Pick up is easy through their website (pay upon pick up; usually takes about 20-40 min depending on the day, so plan ahead if ordering on a weekend). Song at the cashier is incredibly sweet and welcoming. The salmon set is my default order. To round out the meal, add an order of the salmon, yellowtail belly, or scallop sashimi; the mackerel nigiri; and/or the yummy yummy, crazy, dynamite, or sunset rolls. The fatty tuna and uni are also excellent, although seasonal. Getting Torai is never ever a bad idea. read more

This place is amazing new favorite sushi place on Capitol Hill. Everything was great and not overpriced - the sashimi tasted fresh and the avocado salad was delicious read more

Torai Sushi - Spicy Dragon Roll Phoenix Roll (Sa) Yellow Tail (Sa) Salmon - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Torai is the best small sushi restaurant nestled in Capitol Hill. Each slice of fish was quality and perfection. I am so surprised that after all these years living in DC and having walked pass by it dozens of times, I have not found this place until coming across it on Yelp. I am ashamed but alas no more, this will be my new spot to satiate my sushi cravings. It is unpretentious and cozy. Torai ideal for a party no more than four. It's quite a small restaurant, and you have to order your food at the register. No waiter or waitress will come to you to get your order. We paired our dinner with Japanese red ales and sake. Prices of alcohol and food were beyond reasonable. While this is no Nobu in terms of atmosphere, the quality of fish at Torai make you feel like you've got the best meal for your wallet! read more

Torai Sushi - Love Boat for 3-4 People - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We got a few rolls (spicy salmon, spicy tuna, spider roll and another chef specialty roll), as well as edamame as an appetizer! The host was great and found a spot for us to sit since it was dinner time and there were so many people inside. Although the space is limited, this is well worth the wait (or order take out to enjoy at home)! read more

For what you're paying, this place has great deals. I came here with some friends and it was such a good and intimate dining experience. The server was one of the most adorable and friendliest people who made the experience all the much better. I ordered the bento box which came with a protein (I got bulgogi), rice, a mini salad, little bit of kimchi and seaweed salad, 3 pieces of a California roll, and some assorted tempura. There was something about the California roll that made it feel really fresh and light, but I was pleasantly surprised. If their California roll was that good, imagine how fresh their sushi was! One side note about the sushi was that this seems like a more authentic Japanese-style place than other places and the friends I was with absolutely love to come here for their fish and the quality of it. The bulgogi was nice, it had vegetables in it, the meat was tender, and with the rice, it was comforting and not too heavy. The banchan of the salad, kimchi, and seaweed all added more fresh elements to the box. The tempura was pretty good, tho the onion batter was a bit soggy (but the shrimp and potato seemed good!). Also, it came with a spring roll so I really was getting a good set of everything. Highly recommend this place! read more

Torai Sushi - Bulgogi Bento Box - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Don't let their small size fool you, this place is a fantastic option for some yummy and fresh (and FAST) sushi on Barracks Row! With only a few tables available for seating, this place lends itself to a more fast casual and takeout concept. Friend and I ended up here for lunch one day not knowing that was the case and were actually pleasantly surprised! You just order up at the counter and a few minutes later - voila, sushi! We were able to snag a table that day so ate in the restaurant but if you want a larger/more lavish meal, definitely suggest doing takeout. I hadn't had a Bento box in forever and thought screw it, I'm getting a Bento box - it was so good! I also got two of these adorable servings of plum wine which were also very yummy. My friend was very pleased with his sushi spread as well. Solid place for sushi for sure! read more

I've gone to Torai several times and it's one of the most authentic sushi places I've been to so far in DC. When you walk in, you know exactly what kind of place you're walking into and it feels very welcoming. The aesthetic feels so memorable, like it's just a very humble sushi restaurant and makes you want to come back. The service is very good and their menu has quite a lot of variety. Sushi or not, they work very hard on whatever you order off the menu. The food tastes very fresh and delicious! So far this is definitely my number one sushi spot overall, in both quality and price. They haven't missed a beat. read more

I had the Unagi Donburi and the softshell crab roll. Excellent dishes. Seating was limited so come early. Service was quick. Background music was pleasant. I would definitely come again earlier for sure. read more

Torai Sushi - Unagi Donburi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I ordered the sushi and sashimi lunch combo. For what you get it's a great deal and the sashimi was very good. I'll eat here again next time I am in the area. read more

A neighborhood hole-in-the-wall place, but I will say that management can be slightly off putting. My boyfriend and I walked in on a Tuesday around noon, and since there were no other customers, we tried to sit down at a 4 person table. We were quickly asked to move to a 2 person table even though no one else was there or waiting. It would have been nice to have the extra space since the 2 person table was cramped. Now onto the food! Decent food, decent price for the lunch special. Their fish tasted very fresh, if a little cold (assuming they grabbed my sashimi right out of a fridge/freezer). Would consider coming back - but probably for take out! read more

Torai Sushi - Sashimi lunch special - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Though Torai may seem unassuming at first, it's one of those cozy spots serving great food for great prices, which is far and few between in DC these days. The sashimi bento box is delicious and such a good deal with fresh fish, light and crispy tempura, and a side of kimchi... such a comfort! Love that they have cans of makgeolli, too. Service is always warm and welcoming! read more

Torai Sushi - Sashimi bento - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Hands down my favorite sushi shop in the neighborhood - super lowkey spot that consistently delivers fresh, high quality cuts of fish at a great price. Whenever I get the sushi itch I walk down here from Navy Yard and pick myself up a chirashi bowl (if lunch) or sushi plate if dinner. I've never been disappointed, and will keep coming back. Don't expect anything amazing in terms of atmosphere, I think this place is best for take out! read more

Torai Sushi - Sushi special B - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

In the order of my favorites: Spider Roll: soft shell crab, masago, cucumber & avocado $11.95 *5 huge crispy pieces Spicy Scallop Roll $6.50 *spicier than I expected but super delicious, couldn't tell if the spice was from the mayo or if there was jalapeno vs cucumber Maryland Crab Roll $6.95 *real crab with old bay seasoning and a nice crunch Boston Roll: shrimp, avocado, cucumber $5.50 *steamed shrimp which was nice instead of the typical tempura shrimp Seaweed Salad: $4.95 *a tad bit too sweet but nicely complemented all of the sushi Sashimi 12 pc: 3 tuna, 3 salmon, 3 yellowtail, 3 white tuna *the yellowtail and white tuna were very flavorful in comparison to the tuna and salmon, I'd recommend just getting yellowtail sashimi Salmon Belly Sashimi $6.00 *salmon belly was buttery and fatty but it was off putting because it was extremely tough and chewy with poor slicing of the fish The sushi tasted very fresh and I loved that the menu has so much variety for both Japanese and Korean cuisine. The next items on my list is the crab salad, Torai roll, Trio amigo roll and the spider roll again. read more