Diners' Choice: Japanese restaurants in Washington, D.C. Area

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Japanese cuisine in Washington, D.C. Area? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Two Nine

4.9

4.9 (54)

$50 and over

Japanese

Georgetown

About the restaurant

Two Nine Restaurant offers a kaiseki-inspired sushi omakase experience, harmoniously combining seasonal seafood imported from Japan with produce from local farmers and plated on handmade ceramics carefully picked out from friends in Tokyo, Japan.

At $205 per guest, exclusive of beverages, taxes and gratuities, guests embark on a multi-course journey where each dish is meticulously prepared.

For those seeking a more casual approach, we also feature a Nigiri a la carte counter, allowing guests to enjoy their favorite sushi at their own pace. Additionally, a small, intimate room is dedicated to Chirashi sushi and sake, offering a relaxed dining atmosphere.

Two Nine strives to cater to guests of all sushi knowledge and preferences, ensuring a memorable experience for everyone.

Top review

HadleyVIP

Dined on Jun 5, 2025

Delightful and imaginative omakase experience in an intimate space

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Experience

Kaiseki Inspired Omakase Sushi

Gyu San Japanese BBQ

4.9

4.9 (99)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Arlington

About the restaurant

At Gyusan Japanese BBQ, offer high-quality cuts of meat, that are known for their tenderness, flavor, and overall premium quality, which include cuts such as Wagyu beef, dry-aged beef, prime rib, and other premium cuts of beef, as well as premium cuts of pork, lamb, and other meats.Wagyu beef, for example, is known for its high level of marbling, which gives it a rich, buttery flavor and a tender texture. Dry-aged beef is beef that has been hung in a cool, dry place for several weeks, which helps to intensify its flavor and tenderize the meat.Our focus is often on using the highest quality and freshest ingredients, including premium cuts of meat, fresh seafood, and organic vegetables.From salad to sashimi and yakiniku to noodles, your friends and family are bound to find something to enjoy together.

Top review

KristaVIP

Dined on May 26, 2025

This was our first time here and it was very enjoyable. The food was good, and the AYCE deal is a significant value. We will be coming back and bringing some friends and family. Thank you for a nice evening.

Umai Nori

4.8

4.8 (28)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Downtown

About the restaurant

Umai Nori is a modern sushi restaurant in Washington, DC that offers a unique dining experience. The restaurant specializes in open-style sushi hand rolls, which are made with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Umai Nori also offers a variety of other Japanese dishes, including sashimi, nigiri, and robata. The restaurant has a casual and inviting atmosphere, and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Umai Nori is the perfect place to enjoy a delicious and affordable sushi meal. Umai Nori is a great place to go for a casual and affordable sushi meal. The restaurant has a wide variety of sushi rolls to choose from, as well as other Japanese dishes. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and the atmosphere is inviting.

Top review

Destiny

Dined 4 days ago

Amazing sushi and fabulous drinks. Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - Arlington, VA | Clarendon

4.7

4.7 (713)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Arlington

About the restaurant

Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.

Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other!

Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!

Top review

Karl

Dined on May 25, 2025

It is a very popular place! We had reservations but still had to wait 15 minutes for a table. It was our first time at a place like this and the menu was confusing, but our server helped us understand it. The buffet is not cheap but you get to choose from 45 different items and cook them yourselves at the table. A lot of trial and error for us (we undercooked the broccoli and maybe overcooked some meats) but it was a lot of fun. The quality of the meat was excellent, and sharing duties to keep it turning on the grill and sampling the food together added to the fun of the experience. We will definitely visit again!

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Experience

Prix-Fixe BBQ Courses for Everyone: Starting at...

Modan

4.7

4.7 (48)

$50 and over

Japanese

Tysons

About the restaurant

At Modan, we blend the tradition of Japanese izakaya culture with a modern, luxurious twist. Inspired by the vibrant and social atmosphere of Japanese dining, our goal is to create an elegant space where guests can unwind, share exquisite small plates, and enjoy a meticulously curated selection of sake, Japanese whisky, and cocktails.

Top review

KennethVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Great food, sexy vibe, amazing service. Highly recommend.

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Experience

MODAN Omakase at The Chef's Counter

Toryumon Japanese House

4.5

4.5 (172)

$30 and under

Japanese

Downtown

About the restaurant

Located in the “Golden Triangle” of the Central Business District of The Downtown DC.

Toryumon Japanese House offers tasty Southeast Asian Cuisines. It’s trendy eatery offering creative sushi, Tokyo style Ramen Asian fushion meals!

Toryumon Japanese House serving everything on the menu is freshly prepared in-house with thoughtful attention to even the most subtle details. The restaurant blends classic Japanese culinary traditions with an new asian style food, ingredient-driven menu, warm hospitality and clean design to deliver a contemporary and engaging asian dining experience.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve. Humbly Yours.

Top review

David

Dined 1 day ago

Very enjoyable dining experience. Love the Happy Hour menu (drinks, apps and sushi) - will definitely be back!

O-Ku - DC

4.7

4.7 (1803)

$30 and under

Japanese

Washington

About the restaurant

O-Ku DC invites guests to explore rare and unique dining options -traditional sashimi and sushi, innovative Japanese specialties and wood-fired robata-style dishes from the Kitchen's Binchotan grills. The fish and other ingredients are sourced from the highest-quality purveyors around the world and is committed to using sustainably sourced ingredients when possible.

Top review

Lee

Dined 5 days ago

Chefs were super nice and artist of their trade. Staff was friendly and atmosphere was perfect.

Chaplin

4.7

4.7 (1629)

$30 and under

Japanese

Shaw

About the restaurant

Chaplin's Restaurant & Bar is a 1930's style Japanese Ramen House and cocktail bar. Chaplin's Executive Chef and Partner, Myo Htun, is originally from Burma, but was cooking ramen in Japan at a young age. Myo received a blessing from his mentor in Japan after nearly 30 years of cooking in Japan, to come to America and continue to showcase his authentic Ramen and traditional Japanese cuisine. Chaplin's Restaurant demonstrates the aesthetic of a bustling ramen house in Japan in the 1930's silent film era. There is also a large outdoor dining area that is dog friendly. Chaplin's is located in the heart of the Historic Shaw neighborhood. And it is open until last call 7 days a week. Chaplin's received a Plate certification in the Michelin Guide in 2020. And it is located steps from the convention center and popular Logan Circle, 14th street and City Market.

Top review

DallasVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Great place to Ramen! The wait staff is great. All the food is good! Bbq ribs, gyoza, miso, rice bowl, all recommended! Japanese soda is fun too

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4.7

4.7 (2389)

$50 and over

Japanese

Washington

About the restaurant

Situated on the ground floor of the new Residences on M Street, in the heart of the West End just steps from Georgetown, Nobu Washington DC brings Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s genre-defining cuisine to the nation’s Capital. With more than 11,000 square feet of space including the Bar & Lounge, Dining Room and Sushi Bar, and multiple private event spaces, Nobu DC presents the ideal setting to enjoy signatures like Black Cod with Miso and Yellowtail Sashimi Jalapeño alongside DC-inspired dishes and cocktails.

Top review

Krysten

Dined 4 days ago

We went to celebrate our daughter’s graduation. We waited extra time for our table, and then the waiter didn’t take our order for something like 10 minutes. He then lost our appetizer order and the whole dinner was served as slow as molasses. The food was lovely but we cannot understand while the service was so slow and choppy. We were a bit disappointed overall.

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Popular dish

Spicy Tuna

Popular dish

Crispy rice with Avocado

Popular dish

Yellowtail Jalapeno

Wren

4.7

4.7 (697)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Tysons Corner / McLean

About the restaurant

Wren is a vibrant cocktail bar & restaurant at The Watermark Hotel, part of the exciting Capital One Center! Enjoy culinary delights from Executive Chef Yo Matsuzaki and a curated cocktail menu and wine list. Chef encourages patrons to share menu selections in our plush lounge.

Our garage entrance (labeled Hotel & Event Parking) is on Capital One Drive North – across from Capital One Headquarters. Drive through gate, up ramp, and park on 4th or 5th floor. Proceed to guest elevators and press 11-Lobby/Wren on the digital elevator panel. A friendly reminder to bring in parking ticket to be validated at Guest Services.

Please contact Zeina.Zarife@wrentysons.com for availability on parties of 8 or more.

Top review

Mary AnnVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Awesome restaurant. The food was delicious and they are so accommodating for dietary restrictions. Great service and ambiance.

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Explore Diners' Choice best of Washington, D.C. Area