Akasaka Japanese Restaurant

514 S Van Dorn St, Alexandria, VA 22304 703-751-3133

Description: Sushi lovers adore this attractive, minimal restaurant, which fashions some of the area's best sushi. From simple California rolls to extravagant creations like the Rock 'n' Roll (eel, avocado, and flying-fish roe) or the Crunch Roll (tempura bits and tuna), the place constantly rates a "thumbs up" from sushi connoisseurs. Beverages include Japanese rice and plum wines, which add to the authentic experience. Folks who don't like sushi can enjoy hearty noodle dishes, chicken teriyaki, or seafood dumplings. Casual attire.
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Blue Ocean Japanese Restaurant

9440 Main St, Fairfax, VA 22031 703-425-7555

Description: FAIRFAX. From fresh sushi to sukiyaki and teriyaki dishes, plenty of Japanese favorites can be found at this bright eatery. The pleasant dining room is decked out with Asian prints, but the best seating is at the sushi bar overlooking the sidewalk. Bento boxes offer a sampler of house specialties, and fresh soups include seafood noodle topped with egg. Adventurous types can sample fish-head soup or exotic monkfish liver in peanut sauce. Casual attire.
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Cafe Asia

1550 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22209 703-741-0870

Description: ARLINGTON. Cafe Asia's eclectic menu boasts entrees from Vietnam, China, Japan, Indonesia, and Korea. As a result, there are plenty of options for everyone. Start with gyoza (Japanese dumplings) or hot and sour soup. Then, order an Asian Green Salad, tempting nasi uduk (sampler platter of Indonesian delights), or traditional pad Thai. Lunch specials and dinner bento box combos are especially affordable. Happy hour also helps out the budget with discounted drinks and sushi. Outdoor dining available. Casual dress. Reservations suggested for large parties.
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Chopsticks

1073 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007 202-338-6161

Description: GEORGETOWN. Chopsticks serves authentic Japanese cuisine in a friendly environment. You'll find a selection of traditional Japanese entrees, including noodle dishes, tempura options, and deep-fried items. The well-stocked sushi bar boasts a wealth of fresh offerings, and bento boxes are available during lunch and dinner. Vegetarian fare is available as well. Sake and wine selections ably complement Chopstick's cuisine. Smart casual dress.
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Hee Been

6231 Little River Tpke, Alexandria, VA 22312 703-941-3737

Description: As authentic as they come, this Japanese and Korean favorite delivers great sushi, filling noodle dishes, and an extensive lunch buffet. Native Koreans know that Hee Been will provide a taste of home, complete with traditional garb worn by servers. Several dishes are grilled right at your table, and ten exotic sauces are available for dipping. Barbecued short ribs, flavored with soy and garlic and served off the bone, are the most popular dish. If you're feeling adventurous, try barbecued squid or tongue. Reservations recommended. Casual attire.
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Kaz Sushi Bistro

1915 I St NW, Washington, DC 20006 202-530-5500

Description: DOWNTOWN. This modern bistro dishes sushi with a twist. Chef Kaz Okochi originally trained as a fine artist and brings that sensibility to his cuisine. While he maintains a repertoire of classic sushi rolls, he also experiments, creating such delicacies as sake-poached scallops with lemon-cilantro dressing or eggplant carpaccio. Diners may order individual rolls from the à la carte menu or choose a sushi assortment. The bento box combines several items, drawing from spicy green mussels, seaweed salad, grilled baby octopus, and a variety of sushi dishes. The sake list is very good too.
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Kotobuki

4822 MacArthur Blvd, Washington, DC 20007 202-625-9080

Description: THE PALISADES. This second floor hole-in-the-wall wins praise for its outstanding sushi and reasonable prices.
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Makoto

4822 MacArthur Blvd, Washington, DC 20007 202-298-6866

Description: THE PALISADES. Aficionados of fine Japanese food precisely presented in a delicate, multicourse fashion deem this place superb. Fresh sushi and sashimi display visual and culinary artistry, qualities that extend to the rest of the menu. Impeccably fresh ingredients ensure that noodles, beef, salmon and the chef's daily innovations are deserving of the praise they garner. In fact, the variety of tastes leaves the palate satisfied but not overwhelmed. And for an aperitif, their cold sakes come highly recommended. Dress is business casual, but make sure to wear socks because diners must don slippers at the door.
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Matuba ­ Arlington

2915 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204 703-521-2811

Description: ARLINGTON. This popular eatery's cozy, intimate dining room is always full, a good indicator of its allure. Although authentically Japanese, it's comfortable enough for sushi neophytes, and the chef who oversees the bustling sushi bar will happily introduce you to his best creations. If they don't strike your fancy, the à la carte menu offers plenty of delicious choices, including crisp, light tempura dishes, meat- or vegetable-stuffed dumplings, and bacon-wrapped scallops. Fun for groups. Casual attire.
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Matuba ­ Bethesda

4918 Cordell Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814-2510 301-652-7449

Description: BETHESDA. For impeccable sushi without steep prices, give Matuba a try. A loyal clientele flocks to the bustling place for good deals on maki, nigiri, sashimi, tempura dishes, salads, grilled entrees, and noodles. Daily specials ensure the freshest fish and include such delicacies as red clams, scallops, and smoked salmon. One of the best deals for bargain-hunting sushi-lovers is on Monday, when each piece is only a dollar. Go early though; everybody looks forward to the weekly event.
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Nooshi

1120 19th St NW, Washington, DC 20036 202-293-3138

Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. Lunchtime crowds are intense at this fantastic place, mainly because the food is robust, spicy, and delicious. Favoring authentic cuisine over mild-mannered adaptations, Nooshi gives young professionals what they want: flavor wild enough to keep up with their lives. The eatery combines the cultures and cuisines of China, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Opt for Thai drunken noodles, Shanghai roast pork soup or even Singapore-style rice noodles. Sushi is a popular alternative in the non-noodle category. METRO: Dupont Circle
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Sakana

2026 P St NW, Washington, DC 20036 202-887-0900

Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. This comfortable dining spot offers a range of Japanese favorites, from tempura to sushi. Prices won't break the bank, and the kitchen's mantra is consistency. Enjoy seaweed salad, a bento box special, or fresh, well-prepared sushi, like the Caterpillar Roll with overlapping avocado slices as skin and salmon eggs for eyes. The crowd that frequents this Asian eatery is young and energetic, perfect accompaniment to the upbeat atmosphere. Smart casual dress.
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Sake Club

2635 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008 202-332-2711

Description: WOODLEY PARK. Stylish, tasteful and refined, this restaurant gives those living on DC's north side a place where they can sport their trendiest threads while savoring upscale Japanese fare and any of the 45 imported sake selections. The dinner menu lists, of course, sashimi, maki and nigiri; however, those seeking something beyond the raw can go for grilled selections like beef, chicken or pork bulgogi barbeque and Chilean sea bass with saikyo miso kinko sauce. A delightful option for large groups is the tapas menu, whose eclectic mix of dishes includes octopus ceviche and grilled flounder fin. METRO: Woodley Park
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Saki

2477 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20020 202-518-9820

Description: ADAMS-MORGAN. This restaurant-lounge features DJs each night, along with top-notch, tapas-style Japanese cuisine. Tunes include hip-hop, acid rock, and future funk, while the menu boasts an outstanding selection of sushi and sashimi. The two-story establishment is punctuated by a sleek black sushi bar and splashes of color against white walls. Soft, changing lights, brightly colored pillows, and red velvet stools add to the mod feel. Trendy dress. METRO: Dupont Circle or Woodley Park
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Seven Seas

1776 E Jefferson St, Federal Plaza (lower level), Rockville, MD 20852-4028 301-770-5020

Description: ROCKVILLE. The pseudo-Chinese decor is uneventful, but the seafood, prepared with an Asian influence, more than compensates. Positioned near the entrance, fish tanks hold potential entrees, so you get an immediate sense of the quality and freshness of the seafood. The kitchen offers several menus, including one for health-conscious diners ­ low in fat, salt and oil. Selections include Chinese dim sum, Japanese sushi, and even some Taiwanese dishes. Opt for the simmered black cod, steamed whole fish, lobster or Dungeness crab. Try some of the black bean sauce too; they're famous for it. Business casual to casual dress.
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Sushi Taro

1503 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20036 202-462-8999

Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. Nibble on some of the city's finest small-plate offerings at this stylish Japanese restaurant. The interior offers a variety of seating options: tables, straw mats, and a private banquet room. The sushi bar stands out with 30 types of fish and shellfish, including salmon and sweet shrimp. The menu also includes teriyaki and tempura dishes and noodle soups. Japanese beers round out the offerings. Smart casual dress. METRO: Dupont Cir
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Sushiko

2309 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007 202-333-4187

Description: GLOVER PARK. DC's first sushi bar, Sushiko lost its luster for a while, but now, the shine is back, along with original master chef Tetsuro Takanashi. The award-winning place serves quick lunch favorites and more elaborate dinners. Basics like sushi, shrimp tempura, and teriyaki chicken are always available. The specialty menu, however, changes daily, offering items like salmon tartare and sea trout Napoleon. If you're alone, the brushed-metal sushi bar makes a good dining option. Reservations recommended. Business casual dress. METRO: Foggy Bottom
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Tako Grill ­ Bethesda

7756 Wisconsin Ave, at Cheltenham Rd, Bethesda, MD 20814 301-652-7030

Description: BETHESDA. A magnificently fashionable dining room, done in vivid colors, makes an ideal backdrop for classic but distinctive dishes such as garlicky mussels and clams, sashimi, and sukiyaki. A house specialty is robatayaki, similar to tapas in that small portions of grilled dishes (whole sardines, potatoes, garlic cloves, octopus) can be ordered à la carte. Or slurp a filling bowl of soba noodles topped with your favorite meats or vegetables. One of the best bargains in town. Reservations recommended. Casual dress.
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Uni

2122 P St NW, Washington, DC 20037 202-833-8038

Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. Whether you visit this modern Japanese eatery for lunch, happy hour, or dinner, you're sure to walk away satisfied. Lunchbox specials cater to diners on the go, and at happy hour, certain sushi selections go for $1 each, and drinks are discounted. At dinner, you'll find an assortment of teriyaki, donburi, and tempura dishes, as well as sushi and a variety of small plate offerings (known as otsumami). Smart casual or trendy dress.
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Wasabi

908 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20006 202-822-0646

Description: DOWNTOWN. Select an assortment of small plates from a conveyor belt at this fun Japanese eatery.
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