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

OpenTable

Updated 05 May 2025

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

Gyu San Japanese BBQ

4.9

4.9 (98)

$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

BrianVIP

Dined today

Get service our waiter did an excellent job explaining the menu and the cultural differences of the menu.

Umai Nori

4.7

4.7 (19)

$30 and under

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

Sarah

Dined 3 days ago

Lunch special deals are great! We really enjoyed sharing the sushi and sashimi special, society roll combo, and one of the bentos for variety. There is no changing table if you are dining with babies/small children.

Modan

4.7

4.7 (38)

$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

Sean

Dined 6 days ago

Great food! Super fresh and interesting preparations…

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Experience

MODAN Omakase at The Chef's Counter

Chaplin

4.8

4.8 (1621)

$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

Robert

Dined 6 days ago

Came here for happy hour, the cocktails were fantastic quality for the price. Tony took good care of us, great service overall. Apps were also delicious, would love to come back to try the ramen.

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Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - Arlington, VA | Clarendon

4.8

4.8 (712)

$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

Dined on 2 May 2025

The waiter came by and asked how we were doing with the food and I said good how are you? It was so fun and yummy. 10/10

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Experience

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

O-Ku - DC

4.7

4.7 (1791)

$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

Russell

Dined 3 days ago

Our waiter was extremely helpful guiding us through the menu and beverages including dessert 👍

Nobu DC

4.7

4.7 (2375)

$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

Terry

Dined 1 day ago

Had a wonderful time our server, Victoria she was amazing.

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Popular dish

Spicy Tuna

Popular dish

Crispy rice with Avocado

Popular dish

Yellowtail & Jalapeno

Toryumon Japanese House

4.6

4.6 (169)

$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

AndrewVIP

Dined on 12 Apr 2025

Always a great place for ramen. Best ramen in DC without a doubt!

Wren

4.7

4.7 (683)

$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

Vivian

Dined on 3 May 2025

Chic venue, great service, and delicious food. Loved my first experience at Wren and definitely coming back.

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Toryumon Japanese House - Arlington

4.6

4.6 (57)

$30 and under

Japanese

Rosslyn

About the restaurant

Great sushi is an art and a science. It’s a blend of precision knife skills, an immaculate attention to the quality of rice and a discerning artistic eye. Besides sushi, there are typical Asian cuisine on the menu as well. Years of experimentation and development have created a menu as bold as it is traditional, balancing the best of the modern art of the Sushi craft and Asian cuisine with the best of classical technique. Toryumon offers the finest elements of Japanese hospitality in an elegant setting that stirs the senses. From the moment you enter the toryumon Japanese house arlington, you will be impressed by the architecture, hand selected woods and a magnificent wall of masterpiece
*Sushi , Ramen and Hibachi Entree are Top three Signature dishes on the menu. We offer Dine-in, Take-out, Catering and Private Party ( party room allow up to 28ppl)*

Top review

PhillipVIP

Dined 5 days ago

The All u can eat option was a great value. The menu had a lot of options. Everyone enjoyed the Sushi, Ramen and Hibachi. We will definitely be back!

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