Japanese restaurants in Washington, DC
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A
Sushi Taro
The argument over best sushi in town comes down to this place and Makoto. In some ways, the issue boils down to aesthetics and service – both kitchens seem to (rightly) obsess over serving the finest, freshest fish possible arranged with beautiful sides and garnishes, presented with that attention to detail where the Japanese exist in a league of their own. A quivering bit of fatty tuna comes with a side of wasabi freshly grated from one long stem of Japanese horseradish into slivers of nose-tingling happiness. The tastes have almost mathematical layers of complexity, yet this intricacy is arrived at from the seemingly simple combination of a few fresh ingredients. The lo…
reviewed
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Makoto
When we want sushi in the city we often opt for Makoto, simply by dint of it being so classically… Japanese. We probably need to clarify that comment. See, we don’t just mean the staff are Japanese or there’s flute and funny-one-string-guitar music playing in the back (although they are, and there is). It’s that special Japanese attention to detail. The napkins look like origami. The wasabi is fresh grated. You leave your shoes at the door. The geisha – ok, waitresses, but they’re so attentive you’d be forgiven for mixing up the terms – might as well wipe your mouth and hold your hand in the toilet. And the food, needless to say, is excellent. There’s no mucking a…
reviewed
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Kotobuki
Kotobuki is one of the better spots for sushi in the city, both by dint of its excellent sushi and sashimi platters (at around $12 for a lunch and $18 for a dinner platter, a good deal), its tucked-away location, which adds a feeling of random discovery, and its oh-so-Japanese interior, all stripped-down aesthetic overlaid by running cursive kanji script on the walls. It’s upstairs above a more expensive sushi joint.
reviewed
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B
Kaz Sushi Bistro
Fusing East and West, chef Kaz Okochi presents his own invention, ‘free-style Japanese cuisine.’ The sushi on its own is fresh and flavorful and good enough. Many clever combinations, however, add a certain je ne sais quoi to the traditional tastes .
reviewed
