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    Abunai

    3.8 (268 reviews)
    ModerateHawaiian, Poke, Salad
    Closed Closed
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Abunai Takeout or Delivery

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    ABUNAI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Classy
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - Abunai

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    Reviews With Photos

    Kalua Pig & Cabbage
    Sonya L.

    I've been ordering from this place via DoorDash often. But i had the pleasure of stopping in and picking up food in person. I got to the store a couple minutes before the store opened but they let me in and out of the cold! I got my order in and the food was prepped and packed quickly! Norman and Alejandra were so nice and helpful! I got half a pound of ahi poke and half a pound of salmon poke. This is one of the better poke places I've found in the dmv. The sauces I go for are the garlic aioli and the abunai sauces. It was fresh. I also got a kalua cabbage plate with Mac salad. The kalua pig was pretty good and a good portion that came on a bed of rice, I got plain white rice. They use purple cabbage, which was different from the kalua pig and cabbage I'm used to but it still tasted good. The Mac salad is usually a little softer but today the Mac was a little more al dente and less mayo/saucy.

    Spam Mac Sundae
    Zhen C.

    History of Present Indulgence: Not too many places serve real Hawaiian food like a plate lunch and poke without all the extras, so I was ecstatic to learn about Abunai. I go to PT nearby and have stopped by here for lunch a few times now. Physical Exam: Food - The poke bowls are fantastic, with fresh, well-seasoned tuna that stands out. I love their Abunai Poke. Their mac salad is delicious, though a bit on the sweeter side. A standout for me is the mac salad spam sundae--pan-fried spam on a bed of mac salad served in a plastic cup. It's simple and perfect. I still need to go back to try some of their plate lunches, but I love everything I've had so far. Service - Quick and efficient, perfect for a fast-casual spot. Ambiance - No-frills and straightforward, with a counter for ordering and nothing extra. It's all about the food here, and I love that. Assessment/Plan: Abunai is a gem for Hawaiian food lovers. If you're craving authentic poke bowls, a plate lunch, or a place that knows how to cook Spam properly, this is the spot. I'm just so glad Abunai exists here and I would highly recommend trying it out!

    Custom Large Bowl
    Bill Z.

    Classic poke. Lots of customizations possible. Free water. Good service. Ambiance was nice with large tables and window seating.

    Regular Poke/Salad Bowl
    Elizabeth M.

    Im pretty confident that they forgot my sauce so this was the most bland and dry poke bowl I ever had. The staff also made us wait several minutes when I came to pick up while my bag was sitting on the counter. Unfortunately I don't recommend.

    Furikake Mac Salad
    Krissy L.

    It's a quick service type of spot. Very casual but when I see the food was HITTIN'?! Best musubi i'be tried in the DMV and I assumed the mac salad was going to be a bit sweet but it was very savory. It was the perfect side to the spam katsu. I definitely recommend getting both on your visit here. My only thing is I wish they had a sweet sauce to drizzle on the musubi. That would've balanced out the savory taste but besides that, I'll be coming here again and again.

    Poke bowl
    Spencer Y.

    Overall, no major complaints for a standard poke establishment. Fish was pretty fresh and standard, but nothing to write home about. Only thing I wanted was bigger protein size since I paid extra for extra proteins but still got a pretty skimp amount of fish. Other than that, 3.5 stars for a decent poke place that I got from food delivery app.

    This was my meager portion.
    Margy C.

    I got a chance to try Abunai as a neighborhood drop off. I don't think I would ever have the opportunity to have tasted their poke bowls since they are in DC and quite a distance from me. I ordered the regular poke bowl with salmon and fresh greens. As much as I thought the entire bowl was good, I was quite disappointed in the meager portion. It was barely half a bowl. More of the fresh greens would have been fine since I'm not asking for more of the proteins that would have cost extra. Also, the salmon could have been cut better. It was one long string of small pieces of salmon. The husband ordered the regular poke bowl as well and got the brown rice with chicken. His portion was at least half the size of the bowl even though he selected almost every item that was not an extra charge. We both had to share one tiny sauce container of garlic aioli sauce. We both ordered garlic aioli with our bowls but got only one container. When you halve a small sauce container, that came out to be about a teaspoon of sauce. Definitely not enough. Would it have hurt to give us two sauce containers since we ordered two separate bowls? The garlic fries were great. Even though it was a food drop off from DC (close to an hour's drive away) and the fries were definitely cold by the time we got them home, they were still good. They were not soggy at all. I am glad the bowls are compostable and they followed my notes for not including any plastic utensils and napkins. As many restaurants are adding the option not to include utensils and napkins with their online orders, Abunai should consider this.

    Tako Poke
    Sonya H.

    A solid poke shop with all the classic fixings (plus, as a bonus, a smattering of traditional Hawaiian snacks and sides that you usually can't find at most mainland poke shops) and super cute decor. I've been slowly making my way through all of DC's poke restaurants, and Abunai immediately stood out with its adorable storefront -- I'm honestly in love with the little vines and fairy lights that line the shop's floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing you to peek inside and get a sense of the amazingness happening within while also giving Abunai a really cute, homey vibe. Once you're inside, the decor serves a similar purpose, allowing you to enjoy the sunshine (or the...car headlights, I guess?) streaming through the windows while maintaining some sense of privacy. The other decor is admittedly pretty utilitarian, but it's cute, functional, and fun. Beyond the aesthetics, Abunai serves up a lovely selection of poke bowls, allowing you to either select from their pre-made favorites (for which they also have daily specials if you're looking to save a few bucks) or build your own. I opted to make my own -- Abunai has most of the classic fixings, but also includes a few extra fun menu items if you're in the mood to switch things up a bit. For your base, you can get one of the classic options -- sushi rice, brown rice / quinoa, mixed greens / kale, or, if you're feeling adventurous, try out their wonton chips. They have most of the classic proteins but also include tako (octopus) and lobster, two amazing poke choices that I've struggled to find in DC. If you're not in the mood for something raw / for seafood, you can always opt for their tofu or chicken. Abunai is a touch stingy with its proteins compared to most other spots, so you'll most likely need to get two proteins (either double of the same one or try out two options) to build a satisfying meal. They also hold back a bit on the sauces (which I honestly appreciate), so if you're ordering a salad base, especially if you opt for kale, your bowl will likely feel a bit dry. If I'm taking it home, I'll usually just toss on a little bit of rice vinegar and/or coconut aminos and am pretty satisfied. As far as mix-ins and toppings go, Abunai has an abundance of classic and unique options available, and you can load up your bowl with as many as you'd like! Being the weirdo that I am, I had to try everything (except, of course, the peanuts and other items that would send me to the hospital). A few stand-out and unique choices included the ogo (Hawaiian seaweed, which added a wonderful level of umami to the proteins), lemon zest (which, despite not being that rare, added the perfect little zing to freshen up the meal above and beyond the lemon juice), and wasabi peas (personally, I won't be getting these again next time, but if you're a fan of the nasal-clearing shock of wasabi and want a little extra crunch, they're pretty fun). And for my friends with dietary restrictions, the staff is amazing -- they were super helpful in supporting me as I navigated dietary restrictions, especially with sauces, and were very knowledgeable. If you're ordering online or from a delivery app, they also have a section for allergy modifications at the top of the order that includes nut, gluten, soy, and dairy allergies. There's obviously some fear of cross-contamination if you're really sensitive, as everything is arranged on the same counter, but they definitely make a good effort to keep their customers safe and healthy. If you still want some lovely Hawaiian food but aren't in the mood for a whole poke bowl, you can always go for a hand roll, spam musubi, or one of their other traditional Hawaiian plates. I've rarely seen a poke spot that tries to feature other aspects of Hawaiian cuisine, from classic desserts like poi or kulolo, or fun takes on island favorites like the spam mac sundae. All in all, Abunai is a great spot for fresh, tasty poke, but also has plenty of options if you're feeling Hawaiian but want something a bit different. Top it off with amazing service from their super friendly owner and staff, plus adorable decor, and you've got yourself an outstanding dining experience.

    To-Go
    Ronisha S.

    I have tried Poki DC (which is delicious by the way), but I wanted to try Abunai today. The prices I would say are extremely reasonable. I placed a To-Go order for lunch. Speed of service alone gets 5/5 for me because not only were they friendly, but even during a semi-busy lunch rush my order was timely. Now I'm a huge fan of a good poke bowl and they did NOT disappoint! I got a Regular Poke Bowl with shrimp. They have your typical offerings, including signature bowls, but I will certainly be back to try their other menu items!

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    4 years ago

    Super fresh fish, excellent poke, and great prices esp for daily specials. And fast! I'll be coming back

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    Page 4 of 7

    Ask the Community - Abunai

    Gluten free options?

    Yes, there are various proteins, mix-ins, sauces, and toppings that are gluten-free to customize your own bowl!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Donburi - Sakedon

    Donburi

    4.1(226 reviews)
    0.1 miDowntown
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    Donburi is a favorite of mine - With its hearty portions and self-service kiosks, it is a great…read moreplace for a solo lunch or a quick meal with friends. All of the seating is on the second floor, complete with a water station, utensils, and place to leave your dishes afterwards. I ordered the Curry Katsudon, which is the panko-breaded pork sirloin over rice. The breading was crispy and the pork itself was nicely done. The best part of this dish is undeniably the curry sauce which is flavorful, thick, and coats both the rice and the meat nicely. And naturally, I had to wash it all down with a bottle of green tea. I'd recommend Donburi for anyone looking to have a flavorful, no frills meal in a casual setting. 5/5

    Food is good here and the prices are decent. However, a few months ago I ordered their Sakedon and…read morespecifically noted no ginger due to an allergy. My order arrived with the full regular load of ginger. I attempted to find the person responsible but was directed instead to one of the owners who called me personally and we spoke about the importance of attention to detail with these type of issues. The owner assured me that it is just as important to him and his staff and I left that conversation feeling good that my concerns were addressed properly. Fast forward a few months later, and I place the same order for Sakedon as before and noted no ginger due to allergies. Not only did I get the same full load of ginger in my order but my second order of Donburi Moriwase was missing, but instead an order of Chicken Katsu Curry was in its place. I guess this was an "in-ordered replacement...or retaliation for expecting a business to do their due diligence with safety issues concerning orders? Not sure about that, but they sure didn't hesitate to take my money. As I stated earlier, the food is good for a decent price but this type of BS is part of the reason why people get fed up with establishments. I plan on taking this issue to the Health Department, but at least wanted to throw some caution to others out there. Good luck and watch very closely what is being thrown into your food.

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    Upstairs dining area

    Umai Nori - Sashimi platter was a 10/10

    Umai Nori

    4.6(281 reviews)
    0.1 miDowntown

    I stopped by Umai Nori in DC for a late lunch. It wasn't too busy when I went, but I could…read moredefinitely see this place getting packed for dinner. The layout is interesting -- there's an upstairs when you walk in, but the sushi bar and a good bit of seating are downstairs. The menu is pretty straightforward with a mix of hand rolls, appetizers, specialty rolls, nigiri/sashimi, and traditional rolls. They also have a few solid combo deals, though I usually prefer trying a variety of items instead. Service was quick, which is always appreciated at a sushi spot. We ordered a few specialty rolls, two traditional rolls, and a couple orders of sashimi, all served together on one platter. The rolls were a great size -- filling without being overly large. The sashimi was fresh, and the traditional rolls really balanced out the meal nicely. The flounder and tuna sashimi were both excellent, and the California roll made with real crab was simple, fresh, and really satisfying. The total came out somewhere in the $70 range, so after tip and splitting it between two people, it was about $40 each to try multiple rolls and sashimi. Definitely fair pricing for the quality and amount of food. This spot had been on my list for a while, so I'm glad I finally made it over. I'd recommend checking out the menu beforehand so you can go in with a game plan and try the items that stand out most to you.

    Came here for one thing and one thing only - the hand rolls!…read more I've been to Kazu Nori and other places that serve hand rolls so I wanted to see the hype around this place. I ordered the 5 set hand roll with Hottie scallop, Kanpachi, Torch me slowly, Spicy salmon and Mango Tango. I loved the flavors of each one but the wrapping was tricky. Some of the rolls wouldn't come off because the wrapping had a lot of moisture so I ended up just eating it deconstructed. I prefer how Kazu Nori gives you each roll one at a time to prevent this. Overall great hand rolls but it's super messy so I'd give it a 3.8/5.

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    Abunai - hawaiian - Updated June 2026

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