Re-habbed Pizza Hut turned sushi spot. We recently added Ariake to our family's favorite rotating list of restaurants due to their large menu that includes both Japanese dinner classics and delicious sushi/sashimi options. The staff here is super kind and well adept at working with kids/large groups. My husband LOVES (literally dreams) about the chicken katsu curry, I love any and all of the sushi options, and my children are fans of the teriyaki salmon. Pro-tip, you can order a lunch portion of salmon for dinner that is just plain rice and salmon and it is the perfect amount for two omega-3 loving kids. Simple and delicious, this spot is truly a neighborhood winner. read more

Heard great things about this sushi spot, so finally made a visit. The sushi was fresh and very good! A large selection of different fishes and daily specials. The apps and ramen were good, but nothing out of this world. Our server was also great as well, walking us through the best things to get. Apps: Takoyaki and Tempura Entrees: Assorted Sushi/Sashimi and Tonkotsu Ramen read more

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5/5 for freshness and price! I used to frequent the Reston location when I lived there and have had a chance to try the Fairfax one twice now. I love how fresh the sushi is and the spicy tuna is not overpowered by the mayo. It is basically a sushi roll with a dab of spicy mayo. The prices for the simple rolls are so fair too compared to other mediocre place. read more

Ariake - Fairfax - Spicy tuna spicy salmon and shrimp tempura - Japanese Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Overall: 5/5 Food: 5/5 - I came here with a friend and we got the toro power roll, ariake roll, florida roll, and the toro nigiri as well as the salmon belly nigiri and they were all delicious! The toro nigiri was listed as market price and we later found out that the one costed $8 but agreed that the toro nigiri tasted the best. The toro power roll and florida roll were also very delicious! The fish tastes very fresh, creamy and the slices are nicely cut ! I would definitely come back even with the higher pricepoint. The ariake was standard taste and would probably not get again. Value - 4/5 - Although some of the rolls were a bit more highly priced, we both thought that the taste of the rolls justified the price. Service - 5/5 - Kind server even though the restaurant was busy and packed. We were seated at the bar and the sushi chefs were nice and it was neat seeing them make the rolls. The wait time was a bit long to get our rolls/order and to get a table but that is expected because we came on a friday night and the taste was worth the wait ! I would definitely come back and recommend ! I think the specialty rolls here are what makes this place stand out and I am excited to come back and try new items. read more

Ariake - Fairfax - ariake roll (bottom left), toro nigiri, fatty salmon nigiri, toro power roll (top right), florida roll - Japanese Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

It's a good sushi spot for great price and good portion sizes. I think the times that we go tends to be busier so food sometimes takes a while to come out but the food is exactly what you expect. I enjoy their salmon! read more

I will admit I was skeptical when I drove by this location. I mean it is in an old Pizza Hut and visualizing it as a sushi spot was hard. It took realizing there was another in Reston and visiting it with a co-worker on her recommendation that resulted in hubby and I giving it a try. Needless to say I wish we had tried it earlier. We arrived in the later hours but it was still packed and resulted in us taking sushi bar seats for which I am thankful. Seeing the chefs in action was an added bonus and one we recommend. We got some staple items & tried some that were new or different from past experiences. We will definitely be back and next time I will try to remember to take pictures before we dive in. read more

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After hearing that good reviews of Ariake's sushi quality, decided to make a trip to Fairfax for dinner. Arrived around 6PM on a Saturday night and it was PACKED. I believe the front house said that the wait was around 45 minutes but then luckily a space for 2 at the bar opened up so we were seated within 10. We started off with ordering a toro power roll to share and decided on 2 orders of the 12 piece chef's choice nigiri. As we were waiting for our food, we were given a side salad and some miso soup. Pretty standard tasting and felt good to snack on while waiting. Momentarily, we received the toro power roll and it definitely lived up to the hype. The tuna melted upon first bite and the quality was so fresh. I loved how the inside of the roll was negi tuna style while added to the melt in your mouth. We inhaled the roll in no time and frankly it lived rent free in our heads for the rest of the night. Took about 20 minutes from when we ordered before the nigiri came out but for some reason only one came out. Took some time to flag a server down because the place was packed but once we did, we found out a second order was never placed. Slight inconvenience since we wanted to eat the platter simultaneously but we just shared the single platter in the meantime before the other one came out. For $33.50, I thought the 12 piece was pretty value. There was a good variety of fish and seafood options on the plate. My favorites were the unagi (melted!!), the fish that I honestly couldn't decipher (5th from top row). Tuna and salmon were good but I've had better and wasn't too big of a fan of the chewier pieces (shrimp, squid). Given the toro power roll was still in our thoughts, we put another order in to end the night. This time around, it actually tasted different and didn't melt in our mouth as previously experienced. Took a closer look and I noticed the tuna on the instead was whole so the texture of the roll completely changed and was more chewier than before. It was still good but not as enjoyable as we first had it so not sure which is the correct version of the dish? We left stuffed and content with our meal. Would recommend for anyone wanting good quality sushi at reasonable prices. Still conflicted over the toro power roll and its true composition. Perhaps I'll get to the bottom of it next time around. read more

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Ariake is the best sushi restaurant I've ever been to! I've been here over 20 times in the last few years and every time the sushi is fresh and super high quality while at a reasonable price. I've been to plenty of fancy sushi places in DC but Ariake beats them all in terms of quality and price. I've taken basically everyone I know here and everyone leaves loving it. Highly recommend the fatty salmon, fatty tuna, and fatty yellowtail nigiri, they give thick cuts of fish and the fatty tuna literally melts in your mouth. For rolls, the toro power roll and deluxe ariake roll are my favorites and both are so delicious. Service is always fantastic, and the manager is super friendly. They can get busy, especially on weekends, but the sushi chefs are preparing everything fresh to order. Even on weekdays they can get pretty busy which speaks to the quality of food here. read more

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I absolutely loved this restaurant. The manager stopped by our table, and was super friendly. The sushi was fresh. They had the best sea bass I have ever had in my life! You definitely want to experience this restaurant. read more

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Ariake Fairfax is a must-try for sushi lovers. Their fish / sushi never has the "fishy" taste, just super clean and simple ingredients. My family loves the bento boxes as they are hearty and a good price, and my sister, friends, bf and I always enjoy the rolls and appetizers. There's always something for everyone here, including those who have restrictive diets. I usually try something new each time, as there's constantly rolls and dishes that I want to try. But I will always recommend their nigiri options, as they are affordable and tasty. My boyfriend really liked his french kiss roll and I really enjoyed my crispy tiger roll. My sister loved her dynamite roll and my friend enjoyed his tuna roll (he also got a large tonkatsu plate too). We all shared the volcano roll and some karaage options (chicken and squid). We only wished that the lemon was sliced into small wedges instead of a regular slice, but we were able to just glide the pieces onto the lemon for light flavoring. The staff are super friendly and nice, and there's a lot of seating inside. Super cozy! The parking can get tricky, but there's still a good amount of parking. I recommended this place to my friend and she always goes back here when she visits! Check it out sometime if you haven't already! read more

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We came to Ariake off of a friends suggestion that they had great food. We came on a weekday night and the parking was packed. We were served a miso soup and a salad that's typical of Japanese restaurants. I got the tekadon bowl. Our group's food came almost at once and the food was fresh and delicious. Since it was my birthday, they also were nice to give us a scoop of ice cream with a candle on top. The price is a bit steep and parking can be challenging. However I do recommend trying out this place. read more

Ariake - Fairfax - Japanese Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Always great food and service. Our go to place for sushi. We have been going here for several years now.

I only know this place as old pizza hut. Never been before today but i heard about the 86 year old man who crashed into the window last year. They only had one menu per table so it was hard to order. They need more or bigger bathrooms. The old Indian male customer was very rude and aggressive while impatiently waiting for me to be done. I would not come here again. read more

Sooooo...I was recently discussing Ariake with some friends and while we all agree that Ariake is a quality sushi / Japanese cuisine spot, they disagree on the overall rating. Their opinion was on the 3 star scale, while I deem it worthy of an overall 4 star rating. And surprisingly, one of their points of contention (if you will) is that Ariake is not an "authentic" Japanese restaurant. "You know, James...this place is Korean owned, so how good can it be?" Hmmm...that is an odd reason to "ding" a place since my rebuke to them was, "Well, while that may be true, do you think that the majority of cooking occurring at XYZ (famous well regarded French Restaurant in DC) is being done by 'French cooks' in the kitchen???" I can 100% guarantee, it is not. And for that matter, in many of the Chinese, Vietnamese, Italian, etc. kitchens, the food preparation/cooking is being done with chefs not native to those cuisines. So in the end, we had to agree to disagree. Ariake occupies a building that was formerly a Pizza Hut - as evidenced by the telltale hallmarks of slanted multi-level "hat like" roof on the exterior and high ceilinged cavernous interior dining room. But other than these architectural hold-overs, the interior space is very modern with faux marble table tops, a mix of wooden seating, tile and hardwood flooring, and abundant pendant and recessed lighting choices. My party of four ordered several dishes so as to obtain a wide sampling of flavors. I won't really comment on the miso soup and house salad with ginger dressing, except to say they were forgettable. But the two sushi rolls the table ordered were quite good. Fresh tasting LARGE pieces of salmon and tuna were lightly seasoned with a spicy marinade, and wrapped in not too soggy sushi rice. Unlike at many sushi restaurants, the fish was not chopped up into a mushy paste (which places sometimes do to mask the flavor of fish that is not fresh), which really allows the quality of fish to be evident to the diner. As for the mains, of late, I've been ordering ramen at sushi joints; and I was especially intrigued since the special of the night was a Truffle Tonkatsu flavor. The broth was hearty, rich, and had a discernable but not overpowering truffle flavor which enhances, as opposed to overpowered the dish. The pieces of char siu pork were tender and again unlike at many places, a good cut and portion size. The noodles were nice and chewy, and the pieces of seasoned nori provided briney flavor notes. The only detraction was the Ajitsuke Tamago or Ajitama. It was waaay too overcooked, since for ramen, this style of egg should be soft-boiled to the point where it's runny when you break it open. But I can live with it. I tried some of the other dishes, and I thought they were solid. Both the chicken teriyaki and the beef in the bento dinner box, had excellent grilled flavor. The teriyaki sauce was a tad sweeter than I usually like, but my friend and his wife seemed to enjoy the dish. If I hadn't gotten the ramen, I would've definitely ordered the bento dinner box. It had such a nice assortment of dishes, from a California roll, meatballs, grilled beef, and crisply fried shrimp tempura. Honestly, for $29 I think the dinner bento is a good value relative to the portion size and quality. I've been back to Ariake a few times since my initial visit, and can see this being 2-3/month dining spot. I've found the service to be attentive and most importantly, does not detract from the overall experience. Regardless of who's preparing the food, Ariake is a four star place to me! read more

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As always they never disappoint. Fresh seafood, prompt and polite wait staff. Not crowded tonight n never seems too loud to have a normal conversation. read more

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So busy busy! And for good reason, this place is solid. The price is fair for the quality offered. Some places charge $17-18 a roll and the sushi is just mid. This place charges $15 for premium rolls and around $10 for regular rolls; that pricing is amazing in this economy! I forget the name of my favorite roll but it's a maki roll with seared salmon and crunchy bits on top. So so good!!!! read more

Sushi and sashimi and Japanese kitchen food is always consistently done well. Closest to a high quality local sushi bar in Japan where the Koreans and Japanese like to frequent! read more

Ariake - Fairfax - Hamachi box - Japanese Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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We stopped by Ariake before our flight, since it's not too far from Dulles airport. The restaurant was spacious with plenty of parkings, nice service but casual and unpretentious. We ordered the lunch menu sushi; I had one of the set combos. All of my sushis were fresh and the toro tuna was buttery high grade. One of the friends got the hamachi collar and it looked big and tasty. The lunch menu was a good deal and quality sushi & food. Overall this is a very solid local spot for sushi. read more

Seriously some of the BEST sushi that I've had period. Everything is so incredibly fresh and they have some amazing rolls that are a part of their specials. It can get fairly busy and packed but the wait isn't horrible and trust me when I say it is so worth it. I love ordering their salmon belly sashimi because it comes in such thick slices and is perfectly fatty to just melt on your tongue. You really can't go wrong with any of the rolls either especially their Toro power roll and Florida roll. Everything is so fresh and delicious! read more

Ariake - Fairfax - Japanese Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

After reading the reviews, I was really excited to try this place. It was very easy to locate. The restrooms were clean and the wait wasn't very long at all. As first time visitors, we did notice some obvious regulars get seated before us and in a very good location, then we were placed at a busy location in the front. Not cool, but oh well. The miso soup was amazing, but everything else was just okay. For the price and after reading the reviews, I guess my expectations were high. Decent but don't get the hype. read more

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I guess I went the wrong path and got to try different dishes EXCEPT for the sushi here!! I owe Ariake another visit. It was a Tuesday evening - and wow, it was packed! We didn't have issue getting seated however, but there were limited tables available. We saw a lot of different tables of date nights, families with young children, families with older relatives, so it's a place for everyone! Looking at the menu, I was surprised by the prices and how they were more $ than I expected. Everyone gets a small serving of salad and miso soup (no tofu) except if you're getting a soup entree. Both were fine, average. My party and I started with the tempura chicken, which was alright. The chicken meat was a bit tough, chewy. For dinner I ordered the Nabeyaki Udon. It met expectations of the menu listing; it included chicken pieces, egg, spinach, mushroom, and had 1 shrimp tempure and 1 veggie tempura on the side. However, the chicken pieces seemed a bit out of place. There was nothing special about them, and seemed to be just dumped in the soup. The broth itself was good, but the shitake mushrooms made the broth taste strongly of shitake. I don't mind that since I enjoy shitake mushrooms, but it's something to note. There were also two pieces of fake-crab-meat. It wasn't a wonderfully-executed soup ensemble, and felt more like a random bunch of things in a soup, although the soup broth is rather tasty itself. Our table also ordered the Miso Ton Katsu. Similarly, the order was no surprise given the ingredients in the menu, but there are a TON of fried onions on top of the pork cutlet! To sum it up, I think reading more of the reviews, I will try sushi at this location next time and hope that blows me away more. read more

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We were in the area and saw this place for lunch on a Sunday. Really nice atmosphere inside and very clean. Servers were all very pleasant and friendly. I got sushi while my husband got a bento box, both delicious and very affordable. Would love to visit again sometime. read more

Ariake - Fairfax - Bento box and the shrimp tempura roll and the salmon avocado roll. - Japanese Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

This review just focuses on the omakase that they offer! You can choose either "nigiri only" or "sashimi only" for $80. They still list "nigiri & sashimi" on their menu, but they sadly don't offer that anymore. The omakase isn't like the traditional "sit at the sushi counter and receive them piece-by-piece" though. But nevertheless, this experience was amazing that we ended up coming back a second time within a month! The meal started out with some miso soup and salad as usual. Sashimi Omakase: There were two pieces of sashimi for most of the pieces and they were sliced with a thick-cut. Nigiri omakase: Classic presentation with three rows of nigiri all perfectly angled and lined up haha. As much as I love sashimi, I also love practicing proper sushi etiquette and eating sushi with my hands. At the end, we got a toro hand roll (not pictured) as the finishing touch to a delicious meal. Would highly recommend trying the omakase! I thought it was reasonably priced for the quality, quantity, and variety. We also ordered additional chef's specials rolls - spicy scallop roll and tuna power roll! Still equally as enjoyable! read more

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Ariake came highly recommended by a foodie group I am a member of and I'm always looking for great sushi spots, so I thought I'd give them a try. My husband and I arrived not long after they opened for dinner and I'm glad we did because they had a line not long after. Clearly a popular choice for a Saturday night. We were seated promptly and our server was ready to take our orders as soon as we were ready to give them, but she was not pushy and put in our drink and appetizer orders while we finished deciding on our main course. We tried some cold saki off their menu just dedicated to that drink which is steadily gaining popularity. I'm no saki conessur, but it was good and paired well with our steamed shrimp dumplings. I ordered sashimi and a tuna power roll and my husband ordered a bento box. It was more food than we anticipated, but all of it was good and we took the leftovers home for later. The fish was fresh and I definitely received a nice variety of sashimi. Servers were attentive throughout our meal and even though their dining room is fairly large and every table was full, the atmosphere was not loud. We would definitely come back. Thanks for a great experience. read more

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I was debating between 4 stars and 3 stars, but ultimately decided to give them 3. I ordered the salmon teriyaki, and the dish as a whole was very okay. I thought the salmon itself was pretty good. It was moist, and I liked the teriyaki sauce. I did not like the vegetables that came with it though. They felt under seasoned and like an afterthought. I also felt like it was expensive for what you got. I tried a bite of the chicken teriyaki as well, and it was just okay. I would say that both the teriyakis were somewhere between 3 and 4 stars, maybe closer to 3 stars. The service was average, maybe below average, like 3 stars. Nothing special or noteworthy about it. I would probably come back here, but would opt to try something else. read more

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Love, love, love the food at Ariake in Fairfax. This is my go to Friday night date spot with my wife (I will say that weekday lunches have been less stellar... not sure if it's because of delivery schedules or what). The service could be improved. While professional, the servers aren't overly friendly and it always seems like they're panicking. Friday nights are packed every week - you'd think they'd learn to manage the stress a bit better. But regardless, the ambiance is nice - feels like a community gathering spot, and the food is great so we'll keep coming back! read more

Came here on a Saturday night after my sister's graduation with a party of 12 around 8:30p. Ariake accommodated us quickly and the service was pretty good! It's hard to serve a large party and our waitress was amazing. We ordered wayyyyy too much food, but honestly everything was really good and fresh. I highly recommend the spicy scallop roll- my favorite roll of the night. The Nigri combo is fresh- the rice ratio was appropriately small so you have more flavor of the fish. The table also ordered their tonkatsu ramen- it was a little saltier than we care for, but my niece loved it. I would return. read more

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I was surprised how busy this restaurant was for a middle of the week. I love that restaurants are still doing well. I would order cooked items here. The sushi isn't bad, but the texture is firmer than I prefer and has a stronger fishy flavor I associate more with budget sushi. I can't remember if the spicy crab roll mentions the topping is imitation crab or not, but it's definitely not lump crab meat. I think the pricing is fair for the quality however so I would still recommend coming here. My wife enjoyed everything, but also agreed that the fatty salmon was pretty firm to chew. Service was good but a little all over the place. I had dropped some salad and picked it up and wiped the floor with my napkin. We asked for another napkin and it never came. The second time we asked it was fine. It's not a problem at all, but can show you the difference of experienced staff who can handle a busy shift and newer staff perhaps getting a bit behind. A similar situation happened when we asked for a to-go box. We were handled one mediumish box that clearly wasn't big enough. We got a "....." reaction when we asked for a second. They said okay and the second take out box never arrived until we asked another person. We had a good time overall. I know Ariake is a beloved spot in the foodie community and I can see why. read more

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Walked-in for a Friday night dinner around 8:30 pm. No reservation was needed for a table of two. We were seated promptly and greeted by our waitress. Service was ok. Throughout our dining experience, we were helped by three waitresses. I honestly wasn't sure who our main waitress was. In regards to the food, the sushi was great! It's the best I have had in a while. Can't wait to go back and try different rolls. For dessert, we ordered friend ice cream. The dessert was not as good as I expected, I wouldn't order it again. Overall, this was a great casual dining experience/spot. read more

Ariake - Fairfax - Sushi board - Japanese Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

I'm still thinking about the sweet and fresh flavor of the hamachi. That sashimi and the albacore were impeccable. California roll, salmon and avocado roll, and yellowtail roll were all truly excellent. The tuna roll is very good and very fresh, but my husband is more of a fan of ahi than I am. Having said that, it was also his least favorite. It was up against some tough competition! Service was on the slower side so they brought us complementary bowls of soup, I assume because of the longer wait for sushi. Place is definitely loud and family, friendly, so they could do with installing some noise dampening wall or ceiling hangings. The prices were also very reasonable, and we will definitely return! Arigato! read more

Ariake is by far our favorite sushi restaurant in the Fairfax area. The sushi is always quality and beautifully prepared. The staff is warm and professional, keeping us coming back here after year. read more

The sushi here is SO dreamy, fresh, and delicious - I can't stop thinking about it. Especially the toro, king salmon, toro power roll, and Hawaiian roll. Service is also absolutely top-tier. Felt right at home joking around with Jin and Shio. 100000% recommend this restaurant. read more

My friends and I came here for a friend's birthday, and the vibes were pretty nice except that it's really loud in here. It's really hard to have a conversation because it's hard to hear each other. We ordered a lot of food and shared some of it. The portion size was really good, so none of us even finished our food. I honestly couldn't identify some of the food in the bento and they were okay in taste, but the sushi and fish and whatnot were food. Service was good, and the food came with rice, salad, and soup. read more

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The food was excellent as usual. The server (Jeen) was spot on as well. The soft shell crab appetizer is a god size and batter was excellent. Thin and crispy batter was perfect for the crab and shrimp tempura. The softshell crab and shrimp tempura roll was a perfect starter. The grilled yellow tail jaw was also excellent! read more

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Ariake's fish quality is truly unmatched! I've ordered to-go over a dozen times & it's amazing everytime. The fish is insanely fresh. I usually go for lunch & get the sushi lunch or the deluxe variation. The French kiss roll is so good. The caramelized onions add such a delicious sweetness to the roll. I've been dying to try the toro power roll but seems to be sold out often. They were able to substitute with a salmon power roll (not on the menu) which I appreciated & it was delicious. I've also tried their bento boxes, which I feel for the price, should have a bit more to it. This place is a bit more expensive than other sushi spots but well worth it for the astounding quality. A must visit if you're a sushi lover! read more

This restaurant is amazing! Everything we had was very fresh. We came here for a late dinner with a party of 12 and the restaurant was able to seat us quickly. The service was excellent and our server did a great job. She was attentive and always checked in. Our table ordered a bit of everything. The sushi rolls and nigiri hands down were my favorites. The fish was really fresh and delicious. The chirashi bowl was also really good. The rice was seasoned well with nice cuts of sashimi. The shrimp tempura was tasty as well. It was crispy and had a nice crunch. Overall, I was happy with the food and everything tasted great. The fish was really fresh and of good quality. I am definitely coming back to try the omakase. read more

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Do you ever go for sushi on a Wednesday? We were nicely surprised that the sushi tasted pretty fresh on an early weekday. Somehow it tasted better than last time we visited. Had a Sushi & Sashimi combo, anded an Eel & Cucumber Roll and 2 pieces of Toro Nigiri. We were not stuffed but satisfied. Glad this place is in our hood and we can come here whenever. read more

Ariake - Fairfax - Sushi & Sashimi Combo (2 pieces of seared tuna on the bottom right) - Japanese Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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The scallop sashimi is INCREDIBLE. It's almost buttery. I also got the shrimp tempura roll and the salmon avocado roll which were great. Very high quality fish and a big bar if there are no available tables. Good service as well! read more

TL;DR: One of my favorite sushi restaurants for the fresh, high quality sushi at reasonable prices! *Ambiance: Large restaurant with a modern/contemporary interior. Lots of seating, and such a large sushi bar compared to other sushi restaurants I've visited! Dark and moody lighting. Definitely the perfect location for date night :) *Food: The sushi is so fresh! I suggest trying some of their specialty rolls! Some of my favorites are the Toro Power Roll and the Crunchy Tiger Roll! Other than sushi, they also have so many other menu items that you can try that are off the fryer or grill, such as tempura or rice bowls! *Service: Service is great! Their sushi chefs are AWESOME, and our server during every visit has always been great to us! read more

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Solid sushi, got a few different rolls like the spicy shrimp tempura roll, dragon roll, crunchy tiger roll, and California roll. I think out of them all, my fav was the spicy shrimp tempura roll. Just a classic you can't beat. The California roll was also pretty good. The more expensive rolls were fine, but I enjoyed the simpler ones more. The cha-shu with crispy rice was really good. Really small size though so you'll still be hungry. Our waitress was nice and checked up on us, which is great. The inside is pretty big and can easily fit 50-100 people. Really liked the vibe. Glad I checked them out. read more

Ariake - Fairfax - Japanese Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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