Walked in and immediately LOVED the vibe. Very welcoming and just completely cool. Fantastic service from the wait staff -- especially Q. He was terrific. Wonderful recommendations. Non-alcoholic drinks were on point. Make sure you ask for Q to make yours. Oh and do get that cauliflower. -- Your welcome. read more

I had such a wonderful time visiting O-Ku. It's one of my favorite sushi spots in Washington DC. This time, a bartender named Adam stood out for being exceptionally attentive. He had a great knowledge of the menu and encouraged me to try new dishes, which turned out to be fantastic. The customer service was excellent, and I really enjoyed my experience. Keep up the good work, and I wish you all the best. read more

Beautiful sushi restaurant in Union Market, perfect for celebrations or a night night out. I came during happy hour for my anniversary and had such a memorable experience! Our server was attentive and helped us keep track of the time so we can put in any last minute orders for happy hour. The sugar and spice cocktail is one of my favorites in the DC area, it's perfect if you like a spicy margarita flavor. The snow king roll was my favorite (included in HH) but the surf and turf one was delicious as well. Definitely recommend the broccolini and rock shrimp to supplement your experience! I can't wait to come back. read more

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Upscale sushi spot great for any occasion. The restaurant has two floors with tons of seating (upstairs is bright and downstairs is very dark and moody). Overall great food, ambiance and service here. - Crispy Rice (5/5) - Firecracker Roll (5/5) - Rock Shrimp (3.5/5) - Scallop Temaki (5/5) Definitely prefer and recommend the sushi and options that are not marked for happy hour but still worth a try if you don't want to spend a ton. read more

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OKU was just okay for me. I really loved the decor and atmosphere, and my friends enjoyed their sushi. I understand that dishes come out as they're prepared, and I'm completely fine with that. However, I ordered the ramen, and everyone else had finished eating before my food even arrived. The wait felt much longer than it should have been. Eventually, my friends were tired of waiting, so we just asked for the check before I even got to enjoy my meal. I was also a little disappointed that the restaurant doesn't do anything for birthdays. We were celebrating my daughter's birthday, so it would have been nice if there had been some small acknowledgment. Overall, the atmosphere was nice, but the long wait for my food and the lack of a birthday experience left me underwhelmed. read more

I might give them another shot given the rave reviews, but tonight I'm disappointed. At this point, I haven't even seen my check so the price is not the issue, but the service and overall flavor for the price point definitely are. My Hotote crudo app which should be served cold was served cold on a super hot plate which means by the time I ate it, it was thus weird hot/semi-luke warm temp and honestly, not appetizing. I tried the Moriawase after and told my server I wanted to add caviar if it was possible and since I didn't get any, I assume it is only an option for the nigiri/sashimi. Silly but no problem. I was still sooooo hungry I ordered a Surf&turf roll and it was less than appetizing. It had no flavor which was terribly unfortunate. I didn't make a review about the sake mixup or my server only to be polite but there are definitely low points, and those make the list. I hope it's better for everyone else! read more

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I've been trying to get a reservation here for the longest, so I was really excited to finally go--especially after hearing so many great things. But honestly, the experience didn't quite live up to the hype. My sister enjoyed her drink, but the rock shrimp was a letdown. It tasted overly oily with barely any sauce. We were hungry, so we didn't send it back, but it definitely wasn't worth it. The sushi overall was just okay, which was surprising--I expected it to be amazing. That said, my last tuna roll (can't remember the exact name) was actually really good--about an 8.5/10. The service was decent. Q made sure we were taken care of, but he did seem a bit annoyed by some of our questions. We asked about the 4% wellness charge since we'd never seen that before (and I consider myself a foodie). Apparently, it goes toward health and medical benefits, which is different from the usual service charge. I will say, the space itself is beautiful with a very relaxed vibe. I also had no idea there was an upstairs, which was a nice surprise. read more

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Delicious sushi spot in Union Market area. We ate on the rooftop, which I highly recommend if the weather is right, although the inside decor looked super nice and chic as well. Loved the sushi and edamame with truffle. The crispy rice was to die for! Service could have been a bit better, we kept having to ask for water and get attention to order more. Excited to go back and try more! read more

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This place has such a wonderful atmosphere -- it's quickly become one of my favorite spots. The food is reliably great every time I visit, and since it's just a short walk from home, it's become my go-to. The customer service is top-notch. Everyone I've encountered has been fantastic, but Q deserves a special shoutout for consistently going above and beyond to make sure every guest feels well taken care of. read more

O-Ku - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We came here for Valentine's Day. Managed to snag a reservation for 5 PM, right when they open, at the sushi bar. The staff were all absolutely lovely. And we even got a cute little Valentines gift. I can't say enough nice things about our server - she was so great. Sitting at the sushi bar was neat as we got to see everything being made. We also got to try some complimentary bites. Great experience! The cocktails were crazy good. Everything we ordered was delicious. The salmon usuzukuri was so good we ordered it twice. The Kobe baller was another standout. The scallops were also fantastic. Such a yummy meal! Highly recommend! We will definitely be back. read more

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O-Ku is well worth a visit if you're in the mood for high-end sushi, upscale ambiance, and attentive staff. The dining area / sushi bar has low lighting, modern and quiet enough to hear your companion. making it a great spot for night out in the Union Market Area or anytime you want elevated sushi experiences. The food was melt in your mouth fish, had spice complexity , and the everything was absolutely delightful. With portions that are small...we ended up ordering quite a bit more than expected. It's definitely on the pricey side and you wont be disappointed. If you are into Japanese whisky pairing, this is the menu for you with upscale selections. The wait staff are "nerdily intelligent" about everything on the menu, which I appreciated and made my selections easier. Make reservations, follow the mapping since this place can easily be missed. Great for special-night-out sushi experiences than a casual fill-your-plate kind of place. read more

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O-Ku is one of the best sushi experiences I have ever had. The restaurant is beautiful. The sushi bar looks incredible. Everything the sushi chefs prepare looks and tastes phenomenal. Our server was able to answer all of our questions and recommend how we follow the menu which totally improved our dining experience. At this restaurant you can go at your own pace so you can sort of choose when you want the rolls or the small bites the sashimi or the appetizers to come out and it really helps you pace how much sushi you wanna have. I loved the atmosphere. I loved the sushi. The fish felt and tasted so fresh. I'm still raving about this place to my friends. This is going to be one of my new go to Staples every time I'm in DC. read more

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It doesn't look like too much from the outside, but inside the vibes are high! We sat at the bar which I recommend because it is so entertaining watching the sushi being prepared. The best sushi I probably have ever eaten specifically the snow king roll. 100% worth coming here. I still think about this spot even after I moved away from the DC area. read more

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I will never not rave about this place. The food, the service, the vibes, ALL SO GOOD!!!!! Everything is sooooo yummy and so fresh and the service is always so so pleasant. Bummer that there's no HH on fridays but the price is always worth it -- I've never left feeling hungry, & drinks are great. However the mt Fuji was slightly more crabby than I would've liked but that's a personal preference. Always always will recommend! read more

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The ambiance was beautiful, amazing photos. The Food even better, full of flavor with every bite and the presentation is beautiful. The experience was unreal thanks to Lark, she was such an amazing server. If you want to be assured of an AMAZING dinner ask for her, Lark. Thankyou so much Lark read more

O-Ku - The food was Amazing and even with our server Lark, SHE WAS AWESOME made the birthday experience unforgettable. Thank-you Lark - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

O-Ku! Wow! My favorite human and I had tried to come before but it was closed, it opens at 5 p.m. everyday of the week. Noted! On Wednesday we made the decision to hop over to Union Market to try it again. Staff were super nice, attentive, and service was superb! Ambiance is sleek, sexy, and a vibe! We met close friends for a couples happy hour date night and it did not disappoint! The Happy Hour menu is limited but it does the job! Overall, we loved it! Rooftop is NICE! I've ventured all through this area and somehow missed O-Ku all these years. Glad I found it thanks to him! Returning VERY SOON! Let's Get Into It! Rock Shrimp - Delicious! Snow King Roll- Yummy! Spicy Salmon Roll- Good! MT Fuji Roll - MY favorite! Short Rob - Delicious! Peso for your thoughts for the WIN! Shogun- Great! read more

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We had a great experience at O-ku! We were seated in the back room at the sushi counter, which was a lot of fun! We tried some of the appetizers, nigiri, and rolls. I really loved the steak skewers they were so tender and flavorful. The sushi rolls were very fresh. They had a lot of options to choose from. We got extra lucky because the waiter offered us some extra rolls that the kitchen was trying to get rid of, and they were really good! So we ended up eating more than we planned. The restaurant has an upscale, trendy vibe. Definitely make a reservation! We had tried to come in twice as a party of two without a reservation and could not get in. read more

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Overall: A- Came in for 18 year old's birthday, as first timers. Hostess was good, although we had asked for a quieter seat, and we ended up near the bar and the front door. Still, not a terrible place... the styling was nice, and the bar scene is well stocked & lively. Be sure to check out the paintings in the front near the bar! Very chic! Service was great the entire night, and we got to meet the owner- who checked in with us and had a really lovely chat with us. Foodwise- The appetizers, the brocollini & dumplings were a really nice starter & presented nicely. The selection of sushi is outstanding, and quite tasty. The firecracker roll, the spicy salmon & the mount Fuji were all fresh & well plated. Spouse had the teriyaki chicken skewers, which were quite tasty. And the drinks (Sapporo draft, a Merlot & a zero proof drink) were all welcomed & enjoyed. Will definitely come back again, but I highly recommend reservations through Open Table. Because they are always buzy. read more

My friend and I made a reservation the day before for 5:45 PM on a Tuesday. We arrived at 5:40 PM and weren't seated until 5:45 PM. We ordered all 5 happy hour rolls: Spicy Tuna, Spicy Salmon, Harvest Roll, Snow King, Tuna Tataki My favorite was the Snow King roll (I love anything with seared salmon) and my friend's favorite was the Tuna Tataki roll. Our least favorite was the Harvest Roll which has goat cheese - I think the goat cheese was a bit overpowering but I was glad to have tried it nonetheless (this was the only roll we didn't finish but we only left 3 pieces behind). My friend and I were busy yapping for the majority of the evening so I wasn't paying the most attention to the food, but I did feel like the rice felt more dry than I'm used to (though that may have been because we took our time eating and it dried over time). We were gifted some crispy rice (I believe it was tuna but not 100% sure) that was my favorite bite of the evening. Love that they ask you what you'd like to add to your water like lemon, lime, and cucumber. Ambiance is indeed great for a date night with the dim (but not too dim!) lighting and luxurious but not obnoxious vibe. I'm curious to check out the rooftop sometime. read more

O-Ku - crispy rice (off menu, gifted by a chef as we sat at the sushi counter) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Had a marvelous and tasty time at O-ku. When you come in you forget what time of day it is. It's dimly lit which makes for a nice evening mood. We had a wonderful waiter who made good suggestions. My friend and I split: harvest roll (yummm), steak skewers, rock shrimp (yummy!), dumplings and cauliflower!! They come out as they are ready! Will come back to try more! read more

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A cute spot for a slightly fancier dinner or date night, but it probably wouldn't be my first choice. I visited O-Ku for a Sunday dinner with a group of four, and we absolutely loved the ambiance and service. Our server was incredibly friendly, giving us great recommendations and helping us choose the right number of dishes for our group to share and, and the restaurant was gorgeous. They had great ambient lighting and the tables were cozy but not overly close together, creating a really nice romantic, intimate environment. The food was solid, but not amazing, especially for the price. My partner and I split three sushi rolls -- the firecracker roll, yellowtail roll, and tuna roll -- and they were all good. The fish was fresh and I enjoyed both the classic and specialty / unique flavor combinations, but I wasn't wowed by any of the rolls. I found they were assembled a bit sloppily and had too much rice for the amount of fish, which is passable in a more affordable sushi restaurant but a tough sell when each roll is $25+. We also split the kabocha mochi cake for dessert, which had a great springy texture and wasn't overly sweet. read more

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Just tried O-Ku sushi and it was LINDERLOOM! I came here based on social media recs and it totally delivered! Celebrated my wife's birthday and she absolutely raved about the experience . HUGE shoutout to our server Quincy (aka Q) - super welcoming, polite, and on point! 10/10 would recommend and will def be back! Love the decor and the ambiance is very chilled #OKuSushi #SushiGoals #BirthdayVibes read more

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Great food! The sashimi was really fresh and delicious, especially the hamachi and otoro. The restaurant is beautiful and has a great ambiance. We were seated at a spacious booth and they had a rose as decoration for valentines. Our server was extremely attentive and friendly. He took good care of us throughout the night. Portion sizes are a bit small but I guess that's expected read more

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Came here for dinner and was very impressed by the food, drinks, and service. Inside is nice, clean, but not too over-the-top. I liked there we less expensive options as well as some splurge menu items....and we did. Everything was good but standouts were the wagyu sando, emperor roll, and a drink....think it was passion fruit and some spice but cant remember that one. Staff brought out so many extras to show thanks for buying some of the high-end menu items. Highly reccomend and will be back. read more

O-Ku - Emperor Roll - fire! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I really like O-ku. When you step inside, you almost forget where you are. The vibe inside is warm and dimly lit, but there's also rooftop seating as well with more natural lighting as well string lighting when it gets darker out. If you're looking for good sushi and drinks in a convenient area, this is it. My friend and I went on a random weekday. The host was friendly and our server was friendly as well. We grabbed cocktails and the following rolls: spicy salmon, surf & turf, o-ku spider and firecracker. To add, we also got cucumber salad and rock shrimp. Everything came out so delicious and photo-worthy. And don't be fooled, you can absolutely get full here! This spot is a staple. I highly recommend. read more

O-Ku - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Went here on a solo date before they closed on a Tuesday night and everything was delicious. The tempura roll had salmon and avocado and the crunch was perfect. I really came for the yellowtail and was not disappointed. Can't wait to go back during HH. Though even the drinks are moderately priced without it. read more

O-Ku - Firecracker roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Excellent is an understatement. We made a reservation and put that it was our daughter's 21st birthday under the spot 'are you celebrating anything'. When we showed up there were "happy birthday"s from everyone and gift at our table! That extra step in service made the night so special. As far as the ambiance and food...top notch all the way. Everything was delicious and surprisingly not high priced. For the location, plus the flavor and variety, I honestly was surprised the prices were so reasonable. O-Ku definitely will be a revisit and was a night to remember. Thank you for the great memories. read more

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The food was pretty good! I would return to try some other menu items. The drinks were on the stronger side. Servers are knowledgeable on the menu items and make good recommendations. Overall nice date night experience. read more

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Would prob only go back if other people wanted to go. I got the salmon app, ramen, and then tuna and yellowtail rolls Salmon app was fine - wasabi was overwhelming but I'm also not the biggest fan of it Ramen - VERY average, and the ramen noodles were clumped together... Sushi - flavors were good, but too much rice to filling ratio and the presentation was super sloppy. For the price I'd expect better Ambiance was nice - good for formal dinner or something special. read more

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How things have changed since my original review! This place is fantastic! We had an incredible server (Kaleb), who truly made the whole experience so special and excellent. His knowledge of the menu and his attention to detail were outstanding. I love the outdoor patio and the food was incredible, fresh and well prepared. Our favorites were: * Yellowtail Serrano Carpaccio * Rock Shrimp (on par with Nobu's) * Yakitori Chicken * Saikyo Salmon * Old Yeller *Tuna Tataki read more

The sushi was super fresh Zak the server was absolutely amazing. He was an encyclopedia of sushi knowledge. They made excellent recommendations. The vibe was fantastic and honestly, this was one of the best sushi places we have been to. Five stars would definitely return. read more

O-Ku - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Bomb sushi. Love the firecracker and the ribs. Sooo bomb. Service is unmatched. Ambiance is such a vibe. Very aesthetically pleasing. read more

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I've loved Oku for a long time, but I do miss some of their older menu items. Tonight I got the midnight lemonade (2), really liked that zero proof option. I usually get A Peso for Your Thoughts but trying to reduce my alcohol intake. As far as food, I got the spicy salmon and yuzu fuego. I love love loved both of these, probably yuzu fuego a little more just because it's different. I also got the tuna tataki. I liked it but not as much as I remembered lol There is a nice seated buttery flavor to it. I got the rock shrimp, but couldn't finish it because they were a bit greasy at the bottom of the bowl. I would get everything again except for that. Edit to add: I had started this review and realized I had an unfinished one with pics from a while ago so I'll also keep those pics in this review. read more

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We came here for a birthday and sat inside--great ambiance overall, but the restaurant was freezing, so I wish we had chosen the rooftop instead. We got a peek at it, and it looked like a perfect spot, especially for happy hour. The sushi was pretty good, and the service was solid. We also tried a few cocktails, which were just okay. I've had sushi around DC, but this place stands out as a great date night option--especially if you're planning to enjoy the rooftop next time. read more

O-Ku - tuna roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Good sushi. Unfortunately can't remember what I got now that too much time has passed, but the sushi were tasty. Nothing mind-blowing to warrant 5 stars though. read more

We still love O-Ku and come for happy hour at least every other week lol. Sushi is fresh and I've been loving their kimchi edamame lately. We typically go around 5/6 pm on a weekday and whether our group is 2 people or 10 people it does not take them a long time to accommodate. If they make an error on something they quickly fix it. I also didn't mention before but we came in on my moms birthday a couple of months ago and our sever not only brought over a comp dessert for her but the whole team also wrote her a card !!!! It was so thoughtful and sweet. I feel like customer service like this doesn't come often especially in a big city. 10/10 every single time here at O-Ku thank you!!! read more

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Great food, good service and nice ambiance. We ordered miso soup, which was good. We also ordered sushi topped with crabmeat, it was very good as well. Finally, we ordered the eggplant skewers and chicken skewers. The eggplant had a nice smoky flavor and almost tasted more like grilled sausage. As a whole, we enjoyed the meal. Our orders were taken in a timely manner and the food was served in a decent amount of time. The ambiance was good. Parking was convenient with free street parking and garage parking. read more

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O-ku is amazing! The ambience is dark and magical with the Christmas lights strung around the bar. We came in about an hour before they closed. We were able to sit in the bar area at a hi top table. Our waiter was friendly and efficient. He immediately took our orders. We ordered the miso soup, hanger steak and the sticky ribs for our appetizers. The hanger steak was the standout out of the two. It was so tender and had great flavor. We went with the fire cracker roll and the spicy tuna roll. Both were tasty but I really enjoyed the spicy tuna roll. O-Ku is the perfect choice for a date night or a meal with friends. We cannot wait to try other options on the menu. read more

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The food was fine, if not horribly overpriced. The service was atrocious. We were seated at the sushi counter; the space hadn't been cleaned and had crumbs all over. The host wiped down the table but didn't use any kind of cleaning solution, so who knows if the table top was actually clean. Our server was friendly but had no knowledge of some menu items. (Using nonbinary pronouns to avoid outing the server, because the hilariously bad service reflects bad training and management, not bad manners on the server's part.) We asked whether the 12-piece chef's choice nigiri comes out in pairs or singles. "The chef does whatever he wants." That's helpful. Nigiri presentation was sloppy. Nigiri with sauces were placed right next to nigiri without, so you had sauces spilling all over the place and ruining the taste of the fish. The robata dishes are fantastic. Spare ribs were 10/10. It's tacky, though, that they don't swap out your plates once you've gone through your appetizers and robata, so you're just kind of staring at spare rib bones the rest of the night. We asked for a dessert menu; our server dug out a crumpled copy from their pockets and plopped it in front of us. In the meantime, they started clearing off our plates -- and stacked one completely full soy sauce ramekin on top of another. Then they plopped the chopstick holders into the soy sauce. And then, they proceeded to wipe down the seats next to us -- this time, using cleaning solution. Which they sprayed in the direction of my friend (some of it got on her). And toward a glass of sake. Too bad the cleaning solution didn't take out any of the fruit flies hovering nearby. We had the banana cream cake. It was actually quite good. Asked for the check, handed my card. Server accidentally used my card to pay for some other table -- so I had a surprise $150 that I wasn't really expecting to pay. They insist they took off the charge. We'll see. This place is more vibes than service, I guess. It's a shame, because the food is actually half decent. If you want something resembling a real sushi experience, go elsewhere. If you want a comedy of errors with your meal, consider O-Ku for an OK meal. read more

O-Ku - The fallen-over ice cream on the banana cream cake says about all you need to know about this experience. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Let's talk about O-Ku. The sushi? Phenomenal. Like, melt-in-your-mouth, order-another-round, forget-what-you-were-talking-about phenomenal. I've tried several rolls and not one of them disappointed. Flavorful, fresh, well-balanced. You can tell the chefs are not playing games back there. Appetizer MVP: Miso Soup. This might be my favorite miso soup of all time. Comforting, flavorful, and honestly... I'd drink it from a mug if they let me. It's the perfect way to start your meal and makes you feel like something good is about to happen. Because it is. Drinks: Smooth & Stylish. Their cocktails are solid. Not mind-blowing, but definitely enjoyable. They pair well with the sushi and the vibe...light, refreshing, and crafted with care. Ambiance: Giving Sophisticated Zen. O-Ku is deceptively spacious. From the outside, you'd never guess how much room it has. There's a sleek downstairs area where you can sit at the sushi bar and watch the magic happen. Then you've got a chic indoor upstairs space and a rooftop that is perfect for date night, girls' night, or solo "I deserve this" vibes. The vibe? Calm, stylish, and just elevated enough to feel special without being stuffy. Customer Service: 5-Star Energy. Staff is warm, attentive, and genuinely helpful. I've never felt rushed, and everyone's always been friendly without being fake. You feel taken care of from the moment you walk in. Why I'm Giving It 4 Stars Instead of 5: Portion Control, Please. Now listen. I leave here happy every time. But also... still kinda hungry. This menu is fire, but it's definitely missing something heavier to round it out. I wish they had options like fried rice, wings (I mean it is DC), or even a heartier hot dish. Something to help balance out the lightness of the sushi so I'm not looking for a snack an hour later. Final Verdict: If you love sushi, ambience, and a good vibe, O-Ku delivers every single time. Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Would I come back? Already have. Would I bring a granola bar in my purse just in case? ...Maybe. read more

O-Ku - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia