Fresh sushi with NY style. If I hear about a sushi restaurant near me I must sample the menu. Raku is the best sushi in Montgomery County, no questions asked. The fish tastes very fresh and they carry an unbelievable bottle of sake called Meibo. Can anyone tell me where to buy a bottle of that? They also have some funky rolls on the menu that have some fantastic tastes. The decor is very hip with Asian appeal. There are not many tables so make reservations. There is a tiny bar with 5 stools to wait at but they fill up quick. During the summer they have many tables outside in a real hot spot in Bethesda. Price is higher than your typical sushi joint but worth every penny. Not only can you have a great dinner but after dinner you can walk across the street to the Landmark theater or stroll into Borders next door. Always a good experience every meal. read more

Restaurant Week Review from Summer 2007 (4.5 stars) My boyfriend and I came here on a whim because we were so hungry and could not wait for our 9pm reservations at another place. I am glad about our choice because we had the perfect summer dinner. I liked that Raku let you choose between having a traditional 3 course meal or 2 starters and an entree. Being so hungry, we chose the latter option (and then had Haagen Daz down the street). -1st Courses: Heirloom Tomato Salad was sweet, salty, and simple; perfect on a summer evening. My boyfriend got the 5 spiced beef which was also great and seasoned well. -2nd Courses: Ban Ban Chicken, and Grilled Chicken & Napa. Both salads were good, but nothing spectacular. -Entrees: Wok Charred Chilean Sea Bass was also great for a hot night because it was light and tasty. I just wished that the fish had a little more flavor. My boyfriend got the Thai Curry Bouillabaisse, which was huge! He loved every bite of it and was soaking up all the curry with pieces of bread because the sauce was so good. I could see how it could get loud and crowded in the restaurant, so we waited it out for patio seat. It was perfect outside on a summer night with trees adorned with lights and a perfect people-watching spot. read more

I thought that this place was great! It was a cold day today, and in the aftermath of the Snowstorm of 2010 the girlfriend and I needed a good place to eat. After passing by this place for many, many years I decided to give it a shot. The first thing we noticed was that it was really packed. I mean, yeah a lot of schools and local (and the federal) governments were closed, but for 1:40PM on a Monday there was a lot of business. Generally a good sign. After about a minute or two we were promptly seated. The menu is pretty extensive, but its main focus is a variety of sushi. My girlfriend and I each ordered a dish of crispy sushi. This is basically sushi with what appeared to be basically tempura in it. She got the eel, I got the spicy salmon. Both rolls were great, although I was more partial to the salmon. There was just enough of the crispy stuff in there to give it some crunch without overpowering the flavors of the salmon, which was delicious. But oh no! It turns out that big guys like myself can't be satisfied with just six pieces of sushi! So I decided to split an order of soup with my girlfriend. This was the Tokyo broth soup, with chicken and udon noodles. What's great is that they serve the soup in two bowls; it's definitely something you want to split with another person. The noodles were thick and tasty, but they could have given you more (I'm a noodle fiend). The chicken was great quality, and the vegetables were also nice complements to the meat. And the broth was just fantastic; I was slurping it up long after my stomach was saying "NO MORE, NO MORE." And all of this meal ran only $23 bucks or so. It's now nearly five hours since we ate, and I'm not hungry at all (which is very rare for me). Congratulations Raku, you've just found yourself two very loyal customers. read more

On a Monday night, the place was packed, so definitely popular, and they seem to be trying, but the place is so cramped that if you are sitting near an aisle, you're going to have someones a** in your face if they are trying to get by a waiter or another patron. If the food was worth it, I'd be happy to accept it as part of the "atmosphere" but the food seemed rushed, not a lot of flavor and even the salmon sashimi was meh, didn't taste bad, but just kind of there. No kids menu, but they were able to bring a grilled chicken breast for our 3 year old and the waiter was very good engaging with him. May try it again, but it seems pricey for the quality, they charged for milk refills for our son which I've never had happen. read more

I absolutely love sushi but my experience at Raku was underwhelming. We ordered one of their sushi platters as well as an actual entree. For the same price, I could have gotten much higher quality food elsewhere. Additionally, the seating in Raku is incredibly cramped. The tables are replaced within maybe 1.5 feet away from each other, just enough for someone to squeeze through. I could easily hear the conversation from the table next to us and took away from the overall experience. read more

I ordered to go over the phone, she said 30 mins. Surprised me a bit since I just ordered some nigiri and a beef udon. I hungry so I wasn't going to cancel. I went there to pick it up and she forgot my beef udon... had to wait another 10 mins to get my udon. So service wasn't great. Food: I ordered the nigiri assortment - very fresh and great quality, not sure it was worth the hassle though, the forgotten beef udon was very tasty and probably the best dish, the beef pieces were cooked perfectly, nice crispy outside and tender inside. read more

I parked right in front of the restaurant to catch a film screening thought about walking over to Penang but Raku looked rather appealing from the outside, it was packed with people at 6:00 PM. I decided to check it out. The restaurant is medium sized but it has this long sushi bar which was interesting, I asked to sit at the bar for a better view of the restuarant. The menu had all kinds of asian food I am always confused when a restaurant has all the different asian food put together. Overall I think the food is priced towards higher end with noodle soup going at $10.50 and entree over $20. I ordered the red curry egg noodles with chicken. The bartender was very attentive and my food was served quickly. The dish was delicious with a nice touch - chicken was grilled and sliced. It was a pleasant experience. read more

Due to the flies, it lost a star. Seriously, I so will never eat in to this place again (I will however, do take out). I stopped by here on my way home cause I was staving and sat at the bar. The place is tiny and really packed. The bar is near the open door hence the 2 flies I saw... put I also saw 2 of those tiny flying things as well. I ordered the Pumpkin Ginger Soup, "What a match!" Roll, Pomegranate Shochu, & Bonsai Tree roll. The shochu was interesting, not what I expected but ok none the less. The pumpkin soup was hot but once it cooled down was good. The ginger wasn't actually part of the soup but part of the garnish so boo on them for the miss-name. The Bonasi Tree roll was wow...not was I was expecting and better than I could have believed. Picture a typical sushi roll with the seaweed on the outside. Now place a thin slice of cucumber between the rice and the seaweed. Then replace the rice with real crab meat with Avocado & Masago in the middle. The chili ponzu sauce that the slices sit in just completes the picture. My mouth is watering just remembering it. The sauce is a little bit sweet and is paired so well with the rolls. There are also roe (fish eggs) but they asked if I wanted it with/or without and I said without. 5 stars What a Match! Roll it too was a match made in heaven. Mackerel, apple, ginger and scallion; need I say more?! It was yummy & I wanted more when it was gone. 5 stars I will definitely be calling in for take-out here this summer. read more

I finally got to Raku-- people have been telling me to eat here since August. The wait is always too freakin' long and I can never get a reservation...but last night, I had others wait for an hour while I popped in at the last second- gotta love that! I actually don't see what all the hype is about in terms of the sushi. The couple I was with said the soup is excellent but I was already sweating (it was HOT and crowded in there) so I decided to pass on that. I ordered a Maryland California Roll (cali roll with real crab meat), some edamame and a salmon avocado roll. The salmon/avo roll was TINY and the salmon was hard. Sushi-grade salmon is supposed to be buttery-melt-in-your-mouth goodness and I could barely eat this. The Maryland California roll was decent but could have used some spice on the meat. The two rolls, edamame and a glass of wine was about $30. I'd be willing to try this place again for the other dishes people rave about (tofu lunch box, Chilean sea bass) but never again for the sushi. Matuba is right around the corner and their sushi is WAY better and cheaper. This makes me want to go back and give Matuba another star b/c I was docking them for all their other weirdness rather than the food. Anyway, if you want good, quick, no-wait sushi in Bethesda, I'd pick Matuba over Raku. Even though it doesn't have the ambiance and trendy-factor, the fish is better and that's why you go to eat sushi- right? read more

HIGHLY-westernized Japanese food at a solid value, especially for Bethesda! Had lunch here on a Saturday afternoon with some friends. I ordered a glass of wine (yes, that's how we roll, no pun intended) and an unagi (eel) bento box. My friends also got bento boxes, one veggie and one got salmon. All of them came with miso soup, green salad, some variety of sushi roll, rice, tempura, and the main course. Mine was delicious and at $12 or so, a real bargain! FYI, Their warm mushroom salad, though it completely tastes Italian rather than Japanese (witness the Parmesan shavings) was surprisingly delicious - truly a must try. The service was fine and the place is nice enough for a quick meal, though it's a bit on the cozy side from what I could tell (we were seated near the bathroom unfortunately). All in all, a solid choice if you happen to find yourself hungry in Bethesda. read more

If you are a single named restaurant RAKU and throw in some foo-foo protein and have reasonable prices and quick servers you will be successful......Sushi Damo in Rockville has to get its learn on. :) The bento box deal at Raku for $10-15 is the prob. the best in the area.... I got the Korean-style BBQ chicken box with all of the trimmings.....the California rolls could have been wrapped a little tighter but all in all a very good deal with 6-7 items to enjoy and a delicious peach ice tea to quest the thirst. On the patio in DC a little more relaxing than being squashed inside at the Bethesda location. read more

Raku Sushi in Bethesda has high quality sushi and many low-cost options! I love good sushi. But then again, I can say, "I love good (insert any type of food here)." Ms. Classy and I visited Raku in Bethesda a week before and since it was a date, we didn't break out the cameras and take notes (that really kills the date mood - as Ms. Classy informed me on a couple of occasions). However, she was out of town this weekend, so I decided to return with my notepad and camera dusted off (it HAS been a while since I've posted, hasn't it?) and ready to sit down and do some serious eating. The day was warm and I was quite hungry, so I started with a Sapporo beer. My empty stomach combined with my low alcohol tolerance gave me a nice buzzy feeling while waiting for the waiter to return for my full order. To start a sushi dinner, I like the seaweed salad or edamame. At most places, these are fairly small portions that are not meant to be shared. At Raku, the seaweed salad seems high at $7.50, but there's plenty to go around. It was a large dish, which sufficed as an appetizer for two. The edamame was nice and tender. I prefer it with a little salt, which is how it is served at some places, but not here. Oh well, nothing stopped me from adding it myself. I chose one of my favorite beers for out-door warm-weather dining, a cool and light Sopparo. I think it's one of the best drinks for a warm, sunny day. For the main course, there are two rolls worth highlighting at Raku: the Crunchy Spicy Tuna ($6) and the Wasabi Dynamite Roll ($8). The touch of cilantro in the Crunch Spicy Tuna roll, aside from the satisfying crunchy texture and the spicy zip, makes this roll a must have. The Wasabi Dynamite Roll comes with a combination of three fish (tuna, salmon, and yellowtail) with wasabi-flavored roe. It's not as spicy as the name suggests, but I really enjoyed the flavor and texture of the roe along with the cool, savory fish. For a third roll, if you like your rolls smooth, simple, and creamy, try any of the Ava-Q rolls using whichever fish you prefer. One thing I really like about sushi (besides the yumminess) is the control you have over your final bill as opposed to most other cuisines. Oh sure, you can break the bank with multiple specialty rolls, but if you choose carefully, you can have a nice meal without having to recalculate your budget. You can get a smorgasbord of simple rolls or go with one specialty roll with a simple roll on the side. Ms. Classy and I usually do the latter. If you need to watch your wallet, this is not the everyday place to hit, but it's a nice place to bring a date. You'll enjoy the quality of food and the penny-pincher inside all of us will enjoy the wide variety of rolls $6 and under. -Someone of the male gender who does not like to spend a whole lot of money on things read more

This is my favorite restaurant in Bethesda! I used to work right down the street from Raku and would frequent the place! Thinking about their food makes my water water! The Good ~Food is amazing! Gazpacho in the summer, pumpkin-ginger soup in the fall....AMAZING Udon in curry....really great sushi. I can go on and on, the veggie bento box, the garden rolls....yyyuuummmy The ginger sorbet is one of my all time favorites!! What could be better ~Can get crowded between 5:30pm and 7:30pm and place is small ~It's a pricey, but sooo worth the taste! If I give it 5 stars read more

Tasty appetizers, pretty good sushi (I was especially impressed by the Korean tuna roll, which has kimchee and spicy sauce in it), and very friendly and speedy service. So why only three stars? Well, for one thing, all my sushi was decent until I ordered toro. It was the worst toro I'd ever had. What kind of a sushi place doesn't know good toro from bad toro? Second, I'm just not crazy about any of their entrees. They aren't bad, but aren't particularly good either. Just... eh. There are too many other sushi places around (Tako Grill, for one thing) that consistently deliver. I'll still go back, especially since Raku has outdoor seating and it's quite pleasant in nice weather. But it's not a favorite. read more

This has been my study break stop for quite some time now. Since I typically want something predictable and filling during these fly-by meals, I've narrowed myself down to a pretty standard order: "Thai noodle soup with egg noodles and a crunchy spicy tuna roll (or soft shell crab roll) please! Thank you!" If you're like me and don't want to brave the ridiculous lines to eat on site, they do a pretty good carry-out. By the time I call in my order and make the 5 minute drive/park/walk to the restaurant - my order is waiting for me. If you're determined to have a sit-down meal, the wait line moves quicker than most restaurants in Bethesda - if that counts for anything. read more

If you want a little taste of Asian fusion cooking with the feeling of being in NYC...skip the Vamoose and make a reservation to Raku...You won't be disappointed! Any place that reminds me of being in the west village of NYC gets an extra star and Raku pulls that off...tight quarters, great decor, bustling, high energy, people waiting (jammed in the entrance--make a reservation), cold air rushing through every time the door opens, a busy bar, and perfectly executed cooking...some may like that, others may hate it. You either get it or you don't. Some of you may tell me to put down the bottle...but how the names of Chefs Homma & Ballogdajan aren't mentioned with the likes of Matsuhisa, Morimoto and Vongerichten is beyond me...Raku is pumping out 1st Class Asian Fusion cooking! It's all about flavor...and the combinations and vibrancy in the flavors at Raku shine through. The Pumpkin Ginger soup was sweet with just enough savory...The sea bass was cooked to perfection in an amazing tomato, ginger, miso sauce that you never wanted to finish. The tuna tataki pizza was crispy thin crust, shaved tuna, cheese and a chili sauce that worked like you wouldn't believe. Sushi was on point, wine and service was good enough...you get the idea... I've eaten here many times over the years, but dinner a few weeks ago (for the first time in a long while), really reminded me of why I love this place. read more

Came here last week for a birthday dinner. I thought it was OK. The food was good, service was OK. I felt kind of rushed though. I don't feel the need to come back. Not sure what all the hype is about. I'd rather go to Spring Garden on 16th street. read more

This place had the BEST edamame I've ever had! I asked our server what made them different, he said they're not regular edamame, they're chamame edamame. They have so much flavor, without tasting salty, and they don't even need soy sauce! I can't believe I'd never tried these before. I'm now on a hunt for all restaurants that serve this! The sashimi bento box I had was pretty good, and they were nice about accommodating my request for only salmon and tuna (no whitefish). The salmon was great but the tuna was just ok, mostly because it was too tough to chew. I liked all of the stuff that came in the bento, there were a bunch of things! Most of them were pretty interesting, too, not just the typical bento box selections. Not sure if the bentos are just on the lunch menu, but I was a little bummed they didn't have any less expensive lunch specials. The quality was pretty high, though, so it makes sense. I like the ambiance of this place, very classy, but the tables are basically right on top of each other (I live in NYC and deal with this everywhere, but in the 'burbs I guess I expect a bit more space!). Our server was nice but didn't make himself available unless he was needed. Waters were always refilled, plates were taken when they needed to be, overall the service was fine. I would come back here just for the edamame! read more

This place is very hit or miss for me. Some days the rolls are bangin' and other days they're very mediocre. It's very centrally located, which makes it a convenient place. But it does not rank in my top three sushi spots of bethesda. The only useful thing I can remember is that the large seaweed salad has a lot of mixed greens in it. So if you're expecting a lot of seaweed - that's not this dish. read more

Right after my first visit, I wanted to come back already. After eating here twice, I made up my mind about it. Both times I arrived shortly after nine on a weekday and both times it seemed pretty lively. Someone recommended the coconut red curry with noodles which was good enough for me to order during my second visit as well. My friend asked for rice instead of noodles for the curry which they do. Sushi: we ordered spicy tuna deluxe and red dragon sushi, both were ok-good - a good Asian-fusion sushi fix but probably not the best quality. Sake, on the other hand, was a perfect touch to the rest of the spicy (not too spicy) meal. I'm not sure how the restaurant compares to others in it's surrounding area but in my opinion, a solid 4. The food is decent and environment is nice, there's outside seating when it's nice out, but after coming twice, I don't think I would frequent often or go out of my way to come. Street parking can be a little difficult also. read more

We have been to Raku several times and always find the food to be interesting and very tasty! Recently I went for lunch and had a soup-- a creative take on gazpacho-- that was so good, I'm remembering it now and am compelled to write this review! The service has also been consistently good. read more

Excellent all the way around! I go here for sushi when im at my place in Bethesda, Sushi is as fresh as can be and if you sit at the bar they will make you "special" rolls :) I like my spicy tuna roll special topped with cobia. you would be a fool to overlook their full menu as well, I had roasted branzino (whole fish)the other night and it was awesome and i think an excellent value. As for the long lines, they are there for a reason (the food is good) As far a service goes, look this place is like eating in Manhattan. Its a busy place that has an excellent quality of food and the dishes are very nice to look at. Dont come here thinking you will be pampered because you wont, but they will serve you with a smile. You are paying 2 star prices for 5 star food so get over your self and come eat good sushi at a cheep price. and yes it is cheep for what you get. Banzai!! read more

EXCELLENT food. Almost impossible to get a table w/out a reservation. Not to be confused w/the Raku in Dupont Circle area. They are not related and the Bethesda restaurant is the tops. Love the healthy tofu salad. read more

Went with a group of eight to Raku on a Friday evening. The restaurant was very busy, and even though we had reservations, we had to wait a bit. If you go with a group, don't go with more than six people. The restaurant is small, and we had a table added on to our booth to accommodate, leaving little room for staff and customers to walk by. Definitely make reservations for the weekend, preferably in advance. Raku offers a variety of sushi, which I am not a fan of, but everyone in my group seemed to really enjoy their meals. Raku has non-sushi offerings as well. I enjoyed my crispy chicken appetizer and the duck entree, both were prepared well and plentiful. I would go again, but not with such a large group. read more

I've been coming here for years and I never once have ate something I did not enjoy. It is often very busy but if you call ahead you can get a table. My favorites are the green apple and salmon sashimi, ginger pumpkin soup, salmon harusu roll, and the black cod. I love love love love this place! read more

They also have a gluten-free menu and gluten-free soy sauce if you ask! Service can be a bit slow if it's busy, but the food is well worth the wait. Love it! read more

Okay, sure, the sushi is good. People like it. Great. But...if you haven't had the warm asparagus and mushroom "salad", you've not lived. Warning. This item is highly addictive. Get that perfect bite. A little mozarrella (yes, really) a piece of tortilla chip, asparagus piece, and some mushroom. Plenty of that amazing sauce. Love at first bite. read more

SETTING: Third visit. Mid-day. SERVICE: Quick & Friendly DECOR: Can I get some of the large paper Lantern fixtures to go? They would look great hanging above my patio. ENTREE: 6 Avocado Sushi Rolls to go for lunch. Under $5 with tip. Yum. VERDICT: You will see me again. read more

Yum, yum . . . . I love Raku. This place has great sushi and good service. The Golden Dragon Roll is a friend of mine, but they do a great job with all the classics. Excellent ingredients and great location. The only reason it is lacking for stars is the size. The setup of this restaurant is awkward at best. Enjoy, just get there early or you won't have a seat. read more

Raku racks up the points with me... My wife and I wondered down there on a Sunday, and had the esteemed pleasure of dining outside. As a Floridian I will start by saying I'm VERY particular on the Sushi that I dine on. I've been to tons of joints in Maryland where people swore up and down that they had "the best", only to be sadly disappointed. Raku blew me away. I had their Seoul Train, Dragon Roll, and the Chesapeake roll. All were very original, incorporated a good number of veggies (not just the typical radish and cucumber), and had flavors that just jumped out from start to finish. Not to mention, what every other reviewer has said, the fish, well IT"S SO FRESH. Fresher than Downy drier sheets, and definitely fresher than that not so fresh feeling. :) My advice, if you don't like sushi, go there, and you'll become a convert. I plan to dine there as often as my wallet will support it. (and before my wife starts complaining) Highs: Sick F'in Sushi Lows: Prices a tad high, but jeez people fresh f'in fish c'mon :) Enjoy with a loved one! read more

I went here after salsa dancing last night. First, I was a little taken back by the prices-but remember to do it Family Style and you will be alright. We order two side plates, an entree and it came to be fairly reasonable for the 3 of us. I found the servers to be helpful and the outdoor seating nice. We also had the amusement of watching our 3rd friend from NM try sushi, calamari and chopsticks for the first time. I recommend the chicken dish and noodles, as that came out to be a delicious plate....chicken was tender and had a great taste. Overall, a good place for Japanese food and from what I heard, go here instead of the one in DC. read more

Raku is excellent, and I eat here every time I am in the area. They are consistent in their food and great service. They're also fast. If you ever sit at the sushi bar, you can see why they are fast. They are super organized and clean back there in the kitchen and know exactly what they're doing. The quality of the sushi is excellent, but the cooked food is outstanding too and very unique. There's often a fusion of Asian and Western flavors and ingredients. I love trying new things on the menu, and it's always a safe bet that I'm going to have great food at Raku. I've heard of some people not liking how loud it can get there, but I actually really like how lively it is. There's a great energy, and you can tell that people love eating at Raku! read more

I have visited Raku many times before this last visit. Usually, I partake in their very good, creative sushi (dragon roll is a favorite!). But this time both my boyfriend and I were under the weather and were excited to try their noodle soup to soothe our sore throats. We were not disappointed. We split the $12 udon deluxe Tokyo dashi broth soup. Deluxe means it contains an assortment of protein (beef, chicken and shrimp tempura) in addition to the slightly chewy, slippery udon noodles and various veggies. You can also order it with just beef, just chicken or just shrimp tempura. IT WAS DELICIOUS! The broth was not too oily, the veggies still retained a slight crunch and the meat/seafood was flavorful and a very good quality not often seen in soups. The menu was slightly updated from my too-long-ago last visit with new appetizer options (we tried the ocean roll which was very good and came with a moderately spicy dipping sauce) and new sushi rolls (my brother raved about his Flying Dragon Roll!) and everything we tried was still as delicious as on my previous visits. Besides Jaleo, Raku is definitely the most worthy of repeated visits restaurant on that busy Bethesda street. read more

I love this place. You get a taste of different Asian dishes. I especially love the Seafood Coconut Curry Soup with whole wheat udon noodles! It has a lot of flavor, it's spicy, and has lots of seafood - shrimp, calamari, and mussels! Try their sushi menu as well. Their assortments are excellent! Nice area, too. It's located in Bethesda Row so it can get crowded especially on Friday evenings, but you can usually get a seat either at the bar, or if you time it correctly. Get there around 5pm or a little after 8pm to avoid long waits. P.S. :) I just tasted one of their desserts for the first time last Friday and it was so delicious! I never thought I would ever order Poached Pear with Caramel sauce, but I'm glad I did!!! read more

Great place for rolls and different fusion-type asian cuisine. Would not recommend for those who want traditional type sushi and sashimi... I loved the crunchy spicy tuna roll and Seoul train roll. I love spicy rolls, so they really hit the spot. The sushi was ok. I've had better ones, but I loved their creativity and uniqueness. The noodle entree we tried wasn't that great. It was tempura with chicken...The soup was too salty, and didn't have much flavor to it other than soy. There were so many other interesting items on the menu I wanted to try...will definitely go back and try others! read more

This spot has ample outdoor dining options--we arrived for a weekday lunch and were seated immediately. My wife and I each tried a bento box; the portions were really sizable for the price, and all of the components were tasty and hot. Will definitely stop by again! read more

The line out the door doesn't lie: this is one of the best Japanese restaurants in the area (although, to be truthful, the competition is not that stiff). Raku is a sure bet for a date or taking out colleagues--the menu is extensive enough that it suits all tastes, and it's hard to find a poorly prepared dish on the menu. Going late night for a small bite or heading there at dinnertime for a multi-course (and multi-hour) dinner, this place has it covered. Outside sitting area is very cramped, far beyond "cozy" or "intimate," and a just a few inches away from Bethesda drivers trying to park their oversized SUVs. Suggest getting a table inside, even though it tends to be loud. Small quips aside, Raku is among the best places in Bethesda. Will def return. read more

The first thing I felt when I was ushered to my table was how crowded some of the seating is. If you are looking to come here to have some sort of semi-private dinner conversation with your friend, this isn't the place! But aside from that, the food was a-okay... a bit on the pricier side of things. I ordered from the special menu, the 6 piece nigiri sushi combo and a miso soup. The fish was alright.. miso soup was also standard. Their dessert menu is also delicious. The staff was really friendly; our waitress took the time explain everything on the menu to us. Close to metro, plenty of street and garage parking nearby. read more

I don't understand why this place gets such high ratings. The service was mediocre and the food well it didn't feel like anything over 1.5 maybe 2 (Referring to the Lunch menu) -The teriyaki chicken is dry and over-sweet. -The soup seemed watered down. -California rolls are just average. -The soba was nothing spectacular. To me the place was a little bit pricy but it might just be because I could cook this at home better. I wouldn't go here again. read more

Raku is a great place to eat. It is always packed and reservations are needed for any night 6 to 9 pm. It is small and the seating is tight but the food is outstanding. Good sushi, and their udon noodle soup is amazing. Their offerings are unique, but not so much as to fall into the chasm of becoming a foodie-place. It is well thought out, with fresh ingreedents and well worth the price of admission. read more