Really enjoyed my brunch at Rakuya. Their brunch menu offers the Japanese fare you love, like bento boxes, sushi, chicken karaage, etc, but also classic brunch options like waffles, etc. I had a delicious beef bulgogi bento box (bulgogi is Korean, so many cuisines on offer here). Really enjoyed the beef and all the sides--potato salad, tempura vegetables, etc. Making brunch bottomless isn't all that pricey either, though you are limited to 90 minutes (standard around DC I think). Their pours are quite heavy as well. Solid brunch spot. I'll be back! read more

Nothing to complain about but nothing to rave about. The sushi was good and they had a lot of unique rolls. The sangria was okay, on the weak side in my opinion. We asked the waiter for some of his recommendations and he recommended some very absurd sounding rolls. A bit overpriced in my opinion but I liked the ambiance. read more

Rakuya - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Wow. Stunningly delicious food and great service. Wish I lived in DC so I could go there often and try lots of different stuff on the menu!

So sad, I used to like Rakuya a lot. Quality went down. The rolls were not the best and the eel in the nigiri felt and tasted like plastic. Providing this feedback so, they do better because I know they can. read more

A friend and I went to Rakuya for dinner last night and had a wonderful experience overall. We came in with a 6:30 reservation and was seated and attended to promptly. We both ordered sushi dishes and thought the fish was fresh and for a good value. I would definitely come back to try their other menu items! read more

Rakuya - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I had a good time here for happy hour. They have a lot of options for hh. I got the fish and chips roll and it was different but tasty. I would definitely get it again. For my drinks I got the Perfect Afternoon and the Rose Sangria. They both were bomb. My favorite was the Rose Sangria. The rest of my party got the spicy salmon roll and shrimp tempura roll which they both liked. They also got the Very Berry. All in all this place was a hit and we will definitely be back for happy hour again. Good food and drinks. read more

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Fresh sushi and ingredients, decent & consistent service, not the best happy hour because the portions are less but always a fun one to split a few dishes at :~) read more

Rakuya - Fried Shrimp App - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I don't remember how I found this little gem, but it sprang directly to my top faves in DC. That neighborhood local sushi spot is super cozy, I sit outside and it was one of the best decisions , especially when the weather allows you, in the spring/summer. Sushi is good, rolls are good (Philly is definitely a must) but one of my faves were sashimi salad- fresh fish and great presentation! read more

Came to Rakuya with some friends on a cold day in the Spring. Ramen was delicious, filling, and piping hot! I honestly had no complaints except that everyone the door opened, the cold air came bursting in. I love that the egg was perfectly cooked to be slightly gooey in the center, and the broth was thick and tasty. The server was kind and very attentive to us. Would definitely revisit now that the weather is going to get cold again! read more

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This was my first DC sushi experience and it did not disappoint! Our rolls were fresh and flavorful. We tried the Volcano, Deluxe Spicy Tuna, and Chesapeake Bay rolls. Service was good and they were able to seat us quickly even without a reservation. The seating was a bit cramped and my friend and I felt were part of the first date happening beside us. To end on a positive, I was pleasantly surprised with pricing. read more

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No parking. You have to pay for garage. The service is okay. Wasn't very friendly. I'm waiting on the food now. Let's see how that goes. read more

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Good Japanese food near DuPont circle. We came in about an hour to close and tried the edamame and Japanese Caprese Salad for appetizers. The edamame was good, pretty standard. The Caprese salad was tasty but overly salty, would probably pass on it. This place has a ton of sushi options, however we both tried their ramen which was outstanding. Would definitely recommend. Service was swift, the restaurant wasn't too busy as we came late in the evening. I would certainly come back and probably try their sushi next time too. read more

Rakuya - Ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I'm sure the food is edible but I can't speak to it because the horrendous service made my group and I leave for Kramer's next door. 1) We sat at a table outside and as one of us was about to go inside to check in with a server, a server came out and frowning heavily, said we couldn't be seated outdoors until we all checked in. We said ok sorry, we'll check in. 2) Two min after checking in and being seated outdoors, at the same table, the same server came back and asked to confiscate two of my friends' starbucks coffees and keep them inside until after we ate and paid. Presumably that was because the starbucks coffees were "outside food/drinks" - I say presumably because the server didn't even care to explain why she needed to confiscate the drinks, just matter of factly stated it. If it was a sandwich or pastry, we would've understood. But coffees? My friends are kinder than I am so they politely obliged and gave their coffees to the server. 3) One min after the coffees were confiscated, another server came to us and said my dog couldn't be at the outdoor table with us and needed to be outside the fenced area. Mind you, we weren't in a covered or heated patio nor were there any other guests seated outdoors - it was literally tables and chairs on an open-air cement pavement and just us. That was our last straw. We went to Kramer's next door, which had at least 4x more customers (wonder why) and whose servers gave my dog her own water bowl unprompted. The food at Kramer's was also super lovely as was the service. read more

I really wanted to love it here because, sushi! I do like that the rolls are unique. Not your typical shrimp tempura/crunchy rolls. Gyzona was great! However, I really hated that each bite of crab had pieces of shell in it. read more

Rakuya - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Simply put the ramen at this spot is absolutely delicious. We were greeted at seated immediately. The first thing we did was try a new beer. It was a bit too sour for my taste but my wife loved it! Next we ordered our ramen. 5 minutes later it arrived and it did not disappoint. We're already planning to come back soon to check out their brunch. read more

Rakuya - Ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Went to Rakuya after studying at a cafe across the street. This was my first sushi experience in D.C. and it was a little underwhelming. The service was good and the prices were reasonable, but the fish and the rolls were mediocre. The chicken karaage was the highlight of my meal. In regards to atmosphere, it was nice that indoor and outdoor seating were both options and the place had relaxing vibes. read more

Rakuya - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Went here with my partner and friend during capital pride in DC... It was some of the best seafood I've had in DC! For as many people as were out during pride, we were seated very quickly, and our waitress served us promptly and professionally. We were very impressed with the affordable prices on the menu, and this was confirmed when our orders arrived. All of our meals came with a beautiful pallet of sides, including shrimp tempura, strawberries, sushi, rice, and miso soup. I would certainly come back if I am in the area again and would definitely recommend to anybody who likes Japanese cuisine. I would also recommend sitting outside and catching the gorgeous ambience of Dupont Circle! Thank you Rakuya! read more

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Wide-ranging selection of sushi at a fair price for DC. Staff is attentive and food comes out relatively quick. Would return to try a few more rolls. read more

Rakuya - Green Monster, White Tiger, 'Seoul' Train - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I have walked past this restaurant often but never stopped and now I am thrilled I did! I went at lunch and the vibe was good, pleasant, busy but not too loud. the food was fabulous! I have never consumed an entire bento box.... until yesterday!! oopsie! that tells you how I feel about their food! read more

Rakuya - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The website says they are open until 10 pm. I called to make sure and the woman who answered the phone said they were open until 9:30 pm. But when we arrived at the restaurant, the host said they were open until only 9:00 pm. When I told him that I was told 9:30 pm over the phone, he said he had told me 9:00 pm. Well, you're a guy and I talked to a girl - so, no, it did not happen that way. And - let me tell you - NOBODY who worked there was going to be there even one half second past 9:00 pm. The cleaning was already in full swing as we sat down. They cautioned that they were closing soon so we would need to order quickly. We did of course (because we were hungry) but it took a long time for our order to come. Maybe the chef also believed the website when it said they were open until 10 pm. They also could NOT refill my iced tea because they had already thrown it away. Whatever. Thank God their food is good because this crappy customer service is the kind of thing that makes me NEVER want to go back to a restaurant again. I give Rakuya 3.5 stars for food but 1.5 stars for customer service. read more

Always a super solid spot and their happy hour can't be beat. They have super expanded outdoor seating since covid but their service is still pretty quick. Love their sangria and cocktails. Sushi was really good and all of the appetizers I've tried have been so good. One of my favorite spots in dupont. read more

Rakuya - The salmon happy hour rolls - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've been wanting to try this place for awhile, so when a friend wanted to grab lunch in the area I jumped to suggest here. Seating is a little narrow, so we had to be creative with navigating a stroller and tucking it next to the booth. I ordered the katsu curry lunch special, and it did not disappoint. All of it was delicious, and I couldn't finish it all unfortunately. Ample katsu, curry that wasn't too salty. Daikon with a most satisfying crunch. Service was really accommodating, especially with a small child in a cramped space. Lunch prices were completely reasonable given the ample portions of food. I would love to come back here again. read more

Rakuya - Oden - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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As a vegetarian, I love Rakuya because of all the unique veggie combination in their sushi options. I've been twice now and tried a few and they're all fantastic, tasty and fresh. Service is always fast and kind, even when they're busy. The lemonade however is extremely mild and can be skipped. read more

Rakuya - Vegetarian sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I went here with a few friends. I really enjoyed the shumai. This was my first time seeing it presented in this way. The chili oil was a nice touch and provided some spice. The sushi was okay nothing really memorable. I mainly got a shrimp tempura roll and the shrimp nigiri. The stand out was the butterfly cocktail which two servers told me to make sure I stir before drinking. The drink was very sweet! read more

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This restaurant was pretty yummy! Has a lot of heaters outside for the cold weather. They have a patio area they have a little bit of room across the street under a tent as well as the indoors everything's pretty fairly spaced apart. I had a beer on tap which was very good. The sushi was really good I recommend the pink rice roll 10/10. The noodles were probably my least favorite of the meal however they were OK. All of the sushi rolls were delicious tasted fresh. Would go back. read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in the city. They have fair prices for their food. They are on a nice street corner in dupont where you can sometimes hear live music from next door if you are sitting outside. The inside of their restaurant is also a great environment. I love to go here for brunch in particular - you can't beat it! This is the go-to restaurant for my partner and I because you can beat the combination of the quality, portion size, ambience, and price of their food in Dupont. read more

During my first trip to DC, a friend recommended I try this place out. We really enjoyed our dinner here and will be coming back. Their octopus carpaccio was a perfect starter. Their rolls in general were full of flavor, we had these and all were great : Crunchy spicy salmon Golden dragon Chesapeake Bay Grilled salmon harashu Crunchy spicy scallop Their crunchy rolls are very decently priced and are a bargain. If you want want sushi, try this place out read more

Rakuya - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Visiting DC and my friends recommended this place for their bento boxes and I was so pleasantly surprised! I ordered the set and my partner ordered the bento box. It was nice trying all the side dishes. It was not only affordable but also very unique flavors! The set had a mushroom egg concoction as well as strawberry, avocado creme, pickled cucumbers, seaweed salad and a huge bowl of rice. The chicken karage was crispy but I wish it was warmer. I would definitely come back here again! read more

This is my favorite restaurant. I come here at least once a month. Everything on the menu is delicious. The service is also typically really quick. read more

Quite enjoyed this place. I got the salmon donburi set at brunch, which also includes a simple but nice udon (I had the tempura replaced with some salad). The salmon bowl was nice, the rice was well seasoned and the fish was good. I also enjoy the space. Lots of interesting stuff on the menu, and I'll have to come back. read more

Rakuya - Salmon donburi set. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Love Rakuya! They have a great happy hour and SO many sushi options. They have yummy miso soup to start - it was kind of hidden in their menu, but it's there! I loved the Crunch Eel and the Tuna California! They were so tasty. Six large pieces to one roll. They were juicy and fresh. I wasn't a fan of the butterfly cocktail - it was SO overpoweringly strong. But it was pretty - so there's that! They were Covid safe - everyone wears masks and they had lots of outdoor seating. They do offer indoor seating too, but I didn't want to be indoors so not sure what it was like. They're always packed and so their service is a bit slow, but that was done for us - we had a lot to catch up on. read more

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*fun fact 1* today was my first time eating at Rakuya although I've been walking by daily for over two years now. *fun fact 2* my dog, who also has never experienced Rakuya's cooking, is obsessed with the place and stops by to peak in every time we walk by. She walks over purposefully, like someone who's there to pick up their order, then stands at the door looking up as if she's waiting for whomever to come out and hand it to her. It's the cutest thing ever, believe me. We came around noon (sans dog, hope she never finds out), were seated exactly at the table we wanted, away from other patrons, yet shady and comfortable. Menus are offered in the plastic covering, smelling of disinfectant, the it- fragrance of the season. Ordering was quick and easy, drinks came out ice cold, and food - amazingly delicious. Great experience overall, my dog got great taste! read more

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Good - The meal here is one I have remembered for months! Ramen + Butter = One happy belly! I loved sitting at the bar and watching our dishes made, too. After a long day on our feet, it was a welcome respite. Could Be Better - Make a reservation. This place gets crowded on the weekends because it is a popular brunch hang out - for good reason, it's delicious! Unique - The cocktails are a work of art. Sit at the bar. Watch them be made. Be impressed. read more

So this was a neighborhood gem in DuPont Circle near my niece apartment.. has tables outside if you want socially distanced but way to cold for us.we were alone tucked away in a corner near the bar..have a bar with Sapporo draft and she had sangria.. we both had bento box-mine sushi Hers chicken teriyaki a great amount pf food for the price..was also lunch time but next time i visit will be back. Full of flavor and fish fresh and also came with miso soup too. Good bang for the buck. read more

Rakuya - Bento Box - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I enjoyed my experience here. I found the sushi to be of respectable quality, especially given the price point. A friend ordered a ramen dish, which I was able to try and really enjoyed. Our waiter, a younger gentleman, was really attentive and friendly. The ambiance really contributed to a nice laid-back meal with friends. I will definitely come back here the next time I'm in Dupont Circle. read more

Authentic and affordable dishes. The service is just a slow but I still highly recommend. Worth to try.

this place has good food BUT REFUSED TO SERVE ME BECAUSE I HAVE A VERTICAL ID. i am 21 years old but have not had time to go across the country to get a new horizontal ID. i went to dinner with my mother and older sister and they refused to serve me a drink as their policy REFUSES TO SERVE ANY LEGAL ADULTS WITH VERTICAL IDS. its DISCRIMINATORY and WRONG. they were super rude about it too. won't be going there anymore. should be ashamed of themselves. the best part is that i have been here before since turning 21 and was served alcohol using my vertical ID. read more

Came here and sadly just missed happy hour. Lots of great deals on the happy hour menu. I ordered the Chicken Curry with egg noodles. Overall enjoyable experience. The inside is warm and comfortable atmosphere. read more

Rakuya - Chicken Curry with egg noodles - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Lovely sushi selection. I especially like the rolls using blue crab. Nice sushi selection and great patio seating. Service was a bit slow but staff were nice and accommodating. A looooong time ago I used to drink at this place. Sweet nostalgia! read more

Rakuya - Cute Japanese beer logo - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Pretty good spicy ramen. I was here on a Monday night with a group of friends. We were staying just down the street while in DC for meetings. We called ahead to reserve the table for a party of 8, and arrived to be seated right away. Our server was super friendly and attentive. Most of us had ramen, with the exception of two people. They wanted Sushi. I loved my ramen bowl. It really hit the spot, considering it was pretty cold outside and I was in a soup mood. There's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, but inside worked for this chilly night. The décor is modern, with a spacious dining area. Everyone in my group seemed to enjoy their dinner here. Prices are comparable to most ramen/sushi joints. read more