Right off the Dupont Circle Metro Stop is Rakuya, a cute Japanese resturant that is perfect Spring/Summer spot with its outdoor seating. I went for Happy Hour and enjoyed their fruity Very Berry cocktail. The drink's strawberry blossom and lemon juice paired perfectly! My personal favorites on the menu were the Calamari, Chicken Kaarage, and Shishito Peppers. All were tasty, flavorful, and were in decent amounts to be shared for two. As a lemon lover, I also appreciated the wedge on nearly all the plates I loved the rolls! The Golden Dragon, Shrimp Tempura, and Volcano were all fresh. While it is a small place, it feels a bit cramped at times. However, the service was speedy and kind during such a busy evening. Great Happy Hour selection! Excited to try more of their dinner menu and drinks. read more

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

Decent Japanese food. We visited Rakuya close to when they opened on a Sunday, and it was mostly empty. The restaurant leans into the Japanese theme with cute Japanese decor that is incongruous with the American pop music that played during our visit. We split the Maryland roll, the Seoul roll, and the Shoyu ramen. The sushi was fine but not the best that I have tried. The ramen broth was great and the eggs were delicious, but the pork was tough and overcooked. Overall, I had a decent experience at Rakuya, but I hope there are better options for Japanese cuisine in DC. read more

Delicious food, great outdoor seating and a great appetizer menu! Service was good but we never got drink refills & there was a hiccup with a food modification, hence the 4/5 stars. Ordered the hoisin short ribs, vegetable tempura, gyoza and the hubs enjoyed the shrimp tempura rolls. All were very good and each plate came with a decent portion size. read more

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Rakuya provides decent Japanese food that can scratch a sushi or ramen itch when you're in a pinch. I ordered a noodle soup (Tokyo broth, chicken, and egg noodles, $16) and also shared the sushi and roll assortment (14 pieces, $19). The soup was okay but I don't think I would get it again. If I did, it would be with a different protein. The sushi assortment was pretty good though, and there was a lot of variety. It would work as a meal or to share. If you're in the Dupont area, you can stop by Rakuya for a comforting meal that won't break the bank. read more

Rakuya - Soup (Tokyo broth, egg noodles, chicken) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This restaurant was voted one of D.C.'s top 100, for the DuPont Circle Neighborhood it is ranked in the Top 10. I would give it a thumbs up and with eases say it is good and worth visiting if just for the drinks. The sushi was good but not anything to write home about, and the food was good but not the best. I will say this the Japanese Chicken and Waffles with the honey syrup and sirachi sauce did hit the spot. The service was quick and the wait staff was okay, it was busy so it was rushed bout overall no complaints. As for the look and feel of the restaurant the noise level is high during peek business times but not so high that you can't hear yourself speak. The bathroom is oddly located...just thought I would add that in. Overall I would visit again but am in no rush back. Overall 3.5 stars that would round to 4 BUT in my mind nope not a 4, a well deserved 3. read more

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Huge menu with a great variety of rolls. After deliberating for what must have been 2 minutes, I settled on the Seoul Train (tuna and kimchi) and a salmon California roll. Both were very good, although I would have liked either more pieces or slightly higher quality fish given the price. My friend and I also split orders of edamame and agedashi tofu. Highly recommend the agedashi tofu - it comes in a savory broth with excellent fried brussels and squash. There's plenty of outdoor patio seating, perfect for enjoying a spring or summer evening and watching all the happenings in DuPont Circle. read more

Rakuya - 'Seoul' Train (front) and salmon California roll (back) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The sushi was great. The fish is fresh and the rest of the ingredients are too. Highly recommend the black snake roll with brown rice or regular rice, it's not as good with the purple rice. read more

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I loved Rakuya's diverse and creative menu options! The tofu salad is extremely refreshing with a combination of Romaine and seaweed salad. There was also a generous amount of tofu, and the dressing was delicious. The chicken and waffles was also like no other. The chicken looks super greasy and fried, but it's the exact opposite. The breading is super light, and the chicken was extremely moist. It's definitely higher quality than your average chicken nugget/popper. The maple syrup was also DELICIOUS...I couldn't tell if there was some bitter mixed into it but wow...it was great. I had a great time here and can't wait to come back. read more

Rakuya - Tofu Salad and Chicken and Waffles - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Good sushi in DuPont Circle. Centrally located near the DuPont Circle metro (one block away). Great service. Indoor and outdoor seating is available. It is a bit pricey but I would come back again. read more

A very tasty spot for brunch in DuPont Circle with indoor and outdoor seating! I recommend making a reservation for large parties--super easy to do online. The food rocks! I love the unique bento boxes and the great entrees too. The service can be a little hard to get a hold of and there is also a bit of a communication gap. However, we still had a lovely afternoon! Definitely worth a try. read more

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Food is amazing! Really liked the chicken karaage. They are so nice! The happy hour is really good.

Lots of delicious options here. I wish I'd thought to take pictures of the other rolls I'd ordered - a Deluxe Spicy Tuna and Double Salmon I think. They were so good that I needed the Rainbow Roll as an encore. Service was great despite how busy they were. I'd definitely return. read more

Rakuya - Rainbow Roll & Crane Kick - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Lying just outside the heart of the bustling Dupont Circle, Rakuya is a buzzy sushi spot crowded with both locals and tourists hoping to quell a fix for Japanese cuisine. The Dupont Circle area is already a fairly saturated market for foodies, so the fact that Rakuya always looks crowded is a testament to its popularity. Our party of nine made a reservation a couple of days in advance over the phone, but they also have an online reservation portal for parties under 4 people. On a Saturday night at around 7:30pm, the place was packed, both in the small, sleek interior as well as the expansive patio complete with patio-style wooden tables. We were immediately seated, and given some time to peruse their extensive menu, which boasts a variety of sushi rolls (from the tame California roll to some more adventurous options, such as the "Flying Smoke'in Dragon" or the "White Tiger"), nigiri/sashimi, Japanese small plates, cooked entrees, and a host of noodle dishes. There's truly something for everyone - you can even replace rice in rolls with brown rice or go riceless! We didn't go during happy hour, but they also seem to have a good selection during that time. The drinks that our party ordered ranged from $13-16 normal price, and during happy hour, they're a good $3-4 off, and there's a wide range of Japanese tapas-style food options in the $5-12 range. Their lunch menu is also reasonably priced, with filling bento boxes and sushi/sashimi assortments all under $30, and intriguing lunch sets for those who may not prefer to eat raw fish. One odd thing that happened was that one member in our group cited that he had a serious tree nut allergy - the waiter told us "there aren't any peanuts in your dish, but there WILL be cross-contamination since we use the same knives for everything." We understood that there's always a risk, but that was a bit weird of him to say it like that. Our group mainly ordered rolls and small plates - most rolls came with 6 pieces, and range in toppings and complexity. People tended to enjoy the fun variations, but the quality of the fish wasn't anything special - I would probably stick to the rolls here if you're going to get sushi, and opt to get nigiri or sashimi somewhere else. I ordered the Braised Pork Belly (Buta Kaku Ni) for $10, which came with 4 rich, fatty pieces of pork belly and a whole soft-boiled egg in a sweet soy sauce. Atop the dish were shishito peppers (careful - they say 1 in 10 are extremely spicy, and I got one of them), and a lovely acidic, spicy yellow mustard that paired nicely with the richness of the dish. For $10, it was definitely a steal - I really loved their variety of small plates/appetizers! Some friends also ordered various noodle dishes, from their Tonkotsu Shoyu Rmane ($17) to their Shrimp Tempura Tokyo Dashi ($19). They really enjoyed that you can customize your protein, and they're fairly large portions for the price. Finally, since it was my friend's birthday, they gave her a free dessert, which was three scoops of matcha ice cream topped with strawberries. This was very generous of them, and it was a large enough portion to share! Overall, we enjoyed our meal at Rakuya - they were accommodating for our large party, the food came out within 20 minutes, and the food was tasty and affordably priced. We'll have to be back to get some of their lunch specials or happy hour drinks! read more

Rakuya - Braised Pork Belly (Buta Kaku Ni, $10) with egg, shishito pepper, and mustard in a light sweet soy sauce - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I really wanted to like this place but unfortunately the food was lacking and the quality/price wasn't making sense. Ordered Eel Don, eel was good but only because of the eel sauce and rice. The tempura was too oily, maybe was sitting there for too long. The salad dressing wasn't the fresh ginger dressing, clearly from a bottle. Udon was good, nothing to complain about there. Two sushi rolls- red dragon roll and fatty tuna roll - absolutely no flavor. I feel like there might be a quality and freshness issue with this place. Definitely won't be returning. read more

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

Pretty decent ramen place with lots of other options! Pay attention to the noodle size for the different ramens if that matters to you. I felt like the portions were generous and they weren't skimpy on the toppings. The servers are really attentive and there is plenty of comfortable indoor seating or outside on the patio! read more

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

Cute little place in DuPont Circle. They've got happy hour and some items on the menu at a reduced price. The food was acceptable but nothing was really memorable. We decided to try this place only because we were staying nearby honestly. Wouldn't come back because simple I've had better sushi. Service was good. No changing table for baby in the bathroom. read more

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

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Traditional Japanese kitchen with a nice selection of lunch options. I had the deluxe Bento Box, which was excellent. It was served very quickly and it was not as expensive as I would have expected for a Dupont Circle location. Looking forward to going back. read more

Amazing spot, fresh sushi and really good service. I come for happy hours and brunch a lot and I really enjoy it. read more

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

Came here for happy hour on a Friday night. Drink and food prices were great! We sat outside on the patio and the vibes were awesome. Glad I came here on my visited. read more

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

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After a trip to the Philip's Collection in Dupont Circle, my friend and I were feeling hot, hungry and thirsty. We saw Rakuya and quickly decided to try it out. We were very glad we did. The menu has a fairly typical combination of sushi, sashimi, rolls and appetizers. Both of us chose from the Teishoku Set. My sashimi Teishoku Set came with tuna and salmon sashimi, miso soup, rice, tempura, salmon, seaweed salad, potato salad, and a savory egg custard. It was an enormous amount of food for 26 dollars. Honestly, there wasn't a thing on the menu I didn't enjoy. Sashimi: great. Miso soup: wonderful. I enjoyed the sides immensely. Service was very attentive. Our water glasses never went empty. The interior was cool and intimate and provided a respite from the heat and humidity. Definitely recommended. read more

This place was pretty good especially for the price! Tried the chicken karage which wasn't super crispy but was very flavorful and juicy! All the rolls are really great and got a lot of the price. For two people we were pretty full from the three rolls. The crunchy spicy salmon was hands down my favorite. Their happy hour menu looks awesome and so definitely looking forward to returning for that read more

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

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I went to this place with a few friends this past weekend and was happy with the service and ambiance, but found the food disappointing. We had a 10 minute wait for a table for 4 which wasn't bad since it was 7pm on a Saturday. The ambience is upscale casual and looks like a good date spot or just place to hang with friends. We got the sushi and the tan tan men noodles - both were just ok. I would not recommend the tan tan noodles. They tasted oily and lacked any flavor and the beef on top felt old. I was surprised that they used ramen noodles and not udon or thicker noodles as advertised. The sushi was also subpar, I felt the rolls fell apart and were nothing special. The cooked salmon on the inside of the double salmon roll tasted like canned tuna. I would potentially come back and try the happy hour with different food options. read more

Rakuya - Tan tan men noodles - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I had high expectations after seeing the menu, but it was a pretty big let down. We started with the gyoza which I thought were ok, the sauce is always great with it. It did have a nice sear, but the meat didn't have much flavor. I got two rolls, one which was a double salmon and spicy tuna. The spicy tuna was great, the double salmon one had nothing really going for it. The cooked part was just bad, definitely on me for that. My wife got the den den noodles and it wasn't thick noodles. The beef was piled on top, and looked like they just added all ingredients separately instead of cooking in one dish. It didn't taste good at all, and we were adding soy sauce to add flavor. Service was slow, took around 20 min to place our order. Ambiance was nice, but not really romantic bc you are right next to people. read more

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The sushi options and variety are great and the fatty tuna as well at the wasabi dynamite roll were amongst our favorites. The croissant bread pudding was fantastic as well! We throughly enjoyed and satisfied our craving for sushi. read more

I don't often leave bad reviews, but this one couldn't stand. We came in for happy hour and had the weirdest service. A server came by and started to take our order, but walked off halfway through one of our sentences and a new server took our order (we had to start over). Weird and very offputting. The second server said that the menu that we were ordering from was old and they had a new one (ok). We tried a third time and finally got an order in. When we got our order, it was grocery store quality sushi -- and that's being kind. I've been here numerous times over the years and had good food, so I'm not sure if it's a supply chain thing or what, but every piece we had was chewy and unappetizing. We decided to take part of each roll home not because we honestly wanted to eat it for lunch the next day or later that night as a snack, but just because we had paid for it and were too full to finish (and honestly a little bit nauseated). We asked for a box. Our server goes "so sorry, since it was ordered on happy hour, you can't take any to go." First of all, that wasn't listed anywhere on the menu, second of all, we're talking maybe enough leftovers for a full roll between two people -- we certainly weren't cheating any happy hour system, and third of all.. what? We ordered 4 nigiri and 2 rolls... I was tempted to just hold the roll in my napkin for the principle of it. What a waste of food! With that, we got the check and left. Won't be returning. There are so many better sushi places in the area and with better quality service AND food. read more

While visiting Washington, D.C. on a five-day trip, we ate dinner here twice because the food and atmosphere were both excellent. I love sushi and rarely find uni, which is my favorite. The uni and all of the other sushi was incredibly fresh and prepared perfectly. My sushi and my girlfriend's ramen bowl were so good that we ordered the exact same meals both times. read more

Rakuya over Nobu ANY DAY. I've tried many sushi spots around dc - I come from a California beach city so a good sushi spot was nonnegotiable for me when moving here. Rakuya is soooo fresh every time! I've been here way too many times to count, had friends birthday dinners here, solo dinners here, dates here, and it's delicious every time. read more

I was looking for a place to eat lunch and came across Rakuya. First, this place is so cute with lots of character and charm. The inside is modern and cozy, a relatively small dining room. There's ample outside seating. I sat at the small sushi bar, which was perfect for my solo meal. I was indecisive, so I decided on a Teishoku Lunch Set. Kara Age (Chicken Karaage) was my dish and it was absolutely satisfying. Rarely will you find a well seasoned Karaage, so when you do, it's special. I could taste the garlic and ginger enhanced by sake, mirin, and soy. It was beautifully crisp and juicy. My favorite thing about Teishoku is the side dishes. These ones were plentiful and delicious. Mushroom steamed egg, mixed tempura, pickled carrots, avocado, marinated eggplant, seaweed salad, rice, and miso salad. Each side dish was flavorful, balanced, and complimentary of other items in the set. I also had a Spicy Tuna Roll, which was perfectly made--slightly warm, seasoned rice, fresh tuna, and spicy with a hint of sweetness. Overall, I really enjoyed my experience at Rakuya and will definitely be back. I highly recommend this spot. read more

Rakuya - Teishoku Lunch Set (Chicken Kara Age) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Everything we had here was good The salmon with mango sauce was the star California was also good here. Staff very friendly and helped with the selection. read more

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Our favorite brunch place! $20 get you a bento set and $15 get you u Unlimited plum sangria or mimosa. Quite affordable and very delicious and filling. A must brunch hangout on the weekends in DC. read more

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

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First time at this restaurant and this definitely won't be the last time! A friend and I stopped by for happy hour this evening. We ordered the mussels marinere with sake, crunchy spicy salmon and eel avocado rolls to share. We each paired our appetizers with a couple of Perfect Afternoon cocktails (plum wine, aperol, sweet vermouth, and prosecco)! We opted for outdoor seating, which was great for fresh air and an occasional hot blast of sun as the sun shifted in the sky. The place filled up quickly, which is not surprising given its prime location near Q St and Connecticut. Great low key happy hour with good food, decent drinks, and pleasant service! read more

Rakuya - Eel and avocado and crunchy spicy salmon rolls - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This place is a solid 4!! If you can come here for lunch absolutely do it. The portions for the combo sets are incredible. A lot of food for a great price. I decided to try the noodles and spicy salmon roll. The ramen noodles were super springy and they gave me a side of a spice bomb. Loved the inside seating and they had ample outdoor seating as well for a nice day. Would love to come back and try their katsu don as well! Sushi was pretty good. Not super fresh but for the price decent. read more

Rakuya - Tan tan and spicy sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Good location in Dupont with a nice outdoor space. Average sushi. My favorite roll that I tried was the Golden Dragon Roll and I would get it again. I would come back for happy hour. read more

I ate there for the first time last evening with my partner and two friends. I had the yellow curry with shrimp. Partner has sushi assortment, and my friends had two different ramen. We are all very pleased. Mine was piping hot and the right amount of heat. I enjoy spice, so this was the best curry I can remember. From the moment we arrived, without reservations, the service was top notch. The server was very pleasant and attentive without being intrusive. I believe there was only one empty table, the drink order came out quickly as did the meals. As delicious as my curry was, I couldn't finish it. I'll definitely be back. I've heard lunch is also great, perhaps brunch. read more

Rakuya - Yellow Curry with Shimp and Sushi Assortment - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Great food, great service. Unfortunately we were not very hungry because every plate/bowl that I saw around us looked amazing. I opted for a Chesapeake roll because it's hard to get real crab where we live. I was not disappointed! If was fresh and delicious. Hubby got there Maryland roll. Again delish (yes I stole a bite!). Daughter had a rainbow roll and crunchy shrimp. She didn't share but really enjoyed both. Recommend that you get a reservation as this place is quite popular. Definitely sit outside when the weather corporates. read more

Absolutely NEVER eating here again. We're locals and used to love coming here. We reserved a table by the lights on their patio. They seated someone in front of us at the table we reserved. Then a waiter or manager tried to tell us that they can't accommodate requests. But they have a "requests/accommodations" section on their reservation system, which is on their OWN website (not a third-party cookie cutter thing). Then a different waiter tried to claim they called us "two hours ago to confirm." When I said, "no you absolutely did not, you're just lying," another woman stepped up and said "yes he tried to say the same thing to me, just totally lying, he didn't call." These people are rude, unethical, and arrogant. Their food isn't worth it and the prices have increased in recent years. AVOID AT ALL COSTS. We are loyal customers and used to eat here often. Now, I will not only go to any other ramen place, but I will make sure my numerous friends in DuPont Circle avoid this place. With all the wonderful restaurant closures this year, this place is simply awful and does not deserve our money. Take your time and money elsewhere to establishments more deserving! read more

Food - Really great. If you want a classic good sushi experience, this is a great place to go. I do actually think that what it was missing for me was something unique or special. The drinks we got actually stood out more. I got a hibiscus lemonade and my friend got a green tea one I think? But don't let that stop you from going here because again, the actual overall quality of the food was great. Service - A bit slow but only seemed to be because they were actually pretty busy when we came. Very good. Ambiance - Casual/Family, Pleasant and not too loud. The place was clean and it had a nice area that you could sit out to eat for as well. I'll have to come back here tbh. read more

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Delicious ramen! High quality sushi! Quick service. We really enjoyed our visit and will be back soon. read more

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

My friend and I really enjoyed our spontaneous visit to Rakuya on a rainy day! The Tokyo dashi came with lots of vegetables, and the broth was savory and delicious...it was everything I would hope for in a noodle soup! Our server was also very friendly and attentive. A great visit and I would return :-)! Thank you, Rakuya read more

Rakuya - Tokyo Dashi (Veg & Tofu w/ Udon) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Lots of indoor and outdoor seating! And I liked the large opened windows, which allowed the warm breeze to insulate the restaurant. Great relaxing atmosphere. I ordered the Sashimi Teishoku set ($24) which comes with 2 pieces each of salmon, tuna, yellowtail and white fish along with shrimp/veggie tempura, kinpira gobo (seasoned carrot and burdock) , miso soup, rice, some red grapes, a guacamole mixture, and egg custard. Not sure why the menu says it comes with salmon nanbanzuke (didn't get that). Loved the presentation and variety, which really reminded me of Japan's plating. However, quality was lacking. Sashimi was okay (3/5) and tempura wasn't hot or crispy (2/5). Surprisingly, I enjoyed the burdock and egg flan a lot (5/5)! Overall, they have unique plating that I haven't seen anywhere else in the US. The service was great and fast. read more

Rakuya - Salmon Teishoku Set ($24) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia