Ryu Izakaya is literally the bomb. I have been 2 to 3 times in the past two months, and it has quickly become one of my go-to spots. I usually go for their happy hour, which I love so much. Not only is the food great, but the interior is so cute and the ambiance is amazing. It has that cozy, intimate vibe with really fun decor, and they also have a larger dining area if you are going with a group. I have gone on weekday evenings for happy hour, and it has never been too crowded, which makes the experience even better. This place honestly feels like a hidden gem that I want to gatekeep but cannot. I always order the crunchy spicy salmon roll, smoked salmon nigiri, salmon nigiri, and tamago nigiri, and they never miss. Everything tastes fresh, flavorful, and well made. I have also brought friends here who are picky sushi eaters, and they all loved it, which says a lot. Definitely a spot I will keep coming back to and recommending. If you are looking for good sushi, great vibes, and a solid happy hour, this is the place. read more

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We came here for happy hour and it was delicious! Their happy hour cocktails were $8 and they were all very refreshing and yummy. My favorite was the lychee tini. For food we did salmon nigiri, salmon rose, fried octopus, takoyaki, ube fries, coconut shrimp, and karage chicken. My not complaint is that they had the same sauce for the fried foods. If they had done a sweet and sour sauce for the coconut shrimp and like a soy based for the octopus, that would have been nice. Their sushi was very good though. Service and good and quick but we were the only ones in the restaurant. Their AC was broken though and they only had fans so it was super hot read more

Ryu Izakaya - Drinks! I forgot the name but was delicious - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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They have really good flavors and a good happy hour. Attached to a motel, the bathroom situation is interesting in that you have to leave the restaurant and go upstairs into the motel bathroom. The food and service were.l generally good but nothing stood out. I enjoyed their inari flight. The fried oysters were nice. Definitely go for their instagrammable drinks. Lychee martini was the star of the meal. read more

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Best sushi in the area. Super affordable. Server was extremely nice, place is pretty clean and feels warm and authentic. Definitely my new go-to for sushi. read more

Ryu Izakaya - Hokkaido Roll - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Quite honestly, it's in a really shady area. But inside is nice and clean. Affordable prices, delicious food, great service! read more

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Had a great first Izakaya experience in Arlington! It was fun to try different types of Yakitori Yakitori's are skewers with different type of means like chicken , veggies and sausage with house made sauce usually teriyaki flavor. We also got to try these : Drinks: Sangria Lady Geusha Yakitori: Sausage, Gizzard & chicken Thighs. Sushi: Tempura Shrimp roll, salmon and Eel sushi. Highly recommend going with an empty stomach! There is so many things to try. Go with multiple people or enjoy a quiet vibe as a date ! They also have a happy hour, would recommend! Very friendly service too. Taste was great, maybe a bit too much rice on sushi but loved the yalitori! @sallysemotion read more

Ryu Izakaya - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Came on a weeknight for happy hour (Great happy hour deals: EVERY DAY from 4-8pm; all day on Sundays). $7 cocktails, $1 nigiri, and more. The fish quality is decent, good for the price. We enjoyed the ube fries. The cocktails were pretty good. The waitress was friendly, however, later in the night, folks were seated by the sushi bar, and we were the only ones in the other area so we had to find a staff member to get the bill. There are some specific parking spots in the Days Inn parking lot, next to the restaurant. Bathroom is located in the Days Inn, on the second floor. read more

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So glad we found this cute spot. Great sushi selection, tasty Tai teas and exceptional service. We were blown away by the freshness of the food and nice ambiance. We shall return for dinner and enjoy their happy hour! read more

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I placed an order for pick up, and upon entrance was greeted by the host and she sat me at the bar. I noticed their assortment of liquor (which I was not expecting) and the fresh sushi displayed. I ordered a miso soup and paradise roll and it tasted incredible. The roll came with a house-made spicy ponzu sauce that tasted like a citrus-soy, plum. It was very delicious! I'd try them again. read more

We came here before going to the Drafthouse Arlington and this place was such a great find. They have happy hour every day (even on weekends) and the HH menu is very broad. We got Ube fries, 5 different rolls of sushi, coconut shrimp, hot sake, and several other items that were all on the HH menu and very reasonable. Service was great, the food came out quick and was delicious, and we had a great time. We will definitely be coming back here especially when we go to Drafthouse again for another show! read more

Ryu Izakaya - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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My partner and I found this place to be delicious, cute/clean, and it had good service! We got both sushi and curry, and we preferred the sushi over the curry (although both were still good). It is slightly slightly pricier than our typical sushi spot - however, it was nice to go somewhere new and try it out. Definitely a spot to check out, and although we have our typical sushi spot still, we'll probably return here when we want another nice place to go to! read more

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I've come back here another 2-3 times and while their $1 sushi/nigiri are still a good deal, I noticed they started using smaller pieces of fish. I still like the white tuna escolar, inari, surf clam, and tamago pieces though. Note this spicy tuna rolls don't seem to have mayo. Also their expanded happy hour specials from 4-7pm are good. We enjoyed the ube fries. The service was good, they came to take our order and any additional orders before happy hour ended. They were also able to split our bill. read more

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Ordered dinner via doordash after seeing all the good reviews. Not sure if they're having an off day but won't be trying this place again. Salmon and salmon belly sashimi were not fresh. But had a very distinct funk. Alaskan roll and rainbow roll contained small amounts of fish inside and were stuffed with stale tempura flakes. The amount of tempura flakes inside the roll is very off putting. read more

Ryu Izakaya - Rainbow roll stuffed with stale tempura flakes - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Overall very good quality sushi and will continue to support this spot! The Jo sushi is good value since it comes with a toro scallion roll which I rarely see. Texture of rice is excellent. Part of a larger takeout order that included other yummy classic rolls (really good salmon skin roll and a spicy scallop roll not covered in kewpie mayo) The only strange thing is that this is the second time where the fish on at least 2-3 pieces have been sliced incorrectly (so with grain instead of against) which made it difficult to eat. See the yellowtail and darker tuna next to the surf clam. read more

Ryu Izakaya - Jo Sushi (front) & sushi assortment lunch (back) - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Very poor quality. Sushi consisted of mostly rice and had horrible texture and flavor. Gyoza was basic and was very small in portion size. I'm definitely not giving this restaurant another try. read more

Ryu Izakaya - Beef Gyoza, Hokkaido Roll, Jasmine Thai Green Tea - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

This spot is definitely a gem! Reasonable prices, cozy and casual atmosphere, great service and delicious sushi is definitely a winning combo. I ordered a roll that was a special, so I can't remember the name because it's not on their standard menu. But basically it was some kind of crunchy salmon roll, topped with more salmon, avocado and served with a special dipping sauce that had a tangy, spicy zip to it. Seriously, it was so good! I'm still thinking about it and might just begin to crave it. All of the ingredients were so fresh, so I immediately knew this was a good mark of their sushi quality. I also ordered the grilled squid appetizer. I honestly figured it was a dish that would be impossible not to like since I love grilled squid in even its most simple form. Unfortunately, it was a miss for me. The squid was so tough it seemed perhaps it has been over cooked. Either way, presentation of both dishes as well as every dish I saw being ordered around me looked amazing and I'm already very eager to return! read more

This place has a REALLY great happy hour! $1 nigiri really can't be beat. I would order anything from the nigiri menu + the spicy tuna maki is a MUST try - rarely do I see places do a spicy roll thats *actually* spicy, so this was pleasantly surprising. Very worth dining here if you're in the Arlington area! Staff is really nice too. Their happy hour also recently extended to 4-8 pm every day + all day Sunday. read more

Ryu Izakaya - Inari / Sweet Fried Tofu, salmon nigiri, tuna nigiri, spicy salmon roll, spicy Tuna Roll - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Unexpectedly nice and upscale yet casual Japanese restaurant in south Arlington. Came for lunch in July 2024. *Food: All excellent given the price. They offer a $1 nigiri/sashimi deal (with some types costing $2-5 per piece). Excellent value given the price, as all the fish were fresh and flavorful. Also had the chicken karaage and skewers, both would recommend. *Service: Phenomenal. The waiter we had was incredibly attentive. Brought extra napkins when he saw our newborn spitting up. *Ambiance: Nice, clean, quiet, and cutely decorated. read more

Ryu Izakaya - Assorted Ngiri - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Great service, better food, and cool interior. I don't usually leave reviews but this place is great

Excellent sushi and a broad menu. Located inside a pretty run-down hotel, this was a pleasant surprise in every way. Sushi menu was excellent, from the great variety of rolls, and the availability of some of my favorites, like fatty tuna and fatty salmon. So many sushi places have these on the menu but never actually have them available! One of the rolls, while pricey, included fatty tuna. While I'd normally not eat that as part of a roll, it was a birthday celebration, so we indulged. Totally worth it! Service was fast and friendly. Full bar, good music, comfy tables. Will definitely return. read more

The hubby and I came here on Sunday, 3/24/2024, when we arrived the restaurant was basically empty, so we were sat right away and asked where we wanted to sit. Our server brought over water right away and soon after we ordered a California roll (me) and the hubby got one unagi sushi for a dollar (a special). The California roll was fresh, well rolled and really delicious, my husband said the same for the unagi. My husband also got the chicken thigh yakatori for three bucks, it was brought out hot, tender and delicious. For our entrees, we both got Tonkotsu, we added an extra egg and shared it, so we would each have one full egg in our ramen instead of just a half. The Tonkotsu was fire, the broth was hot and buttery, egg perfectly cooked and yolky, the pork was tender and flavorful and overall just great. We will definitely be back and highly recommend. One final note, service was great and friendly! read more

My friend and I stopped by for dinner yesterday since we wanted Japanese food that we both have yet to try. Ryu Izakaya's been on my list ever since they opened, so I was pretty excited to try! The service was quick and we were able to get our food within a reasonable amount of time. YAKITORI ASSORTMENT For ~22.00, we got six yakitoris: bacon wrapped asparagus, zucchini, beef, chicken gizzard, chicken thigh and chicken wing. My favorite were the chicken gizzard (great texture and flavor) and the bacon wrapped asparagus (juicy and also contained a piece of leek). Everything was just aight. Flavor was decent. The beef was really tough. Overall, I would get it if you wanna try a variety of yakitori. Otherwise, I'd skip and go with a couple you know you'd like. QUAIL EGG YAKITORI My friend and I love quail eggs, so we got one of these to try. Not much flavor, though so that was a bit disappointing. CHICKEN GIZZARD YAKITORI We enjoyed it so much we got two more so we could each have one. Very crunchy texture with smoky flavors. Chicken gizzard is not one to skip. SPICY TUNA AVOCADO TARTARE A good amount of spicy tuna wrapped around delicately sliced avocado formed in a shape of a flower almost, then topped with some crunchy flakes on top. This was a great item to share and the spicy tuna was well seasoned with some sweetness, too. CHIRASHI The chirashi bowl was pretty sizable which my friend and I split. I don't think a lot of the fish here was that fresh as there were a few pieces in there that I did not enjoy and found really fishy (tuna and this other lightly seared fish). Overall, not a huge fan. I rather get a bowl of raw fish where I'm able to pick my favorites (even if it's as basic as salmon and yellowtail). YUZU CHEESECAKE WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM This was a delightful dessert to end our meal. The cheesecake had a strong yuzu flavor that we both really enjoyed. There was a strawberry that's been thinly sliced on the side, a pile of whipped cream and a scoop of vanilla ice cream that sat on top of a bed of graham cracker bits. Great combination of sweets, we'd recommend. Overall, everything was fine/above average, but nothing phenomenal. Also, the prices are pretty $$$ given that we paid about 50pp (after tip and tax) and not too full either. 3.5/5 but will bump to a 4/5. read more

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Visited Ryu Izakaya for lunch on a Sunday afternoon, and while the experience wasn't terrible, it certainly didn't stand out. **Ambiance: The restaurant has a cozy, atmosphere with dim lighting and traditional decor. The staff were friendly and greeted us warmly when we arrived. Our table was ready on time, and the initial service was prompt. **Food: Unfortunately, the food was just mediocre. The spicy miso ramen was the biggest disappointment; the broth was okay and pretty average as far as ramens go. The bamboo shoots should usually be pretty soft but these were too crunchy and the chashu pork wasn't very soft either. The sushi rolls were fresh but lacked the flavor and creativity we expected from an izakaya. The green tea ice cream was pretty good though. **Bathrooms: the bathrooms weren't located inside the building (which I'm never fond of) but were out the back of the building and inside of a sketchy Days Inn where it definitely felt like some drug deals could go down back there. The bathrooms weren't the cleanest, and I wouldn't have felt comfortable changing my 11-month old in there given the lack of visibility to the rest of the restaurant. Overall, Ryu Izakaya is an okay place to eat if you're not expecting anything spectacular. The ambiance is pleasant, but the food leaves much to be desired. You're better off going to one of the other Izakaya locations which have better food and a better overall ambiance. read more

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I recently got the chicken drunken udon for takeout and it arrived on time. The chicken drunken udon was fine-the portion size was a bit small, the chicken a bit chewy, although the udon were good. read more

Ryu Izakaya - Chicken Drunken Udon - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

This is my go to sushi spot. They have fresh fish, tasty rice, and consistent quality. This is a restaurant my household visits weekly. All day happy hour Sunday is our favorite way to wrap up the weekend. Would recommend to anyone. read more

Cute spot, decent sushi for the price, and good service. We've only ever come here for happy hour, but their happy hour menu has plenty of options for a full dinner. read more

This a late review as I visited here a few months ago. After a long day of wine tasting, some friends and I were starving and needed some food! A friend who lives close by recommended this place. It was a solid choice. Service was great and prompt. The place isn't large but they made good use of the space! Food was very flavorful and prices decent. If I'm ever in this area, I'd dine here again! read more

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Ryu Izakaya is a great spot for those seeking authentic Japanese flavors with a modern twist. With its excellent service, cozy ambiance, and wide range of dishes, it's definitely worth a visit. Rating: 4.2/5 stars. read more

Ryu Izakaya - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Perfect raw squid appetizer, especially the sauce! The squid itself was incredibly fresh, tender, and naturally sweet, but what really elevated the entire dish was the perfectly balanced dipping sauce. read more

Ryu Izakaya - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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The food was delicious and the prices were reasonable. The restaurant has great ambience, beautiful decor and very friendly staff.

Service was okay overall, but one thing that made me uncomfortable was the server standing at our table waiting for me to tip after I already told her I was tipping in cash instead of on my card. She stayed there while I took my wallet out, even though she had other tables she could've been attending to. It just felt awkward and unnecessary. I've never had a server wait there like that before after already explaining I was leaving a cash tip. The interaction honestly made the experience uncomfortable and came across as pushy. The server working our table that night was the bigger one with dyed hair. read more

Great happy hour specials until 6:00 pm, including sushi and drink specials. The establishment is well-maintained and decorated. The staff was friendly. Overall, the sushi was average, good for the price point read more

Ryu Izakaya - Happy Hour Menu - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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OMG - I requested catering service from Ryu and it all went seamlessly! Ordering was easy, Bo with Ryu was extremely helpful and quick with the quote and arrangements, and on the day of, the sushi trays were delivered on time, with all the extra chopsticks, soy sauce, ginger, etc.! Everyone absolutely loved the food and I think the sushi platters were everyone's favorite! Thank you!!!! read more

It was good but nothing special. Service was very good but at least the rolls I had were not particularly tight or tasty. We wanted to try it and are glad we did. We have not tried a variety of dishes but not impressed with what had. read more

Great happy hour. Rolls in the $4-7 range, lots of sushi at $1 a piece. Cocktails are $7. There is parking next to the restaurant in the motel parking lot. We have enjoyed the sushi at happy hour twice this month and will be back. The crew is helpful. Checkout the happy hour menu on the website. read more

Ordered to go so review only based on the food. Tried the sushi, yakatori, and takoyaki. Takoyaki was def the highlight for me. Lots of fresh tasting juicy octopus inside the dough. Very tasty. The sushi and yakatori was pretty standard. They have other items so maybe I'll try them next time. read more

Ryu Izakaya - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

This is a solid choice with a decent menu and good flavors. There's also a nearby parking garage with free parking for the first hour, which is always appreciated. The service is pretty good and the atmosphere is very interesting. You can tell it's a local favorite for some and it's casual enough for everyone to enjoy. On this go around we had the brussel sprouts for an appetizer. They were fairly good but would have been better with a spicy mayo or something. It's sort of funny to have them as they don't strike me as a very traditional Japanese dish. I ordered the Japanese curry with chicken, which was good, although I found the flavor somewhat light. I did love how much pickled ginger came with the dish. My wife had the unagi (eel) donburi, which she enjoyed and my sone the poke donburi, which he enjoyed. read more

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Similarly priced to Genki although i don't think the quality is on the same level. The eel yakitori had an off taste & was not deboned. The beef yakitori needed salt. The chicken was nothing special although the pork belly was good. We also ordered the Oryu roll(not pictured) and it was decent, although the paired sauce was a nice touch. Out of everything, the spicy tuna tartare was our favorite. I'd recommend for a lunch date or gathering and to go seemed popular as well. read more

Ryu Izakaya - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Ordered a lunch bento, salmon teriyaki box and it did not disappoint! Nice portions and the delivery was great.

Food is good. Service kind of slow. Like the yakitori selection but wish they came out on the grill to stay warm. Been here twice and definitely recommend read more

Ryu Izakaya - Lunch bento box!! - Japanese Near Me - Arlington, Virginia