OVERALL: good reliable sushi at a great price. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Super crowded and small inside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] FOOD: the rolls are so filling. They have an extensive menu but you can't go wrong with anything so just explore. A group of us went and they served the food on one tray so just confirm which is which if you can't tell. SERVICE: friendly but when it is busy you have to flag them down. [[HIGHLIGHT]]VENUE: mostly group tables and very small inside. It gets crowded.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Sakana Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I was in the area and had a craving for sushi so Sakana was perfect for a solo meal. Service was efficient and no frills. Rolls had a great ratio of rice to fish and tasted fresh. Salmon sushi was so buttery! Rolls were certainly worth the price, and they're cheaper than others in the area. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Quite a few solo diners and take out orders on a Tuesday night.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Very much a local hangout.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I'll be back! read more

Sakana Japanese Restaurant - Menu February 2025 - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Came here on a date. Date was terrible, but the food was so good. We got here at around 9:15 and ordered four rolls. We ordered one Philadelphia roll, two spicy tuna rolls, and one green caterpillar roll. We also ordered the crab shumai, plum wine, and a Coca-Cola. The green caterpillar roll was my favorite. The fish was really fresh, as was the avocado on top, and it was a good size. The spicy tuna rolls were also good. All rolls I ate were the right temperature, too. I am very sensitive about my sushi being too warm. The crab shumai might've been my favorite. Really good flavor and the sauce was good, too. Service: very nice and the food came out quickly. The staff even handled the rude behavior of the jerk I was with very well. I'd come back if in the area. read more

Delicious sushi, a cozy atmosphere and at an unbeatable price. This restaurant serves up food at what other dc establishments charge for happy hour. It's family run and they are so quick with the service. This has become a new favorite! read more

My spouse convinced me to go back to Sakana after multiple terrible experiences there. But, we were walking home, it was there and I was hungry. So, I though, maybe it is not as bad as I remember. I was wrong. It IS as bad as I remember. Maybe worse. The food was barely edible. The broth in my noodle soup (which I usually love) tasted like dishwater. At least I hope that means they actually wash dishes with soap. That is the one good thing I can say about the restaurant. Worse than the food is the service. If you can call it service. The server was - in a word - terrible. She barely spoke 2 words to us, that is, until it was time to deliver the check when she muttered out a "thank you." No doubt hoping to get a good tip. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The dining room too is dirty. The walls are dirty. The chairs are dirty with left over food from the prior diners left there[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. Dirty! I see no reason to ever return to this restaurant. I do NOT recommend it to anyone even my worst enemies. If Yelp allowed me to give zero stars, I certainly would. read more

Sakana is wonderful. A family run business that delivers consistently high quality sushi at reasonable prices. We also love the miso soup and yakitori don. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It is small inside so can get crowded, so it helps to call ahead for reservations if you have a large party.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Take out is also great - believe them when they say how long it will take. Highly recommended! read more

Pro-tip: Place a pick up order and pick up at the P street door, not what the directions will point you to. Also, when you arrive call them and they will come out. Food: 3* Service: 3* Value: 4* Was staying across the street and wanted sushi. Their individual sushi prices were good, the lunch were just okay in terms of price to quantity. Very fresh, tasty and delicious. read more

Sakana Japanese Restaurant - Sushi maki (salmon, tuna and albacore) - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place is odd. They claim to be open at 11:30 AM for lunch, which they are, but not for dine in. Instead you have to stand outside and either creepily look in the place until someone notices you or you need to call letting them know you're there. You can't even get to the front door as the gate is locked. The sushi is also meh. The rolls are cheap because they're tiny and basic. I spent around $25 and thought it was a waste. One and done for me. read more

In search of sushi in the Georgetown/DuPont area late Friday night and "stumbled" (I say that with air quotes as it's easy to miss) across Sakana. A traditional Japanese style restaurant with a nice assortment of sushi and other dishes. We ordered California, spider, avocado, and spicy tuna rolls plus the chicken teriyaki. The food was delicious with great presentation. Our waitress was a bit all over the place but considering how busy it was not too big a deal. Will definitely be back as it was well priced and tasted great. read more

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OH MY GOODNESS!! Stay away from this restaurant, horrible food and rude service. We came in a group of 4 about half an hour before closing. The waitress has a rude attitude, we accidentally ordered something wrong and she spoke with her voice as if we committed a crime. THE FOOD IS THE WORST PART. I ordered a KATSU DON which supposed to be deep fried pork cutlet over rice but it came out to be microwaved old fried pork cutlet with an egg over it. The soup is bland and full of processed meat. Overall, please walk couple more minutes for a better restaurant nearby. read more

Sakana Japanese Restaurant - Microwave katsu don yikes - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My boyfriend and I came here 2 1/2 years ago on our first date. I think we randomly picked a sushi place without thinking too much about it and ended up being pleasantly surprised. Due to the pandemic, we weren't able to return to dine in at this location until last week. This restaurant is a true hidden gem of the Dupont area in my opinion. The food tastes amazing and everyone is very nice and helpful. I love the decor and aesthetics of the place as well! It's small but very cozy! Will be coming back soon! read more

Sakana Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great tonkatsu, relaxed vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Feels very midnight in Tokyo.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My partner got the ramen which also came out really well. Good and friendly service. Will go back soon! read more

Affordable, charming. It's the best cheap sushi in dc. The service is prompt and professional.

surprised by ratings because this place is truly a hidden gem! this place is definitely underrated, the rolls here are very inexpensive (I.e spider rolls for 7.50 is unmatched and unheard of in the dmv area), with decent portions. Service was nothing to complain about as well. It does get crowded during dinner time, and ambiance is more like a hole in the wall vibe, but the quality and cost of food makes up for it. read more

Sakana Japanese Restaurant - a plate of sushi rolls - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We were really blown away by this place. The sushi was phenomenal and the prices were just as amazing. Unfortunately they are a bit short staffed so service can be on the slower side but this is definitely our new go-to sushi spot. read more

I half didn't want to write a review because I was afraid it would get flooded with customers but I have to let the world know. Best no frills Japanese restaurant in DC hands down. Preparation is simple but don't mistake simple for bad because less is more here. What really stood out for me was their vegetarian rolls. Typically veggie rolls are an afterthought in most restaurants but not here. Each filling beautifully seasoned, and that is where I was able to really appreciate how well the rice was prepared. The veggie futomaki was delicious. You really cannot go wrong with any dish here. Their cutlets and rice bowls are also yummy and with generous portions. After all the muss and fuss of other sushi restaurants, this place is just...refreshing. They're a small operation, but service was quick and friendly. read more

The sushi is very good, the steak is great and excellent services. I'll return with my family.

Food is good but the service is terrible. First, there is no system for who got to the restaurant first. Our party was all there but the restaurant gave a table to a guy who said he was there first. His party soon arrived after. The fact that they don't have a check in system when people arrive, the restaurant is tiny, it just was not a pleasant experience. We did take the food to go and the food was fine. read more

Look, if you're looking for amazing Japanese food and top notch sushi, this probably isn't your place. But if you're looking for a good neighborhood spot with decent sushi and ramen, check out Sakana. We had the ramen - it was OK - agedashi tofu - it was OK - and various sushi. I really enjoyed the ume shiso, my daughter liked the maguro, and my husband was content with his chirashi. Are we going to rave about it, recommending it as a must-go to friends? Probably not, but for the price points and the convenience, it got the job done. I would've liked our water to be refilled, but it wasn't that detrimental to the experience for me. read more

Nice little hole in the wall sushi restaurant. Decent price for decent sushi. I had the miso soup and sushi/sashimi combo. The sushi was above average and at a good price. Decent place if you're looking for reasonably priced sushi. Good staff and fast service. read more

Traditional Japanese sushi. Small location, yet wonderful. Clean, kind staff. You'll miss it if you're not looking for it. So happy I stumbled upon it on a lovely street here in Washington D.C. I always prefer to sit at the bar when eating sushi. You can thank the sushi chef's that way. I get Miso Soup to start, and get a spicy tuna hand roll. (Sometimes two!) And other rolls. The first time I was here it was busy. They do take reservations. Today it's a holiday, but they are open. They've been here 30 years! Give them a try. They aim to please. read more

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Sakana was the very first restaurant that introduced me to sushi--this was many years ago, when it initially opened. Its underground digs appealed to me; the small, modestly-decorated space was novel and charming. I was intrigued by the new cuisine. After years of consuming sushi, I know a bit more about it and still enjoy eating it here. There is something about this place that is appealing. I'm happy to write that Sakana's menu has really not changed since they've been in business (30 years). This consistency has served their customers very well. The interior is the same too, except the cloth of the traditional sushi shop curtains has switched from blue to red. As far as recent experiences go, I've visited three times in 2016, and two times (so far) in 2017. The food was satisfying each time. The wait staff is usually competent. The sushi chefs stationed behind the bar are skilled and gracious. My go-to dishes: maki roll: dragon roll; California roll special roll: Sakana tempura sushi roll (favorite) sushi: eel; sea urchin appetizers: any of their tempura offerings; seaweed salad My only pet peeve about this establishment is that it closes between lunch and dinner and sometimes opens late. read more

Sakana Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Favorite place for sushi in Washington DC. A staple of quality affordable sushi! The hamachi is fantastic. The food in general is fantastic. Spicy tuna roll, eel and avocado and they actually have shumai. Hard to get those that are any good. This place is fantastic and has been for a long time. read more

We ordered a sushi and sashimi combo (7 tiny pieces of sashimi, tamago, ebi, and gluten nigiri unfortunately included ), 3 maki, and a bowl of shoyu ramen. Pieces are on the smaller side and the fish isn't super fresh, but it's an ok neighborhood joint when you need your sushi fix. I don't recommend getting the ramen here. The broth tastes like instant ramen broth from the little silver packets. read more

Sakana Japanese Restaurant - Sushi and sashimi combo - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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My favorite neighborhood spot for sushi. More affordable, authentic, and tasty than Rakuya!

Had a decent lunch at Sakana! This tiny little restaurant could use a face lift! The chairs/tables are super old and the whole place seems a bit dingy. We started off with the miso soup and salad. I wasn't a fan of the salad dressing - it was very vinegary. The miso soup was pretty good. Moving on to sushi. I really like their bagel roll and crispy shrimp roll. It's nice to have a shrimp roll with tempura flakes. It's a lot lighter than a traditional shrimp tempura roll. Their rainbow roll was way too cumbersome and hard to eat. We had good service and the owner of the restaurant is a sweet lady. The prices are decent. I'll probably be back for more! read more

Called to ask if they take a reservation. They said they did. Asked me what time they wanted for the reservation which I said the time( 7pm). After they took my name which is Japanese name... they said " oh we are closed!"... it is very strange they were open til they heard my name and told me they are closed for the day. I am visiting DC and never thought I would be rejected from Japanese restaurant. Horrible! read more

Three and a half stars. Service is polite and the tea is a little over-steeped. There was a mix-up with Lia's order and she ended up getting sukiyaki instead of yakisoba, but I still appreciated what I tasted of the soup. The rounded harusame noodles weren't overcooked and the broth was well-balanced. Halved baby carrots, shiitake mushrooms, and napa cabbage made up most of the vegetable filler. No sear on the tofu. My chirashi had about an even split on knifework and overall fish quality. Tamago was a bit overcooked, ebi and ika were a bit shredded, but bean curd skin wasn't overly sweet. My favorites were the tako and hokkigai, though the salmon and maguro were just fine. Rice skated by a passing grade. I didn't mind my experience here but I wouldn't come running back with other sushi places consistently excelling. Update: bento box is great value even if the tempura was just okay. I'll try shoyu ramen next, but the miso version was plenty salty. A few tender slices of red-roasted pork, two halves of hardboiled egg, finely chopped scallions, thick lengths of white onion. Perfectly chewy noodles won me over despite a little clumping. read more

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Delicious, affordable sushi just minutes from the Dupont Circle metro station. Ordered 6 rolls and our bill was only $40. Only downside was that the rolls were a bit on the smaller side... but I'm still satisfied given they were ~$5 each. My favorite was the crunchy shrimp roll, and my partner enjoyed the bagel roll the most. Will definitely be coming back! read more

Sakana Japanese Restaurant - Spicy tuna roll, crunchy shrimp roll, bagel roll, salmon + avocado roll, yellowtail + scallions roll - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Good sushi in DC. But has limited alcohol choice. The rolls are cheap and fresh. I will recommend people come here for an easy meal.

Today for the first time in maybe six months, I had lunch at Sakana. Finally I forced myself to order something else other than Unatama Don. I ordered today "Katsu Curry Don". It's pork cutlet and Japanese style curry on rice. What's unique about this dish is that in Japan we serve Katsu Curry on a western style plate and never in a bowl. But Sakana serves it in a bowl. This was my first time to try this dish here and I enjoyed it but wished it had more curry or at least Tonkatsu sauce. (or Bulldog Sauce) The pork cutlet was very thin but nice and crispy outside. They must have pounded a tiny slice of pork loin and made it wide and thin. The service is a little slow but this is still a good value casual Japanese restaurant. read more

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Seriously my favorite sushi spot EVER. After living and traveling in different places, this sushi spot is still my fav spot! This place made me fall in love with veggie sushi. Their veggie tempura sushi roll is . Always great and friendly service. Right now only doing curbside pick up. read more

Sakana Japanese Restaurant - Spinach roll and veggie tempura sushi roll - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Partner and I braved rainy weather to try dinner on Saturday. The restaurant is only open for dinner on Saturdays starting at 5:30. We ordered a couple of starters, the Age Dashi Tofu and the seaweed salad. Both were good. The coating on the tofu does get soggy as it sits in the sauce so should be eaten quickly. Good item to share with one or 2 people. The marinade on the seaweed was refreshing. We then shared 3 rolls: spider roll, tempura shrimp roll and the dragon roll, which cost $13.75. It came with a huge piece of unagi. All of the rolls were tasty. Lastly, we got a bowl of udon with a couple of tempura shrimp, a fish ball, some veggies and a poached egg on top. It was great for a cold evening. There's a wide variety of sushi rolls and sashimi as well as sukiyaki. If we were staying in DC longer we would come again. Prices were very reasonable. Very no frills feeling, like a mom n pop shop, but good quality. read more

I saw this place on yelp and was hungry to try. They seem to have very affordable options. I got the unagi bowl for $20 something, mixed tempura appetizer, and the pork don Katy's curry bowl. I really liked the unagi bowl. They give you a lot of eel. Tasted fresh and rich. The tempura was not as crispy as I though. Maybe because it was take out. My least favorite was the kayak don curry. Curry was flavorless, had too much frozen corn and carrots that they throw in. The pork was nice and juicy though. Overall, decent quality and price. read more

I've been getting sushi at Sakana for years, and I highly recommend. The price point is unbelievable, the food quality is great, fresh and tasty foods/sushi, and the vibe - small, lively with GW students, and feels like a Japanese Izakaya in NYC. The service is fantastic. All the staff are friendly and genuine. Management always comes and greets me. Be a shame not to come to Sakana! read more

Sakana Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We came to Sakana looking to satisfy our Japanese food craving! And it did, to an extent. I ordered (2) spicy tuna roll and I got the vegetable Udon. The portions of the rolls are small only 4 pieces per roll that's why I had to order 2. The Udon was lacking a flavor element that I can't place my finger on but I was able to fix that with some soy sauce and chili seasoning. I gave them a 3 Star because of the size of the portions. If you're going there really hungry be prepared to order extra stuff rolls because 1 will not satisfy your hunger. However, it still tasted good and the staff was friendly and quick! read more

Sakana Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We ordered the sushi. California and spicy tuna- this was decent. I'm from Hawaii and have been to Japan-it was not a roll. My daughter ordered the shoyu ramen, it was a little bland. I ordered the Katsu curry don. I wish I had as much pork as I did onions. I had three pieces of tonkatsu . . . That was it! The flavor of the curry was also bland. I think the kicker was the "little friend" we had on our wall that we named, "Roachy" I'll let you use your imagination to what was crawling around us. I know I'm from Hawaii so I probably have higher standards but this is a place I would avoid. read more

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I love Sakana. I will never not love Sakana. Fairly priced, excellent sushi, no frills. Their spicy mayo is a combo of kewpie and homemade sriracha and is the best I've ever had. Frequent this neighborhood place, you won't regret it. read more

I have been coming here since I was a small child with my grandparents who live around the corner. They always recognize us and always have a table ready! Lunch time you always get soup and salad with your meal...I have been to many Japanese restaurants in my life but their salad dressing is TO DIE FOR!! like lick the bottom of the bowl good! Their teriyaki chicken and negimaki are both really delicious and stayed consistently good over the years! Their sushi is no muss or fuss just good cuts of delicious fish! Their nigiri in particular is melt in your mouth consistency and worth the price Go check out this neighborhood gem and make it part of your lunch sushi routine!! read more

This place is hot fucking garbage. I ordered the beef teriyaki. I got 2oz of actual meat, 4oz of fat. The 2oz of beef I did get was overcooked with no sauce. Literally the worst teriyaki I've ever had. The sushi was midgrade too. Go literally anywhere else read more