Came here for my husband's birthday, and we had a great time! At the time we ate here, I was pregnant, and they were very thorough with my food. I am also gluten free - and they were super helpful with what I could eat with being both gluten free and pregnant! I had cooked meat and sides, with miso soup and edamame. We briefly spoke with the owner who said some of their food is flown in from Japan. Amazing!!! Now that I'm not pregnant anymore- we will be coming back to eat more off the menu, particularly their sushi :D The ambiance was great and stylish, and parking was easy for us right in front of the restaurant. read more

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I decided to give this a try since my go to Japanese place in McLean has a boring bento box. While Sho's bento box was a bit nicer, I was disappointed with the following: *Miso soup is diluted! For a sushi or bento box meal, a good miso soup is a must. *The box was tiny: I expect to be full when I consume a bento box. Sho's was much smaller than what most Japanese restaurants serve in the DMV area. *Kara age is certainly not their forte and was one of the worse ones I've had in this area Additionally, they only sell a $12 large pot of hot tea for a group, and I was surprised. They should serve a single cup size for solo diners or for a party of 2. I got an eel avocado roll to be full after finishing my bento box. While service was great, this place is way overpriced and I will stick with my regular Japanese spots. read more

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After reading several great reviews, we decided to give this restaurant a try. The space is beautifully decorated, and parking was easy (we went around 2:30 PM for lunch, so the lot was fairly empty). Service was attentive throughout the meal. As for the food, the ingredients were clearly high quality. The chicken dishes were excellent--well-seasoned, juicy, and tender. We also tried the salmon, which was fresh and rich. My only critique was the squid ink pasta. The squid ink already has a strong, distinctive flavor, and the addition of truffle felt more competing than complementary. Both ingredients are bold, but together the combination lacked harmony. Overall, a very enjoyable meal, and we'd happily return. read more

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Wish I lived here in Nova for places like Sho! Elegant place that is all deserving of praise. Love their plating and every dish we had was delicious. The fish, skewers, sushi, all great. One notable thing was that I had an odd tendon/piece in one of my karaage pieces. But other than that, everything else was perfect. Oh and also reasonably priced! Highly recommended! read more

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Is a very sleek and modern design when you walk in suitable for either date nights or casual gatherings. The parking lot is pretty small and shared by a couple of other restaurants in the area, but there is a garage parking close by and street parking if you can find some. The wait staff was friendly and kind and sent us to our table and we were attended to pretty quickly. The service was pretty good with our waters topped off and questions answered! Service 4/5! Yakitori platter: The pork belly was pretty salty and a little bit tough, my least favorite of the platter. Seasoning was okay. The problem, I think, that it was over a marinated which made it super salty, it wasn't balanced. I would recommend adding something to balance out the saltines and not marinate it for so long. 2/5 The steak was just okay, it was pretty tough and gristly, not my favorite either, the seasoning and marinade were decent but couldn't save the toughness. Overall, 2/5 Chicken meatball, chicken thigh, chicken breast were all great! Good marinade and moist and juicy! They were the most enjoyable! 4/5 for all of them! The mushrooms wrapped in bacon was interesting, not my thing but interesting, not horrible but not good? I'd probably pass on it next time. 1/5 Overall, disappointed with the steak and pork belly and wouldn't spend your money on them, while chicken was good, dunno if you'd go out of the way to order it if that makes sense. Gyoza: meh, not much there with flavor or taste, not memorable at all, just mid. 2.5/5 SUSHI: Hamachi and scallion Temaki, this is served open like a "taco style" I found this to be enjoyable! The yellowtail was marinated with a subtile flavor that added to the flavor! 3.5/5 Med fatty tuna, chutoro, nigiri was great with flavor and tenderness but my only problem was that there was too mush membrane in the cut where it's hard to chew and where you need to spit it out. Just wish that wasn't there tbh, 3.5/5 The salmon and tuna flight were all great! If I were to nitpick, the rice seasoning was a bit too much, taking away from the flavor of the salmon and tuna. But overall it was enjoyable, 3.8/5 Overall, the food was good, but it is very expensive for what you get, nothing stood out to be amazing that would set this place over the many sushi places in the area. Service is good and ambiance is very pleasant just not sure if it's completely worth it Might go back but with the many options there it's hard to decide. read more

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What a cute little spot and a hidden gem! I truly enjoyed my experience here. The staff were very personable and friendly. This was our first outing post baby so definitely an experience. We started off with the drinks off the cocktail menu- beware they are nice and strong! The quality of the fish was impeccable. Not pictured: hamachi jalapeño (5/5), Shotoro roll (4/5), Kiku sake roll (4/5). read more

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Solid spot for good sushi! They also go Demon Slayer themed drinks. I've seen people in Demon Slayer gear come in her for dinner time. The Nezuko and the Love Hashira are pretty similar with the Love Hashira cocktail being more yuzu-y but the guava taste shines through. For appetizers, we got the karaage and truffle fries. The karaage was fried pieces of chicken thigh so it was juicy and came out hot. Not too oily compare to most other fried chicken appetizers. We also got the truffle fries (not on the menu) but they were dry and not very truffle-flavored so they were somewhat disappointing. The aki has a sweet honey mayo on top with relatively thick torched salmon pieces. The shorin is a bit hard to see since it is covered by the seaweed, but it was creamy from the fresh uni. The tuna flights were really good with relatively thick various pieces of tuna fish. The otoro was fatty and rich, but I prefer the firmness from the akami. Their black sesame dessert is SO GOOD. Rich black and thick ice cream that melts. I didn't love the panna cotta as the ube flavor was too strong and sweet for me, but I think if you love ube you would love this dessert. read more

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I have always wanted to try this spot for the longest time and glad to have finally been able to and it was a tremendous experience! Right upon entry, we were greeted with a warm friendly smile and the eagerness to assist. The overall ambiance has a premium feel with trendy lighting and decorations perfect for family, friends, or a nice romantic meal. They import their sushi and it was fresh! They have a lot of options with different menus for their lunch, specials, and all specialize drinks. I opted for the Chirashi and Shosake roll and both were fulfilling and delicious. I may have found my new favorite spot and will definitely be back again. They have about 10+ tables, so a reservation on weekends or special holidays may be recommended. Parking is available in the garage or outdoor lot, which can be limited as it is shared with the surrounding establishments. Enjoy! read more

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A cozy hidden gem in McLean, VA. The sushi are all fresh (seafood from Japan flown in daily). Their grilled tuna collar is excellent as well as the yuzu miso butter clams. We enjoyed the salmon platter and the Temaki. We will definitely come back to explore other menu items. read more

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Enjoyed this place! Seemed to give off more premium, upscale vibes but did not come dressed like that unfortunately. Still had a comfortable experience though. Started off with some of their Demon Slayer themed drinks which were tasty and fun. My only question is why did they not use the Love Hashira's real name for her drink! :P Got five sushi rolls, one of the newer hot dishes, and the matcha tiramisu. Initially got three rolls but still felt hungry after, so had to order more. The pork sweet potato puree dish was nice and interesting with its flavours, but definitely not filling. I'd say the experience ended up being a bit more pricier than expected to be fully satisfied but still a good meal I'd recommend. But the matcha tiramisu was truly addictive, I wanted to order a second one! Service was nice and attentive I'd say. A spot worth trying out for sushi and Japanese food but be aware of the price point; I'd come back to try other stuff and get the tiramisu again. read more

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From the moment you walk into SHō Sushi & Izakaya, the tone is set with a genuine "irashaimase" that immediately makes you feel welcome. That warmth carries throughout the entire experience, all the way to the "arigato" as you leave. The ambiance is modern, clean, and inviting--elevated without feeling formal. The drink menu is a standout, especially the mocktails, which are just as thoughtfully crafted and beautifully presented as everything else. Service was exceptional. Polly was attentive and warm without ever hovering, and Patty, the owner, made a point to personally introduce the restaurant, which added a really special touch. The food absolutely delivered. The yakitori platter was flavorful and perfectly grilled, and the shrimp tempura roll was fresh, light, and beautifully presented. What really sets SHō apart is how intentional everything feels--from the hospitality to the food to the overall atmosphere. It's the kind of place you look forward to returning to! read more

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More of a 3.5 but considering it's quite new, I'll leave it at a 4. It's in a weird little nook area in the middle of downtown McLean, a short walk for me. When you enter, the decor and ambiance is quiet, chilled, and dark. So, probably good for date night. The table arrangement made the already small space even smaller. It just looked very crowded, which wasn't comfortable. We didn't have reservations but we were seated right away as we busted in considerably before dinner time. The sake was good. The list was extensive but the prices were noticeably higher in comparison to other similar restaurants. Service was good but we wouldn't mind if they left the bottle near our table. The food was good. Flavor was deep. The sushi was fresh and well presented. We mostly enjoyed the experience but haven't made it into our regular rounds yet. read more

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The highlight of the meal was the lunch special of squid ink linguini and scallops. It was flavored with a lovely yuzu sauce paired with juicy Hokkaido scallops. It was creamy, rich, but the yuzu shone through as citrusy. The Shomakase was highly anticipated, but a little underwhelming for the price. We expected more of a variety of fish but there were a few repeats and both the appetizer and the sushi hand roll at the end were salmon. The quality of the fish was great, and each flavor pairing was unique and innovative. Restaurant has limited free parking out front in a lot. Recommend making a reservation. Restaurant ambiance is lovely for a lunch or dinner for two as it's a bit on the smaller side. Formal atmosphere but not fine dining. read more

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Tried Sho Sushi & Izakaya and had a solid experience overall. The fact that both the chef and server are Japanese definitely adds authenticity, and you can taste it in the food--everything felt fresh and well-prepared. The sushi quality stood out, especially the fish freshness and clean presentation. Service was attentive without being overbearing, which made the meal feel relaxed and enjoyable. That said, the pricing runs a bit high for what you get. It's good, but not quite at a level where the cost feels fully justified. Overall: 4 -- great quality and authentic vibe, just slightly overpriced. read more

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We had a good experience overall! We just came back from Japan so it was nice to be welcomed that way. We had sushi, branzino, & some grilled veggies and it was all delicious. It's decently priced so we would def go again! read more

Overall, my experience was positive. At first glance, the menu seemed somewhat overpriced; however, after tasting the sushi rolls and noting their generous portions, I found the prices might be ok. The restaurant exudes a strong, classy, and elegant ambiance. The service was good but could benefit from improvement. Our server was cheerful and welcoming, though lacked detailed explanations about the dishes, which would have been helpful, especially for first time visitors. The restaurant offers a comprehensive wine list, making it an ideal choice for a date night or dinner outing. One notable observation is the $10 charge for sparkling water, which felt rather steep. I was interested in the Shōmakase box; however, at $80, it seemed more suited for a special occasion than lunch. The yakitori platter made for a satisfying snack when paired with cocktail or beers. I highly recommend the Shōtoro Roll and Kiku Sake Roll. Additionally, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the pork gyoza and enjoyed the Chicken Karaage with spicy mayo. For two people, the total can easily exceed $200 if drinks are ordered. During peak hours, I recommend parking on the lower level, as some drivers may be careless, and you want to avoid potential damage to your vehicle. The traffic could be an issue too : ) read more

Amazing food and I highly recommend trying the branzino Hot Saki was good I can't wait to come back read more

SHō Sushi & Izakaya - Matcha cheesecake - Sushi Bars Near Me - McLean, Virginia

Literally the best sushi restaurant in Northern VA! I can't speak to the hot dishes since I only got the sushi. The fish in the sushi was so fresh and delicious. The sushi melts in your mouth. I talked to the owner and he said they import the fish from Japan. The service was outstanding! Multiple waiters checked on me frequently, they provided me great recommendations, and they were extremely friendly. The atmosphere was the best part! The decor is modern, the lightening is dim, and the area is quaint. Since the restaurant is small, I would suggest making a reservation. The wine glasses and water glasses were very upscale and delicate! The only downside was there's no bar area. read more

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Yes! Yes! Yes! When I'm in the area I try to always try a new restaurant and today I wanted sushi! And this place really delivered with the ambiance, food, and service! I believe they were still in the soft opening phase because they did not sale hard liquor yet. But for me it wasn't a big deal as I wanted a nice glass of wine. I first went to the bathroom and snapped a few pictures as the bathroom was set up really nice and clean. I can't remember the rolls I got but both were really good and fresh and the edamame was so good I wish I would have got one to go. Now the price is a little bit more than some might want to spend but it is well worth it. I forgot to take a picture of the sign as it was pretty. Can't wait to come back when I'm in the area! read more

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Very good food, Managment, and quality. I would definitely recommend this restaurant for you!

I had high hopes for this new spot -- the space is beautiful but quite small. Just a heads up: there's no bar, so it's sake and wine only. We tried a few of the yakitoris, which were unfortunately pretty average and didn't taste authentic. As for the hot entrees, the salmon was overcooked and heavy on the yuzu. No. No. No. Way too tart. The mashed edamame that came with it was an interesting touch, but not particularly memorable - though the birch mushrooms paired nicely. The highlights? The hotate (scallop) and ebi (shrimp) nigiri - both fresh and flavorful. Overall, it was underwhelming. We didn't feel inspired to explore more of the menu, and I don't think l'll be back. read more

I visited SHō Sushi & Izakaya last night (7pm dinner) and left impressed. This spot strikes a lovely balance between elevated Japanese cuisine and approachable izakaya vibes. Here's what stood out. Atmosphere & Service * The space is beautifully done: modern design with warm lighting, clean lines, and an intimate feel. Even at 7pm it was lively, comfortable, inviting. * Staff were attentive and friendly without being overbearing. They answered questions about menu items, offered recommendations, and the pacing of service was good (not rushed, not waiting forever). What We Ate (Highlights) We ordered omakase, the salmon set, karaage, pork belly yakitori, a few hand rolls, dessert (black sesame cream & crème brûlée). * Omakase: A standout. Each piece felt fresh, well-composed, and thoughtfully plated. * Salmon set: Gorgeous salmon -- rich flavor, nice texture -- paired with rice that struck a good degree of stickiness vs fluff. * Karaage: Crispy, moist inside, good seasoning. Great start to the meal. * Pork belly yakitori: Juicy, caramelized glaze, wonderful balance of flavor. * Hand rolls: Fresh, creative, fun -- rolling and eating them adds a casual interactive touch. * Desserts: The black sesame cream had a deep, toasty flavor without being too heavy; the crème brûlée's crust was crisp and crackled well, the custard beneath silky-smooth. Final Thoughts If you love sushi, creative Japanese small plates, and an upscale-but-not-pretentious dining experience, SHō Sushi & Izakaya is absolutely worth trying. It hits high marks for quality, atmosphere, and service. I'll be back -- maybe try a different set of dishes and bring a friend so we can share more items. Highly recommended. read more

I really wanted to give a better review of this place, I really do. But part of me compelled to write an honest review of my experience here. I love japanese izakaya so I tried every dish except for maybe one. Half the dishes were cold when coming out, and I don't know how because we were only one of the two tables they had occupied at the time. Maybe they were waiting for all the izakaya dishes to be ready? I think we ordered maybe 7 or 8 unique izakaya dishes. Aside from the temperature, I didn't really enjoy most of them, so that was a bust. I went with two others, and they didn't eat much (since they didn't find it tasty), so naturally had to finish all the mediocre dishes myself since... can't be wasteful now. We also ordered cream uni udon and their mushroom risotto. Not only was the risotto really bland and had NO salt, it was also cold... Do they not make it fresh or was it sitting while waiting for the other dishes? It wasn't even warm, it was room-temp to cold. Makes me question if they even make it fresh back there. The cream udon was the best dish of all the dishes we ordered (and it was warm). Ordered about $170+ worth of food and that is the one dish I would recommend. Other than that, I will not be coming back to this establishment since I nearly tried the whole izakaya menu. Wanted to order sushi too, but after tasting the Izakaya, I was very unmotivated to do so. Unfortunate since I was very excited to have a hopeful good asian restaurant nearby... read more

SHō Sushi & Izakaya - uni cream udon was good. risotto was not - Sushi Bars Near Me - McLean, Virginia

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Ambiance is nice, service was fine. We came during restaurant week where a prix fixe menu was offered. We were asked for all of our selections up front, but were only told at the end that our dessert choices were unavailable. This is something that must be disclosed from the start, because it affects your decision to do prix fixe or not. I really don't appreciate how this was handled. First course hamachi was beautiful but didn't have much flavor at all. Needed soy sauce at least. Second course branzino and crispy rice was also beautiful, and very good. For third course, I initially selected velvet cheesecake and was told at the end that they only had the panna cotta available. Pretty plating again, but not much flavor. read more

I wanted to go back right when I left. This place is amazing! I enjoyed the different options, gluten free options, and the flavor! I felt like I was back in Japan tasting high quality foods. I went with my wife and found that the service, food, and experience was high quality. The staff was attentive and knowledgable about gluten in their food. I had the steak, salmon, edamame, and karage. Everything was flavorful and unique. The ingredients were fresh and came out hot. I really love the decor and find that the restaurant achieves its ability to portray a Japanese izakaya. I really want to bring my brother here next time he visits and am really happy that I they opened up in the area. read more

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It was delicious. I love the atmosphere. It was quiet and the service was great. Very attentive.

Yes I was very impressed with this Japanese chef at the Sho Sushi sashimi wonderful collection of the Japanese premium sake. Extremely beautiful place inside you feel like serenity with the Japanese starch well trained beautifully dress waitresses open kitchen you can see how your Japanese food is made and I'm long time resident of McLane Virginia since 1989 and I have to tell you this restaurant will go up to the standard of the top New York Japanese restaurants people told me it's a little bit expensive but of course always you have to pay for the high quality chef high quality ingredients the restaurant is right downtown McLean on Elm Street in the only one design business restaurant center Beverly road and Elm Street read more

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SHō Sushi & Izakaya has just opened up, and they describe themselves as a 'premium casual Japanese cuisine with a Western twist'. Currently in their soft opening, so their menu will be expanding soon! We tried their SHōmakase, which included 8 nigiris and a temaki. Everything was fresh and beautifully presented. The space is clean and well-decorated, and the owners are friendly and welcoming! +soft opening +SHōmakase +reservations accepted read more

Nice ambiance/service and good quality sushi. Docking one star because it is definitely more expensive to comparable sushi restaurants in the area. If you want bang for buck and less "showy" dishes, this is not the place for that. read more

Visited Sho for the first time today for lunch. I ordered the Natsu and the Tuna Flight to-go. I was able to arrive at the restaurant earlier than expected, so I asked if I could sit down and eat my order. The manager said hesitated because he said he would have to re-plate the order. I offered to eat the food out of the containers, which couldn't have looked too bad in the empty restaurant. However, he insisted it mattered too much to him and followed with stating that I would not be allowed to eat my food in the EMPTY restaurant. The two sushi orders, the Natsu and the Tuna Flight, totaled to $66. The Natsu was a smaller roll than expected. I thought with the 3 different fish, it would be more flavorful, but it was bland. While the tuna flight was flavorful, I only received 3 of the 4 nigiri as promised in the flight. They included some sort of spicy tuna hand roll instead. I would've ordered differently had I known they were unable to satisfy the order. Overall, pretty disappointed I chose this restaurant out of all the great places nearby. read more

SHō Sushi & Izakaya - Natsu - Sushi Bars Near Me - McLean, Virginia

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We ordered lunch special which included green salad with ginger dressing, Tuna & avocado rolls, Tempura, and Gyoza and Miso soup. Tempura was crispy and good. Nothing special about it. Presentation was good but Over priced. read more

SHō Sushi & Izakaya - Sushi Bars Near Me - McLean, Virginia

Great addition to old McLean! Delicious and amazing service, beautiful ambiance, incredible hand rolls read more

SHō Sushi & Izakaya - Hamachi Jalapeno so good!!!! - Sushi Bars Near Me - McLean, Virginia

We love this cute sushi spot. The ambiance is elegant and clean. The fish always tastes fresh and high quality, and there's such a wide selection of hot and cold dishes. Service is impeccable -- after a couple of visits, the servers recognize us with a smile and remember our previous orders. Parking is easy, we've always been able to get a table, the food comes out fast, and we feel welcome to take our time. read more

My husband and I celebrated my birthday here and we had such a great experience! The entire team was so attentive, especially our waiter, Pauline C. The interior was modern and sleek. We tried the omakase, tuna flight, and SHorin roll. If it's your first time there I would recommend the omakase. Every dish was presented beautifully and tasted very fresh. We want to try the hot foods next time. read more

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I am delighted to recommend SHō Sushi & Izakaya restaurant.. as one of my top choices moving forward. This new sushi restaurant serves the best Uni ever, fresh fish, clean, has many selection of drinks ,delicious food, and the owner always offers a nice and warm welcome . read more

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It was a pleasant experience from the atmosphere to the food selection and the the service. Highly recommend, the sushi is very tasty and clean. read more

we ordered lunch special which included tempura, Tuna & Avocado roll, gyoza, green salad. Miso soup. Tempura was good as crispy. however, Over price. read more

This is a great spot in McLean. We tried a number of items from a speciality roll to sushi, nigiri and their izakaya platters. Food was outstanding. One of the best mackerels and king salmons I have had in a very long time. Our server Polly did a great job and Obi, the manager, had excellent recommendations for Japanese whiskey. The ambience is chic and it's fun to watch the chefs doing their magic. Seafood quality was top notch. We loved it!! must try in McLean. read more

SHō Sushi & Izakaya - Kitchen - Sushi Bars Near Me - McLean, Virginia

Officially opening isn't for another week or so - but we had the "Shomakase" (Omakase) and dessert of matcha tiramisu. (Delish!!!) Everything was fresh and there was a larger diversity of fish than we have seen In Most of the NoVa sushi restaurants . Definitely we will be returning. (Also, our server was lovely and very friendly) read more

SHō Sushi & Izakaya - Matcha tiramusu - Sushi Bars Near Me - McLean, Virginia

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A bit hard to find the 1st time as it's tucked away on the side of wok and afghan places. But such a wonderful intimate place! Seafood was FRESH and clean and light and apparently flown in from Japan. We had a selection of skewers, pork belly, beef rib and unagi. The unagi was my least favorite as it was a bit gummy. But the flavors of the rest were off the hook. The grilled tongue was easily my favorite as it was buttery and just melted in my Mouth. But the star of the show is easily the nigiri and sashimi. As lifelong Japanese food lovers, this was easily the best and most authentic restaurant in the area. Don't skip on the karaage and desserts either! Miso ice cream!! Even the green tea Is excellent. Would definitely return and try the Omakase next time! read more

SHō Sushi & Izakaya - Bday surprise w matcha cheesecake, miso ice cream and fresh fruit - Sushi Bars Near Me - McLean, Virginia