We had a pleasant early dinner here with my toddler. I asked for a nice table where she would be away from other tables and somewhat free to move around after being in her stroller all day and they easily accommodated us as a corner table with soft seating on one side like a bench and two chairs on the other. This allowed her to freely wander a bit and entertain herself leaning on the bench and playing. We tried several things and all were very good and fresh and fast out of the kitchen. Our server was efficient and friendly and running around like crazy - she probably had more than 10 tables from what we could see! We tried the cold Sake, Chicken Gyoza, Shrimp and Veggie Tempura, Chicken fried rice, and chicken noodles. Portions weren't huge, but were fair and enough to share with all the other items we got. Enjoyed our meal and would def. come back. Great location - close to everything downtown and easily walkable from Dupont and the Capital area. read more

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I visited Umaya Izakaya earlier in the month before going to the Caps hockey game. It was walking distance from the stadium with a chill vibe. We were immediately seated upon entering. It was a pleasant experience and tasty food. I ordered spicy chicken ramen and it was perfect. It was the perfect amount of spice. I would definitely come back for it! read more

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Umaya Izakaya is centrally located in downtown DC and offers adequate seating for a relaxed night out. The real star here is the sushi bar--the chefs are creative, flexible, and clearly skilled. Ask for sushi with no rice and instead of a side-eye, you get a confident "we can do that." The fish was melt-in-your-mouth fresh, thoughtfully plated--clean flavors, no rush, well executed. Service, however, was a miss this particular night. The hostess and staff felt disengaged, didn't check in, and a simple green tea refill turned into hot water instead of... you know... green tea. Small thing, but it matters. Strong food, especially the sushi. If service tightens up, this place could easily move from solid to standout. read more

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We stopped here after the holiday market to eat and have a yap session. It was mostly empty which was quite fine with us, getting away from the crowd we were just in was much needed. We were sat quickly and approached pretty fast. We ended up ordering kimchi, chicken and scallion takitori, spicy chicken ramen, and the shoyu ramen. The kimchi was delicious, fresh. The takitori had the nice grilled flavor profile. She loved her spicy chicken ramen, emphasizing how tasty the broth was. My shoyu was on the bland side so I was disappointed; I added some soy sauce to living it up but it didn't help as much as I hoped. If I came back I would try the tonkotsu. read more

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Was craving some fried rice and decided to check this place out. Overall, decent. The fried rice has sufficient aromatics & variety of ingredients as well as an acceptable portion for the price. However, I would have liked more savory / umami notes. Maybe more sauce and/ mushroom. read more

Umaya Izakaya - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've come here many times before a show at one of the local theaters or to just enjoy a big bowl of ramen on a cold day. Recently, we came here before an educational talk nearby. We ordered our own bowls (tonkatsu ramen and beef ramen) and chowed down. I did the "make it spicy" option which meant I was provided a chili paste on the side and could ramp up the heat to my own liking. I started small and eventually added the entire portion into my soup; it was flavorful and added a nice heat to the soup! The service was good; our server checked in on us multiple times throughout our meal and was friendly. The restaurant itself was clean, although there were a few mosquitos inside and we left with a couple of bites. I'll definitely be back. read more

Umaya Izakaya - Tonkotsu ramen - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The miso soup was very flavorful. My sushi meal was delightful. Should have ordered more! Very clean and welcoming environment. The service was quick and kind. read more

Umaya Izakaya - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place is fabulous. A family of five with divergent tastes were all able to find something to suit their fancy. Yakisoba explodes with flavor and crunchy vegetables. Veggie gyoza are the best I've ever tasted. Everything tasted like it was made from scratch moments before it was served. So happy the staff were able to get us a table on a Saturday night. We feel very lucky. read more

Umaya Izakaya - Veggie Ramen (V) with a hard boiled egg. - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A group of us had dinner here and basically it was fine; nothing amazing but nothing bad. I had an Angry Dragon cocktail and it was good, but I did find it interesting that all cocktails were served in the same glasses regardless of type of cocktail and all had some similar features (e.g. all shaken, none on the rocks, none with garnishes of any type). I had an order of edamame which was good, and not over salted. I then had a mango tango roll which wasn't cut through all the way, and was good, but not as interesting as I'd hoped...if I had ordered this at a fast, counter-service sushi place, I'd be satisfied, but for a $20 roll, I'd like to see a bit higher quality. Service was fine, but we weren't asked if we wanted anything else before the check was dropped off even though it was well before closing and there were open tables. read more

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A very open airy space. Staff was friendly and warm. Food was delicious and tasty. I think for me the portions were slightly smaller than I hoped for at the prices charged but it was fresh and well seasoned. read more

Overall the food was nothing amazing. The ramen was average at best. Ambiance was probably the best thing here. Bathrooms clean. For the price I would pass not worth it. read more

It's been a few years since we've been here but we really chowed down on the skewers!! They were really good! Just watch out for their MP draft beers (if they still have them) - they used to get in Japanese microbrews, which were really tasty - but CHECK THE PRICE! We got a bit of a shock when we got the bill Honestly though - nice place for skewers - a bit pricey, but also nice atmosphere & good for groups - I just prefer some other izakaya in the area for their cheap sake and small plate options read more

I went at a slow time, so my service was pretty attentive. Right off the bat, it is a very spacious spot. I went for both the ramen and chirashi bowl. Both are delicious and I have nothing wrong to say about my experience here. Pretty standard dishes, but too much rice for the chirashi bowl. I don't understand why people don't average the place higher. read more

Umaya Izakaya - Chirashi bowl. Yummy! Too much rice, though. - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I got the katsu curry. It was a generous portion size with a lot of rice. The curry was good, but the chicken was a bit overcooked and dry. Overall, the food is decent but nothing outstanding. read more

Umaya Izakaya - Katsu Curry - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Nice ambiance with indoor and outdoor dining. They were busy and short handed when we were there but friendly and the two waiters were working hard. The food was amazing but as I write this review I realized there were items missing from my Poke salad ($19). :) No edamame nor fried onions but it was definitely fresh and delicious. We started withe tuna tataki $17. The tuna was very white, and therefore not as visually appealing. The spicy salmon roll was great as was the other roll we ordered. My husband wanted the play and tomato Ramen, but they were sold out at noon. And ordered the spicy chicken Ramen in a creamy sauce which he felt was delicious. Very happy that while it was creamy it was not sweet. The spicy chicken was tender and excellent. We would definitely visit again. read more

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Poker-faced grumpy hostess. Fire her! No greetings. No smile. No acknowledgement of our presence. She mumbled "follow me" after making us wait for a long time at the entrance (no other guests around!). We didn't hear it and didn't even realize she was trying to lead us to the table. When we realized she's placing us at a noisy spot, we asked for a quiet spot by the fish tank. She then turned around to take us there. The waitress was pleasant and professional. Much better. Dishes were great and served fast. Cocktail came in the blink of an eye. We got the angry dragon cocktail which packs a kick (maybe chili). It's good. Hamachi kama (grilled yellow tail jaw) is wonderful, just perfect, and fresh. Pork belly comes with kimchi on the side; interesting and delicious (not fatty belly at all which is good). Chicken skin izakaya skewers are as expected though maybe smothered a bit much in heavy sauce; I prefer simple grill with a drizzle of salt but that's personal taste. Chicken wings are great (actually it's wings and drumsticks) They offer chicken liver, Asian cauliflower, king oyster mushroom, duck and scallion, and other unique items to grill. Very nice decor, lighting and clean toilet. Fish tank is a unique draw. read more

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Our food took a while to come out, although we could see it sitting on the counter waiting to be brought out for several minutes. The restaurant was very slow so I'm not sure the reason for the delay. Our server seemed disengaged and never checked in again after finally dropping off food. The miso soup was not great, the yakisoba was ok, but the sushi rolls were good- they were the best part of the experience. read more

Overpriced and disorganized When waiting at the front door to be seated, I didn't even recognize the hostess as an employee cause she was dressed in normal plain clothes and we were greeted finally after she was done doing whatever it is on the phone. The waiter who took our order was working between the tables and the bar so it took a long time to get his attention. There was also a sewer stench from outside and the sliding glass doors were open. I asked if they could be closed since it's a little unappetizing (obviously) and the waiter had seemed confused at my request. The skewers are overpriced, the chicken karaage is tiny and tasteless, and the tables are at an awkward height. read more

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Decent Izakaya in DC with good Robatayaki options. They also have good options for sake. read more

Do NOT order the sushi here. Fishy and not fresh. I ordered the tuna belly and salmon belly, it was disgusting. I had to send it back. The pork belly bao buns weren't good at all. The pork didn't taste like the Robata pork which was actually really good with rice. The buns weren't fluffy. It was horrible Bao. I'm hoping I don't get sick but yea the only thing worth getting is the Robata. read more

Not a great experience maybe its better during lunch. Our server was not friendly at all, im not asking for a dance and show but it was not friendly at all. They have dietary restriction accommodations, but the menus are not descriptive in ingredients. I couldn't dine comfortably without knowing whats in the dishes or without a server who would be willing to talk to me. If you have no dietary restrictions the food is really good according to my friends who ate. read more

Me and my boyfriend are visiting dc and decided to eat here. When we walked in the hostess let us know they were short staffed and it would be 30 minutes before anyone came over to serve us we said that was fine and she just blanked stared at us so I asked if it we were able to sit and wait and she said okay and instead of seating us like she did multiple other people she again just stared so we sat at the bar with no menus not to mention it was filled with dirty cups and dishes. It's understandable that they were short staffed and we didn't mind the wait but the waiter was very unfriendly which felt unnecessary especially since we had no complaints and didn't ask for anything after ordering. Not long after leaving I was extremely sick and threw up multiple times. If we ever come back to dc this is not somewhere I would choose to go!! read more

Umaya Izakaya - dirty bar - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The restaurant level of noise was high so much so that it was difficult to hear across the table. On to the food -- the miso soup was quite good, but the vegetarian dumplings were mushy/soft and void of taste even with dumpling sauce. The shrimp shumai was nothing like I've had before at other Japanese/Asian restaurants - fried and mushy inside with little shrimp taste -- (skip them) ... My wife's slide raw tuna was just okay she said... but my Japanese curry noodles with beef was very oils and tasteless. We were very disappointed and will probably look for other nearby restaurants when we're attending things in this part of DC. This all being said, the staff were nice enough but running around because the place was so busy. read more

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Went to a convention nearby and came to get a bite afterwards, the food was okay for the most part, really liked the pork belly skewers and crab croquettes, but the chirashi bowl was almost drowned in furikake and bonito flakes which pretty much ruined it. Also no hate to the staff but it seems like they're understaffed because we had to wait quite a bit to get a refill of water. Definitely not coming back. read more

Umaya Izakaya - Chirashi bowl, with too much furikake underneath the fish - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Dragon roll sushi was perfection! Chicken Raman had good flavor. Soup was delicious and chicken was tender. Used Grubhub and delivery was awesome. read more

Umaya Izakaya has plenty of seating indoors with a very casual vibe. I ordered the spicy miso ramen and poke salad which were both okay. Both menu items had strong flavors that could be received as overwhelming or salty. The poke salad comes with a tangy, teriyaki-like sauce but I recommend not using it. The ramen was lukewarm and meat was slightly tough, but the dish still tasted good. Service was fine despite the short staffing. They did have a large menu, so feel free to try out these items or others in your visit. read more

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Service is a little slow but otherwise very good place. Reasonable prices and HUGE portions. We liked the yakisoba, vegetarian ramen, and poke salad. The sake sangria was yummy! read more

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Great food, fast and friendly service, and a really pretty spot once you get past the hotel recycling dumpster But that's not their fault. I was randomly checking google maps for a place to get food and found this place, and it did not disappoint. Generous servings, and not expensive for DC (less than $20 per bowl of noodles/rice, and technically like a meal and a half each). They also saved me from a bad night when hotel room service didn't pick up the phone, so they come highly recommended on more than one level read more

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The food was good, prices and portions were a little disappointing but service was good. The open kitchen is a cool ambiance. read more

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Been my go-to for ramen when in town. Stopped for lunch after more urban hiking, super hungry. After lunch rush so place was pretty empty. Clean, quiet eatery. Pleasant reception, quickly seated order taken promptly by friendly staff. Ordered salmon skin hand roll and spicy miso ramen. Hand roll came out quick...warm packed with crunchy salmon skin. Perfect app. Next up major bowl of ramen. Hot & Spicy Miso, infused pork broth served with pork belly slices. Seasoned egg, bean sprouts, mushrooms, corn, bamboo shoots and scallions. Broth was decent, plenty of ramen...a little light on protein (2 slices??). Spicy but not overly. All in all decent meal. As you see in the photo they've added a fee for credit cards. Still undecided how I feel about it. read more

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Not super busy during Wednesday dinner. Tasty food for sure, but not the best value. BBQ items very expensive. Portions could be bigger. Ambiance is okay, but not as much decor or art as other places. Good fish and good tho. read more

Umaya Izakaya - Mixed Fish with Rice - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Positives: Ambiance- lively and fun. Dragon roll- solid roll if you're looking for something cooked. Service- impersonal but fast. Negatives: Garden roll- could not finish it! Chicken dumplings- subpar. Price- seems overpriced for the totally average grocery store- quality food. $50 for two rolls and an app is too much. read more

It's important to have some good go to take out spots during a busy work week. This one in particular had issues with temperature control I tried the UMAYA TERIYAKI WINGS, SPICY TUNA TARTARE, FRIED OYSTERS, SCALLOP ROLL AND SHISHITO PEPPERS. The wings, oysters and shishito peppers alone would've been 5 stars. The chicken was well cooked with sweetness and spice. Oysters we're not overly breaded and a good portion. The shishito peppers were roasted appropriately. For the raw items the sushi roll and the tartare. It left a lot to be desired. The roll lacked flavored and was covered with some watered down spicy mayo. The tartare was inedible and thrown away. Overall don't recommend for takeout. Service was quick, but not worth it in exchange for poor food quality. read more

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Food was average we got a bunch of rolls didn't try any of the noodles or rice. Service was average as well. It wasn't empty which makes me think I got the wrong thing. read more

Craving som ramen and this place happened to be walking distance from our hotel so we decided to try it out. Came on a Sunday evening not too busy but still lots of people enjoying their evening. The service was great and our waiter took our order and food came out promptly. Our kids loved the ramen and chicken skewers. We also ordered some sushi and it was delicious. Great place to grab a bite of ramen and sushi if your in the mood passing by DC area read more

Umaya Izakaya - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Came here for dinner last night and this place was sadly a bad experience. My bf and I are still talking about how our experience here was not good. Very big and spacious inside with plenty of seating. We chose to sit by the bar to watch the game. Very big but wasn't crowded on a Saturday evening so we were able to dine here with no reservations. Service was bad. Took forever to get water, to order food, get the food and for the check. No one once checked in on us and asked how our meal was, if we needed anything, collected dirty plates, etc. We ordered a volcano roll, beef yakisoba, and chicken scallion yakitori. The sushi roll was the best thing we ate. A lot of ingredients going on but it all worked well and was tasty. The yakisoba came next and that was not good at all. Zero flavor, beef was very chewy and the entire dish just lacked flavor. The yakitori came with one tiny skewer and also had no flavor. Food was not great, but service was even worse. When we were done eating, there were probably only 3 other tables with people eating. This is sadly a place I would not go back to and I would not recommend. read more

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Came in on a Wednesday night with a group of 5 people - no reservation - but was able to get seated right away. Service: They were short staffed - I over heard one staff member say that a coworker had called out sick, so it took awhile to get our drink/food ordered, but we knew it would be. Our drinks never showed by mid-meal so we asked again and they apologized and brought it right away. Food came out at a reasonable timeframe but the it took a long time to get the check. Food: I ordered the Tonkatsu Ramen while my friends ordered sushi, tuna tartar, chicken wings, and skewers. Everyone liked their food and it was tasty so we would definitely come back to eat! Hopefully the service issue was just due to being short staffed and it will be faster next time. The place is casual, cute atmosphere and vibe, as well as a big bar for drinks. read more

Umaya Izakaya - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Very good Japanese food at a fairly reasonable price. Really enjoyed the Katsu Curry and Tempura. I went for lunch and had a great meal. The service was decent and the devote is basic but fine read more

When the frigid January winds became too much to bear, I found myself running into the first ramen restaurant I could find, and here I was, at Umaya Izakaya, on the outskirts of the Chinatown neighborhood in DC. The tonkotsu ramen at this restaurant was definitely a highlight - rich and flavorful broth with tender noodles. However, the overall experience was just fine. The service was fine. Additionally, the prices were on the higher side for the rest of the menu but reasonably priced for the ramen menu. If you're in the area and craving tonkotsu ramen, this spot is nice. read more

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Ordered tuna roll and spicy miso ramen. Sushi was fine. Ramen was top notch. Visited early on a Tuesday, so there was no crowd. Actually I was totally alone at 5:30pm. Would like to visit again with a better crowd I. Order to experience the atmosphere. read more

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