Always a positive experience. It starts off with free parking in a garage right behind the restaurant. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Seating is generally available, with a quiet and pleasant atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Servers are friendly and helpful, with a fair amount of options. Interestingly my wife tried the oroshi tonkatsu (my normal go to), so I tried the beef gyu don. My wife really enjoyed the oroshi tonkatsu, and I found the beef gyu don to be tender, very flavorful, and had a wonderful amount of pickled ginger, so I was set (very satisfied). Our meals were rounded out with miso soup and a salad. read more

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Great sushi spot at the outskirts of Old Town Alexandria. The food is great, the fish is fresh, and the prices are not inflated like in other places in town. I really liked that there is free public parking around the corner where Trader Joe's is located. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Overall a great place for a quick affordable bite with great ambiance.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Zento Japanese Restaurant - Sushi Deluxe - Japanese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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My go-to sushi fix. This is consistently excellent foodie approved. The fish is always fresh. One of my favorite salads in all of NOVA is their tuna poke. It's a combo with sweet ranch-like dressing that seems counter Asian intuitive, but really works - maybe it's fusion. Another simple favorite is their salmon sashimi appetizer. Five pieces of sake heaven. And it's not an expensive sushi - it's reasonable and excellent. read more

Zento Japanese Restaurant - Lunch sushi special - all quality fresh fish! - Japanese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Hands down best sushi in town, great sushi and great service as well!!! Servers are friendly and helpful, with a fair amount of options.

We've been going to Zento for years, for good reason. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This is a cozy and peaceful little spot in Old Town that happens to have a free parking garage nearby.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Menu selection is great, and the sushi rolls are some of the best around. Servers are reasonably attentive without constantly interrupting the meal. We typically arrange a large group of friends to eat at Zento for a birthday/holiday once or twice a year, and they have always done a great job of handling groups of 8-10 people. read more

Zento Japanese Restaurant - Tako Yaki Dinner - Japanese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Love it here! Friendly and quick service. The Zen Mojito is 10/10. It's our go to sushi spot in old town. Definitely recommend. read more

Zento Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Our second trip to Zento! Always great service, quick, very tasty sushi! [[HIGHLIGHT]]This time we went on a Friday afternoon and it was so nice and quiet.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Definitely recommend! read more

Zento Japanese Restaurant - Godzilla Roll - Japanese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Quick service, easy menus, food came out super quick! $4.95 for 2 nigiri pieces during HH [[HIGHLIGHT]]Quiet place, one of my favorites![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Zento Japanese Restaurant - Tuna, yellowtail, salmon nigiri for HH $4.95 each pair - Japanese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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A great value Japanese restaurant near Old Town Alexandria. Parking will be the typical street parking (metered Mon-Sat, free Sun). Nice quaint small restaurant. Certain items on their menu are great - calamari, sushi. Ramen is just ok, still good amount for the price, just taste isn't as good as say Marumen in Fairfax. Food: 4/5 Value: 4.5/5 Ambience: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Parking: 2/5 Calamari: well worth it, some of the best I've tried. Came nice and hot and crispy. Appreciated the presentation, nothing overlapped to prevent sogginess. Sauce drizzled on appropriately Chashu ramen: Meat was cooked well, could use more flavor. But you do get 3 slices which is more than most ramen places these days. Broth is good, not too salty. But everything else included: noodles, rice cake, egg, corn, bamboo shoots, spinach, seaweed just taste like themselves, no infusion of the broth as if they just quickly placed everything together and served it. The bamboo shoots especially were way too sour as if they were straight from a can. Did came with a side salad to start. read more

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Zento is one of my favorite spots in the city for sushi. Their takeout is always spot on and cheaper if you order directly from their website vs a delivery app. Last time I ordered they forgot our miso soup which was annoying but not a huge deal. Tonight I came to pick up my order and was double checking that everything was there. The hostess asked if anything was missing and I mentioned last time our miso soup was left out and she went to the back and grabbed an extra for us to make up for it. Amazing customer service!! And the sushi is also so good. The Godzilla Roll is one I always order but you literally can't go wrong read more

Zento Japanese Restaurant - Did we order enough? It's the hot & Sexy roll (in the front), the beauty & the beast roll (2 of them), and the bagel roll (in the back). - Japanese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

My go-to for pick-up/take-out sushi. Good price for Maki (6 piece sushi). I wouldn't say the spicy tuna and salmon are actually spicy though. What caught me off guard was the wasabi hidden between the fish and the rice of the nigiri. So be careful. read more

Zento Japanese Restaurant - Crab Stick Nigiri Sushi, Salmon Belly Nigiri Sushi, Spicy Tuna Roll, Spicy Salmon Roll - Japanese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

The sushi rolls were very good. My waitress, not so much. I ordered iced tea that arrived with very little ice, so I grabbed a few cubes from my ice water. I received only 1 refill of my iced tea. I received at least 3 refills of my ice water that was sitting next to my empty iced tea glass. read more

Zento Japanese Restaurant - Wasabi cream roll, Volcano, Crunchy Spicy Scallop roll - Japanese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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I LOVE the Grilled Salmon, by far one of the best I have tried. Perfectly cooked, tender, and crispy on the outside. Zento in Old Town really delivers when it comes to quality Japanese food. The sushi is fresh and beautifully presented, [[HIGHLIGHT]]the atmosphere is cozy without being too formal[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], and the staff is welcoming and attentive. Whether you're coming in for a casual lunch, a nice dinner out, or just craving top-notch sushi, this spot never disappoints. Definitely one of my go-to places in Old Town for authentic Japanese cuisine. Highly recommend! read more

Was excited to go here due to several recommendations. Went with 4 adults and 2 kids. Service was fine and they were flexible with our constantly changing reservation so we were very grateful for that. However, the food was not good. I ordered a sushi combo and you could tell the fish was recently thawed (fish was watery and different temp throughout the bite), and overall not as fresh as expected. We also ordered ramen, and the noodles were overcooked and just tasted like instant ramen. The broth was also bland and flat. Again, service was fine and we are grateful for them being accommodating, but I would not go here again. read more

The fish was so fresh I can't wait to go back. The texture of the sashimi's firm delicious read more

Zento Japanese Restaurant - Double yellowtail roll, salmon and yellowtail sashimi. Shrimp tempura roll - Japanese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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A friend turned me onto this place because of the extremely well thought out inexpensive bento box that's only available at lunch for the special lunch price which is a steal. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The service is very good, just need to work on the deadly silent atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]What a cute little restaurant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Went for lunch on a rainy day. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Wasn't too crowded and got a seat right away.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Ordered a seaweed salad, sushi, and ramen. Ramen comes with salad just FYI. Service was fine- average and no complaints. Ramen broth wasn't very flavorful, but it was fine for a quick lunch. Waitress was attentive. read more

Zento Japanese Restaurant - Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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YUM! So good, I frequented this location twice while in town. Dined in for lunch during the weekdays right when they opened around 11:30 and was seated and serviced promptly. My favorite thing to get is their salmon lover sashimi appetizer - 5 sashimi slices for under $12. The salmon is buttery and so fresh - delicious. I'll stick to the fresh rolls moving forward as I wasn't a fan of all the sauce included in the rolls I got. read more

Zento Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Best sashimi and sushi in the area We've been to Zento numerous times and they never disappoint. They consistently serve some of the freshest sashimi and sushi we've ever had. In addition, there's a range of Asian entrees. Every time we've been, there's always Chef's Special sushi roll combos. We had the Green and Red Dragon special that night. This is an especially good deal if you go during their regularly scheduled Happy Hour and pair it with some choice sashimi. Every appetizer they have is good, but we especially like their calamari and spring rolls. It's a short walk from King Street/Old Town Alexandria and there's free garage parking in back, right off of Wythe Street, if you drive in. Their space is cozy so a reservation is recommended. read more

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This is a small neighborhood sushi shop with very fresh offerings. We came for Happy Hour and tried some delicious choices including hot sake and Sapporo beer. We then switched to the daily specials. The Red Dragon role was superb. Our server was attentive and sweet. The music was (meh) regular pop music. Plenty of free parking in the garage under the restaurant. A relaxing dinner in the neighborhood, give it a try. read more

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Such an amazing place!!! 10/10 would recommend. Atmosphere: 5/5. We came as a party of 5 on a Saturday night. I definitely recommend reserving since we waited 30 mins even with a reservation. Quality: 5/5. The sushi was extremely fresh and everything was delicious. You could tell that they used high quality products and every bite was savory. I got the angry dragon roll and volcano and shrimp tempura roll and WOW. So delicious and fresh and definitely some of the best sushi I've had in the area. Quantity/price: 5/5. For DC, the quantity (and quality) were definitely worth the price. The sushi is average to higher priced, but for the quality, hands down worth it. We came for my friend's birthday, and they gave her fried ice cream. The owner was super kind and the ice cream was amazing! Would come back in a heartbeat. read more

Zento Japanese Restaurant - Angry dragon roll - Japanese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Decided to try out Zento after seeing lots of glowing reviews about it and wanted to check it out myself! I went during lunch time, before they close mid day at 2:30 (kitchen closes at 2:20) and they open back up at 5:30. There was only one other person there when I arrived, so service was quick. The wait staff were very helpful and pleasant! I got the roll special, which to my surprise came with a salad and miso soup! Loved the food and that it was reasonably priced! I'll definitely be coming back! read more

Zento Japanese Restaurant - Mexican Roll and Alaskan Roll Miso Soup Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Our go-to spot for sushi in Old Town! Always good quality and the staff is amazing. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Intimate dining experience in restaurant as well.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

I went 02/23/2026 restaurant had only 1 other couple dinning. was greeted and sat and drink order taken however we waited over 15 to order after drinks as waitress was too busy on there cell phone and talking to take our order. My beverage was given in a glass that was dirty I touched the inside of the glass and white powder came off on my finger which appeared to be soap left on the glass. I asked for a second glass and the worker immediately put there finger in my beverage. I really do not recomend this place I asked for check as soon as I could after that and left not worth the money and bad customer service there are several better sushi restaurants in old town I would go to any of those rather this place again. read more

Zento is a standout spot! The Ramen here is an absolute winner, easily ranking among my local favorites. The noodles are cooked to perfection, and the portion size hits the sweet spot. The pork chops are a true highlight, boasting tender meat and an irresistible light char. The flavorful broth is top-notch, especially when you request spicy on the side. Warning: it can get seriously spicy, making it a spicy lover's paradise. The sushi is good with plenty of options. But my taste buds lean towards the ramen, overalls The atmosphere is casual, clean, and the staff members are quick to serve. read more

Zento Japanese Restaurant - Chashu Pork Ramen Dinner - Japanese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Zento is a small Thai-owned Japanese restaurant off of Washington, just a few steps from the Trader Joe's in OT Alexandria. They offer daily HH from 5-7, as well as all-night HH specials on Mondays. The menu is pretty extensive, offering soups, salads, various sushis, donburis, and bento boxes. The hubs and I came here for a later dinner, and we ordered the following: one of the 'Chef Specials,' the Scallop Bomb Roll (white tuna roll topped with scallops, shrimp, and spicy mayo, baked, and then topped with crunchies; while they were generous with the small baby scallops, the taste was just okay; it was super saucy and didn't have any off flavors, but I guess I prefer my maki rolls more on the spicier/savory side); a Steamed Tofu Udon (thick wheat-flour noodles with soy sauce flavor broth, dried seaweed, Kamaboko, spinach, and scallions; the broth, while piping out, while not watered down, was much on the sweeter end); and, a Deluxe Bento Box (assorted sashimi, NY strip steak (sliced), shrimp & vegetable tempura, seaweed salad, and 3 pieces of roll; I actually really enjoyed this bento box, as it's definitely one of the better ones I've had in the DC metro area! The sashimi was just okay, while generous in the thick-cut slices, but it could have been more fresh; the steak teriyaki was really delicious, as the meat was tender and juicy, and the teriyaki sauce was super flavorful and not at all close to the typical coagulated thick sauce that's served at other places! The shrimp and vegetable tempura were battered beautifully and super crispy and yummy; instead of the California rolls, I substituted Spicy Salmon, which were actually tasty (slight upcharge); the bento box also came with salad (which had a lovely sesame/nutty/ginger dressing, that is similar to the ones served at hibachi places), and a cup of miso soup (flavored and seasoned well!). I loved that the rice was cooked well, as other places usually serve up mushy or overcooked/dried-out rice! Service was friendly and somewhat attentive, and the place does get packed during the lunch/dinner rush. It's a smaller restaurant, so if you are seated at the corner tables, it is a bit of a tight squeeze. It's decorated well, as I love the little collection of the gosho dolls and the Maneki Nekos. I've been looking for some great bento box options in the area, as I miss the one back in Chicago so much; however, I'm glad Zento's here to alleviate and satisfy that craving! I may not come here for the sashimi/nigiri, but I think their boxed lunches/dinners are a great choice! +Deluxe Bento :D +can swap out the California roll for a slight upcharge +tasty miso soup! +great sesame/ginger dressing on salads! +friendly service +HH all day on Mondays; HH offered weekdays 5-7 PM +free retail parking garage in the rear +limited parking off of Washington read more

A great go to sushi restaurant. That's not to say that the cooked foods aren't just as good. Staff is friendly and attentive.

I have dined at this restaurant more than 5 times. It's a charming sushi restaurant with around 10-15 tables, and the experience was always delightful. The small size created an intimate atmosphere, perfect for enjoying the expertly crafted special rolls. Each bite was a burst of flavors, showcasing the chef's skill and creativity. The freshness of the ingredients elevated the overall dining experience. The quantity is very good and the you get a very good value for money. I will gladly pay 20% more for this type of food. The attentive staff and cozy ambiance make this hidden gem a must-try for sushi enthusiasts. Restrooms are clean and diaper changing station is available. Abundant parking available in the same building, just behind the restaurant. read more

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I never realized this place existed. Normally the go to sushi is Momo, but they have been difficult and different as of late. This is a small shop somewhat hidden off of Washington St. parking is a bit rough but it's old town. Entering the restaurant, the service is friendly, prompt and smooth; carrying through the rest of the meal. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place was busy but quiet. Service was responsive and direct.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food was fantastic, the spicy tuna roll has some kick to it. The speciality rolls like the dragon roll are great as well. The portion spices were good for the cost. They have much more on the menu as well but I was looking for easy sushi and got what I wanted. A small non-assuming sushi place on the edge of old town may just be the go to for me. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Very charming place.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Super friendly. Food options are plentiful, good quality and prices. Definitely coming back. read more

Well,sushi is my middle name,it's very humiliating to me feel disappointed after Saturday night sushi dinner with Kirin light beer. Restaurant was busy,they honored my reservation,even though we were 15 minutes late ,this is a big plus. Servers were pretty knowledgeable about menu items,[[HIGHLIGHT]]ambience was nice,restaurant was very clean and designed well.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Fried calamari was amazingly delicious dish, my husband didn't like katsu don,he thought it overly sweet and pork was dry. My rolls,and this was 2 most expensive rolls on the menu came a little sloppy and not holding shape. Maybe,because of busy night, but same rolls looked really sexy on the other yelp photos. Taste was good,rice was nicely seasoned and fish was fresh. I brought to their attention that my husband left food because he should be in control of sugar intake and menu didn't specify how sweet is the dish,but they ignored it. I don't mind to give them another chance,sometimes when we will be in the area since food taste was actually good,but overall I felt underwhelming. read more

Zento Japanese Restaurant - Zumba roll and double yellowtail roll( sloppy presentation and falls apart) - Japanese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

We just moved to the Alexandria area and were looking for a new sushi spot. We have now been here twice! The food and service is awesome. Zento is conveniently located and there is a lot of street parking around. The first time we came, we started off with the steamed gyoza which was delicious. We ordered a variety of different sushi: eel roll, hairy Mexican, salmon avocado, spicy tuna. All were very good and fresh! I recommend Zento as it will satisfy your sushi craving. read more

Zento Japanese Restaurant - Gyoza appetizer - Japanese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Fresh, nicely portioned, decently priced, and picture worthy! I'd say that $50 worth of sushi hit the spot for my husband and I. The rolls were loaded with toppings and evenly filled. For example, other sushi restaurants might pair a big chunk of cream cheese with a little piece of fish in a Philly Roll. But here, each bite perfectly portioned. Each sushi roll was nicely presented and picture ready. SO good. Our server was very friendly! We came at the perfect time because there was no one there but us in the restaurant. We brought our baby in a stroller so we had room to weave through the tables. By the time we left, the restaurant was about 80% filled and became a bit cozy. Leaving the restaurant with the stroller became a bit of an obstacle. The food was delicious and I'd recommend to anyone looking for a new sushi place to try out! read more

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Creepy host at the door. Sir, are you high? I had to knowledge him, still waiting on my friendly greeting. Dynamite roll was covered in some red and orange concoction. Way too much avocado in the roll. The spider roll was ok. Idk $40 down the drain. The shrimp wasn't cooked all the way. read more

Zento Japanese Restaurant - Spider roll - Japanese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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I stopped here for my lunch break yesterday and was extremely satisfied! The fried chicken ramen bowl was AMAZING. The staff was friendly and attentive. The best part for me, they played Taylor Swift the entire time I dined (I'm not talking biggest hits but folklore, vault tracks, etc.) Fantastic experience and I will be returning. read more

Zento Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Fried Chicken Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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I've eaten in Zento several times and I just got take out sushi today. The restaurant is small and cozy and the service is good. The sushi has always been tasty and the sushi delivery I got today was the same quality. I'm really close by. I actually stopped going to Zento because another sushi restaurant opened even closer to me - and I enjoy that one much more. Look, Zento is good. Nice if you're in the area and craving sushi but it's not my go-to. My go-to was just closed at the time I wanted some sushi today. So there you go. read more

Zento Japanese Restaurant - Roll Combo Special with eel nigiri - Japanese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Easy 5 in my book! Originally went there for 2 rolls but the menu sounded so good we got 4!! Mango salsa and Wasabi cream rolls are must tries!!!! Neither of these rolls are spicy but just have solid tastes. Jury is out on if the fish is just very fresh or the shrimp tempura is cooked that well. But these rolls just melted in my mouth! Can't wait till next visit! read more

Zento Japanese Restaurant - Left to right- hot and sexy, wasabi cream, mango salsa, godzilla - Japanese Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Stopped back for edamame and ramen and continue to enjoy the food here. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Service is pretty prompt and a good place to hang as long as you're not stuck next to a group and very loud couple.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Learned about the parking garage in the back, which is really convenient since it's near the Trader Joe's too. Happy hour has been dropped to 7 pm, which is still reasonable. read more

My friend and I came here for lunch and we thought it was a good experience. We ordered the lunch Sushi & Sashimi Combo, Zento Roll, Green Dragon Roll, and a mixed veggies tempura (appetizer). The total was $68ish post tax. The sushi & sashimi combo ($27) was pretty good. We received two salmon, two tuna and two yellowtail nigiri sushi, 6 pieces of assorted sashimi and 8 California roll pieces. My friend and I really enjoyed this dish. The Zento ($15) and Green Dragon ($13) special maki rolls were also pretty good. My friend really liked the cream cheese in the Zento and I loved the eel and eel sauce on the Green Dragon. Nothing was overwhelming and the individual elements really complemented each other. For example, the crunch element was super apparent on the Zento Roll, but the crunchiness did not distract from the stars of the dish: the fish and cream cheese. The veggies tempura ($7) was a nice way to start the lunch. The oil get just right and the crunch was on point. The dipping sauce felt really smooth as well. Overall, the food was very solid. The price was reasonable. The portions were pretty good for the location and price! read more

5+++ stars for the sushi. Everything else though, was not very good. Yakuza Roll - delicious, top notch, love it, get it. The seared salmon was melt in your mouth. It was so so good. I LOVED this roll. Tako Yaki - only had one tiny piece of octopus in the center. The texture inside was off - too creamy. Not good. Chasu Ramen - very basic. Not very flavorful. Just meh. Pan Fried Gyoza - just a little pan fried on the bottom, the top where the crimping was seemed cold. They tasted like freezer dumplings pan fried just a bit. Chicken Teriyaki Bento Box - good deal, came with miso soup, salad, tempura, a piece of fried tofu, rice and chicken teriyaki. The teriyaki was lackluster. The tempura was really good though. read more

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