Besides the wine authentic japanese food spray, Bantam King is all about their broths, and you should choose your ramen based on that—salt, soy sauce, miso, and sesame—rather than the toppings. Real ones know the move here is to take your ramen down the street to Free State, a favorite local bar that allows you to bring in outside food, and enjoy it with a juicy IPA. The “underground” part of Toki Underground is more of a vibe than a reality. Located on the second floor of a former rowhouse on H Street, Toki has become something of a DC institution since it opened in 2011.
The team behind outer Arlington’s raw fish hit Yume Sushi sauntered into D.C. With the anticipated opening of a flashy flagship that was named Eater DC’s 2023 restaurant of the year. Tucked inside the tony mixed-use cluster of Cady’s Alley, the striking sushi cave from Bangkok-born chef Saran “Peter” Kannasute and co-owner Jeff King breathes fresh life into the old home of L2 lounge. Kannasute’s calling cards like truffle wasabi, monkfish liver, uni with torched wagyu, and widespread use of edible flowers show up across a lengthy list of rolls. Situated one floor above Ammathar Thai in Logan Circle, this pandemic-era arrival serves superb sushi and nigiri in a cheery space covered in florals. A section of hot and cold small plates joins an array of creative rolls from Nakazawa alum Johnny Yi.
Roasted pork, beansprout, bamboo shoot, scallion, seaweed and hot sesame oil. Sliced marinated rib-eye steak in soy broth with baby spinach, scallions and fresh ginger strings. Thai basil, red bell pepper, cherry tomato, onion, and bird eye chili. Stir fry with bird eye chili-garlic-basil sauce, cherry tomatoes, onion with your choice of protein. Lightly battered fried with tempura tsuyu grated ginger, and daikon radish.
Mecha is different, as it’s one of the most casual places in the district, where it’s easy to pop in for a quick lunch or a low-key dinner. The best seats in the house are at the bar, underneath an installation of wooden beams that look like ramen noodles. We like to start with the roasted mushroom dumplings and the small but satisfying unagi handroll, followed by the vegan Kinoko ramen or the classic spicy beef loaded with vegetables. If the bowls don’t fill you up, try the General Tso’s shrimp, coated in coconut flakes and sweet chili. This small, busy Upshur Street spot puts new flair on classic ramen preparations.
There’s even an incredible selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes so no-one gets left out. We recommend ordering one of their ramen bowls, or check out their happy hour for those delicious delicacies at a discounted price. Location on M Street, Nobu is the perfect splurge-worthy destination for a date night or celebratory dinner. And want to try the precursor to one of your fave Japanese dishes, make a pit stop at Reren. This Chinese brick-and-mortar has a full menu of traditional appetizers, entrees and dumplings, but boasts its homemade Lamen Noodles as a must-taste. Served in China for more than 4,000 years, Lamen Noodle Soup is kind of like Ramen’s Uncle.
One that you should get to soon, before the neighborhood secret becomes too well-known. Marugame Udon provides hand crafted udon bowls, tempura, and beverages from a theater kitchen, allowing guests to watch as their food is prepared. Our udon noodles are made to order to ensure that you are getting the best tasting Japanese food around.
As the fascination with ramen continues unabated, more talented chefs are entering the market. Chef Jonah Kim, formerly of Michael Mina’s Pabu in Baltimore, has recently announced that he’ll be opening Yona, a ramen shop in Arlington in partnership with Mike Isabella in early 2015. I had the opportunity to take over the kitchen at Isabella’s G as Kim demoed a concept vegetable broth ramen. Located in a former Burger King location, this ramen joint from the Daikaya team is explicitly focused on chicken ramen (not to mention Japanese fried chicken). Don’t miss out on the (vegetarian) tantanmen, which packs an appealing heat.
When Japanese restaurants open in DC, we check them out. We’ve endured the good, the bad, and the perfectly fine sushi. And every once in a while, a spot makes us feel like we’ve discovered a hidden gem in Georgetown. When that happens, we add it here—to this definitive list of DC’s best. Assorted vegetables in kelp extract sauce stir fried with tofu and shiitake mushroom. The chefs procure the freshest fish from the world’s finest markets and local, sustainable sources, from petite plates to sushi specialties.
The sushi stall plans to relocate to fresh digs within the Square soon. Tucked above a CVS in Dupont, Sushi Taro is a pull-out-all-the-stops kind of a restaurant. The omakase counter tasting starts at $275 per person ($350 on Fridays and Saturdays) with regular menu items including A5 wagyu beef and lobster.
Traditional and authentic Japanese Restaurant in Glover Park, North Georgetown area. We serve Sake, Japanese Beers, Wine along with Ramen and Sushi. Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable. No, Chaplin does not list private dining rooms, but it does accept and accommodate large parties. Guests report successful large-group bookings (parties of 12–20) and staff support for celebrations, so you can likely host a big gathering with advance notice even without a private room.
Sapporo-style ramen is distinguished by its Chintan stock; a clear soup base that requires over 16 hours of careful preparation to achieve its delicate and complex depth. Our noodles are imported from Sapporo, Japan, and made by Nishiyama Seimen Company according to the recipe we developed. Our recommendation is to sip the broth, slurp the noodles, and then dig into the roasted vegetables and broth-soaked meats. Set in a very intimate bar-like dining room on the first floor of Daikaya, this has been called the No. 1 spot for ramen in Washington, D.C. The ever-popular noodle house features six ramen dishes, no substitutions and no reservations.
That’s a comeback in itself, but just as impressive is the way this cozy dinner spot from the original owner picks up where the old favorite left off. The room is dominated by warm lighting that illuminates the place like a lantern in a garden. Securing a prime evening reservation at Perry’s Restaurant right now might be trickier than snagging a last-minute ticket to a sold-out show.
Hana Market allows you to elevate your home cooking with a variety of authentic Japanese ingredients straight from Japan. This ramen bar with a 1930s vibe has an option for gluten-free noodles and sources pork from Catoctin Mountain Farm in Maryland. The patio here is packed with outdoor diners, even in the winter. Although George Washington University doesn’t have a defined “campus”, it certainly has its own feel.
7 Best Japanese Restaurants in Washington, DC 2026
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