DC | Some Japanese Restaurant Recommendations 🐟🍣🌟

🍱 Umiya Sushi A newly opened Japanese buffet. Ingredient quality varies—the premium menu includes wagyu beef 🥩 and lobster 🦞, along with several premium sashimi options. Freshness can be inconsistent, but you can try a bit of everything and then reorder the best items. 🍶 Izakaya Seki This used to be my favorite neighborhood izakaya 🍶. Recently, I noticed it's under new ownership, and the menu has been simplified. That said, the ingredients are still very fresh. A reliable spot when cravings strike 😋. 🌟 Sushi Nakazawa A Michelin one-star 🌟 restaurant that expanded from New York. The food and service remain consistently excellent. It’s satisfying and filling, with fair pricing. From appetizers to sushi and dessert, the experience is seamless—highly recommended 🍣🍮. ⚠️ Koryouri Urara Another expensive new restaurant, but it was surprisingly bad 👿. The ingredients were subpar, and the seasoning was overly heavy—some dishes reminded me of Panda Express. I’d recommend avoiding this one ⛔️. DC Japanese Dining Guide | In Search of Edo Flavors in the Capital From Capitol Hill to the Anacostia River, the city's Japanese dining scene is experiencing a quality divide—some places recreate the energy of Tokyo's fish auctions with air-flown sashimi, while others betray the essence of Japanese cuisine with Americanized sauces. 🎌 Worth the Trip Umiya Sushi · The Ambitious Buffet Strategy: Offers wagyu and lobster at a strategic $58 price point Tip: Sample the premium menu first, then focus on bluefin otoro Note: Sweet shrimp often runs out at lunch; restocks are fullest after 8 PM Izakaya Seki · The Neighborhood Guardian Changes: Under new management but retains classics like grilled skate fin Must-order: Chicken neck skewers still grilled over Kishu binchōtan Insider tip: Wednesday is uni delivery day Sushi Nakazawa · The New York Star Edomae technique: Sushi rice maintained at precise body temperature Chef's counter benefit: Watch the chef slice yellowtail into snowflake patterns Dessert surprise: Tamagoyaki reimagined as French soufflé ⚠️ Avoid These Koryouri Urara · The Japanese Imposter Offenses: → Substitutes sea bream with rainbow trout → Wasabi paste resembles toothpaste → Miso soup from instant packets Redemption: Find authentic Thai food at Baan Siam 100 meters away When you see wagyu melting on the teppan like a marble symphony When you discover the same high-quality sea urchin in lunch sets These restaurants' survival strategies Reflect the harsh truth of DC's dining scene— Excel or disappear #DCJapaneseDining #SushiGuide #DCFoodScene #JapaneseCuisine