Kusshi Arlington Westpost at National Landing — Restaurant in Arlington

This is a new restaurant offering numerous Japanese beers and a wide variety of rolls and sushi. I was really hoping for better, and with the energetic and hands on management they surely will, but 3 is the best I can offer for this visit. The best first: I was fascinated with the 32 different beers. Huge credit for the local (30 miles north in Montgomery County, MD) 3 Asian styled Brookeville Beer Farm beers. They also offer a black cherry hard seltzer and a non-alcoholic Heineken. I had the Kirin Brewery Ichiban, 1 of the remaining 27 Japanese beers. It was light and refreshing. As an appetizer I had the Dobin Mushi Tea Pot Soup, which was as fun as flavorful. As you can see, it really does come in a tea pot and the lid flips over for a tiny serving bowl. Served in the dark broth (maybe a bit too dark for the ingredients...) was bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, salmon, snap peas, and a clam. It was a bit tough to get all the food out of the pot, but that is part of the charm of this dish. Then I had 2 rolls: Seared Yellowtail on the left and Spicy Mango on the right. This is where I had some issues, but the fish and seafood seemed very fresh and sitting at the sushi bar gave me a front row seat to watch the food handling care. But maybe a refresher on station cleanliness as my plate had crusty stuff on the bottom edges that I didn't notice until I slid it away after I finished--and it was on the side with the wasabi and ginger, so it wasn't like I somehow dribbled. I want to believe this was from the chef's hands and not a dish that was truly not cleaned. I felt the seared Yellowtail atop that roll was overcooked--not enough to send it back, but these slices were far better eaten separately as the chew factor conflicted too much with the texture of the roll. I did appreciate that it really was spicy. The Sriracha sauce gave a perfect finish. I found the overall flavor of the Spicy Mango better and the finish of the pineapple "sauce" was the star of the show. The issue is it was less a sauce than a broken paste causing me to wonder if they didn't freeze yesterday's and reuse it today or something. I can only imagine how much better it would have been texture wise if it were to have coated my palate rather than having a wasabi-like consistency. All I know, is that was definitely no sauce. The shrimp tempura's light batter was perfectly fried and added a great crunch. They were larger shrimps too, so the shrimp flavor really did come through. Bottom line: Please don't let the 3 stars scare you away as I will come back. The management was very involved and gave positive coaching with clear directions to staff showing me they care as much about process as they do the food, the dining experience, and their people. I trust they will improve exponentially each day and I commend the management and staff for their...

We got a table for 4 on a busy Saturday night without any wait at all. That was nice. The waiter was also quite efficient I have to say. He came to us at the right time all the time. He was good at reading the tables.

I expect good lighting at nice restaurants with pricey menus. The lights here are too dimmed. It may be a personal preference but the lighting test didn't pass for me. I don't mean bright workshop lights but nice spotlights that highlight the experience. I don't have anything else to complain about for the rest of the decor. It works for a sushi restaurant.

But how's the food? The ones that hit really hit well and the rest I have to be honest are pretty average. For a $200 bill for 4 people, my bars are way high up there. Half of the rolls aren't quite at that level if you know what I mean. If you know the right things to order, you might have a different experience. If you already decided to go, you must order the fatty Salmon nigiri. That was really really good. If you're feeling tonkatsu, order the sauce separately. It was wayyyy too sweet but the tonkatsu itself was super crispy yet tender inside. My friend emptied that big plate! The cocktails taste good but I don't really like paying $12+ for drinks personally and I really didn't feel any rum in my Hawaiian Sunrise. If you are on the fence, I'd say skip the cocktails.

Will I come back again? I would for the fatty salmon. nigiri alone but I'd also be looking up another cheaper option before I make...

I’ve been visiting this restaurant and ordering pickup regularly over the past year since moving to the area. Unfortunately, after multiple visits, I have to say that if you're looking for high-quality, authentic Japanese food, this might not be the best choice. However, if you’re simply looking for a casual spot to socialize with friends, it might work.

I've tried a variety of their dishes - including sushi, ramen, and tempura - both alone and with friends, and the experience has consistently been underwhelming for the price. The tempura lacks crispiness, the sushi that should be crunchy or firm often arrives soft, almost as if it has been sitting out too long and oxidized. The ramen is terribly overcooked, lacking the signature chewiness you’d expect - it honestly tastes like it’s been sitting in hot water for far too long.

While the presentation looks good (I have pics and don't think sharing them would be helpful), the flavors and textures consistently miss the mark for an authentic Japanese dining experience. I had high hopes when recommending this place to friends, but no one walked away impressed, and most agreed it wasn't worth the price at all.

I personally think that there are definitely better Japanese food options in Arlington, so unless you’re just coming here for the convenience of the location, I’d recommend looking elsewhere. Disappointed, especially after giving it...