Takumi Japanese Bistro & Bar — Restaurant in Bethesda

Just some scattered thoughts on my experience.

Me and my SO went around 3pm on a Saturday. At this time it was almost empty.

Apparently it’s fully booked for dinner on the weekends. So I think we were lucky.

The sushi was really good. The salmon and tuna was from Iceland and Spain for me. For the omakase sushi set my SO got, the fish is from Japan. The sushi was fresh and no sinew/stringy texture. The simple flavors really exemplify the fish. I also got one of their specialty rolls and it was really good. One of the best I had since the spicy mayo was very light to keep the seared tuna and spicy tuna the main note of the roll.

The only thing I didn’t like, which is probably preference, is that the stringy decorations on top of the sushi seemed a bit over the top. I picked some off to put to the side. Other than that, the plating was great.

Since we went at an odd time the service (Josh) was excellent.

The agedashi tofu was my favorite dish. The mild flavor sauce with soft tofu with somewhat crispy crust that soaks up the sauce.

I recommend you try this restaurant if you’re a...

🍜 Takumi Japanese Bistro & Bar – Food Review 🍤

I was visiting my little brother and his wife, and he said, “Let’s try this ramen spot right around the corner from us” — Takumi Japanese Bistro & Bar. We decided to do carryout, and honestly, everything held up really well for takeout. 🙌🏽

We ordered the Golden Ramen, Kimchi Beef Ramen, Shrimp Tempura, and Vegetable Tempura. The ramen was rich and flavorful, with broth that tasted like it had been simmered for hours 🍲 and noodles that still had a great texture. The kimchi beef ramen had just the right amount of spice and depth 🌶️.

Both the shrimp 🍤 and vegetable tempura 🥦 were crispy, light, and not greasy at all — definitely a standout. Everything tasted fresh and well-prepared, and the portions were generous.

Overall, Takumi impressed all of us 👏🏽. For a quick carryout dinner, the food quality and flavor were spot on. If you’re ever in the area and craving authentic ramen or some solid Japanese comfort food, it’s worth...

After seven years of living in Bethesda, having moved from northern California, we have finally found our go-to sushi restaurant. Located on lower Bethesda Avenue in what was a mediocre Chinese restaurant, Takumi is the real deal. The restaurant was remodeled into an attractive intimate space, nicely furnished, but alas, no sushi bar. As of this writing (August 27), they still haven't got their liquor license, but they make do with non-alcoholic beer and non-alcoholic saki. They expect to have a full bar sometime in October.

But we came for the sushi, and the restaurant delivers with a wide variety of quality sashimi and nigiri, salads, rolls, including beautiful and tasty hand rolls, and quit a bit more. Some of their dishes can tend to be spicy, so be careful when ordering if spicy isn't your thing. The menu is extensive. Service was attentive and appropriate making for a most enjoyable meal.

We...