Maneki Neko Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Falls Church

I heard absolutely amazing things about this place but unfortunately my experience was not great. I feel like the waiters and chefs are not communicating with each other and they ended up getting a lot of things wrong with my order. They gave my table water twice and asked what we would like to drink twice by two different waitresses. That’s fine, they were busy and might have gotten confused. Then one of the took our order. We got the sashimi deluxe, spicy tuna roll with NO CUCUMBER (my bf is allergic to it), and the miso ramen. First they brought out the spicy tuna roll but it came with cucumbers. We had specifically said no cucumbers on the roll and we needed to be remade, they took it back and literally just removed the cucumbers (we literally saw the holes where the cucumbers were taken out), then we had to specify yet again it needed to be made again because my bf is allergic to them. The sashimi deluxe + seamed rice was fine but we saw that it was brought to another table, taken back to the kitchen, then to our table. About 40 minutes into the meal the miso ramen was still not here yet. The waitress noticed we were missing something, then brought another table’s dish out and put it on our table. I told her this is not miso ramen, she took it away and went back to the kitchen. Another 5 min passes by and she brings a miso ramen out with no fish cakes, I never specified that, took it back to kitchen. Another 5 minutes pass, I see my miso ramen come out but the waitress but it on the table next to mine despite that costumer ordering a katsu. The ramen really lacked miso flavor, it tasted very salty and almost seafood-y. I know that they were extremely busy but to bring out the wrong dishes more than 4 times is crazy. All and all I think they just need to work on their communication as whole. But I can’t say I will...

Maneki Neko is a small but enjoyable sushi and Japanese food spot. I went there with three others and a baby. Be forewarned, space is limited and adding a high chair might be tough depending on how many people are in the restaurant. However, the staff was very accommodating and helped us get set up in the right place.

The menu had many items I wanted to try, so I will definitely have to return. This time, I ordered the Maneki Medley, which included sushi and sashimi, and the Miso Ramen with a side of spice. I swapped out the California roll for a salmon skin roll, which didn’t change my charge due to the low cost difference. The server mentioned they would charge the difference if I had chosen a more expensive roll. My meal also came with miso soup and a side bowl of rice.

The sushi and sashimi medley was good and fresh, with a nice variety and a few staples. Paired with the selection of Japanese beer, it’s an ideal after-work meal to relax and enjoy the evening. The broth for the miso ramen was good, and although it cost extra to add the egg, it was still a solid bowl of ramen. I would have liked to see more spicy ramen options on the menu, especially a tantanmen.

Additionally, there is parking and an entrance at the back of the restaurant, but the parking isn’t easily visible from the street. If you don’t check for it first, you might miss it and end up driving around the block.

Overall, my experience was pleasant and I would definitely like to visit again to try some of the other dishes that...

My family and I have been coming here for a long time. We think it's one of the best Japanese restaurants in the area, but this was our first time back since COVID started. I'm only marking it 4/5 instead of 5/5 since I thought that the Miso soup was a bit watery. They must be going for a more subtle taste but personally I prefer a more robust flavor. Everything else was exceptional though. The Futomaki had a balanced combination of ingredients and flavors. Sushi rice can be hard to perfect, but the rice in these rolls was sweet and sticky without either quality being overpowering. The egg was nicely spongy while still having a slight firmness. The other sushi rolls I tried were excellent as well, and the oily, chewy fish eggs that coated one of them were a particular highlight. My main course was a Teriyaki New York strip steak served with a side of rice and salad. The steak was marinated in a thick layer of teriyaki and dotted with sesame seeds, and the meat itself wrapped my taste buds in a warm embrace of juicy tenderness. If you're in the area and want to treat yourself to some delectable Japanese food, look no further than...