Rakugaki — Restaurant in North Bethesda

This spot came highly recommended to me from a friend. So I slid out to The Shops at Wildwood in Bethesda Maryland to see what was up with it. Let me tell you…this place didn’t disappoint!! I’ll go back!! . Where I am: @rakugaki_bethesda @shopsatwildwood . Location Reviewed: 10223 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda M.D. . Items Reviewed: STAMP!! Their Mango Tango ($7 with pineapple, ginger beer, & lime). This had REAL mango juice in it, & it was bubbly!!

STAMP!! their Strawberry Hibiscus Tea ($6 with strawberry puree, & hibiscus lemonade). Well blended, refreshing, & tasty!!

LIKE THAT!! Their Summer Roll ($8 with shrimp, rice noodles, peanuts, cilantro, mint, lettuce, & mint sauces). The ingredients blended well together, dip this in that soy sauce!!

STAMP!! Their Chicken Tempura Nanban ($9 fried chicken breast lathered in a sweet soy sauce, & topped with a tartar sauce). The tartar sauce was sweet, & just added a creamy sweetness to the lightly fried chicken!!

STAMP!! Their Garlic Beef Fried Rice ($17 with egg, garlic chip, butter, & scallions). Premium ingredients, buttery deliciousness!!

STAMP!! Their Korean Beef a Bulgolgi Yaki Udon ($29 with marinated sliced ribeye, onions, scallions, kimchi, egg, & udon noodles). Thinly sliced, & perfectly seasoned bulgogi, with thick & saucy noodles!!

STAMP!! Their Large Volcano Rolls ($13 with shrimp Tempura, spicy tuna mayo, eel, avocado, fish roe, cucumber, & eel sauce). Crisp shrimp, fresh ingredients, tasty!!

STAMP!! Their Philly Rolls ($10 with smoked salmon, cream cheese, red onion, cucumber, & lemon caper sauce). Well seasoned, creamy, & lemony!!

STAMP!! Their Choco Parfait ($10 with vanilla soft serve ice cream, chocolate marshmallow mousse, bananas, a house made chocolate lollipop, & chocolate pearls). Perfect ending to this fantastic meal!! . Parking: Decent. . Customer Service: On Point. . Recommendations: Get what I STAMPED!!

Accessibility: This spot is wheelchair friendly, & differently abled persons friendly.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️=STAMP ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️➕=LIKE...

Rakugaki is an absolute gem in Bethesda, located in Wildwood Shopping Center, offering delicious sushi rolls, creative cocktails, and fantastic service in a lively yet cozy atmosphere. It’s quickly become one of my favorite spots for Japanese food, and a huge part of that is thanks to the amazing service—especially from Suya! She is incredible—friendly, attentive, and truly goes above and beyond to make sure every guest has a great experience. She’s super knowledgeable about the menu, always making the best recommendations, and her warm personality makes the meal even more enjoyable. If you go, ask for Suya—you won’t be disappointed!

The sushi rolls here are fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Some of my favorites include the Wasabi Dynamite Roll, which has amazing depth of flavor, and the Golden Dragon Roll, which is rich, buttery, and packed with fresh ingredients. Their specialty rolls are always creative and high quality, making it a great spot for sushi lovers. But even if you’re not a fan of raw fish, Rakugaki has an extensive menu with something for everyone, including comforting bowls like beef ragu udon pasta.

Cocktails here are also a highlight, with unique, well-balanced flavors that pair perfectly with the food. Prices are reasonable for the quality, with sushi rolls ranging around $12-$20, ramen and hot dishes around $15-$25, and cocktails typically $12-$15. Parking is easy and convenient, with plenty of spots in the shopping center lot, making it a stress-free dining experience.

I love coming here after my Solidcore classes—it’s the perfect post-workout meal to treat myself with fresh sushi and a great cocktail while unwinding. Overall, Rakugaki is a must-visit for sushi lovers and anyone looking for a great Japanese meal in Bethesda. The combination of fresh food, great drinks, and top-notch service—especially from Suya—makes it a place I’ll keep...

I usually don’t bother to take the time to write about bad dining experiences, but this was just so terrible I had to. I ordered carry-out yesterday and when I came in to get my food, I asked to ensure that there was chopsticks and to go silverware in the bag. The host told me yes and then I walked outside. The outside dining was not full at all and I asked a server if my son and I could eat our food there, and the server told me no, it was for other people (even though there was honestly maybe 3 - 4 tables taken out of I’d say a total of 20). I said I understood, and then we went to in front of Sarah’s to eat. I open up the bags and realize there are no chopsticks or silverware. I go back into the restaurant and tell them this. The host says, okay hold on, and proceeds to take the next guests behind me and seat them. (I literally could’ve just grabbed chopsticks from the bar that were already set out). Then, she comes back and hands me chopsticks, and i told her I also need spoons for our two miso soups. She said, “no you just drink it like this” motioning sipping from a bowl. I was flabbergasted and was like no, most places have spoons and she said well yeah our delivery hasn’t come. And I was just like ok. Now, all this to mention I paid $64 and had included a tip. Also, I’m 8 months pregnant with twins, and look very pregnant. I just am still so upset over the treatment and almost disdain when I simply was asking for help. Food was fine, but definitely not worth being treated like this...