Toryumon Japanese House — Restaurant in Washington

I recently dined at Toryumon Japanese House in DC, and it was a memorable experience in every way. Tucked downstairs with moody, dim lighting, Toryumon strikes a balance between intimate and modern, creating a cozy ambiance that sets the perfect tone for a night out. We arrived on a bustling Saturday night without a reservation, but to my surprise, we were seated quickly—something I didn’t expect for a group of seven! Our server was attentive and friendly, keeping our water glasses full and checking in just the right amount. To kick off, we ordered a variety of appetizers to get a feel for the flavors. The bao buns stood out with their freshness, soft texture, and perfect bite—definitely a must-try. We also got the kaki fry, which were beautifully crispy oysters with just the right touch of spicy mayo, elevating each bite without overwhelming the seafood's natural flavor. I’d come back just for these. For the mains, we all dove into the ramen, and I personally opted for the Ajitama ramen. The broth was unbelievably rich and flavorful, with chashu that practically melted in my mouth. This was definitely a highlight, packed with depth and that traditional umami kick. I also tried a bit of the Fantastic sushi roll, and true to its name, it was quite fantastic, with a generous mix of tuna, salmon, and yellowtail. The honey b roll, filled with crab, salmon, and avocado, was another standout—each ingredient fresh and perfectly paired with a hint of honey that added a unique, sweet note. One of my friends tried the lychee martini, which was strong yet refreshingly sweet, and paired well with the spicy ramen. I was tempted to try more from the cocktail menu, especially since each drink seemed thoughtfully crafted to match the Japanese flavors. For anyone exploring the city, Toryumon is a spot worth checking out. And while you’re in the neighborhood, be sure to swing by Pull Up DC as well, where the vibe keeps going long after dinner’s done! Toryumon has definitely earned a spot on my list of DC favorites, and I can't...

We came here for a friend's birthday dinner on a Friday evening. It's located near the World Bank and you have to go down a flight of stairs to access the restaurant.

We were seated promptly without a wait. The ambiance is ok inside, nothing exciting to write home about. It's a little quieter and more secluded on the left side of the restaurant, but that also seems to be where all the birthday reservations are seated.

While we received our water quickly, it took quite some time to wave down our waitress - they were busy so it was understandable. We ordered 3-4 appetizers for the table, the toryumon spicy chicken, chicken katsudon, bulgogi, and misty (something) roll. They timed the items poorly and we received our appetizers with our entrees, which ended up bring too much food on the table at once to properly enjoy. The tempura came out towards the end of the meal, as did the misty roll.

The tempura shrimp appetizer is just ok - standard run of the mill tempura. Seaweed salad is fine. Spicy yellowtail appetizer is also ok. Calamari was also ok. Toryumon spicy chicken I liked overall - it was rice cakes and chicken in a spicy sauce with white rice and some steamed broccoli. Still, it left something to be desired. The chicken katsudon was meh. Misty roll I definitely wouldn't get again, the "filet mignon" on top was cold and rubbery.

For birthdays they give you a slice of cake for the table and a couple of waitresses come by to sing. They also have a hat they pass around to patrons for them to wear. It was cute but I'm not sure passing around a communal hat is a good idea.

We waited a long time for our check and had to go find someone for it. Portion sizes are good enough and pricing is standard, if not a little on the high side given the ambiance and subpar food and service. I probably wouldn't...

First time experience in a Japanese restaurant and I didn’t regret coming here. We were originally going to have our first Japanese experience at Yuraku, but seeing that Washington DC was along the way we stopped by here instead. Once arriving we were immediately seated and the service was nice. I ordered the Tokyo Ramen ($15) and it is the best ramen I ever had. I normally don’t go to ramen restaurants because I can go to a store and buy instant ramen. But I was shocked by how different they were so I would recommend ordering it. I didn’t really get to see what was at the bar but it still looked cool. -Prices were fair and I think everything was in between the 10-20 range but there might be somethings over that. The area is well cared for and very clean. -Bathrooms. I am saying this so you dont be like me. So in the restaurant there is a way to the restroom. I thought it was a multi gender restroom so I waited for a solid minute before I decided to push open the door to see an hallway leading to Gong’s Tea with a men and women’s bathroom right there. Lets just say I was disappointed with myself after that :D. Overall I think this is a great place to hang out with friends and family. Its funny how they still have a Christmas theme but then I realized that Christmas is just 4 months away 😂.

Area Hygiene: 9.5/10 Staff Friendliness: 10/10 Wait time: 3.5/5 (slightly fast) Food quality: 10/10 Food taste: 10/10 Satisfaction Level: 10/10 Environment Friendliness: 10/10 Overall...