Awabi Sushi Bar — Restaurant in Winchester

Walked in and was greeted with good music and friendly staff. Seated immediately. Dining space looks to be very clean and tidy. Light was low and soft, mostly from the sun, much to my liking.

Waiter was friendly, got our drinks to us promptly, and refilled them just as quickly throughout our meal. He was very patient in waiting for us to decide on our food.

Crunchy avocado appetizer was delicious and prepared perfectly, as were the gyoza. Ambient sound inside was pleasant. Shrimp tempura roll was beautiful presented. I could tell it was made with fresh ingredients, and had a very light flavor to it. I would’ve preferred the tempura inside to be a little crispier and the roll have slightly less sauce, but all around a very nice roll.

The pork katsu batter had a wonderfully crunchy texture with good consistency. It was fried perfectly and the flavor was very rich but surprisingly unaggressive. The brown sauce that comes with it tasted like A1 sauce, though I’m not exactly sure of its identity. I didn’t like it too much. It was too heavy and deep of a flavor and did not compliment the airy richness of the katsu.

My friend dining with me, a man of few words to publish, says that the manduguk beef was “excellent.”

My food was put into a to-go container for me, offered by a very friendly staff member. That was a big plus because I had the -iris and didn’t want to move. I was left in peace to enjoy my full stomach.

I was told the “system was down” and my credit card information had to be saved on paper in order to use it. I was brought a piece of paper that seemed to be official. I’m comfortable with it.

One issue I have with this restaurant is that the chairs are terribly uncomfortable. Discomfort did take a little away from visit, but not enough to lose a WHOLE star.

5/5 will...

Excellent excellent quality and experience. Gluten free options (safe for celiacs!), kid friendly and family-owned and ran. This is one of those amazing hole in the wall places that you want to bring your family and friends to. We'll be back for sure! You can't beat the customer service that helps new parents with entertainment for the baby or toddler with crayons and proactive offering of a high chair. There wasn't any weird pressure related to discussing dietary restrictions (if you know someone who is celiac, they'll know what I mean. This place is truly safe and welcoming), true Japanese hospitality that brang us back to our travels across Asia. I really liked the gluten free option of cooked blue crab California rolls. Reasonably priced. My husband can eat gluten and really loved the the Alaska roll. 10/10 cannot recommend enough. Our baby also loved the rice and pot stickers, hubby...

Awabi is the BEST sushi in town. Ive been frequenting this place for years. The quality of the food is nothing short of excellent. The presentation is superb, and the service is friendly, inviting and of the utmost professionalism. Marcus and Emma treat you like family. The decor is authentic and you never feel rushed. And employees and owners greet you with a smile and are happy to field questions about menu suggestions. I was saddened when I heard they had temporarily shut down during Covid. However, it warms my heart to see this business and family thriving again. If you don't already know about this gem on the Walking Mall in Winchester, do yourself a favor and go. Everything from the fan favorite Loudoun Street Roll down to coffee is perfect. Tell your friends and family. Tell everyone! My girlfriend and I will certainly be back. Awabi: the definition of excellence.

John...