Perhaps a bit trivial.

April 23, 2006 9:32 PM

Anyone know of any good sushi restaurants in the D.C. area that're open on Saturdays? Preferably all-you-can-eat places, suitable for a date.
posted by kafziel to food & drink (21 comments total)

Sushi Chalet in Gaithersburg is pretty good, but they charge you $1 a piece if you don't eat the sushi rice. Seriously.
posted by Saucy Intruder at 9:36 PM on April 23, 2006

I don't know any all-you-can-eat places. Kan Pai, in Arlington, in my favorite place. There's also Sushi Ko over in Glover Park/Georgetown, which is slightly expensive. The place right across from the Uptown is really good too, but none of them are all you can eat. There's a pretty good take out sushi place over on the canal in Georgetown, too, if you want to serve it at home (and they deliver locally).
I'd recommend Kan Pai, because it's in Arlington, so it's always pretty empty aside from lunch and they have good sake; try the pearl. The place by they Uptown, though, gives you the opportunity for dinner and a movie, and I get the feel they are used to people leaving fast to catch a showing.
posted by princelyfox at 9:44 PM on April 23, 2006

There's Matsuri in Herndon, which has all-you-can-eat for both lunch and dinner. While I've not been there myself, I've heard good things about it.

There's also Il Mee, in Annandale and Chantilly, which has sushi and Korean BBQ, all buffet and all very good (at least the one in Chantilly is).

I'd take a date to either one. Well, that is, I would if I weren't married, and to a woman who doesn't like sushi.
posted by cerebus19 at 9:51 PM on April 23, 2006

Oh, yes, and Arigato Sushi in Fairfax is excellent, though I think they only have a-y-c-e for lunch. The decor there is really nice, too.
posted by cerebus19 at 9:53 PM on April 23, 2006

Ugh, don't do all-you-can-eat. Do you really want eating sushi that's been sitting out?
posted by radioamy at 10:01 PM on April 23, 2006

I also dont know of any all-you-can-eat places but my favorites are: Raku (Dupont), Nooshi (Dupont), and Cafe Asia (Downtown). If you're looking for more than sushi, I recommend Raku; it's just off the metro and has very reasonably priced and super delicious "asian tapas".

Also, http://dc.sushibarfinder.com/default.asp
I think the site shut down and was recently reopened, but perhaps worth bookmarking for the future?
posted by Flamingo at 10:02 PM on April 23, 2006

There is such a thing as good all-you-can-eat sushi?
posted by luriete at 10:49 PM on April 23, 2006

Tono Sushi near the Woodley Park/Adams Morgan metro is supposed to be pretty good and relatively inexpensive, compared to what you're going to pay in Dupont or Capitol Hill. I've never eaten there, though.
posted by borkingchikapa at 10:52 PM on April 23, 2006

Osaka in Greenbelt, MD, has a Sushi Happy Hour with half price sushi.

It's not the most amazing sushi, but when I don't feel like driving to Columbia it's nearby and inexpensive.
posted by frecklefaerie at 11:17 PM on April 23, 2006

I was actually at Matsutake in Ballston (Arlington) on Friday, and they have signs up saying their buffet runs Monday through Saturday, so it might not be a bad bet. It said $11.95 (I think). The other food there is pretty good, so I'd bet the sushi is at the very least decent. (There's also coupons available online, apparently.) As for going on a date, if you forego the sushi side of things, it's also hibachi style, where they cook the food right in front of you. Quite entertaining.

(There's another place a little further out, whose name is escaping me. out towards Falls Church. I don't know if they have the buffet out on Saturdays, but yes, this is definitely good all-you-can-eat sushi.)
posted by inigo2 at 4:31 AM on April 24, 2006

In Alexandria, Yamazoto (Duke and Beauregard, opposite SFW) is very, very good, and also has great Thai food. Akasaka (near Van Dorm station) is the best sushi I have ever had anywhere, ever! You should go for salmon at Yamazoto, and white tuna at Akasaka. Neither place is all you can eat.
posted by crabintheocean at 4:33 AM on April 24, 2006

Cafe Asia is pretty good, but either of the places I mentioned are way better. I have heard good things about Sushi Chalet, my coworkers go there a lot, but I've never tried it.
posted by crabintheocean at 4:35 AM on April 24, 2006

I agree - no "all you can eat", especially for a date. One of my favorites is Sake Club, in Woodley Park. It's not cheap, but the place has amazing ambiance and I would be thrilled to be taken there on a date. It doesn't have a huge sushi menu, but the items it has are fresh and delicious, and the other items on the menu are good. (There's one roll I wouldn't recommend - the rock shrimp & cilantro - too much cilantro.)

As mentioned, Sushi Ko is also very good. Not cheap, but many say it's the best sushi in DC.

http://www.sushitaro.com/ is good. It's in Dupont. Not too expensive.

And Sakana in Dupont is probably better, but it's a small restaurant and can have a long wait. Slightly more expensive than Sushi Taro.

Raku was mentioned above. It is convenient and fun, and has lots of other pan-Asian food. I don't think it's the best sushi going, though. Same goes for Thai Chef, another place in Dupont with a sushi menu. But they are both pretty affordable.
posted by Amizu at 6:19 AM on April 24, 2006

All you can eat anything is not good for a date, IMO, and I wouldn't go near AYCE sushi.

That said, I did have a very nice (and not expensive, as far as sushi goes) meal last week at Uni on P street, by DuPont Circle.
posted by mkultra at 7:55 AM on April 24, 2006

matsuri in herndon is very good, for a buffet-style place. i eat there almost once a week.

also, in reston, obi sushi is really good. more of a date-type place.

if you want to eat sushi in dc, there is a place in the palisades (west of georgetown) called kotobuki. the sushi is very cheap (a dollar for most nigiri, and 3 dollars for most rolls), and oddly enough, according to many food critics (including the insane tom sietsma) has the freshest sushi in dc. i couldnt disagree. it was really good. however, not a whole lot of atmosphere. it is a VERY small place. but very good.

in arlington, there is matsutake, which is pretty good, but a little expensive. they also do the annoying, touristy hibachi grill crap, with the fire and everything.

also in arlington, i heard some great things about endo sushi, but i have not been there.

cafe asia is good too. excellent eel.
posted by kneelconqueso at 8:13 AM on April 24, 2006

I'd recommend Sushi Taro for a date. Cool atmosphere, good food, nice neighborhood for wandering and people watching. Not all-you-can-eat, and not cheap, though.

I have been to the aforementioned Raku several times, and can't understand the buzz. Sure, the sidewalk seating is fun, but the food has never impressed me.
posted by MrMoonPie at 8:49 AM on April 24, 2006

Second kotobuki. It's very good and it's a dollar a piece (for nigiri.) Thumbs down for raku. Very crowded, just okay food.

In Tyson's, Konami's pretty good and medium expensive. (Around 15$ for the sushi special iirc.)
posted by callmejay at 9:43 AM on April 24, 2006

Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide has some good, short recommendations (search for Japanese on that page). Generally a great resource but especially if you ever have a craving for a specific type of food.
posted by redsnare at 10:26 AM on April 24, 2006

I second tono sushi in woodley park.
posted by I Foody at 11:09 AM on April 24, 2006

I'll second Uni in Dupont Circle. They have fresh, inventive sushi with all kinds of interesting fusion combinations.
posted by equipoise at 11:39 AM on April 24, 2006

Oh, I should mention Sushi-Zen, in Arlington. Not a great date place, I guess, but cheap. It's a real neighborhood scene, lots of kids and families, so it does have its charms.
posted by MrMoonPie at 2:41 PM on April 24, 2006