Best Japanese Restaurants in Woodley Park

Amazing food amazing service, amazing experience!

Umai Nori is a great option for a solid lunch special. The food was fresh, well prepared, and a good value for the quality and portion size. Service was quick and friendly, making it an easy spot for lunch when you want something a little better than the usual grab and go. Definitely worth checking out, especially for the lunch specials.

I visited this restaurant on Tuesday, 9/15/2026 with my girlfriend, and boy, did it impress us both. The weather was perfect and the sunset was post-card beautiful. The wait staff, from the hostess who directed us to our table to the waiter who served us, were all consummate professionals. The food was great and portioned right. We had a cocktail and wine, both of which were excellent. The view was also exceptional! As soon as you get off the elevator on the penthouse level (14th floor) of the Pendry hotel, you see a sophisticated and inviting environment. You won't go wrong with Moonraker, a gem right smack in the SW Wharf area.

There's some competition among sushi restaurants in DC, and I can't claim to have visited them all, but Kyojin is equal to all, if it's not quite as superlative as Nakazawa. Kyojin is more elegant than any, it's refined and calm. It's not just a matter of the food (and the food is subtle and surprising and wonderful, as I'll detail in a moment); those who designed and own and staff and present Kyojin know that while what goes into diners' mouths is crucial, the total experience is crucial, as well. Now for the food. Every bite was a new experience. One couldn't simply eat. The tastes were surprising. They refused to just be "another bite." I lack the vocabulary to describe the food adequately, but I felt as though I'd been to a dozen or more entirely unique places. I wish I were beginning the meal again.

Such great quality of food and preparation! Amazing dishes full of delicious ingredients and flavors!!