Sushi in Northern Virginia

I must confess that I am a dedicated sushi lover.  Let me be clear:  I don’t just like sushi, I read about it, study it, crave it, and pursue it.  I can tell you the difference between gunkan-maki and oshi-sushi.  Sushi is an obsession for me, and I am always looking for good sushi without driving more than 20 miles.

Update! Do you want to make your own sushi at home but can’t find the ingredients? Look here.

Here, then, is my humble opinion regarding the various sushi restaurants I have visited.

Osaka Japanese Restaurant, Loisdale Road, Springfield – The sushi is serviceable, the staff friendly, and it is frequented by local Japanese, which is always a good sign.  The house specialty is something called Sushi Lasagne, which is a cali roll topped with a special sauce and then baked – yummy!  Osaka also features a special blue “happy hour” menu with reduced prices in effect for some items for lunch during the week and again Sunday afternoons.

Update! Read about my most recent visit to Osaka Japanese Restaurant here!

Sakura Japanese Steakhouse, Potomac Festival, Woodbridge – The sushi is good, but it can be very slow on Friday and Saturday night.  The chef is known to make freebies for regulars (woo hoo!), and the house specialties are Salmon with Mango Sauce (mango puree, sesame oil, and mirin) and a sliced avocado salad also topped with the same mango sauce and white sesame seeds.  We’ve also been given burikama, a roasted yellowtail cheek that is simply amazing.

Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse, Potomac Mills Circle, Woodbridge – Quite possibly the best sushi I have ever eaten!  Chef Jeff has 20 years experience, and seems to always have the freshest and most varied menu I’ve ever encountered.  The chef also procures fresh mackeral (saba) and makes his own marinade while other restaurants buy pre-marinated.  They routinely have several grades of toro, sometimes even the coveted otoro (fattiest grade of tuna), and live scallops.  The specialties seem to be the Wasabi Roll (topped with a wasabi mayonnaise) or the French Roll, an extra fat roll.  Don’t be fooled, however:  The real specialty is quite possibly the best spicy tuna handroll this side of heaven! This place is a must visit, and be sure to sit at the bar and talk to the chefs.

Update! Read about my most recent visit to Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse here!

Bamboo Japanese Restaurant, Centreville Road, Manassas Park – Bamboo used to be, in my opinion, the best sushi restaurant I had ever visited, that is until about 1-1/2 years ago when the ownership changed.  The house specialty used to be something called Sushi Pizza, a form of chirashi (scattered sushi) where nori is coated with rice on both sides, toasted until crisp, and then topped with salmon, tuna, and hamachi, and then drizzled with a spicy yellow mayonnaise – yowza! Alas, however, the new staff does not make Sushi Pizza.  The last two times I went were a disappointment. The product quality has diminished to the point where I no longer care to visit.

Mikaku Sushi Taro, Centreville Road, Herndon – Very good sushi from native Japanese proprietors.  The house specialty is the Mikaku Roll, a very elaborate creation.  Frequented by many persons of oriental descent, many of which were seen eating an authentically prepared chirashi.  I ate here several times, and once with good friends who brought along their Japanese au pair, who spoke very highly of the authenticity.

Jangko Sushi, Jefferson Davis Highway, Woodbridge – Serviceable, but otherwise unremarkable.

Shiro Japanese Steakhouse, Kingstowne Centre, Kingstowne – I only ate here once for lunch and found it to be of so-so quality and very expensive, especially for lunch.  Other co-workers report the same.

Tokyo Inn, Backlick Road, Springfield – I ate here a few times for lunch, but it has been about 2-1/2 years.  I stopped because the freshness wasn’t quite there.

Yi Uh Do Sushi & Sashimi Bar, located inside Global Foods, Minnieville Road, Woodbridge – This is far more like street vendor sushi than fine dining, but for a quick Saturday sushi lunch fix, this is the place. Yi Uh Do is run by a Korean family whose heritage is reflected in the varied menu – in addition to standard sushi fare are a couple of Japanese/Korean fusion dishes and every meal is served with the ubiquitous kimchi, a spicy fermented cabbage dish. Be sure to try the Hwae Dup Bap, a chirashi (scattered sushi) salad that starts with steamed rice and fresh greens and is topped with chopped sashimi of tuna, salmon, and yellowtail, shredded daikon, and julienned strips of nori. Nom nom nom!!

Uptown Sushi Bar and Grill, Fairfax Boulevard, Farifax – Located next door to Patriot Harley Davidson, we went for lunch after a Rolling Thunder event. Recently remodeled after changing hands, we were immediately struck by the tasteful and inviting decor. Equally enticing was the tantalizing Spicy Tuna Tini appetizer, consisting of a fresh ahi tuna and seaweed salad served in a martini glass. The ingredients were fresh and well prepared enough to go back with friends a week or two later, but we’ve not visited since, mostly as a matter of convenience.

Wegmans Sushi Bar, Woodbridge – Perhaps the most kind thing I can say here is about the Spicy Crab and Avocado Dumpling – very yummy! The atmosphere is bright and clean, but the sushi, however, is just pedestrian at best. Save your money and go to Yi Uh Do in Global Foods, instead – what it lacks in ambience is more than made up by the quality and selection. Read all about our Wegmans Sushi Bar experience here.