Authentic Japanese Ramen

Its well-deserved reputation as a "best kept secret" within Union Market provides a sense of discovery for D.C. Residents, allowing them to experience truly high-quality ramen and other Japanese comfort foods without venturing far from the city's vibrant core. In Japan, the ability of a chef ramen near me to make fine soba is considered practically an art form. Umai nori, offering guests a unique sushi dining experience with a casual temaki bar specializing in open-style sushi hand rolls in DC.
Umaya brings a much-needed Izakaya presence to the nation’s capital. Izakaya restaurants are similar to tapas restaurants as they propel guests to share and enjoy their time together—always over a few drinks. Umaya will carry a wide array of beer and sake, to complement the peaceful and easy feel of the restaurant. The seasonal menu will change every few months but hold fast to favorite staples. We select the best restaurants based on their menu variety, customer reviews, ambiance, and service quality. Served with California roll, fried shrimp shumai and cold ramen.

Shrimp, flounder, fish balls in a veggie broth with scallions, cilantro, young celery, bean sprout and roasted garlic. Ramen with hearty porky soup base with roasted pork, soft boiled egg, bean sprout, bamboo shoot, ginger, scallion and nori. Buckwheat noodle in savory soy broth, shrimp and vegetable tempura, baby bok choi and scallion. Mesclun, romaine hearts, bean sprout, red onion, cherry tomato, cucumber, glass noodle, cilantro, peanut and spicy lime dressing. However, if you want the whole sushi experience, try the Omakase bar at some restaurants listed above. It’s not a cheap experience, but it will be worth every penny for the culinary adventure alone.
Perfect for special occasions or a casual meal, Nooshi is a must-visit spot for Asian cuisine lovers. The happy hour, held from Monday to Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., features affordable drinks and sushi rolls, making it an extremely convenient choice after work. The restaurant may get busy during lunch hours, but the quick service and attentive staff ensure a pleasant dining experience. Residents are known for their discerning tastes and their love for culinary discoveries, and RAMEN BY UZU fits perfectly into this landscape. What began as a small pop-up in 2016, driven by a desire to bring beloved Japanese home-style flavors to the DMV area, has blossomed into a permanent fixture within one of D.C.'s most dynamic food halls.

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The chef's careful preparation and the friendly service make it a favorite for regular visits, especially for those seeking authentic Vietnamese dishes like rice platters, vermicelli, and the combination Banh Mi. Overall, 54 Noodles Bar is highly recommended for those wanting flavorful, affordable Vietnamese cuisine in a welcoming setting. The District’s introduction to proper ramen (not the cheap, boil-at-home packets) started about a decade ago, when Toki Underground began offering Taiwanese-style ramen and drawing hour-long lines to its small H St. NE loft. The years that followed have seen a surge in like-minded restaurants offering savory, steaming bowls of ramen topped with pork, vegetables, and even fried chicken. Many restaurants make noodles in-house and simmer the broths for hours, coaxing out complex and nuanced flavors. Whether the forecast calls for dark and cold or patio-perfect temperatures, a bowl of ramen is the complete package for a quick and satisfying meal.
The staff was friendly, the restaurant was cozy, and the menu was really interesting. We split the poutine and both really enjoyed the quality of the cook on the fries and the Japanese curry. My wife had the pho, which she gave a very positive rating. I had a ramen with a coconut curry broth that was exactly what I wanted on a cold day. Having no expectations going in, I really enjoyed the meal and will be happy to return. Your choice of protein with baby spinach, bean sprout, broccoli, carrot, red onion, scallion, cilantro and crispy ramen.

Priced at $145 per guest, this thoughtfully composed experience is perfect for both first-time and returning guests. Carefully composed bowls feature thin, chewy, house-made noodles accompanied by delicate broths with nuance and depth. The signature bowl is a smoky, triple-threat combination of tonkotsu, chicken chintan and dashi. The soy-sauce-based truffle shoyu, which also features meaty cuts of pork belly, spinach and bamboo shoots, warrants slurping. Hand-rolled sushi burritos are assembled with precision and layered with fresh fish, seasoned rice, crisp vegetables, and creamy sauces that blend like a dream. One sushi burrito plus a couple of $7 rolls (we love the spicy tuna) costs about $20 and can satisfy one—or leave you with a happy takeout container.
Along with standard items like tonkotsu and spicy chicken ramen soups, Kaiju is enticing customers to ball out with a wagyu option, stocked with beef, chicken, pork, egg, and gold flakes—priced at $65.95. Satisfy those cravings and tantalize those taste buds by enjoying the best of Japanese cuisine at these must-visit restaurants in D.C.. From traditional sushi creations to hearty ramen bowls, keep on scrolling for some of the absolute best Japanese restaurants in and around D.C.. Founded in 2019, Zeppelin Restaurant & Bar serves up sushi and Japanese charcoal-grilled yakitori, paying homage to the Golden Age of the Great Passenger Airships. The restaurant features traditional Edomae-style nigiri sushi and an omakase bar led by Chef Minoru Ogawa — a Tokyo native, second-generation sushi chef, and owner of Sushi Ogawa. Trained under his master-chef father in the Nippori section of Tokyo, Ogawa carries on a family legacy that spans over 50 years, with both his father and brother renowned as master sushi chefs in Japan.

Roasted chicken breast, rice noodle, peanut, bean sprout, carrot, cabbage, cilantro in tom-kha style coconut soup. Thinly-sliced beef, bean sprouts, onion, Thai basil, fresh jalapeno peppers, scallion and cilantro. Choice of protein with baby spinach, bean sprout, broccoli, carrot, red onion, scallion, cilantro, and crispy ramen. Shrimp, flounder and fish balls in veggie broth with scallion, cilantro, young celery, bean sprouts and roasted garlic.
Customers highly recommend the crispy bread and top-notch meat. The restaurant provides quick, casual lunches with a wide array of delicious options like pho beef combo and vermicelli bowl. The food is consistently praised for being quick and amazing, with friendly staff and a good atmosphere. It is one of the top pho spots in D.C., often packed around lunch but still offering several tables and counter spots for dine-in. Many guests have enjoyed dining in and taking food to go, appreciating the large, well-priced servings.

The Udon Carbonara is ideal for twirling and savoring with its creamy sauce, and the Dashi Fried Rice gets a savory depth from umami-rich broth. Don’t skip the Sushi combo for Two, so fresh the fish practically melts off the rice. Hearty dishes like the moist chicken-topped donburi or the well-seasoned salmon and eel bowl are straightforward and delicious, and the consistently fresh ingredients warrant a return visit. Tempura, mesclun salad, vegan stir fry, spring roll and sushi.
He has since gone on to be named the DMV’s  best cheap Japanese restaurant by Washingtonian Magazine. Daikaya Ramen offers Sapporo-style ramen, which is widely considered one of Japan’s most prominent and influential ramen styles. There’s no formal waiting-list policy listed, but Chaplin gets busy, especially weekend brunch and weekend nights, and guests report lines and crowded seating. Reservations are recommended; walk-ins may face waits or be asked to limit table time. Call ahead if you’re concerned about availability or need special timing.