Ariake

Great food, good service, simple vibes. Ordered the Assorted Nigiri, Hamachi box, Hamachi Kama, Negi Maki, Salmon Skin roll & Tempura Udon. The quality of sushi was great. I'd return. Hamachi box made me especially happy-- a little plate of yellowtail heaven. All food was good. Nice staff. The restaurant was pretty packed on a Sunday evening. They still gave good, timely service. Food didn't take too long.

A staple as one of my go to Sushi restaurant for Chirashi. The fish selection on the Chirashi is usually very reasonable. What makes it a favorite for me is their spicy mayo. For me, that separate their Chirashi from others.We also usually get a variety of hand rolled, some nigiri, and chicken Karaage. Today, we tried the Bento box. Decent selection for the price.Service is spotty at times with needing to ask for hot tea and water refill. Restaurant is not very fancy but comfortable.

FOODWe ordered the roll combo, salmon avocado roll, and Florida roll. The roll combo is one of the best bang for your buck on the menu-- all of which were light yet filling and can definitely leave leftovers for a second meal. The salmon avocado was simple yet delicious, but the Florida roll was an acquired taste. The half raw and half cooked/seared texture wasn't something I liked, but the roll itself is one of their bestsellers.SERVICEThe staff are kind and friendly.AMBIANCESpacious seating is available inside the store, and a great spot for lunch/dinner. It can get busy during peak meal times, but I highly recommend Ariake if you're looking for great sushi!PARKINGAmple parking is available at the lot in front of the restaurant.

I was craving sushi and came here for dinner on Wednesday evening per a friend's recommendation! The restaurant was almost full around 7:30 pm, so I would recommend making a reservation (only available Monday-Thursday; they're walk-in only from Friday-Sunday). I ordered off the specials menu for dinner (I attached a photo if you'd like to see details for each item): Uni Flight ($45) and Bluefin Tuna Special ($40). Both were delicious and SO fresh. My favorites for each dish were the Japanese Uni in the Uni Flight (obviously) and the Toro Melt in the Bluefin Tuna Special - it really lives up to its name!If you like black sesame anything, don't miss out on their homemade black sesame ice cream for dessert! It's delicious! Very creamy with a rich, nutty flavor. The service was quick for how busy it was and I was super happy with my meal! It was pricy, but for what I specifically ordered, that's to be expected lol. If I ordered anything else, I might've deducted a star because of the overpriced general menu. Otherwise, highly recommend :)

Had a great time coming here! We were sat pretty quickly and has salmon tatake, sushi deluxe platter, sashimi deluxe platter. Our appetizers came with miso soup and a side salad. All items were pretty fresh, and came out in a timely manner. I've heard great reviews about this place as the fish has never been a miss especially in the Northern Virginia area! I would come here again! It is pretty busy inside but the service was still too tier!

Service is always great even when it's packed and it does get packed during evenings. I've been going here for a number of years since it's my wife's favorite sushi place nearby so I'm a bit biased obviously. I've tried Michelin rated sushi and a variety of different places and I frankly can't tell the difference. Maybe my palate is unrefined but overall ariake is a very nice and cozy place for families, couples, even work lunch crowds. Highly recommend the chirashi bowl.

They probably have the best creative sushi rolls in Northern Virginia, and it is a very popular spot. Parking is quite limited, and during both times that I've been here, the restaurant and the parking lot were full. They don't have this explicitly on the menu, but the French kiss roll is top tier with yummy salmon and onion on top. The fish to rice ratio is pretty high and thus a good value for what you get. Service is generally quick, but you'll have to wait quite a bit longer if you come on a Friday evening. Clean bathrooms, although there is only one.

Really nice traditional sushi restaurant next to the Hunters Woods shopping center. My partner and I went for an early dinner without a reservation, but the place filled up very quickly so it would be a good idea to have a reservation if you go after 5:30 pm. My partner and I shared the Maguro Box, which had several pieces of raw tuna sushi, sashimi, roll, and spicy tuna salad. It had excellent spicy flavors, the tuna was fresh, and it came with a basic side salad and miso soup. Since we started with the box we didn't have room for anything else beyond a few sips of Junmai sake. It was a lovely experience with attentive service and I would recommend for lunch or dinner.

I felt compelled to post an update after my experience on New Year's Eve. Ariake was very busy and closed online orders early on in the night. I was super bummed because I had been planning on Ariake takeout for my kid-free solo night in for months. I called multiple times for updates on whether/when online orders would reopen and they were so patient and friendly despite being very busy. I ordered sashimi (salmon, toro salmon, unagi), miso soup, and seaweed salad. Everything was delicious - salmon basically melted in my mouth! I've tried other local sushi and Ariake is hands down the best (and not much more expensive). Their sashimi is thicker and larger pieces than most other places and always fresh. I definitely opt for sashimi here (the rolls are good, but not the selling point for me compared to other sushi restaurants). I also find their seaweed salad to be more interesting than other places. I also like that online it's easy to select "no wasabi." Parking is a little difficult during peak hours and I've had times where I'm unable to find a spot (people end up making their own spots).

This is our favorite sushi place in the tristate area. We came here frequently when we lived closer, and even now that we live an hour away, we still make the drive from time to time. The quality of the fish and the combinations of flavors are head and shoulders above the other sushi spots I've been to, and holds up well in comparison to the sushi I had in Japan. Price is good, service is good, ambiance is good; the sushi is fantastic.