Miso

If there is a primary reason that long time Annandale favorite Miso has over 550+ reviews (as of February 2025) and a solid 4 star rating, it can be distilled to one word: katsu.Miso specializes in many different forms of katsu which traditionally is defined as a Japanese style dish consisting of a piece of meat (although tofu and veggies are also used) covered in panko bread crumbs, and then deep fried. Deep frying conceptually is a "simple" techique, yet so many places either leave food in the hot grease too long rendering the food burnt and bitter; or the food is not cooked long enough resulting in a crispy outer layer, but cold (and sometimes raw) temperatures underneath the batter. And don't underestimate the role clean and constantly changing the cooking oil makes, since the food doesn't come out looking "dingy," which often results from frying in old oil.I discovered Miso during the pandemic when I got take out one day, and was shocked when I got home 20 minutes later to discover that my pork katsu was still hot and super crunchy! So of course, once dine-in service resumed, I was happy to be able to enjoy the food when it was freshly prepared.I recently enjoyed a meal with a friend who had not previously been to Miso and she was thoroughly impressed. The interior design resembles any other Asian themed restaurant. Nondescript wooden tables/booths/chairs, sit atop dark tile flooring, with semi-bright (bordering on dim) lighting. TBH, I've noticed that it can get a bit chilly in the Winter months, and somewhat hot in the summer months. The place has higher ceilings, so I imagine climate control must be a challenge.We started the meal with the Tofu katsu, which was super yummy. The panko breading was light, not salty, and achieved its purpose of having a crunchy exterior while keeping the tofu siken and moist inside. The soy based dipping sauce was a bit one note, mostly tasting salty.The other thing I appreciate about Miso is that the portion sizes are ginormous; which is important during these inflationary times! A tender pork cutlet was battered, deep fried to peak GBD (golden brown delicious) perfection, and then sliced into bite sized pieces. The dish was also served with a small bowl of udon noodles, rice, steamed egg custard, pickles, and kimchi. For $18 (as of this review), we split the spicy pork katsu plate, and there was PLENTY of food for two adults.As we were dining in a casual non-rushed manner, after 25-30 minutes the pork lowered to a tepid room temperature, but the batter still remained CRUNCHY! And nice bonus that at the end of the meal, we received complimentary mini-yogurt drinks.The earliest reviews for Miso go back to 2007 and I understand that in the ensuing 18 years, ownership has changed a few times. Miso isn't a fancy place, but the constant has been good food at reasonable prices.

Our main spot is closed for renovations so decided to give this spot a shot. Glad we did, greeted as we walked in. Nice open dining area, clean restrooms. You scan a QR Code for the menu which is new to me, but it worked. Easy to read with different combinations of Katsu and noodles. We were offered cold or hot water to drink and it was exactly that, hot water. The Katsu was by far the best that I have had, nicely fried and Juicy with a complementary sauce that made it taste even better. It was pretty amazing. The Fish Cake Udon was also really good - not my usual thing, but I enjoyed it. The Kimchi that came with it was delicious, I love Kimchi and this was one of the best that I have had. Just wish you got more, I did get a second round, but could have definitely eaten more. My wife enjoyed her choices as much as I did. Overall a great lunch spot to enjoy some great Katsu.

I haven't been here in over 8 years! So glad I came back tonight for a nice, delicious, local spot dinner! Dining at Miso for dinner tonight was as great as an experience as I remember. Our server was very attentive, kind, friendly, and helpful. He was super observant while refilling waters when needed, and even assisted me when I had some trouble loading the QR code for the PDF menu on my phone! They have so many combos and dishes to choose from, most include a Katsu (crispy fried cutlet: pork, chicken, fish, or shrimp) with various smaller sides. I opted for their Japanese katsu pork combo (it came with 2 whole katsu cutlets! What a generous portion), and a cute mini udon soup, steamed egg, and sides with rice. It was more than enough food, I was left full and brought most of the 2nd katsu home. My bf wanted more soup, so he got the Katsu combo with the bigger fish cake udon. The fish cakes were delicious, and udon noodles cooked well. I got pork katsu, and my bf got chicken but you really can't go wrong with either protein choice!The service really stands out here, again thank you so much to our server the younger man with the black glasses! He did an amazing job and was so nice and polite, and helpful.The older gentleman who came to help out since it got busy during dinner was also very nice! At the end their signature is to give a yogurt drink with each meal! I love that they kept this tradition going after over a decade. I felt nostalgic coming here, and felt the same warmth and good food as I did about 10 years ago. Shoutout to Miso for being a staple in the VA local food community! Please support this place, they have great katsu and other eats, and enjoy the great meal and service!

The pork kotatsu was super crispy, beautifully/evenly coated, it was very lightly seasoned; the flavors were in the dipping sauce. The Ramen noodles were cooked perfectly with a bit of a chew; the broth was rich, creamy; packed full of flavors. The service was friendly, attentive, and quick. The place was small and simple.

It's been a while since I've been to Miso - there seemed to have been shifts and changes in ownership, and we've been experiencing some inconsistencies with our orders.However, we've decided to give them another try and came here for an early dinner. Their interior was updated, as well as a refresh on their menu - note that in order to access the menu, you'll need to scan the QR code that's located at each table.Their menu is extensive, offering items such as noodles and rice dishes, katsu and noodle combos, katsu and rice combos, rice and noodle combos, katsu rolls, and even kid options.We ordered:+the Shrimp Wrapped with Potato - this comes with 3, or you can update it to 4 pieces; these are super large, crispy, yummy, and great with the spicy mayo dipping sauce+a Chicken Katsu combo with Fish Cake Udong+a Chicken Katsu combo with Miso RamenEverything was made-to-order and fresh, and the portions were super generous; there was more than enough to create a second meal. Definitely a place to get some comfort food.Note that you would have to request a cup of ice, if you're not a fan of lukewarm water.Service was very friendly and attentive.At the end with your check, you receive two little bottles of yakult; if these were slightly frozen, it would have been better!Located in the Little River Shopping Center, there's ample parking in the shared plaza lot.+made-to-order, fresh food+friendly service+located in the Little River Shopping Center+ample parking

Great Japanese food at great prices. The dinner rush does get a little crowded but the service was still great despite all the tables being filled. You can get the katsu and udon or any noodles as a set for less than $20. Depending on if you want a bigger portion or katsu or noodles you can choose whichever option. Katsu was cooked perfectly with just the right amount of crispiness. Definitely recommend stopping by here for lunch or early dinner.

Everyone had said that the taste here got worse after a change in ownership. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I tried their food! The waiter was super nice and attentive. The food came out relatively quickly as well. Oyster Katsu- this was surprisingly good! I will say, the fried bits surrounding the oysters were a bit thick so it could get a bit too oily. But all in all, it was pretty good with a slightly more tangy soy sauce that helped cut through the oysters. Pork cheese roll katsu- while my mom ordered a kimchi udon, spicy pork katsu combo, I simply for the pork cheese roll katsu. However, I was so surprised that it came on a large plate with salad, rice, side dishes, and a small bowl of udon! The katsu was pretty good. I would have liked the pork to have been more cooked and the cheese more stringy when it came out but it was still good. I will say, if you aren't a fast eater, the cheese will harden and become hard to pull the pieces apart. The udon was refreshing and delicious. I thought it was delicious and will definitely be coming again! Just note, they do go on a lunch break and reopen at 4pm.

I've been in the DMV for over 2.5 years and dine in Annandale restaurants quite frequently. This past Friday evening was my first time at Miso (Japanese restaurant, Korean owned) and I'm shocked I never stopped by until now. I was here with two friends for dinner and we all agreed that the food was really homey and not overly greasy/oily. The service was pretty good and checked up on us to make sure we had enough water and food.TAKOYAKI (5 PCS) - 6.95We shared a takoyaki among the three of us. The takoyaki was quite hot when we first got it and I liked that there was a good amount of octopus pieces inside and the doughy wrapping around the octopus was soft and gooey with a sturdy and crispy layer topped with lots of bonito flakes and nori. Overall, pretty solid.KATSU & NOODLE COMBO: KATSU & FISH CAKE UDONG - 16.95Big portions for the price. We had a medium sized pork cutlet with the perfect breading that was nicely fried. It was a bit on the bland side, but I enjoyed that it tasted healthier and not as "deep fried". There was also a katsu dipping sauce on the side that helped. The side of salad and the two kimchi and radish banchan was a good amount of vegetables. The steamed egg didn't remind me of chawanmushi, but it was still good. I really enjoyed the fish cake udon. The broth was simple but flavorful with a lot of kelp flavor. The udon noodles were perfect in texture and there were so many fish cakes (and plenty of variety too). Overall, solid option.I'd definitely be back if I want a homey Japanese meal in Annandale. The udon here is not one to pass!

Am I remembering correctly? I swear they used to have a curry katsu. In any case it's been years since I have been to Miso, but the family and I decided to stop in last week as we were attending an event in the area and I was craving some soup. Vibes were pretty quiet and comfortable. It was pretty empty for a lunch time on a Saturday. The menus are QR, which I believe can be a little bit inconvenient for some of our older guests. Service was quick. We had the chance to try chicken katsu, pork katsu, ramen, and udon. Everything was okay but nothing really stood out as a reason for me to come back.

I've been coming to MISO for years, over 10 years now.The food is consistent and the right amount of food portioned for customers.I love their shrimp covered in potatoe! My go to for ddongatsseuh.