Craving delightfully fresh Japanese fare? Look no further than these three Northern Virginia restaurants, hand-picked by our critics as part of our 50 Best Restaurants of 2025.
By Alice Levitt, Dawn Klavon, and Monica Saigal
Price Key: Entrées = $ 15 and under | $$ 16–25 | $$$ 26–40 | $$$$ 41 and over | * = prix fixe only
Modan (No. 6)
Tysons | Japanese | $$$$
At this stunner hidden inside the luxury high-rise Heming, drama unfolds in silence. Dry-aged fish dangle behind glass, chefs work with samurai-like focus, and every plate arrives as if summoned from a dream. This is modern Japanese dining at its most polished, and Tysons may never be the same.
The king salmon carpaccio glistens with truffle aioli and sweet onion salsa, each bite capped with crispy shallots for crunch and balance. Dry-aged lamb chops come lacquered in spicy miso, with a dusting of shichimi togarashi and are a marquee item in every way. Save room for dessert. That’s where the magic lingers. Choose between the molten-centered chocolate cake with a vanilla gelato or a towering passionfruit kakigori that hides sweet lychee in its shaved-ice folds.
With attentive service, sleek interiors, and food that entices both visually and on the palate, Modan feels like a quiet celebration. It’s part art show, part sushi reverie.
Eat This: King salmon carpaccio, lamb chops, passionfruit kakigori
Wren
Tysons | Japanese | $$
Don’t be fooled by its lobby setting inside The Watermark Hotel: Wren is anything but an afterthought.
What seems at first like a buzzy perch for cocktails and conversation quickly turns into a revelation once the plates begin to arrive. Sleek interiors, a lively bar, and plush seating set the stage for Japanese flavors served with just enough whimsy to keep things fun.
The Hamachi carpaccio is a showstopper, with buttery yellowtail layered over avocado and lifted by a warm jalapeño-citrus soy that lingers on the palate. Sweet corn kaki-age tempura, a tumble of kernels fried crisp and dipped in soy dashi, is playful and addictive. Then come the puffy pork belly bao buns, stuffed with slow-braised meat, cucumbers, and herbs.
By the time the moist miso black cod arrives, paired with tiny sweet peppers and sesame-dressed green beans, it is clear that Wren is no ordinary hotel restaurant.
Eat This: Hamachi carpaccio, pork belly bao buns, miso black cod
Yume Sushi (No. 4)
Arlington | Japanese | $$$$
Your taste buds do the dreaming at this Arlington gem. A laid-back, mural-dotted vibe pervades here, but what lands on the table is anything but casual. The menu reads like a love letter to excess in the best way. Every bite is a confident “yes,” thanks to luxe ingredients and precision plating that feels almost too pretty to touch. Almost.
Chef Saran Kannasute’s creativity shines in the Monster Trio: a decadent lineup of A5 wagyu with foie gras, scallop with uni, and toro dressed with truffle oil and caviar. The sunomono salad balances clean shrimp with a kiss of citrus and heat. But the dish you’ll be dreaming of is the citrusy ceviche, served with wasabi-flavored nori chips. It is sharp, fresh, and unforgettable.
The space fills fast, the service is gracious, and the whole experience feels like a quiet flex. Come hungry, leave enchanted — and possibly a little spoiled for sushi anywhere else.
Eat This: Monster Trio, ceviche with wasabi chips, sunomono salad with tiger shrimp
Feature image of Modan by Michael Butcher
