When we crave sushi, we don’t want to wait for it.  Too Shy to Stop photographer Shaun Bell and I skipped Sushi Taro, overcrowded Dupont Circle sushi spot, for Sakana, on P Street NW in Washington, DC.

We made a 6:30 reservation, but I was late due to parking space shenanigans.  Shaun informed me that the restaurant was empty and that I shouldn’t worry.

Ten minutes later, when I finally arrived, the host was directing dozens of people to tables, and a line of hungry customers was already forming outside the door.  In almost no time at all, the restaurant was crowded and bustling.

Because of this sudden dinner rush, service was extremely slow.  We waited about fifteen minutes before a somewhat aloof server took our drink orders.  However, the wait gave us time to browse the extensive Japanese and sushi menu so that we were completely ready to order by the time our waiter arrived.

Sakana cramped, and the lights are very bright.  The decor is typical of a Japanese restaurant, with light wood accents, red posters with Japanese characters, and drawings of sushi in plastic inserts on every table.

Shaun ordered a Sapporo, and I ordered a hot green tea.  The waiter forgot about my tea, and I had to ask numerous times for a refill.

To start, Shaun ordered edamame and miso soup, which is not included with sushi.  I ordered the Healthy Sakana Salad, which is a mixture of seaweed, vegetables, vinegar dressing, and lemon wedges.

The Healthy Sakana Salad was substantial, but the seaweed sat in a sea of vinegar, overwhelming the taste, and the only vegetables in the bowl were tomatoes.  Shaun enjoyed his plain miso soup, which was satisfying, given the cold and windy weather.

For sushi, we ordered two “hot” spicy tuna rolls, a yellowtail and scallion roll, an eel and avocado roll, a “bagel” or Philadelphia roll with cream cheese, and a special Sakana DC roll, wrapped with egg.

The sushi arrived promptly on a large plate, the rolls arranged like spokes on a wheel, with wasabi and picked ginger in the center.

My favorite was the eel avocado roll, which was sweet and tasty.  The avocado was fresh and smooth.  The spicy tuna was extra spicy like we wanted and warmed us up quickly.  The egg-wrapped Sakana DC roll, the most expensive roll that we ordered, was one of the least exciting.

Overall, the sushi was fresh, carefully made, and well-presented.  The food at Sakana is reasonable priced.  Our total for the drinks, edamame, salad, and thirty-six pieces of sushi was about $50.

From the time I sat down to the moment we left, customers were waiting outside, despite the strong, cold wind.  The restaurant doesn’t have enough room to accommodate waiting customers, but they didn’t seem to mind.  I recommend reservations if you plan to eat at Sakana after 6:30 PM, especially during the winter months.

Sakana
2026 P Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 887-0900