4. Restaurants

Temari Japanese Cafe

1043 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD, 20852
  • (301) 340-7720
  • Store is closed

Temari Japanese Cafe Menu

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Visit below restaurant in Rockville for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s ( 11428 Rockville Pike )

Visit below restaurant in Rockville for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s ( 11428 Rockville Pike )

  • L S.

    If there's one place in the area that is authentic Japanese food, then Temari is the one that comes to mind first. They're open for lunch, close, and open for dinner again. Although their sushi menu isn't the most extensive in the world, it's good to come here if you're seeking for a bowl of ramen or donburi. The ramen is really good (especially the miso and pork) and plentiful. The Spicy Tuna Donburi was rich in flavor (I couldn't finish it all) and, though pricey, had a decent amount of food. I plan to go to Ren's Ramen in Wheaton to compare. In the meantime, Temari is definitely a place to check out.

    (4)

  • Adrien G.

    I lived in Japan for two years and got back fairly recently. It's a relief to know that I won't be without my curry. So far this is the only place that has curry that tastes like authentic Japanese curry. On top of that they have Japanese servers and staff which really brings me back to Japan. If you like Japanese curry then you won't be disappointed. I have yet to try their ramen because I love the katsu-curry so much. It's a nice small place with great artwork and decorations. Also they have the Japanese channel running all day. I highly recommend temari.

    (4)

  • Pearl P.

    The Beef Filet is awesome... my two year old and I both like it equally as much!

    (4)

  • Tuyet V.

    Service is awesome! It can get pretty packed during dinner time, but the turnaround time is pretty quick. This is the only place my boyfriend and I go to for Ramen. ALSO, must try their onigiri!

    (5)

  • P.J S.

    FOOD: 4.5 Stars SERVICE: 5 Stars AMBIANCE: 4 Stars This is one of the authentic Japanese restaurants ran by Japanese people. The place is very small and is not exactly in the prime area but definitely a hidden jewel. The service is amazing and all the employees are very attentive and inviting. Food is very good as well. It is not an upscale quality but definitely great quality of food for the price. Ramen selections are great too and I was very impressed with the quality of sushi that I got because it was better than some of the well-known places in DC.

    (4)

  • Anne D.

    Went here a couple weeks ago and the place was packed, they don't seat you until you whole party is present. The pork Katsu was so good as well as their spicy tuna roll. The staff were friendly specially the hostess who held our table for as long as he could. A very small place but had great flavors.

    (4)

  • Gloria C.

    Very disappointing. Tonkatsu was not seasoned at all. My dish came with cole slaw on the side. I think that pretty much says it all.

    (2)

  • P t.

    I was so excited to try this place especially with all the positive reviews and yummy looking pictures. But we ordered a salmon roll ( see picture ). And it was disgusting. The fish was half cooked. Which I'm not sure how that happened and still had skin on it. I ate one piece and discarded the rest. I'm also pretty sure I got food poison from the questionable piece of salmon. If you're going to eat raw fish go for the sashimi. Other telpers' pictures look yummy. Don't get the rolls!!! Also this place is expensive for what it is. If rather go to raku or satsuma in downtown bethesda!

    (2)

  • Khoi U.

    Me and my friend, Jackson always go to Maruichi to buy some japanese groceries. Its a long drive so we do this whenever we have a chance. As we walked past by Temari Cafe but never really check out the place. So one day I went to check it out and it was packed so they had me seated by the sushi bar. When I looked at their menu, I was impress of the variety food they serve which I was shocked when I found out they have chicken karaage which Ive been dying to try it out! It was good overall I give them a 5 stars. The service was excellent. The only thing that I dont like about this place is that if your paying with a card, your total have to be minimum of $15 and thats a turn off to me. Probably by far one of the best japanese restaurant that I have been ever been :)

    (5)

  • Helen L.

    I'm redoing my review. I love temari. Katsu curry is amazing. This is where the authentic japanese food is at. The hambugh steak is awesome. Best fried oysters everrr. Love the donburi and sashimi conbo. Need to try ramen some day...

    (5)

  • Tunaidi A.

    Temari is fantastic! Let me tell you why. I haven't seen many genuine Japanese restaurants make a variety of specialized dishes, and make them all authentic and well. You either specialize in sushi, or in ramen, or in donburi, etc. But guess what? Temari offers them all and they're all good! For a business in the states, the ramen is great (don't expect LA or NYC great though). If you like light and less salty broth, Temari is your joint. Even the tonkatsu ramen is lighter than most places. The chasiu ramen is probably the best deal. It's only ~$1 more for two extra pork slices, though they're not the most tender and flavorful. Most places charge much more. Check out the takoyaki. It's different, but in a good way. The filling is a little more potato-filled than batter and tastes great. In addition, the wafu hamburg steak is delicious! Love Japanese burgers. Don't think it's your ordinary burger. It's tender, marinated well, and cooked to perfection. The spices and toppings make it even more flavorful. Two clutch things to note: 1) Plenty of parking in the strip mall. 2) Expect lines, but definitely not the two hour waits you'd see in D.C. or NYC.

    (4)

  • Maxine D.

    We came 30 mins before closing and still they accommodated us with pleasure. The food is really good you couldn't go wrong with that and they have varieties of cold, dry, warm sake which I absolutely adore. all I could say is that their service is one of a kind our waitress was super helpful. Good job and I hope you keep it up

    (5)

  • Jay S.

    My review is short and simple: Yes it's a tad bit pricey, but I'm a fan. It has an authentic Japanese taste, and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in authentic Japanese food. i'm giving it 4 out of 5 stars because, well, for their sizing portion, it is somewhat pricier than other non-authentic establishments. My comment of past reviews: Don't listen to these first-world problems. 1. Waiting waited for 45mins? Go somewhere else if you're hungry. The place has about 6-8 tablets ranging b/w 2-4 people. You, as a customer, have the choice to whether wait or continue onto other restaurants - they didn't pin you to the ground. 2. Making comments regarding the smell of seafood is stupid. If you don't know what real seafood smells like, you shouldn't order seafood dishes. 3. If you want vegetarian food, you have again entered the wrong restaurant. In fact, have fun finding a vegetarian Asian gourmet restaurants; don't feel bad when they laugh you out of their establishment. 4. "Ate with samurais"? Okay, Grand Wizard, knock it off with needless comments. Don't be stupid, people. Authentic Asian food isn't all fancy and glorious sounding like 'General Tsao's Chicken' and 'Orange Chicken' - this place is not Americanized nor will they serve you Americanized crap.

    (4)

  • Greg M.

    This place is amazing! Did the octopus balls and few cups of sake. Great great lunch! 10/10.

    (5)

  • Giang L.

    Temari is one of the closest things you can get to Japanese home cooking in this area. The wait is long and service can be slow but it was to be expected, its always packed when I dine at this establishment. Everything I've tried was delicious, so I recommend trying something different here, there's always lots of specials to choose from!

    (5)

  • Nicky P.

    Whenever I think of Temari, I shed a tear of happiness as I reminisce the crunchy, savory, heavenly, and blissful japanese goodness of their katsu curry invigorating tongue, stomach, and body. I then later went into a coma, food coma.

    (5)

  • Paul C.

    When I first walked in I though it was pretty tiny, but really quaint. I liked the atmosphere a lot. I personally would rather be in a tiny crowded restaurant, than a big crowded restaurant. I do not know why, but it is probably my on weird taste. I heard that the food here was pretty good and people seem to be at odds about the ramen here. It is either really good or just alright. So I finally had to try it out. I had ordered the tonkatsu ramen and honestly, I was happy with it. I have not been able to find an amazing ramen place in the area. I tried Maki Cafe and Ren's Ramen and it pretty much met up with them. I do like Ren's a little better, but that price point there hurts sometimes. One thing I noticed is the voted cheap eats sign hanging on the wall. And indeed the food is pretty cheap. But and I said but because if you are spending a credit card you have to spend at least $15 dollars. This means you are more than likely going to spend at least 17-20 dollars not including tip. And since I, and more than likely most other people, do not carry cash this really isn't a cheap meal. I had also ordered there takoyaki or octopus balls. I obsess over takoyaki. If it is on the menu I am ordering it. What I like about the takoyaki here is that you actually taste and see the octopus in it. They add big chunks which is a plus. The downside of the takoyaki is that the sauce they add on top is way to acidic. It really overpowers the dish and kind of makes it hard to eat. A sad day for my takoyaki experience. This wouldn't be my first choice for Japanese food, but it defiantly wouldn't be my last pick. I would come back for some random cravings and I was told there donkatsu is really amazing. Also the owners and servers are Japanese so I guess that is a +1 for authenticity at least server side.

    (3)

  • Jac H.

    the owners/workers are actually japanese. even the receipt is in japanese! I had the lunch special - tonkatsu and sashimi. It came with a bunch of small dishes before hand and a grilled shrimp (which was the worst part because it had obviously been cooked prior and they just reheated it). The small dishes included a sweet/omlette, marinated chive flowers, marinated mushrooms, and soba noodles!! (i don't know what the last one is). The sashimi were generous slices which included salmon, tuna, yellow tail, and I forgot what the last one was... The tonkatsu was crunchy and tender. The tonkatsu came with dipping sauce which came in this cute little container. I also got the takoyaki just to try... it came out steamy hot and it was oozing with goodness. the sauce was divine too. the ladies who work there are super cute and nice too. always a plus.

    (5)

  • Sharon R.

    I'm not entirely sure what people are getting from the ramen here. The food was not terrible, but it was quite bland. I have had tastier ramen from the supermarket with some boiled carrots and an egg dropped in. Some other cons: the lines were really long; they wouldn't let us sit until the whole party was in front of them (I was outside talking on my phone but they needed me inside to actually sit the rest, even after some pointing); the menu was a bit confusing and pasted all over the wall. A lot of people seem to really like their ramen so maybe I'm crazy but I would completely skip this place and either go for some pho or just make some instant ramen.

    (3)

  • Grace L.

    *this review is solely for their ramen* Really?! I think I've had the misfortune of having real ramen in japan, LA and NYC so yea this place sucks real bad. you'd honestly have better luck with a bowl of shin ramen IMO.

    (1)

  • Tatsu O.

    It's like going home to eat my mom's cooking (well, maybe not quite as good). The menu is full of everyday staples that are eaten in a typical Japanese family, and they do a pretty good job with the food. A tad expensive, but definitely worth it since good authentic Japanese cooking is a rather hard find in the area.

    (4)

  • Sarah P.

    My first visit to Temari was last year, and it's since become my favorite place to get authentic Japanese food. It's always a bit hard to find seating during the peak hours, so try to come during off-hours. The food is always great, and the staff are very friendly -- making it worth the wait you might potentially encounter given the limited seating. Highly recommended to anyone looking for hard-to-find dishes, or just a great authentic Japanese meal.

    (5)

  • Andrea S.

    I am Japanese and ... I would recommend you get chicken teriyaki if its your first time trying Japanese food. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THEIR MELON SODA! if you want to go a step further try their melon/cream soda. If you have had Japanese food before try their Unagidon, Tonkatzu and Katzudon. It is always a bit crowded but its because its a family owned place and their food is really good...as close as it gets to authentic....if not well just go to Japan.

    (5)

  • J.C. D.

    Authentic and super fresh. The appetizer that comes with their lunch and dinner "combo" meal is just excellent, representing true best value.

    (5)

  • Kim L.

    True authentic Japanese food!! The food is amazing and the service is great!! I wished I have known about this place sooner. I will be coming back!! :)

    (5)

  • Calvin L.

    The good news: unlike most Japanese restaurants, this place run by actual Japanese people. The bad news: like most authentic Japanese places, everything is overpriced. If you can get over that, you will have a good time here. They serve a variety of Japanese cafe like curry rice, ramen, and donburi along with some izakaya fare. But what I would do is try anything that's not listed on the regular menu. They are whatever is on the wall or the marker board on the bar. These usually would include their combo meals or anything seasonal items that are offered such as nabe in the winter time and small fish from the oceans north of Japan. Some of the fish included hokke (Atka mackerel) and sanma (saury). They even had yellowtail jaw one time. The fish are broiled and taste absolutely phenomenal and are served with tofu, salad, soup, and rice. If you didn't get to try this, hope they have this in the fall or winter because it will show you how good fish can be. Nabe is a hearty soup of dashi, vegetables, and occasional bits of protein. I have only seen this offered in the winter time because it's more appropriate for that season. Seasonal appetizers are served with the nabe. But what is always available are the combo meals with an appetizer, sashimi, soup, and rice. My favorites are the fried oysters and tonkatsu. If you do come here, definitely go early when they open and late, especially on the weekends, when it gets really crowded. Otherwise, good luck getting a table.

    (4)

  • Jarreau B.

    What is great about this place is the food is truly authentic Japanese food . Not Hibachi not Sushi....Just try the Miso Ramen...

    (4)

  • Jennifer L.

    I love the Miso Ramen!!!! Their ramen is really good!!!! So is the Tonkatsu and bubble tea. The waitstaff are friendly and attentive. It is small inside so it is best to go when it is not busy or there might be a wait especially Friday and Saturday nights. But the food is amazing!!!!

    (4)

  • Lenna L.

    The original ramen spot in rockville own by Japanese. Used to be the only good ramen eatery until more modern ramen shops popped up in rockville. Their noodles are a little pricey compare to the other, but they had longer history and strong reputation in good ramen.

    (4)

  • Ruth T.

    One of our favorite places in MD. Broiled mackerel is so yummy. Can't go wrong with the sushi or the noodle soups. Place is small, usually packed so come early.

    (4)

  • Jen P.

    Hands down authentic Japanese restaurant in the DMV area!!! Here are my recommendations: * Katsu curry -Excellent * Donkatsu - Excellent * Salmon Teriyaki -Good * Donburis -Good * Ramen -Good * Sushi and Sashimi - Good but I would recommend to try other authentic Japanese dishes. Try to go there earlier than the lunch time or dinner time to avoid the waiting time! There aren't that many tables. Bon Appétit!

    (4)

  • Margaret Z.

    4.5 stars. FINALLY, a place with ramen that doesn't make me feel like chugging water here. There are only 4 choices for ramen here, including miso and charsiu, that range $10-$12. The portion size is definitely enough to fill you up, especially if you also split an appetizer. The noodles are perfectly chewy and don't get soggy; there was also a sizable serving of meat in my charsiu ramen. I highly recommend adding the spicy flakes in that mini plastic bottle on your table if you want a kick. I was very pleasantly surprised that the broth wasn't too salty, which is always my main complaint at ramen bars. I also got a salmon onigiri (rice ball)($4/ea) which was delicious. I would have preferred raw salmon instead of the grilled, shredded pieces, but the texture of the rice was a great complement to the salty filling. My boyfriend and I split the fried chicken (kara age) appetizer--much better here than I have had elsewhere. Though most likely still quite unhealthy, the chicken wasn't greasy at all and I loved the katsu sauce it comes with. A meal for two will run ~$40, but the service is attentive and the food is both authentic and delicious. I hope to come back to try some other things on the menu! Note: minimal seating here; there's a bar area but only about 8 or so tables with seating between 2-4. Other entrees run around $16-20 and include rice/curry/tonkatsu dishes. * Update: came back here and tried the tonkatsu curry and... DROOOOOOOL, I may end up ordering this over the ramen every time. Delicious curry sauce that pairs so well with the crunchy-skinned katsu and tender pieces of chicken in the curry itself. Huge portion size that's well worth the price.

    (4)

  • Rupert P.

    Yup, I was rushed out too! I got a horrible feeling about how this place treats some of its customers. MoCo Consumer Protection should be notified. PS. Maki has MUCH better ramen and right across the street.

    (1)

  • Angela P.

    Loved the sushi/sashimi here. I thought the fish was really fresh and good. Service was okay as well. The only thing I didn't like here was the ramen which was the primary reason for coming here. I thought it was too salty and the soup didn't really have the bone flavoring I was looking for. I'll give them another try next time, but this time I wasn't a huge fan. The fried tofu appetizer was also just okay. Also, I thought it was kind of weird the office was right in the dining area.

    (3)

  • Lina J.

    I love love LOVE this place. If I were a Food Network Star, the grilled saba would be my pick for the Best Thing I Ever Ate. It's a little pricey, but it does come with soft tofu/bonito flakes, a small salad, shredded daikon, pickled daikon, and rice. Still, I order it every time I'm here. The skin is crispy and the meat is super tender and juicy and just DROOL! I can't wait to come back here again. The ramen and onigiri are also very very delicious. Everything here is just awesome! Who would've thought there'd be authentic Japanese food on Rockville PIke? Also last time I was here there was the CUTEST old Japanese gentleman serving my table. He was very meticulous with orders and IDK, that just melted my heart haha. The line can be a little long since the place isn't very big. But it's worth the wait!!! Quick tip, there's actually a small Japanese grocery store directly behind the restaurant. So if you're craving the mochi or green tea ice cream you got for dessert here, be sure to check it out!

    (5)

  • Caroline L.

    One of the only real Japanese restaurants in the MD area. My favorite dish is the spicy tuna domborri. I swear each time I go that I will get something different but I almost always get it. Everyone I've gone with has really liked their own dish. The desserts a bit bleh to me but maybe I'm used to very sweet American desserts. Space is small and it sucks to wait though! Parking is plentiful.

    (4)

  • Lhynette C. A.

    I admit, this place is one of a kind. They have very traditional japanese dishes like takoyaki and omurice....we tired the omurice as well. The takoyaki and i thought it was good. I'd like to go back to try their other dishes. The service was good, and the staff was super friendly!

    (3)

  • Jeff T.

    Not to hate on my fellow Asian poseurs but there aren't very many Japanese restaurants that aren't actually a cute little masquerade act by industrious Korean or Chinese people. As soon as I see bulgogi or general tso's chicken on the menu, the cat is out of the bag. Temari is Japanese owned and run, which is part of the reason it is on the top of my list of Japanese restaurants in the area. It's refreshing to try some of the more elusive, authentic dishes. They even had the TV tuned to a Japanese talk show featuring men butchering giant 500 lb tunas. Some people might be turned off by that, I found it *fascinating* I ordered the Tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet) and sashimi combo from the specials menu. I've decided that this is my death-row meal. It included some appetizers, miso soup, and rice. The pork was perfectly fried and came with a tangy katsu sauce. And the sashimi plate consisted of 12 pieces of various types of fish (cut thick, vibrantly colored, and fresh). We also got the tonkatsu ramen because we are Chinese and therefore obsessed with pork. It came with three slices of really good pork belly (though more slices would have been welcome). The broth was flavorful without being salty. Some people like their ramen to be super salty, but salt-sensitive hypertension is a worry of mine, so. I've read some complaints about the service but I thought it was courteous and efficient (aka don't expect them to stand around and ask you how your day is going). I don't quite understand why people comment about the wait to be seated as if they are the only ones who experience it. And when they break the rules about having everyone in their party be present wonder why the staff doesn't kiss them on their foreheads. At least their self-righteous boycott means I can be seated just a little bit sooner.

    (4)

  • Matthew L.

    I didn't come here for the decor or atmosphere, but the food is fantastic. I'm not sure I've ever said a food was dramatic, but the takoyaki should be described as such. Order it and you will see what I mean. The ramens are nice. Not salty like others, more of a mild seafood type broth and very subtle. I also had the hamburg steak with ginger and onions. Interesting and a good change of flavors. I want to try the ketchup rice next time.

    (4)

  • K P K.

    Not your run of the mill Japanese restaurant, certainly a pleasant change. Had the teriyaki salmon and the miso ramen and will certainly go back for both items

    (4)

  • Steven H.

    Great food, friendly staff! Very relaxing atmosphere, great for friends and family. I've been here twice. Gotten the katsu curry and the tonkotsu ramen. The only problem I have with it is that the prices are a little high, which prevents me from coming as often as I would like. Highly recommend trying it at least once!

    (4)

  • Wesley Y.

    It's going to be an expensive meal I promise that no matter what time of day you come at. I really like the tako yaki here. The curry with pork katsu is my favorite! I've had the ramen a few times when its cold out. They serve tako Yaki,

    (4)

  • Eric J.

    I was hungry and needed delivery. Quick delivery. Food okay

    (3)

  • Eunice K.

    YUM! the lady even talks in japanese and writes the order in japanese... the noodles were okay. the sushi was fresh and delish. service was good. get ready to wait cus it gets busy real quick. luckily i went like 5-10mins after they opened but soon enough there were crowds of people waiting...

    (5)

  • John J.

    Tell me a place in the dmv that serves authentic Japanese comfort food. Exactly, temari is the only place and therefore can charge premium prices. Ramen, hamburg steak, black cod, and omurice are all good. Takoyaki was good too. If you think the prices are too high or temari is overhyped then don't go. It will be less wait for me.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth S.

    I recently started to discover that there are really good ramen places around MD. This place is good but I do like the one in Wheaton better (Ren's Ramen). I've been here about twice now and I will continue coming back. I haven't tried any of their other dishes besides the ramen but I did taste the curry before and it was pretty good. The ramen itself was flavorful but not an explosion flavorful kind of flavor. Thinking back on it, I can't really remember thinking "this is amazing" but more like "this is pretty good". The portion size was huge for about 10-13$ - a little pricey for ramen noodles. But overall, this is an excellent ramen place. I think I would try the other dishes here next time.

    (3)

  • See Y.

    Seriously one of my favorite spots to go eat Japanese food. This place serves great Japanese food and you can taste that its authentic and I love the feel to this place. I usually go in for Tonkatsu, Curry and Rice, rice balls and Ramen. i would have to say try the Miso Ramen here cause it tastes so good! I always recommend this place to my friends and co-worker (who are craving for some Japanese food) Love this place!

    (5)

  • Erica C.

    Temari is okay. The atmosphere is quite cozy because the place is pretty small. The cute Japanese decor is pretty nice. The staff is quite friendly. The place isn't a fusion spot, nor is it trendy. I'm so glad Temari is not trendy, for we have enough of that in the area. The ramen isn't the best, but it is edible. Go for the other dishes, such as teriyaki, for there are better ramen options in the area.

    (4)

  • Cynthia L.

    I saw so many mixed reviews for this place and maybe I haven't been properly schooled in Japanese food, but I loved this mom & pop place. We had: liver appetizer (well marinated in ginger & soy sauce & let me say I cannot stand the taste of ginger); yellowtail appetizer (I'm told it melted in your mouth...I don't eat sashimi, sorry); dangbori (did I spell that right? The thin pork cutlet one with mayo, yes mayo, cabbage, and rice. It was a flavor explosion in my mouth...I about died...by far my favorite here. We tried the egg & pork & chicken one that were good but not as good as this thin pork cutlet one); ramen (I forgot which one, the lighter broth one was super tasty and enjoyable). For a place that got so many mixed reviews, this place definitely had a standing wait on a Saturday evening. I will definitely come back to try some more things here.

    (5)

  • Karen L.

    I hate to say it, but I am kind of surprised to read all the positive reviews on here for the ramen. I had the soy sauce and the tonkatsu ramen, and it just was pretty bland, and the noodles had the taste and texture of a box I grabbed off of the local Giant shelf. The meat was dry and unappetizing. I was expecting a fuller, richer broth that has the complexity and layered flavors that I have come to expect from a quality ramen house, but was woefully disappointed. Maybe it's just too subtle for me, but there was just nothing special to either of these bowls at all. I much prefer Ren's Ramen in Wheaton, for example. However, the ambiance and service are great, despite a packed house for the lunch hour.

    (2)

  • Mel C.

    A traditional Japanese family style restaurant that I frequent in the area. Food wise, all of my friends love the ramen. I, personally, love sets. The price has gone up like every year, but now the sets come with a large shrimp. Hmmm.. two more dollars for a shrimp like a baby's arm? Hell yeah! One of the cons is that they are easily packed. Wouldn't suggest to any groups larger than 4.

    (5)

  • CJ E.

    I come here a lot for lunch and living most of my life in Japan, all of the food i've had there was close to authentic. Nice service and I was able to communicate with them in Japanese as if I was still in Japan. Food was very good yet just a bit pricey compared to some places. The Ramen is very good, and my favorite, but I also recomment the unagi don if you have a taste for eels. But around the area, this is the best in Maryland so far for good traditional Japanese cuisine.

    (4)

  • Misha T.

    My katsu curry was great. The pork was moist and soft and the curry has a good amount of flavor to it. The portion was also quite large. The extra crazy thing is normally with katsu curry, the curry is relatively plain, as opposed to when you order beef curry and it comes with cubes of beef. At Temari you get both so it's really quite a meaty endeavor.

    (4)

  • Nikki W.

    Saw all the great reviews for this place and thought I'd give it a try! Had some sushi and the soy sauce ramen, the only ramen I've had in the past has been in DC at specific ramen restaurants so I'm no expert. Luckily the waitress was very kind and walked me through each kind of ramen. The ramen was great, not too salty at all, great overall broth flavor. I'll be back!

    (4)

  • Enenmarumaru C.

    Number one choice of original Japanese food! Try the yellowtail sashimi here, you will be impressed how fresh and tasty it is(*^_^*) The grilled fish head is the one you won't find at other Japanese restaurant around here.

    (5)

  • Marilyn W.

    After living in the neighborhood for 20 years I finally went in and ate. Wow. What a delight! My dish came with several appetizers, each one with its own distinct earthy flavors. To my surprise the place has sashimi, sushi, grilled fish, hearty soups etc. For awhile I've been disappointed with the quality of fish in the neighborhood sushi restaurants. Happily the quality of the fish here is a cut above the other places in the surrounding area. My dinner was relaxing, the servers polite and attentive. I will be coming back; this is my new neighborhood favorite place. I might even share this secret gem with some of my friends..... are you game?

    (5)

  • Sam O.

    This is my goto place for ramen. I love this place and it's close by. I always get the tonkatsu ramen. There's been a fad recently of good ramen and a lot of places are getting compared. I have to say that this place always satisfies my ramen craving and don't care if it's the best or not. I've gotten their tonkatsu rice dish and sushi which are also good but they were nothing special. Ramen is the only reason to come here.

    (5)

  • Minn L.

    Temari is definitely the place to go when you're in need of some authentic Japanese food. It's a small, cozy restaurant run by a Japanese lady and (I think) her daughter. Many of my friends (including one that lived in Japan for several years) swear by this place and recently took me to dinner. The tonkatsu was crispy and meaty (hate when they're skimpy) and the takoyaki was tasty as well. I tried the broth of all 4 ramens and they were all flavored just enough so that the taste seeped into the noodles without the broth being overly greasy or salty. The noodles were perfectly chewy too. I liked the miso ramen the best because it had more flavor. I still prefer the kick of the kimchi ramen at Toki, but was pretty satisfied here.

    (3)

  • Xtine C.

    By far the BEST Japanese restaurant in Maryland!! It's an ACTUAL Japanese service staff!! You know for sure they're going to make good food. Sushi is impeccable and fresh. My favorite is the Age Dashi Tofu. It's cooked/fried perfectly and the sauce is killer. The ramen is THE BEST!! Better than Toki Underground in my opinion. The service is great and they're all so nice!! I come here for lunch and dinner all the time! There aren't that many tables so make sure you come early!!

    (5)

  • Justin C.

    There is always so much to choose from. The prices are a smidge expensive but everything you choose is delicious. The interior is great. From the little Asian decorations to the Japanese food game shows on tv it all feels pretty authentic. The only thing that I would say that they would need to do is put all the special menu items in one place rather than on all of the walls. I had to walk around the room to make sure that I didn't miss anything

    (4)

  • Ashley Z.

    This is the place where I first fell in love with onigiri. It's still the only place I've found so far that actually serves onigiri, so I love it just for that. But really, I've never had bad food here. You can't go wrong with a bowl of ramen. They don't get too fancy with their flavors, but I mean that in a good way. Recently, I tried their pork curry for the first time. I would have loved this dish too except it wasn't very hot when I ate it. I wouldn't say that it was lukewarm or even warm. Rather, my pork curry was stuck in a limbo between warm and hot and I had no other choice but to swirl it around quickly with my spoon and hope that the heat from the rice would fix it. Fortunately, it was still good enough to eat and I cleaned my plate easily. This incident was the only problem I've ever encountered at Temari and it was only a minor issue. Dinner hours are usually very busy, especially on weekends. Be prepared for a wait.

    (5)

  • Mabel L.

    So glad we found an authentic Japanese restaurant tucked away in a strip mall. I got the sashimi special for lunch. While it may seem like it was pricey, the amount of sashimi they give you is pretty filling, and they were very fresh too! I also really enjoy the small side dishes that comes with the special. Many of these chilled side dishes are not served in typical Japanese restaurants, such as marinated burdock (gobo) slices, marinated eggplant etc. I was a bit surprise on how much they charged for our iced green tea, but it was pretty refreshing on a hot day with the chilled syrup you can add to your desired sweetness. (Though I was hoping the tea was complimentary.) Next time I would like to try their shaved ice desserts. I was very excited to see them on the menu, but I was too full to try it.

    (4)

  • Julie C.

    Temari is my favorite Japanese restaurant in Rockville. I like how it is authentic since it is Japanese owned. Katsu curry rice is my favorite dish here. There is usually a 20- 30 minute wait since the place is quite small.

    (4)

  • Virginia C.

    Diamond in the Rough This place is super delicious, and the staff is extremely friendly! My Favorites: ~Sashimi and Pork Katsu Combo - $18.00 (Lunch Special , totally worth it) ~Ramen ~Ome Rice (pretty much fried rice, covered in a large egg and ketchup. but SUPER yummy) These three are my go to meals when i come here, you can't go wrong with anything else but i highly recommend these items listen above. This place is fairly small so lunch time is just ridiculous, I would recommend coming earlier or later because during lunch rush hour this place is packed!.. and its packed for good reason! Thumbs up! for awesome Japanese cuisine.

    (4)

  • Tiffany L.

    I came here for lunch to fix my ramen craving. I only had ramen once before so i don't have much to compare this too. I will say the noodles were plump and tasty. I also ordered spicy tuna roll to share with a friend. That spicy tuna roll was deeeeeeeliiiiicious. The rice was very yummy and the tuna was good too. I definitely want to come back for more sushi! Ramen.. maybe on a very cold day.. or maybe I'm just not a ramen person.

    (4)

  • Nicole L.

    The sleepy strip mall where Temari was located, was tough to get in or out due to the lack of a traffic light on the busy Rockville Pike. Temari was a small plain restaurant with not much flair to the decor except for a few reproductions of Japanese women in Kimono. The restaurant was without a doubt authentic Japanese everything written on the wall was Japanese and their satellite was tuned to Japanese entertainment. One look at the lunch menu I found that everything was quite costly whether a bowl of ramen or rice with fish minimum from $10-$18. I observed a Japanese and English scribbled white board 1 piece of sushi was $3.45 etc. I read the reviews before going - few items they did well takoyaki, rice with grilled fish, curry rice and sashimi, decided to skip the ramen since it did not get good reviews people who liked ramen with weak broth and fully hard boiled eggs were crazy! The takoyaki order had four octopus balls they were very hot, with real pieces of octopus. It was good but I had better ones before ones that were bigger and airy instead of the slight cakey texture from the batter. I also ordered the chirashi since my friend asked about it, a whooping $17.95 for lunch! The bowl was small with fewer sashimi and limiting selection than I thought for the price. However, sashimi did not disappoint because the quality was very good. The variety though was boring, the usual stuff. The rice in the chirashi was well-prepared, the right consistency and seasoning - one the best rice I tasted in the area. Overall I would give it a 4-star but the price was just too high for lunch.

    (3)

  • Paul F.

    I attempted to go here twice over the span of three days. The first I was met with the closed sign as it was 4:30 and they weren't ready for dinner. Went to Sushi House just down the road. It was okay. The second time I got there during the lunch hours and had a very pleasant experience. It's a tiny looking restaurant, but I did not feel crowded at all. The menu was very simple and had some great selection. The hostess asked us if we wanted some hot tea upon seating us, which was great to have on a cold day. I ordered some Miso ramen. My buddy got us a california roll to share and had some variety of the curry (He's Indian and was really excited to see that they offered curry, but I pointed out the star next to it informing customers that Japanese curry is not spicy like Indian and Thai). The sushi came out first. It was pretty good, nothing unique, but incredibly edible. The curry came out next and it was really good. It was really good! About five minutes later, my ramen appeared in front of me. I was not one hundred percent on what I was actually eating beyond the noodles. There was some type of meat, a weird but delicious circle, egg (probably the worst part), and some other stuff. The broth was pretty well seasoned. The noodles were fantastic. Pros: Great food, no wait, reasonably paced preparation of meals, they had a Japanese cooking show on the tv, the staff all said "Arigato" upon our exit Cons: A little expensive, only got my tea filled up twice, some baby stared at me the entire time Final verdict: 8/10 Would probably pop it up to a 9/10 if it were a little less expensive.

    (4)

  • Doo P.

    This place is small, so don't think about bringing a group here. But, it's great for a causal one person or two person meal. It's known for their don-katsu. And maybe ramen. Today we tried their BlackCod special & #38 Don-Katsu & curry over rice. Both was very good. The only knit-pick I have to give is that service is a little slow. Their is only one waitress & I'm guessing only one cook since this place is small. They really need more help here. Because lunch time it's pack & people are also waiting. I believe it's run by real authentic Japanese people, they even have a Japanese channel on their TV. I like the casual vibe this place gives. I haven't tried their ramen yet. It looks popular here since almost every other table order it. Also from the pics. The omurice looks really good too. Will have to try both of these next time.

    (4)

  • Li D.

    The food and service are spectacular at Temari. I would give this small unpretentious restaurant 5 stars, but I generally reserve 5 stars for haute-cuisine restaurants. Instead, Temari is a FABULOUS everyday restaurant. The kind of place that one would visit, once a week, on those days when no one wants to cook dinner. The food is EXTREMELY good and the service is EXTREMELY friendly. Went to Temari for lunch yesterday. It's a small restaurant located on Rockville Pike. The restaurant has, maybe ~10 tables, and counter seating for ~6. We got to Temari about 11:45, which was just in time. After we sat down at the counter (the only place to sit because all the tables were taken), a line formed at the entrance, and by the time we left, there were about 15+ people waiting for tables. The wait staff at Temari are extremely fast and nice. Similar to a typical restaurant in Japan, you can expect several welcomes or "irrashyaimasu." I ordered the roll sushi and the curry rice. The sushi was done very well, as one would expect in a good Japanese restaurant. The curry rice, was really, really good. Having lived in Hawaii and Japan, and eaten curry rice at many Curry Rice Houses in Japan (where all they serve is curry), I can say that Temari's curry rice is on par with what one would find in Japan or Hawaii. It's all about the sauce and the rice, which Temari does very well. There were chunks of pork in the curry, which melts in your mouth. My lunch partner tried the curry rice and said the pork was like eating a pat of butter, it was so soft. The curry rice is a very simple, almost peasant dish. It is a scoop or rice, a scoop of curry, and some pickled shredded vegetables on the side. The 'perfect' bite is a forkful of all three. My lunch partner ordered the chicken livers and ramen. He said both were excellent. He said the ramen is better than Daikaya's ramen. It comes with corn, kamaboku (fishcake), pork belly, egg, etc. I didn't have the ramen, so I can't say whether it is better than Daikaya's, but I do know that my partner ate the entire dish and then drank all the sauce (which he rarely does, unless it's really delicious). Total bill was $40.00 for two people, two appetizers, and two lunch entrées. Any CONS? Yes, two. First, I did feel a little rushed to pay the bill and vacate our seats at the counter. There were too many people standing in the doorway (looking sadly at us) for us to linger over our tea, and our waitress brought our bill before we could order dessert. I wanted to order dessert. But no mind - there is always a next time. Second, the curry was very good, but could have used a little more pork. Still, the sauce was excellent!

    (4)

  • Amanda M.

    **Caveat** I lived in Japan for two years so I'm a huge sucker for home-style Japanese food and was completely nerded out by the fact that I could speak Japanese to the waitress (most "Japanese" places around here that I have been to aren't actually owned, run, or staffed by Japanese people). Consequently, my review may be a bit biased because the entire experience simply made me so happy I smiled so much my cheeks hurt. A friend and I shared the takoyaki, age dashi dofu, appetizer-sized tonkatsu, ramen, and curry rice. Oh and a lovely bottle of sake. yelp.com/biz_photos/YFq_… The takoyaki were very well done, seasoned correctly, moist, and the octopus was cooked just right - I've had a few where it was too chewy. yelp.com/biz_photos/YFq_… The age dashi dofu was perfect - the best I have had outside of Japan. Lightly fried on the outside, creamy on the inside and served with a beautifully seasoned broth (dashi) and grated daikon. yelp.com/biz_photos/YFq_… The tonkatsu was great, the breading was neither too thick nor too greasy and the pork was moist. yelp.com/biz_photos/YFq_… Additionally, I appreciated the touch of serving the tonkatsu sauce in a little pottery jar as opposed to simply slapping down a bottle of Bulldog. The ramen is the only thing I can't rave about. yelp.com/biz_photos/YFq_… While the noodles were just the right degree of doneness and the little pink and white fish cake brought me back to Japan, the broth simply didn't thrill me - it didn't have the layers of flavor that I expected. On the other hand, the curry rice made me sigh contentedly. yelp.com/biz_photos/YFq_… Japanese curry is generally a little sweeter than Indian or Thai and this one did not disappoint. I would have preferred beef to pork but other than that, it reminded me of the curry rice served in various little lunch places all over Tokyo. There is also a little Japanese grocery store on the second level of the building where you can get your CC Lemon (and other Japanese beverages) fix. If I lived in Rockville, I would eat at Temari at least once a week.

    (5)

  • Charlemange F.

    We arrived around 1:00 pm on a Monday, and it was pretty busy. Still, we were seated quickly, and the service was very kind. I ordered uni, yellowtail, and the raw tuna plate. It was all very good. It was also served with a salad that had tasty ginger dressing and good miso soup. My husband had the fried oysters, but he said they were bland and were more like hush puppies with only a tiny bit of oyster. He enjoyed the salmon rolls though. This is a good place for go for sushi and for some real Japanese food, not the pan-Asian stuff. It is not cheap, but I would come again if I come back to the area sometime in the future.

    (4)

  • Nick K.

    We are always here for the curry rice and tonkasu ramen . the curry are not too spicy but very tasty,and the soup for the ramen is not too salty . Also the chicken liver appetizer is also really good. The waitress are nice but is a bit fast paste... how ever this is a very nice place for ramen and rice. (Not sushi or sashimi)

    (4)

  • Chris H.

    The cha-shu ramen is on point, and so is the age tofu along with the tori no Kara age. Walking in here, you really get that authentic feel. Maybe it's the fact that the employees actually speak Japanese, or the food is presented in a traditional fashion. Either way, it is immediately reassuring that they know what they're doing. They really need to get a bigger place though because there's almost always a wait. The only four things I've had are: Cha-shu ramen, curry & rice, age tofu, and tori no kara age. The curry tastes just like mom's cooking so that's always good, age tofu is surprisingly good (highly recommend it) and of course, cha-shu ramen is great as well. Tori no Kara age is my go-to appetizer. If you're in the area, I really recommend giving this place a try. FYI, it's $10 min credit card.

    (5)

  • Emily N.

    Based on fellow yelp reviews.. I had to try this place! Ordered the octopus balls, rice patty with salmon wrapped in seaweed, pork ramen and katsu curry with pork cutlet I think? Everything was delicious though the patty I could make without. But food? Was phenomenal! Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Pat R.

    Real Japanese food made by Real Japanese People! I hate to use that as the headline everytime I find one but anyone who is born and raised in the yoshi way can appreciate. It seems that finding real authentic Motherland-esque food is extremely hard to find. Ok off my soapbox now.... Word to the wise: Be very careful there is a 2 hr gap between lunch and dinner! This place can be easily passed while driving thru Rockville because it's in an old run-down strip mall. This operation seems to be a family operation and really had the feel like you were eating at your friend's house. The menu is very broad in the sense too. Ranging from sushi, katsu, ramen or whatever they feel like throwing on the specials board. I ordered: Katsu Curry: The curry was homemade! It most certainly did not come from a melted car of golden curry!!! Spicy Tuna Roll: not made by a sushi master but more like your friends mom. Delicious nonetheless. The only reason why I can give it 5 stars is the price. I understand that the motherland is some 7000 miles west but 12.99 for katsu curry is a bit much. However this is as legit as you are going to get this far away... Eat here with confidence

    (4)

  • Polina T.

    Love love love Temari! I always get the sashimi combo with fried oysters or mackerel. You get an appetizer, 4 types of sashimi, the entree, miso soup and rice. For lunch it's $18.25 and dinner is $21.50? Prices have gone up since I first started going there, but it's still a good deal and definitely worth it! I haven't tried anything else, but my mom loves the ramen and my friends like the tonkatsu. The only con is that sometimes the wait is long and service is slow, but it's not really their fault for being popular. On weekends, I suggest going as soon as they open. I went Sunday morning at 11:30am (opening) and by 12pm, there were already lines.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth W.

    Ok wow. Just Wow. I do NOT give 5 stars very often. But, I went here tonight with a friend for some much needed catching up and we had a hard time deciding what we were going to eat. After much mulling, I chose to try the ramen. I'm so glad I did! Food: 5/5 stars. I got the Tonkatsu Ramen. The pork was tender, the soup was perfectly seasoned and the veggies were yummy. What more can you ask for? I kept exclaiming how good the broth was because, it was some pretty good broth. My friend got the Sake Shiyoyaki, which is a fancy japanese name for salmon in teriyaki sauce. She liked it, I kind of forgot to ask her what she would rate her food. We ended dinner with Green Tea Mochi. It wasn't what we were expecting. It didn't taste bad, just different. What can I say? Not everything is for everybody. It doesn't detract from how delicious my ramen was. Service: 4/5 stars. The was attentive, the food came relatively fast, she filled up our waters. Not spectacular, but service was good enough to stay around 4 stars. Decor: Nothing notable, so I won't comment. Overall: The fact that I found a place where I really like their ramen warrants a 5 star rating out of me. Kind of expensive-ish though. So if you aren't getting ramen ($10.95) look to be spending around $15 for your entree and $5-$8 for appetizers.

    (5)

  • Eve L.

    Love it here. Sushi is fresh and the service is terrific. Small place and might be hard to get a table if you come during a busy time, so try to come during off-rush-hour.

    (5)

  • Keo D.

    I love the food here so much. My favorites are the katsu curry and ginger pork donburi. The takoyaki is really good too. The place is always so packed so come early if you don't want to wait. Really friendly and helpful staff. I forgot my to-go box one time and the girl ran out and chased me to my car to give me my food. They are soooo nice!

    (5)

  • Puja L.

    It's an unfair comparison...I know, but my husband did not agree with reviewers you said that the ramen is authentic. Although it did not remind him of the flavors of ramen in Tokyo, he did still think it was a good bowl of soup. We also ordered a sampling of the oni giri (we tried the seaweed, salmon and tuna). The seaweed was definitely my favorite! The small size of the restaurant is a downside because you end up waiting outside the restaurant in a strip mall with nothing to do except stare into Batteries Plus.

    (3)

  • Wing P.

    Went there couple weeks ago with my friend! The food is definitely authentic there. Love the takoyaki and the appetizers that came with the meal. The tonkatsu was amazing! We also tried the cha shu ramen, the soup base is not as salty as the other places that I've had in the past. I liked it but my friend said she wish it was saltier. Overall, I like this place and would recommend it to others.

    (5)

  • John L.

    Good food good service. A really cosy place with great seafood. The salmon donburi is amazing and their fish tastes super fresh, while their ramen is just ok. There are definitely better places to get ramen in the area, but almost everything on their menu is good. Overall it's a little pricey, but worth it.

    (4)

  • Trevor C.

    てまりカフェが大好きよ！！！ I freaking love Temari Cafe. I am definitely gaijin, but I had the pleasure of living in Japan for almost 2 years, and coming back to the US I can't even explain how much I missed so many parts of that experience, especially the food. I've been back in the US for over 3 years now, and I've tried a lot of "Japanese food" at a lot of "Japanese" restaurants in and around the DC, MD, and VA area. Most of these places are not Japanese-owned, and serve the stereotypical American Japanese food (chicken teriyaki, sushi with low quality fish, etc...). A friend posted on facebook a picture of the "Omu Rice" (オムライス）that he had just eaten at Temari, and I immediately knew I had to try the place out. I was very happy to learn that Temari is owned and staffed by Japanese people, and that the food is prepared according to the exact same way it would be in Japan. I've had salmon onigiri, chicken yakitori, curry rice, pork katsu, omu rice, sashimi teishoku, and more. Everything is absolutely delicious and authentic and prepared and served with care and pride, as it is representative of the actual food and culture of Japan. I wish I could afford to eat here every day. なつかし！

    (5)

  • Nai L.

    This restaurant is adorable; it looks like a little mom and pop shop. The servers are really polite and attentive. And holy crap the food is so good! We ordered two appetizers, one salmon onigiri and one serving of octopus balls (takoyaki). No complaints about the onigiri , in all honesty I just wanted to try it but the takoyaki was amazing. It came out piping hot; the octopus wasn't chewy at all and the batter was crispy. We also ordered three main courses, we had two ramen bowls (one was soy sauce ramen the other was miso ramen) and an eel bowl (unagi). All the main courses were pretty filling. The unagi was so good and flavorful. The eel was super soft with a slight char. The ramen was really good too; the broth was really flavorful and the ramen all came with pieces of pork, nori (dried seaweed), naruto, an egg and beansprouts. I will definitely be coming back to this place.

    (5)

  • Steven X.

    Another Oiishi experience here, will come offend to try more of their items, especially their special menu on the wall.

    (5)

  • Joe T.

    I really enjoyed their food. The sashimi was my favorite because it was so fresh. I also ordered the volcano sushi but it was mediocre. Customer service was very slow because the restaraunt was understaffed.

    (3)

  • Mark C.

    The katsu curry rice is excellent. They have good seasonal specials written on the walls. The seating is limited and everyone must be there before you get seated.

    (4)

  • Mr.Mustache X.

    the place is really small, weekend is always busy,we always have to wait in line. the food is good

    (4)

  • Trinh T.

    This place is always overcrowded and the lack of tables annoys me immensely but why are they still getting a 5 star? Because the food is freakin awesome. I've had the salmon roll which no one can really kill unless they used spoiled salmon. The miso ramen was delicious the meat was nice and juicy and the noodles was cooked just right. The butter ramen was a bit weird but still weird. The aged tofu was a nice filling appetizer and the octopus balls was ok. Tasted like a freezer food but honestly they all do. Ok now for the food to never get. NEVER EVER EVER ORDER THE TEA FLOAT OR SEA URCHIN BOTH ARE DISGUSTING. other than that everything is pretty good. Salmon oniri is a bit bland and the hamburger dish is way too salty.

    (5)

  • Julian K.

    This is great Japanese "roadside" food. They have sushi, but only because customers demanded it. I'm sure the sushi is fine, but what really sets the place apart are the dishes like ramen, katsu-curry, oma rice, grilled mackerel, fried chicken, etc. (i.e., not the sushi). It's not haute cuisine, but very authentic. The downsides are that the place has been "discovered' and gets crowded quickly, and the prices are somewhat high for the type of food. But it's very hard to find this food elsewhere in DC, so both are minor inconveniences.

    (5)

  • Benjamin H.

    There are a lot of mixed review for this place, but I think this is due to the fact that people are comparing to what they ate in Japan or some specialty restaurant in the city. The fact of the matter is that when it comes to what's available in the area, this is hands down a great authentic Japanese mom and pop restaurant. In case you're wondering what else is good here, they have a good pork donburi (get the one with ginger seasoning), tonkatsu ramen, chicken liver appetizer, and their sashimi/sushi is top notch as well. Definitely one of my favorites in the area!

    (5)

  • FoodGrade H.

    I came here because I was CRAVING chicken katsu curry rice and this place had good ratings for it. Im from Hawaii and it isn't hard to find a decent place that has katsu curry. So upon moving here it's been tough to find a good place to ease my cravings and I was pretty disappointed when I took my first bite of this places katsu curry. The katsu is too thin, a little over cooked, and not a lot of the katsu juicy flavor that I'm used to eating. The curry was okay. But definitely wouldn't get the katsu curry again. My cousin got the soy sauce ramen and I tried that, I'll definitely be coming back for the ramen though! Was really good and huge serving! Not a lot of options on menu. But I think I was just spoiled in Hawaii with all the tasty Asian foods I'm used to. The staff are very nice! But it can get really busy so the service itself can be slow but I don't complain because there is limited staff and usually always a full house.

    (3)

  • Yaka H.

    I finally had a chance to bring SX here to try the food, as it really reminds me of the home-style foods my dad would often make. We ordered two combination meals; I ordered the sashimi combo with kaki fry (fried oysters) and SX had the sashimi combo with karaage (fried chicken pieces). The combination meals (dinner is $19.50) are listed on two dry erase boards in the restaurant. You won't find it on the menu. Each combination meal came with an appetizer trio of picked daikon and carrots salad, 2 pieces of tamago and chives, and a seafood, seaweed salad. Also served along with a small salad with cucumbers shrimp and tomato. Then, a bowl of miso soup and a bowl of rice to eat with the main course. The fried portion came with potato salad and thinly sliced cabbage with the cute jar of tonkatsu sauce to drizzle over. The sashimi was served on a separate dish with thinly sliced daikon and a shiso leaf. Everything was so beautiful and with a clean presentation. It was surprisingly a lot of food. Everything was pretty spot on and yummy. I can't wait to go back again for a special treat that reminds me of home.

    (4)

  • Vivian C.

    This restaurant is a great place if you're looking for genuine Japanese food. I've been here several times and I like to switch up my orders most of the time (as in not ordering the same thing every time I go there). Lets review some* of the food that I have eaten there. Omurice: Probably the best Japanese omelette in Moco. All the flavors and ingredients clash greatly together (you can taste everything). Although, I am not a big fan of all the onions in there. I feel like every chomp I take has some intake of onions! But I would understand why...in the rice, you can taste the flavor of the onion which is great. Curry Rice: They have a variety of different curry rices. I've tried all of them, and honestly, nothing can ever go wrong with this stuff. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water!! Rice Balls: I've had the salmon one..I'm not even sure why they put salmon in though. They literally just put the smallest amount of salmon on the tip top of the rice ball..is this just for decoration or what...? But the reason this restaurant does not deserve a full five star is because of the extreme long waiting time during peak hours. I understand the restaurant is a small, petite Japanese restaurant, but having me STAND and wait for table for like an hour is just ridiculous. They only have 2 seats in the restaurant for people to sit and wait, which is obviously not enough. Then you have the rest of the party blocking the front entrance of the restaurant..I feel like I am in a cluster "fudge." But this is a great place to go and eat...just don't go between 5pm-8pm. You are not going to find a table.

    (4)

  • C L.

    Local mom and pop style Japanese food. Don't be intimated by poor English and Japanese characters on paper signs on the walls. If you can get over yourself, you will discover the true gems of authentic Japanese eatin'. (The walls hold the chef's specials.) Love going to this place, but first time for review entry. Yelp still has yet to get its mobile user base and make it easier for submitting reviews anytime, anywhere, and on the go! Cash only, bring plenty as good eatin' is not cheap. But, you do get what you pay for. Fav dishes: * butter ramen (not on menu, look on wall) * mackerel appetizer * beef gyu don (not on menu, look on wall)

    (4)

  • Jacinda T.

    I was so incredibly excited when I found this place on yelp last year. I finally got a chance to try it last week, and I'm sorry to say I was extremely disappointed. We came at late lunch time so luckily there was no wait. We ordered takoyaki, chicken katsu curry, and ramen. For a place with rave reviews about their authentic ramen, I would expect broth with more flavor and thickness. Unfortunately, it fell significantly short of expectations. The noodles didn't taste fresh, and the broth was extremely bland with no fat. I've learned that the flavor that the fat adds is crucial to excellent ramen, and the broth that we were served tasted like warm water with a few seasonings. Guess I'll have to keep dreaming of the deliciousness I left behind in Tokyo and LA... Japanese curry is one of my fav types of curry, so I was really excited to see it on the menu. Sadly, that was also extremely bland. I had to ask for chili sauce (which is blasphemous at a Jap place, btw), so at least I could somewhat enjoy the rest of my meal. However, Temari takes the prize for their takoyaki. I've tried takoyaki at every Japanese place I've been to (well, the few that actually offer it) in the U.S. I have to say, they had the best takoyaki I've had outside of Japan! It was crispy on the outside, hot on the inside, and had the great authentic flavor. I'm willing to come back for this alone. I didn't try the sushi, but I don't hold high hopes for it. Nonetheless, like I said, I will be returning for the takoyaki, and will inevitably be lured to try some other dishes. (expect a future update!) Oh, get hot tea or a drink... the iced water tasted funky.

    (2)

  • Mario L.

    Came here about 45 minutes before closing on a Monday night. Had the fried octopus balls and the chashu ramen. The octopus had an interesting flavor, nice presentation. The ramen was decent, but the broth wasn't as full or rich as I had hoped it would be. I ended up throwing in a bunch of condiments to bump up the flavor. The price was also a little much. Service was prompt and friendly. I'll probably come back, but will likely go for other parts of the menu.

    (3)

  • Ken W.

    So glad my parents brought me to this mom and pop hole-in-the-wall with delicious food for very reasonable prices. It's a very casual atmosphere which is great as it'll never be ironically cool enough for hipsters to invade it. The dining area is pretty small and limited though so I'd advise to come early or late. The staff is very friendly and attentive, you feel like you're going to a friend's house for dinner more than a restaurant. The curry is one of my favorites, so much flavor in the sauce without burning your bottom out. The ramen is tasty and not over-salted as is commonly the case.

    (5)

  • Joe S.

    I'm not sure how people are reviewing this place so high. It's clearly marketed to Americans. The fish is a C+, it's certainly fresh. The curry is mediocre, very heavy. They had black cod on the menu and the server had no idea what it was, other than it was his favorite, "its very good". I'll never return. No reason to.

    (2)

  • Paul M.

    It's a small hole-in-the-wall with mostly Japanese staff and clientele. How can you grow wrong? I had the Tonkotsu Ramen with some Takoyaki as an appetizer. It's good to finally get Takoyaki in DC that clearly wasn't frozen. There wasn't as much sauce as I would like, but I'm the kind of guy who drowns it in sauce. The Tonkotsu Ramen was also pretty tasty and the best I've had in a while. The broth was nice and cloudy with pork fat (as it should be). It's more subtle than they do in Hakata (which has a lot of garlic and chili oil), but still tasty in its own right. I recommend it. I won't say it's as good as the food you get in Japan, but it's definitely authentic. One of the problems is that in Japan, restaurants specialize. When you go to a sushi restaurant, there's sushi and miso soup. The Sushi-Ya doesn't need to make good ramen. If you go to a Ramen-ya, they don't bother with Tonkatsu (just ramen and gyoza). Temari does everything and as a result, it's all good, but I didn't have anything that's great. That doesn't matter, though. In DC, there isn't a lot of affordable, tasty Japanese food. I highly recommend the trip out to Rockville.

    (4)

  • Kathy B.

    This is not a big chain Japanese restaurant. Rather, it's a small, mom and pop type shop. With that said, the food is good. When I'm not in the mood for a big, fancy chain, but a low-key place to eat and talk, this is a good place to go. I tend to go on Saturdays during lunch time. It gets pretty busy and because it's small, sometimes it's crowded and a little cramped. I highly recommend the Tonkatsu (sp?). The ramen is good as well. Oddly enough, each time I have gone here, I have not tried the sushi, but have tried to go for other non-mainstream Japanese food items.

    (4)

  • Yeree K.

    I love their miso ramen! not as salty and greasy as other places I've tried before (Ren's...) Kind of on the expensive side though... but that's normal for authentic Japanese restaurants. Small portion and big price :) I think the donkatsu has generous portion for the price compared to other options. I want to try sushi next time! I had a tuna roll but it was soso... great lunch spot for small groups!

    (4)

  • Nene K.

    Authentic Japanese food in Rockville over here! Japanese run, the waiters are Japanese (with impeccable service to match), and nearly all of the patrons were Japanese. We've found a winner here. Temari is a small, laid back Japanese restaurant with daily specials and a unique menu. I ordered the sashimi dinner and was not disappointed!! This meal is filling and the presentation was beautiful. The appetizers were brought out on this beautiful blue tray and in 6 mismatched but oddly complimentary little bowls. Love the Japanese programming running in the background. You can eat and practice your listening and kanji skills! Paired with cheap house hot sake, this was one of the better Japanese meals I've had in the area. I hope you get to enjoy it soon.

    (4)

  • Lina T.

    I love the atmosphere here and the staff is so nice! This is one of my favorite ramen spots. A well deserved 5 out of 5 rating!

    (5)

  • Micah C.

    Went here for lunch with my boyfriend and both of us loved this place. I've been to the Japanese grocery store above this place (Maruichi) and I've passed by this small restaurant soooo many times. After reading reviews on Yelp, I finally gave it a try. We came in during lunch and the tables were filled. Luckily, the guy before us left right after we got there so we didn't have to wait. We were immediately seated and given the menus. Our waitress was an old Japanese lady and she was very friendly. She even mixed Japanese when she spoke to us, such as "hai" (yes) and "arigato" (thank you). So we both thought that service was really good, even though she was a bit slow because there were a lot of customers and she's the only waitress. She tried her best and checked up on us/refilled our drinks. I ordered the chashu ramen and my boyfriend ordered the tonkatsu. Tonkatsu came with rice, some kind of sauce in a cool container, and miso soup. My boyfriend let me try it and I thought it was reaaally good. Great home made taste to it. I liked the miso soup too - not too salty. The chashu ramen was pretty good. It wasn't the best, but I liked it a lot. The broth was kind of watery but I thought it was really flavorful. The noodles were eh and the meat was kind of flavorless and a bit tough but it didn't ruin the dish completely for me. I was satisfied. Also, the Japanese cooking show they had on tv was pretty interesting/cool. It was a nice touch. Overall, I really liked this place because of it's home made taste and I will definitely come back to try the curry!

    (4)

  • Valerie L.

    Yum, yum, yummmmm. We came here based on the yelp reviews and were soooooo pleased. We traveled from Chevy Chase (which is completely lacking in good ethnic food) and tried several dishes based on recommendation. Don't let the small menu fool you, the homestyle options offered will not disappoint. We both ordered the Tonkotsu ramen, the Takoyaki app an the curry rice to share. The ramen broth was incredible, the curry was rich and home-y (and completely different from Thai and Indian curries) and the squid balls were ridiculously tasty. It was all so delicious!! We topped off our meals with the green tea, milk and red bean snow cone (omigod mmmmm.) The service was fantastic, our tea's and waters were regularly refilled, our bill was really reasonably priced and we left with some tasty leftover Ramen for lunch the following day. Though this review is only based on our singular visit, we can't wait to return!!

    (5)

  • Lan T.

    I stumbled into Temari on a Sunday afternoon. It was about 1pm and I was able to sit immediately (table for 1...aka counter!). There was no wait for tables, but within 30 minutes, there was about 4 groups waiting for tables. I ordered the tonkatsu ramen. The pork was very tender and soft. I still like Ren's better though. I'd go back to try the other stuff especially the curry and tonkatsu though. It seemed like a lot of people were ordering the tonkatsu, and it came with quite a few sides. I wouldn't go out of my to try Temari from DC, but if I was already in Rockville, I wouldn't mind driving a few extra miles to Temari.

    (4)

  • Nhu P.

    Quaint shop with seating for about 20-25 people. First time trying authentic ramen, and got the miso ramen. When I first got my bowl, I thought it was absolutely delicious but the more I ate, the more salty it got. Hubby got the char-shu ramen and at first I thought it was lacking flavor since I was tasting the miso, but by the time we were done, I enjoyed his broth more than mine. Tried the squid/octopus ball, those were weird. I didnt like them. Too fishy but it couldve also been the flakes on top. tonkatsu was fine, nothing special but not bad.

    (3)

  • Karen S.

    We went on a Saturday night around 6. Despite the small space, our group of 10 got seats (though we had to split into one table and one group at the bar) within 20 minutes. Sitting at the bar is fun because you can watch Japanese television (with subtitles!) and their cooking shows are hilarious. The staff is small so they can't be super attentive, but they are unfailingly polite and the orders come out pretty quick. I tried the special butter and salt ramen, which was delish! My only problem with it is that the pork slices are really tough to eat. I also got a tonkatsu (breaded pork) appetizer, but I found it dry. My friend's japanese curry was HUGE and I imagine two people could share it pretty easily, with an appetizer. One great thing is that they are willing to do individual bills for big parties, so even though that means more work for them, it made it really convenient for us. There were constantly people coming in and waiting as we ate, so sometimes it got a little uncomfortable with people hovering around me as I ate, but getting a table further back in the space would help with that.

    (4)

  • Mari S.

    I had a nice dinner with my hubby yesterday, too! For regular customers, I left many DVD discs which has some old Japanese TV shows recorded. Ask the owner to share some with you, if you are interested. The trick here is that you need to have a specific type of DVD player that supports CPRM. It works with PlayStation3 and some (not all) of Sony Blue Ray player.

    (4)

  • Daniel H.

    Some of the best Japanese food ive had yet. Tried the ramyun for the first time and already thinking of when im going back. They deserve each star. Respectful and good service.

    (5)

  • Bon B.

    It's such a terrible meal. This is the first time, also the last time eating at this horrible restautant.

    (1)

  • Tiffany D.

    If you happen to find yourself craving some authentic Japanese food in Rockville, here's your spot. This place is way more than your normal sushi restaurant. They have a full menu of authentic Japanese dishes, in a very friendly and casual environment. My favorites are the Japanese style hamburger with radish sauce. It's really more like a Japanese version of meatloaf as its a big loaf of ground beef baked with onions, sprouts and a yummy radish sauce. They also have the most amazing Octopus Puffs; its like a deep fried ball of octopus with a creamy center. For dessert I would recommend the red bean soup with ice cream and mochi balls. Yes, if you're not into Japanese food that probably sounds terrible for dessert, but trust me, it is great!

    (4)

  • Alfred B.

    On my continued quest for the best ramen in the east coast, I was fortunate enough to come across Temari's Japanese Cafe. Not only was their Ramen good, but they also had Onigri!!! (those rice triangles wrapped in seaweed - I recall seeing them in certain Japanese Anime shows) This was a pleasant surprise because I have always wanted to try Onigri since seeing it for the first time in cartoon form! Thankfully, it was my sister who noticed that they had Onigri on the menu, so we ordered it, and it was delicious! It was even in the shape of a triangle! Anyways, I digress - the main purpose of coming here was for the authenticity of the Ramen. The verdict: Awesome! There are three different broths to choose from - during my visit I chose the classic soy broth. The bowls are pretty large and the ratio of noodles to "everything else" was perfect. Some ramen shops I went to (as stated in my other reviews) had more "stuff" than noodle, making the joy of eating the noodles short lived. But NOT here! The noodles were the perfect amount, and the taste of the broth, with the pork, eggs, bean sprouts, and fish cakes turned this meal into something almost magical. The only thing I found a bit lacking was the texture of the noodle. It was a bit too soft. Maybe it was bad luck this time around, but the noodle didn't have much "solidity". It seemed like it was over cooked. This doesn't destroy or even take away from the experience though, the overall meal was still the best I've had so far in this area. Parking isn't a problem and the overall decor of the restaurant is a bit more lively and "cultural", as opposed to some places that are a bit bland looking. I enjoy the feel of the restaurant and the taste of the ramen. Definitely check it out if you get the chance.

    (4)

  • Cindy L.

    Been coming to this super cozy, cute place for a couple of years. And it's actually Japanese-owned! I always try out some of my Japanese and the girls who work here just giggle behind their hands...im serious. Me: Itadakimasu!!!! Girls: eee hee hee hee hee hee Me: Nani...? Girls: EEEEE HEE HEE HEE HEE!!! The ramen here is not that authentic but acceptable if you're in the mood. Sushi is simple and fresh. I didn't like the egg, chicken thing I had tho :( There's always some funny Japanese show on the TV and service is always good. A great small sit-down place when you want something low-key and cheap!

    (4)

  • Hung T.

    The food is kinda below average. The noodle soup was very very bland and I had to add a shit ton of soy sauce to make it decent. The sushi looked half assed and appetizers were tiny for the price. Service was at least good and the ambience was nice. They have japanese manga on the bookshelf. I don't think I would go back though. It gets busy during dinner time so don't come here if you're absolutely starving, you might faint before getting a table.

    (3)

  • Sherry Z.

    We got here late (8ish) on a Thursday night and while the small restaurant was pretty full, we still got a nice seat. I ordered their pork broth ramen and they brought my order out very quickly. While I did not get to eat the ramen immediately, it was still delicious after sitting in the broth for 30+ minutes. There were slices of hardboiled eggs, fish balls, pork, seaweed, and GINGER! The ginger added a very interesting flavor and I loved the soup. Everything disappeared in record time. Next time, I might try some of their other entrees. Price-wise, this place seems typical of ramen in DC-- slightly more than $10 for a bowl. Their other entrees are also around $12-19.

    (4)

  • Aaron L.

    Learned this the hard way, but don't go to a place known for ramen and try ordering the sushi. Wife and I each ordered the $19 lunch combo special of katsu and sashimi. The fish was not fresh: off color, tasted fishy, etc. The katsu was fine, nothing special, but the fact that it cost that much for what we ultimately couldn't eat half of earns a one star from me. If you want excellent sushi, go to Niwano Hana, just down the road. I'm sure other items on the Temari menu are potentially great, but after that experience, I'm not risking going back.

    (1)

  • Eric B.

    I'm very excited to come back for the full experience. I don't want to go five stars on a one-dish take-out order, but you might as well put it in the books... The ketchup fried rice omelet was unique, flavorful, and a great snack for the whole family. I could have used a bit less ketchup flavor and some hot sauce, but there's always next time. Had a great view of the kitchen while I waited. Everything made fresh. The guy cracked and scrambled the eggs just before going into the pan - that fresh.

    (4)

  • Michico F.

    First time & definitely will eat here again. I had tonkatsu set..it comes with miso & rice. It was great....love this place.

    (5)

  • Natalie K.

    Nice ramen shop in Rockville. I have been spoiled with Toki Underground and a more accessible Taan in Adams Morgan, but this place is a good spot to satisfy the ramen craving without venturing far. In terms of ramen, I have had the tonkotsu and the miso bowls. Both are great, but I actually like the miso one better. The tonkotsu was not quite up to par compared with the bowls I've had in DC and San Fran. The miso one I would definitely eat again any day. I'll pass on the tonkotsu bowl, however the tonkatsu (fried pork) was delicious! Again, great spot for some ramen in rockville, but I still prefer some other shops if they are more accessible.

    (4)

  • Danny L.

    Found this place looking for another ramen spot. Such a cute, and quaint restaurant filled with authenticity. The service was very courteous and prices for the menu items very reasonable. This spot is actually another favorite spot of mine for ramen, as the broth (at least the miso broth) was very flavorful, and the noodles were of the perfect consistency, which are firm and chewy. I would definitely come more often if it wasn't such a hike to get here, as I live a little over an hour away.

    (4)

  • Natasha S.

    I don't know what to say... I have NEVER been able to find a Japanese restaurant in the DC area SO close to the real thing, then Temari. OMG. My girlfriend and I frequent this place and have tried a lot from their menu. While it's hard to venture out and order something new, since we love the things we love - we try for the most part. One of our favorites to order is the sashimi and fried chicken combination. It comes with a little sides of pickled goodness. Including Japanese cucumbers pickled with real crab, gingered eggplant and shrimp on a bed of baby tomato with a spicy cream sauce. The sashimi was fresh and delicious. The fried chicken is good, very plain which I actually like. You can tell it is simple pieces of chicken with the skin fried perfectly and placed on a plate. But my girlfriend does prefer the fried chicken with light seasoning that is popular in Japan. Another favorite is the chicken katsu with pork curry. The downfall is that they charge an extra $3 for chicken instead of pork, however the chicken and pork are the same price when ordered without curry. It's a little disappointing. So I've only ordered this once but it was delicious. The seaweed salad is DELICIOUS. Not drenched in dressing and served with a generous amount of shredded radish which I love. We also enjoy ordering the age-tofu as an appetizer, very light and well prepared. The mackerel dinner entree is good, but depending on the night. The fish does tend to be a little more drier than other nights. A hit or miss. They have Takoyaki and it's good! Their ramen is not the best, but not the worst. I'd go with Ren's for ramen, but everything else here is on point. I liked their menu options and the fact that they had more than the typical Korean owned Japanese restaurant which seems to be really popular in these parts. Nothing wrong with it, just looking for more authentic food and this is probably as authentic as it gets in these parts. They also have Japanese snowcones and other great things, one downfall... no fried squid! But they do serve a cold spicy squid and grilled squid which is also very good. Service is good but can be VERY SLOW. Prices are a little high but hey, they can get away it. This is a small cafe, so there can be a wait most of the time for dinner. We usually get lucky being that it is only usually us two. But if you're coming with a larger group, good luck. Get in early or expect to wait a bit. Probably the best Japanese in the DC/MD/VA area!

    (5)

  • Meggie C.

    umm... kinda of pricey but not too bad. i tried the ramen, was very good. place is kinda small and you have to double check their hours because they are closed a couple hours during the day. staff is pretty attentive

    (4)

  • Ariel B.

    Quest: - to find the best ramen in the DC (and surrounding) area. Pros: - broth not too salty (i tried both the shoyu and the tonkotsu broths), but still savory - good bean sprout to ramen ratio - very generous with the amount of pork given - ramen comes with egg (you don't have to pay extra for it) Cons: - pork is a little too hard - too much broth compared to what else was in the bowl - ramen is a little too soft Bonuses: - delicious onigiri - very friendly and attentive staff - easy parking (a good-sized parking lot) - very comfortable and cozy restaurant Scores: Broth - 4/5 Ramen - 2/5 Other "Stuff" in the Bowl - 3/5 Overall Feel of the Restaurant - 5/5 Current Rank: #2 out of 3 (Satsuma, Temari Japanese Cafe, & Ren's Ramen)

    (4)

  • Sarah L.

    Temari is a small mom 'n pop restaurant that serves decent but not great Japanese fare. It's also ridiculously expensive. So why do I find myself going back? First of all, there aren't many Japanese restaurants that offer dishes outside of sushi, teriyaki, tempura, and katsudon. Secondly, I would have to agree with my sister, who says she comes here because it feels like a home cooked meal. Every time we come here we try something different on the menu. Tonight we went and had another satisfying but expensive meal. A table opened up just as we arrived. There was a daily special for toro (fatty tuna). It was 5 pieces of sashimi for $15.50. Considering that most times you can get 2 pieces of toro for $10 market value, that was a pretty good deal. Mm, that toro just melted like butter in my mouth. Speaking of butter, Temari used to offer a seasonal butter and salt ramen, but it wasn't available on the menu the last two times we went. We asked about it and our server said they're "out of stock," whatever that means. My sister's had it and she thought it was absolutely delicious, but just thinking of butter, salt, and ramen makes my arteries harden. I ordered the Omurice and my sister got this dish that I can't remember the name of, but it was broiled mackerel, a bowl of rice, a bowl of miso soup, a sides of pickled daikon radish. I wished I had gotten what she had, as it looked like a simple but well-prepared meal. The omurice was good, but not great. I have never had one before but I have tried to make it at home and mine never tasted that good, but now I have a better idea. $12.95 for a omelet with ketchup fried rice is not a good value, but it filled me up. When we got home we both got stomachaches so we're not sure if that's due to the toro or due to the frozen yogurt we ate an hour before arriving at Temari. We'll be back, but will avoid the raw fish dishes, just in case.

    (3)

  • Jeffrey C.

    Temari earns 4 stars because your server will most likely be a black guy who knows Japanese. How cool is that? The food: be adventurous. Or don't, and get the Shouga Donburi. Two layers of meat separated by beds of shaded cabbage and delicious Japanese mayonnaise. If you are more adventurous you can try their spicy tuna, or if you want something to warm you up in the winter months, try their ramen. This is another restaurant that is marked by their authenticity to Japanese cuisine and it shows in their dishes. The Japanese value precision and every one of my visits have been consistant with friendly and humble service marked by amazing food. Pro tip: it is heresy to not drink their imported beers while you are there. Don't be a wimp, just do it. Also, the menu isn't the sky's limit. Look at the offerings that can be found on the walls of the restaurant.

    (4)

  • Anita C.

    I...wasn't really impressed at all. Maybe it was the fact that I was in NY and eating Ippudo NY's famous Akamaru Ramen two nights before. I had the tonkatsu ramen, and it disappointed me a bit. The main thing that I disliked was something in the broth - it tasted like ginger, but I'm not sure. Additionally, at $10.95 a bowl, it wasn't cheap. I much prefer even Shin Ramyun to the tonkatsu I had at Temari. Yikes. Because of good reviews on Yelp, I will be back to try the chicken katsu curry.

    (3)

  • Robert C.

    Temari's definitely one of the better Japanese restaurants around the area. However, it's still nothing when you compare it to Japanese restaurants in Cali, NY, etc. The place's really small and usually packed. My favorite dish from here is the Katsu Curry (deep-fried chicken cutlet, egg with curry and beef strips). It's always been one of my favorite Japanese dish. Katsudon (rice bowl topped with deep-fried egg cutlet and egg) would be my 2nd favorite dish from here. I have also tried the Ramen, but I find it to be nothing special at all. The portion's decently big and yes, they can be kindda pricey! However, if you're from this area, I definitely recommend Temari as it's one of the finer Japanese restaurants around.

    (3)

  • Tanya G.

    The full rating is not for their sushi quality by any means, really that is a hit or miss each time. The full rating is for the combination of a cute Japanese restaurant, courteous staff, the home cooked feel, the reliable Japanese food channel on their TV, AND THEIR TONKATSU!!! Before you judge their menu to be skimpy with a few selections, open your eyes and take a look around you. They have a extra items on whiteboards or pieces of paper plastered on the wall throughout the restaurant. Have you ever been to a restaurant and find something so good that each time you return you can't resist getting the same thing over. . . and over. . . and over. . . again?? Every time I look at the menu tempted to try something new, my usual calls my name and knees weaken and my mouth waters. . . My usual?? The tonkatsu sashimi combination - mmmmm mmmmm mmmmmmmmmm!!! With the combination you get (drum roll): 1. an assortment of appetizers - this is a variety of 3 or 4 items 2. slices of four different kinds of sashimi 3. tonkatsu served with a side of potato salad 4. miso soup 5. rice Seems like a lot of food right?!?! Well this fat fat pretty much finishes it off almost every single time (I say almost because at times my man destroys my resolve by ordering an additional appetizer). This place serves the REAL shit, hands down, love it!!! Now with all relationships, there's a love and hate component to it. . . . What I love/hate about this place?? Ordering take out. They do not give any preference for take out orders at all, your order gets placed in line with all the other in restaurant orders and you wait. One time I was quoted an hour for my food, AN HOUR!!!! One hand I love the fact that my food will not be delayed while I eat in the restaurant but on the other hand totally annoyed if I wanted to get take out. . . C'est la vie :-P

    (5)

  • Daniel A.

    I liked this place. Food was good for the price. Lunch service was great. Not a very large selection for sushi but the authentic Japanese dishes were good. I was full when I walked out. I normally like to check out family owned non-commercialized joints.

    (3)

  • Karen A.

    I am always on the hunt for Japanese restaurants that offer more than sushi, so when a friend recommended this place I went almost immediately. We started out with the agedashi tofu and takoyaki, both of which were delicious. The agedashi tofu was probably better than most dishes I've had at other Japanese restaurants. We skipped the sushi because I had read numerous reviews saying it wasn't very good, and moved right on to the ramen. I am always on the hunt for a decent bowl of ramen. Based on our one meal at Temari I would definitely come back, although it was not the best I've eaten. The broth was just okay and the bowl came with a plain hard boiled egg versus ajitsuke tamago/marinated soft-boiled egg, which is a pet peeve of mine. The noodles were good though and I did polish my bowl off if that tells you anything. The service is extremely polite and the restaurant itself is cute. We watched a Japanese cooking show while we waited for our meal, which made us very impatient for our food to arrive, but was overall a fun experience. I'd definitely recommend this place to friends looking for a good Japanese meal. PS - Make sure you check out the Japanese market above the restaurant after your meal!

    (4)

  • Mary L.

    I think I might have gone in here with extremely high expectations and I will admit that I am not sure what an authentic ramen place looks or tastes like either but I have to say that this place fell a little short. The service when I walked in with my friend was very friendly and prompt. No wait when we got there and the lady who helped us was very nice and patient as we perused the menu, trying to figure out what to get. I settled on the cha-shu ramen and an appetizer of chicken katsu. The katsu was not bad, but having grown up in Hawaii, and having fresh chicken katsu for plate lunches, it was not as good as what I used to get back there. It was served with a couple of sauces as well, one that tasted a little like A-1, but still an interesting pairing with the katsu. When the ramen came out, it was nice and hot and the noodles tasted pretty fresh as well. Not that prepackaged stuff you can get at the store. However, there was a little bit too much seaweed in my bowl for my liking. I usually like to crack an egg into my ramen and then let it cook in the broth. Broth had a good flavor, a little bland for what I'm used to. I thought the pork might add a little more flavor to the broth I think, kind of like char-siu does to saimin. I think that I wanted this to be like the saimin that I used to get in Hawaii and that's why it fell a little short for me because nothing can really be like my saimin. Overall: authentic ramen place + friendly service + fresh noodles = If it's a cold day, I could come back to enjoy a hot bowl of noodles.

    (3)

  • Nicholas K.

    Great little place that serves Japanese comfort food. Seriously, who serves hamurg steak and katsu curry outside of LA? This place! This is not one of those pseduo-japanese places that serves sushi alongside korean and chinese - this is Japanese with Japanese staff that know Japanese food. This place is not fancy, and the service can be slow, but you get decent, no-nonsense, genuine japanese food.

    (5)

  • Barney D.

    Came here to try out a new Ramen place. Brought the family. Wife and I got the tonkatsu (pork base) Ramen while my kid got the Omu rice. The presentation of the river was very nice. It's your basic chicken, ketchup fried rice, covered in an egg omelet skin. The Ramen was of a medium portion with a couple slices of pork, slices of fake lobster, garnished with flakes of dried seaweed, bean sprouts, and pickled ginger. The pickled ginger overpowered the broth. The noodles were too firm. Overall, the Ramen was average. That's not that bad, but the price was not reasonable. The bowl of Ramen was $12 for what would equate to a small bowl of pho. The rice dish was $13, which my toddler was able to devour. With tip, those three dishes ended up being $46. WAY too much for the portion size and quality. My recommendation is go to KiNo Spoon down the street. For a larger portion, it's $9, plus the broth is more savory, fatty char sui, corn, and other veggies. It's a more hearty Ramen. Also, they have more variety of broths. Disappointed by Temari's Ramen considering the reviews here. Not worth it.

    (3)

  • Jen A.

    I ate here a couple days ago with one of my friends and my two siblings. We were able to fit in a table of four and were greeted with a nice waitress and a cute, elderly chef. The food was delicious. I ordered the pork ramen and it was delicious. I also had their takoyaki, which came to the table hot with the katsuobushi (fish shavings) shriveling with the heat - I loved the sauce that came with it as well. I ordered the fatty tuna roll and the salmon roll which I could tell was high quality and fresh because each bite would melt in my mouth. I would definitely come back. ^^

    (5)

  • Ted K.

    This is my favorite Japanese place in Maryland. They create a great ambiance. The food is consistently good and the services is really fast. If you miss Japan, this is a cheap way to return to Japan. My favorites are their Saba, their Raman noodles, and their sashimi.

    (5)

  • Kat F.

    I used to live in Japan, so when I came into this small little cafe, I felt like I was back in one of the small Japanese restaurants downstairs from my cho (apartment). They have some other off-the-menu items on signs around the walls. In Japan, they would do this, too, but on wooden blocks (and in Japanese). So, you can see where authenticity is highly regarded in here. They don't just have typical "chicken teriyaki" and sushi dishes. They have more authentic dishes rather than just sushi. They actually serve Ramen like in the Ramen stands (and no, not like the instant stuff). I love their Tonkatsu dish because the rice that comes with it is flavored with a sweet sauce. I've tried their omelet, too. It'would be really great if it actually had meat inside it instead of just rice. But it's still nice to see that on a menu. One thing that really got me was the Japanese cooking show that's always on their TV. It makes you all the more hungry so that you're more inclined to finish your food. Also another prop is that the staff are Japanese people. It bugs me a little bit that most of the other Japanese sushi places are run or owned by a non-Japanese person(s). I'm not trying to be offensive or anything, I just like to have that comforting feeling that the owner is from the country they are actually cooking and serving their food from.

    (4)

  • Alain S.

    Tasty Japanese food. Tough, as expected, to find an extensive vegetarian selection, but by making exceptions for some tiny octopus bits, a fatty tuna roll and a couple of fish cake slices we were able to put together a delicious and satisfying meal here. The miso ramen (didn't ask whether the broth was veggie) was very good, and kept getting better bite after bite. The broth was arguably better than the noodles. Can't speak to the authenticity of the tako-yaki, but the hot, doughy, crunchy octopus bites were a good way to start. I thought some of the menu items seemed over-priced, but our bill was reasonable for a filling meal; definitely not cheap eats. May not be the best bet for strict vegetarians but we'll likely end up here at some point again when we're in the area. Won't be making a trip to Rockville just for Temari though.

    (3)

  • Ken L.

    This is one of my favorite authentic Japanese restaurant in the area. It's one of the two Japanese owned restaurant I know in the Rockville-Bethesda area. I love almost everything on their pricey menu. The curry rice, tonkatsu, chirashi, and ramen are to die for. Try their authentic appetizers if you want to be adventurous. As my friend Tiffany said below me, the ramen is a really good dish that is very popular with people who frequent here but maybe I'm not a ramen person either because I don't usually order it. This place is great for lunch or dinner but remember it is a little bit on the pricier side. Enjoy your experience!

    (5)

  • TH N.

    The food is good, but it's too overpriced. I am not impressed at all with the ramen soup. Their curry dishes are good, but too pricey. If I am too lazy to cook, this place is a place that I may go to. The food is decent here, but more likely can't afford to go often at all.

    (3)

  • Annie C.

    The ramen here is hands down the best you're going to get in the DMV area. I've also had their salmon teriyaki twice and the first time I had it it was bland and kind of... crispy? I didn't really like it. The second I had it (almost a year later) it was very tasty and moist. I guess it was just made wrong the first time. The service is pretty good and the staff is friendly. The restaurant does close midday and reopen for dinner which I really don't like about most Japanese restaurants. It's pretty small and gets crazy crowded sometimes.

    (3)

  • Alexander K.

    This is a nice, small, and homely japanese restaurant where you can find comfort japanese foods such as ramen, japanese curry, and other home style dishes that are executed well. Wouldn't really go here for the sushi/sashimi though, since my perception was that it wasn't incredibly fresh.

    (4)

  • James R.

    One of my must stops when in the DC area. The food is always fresh and tasteful. The staff is fantasticly polite. It does get busy quick and being as small as it is there can be a wait at certain times but it is worth it. Love the ramen and love the tekka donburi. The sushi is basic so there's not a bunch of fancy rolls. You're better off with the sashimi, I've never had bad fish here.

    (5)

  • Lexie D.

    I saved my receipt because I knew after a large Kirin on a Wednesday, I was not going to be in the business of remembering names. I had serious qualms when my date suggested yet-another-Rockville-strip-mall restaurant (see: Mosaic), but I high-fived him when we left. My faith in humanity, and my ability to date quality men, has been restored. The tiny restaurant was packed on a Wednesday evening before 8p, but our waitress sprung out of nowhere and gave us a table for two in the back of the restaurant. I had a pork domburi, which essentially was sauteed pork, ginger, and rice in a heaping bowl. It also came with miso soup (divine) and something yellow and pickled that I wasn't keen on. The pork itself was a little tough (and I really suck at chopsticks, so I felt it should have been cut a little smaller). But the combination of the ingredients eaten together (and later, with a fork) was simply wonderful. My date had a curry dish. It was the largest plate of food I've ever seen served outside the Midwest. He ate ALL OF IT in about 5 minutes, and I barely got him to slow down to give me a taste. The flavors were both familiar and exotic, and though I only got one tiny bite, I can't wait to come back and have a whole heap of it myself. His dish came with tiny red pickled things on the side, which he regarded as toxic, but I gobbled up in an embarrassing fashion. What are those little delights? They were delectable! Our service was slow-ish, but the restaurant was crowded, and I think there was only one or two servers for the masses of hungry.

    (5)

  • Leena L.

    Was a random find but it will now be our favourite place!! Unlike a lot of Japanese places around here, the chefs and servers are all Japanese and the food really was authentic! Had miso ramen and tonkatsu along with sake. There was only one server but because we were not in a hurry, it was quick enough. We will definitely go back to try all the other dishes!

    (5)

  • D. K.

    2 stars for the shoyu (soy sauce) ramen, 3 for the Katsu curry. I sooo wanted to love this place. Convinced hubby to drive us 30 mins to Rockville cuz I was craving ramen. I'm spoiled by ramen places like Ippudo, Daikokuya, Santouku... Broth was flavorless. Charshiu was mostly fat & no flavor. Noodles had good bite to them but wished the broth was better. My happiness for the evening wasn't the food, but the japanese tv show they had on. Spent the whole time watching 'dotchi' my fav japanese cooking show! May or may not come back...

    (3)

  • Albert Y.

    Great authentic Japanese food. The food tastes great, the atmosphere is comfortable, and the staff are extremely friendly and caring. This is a great place to eat and the only issue is that it's very small since it's a nice family-owned place. If you come during a busy time you could be waiting a long time since people generally like to eat slowly. If you came by yourself or with just one other person, sometimes you can get a bar seat, it's not awkward and usually always available. The selection here is nice and they do have seasonal specials. For those waiting around in the waiting area, waiting for take-out, or waiting for food to arrive there is a TV playing Japanese cooking shows, and there's Japanese newspapers and manga to read. I think they take reservations of large groups but your whole party needs to be present to be seated. I understand it's a small place so I think it's worth the try to get a seat.

    (5)

  • Benson Y.

    During my visit to Gaithersburg, MD I met up with a couple of friends who were nice enough to drive me to nearby Rockville to eat at Temari. Both had recently come back from Japan and told me Temari was one of the few places in the area that sold food as they had tasted in Japan. That sold me and off we went. Temari is tucked away in the corner of a small strip mall. It's not a terribly large place, perhaps it could accomodate about twenty or so people but that gives it a cozy feeling. A bookshelf of Manga by the door, liberal use of white boards and paper on the walls to describe dishes not on the menu all gave this a very comfortable feel that I appreciated. I ordered a few things, wanting to try an assortment of dishes. I had a salad, chicken kidneys with ginger and two rolls (one of which was tuna). The salad was larger than expected, twice the size of the normal salads I have in Japanese places with cherry tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers. They were liberal with the dressing, which I appreciated (though I'm not sure my waistline will!). The chicken kidneys were made much the same way my mother used to do, with some soy sauce, slivers of ginger and then steamed. It tasted so good. It's not to everyone's taste, but it's a dish my mother used to make for me as a kid so it brought back fond memories. The rolls were tasty and the fish was nice (not outstanding, but nice). The service was fantastic. Everyone greets you enthusiastically as you come in and they take care of you nicely with refills and polite check ins throughout the meal. I was happy to visit this place and save myself from another night of hotel food! :)

    (4)

  • Hue K.

    At this very small japanese restaurant in rockville, you can find traditional home-style cooking japanese dishes like Don-katsu, omurice, hamberger-steak, grilled fish and of course japanese ramen and sushi. My old coworker (working at an office in rockville) and I went there for lunch special. I couldn't find anything really appealing since I'm not a big fan of raw fish, meat or greasy food.. but I did want to try one from specials (combination of sushi and a meat-dish like chicken, fish, beef or pork). I got sushi/tonkasu combo (because my coworker wanted to eat don-katsu) that comes with miso soup and a plate of small appetizers (tamagoyaki, root-pickle, and lightly hot-sauce coated conchi). Only thing I liked in the combo was appetizer and miso soup... just because these were only ones I would/could eat... My coworker ordered 'Pork Curry Rice'. I told to try tonkasu with curry sauce. Curry had pieces of pork and onion slices. It was with rice and red-sweet raddish pickle (which I love!!, so pretty color too!!). The total bill was about $28 ($15.95 for combo and $9.95 +Tax).. , which was a bit high for daily lunch but oh well..

    (3)

  • Frank F.

    Had both the curry and a bowl of ramen. Both were very good and I found the service (both times on a Friday) to be gracious and prompt. It can get crowded on weekends, though...

    (4)

  • Marialina B.

    Diamond in the rough...quite good!

    (4)

  • Fenny L.

    I don't know why I even attempted it...but I decided that I was done with hearing about all the amazing UYE gorge-fests that was going on in Virginia, and had to have a similar one in Maryland. Yeah. Is there such thing as a food hangover? Because I may have one (not that it has stopped me from having breakfast, or my mid-morning snack...or lunch in another hour). We started off the evening at Temari Cafe, which is as authentic of a "real" Japanese ramen house as you will find in the DMV area. For those of you that have lived in Rockville for years and do not know of this place...it is because they are truly that magical and mystical "best kept secrets" that isn't just a pitiful marketing ploy. People "in the know" are very selective about bringing friends here. Not out of shame, but out of worry that this place will get too packed for us "regulars" to get a table. The crown jewel of Temari Cafe's simple menu is the ramen. The broth is a silky, milky white, with tender pieces of fish-cakes (yes, even the white ones with the hot pink swirls you see in all the animes). I will say that the noodles tend to be a little softer then I like, however, the mild but intoxicating broth more then makes up for it. It is, by far, my parents' favorite dish here. However, as I knew we were going to hit up at least 3 more stops that night, I wisely stuck to my favorites...the appetizers. I ordered the chicken livers with ginger, the grilled mackerel, and my favorite - the deliciously adorable smelt. The chicken livers are cooked in a light and sweet soy sauce and ginger. It is tender, flavorful and has all the rich flavors that make chicken livers so tasty. The grilled mackerel had a wonderful crispy skin and when paired with the ground daikon, it was a sublime combination of textures, and subtle flavors. The smelt was as perfect as they always are. I don't know how they always do it, but Temari Cafe always has the smelt that are packed with roe, beautifully grilled; they are a tasty and special treat. Yum! I will admit that usually when one comes to Temari, one is plagued by slow service. It's not that the service is bad - in fact, the servers are always kind, smiling and warm, however the food takes forever to come out. Well worth the wait, but a wait when one is starved for a bowl of hot ramen soup seems like an eternity. Tonight was completely different, as the service was quick, and the food came out faster then I ever remembered. However, I think what I love best about Temari is that although they are nestled in a depressingly ugly and rundown strip-mall, the inside of Temari is a simple haven of little Japan. There is usually sumo or some other Japanese show on the TV, and the bookshelf by the front entrance is packed full of manga (all in Japanese...sorry guys!), for you to read as you eat, should you decide to come here alone. Although most of the clientele that came in last night were not of the Asian persuasion (and I only spied one Japanese patron midway through our meal), it still felt like I had stepped into one of the quaint little ramen-shops that makes Tokyo such a charming dichotomy of old and new.

    (4)

  • Nina G.

    This time I tried the sashimi combo and I was very pleased! I love sushi, but love love sashimi even more. The fish was fresh and very simple, and there was an appetizer with shrimp, salad, pickles, and sauteed squash and chives. I had the zensai dessert....YUMMY! It was a warm red bean soup with vanilla ice cream and mochi. It was a winter special so I had to try it. Overall, it was a MUCH better experience than last time. I'd defintely come back just to have the sashimi dishes and try the donburi ones.

    (4)

  • Jason C.

    The ratings for this place is way too high. 4*???? nah..... I see this trend in the DC area a lot: Japanese people+cozy small mom and pop shop+Japanese staff=great Japanese restaurant. This is SO not true. I've tried several dishes here: the sashimi combo, the sushi combo (sushi was dry...I mean dry), chirashi don, gyudon. I really haven't been impressed with any of them. The chirashi done tasted like the Ajinomoto frozen packages they sell at Asian grocery stores. Of all the things I've tasted the Tonkatsu was probably the best one..but in all honesty, it REALLY is hard to mess up Tonkatsu b/c all you have to do is fry it. If I can say anything positive about this place, it's that it has a decent sake selection (they even sell otokoyama by smaller portions). For decent Japanese food (haven't found a good sushi place yet in DC), I strongly suggest a place like Tachibana in Virginia. Their non-sushi dishes are pretty good.

    (2)

  • Tu-van L.

    Wanted to scope out this place as a potential sushi joint/Japanese eatery amongst others along Rockville Pike. Hole in the wall place with limited seating and no sign of a formal hostess keeping track of when you came in so you can get a table. I was impressed with the range of dishes they offered here. My husband ordered a sashimi and chicken teriyaki platter that not only included the aforementioned but some banchan-like mini-dishes of prawns, veggies, potatoes and a bowl of miso soup. I tried some and I agree with Su K's review - the salmon tastes powerful, almost too fishy. All of this for $20 made for a great deal so not too much to complain about. My tonkatsu appetizer was perfectly cooked with some delicious sauce on the side and the appropriate appetizer portion. The green tea mochi dessert with that sweet sauce was also very soft mochi delicious. Those were the highlights of my meal here. Unfortunately the char siu ramen highlight of my dinner was a big disappointment. While it had all the elements of ramen (boiled egg, seaweed, sprouts, seafood slices and roasted pork slices) but the collective dish was bland and flavorless. I was especially disappointed in the bland pork slices and the broth and the bland and sogginess of the ramen noodles. I knew from PC W.'s review that this was terrible, but for some reason I was hoping it was better than what some people think. Lesson learned: listen to Yelpers - they know what they're talking about. Great concept though average in execution. I do appreciate the sashimi specials and the variety of ramen and non-sushi Japanese dishes, but quality was overall average.

    (3)

  • Jerry L.

    Hardcore Temari fans, please don't hate me, but I thought this place was just OK. Quality service and a nice homey feel, but the food (we had the curry rice and shio ramen) was unexceptional. Without further ado, I dedicate the following haiku's to an overall mediocre meal: I want to love you O cute cozy cafe, but Your rice was soggy Why charge so much for Average ramen? Sorry I'd rather have Ren's Prompt green tea refills Go a long way, but alas Ho-hum food prevailed Cherry blossoms float On a gentle Spring breeze past My empty wallet

    (3)

  • Jae S.

    I ate ramen there. It's authentic. I would like to try more items on their menu soon. Very cozy. Good place to take your friends who are curious about real Japanese food, not the Americanized food. Wait staffs are very friendly. Make sure you order some Don Katsu, this is the real deal.

    (4)

  • Evelyn C.

    Temari is one of the only authentic Jap restaurants in the Rockville area. This restaurant predominantly makes Jap homestyle dishes. If you are looking for sashimi or sushi, please go elsewhere. I've been going to this restaurant since 2005. Their food is very consistent in quality and portion. However, they've downgraded certain dishes over the years. For example, they've reduced the appetizer portion of sashimi combo by substituting the prawn and lobster with cheaper items. APPETIZERS - Broiled mackerel is pretty good, have to add the lemon juice from the wedge and a little bit of either soy sauce or salt to season it. The Chicken karage is one of the most delish I've had. I wouldn't recommend the fried oysters, the breading is way too thick so you can't really taste the oyster. The veggie salad is what they give you in some of the combo meal sets expect a in bigger portion. This salad is overpriced, better deal to get a combo that comes with a small salad. RAMEN - Temari's ramen is just so-so. The broth is very watery and the ramen noodles are instant noodles. They have 4 diff flavor ramens, I prefer the chasu out of the 4. The meat is hard and tasteless, not tender. Bottom line, don't get it unless you are craving for some sort of ramen. FAVORITES - My favs are katsu curry rice, sashimi combo with the chicken karaage, and sashimi combo with broiled mackerel. I order the katsu curry rice with chicken katsu instead of the pork ($1 extra), then I tell them to put the chicken on the other side of the rice, so its not soaked in the curry and the breading will retain its crispiness. The sashimi combo lunch deals and dinner deals are exactly the same. Better to get lunch because its cheaper. With the sashimi combos, you get little jap appetizers (they used to have small pawn and lobster dishes). The sashimi portion includes, tuna, salmon, yellow tail, and flounder. You can pick the main entree you like, I usually pick the karaage or mackerel, but they have other options as well. Overall, this is a homey little restaurant on the pike. I've enjoyed eating here over the years, its nothing fancy, but pretty authentic. If you are looking for Japanese homestyle food, this will def do the trick.

    (3)

  • Christine P.

    Will not be coming back to this place ever again. Was turned away because we had a stroller. I've seen dozens of strollers in there before. They lost a customer - handled very badly.

    (1)

  • Laura H.

    Delicious and authentic (I lived in Japan for over a decade) and super-cheap! This place fills up fast, so try to come for a late or early lunch or dinner. Weekends can be tough for dinner because of the crowds. Sometimes the daytime service is a little lacking, but even with the big crowds, I've found the dinner service to be quite polite.

    (4)

  • Patrick S.

    excellent Tonkotsu Ramen, also had the Tonkatsu appetizer, have to get that over Curry next time

    (5)

  • Monk E. R.

    Temari Cafe should be on every Japanese expat's to-do list. This is about as Japanese as it gets. Tiny place with a handful of tables that fills up fast during lunch so get there early. The sushi is only there because it has to be. The focus here is on what you'd find at a Japanese cafe that isn't sushi: Japanese curry (not hot like Indian, or cilantro-centric like Thai), pork cutlets, ramen. Came at 11:30 on a Saturday and the place was packed by noon. The crowd is a mix of older Japanese ladies, guys with Japanese girlfriends, younger Japanese couples with their little kids, old Japanese guys reading their Japanese papers over onigiri and Sapporo. The daily specials are in Japanese and I don't recall hearing a word of English except from the waitress. The waitress brought some rice crackers and peanuts with my Asahi. Nice touch. I had the tongkatsu ramen; the cutlet was fried perfectly, the broth was clear and tasty, with the requisite droplets of fat rolling on the surface. Decorated with kombu, fish cake, sprouts, and hardboiled egg, it's a substantial meal for $10. You may be able to get a tastier bowl at Joe's Noodle up the street, but it isn't really the same somehow. Looking forward to trying the grilled mackerel. Like most eateries, the prices are starting to creep up, but if you want an authentic Japanese cafe experience, you can't do much better than Temari Cafe. Stop by the Japanese grocer upstairs and pickup some brewed-in-Japan Asahi forties. Tastes far better than the rebranded Moosehead they import from Canada.

    (4)

  • Ruwei W.

    One Japanese friend mentioned it's pretty authentic Japanese food. Love their appetizers. Definitely will go back to try other dishes.

    (4)

  • George S.

    Yum. Yum Yum? Yum, yum yum. Yum, yummity yummness, yum and yum-yum. YUM! Yumazing.

    (5)

  • Jesse L.

    the atmosphere is very laid back and cozy and the staff seem very friendly. i got the miso ramen, my gf got the tonkatsu and we both shared takoyaki. i'm not an expert on japanese food, but i imagine they hit pretty close to home. the ramen was very good--had lots of flavor and plated very beautifully. the tonkatsu tasted slightly better than what i'm use to--i usually eat it at korean supermarkets (lotte, h-mart). I wasn't a fan of the takoyaki but my gf seemed to enjoy it. overall, a very nice dining experience for a reasonable price.

    (4)

  • Monkee C.

    I haven't had good Japanese homestyle since I left San Diego, so I was excited to try Temari. Happily, my hopes were not dashed, but with one reservation. Everything I tried was definitely in the top of its class, from the karage and shumai to the (big) bowl of chashu ramen. The sig-o's chicken katsu was great as well. Food easy 4 to 5 out of 5. Service was very good too, our waitress was super nice and attentive, complete with the extended "thank yooouuuuu" that is a hallmark of all my favorite Japanese homestyle joints (seriously!). 4/5 Only ding is on the price, which was 1/3 to a 1/2 more than the joints I used to go to. Food at Temari was actually probably better, but not 1/3 to 1/2 better. Still, worth the trip, but don't expect Walmart or even Target pricing. Also it's small inside, so be prepared for a wait at high traffic times.

    (4)

  • Aaron S.

    I have been to Temari 3 different times over the past 2 weeks. I have gone there twice for lunch and once for dinner. Everyone I have gone with seems to have enjoyed their meal, but I will be providing reviews of what I ate. I think this is more of a 3.5, but the service moved it down to a 3. I originally had this as a 4. Atmosphere: Small restaurant that always has japanese tv playing (I believe the same couple of shows). Also, the server never seems to be too happy with taking our orders. It seems like half the menu is on the wall in various places. It is priced between $10 - 20 for entrees for dinner and lunch. Appetizers: 1) Takoyaki - 4 fried balls that have dough and potato that surrounds a piece of octopus. There are bonito flakes on the top of the dish. Also comes with some ginger. Pros: Light, delicious. This may be their best dish. Octopus is tender and tastes great. 2) Tonkatsu - fried pork. About 6 pieces with hot Tonkatsu sauce (tastes similar to Bull Dog). Pros: pork is very light and not strong pork flavor Cons: pork was rather tough. Do not know if it is the quality of the pork or if they fried it and it drived out. 3) crab shumai - steamed crab shumai. About 5 pieces. Pros: light and the initial flavor is great. Cons: very fishy after taste and did not come with any sauce. 4) Chicken livers - bowl of livers in soy based sauce Pros: the livers are very tender, I have never had them this way. Cons: I have had a lot of liver before. This is not one of my favorite preparations. I did not finish this dish. 5) spicy tuna roll - rather small 6 piece sushi This is relatively cheap, but it is very mediocre. I would not get this again. 6) salmon roll - the salmon was nice and fatty and had a nice flavor to it. 7) miso soup - this was an above-average miso soup 8) green salad - this was a below-average salad Main courses: 1) Katsu curry - big plate of rice with fried pork, covered in curry sauce. I mixed it together. Pros: the curry had a nice flavor. The pork could be more tender 2) soy sauce ramen - big bowl of soup that has a couple slices of egg, fish cake, noodles, and pork. This is very different then sakuramen (and not as good). Pros: the broth had nice flavor and the noodles were nice. the fish cakes and egg were nice. it was very filling. Cons: the pork wasn't the greatest. 3) Tekka Donburi - tuna on rice, comes with miso soup and salad This was a solid tekka donburi. it was not the best (I have had fresher tuna), but it wasn't terrible. For $19 (which comes with salad and miso), I would get it again.

    (3)

  • Peter T.

    Nice variety of Japanese dishes feature on the menu of this cute little place tucked away in a Rockville strip mall. In addition to the ubiquitous sushi, you can also try ramen, don buri, omu rice, and curry. I had the ramen and was reasonably impressed. Not as good as at dedicated ramen places, but very respectable. (But no gyoza on the menu?) I also enjoyed sitting at the lunch counter and watching the Japanese TV programs. I'll definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Debby T.

    I finally tried Temari last night...I'm half Japanese and I felt like I walked into a restaurant in Tokyo. Upon entering the restaurant, one of the cooks was standing outside and I loved how he greeted us "irashaimase." Cute place, great selection, though, it would be perfect if they offered more sushi. But this place is as authentic as it gets. Love!

    (4)

  • Kristin L.

    I am no ramen expert. I was introduced to it by a Fat German I was dating a little over a year ago, who spent some time in Japan and thoroughly immersed himself in the culture. HE is the ramen aficionado. I am merely a fan of the stuff. I don't know what stage the moon needs to be in for the perfect noodle or broth to be achieved, just that when they are both present, along with all the other floaties in the swimming pool of salty, noodly goodness, it is a semi-spiritual experience. Finding ramen in the DC region has proven far more difficult than the stone's throw frequency of NYC, but thanks to a couple of buddies on Facebook's DC Foodies page, I am now a fan of Temari. Temari is your typical ramen shop. No frills, handwritten signs posted about with the specials, kindly spelled out in English too, a narrow, dining area. Even on a Monday night, and a little late for dinner (around 8:30), we had to take the last table, closest to the door, to get seats. Because I am a fan of authenticity in my international cuisine, I was very happy to see more than 80% of the clientele were Japanese. They had several sakes and beers to choose from, as well as other dishes and a small sushi list - I suppose for those silly enough to come to a ramen shop for something OTHER than ramen. I ordered the Tonkatsu, my boyfriend the Soy Sauce broth. Scrum-diddly-umptious my Yelp friends... Aromatic, the perfect temperature, the perfect amount of fishcake/fatty pork/julienned ginger/sprout/seaweed/noodle ratio. The broth was not too salty, nor too watery. I swear I felt like Goldilocks. My boyfriend was also very happy with the soy sauce bowl - he had never had anything beyond Oodles of Noodles before, so he entered into this with a hint of hesitation for the big deal I was making over finding a ramen shop. He has been converted to the power of the ramen bowl. I am VERY excited to find ramen around here. This will become my winter hang-out when the weather turns. I'm only giving 4 stars because for me, 5 stars has to be perfection. It's more like 4 1/2 stars for me.

    (4)

  • Pinki P.

    I love this place, especially when there is no wait! The restaurant is pretty small so it can fill up pretty quickly. The food is good and the people that work there are actually Japanese so you know it will be authentic. The service is always excellent. I enjoy eating the ramen the most.

    (4)

  • Eujin P.

    Quick down & dirty. (maybe not so quick, since i tend to write a lot...) Hidden away gem in a quiet shopping center on rockville pike. Closed on Tuesdays, so make sure you don't come here then! :) Expensive for maryland, justified for good japanese food. If this resto was in NYC, prob would get 3 stars, but everything is relative based on location, so 4 stars it is! Here are some quick picks: 1) Wafu Hamburger - if you are in for something with meat, cheese & ketchup, then this is it! Extremely tasty & ginormous for japanese resto standards 2) Kaki Fry - appetizer version & bento version. These fried oysters are actually quite large & have just the right amount of crispy fried batter to be dipped into their tonkatsu sauce. 3) Curry Katsu - legit japanese curry with fried cutlet. 4) Donburi (over rice) is always a good choice. My personal face is definitely the Oyako (Chicken/Egg) Donburi. Healthy portion, so you won't feel the need to hit up mickey d's after! 5) Omurice - I always feel bad getting this since essentially it's egg wrapped around fried rice. But, this Omurice is AMAZING! Definitely worth getting.

    (4)

  • Spammich P.

    Ambience: It's a small cafe' like atmosphere. There are the regulars, which you'll see right away, and there are the newbies, who will take 15 minutes to figure out what to order. It's a good thing that the menu isn't so extensive. The atmosphere is chill. It has a bit of that distinctive Japanese feel to it, if you've ever been to Japan, and the service is very good. It's not a place to bring a high-class date, but if you wanna bring someone just to relax a bit, and chat - its perfect. The moment you enter, the staff may yell the token - "Welcome" at you, which is refreshing. So, don't run away - its just a way of them welcoming you to the restaurant. The tables are petite, like most Japanese style restaurants/ cafe's on the side streets heading toward train stations in Japan. It's a little getaway, tucked in the corner of Rockville pike. Food: The food is decent. You get what you pay for. I have to say, it's a little pricey, but there really aren't too many Japanese style cafe's to hang out in. There are no dishes on the menu that are extremely difficult to make yourself. In fact, you could probably make these dishes at home yourself for half the price, but - I go to Temari to "get away". The servings are favorable, depending on what you order. If you're trying Japanese food for the first time and want something "exotic" this IS NOT the place to go. Still, if you just want to give this place a try, ask for Toro Sashimi. Yes, it's raw fatty tuna (Hey, you wanted to try something different, right? Don't wuss out, now. Go big or go home, right?) Anyway, Toro Sashimi is probably the most "EXOTIC" thing they have on their menu, but there are far better places to order that caliber of sashimi around DC or Baltimore. If you're looking for something different to drink, ask if they have "Chu-Hi". It's an alcoholic beverage that I used to get trashed with in High school back in Japan - way back - in - da - days. It's a sweet semi-carbonated alcoholic beverage that has about twice the alcohol of most beers (at least, the "authentic" ones in Japan had anywhere between 3 - 6%). Chu-Hi comes in several different flavors; Peach or Melon are my favorites. Let me put it this way, suck on a peach jolly rancher. There, that's about how peach Chu-Hi tastes. Back in the 90's Chu-Hi's were about 250 Yen, which was equivalent to about $1.75. Now, it would be about $500.00 based on today's economy. jk. You won't know if they have it available, because it will be written on the wall in Kanji. You need to know the secret Ninja Hand-Shake before they'll give it to you. Just kidding. All you have to do is ask the server. Service: The service, like most Americanized Japanese restaurants, is pretty decent. They won't be running to your table to take your order, nor will they be stopping traffic to help you get out of your parking space, but they will take your order and have your food out in a timely manner. At most, there are two servers, and one behind the counter. Based on the size of the cafe' and how busy it gets, you may end up waiting a little longer than usual to have your food served, than in most other cafe's of that size. Overall: This is a chill, relaxed, and chatty cafe' during peak hours. It's a great place to bring a friend, or a second or third date, if you don't want to seem too overbearing. The menu is not complex, and the dishes are not complicated at all. It's a simple cafe' and a simple atmosphere. As far as taste goes, there is much to be desired, but there are a few dishes that stand out. When it comes to Asian cuisine, I can be a bit harsh, but just keepin' it real! This place is worth a try, at least once for those who want a piece of something different from the norm. You may really love it; you may say - "not bad", but I guarantee you won't hate it.

    (3)

  • Sean Y.

    Best and most authentic Japanese food in the DC metro area. I'm from the Bay Area and I know good and authentic Japanese food. I've lived in DC for two years in search of good Japanese food and was sorely let down by trendy, expensive fake-sushi making restaurants (CA rolls are not real Japanese food!) Temari Cafe had fantastic home-made curry and also had my beloved takoyaki! The katsu was pretty good. The ramen was just ok. I would highly recommend the curry. It tasted very flavorful and very authentic. The cafe gets very crowded and isn't very big. It seems to run by an older Japanese couple that are very adorable in the grandma/grandpa sort of way. Service is a little slow, but it's because they're so busy. I would highly recommend Temari Cafe! It is a treasure trove in this sea of CA and Philadelphia roll-making overly-priced pseudo Japanese restaurants in DC.

    (5)

  • Maria L.

    Home away from home! A bit pricey for "soul-food", but if you miss Ma, and want some authentic, home-cookin' Japanese food, this is the place to go. I have seriously never found anything like it in NYC or DC! Japanese curry, onigiri, katsudon, tsukemono-- the ketchup omelet rice! Yummm!! This is the real deal!

    (5)

  • An T.

    First off, small tiny places that have limited seating and no rough wait-time drives me NUTS. We are NOT in New York City. This place is TINY. I made the mistake of trying to bring my family here on a Sunday evening, and we ended up leaving, because we were literally standing there waiting for people to finish their meals. But interestingly enough, parking isn't a problem. The whole plaza has a giant parking lot. The miso ramen was okay to me. It was nice because you can't really find ramen at too many places in the area, but it was nothing special. I'd prefer Satsuma's (Bethesda) over the ramen at Temari. We also tried the Wafu Hamburg Steak, and while filling, I didn't really find it worth raving about. Service is great when the place is empty, but when it gets busy, don't count on a refill for your water. All in all, a very "meh" experience.

    (3)

  • Robert W.

    I was introduced to this place about 2 years ago by a friend. Although I live in Baltimore, I'll make a trip down just to eat the curry. I have limited experiences with Japanese curry and find that Temari does a great job. I also love the spicy tuna donburri. I agree that the "menu" is unorthodox, but I guess you just need to be a regular. A must try.

    (5)

  • Don A.

    I Love This Place! If You Are Looking For Actual Japanese Food, This Is The Place. It's A Little Small And Has Weird Hours But The Wait Is Totally Worth It!! If You Go Get The Katsu Curry & Sushi. Plus While You Wait There's A Japanese Cooking Show Playing That Will Draw You In A Trance.

    (5)

  • Maria M.

    It's a very nice place. A little expensive, but I mean, no more expensive than a typical japanese restaurant. It's pretty cozy. The servers are welcoming but not overly "up in your space" type of people, so it's a good place to catch up with friends or colleagues. I ordered the ramen (i think it's called tonkotsu) which was delicious. Don't get this one if you're a meat-eater though, because it only had 2 pieces of pork - which is the norm in most places. But it wasn't too salty which was great and the noodles were soft without being mushy. My friend ordered this sushi rice dish with raw tuna and avocado. That was also really good. The tuna was fresh so that's always a plus. Bottom line: a great little place =)

    (4)

  • Cat W.

    AMAZING!!! Service is very polite and super friendly (as Japanese people usually are), food is delicious and super authentic. I come here almost every week. In terms of sushi, there isn't a big selection. They have simple rolls like salmon or yellowtail, but what they specialize in is their Japanese food. I have seen people get cool rolls... but they are real Japanese people who probably know how to order off menu... I need to work on that. They do have sashimi as well, which is always VERY fresh and delicious (especially the fatty tuna!). I get the sashimi combo as an appetizer which has tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and maybe one more but I don't remember, but the fish is cut well and you can tell it wasn't frozen. My personal favorites are the Katsu Curry (fried pork with rice and curry), Saba Shioyaki (grilled mackerel), and Omu rice (fried rice in a sweet egg omelet). The great thing is that most of the entrees come with a lot of stuff. The mackerel for example comes with a salad, a dish of tofu, and miso soup. They also have combo sets like sashimi/fried oysters, sashimi/grilled mackerel, sashimi/chicken teriyaki, etc, and these all come with an assortment of tiny dishes that are so delectable you wish there was more... but then it's ok when there isn't because everything else is so amazing too. Oh, and, my sisters ALWAYS get the ramen when they come. I'm not the biggest fan of ramen, but theirs is pretty darn good, and comes in a huuuge bowl with lots of stuff in it! Last time, I tried the green tea daifuku (?) mochi, I don't remember the exact name but it's one of the specials on the wall, and it was the most interesting thing I've ever had there. It wasn't like typical mochi, it was in small cubes with toothpicks and in a brown sauce. I asked my friend and she said that particular kind is made with a different type of rice flour and is more expensive. Anyway, it was great, and I went back another time at 9:00 (they close at 9:30) just to get that for dessert :) The food is always very, surprisingly fast, and the waitresses are all so so gracious and happy. Love this place! P.S. if you have to wait for a table on a weekend night (which you might, it's small) go up the stairs on the side of the building and go into the first store. It's called Maruichi and it's a little Japanese grocery store and it's awesome ^_^

    (5)

  • Johnson H.

    This is another well overdue review.Temari is a small restaurant conveniently located in the middle of Rockville easily accessible from Rockville Pike (MD355). I go here when the craving for Katsu curry hits me hard.They do have ramen & sushi here folks but, be warned it isn't the best I've had in the area or the best items on the menu. I solely go here for katsu curry and I hear the wafu-hamburger is good too but I have yet to try it, next time I will. Maybe. It's so hard to be there and not order the katsu curry THO!! The cafe is small so I wouldn't recommend bringing any more than a party of 4. Service has been okay for the most part for the few times I've been. Price isn't cheap for dining out in this area but, it isn't expensive for being Japanese food in this area. AND yes it isn't like what one can find in NYC or SF but for this area it's pretty darn good..

    (3)

  • Henry M.

    The cooking shows on the TV behind the sushi bar are a hoot. The lunch specials, e.g. katsu (fried pork) and sashimi, are so much better than the ubiquitous bento boxes that one finds at other Japanese restaurants. The appetizers make you hope that the other people in your lunch party don't want their's, so that you can eat them! Sample the oshinko: balls of warm rice with bonito, ume (salty/sour plum) filling (there's another flavor that I don't remember right now), and wrapped with nori. Tasty! If you want a bowl of hot sushi-style rice with topping of your choice, you can't go wrong with a donburi. Just like I imagine mama would have made if she were Japanese.

    (5)

  • Daniel S.

    I found this place after searching for local sushi on Yelp. The name containing "Japanese Cafe" should have been my first clue that sushi was not their forte. The first half of their menu consists of a double sided piece of laminated paper, and it's not crowded by any means. The second half of their menu consists of various pieces of paper and white boards scattered around the place. Apparently you are supposed to read them all on your way to the table - the waitress even brought one of the white boards to me when I asked about sushi options. My nigiri sushi rice fell apart on almost every piece when I picked them up, a clear sign of an amateur sushi chef. Also my salmon was not properly cleaned as it still had some skin and some brownish areas on it. My wife's chicken dish was nothing more than chicken with rice, with the chicken being lightly battered and deep fried to hell and back. I say hell and back because the chicken had no flavor and was dry in some parts. The place was packed, and mostly with Asian people, so perhaps they knew something we didn't which is why I am giving this place 2 stars instead of 1. One thing is for sure, my wife and I will never go back to this place again.

    (2)

  • Nicky R.

    This is a great place! So far, but so good! Great melon soda! Great karei katsu ! The place is usually packed, hard to find a seat on the weekend. Hospitable service. Cute little lunch counter to perch on and watch the ever-present Japanese game shows shown on the cafe's TV screen. Itadakimasu!

    (5)

  • Mark G.

    I've been trying out new places trying to find the "real deal" and this is another place that comes close. Coming from a military family, I've been overseas and Temari's food tastes almost exactly what you would find on the streets on Japan. I only had their ramen and the ume rice ball and I have to say that I prefer this over the ramen at Satsuma in bethesda. Not too excited about the ume though, there wasn't even enough ume to taste. My only complaint about this restaurant is like what everyone said it's tiny and gets packed easily. I came with a group of 5 and had to wait for a very long time for a table. Even though we came first, they wanted to seat the people with only 2 people first beacuse they have a very limited space and can only accomidate tables that seat 2 people. Still find it very rude though to let at least 4 groups be seated before we were finally given a table. And another thing, their portions are very small. So if you're starving like my friend was, I suggest you find another place because she ended up ordering a lot to sattisfy her hunger and her bill came up to over $36 just for her. but over all, I think I'd like to come back when they're not busy and try out the fried dishes and sushi.

    (4)

  • James P.

    Good Ramen with variety of Japanese dishes you don't find in most Japanese restaurants. Little overpriced, but worth it.

    (4)

  • Mary K.

    Yum this place needs to be closer to Silver Spring...or maybe its good for my wallet that it isn't. Was recommended this place through my partner's friend. Since I don't have a car around these parts, my partner had to drive me to this place, I'm glad that we made it even if we got lost and eventually backtracked. The restaurant cafe is pretty small, but definitely worth the wait if you can sit in. My partner ordered the Ramen and I ordered Eel and we split the Sashmi and Mackerel Combo (by split, i mean my partner ate half the sashimi and the whole mackerel minus a few bites) The food was sooo good. My partner doesn't like eating raw fish...he's one of those people who are hesitant about trying new foods,and is the type to say "I've tried it before, I didn't like it...", but he actually loved it. I did too, the pieces were substantial and fish was fresh. The combo even came with some appetizers to compliment. There is a good mix of folks who come in, saw a couple of families. You can still manage to have a private conversation despite the tables being close together. Would definitely come here again, if I can manage a ride.

    (5)

  • Maria C.

    Authentic Japanese food with Japanese ownership and lots of Japanese patrons! This place serves more than just sushi ~ unagi don (eel over rice), tako yaki (fried squid balls that are crunchy on the outside but tender on the inside), ommelette rice, curry, etc... I've tried almost all of their ramen (soy, chasuu, miso, tonkotsu) and they are all very good. The prices are on par with other Japanese places but I come back for the variety, good atmosphere, and good customer service. This place is always bustling but they know the importance of customer retention and so I'll definitely be back for more :)

    (5)

  • Trevor M.

    Rockville's answer to little Tokyo. There's only a few real Japanese restaurants in Maryland. Most of them are fusion or Chinese, Taiwanese, or Korean owned. Most display their food as if to say, "Hey, we know a few Japanese words" ...Sushi, Sony, and Toyota just doesn't cut it. They're Japanese and proud of it. After so many have come and gone...they're still here on the bottom right hand corner of a small strip mall. Unassuming and polite...their food and their respect is still Japanese. Atmosphere: It's not pretty...It's not Tampopo or any idealized notion of Nobu or Morimotos. It's a typical Japanese strip mall restaurant. It has a bar and tables. Get past that and eat. Food: Japanese comfort food. Katsu curry, Udon, Ramen, and donburris. At it's core...it's just trying to be a taste of home. At it's most generic base. Japanese beer and sake with menus in English and Japanese. The locals...are visiting japanese students, business men, and scientists at NIH. Price: low to medium pricing...nothing is over priced. Staff/Service: (Bias...here...sorry, they're my homies) It's being in Japan...respect, friendly service, and nice. Bottom line: When I want a taste of Tokyo and I don't want to cook at home...I come here. Why only 3 stars...well, they haven't updated their menu much. Apart from daily sushi/sashimi specials (which are great)I feel like they are missing out on some basic, traditional and maybe iconic tastes of home. Yaki Soba, Takoyaki, Nato...I could go on, but I won't out of respect. They concentrate on certain dishes and they are consistently excellent at it. Here's to a taste of home...and like home...you can't always get what you want...but, at least you get what you need.

    (3)

  • Roll T.

    2.75 stars. I think the higher rating at Temari might be the product of outdated reviews and a previous lack of quality Japanese culinary options in the greater DC area. With the advent of Kushi, Temari's charm has been stripped down to its laid-back, home-like feel and friendly waitstaff. The fried eggplant appetizer was served intentionally cold and without breading. The flavors reminded me of Japan in a pleasant way. However, the price point ($4.50) for five slices of eggplant was a bit obnoxious. The renowned omigiri was a disappointment. Modestly stuffed with salmon, the seaweed and rice concoction simply lacked the flavor and freshness I generally expect out of this dish. On the other hand, the miso soup was nice and flavorful here. I would strongly suggest adding it to your order if you haven't ordered a dinner option that includes it. We were unimpressed with the sashimi. The fish lacked the firmness that i generally associate with great sushi. Furthermore, the cuts themselves weren't properly shaped. I would avoid sushi options here. I did like their tonkatsu although the accompanying sauce was a bit overwhelming. If you go here, the fried pork dishes are probably the best options on the menu. Overall, I wouldn't go out of my way to go here, but it might be okay if you are having an authentic Japanese food fix and you don't want to travel down to DC.

    (3)

  • Shine S.

    I like this quaint place. Prices are a little high. Sushi here is pretty good. I like the fact that they do have a variety of stuff. I'm noting the rolls here are a tad on the smaller side but the fish taste better than most other places I have gone. I do like the karage there. presentation for the food is on par. When I was in MD, this place was pretty good for sushi, but, guess I' becoming a sushi snob after moving out closer to the ocean

    (4)

  • Ann T.

    This place was ok, but I'm not really a fan for the following reasons - 1) logistics - why, oh why do you post specials on pieces of paper around the restaurant and not have a specials list that you can simply HAND to the customer? 2) the food was a bit bland 3) not a lot of offerings for sushi, which was why we wanted to go there in the first place. 4) small portions Be aware - limited parking, not a lot of seating. We came on a Sunday afternoon at 5pm so it wasn't busy at all, but I would hate to come here on a packed night. I felt uncomfortable walking around the restaurant when there wasn't anyone there. I can only imagine what it's like when it's busy. Ambiance? Really chill. We came in with our pool-side wear.

    (2)

  • Janice V.

    ramen is a bit pricy in my opinion. i like it, i have been coming here since i was 9, and 10 years later i still come back, see the place hasnt changed much except that they took out the comic books i used to look through. The bowl serving size hasnt changed. well isnt of getting ramen the last monday i came here, i got app mackerel which was small but good, gray color fish with bones, eek! then i also got edamame which were good but served sparingly, i might not come back again. this is more of a 3.5 rating.

    (4)

  • S C.

    Great place with a traditional hometyle japanese menu. Tonkatsu was prepared like we make it at home. Ramen is a good portion served with sliced egg, fish cake, bean sprouts, seaweed, and sliced pork. The tuna sashimi app was good quality.

    (5)

  • Hyo Seok C.

    The only restaurant you can have real japanese home style dishes in DMV area. The place is small and employees are not enough but worth it.

    (5)

  • Jeff S.

    This is one of my favorite places to eat in Rockville. It's a small, authentic Japanese cafe, serving Japanese cafe food and sushi. Everything on the menu is great. The Chicken Katsu is to die for! In fact, the Katsu I had in Japan didn't even measure up to Temari's Katsu. The Donburi (rice bowl) is to die for as well, especialy the Gyudon. My wife's favorite is the Curry Rice. I don't think I've ever had anything from Temari that I didn't love. The Sushi is great too. Oh, and definitely try the deserts. I particularly like the shaved ice with strawberry milk flavoring. Everything is authentic. The establishment is owned and run by Japanese people, so you're getting real Japanese food. There's always a TV on in the corner playing Japanese cooking shows. They're really funny to watch, and even better now that they're showing subtitled versions and I can understand them more. Another cool feature is that they have a bookcase of manga (Japanese comics), most of it in the original Japanese. There's nothing quite like brushing up on your Kanji by reading Super Mario World manga from the 1990's or Doctor Slump, all the while eating delicious Japanese cafe food!

    (5)

  • Ben Y.

    They have pretty good food. I would give 3.5 stars if I could. The Age Dashi Tofu appetizer was really good. The Cha-siu ramen was pretty good (note its not the chinese kind of cha-siu). My wife thought it was lacking something taste wise but not quite sure what. But the noodles were excellent and the fish cakes in the broth were nice. AND NO MSG! Plenty of seaweed in the broth for umami. The Katsu with curry on rice was tasty. It reminded me alot of the portugese style rice dishes at Maria's bakery flavor wise. There are alot of people waiting to eat here. There was a line when we arrived there and there was a line the whole time we were eating. This was after 1PM on Sat. I can see why people complain about the service as getting a spot in the line was controlled chaos, but we did get served. I felt that once we were actually seated that service was fine. Parking is easy as it is in a strip mall. They take credit cards, though I don't know which ones as I paid cash. We were almost $45 with tip for 2 people. That strikes me as a touch on the high side for lunch, which is probably why I am not going 4-stars.

    (3)

  • Danielle F.

    Decent ramen. Not worth a drive out to the suburbs though considering the existence of Ren's Ramen, which is at least twice as good.

    (3)

  • Nami W.

    My favorite restaurant in Rockville. It's a cute and homey place. Love the sashimi combo (for lunch, the price is very reasonable, compared to many other Japanese restaurants). They just added (Japanese-style hot pot) onto their menu, on a cold winter night, that is to die for...

    (5)

  • j f.

    My favorite place to eat in Rockville. Casual atmosphere, friendly staff, happy customers and good food. I come here specifically for the ramen but I haven't tried anything I haven't liked. You can't beat a big bowl bowl of fresh, hot ramen on a cold winter/fall day.

    (4)

  • N A.

    I'll start off by saying that I don't live on the east or west coast, so for those of you that are fortunate enough to have a large selection of Japanese restaurants near you, your opinion may differ. For me however, the Temari experience was great. I was greeted by friendly smiles as soon as I walked in the door, which seems to be sort of rare around here. Others writing reviews on Temari are spot-on about the feel of the place. The decor reminds me of a mom and pop ramen shop that I used to go to many years ago in Japan. Everything about it felt familiar; from the menu items on the wall, the quiet older Japanese man behind the counter, to the plastic replicas of various dishes under glass up front. The food was great too. For me, it's been incredibly difficult to find gyudon. Temari has a great version of it. From the interaction of the customers with the staff, it seems Temari has a loyal following, and I can see why.

    (5)

  • Derryk A.

    I said it before so I'll say it again for those of you who didn't hear me the first time. I don't need no fancy Asian fusion fake name that has some contrived meaning like Ginsu knives. I don't need no fancy snooty dark decor with a bunch of models trying to look cute but bored profiling in all black with attitude to everybody that comes in the door. I don't need over priced modern Asian fusion east meets west concoctions. I just like good honest to goodness cuisine that will satisfy my hunger. I've been to many wonderful sushi restaurants right in Rockville but when I crave Japanese sometimes I want more than sushi, I want other types of Japanese food. Enter the Rockville Gorge Fest and a good way to sample places that I've been wanting to explore but have not been to. Temari is a tiny little space located in a rather unglamourous strip plaza on Rockville Pike with both a Japanese market and gift shop up the stairs along with other small businesses. Temari is like those places you know which ones I'm talking about those places where you find on the food network where someone like Anthony Bourdain visits in those far away tucked away places. Small family owned and authentic to that particular family. On this gorging day I had to limit my request so I could have plenty of room for more food from other places we were about to go to. I ordered the very fresh and buttery textured Tuna sashimi appetizer and the Ramen with fish cakes and ate it with these huge antique styled wooden dipping spoon ladles the type that you would use for a really big bucket. Along with the Sapporo beer I had they give you little soy nuts when you get your beer, nice touch. The Ramen was nicely seasoned not overly, very good noodles were well made and the broth had a pleasant tasting and filling and hot. It was also very hot outside I usually wouldn't order hot soup on a hot day but I made an exception for this case. I cannot elaborate much more than what Fenny who was the ring master of our group there that night, said in her review since she is so thorough in her synopsis. It is a nice little place nothing fancy only very good. So if you are expecting some ultra trendy new age fusion place stay away....as a matter of fact the lot of you stay away cause I want this little gem of a spot all to myself. It is only for those who truly enjoys these types of street food eating joints. I will most certainly return, big time.

    (4)

  • Yvonne L.

    My favorite japanese restaurant in the DC area! Its all the way in Rockville but I'd totally drive up almost an hour from Va to Temari. Its about $20 for a sashimi dinner special (which is a pretty good deal). In addition to the sashimi the dinner special also includes a cute appetizer sampler. *I cringe using the adjective CUTE in describing food but it is...* The appetizer is served in diminutive bowls and diminutive serving sizes. My favorite was the little mochi that was shaped into a persimmon with an actual persimmon sepal placed on it!

    (4)

  • Gavin F.

    We always come here when we're in the mood for good, classic Japanese food. We rarely have sushi here; not because it's bad, but it's not what we see as their strongest suit. Instead, we focus on the hot dishes that they do so well. We especially like their takoyaki, the curry (with or without tonkatsu), and donburi. Make sure to check the specials, too, because there are sometimes some good deals. It's fun to watch japanese TV during dinner, too.

    (4)

  • L L.

    This is my favorite cozy little japanese rest that I usually selfishly like to keep a secret =x There aren't a lot of good ramen places in the DC area and I don't really understand the Toki Underground hype because I personally didn't think Toki was that great. Temari is my go-to on a cold day with a craving for some good old ramen. I wish they had better sushi though, it doesn't seem very fresh there. This place is more of a place you go to for japanese comfort foods (ramen, omurice, donburi, tonkatsu, etc) rather than sushi though.

    (4)

  • Aesah L.

    I believe that my search for authentic Japanese food is finally over. Temari Cafe is a small restaurant with a decent amount of clutter, so get there early or be prepared to wait. We moseyed on in here for the ramen and we were not disappointed. Got the miso and char-siu ramen which were amazing. I will definitely be back for omuraisu which I have not had in years, and honestly, any restaurant that has that, isn't joking around. If you want some Japanese comfort food, Temari is the place to go.

    (5)

  • Arthur K.

    I have a knack for attempting to try out restaurants on their off days. It happened at Pazani (closed Mondays). And at Temari (closed Tuesdays). I returned on a cold rainy day, looking for a hot bowl of ramen. The store's tables were full when we got there so we had to sit at the sushi bar. On a prior recommendation, I had the soy sauce ramen. The noodles were good. They were fairly soft, but had just a bit of structure to them on the teeth. The broth was simple and comforting. My companion had the tonkotsu ("pork bone" - thanks brendan!) ramen. I am apparently a japanese food noob, so I expected tonkatsu (pork cutlet) somewhere on this dish. This wasn't the case. The soup was white (like sullongtang for those who know what that is). It was ok, but it wasn't as tasty as the soy sauce ramen. We had some salmon rolls. The quality of the fish was good. The waitresses were very friendly and attentive. I was afraid we'd be forgotten as we were the only people sitting at the sushi bar but this wasn't the case at all. Excellent service. I'm looking forward to coming back and trying their other offerings. 3 and 1/2 stars.

    (3)

  • Jason L.

    Good homestyle Japanese food with charming service. The place isn't all that big and like another reviewer said if you have more than 4 in your party things could get interesting. I haven't had Chicken Katsu this good since being in San Diego. The Tori no kara-age was also very good. I love their tonkatsu sauce and could eat this smothered on just about anything. Can't wait to come back. My only gripe is that they are bit pricey compared to other similar restaurants.

    (4)

  • Alice L.

    Great authentic Japanese food! The have all types of japanese food. I love this place and everything is really good. I love going there! They are closed between lunch and dinner though. They have japanese game shows on and gives it the perfect atmosphere. :)

    (5)

  • Ferdinand H.

    I would have expected more people to have reviewed Temari by now. KissaTemari is a favourite of my brother and I. We've eaten at this place in rain and snow and scorching heat. While the experiences might vary from time to time -- the quality is consistently a 4. Sushi isn't the highlight here, though it's competent... Rather, as you step into the cozy, well lit, cafe-styled restaurant (complete with a shelf of Japanese manga, magazines, and books) you'll be treated to Japanese TV (all of cooking programs), you'll be greeted with a warm "Irrashaimase!" and fragrances of cooked food from Japan. I still think it's a crying shame that more people don't enjoy and explore Japanese menu items outside of Sushi, Sashimi, Tempura and Ramen. There's really a LOT more. Take for instance the Gyu-don. Gyu (Beef) on top of a bowl of rice (Donburi) is typically simmered with onions and soy which yields a very tender gravy that seasons the bed of rice with a rich caramelized flavour. This is a home cooked style which is very appealing to me -- much more so then eating Yoshinoya (though I like that too.) Tori-no-kara-age, Korroke, Omu-Rice, Wafu Hamburger steak, Tonkatsu, Katsu-don, and other cooked delights are available for those those not of a hermetically sealed culinary mind. Moreover, you've got a number of seasonal desserts available -- including parfaits, Machi, Zenza -- and more. The Ramen is only okay. I still haven't found any satisfying Ramen in DC. They may be out there -- I just don't know about them yet. (If you do, let me know). So whether you come in the afternoon, or decide to relax in the evening with Japanese Beer or Sake (their selection is stolidly middle of the road; nothing too cheap, and nothing on the top flight) and japanese crackers-- whether you try out their bento selection, or order an array of rice-based dishes, it's clearly authentic Japanese cooking. Enjoy, my friends! 4- food, plus extra star for comfort, coziness and being nearly alone in the field in DC.

    (5)

  • Tony F.

    Quaint japanese cafe with the charm of Japanese home cooking! Appears to be family run. Both hot and cold dishes and usual sushi etc

    (4)

  • Abe L.

    One of the few authentic Japanese owned & run sushi/ramen spots in the md/va/dc area. This is my goto spot when craving japanese curry or fresh toro. Excellent service in quaint simple setting. I've been eating here regularly for the past 6 years and they consistently serve delicious food. A must try if you're in the Rockville area. Or even if you're out of the area.

    (5)

  • Patrick A.

    Supposedly this place has been here a long time. How did I never know? Only had the ramen and it was damn good. I'll be back!

    (4)

  • Neal Gone Daddy H.

    we went here for dinner one fateful night last year. the food was expensive and not that good. it's a cute place and the staff are friendly. but not friendly enough to compensate for overpriced and unremarkable food

    (2)

  • Angie S.

    Giving this 4 stars for the sushi here. We came for the ramen but were not able to try it because there are no non-pork broths on the menu. Disappointed but since we were already there we ordered sushi instead and it was good.

    (4)

  • Mukur H.

    So, after a crappy, kid filled time at Dave and Buster's we decided to stop by here for dinner on saturday night. We started with the tori kara-age, which had an interesting crust to say the least. I was hoping for the potato starch crust it is supposed to have. Anyways, I got an Asahi while the rest got water and coke. My Tonkatsu curry was very taste, and not skimpy what so ever!! Just what I expected. The Crab sushi was also apparently very good, my friend ate it up. The egg and fried rice dish was good, but didn't seem all that special. The tori kara-age entree was the same as the appetizer but with salad, soup and rice. For dessert I had the zenzai, which was a red bean paste soup with mochi. It was good, very unexpected, but I did finish it! The my friends ate up their doyaki and vanilla ice cream, while my fiance really enjoyed her green tea ice cream. Over all, they had good food, but not great. The service and the atmosphere pushed up the rating from a 3.5 to a 4.

    (4)

  • Emily P.

    Temari serves a hodgepodge of Japanese cuisine, from curry to sushi to ramen. My friend and I ordered sushi rolls and shumai as appetizer. I was disappointed that they didn't offer eel rolls! So we decided to get the salmon roll. That's my favorite type of roll, and I expected that to be a staple. The shumai was very good, but way too small---about the size of a quarter, I kid you not. Each of us got the ramen noodles. Mine was the miso ramen, which appeared appetizing. Upsets: way too salty, only 2 pieces of meat, 2 pieces of those pink swirly things (I think they are fish-based), and 1 sliver of egg. I liked that the serving was large, but since the broth was so salty, I couldn't finish it. The server was attentive and nice. So three stars are given for the variety offered and for the good service. But as far as the quality of food, given the price, I think I'd prefer to go somewhere else.

    (3)

  • Borya B.

    This will be my first review on Yelp after using it for so long. This restaurant is fantastic. The decor is simple yet welcoming, and the staff are very courteous, polite, and prompt. There is a real authentic Japanese feel to it, and the dishes we had were melt-in-your-mouth good. The shumai dumplings and the Japanese fried rice balls (forgot the name, embarassingly) are what make me want to come back. Next time, I'm trying the ramen, which is getting serious praise around here.

    (5)

  • Jack F.

    The only notes I have left from Temari is a torn-off piece of chopstick wrapper with the address of the restaurant on one side and "Temari" on the other. What a good note-taker I was back then. All I can say is forget about the sushi or the teriyaki. Go for menu dishes that you can't find at any other Japanese restaurant around town. This includes those rice balls (omu-rice) and the hamburg steak. [Last Visit: February 1, 2009]

    (4)

  • Alice K.

    Really love this place! Small area but pretty much a dive cafe. Owned and run by a Japanese family so you know it's authentic. There are signs on the walls for specials so check those out also! I love their tonkatsu and usually get that. Don't forget to get their takoyaki! Their sashimi dishes aren't very fresh since it's a smaller restaurant with less traffic. I'd stick to their other dishes. Very friendly staff.

    (4)

  • amanda b.

    Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh wow. I seriously think it may have been one of the best meals of my life. I ordered the mackerel. This is served with some delicate soft tofu with shaved bonito and some so-so miso soup. However, the real star is the mackerel itself. The texture was perfect. The skin was slightly crispy and just a little bit seared, while the rest literally melted in my mouth. Yes, I mean literally. It was literally so tender and juicy that it felt like it was melting in my mouth. I never wanted to eat anything else for the rest of my life to avoid sullying the experience. Boyfriend ordered the mackerel as well, and was equally ecstatic. Because he's the hungriest person alive, he also got a big ol' bowl of ramen. I've never been a big ramen fan, but he says it was excellent. The interior is no frills. There are some nods to Japanese decoration, but it's not exactly fancy. Oddly enough, there's a bookshelf of manga and Japanese newspapers for you to peruse over the meal. Temari seems popular with Japanese immigrants as well, judging by the clientele when we were there. If you're strictly vegetarian, there's not a lot for you. And be forewarned- Temari is closed on Tuesdays and in the middle of the afternoon. Rockville is insanely inconvenient for me from any point; nevertheless I'm devoting at least 15% of my working memory at any given moment trying to connive a way to get back to Temari ASAP.

    (5)

  • Yule K.

    Temari Japanese Cafe is located in a small storefront in a strip mall on Rockville Pike, typically jam packed with Japanese people. Although it serves sushi, this place seems to cater to those looking for home cooked, Japanese comfort food, like ramen, curry, miso soup, and various broiled fish dishes. Generally, I found the food to be well made...food that is probably as well prepared as you can find in your typical Japanese household. The stars, for me, were the broiled fish dishes. The broiled mackeral was fantastic...a slightly charred and crispy skin covering moist, mildly salted flesh. The broiled salmon looked great as well. The ramen was solid, if nothing to feel rapture about, but the fish was truly memorable.

    (4)

  • Carmen B.

    For more than three years, when my husband and I go to Temari we usually dine in. The service is great, the food is fresh and above all every dish we had so far taste awsome!

    (5)

  • Mike J.

    We enjoyed our experience here. While a bit expensive for a hole-in-the-wall place, everything tasted really good. We had deep-fried pork cutlet and the Japanese hamburger (with radish sauce). Both were very tender and tasty. The smelt was a mere 4 pcs. for $5--tasted good, but overpriced. The sushi was only average. A Russian couple next to us were raving how great the broiled salmon was, so we'll go back to try it! Definitely worth the experience!

    (4)

  • Brian L.

    Broiled Mackeral & Shogu Don FTW. I love this place. Love it. Its one of the few food places I miss from the entire MD&D/C area since moving to NYC.

    (5)

  • ap m.

    This review has been long overdue. The best place for nice Japanese dishes, very friendly customer service, and a relaxed cozy atmosphere. No negatives, all positives. I'm from the area, and I first discovered this place when I was in high school- a good 12++ years ago. It's right on Rockville Pike, busiest place to be. You would think just b/c of the location alone, a place can get good business from customers just being at the Pike. But you know what, there have been several restuarants who open up shop at the Pike and within just a couple of months have to shut down b/c what they're offering isn't what the people want. What the people want is Temari. I'm so glad to see this place still up and running and continuing to provide the great food that its known for. Check out the menu for their dishes, but don't disregard the menu offerings posted on their walls. I LOVE there Spicy Tuna donburi. Always good, always fresh. The ginger dressing that they use on their salads is to die for. I could eat that all day. Can't go in there without ordering shumai. Everyone is so friendly, and greets you, and they recognize their returning customers with friendly conversation. Love it.

    (5)

  • Jason L.

    This little enclave of a Japanese restaurant is what will set apart from your normal Japanese (sushi) restaurant all Americans know and love. When you first walk into the restaurant you will notice the tvs hanging off the ceiling corners playing Japanese game shows and such. Off to the left will be a book shelf full of Japanese mangas (comics). You really get a feel-good authentic Japanese atmosphere when you arrive. Next, comes the menu of Japanese food that really gets served on a more regular basis in Japan than sushi restaurants. Having been to Japan before, I have to say finding a sushi restaurant is not that easy. Only in the US, are sushi restaurants this plentiful. Back to the menu, I would say the best dish they have is the Katsu Curry Rice. Definitely worth the while. The Rice Omelet is good as well and having mochi ice cream for dessert is a nice treat. Overall based on atmosphere and the food, its worth the visit.

    (4)

  • Patrick H.

    ...so I LIKED Temari Japanese Cafe, but I was prepared to LOVE it... and... well... I didn't LOVE it. The Ramen noodles were good. Really good, but I can't seem to identify that quantifiable difference in this product that would send me into "bliss-ville", which, after reading many of the accounts of Temari, I was hoping for. Upon entering Temari, one is greated by the joyous smell of a rich curry, which is obviously a specialty here. I should have followed my nose and ordered some, but I'll save that for another trip. We started our meal with a green salad. Good salad. Much larger than your standard Japanese salad, and mixed with mesclun mix for a little interest. We shared an order of the shrimp shumai, which had a slightly fishy taste which I couldn't quite discern its intentionality. It was served with a small amount of the ultra pungent Japanese mustard! KAPOW! Love that stuff. ...and the Ramen. We had the Soy-Pork broth. Very tasty. The noodles were fresh and satisfying. The broth needed a little zip which was aided by a healthy shaking of the crushed pepper on the table and a small douse of soy sauce. The sliced pork was good as was the fish cake. There are many other items of interest here, so we will definitley go back. I am curious to try their Chirashi Sushi and they have a rice dish we spied at a nearby table that I would like to try. For noodle soup, though, Temari's ramen won't be replacing Pho in my heart, anytime soon.

    (3)

  • PC W.

    This was the first, last and only stop on my DMV Ramen Recon Tour since Temari seems to be the only place in the DC metro area to serve ramen. If this is as good as it gets, my search has been in vain. I do like that it's all Japanese comfort foods like rice balls, donburi, assorted appetizers, desserts and ramen. The broth choices weren't that innovative - soy sauce, miso, pork or salt & butter. I had the miso ramen for $9.95 and it was a disappointment. This isn't like what I've had in Tokyo or NYC. The only toppings were two thin slices of fish cake, half a hard-boiled egg, 3 unmarinated slices of pork, bean sprouts, scallions and two types of seaweed. The miso broth was standard - salty, cloudy. The noodles were too soft for my liking but there was a generous portion of that. In NYC, I can get a similarly-priced, if not slightly cheaper, bowl of ramen that is chock full of meats, seafood and veggies. For $9.95 you can't throw in a shrimp? C'mon now. I'm glad I made it out here but won't be going out of my way to return. And if I do return, I'm going for the donburi or the wafu burger.

    (2)

  • Chris N.

    Decent Japanese food but pass on the sushi.

    (4)

  • Vi K.

    This is probably the only "authentic" Japanese place around the area that I know of. The first time I ate here, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the people working there and the majority of the diners were actually Japanese. There is a bookshelf stacked with Japanese newspapers and manga, and I particularly love watching the Japanese shows in the corner of the bar. The place is small and cozy...it oozes "comfort" which is exactly the kind of food you're going to get here. This isn't a sushi joint but they do have a selection. The spicy tuna rolls are excellent! They've always been fresh and delicious every time I've ordered them. My favorites are their rice dishes. I've actually never had the ramen even though I always mean to. It just happens that every time I stop by, I always end up ordering some kind of rice dish. The Tonkatsu Curry is a favorite (I can't find Japanese curry anywhere else) and so is the Wafu Hamburg dish. Oh, and the Omurice! It's chicken fried rice encased in an egg omelet and drizzled with ketchup. It sounds a bit strange but it's fantastic! The wait staff have always been super friendly and sweet. I remember one time I was waiting for a take out order and the place was packed. One of the waitresses brought me a hot cup of green tea (it was freezing outside) and found a chair for me to sit in. She was busy and she didn't have to do all that for me but, it was so sweet of her to care even though I was only there for take out. Anyway, the bottom line is that it's a great place to eat...definitely a hidden treasure in my book.

    (5)

  • Will M.

    I love this place because it's the real deal!! I walk in the place and it smells of fresh fish and ramen broth. There are billboards in English and Japanese posted all over the walls with off the menu offerings. The service came with a smile, which was awesome. However the star of the show was the katsu curry!! I am a huge fan of Japanese style curry, ever since having it first during my travels in Japan. It is hard to find it in the states and I must say the curry here is on par with what's served in the land of the rising sun!

    (5)

  • Jennifer T.

    I went to Temari on a Sunday evening. This little restaurant was pretty full, even for the earlier dinner time so I took that as a good sign and had high hopes. While the food was good ... it really didn't strike me as anything special. I ended up splitting a bunch of dishes with others so I got to try the sashimi combo appetizer (it was listed on the wall not on the menu), the fried oyster appetizer, the cha-shu ramen, the hamburg steak, and the ginger pork rice dish - not bad for a single outing! The fried oysters were good but just about everything else I tried was lacking compared to a more specialized restaurant. The sashimi wasn't that fresh (you're much better off going to a good sushi restaurant for that), the ramen was so so (Ren's ramen beats it by far but that's out in Wheaton), the hamburg steak is good if you are craving that specific dish but if you've never tried it before - I don't know that I would recommend that dish over a lot of other dishes, and the ginger pork was slightly dry. Compared to other delicious food options around the area in or below this price range, I might call it closer to a 2.5 star but the waitresses were super sweet and it was a nice environment.

    (3)

  • Jeff C.

    There are Japanese restaurants, then there are Japanese restaurants that are truely authentic. Anybody can cut fish, do rolls and do bento boxes...besides selling eggrolls or Korean rice bowl. It's difficult to tell, except for some who know what really to expect from a truely Japanese place. When we moved here, we ate far and wide in search for authentic Japanese places. Temari is one of those few uncontaminated gems in the entire DC metropolitan area that is one of the true Japanese places. It is homestyled, so would be different from likes of new Sushi taro and Makoto. Upon entering, (if there is not a line), you are very politely invited by one of the servers to the seat. The manner that they treat you, is typical of the polite Japanese service that you rarely see here. Their menu is not extensive, but we enjoy the specials which gives you a good variety of side dishes and Sashimi. We also love their ramen. Their food is delicate, not overly flavored like many pseudo Japanese places. I go there about once a week and enjoy my food with the TV blasting Japanese food channel. The service is exceptional, and you'll find this tiny hole-in-the-wall place packed with Asians who grew up knowing what is Japanese, and what anybody else can make.

    (4)

  • Seiko H.

    Temari is a good place to go for some Japanese comfort foods. This is not a place for sushi(although they do have it, but nothing special) - they have tonkatsu, wafu hamburgers(this is one of my fav), omelette, ramen, ebi fry(fried shrimp), donburi's, onigiri...it's a trip to get here, but it is well worth the trip. I'm never disappointed when I come here except maybe when they run out of their hamburgers which seems to happen quite often. I'm also a fan of their wide dessert selection...they have western desserts with a Japanese twist(strawberry sundae with corn flakes), various red bean desserts, mochi ice cream, coffee jello & during the summer they have all kinds of shaved ice(green tea, strawberry, melon). I also love watching the DOCCHI RYORI shows they are always playing on their TV...very entertaining :) The only downside to this place is that sometimes the service can be slow when it's packed on the weekends.

    (4)

  • Su K.

    Next time I'm at my optometrist, the exam will go something like this: Eye Dr: Read the last line for me please... Me: R....a....m....e....n...( static.px.yelp.com/photo… ) I'm not sure if it's a Japanese thing, but everything at Temari was cute and little. The cafe is cute and little. The portions are cute and little. The waitresses are cute and little. The bill, however, is not so little. Food - Not only does the ramen spoon look like the thing they use at the optometrist, but the menu and specials are expansive and I felt as indecisive as the "1 or 2? 1 or 2? 2 or 3? 2 or 3? 3 or 4?" test the eye Dr. does. The salmon sashimi appetizer ($9.75, yelp.com/biz_photos/YFq_… ) came with 5 pieces - they were thick but tasted too fishy. The soy sauce ramen ($9.75, yelp.com/biz_photos/YFq_… ) was good but I expected more from my first non-Sapporo/Top/Nissin Ramen experience. My dining buddies ordered the avocado-tuna donburi ($15.25) - fresh sliced raw runa and avocado served over sushi rice, which looked AMAZING! The tuna slices were thick and they devoured the dish. Spicy Tuna donburi - was like a massive bowl of a spicy tuna without the seaweed. The spicy tuna rolls were also decent. Location - a quaint cafe. They seated our group of 8 with no problems on a Sunday afternoon. There's a sign on the door that states they will not seat you until your entire party has arrived. $15 minimum for credit cards. Located in Talbott Center, between Tablott St and W. Edmonston. Service - the waitresses are all cute and little. Very efficient and the free hot green tea was a nice touch. While the food I ordered this go around wasn't that great, my friends were happy, so I'd say this is definitely a place that's worth the trip to Rockville. Stick with the rice dishes (donburi) and you'll be a happy, cute and little camper.

    (4)

  • Anson P.

    Northern Virginia is definitely lacking in Japanese cuisine. It's on my "If I ever win the lottery and open up my restaurants" list. We started off with the fried oysters which were pretty tasty. The oysters were pretty big and had a nice crispy coating. The Wafu hamburg dish was suprisingly tasty. It looked simple enough with a hamburger patty, some mashed topping served on a skillet plate with stir fried bean sprouts and onions. The flavors really worked and I was a big fan of the stir fried vegetables. That combined with the rice was filling. The soy sauce ramen was a nice change of pace for all the pho that I eat. The broth had a nice saltiness that went well with the fish cake, pork, and egg. I would definitely like to try the other varieties of ramen though. We got a honeydew milk "snowball" to go and it was definitely refreshing. It was essentially shaved ice with some condensed milk and honeydew flavoring. A nice change of pace from bubble tea and bingsoo. The service was pretty good, especially for only having one waitress. The place is pretty small with maybe 6 or 7 tables in the entire place, as well as counter service. I really liked the fact that they had newspapers and manga to read while you wait. I will definitely be back if I'm in the area.

    (4)

  • Max T.

    My wife and I came here today to eat ramen thanks to a day off work and reviews from yelp. Ever since having Ramen Setagaya in NY, I've been hoping to find a local source. But this place came short of what i was yearning. To start we ordered a crab roll sushi thinking it would be real crab, should've known it was the imitation crab sticks. Still enjoyable with well seasoned sushi rice. For the ramen course I had ordered the Cha-shu ramen 10.75 and my wife ordered the tokotsu ramen 10.50. The tokotsu had the most flavor of the two. Both however had noodles that were a bit overcooked for our preference. All together it was an average meal, but still considering on coming back to try the sashimi and fried oyster combo. Hopefully the other items they have are worth the second trip. As for ramen, I'm banking on trying Ren's in bethesda.

    (3)

  • Flora R.

    This is a great little cafe to stop in for some traditional Japanese faire for lunch. Seating is limited but the service was attentive and our food was tasty and quick to come out. It is definitely a go-to option when I'm in the area.

    (4)

  • Victoria H.

    I went to college in Southern California, and as a Southern Californian resident where the Japanese population is significantly greater, I can attest to the fact that it is a plain tragedy that this is the best ramen that the area has to offer. Woe is me! I am guessing that what I feel here in Maryland, is how those native to Japan must feel in Southern California.... nostalgia, the knowledge and craving for what we know is better but unattainable. And so, such is life, we live and we make do with what we have, and here in Maryland what we have is Temari Japanese Cafe. The ramen is tasty, but the broth is not nearly as tasty, complex, or as rich as Santouka or Hakata Ramen in SoCal. The price of ramen from 9.75 to 10.50 (something like that) is significantly greater than in California, the lesser price of which would usually mean a large bowl and a side of rice. The prices are high, but I gotta say that it's totally worth it when it comes to the sashimi and broiled mackerel special of which I am a huge fan! It comes with sides, soup, rice, sashimi, mackerel. It is so delicious -- the mackerel is crispy, tender, and buttery. FYI: They do not accept credit card for charges under $15 and are closed on Tuesdays. They are open all day Sat and Sun but are closed for a period in the afternoon all other days.

    (4)

  • Sarah S.

    I've been here a couple times to find that I like it more the more times I go. It's a cute place with great service, but limited seating. It's not a good idea to roll up unexpected with a huge party. I wasn't totally impressed with the sushi, but I enjoyed the Donkatsu (deep fried pork cutlet) and Miso ramen. I've tried the Tonkatsu ramen too, but prefer the other. Oh my the ramen...it's pretty oily (not sure why) but very good! I've also tried the eel with rice but it wasn't anything special. I'm pretty sure you can buy the same eel in the frozen section of an Asian market. Also, if you're used to the mochi that has the chewy rice cake outside and red bean/ice cream inside, then don't look for that here. Their green tea mochi looks like hand-made jello cubes with dry powder coating and syrup on top. My friend enjoyed them, but not I. I withhold the 5th star because I didn't really like the sushi, but gave them the 4th star because they redeemed themselves with the ramen!

    (4)

  • Michael X.

    This place is good. We came for lunch twice. I had a Chirashi for 16.25, it came with miso soup and salad. There was plenty of fresh raw fish too in the bowl. Service was bit slow, but not bad; busy for s small place. Overall good place for quick relatively inexpensive Japanese food.

    (4)

  • Andrew K.

    This is a nice clean place with friendly servers. The food however, was only so so. Maybe I just have high standards after trying out so many great Japanese places in nyc but I thought the tonkatsu ramen didn't have much flavor and they don't give you enough ramen in the bowl. I also got the tonkatsu curry dish which was good but nothing to rave about. I guess if I lived here and this was the only place to get Japanese food, I'd come back but I've had better.

    (3)

  • Olivia L.

    I had a hard time finding this place. Look for the Talbott Center sign, which is on the right if you're going south or the left if you're going north. The first time, I went for the ramen (which I love!!) and was not disappointed. I had the tonkatsu ramen, and it was good enough so that I didn't feel like I had made a side trip for nothing. Two slices of boiled egg, two slices of imitation fish, and two (mildly tough and kinda fatty) pork, in a broth that may or may not be pork based (I can understand how some might think that it tastes like chicken stock + cream, but I thought it was good anyway and drank most of it). The noodles are fresh and have a good mouth feel. The second time, we had Temari specials. They're about $19 each for dinner, and start with a selection of 3-5 tasty bites (depending on how you count them).I had the fried chicken and sashimi, and must say that the sashimi portion (salmon, red snapper, tuna, and some white fish I couldn't identify) was generous, but it wasn't the freshest fish. The fried chicken was delish. Dark meat, light egg batter, served with plum sauce on the side. The potato salad on the side was ok, and you would think it's a little strange unless you've watched enough vintage Iron Chef to know that the Japanese have a love affair with mayonnaise. Basically, I would say that the cooked food here is fantastic, but for sushi, you should to to Yirasai off of River Road in Bethesda, which has the freshest fish ever!

    (4)

  • Tim L.

    The place is a tiny hole-in-the-wall and is absolutely the best place to get authentic-ish ramen in Maryland. Out of all the ramens, I would recommend the Tonkatsu ramen and the Miso ramen. Granted this is nothing compared to places out in LA's J Town but it is what it is... very decent ramen. Their other dishes have also been supurb. I've tried just about everything and haven't found anything not delicious. I would recommend the Tonkatsu or the Omurice. The sushi is pretty good but I'm not wild about it or anything. They have mochi ice cream here but it's pretty expensive compared to buying it at your local asian supermarket.

    (4)

  • Kate C.

    This is a quaint little hole in the wall with a really really really big menu. The menu goes across the black board to the bits of paper to the printed flyers posted and of course everything else is on the menu except the specials which they will tell you all about. The food is solid - I like the spicky tuna and enjoy the Filet Mingon - yes- really - when they have it. This is how I would picture a Japanese diner being... Also as a bonus they have a library full of Manga to read.

    (5)

  • Lucy X.

    The Miso Ramen was very tasty indeed. My boyfriend got the other bowl of Ramen (forgot what it was called but it was the one that was a few cents more than all the rest) but the two looked very similar and he said they tasted quite similar too. We also shared a plate of Katsu Curry. Honestly wasn't anything too special--just some curry sauce with fried chicken strips, a few pieces of radish and rice--but still delicious. I came annoyed and starved and left happy and full but not stuffed, so definitely a satisfying dinner overall :) If you are craving a nice big soupy bowl of noodles, this is the place to go!

    (4)

  • Jason S.

    It was a momentous moment when i first walked in to this restaurant: its the first Japanese joint in Maryland that I visited that NOT OWNED/AFFILIATED by Chinese or Koreans! Actually I don't know if they're owned by Japanese, most of the staff were Japanese. Yes, this is a very important thing because its hard to find Japanese restaurants in this area that are not owned by Chinese or Koreans. This is a huge implication cause these other faux Japanese restaurants serve faux Japanese food. Sure the sushi might look the same, but the entrees were very distinctively Japanese. I've been to Japan before and this is the closest you're gonna get. You may be in shock from how other faux Japanese places have been deceiving you thinking that all Japanese people ate were sushi and 12 variations of teriyaki! A great place to explore their menu, because a lot of what they have to offer is not on that single sheet of laminated menu they hand you, look on the walls, the white board, and the paper menu outside. They have plenty of things to try out, all which are very distinctive and very much Japanese. Its so Japanese its crazy, they actually have Japanese patrons dining in, a mini Japanese manga library near the front, and one Japanese waitress serving the whole restaurant (which she did very well and politely, I never felt a lack of presence). That being said, the place is pretty small and may be difficult to fit a big crowd in. The serve is top notch, and very polite and courteous. Get over here and stop going to those fake me outs!

    (4)

  • John K.

    FYI - TEMARI IS CLOSED ON TUESDAYS!! Bitter when I found out the hard way. Great Japanese Restaurant in the Rockville area. Try their hamburg steak. It'll definitely fill you up. One of their hidden nuggets....their Tuna (sashimi style). They serve the tuna on a raised, screen tray. This supposedly helps keep the tuna from sitting its own pool of excess moisture in the bowl. The excess moisture of the tuna comes from refrigeration/freezing. This helps the tuna keep its butter/soft texture that you come to expect from good tuna. I went here with my friend's mom who lived in Japan for over 10 years and she loves coming to Temari for Japanese food.

    (5)

  • Y Y.

    Japanese comfort food not your typical sushi bar place. You can probably make the same sort of food at home quite easily by buying your ingredients at the Japanese grocery store upstairs for alot cheaper but then you'd have to cook. Cute place to hang but not gourmet by any standard.

    (2)

  • Wil T.

    Great authentic Japanese comfort food. The first time I went there was because I was craving for some ramen, and was quite disappointed because the shoyu ramen that I had was somewhat bland. I still decided to go again because it did seem quite authentic and I wanted to try something else. Still, I couldn't resist but order another ramen, but this time it was much better. Plus, I also ordered two pieces of "chu toro" sushi and it was oh-my-god-i-can-die-now. Subsequently, I've brought my Japanese friend there twice and we both enjoyed it very much! Easily the most authentic Japanese comfort food restaurant in the wider DC area.

    (5)

  • Stacy F.

    Let me premise this by saying that my four stars is for filling a niche that was missing in my "dining out" repertoire and doesn't necessarily mean that most of the dishes I've had would rank that highly. I want to go there when I miss my mom, who was originally from Osaka. I do love Temari cafe because it reminds me of the cheap little mom & pop restaurants in Kyoto and Osaka that I've eaten at in Japan. Also, some of the dishes are things that my mother used to make and that I miss but can't seem to make well myself. Quick reviews of a few dishes that stand out (good or bad): Fried oysters: cooked well but the oysters themselves didn't have much flavor. Grilled mackerel: Outstanding. Tasty and served with grated daikon just like mom used to do :) The skin is done well and is probably my favorite part of the dish. Originally tried the appetizer portion but will likely be sticking with this as my entree in the future because it's great. Katsu Curry: I know this is popular but the curry is not to my liking. The flavor is excellent but I found that the sauce had a much, much higher fat content than I'm used to in Japanese curry. The meat chunks were small and tender but fatty. I noticed that as the portion I left on my plate cooled, a lot of oil was separating out and starting to solidify on the edges so it was probably mostly grease from the meat. My body can't afford that much saturated fat and I've never seen grease separate out from Japanese curry before. I'm sticking to making this at home with S&B or House Brand curry blocks and lean flank steak. The tonkatsu is great. The pork used for the tonkatsu does have just the right amount of fat to keep it moist and juicy. I really wish they'd add okonomiyaki or takoyaki to their menu, though. It would fit with their menu and it's something that I can never get to taste quite right when I make it myself.

    (4)

  • Erkan E.

    Tasteless dishes, terrible atmosphere. Not sure which part of the chicken they use for the fried chicken but definitely not good quality. I would not recommend.

    (2)

  • John W.

    Japanese Cuisine It's hard to really find much authentic Asian food places when I'm in Maryland twice a year. So it was a pleasure to really find a place that offered authentic cuisine. I've actually been trying to eat at this place for the past two years, but everytime I was able to go, it was closed on a Tuesday. Yes remember, they are closed on Tuesdays, oddily enough. So how was the food here? I have to say it is on par with the Japanese noodle/rice places that I've had here in NYC that I enjoy. I had the pork curry katsu along with a side order of spicy tuna rolls (I always have to try them at every japanese place I go to), and the other people I was with had the ramen and the chirashi. The prices are on par with traditional japanese restaurants. The food was good. I made a mistake with ordering double pork, since the curry was pork curry. I'm used to a vegetable type curry with the places I go to. But it was good, I had just doubled up on my meat. The other members of the group enjoyed their meal. The sashimi slices on the chirashi were fresh and good also. A good place for some Japanese food! Definitely a repeat place for me to go to, not on a Tuesday of course.

    (4)

  • Ina C.

    This is my favorite restaurant in Rockville. I love everything about Temari! If you're a lover of Japanese food, you must come here. I imagine that this is what a real Japanese restaurant in Japan is like - nothing fancy, pretty minimalist in decor, petite Japanese servers that are totally awesome and attentive, and of course awesome food that's way more than just sushi. You've never had ramen like this before. It's a whole lot more than your cup o'noodles or even the fancy instant stuff. I recommend the soy sauce ramen and I guarantee that someone will make references to the eye doctor when they see the spoon it comes with. I also recommend the katsu curry. Exactly what I try to make my curry like. Don't be confined to the menu either; Take a look at the lunch & dinner combos on the white board on the bar. It comes with little sides, miso soup, a small serving of sushi and your entree. It's a pretty good deal because you get a lot of different things. It's a small place, so it's a little difficult to come with a big group, though I've done it before (I called ahead and warned them - they seemed to appreciate that). And you thought Rockville was dead!

    (5)

  • Jane Y.

    Okay, I can see how it can be "authentic" japanese food esp when its owned by actual japanese folks and not the chinese or koreans. I got the fried pork chop with curry and rice. My friend got the eel with rice. We got a sashmi appetizer. For dessert, I had a green tea shaved ice and he had green tea ice cream. but let me ask you..how "authentic" can fried pork chop be? It's fried in oil just like the oil used in any other restaurants. Fine, i can see how the curry can be "authentic", but..yeah lemme finish before I get to the main point. and i'm pretty sure they dont actually SMOKE the LIVE EEL in their kitchen. Or else you could smell that ish from 5 miles away. Therefore, its prolly some frozen premade eel you can buy some any asian mart. MAYBE they used the more expensive frozen brand, but still frozen. The sashmi was like 8 bux..and there were..4 pieces. -__-ll. The shaved ice was just sooo..bland. and green tea ice cream? cmon, drove down 3 mins to kamsam and buy urself a tub for 3.99. okay maybe 4.99. bottom line.. this restaurant..altho "authentic" and is opened by japanese folks..my meal was NOT worth $60. Not for what I had anyway. just..not..worth it.. oh yeah, did I mention that the place is TINY?! we ate on the bar.

    (2)

  • Teresa H.

    This was my first non-sushi Japanese experience and as good as this place was, it's nothing to call home about. I got the ramen noodles and sorta expected the instant kind to show up on my table, but to my pleasant surprise, they were the homemade noodles. I had the pork miso ramen and it was good. Just what I was looking for that day. The soup was was good, but nothing special. The sushi is cheap and you get what you pay for. All in all, I enjoyed my experience there, but not sure if I'll be back since there are so many better options for asian food in the area.

    (3)

  • emmy y.

    My 2nd fav Japanese restaurant. I have been going to Temari for about 5-6 years now. Great little place , about 7-8 tables only Food: love their ramen and their cold noodles in the summer time. Their coffee float is fab. Service: quick Decor: very japanese. I love this place for my sunday brunch.

    (5)

  • Lisa K.

    A great casual Japanese cafe that serves a mean Katsu curry. The wafu hamburg is also delish as well as the miso ramen. I wouldn't order sushi as this isn't their speciality. For dessert try their snow balls.

    (4)

  • Mok-Yi C.

    I love this place! There aren't many Japanese restaurants around the Rockville area that serve items outside of the norm (sushi, udon... etc), so Tamari stood out. It has a very homey enviroment and friendly staff. Food are also excellent; try the Miso Ramein and the various curries! The only downside is that if the place is packed, the service could get a little slow. There are usually only around 2 waitresses on the floor serving about 9 tables. PS - they also closes a bit early at 9pm on weekdays.

    (5)

  • Ibis W.

    Tamari has got to be one of my most favorest little Japanese hole-in-the-wall places to eat. Both the service and food are consistently good every time. What I love most is that everything about this place says authentic Japanese. Genuine Japanese people running a genuine Japanese cafe. Ho.lee.mo .lee. No Lee's! At first glance the menu selection might be a tad lacking, but only to the untrained eye. If you were good at finding Waldo help your fellow foodies locate those white dry-erase boards the size of shoe box lids. On those are pack full of Japanese writings that is their very extensive specials menu. Try behind the potted plants and the suggestion box under the TV in the corner of the bar. A plethora of deliciousness right before your eyes. You just have to find it and then figure out what it all says first. For around $15 to 18 depending on lunch or dinner, a definite must try is their sashmi combo. It's a good price for what you will get; soup, rice, usually 3 (sometimes 4 and if you are lucky even 5) small appetizers, a house salad, potato salad, a hot dish of your choice (I frequently op for tonkatsu), and of course, a combination plate of sashmi. Do it, it's good for your soul.

    (5)

  • Phil T.

    Very friendly folks. I had the pork katsu curry, and I have had better for cheaper actually (but that was in Japan, Hawaii, and California). However, I'm happy to have found a decent place in the MD/DC/VA area that serves one of my favorite yet little known dishes. Here on the east, most seem to think Japanese food literally translates to SUSHI only, so those restaurants abound. If you want Chicken katsu with your curry, you better order it separately, because they wouldn't agree with my request that deviates from the menu "Could I make this a chicken katsu curry instead of a tonkatsu curry?"

    (4)

  • Brendon G.

    The Ramen was good...good enough.....not Califonia good, but gut gnuch as the Chermans would say. The Shishamo was OK, but it was lacking the head, which is part of the deal, yo. We will hit this place again and try some other dishes. Update 2009. Katsu curry Rice - very acceptable. Maguro sashimi appetizer was 5 exquisite slices of heaven.

    (3)

  • Katie P.

    I'm writing an updated review for this place because I had bad service today. There's an older female server who works at Temari. She is very rude. I've experienced that few times in the past, but today she was very unprofessional. When we asked her to split the check, she said with an upset expression, "We don't do that here."(verbatim) I love their food and everything, but I don't think this kind of service is acceptable. They need to re-train her....or if she's an owner, she needs to learn to serve customers w/ some respect....

    (2)

  • Kendrick H.

    I can't think of another japanese restaurant in the DC area that has entrees like the ones at Temari Cafe. There aren't any gimmicks here: as many of the other reviewers have mentioned, the food is the real deal. Everything I've tried here, from appetizers to desserts is good. Service is attentive and friendly, parking has never been an issue (I guess it rarely is a big deal in a suburban strip mall), and the decor is clean, simple, and casual. For me, the only drawback is how far away it is from where I live :) If you find yourself along the Pike, Temari Cafe is well worth a stop.

    (4)

  • Morgan C.

    I've dined at Temari dozens of times. I agree with everyone else that it is very cute place. As far as food, its sushi is only meh. Tonkatsu and ramen are good eats. But things tend to be on the pricey side. Saturday nights can be busy. Seating arrangement is limited by half dozen or so 4-person square tables. So if your group is 4 plus, it could be problematic to find two neighboring tables becoming available at the same time. But most patrons are nice. I've seen many cases where people volunteer to swap tables.

    (3)

  • Christine L.

    I went here with my family one evening and my mother and I ordered some Ramen, I ordered the Tonkatsu ramen and my mom ordered the soy sauce ramen, we weren't too thrilled with it and it wasn't very filling because we hadn't ate all day so we ordered the thinly sliced pork on rice with ginger sauce, which was DELICIOUS!! I would probably go back there again just to eat that. It was also nice to actually meet people that are Japanese because there aren't that many around these parts. I wished they put all the food written on all the boards on the menu. Oh yea went back here a second time, you need to try the shaved ice desert here w/ all the fixings.IT'S SO GOOOOD! It puts the one at bob's noodle to shame!!

    (4)

  • Allison H.

    Stopped at Temari for lunch today. As usual, the place was very busy but I was able to grab a seat at the counter. Ordered a bowl of the miso ramen with a side of rice. My food arrived quickly and was quite tasty and filling. The waitress and guy working behind the counter were friendly as always. The restaurant is small but bright and welcoming and most the clientele is Japanese which is always a good thing in my book for a sushi/ramen spot. My only gripe is that the prices are a little high for lunch. My total came to $20 including tip which means coming here will probably be a once or twice a month type thing as opposed to every week.

    (4)

  • Melissa F.

    Love, love, LOVE this place! Been here multiple times. LOVE all of the ramen here. The broth is light and fat free. Much better than the oily broth at Ren's ramen or from packaged ramen. The cold noodles are a delight in hot weather. Very pretty and delicious snow cone. Takoyaki was not bad either. Tonkatsu was little dry but it wasn't bad either. The green tea mochi was a disappointment. Packaged mochi @ H-Mart or Lotte is better. It tasted too powdery and I choked a little bit on the extra powder too. It was served warm which was nice, but aside from that I do not recommend this dessert.

    (5)

  • Darcey Y.

    This place is authentic, that's all I care. I had sashimi combo, it's worth paying for that price. I think I will go back and keep trying everything on their menu and become one of their 'nice customers' lol

    (5)

  • Katherine K.

    Temari ranks high on my list for what I consider "Japanese comfort food" - tonkatsu, curry rice, ramen, and the like. The dining area is tiny and sometimes there can be a wait for a table. If there is a wait, kill time by browsing the Japanese gift store or Maruichi grocery located above. The waitstaff is incredibly friendly and attentive. If you have a taste for tonkatsu - fried fatty pork with spicy sauce, look no further. I highly recommend the Curry Katsu and the Wafu Hamburg Steak. Wash it all down with a tall glass of Kirin. Totemo oishii!

    (4)

  • Sandra K.

    I just went to this tiny Japanese cafe for lunch called Temari Cafe. It's in a very non-descript strip mall and a tiny cafe that seats about 20 max. Everything is written in careful Japanese print and the workers say a cheerful greeting in Japanese. The menu is full of lovely authentic Japanese dishes-Donburi (A serving of vegetables, meat or chicken served over rice), Katsu (Panko-encrusted pork or chicken) and of course the fabled Japanese ramen noodles. When I was in Tokyo a few years ago I tried real ramen for the first time and since then I've craved having the real stuff and this cafe was the closest I've ever had. It's a chewy-textured noodle serving in a steaming broth that's filled with pickled radish, boiled egg, fish cake and bean sprouts. It's the perfect combination and has great mouth feel. They serve it with a small ladle that you use as a spoon. Perfection! Food -- Ramen is very similar to what I had in Tokyo. Tonkatsu served traditionally and tastes great. The chicken was served with the dark meat though so, if you have a preference--let them know ahead of time. dessert-strawberry milk-it's shaved ice with strawberry flavoring and a bit of condensed milk on top. It's quite a bit more tasty and refreshing than the description. I saw the green tea version and it also looks tasty! Decor-- spartan-nothing special. Plain tables and chairs. Paper napkins. Service-- friendly and attentive Bonus---none. Cost--two people, and dessert no alcohol- $32 Good place for good quick authentic Japanese food Bathrooms-small and clean

    (4)

  • H. P.

    The salmon teriyaki is wonderful.

    (4)

  • Ken C.

    What can I add that hasn't already been said? Not much. Like the other reviewers have said, this is a great, small, cozy little Japanese cafe that serves dishes you probably won't find anywhere else in the MD/DC/VA area. Run by Japanese, the dishes here tend to be more authentic and taste a lot better. Don't come here for the sushi (not that it's bad; it's actually pretty good), but for the other dishes. I haven't been in a while, so I can't make any suggestions, but you'll be fine w/almost anything here. Tips: read some manga or magazines near the entrance of the cafe, and order one of their desserts. Afterwards, go to the other shops in the same strip mall -- there is a nice gift shop and grocery store.

    (5)

  • Eugene H.

    Located in the corner of a small strip mall, this place is pretty darn authentic for Japanese food. The curry, sushi, and noodle dishes are all pretty good. To top it off, they always have some japanese tv (usually some type of cooking show) on to keep you entertained while you're waiting. It's a bit pricey, but it's worth it every now and then.

    (4)

  • Kathy C.

    I don't remember the name of the dish, but I had #18, and it was not that good. The tofu appetizer is really tasty though! This place's food is REALLY overpriced ($10-$13). But it is apparent that it gets really good business. The food is authentic Japanese food. Service is great. Location is good, and pretty easy to find. But it's one of those places you pass by tons of times on Rockville Pike and never really notice until you hear about the particular restaurant through word-of-mouth. Be aware of the $15 minimum requirement to use your credit card.

    (3)

  • Nick F.

    Eat here once a month, love every thing ;) So far so good for me, good food and good services!

    (5)

  • S N.

    Kinda expensive and small portion sizes...$3.75 for a small rice ball with a few ume...and the rice was mushy too, so very disappointing. The teishoku prices for lunch were reasonable, but the appetizer sizes (and prices) were not worth it. I went for the ramen and i agree with other reviewers that it was okay...but beggars can't be choosers since there aren't any other places to get ramen in the Rockville area (Note: not udon, not pho, not beef noodle soup...but i'm talking 'bout pork/bonito dashi with egg noodles and all the goodies like nori, egg and char-siu...like the saimin I grew up with back home!) I will keep going since i do have 3 more ramen flavors to get thru and they are a local small business that should be patronized (yay!) and not an evil corporate chain (boo!). I hope that the next time my rice isn't mushy.

    (3)

  • Alexander M.

    very good shogayaki, and tori no kara-age, edamame, green tea, ice cream, etc. a bit on the pricy side, but overall a great place to eat.

    (4)

  • G M.

    I am so confused. The reviews were stellar, the place was packed (mostly with Japanese clientele), and the food sucked. I tried two different sushi rolls, the miso ramen, and the curry pork dish. The rolls were average, small, and unfortunately the highlight of my dinner. The $11 miso ramen was inedible. The noodles were not palatable and the miso broth was tasteless. All the other ingredients did not taste good together. My Japanese dining partner summed it up well " the 20 cent ramen noodle packs from the store taste much better". He was also quite disappointed and felt this was no way worthy of 4 stars. His curry pork dish was soup kitchen quality and the curry sauce was not anywhere what he was used to. again-the flavor was lacking. The service is slow and aloof. I'm sure this place will continue to do well, but if you are expecting anywhere near a 4 star meal, do not come here.

    (2)

  • Barbie T.

    One of the few places around here that serves an authentic Wafu (Japanese style) hamburger. If you've had one before, you know exactly what I'm talking about. The lush soft burger that is cooked on an iron skillet and placed in front of you directly from the oven. Topped with juicy daikon and onion soy relishy stuff. One other rarity in Washoku (Japanese food) restaurants is the classic milk snow cone- where they top the snow cone with sweetened condensed milk. If you haven't tried it yet- run now because once you eat it you will be here way too often eating your weight in snow cones. Come here for the Japanese pop food classics: Omrice, wafu burger, tonkatsu, udon, kakigori/snow cones. You will not be disappointed. Come early. Seats fill up fast. Good for small groups- but groups of 6 or more better come extra early.

    (5)

  • Cindy Y.

    I walked in not expecting much. The exterior was kinda boring, and once you walk in it was just the same. It was small and definitely not that pretty. I was greeted and seated as soon as I walked in. I ordered the Wafu Hamburg, and with a taste I was sold. I haven't been able to get a decent hamburg steak around here since Neul Bom and Mayorga closed down until now. I absolutely love Hamburg steak too. The ground beef was tightly packed and cooked properly. The katsu sauce which was poured over my hamburg steak was tangy, sweet, but savory. I also tried the coffee jelly parfait. All I can say is that it was quite interesting. Coffee gelatin... hmm... If you're ever in the area, stop by. Otherwise, I wouldn't say it's worth to go out of your way to get there unless you're craving Hamburg steak like me.

    (4)

  • Peter S.

    i'd give it 4 stars except for the price! we had the katsu curry and the wafu hamburg. they were both very good but not great. for the katsu curry there was plenty of rice and curry but i've had bigger portions on the pork katsu elsewhere. the wafu hamburg had good flavor but was on the salty side. overall a very good meal that seemed pretty authentic. the problem was that everything there is $15! i've had this kind of japanese "street" food elsewhere for around $10. the service was very nice and friendly. i wish i could give it a higher rating . . .

    (3)

  • Angelo B.

    Excellent place with good food. It's very small, and you will have to wait for a seat at any popular time.

    (5)

  • Meghan G.

    Tamari Cafe is a small authentic japanese restaurant in Rockville. The stripmall death that is Rockville Pike houses some really great foodie treats, this being one of them. Tamari has about 10 tables in total, and you generally have to wait for a table, as this place is quite popular with the Rockville asian population. Rightfully so. This place has a variety of very wonderful dishes from a mouth watering crunchy tonkatsu to a decent variety of donburis and noodle bowls. I highly reccommend the wafu hamburger steak, its a japanese version of meatloaf. They only make a set amount of it each day and it generally sells out pretty quickly and as the staff in the japanese grocery upstairs will tell you, its better than what his mom makes. The sushi is nothing to write home about at all, but this is not why you go here. Stick with the traditional dinners and if you have room, try one of the ice desserts, its shaved ice drizzled with flavored syrup, some kind of yummy creamy sauce.

    (4)

  • Joan K.

    Yea- I maintain my opinion that it's way overpriced. The more I think about it, the more it annoys me.

    (3)

  • Jeff L.

    I've been coming to Temari for years. It reminds me of the small diners when I was in Tokyo. The food is always consistent and high quality. They do a great job of changing up the appetizers they serve with many of the meals and having something a little special for Japanese festival days. I love the sashimi combos and ramen. The atmosphere is non existent but for what it is, a simple Japanese cafe, it gets 5 stars.

    (5)

  • John L.

    We went to Temari as an impulse and was pleasantly surprised. The miso ramen was good...OK so it's not like Sapporo in NYC but it was the best we had so far in this area. I had the fried oysters and it was very good. The rice was well prepared and the oysters were sweet and crunchy. We will be back.

    (4)

  • Jennifer H.

    I ordered a very expensive ramen and hoped it would be good. But it was just a bad noodle soup. It not worth it!!

    (2)

  • Lance N.

    Good stuff. I've been going there for the past 3 years and it was great at first. Good good, and fresh pieces of fish. One of the few places to have real Japanese food, not just sushi. Love their rice balls but 2 years ago it got smaller, by a lot actually. Very nice presentation and tasty food. But after going there for the past 3-4 years, I've come to notice that their menus DO NOT CHANGE. It's getting quite boring! the specials are the same, so are the seasonal stuff (like zen-zai or cold ramen noodles). After awhile, my girl and I got bored and stopped going.

    (4)

  • Michael W.

    I don't know what is all the hype about this place! It is just a very simple, not too good japanese restaurant that serves home style food (i.e. deep fried). Granted that this is the only place around that serves "home style" Japanese food in Rockville, it is difficult to compare it to the other Japanese restaurants which focus more on dinner style Japanese food. Nevertheless, there are many reasons why I would rate this place as being just o.k. First of all, the place is a little bit shabby and deserves some renovation soon. Furthermore, the food is very very simple and, although I wouldn't classify it as bad, it is far from being great as well. Most of it are breaded and fried meats served with rice and some Japanese ketchup (tonaktsu). As some of the other reviewers may have pointed out, the sushi is not their strongest point. Just to complete the okness of the place, the price is not as cheap as I would expect of a simple joint like this. In conclusion, if you really feel like eating home style Japanese food and is willing to compromise on the decor this may be the place for you, if you want really good Japanese food in the area, then go to Niwano Hana. If you just want to get full and don't mind too much about the food, than I would suggest going to Hinode (they serve a lunch buffet that used to cost just 11 US$).

    (2)

  • shawn g.

    Temari had the feel of the noodle houses I used to go to in California. It was small, the tv was on, and there were a ton of manga books to read (if you read japanese) by the door. We grabbed a seat at the bar and I happily drank Kirin while waiting for my ramen. The ramen was decent, but the broth was a bit lacking. The noodles were pretty good, but I'll have to get my fix somewhere else. The chirashi bowl was tasty, but I can't say this place is worth the drive from DC or VA on a regular basis.

    (4)

  • Julie H.

    Since moving to the DC area, I've been dying to eat at Temari Cafe. Sushi may be my second love (second to cupcakes) but I crave real, off-the-beaten-Japanese-sushi-bar-path Japanese food. Temari Cafe, I was told, would satiate all my cravings without having to fly back to Tokyo. Tucked into a non-descript strip mall on Rockville Pike, the store signs in Japanese (not just the "Temari Cafe" sign but signs advertising food and hours, too) are an immediate tip off that I'm in the right place. The restaurant itself is tiny: there are no more than 12 tables in the entire establishment. We managed to time everything right - we arrived around 5:15pm and by the time we left around 6pm the place was full. Manga and Japanese periodicals sit neatly on bookshelves by the door, a TV airs Japanese television shows in the corner, and a few patrons chose to sit at the bar (closer to a soda shop bar than a sushi bar). Signs on the walls advertised sushi specials, or kakigori (Japanese snow cones). One could almost be in Japan. The food is grouped according to a few categories - appetizers (in most cases, smaller versions of some of the larger dishes), sushi, donburi (rice bowls), teshoku (hmm a 'sit down' version of a bento box), ramen, and fish are those that I recall. We ordered appetizers of potato salad (~$5), mackerel (~$5), and edamame (~$4). The potato salad was delicious save a little too much onion; the mackarel was fresh out of the fish oven/grill and perfect with a side of daikon (Japanese radish) and a little soy sauce. The edamame was freshly cooked, nothing that tasted microwaved that one normally receives at sushi bars. My dining partners each ordered different items: unagi donburi (eel over rice, $9), tonkotsu ramen (pork-bone ramen, $9), and kara-age (fried chicken, $13). I ordered the tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet, $13). With the exception of the ramen, each meal came with salad, miso soup, and pickles. The unagi donburi was done well, there wasn't anything to complain about it and my friend readily inhaled it. The ramen was decent - I've yet to find a bowl of ramen outside of Japan that quite matches the oily richness of real Japanese ramen, but this ramen certainly beat out all ramen one can buy in a store. The char-siu (bbq pork) in the ramen was thickly cut, which may be enjoyable to some but was not that appetizing to me. My tonkatsu was good, not overdone but lacking a lightness (is it possible for something fried to be described as light?) that I expect out of good tonkatsu, and certainly a $12 tonkatsu meal (even in the States, I find that tonkatsu usually runs for $3-6 less). I actually did not sample the kara-age, but it received no complaints from my dining partner. Is Temari really the holy grail of Japanese food in the DC area? Perhaps. It is certainly worth eating at if one has easy access to a car or is in the neighborhood. If you're really not looking to travel far, however, Chez Mama-San might be a better option for you. Despite being a little let down, I will return to Temari Cafe and likely sans dining partners. I spent half the meal with my eyes glued to the television and was made fun of endlessly. I cannot tell you how engrossing Japanese talk/cooking/what-have-you shows are.

    (3)

  • R R.

    The Krache chicken was below average. The Donburi are priced appropriately and are good and filling. Tonkatsu was good. The curry feels very homey and it was delicious, huge portion which justifies the price. Overall the place is overpriced by a $1-2 for each item but it was still good. Also good food is hard to come by at a good price in this area so I'll take what I can.

    (4)

  • Calvin J.

    While Temari has all sorts of Japanese food, I came here with the intent of getting ramen and hoping for the best. Actual Japanese people eating here? Good sign. Crowded during the odd hours after lunch and before dinner? Also good. Their offerings are somewhat limited, which is fine since it's not a ramen shop, but I would have liked to see more additions available (extra noodles, meat, etc). Also ordered the chicken karaage, which was somewhat lukewarm when they brought it out. Overall it was satisfactory, and their prices were decent (~$10 for ramen, ~$6 for the chicken). It's great if you're in the area, but if you're willing to drive further out I'd suggest trying other places for ramen. I'll be back to try the curry and katsu.

    (3)

  • Richard T.

    Found the food on the bland side during multiple visits. I've tried the ramen, katsu curry, and chicken teriyaki. Like most sit-down Japanese restaurants (authentic or not) in the area, the prices gravitated a bit towards the deep end of the pool while the portion sizes found solace in shallower waters. The food isn't bad, but I expected more for the price.

    (3)

  • Jr U.

    I've had the ramen, pork katsu curry, octopus balls, and fried chicken. The ramen ain't that great, not bad though. I'd give it a 6.5 out of 10, but maybe that's because I had better expectations. The pork katsu on the other hand was awesome! I've been looking for some good japanese curry and this place nailed it. The octopus balls were really good too. I always wanted to try some after watching all those episodes of Japanese cuisine on the Travel Channel. My friend said they weren't as good as the ones in Japan, but still really good. The fried chicken (I think called karaage?) was really good. I had a couple off my friend's plate and they were crisp on the outside, juicy inside, and tasty all over the place. The place itself is small. About 4 or 5 tables, sits a total of maybe 12 people? The waiter was friendly, he spoke Japanese, which was cool...especially since he was black lol. I'd definitely come back.

    (4)

  • Dean O.

    Great hole in the wall Japanese restaurant. The food is legit. Good service. There's only 8 or 10 tables plus bar seating so sometimes there's a wait. I would recommend the ramen. Sushi is pretty good, but nothing to rave about.

    (5)

  • Martin I.

    my favorite japanese comfort food restaurant. i love getting the ramen here: it's not amazing but it definitely hits the spot. my favorite thing however is their cold noodles that they have during the summer. so simple, yet so good. FYI, more of home-style japanese food, not really a sushi restaurant. service is friendly but the old female waitress can seem a little overwhelmed at time and may forget about you (the place gets busy). however, i've been there so many times that she recognizes me and is always happy to serve (yay for me i guess).

    (4)

  • Cory L.

    If you know real Japanese food, you will come to find Temari as a place of comfort. It doesent have the greatest food, but you appreciate foods and serving styles that you have missed from places with large Japanese populations. I have been coming here off and on since 2002, and find that things have not changed much, except for the servers and workers. The menu is the same and has not changed much, if at all. I wont be calling the dishes out in native tongue, even though I could, I just dont want to come off as some gaijin who thinks he is an expert. The appetizers that I usually get are deep fried oysters and fried chicken and smelt..yes smelt. Not bad...the fried chicken is on the bland side (for those used to buffalo wings, or Chinese food), but very good, the oysters..perfect...the smelt, depending on who grilled them, either good, or absolutely perfect. The Ramen...I dont even bother. It doesent come out really hot, kinda hot, but not hot hot. The broth, something sacred to me, really isnt rich enough, very ummm, flat. The noodles also arent as chewy or textured as I prefer or am used to from other places in Japan, HI, NY. If you arent as finicky, it may be ok and good to you however. The Katsu-Curry....curry is good, but its not really hard making Japanese style curry...but the Katsu is usually done right. Believe it or not, lotta places serve katsu but not many really make it the way it should be made. Temari does a good job, though the portions (smaller cut) of the katsu are much smaller than it was before. The Mackerl dish is also good, as are the Donburis..I usually get the Oyako Donburi which is chicken and egg, and onions and sweet sauce over rice...some may find that they serve lots of rice and less of the good stuff..just portion out and you should be fine. Oh, the sashimi is also on the good side, portions and cuts, very Japanese. Another thing lotta people get..the Omelet rice..those who ar eused to it from Korean places may find this bland, but since I am acustomed to this taste as well, I find it very favorable. The inside isnt that rich or as flavorful, but its done just right...it tastes more creamy...as for the outside egg, usually cooke dperfectly, but last time I was there, it was overcooked...usually doesent happen, and is a safe bet. Simple yet tasteful. All in all, the food when compared to equal places...is really like a 3 star. I give it 4 because, well, in this area...this is probably the only one around....actual Japanese people, actualy Japanese simple/comfort foods, style, and ambiance (thought the cooks in the back arent Japanese). I give it a 4 cause its worth a 4 to me.....its the only one around, and much better and more authehtic food than that Japanese place in McLean everyone praises for whatever reason. Oh, and the price here is steep, kinda shocked me a little that it went up so much, but after thinking about it, came to realize that if you were in a non-authentic place with better decor and more of a Restaurant setting, I wouldnt be complaining. Its just that the place comes off as so small, comfy and cozy, that you automatically assume prices will align. the food, is average..but I love Temari for being the only one around the DMV that has authentic Japanese comfort food.

    (4)

  • S. O.

    I absolute LOVE this mom and pop Japanese restaurant! This place is authentic. I always order the chicken and egg on rice (Oyako Donburi). I practically clean the bowl everytime like I haven't eaten for days. It comes with miso soup which is really good also. It's pretty healthy and light tasting. I wouldn't recommend for people who like alot of flavor in their food though. Occasionally I'd order the fried oysters as an appetizer; it comes with a sweet brown sauce. That's pretty good if you like seafood. Their california rolls are really good but small.

    (5)

  • CW L.

    Good food. Good service. The restaurant is small, sometimes there is a wait.

    (4)

  • Red F.

    I liked this place alright. When I read the reviews, I thought that I was gonna get something along the lines of Katana-Ya in San Francisco. I don't know why... I guess because I really miss the silky, smooth broth of the miso ramen. It was so good. Don't get me wrong, I am certainly not a connoisseur of ramen, but I do have an interest in it, and taste buds. I ordered the Tonkatsu ramen, and it just wasn't tasty. Tonkatsu ramen is my favorite. It has a milky like broth, because it is made with crushed pork bones. The ramen I ordered tasted like chicken broth, with a little half and half added to it to make it creamy. Yeck! Despite that, I kinda liked the place. Not the food I ate, but that warm fuzzy feeling I had when I walked inside. I'm definitely going to give it another chance and try something different.

    (2)

  • Jason W.

    This is absolutely my favorite restaurant in Maryland. I loved their gingered pork, omrice, and almost everything on the menu...this is something that I definitely miss from Maryland...

    (5)

  • Jennifer Y.

    I love this place. I've been living in NOVA area for more than 10 years and I cannot believe I didn't know about this place. After my trip to Japan, I started to researching about real Japanese food near DC area. I was so used to going Korean/Japanese restaurants and I was kinda tired of it. I know LA and NY have many real Japanese restaurants but I doubt that DC area has real one. I finally found this restaurant and I've been going there twice so far within couple weeks and I am making a trip back to here later this week. The service is great. The waitress there very friendly like Japanese people in Japan. They repeat "Thank you very much" every time they come to you. The food is little pricey compare to other restaurant but since I love the food there I think it's so worth it. I am coming from Centreville, VA so there's little distance but I don't mind driving there to get good quality of food. I am pretty sure I will visit this restaurant again.

    (5)

  • Jesper G.

    Oh how I love Temari. I love it because you can't find really good homestyle Japanese cooking anywhere in the DC metro area...save for Temari. Go for the black cod. Go for the oyakudon. Go for the really kind and polite wait staff. Just go!

    (4)

  • Asher Jude C.

    I love this place. It's a very small place but both the food and service are excellent. Real authentic Japanese food. Owned by a Japanese family. Very cozy place. I highly recommend their Chicken Katsu curry rice dish. It's not your typical curry dish. Not spicy at all. This place is definitely a hidden treasure.

    (5)

  • kevin k.

    run by japanese. how do i know? jst go and u will know. they got some neat decor but nothing fancy. they got some ramen menu but i do not like them cause they cooked it using pork broth. i jst dont appreciate the smell n not much of enticing flavor if u ask me. but there must be a reason i introduce it to ya all. its because of tonkasu. good tonkasu at cheap price under $10 i think. i havent been there awhile. there u have it. go eat now.

    (3)

  • Jay K.

    The curry donkatsu is a must-eat for everyone. It is really delicious. I have also tried the ramen and it is also pretty good. The desserts are also unique and worth a try, but stay away from the sushi. The sushi doesn't taste very fresh and is also tiny. Other negatives about this place are that the restaurant is tiny and cramped and this also makes it very bad for big groups. The curry donkatsu makes this place worth a visit though.

    (4)

  • Robert L.

    If you love Japanese cosine, this is the place to be. It's what you want.

    (4)

  • Jen L.

    This is one of the rare authentic Japanese restaurants that are actually owned by Japanese people and actually has Japanese chefs. Usually, the Japanese restaurants in the area are owned by Chinese or Koreans. The ambiance, utensils, and food all contribute to a very cozy and authentically Japanese atmosphere. Perhaps I'm not used to it (American portion sizes are huge compared to our International counterparts), but the food portions are very small with high prices. As a result, I always leave hungry.

    (4)

  • Duy N.

    Been here a couple times with different people. The first time I got udon, which was good. The other time I got omurice (rice omelet) and the katsu curry rice. Omurice is very interesting. basically fried rice in an omelet with ketchup on top. The katsu curry was very savory and good as well. Overall, authentic Japanese. Friendly service.

    (4)

  • Aman C.

    We went at around 12:30, the restaurant was full and we were seated at the last open table. They took our order fairly quickly but the food took about twenty minutes to come out. I had the Tonkatsu Ramen. They brought out spicy chili oil alongside. I did not try the oil, the broth was tasty enough without it (though not at all spicy). The noodles were on the thicker side. The pork was a disappointment, they were completely devoid of flavor. Had the pork slices been seasoned or in any way more interesting I would likely have given the meal 4 stars.

    (3)

  • Dani P.

    A coworker recommended this place to me, knowing that I love authentic Japanese food. It's not particularly close to me, but his high raves about the place made me decide to take a mini road trip with some girlfriends after work. If you're coming from DC after work, it's probably not a good idea. It's best to wait until after rush hour. I took us over an hour to get from Dupont Circle to the restaurant due to all of the traffic heading into Maryland. We were so excited to see the place, tucked into the corner of a pretty plain looking shopping center. When we went inside, there was a waiting area crammed just in front of the doors. It's a small restaurant with very few tables. The menu is impressive in the variety of Japanese food they offer (like Omrice!). They were nice enough to let us split our checks 3 ways, though reminded us that the minimum credit charge was $15 and we'd all have to spend that much each. We ordered miso ramen, tonkotsu ramen, and the avocado tuna donburi. I personally had the miso ramen, which I thought tasted better than even some of the ramen specialty shops in DC. My friend's avo-tuna donburi stood out to me though; she let me have a bite and I wanted to steal the rest of her meal. We split a chocolate parfait, which was tiny, but we were full from our entrees anyway. It truly does taste authentic, and it has a nice cosy feeling. However, it can get crowded due to it's size and popularity. I wish it were closer and more accessible to me, because as of right now it's mostly a treat for me to consider driving to it.

    (4)

  • Dustin T.

    Came here on a saturday night and the place was full. The wait time wasn't too bad and the food was delicious! I ordered the Tonkotsu ramen and had the fried oysters appetizer. Both very good! I did take one star away because they don't allow extra noodles for the ramen! Very disappointing since I was in a hungry hungry hippo mood! The food was delicious and the service was very good. There is a private lot for parking which is very nice. I'll definitely be coming back to order more ramen/sushi, haha.

    (4)

  • C A.

    The food is pretty good however you can easily tell that they cater the style of cooking to American food standards. For example the Tonkatsu feels overcooked to be on the safe side. The TV showing Japanese shows though is a nice touch in the cafe. Usually don't care about the service much, but I one of the servers (who is clearly not Japanese) has no idea of the names of items on their menu. When asked about certain options in Japanese, you will be met with cold stony silence.

    (3)

  • Bernadette S.

    We discovered this place about 9 years ago and each time we come here, the food is always on point. My husband is a fan of the miso ramen and i am a fan of their katsudon and the gyudon. It is a small establishment tucked away in a strip mall off 355. Not ideal for large parties. The service is always great when we visit. Be sure to check their hours. They are usually closed one day a week.

    (4)

  • Crystal A.

    This is definitely authentic Japanese food, and when I say food, I don't mean sushi. If you want sushi, go to a sushi bar. This is good old Japanese cuisine. I'm a transplant from Hawaii and have been on the search for a taste of home only to end up severely disappointed. This place brought me back home!! My only complaints are that the prices are too high and the food portion is a but small. But hey, do what you want when you're the only place in the DC metro area with the real stuff! I had the Katsu Curry (oh how I've longed for Japanese curry) and it was delicious. The Tonkatsu piece was about the size of my hand. I'm not used to such small portions but I guess I really don't need to be eating that much so I'll let it slide but the price was way high. You can get the same stuff with bigger portions for $8 bucks in Hawaii. It's $18 here in MD. I will be back, but only if my homesickness gets to the point where paying double what I'm used to paying for food becomes acceptable. Sadly, I feel that it will be soon...

    (4)

  • Michelle L.

    Went there with my brother for dinner last night, had the cold noodle and chicken karage, brother had chasiu ramen and spicy tuna rolls. My cold noodle was delicious and looked beautiful! Chicken karage was crispy and well seasoned. Overall a great meal!

    (5)

  • Todd D.

    Very good! It was busy during lunch - the ramen was very good as was the tonkutsu and gyudon. A little pricey but would come back again.

    (4)

  • Jess Y.

    If you've had authentic Japanese food before, you'll definitely enjoy Temari. I've tried a lot of the dishes here-- all of the ramen, curry, katsu, hamburg steak, mackerel, teriyaki salmon, sake shioyaki, and sashimi. My absolute favorite has to be the sake shioyaki. It comes with a salad (so good!!!), tofu with fish flakes, miso soup, and rice. The salmon is the most perfectly cooked salmon ever! It is accompanied by radish / lemon, make sure you eat it together. I really appreciate that they keep the flavors delicate, as well as preserving the integrity of the fish. All of the employees are extremely friendly and accommodating.

    (5)

  • Bing I.

    Last Friday, April 10th, we were able to have lunch without waiting. A week before that date we had tried eating there, but gave up when we were told that we would have to wait for no less than 30 minutes outside the restaurant. Those who decided to wait had to stand right next to all the parked cars. My wife had miso-flavored ramen, and I had pork flavored ramen. The ramen bowl is rather large. So, we didn't order any side dish. But we ordered their version of moochi. It was delicious, but expensive : $2. 95 per piece. And the piece is just bite sized. Suggestion: if you want to try their tasty ramen, don't go there during weekends if you're not willing to wait half an hour outside the restaurant.

    (4)

  • Joseph H.

    One of the few places in this area that has legit Japanese food. Probably the Katsu-Curry and the Ramen sit at the top of my list here. The curry is pretty rich and full-bodied, and the tonkatsu is nice and crisp, never soggy. The ramen broth is made just right, never too salty, but enough of it to satisfy that ramen craving. I do wish their ramen had just a little more noodles in it, seems to be on the low side of things here My only complaint is that the prices here are pretty high. As with most REAL japanese places (not those run by koreans or chinese), the prices tend to be higher to compensate for the higher quality in food. It still is a bit more expensive in comparison to say, Ren's Ramen out in Silver Spring If youre looking for a once in a while treat, this is a place to go. Friendly and polite staff, great variety of food, and an atmosphere that reminds me of home.

    (4)

  • Baozi L.

    Authentic Japanese restaurant that's actually owned by Japanese! The waiters/waitresses were very friendly, and the ramen broth was the best. I have tried many ramen places, none of the place had ramen broth comparable to this one. The taste lingers in your tongue, and it's not salty!---a lot of places just put TOO MUCH soy sauce in the broth. And the best part was the green tea, very refreshing!

    (5)

  • Charlotte S.

    Solid 3! I came here since my dad offered a belated birthday meal! We'd passed by here a good number of times on the Pike but never stopped. First, the wait was pretty insane. They opened at 11:30 on Sunday - we got there around 11:50 and it was PACKED. There were two parties waiting ahead of us. The wait took about 15 minutes. Thankfully, everyone who was eating recognized the wait and seemed to clear out pretty quickly (that's what we did, as well). I got the salmon with teriyaki (sake teriyaki, I believe?) and it was really good. Our food all came out with little salads - so cute! And the presentation was A+. As small as the place is and as old as the building is, they don't skimp on presentation. All dishes are uniform (ie, all rice bowls look the same and all miso bowls look the same) and they're all ceramic. I point this out because so many Korean places aren't like that. My dish was great - the salmon was a tiny bit burned on the edges but the fish separated cleanly. I'm a sucker for white rice so that was really good. The tonkatsu (I stole a piece) was also very good - you definitely can't taste any pork, even if that's what it is. I wished they had dessert but even if they did, we needed to clear out, given the crowd. This place is truly authentic, so if you want to hear some legit Japanese being spoken, stop by. Expect a crowded place, but I think it's worth it. Given the dearth of authentic Japanese restaurants, I'd probably come back here if I'm really craving Japanese food. It's a little pricy but I'm used to how expensive Korean restaurants are, so it wasn't jaw-dropping or anything.

    (3)

  • AL K.

    Stay away from the ramen. It is tasteless and overpriced for the way it is served. I had the soy based tonkatsu ramen.There was only a slice of meat, a hardboiled egg, the broth was watered down and therefore tasteless. It is not worth the wait. You are better off with pho or chinese noodles

    (2)

  • Philip C.

    Just went here on a hot Saturday afternoon with my girlfriend. We kept it pretty simple: Spicy Tuna and Yellowtail rolls to start. Mainly we were craving some ramen and decided not to go Ren's today because the reviews were really disconcerting regarding their service and their rules. So she got some miso ramen and I got the pork broth ramen. Both broths were distinct and very, very savory. The ramen comes with the most important add on included (eggs). Nothing we had today blew my mind but I don't have any complaints either.

    (4)

  • George P.

    Had the salt and butter ramen today. Nom nom nom...thinking about my next visit already. I retract my earlier review comments about the ramen not being as good as I thought it could be. Broth was flavorful and clean tasting. Me wanted seconds! I highly recommend Ren's Ramen in Wheaton. The miso flavor definitely comes through a bit more if that's what you like.

    (4)

  • Annie S.

    The tonkatshu curry rice is delicious! The curry isn't spicy but has great flavor. The ramen is good, never to salty like some other places. I give it 4/5 stars just because I don't LOVE everything on the menu. The other stuff is nothing special.

    (4)

  • Heather F.

    This is the best place to try authentic Japanese staple dishes. The servers are friendly and it has a nice atmosphere. I love the Takoyaki and the gyudon is my favorite. I highly recommend you try this place.

    (5)

  • Amy D.

    We stopped in for a late dinner with our friend from the area. My finance and I have been out a lot lately from all the traveling so I opted for just salmon teriyaki. I was quite surprised because it was absolutely delicious!!! It came with miso soup, tofu, and side salad

    (4)

  • Jennifer Y.

    Their shoyu ramen was very good, it was a slightly smaller portion but satisfying if you get an appetizer and some sushi. For being a highly rated Japanese restaurant, I was very disappointed with their takoyaki, it was very soggy and flavorless. Otherwise, the standard sushi was good, we ordered a spicy tuna and a yellowtail roll.

    (4)

  • Mila P.

    I'm always looking for the best ramen place anywhere I go. They have the best ramen in town!

    (5)

  • Lily W.

    I'm so glad I found this place! It's a cute Japanese restaurant that seems to be family-owned. It's very clean and the food is very traditional. We had the sushi, which is delicious. I'm very excited to go back and try the other items on the menu. P.S. it's located in a strip mall, just like most asian restaurants in Rockville.

    (4)

  • Phi N.

    I don't understand the hype for Temari. Salmon Sashimi was awful. The Donkasu was edible but I wouldn't recommend it to anybody. For my entree I got the katsu curry rice. Am I missing something? This was an average dish at best. My friend ordered the tonkotsu ramen and wasn't very impressed either. The highlight of my meal was the strawberry ice cream. I don't even like ice cream that much... Sushi portions were tiny. Everything else was a decent size.

    (2)

  • Kenny Y.

    Throughout my entire childhood, my parents always took me to another area Japanese restaurant. Looking back, that place was and is kind of so-so. But I thought it was very good; I mean, it was the only Japanese food that I really knew of. Now, having grown up into an avid yelper, and tried Japanese food in other cities including Tokyo, I'm poking around on yelp and I discover this place which apparently has been basically down the street the entire time! And seriously, this is really good stuff. The donburi rice bowls are the best and very authentic - well seasoned meat over onions and rice - yum! I've tried the onigiri (those delicious rice/salmon triangles wrapped in nori) and the takoyaki (octopus balls!) here too - both are terrific. The ramen is good too. It's not the best ramen I've ever had - doesn't have that wonderful miso-y aftertaste that I like - but it's the best I can find in the DC area and enough to satisfy a ramen craving. Never tried the sushi but it doesn't seem to be the focus here. Now, every time I'm back in the DC area, I drag my parents to this place instead of their usual. That's a yelp success story for you.

    (5)

  • Cheryl L.

    Came back for the holidays and tried to grab lunch here but the line and wait was horrendous because they were extremely understaffed (only 2 people) and these 2 people were so rude... after waiting 45 minutes, I couldn't take it anymore. Walked out even though my party was next to be seated... As much as I loved this place, I don't think I'll ever come back. F u temari

    (1)

  • Lei Z.

    This is not the most luxury, but the best Japanese restaurant in my mind in the DC metro area. They pay a lot of attention to many details, like the rice, the skipjack, ... If you are not a Japanese or who watched a lot of Japanese things, you may not notice those details, though.

    (5)

  • Diana J.

    Temari is a very small japanese restaurant. Their ramen is mild. Their other rice dishes are also mild. There isnt a lot of flavor that goes into any thing I have had here. The service is okay. Everything is just okay here. Not somewhere I would frequently go or recommend for japanese dishes.

    (2)

  • Zara K.

    Ewwww Cute place is misleading - but the aromas and the crowd shouldn't mislead you ... Iv been wanting to try this place for a while - so many positive reviews - I wanted to know what I was missing out on!! Nothing The octopus balls have a sickly aroma and terrible taste with one chunk of inedible octopus piece. They have no vegetarian or seafood or chicken based ramens they all have pork so we ordered a special miso soup with soba noodles. My husband took one look and one sip. It went back and we left. Do not even bother !

    (1)

  • Joanna K.

    Everything is excellent here. Food is beyond delicious! Staff lovely and prices reasonable. Our entire family loves it. I am hungry just thinking about it. This is a small, family run place so please do not expect fancy... , but food is just wonderful!

    (5)

  • David J.

    There are so many things to really love here. I am already looking forward to travelling to Rockville again so I can explore more of their menu. So I had the Tonkatsu Ramen and the Takoyaki. A previous reviewer stated that he was upset that he couldn't order more noodles for his Ramen. I'm a big guy. (Big as in fat; not tall). All I can say to this reviewer is "mad respect and hat's off to your MUTANT EATING ABILITY. Clearly this is your superpower." The big bowl of Tonkatsu Ramen was complete and plenty with a generous helping of noodles, fish cake, pork, pickled radishes, seaweed, and scallion. At the suggestion of the waitress I spiced mine up with a bottle of hot oil she handed me and some of the red spice at the table. It was delicious. I wanted the broth to be "porkier" in flavor but it was fine as is. The sizable piece of pork was plenty and delicious. As for the Takoyaki, I have no comparison point since I've never had it even during my year in Japan. The thing I believe that the artisan who made this is going after are the contrasts in flavors and textures. The batter is somewhat sweet, but IMO couples well with the octopus inside, the sauce, the dry fish flakes, ONLY IF taken with some of the fresh-salty cabbage and pickled ginger it was served with. Then you get many more flavor profiles. All was washed down with a 22 oz Kirin. A very nice meal overall. An awesome side note is that unlike many other Japanese food establishments around the NE Mid-Atlantic, this one is owned and operated by actual Japanese folks. They are polite and very attentive even on a busy night, (packed with other Asians, and Caucasians alike. I and a nice Peruvian couple across from me were the Hispanic representation. :-)

    (4)

  • Philip L.

    This is my go to spot for Japanese food. I am talking about a feeling of going into a restaruant in Japan, which I studied abroad in Tokyo for a while. The food is fresh and respectable. I ordered sushi each time I am here and I can say that I would gladly pay for the sushi here. You get what you ordered and it is made well. The ingredients that they use is fresh and well portioned. I never felt like they did a hotchpotted my sushi. During peak hours, you can be left waiting for quite some time, but it just means that the average community thinks this is a good place for lunch/dinner. I would definitely come back - and I have - but I wouldn't call this a slam dunk place to eat. If you do not like food on the lighter side, then this may not be the best place for you. This is "authentic" japanese food, made by japanese people and IMO japanese food falls on the lighter side. That said, I like how it is fairly light on the pallette so it does not weigh you down after-meal. Overall, you should definitely try it out!

    (4)

  • M N.

    Sushi menu is very limited and it is expensive, about twice as expensive as I expected. The salmon sushi was not good but the tuna, yellowtail and fatty tuna were ok. This was my first time there and I'll look for someplace else for my next sushi fix.

    (3)

  • Sam L.

    Konichuwa Temari, you're quite impressive. Sitting in a strip mall and tucked away in the corner, it's been a staple in the Rockville community for a while. What it does is great: large portions, reasonable pricing, and friendly staff. Do: - Get crazy. Skip the normal teriyaki chicken. Not because normal isn't good, but they have some great items (such as blackcod fish and fried oysters). - Get the chicken liver. And use the sauce for your rice. You can't possibly go wrong with this combination. - Get combination. It comes with an assorted plate of appetizers, miso soup, and rice. You won't get hungry afterwards like many Japanese restaurants. - Get the hot green tea. Unless it's 90 degrees outside, in which case, ask them to blast the AC and still get the tea. Don't: - Dine during peak time. There are a small handful of tables and bar seating area. You'll most likely be waiting. They also don't have enough waitresses to handle the traffic (hence it's a 4 and not 5 star) - Try out your Japanese here. While they're too polite to laugh at you, they are doing it in their mind.

    (4)

  • Nobuyuki H.

    I visit Washington D.C. many times every year . Because I have my best friend in MD. And when I visit his house he bring me to this Japanese Restaurant . And I will order Miso Ramen or Katsu teishoku and sometime with Onigiri with grilled salmon. This restaurant always very cloud because of Taste. And stuff is very kind and price is very reasonable . So I like this restaurant very much. BTW,they play Japanese TV program anytime but that TV program is little bit too vintage for me... : ) Arigatou .

    (3)

  • Cis L.

    Don't bother eating there if you are interested in Sushi and rolls, not much to find, very bland , no fun or playful rolls. Just a few simple ones.

    (2)

  • Michael I.

    Overall, good service and good food. The options are a little pricey, but the portions of tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet) are large enough that you feel like you're getting your money's worth. The place is small and cozy. Nice atmosphere for a date!

    (4)

  • Nhi T.

    Went here with some friends to try some Japanese dishes! The restaurant is super small and a bit cramped for how busy it was on a Sunday evening, but the table wait wasn't bad. The sodas are canned...I don't know why that drives me crazy. I love fountain soda!! But on to the entree. Ordered miso ramen which came with pork, bean sprouts, egg, and squid I believe. It tasted like beef ramen noodles from the pouch lol... Maybe I'll have to go again to try something else, but it wasn't too appetizing

    (2)

  • Amelia L.

    Authentic and delicate Japanese food. 100% owned by Japanese (I hate so called Japanese restaurants operated by Koreans). Reasonable price for great quality. Ordered the Saba, the mashed white radish tastes natural and sweet.

    (5)

  • Mae Joy P.

    the food is the best I've been coming back since I ate here.. good service and nice ambience, well it's sort of always busy cause of the delicious food but it's worth to wait I highly recomend we had the no. 40 tonkatso I fried slices of chicken with a good grave, salad on the side with miso soup and cup of rice , then no. 101 steak burger with rice and grilled vedge.

    (5)

  • Alfred S.

    Don't sleep on this place; it's so good you'll want to slap someone. Having lived in Tokyo and New York, I was missing authentic Japanese pub food. Thank everything that is holy for Temari. You walk an they greet you with the traditional Japanese greeting. The food is authentic and delicious. I only wish the Japanese curry were spicier, but I can't complain since I've never asked. But go here. If you haven't, stop doing that.

    (5)

  • Paulie T.

    My wife and I have enjoyed coming to this place consistently for a long while. We've often had to wait in line for a table. It's nothing new because this place does not take reservations. For the first time in my life, i was asked to "please pay because people are waiting for a table" BEFORE WE (my wife and I) WERE EVEN FINISHED WITH OUR MEAL. This is unacceptable first and foremost because a customer should never be hurried away especially before they finished eating. Secondarily, we've witnessed many, many, many other groups and individuals lingering much longer without ever being told anything. In fact we would often wait for a table and bare witness. I will now find a new place to get Japanese food. There are PLENTY options in the Bethesda/Rockville area that will treat a paying and loyal customer with more respect. Completely disappointed with the lack of respect.

    (1)

  • Ethan L.

    Oh yeah here we go! I am always in the hunt for places like this, and being in the neighborhood and a good tip from someone who had been before led me to lunch. Small, simple, specials hand written in Japanese on the wall, this place delivers the quantity authenticity of a straightforward ramen joint. Off with an order of some maki and ramen, tonkatsu and away we go. The tonkatsu is plentiful, cut nicely in strips served on a big bed of rice, crisp and juicy. It's not a dried out piece of meat. Sushi is alright, the rice is fairly soft but the rolls come out a little too warm, but nothing terrible. The kappa maki is great here, a real wonderful chunk of thick what seems like true Japanese cucumber in them, with hints of sesame oil, really nice kappa maki. And then there are the ramens. I went for Char Su while my wife got adventurous and went for the special on the wall "Salt and Butter Ramen". Ironically they are both the same soup, different flavored broth though! and the Salt and Butter contains pieces of corn unlike the char su. The broth is warm, rich and flavorful. The salt and butter is as described too, very impressive if perhaps very slick in the mouth. Still though the pork is plump and the noodles are cooked perfectly, great dente bite to them and certainly not gummy or overcooked! Nicely presented with some oils of fat jeweling bubbles, it went down incredibly quick and fast. Great place, so far to date the best ramen I've had in the DC area, would easily come back here again in a heartbeat.

    (4)

  • Wilma O.

    With fractional stars, this would be more of a 4.5 but I'm rounding it up for how special this place is! I've been going here for at least 10 years and it reminds me so much of the yummy dishes I ate in Japan when I lived there. Japan is really not about the sushi, but rather about the other more "home-cooking style" dishes. This restaurant has the vibe, prices, and dishes of an authentic, inexpensive Japanese lunch spot. - Shishamo - tasty fish filled with their own eggs, a great snacky appetizer - Tori no karaage teishoku - I usually get this. It's totally different from American fried chicken, and comes with a delicious Japanese potato salad. - Kaki fry - this is tempura-battered fried oysters. The freshness of the oysters varies here. - Miso ramen - my sister's favorite! A couple notches below a good ramen in Japan, but still hits the spot - Hiyashi chuuka - delicious cold noodles with a variety of toppings for the summer time - Strawberry parfait - The only place I have seen Japanese-style parfaits in the US! These delicious concoctions are more like sundaes than yogurt "parfaits," and they are always cutely decorated. It's not always on the menu, so remember this secret item! - Shaved ice (kaki gouri) - My sister swears by this. Tastes just like the real thing in Japan - shaved ice with a flavored syrup and a condensed milk topping. Overall, if you want to try some authentic, home-style Japanese cooking, come here! The dishes can sometimes depend on the freshness of the ingredients, but overall they hit the spot (and the nostalgia!)

    (5)

  • Sarah C.

    3.5 stars and now I can finally strike them off my yelp nom list *backspacing fonts* Three words - get here early At least on #saturday Opens at 11:30 and we got there early (no traffic - what the?) We didn't want to seem eager so we chilled in the car - 'tis hot y'all By 11:24 the most adorable elderly gentleman flipped the sign Still 11:24 peeps were walking up to the establishment - where? A dad with his toddler walks up An older lady came out of no where to the east A middle-aged male trots from the southeast Okay we need to get outta the car Once inside I understood why they entered once the doors opened If you're nomming solo, you can sit at the front bar-looking section If you're a group of 2+, you didn't read the yelp reviews lol Kidding, but I'm sure someone mentioned the limited amount of seating Even with the small space the staff focused on the customers No rushing but they are aware of the growing group waiting for empty seats He opts for his usual sushi picks Yellow tail, spicy tuna, and salmon I got the tonkatsu as a safety net - 2 plump pieces Comforting miso soup Oh the takoyaki was made fresh (octopus balls similar to hushpuppies w/octo bits) My burnt tongue can testify - should've waited a bit like the better half The #foodporn will explain the eats best All were expected and familiar tastes The iced green tea was super powerful just like I prefer - I'm a fan It's been a while since I've noticed this shopping strip but they renovated Kept telling him to look for green signs - um yeah no longer

    (4)

  • Ruth C.

    Saba shioyaki came out in good time with a side of finely chopped daikon and a wedge of lemon. The mackerel had a beautifully crisped skin, not over-seasoned. I recommend an appetizer portion over the entree bento, and beware stray fish bones. Miso soup is very basic, a few cubes of tofu included under the scallion garnish. The chili oil and soy sauce on the table made for a nice dipping sauce. Katsu curry rice was pretty oily on first go but just right on the repeat, mellow amount of heat and some excellent pickles on the side. Tonkotsu ramen had a very thin broth that called for liberal amounts of togarashi. Two thick fishcakes and two commendably tender pork slices. The sliced egg had the whites just cooked through, but the yolk was overcooked to grey. Pickled ginger, sliced seaweed, and chopped scallion garnished the surface. Fair amount of shared parking at their end of the strip mall. Captioned J-TV in the corner. Friendly service despite a busy Friday evening, I'm just looking for the menu to satisfy me somewhere. Hot green tea was past its last steeping. Sad to see some of the best ramen meat in the area enthroned in such mediocre broth. Visit 2: Meat was sliced thicker and a little overcooked this time, but the soy broth of the cha-shu ramen was less boring. The flakes on the takoyaki were a nice touch, but flavor was otherwise lacking and the overall texture was mushy beyond a semi-crisp meatball shell. Bento tofu is garnished with katsubushi as well, a set including miso soup, two slices of takuan, and a basic romaine salad with half a grape tomato and a well-balanced miso dressing. Omu rice is very simple, soft rice with ketchup wrapped in an egg sheet. Gyu-don special was a little overcooked on the beef, but the egg was just done and the meat drippings over the good quality rice were countered by the pile of garnishing pickled ginger strips.

    (3)

  • Henry K.

    Had the Miso Raman, Pork Raman and yellowtail roll....the yellowtail roll was fresh and delicious. Gone in 2 minutes. The noodles tasted good although it was a bit too salty and pricey for noodles, half an egg and 2 slices of pork. Will definitely return for the rolls!!!!!

    (4)

  • Ninja E.

    We usually eat ramen at the places in DC. However decided to try this place when we were in the area. We tried the different ramens and werent impressed. Noodles were soft, pork belly did not have much flavor and wasn't soft. The egg was just half of an boiled egg, nothing special.

    (2)

  • Cafe W.

    Finally tried other menu besides Hambagu steak (which was always perfect) I ordered salted grilled salmon set. I'm extremely picky when it comes to this dish. Their salmon taste so much more savory and grilled to perfection. By far the best salted grilled salmon I had compare to MANY other Japanese restaurants in Maryland and Northern Virginia which were typical decent or not-so-good grilled salmons. So, Temari Cafe still is a pretty solid restaurant. Mainly because they can make real authentic Japanese food. Too bad, I live about 15 miles away from here. Otherwise I would come to this place more often.

    (5)

  • Wendy H.

    The ramen here is legit. Springy noodles, flavorful broth. The egg is meh and the chashu could be more tender, but still really good. The curry over rice will bring you back to your childhood days when your parents would welcome you home with a bowl of steaming hot rice with a ladel-ful of beef cubes in curry. If that was your childhood that is. If not, create new memories here with their curry. I can't speak to the sushi or sashimi here since we didn't order it. The avocado-salmon donburi was cool (satisfying, not necessarily the freshest fish but still good). Great option for the area.

    (4)

  • Mike F.

    A good place for authentic Japanese food. It passes the test for my mom since everyone here speaks Japanese which makes her smile. Simple staple foods that are decent and prices typical for DC area. Space is small, so plan when you go. An added bonus, upstairs on the back of the building is the Japanese grocery store. So you can shop, get your needed Japanese food items, then have a great lunch.

    (4)

  • Irene F.

    This is a very very begrudging 4 star review. I love their curry Katsu. They have pretty solid ramen. And generally speaking their food is the most authentic and universally good across the board. That being said. I hate the atmosphere. I hate the service. I hate the attitude I get every time I go. I would never ever come here if anywhere else in Rockville came close. If you know if another place please tell me. I feel like a slave to my cravings every time I go here. It pains me to admit that it's the best in the MoCo burbs.

    (4)

  • H L.

    It's rare for me to order the same dish at a restaurant, but I always order the donburi here. It's a very small place and often there is a line. But for good donburi, I will always make the trip. They always have Japanese cooking show playing on the TV here. So fun to watch!

    (5)

  • Paul K.

    One of the first Japanese restaurants to serve ramen in the area. I remember coming here during high school. Also, if you crave an authentic Japanese experience, this is the place. It always takes me back to the authentic Japanese restaurants I used to frequent in NYC. I usually swing by for a quick ramen fix!

    (4)

  • Ashley D.

    Awesome miso ramen and takoyaki! I've always had good service and consistent food quality here. Definitely ask for your ramen to be cooked with "hard noodles" or they will be slightly overcooked/soggy but some people like them that way. Definitely add the chili powder and oil to the broth.

    (5)

  • Lissa B.

    Temari serves a lot of really authentic and homey Japanese food. I've been here a few times and it's always been good. This time we got the karaage teishoku and salmon teishoku. Both came with a lot of little items that were good. Prices are a bit high for the food (at least double what you would pay in Japan) but the staff are really kind and the food is good and tastes like it should. Also, a Japanese grocery store, Maruichi, is located upstairs in the same shopping center.

    (4)

  • Kevin W.

    Have been there twice so far. First time was taken there by a friend. This neighborhood gem registered an overall positive impression. Second time ordered miso ramen, deep fried octopus dumplings and a variety of sushi. Miao ramen is solid. Balanced broth and delicious noodles. Sushi is fresh, especially the sea urchin, which is hard to find in DC area. Octopus dumplings are definitely the most authentic ones I've tried in years. 10/10. Definitely will return.

    (5)

  • Eric S.

    WOW. Enjoyed Everything about this place. Japanese owners, Japanese menus, Legit japanese food! Cool little spot that I've been driving by. Its easy to miss because the plaza that its in is very... bleh. We had the miso ramen, broiled mackerel, and a spicy tuna donburi. It was All Very Good. From walking into the restaurant, the ambiance, the food presentation to the taste of the food. It was All Delicious. I highly recommend this place. I haven't tried the other items on the menu, but I'm pretty sure they are all authentic and delicious! I look forward to coming back.

    (5)

  • Dilshan D.

    The food is bloody good and very tasty. However the prices are bit too high for the portion sizes offered. Other than that i have next to no complaints. The ramen offered here is flavorful, the donburi's taste great and they have distinct flavors. The only issue is that when waiting for table you are supposed to stand outside. This is rather odd but i guess thats because space is limited. I doubt this sits well with those who have a long wait.

    (4)

  • Jerry E.

    What a big disappointment with this highly rated Place in Yelp. I ordered one of my all time favor Japanese dish, the ginger pork. It was the worst that I had ever had!!! Too well done and tasted like bacon. The rice that came with it was overcooked and had too much moisture, so tasted lousy; I hope this is one time slip on the rice. Normally, reputable Japanese restaurants probably will trash it, not served to customers. Their miso ramen was not up to par, too. For the exorbitant price they charged, I expect it to be more flavorful. Lastly, their Tonkatsu (see uploaded photo) was too thin, so it tasted terrible, too. Now, here is one thing that I was unable to comprehend: why people would wait to eat there?? Are they fooling the Americans who never had the real, authentic Japanese dishes in other places to compare? Be aware!

    (2)

  • Jin K.

    This is about the only authentic Japanese restaurant in probably all of Maryland. However, the food is average (for Japanese standards) and everything is pretty overpriced. How can a chicken katsu curry be $15-17 and takoyaki almost $10? Way too expensive for what it is. But if you ever want authentic Japanese food that's not sushi, this restaurant is about the only place that does a variety of Japanese dishes. Don't order the shogayaki, it was terrible.

    (3)

  • Phil S.

    don't have too many authentic japanese places out here near germantown. a few famous places are owned by koreans, which is always a bummer. temari caught my eyes right away on yelp, and was also recommended by a friend from the area. this is the second time visiting. i think my wife ordered the same thing first time around -- shoyu ramen -- and i might have ordered the oyakodon or gyudon but i decided on gyudon this time around. i generally pick the simplest dish to gauge any restaurants and something like gyudon or shoyu ramen are pretty good way to figure a place out. long story short, this is as close to an authentic japanese place you'll find around maryland.

    (4)

  • Shad M.

    The miso ramen was spot on. However, I wasn't blown away by their sushi. Also it gets pretty crowded in there around dinner time. We also tried the shrimp shumai as an appetizer - definitely don't recommend it. The place seemed pretty authentic and I'm curious to try their other offerings.

    (4)

  • Lillian C.

    I've visited this place twice at this point and I was initially under the impression that they were *good*, but overrated, and over-priced. After my last visit, I think they're great and fairly priced! they're consistent and they don't cut corners. I got the avo-tuna donburi and not only was the avocado perfectly ripe, they included not one but two different types of tuna (lean and medium fatty) which was more than I was anticipating. The sushi rice was perfect - firm, well-seasoned, and cool but not cold nor warm. Sticky, but not slimy. It was also the perfect topping to rice ratio which I am crazy about. This is not one of those places that just give too much rice to fill you up, you get your fair share of fish! I was also in love with my SO's curry katsu- it not only had the chicken katsu cutlet, there was actually beef in the curry, which we were not anticipating! (we were thinking just the curry sauce. ) The takoyaki was really good too, comparable to any takoyaki you can get on St. Mark's in NYC (cannot comment on takoyaki in Japan, have not been yet).

    (5)

  • James M.

    12:30 PM - As I was walking back to my car from Maruichi Grocery, I stumbled upon this place in the corner of the parking lot. It was a little past noon, there were ppl waiting outside, and all the tables inside were full. Definitely a good sign. I quickly eyeballed the menu and started salivating. Then I took a look at the prices... Wow, Japanese or not, I didn't think they could charge 'big city' prices in a place like Rockville. Temari definitely isn't cheap. Actually, it's far from it. I just hope their food quality matches their prices. I ended up getting two appetizers (Donkatsu, Karaage) for takeout. Donkatsu was pretty good, Karaage was just ok. Will definitely be back soon to try some entrees. Kanpai! 7:00 PM - So I ended up going back for dinner and the Manager immediately recognized us. Lol. Yes, a little embarrassing, but only for a millisecond. Gotta strike while the iron's hot, right! We sat at the bar and got the Tonkotsu Ramen and Gyu Donburi. Both dishes were well made and flavorful in all the right places. I took a look at the surrounding tables and it seemed like the majority of ppl ordered Donkatsu, Curry, Donburi or Ramen. Didn't really see any sushi, so I guess it's not as popular, at least not for dinner tonight. Looking at some of the older Yelp menu pics, you can clearly see that prices have gone up. Ramen, for instance, used to be $10.xx, and now it's $12.xx. Again, a little pricey considering it's Rockville, but at least now I know why. Also, I've never been to a Japanese restaurant that actually has a TV playing live Japanese programming. From cooking shows to sitcoms to game shows. Definitely a nice added touch of authenticity/entertainment!

    (4)

  • Putri S.

    It was really good, but kind of on the pricier end. Wish they had more options on the menu though.

    (4)

  • Mika L.

    Tried their summer special cold noodles. VERY IMPRESSED! The sauce is very refreshing. Nice combination with shrimp, chicken and vegetables. However, my bf ordered cold udon which is so so, less flavored.

    (4)

  • Tina Y.

    I came here with my boyfriend and was sooo excited to be greeted by real Japanese people! "SUGOI!" That combined with the cute, tiny, overtly Japanese interior, I was super pumped for my meal. Unfortunately I've had better Japanese food from Korean run Japanese restaurants (I'm so sorry but in my personal experience this was very much the case - so please, no death threats). I only ordered the takoyaki and the tonkatsu ramen. The former was a bit too gooey inside with the octopus a bit too rubbery. The latter had no hint of umami- the broth was flat and the noodles slightly overcooked. The slices of pork were very good though! Perhaps my high expectations were too high, because it seems a lot of people like temari. It wasn't a bad experience - just not as good as I hoped.

    (3)

  • Alex D.

    This is my favorite Japanese restaurant in Rockville. When you are craving other Japanese cuisine, not only sushi. Very small restaurant but staff are very friendly, kitchen and servers. Their food is tasty, good, a lot of flavor, and served traditionally. Awesome place to go. Japan has so much more to offer than just their sushi. Tonkatsu, Ramen, Saba, Their combination meals in the back are a good price and you get a lot.

    (5)

  • Mari K.

    Probably the only place in the area that has authentic Japanese food with authentic Japanese cooks and servers. Every time I was in, they'd greet you in Japanese and on top of that, you can hear the cooks and servers all talking to each other in Japanese. It makes me feel like I'm at home a little bit. I've probably ordered everything on the menu before and everything's perfect. Tastes like my grandma's cooking back in Japan. There is usually a wait here because the restaurant is a little small and cramped but it'll be worth it if you wait. Keep in mind, they're CLOSED on Tuesdays. If you want a real Japanese food experience, come here. Don't only get sushi because Japan is only known for sushi.. try other Japanese food like curry, ramen, donkatsu, omurice and their donburi's.

    (5)

  • Mark N.

    Been here recently for my 2nd chance visit. The first time I went because of Yelp good reviews. So...why 4 stars? I have no idea. Some reviews talk about "I've been to Japan and have eaten with samarais and I know what authentic is, blah blah blah..." Man if this was authentic Japanese food jus cuz the owners are Japanese then I guess it is authentic! However, the food is nothing great or good like these reviews. I ordered the fried chicken app that was lightly fried and tasted stale. No real flavor, I could've cooked this up better. Then we ordered the Miso and Tonkatsu ramen. Oh and you have to ask for "hard noodles" as I hear they overcook the noodles. The soup base was pretty good but the pork slices were dry and had no taste. It's a bit expensive as they charge up like they are in DC. Would I go again? Eh maybe but I recently dropped by Maki and that was so much better! You like authentic, then I guess you can try it out. It's aunthentically mediocre to me.

    (2)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:30 am - 3:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : No
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Temari Japanese Cafe

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