Tachibana Japanese Restaurant
6715 Lowell Ave, McLean, VA, 22101
Tachibana Japanese Restaurant Menu
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Otsumami : Japanese Tapas
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Yakitori : From the Grill
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Entrees
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Sushi and House Specials - Nigiri Shushi
Diabetics at Taco Bell
The biggest concern for diabetics is to find healthy food with less sugar at restaurants. The hunt for the right food becomes even more challenging for diabetics when dining at a fast food restaurant. Well, Taco Bell changes that with Fresco style. Simply ask or order an item from the Taco Bell menu in Fresco Style.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at Taco Bell:
Crunchy Taco Supreme
Nutrition Fact: 190 calories, 11g Fat (4.5g Sat. Fat), 340mg sodium, 15g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Fresco Steak Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 150 calories, 4g Fat (1.5g Sat. Fat), 460mg sodium, 17g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 10g Protein
Fresco Soft Taco – Shredded Chicken
Nutrition Fact: 150 calories, 6g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 9g Protein
Fresco Soft Taco Beef
Nutrition Fact: 160 calories, 6g Fat (2.5g Sat. Fat), 480mg sodium, 18g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Veggie Power Menu Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 480 calories, 19g Fat (5g Sat. Fat), 970mg sodium, 65g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 13g Fiber, 14g Protein
Bean Burrito
Nutrition Fact: 380 calories, 11g Fat (4g Sat. Fat), 1060mg sodium, 55g Carbs, 3g Sugar, 9g Fiber, 14g Protein
Mini Skillet Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 180 calories, 11g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for Diabetics:
You must avoid all kinds of Drinks and Freezes at Taco Bell if you have diabetes. Almost every beverage offered at Taco Bell contains high sugar content.
High Cholesterol at Taco Bell
Fast food restaurants are known for serving high calorie, greasy food with lots of sugars. Taco Bell changes this trend by offering Fresco Style option where your favorite food item is prepared using pico de gallo as it will cut down 20 – 30 calories easily from the original meal.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Taco Bell:
Mini Skillet Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 180 calories, 11g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Breakfast Soft Taco – Egg & Cheese
Nutrition Fact: 170 calories, 9g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 330mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, less than 1g Fiber, 7g Protein
Spicy Tostada
Nutrition Fact: 210 calories, 10g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 440mg sodium, 22g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 5g Fiber, 6g Protein
Fresco Crunchy Taco – Beef
Nutrition Fact: 140 calories, 7g Fat (2.5g Sat. Fat), 300mg sodium, 14g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 6g Protein
Shredded Chicken Mini Quesadilla
Nutrition Fact: 200 calories, 10g Fat (3.5g Sat. Fat), 490mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 1g Fiber, 10g Protein
Crunchy Taco Supreme
Nutrition Fact: 190 calories, 11g Fat (4.5g Sat. Fat), 340mg sodium, 15g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Spicy Potato Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 230 calories, 12g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 460mg sodium, 27g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for High Cholesterol:
It is best to avoid Bacon or Steak dishes at Taco Bell as such dishes contain a lot of fat. Also, try to avoid all kinds of Drinks and Freezes which are full of sugars resulting in empty calories.
Healthy Meal suggestions for Tachibana Japanese Restaurant
-
Otsumami : Japanese Tapas
-
Yakitori : From the Grill
-
Entrees
-
Sushi and House Specials - Nigiri Shushi
High Blood Pressure at Taco Bell
People with high blood pressure must avoid food with high sodium levels. You can either ask the people at Taco Bell to add less salt in your food or choose the food items with less sodium content or customize your order using Taco Bell's own nutrition calculator.
Food Suggestions to Control Blood Pressure at Taco Bell:
Fresco Chicken Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 150 calories, 6g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 9g Protein
Spicy Tostada
Nutrition Fact: 210 calories, 10g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 440mg sodium, 22g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 5g Fiber, 6g Protein
Grilled Breakfast Burrito - Sausage
Nutrition Fact: 340 calories, 17g Fat (5g Sat. Fat), 730mg sodium, 36g Carbs, 3g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 11g Protein
Veggie Power Menu Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 480 calories, 19g Fat (5g Sat. Fat), 970mg sodium, 65g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 13g Fiber, 14g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for High Blood Pressure:
Taco Bell offers a wide range of Grande Scrambler Burritos, Crunch wraps, and Quesadillas which are high in sodium. It is important to limit the sodium intake at Taco Bell and avoid any meal with over 750-800mg sodium.
Visit below restaurant in McLean for healthy meals suggestion.
High Cholesterol at Taco Bell
Fast food restaurants are known for serving high calorie, greasy food with lots of sugars. Taco Bell changes this trend by offering Fresco Style option where your favorite food item is prepared using pico de gallo as it will cut down 20 – 30 calories easily from the original meal.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Taco Bell:
Mini Skillet Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 180 calories, 11g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Breakfast Soft Taco – Egg & Cheese
Nutrition Fact: 170 calories, 9g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 330mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, less than 1g Fiber, 7g Protein
Spicy Tostada
Nutrition Fact: 210 calories, 10g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 440mg sodium, 22g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 5g Fiber, 6g Protein
Fresco Crunchy Taco – Beef
Nutrition Fact: 140 calories, 7g Fat (2.5g Sat. Fat), 300mg sodium, 14g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 6g Protein
Shredded Chicken Mini Quesadilla
Nutrition Fact: 200 calories, 10g Fat (3.5g Sat. Fat), 490mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 1g Fiber, 10g Protein
Crunchy Taco Supreme
Nutrition Fact: 190 calories, 11g Fat (4.5g Sat. Fat), 340mg sodium, 15g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Spicy Potato Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 230 calories, 12g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 460mg sodium, 27g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for High Cholesterol:
It is best to avoid Bacon or Steak dishes at Taco Bell as such dishes contain a lot of fat. Also, try to avoid all kinds of Drinks and Freezes which are full of sugars resulting in empty calories.
Visit below restaurant in McLean for healthy meals suggestion.
Q&A on Taco Bell
Who owns Taco Bell?
Taco Bell is a restaurant chain subsidiary owned by Yum! Brands, Inc. which controls the restaurant division of PepsiCo.
When does Taco Bell stop serving breakfast?
Taco Bell starts serving breakfast from 6 a.m. which is one hour later than other competitors. However, the restaurant chain continues serving breakfast till 11 a.m. which is half an hour later than other competitors.
When is Taco Bell happy hour?
Happy hour at Taco Bell starts from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Are Taco Bell beans healthy?
Beans are rich in protein, fiber, and minerals like iron and phosphorous. Hence, Taco Bell beans are healthy in nature. However, there are claims that Taco Bell uses a rehydrated slew of mystery ingredients instead of beans. So, simply inquire about the beans before ordering items serving Taco Bell beans.
Which Taco Bell is closest to me?
Use our Restaurant Listings directory to find Taco Bell nearby.
Which Taco Bell sauce is hottest?
Diablo is the hottest Taco Bell sauce.
Which Taco Bell sauce is best?
In terms of popularity, the Mild sauce is undoubtedly the best Taco Bell sauce favored by Americans.
Which Taco Bell sauces are vegan?
Hot and Mild sauces are certified vegan.
Which Taco Bell has nacho fries?
Taco Bell has a habit of discontinuing and relaunching Nacho Fries. You can find the Taco Bell locations nearby to see if the Taco Bell store has Nacho Fries.
Which Taco Bell is open right now?
Taco Bell opens at 6 a.m. in the morning and stays open until 3 a.m. the next day at major locations. In New York city, the Taco Bell stores stay open till 11 p.m. or 12 midnight.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
About Taco Bell
Taco Bell is a haven for Mexican delicacies such as tacos, quesadillas, burritos, nachos, and other specialty items. Owned by Yum! Brands, Inc. Taco Bell is one of the fastest growing American chains of fast food restaurants. The restaurant operates from 7,072 different locations which are mostly run by independent franchisees and licensees.
The background story of Taco Bell is interesting and inspiring for budding entrepreneurs. The fast-food brand is the brainchild of Glen Bell, who started his first food venture as a hot dog seller in San Bernardino, California. The year was 1948. After witnessing long queues outside a Mexican restaurant called Mitla Café across the street, Bell saw the opportunity and demand for hard-shelled Tacos. He reverse-engineered the recipe and later started selling Tacos and called the venture Taco-Tia.
Later, the name changed from Taco-Tia to El Taco. Eventually, Glen Bell sold the company to his partner and opened the first Taco Bell in Downey in 1962. By 1964, the restaurant also got its first franchise in Torrance. The 100th Taco Bell restaurant was opened by 1965. PepsiCo acquired Taco Bell from Glen Bell in 1978 and the restaurant brand is currently a subsidiary of Yum! Brands which looks after the restaurant business of PepsiCo.
Healthy Food Options at Taco Bell
You may believe that a healthy lifestyle doesn't go well at a fast food restaurant. Well, that's not the case with Taco Bell. Surprisingly Taco Bell offers a variety of healthy options, thanks to the in-house registered dietician who monitors the whole menu. The dietician ensures that each item on the menu is free from additives and preservatives, colors, and artificial flavors. The dietician also ensures that the food served at Taco Bell doesn't contain high-fructose corn syrup, low sodium levels, and reduced use of partially hydrogenated oil.
More than 75% of food items served at Taco Bell falls under 500 calories. Taco Bell also features the Fresco Style option which helps the customers to maintain healthy diet plan without missing out on taste. In Fresco style option, Taco Bell switches pico de gallo with cheese, sour cream, guac, and mayo-based sauce. Taco Bell takes care of almost every health preference of its customers.
Tips for Dining at Taco Bell
Diabetics can also try other Fresco styled Taco items such as Fresco Crunchy Taco, Fresco Grilled Steak, and Fresco Soft Taco Beef. These are other healthy alternatives of Tacos for diabetics which contains an adequate amount of starch and minimum or no fat content. Switch the regular sauce or cheese with pico de gallo and you can easily reduce the sodium intake and fat content for your body. It will help maintain blood pressure levels and control high cholesterol.
Q&A on Taco Bell
Who owns Taco Bell?
Taco Bell is a restaurant chain subsidiary owned by Yum! Brands, Inc. which controls the restaurant division of PepsiCo.
When does Taco Bell stop serving breakfast?
Taco Bell starts serving breakfast from 6 a.m. which is one hour later than other competitors. However, the restaurant chain continues serving breakfast till 11 a.m. which is half an hour later than other competitors.
When is Taco Bell happy hour?
Happy hour at Taco Bell starts from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Are Taco Bell beans healthy?
Beans are rich in protein, fiber, and minerals like iron and phosphorous. Hence, Taco Bell beans are healthy in nature. However, there are claims that Taco Bell uses a rehydrated slew of mystery ingredients instead of beans. So, simply inquire about the beans before ordering items serving Taco Bell beans.
Which Taco Bell is closest to me?
Use our Restaurant Listings directory to find Taco Bell nearby.
Which Taco Bell sauce is hottest?
Diablo is the hottest Taco Bell sauce.
Which Taco Bell sauce is best?
In terms of popularity, the Mild sauce is undoubtedly the best Taco Bell sauce favored by Americans.
Which Taco Bell sauces are vegan?
Hot and Mild sauces are certified vegan.
Which Taco Bell has nacho fries?
Taco Bell has a habit of discontinuing and relaunching Nacho Fries. You can find the Taco Bell locations nearby to see if the Taco Bell store has Nacho Fries.
Which Taco Bell is open right now?
Taco Bell opens at 6 a.m. in the morning and stays open until 3 a.m. the next day at major locations. In New York city, the Taco Bell stores stay open till 11 p.m. or 12 midnight.
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Address :
6715 Lowell Ave
McLean, VA, 22101 - Phone (703) 847-1771
- Website https://www.tachibana.us
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Debbie M.
This place has been one of our favorites for 15 years; it is the some of the best authentic Japanese food in Northern Virginia. The Nabayeki udon is so good; the Hamanegi maki and bluefin tuna are amazing. Their specials are really good; their tempura is delicious, too.
(5)Bob Z.
We visited Tachibana several times. Most time we have satisfied experience there. But tonight we realized that their food quality is low and even NOT fresh. And the male hostess is dishonest. I ordered the unagi dinner box, it was served with a bottle of Japanese pepper. I noted that the expiry date on the pepper bottle is 2014.9.20. Then I asked the male hostess why they provide expired spices. Then the hostess said the Japanese word è³žå‘³æœŸé™ on the bottle means the production date. We still doubt it. Then we used google translator, it reveals that è³žå‘³æœŸé™ means Sell By. So obviously, the hostess cheated on us, he lied. And the restaurant use the expired products for their guests! It's HORRIBLE!! So, we will never trust this restaurant any more.
(1)J N.
The service deserves almost 5 stars because everyone was friendly but the food would probably by a 3.5. I only tried the sushi and edamame. I ordered a few rolls: Monica, Tachibana and Softshell crab. The Monica was probably my favorite out of all three. The softshell crab was just ok and the Tachibana roll was ok (wasn't a big fan of the shiso they put in the roll).
(4)Ray W.
I'm not much for Sushi, so I tried the Oyakodon (Chicken, egg, onion & scallion simmered in a sauce.) dish instead. It was underwhelming, to say the most. So, shame on me for not trying the Sushi. Shame on them for not doing a better job with non-Sushi dishes. Service was as mediocre as my dish.
(2)Dan M.
So after having been visiting the Tysons area for a long time, it is always nice to have a fallback joint for sushi. Tachibana is quickly turning into that joint for me in this area. The prices are affordable and the sushi is definitely fresh and slightly better than the price point. It is hard to find just a reliable sushi joint so I am glad this place is not too far away from me. The place is always packed from weekends during the day or week days at night. The servers are friendly from my experiences to date but maybe because for some of them we are able to converse in Korean. I have been here probably at least 8 or 9 times in the last few months and it is consistent. The menu is an array of Japanese food including bentos and sashimi/sushi of course. I have ordered almost every single type of nigiri here and all have been of good quality and tasty. They have a good balance of rice to fish which is appreciated. The wasabi is not overpowering or overdone so plus there too. The sake menu is standard and pretty delicious as well. I have had their donburi as well which is pretty good compared to many of the joints I have tried around the area. Usually sushi restaurants fall apart when they try to diversify their menu but tachibana has done a good job of making everything solid. Definitely a fan of this joint and will continue to venture here as long as I am in the area.
(4)Tina T.
Tachibana, to me, is as authentic as it gets for Japanese food. The quality of the sushi is super fresh, you can definitely taste it. However, I didn't like the taste of the rice much since it was on the sweeter side (not really accustom to it). You can definitely taste it in the Chirashi bowl, but with the nigiri and the hand-rolls it wasn't that noticeable. All in all, great place to get a superb quality of sushi. Only downside of Tachibana is, the parking is okay, service was about a 3 (our server wasn't that great), rice was a little too sweet for me, and it gets kind-of crowded.
(4)Maga T.
Hands down the best Sushi place in Dc area. Have tried only sushi, and I am willing to drive 30 minutes here. Try spicy scallop hand rolls. They are to sooo good. The rainbow roll is terrific as well. If you can sit at the bar and sushi chefs will treat you something !:)
(5)Salim K.
I've been going to Tachibana for 20 years. One of the best places for huge delicious morsels of sashimi of very high quality.
(5)Anabel L.
Without a doubt in my mind, Tachibana has the best sushi in the area. I've been coming here for over 2 years and let me tell you, they have yet to disappoint me. Although service doesn't weigh as much for me as it may for others, Tachibana's service is quite different from what you expect from a traditional asian restaurant experience - it's speedy and accommodating. Miso soup: Can't beat the price for the flavor. Try the clam miso too - just as good! Fresh side salad: usually not big on iceberg lettuce salads in general, let alone one from a japanese place, but somehow their lettuce is so so crisp and the ginger dressing has a great citrusy kick that I dig. Spicy scallop roll: My favorite and my roll go-to. Crispy pieces of tempura flakes and best flavor + texture combo ever - definitely don't pass on this one. Avocado and salmon roll: Great, big portions of both avocado and fresh salmon. You can see it and taste the difference, people! Vegetable udon: pretty basic (but delicious) udon with some scallions thrown in there. My most recent visit here - came here at 10:30pm on a weekday just to have this because there was no food in the house. The staff was extremely nice and while this wasn't my first encounter with their udon, it still tasted just as good as the first time. Mochi (red bean, sesame, green tea): My absolute weakness. So good. Dough is perfectly soft and elastic with ice cream inside. I doubt they make this in-house which usually is enough to deter me from ordering something.. but not when it comes to these. Personally not a fan of sashimi, but my companion who often orders sashimi claims it's the freshest and best around. *Cue moans* If you're taking someone out for lunch/dinner/late-night food and they're into Japanese - come here. The consistency here is insane, it will NOT disappoint.
(5)Vanessa R.
Been here a few times, the sushi is so-so, I actually like the cheaper option up the street called IchiBan more so. The ramen is decent, but isn't anything like those Ramen houses in DC! Ended up having to add a bunch of soy sauce to up the flavor profile and I'd rather avoid all the added sodium, but oh well, it needed it! So, I personally won't be getting my ramen fix here anymore. A few years back the buzz was how extremely authentic this restaurant was; as of lately, I'm not sure I'd want to find out.
(3)Jessica L.
Came for a Friday Lunch, not too crowded and were instantly seated. Ordered milky salt ramen. Ramen was comforting and had a lot of noodles to keep you full. However, the broth wasn't flavorful and was slightly on the salty side. The noodles definitely did not taste like they are freshly made. The toppings weren't impressive either, pork chashu were on the dry side and the bamboo shoots tasted like they were straight out of a can. Overall not impressed with their ramen - about what you would expect for paying $10 at an above average Japanese restaurant that offers a variety of menu items. I can only speak for the ramen though. The other menu items might taste better.
(3)Michelle D.
Tachibana is always packed, lunch or dinner--and for good reason, it carries the freshest fish in the DC metro area. It is also some of the most expensive sushi in the area. They also carry other Japanese cuisine but I will not go into that. I have had lunch here once and dinner several times. Do yourself a favor, get a reservation at the sushi bar. There is almost always a wait. I am in love with the Sashimi Yellowtail dinner or a la carte. For $28 a la carte, 8 pieces of divine and fresh yellowtail sashimi. Knocks me out. Every. Time. And the uni is spectacular here, it is worth the $10/per two nigiri; I order uni everytime I am here. Also, the yellowtail belly nigiri is so savory. I cannot rave enough about all the fish here. I've also had their uni and ikura donburi, yum. Their toro? Enough, its a total win. The dinner option is also a great deal, looks expensive, but you get a soup, appetizer, dessert! The lunch items are not that great of a deal, I'd rather come to dinner. Parking does suck here, its a cramped parking lot, shared by another restaurant and even street parking can be limited. I don't feel like Tachibana is a Japanese cuisine restaurant, like other reviewers have said, I mean, yes it is passable and tasty--but I feel Tachibana, at heart, is a sushi restaurant. The true gems are the sushi chefs here. People who select great fish. I've had sushi from NYC, LA, Vegas...and I'm proud to say Tachibana is the best in the DC Metro area without a doubt.
(5)Peter V.
This is a review based on our experience tonight. Tachibana used to be our go to place for Japanese food but we found another pretty good Japanese restaurant in Fairfax that might be even better... We came here on a Sunday night so the place wasn't as packed but still quite busy. We were seated right away. We ordered the Tonkatsu and the Yellowtail Teriyaki. As usual, everything comes with the soup and my wife got salad and an appetizer for her dinner menu. We also got a side salmon Onigiri rice ball. Sadly they don't offer chawanmushi (steamed egg) on Sundays, according to our waitress. The fish came out overcooked but the tonkatsu was quite good except for the fatty parts. We felt very rushed during dinner and we usually don't mind not having extremely attentive service. However, if we were to pay around $30 per person, I don't think the dining experience lives up to the price.
(3)Stephanie B.
Avoid coming here on Friday and Saturday nights if you hate waiting. Arrived at 6 PM, seated at 6:45, food arrived at 7:45. It's a parent's worst nightmare trying to keep a baby happy and quiet that long. I still love Tachibana, they still have the best Nabeyaki Udon...but you'll only find me there at lunch time when there is less than a five minute wait for a table and the food arrives in 10 minutes.
(4)Elina Y.
Still in LALALALA LOVE with their Nabeyaki Udon. Broth is still on point. Noodles still on point. Toro still on point. Bf didn't like the sushi rice but that was his only complaint. Tachibana, thank you for being you. Le sigh~
(5)Jessica S.
I was craving authentic ramen and didn't want to make the trek all the way into DC to get my fix. Tachibana to the rescue! Their ramen absolutely hit the spot and was neither too oily nor too bland. Definitely my go-to ramen place in Northern Virginia from now on! My boyfriend had their tonkatsu and found it to be rather tasty. I ordered three onigiri home to take to lunch the next day as well - not a good idea. The rice became all cold and hard and at the end of it, I have no idea whether their onigiri was good or not. Lesson learned. The service is very good and the restaurant appears to be run by actual Japanese owners (how is this possible?!). If you're ever in the area and craving Japanese food, I would highly suggest you stop by!
(4)Elain X.
Growing up in the McLean area, I always remembered everyone talking about this place and I have been here a few times but none of the experiences I remember , not because I was drunk or anything but I guess there was nothing memorable about this place. One night I was craving sushi and i was super hungry. We ordered the yellow tail fish, Spicy tuna, the New york roll (Smoked salmon skin with shiso and scallions) and we ordered a regular sashimi plate. The yellow tail came out and it was drizzled in some dark teriyaki sauce. The fish was ok, nothing too great. The rolls came out along with the sashimi and I instantly regretted coming here. The fish didn't even look fresh and SURPRISE! It didn't taste fresh either. The spicy tuna was not spicy, it just tasted like a regular tuna roll. The new york roll was tasteless and all i ended up getting was scales in my mouth, which by the way was not pleasant at all. I really did not enjoy my meal and on top of that, the waitress didnt stop by until the end to fill my water and took forever to give me the check but was quick to pick it up. Not coming back again.
(2)Capd L.
Best Sushi in Northern Virginia. If you're looking for traditional Japanese sushi using the freshest fish, without all the special (American created) rolls drowned in mayo to hide the quality of the fish, this is your place.
(4)daniel k.
Of all the restaurants I've been to in NOVA, I have to admit that I've frequented Tachibana the most. And every time I come out of restaurant, the food, service and overall experience have successively gotten worse. Beginning with the not-so-warm welcoming, the cut of the fish is sloppy, the tea isn't hot, the plate not thoroughly clean. All the things I expect a Japanese restaurant to do above- par isn't being done. So as of this write-up, I will stop going.
(3)Josh G.
Tachibana is easily the most authentic sushi/sashimi experience in the DC-metro area. The food is fresh and expertly crafted. Certainly not fine dining. Service and decor leave much to be desired and the bathroom was off-putting, to say the least. To be fair, Tachibana doesn't pretend tobe something it's not.
(4)Marc P.
This is a 5 star sushi place. If you like traditional Japanese sushi, this is the place to go. I don't give many 5 stars, this place deserves it. Thank you Greg Cohen for recommending it to me.
(5)Chris C.
DISCLAMIER: A WAITRESS TOLD US WE DIDN'T TIP ENOUGH AND ASKED FOR MORE MONEY. NEVER GOING BACK. I came here for my birthday yesterday with a group of 6 and we enjoyed all of our food. When it was time for the bill, we tipped 17% cash and handed the money to our waitress. When it was time to leave, she had the audacity to walk back to our table and tell us that the tip was not enough. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? At first we were confused since we covered both the bill, tax and tip. Then we had to think about it again and realize that she was asking for more money. I was appaled. I've never ever been asked to tip more. If this was an American restaurant, the watiress would have gotten fired on the spot. Honestly, I really liked their food but I'm ashamed that I brought my friends to a place like this. It's a joke that they let her keep her job after this happened. The food was great but the service was the worst I've ever had. Those with great experiences should continue to go, but Tachibana is killing their business and their reputation.
(1)Xida Z.
I came expecting to spend about $35 for good sushi. I left very impressed by the quality sushi and the fresh tempura. If you want to pay that much for dinner, you will be pretty satisfied. The Sushi Special (a la carte) has 11 different pieces: Tuna, Flounder, Salmon, Shrimp, Eel, Yellowtail, Clam, Smoke Salmon, Escolar, Salmon Roe, Flying Fish Roe. Each piece has a small bit of wasabi between the fish and the rice. I love the quality of fish and variety. My friend's dinner box looked really good too.
(5)Chlo L.
The quality of sushi here is excellent!! The deluxe chirashi was delicious & fresh. I was hoping for a little surprise like uni/toro/ikura/more unagi... But c'est la vie! I can't emphasize enough the QUALITY of the sushi. The uni won't disappoint :). Also fell in love with their monk fish dish. They don't have elaborate rolls, but I love it all the same. The atmosphere is low key and family oriented, but I much prefer this to crowded & loud anyways. The service is also EXCELLENT - attentive! Almost to a fault...
(4)McLean M.
The food here is always excellent and authentic this is a Japanese owned restaurant and it makes a difference. I find the sushi to be quite excellent. The service can be a little standoffish which is the only reason I'm giving it four stars. I've grown you used it there never rude just reserved.
(4)Peterson H.
Place is authentically Japanese. Prices are fair, sashimi is FRESH. I had he chirachi bowl, of which I felt the chopped seasoned salmon was the most outstanding. I will order that item specifically next time. If it becomes crowded, ask for a sushi bar seat, no wait. Lots of people were waiting to get a table, justifiable so as this place is delicious.
(4)Natasha S.
YUM! My brother in law introduced me to this place and I am so grateful. For a late Monday night, it was very busy. Fortunately, we had a group of 7 and were able to be seated at the only available table which was a larger party table in the corner. I originally wanted to give them a 5, but I ended up with a 4 because of the service. The service was decent. In the beginning, we had a hard time just getting the server to come to our table to get drink orders. And even though we were ready to order our food during the drink order, the server made us wait another 15 minutes. The whole ordering process really took longer than it should have. Throughout the meal, the server then started to become more attentive, but by then it was too late. The atmosphere is standard. Not overly upscale but not dirty either. Just average. You can tell the restaurant is a little older and is aiming for the upscale appearance. The food is great. We ordered the following things; Fried calamari Shrimp & vegetable tempura Potato croquette Yakitori Seaweed salad Spicy salmon roll Salmon avocado roll California roll Dragon roll Avocado, cream cheese crunch roll Sushi deluxe combination Salt clear broth ramen The appetizers were decent. The ramen was good but not the best I've had. However, noodles were perfectly cooked. Broth was a tad bland. The sushi deluxe was a great deal. For $38, you get an entire presentation of different nigiri selections such as sea urchin, prawn head, red shrimp, giant clam, and etc. The combination uses a lot of the more uncommon pieces and I thought was great. The cooked sushi rolls were standard. Their salmon was fresh and by far I thought the spicy salmon roll was the best. Their salmon was super fresh and cut thick. Some rolls were thick on rice, but others not as much which I didn't like. I like thinner rolled rick and consistency. For dessert, I had the green tea ice cream with red bean topping. And THAT was delicious. I'd love to return and order just the sashimi and sushi. The fish here is fresh and definitely better quality than most of the other establishments in the area. Prices were a little high but you pay for what you get, and it's obvious here. Parking is easy. Location was easy to find. Service needs work.
(4)Chow N.
This is the place to come if you like a great selection of authentic Japanese apps, fresh tempura, and the best ever spicy scallop rolls that aren't that spicy. There's also a good variety of grilled fish. Note that the best selection/cuts of fish come when you order ala carte, which isn't cheap. Lunch is reasonable but dinner can be expensive.
(4)Tracy N.
I little picky in food but i have to say i love the fresh sushi here and also their noodle ... Good service!!! I very enjoy sitting at the sushi bar !!!
(4)Eddie K.
Parking really sucks here. But once you get in, the food and service is really good. The lunch specials here are hard to beat. The chirashi is a really great value for what you get. Dinner they charge $30, while at lunch it's just $12.50. The Bento Box B is a lot of food. Get this only if you are really hungry. The tempura, salmon, dumplings and yakitora was great. It is priced at $19, but I really liked it. I saw they serve ramen here. Will have to try that next time I am in Mclean.
(4)Cat P.
I remember trying Tachibana's sushi years ago and not being too impressed. However, to be fair, my group arrived thirty minutes before closing so that may have impacted the freshness of the fish. Maybe all the good picks had already been devoured by earlier diners... Anyway, flash forward a few years later, my fiance and I came because we were both hankering for a comfy bowl of noodle soup. Tachibana does not offer Japanese ramen on their menu; however, they have an assortment of soba and udon bowls. I got the yamakake (grated yam) soba noodle soup, while he ordered the nabeyaki udon. The yamakake soba, despite not containing any protein, was incredibly nourishing and delicious. The grated yam added a delicate creaminess to the soup, which was heavenly. Their nabeyaki udon (most likely a chicken stock, I cheated!), was also quite tasty, though I still preferred my order. I have to return for the sushi and give it another chance, but I dig their homey Japanese dishes and the cute, grandmotherly woman who was our server that day.
(4)Ara A.
Solid spot. It is consistently good. Everything tastes as it should and is fresh. I guess my biggest knock is nothing is OUTSTANDING, but that goes for most all sushi spots in the DMV area. I have been 3 times and will go back again.
(4)Mina C.
I recently ate here because I wanted sushi and ordered the Spicy Scallop roll and a few other rolls. The spicy scallop roll isn't very spicy, so don't be turned away if you can't handle the heat. I also had a bowl of the Udon noodles, which to be honest was mediocre. Nothing to rave about. Overall, this place is great if you're around the McLean area, but not worth driving out for.
(3)Saara Z.
Tachibana is a great place for fresh sushi and sashimi - probably some of the freshest sushi you will find at such a reasonable price in this area. The pieces of fish are much larger than most places and the fish to rice ratio in the nigiri is about 2:1, which is perfect in my opinion. They also add a hint of wasabi inside each piece. My go-to items at Tachibana are the fatty yellowtail and salmon belly. Salmon belly isn't on the menu but they usually have it upon request. The rolls here are not my favorite but I am reluctant to downgrade for this. They have the standard combinations and some others. One thing to note is that many rolls (spicy scallop roll for example) have crunchy flakes inside them without any mention of it on the menu. Likewise, anything called "spicy" is spiced with a spicy seasoning powder of sorts, not the usual layer of sriracha or other spicy sauce. Overall: fish here is super fresh and they always have seasonal selections (so ask if you're adventurous). Prices are reasonable and service is above average.
(5)Yo S.
I'm not usually in the business of making blanket statements, but you can go ahead and ignore the idiots who don't think the food is good here. You'll be hard pressed to find many places with better quality and taste for the price. They have been a McLean establishment for years and are consistently packed despite the growing "competition" for good reason. If you're craving Japanese food, Tachibana will not let you down. If you're still debating where to eat, just come eat here.
(4)Jason S.
Pretty good restaurant although I was expected a bit more. I walked in with the conversations of Japanese going back and forth between the cooks and the waitress. The restaurant had the lights dims to give the restaurant a more comfortable mood as people were eating. The decorations were just neat enough to make it seem homely. The chair were actually comfortable and there was just enough room to have the entire restaurant full without feeling cramped. Then I opened the menu I was like wtf!! I came here expecting some a real Japanese food menu instead I got a menu that looks like every other Japanese restaurant in town. They of course had the sushi and the tempura some udon soups but where was the ramen or the okonomiyaki? Where was the oyakodon or onigiri? If they had yakitori as well. I would have stayed there alot longer. If your going to have Japanese food have a Japanese selection!
(2)Candy C.
This is the top Japanese restaurant in the area, especially as price to value is concerned. I normally order the Chirashi but when there is snow on the group I will mix it up and order the udon or ramen. About the udon- it's served scalding hot in an iron pot. The noodles have the perfect firm consistency. The broth a nice even color- flavorful and not to watery. Only one shrimp in the udon but I'm cool with that- it makes it more special yay! The fish? Yeah it's flow in fresh daily and definitely changes according to season. Follow them on the Facebook- they will post it when something rare or unusual comes in. Service is fast an efficient.
(5)Xiao C.
Nice place. Can't believe we missed this treasure after going tysons corner for so many times. We started with some sake and marinated cod. The cod is cooked to perfect. Then some sushi. Yes they are good. Fresh. The rice was surprisingly good, definitely among the best experience. We ordered some tempura as we wanted some more idea about the restaurant. Not amazing and the oil was a it heavy or maybe we were already quite full at that point. Anyway though, we already put this place on top of our McLean restaurant list. So five star without hesitation.
(5)Dianna Janet M.
I came here two months ago and wanted to cane back again to satisfy my sushi craving. The oden was definitely a win! It is a clear/light soup with a variety of fish cakes, seaweed and radish. The spicy scallop handrail is definitely worth ordering too! The speciality rolls were alright, but overall the food experience is an A+!
(5)Suzanne T.
Delicious meal last weekend! Crowded but well worth the wait. The server was very pleasant. Physical space needs some updating, especially bathrooms.
(4)Christina L.
My favorite sushi place in the area! A Japanese sushi restaurant with actual Japanese management and servers :0! (Shocker). The sushi and sashimi here are so tasty, and the fish is always fresh and handled well. I have too many favorites from this place but if I had to pick one, I'd say the sashimi specials are the way to go. Sushi platters are good too-- just to try a little bit of everything. If you get the dinner combo you will also get to try an appetizer and desert so I recommend that. Love love love this place!
(5)Chieu L.
Atmosphere was great...(on the romantic/quiet side). The food was decent and the variety is pretty decent. It's a bit on the pricey end though. Definitely for special occasions not for the daily outing.
(4)Ria G.
We tried going there on a Sunday for lunch and there was a good crowd. We did not wait long to get seated. We had the Yakitori to start and 4 sushi rolls. They were all delicious. Then we had green tea mochi ice cream for dessert. We went back a second time for Sunday night dinner. This time we brought our 12-year-old daughter. She had the Tonkatsu from the a la carte menu. The portion was huge (three pieces of breaded pork) with yummy sauce and miso soup. It was good. Then my husband and I shared 4 sushi rolls, and they were all good. Then we had strawberry mochi ice cream for dessert. It was good as well. The service was adequate. They were attentive and they always brought what we asked. They always came by to refill our water glasses. They even gave us another cup of rice to go with our leftovers. So no complaints on the service. When we went on both times, we noticed that there were a lot of Japanese diners, so if they dine there then the food must meet their standards. We are not Japanese and we thought the food was delicious.
(5)J L.
Good mIso ramen and milky salt ramen. Sometimes they run out and then I get sad. Sashimi and sushi are very good and reasonably priced/portioned too.
(4)Swatee G.
VERY disappointed! While my first visit to this place was a complete 4 star experience, this was just below my expectations from a nice family run Japanese business! :( We were 5 hungry people who dropped in on a Saturday night about 45 minutes before closing. None of the food we ordered was good at all - I wont even go into the individual details of each dish, since it isn't worth my time. But be it the yakitori, the chirashi or the the extremely weird Ume Shsio/plum roll, everything was sub par and a a BIG disappointment. To top it all, we felt rushed throughout the meal to order stuff all together since they were 'close to closing'. Additionally, the server forgot 3 of our dishes and still charged us for it. We had to call her back and have the food removed. We left the place feeling unsatisfied and not happy with our meals and having paid a decent amount of money.! I will not likely to ever be back again!
(1)Jessica L.
--3.5 stars-- I had been wanting to try this place out for the longest time and finally made it out with one of my girlfriends last night. We arrived around 8pm and it was packed! For the two of us our estimated wait time was 30-40 minutes, but luckily we
(3)Tony G.
Good food. Nice staff. Authentic. :)
(4)Raak S.
To me, Tachibana is still the gold standard of the Japanese restaurant in the NoVA area. Granted, there are so many other Japanese restaurants in the area that deserve the high praise review. However, I find myself keep coming back to Tachibana for either a quick lunch, takeout, dinner alone at the sushi bar, or large group dinner in private room. The food quality is very consistent and the service is good most of the time. I still haven't found the dish here that I don't like. Most of the time I order either Sashimi Special or Sushi Deluxe. May be miso ramen for lunch (which is a very nice noodle dish too) Sushi Deluxe is probably my favorite here. For the price around $30 (ala carte), you will get various toppings that many other restaurants do not include in their sets. I got : Tuna - Not Toro of course, but such a sweet succulent piece of blue fin! Yellowtail - melts in your mouth (with that quality, probably in your hands too) Flounder fin - one of my favorite toppings. Mellow and crunchy Clam - The way the chef cut it somehow render it quite pleasant to bite into. Almost feel like cold, delight, briny piece of cucumber. Horse Mackerel - super fresh and yummy Eel - Nothing spectacular about the fish (I don't want to think that it comes out of a package which is probably what it is), but the sweet glazing is great Scallop - nice thickness and just right amount of wasabi between the scallop and sushi rice. Roes - the Salmon and Flying Fish ones are not too salty, just right. The Sea Urchin roe is super fresh! creamy and smell like sea water as it should. Sushi Deluxe is probably my favorite here. For the price around $30 (ala carte), you will get various toppings that many other restaurants do not include in their sets. I got : Tuna - Not Toro of course, but such a sweet succulent piece of blue fin! Yellowtail - melts in your mouth (with that quality, probably in your hands too) Flounder fin - one of my favorite toppings. Mellow and crunchy Clam - The way the chef cut it somehow render it quite pleasant to bite into. Almost feel like cold, delight, briny piece of cucumber. Horse Mackerel - super fresh and yummy Eel - Nothing spectacular about the fish (I don't want to think that it comes out of a package which is probably what it is), but the sweet glazing is great Scallop - nice thickness and just right amount of wasabi between the scallop and sushi rice. Roes - the Salmon and Flying Fish ones are not too salty, just right. The Sea Urchin roe is super fresh! creamy and smell like sea water as it should. Sweet shrimp - as delicious as a fresh shrimp can be and this shrimp does not want to be a lobster when he grows up! the deep fried head is served on the plate as well, which is a nice touch (at least to a fried shrimp head lover like me)
(5)Ignatius H.
Good ramen. Lunch was fast and reasonably priced. They have wait staff that speak Japanese. Glad my co-worker introduced me to this place. Haven't gone back for their sushi, but I hear they have a Japanese trained sushi chef and high enough volume that their raw fish remains fresh.
(5)Mark R.
I drove around the entire town looking for this place because it was a hidden gem. There's really not much to say about the decor of this place; a very typical Japanese restaurant with sushi bar on one side and the seating area on in the front. It is pretty big though. I can probably accommodate large group as well. I don't know if you understand the difference between Japanese sushi and what else we eat from Korean and Chinese operated sushi places. Japanese sushi is more raw. You really feel the texture and the taste of the fish. Use very little soy sauce and wasabi. You are supposed to simply enjoy the flavor of the fish. That is the best part of this place. It is so FRESH. I ate everything off the sushi/sashimi combo except the fish eggs because that is just TOO RAW for my taste. A very friendly staff and great place to have something authentic.
(4)Daniel T.
Went here on a Sunday night with my cousin. We had the sushi deluxe and the sashimi special. We also had miso soup, seaweed salad, and green tea mochi ice cream. The miso and seaweed were mediocre at best..the sushi and sashimi were OK. For the price, I guess it was OK but I was honestly disappointed. I am aware that they do omakase, based on how much you want to spend. But after I tasted some of the fish, I was not interested. I'm glad I did not do omakase. Guess this place could be a good spot for lunch specials, definetely not one of the better places for sushi in the area.
(3)Paul F.
I visited Tachibana twice, in October and November. It's long been my favorite sushi joint in Northern VA and over the years has been a frequent rendezvous point, but I hadn't been in perhaps a year - new job, other side of the county, tighter schedule. My first visit back was disorienting: I wasn't greeting by the long-time hostess (and, what seemed, floor manager) but by a gruff salaryman-looking fellow. I wondered if Tachibana was under new management, or perhaps the familiar mama-san had retired. Well, my staple, the sashimi lunch, looked essentially the same, with the same generous piles of fish, cut perhaps a tad smaller than the supersized sashimi that always appeared on my board. But...two of the offerings - the spicy tuna in the cuke floret and what I think might have been white tuna - were stinky. I mean, very fishy smelling, as in "not fresh." I complained to my lunchmate, who reacted similarly to his sashimi. I thought this was an aberration and just set it aside. A month later I returned and had another disappointing experience, with smelly red tuna and watery, flavorless white sashimi. Either not fresh, previously frozen, or sourced from a different, less careful, provider. You don't get three strikes in the hospitality/food service business: that was it for me. I won't be returning. I feel badly about that, and I'll read the reviews - I see mine isn't the first to report a serious decline - and hope for a better outcome for what was once, hand's down, my favorite Japanese restaurant...
(2)Michael A.
I have traveled to Japan about 10 times and so I have a high bar when it comes to eating sushi. I decided to go to this place after reading some of the reviews. When I go to Japanese Sushi establishments, the first thing I want to know is if its Japanese owned. If this is the case its really the only way you have a chance to experience some authentic Japanese cusine. The owners are Japanese and the reivews were good so I tried it. They did have fresh Uni (Sea Urchin) Toro (Fatty Tuna) and Saba (Mackeral). My 3 favorite things to eat. I let the chef tell me about a few of his recommendations. I told him to bring it all on. It dawned on me after eating it that some of the items he was recommending were items he needed to sell rather than actually somehting that was in my best interest. We sat at the sushi bar, and my waiter was a bit clumsy and was late on a few things. The towles that you get at an aunthentic resturant were over sized, late, and cold. Just seemed like there was not alot of effort there. The chef recommended the soft shell crab. They were frozen, and they were just O.K. as far as taste goes. When served sashimi was served with radish but no green leaf. Also everytime I would order some more food, the chef would ask me to pick up my plate and hand it back to him, instead of presenting it to me on a fresh serving dish. Very odd. Anyways, it was very expensive and the food was just ok. On a side note, the bathrooms were a mess and thats a big turn off for me too. I would probably go back but I would limit myself to just the mackeral and a beer. Thanks.
(3)Jinho P.
***Born and Raised Seattlite*** I know good seafood, raw, cooked, steamed, farmed, wild caught, the whole shebang. Take my opinion for what it's worth. This place is probably the best sushi place to eat in the Washington DC area. However, compare to what else is out there, I can't say it comes close to excellent Japanese seafood on the west coast. Perhaps, it's not the owners fault due to distribution channel limitations. So I agree with the other Yelpers that it's great sushi but keep in mind that these reviews might be regionally biased. As a native Seattlite and near great fisheries in the Puget Sound Basin, this place is sub par as with all the other sushi venues in the DC Metro or just up and down the Eastern Seaboard.
(2)Pat C.
Worried. Has there been a mgmt change? New chefs behind counter last week. Rolls got smaller, shrimp shrank, and rolls arrived open. Mon dieu!
(2)P.J S.
FOOD - 4 Stars SERVICE - 4.5 Stars AMBIANCE - 3.5 Stars This is one of the well known and preferred restaurants amongts Mcleaneans. The quality of sushi is better than other places around the town. The price tag is bit high compared to other places but given the quality of sushi, it is acceptable. However, for sushi and sashimi-holics, you are not getting THE top notch fresh out of the water quality sushi that you would get from five star restaurants. Service is decent enough. The decor is minimal and sitting is bit on the crowded side and lacks privacy.
(4)Brianna C.
Extremely fresh fish, very well priced, and a ton of options! I was very impressed with all the options. There is a huge variety of food if there's someone in your party that doesn't do sushi. Inside it pretty cramped but food is worth it
(4)Joanne L.
Best sushi in the DMV area. Its food is on par with what I've had in Japan, and with Japanese grandparents, I've been forced to eat my weight in Japanese food on multiple occasions. My family has come here for New Year's Eve and special occasions for the past three years, and we've tried many dishes on their extensive menu. Pretty much everything here is tasty and authentic, especially its sashimi. The salmon sashimi in particular was SO fresh and actually a bit mind-blowing. I'm not even kidding. My brother and I couldn't believe how good it was. Anyway, almost everything here is top-notch. Appetizers: -age tofu -edamame -miso soup (comes with some entrees) -tempura (shrimp & vegetables) -gyoza -chawan mushi (steamed egg custard) Main: -sushi entrees -chirashi sushi entrees -sashimi entrees -tonkatsu -nabeyaki udon -tempura udon -ramen- it's not on their menu, but they do serve it. Personally, this was one of the only things that I thought wasn't fabulous) Sushi Rolls: -california -spicy scallop roll- I got tired of these pretty fast. It's pretty good if you like these rolls, but I lost my taste for the texture of the scallops pretty quickly) -eel and avacado -shrimp tempura -rainbow -dragon Dessert: -mochi ice cream- comes in three flavors, green tea, strawberry, and red bean. I've tried them all. I love green tea flavoring, so that was my favorite. My parents like red bean the best and my brother liked strawberry the best. So it really depends on what you like. The tea they serve here is good too. Service is alright- attentive, but not necessarily friendly at times. It gets pretty crowded after 6 on weekends and holidays, so come early or make reservations if you want to snag a table. I believe they have a no-reservations policy on holidays. Bottom line, I love this place. I don't come here often because it's pretty far from my home and I can't afford it with my student budget, but I always make the trip home when I know my parents plan on coming here. Highly recommend for anyone seeking authentic Japanese food!
(5)Cory L.
Yes...after so many years, I was craving Japanese...and we were in McLean. On a Saturday evening around 6PM, we were told that there would be a wait of about 20 minutes. Another family was told the same thing, as we were waiting outside. The guy comes back 5 minutes later and says to the other family that they could come inside because they were going to be called next in about 5-20 minutes. ??? Anyways, that family and mine were seated around the same time. No menus were brought and the waitresses would not even acknowledge us. After 10 minutes, we just got up and left. We heard the other family complaining amongst themselves that no one offered a welcome, water, or menus. Same here, not even eye contact. Poor service is inexcusable, and not greeting even after walking past us several times is just terrible. They act like they are the only Japanese restaurant in the area...but then again, Washington DC is not known for sushi. Tachibana in any other city would be average at best...the interior, service, and the food. Yes, I said it.
(2)Ayako Y.
I ordered fried Oyster with bowl of rice and miso soup. It was terrible. The fries were pretty big but mostly with fried flour. The oysters were pretty small and they were not cooked not enough. Fries(oyster) were not crunchy at all. I took out the tempura flour and just ate oysters. I never order it any more. I expected very decent size of fried oyster not very big and crunchy ones.
(1)James W.
Quite frankly I am surprised and even slightly annoyed that Tachibana doesn't have a 5 star consensus. Now I know it is impossible that everyone will love a restaurant as much as I do, but tachibana just deserves it. I feel as though it is possible that some of the negative reviews are the result of people coming and expecting to have a more americanized product. If you are looking for a menu with 100 different types of rolls coated heavily in different types of sauces and all including tempura'd fishes, then Tachibana might not be for you. As we learned recently they have a way of guaranteeing incredibly authentic and fresh fish. Their fish is so good, fresh, and flavorful that we have come to realize that other places clearly misrepresent types of fish and pretend they have things that they do not. This is certainly not the case with tachibana as we always order both the sashimi special and the sashimi regular, which are platters of a differing assortment of thick sliced pieces of sashimi. The platters regularly come with the staples, salmon, tuna, yellowtail, snapper, and seared ginger tuna. In addition to those there is always some combination of butter fish, scallops, octopus, squid, mackerel, eel, and perhaps others. The sashimi is just so good that we do not feel the need to dull it down with rice or complicated sauces as the fish alone, lightly dipped in their ponzu sauce, was beyond satisfying. Further their spicy scallop rolls, and handrolls are just about the best thing i have ever tasted, I swear I could eat 10 of them and they are big. Final bonus, the mussels are better then any I've had anywhere. Ultimately if you love authentic sushi that lets its fresh ingredients shine above all then this place is for you! Warning: Once you have consumed Tachibana you may never be able to eat sushi anywhere else and enjoy it.
(5)Kimberly S.
I came here for lunch at 2:00 on a random Wednesday and was surprised to see the parking lot completely packed. Business men, families, international dignitaries, truckers, etc. It looked like everybody was playing hooky at Tachibana. Japanese food has been so sexy and trendy the past few years that when I stepped into the restaurant I felt like I had gone in a time warp. This place is old school. Like so old school that the decor was hip when Michaelangelo was still a party dude, Maya the Bee was still buzzing around town, and Joey Lawrence still one bad ass motha. But don't let that deter you! The staff is friendly and the restaurant is meticulously clean. The food? Authentic! Their sushi is mouthwateringly fresh. Their entrees -- surprisingly wide and varied. They even have ramen on the menu with several different broth choices! I went with the salt ramen which is my favorite and enjoyed it thoroughly. The bowl was humongous and was filled to the bream with pork, rolled mustard greens, fish cakes, corn, green onions and so much more. Forget those trendy ramen houses with two hours waits, this place is all that AND a side of sushi. Beat that!
(4)Lori C.
The food here at Tachibana was delicious. The seafood was fresh and was well prepared. My dish came in about 9 mins and he servers were really nice.the place is very crowded and is very kid-friendly. I would recommend getting a reservation before coming, if you want the seat at the bar. Otherwise, this place is great.
(5)Helen C.
Hands down the best sushi in northern VA. The fish is always fresh and portions are generous. All their dishes are authentic and traditional. I've had my birthday dinner twice here and the staff was always accommodating to my large parties. Due to its popularity, parking can be tough and there's a wait on weekends.
(4)Candace C.
2 for food, + 1 for service I was in a group of 8 on a Wednesday night so the service was attentive to us since it wasn't too busy in the rest of the restaurant. I got the chirashi bowl and many others in the group got ramen. The chirashi bowl was underwhelming and I've had better at a slightly lower price point. There were some onions/mushrooms that were overpowering and I didn't think the rice had enough vinegar. The response to the ramen was "meh" all the way around the table and comments about the broth lacking flavor depth, although it is more filling than other items on the menu. I think I would return for the udon, uni, and scallop rolls that people have been raving about. At least the tea was hot! Try to bring cash if you're in a large group.
(3)Courtney S.
Had very high hopes for this sushi restaurant and was hoping to find my new spot in town. The sushi was tasty but almost immediately made me quite ill. I won't be able to go back here because of it even though the staff was quite friendly.
(1)Theresa T.
Sushi was overall fresh and decent but nothing worth raving about. We were bummed that two of our favorites, scallop and uni were sold out that night. Thought that was rather disappointing as it was only 7:45pm and the restaurants wasn't that busy. The toro and yellowtail were not the best cut as they had way too much fat. Service was friendly and attentive. Prices are on the higher end for what it has to offer. It's one of those places that I would probably visit again if I'm in the area but not go out of my way for.
(3)Craig H.
Don't be put off by the fact that Tachibana is in a rather dumpy two story building. Don't be frightened away by the somewhat drab decor or the fact the prices are a bit high. The food is authentically prepared. The fact that half the patrons were Japanese ought to tell you something.
(4)Kimmy L.
This is my go to place whenever I am craving straight up raw fish! i.e. Sashimi or Nigiri. Their fish is high quality and as fresh as they come. They even have fresh wasabi! I am in Tuna, Yellowtail and Fatty Tuna heaven whenever I am here. I love the fresh hot towel they give you too. Great service! The only bad experience I have had is with their Rainbow Roll. I am used to ordering this roll at many different sushi places and it always comes out the same - salmon/tuna/avocado/shrimp wrapped around a California roll. When I ordered it here, it was nothing like that at all...it came with some sort of pink dust on the outside and I just didn't care for it.
(4)Amy H.
Before going to Tachibana, we were a little bit worried after reading some negative reviews on Yelp. Fortunately, we still decided to go for a family dinner last weekend. We LOVE this restaurant. Everything was great!! We ordered a Sashimi banto box, a chiken teriyaki with rice, and a milky ramen (it's on the lunch menu, but the chef was very nice to make this for us). We lived in Northern Virginia for 1.5 years and tried some Japanese restaurant. According to my husband, Tachibana is the top 1. Compared to Sushi Yoshi, another of our favorite, Tachibana's banto box is more expensive, but it was worthy!! We got soup, salad, Sashimi appetizer, and a lot of food (including cold dishes, sushi rolls, tampura, steam dumpings...and the green tea icecream!!). Their food was very tasty. We also love the service. All the waitress were very friendly and patient. We brought our 21-month daughter with us. You know, dining with a "trouble-two" could turn into a diaster. All the waitress were very supportive. Although we did not request, they brought us kid's plate and utensils for us. They also keep asking what they can do to take care of our little one's needs. It's a great restaurant, we definitely will visit there again!!
(5)David B.
The sushi is excellent, there is no questioning that. Extremely fresh, and the nigiri is well sized with a generous proportion of fish to rice. They do add wasabi between the rice and the fish at wildly inconsistent amounts. However, on our Tuesday night visit they seemed to be understaffed. There were many open tables in the restaurant but only two chefs working behind the sushi bar. While our server was very friendly and they were clearly doing their best, our dinner of just two rounds of orders ended up being a 2 hour event. Definitely some great sushi that was worth the wait, but I recommend getting all your orders in at the beginning unless you want dinner to be a night long event.
(4)Terri H.
In the area visiting family & this is their go-to must-eat when it comes to a Japanese owned/operated establishment serving authentic Japanese cuisine. Ordered a Sashimi lunch & it did not disappoint. Fish is the freshest it can get. Stunning presentation with great attention to detail, along with perfectly balanced flavours & textures, made it a meal to remember.
(5)Erin R.
Brought in by the reviews and traffic from leaving Tysons, Tachibana did not disappoint. We sat at the bar and thoroughly enjoyed our service by the friendly and occasionally funny sushi chef. I was most impressed by the Octopus nigiri, it was my first time trying Octopus and I was shocked at how much I liked the chewy like slightly crisp texture (chef said the octo is delivered Fridays, when we were there, so I'm sure that helped). We loved our spicy scallop role, the tuna jalapeno role was good and so was the yellowtail nigiri. I'd come back for just the octopus!
(4)Meghan C.
I took a friend here for dinner the other night based on some of the great reviews. I have to say I was pretty disappointed right when we arrived. The building is a little scary looking and the inside isn't much better. They have paper screens in front of all of the windows which makes it feel small and darker then it should. Not good for anyone who might be claustrophobic! We ordered a few of the nigiri sushi pieces which were all pretty good, the yellow tail was the best. The rolls on the other hand were bad. The spicy tuna tasted like what I can only assume cat food tastes like and it looked unappealing, I was not impressed. The service was slow and not particularly friendly. The overall atmosphere was uninviting and dull. I was surprised at how many great reviews this place got based on my experience. I will not be coming back, I am going to stick with my regular sushi place!
(2)A K.
For ten years I have been coming to this place considering it the best sushi place around. But last March I got food poisoning while at the restaurant. I thought I ate something that did not taste right, and then I got violently ill. I was too embarrassed and sick to talk to the manager then, but did write to them a message on their website. I stated how much I loved the restaurant and what a disappointment it was to get sick...I did not receive a word back. Today, four months later, I returned because I have mentally forgiven them. And, in my chirashi bowl I again ate something awful. I tried not to notice, because everything else was great...and then there it was again, the taste of rotten fish. I asked the chef (I sat at the bar, and it happened to be exactly the same young chef - the youngest there) what that was, and he said it was tilapia. I told him it was awful. With the smile, he said that next time I would need to ask to replace tilapia with something else and he would charge me extra for it. This time I decided to talk to the manager. A Japanese woman listened to my story and said "next time ask for me and I will fulfill your order". I did not quite understand that and explained that the chef was serving rotten fish. She shrugged her shoulders and suggested I should sit at a different place in the restaurant next time. Well, I will never be going back. What a disappointment.
(1)Yi Z.
sushi's pretty fresh. fried scallop is my fav there. dishes are too small tho, we had to order a lot, therefore I hv doubts on the value for the money.. it is pretty close to a McLean's hiking spot, Scott Run nature reserve. It was good to stop by for dinner after a short hike on the weekend. 4-star.
(4)Xtine C.
Good quality fish and very authentic. I think the entire staff is Japanese. The rolls weren't amazing so I wouldn't recommend getting any. Huge restaurant with plenty of seating but make reservations if you can, they fill up quick! Their cold soba noodles were good but nothing spectacular. It's a bit steep on price and the ambiance isn't THAT great. I'll prob give it another try to eat their other selections but my first exp here wasn't as memorable as other yelpers.
(3)Kathleen N.
Overall ~ 3.5 stars Food ====== $12 Sushi A $7.50 Spicy Scallop Roll $14 Chirashi Lunch Complimentary? Hot Tea Lunch special accompanied with choice of miso or suimono soup and salad The stamp of authenticity? They had no sriracha! That pleased me to no end, although my friend was left with no dipping sauce, he settled with my wasabi-soy-ginger marinade. The chirashi - - definitely better at Sushi Yoshi. There was in essence four slices of fish, although nice and juicy slices: salmon, tuna, saba, and albacore I believe. Also accompanied with sweet mushrooms, eggs, and a soft pickle. Fish-wise, there was also a small spicy mix, a shrimp tail, and crab stick. Beyond the fish tasting good, nothing else really won me over. I would've been happier going to a sashimi happy hour. Spicy Scallop Roll: although there's only six pieces to the plate, it is amazingly really likeable and the winner of the meal, pulling up the star rating. the crunch on the inside just adds a wonderful texture mixture that you don't expect from a roll, including rolls involving tempura Decor ======= Tasteful, to put it one way. None of the over the top decorations or Asian-esque clouds or fans. Cream colored walls and green, more European-style chairs, with accents of the paper-square doors Service ====== On the lower star level. There's no one server and they are always kind of running off so pinpointing one to ask a question to is kind of hard. When I raised my hand, three stopped to look at me, and when the initial answer to the question was no (is there sriracha?) they all moved on quickly without even thinking of offering alternatives or thoughs (they could've even just suggested more wasabi). The service rating killer for my friend was when they dropped off the check about twenty minutes too early and while it was 2:45, there were parties seated after us that were obviously going to be longer than 15 minutes (closing at 3)
(4)Julie M.
Japanese cuisine is my favorite. One of the first things I do when I move to a new city is try out all the Japanese restaurants so I can find the best one. And after a couple of years of living here and trying out every restaurant I could, I can say without a doubt that Tachibana is the best, most authentic Japanese restaurant in the DMV area. There's an unfortunate dearth of good, traditional washoku (Japanese food) in DC -- I usually have to schlep to NYC to get my fix. Majority of the Japanese restaurants here are Korean- or Chinese-owned, which can sometimes still be well-executed, but lacks that discipline and understanding of the philosophy behind Japanese cuisine. Which is why I find it refreshing to eat at an establishment that is owned, staffed and frequented by Japanese. I know that sounds picky of me, but you can taste the difference in a bowl of oyakodon. It's a simple dish -- chicken, egg, and rice flavored with soy sauce and mirin. Any restaurant can make it. But Tachibana gets every little detail right; the blend of flavors, the texture, the steam rising from the bowl. Their onigiri (rice balls) are the best I've ever had because the focus is on the (perfect, steaming) rice, not the filling. Writing this makes me a little embarrassed to be so head-over-heels for a restaurant, but mostly it makes me hungry. I'm a fan and a regular for as long as I live in NoVa!
(5)Erik L.
This is my favorite Japanese restaurant that I have been to in Virginia. I have been coming here for 15 years. The spicy scallop & spicy salmon rolls are amazing. Also the Jidori chicken ( teriyaki style) is phenomenal. Also the clam miso soup very nice. Fried oysters also excellent. If you want great Japanese food in Virginia go here, every time I come I am in awe of the consistently excellent food & service at a reasonable price.
(5)Minn L.
We went here for Valentine's day dinner and had an excellent experience! Hubby was smart and made reservations ahead of time, so we were able to skip the long line and get seated immediately. Even at around 8pm, the place was packed! To make the day extra special, we opted for "omakase" (chef's tasting menu), where the chef presented us with special sushi combinations not on the regular menu until we were full. It started with miso soup cooked with fish, and included sushi with lightly steamed firefly squid and mounds of uni! If you're feeling adventurous, I definitely recommend trying it :) The fish slices were ginormous and fresh, and the rice underneath them was small which was great. They also have reasonably priced beer and sake. Tachibana was definitely one of the best sushi experiences I've had!
(5)Elizabeth L.
Seriously good sushi rolls. Very fresh and crunchy veggies. The edamame was well seasoned and flavorful. I am always disappointed by bland edamame. Good and prompt service. My bf and I both had the nabeyaki udon, which is sort of a staple of mine. Problem with this one was that it was very big. I am sure two people could share and both get full from it. The broth was on the lighter side, but still well seasoned. It was overall a really enjoyable experience.
(4)Christiane T.
I love this place. It's authentic - owned by Japanese people and has the FRESHEST sushi in the area. Try ordering their ramen -- which is NOT on their menu. It's the BEST in Northern VA if you're too lazy to drive to DC.
(5)Lauren R.
Went here with some coworkers for lunch on a Thursday and was incredibly impressed! I'm from FL, so my sushi/seafood standards are pretty high, and Tachibana did not disappoint! I've been looking everywhere for fresh, great quality sushi and it's here. I had the lunch special with chirashi, miso soup, and house salad. Everything was fresh and well seasoned, and I loved the rice flavor as well. The service was great and the food came out reasonably quickly. The only downside is that they won't split checks, but knowing that beforehand eliminates this problem. Will definitely go back!
(5)Sasha R.
still delicious, still fresh. the waitstaff has changed (well, some of them), and they've re-done the floors, but you can't fool me, it's still the same ol' tachibana. I have to admit, tho, that I can't speak for anything other than the shio-yaki dishes, deluxe sashimi or sushi, and the uni/ikura donburi. I can never bring myself to order anything else. except sake.
(5)Brent D.
This is definitely, in my opinion, the best Japanese restaurant in the Northern Virginia area. Their fish is always fresh and tasty and their bento boxes are excellent! Their prices can be a bit more on the pricy side but you get what you pay for. I love going here for special dinner outings and the people who come with me always agree that it is great! I highly recommend this place if you are looking for a good meal out! Also, if you know Japanese, this is a good place to practice. The waiters will definitely chat you up.
(5)LeeAnn A.
Excellent authentic Japanese restaurant!.my favorite restaurant for 20 years...and must honestly say that I have never had a bad experience there with food or service. Food is consistently outstanding and I have not seen the prices change in many years. Everyone working there is so nice and I have seen some of the same waitresses for 20 years...nothing changes and I love this restaurant. I try to go there once a week or order take out, and cannot live without it...by the way the sushi is fresh and I love every dish there and I have ordered just about everything there in 20 years...:)...5 stars!...
(5)Irv K.
So far, this has to be the freshest Chirashi selection I've had in a while. Despite having mostly thinly sliced single pieces of sashimi, the selection was complimentary. The ramen was more than ample and helped feed 4! Well, if you count two almost-3 year olds, a pregnant mother and her 3rd trimester fetus...then it equals 4. Parking in their private lot was scarce, but the lot across the street had plenty available spots if you are a guest or resident of that complex. The wait for a table for 7 (incl. 2 high chairs) on a Saturday night was 45min and ordering took an additional 20min. It was packed full of families! They even served the children's food on children's platters with plastic dishes decorated with cartoon characters. The high chairs were fairly sturdy and mostly clean...that is until we got done with them. Restrooms are one person at a time and I hear that the women's room has a baby changing station...will update if I hear otherwise.
(5)Cathy K.
Tachibana is the real thing. Born and raised in Hawaii, lived in NY and now DC - I think I can say that I know good Japanese food/sushi and Tachibana is it. The sushi is simple, fresh, generous cuts. Fairly reasonably priced, but more towards the higher end. Decor is simple, but reminiscent of many Japanese joints from home. The menu is large with some hard to find things on it. My favorites: grated mountain yam with sashimi and shabu shabu is always on the menu! It's reasonably priced for $27.95pp (2 people minimum). The broth is authentic made with konbu (but I don't think they soak it before like they're supposed to). Delicious! Service is always attentive and quick. If I come just for sushi or lunch, I feel like I can be in and out in under 45 mins. I've never been disappointed with the service. If anything, when we eat Shabu Shabu here, I feel like they're too attentive. Sometimes it's fun to just add the veggies at your own pace! If you like fru fru sushi rolls or asian fusion, this place is not for you. Fans of authentic, well prepared Japanese grinds? Tachibana is a must!
(5)Brad B.
I've had better. Sashimi was very fresh - but some of the rolls left something to be desired. Ambiance is 80-chic, in a weird McLean office building. I guess relatively speaking - this is very good sushi for the neighborhood it's in. Again, go to Momo Sushi. Blows this place out of the water.
(3)Celine B.
Love this place so authentic! The food is so fresh and good! The service is a bit slow but that's ok it's worth waiting! Ive not had anything I didn't like there so I recommend everything! It's a bit pricey but again so worth it
(5)V K.
I really can't follow the hype. I've actually been here multiple times because it has such good reviews and i've tried different things but I just can't seem to like it. I don't think the quality of the fish is THAT great and sometimes I think it tastes a little TOO "fishy" if you know what I mean. I may come back to try their ramen/udon but sushi wise, I really wanted to love it but I just wasn't impressed.
(2)Alan K.
Very disappointed by this place. Nadine F. and I went on a Saturday for lunch. Although the service was very good, the sushi did not taste that fresh. I got the Sushi A lunch and a lot of the pieces were very fishy. The best was the tuna, but I ended up having to drown the rest in soy sauce and wasabi to make them edible. Too bad, I had very high hopes!
(2)Sofia L.
"Sushi for breakfast?" Oh why not! I have been spoiled by Sushi Taro and a couple of places in Seattle, but the price point to go and eat at those places are just a bit much to fulfill a craving. The solution? Tachibana a la the hub's suggestion. The parking and location leaves much to be desired but never judge a restaurant by its appearance because you will end up eating your words. Literally. The interior is cozy and unpretentious. There are no cheesy frills and servers in "faux-geisha-getups." At Tachibana, it is the food that speaks for them and that's how it should be. We ended up ordering the sashimi lunch special as well as two bowls of their miso ramen. The sashimi was surprisingly fresh--the tuna especially, just melt in your mouth texture. The ramen: perfectly cooked noodles and broth that left enough room to be customized to one's personal flavor preference. The only downside was the overcooked meat in an otherwise incredible meal. Whether or not the results are consistent, we will just have to see... And maybe try out the highly-raved spicy scallop roll as well!
(4)John J.
Spicy tuna roll was not spicy. Shoyu ramen was salty. Flounder and fatty tuna were good. I'm gonna stick with either kotobuki or kintaro next time.
(3)Beth L.
It was always a special treat going to Tachibana, because it is so hard to find authentic Japanese food done right in this area. I was there recently for a weekend lunch with some friends and everything seemed fine. I went last night on a date and ended up feeling pretty embarrassed for recommending the place. It was busy and there was a wait, which is just fine because it's expected of popular places. However, I have never been treated so horribly by a waitress before. Only a couple minutes after being seated, we were asked if we knew what we wanted to order. It was somewhat obvious that we were not ready, and already, the waitress was beyond snarky. We were harassed literally 5 more times, about 2 minutes apart each time. Each subsequent time, the waitress was not only extremely rude, but disrespectful, and out right confrontational (there was a moment where I would have engaged, or at least gotten her name if my date had not been there). At most places, the wait staff will give you a bit more space if you need additional time, not bully you. I understand that the place is busy and you are stressed out, but this not a good reason for a middle aged lady to behave like a 15-year old brat not getting her way. (she yelled at us and said that they are busy and that she didn't want our food to take forever. I tried to give her my order for an appetizer and entree the third time she asked since my date was still deciding, but she scratched my order out and angrily told me that if I did not know what I "really" wanted, that she will just wait. She also seemed to enjoy throwing our food down on the table when it arrived.) The waitress was totally out of line, which is the complete opposite of what I would expect from a business touting any sort of connection to the Japanese culture. It is outright shameful for any business with a customer face to act in such a way. The waitress needs to learn to take a chill pill or just get out of that business if she cannot handle the average busy night, rather than provoking her customers and making everyone around her miserable. I've worked in customer service before-- it's called, "suck it up and act like an adult." If you are trying to impress someone, just be aware that if you come here, there is a chance that you will experience the worst service of your life.
(2)Mike C.
This is one of my go-to sushi restaurants. They offer an extensive menu of sushi and other authentic Japanese dishes. The sushi is always fresh and well prepared. The service is pretty attentive, and when they haven't been in the past, complimentary items were offered - nice touch. Last time I dined there our waiter tipped us off saying that their fish is delivered on Tuesdays, so that's when it's the freshest and items are most likely to be in stock.
(4)Mark S.
Best Japanese in NoVa. Fresh and expertly prepared sushi with frequent specials flown in from CA or Japan. Excellent apps, donburi, Katsu and noodle dishes. There's a decent selection of cold sake. Service is good and usually very friendly. Look around and you'll see many Japanese diners-always a good sign. My only complaint is that it could use a little renovation...the rooms is a bit tired.
(5)Ron H.
I'm a huge fan of authenticity and Tachibana is the real deal. This place is a treat for Northern Virginians as a REAL sample of Japanese cuisine that can be really hard to find outside of the urban centers. I knew I was in for some authentic fare when I overheard the staff speaking Japanese instead of Korean. As many Yelpers will testify, most of your Japanese places around here are actually owned by Koreans. Don't get me wrong; I love Korean people and especially Korean food, but there's something to be said when serving dishes from your OWN culture. Not only do you have your childhood tastes and experience to build from, but It also becomes a matter of national pride. I quietly settled myself on to a stool at the sushi bar and ordered up some sho chiku bai with some warm miso. I noticed that the restaurant was full of Japanese and people were constantly coming to the door picking up carry-out. OK, I'm already halfway sold...I can tell that this place is well loved by many and they obviously know their business. My main entre that day was the sushi special and I was thoroughly impressed. The fish was so fresh and delicious it seemed to melt on the palate. The salmon roe was fantastic and they seemed to explode with flavor at every bite. Look, I've been frequenting many "Japanese Steakhouses", sushi bars and Asian restaurants around DC for a while now I have to say that Tachibana has it just about right. The only blemish is their prices which make you pause. This unfortunately is what prevents them from getting a five star review from me. In my opinion though - it is the most authentic Japanese restaurant in Northern Virginia.
(4)Ilya G.
Hands down amazing fish. I did the omakase (by request) and everything was phenomenal. Toro and uni were outstanding as was the scallop. The mackerel was tender, flavorful, and extremely fresh. Hamachi and sake were both delicious. I haven't sampled the other sushi places around here but having eaten extensively at proper sushi restaurants, I can assure you - this is the real thing! This place also has a great sake selection. We had two bottles of sake - the Chobei and the Karatanba. Both were delicious and reasonably priced.
(5)Ian F.
Lunch specials are decent. Try one of the boxes, chirashi lunch, or mushi sushi. Not as good a deal as Yoshi in my opinion, but definitely high quality fresh fish.
(4)AL K.
Sushi has huge portions but I do get that elsewhere too.Service is attentive and friendly. Pricey- YES. The place has to renovate. Looks dated and really 70ish. Private lot for parking which is a plus. Gindara is yummy but then again pricey.
(3)Erin W.
I rate based on food only. I come here every time I visit the area for work. Great very fresh fish. If u love sushi/ nigiri this is the place for you. Tonight had butterfish, scallop, Hawaiian yellowtail, and salmon. All flown in today or yesterday. All excellent. Rolls are more traditional (nothing fancy) but always great quality.
(5)Jane J.
Sushi here is amazing. I often go to buffet and get some sushi. However, I surely can say that there is a huge difference between buffet style and this place's style. More elevated and sophisticated. Ah I miss my sushi here.
(4)Clarence J.
Tachibana's food had excellent flavor. The tempura is light and greatly complements the flavors of the main ingredient. The miso soup is excellent -- warm, flavorful goodness. The staff is very friendly, and the restaurant seemed to be full of happy diners when I was there, most of whom seemed to be regulars -- based on how little the menus were referred to by those are the tables around me -- and most of whom also seemed to be Japanese [by look and language, with apologies for any stereotyping], which is a good sign in a Japanese restaurant. It's a decent-size space, packed with tables or assorted sizes and with a good number of bar seats as well.
(4)Danny N.
Tachibana is my go-to sushi place for the last decade. It is located in downtown McLean. Quite a large dining area, with two sections - main sushi bar/area up front, and a hidden sushi bar/area at the back. I have always come here for dinners, and love sitting at the back section... It's not as noisy. The salmon, tuna and yellowtail sashimi are my faves. They are very fresh, and the servcing size are hefty with thick slices of sashimis. It comes ala carte or dinner meal (with soup, salad). We normally order their rainbow roll, dragon roll, shrimp tempura roll, etc. Nigiri sushi are very good too. Their dinner combo are really good deals too. Miso soup, seaweed salad, grilled mackerel and green tea (and mochi) are good accompaniments. The service is always great. Green tea cups are never empty. Always stuffed by the time I leave this place... Try it... Yummy, yummy, sushi :) 1/7/2014
(4)Gary S.
I love the food here. The price is a little more, but I think it's worth it. My girlfriend is a Japanese native and she loves it as well. She loved it so much that I even hosted her birthday dinner there. Our group was about 18 people and they handled it fairly well until the bill came. To be fair, the menu does state that they will separate checks up to 3 ways per party. But what that means is that they will only accept up to 3 types of payment per party. As an organizer I tried to encourage people to bring cash. In the end we had a bill of over $550. Some people had cash for their portion and some credit cards. But Tachibana would not accept anymore than 2 credit cards with the cash payment. They refused to run any more cards which is ridiculous. It's money and they would not accept it only because they did not want to lose money on the surcharge fees. We had no other way to pay other than to ask people to cover other people which is totally unfair. It was a huge mess and embarrassing as an organizer trying to figure everything out. Normally I'd give them 4 stars, because I think it's an above average restaurant in regards to the food and wait staff. But that experience and the unwillingness to accommodate our situation was very frustrating.
(2)Lynn S.
Fresh sushi rolls and excellent soft shell crab (tempura). You can skip the boring side dishes that accompany lunch--a nearly tasteless miso soup and iceberg lettuce salad (I expected cucumber or seaweed). I will return to sample more of their extensive sushi/sashimi selections. I was not impressed this time, but the restaurant was filled to capacity.
(3)Susan H.
Tachibana has been around for years. We used to say, "One of these days we'll try it." As time went by, that changed to, "One of these years we'll try it." Well... that day came today. We went on a Saturday night, arriving there a few minutes before 5 p.m. The restaurant opens for dinner at 5 p.m. As we were waiting, we were surprised to see many more cars arrive and a growing line formed. This concerned us as we didn't make reservations. It turned out, that there were 3 large parties that were dining there. Despite that, there were plenty of empty tables so our worries about the lack of a reservation were for naught. The people with reservations were seated first, as was expected. Our server showed up promptly to take our drink orders. My husband had a small Kirin beer while I had a glass of plum wine. The plum wine came in a martini glass. I was amused as I've never seen it served that way. For our meals, we got complete meals with our entrees. With a complete meal, you get soup, salad, appetizer and dessert. I ordered the "regular sushi" which consisted of 11 pieces of sushi---6 tuna roll pieces and 5 nigiri pieces --- tuna, shrimp, octopus, mackerel and white tuna. I also had miso soup, seaweed salad, vegetable tempura and red bean ice cream for dessert. The miso soup was very flavorful and full bodied. I found the seaweed salad to have a nice sesame oil flavor. The seaweed itself wasn't the most tender that I've had but still, I didn't feel like I was chewing it forever. My appetizer was vegetable tempura. This came out piping hot with a light, crispy batter. The vegetables were green pepper, broccoli, sweet potato, zucchini and yellow squash. As for the sushi --- It was good quality. However, I've had tuna that just about melts in your mouth---that wasn't the case with the tuna here. [Edited to add this---Thanks to Corbo E. for giving me a detailed description of the various types of tuna. This caused us to look more closely at the menu. The only tuna used at Tachibana is maguro and yellowtail.] I was pleasantly surprised to find that the nigiri was made the authentic way. Instead of the ubiquitous sticky rice found in nigiri these days, the rice didn't stick together which was fine with me. It has been a long time since I've encountered sushi made this way. The octopus was on the tender size---not the most tender that I've had but far better than some of the rubbery stuff that's out there. My husband had miso soup, green salad, yakitori (chicken on skewers with green peppers and onions) and red bean ice cream. For his entree, he had tuna sashimi which came with a bowl of rice. He said that the green salad (lettuce and tomato) had an oil and vinegar dressing on it. That was a disappointment as other places will add more flavorful dressings to their salads. I tasted a bit of his yakitori. It was good but nothing to write home about---I thought. However, my husband really liked it. He was surprised as to how thickly his tuna was sliced. While he liked it, he did agree with me that we've had better quality elsewhere. We both enjoyed the red bean ice cream. That's something that is not often found in Japanese restaurants these days. Would we go back? Sure---if we're in that area again and craving sushi. Service was excellent---everyone was very friendly. We also noticed that they had quite a few regular customers. What impressed us was that we were treated just as well as the regulars.
(4)Lisa N.
**4.5 stars** My boyfriend and I went here for lunch yesterday and after finding it (in the back behind a Chinese restaurant), we were promptly seated. The restaurant was crowded. Our waitress was very friendly and patient with us because we weren't sure what to order. She made suggestions and also made sure our order was correct by double-checking everything. The kitchen closes at 2PM so she came back to make sure we didn't want anything else. (They close in-between lunch and dinner). Sashimi- so fresh! The sake, escolar, and yellowtail were all thick and worth it for $4-5 for 2 pieces. They also had fresh UNI! Many Japanese sushi restaurants fail to carry sea urchin on a regular basis because it is expensive and rarely ordered. However, I was impressed that here, the waitress said they always have it and they give a lot for the $10. Hand rolls- We ordered the Philly w/raw salmon (yum), Spicy Scallop Roll (crunchy and OK imo but my bf loved it), and Spicy Yellowtail (standard) Miso soup- our waitress gave us each a bowl on the house because she said we ordered a lot of food... that was nice =) Mochi Ice Cream- $4 for 2 pieces... standard H-mart quality- they have vanilla, strawberry, and mango (+) fresh, selection, value, service (-) only 1 bathroom per gender, difficult to find, closed between 2-5PM Overall, this is probably the most authentic Japanese place in this price range in the NOVA area. I am pretty picky when it comes to sushi, but I was very impressed at the taste, value, and presentation of Tachibana. I will definitely be coming back!!
(4)Karen P.
Good local place - looks like your average outdated (cheap) restaurant but the food is better than many - and it isn't cheap. No reservations except for parties over 6. We ordered a selections of sushi and rolls. Two of the diners had the shrimp tempura and pronounced it average. The sushi lived up to expectations - fresh and firm. The spicy tuna roll had chopped tuna (rather than slices) - not as good as some. We avoided the wine list and stuck with beer - next time I'd like to try some of the cold sake as the list looked interesting.
(3)Ana-Karina J.
I have been eating at tachibana for as long as I can remember. My mom ate here when she was pregnant with me, and we've been coming here together since my earliest trace of memories! I'm 19 years old now, and this is still my number one place to eat! Whenever someone asks me where I want to eat for my birthday, graduation, celebration, etc, I always say TACHIBANA! I hope it never changes, because I hope to continue the tradition of bringing my own children here, and bringing my mother. Great family restaurant. I love how friendly the waitresses and hostesses are. I used to always get the Bento Box B or shabu shabu, and share with my mother. Now that I appreciate raw fish, I have to say that Tachibana is very top notch in freshness, taste, and appearance! I have also had the ramen, and it is very good as well. It doesn't have all those un-needed extras thrown into the soup. Good broth, and perfect amount of garnish. Coming back again Thursday to expose my best friend to tachibana for the first time! So excited!
(5)Rainshadow L.
This place is one of best Sushi restaurant in McLean and Vienna. Fish is so fresh and juicy, salad is not sweet nor salty. Donkatsu is crispy and huge! Sashimi deluxe was really mouth-melting. Service is awesome all the time.
(4)Jina Y.
I've heard many good things about this place and I really did like the food. I had the Nabeyaki Udon and the spicy scallop roll. The udon was big and had a lot of ingredients including cabbage, green onion, spinach, chicken, and mushrooms. The chicken was different. I wasn't expecting that to be in my soup, but it was still a good accompaniment. The spicy scallop roll, however, was not much of a type. First, I didn't taste any spicyness and second, I didn't really taste much of a difference between a spicy tuna roll versus a spicy scallop roll. I also tried the croquette my friends ordered. It's the deep fried mashed potatoes with minced onions coated with bread crumbs. Aka like a hash brown. The bread crumbs made it crunchy on the outside while mushy and soft on the inside with the mashed potatoes. I feel that it lacked some flavor, but with a little soy sauce the problem was solved. The only thing is that our server possibly could have been new? My friends have been there often and have commented that as well. The waitress did not seem too educated on the menu when we asked questions and what we thought came with the order was not given to us so we had to ask for it and the waitress said "oh yes, I think so..." She didn't check back a whole lot often, but overall the food was good.
(4)Will C.
Man this place keeps on getting worse and worse. Being in the area and craving sushi my gf and I decided to give them another shot. Our first visit to this restaurant was excellent, second time was a miss and this time was definitely a miss as well. The parking lot was crowded so I assumed that was a good sign. Boy was I mistaken... The following items were ordered: nabeyaki udon, chirashi bowl, and various nigiri. The udon lacked flavor and was very disappointing. I had hoped that would be the only disappointing dish however the streak continued. The miso soup paired with the chirashi bowl was extremely salty. While consuming the scallop (hotate) nigiri I bit into something gritty, probably sand or some object not meant to be consumed. The chirashi bowl was lackluster and definitely worse then our first time experience with it. The shrimp was opposite of fresh, it was sour, I had to end up spitting it out into my napkin. At that point I lost my appetite. Another complaint I have about Tachibana is the size of fish they give you, it is cut too thick and big. After this experience I will not be returning to Tachibana at all. I wished I had one good to thing to say about this establishment but the obvious is food quality has taken a dramatic hit. If you enjoy high quality fish and dining on sashimi or nigiri I would highly recommend you stay away from this place. Next time I will make the long drive to another sushi establishment to avoid this place. NEVER AGAIN!
(1)Norry H.
Okay, it's time to update my review. After my first review, and even before that, I have eaten at Tachibana numerous times. I also have dined at many other Japanese restaurants in DC area. And to me, Chirashi is a barometer to judge how good the Japanese restaurant is. So here I was at Tachibana tonight ordering Ohitashi (boiled spinach) and Chirashi regular again. I came to the conclusion that Tachibana's Chirashi is consistently very good for the following reasons: 1. Good selection of fish 2. Fish slices are fresh and good quality. 3. Fish slices are bigger than those at other restaurants. 4. Sushi rice is made in a very authentic way and very tasty. I can actually taste vinegar. Next time I will ask them if they have better quality wasabi and if they do I will try the Chirashi with the quality wasabi to make my Chirashi taste even better.
(4)James L.
Best Japanese restaurant in the region, period. This place is run by real Japanese at least from my understanding, unlike other places randomly owned by Koreans and Chinese. Also, not stating that Koreans or Chinese can't make good Japanese food, but Tachibana is for sure 5 star for its authenticity. Seafood is always fresh, with attentive but not too annoying services. Be sure to get the uni (sea urchin) donburi, it's the best thing ever. Chirashi (assorted sashimi over rice) is also comparable, and I believe it comes with a very decent miso soup. For the sides, the age tofu is a delightful non-greasy dish, it's basically fried tofu dipped in a soy sauce broth. In all, I think Tachibana deserves a five star review despite its pricier items comparing to othee Japanese restaurants.
(5)S. O.
I appreciate legit Japanese restaurants. This restaurant is run by Japanese people - very rare in this area. I loved the spicy scallop roll and the spicy salmon rolls. The prices are reasonable. We'll definitely be back!
(4)Victoria E.
For the price you pay, you could get better quality sushi and sashimi elsewhere. My roommate and I came expecting delicious fresh sashimi, but what we got was only a little better than mediocre. I probably would've been happier just getting sushi from Giant. We also got their salad with octopus which was okay. I'm not a big fan of octopus so I'm probably biased. Their miso soup was a bit on the salty side. The place was quite large. The servers kept rushing us to order even though they didn't seem that busy. Their bathrooms were clean. Ample parking. I probably will not return as I feel I could find better quality at a better price elsewhere.
(3)Angela K.
I've known about this place for a while now. My mom actually got a gift card and we got a bit of everything and it was absolutely delicious! I decided to splurge a little bit for lunch yesterday and got the Chirashi, Spicy Salmon Handroll, & Beef Negimaki. I ended up spending a bit of money, it's definitely worth it. I have not one single complaint. Does the restaurant need a bit of a tune up? Yes. Is it a little pricey? Yes. But the food (again) is definitely worth it.
(4)G R.
Meh...we were excited to try a new (to us) Japanese restaurant in the area and this place was recommended by some friends. However, I feel that, like its furniture (circa 1990's), Tachibana's heyday has since come and gone. Nothing was particularly bad; but at the same time, nothing specifically stood out as particularly good either. Parking was also kind of a pain. We arrived on an early Friday night for dinner without reservations, and there was already a mass of people waiting ahead of us. Our wait time was about 30 minutes, during which we decided to peruse the menu. It looked promising and we had already pre-selected our dishes by the time we were seated. For starters, we decided on the age-dofu (agedashi-tofu). It was okay, but somewhat lacking in flavor. We've had better at other area restaurants. My wife was also in the mood for some soup, so she decided to order the clam miso soup...which came out lukewarm in a small cup with exactly 3 small clams (so at $3.50, that's about a $1+ per clam? I've had freshly shucked oysters at happy hour for that price). For our entrees/main dishes I decided on the chirashi special, while my wife went with the dinner (bento) box A. And the chirashi, while fresh, was pretty underwhelming. There was a lack in the variety of sashimi (I've seen fishbowls with more varieties of fish!) and an unusually low quantity of sashimi (especially for the top of the line "special" chirashi- I'd hate to see the "regular" chirashi). What there was an abundance of was rice. I really wouldn't have much issue with this, but given the price, you'd expect more than just a few pieces of your standard issue tuna, salmon and snapper. From my wife's box dinner, the only standout was the yellow tail teriyaki which was nicely done with a light and tasty flavor (not overly drenched in teriyaki sauce). The service was also a tad slow and surly. All in all, there was nothing specifically bad about this place, but given the price, you'd expect a little better. And because of this, we'll stick to our usual go-to Japanese restaurants which are closer to our area.
(3)Michael S.
After having lunch here several times and impressed with the quality of the fish, I decided to come here for dinner. Didn' t know what was in store for me: 1) The menu is extremely confusing. There are 2 sections for appetizers and the "dinner" and "a la carte" options have no instructions on which list of appetizers to choose from. Also, the menu states that one of the dessert options were unavailable with the "dinner" choices but said nothing about mochi. Upon ordering, I asked for the mochi ice cream and the waitress told me that we couldn't get the mochi with the "dinner" entree. Seeing that the mochi costs $0.50 more than the other desserts, I asked if it were possible for me to just pay more to have the mochi. She replied that it wasn't possible. Flustered and confused at this point I had to ask for more time to look at the menu. 2) We ended up getting the sashimi dinner and a couple of rolls. The fish that came out was no where near the quality I was used to from Tachibana lunches. I would expect the dinner fish be of higher quality! Also, the salmon skin roll tasted like soap. As if they washed the fish with soap before serving and didn't fully rinse. We had to send this back. Bahh, won't come here again for lunch either. I'll just go to Miyagi next time.
(2)Anna P.
this is definitely a place we come back to over and over again everything on their menu is so authentic fresh and well prepared. definitely my favorite sushi restaurant in the area
(5)Maya F.
gyudon is excellent. place is nice but small. will have to come back for some sushi as that looks excellent!
(4)Cyndy K.
4.5 stars for food and service. Cyndy's BOTTOM LINE: If you are looking for traditional everyday Japanese cuisine with fresh high quality sashimi you will not have to look any further. Tachibana will deliver! Tachibana is the very best place for Japanese cuisine in Northern Virginia. I've been searching throughout D.C. and Virginia to find the best ahi sashimi and I've found it at Tachibana. If you love high grade Ahi sashimi (as we call it in Hawaii) order it with no fear here. The fish is always fresh and of the highest quality and the portions are generous. Other delicious items to order: The sushi - all the sushi is excellent! The rice is cooked to perfection. We love the salmon avocado roll, Tekka maki, uni nigiri, hamachi nigiri, ahi nigiri to name a few. Salmon sashimi - the fattest decadent part of the salmon. Berkshire pork tonkatsu - lightly fried delicious pork with a panko style batter crust served with a tonkatsu dipping sauce. Shrimp tempura - very light airy batter, excellently fried. Tasty dipping sauce. If you love natto (not many people appreciate it because it is an acquired taste) order the natto ae with maguro and order a bowl of rice to eat it with. Absolutely delicious. Gindara Misoyaki Black cod or butter fish - a very moist and flaky fish with a miso coating grilled with the skin on.
(4)J H.
Sushi was super fresh. Service was quick and respectable. Very popular and pretty busy. I would just top two in NoVA, here and Sushi Yoshi. Good variety on the menu so the non-raw-fish friends have a choice in other delicious items.
(4)Jesse T.
Best sushi in NOVA. Tachibana, and Kotobuki in DC are my personal favorites when craving sushi.
(5)Ken N.
Stopped by to take advantage of the lunch specials on a Saturday afternoon. The complimentary green tea was delicious. The salad and miso soup that accompanied our order were nothing out of the ordinary. We tried the spicy scallop roll on recommendation of previous yelp reviews and were pleasantly surprised! The roll was a very generous portion and had a kick at the end. We also ordered vegetable tempura, chirashi, and a milky salt ramen. The chirashi didn't have as much fish as expected and the salmon was not the best cut. The chirashi also had small pieces of fish interspersed throughout it. While this added to the flavor of the rice it did not stand alone. We hadn't tried milky salt ramen before and found it delicious! However, the ratio of broth to ingredients was unsatisfactory. The noodles seemed as though they had been soaking in water too long and seemed overcooked. The tempura had a good variety and was a pretty big portion so we had lots of leftovers. We had pretty high expectations for the restaurant from the other reviews and were disappointed, but overall, the food was good and we would return again. We will probably try the nigiri and more of the sushi next time.
(3)Matthew P.
Exceptional. .. again. Sushi, sashimi and rolls are awesome. Tempura Jalapeño tuna roll is great but a little pricey as they use fatty tuna.
(5)Linda P.
It's was good, maybe I'm a bit to picky when it comes to sushi.... Since im a Floridian.... Any-who I had the uni and ikura rice bowl it was yummi and fresh.
(4)Ai C.
I do love take out from this place. I work nearby so we have reps who would get sushi for us all the time. I love there sashimi and chiraishi, they are always so fresh. I have not dine with them before but they are always so nice on the phone and when we pick our order up. I will continue to go to Tachibana
(4)Stephen D.
Solid 3. Nothing spectacular at all... Sorry it's the truth! This is very solid Japanese food. The portions were generous, and if you are really hungry or want to binge eat, the dinner comes with appetizer, soup, salad, AND dessert. The mochi ice cream balls were delicious. Nothing outstanding or remarkable.
(3)Jon B.
good stuff - went here on a sunday specifically for the ramen per the many good reviews about it...got the yummy milky salt broth aka "Tonkotsu" broth...just perfect and for lunch, $9.99 including a green side salad CANNOT be beat and the portion is large compared to to most higher priced ramen places that will provide the typical "japanese" portion which is smaller...sushi was good too (we had the tempura shrimp rolls) we can't wait to go back to get more sushi (i.e. raw fish) after our baby is born! thanks again! Gochisosama deshita! Gave it 4* only because they don't serve between 230pm to 5pm.
(4)Tom C.
Best authentic jap sushi in the area. Great hot saki.
(4)Jason C.
I've just recalibrated my tastes after trying the best sushi restaurant in Korea and I think I can give a fair assessment (or unfair depending on how you look at it) as to how Tachibana stacks up. About 10 days ago, I had the good opportunity to eat at the sushi counter for lunch. After striking up a brief convo with the chef and getting his recommendations I tried: 1) Chu-toro (midfat toro)- Considering that chutoro is $12.5 and otoro is $15 I was biting my tongue for not being able to upgrade to the otoro (tuna belly) b/c of the lack of availability. The texture and the quality of the chutoro did not hold up to my expectations at this price level: a) lack of good fat distribution making it a bit tougher than what I expect for good chutoro. It took a good 3-4 extra seconds for this to melt in my mouth. This sounds irrelevant but it is an astronomical difference in quality. b) the fish had a repugnant smell to it that showcased its lack of freshness. 2) Hotate (scallop) - $10 for 2 pieces - Solid quality scallops. It's slightly..slightly tougher and dry compared to the A+ grade scallops I have had 3) Uni (California sea urchin) - $10 for 2 pieces - this has to be California Gold Uni (top A grade uni). It has the right texture, the color, and mostly, it has that salty taste of something just caught from the deep sea (make no doubt the california sea urchins are farm raised). If anything at all, I would come to Tachibana just to eat this. 4) Ama-ebi (sweet shrimp) - $4.5 for 2 pieces - phenomenal quality - my guess is that this was killed on the spot and brought out. It's not that uncommon to serve freshly prepared ebi b/c it's not hard to maintain alive prior to serving 5) Tamago (egg) - ~$2-3 for 2 pieces - a very nice base and fantastic preparation of the egg sushi. Its sweetness was at the right level and it maintained an even texture and density throughout the entire piece. It was cooked phenomenally. 6) Unagi - (eel) - ~$6 for 2 pieces - solid preparation of the Unagi. Great marinade. 7) Saba (mackerel) - dry with a moderate "fishy" smell....a bit of a fail in this category. A great sushi chef who worked at Sushi Kyubei (the best sushi restaurant in the world in Ginza tokyo), once told me that a sushi restaurant is judged based on 4 sushi dishes. A) Toro- market price of the fish dictates the quality of toro. The quality of the toro generally represents the quality of the fish at the restaurant. B) Saba- mackerel spoils rapidly. It is one of hardest to store and maintain properly (else you get that nasty mackerel stench). The restaurant's handling and storage of fish is determined by the freshness of the mackerel. C) Tamago- the preparation of the egg for the sushi determines the base cooking of the restaurant. D) Unagi- the cooking skills of the sushi chef is determined by the Eel and how well it is marinated. In sum, Tachibana delivered quite well in 2 of the 4 categories (tamago and unagi). Despite the issues that I ran into with the chutoro, I certainly will not discourage anyone from going to Tachibana. Although Tachibana will not satisfy extreme sushi connoisseurs expecting a Sushi Yasuda experience, I believe they are a great restaurant and would recommend those in the DC area to try this place out.
(4)Simon C.
Authentic Japanese food, chef, waitress, size and price ;). Had a decent Japanese combination dinner here. The Unaju (broiled eel) and seafood Nabemono (soup pot) were excellent. The mackerel and ebi sunomono salad (baby shrimp with seaweed and cucumber) were interesting. The place was packed on a late March Friday evening.
(4)Jo L.
My friend suggested Japanese for dinner, suggesting Sakura. Not being a fan, I checked out yelp for a good place to go. The reviews on here gave me a bit of confidence when suggesting this alternative. Before our dinner was even served my friend said he did not have any hopes for the place, apparently basing it on visual inspections of the tables on the way in. That is usually my technique, but I avoiding checking out other peoples foods hoping to be surprised. I suffer from numerous food allergies, so at times it can be a challenge, but not an impassible obstacle. Due to my allergies and the soup stock being pre-made (understandable) I was unable to sample anything with broth. My companion was pleased with the hot sake he chose, it was very hot (per his request) and accurate to the description in the menu. I enjoyed the plum wine which was flavorful and sweet, without the tang finish of some, clean. Yamakake Tuna and Yamakake Yellowtail: Interesting dish, the white yam is grated fresh (uncooked) and the gluten creates a mucous like consistency, the flavor is subtle but not unpleasant. The yellowtail was good, but my companion did not care for the dish and I found his tuna to be 2 days old or more. This is not a dish for everyone, and is rather bland in taste, with higher quality fish cut fresh it would complement the yams slight sweetness well. Anago Tempra: The vegetables were undercooked, so they were hard and crispy instead of tender. The Eel... my companion was offended at the strong, pungent, off taste of the "fish". Mistakenly I figured the dish was just Mackerel that was off. Later realizing it was eel I mentioned it to him, and begged him not to judge eel by what we had tasted. If that was my 1st-3rd experience with eel I would NEVER consume it again. HORRIBLE. Shishamo: These Capelin fish are of the smelt family, so a bit oily. They were supposed to be grilled, but seemed more pan seared and sadly lacked crispiness, char, or smokiness. They were probably the tastiest of all the seafood we had, though was temporary concerned when it seems i had a pregnant female, took me a moment to identify the body contents as roe. That explained why she tasted better than the others, as the roe lent the flavor a slight sweetness over the bitter flavor of the fish, good contrast. Tai Kama: They were out of it. Ohitashi: This spinach dish has the leaves tightly rolled and were the best presentation of the entire meal. Did have a bitter taste, this coming from a spinach/kale addict. Chicken Yakitori: Two small skewer, good portion for price. Companion was very unimpressed and named other restaurants where it was cooked better and had more flavor. Shrimp and Vegetable Tempra: Again the veggies were uncooked so they were not just firm, but hard and crispy. My companion did state a complaint about the shrimp and seemed content with them. Spicy Tuna Roll: The rolls were small, uninteresting, and color was pale, and the Tuna was off off off. Only one was consumed. Sadly this pales in comparison to many of the other restaurants the DMV offers. I would rather drive into the city for Kotobuki or out to Fairfax for Sushi Prince. Perhaps the Korean and Chinese dishes would have been better than our selections, but I will not return to find out. On a positive note, many people complain about the staff, but I though that they all did a good job. You just have to be accustom to the rushed and clipped interactions of the Korean women.
(2)Ross M.
Are they Korean? Are they Japanese? I don't care! I don't eat a lot of sushi, and I never get the rolls like everyone else. The sushimi special is the only thing I get here, and it's one of the best I've ever had. It's not cheap at like $30, but it's high quality and good quantity. Very fresh. The tempera is also pretty good here. My Japanese friend told me about this place, but he also said there are some good places in Bethesda, MD as well. One of the best in Northern Virgina, for sure, along with Sushi Yoshi. I'd say this place is way better than Sushi Yoshi though. Worth a long drive, so go check it out. Organic Butcher is across the street too - go there too.
(4)Chris D.
Great food and service! This is one of the few places I will go for good fresh sushi. Been going here for 8 years.
(4)Steve T.
This place is a hidden gem. As soon as I walked in, the aroma overtook me. I was with a party of 15 though, so it was a little hectic for the wait staff. I got the sashimi deluxe for $28. I was skeptical at first cause I can eat a lot of sushi, but was pleasantly surprised when I saw how big the dish was. It had big cuts of fish that was so smooth and melted in my mouth. It came with a bowl of rice as well and soup. They brought out my soup ahead of my meal though, which technically isn't correct but oh well. My only complaint is about the service. It took us like 45 minutes to pay for our meals because we all had credit cards. We told her before we started ordering that we would all need separate checks, but she told us she could only split it 3 ways. When we got our check, it was split in half so it sorta threw off our planning and coordination. In the end, we basically gave her all our credit cards and wrote own how much to put on each card. She kept telling us that we added it wrong, or it didn't make sense. Took us forever to convince her that we weren't trying to hustle her. I'm pretty sure if I go back there without 15 people, I would have had a better experience. I really want to give this place 4 stars because the food was good, but they were really rude to us.
(3)Lyn L.
After reading the recent reviews on the site, I was curious to see how the evening would end! It ended with attentive service, quality food, and a wonderful evening. As soon as we were seated, we had prompt service for our drink orders, any appetizer orders and a patient server who explained the difference between their ala carte and dinner options. Their menu is huge and there's a great $5 sushi children's menu. There were 9 people in our group and each person enjoyed their sushi, hot food and desserts! The place was bustling on a Friday night and yet we always had wait staff nearby. It's an excellent deal to get the 'dinner' option since it includes your choice of soup and salad and appetizer as well as dessert and your entree. I'd definitely come here again! It's worth the trip to Mclean!
(5)Joseph L.
variety? yes. space? yes. value? yes. roasted mackerel? REALLY GOOD. the salmon rolls i got had sizable blocks (not the shredded type that sometimes feels like a rip off). the eel rolls were tasty. one minor criticism, the menu said "crab cake" sushi, so i literally thought they were serving crab *cake* sushi, but it was just a large piece of grab meat (or imitation crab meat, i embarrassingly could not tell) over sushi rice. a bit misleading. but overall still great! seaweed? YUM, not the dried stuff but the actual chewy type with jelly-like texture. marinated very well. service? excellent. mochi ice cream treat at the end too! this place makes me wish I had a car.
(4)Nick R.
Great menu variety for people who like to try new things. One of the most consistent quality Japanese restaurants in Northern VA.
(5)myung k.
best sushi in NOVA area, for sure. quality is real good. their chirashi is ridiculous. ive tried a decent amount and its pretty dang good here. the potential "downside" is that its a bit more expensive, so not as accessible for everyday eats. if youre a baller though it shouldnt hurt your wallet too much. the sushi is real good. i dont get too much of the appetizers and other dishes so cant speak on those
(4)David K.
This place, hands down, has the best sushi in NOVA/DC. I have tried many of the "best" including Sushi Taro, Makoto, Sushi Ko, etc., etc. The chefs are Japanese (!) and are SPOT ON with everything. I went with two friends (one Japanese) and we all agreed this place bats 1000 for sushi. A side note, my favorite place for Japanese overall is Izakaya Seki, but Tachibana has cornered the market on top notch nigiri. Negatives: Only one. It's kind of an odd place, weirdly laid out, and a bit dated.
(4)Sara T.
I'm a sushi freak and THIS is real sushi. THIS is fresh sushi. I have no complaints. The squid, octopus, eel, literally everything I ordered was fresh. Even the wasabi was so fresh, you could tell by the taste. I will only come here for fresh sushi.
(5)Jacob F.
My wife is Japanese and we were delighted to see actual Japanese staff and customers filling up the restaurant on a Sunday afternoon. That's is a first for us in Virginia. I had a bowl of miso-ramen and she had a bento, both of which were delicious. There are a lot of different types of sashimi and other dishes on the menu that are hard to find - we fully intend to try everything out. In particular, they have a full listing of nabe dishes, like sukiyaki, shabu shabu, etc.
(5)Stephen U.
I'm giving Tachibana 4 stars because, while very good, is not quite as good as Sushi Taro in Washington D.C. Tachibana has a wonderful array of sashimi and appetizers but falls just short in terms of quality and value. As others have echoed, the spicy scallop roll is fantastic - largely because the texture and flavors harmonize well with one another. Finally, if you've never had real wasabi, Tachibana provides a perfect introduction to fresh, ground wasabi.
(4)Rachel W.
This is only for the sashimi, not for sushi. since i dont really like rice! I went there for dinner the first time, i thought the place itself was pretty nice, does have a bit of a japanese vibe from it. Our server was very friendly. Overall experience was very nice. We ordered oysters, uni, a sashimi mix and fish for dinner, then red wine and ice cream for dessert. I did like the oysters, the sauce they used made it more Asian, it was different but i did enjoy it. The Sashimi mix was just ok, it was good but not amazing. But for two people, that was a lot of food. then the grilled fish i thought was a bit too oily for me. then it was the uni, which I loved. but as someone that doesnt like rice, i wish they could serve it with the oysters or something else instead. Ice cream - we got the green tea and ginger ice cream, which was two unique favors, I loved both, ginger was a bit interesting, but still liked it. Over all just OK, i'm a fan, would go back again, but wont be a place that I crave to go back. I think I had too much expectations for this place... but it weren't bad either.
(4)John F.
I'm definitely coming back to try more menu items! What I ordered (Tempra Udon) was very oiishi (delicious)! I wanted to try something basic since it was my first time there. It's authentic! I was surrounded (during lunch) by plenty of Japanese expats as well as Japanese staff. Japanese are very picky here in the States when it comes to eating what's branded as "Japanese", so I knew this was a good find. My favorite part of what I ordered was the grilled mackerel. It was slightly marinated in either a ponzu or other soy-based sauce and lightly grilled. The fish was fresh and I only wanted more. Next time I want to try some of their donburi bowls and sushi. I will only come here when I'm in the mood for Japanese food in Northern Va. If I'm in DC, I'll go to Izakaya Seki.
(4)Henry N.
Me and my dad come here practically all the time because we live out in Arlington. We come here for lunch. Me and my dad always get the same thing-Sushi Box A and a bean sprout salad. Every dish already comes with miso soup. You can choose to sit at the sushi bar or a table. I prefer a table but I also like sitting up there once in a while. You can see them making the sushi up at the sushi bar. The waiters are VERY nice. On some weekends it's crowded but on others it's not. It's not very noisy, even when it's crowded. They have high salt soy sauce and low salt soy sauce. Sushi Boxes do not come in a box, they come in a circle container. We came there for dinner once and they had a totally different menu from lunch.
(5)Anne C.
Fool me once, shame on you...Fool me twice, shame on me!!! I have FINALLy learned my lesson. I came here 2 years later and the sushi was overriced, falling apart AND pricey. Not only that, while my gf and i were eating our dessert ice cream and not even done with it, the manager walked over and asked if we could leave by 730 because she had a reservation coming...we just stared at her dumbfoundedly...neither of us have ever been just so blatantly been asked to leave before. I could understand if we weren't eating anything, but we were still eating!!! I will not be back.
(2)Angela C.
If you are looking for sushi, real sushi, then this is the place for you. Get the Dennis Roll - scratch that, get at least 2 Dennis Rolls because one is never enough. This place isn't that fancy inside, it is kind of dated, but let me tell you that it is by far the best sushi I have ever had in my life. It is a lot of fun to sit at the sushi bar and watch the magic happen. They will also hook you up with all sorts of treats to sample! They have an extensive saki selection too.
(5)Yujin M.
Before anything reached my mouth, the very sight of the lunch spread made my stomach smile. Oh how I've missed sushi! At $15, I say it's a pretty good deal. I don't usually even like salmon, but the salmon sashimi was soo buttery. The red tuna was good, but I could feel the thawing process in my mouth. It may have actually benefited from thinner pieces. The salmon salad was fairly standard. The seared tuna that comes with the set was lightly seared enough not to taste burnt or overly fishy on the edges as I see so often done, and the sprout salad+miso were a welcome side. I don't have a whole lot of DC sushi places to compare with, but considering that my lack of exposure to state-side sushi has been induced by early sore disappointments, Tashibana was a refreshing reminder of good, raw seafood.
(4)Mattie C.
I have been going to House of Fortune just downstairs for years and years, but have never been to Tachibana right above it until last week! It looks a little scrubby and run-down on the outside, but the restaurant is really nice and the food is delicious. I am disappointed that I haven't tried this place sooner. The sashimi platter was fantastic: large portion of fresh, delicious sashimi for a reasonable price. I believe I got a platter of 12 pieces for $23. Isn't exactly cheap, but compared to all the other sushi places I've been in DC, it was a better deal. Boyfriend got the nabayaki udon (sp?) and found it to be very tasty as well, and served in a large portion. Service was prompt and friendly enough. I agree that the decor was nothing special, but that wasn't really a big deal. The people coming here seem to be mostly families with young children, or at least thats the impression I got on a Friday around HH time. Oh yeah, I had a clam miso soup that was pretty tasty for under $4 and boyfriend got a rather large bottle of sake for around $6. Also, the menu was large and diverse, many more options than I usually see at sushi places. So.. thats about it! Good place, fairly reasonably priced, and I absolutely loved my large and satisfying sashimi platter.
(4)Nicole O.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - April 4th, 2009 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I had originally made reservations at Tachibana for my school's Sakura Matsuri trip last year, but changed at the last moment to Konami. We went to Tachibana this year in an attem
(3)Evonne L.
Why do people like this place so much? I have recently gone to the "other side" of sushi eating and have gone from rolls, to chirashi, to sashimi. I went to Tachibana for dinner the other day anticipating good sashimi, but ended up being incredibly dissapointed. Starting from 5 stars, minus one star for blah ambiance. I feel like I'm eating in a barn- the restaurant is a older and the sushi bar is so tucked away it looks almost out of place. Minus one star for blah sashimi, which is supposed to be the pinnacle of quality sushi. AND minus one star for ridiculous wait staff. I ordered the sashimi dinner, which comes with an appetizer and dessert. Come dessert time, I see the dessert menu, where the options are below sub par, except for mochi ice cream. MMM, I said, hoping for at least a good end to my average meal. Except there's a little asterisk that says this dessert isn't included in the dinner combo. Tell me why that is, considering all the desserts are priced the same way? I tell the wait staff that I don't want anything on the dessert menu, but I'm willing to pay a few bucks more for the mochi ice cream. "No" was the response I was given. Well "No" to you too, Tachibana. There's so many better sushi places in McLean that I will go to instead.
(2)Christine L.
Came here for a huge family lunch over the weekend. The menu had everything and I opted to share a ramen with my toddler son. The sushi looked fresh and delicious but I'm unable to eat these things anymore, for the next few months. :( I've never seen ramen offered in a sushi restaurant before but I figured I'd have nothing to lose. I chose the regular pork ramen in a milky salt broth. It was absolutely delicious. It was a huge portion and I had trouble finishing it. It came with 3 slices of fatty pork, bamboo shoots, spinach, bean sprouts and half a boiled egg. I would love it if this place was near my house so I could get ramen anytime. I think the other people at my table really enjoyeed their food too. Yum!
(4)Jenn G.
I might just be making excuses, but I feel the need to preface this review by saying that I went the Wednesday immediately following Hurricane Sandy. No idea if their regular fish delivery was impacted or not, but there's that. Tachibana came highly recommended by another fellow Yelper, so I had very high hopes. It was ok. The nigiri (salmon and toro) were actually kind of slimey and tasted pretty fishy. From all of the other glowing reviews, doesn't sound like this is normal and again, I won't rule out the possibility that I didn't have the freshest of fish due to the storm. We got one of their specialty rolls and one of the spicy tuna rolls. I really dislike when the mash the fish up in the roll - the tuna in the spicy tuna died a few deaths, given how much they beat it down, and it just makes the texture of the roll less enjoyable. I'm willing to give Tachibana another chance since it's close to my office, but I think the places I've been in Vienna were better so far.
(3)Mathias G.
Excellent sushi bar! A bit on the pricey side for sushi but the bento boxes are awesome and fresh. I had the bento box B and it was well worth $20 I paid. Filled me up and had quality food. Give it a shot.
(4)Alicia G.
What I love most about my yelp friends is that I can tweet on twitter or send a text last minute about meeting for dinner and more often than not, they'll be down with getting together. This was the case last Sunday, as we ended up at Tachibana for sushi. We shared some gyoza and edamame to start. We basically inhaled both and were ready for more. Jeff had his own chirashi bowl filled to the brim with rice and raw fish. Kevin and I settled on sharing 4 rolls; spicy tuna, spicy scallop, rainbow roll and one other random roll. With all the moaning coming from our table (primarily Kevin), I'm sure the people around us must have been wondering if were eating sushi or doing something else. ;-D Yes...we were ONLY eating sushi and yes, it was THAT good. The rainbow roll was quite pretty too... but my favorite was actually the spicy scallop roll. Jeff: "Wow, I'm really sad that my bowl is about empty..." as he eyes the last of our sushi... Kevin and I didn't quite manage to finish all of our rolls, so Jeff kindly obliged and ate what was left. Actually, I'm pretty sure he was pleased that we were full and had leftovers for him to eat. Too full for dessert here but by the time we ended up deciding on/finding a place for frozen dairy, we were hungry again. Shocking of the 3 of us, I know!
(4)Harry U.
Very popular spot in McLean for sushi and other japanese cuisine. I would say that it probably ranks higher than the other two sushi spots in town, Ichiban and Miyagi. The food here is about normal prices for sushi, but they do a lot of other japanese cuisine here that often isn't included at most sushi restaurants. Some of the other things they serve include a variety of noodle dishes(ramen, soba, udon), grilled fish heads, tonkatsu, and a lot of other very interesting looking chef's specials. I've only ever been here for ramen and sushi though. The ramen is solid ramen, to be honest there isn't really much to compare it to in the area though. The sushi/sashimi is good quality fish, well cut, and if it's not too busy it should even get to you relatively quickly. Service is pretty good here, nothing much to complain about. One time we even did a big take-out lunch order, 100+ pieces, and they managed to have everything prepared perfectly and perfectly on time for my friend's baby shower. Overall, no real negatives to the place, apart from a line if you go at the wrong time and the rather outdated decor; definitely worth going for lunch or dinner if you're in the Mclean area.
(4)Nadine F.
This is a great spot for lunch! Lunch specials are reasonably priced and include a lot of the more interesting menu items, not just the common stuff you see at every Japanese restaurant. I'm not an expert when it comes to Japanese food, but I was happy with the quality of everything, and so was my dining companion who used to live in Japan. The green tea and desserts are also good! Service isn't particularly fast, but it is always really friendly, and I always enjoy eating here.
(4)Dominic F.
If you're in, or near, McLean and want Sushi....go to Tachibana. It's worth it. Have not tried all the sushi joints in McLean (i think there's 5)...but been to 4 of them. TB is the best. Sit at the Sushi Bar. the Jiro's are very funny. Fish is so fresh, so tasty and not a bad price. Shokuyoku! Ras.
(4)Kat V.
My husband is definately a sushi lover, so after many recomendations from friends, we gave this place a shot for our anniversary. Pulling up front, my intial take of the restaurant was kind of dissapointing. It looks like your regular run of the mill asian restaurant. However, after eating the sushi, I was transcended to another world. The sushi was freshly prepared, and the service was good. We ordered the dragon roll, where the fish was so fresh it almost melted in my mouth. It was so good, that I can almost taste it as I'm writing . It is so good that I'm writing a review almost 6 months later, to talk about how great the sushi is.... I highly recommend- But don't come here if you are expecting a fancy date night. Ambiance is more for dinner with friends or random dinner out with family.
(4)Amy P.
My comfort food...the amount of Japanese people coming here should say it all, me included. Best Japanese food in the DC Metro area.
(5)Daniel A.
This is classic sushi at its best! I enjoy the new-aged "dragon roll, rainbow roll, super-terrific-extravaganza roll" sushi as much as anyone, but if you want AUTHENTIC sushi, you cannot match Tachibana. My Japanese mother would make us drive the 40 minutes to Tachibana whenever we went out for sushi. There were NO other options to consider in that field. Tempura: excellent. Hard to find the right balance between too heavy and too processed, but they manage to hit the mark Nigiri: the fish is always very fresh and the menu is very pure. You won't be getting any rolls named after American cities or with cream cheese (what is that about???). Straight unagi, ebi, toro, etc. A Japanese restaurant is not authentic unless it comes with that little plastic stand on the table with photos of the sushi. Despite the tight parking lot, there is a lot of space in the restaurant, however I would suggest making a reservation, especially on weekends. It never hurts to make it under your Japanese mother's maiden name either.
(5)Eric O.
Yeah, maybe not. There's only two reasons you would like this place: 1. You've never had sushi. Srsly. 2. All you ordered was the spicy scallop roll. While I can't comment on lunch, dinner was a disappointment. For about $36 we got 26 pieces of sushi. That works out to be about $1.40 a piece. Which would be fine if the rolls were big and tasty. They were not. The only roll worth getting is the spicy scallop roll. Though the rolls as a whole taste better than their presentation, overall, it's all rather unimpressive. Oh, and girlfriend thought the rice was too sticky as if the rolls were from a supermarket. Bleh. Additionally, service was a bit slow, especially given that it was a Tuesday night and there weren't too many people there. Perhaps lunch is a better deal, but I won't be coming back to find out.
(2)Jenny T.
SUPERB sashimi. Very fresh, very tasty. Beautiful presentation of food. Pretty decent service, great atmosphere. I love the kimono and display case with the assortment of Japanese items. You can sit at the sushi bar if you want. Also a great selection of other dinner choices if you're not into the whole sushi/sashimi thing. Only thing is it's on the pricier side.
(5)Henry R.
I have a big heart for sushi. Came here with my girlfriend on a Friday night and caught them during a dinner rush and the place was packed. Waited almost an hour, finally seated. Our server was nice and attentive. Gave us one heck of a confusing menu. If you see a menu with fishes you aren't too familiar with and misspelled words, you know this is the real deal. We ordered some australian butterfish?, yellowtail sashimi, and some others i don't remember. The fish was incredibly fresh and tasted very good. This place is authentic, they do it like how it should have been done. None of that heavily creamed and deepfried stuff. I believe the sushi chefs are Japanese, I thought i heard them speaking Japanese. It is a little on the pricey side compared to the other good sushi restaurants i have been to, but it is worth it for me. Probably my second favorite sushi joints in the area.
(4)J K.
Prices are high. For the price I pay here I would expect better quality. Food is okay...I honestly do not know what the hype is about. I feel like its just people jumping on the bandwagon. I've had better and fresher sushi in Vienna and Arlington/DC. Also if you are into rolls...I wouldn't recommend this place. Their desert is a rip off as well...Its a serving of mochi for the same price as a pack of mochi I can buy at the local Korean supermarket..
(2)William B.
Recent lunch, got there just as crowd rolled in. In non descript bldg amongst non descript bldgs... Parking situation is not conducive to making customer's lives easier... Food: 4--lived in Jpn for years so know sushi--their sushi moriawase was among the best I've had in the US; miso was from a package (=not good) Service: 2--Chinese kid was fresh to the US, didn't know his menu; Japanese greeter/hostess was no Ms Congeniality but she was efficient--def not touch-feely Decor: 2.5--bit run down faux Japonais; tired Food will bring me back, plain and simple. Good find in NoVa.
(4)Faheem R.
Summary: I wouldn't go back for the sushi, but may go back to try the ramen and udon dishes. Food: The miso soup was great. Everything else from that point on was downhill. The texture of the seaweed salad was not very good. It was like they had not soaked the seaweed long enough. The yellowtail roll tasted like a tuna salad sandwich with too much mayo. The spicy tuna roll had tuna that was mashed to a paste. And the salmon sashimi was fishy and soft (which is not how fresh fish should taste or feel!). Overall, I paid way too much to be served food like this. Service: Average Ambiance: Dated Wait time: Place was full but no wait for lunch on a Thursday Miscellaneous observations: Seems to be a popular joint and does have a number of noodle dishes on the menu. Perhaps those are good?
(2)David C.
Such great Japanese cuisine and sushi. very authentic. very busy we got the Shashimi special mix of shashimi which included the best melt in your mouth salmon, maguro tuna, three huge pieces of yellow tale, raw flounder, raw scallops which were super sweet, and seared tuna as well. we also got a huge bowl of Nabeyaki udon noodle soup to split. it was so warm and delicious. the huge soup had a raw egg in it when broken would thicken the broth and make it yellowy and creamy. this is the famous japanese restaurant in McClean where ambassadors from the Japanese Consulate bring their guests. Sounds like they know where to find the best Japanese food.
(5)Peter T.
A very popular place, especially on a Saturday night. I've tried the sushi here, of course, and it is fine. But, you can also get other dishes such as nabe and sukiyaki. Definitely worth a visit!
(4)Lucy X.
Tachibana has a really extensive menu, consisting not only of individual orders of sushi (as with most Japanese sushi places), but with a la cartes and dinner combos of sushi and sashimi and a whole bunch of other stuff, plus a large menu dedicated for alcohol. We got an order of 6-piece spicy scallop roll plus the sashimi dinner special, which includes an assortment of 5 or so different types of sashimi as the main course, and a choice of one appetizer, soup, salad, and dessert. For appetizer, I recommend the tempura calamari. I was amazed by how BIG the squid was...by far the hugest pieces of fried calamari I've ever encountered! As for the soup and salad, they were just small portions of typical miso soup and fresh seaweed salad. The spicy scallop roll was pretty good but after the sashimi came, I nearly forgot about it. Arranged so prettily and tasted very fresh! If you're into raw fish, I would highly recommend it. But my boyfriend and I could only finish so much before we got sick of raw anything, and it didn't help that we just came from stuffing our faces at another restaurant right before. Talk about gluttony...JK we just love to indulge from time to time ;b For dessert, we got the green tea icecream with red bean sauce topping, as well as two mochi icecream pieces, one strawberry and one green tea. The icecream, although came in a tiny portion, was quite refreshing after eating all that raw fish, but the mochi, on the other hand, was so NOT worth it. Not only does it not count towards the dessert for the dinner combo AND it was the most expensive dessert out of all, at only two pieces for $3.50, but it was EXACTLY like the mochi icecream sold at any asian market. Except the ones you buy from them come in a box for around 4-5 bucks for 3-4 times the amount! Total rip off! Talk about profit...sheesh Anyway, overall a nice fancy-ish Japanese restaurant if you're craving some sushi and sashimi.
(4)Glen H.
Simply the best sushi I've had and that includes sushi in Kyoto, Tokyo, Seoul, NY, LA SF. Generous slices of the freshest fish. don't go here for the ambiance, it's all about the sushi.
(4)Scott S.
Wow, really a big fan. Prices aren't ridiculous, the sushi is perfect, and they have some good lunch combo options that all come with choice of soup and salad too. DEF will be back!
(4)Drew S.
Ok, I've lived in CA and HI, and this place's sushi is the bomb. Their lunch specials are unreal too. Large portions of top quality sushi.... Great, now I'm dreaming of the sashimi platter... big thick cuts of Ahi... miso soup, ginger salad dressing, rice... this should teach me to write a review before lunch. I'd recommend getting there early because parking is tight. Even if you have to park on the street, it is well worth it!
(5)Brian F.
I'm Japanese, and this is my tried-and-true DC-area Japanese restaurant. There's so much junk in the DC area masquerading as Japanese -- it's good to come here and get authentic Japanese food for a reasonable price. My wife consistently gets the Chirashi sushi here - which they do a very good job of. Chirashi is basically lots of different sashimi on top of rice, laid out nicely with other condiments included. I like the Dinner Box combos and the Chirashi. Occasionally we make it out there for lunch - and they have a totally different menu. You can get cheaper things like Oyako-donburi and perhaps my favorite, Katsu-Don (fried pork cutlets with eggs and grilled onions + mushrooms on top of rice). I've always loved these more "homey" dishes, and Tachibana does a great job of them. I find that other sushi places start skimping out on the sushi over time (Sushi Taro did this, and really ticked me off) - but I find that Tachibana consistently gives generous cuts of their fish. Keep up the great work!
(4)Greg O.
The only reason we decided to try this place is because Ichi Ban is closed on Sunday. I regret that decision. First, the hostess was rude. Not to just us, but to anybody walking in the door. It was like we were bothering her to try and eat there. Don't worry, next time I won't. The waitress forgot our green salads, but still left them on the bill (She did apologize, but still.) The sushi was not fresh by any means, and way overpriced. I've been to worse, which is the only thing that saved this place from getting one star. Most grocery stores have better sushi for a lot less.
(2)Wayne K.
I went here with a buddy for lunch on a Saturday around 1pm and it was pretty packed. The parking lot is small, so expect to park on the street if you aren't lucky enough to get a spot in their lot. Fortunately, they have a lot of free street parking, so you won't have to walk far. The place is a little rundown looking, but it reminded me of the old-school Japanese restaurants I used to go to as a kid in the 80s, so it had a bit of a nostalgic feeling for me. But if you're looking for something fancy, you won't get it at this restaurant. I thought the sushi was good and well priced for lunch (I was stuffed for around $10), but I heard dinner prices are practically double, so it's not worth going there for dinner. Overall, it was a great place for decent sushi at a decent price and I will definitely be heading back soon.
(4)Andrew C.
Went in for Valentine's Day dinner, and - as always - came out satisfied. More than satisfied, really. I would say Cloud Nine. I don't get here as often as I would like, but every time I do, the sushi is consistent, reliable, and next to perfect. I cannot think of any other place in the Washington, D.C. area that does it better. Do yourself a favor, get a seat at the sushi bar, and say, "Omakase" and let them guide you with a taste of everything that's featured and fresh. Last night started with a round of yellowtail and mackerel, followed by two types of mackerel: Japanese (INTENSE!) and Spanish (classic). We were asked if we like uni (of course!) and got a plate including the amazing toro (fatty tuna, a splurge at $15 for two pieces), blue shrimp, and octopus. Still hungry, we tried a couple spicy rolls: spicy scallop (a definite house specialty, don't miss it as a hand roll) and a special toro-jalepeno roll (with the jalepeno fried like tempura - really great flavor, not so intensely spicy). The tuna looked amazingly fresh, so asked for some of that and wound up with salmon (fantastic), tuna (lean and clean), and unagi (always a favorite of mine, served a little warm with a dash of sweet teriyaki sauce). What else haven't we had? How about squid? Sure, though not my favorite. Lastly, a little white tuna (incredibly mild, begging you to order more and more just to have the taste linger a little longer), and salmon roe (ikura) to end the night. Dessert? Okay, twist our arm: ginger ice cream and green tea mochi. Actually unnecessary, but a fun way to end the night. I should also mention this restaurant offers fresh wasabi (runs $2.50 and worth every penny - it's a must, and assumed you will appreciate it if you go with Omakase at the bar). Again, I'm hard pressed to find another place that has this on their menu. The difference between fresh wasabi and the typical paste they serve as a general rule is like the difference between fresh garlic and that you can buy in a jar already chopped. Sure, it is technically the same and you can make do with it, but your taste buds know better. Fresh wasabi hits the tongue with a sharp bite that does not linger or burn the sinuses in an unpleasant way like wasabi from a tube usually does. It's a definite must if you consider yourself serious about food. Furthermore, the pickled ginger here is just as flavorful and perfect as all else. If I have any objection or room for improvement, it would be to renovate. There seems to be a lot of wasted space between the bar and some of the dining area. Otherwise, this place is my little secret and I want the whole world to know of the world-class sushi right in my own backyard.
(5)C.M B.
I don't really understand what the fascination with this place is. I've been here now three times and am stilling looking for the food people are talking about. The service is friendly, the food isn't terrible, but for majority of the reviews are in the upper star tier. I just don't see it. I may go again, if a friend really wants to try it, but it's certainly not on my top go to list. I really enjoy the sushi at Koi Koi in Falls Church, and Sushi Yama in Vienna.
(2)Justin C.
Tachibana is a decent alternative for those of us living in the suburbs who still want a reliable regular sushi place without having to go into the city. I've been here several times, always to-go, as it's one of the few places open by the time I get home during my really busy part of the year, and the quality has always been consistently good, even late at night. Although my interactions with them have been limited, the service here has always been very friendly, and very prompt as well. One of my favorite non-sushi items on the menu is the Spanish mackerel ( flickr.com/photos/wedoit… ) marinated with miso and sake which is then grilled. It's light and flaky, and just a slight hint of fish flavor. This is one dish you have to eat almost right away though, as letting it sit causes the fish to really toughen up. Hamanegi Maki: Chopped Yellow Tail with Bonito Flakes and Scallion - This was ok, I didn't really see the benefit of the bonito or scallion in the flavors though. Spicy Scallop Roll ( flickr.com/photos/wedoit… ): Scallop, Tobiko, Scallion, Sesame Oil, Shichimi-Spice and Mayo - This is my favorite roll here. The heat is subtle, but just enough to make you notice. The amount of scallop included is also nice. Washington Roll ( flickr.com/photos/wedoit… ): Broiled Eel, Shiso, Scallion and Cucumber - Another of my favorites, they cook the eel perfectly, so it has the ideal texture for sushi in my opinion. The cucumber also adds a nice crunchy contrast. The miso soup ( flickr.com/photos/wedoit… ) here is also one of the better renditions I've had, not too fishy, and the right amount of onion flavor, with big chunks of tofu. I've also done the sushi deluxe sampler flickr.com/photos/wedoit… ), which has a pretty decent assortment of nigiri, although I'm not sure it's much of a deal value wise. I'll continue to visit Tachibana as long as they're around, and hopefully one day actually have the time to stop in and dine instead of always taking it home.
(4)Renee H.
Came for dinner on a Saturday night at around 8:45p. Got seated right away which was nice. Ordered the spicy tuna hand roll & veggie tempura as an appetizer, had the spicy scallop roll & the spicy salmon roll. Where to begin. We had 2 different servers which failed to communicate with our drinks but they were nice. The spicy tuna hand roll looked very funny. The tuna was a dark color which made me nervous, it did not taste fresh. It was spicy however which I like but the fish looked a little old. The hand roll costed about $6.50. The veggie tempura was normal. My spicy scallop & salmon rolls were good. They add a bit of tempura flakes in the roll which gave it a nice crunch. The pieces were a good size. But, they were not spicy, more sweet & they use wayyyy too much sesame oil in the spicy scallop roll. My husband ordered their teriyaki salmon which was delicious but they wouldn't let him substitute the miso soup for their side salad. I found that odd. I ended up eating his soup because he doesn't like miso soup which is why he asked for the salad. I only give this place two stars because I expected more from all the great reviews.
(2)Quaker W.
We have been fans of Tachibana since before they moved to McLean many years ago. It's a family operation run by japanese immigrants who know how to handle fresh fish. Tachibana is NOT one of those "fashion" sushi restaurants with cleverly-named kitchen-sink rolls full of things like cream cheese and fried shrimp. The chefs behind Tachibana's sushi bar prefer to serve simple, fresh and impeccably sliced sushi and sashimi, including hard to find fish found on the nightly specials list at the entrance. The slices are generous, the temperature is always perfect, the quality outstanding, and the selection second to none. The sushi bar is an exceedingly friendly place to park yourself. Taka and the other chefs are as friendly, helpful, and welcoming as can be. If you're adventurous, ask them to give you what's best tonight and leave the rest in their hands. My family includes sushi lovers and at least one young person with more "traditional" tastes. Thankfully, Tachibana is very family friendly and does cooked food equally well. In fact, the traditional non-sushi menu is nothing short of impressive, with an excellent shabu shabu, a nice range of noodle dishes, and other traditional cooked favorites such as dumplings, negimaki, sukiyaki, teriyaki, and tempura. If you're on a budget, the tempura udon is a pretty wonderful little meal in a bowl. But if you know what you're doing, you come here for the sushi. NOTE: Reservations are available for the sushi bar only.
(5)Leonardo L.
Best Japanese Restaurant in Greater Washington Area! Quality of fish is unbelievable! Real Deal!
(5)Ed W.
Walked out due to RUDE sushi chef. I have eaten here many times in the past. Rarely get to the McLean area these days so haven't been there in years. Stopped by and took a seat at the sushi bar. After a few minutes of waiting to be served, the sushi chef threw a fit saying he was expecting two people soon and he wanted them to sit in my seat. There were two "Reserved" signs on the counter next me with two empty seats which I respected. Suspect he didn't realize this but, his rant ruined the positive expectation I had for eating there after so many years therefore, I walked out.
(1)Uno Tres Z.
Amazing Japanese restaurant. They will list the fresh deliveries on the board as you walk in. The pieces of nigiri are almost as large as you get in Japan and they add wasabi under as one should! Love this place! 5 stars
(5)Tina G.
We have been there for several times, we have never been disappointed. The fresh fish and sushi are always good reason for people who love real Japaneses food. It is also a good place for group of people, we normally order Chirashi, Uni Sushi and and Eel hand roll.
(5)Donald P.
Don't believe the hype, and you may enjoy your food a little more. That is after the sticker shock wears off. I just don't get this place. The food was okay, but the lack of atmosphere or originality or even inspiration, left me a little discouraged. If this really as good as Japanese food gets in the NoVA area, then there's really nothing left to look forward to. Anyway the food was decent, but nothing noteworthy. Parking was a bit tight during dinner time, and the place was pretty packed for a Saturday night. My only other thought is that this is more of a $$$ restaurant than a $$ restaurant, for a regular dinner meal.
(2)Nick H.
Oh Tachibana. How I love you so. I had forgotten just how much I love Tachibana until I recently met up with a friend here for lunch. It's tough because there are so many good sushi restaurants within a few miles of Tyson's Corner, but as far as sushi restaurants in Northern Virginia go, Tachi is among my favorites. At an affordable price, you'll get great cuts of fresh fish. The restaurant itself is surprisingly big with plenty of wait staff. I almost always eat at the bar, but even when I sit to eat, I've enjoyed my dining experience here. I always order the sashimi platter for lunch when I come through which includes miso soup, salad, and warm tea in addition to the actual sashimi platter which is already awesome by itself. For about $14 you too can indulge in the wonderful sashimi platter at Tachibana. It is easily the best sashimi deal I've ever seen at any sushi restaurant. So next time you're in the mood for sushi in Mclean, try out something different at Tachibana.
(4)Larry K.
Kinda surprised by some of the two stars until I remember I don't like sushi. I have been coming to this restaurant since the 80's but have eaten most of the non sushi dishes. If you think the decor is funky now, you should have seen it when it was in the car dealership showroom (not kidding) near Spout Run. The lunch special bento is the way to go as well as the noodles. The tempura is always hot and fresh... Service is usually good as well. It is one of the best Japanese restaurants in the area.
(4)Gene W.
Authentic Japanese in the heart of McLean. Love the sushi and tempura. If you're with a group, definitely try the shabu shabu. You get a vessel with boiling water at the center of the table and meats and vegetables for cooking. My family frequently orders this dish.
(4)Brenda D.
I used to think this place was really great for lunch, but then I found some other places with better quality, less waiting time and better parking. The sushi lunch at Tachibana is not bad; the fish is fresh it will definitely fill you up, but the roll they give you is made from leftover pieces of fish. I think there are better places around the DMV for sushi.
(3)Jake K.
Wow.....wow.....wow..... That's all I have to say about that. Well, not really. After living in Japan (well, technically Okinawa) for six years, I did learn what good sushi tastes like. However, since returning back to the US, I haven't had anything that comes close save two places. Sushiko and Tachibana. My wife and I decided to go to Tachibana and eat after parting ways with my parental units who were in the states. Fortunately, we were able to get a reservation at the sushi bar (but in the back since we were calling at 6:30 for a 7:00 PM reservation). Parking was a tad difficult, but apparently at about 6:30 the first sets of diners are cycling out so if you're patient, you can uncover a spot. When we sat down, we were greeted by the chefs and allowed to take a look at the menu. I was blown away at the amount of food available - all of my old favorites were on the menu. I ended up selecting the chirashi special and my wife got the sushi special. Each meal came with a salad, miso soup, and an appetizer - PLENTY of food for the average price of $30. The chirashi...simply heaven. I was eating and enjoying it so much that the sushi chef actually stopped his conversations a few times to check up on me. Sushi chef: Sir...are you ok? did you eat too fast? Me: *chewing slowly* yes...I'm....ok.... Sushi chef: Good? Me: Mmmm hmmm.... Sushi chef: Um...ok.... Me: Mmmm hmmm.... I mean, seriously. It was great. The tamago was lightly sweet...chilled to the right temperature and moist. The fish...wow. Nice thick slices and plenty of them. I counted over 15 pieces of fish in this chirashi bowl. I must admit, it made getting at the rice a chore, but hey, there are some chores I will willingly take on! My wife actually ate all of her sushi - something that is rare. But it just tells you how great this was. For just under $100, the two of us gorged on the sushi, a large bottle of sake, and finished out with a scoop of ginger ice cream. I actually couldn't resist when the chef said goodbye - I cheesily gave an Arnoldesque "I'll be back". I know, I can be a tool. But so what. I had great sushi.
(5)David J.
Service and 'look & feel' of the restaurant drove this review away from a 5-star review. Granted, Tachibana is a popular destination. However, you visit on a Saturday night like I did, and you really, really notice a difference in the quality of the service. Greeters appear disorganized and border line rude. Sushi chefs (I only ever sit at the bar) are clearly very, very, busy and have no time to talk to you about specials, fish quality, or spare 1 minute to take your entire order. Even the usual squid salad and hot towels were completely overlooked this evening, and we ended up having to ask for a menu. However, all is forgiven when you eat their sushi. It really is just so satisfying to see that quality hasn't taken the classic nose-dive as greed and growth spur a restaurant's business (see my previous review of Sushi Momo in Old Town for an example of this). The fish is fresh (although the salmon is bizarrely and consistently under-par, the ONLY fish there that just doesn't stand out, ever...it's weird), and the servings are perfect. Some might say generous, but this is how sushi is SUPPOSED to be! No thin slithers here, respectable portions and extremely fresh. Just divine. We sampled the escolar (white tuna), ikura with quail egg, salmon & avocado hand roll, Hamachi (yellowtail), and a few of 'regular' rolls - shrimp tempura most notably (substitute the odd inclusion of asparagus for Avocado...divine). We know we will be back and it's comforting to know that we just KNOW it will be great. Now if only the look and feel of the place had a massive overhaul, this would be perfection in McLean.
(4)Charles K.
First off - I would like to say I used to LOVE Tachibana - it was my go-to sushi spot nearby. The last time I went was a few months ago and I never bothered writing a review, but I feel like I should say something. Normally, this place had the best sake (salmon, not the alcohol) around - but on this day the sushi was just not fresh. The sake tasted fishy - which is a sushi NO NO! The tuna wasn't that good either. I was like, "WHAT THE EFF IS GOING ON!?" So. I politely asked the server what they could do for us b/c I was not satisfied with our meal. The server ran away and then the manager appeared. This is where it went downhill. She came over huffing and puffing like she was offended that we didn't like our sushi. Not only was she rude, she stormed off in the middle of my explanation of why I wasn't happy. Mind you the seating proximity in there is pretty small and I don't like making a scene in restaurants, but her behavior was embarrassing. If I wasn't with a girl - I would have definitely went off on their management. They ended up taking off our EDAMAME from the bill - and we left. I of course still paid. This place is hit or miss anyway - and that experience just set me over the edge to never give them my business again. I used to preach that place to my friends - but now no one goes. They will be just fine without us - but they should learn a lesson in customer service and not rely just on good food. The chefs there are friendly and fun btw. Too bad.
(1)Diana C.
Brief review: AAMMMAAAAZING. The sashimi portions are ridiculously huge, the fish is delicious, the service is terrific. I tried a few staples and a few things I'd never had before, and I was totally impressed with every bite. My date and I split a huge amount of food, and I got a few things that really stood out: the toro? MELT IN YOUR MOUTH. Delicately mushy fatty tuna. Holy crap. I also tried the urchin--Japanese peanut butter as the sushi chef called it. My first time eating it. The flavor was super delicate, but again, HUGE portion that I could barely fit into my mouth. But I persevered and won. Take that, sea life.
(5)Theresa K.
For sushi/sashimi lovers, Tachibana is good as it gets! I know, there are at least a couple of popular places in DC, but they have nothing more than hip and better drink list. Tachibana is where the Asian ladies lunch, Asian business men conduct... and local sushi/sashimi lovers gather, as often as they can. I often hear them say before leaving, "can't wait till next week, when I can come back" or "see you next month, when I'm back in town..." Tachibana gets at least 2-3 fresh deliveries, each week and has a daily fresh list, at the front of the door with in-season deliveries for the day: abalone, fresh Main scallops, sea bass... and many more. Their kitchen food is also very good, and authentic. I have dined here for the past 6+ years, on a weekly or multiple times a week and never failed me, accept when they run out of my favorite, the fresh sea scallop:)
(5)Rob E.
Not much I can add to what has been said. I hadnt realized I never wrote a review for Tachibana. It is my go to place for Sushi in the area. The place is authentic, the Nigiri is really fresh and nice thick cuts of fish. I go at least 3-4 times a month to satisfy my sushi craving. I've tried almost every well rated sushi joint in the area and I always find myself back at Tachibana, noone has been able to top it.
(5)Joyce P.
3 stars because of the service not because of the food. Ramen was fantastic! We had 2 types of ramen, shoyu and miso, both of which were to our satisfaction. Broth was not salty, noodles al dente, generous portion of pork, bamboo shoots, half of a boiled egg, more than a sliver of fish cake. For $9.95 a bowl it exceeded my expectations! Service: old ladies who don't smile and rushed us through our lunch. All the servers that came by were rough with placing dishes on table or removing them. We kept thanking them and smiling but no response. The server never checked on us until she was ready to bring the bill. When we asked for or food to be wrapped up for take away, she gave us a smirk and returned to our table only to toss our food as quickly as she could into plastic bowls. Not pleasant! I will likely return because of the food. Pay this place a visit, just come prepared for the unpleasant service.
(3)Tim I.
Hands down the best and most authentic Japanese restaurant in No Va.
(5)Ray C.
Great food and outstanding service
(4)Vandad C.
Good food, decent prices, always packed on the weekends. Service is friendly enough but they do tend to rush you so they can clear the table for the next customers. I'd recommend Miyagi over Tachibana which is one block away behind Boston Market.
(3)Lin J.
Great environment, great food!
(5)N S.
As a vegetarian I was disappointed in their vegetarian options. One of their three vegetarian options are a fish sauced soup, which doesn't make it vegetarian. I was a bit surprised when I asked for a spicy sauce and she brought me tabasco, ha! Their miso soup also has fish! I waited five minutes for my server to come back and check on me so that I can add a salad, and at 2:02 she said it was too late to ask for a salad because they were closed. This place just isn't for me.
(1)Vishal S.
This is a great place for Japanese food - sushi and tempura and udon noodles, etc. Ambiance is like other asian restaurants in the area - trying to be upscale but dated that will turn younger and hipper audience away. That does not stop the regulars from coming back though - it's hard to find parking at dinner time! Prices are moderate to pricey and service is okay. I like the udon noodles, tempura and sushi here! They have a wide selection of fish to choose from and I have never been disappointed. It's the lack of appeal in the ambiance and the service level that holds me back from being an absolete fan of this place.
(4)Mahsa K.
Edamame and ice cream so so but the meal itself was great! Moving around here from L.A. kept hearing scary sushi stories but this place my cousins treated us to was a good gem. Expectable prices good nigiri and house rolls... FYI, the servers aren't too friendly to substitutions.
(4)Pragna H.
Divine! Very fresh fish, lots of it, and excellent service. Quite moderately priced for what you get. Granted we are not the biggest eaters in the world, we shared a clam miso soup (a little meh for me), tempura (as good as it gets), six pieces of nigiri and two rolls. Get the toro. Well you should get the toro at any decent place! Never had a branzini nigiri, but now I will whenever offered. It is light and white about almost melt in your mouth delightful. Horse mackerel? I am glad I tried it, but that's that. The jalapeno tempura roll was probably one of the better sushi rolls I have had. It was stuffed with minced toro, jalapeno tempura into big fat rolls. The spicy scallop roll had an unexpected crunchy surprise inside along with a bit of sweet, a bit of heat. I liked it better without the soy sauce, since the sauce tends to make it a little too salty. Our amazing server (who seemed Japanese) recommended the house sake since I have never had sake before. It smells like strong liquor and is smooth like good wine. Drink it quickly. I didn't like it at room temp. A must stop if you are in the area or if you have a car and gas to drive. Do it!
(5)Elizabeth D.
What a Disappointment! This place has such great reviews. I was expecting to get some really good food. I don't know what was going on but the guys making the Sushi were having major problems. We ordered 1 California Roll and a Bento Box that also included a California roll. The sushi chefs were having so much trouble getting orders out that we waited FORTY FIVE MINUTES to get our food. The worst part was that the regular kitchen was way ahead of the Sushi bar so the rest of our Bento box was stone cold by the time the roll was added and it was delivered to the table. The family that sat next to us was actually warned that if they ordered sushi it would take at least 30 minutes! Wish we had been warned! I doubt I'll ever return. If you want good sushi and service drive to Vienna and go to Sweet Ginger.
(2)Joseph F.
Very good sushi but feels really cramped when busy. The place in general just feels a little outdated even though they have done some rather recent and needed renovations to their dining room. This place literally has the Newt Gingrich seal of approval. I've seen him there twice already. He too is a little outdated. Great menu but the beer is on the expensive side.
(4)Ken R.
Two of us went to Tachibana at 7:30 on a very cold Thursday night. Sat at sushi bar, had 5 or six sushis that the chef recommended, which were excellent, plus a small egg custard and a small clam soup, also both very good. With one large and one small sake, the bill came to $101. If you are not a big eater and can handle that cost for a small meal, go for it. To me it was too expensive.
(4)Annie K.
I've been here twice, and I would definitely come back again since I live fairly close to it. The restaurant is very authentic, the sushi and sashimi is fresh, and they have a good selection of appetizers, dishes, alcohol, and desserts. The service is good, the sushi chefs greet you from the moment you walk in the door and the servers are friendly. The both times I went, it was fairly busy. It may seem a little pricey, but their quality is excellent. Overall, I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
(4)Ann W.
Lunch special is good, kid's menu is great, my kids love it! I love the tofu soup, very good with rice. The seating is kind of crowded but it is overall a good Japanese restaurant around here.
(4)Caitlin S.
This place has the BEST water I have ever tasted!!! I am guessing it is probably imported straight from the mountains of Japan. Five stars for the most authentic Japanese experience.
(5)Ji-In L.
Had a great meal here the other night. I can't vouch for the maki or nigiri, but the sashimi was excellent. Thick, beautifully cut and presented, colorful, and delicious. I was so excited to see they had Hamachi Kama (collar) on the menu but was sorely disappointed that they had run out. I would go back just for that because for some reason most Japanese restaurants don't put this amazing meat on the menu even though they probably have it back there from all the sushi they make from the fish. So we ordered just one order of the premium sashimi to split. We got the dinner option so we were able to choose an appetizer, salad and dessert and also got miso soup all for around $30. The server was very nice and she brought us two bowls of soup and two bowls of rice at no extra charge. This was plenty of food for us to share. We also ordered a rainbow roll. Complicated makis aren't my thing, so I really didn't like it. The flavors were over the top and you couldn't tell what you were eating. The tamago (egg) was overtly sweet and overpowered the whole thing. We had a shrimp cucumber salad that was more of a light palate cleanser than a salad. But it was tasty. For appetizer we had grilled mackerel that was nice, but I'm very partial to mackerel and other fishy fish. We ended the meal with a scoop of green tea ice cream. Perfect way to finish. The star of the meal was of course the fish. I was really pleased. The chef selected beautiful cuts of snapper, tuna (deep red maguro), salmon (fatty, nicely lined with those fabulous stripes of white fat) and hamachi (thick cuts from the dorsal to the belly). Also came with some scallops/clams in a light sauce and a lightly seared tuna. All very fresh. Haven't had very much good sushi here in the DC area, so it's nice to know of one nearby. Didn't get any nigiri, so no comment yet on the quality of the sushi rice.
(4)Melody D.
I LOVE the sushi here. It is delicious. Service can be good, or bad. I have had both good and bad service equally. I'm a huge fan and I highly recommend the restaurant but I have to admit that the carpet is sticky when you walk across the floor and it's totally gross. I try not to over think it and focus on the sushi but it definitely makes me wonder about how clean the place is. Without a doubt, best sushi around.
(4)P H.
Great sushi in VA!
(4)PC W.
Tachibana has an extensive lunch menu, chock full of deals. The $10 sushi lunch is filling - 7 pieces of nigiri (the cuts of fish are sizable), 3 rolls of not-spicy-enough tuna and 3 rolls of an unidentifiable white fish. It was all fresh and the salmon was fatty just the way I like it. It comes with your choice of miso or clear broth with spinach and green or bean sprout salad. For $2 more you can upgrade to a seaweed salad which I did. Lunches start at $10. $10 will also get you a chirashi. $14.50 gets you a sashimi lunch with tuna, seared tuna, salmon and whitefish. $12-16 gets you a ridonkulous bento box with yakitori, salmon, shrimp and veggie tempura, etc. They also have ramen for $8 but I convinced myself not to order it. I find it hard to believe it will be better than what I've had in NYC.
(4)Kevin L.
I'm not quite sure how to do Tachibana justice. It's definitely one of my absolute favorite sushi joints in the DMV, but I just don't think that it's quite what Sushi Taro is. I've always had positive experiences here, but I couldn't point anything in particular that really -made- those experiences. I suppose I should just chalk it up to the fact that they've yet to wrong me after many repeated visits. And that's saying quite a bit. My most recent trip had me consuming a giant zaru full of soba noodles. I forget the exact name of the dish, but it involved cold buckwheat noodles that had a great consistency, along with a cool broth to dip the noodles in. There was also a bowl of yamakake (I think?) - some kind of semi-sweet and gooey yam paste. Apparently I'm not Japanese enough to fully enjoy the stuff. It was a little too ooze-like in consistency for me to appreciate it. Fortunately, the huge amount of noodles, plus sharing off my favorite red-head yelper's giant bento box had me extremely full. I believe this may have been my only lunch trip here ever, but it was nice to not have to wait through the huge dinner lines for half an hour. Plus, the prices are very reasonable, and the variety on the lunch menu is astounding (and the resulting decision-making was brain-wracking). Definitely worth a stop if you're aching for sushi and just can't make it across the bridge!
(4)SweetPea D.
Visit on a Monday night and it was packed with Japanese!!! Fresh sushi! The best thing- they have uni sushi!!!! I can say this is the best, authentic Japanese restaurant that I had tried in this area.
(5)Alexis N.
I don't understand the hype. I've had better sushi at Wegmans.
(2)Joni H.
The fish is very fresh! Excellent service!
(5)Brian S.
Note: I've only tried the sushi. It was quite disappointing. I thought the fish tasted old and overall it was no enjoyable. I went twice, thinking the first time was a fluke...it apparently wasn't. Not planning on going back.
(2)Michael K.
Great sushi & sashimi, perhaps the best in Northern Virginia. Yet, food is not more expensive than other average Japanese restaurants... not at all. However, parking and seating can be frustrating at times. Avoid peak hours if you can.
(5)T N.
I have to upgrade the stars to 3 after coming back here two more times for lunch! Their dinner menus may be expensive and not that impressive, but their lunch specials are pretty decent. Both times I ordered the Chirachi lunch bowl which came with soup and salad. The cuts of fish were generous and were somewhat fresh but not the freshest that I've had. They also offer lunch boxes which I have yet to try...maybe next time!
(3)Stephanie T.
This is by far my favorite sushi place in VA! I haven't found one better. Love their California rolls.
(4)Candace C.
I love the homestyle dishes here. When I first walked in, it smelled like my host family's house in Japan--and I knew there would be good food here too. I know people rave about the sushi here, but to be honest, I'm not quite sure why. Maybe I've always come on off days/nights, but I've always thought their fish looked kinda dingy/sketchy. I've never gotten sick from it, but I prefer their cooked/other food. The beef negimaki (broiled beef wrapped around scallions in a teriyaki sauce) is excellent and can be ordered in an appetizer portion or entree portion. The hamachi kama (yellowtail collar bone) shioyaki style is also wonderful, succulent and full of meat. I love their tempura particularly because the batter is perfect-thin, light, and tender AND they give you the correct sauce with fresh grated daikon. For the teriyaki lovers out there, Tachibana does a mean version. The meat is juicy and tender---not like other places that grill their chicken till it's dry and then douse it with sauce to cover it up. For sushi, again going with the homestyle theme, the non fish stuff is good-the tamago (egg) is slightly sweet and custardy--not too dry. The kampyo maki (pumpkin marinated in sweet soy) is a childhood favorite of mine and I order it here whenever I can, as well as the futomaki. If I have to do fish, I will concede that the spicy scallop roll is quite good and on occasion, I will order the chirashi. The chef always gives a variety and is quite generous with the portions. Dessert is nothing out of the ordinary--save your money and buy Mae-da green tea ice cream at one of the Japanese super markets or stop by Moorenkos around the corner for more variety.
(4)Tom K.
DC/MD/VA is not known for its Japanese community. Sure, it's overridden with "authentic" sushi restaurants but is that what the Japanese really want to be known for? Contrary to popular belief, the Japanese do not eat sushi for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It's a food saved for special occasions. Japanese food goes far beyond cold pieces of raw fish on top of seasoned rice. Tachibana IS an authentic Japanese restaurant. It is not hibachi and/or sushi. It is real Japanese food made to serve people looking for it. Try the Saba Shio Yaki (Salted Grilled Mackerel) it's salted lightly to perfection and don't be afraid to dig in with your hands. I've given Tachibana four stars and with more visits and taste tests it could very well go up to a full 5. And yeah... if you're looking for sushi they have that too.
(4)Lulu T.
The restaurant could use a face-lift. The premises seems to be very dirty and dingy. Don't go for atmosphere. The only thing worth ordering in this restaurant is the sashimi. The fish is cut nice and thick. Everything else in the menu is nothing out of the ordinary. Rolls - the variety of rolls is minimal. They serve only very traditional sushi rolls. Don't expect to find the California or Rainbow roll here.
(3)Miji C.
I live and work in Mclean now...I used to live in Maryland which I still feel has better Japanese restaurants. When I moved to Nothern VA, I felt robbed of all the great sushi I was used to eating...for instance, I'm a big big fan of SUSHI SONO up in Columbia...anyway that's another review. When my hubby and I tried out a local favorite Tachibana, we knew we found a favorite... there are soooo many sushi restaurants in Mclean, but this is our favorite. I can't really say for any other dishes because we only eat Sashimi here ...and the reason being..they give such generous portions of GREAT QUALITY fish that makes us keep coming back for more. I say very good prices for what you get! Try it out, you won't be dissapointed... I only gave it 4 stars because I think they can use an upgrade to the old old building they're in now...maybe some new decor or at least new chairs!
(4)John B.
The sunomono and hiyayakko were both quite good. I found the maki all well above average. I hear that the unaju is fabulous, though I can't vouch for it personally. This is a place where I'd avoid alcohol if only to have the financial ability to try more foods. The layout is very strange. The place is about the size of a level from the first Bond game for N64, but deceptive in its massiveness. I almost got lost returning from the men's room. A sure sign of my stupidity, no doubt.
(4)Jason S.
Everything seemed about right here, just nothing that really stood out and forced me to give a 4 star + review. Honestly the pictures look much better than what I received. To be honest, my party and I stuck to the non-sushi items - which were a solid "meh"... something I wouldn't seek out. The sushi was traditional but very fresh, just kind of boring.
(3)Michael L.
Having lived in Japan for 3 years, I'm always seeking quality sushi bars without going into DC and paying the crazy prices. This used to be our go-to sushi joint. The quality of fish was exceptional. Now, however, their quality is very inconsistent. So much that we've stopped going. One last nail in the coffin for me was when I saw a Japanese client sitting next to me served a sushi with fish twice the size of mine that looked incredible. I asked her what she had ordered and realized it was the same sushi I had ordered. It was clear to me where the quality had gone and it wasn't to me, your average clientele.
(2)Tina M.
I LOVE this place. All my experiences with the food here, have been great. It's fresh and well prepared. The restaurant itself is nothing special. Parking isn't great if you go when they are busy - which they often are. Get there at 11:30 for lunch if you want to avoid the rush and having to wait. Going early for dinner is good too. The service is good. Not overly friendly, but attentive. I definitely recommend this place for good sushi though. I'm sure there are some great places downtown, but if you are in the NOVA area - this place will hit the spot!
(4)Alison S.
What can I say?! (Can we keep this place a secret?) It's our favourite Japanese restaurant in the area. We've heard of people from the greater DC metro area trekking it here for their Japanese food fix. The weekends are packed! Get there early or make a reservation. We've had to leave a few times because the wait was too long. The food is consistently good, but I gave this a 4 stars because I've had much better Japanese food in Thailand and Japan so I feel that the food at Tachibana is kinda average compared to what I've been use to. But for this area, it is one of the best Japanese restaurants! Sashimi, Ramen, Sushi, cold Soba noodles etc. are all good. The handful of times we've been for dinner though we felt that the sashimi variety at dinner tend to be not as good as lunchtime. Value for money at lunch is better than dinner, we think. We're definitely regulars here!
(4)Sofia B.
We came on a Saturday for lunch. We arrived at around 1145 - good job too, as there was already a queue!! We thought, fantastic - lots of Japanese couples/families in the queue, so it must be good! We were seated after a 10 minute wait once the restaurant opened (yes it was THAT busy!) The server really could have been a bit friendlier.She was abrupt and not very helpful. She never checked on us if we needed anything - in fact we had to actually flag her down a couple times for items she had not brought. The food was actually pretty good. We had a volcano type sushi soup thing, which was very tasty. The sushi tasted fresh, but nothing special. I would come back again, but not in a hurry.
(3)lindonesia s.
Tachibana what a find! After suggestions from friends and a last minute almost change to Miyagi we made it to Tachibana, and what a find. We're from the west coast (SF...the city) and came into the whole sushi thing out in DC with skeptical and picky expectations and tastes but Tachi performed. The fatty tuna roll was just as good as any LA spot (though a smaller rolls than we get out west) with a great texture and fresh taste. The unagi roll rounded out the experience with an interesting sweet sauce and great rice/fish ratio. The Miso was hearty and and spicy.... nice work Mr. or Mrs. T! The decor and ambiance were not all that but hey...at the end of the day its the food that counts.
(4)Christopher L.
Tachibana was very nice, the bar had plenty of room with enough chefs to serve everyone. The fish was very fresh and very nicely sized. The seaweed salad was very fresh as well, I liked the option to substitute this for the normal salad. Most of the time I end up with both salads. This is so far my favorite place to go for Sushi. I have been waiting for Sushi Taro to reopen so ill save my 5th star for that.
(4)Meg S.
Authentic food, Japanese owned. The food is good but I don't like coming here very often...b/c of the cleanliness. I think the carpet is dirty and they don't really clean very well; a couple of weeks ago I went there for dinner with a friend and I happened to sit right next to the beam separating the sitting area and the sushi bar. The beam was just so dusty and I kind of lost my appetite. They should get better cleaning people!!! Cleanliness is one of the important things in Japanese restaurants that serve fresh items!
(3)L P.
My boyfriend and I decided to explore our neighborhood and saw that Tachibana had over a hundred reviews with an average 4 stars. Let's just say, we've been to this restaurant three times this month. We never do that! The first time we visited, we tried the yelp-recommended "dinner special" which included soup (we chose miso), salad (seaweed salad), appetizer (6 piece spicy tuna roll), 11 substantial mixed pieces of nigiri, and dessert (green tea ice cream) and shared it between the two of us. I ordered the clam miso soup in addition to the dinner. Surprisingly, we were sated by the end of the meal. The soups and salads were as expected however the spicy tuna roll was perfection. The rice-to-fish-to-nori ratio was perfect - it was far from the supermarket "sushi" where the rice is thick, flavorless, and textureless. The rice was seasoned properly and rolled with just the right amount of thickness/compactness that complemented the tuna. The biggest test was the nigiri. We slowly savored each piece of nigiri as the fish were fresh and melted like butter off our tongues. The chefs were generous with the cuts of fish and the presentation was clean. At the end of the meal, we were presented with a scoop of refreshing green tea ice cream that left us wanting more, but alas we decided to call it a night. During the meal, the boo ordered a tall Sapora and I ordered a small sake served warm. The sake was nice and smooth; however, I couldn't finish it and the boo helped me. Since the first time, I've been there at lunch with a friend and at dinner with a party of 6. Lunch was during the work week and wasn't hard to get a table. We had reservations for the dinner and we still had to wait because it was a packed house! During this dinner, we tried various rolls and the spicy scallops is as great as everyone says it is. My cousin was excited that there was an eel rice bowl. The waitresses are a bit hard to understand but they get the job done and one encouraged us to be loud and do sake bombs! LOL! There were many Japanese and Korean patrons there every time I've been - which to me is a sign of authenticity and high quality. Great, great restaurant. Be careful not to confuse it with the Chinese restaurant at the ground level as this one is on the 2nd floor. Parking is somewhat scarce since it is shared with this other restaurant, but there is plenty of street parking nearby. The decor is more on the old school side and the noise level is pretty loud during dinner.
(5)S V.
Fresh and good sushi. I believe this was my first time having sushi on the east coast. I have usually been warned not to try any on the east coast due to coming from San Francisco, but I was recommended this place. I have to say I wasn't disappointed. Friendly staff, nice decor, and the fish was fresh. As long as the fish is fresh and nicely sliced then it is usually good for me.
(4)Chad P.
For anyone who is used to sushi in San Francisco (Godzilla anyone?), this is as close as it gets to that experience in the DC area. Even though the location is larger than a hole in the wall, the sushi and atmosphere definitely achieve perfection for a sushi spot. The sushi bar is fantastic but be sure to call ahead and make a reservation to sit at it if you plan to go on a peak night. Never had a bad roll nor bad fish at this spot.
(4)Ina C.
I brought my family here for Mother's Day, and we were able to make a reservation for seven pretty easily. I had really high hopes for Tachibana, especially with the recommendation of Takaki, DC's Yelp expert on all things Japanese :) He said that this place is one of the more authentic spots in the area, and I can't disagree - mostly because I don't really know what "authentic" is... So my three-star rating is mostly due to the impressiveness of the food we ordered, granted that the unadventurous variety of items we ordered were limited. We ordered the age tofu, edamame and green salad to start. I agree with PC's assessment of the age tofu: the sauce was alright, and the tofu itself was a little too chewy. I've had much better, even at Doraku, my nemesis :) The edamame was great - no complaints there. The salad was also alright. Iceberg lettuce with a clear vinegar-ginger dressing. I greatly prefer Rockville's Niwano Hana's ginger dressing - I think it's the best in town! We also ordered a bunch of items from the sushi a la carte menu. The menu is vast and I would've ordered the chirashi and something else new had I come with a smaller group. I scoured the menu for the biggest sushi assortment, but found that the only assortments had 14 pieces and was meant for one person. So I picked a crapload of pieces from the a la carte menu and the sushi came out on two beautiful boats. The cuts of sushi were extremely thick. I had to eat it in two bites. Is this normal? Even if it is, I don't prefer it. My biggest praise for this restaurant is the excellent service. It was probably the best service I've ever had at an Asian restaurant - definitely top 3! Our server made suggestions not only about what to order, but about when and how to order. She saw that we were going to take a while deciding on the a la carte sushi menu, so she recommended ordering some apps from the kitchen because the sushi might take some time to get to our table. When my dad prematurely ordered dessert (green tea & ginger ice cream, both of which were delicious!), she gently asked if he preferred that she bring it out after we were done with our sushi. She was always personal, friendly and available. Top notch. I would definitely come back here; and when I do, I'd love to sit at the expansive sushi bar with people who are on the adventurous side and try some of the many sakes they offer. I'll be sure to update my review when that happens!
(3)Ka-Loon T.
Great sushi, great experience, great spontaneity. Over a year ago, I was on driving home when somehow, I took the route to go over to my girlfriend's place. What was freaky was I was practically to her place already when I realized that I had detoured away from home. So I decided that it would be a great time for an impromptu dinner date. We went to check out Tachibana. I definitely wasn't disappointed. Pricewise, Tachibana did feel on the acceptable to pricey side, but I do approve of what you get. But don't take my word for it. Look at all of the other 5 star reviews. PS: On my last time at Tachibana, I went with my team from work. Being the fun and social team that we are, we were asked by the staff to...exercise caution while sharing the joy at our table, at the request of a mother of an infant, and 2 elderly women. Being the responsible young professionals we were, we kept it family friendly.
(5)Dan W.
Tachibana proudly displays all the awards it's won through the many years in its plaque-laden vestibule. When you walk in and see all the people (it's often pretty busy), you know you will get a pretty good meal (must mean the fish is turning over quickly). Everyone seems to like the fact that the sashimi/nigiri is cut so large and that they cut their inside out rolls into 6 pieces. Not my style, it doesn't make for elegant eating. Most sushi should be disposed of in one bite. Two bites invite the danger of it unraveling into your soy sauce dish or onto your lap. Besides a whole mouthful of raw fish seems a little too much. The mouthfeel is all wrong. I don't see beef carpaccio or beef tartar served as large steak cubes... The regular tuna and salmon rolls are good as 6pcs because they can't roll as much rice into those and rice is what really builds the volume. I had issues with their heavy use of sesame oil in the **gasp** spicy tuna/spicy scallop. It is of such a robust nature that it again overpowers the taste of the sea fish, and always makes you wonder why hide the flavor if the quality is good. Luckily the other sushi is good. Uni is ok. The best uni, as I've been told by a Sushi-ko chef, actually comes off the coast of Southern California. In fact, it is one of the very few seafood items from the US that Japanese actually care to import and to ingest as sushi. Bluefin, being another. I guess what keeps me from giving it a higher rating is that the dining room feels older and musty. It could stand for an update. Also, to me critical factors for good sushi is cleanliness, order, organization, and presentation in and behind the sushi display cases. I know they're busy, but they just haphazardly pile and stuff random cuts of fish into their display case. Look at the photo someone submitted. Sort of shakes my confidence in what they're doing, when they seem not to respect their own wares and ingredients. All this being said, the food is still pretty good (chawanmushi is good and hard to find because it's a pain to make, hamachi-kama when they have it is a must-have), so it's A-OK in my book.
(3)Melanie R.
Our Japanese au pair took us to Tachibana for dinner and we love it. The food is very authentic, reasonably priced, and they offer kids meals. The miso soup is delicious, the tempura is just right, and the green tea ice cream is nice and creamy but not too sweet.
(4)Paul W.
For some reason, I don't want this place to be, but it's probably my favorite sushi restaurant. Perhaps it has to do with the strange layout of the place and unappealing decor. But what this place lacks in interior, they make up with food. Their yellow tail jaw is MONEY. Sushi is MONEY. I hate that its over priced, but the sushi is always cut well, cut large, and fresh. They always deliver.
(4)Donald U.
Hell yes. Good sushi and a good value considering the other alternatives in McLean. It's one of my go to places when I want quality food.
(4)Robin S.
I really enjoyed Tachibana! I had a gyoza appetizer and it was DELICIOUS. The spicy tuna roll was good, but a little mushy. I really enjoyed the chicken teriyaki, and my husband's chicken dish was also excellent. I don't remember what it was called but it was the thinly sliced chicken rolls, wrapped around vegetables and spices. Mmmm.... didn't try the dessert but I will definitely be back.
(4)Y Y.
I love the food at Tachibana - er to be honest, I have only ordered a few items on their menu because I am a creature of habit- so I guess I'd have to say I love their sashimi, their Bento box A without the siew mai and their saba. I just never got past these few items! I crave for them when I think of Tachibana and because their portions are just nice, it is impossible to order anything else. The sashimi is nice for the price they charge. I appreciate that the chef slices the fish on the thick side. I used to eat at Sushi-Ko and it would take about 2.5 to 3 pieces of their fish slice to make one at Tachibana (the salmon and the tuna). The white fish is sliced thinner than the salmon and the tuna though but I suppose the texture of the white fish would be awful if you had to eat a thick piece. I enjoy the little cucumber cup of marinated salmon as well as the seared plate of tuna on the side. The grilled saba is delicious especially when you eat it hot. The fish is oily so it doesnt hold well if you leave it cold. The portions are generous so I usually cant have anything else if I order the saba. The Bento box A is a good deal at $11. There is so much food in the box! I wont not bother with Bento B - for a few dollars more, you get supermarket type siew mai. There is plenty to eat without the addtional siew mai anyway. The service is usually good - I have my favourite servers - I am always praying I do not get the Filapina server cos she is usually very abrupt and not very service oriented - the Filapina server once saw a customer spill water - the customer had a very wet lap, the floor was also pretty wet - and pretended not to see even though she was his server - she walked away pretty quickly and some other server ended up having to help the gentleman and mop the floor. It was very hard for her to miss him - cos he was sitting at the bar and she was walking towards him. She made some remark as she walked past me which indicated she saw him (I was sitting 2 seats away from him) and pretended not to see him. Overall, I have never had a bad experience here save when I ordered the sushi lunch box (it was a one-off, the rice was not properly cooked - it was too wet). Come early when they open to avoid the crowds. ________________________
(3)Pear M.
I have been here twice for dinner, but the first time wasn't as memorable as the second. This most recent time I had the Chirashi bowl (regular/a la carte) and it was absolutely delicious. All my favorite pieces of sashimi were on there, plus some extra little bites that were just as satisfying. What i do think is unique about this place is the Green Tea. Never have I tasted such good green tea! It had a hint of seaweed in it that made the aroma so wonderful that I just wanted to drink the whole cup in one go and ask for more. Anyway, the food here is great and the fish is fresh. I'm not much for the talk of "authenticity" because really... it doesn't matter, does it? If the food is good, then the food is good! And the food IS good.
(4)Flavia C.
had a girls night out with my aunt here and it was great! The suishi was wonderful, fresh with some fun specials. I enjoyed the tempura and the white wine went great. The atmosphere is no fuss no muss and the service is sound. I rec it for sure
(4)Tim L.
I have been here for lunch with coworkers and have gotten the Chirashi bowl every time. I've been meaning to branch out but it's soooo good! For $9.99 you get a salad of either greens or bean sprouts, miso soup, and the chirashi bowl. The salad is pretty standard with the option of having bean sprouts instead of greens. That's pretty unique as I've never had that anywhere. The miso is also your standard sushi restaurant quality though I should note that it has real chunks of tofu in it, unlike other restaurants who give you what looks like soup mix. The bowl is filled with an assortment of fresh fish and is simply incredible to behold. There is a huge pile of fresh ginger (not the red dyed type) and wasabi. There is shredded seaweed pieces on top of the rice. This is by far one of my favorite lunch spots in McLean but be aware that it gets busy around lunchtime. I promise I'll try to branch out and sample more of the menu... maybe after one more Chirashi bowl!
(4)David L.
With a four star rating and over two hundred reviews, I'm not sure how this had escaped my notice . But better late than never. They're located in the upstairs of an older, smaller office building. The inside is likewise older and a bit dingy. And that brings me to their grubby menus. The old-school lamination has long since separated out, rendering the text nearly indecipherable. Well, maybe that's an exaggeration. Nevertheless, I was able to make out their sushi lunch special, which is accompanied by a green salad with a nice ginger dressing AND miso soup, all for around $9. It's like Benihana, but affordable. I'm no sushi expert, but it tasted very fresh, and not all like as the atmosphere might indicate. I would have preferred more rolls though and less sashimi though, mostly because I thought there was too much fish on not enough rice. But I suppose that reflects more on my inexperience with Japanese food. It just gets a little overwhelming for a Texan like myself. Sushi seems to be their specialty, but they have a pretty wide range of other Japanese food.
(4)Leon Y.
The best Japanese place here in D.C metropolitan. It's that simple. Everything is very fresh. The tea and dessert are excellent as well. Portion is more than generous. My go to Japanese place.
(5)CW L.
This place has a lot of reviews at 4 stars but I thought the food was average to below average.
(3)Li Q.
What a find! Was introduced to the restaurant by a good friend in the area, and was very pleasantly surprised with the selection of sushi available. While the restaurant certainly serves up all the standard sushi/sashimi fare and does them well with fresh ingredients and judicious use of sauces, what really stands itself apart from the competition is the special rolls that they offer. For me, I really enjoy being able to taste each of the subtle flavors in the roll within one particular sauce overpowering the dish, and the chef at Tachibana really did that well. Highly recommend sitting at the sushi bar, because you get to interact with the chef and get his thoughts on what to order next.
(5)cherry h.
FRESH sushi.... that's all I need to say... it just melts in your mouth...
(5)Hosun L.
I've been here a couple times. I always ordered one of the sushi specials. They come out in large chunks. They're usually pretty fresh, but sometimes you can tell it's been a few days. I like the dinner specials because it comes with an appetizer and a dessert (which I never have room for). The prices are within the norm for a sushi restaurant. It's never too crowded when I go there, but the parking lot is pretty small so it might be a pain to find a spot. Unfortunately, the DC area doesn't have a wealth of choices when it comes to fresh, well-cut sushi. Tachibana is by no means a bad sushi place. It's probably the best I've been to so far. I just wish there was more competition. EDIT: I went back today to try something different. I had the Tempura Soba, hot. I don't recommend it. The broth was too salty, and the soba noodle was not fresh. I did however, also try the Teryikai White Mackerel, which was very good. And an order of salmon and eel, and both were very tender and juicy. I was surprised they had such fresh sushi on a Sunday.
(4)emmy y.
I love this place. Great Japanese food. I have been looking for a Japanese restaurant like this for a long time. Food: i love everything there Drinks: of course my fave plum wine Service: Average Decor: nothing special Overall: love it
(5)Tong G.
Gotta say. This place is very good. If you havent had sushi before, dont waste another minute because you have to start here. Once you try it, you'll be hooked. My friends took me here for my birthday. Not great for big crowds because the place is somewhat small but it can accomodate a good amount of guest. A warning to the wise, call to make reservations if you can. It gets packed and very quickly! Though it is a bit pricier than most other sushi places, the quality here is top notch. They wont serve you skimpy servings of sashimi either. They also have great a great lunch menu. Cant go wrong with the bento boxes here. You'll have to be "rolled" out when you are done. HAPPY EATINGS everyone!
(5)David K.
Wow I never had such fresh sushi as I did here. It was kind of busy the night i went and the service was a little pushy but I'm glad I even got a seat. The inside decor could use some upgrades and I wasn't impressed about the exterior of the building. Even though the sushi was great the appearance and decor kinda sets the tone in what your going to expect from the restaurant....I know I know your not suppose to judge a book from its cover, but I think that only applies to people. =p I would definitely go back and try some other dishes, I only have one stomach so sashimi here I come!
(3)Jay R.
I called a few days ago, to make a reservation for today (Saturday) and was told that they don't take reservations for parties of two. We drove there last night, figuring we'd have a better chance to get in on a Friday than on a Saturday...WRONG! My wife was told there was a half hour wait. We decided not to wait, so we wasted time and gas going there. What's with places with the pretentious nonsense about not taking reservations for parties of two (or reservations at all)?! That and 'call ahead'. A bunch of snooty crap!
(1)David K.
Probably some of the best Japanese food you will EVER HAVE. The rest of the reviews cover this place adequately.
(5)Ken C.
I've been eating sushi since 1998, when my girlfriend from Japan introduced it to me during college. Since then, I've been addicted to it, and I've eaten at many restaurants in the MD and VA area. I found out about this place from some coworkers, and decided to give it a try. It definitely did not disappoint, and I've visited numerous times after my initial visit. The staff are mostly Japanese (it's fun to speak with them if you know and/or are learning Japanese), and the fish is among the freshest, if not THE freshest, in the area. I often use the freshness of the uni to judge how fresh the food is; however, it is not my only criteria. Tachibana has excellent quality sushi, sashimi, and their appetizers are excellent too. Don't miss out on the fried oysters and their fresh clams. My Japanese teacher (also a native from Japan) highly recommended tihs place, but seems to prefer Makoto in D.C., which is next on my list. Where ever you are in Northern VA, it is DEFINITELY worth the trip to Tachibana. If you don't like waiting, get there as soon as they open for dinner.
(5)Owen L.
I had a terrible experience in Tachibana. The Japanese female owner (or the manager) had no sense of customer attitude and respect. It was just before 2 p.m. when we were heading to the place. So we made a call to reserve for three families. They said 'yes.' However, the manager and other staff except for our server (old woman) kept giving us a bad look at our table as showing their uncomfortable feelings. The manager even pinpointed at our table talking to their staffers that "those customers were not at a right time." - Is it Japanese "Tatemae (against Honne)" ; they rarely say "No" even though they want to say "Yes"? Because I could speak Japanese fluently, I understood what they were talking about. Although we didn't even have a desert, the server asked us "what about some ice cream," and we said okay only because of our children. When the manager and other staffers noticed that our server took an order for the desert, they clearly showed their big body gesture like "what the hell - do you even want some desert too?" It was so obvious to tell. They did 'hands-up,' nodding their head right-to-left. When our group left the place, no one showed their face and just kept eating their lunch. I've travelled many cities and tried local Japanese restaurants. Tachibana in McLean was the worst in terms of service mind and professionalism. Their U-don noodle soup was the worst one I've ever tried in my life; I guess I've so far had more than 5,000 U-don soups. The soup was too watery and the noodle was already so sticky. I do NOT recommend people to go to Tachibana in Virginia.
(1)Amy S.
This place is THE place to go for great sushi. I recommend sitting at the sushi bar to get the food right away. Plus talking with the sushi chefs is fun as well (they're straight from japan), a great place to practice my Japanese. I always get the crunchy scallop roll and the sashimi is wonderful, especially the tuna. The giant clam sushi is also a must have. While they have amazing sushi, I must admit that they aren't the top of their game when it comes to entrees. I say stick to the sushi and you'll always be satisfied when you go there.
(5)Jeff S.
This is my favorite Sushi place in the DC area. The decor may be a bit outdated, but the sushi is top notch. Generous portions and they always have something new/interesting on the whiteboard as you walk in.
(5)Jessica H.
Went to Tachibana for the first time the night before Hurricane Irene struck, so it was understandably quite crowded. I was surprised by the hostess, who didn't greet us, and even refused to recognize us for at least 5 minutes, although we were standing right in front of the hostess stand. I understand the place was busy, but that's just odd. Certainly gave me the impression we'd never be recognized. Once we were, we were seated quite quickly, which was nice. But it was the oddest dining experience - my husband's cooked food came out first, and he had finished his entire mean before my sushi came out. He liked his food very much - breaded fried pork. My sushi was fine - wasn't bad, but I wasn't over the moon about it. When the bill came, we were charged for a miso soup that they served my husband but he never ordered. Since we had to get going and the place was crowded we just paid for it, and I called to speak with the manager the next day. They were very dismissive. Overall - food was okay, service was horrendous. I think there are more enjoyable places to dine.
(2)Roz D.
Fabulous sushi lunch for $9! The seating system during a busy lunch rush leaves a lot to be desired (think ...30 people waiting with no hope of being seated in order), but everything else about this place is great. I especially LOVE the young sushi chef w the goatee... Very friendly and attentive with excellent advice and keeps on top of the waiter. Skip the seaweed salad.
(4)Mike T.
for traditional sushi, this is best sushi in the DMV hands down. if you're more into rolls, you'd want to go to yuraku.
(5)Iced V.
Excellent service!!
(4)B P.
After reading many reviews for great sushi in northern VA, we went to Tachibana. It was very busy and our waitress cautioned us that the sushi may take some time to come out becuase it was so busy. We started with vegetable tempura that was very good despite quite large chunks of vegetables. The nigiri was fresh and melted in my mouth, mmmm! Once I indentifed which roll was the spicy salmon, I was leery to taste it. It was grey in color and appeared very grizzley. I should have trusted my instinct, it was very fishy and I had to spit it out into my napkin. It basically ruined the rest of my meal and had a hard time getting that taste out of my mouth. So the fish that was fresh was great but caution on what may not be fresh or good quality fish.
(3)Mia M.
The sushi is really good, but I only get takeout here because the place is such a dump.
(4)MaryFoodie M.
Great reviews don't cut it for a few reasons this time. Noodles (ramen and soba) are overcooked and edamame is overcooked. Tempura appetizers are okay though. Items are pricey probably because of the location. Service was fine.
(2)Ferdinand H.
I've been visiting Tachibana on and off since 1989... and through all those years, some better nights and some were a little less stellar, but on the whole, the Sushi is not bad and the udon is rather traditional. The atmosphere is homey, not trendy. It's a little worse for wear and probably due for a rennovation, but -- all told, I prefer my places where they don't charge you an arm and a leg for ambiance. Give me fairly priced, high quality food, and I'll come for 20 years... Wait, I have been coming here for 20 years! Built by a family, for visiting professionals from Japan, it's kept a niche that caters to local asians over the past 2 decades. Fairly priced, and good quality, it's hard for me to complain. I have to share my favourite dining anecdote here however. I'm sorry if this gets a little too close to home for some of you. :) So, my brother and I were sipping on our Asahis after gorging on a large platter of Sushi and two bowls of Tempura-udon. The next table had a young man with an obvious cross cultural orientation, if you get my meaning. He was trying to have a conversation with a rather attractive gal from Japan who had wisely brought her moderately attractive friend. The two young ladies bantered frequently in rapid fire staccato Japanese, leaving the young man oft out of the loop. Valiantly, he continued to try to make conversation with the girl he kept staring at, but it seemed that his wit was somewhat "lost in translation." My brother and I kept our running commentary in Cantonese and mandarin, fearing that any Japanese might evoke unforeseen consequences. We felt some sympathy for the hapless young lad; but a great deal of respect for the maneouvrings of the young ladies. Ganbatte!
(4)Beryl N.
A terrible idea to come here on a Saturday night without a reservation. We were told that the wait was 30 minutes and it turned out to be a little over an hour before we were seated. Fish was fresh and decent portion size. Was not a fan of the chicken yakatori though. Not the place to take a date if you're going for the romantic route. Family oriented so every other table there were babies and toddlers. Space is tight as well since my chair was literally touching another chair from the table behind us. I heard it's not as busy during the lunch hours if you want to avoid the massive crowd.
(3)HanaDC T.
This is one of my favorite Japanese restaurant in this area. It is authentic. I love their appetizer menu, sukiyaki, nabe (hot pot). Sushi/sashimi are Americanized but the quality of fish is good. I have been to this restaurant so many times. I have never have any bad experiences so far. This is a decent Japanese restaurant.
(4)Anne S.
Everything's good here. Sashimi regular and special have a very generous portion. The regular has THE BEST white tuna (like butter...). Spicy Scallop rolls are really good, too. It might have a little more sesame oil than I would like but still good. Dragon and rainbow rows are amazing and filled with fish deliciousness. Jalapeno Nigro (sp?) roll is very good too. I recommend everything. The sawara miso yaki (maybe?) jawbone appetizer is delicious, as is the yellowtail jaw.
(5)Diana K.
I've gone to Tachibana 3 times since I've moved to the area and each time, it did not disappoint. From the outset, the restaurant does not look like it would live up to its hype - there's nothing unique or aesthetic about it. In fact, it's very modest (which is a good indication of the general aura of the restaurant). However, upon stepping foot into the restaurant, you'll notice that this is not the case; it is easy to mistaken the reservedness of Tachibana as being something less. The authenticity of the restaurant is also verifiable from the type of green tea that they serve you. (I'm an avid tea drinker, so rest assured, I know my teas!) I've gotten different sets of rolls and pieces of sushi here, and the quality of the fish is superb - it is undeniably fresh. The sashimi melts away in your mouth, but be warned: the portions are small, so you'll end up wanting to order some more. The food also takes awhile to come out (about a 30 minute wait), which I would say is my only gripe with this place. On a final positive note, though, their sesame ice cream is oh-so-yummy!
(4)Sandy T.
This has to be one of my favorite Japanese restaraunts. This place is crowded! From what I remembered, the service wasn't the best. The decor of restaraunt is pretty plain, nothing special. The sushi and other seafood entree are all very fresh. The quality and size of the dish is descent too. I love sushi, so I'm always willing to try new things!
(5)Norm D.
Consistently the best raw fish in the DC & VA area. Service is fast and the quality of the fish rivals the very best sushi restaurants in NYC, Boston and San Fran. If you like sashimi and sushi this is a must visit place. Anyone who gives this place less than 4 stars must be the baked california roll with extra mayo type! Decor is far from ritzy, but the prices are very low for top quality fish and large portions.
(5)Johnson H.
Actually went here for the first time last weekend and just writing a review now but,no worries I haven't forgotten how wonderful my lunch was last week. Even now while I'm writing this review I've started to recall the taste of the milky salt broth Ramen I ordered that I'm starting to salivate and drool a bit. I am tempted to give it a full 5star rating based on the Ramen in this Washington metropolitan area but, it isn't the best I've had ever, so... only 4.5stars hehehe. The sashimi order I had as an appetizer was really fresh and delicious too! Oh man, now i'm salivating more and getting really hungry too! hahahaha The service was still quick and attentive even though it was a full dining room at peak lunch hour on a Saturday. This will definitely be a place for me to consider again when I'm in VA and craving Ramen & sushi :-)
(4)T M.
Nutshell: grumpy/overwhelmed hostess, nice waitress, good sake selection, decent sides, bad sushi. The meal started out promising enough: the menu was 'real' as far as Japanese-American menus go and the place *feels* Japanese owned ( years of wisdom ). There's a size-able sake menu, including cold ones (the authentic stuff) and yummy sushi options on the menu like chu-toro. I decided to go full throttle and give this place the full test and ordered the Deluxe Sushi meal. This comes with a variety of sushi, miso soup and two sides: I ordered wakame (seaweed salad) and tempura (this can be a good minor test of a decent Japanese restaurant, as it can hard to pull off correctly). I was perfectly happy with my sides. The wakame was fine tasting and the tempura - crispy, not greasy. Good. Out comes my sushi meal. The fish on my nigiri was perfectly alright, but here's the deal-breaker: the nigiri rice was al dente with zero sushi rice flavoring. Now, this may sound like I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill, but this faux pas is analagous to going to an Italian restaurant and ordering spaghetti and getting a bowl of overcooked noodles with ketchup as the sauce. Simply put, it's a major fail. To be fair, this place is probably fine if you're one of those people who gets Chicken Teriyaki and calls it day. But, if you're seeking a place that serves authentic sushi, this is not the place.
(2)Hengyi H.
They have great sushi, and I've been coming here for over 3 years. The ambiance is a bit noisy and it is family friendly. The staff tend to overlook you a bit because it's crowded. Other than that, the food is great - stick to the sushi. It is fresh and moderately priced. The noodles are not as good in my opinion.
(4)Marianne L.
Well can cross this one off. You only get 1 chance to make a 1st impression Tachibana and you've made yours. What was this "give the gaijin the crappiest fish day"? I definitely won't be back here. I read over the other yelp reviews so I would have an idea of what was good, but frankly, sushi is my favorite food on the planet - I'm not going to be at a loss looking at a menu in a Japanese restaurant. FOOD Normally I would just order from the a la carte sushi menu, but as other yelpers had enjoyed the sushi lunch special, I decided to go with that instead. The $10 lunch special came with 5 pieces of nigiri (in general - nigiri very sloppily prepared), 1 piece of inari (stuffed tofu pouch), 3 hamachi rolls, 3 spicy tuna roll. From the included choices I opted for the green salad and miso as these are what is commonly included at Sushi places and I wanted to make a fair comparison. Plus, they are things I usually like very much. Miso Soup - The best thing I ate and there really wasn't anything that special about it. It was a good bowl of soup with a nice broth, sizable chunks of tofu and scallions vs the usual seaweed (I actually prefer scallions so this was good.) Green Salad - This was at best meh. I really didn't like the salad itself and the dressing was just so-so. (Actually looked like someone had wandered to a local Italian restaurant, gotten their small salad, and topped it with a Japanese dressing.) Inari sushi - tofu pouch had an odd sour taste, contents was sushi rice which I ate simply because the meal was heading downhill fast and I was hungry for what ever was palatable 5 Nigiri Sake (salmon) - Knew this was a problem when it was put down as it was clearly not a good cut of fish; color was closer to gray flesh than the vivid orange sake should be; extreme fishy taste & smell; ate only 1/2 the piece out of concern for freshness Maguro (tuna) - eh, ok but not very good or fresh Shiro Maguro (white tuna) - Shiro should be WHITE not grayish off-white with parts looking brownish, did not taste fresh at all Tai (red snapper) - extremely hard to eat due to the toughness and the poor manner in which it was sliced Ebi (shrimp) - tough and did not taste fresh Hamachi (yellowtail) maki & Spicy Maguro (tuna) maki - First off, hamachi is something I eat on a fairly regular basis, and I've been known to enjoy a spicy tuna roll on more than one occasion. I couldn't even recognize what had been put down in front of me when the food arrived. Both set of 3 rolls had the same brown mushy stuff inside only in different quantities and one had microscopic strings of something green. Ok - no problem. I just asked the waitress what they were. Wouldn't be the first time I ate something at a sushi place I didn't recognize. THE TASTE HOWEVER - HORRENDOUS! The spicy tuna roll was not spicy and neither roll was remotely edible taste-wise. The closest I can come to civil terms to describe the taste and texture was spoiled baby food. I actually wanted to puke. I ate one of each and abandoned the rest. All in all 4 and 2 halves of the 12 items served in my sushi special were left on the plate due to the vile flavors and poor quality. The only time sushi has ever been left on my place is when my friends and I have ordered an obscene amount and we'd reached the stage of in danger of giving birth to a baby rice ball. I left hungry and disappointed. ATMOSPHERE The place just kinda had a rundown feeling to it - but had some of the best meals in dives, so I don't put a lot of stock in whether the decor might have seen better days. Sushi a la carte menu has no prices for nigiri - grrrrrrrrrr. FREEZING inside and very drafty - Choices were eat in front of a space heater or freeze sitting elsewhere. I don't like to have all the liquid in my eye sockets evaporated from the blow of a heater while I eat, I chose to sit elsewhere but away from the windows. Acoustically the place is atrocious. There was me, 2 sets of couples, and a group of 5 way over in the corner. Restaurant is fairly large and there were several tables between me and the closest other party. Still - I could easily hear all the details of everything going on, even the group of 5. Add in the noise from the sushi bar and I felt like I was eating in a diner. (Noise from the sushi bar was noticeably louder than ANY I've ever experienced because the waitresses & hostess seemed to enjoy chatting and busying themselves behind the chefs.) This was not the relaxing experience I usually enjoy while eating in a sushi place. SERVICE Waitress was attentive but a bit cold. The lady walking around refilling water was also attentive and though her English wasn't very good, understood I had a question and sent the waitress over. For $10, this would have been a nice affordable sushi lunch - if it had been good. Raw fish is something I don't want to be messing around with marginality on the quality front and the experience here I really found to be beyond sub-par.
(1)Johanna M.
Wow. Tachibana is the best sushi I have had in the DC area. The salmon, scallops, tuna, and white tuna were so fresh and delicious. And the sashimi was sooo generous--the slices were thick and generous. The only thing our group did not like was the sea urchin nigiri. Some basic Googling indicates sea urchin easily goes bad, and tastes disgusting when bad--I assume this may have happened to us. Eat here now!
(5)Alec S.
Came here expecting a fantastic meal due to some of these reviews, but I left completely underwhelmed. The spicy tuna roll was mediocre at best. It was extremely mushy and tasted soggy going into my mouth. The dragon roll was good, but nothing to brag about. All of my rolls were poorly rolled, and were even falling apart before I even touched them with my cheap wooden chopsticks. The only thing saving this sushi bar was the prices. It was extremely cheap, but it's probably the reason why the fish tasted so cheap.
(3)Mick A.
We came for Sushi, We ate the Sushi, We were disappointed with the Sushi. All the asians were eating Noodles and not Sushi, perhaps that's the way to go. Sushi felt very loose, not flavorful. I much preferred the Sushi at Kushi. I will say it's very popular and service was great. The decor reminded me of a slightly run down Days Inn in Mason City, Iowa where you get your "ass beat for bookreadin' "so if that's the look they're going for, then they hit a home run
(2)E L.
Sushi - 2 stars Sashimi - 2 stars (not fresh) Tonkashu - 2 stars (overcooked) The last two lunch visited was not good. The sashimi was not fresh. I don't think I will come back and try again.
(2)JiaJia T.
Came here on a Saturday night and the place was full but we were able to sit right away. Waited about 20 minutes before they came by to see what we wanted to drink. Then we had to get someone to take our order. I mean, yes it was busy, but a good restaurant has to be able to handle the business or else they lose it. Thumbs down for the service and we're not picky. I just wanted to order things in a reasonable amount of time. Now onto the food. We had miso soup, seaweed salad, regular sashimi, hamanegi maki, spicy tuna roll, toro roll, and green tea ice cream. The miso soup, seaweed salad and green tea ice cream were all good. Their rolls are so small and the flavor and texture were so disappointing. The yellowtail was alright but not great because it was missing that melt-in-your mouth texture. The tuna was obviously not from a good part of tuna because there was so much of the stringy white stuff and it just totally ruined the texture. Perhaps we went on an off day but I don't know how this place gets recommendations as one of the best sushi restaurants in nova.
(2)Aya F.
It was ok... not sure what the hype was about. And its also pretty expensive here... the only reason I am giving it 3 stars intend of 2 is bc they serve ORION beer there. Its hard to find places that serve this great Okinawan beer!
(3)Bren P.
My other favorite sushi restaurant. Again, I've been coming to this place for years and I don't think I've had a bad experience yet. They're always busy, so make sure you get there early and have everyone in your party arrive at the same time bc they wont seat you unless everyone is there. I usually order sushi and sushi rolls, but i've also had their udon, ramen (only served during lunch) and a few other dishes. I usually just come here for the fresh sushi tho... they have all the yummy stuff sweet shrimp, uni, tobiko with quail egg, etc! I ordered the miso ramen which was good, but it's not as great as some of the ramen places in NYC. But for this area.. I approve.
(4)Any C.
After reading all the yelp reviews I decided to go here with my coworker for lunch. I had the ramen noodle with soy sauce which came with a salad and was very yummy. My coworker had the chicken Katsu which came with miso soup and seaweed salad. The chicken was nice and crispy and the seaweed salad was nice and cold. For dessert we had the mango Mochi ice cream. This was two little balls of ice cream stuffed with heaven! I will diffidently come back here.
(5)T K.
I've heard and read good reviews on this place so I was very excited when my boyfriend told me he was taking me there tonight. From the reviews I knew not to expect much from the looks of the place. We called ahead to see if they take reservations but she told me they don't for parties of two. We get there and there's a parties of people just waiting. It was kind of hard to get our name down as the lady kept going back to check for open tables and seating people but we eventually got sat about 30 minutes later. I ordered the seaweed salad and the beef negimaki for appetizer and it was good but I was pretty disappointed with the rolls. First they put way too much rice on them, I was getting so full off that so I started peeling away the rice with my chopsticks. Second, the taste was alright but I've had better. With all that rice and small amount of fish I could barely taste anything. I'll try this place again but I think I'm going to order something other than rolls.
(2)Brendan J.
One might ask why would I go to Tachibana a few days right before a trip to Japan where I can get my fill of Japanese food. Good question. Despite going on a Saturday night with a relatively large party, they were able to accommodate us without any problems. This place is pretty big for a Japanese restaurant. I figured since I'd be in Japan in a few days I'd try and get something other than sushi. The sushi my dining companions ordered looked good. The fish looked fresh and everyone enjoyed their orders. The menu has a pretty long list of small dishes that I haven't seen at other places before, such as the nattou ae. Not that most people would want to order that. Since it was a pretty hot and muggy summer day, one would think I would get something cool and refreshing like zaru soba if I wasn't going for the sushi. Instead, I got yosenabe, a huge, steamy hot pot style soup dish with chicken, seafood, shungiku (chrysanthemum leaves), cabbage, and harusame (clear chewy noodles). This is normally winter comfort food for when you need to warm yourself up in the cold. In any case, it was delicious. The soup broth had a great savory taste of a well made dashi soup base. They even gave us a few extra bowls so I could share share the yosenabe goodness. Prices are a little high for non-sushi menu items, but if you order the dinner set it comes with multiple courses. I think most people would be fine sticking to the a la carte option.
(4)Chris C.
Reading all the good reviews I decided to try out this restaurant. Contrary to the other listings it was not as hyped up to be. Ordered two rolls, spicy tuna and spicy scallop. The spicy tuna was brown-tanish color leaving me to believe it was something along the lines of 'chicken of the sea'. My spicy scallop roll would of been ok if it wasn't studded with gigantic pieces of tempura flakes. It was so overpowering that I wondered why it wasn't called a crunch roll. Also ordered an agetofu and a nabe udon. Both were bland. The udon was presented beautifully in a traditional wooden bowl. However the noodles were so overcooked that with a grab from the chopsticks they simply severed. The prices at Tachibana were way too steep in terms of quality.
(2)Iris Y.
Chawan mushi is some of the best I've ever had. Savory, soft, just the right amount of texture and flavor. We got a variety of rolls - all good. Would definitely go again.
(5)Sean L.
Lunch special is always popular, bigger portion to fullfil a man's craving!
(4)Ray P.
I've eaten sushi all over the world. East of the Mississippi, this is as good as it gets and it is among the best on earth. First went to Tachibana when it was located in a converted automobile showroom in Arlington more than 20 years ago. Now in McLean, it's a destination restaurant for the entire Washington metropolitan area. Yahashi-san (an avid fisherman himself) keeps a steady hand in the business and many employees are "lifers" who have become welcoming friends. Fresh fish on Tuesday and Friday. Two sushi bars and plenty of table/booth seating. Try the "seared tuna" and the horse mackerel sashimi.
(5)Wesley K.
I went here last week for lunch and I was really disappointed. I ordered the chirashi and my wife got sashimi. My chirashi was alright but my wifes sashimi had a huge bug in it. So disgusting! That just ruined the entire meal. The owner, who was there, didn't even come over to apologize. I used to come here with my wife when we dated a few years ago. It used to be good but its no longer the same. Anyways, This is the last time i'll be going to this place.
(1)Aileen P.
Sashimi was very fresh. Fine service and traditional Japanese decor.
(4)Ken W.
My parents brought me here for lunch and it was packed. We ordered assorted rolls and sashimi. The lunch prices are reasonable but I hear the dinner prices are a bit high. It's set in an odd location and doesn't look like much from the outside. Like a lot of places, the service isn't great when they're busy but it was almost reminiscent of the Soup Nazi (kidding.. sorta). But that doesn't bother me too much as long as I get everything I ordered and it tastes good at a reasonable price. Good service would bump it up to 5 stars, but I'd still go back. If you prepare yourself for mediocre service then you'll probably enjoy the food. Next!
(4)Chris T.
Wow... This is now my favorite place for sashimi - wonderful selection and perfectly sized. Had the chance to sample a variety of dishes and they were all wonderful. Everything on the menu appears slightly higher priced than similar restaurants around the area, but well worth it.
(5)Holly B.
I hate to tell you about how much we love this place because I don't want to lose the ability we currently have to always get a table! Fresh wonderful sushi and sashimi, wonderfully prepared. Great service, easy parking, not on a main road...we love this place. It is our go to for sushi.
(4)Jason A.
Highly recommended! Definitely one of the best sushi joints in the DC metropolitan area! The fish here is incredibly fresh and everything seems to be fairly priced. Very authentic in their cuisine (if you're looking for trendy, this is not the place). Their dishes besides the sushi are pretty good too. The only negative about this place is the location. It is incredibly hard to find if you don't know the area. It's in the back of a building and can't really see it from the main road (Old Dominion).
(4)Timothy T.
Let me preface this review by saying I'm more of a nigiri/sashimi person. I'm not a fan of sushi rolls with 10 different ingredients on it. This is my go-to place for sushi. They have a wide selection of fresh fish. Having been to various places around the D.C. metro area - Koi Koi, Sushi Yoshi, MoMo Sushi, and Yama - I'm convinced that the quality of the fish/seafood here is superior to the aforementioned restaurants. Never have I encountered "fishy" tasting cuts. The fish is always firm, never dry, sliced to just the right thickness. Personal favorites include: Salmon - You can see the fat marble. It has a distinct fattiness that I have not experienced in other sushi restaurants. Hamachi - Like the salmon, very rich with just the right amount of fat. I tried their hamachi belly, but, for me, there was not a noticeable difference. Uni w/ Quail Egg - Fattiness of the quail egg compliments the sweetness of the sea urchin. Sweet Blue Shrimp - Raw shrimp that's firm with a bit of sweetness to it. Tends to sell out quick. Toro - You can see the fat glisten on this cut. Melts in your mouth. Fattiness varies from time to time. When seated at the bar I ask to view the fish before purchasing. Chutoro - According to the sushi chef this is only available once or twice a year. It's a little less fattier than toro with a firmer texture. Sea Scallop - Firm and sweet. I've also tried the various types of mackerel, red snapper, giant clam, sea bass, and geoduck. All of which are pretty good. Again, what sets this place apart from the others is their wide selection of quality fish/seafood. Staff and sushi chefs are very friendly. Don't hesitate to ask for the sushi chef's recommendation of the day.
(4)Yule K.
Located in the middle of NoVa strip mall hell, Tachibana looks like your typical suburban Japanese restaurant. The clientele is a mix of McLean locals and Japanese expats. A highlight is the broiled salmon collarbone, embedded with succulent pockets of crispy salmon flesh. The raw fish dishes were also consistent and fresh. The various maki rolls we ordered were all well made and filling. But, for me, the standout dish was the $11 Chirashi bowl, filled with several generous slices of sashimi. An absolute steal of a deal (and only available during lunch). A great place to get sushi, especially for those in the McLean area. That its menu also has several off-beat Japanese dishes only makes it that much more appealing.
(4)James S.
I did a review claiming arigato sushi in fairfax was the best sushi place in northern Virginia. Then a fellow yelper suggested Tachibana. I still think Arigato is better but this place is just as good. The only reason why I prefer Arigato Sushi over Tachibana is for two reasons: they have my favorite "Yo yo roll" and they present the rolls better. Other then that it's an even tie. I do have to admit you get more for less at Tachibana. Their sushi rolls are made bigger and sliced bigger. So you'll be full a lot quicker. The price for the rolls is also much cheaper then Arigato as well. I definitely have this marked as one of my fav sushi joints.
(4)Reza Z.
What, no fruit in my sushi??? How weird is that!! With all the trendy, hybrid, mango sauce with a mint on top sushi places; Tachibana is one of the few REAL Japanese Sushi places left. Not only is the Sushi amazing the Japanese dishes are as authentic Japanese as you can get without going to Tokyo. I have traveled to Japan and I dare to say that Tachibana is as authentic. The Sashimi Deluxe is the best fresh fish in the Washington D.C. area hands down. If you can handle huge chunks of raw fish and I mean HUGE then this is a place you will fall in love with. This is not the thinly sliced pieces you would get at every other sushi joint on the planet. They have all types of fish, which makes this place a star if you are trying to impress a fellow sushi consular. As for the people who can't handle Sashimi the Makie rolls are....AMAZING!!. They have the best spicy scallop role. The yellow tail and rainbow roll are also really tasty and fresh. If you like Udan noodles then you found a great place to satisfy your hunger. I also recommend the beef and scallion appetizer; it's rolled up like a maki roll and is extremely tasty. Tachibana is in a class of Japanese food all its own. Leave the corn and mangos off my sushi tonight and give me the real stuff.
(5)Nancy T.
Good stuff: The gyoza was nice and the Philadelphia roll was probably one of the best I've ever had (think it was the addition of scallions). The service was excellent Bad stuff: The place was a little dingy and the bottom of our soy sauce dipping plates was disgusting -- all corroded with gunk and looked like it had not been washed. The toro was good, but was not as plump and fresh as I like it and the unagi was a little on the dry side. Also, my Dennis roll, while delicious, did not hold together at all. I could not even pick it up...it just fell apart. Maybe it was too warm. I still prefer Sushi Yama for sushi in NoVa. Update: I went for lunch recently and everything was superb. The Dennis roll held together and was just delicious. I think it's one of my favorite rolls ever. This place was packed for Saturday lunch. If that many people want to eat here, that's a good sign. Service is also wonderful, but the food comes out just a tad slow at times.
(4)Darren M.
The best sushi in the DC area. Hamanegi Maki on a busy Saturday is awesome. Not cheap but not overpriced either.Nabeyki udon is great with sushi or on its own.
(5)Nat W.
After several disappointing visits to other sushi places in the area, I realize how much I love Tachibana so I decided to come back and give it 5 stars! Lunch is probably the best sushi deal around DC area!
(5)Jessica K.
i love sushi places owned by Japanese people. it seems more authentic. i ordered the lunch special bento. the food was good and the service was great i need to come back and try the sashimi.
(5)Chris N.
Some of the best sushi i've had on the east coast. Always fresh, service is consistent, and the owners are great. I have never had a bad experience here. If you're sitting at the bar, the sushi chefs will make conversation with you!...even if their english isn't that great!
(5)Jay A.
I can honestly say that I have been to this place at least 10 times easily. There was a week when I had dined at Tachibana 3 days in a row. I consider myself a sushi enthusiast and have been around the block a few times, and with confidence I can say that this is the best sushi place in Northern Virginia (in my humble opinion, of course). Sashimi is always fresh and I also love their dishes that are non- sushi/sashimi. Their food has never let me down and the consistency of their food says a lot about the restaurant. Waitresses always know when to refill my tea cup and I was even offered free dessert a few times because that was their special for the day. Last time I went, I spent 100 between me and my friend. Don't know why or how, all I know is I ate the whole thing :P It makes my mouth water as I speak about this wonderful sushi restaurant they call Tachibana. I will be returning sometime soon... maybe today for dinner? Who knows. *Uploaded pictures of their food for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!
(4)Miyuki L.
I have been going to Tachibana as far back as I can remember as a little girl. The owner is great, service can be slow but the core is the sushi and I have not found better in the area. It is authentic and I am going to echo a previous review "tried and true DC area Japanese restaurant. It is good to have an authentic Japanese restaurant. I wish there were more. I will continue to stand behind Tachibana, I wish the parking was better but I love this place.
(4)Brian Y.
Been here a couple times now, and the sushi here passes the freshness scale. Nothing special in terms of what is offered but the freshness of the fish is all I need for my sushi fix. Sushi dinner comes with soup along with choice of salad, appetizer, and dessert for around $28. This was more than enough food for one person to be satisfied. The last time I stopped by was for a large birthday party and they were more than willing to get us the proper amount of table space along with splitting the bills before the orders. A mega plus for big parties. Though this place is not fitted with any fancy chairs and decor, it doesn't take away the fact that I am a fan of their sushi along with their friendly service.
(4)Nori S.
I come here for the Sushi every time I'm in Virginia. Hands down one of the best places to get fresh Nigiri Sushi. The Chefs at the counter are all seasoned professional. Very attentive and very nice people. I usually order the Omakase. The pricing can be a bit high but for the quality and the service I get from each chef it's well worth it for me. I didn't have any of their regular menu items so I can't say how good it is but on a Saturday every table is packed so it must be good. I try and go on a regular weekday if possible so I can take my time and relax. Haven't had one bad experience yet.
(5)Nancy H.
Love love love the spicy scallop hand rolls, it's seriously crack! The end.
(4)Cali L.
Delicious sushi! I almost always get the chirashi which is basically a ton of fish on top of rice. The best option of the bunch is the "chirashi special." Last time it included (in addition to probably 5 other kinds of fish) flounder and sweet shrimp which were amazingly tasty. If you're doing the full dinner, try the red bean mochi for dessert. It's a little warm and gooey and the perfect end to the meal. There is almost always a wait here but you can make reservations for the sushi bar. The chefs at the bar are friendly but not intrusive. If you wait for a table in the dining room there's usually good people watching during the wait, so it's actually kind of fun! I like this restaurant especially because I have always felt welcome and encouraged to explore the menu. Totally worth the drive to McLean!
(5)AJ P.
I keep going back to this place simply because its become one of my favorite sushi places on No VA/DC. each experience has been great and consistent on the taste and satisfaction. Priced right and taste good and fresh!
(5)Michele D.
Ok, I've got to break out that 5th star. I've been a few times since my last review, but it was my last visit that really sealed the deal for that 5th star. They took good care of my mother and when that happens, I'ma give what deserves to be given. A couple of days before Christmas, my mother, 6'5" and I sat down for a wonderful meal. My mother ordered the buri kake (broiled yellow tail cheek), which is normally an appetizer on their menu, but with the other things she wanted to have that evening, they put together a very nice dinner for her. 6'5" didn't know what the heck to order, so at my mother's recommendation, he got the chicken tonkatsu. I ordered miso broiled black cod fish, a spicy scallop roll, and miso soup. My mother's fish was perfectly broiled, as was mine. Both had a slighty crisp outside with a moist and tender inside. Mine was just a -hint- too salty, but nothing that prevented me from eating every bit. 6'5"s chicken was delicious (I stole a piece, of course) and a huge portion. I still think of this place immediately when I'm in the mood for good, comforting Japanese food. Heck, my mother usually asks to go when we are in town and I found out the owner's mother and my mother share the same first name!
(5)Johnny P.
We ordered sushi lunch B and sashimi lunch. The sushi pieces are thick and yummy. The host and waitresses mix in Japanese here and there and adds to the more authentic experience.
(4)Carolyn C.
The sushi is amazing here! I have not been disappointed by anything I try. Plus service is great.
(5)Ken C.
drove almost 50 mins for their sushi, coz i heard good things about this place, i am glad i did, sushi is really good, love their rainbow rolls. For the appeti fried calamari and aki tofu(something like that) is not that great tho, flavorless, so as the noodle soup that my wife ordered, forgot wat is it called, i mean i can make that at home tho, should be better than theirs, but anyway, sushi saves everything. Service is good, we had this old japanese lady, she is really nice, and really cute. Definitely will go again, just for their sushi!
(4)Helenhana C.
i read the yelp reviews both bad and good ones and decided that this place was worth my time and money. plus this place was recommended to me by my brother's friend. my brother isn't to be trusted with his nigiri knowledge but his friend seemed to be trustworthy. we got there around 7ish on a saturday. it was packed (VA standard). we had to wait about 20 minutes or so for a table. i prefer the sushi bar over anything but we wanted to have a quiet conversation hence we opted for a table.this place is bigger than other sushi places that i've been to. there were about 6 or more sushi chefs busily working slicing away those scrumptious rawness. the menu is pretty extensive and traditional. people definitely do not come here for the decor and the atmosphere. for nigiris, we ordered yellow tail (hamachi), scallop, toro (fatty tuna) $15, sweet shrimps, salmon, mackerel (aji), and sea urchin (uni). for rolls, we got three spicy tuna hand rolls, spicy scallop rolls, rainbow roll and caterpillar rolls. their nigiris didn't impress me. the rice seemed too undercooked and lacked flavor (both sweetness and vinegar-ness). some fish didn't look all that fresh. their rolls were surprising pleasant especially their spicy scallop rolls and spicy tuna hand rolls. i recommend those two items highly. btw, they also have fresh wasabi for $2.50. it's not the fresh grated wasabi but it is much better than the paste wasabi. i hate to brag but california has some great authentic fresh sushi joints. i amso proud and lucky to live in california where great sushi chefs and fresh raw fish live.
(2)Gregory B.
The service was terrible. I took 40 minutes to get drinks for a table of two people. On top of that it took over an hour to get our food, which was only one plate of sushi. The sushi was not worth the long wait. Additionally, nobody came and asked us how our food was. There are many other sushi restaurants in the area, and would not recommend going to this one.
(1)Doug L.
I used to love this place. When my wife and I first moved to the area, this was our go-to sushi restaurant and we ate here quite often. The sushi was great and the prices were good. In fact, this was the first place we ate at after our kid was born (and my wife could eat sushi again). We went back recently for dinner, but I think the aura of this place has worn off on me. The sushi is still good, but I'm pretty sure that they have been raising their prices pretty steadily over the past year or two (or maybe I'm just noticing it now). The dinner entrees are now around $25 I believe, though for some reason, I remember them being around $18 back in the day. Anyway, all this to say that while their sushi is still good, for me it isn't mid to upper $20's good - and that's before taxes and tip, which brings a bill up to the $30's. For us, there are other decent sushi places at much more competitive prices (think mid to upper $10's). All in all, decent place now that used to be great.
(3)Sam C.
the best!!!! absolute.
(5)Stephen T.
excellent and authentic Japanese food. It is one of the handful Japanese restaurants actually operated by Japanese people within the area. Relative to the area, I've tempted in rating it higher, but as far as Japanese food goes, there is much MUCH better. Depending on the time of day, the place can get busy, and parking may be street side if the lot is full. The food is authentically flavored. Japanese consider their food usu-aji() and this place gets it right most of the time. Their service is very consistently good.
(3)E E.
I give up on finding a decent sushi joint in this area. I was so utterly disappointed by Tachibana. I ordered the chirashi for lunch. Maguro and salmon are usually my litmus test for quality, and Tachibana failed on both. The only edible portion of my chirashi was tamago, a sad tragedy for a Japanese-owned sushi restaurant. And finally, the huge dollop of mashed maguro is not appetizing at all.
(2)Alan S.
Took the family in for the first time after my son read good reviews about it on Google. We arrived in time for a late lunch and the place was comfortably busy for a Sunday afternoon. Service was great and the selection very good. We ordered green tea, seaweed salad, sashimi, bento boxes, and miso soup. Everyone enjoyed the delicious tastes and were able to take some home too. Both the green tea and ginger ice cream dishes finished the meal nicely. We plan to make this one of our regular dining spots!
(4)Mari S.
This restaurant serves dishes which is the closest to actual Japanese style among the ones I tried in Maryland and Virginia so far. Their lunch specials include some good deals like Bento series. But I normally order Sushi. Very fresh and properly prepared.
(4)lisa w.
i ordered the a sushi lunch special. came with salmon, shrimp, white fish, tuna, eel, and a spicy tuna roll. Spicy tuna roll, i couldn't even taste the tuna it was so skimpy; furthermore the rice was warm. why was the rice warm?! the other fish were just tasted bland. i don't have any other words to describe it but that. yes, there were huge slices of fish on huge mounds of rice, but sushi isn't about the size of the nigiri. The fish should be sliced correctly and in the right proportion to the rice. i heard alot of japanese spoken around me, so it seems like a popular restaurant to the japanese community, but maybe its better for ramen or entree dishes.
(3)Ariana F.
AUTHENTIC - FRESH - BEST SUSHI IN THE AREA. Every other local place just doesn't hit the mark. Tachibana is always packed...and for good reason - they have amazing portion sizes and did I mention FRESH? No wonder they get rated by Zagat and Washingtonian year after year. I like to sit at the bar. Its interesting to watch the chef and also you get this great cucumber salad. I wish they would upgrade the interior.
(4)Charles T.
Tachibana will always have a special place in my heart. I've been coming here at least once a month for the last six or seven years - my wife and I even had our first date here! I'll admit that Tachibana isn't perfect - you have to understand their strengths and weaknesses and order accordingly. Unlike restaurants in Japan, Tachibana doesn't specialize in a single dish or genre. That's just an unfortunate reality of most Asian restaurants in the DC area (Pho shops and the sushi-only Kotobuki being notable exceptions). A ramen stall or a yakitori booth probably wouldn't survive in NoVA. On the other hand, this gives you a pretty good shot at being able to satisfy any kind of Japanese food craving at Tachibana! Tachibana's lunch menu was overhauled last year and now lists a huge variety of options. The value king remains the "Bento B" which includes a piece of nicely-grilled fish, two skewers of yakitori, an assortment of veggie tempura, steamed shumai, tamago, and an order of California Roll (yeah, it's disappointing that they include the inauthentic cali sushi). The perfect mid-workday treat for me is their gyudon - a rice bowl with nice, fatty beef, onions, and a soy-mirin sauce. Heavenly. The best deal for dinner is their set-price combo. For most entrees, in addition to the a la carte price, a dinner price is shown that covers soup, salad, appetizer, entree, and dessert. I recommend the oshitashi salad: boiled spinach marinated in a shoyu-mirin broth, and topped with bonito flakes. For dessert, the green tea ice cream is the best I've ever had - rich and chocolaty (no, they don't make it in-house, it's from "some place in New York"). Their tempura has a nice, light batter, as does the tonkatsu. The unaju shows similar technical perfection - Tachibana isn't out to reinvent dishes, they just execute them well. Noodle dishes are fine, but not their specialty. Go to Mikaku in Herndon for their homemade udon, or Ippudo in NYC for authentic ramen (sorry, DC is a ramen desert). The sukiyaki is good, and my wife says the chawanmushi is pretty true to what she's had in Japan. Avoid the generic, Americanized dishes like Teriyaki-anything. If possible, ask to switch out the default green salad for the far-superior bean sprout salad. So, what about the sushi? On repeated visits, I have confirmed that the sushi is much better at the sushi bar (quality and cut of fish, quality of assembly). It makes little sense, as sushi orders from guests at regular tables are delivered to the same chefs and prepared at the same location. But, empirically, it's been confirmed. I now avoid sushi unless I'm at the bar - in which case I order only sushi. The menu's quite limited compared to west coast or NYC restaurants, but take note of the daily specials board on the hostess's podium. And, of course, ask the sushi chef for his recommendations (though they like to steer guests towards the expensive toro). Always good: hamachi, aji, unagi, tamago, saba, shiro maguro, uni, spicy scallop roll (the not-so-secret ingredient is Kewpie!) Note that they typically serve a marinated version of salmon sushi, especially when ordered from a table. This has freaked out more than one dining companion. Sashimi ordered from the sushi bar is delightful - thick slices that let you taste the butteriness of good fish. Service is great - any member of staff will help you, so you don't have to wait for "your" server. For what it's worth, Tachibana used to only hire Japanese servers. In recent years, they've diversified their hiring. I only point this out because it occasionally leads to minor issues when ordering more obscure items. All-in-all, I remain very pleased by Tachibana's consistency (once the diner understands their strengths). Though I may go elsewhere for a superior preparation of a particular dish, this place is tops for across-the-board quality.
(4)Maha M.
Sushi at Tachibana?? Yikes ..This place sucks big time ! The Sushi rice was overcooked and the fish was very very fishy. Not to forget that the staff was rude and their prices are expensive for bad sushi. One more thing... I will NEVER go back !!
(1)Chris M.
Quantity: For a true comparison we order the same sashimi dinner from the 4 local sushi restaurants and based purely on quantity, Tachibana hands down gave larger portions. In fact, almost twice the size of the others. Granted...it was the most expensive but not by double. Quality: Their fish was as good if not slightly better than the others in this unscientific test. Atmosphere: It's a little run down...boxes piled up in hall way outside entrance and inside in hall adjacent to restrooms. But...if you can overlook this, the place is well decorated and has a pleasant ambiance. Staff: Friendly and attentive.
(4)Chris S.
I have experienced better! I really have, yelp! I was recommended here by a friend and decided to give it a whirl. I was overwelmed at the prices when I first sat and looked at the menu. I then thought the prices indicate how good this place was. I mean after all, it is a sushi spot in McLean. As a habit, I love watching the chefs craft my sushi. Although there was a problem. One of them did not look like a master sushi chef (Look at my pei wei review for more information). He looked like a don churro apprentice. I took the "don't knock it until you try it approach". I then picked up my sushi moments later and it spilled all over my plate. One indication of bad sushi rolls, ladies and gentlemen is a loose sushi roll. If I wanted loose sushi I would have ordered Nigiri sushi. At the end of the day, they do not roll up tight, they do not roll out a good review from me.
(2)Dorothy S.
Being Nikkei, I appreciate authentic Japanese food, which is very hard to get in the metro Washington DC area. By authentic, I mean prepared by Japanese in a restaurant run by Japanese. In northern Va, most of the so-called Japanese restaurants are run by non-Japanese who don't have a clue how to season food properly. I usually order sukiyaki and its as good as my obachan used to make when Iwas llittle. My only complaint is service could be better. Service staff can be friendlier and check on you from time to time
(4)David K.
This is my favorite place for Sushi in the DC metro area, the portions are big, good presentation and the Fish is super fresh! Been going here for 15 years now and its been a hit every time! :)
(5)Judith L.
I am not a huge fan of Japanese food, but I do like this place. They have a lot of options, you can find some good food here even if you aren't a huge fan of sushi, which I am not. You can order menu items a la carte or as dinner- appetizer, entree, etc. etc. Their tempura has always been solid, and their udon is good. The sushi I have tried has always been fresh and prices are reasonable, especially considering the service and quality of food you receive.
(4)Rich B.
I just wrote a review of Sweet Ginger and had to come write a review of my most favorite Sushi spot in the area. I travel extensively for work in the Tri State area of VA, MD and DC. A good part of my job was taking clients out to lunch/dinner. I've eaten at so many different restaurants all over the area, I've lost count. With all that said, of all the sushi spots in the area, Tachibana is hands down the best. The freshness of the sushi has no rival. And I mean no rival. While I have a top 3, number 2 in Annapolis and number 3 in Hunt Valley (yes, you heard me right). Those 2 don't compare to Tachibana. By the way, I've eaten here at least 40 times over the years. Can't even count. The food and service are impeccable. One thing I love about this place is that the waiters/waitresses don't mind taking care of you even if you're not their assigned table. Every employee always is asking if you need anything but not in an overbearing annoying way. The cost is a little more than other places, but what do you expect? To get the best, you have to shell out a little more, not that its even expensive, just a sliver more than other. But believe me, you'll want to after you taste their great Sushi. One last thing, as far as authentic. Majority of the people in there at any given one time are Japanese out side of the employees who are pretty much all Japanese. I like to see that because its indicative of just how authentic a place really is. If you're in the mood for Sushi, go here. If its your first time, trust me, it won't be your last.
(5)Andy M.
Definitely an excellent sushi restaurant. In recent visits it has maybe slipped a little during dinner, but with a little prior planning (like reservations at the bar) you can guarantee a great meal. Omakase is definitely the way to go since you'll be spending over $40 for dinner anyway. It's also got fantastic lunch prices, but you'll have to fight the hordes of the Real Housewives of McLean who flood it daily. What can I say about the food? Very fresh, delicately sliced toro, generous salmon roe, fat clams on the half shell. Exciting, strange cuts of fish that the sushi chef doesn't know what to call in English. The only heated thing you should be getting here should involve frying and sake. Absolutely delicious, and who cares about the decor or mediocre service when you're at the raw bar staring at superb knife skills slicing incredibly flavorful flesh?
(4)Seth M.
good for lunch sushi meal is a lot of food for little $ soup, salad, green tea, nigiri, and a roll the only thing is that some of the sushi feels wet like... the white tuna is juicy... too juicy... which is weird. its wet. and the pieces of fish they slap on top of the nigiri is usually too much... too thick. and sometimes it's tough/chewy... which is not good. other than that, its a good place. friendly staff. quick service and nice atmosphere at least for lunch.
(3)Michael E.
A little difficult to gauge this restaurant. The food is good, but you have to be comfortable going off the normal sushi fare. In other words, the standard rolls and other standard sushi entrees are not that hot. The exotic dishes, salmon eggs/roe over rice (they look like marbles) are pretty good if you are comfortable with something very different. The decor both inside and out are dated, but that is common for the area. Though I enjoyed my food, my guest was thoroughly put off by the exotic cuisine.
(3)Chloe K.
I think this place would be great for dinner and with a big group of friends but not so great for lunch. We ordered a Chirashi for lunch and it was definitely not as great as Sushi Yoshi (the other side of chain bridge). Ordered Chirashi b/c their Sashimi lunch special was $16 vs $12 bucks for Chirashi. The fish on the Sashimi did appear fresh so i gave this restaurant 4 stars. I think we just ordered the wrong thing. And b/c their UNI here was amazing :) The freshest I've had in DMV area. Would go back again but not for lunch.
(4)shawn g.
Tachibana has been a christmas eve tradition in my new family for a while, although we took a brief hiatus when the ladies had to avoid raw/undercooked fish. It's always been super crowded but usually we can get a reservation for any time as long as you call about a week ahead, which I manage to do while last minute shopping for gifts. I always get the chirashi here. I think it's a bit pricey, but I've never been impressed by their roll selection, and I'm more of a sashimi guy myself. There are a few rolls with shiso leaf, which can be new to some palates, so ask to try some first if you've never had it. Pretty common in sushi rolls, from what I understand, and my own personal experience. Next year we might just order a platter, and pick it up.
(4)Alan C.
This is definitely one of my favourite places to eat sushi in the DC area. The sushi is amazing, good large portions and as fresh as if you were getting it from the market yourself, probably more fresh. Dishes are simple and authentic. They're the way grandma used to make them, only with more rice and more fish.
(5)Jim G.
I have eaten sushi all over the country, including the west coast many many times. I have never had better service or sushi. This place is a cut above. We sat at the bar and asked to just try whatever the chef felt like making, we had 15 different types of nigiri and maki along with an explanation of what and where they were from. It was OUTSTANDING!
(5)Jonathan C.
**4.5** Preface/background: I eat more than average in terms of quantity (I've eaten 2 Chipotle Burritos in one sitting) but appreciate quality and am always looking for a great deal. OK, my review applies only to 1 dish for lunch - and that is the Sashimi Lunch Special at $14.95, because that is all I get for lunch time. Don't come here for dinner, it is way too overpriced. Anyway, the Sashimi Lunch Special comes with a salad appetizer, miso soup, a bowl of rice (you can request more), and a good portion of 16 pieces of sashimi: -4 pc salmon -4 pc tuna -4 pc seared tuna -4 pc white fish (I forget what it's called, somebody help me out here) -1 cucumber cup of a mix of seaweed, chopped up salmon, and chopped white tuna Now, considering I can eat a lot, this lunch special fills me up, and for sashimi, it's a great deal, 16 pieces for $15. It is fresh and tasty (there have been times that I had to request them to get me fresher looking sashimi, but that was fine.) Now, the service isn't all that great, but I don't really care, because when I need something (usually another bowl of rice and the low sodium soy sauce), I just ask the waitresses for it, and they're good at getting stuff for me. This is my first 4.5 star yelp review, and it is based SOLELY on the quality/quantity/price of the food. I could care less about the service; it's not horrible, but it's not amazing. If I had to review anything else at Tachibana, it'd probably max out at a 4 because nothing is as good of a deal as the Sashimi Lunch Special. If you're in McLean, I'd recommend coming here. If you're in Vienna though, I would recommend Sushi Yoshi, off of Church St. The chirashi is great. I'll probably write a review on that place next. I definitely rank Sushi Yoshi over Tachibana. But both places are really good.
(4)L N.
Very disappointed! Came here with a 2 friends on January 2, 2010 to check out the hype and won't be coming back any time soon. Fish was not fresh, matter of fact it should not have been served at all. Worst rolls I ever had, they fall apart as soon as you picked one up and tasted as bland as can be. We had to use our hands to pick them up. The service was nothing to write home about. Nothing much more here to say but No Thanks.
(1)first l.
Nice authentic feel to the restaurant, good alternative to run of the mill anything Asian restaurant.
(4)Karman C.
I have been there few times, and each experience was okay. I think it is a little overrated to wait in line to get into this place every weekend. Service was just okay. I am not really sure what it is about, but I have definitely had better sushi than this place.
(3)S K.
Tachibana is one of the better sushi places in the dmv area but I think the building and interior is a little outdated. Which could be a good or bad thing depending on the person. The first time I went I sat at a table, a group of 6. Although we were in the middle of the restaurant the service was really slow. I work in the service industry and I hate noticing these things but it bothers me a lot now. It's also harder to criticize an older wait staff but I feel like our waitress that day had no excuse. The restaurant was about half full with plenty more other waiters. The sushi was delicious! Visually pleasing and all of our food came out at relatively the same time. Which is not a top priority at an Asian restaurant, but it's always nice being able to eat at the same time as everyone else! They have a big menu so you can stick to the classics or be a bit adventurous and try new and different things. I recommend sitting at the sushi bar if you're with 1-2 other people. You can talk to the chefs, get their personal recommendations, see them make it right in front of you, and order as you eat! Everything I had was fresh with no unusual fishy odor.
(4)Hannah H.
I am a huge fan of Tachibana! This Japanese restaurant, located upstairs in a small little strip off of Lowell Ave, is owned by Master Sushi Chef, Eiji Yahashi. They have been around since '82, originally located out in Arlington, and then moving to its current McLean location in '96. They offer lunch, dinner, sushi a la carte, party platters, and catering services. Craving for some donkatsu, the hubs and I came here for an early dinner. We ordered the Dinner version of the Tonkatsu, which comes with your choice of any of the soup, any of the salad, any of the appetizer, and a dessert of your choice. For my soup, I opted for the Miso Soup (really great flavor, slightly salty, filled with a nice amount of cubed tofu, and very soothing); for the salad, I had the Sunomono (marinated baby shrimp with sliced cucumber and seawood - this had a nice refreshing vinegar-y taste to it, and very light and yummy); for the appetizer, I had the Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura (pumpkin, sweet potato, and shrimp, these were well-breaded with the tempura batter and crispy); the donkatsu itself was extremely large and had great flavor - definitely hit the spot! We also ordered a Spicy Scallop Roll, which was filled with scallop, mayo, masago, sesame oil, red pepper, and topped with tempura crumbs - we absolutely LOVE this roll, as it has a nice sesame oil flavor to it, with an every-so-slight kick to it; the scallop is also extremely fresh! For dessert, you had a choice between ice cream, sherbet, yokan, mochi, seasonal fruit, or mochi ice cream - I opted for the black sesame and the red bean mochi ice cream, and both were fresh and wasn't too frozen. The Japanese servers here are all so friendly, and they all make sure that you are enjoying your meal. Just note that this place does get packed, so coming early before the lunch/dinner rush is highly recommended. Check this place out :D +Tonkatsu Dinner +Miso Soup +Sunomono salad +Spicy Scallop Roll +Black Sesame mochi ice cream +friendly servers
(5)Glen H.
I've had sushi all over the world including Tokyo, Kyoto, Hong Kong, Honolulu, San Francisco, New York. None better than her. Fresh, authentic, and some hard to find items like sweet shrimp with fries heads. The sushi chefs are great and the saki selection vast. Just the beat. Been coming here since they first opened in Arlington in 1984.
(5)Irene C.
** 3.5 stars** Came back again and sat at the sushi bar in the back of the restaurant. The sushi rolls were very loose! Some didn't even have any rice/seaweed on the bottom so whenever i picked it up, the sushi piece would fall apart! The soft shell crab roll (2 for 17 or 1 for 15) was not my favorite. There was too much rice and there was barely any flavor. Off course, the sushi roll fell apart and there was asparagus instead of avocado. Rainbow roll but good but again, fell apart. I've had better elsewhere. My milky salt ramen was again the highlight! I asked for a soft boiled egg but they were unable to accommodate** since they precook their eggs already. I would highly suggest changing the hard boiled egg to soft boiled! It would make a huge difference in the ramen, everything else in the ramen is spot on!
(3)Pegah Y.
Tasty food and very efficient and friendly service with enough parking outside the restaurant, but not the most fresh sushi I've had. I visited on a weekday for lunch and ordered the Chirashi combo. It was a pretty decent deal - $12 for a generous portion of Chirashi and a soup and salad on the side. The fish was tasty but not the most fresh, and the presentation was a bit lacking. I was very impressed with the quality of the service, though. Very friendly and efficient. They could tell I had to get back to work and they took my order, served my food, and gave me my check very promptly. I would certainly visit again if I was craving sushi and was in the area, but it's not at the top of my favorite sushi restaurant list, and I'd likely order something else off the menu.
(4)Alice W.
Oh no no no, what happened Tachibana? I came back after 9 months for dinner and boy was it disappointing. Tachibana used to be my second favorite sushi restaurant in this area, but after the other night, I'm almost reluctant to come back. First of all, they ran out of practically everything we wanted to eat. And it was only 8:30. No fatty tuna. No sea urchin. No salmon roe. We ended up ordering spicy salmon and tuna rolls, negitoro rolls, and the Washington rolls. None of the rolls were particularly good. Passable, yes. Edible? Thank goodness yes. But reminiscent of the Tachibana I knew and loved? Far from it. Maybe it was an off night, but reading some of these more recent reviews, it looks like I'm not the only one who feels that Tachibana has lost some of its magic. Hopefully, this isn't a permanent change.
(3)Sungmin S.
favorite japanese restaurant in the entire nova area and that's really saying something. I have been frequenting here for the past 8-9 years and have honestly never had one bad experience. their lunch specials (miso soup, green salad and hot green tea provided) are amazing -- for example, you will not get a better lunch chirashi bowl anywhere in D.C. for $12.50 than you will here -- but I think their dinners are great (if you're willing to pay more) as they use more expensive fish for dinner items. I think their katsudon is the best in the entire DC area as well..... and their fish selections are always extremely fresh. great service, great people, great everything. love tachibana and hope they are here to stay forever.
(5)Alexis K.
Haha...this is what I get for letting my hunger overtake logic and reason. My first experience at Tachibana was good. My second experience was pretty bad. That should have been enough for me to forego all subsequent visits. My boyfriend and I happened to be in the Mclean area; we were starving and had a very specific craving for sushi. We told ourselves that our previous visit was just an unlucky one, and that perhaps we'd have better luck this time around. WRONGGGGGGGGGG. We ordered various pieces of nigiri, nabeyaki udon, and a chirashi bowl. The nabeyaki udon was unmemorable, but not inedible. I'm giving Tachibana a 1-star rating for the quality of their fish. Their scallops - you get a choice between frozen or fresh (obviously, the fresh scallops cost more) - were just terrible. I had to spit it out, and it ruined the rest of the meal. It takes a lot to ruin my appetite, but that one piece of scallop alone made the hungries go away real quick. So now I can finally say, lesson learned. We are never, ever, ever getting back together.
(1)James M.
Tachibana is definitely one of the better Japanese restaurants in the DMV. This place is authentic bc it's all Japanese. Not Chinese, not Korean, but ALL Japanese. Therefore, you're going to pay a premium, but its totally worth it if you're trying to spoil yourself, sashimipalooza-style! It's usually crowded, so be smart about it and make that reservation. Sometimes it can be a real pain to find parking in the medium-sized lot. Your best bet would be to avoid peak hours. My go-to dishes: Lunch - Chirashi, Donburi Dinner - Sashimi, Sushi And pls don't forget the Sake and/or Beer to pair!
(4)Lydia R.
Meh, I mean for the DC Area, this is a decent spot for sushi and ramen. Compared to ramen and sushi on the West Coast, thumbs down, especially considering the price. This place gets away with high prices because there isn't much competition and it appears upscale. The ramen I had was decent at best, yet bland would be the best way to describe it. When I asked for the spicy sauces that I am used to jazzing up my ramen with, the servers gave me quizzical looks. I'm used to some really amazing spices and flavors coming through in the ramen and because of these signature sauces, but the whole time I ate the ramen, I felt like something was missing. I've also tried sushi tempura here, which was generously portioned out from the sushi chef who I watched at the bar. All in all, I'm glad there is a place like this around, but I'd love for either 1) prices to decrease so I feel justified in returning here and/or 2) ramen with better accompaniments.
(3)Dominion O.
Downgraded this restaurant. The lunch chirashi was terrible! A few pieces of imitation crab, One piece of cheap freshwater tilapia which is not suitable for sashimi, a piece of mackerel, some salmon scrap, two slices of eggs, two chunks of mushroom, and a shrimp. Go to sushi yoshi in Vienna instead!
(2)Katherine S.
Very authentic Japanese food. The sushi chef and many waitress are Japanese, and they have some rare items on menu that is seldom be seen on other Japanese restaurant , like shabu shabu.Delicious and well done.
(4)Herman W.
-Summary: Ramen is salty, Uni Nigiri (sea urchin) is fresh! -Food Ordered: Ramen with milky salt soup $9.95 Uni Nigiri $10 --Food: 7/10 Uni Nigiri is good but not the Ramen --Service: 8/10 --Environment: 7.5/10 Does not have enough parking space -Price: 8
(3)Marc P.
I'm a fan of the ramen here, but the sushi is also amazing. They have a great selection, both of easy for the kids fare and less common Japanese dishes. Worth the drive for us when we want good Japanese food.
(4)Jess L.
My family comes here all the time and never are we disappointed with our meal! The sushi is always fresh and you'll love everything on the menu so it's always a good bet you'll be happy with your order.
(4)Georgina S.
We consistently order 4 appetizers and had one entree ourselves. This is the best Japanese homey restaurant! Food is excellent, consistent, and authentic. Five stars would be given if servers were less stern and inflexible, Shabu-Shabu is served with two types of dipping sauce, and Sukiyaki is cooked table side as it should be (beef is always overlooked). Superb sushi and sashimi. Agedashi could be improved in texture. We eat here once a month out of habit.
(4)Theresa S.
After declaring my craving for sushi, I was directed to drive here for dinner. It was oddly located on the backside of a plain square building and I had no idea what to expect. What I received, however, was some tasty sushi and grilled fish. For roughly the past two years, my sushi outings consisted of places where the rolls were filled with crazy combinations of fun stuff (see Momo Sushi in Alexandria). And though that continues to entertain me today, I was looking for something simple and good. We first received our two appetizers of grilled black cod (marinated in miso and sake) and salmon collar. I was super happy with just these two. Tender, full of flavor and simple. Reminded me of eating fish back at home with my parents. As for sushi, we tried the Australian yellow tail, Japanese butter fish, horse mackerel, fin of flounder and Mediterranean mackerel. I hadn't had mackerel in what seemed like ages and this reminded me that I need to have it more often in my life. The rest were fine, but the mackerel stood out for me, particularly the horse mackerel. We also had yellow tail with scallion roll. It was not the best, as it was chopped and I just couldn't get past the texture.
(4)Fizzy B.
Went on a recommendation from many friends and was presently happy. Went specifically for sushi and the variety want what I had hoped for but cannot deny the quality. The staff was friendly and the environment nice. Had mochi balls for dessert which I wasn't impressed with and the noise level was a little higher then I had wished for. If you want good service and food the place was definitely nom nom worthy.
(4)Kevin S.
Great sushi spot! A little hard to find at first unless you know McLean well. i recommend sitting at the bar and letting the chefs just do their thing. I have to admit though, there was one they just threw me that I probably wouldn't ask for again, which was the fermented soy bean. If you don't like slimy, sticky, and all-around unappetizing hand roll, push this one back. Otherwise, all the cuts were fresh, the right temperature, and very, very good.
(4)Cydney L.
One star for this single reason: WAY over priced! The on-line menu doesn't list prices, but if it did, we would have skipped this place. It was loud and the service was snippy, but that was all noted in other reviews. The stinky surprise was that the bento boxes- "Dinner Box"- were over $35! That's crazy for a fried bean and a piece of beef. The place felt like a diner, and diner prices would have been more apt.
(1)Kouji h.
food was so DELICIOUS, i had to create a yelp account so I could review the place!! Moved from a city that had plenty of choices for authentic Japanese food (LA) to a place that seemed like most Japanese restaurants were ran by non-Japanese people. Had the mackerel (saba shiyo yaki) and natto, definitely a reach for even those who like Japanese food, but I use this as a barometer to test how authentic the food really is and I came away very impressed!! and it continues... food was so DELICIOUS, i had to go back for dinner (mind you, i'm currently staying at a hotel without a kitchen). Prices were definitely higher for some items, but the solution for this is to focus mainly on the sushi and the nabe as these items were very reasonable. And on final note, the sushi was very VERY FRESH!!
(5)Stacy J.
Just thinking about this place makes me tummy excited. I love that they serve 4 different types of Onigiri. They are generously sized and only $2.50. If I lived any closer, this would be my lunch staple. This place is always packed, and for good reason. The sushi is delicious and the variety they offer is thoroughly impressive. There is something on the menu for everyone I'm sure. Dinner Set B: with Salmon Shioyaki or Yellow Tail Teriyaki Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura Nigimaki (Chicken or Beef) Hijiki (Seasoned Sea Kelp) Shumai (Dumplings) Sashimi Was enough for two people. It was also served with traditional Japanese sides. They have a greater selection of soup noodles than is listed on their website. The Udon is good, but then again I think Udon is pretty hard to mess up and basically the same everywhere. I appreciate their house sake which is served warm and available in a large for just $7.
(4)April J.
If you're looking for an inexpensive taste of Japan, Tachibana is the place for you! My husband and I traveled to Tokyo a couple years ago, which pushed our sushi standards sky-high! So, needless to say, we are picky sushi connoissuers. Having said this, Tachibana is the closest we get to experiencing the fresh sushi of Japan, right in our own backyard. We prefer to eat at the sushi bar to get the full experience, and sometimes brush up on our knowledge of the Japanese language - even if it is only conversational - and reminisce on our times in Tokyo. The sushi is cut perfectly - never too thin, never too thick - and they are generous in their portions. The gentlemen behind the sushi bar are experienced, friendly, and aim to make your experience enjoyable. Everyone on the staff is wonderful. Their selection of fish is massive, and everything is FRESH - and I mean FRESH as in they don't keep things frozen from the week before and serve it the next week as a special. As for what you should get...ANYTHING goes - everything is good. Be adventerous, though, and try something you've never tried before. You won't regret it. This place is truly a diamond in the ruff, as it's secluded behind a building off of Old Dominion. It's extremely popular and books ups quickly on weekends. We've even bumped into Newt Gingrich and his wife on their way in for dinner one evening as we were leaving. I give 5-stars to Tachibana - great service, FRESH, delicious sushi, and reasonably priced!
(5)Christopher M.
This is a favorite place of mine. You see, I've been to Tachibana at least 50 times (maybe more) over a period of 8-9 years living in the area. Some of my best meals have been in this restaurant. I almost always get the sashimi lunch or the spicy scallop rolls (or both). The fish is always clean fresh and the staff is always friendly and there seems to be no employee turnover - ever. Some of the same people have been there more than 20 years. I believe you can tell a lot about a "family" restaurant by (1) how long employees stay there, (2) how friendly/professional they are, and (3) how clean kitchen/dock area, and bathroom areas are. Everyone is very friendly. Everything is very clean. The food is great. This is probably my favorite sushi place because I know what I'm going to get - a high quality, consistent experience, with excellent, fresh fish. I highly recommend this place.
(4)Jeff W.
I've had Tachibana bookmarked since the fall of 2007, and I FINALLY got a chance to come here. It certainly didn't disappoint. The atmosphere is really wonderful and has a very traditional Japanese feel to it. I was coming for sushi, but it seems that they also really shine as an all encompassing Japanese restaurant. I'd love to return and try some of their other dishes. Seating is a little tight, but it kinda feels like a little community in here. They offer a variety of sushi, from al la carte, to chirashis, to combinations. All sushi meals can be ordered as just sushi, or as a meal which includes appetizer, soup, salad, and dessert. It's a fantastic deal, but a little more than I was looking to spend so I just went with the chirashi bowl. I was a little confused as to the grades of chirashi they offer (regular, and deluxe) but the waitress explained the more expensive "deluxe" bowl features tuna, salmon, and unagi. I was feeling frugal so I went with the regular bowl that featured a lot of cuts I had never had before. Our meal started with the gyoza, which were wonderful. 5 beautifully pan-seared dumplings. If this is any indication of the quality of their other cooked items, I can't wait to return and see what else they have. When the sushi came out, Kevin and Alicia's rolls were gorgeous, and very sizeable. My chirashi bowl was a little skimpy, but the fish quality was outstanding and the cuts were excellent. The serving temperature was spot on and the rice was possibly the best sushi rice I've had. Perfect consistency and great sweetness. It unfortunately ended way too soon, but at least I was dining with tiny asians who don't eat much so I was able to mooch off their leftovers. Overall, I loved my experience at Tachibana. I could see the possibility of a five star rating after a repeat visit and a sampling of other dishes, or to check out their lunch specials. The sushi was quite good, but I still think I'd choose Sweet Ginger in Vienna over Tachibana. There you can get a larger chirashi, with better selection of fish for a little less money, as well as a huge sushi boat for a good price, and quality is about equal between the two.
(4)Hannah D.
I've been dying to try ochazuke, and I've heard great things about this place. Everything I heard about Tachibana was very true. Everything was delicious--the Ochazuke, Onigiri, sushi--it was all very pleasant to try. I am coming back here real soon, this is a new favorite of mine. The staff are very friendly as well, and the ambience is very quiet and private.
(5)Monk E. R.
So great to rediscover this place. Used to hit Tachibana in the 1990s when we worked in Tysons. Since then, hundreds of sushi joints have popped up over the region like weeds, some decent, the majority mediocre, many godawful. Stopped by on a Saturday half an hour before opening and there was already a line. Fifteen minutes after the door opened, all the tables were taken. At $30 the chirashi is one of the more expensive ones I've ordered but one bite and you know where that money went. This is top-grade, dark red tuna, not the sickly pink slop they throw at you in food courts. And whereas the rice at most sushi joints is an afterthought, this is quality Japanese rice cooked perfectly; firm yet yielding. The bento boxes are an excellent sampler and a good deal at lunch: rolls, yakitori, miso, tempura, it's all there. My picky kids loved the chicken tonkatsu, Panko-crusted chicken strips that were moist and flavorful and fried perfectly. About the worst I could say was that the roe skewed a little salty, but that's why they serve beer. And they're one of the few joints that does shabu-shabu right, which makes sense since they're Japanese owned and run. This isn't fast food. When was the last time you hand-carved some sashimi and fried some tonkatsu? I thought so. So order a beer or a sake and relax already. If you're in a hurry, just go to China Wall Panda and get violently ill already. That's just more room for me and people who know what the hell they're talking about.
(5)Sarah C.
Oo...this is difficult to rate because I'm from Seattle. And not to toot our own horn (well, I am going to anyway) - we are sushi snobs and rightfully so. We are fortunate to eat some of the freshest fish that just melts in your mouth. After you've had a taste of that, can't really go back. I have to say though, I loved the ambience - it was authentic - nothing frou frou or no type of "asian fusion" vibe going on. I like it real - & the staff was extremely friendly & attentive. Sweet older Japanese women making sure we were okay & taken care of. Like you were at their home. We ordered an assortment of sashimi and a few rolls. The selection of sashimi wasn't really what I would have liked. They hardly had any salmon! Which is always a favorite. Everything was good & very reasonably priced.
(3)Xi W.
After introducing Tachibana to yet another satisfied party, I have concluded that Tachibana is God's gift to man. Like becoming more and more intoxicated with a good wine, Tachibana gets better with every experience. The fish here is quality. And fatty, the way fish is supposed to be. And the sushi, chirashi, or shashimi lunch special (comes with choice of salad and soup) is a -steal- at $10. Tachibana has established itself as my favorite sushi place in the DMV.
(5)Vivian C.
This review is based on one visit during lunch hour, after few minutes of trafic madness. I had the Mackerel Oshi-zushi (aka pressed sushi or box sushi) and it was delicious. The fish meat was thicker than I expected and oh it was wonderful. Wonderful aroma. Excellent texture of the fish and all I wished for was a glass of nice sake (then I remembered it was lunch). While I'm reserving my five-stars for some restaurant that is truly food nirvana for me, this place come pretty darn close to it. Gather your friends, and when you have six people, make reservation and get ready to be happy.
(4)Takaki K.
Decent sushi at a reasonable price. It's WAY more authentic than its neighbor Ichiban. Their sake selection is also pertty good, I like 'otoko-yama', cold. The combinations are a good deal. They even use shiso (japanese mint) for certain rolls, which is another sign of authenticity. Plus, call me a racist but the chefs are Japanese. Fish is a little too thickly sliced for my taste though.
(4)Allison K.
I'm not gonna lie, I felt a tad bloated after my visit here but I think it has to do more with the quantity of food I ate, not the quality. I loved every bite and no grain of rice was wasted. The cold sake was a nice complement to the meal and the natto-maki roll was exquisite.
(4)Patrick S.
Good food, good hot pot, good sushi, hard to find. Go earlier in the day.
(5)Jason C.
THIS is my go-to joint when I'm jones-ing for Uni (sea urchin roe). The ppl here are really nice and engaging (although the sushi chef always stares at me like he's not sure if I'm japanese or not). On my most recent visit, I ordered the uni donburi which is a bowl of rice w/ a layer of uni and some shredded nori on it. It was close-your-eyes-almost-as-good-as-sex ecstacy. After I finished my bowl, I decided it wasn't enough uni, so I had to order 4 pcs of uni nigiri. It was then that I fully understood why heroine addicts can't quit. It was so frickin good that I wished I could turn myself into a sea urchin, fly to California (maybe the human to sea creature transformation should happen AFTER the flight to prevent confusion), infiltrate the large communities of urchins in the rocky coasts....and feast on every single 1 of those sweet sweet creatures in a glorious urchin holocaust. Yeah, I like uni.
(4)Mads L.
I know what good Japanese food tastes like. And this is the best Japanese restaurant in Northern Virginia (I've tried many places). It's owned by actual Japanese people (unlike other places owned by Chinese or Korean), so maybe that's why the food here tastes the best? It's slightly pricey for Japanese food, darker lighting, can get very crowded, but the food is really, really good. I'm taking off a star because of the crowdedness and that employees don't notice you right away when you need assistance.
(4)Jack C.
I have been hearing good things from my co-worker plus I saw good reviews here last night so decided to give it a try. I concur with other people that good sushi at a reasonable price. Sushi delux was great and I couldn't finish the bean jelly.
(4)Iniko B.
Authentic as far as Northern Virginia goes. We normally come here for cheap good eats and friendly service. When we don't want to choose, we order the chirashi, which is assorted sushi (normally chef's choice) tastefully dumped on top of vinegared rice. Great for families. Price is affordable for traditional Japanese fare (they even have shabu shabu on the menu) and fairly high quality, well proportioned sushi. Look out for their anniversary events where they have all you can eat specials you need to book in advance for. Those are legendary.
(4)Paul M.
First, I will say that I love sushi, and have eaten it all over DC (Makoto, etc), San Francisco (Sushi Ran), NY, and pretty much anywhere else I can get my hands on it. While the food at Tachibana is nice, and I've never had a truly negative experience there, I must say I'm not as impressed with Tachibana as a lot of the other people posting here. I've eaten here 5-6 times over the last 4 years. Within a half a mile of this location are Miyagi and Endo sushi, and both are far superior. Ichi Ban sushi is also close by, but I can't speak to their food since I'm too intimidated by their less than welcoming physical space. Miyagi and Endo both make better specialty roles and have better service. The quality of the sashimi and fish at Miyagi is also higher. All prices relatively equal (maybe even a tad more expensive at Tachibana) there are better places to go for sushi in McLean.
(2)Kelly C.
Tachibana is the best sushi I've had since I've moved to DC...actually, it's the best I've had anywhere (but I'm from Indiana, after all). Don't let my Hoosier background discredit me, though. I do know my sushi! Tachibana always has at least 2 grades of toro (fatty tuna) available, and their sashimi is cut generously. Nothing can beat their once-a-year anniversary buffet. For $30 (you buy your ticket weeks in advance), you get all-you-can-eat sushi/sashimi/all-things-japanese goodness :) The buffet includes everything...toro, amaebi, etc. It's in the fall, and that's all I'm gonna say. I'm not giving away all my secrets!
(5)Jenny K.
4.5 stars! Tachibana is a wonderful little restaurant that is a personal favorite. My family and I have been coming here for lunch for years. I always get the chirashi or sushi lunch specials, and they're both delicious dishes for a reasonable price, basically $9-10. The green tea is hot and flavorful (before Tachibana I always thought green tea tasted like water) while the waiters/waitresses are very attentive. Your water and tea will be frequently refilled, your plates will be cleared, and your food will arrive promptly. Overall you'll have a great experience, but be prepared to wait for a table, especially on weekends! Lots of people want to eat here.
(4)Rich K.
I've been going to this place for years. Solid, fresh, consistent,sushi. Other items such as Udon are good as well. Even though I live in North Arlington, I make the drive out here since Arlington sushi is somewhat average. If you're gonna trek to DC, I like Sushi Ko and Sushi Taro.
(4)andrew m.
as good as sushi gets in the dc metro area. although it isn't the easiest place to find and parking can be a bother, this is the type of restaurant that draws people away from the city. chefs and staff are proficient in their craft.
(5)Allan H.
Great sushi. If you can go for lunch, get the sashimi lunch. It is the best deal for raw fish that I have seen. You get fresh fish, generous proportions, and good service. Dinner is a little pricey, but you get a 4 course meal with plenty of options. If raw fish isn't your thing, the teriyaki or soba are pretty awesome too.
(5)Morgan P.
I have only been to Tachibana for lunch (about a dozen times), but I have never been disappointed. The sushi and chirashi lunch specials are a wonderful deal, and delicious. I've never eaten a piece of fish at this place that wasn't absolutely fresh. Service may be a tiny bit slow, but it didn't detract anything from the experience. The first time I took one of my friends here, he ate here 5 times in the next week. Go here.
(5)Nathaniel L.
If you love sushi because you love seafood try Tachibana. The fish is the most fresh and tasty I have had in a sushi restaurant. You may sit at a table or at the sushi bar. The sushi chefs are friendly and skilled. Although prices may be considered moderate to high the food makes it worth the cost.
(5)Ryan S.
What Nate said, plus it's the only place i've seen in the states where you can order fresh wasabi.
(4)Sergey N.
While they are trying their best to pass for a Japanese restaurant, they are anything but that. Nice, but generally clueless, Korean staff, unable to understand requests for basic, traditional Japanese appetizers and drinks, and, somewhat dubious quality of their raw fish and other ingredients. When asked for Shochu, the waitress responded, 'We don't have it, but try sake, it tastes the same (!)' Most of their sake is American-made (Oregon state) approximation, with the familiar smell, but lacking any refinement or character. Their raw fish gave a distinct smell of the beginning stages of decomposition, and their cooked unagi smelled and tasted questionably too. The bottom line, it is not the worst Japanese-like restaurant I've been to, but if you have a choice, take your hard-earned dollars elsewhere.
(2)Nina L.
I would definitely go back for the sushi and miso soup only. The sushi pieces were large and very fresh, but the other dishes were bland or plain awful. The grilled chicken, dumplings, grilled salmon were a big disappointment. I went there on a Friday evening and there was a long wait. The restaurant has about 18-20 tables and a sushi bar. When I arrived at the restaurant, the line was so long, that some people were waiting outside. My wait time was about half an hour. They don't have a host or hostess, the waitress ends up seating people when she isn't busy serving a customer.
(4)Amit S.
the best sushi around without all the annoying "hip" ambiance.
(5)Jenn L.
everytime out of town guests want sushi i bring them here. it's a little out of the way and in a dingy old building, but i think in the year ive been in dc, ive been to this place like 8 times. it's a bit pricey for evening, but the lunch menu is a steal! my mom got a bento box for like 11 bucks and it had sooo much food. the ramen and udon is good and the sushi maker man is so nice and always greets everyone that comes in. i would definitely recommend. yummy!
(4)Shawna G.
Being the sushi junkie that I am, of course I couldn't live in this area without hitting Tachibana sooner or later. I went in with very high hopes and wasn't disappointed. We were seated at the sushi bar and immediately given hot towels to wipe your hands with, a cucumber/squid sweet vinegar salad and green tea. When I asked a waitress for a sushi sheet to mark what we wanted to order, we were instructed to order directly from the sushi chef! We had the most jovial, pleasant itamae that I have ever met. The fish didn't disappoint, although I was not thrilled with the salmon, usually the best at the sushi places I've been to before. The o-toro, white salmon, tuna, unagi... all VERY good. The pieces of fish were extremely generous, and I actually would have liked a bit more rice but very good. The price was a little spendy, along with the not so good salmon, brings my star rating down to 4. Otherwise, it would have been a 5. Excellent overall experience and great service!
(4)H A.
imo, DC area sushi is pretty horrible overall, but this place is actually not bad.
(4)Doug W.
My lovely wife and I are strong fans of Tachibana. We've been going there for a long, long time - ever since they first opened in Arlington. The fish is fresh, delicious, and thick cut (I happen to like it that way, even if it does take two bites to eat it). Sometimes special fish such as toro or super-buttery hamachi, and the chefs will point them out if you ask "What's new and different tonight?" They'll do ama-ebi and deep-fry the heads, one of my favorites and sure to make the newbies sitting next to you jump back. Dessert is always ikura for us, and it's as good as I've had anywhere. Yes, the room is big, and if you're not a regular, they might try and seat you at the very end of the sushi bar. Get a reservation and don't put up with less than a good seat. Not at Tachibana's prices. Not the best best sushi bar I've ever been to, but a good solid hitter of doubles and triples year after year. Reminds us of Yanagi Sushi in Honolulu, another solid hitter. Oh, and Tachibana is Japanese-owned. Not Korean, not Vietnamese, not haole. Nothing wrong with those fine nationalities, but they just never seem to have the zen down right. To us, that's pretty much an essential thing when it comes to sushi.... Update: Went in a couple of weekends ago, sat at the smaller, back sushi bar, and ordered omakase. Outstanding! A new type of seasonal scallop we'd never had before (arrgh - need to go back and get the name), fatty tuna just short of toro, and other tasty treats. Price was maybe 1.5x West Coast price for the equivalent, but hey, the fish had to fly farther.
(4)Katie S.
We really enjoyed Tachibana. From our experience living in Japan for three years, we found that this place was the closest to the real thing that we have had in the DC area. We had maki, various nigiri, tempura, and soba. I found that the sushi was fresh and the tempura good. I'm not saying this is the best I've ever eaten, but for what it is, I give my compliments. In reading other reviews for this restaurant, there was a little discussion about the appropriate-ness of other diners. This restaurant makes no claim to be a upscale Ginza/Roppongi Style joint, therefore drop the crap about judging other diner's behavior. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, you have to judge a restaurant on it's own level. Tachibana is what it is, which is a local restaurant that aspires to give both us gaijin and native Japanese a taste of home.
(5)Yumi W.
Best sushi in DC Area ..Good quality fish!
(5)JJ c.
the move from LA to NOVA wasn't ideal. especially since i'll be leaving a city with amazing restaurants with fresh ingredients. once out here i searched high and low for a decent sushi place in NOVA (DC was too far). the sushi joints in herndon/reston were pretty blah. after asking around i found tachibana. since then, i've been back at least once a month. the prices are decent, even on weekends as the weekday lunch prices are applied. the sushi is relatively fresh. the portions were pretty good, esp for a japanese restaurant. the ladies weren't too helpful in describing some of the dishes so brush up on your japanese cuisine before heading out to the restaurant.
(4)Irene R.
My family and I have been going here for over 10 years now. They have the best sashimi, fresh and plentiful! The best deal for lunh is the sashimi lunch, its half the value during lunch hours! If you are a noodle/soup lover, I recommend the Nabeyaki Udon. They have great service, excellent quality food and just a great place for dining. Iti s the best in the DC metro area from what Ive experienced!
(5)Andrew C.
Went for lunch. The ramen was excellent, almost as good as the ramen shops in NYC. The broth was flavorful and not too salty. Could of used a few more pieces pork though. The miso soup and salad were great. My wife got the age tofu which was very good. The orange sherbert at the end capped off a great meal. Will be returning for more!
(4)James I.
I really love this sushi restaurant. When I lived in McLean, I used to frequent it rather regularly. This was my first time back in a while, and I was not disappointed. Admittedly, Tachibana is a bit pricey; however, I've yet to leave unsatisfied. I would recommend sitting at the bar if possible. I have tried some of their kitchen dishes, but the sushi is the real star here. The only downside to this restaurant--besides the price--is that service can sometimes be a bit slow because of how crowded it becomes. Sama is currently in season, and I believe the sushi chef told me that it will be around until November. It is definitely worth trying.
(4)Phil H.
I had somewhat high expectations after reading some of the other reviews, but I ended up not being too impressed and would not go back. The menu is more extensive than most Japanese places I've been to so perhaps there are some gems that make this place worthwhile. I had the chirashi as a full meal with soup, apetizer, and dessert. The soup (forgot the name) was a light broth with spinach leaves tightly rolled up into two little cylinders and presumably boiled in it. I like that I was able to finally try a Japanese soup other than miso, but I actually still prefer miso. I had calamari as my apetizer and it was definitely among the lesser renditions I've tried. Too oily and not enough flavor. The chirashi (regular not deluxe) was possibly the worst I've ever had. The rice was too sweet, there was no roe, there was way too much of this marinated chopped mushroom mixture, and one of the pieces was a fake crab stick. The nerve! The fish pieces were decent but not great. I had ginger ice cream for dessert which they obviously didn't make, but it was quite tasty with lots of flavor and actual bits of candied ginger.
(3)Veronica J.
This place was great when I ate sushi and meat! I've tried almost everything here. The bento boxes are really really good. The food is always fresh. I've been here at least 20xs. I love sitting in the private screened rooms. And their sweet egg was excellent. Their udon noodle bowls are so good right down to the broth! The servings are huge and I always get a box to go or we'd just split. Now I can really get is edamame, seaweed, and any kind of veggie. But it just isn't the same. Even the most blah roll, aka the California Roll is absolute heaven. The roe is so fresh too.
(4)Andy B.
Great food, good service. We even had 3 waitresses take care of us.
(5)William L.
I've been to Tachibana on at least 3 occasions for lunch on a weekend. I can say that the food, service and atmosphere have been consistent on all visits. I've never been there for dinner however. The atmosphere is traditional Japanese style decor but not so traditional that you do not sit in chairs. The weekend lunch crowd can be large, so if you do go to Tachibana for lunch, I'd suggest reservations if possible. Otherwise, try to get there before opening to ensure that you don't wait for a table to open up for your party. The food is good and consistent from my experience. I've had sashimi, tempura, udon in soup and broiled eel for lunch at Tachibana and have no complaints about the food. It is good solid Japanese fare at a moderate price. In terms of authenticity, I suspect Tachibana ranks pretty high. It seems that a fair number of wait staff are Japanese, and I can't say for sure but do suspect that the owner and the chef are actually Japanese. Some sushi restaurants are actually owned and run by Chinese or Koreans, but I don't get that sense from dining at Tachibana.
(4)agnes k.
Authentic Japanese! This place doesn't have that fusion stuff so if your looking for the saucy sushi you won't like it. If you're looking for some real sushi, i'm talking the raw fishy stuff, this place has an amazaing selection. The service is the best! It's the same people everytime and they'll remember your name if you're there often enough. I suggest sitting at the bar (ask for Taka-san, he's awesome). They'll make you anything and I always ask for a special roll, where they'll just make something with things I like, or something new. This way I get to try new flavors of sushi instead of the same ol' spicy tuna roll. If you're doing take out they average 30-40 minutes. You can call and make reservations ( I reccomend it)
(5)T O.
This is really an authentic Japanese sushi place. We had deluxe sushi, which comes with soup, appetizer, and dessert - a nice deal and guaranteed to fill you up. First of all, it is hard to find places with amaebi (sweet shrimp), sea urchin included in the default menu (maybe because of deluxe menu. but still). Then, they placed a tinge of grated ginger and slices of scallion on top of hikarimono - you don't see this at non-japanese owned sushi restaurant. What made me feel even better was they put fried shrimp head - you will never see this in unauthentic places. Plus, the color of the flying fish roe was orange! I see it in artificial red color in many other places. Their neta was rich and thick, especially i liked their hamachi. their maguro was sharp. the way how maguro is cut was just great too. their uni was fresh. shari was just perfect size - it was not small like other places. If I were to do 'omakase' at sushi restaurant, this would be definitely one of the places to do so. In Northern Virginia, this is one of the two places I would feel comfortable taking people as an authentic Japanese restaurant.
(5)Julia K.
This is by far my favorite sushi restaurant in the US! The fish is fresh, the portions generous. Some of the the staff may seem brusque, but others (especially Pam) are beyond amazing. I highly recommend the chirashi. It's like a treasure trove of fish, ginger, and roe.
(5)Andy R.
The sushi is delicious and is cut in generous proportions. Sake is very taste. Decor is okay.
(4)Dwayne H.
Absolutely love this place. Sushi is great, service is fast and friendly...non-sushi offerings are great as well.
(5)Allan N.
I went to Hawaii this year and I was scared to come back after having such great sushi. There are a few local places that I like and this is one of them. It is always packed so don't expect to just walk in and get seated. They don't take reservations for less than 4 or 5, I forget which. It was a bit of a task to find the first time we went, but maybe it's just me. Parking is kind of tough as well. The sushi is as good as I've had here. The spicy oyster roll is one of my favorites. If you're not in a big party, sit at the bar. It's always a good time.
(5)Christian K.
Not sure what people see in this place. I visit about once every 12 months just to remind myself why I don't come here more often. Dodgy meat, etc. May be authentic, but it ain't good.
(1)M M.
This is the best sushi I've had in Virginia. The sushi is truly astonishing. Toro here is a delicate creation, perfect in temperature, thickly cut and tastes so sweet. Many of the cooked dishes are good as well, I particularly enjoy the decadent bento boxes. I came here for one of their all you can eat anniversary dinners at the invitation of a friend of one of the sushi chefs, and it was an experience I will never forget. The decor is looking a bit worn, but who's looking at the walls? The restaurant is fairly quiet most times, a mix of families, business folks, and small groups at the bar. You will quite often see the Japanese international crowd here, just another sign that it is up to the top standards.
(5)Erik T.
Simply the best sushi in the area. I've been here a few times for lunch and the fish is remarkably fresh, the rice is perfectly cooked, and the miso soup is the best way to start the meal. The prices are reasonable if a bit high, but the quality is worth it.
(5)Miss E.
I think this place is highly overrated. It's not terrible, but for the price, I expected much more. We had several rolls. They were average at best. My spicy tuna had an awful, mushy texture. The service wasn't great either. After she brought us our food, she only came by once more to give us our check. I felt like we were being rushed out, even though it wasn't busy. I won't be going back.
(2)Diana N.
oh, thank god. i have FINALLY found some DECENT sushi. I'm not talking about tapei tokyo, sushi house, niwano hana sushi. this is more like LA grade sushi. i know, i sound like such a boner saying "LA" grade sushi, but for those of you who lived in LA know what I am talking about.. Came here Saturday evening with my good friend and her new BF (who recommended this place so KUDOS) we drove up, and i must admit the initial reaction was not good. Tachibana is located on the upper level of a sad looking brown building on the side of the road in practically the middle of chain bridge road. We parked (parking gets PACKED) and made our way upstairs. i see people lined up outside waiting for a seat (always a good sign) and we put our names down (weekends they do not take reservations unless u have 6+ ppl). it was nice weather so we leaned against the railing outside watching little kids running into each other. when we made our way to our table i noticed all the Zagat awards on the entrance wall...literally every inch covered in Zagat...we sat down..SMALL restuarant. probably 50 seating at most. i looked over the menu and went straight to the chirashi bowl. this is what i ALWAYS order when i think the place has good quality fish, the difference in price though for the 'regular' chirashi and the 'special' one was quite large, almost $12 difference! i asked our server what the difference was in quality and she said "only the best" in the special...which makes me wonder what the heck is in the regular one...but anyways, so i got the special. and my god...it was GORGEOUS. the presentation, quality, size, i couldn't even finish it!!! and i ALWAYS finish sushi. i was stuffed to the brim and was feeling great. why -1 star?? well, there was this ANNOYING ass kid sitting behind me who as screaming his head off every minute. now, i love kids (sometimes) but parents should really NOT bring their children if they behave like that. COME ON! but other then the annoying kids running around, this place was GREAT!!! if i lived closer i would def come in more often. but its kind of far from me.
(4)Volna V.
There are four major problems: 1) Chicken is absolutely terrible. It's the lowest quality, bulk-rate-discount variety. My wife had it in her soup, I had it with my dinner bento box. We couldn't eat it. 2) Salmon in my bento box was overcooked to a point of being more than "well-done" -- it wasn't even flaking off anymore. 3) My wife's soup was very bland. Despite the fact that it had chicken and vegetables, it tasted like neither. Worthless dish. 4) Our total bill was over $50, without any appetizers. I got a bento box, and she got a soup, and that's all. It was one of the most uninspiring Japanese food experiences I've ever had. Just so you know my point of reference -- I've been to Tokyo and Kyoto three times. I've eaten amazing Japanese food in Canada, New Zealand, England, Netherlands, and I've eaten at 40-50 different Sushi places in the US. I have many favorites in Bethesda/DC/Arlington. Unfortunately, this is the worst Japanese place I've been to -- there's no point in coming back here. The chicken in the soup, the cooked salmon, the soup broth, and the price were terrible. I am not sure if their raw fish is better (it may be, due to Yelp reviews), but I won't be coming back to find out. Save your wallet and go to any other place.
(1)S H.
Yeah so no. I guess some would find it a positive that the pieces of fish on sashimi are big but let me tell you it is not tasty! The only thing attractive is the mackerel lunch special though there is a chance that it will be overcooked. There are better sushi houses, go to them.
(2)Toan N.
I've tried at least a dozen Japanese restaurants in Northern Virginia, and Tachibana beats them all by far. They have the freshest Sushi or Sashimi, the biggest portions, and great service. All of this does come at a price though. If you are a stickler for authenticity, the restaurant is run by Japanese people. The place is often packed, but it shouldn't that hard to find a table. I'd say it's pretty kid-friendly too. Tasty Japanese food in a casual atmosphere. Some of my favorites: The Sashimi special and the Spicy Scallop roll.
(5)Jia N.
This place has been consistently good. You can see and taste the freshness, and they have alcohol, too. I always get a huge platter or a boat filled with 3 orders each of these: yellowtail, mackerel (several different kinds), sea urchin roe, sea scallop, sweet raw shrimp (amaebi), unagi, white tuna, and they had toro, which is a very high grade fatty tuna - definitely something to try if you're willing to spend a few extra dollars. They have two sushi bars, and a friendly staff.
(5)Yan W.
Having traveled extensively in Japan, I can say this place is pretty good. Their oden noodles and deep fried soft shell crab are very good. In addition, it's the only place i've found in Northern Virginia that offers Chawanmushi, so if you need a good Japanese egg custard fix, this is the place for you! The prices are (expectedly) high for a Japanese restaurant, the decor is nice, and the service is great too!
(3)S R.
I hate when people give places low marks for ambience. Really? Who cares, as long as the food is good. Tachibana is outstanding. Leaves me extremely happy after Im done scarffing down some spicy scallop rolls and chicken katsu (my usual combo). Give it a try and dont let negative nancies prevent you from going.
(5)Lynn H.
I've only been here for their sushi special and sashimi regular dinner about a month ago. Everything here is tasty and mostly fresh; I didn't experience the fishy smell mentioned in another posting. The chef knows his cuts. If it was slightly less expensive and little roomier, then I would give it a 5, but I'm attributing the price to the neighborhood.
(4)Marie L.
It is so hard to find good Japanese food in McLean, however, I think that Tachibana is the best restaurant in the area. I always order the Ikura Mini Donburi and it is consistently delicious. My one complaint is that the environment of the restaurant is slightly dingy, i.e. stains on the carpet and a broken bench outside. But the service is very good and I think that this is by far the best Japanese restaurant in Mclean. When you go, keep in mind that the lunch menu is MUCH less expensive than the dinner menu.
(4)Jen O.
I've only been in DC two days since I left LA and I was already feeling sushi withdrawal. Sushi Taro, my default sushi joint in DC, was unfortunately closed for renovation so I was searching on Yelp and Zagat for a decent Japanese restaurant in the beltway. After a bit of surfing online, Tachibana pops up. Four stars on Yelp--check. 25 on the Zagat survey--check. Within 30 minutes of where I was staying (Arlington)--check. Okay I'll give this place a shot. We got there at around 9 pm, about 15 minutes until their last call. The restaurant is located on a side street in a dimly-lit neighborhood so it was a bit tricky to find. I walk in and I was greeted by a wall adorned with accolades from the Washingtonian and other local magazines and papers. My mouth was watering with anticipation. Our server guided us to our table and gave us the menu. A quick browse through the menu--appetizers, nigiri, dinners, standard Japanese fare--and then the prices. I felt sticker shock--$14 for a chicken teriyaki (and that's the entree only!)--and NO prices were listed for the nigiri. Strike one. I like to estimate my damage before I order. I was really craving for sushi though so I opted for the cheapest sushi dinner ($26 for about 6 nigiri and rolls, which also came with soup, a small appetizer, and a dessert). I barely started perusing the menu when our server came to take our orders. "I need a minute, please," I said. I wanted to explore other options before I settled on my dinner. Believe it or not, she took what I said literally and just STOOD there until I ordered. Hello, but when someone tells you that you need a minute, you're supposed to come back LATER, not wait!! Strike two for lack of etiquette. Okay, at this point I was feeling a bit uneasy but I knew that a top-notch meal would forgive past transgressions. First came out the miso soup. The soup base was ordinary, but the tofu was disturbingly cold, as if they just threw in some raw tofu from the fridge. Unnerving indeed. Next came the appetizer (chicken yakitori). The chicken was a bit on the dry side, and the sauce merely tasted like soy sauce. Not impressed. Finally, my sushi dinner arrived. The salmon had a greyish-hue along the sides. At first I thought it was seared, but then I realized that it was just bad fish. I ate the middle and left the sides. The shrimp tasted hard like the kind that you buy at the supermarket. The other fish (albacore, yellowtail) were okay but nothing remarkable. The only nigiri that was actually fresh was the squid. Their spicy tuna rolls are the most pathetic little bastards you've ever laid eyes on. I've had better spicy tuna rolls at Sushi Boy and the Mitsuwa Market (in CA). The tuna was pulverized like paste and it hardly had any spice. It wins top bill for the worst spicy tuna roll I've ever had. After that disaster of a meal came the dessert--which was green tea ice cream. At least they didn't f*** that up--probably cuz they didn't make it. The final tab came out to $66 for two. Given the abysmal quality of the meal, I was a bit incensed. For that price I could've dined to my heart's content at Sushi Murasaki (in CA) and filled my belly with fresh fish straight from Japan instead of this fishy-smelling brain-matter looking stuff that they probably caught from the Potomac River. Shame on you Zagat, Washingtonian Magazine, and all those food critics who lauded this place. They apparently haven't had real Japanese food.
(1)Jessi L.
I'm not sure if it's because we did take out on a Friday night rather than dining in but I was let down by this place. I had very high expectations for Tachibana but they were not met. I had been recommended this place by several friends who I trust in their foodie and especially sushi reviews. We were very underwhelmed. We ordered over $50 in take out but couldn't find a roll that really tickled our taste buds. I had seen many reviews about their spicy scallop roll but thought that I've had better elsewhere. It was alright. The dragon roll was also too mushy for our liking. It had too much avocado. We might give it another try by dining in and see if that changes our ratings.
(3)Andrew P.
*edit* I like to come in to eat their ramen. It is very good, and worth the visit anytime. I knocked a star off, because I am hesitant to eat the sushi here nowadays. Don't get me wrong, I like the place, just no longer a 'must get the sashimi only' type of guy anymore. My family is starting to realize the cleanliness is not up to par, and so the search for a new staple sushi restaurant begins. Readers fairly warned..
(3)Cathy D.
This place is a bit pricey, but it's so worth it. The last time I was here, I tried the spicy scallop roll per the server's recommendation. Let's just say that we left our server a very nice tip and my tummy was happy. I love eel and the first time I've ever tried a dragon roll (eel wrapped in rice and then wrapped in avocado) was here. Now this is the staple order that I get along with my seaweed salad. As for the desserts- you must try the ginger ice cream! Mmmmmm. Edit 2/2/2007: Came back here and finally got to try the infamous toro. Wow. That was quite a delicacy. The way they sliced the tuna made it look like a generous portion of beef! Word on the street is that they receive shipments every Tuesday and Friday, so come on these days for your fatty tuna before it runs out! I also asked the server about their once a year buffet special, and he said the owner no longer organizes it as it takes too much work. Psssst: I also hear the owner (who's gotta be in his 60s) is married to a 35 year old lady. Nice one : ]
(5)Alex T.
Overall I thought my experience was okay. The service was great. I heard some great things about his place, but being a sushi chef I'm a little critical when it comes to eating sushi. The rolls was sloppy and wasn't even closed. The rice was over-cooked and mushy. The presentation was nice. I really like the fact that they used real wasabi instead of the 'instant' powder wasabi.
(3)Jennifer Y.
This place is just awesome. I have been this place about three times and they never disappointed me. The recent visit to Tachibana made me write this review because the food there are too good so I wanted to share with others. I ordered Regular Chirashi dinner which comes with one appetizer, salad, miso soup, and Chirashi, and choice of dessert. The price was around $28 and I first thought it was little pricey but if you think about getting all those food it's very resonable. The food was fresh and tasty. I promised my parents that I will take them to this resturant since they love sushi. They've only been to Korean/Japanese resturants and I wanted real Japanese food since I returned from Japan trip. I think I found great place. I will visit this resturant very often.
(5)Dana B.
I came here with every intention to have a tasty lunch. I was in the area and really wanted some teriyaki chicken & rice. I stopped here, placed a carry out order. Staff was friendly. I used the restroom while I waited and it was kind of nasty. Hmmm. I got my to go order without plastic utensils, so I asked for some & they had me choose a fork & spoon from some rolled up plastic baggie. Oooook. The chicken teriyaki was awful because the chicken was so low grade, poor quality. Have you ever ordered Bourbon Chicken at a mall food court or tried a sample on a tooth pick? It was fatty, slimy and just gross. The skin was still on and there were other things in there that didn't belong. It was a 10$ dish, but I would have paid more for healthy grilled chicken. I came during lunch, so maybe it was a reduced portion or lower price. I don't eat sushi, but if they are going to get such poor quality chicken, I wouldn't want to try anything else. I took some pictures & will upload. I couldn't even finish my meal because the chicken was so gross. Yuck. I really did want to post a good review though. Just can't. Bleh.
(1)meek k.
Food: Probably the best sushi you'll find around McLean. I'm sure DC has better, but I'm not so sure about the rest of NOVA. Definately more authentic than most of the Korean or Chinese run Japanese places in the area. Of course, the average American may not like this. Service: Above average even when it gets busy. They fill up your drinks and are reasonably fast. Nothing exceptional ... Prices: Pretty good for McLean. I wouldn't say it's really expensive given what you get. Dinner for one runs around 30-40 which isn't very high. Ambience: Not that good. I seem to go when you have kids screaming and lots of noisy people. The interior is also a bit run down. Overall: Probably one of the best Japanese places in NoVa... which isn't saying much ...
(4)k w.
Based on the various recommendations, or just for the sheer convenience , my husband and I have tried the following restaurants for sushi in metropolitan DC area Blue Ocean, Sushi Taro, Sushi Kappo Kawasaki, Kotobuki, Sushi U, Mate, Café Asia, Thai Chef Sushi Bar, Banana Leaves, and Endo sushi. My husband's been to a few other places in downtown I don't know the name of. And I am sure I have forgotten a few other places I wasn't particularly impressed. Of all the places I mentioned above, my husband and I agree that Tachibana offers the best sushi. (Of course we know that the some places mentioned above do serve sushi that are so hideous shouldn't be called sushi. ) It seems like Tachibana may be as good as it gets in this area. We will try one more place; Makoto before we settle on Tachibana though. Their strength is nothing but food. On several occasions we visited they consistently served us good toro, hamachi, and amaebi. We like their miso soup as well. I find miso soup that is normally served in Asian restaurants too sweet. I barely tasted sugar in Tachibana's miso soup, which is refreshing. I like the kind with shell fish in it, and my husband prefers plain kind. We only order sashimi, sushi, and miso soup when we go there, so I cannot be a judge of their other entrée. My complain about this place is décor and service. Tachibana is not cheap. For the price they charge, their décor is way too plan and untasteful. You can make a nice dinner out of it just because their sushi is good , but you can never ever make a romantic dinner out of it. Their serve is always poor to ok. I am not really picky, but when you spend over hundred dollars for two people, I hope to receive a little better service than what I receive when I go to Chinese restaurant around the corner that serves $20 meal. Bottom line: for the same price, you will receive nicer nicer dining experience at Shshi Taro, yet the quality of sushi Tachibana serves is superior.
(4)Jim S.
Sets the standard. Yes there are better, but the Uni is young and Saba fresh. We've been going for years.
(4)Eugene H.
My cousin took me here a couple of times and the food is always good. This place gets pretty crowded so come early if you have a group of 6+. They have a decent number of sushi chefs and plenty of different rolls that are good. The price is a little higher than most places, but it's worth it once in a while.
(4)Jeannie L.
This used to be my fam's de facto sushi restaurant in the DC area because of the authenticity of Japanese food here.It's actually owned by Japanese ppl, which is a rarity here. However, my visit today confirmed my dad's recent disapproval of their sushi quality. I've never had such unfresh salmon sashimi ever. The texture was tough and hard as oppose to the typical oily fresh salmon that just melts in your mouth when it's fresh. After the bad experience w/ the salmon, I pretty much gave up on my whole chirashi after picking at the tomago and pickled veggies. Sigh....Where am I suppose to find fresh sushi now in the DC area?
(2)Sam R.
Only one review? No love for suburban sushi joints on Yelp!? Spread the love I say. First - check out the chalkboard as you walk in to see what specials are on the menu today. If you're with a date, bite your tongue and try to keep your eyes from bulging out of your head. C'mon playa - sushi ain't cheap! Especially that out of season toro. Second - sit at the bar. You did make reservations didn't you? Good, cause the bar gets crowded, especially during the weekend. Call ahead and reserve a bar seat or two. Third - order yourself an Asahi (Sapporo, if you must) and say hello to the Itamae behind the wall of fish sitting before you. Get some edamame while you're at it. Fourth - order up! Ask the Itamae for recommendations, what's fresh, tasty, etc. He'll probably say something back to you like "ahh... ankimo **(*(&(&*#&# mirugai (*#*&)Q@)))) is good!" Just nod your head, smile and say I'll take two! C'mon - half the fun of eating sushi is trying out new things. How the hell are you gonna know you don't like ikura unless you try it at least once?! And yes, for the record - I like ikura, uni on the other hand ... The portions are generous, the rice isn't overly seasoned, and the selection of fish always seems to impress. And yes, the typical nigiri staples are all good too!
(4)Eric L.
Definitely the best sushi I've had in the Mclean area (disclaimer: I haven't had any other sushi around Mclean....still, Tachibana kicks ass). It can get crowded here during lunch time, and parking is scarce. Make sure you show up with your whole party, otherwise you might not be seated. Service has been slow and inattentive at times, but its worth putting up with. If you have a small group, you might be better off eating at the sushi bar.
(4)Madd K.
I was recommended this place by my husband's coleagues. We went as a group. It's authentic. The waitress is a Japanese. I can't remember what we had ordered but my husband & his colleagues were fully satisfied with the quality. I tried to visit this restaurant when I am nearby.
(4)Tricia S.
My family and I have been going to Tachibana since the early 80s when the restaurant used to be off of Lee Highway. We are loyal customers to Tachibana because their food is excellent and most important, their sushi is FRESH and so tasty! I think they have the best Sushi in the DC area!
(5)Jorina N.
I can't tell you how many times I have been here and introduced friends to this place. I first learned of it through some Japanese friends. Obviously, they know where to go for authentic Japanese food. Their sushi is fresh, service has improved overtime, and the rice bowl entrees have yet to be a disappointment. I recommend sticking with what you know first unless you're adventurous and open to trying new things. There are some dishes that require an acquired taste. If you are hungry, I recommend getting the 'dinner' portion. It's basically a 6 course meal for a very reasonable price! (but don't get this confused with pre-fixed meal b/c it's not)
(5)S L.
If you know real sushi, GOOD sushi, this place is definitely not worth it. I have had better sushi at Sakura in Vienna. I am an AVID sushi lover and the best sushi I have ever had is at Yuraku in Germantown, MD. I was so disappointed I vowed to never eat here again.
(1)marianne v.
Has a long-time clientele and is "resting in its laurels." Restaurant needs a clean-up/remodel. As new and unknown customers, we were seated near the kitchen, where we heard a male kitchen staffer constantly coughing. Service was so-so (only one set of chopsticks delivered.) Food was fine. $19 for simplest dish of assorted sushi.
(2)Marco C.
This is our new regular Japanese place. They have very fresh fish and great rice bowls and ramen. We also enjoyed their fresh sashimi and various makis. The service was great too.
(4)Inga S.
We've been coming to this restaurant since they were in their previous location in Arlington, probably for the past 20 years. Tonight's meal was disappointing, which is something I could never say in the past. While the clam miso soup and the octopus and seaweed salad were good, and the eel and yellowtail tuna negiri were great, the two rolls we got were an abomination! They looked like they were put together by a novice, so were falling apart and difficult to eat. The Dennis roll at least tasted ok, but the Rainbow roll looked horrible, was also poorly constructed and worst of all tasted crappy. There were too many flavors combined together that did not go well together, it had some kind of a pink fish powder globbed on top of it, so it really looked unappetizing. I only had one piece, and considering that this was a $15 roll, it was a big waste of money. I am not sure if I will ever go back, which is sad, since this was always my go-to place for decent sushi in this area...
(2)Larissa M.
This is the best and most authentic Japanese restaurant in the area and I've been to a many authentic "Japanese" restaurants. It's not just authentic because of the employees, but it's actually owned by Japanese people. The fish is fresh, sushi is amazing. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Steve C.
Tachi is some of the best sushi in the DC area and feels very traditional Japanese in its atmosphere, which is very laid back. I visited for the first time in a while last week and will give them the benefit of the doubt since every experience prior has been exceptional. Most of the sushi was as expected - terrific. BUT I was really surprised by the Toro - very chewy and did not seem that fresh. So with the latest exception, I still stand by Tachibana....one of THE places to go for a truly authentic experience in sushi.
(4)John A.
Yum. Now I could leave it at that, but I feel like I would be ripping you off. You are spending your time reading this and I should respect that and give something more useful... The softshell crab tempura was to die for.. absolutely delicious! Only 2 more weeks on the softshell so get in quick. The hamachi and toro was also well cut and good sized portions. Also they use small balls of rice so that you dont get filled on the empty carbs. True the decore s becomming just a bit dated but hardly embarassing. Suggest the sushi bar, but thats just more preference to be entertained while eating. Interestingly parking can be a bit challenging, so park in the lot accross the street. Also, consider going to Starnuts around the corner for an after dinner nocello gelato. (it just cant be good for you but it tastes so good.. but Starnuts is another review which I will write)
(4)Brenton c.
Best Japanese and sushi in the area. The fish is fresh and tasty, and the people who work there are for the most part, JAPANESE! Lunch is the best time to go, the meals are cheap relative to the quality of food you are receiving. I highly recommend the sashimi lunch. Also ask for the negitoro roll with jalapeos, its not on the menu.
(5)Remy M.
Had lunch here for the first time this week...it was very nice. The fish seemed fresh and the atmosphere was nice. I will go again!
(5)marc a.
Not bad, and the best sushi I've had so far since moving to NoVA three months ago, but pretty mediocre overall. The uni wasn't very good; their hokkigai, while fresh, wasn't scored so it was a hard chew; and their miso soup was watery and tasteless. I'm giving it three stars in comparison to the other places I've been to for sushi in the DC area, but in Seattle this place would be a two star selection.
(3)Caroline f.
Some of the best sushi I've had in the northern virginia area... I ordered miso soup (standard), black cod appetizer (delicious albeit super salty), salmon & yellowtail sashimi. I was very impressed with the quality of the sashimi - also the portion sizes seemed pretty big to me, which was nice since it was not super cheap (overall came out to around $30 I think). It was very quiet though hardly empty on a Thursday night, a pleasant atmosphere for making conversation - although the decor is nothing to get excited about. Service was prompt and unobtrusive. I would definitely come again when craving good sushi - next time I will try the rolls!
(4)Jack C.
Great food and the staffs are very friendly too. Parking can sometimes be a little difficult because the lot is a bit small and tight. If it's full, you can park on the outside curbs. I enjoyed their Sashimi Special and their Sushi Regular. They were very fresh and generous pieces. My only small complaint is that some pieces still had some fish cartlidge. It was difficult to bite through. Maybe it was my luck, but overall, I like this place, and I'll come back for more. Keep up the good work.
(4)David C.
I LOVE SUSHI!! I LOVE IT SO MUCH THAT IF I WAS SHOT CALLIN' BIG BALLIN' I'D PROBABLY HAVE MY OWN PERSONAL SUSHI CHEF. Props go out to fellow yelper Leila and some of my co-workers who recommended Tachibana for lunch today. I knew immediately when I walked in that this place was run by Koreans. That doesn't bother me at all but something I notice in many sushi joints around this area. Our server was patient and very attentive while me and my co-workers looked through the menu. We were so indecisive because with the daily specials and the regular lunch specials, everything looked so good. I went with the -Sashimi Lunch Special- which gives your 14 pieces of sashimi, salad, soup and rice for. When my order came out I was really surprised at the cuts of the tuna and salmon. Definitely a great deal and will be in my regular lunch rotation. If only this place delivered to my office I would've given them 5 stars!
(4)Alison K.
This is my favorite Japanese restaurant in the Washington metro area. I've eaten at Tachibana at least 200 times over the years and I've never had a bad meal or a bad piece of sushi. The lunch specials (sashimi lunch, sushi lunch, chirashi lunch) are such a good deal you can reward yourself with an extra order of delicious hamachi or a spicy scallop roll, although you won't need them to fill your tummy. The restaurant is Japanese-owned, unlike most of Japanese restaurants in the area.
(5)Eileen S.
my sister said that this was the best sushi place in the immediate area. so after a game of cranium we ditched the thanksgiving leftovers, made reservations and jumped into the car. ambiance: casual decor, nothing trendy but just fine service: friendly and efficient food summary: -sashimi special - delicious thick slices! -toro sashimi - very good -nabeyaki udon - meh... -agedashi tofu - good -dragon roll - tasty, roll did not fall apart overall delicious meal at a decent price. I think the bill averaged out to be $30 / person.
(3)Lance N.
Went there last night. I was extremely wary because of the last few bad reviews i read on here. I took my Japanese friend there for the 1st time and she absolutely loved it. Now, the REASON why she loved it so much was because they had a lot of dishes that you can't find anywhere else. I was amazed too! Out of all the places I've been to, this takes the cake!!! (besides Tako in Bethesda because they had puffer fish there one time). So we ordered the Natto-Ae or was it the Ae-Natto. Its that fermented slimy soybean dish. I usually see it in my anime where they would slurp it up in the morning. That wasn't so bad, but it definitely is an acquired taste. Then we ordered Toro and mackerel. It was actually really good! The fish was fresh! Like you absolutely could not taste ANY ammonia in it. It was almost as if it was bought today. I was really surprised because the mackerel almost always taste fishy. I've never had a good experience with the mackerel until now. The only problem, which I've read in other posts is that they do not refill your water/tea on time. You must ask them........every time. But, they were kind enough to give us edamame for free because we were waiting for so long. So it was a good experience. -1 star for the lack of refills and the price. Good lord its pricey. BUT they do give u a lot. My chicken katsu was pretty big. i couldnt even finish it.
(4)Kelly K.
I only was willing to try a Japanese place in NOVA because of the high ratings here on Yelp. Hey, but I know what great Japanese should be like from time spent in Japan. The food here was not that great like some folks stated. I was very disappointed in the Scallop and Vegetable Tempura...the scallops were so over salted I could barely eat them....tasted only of salt! The veggies consist of one piece of carrot, sweet potato, pepper, zucchini that was very bitter to the point of being inedible, and a Japanese squash. The rice was slightly mushy and when I complained about my scallops I was told it must just be the tempura sauce that was salty....I wanted to scream "Do not insult my intelligence," the tempura sauce was the typical sweet Mirin combo and was not the problem!!! They didn't offer to take it back and I paid $18 for an entree that I had a few bites of...and did not enjoy at all. Even though the restaurant was basically empty they sat me near the kitchen which I thought was rude since it was noisy.....this place made me really miss real Japanese food and real Japanese hospitality. You have to go up to New York to get anything close in the US or to SF...and a few other spots...unfortunately NOVA does not have a good Japanese restaurant.
(1)Charlotte S.
I've been here a few times and it really isn't that good. I love sushi but in discussions of where to go to dinner I always advocate against Tachibana. I know it is highly rated in the magazines, but they're just wrong. I think the problem is that they're trying to make all their rolls just a little bit "different" and most of them are misses. Or maybe their menu is too broad and they can't master that many items? I don't know, point is, their sushi isn't quite right. And it's expensive. There are so many sushi places in the area there's no reason to go here.
(2)Jon S.
This is my favorite Japanese restaurant in the DC area. It is a large restaurant and was quite crowded which was nice, I like a lively atmosphere. The chawanmushi was really, really good. It takes a while to make since it isn't requested often, so if this is your first time eating it, be patient. The best part about this place is the Uni from Japan. When I was there they offered me the option of regular Uni or Uni from Japan. Now, normally uni is an orange color, not this one, it is red. It truly is the best uni you will ever eat, no lie. It is sweeter than normal and of course very exotic with the red color. I have asked about this in Los Angeles and haven't found it yet. Anyway, the Uni from Japan is quite a treat, yum. Im getting hungry just writing this review.
(5)Daniel P.
This has become my favorite sushi place in the DC/Nova area. The fish is extremely fresh and high quality. Basically everything I have tried here has been excellent, so there is no real need to go into specific recommendations--order away with abandon! Makoto might be slightly better and more creative, but figuring in the cost/quality ratio, Tachibana comes out on top and is a place I would return to many times, whereas Makoto is kind of a one shot deal for special occasions. I can't quite fathom how some reviewers thought the fish isn't fresh--it is as good as you can get around here. I have eaten sushi at tsukiji fish market at Tokyo harbor, which is about as fresh as you can get unless you are a fisherman yourself, so I think I know what fresh tastes like.
(5)Beth B.
I've only eaten here once, for a business meeting, but I've got to say - it was darn good. I keep telling my husband that I have to take him there. Suhsi was fresh and amazing. The service was great. i ate things here that I've never had before...and liked it!
(4)A J.
Tachibana is a fantastic restaurant tucked off Old Dominion. The decor is very simple but the food stands out, especially for being such a good deal. I've been several times for lunch and dinner, as well as takeout, and the fish is always fresh. The rolls sometimes come out with slightly warm rice, which tastes great. The service is pretty basic but the waitresses are always pleasant. I recommend the eel and yellowfin. They also have some specialty rolls that are delicious.
(5)Jae H.
The quality of the fish is good but there are differences amongst the Sushi chefs preparing your meals. The differences are huge in terms of presentation, amount of fish used, and preparation and consistency in the product. Finally, this restaurant is in need of a fresh coat of paint, some new flooring and a good clean up. It is tired looking and the walls are dirty with dry sauces, sticky soy sauce. I am surprised that the Mcleanites put up with this rather shabby looking venue. It was once considered one of the better sushi spots in the area, but frankly, they have worn off their accolades and they need to spruce up. I have stopped going because of the dirty venue. Who wants to go out to a restaurant that offers no dining glamour or sophistication. And it is pricey, which is not the issue, but pricey and eating in a old, tired looking dirty venue-----------does not cut it . Shape up or ship out guys!
(2)J B.
A great, authentic Japanese restaurant, but they have a large menu so beware - not everything is done to perfection. I'd stick to the fish, but I've heard good things about the ramen as well. The chirashi here is one of my favorites in the area, the portions of fish are extremely large and generous and their sushi rice is quite good. This place isn't too pricey for a sushi restaurant, but it isn't cheap either. Warning: it can get extremely crowded on weekends so a reservation may not be a bad idea.
(4)Chris C.
Ehhh...I don't get it. I read the reviews here and talked to some people at work who also recommended this place because "Japanese dignitaries go there when they come into town." Whatever. Anyway, on to the review! I went here with some friends on a Wednesday after work the other week and we arrived about 5:30'ish. There were only about 10 people in the entire place which I liked because I thought the service would be outstanding and the food would be fast. We were seated quickly and handed our menu's. I was expecting a sushi list to me handed to us as well, but it was not to be. We were there only for sushi by the way. Anyway, about 10 min. later a waitress came and asked us for our drink orders which consisted of a few waters. We asked if they have any special sushi rolls tonight or anything not on the menu and she looked at us strangely and said "Um, the spicy tuna special." then walked away. Odd, but whatever. We looked at the menu and found the sushi offerings. We ordered a good bit of sashimi and nigiri and a few rolls that we wanted. Between when we arrived and when we ordered, nobody else came into the place, so why did it take almost 40 min to serve 5 people sushi? It finally came and we dove in. Now keep in mind this group eats sushi...we have had sushi EVERYWHERE in the DC area. This place sure as heck didn't live up to the hype. The salmon was fishy, the yellowtail was tasteless, the rolls were lack luster and had mayo in them. Was this even palatable? Not really, but we were starved. So, 5 people, $128 in sushi offerings and not one of us would recommend a single thing (and trust me, we had many different kinds) there to anybody. None of the rolls were good, the sashimi was terrible which basically makes the nigiri suck too. Bottom line....skip this place. Go ANYWHERE but here for good sushi. Oh, it gets 1 star for the decor which was so-so.
(1)Tu-van L.
If I remember this place correctly they put mint and other funky herbs in their sushi. That's just wrong (if not weird for sushi). Nothing terrible but nothing to write home about for this place.
(2)P C.
Tachibana has the best Japanese food I've tasted in the area. The ambiance is just formal enough for entertaining guests and just casual enough for weekend lunch. My favorite dish here is actually the sashimi lunch special. It comes with a soup, a salad, and a bowl of white rice. The seared tuna in light sauce is very delicious. It's like tasting the flavors of a good rare steak without the heaviness of beef. The salmon sashimi doesn't have a hint of "fishiness". Instead, you're treated to the taste of fresh fatty salmon. The tuna sashimi is also very fresh, but what blows me away is the almost butter-like texture. Oh so very delicious! In addition to the great sashimi, the waitstaff is attentive, the green tea is fragrant, and the rice refills are complimentary. It's definitely worth the trip out to McLean.
(5)Juliet K.
omg so when i first got to this place i was a little disappointed. it doesnt look that nice from the outside and when we sat down the hostess only gave us one menu. but after tasting the food, it was great. i definitely recommend the fried scallops appetizers and their shrimp tempura. Their sushi taste very fresh. if you like getting sushi i would recommend getting sashimi special cuz they pieces they give you are MUCH bigger and then just get some rice on the side. also, we sat at the sushi bar and got our food really fast. i dont know what the service is like at the tables, but it was fun sitting at the bar and talking to the sushi chef. DEFINITELY recommend this place. one of the best places to get sushi in this area.
(5)Jeff S.
I really order one thing here but thats because its sooooooo good. Soba Noodle Soup. People I go with really love the sushi but I'm all about Soba Noodle Soup!!!
(5)Will L.
Tachibana is probably the best Japanese restaurant I've been to in the DC area. Everything about the place is (or at least, seems), authentic Japanese. They have good set menus if choosing from their large selection of items seems too daunting. If you're adventurous you'll probably try some things you don't like (but how else would you know?). I don't know where else I can get a set menu that includes a nice chunk of cold tofu with dried fish shavings and green onions as an appetizer - something my dad used to eat at home (hiyayakko).
(4)Kat K.
One of the best sushi restaurants in the area.
(5)Melanie W.
Seriously - ever since my first meal here a few months ago other sushi places make me nauseous. i had forgotten what good sushi is supposed to taste like. God I love it here. You better not go. If you go here and contribute to depleting the ocean's fish supply so I can't get good sushi here I'm going to be so mad. This place is my catnip.
(5)will c.
Came here for lunch with my parents. Lunch menu is a bit limited. We order the futomaki, unagi don, and ramen. The futomaki was standard, sweetish fluffy egg, rice, seaweed, etc. The unagi was a little too oily, though they did give us a lot of eel. I think there were like 6 pieces of eel. The ramen noodles were nice and chewy (Q), but I had a hard time finding the pork pieces. I think I only found two. All in all, not bad because it's hard to find a Japanese restaurant that doesn't serve solely sushi. Some of the watiresses sound Japanese, but I wonder if ownership is (since it says Tachibana T/A Shanhai on an award plaque near the door). I'd like to find out if their dinner menu has a wider/better selection.
(4)david y.
best sushi in VA, nuff said. the lunch specials are a steal.
(5)Gil S.
I love the sushi there and the Noodle soup called Udon soup. We go there just about every Sunday evening as a family tradition. I think other families have similar traditions because the place is always packed on Sunday nights so service can be a little slower than usual.
(4)Mike S.
4.6 stars THE GOOD: ~ Excellent, authentic Japanese ~ Good prices ~ Wonderful service ~ Wonderful atmosphere (no "asian-fusion" ridiculousness happening) ~ Overall, quite wonderful THE BAD: ~ Location is less than stellar (is any Japanese place in the WDCM area in a good location?) ~ Parking THE VERDICT: GO. Tachibana is easily one of the best Japanese/Sushi restaurants in the Metro Area, not going is a sin. This place is simply amazing; prices-to-portion ratio is good (not stealing your money, though no Americanized portions either), as well as the service and the menu. During my first visit, about 15 out of the 20 customers were Japanese. There's a sign.
(4)Good For The Palate R.
I live in Annapolis and I am willing to drive out here multiple times a year, just for food. They have pretty darn good Ramen, but only at lunchtime. The food is not cheap but compared to what we have, its worth the money. I have yet to taste anything that was less than extremely fresh. Their Yellowtail Jaw is incredible. Wonderful Chirashi. Lots of other rolls and specials and the waitstaff are friendly and knowledgable and speak pretty good english.
(4)Todd K.
Great dinner deal! You can choose "a la Carte" or "dinner", the difference being that a la carte offers just the meal plus choice of soup where as the dinner offers the meal plus choice of soup, choice of salad, choice of appetizer, AND choice of desert (for a little more money)...and the desert menu isn't just a choice of crappy flavored ice cream (e.g. green tea), there are a good number of choices, like fruit and sorbet. So for $32 plus tax, I got a sashimi dinner (which had 20 pieces of fish) with the soup, salad, appetizer, and desert (I chose miso soup, seaweed salad, spicy tuna roll appetizer, and fruit desert which was a peeled orange). The fish was super super SUPER fresh and delicious. The seaweed salad was great. Service was super. No complaints at all. At 5:45 (opens at 5PM) it was not packed at all, but by 6-630 it was packed. I don't know if they accept reservations, but it might be a good idea to make one if you plan on eating late assuming they accept them. The place is on the second floor (there is another Asian place on the first floor, so be aware).
(5)Antonio M.
** 2.5 Stars ** Should you believe the hype about Tachibana? Maybe, maybe not. Being a HUGE fan of great sushi and after reading through all of the great reviews for Tachibana, I was excited. My excitement magically moved my mouse pointer to click on the "Send Friend" button on the Tachibana Yelp page. My mouth watered as I addressed the Yelp email to my wife and a few close friends with the subject line, "We MUST try this place out!" Since sending this message and knowing my love of sushi, I received a great response and ultimately decided to visit Tachibana over the weekend. The days seemed to pass ever so slowly as the thought of dining on amazing sushi danced in my little pea brain. With a Homer Simpson like fascination for food, I'd find myself on the verge of drooling whenever I read the reviews for Tachibana. Saturday finally arrived and my wife, a friend and two sons made the trip to Tachibana. From the reviews, we arrived right at 5pm for the dinner service in an effort to beat the rush and land a table large enough for three adults and two babies. The portly hostess was an older Asian woman in her late 50's that mumbled her word and only raised her voice to tell us they only had one high chair. Okay, not a problem... We made our way to the table, sat down as the wife quickly ran to the minivan to pick up a baby stroller for the one baby boy that didn't have a high chair. Tachibana was already starting to fill up with patrons and we were greeted by a kind looking waitress that handed us our menus and took our drink orders. My wife, our friend and I quickly opened the menus and gleefully shared some of the delicious sounding rolls and sushi. Now I must confess, I love Toro (fatty tuna) as I find it to be one of my favorite cuts of sushi. We decided on our order and quickly put in our order with the waitress. I happily ordered three orders (6 pieces) of Toro to share with the wife and our friend and could not wait to experience what I had read other Yelpers post about Tachibana. The order arrived and looked spectacular. The rainbow roll was probably the most beautiful roll I have ever seen with all the bright color blending together in such a gorgeous combination. The pieces of Toro were generous cuts and sat there tempting me to leave my manners behind and dive into the sushi. Thankfully I controlled myself and waited for our friend to start us off and then attacked the Toro. So here's the real deal on the sushi and our rolls. Let me first begin with the Toro. The quality of the Toro was AMAZING and probably the BEST Toro I had eaten in years. The consistency of the Toro was fresh and buttery as it should be. Each bite was blissful as I was so happy to finally have such great quality Toro after what seemed like an eternity of mediocre Toro. The flavor of the rolls were okay, but my biggest surprise was related to the rice. The quality of the rice wasn't the best and actually seemed a bit mushy and overcooked. Overall, I thought the rolls were okay and unlike the Toro didn't provide that "wow" factor with the flavor and/or quality. My wife actually reported experiencing a bit of "fishy" flavor in one of the rolls (jalapeno, scallions and tuna) which I couldn't taste myself. The entire time we were stuffing our faces, our boys dined on their Cheerios which as most babies are known to do drop five on the floor for every one they managed to get into their mouth. Soon the floor was littered with little O's and the wait staff smiled and almost appeared to "coo" as the boys waved and smiled at everyone. Surprisingly the portly hostess kept coming by our table, loudly mumbling something we didn't understand as she looked at the floor. Walking away she's yell to the waitresses and pointed at our table, our boys and the floor. This odd behavior would've been okay had she done it once...but she kept coming by over and over and really started to make us feel unwelcome in a crowded restaurant. Finishing our food, we asked for the bill which was brought to us quickly, almost as if the staff was ready for us to leave. I'm not often shocked at a bill (especially when I order Toro), but was a bit surprised to see our bill to be ore than $100 for four rolls and 3 orders of Toro. The rolls didn't warrant such a high bill but I knew the Toro was a specialty that knocked up the price, I just didn't expect it to knock it over $100 especially as there was no price listed next to the Toro. Regardless, I happily paid as the Toro was quite exceptional although I didn't experience almost orgasmic dining experience shared by other Yelpers. After I signed my credit card slip and we packed up our belongings, the hostess immediately ran over and started barking orders to the bus boys and wait staff to clear our table and clean the floor. I honestly would've been happy to give an additional star to Tachibana had it not been for the rude hostess and her odd unfriendly behavior.
(2)Mariko F.
I have heard a lot about Tachibana. When I told my mother that I would be going there for dinner, she said "oh, the expensive place?" After having left Tachibana, I understand what she meant. I thought Tachibana was "pretty good." I have to say that I had mixed feelings when I walked in. My first impression was that the place was too big. In my mind, a Japanese restaurant is supposed to be small, intimate, packed and impossible to get a reservation for. I guess Tachibana got around this by making their dining area huge. To tell you the truth, I felt a bit like I was in a cafeteria. There were tables everywhere. As a result, it was a bit loud. Now, that isn't that big of a problem. Many places are big and loud. But I feel that if you are charging what they are charging, you would make an effort to at least make it feel more intimate. Dim the lights, put up dividers, decorate with big flowers... anything. That said, the food is very good. I had the Chirashi with Salmon and Salmon Roe ($22). Salomon Roe is my favourite thing in the whole world. If I could eat only one thing for the rest of my life, that would be it. That and eel. Sadly, Salomon Roe is expensive and I don't really get it that often. But I decided, why not. I was very very pleasantly surprised that there was more roe than there was salmon. Usually they would give you a ton of salmon and then dab on the roe, almost as a decoration. But not here - I can positively say that they put my money to good use. I have to say that I wasn't that impressed with the quality of the salmon though. I mean, it wasn't bad, but I just expected better. I was there with a big group, and we didn't have too many problems. Everyone got their food... eventually. Everything tasted good and all that good stuff. I guess my one complaint would be the price. I mean, my dish was normally priced because I got so much roe, which I think might not have been normal. (I'll be ordering that again and again if it is.) But other things were a bit overpriced.
(4)N L.
I really enjoyed the authentic food. This is a very kid friendly restaurant and the staff were very good.
(4)L K.
Just sat at the bar and asked the chef to make rolls. Toro (fatty tuna) Tuna Salmon Giant clam Uni (sea urchin) Spicy clam roll Mackerel Fresh, perfect size, perfect temperature -- delicious. The first sushi place that has made me truly happy in NoVA. Will definitely be back again. And again and again.
(4)Michael L.
The only Japanese restaurant I will go in McLean. The only authentic Japanese restaurant in the area. Nabeyaki Udon is my favorite, and oyako donburi is great for lunch. You can also get rice balls with different flavors for cheap.
(5)Sokha A.
Enjoyed dining here, even though the place was packed, the staff were friendly and attentive. We didn't have a reservation but were seated pretty quickly for a Saturday night. Really enjoyed the Chirashi, they put more in it than other places, I liked it!
(4)Maiya S.
This place is not bad. The staff is friendly, the fish is good and sometimes flavorful and as far as I understand, this is as good as it gets in the area. The thing that gets me is that their tables are just an inch too high. I know you're thinking, what a stupid thing to say. It's like the people who like to talk about the quality of the decor of the place instead of the food. Read the other reviews for opinions about the food, and hear me out: the table height is unnerving enough that I feel like my my posture is awkward and uncomfortable, I'm unable to enjoy my food and my conversations inevitably get stunted. On a date or a dinner with a friend, I can't lean into the conversation because placing my elbows on the table is too awkward. Yeah yeah. I know I'm neurotic. I feel better just having shared this. And maybe someone from Tachibana will read this and decide to redecorate. Or offer me a phonebook to sit on next time.
(3)Melanie C.
Oh my god gross! I'm blown away by the nastiness i just ate at Tachibana...worst part is that all the positive reviews made me so excited and subsequently so disappointed. I eat sushi at least twice a week and love to try new places so since my office just moved to Tyson's I was pumped to go somewhere fresh! One word, two letters. N-O. Here's what happened: We ordered the sushi lunch special, edemamme, shrimp dumplings, spicy scallop roll, spicy tuna roll, and yellowtail maki roll. The standard soup and salad was fine, in fact i really liked the choice of bean sprout salad. The shrimp dumplings were grade A too. But then the bad began. Have you ever had enemamme served cold? Like straight from the fridge/freezer cold. Cause i just did. Sick. The Sushi combo had the standard tuna, whitefish, salmon, shrimp, and a few others. Not disgusting, but certainly NOT fresh. The fish was chewy, the salmon was literally falling apart because it was so dry. And the tuna tasted fishy, like FISHY, not in a good way. Worst of all, were the rolls. The best way I can describe the taste is.....the inside of an A Hole. Now I'm not into that sort of things so I cant directly relate what i have tasted (the sushi) to what i havent (the a hole), but you get the point. It was foul. Here's the weird thing. EVERYONE loves this place. RAVE reviews all over yelp and beyond. I was wondering if i maybe went to a different place thinking it was Tachibana, but sure enough the receipt said Tachibana. I'll be going back to see if i can resurrect the appreciation i had for this place before i actually ate there.....keep you posted.
(1)Helen V.
Spicy Scallop Hand roll White Tuna Nigiri Masago Nigiri Sardine(Sama) Nigiri Saba Nigiri Finally some sushi worth writing home about! :) James and I sat at the sushi bar and just ordered nigiri for lunch. I was a bit hesitant at first because I usually never know what to order myself unless it's an endless sushi buffet. :P Don't get me wrong, I know my fish, but I am worried about the price tag I tend to rack up. And I did...$38. I enjoyed every bite though. The sama and saba were delicious treats that we were fortunate to have upon asking the chef for seasonal fish. I am used to chefs at the bar giving complimentary treats or providing more conversation, but these guys didn't seem so interested in either. It's ok, more time to savor flavors and learn about a new friend. The quality of the fish is great and the service is fine. Will be back when I get another pay check. :)
(4)