Restaurant Finder

Raku

Cuisine: Pan-Asian Neighborhood: Bethesda

Based on 11 reviews.

Address	7240 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone	(301) 718-8680

City Paper Review

Pan-Asian restaurants seem so yesterday, but the concept still holds some appeal for those who don't consider noshing on slices of raw fish an extravagant, or particularly exciting, meal. At Raku, you can have sushi or you can have a pan-roasted chicken breast that, frankly, is about as Asian as Maine lobster—which is also on the menu here, served with a Chinese black-bean-truffle sauce. Truth be told, nigiri sushi is really what the kitchen does best. Each piece of fresh fish, mollusk, or crustacean is a perfectly composed bite, some wrapped in a strand of seaweed, others topped with a garnish of scallions or a teeny wedge of lemon. You can sample the highlights of Raku's sushi menu in one fell swoop with the 12-piece Jo Nigiri assortment, which includes delicacies such as sweet, seasoned eel and those salty orange capsules known as salmon roe. For a more fiery squirt of the sea, try the dynamite roll, one of many hand rolls, which comes with teeny wasabi tobiko sprinkled atop slivers of tuna, salmon, and yellowtail. Even the calamari, that taste of the ocean found on nearly every menu these days, are a cut above—wide, fresh-tasting ribbons of squid, dredged in cornmeal, lightly fried, and served warm with a cilantro-cucumber sauce. Lunch options include bento boxes, but avoid the one with chicken teriyaki, which is little more than underseasoned chunks of grilled bird unaided by a sugary sauce.
—Tim Carman, September 15, 2006

Rater Comments

These comments express the opinions of individual Restaurant Raters, not those of Washington City Paper.

Review by lem124 on January 14, 2005

Summer-roll type appetizer was great. The peanut sauce was delicious. Got a huge bowl of soup filled with veggies and tofu-a good deal for $8. The gourmet sushi rolls aren't worth it-stick to the basics and you'll be fine. Prepare to be sitting close to your neighbors; ask for a booth for a much improved experience.

Review by dcdining on July 21, 2004

Raku has several locations and I've been to the one in Dupont Circle - DC and Bethesda, MD. The menu for both locations seems very different. The Dupont Circle location menu is the better of the two. After ordering the salmon dish in Bethesda I was very disappointed - the whole dish was covered in basil/olive oil. Very greasy dish. That location was very noisy.

Review by demandabanana on June 29, 2004

I had super high expectations, as you can never get in on the weekends for dinner. We decided to call in for 5:30 pm reservations to get over that hurdle. The sushi was very good, but the star of the show was the ginger pumpkin soup. Heavenly. I'll go back for the soup and seaweed salad any day. One warning: the tables are very close together, so expect to get to know your neighbor. Not exactly a romantic date kinda place.

Review by llangbaum on May 26, 2004

I have to say, while dinner was very good and the food was excellent, I was surprised to find how different this Raku is from the Raku in Dupont. If you don't like sushi, this Raku is not for you. There is a very limited menu other than sushi, and it is completely overpriced. No noodle dishes except for two soups (if you opt for one of the many soups in Dupont, do not come here) and none of the Asian tapas dishes.

Dinner was good but not at all what I expected.

Review by planetemily on May 20, 2004

Oh my sushi! My boyfriend LOVES the stuff, and as a vegetarian, I do too, only the fish-free kind. So I'm always tickled when a place that serves great, fresh sushi also has good options for my own tastes. I had the vegetable bento box with a combination of spring roll, mushrooms and mango, tempura, cucumber avocado roll, and inari. Very yummy, very filling. Their peanut sauce is reason enough to order an appetizer. Thick and chunky. Oh, and be aware that their green tea has a very noticable taste of sesame. I liked it, but it's not what you would expect.

Review by pohorylm on May 5, 2004

It was nice enough to sit outside for the first time this season that I remember, so my boyfriend and I enjoyed a meal right on the sidewalk - a great place for people watching! It was my first time and like the Raku in Dupont, you were jammed in pretty close to others and the traffic going by. But, I still enjoyed it! I was psyched to see a change in menu with the Raku in Bethesda b/c it had some great meal options, as opposed to a ton of small Asian dishes (which I love...just nice to try something new). My only complaint about the menu - I'm a tempura fanatic, but the only way you can order tempura is with the vegetarian bento box! We tried a few appitizers and each had a meal - everything was very flavorful and well presented. So, the food, which is what really matters, was fantastic! My only other comment is that I thought the prices were a bit high for the meals - maybe a few bucks less? But, I guess if they can get customers, who needs to change?

Review by clueless on May 5, 2004

I love Sushi and for really great sushi this is the place! I started with the house salad (although the seaweed salad is excellent too). For the price of the salads you get alot and the dressing is amazing! Although I am a vegetarian I still eat seafood and my favorite roll is the crispy shrimp roll. Being an interior designer I love to dine in restaurants with a creative ambiance. Raku is just that, It's a perfect place to come with girlfriends for a healthy dinner or on a first date. The night we went it was warm with a breeze so many people were eating outside and the windows were all open to let the breeze inside! Fabulous!!

Review by rebekah767 on May 4, 2004

Review by sethlavitch on April 22, 2004

There are a tremendous number of sushi restaurants in the Washington, D.C. area, but few compare to the quality and taste of Raku in Bethesda. The sushi is absolutely wonderful, fresh, and always sweet and tasty. For those of you who can't stand the thought of eating raw fish, then you should order the Salmon Teryaki - one of the best salmon dishes around town. Sure, Raku is a little bit pricier compared to some of the other sushi restaurants. However, the price is well worth it. Plan ahead if you are headed there on the weekend, because the restaurant is often crowded with families and couples waiting for a scrumptious treat.

Review by sbelenkaya on December 19, 2003

I live near by and I'm regular there. I think it is best restaurant in downtown Bethesda. The weakest point is dessert, but it's common in my opinion to many Asian restaurants. Sushis probably are not the best but not bad, but the rest of the dishes (and there are many) are excellent, innovative and flavorful made from the best freshest ingredients. Some of the dishes are truly inspirational. The place is noisy when it is full, but I like dining late, and by 10 o'clock it is fine. Service is friendly and professional and the dining room looks fare.

Review by lroberge on November 11, 2003

The vegetarian bento box is excellent--even the non-Asian portion, a portobello-and-asparagus salad with parmesan shavings. Surprising, diverse flavors abound, and the whole thing really does look lovely.