KIYOMI by Masaaki "Uchi" Uchino

Walking into Kiyomi feels like discovering a sushi secret in plain sight—hidden in The Square food hall, with only 10 counter seats, each reservation feels like scoring front-row access to a culinary performance . What We Experienced We opted for the dinner omakase, and it was an impeccable balance of precision and warmth. Chef Uchi—or one of his adept protégés—delivers each piece with quiet intent. The spicy tuna hand roll surprised me with its crisp nori and bold kick . Highlights included hay-smoked fish, char sushi, and melts-in-your-mouth otoro and uni, all elevated by expertly seasoned rice and subtly nuanced plating  . Service & Atmosphere The service strikes a rare balance—focused and attentive without overshadowing the experience. The small sushi bar means the chef can explain each cut if you’re curious, yet let the food speak for itself. The ambiance leans casual, softened by the relaxed flow of The Square’s communal dining energy  . Bonus Tip for Waiting Pro tip: if you’re early or waiting for your seat, slip over ten steps behind to the bar in The Square. It’s the perfect prelude—grab a cocktail, soak in the vibe, and then slide into that sushi seat ready for magic. Wrap-Up Kiyomi delivers a stunning omakase journey that’s both approachable and refined. Whether you crave high-caliber sushi without the stiff formality—or you just want the best value in DC—this place hits every mark. It’s not just a meal, it’s a quiet, unforgettable experience I’ll be coming back for.

A very subpar experience at the counter of this omakase. Service was meh and the chef barely tried to make conversation or try to see how people felt about the food. I had higher expectations given his background but was disappointed. The fish itself was fine but nothing really stood out as innovative or exciting. The starter dishes were also lackluster. For the price, I’d rather choose another option in DC.

I had the Valentine’s Day omakase at KIYOMI Sushi by Uchi, and it was an incredible experience. Each dish was unique, with amazing flavors and beautifully fresh sushi. The presentation was stunning, and you can really tell the quality and attention to detail. The atmosphere is something to keep in mind—KIYOMI is located in a food court, so while I personally didn’t mind, the presence of families and kids might make it feel less romantic for some. That said, I absolutely loved the emo music playing in the background! Overall, a fantastic meal with great vibes—just know what to expect with the setting.

This was my first time having an omakase experience and what a better way than with their $40 lunch special! Had king salmon, yellowtail, seabass, smoked salmon, bluefin tuna, and the most delicious fatty salmon. Finished off the meal with a perfectly salted miso soup and a nice spicy tuna hand roll. The experience was perfectly paced so we had time to enjoy every single piece. We got there at around 11:45 AM on a tuesday so it wasn’t super busy but by the time we left? there were a good amount of people in the area so get there early if you don’t want to wait!

Chef Uchi is amazing. We knew we had to come to Kiyomi after dining at Sushi Nakazawa (where Chef Uchi was previously the executive chef) many times over the past several years. As always, the selection of fish did not disappoint — only sourced from the best! Technique and flavors were all on point. We will definitely be coming back.

It's a popup for the moment. They will move across the atrium to their full time spot in the future. On this day the 16 courses, essentially single bites, was overall - solid. Let me expand... Fortunately, I've been to quite a few of these sorts of restaurants. This place does a good job with most dishes, with a few that were excellent. The char sushi were standouts. The other pieces, while good, needed more moisture, i.e. each piece needed more of the sauce they dressed each piece with. The bed of rice needed to be better saturated in that particular sauce. Overall, you're likely in for $300+ per couple here, so the review reflects the need for a bit more flavor (moisture) in each bite. I think this place has potential, but they need to add that extra flavor, which at the moment is faint.

Doesnt worth the hype, we have tried variety of Omakase restaurant in DC and Japan and for the price, quality and the ambient is not worth to come back. The sushi is lacking of taste, for example the Uni sushi is not enough Uni so when eating the we still have to much of sushi rice at the end. Most of the sushi didnt reach our taste expectation, only the smoke salmon sushi and anago sushi is good. We reserved a table for Omakase Dinner, expecting to serve by chef Uchi but he just been there quick and go.

Reservations only for dinner and walk in only for lunch, atmosphere was ok, since it’s shared space with a few other restaurants, the music and ambiance is hard to control. But the food is soooo good, you’ll forget all about it. Photos don’t do it justice, so I’ll just post 1. The whole omasake is very well crafted in terms of flavor profile and texture.

Chef's special creation... every single one of his well prepared work of art is delicious. You just sit there and admire him preparing his food for each and every one of us. Limited seating and sells out every day. Some days he's opened for a single session and some days are 2 sessions. There was only 12 of us. You can't be late so get there on reserved time of the session. Great Omakase - The complete fate of your meal is in the hands of the chef and he can make mine anytime.

Kiyomi sushi is part of the International Square food hall, and is headed up by Chef Uchi. My boyfriend and I came here on a Saturday and were able to park for free in the building, as they offer complimentary parking after 11 AM on Saturdays. The place itself is all bar seating, so you get to watch Chef Uchi make each piece. There isn't much decor but the plates and the tea pots are all very nicely made. My personal favorites were the golden eye snapper nigiri (which was buttery, and melted in your mouth, but wasn't as oily as the mackerel), Negitoro taku (which had a thin sweet cracker and amazing chopped tuna and pickled onions on top) and the yellowtail hand roll (fresh, filling and easy to eat). When we went, there was a heavy emphasis on mackerel and tuna, and I wish there was more variety in the pieces presented. As for beverages, they offer a limited selection of wine, non-alcoholic beverages like tea, beer and sake. I had their sparkling sake while my boyfriend had their beer. The chef explained to us that they go through the building for orders, hence the limited menu. Excited to see their beverages menu expand!

A friend suggested Kiyomi for lunch, and I'm so glad she did! They have an amazing lunch special: a 7-piece omakase for just $40, which also includes miso soup and a hand roll. This special was hard to pass up. Seating is limited and first come, first served, so we decided to go during the week and arrived early to avoid any crowds. There's only counter seating, and they serve each piece of sushi one at a time, which really lets you take in the the flavors of the meal. Every piece of sushi was fresh, filling, and full of flavor, and the miso soup was the perfect complement to the meal. If you're looking for excellent sushi at a great price, check out Kiyomi! It's definitely worth the price.

Came here last year when it was a pop-up and now made my way here for a 2nd time. They have a great 7-piece omakase for only $40 which includes miso soup, a hand roll and made-to-order nigiri. I came during the week so it wouldn't be so crowded, and the lunch patrons' places dispersed. I was excited to try this place once again, however the head chef was not there. Yes, I was disappointed, but it didn't take away from the overall experience. I had also wanted to get a roll that they offer as a lunch takeout, but they said I could not order it and add it to my meal. I was still a little hungry so that would have sealed the deal for me, and I could way away satisfied. But unfortunately, they were sticking the rules. I don't understand why when they are getting more $$ plus the tip is already calculated. My favorites were the fatty tuna, blue crab and the various salmon nigiri. Overall, a great place and fresh sushi. My only regret is that I didn't order for 2 so I could get all the deliciousness 2X. Also, my recommendation would be to allow people to add a roll or create another omakase for 10-courses and charge $100 or $120 for 12 courses. People will pay to try more of this amazing sushi:)

KenScale: 8.0/10 Visit: May 2024 In an age of extravagant sushi omakase (where it would not be out of the ordinary to see sushi counters in New York City charge around $400 or more per person), it is always refreshing to see sushi chefs swim against the tide and offer more affordable alternatives with still high-quality sushi offerings. DC's sushi scene hasn't thankfully quite caught up to NYC in terms of price, and the DC outpost of the acclaimed Sushi Nakazawa still charges below $200 per person. We visited Nakazawa DC a while ago for my birthday, and really liked the experience and hoped to visit in the future. Not too long after our visit, however, I learned that the restaurant's top chef, Masaaki "Uchi" Uchino departed. Chef Uchi later announced an opening of a new project inside an ambitious food hall, The Square. What caught my eyes was the price, with dinner omakase starting at $100 per person and "quick omakase" lunch options (with seven pieces of nigiri, a hand roll and miso soup) at $40 per person. One catch is that the restaurant is not open on Saturday and Sunday, so we had to make a trip along with rush hour traffic to DC from our Maryland home on Friday to try the dinner omakase, which turned out to be more than just solid. Chef Uchi's new project, KIYOMI Sushi by Uchi, is more a stall located in the center of the food hall than a formal restaurant. We were exposed to the loud and busy scene of visitors to the food hall (there was a live music "concert" and as soon as we sat down, there was even fire alarm!). Despite the distractions, there was no denying that the food coming from Chef Uchi's dexterous hands was quite delicious, starting with lovely fatty tuna and smoked salmon on top of rice cracker, followed by Sakura steamed striped bass that you wouldn't be surprised encountering at another high-end Japanese restaurant. The series of nigiris that followed were also delicious. As it was a sea bream season, chef Uchi brought two versions, an adult sea bream and a baby piece with yuzu pepper (the latter was one of the best pieces from our meal). Some of my other favorites included skillfully torched goldeneye snapper, smoked skipjack and cherry salmon, all displaying top-level freshness and enhanced by optimal rice texture. Jun generally agreed with my assessment, except perhaps for firefly squid with shiso flower which she found to be a little too strong (although I did enjoy its crunchy texture). After a tuna hand roll and tamago, we conclude our meal with matcha sweet tofu that was a surprise hit. KIYOMI Sushi takes reservations only for dinner, and the stall has only a dozen seats so getting a reservation in advance is highly recommended. There is a variety of sake, beer and wine options to pair with the dishes. As noted above, if you are visiting the stall on Fridays, you will likely have to face some distractions from the wider food hall. Chef Uchi was friendly and approachable when explaining his dishes or introducing sake glasses we ordered. It was hard to tell whether he will keep preparing nigiris at KIYOMI or move on to a more formal restaurant project. In any event, we both appreciated his bold experiment with bringing high-end sushi at a more approachable price point. We will certainly be back in the future to see how KIYOMI evolves over time.

It was very good! We walked up and got seats immediately, all the sushi was delicious and knowing that it would be a bar-style set up meant that we weren't too concerned about much else. For 40 pp at lunch I felt very happy.

Amazing and beautiful pop up at the Square. Chef Uchi handles all of the preparation and service, putting each piece with care. I came for dinner to celebrate my partner's birthday and was treated with the utmost care.

Hot take- this place is overrated. I left hungry and the service left more to be desired. 3 stars is only bc the sushi tasted good. (Review based on December 2023 experience) Came here for a solo lunch mid week. Most of the clientele was either tourists or regulars who looked to be office workers in the building or nearby. Wait was long since every seat was taken but they give you a buzzer and there's plenty of seating options and a bar at the square. Overall decor is open and modern but the kitchen looked at bit barren. Service: Table wasn't fully set for me when I got seated at the counter which I had to point out after a while to be corrected. For some reason, everyone else was attended by Chef Uchi but I seemed to have gotten his sous chef. Chef Uchi stroke up conversation with literally every other person except me. Getting the check also took a while. I almost started to wonder if my poor experience was bc I was the only solo female diner? Not going to jump to conclusions but service was disappointing. Food: Sushi itself was good but for the hype and wait I had expected a filling meal and more creativity on the menu. It seems like they were playing it safe with pieces that are well known and liked. I ended up getting a 2nd lunch after bc I was hungry. Do not recommend. Tldr - Disappointing. If you're willing to pay for good sushi and service, just go to Sushi Nakazawa

I came on a weekday to try the Quick Omakase (M-F 11-3pm): $40 per person for 7 pieces of sushi, 1 handroll and miso soup. Everything was delicious, fresh and melts in your mouth. The quality is great, and at such a great price too. The staff were also very attentive. Unfortunately, Chef Uchi was not present when I was there, but I hope to catch him another time. Kiyomi Sushi is located in The Square. If the seats are full, you can get a restaurant buzzer from a staff member. They offer a dinner omakase that is $100 per person by reservation only. The Square offers complimentary parking for 3 hours, after 5pm M-F. There is a 22% service charge already included on the bill.

I've had the pleasure of eating the lunch omakase four times. Every time is excellent. The service is speedy because of the nature of the meal time. The sushi chefs are professional and explain every aspect of the courses. I've what something different and fresh every time. I look forward to my next visit! For the quality it it is a tremendous value. 6 sushi course, one hand roll, miso soup and tip is included. I usually add green tea so my bill always comes out to $60. For the amazing quality of the fish, this is a bargain.

Kiyomi Sushi by Uchi-san is a true gem that I believe isn't truly appreciated. Uchi-san hails from Sushi Nakazawa in DC, where he held the executive chef position. He is a very friendly guy and it is a joy to dine with him on any type of occasion. I've visited Uchi-san at The Square for both lunch and dinner service; both were of exceptional quality and value. This type of value and quality is unprecedented in post-COVID era. The lunch service runs on weekdays from 11 AM to 3 PM, while dinner service is during select days of the year (such as Valentine's Day and Mother's Day). However, according to a recent announcement, this will be changing soon regarding regular dinner service being offered. The menu for evening included the following: ankimo monaka w/ shaved black truffle, hotaru ika w/ Maine uni, amadai matsukasa yaki, A5 wagyu temaki, kasugodai, kanpachi, kinmedai, hon maguro (North Carolina) akami, chutoro, otoro, kohada, sayori, sakura masu, Hokkaido uni, anago, tamago (castella style), and a white chocolate strawberry tofu for dessert. Uchi-san seasons his shari with komezu, not akazu, for the time being. His nigiri are a bit larger than other sushiyas, which I actually enjoy. Actually, a pet peeve of mine is when the nigiri are far too small or when the shari is comparatively smaller to the size of the neta. This size should be satiating enough to not want to desire additional nigiri. The voluminous mouthfeel is quite pleasurable as there is enough to enjoy during the extended chewing session. The shari has good control of both grain disbursement and temperature as the shari rice is replenished regularly in his ohitsu, which is done after every few nigiri flights are served. I especially enjoyed the kinmedai aburi and hon maguro, although all the nigiri were excellent. The flake salt and bright acidity of the lemon juice counterbalanced the seared fattiness and slightly scorched crisp of the kinmedai very well; the reliable shari provided the stable canvas for this masterpiece. I feel a specialty for Uchi-san is the deep umami he is able to extract from his understanding of bluefin tuna loin (akami). For this particular service, he procured wild bluefin tuna from North Carolina and presented it in the three classic cuts of akami, chutoro, and otoro. They were so exceptional that I requested additional hon maguro nigiri from Uchi-san along with the kinmedai aburi. I also want to add that Uchi-san won't be doing this by himself indefinitely as he has different projects going on, so please visit him while you can. Uchi-san should be manning the counter through the majority of 2024 but that certainly isn't guaranteed. He will also be opening another casual concept in Northern Virginia as well in the coming year or two.

Food was definitely a 5 but two things have me bump my review down a star. Head Chef Uchi (formerly from Nakazawa) no longer serves lunch omakase and has other chefs prepare it instead. Although the fish tasted delicious, the other chefs did not have much knowledge about sushi beyond memorized steps. When I asked the chef what "omakase" is for a sushi noob in our group he said he did not know. Additionally a 20% service charge is already included on the bill but that is not explicitly highlighted or mentioned and there's a line for additional tip. I feel like it's underhanded when restaurants do this. I can accept that a mandated service charge helps staff earn living wages but then I think1 that should absolutely be disclosed. Otherwise it's like tricking the customer to tip twice. Now, the fish quality itself was fabulous and I loved getting to try firefly squid. Additionally, I liked how they torch and smoke the fish. Techniques like that are usually not found at this price point so I would definitely recommend trying Kiyomi's for their express lunch deal just know that a service charge is already included on the bill and if you want to see Chef Uchi you'll have to go to the dinner service.

Love chef Uchi!! at Kyomi, at least during the initial pop-up in the square, he served a "quick" omakase (although it became so popular that you had to factor in wait times as well). The omakase consisted of 7 pieces of nigiri, a spicy tuna handroll, and miso soup made with tuna. The quality of fish is top notch, his skills with nigiri are evident, the rice is perfectly formed and temperatures are wonderful. I was able to visit a few times, and the fish served was mostly the same with 1-2 updates each time, either different fish or different presentations. The omakase for the most part went - grouper, king salmon, sawara, yellowtail, ocean trout, bluefin akami and otoro, and the delicious temaki has been spicy tuna every time. The omakase is around $55 after tax and service charges, very reasonable given the quality being served. Can't wait for Uchi to have his own space finalized, but until then will keep visiting wherever he is able to pop up!

I don't know if I can go back to regular sushi experience. Our first omakase. fish melt in my mouth. Never thought about rice flavor has citrus saltiness as well..LOVE.

Chef Uchi is amazing. We knew we had to come to Kiyomi after dining at Sushi Nakazawa (where Chef Uchi was previously the executive chef) many times over the past several years. As always, the selection of fish did not disappoint -- only sourced from the best! Technique and flavors were all on point. We will definitely be coming back. Kiyomi Sushi is located inside the International Square business building, and part of the food hall in the lobby area. I really enjoyed being able to have high quality sushi in a no frills, casual environment.

I came to Chef Uchi's lunch pop-up I think 4 times between like November and January. It's a ridiculously good deal for such high quality sushi. I think he's also expanded into dinner, but yeah I would recommend this in a heartbeat. Just insane, tasty sushi at a wildly fair price point. It's I think 7 pieces of nigiri and a hand roll and miso soup. You don't really leave full, but it's quality over quantity here.

I had business trip to DC, so decided to try Kiyomi Sushi for solo lunch. There were packed when I went there so they gave me a buzzer. 7 pieces of sushi and 1 hand roll so total of 8 sushi. Out of 8, 3 were tuna, 3 were salmon. That was kind of disappointing. I know they used different type of tuna/salmon, different methods of cooking for each tuna/salmon but I was hoping for more different fishes from Omakase course. Hand roll was not the hand roll I know. It's more like Hosomaki style. When you make hand roll like diamond shape, they use more Nori sheet but their hand roll is like Hosomaki roll, so when I bite it, tuna inside came out from the end of the roll. Another disappointment. And Shari(sushi rice) was bit warm for my liking. Each sushi was very tasty and good. I guess I was expecting too much, my expectations was too high, I left there with bit of disappointment.

It's legit the best Omakase deal. I've also gotten takeout sushi, and it's delicious and high-quality. I need to try the dinner omakase as well. Everyone who works there is lovely and excellent at what they do.

Stopped by a Monday afternoon for their lunch omakase, and it wasn't busy at all. They have a quick omakase from 11am-3pm on weekdays for only $40 per person. You get 7 pieces of nigiri, 1 handroll, and miso soup. We got mostly salmon pieces which is definitely my favorite so I enjoyed. We got o-toro and crab too! I think they switch it up daily tho. The miso soup was extra rich and delicious with their own salmon stock.

Located inside The Square, Kiyomi is a sushi pop-up that is open for lunch (doesn't take reservations) and dinner (requires reservations). My friends and I came in as soon as they opened on a weekday so we didn't have to wait for seating. Quick omakase was indeed quick. The fish was fresh and we enjoyed every piece. A great lunch option!

Perfect bites, friendly service, and simple elegance at a reasonable price. We enjoyed every bite of our omakase and cannot wait to return with friends. Chef Uchi is a master of his art!

7 pieces of sushi that's made to order, a hand roll, miso soup, and a quick and easy omakase for just $40. It was too good to believe, but now that I've finally tried it, I'm still dreaming about it, especially the fatty tuna and smoked salmon. Drooooool... Most sushi places charge more than $40 for less food, and the sushi is passable at best. This place is legit and has better value. While I was enjoying my omakase lunch, several people came up to the counter to ask for a menu or to order food to go. They clearly didn't understand the omakase concept. For those who know what it is and can appreciate it, definitely stop by for lunch!

I can't believe how lucky it was that omakase pop-up opened right near GW. Chef Uchi has curated such a great omakase experience that is accessible in terms of cost without compromising on cost. $40 is a fair price for the quality of fish you get. The first time my friend and I came in December, we were blown away by each bite of the fish. Everything from the freshness, texture, and taste was better than anything I've had in a while for that price. Chef Uchi was so friendly and hospitable, taking the time to talk about his background and the menu he curated for the pop-up. I'm excited for when his flagship restaurant launches because I trust it will be an even more elevated experience than this! It looks like as the pop up has gotten busier that Chef Uchi has brought in more help, so the next time I came back with my friend this week, he was not there. The quality of the fish remained very, very good. However, could have been more densely packed since it felt like I couldn't really hold the nigiri today without the rice falling apart. Chef Uchi was also very thorough to explain each fish brought out during the course the last time, which didn't happen in this case. That's fine - he is extremely knowledgeable about seafood given his experience - though if this had been my first time I would have been a little lost. When the bill came, there was no mention about whether tip was already included, but it did look like the 22% service charge was already accounted for. There wasn't a clear answer when I asked the staff to clarify that there was already gratuity included in the bill - could be a miscommunication but Chef Uchi was very upfront about it last time and told us to not pay additional gratuity. Maybe to avoid confusion, please include it in the signage on the counter. I will definitely come back but will consider the dinner service with Chef Uchi the next time.

I've known Chef Uchi for a few years with his time as Executive Chef at Sushi Nakazawa in DC. I stopped by The Square today to check out his new sushi pop up and really enjoyed the experience. The sushi bar accommodates about 12 people and some people were already waiting to be served before 11 AM, when they open. The atmosphere is neat as its in a food court. If you want to drink anything but water, you need to go the the central bar in the food court to order and pay for drinks there. The experience and quality of food is similar to Nakazawa as they have the same sushi supplier in NYC. It was great to see Uchi and chat with him as I was there. The sushi bar filled up pretty quickly with people waiting to snag a seat. $40 for 7 pieces of Nigiri, Spicy Tuna Hand Roll, and Miso Soup is a better bargain than you'll find at Nakazawa. I figured you'd pay $120 here compared to $180 at Nakazawa if Kiyomi offered 21 pieces instead of 7. The Nigiri definitely has more rice here than at Nakazawa so I struggled to eat the Nigiri pieces in one bite. I would recommend less rice, but that's my only gripe. I would say the experience is about 45 minutes. Uchi is currently working solo as the sushi chef with an assistant who handles filling water, handing out ginger, cleaning, etc. They add a 22% service charge to your bill so no need to tip. I'm excited when his full service restaurant opens up next year across the way in the same food court. I plan on coming here often for lunch. Their hours are 11-3 Monday-Friday.

sushi was good quality, but very limited range of fish for omakase. C'mon, torched chu toro as a repeat course of that fish,rather than something else. And, ordinary salmon, rather than fatty salmon? some nice seasonings, but the Washington Post grotesquely overrated this place. We have been to Japan three times and know sushi, omakase, and kaIseki. There is better omakase in the DMV. Alcohol overpriced. ambiance? you are at a counter in a food court. service? if you are in the first four seats, u will be able to interact w the chef. ifuare in the the other 7, forget it. no interaction. if I was in DC on a biz trip and wanted a great sushi lunch, I would do this place. as natives, can't imagine going back.

Food was amazing , the service was great and the casual ambiance makes it very easy to talk to everyone and enjoy the meal even more. The sushi was very fresh, and everything else was really great. Uchi-san was very friendly and down to earth, but still had great knowledge not just about the fish but also the sake!

I simply did not have the patience for the omakase experience. You also don't get to choose what fish they serve. The quality of the fish was great.

DC needs to treasure what Chef Uchi brings to this area - a world class sushi experience. To top it off, it is one of the best bargains you can get for this quality. NYC has an almost overabundance of top tier sushi omikase experiences, but DC can at least claim with Chef Uchi that there are places that can match it. I can't wait until the permanent space opens. Treat yourself and experience Kiyomi.

Best sushi I've ever had at this new addition to The Square next to the Farragut West metro in DC. Tried the Quick Omakase 7 piece sushi, 1 hand roll, and miso soup for $40 and everything was perfection (unbelievably fresh, quality ingredients, and tasty). Chef Uchi is very talented and was friendly explaining each presentation.