Raku

This place was amazing!! I love the curry noodles it was sooo delicious, I highly recommend it. The atmosphere was really nice and all the employees were welcoming to my family and my service dog. My server was sweet and attentive. I’d say the food is really good and price point is reasonable. It was really filling I got a bento box, curry noodles, mussel appetizer, and the side of peppers for 3 people and I was so full by the end!

We were in town for the weekend. We decided to try this restaurant. Good atmosphere but very busy. Service was great and the food was excellent, very fresh. Highly recommend.

Stopped in for a quick lunch. This place is a great upscale option for an affordable lunch. I got Udon Ramen w Curry Chicken that was really good. My friend got sushi which looked delicious and was reasonably priced. Seating on a Monday at noon was plentiful. We were in and out in 45 minutes. Definitely a good lunch option.

Branzino/Bronzino fish's is pretty fresh sand tasted well with the lemon sauce. Seared fatty tuna has a good smooth texture with smokey smell. Mongo tango mocktail is good but a bit too sweet. Salmon in maki didn't look too fresh bust tasted alright. You can't see the sushi chef even when sitting at the sushi bar because the counter has a tall backboard blocking your view.

We have been here many times and enjoyed it quite a bit. Usually the sushi is great and so is everything else. Yesterday we ordered takeout and every non-sushi dish was delicious as always. However the sushi was not nearly as good as it usually is. I’m sure it was an aberration but it was disappointing - the tuna rolls we had were nearly inedible with big chunks of fish that you couldn’t even chew, and two other rolls were made differently than we ordered including items we’d asked to be omitted for allergy issues - so overall this was not a good visit. However nearly all of our in person visits have been excellent. Hopefully just a fluke.

We went in for an early dinner. They said a 20-30min wait, but we got a text in about 10min. It was very busy. The table was small but we made it work. We ordered dumplings and they came out pretty fast, but we're hot and fresh. Sorry, for the lack of photos but the food was fresh and tasty so I sorta forgot to get photos. Our server was polite and friendly. If you are in the area it's worth a visit.

The ambience here is rather nice however there is very little privacy and you seem to be forced to listen to everyone else's conversation from any seat in the restaurant. My husband had sashimi and I had the ramen with pork ribs, the broth was very sour and it was without question the worst Ramen I've ever had in my life. Do not come here for ramen! If you are in the area and you want ramen go to stamina ramen on Wisconsin, much more delicious and flavorful. The ramen at Raku made me sick at my stomach, the sashimi wasn't much better. Service was good, but when I asked for modifications on my dish I was told no. Is recommend you find another restaurant. This one isn't very good.

Great sushi place, good selection of fish and a lot of creative rolls

I want it to be known this is a first time trying this place. My twins wanted to try something new and brought up this place. The food was excellent, these are well balanced portions. The noodles a lot bigger than you would think. The tofu skewers were amazing. Well seasoned. The dumplings my kids seemed to enjoy so much. The calamari was amazing, it was so buttery and melted with each bite. I had the red curry seafood with egg noodles. The balance of seafood and coconut red curry broth was excellent. It wasn't overpowering and the seafood was well cooked which I can appreciate having seafood that isn't overcooked. The service was excellent, made sure the drinks were always refilled and the food came out at a decent time which was very impressive for such a busy place. We had an excellent server who made sure we had everything we needed. As far as the ambiance, due to being so busy it can get loud with such a small area and lots of people. They do give option to inside or outside seating which is nice. Overall this place is highly recommended. The prices are between 18-60 depending on what you are getting. Overall it's worth the bite and hype.

Raku - Perfect Lunch Spot with Great Sushi Vibes! Jasmine loves sushi, so we decided to check out Raku in Bethesda. I'm already a fan of Rakugaki in the Wildwood Shopping Center, so I had high hopes for this spot -- and it delivered. Walking in around 11:30 AM on a Saturday, the chill lofi music and the regulars hanging out gave it a relaxed, welcoming vibe. It reminded me of an old favorite spot, Rolls and Rice on the Pike, that closed a while back. Raku definitely filled that void for me. We went for the lunch specials, and they hit the spot. I got the Ribeye Steak Bento Box, which came with shumai, salad, miso soup, California rolls, and a mix of green beans, mushrooms, and crispy strips. The ribeye steak was cooked perfectly -- tender with a slightly sweet flavor that I loved. Jasmine got the Deluxe Bento Box, and it was loaded: shrimp tempura, a smaller serving of steak, three pieces of nigiri, four assorted sashimi slices, three California roll pieces, and seaweed salad. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful. We also shared a Crunchy Spicy Toro Roll, which was a great addition to round out the meal. Our server, Aum, was awesome and made sure we were well taken care of. For everything we got, the total was $63.60, which felt fair for the quality and portions. If you're looking for a solid sushi spot with a chill vibe, great lunch specials, and fresh flavors, Raku is a must. I'm already looking forward to coming back!

yum yum yum!!! first time and will def be coming back! parking garage right around the corner but you have to pay. pretty easy to find. nice area w/ premium shops and restaurants. medium-sized, modernly-decorated restaurant. i would def suggest making a reservation in advance -- it was full for lunch on new year's day but our service was good and quick. the menu has something for everyone -- sushi, noodles, soups, salads, meats, etc. and not unreasonably priced. we enjoyed and devoured everything we ordered! my personal fav was the green monster roll and the summer rolls. fresh, high quality, and tasty. i can't wait to come back and try more!

The udon + chirashi set was delicious and super filling for only $19! Service was great and I would definitely go back again

We were excited to try this sushi place as we passed by it every night during our stay at Hilton Bethesda. It looks beautifully decorated from the outside. Nonetheless, the customer service is subpar. We were seated in a very cramped table with 2 other groups between us. So we asked if we can sit on the booth. They said it was reserved (but in our almost 2 hrs stay in the restaurant no one ever seated there). Our orders of sushi plate and ramen noodles took so long to come out. We waited for almost 45 minutes for the foods. The servers were all standing in the corner next to our table and they were all on their phone. They were also talking to each other ina different language while looking at customers which made me so uncomfortable. The food was ok. Nothing special in my opinion. So this was one and done for us.

Just an update on their happy hour. I looked up a few items and one was $12 reduced from $13 for happy hour. I am happy to pay full price. I am not happy to be told I am benefiting from a small markdown. There will be no happy hours in my future.

Hadn't been since pre-COVID but recently went back for the red curry noodle soup - very good. Also got the Philadelphia roll - also very good. Glad this place is nearby.

I've never been disappointed in Raku and really love their rolls! Some of my favorites are the spicy tuna deluxe, green monster, and the spicy scallop roll I also really enjoyed. Definitely recommend their chicken and pork dumplings as well! It is a bit cramped in there just as FYI.

Came here with my friend and her family. First off, the staff was very accommodating and attentive. The ambiance was nice, it was very busy - which is a good sign. I had the lychee saketini and shrimp tempura Tokyo dashi. Even though the weather was hot outside, I was craving noodles and the picture in the menu looked appetizing. The broth was flavorful and not that salty (which I appreciated). My friend got a rendition of a poke bowl which had very fresh sashimi. If I came back here again, I would probably get the sushi rather than the soups.

I picked up a Bento Box to go around 5 pm and I'm very disappointed. That's a first. I don't know if they've changed the menu or what happened. The tempura was tasty, as was the portobello mushroom salad. However, I only got 3 California Rolls & they supplemented with a weird assortment of so-called sushi: A large mushroom on rice (what's with all the mushrooms?) asparagus on rice (the salad already had asparagus in it!) and a large piece of tofu which was OK. The worst was a kale salad with onions and raw sprouts. What? Gross. It's as though they ran out of ingredients and decided to double up on the same ingredients & throw in whatever was in the kitchen. What happened to the tasty little salad w/a sweet dressing and the little potato squares? Definitely not worth $23.

This place is currently getting a renovation! We stopped in just before they were about to close down to do so. Service here is on-point. Seriously, so fast. They magically appear with seconds of being seated then continue to surprise you nonstop. Best service. Miso soup here is one of my favorites. The broth is milky, salty and has a flavor that I have yet to taste elsewhere. The sushi rolls at lunch are smaller than dinner, however, they still pack a flavor punch and are extremely fresh. Bento boxes are super packed with different tasty items.

Four stars for the rolls. I enjoy the tuna or salmon "California" rolls which thankfully have no imitation crab but do have tobiko and avocado. The crunchy spicy tuna and crunchy scallop rolls are also good. The fish quality isn't good enough to warrant any nigiri or sashimi, though. There's a decent sake selection. I do hate how absolutely packed together the tables are. If you're at a table for two you will be eavesdropping on the next table. You will have to stick your butt in someone's table to get out even if you are very petite. It seems like a fire hazard. I would get takeout more except the price point is a tad high and you have to book hours before to get a decent pickup time. It's always packed inside and for takeout, perhaps because there are few other options nearby. Regardless it's a decent standby.

Needed a sushi fix and this place really hits the spot! I ordered the sushi and roll combo. Loved the assortment and each piece tasted fresh. The sushi rice was made well. Also ordered dessert and a drink from the special menu and both were delicious! It does get really busy but if you come earlier (e.g. 5pm) it's not as bad. An extra 10,000 stars to one of the servers/bartenders. He was very friendly from the get-go, chatting with me here and there and checking in to make sure my food/drinks were good. Halfway through, my nose started bleeding (it's a thing that happens to me) and because I was eating alone, I didn't want to leave my spot to go to the bathroom and seem like I hadn't paid or get my stuff taken or something. The server/bartender immediately was very empathetic and handed me a bunch of napkins and said he would watch my spot/food while I went to the bathroom, and then periodically checked on me several times after that to make sure I was okay (I was okay, nosebleed stopped after a couple minutes). THIS MAN DESERVES A RAISE!

Love the food here. We went back with American friends. Basically THEY got lovely polite service and we got all the curt service (a literal change of tone from them to us from the lady with short orange hair). We are polite smiling happy people when ppl don't especially behave curt with us. We have been recommending this place and bringing people here, only to be treated like WE are less than. I feel bad for the person of color serving us. She must think people deserve different respect based on color. We were equal in our outwards warmth as our American friends. Kindly Train your staff.

I went to Raku in Bethesda Row for my friend's birthday dinner! However, I was a bit disappointed because I've visited the Cathedral Heights location and had an amazing experience but this place felt just okay -- it could just be the menu items I ordered though. For my drink, I ordered a strawberry elderflower mocktail but it tasted like alcohol and wasn't that yummy. I also got the nigiri sampler and the lobster sushi roll. The nigiri was fresh but ended up filling me up fast so I wasn't able to finish it. My favorites were probably the raw spot prawn, ikura, and seared salmon. I wasn't a huge fan of the lobster sushi roll though bc it was surprisingly very flavorless. This was especially disappointing because I love lobster and shelled out a little extra to order this. I wouldn't mind coming back here again but would prefer going to its other locations!

While staying in Bethesda for a work assignment, we tried this place. It was packed but thankfully we had made reservations even for dinner on a weekday. Service staff was pleasant and quick. We enjoyed every bite of the following: Steamed Shumai (3 pieces filled with kurobuta pork-shrimp-chicken filling with chunky chili oil and sake tahini sauce), Cornmeal Crusted Fried Calamari served with cilantro-cucumber sauce and horseradish cocktail sauce, Roasted Mushroom and Asparagus which is a mix of shitake and portobello mushrooms and asparagus drizzled with Yuzu vinaigrette and topped with shavings of parmesan cheese, Golden Dragon Roll which has eel, salmon, avocado, cucumber, crispy potato, and eel sauce, and Agedashi Tofu with delicate chunks of tofu in dashi broth with slices of kabocha, shitake, ginger and shishito peppers. Everything was delicious. This is a great place to sa nice dinner with good company.

Carry out was not good! No response from Restaurant. Tuna was brown! California rolls tasted Off.

Very good food and many options on the menu. Amazing cocktails. Excellent Service. Clean restaurant. They're also able to accommodate large parties.

The grilled salmon in the bento box was still warm. The portion was large, not the usual small square. I also tried pumpkin ginger soup. It was delicious.

They recently renovated the restaurant and it's really good now! The sushi is very good and it's a great place to go with friends or family.

What a spot in cute Bethesda Row! Outdoor dinning if great in this perfect weather. Was greeted by a very nice hostess and she had a perfect little table for the party of one. Ordered edamame with salt and it was so hot and fresh it was delicious. Then I ordered a Sushi and Roll combo which was perfect for me half of a california and half of a cucumber roll paired with shrimp, tuna, yellowtail and mackerel it was all delicious. Service was fast and good oh yes the Sushi and Roll Combo came with ginger salad and miso soup, it was allot of food and really good.

Still great after the renovation! Consistently good sushi - and some less common vegetarian sushi options too! A lot more upscale atmosphere after the renovation but some of the tables were really close together. Looks like they have a takeout pickup window now too which is a great improvement

Raku has outstanding food perfect for lunch, dinner, or brunch. It's conveniently located off Woodmont Ave in Bethesda's restaurant district and an easy walk for local employees. The interior is a bit tight with tables, booths, and a very small bar section. I have always ordered online (which was extremely easy from their website) and always had a trouble-free experience. I have had to wait when picking up the order, but when you see how busy they are, you understand why. Delicious foods all way around! I tried Shrimp Curry and a Valcano Roll. Normally, I don't order soups... this was outstanding! A must visit in the area.

Raku has changed since the pandemic. They largely focus on take-out and restaurant dining seems incidental. I remember Raku as an above average, and somewhat upscale sushi house before covid. That is not the impression I got this last time. This place always had a cramped feel but the take-out food station will the high piles of plastic containers now makes it feel cluttered as well. The server kept us waiting at the table for over 15 minutes before making an appearance. By then I was ready to order but she only took drink and appetizer orders and disappeared. She was gone another 15-20 minutes. I saw she was quite busy putting take-out orders into bags. Clearly, they don't have enough help. My tablemate waited a long time for a glass of wine. She asked for it three times until it finally came. Everything we asked for took too long and the service was not welcoming nor friendly. The food itself was good. When I asked for extra ginger a server did a walk by and wordlessly tossed a little mini take-out container filled with ginger onto the table. In a word, service was terrible. There are much better options like Kusshi Sushi at Pike and Rose so don't think I will be back for the time being.

Great food at reasonable prices! Such a good find and our entire table loved our dinner. The tuna tartare and duck were especially awesome!

I would rate the food 4/5 but vibe was 0/5. First of all, it was so loud inside and the tables are so close to each other that we couldn't have a conversation. Chicken karage was so crispy and well seasoned. The ribeye steak was not worth it at all. It was so fatty and the fat wasn't rendered well. But definitely get their Tokyo dashi broth with udon. The noodles were fresh and the broth was very flavorful! Also I had a better time during their lunchtime. I prefer their lunch menu.

Was in Bethesda row yesterday so decided to dine in here for lunch. It was great because we sat outside and the weather was amazing, so it was a nice ambiance. Otherwise, it's just your very typical americanized Japanese restaurant. They have lunch special bento boxes which range from $15-20 ish and we got the salmon teriyaki and steak. We also got the volcano roll. Overall we enjoyed our meal, but felt that the bento box was mostly filled with lettuce and veggies with very small portion of meat. My salmon was slightly fishy too. Volcano roll was decent, but definitely a bit overpriced. It terms of service, we got checked up on a few times throughout the meal but I could tell they were pretty busy and running around a lot. Overall it was a decent experience! I came here to eat outside in nice weather with good company, which is what I got. I just wouldn't come here if you're looking for authentic asian food or food worth what you're paying.

This place is the best! Their spicy crunchy rolls are done right. Fish is always so fresh. We normally order takeout, and they just added an efficient window for quicker pickup. They also just renovated, and it's really nice on the inside. Go to sushi spot for year. Highly recommend!

Dinner Monday night was at Raku in Bethesda, MD. We all ate their Tokyo style ramen. Some of us chose udon, others chose soba. I chose EF noodle. We also had a side of the Raku Roll (eel) and the Chesapeake Bay Roll (sort of like the California Rill). All so delish!

Date night with my husband was simply amazing at this restaurant. I'm a sushi lover and Raku didn't disappoint. Sushi was fresh, tasty and service was great. The indoor seating is extremely small and crowded, had a table so close by I could reach with my hand, that would be the only thing I didn't like. However the food was so good that I ended up ordering more sushi after we were done.

This food is DELICIOUS. I ordered the Teriyaki Chicken with Steamed Rice and the chicken was so TENDER and JUICY. Service was top notch. The environment is beautiful. 11/10 experience.

I have always loved coming here and I will continue to. The location is prime, especially for sunny summer days, the staff is friendly and the food is just spot on. I finally tried the salmon sashimi with green apples and I am now going to order this every time. The savory salmon mixed with the tart green apple and the spicy jalapeño honestly created the most perfect and delectable bite. Delicious. The shishito peppers were okay.. they might have changed their recipe within the past couple of years and I liked it better before, but they were still fine. I ordered two new rolls this time and both were amazing. I preferred the salmon because of the pickled ginger, which just added the perfect freshness to the fatty salmon. The sea bass was also super enjoyable though and for being a tempura roll, it tasted very fresh. Always a good time at Raku!

I hear the restaurant just opened. I just finished my dinner here and let me tell you it is not the same. The atmosphere is lovely even though they renovated and it still the same size. My seafood curry soup was not rich and creamy,mussels were not fesh,and environment was rushed ny unfriendly servers Another favorite gone.

Raku is consistently great sushi and quick service every time I go-whether its sit down or take out. I've gone several different times, tried much of their menu, and I've never been disappointed. Most importantly, their fish is always fresh which i am always nervous about when eating sushi. They also have a great happy hour until 7 so if you get make it to the bar, I'd definitely recommend getting a drink! Right now, they are offering outdoor dining with limited heaters, so try to get there early if you want to dine "in" and stay warm. I recently tried the chicken and pork dumplings as an appetizer and they were great. I really liked the sauce that came with them - "pineapple star anise" so it's sweet but pairs well with the dumplings! My favorite roll is the classic rainbow roll. Although this isn't necessarily unique to Raku, it's SO fresh and tasty, I recommend grabbing this if you come. I've also really enjoyed the spicy crunchy scallop roll which is more unique but just as fresh. Their different variations on a California roll are really fun too (shrimp, tuna, crab, ...) and they also offer a few vegetarian options as well. Service is always quick and accurate. You don't need to budget a huge block of time when dining here, I'm always surprised at how quickly they turn over tables and churn out food. I'm excited to go back and try more of this menu, especially now that I've discovered their yummy appetizers!

A bit pricey for what you get but the flavors were all decent. I ordered the chirashi set, which came with udon noodles, salad and 2 tempura-battered items. Overall, I liked what I ordered but didn't feel like I got enough seafood in my chirashi bowl. I think I may have been spoiled from my previous Japanese spots in Chicago. My boyfriend ordered the bento box that came with a little bit of everything, which I suggest if you're wanting to try a lot of the menu without wanting to commit. While everything was pretty small in portion, it's enough to make you full. My favorite was definitely the teriyaki glazed salmon. We also ordered the crunchy eel. Pretty average.

I was a little worried when we first sat down since the gentleman who took down our name for the waitlist was a bit standoffish but once seated our waitress was nice, helpful with recommendations, and quick with our service. The sushi (the most important part of this review and restaurant) was great! Very fresh and filling. We started with an appetizer recommended by the waitress which was super different. It was salmon with jalapeño on top of a slice of green apple- a little weird but pretty good. We also had a seaweed salad and it was easily the largest one I've ever had at a sushi restaurant and it was delicious. For sushi we went with the Red Dragon, the Tuna Deluxe, the Soule, and the Chesapeake. I liked the Red Dragon the best since I'm a fan of spice. The Chesapeake was okay there wasn't much to it. The Tuna was also good and had a decent spice to it. The soule I was hoping to taste a bit more of the kimchi but still yummy. We also got Uni- it tasted like it had just been plucked from the sea straight to our plate. I had never had it but my boyfriend said it was pretty good compared to some he has had.

To start off I am going to tell you the amazing food that they provide you with, if you want good sushi then you're in the right place. They have a huge variety of sushi rolls, some ramen, and delicious appetizers. There really is no way to describe how good the food is. Moving on to the service, when you first enter you are greeted quickly by a host who will guide you to your seat. They are always so kind even when there are with people like my brother who... I'm not going to talk about. The food comes relatively quickly too. Along with entering the restaurant there are huge chopsticks and umbrellas hanging from the sealing above that gives it a really nice ambiance. It also isn't too intense at the same time. Thank You for reading.

Usual solid Japanese American fare. For appetizer I had the cha mame, which is just edamame. I had the salmon teriyaki bento box for lunch. It came with miso soup, which was on the more flavorful/umami side -- I've gone to places where it's otherwise kinda bland. The rest of the bento was fine. Came with Japanese mashed potato instead of rice. Maybe a bit too much salad fare to cut costs (I suspect) compared to other fun things to add, like tempura -- and I am saying this as someone who likes salad. For desert, I had the croissant ice cream, which tasted more like a bread pudding with raisins. The ice cream may have been the best part. Overall it was fine. Nothing spectacular, nothing inoffensive. As someone else noted, I was turned off with the waiter standing right above me as I was filling out the tip on the machine. My partner intelligently brought up the machine to only face him so that his input was private. If i had privacy, I would still tip the usual 20% (even though we found the service kinda slow other than the actual bringing out of food), but I don't like the pressure of having to do it with someone looking at what I'm doing. I'd rather not come back here, but if my companion insisted, I'd live with it.

Not good. The ambiance was not good. The waitstaff was a little hostile. The food was okay. Way better japanese in the area. Also there was a leak in the ceiling hitting me constantly.

Lovely afternoon at Raku. Excellent food . Bento boxes were great .This resturant offers a variety of South East Asian flavors. Great Service. Sushi snd Sashimi were very fresh and tasty. Udon noodle soup was full of flavor. Will be back again.

As Montgomery County closes indoor dining once again, found this gem to be one of the few places left that provides outdoor seating in Maryland's cold winters. There were a couple of heaters provided outside - unfortunately we weren't able to sit at any tables near them... so ordered hot sake to warm up instead! I loved the two appetizers of the short ribs and shumai! Delicious! I would definitely come back for these two things alone! Drinks were awesome as we got a variety of sake, wine & mixed cocktails. The service was great too!! Someone was always around to provide everything we needed. A great Asian restaurant to try in the Bethesda Row area.

FINALLY being able to eat here after somehow always being turned away for coming in near closing hours. Not a bad place to stop by for getting some nice sushi in the row although you have to be sure to not come in between 8-9 when they close or else the host will turn you away. They open for very short hours at a time, so your best bet is to come when they're open. For the food, we started off with the rainbow roll which was very delicious and fresh! A good choice especially if you're like me, and like your sushi rolls plain but with raw fish. For the entrees, we got the dashi stock with soba noodles which was pretty good, but could use more soba than a bunch of cabbage stuffed in the bowl. The best thing on the menu was the Chirashi! The fish was super fresh and the rice mix was sooooo delicious. I would definitely get the chirashi again if I visit. For the service, they were really quick with the orders but I don't like the bill system with their little machines. It's very awkward for the waiter/waitress to look at what you tip them as you make your payment on the spot. I still prefer the traditional paper way of tip or paying my tip in cash.

We've been to this Raku a few times before and always sat indoors, as I never much liked its outdoor seating on the narrow side walk in front. Now however this entire block of Woodmont Ave is closed to traffic so that all the restaurants on this street can have more outdoor seating. Raku still has a few tables on the sidewalk but many more on the street - distancing is ok although it's best to be there when less busy as the tables are small so could feel a bit too close when they are all occupied. We usually have the bentos for the variety, this time too had the tempura and the deluxe sashimi bentos. Both ok although unremarkable, just as we remembered them, no surprises, which is not a bad thing. They have laminated menus easy for cleaning, and for payment handheld credit card readers brought to the table - you'll be asked to add the tip before the card is charged.

The udon soups here REALLY hit the spot. I got the tofu-vegetable and my dining buddy got tempura shrimp. Both were hearty, piping hot, and flavorful. The noodles were thick and chewy -- very satisfying. Generous portions, and I had enough soup leftover for lunch the next day. We appreciated that the tempura came on the side for maximum crunchiness. The service here was fast. We walked in on a Friday night without a reservation and were seated within minutes. Food only took a couple of minutes after putting in the order to come out. Would come here again, especially to try the curry noodle soups!

This place has extraordinary food. Really. The best. It's a bit tight and crowded but well worth it!

We stopped by for dinner and they seated us at one of their outdoor tables in the closed off street. We both got dinner/bento boxes which was a STEAL. So much food for the price. I got the chicken katsu which came with 3 perfectly fried and crispy pieces of chicken sitting over a bed of rice and doused in a Japanese curry sauce. It also came with udon soup, a salad and one piece of shrimp and pumpkin tempura and some pickled daikon. The fiancé bento box came with the shrimp and veggie tempura, sushi, a salad, and some other side dishes. Our waitress was also super nice and attentive. Yummy food and I can't wait to go back!

I've enjoyed Raku in person but not since the start of the pandemic. We needed something easy for pickup this afternoon to take home with an angry toddler and recently came across their lunch Bento boxes on a Facebook group. I ordered the salmon bentoand my husband had the sashimi bento. Even for takeout, it was well-presented and very tasty. From left to right, a salad with a ginger dressing. The ginger dressing was less strong that typical Asian takeout which I appreciated. A few shrimp shumai followed by a surprising bean salad with mushrooms and PARMESAN! I know, seems weird but it was great. Then on the bottom of the tray, I had a 6 piece California roll (eh- I could take it or leave it but that's California rolls in general, not a reflection of Raku) as well as the salmon. The salmon was cooked perfectly and the teriyaki sauce was light and flavorful. To my surprise, below the salmon was some sautéed spinach and a mashed root vegetable. Lovely meal for a steal at $16. My husband had the sashimi, same general setup but instead of the salmon, insert sashimi. He enjoyed it but was still hungry at the end. Compared to sashimi prices generally and considering all of the other tasty things in the bento, it was a nice smaller lunch for him at $18. Finally- curbside pickup. I parked in one of the four designated spaces on the corner of Elm and Woodmont. I texted my order number and it was dropped off very quickly. We will certainly be doing this again.

I love everything about Raku. First of all, you don't even have to order an entree to have a satisfying meal. Their appetizers are amazing. I always go for the Tuna Tartar. Once you have it here, you won't want it different anywhere else. It's always so good. Perfect mixture of creamy and chunky tuna on a delicious warm bruschetta bread slice. The cornichons it comes with is tasty too. Skip the edamame and go straight for their Korean BBQ Hanger Steak Ssam. The Kimchee Puree is salty but just the perfect ingredient to balance the flavors. You have to wrap it in lettuce and add the rice to make it the perfect bite (or else you're just missing out). If you're in the mood for sushi, I recommend the Salmon Sashimi & Green Apple as another option. It's fresh, clean, and appetizing. The go-to for sushi lovers! For dinner, the Shrimp Tempera Udon Noodles is always a hit. It's cozy, savory, and the noodles are cooked just right. My bf loves their Beef Coconut Curry Udon Noodles. It's rich, flavorful, and filling. I could go on about their menu options. But I think I've said enough. I love Raku, and I highly recommend giving them a friendly visit. It's my fav Japanese restaurant in the area, and they're always consistent. Good service, great food, and a nice atmosphere. My happy place for date nights, early weekend dinners, and the perfect bite to eat with friends!

The food was pretty good. I ordered the the volcano and dragon roll and the dumplings. The sushi was okay, but I wasn't a huge fan of the dumplings- but the dumplings did look gorgeous. Because we were a large group of teenagers, the server wasn't super nice to us. However, the food came out super fast for a table of around 10 people. The waiters checked on us to see if we needed water a lot, which was nice. When we were done with the dinner, the waitress actually billed us the wrong total and then left, so we didn't notice anything wrong. However, a few hours later, they called us to inform us there was a remaining balance because she split the check incorrectly. We paid it, but it was tedious.