Raku

Raku: A Timeless Experience Defined by Consistency and Excellence ​Raku Japanese restaurant isn't just a place we eat; it's a true culinary constant in our lives. Having been loyal patrons for many years, we can confidently attest that the quality here has been unfailingly high—it’s been consistently good every single time, a rarity in the dining scene. ​The entire dining experience begins with the atmosphere. The ambiance is wonderfully cozy, creating a relaxed and intimate space that feels both welcoming and refined. Matched perfectly with the setting is the excellent service. The staff is attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely focused on making every visit special, which is a major reason for our lasting loyalty. ​While every dish at Raku is prepared with care, our personal gold standard—the dish we measure all others by—is the Tuna Tartare. We've tried this classic appetizer at countless other highly-regarded restaurants over the years, but they are simply not the same. Raku’s version achieves a perfect balance of texture and flavor that is unmatched, proving its uniqueness and mastery in preparation. It’s an absolute must-try for any first-time visitor. ​For anyone seeking exceptional Japanese cuisine backed by years of unwavering quality, fantastic service, and a dish that truly stands out, Raku is the place to be.

Don’t exactly remember why this was on our hit list. Glad we got a chance to come here during brunch hour. We had the unagi don, edamame, flout lotus chips, katsu don sando, and chicken karaage. Everything tasted good. Will return for dinner,

I would like to take a moment to sincerely compliment your restaurant. The food is absolutely delicious, and the prices are very reasonable compared to the quality and portion sizes you provide. Every visit has been a great experience, and the consistency of your food and service truly stands out. I am a regular customer of RaKu and will definitely continue to be one. Thank you for always maintaining such high standards and making every meal enjoyable. Please keep up the great work. I look forward to many more visits.

One of the best, if not the best restaurant in Bethesda. It is my family’s go to place for a night out, although it is often very packed. Make sure to reserve enough in advance especially in the evening! Lots of vegetarian options, make sure to try their veggie futomaki it is to die for.

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.

The food is amazing, everything tasted great, even the soup. You have to get dessert when you're there. The cups of water they leave sitting out until customers show up was pretty weird and the sushi arrived warmer than expected. But overall great place

We waited for about half an hour to be seated.. the staff is very nice.. the sushi is great, the main menu food is awful, especially the teriyaki with rice and an egg.. really awful. I personally would only order sushi if I ever go back

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.

I love Raku! My to go order is the Steak bento box. My order is always on time. The people there are very lovely. I recommend this place:)

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.

Still my favorite sushi spot. Clean fresh and a variety of healthy options. Very well made rolls and accommodating. Service is very good, although a can be a little slow because this place is very busy. so don't plan on rushing in and out. Plan some wiggle time for after plans.

This place is always crowded, and to be honest, I'm not entirely sure why. The food leaves a lot to be desired. Sushi is very basic, nothing to rave about. I tried the red curry noodle soup, which I liked better than the sushi. However, it wasn't enough to keep me coming back.

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!

I really like this restaurant. I had appetizers as my entree, so I had the butterfly shrimp, red chili curry mussels, edamame and a kale salad and a peach organic ice tea drink. Our server was really nice and we enjoyed the ambience. We plan on coming back and trying their other foods. 10/10 experience and it was nice sitting at the bar.

The $17 roll I received was tiny and frankly not very good. The edamame had no salt and the pieces of tofu in the miso soup was abysmal. Everything way overpriced for what it is.

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.

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.

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.

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'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.

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.

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!

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.

This place has no concern for allergies, I called ahead to confirm that what I wanted to eat was safe for me and they lied to me. I got incredibly sick after eating here. If you have an allergy you should avoid this place

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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

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!

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!

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Got the salmon roll and it wasn't anything amazing . The seating is so packed and the waiter seemed to be rushing my party. Have not come back since and will probably not be coming back

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.

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.