SHō Sushi & Izakaya

Stopped in for lunch and was blown away by our experience. Everything we ordered was fantastic, but the standout was the shosake roll. The yuzu pearls added a fresh little vibrant pop to each bite that tied it together perfectly. Our server was attentive and friendly, and we had the opportunity to chat with the owner, who was also very friendly and excited to tell us about his favorite dishes. At his recommendation, we ordered the yuzu brown butter ice cream- it was smooth, creamy, and a perfect way to end our meal. 10/10 experience from start to finish!

I usually never leave reviews but I came here for my birthday with my boyfriend and had the best experience. This place is truly a GEM, and that’s coming from someone who loves Japanese food and makes it a point to try Japanese spots in every new city I visit. I’m so happy we finally found amazing quality sushi in NOVA. This place is so now TOP of my list compared to Shoto or Modan. So happy I took pictures because everything we ordered was SO GOOD. The cuts were generous and literally melted in your mouth. We loved it so much we already booked our next reservation- this time with friends!

This was my first time at the restaurant and it was overall a good experience! Karage: I was surprised by how much we were given! It’s plenty to share with 2-3 people for an appetizer. It was very crispy and juicy, but unfortunately a little too salty and the sauce was quite salty too. Sushi/nigiri: they were really fresh and delicious. The rolls had a little too much rice for my personal taste, but they were also flavorful and would order again. Risotto: this was such a great dish! I absolutely loved their Miso Shiitake Risotto. If you are ordering more items, this is good share for 2 people. Dessert: I love anything with matcha, so if course I had to try their Matcha Tiramisu and Ice Cream. The ice cream was thick and rich and I loved it, the tiramisu was quite dry and not as flavorful. The entire meal was around $140 + tip with everything you’re seeing in the photos. It’s a nice place for a date night.

I came alone in looking for a quiet dinner and something familiar. This place felt right immediately. The room was warm and elevated. Not crowded. Soft laughter from groups of friends. A space that made being by yourself feel intentional. You see the chefs and greeters as soon as you walk in, all welcoming you together with genuine smiles. That kind of hospitality you recognize if you’ve spent time in Japan. Calm, generous, unforced. I didn’t look at the menu. Asked the waiter to bring me what he recommended. Premium nigiri flight, $80. An easy yes. I skipped alcohol and went with the green tea, light, smooth, and comforting. Service was thoughtful throughout. Present, kind, never intrusive. The food came precise and quietly stunning. For a while, I wasn’t trying to relive Japan anymore. I was just there.

Food was delicious! We got a tuna flight, three rolls and a specialty roll. Tuna flight was amazing. Fish was phenomenal. We loved the speciality roll and the shrimp tempura roll. The only thing that could have been better was how they ask what water you want. They asked still or sparkling so we said still and got a $10 bottle of still water. We could have had house water instead At no cost but didn’t know the option.

I had nothing short of a 10/10 experienced at this restaurant. I came here in hopes of looking for a good sushi place and my first time eating out alone and the experience was perfect! The staff was incredibly kind and attentive and the sushi was the best I’ve had so far (and that’s saying a lot since I have lived in various states)! Such great quality and I will definitely be back with friends.

It’s a hidden gem, it looks so ordinary and low key outside but the interior looks absolutely beautiful and modern. Sushi quality was so great. Super fresh and delicious. We tried almost everything that we could fill. Uni was so good. Sweet, creamy and delicious. We had great time here and definitely want to be back again.

The ambience was nice. The waitresses and hostess were also friendly. Our food just took very long. We ordered beef tongue steak but it came out lukewarm/a little cold. We also ordered two premium rolls but it took another 35-40 minutes to come out. The price-to-value ratio is something to consider.

I wanted to go back right when I left. This place is amazing! I enjoyed the different options, gluten free options, and the flavor! I felt like I was back in Japan tasting high quality foods. I went with my wife and found that the service, food, and experience was high quality. The staff was attentive and knowledgable about gluten in their food. I had the steak, salmon, edamame, and karage. Everything was flavorful and unique. The ingredients were fresh and came out hot. I really love the decor and find that the restaurant achieves its ability to portray a Japanese izakaya. I really want to bring my brother here next time he visits and am really happy that I they opened up in the area.

The ika geso was expertly fried but a bit stringy--flavor wise, it had that freshly fried crisp. The Natsu was a very refreshing as an appetizer and well plated. The shoyu in the center was light and went well but it's a bit hard to dip the the cucumber roll in it. The Chu toro and O toro nigiri were both dripping with fatty oil and had a good rice to fish ratio, but you notice that the chu toro was much less oily (I prefer that over but both were good quality fish). You can't go wrong with anything nigiri with a flame torch. The desserts were not very good. The miso ice cream had a potato kind of consistency and it did t melt like normal ice cream. We dropped some on the table and it stayed the same, which was weird. The crème brulee was interesting--since it was the sakura it has a very American sweet Jolly Rancher candy taste to it. A bit sad it didn't crack very satisfyingly, but it was okay! Overall, good fish quality and inventive on their dishes. Would slip on dessert unless it was their black sesame ice cream, which they were out of. On the pricier side of things, but very worth!

I had high hopes for this new spot -- the space is beautiful but quite small. Just a heads up: there's no bar, so it's sake and wine only. We tried a few of the yakitoris, which were unfortunately pretty average and didn't taste authentic. As for the hot entrees, the salmon was overcooked and heavy on the yuzu. No. No. No. Way too tart. The mashed edamame that came with it was an interesting touch, but not particularly memorable - though the birch mushrooms paired nicely. The highlights? The hotate (scallop) and ebi (shrimp) nigiri - both fresh and flavorful. Overall, it was underwhelming. We didn't feel inspired to explore more of the menu, and I don't think l'll be back.

We ordered lunch special which included green salad with ginger dressing, Tuna & avocado rolls, Tempura, and Gyoza and Miso soup. Tempura was crispy and good. Nothing special about it. Presentation was good but Over priced.

I really wanted to give a better review of this place, I really do. But part of me compelled to write an honest review of my experience here. I love japanese izakaya so I tried every dish except for maybe one. Half the dishes were cold when coming out, and I don't know how because we were only one of the two tables they had occupied at the time. Maybe they were waiting for all the izakaya dishes to be ready? I think we ordered maybe 7 or 8 unique izakaya dishes. Aside from the temperature, I didn't really enjoy most of them, so that was a bust. I went with two others, and they didn't eat much (since they didn't find it tasty), so naturally had to finish all the mediocre dishes myself since... can't be wasteful now. We also ordered cream uni udon and their mushroom risotto. Not only was the risotto really bland and had NO salt, it was also cold... Do they not make it fresh or was it sitting while waiting for the other dishes? It wasn't even warm, it was room-temp to cold. Makes me question if they even make it fresh back there. The cream udon was the best dish of all the dishes we ordered (and it was warm). Ordered about $170+ worth of food and that is the one dish I would recommend. Other than that, I will not be coming back to this establishment since I nearly tried the whole izakaya menu. Wanted to order sushi too, but after tasting the Izakaya, I was very unmotivated to do so. Unfortunate since I was very excited to have a hopeful good asian restaurant nearby...

Yes! Yes! Yes! When I'm in the area I try to always try a new restaurant and today I wanted sushi! And this place really delivered with the ambiance, food, and service! I believe they were still in the soft opening phase because they did not sale hard liquor yet. But for me it wasn't a big deal as I wanted a nice glass of wine. I first went to the bathroom and snapped a few pictures as the bathroom was set up really nice and clean. I can't remember the rolls I got but both were really good and fresh and the edamame was so good I wish I would have got one to go. Now the price is a little bit more than some might want to spend but it is well worth it. I forgot to take a picture of the sign as it was pretty. Can't wait to come back when I'm in the area!

I visited SHō Sushi & Izakaya last night (7pm dinner) and left impressed. This spot strikes a lovely balance between elevated Japanese cuisine and approachable izakaya vibes. Here's what stood out. Atmosphere & Service * The space is beautifully done: modern design with warm lighting, clean lines, and an intimate feel. Even at 7pm it was lively, comfortable, inviting. * Staff were attentive and friendly without being overbearing. They answered questions about menu items, offered recommendations, and the pacing of service was good (not rushed, not waiting forever). What We Ate (Highlights) We ordered omakase, the salmon set, karaage, pork belly yakitori, a few hand rolls, dessert (black sesame cream & crème brûlée). * Omakase: A standout. Each piece felt fresh, well-composed, and thoughtfully plated. * Salmon set: Gorgeous salmon -- rich flavor, nice texture -- paired with rice that struck a good degree of stickiness vs fluff. * Karaage: Crispy, moist inside, good seasoning. Great start to the meal. * Pork belly yakitori: Juicy, caramelized glaze, wonderful balance of flavor. * Hand rolls: Fresh, creative, fun -- rolling and eating them adds a casual interactive touch. * Desserts: The black sesame cream had a deep, toasty flavor without being too heavy; the crème brûlée's crust was crisp and crackled well, the custard beneath silky-smooth. Final Thoughts If you love sushi, creative Japanese small plates, and an upscale-but-not-pretentious dining experience, SHō Sushi & Izakaya is absolutely worth trying. It hits high marks for quality, atmosphere, and service. I'll be back -- maybe try a different set of dishes and bring a friend so we can share more items. Highly recommended.

My husband and I celebrated my birthday here and we had such a great experience! The entire team was so attentive, especially our waiter, Pauline C. The interior was modern and sleek. We tried the omakase, tuna flight, and SHorin roll. If it's your first time there I would recommend the omakase. Every dish was presented beautifully and tasted very fresh. We want to try the hot foods next time.

This is a great spot in McLean. We tried a number of items from a speciality roll to sushi, nigiri and their izakaya platters. Food was outstanding. One of the best mackerels and king salmons I have had in a very long time. Our server Polly did a great job and Obi, the manager, had excellent recommendations for Japanese whiskey. The ambience is chic and it's fun to watch the chefs doing their magic. Seafood quality was top notch. We loved it!! must try in McLean.

Nice ambiance/service and good quality sushi. Docking one star because it is definitely more expensive to comparable sushi restaurants in the area. If you want bang for buck and less "showy" dishes, this is not the place for that.

SHō Sushi & Izakaya has just opened up, and they describe themselves as a 'premium casual Japanese cuisine with a Western twist'. Currently in their soft opening, so their menu will be expanding soon! We tried their SHōmakase, which included 8 nigiris and a temaki. Everything was fresh and beautifully presented. The space is clean and well-decorated, and the owners are friendly and welcoming! +soft opening +SHōmakase +reservations accepted

Easily one of the best sushi izakaya concepts in McLean. Soft opening invitation and referral by a close friend of mine in the foodie community for DCVA. Pattie was incredibly hospitable and the ambience and decor here is 10/10. My man and I ordered the Shomokase and the pace was amazing. How cute are the decorative and detailed pieces of sushi and the artistry from the chef in presentation? Grand opening coming soon, locals.... Get in while you can. Trust me, they will be number 1 in the area very soon with a waitlist. Thank you Pattie, can't wait to return and try the rest of your menu! Arigato.

Just ordered takeout for the first time from them and the whole family was blown away by the quality. Even the packaging was next level classy. FYI, we had grilled chicken and Maki, with seasoned edamame. Everything was very fresh and flavors popped. We added as a favorite in our app.

I am delighted to recommend SHō Sushi & Izakaya restaurant.. as one of my top choices moving forward. This new sushi restaurant serves the best Uni ever, fresh fish, clean, has many selection of drinks ,delicious food, and the owner always offers a nice and warm welcome .

A bit hard to find the 1st time as it's tucked away on the side of wok and afghan places. But such a wonderful intimate place! Seafood was FRESH and clean and light and apparently flown in from Japan. We had a selection of skewers, pork belly, beef rib and unagi. The unagi was my least favorite as it was a bit gummy. But the flavors of the rest were off the hook. The grilled tongue was easily my favorite as it was buttery and just melted in my Mouth. But the star of the show is easily the nigiri and sashimi. As lifelong Japanese food lovers, this was easily the best and most authentic restaurant in the area. Don't skip on the karaage and desserts either! Miso ice cream!! Even the green tea Is excellent. Would definitely return and try the Omakase next time!

Officially opening isn't for another week or so - but we had the "Shomakase" (Omakase) and dessert of matcha tiramisu. (Delish!!!) Everything was fresh and there was a larger diversity of fish than we have seen In Most of the NoVa sushi restaurants . Definitely we will be returning. (Also, our server was lovely and very friendly)

The atmosphere, service and food were all flawless. The price was very high with the consideration of the food quality. The lunch menu was more cost effective.

This was our third time eating at SHo Sushi & Izakaya. The restaurant was full when we arrived and also taking takeout orders. The kitchen was severely backed up. We ordered miso soup, pork gyoza, shishito peppers to start. The gyoza and peppers took about 35 minutes and came out tepid. The tuna sampler and crab and avocado maki were both very good but took another 20+ minutes to reach our table. Of our three visits, the first during the soft opening, two have had very slow service. I think they need to stop taking DoorDash/Uber Eats orders during busy periods. Those people were waiting a long time too. They also need to balance their staffing and how many reservations they take. Everyone who works at this restaurant seems very nice. I want them to succeed but they have got to do better. By the way, I do not agree that they are over priced for good quality sushi. The good stuff is expensive. However, if they cannot get the food out in a reasonable amount of time they have a problem.

I tried this newly opened upscale Japanese restaurant with my family over the weekend. The ambience is very classy. Staffs are super friendly. My waiter was very attentive and explained every dish with details. The restaurant has a very top notch Japanese sushi chef, every bite is well balanced with a burst of flavors. Words can't describe how delicious their food is, must try in person. I have been to a lot of omakase restaurants and I have to say this is one of my favorite places. I highly recommend sophisticated sushi eaters to try this place!

This place is ok, taste was fine but way too expensive. Like...way. way too expensive. Great service though. Ambiance: (5/5) beautiful interior, dark themed and beautiful utensils. Nothing else to say here, it was good. Service: (4.5/5) good service, very attentive. Granted when we went we were there when there were 2 other tables so we have not been there at peak times. We went at an off hour. I do want to say there were a lot of comments about this place being Japanese owned and managed but the two manager/owner looking people were definitely not Japanese, more like Thai or Vietnamese. We came thinking it was Japanese owned, and it seemed it might not be which may be why the cost was so high and the quality was just ok. Knocked off .5 here because I wish the owners would at least address this. Food: (4/5) The food was pretty good. I can't remember what we ordered but the main thing we got was the box of small dishes, 8 different ones. Beautifully laid out, although hard to share (I think you're probably not supposed to but given the cost we assumed it was for 2). We ordered hand rolls. The taste was fine. The tea when we went did not taste high quality so that's something the restauratn can work on. As a Japanese restaurant, it is important to serve Japanese loose leaf teas or matcha. Cost: (1/5) honestly this I could not justify. I forget how much it was total but the amount you get is not worth the cost. I remember the cost of the 8 item box was maybe 80-90, that's $10 for each piece. Looking at reviews most people are not japanese or some type of asian so I assume they don't know. My partner is and has lived in Japan and we were disappointed in the price to food and quality and quantity ratio.

The Japanese waitress was nice. The manager talked to every table except for us, the only Asian family, the whole evening so it was super awkward dining there. The omakase was good, but cannot compare with what we had in Japan though they claimed the ingredients were shipped from Japan. The izakaya part was a totally miss because the yakitori was served cold yet burned, making you think they probably precooked it and only heated up a bit before serving it. Therefore, waitress: 4 stars; manager: 0.5 star; omakase: 3 stars; izakaya: 1.5 stars so average 2 stars.

decent lunch box, friendly service, relax atmosphere/ambiance. Slightly confusing to find if you walk and used google map.

Oh no! That was a disaster. You can't charge sushi nakazawa plus and deliver that. We ordered 12 pieces of nigiri and two hand rolls for $140 (omakase=$80, salmon flight=$30, otoro tamaki=$30 plus tax). The waitress couldn't tell us which fish we were being served with the nigiri let alone what was with it. So we were just eating it blind. The otoro was sinewy and had no marbling and the "caviar" was about 5 little dots in the middle. Multiple pieces nigiri just had a few finger limes thrown on top. The tamaki was served open--meaning there was no care to cut the seaweed and wrap it so that fish didn't spill out the back. If they are able to cut their prices by a full half, this might make some sense. But to charge this, you need a top tier sushi chef to work with your fish, wait staff that can tell customers what they're eating, and this was not it.

Awesome. More expensive than other sushi restaurants in the area, but the best I've had other than Sushi Yasuda in midtown Manhattan and Wakuda at the Palazzo in Vegas. Both Hamachi special rolls were great, as were the lean tuna and seared tuna nigiri, and the standard tuna, salmon, and eel rolls. Dropped just under 5 ((including tip) for my family of 5 with just a few drinks.

Attended the soft opening this week. While a bit more expensive than other sushi restaurants in the area, the fish quality was much better than others. And, they will take a reservation.

We went to the soft opening. The quality of the fish was excellent. We had the salmon flight, rolls, temaki and miso soup.