Torai Sushi

Solid spot! You order and then sit… there’s limited seating - little hole in the wall, but yummy! The sweet potato tempura was my fav! Wish they had a full bar… they were the only sushi place open late in that area on a Friday night. Would def go back! Also, their bathroom has a bidet!

This small, neighborhood sushi spot offers a pleasant, if somewhat cozy, dining experience. The sushi is generally good, satisfying that craving for classic rolls, and they also offer a few more creative options that are worth exploring. The intimate size of the restaurant contributes to a more exclusive and personal atmosphere, which some diners will appreciate. However, this also means that seating is very limited. The staff is consistently friendly and attentive, providing good service that enhances the overall dining experience. If you're looking for a low-key, intimate sushi meal with good service, this place is a solid choice.

I'm celebrating my girlfriend's birthday and I think this is one of the best sushi we've ever eaten in our life. The price is quite reasonable and we ended up feeling satisfied, happy and without any financial problems.

Reasonably priced sushi in a cozy spot across from the Marine barracks. QR code opens up to a menu but would need to come up to the point of sale to order. I had the sashimi deluxe at $17. Quite a bargain. Open paid street parking is available.

Excellent sushi 🍣😋👌. I wish I found this spot when I first got into Washington DC. We had lunch specials that were impressive in size, quality, taste, and the price was relatively inexpensive for what you got. It's a small spot seating only available for a handful of people (we sat at the bar due to only a few tables in the entire restaurant). I recommend this spot. The ramen was also excellent (large thick pieces of pork topping 👍). 6 stars in my book....

I ordered two rolls. One of which had Wasabi sauce. I specified no Wasabi or Wasabi sauce in my order. After picking up my order I noted the receipt said no Wasabi. But in my plate not only was there Wasabi but also Wasabi sauce in my roll. I called to rectify the situation and was meet with a women who overtalked me repeating the same phrase "no wasabi". Seemingly like she didn't understand what I was saying, even though I've been going to this establishment for over a year. And she knows exactly what i was vocalizing. Accountability is not a large request. But the lack of even acknowledging the mistake is unacceptable. Beware if you have allergies as notes are not taken seriously and they probably won't admit to any mistakes on their end.

So good so delicious just the music is so annoying. It’s absolutely not the Japanese Vibe but providing very good sushi🍣

Wowwwww. Definitively A++++ Mega Sushi boat. Food was very good. We are not sure about the place but we decide to try it and no regrets. A must Stop. Prices are so low that is a win win situation. Good food good price. Portions so big and abundant. House of the Sushi boat. We ordered a boat for 2 and was big as show in the pics the 4 boat is giant.

I ordered the sushi and sashimi lunch combo. For what you get it's a great deal and the sashimi was very good. I'll eat here again next time I am in the area.

Ok, but nothing really special to us. Perhaps we have been spoiled by the really amazing sushi in Manhattan, and Japan. But I have not found a really good place for sushi in DC and I am unwilling to waste money on crazy-expensive omakases

Came here for the first time with a friend recently and had a lovely time! The inside is very no frills, but the menu is EXTENSIVE and the food was very good! They give you a full, regular menu, and also a slip of paper for a la carte sushi rolls that you can mark with a golf pencil. My friend and I each ordered 3 rolls from their a la carte menu and we were stuffed! We each got two normal ones (like avocado rolls and spicy tuna rolls) and each got a "chef special" (like shrimp tempura). Everything came out on one big plate, so be aware that you might just not know what is what unless you order very distinctive things. My friend is gluten free, but thankfully the only one she couldn't eat (tempura) was readily identifiable and we knew that one was mine. Otherwise, we just decided to split the other rolls, since they all looked good and we have similar tastes. Everything was nice and fresh and the portions were very generous for the price. We also split a bottle of sake, which was very yummy. The sake we had wanted was out of stock, but the server was able to recommend another one that was similar and we really liked the one she picked (I forget the name, but the description says something like "subtle flavor"). They were very busy with to-go orders, but still brought out our food really quickly and you can pay at the counter, so the whole experience was very efficient. I'd definitely return to try more sushi and find that sake brand again!

Solid spot! You order and then sit... there's limited seating - little hole in the wall, but yummy! The sweet potato tempura was my fav! Wish they had a full bar... they were the only sushi place open late in that area on a Friday night. Would def go back! Also, their bathroom has a bidet!

I really like the restaurant. The sushi entrees and service is top notch. Tiny space with a few tables, but truly authentic with reasonable prices. Highly recommend over the saturated sushi spots with inflated prices. Staff is extremely nice.

This place is amazing new favorite sushi place on Capitol Hill. Everything was great and not overpriced - the sashimi tasted fresh and the avocado salad was delicious

Decent sushi and okay service but a cute location. Torai was a pretty small location, but we were really keen on having sushi and were glad we found this place to satisfy that craving. We must've come on a day where it was fairly busy and understaffed, because service was a bit slow, but friendly. Prices are fairly reasonable and sushi was decent, so I think we just came on an off day for them. I wouldn't count this place out just yet, but I'm not gunning to return unless I were in the area and this was convenient.

Really in the mood for sushi. Out of town in DC Took a chance on a short Uber ride from my hotel WOW! What a find, right across from a Marine Barracks in the Washington Naval Yard area. Small hole in the wall, with some of the best sushi I've had in a while. Made it here for a late lunch. Fast service and high quality very fresh sushi. Will definitely be back next time I'm staying in the area.

The salmon here is outstanding. The other fish are good too, but I find the salmon especially scrumptious. Be aware that for their sushi, they already add a little bit of wasabi in there, so tell them ahead of time if you don't like wasabi. Friendly woman at the counter. Cute, cozy atmosphere.

Cozy, no frills sushi spot. Great fish quality, with very affordable prices. My partner and I got the sushi love boat for $55 and we were both full after. Such a great deal. Service was friendly and quick. There isn't much seating and it's pretty closely packed, and was very busy for a Wednesday night. I would recommend getting there around 7 to beat the evening rush. I might deem this place the best value sushi spot in DC. I would highly recommend and say it's worth going out of the way for.

An unassuming spot, with 2 tables and some bar sets. From the outside, it looks like a little hallway/takeaway only, but this is excellent quality sushi and unbeatable prices. The fish is SO fresh and delicious, I can't believe it's available in DC! You'll leave well fed and within budget!

Easily the best sushi not only in the Capitol Hill/Barracks Row area, but probably in all of DC. Torai has never once disappointed over 6+ years of dine in and take out. Seating is fairly limited (only a handful of seats), but service is fast and friendly. Pick up is easy through their website (pay upon pick up; usually takes about 20-40 min depending on the day, so plan ahead if ordering on a weekend). Song at the cashier is incredibly sweet and welcoming. The salmon set is my default order. To round out the meal, add an order of the salmon, yellowtail belly, or scallop sashimi; the mackerel nigiri; and/or the yummy yummy, crazy, dynamite, or sunset rolls. The fatty tuna and uni are also excellent, although seasonal. Getting Torai is never ever a bad idea.

Very small and cozy sushi restaurant located in the Eastern Market area. It has limited seating, but perfect to go to on a Saturday night. The workers were nice and greeted us when we came in. I enjoy the plants at the front of the store, adding a bit to the simple decorations inside. Wife and I were confused at first because you order and pay at the register first, I looked a little silly waiting for a server. You can't go wrong (hopefully) with a simple appetizer, miso soup, that comes with the Sushi Lover (for 2). The sushi was very delicious and tasted amazing. They put the right amount of wasabi within the nigiri, which hit nicely. The rolls that came with the nigiri was delicious and I enjoyed it a lot. Unfortunately, my only issue was that some of the fish on the nigiri was not as fresh tasting or looking. Willing to go here again at an earlier time.

I have yet to find a price to quality ratio as good as Torai sushi. This is some great sushi for a decent price. The fish is so fresh and flavorful. Perfect rice to fish ratio. The spicy tuna is as good as it gets. I also love the salmon. Just about every sushi here is pretty good, have yet to taste a bad one. It's a lil mom and pop spot and they are so kind and caring. My go to sushi spot even though I live in Maryland.

We got a few rolls (spicy salmon, spicy tuna, spider roll and another chef specialty roll), as well as edamame as an appetizer! The host was great and found a spot for us to sit since it was dinner time and there were so many people inside. Although the space is limited, this is well worth the wait (or order take out to enjoy at home)!

I have gone here almost every day for months. It's always fast service. It's always delicious. I've gotten almost every roll and a poke bowl once. It's a creat local sushi spot and I've gone to other places in dc and haven't had the same experience. It's cute inside. Not a large amount of tables but for a little intimate date it would work.

Do not be mistaken by the size of this little hole in the wall - it is some of the very best sushi in DC! They have amazing lunch specials, and I never order anything other than the chirashi special because their fish is next level fresh. It's also an incredibly generous portion! The interior is cute and intimate with several tables and a counter bar. I love eating lunch there and have been constantly impressed by the freshness of their takeout. Though there are other sushi spots nearby, this one is undisputedly the best.

We've walked by this place a hundred times but never stopped in until friends recommended it. It is small and quaint, unassuming, and maybe seats about 12 comfortably with an extra counter for seating on the side. The sushi was delicious - fresh, and beautifully prepared. We tried the Love Boat for 2 and it was plentiful and perfectly selected. Japanese Red Ale and a hot ginger tea were perfect accompaniments. The service was on point. You can place your order at the counter as well as pay there after your meal. We can't wait to return!

I had the Unagi Donburi and the softshell crab roll. Excellent dishes. Seating was limited so come early. Service was quick. Background music was pleasant. I would definitely come again earlier for sure.

a restaurant with only two tables on capital hill? what a vibe and a half - this is tiny tiny little spot where you order at the counter with a filled out al la carte form and off the regular menu - really sweet staff and happy vibes, the sushi makers behind the counter were hard at work the entire time with the endless takeout orders coming in - regular rolls were 8-10 dollars with specials at around 12-15! - I got the tuna poke bowl which was delicious and made with such care. it had mango and two variations of seaweed. - my companion got 4 (FOUR) rolls, ranked: 1. the tempura Alaska 2. spicy yellowtail 3. the eel roll 4. the Philadelphia roll

Torai Sushi is a Korean-owned sushi restaurant, located literally across from the Marine Barracks. We came at an odd hour, but the place was busy with online orders, carry-out orders, as well as people coming in to dine-in! The menu offers appetizers, soups & salads, donburi, bento boxes, poke, maki, nigiri, and sashimi; they also have weekday lunch specials. We ordered: +a Sushi B - 11 nigiri pieces and a tuna roll - I enjoyed each of the nigiri pieces; the rice was prepared well, and each slice of fish was fresh; defnitely would probably stick to this platter in future visits +2 orders of Toro nigiri - each order comes with 2 pieces; generous slices, and one order would have sufficed! +Sun Set Roll - shrimp tempura and avocado, topped with salmon, tobiko, masago, wasabi, eel sauce, spicy mayo, and wasabi sauce maki roll; I liked that these were smaller than the typical maki rolls, as it was a great ratio between the fish and the rice; this was a little bit more sweeter in taste than I would have liked +a Chicken Teriyaki Bento - came with 3 pieces of California rolls, tempura (shrimp, onion, and sweet potato), a spring roll, a gyoza, a Japanese seaweed salad, salad with ginger dressing, kimchi, and rice; I enjoyed the California rolls; the chicken teriyaki sauce was actually pretty good - great to use the side of white rice to mix in with the leftover sauce! The chicken teriyaki was very tender and meaty +Bulgogi Dumpbap - bulgogi over rice, with a side of kimchi and salad with ginger dressing; the bulgogi was just okay for me - I prefer mine more sweeter, saucy, and caramelized Service was super friendly, kind, and welcoming! I just wished that they include green tea and/or miso soup with the entrees. I loved the intimate space, where it was cozy and clean. You can tell that this place is a favorite amongst the locals! There's plenty of metered parking around the area. +good nigiri +friendly & kind staff! +located across from the Marine Barracks +metered parking available

Though Torai may seem unassuming at first, it's one of those cozy spots serving great food for great prices, which is far and few between in DC these days. The sashimi bento box is delicious and such a good deal with fresh fish, light and crispy tempura, and a side of kimchi... such a comfort! Love that they have cans of makgeolli, too. Service is always warm and welcoming!

Always wanted to try it, so I went inside and ordered 4*Chirashi Lunch which included a small bowl of miso soup, assorted fish, shrimp, scallop, salmon, eel & sushi rice. Everything was fresh and tasted natural with original flavors. It was a small family restaurant. Traditional Japanese decor and quiet atmosphere. Service was slow and steady. Food portion was generous, prices were reasonable. It's a nice place for a quick healthy lunch.

A solid sushi spot to get ask your sushi and sake dreams met. They have all the favorites, veggie ash's shrimp tempura, miso soup, spider rolls and tempura rolls, hand rolls and a simple but delicious classic edamame. Everything was so tasty and it's a cute shop with a pop 40's radio playing. Service was very good from a mom and pop.

One of my favorite sushi spots in DC. The sushi always has fresh ingredients and their rolls are good sized for affordable prices. Love the alligator and dragon roll the best. Smooth and easy process for takeout as well. Highly recommend carry out from Tori!

For what you're paying, this place has great deals. I came here with some friends and it was such a good and intimate dining experience. The server was one of the most adorable and friendliest people who made the experience all the much better. I ordered the bento box which came with a protein (I got bulgogi), rice, a mini salad, little bit of kimchi and seaweed salad, 3 pieces of a California roll, and some assorted tempura. There was something about the California roll that made it feel really fresh and light, but I was pleasantly surprised. If their California roll was that good, imagine how fresh their sushi was! One side note about the sushi was that this seems like a more authentic Japanese-style place than other places and the friends I was with absolutely love to come here for their fish and the quality of it. The bulgogi was nice, it had vegetables in it, the meat was tender, and with the rice, it was comforting and not too heavy. The banchan of the salad, kimchi, and seaweed all added more fresh elements to the box. The tempura was pretty good, tho the onion batter was a bit soggy (but the shrimp and potato seemed good!). Also, it came with a spring roll so I really was getting a good set of everything. Highly recommend this place!

Torai is the best small sushi restaurant nestled in Capitol Hill. Each slice of fish was quality and perfection. I am so surprised that after all these years living in DC and having walked pass by it dozens of times, I have not found this place until coming across it on Yelp. I am ashamed but alas no more, this will be my new spot to satiate my sushi cravings. It is unpretentious and cozy. Torai ideal for a party no more than four. It's quite a small restaurant, and you have to order your food at the register. No waiter or waitress will come to you to get your order. We paired our dinner with Japanese red ales and sake. Prices of alcohol and food were beyond reasonable. While this is no Nobu in terms of atmosphere, the quality of fish at Torai make you feel like you've got the best meal for your wallet!

Don't let their small size fool you, this place is a fantastic option for some yummy and fresh (and FAST) sushi on Barracks Row! With only a few tables available for seating, this place lends itself to a more fast casual and takeout concept. Friend and I ended up here for lunch one day not knowing that was the case and were actually pleasantly surprised! You just order up at the counter and a few minutes later - voila, sushi! We were able to snag a table that day so ate in the restaurant but if you want a larger/more lavish meal, definitely suggest doing takeout. I hadn't had a Bento box in forever and thought screw it, I'm getting a Bento box - it was so good! I also got two of these adorable servings of plum wine which were also very yummy. My friend was very pleased with his sushi spread as well. Solid place for sushi for sure!

I was about a week into a multi-city road trip and needed something that was not fried or ridiculously overpriced. Thank you Torai Sushi for being there in my need. For a Washington restaurant that serves Sushi, Torai is remarkably affordable. It's vibe is definitely a small local eatery that provides good quality food while being very modest in appearance and seating capacity. It was nice to see that they also had a brisk take-out/pick-up business as this place deserves to succeed. The neighbourhood feels very safe, the shop is across from a Marine Barracks and there was plenty of street parking. We were greeted and seated promptly and our orders arrived quickly. The Pork Shumai arrived first and were quickly consumed. These were followed by Tune Poké for me and my brother went with Pork Belly Ramen. We were very satisfied with the quality of our meals, the portion sizes, and the service received. We would most definitely return.

A neighborhood hole-in-the-wall place, but I will say that management can be slightly off putting. My boyfriend and I walked in on a Tuesday around noon, and since there were no other customers, we tried to sit down at a 4 person table. We were quickly asked to move to a 2 person table even though no one else was there or waiting. It would have been nice to have the extra space since the 2 person table was cramped. Now onto the food! Decent food, decent price for the lunch special. Their fish tasted very fresh, if a little cold (assuming they grabbed my sashimi right out of a fridge/freezer). Would consider coming back - but probably for take out!

Hands down my favorite sushi shop in the neighborhood - super lowkey spot that consistently delivers fresh, high quality cuts of fish at a great price. Whenever I get the sushi itch I walk down here from Navy Yard and pick myself up a chirashi bowl (if lunch) or sushi plate if dinner. I've never been disappointed, and will keep coming back. Don't expect anything amazing in terms of atmosphere, I think this place is best for take out!

Off the bat seemed like a great place for some sushi, I didn't read reviews for this location before going. The restaurant didn't have a good or bad atmosphere inside but I spent $108 on a boat which came out looking amazing, however, the fish was either partially frozen or taste like it was sitting out all day, my son found out that the sushi also has wasabi in them. He was not happy at all with fire in his mouth. It is not noted anywhere that it will be in the sushi. Safe to say I left behind all the food as I began feeling I will get sick if I continued to eat.

New hours as of 2024.03.03, closed Sunday and Monday. Did not have the chance to try it.

My favorite sushi place on Barracks Row! Torai is a super low-key and unassuming spot to get sushi. It's reasonably priced, and the sushi is darn tasty. You definitely get your money's worth here. I love eating-in or taking it to go. The vibes inside are very peaceful. Just you, your friends, the chefs, and CNN. It's honestly a fun experience. When taking it to go, I really appreciate the cashier's kind attitude. She always smiles and makes me feel like a valued customer. That's honestly a rarity in this town, which is a shame because it makes a difference to me. I usually get the bento box or the chef special. You can't go wrong here!

My new fav delivery sushi spot. Have door dashed from here a few times in the last few weeks and it is SOLID. Priced similarly to other sushi spots in dc (cheaper if you eat there im sure) but the quality is really significantly better. The 4-in-1 boxes are a great deal and the sushi combos are great quality without filler options. Love the taste of their salmon. Have never eaten there so can't speak to service or ambiance but hope to one day!

Good place for more affordable sushi in DC! It's a very small space so I recommend take-out or smaller groups. Not the most efficient service, but excellent hospitality. We got our typical fatty tuna, eel, scallop, and salmon. They didn't have any sea urchin that day :( Also tried the spicy tuna roll. Everything was fresh and decent size!

Outstanding quality, value, and welcome-ness. I wish I lived closer! Not fancy, but otherwise everything you could want from a sushi spot.

In the order of my favorites: Spider Roll: soft shell crab, masago, cucumber & avocado $11.95 *5 huge crispy pieces Spicy Scallop Roll $6.50 *spicier than I expected but super delicious, couldn't tell if the spice was from the mayo or if there was jalapeno vs cucumber Maryland Crab Roll $6.95 *real crab with old bay seasoning and a nice crunch Boston Roll: shrimp, avocado, cucumber $5.50 *steamed shrimp which was nice instead of the typical tempura shrimp Seaweed Salad: $4.95 *a tad bit too sweet but nicely complemented all of the sushi Sashimi 12 pc: 3 tuna, 3 salmon, 3 yellowtail, 3 white tuna *the yellowtail and white tuna were very flavorful in comparison to the tuna and salmon, I'd recommend just getting yellowtail sashimi Salmon Belly Sashimi $6.00 *salmon belly was buttery and fatty but it was off putting because it was extremely tough and chewy with poor slicing of the fish The sushi tasted very fresh and I loved that the menu has so much variety for both Japanese and Korean cuisine. The next items on my list is the crab salad, Torai roll, Trio amigo roll and the spider roll again.

Thank you, Yelp, for influencing my partner and me to pop into Torai for a spontaneous dinner. We were pleasantly surprised! We've been searching for a more affordable and "everyday" sushi spot, and this is definitely it! We will be returning based on the sushi, portions, customer service, and great prices. I loved the salmon belly nigiri, gyoza, and Mex roll. We look forward to returning (likely monthly) in the future!

Stumbled upon this place by accident. Cozy interior and super friendly Korean owners. We had eel, scallop, and mackerel sashimi. All were fresh and delicious. Saw others get rolls and they also looked good. Reasonable prices as well.

Pretty casual place located at Barracks, ver good sushi, fresh fish, fast service. Great deals on lunch menu from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

This is my new go to "hole in the wall" sushi spot! I wouldn't recommend it for a nice date night but, so perfect for a casual sushi night, lunch or take out! I say that because service seems very focused on the take out orders and there isn't a bar - just some beers and saki in the fridge. But, the quality of the food is great and they have so many specials! We got the love boat which is 18 pieces of nigiri, 2 special rolls (rainbow and yummy yummy), seaweed salad and 2 miso soups. We subbed the yummy yummy roll for a volcano for an extra charge. So I can't speak for the yummy yummy but, the volcano roll was amazing and I usually don't even like fried rolls. The pieces of fish on the nigiri are fresh and a good size on top of rice that's perfectly sticky so it stays together well. I'll definitely be coming back and/or ordering take out!

I enjoyed the sushi and the variety from the love boat we ordered. I did enjoy the rolls and the nigiri that was part of the order. Fish tasted fresh and the price was fair.

The ambiance was so nice, definitely good for a sit-down dinner if it's not crowded. The workers are so friendly and attentive, and the food itself is super affordable! Highly recommend!

I stopped in for lunch with my 16 year olds, and while I ordered one child's food wrong, they totally made it right, even though the error was on my part. That child loved their poke bowl, the other child loved their sushi, and spoke to how fresh and light tasting it was. While that's great, I wasn't in the mood for anything when I went in, and decided to get the Spicy Miso Ramen. This order of ramen made me change my opinion on soft boiled eggs, and the whole soup was one of the top 3 things I've ever eaten in my life. It was absolutely amazing. I feel that I should thank you for the ramen. So, thank you.

Continues to be a solid option when I'm craving affordable sushi! I wanted all cooked seafood options so she went through the items with me and pointed out which those would be. I was able to get spider crab, shrimp, and eel rolls all cooked some veggie options for $40- just the spider crab roll would have been close to $20 elsewhere!

Super solid choice for carry-out sushi. It's become a Friday night tradition to get dinner from Torai, and the quality has always been strong. It's an incredibly small space inside, so we prefer to do take away, but total preference on that choice.

OMG. This place is a classic example of "don't judge a book by its cover." I would suggest this place spruce itself up, but then that would take a way from the mystery of it all. Very unassuming from the outside. It actually looks like the type of place you wouldn't get sushi from. When I walked in at around 7:30 pm, it was empty. The chef greeted me with a big smile and pointed me to the place to order. At the point I was greeted by a very friendly lady. I told her I was starving and it was my first time-- she made some roll suggestions. Ended up going with the Trio Amigo roll and Alligator Roll, which to my dismay had no alligator .. they were both so fresh and so good. My food came out in about 2 minutes if that. The specialty rolls come with 5 pieces, which is less than most places, BUT, the pieces are huge. Packed with delicious fish. It was difficult to take each piece in one clean bite. Luckily I was alone, so no one could see me stuff sushi into my mouth like a beast. Customer service= excellent! Rolls = excellent! Me = will be back!

My love for sushi can be a little intense. When the craving hits, there is nothing else that can satisfy me until I get my fix. Just imagine me, twitching as I scrape my chopsticks and stir wasabi into my soy sauce, just waiting... So when I first *rolled* up to Nooshi, which is just up the street for a late lunch to realize that they no longer stay open between lunch and dinner, I felt like I was coming up short. I could almost taste the sushi and yet, I could not think of a walkable option serving between 3pm - 5pm. Thank goodness for the Yelp app, because I had no idea Torai was only about a block away. If my memory serves me correctly, this spot was not here at this time last year, so I never even thought to walk further down 8th street where I would have discovered Torai. The set-up here is super casual and perfect if you're looking for an easy carry-out option. The space is small, but you can walk right up, order at the register and either take your food to go, or enjoy inside of on the sidewalk patio space, which is a nice option. There is a fridge, where you can easily choose your selection from and pay right next to the register and sushi counter as well. I ordered a specialty roll and traditional roll not realizing just how plentiful the specialty rolls are. I would have easily been full from just that alone. Additionally, the folks working here seem to be *so* sweet. The woman that took my order was so lovely, making sure I had everything I needed to dine in and asking if I liked it as I finished up. It's hard not to enjoy supporting people that are so kind of caring for their customers. Happy to have another sushi option not too far away and will definitely order from here again soon.