Ryu Izakaya

I recently visited Ryu Izakaya in Arlington, and it was such a great experience. The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between cozy and modern, with that authentic Japanese izakaya vibe that makes it feel both relaxed and lively. The food was outstanding. Everything tasted fresh and thoughtfully prepared. The sushi was high quality, with clean flavors and beautifully presented plates. The small plates were perfect for sharing, and each dish had great balance and seasoning. You can tell the kitchen really cares about detail. The service was friendly and attentive without being overbearing. Staff were happy to make recommendations and checked in at just the right times. Overall, Ryu Izakaya is a fantastic spot whether you’re going for a casual dinner, date night, or meeting friends. Def

This Japanese restaurant is conveniently located right off of Columbia Pike and offers a wide array of food and drink options to try. I went here for happy hour and had a lovely time. The staff was incredibly attentive and sweet, the food was decent, and the drinks were nice and strong. I got the Japanese tonkatsu chicken curry donburi and enjoyed each element, except for the curry which tasted fine, but was too similar to the Japanese curry packets I get from H-Mart. My favorite part was absolutely the green tea cheesecake, though I’ll admit that the ice cream was much larger than the slice of cheesecake. Overall, I enjoyed the ambiance, the attentiveness from the staff, and my time at Ryu Izakaya and I will definitely be back to try new items.

So glad we found this cute spot. Great sushi selection, tasty Tai teas and exceptional service. We were blown away by the freshness of the food and nice ambiance. We shall return for dinner and enjoy their happy hour!

Not bad at all, but we could definitely taste that all the appetizers were fried in the same old oil. 😳 The Alaskan roll was really good, though! Also, the happy hour wasn’t cheap! 60 dollars for two people is not cheap! Another issue was that when we arrived, the room was empty, but the waitress sat us next to another couple. It was very inconvenient and uncomfortable. Two taken tables next to each other in an absolutely empty room it is NOT ok!

Been here 4 or 5 times now. Definitely worth the 10-minute drive. Came during happy hour and got sushi for $1 a piece. Honestly didn’t expect much at that price, but it turned out super fresh and flavorful, with no fishy taste at all. We ordered over 20 pieces and still got everything super fast. The mixed drinks were also great — refreshing and not overly sweet. If you’re in the area and craving Japanese, this spot’s a good find. Nothing fancy, just great value and solid food. Highly recommend!!