Image: Edo Style.
Last Updated: May 2025
NOTE: Sushi Gakyu closed, but the team reopened in Georgetown as Sushi Gaku.
Overview:
In another location, Sushi Gakyu would be a neighborhood gem. Sadly it is not in a neighborhood, it is in a dead zone of downtown. But if you are near, it is well worth stopping for. Chef Yoshi Ota is serious about his craft and worth trusting.
The menu is pretty straight-forward and familiar. On a recent visit, seaweed salad and the eel over greens and ginger were both very good among the starters. For the sushi options, the Edo-style that gives the fish some treatment and seasoning before serving with Aka-zu (red vinegar) seasoned rice is the more interesting choice. Classic sushi is basic cuts over rice with little to no adornment. The rolls also lean toward the familiar. The drink list is strong on sake options and decent on other fronts.
The setting is Japanese in sparseness. A large room with exposed ceiling and very little decoration save a wall of wood and a dragon painting. The service is sweet if not always on its toes. Persnickety diners should look elsewhere, but that will be their loss. Sushi Gakyu is a refuge of passion and care, it is a good, lighter alternative to the Old Ebbit and Cheesecake Factory choices in this area.
They are open for lunch at 12:00, for those of you near the White House looking for a spot or now trickling back into the office.
Other Guidance: Located at street level. Fish-centric makes vegetarian options slim, but available. GF can do well.
Summary:
Cuisine: Japanese
Neighborhood: Downtown
Address: 1420 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005
Website: https://www.gakyudc.com/
Reservations: Tock
Other Critics/Voices:
Washington Post: Tim gave it 2.5 early on; His initial take was positive too.
Washingtonian: Preview