RAKUYA- Authentic Japanese, Kitchen and Bar (Dupont Circle, DC)

Every other week, I spin a wheel and whatever country that spinner lands on, I go find a restaurant with authentic cuisine of that country. This time, it was Japan.

If you’re in DuPont circle, and like Asian cuisine, you’ve got to give Rakuya a try. I’ve seen Rakuya a lot in passing, as I am often in the area, but haven’t gone inside until today. Why? Because to be honest, whenever I’m in Dupont Circle, it’s often closed. And when it’s not, my parking meter is about to expire!

But hey, sometimes you’ve got to make sacrifices and either move your car to another zone (in DC, typically you can only park somewhere for 2 hours before needing to move it; and no- feeding the meters more money won’t help) or take the good ‘ol metro, ideally on a weekend (when it’s $5 instead of $13.50, plus the parking at the metro station at $5.20).

Rakuya:

Rakuya in Dupont Circle is Japanese Kitchen and Bar, known for its cozy, intimate atmosphere. Rakuya was established back in 1996 as an Asian Diner, called “Raku” but it wasn’t until 2015 where it was rebranded to “RAKUYA, a Japanese Kitchen + Sushi Bar.” It has since attracted a loyal following for offering an authentic yet approachable Japanese dining experience that goes beyond sushi alone.

It offers a variety of service options from catering, dining or take-out, with a lengthy menu, some even complaining that the double-sided four menus is not enough to clearly see all the food. (To be fair, the print is pretty small).

“Rakuya” or 楽屋 in Japanese directly translates in English to “Green Room” or “Backstage dressing room,” emphasizing a comfortable, tucked-away place where people can relax, let their guard down, and enjoy themselves, which I do believe is very much accomplished. I had stopped by on a Wednesday at 4:30pm and sitting at the bar, the people I saw were business men/woman (It is Dupont Circle, after all) stopping by to relax before going home after a long and busy day. It was a place for people to transition back home, to relax before facing chores, children, and responsibilities. A sanctuary with Japanese sushi, ramen, food and alcohol (the best kind!)

Hours:

When I was younger and before getting my Masters and current license, I worked at a diner up in Gaithersburg which was open all day, every day. However, the longer I restaurant hop, the more I see restaurants with limited hours, which honestly is probably a great business hack; more concentrated hours, less hours to pay employees. Rakuya is a smart restaurant and is open daily 11am-3pm and then will reopen…

Sunday-Tuesday: 4:30-9pm

Wednesday & Thursday: 4:30-9:30pm

Friday & Saturday: 4:30-10pm

Service:

The service is fast, like bullet fast. I think my food came out in maybe 7 minutes? And within a few minutes of me finishing my appetizer, my entree was delivered promptly. I had sat at the bar, and there were other rooms in the restaurant that I couldn’t really see from where I was, so I can’t say if it was busy or not, but either way, service was speedy and attentive.

I was given water when I first sat down and given three menus, I think perhaps during morning or weekends, you get four- but I was happy with my three LOL. You can find the menus on their website, here. The bartender had explained to me what each of them were and given some time to think about what I wanted.

One thing I loved about RAKUYA is that everyone was efficient and quick, but it didn’t feel chaotic, hectic or rushed. It felt professionally prompt.

California Rolls:

I had gotten California rolls, I know- I know. I’m boring. I was told that there was fish eggs on top and asked if I was okay with that (which I was, clearly). I was also asked about food allergies, which I appreciated- as that’s not always asked- and sure it’s up to you to say what you’re allergic to, but the reminder is always helpful.

California rolls were introduced to Westerners in the 1970s, where Chef Ichiro Mashita in L.A. attempted to make sushi more “palatable” to Western tastes by hiding the Nori (seaweed). At the time, there wasn’t always available sushi-grade tuna, so he had used avocado instead and added crab to mimic a seafood flavor.

Although the origins are a little controversial as Japanese-Canadian chef Hidekazu Tojo claims that he was the one to create California rolls, although he calls it “Tojo Maki” instead. I suppose the true origin is simply between the sushi and the maker and we’ll never truly know!

Shio Ramen:

For my main course, I chose Shio (ramen).

Shio Ramen is a classic Japanese noodle soup, considered to be one of Japan’s oldest ramen styles.

Made primarily with clear, delicate and clear broth, seasoned with salt (shio), this dish is often made from chicken or seafood stick. It’s light and flavorful and truly a soul-warming dish!

Ramen itself came from Chinese noodle soups, brought to Japan by Chinese traders in the 1800s. But Shio Ramen originated in the late 19th/20th century in the port city of Hakodate, Hokkaido, possibly at the Youwaken restaurant. It was catered to Chinese merchants and has since evolved over time, although the ingredients still deeply reflect the cultural and regional flavors of the dish’s origins.

I was so full by the end of this meal, that I couldn’t have dessert. (In fact, I asked for a take-away container which they packed themselves and handed to me. They had given it to me in a paper bag, but you can ask for a plastic one with handles if it’s easier). However, RAKUYA does offer a dessert menu, the most popular being the croissant pudding. Although, I don’t know- the caramel pudding looks pretty spectacular too!

Do I recommend RAKUYA?

Quick service, fresh ingredients and delicious food- what can I complain about? The restaurant has 1,532 reviews with 4.4 stars, which is pretty good. I would definitely come again, and hopefully next time with room for dessert! There were some complaints I saw online that it was expensive, but honestly- it wasn’t that different than any other seafood restaurant. The California rolls were $8 and the Shio was $18. Really no complaints on cost for me…

Maybe I’m crazy… but if you’ve read this far in my blog, the likelihood you’re traveling to DC or have a friend you’re about to send this to is high, so if you’re looking for more to do in DC… museums (often free), fooderies, (and of course the zoo) etc. to do in DC, don’t forget to check out my other DC posts here. And if nothing suits your fancy, head over to Viator for bus tours, activities and more!