Sushi Capitol

The sushi was amazing. However the service was disturbing. We got there at 7:50om for our 815 reservation. They sat us early and we ate our food and ordered Saki. We didn’t finish our Saki when they came up and said we needed to leave and they needed to turn the table. We kept saying can we please finish our drinks? They came back five minutes later and said no and asked us to leave immediately. Very unfortunate because the sushi was fantastic.

The omakase is great. You get an appetizer of usually 3 different things. I’ve had fried fish collar, oysters, tempura, and monk fish liver before. All were great, the oysters especially, which were season and sauced excellently.
Then you get 16 pieces of sushi for the 2^nd course with usually a mix of different yellow tails, a salmon piece, a mackerel piece, sometimes unagi, sometimes uni or salmon roe, and of course the 3 different types of tuna. The uni can be hit or miss unfortunately.
For the third course, I usually end up with a toro hand roll, which always tastes great.

Amazingly fresh sushi…
This place is pretty small, so either expect to wait, or make reservations ahead of time. We were lucky at 1:30pm in getting 2 bar seats because everything else was reserved or taken. We got the sashimi platter and some rolls, and added salads and uni. Honestly, depending on how much you are ordering, the chef’s order at $ 50 per person might be a better deal. Our total came to around $ 65, but I definitely could have eaten more! There’s no such thing as too much sushi!

Hands down, the best sushi in the DC area! Had the 4 course omakase for $ 50, and it was totally worth it. The amount was just right and I didn’t have to pay an arm and leg like you would at Sushi Taro.
The omakase didn’t showcase salmon or tuna, it was all about the delicate white fishes. Americans tend to like the dark meat sushi (tuna, salmon, that kind of stuff) so the white meat will usually taste bland in comparison. Also, salmon isn’t served in traditional Japanese sushi restaurants in Japan. The chef ordered the sushi from lightest to darkest so that you would eat the lighter tasting fish before the darker ones. My husband says that a true sushi aficionado would never order dark meat sushi first because that would overpower your palate and render the white meat tasteless. I wouldn’t know because I tend to favor the dark meat over the white. But after today I may have to agree with him…
The chef making our omakase explained the types of fish and where they came from. The white fishes (red snapper, red seabream, yellowtail amberjack, kobudai, yellowjack) were straight from Japan, that made my husband super happy. He’s been complaining that there’s no «good» sushi in the DC area and had been craving «real» sushi (he’s Japanese). The red snapper was one of the best tasting I’ve ever had! The chef also explained that the aji (horse mackerel) was caught individually as opposed to being reeled in by the gigantic fishing nets. Being caught in the nets = stressed fish = not as great tasting (kind of like organic chicken vs caged chicken).
Other things that make this place the best: real wasabi not the powder one, the Japanese sushi rice (Americanized sushi has a lot less vinegar — it’s suppose to be a lot more vinegary), and the traditional Tokyo style — the sushi chef brushes the soy sauce on top of the fish before it is served to you (so you don’t drown it in the soy sauce-​wasabi mixture). On a final note, the chef made it a memorable experience by perfectly pacing our dishes, there was no wait or rush, and he ended the tasting with the sweet egg (the one that usually doesn’t get eaten until there’s nothing left). Who would’ve thought something so simple could be such a beautiful closure to the end of a wonderful tasting!
Will definitely be returning despite the hour long trek via metro!

The sushi was excellent. One of the best in the district. Ordered a few basic rolls… Next time would love to try the omakase. 4 stars due to no wine and no lettuce available for our salads. Definitely make a reservation, as the restaurant is pretty small. I heard a DuPont sister restaurant is opening… Excited for delicious sushi close to home!

Delicious. And really good value for what you’re getting.
After visiting Japan earlier this year and then blowing some serious dough at a famed sushi restaurant in NYC, we’ve unfortunately become exponentially pickier about our sushi. Most of your typical sushi joints in America just no longer satisfy…
Sushi Capitol delivers excellent nigiri sushi… Some pieces I dare say are comparable to what you can get at $$$$ establishments. The uni, yellowtail, scallop, tuna and striped jack were particularly amazing!!! Oh the uni!!! So fresh. And real wasabi.
The only fish I didn’t like was the marinated tuna.
Recommend sitting at the bar on busy nights so you get your sushi right away. The waitress was pretty busy tending to a number of tables so sometimes the sushi end up sitting at the counter for a bit which isn’t ideal.

Wow. Got the Omakase. It was amazing. Would not have traded it for anything. The fatty tuna was indeed amazing. We started with the grill Hamachi Kama — amazing. With the Omakase they provided a starter but I don’t remember it.
I am excited about their new Dupont location. I have a had lunch him many times but dinner was another creature it was amazing.
Quick and delicious.

Amazing! Our party chose the omakase, which really is a good price considering you get 3 courses with it. Sushi taro down the road is $ 45 a person and you just get sashimi. The first course was salmon, baby oyster, and roasted eggplant. Second was an excellent tray of sashimi over rice, 12 types of fish. All were super fresh and beautifully displayed. I like that all the sashimi already came brushed with sashimi soy sauce and dab of wasabi, so you really don’t need to dip any further. Lastly was a tuna seaweed wrap.
Our server was both friendly and knowledgeable. He explained all the fishes and what order to eat them in. Also suggested a well-​balanced sake at our request, which was so delicious we ordered 2 large bottles!
Ensure you make a reservation, the restaurant is tiny — only about 4 tables + seats at the bar.

If you can get a table without a reservation, consider yourself lucky. I’d been reading all the hype and trying to go, so finally we made reservations for a Monday night.
Once inside, I realized that it’s tiny. As in, maybe 7 tables tiny, with some space at the sushi bar.
The food certainly lived up to all of the hype. We ordered all sorts of nigiri, and they all tasted great.
Two highlights for me:
1) The tamago (sweet egg) sushi was by far the best. This says something, because tamago sushi tends to be the cheapest, easiest to prepare. If they took the time and care to make even their «easiest» sushi taste excellent, imagine what it says for the quality of everything else.
2) REAL WASABI. I’ve only had real wasabi once, while in Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan. My husband and I could immediately tell it wasn’t just colored horseradish. We asked the server if it really was wasabi, and he came back from the kitchen to show us the root and the grater.
The prices are very expensive, so as much as I wish I could eat here every single day, alas I can’t. However, it is truly a treat and I can’t wait for the next special occasion to return.

Omg! The best sushi. The fish was melt in your mouth and tasted so delicious.
The restaurant is a tiny space with really good sushi!
The service is really good too.
I wish I wasn’t so stuffed because I wanted to try so many other selections that they had.
Worth the walk to try this place!

o·ma·ka·se — a meal consisting of dishes selected by the chef
Another great value and another spectacular meal.

Absolutely fantastic. Fantastic sushi. Fantastic service. Excellent menu. Great location. There isn’t a portion of this restaurant that is doing it wrong.
Can (pronounced John) was my server, and he was a standup guy. Next time I’m in DC, I’ll be visiting this place again.

A tiny spot favoring the purists. Yeah, I’m content with the fish.
Too bad service was such a shit-​show that the sushi chefs were embarrassed for us and took our orders… small wonder we saw so many takeout orders. Between the manager and server, they forgot my hot tea twice, so I didn’t receive my still-​boiling beverage until two-​thirds of the way into my meal. Did I mention we were the second diners of the evening and only two other tables came in before we were almost done eating?
Chicken kara-​age wasn’t crispy at all, the crust had been steamed soft by the meat. Chirashi was moderately fresh and fairly portioned over simply seasoned rice, including delicately sweet tamago, and cucumber rounds to garnish. Sushi special was of the same quality, just not as reasonably priced a deal.
I was the less grumpy half over the fact that the miso soup and salad were strictly a la carte. Both loved the fresh wasabi. Longed for a tip jar for just the sushi fellas. We were wildly unimpressed by the service, but we’ll be back for hamachi kama yaki, homemade turkey shumai, and sushi takeout if it’s too crowded to pray for a timely omakase for 2.

I called on Tuesday night to make a reservation for lunch today. Dinah picked up the phone and spoke clearly and confirmed my reservation before we hung up.
The quaint restaurant opens sharply at noon for lunch. Even though the hostess set aside a table for my friend and me, the hostess accommodated my request to sit at the bar so I could watch the sushi chef.
We had some trouble deciding on what to eat and I was pleasantly surprised to see that there is more than just the menu online in the restaurant. They make special rolls, have nigiri, sashimi, and sake.
I opted for the chirashi, assorted slices of fish on a bed of sushi rice, for $ 20.95. There were a few slices of cucumber, fresh wasabi (not paste), ginger slices, and some sweet, caramelized onions.
The chirashi was A-​MA-​ZING. It did not disappoint at all. This is where I thank Unilocal and the connections I have through Unilocal.Fellow Unilocalers gave me ideas on what to eat and look for. Sitting at the bar allowed me to see large fresh cuts of fish, and while I did not know all I was eating, each cut was delicious, fresh, and smooth. This place is the real deal, and for the price, it’s worth it. The egg, salmon, shrimp were pieces I recognized. Most of the fish I did not recognize but found it enjoyable and yummy. (This is a sign how much I had faith in Sushi Capitol. I would never order something I didn’t like or recognize elsewhere. The quality is superb.)
I tried a couple of spicy tuna (yum!) and vegetable tempura. Wow! The tempura had a great light batter, and the vegetables were generously sized with a good dipping sauce.
All throughout the meal, I kept saying how good the place is and how much I want to come back for dinner, and how I understand why the place is so highly rated.
I also saw the chef whip out a blow torch a couple of times and another chef came to join and help put together each diner’s order. I liked sitting at the bar and seeing what people order.
I think the bathroom is tiny and it’s also located sort of in the middle of the restaurant. The bar has seating for 8. There are a couple of tables in the front half, each with two seats. I’d estimate there’s about 6 — 8 tables. So, not a lot of seating.
Reservations recommended, and I heard the hostess turn away a party of seven for not having a reservation. For parties of five or more, reservations are required.

I’m going have to unfortunately put Sushi Capitol in the overrated category. I think because the place is very small and can get crowded which can make it hard to get in, it helps, in building the hype but the end product wasn’t anything fantastic. Don’t get me wrong they didn’t do anything bad but they did nothing to blow me away either.
As mentioned place is small, 20 seats tops, so it fills up quickly. I believe they take reservations so it might be in the best interest to call ahead. As it is small be prepared to hear all your neighbors conversations.
I kept it simple and went with the sushi special, 7 pieces of Nigri with a random roll. I usually judge sushi places by two things, how fresh the fish is and how well put together the pieces are. Sushi Capitol was a hit with the fresh fish, some of the freshest I have ever experienced but missed with roll preparation. Every single one of my rolls fell to pieces when I grasped them with my chopsticks. This is a major faux pas. While of course not the end of the world, it left me less than satisfied.
While fish is fresh and portion size is more than enough to fill you up, Sushi Capitol just wasn’t all I hoped it was be and while worth a visit not worth going out of my way to try again.

I decided to try Sushi Capitol again just for their omakase ($ 50). There is a two order minimum, so make sure to bring a dining partner with you. The omakase included:
1) a starter plate: fresh oyster with Japanese twist, salmon belly, and half of a fried softshell crab. The softshell crab was better than any that I tasted and the piece of lime wedge really enhanced the flavor (the last time I had it at Rose’s Luxury was puny and barely had meat compared to this delicious one at Sushi Capitol). They were generous with the salmon belly, and the oyster was huge. I was pretty ecstatic already with the first plate.
2) 12 nigiri pieces of their chef’s choice. There were so many that I forgot, there was definitely a red snapper that was the mildest, to sea urchin which was very flavorful (and once again generous), and scallops. All the cut pieces on the nigiri were super generous, the rice was flavorful, and I loved how they had already brushed a coat of wasabi & soysauce on the nigiri. I was super full after having my first set of 6 nigiris. The second set of 6 nigiris had so many interesting flavors, I enjoyed all of them.
3) It ended with a hand roll. Tonight, we had the fatty tuna handroll. Again, super generous with fish, very flavorful. Loved the scallions.
We sat at the sushi counter, but the counter was raised so you can’t see the chefs prepare the sushi. The service was excellent and the whole Sushi Capitol wait staff team were friendly and it was easy to get their attention. If you sit at the counter, you can watch the staff interact with the sushi chefs as they get repeated which sushi is being served. Also, since many customers request their sushi without the wasabi sauce, the servers constantly inquired which dish is without wasabi. Perhaps they can get color-​coded dishes to indicate the non-​wasabi sushi.
The bathroom is tiny and right behind the bar, and could use a bit refreshing, but it didn’t matter, because the sushi was fantastic and the prices were so reasonable. Make a reservation on weekday nights because by the time it was 6PM on a Monday night, there was a sign at the door that indicated they were booked for the rest of the night.
Overall, excellent experience and happy my second experience at Sushi Capital was so much better than the first (because I ordered omakase and not specialty rolls). I really enjoyed the atmosphere, super casual, no music, you can actually hear your dining partner and appreciate fresh sushi.

Small sushi bar that offers amazing omakase for $ 50. Don’t bother with a la carte menu except for the live uni. Go with the omakase as the chef’s choice sushi platter gives you a selection of freshest fish of the day. The omakase itself was enough to fill up my belly, as it comes with an appetizer, 12 pieces of sushi, and ends with a hand roll.
The sushi was already brushed with soy sauce and includes a hint of fresh wasabi. A traditional way of presenting sushi — way authentic!
If the live uni is on the specials menu, go for it! $ 14 is not a lot to pay for 2 large pieces of the freshest uni you will ever taste. It melted in my mouth like butter. The chef scoops the uni out of its spiky shell — why it’s called live uni.
Make sure to call ahead for a reservation. The place seats no more 20 people so walk-​ins are usually not accepted during the busy weekend dinner time.

A friend of mine has been suggesting Sushi Capitol for months and I don’t know why I waited so long to go. The place is packed anytime I’ve walked by and with only a few tables, my hopes of getting a seat were pretty low. But fun fact! They take reservations. I called ahead on Monday morning and got an 8:00pm dinner reservation for 2 and we were seated immediately when we walked in. The host was very friendly! We got the spicy trio roll (salmon, tuna and yellowtail), the california roll, eel nigiri, chutoro and the sushi gold entrée which included 11 pieces of assorted nigiri and a roll (they choose). Everything was so delicious– and I’m not a major sushi connoisseur but it was probably the best sushi place that I’ve been to in DC. My boyfriend commented how great the rice was.
Beer prices are inexpensive, waitstaff is friendly and helpful. no frills– just a great little sushi place that is easy to miss among the bars and restaurants of Pennsylvania Avenue. Excited to make this my new sushi spot on the Hill.

First DC sushi dinner! After reading the reviews on a few sushi spots, I decided on Sushi Capital and I am glad I did.
First of all, definitely make a reservation ahead of time because there are only a few tables and a small-​ish sushi bar. We went on a Monday evening at 8pm, and I overheard the host/​waiter telling some patrons that all of the 8pm reservations were full.
Second of all, our host/​waiter is extremely polite and courteous. We had questions about the difference between the medium fatty tuna and the very fatty tuna, and he gave a very good explanation which helped us decide.
Third, the (single) bathroom was nicely updated and smelled great. Anywhere with a pleasant bathroom is A-​OK with me because it shows someone really cares about every aspect of their restaurant.
Forth, I enjoyed everything we ordered, which was a lot. Edamame, sashimi platter (11 pieces), medium fatty tuna (on the menu as ‘market price’, which was $ 14 on Monday night) and rolls (a shrimp tempura roll, a dragon roll, a tuna roll, a salmon avocado roll, a spicy tuna roll, and one other I can’t recall the name).

Seated at the tiny bar in the back of the no-​frills, narrow restaurant, the omikase was presented with minimal fuss, but maximum attention to detail. The fish was so fresh, the sushi rice was just a little warm, and the fresh wasabi and soy were applied so perfectly, there was no need to tamper.
The omikase at Sushi Capitol might be one of the best dining deals in D.C.
For $ 50, we had:
–A starter of monkfish liver, oyster, and marinated octopus.
–13 pieces of nigiri, including three (3!) pieces of toro (fatty tuna) that was probably the best quality toro I’ve ever had in D.C.
–A beautifully presented Hamachi handroll.
The nigiri stole the show. The toro was served two ways, raw and ever so slightly seared with a blow torch. Serving them together really highlighted how the flavors change with the tiniest application of heat. The eel and scallop, two things I’m not the biggest fan of normally, were both delicious. And the salmon nigiri was melt in your mouth tender. I just wish we had been served more salmon. When the sushi chef told us that the handroll is sometimes salmon, I have to admit I was a little jealous of the diners who came on those nights.
The only thing keeping Sushi Capitol from five stars for me was the starter. The monkfish liver was great, but served by itself with nothing to add texture, it was a little less appetizing than it could have been. The octopus was not the best I’ve had, and the oyster was gigantic and a little too ocean-​y for my taste.
But none of that would keep me from coming back and ordering the omikase again. Wanting to try some other items on the menu, and control how much salmon made its way to my plate, might make me go a la carte. But either way, I’m coming back.