Washoku Guide
Cities/Washington D.C./Sushi/Sushi Gaku
Washington D.C. · Sushi · a la carte

Sushi Gaku

Traditional Japanese sushiJapanese-ownedGeorgetown40 years experienceFugu licensed

Chef-owner Yoshi Ota was born in Hokkaido and trained at the ANA Intercontinental Hotel in Tokyo before running his own restaurant in Ginza for over a decade. At Sushi Gaku, which opened in Georgetown in May 2025, he brings four decades of traditional Japanese sushi craft to an intimate basement counter on Wisconsin Avenue.

Price
¥¥¥
Area
Georgetown
Since
2025
Chef
Yoshi Ota
Sushi Gaku — authentic traditional japanese sushi restaurant in Washington D.C., Georgetown
Plate № 31
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About
Yoshi Ota's résumé spans Tokyo's most prestigious culinary institutions: training at the ANA Intercontinental, leading a Ginza restaurant for over ten years, co-founding Kushi Izakaya in DC, serving as head sushi chef at Sushiko, and opening Yuzu in Bethesda. Sushi Gaku — his newest venture in Georgetown — distills this lifetime of expertise into an intimate basement space that offers high-quality nigiri, sashimi carpaccio, and seasonal specials. Ota holds a fugu preparation license and treats the restaurant as the fullest expression of his traditional Japanese sushi philosophy. Georgetown DC's culinary directory bills Ota as representing '40 years mastery in Georgetown DC.'
Neighborhood & visiting

Sushi Gaku sits in Georgetown, one of Washington D.C.'s neighborhoods where authentic Japanese kitchens have taken root. Reservations are available online — for a focused sushi counter this is strongly recommended. Check the posted hours before you go — traditional sushi restaurants often close between service periods.

Why it's on Washoku Guide
  • Forty years of Japanese sushi training from Hokkaido to Ginza, now in an intimate Georgetown basement counter.
  • Chef Ota holds a fugu license — rare even among serious Japanese sushi chefs — available seasonally.
  • ANA Intercontinental Tokyo and Ginza restaurant pedigree in a relaxed, non-flashy neighborhood setting.
  • Toast-based reservations mean direct access to limited counter seats without fighting large booking platforms.

Confirmed authentic: Japanese-owned and led (Yoshi Ota, Hokkaido-born). Opened May 2025. Toast reservations on website.

Links
Reserve →Website →Map →Yelp →Instagram →

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Frequently asked

About Sushi Gaku

Is Sushi Gaku an authentic traditional japanese sushi restaurant in Washington D.C.?
Yes — Sushi Gaku is featured in Washoku Guide because it meets our authenticity standard for traditional japanese sushi in Washington D.C.: a kitchen grounded in Japanese technique, ingredients and preparation consistent with Japanese practice, and a focused sushi format.
Where is Sushi Gaku located?
Sushi Gaku is located at 1338 Wisconsin Ave NW Basement, Washington, DC 20007, Washington D.C., USA in the Georgetown neighborhood.
Do I need a reservation at Sushi Gaku?
Sushi Gaku accepts reservations online. For an authentic sushi experience, especially at a focused counter, booking ahead is strongly recommended.
What is the price range at Sushi Gaku?
Sushi Gaku sits in the ¥¥¥ price range — typical for traditional japanese sushi of this format in Washington D.C..
Keep exploring
All Japanese restaurants in Washington D.C. →Sushi in Washington D.C. →Authentic sushi worldwide →All cities →