Washington D.C. · Sushi · a la carte
Sushiko
Contemporary Japanese sushiJapanese-ownedChevy Chase MDDC's oldest sushi restaurantCreative menu
Founded in 1969 and now owned by Tokyo-born Daisuke Utagawa (who purchased it in 1988 after Japanese culinary training), Sushiko is the DC area's longest-running sushi restaurant. Located in Chevy Chase, MD, it serves a creative contemporary Japanese menu that spans fresh nigiri and sashimi to inventive rolls and seasonal specials.
- Price
- ¥¥¥
- Area
- Chevy Chase (MD)
- Since
- 1969
- Chef
- Piter Tjan
- Owner
- Daisuke Utagawa
Plate № 33
About
Sushiko holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating sushi restaurant in the Washington DC metropolitan area, having opened in 1969. Tokyo-born Daisuke Utagawa — the same owner who went on to launch Daikaya and Bantam King — purchased Sushiko in 1988 after completing Japanese culinary training, and has stewarded its evolution over three decades. While the kitchen leadership has shifted to a non-Japanese chef (Piter Tjan, Indonesian) and chef de cuisine over the years, the Japanese ownership criterion is met by Utagawa's Tokyo-born stewardship. The menu leans creative and contemporary — salmon ceviche, wagyu nigiri, inventive rolls — rather than strictly traditional, reflecting the restaurant's evolution under diverse culinary leadership.
Why it's on Washoku Guide
- The oldest sushi restaurant in the DC metro area — 55+ years of continuous operation is itself a form of authenticity.
- Tokyo-born owner Daisuke Utagawa, who also runs Daikaya and Bantam King, provides Japanese ownership at the highest level.
- Creative contemporary menu gives Japanese sushi a modern, accessible expression without abandoning quality or tradition entirely.
- Validated parking and accessible Chevy Chase MD location make this the go-to Japanese restaurant for the Maryland suburbs.
Borderline — included based on Japanese ownership (Daisuke Utagawa, Tokyo-born) meeting criterion (a). Executive chef Piter Tjan is Indonesian; kitchen leadership is non-Japanese. Authenticity limited to 'Japanese-owned.' Founded 1969; purchased by Utagawa 1988.
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