Absolute Noodle and Sushi Bar

Overview:

I really wanted to try a Japanese restaurant while in Washington DC. After touring the National Mall, we used Google reviews to figure out the best one in the area. Absolute Noodle and Sushi Bar was the place we decided to try. They serve sushi, ramen, rice dishes, and donburi. Here you can eat inside the small dining room, get takeout, or delivery. Below are the hours you can visit Absolute Noodle.

 Monday 11:30 AM–9:30 PM 

Tuesday 11:30 AM–9:30 PM 

Wednesday 11:30 AM–9:30 PM 

Thursday 11:30 AM–9:30 PM 

Friday 11:30 AM–10 PM

Saturday 12:30–10 PM 

Sunday 12:30–9:30 PM

The Food:

Tuna Avocado Roll

My first thought when we got here was that I had to try the sushi. So for my starter, I ordered a tuna avocado and eel avocado rolls. The tuna was cut into big pieces, and the avocado was smooth and fresh. I enjoyed the rice and seaweed wrap, and it all made for a fantastic roll. 

The eel avocado roll was tasty too, with the eel being tender and drizzled with the sweet eel sauce. 

Eel Avocado Roll

For my entree, I ordered the tonkotsu ramen. In Japanese cuisine, tonkotsu ramen is one of the four major ramen broths you can order with it being made primarily of cooked pork bones. Additionally, they added pork belly, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, picled ginger, and a seasoned egg. All parts of this ramen were great. In particular, I really enjoyed the broth and bamboo shoots. 

Tonkotsu Ramen

Below is the second bowl of soup we ordered. This one is the shoyu ramen with beef bulgogi. The shoyu broth is one of the other major broths you can order and it simply means soy sauce. Inside are thicker ramen noodles and beef bulgogi, which was tender. 

Shoyu Ramen w/ Beef Bulgogi

Pad See Ew

The other two dishes we ordered were pad see ew and a crispy ramen stir fry. The former came with lots of veggies and flat egg noodles, typical in the popular Thai dish. The second dish was ramen without the broth. Instead, they threw it in a pan with veggies to crisp it up. Both dishes were delicious and rounded out the food we ordered here. 

Crispy Ramen

Service:

The service at Absolute Noodle was very nice. Our waitress got us a refillable water container, and we also ordered Sapporo beers, which were ice cold. The sushi came out fast, and the rest was over in short succession. 

Atmosphere:

The atmosphere of Absolute Noodle was like a cozy Japanese bar. You can sit at the sushi bar in the back or at one of the small tables to the left and center of the restaurant. They have subtle Japanese decor on the walls and nice tables and chairs. 

Rating: Excellent |⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐|

Absolute Noodle is a perfect spot to try while visiting DC or if you are a local. The Japanese food they serve is top-notch and tastes great. I like the variety of food they have, and the quality of everything was consistently good. The service was quick, and the atmosphere was relaxing. If you want good Japanese food in DC, give Absolute Noodle a try. If you are looking for something else in DC, I went to City Tap House, not too far away, which was also great!