Takeshi Sushi and Ramen in Courthouse has only been in its “soft opening” phase for a week, but at lunch today (Thursday) it was nearly full with locals checking out Arlington’s newest Japanese restaurant.
The small but sunny eatery at 2424 Wilson Blvd is sandwiched next to Delhi Dhaba Indian Restaurant and underneath Arlington Rooftop Bar & Grill. It is open daily from 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
The restaurant offers a range of sushi platters, ramen soups, and rice books for between $11-$15 (one eel on rice dish, Unaju, being the outlier at $18). Vegetarian and vegan options — like a soft tofu ramen and a mango/avocado-based fruit “sushi” — are also available.
Owner and chef Wu Lin said there are a few more dishes on the way when the restaurant has its full grand opening sometime next month.
Lin said he trained at the Tokyo Sushi Academy and showed top-ranked certificates from the school.
While the restaurant is still using napkins from Papa John’s next door and has a rather sparse, hole-in-the-wall interior, the staff showed careful precision as they assembled meals. One chef slicing lemons for a boxed meal discarded two pieces after he decided they were sliced slightly too thin.
“This area is new for us, but we’re confident,” said one of the staff.
Lin said that while the restaurant offers sushi and ramen, the ramen has by far been the more popular choice so far.
A second location for the restaurant in the Fairfax Circle Shopping Center is also now open, according to Lin.