Kusshi is now serving sushi in Pentagon City.
The Bethesda-based Japanese restaurant finally opened its doors last week at Westpost, next to Mimi’s Handmade Ice Cream. Employees tell ARLnow that Kusshi is in the midst of its soft opening with a “grand opening” set for later this month.
The sushi and sake spot was first announced more than a year ago, filling the space once occupied by Namaste Everest. It was initially supposed to open late last year, then spring, before ultimately opening in late June.
Co-owner Tony Chow told ARLnow that the delays were associated with fairly typical stuff, including supply chain issues, materials, and permitting.
This is Kusshi’s second location. Ownership decided to open at 1201 S. Joyce Street due to the same developer — Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRIT) — owning both Westpost and Bethesda’s Pike & Rose, where the restaurant opened its first location in 2018.
Its proximity to Amazon HQ2, only about a mile away, was also a major reason for moving into the shopping center, Chow told ARLnow earlier this year.
The menu is similar to the Bethesda location’s offerings, including sushi, sashimi, ramen, katsu, and sake. The restaurant also offers omakase, a formal meal left to the chef’s choice. There’s currently only indoor seating, but outdoor seating is part of the plan as well.
Westpost has had a myriad of openings recently, all part of a significant makeover over the past two years. In late 2020, the development’s name changed from Pentagon Row to Westpost. Since, buzzy restaurants like Lucky Danger, Cathal Armstrong’s Mattie and Eddie’s, and Nighthawk Pizza have all opened.
Just in the past few months, Baltimore-based Banditos Bar & Kitchen and Target have opened their doors as well.