Nasime Japanese Restaurant

For those in Virginia seeking an truly extraordinary Japanese dining experience, Nasime Japanese Restaurant in Old Town Alexandria stands as a beacon of culinary artistry. Far from a typical sushi spot, Nasime offers an intimate and authentic multi-course Japanese tasting menu, often referred to as kaiseki, that transports diners straight to the heart of Japan. It’s a place where every dish is a meticulously crafted work of art, designed to surprise and delight with its genuine flavors and beautiful presentation.

What makes Nasime truly special is its exclusive and personal approach. With only a handful of tables, it provides an incredibly intimate setting, making it perfect for an impressive date night or a significant celebration. The experience is elevated by Chef Yuh Shimomura, who personally explains each dish and offers recommendations on how to best savor it. Customers consistently rave about how each course surpasses the last, leaving them feeling warm, comforted, and as if they were "back visiting Japan." The freshness of the sushi, the richness of dishes like the ox tail soup, and the overall authenticity of the taste are frequently highlighted, making Nasime an absolute must-try for discerning foodies in Virginia.

Nasime Japanese Restaurant is gracefully situated at 1209 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA. This prime location places it in the historic and charming Old Town Alexandria, a highly sought-after area known for its vibrant culinary scene, boutique shops, and picturesque waterfront. The restaurant benefits from being on King Street, one of Old Town's main thoroughfares, making it easily accessible for both local residents and those visiting from wider Virginia and the DMV area.

For public transportation, Nasime is conveniently located within a comfortable walking distance from the King Street-Old Town Metro Station (Yellow and Blue Lines). This provides excellent connectivity to Washington, DC, and other parts of Northern Virginia. Numerous DASH bus routes also operate throughout Old Town, making local travel straightforward. For those arriving by car, while street parking on King Street can be limited, there are several public parking garages available within a few blocks. Its location in a walkable and aesthetically pleasing part of Old Town adds to the overall charm of dining at Nasime, making the journey to this culinary gem part of the experience.

Nasime Japanese Restaurant offers a highly specialized and exclusive dining experience, primarily focused on a traditional multi-course Japanese meal:

• Omakase/Seven-Course Tasting Menu: The core offering is a unique seven-course tasting menu, embodying the essence of kaiseki. This menu is carefully curated by Chef Yuh Shimomura and changes daily or seasonally, ensuring a fresh and unique experience with each visit. It includes a variety of Japanese culinary styles, such as raw dishes (Tsukuri), grilled dishes (Yakimono), fried dishes (Agemono), and noodle or soup courses (Nabe), culminating in a delightful dessert.

• Intimate Dine-In Experience: Nasime provides a very intimate dining setting, with limited seating (reportedly only 3 tables or around 10-20 people max, including a counter). This small size ensures highly attentive service and a personal interaction with the chef.

• Reservations Required/Strongly Encouraged: Due to its small capacity and high demand, reservations are not just recommended but strongly required. Bookings are primarily made online via platforms like Resy, often needing to be secured well in advance, especially for weekend evenings.

• Dietary Accommodations: While the menu is fixed, the chef is often willing to accommodate dietary restrictions or dislikes, provided sufficient notice (usually at least two days) is given. However, they note that they cannot guarantee 100% gluten-free due to kitchen size, though they may substitute ingredients like GF soy sauce or noodles.

• Sake and Beverage Pairing: Nasime offers a refined selection of sake, beer, wine, and Japanese highballs. A sake pairing option is available to enhance the multi-course meal, expertly chosen to complement each dish.

• Chef Interaction: A significant part of the experience is the personal interaction with Chef Yuh Shimomura, who often explains each dish as it is served and provides insights into its preparation.

Nasime Japanese Restaurant stands out as a unique and highly acclaimed dining destination in Virginia due to several distinctive features:

• Authentic Kappo/Kaiseki Cuisine: Nasime specializes in "Kappo" cuisine, a style that blends traditional multi-course Japanese meals (kaiseki) with the spontaneity and interaction of a chef's counter. This provides a truly authentic Japanese dining experience rarely found outside of Japan.

• Chef Yuh Shimomura's Expertise: Chef/Owner Yuh Shimomura brings over 20 years of experience, including training in Ginza, Tokyo. His talent and dedication to preparing all materials from scratch ensure an exceptionally high quality of food.

• Daily Changing Tasting Menu: The seven-course menu varies daily, based on the freshest available ingredients, offering a unique "surprise" element with each visit. This ensures seasonality and creativity in every dish.

• Impeccable Freshness and Quality of Ingredients: Customers consistently praise the freshness and quality of the fish for sashimi and other components. Dishes like Seared Japanese Wagyu with truffle shoyu and Spanish Octopus Agedashi are frequently highlighted for their exquisite taste and preparation.

• Intimate and Exclusive Setting: With only a few tables and limited seating, Nasime offers a very personal and cozy atmosphere. This exclusivity contributes to a feeling of being a valued guest in a hidden gem, perfect for special occasions.

• Reasonable Pricing for High Caliber: Despite offering a top-tier fine dining experience, customers often note that the prices are "super reasonable for what you get" and "crazy inexpensive" for the high quality, especially when compared to similar establishments in larger cities.

• Personalized Service and Attention: The small size allows for highly attentive service. The chef's personal explanations of each dish and willingness to accommodate (within reason) dietary preferences enhance the bespoke nature of the meal.

• Diverse Culinary Techniques: The menu showcases a wide range of Japanese culinary techniques, from delicate raw preparations to perfectly grilled, fried, and slow-cooked dishes, providing a comprehensive tour of Japanese flavors.

Nasime Japanese Restaurant, due to its intimate size, focus on high-end ingredients, and personalized omakase experience, does not typically offer traditional promotions, discounts, or "special offers" in the conventional sense (e.g., happy hour, coupons). The value proposition at Nasime is inherently tied to the unparalleled quality of the ingredients, the masterful skill of Chef Yuh Shimomura, and the unique, intimate dining experience. The current pricing for their seven-course tasting menu is set to reflect this premium offering, generally around $115 to $120 per person (though prices can vary and it's always best to check their official Resy page for the most current information).

Instead of promotional deals, any "specials" at Nasime come in the form of their constantly evolving menu, which features seasonal and rare ingredients. The surprise and delight of a new, perfectly crafted dish are part of the value. Occasionally, they might offer a sake pairing option, which enhances the meal but is an additional cost. Given its status as a highly sought-after dining destination with limited seating, the restaurant's focus remains on delivering an exceptional, uncompromised culinary journey rather than attracting diners through discounts. Prospective diners should anticipate a premium experience at a price point that many reviewers find to be extremely reasonable for the caliber of food and service received.

Given the highly exclusive and reservation-driven nature of Nasime Japanese Restaurant, direct contact is best initiated through their online reservation system. For general inquiries, you can use the following details:

Address: 1209 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA

Phone: (703) 548-1848

However, it is crucial to note that Nasime prefers and often requires all reservations to be made online, typically through platforms like Resy. They also explicitly state that they are "unable to accept any changes or cancellations made via phone or voicemail," underscoring the importance of managing your reservation through their online system. For specific details about the menu or to book your unforgettable dining experience, visiting their official website and their Resy booking page is the most effective approach.

Nasime Japanese Restaurant is an exceptional and highly suitable choice for locals in Virginia, particularly those in the Alexandria area, who are seeking a truly authentic and elevated Japanese dining experience. Its intimate setting on King Street in Old Town provides a unique escape, feeling like a discovery of "Tiny Tokyo in Old Town." For locals celebrating a special occasion, looking for an impressive date night, or simply desiring an unparalleled culinary adventure, Nasime delivers. The constant rotation of their seven-course tasting menu means that every visit offers a fresh and surprising journey through traditional Japanese flavors and techniques, curated by the highly experienced Chef Yuh Shimomura.

What sets it apart for the Virginia community is its commitment to high-quality, authentic Japanese cuisine at a price point that many reviewers find incredibly reasonable for the caliber of fine dining offered. Despite the challenge of securing one of their limited reservations, the effort is consistently deemed "totally worth it" for the intimate atmosphere, the personalized chef interaction, and the consistently delicious and beautifully presented dishes. For those who appreciate meticulous preparation, fresh ingredients, and a dining experience that genuinely feels like a step into Japan, Nasime Japanese Restaurant is an unmissable local treasure that promises to be frequented by those who discover it.

Nasime Japanese Restaurant

1209 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA