4. Restaurants

Miso

7410-B Little River Tpke, Annandale, VA, 22003
  • (703) 256-5737
  • Store is closed

Miso Menu

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Visit below restaurant in Annandale for healthy meals suggestion.

Papa John’s Pizza ( 6920C Braddock Rd )
Burger King ( 7064 Columbia Pike )

Visit below restaurant in Annandale for healthy meals suggestion.

Burger King ( 7064 Columbia Pike )

Visit below restaurant in Annandale for healthy meals suggestion.

Burger King ( 7064 Columbia Pike )

  • Angela P.

    This place doesn't look appealing from the outside but the inside is nicely decorated and the service is unbeatable! I've only seen male servers there but they're all super friendly and willing to help you. The food is tasty. I always get the spicy mussels appetizer and they're so good! I also like their chicken katsu, it's not greasy at all and it has the perfect level of fried crispiness! I usually get that with their sashimi bibimbap which is also super tasty with the perfect amount of sashimi! Comes with a small salad and baked egg to start off with then it's served with soup, cole slaw (super good cole slaw), kimchi, pickled radish, and the katsu sauce. You're always welcome to ask for more sides or sauce free of charge. At the end of the meal, you get a complimentary choice of coffee, vanilla ice-cream, or a little sweet liquid yogurt drink to finish your meal with. Love this place and the ambiance! Definitely worth the price! The mussels are $7 and the katsu with sashimi bibimbap is $16! Can't beat that!

    (5)

  • Thuy V.

    3.5 We've been wanting to try a place with udon since our trip to Japan. This place was ok. Most of our group got a combo with udon and a protein. The pork cutlet was pretty tasty and I liked it with both the dipping sauce and with the salad and dressing. The udon was also ok for me. I wouldn't necessarily seek it out again. I thought the price was fair for the amount of food. Was a little disappointed in the service - it was two guys who were quick to greet but then after that you had to grab them for anything. The table settings were also really haphazard. Does it matter? I guess not but it shows the level of care for the restaurant. Also they ran out of ice cream.

    (3)

  • Kimberly T.

    **Food = 3.5 stars, the boost of .5 is for friendly service!** My friend finally took me to one of his favorite spots in Annandale after having to cancel the first two times. I really wanted to like this place, but it just didn't leave an impression on me. Entrees are affordable and food seemed standard, some type of katsu with rice, meat with rice, or udon noodles. We came here on a weekday for dinner, I ordered the pork katsu & udon noodle platter and my friend ordered the sashimi bibim. The menu items are budget friendly and you even get free ice cream after your meal! I would like to come back and try the sashimi bibim, which looked really appetizing and to give this place another shot. Other than that, there's not much else pulling me back here.

    (3)

  • Merry M.

    Service can be shifty and inconsistent but I come here for the food. You get generous portions for decent prices. I've tried most of their appetizers and they're all pretty good. I love the katsu and mini udong combos. The katsu is perfectly fried crispy but tender and juicy on the inside. The dipping sauce is good and overall better katsu than most places around. They also give complimentary mini desserts or coffee at the end of every meal which is a "sweet" ending to the dining experience! You always leave full and satisfied. I will definitely venture out and try different things on the menu.

    (4)

  • AL K.

    We happened to be in the area and thought of this place for dinner. Recalling our positive experience years ago we never gave it a second thought. We ordered pork katsu and somehow we felt that our order wasn't freshly cooked, It tasted hard and dry like it had been sitting out under a warmer for awhile. Dry inside. It was like chewing on cardboard. In short I think quality has gone down.

    (3)

  • Joanne D.

    Food is great! Price is cheap. Nothing can better than a $12 lunch here! Excellent udon and katsu dishes.

    (5)

  • Chris S.

    I was craving some ramen on a rainy afternoon and decided to give Miso a chance to satisfy my needs, unfortunately I was greatly disappointed. The ramen just wasn't very good, all I tasted was salt, the overall flavor was seriously lacking. The noodles were bland and dry. The pork was there meaning a decent portion size but left a lot to be desired in the flavor department as well. The entire bowl just didn't pack any punch as I might as well have slurped down a bowl of salt water for all it did to satisfy my tastes. While the ramen was bad, there are some pluses to Miso, the staff is very friendly and helpful. They more than met my needs. I also am a big fan of the "free" ice cream you receive at the end of your meal. It picked my spirits up a little after the disappointing meal. Miso has a host of other options besides ramen so perhaps I will give them a chance in the future to sway me in other ways but the ramen is a never again.

    (2)

  • Kristine K.

    I rarely make the trip to Miso because Annandale is such a hike for me, but when I do, I always leave satisfied. My favorite part of miso is the variety! Most of the menu is Mix & Match, and you order one thing and get several items on the side. Also love the complementary salad & fluffy steamed egg! For first timers I recommend the Pork Katsu, which is their most popular menu item. It's hands down the best katsu place in Northern VA. It comes out sizzling hot right out of the deep fryer and it's not dry like at other places. and the outer crust is super crispy and flakey at the same time. I usually get the Pork Katsu & Udon combo and looooove it. I also tried the Sashimi Bibimbap which I was kind of skeptical about getting here but I was surprised at how good it was! There were generous amounts of raw fish pieces that I had plenty left towards the end too. I hate it when restaurants skimp you on sashimi on the bowls (cough cough Han Gang in Annandale) and Miso's was 10000x better. Unfortunately this time they didn't give me the icecream cone dessert which I love here :( Not sure if they took that away or if they just ran out-- but we got Korean yogurt & coffee instead, which was still nice of them. I'm tellin ya service is always on point.

    (4)

  • Pegah Y.

    Meh, this place was OK, but not somewhere I'd drive out of my way to visit again. I visited for a fairly early lunch on a Friday to avoid the lunch rush. The restaurant wasn't crowded at all and they accommodated me and allowed me to get in and leave quickly. The service was excellent. And the decor is lovely and looks very authentic and has a nice calming nature feel to it, but the food was less than stellar, in my opinion. I ordered the Udong soup (yes, "Oodong," not "Udon"), which was a lot less flavorful than I was hoping it would be. It was full of mushrooms (which I dislike) and not very much else. There were hardly any veggies or fish cakes in there. And the broth was bland / boring and a bit too hot for my taste. I'd recommend sticking with ordering ramen here. It seems like ramen would probably be a better choice than udon soup. The soup came with a miso salad, which was OK, but the dressing was way too watered down. And it also came with a small melted egg dish I was unsure of. I tasted a bit of it and decided not to eat it. I did like that my soup came with kimchi on the side, but that was random with the Japanese food I ordered. I guess this place is Korean, but they serve Japanese food? It's a bit confusing. Bottom line - I was disappointed with the food. Service and atmosphere are nice, but I wouldn't go out of my way to visit again, especially since Annandale is well-known for their other Korean restaurants.

    (3)

  • Min K.

    We've been coming here for quite some time now and love it here. Our favorite is the shrimp and soft shell crab Kathy and the shrimp and flounder katsu (with udon) Yum, not too oily, plenty of food and both dishes for less than 30 bucks. Great ambience, great service, and good portions. For starters, you get a steamed egg and a mini salad. Shortly after your main meal arrives. For dessert, you get a choice of ice cream or yogurt drink (complimentary).

    (5)

  • Su Jin K.

    3.5 stars There's a lot to like about this place. For one, there are complimentary appetizers (iceberg lettuce salad with ginger dressing and steamed egg with an imitation crab garnish). That being said, the appetizers (while plated nicely) aren't exactly the tastiest dishes I've ever had (lettuce was a little wilted and the egg was really bland), but still, they're free, so I'll take them. There's also complimentary beverages at the end of your meal (your choice of coffee, ginger tea, and yakult). The meal itself comes with generous portions. I've ordered both the pork and chicken donkatsu dishes, and I love that the breading is so crispy, and the meat is cooked well. The sauce is good, but I think I'd be willing to get a smaller portion in exchange for more meat. This is some of the thinnest donkatsu I've ever been served. The udon is decent, but you can make just as good instant udon at home. The cabbage salad was standard fare, but I found myself a little puzzled by the potato/egg salad. It was quite heavy on the mayonnaise, and it tasted like a cross between a potato salad and deviled eggs. The only thing missing was paprika sprinkled on top =) The only unfamiliar thing on the tray was the onion salad in the upper right corner (space-filler?). Otherwise, this is a very standard donkatsu and udon combo tray. Service is definitely better than average here. The owner came around to each table to ask how the meal was going, and it seems the servers speak both English and Korean fluently (and once again, they defaulted to English with me. What about me screams non-Korean speaker? Because I would really like to fix it!). I've been here for both lunch and dinner, and it seems like they change the music to match the time of day/week. Today was a bit strange because one of the songs was about the coming of Christmas, and it's April 1st, but whatevs. The only problem I've ever had here was today when I got my bill. They over-charged me by $3, but they were quick to fix it once I pointed it out. As I was walking out, I took a look at their to-go specials, and it seems like the chicken katsu to go is $6.95, which is $3 less than I paid. Of course, you don't get the complimentary appetizers, beverages, and udon, but I think you still come out ahead on the takeout deal. Finally, as a place to hang out, I like this place. It has a more open feel to it than other cramped restaurants in Annandale, and it draws a really diverse clientele. There are families, older Korean couples, non-Koreans, young high school students, and me, a traveling worker =) I bet that on weekend nights, it can be a fun place to have drinks and fried katsu, so I'll definitely be back, especially because I have yet to find any comparable donkatsu/udon place in the area.

    (3)

  • Abbi K.

    I came here thinking, it has to be better than last time I went here where they clearly have not changed the oil where they fry the katsu and the food tasted BITTER from old oil. Sadly I was mistaken. It was even worse, even more bitter, that I couldn't even finish the mini portion of the katsu I got. My boyfriend got horrible stomachaches and indigestion from eating here. If you want to know what food poisoning from food fried in dirty old oil tastes like, this is it. That bitter and tangy taste you get from their katsu is an indication of it being fried in spoiled oil and is NOT supposed to be there. Don't go here because trust me, you will get sick.

    (1)

  • Jennifer M.

    Typical Korean-owned Japanese place. But I can see where the "Fusion" comes from. I like my salads with the ginger dressing, but I couldn't quite tell what the dressing was. Sort of ginger-y but I thought I also tasted soy sauce? quite odd. And the steamed egg is traditional asian, but slightly on the salty side i thought. Very cute presentations though. It took me a while to figure out their menus though. The food selections for the combinations were all over the place with no explanation whatsoever. Just a few vague bars that group them in a flimsy system if you could call it that. The combos come with a nice variety of foods. I got the flounder katsu combo with salmon katsu sushi rolls and it came with a small servng of typical korean banchan dishes: picked radish and kimchi. The flounder katsu was kind of bland, but tasted wonderful with the sauce. It was not oily, but kind of thin. More tempura breading than fish. I should have gotten pork I think. Also came with a mini miso-based udon, a type of potato salad and dressed cabbage. Concept of "free dessert" is kind of interesting. You choose yogurt (asian-bottled tart milk/yogurt drink), ginger tea, or coffee. Decorations were quaint with a nice ambiance. Layout gives for nice privacy in certain sections. I just wish they wouldn't jump to conclusions and come ask me questions in Korean repeatedly....

    (2)

  • Vince W.

    Love this place!Doesn't look like much from the outside but is actually really nice on the inside. All of the staff are really nice. Reasonably priced great food!

    (5)

  • Jihyun K.

    I have dined here four times in the past two weeks. Service is always polite, and the owner/manager(?) lady even refilled my water for me. I always order the hireakatsu. Good sized portion with a little thing of red onions in vinegar, white rice, kimchi, and yellow radish. The option for hireakatsu and mini udon is my favorite - the soup/noodles balance out the fatty feeling fried food. On my most recent visit I tried the kimchi bacon katsu. It's basically a roll shaped thing of kimchi, bacon, and cheese that is breaded and fried like the katsu. I'm not a big fan of cheese and bacon (too much of a heart attack at once) but this was too good to resist. Definitely recommend it to those of you who want to try something other than the traditional katsu. And the music was so cute! Cute is not a normal vocabulary word for me but it's the only one I can think of for the music. Covers of classics like Mrs. Jones and Moon River keep me inadvertently nodding my head.

    (5)

  • art f.

    The staff and much of the clientele are Korean. We were started with a glass of barley tea. We each had a bowl of udon noodles in soup and katsu (fried cutlets - mine flounder, hers pork). I find udon noodles difficult to eat without slurping them too noisily into my mouth - they really show my lack of dexterity with chopsticks. The katsu and accompaniments were good. Service was friendly and efficient. This is a good neighborhood find.

    (4)

  • Agnes C.

    During our first and recent visit to miso, my husband and I tried the tobiko rice, chicken Katsu & the bibimbap. All were pretty good. I especially enjoyed the tobiko rice (caviar rice) the only thing I wish they would do is add more authentic Korean-type vegetables to the bibimbap, like watercress, bean sprouts etc. Instead of the American salad style vegetables that they add. I also love the fact that you can substitute the white rice for brown! Yay! Very healthy!! We'll be going back for more!

    (3)

  • Annie K.

    You get a lot for what you pay for. I love their udong and curry rice dish with the katsu. You can choose from pork, chicken, and shrimp katsu. You start off with a steamed egg and salad appetizer, and then your entree comes with little side dishes of kimchi, pickled radish, potato salad, and salad. Dessert is ice cream, coffee, or a yogurt drink. The food presentation is really cute, and the servers were friendly.

    (4)

  • Janice J.

    Omg this is now my new favorite restaurant to go to. I love the katsu! When here to check out the restaurant for my bday dinner. Im totally sold. This beats honey pig. Can't wait to go here again.

    (5)

  • Nicole H.

    Very good food. Very friendly servers! Love the concept!

    (4)

  • Thi T.

    Yes - definitely a fan of their udon soup! Came here for the first time last night with 3 other friends. I asked my gf to pick a korean restaurant, and she picked this. Apparently she loves their udon soup and their rice with fish eggs on top (don't know what the proper term for that is!) one advice: don't get the "set" unless you have a very good appetite! but if you do, their temaki is quite good as well :) the service was excellent! not sure whether this was due to the fact that not many people were at the restaurant when we were ... or this is the norm.

    (4)

  • Angela K.

    I love their combinations. You can pick and pair up two dishes. Today I got the pork katsu with the morisoba. The pork was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Whenever I order pork katsu at other places, I find that there's too much batter and not enough pork, but I never had a problem with Miso. My sister always gets the soft shell crab and mini udon and all I have to say about that is.... DELICIOUS!! The complimentary vanilla ice cream is he perfect little dessert at the end too.

    (4)

  • Sarah L.

    This little gem of a restaurant is a tremendous value on the dollar and on the stomach. Where else can you get a combo that includes miso soup, salad, a fried protein, rice (or udon), a steamed egg, a few pickled banchan, and lastly ice cream for dessert? On top of that, you can get soju, sake, or beer. The fact that some people leave here feeling hungry boggles my mind. I've always waddled happily to the car after a meal here. I've tried a few things but I enjoy best their tried-and-true katsudon or one of their curries combined with katsudon. Their okonomiyaki is one of the better ones I've tried (at either Japanese or Korean-run Japanese restaurants). It's a great choice if you're craving a comfort-style meal. It's not as busy as Yechon and there's ample parking. Note: they are not open on Sundays and sometimes they may close up shop if it's a slow night, so if you're coming here late during the week, be sure to have a back-up restaurant, just in case.

    (5)

  • Herman W.

    I love this place. I tasted so many different dishes and favors by just doing the combo (it includes complimentary appetizer and dessert). And I felt very satisfied after finishing everything. You have to try the Beef Bibimbap with Pork Katsu combo (best from Japan and Korea at the same time). I would not recommend Cheese Bacon Kimchi Roll Katsu. It was dry and tasteless.

    (4)

  • Catherine T.

    deliciousssssss place. the food is great but I'm only giving it four stars because i don't know if our server was having a bad day or not but he was just not up to par... but I've never been here and my boyfriend took me. i originally wanted sushi or somesort but we ended up getting the dumplings and the shrimp katsu and mushroom chicken katsu. they both were really good!

    (4)

  • Trang H.

    This is one of my all-time favorite restaurants! Every part of the meal is delicious. I usually get the shrimp & flounder katsu with mini udon. Sometimes if I'm super hungry I would get the curry rice. I love how crispy the katsu is--better than any fried foods I've had! Service has definitely improved every time I come back. I'm already looking forward to coming back here soon!

    (5)

  • Jane P.

    If you like to have a variety of food during your meal, then this is the place for you! They let you pick different items from their menu and mix and match. You can get a tonkatsu and bibimbap or tonkatsu and udon. So many choices to pick from that it's nearly impossible. Everything is so good though. Their portion sizes are huge and they give you a lot of sides like steamed eggs, salad, and etc. Make sure you ask for your ice cream that is included in your meal at the end. So good. You can choose from ice cream or coffee.

    (4)

  • Jeong L.

    Miso is a very reliable place to go whenever you are hungry and need to eat something tasty and filling for less than $15~17. It is a Korean style Japanese restaurant, and I love coming here especially because of the combo options that it offers. You can pretty much make any combo out of two items on the menu. My absolute favorite item here is the shrimp appetizer- it is shrimp wrapped with thin strings of potato strips (almost as thin as angel hair pasta) and then deep fried. YUM. I am always so tempted to order this, but because the portions are so large here, I rarely do..... Like I mentioned, food portions are very very generous here. My favorite combo items are mini caviar rice and kimchi udon. ( You can also order kimchi seafood udon). Mini caviar rice is miniature hot stone (dolsot) bibimbap made with flying fish roe and seaweed namul. It is a miniature version, but with a full size udon, I can never finish the whole combo. Kimchi udon is not spicy at all, but I like it better than the regular udon because it has that Kimchi peppery taste and goes well with the slightly sweeter tasting caviar rice. Besides my favorite items discussed above, I have tried hwe dup bap (Sushi bibimbap), takoyaki, and donkatsu. I can say that although these might not be the best you can expect, they are still pretty solid and satisfactory. You will never get the super crunchy donkatsu or fresh ground up sesame katsu sauce that you expect to get in Asia. Considering that we are not in Asia, I am pretty satisfied and impressed with what we can get at Miso. In addition, the service here has been always a top notch. Servers will roam around like sharks in the ocean, making sure that you are completely satisfied. And did I mention the desserts? Two choices are: Ice cream or Asian style yogurt (or yogurutu) drink........ uh..... so full........ The bottom line is that I love Miso. Warning: Lunch wait can get long sometimes.

    (5)

  • Lily K.

    Food is not so bad, but the price range is a little too high for the quality of the food especially for dinner. One time they overcooked the pork cutlet and it tasted like chips.

    (3)

  • Justine S.

    Personally, I'm a fan of this place because I love fusion restaurants. Besides the fact that it's walking distance from my house, I love Miso because they offer quality food and generous portions for a great price. If you order an entree you basically order a mini banquet, as it comes with soup and salad, as well as a dessert at the end (ice cream, yakult, or coffee). Not to mention their katsu here is perfectly breaded- it's nice and crispy without feeling heavy. You also have the option of choosing your own combo meal (i.e. katsu with udon, ramen, caviar rice etc.). Their udon, even just as a side, is flavorful and plenty. They also provide other mini sides such as kimchi, potato salad, pickled radish, etc. Their takoyaki, a Japanese street food that is an octopus + breading stuffed ball, is delicious- it has a creamy texture packed with chunks of octopus. Their teriyaki while good, was nothing special. It was lightly breaded and very filling. They also have shrimp tempura, bibimbap, seafood pancake, and other tasty Japanese and Korean dishes. The place has plenty of seating and dim lighting. And although it's not very big, they can accommodate for groups. And because it's located in the shopping center on Little River Turnpike, there is plenty of parking spots. Come here for the katsu + udon combo and you'll go home more than satisfied!

    (4)

  • LanChi N.

    Okay...really Miso deserves a 3.5. I can't give it a full 4 because half the time I couldn't understand our waiter... When he came to take our order he atleast we asked questions the problem was because I couldn't understand him as far as substitutions to our order I just ordered everything as is. Mom ordered the Flounder Katsu & Mini Udong and I got the Spicy Pork Katsu & Mini Udong. Both came with the salad and steamed egg which confused my mom but she said the was pretty good. The salad was a bit lackluster it was kinda a mini salad plus dressing was watered down. The Katsu's were both really crispy hot and well seasoned. Mom's flounder came with a mayo type sauce while mine was a tradition sauce. Both were good with their respective Katsu's. Love how they also gave you your side dishes of pickled daikon,kimchi and some onions. A small ball of rice just in case you wanted some. A small bowl of udon which was pretty good it was original so it wasn't anything too complicated but still good. Plus at the end you get a nice vanilla ice cream cone...although they don't really tell you it comes with your meal my mom opted out thinking it was extra....I tried to tell her hey her loss. Overall...services was mediocre. Food was decent. Presentation was nice so I'll probably be returning for my next craving of Udong or Katsu or perhaps ramen since they have a new ramen menu.Either way you won't leave here hungry even its $ 15.At Least you know it's quality.

    (3)

  • Karisa D.

    It was a cold and dreary January night in the DMV. A group of us wanted ramen and my friend Tina P suggested Miso. It's located in a strip mall in Annandale but it stands out from the other shops in terms of their decorations, both inside and outside of the restaurant. We waited a bit for a table but were eventually seated. We were a table of 5 and it's a small restaurant so the staff had to do some work. They actually moved us twice but gave us a free round of appetizers on the house. Well done Miso, I was almost annoyed but they quickly redeemed themselves. We then ordered a round of soju and ordered food. They have other food items besides ramen but I was in the mood for soup. I ordered the ramen with pork belly. First they bring out salad and steamed egg. Then comes our hot trays of soup. Ohh I was excited. Granted I was probably a bit warm from the soju but I still wanted my soup. The ramen here is good, the broth is flavorful without being too salty, which I like. Pork belly was tasty and there were plenty of noodles. It's a fairly big portion too, for the regular size. I was pleasantly full by the end of the meal. At the end you get a choice of ice cream or Korean yogurt drink for dessert. Not a bad way to the end the meal. A little high for ramen in my opinion (13.95 per order), but I would still come back.

    (4)

  • Jessica L.

    Katsu is great, perfectly crispy and not greasy. Portion size is great, just enough to keep one person full. The restaurant looks like it was renovated from an old Chinese restaurant though, the seats at the booths look really worn.

    (3)

  • Jamie C.

    They have a highly customizable menu - there's several options to mix and match what you could potentially want, that's already there on their menu. I have no idea what these people that have said 'staff was unfriendly' were expecting. They could not have been any more accommodating towards my family and were extremely attentive despite my toddler dropping straws/ utensils on the floor, they would come by and replace them while I was attempting to keep our space clean. Their food was pretty good, I had the katsu beef (crispy) combination with the marisoba (cold brown noodle bundles), some of the items were served cold but I liked it :) I was already pretty happy with the cold broth that accompanied my meal, but the onion garnish dish they brought out with it made it super yummy :) I'd feel a little nervous about bringing my toddler back there again soon to run his laps around the restaurant, but I'd get carry out from there any time. To the guys that were working last night...THANK YOU!!

    (4)

  • Melanie Y.

    I met up with a friend here which I thought we would have Korean food here being in Annandale. To my surprise, they also have ramen on the menu. Well, who could say no to that? I ordered the mussel tonkatsu ramen which had a mussel seafood broth. Yay for that. The broth came out nicely seasoned as well and the ramen was pretty good too. The best part was the free ice cream at the end! What a nice treat to end a nice meal. If I'm in the area, I will definitely stop by again.

    (4)

  • Connie C.

    Liked that they gave complimentary little yogurt drinks or ice cream cones for dessert. The food was good, reasonably priced. Came here after my graduation, and just getting around to writing a review now. boyfriend ordered the donkatsu stuffed with something..can't remember what, but it was good. kimchi was okay, a bit too sour for my liking. the Japanese dishes were good, very flavorful. might come back in the future if we can't decide on anywhere else.

    (4)

  • Anna K.

    I love you Miso. I love your katsu pork, beef, fish, shrimp. I love your lunch special. :D

    (5)

  • Therese T.

    Love love LOVE Miso! On a lazy day when friends visit but we don't want to drive far to eat, Miso is my go-to restaurant. The port katsu and mini udong is pretty much my standard order. The katsu is tender but has a good crunch to it. The udong is very refreshing. If you want appetizer, I would recommend the takoyaki or Okonomiyaki. They are as authentic and as good as you can get without going to new york or japan. Decent price and good portion, the food guarantees to leave you satisfy! They also give you a free ice cream dessert too and you can choose between vanilla or green tea.

    (4)

  • Seung Yeon C.

    We had combination. It was not bad but expensive. ($30 for 2people) I had mini clavier rice + pork tender Katsu. Also It wasn't enough food.

    (3)

  • Vyvy H.

    Always good on a cold day. This place offers such a unique combination of dishes! You basically pick and create your own big combo! And of course they all come with a bowl of their yummy miso soup. With every meal comes with this little salad and steamed egg. And at the end of your meal they will offer a free dessert of either coffee, yogurt drink, or a cute little icecream cone. I've been here countless times and it just never gets old, always something new to try and you have the flexibility of getting exactly what you like with your food. Recently just tried the creamy Seafood Ramen dish with katsu, so good! I brought my friends family along for the first time, they of course loved it. Can't wait for our next visit!

    (5)

  • Mina C.

    Came to Miso on a whim while looking for a place to eat in Annandale. I hadn't been in soo long that I forgot if I even liked it or not! Oh boy, did I. The restaurant wasn't very crowded when we arrived but it filled up quickly! Our servers weren't the most attentive, but they were where it counted. The timing was impressive, and they refilled waters quickly and quietly. I got the flounder katsu with the mini udon. The portions are pretty dang big, so come HUNGRY! My BF had the standard pork katsu with curry rice. Again, a huge portion, but we were pretty starved and we pigged out and finished almost all our food. We were planning on going to snocream after, but we could not pass up the free complimentary ice cream! So cute! Don't get me wrong, we still went for more desserts but it was a pleasant surprise :P Yumm

    (5)

  • Thanh B.

    I ordered one of their most popular items, spicy pork Katsu combo, the full 3 course meal is a steal. The Katsu has a nice crunch followed by juicy meaty bite. I didn't see any grease or oil which is awesome. I thought their small spoon size rice was odd but it let me focus on the generous portion of Katsu. The sides are a good touch to compliment the meat (mini udon, potatoe salad, kimchi, pickled goodness, and onion garnish). I finished everything and didn't feel heavy or tired. My experience ended with a delicious Asian yogurt drink. Staff was fast and friendly, I would come back here to try their other items and highly recommend it to any one looking for nice Asian comfort food. Great meal for a cold day.

    (5)

  • Mari K.

    I was craving Japanese food (specifically donkatsu) and my friend had recommended this restaurant to me so I thought it would be a great time to go. I came here with my husband and it wasn't crowded at all so we got seated immediately. We looked at the menu and there were so many different choices. It was so difficult to choose but we finally decided on something! I got the chicken katsu mini-udong combination and my husband got the steak katsu with a regular sized udong. Both of our food had huge portions and they were both delicious! We also ordered a large hot sake. We asked the waiter how big the large was and he just showed us what the height was and my husband and I thought "we can definitely finish a large." Boy were we wrong... the large was huge and took us forever to finish it. So warning, don't order a large sake for just two people unless you're able to tolerate a lot of alcohol and if you know you won't be full after the big meal. They give out complimentary dessert also and you have the choice of yakult (yogurt) or an ice cream cone. Our servers were very attentive and patient which made our experience good. I can't wait to come here again and try their other food!

    (4)

  • Will C.

    This restaurant serves good fusion food in the Annandale area. I have been here regularly for around 5 years now. With that said I have tried a lot of their food on their menu. As other's mention their menu seems to change pretty regularly but every time I come here I stick to one thing only. That would be the Kimchi Bacon roll!! I am addicted to it. I am sort of confused why they call it that name since there is no bacon in it. There is kimchi as the name implies, pork and mozzarella cheese all in delicious breaded fried roll. The pork is very juicy and I always question how they get it to be so good. It also comes with a scoop of potato salad which I also love. I wish they gave more of that. Did I mention you also get a small salad and a cup of egg complimentary. Everyone I have brought here has liked the food. Why I give the 3 stars, well customer service can be hit or miss. I have had the waiter completely forgot to give us a menu. Sometimes they comes quickly to take the order and sometimes I have to flag them down. On that note, they don't refill the water unless you once again flag them down to get them to do that. Second the food is pricey considering the amount you get. I usually leave the restaurant satisfied but not full, so in an hour or two I am looking for food to eat again. I am not Adam Richman, and am just a normal guy so it really is not that much food. Besides those two points the food is good so it's worthy of a try. Bonus their complimentary ice cream at the end is really good,

    (3)

  • Alexis K.

    3.5/5 stars I've been coming to Miso regularly for years. They've gone through a million menu changes, but their food quality has stayed pretty consistent. If you're starving, I would suggest skipping Miso as a lot of people I have brought here have said something about still being hungry by the end of the meal. The restaurant gives you a small complimentary salad as well as a little cup with a steamed egg in it. I've pretty much had every appetizer on the menu, and I recommend the potato shrimp and the okonomiyaki. As for the main dishes, you have a lot to choose from, but katsus are all fairly good (try the kimchi bacon). The bibimbaps are also favorites of mine. Miso takes the traditional Korean bibimbap and puts a more modern twist on it. I suggest trying it if you've exhausted other options. Udon is also good, but it's nothing spectacular. I personally like the kimchi udon best because it has a little more flavor than the regular udon. Miso also recently added ramen to their menu. I have had it twice. Is it good? Not really, but it's better than Tanpopo, another ramen restaurant in Annandale. TL;DR Miso has pretty good food, but it probably won't satisfy someone who is really hungry. There aren't too many places in NOVA to get decent Japanese food, and even though Miso calls itself a fusion restaurant, it gets a thumbs up from me for their katsu and udon. Oh, and you get free vanilla ice cream on a cone at the end of your meal (dinner time only). There must be some crack in their ice cream, it's SO GOOD.

    (3)

  • Inku T.

    I encourage people to dine-in during lunch time. Their lunch specials are more exciting. I like the idea of being able to choice two entrees at once, ALTHOUGH, they are smaller portioned than the dinner entrees. I have had their tonkatsu, miso ramen, soba noodles, rice & curry, and udon. Their tonkatsu is lovely. Just the right amount of crispiness and not dry. The miso ramen is on and off. Sometimes it's flavorful and sometimes it is not. I really like eating soba noodle, but the wasabi they use is not spicy enough so everytime I ask for more, the waiters look at me strangely haha. The curry is flavorful and the udon is udon. I've also had their okonomiyaki before, and it was mediocre. I've had better for cheaper. The staff is alright. Sometimes they are attentive, other times (especially when it's really busy) you have to wait awhile to get a waiter's attention. Other then that, Miso is one of my favorite places to go to. Especially considering they give you an included appetizer and choice of dessert. Their home-made ice cream is to die for!

    (4)

  • Chris M.

    Not a fan. Had their ramen - way too busy with ingredients and could not taste the soup flavor. And, at $15 bucks was on the expensive side of things.

    (2)

  • Alan W.

    Finally found a good place for Japanese food that isn't sushi or ramen focus. Nice menu, can get a combination of things like there octopus puffs, Japanese pancakes, udon noodles, sobas, etc. Definitely will go back.

    (4)

  • Chocchans N.

    Everything was great and it hit the right spot. I'm Japanese and the way everything was set up reminded me of Katsu place in Japan. You also get free ice cream or coffee at the end too. I'm definitely going back!!

    (5)

  • Tiffany H.

    Ate here the other day during lunch time with my friend and it wasn't that crowded. I ordered the chicken katsu with rice and mini udon. First the "appetizers" came out and at the end there was a complimentary ice cream or yogurt offered. Food was a 4/5 but the service was alright. The waiters didn't come by unless I raised my hand or made eye contact. Nonetheless I loved the katsu!!

    (4)

  • Mark R.

    How did I not come here before? I've been traveling to Virginia for last 8 months and this was not on my radar? Shame on me. I was looking for japanese ramen places and this place showed up on the search. I'd figure it cannot be that good since it is not operated by japanese people. Well, I guess I was wrong. The inside of the restaurant is very nicely decorated and feels more like a sake bar than just a restaurant. I did order the warm sake and the ultimate seafood combo (seafood ramen and flounder katsu). It was fantastic. The noodles were cooked just enough and served with clear broth. It was not japanese ramen but tasted mild and clean. no after taste of MSG. Flounder katsu is very tasty also with good layer of breading and crumbs. Also, I liked how they served their warm sake in a pot instead of the normal carafe looking jar. I need to try their ramen for real to compare the taste with other ramen locations here. Until then happy katsu!

    (4)

  • Becky S.

    Solid place for some delicious asian food... The Katsu is very crispy while keeping the meat juicy.. The udon soup is a perfect pairing. Dinner came with a small dish of kimchi, yellow pickled turnips, and sweet BBQ sauce. They also give you a complimentary egg custard and small ginger dressing salad. Oh, and did I mention, FREE ice cream or yogurt for dessert?!?!

    (4)

  • Bryce A.

    I didn't expect to find good Japanese food in the middle of Annandale, but that is exactly what Miso served up. We happened to be in the area running errands on a Thursday evening, and decided to give it a try after seeing the good reviews. Miso offers a selection of set meals where you choose starches/sides and protein. We got the Chicken Katsu with Veggie Bibim rice, and the Beef Katsu with Udon. The set meals (which, as far as I could tell, are all of the entree choices) come with egg custard and salad appetizers, a variety of sides with the main dish, and a choice of ice cream or yogurt for dessert. The katsu was perfectly fried - crisp on the outside, moist on the inside, and not too greasy. Everything was delicious, but in addition to the katsu, the Veggie Bibim rice also deserves an extra mention - it had plenty of different vegetables with a dusting of seaweed, over multigrain rice. For the two of us, the bill came out right around $30, for plenty of food. Overall, great food (particularly, the katsu!) and great value, and Miso is definitely somewhere I would be happy to visit again.

    (4)

  • Irene C.

    I ordered the pork katsu with seafood bibim. The seafood bibim had minimal pieces of sashimi and my bf claims it did not taste fresh but I couldnt taste the fish at all since it was masked by the red spicy sauce. The pork katsu was my favorite, it was moist and crispy and flavorful. My bf ordered the seafood ramen with egg, from the looks of it, I don't think he enjoyed it very much since he left most of his bowl uneaten. The kimchi and cheese croquette was my least favorite, it was so oily and cheesy and barely any kimchi inside of it. The fried sausage was really a fried hot dog and I did not like it either. The spicy mussel with the caviar was one of my favorites! I love the complimentary ice cream at the end of the meal.

    (3)

  • Christine L.

    The four star is probably due to my hangover. I came here for lunch after a Friday night out. I was so hungry. We ordered seafood pancake( I thought it would be Korean style but turned out to be Japanese style, a little on thee sweet side but still tasty) Beef bulgogi was ok, not as good as the traditional korean restaurants. After all it is asian fusion, more specifically Korean Japanese fusion I guess. Free dessert, bonus point!

    (4)

  • Robert H.

    This was a nice little find. We enjoyed the shrimp and potato appetizer. The Katsu was wonderful and the ramen soup was pretty good :)

    (4)

  • Willis P.

    This is typically my go-to for Asianish fusion food. If you like Korean food without the normal "panchan" dishes covering the table, this is the place to go. The service is always good (for some reason always dudes though) and it is usually filled with a handful of customers. My favorite dish here is the Morisoba with a side of katsu. You can choose from Pork, Chicken, or Flounder Katsu. Simple, easy, and moderately priced. They also always give you a salad and custard as an appetizer before your email AND they finish it off with your choice of a yogurt drink or vanilla ice cream on a cone. Best complimentary items EVER!

    (5)

  • Sharon K.

    Food: complementary steamed egg and salad appetizers were good. Not a big fan of dressing so the server got me one without dressing. For entrees, we got 1) flounder katsu and veg bibim rice combo and 2) beef katsu and morisoba combo. Both katsus were very crispy and fresh. The beef one wasn't too meaty and had some chewy parts but it was still good overall. Veg bibim rice had a lot of veggies which we enjoyed and the morisoba was also good. They give some tiny bowls of side dishes with each meal (wish they gave more.) The way everything is plated and set up is really cute and modern. Complementary ice cream cones were a huge plus! Service: kind and did their jobs well. Other: - place is a little dim. Good for romantic dates perhaps ahaha

    (4)

  • Heather B.

    This place is great!! They start you off with steamed egg and salad. The combo meals are so filling. You choose your katsu, they have flounder, chicken, pork and a few other options it also comes with a small udon and lil sides. AND then you get ice cream. You get a lot of food for a very decent price. I'll definitely be coming back and trying other things. Apparently thier curry and rice combo is pretty good too. I also saw ramen on the menu that I want to try.

    (5)

  • Jackie B.

    My favorite place for pork katsu! Miso fries theirs to perfection - the meat stays juicy and tender, and the crust is light and crispy. Not only is their katsu flawlessly cooked, it's super affordable too! Where else can you get essentially a 3-course meal for under $14? The combo specials come with your choice of katsu + a mini entree. Pork katsu is my favorite but I've tried the flounder which is pretty good as well. My top mini entrees are the caviar rice (love the sesame oil in it) and the udon noodles. The combo starts with a small salad and steamed egg, followed by the katsu and mini entree, and ending with your choice of dessert. I usually opt for their cute vanilla ice cream cones. The meal also includes rice and tiny portions of kimchi, daikon, and onions, but you can always ask for more. I always request for more kimchi xD If you get your order to go, the dessert and steamed egg are not included BUT the price tag is appropriately a couple bucks cheaper!! The katsu is the best part anyway so you're not missing out ;) Service can be slow at times but is always polite and welcoming. A great option if you're in a pinch!

    (4)

  • Wei F.

    Definitely get the spicy pork katsu! The portion is satisfying and the coating is perfectly crisp and not oily. It also comes with potato salad , pickled veggies and small miso udon noodle soup. The silky smooth vanilla ice cream cone, which is provided for free at the end, was the icing on the cake. Great food, excellent service, and comfortable decor. Will be returning soon or sure.

    (4)

  • Dani P.

    I know, it's not Japanese, it's Korean. Yet, they do such a good job at the Japanese food that they make. For a person always looking for that authentic Japanese taste, I'm very impressed. I came here the first time as part of a birthday group. Despite us being such a mess, the servers were so patient and good to us. They even dimmed the lights so that they could sing Happy Birthday and present the birthday girl with a small pastry. They split the checks even though we were a large party, and I honestly wouldn't have faulted them if they'd said they didn't want to do it. I was impressed enough to bring my husband on a different occasion, and he too really likes this place. The prices are great, maybe $8-12 for combination sets. I like to order their curry, udon, katsu, or combination of the three. Their katsu is out of this world good, and the only kind I can get as good is all the way in NY. It's really cute that desert (yogurto or an ice cream cone) is included with every meal. It's really easy to get to, and there is plenty of parking.

    (4)

  • Cathy H.

    I don't do well with too many options simply because I will want them all. At Miso (Korean-owned, Japanese-themed), you will have the choice of ordering combination entrees: (your choice protein) katsu with rice, -katsu with noodle soup, -katsu with soba, etc. You will also have the choice of ordering mostly katsu or mostly the carb you chose. I went with a large udon noodle soup with a side of spicy tonkatsu (pork). For appetizer (as if the entree isn't large enough), I was given a Japanese house salad and miso soup. Basic and no complaints from me. I'm not a tonkatsu connoisseur, but I'd say mine was executed properly -- light batter, fried perfectly (not greasy in the least bit), and good flavor. The udon noodle soup had slices of fish cake and plenty of mushrooms. The broth was typical dashi and was well-balanced. There were some banchan to go with the tonkatsu and I appreciated that. For dessert, my friend and I received complimentary ice cream cones -- what a nice surprise! Service was decent. Servers are attentive, but not as knowledgeable as they should be. Our server didn't know details of specific menu items and had to run back and forth to get answers from the owner. Although you get quite a bit of food, the prices are not as reasonable during dinner service as they are lunch service, so come here for lunch instead.

    (4)

  • Charry L.

    They have the best Katsu pork. After dining, they give you some ice cream I would like to visit here during their lunch time special.

    (4)

  • Anna Y.

    The food is aleays good here. I didnt like the pineapple soju. They made a strawberry soju instead. It was delicious. They didnt make a big deal about and more interested in making us feel happy about our meal. 5 star service.

    (5)

  • James T.

    Hands down one of the best Asian restaurants I've been to. The proportions are huge and you really get your money's worth. Each order comes with complimentary salad and egg custard. Both were delicious. I had the pork katsu and udong. The udong was very good and the broth was flavorful. Dessert is complimentary, but only for dinner. You get a choice between an ice cream cone or a yogurt drink. If you haven't been here definitely check this place out.

    (5)

  • Vivian T.

    I would've given miso a five stars but my last visit the service wasn't great, they forgot some of my items and I had to make sure that they got my order right because I didn't want them to redo the order since my server seem like he didn't know anything. Usually, my visits there are on point. The food here is really good especially the udon and all the katsu that they offer! They give the perfect amount for you to be full. They also give complimentary desserts for free after the meal! I love the kimchi here, the taste is not too salty and its decently spicy! But they only give little portion of the kimchi. I would really recommend this place! My regular order is the soft shell crab and shrimp katsu with the mini udon. I don't recommend ordering just the shrimp katsu alone because the only give you three shrimp so I wouldn't think it's worth your money.

    (4)

  • Brandon L.

    This place has some bangin chicken katsu. They amount of food they give you is more Han enough and it is definitely worth it. This place is awesome for younger people because of the environment . I come here frequently because everything about this place is great

    (5)

  • Loe Y.

    I'm a regular at Miso because they have the best pork cutlet in the area. While the pork cutlet is the main thing I go for, I've tried numerous dishes here and they never disappointed me. I feel it is very neat that they serve steamed egg & salad as a complimentary appetizer, and that they serve dessert and the end of your meal. Service is generally good, and the atmosphere is good. I sometimes have meals to-go, and they are always wonderfully packed. I wish Miso opens on Sundays. But one thing is... I do feel like the food portion is small for the price. Else of that, everything is perfect.

    (5)

  • Susan A.

    My favorite restaurant. Best bento box-style food. I love their vegetarian bibimbap with brown rice. I love the steamed egg and small salad as appetizer. The only thing I don't love is that it's not open on Sundays!! (Like today). Why do I always crave Miso on a Sunday?! Why!!!

    (4)

  • Sammy L.

    I used come here often, but last two visit was very disappointed. 1. Staff was very unfriendly. 2. Quality of food was bad. 3. Place look old and dirty I don't think I will ever go back.

    (1)

  • Cheryl L.

    Just discovered this place recently and can't believe I've been missing out for so long. Amazing warm cafe vibe, the katsus are perfectly crispy and tender, udon is decent. And the perfect cherry on top of this good meal is the free delicious vanilla ice cream cone at the end.

    (5)

  • Devon S.

    Delicious, inexpensive, courteous. Honestly, what more do you want to know. I LOVE this place and continually go back. Its become one of my favorites. The Katsu is good, obviously, but so is everything else. The Udong, the sides, all the meats, the spicy pork... you name it, its delicious. And did I mention its inexpensive! They give you an appetizer AND dessert with the meal, which btw, is the most delicious ice cream you'll ever have. This place is ridiculous, I don't know how there aren't lines out of the door.

    (5)

  • Genny R.

    I love this place. I come here often because I like getting the seafood ramen with a side of chicken katsu. I know a lot of people complain about the other dishes....so let me emphasize.... This place is a katsu place. If you want amazing bibimbap soup or sashimi, you're not going to get that here. I also want to emphasize that the food is a fusion between Japanese and Korean food, when I take friends here they get disappointed when the expect either a distinct Japanese style or a distinct Korean style of food. food highlights: (5) -The katsu is always light and krispy. It's not very oily and the flounder katsu is one of my favorite. -The ramen noodles have a great consistency and though it does not taste like Japanese ramen, their kimchi and radish sides make excellent additions to the ramen. -The kimchi and radish taste very fresh. -IF you can get the boba, GET THE BOBA. I've been here 5 times and 4 out of those 5 times they had ran out of the boba. The one time I was able to get the boba drink, I had to get the drink without actual boba in it, but it was good. -I like the steamed egg souffle thing. It's light and fluffy and salty. -Free ice cream. food dislikes: (2) -Not a fan of the bibimbap. The japanese and korean fusion mix just didn't mix well for me. -Not a fan of the fusion katsu rolls. The ingredients look interesting but they're just taste too heavy and they're nothing like the other katsu rolls. -Not a fan of the salad. It's like two bites of grainy dressing. -The free ice cream doesn't always happen. I feel like that shouldn't be a big deal, but again I've been here 5 times and out of those 5 times they skipped out on the ice cream with no explanation. Service: (3) -Service here can be good..and it can be bad. I feel like my expectations for service in Asian restaurants are low to begin with. I've had two visits that seemed really bad. I always go in groups and once our group was put in a corner that was dark and mostly forgotten (That's why we didn't get ice cream?). But then the other three times I went here the service was great and the waiter made the night interesting for us. conclusion: (4) I like the place, a lot. The Katsu will keep me coming back!

    (4)

  • Kevin Jiseup K.

    I don't know why we keep going here. It must have been my fourth time here in the past couple months. It tastes good, it really does. The Katsu is solid and the food is solid. It's just not worth $16+ when they give you such little food. I always leave here hungry. The quality has definitely been going down every successive time I come here. At least they give you ice cream at the end. Also, I'm guessing Abercrombie is the official sponsor of Miso's waiter uniforms.

    (2)

  • Mike N.

    Very calm and cool atmosphere. This place opens at 5Pm on most days but I wish they would open sooner. The Miso Uduong here is the best. Usually when I come to eat here, I get the Flounder and Shrimp Katsu. The service here isn't outstanding but it wasn't a problem. Their idea of giving free dessert (Option of ice cream or yogurt) is amazing

    (4)

  • Janine B.

    Nothing very wow-worthy about this restaurant. I got the pork katsu with mini udong and the katsu was amazing but nothing else really worth raving about. The service was good and fast though and I like how they offered you a complimentary ice cream or yogurt drink.

    (3)

  • Tameika T.

    Excellent customer service! I loved my spicy ramen, and yes I shall return.

    (5)

  • Gretchen P.

    I'm starting to feel a little bit like a 5-star... ahem, well, you know... because I've been giving them out so frequently lately. At first, I thought, well, maybe I need to become more critical. And then I realized that really, it's because I'm only frequenting the places that my fellow Yelpers have already tested and verified! So thank YOU guys for continually helping me find awesome new places to go... just like Miso! At first glance, Miso seems like it might just be another Asian-fusion restaurant. Sushi, noodle dishes, rice dishes, whatever. In reality, this place fits into a classification all its own, because while, yes, they do have sushi and a myriad of other dishes on the menu, Miso really specializes in two things: Soup noodles and katsu. Miso's combos allow you to pick your kind of katsu -- traditional pork, chicken, shrimp, even lobster (!!) and pair it with udon, yakisoba, ramen... you name it. The number of available combos are impressive, and even more impressive is the price. $12.95 - $13.95 for dinner! Included in that is a complimentary salad with ginger dressing, and steamed egg custard, as well as dessert at the end of the meal! And that's on top of the huuuuuge amount of food that comes with your actual entree. I paired the seafood ramen with the shrimp katsu for my combo. Out came a giant bento tray (can't really call it a box, it was too big!) with 3 large pieces of shrimp katsu (doesn't sound like a lot, but they were large), a steaming bowl of ramen, a couple of korean appetizers (kimchi, pickled radish), cole slaw, AND potato salad. Whew! Told you it was a lot. The ramen had a good amount of seafood in it -- 5 mussels, 4 or 5 shrimp, and a handful of calimari rings. All was delicious (well, the cole slaw dressing was a little strange -- SUPER sweet. It reminded me of this orange gum I get at the Asian grocery store). My boyfriend got the pork katsu with udon noodles. I thought they were both good, though I liked my shrimp better than his pork. The shrimp were just like... crispier tempura. Which means they were basically amazing. Miso gets 4.5 stars for me for the fact that the food was all very tasty, you get so much of it you're going to burst, and all for a VERY reasonable price. The service was great too, especially considering we came in like 40 minutes before closing on a Monday. Half a star off because the music they play is sooooo off-base. It was more like muzack, to be honest -- elevator tunes. So strange. But I kinda like the ambiance -- it's a little dimly lit, with cozy booths. I dug it, yo! I heartily recommend this place if you're in the mood for soup noodles and some Asian fried goodness. Just remember to come hungry!

    (5)

  • Amanda Y.

    My boyfriend and I decided to check this place out and we were very pleasantly surprised. The prices are very reasonable, the portion sizes are big, and I loved the presentation/plating of the food! The service was slow and inattentive but I don't think that will stop us from returning. I got the kimchi/cheese/bacon roll and it was amazing! Definitely unique - I've never had anything like that before and I'm glad I decided to try it. My boyfriend got the katsu/udong dish and he loved his dinner as well. Both of us had trouble finishing our dinner so we packed the rest up to-go. The portions here are extremely generous! We love Miso and we can't wait to go back! :)

    (4)

  • Hannah H.

    The combos seem to be changing every time I go there, or their menus aren't all updated. Food is solid, but I do wish they gave you a bit more. I love their Spicy Tuna Temaki. I love their nicely-ripened kimchi (which I always ask for an extra plate of a mountain of it), and their donkatsu. I also like their little scoop of potato salad. Mmmm. The waitstaff are nice and friendly. The rolls are a miss, but their udon was quite nice - the broth was perfectly seasoned, the noodles were a little more on the well-done side, but I liked them tempura bits. The overabundance of mushrooms is any mushroom lover's dream, and I actually didn't really mind it (although my husband did). I liked my katsu (kind of small), and I would have loved more of them potato salad mounds and more kimchi - it hit the spot, though. They used to have the spicy samghyupsahl, and that was marinated and cooked well, but I think they got rid of it - aw! +Korean-Japanese fare

    (3)

  • Julie H.

    Gotta get your tonkatsu fix? Miso is the place to go! And get the combo, tonkatsu and udon!! Their tonkatsu is fried golden crispy and the tonkatsu sauce is tangy salty perfect. For appetizer we usually get Okonomiyaki (Japanese style pancake), it is de~licious!!!! My husband likes to get their miso spicy ramen with sliced pork belly....soup is SPICY!! But really good!!

    (4)

  • Amanda N.

    Very large portions with REALLY cute waiters... price was pretty cheap for lunch and came with a lot. I remember a lunch special being under $10 and you could get a large bowl of ramen (Korean-style) and bibimbop. Both came with side dishes. Seafood ramen by itself was something like $12, and they have takoyaki!! Very big plus for me since there aren't a lot of places that serve it. They also give you chawanmushi as a free appetizer with your food; I think they served salad too, but I can't remember, as it's been over a year since I last went. I originally went for their ramen, which wasn't authentic as I had hoped (thought it was Japanese-style but it was just Korean), so I was a little disappointed. I might go back.

    (3)

  • Jessica H.

    Cute! Huge portions with lots of extras that come free with meals. Full house at dinnertime, but quick service and casual, friendly environment. I don't recommend the "curry" that comes with the katsu-curry combo... I guess it was technically curry, but it was also gelatinous and canned-tasting -- not what I was expecting. Everything else was great. Crispy katsu with good sauce, free frozen yogurt! Whee.

    (4)

  • Sungmin S.

    Very consistent with their quality food. I would recommend coming here for lunch instead of dinner, just because the price is much more expensive for dinner for about same amount of food. My go-to here is potato shrimp roll with egg rice and kimchi udon combo, but I've tried their katsu before and liked it very much as well! They provide appetizers such as steamed egg dish and small salad as well as small dessert like ice cream, coffee and yogurt, which is kinda cool. I'm a little salty today because I waited 35 minutes for my food only to realize they forgot about my order completely, but they were very apologetic and only took an additional 10 minutes to bring out my order. I guess I'll give you another chance!

    (4)

  • Alyssa T.

    Overview: - Server was hard to track down and it took 20 minutes to find server to order - Menu is kind of confusing - For a day that wasn't that busy- it took forever to get our food - Food was pretty ok, udon was very salty - Hard to locate server for check - Our lunch took 1 1/2 hours when it could have taken 45 minutes My sister had been to Miso before and she said that the food was ok once again. It wasn't anything amazing but wasn't anything bad, I guess? Not really my cup of tea even though I do enjoy Korean and Japanese food.

    (2)

  • Tina T.

    Miso is a must try just to try. It's pretty good and hits the spot nicely. Came here for dinner tonight around 7:30ish. Since it is a Friday it is pretty busy so the wait was around 15-30. But they servers were really good about busing things and getting the next table set up. I got the chicken katsu with cavier rice and the bf got the shrimp katsu with udong. I love love the cavier rice. It's in a stone bowl, roe and seaweed salad. Chicken katsu was good but a little bland and dry. It was accompanied by a little bit of kimchi, radish and spicy mayo. My bf shrimp dish was very light but since he got udong... The bigger bowl made up for the shrimp which was good. What I love about miso you get a free small dessert like an ice cream cone or the yogurt drink. My bf and I both got the ice cream come so yummy :D Only thing I was disappointed in was when the server only refilled my bf's drink and not mine... UH HELLO dude, do you not see my cup is half way done... Oh well lol I still like miso

    (3)

  • Angie T.

    I love this place. The food and the presentation reminds me of Japan. You get so much food for the price that you pay. The servers are friendly, the food is great, and the restaurant is clean. They give you complimentary steamed egg and house salad at the beginning of your meal and finish you off with dessert in the end! Yum!

    (5)

  • Angelina T.

    Very good katsu and udon! It may be expensive, but honestly I feel like it's worth ur money. U get a lot of sides along side your meal. And an free desert :) Very fast and efficient service. Although it may be hard to understand what most if the servers are saying, you just have to listen carefully. There's nothing we could do about an accent :P

    (4)

  • Keith P.

    From the outside, Miso looks like any other Japanese/fusion restaurant in a shopping mall. However, Miso ranks well above most of its brethren. The decor and ambiance is quiet, restrained, clean and friendly. But what really matters is the food. Miso adds a nice twist to the usual Japanese set meals by allowing the diner to mix and match from a wide range of katsu, ramen/udon noodle soups, and sushi items. Everything comes with an egg custard appetizer and small salad. The main dishes were served fresh and hot. The portions are AMPLE and everything was delicious! And they ended with a small ice cream or yogurt drink...just enough sweet to finish the meal. The prices are amazingly reasonable! This was great value and we WILL be back!

    (5)

  • S. L.

    So the food was pretty good actually. But the service was awful. Comically so. I had to go grab our menus from the hostess station. Had to get a high chair even after asking for one, and having my request acknowledged. Had to stand by the POS station until a server came by to get our check.

    (2)

  • Cathy C.

    One of the best katsu places I've been to, so far. They offer appetizers such as seafood okonomiyaki, takoyaki, which is hard to find at other Japanese restaurants, but this restaurant gets it right. The majority of the menu centers on the various types of katsu, such as spicy pork, chicken, flounder, shrimp, lobsters, etc., along with a choice of side dish. You can order a katsu combination with a small side dish (like a mini udon soup) or you can order the combo with larger side dishes, such as caviar rice or a large udon soup. The portions are well worth the money, since you get TWO perfectly fried, sliced pieces of your choice of meat, along with a small scoop of potato salad, rice, salad, and a few small dishes of Korean banchan (kimchi, pickled radish, pickled salad). I must warn you: make sure you come when you're hungry. Before you start the meal, they offer a warm egg custard sprinkled with some crab (or shrimp) meat, along with a salad with ginger dressing. After the meal, if you still have room for it, you'll get a choice of ice cream of yogurt. Also, don't be afraid to bring the kids! This place is kid-friendly & they've got a kid's menu to choose from too. The only difference is that the katsu combo comes with 1 meat as opposed to 2. For the crazy amount of food you get, the prices are really good. Most of the katsu combo dishes range from $12+ and the kid's combo is $8+. They also offer donburi bowls, but we didn't get that, so that's something to try next time. Lots of choices on the menu, so I'm going back to try something new on our next visit. If you go at a busy time, make sure you flag one of the many servers down for refills or the check, since they might overlook your table.

    (4)

  • Chris C.

    Tucked away in a strip mall, Miso is a single, elegant restaurant located in Annandale, VA. The area, usually noted for its fine Korean food, possesses a few great restaurants without the hustle and bustle. This is certainly one of those places. Miso offers a blend of Japanese and Korean cuisines. They have Takoyaki, Pork Katsu, Ramen, Yakisoba noodles (buckwheat), along with Bibimbop. The menu is quite extensive, but they offer great combination boxes which provide great variety. Each combination box comes with their own steamed egg, salad, kimchee, radish and slaw sides. The prices were pretty reasonable around $10-$15 per entrée. I really enjoyed the food and I'll definitely be back for a romantic dinner! FYI - Plenty of parking available since it's in the Safeway parking lot on Little River Turnpike.

    (4)

  • Carly C.

    I ordered the Tonkatsu Curry Rice (Pork Cutlet) and was VERY happy with my order. The cutlet was crispy and the curry was Japanese style with a little bit of heat. Oishiiii! I was craving this since we moved from Japan and this hit the spot. My husband ordered the Miso Ramen and said that it was fine (nothing phenomenal, but good). My 2 year old especially loved the strawberry ice cream cones we received complementary at the end of the meal :)

    (4)

  • Margy T.

    The katsu here was amazing! I got the chicken and my boyfriend got the spicy pork, both were perfectly cooked. The portion sizes are insane, plus a bunch of free sides that come with your meal. You definitely get your money's worth! The one thing that kind of bothered me was the service... They barely checked up on us and took awhile to take our order, and didn't even ask us for a drink order. Other than that, the food is amazing, it's definitely a must-try!

    (3)

  • Candace C.

    I had a delightful dinner here. The portions and selections are perfect for me because I always want noodle soup and an entree at most restaurants and I'm able to get both here in a combination meal. I got the shrimp katsu and udon soup and my boyfriend got the bulgogi. They come with the little steamed egg and salad "amuse-bouche" as others have called it because they really are tiny. While the flavors of my dish were standard, I still really enjoyed it. The kimchi and pickled radish side dishes were appetizing. My boyfriend's bulgogi dish was not as filling as he'd like but he can eat a lot. Ice cream cone or yogurt drink were our options for free dessert, a nice bonus here. The menu also has bubble tea, smoothies, flavored sojus and sakes, and a list of appetizers such as dumplings, potato wrapped shrimp, etc. I forgot to take a picture of the menu, but that would be helpful since it's not posted anywhere here and they don't have a website. The service was fine until it got busy suddenly around 6:30pm. I think 5 groups came in within 20 mins so you might want to make reservations, especially at peak hours on the weekends for a big group. There's three rows of booth seats and the larger booths can probably fit 6 people or so. I would definitely be back to try the ramen and caviar rice that a lot of people seem to get.

    (5)

  • Edward C.

    Well. I'm sitting here in my booth feeling so strongly about my dinner that I'm going to write a quick review. Service was ok. For an Annandale restaurant, I'd even say it was pretty good. Let's see...what else...the server was friendly. But unfortunately that's where the compliments end. Our Okonomiyaki was obviously a tiny Korean seafood pancake masked with mayo and bonito flakes. And the ramen...sigh. It was sad. I mean, I was so hungry coming into the restaurant that I probably would have raved about average quality food. But man, they unfortunately tried faking their way through an entree that's famous for requiring many hours of masterful preparation. My broth was flavorless (I mean...it was bad...I had to add table salt!) and quite obviously made from some instant "flavoring" and stirred together just prior to serving. I only got half of a fully hard boiled egg, and the pork belly was obviously quick boiled vs. braised. The pork was so chewy it was actually crunchy. Tsk tsk. And what else? I ordered a tonkatsu ramen and there was no tonkatsu in sight. I recall from my two previous visits that their other foods were relatively decent. But that's also probably because it's infinitely easier to fry up a piece of pork and make a bowl of tasty instant udon, rather than try to serve Japanese ramen. Worst part of it all was the $39 tab at the end of the meal and watching them take away my wife's bowl from which she barely took 4 bites before she couldn't take anymore. Ouch. Probably won't be back for a while...if at all... And please heed my advice and steer clear of the ramen.

    (3)

  • Ian F.

    The Katsu here is the best in town. Miso has an interesting fusion of foods that mixes some Japanese and Korean elements. Lunch specials are decently priced, and the fusion rolls are definitely worth trying. I recommend the Hawaiian one. It has ham and pineapples. Another recommendation that I get every time is the Shrimp wrapped with potato appetizer. The sauce that accompanies this is great. Also, if you dine in, they offer you a choice of ice cream or yogurt drink. Overall a really good dining experience. Service is great, and so is the food.

    (5)

  • Dmitry D.

    This pave wad pretty good. Not bad service some good food. No particulars because I eat here s while back. But this pave doesn't have any wow factors on the menu.

    (3)

  • Mark S.

    My wife and I came here due to recommendations from our family. We came on a Saturday around 11am. Of course we were the first ones there, but it was okay. We ordered the katsu (she ordered chicken, i ordered spicy pork) with the udon combination. It was about $15 each person and they give you A LOT of food. Also, everyone gets a free appetizer. it is this egg custard thingy (tasted decent) along with a small salad. The salad dressing with a bit more sour (more vinegar) than i've had in the past, but I actually enjoyed the sourness. At the end of the meal, you can either get complimentary coffee, small yogurt drink, or ice cream. We got the vanilla ice cream. It came out in a cone and was good! Our main course was good. Chicken/pork was moist and everything tasted fresh (huge portions too!). The only reason we are deducting a star is because in one of the small dishes that come on the plate (there are 3), it was empty. We weren't sure if this was intentional or not, but afterwards we asked our cousin and she said we were supposed to get dipping sauce for the katsu.. so we never did. and our katsu was then a bit bland without the sauce.

    (4)

  • Jenni M.

    A modest strip mall restaurant that is actually really good. I haven't ever found stuffed tonkatsu rolls anywhere in the US. First time encountering them here other than in Korea and it's the real deal. Will definitely be coming again.

    (4)

  • Kevin C.

    Great Japanese food & good price. I love the ambiance and service is good. Nice place to have a date or family dinner!

    (5)

  • Adam K.

    I used to go here often. My wife was craving some don-katsu so we went to Miso with my 2 year old son. The last time I've been here is maybe a year or so ago. Problems: 1. The table wreaked of dirty rags. 2. The portions seemed to have been reduced greatly to reduce cost. My wife and I came home hungry. Especially my pregnant wife. 3. The service was bad and the servers are unfriendly.Not once did the waiter come to refill our water. I will not be going back there again. This is a good way to lose a customer.

    (1)

  • Jeff T.

    Always come and order the combos! I would suggest the flounder katsu, curry rice, and udon.

    (5)

  • Allan H.

    A pleasant surprise in Annandale. Wanted something quick before bowling at nearby lanes and saw this spot on a strip mall Thought it was a great value with. I've size portions at a reasonable price. Started with shrimp wrapped in potato which was tasty. I got the combo Udong soup with shrimp fritez. Tasty and filling. As a surprise it. Ame with a vanilla ice cream cone at end. Hit the spot

    (5)

  • Eunseo K.

    Food was great so was the service. everything was just perfect:)

    (5)

  • Jen and Noah M.

    My sister and I tried Miso for a late dinner last night. We originally set out for sushi, but the place we had in mind was too crowded, and as we were driving by, we saw that Miso was open, so we went in. So, first of all, neither of us has much experience with Korean and Japanese cuisine, so we were a little baffled by parts of the menu. Fortunately, our waiter was really helpful. He explained what everything was, and then made recommendations. I ordered the bacon-kimchi katsu roll, and my sister had the soba noodles with flounder katsu. Like other reviewers, we were impressed with the amount of food and the variety of flavors. Our waiter was really great about telling us noobs about all that was on our plates in a way that didn't make us feel stupid for asking. The tsuyu that came with my sister's soba noodles was especially savory, especially with the accompaniments mixed in. It smelled a little funky, but the flavor - wow! I believe the word I'm looking for is umami. Everything was really tasty, and we left feeling satisfied, but not over-full. I was actually a little surprised that I could eat everything and still have room for the FREE ICE CREAM. The only negative was the amount of time we waited for someone to come answer our questions/take our order. But once the ball got rolling, we were well taken care of. I'd definitely go back!

    (4)

  • Scarlet K.

    I love their food! Worth a try if you haven't been here. I like the atmosphere and the noise level - you can actually have a conversation with your friends! And the high booths shelters your party from other people. I think the portions are legit and filling. Parking is good because it is spacious and flat. I don't think I ever had to wait for a table, maybe I got lucky every time.

    (4)

  • Christine K.

    Tried this place this past weekend and was pleasantly surprised. When I walked in, I was immediately greeted by a male server in a tight fitting A&F shirt. I ordered the potato-wrapped shrimp appetizer (delicious, $6 for 3 large pieces) and the udon & donkatsu (pork cutlet) combo as my entree. They gave soft serve ice cream for dessert for free. The food was surprisingly flavorful, and I appreciated the sauces that came with every dish. Will return again.

    (3)

  • Theresa A.

    I went there for lunch with my friend. And I really enjoyed the food. Customer service was nice and checked on us frequently. Had the hirae Katsu combo with the spicy ramen. (Can't remember the exact name) but it was delicious. Also had the appetizer - shrimp potato rolls. So yummy! Would def return

    (5)

  • Jonathan P.

    I love this place. I would come here just for the steamed egg appetizer itself. I've asked the owner (sweetest lady ever) on several occasions how they get the texture and consistency so perfect every time, but to no avail. The only hint she would give me is the broth to egg ratio should be 4/1! So I guess I'll just have to go here every time for my "gyurancheem" fix. The katsu dishes and lunch/dinner boxes are all very good. Their ramen is also much improved lately with the ramen craze picking up steam.

    (5)

  • Daniel O.

    I had the donkatsu combo with the al-bap (roe on rice) and I had no complaints, in fact, it was pretty good. The salad and egg were nothing special but they completed their task in whetting the appetite. The flakes on the donkatsu were not too heavy and the meat was very tender and flavorful. I was skeptical of the donkatsu sauce at first as I was used to a sauce of a darker color but it turned out to be good. After an oily meal, ice cream is always welcomed. For all that food, the price seemed very reasonable. I will come here again for more donkatsu.

    (3)

  • Jessica P.

    Cheap & Great food and wonderful service! I always have deep fried shrimp and udon combo, and it is always great. The service of waiters is great too. The dessert which is given after dinner meal is one of the reason I go to Miso regularly. (Ice cream!)

    (5)

  • Ngoc T.

    This place is on my red flag restaurant list. The foods here are horrible and expensive. The last time I came here, I thought it could change my thought about it. After seeing the little choices the menu have, my friend order seafood pancake. It was disgusting, I felt so bad for telling my friend to visit this place. We felt like throwing up after coming here. I tried the Udon soup here before, and it was good but the price is not cheap, I rather come to a different Korean / Japanese restaurant to enjoy the cuisine. I'm a pretty strict eater, but if you want your money to pour down the drain as well as your appetite, then come here. The service is not well either, they seem to only hired cute Korean / Japanese guys, it seem a little gender discrimination. So I'm not happy to visit this place. I'm usually not those type who talks bad about a restaurant, but this is a review, and I have to say my honest opinion so I don't want other to be like me.

    (2)

  • Lisa H.

    Miso fusion is a great place to go to if you are in Annandale, and looking for something other than the usual Korean-BBQ fare. The shrimp tempura dinner I ordered came with 11 fairly large pieces of sushi, a small side of miso soup, and a small salad appetizer. There was also a little egg side-dish included. I enjoyed my meal, but my friend's meal looked even more delicious. He ordered the Pork Katsu meal, which also came with a egg side-dish, and a small salad. His dish consisted of fried Katsu (which was decent; perhaps a little over-cooked because it was tough), and a fairly generous-sized bowl of udon. The udon noodles were the highlight of the meal; next time I go here I'll order that instead. The broth was very flavorful, and there were a lot of mushrooms in it. Each meal ends with your choice between those tiny yogurt drinks, or a vanilla ice cream cone. I got the yogurt; which was the usual asian-super-market yogurt in a tiny bottle, and my friend got the cone which was a good size. The interior is nice, the booths are wooden and it's a slightly dimmed atmosphere. I enjoyed my meal at Miso; I'd like to come back and try other menu items!

    (4)

  • Xtine C.

    Great little place in Annandale to have some quality jap/korean food. Their combo dishes is what makes them. I have tried the soba noodles, udon noodles, and sashimi rice bowl (Hwae Duhp Bab) pairing with fish/pork katsu and they're all delicious. On top of that you get a small salad and a dessert!! It's my fav place if I want to eat light asian food and not smell like korean bbq at the end of the day.

    (5)

  • Chris S.

    When I walked in, Miso hungry! When I left, Miso satisfied... All bad jokes aside, I really enjoyed my experience here from beginning to end. Be forewarned, I dont know the names of most of the things I was eating, but I will do my best. The service was fairly good, we were sat quickly and got drinks within a few minutes of sitting down. The only downside to the service was there was no mid meal check up from the waiter. Normally I'm not a fan of server coming up and asking, "how is everything?" as I'm whoofing down gobs of food. This time I feel like it was necessary though as I could have used some soy sauce and my date wanted some hot sauce or chili flake. The food was great! I got the spicy pork katsu combination, with the mini udong. It was an amazing spread. The combo came with a side salad and a steamed egg served before the meal. The meal included spicy pork katsu which was fried perfectly and very moist. The only downfall to it was there was no need to call it "spicy". There was not even a hint of spiciness to the pork at all. It came with some slaw that had a creamy sauce, a deviled egg concoction, an onion salad with fish sauce (I think), and lastly the soup, which was delicious! There was also some kimchi cabbage, sweet melon doo dads and a tasty dipping sauce for the katsu. To end the meal, I was offered ice cream or a yogurt drink. I opted for the ice cream, which was standard, but a nice touch nonetheless. All of this was only about $30 for two people. That's a darn good value for all of the food we got. This place is great. I want to go back right now for the soup. It was sooo good!

    (5)

  • Teri N.

    We enjoyed the potato shrimp appetizer and spicy mussels. Then the fusion donkasu were great!! We will be back!

    (5)

  • Jac H.

    The only downside to Miso is that their employees either a) refuse to speak english or b) can't speak english... other than that the katus is the best here! My friend and I ordered two different dishes: - shrimp katsu & mini udon (the shrimp was wrapped in shredded potato!!) - spicy pork katsu & mini spicy udon (both are actually very spicy but soo good!) our main dishes come with the regular korean side dishes as well. it also came with salad & a steamed egg for appetizers and your choice of ice cream, coffee, or korean yogurt for dessert! even though all the portions were very generous, we also tried the fish batter thing on a stick. that wasn't the best. their mixed drinks come in a fancy bottle which you pour yourself. i will be returning with my husband soon!

    (4)

  • Michael Y.

    Great service, great katsu, side dishes are all really good. They start you off with an egg dish and a small salad, then the main course and miso soup, then usually ice cream at the end for most entree orders. Prices are good.

    (5)

  • Jessica K.

    I came here for dinner on a Wednesday night. My sister and I got the udon/chicken katsu special. The udon was good but the katsu was a little disappointing. It was cooked right but it was a little small. But I liked the whole set. You start off with steamed egg custard and a small house salad. Then you get your main entree and then finish off with coffee or ice cream. The bill wasn't too bad also, it was about $15 per person.

    (4)

  • Jess Y.

    Katsu and udon noodle soup are spot on and delicious. Plus, you can get them in combination for a very reasonable price. I ordered the katsu shrimp and the breading was light, crispy, and flavorful. The udon soup was flavorful and the noodles were soft and chewy but not soggy. I want to try their bibim as well. We also ordered the chicken mushroom roll which was an interesting fusion dish (katsu meet cordon bleu?). I think I still preferred the classic katsu dishes over the fusion rolls, however. The combination meal was also served with a steamed egg (not the best, but okay) and a strangely small pick of undressed iceberg lettuce as an appetizer. I was not thrilled with this portion of the meal, but everything else was fantastic. Your meal also includes a complimentary dessert. You can choose from either vanilla ice cream (which comes in a cake cone masking as a sugar cone), yakult (a small asian yogurt drink), or coffee. Service is very friendly and prompt. Overall, a great dining experience for the main course.

    (4)

  • Chad K.

    Miso is a great Japanese fusion restaurant. I think their katsu's are the best around. The service is friendly and quick. I would highly recommend their pork katsu and mini udon combo.

    (5)

  • Wendy W.

    Oh beef katsu...you are my guilt free version of chicken fried steak. Whenever I have a craving for fried food, Miso comes to mind. The katsu at Miso is has a crunchy breading that doesn't taste greasy and the meat is always moist. I am a big fan of the beef but the pork katsu is a very close second. You can customize your meal to include ramen, rice, or udon to make a combination. The amount of food they serve is more than I should be eating but somehow I always end up cleaning every bowl and plate before me. A meal comes with a small salad and steamed eggs, kimchi, pickles, and shredded cabbage with dressing with your katsu, and either an ice cream cone or yogurt drink for dessert. By day, Miso is a cute cafe but at night, it turns into a lounge like hangout. I never had an issue with service, and I haven't tried anything I didn't like yet. The best part of the meal, is the happy ending, one scoop of vanilla ice cream on a cone, so simple yet so brilliant!

    (4)

  • Vanessa O.

    It was good! Lots of options, good prices, and complimentary ice cream! I had the katsu and seafood ramen and it hit the spot. The broth of the ramen was a little underseasoned to me, and the noodles were a tad overcooked, but it's definitely tasty. The katsu was delicious - I had the chicken. I definitely want to come back and try other things on the menu!

    (3)

  • T N.

    I love this restaurant. Food is great. Portions are generous. Service is terrific!!! Where else can you get a hot bowl of kimchi Udon, sashimi bibim along with sides and a salad and egg custard for $14? My mom is a very picky eater when it comes to non-Vietnamese food and she loves this restaurant. What stands out the most is the service. I have never been to a Korean restaurant with this great of service. The staffs all speak English and do not discriminate against non-Koreans. They also frequently check on us to make sure we have all that we need. Love. Love. Love.

    (5)

  • Kelsi G.

    This is probably one of my favorite places to eat in Annandale. Who would have thought you could get really good Japanese tonkatsu in the middle of K-town? For about $13, you can basically get a three course meal which is a pretty solid deal! All the entrees come with a starter small salad with steamed egg custard. For your entree, I recommend getting the pork katsu (with mini udong, if you want rice with your meal) If you'd rather not get rice, then go for the pork katsu with regular size udon. Either way, GET THE KATSU. I haven't tried the sushi here, but honestly there's no need to. The katsu is perfectly portioned, perfectly crispy, and not greasy at all. The katsu sauce tastes amazing with it, and I like to alternate dipping the pork slices in that and eating it with the udon (which is also pretty decent, but plays a mere supporting role for the pork). Finally for dessert, you get a choice between vanilla ice cream cone, yogurt drink, or coffee. Always go with ice cream.

    (5)

  • sarah l.

    Kimchi udong here is delicious! So is the pork katsu and pork belly in spicy teriyaki sauce. Last but not least, you must try their coffee! The restaurant is in a iffy-looking plaza, but no worries. The inside is much better than the outside. So yes, it's worth a visit!

    (4)

  • Minna S.

    I've been to Miso several times before, and I am always happy with my food. It's a pretty small restaurant, but the atmosphere is great. They offer both Japanese and Korean dishes, and my favorites would have to be their vegetarian bibimbap, pork katsu, and udon. They also offer great bentos with options to mix and match what you want.

    (5)

  • Linda W.

    This is one of my favorite restaurants in the DC/Northern Virginia area. The diversity of colors, flavors and textures of the food keep me coming back. Their katsu is the best I have ever had. Also, the price point and service are very agreeable. Each meal has three components. The first is the appetizer course with a savory egg custard and mini-house salad with ginger dressing. The second course is your entree selection. I usually get the pork katsu combo with udon noodles. The last course is either a yogurt drink or coffee for lunch or a yogurt drink, coffee, or ice cream for dinner.

    (5)

  • Esther K.

    This place serves the best katsu I've ever had- the pork is fried to perfection and the meat is tender and juicy. The only downfall is the portion size of the meals since I always leave there still hungry (I get the pork katsu and morisoba combo). It's as if they use the complementary appetizer and dessert as a cheaper alternative to cut down the portion size... But then again maybe I just eat more than the average gal lol. Also, their presentation is extremely cute and stylish.

    (4)

  • Sara D.

    Tried the miso ramen - bleh. Definitely go across the street to Tanpopo Ramen house instead!

    (2)

  • Jenny S.

    I first came here for a friend's birthday and I can't wait to come back. The food is fantastic and the service is friendly. We came in a large group of about 10 people and it was mostly everyone's first time here and everyone left very happy. I yelped this restaurant beforehand and saw many people raving about the shrimp wrapped in potato appetizier and everyone was spot on- it was so scrumptious! If it wasn't frowned upon, I would order 4 of these and call it a day. But since people would judge me for eating these terribly heavenly fried shrimp apps, I ordered the pork katsu and udon combination meal. Since I came in such a big group, we were about to order different things off the menu and everything was delicious. Mostly everyone ordered one of the 4 katsu & Udon combination meal. That alone is plenty of food, but each of the meals also comes with a complimentary small salad and a small bowl of steamed egg custard. Both the salad and egg custards appetizers were nothing more than average, and obviously only worth noting because it was all free! The katsu was a good size portion and crispy on the outside and still tender on the inside. The udon noodles and broth was tasty and warm. Lastly, they end each meal with complimenatry ice cream or a small yogurt drink. Again, the ice cream isn't some home-churn concoction they've been whipping up in the back, but average mini ice cream cones that you can get from the McDonald's drive through. But it's this small and simple gesture that simply ends your meal on a sweet note. For those sweet tooth addicts, like myself who feel like dessert is needed at the conclusion of every hearty meal, you definitely appreciate this. For the amount of food you get there, that already deserves 5 stars, but add in the complimentary appetizers, ice cream and friendly service, this place is amazing!

    (5)

  • Kimberly K.

    What I like about Miso: - Tasty Tonkatsu. Lightly crisp panko crumbs hug the tender pork. The pork is seasoned perfectly. - Amazing Strawberry Soju - Friendly Servers - Food presentation was lovely What I thought was OK about Miso: - There were 2 tiny pieces of Bulgogi in their Bulgogi Teriyaki. - The salad and mini udon soup were not memorable. - Our server was extremely kind, but he would often disappear for long periods of time. This made it a bit difficult for us to ask for refills and our check at the end of our meal. Overall, Miso is a nice place to bring a group of your friends to chow down on some yummy Katsu and drink lots of delicious Soju.

    (3)

  • Holly S.

    Get the spicy ramen if you like heat (I love it) and it'll make you sweat a bit, in a good way. They stopped selling sushi (bummer!) but still offer ramen and katsu, both of which are very impressive. The katsu is warm and crispy like it should be. The service is impeccable. They are kind, fast, and aren't pushy like many Asian restaurants are. The best part is they offer a free little dessert at the end of your meal. Either a little ice cream cone or a milk drink in a small cup. Definitely go with the ice cream as it's a larger portion and more tasty. They used to offer complimentary espresso after the meal but I think they changed that option to the dessert. I'm sure they'd give it to you if you asked. A definite go if you're in the area.

    (4)

  • Eric J.

    I really like their presentation! So delectable!

    (4)

  • Ami F.

    Had dinner here the other night with some friends and all the food was good. The two star rating is based on the service. When the waiter (who seemed new) brought out one of our bowls of ramen, the bowl tipped and a significant portion spilled on the shirt and pants of my friend. Luckily it wasn't scalding hot. The waiter apologized, and so did the manager. They brought out a new bowl of soup. They also gave us 2 pieces of cake at the end of the meal. The dessert was nice, but my friend had been to Miso before and told us they give you dessert with your meal anyway, so it wasn't really a big deal that they gave us two pieces of cake for free. Again, it was nice they gave us cake and apologized, but an apology doesn't change the fact that my friend got soup spilled on him and basically had his clothes ruined. At minimum, they should have comped us the ramen. But they did not take anything off the bill. Based on this experience, I would never come back.

    (2)

  • Charlie L.

    I love the food and the plating/presentation, so cute! I like how you get a small salad and steamed egg for starters and choice of icecream or yogurt after you entree, free stuff is always good. I've come back here several times since being introduced to this little restaurant hidden inside a strip mall. The Katsu is so good and always tender, the Hae Duh Bap (raw fish rice bowl) is delicious and gives you plenty of fish, and the Udon is yummy too. The service can be slow sometimes and sometimes it's quick- so I think it just depends on what time you go.

    (4)

  • Yujin M.

    Now, I realize katsu is Japanese. But I'm going to refer to Miso as "Korean" simply for convenience of reference, as I've only had katsu in Korea and the US, and this place is run by Koreans. There are very few Korean restaurants in Annandale that are actually *better* than the offerings I'd find in Korea, and Miso comes pretty darn close. I had the pork katsu+caviar rice combo, and MM had the pork katsu+curry rice combo. The katsu was tender on the inside, with just the right thickness and crispiness of the batter on the outside. I was just a tiny bit disappointed that the sweet katsu dip didn't come with wasabi, but the sauce was good enough that the tinge of longing for a kick was fairly quickly forgiven and forgotten. Caviar rice is a long-time favorite of mine, and while this wasn't the best, it was pretty good for a side, and again, better than ones I've had at other places. If you want a little spiciness in your rice, I'd suggest adding in the yummy spicy kimchi offered on the side. Once I added the kimchi, it came pretty darn close to the comfort food my mom used to make me at home. I'm used to making thicker, saltier curry at home, and the curry seemed a little watery in comparison. But if you're a portion-oriented person, the size looked like a pretty enormous complement to the good-sized katsu. At $12.95 for the combo, this is a really good deal with a wonderful three-course presentation, with the tofu(egg?)/salad appetizer, a very filling main course, and a small dessert of ice cream, coffee or tea at the end. What makes it even a better deal is that, to the best of my knowledge, this is the regular price and not a lunch special!

    (4)

  • Aya N.

    Reasonably priced for what you get!!! Cheep and fast service. Great japanese comfort food!!

    (5)

  • Joanne K.

    Whenever my boyfriend and I don't know where to go for dinner, we go here. I want to give it 4 stars but over the years that I've been coming here, the service, food, portion size, etc have all been going down hill... I've only ordered one dish every time I come here: kimchi bacon katsu roll. It's my absolute favorite and my boyfriend always gets the soba + sushi combo for dinner. I We don't like to stray away from our normal order because we get everything we want between the two of ours (udon, fried goodness, and sushi). The salad + egg portions have gotten smaller, the katsu roll has gotten smaller, the sides that come with the katsu have gotten smaller, and the serivce has gotten worse. But for some reason we keep coming back for the food + nostalgia we have for this place.

    (3)

  • Christine N.

    I love the food here! I come here whenever I can when i'm in the area. There udon noodle, katsu, and caviar mussel are fantastic! The food taste fresh and everything is cooked really well. I only docked off 1 star because when it gets really busy, the restaurant gets very hot. I don't know if it's because it's a small location, or if there's something wrong with their air conditioning. Also don't expect to have a big group dine in. It's definitely for a 2-4 people per table seating. But call in if you plan on having a big group so they can arrange seating's.

    (4)

  • Sheri G.

    I love this place. It's billed as Japanese/Korean fusion, but it's mostly Japanese cuisine.They have *the best* katsu. We mentioned Miso to our Japanese friend (who lives near Baltimore) and he knew of it and said it's the best katsu around, so that's saying something. There are a bunch of different combinations you can get here. Most of what we have gotten is udon and katsu. If you are craving soup you can get large udon with a small katsu or the other way around if you are in the mood for a heaping of fried meat.They also have mushroom ramen or yakisoba (cold noodle soup) instead of udon. These combinations come with a steamed egg custard, salad with ginger dressing and dessert at no cost. One of the dessert options is ice cream--how can you go wrong with that!? The meal is served with kimchi and radish (enter the Korean portion of the meal).The katsu comes with a generous helping of potato salad, coleslaw and a dipping sauce. When I had the mushroom ramen, they also gave me miso soup. The udon is pretty good--the noodles are perfectly cooked--but the katsu is the real star of the show. The yakisoba was really, really good. The mushroom ramen was okay--it was thick and reminded me of a Japanese-style carbonara minus the bacon. I'd order the udon over the the ramen. They also have teriyaki and some sushi, as well as a few Korean dishes (bibimbap and bulgogi), but really, you come here for the katsu. It's not too greasy, has a great crunch, and the meat is moist and flavorful.

    (4)

  • Tzu-Yu H.

    Two things here- bland fried food and LOTS of college male servers with Abercrombie t-shirts. I ordered the Okonomiyaki and the fried pork cutlet with seafood udon. Maybe because I know how to make Okonomiyaki, I found their version to be lack of cabbage. How can you not have cabbage???? It's cheap and it makes the pancake delicious X10. The pork cutlet was okay and the seafood udon was a tap bit too salty. The abercrombie t-shirt uniform servers were definitely distracting, not really in a good way. Strangest choice for a uniform IMO.

    (3)

  • Matt M.

    Impressed. I'm normally leery of "fusion" places, but Miso proved to be awesome. The service was super friendly, the interior was nice (the music was surprisingly fantastic as it was very trip-hop ish) and the 'give outs' that came with the meal were plentiful (you even get ice cream at the end!) I had the seafood ramen and it was pretty good. I feel like i need to order one of their specialties next time like the katsu to get a real feel for the place. Regardless, I plan to go back and hopefully take others.

    (4)

  • Phil P.

    Seriously, wtf...we ordered a $15 Pork Ramen and it only had two little pieces of meat. If you want Ramen go across the street to Tampopo..cheaper, tastier, and bigger portions. While the ambience and decor is nice, I can't see the justification for charging $15 for ramen that comes with two little pieces of meat. It's not a fancy restaurant...the waiters are all sporting tight abercrombie t-shirts. Will not return.

    (2)

  • Elina Y.

    I am a picky picky picky udon fan. Miso's noodles are SOFT, a quality which surprisingly is hard to find for some reason. Now, the soup base is a different story, it's edible but has room for improvement. But for a bargain of $6.95 (to-go) lunch special, I ain't complainin'. Other great lunch specials that I have tried (for to-go): Kimchi udon $7.95 Chicken/Pork Katsu $6.95 (comes with rice, salad and miso soup) Shrimp wrapped w/ Potatoes (sae woo gam jah mah ree) $5.95 Sashimi assortment w/rice (hwe dup bap) $9.95 (warning: the sashimi pieces are small, booo) One star added for great lunch special prices and quick pick-up turn around time!

    (4)

  • A A.

    I've been here many times over the last year and it was always my go-to chicken katsu spot. In fact, its the ONLY place I would go for chicken katsu. Their katsu is amazing. However, during my recent visit, after digging into my first piece of chicken katsu, I noticed a raw piece of meat on my plate. I wanted to deny the fact because I totally wanted to eat this food. But as I finished my first bite of katsu chicken, I couldn't let it go that a raw piece of chicken was clinging to the crispy edge of my chicken katsu. How does raw chicken get on cooked chicken? Probably because cooked food and raw food are prepared on the same surface. Disgusting and dangerous to think about. The waiter offered to remake my food, but I left without another bite because who knows what goes on in that kitchen and I wasn't going to risk it. I hope I'm wrong, but for that reason alone I will never come back. Not worth my health! I wish the manager came out but they didn't. I was also really hungry and really really REALLY wanted to eat that katsu chicken! I hate to post this but its not safe when raw food touches cooked food.

    (1)

  • Casmi T.

    Miso is one of my favorite places to go eat. Their katsu is on point and their udon is delicious. The only thing that bothers me the most is that their service kinda stinks. They need to be a little more attentive to the customer and not stand in the back all the time.

    (3)

  • Margaret N.

    Friendly service and great casual environment! You get steamed egg and salad to start your meal, and the actual meal is perfectly portioned! Katsu is juicy and crispy! And for dessert, they serve you ice cream in a cone! Definitely plan on going back!

    (4)

  • Julie T.

    I'm def a fan of this place, cute little restaurant with good chicken katsu! I got the mini udon combination. Love the side dishes it comes with. You get a little starter tofu and then some other korean style side dishes. Good service, no complaints!

    (4)

  • A W.

    My family and I came here for the first time last night, and found another little gem in little Korea in Annandale. The atmosphere has a nice, pleasant vibe catering to young professionals and families alike. I could tell there were quite a few regulars. For dinner, they start you out with a small salad followed by palate cleansing, warm and light, egg custard. Then, your main meal arrives. We ordered spicy ramen, chicken teriyaki, and kid-size chicken katsudon. Food was terrific, and presented beautifully. There was a nice after-dinner surprise of vanilla ice cream cones for everyone. Service was great---helpful, friendly, and attentive. Oh, was it coincidence that all the wait staff were wearing Abercrombie & Fitch t-shirts and fashionably distressed jeans and looked like they all stepped out of an A&F catalog? This was a cool find, and we're definitely coming back.

    (4)

  • Paula B.

    Don't go here after 10pm. Their sign says they are open but they just turned me away. I'll take my business else where!

    (1)

  • Regina H.

    Probably the best katsu that I've had in the area! Apart from the standard tonkatsu (hirae katsu on the menu), they also have chicken, shrimp and flounder, etc. The katsu is perfectly crispy and delicious! Great value as well, with a whole set menu for $10.95 for lunch, around $12 for dinner. Here's what you get: Salad, steamed egg custard (chawanmushi) to start, your choice of udon/rice/sushi along with your katsu and coffee/yogurt drink for dessert. For dinner, they also give you a choice of ice cream for dessert. The service is also great. Last time I went, I shared a set and an appetizer with one other person. You're only supposed to get the starters and dessert with the set menu, but they graciously gave us one per person. It's also never crowded or noisy - love this place!

    (4)

  • Brendan S.

    Miso's lunch carry out specials run until 4 pm and are some of the most delicious and underpriced specials around. Everything is good--the bulgogi, the sushi, the eel, the sashimi salad, the katsu... all come with soup and salad, a bit of kimchi, sides of rice and vegetables... if I'm in Annandale, it's my go-to spot. I can't speak for the dine in menu or prices, but my experience with their carry out has been unrivaled in Annandale.

    (5)

  • Louis K.

    A pretty decent place to grab lunch/quick dinner. Serves various katsu and donburi for mid to high teen dollar range. I would rate it about 3.5 stars, but I rounded it up to 4 as they had Yuengling on draft.

    (4)

  • Josh S.

    A Korean-owned but Japanese menu restaurant. They specializes in donkatsu (pork cutlet) and usually comes in a combo. You get donkatsu + udon/curry/roll for about $13. What's great about this place is that they hand out salad and steamed egg as individual appertizer and also give desserts for free. So it's like getting a full 3-course meal for about $13. I never understood why this place isn't more crowded, but it maybe because the location isn't very good. It's in the middle of huge mall in Annandale, right next to that Bowling Alley. There is a popular bar called Baden right next door also so if you do dinner + drink, Miso + Baden is a good combo.

    (4)

  • Alex A.

    Based on the menu, it seems they really specialize in katsu, and not so much in udon. Overall, the food and presentation was great, although the prices are higher than average.

    (4)

  • Lindsey H.

    I'm a really big fan of this place. The food is great, the decor is pretty, and the ambiance is classy/comfortable (when we visited last weekend, they were playing a lot of classics like Sinatra. It was nice because we could enjoy the music and the atmosphere for a bit, then go back to talking without being distracted). The food is great. Some people have reviewed the menu as overwhelming, but I really, really like the idea of variety when I eat. As much variety as possible is my idea of a good time. The idea of Japanese-Korean fusion is great because the foods are pretty different but complement each other well. I ordered the katsu shrimp/beef bulgogi combination. The boyfriend got the katsu pork/udon combination. They were both really tasty. The katsu was awesome - crunchy but not hard. The meat was also extremely tasty. The bulgogi was delicious. I did not have a change to try the udon, but my boyfriend seemed happy. It was also, no lie, a TON of food. They bring out an appetizer of a savory egg custard-like-something and a small salad with ginger dressing. The main course is brought out like a big bento box. The main dishes also come with a bunch of things on the side. Between our two orders, we also had rice (only with his), miso soup (only with mine), but both of them come with little dishes of kimchi and pickled radish, potato salad, and a coleslaw-like cabbage salad. Very filling. Each meal wasn't that expensive either, but considering that it was in Annandale, maybe it was a little pricey - each entrée was about $11-$12. We also ordered their pineapple soju. It was terrific. Soju blended with real fruit? How could you go wrong? It was a little pricey (~$14 for an order), but was enough for the two of us to have about 5-6 small glasses each. I can't wait to try the other fruit flavors they offer next time I visit (which will probably be tonight). The restaurant was also pretty busy for a late, late lunch on a Saturday. Even so, I was pleased to find the service was very friendly and fairly quick. All in all, awesome place. One of my favorite new restaurants in NOVA. Good job, Miso! See you soon.

    (4)

  • Brenda D.

    It was a chilly night and I wanted something warm for dinner...*light bulb*...udon! Miso has great udon and katsu (fried cutlets) combinations that definitely won't break the bank. I brought my parents here and we tried the shrimp, flounder and soft shell crab katsu combinations. Of the 3, the soft shell crab was my favorite. Their dipping sauce for the katsu was delicious. The service here is quick (when you get their attention) and very considerate. We had leftover katsu and they included a box of dipping sauce in our to-go box. I also loved that they give you ice cream in a cone for dessert!

    (4)

  • Kevin L.

    I love the service here the food is delicious and its usually either quiet or soothing instrumentals being played while you eat I love eating here with my gf I recommend the chicken katsu and cali sushi roll combo with a ginger ale

    (4)

  • Christina N.

    Miso, please open a restaurant in Centreville. I mean, I'll drive to Annandale if I have to in order to indulge on your perfectly-seasoned potato-wrapped shrimp, ah-mazingly flavorful udon, and complementary steamed egg/salad/ice cream; but if you guys had a Centreville location, then no one would need to deal with the hell known as 66 before delighting themselves with your food. So, pretty please?!

    (5)

  • Diana K.

    I really wanted to give Miso a higher rating, but my most recent meal here was pretty disappointing. I've been to Miso two times before and my thoughts and experiences about this place have been fairly inconsistent - you're either going to love the food or think 'meh'. Their fusion katsus, for which they're known, were really greasy and over fried this time around. In fact, the chicken and mushroom katsu roll that I ordered looked rather dinky and like it was made carelessly. The sushi that came with the katsu set was decent and the appetizer of salad was just A-OK. What could have redeemed Miso of its castaway fourth star??? Its proximity to the fro-yo joint next door, which sadly, has been shut down. In retrospect, their level of service has always been consistent. They were very accommodating to our group of 12+ people and even took reservations from us, which is rare for most Korean restaurants. Also, the coffee they served for desert was a choice end to the meal. As the overall rating system states, Miso is a 3.5. It's something different to try, but not something you'll become a die hard fan of.

    (3)

  • Jessie H.

    I always get the donkatsu and hwe dup bap combo. Delicious, it never disappoints me. I should try other things but this place is known for their katsu and I'm a huge fan of hwe dup bap so how can I go wrong. It's a decent size portion and presentation is good. I've been here 3-4 times.

    (4)

  • Colin C.

    My in-laws are Japanese and they eat here frequently which shows that it is a decent option. More known for the non-sushi Japanese food like udon, soba, tonkatsu, curry rice, etc. All do not disappoint and they give you nice combo plate options. The price isn't great as all are around $15 or $16 but I have never left disappointed.

    (4)

  • Elain X.

    I have been here on many occasions and I usually get the kim-chi Udon or plain Udon and ton katsu. They start you off with a little salad and steamed eggs. The sald is nothing to rave about but its free...haha? The steamed eggs are a great start. I love their ton katsu and sauce I think its my favorite things there. I also like the Kim-chi Udon, which i think isn't even on the menu and I dont know how i found out about it. The portions are big a very filling their udon is flavorful and theres a lot of noodles in it too. I wouldn't recommend any of the california rolls but their shrimp tempuras a really good and crispy. Its a great appetizer to get but it only comes with two. I come here when I'm in annandale and dont feel like eating anything too crazy but I want something good and filling.

    (4)

  • David P.

    The decor and atmosphere was very nice. The waiter staff was warm and welcoming. The menu looked inviting and there were many options to try. The food was reasonable and a good size. This is a fun place to try out if you have never been here before, although it's not something I would consider a 'favorite'. I got the kimchi ramen ($15) which seemed to be lacking a little bit of flavor and was a bit salty. My boyfriend got the terriyaki bul-go-gi ($14), which was tasty but seemed less juicy than he's used to. As an appetizer, we both shared the tofu katsu ($5), which was fun to try, but was not something we would get again. However, this place did offer us both a free ice cream cone as dessert. -Written by David's girlfriend, Christine.

    (3)

  • Jenny C.

    This place is sooo good. This was my first time and def not the last! The service was sooo good too!

    (5)

  • Jacob F.

    Eaten here twice now and it's been great both times. The standard Katsu dish comes with a small salad, chawanmushi, a mini udon noodle soup (they have other options if you don't want the soup), and then an icecream cone after your meal. Great!

    (5)

  • Katie A.

    I checked out Miso with my husband and it was okay. I ordered the katsu shrimp (I think this was what it's called), which is basically three fried shrimp sticks and dipping sauce, kimchi, pickled radish, and what I would call asian coleslaw. You also get to pick your side, I picked udon noodles which is like thick noodles in miso broth. My husband got fried pork and it came with rice and roodles. It comes with a free appetizer (egg with shrimp and ginger salad), and free ice cream at the end which was nice, and the service was spectacular. They really helped us with the menu which is definitely not easy to navigate if you have no knowledge about Japanese food (beyond sushi). I think for the price (about $15 per dish) though we were looking for something more memorable, the taste was okay but not something I would need to eat again. The restaurant is also in a strip mall in Annandale and we were solicited to buy things on the way out (not really the restaurant's fault) which ended the experience on a strange note.

    (3)

  • CW L.

    It was very so so. The food is not bad,but I think it may have MSG in the seafood ramen.

    (2)

  • Jack F.

    CliffsNotes: Looking for a multi-course meal under $20? Look no further than Miso. It's a fusion restaurant mixing Korean and Japanese cuisine. The combination boxes offer the best value by giving you two choice: a main entree paired with either a noodle or rice dish. The combination starts with an egg custard and small salad. Rather than bon chon, you're served with small pickles, potato salad, and cole slaw. I recommend the katsu (pork cutlet) with Japanese curry rice. Yes, the menu may be confusing and somewhat repetitive, but the value is unmistakable. A regular combination box starts at just $12.95. [Last Visit: Fall 2010]

    (5)

  • K. K.

    Usually great but today I asked for small size sauce for my shrimp but this young guy with gray shirt neber being it to me. Disappointed.....

    (3)

  • John S.

    Great service good menu and casual environment. Food was prepared well and portions were good for dinner. Overall good dining experience.

    (4)

  • R H.

    I have to update to 5 stars. If you try other katsu around Nova and DC it's like eating deep fried cardboard. Simply because they have tender thick juicy well-made katsu and their other dishes are very good too (from a traditional korean standpoint). They're curry rice is good and had a very slight kick to it which is unique. And the sushi rice (hwedubbab) is very good.

    (5)

  • Abigail E.

    This is my 3rd ramen restaurant experience (first time on the East Coast) but this place was not what I was expecting. The noodles aren't wavy. That was a big thing for me and this "ramen" place didn't have it. The noodles were like a skinny version of udon.

    (3)

  • Lola Z.

    This place was awesome! Nice decor and a great value. Portions were generous & everything was really light (not greasy and heavy) and delicious! Presentation was very neatly done. Service was okay. Plenty of parking. I'll definitely be back. A combo meal, you choose 2 items and they give you a yogurt drink for dessert-was around $10.

    (5)

  • Dave H.

    Miso Cafe Japanese Restaurant is charmingly small, with ornamental metals and a forestral wallpaper. For its size, there's a healthy amount of booth, table, and outdoor seating. Their menu features Korean-styled Japanese dishes and is one of the best organized I've seen recently, each page showing a meal set, complete with photos. We cleared a plate of a delicious squid appetizer, and another with colorful spicy mussels (what a kick!). My bowl of kimchi udon noodles ($9) was deeeeelish, with a soothing broth that managed to stay saucy, tangy, and wasn't the least bit shy. Service was outstanding! Jimmy, our server, checked how we were during AND after the meal, never rushing us. He even brought extra pickles: everyone took down their sliced, tangy kimchi and the yellow radish pickles in no time. After checking our IDs, he brought a large carafe of sweet, sweet *yogurt* soju ($18), which was ambrosial - couldn't taste the alcohol, but certainly FELT it. Four of us took shots of the stuff, and it lasted the whole dinner. Miso is worth every penny, hands down, satisfaction guaranteed - go there today, and bring friends! Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • J O.

    Best Asian fusion restaurant ever! I'm a fan!!!! Have been going there 3.5 years for now (at least once a week)! I always order combination of Katsu roll sushi and kimchi udong, never get tired of it! Staff is extremely professional, very relaxing atmosphere. Definitely recommend

    (5)

  • Orlando P.

    Excellent food here, service is great, and the ambience is great. Definitely one of my favorite places for tonkatsu in the DMV area.

    (5)

  • Olivia P.

    one of my top favorite place in the area. they have so much variety selections that you can choose from appetizer to desserts. i hear how ppl complain about the price or heaviness of the food, but you get what you paid for and how do you expect it to be light when it comes to deep fried dishes? step back and think about what you are getting. the atmosphere is pretty fancy now after the renovation, but it's still pretty casual at the same time so don't be alarmed about word of mouth which sometimes people will say it's only good place for dating/couples. i've been to many popular katsu places like katsu-hama and haru-hana in nyc but this place beats it all. it is leggggggit. definitely a 5-star restaurant for all the excellent service, food, and, atmosphere!

    (5)

  • Kevin T.

    My family and I ate here last week after returning from vacation and I agree with most of the positive reviews here. Overall, food is solid. Portions are decent but not huge. Service was good as well. Will definitely return.

    (4)

  • Richard S.

    Um... I kinda saw what they were trying to do, but at the same time, I don't really see what they're trying to do. Yeah, I get the Japanese-Korean fusion thing, but just taking a look at the menu was really ridiculous. I'm Korean and trying to sift through that was just painful and overall a huge turnoff. There's a lot of redundancy in the "combos" and crap you can get and honestly they'd just save themselves a lot of trouble if they just cut the menu in half. Or even a third really. This seems to be a problem with all the other Japanese-Korean restaurants that are popping up these days in Northern Virginia... If anything it just seems like any typical Korean restaurant with a few extra Japanese items thrown in there. The food was just OK--their take on Japanese foods were definitely more Korean, if anything. Though I guess I'm not really sure what I was expecting in the first place.

    (2)

  • Eunice K.

    i took my sister and mom there and they liked it they liked the service.. great staff... very helpful and friendly went again recently and tried their fusion donkatsu and it was yummy cant wait to try the other versions. ahaha :) def taking my friends there soon!

    (4)

  • Micah P.

    I LOVE the concept of this restaurant. Katsu and udon noodles? Two things I love? Heck yes! Miso caters to those who want combination choices of katsu and udong soup. However, the food is bland with absolutely no flavor. Also, though the udon noodles are so SOFT, there was no flavor in the broth and my soup was cold. I ended up getting the eel roll katsu and I felt like it was a little hard to eat. It reminded me of a Chicken Cordon Bleu, but not as good. It was chewy, came out very hot (I was about to burn my lip!), but the fried concept of the roll dehydrated the eel flavor. Like another review said earlier, they have pretty food... and that might be it. I'll try again in the future and see how I feel about it.

    (2)

  • Allie K.

    Food is just okay, but the donkatsu portion is so small!! I never leave full. I always order the combo with egg rice - the rice is well portioned but the donkatsu...omg so small, I'd have to order another donkatsu for me to be full. The side dishes are so small too, I literally take three bites and I'm done. I always have to take really small bites when I'm eating here, or else I'd be finished eating in ten minutes. There are better places for donkatsu with very generous portions, I don't feel the need to come here anymore.

    (2)

  • Qui H.

    I went here for the first time on my birthday. I actually wanted sushi but was told they didn't have it... I was kind of disappointed. However, I ended up ordering the bibimbap and pork cutlets. At the end they ended up giving us icecream because it came with the meal. We didn't know that so that was a plus to have desserts.

    (3)

  • Lillian W.

    I very much enjoyed my 2 visits here. I've gotten the seafood bimbimbap combo (that comes with pork). For about $15 this combo comes with side dishes and free ice cream dessert! The side dishes are usually radishes, kimchi, miso soup and potato salad. The service is very good and i love the interior decor. The restaurant itself is a fusion of Japanese and Korean food (in case you couldn't tell by what I ordered!). Overall, I definitely recommend.

    (4)

  • Jean S.

    Unique Japanese-Korean-American fusion food that is delicious and with large portions. Good service, clean atmosphere

    (4)

  • Lisa N.

    What a great lunch deal for the hungry hippo! For only $11, you get an appetizer (salad or soup), two large entrees, AND dessert (coffee or yogurt). I ordered the udon noodles and sashimi salad and I was full just after the noodles. My friend got the fried katsu which was not bad. The quality of the food is decent, service was better than your typical Korean restaurant, and the atmosphere/decor was clean and simple. I'd definitely come back. (+) great value, large selection (-) some of the food lacked flavor (udon noodles were a bit bland)

    (3)

  • Alex T.

    Order the fish katsu with udong...the fish katsu had all the great markings of a good katsu...was decent size, crispy, and flavorful...the udong was flavorful but not overpowering...not too oily and left a very clean after taste..my only complaint would be the tako-yakki - very doughy and almost tasted raw-like..the little bits of tako was bland....

    (4)

  • Hue K.

    Four and half-star! Having so boring Friday at work, I couldn't wait to get off work. My friend came to pick me up at my work at around 3:30 pm and I was pretty starving for some reason (all day, actually...). I thought about checking out one place in Crystal city, VA but changed my mind and decided to go to Annandale to check out 'Miso Cafe'. Miso is a Japanese fusion restaurant that specialized in Katsu. I was worried about typical Friday afternoon traffic on I-495.., but it wasn't too bad. We got there at around 4:07pm. The cafe was pretty big inside and neat and casual atmosphere. There were a few groups at different tables. Soon, we saw great lunch-specials on the wall and the menu, but found out that it was until 4pm. Darn..., we just missed it. Oh well.. next time. So many kinds of katsu and other dishes.. it was hard to choose one.. We decided to get one hawaiian katsu-roll set (pork-cutlet roll filled with ham, pineapple and mozzarella cheese, a choice of seafood yaki-udon (our choice), udon, curry-rice and curried potato salad, cabbage salad and pickles) and one well-being vegetarian mixed rice bowl set (variety of veg over steamed multi-grain rice in a bowl that comes with mini-udon, temaki and pickles). Both came with steamed egg (Chawanmushi) and small salad. The sets were great. We got to try multiple dishes and all were pretty tasty. Chawanmushi needs some seasoning.. but I enjoyed the silky-texture. Surprisingly the yaki-udon had full-size portion. We thought it would be small side-dish size. Overall, we were satisfied with our experience. I would go back there for lunch special to try more than one kind.. It's so fun to try different, unique dishes that I don't find easily in this area. Oh.. service was very good.

    (4)

  • Christie H.

    Today was the first time ever trying miso. Let me start with the great service, our server was very friendly and directed us to our seats. He was very knowledgable and helped with our choices. He helped us choose our appetizer, which was delicious! He told us to get the shrimp wrapped in potatoes. It was a fried appetizer and was made just right. The outside was not too crispy with the shrimp on the inside still being moist. He said it was one of the dishes they were known for and I can tell why! It was great. We also got strawberry Soju which was so good too. Just the right amount of sweetness. For my entree I got the chicken Katsu with udon, the chicken was just right and not too dry. I love all the little dishes that come along side it. Some places make their Katsu too hard and tough. Here it was fresh. Lastly it came with coffee or yogurt. For $12-13 you cannot beat that! Definitely a great place. I would definitely come back to eat here!

    (5)

  • Stephanie G.

    I love this place! The flounder kastu is amazing and the big udong soups are fabulous for lunches while I'm at work. I often take colleagues here because there is something for everyone here. Delicious sauces for the katsu as well!

    (5)

  • Chiiiiiiiiiii L.

    The first Korean Fusion restaurant I have had in Virginia! It is similar to Wako in Los Angeles with lots of Katsussss to choose from. I ordered Lobster Katsu. Wohoo! The Kimchi Udon was also great. Free Ice cream cone to complete the meal! 5-stars.

    (5)

  • H L.

    Tonkatsu was great, but I've seen better before. Side dishes were decent and food quality was great. What really bugged me about this place is the serving size that seems to be meant for munchkins. Without any exaggeration, the main entrees were in a size of my palm, and side dishes were in a size of bottle cab of Vitamin Water. I have never had a serving so small that I almost felt offended when the server brought me a check, $12 for each person. To simply put, this place is a rip-off.

    (2)

  • Hung T.

    This place is awesome. You get free appetizers of steamed egg custard and small ginger dressing salad. Then we ordered the spicy tuna temaki. But i didn't taste any tuna...but i will forgive them since it still was good. 2 temaki rolls for $2.95. Then i got the pork tender katsu and that thing was realll good. Nice and flaky crust, very crispy, not oily tasting. The dipping sauce was nice. They give u a side a kim chi, pickled radish, onions/jalapenos, a small udon noodle soup, coleslaw (real good), potato salad (great) and side of white rice. It filled me up and i didn't even touch the rice! It was two big pieces of pork. For the complimentary dessert, I got the yogurt. You can choose coffee too. Service was really great. Everyone kept asking us if we were doing okay and everything was good. Very attentive with the refills of water. Very helpful with the menu. So nice. We were greeted on our way out too. Total came out to be ~ $17 including tax and tip.

    (4)

  • Anne C.

    I think what they have attempted to achieve here is cute. very cute. But they are really lacking in some of the details of their dishes. The pork katsu was delicious: crispy to the perfect nth and not too greasy. The portions were large too. The udon was tasty, but nothing extraordinary. They took two relatively cheap, peasant foods and tried to add a twist of "fusion"...but they didn't. they just changed the way they presented it...just in a nicer manner. On the other hand, the salad they serve in the beginning was terrible...the ginger dressing was off and was too sweet. The egg they served didn't have an egg texture, but a extremely smooth texture...almost as if they didn't use fresh eggs, but the eggs from a bottle kind. THe sauces were good for the shrimp katsu, but the sauce for the pork katsu...I've had better better katsu sauces elsewhere, and for some place that totes itself as a katsu spot, i would've expected more. The curry on the side was what my boyfriend called the "$2 dollar sushi from a box"...enough said about that. oh and the dressing with that light cole slaw they served on the side of the katsu???? It's not dressing. it's white mayo. straight mayo. ew.

    (2)

  • Brooke C.

    I worked in Annandale for a while, and somehow always ended up at other locations around the area for lunch or dinner. I stopped in on a whim, after not managing to find the place I was actually looking for and was blown away. I was rather hungry so I ordered the Okinamiyaki and the Katsu set. Both were fantastic!

    (5)

  • S H.

    Me like this place. Simple food with generous portions and they have awesome udon broth!

    (4)

  • Ann T.

    At first, I was skeptical because of the location - I mean what restaurant could be good if it's tucked away in a shopping center? Sorry, I've been in DC too long. Miso was GREAT. The reviews were right! The Udon was DELICIOUS. Perfectly soft. Katsu was crisped too perfection - not too breaded to mask the taste of the meat but breaded enough to add a crunch and great texture. I highly recommend the Yogurt Soju. Not potent at all, but distinctly sweet with a bit of a bite. Inside, the decor was nice, the ambiance comfortable, and the plating beautiful. I will definitely come back for a second round! =)

    (5)

  • Arthur K.

    I have a grudge against Miso. If you've read my KC Catering review you probably know what's coming. Here's how it came about: The then fiance and I had booked Miso to cater our wedding after the mother-in-law recommended them. Honestly to us any Korean place would be the same so we went with Miso. We set up a dinner/meeting at Miso two weeks before the wedding to finalize the menu. Traffic dictates I get there 10 minutes late. I arrive to a somber table with the in-laws and the fiance. She is very upset. "They say they can't do the wedding!". She is distraught. Through what the in-laws are telling me and what I can gather from the misses - one lady that helps w/ catering at Miso hurt her hand a few weeks ago so they can't do the wedding. You know what I feel bad for that lady that hurt her hand. Who knows it might have been really bad. I hope she feels better. I really do. But how do you run an operation that can't operate if 1 person is out?! Ms. Proprietor comes by and says something to the effect of "if we can't do it well, we don't want to do it - it's your wedding". Ok. It's 2 week before the wedding. So instead of having crappy food we'll have no food? That makes sense. You're pretty smart, lady. The other thing is she didn't tell us right away. I get it you're scared to tell us you're ditching us right before our wedding. But the Mom-in-Law mentioned she was really hesitant to have us come down for dinner. This was a few days before when we set the meeting. Tell us you can't cater as soon as possible. That way we'll have 17 days to find a replacement not 14. We order food. I have no idea why. But we order a meal there. In all honesty it's not totally crappy, but nothing special. Soup-based dishes were good. Cooked meat wasn't that good. Sushi was eh. Slightly pricey for the quality of food you get. Anyhow. Ms. Proprietor comes when we are served the check and tells us it's on the house. I'm not impressed. You caused a lot of stress for the Misses. And your food wasn't even that good. 1 Star.

    (1)

  • Arzo I.

    First time I've tried katsu (chicken) and i looovveed it. The sushi is really fresh and I always carry out during lunch when I'm craving katsu or sushi. The dressing for the fresh salad they give as a side is soooo yumo, idk if its soy and ginger or vinegar and soy but its good. Not a fan of the soup they give with the sushi (miso i believe), super bland not my steelo and the egg pudding they give as a starter made me : / i had to ask the dish to be removed. BUT! The staff is very friendly and super nice, my first time carry out the lady showed me what was in my bag and opened and closed everything up for me.

    (4)

  • Grace T.

    Don katsu and udong. Do it. Those are the two things they are known for, so I have never ventured to get anything else. Every time I've come here which has been with small and large groups the service has be friendly and fast. The food is pretty good and you'll leave full. They offer combo plates. And I usually get the one that offers a larger bowl of udong and a cutlet of katsu or you can get a small bowl of udong and two cutlets of katsu. The combo comes with salad (it's iceberg and ginger dressing... I've never been blown away by a Japanese salad and don't expect to be), a creamy steamed egg thing in a cup (odd texture, but it was ok), kimchi, daikon and your katsu sauce. I can't offer reviews on any of the other foods cause I stick with what they were known for. But will definitely keep going to them for don katsu and udong.

    (4)

  • Donald P.

    We were quite impressed by this place. Why we never thought to come here before is beyond me. Perhaps it's because from the outside it just appears to be another run of the mill Korean/Japanese restaurant, and the fact that it's advertised as "fusion" just made it seem like a desperate appeal to the American palate. Anyway we entered and were instantly intrigued because they served boong-uh-bang (the ubiquitous Korean street side breaded snack with read bean paste inside). Aside for buying at an Asian grocery store, I don't know where else you can get it here. The menu is not as intuitive as it could be. It took us several minutes to make sense of everything. We ordered combination Katsu meals. The salad and gyeran jjim that came out first was okay, although I'm not sure if the egg was supposed to be Japanese or Korean. Perhaps that was a little bit of "Fusion" going on there. The katsu was good, but I especially liked the al-bop. It was very tasty. I really liked the katsu sauce, because it had a little zing to it. The kimchi was very inadequate as with the yellow pickled radish, but that was probably due to aesthetic reasons. We finished dinner with the fish-shaped boong-uh-bang. It is the prepackaged stuff, but what else can you expect. All in all our experience at Miso was good, but I still don't think it's "fusion". It's your typical Korean owned Korean/Japanese restaurant. The atmosphere here is not like your typical restaurant. If I were to come back here, ideally it would be for 2-cha. ------ 6/28 update ------ This past weekend a bunch of fellow yelpers converged on this place as part of our 6-2-5 commiseration of the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean War on 6/25 or June 25, 1950. First toast was to all those who fought and lost their lives (including my grandfather) during the war. Our second toast was to the South Korean soccer team to beat Uruguay during the knockout rounds. Our third toast was for the North Korean soccer team to arrive safely back to NK without being thrown in prison for losing or something like that....and a four and subsequent toasts....I forgot, but I think they got sillier and sillier. The food and service were great, and I was surprised they were able to accommodate such a large crowd. The only thing that I'm not too sure about was at the end when it came to dividing the bill up amongst 6 different credit cards, it took a VEEEEeeery long time. I don't know if they were having technical difficulty or if this was retribution for making the billing so difficult. ;) If memory serves me correct, I think they even had a baby changing station.

    (4)

  • Diana W.

    Amongst the best katsu I've ever had! The fish rice bowl is like having poke.

    (4)

  • Harry T.

    Ah... the Korean owned Japanese restaurant. About as American as apple pie. Same goes for the Korean owned New York style delis that sell Chinese food buffet-style by the pound. I love ordering their katsu "sets". You start off with an egg custard that has finely chopped crab on top and a salad with a ginger dressing you get typically at sushi houses. You choose a katsu of your liking and a "choice" of either a hand roll, tuna or shrimp sushi. They also give you an udon noodle soup, some creamy cabbage salad and some potato salad. They give you some kim chee, pickled radish on the side as well. The katsu is perfect. The best katsu I've had in DC. Lightly fried, crispy and never oily. The udon is great as well. The sushi is just ok and really just a complement to the katsu definitely not the star of the meal. The cabbage and potato salad give you a nice variety of texture and flavor to go with the other dishes. I really like this place.

    (4)

  • Fiona Y.

    I came here on a Friday night at around 6:30. The place was just starting to get busy. My friend had recommended this place to me, so we met up here with a few other friends. I was so pleasantly surprised by the value and variety of items you get. For only about 15 bucks, each meal comes with a first course of egg custard and salad. The main entree also had small portions of kimchi, pickled radish, potato salad, and two salads. I had the oisha pork katsu and udon. Then to top it off, they served ice cream on a cone, which was included. Everything was yummy, and the service was good. The guys serving us were attentive, even though they were busy, and really cute too! They all seemed to have the K-pop look of dyed hair, black t-shirts, and cut arms. There were no female waitresses, in fact, which we found interesting. For the value and the quality of food, I was highly impressed! I'll definitely return someday!

    (5)

  • Anson P.

    If you don't like fried meat, I don't like you. There's pretty much no way around this. If you can't enjoy a good katsu, then really, I want nothing to do with you. You're probably a boring person. I had the kimchi udon and pork tender katsu combo and it was good. The salad appetizer that came with it was meh and the steamed egg was ok. But the star of the show was the katsu. It was beautifully fried and served with some shredded cabbage with mayo and a potato side dish. The kimchi udon was tasty with a decent amount of spice and came with some hot pepper powder to kick it up a notch. The whole platter came with kimchi, pickled radish, and some sauce on the side that tasted like apple pie filling. Pretty good. The service was excellent. The waiter checked on me regularly. The place is set up like a diner with basically all booths. Also, it's clean. The lunch menu runs until 4 pm. I'll definitely be back here.

    (4)

  • Bren P.

    Best place around to get udong and katsu! I also love the soba noodles, it hits the spot! All the katsus are delish, especially the pork katsu. I usually order the combo with the bigger udong soup and a smaller portion of the katsu. It 's always more than enough for me, esp with their little banchan dishes, kimchi, pickled radish and a little side of potato salad. Oh, I forgot to mention the meals all start off with a salad and gyeran jjim (steamed egg in a cute littel bowl) and ends with either a korean yogurt drink or coffee! I'm always satisfied whenever I come here. Hasn't disappointed me yet (except when I crave katsu and udong on SUNDAYS!! ... they're closed)

    (4)

  • Jina K.

    I'm giving an extra star for their superb service. They are quick, attentive, and check up on you a quite a few times. I don't think I have experienced this kind of service at ANY Korean restaurants I have been to. The food is average. I had the "hwe dup bap" with kimchi udon and 2 pices of salmon. Kimchi udon was... different. My friend had udon with chicken katsu. The katsu looked pretty good. The restaurant is really clean and I would definitely return when craving "fast" Korean food.

    (4)

  • Joe N.

    Miso was recommended to me last year. Tried to check it out once before on a Sunday and found they are closed on Sundays. I was told their specialty is Tonkatsu of which I'm a fan. I was told to look for their Katsu rolls which kinda sets them apart from other spots, I suppose. I ordered the Koronburu, which I'm guessing is the Korean way to say Cordon Bleu (just a guess). It's a Katsu roll with Mozarella cheese inside. Comes with a mini-udong bowl and some other small sides. Everything was pretty good. I will definitely return, and probably soon. We had the ginger tea for dessert. It was good but had a strong spicy kick to it. Nothing bad at all, but I've had it a few times before and it's usually sweeter than spicier. Oh, you can also add Sushi Topping to most of the entrees. I didn't do this because I can't eat seafood but my girlfriend did and she said it was pretty good.

    (4)

  • Sushi L.

    This is probably my favorite Asian restaurant in nova. Excellent food for a decent price, and the place is clean.

    (4)

  • Alan T.

    Very decent place to eat...a lot of variety and reasonable prices. I tried chicken Katsu n curry rice, also tried flounder katsu + shashimi bimbibap from my partner in crime..katsu was very crispy and I highly recommend the shashimi bimbibap as it was very fresh and nice to eat. After that they gave us desert choices as either coffee or yogurt which was very nice. I would definitely come back for sure.

    (5)

  • Cherie R.

    My husband and I come here all the time. IT is affordable and the food is consistent. They do everything right! The atmosphere isnt perfect, but the food is just delicious! The staff is a bit quiet, but it no way do they give bad service. Your meal comes with a little salad, a lot of sides with your entree and then a free dessert or coffee. You cant go wrong with this place!

    (5)

  • Rin S.

    I used to love this place for 2 reasons. Friendly service... it's still there. Oyster cutlet.... not anymore. Without Oyster cutlet, not much reason to visit there.

    (2)

  • Christina W.

    I'm only giving 4 stars for the KATSU only. I haven't tried anything else on their menu, but there are plenty of other Korean restaurants to try Korean food. Their Katsu is amazing. I've gone a handful of times and their katsu is consistently good! The meat is very tender and flavored oh so well. It doesn't taste greasy and they give you a decent portion.

    (4)

  • David J.

    Like this place a lot. I always go for the udon, katsu and nigiri combo and it never disappoints. The nigiri isn't the best I've ever had - actually pretty average and definitely made by a sushi robot with the standard thin sliver of salmon atop, but the udon and the katsu kick butt. Like to go here when I'm down and the food always cheers me up. At one point they had some attractive Yeungling beer specials but they seem to have disappeared now.

    (4)

  • Nicole L.

    Don's UYE started off with dinner at Miso - at first I thought it served Korean cuisine but it really was Japanese food. The clarification: Korean-owned japanese cuisine. The restaurant specialized in Katsu which was fried fillets of pork, chicken, beef, etc and other items like shrimps or oysters. The set dinner came with a combination of rice/noodles/sushi of your choice as well as the add-on option for temaki or negiri sushi. The temaki was average I was not crazy about it. The pork katsu though, was very delicious the pork was soft and moist on the inside and crunchy perfection on the outside. The mini kimchi, daikon and udong were delicious also. We ordered multiple bottles of souju - various toasts and it started getting ridiculous it was more excuses to drink the souju. At the end, they gave us the lactobacilius yogurt drinks for dessert and we mixed it with the souju - apparently you can order that as a cocktail at Korean bars. At the end, we had about 10 credit cards but the restaurant handled it very well! The staff were extremely polite and wonderful! Overall it was an awesome event thanks to Mr Park and Crystal was the delight of the night. We each had photos with lil' Crystal. She is the most adorable baby!

    (4)

  • Ginnie K.

    On the exterior it looks as if it could be an Italian restaurant with the white picket fencing and fake ivy. Looks can be deceiving. Upon entering this restaurant I was greeted by a Korean server, it appears there aren't any Japanese owned Japanese restaurants anywhere, or more specifically in Virginia. I was showed to a table and searched through the menu. I've never had Donkatsu before so this is my first time trying it. I had the pork fillet and the presentation was lovely. Everything was so neatly compacted in its own compartment, it was how you say, kawaii! I went with my boyfriend and he ordered the beef katsu and we got a carafe of yogurt soju which was more than enough for two people, but it was delicious nonetheless. I would eat here again for the cute presentation itself. They use metal chopsticks which I think is different but nice. It isn't cheap, but I think it's well worth it.

    (4)

  • Paul W.

    This place gets a solid 3.5 stars for consistently delivering katsu and udong soup while no one else can. All the katsus are good, especially the pork and flounder. I try to stay away from the crazy fusion rolls and sushi.

    (3)

  • Soo Hyun Y.

    I've always passed by this place but never ate here until recently. My friend and I stopped in and we ordered a couple of dishes and sushi. I have to say, I was impressed by the amount of food they give you and the bento-box style is a nice touch. Everything tasted good. Only problem was it took forever to come out. This was my only experience so maybe they were shortstaffed in the kitchen or something.

    (3)

  • Hina C.

    I've never been disappointed with Miso. Mini kimchi udong and chicken katsu is awesome, I always order that. The service is excellent the people there are very friendly. It's definitely one of my favorite places.

    (5)

  • BJ K.

    Their katsu stuff are pretty good but little bit on the dry side. Excellent service and cute decor... feels like a high school, college hang out spot.

    (3)

  • Stephen T.

    I would say that the Donkatsu would be the main attraction and the signature dish of Miso, with the Udong coming in a close second. There is a wide selection of katsu dishes outside the usual pork including some interesting fusion variations. I've noticed that there are larger pieces within the panko breadcrumbs, which indicates to me that they likely make/crush their own breadcrumbs. So there is inconsistency to the size of the breadcrumbs, but to me this one virtue of their donkatsu dishes. It shows a degree of uniques-ness and effort. Their Udong dishes I personally only have a fair opinion of. The broth and noodle seem to be of the pre-packaged variety rather then the hand-made. Broth using powder rather then natural fish-flakes, and noodles being store-bought rather then hand-made. Their chawanmushi is closer to Gyeran Jjim, which makes sense due to their Korean-centric clientele, however, a little more bonito broth in the egg-custard would go long way to improve the flavor. Overall, I would recommend this place if you are looking for a Korean-style donkatsu dish. The sauce will be a little sweeter then Japanese-variations, but donkatsu itself is much thicker then many of the other places in Annandale which tend to serve much thinner-drier slices of pork.

    (3)

  • Brendan J.

    Just to expand on Michael's review a little bit, rosu is the fattier cut, while hire is from the pork loin and is leaner. They also have chicken katsu and maybe fish katsu? The katsu and the udon here are very good, and I like that there are several different combo's available, so you could get katsu with udon, katsu with sushi, katsu with rice...I think they all come with chawanmushi (the egg custard), and a little kimchi. Aside from the hire katsu and rosu katsu, they also have some more unique katsu available, like the Hawaiian (cuz of the pineapple) or the mozzarella cheese katsu. I have not tried them, and I think I'd prefer to stick with the hire katsu personally, but my friend loved the kimchi bacon katsu. ====Language lesson begin=== In Japanese, hirae looks like it would be pronounced hi-ra-e, while in Korean it looks like it would be pronounced hi-re. In any case, it should be pronounced hi-re. And in Japanese, udon is udon, but in Korean it is udong. ====Language lesson end===

    (4)

  • Trista V.

    LOOOVEEE THIS PLACE! Food is soooo good!!! You get what you pay for! you'll definitely get full here. Love their miso soup and udon oh and their KATSU!!! :D

    (4)

  • Michael W.

    They don't do anything great, but they give you a lot of good. First the portions are generous and the provide you with a variety of flavors/side dishes with your entre, kinda like a bento box. If you like katsu dishes and udon soups, this place is right up your alley. Their Katsu is different, served as a fried roll stuffed with meat, cheese, and other goodies you can pick from. I had the Hawaiian Katsu/small udon combo on the back of the menu. It could be more tasty/cheesy, in my opinion, but its decent enough. They also include dessert in the form of ice cream in a cone or a yogurt drink. I grew up disliking the yogurt drink, so I'm more than happy with vanilla ice cream cones. I've full and satisfied when I come here

    (3)

  • Sun M.

    Alright, since writing a review, I started to crave Miso so we went to eat there today before we have to drive back down to VA beach area. It was 5 and a half of us (baby) there and we tried different dishes. My food was great, but they seemed to have added new items on the menu. They have variety of sushi and again the rice, vegetables, with sashimi and red pepper sauce. (Whedupbab). My husband had his Chicken Katsu with Curry rice and the curry rice was not too delicious - just plain.. I can cook it better.. And the whedupbab consisted of very small amount of little bits of fish. The taste was not all that great.. Just an update to let you know, you shouldn't try that or the curry rice if you have tasted good ones before. The Katsus were delicious and crispy though! Also, they have late night hours and they DO serve alcohol.

    (3)

  • Anna W.

    I LOVE EVERYTHING THAT I EAT FROM HERE! They usually let you sit wherever you please to. Right after you order you get an mini appetizer of ice berg lettuce with ginger dressing and egg souffle. The egg can tend to be a bit bland. I usually like to get the Mori Soba on a hot day. It's an refreshing cold buckwheat noodle dish. You can add the green onion, wasabi and radish at your own taste. It is very light and healthy for you too! If I want to eat something HEAVY, than I get their Kalbi Dosok BiBimBap. It is SOO good! The kalbi is well flavored and the dish is HUGE! I have to say that it is the BEST DoSok BiBimBap EVER! It ranges to about $13, but I'd say it is totally worth it! There Hawaiian DonKatsu is amazing! It has ham, mozzarella cheese and pineapples wrapped in the pork Katsu. It's like a pizza without the dough! My boyfriend always gets the Kimchi Bacon with mozzarella cheese. I'm not a big fan of bacon, but everyone that does try this Katsu seems to love it! Most of their dishes go up to about $13 max. And their Katsu dishes comes with a mini side of Udong too!

    (5)

  • Christine P.

    I went to this restaurant on a blind date today actually... Review by Michael F. basically sums it up pretty nicely. Nice job there Michael~! Additional Note: I've only had Hirae Katsu b/c that was what was recommended. I too have never seen the distinction in other restaurants. They use olive oil to fry the cutlets... so it gotta be better for you, eh? Whatever they are using, it's working. The katsu is so crispy and light! The service is excellent! They have relatively young waiters and waitresses but their service is superior to ajuma waitresses in Korean restaurants in Annandale area. I like that they go that "extra" mile and bring you coffee at the end. So Koreanish. Nice interior. It's warm and pretty.

    (4)

  • Misono A.

    When this restaurant first opened, I honestly did not feel compelled to try it just from passing by it, since I'm usually wary of Asian fusion restaurants. However, I tried it upon the prodding of a friend who insisted that it was pretty decent, and found myself pleasantly surprised and impressed by the food at Miso Cafe. The restaurant specializes in katsu dishes, and offers a variety of both Korean and Japanese dishes, even Japanese curry! The curry was very good, and the side dishes were tasty, and it seems like you get a decent amount of food for a reasonable price. I wouldn't mind eating here again.

    (3)

  • Michael F.

    Miso has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants in Annadale. The first time I went, I went in not expecting too much. I figured it would just be another Korean-style Japanese restaurant, which are plentiful in the area. But, my roommate recommended it, so I figured it was worth a shot. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the food is amazing! The specialty at Miso are various types of katsu. Katsu is the Japanese version of the word "cuts". They use it to refer to breaded, fried meat cutlets. Miso serves several different types of katsu, such as beef, chicken, and pork. I was surprised and excited to see that Miso offered two different types of tonkatsu (pork cutlets), hirae and rosa. I'm not exactly sure what they refer to, though. I think one is from the front of the pork tenderloin and the other is from the back, but this was the first time I've seen anyone make that distinction outside of Japan. I decided to order the rosa tonkatsu. When I was in Japan, I ate rosa tonkatsu a couple of times and it was really delicious. I also decided to order the rosa tonkatsu as a dinner set. With the dinner set, you are first served a small salad and an egg custard. Then the meal arrives. Along with the katsu, the dinner set included a small udon soup and two temaki. Being a Korean owned restaurant, it also included some Korean things like kim chee and pickled radishes or melons. All of these were really good, but especially the tonkatsu! It was so delicious! The quality of the pork was excellent and it was perfectly breaded and fried. The sauce was also so good; just like I remembered it from Japan. The prices, service, and decor are also very nice at Miso. The servers are very friendly and the prices are reasonable. The tonkatsu dinner set was about $16.

    (5)

  • Dong H.

    This place does do well on their Donkatsu deep fried-pork cutlet...this place reminds me a chain in Japan called Wako Katsu they even have cheese tonkatsu which isn't that heavy or fattening...they give you wasabi stem so you'll have to grinding them i'm not sure if that's in Japan or in Miso...so that's a plus...and they also have variety of fried-pork cutlet...they also have some vegitarian menus...you won't see any korean bbq or kimchi here surprisingly the restaurant is still running and i believe it hasn't been a year for them since they've open... otherwise this is good place for group meetings and it's worth going...

    (5)

  • nce s.

    It's not really "fusion" but still very good comforting Korean/Japanese done fairly well. Our kids love going there and get their individual bento boxes. But because of those bento boxes, which are rather large, they are not very flexible about seating, especially when it gets busy. Haven't had them yet but I heard that they serve takoyaki!

    (4)

  • Brian Y.

    Been here several times before with last night being the most recent. You can choose from several different types of tonkatsu to fit your craving. I love the fact that the menu allows you to mix and match a lot of different items on the menu to your liking. So many different combinations that if you don't have your meal intentions already in mind, you will need some time to divvy up. The portions are just right enough to fill you up with out having step into a food coma. The servers are always kind and on point. A great place to grab a quick katsu dish making it a regular joint for me. Oh and they sell beer and soju here.

    (4)

  • Cindy Y.

    This place has been consistenly good every time I visited. I can't lie and tell you that it's authentic Japanese food because it's not. There is a flaw to their name, but what do you expect in Annandale, VA, the best known K-town of the area? It's really a Korean version of Japanese cuisine. That's besides the point though. Their tonkatsu sauce used for their hirekatsu & a few more items on the menu is sweeter than most but very tasty. Their horseradish/tartar sauce used for their softshell crab and shrimp katsus is creamy, not too heavy, and has a nice little kick. Their katsu's are always nicely fried. Their little side plate of yellow mash is always soft and sweet. What's also nice about the place is that the owner is there for the majority of the day making sure everyone is happy. I used to go there regularly when I spent most of my time in NOVA. The one thing I wouldn't recommend is the combo(jeong shik) because it's a waste of money. They give you two unimpressive handrolls and a mini bowl of "not bad" udon and call it a combo deal. At the end of the meal, you get the little Asian yogurt "soft drink." To be honest, I love this place, but not enough for me to go out of my way to drive out and make a visit. I am torn between giving this place three or four stars. If I had a choice, I would probably settle and give it 3.5 stars. Anyway, 5 and up round up; 4 and down round down, right?

    (4)

  • Marlon S.

    This restaurant is great. I have tried many of their katsu cuisines and they all are fantastic. They are generous and bring more sides free of charge. Staff is also friendly. Owner greets customers too.

    (5)

  • Steve Y.

    Miso is really good place if you like Donkatsu, and Udon. Really tasty Donkatsu and Udon also tasty. It is really not easy to find a place both of them is tasty in DC area, but this place is does. My recommendation is order the combination place with enjoy both Donkatsu, and Udon at the same time.

    (5)

  • S P.

    this place is amazing. good food, atmosphere, desserts, AND CUTE SERVERS!!! the chicken katsu was honestly the best I've ever had. a little expensive for a poor college student but, you definitely get your money worth with free steamed eggs & salad and dessert. :]

    (4)

  • Jay K.

    This is a very good Japanese restaurant owned by Koreans. The donkatsu is amazing as well as the kimchi udon. The presentation of the food is also very clever and gives a very clean look. The restaurant is also nicely decorated and the servers are excellent. There is not much to complain about this restaurant except that the food is not very abundant. Overall, though it is a good place for lunch and I will probably come here again in the future.

    (4)

  • Dave T.

    I don't know if they were having a bad day or what but my experience here was not a good one. The staff was great, let me start with being positive so you don't think that affected the meal. The items we ordered were all greasy and flavorless.

    (1)

  • Linda C.

    My husband and I just went here for dinner tonight after reading other Yelpers' reviews, and we were quite pleased with the service and quality (and quantity) of food. The restaurant was fairly busy when we arrived with only 3 servers working, so we weren't sure if we would have to wait a long time for our food. However, we were seated immediately, and our food came out promptly with abundant refills of the side dishes upon request. The decor is cute and tastefully done, and the booths are cozy and comfortable. Don't judge this place by its exterior! As a starter, we were each given a small cup of steamed egg and a side salad with ginger dressing, both of which were delightful. I would love to know how they get that perfect silky texture in the steamed egg! We ordered shrimp gyoza for an appetizer. The waitress asked us if we wanted it steamed or fried. We opted for fried, but it was not pan-fried as we expected. It was deep-fried and crunchy, so we probably should have ordered it steamed. I ordered the set of kimchi udon and beef bowl mixed with vegetables and rice. The kimchi udon broth was so yummy and cleared my sinuses, and the beef bowl had very fresh ingredients. My husband ordered the fish cake udon and hirae pork donkatsu. The fish cake pieces were generously sized, and the donkatsu was perfect! Light and crispy breading, tender and juicy pork, and the dipping sauce was so flavorful. Each "set" comes with little sides of kimchi and yellow pickled radish. The donkatsu also comes with cole slaw and potato salad. We were planning to order green tea ice cream for dessert, but were too full after all that food. They gave each of us a little Korean yogurt drink with the check. We will definitely be back to try some of the other things on the menu, such as the temaki hand rolls, but I would highly recommend the kimchi udon and the donkatsu, which are two of their core specialties.

    (4)

  • CYNTHIA C.

    I will agree Miso Cafe is charming. The service is fantastic but I cannot rave about the food. I ordered a few sushi rolls and they were literally tasteless. It was as if they did not season the sushi rice with anything. After reading all of the reviews, I was disappointed this establishment did not live up to the hype. Definitely not cheap either.

    (2)

  • Azn G.

    Good fusion of japanese and korean food. Tried the shrimp katsu and bibimbap. Started with the complimentary appetizers stated in the other reviews here. Serice was good for lunchtime and spoke english. Food portions were average, filled me up. I noticed they served different flavors of soju (pineapple and others) and some japanese beer for those who are interested. I would definitely go here again for some katsu.

    (4)

  • A B.

    Eh...there are much better options in Annandale, in terms of price as well as food. They do a decent bubble tea....but the hot/spicy squid teriyaki was not near spicy enough for me (the spicy baked mussel appetizer is hotter, although that wasn't a winner either because the mussels felt overcooked and overwhelmed with the sauce)....also minus a star in my book for the fact that I stated I was allergic to something and it still ended up on my plate, and I didn't really sense a language barrier so that can't be an excuse this time. Why do asian fusion in Annandale? The non-fusion here is beyond good. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. They get cool points for having metal chopsticks though. Never seen that before. Oh, and take note, they don't take Discover cards, despite the fact that the leather folder thing that they bring the receipt to you in has the Discover logo on it. Go figure.

    (2)

  • gretchen b.

    went here last friday. i got the donkatsu. i was a donkatsu virgin prior to this visit. OH MY LORD. it was delicious. i loved the sauce and the crispiness (sp?) of the panko. the pork was so moist and tender. yumm. also got the udon and that too was magnificent. broth was delicious and not too salty. noodles were nice and firm. my husband got the teriyaki salmon and while i only had one bite, it was great. very moist, not at all dry or overcooked which unfortunately happens a lot when you order salmon out. we got spicy tuna handrolls and they were awesome. saki was awesome. service was awesome. THIS PLACE IS AWESOME. i will be going back.

    (5)

  • Janet C.

    4.5 stars, if i could do such a thing. it's nothing mind-blowing but really really solid food. it's in a ho-hum shopping plaza, but the interior is nice and clean and homey. katsu is their main deal and they have a ton of sets that include some type of katsu (pork, chicken, shrimp, and more) and another dish like curry rice or udon or yakiudon. definitely filling and the katsu isn't overly oily (like the kind i make at home, thats why i go out to eat). i had the curry rice with pork katsu (also came with a small salad, chawanmushi (sp?), a tiny dish of kimchi, another teeny dish of daikon/danmuji (radish), and miso soup). the manfriend got pork katsu as the main order (he gets two pieces of katsu, i got one since my curry rice was massive) and it came with the same tiny dishes and a small cup of udon. oh, so this was the best part, in my opinion - we wanted to take the leftovers home and the waiters packed them up for us. i get home and it turns out they included little cups of katsu sauce! how thoughtful! i hate not having accompanying sauces with foods. they also added extra salad to go with the leftovers. i heart them. oh, draft miller or yuengling for $1.99 for the first mug, $2.99 for the second. not too shabby.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :10:30 am - 10

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : No
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Miso

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