Ryu Izakaya is a small restaurant camouflaged among the many on Columbia Pike, but it is truly a hidden gem. When you walk inside, you are immediately immersed in a calm, zen-looking atmosphere. Low-fi and acoustic beats fill the background as the staff guide you to one of many comfortable booths.

The price is relatively cheap for sushi, making this a great option for students, since so many places in Arlington have raised their prices due to inflation. A serving of salmon rolls costs $7 and comes with wasabi and soy sauce (you can ask for the wasabi to come separate if you’d like). They were also very fast; we left school around noon and we were back by 12:30. This included the time spent having technical issues with the credit card, which the staff were very friendly and understanding about.

The food is not only cheap and fast but is also pretty good. The sushi rolls were tasty and went well with edamame and soy sauce. There’s also a nice variety of options, both simple and more complicated, available to see online.

Students are often incredibly stressed with school and extracurriculars, so it’s a good option for students on half-days to come and have a sit-down meal with friends after school. In addition, since it’s close and fast, seniors are able to grab food before the lunch period is over. For tasty food, a cheap price, and close distance, there’s no reason not to go.

https://ryuizakayava.com/