I went to Japan on business in 2003 and loved the food I encountered there, so as a result I was delighted to be introduced to Aoba Japanese Restaurant in Sterling, Virginia by a friend; the small, blondewood and light filled restaurant reminds me of the little cafes in Tokyo where we would grab our late lunches. Aoba specializes in sushi and bento boxes at reasonable prices; the number of selections is impressive. They also stock green tea ice cream and red bean flavored ice cream, sweet treats that will be familiar to those who have lived in or traveled to Japan. I am not sure if bananas fried teriyaki-style and drizzled in honey syrup are a Japanese specialty or an American creation, but either way, they sure are delightful. The staff at Aoba always aims to please and to provide an authentic experience, and I trust them to execute sushi and sashimi professionally so that there is never a fear of raw food contamination. The presentation of the food is pretty, too, particularly the crispy crab rolls, which are absolutely delicious. Aoba is a great value and a convenient way to sample a little bit of Tokyo in our own backyard.
Aoba Japanese Restaurant
20921 Davenport Drive #110
Sterling, Virginia 22165
703-430-1234
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