Temari Japanese Cafe

A small homey spot with very good food & impeccable service where many families dine. All the ingredients are extraordinarily fresh. The ramen here can actually be classified as gourmet The fish specials are amazing, and the prices are quite reasonable. The only downsides are: the menu is rather limited, and the «daily special» that has always been available, was not during my last visit; it is a small spot and a line starts to form by 5:30 pm.

4.5 star! Not tried their sushi, but EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMS AMAZING. Their sushi menu seems very generic so I’ve not actually tried them. I’m particularly in love with their green salad (that ginger dressing has a special kick that differentiates them!) and tonkatsu/​curry katsu (huge portion too). Also tried their Tonkatsu ramen; while it was good, I don’t think it’s very different from other ramen places in the area. The ramen is a bit pricey at $ 12+, but they do give you a lot of meat.
The place is owned by Japanese, which is extremely rare. The service is okay-​inconsistent, but not so terrible that I would complain. They do get somewhat aggressive when it’s busy — trying to take away the plate that you’re still working on, but it’s a small restaurant that usually has really long line, so I understand.
I’ll be back. I’ll definitely be back!

So I give 4 stars because I don’t understand why they had to take my Starbucks coffee away. I came in with a Starbucks coffee in hand and they said I can’t have it here because they have their own coffee. So they asked me if they could put it in the refrigerator for me. Okay. Fine
But the food was really good. The spicy tuna Donburi was my favorite. Very expensive though. The Cha Su ramen was good but not as good as other ramen places I’ve had before. The takoyaki was good too but they only gave 4 pieces which was a bummer, because I love takoyaki!

Great ramen place. I got the miso ramen. Only complaint is that I didn’t like how they prepare the egg that comes with the ramen. But I guess it’s preference. I work at a Japanese café so having ramen that’s up to par is hard. Definitely try the ramen, even though it’s a little pricey. Takoyaki is yummy, but you only get 4 pieces.
I came here on a Thursday night with a friend. It was pretty packed and we got there early so we could get a table for 4. Turns out they don’t seat you until your whole party is there. Other than that, the staff/​service is nice.

Thank God for this one delicious Japanese restaurant within a 15 miles radius. Portions are pretty standard for Japanese meals, which is pretty small compared to large American portions. Appetizers, combo dishes, ramen (very filling for 1 person), different donburi bowls (also very filling), sashimi and karage chicken are all consistently delicious every time we go for dinner. I’ve had better ramen but I’ve also had horrible miso ramen in CA as well. The waitresses are also very polite. I would give them 5 stars if food wasn’t so pricy, but this might be the case because of special ingredients they need for their dishes. I still would not want to pay +$ 20 for a udon combo meal even if it comes with 2 proteins of choice. Can’t wait to stop by soon!

This is one of my favorite restaurants around the area. This is probably the only place around the area that serves authentic Japanese Comfort food. Being part Japanese, I have high expectations for Japanese food, and everything is always tasty and perfectly cooked. Some of my go to food items include the katsu curry rice, takoyaki, kaki fry (fried oysters), spicy tuna donburi, wafu hamburg steak, omu rice, and the Temari special combos. You can tell everything is made in-​house and with quality ingredients. This place is kinda pricey, but it is well worth it. This place has excellent food and the staff is always friendly and polite. Everything i’v tried is tasty, so give it a try.

This is the 1^st REAL Japanese restaurant we’ve found in this area (Rockville). The staff are mostly Japanese, super polite and attentive. The location only fits about 25 – 30 people comfortably. There was a short wait when we arrived on a Sunday at 1pm, but people kept coming in and waited. Small cushioned seat and chairs allows for 4 – 5 ppl to sit and wait while browsing the menu. The elderly gentleman chef greets you. He’s super adorable as he shuffles around.
Food: delicious, closest to authentic we’ve found so far (bf lived in Japan for a year; and this place hit the cravings for him). Portioned towards American size, so larger than in Japan. Flavor for the tonkutsu was very good. Some ppl find the ramen not flavorful, but for us, it was prefect. Light and just the right balance. Not salty as common in many Americanized ramen shops. The ramen itself had a good weight to it; it had that mouth feel (Umami) that just feels right.
The takoyaki melted in your mouth.
I found the shaved ice too sweet, too geared towards the American level of sweetness which I’m not a fan of (2 tbsp too much sugar?). I would’ve preferred bingsoo or taiwanese shaved ice more. We did the melon ice, maybe we’ll try the green tea or red bean next time for better comparison.
Parking: plenty
Seating: small, intimate, 2 to 4 at a table.
Service: courteous, polite, attentive. Food arrived within 5min.
Pay: pay after the meal at the end of the counter. min $ 15/​credit card (MC, visa), cash.
Bathroom: 2 private bathrooms in the back. Clean, small
Price: a few bucks more than other ramen shops, but I found portions to be comparable. Worth the couple extra bucks for the authenticity and service.
I highly recommend if you want a taste of authentic Japan. Otherwise go to DC, but the prices get steeper.
If you’re learning Japanese, good place 1043 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20 852 meet some local Japanese to practice.
We’ve decided this is now our go to Ramen shop. Worth the 30min drive and the extra $ 2/​ramen bowl (~$ 12/​bowl).

Grew up in Tokyo and I haven’t been back in a while. Felt like I was at home the moment I walked in. I had their sashimi, katsu-​don, and tonkatsu teishyouku and was not disappointed at all. People complain about the prices here online but if you lived in Japan and miss the food (like I do), you are willing to pay the few extra dollars. You will definitely be in a Japanese environment.

The most recent food experience at Temari was just OK. The servers were nice and friendly, but the food wasn’t that great.
We had appetizer kara age (fried chicken) and it was hard to bite. It almost hurt my mouth a bit.
I also had katsu donburi and the pork chop did not have any taste and a bit on the dry side.
My friend ordered a curry dish and she said it was just ok.
I will rethink to go to Temari next time.

Stopped by on a rainy day for a quick bite. The service is pleasant, and the food comes quickly. The food is good, though I have had better ramen. Overall a solid 3
The combo appetizer was actually my favorite dish. I enjoyed the contrast of different flavors, and textures in the cold dishes. It was not perfect to share though, one ding. You only get one piece of shrimp.
Tried the Miso ramen and the Chasu ramen, both were okay, but I have had better. The portion were on the modest side. One and a half dishes would have probably hit the spot.
Not a bad place for food in a pinch.

I love ramen and sushi, but I probably wouldn’t come here for either of those. I think Maki down the street serves up better ramen, and there are tons of unbeatable sushi options in Gaithersburg that offer better lunch specials. However, there are other Japanese dishes on the menu that seem worth trying,
I came here on a weekday lunch with a group of 4 and got the tonkatsu ramen. I was not a fan of the ginger that came in the bowl and also would have preferred paper seaweed to the slimy stuff that came with it. The egg was also overcooked. It was a good size bowl and was very filling, but expensive compared to other ramen on Rockville Pike during lunchtime.

If you’re looking for a somewhat authentic Japanese meal in MoCo, then Temari is the place to go. The food is expensive, but pretty good.
I like their Katsu Curry. It comes with deep fried pork cutlet. The curry itself has pork and onions. If you love Thai curry or Indian curry, you might be a little disappointed with this. Japanese curry uses a lot less spices and curry powder. It’s more like a thick brown sauce that’s not overly spicy. It’s light, but still good. The takoyaki is pretty good too. It’s deep fried balls of mashed potato and squid chunks.
I’d say skip the ramen. The broth was not as flavorful as some other places I’ve been to.
My friend ordered a combination meal, which had a good variety of things (soup, salad, rice, fish, etc). He seemed to enjoy it.
The place is really small. Not good for large groups. They will not seat you unless your entire party is present.

It’s more 3.5 stars overall. It’s not the best ever, but it’s great for what it is, which is the availability of Japanese home cooking in the Greater DC/​Baltimore area. So come here if you want to experience or miss Japanese home cooking. Otherwise, don’t bother comparing the food to what you’ve had at your local hibachi, because it’s not the same. It is a little over hyped, but that’s because there aren’t that many Japanese comfort food places around, and this one is moderately priced in my opinion.
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Have no idea if weekdays are slower since I’ve only come on weekends, and it’s usually crowded day and night. They only have maybe 8 tables total that each sit 4 or 2, and then a few chairs at the counter. So there’s usually a line. If you want to eat here, you’ll just have to line up. Although it may look packed, if a big group that arrived together but are seating separately leaves, 4 tables can open up in one go.
Otherwise, save yourself the wait and call ahead for takeout. Be warned, though, unless you live really close by, I don’t recommend ordering deep fried dishes to-​go. By the time you get home, your katsu will be overcooked and soggy from the trapped steam in the container. Also, you get less soup if you order takeout since the container is small.
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I’ve only ordered the donburi dishes from here, which are pretty okay. Nothing noteworthy. Still, familiar enough to satisfy that niche craving when I’ve gone without a proper gyudon for a while. In case it matters to anyone, the gyudon here is served with an egg mixed into the tsuyu and topped with benishoga. Katsudon is served the same way without benishoga. They do not skimp on the rice.
Their menu is surprisingly varied for the size of the place (raw fish, rice dishes, grilled/​fried dishes, ramen). In addition to the laminated menu, there are special items posted on the walls for seasonal specials and the like.
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Efficient. They’re always pretty busy. I wasn’t really left with any impression, so that’s good since it means no complaints.
They used to be cash only, but now they take credit card with $ 15 minimum.

Really excellent Japanese food. I’ve had their pork tonkatsu (crunchy exterior, moist, flavorful pork in the middle), hiyashi chuka (summer cold noodles with dipping sauce), chirashi, and a couple rolls. Everything has been consistently good, the fish is very high quality, and the variety of items on the menu has something for everyone. I can’t wait for summer again to have their cold dipping noodles — it was the perfect summer noodle dish. In the meantime, their miso ramen is perfect when you need a hot broth to slurp.
Temari is fairly small inside but they turn tables around pretty quickly and it’s worth the wait. My favorite part is when they play Dotch Cooking show episodes on the TV. It’s a competition where two chefs prepare and make dishes with rare ingredients and the panelists have to vote on which food they want to eat. Whoever voted for the more popular dish gets to eat it, otherwise you starve and watch in sadness. I love it and I love coming here to eat when I’m in Rockville.

Delicious and authentic Japanese food, probably the best in the DC area. Very small place so be prepared to wait regardless time of the day you go.
We got a sashimi appetizer which is nothing special at all, so stay away from the sashimi if you’re a fanatic.
However, the miso ramen and katsu curry we got were amazing! The ramen is cooked well, flavorful, and good amount of broth. The katsu curry just melts in your mouth — it’s hard to even explain why it’s good, the flavors are just all enveloping delicious! We’ve been several times, and we have to get katsu curry to share every time.
Also — although there’s a good wait to be seated, the wait time to receive food is very efficient.

Probably the most authentic Japanese place that I know now. I don’t know if they ship water directly from Japan, but the food tastes exactly like what you would get in a small shop in Japan.
I had the egg bowl, which was good, but the star of the show is definitely the Curry Katsu Don. Totally top notch! Service is always great, and of course in stereotypical fashion, efficient, so even though it looks like you might have to wait for a table, it’s usually a quick wait and probably worth it.

WOW. Enjoyed Everything about this place. Japanese owners, Japanese menus, Legit japanese food! Cool little spot that I’ve been driving by. Its easy to miss because the plaza that its in is very… bleh.
We had the miso ramen, broiled mackerel, and a spicy tuna donburi. It was All Very Good. From walking into the restaurant, the ambiance, the food presentation to the taste of the food. It was All Delicious. I highly recommend this place. I haven’t tried the other items on the menu, but I’m pretty sure they are all authentic and delicious! I look forward to coming back.

The ramen here is legit. Springy noodles, flavorful broth. The egg is meh and the chashu could be more tender, but still really good.
The curry over rice will bring you back to your childhood days when your parents would welcome you home with a bowl of steaming hot rice with a ladel-​ful of beef cubes in curry. If that was your childhood that is. If not, create new memories here with their curry.
I can’t speak to the sushi or sashimi here since we didn’t order it. The avocado-​salmon donburi was cool (satisfying, not necessarily the freshest fish but still good).
Great option for the area.

12:30 PM — As I was walking back to my car from Maruichi Grocery, I stumbled upon this place in the corner of the parking lot. It was a little past noon, there were ppl waiting outside, and all the tables inside were full. Definitely a good sign. I quickly eyeballed the menu and started salivating. Then I took a look at the prices… Wow, Japanese or not, I didn’t think they could charge ‘big city’ prices in a place like Rockville. Temari definitely isn’t cheap. Actually, it’s far from it. I just hope their food quality matches their prices. I ended up getting two appetizers (Donkatsu, Karaage) for takeout. Donkatsu was pretty good, Karaage was just ok. Will definitely be back soon to try some entrees. Kanpai!
7:00 PM — So I ended up going back for dinner and the Manager immediately recognized us. Lol. Yes, a little embarrassing, but only for a millisecond. Gotta strike while the iron’s hot, right! We sat at the bar and got the Tonkotsu Ramen and Gyu Donburi. Both dishes were well made and flavorful in all the right places. I took a look at the surrounding tables and it seemed like the majority of ppl ordered Donkatsu, Curry, Donburi or Ramen. Didn’t really see any sushi, so I guess it’s not as popular, at least not for dinner tonight.
Looking at some of the older Unilocal menu pics, you can clearly see that prices have gone up. Ramen, for instance, used to be $ 10.xx, and now it’s $ 12.xx. Again, a little pricey considering it’s Rockville, but at least now I know why. Also, I’ve never been to a Japanese restaurant that actually has a TV playing live Japanese programming. From cooking shows to sitcoms to game shows. Definitely a nice added touch of authenticity/​entertainment!

I came here with my boyfriend and was sooo excited to be greeted by real Japanese people! «SUGOI!»
That combined with the cute, tiny, overtly Japanese interior, I was super pumped for my meal. Unfortunately I’ve had better Japanese food from Korean run Japanese restaurants (I’m so sorry but in my personal experience this was very much the case — so please, no death threats).
I only ordered the takoyaki and the tonkatsu ramen. The former was a bit too gooey inside with the octopus a bit too rubbery. The latter had no hint of umami– the broth was flat and the noodles slightly overcooked. The slices of pork were very good though! Perhaps my high expectations were too high, because it seems a lot of people like temari. It wasn’t a bad experience — just not as good as I hoped.