Nasime takes its name from a piece of botanical wordplay — vegetable sprouts (me) striving to grow (si) toward beautiful leaves (na) — a nod to the restaurant's approach to cultivating both cooking and service. Chef and owner Yuh Shimomura trained in Tokyo's Ginza district and brings over 20 years of experience in Japanese cuisine to this Old Town Alexandria address, which the team calls an intimate "Tiny Tokyo."
The restaurant serves a nightly 7-course tasting menu built on Kappo-style Japanese cooking, moving through tsukuri (raw dishes), yakimono (grilled), agemono (fried), and nabe-style casseroles. The lineup shifts with the seasons, following what the kitchen calls syun — eating in season.
Regulars and local coverage point to an exceptional omakase experience, fresh ingredients, and attentive, personalized service as the draw for special occasions. Washingtonian named Nasime to its Best of 2025 list, and The Infatuation has covered it as a notable Japanese dining destination in the area.
The restaurant serves a nightly 7-course tasting menu built on Kappo-style Japanese cooking, moving through tsukuri (raw dishes), yakimono (grilled), agemono (fried), and nabe-style casseroles. The lineup shifts with the seasons, following what the kitchen calls syun — eating in season.
Regulars and local coverage point to an exceptional omakase experience, fresh ingredients, and attentive, personalized service as the draw for special occasions. Washingtonian named Nasime to its Best of 2025 list, and The Infatuation has covered it as a notable Japanese dining destination in the area.