Izakaya Nana
13882 Metrotech Dr.
Chantilly, VA 20151
(703) 563-5480
https://www.izakayanana.com/

Japanese Sushi & Yakitori | $$$

Tucked into a stretch of Metrotech Drive in Chantilly, Virginia, Izakaya Nana doesn’t waste any time convincing you that you’ve left Northern Virginia behind. Step through the door and you’re greeted by the kind of immersive, Tokyo-alleyway atmosphere that makes an izakaya more than just a place to eat — it’s an escape. This location is the Virginia sequel to the original Izakaya Nana in Flushing, New York, and it brings the same izakaya spirit — small plates, big flavors, and sake to our corner of the DMV.

An izakaya is a casual Japanese pub serving drinks and small shared plates, usually yakitori or sushi.

The specials are visible when you walk in. Take a photo and ChatGPT will translate for you.

I started with a Mango Refresher.

For an appetizer we went with the Butabara Pork Belly and the Berkshire Pork Sausage. Both were exceptional.

We are not sushi people so I chose the A5 Wagyu Golden Fried Rice (Cha Han) This is the dish that had me before the first bite even hit the table. Cha Han is a Japanese-style fried rice that gets the royal treatment here with A5 Wagyu folded in. Every grain of rice comes out glossy, with that rich, buttery Wagyu adding a depth of flavor that elevates the whole dish. Make no mistake, these are small diced pieces of Wagyu, individually the flavor can be hard to find, but they are incorporated throughout the dish and together your brain says, hey this is different. This may be some of the best fried rice you have.

No izakaya visit is complete without yakitori, and Nana’s platter delivers exactly what you want from a night of grazing. A variety of skewers, each one grilled with that slightly smoky char that only comes from a proper flame-grilled technique. The platter comes with Pork Belly, Chicken Thighs with Leek, Skirt Steak, Chicken Wings, and Zucchini, which was my wife’s favorite. Everything was juicy, smokey, and not over cooked. It’s built for sharing  and it’s the centerpiece that ties the whole meal together. Pure comfort food.

To close things out, we went with the Dango Tango — a take on the classic Japanese Dango. It is serviced with a house-made brown sugar syrup and a strawberry cream. It’s sweet and chewy, and not like anything I had ever had. You roast it over an open flame then dip it. The waiter said to roast it like a marshmallow, but it never turned brown but got very hot so be careful.

Izakaya Nana Chantilly proves that you don’t need a plane ticket to Tokyo to get a legitimate izakaya experience. This was a meal built around quality ingredients and an immersive cultural experience. If you are looking for something really different, with great food and service, give it a try.