Rolls By U

Sushi burrito. It’s like an oversized maki roll with all of the sushi trimmings you love served in a burrito form. Why I didn’t have anything like this before now, I will never know. It is a food miracle.
The restaurant name «Rolls by U» is simply that. The most popular order item is the customized sushi «rito» that allows you to select your proteins and other trimmings. There are also pre-​set rito and maki roll options if living dangerously isn’t your thang.
After a somewhat disappointing experience at another sushi-​rito place across the Potomac, Rolls By U beat the other place down in two categories: 1) Fresh fish (this should be an absolute must for quality sushi) 2) Cleanliness. The tuna and salmon I’ve ordered on two separate visits lacked any smell and tasted like perfection. The place itself is very clean and had plenty of seating. I also noticed the practical and helpful touch of abundant output outlets for charging your electronics.
Another bonus of the sushi rito is that it isn’t so big that I will regret ordering it an hour later with a dreaded food coma. Think of it being an equivalent of 8 – 10 maki rolls.
The place is always pretty chill when I pick up my dinner so I imagine that this place is much more of a workday lunch spot for people in the Courthouse-​Rosslyn corridor.

Why has this not been around my whole life??? What an amazing concept. Apparently they are also owned by Mate (Georgetown sushi bar), so they have a few of the same signature sushi rolls on their menu.
I got a couple signature rolls (che cha spicy & volcano), a sushi burrito, and a kids meal.
The volcano has this spectacular crab salad on top that is rich and adds so much flavor. Its my favorite part of the roll. The che che spicy has some sort of creamy sauce on it as well. They’re both delicious.
There wAS so much to choose from For sushi toppings. The tempura is always a good choice.
For the kids meal they let you choose between fried chicken and another type of chicken, but I subbed spicy tuna. It comes with a few cucumber and carrot sticks and a drink. A good deal for an adult if you don’t want too much food (6 $)
i love that they have Maine soda on tap… The blueberry cola is bomb.
I will absolutely be back to this place. It’s a must try!

Very impressed! I went for dinner tonight and it wasn’t too crowded. The employees didn’t rush us and they answered any questions we had about the food. The food was all very fresh and the rito was neat and easy to eat. Try the sweet sesame sauce (peanut flavor). Overall delicious and I can’t wait to go back!

We walked in for a quick bite to eat and was asked immediately by one of the staff clearing things up if we’ve ever been. When the answer was ‘no’ her reply was that Rolls by U was like ‘Chipotle for sushi.’ We could put together a maki roll, or a sushirito-​which is like a giant maki roll or order one of their signatures. After looking at their board, I went with the Frida, the which had beef and kimchi as some of the fillings. I asked for a little extra kimchi, because it looked so good and the sushirito chef (?) added it with no problem. We ended up sitting down in one of their long tables and chowed down.
The sushirito isn’t bad, it’s either a small Asian style burrito or a large roll, still not sure which. I thought it was pretty good, and if you’re a fan of kimchi, a little extra doesn’t hurt it at all. The staff was nice and while ‘Mexican sushi’ might be something I’ll kind of have to get used to Rolls By U will make that transition a little better.

Love it. Already been two or three times. Tried the «other» place in DC and wasn’t happy with what I got, and they didn’t have soy sauce?! I like the fact that you can customize your sushi burrito roll completely at Rolls By U.
My go to so far has been seaweed outer, brown rice, shrimp tempura, warm crab salad (they’ll warm it up for you/​or bake it!), guacamole, wonton crunch, tempura crunch, red fish roe, wasabi mayo and unagi sauce. and pour soy sauce over each bite. Ask to try the other sauces in little cups too.
Would be nice if they had a frequent rito buyer card/​coupons. my wallet is starting to hurt bc it’s that good :)

Rolls By U is a new sushi burrito/​sushirito offering in the area. It’s located in Rosslyn in the same shopping center as Ben’s Chili Bowl and Phở 75. They have seating along the wall and at tables. The space is clean and modern. I like the light fixtures– it brings a retro flare to the restaurant.
For their food, they offer signature ritos, sushi, or a make your own sushirito or bowl option. I was there for a sushirito and decided I wanted to try one of their signature offerings. I was intrigued by the ByU Crunch, but noticed it has a shrimp (the woes of shrimp allergies). Thankfully, the staff was super accommodating and and modified my order by letting me select another fish. I decided on the yellow tail which is one of my personal favorite types of fish. Our food was right in front of us so we could see the process of their chefs creating our meals. I also asked for a side of the spicy mayo to dip my sushirito in.
I really like the flavors of the ByUCrunch. The flavors were fresh and worked well together. I also liked the crunch in the sushi; it added a good texture and depth. I was also surprised on how filling it was. I have no comparison yet to other sushirito style places in the area but my friend who has been to others said it’s pretty comparable. Whatever the case, a good place for a sushirito without having to go to DC.

I love sushi and a sushi burrito sounded like something straight up my alley. A friend and I ventured out to this place right after the Ugly Sweater Run and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. It was still too early on a Saturday morning so we easily found parking and we were one of the first customers. I had already seen the online menu and after Unilocaling it I knew I really wanted to try the Van Gough (even if it was a little bit more on the expensive side).
After entering the restaurant I was amazed by the set up. There was a lot of seating space and I definitely liked that you had a (very large and visible) menu right after entering the store and one above/​in front of you when ordering (very chipotle style). I loved this because 1) Having the menu before getting in line allowed me to contemplate my choices and not feel rushed by the people behind me and 2) In case I did change my mind I still had the opportunity to see the different options once I was in line.
As i previously mentioned, I went with the Van Gough and it was very filling and the flavor combo was just right. Because the Van Gough had more than one type of fish (tuna, yellowtail, and salmon) I was able to get a good amount of protein in (something you should contemplate if you want more than just one protein option). My friend decided to create her own sushi burrito, but unfortunately, her creation wasn’t the best lol It wasn’t bad but the kimchi flavor definitely overpowered the burrito. If you are more confident about making your own creation then by all means pick away! However, if you are like me and prefer to get one of their already selected signature rolls then you are good as well.
ALSO the random spanish/​mexican music in a sushi restaurant was awesome!!! I loved this environment.

For a few years now I’ve been wanting to try this new craze called «sushi burritos or shirittos.» If a burrito and sushi had babies, this would be the finished product. Some may consider this an over sized sushi roll too.
To my surprise, I was not a fan! I love sushi and I also love burritos but the two combined were not to my liking.
I ordered the Van Gogh, which costed a good $ 14 bucks! The Van Gogh consisted of Tuna, Salmon and yellow tail, avocado with roe (fish eggs) wrapped in rice and seaweed as the «tortilla.» I came here during lunch time and it was empty. The staff were friendly and I got my sushi burrito fairly quick. I may want to come back and try the «chipotle concept» of the place instead and get customized bowl instead. As for the Shirittos, I’m not a fan of it. Rolls By U still has my interest, I’ll have to try something else next time. I’ll be updating!

Forget Buredo, this place is much better. Actual parking, actual places to sit down, and no horrible traffic. You can customize your own sushi burrito like at Chipotle, pick your rice, meats, veggies, etc. Only bad thing is the price. Buredo ranges from $ 8 – 11, Rolls by u ranges from $ 9 – 14. Check out the menu and the prices here:
The hours are great compared to Buredo, multiple tables to choose from (My personal bubble thanks you), complimentary lemon water and cucumber, and staff is super nice and attentive too!
If you’re going to get a «Rito», definitely try the By U Crunch and the Van Gogh.

Pretty solid concept here and I personally loved it. It was only a matter of time that sometime made a chipotle styled restaurant for sushi. Basically what you have here is a mix of Buredo (in DC — burrito sized sushi) and build-​your-​own sushi. They have a lot of menu items, you can make a burrito, or get traditional sushi.
I opted for the Da Vinci — Tempura chicken with napa cabbage slaw, pickled onion, guacamole, mixed peppers, tare sauce. This was a GREAT combo of flavors. I know I know, besides the seaweed wrap and sticky rice holding the things together, there not much of anything that makes it traditional sushi. BUT, that’s not the point. They’ve fused a lot of traditional with non-​traditional and have made something different and delicious. I will definitely be back to try their other options !

Rolls By U is a pretty healthy walk away from Rosslyn Metro Station, and that’s where we came from after a day out in D.C.
W. and I ordered the Van Gogh ‘rito’ and a Rainbow roll.
The ‘rito’ ($ 14.00) was enjoyable — the fish was not lacking (tuna, salmon, and yellowtail) and the sauce and roe, I thought, complemented it perfectly. The roll ($ 11.00), although fine, was nothing special — it was just a California sorta roll with different pieces of fish on the outside.
I might come back for the novelty of sushirritos, but I probably would not go out of my way for them.

Found them on Unilocal. A short walk from the job. I was craving sushi but wanted more than a few bites. The place is small, the signs are large so you can’t miss what they have and the great. The servings were large. well I had the Sushirito. it took two days to eat this. i loved it though i missed the hot peppers. I suggest go to get a quick snack, quick meal, a drink even! Going back with a friend for lunch. If in the area, i suggest go!

Chipotle style sushi place, really love the concept. You want a weird combo to go with your spicy tuna? Go for it!
I have done the make your own roll, which was spicy crab based, and really good. I have also had the By U Crunch Rito, which was really great tasting, but I don’t love the Rito style when having sushi. The favor was still really great though.
It’s a really cool concept, and the food is good. Definitely worth a try

This place is awesome! I absolutely love the concept of a «chipotle-​style» sushi! I ordered their By U Crunch sushi burrito and my boyfriend created his own bowl. Both were absolutely delicious. However, our food ended up being around $ 32 and we didn’t get that much food. So this is definitely a restaurant where we will visit once in awhile, but you won’t find us as regulars.

The wonders of the sushi burrito seem to be popping up in the DC Metro area!
Out of all the places that offer this type of hybrid mix, I would have to say that Rolls By U is my favorite, simply because they offer something no other place does (that I’ve been to): Create Your Own.
With the Create Your Own option, you can create your own Rito (burrito), Rolls, or Bowls. If you are very particular with what you want, this is the best option for you. I’ve actually never gotten anything on their menu, only because I love the freedom of creating what I want. Like most places of this style, they make your food (rolls, bowls, & ritos) right in front of you, so you know what’s going in your food. Don’t enjoy raw fish? They have cooked fish and meat options!
The restaurant itself is fairly big, with two TVs on the wall. They offer soda and alcohol for your pleasure, however, if you’re into a more healthier option, they have cucumber infused water and lemon water for free.
Parking can be difficult at times because the store is located in a small shopping center along Clarendon BLVD, but this place is worth the hassle, if you enjoy sushi.

I have been here twice since opening and even visited them at Taste Of DC.
Each time, I chose to create my own Sushirrito because I like to hold the power to choose. AMERICA. Anyways, the ingredients you are able to choose from is plenty.
So many sushi, tempura, protein to choose from. So many vegetables to choose from. You even get to choose what your sushi is wrapped with! SOY PAPER.
The place is awesome and tastes great. Even the sushi rolls are plenty to fill you up. The only downside is availability of parking in their parking lot but if you park on the street that is beside the store, you shouldn’t have an issue.

Ok so this place has been hotly contested lately with good reason. I’ve been here a few times and understand people’s gripes about a slightly higher price, BUT… you have to put this in perspective.
For you sushi lovers out there, when have you ever ordered 2 decent rolls for under $ 12? Never. It’s all about the fact that sushi grade fish is expensive, and for the portions this spot gives you, it’s a good deal, bottom line.
Now let’s focus on the food. Fresh fish always, coupled with nearly any ingredient you can think up. A few of the set rolls are banging (ByU crunch, etc) but I’ve been leaning towards the create your own lately. It’s more fun and I think taste better ;) I also heard that if you create something killer, they might offer it for that month as the «customers choice» roll or something like that. My last concoction was shrimp tempura, steak, red onion, jalapeño, grilled guacamole, and wasabi cream on top. Now where in DC can you get something like that? It blew me away.
Highly recommend the spot. Sky’s the limit on what you’d like to create. Spend the $ 12 – 13 and craft a thing of art. I’m a cheapskate when it comes to eating out, seriously, but the price points here are average for lunch these days. At least here you’ll get a healthy and fresh meal.

Rolls By U has been under development for the past 2 years. The brainchild of the owners of Mate’ (sushi lounge beside the Loews theatre in Georgetown). The eatery allows customization of your sushi rolls. With options including rolls and a large Rito (think: sushi burrito), RBU offers delicious sushi for diners and those on the-​go. They also offer a soy-​based paper for those seeking a nori alternative.
Hint: When you enter the restaurant, skip the chalkboards on the wall and grab the small pamphlet against the wall. You’ll quickly understand the order process. For example: Pick your proteins, add your veggies (1 – 2 items), select your sauce, et cetera.

i really love how all of these sushi roll places are popping up. sushi is my favorite!
i ate here the other evening for dinner. i thought it was pretty good but as with all new businesses, there is room for improvement.
as you walk in, there are chalkboards to the left with menus. the first one is pretty easy to read (explains that you can have a bowl, burrito, or rolls and the price). as you move down the next two boards list specialty rolls and burritos but they are honestly too long to read. i ended up walking over to the counter to order and ‘went rogue’, making my own custom roll. if i were to change it, i would probably get rid of the specialty ‘ritto/​roll menu and spread the info from the first board out to the other two.
once you get to the counter, the food is displayed chipotle-​style. the ingredients were just sitting out and didn’t look too appetizing especially because it wasn’t super busy and the food wasn’t getting turned over.
i ended up ordering salmon with some toppings. it had three pieces of fish and i wish i could have just had one more. my roll looked like korean kimbap; just a hair too big for one bite.
the size of the roll is a little awkward because i was still hungry but had i ordered another one it would have been too much (food and cost-​wise). i would think at that price point for a casual hop-​in an out spot that one roll would suffice.
i would also recommend putting soy sauce bottles/​dispensers out on the tables. those packets of soy can get really messy!
everyone was really friendly and i really like that they have outlets and usb plugs all over the walls. the light fixture is really cool too.

I finally had my first sushi burrito experience. I mean, how can one go wrong with a supersized sushi roll? Unfortunately, my first experience was less than stellar for a number of reasons. You are able to customize your own sushi burrito, bowl, or roll or go with their menu items. Since I love to customize my own food, I did so for the burrito. The biggest gripe I have with this place is the sign placement. The ingredients sign was by the door, so I stood there analyzing it, then recorded what ingredients I wanted in an iPhone note for fear I would forget by the time I got to the ordering station. If they would place that sign AT the ordering station, patrons wouldn’t get so stressed. Ingredients list is pretty extensive.
If you are to customize your own burrito, you choose:
1) white or brown rice
2) a protein ($ 2 for each additional protein), i.e. salmon, spicy tuna, tuna, yellowtail, etc.
3) 1 – 3 veggies, i.e. red cabbage slaw, avocado, spring mix, etc.
4) 1 – 3 toppings, i.e. masago, tempura crunch, fried shallots etc.
5) sauce, i.e. unagi sauce, sriracha, wasabi mayo, etc.
I customized mine to include brown rice, salmon, red cabbage slaw, avocado, roasted corn, tempura crunch, masago, fried shallots, and wasabi mayo with inferno sauce (a cross between sriracha and gochujang) to go. As healthy as you’d like to be, please take my advice and order the white rice because the brown rice is terribly undercooked and disrupts the entire eating experience. This place really packs the rice in – in fact, half of the burrito is rice. I get that adding so much rice makes it more cost-​effective for them, but they really need to adjust the ratios of ingredients to keep customers. Also, one protein option is simply not enough as they add a very thin layer (see picture), so consider paying for more. I went here on a Sunday evening and thought the protein options looked very weak/​dry except for the salmon. Veggie and topping options are decent. The inferno and sesame sauces are very nice to-​go options if you like dipping.
Burritos are $ 11 – 15 each, which I find to be a little steep for the quality of ingredients and quantity of raw fish. I would’ve been happier with a piping bowl of phở next door.
Rolls By U just opened in Rosslyn, so hopefully, they’ll iron out their kinks. I will most likely not return for a while.