Izakaya Nana in Chantilly, VA: The Most Amazing Themed Izakaya in Northern Virginia, and the Best Room for Your Group

Izakaya Nana is an IVEA restaurant. We publish this story to introduce our own restaurant; it is not an independent review.

Izakaya Nana is a Japanese izakaya and sake bar at 13882 Metrotech Dr. in Chantilly, VA. It is the second location of Izakaya Nana, after the original in Flushing, Queens. It is the most theatrical Japanese dining room in the area: Northern Virginia Magazine described the Chantilly restaurant as "an almost-theme-park-perfect representation of a Tokyo street."

The restaurant describes the format simply: a place "that specializes in serving small dishes of food and drinks in a casual atmosphere," with a menu that runs from sushi and sashimi to grilled meats and vegetables. You order a few plates, share them, and keep going.

The rooms are the most amazing part, and the best reason to book. Instead of one big dining room, Izakaya Nana is split into themed spaces, each with its own look. The Main Bar Area seats 22 under red lanterns and bare branches. The Scenic, Geisha, Samurai and Izakaya Rooms each seat 6 to 8: the Scenic Room sits under murals of a Japanese castle and cherry blossoms, the Samurai Room has a suit of armor under red neon, and the Izakaya Room is wrapped in vintage posters. The Art Room seats 10 to 16 under an illustrated fabric canopy. The Manga and Yakitori Rooms seat 6 to 7, and there are small booths for 2 to 4 and large booths for 6 to 8.

The best room for your group. Two people: a small booth, or the bar if you want the buzz. Four to eight friends: book one of the themed rooms; the Samurai Room is the most dramatic room in the house. A birthday or office dinner of 10 or more: the Art Room is the only room built for that size.

What to eat. The Chantilly menu posted online covers drinks only, so here is what Northern Virginia Magazine reported. Its March 2025 first-bite review tried Bun Nana, a pork-belly bao; crispy chile wings; tornado omurice with curry; a mentaiko cream udon bowl, which the server called a must-try; and taiyaki for dessert. It also noted sushi tacos, the Crazy Nana roll with shrimp tempura, spicy lobster and fried soft-shell crab, and a sizzling wagyu, foie gras and uni bowl. A later roundup listed yakitori, sushi and small bites like gyoza. Menus change, so check prices when you go.

What to drink. The posted Chantilly drinks menu has cocktails at $15 to $16, including the Ume Highball (umeshu, Toki whisky and soda), the Matcha Colada and the Nana Peach Paloma, plus a Passionfruit Lemonade and a Mango Refresher at $9 for anyone skipping alcohol. Sake runs from small bottles of Dassai 45 Junmai Daiginjo at $35 up to large bottles of Dassai 23 at $260. Sapporo and Asahi are $8 on draft, and there is a Kyoto Matcha IPA at $12.

Plan ahead. Reservations are on Resy, and tables are held for two hours (two and a half for parties of nine or more), with a 15-minute grace period for late arrivals. The bar and high-top area is first come, first served. Hours are Monday to Thursday 12 to 3:30 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m., Friday 12 to 3:30 p.m. and 5 to 11 p.m., Saturday 12 to 11 p.m. and Sunday 12 to 9 p.m. The phone number is (703) 563-5480.