A restaurant offering fresh poke, bento boxes, sushi rolls and taiyaki waffles has opened its first location in Arlington.
Fat Fish Rolls & Twists held the grand opening of its new kiosk at Water Park in Crystal City (1601 Crystal Drive) last week. Chef Robert Lucas Irwin told ARLnow it was a “really good weekend” for the restaurant, which serves “a little bit of everything.”
With a menu inspired by Irwin’s childhood in Hawaii, Fat Fish focuses on plenty of fresh seafood.
“I’ve always had a passion for a little tropical flair and my stuff is always unconventional,” Irwin said. “I try to do something that doesn’t exist anywhere else and try to adapt to everyone’s needs.”
That principle is reflected in Fat Fish’s various bento boxes, including a fish and chips-inspired box with Old Bay aioli, because “everyone wants a little fried fish,” Irwin said.
The boxes can also be ordered with sweet miso salmon, sushi or black pepper and truffle crab cakes. Each box contains the main course, a portion of poke, tempura shrimp on green salad and a mini taiyaki waffle.
The bento boxes complement Fat Fish’s extensive list of rolls and poke bowls.
The kiosk offers classic rolls like California, Philly and avocado cucumber, as well as signature Fat Fish rolls like the Wharf Roll, which is served with lump crab, avocado, sweet potato and seared salmon. This roll is topped with black pepper truffle aioli, sweet soy sauce and crispy onions.
Colorful poke bowl offerings include Fat Fish’s version of Bang Bang Shrimp, as well as wonton nachos and spicy tuna.
With all these dishes, you can also enjoy Fat Fish’s Taiyaki waffles. The Japanese fish-shaped waffles are usually served with soft ice cream.
The kiosk offers both regular and vegan soft serve ice cream in seasonal flavors. Right now, these are cinnamon toast cereal milk, made with infused cinnamon toast crunch, and peach sorbet with oat milk.
Fat Fish operates the kiosk, formerly owned by DC Dosa, next to Tiki Thai. Co-owners include Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur Brianna Keefe, the woman behind expanding toast and juice franchise Toastique and co-founder of fast-casual salad restaurant Chopsmith.
The water park is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., except Sunday when it closes at 8:00 p.m.
“We’re new here in Virginia and we’re really excited to serve people here,” Irwin said. “Everyone has been so nice. We’re looking forward to getting to know everyone and sharing our food with them.”
The kiosk is Fat Fish’s second location after the first at The Wharf in DC
