An eatery offering fresh poké, bento boxes, sushi rolls and taiyaki waffles has opened its first Arlington location.
Fat Fish Rolls & Twists held a grand opening last week for its new kiosk at Water Park in Crystal City (1601 Crystal Drive). Executive Chef Robert Lucas Irwin told ARLnow it was a “really good weekend” for the restaurant that serves “a little bit of everything.”
With a menu inspired by Irwin’s childhood in Hawaii, Fat Fish relies on a lot of fresh seafood.
“I’ve always had a passion for a little tropical flavor, and my stuff’s always outside the box,” Irwin said. “I try to do something you’re not going to have anywhere else, and try to adapt to the needs that everyone wants.”
This principle comes across 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 crab cakes with black pepper and truffle. Each box comes with the main entree, a serving of poké, tempura shrimp over a green salad and a mini taiyaki waffle.
The bento boxes join Fat Fish’s expansive list of rolls and poké bowls.
The kiosk offers classic rolls like California, Philly and avocado cucumber as well as signature Fat Fish rolls like the Wharf Roll, which comes 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 poké bowl offerings include Fat Fish’s take on Bang Bang Shrimp, as well as wonton nachos and spicy tuna.
All of these meals can be enjoyed alongside Fat Fish’s taiyaki waffles. The Japanese fish-shaped waffles are typically topped off with soft serve ice cream.
The kiosk offers both regular and vegan soft serve in seasonal flavors. Right now, these are cinnamon toast cereal milk, made with steeped Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and peach sorbet made with oat milk.
Fat Fish operates in the kiosk formerly held by DC Dosa, next to Tiki Thai. Its 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.
It is open at the Water Park from 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. every day, with the exception of Sunday, when it closes at 8 p.m.
“We’re new here in the Virginia area, and really happy to serve the people out here,” Irwin said. “Everybody’s just been so nice. We’re looking forward to meeting everybody and having them enjoy our food.”
The kiosk is Fat Fish’s second location, joining the first at The Wharf in D.C.
