I just had the pleasure of visiting Kotobuki for a second time earlier this week during my visit to…read moreWashington, D.C., and it was as fantastic as ever! The photo of the large platter of sushi is what my group and I ordered this past visit, and it was absolutely delicious! As you can tell, we are big salmon fans, and Kotobuki is the perfect place for salmon lovers! It is unbelievably fresh, and I could easily eat a dozen salmon nigiri myself! They have a decently wide variety of rolls and fish on their menu, but a select variety that you know that whatever you order, it will be top-notch. The environment is very calming and quaint in Kotobuki. Be prepared for a fair number of steps to get up to the small restaurant, but it is 110% worth it! The restaurant itself has fewer than 10 tables, plus a small Omakase bar, making it a nice, relaxing experience. The servers and all workers are very kind and easily make genuine relations with the customers, which makes it the perfect neighborhood restaurant to keep coming back to! They are very welcoming and ensure to provide you with excellent service. I will definitely be coming back to Kotobuki the next time I am in Washington, D.C., and I can't wait for another delicious tray of amazing sushi!

Best best best value sushi ever. I think they share the same sushi supplier as makoto downstairs…read morewhich is $$$$. Service is great and the sushi is amazing! Parking can be a pain but well with the effort

I had such an amazing experience here! I came for Beloved BBQ and was very impressed by the quality…read moreof each dish. The standouts were: A5 wagyu sushi, milk buns, and tuna crispy rice. The meats, of course, were all amazing and all melt-in-your-mouth tender. The staff was so attentive, and the dishes came out quickly. The interior is lovely, as well, connecting each of Love Makoto's restaurants.

I had a friend visiting the area so we decided to go to Love Makoto. It's a larger restaurant that…read moreappears to have other associated restaurants in the same building. We only did the dear sushi portion. A beautifully decorated restaurant. From the menu to the towels to wipe your hands, every step was well thought of. We decided to share the omakase and order a few items al a carte. The food was pretty good although I wasn't a fan of either of the hand rolls. But I would recommend getting the omakase! The new school vs old school twist on the sushi was really creative. The service could have been better. At one point I thought we didn't have a server anymore. All in all, I'd come again to visit one of their other restaurants!

A wonderful experience. Definitely worth a try and a perfect place to have a celebration -…read morebirthday, anniversary, etc. The service was impeccable and down to every detail, they were attentive. Since it's a smaller establishment, the focus really is on each and every table or group. You will never feel like you are forgotten. They present each course with an explanation on each item and ingredient and most of it is imported from Japan. The menu is seasonal and they change it ever so often. You may think it's not a lot of food, but the fattiness of the wagyu will fill you up. I was surprised how full I felt after the meal - and I am the type to eat 60-70 pieces of sushi at a sushi buffet. The meal was definitely worth it. As for parking, there is paid parking across the street. It's about 6.99 for 2 hours. I would come back again. This time bring my camera because the dishes are all so beautiful.

Wifey took us to Kappo for our anniversary. A mysterious and reserved entry way into the lower…read morelevel of the row houses converted into shops and restaurants. Our hostess did double duty as our bar tender and was the most talkative. I did not know that omakase could be had with Wagyu! Very intimate place with a beautiful bar, also giving me speakeasy vibes. There was the head chef, sous chef, and grill chef at the counter, always present. Everything was freshly prepared in front of us and they prepared dishes with Wagyu sirloin, fillet, and a third cut I can't remember. Every dish was beautifully prepared. They surprised us with complimentary champagne and chocolates takeaway for our anniversary! This was truly a great visual and gastronomic experience. I also like that they forewarn you on the menu about the side effects of eating food rich with fat like Wagyu, which helped explain the odd feeling I had later that night. The only thing that could have made this anymore memorable would have been more engagement by the chefs, but maybe that's the way it should be. Reserve Kappo for a special occasion and that special one because this is not a budget friendly place, but a very worthwhile experience to try at least once.

This is an awesome addition to the Clarendon area and I'm so happy something like this has finally…read morecome into the neighborhood. The food at Sakaki is full of flavor and the prices are reasonable for the amount. I think, after being twice, that the AYCE is not as worth it for me personally because I'm not a big eater, but it's totally worth it if you want a lot of variety and you have a good appetite. I really liked the rolls in particular. The service was excellent- it was a nice balance of coming over once in a while to ask how we were doing without coming over too much. The vibes are awesome with a really nice interior- definitely a nice place to go for a date,!just to go with friends to have a nice meal, or even to grab a meal alone since the center has a large area for single seating. Fyi- for the AYCE menu, note that once you put in an order for a round, you can't order for another 10 min so be sure to order enough at a time. Also, there is a time limit to the AYCE (I think it was 90 min). This'll definitely be a place I go to regularly in the future!

I missed lunch so AYCE sushi was very much needed! The silver level at $29 is a great deal with…read moreplenty of options including a variety or rolls as well as appetizer/side dish items. I tried as much of the menu as I could and the rolls and nigiris were definitely the highlight. I wouldn't recommend the crab korokke (too liquidy, and no crab that I could taste) or the karagge - save space for other items! The AYCE is 90mins and you can order every 10 minutes from a tablet. Service was FAST, they definitely weren't playing games. The restaurant itself is also super spacious and well decorated.

Shinwa Izakaya is on my "neighborhood favorite" list. Whether I go here for lunch, dinner or take…read moreout, the food is consistently delicious and fresh. Service: I've always had a positive experience even on busy nights. I've never had to wait more than 15 minutes for a table or bar seat. It's not a big place inside but as the weather gets warmer, there will be outside seating available. Menu: I'll be honest, I mostly choose the sushi dishes but my dining partners have shared that the noodle and grilled items are tasty. Ambiance: modern decor with an upscale casual twist. I love the lucky cats on the lanterns which give it a happy vibe. The place is multi-generational friendly and has a mix of 2 tops as well as large tables. My favorites: crispy cauliflower appetizer and the ocean cove roll. I definitely recommend Shinwa Izakaya and hope others enjoy it too!

Review from my daughter- "Their was either a little too big or a little too small portions of food…read more The service was slow. Other than that the food was great!" Review from me- I thought the portions were fine. Sushi is done well and fresh, and the ramen is delicious and comforting. We will be back!

Tried the sushi platter, sashimi platter, soba noodles. Service was so exceptional. Good AC in the…read morerestaurant too. The soba noodles didn't come with a radish in the soup, which was a bit disappointing. The sashimi platter was very filling. The quality of the fish didn't blow us away. While it was fresh, it didn't have the same chew. The sushi platter had a nice variety and good price. Parking lot is shared with another restaurant but it is a free lot!

I will give 5 stars for the days of yore. For the sake cups…read moreraised And nights at the sushi bar. I will say a toast for the freshest fish And for the stories of the days When the chef reeled them in I will wave my chopsticks For the long-time locals lined up On their nights, they were nice enough I will raise an Ichiban For my servers working hard And for the nights ushered in To the back sushi bar I figured a sea shanty for one of my all-time favorite sushi restaurants was in order. Because you know, they are serving raw fish and those fish are caught by fishermen. If you love sushi, I'm fairly certain you cannot go wrong at Tachibana McLean. It's hard to believe the years I spent here might have been a part of the glory days at Tachibana. When they lost their Itamae and were weathered by covid lockdowns, I think the pace of service changed. But the quality of food never has and I've enjoyed every meal here before and since. This is a classic sushi restaurant so you will not get any sort of innovative fusion rolls here. What you will get is a strict adherence to old school tradition and a focus on quality that is worth a visit. It's hard to say favorite dishes because there are so many delicious choices here. If you are sitting at the main sushi bar, you first may enjoy a free gift of whatever the Ittamae is featuring. If you like that fish, then order more of it. For sushi and sashimi, get what you enjoy here because it's fresh and lovely. Do not miss the Philadelphia rolls here because they are extra creamy and the scallions make them a real delight. I also love the New York roll and the spicy tuna and spicy salmon rolls. Back in the day, my go-to was a spicy, crunchy salmon roll. This was always a special request but they humored me since I was a regular. I was also forever asking for a very thin slice of jalapeño in my tuna roll but you could only get that in the less-friendly and ambient sushi cafe down the street. Years later, times have changed and you can now order jalapeños, as well as tempura crumbs and spicy mayo on any roll. They have so many vegetarian rolls here, as well, so that is a whole experience if choose. You can order Japanese pickles, fermented soybean and scallion rolls, a plum and shiso roll, a gourd roll, a cucumber roll and an avocado roll. I so enjoy a big plate of veggie and shrimp tempura here. The tempura batter is not thick and just right. I also have very much liked the katsu's here: either crispy Berkshire pork loin or crispy chicken. It's an old familiar taste which you should not miss out on. The bento dinner boxes are also awesome. I usually get salmon, beef negimake, shrimp and veggie tempura, shumai dumplings and salmon sashimi. A delightful treat. The buckwheat noodles and udon soups are a bit plain and while they are classically good, i more enjoy the sushi. As for the cold sake, I recommend: the Shochikubai Nigori, the Junmai Ginjo and the cloudy pearl junmai if it's on hand. They also have Choya plum wine and a beer and wine list. You will love the green tea presentation in the gorgeous pottery, as well as that they are diligent on tea refills. Their desserts are nice but make sure you at least taste green tea ice cream once. You can get it here! It's not easy to find this at restaurants, even sushi restaurants, recently.

UberEats order review…read more They were running an amazing buy 1 deal on UberEats and I decided to go for it. Let me just say a few things: 1- Packaged with care and safely placed in the containers. 2- They included sauces and numerous items to make the meal delicious (small sauce trays, chopsticks, etc) 3- The portions were more than enough for 2 people. We actually had several rounds of food left. 4- The food was AMAZING and fresh! I ordered the Firecracker, Shrimp Tempura, and Shrimp Shumai and EVERYTHING was perfectly prepared. The firecracker was my favorite of the favs but it was hard to come to that conclusion because all of them were just that good. Fast service online, I waited less than 30 mins. Not sure how it looks inside but now I'm curious to visit them and check out the ambiance. Definitely glad that I found a worthy sushi spot!

This was a fun spot to grab some sushi! Tina was super helpful and gave great suggestions!…read more My friend and I split the spicy tuna avocado balls (come with 2) and steamed shumai! I had the ruby roll-- yuummmm! And my friend got the salmon! Will definitely come back to try more!

Came in for Lunch and had a great experience! Linda was a fantastic server and the food was…read moreprepared fast and delicious. I got the squid, gyoza, and other items and they were all great. We got sat in a nice cozy booth that was comfortable and intimate. Would come again!

We went on a Saturday night and luckily got a room! They were so quick with the service and Calvin…read morewas great! Food was super delicious too!

I have had this restaurant bookmarked for the last two years since they opened and finally got a…read morechance to eat dinner there. I was impressed and by the experience and would definitely come back for a Japanese meal that did not focus solely on ramen or sushi. The ambiance is well done, and the service was excellent. Our waiter was very attentive and able to answer any of our questions. To share, we got the spicy salmon roll, Karaage appetizer, and eggplant cheese appetizer. The spicy tuna roll was the most lackluster of the dishes, but the fish was fresh and the portion was decent for $12. The karaage appetizer was excellent. The chicken was moist and the coating was crunchy and super hot. The eggplant cheese was a surprise highlight of the meal. Pieces of eggplant in a melted cheese bowl made of eggplant was a simple combination. That was a very pleasant mix of textures. The pork Katsu was a highlight of the meal. Unfortunately forgot to take a picture, but the coding was super crispy and the portion size was pretty solid. The Unagidon or grilled eel bowl was also very well made and tasted great with the pickled ginger and seasoning on the side. The set came with miso soup which was very nice as well. My companions also got drinks which they said were well priced and good quality. Our overall meal cost somewhere in the range of $160 before tip which was reasonable given all of the items that we got. I look forward to my next visit!

It was sufficient…read more Ko is centrally located by Dupont Circle as a second floor restaurant (next to Zorba's). Interior is simple and open. A/C was nice and cool which I appreciated but found the place to be too loud for me once it filled out with more people. Service is courteous. I ordered the tomato salad and two sushi rolls. Yes I committed the sin of ordering just sushi at a kaiseki restaurant, gasp! So I guess I did this to myself since I found the food to be just ok. The spicy tuna roll was just not happening since all they did was drizzle hot sauce over the roll. I've been noticing this more at places, can we just say tuna roll with spicy dipping sauce instead? It's a bit misleading... but I guess I'll have to make sure to ask everywhere whenever I order spicy tuna. I am a believer in that if you're eating at a good restaurant and you ordered their less popular menu item that it should still be good but in this case, Ko didn't deliver. Anyways, I didn't have much of an appetite because of the hot weather so take this review with a grain of salt but I don't plan on returning unless someone can convince me otherwise and if I do, I'm not ordering sushi here.

Koryouri Urara has been on my list ever since it first opened last year, and I finally experienced…read moretheir 10-course tasting menu (which features a variety of Japanese comfort food) this past Friday. Even though I arrived 20 minutes late for my reservation, the staff was incredibly accommodating. I was seated and fortunately arrived before the first course. The interior is simple and without frills, almost cafe-like in its casualness. However, the staff was very hospitable and attentive, and the experience was engaging (with Chef Urara) and intimate. CHAWANMUSHI This was incredibly seaweed rich, which added strong "sea sweet" and umami. The egg was silky and soft underneath an abundant of warm and flavorful broth. Incredibly flavorful, but a bit too salty. Great course to begin with. SEA TROUT SALAD The salad was cool and refreshing, composing of a couple pieces of sea trout sashimi, sea jelly dressing, and cucumber. Flavors were bright and citrusy, also pretty herb-forward from the shiso mint. Very playful salad. SABLEFISH TEMPURA The sablefish tempura was light and perfectly crispy with buttery fish underneath. It was prepared with bits of seaweed for a subtle brininess, served alongside a creamy yuzu kosho sauce. The sauce was bright and lightly sweet with lingering yuzu notes. The flavors of fish and sauce worked harmoniously without being overpowering. This was definitely one of my favorite courses of the night. BLACK SNAPPER FISH The black snapper was clean and delicate, accompanied by blanched crown daisy on the side, which added a lovely earthiness and crunch. Both were topped with a nutty sesame dressing that enhanced the flavors of the fish and the slight bitterness of the greens. HARUMAKI The harumaki featured tender pork belly and crunchy lotus root wrapped with cheese and Tokyo leeks. Served with a side of rice vinegar and karashi (spicy Japanese mustard), it was the richest course thus far -- decadently fried but perfectly balanced by the sauce's slightly acidic tang. The contrast between the tender pork and the snap of the lotus root made every bite delicious and addictive. SASHIMI This course featured pieces of lean tuna (akami), fatty tuna (otoro), topped with uni from Hokkaido. The uni was incredibly creamy and on the sweeter side. While the akami was smooth, the standout was the otoro, which melted instantly in my mouth and was incredibly satisfying. On the side, the dashi-forward greens was refreshing and complemented the umami-rich uni perfectly. WAGYU The A5 wagyu was marinated in a savory red miso sauce and grilled right before our eyes. It was served with a vibrant side of celery and watermelon radish, which provided a nice crunch and a hint of spice. The beef was grilled to perfection -- tender, with a delicate char, it melted in my mouth instantly. The salad's bright, soy-based dressing paired well with the fatty marbling of the beef. MISO SOUP Unlike most restaurant-served miso soups, this version was incredibly hearty, packed with carrots, homemade meatballs, and lots of onions. It was sweet and flavorful, with a subtle acidity from the onions. Much more robust than your typical miso soup, it felt warm and homey. TAKANA MESHI This course was just as homey and unpretentious as the miso soup. The flavors were beautifully mild, highlighting light dashi flavors and subtle umami. Rather than being fried, the rice felt steamed, similar to a claypot preparation. This was a light, delicious conclusion to the savory portion of the tasting menu. The simplicity and homey flavors was so comforting it left me wanting more. Fortunately, there was still some left in the pot, and Chef Urara offered me a second serving -- say less. DESSERT To end the night, we were served green tea ice cream over a red bean base, topped with mochi and a drizzle of brown sugar syrup. It wasn't too sweet, and the green tea ice cream was very smooth and pleasantly tea-forward. The mochi was chewy without the excessive stretchy stickiness I don't enjoy. Very good. As we wrapped up the meal, we were served a warm hojicha, which was the perfect roasty-ness and strength. The courses were delicious and playful, often with heavier bases paired with something bright and refreshing to balance out the rich flavors. Overall, this was a phenomenal experience that I enjoyed on my own, and I would love to come back for a different tasting menu or for their sushi omakase.

This is a review for the Sushi Omakase menu. The sushi was good, but the barebones decor and…read moreservice and ridiculous alcohol prices mean I can't recommend it over other omakase restaurants (and its location in Georgetown is not as easy to get to). The omakase menu costs $120 per person (+22% tip and 10% tax) and requires an advance reservation with a $50/person non-refundable deposit later applied to the check. We visited on a Tuesday for the 5:30 PM seating with an advance reservation. The ambiance was disappointing. The decor is very sparse and does not feel like a fancy restaurant; it feels more like someone's kitchen. The vibe was very subdued because there were only four guests in the entire restaurant. Service was also a let down. The sushi chef had very little showmanship. He quietly told us the name of the fish he was serving, and that was it. The other server only refilled water and brought one round of drinks. They did not give us a printed menu at the end. The lackluster service was unacceptable for 22% auto-grat. If the decor and service were better, this could have felt like an exciting, intimate experience. Instead, it just felt a bit sad. The alcohol prices are completely out of touch with the restaurant atmosphere and the omakase pricing. No sake bottle was under $100, no glass of wine was under $20, and it was $14 for a basic Orion beer. I normally order at least two drinks at dinner, and we only ordered one per person. It seemed the other couple was similarly holding back. I was shocked at the pricing. The sushi itself was good. There were about 18 courses, including one dessert course that came with some tea. I took photos of many, but not all, courses. They were mostly nigiri and also one soup; one small bowl of fish, roe, and egg; one oyster; and one handroll. The sushi quality might be on par with other omakase counters, but the decor and service is not. Cannot recommend.