First time visiting this place after saving it on my list for a while now. Well, let's just say…read morethat it's worth the hype! Advice: sitting outside might be better in the cooler weather because we were being eaten alive by mosquitoes and fighting off flies. I really hope that they consider some type of nature oils near the tables to help guests feel more comfortable outdoors. Also, it would help to get more than one fan. Hospitality: aside from the bugs encounter, I would say that we did not have reservations (they were packed inside) so the hostess was nice enough to accommodate us outdoor. Our waiter, Anthony was a ball of energy and he really understands the dishes and was able to give great recommendations, some of which we plan to try on our next visit. Portions: the dishes are shareable so we only ordered the beef noodles and walnut shrimp and both were more than enough for a party of 2. DRINKS: I ordered the dark and stormy which can best be described as not too sweet and perfect for anyone desiring a well balanced drink. The bourbon smash was also really good. Well balanced with a smoky flavor which I loved. FOOD: Beef noodles- gosh this was so divine! Be warned however, there is a bit of spice to it but nothing that you won't be able to handle. I think the spices paired with the preparation of the noodles and the beef all made this dish memorable. Walnut shrimp- another memorable dish which came with a side of white rice. The shrimps were HUGE! But the flavors on each shrimp paired with that crunchy texture and creamy sauce, spectacular! Safe to say that we enjoyed both dishes and cannot wait to return and reserve indoor tables lol

Dishonor to my cow and my entire family for not taking a picture of this food! The people here were…read moreso kind--literally the sweetest. I don't even know how to describe the energy in this place, but you can just feel it the moment you walk in. The restaurant has a dark aesthetic that gives it such a cool, cozy ambiance. My daughter and I ordered the Dan Dan noodles and spicy wontons. Everything was so filling that we ended up ordering another bowl of the Dan Dan noodles! And honestly, I still crave them. The Dan Dan noodles were SO good. The sauce was the perfect combination of creamy and spicy, and there was a generous amount of minced pork that balanced everything out really well. The wontons paired perfectly with the chili sauce that came with them! They were spicy--my ears turned red and my nose started running--but I literally could not stop going back for another bite. Even the wontons alone were incredibly filling. I don't live anywhere near this place, and I genuinely wish I did. I traveled pretty far to get here, and I'd absolutely do it again. This was one of those meals that stays on your mind long after you've left!

What an experience! From start to finish, it was heavenly. The service was great, and the waiters…read morewere very attentive. The food was delicious, and the spicy tuna sushi roll was the highlight for me. The Gin-dara no Saikyo Miso Yaki was delicious, especially with the sauce. The Toro Tacos were okay-ish, but the Yaki Tomorokoshi was SO good! Some of the best corn I've ever had. I loved how buttery and juicy it was! The ambiance was perfect for a date night. Such a great experience overall!

Absolutely loved loved loved Shoto!…read more Came here with a friend where we partaked in the omakase premium experience. Firstly, the vibe of Shoto is unmatched. It feels very intimate and the restaurant is very spacious. The Omakase experience is one I had always wanted to experience and I'm so happy I got to experience it here. All the food items that came out were delicious and I was so full by the time dessert came out. Service was amazing and our server was pleasant. She made sure we understood all dishes that were coming out and everything came out fresh and prompt. This is the best restaurant for a date night or an intimate birthday dinner. I can't wait tomorrow to come back.

Let me preface this by saying that we're from NYC, so we're used to amazing food spots…read more Amazing food and good service. Probably one of the best spots we tried in D.C. Highly recommend and would definitely come back.

I debated whether I wanted to give this place 3 or 4 stars…read more 1. Mandu (3/5) - while it tasted good, the temperature was lukewarm which was disappointing. 2. Half chikin (4/5) - why do they call it chikin? It made me think it wasn't real chicken like what veggie grill calls their fake chicken. Anyway, it was messy but it was crispy and hot - it was fine. I've had better. 3. Lobster steamed egg (1/5) - the lobster was rubbery and I'm not a big fan of mixing sweet and savory together and for me, the sweet peppers ruined the entire dish. For me, the dish as a whole was less than the sum of its parts. 4. Ssam (5/5) - this dish saved the rest of the meal. The meat was tender the pear was nice and refreshing but to be honest, I consider this hard to mess up as long as the meat is good. My wife said that she wishes we just ordered two of these and nothing else lol. 5. Drinks (non-alcoholic - one was yakult and the other I think was passionfruit) - my wife really enjoyed both drinks so I guess I'll round up the review to 4 stars. If I lived in DC, I would probably go back here but since we're from out of state and visit DC once a year for work, we probably wouldn't come back here.

Dania did an amazing job. Celebrated anniversary/birthday here Tuesday…read more I would say the atmosphere is more suitable for hanging out with group of friends

This is was a fun experience but was not the best-tasting menu I've ever had. The dishes were…read morepretty hit or miss. There wasn't anything that stood out as a must-have; it just felt mostly experimental. The service was pleasant, and the ambiance of the place was very nice. This was a cool experience, and we at least enjoyed it being unique.

What a delicious makunouchi bento and shrimp dumplings I had! I met up with a friend for lunch and…read moreit wasn't too crowded there. Free validated parking also available if parked in the garage. The service was quick and fuss-free. Every items I got to taste was absolutely delicious. I just wish the rice portion wasn't so huge or had an option for me to swap it with salad. Wouldn't mind revisiting again in the future.

Stopped in after attending another dc event and loved Raku so much! Even at about 8pm on a weekday…read morethe place is packed and glad I had a reservation before hand. I had the harasu and red dragon roll and first I want to say that another yelper ordered the same thing and it came out looking the same way. It's those details and consistency that show they pay attention. Our server was great and kept the water coming. Sushi restaraunts can always be a hit or miss too for vegetarians but I can say my wife and daughter was pleased with the selection here. I look forward to coming back and visiting when im in this part of town.

We dropped by after my wife was in the mood for ramen. I am glad we did. We arrived at 6:00 pm…read moreon a Tuesday before it got crowded. Most of the tables were taken but we were seated right away. We ordered the Edamame and House Smashed Cucumber. The Cucumber had the right amount of tanginess. The Cheng Du Spicy Wonton stood out. The spicy sauce that they came in was an excellent accompaniment. We finished off with the Reren Signature Ramen. It really hit the spot. The ambience is very casual. We were tourists but it seemed a lot of locals were eating there too. We would definitely come again.

I've been walking (or running) past Reren for a while. I've had their soup dumplings through Uber…read moreEats, but hadn't tried their entrees/Lamen yet. I ordered the Kung Fu Noodles and really enjoyed them! I appreciate a noodle soup thats also packed with veggies (hello, Bok Choy lover here), and the the kimchi gave the soup an added layer of glamor and crunch! It's advertised as spicy, and I was asked if I was ok with spicy after I ordeeed (which I appreciated), but I honestly didn't find the soup very spicy at all! It was pretty flavorful though. I'd get it again. I'm also looking forward to trying other items like their Dan Dan Noodles.

AN is a typical bowl spot with both set and build your own bowl options and a variety of Southeast…read moreAsian inspired bases, proteins, and toppings to choose from. I made my own bowl and liked the topping options but the bases (vermicelli noodles, bok choy, and veg mix) and were underwhelming as was the teriyaki chicken. The best thing by far is the crispy pork belly which for a $2 up-charge you can have 3pcs. It also comes with a complimentary cup of broth which was surprisingly aromatic and flavorful. It's a large portion but not one I'd spend $20 on again.

Thanks to IG for the recommendation of trying out this spot. This spot is like a Viet Chipotle. You…read morecan choose a bowl they have set or your can make your own. The service was really great! They were patient and answered all of our questions. The vibe is very modern and cozy. It may look small, but there is a lot of seating upstairs. I made my own bowl with a side of the chicken broth. Bowl was good but what really caught my attention is the BROTH! I would come here just for the broth! lol. That's what really gives my review 5 stars. I highly recommend this spot!

The food was good. The service was great. The ambiance is great. Everything was awesome and amazing.read more

Such a great AYCE place for a group of friends who can't decide what they want to eat. They have a…read morehuge variety and offer KBBQ, hotpot and seafood. A little something for everyone You order the KBBQ and hot pot food on a tablet and the seafood buffet is self served. They consistently kept the buffet well stocked and clean. I love that they have a huge sauce bar selection.

The ambiance was beautiful, amazing photos. The Food even better, full of flavor with every bite…read moreand the presentation is beautiful. The experience was unreal thanks to Lark, she was such an amazing server. If you want to be assured of an AMAZING dinner ask for her, Lark. Thankyou so much Lark

Beautiful sushi restaurant in Union Market, perfect for celebrations or a night night out. I came…read moreduring happy hour for my anniversary and had such a memorable experience! Our server was attentive and helped us keep track of the time so we can put in any last minute orders for happy hour. The sugar and spice cocktail is one of my favorites in the DC area, it's perfect if you like a spicy margarita flavor. The snow king roll was my favorite (included in HH) but the surf and turf one was delicious as well. Definitely recommend the broccolini and rock shrimp to supplement your experience! I can't wait to come back.

My first visit to Love, Makoto and Beloved BBQ was fantastic. Love, Makoto is a large Japanese…read moreculinary hall near Georgetown University Law Center with several concepts under one roof, including Dear Sushi, Beloved BBQ, Hiya Izakaya, and the more casual Love on the Run. Street parking was surprisingly easy, but I highly recommend making a reservation because Beloved BBQ became completely packed by 7 p.m. Beloved BBQ is a Michelin Guide recognized Japanese steakhouse, and the atmosphere feels elevated and luxurious while still being relaxed and welcoming. Our server, Lydia, was wonderful. She gave us excellent recommendations, checked on us despite being incredibly busy, and even brought out additional dry ice so I could capture the perfect photo. Abu was also incredibly kind and attentive, and General Manager Lenny personally stopped by our table to ask about our experience. The entire staff made us feel so welcome. The Wagyu Tower was absolutely incredible, with the short rib being our favorite. We also loved the dragon roll, tuna crisp, and salmon. If you order only one appetizer, make it the oysters with chili koji. They were out of this world, and I could have easily eaten two trays! For drinks, we tried the Sakura Sour, lychee martini, and the zero proof Pomelo. The Sakura Sour was beautifully balanced, while the lychee martini was smooth and delicious. For dessert, we shared the Heartbreaker and Peach Moon and finished every bite. This is a wonderful choice for an elevated date night, girls' night, celebration, or special dinner in D.C. The food, service, atmosphere, and presentation were all excellent. I will definitely be back soon!

We stopped by Hiya Izakaya at Love, Makoto for happy hour, and overall, it was a pretty good deal…read more The happy hour food menu is on the smaller side, but everything was reasonably priced. My favorites were the eggplant skewers and the spicy tuna bites. Both were flavorful and definitely worth ordering. The drinks were probably the best part of happy hour. They were strong, tasty, and only $8, which felt like a great deal. I'm not sure I would feel the same way about the drinks at full price, but for happy hour, I can't complain. Our server was attentive, answered all of our questions, and our food came out pretty quickly. Hiya is also a cute little space, although it's one of several restaurants within the Love, Makoto complex. The restaurant itself has a pretty floral theme, but the open layout and surrounding restaurants give it more of a mall food court feel. It doesn't necessarily make for a bad experience, but it does take away a little from the intimate atmosphere. Overall, I'd definitely come back for happy hour.