I had a fantastic lunch at Onggi. My husband and I sat at the bar and experienced top notch hospitality. The bartender went out of their way to discuss with the chef vegan options to ensure we had a fully plant based meal. We started with the Clay & Craft soju flight. This was such a treat! We have never tried soju with such high alcohol proofs. It felt so upscale and unique. We shared the Onggi Lunch Jeongsik Set modified to be vegan. This was a great portion size of food to share among two people. The pajeon was my husband's favorite part of the meal. I enjoyed the vegan jigae the most. Overall there was no weak part of this meal and we did not leave a single morsel of food behind. I will note that the vegan bulgogi tasted almost identical to the bulgogi you can buy at Trader Joe's. We love that bulgogi so that is not a problem. It was just funny to taste something very familiar to us. The rest of the meal was new flavors for me, and reminded my husband of his 4 years living in Korea. My husband has not had authentic Korean flavors made vegan before so this was a major treat. We saved room for dessert and enjoyed this soft nutty sweet treat. It was the perfect finish to a delicious lunch. Thank you Onggi for being so vegan friendly! We cannot wait to enjoy another meal here. read more

Relaxed atmosphere, carefully prepared food, congenial service, and seating that's spread out. Put those all together in a restaurant and that's a winning combo for me. Also, one of my close friends is vegan, so fairly challenging to find a nice spot for her. She enjoyed everything that she ordered, and it made us both happy. Went with jeyuk bokkeum as a main. The sauce is just how I like it--tasty zing, very light consistency, not on fire, pleasant. Sampled some of the jabche and split a vegan kimbap--all delicious. If this is considered extraordinary Korean fare, I couldn't say, but think their cooking is pretty darn good. Once inside, it's hard to tell you're in Dupont Circle, with all of the horrible construction that's perpetually on-going in the neighborhood. It's an escape of sorts. Onggi is a keeper. read more

See all

Tried Onggi -- cute, cozy spot with limited seating. Food was tasty (galbi & soju flights were highlights), but portions felt small for the price -- especially the $38 galbi and pork belly with banchan. Service was great too -- our waiter was super attentive even though I forgot his name. Good quality overall, just wish there was more food. read more

Onggi - Korean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

This is a very nice Korean restaurant and they have all of your classics, Korean dishes, but upscaled, and in their own way, would recommend going if you are craving some traditional and popular Korean dishes they don't have anything that's two out there in terms of other dishes from Korea, but they have your standards and what they do have is pretty amazing. There is also something that we didn't try when I was there a tasting menu that looked amazing where you got to choose an appetizer entrée and then a dessert also with the option of pairing with wine or cocktails I got a cold noodle dish that was perfect for the hot summer day that we went, and it was absolutely refreshing with the cucumbers and glass noodles read more

This place was surprisingly good! We got their samgyeopsal, galbi, and kimchijjigae. Each dish was delicious and had the perfect Korean flavor. Their mocktails were also delicious! Make sure to also get their dessert. It comes with yakgwa and fruit. Every dish was perfectly curated to embrace Korean culture and was beautifully presented. Our server was also amazing! She was super nice and accommodating. I highly recommend if you are looking for an upscale Korean restaurant in the DC area! read more

Onggi - Korean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

My husband and I had lunch at Onggi this past Sunday when we were in DC for the day. This Korean spot offers a Jeongsik (정식) "set meal" for lunch, too - for $38, you get three banchan and then choose one of the each of the following: bulgogi or grilled mackerel; Doenjang (soybean paste) stew or kimchi stew; seafood or vegan pajeon (scallion pancake); and multigrain bean or white rice. My husband and I chose opposites (for me: grilled mackerel, kimchi stew, vegan pajeon, and white rice; for him the other side of the menu). My favorite bite of the meal was without a doubt the kimchi stew (although I avoided the meat at the bottom of the dish because so many bites had gristle - cartilage and connective tissue - that I didn't want to have to find and spit out). The mackerel was flavorful and well cooked but had so many pin bones I felt like I spent half my meal picking apart the whole fillet (and then missing out on the really crispy skin which had gotten quite messed up as I pulled pin bones out). I did enjoy the pajeon also. We also shared a pot of Yuzu Ginger Honey Tea, which was too sweet for me but also the perfect tea on a cold day or when allergies are kicking your but in spring. (Note: we weren't given a drinks menu when we sat down, so I thought they were an NA restaurant - I'm an idiot. Looking on their website now, their drink offerings look great. We might have stuck to tea anyway, but good to know that they have these drinks for next time!) The service was friendly, and the space is nice - it kind of felt like you were on an outdoor patio even when you moved into the indoor space. Ultimately, I was just a little underwhelmed by the meal. I love the Jeongsik for lunch, because you get so many small dishes, but I just didn't feel wowed by any of the food individually. Would certainly give it another try and order differently! read more

Onggi - Lunch Special - Korean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

New neighborhood staple! We've been twice now- once for a happy hour at the bar and a restaurant week lunch. Both times were great! The bartender was knowledgeable and helped choose beverages. The happy hour menu is a great deal and we chose essentially every food item. Lunch was great as well! They were slammed and still were efficient with taking our order, service and checking in on us. Overall a great place and I hope to return soon for dinner! read more

See all

Great elevated spot in Dupont Circle if you're having a craving for Korean food (the struggle for good asian food in DC is real!). We had a reservation for a weekday dinner and the restaurant's ambience was very sophisticated yet inviting; loved the design of the space. Cocktails were great, a tad on the small side but unique flavors - we enjoyed the JFK-ICN and the Not Another Lychee Martini. Our table shared seafood pajeon and japjae for appetizers. For entrees, we got the pork belly (samgyeobsal), kalbi, and seolleongtang. My favorite was the pork belly, which had a great crisp due to the char and paired well with the ssam. Kalbi came with kimchi that tasted very fresh/not very fermented, which I really enjoyed. Seolleongtang was pretty standard and the meat may have been lightly overcooked. Overall, solid spot for Korean food in the city with good service. Would come back to try the grilled mackerel and seafood gooksu next! read more

Wonderful dinner and zen-like experience. Walking down into the elegant dining room we felt a sense of quiet and peace. Staff was welcoming and attentive. Several menus were offered and explained to us. One was a prix fix multi course meal. Another is comprised of la carte items. Last was a happy hour menu with promotions and tapas sized plates. We decided to order items from both the regular and happy hour menu. Each course came out as it was ready and paced perfectly. We also got a tray of banchan (bean sprouts, watercress and fernbrake). From the happy hour menu we ordered seafood pancake, Mandu, japchae and 2 orders of kimbap. From the regular menu we got kimchi jigae. Everything was delicious and impeccably presented. The mandu was crisp and piping hot, with generous filling. The seafood pancake had plump pieces of squid and shrimp with scallion in a light fritter. The kimbap was perfectly rolled and had vegetables and beef with hints of sesame oil. The kimchi jigae came to the table simmering with a side of white rice. The stew was rich and spicy, with pork rib meat, 2 large slabs of tofu and a plethora of nappa kimchi. The japchae also had soy and sesame oil hints in the tender glass noodles, mixed with crisp veggies. Service was accommodating without being intrusive. The owner came to every table to chat with the patrons. Such a great dining experience! read more

See all

Food is delicious, service was comprible to the busyness of the restaurant. The music was too loud, but you can definitely hear yourself echo throughout the restaurant due to the small interior. There are two parts of the restaurant with a set of doors. Patio and then the main dining area with two rooms for private bookings. read more

See all

I so badly wanted to love this place especially as there aren't very many Korean restaurants in the area. Don't get me wrong. The overall experience was great- from stellar service staff explaining the food options to my coworkers and the pretty big selection of entrees. There were many choices for vegetarians as well. For restaurant week, I ordered the mackerel and kimchi jjigae which were both delicious. However, I wish there were more side dishes, and my coworkers' galbi was on the chewy side. I was not at all impressed by the dessert that was included in the restaurant week menu as I could've easily bought by them at hmart. And it was too unique to my friends' liking. Worth coming back to try another dessert next time I'm in the area. read more

See all

Customer service was beyond excellent. The indoor dining was the vibe! Good lighting so it wasn't too dark like other places. Tried a couple from the menu: Sake flight: TAKE ME BACK TO K TOWN (Yuzu and Elderflower; Korean Pear, Perilla and Lime; Peach and Chili) interesting tasting... it came with three glasses. First one was yuzu and elderflower: somewhat sweet but not a bad aftertaste like other drink. Then Korean pear, perilla and lime was a subtle kick and smoother than first one. Last one was spicy as it had peach and chili in it so it was very awakening moment! Overall I enjoyed each tasting and hitting more tastes in one soju flight is just a fun experience! JFK - ICN (Korean Pear Infused Whiskey | Poire Williams | Citrus | Hibiscus Soju): colorful drink for whiskey, delicious and sweet... I enjoyed this mixed whiskey drink and this didn't give a weird aftertaste. I give them a props for crafting a creative whiskey drink. I'd order this again. Seolleongtang (Slow-simmered beef bone soup with rice noodles): absolutely delicious with perfect seasoning. Not bland to add some salt in, not too salty. Very beef broth flavorful! I absolutely loved this soup especially in winter time like this! Black sesame ice cream was absolutely star. I could taste black sesame as it seems very fresh made. Appreciate their creativity in each dish and drink! read more

Great Korean food, drinks, vibes, and service! If you're looking for a unique Korean fine dining experience, this is the place. Seolleongtang and galbi were excellent and flavorful. The seolleongtang was warm and soothing on a cold night. The galbi meat was juicy and flavorful, and the wrapping leaves were super fresh. Each dish comes with a free side, and we opted for white pear kimchi and kkaenip jang (perilla leaves). The pear kimchi is actually cold soup, not kimchi, which was surprisingly, so I think the name of that side dish is rather misleading and should've said soup instead. Regardless, it was tasty and cold and refreshing--a good pairing with the warm main dishes. Kkaenip jang was bitter and sharp in flavor, providing a sharp contrast with the "heavier" main dishes. JFK ICN cocktail (Korean pear infused whiskey) was surprisingly sweet (when you consider that whiskey drinks are generally not sweet), but it was good and citrusy. We also tried a soju flight "Take me back to K Town" with 3 flavors, and it was a fun novel experience. Yuzu and elderberry soju was pretty light and sweet. Korean pear, perilla, and lime soju was sweeter and "thick"; I want to say it's like a "sweet" soap, which I know sounds weird, but that's how the texture was to me. Don't worry, it's definitely much tastier than real soap! Peach and chili soju was, wow, quite spicy. Definitely has a chili kick there! Our server Grace was outstanding and so sweet and attentive. We got complimentary black sesame ice cream, and it was stellar. Very strong authentic black sesame flavor! The atmosphere is warm, minimalist, and soothing, and the rock seats are really cool (not temperature-wise. They're heated warm, which felt amazing after a cold night out!). read more

This review is specifically for our time at Onggi for Valentine's Day + my husband's experience as someone who has celiac (gluten free) GF. We also do not drink. Please note the tasting menu has cocktail pairings and that is not included in my review. We did order mocktails which we loved! NA Drinks/Mocktails: we ordered Noran and the Baek! Loved how light and flavorful our drinks were. Great choices with our food. Food: we ordered the Valentine's Day tasting menu! One of our servers was very knowledgeable on what my husband could and could not eat on the menu which we appreciated. When we visited their website prior to reservation's we were pleasantly surprised at how they advertised that most of the menu can be accommodated gluten free! First course: THE ONLY ITEM (shrimp jeon) that had to be accommodated GF because everything else was already GF! (-: We loved all of this and the kimchi was very good. The shrimp was cooked perfectly and the sauce with it was delicious. Second course: I got the minari seafood ceviche and my husband got the beef vegetable rolls so we could try both! Loved the ceviche and it was very refreshing! The beef rolls were kind of underwhelming. Maybe a little more umami would make it stand out more. Third course: bossam was great! Initially tried it without kimchi and had a weird bitter aftertaste but once you eat the bossam alongside the kimchi in one bite, it 100% makes a difference! Fourth course: husband chose grilled lamb chops and I did the seafood so we could again share our meals. We loved the lamb chops entree! Cooked perfectly medium rare and so tender. The sauce paired with it mixed into the mashed potatoes was delicious. I enjoyed my entree and the shrimp/fish was fine, nothing about it stood out to me personally. Definitely prefer the lamb chops entree. Dessert: strawberry red bean mochi and makgeolli chocolate was wonderful! There were these house made rice puffs surrounding the chocolate that I thought would be crispy. It was unfortunately not and felt a bit stale. Not sure if this was intentional but everything else about this dessert was rich and decadent! Now let's get to the ambiance/service/presentation: The establishment here is in a great location here in DuPont Circle. Atmosphere is very cozy and casual. Great place for date nights but also a place you can catchup with a friend/family! I will say because we went during the evening (not Onggi's fault at all), the bright LED lights from Capital Donner across the street was insanely blinding. So if you face towards that direction with a window view, be forewarned! Bathrooms are in the back behind the host stand when you make a left! In the women's bathroom there are two stalls. Very clean! Husband said it was very clean for the men's as well. There is a coat rack back there if you need to hang any of your heavy outer garments. Food was great but was disappointed at the service tonight. We made a reservation for 7:15 PM and arrived early. It was starting to get busy and our table was rushed to be cleaned. We were seated immediately and had the Valentine's Day tasting menu on our table + regular menu/drinks. When we booked the reservation we expected that we could try other items on the menu (we wanted to try the regular tasting menu) however we overheard from a couple next to us where the server mentioned only the Valentine's Day tasting menu was available. Would be nice if that was advertised on social media for future holidays/events or specify that more during reservations online. I like to observe my surroundings especially during dinner at a new spot for date night and noticed it felt understaffed. Everyone we've interacted with is absolutely wonderful by the way. Giving them the benefit of the doubt that it was just not their best night. We felt like they were running all over the place given it is a Valentine's Day after all. It took a long time for us to get a bottle of water for our table. I noticed all the other tables had a bottle of water except ours and we hoped a waiter would notice that without us asking but I had to reach out to someone. The couple next to us also did the same thing. During dinner it did feel weird we had to put our utensils on the bare table without anything underneath them. This does not feel very sanitary. Would be better if they had one of those chopstick holders/something for our utensils to rest on after our plates are taken away. This is a bit more nitpicky for me but when we had our bossam I noticed after eating that there were a lot of scratch marks shown on the plate. I personally would not want to see that on display especially if you're trying to present a nice meal. Maybe as a suggestion replace those plates with something more scratch resistant? Overall we actually had a great time! We definitely want to come back again to try other items on the menu and hopefully staff is a bit more attentive next time. Thank you Onggi! read more

See all

The food was delicious! Went by yesterday with my friend who got the "experience Korea" pre-fixed HanJeongSik menu, and I ordered a la carte. All the food was delicious - even the abalone, which I usually do not like, but they season and cut it up well. Pros: If you're ordering from the "explore Korea" a la carte menu, I highly recommend the samgyeobsal. It's tender and the meat melts in your mouth, and the plum sauce is delicious. I also quite liked the dak galbi (spicy chicken with rice cakes). If you love pickles and/or kimchi, then I also recommend the jangajji. Speaking of which - I noticed they spelled it wrong on the menu. They have it as 짱이지 ("jjangaji" - but then they misspelled that too and put "jjangajji"), and it's supposed to be 장아찌 - or "jangajji." It's subtle but it's the difference between "pickled vegetables" and nonsensical words lol. The kimchi they use throughout their dishes is perfectly fermented and tasty. The vibe is cute inside, with subtle Korean-Asian touches in decor. Seating is a little too close to each other for my taste but it's fine if you don't have anything salacious to talk about lol. Some of the tables have a "booth" side where the seat is a bench made up of Himalayan salt blocks, and it's heated. There's a seat cushion you can use as a barrier as well. Cons: service was incredibly slow. For a 6-course menu (technically 7 because we got the add-on), it should not take 2+ hours, and at some point I feel like our server simply forgot about my a la carte dishes. The pacing was all off. We spent SO much time just waiting for our food. Our reservation was at 7:45pm and we didn't leave until about 10:10pm. At least some check-ins or a heads up about cook times would be appreciated. Waters were also rarely filled as our server almost never came by unless it was to deliver dishes. Not sure why they don't just leave the carafes at the table, as the cups are pretty small. I would definitely come back here but perhaps will try at a less busy time, and/or hope we get a different server. read more

See all

I came here with my partner for an early dinner on Saturday. We had a reservation but arrived a couple hours earlier, and they still seated us right away. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. We ordered a couple dishes a la carte (kimchi jjigae and godungeo) and both were very delicious. For the portion size, the prices are quite expensive. You are paying for the good service and upscale interior. They even had heated seating against the wall. If you can afford it, this place is well worth it! read more

See all

What a lovely experience. I started with the, Not Another Lychee Martini. It was amazing. Not sweet, not harsh. Then I opted for the 4 course meal. Excellent choice! Couldn't regurgitate what everything is, they tell you about it when they serve. Literally everything was amazing, but highlights were the squash soup, pancake, ribs, and black sesame ice cream. Lovely space, perfect staff. Couldn't be more pleased. read more

See all

Solid Korean food in a pretty setting. Great lunch set too - good variety of options and very tasty. Solid service too. Going to buy a gift card for a gift too. So good! read more

Onggi - Black sesame ice cream. Amazing. Not too sweet too! - Korean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

A one-of-a-kind Korean restaurant in the states! I've eaten Korean food since I was a kid, and most Korean spots fall into one of two categories: Korean barbecue or Korean mom-and-pop. Both have their pros and cons, but this spot is just a little different. It's a bit more high-end without being too ostentatious and the chef makes most of his stuff by scratch (even the gochugang!). I stalked the restaurant's opening and dug in a bit on the owners. The owners in Korea are known for slightly pricier, private room course meals, suitable for workplace networking. And the food is known for being delicious and healthy! It's not as expensive as a super fancy schmancy spot, but it's not necessarily cheap either. However, the price and portion of the food is very good considering the taste and decor. The decor is really nice for a work lunch or dinner, a romantic date spot, a friend gathering, or to eat by yourself (cough cough, me). Have I been coming here a little often for my wallet. Perhaps. Anyways, if you're hungry, get the meal courses. Lots of vegetables and meat (they even have more vegan options too!). Highlights: tender galbi, fried chicken wings, jeon (fried items from vegetables to fish), bibim gooksoo (slightly spicy but refreshing!), and the bibimbap (nutritious, crunchy, fresh!). And their bibimbap's quality significantly outshines their competitors since everything is done in-house. Not another lychee martini is the best cocktail and the flower tea and the black bean tea are elite (flower for #1!). They're in the soft opening stage until April 01, when they officially open. Try to get in now, because I have a feeling they will be very popular soon! Also, shoutout to Chef Kim and his wife along with Colin for the welcoming service and comforting food! read more

See all

KenScale: 7.0/10 Visits: July 2025 Throughout our culinary journey together, my wife Jun and I have often found that reviewing a Korean restaurant is arguably the toughest task. Having grown up in Korea, we have certain expectations on what a Korean cuisine should be, and if a Korean restaurant doesn't meet those expectations, our review tends to be harsher than other non-Korean restaurants. Is that fair? Perhaps not, especially if a restaurant has gotten a lot of love from non-Korean diners. But if a restaurant's food has departed significantly from what we know to be the standard, we didn't think it is inappropriate to call that out. We had the same quandary when visiting Onggi, which a new Korean restaurant that opened in Dupont Circle. There are two ways to dine at Onggi, a la carte options and a 6-course Hanjeongsik tasting menu (at $145 per person for the regular menu and $125 per person for the vegan menu on our visit). We opted for the latter regular tasting menu to get a full sense of the restaurant's offerings inspired by royal course cuisine of Korea. The tasting menu started with a playful plate of sweet snacks such as dried gingers and persimmons, followed by the first course in which we both enjoyed the kabocha porridge and white pear kimchi. Goojeolpan, which consists of a number of ingredients you can wrap in mini-sized pancakes, is one of the standout Korean dishes; the version at Onggi wasn't bad but I found myself missing the delicious plate that my mother prepared for us on our previous visit to Korea. Things started to go downhill from there. I found the seasoning on abalone and scallop to be overly salty (although Jun's was just fine in seasoning), and japchae, the beloved stir-fried glass noodles dish, was a disaster, too oily without the chewy texture of the noodles. I whispered to Jun that her mother, who is an expert in japchae, would've been really upset with this dish. My biggest disappointment was from the last savory dish. Tteokgalbi, a popular minced beef short rib patty, was completely off in texture (imagine a burger patty that requires a lot of efforts to chew and doesn't quite melt in your mouth) and the aggressive seasoning completely overwhelmed the meat anyways. By the time the dessert of persimmon ice cream and seasonal fruit (nothing special here, either) arrived, my mood was fairly sour. Getting a reservation at Onggi doesn't look challenging and the sleek and modern dining space had a decent number of diners (mostly curious non-Korean) but not quite packed either. There is a full bar with some cocktails using traditional Korean ingredients as well as a concise wine list. On our way home from the restaurant, Jun asked again whether we are being too harsh in judging Onggi's mediocre dishes. I pondered her question for a few days but ultimately concluded that diners would know when a dish is objectively not very good with or without extensive experience with that country's cuisine. DC doesn't have as many great Korean restaurants at the moment (it doesn't help that we didn't have a great experience, either, at Anju in the city that many diners seem to like), so our experience at Onggi cemented my view that I will just indulge on Jun's masterful Korean cooking at home for the time being while we live here. read more

See all

Great food and service! I caught the happy hour 2-5pm on a Sunday afternoon for a few bites and a cocktail. The dishes I tried were delicious and I would recommend ordering multiple of each if sharing. The restaurant was modern and clean, definitely a good atmosphere. Looking forward to returning for the full menu! read more

See all

Came here with the Tasting collective and am so glad I did! I lived in Korea for a year so am always seeking new Korean flavor experiences. I especially nerd out about regional specialties. The place has indoor and outdoor (covered) seating but has a decently small dining room. They focus on multi-course experiences and make almost everything in house (the sauces are particularly lovely). They offer a meat and vegan menu. The flavors of everything are very intentional and delicious, and it's clear that they care quite a bit about making everything beautiful in presentation. Service was very attentive and kind and they are very clearly proud of what they are doing. It's especially cool since the chef used to be the chef to the Korean president! Can't wait to come back here. The brunch menu looks good but none of the brunch specific options are vegetarian sadly. read more

See all

We came here for lunch with a few friends a - the ambience is nice, service was great and food was delicious. Also impressed with their vegan options! We look forward to coming back to try the new options on the menu. read more

See all

A warm spring afternoon found us at Onggi, looking for some Korean flavor in the District. We nestled into a cozy basement corner and started with the Black Garlic Wings - crispy, plenty of breading, and lots of flavor. The Bibimbap was really deconstructed, meaning you assembled everything yourself instead of just mixing what arrived in the bowl. Plenty of flavors to mix together. The Galbi set had all kinds of panchan to go with the beef, well-marinated and sweet. But the Jigae set was my favorite, a deep broth with spice and umami, along with plenty of panchan bites on the side. Good stuff, and the chef came out to make sure we were happy with the food. Friendly and sedate, the ambiance at Onggi is distinct and worth a try. read more

See all

Nice upscale Korean restaurant in Dupont Circle. We ordered a la carte. Excellent fried chicken (super crispy and juicy) and kimbap (large, well worth the money). Admittedly, I was disappointed by the little amount of banchan that came with the galbi, especially for the price. (More, please!) But my husband raved about the galbijjim, or short rib stew. Will probably return to try the tasting menu. read more

Onggi - KFC, kimbap - Korean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

when I travel, I like to try a new cuisine since my boring foodie husband won't I stumbled upon this Korean place across from the hotel - best customer service! owner talked me through the dishes- everything was amazing!! Highly recommended!! read more

Onggi - Korean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Wife and I were walking around DC looking for something to satisfy and hold us over until our dinner reservations when we stumbled across Onggi around the corner from our hotel in Dupont Circle. The service was excellent and very friendly and the food was exceptional. The wife and I have been watching a lot of K-Drama on Netflix and took a liking to Korean food as a result of watching shows where food is front and center. We got to Onggi at a great time when their happy hour (small plate) menu was available. We ordered the tteokbokki (rice cakes), japchae (sweet potato noodles) and mandu (korean dumplings). Everything was delicious and most menu items were gluten free which was nice for my wife. We will certainly be back again the next time we go to visit our son in DC. read more

Jan 2026: this is a great Korean restaurant in the middle of DuPont Circle. It's VERY difficult to find a restaurant that offers gluten free Korean food. At this restaurant, most of their food is gluten free!! Is that terrific or what! I thought it was awesome! Korean cuisine is rice based so if you use gluten free soy sauce (or tamari) and gluten free miso (fermented soy beans) and gochujang (spicy red paste), the food is gluten free. But it is surprisingly difficult to find a Korean restaurant that will make these changes to make their food gluten free. It's really wonderful to have a Korean restaurant where most of the food is gluten free. Our server, Grace, was very friendly and knowledgeable about their menu. I had the galbi, which is marinated beef rib. I cannot remember ever eating galbi at a restaurant after I went gluten free. It was great! Nice flavor. I was just happy to eat galbi and I did not have to cook it. My husband had the grilled mackerel which was also very nice. The cabbage kimchi was a bit odd. I am not used to it being cut up so small. At first, I thought it was marinated namul because it did not look like cabbage kimchi. I thought it sort of tasted like namul also. But I still liked it. The little dishes (banchan) are on the small side, which I don't mind. I am a small person. For dessert I had persimmon ice cream. I had persimmon in Korea and I miss it here. It was very good. I also really like it that the restaurant is not loud. You can really have a conversation. That is rare these days. It is not easy to find a restaurant that is relatively quiet. They play jazz music but not very loudly. We were seated in the main part of the restaurant (instead of the patio, it's too cold for the patio right now). We were also there early in the evening which meant a quieter experience. It's cozy and comfortable. The seats against the window are heated, which is great in the winter. If you are in the neighborhood, this place is definitely worth a visit!! read more

See all

We had a fantastic experience at Onggi! I went with my husband and two friends, plus our baby. We ordered a variety of dishes, like bibimbap, galbi and glass noodles. The presentation was very nice, tasted amazing, and the servers were very friendly. Can't wait to go back! read more

Onggi - Hibiscus tea - Korean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Recently had the opportunity to experience the new brunch menu and it was amazing! Highly recommend for a new dining experience in DC. As the restaurant is newly opened (just five weeks as of this review) it was easy to reserve and the restaurant was not crowded for a Saturday afternoon brunch. The team was extremely helpful with recommendations and we were presented the entrees and drinks by the beverage manager/director. From the drinks to entrees everything was presented beautifully and the flavors were phenomenal. My favorites were the kimchi fried rice and sugar filled pancakes; however each dish we had during brunch was amazing. The decor is minimal and chic featuring heated salt benches at the booth seating. The restaurant also has an an enclosed front patio and outer patio. The ambience during brunch was quiet with lovely music playing (if you enjoy soul and R&B:) the team was prompt when clearing dishes and following up during our meal. There is paid street parking (none that I could find relatively close to the restaurant so ride share or early reservation is recommended as it took a while to find parking). $$ @sharpandsoundstyle read more

See all

The Vegan Bulgogi was truly spectacular! That is beef textured black bean patties with gochujang sauce. The flavor was exquisite, and the texture was like steak - so, it was hearty, sweet, totally unexpectedly delicious - and the large portion was a bonus. We don't usually get dessert, but we just kept going. There were two ice creams, so we got them both, and again, both desserts were notably delicious. This is not the kind of meal you can just make yourself at home. This was special - a place to take guests if you want to impress them or provide a memorable evening. The service was great, the wine was good and not overly expensive, the presentation too. Everything was just excellent. This is not just another good restaurant, it is a great restaurant. Maybe that's why there were so many Korean people there. They are also gluten free and celiac friendly. They didn't just double-check to make sure everything was acceptable - they checked yet again - three different people checked, to be extra safe. Definitely an evening and a meal that we will remember, and even though we don't dine out at restaurants much anymore, we will return. Another bonus is that we arrived without reservations on a Friday night around 8:30, yet they seated us right away, and gave us five-star, attentive service. So good! Highly recommended. read more

I missed my pedicure appointment at Mimosa Salon, and stumbled upon this jewel. From Duck, Duck, Goose to Onggi. This establishment is just what DC needed. Not shading any other establishment at all, but now I don't have to travel to Annodale for exceptional Korean cuisine. I arrived to late for a bite, but the hot ginger-honey tea, along with the heated sea salt seating was a hit! Thank you, Colin, and the staff of Onggi for making my first experience in this establishment one for the record! See you soon, Chrisropher read more

Absolutely LOVED our visit during their soft opening! The host was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, where things were sourced, and how the dishes were prepared. The interior was gorgeous and they had heated bench seats that reminded me of Korean spas. They also had a private dining space for larger groups! The drinks were amazing (we got the yuzu highball, ogok-bap, the Not Another Lychee Martini, and their adaptation of University Days for a welcome drink). You can't go wrong with any of them. For food, the three of us opted for ordering all the all-day gourmet bites (yes, all of them). This was a great way to sample their offerings before committing to their dinner set menus. Our favorites were the mandu, jeon, and wings. The banchan that came with the galbi were also yummy and quite authentic - the host said they are prepared by Korean imos (Korean aunties), and it showed!! We'll have to come back for their lunch menu and dinner set menus! I understand that they are taking an upscale Korean dining angle, but I hope they expand their bites and jjigae menus so folks can still experience the restaurant but at a more approachable price point. I'm so excited to see how this restaurant grows - I can definitely see it getting very popular very quickly! read more

See all

Great food, excellent service, and wonderful ambience. A nice place to have dinner with the family. A six course meal pushes the boundaries of taste palette, colorful presentation and right proportions. A must-go restaurant if you are in the DC area. read more

My husband and I had a wonderful meal at Onggi. We did the six course menu and all the dishes were memorable and full of flavor. My favorite was the kalbu steak at the end with banchan. The black sesame ice cream and fruit with a cinnamon drink was a great way to finish. The cocktails were excellent. I will definitely be coming back, best Korean food I have had in a city where the Korean options are lacking. read more

See all

Onggi is a modern take on Korean cuisine that leaves you feeling very well cared for. From the heated bench seating to the very friendly and helpful staff to the very personable chefs, you are in very good hands when you dine here. Our meal started with a trio of 3 color jeon. Our favorite was the kimchi one. The next course was a delicious flounder with wild west seaweed. This is different from the typical nori. It was really flavorful and softer and didn't stick to the roof of your mouth. The flounder that you filled the seaweed with was also excellent with a great flavor and very satisfying texture. Bibimbap is one of my favorite Korean dishes and this deconstructed version fit the bill. We especially liked the soybean paste sauce which we had never had with bibimbap. This was just one of the three sauces offered with the very generous entrée. The land and sea featured short ribs, scallop, abalone and a kabocha squash puree. The plating is always beautiful, often decorated with edible flowers. One of our favorite dishes was the black sesame ice cream and berries. Black sesame ice cream! Where have you been all my life?! Yum! The space itself it light filled with both indoor and outdoor seating and there is street parking all around. We truly enjoyed the food and the staff made the dinner even more welcoming. read more

See all

Onggi is a new neighbor in Dupont Circle and I am VERY happy to make her acquaintance. This restaurant is located at a very prominent location. The construction has had the neighborhood in a tizzy since last year and I am happy to say that the wait was worth it. Onggi is a Korean restaurant - but it isn't your father's restaurant (if, in fact, your father ever went to a Korean restaurant)! My spouse and I have loved Korean food for a long time and we have visited many Korean restaurants. I can honestly say that this restaurant is different than most Korean restaurants and in a class of its own. The story is that the current owner, Tanya, is a protege of a famous restauraneur in Seoul. In fact, the mentor owns and runs a well-known restaurant right next door to the Korean president's official residence and is used for official functions. Consequently, you can imagine the level of sophistication and luxury. Onggi reflects this same level of quality. The interior is serene and beautiful in a modern style. Not necessarily Korean interior - just modern and elegant. The chairs are luxuriously comfortable. The utensils were so heavy and beautiful that I thought about stealing them. But, of course, since I live so close to this restaurant and I hope to be a regular, I did not want to start out our relationship this way. The service we received in Onggi was top notch. Calvin and Devin were super polished and helpful in helping us to navigate the unusual menu. Both were delightful and we enjoyed our conversations with them. We went to Onggi during the soft opening so maybe the menu has some fine tuning. However, if I have anything critical to say about this restaurant, it is that some of the food needs to be Americanized a bit. We started out with the black garlic fried chicken wings. Never have I had crispier chicken wings with no grease on them. They were great. The dipping sauce was the star of this dish for me and I actually used my spoon to get it all!!! Our next dish was galbi with three banchan. This is the dish that needed some fine tuning in my opinion. The steak, while tasty, was too fatty and full of gristle to be satisfying. We could eat only a small portion of the entire dish. Perhaps this is the cut of beef used in Korea but it does not really work for Americans like us. When we were done eating this dish, most of the beef still sat on the plate. We finished up with the Japchae and it was - without a doubt - the best japchae that I have ever had. Delicious! My only negative here was that I wish there had been more of it! We did not order the tasting menu because we were not that hungry. So, we made our dinner from the appetizers. I cannot comment on the tasting menus at all. They looked nice but, again, I did not experience them. I really hope that this place becomes a HUGE success and I also hope that I become a regular because I love Korean food. I highly recommend Onggi for anyone who wants to experience an elegant lovely meal in a beautiful dining room! Just don't expect the bulgogi to be thrown on a styrofoam dish as it is in most Korean restaurants. This place elevates Korean food to an entirely new - and I must admit luxurious - level! Bravo!!! read more

never have i felt more tension in the dinner room. it was like the plot of a movie. by the end, i genuinely had indigestion from the stress (or was it the lack of quality ingredients and the sodium rush?) we were pleasantly surprised they had open seating for four in a private room on a saturday evening. that shouldve been a red flag the course menu is $115, and at first we were pleased by the welcome course -- a yummy platter of dried korean ingredients like puffed rice dusted with matcha, candied ginger, and seaweed crackers, as well as a tasty drink. the assistant general manager explained the platter flavor profile and it SEEMED deeply intentional then, they brought out the next course before we even finished the welcome. Please slow down #1. a salad (which was just basic), kabocha porridge (i enjoyed), and an asian pear soup (also enjoyed). the next platter also came too quick. they kept kicking our umbrella, and bumping into our shoulders. please slow down #2. it was a "banchan platter" with 3 dumpling wrappers. mind you, there were only 2 platters even though we came as a group of 4. the ingredients were also not even noteworthy, nor as delicious as you can get compared to unlimited banchan from any mom and pop korean place. no cooking techniques even required the seafood abalone dish was actually good. but they did not give us knives despite having a big piece of oyster mushroom. there was also inconsistency in the cleaning and clearing of plating next came a plate of jeon, which also did not have any special ingredients nor creative spin. they only gave us one serving of dipping sauce, then when we asked for more, they gave us 3 total instead of 4... they finally understood our requests to slow pacing #3. final savory course was bulgogi japchae which was too salty and squid kimchi that was too spicy. the texture of the squid was more like jelly, and the bulgogi was not even premium beef. finally, dessert required no pastry chef -- just fruit and a store-bought yakgwa (which the seever butchered the pronunciation of) this was the first time i've had to get the manager. not going to lie i was shaking and nervy BUT, we gave our two cents (this restaurant would not survive in nyc. it fails compared to competitor shoto. the food was good (a white lie), but the service is NOT fine dining esque. even cordelia fishbar at half the price had much better service). - rushed pacing - no clearing of plating - bumping into us all the time - lowkey perception that they hated us for being bratty LOL - lack of explaining the menu CONTROVERSIAL TAKE: servers at fine dining restaurants should at least be able to communicate proficiently in english. our head server also kept butchering the names of the dishes and did not offer any explanation of each dish. CLEARLY this "authentic" place (which tbf, they do use authentic ingredients that should be priced at 20% of this bill) is catering to non-koreans because the manager said she felt "insecure" we failed to get a discount but at least we got a free meal for next time... if we even want to come back. not mentioned to the manager: 1. the music outside turned to loud house music. THIS IS NOT SHOTO. 2. at one point, they simply left the water and tea in the room and the tea became cold. so we asked for more hot tea, which the server poured without keeping her hand on the lid, and basic laws of physics came into fruition and the lid dropped, splashing tea on us. 3. the bussers were kinda scary because they didnt speak english and kept standing outside the room like security guards. read more

My husband and I both ordered the 3 course meal and it was all so delicious! Portions are a good size, I was actually very full by the time dessert came out. The galbi and japchae were probably my top 2 favorite dishes--the galbi was very tender and the japchae had great flavor. I would recommend making reservations to ensure an excellent dining experience. It's a fairly small restaurant with not a lot of tables, but the interior design is great in making it feel big and open. read more

Food was so good! Sitting at the bar and getting one each of all the small plates made for a surprisingly reasonable meal for two. Cocktails were splendid as well. read more