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Disappointed to hear Tonari is closing! I marked my calendar to try their next cheesesteak night in May, which I was so looking forward to! I had a nice dinner here recently and the pizza was absolutely delicious, actually one of my favorites. I will note that my guest was served their entree almost 10 minutes before mine came out and was finished by the time I started to eat.
Cute Christmas themed Godzilla decorations upstairs! We came on New Year's Eve and I guess they were down a bartender since we got and finished our pasta before our drinks we ordered arrived. We did ask about it but the waiter actually ended up comping the drink since it came so late so can't complain at all for such good customer service in return for wait! Uni pasta - no Uni pieces and honestly I can't taste like any Uni. Otherwise it's a nice light, kinda oily/ buttery pasta. Made a bit more interesting with the bread crumb bits 2.25/5 Black ragu - in a pesto based type sauce with little soft bouncy pieces of fish. It's kinda salty but still good. Pasta is cooked decently but the texture is not memorable and it's more of a dish to eat with the sauce 3/5 Mentaiko corn half pizza - very light and fluffy but also chewy bread! The crisp on the outside is very nice too but does get a bit oily. Mentaiko is nice and salty and adds a nice savory touch to the sweet corn and very cheesy chewy bite 3.75/5 Mochi sour - not very sour, a little too much foam, foam was good but the ratio to the drink seemed a bit off. On the sweeter side of sweet and sour, alcohol is not strong but taste comes through 3/5 Draft cocktail new years spritz - strong and maybe a bit watery at the same time 1/5
Stopped by after doing the holiday market. Was able to be seated right away at the bar 2 people around 730 on a Tuesday evening. We did half hot honey and half mentaiko corn pizza. While I loved sitting at the bar and watching the food being made, it did take a bit longer than expected for it to come out. When it did however, it was hot and delicious - dip dish style, with crusty edges and soft pillowy inside. Total cost with 1 drink tax and tip came to $31 which for this area and the quality of food I'd say is great! They also had great looking deals such as 50% pizzas during HH, 50% off bottle of wine on Wednesday's, and a multi course tasting menu for $55. Would recommend and come again myself.
Prior to last night I had been to Tonari for brunch a handful of times, and the bar for happy hour once. It's always been a solid spot and I've enjoyed their strawberry matcha, dalgona coffee, and their onigiri. I've tried their chocolate chip cookie topped with Parmegiano Reggiano and black pepper - very unique; the cookie is thick and delicious but I'm still torn on the parm on top. I don't know if I'd get it again (maybe I'd order the cookie with the parm, or have it on the side at least), but it was fun to try with friends! I've also enjoyed their kakigori (Japanese-shaved ice). Food can come out pretty fast or a little slow depending on the day. Last night, I hosted a group dinner at Tonari and made a reservation for 8 online. More people RSVP'd so I messaged in the OpenTable app to ask if they could accommodate 10 people (you have to call for reservations larger than 8 people) and they said yes. The day of the reservation, one person needed to be added so I called to ask if they could accommodate one more person, and they said 10 was the max. My group arrived and we figured either we'd have a no-show or we could separate into two groups, if needed, but when we arrived they had prepared us a table for 12. I was very relieved, and appreciated they did this, especially since it was last minute! But it was only when we were getting seated that they mentioned they were able to seat up to 12 after all, so just call ahead for a group of up to 12. I had budget to use so I ordered for the table ahead of time and closed out, then had folks order additional items on their own tab. I ordered 2 orders of the Korean style garlic bread, 1 large wafu Caesar salad, 1 mentaiko corn pizza, and 1 Tonari classic pizza. This amount was good as appetizers / samplers for such a large group, and most people ordered their own main. The mentaiko pizza was a hit, and the wafu Caesar salad (Caesar salad with potato chips) was yummy and fun. I ended up ordering the Godzilla ragu (made with alligator meat) and it was tasty - perfectly cooked pasta and the ragu was nicely spicy and flavorful. As for the alligator meat, it was like a cross between beef and chicken in terms of texture. Our server, Mars, took a group photo for us (he even adjusted the lights above us, so considerate!) and was nice and attentive. Tonari is on the pricier side but the location is convenient (a few minutes walk from the metro and easy to get picked up/dropped off via car; parking isn't too bad, either) and the food's always been solid. One day I'll try their cheesesteaks when they're back on the menu! (update: starting 2/1/2026 they're available the first Sunday of every month!)
Sad to see this spot go!! Tonari was a consistent go-to for Asian / fusion food when the cravings hit (already not enough in this city..) Will dearly miss Tonari's mentaiko pasta, japanese philly and mentaiko corn pizzas. Hope they return to DC in some form in the near future. :')
We heard Tonari was closing so we had to visit. I felt that their Japanese pizza (not pictured) was better than the pasta. The Uni pasta was pretty good. The other pastas were just okay in my opinion, tasted home made. The drinks were pretty good as well. Service was friendly and fast. And I preferred the ambience downstairs with a large bar and more light better than upstairs, which actually made me feel a bit tired because it was dark walls with dim lighting.
I recently learned that Tonari's closing down on May 3rd and immediately booked a reservation. Tonari is such a DC staple and I'm really sad to see it go :/ we ordered our usual, mentaiko pizza and the Gorgonzola pizza. We also got 2 drinks, the melon ale and the mochi sour. The food was amazing like always! The mentaiko is their specialty on the menu so I highly recommend it. The drinks were also amazing. We enjoy drinks that are leaning a little sweeter and both were perfect for us. Service was extremely quick and attentive even though the restaurant was completely packed. I'm definitely coming back before they close down!
Tonari is one of the most memorable dining experiences I've had in DC, and it shines in both atmosphere and creativity. The restaurant itself sits on a lively stretch of DC's Chinatown, surrounded by bright signage, foot traffic, and the bustle of Capital One Arena just a block away. From the outside, it's understated compared to some of its flashier neighbors: dark, modern signage and a minimalist façade that hint at the sleek design inside. Once you step through the doors, the atmosphere shifts immediately: the interior is polished, contemporary, and warm, with clean architectural lines and a stylish bar area on the main level. The surroundings set the tone for Tonari's Japanese-Italian wafu concept; the upstairs area, where I was seated, features a stunning sculptural art installation that adds an elevated, gallery-like feel. I arrived for my 6:30pm Saturday reservation and found the restaurant about three-quarters full--buzzy and energetic without being overwhelming. My server was incredibly kind and walked me through their menu of appetizers, salads, inventive pastas, seasonal specials, and their celebrated Detroit-style pizzas. I ordered the Mentaiko Corn pizza ($16 for a half, two very generous slices), which earned the title of "Best Pizza Slice in the US 2023" from Food & Wine. It lived up to the hype--unlike anything I've ever had before. The crust was pillowy yet chewy with a crisp bottom and subtle yeast flavor, the combination of mozzarella and brick cheese added just the right amount of gooey richness without heaviness, and the corn brought sweetness and texture. The kewpie cod roe cream gave a perfectly balanced umami zing, and the chives added a refreshing finish. Even as someone who is unfortunately both gluten- and lactose-intolerant, I thought it was absolutely worth it, and at $16, surprisingly affordable for the portion size. I also loved being able to use inKind for 20% cash back. Tonari is a standout in Chinatown for unique, thoughtful fusion and reasonable prices...and I'll definitely be returning to explore more of the menu (including some of their great happy hour deals)!
Seated at the bar for happy hour. The hostess said we could choose any of the bar seats. We took her suggestion of sitting in front of the pizza oven to watch the pizzas being made. The server was friendly and attentive (getting us more water, napkins, etc). The passion fruit drink was citrusy and bright. I didn't think it was too special but still refreshing to have when eating so much cheesy pizza. All the pizzas are great but my favorites were the Japanese Philly and Mentaiko Corn. The Japanese Philly is cheesy, savory, and full of flavor. I love cheesesteaks so this was a good choice for me. The Mentaiko Corn is sweet and salty. It's not a red or white pizza but something totally different. I recommend this one if you're only getting one pizza. The Gorgonzola is unique and spicier than expected. Not sure I would order it again but glad I tried it. The Hot Honey comes with pepperoni. It's a more basic pizza and a pretty wet pizza so you get kind of messy. I needed a take out box to take the rest of my slices. With quality of the pizza and the price I will definitely be returning for another happy hour soon.
Spent our anniversary night here because we were interested in the Italian-Japanese fusion, but we were overall disappointed. We ordered the wafu aracini to start off with and the texture was great along with the paired marinara but the flavor was extremely underwhelming. Felt like this was under seasoned and bland. There was supposedly mozzarella but we couldn't really taste it. For the main course we had the cuttlefish ragu pasta which was amazing! This was on their dinner specials and tasted clamey if you're into that. The noodles were cooked well and no complaints here aside from the small portions. The mentaiko was their famous dish and it was also extremely underwhelming. Portions were extremely small. Flavor was fragrant of the toppings but not much more to it. The noodles felt like they were undercooked. Service was meh too. I typically don't really note service as a key component to my review but it felt like our waiter just didn't want to be there and only came around to give us the check. Ambiance - probably my favorite thing. The seating and the lighting along with the Japanese knick knacks like ultraman figures. Overall - in my personal opinion, your money can be spent better elsewhere. It's an okay spot to try but wouldn't recommend.
Tonari is a Japanese-Italian fusion where it's Italian dishes like pasta and pizza with Japanese flavors. I've heard mixed reviews about Tonari from multiple people, either that it's fantastic or it's mid. Never anywhere in between. I went with two friends (who love Tonari) this past Sunday for dinner, and the three of us can agree that our experience was not great. BURRATA - 17 I love burrata appetizers, so I was looking forward to this one. It sat on top of Sichuan chili oil and a citrus-based dressing with small pieces of clementine, served with toasted bread. When we cut into the burrata, we noticed it was solid. There was nothing spilling out, which meant we couldn't mix it with the citrus-chili oil sauce. It was hard to dip the bread in the sauce since it was on the runnier side, and the burrata would have given it a more dip-like texture. Bread was also really hard, and eating the edge hurt the corners of my mouth. Overall, unique concept, but disappointing execution. MENTAIKO CORN (WHOLE) - 28 We got the whole pizza, which comes with 4 thick slices of Detroit-style squares. The pizza dough was underbaked, flimsy, and not at all crispy. We also didn't really taste the mentaiko flavor since it was overpowered by the corn sauce and kewpie mayo. UNI PASTA - 26 The uni pasta didn't taste like uni -- just lots of oil mixed with some crispy breadcrumbs. It was also a bit bland. One of my friends initially assumed he was eating the mentaiko pasta because we didn't taste any uni. Very greasy. When we cleared the plate, we saw a pool of oil sitting there which was not appetizing. Someone mentioned it reminded them of "Olive Garden pasta." The three of us agreed we would never order this one again. MENTAIKO - 23 The mentaiko pasta was rich, creamy, and had a strong roe flavor. This was definitely our favorite one of the night. It had a lot of sauce, and I could taste the strong sea flavors and mild sweetness. The nori and chili threads as garnish were great touches. Very good, and we would recommend! The pricing here is pretty steep, but I'm glad I was able to pay the bill using inKind which brought down the bill by a significant amount. My friends said this was a one-off mediocre experience, but personally, I'm reluctant to return to give it another try.
~Food/Drinks~ Korean Style Garlic Bread: Comes sliced into 4 pieces. I love Korean garlic bread with the cream cheese stuffing so was very excited for this. It could be warmer but besides that, I thought it was good. Sweet and garlicky at the same time. Wafu Arancini: Comes with two pieces. What a clever twist on Japanese-Italian fusion food. Very crispy and tasted like a cheese pizza in the form of an onigiri. Pizza: We tried the Japanese Philly and Mentaiko Corn. A half order comes with two slices and these are pretty large slices, similar to Prince St. Pizza. These are Sicilian square pizzas and the crust is very crunchy with a fluffy middle. Between the two, the corn was my favorite, even though I couldn't really taste the mentaiko. It was more of a corn cheese pizza. If you like cheesesteaks, you might like the Philly one more. Mentaiko: Had to try since it seemed like it was one of their popular dishes. The pasta is cooked al dente so it'll be firmer and not that mushy or soft. Great seafood flavor from the cod roe and the sauce was tart and creamy. It doesn't really come with much so I'd recommend ordering at least one of the starters to pair with it. ~Service~ Servers were efficient and the food came out fairly fast. I don't think we waited more than 10 minutes before the first dish came out. ~Logistics~ We booked reservations on OpenTable just to be safe. At the time, we used an offer on the inkind app to get $25 off $75 minimum! The restaurant is two stories so it might be best to call ahead to make sure there's accessible tables when you come in. ~Conclusion~ Overall, we left stuffed and satisfied. I think this restaurant did a great job fusing two different cuisines and I'd be happy to come back to try the rest of their menu!
After reading about Eater, we finally made it to Tonari - and ended up going twice in one week. That should tell you everything. First Visit: Drinks: - The Mochi Sour was beautifully crafted and, surprisingly, not too sweet. - The Sesame Gin Martini, though? That's what martini dreams are made of. I could drink buckets of it. The sesame comes through more aromatically - infused into the shochu with a few drops of sesame oil on top - giving it a subtle fat-wash vibe rather than overpowering the drink. It goes down smooth... almost a little too smooth. Appetizers & Mains: - The Korean-style garlic bread is basically Parker House rolls on steroids - pillowy, buttery, with a cream cheese filling that melts into a rich, Parmesan-laced base. - The Little Gem Caesar is a must if you love anchovies (I do). - The Mentaiko Pasta? Truly unforgettable. The cod roe delivers that perfect funky, umami punch - honestly one of the best pastas we've ever had. - We also tried the Mentaiko Corn Pizza. While good, the sweetness of the corn slightly overshadowed the briny depth I was hoping for. Despite arriving at 8:30 PM with a 9:00 PM kitchen close, the staff was incredibly accommodating - making sure we got our order in without ever feeling rushed. Second Visit (one week later): Yes, it was that good. We came back for happy hour (5:00 - 7:00 PM), this time with our 10-week-old in tow. The team was once again gracious, making space for our stroller at the bar so we could enjoy discounted cocktails and whole pizzas. Drinks: We didn't stray--the Sesame Martinis called us back. Pizzas: - The Gorgonzola pizza might be one of the best I've had in a long time. Gorgonzola, red onion, hot honey, and pistachio strike a perfect balance--funky, sweet, crunchy, and just indulgent enough. - The Japanese Philly was also excellent: quality prime rib topped with Cheez Whiz (as it should be - Philly style - for those who have not had a traditional Philly Cheesesteak from Phila). It could use a touch more acid for balance, but the pepperoncini on the side helped - would've happily taken more. Atmosphere & Set Up: The restaurant is well-designed, with cozy booths and plenty of bar seating. That said, both restrooms lack a changing table. As a new parent, this small detail makes a huge difference. Within 30 minutes of sitting down, our son had other plans, and while we were fully prepared (fed, burped and changed diaper before we left), there wasn't a clean or safe place to change him. Luckily, we live nearby and could head home - but for others, this could mean cutting a visit short or resorting to an uncomfortable workaround. It's an easy $100 fix that would go a long way in making the space more welcoming to families. Bottom Line: Incredible food, standout cocktails, and genuinely thoughtful service. With one small update, Tonari would be nearly perfect.
3 years ago
Fun place to go for whimsical Wafu Italian! Affable service and the ability to split checks makes it a great place for larger dining groups. I went for all 5 appetizers - Chips & prosciutto, Caesar Salad and Inarizushi were ok. Burrata and Cauliflower appetizers were the better bets for me. Hubby opted for the fabulous, absolutely noteworthy, carb bombs - mentaiko pasta and gyuniku pizza. Note to self - the gyuniku pizza is just as amazing the next morning for breakfast! read more
5 months ago
11 months ago
This review is for their daytime cafe menu (on weekend). The food is kind of exactly what you'd expect- nothing surprising and nothing stood out. I expected the tamago salad sandwich to use the Japanese milk bread and have more authentic Japanese taste but it was just egg on sourdough or some other rustic bread. The egg yolk & bottarga onigiri just looked and tasted like egg yolk+rice+seaweed. Yuzu pound cake was okay.. taste was good but very dry. Would recommend the coconut shakerato. My friend said the matcha latte was very mild and just tasted like milk. I may go back for a coffee if I'm in the area but probably not my first choice for a breakfast cafe. read more
Came for the 5 course dessert tasting and overall had a fun time! When you arrive they show you upstairs to a small 7 person bar in the back. There's a cute menu that walks you through all of the courses and there are also some surprises along the way. First up is your welcome drink which is more or less a light beer with matcha. If you like beer and matcha it's not bad! The first dessert is a shaved ice with berry puree and a sweet foam at the top and lychee at the bottom. I don't usually go crazy for shaved ice but this dessert was delightful. Not too sweet and the flavors were great. Next up is a rice pudding with white chocolate, hazelnut, and a type of caviar. My favorite of the night! A great texture and mouth feel, subtle sweetness, and balanced perfectly with some salt. Plus the glassware is really pretty. You're presented another cocktail which was probably my least favorite of the night. It's a creme de menthe cocktail with a little cream de cocoa. With more chocolate notes it may have tasted like a fun peppermint mocha or peppermint patty. The mint overpowers the drink so it tastes extremely medicinal and the mouth feel is chalky similar to a liquid medicine you'd take for an upset stomach both in taste and texture. The color doesnt help and really adds to the Mylanta feeling of the drink. The mint cocktail pairs with a molten chocolate lava cake served with whipped creme and orange. The cocktail isnt the best pairing with the mint and the orange but the dessert is nice. The bitterness of the orange goes nice with the sweetness of the chocolate and the cream balances everything nicely. It's definitely the least innovative of the desserts but still yummy. Last is a pineapple sorbet with shaved coconut water ice and a jello/gel type substance to which I couldn't make out the flavor. A really great refreshing end! To finish they give a small plate with a sweet bean soaked in brown sugar, a saffron chew, a chocolate chew, and a hazelnut cookie. The cookie was great! I wish they served the last plate with tea or coffee, it would have tied everything together. Overall a fun experience! The desserts are tasty and creative and the perfect size so you don't leave feeling stuffed. The cocktails overall werent my favorite but weren't bad. The service was so friendly and hospitable, they really let you take your time and don't rush through anything which was great! They also give you a pizza slice to take home which was smart because I didn't get a chance to try any of the food. Tried the corn pizza when I got home, it heated up perfectly and was super delicious!! I will definitely come back for dinner and highly recommend the dessert bar, I hope they do it again in the future! read more
6 months ago
Tonari has a pizza with corn ON it as a main ingredient...yep CORN!! Different right? I HAD to have it! Hold up @thepickyramenlover AND @cousinkim_ were with me on this adventure (FOLLOW them both). We got so much food, I had to split this review in 2 parts. Let's GO!! . Where I am: @tonaridc . Location Reviewed: 707 6th St., N.W. Washington D.C. . Menu Includes: Burrata, Cauliflower, Salad, Chips & Prosciutto, Pastas, Baked Oyster, Skirt Steak, Roast Chicken, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, Craft Pizzas, Cocktails, Beer, Wine, & MORE!! . Items Reviewed: Their Marcella Hazan (spaghetti with The Famous Tomato Sauce, butter, basil, pecorino, parmesan, meatballs & onion $25). DELICIOUS!! The noodles, & tomato sauce were flavorful, the meatballs, not so much. Their Skirt Steak (grilled skirt steak with confit piquillo, & anchovy sauce $26). LIKE THAT!! The confit piquillo are slowly roasted peppers that blended well with the steak, but that anchovy sauce made this meal!! Their Chips & Prosciutto (thinly shaved prosciutto on top of thick cut potato chips, sprinkled with parmesan, & an aonori $12). STAMP!! Perfectly fried & cut chips, fat less pork, with Aonari which is a Japanese sea cabbage!! Their Mentaiko (Tagliolini, Cod Roe, butter, red chili flakes, Tsuyu lemon, Shiso, & shredded Nori $20). STAMP!! Savory with a tip of sweetness, impressive & super tasty!! Their Cauliflower (a whole head with an anchovy butter, garlic aioli, creamy labne, & grotto crumbs $16). PASS. The toppings were a hit, but after cutting the cauliflower it became bland. Their Little Caesar Salad (a mesclun mix with almonds, vinaigrette, & manhego $15). DELICIOUS!! It was a tasty salad. . Customer Service: On Point . Online Navigation: Easy. . Parking: Rough. . Music: YouTube: Backyard Band Socket . Recommendations: Their Mentaiko, Chips & Prosciutto, & Skirt Steak!! 5 Stars=STAMP 4 1/2 Stars=LIKE THAT 4 Stars=DELICIOUS 3 Stars=DECENT 2 Stars=PASS 1 Star=NAH #Bigschlimsreviews Tonari has a pizza with corn ON it as a main ingredient...yep CORN!! Different right? I HAD to have it! Hold up @thepickyramenlover AND @cousinkim_ were with me on this adventure (FOLLOW them both). We got so much food, I had to split this review in 2 parts. Let's GO!! . Where I am: @tonaridc . Location Reviewed: 707 6th St., N.W. Washington D.C. . Menu Includes: Burrata, Cauliflower, Salad, Chips & Prosciutto, Pastas, Baked Oyster, Skirt Steak, Roast Chicken, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, Craft Pizzas, Cocktails, Beer, Wine, & MORE . Items Reviewed: Their Pepperoni Pizza (with brick cheese, Pizzaiolo sauce, & pickled jalapeño $16 Half). LIKE THAT!! A slightly dense pungent cheese, fresh sauce, & cup pepperoni!! Their Chef Katsuya's Original Mentaiko, & Corn Pizza (with corn sauce, Kewpie-Mentaiko cream, brick cheese, & chives $30 whole). STAMP!! STAMP!! Thick buttery crust that the cream seemed to melt into!! I never thought corn would be a perfect topping for pizza!! GET THIS!! Their KC Masterpiece (with kalua pork, KC BBQ sauce, corn, slaw, brick cheese, & pickles $30 whole). STAMP!! The sweetness of the sauce, saltiness of the pork, even the slaw blended well!! Their Bundino (dark chocolate pudding with seasonal fruit, & whipped cream $9). STAMP!! One side espresso pudding, the other dark chocolate!! GET IT!! Their Black Sesame Tea Cake (with almond flour, black sesame, olive oil, oranges, whipped cream, & coconut gelato $12). STAMP!! Moist, fragrant, sweet, & creamy!! Their Panna Cotta (with Miso pumpkin butter, pumpkin seeds, & maple syrup $8). DECENT. A sweet creamy jello consistency. The seeds were overpowering. . Customer Service: On Point . Online Navigation: Easy. . Parking: Rough. . Music: YouTube: 8/18/99 Denos-Smoke Workout . Recommendations: Get EVERY pizza, especially the corn, & that cake, & pudding. read more
Let me start off with our waiter, David. He was nice and patient with making decisions. The atmosphere was great and super cute with the layout. This is a place where you need to take off your shoes on the second floor and has great chill vibes. The food was okay. I loved the truffle pasta and would get it over and over. The pizza had a nice texture with the hokkaido bread, I just wish it was crispier and the topping mix did not sit well with me. The sweetness in the mushroom one threw me off and the roe mayo situation in the corn one was what made it unexpected for me. The spaghetti texture was good and the sauce and meatballs were good as well but nothing too exciting. Seemed like just a regular spaghetti with meatballs. read more
2 years ago
By far the best fusion place I have ever been to as the food here is so good. I came here with a friend that's been wanting to try this place out for the longest time on a Tuesday night and it was so worth it! At first they were very packed and had no open tables but the host informed us that we were welcome to sit at the counter by the ovens and we would still get full service while being able to watch how the food was made which was pretty cool to see. At first the bartender greeted us when we initially sat down and just dropped off waters and said that our server would be right with us, but we quickly saw how busy she was as she was the only server on and was dealing with the rest of the restaurant so we weren't in any rush. It was a little confusing at first cause in the end bartender who ended up greeting us ended up taking care of us the whole night since the server never ended up coming to greet or talk to us, but we had no issues and still received pretty good service overall and loved the bartender just based on his knowledge of the menu and how attentive he was. The place wasn't also overly loud and I could still enjoy my conversation with my friend while also enjoying the show of how each of the pizza were made right in front of us. We ended up getting to share the grilled broccolini, meatball bao, mentaiko, half Japanese philly and the Korean style garlic bread and loved every dish, only downside was our stomachs were only so big and we wanted to order more food but were way too stuffed. My friend (who is the most picky eater and has never complimented a single dish in the 7 years I've known him was praising every dish that night which truly says a lot about how good the food was). The grilled broccolini had a subtle hint of sweetness from the sauce with a subtle hint of spice and garlic from the garnishes, and had just the right amount of bite to it which indicated that it wasn't overly cooked. The meatball bao was also really good as they were super juicy and tender and wasn't overly saucey allowing us to enjoy each flavor component of the dish, but I wasn't a huge fan of the buns since they fell apart too easy. The sauce on the mentaiko was super creamy and everything they put in the sauce went so well together even the roe that we were literally trying to get the last drop of sauce off the plate at the end. I also really love how they baked the pizza in personal pan cause it gave that super thick, fluffy crunchy crust. And the combination of Japanese flavors into a pizza was never something I thought I would enjoy but I loved all the aspects of this pizza as the sauce, the choice of meat, and how they cook it in the wood fire oven was just all chef's kiss. Lastly, the Korean style garlic bread that was made with the Japanese mayo and topped with the aged cheese was also one of the major highlight dishes we tried. You could definitely tell they used good quality ingredients to really elevate this dish and it was so good we even contemplated about ordering a second one. I cannot explain how good everything was and highly recommend anyone and everyone to check this place out if they ever get a chance! Highly would go back more just to try everything on the menu next time read more
I had a good dinner at Tonari. Not great, but good. I started with a sesame martini which was fabulous! Such interesting flavors. Then I tried the corn and kewpie pizza. I have heard a lot of praise for this pizza. It was good but it was missing some acidic element (though I did appreciate the pickled pepper on the side). It was just really cheesy and heavy. The toppings on the broccolini were amazing but the broccolini itself was rock hard, probably because it was out of season. It would maybe be better to replace this with another veggie when it is out of season. Overall though I liked the restaurant and would come back and try some other things. read more
1 year ago
super yummy. everything was really great. they had a good selection but will have to come back for their other menus since i only got the brunch items. the bacon on the salad was huge. very delicious. the kakigori being made right in front of us was so special read more
My friend and I grabbed dinner here after work one day last summer because Tonari's owned by the Daikaya group, which is a collection of Japanese restaurants in DC that are also pretty good. For our appetizer, we got the burrata w orange dressing which was okay. I ordered their wafu cod roe pasta and my friend ordered the chicken katsu. What really stood out to me about this experience was the wonderful customer service we received. I asked the waiter how much the caviar addition would be and it ended up being too expensive so I decided against it -- but he ended up adding it for free anyways!! He told me it seemed like I really wanted it which was true and I thought that was so sweet. The pasta was amazing and I still think about it to this day. read more
2 years ago
came back for more!! The espresso jelly is elite. We always get the french toast and iced coffee. So yummy!!! read more
Tonari, the sister restaurant to the popular ramen spot Daikaya, combines two of my all-time favorite cuisines: Japanese and Italian, into one for a unique fusion restaurant experience in DC, and I was definitely impressed with my happy hour dinner here. Definitely recommend checking this place out during Happy Hour, Tuesday - Friday from 5PM - 7PM, you can get drink specials and 50% off your pizzas if you sit at the bar! We got the Polpette Pork & Beef Meatballs, Mentaiko Cod Roe Pasta, and Chef Katsuya's Original Mentaiko and Corn Pizza (Half). The meatballs were tender with the combination of the fatty pork and flavorful beef, the marinara tomato sauce was delicious on its own, and the crispy bread crumbs and cheese topping elevated the dish nicely! Mentaiko pasta is a Japanese Italian fusion dish commonly eaten in Japan, but I never was able to find it in the states, so I was very excited for this! The mentaiko cod roe sauce, mixed with butter and lemon was such an explosion of bold flavors: Umami, savory, salty, a little sour, it was SO delicious in combination with the high quality tagliolini pasta, which is also made with Japanese Hokkaido flour. I love this theme and commitment to consistency with the Japanese Italian fusion! Lastly, the Detroit Style Pizza was a gut buster of a pizza, but it was soooooo good. The mentaiko cod-roe sauce here is different from the pasta, being infused with mayo to drizzle over the pizza, but combining it with the flavorful corn sauce and the cheese, it made for such a rich and delicious combination! Plus being half off during Happy Hour if you sit at the bar, is such a great deal! The service was fantastic at the bar as well, the bartender was very attentive and was able to explain the menu items and their current deals! read more
1 year ago
7 months ago
We visited for Rw Summer 2023 and the menu was The Bear inspired which was 5 courses and a drink for $55 which was a steal to me honestly. I got exemplary customer service from manager Nick who helped me out with prompt replies when I had questions about the menu and the reservation. Really that's what customer service should always be. Food was really good except 1 or 2 items. They had a vegetarian option for each course. We both got the vegetarian beet canoli. I got the lamb ragu sliders whilst my bf got the radicchio. I loved my sliders. The Hawaiian rolls were the perfect vehicle for it. The third course was maybe our favorite. A simple well done pasta is wonderful and this one was based around Mikey's family meal pasta recipe from the season finale of s1 of the Bear (pretty pivotal for the story actually). The mushroom adobo my bf got was also lovely umami. Here is where we ran into an issue. Between that third course and fourth course(which was pizza) we waited 30 to 40 minutes. When we finally got the pizza slices I was kind of not hungry anymore. The pizza wasn't piping hot either, just kinda warm. The dessert was also ok not amazing. So all in all a 3.5 to 4 star experience. read more
I have never heard of a wafu cuisine! My take on what that means is Japanese version of Italian food! I was very happy with this place! Such interesting new flavors! Layout of Tonari is very cute! They have the traditional Japanese seating on the pillow with a low table too. They also have regular seating too. Also got little cute decor with totoro and little figurines. Here's what we ordered: Caesar salad - loved the dressing but where the croutons?! Love the egg though Mentaiko&corn pizza - we ordered a half of the pizza so we could get a taste. It's super loaded with flavor and is like a Detroit pizza, super thick crust. Loved the cheesiness! Very tasty combination! Clam pizza - Yums!! I didn't think I'd like have clams on my pizza but this was delicious. Both pizzas weren't saucey but very cheesy. Filling since it's a deep dish slice. Curry kinoko - Very tasty pasta with a hint of curry Uni pasta - where's my Uni?!? Was it in the sauce? I'm not sure if I even tasted it. It was a tasty dish but I was hoping to see a piece. Tiramisu - delicious! They serve a very generous portion! read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
One word-- WOW! With a amazing mix of Japanese and Italian flavors, Tonari is one of the most unique restaurants I have ever visited. Throughout your visit, you are greeted, taken care of, and reaffirmed that your visit is prioritized. I ordered the Tonari Classic and The Japanese Philly. I personally recommend The Japanese Classic to every individual; there was a lovely balance between savory and sweet. Highly recommend this establishment!! Food 10/10 Service 10/10 Ambiance 10/10 read more
A couple of my friends and I went to Tonari for restaurant week. We were really excited to try it out as we've all heard great things about it. Unfortunately, Tonari missed the mark for me. Service was slow and staff were friendly but not very attentive. My drink order was also mixed up with my friend's but it wasn't a big deal to me. Food was ok. What really disappointed me was that the dishes were mostly Italian with very little Japanese flavors to them. I wish restaurant week menu included items that were on their regular menu. read more
Although my drinks came out great and the restaurant's ambiance is very enjoyable, I was not a big fan of the food overall. I got the corn pizza and also the uni pasta. The pasta flavor was ok but it had a sweet undertone and was greasy like a carbonara which i dont like. The pizza flavor was unique and pretty good. Overall, for my personal taste, I wouldn't return. read more
I was very interested and excited to try this Italian Japanese fusion restaurant. It was also recommended to me by friends who said it was great. When I walked it, the interior was beautiful, as I could see the mix of Italian and Japanese culture. The service was good, but nothing special. Now time for the food review. Honestly, I was pretty disappointed by the food. The idea was unique and the flavors were interesting, but the execution was not great. My main issue was that the pizzas were too cheesy and didn't have much sauce on them. Additionally, there was barely any meat/seafood on any of the pizzas. The pastas had the same issue with the lack of seafood, but the flavors were better. My favorite dishes were probably the Polpette, Unagi pizza, and Miso Clam pasta. My worst dish was the Japanese Philly pizza. Even though I was heavily disappointed, I might try again and order less food just to see if the amount of food influenced the execution. I do recommend trying here because the concept is a great idea, but the food is hit or miss. read more
3 years ago
Tasty food, good wine, unique menu. I grabbed a reservation with a few of my girlfriends during summer restaurant week. We saw the menu inspired by "The Bear" and knew we were in! The decor is pretty cool. Plenty of cultural references. The service was a bit slow, we had to flag down our waiter a few times. We all had the welcome cocktail, the white negroni. It wasn't bad, but a bit too bitter for my liking. We paired our meal with a bottle of Pinot Noir, Inscription. Bottles of wine are half off on Wednesdays. Let's get into the food! I started off with Carmey's Silent Contemplation of a Mound of Cannoli. It was a cannoli with mortadella mousse, pistachio and salmon roe. It definitely was something different for me but I thought it was okay. The salmon roe was definitely overpowering. Next up was Chef Sydney's Lamb Ragu Mishap. It was slow-cooked meat sauce with red wine on a King Hawaiian bun with parmesan. I really enjoyed it! The meat sauce packed just enough flavor and it was a perfect appetizer. "Chef Sydney Gets Stood Up" Mushroom Adobo was next on the menu. I wanted to try something different. This was an interesting combination of flavors. The coconut milk, coconut vinegar, onsen egg and koshihikari rice were surprisingly good. The egg was a nice touch with the rice. Tonari Pepperoni Pizza was a pretty standard deep dish slice with a nice addition of soy-pickled jalapenos. I closed things out Marcus' Perfect Donut served with the sauce of the day. Those were very delicious. Overall we all enjoyed our meal. I'd be interested in returning to try out the regular menu. read more
A very unique experience at the dessert bar. The chef was engaging once we engaged with her, and she explained how unique the flavors were and what it took to make them. It made me a fan of the restaurant, and I really want to come back and try some of their actual dishes. read more
I generally don't like fusion food but came here by request for my boyfriend's b-day dinner. If you don't want to wait, I would highly recommend making a reservation ahead of time because we arrived by 5:45 PM on a Sunday and the restaurant was half-full. By the time we left, place was packed with a few people waiting outside. Overall, we were very, very impressed. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. The texture of their pizza made with the special flour from Hokkaido was absolute perfection. And the mentaiko pasta was soooo yummy and exactly what I was looking for in a Japanese-Italian fusion dish; slightly salty but with a rich umami taste. If there was ONE thing I had to say that I wasn't too impressed by, it would probably be the polpette (pork and beef meatballs). They were good, but didn't quite wow us since they literally just tasted like meatballs in red sauce. Could probably go without ordering it the next time we visit. read more
I am in love with Tonari. Not sure why people are sleeping on this place. Think of it as super Italian with a Japanese accent which works surprisingly well. I came here with four of my family members from out of town. Was a little worried it would be too adventurous for them, but everyone loved the whole menu. I had the special sesame martini (this needs to be on the regular menu ASAP) i ordered the crab roe pasta. I was so amazing and not fishy at all-just pure umami. The radish special was the only item I was disappointed with because two of five weren't good, but that wasn't their fault. My family had the mushroom and the aloha pizza slices. They loved them both. My mom and sister had the curry noodles and shrimp special. The noodles were so good and they let us take out the sausage. The tiramisu was some of the best I've ever had and I loved the budino. It is described as a "pudding" on the menu, but it is really chocolate moose. The apple tart was really great too. Don't sleep on happy hour which they have on the WEEKENDS! $7 very good wine and $2 off their amazing cocktails. read more
My partner and I came here on a last minute whim for restaurant week but without particularly high expectations, since RW menus aren't always the best and Asian fusion gives me a lot of pause. I'm so glad Tonari proved me wrong on both fronts! For a RW menu, you actually get a lot of food: a drink, appetizer, pasta, pizza, and dessert for $55. We each got different things so we could try a little bit of everything. Drink: it was nice to have both cocktail and mocktail options! Loved the cocktail, which was def on the stronger side. Appetizer: - Inari with anchovy: I grew up eating inari so it's a very nostalgic flavor for me, and though I don't usually like anchovy, it surprisingly wasn't too fishy. - Prosciutto with chips: I was so confused because it seemed like such a strange combo, but the prosciutto was good and you can never go wrong with chips. Pasta: - Mentaiko: this was the reason my partner wanted to come here, and we were not disappointed! I can see how some might think it was a little fishy, but if you like mentaiko you will like this. - Napolitan: I love how this jazzed up a traditional flavor with a little sweetness in the sauce and delicious pork sausage. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente - chef's kiss! Pizza: - Margherita: def not your traditional pizza but the flavors on top of the focaccia-style crust were so good. - Tuna and corn: I thought it would be like corn cheese you get at kbbq, but it was not sigh the flavors didn't go well together and was overall a disappointment. Dessert: both the espresso and matcha affogato were so good!! The espresso was so fragrant, I smelled it before I saw our server bringing it to our table. Overall very impressed with the whole experience! We got seated at the traditional Japanese seating side of the restaurant, which contributed to the ambiance (although the ac was extra strong), but there is also table/chair seating. Definitely will be back! read more
This is one of my favorite restaurants of 2024! I went here for my wedding anniversary dinner and Tonari did NOT disappoint! Everything was amazing from the bottle of Lambrusco we shared, the clam miso pasta, the Philly cheesesteak pizza and even our appetizers. Our server was the most kind and energetic person. Thank you for an amazing night. The vibe was so fun. 10/10 would come back! read more
4 years ago
Really interesting vibe and menu. We did the Early bird tasting menu that's available from 5-6pm. It's a great way to experience the food here. Comes with an appetizer, entree, and dessert. Plus you can layer on happy hour. Service-Ryan was really lovely. Knowledgeable about the menu, attentive, professional, and friendly. Vibe- Asian Italian Food- it was interesting seeing roe on pizza or pasta. The flavors were odd at first then enjoyable. Really impressive flavor profiles and the dishes were beautifully executed. read more
This was my first time having wafu style food and I have to say it is just a solid pass for me. I really did not enjoy any of the pasta at all. One tasted just like fish and the more traditional spaghetti and meatballs tasted like nothing. This to me is mixing two cuisines and then neither side being executed in a manner that's enjoyable. So it may just be this style of cuisine isn't my jam. That aside the bartender was very knowledgable in Japanese whiskey and took a lot of time to explain differences between them and give some recommendations, which was def the highlight of the visit read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Love going to Tonari before a caps game! The happy hour deals are great, but the food is even better! Can't recommend this place enough. read more
What a unique but great experience! A blend of Italian and Japanese foods like a cannoli with salmon roe. We were seated upstairs - no shoes sit on floor traditional Japanese style. Service was extremely friendly accommodating and courteous - our waiter squatted down with us for a little and talked about the menu and gave us some recommendations. I would really like to come back and try their regular menu, and would be excited to try more unique flavors I've never tried before! read more
4 years ago
Tonari made me fall in love with pasta again. What a true honor to taste their handmade Japanese pasta, specifically their Curry Kinoko dish. The curry spice flavors to the pasta and bread crumb texture to the vibrant colors of the oil gave me a whole party in my mouth! Make sure to try the cauliflower as well. I enjoyed their take on the vegetable incorporating pesto and something sweet. I tried a bite of my sister's Spaghetti Bolognese and it was nostalgic. We also ordered their pizzas. One clam slice for me and a mushroom slice for her. They were both pretty good. My only regret is that I didnt I take another bite of her slice. If I could, I would visit Tonari for lunch and dinner every night but in the meantime, I'll be reminiscing about my pasta rendezvous. P.S. The food was so good I forgot about the $200 parking ticket I got earlier. read more
Very cool unique place. I got the mentaiko pasta and it was exceptionally good. Would come again. The corn pizza was also very good, but I wish there was more corn. The mochi donut was good but I'm not dying to get it again. Overall, an expensive place but one of the best food places in dc so far. The front desk was kind of rude to us even though we had a reservation, so that dampened part of our experience but I would come again. read more
More info about Tonari
707 6th St NW
Washington, DC 20001
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(202) 289-8900
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https://www.tonaridc.com
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Ask the Community - Tonari
If I wanted to bring my own wine is that allowed and would there be a corkage fee?
Hello William! You can definitely bring your own wine and our corkage fee is $30 per bottle.
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Tonari - japanese - Updated September 2026
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