Walking into door felt like a hidden secret gem! The staff was welcoming! Every dish was presented so artistically pleasing and every bite was scrumptious! My favorite was the Kaisen Hakusai-Maki, beautiful seafood swimming in a delightful broth! All the Wagyu pieces were thoughtfully cooked making it so delicious! read more

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My wife treated me to a wagyu tasting at Kappo for my birthday, and I'm glad I finally got to experience it. From the outside, the space looks modern and unassuming, but walking in felt almost like being transported into another world--reminiscent of a cozy ramen shop in Japan. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the cook was super friendly, which really added to the experience. The food overall was good, though nothing in particular really wowed me. My wife, who is gluten sensitive, was served hamachi kama, and that ended up being one of the highlights--tasty and nicely prepared. The wagyu steak pieces, while flavorful, were cut a bit too thick and leaned on the undercooked side, making them harder to chew than expected. That was a little disappointing given the anticipation. Even though I didn't leave fully satisfied, I appreciated the thoughtfulness of the menu and the unique atmosphere. It was a memorable experience, and I'm glad we gave it a try. read more

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Everything about Kappo Dc makes you feel well taken care of. The service is immaculate from start to finish. We started with the Mt Fuji & Calor con leche while waiting for our 8 courses. Everything was beautifully thought out & executed! Their menu rotates every quarter so I can't wait to see what they have in store for my next visit! Follow @melrosemunchies on all platforms for food adventures. read more

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Wagyu.... Wagyu.... And more Wagyu!!! This place is Wagyu central for DC! You won't find a place that serves Wagyu in so many different ways than Kappo does!!! It's truly an amazing experience eating at Kappo. They combine delicious food, a perfect setting to eat and the nicest staff that you will ever meet. The food is original, taking classics and giving them a Wagyu twist that makes for the perfect small dishes. Eat dish is thoughtful and packed with flavor that's hard to find anywhere else. The restaurant itself is small, but gives you this at home feel to it. I highly suggest sitting at the counter so that you have a great view of the chefs creating these amazing dishes. The staff only adds to an already perfect experience. They truly are the nicest people you will ever meet. The staff can either make or break a meal and this team adds a lot to the meal. Make sure you have a cocktail or two with your meal. Kappo's cocktail program is one of the best in DC!! Please go and enjoy, you won't regret it. read more

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Five-star experience - the food was unbelievable, the service impeccable, and the tasting menu was well-timed. My one regret is I wish I could have gotten one more cocktail in would highly recommend anyone looking for a special, elevated experience. read more

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This was honestly one of the best meals I've had. I did not love every course, but there were lots of courses, and the ones I did love, I REALLY loved. Standouts for me were the opening course of a wagyu-wrapped oyster, the lobster, and the wagyu entree. It was just some of the best beef I've ever had. It literally melted in your mouth. The fish course and the pickled vegetables were probably my least favorite, but still great for the most part. The presentation was beautiful and the service excellent. With the small space and counter eating, it really felt like you were in Japan. The only downsides would be the timing of the two dinner seatings, (neither 5:00 PM nor 8:00 PM are great), the inconvenience location, and that none of the cocktails really caught my eye. We ended up ordering a bottle of sparkling sake (because it was only available by the bottle), and that was quite good, but I would have rather had a cocktail had one intrigued me. For the amount and quality of food, I thought the price (I believe $150) was very fair. I mean, it's an eight-course tasting menu with lobster and tons of wagyu. read more

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One of the finest dining experiences I had in the DMV area. Kappo DC specializes in wagyu omakase. Location is a bit off- main part of DC, but I would travel out here in a heartbeat to get a piece of Kappo. Ambiance is much cuter, quaint, and Japanese- like than the yelp photos. I would advise you dress up for the occasion -- at least business casual. Their wagyu quality was AMAZING. Not necessarily the best Wagyu I've had, but one of the better ones / not fake :) Every single dish was tastefully presented, and extremely flavorful. One dish I thought I could do without was fried pufferfish. It had a very fishy taste, which made me think it wasn't prepared right. All else was ON SPOT with the flavor profile, presentation & mix of different ingredients. Service was phenomenal. We didn't do the sake paring, but ordered a bottle of junmai daiginjo and their sake selection is GREAT. Overall, Kappo is pricey but definitely worth every penny. Highly recommend for a special occasion. We are so happy with the experience that we are going to Sushi Ogawa next! read more

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Was running later than I had originally planned so I didn't get to check in to my hotel before coming here straight off of driving down from Philly during rush hour. I was hoping that this meal was my saving grace and revitalized me for the start of my DC weekend. The inside of the place was cool, gave izakaya vibes. Overall, I think this was just a painfully average meal. At the price point, it can be viewed as below average in my opinion. Here are my thoughts: 1. There were many questionable things I noticed throughout the night. The most questionable of them all is that they use vegetable oil to coat the stainless steel pan that they cook the wagyu steaks in.... wtf?!?! Cooking an A5 Wagyu steak is literally the perfect natural invitation to just cut off a small piece of the fat and grease the pan with it. Using vegetable oil, or honestly any fat other than A5 fat, to cook an A5 steak is a sin. A place of this price point should NOT be doing that. 2. The chef's cooking technique of the A5 steak was very amateur feeling. The pan was still cold and he put all the meat in it. There was absolutely no sear on any of the meat, such a critical component that was overlooked. 3. The first dish of Wagyu maki with scallop tasted fishy and not fresh. 4. The uni and caviar pairing felt extremely random and wasn't cohesive with a majority of the dishes. Was just a boujee add on to make you feel like you were having a more lavish experience. 5. THEY USED METAL SPOONS TO SCOOP OUT AND PLACE THE OSETRA CAVIAR. Bruh A lot of extremely rookie mistakes were made that show a clear lack of attention to detail, refined techniques, and overall experience. In my opinion, you'd be fine if you skipped this one. read more

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The restaurant is very lowkey, but it has plenty of street parking. They have counter seating as well as a few tables. It is definitely a smaller restaurant but it is a nice intimate ambiance. The staff is very attentive and nice. The door is hard to find since it blends in. The food was good. Some of the dishes had interesting texture. I wish one of the dishes had slightly more rice. My friend had some drinks. Overall paid $400 for two people including tip. Definitely come for occasion. read more

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Chef Ogawa (Sushi Ogawa) curates a delightful, fun, and wonderfully delicious omakase at Kappo DC. This omakase features wagyu! Chef utilizes different techniques to bring out different aspects of the ingredient so that every bite was distinct. Each bite was so perfect that we really couldn't pick a favorite. Service was attentive. The staff provided a wonderful experience for us. Kappo DC is an absolute must visit. DC is incredibly fortunate to have a wagyu omakase prepared by such skilled craftsmen. 9 courses $150. Option for add ons available. read more

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This is an odd review for me, because overall I was disappointed in my meal. However, this is purely an issue of personal preferences and not a reflection on Kappo. I've been to Japan and if you don't like seafood and subtly seasoned food you won't be a happy eater. It's all lost on me. 1. Since I don't eat seafood Kappo was kind enough to switch out all the fish parts of the meal to different cuts of Wagyu- so no complaints about that. 2. I love a medium cooked & black pepper coated steak. The tartar and lightly seared wagyu here is just not for me. I mean it's buttery and almost melts in your mouth, but I want more aggressive seasoning and more char. 3. My wife LOVED the meal. The different combo of flavors and textures is right up her alley. She devoured everything. 4. The ravioli was fantastic. That was my favorite part of the meal, hands down. 5. The service is impeccable. We were seated a couple minutes early with no issue. Our host/waiter was making the cocktails and was very friendly and chatted with us about the drinks and our upcoming bites. 6. The decor really reminded me of Japan and was spot on. 7. We did the sake pairing and it was interesting to taste different ones with our meal. Sake is not really for us but I'm glad we tried it. Overall, if you like very rare steak and seafood I highly recommend Kappo. read more

Kappo is truly a hidden gem and an incredible experience. I saw about them on social media and immediately went to the website to book a table. I took my husband here to celebrate some work achievements and we had an amazing time. It was exactly what I was hoping for and then some! We ordered the omakase with the sake pairing and sat at the bar. Getting to watch the chef and her team work on the food and then talking with her about the food & her inspiration for it was so fun. Everything was truly delicious, I can't even begin to have a favorite. For us, Kappo was an intimate and elevated dining experience that we absolutely loved. We went for a date night/ celebration, but I saw some other tables there for what seemed like business dinners as well. Whatever the reason, I recommend you make your way to Kappo asap! read more

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We booked a dinner reservation in Kappo to celebrate my birthday. We were the first to arrive for the dinner seating time and we were seated right away. Kappo is located in a residential area in DC and we weren't sure about the parking situation. I highly suggest getting an Uber going to Kappo. The space is intimate but still enough space for guests and staff to move around. While waiting for the dinner to start, we had some cocktails which was prepared in front of us. We had "The Bully" and "Feels like a Million" for cocktails. We had the 8-course meal with the additional uni and caviar selection plus sake pairing. Everything was marvelously prepared in front of us and the staff patiently explained to each guest what the dish or drink is going to be served next. My favorites are the Chawanmushi and the Fugu Tempura. This is probably one of the best meals that we had this year. A little on the expensive side but would love to revisit again. read more

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It wasnt bad, the service was outstanding but the food was average! But we enjoyed:) thank you read more

Kappo DC - Bill - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Kappo DC is set up to provide a unique dining experience. Located in the basement of a rowhouse in the Palisades, the small dining room sits only 21 people with a few seats at the bar watching the open kitchen. Previewing their Fall 2024 menu, here's my experience. 1) Food: It's a tasting menu and $150 gets you eight courses. However, one course is a trio so it felt like an 11-course meal. Not a bad price in an expensive city like D.C. The menu is wagyu-centric and expect lots of raw or lightly cooked meats. As a former vegetarian, it was a lot of meat, but each dish is creative and a blast to watch being prepared in front of your eyes. On their Fall 2024 menu, the standout dishes were the Menchi Katsu, Sashimi Tripo, Wagyu Takikomi Gohan, and the dessert (shaved ice). 2) Drink: They have a full cocktail, sake, wine, and more menu. Enjoying more sweet cocktails, I enjoyed their version of a margarita and their version of a sour. 3) Service: Once you sit down, you're offered sparkling, still, or tap water as well as a warm towel to wash your hands. A dedicated staff, every dish is explained and they are happy to answer any question. 4) Space: It's small and intimate, making it a great spot for date night. If you can, get a seat watching the open kitchen. 5) Area: Located in the Palisades, there are a handful of hyper local restaurants and shops along MacArthur Boulevard. Street parking is easier to find, especially on a Sunday read more

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Came for a birthday dinner and unfortunately left not full (the courses are tiny for the most part). We even tried it with the add-on of uni and caviar. First off, no use being early; they don't let you in until the precise time of your reservation. When we were finally settled and everyone in the restaurant had their drinks, the courses finally started delivering. Some of the dishes were good while others were frankly confusing. For example, the tempura came out not hot and soggy, like it had been sitting there for a while. The chawanmushi was my favorite. The servers were all very friendly but I hate leaving restaurants hungry so probably not a return. read more

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FOOD - next level! 100% recommend the unagi / caviar add on for those who are fans. Pairings offered too (we passed). Absolutely enjoyed experiencing the Wagyu-centric tasting menu - each dish was uniquely presented and quality of ingredients and care to preparation was evident in every item. No substitutions or accommodations for dietary restrictions - no issue for our party SERVICE - Friendly & efficient / brisk as they are on a timetable due to timed seatings. AMBIANCE - Intimate and extra nice when you are fortunate enough to score seats directly in front of Chef Ogawa! read more

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KenScale: 8.25/10 Visit: January 2025 DC has no shortage of Japanese restaurants but it is rare to see a Kappo-style tasting menu focusing on the famed Japanese wagyu beef. Kappo in the Palisades neighborhood, started by chef Minoru Ogawa in partnership with co-owner Ari Wilder, had long been on my list of new DC restaurants and it was only recently this month that my wife Jun and I finally got around to visiting. It was on a very cold Saturday after heavy snows during the weekdays. As we were led to the cozy dining space with chef Ogawa meticulously working behind the counter, I felt there was something special about this restaurant. Our dinner at Kappo indeed turned out to be a memorable one. The eight-course menu at Kappo, at $150 per person, was a model of consistency and high level of execution throughout. An early highlight was probably one of the best chawanmushi dishes I had encountered, with wagyu and foie gras inside to produce awesome umami. Jun was also very complimentary of the lobster saikyo misoyaki, with lobster grilled more or less to perfection giving irresistibly rich flavor. A few of the fish dishes in the form of red snapper (accompanied by ponzu, salsify and kumquat) and then salmon were also of high quality. After a palate cleanser of yuzu shiso lemon granita, we were served the highlight of the night. I had eaten some really outstanding wagyu beef dishes in my wife, but what Kappo brought in its steak dish was truly remarkable. The texture of the wagyu, which came with carrot and zucchini on the side, was just heavenly, melting in my mouth from impeccable marbling with no tough parts anywhere! My only regret is that the portion came a little smaller with around half a dozen cubes of the steak, which made each bite that much more precious. The last savory course was a soulful combination of rice dish and miso soup; I was particularly fond of the rich flavor from the soup with generous amount of beef inside. For dessert, we had red miso-caramel panna cotta and judging from how quickly Jun was eating it, it marked a delightful end to our meal. Kappo has both counter and table seatings, run twice a day on weekdays and three times a day on the weekends. If you are looking to grab prime time seatings on the weekends, advance planning for booking is highly recommended. Unfortunately, Jun had a dental procedure a few days before our visit so she wasn't able to try any alcohol drinks (and being mindful of her predicament, I ordered just one cocktail and a glass of sake). She vowed that next time we visit, she would definitely want to try the sake pairing (currently available at $80 per person). Overall, the beverage program at Kappo looked quite thoughtful with an extensive list of sake and wine options. We really enjoyed our dinner at Kappo and whenever we need a fix for Japanese wagyu, this will certainly be the first place we will think of. For any meat lover, I highly encourage you to give it a try and experience the magic happening at the kitchen with possibly the most delicious wagyu beefs you have eaten in your lifetime. read more

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This was my first Japanese Wagyu experience and I was NOT disappointed. Allow me to start by saying "AMERICAN's DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT STEAK." This place is the perfect opportunity to experience and explore Japanese culinary skills at its finest. Wagyu is the highest grade of beef in the world, renowned for its exceptional fat marbling, tenderness, and flavor. If you think you've experienced pristine quality steak, then I can assure you that you haven't if you didn't try it fresh from Japan. Kappo DC is quant, and about 20 seats. They offer a full 8-course, wagyu tasting menu. They are reservation only and it will be on the expensive side, so be prepared. I enjoyed all 8 courses to the fullest extent! I enjoyed the great service, the chefs and the atmosphere. My visit was 5/5! read more

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Kappo was such a great experience. You can tell a lot of care goes into each course. The wagyu was incredible, and the pacing of the meal made it easy to just relax and enjoy it. It's an intimate space, but doesn't feel too loud or crowded. Definitely a spot I'd go back to for a special night out. read more

Reservations require a deposit that goes towards your final bill! I love walking down into the restaurant that felt very clean, fancy and pretty private with most seatings at the counter and a few tables. Our waiter was very professional and kind and provided us great recommendations! We're ok with caviar but love uni so we asked if instead of the caviar and uni add on if we could do just an uni add on. The waiter checked with the chef for us and said today it was ok and we're so happy we did that since the uni was super creamy, sweet and delicious! 4.5/5 Overall I did like all the dishes and think it's a pretty good value for price considering a5 wagyu is always expensive. There were quite a few courses where I wish they added more wagyu for a more even distribution rather than piling it all in the steak bowl but that's not a huge complaint. Omakase Wagyu Shabu Shabu - very yummy, not too heavy and flavorful 4.5/5 Chawanmushi - for flavor 4.5/5 but really disappointed with how little wagyu it came with so more like. Love the egg, mushroom flavor and texture 4/5 Wagyu Kojizuke - very yummy and soft but not too unique and not much meat 3.5/5 Watarigani Tatsutaage - lots of meat inside the crab and no hard pieces. Yummy, not oily 3/5 Sashimi Trio - yellow tail - clean 3/5 Bluefin tuna - don't like the leaf but not fishy at least. Soft but not the best too 3/5 Scallop - super soft and flavorful, love the sauce it came in! A little citrusy and sweet 4.5/5 Wagyu Steak - very yummy, soft and heavy 4/5 Wagyu Nigiri - rice a little too sticky but good flavors and soft not too heavy 4.5/5 Dessert (shaved ice with strawberry and matcha) - ice not really special but perfect refreshing for summer and cuts the heaviness! You can taste the matcha and strawberry very nicely so I liked it 3.75/5 Chocolate - rich and yummy! 3/5 Drinks - Mt Fuji - 3.5/5 little strong but still sweet and refreshing BIN #I2 JUNMAI, NANBU BIJIN, IWATE - 4/5 smooth and nice sweetness. Sake pairing - had sips of them but none really stood out to me. Most were good but not very great too. 3/5 read more

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Had the privilege of experiencing the omakase experience for my birthday and it was a birthday I'll never forget! read more

I've been here during the winter time and the experience is relaxing. I'd say that the wagyu and the uni is delicious, but it isn't anything that you can't find in high end restaurants. Service there is really attentive and nice, and if you are a wagyu lover, you'll like this place. Some of the wagyu I have had a blend of smoky texture flavor, while others had a bit of saltiness to it that goes well with the other items in the dish. The whole place is really cozy, and the staff was really patient and explained what the dish is personally. Overall, solid 7/10 for the food, as I don't think there's one dish or several dishes that stands out well for me to come back here again, rounding that up for the service that I got. read more

Kappo is located on MacArthur Blvd and is close to Georgetown. There is street parking nearby via Parkmobile. This was truly a remarkable experience for me. I came here on my birthday as a special treat. They specialize in Japanese Wagyu omakase. They also have traditional sushi as well featuring Otoro. Kappy truly stands out even from the outside entrance. There is a walk downstairs to the basement so watch your step. It is a bit dark in here with a black and wood interior. It can get a little chilly in here so I recommend bringing another layer even in the summer. From start to finish, everything on their menu was delicious. I was full after the meal. I would come back again on another special occasion. read more

A culinary dining experience, first time experiencing Omakse at Kappo; a Japanese dining experience where the chef chooses the menu based on their expertise and the freshest ingredients, and the customer leaves it up to them. The term literally translates to "I'll leave it up to you". Pricey, but so worth it! From start to finish our tastebuds were in heaven! Service was great, with each course our host explained the ingredients that went into making each dish and explained the origin of the name of the dish. The setting is very intimate, a long counter that seats 8 and 3 small tables behind where each table seats 4, reservations are mandatory. The whole vibe feels like you're being invited to an intimate dinner party. Sitting at the chef's table (we sat at the counter right in front of the kitchen where they prepared the dishes) was an honor. Everything from the drinks to the food were delectable! read more

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I think it's nice to come here once, if you can sit at the counter. It's an interesting vibe, where you can watch the chef. But the omakase (or is it kaiseki?) is better at other places in DC (Sushi Taro, Nasime). And pure wagyu is better enjoyed elsewhere too (Beloved BBQ, Gyu Shige). But sitting at the counter was quite enjoyable. Also somehow they have hirezake! read more

I loved this experience it was very upscale and the food was delicious. This is an intimate atmosphere as it only seats 21 people. The servers were very attentive and very knowledgeable about the food. Everything was delicious. This was an amazing omikase experience. read more

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Back at my happy place! Love love love Kappo, I've never had a meal I didn't love. We brought a friend from out of town and they absolutely loved Kappo. Service was great as always ans the food was delicious. Love seeing all the different iterations of their menu! read more

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Here is the good, the bad, and the ugly for this restaurant: The ugly: nothing really. The bad: I've had better wagyu in other restaurants especially in NY. Here, the beef was fresh but other restaurants were able to season it better with different flavours or presentations even. The good: amazing sake list, great service, and beautiful bathroom and restaurant decor. If you want an omakase A5 experience, sure, try it. I've just had better seasoned A5 with wasabi or soy sauce; or just plain salt. It's hard to put a finger on, but this restaurant's pairing of meat and vegetables just didn't hit the mark. read more

Street parking all around DC, mainly 2 hour parking signs. If the restaurant is on your right, there's additional street 2 hour parking making the 1st right past the gas station. Walking in, you're immediately greeted. They take your coat and hang it up for you and are escorted to your table. We booked the Chef's counter. It's a small area but being at the Chef's counter was cool, you can see everything happening and the waygu cooking and preparations. The service is amazing, they don't miss a step at all, immediately clearing your plate and drink glass once finished. Every course was amazing and beautifully put together. They announce each dish and their ingredients and the best way to enjoy it. I was full after the dinner and satisfied. Loved everything and fully enjoyed the uni and caviar add on as well. For our cocktails, we ordered the Mt. Fuji and the Calor Con Leche. My 2nd cocktail was the Intercontinental. I loved both cocktails. The Intercontinental was a little sweeter than the Calor Con Leche but not a sweet drink overall. We also had the matcha beer and the salty Plum beer as well. I loved the matcha IPA beer, not very hoppy and quite delicious. I didn't really enjoy the salty Plum beer because it was a tad too salty for me but it was a good beer in general. I would definitely come back, everything was fantastic. read more

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We had an absolutely amazing and nostalgic dinner at Kappo DC. We used to love the tasting menus at the formerly Makoto and couldn't be more excited to try their A5 Wagyu tasting menu by chef Ogawa. The A5 Wagyu was imported from Japan and chef Ogawa prepared and cooked it in many different ways, highlighting the quality of the meat, as well as delivering a thoughtful menu from start to finish. I think my favorite dishes of the evening were the Chawanmushi, the soft shell crab, and the wagyu steak with the thick cut pieces of tender and tasty wagyu meat. I complimented my tasting menu with uni and caviar for an additional $100. I do highly recommend this if you like uni and caviar like I do. They topped almost every dish with additional uni and/or caviar and I felt like it elevated my dishes even more. Sadly, I am not an alcohol person so I cannot speak about the alcoholic beverages such as the sake. I did have one mocktail with seltzer water, lemon zest, and orgeat and it was a memorable mocktail of all the mocktails I've had from other restaurants. Service was fabulous as expected. My husband and I don't go out often without kids so this was a special tasting experience. We got to watch chef Ogawa in action and assembling the dishes with imported and local ingredients. We cannot thank Kappo DC enough for such a wonderful meal and experience. read more

Kappo DC - Watarigani Tatsutaage - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This is @kappodc located in DC. This was a great experience. As you walk in you're greeted and walked to your seat. It's an intimate setting that seats 21 people. I went with the bar seating though I made reservations at the table. It was nice to be able to see Chef Ogawa prepare the dishes. My favorite dishes were the Wagyu Salad and Sashimi Trio. I wish I had more of it!!! Unfortunately the other dishes lacked in flavor which is why I'm giving this establishment 4 stars. The service made up for it. Here is everything I experienced. Wagyu Salad Chawanmushi Wagyu Tataki Wagyu Harumaki Sashimi Trio Wagyu Yakishabu Wagyu Sushi Dessert read more

Kappo DC - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Best meal of my life. Went with my husband and parents for my birthday in June and it was amazing. The waiter was so kind and informative. The menu and all of the food was to die for. We got the sake pairing and it was amazing. We also did the caviar add on which was insane. Caviar or uni came with every single course. I was drooling. The restaurant is small and everyone respects the space so it was really a great experience and it was clear everyone was just enjoying their meal. Could not recommend enough. read more

Kappo DC - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Went here to celebrate my birthday and it was absolutely amazing. They have a delightful course menu where you get to try some amazing dishes. The salmon trio was super fresh and the waygu was delicious. For drinks the peak excess is perfect-amazing flavors. You get to watch them prepare it if you sit at the bar and the chefs carefully explain each dish to you and suggest to you how to eat it. The whole menu is completely thoughtful and delicious. Tips: make a reservation. Pretty sure they don't do walk ins. This makes for a great special occasion or a treat yourself meal. read more

My goodness...I am pretty sure Kappo DC is the closest thing to heaven on earth. Upon arriving, you are greeted with a conspicuous entrance, light brown wooden door, and a gold plaque with "Kappo Makoto" carved into it. It gave off a very exclusive and high end vibe. Once our dinner reservation time arrived, the door finally opened with a host greeting and welcoming us in. Walking by an amazing display of various bottles of sake and a large mirror for us to snap a picture together, we entered the main dining area. To start, the chefs introduced themselves and gave us a little history on the restaurant's creation and overall vision. We ordered our drinks and we were given the option for the uni & caviar add-on. Since it was my birthday, you can bet your ass we got it! To start, we were presented with the wagyu summer salad. Every ingredient paired perfectly together with a dash of acidity from the light dressing. The uni was absolute butter. The wagyu was melt in your mouth goodness. The greens provided the perfect balance to the rich, complex flavors from the uni and Wagyu together. I knew we were in for an amazing night. Next up was the Chawanmushi, a savory egg custard with wagyu. It was delicate and velvety, yet bursting with umami. Of course, with our caviar topping, this dish was the perfect amuse-bouche. The sashimi trio that followed did not disappoint. The first was light, refreshing, and well balanced. The colors of this dish popped, with bursts of green, pink and orange. The fish (I believe it was hamachi) was super fresh and perfectly marinated. The next one was more meat centric and being paired with the uni, it balanced out the sharper taste of the tuna. The final of the trio was a scallop sashimi, with thin cucumber slices and red onions in an acidic drizzle. Like the first one, it was refreshing and bright. Annnd let's not forget, the caviar/uni pairings which perfectly meshed with each dish. Next up we starting getting back into the wagyu with the Wagyu Menchi Katsu. This one was fun to eat, not anything super impressive, but overall had rich flavor and sat atop a small pool of sauce and a shishito pepper. Overall, a nice change of pace from the fish heavy dishes from before. Onto the Wagyu Chirashi Sushi, this was by far one of my favorite dishes on the menu. The presentation was gorgeous, with a small ball of white rice topped with orange salmon roe, red tobiko, bright yellow quail egg, vibrant green chives, a little yellow flower and a gold flake on top. Let's not forget the radiant uni and caviar to top it all off, this dish was bursting with color. The flavor was overwhelmingly good. My friend, wife and I couldn't stop ourselves making awkward "mmmm's" and "oooh's" out loud lol. It was served in the perfect portion, as any more would have been too overwhelming, but any less would leave much to desire. The Wagyu sukiyaki was a good transition from the rich and savory flavors of the Chirashi. It was solely Wagyu beef with glass noodles and some greens on top, sitting in a puddle of delicious sauce. Sweet yet savory. At this point I was getting very full. Finally the Curry Udon arrived. It was good, but honestly it was definitely well past the climax of the courses. I found this to be a grounding dish, bringing us back down to earth after being sent into space. It was comforting and warm. I wouldn't say it was amazing, it was just nice. A reminder that overindulgence can be detrimental to your overall enjoyment. They did provide me with a scoop of some yummy ice cream since it was my birthday, but also we were sent home with some Royce chocolate. Among the dishes, they had really great cocktails and we also got a bottle of "Seven Spearsmen" sake, which paired really well with the rich and fatty flavors we consumed. Service was phenomenal and I think the chef's enjoyed us at the counter because of how expressive we were and amazed by each dish that was put forth. They spent a lot of time chatting with us while preparing the meals. All in all, this was a five star experience and I would totally go back. I just need to figure out how I can afford this for a second time read more

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Very unique and one-of-a-kind experience. It's a little pricey at $150 per person, but definitely worth it for a great dining experience. The interior is very chic and well-designed. You can tell they put a lot of thought into it and it's a very intimate vibe, as the place only seats about 20 people. If you sit at the counter, you can watch the chefs prepare the food in front of you, which is really cool. Every course is really rich and unique and we didn't have a bad one! It was also really cool seeing the wagyu before they prepared it and the staff gives you an overview of each dish before you try it. read more

The restaurant is serene and cozy. The attention by both servers and chefs are second to none, especially if you choose bar seating. I highly recommend sitting at the bar for your experience. The menu was delicious and full of unique and beautifully executed traditional flavor combinations. Standouts were the chawanmushi and wafu ravioli, but everything was delicious. Chef Ogawa's menu is immaculate and Chef Bautista is a homegrown DC star with incredible palette and vision and I can't wait to see next season's menu. Kappo is well worth the visit! read more

This place was on our list for a long time and we had a dinner here to celebrate after getting married. The restaurant has a very intimate feeling to it and creates a great atmosphere for a date. Come hungry! 8-course menu was a lot for me and I definitely was not up for it after course 5, this is something to keep in mind! Every dish on the menu was delicious and the team knows what they are doing. We never had so much waguye prepared in different ways. The service was smooth and the staff were friendly, we asked for sake recommendations and we received a few great recommendations we went with. Overall, it is worth to make a reservation and enjoy this dinner, you will have a lot of fun. Just keep in mind, it is an 8-course dinner and is a lot of food. read more

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If you can, sit at the bar where you can watch the show as the chef prepares a 8 course meal that was excellent using Japanese Waygu as the centerpiece. My favorite courses were the wagyu oyster maki, chawanmushi, lobster, wagyu steak. The dessert was a red miso caramel panna cotta which was amazing as well and I really enjoyed the Mt Fuji cocktail which was very refreshing. For $150 per person for omakase, I found the price was definitely worth what you get and I would com back again to try their next seasonal menu in the spring. read more

The restaurant is very unique- located in an underground basement. It's very small maybe seats ~20-25 people at a time. The service is on point! The menu is seasonal but Waygu centric. Eight courses is $150 pp. Eight course includes: Wagyu Salad - very refreshing Chawanmushi - DElicious! I could use a gallon of this to take home. Sashimi Trio- my favorite out of the three is the salmon Wagyu Harumaki - alright Wagyu Chirashi Sushi - good Wagyu Yakishabu - excellent!!! Succulent! Wagyu Curry Rice - not my favorite since all the pieces in the curry was indistinguishable - maybe replace this with a Waygu fried rice instead? Dessert - alright read more

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