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    Kappo DC

    4.5 (125 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndJapanese
    Closed Closed

    Kappo DC Photos

    KAPPO DC ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Classy
    Upscale

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    Recommended Reviews - Kappo DC

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    Hang V.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Walking into door felt like a hidden secret gem![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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!

    Jwaygu steak
    Alisha M.

    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.

    Ryan S.

    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. [[HIGHLIGHT]]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.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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.

    Stephanie A.

    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. [[HIGHLIGHT]]With the small space and counter eating, it really felt like you were in Japan.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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.

    Julia P.

    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!

    Michael C.

    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. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The inside of the place was cool, gave izakaya vibes.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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.

    Wendy W.

    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.

    Tova W.

    The restaurant is very lowkey, but it has plenty of street parking. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They have counter seating as well as a few tables.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It is definitely a smaller restaurant but it is a nice intimate ambiance.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff is very attentive and nice. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The door is hard to find since it blends in.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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.

    Wagyu yawata-maki
    Lindsay D.

    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.

    Menu for the evening we visited
    Danielle S.

    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!

    Michelle M.

    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.

    Austin G.

    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

    Dessert
    Lily H.

    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.

    Bill

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    Food was heavenly. Loved savoring all the various dishes!! Absolutely would love to come again on a special occasion :)

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    Page 2 of 4

    Ask the Community - Kappo DC

    Is there parking nearby or better to ride share?

    Street parking only. Ride share is definitely a better idea.

    View All 2 Questions

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    Kotobuki - Ankimo

    Kotobuki

    4.0(573 reviews)
    0.0 miPalisades
    $$

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

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

    Photos
    Kotobuki - Inside

    Inside

    Kotobuki - Eel and avocado roll (3.5/5), CA uni (4/5), Hamachi (3/5), scallop (3/5), Saba (2.5/5, aburi salmon (2.5/5)

    Eel and avocado roll (3.5/5), CA uni (4/5), Hamachi (3/5), scallop (3/5), Saba (2.5/5, aburi salmon (2.5/5)

    Kotobuki - Menu as of March 2024

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    Menu as of March 2024

    Love Makoto - Hand rolls

    Love Makoto

    4.5(569 reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $$$$

    This place is pretty freaking cool. It's a Japanese food hall with 4 individual spaces inside one…read morelarge space ( the owner also owns the Italian spot on the other side). I went for the buffet brunch at Dear Sushi. I'm not a hugh sushi eater but I loved the cooked stuff. I'm not super adventurous on the raw lol. The buffet is $65 and a 20% gratuity is added. The price was ok with me. There were plenty of food options for me to chose from and the service was good. We sat the bar, Jose and Molly were awesome and mixed up some delicious drinks. The food was delicious. Highlights for me were the fried chicken ( not sure of the correct name), milk bread (had to limit myself, I love bread lol), dumplings ( could have takien the whole tray lol), grilled salmon, and the tempura cauliflower. Another standout was the donuts from the dessert section. These donuts were so lite and airy. Almost guilt free when you bit into them. I would definitely return for brunch or to try out one of the other spots.

    We didn't have the best experience that we had hoped for a Love Makoto. As a sushi lover, we had to…read moretry this Omakase. I really liked the concept of one "old school" and one "new school" style of the same fish. But, the sushi just didn't live up to the hype. First, the pieces of fish were way too big. The fish was far larger than the rice and very difficult to eat. More like 2-3 bites. Also, some fish had skin on - which I know is a chef's choice - but I found it very unappetizing. Had to choke those down. And the "new school" hand-roll had imitation crab in it. So odd and doesn't feel upscale. We enjoyed the frozen strawberry for dessert. They're super cute and tasty. Just wish we had a better experience with the sushi.

    Photos
    Love Makoto - Pick up area

    Pick up area

    Love Makoto - Omakase Express Lunch came with these 5 sushi. Otoro, hamachi; bluefin tina, salmon, snapper.

    Omakase Express Lunch came with these 5 sushi. Otoro, hamachi; bluefin tina, salmon, snapper.

    Love Makoto - Emperor butterfly mocktail

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    Emperor butterfly mocktail

    Sakaki Izakaya

    Sakaki Izakaya

    4.4(323 reviews)
    2.1 miClarendon
    All you can eat
    Happy hour specials

    When I hear sushi and all you can eat in the same sentence I typically proceed with caution. No…read moreneed for caution here. From the moment I walked in Kay gave prompt, professional service. He walked me through the options and ordering was a breeze. The price point is a little higher than your average all you can eat dining experience, but well worth it. I must've had 15 pieces of nigiri. Having worked in a sushi restaurant I can tell you it was phenomenally well done. Beautifully fresh and buttery and the sushi rice was perfect. The eel kamameshi was a highlight and came with a showing amount of eel. Finished everything off with the matcha tiramisu and a cup of green tea. I won't need to eat for days. Will definitely be coming back! Thank you Kay and team!

    First off, let me just say.... If I'm honest, whenever I…read moreshow up to an AYCE I'm always skeptical with the quality of the food, especially when it comes to sushi but wow, I was blown away how great it was for AYCE. The set- up and the ambiance is very comfortable and sleek/modern with the main sushi chefs in the middle and the tables around them. The tables have waiters and a tablet at the table like most hot pot/kbbq places and you can order everything off of there. I have only been here once and wanted to try to low tier without going "all in" on the top tier option of diamond without knowing how the basics would taste. Let me say if the bottom tier was as good as it was, I'm excited to come back to try the next tier! Anyway, the basic tier already comes with a lot of sushi options and should be enough for those who are craving just sushi. All of the cuts of nigiri was great, all tender with great flavor, but what stood out to me the most was actually the yellowtail, super buttery and great flavor. The eel was also a top choice! All the rolls were good basic to the fancier ones, I would say that most of the bang for the buck would be the nigiri. The rolls are good but a little too much rice for me personally. The appetizers, didn't spend too much time on them but the chicken karaage was solid and the seaweed salad was my two favorite. Overall, super solid for the price and I'd totally want to go again to try more of their options! 100% recommend!

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    Sakaki Izakaya - Drink Menu

    Drink Menu

    Sakaki Izakaya - Old fashion

    Old fashion

    Sakaki Izakaya - All you can eat menu

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    All you can eat menu

    Ko Japanese Dining

    Ko Japanese Dining

    4.5(73 reviews)
    2.8 miDupont Circle

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

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

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    Ko Japanese Dining - The dining room can seat two, four, six, eight...you name it.

    The dining room can seat two, four, six, eight...you name it.

    Ko Japanese Dining - Beef Sukiyaki

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    Koryouri Urara - Dessert

    Koryouri Urara

    4.7(21 reviews)
    1.7 miGeorgetown

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

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

    Photos
    Koryouri Urara
    Koryouri Urara - Sea Trout Salad

    Sea Trout Salad

    Koryouri Urara - Wagyu

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    Wagyu

    Kappo DC - japanese - Updated August 2026

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