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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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
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.
3 years ago
I do not know how to use words to represent my joy after coming here tonight. Everything was sooooooo good x 100! It was my first time for Wagyu omakase and I don't know whether I can meet another one better than this. Showing all pics here and you will see how detailed of Chef Ogawa's amazing work. Thanks for this wonderful experience and I will never forget tonight. read more
Kappo is a tiny cozy restaurant serving a wagyu-centered omakase menu at $150/pp. Came with a group of 4 and had a great meal. The omakase included 8 courses and I loved every single course. The highlights for me were the wagyu appetizer, chawanmushi, and sashimi. The wagyu for each dish was cooked perfectly and all the flavors were on point. I think the courses could be a little larger but overall, I left feeling satisfied. They have pretty good cocktail options and a robust sake menu as well. read more
2 years ago
Really wanted to like this place. Took my husband there for his first Father's Day celebration. If you're a true foodie and know what Wagyu tastes like, then you'll be very disappointed as we were. I think out of all the courses, the only Wagyu that was acceptable as a true Wagyu was one out of the two Wagyu steak course. For those that had never had Wagyu before might be impressed.... The Wagyu Shabu meat was chewy Steamed egg was very tasty - I could eat 5 of these Fried Soft Shell Crab was done well but very minimal seasoning Sashimi trio was disappointing. Nothing out of this world or memorable Wagyu steak - like I mentioned, only one of the two pieces was good and melted in your mouth. Considering this place tries showcasing Wagyu heavily, it fails in all aspects. The quality is not there at all and it is disappointing at $150 per person. Service was great. But like some reviewers had stated, they're pushy on the add-ons which is not worth it in my opinion. I think we had to say no politely three times before they gave up lol. I'm so glad we didn't do it. read more
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3 years ago
Wow! The food here is amazing. A bit pricey but if you're celebrating something big, this place is worth it. Wagyu is something that's not served often in the DMV. And when a restaurant in the DMV does serve Wagyu, it's not prepared correctly. I visited this restaurant years ago and it was a Japanese kaiseki restaurant, and it certainly glowed up with this new chef. The menu had 8 courses, which includes Wagyu dishes, sashimi, and dessert. The sashimi includes toro and white salmon. The Wagyu dishes include fried Wagyu meatball; a rice dish with Wagyu, uni, some fish roe, and shiso leaf; and my personal favorite: the sukiyaki. The sukiyaki comes with a marinated egg yolk. Dip it and just taste the flavors. The meat was so juicy and it was cooked so well - the juices stayed and flowed with every bite. I'd very much like an AYCE Wagyu restaurant, but this restaurant shall suffice for now. 10/10 would come back. Note: for those with a big appetite, you may feel hungry after the omakase. read more
WORTH IT!!! I've been wanting to try Kappo Makoto for the longest time and finally we went yesterday! The vibe of the restaurant is very clean, fresh, intimate and very inviting. We sat on the chef's table so we witnessed everything! Everything we had on the menu was superb! My personal favorites are the fish of the day (tuna) and Wagyu Chirashi! My husband loved the Sukiyaki. Our drinks were spot on too! We had the Calde Con Leche (which to me tasted like a spicy margarita) and Springs Bounty (which was so refreshing). The service was excellent! Everyone was very attentive and knowledgeable! We definitely recommend Kappo Makoto and will definitely be back! read more
3 years ago
For the quality of ingredients, casual ambiance, level of attention to detail in service, attention to detail in preparation, and the uniqueness of a wagyu-focused set menu (titled "omakase"), Kappo DC earns 5 stars! Kappo sticks to the highest quality of ingredients and preparation even as they are experimenting with new ideas as a recently opened restaurant. Although wagyu is very fatty and decadent, we didn't feel the richness of the meal ever got to be too much (this is saying something since my appetite has drastically decreased with age and pushed me toward a "quality over quantity" bent). I think the meal would have been every bit as worthwhile without the extra special uni and caviar Father's Day add-on, but the add-on did take it up to the next level. Kappo earns a well-deserved neighborhood chef's counter. read more
2 years ago
Just wow! My first Wagyu experience and it will never be forgotten. I organized this for a special occasion, so the fact that this was a very expensive dinner was not an issue, but make no mistake about it, this is an expensive dinner. I loved how small and intimate this restaurant is. There are only 3 tables that seat 4, and then 9 seats at the counter. The service was impeccable. The food and drinks unforgettable. This is absolutely a perfect venue for a very special occasion. read more
2 years ago
I have been wanting to come here for quite some time and I'm glad I was finally able to check this place out while celebrating the holidays. I had a great time and loved the experience of dining at Kappo DC with their 8 course meal that was super unique and tasty. I also opted for getting the Caviar and Japanese Uni as well as the Sake pairing. I highly recommend the Sake pairing but I wasn't impressed with the Japanese Uni and caviar as it was just added on to each course but I feel like for some of the dishes it didn't pair well. The sakes were a variety of different flavors that blended well with each of the meals. You would get a new sake tasting per 2 servings of the course meal. They also offer a variety of cocktails and drinks. Regarding the 8 course meal, I loved the different types of flavors and the presentation. Each meal ingredient was told to us as they were presented to our table which was nice to know exactly what you were getting. There were definitely some meals I liked more than others since some had texture differences rather than just mushiness that blended in together. The ambience was very relaxing and elegant. There is no waiting room so I highly recommend coming closer to your scheduled time. The parking situation isn't the best as it's all street parking and it's shared with the surrounding neighborhood. Overall the staff were nice and helpful with each meal and this restaurant experience definitely made me feel like I had traveled to Japan. read more
2 years ago
The course menu followed the Japanese Kappou Style order and was primarily based on Wagyu beef. They mentioned that the beef was sourced from Miyazaki. The fatty tuna, referred to as ootoro, appeared too red to be authentic ootoro. The rice used for the sushi was a bit soggy. The shaved ice was very finely shredded, a quality that's rare even in Japan. The bathroom could use some improvements. read more
3 years ago
A wonderful dining experience. Pre fixe 8 course menu full of flavor and texture. The servers were very attentive to our needs and the chef was wonderful. A great choice for an intimate night. read more
Laawwddd what an incredible meal, start to finish! Prior to this, my only wagyu dining experiences were Japanese bbq and a couple wagyu sushi courses, and I always thought they were good but not something I'd seek out. But THIS was phenomenal and unlike any other wagyu dish I've ever had. All courses were amazing but my favorite was the Wagyu Sukiyaki...so flavorful and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Half of us opted for the caviar and uni upgrade and loved it, and while I did not get this add-on, I still very much enjoyed everything served. Service is very friendly and we had a great time conversing with the chefs and bar manager at the counter. The vibe is definitely more laid back than the original Makoto back in the day, but the quality and elegance are still there in every single dish. Just exquisite. Would highly recommend! read more
Small reastaurant. Street parking. Servcie was exceptional. 8-course wagyu experience startint at $150. The food was spectacular, but when all things are said and done, it ends up being $250 per person, including drinks and tips. I was glad to be able to enjoy this amongst close friends, but for the price, this might be a one and done experience. read more
3 years ago
We tried Kappo Makoto hoping it would be as good as Makoto used to be in that same spot before it closed. It wasn't. It was equally pricey but the food was not as good. Some of the courses were delicous. Others were a bit salty or just not very special. For the price, I expect every course to wow me. Don't get me wrong. We had a nice experience. The service was gracious. The restaurant is an intimate feeling, clean, and cozy place. The chef announces and explains each dish before it is served. So it feels special in that way. The first course was amazing. The wagyu beef had a deep smoky flavor that was excellent. A few other courses were really good too. But a handful were lackluster. The curry rice towards the end was probably the most disappointing. And too much salt ruins the flavor. Would I go there again? Definitely not because I've had better meals for less. However, I am glad I tried it and we enjoyed the experience. read more
2 years ago
I am struggling to do this review for purely selfish reasons - if it gets too popular it will be harder for me to get in to this 21-seat gem! Food is absolutely incredible and sake menu is unparalleled. We had such an amazing experience, start to finish. Standouts on this eight course tasting menu were the wagyu app, chawanmushi, sashimi and wagyu nigiri but honestly everything was a homerun. This place is small and intimate, so better suited for a special dinner for 2 at the chefs counter. They do also have three 4-top tables. Great for ANY treat yourself occasion. Cant wait to come back to see what else they come up with and to try more incredible sake! Well done and congrats to the whole Kappo Makoto team! read more
3 years ago
Um yeah a picture is worth a thousand words and my meal was phenomenal. From start to end my palate was satiated and I couldn't get enough. Definitely date night worthy. read more
2 years ago
Had an amazing experience here! Paired with Uni and caviar and was amazing! We almost licked every dish dry. Service was amazing and very tentative. The ambiance reminds me of a "hole in the wall" place in Japan. Highly recommended! read more
3 years ago
It may be the best meal since I moved here from the west coast. The only place that competes with it is sushi nakazawa. The hand roll was a huge stand out to me, but there were other amazing dishes too. Maybe my only very small complaint is I didn't love the bottle of sake I got, but that doesn't detract from how perfect every bite was, especially the meat. read more
3 years ago
What an experience. We went for the birthday dinner and everything was just so great! The place is small, but it is perfect for the omakase. Food is exceptional. It was the first day of their winter season menu, and we enjoyed every dish. My husband did the sake pairing, and he loved trying all 4 sakes and dessert sake. Staff are very welcoming and friendly. It was definitely one of the most incredible culinary experiences I've ever had!! read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Wonderful experience. Sitting at the counter is the way to go. Super attentive staff. Great explanation of the dishes. read more
3 years ago
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3 years ago
One of the best omakase in dc! It's an elegant dining experience. Great service. Wagyu in different styles. They are all perfect. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
Unlike sushi Nakazawa you'll leave here wanting nothing more! Attentive staff and extra talented sushi chefs (Mr Ogawa + team), nothing left to desire. New favorite sushi spot for an authentic, yet muted charismatic experience. P.S., easy to walk past the front door so I've included a picture for you! Enjoy and go hungry. Thank you for a wonderful and polished experience! read more
2 years ago
Delicious from start to finish! It was tucked away, but once you find the entrance, the service is impeccable. It had a nice, private type of ambiance. Each course was so tasty. We got the Sake to accompany the courses, which worked really well. A time was had! Well worth the cost! read more
2 years ago
Good service but the ingredients and quality are definitely not worth the money you paid for. The dessert was plain ice with no decoration. This place is very much overpriced and overrated. read more
3 years ago
Overall it's a delightful experience at an expensive price point. Some dishes were better than others but a worth visit once. read more
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This 8 course omakase is definitely worth every dollar. Great service and amazing presentation. We got the caviar and uni service with the sake service and the portion sizes were large that my partner and I both left satisfied and super full! The caviar and uni service came with a good portion of either or both on every savory dish that really brought out the flavor! The most memorable dishes for us had to been the chawanmushi, wagyu shabu shabu, and the three sashimi dish. First the chawanmushi was so soft and air like but packed with so much umami flavor it was like the texture of eating a soft cloud but filled with burst in each bite and the caviar on top was such the right amount of salty goodness. The wagyu was just perfect and the wait staff even comes out with the cut of meat used and prepared for the meal to show you the marbling and it definitely melts in your mouth. The preparation of the sashimi was far by amazing with the dashi gelatin scallop added flavor to the shellfish with keeping the texture of the fresh scallop showcased. Each pairing for the sake was wonderful with from the lighter to the unfiltered matched from the salad to the heavy course meal. Finishing the night with a cute green tea and red bean ice cream and mini chocolate and dessert sake couldn't have made a better night. The wait staff were on point and very attentive. Couldn't ask for a better experience read more
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Chef Ogawa and team were wonderful- personalized experience and very friendly! The food was incredible - absolute precision with preparation and beautifully plated! The entire team made me feel so welcome and part of such a fun experience. The wagyu was divine! I can't wait to return! read more
3 years ago
More info about Kappo DC
4822 MacArthur Blvd NW
Washington, DC 20007
Palisades
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(202) 885-9086
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https://kappodc.com
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Is there parking nearby or better to ride share?
Street parking only. Ride share is definitely a better idea.
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Kappo DC - japanese - Updated October 2026
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