First time visiting this place after saving it on my list for a while now. Well, let's just say…read morethat it's worth the hype! Advice: sitting outside might be better in the cooler weather because we were being eaten alive by mosquitoes and fighting off flies. I really hope that they consider some type of nature oils near the tables to help guests feel more comfortable outdoors. Also, it would help to get more than one fan. Hospitality: aside from the bugs encounter, I would say that we did not have reservations (they were packed inside) so the hostess was nice enough to accommodate us outdoor. Our waiter, Anthony was a ball of energy and he really understands the dishes and was able to give great recommendations, some of which we plan to try on our next visit. Portions: the dishes are shareable so we only ordered the beef noodles and walnut shrimp and both were more than enough for a party of 2. DRINKS: I ordered the dark and stormy which can best be described as not too sweet and perfect for anyone desiring a well balanced drink. The bourbon smash was also really good. Well balanced with a smoky flavor which I loved. FOOD: Beef noodles- gosh this was so divine! Be warned however, there is a bit of spice to it but nothing that you won't be able to handle. I think the spices paired with the preparation of the noodles and the beef all made this dish memorable. Walnut shrimp- another memorable dish which came with a side of white rice. The shrimps were HUGE! But the flavors on each shrimp paired with that crunchy texture and creamy sauce, spectacular! Safe to say that we enjoyed both dishes and cannot wait to return and reserve indoor tables lol

Dishonor to my cow and my entire family for not taking a picture of this food! The people here were…read moreso kind--literally the sweetest. I don't even know how to describe the energy in this place, but you can just feel it the moment you walk in. The restaurant has a dark aesthetic that gives it such a cool, cozy ambiance. My daughter and I ordered the Dan Dan noodles and spicy wontons. Everything was so filling that we ended up ordering another bowl of the Dan Dan noodles! And honestly, I still crave them. The Dan Dan noodles were SO good. The sauce was the perfect combination of creamy and spicy, and there was a generous amount of minced pork that balanced everything out really well. The wontons paired perfectly with the chili sauce that came with them! They were spicy--my ears turned red and my nose started running--but I literally could not stop going back for another bite. Even the wontons alone were incredibly filling. I don't live anywhere near this place, and I genuinely wish I did. I traveled pretty far to get here, and I'd absolutely do it again. This was one of those meals that stays on your mind long after you've left!

After walking past this place nearly every day for two years, I finally made it in…read more Overall, I enjoyed the meal. The menu spans a wide variety of Japanese cuisine (or at least, how one might traditionally imagine it), and there were some genuine highlights: the steak (it wasn't billed as wagyu, so I'm not entirely sure what it was), the eggplant taco, and the corn. That said, as someone who's particular about Japanese food, I do feel that restaurants specializing in each of these dishes execute them better -- Uchi's sushi and Izakaya Seki's yakitori both outshine Shoto's versions. The room itself is glamorous in a very Miami way: sleek decor, a showy bathroom, and it takes on a bit of a nightclub vibe as the night goes on. My main gripe was pacing -- service felt rushed at first, then there was a sudden lull, and dessert took forever to arrive.

My mom & I went Shōtō in DC for an early birthday treat and we had such a great experience! The…read moreservice was immaculate from start to finish. They started us off with warm towels, which was such a nice touch, and everyone was so attentive and welcoming throughout the meal. I started with a martini that came with a shot of sparkling sake, while my mom had a cappuccino. For food, we shared the Wagyu no gyoza and OMG... so good! Definitely an 8/10 and something I'd recommend trying. I also ordered the grilled octopus with potatoes, and that was delicious as well. My only wish is that the portions were a little bigger, but honestly, the excellent service and the fact that we shared several dishes made up for it. My mom ordered the Suzuki yaki, branzino, which was delicious, and the corn was SO good. It's covered in butter and absolutely worth trying! We ended the night with the matcha tiramisu, and they even wrote "Happy Birthday" on the plate for my mom. Such a cute touch and a perfect way to end the meal. They said online that we might leave hungry, but we were actually pretty full! I definitely think sharing several dishes is the way to go. If you're only ordering one entrée for yourself, you may leave wanting more, but with a few dishes to share, we had plenty. Overall, I'd definitely recommend Shōtō. It's definitely a bit pricey but the service really stood out, the food was delicious, and it felt like a special place to celebrate. I'm already looking forward to coming back to try the sushi!

We went to Anju with friends and had the best time sharing several dishes! The restaurant has a…read morenice ambiance, and they were playing a bunch of 2010s hits this evening (which was a fun throwback). Fig Around and Find Out: 4/5, not too sweet, and you could really taste the prosecco Chikin: 5/5, you can't go wrong with this Anju classic! This is a perfect appetizer for four people. Our waiter provided some hand wipes so we could clean our hands off afterwards. Yukhoe: 3/5, this was sweeter than I expected, and the sugar/nuts/chili basil overpowered any beef flavor. Chadolbaegi Fried Rice: 4/5, great smoky flavor but I wish the butternut squash had been cut bigger to enjoy more with each bite. More pork also would've been nice. Kimchi Jjigae: 5/5, we added noodles, which was a great move. This was such a delicious stew, and I loved the kimchi.

I debated whether I wanted to give this place 3 or 4 stars…read more 1. Mandu (3/5) - while it tasted good, the temperature was lukewarm which was disappointing. 2. Half chikin (4/5) - why do they call it chikin? It made me think it wasn't real chicken like what veggie grill calls their fake chicken. Anyway, it was messy but it was crispy and hot - it was fine. I've had better. 3. Lobster steamed egg (1/5) - the lobster was rubbery and I'm not a big fan of mixing sweet and savory together and for me, the sweet peppers ruined the entire dish. For me, the dish as a whole was less than the sum of its parts. 4. Ssam (5/5) - this dish saved the rest of the meal. The meat was tender the pear was nice and refreshing but to be honest, I consider this hard to mess up as long as the meat is good. My wife said that she wishes we just ordered two of these and nothing else lol. 5. Drinks (non-alcoholic - one was yakult and the other I think was passionfruit) - my wife really enjoyed both drinks so I guess I'll round up the review to 4 stars. If I lived in DC, I would probably go back here but since we're from out of state and visit DC once a year for work, we probably wouldn't come back here.

Dania did an amazing job. Celebrated anniversary/birthday here Tuesday…read more I would say the atmosphere is more suitable for hanging out with group of friends

This is was a fun experience but was not the best-tasting menu I've ever had. The dishes were…read morepretty hit or miss. There wasn't anything that stood out as a must-have; it just felt mostly experimental. The service was pleasant, and the ambiance of the place was very nice. This was a cool experience, and we at least enjoyed it being unique.

Visiting from out of town and found this place. Deluxe Bento Box was good, enough for for the 2 of…read moreus.

What a delicious makunouchi bento and shrimp dumplings I had! I met up with a friend for lunch and…read moreit wasn't too crowded there. Free validated parking also available if parked in the garage. The service was quick and fuss-free. Every items I got to taste was absolutely delicious. I just wish the rice portion wasn't so huge or had an option for me to swap it with salad. Wouldn't mind revisiting again in the future.

Soup Dumplings were very good and we enjoyed the Pork Belly Bao Bun Sandwiches. In and out in 20…read moreminutes. Would recommend!

I was looking for some noodles near our hotel that had good ratings so we went to Reren lamen!…read more The dumplings and wontons with chili sauce were definitely the star of the show! The food came out fast and the waitress was very nice. The support staff wasn't very nice at all, the place is very small, the broth was lacking flavor, needed salt and my beer was not cold. Too many other choices won't be back.‍

AN is a typical bowl spot with both set and build your own bowl options and a variety of Southeast…read moreAsian inspired bases, proteins, and toppings to choose from. I made my own bowl and liked the topping options but the bases (vermicelli noodles, bok choy, and veg mix) and were underwhelming as was the teriyaki chicken. The best thing by far is the crispy pork belly which for a $2 up-charge you can have 3pcs. It also comes with a complimentary cup of broth which was surprisingly aromatic and flavorful. It's a large portion but not one I'd spend $20 on again.

Thanks to IG for the recommendation of trying out this spot. This spot is like a Viet Chipotle. You…read morecan choose a bowl they have set or your can make your own. The service was really great! They were patient and answered all of our questions. The vibe is very modern and cozy. It may look small, but there is a lot of seating upstairs. I made my own bowl with a side of the chicken broth. Bowl was good but what really caught my attention is the BROTH! I would come here just for the broth! lol. That's what really gives my review 5 stars. I highly recommend this spot!

So glad we finally got a chance to try out this place. The best part was they let us make…read morereservations even weeks ahead! We celebrated 2 birthdays together over dinner on Saturday and it was truly amazing. The server even helped us grill all the meats/seafood, a big help since we also had a hot pot to attend to. A very good selections of buffet bar from seafood to Southeast Asian Street food, everything was surprisingly delicious. The restaurant is nicely decorated. The birthday team of staff brought out those big sparkling candles on top of a complimentary non-alcoholic drink. Loud music & singing, exciting & super fun atmosphere. Our kids were thrilled with the surprises. While you only have an hour 45 minutes for the all-you-can-eat meal, most people get stuffed after an hour. Our server m.k. was pleasant and friendly. She was also very efficient and handled everything quickly. A BIG thanks to her. If you have never been to this place, I would highly recommend it. I'll be taking my other family members here very soon :)

Such a great AYCE place for a group of friends who can't decide what they want to eat. They have a…read morehuge variety and offer KBBQ, hotpot and seafood. A little something for everyone You order the KBBQ and hot pot food on a tablet and the seafood buffet is self served. They consistently kept the buffet well stocked and clean. I love that they have a huge sauce bar selection.

The ambiance was beautiful, amazing photos. The Food even better, full of flavor with every bite…read moreand the presentation is beautiful. The experience was unreal thanks to Lark, she was such an amazing server. If you want to be assured of an AMAZING dinner ask for her, Lark. Thankyou so much Lark

Beautiful sushi restaurant in Union Market, perfect for celebrations or a night night out. I came…read moreduring happy hour for my anniversary and had such a memorable experience! Our server was attentive and helped us keep track of the time so we can put in any last minute orders for happy hour. The sugar and spice cocktail is one of my favorites in the DC area, it's perfect if you like a spicy margarita flavor. The snow king roll was my favorite (included in HH) but the surf and turf one was delicious as well. Definitely recommend the broccolini and rock shrimp to supplement your experience! I can't wait to come back.

Review for Hiya Izakaya--the cocktail bar option in this "Food Hall" style restaurant…read more Visited for our one year engagement anniversary and it was the Perfect vibe. Loved the creative cocktails and every appetizer we tried was insanely unique and delicious. I am still salivating over their edamame 4 months later! We also took the plunge and ordered the biggest sushi assortment, unknowingly ordering a boat to our table. They were awesome, fresh, and flavorful. Too much for us to finish at dinner so we also had leftovers. Servers were very attentive. Since visiting, we have ordered takeout from Love On The Run and it was VERY good.

Love Makoto is a cool food hall with different restaurants inside. We tried Dear sushi for a…read morebirthday and the staff was so polite and professional after the group got rambunctious after a few bottles of sake. God bless them. The table got à la cart nigiri and they received large portions of fresh fish. The toro is great here. I ordered the omakase. While it had a cool concept of "old vs new school" methods of preparing the sushi. I ended up liking the simple flavors so next time I'll just go with the à la cart menu. The non sushi dishes were unremarkable. I found the omakase to be of poor value because the non sushi dishes were bland and uninteresting, and I was so hungry after. The thing that I couldn't get over was the rice. The rice was large kernels that tasted kind of like brown rice and had an odd texture. It did not stick together well and was falling apart when you picked it up. It was so distracting. Next time I will only order sashimi.