Still absolutely incredible food. I've been at least 5 times since writing that last review and still just as amazing. But I'm updating my absolute must-get list: - Steamed Pork Bao - Crispy Gruyère Dumplings - Spicy Pork Sausage Laab & Bone Marrow - Smoked Dry Age Brisket Those things are all absolute winners! Spicy Cucumber Salad is nice and refreshing. The Jumbo Scallop Red Curry is still bomb, but no longer a must-get for me, mainly because it slots in along with any red curry at a good Southeast Asian restaurant, as opposed to these other items which are just so unique and fantastic. read more

Made a reservation based on the Yelp Reviews for our anniversary & they did not disappoint at all. In my opinion this restaurant deserves 5 stars! To my surprise it is restaurant week so I was able to try a full 4 course meal for $45! I started with the oysters, which were so fresh and a great way to start my food journey with Maketto. Then I devoured the ginger chicken soup dumplings. For my main I have the drunken fried rice and the chicken fried sandwich (this one is not a part of restaurant week but please grab it. This is the BEST fried chicken sandwich I've had in my life). The rice in the fried rice was soft and so delicious! The server and host were so sweet and attentive. They definitely made our night feel extra special. The inside is intimate, but very spacious. I love the plants and sneaker wall. read more

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We regularly order delivery from Maketto (my husband loves the chicken sandwich and I love the spicy beef bowl) but recently I checked out their Saturday bake sale and was glad I did! I got there about 9:30 and I did have to wait in line, but it moved quicker than I expected. The BEC biscuit breakfast sandwich was the best breakfast sandwich I've had in DC. The biscuit was fluffy and the egg was cooked perfectly. It was like an egg cloud. If you want to eat this right away, I'd ask for it warmed up (I didn't realize it comes room temp at first, and I wasn't asked how I wanted it when I ordered). The scallion pancake croissant was also great. My husband enjoyed the ube honeycomb cake, but I felt it needed more ube flavor. I also thought the hojicha latte could've had more flavor - I like my hojicha to have that deep roasty taste, and it just didn't come through enough in this latte. It came unsweetened, so definitely ask for sweetener if that's how you like it. The menu changes every time so check their instagram to see what they'll be offering if you're interested in the bake sale! read more

Maketto - Hojicha latte - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Maketto has been an icon in DC for more than 10 years and I was reminded why tonight. The food is so creative and so yummy. We had a ton of food and my half of the bill was only $33 and that included the tip! Jose our waiter was great, too. Everything I got was delicious. We stuck with mostly small plates. But there's one dish that really blew me away and I was wondering why I hadn't heard about it before. The sourdough scallion pancake. I cannot urge you enough to get over to Maketto and try this thing ASAP. Pretty sure I'm gonna dream about it tonight. read more

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I want to gate keep because it's already so popular but the bake sale here is fabulous. I will be dreaming of the key lime pie tart! Exciting flavors, a rotating selection every week, great quality - what's not to love? Line up early and he prepared to wait, but it's definitely worth the time! Very glad I finally made it across town to try this. Service is friendly and there's plenty of space to sit once you're inside! read more

Maketto - Hojicha bun and key lime pie tart - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Maketto is becoming one of my favorite restaurants in DC. I recently went here for a date night with my wife and I was extremely pleased with my experience. On top of the amazing service, the food is absolutely amazing. The brisket definitely stole the show. I love everything about this place. Perfect blend of being hip and fine dining. read more

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LOVED the dinner I had at Maketto the other night. I'd heard about this place for years and only now did I finally stop in while grabbing drinks at another spot on H street. First things first did you know that Maketto has been around for 11 years! That's amazing, especially for a small business. And I fully understand why, because this place is a gem. Maketto is a Cambodian, Taiwanese blend restaurant that is surprisingly open from 9 am- 10 pm most days. I love the vibes, the exposed brick, the food, drinks, and the bartender was super friendly. So my friend was telling me that the restaurant used to be half retail store and half restaurant. I'm sure I would've wanted to come in here just to browse all the time because they're definitely trendy and in tune with the culture. Now to my experience. I tried their fried chicken wings and the lo mein. Both are medium plates and large portions. Between my friend and I we were stuffed at the end of dinner and still took some food to-go. All of their dishes come family style and they are not skimping you with the portions. The food was all fresh and soooo flavorful! Kudos to chef Erik, who also owns/created Providencia up the street. I'm so excited to come back to try more because everything sounds delicious. One little word of advice is to check if the restaurant has a private event booked before heading over. I recently tried to go for an early dinner on a Saturday and there was a wedding getting ready to happen. BRAVOOO Maketto, I will be supporting frequently :) read more

Maketto - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Maketto is an Asian fusion (Cambodian & Taiwanese) place that has a Bib Gourmand recommendation from Michelin. Lunch starts at noon but you can order from their wonderful selection of coffee and tea drinks beforehand. Food and service was great. As we got there early, we ordered coffee and some pastries before lunch. As this was our first time there, we asked our waitress for recommendations and she did not disappoint. Maketto offers small, medium and large plates. Loved the Maketto Fried Chicken and Drunken Shrimp Fried Rice. Will have to come back to try their other dishes. read more

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Everything we ate here was so yummy! We first had the strange flavor eggplant, which didn't taste very strange - it tasted really good. It was like a tofu, baba ghanoush, but way better. And then, the sourdough scallion pancakes arrived at our table, and my taste buds have never been in higher places. Period. For those folks who like a more pepper - based barbecue experience, I highly recommend the brisket large plate. Also very good were the crispy fried chicken wings, however, maybe a medium plate would have been better used on something more unique to the restaurant. All in all 9/10. And then we ended with the banana tiramisu, which is literally exactly how you would imagine it being and it was so epic. Highly recommend that. Service was really fast and the ambience is really nice. read more

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We came in at 2:00 PM right after the lunch rush died down, so it wasn't very busy. Lots of apparel on display alongside some unique crushed-trash artwork. The black and white color theme makes it look clean without feeling overly modern. ​Be careful what you order because the portion sizes are huge. Don't be like us, and make sure you actually balance out all the heavy savory stuff with some refreshing or lighter dishes. ​Strange Flavor Eggplant ($14) - Very bright and pickle-forward, loaded with pickled radish, pickles, cilantro, and julienned cucumber. The eggplant and tofu mixture had a slight kick, and the tofu really helped carry and tie all the flavors together. The bread was also warm and soft. 8/10 ​Crispy Gruyere Dumplings ($16) - The gruyere dumplings were crispy on the outside, pillowy on the inside. The cabbage added a good crunch and the small chili peppers brought some heat, though the beef chili was too salty for my preference. For me the flavor combination didn't work and it was my least favorite of the meal. I also would've preferred them served hotter rather than lukewarm. 5/10 ​Sourdough Scallion Pancake ($8) - Crisp on the outside with a pillowy chew inside. The scallion sauce on top paired nicely to keep the flavor going throughout every bite. 7.5/10 ​Maketto Fried Chicken ($32) - The portion is massive, served piping hot, and has a great crunch. The five-spice glaze hits a nice balance of sweet and savory. A few bites of the chicken were mostly breading though, and it would've been great to have something acidic to cut through the heavy flavors. 7/10 ​Pan-Seared Leek and Mushroom Bao ($9) - The bao itself was pillowy and the leek and mushroom filling was well seasoned and when I bit into it it was piping hot. The oyster sauce paired nicely with the bao. I just wish the pan fried side had been more crisp. 6/10 ​Crispy Turnip Cake with XO ($12) - The breading gives it a nice crispy texture, and the XO chili sauce, Chinese bacon, and dried shrimp hit that sweet and savory combo. The textural contrast between the outer breading and the soft turnip cake inside made it feel comforting yet new. 6.5/10 ​Mochi Beignets ($8) - The lemon curd was nicely tart and sweet, and the strawberry added a touch of freshness. The outside of the beignet was a little too hard for my preference, but the inside had a nice chew from the addition of the mochi. I would have also liked more lemon curd. 6/10 ​Passion Fruit "Pineapple Bun" ($9) - The contrast of warm and cold between the bun and the passion fruit filling was a nice surprise. Texturally, the passion fruit filling reminded me of applesauce in a good way, but the flavor and chilled temp were really refreshing. My partner said she just wanted to order the passion fruit filling. 7/10 read more

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I liked all of the savoury dishes but most surprised by the noodles - so tasty with the added flavour alongside the noodles themselves. The brisket also was unique with the buttery tasty. I saw this place was known for their fried chicken, but it wasn't anything amazing to me; worth skipping. I didn't really like the matcha banana tiramisu, not sure about the banana flavour and texture. I did like the mochi beignets! read more

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I finally made my way to Maketto and I completely understand the hype. The concept alone is super unique-- Cambodian and Taiwanese flavors brought together in a way that feels both intentional and exciting. The menu keeps you curious and the space itself has that effortlessly cool, laid-back vibe that makes you want to stay awhile. I ordered the Ginger Chicken Soup Dumplings, Duck Noodle Soup, and Drunken Shrimp Fried Rice. The flavors were rich, well-balanced, and felt thoughtfully executed across the board. You can tell there's real attention to detail in each dish. It's the kind of place that's perfect for a casual night out, a solo food date, or even bringing friends to try a few things and share. Safe to say, I'll definitely be back to explore more of the menu. read more

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This was more like a 4.2 than a 4. Maketto is a Cambodian/Taiwanese fusion restaurant with a (well-deserved) Bib Gourmand recommendation from Michelin. We stopped in for lunch on a weekend and found the interior bright, clean, and welcoming. There was a table set up in the front to facilitate an ongoing bake sale, and I knew this was going to be a good meal just from looking at the pastries. We ordered what felt like half the menu, and before long at all dishes started rolling out, starting with a pair of pork bao buns. The filling on these was shredded meat with green onions and some other flavors, served with an (essential) swoosh of hoisin on the plate. Next was (poorly named, but delicious) spicy cauliflower that I would probably just call dan dan cauliflower or something. The sauce had a lot of roasted sesame flavor but I didn't find it particularly spicy. Rounding out starters, we had the sourdough scallion pancake. I wanted something slightly different from the pancake; it's very fried, maybe deep-fried, and I felt like that made it heavier and greasier than I wanted it to be, and a little lacking in flavor agents once you ate the first few bites of each piece that had been in the center. We also ordered a medium plate, the Cambodian noodle salad with pork shoulder, and a large plate, the fried chicken. The noodle salad was wonderful; light, bouncy rice noodles swimming in an acidic sauce with beautifully lacquered, melt in your mouth roast pork. The fried chicken is an absolutely massive portion piled on top what I assume is the same bread used for the sandwich on the menu and smothered in five spice and caramel. There's also what I think might be pickled mustard greens or something similar piled on top and I cannot undersell those pickled greens, which provided a welcome lift to the dish. I did find the breading to be slightly thicker than I would prefer, which also gave it a tendency to flake and crumble off of the chicken, but the flavor was excellent. Service was stellar, and I would not hesitate to return or recommend Maketto as a stop. read more

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This is a really cool spot! The ambiance is great and vibrant. Our server was very friendly. We shared some appetizers and the fried chicken. Everything was delicious! I'd definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

Two of my favorite cuisines, coming together in one DC institution by the name of Maketto. With food that is inspired by Taiwan and Cambodia, the dishes vary in taste and flavor that makes me quite happy. In my first visit to Maketto, I came for their dim sum lunch on the weekend, and even though I had high expectations coming in, it met my every desire. We started with the pork steamed bao, and man it didn't disappoint. With a hoisin sauce spread on the plate and plenty of hoisin sauce flavoring the pork, this homemade beauty was my favorite of the lot. Having eaten so many bao buns in my past, this one stood out among many I've eaten across Asia. We also ordered the Xaio Long Bao, the Cambodian Noodle Soup, and the Rice Roll with Shrimp. The star of these was the Rice Roll w/shrimp. The shrimp was excellent, the Rice Roll itself was perfect and the toppings and sauce made me want to order more. The Cambodian Noodle Soup was great as well. True to form, we had it with the chicken and it was a perfect encapsulation of the Cambodian soups that I so loved when visiting. Service was good, but most importantly the food came out piping hot. A must with this style of cuisine. The only exception was the Xaio Long Bao, but that could have been due to the sauce cooling the dumplings. As for ambiance, it is a unique model as it is a coffee shop before 11, and then a restaurant and coffee shop after 11. We came around 11:30 and it was in between selling out of all their pop-up pastries and ramping up the kitchen. I will be back, many times indeed. read more

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Went to Maketto for a large group dinner and I was easily able to book a reservation online. We were seated as our party came in which is always appreciated. We ordered about half the menu and everything was insanely good. The Peking duck bao buns had a variety of toppings that elevated the dish, the Maketto fried chicken was out of this world, and the much beignets were insanely good and fresh. This is definitely the type of place you want to go with a group to and share a bunch of plates. Service was attentive with waters consistently refilled. I would love to try out their brunch in the future! read more

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The service was good here and they are responsive to messages. I appreciate both. Unfortunately after trying one dim sum dish I didn't want to try more. I came for the dim sum brunch on Saturday and tried the Rice Roll with Chinese doughnut and sweet soy. This is a dish that when done right provides an interesting juxtaposition between a very crunchy freshly fried doughnut and a soft rice roll. The doughnut I received here was not fried fresh to order (or even close to that), was not crispy, not hot and was hard to even chew. I happened to have the same dish at China Boy that same day. It was almost half the price, fried to order and absolutely amazing. The amazing freshly fried mouth watering one at China boy was $5. Here at Maketto it was $9 +20% service charge (At least the service was good though.) It's possible they have other dishes here that are good but being served a doughnut that's not fresh in a Chinese doughnut rice roll was enough for me to try here. My general rating system: 1 star: I would stay away 2 stars: Has some good things about it but I generally don't recommend. 3 stars: Pretty good. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back but a decent place 4 stars: Great place. I would go back. 5 stars: I highly recommend stopping whatever you are doing and making plans to try it out! An Evie favorite! read more

Maketto - Rice roll with doughnut- doughnut not fresh - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Decided to try this place out as it seemed like a unique option in the area. I think the short rib scallion pancake entree is the most worth due to the amount of food you get. It has large fluffy scallion pancakes to wrap with, tender short rib meat, and a thick creamy sauce under with pickled veggies. The noodles and fried chicken weren't anything special to me. I really liked the mochi beignets for their fluffy texture and definitely loved the lemon sauce and fresh strawberries it came with! I wasn't the biggest fan of the matcha banana tiramisu. Our server was nice and the inside is bright. read more

Maketto - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place has been a jewel in the Hst NE neighborhood for years. It threads the needle of representing Pan Asian food w/o loosing authenticity in every dish!! They do Dim Sum well, then knock Laos style Lab out of the park. Their pork is always perfectly roasted and soft and their fried noodles punch with flavor. The cocktails are thoughtful in their craft, infusing ideas from the Orient and still crush the classics. The space always feels hip but inviting and the service is chill, cool, and friendly. This place is a jewel. No polish needed. No notes! read more

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Undoubtedly the best meal I had during my month in the DMV. I was lucky to visit during DC restaurant week and got a good deal on an appetizer, entree, and desert. I went with the sourdough scallion pancake, Cambodian noodle soup, and banana matcha tiramisu. Even though I was by myself, I also ordered the fried rice and added crab... I was feeling particularly greedy that day, don't judge. Everything was amazing. The scallion pancake was fluffy and chewy and had nice tang from both the dough and vinegar dressing on top. The noodle soup was also full of bright vibrant flavor and had a bunch of great textures going on. The crab fried rice had a complex sambal-like spice to it, and the crab was so tender and melted like butter in your mouth. The tiramisu was a nice finish to an amazing meal. I think about this meal almost every day, especially the fried rice. Do yourself a favor and splurge on the crab add on. read more

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When DC is on, she is ON. This was such a lovely take on a pan asian menu. I have to start with the Chinese Opera cocktail. It was sweet, chilled, foamy, with that familiar pisco sour vibe. And it was pretty which helps a lot. My friend and I got a slew of small plates, all of which felt familiar enough but daring to be different. The sourdough scallion pancake was a shock--it resembled something closer to deep fried pizza dough but in the best way. Other honorable mentions include the cucuber salad (spicy and crunchy) and the egg custard tarts (surprise creme brulee vibes). The scallop red curry was also pretty good with a healthy kick, which came with rice. Service was lovely! My only criticism was the curry took a really long time to come out compared to the rest of the food, but I never felt like we weren't taken care of. Definitely one to come back to when I'm nearby (or honestly, trying to impress someone!) read more

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Takes reservation. Street parking available inside the trolley tracks. Free parking after 630pm. Takes credit card. Exceptional good service. Food is average. Prices are little high. Ginger chicken soup dumplings- 4 pieces- $12- pretty good flavor. Skin was a little thick. Cambodian noodle salad with pork- $15- the ingredients are all really good separately. It's a basic concept. The fish sauce on the side helps the dish. Maketto fried chicken $32- 2 large pieces of chicken meat that is moist. It has nice breading with a crunch similar to Korean fried chicken. Served over toasted bread with vinegaratte sauce. Dry aged half Peking duck $45- I can tell the side ingredients and condiments are fresh and home made. The Peking duck is pretty flavorful but not super moist. I that is because of the dry aging. The flavor is good but is not amazing. The skin don't have a nice crunch or crispy. read more

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Maketto is one of my favorite restaurants in D.C for both dinner and their bake sale on Saturdays. I can't wait to try more of their menu. I really enjoyed their chicken sandwich. It was like an explosion of flavor with the perfect amount of freshness from the veggies that topped it (very similar in taste to the veggies on banh mi). Service and ambiance have never let me down. They have outdoor seating in addition to indoor seating which is amazing on a beautiful day. Maketto is always on my list to take visitors read more

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maketto serves unique and delicious dishes! There is street parking or I'm sure there's a nearby garage somewhere. The restaurant is 2 floors but not very big, and tables are close together. At dinner time it is quite dimly lit. The bathroom is in the basement and you have to walk downstairs. We felt the portions were generous for the price. The sourdough scallion pancake was phenomenal! Shrimp dumplings and duck soup were also amazing! The noodle salad with chicken was not my favorite but not bad. As 2 hungry people, we got 2 small plates and 2 medium plates and left stuffed with lots of leftovers! service was great and the food did not take long to come out, even at prime time on a friday night. we also did not feel rushed. I would recommend! read more

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I visited Maketto with a group of people, and it was a great experience. I made a reservation for 10 and it took about 24 hours to confirm my reservation. Our table was ready when I arrived. We shared a bunch of different items. I really enjoyed the crispy Gruyère dumplings, chicken soup dumplings, and the mochi beignets. I also like that the bao platter allowed us to put a bunch of toppings on our baos. I would highly recommend visiting this restaurant with a couple of friends so you can share dishes. The service was great. We had a few vegetarians and they let us know which dishes had meat when they brought them out. read more

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I brought Steph here for her birthday lunch and we had such a great time. The service was warm and welcoming which made the whole experience even better. We started with the cucumber salad that had just the right kick and so much flavor. The oysters were beautifully dressed and so fresh. The tofu dish was rich and comforting while the dumplings were delicate with a light flavorful broth. The crispy chicken topped with peanuts and herbs was a standout and one of our favorites. We paired everything with cocktails that were refreshing and well balanced. The menu is unique and full of dishes that you do not find everywhere which made it fun to share and try different flavors. Every plate looked amazing and tasted just as good. Overall this was a wonderful spot for Steph's birthday and a place I would happily return to again. read more

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The Cambodian/Taiwanese flavor mashup at Maketto is unlike anything I've ever experienced before. We tried some very good things during our lunch. Everything we ordered from the Small Plates section was a win. Call me basic, but the East Coast Oysters ($16) were fire. They're topped with a melon chili vinaigrette and trout roe. These tasted Asian-y. Fish sauce-y even. The trout roe added another layer of unexpected flavor. Delish. I also loved the crispy gruyere dumplings with Chinese beef chili ($16). The dumplings tasted like a very dense Chinese donut. This combined with the Chinese beef chili was unexpectedly so good. Don't be put off by the gruyere or the chili descriptions - they're hardly detectable when eaten altogether. To round out the Small Plates section, we also tried the jumbo scallop red curry ($19). I've had several scallops dishes this trip and this version was top tier. The jumbo scallops are nestled in a bed a curry. Scallops aren't typically your curry protein of choice, so eating them here was a nice change. The meaty scallop texture combined with the curry over rice was wildly good. We did try some Cambodian forward dishes from the Medium Plates: -Cambodian noodle salad ($15): pork shoulder, chicken, rice noodles, herb apps, peanuts, cucumber + spring roll -Cambodian noodle soup ($15): pork shoulder or chicken, rice noodles, chicken + dough stick These were good to try, however, I felt like the flavors were quite muted. They resembled the traditional dishes but lacked the intensity of flavors. I'd recommend trying some of their more innovative dishes. Maketto is well worth a visit. read more

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This place is still stellar after all these years. Came late on a Saturday night where they had two private parties and they still squeezed us in. Can't beat the vibe - laid back but buzzing. Service was very attentive and welcoming. Everything we tried was delicious, complex and unique. It's a daily menu with a lot of staples -- we felt like we could not have chosen wrong. For cocktails we tried the Ankor what - Szechuan-infused bourbon, maple cynar and lemon. I wasn't sure what to expect and how spirit forward it would be but it was perfectly balanced. Not too sweet, not too spicy or peppery with the sezchuan pepper but subtly complex. And the Chinese opera - Lemongrass-Infused Macchu Pisco, St. Germain, Lemon, Apple Shrub, Aquafaba. This one looked beautiful, topped with pink peppercorns and went down too easy. Light and refreshing. I would recommend all the dishes we tried. The Chinese soup dumplings with this fragrant peanut sauce are a must. My boyfriend's favorite was the Gruyère beef chili dumplings which reminded me of croquettes. Definitely recommend the Peking duck build your own bao entree. We loved the vegetable toppings so much we asked if we could purchase their homemade kimchi to take some home :) Finished with the egg tartes which were so light and luscious, the brulee crust is everything. Appreciated the chef even stopping by the table to check on the meal! Such a nice impromptu dining out experience read more

We stopped here for lunch a couple of days after Christmas while visiting DC. Very happy with this find - wish I had been more hungry to try more dishes! Restaurant atmosphere is a cool vibe with nods to it's Chinese heritage in decor. Host was welcoming. We came on a day where they seemed to have a special "Bake Sale" taking place. We loved starting with the soup dumplings, scallion pancake and spring rolls. Kimchi bloody mary was memorable and I would definitely recommend it if you're a bloody mary drinker as I liked the reinterpretation of the cabbage for celery. The only thing I would say to pass on is the shitake & tofu dumplings. It might have been the cilantro or maybe chives, but some ingredient in it was overpowering in a negative way. On the other hand, the Duck Noodle Soup is a must get. Duck was crispy and meaty, the soup tasty and comforting and it had all the trimmings of a great noodle bowl. I was shocked that they only charged $19 for it because frankly, they could charge much more. All in all, a great dining experience that I would come back to on my next visit to DC. read more

I recently celebrated my birthday at Maketto, and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I was corresponding with Chef Erik and he made sure to go out of his way to make everything special! From the moment we arrived, the staff was incredibly warm, welcoming, and attentive. They went out of their way to ensure everything felt personal and curated--from thoughtful seating to attentive service that made the evening feel truly special. The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between trendy and relaxed, with a beautiful indoor-outdoor flow that adds to the charm. The food, as always, was exceptional--each dish was flavorful, creative, and beautifully presented. Everyone who attended my birthday is still raving about the food! Whether you're planning a special occasion or just looking for an elevated dining experience, Maketto delivers on all fronts. I'm so grateful for the hospitality and can't wait to come back! Highly recommend visiting on the weekends in the morning! There is an incredible Maketto Bakeshop with a surprise menu every week. During the week, the upstairs serves as a vintage retro records shop with a cafe! Every visit to Maketto is worthwhile and I also love the work that Chef Erik and staff does to support the DC Community. To try: - Maketto Fried Chicken - Scallop Curry - Everything! Hands down one of my favorite places to dine at! read more

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We came here during the Thanksgiving weekend and it really hit the spot. To start off, we got soup dumplings and a cauliflower dish, which were both nice and flavorful. We also got fried chicken sandwiches, which were nice and flavorful. The service was nice and it was cozy inside, and they also accommodated a request to lower the volume of the music, which I really appreciated. read more

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MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE RESTAURANT OF ALL TIME! Their food is amazing. I recommend their fried chicken, shrimp dumplings, oysters and cocktails. Their service is amazing, Eric, Danny and Pedro make me feel right at home. I love their ambiance with the record store and cafe on the second floor. On summer nights their courtyard is amazing to sit and eat. I have a tradition and spend my birthday there every year. read more

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I ordered two medium size plates and three starters to split with my boyfriend and I was so stuffed! Here's a list of dishes I would come back for and dishes I would pass on in the future: -pork steamed bao: yes -strange flavor eggplant: yes -ginger chicken soup dumpling: yes -Cambodian pho: pass (not enough flavor) -crispy fried chicken: pass (not enough flavor) Service was incredible, and the restaurant itself had an amazing ambience with hip decor. Loved the air forces on display. read more

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This restaurant is one of the rare gifts DC is incredibly lucky to receive. Maketto's kitchen is putting out food at a level where they are able to explore a full breath that lies between Cambodian and Taiwanese flavor profiles. Cambodian food is still an emerging category within the fine dining sector, so I'm deeply touched that the chef is using Khmer ingredients with care and consideration. Its common for Cambodian food to be absorbed into larger Southeast Asian categories as they share a lot of dishes with their neighboring counties,, but I think making the distinction that the menu identifies its source country says a lot about respect to culture and resists the erasure of Cambodian contributions to wider Southeast Asian food systems. I want to award Maketto for their willingness to venture further about Khmer flavors with this type of imagination because it is in a place where restaurants in DC have never ventured. From their Small Plates, we were delighted to receive the Crystal Shrimp Dumplings nestled in a seasoned fish sauce and garnished with fried shallots, red peppers, and dill. The wrapper was the perfect thickness for this style of dumpling. Although you risk compromising the integrity of the dumpling when it sits in a pool of liquid, the rice-based wrapper held up beautifully as it retained a chewy bite that paired well with the bouncy nature of the shrimp filling. This is an example of one of their most cohesive dishes since dill is commonly paired with seafoods in Southeast Asia, so the combination of fish sauce, shrimp, and dill creates such a unique encounter with this delicate oceanic dish that you wouldn't know to be a part of this cuisine. The Ginger Chicken Soup Dumplings brought me home when my mom made cha kn'yei (stir-fried ginger) because this appetizer considers lessons from that dish of using ginger as a vegetable rather than an aromatic. The ginger sauce the soup dumplings sit in carry the same intensity of that dish. It's presence on the menu to understand the strong medicinal qualities of Cambodian cuisine that is severely underutilized while still paying homage to the origins of how dumplings came to be. And then oh my god, the should-be-trademarked Maketto Fried Chicken. A moment, please. From what I can taste and see, I think this takes inspiration from the Taiwanese popcorn chicken with a dredge with some blend of rice flour and topped with Thai basil and 5-spice, but this is a beautiful poultry beast of its own. The deep brown contrasts with the white blooms that only appear when you masterfully fry rice flour (possibly blended with panko). It creates an encasing where the oil beads off the chicken so from there you can achieve that quality of fried chicken that is not greasy at all. The most ideal cut for fried chicken, thigh, is deboned and makes up the entirety of the dish, showcasing the sophistication of putting fried chicken on the menu. The Maketto treatment elevates the Taiwanese classic a step further where a sweetened 5-spice glaze is applied to the entire dish so each crevice is perfectly seasoned and consumed as it was intended.Of course, with fried shallots and more basil for good measure. The structural integrity is remarkable, despite being coated in sauce, the chicken remained crunchy for the entire duration of our meal. I do want to point that the dish is served on bread and drizzled with more of the glaze, which might be a call back to the smaller version of this on the menu (Fried Chicken Sandwich), but in a dinner setting i think it could go without or benefit from another carb pairing. If they did want to keep those dishes in conversation, a pickled element like daikon would be a great acidic bite to take in between the fried chicken and elaborate the taste notes of the dish. Regardless, I want to use magic to describe what we ate, but with credits to the chef, it was so expertly conceived that it would be a dishonor to how much thought and testing it probably took to arrive at this dish. For drinks, we tried the Chinese Sympony which gets its floral acidic elements from lemongrass and it was topped with pink pepper corn. The peppercorns were a great garnish but I think having them cracked would retain the pink garnish but also introduce those peppery notes as you drank instead of biting down on a whole peppercorn. I really appreciate them for having a well developed drinks menu where the specialty cocktails have a lot of consideration of how to draw out even more flavors from the restaurant's inspiration. Dessert was a Banana Matcha Tiramisu which was so much fun and served in those classic melamine restaurant bowls I love to see in a home-style restaurant. Banana is such a familiar taste, yet we wouldn't expect it prepared in tiramisu and the earthy matcha grounds the dish in terms of sweetness. I'm glad they brought it out in this fine-dining setting. It really relaxes the way you approach the food. Thanks for taking care of us Maketto! read more

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When visiting a new city, the first dinner sets the tone, and I was thrilled to find this highly renowned restaurant available for an 8 PM reservation. Food: 5/5 After my trip to Taiwan last year, I've been craving flavors that bring me back. We started with pork bao, a fantastic value for how filled they were. The smoked brisket stole the show--tender, buttery, and served with two pieces of fresh bao perfect for making DIY bao bites! The spicy cucumber salad was a so addictive, taking me straight back to my house with its use of chili oil and black Chinese vinegar. My friend and I couldn't stop eating it. The lo mien is spicy so be warned for those with sensitive tongues. Drinks were just as impressive. I had a Manhattan-style cocktail, while my friend opted for a fruitier drink--both very well made. The portions were surprisingly generous, and we even had to take some food home. For around $160, including an auto-tip, it felt like a great deal. Service: 5/5 Even though we were late for our reservation, they seated us immediately after 9 PM. The restaurant was packed, but our server got to us quickly, brought out chopsticks upon request, and was super accommodating about my lactose allergy. Attentive, friendly, and efficient--everything you could want in a dining experience. This place is popular, so reservations are a must unless you're arriving close to 9PM. The brisket alone is worth the visit, offering an insane portion for just $40. The vibes are perfect for a date night--dimly lit, stylish, and intimate. I'd 100% return with my mom, good friends, or anyone who loves great food in a great atmosphere. read more

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As a proud consumer of fried chicken sandwiches... Maketto has a lot to boast about and be proud of. The vibe in the restaurant is consistent with the up-and-coming nature of Washington DC. The service was good and everyone in the restaurant seemed to be enjoying their food and experience. The actual chicken sandwich has several things going for it. Mainly the integrity of the bun, the very unique (and delicious) flavor, and the size of the chicken. I think if they had fries that were dusted in a similar seasoning to accompany... this would be skyrocketed to a 5 star review!! read more

Maketto - Fried Chicken Sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The four of us had a later reservation for dinner yesterday, and we ordered so much food that we had ample leftovers. We could have done without one of the large plates. PORK STEAMED BAO - 9 Two of us arrived to Maketto early and were super hungry, so we ordered the classic pork steamed bao to start. Each bao was stuffed with a generous portion of savory braised pork, complemented by the sweetness of hoisin sauce. I actually quite enjoyed the bao and would definitely order it again as a light appetizer. These would make for a great breakfast option. CAMBODIAN NOODLE SALAD - 15 We ordered ours with pork shoulder, as recommended by our server. We all agreed that the Cambodian noodle salad was our favorite in terms of flavor, despite it being a bit tricky to share among all of us. The bowl of noodles was generously topped with thinly sliced pork shoulder, peanuts, cucumber, pickled vegetables, and herbs. There was also a spring roll that came with it. The sauce, served separately, really elevated the noodle salad with its pungent, yet sweet and tangy flavors. The fresh vegetables and the rich marinade on the pork made for a delicious combination. This was a great dish to order, and I'd highly recommend it. SPICY PORK SAUSAGE LAAB & BONE MARROW - 28 This was a very unique concept. The spicy pork sausage laab (a minced meat salad typically made with herbs, chilis, lime juice, and fish sauce) was smothed with buttery, gelatinous bone marrow, which we enjoyed with fresh white rice. The server warned us that the pork would be really salty, and it turned out to be saltier than we expected. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough rice to balance out the saltiness. We did like the bright and citrusy flavors of lemongrass mixed in the laab. The bone marrow, while rich and fatty, felt somewhat excessive and didn't really enhance the laab, other than adding a thick, heavy texture. MAKETTO FRIED CHICKEN - 32 The dish comes with two fat pieces of fried chicken drizzled with a sweet and savory sauce, topped with fresh herbs, fried garlic, and chilies, all sitting on four pieces of bread. The sauce on the chicken was delicious, but we found the breading on the chicken to be uneven. In some spots, the breading was too thick, so I ended up eating just breading for part of it. The pieces of bread were so good, lightly flavored with the sauce and had a chewy, bouncy, texture. SIGNATURE BAO PLATTER (DRY AGED HALF PEKING DUCK) - 45 This was quite the let down. The buns that came with it were mediocre at best. The duck was dry, mainly consisting of breast meat. The platter of fresh herbs, pickled vegetables, and beansprouts didn't do much to elevate the duck bao. I wouldn't order this again. EGG CUSTARD TART Each order comes with two tarts. The tart had a nice caramelized sugar layer on top. However, we found the shell to be too hard, as if it hadn't fully defrosted before heating up. The custard was also a bit too runny. MOCHI BEIGNET Each order comes with four beignets. They sat on a layer of zesty lemon curd and was dusted with powdered sugar. The fusion worked out quite nicely, and we loved the combination of flavors. Overall, Maketto has great ideas and innovation when it comes to food. However, the execution was a bit lacking for a few dishes (e.g. really dry duck or uneven breading on the chicken) which is why we decided it's more of a 4/5. Service was good and attentive. I would recommend at least checking it out. read more

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The best iced coffee ( mocha) & cookie ( chocolate raspberry) that I have ever had! Lovely, clean spot with a bar and a fascinating menu. From 9 AM until late.. read more

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Well executed food that goes straight to the heart of your tastebuds! I think the only bad thing I can say about Maketto is that it is in DC and I live in California. Great food like Maketto's was the highlight of our recent DC trip and not only should it be a must stop when visiting DC but should also be a local favorite. Every dish we ordered was perfect and a beautiful demonstration of how much thought and love was put into the menu. The dishes were a beautiful layering of Taiwanese and Cambodian flavors that perked up our tastebuds..there was a lot of "this is soo good!" We ordered three small plates (Spicy cumbers, scallion pancake and chicken dumpling ginger soup) and two large plates (Maketto Fried Chicken and Aged Brisket) which was just the right amount for three hungry adults with no leftovers. Service was attentive without being intrusive and the decor provided a lovely ambiance. My husband also ordered the latte which he LOVED and we were impressed that someone came in to only order a latte from the bar. Maketto is definitely an overachiever when it comes to their menu! read more

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We came here for the restaurant week special: 4-courses for $40. Great deal for the amount of food we got but we did opt in for the Peking Duck Bao which was +$30. We each ordered different courses and shared! Service was great and we'll be back again for dinner but just not order the dessert. Offer ends 2/15! Veggie Spring Roll: 10/10 Very filling and we liked the sauce it comes with. Spicy Cucumber Salad: 10/10 Usually cucumber salad is hit or miss but this one is flavorful with big chunks of cucumber. We ate the entire plate! Sourdough Scallion Pancake: 8/10 Not your typical scallion pancake! These bad boys are huge and fluffy! It's different but good! Pork Steamed Bao: 9/10 This was good but I wish it had more sauce inside. The outside is perfectly steamed and soft! Signature Bao Platter with Peking Duck: 7/10 the duck skin was super crispy but the meat was just okay. I'm not a huge fan of duck tho. Maketto Fried Chicken: 9/10 this was my friends favorite dish! Crispy and topped with yummy sauces. Mochi beignets: 6/10 we assumed it would be more like a fried mochi ice cream but it tasted more like a fried ball. No ice cream. Banana Matcha Tiramisu: 6/10 I was excited for the banana flavor but it was sooo subtle. Overall this dessert lacks sweetness but I feel that way about most Asian desserts. read more

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