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    Shōtō

    4.0 (713 reviews)
    Closed • 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

    Shōtō Photos

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    Lorraine A.

    Absolutely loved loved loved Shoto! Came here with a friend where we partaked in the omakase premium experience. Firstly, the vibe of Shoto is unmatched. It feels very intimate and the restaurant is very spacious. The Omakase experience is one I had always wanted to experience and I'm so happy I got to experience it here. All the food items that came out were delicious and I was so full by the time dessert came out. Service was amazing and our server was pleasant. She made sure we understood all dishes that were coming out and everything came out fresh and prompt. This is the best restaurant for a date night or an intimate birthday dinner. I can't wait tomorrow to come back.

    Japanese Wagyu
    Shell J.

    We had such a great time exploring Shōtō. We started with sushi and California maki rolls. The sashimi was very fresh, and the hamachi was my favorite. From there, we moved on to the skewers, chicken and pork, then grilled steak and scallops. And of course, there's nothing quite like the feeling of Wagyu beef melting in your mouth. It was a lot of food, but everything tasted so good that at some point, you just stopped setting boundaries and kept exploring. You can tell how adventurous everyone was by the variety of desserts we ordered. Some had a perfect Japanese twist, especially the matcha tiramisu and yuzu cheesecake. The interior and ambiance are nice, stylish without being over the top. I think it's a great place for team building or business dinner.

    Interior
    Courtney C.

    Came here on 6/28/26, had a reservation at 8pm and were seated immediately. The space inside is gorgeous but cramped and LOUD. This is not a space to grab food if you're trying to have a conversation. We often found ourselves yelling across the table and when selecting items to share we crammed ourselves on one side of the booth squishing other patrons. Otherwise this would've been a 5 star review. Our waiter was amazing, albeit a bit distracted at times because of his service area, and helped advise us on the items we were interested in. We had: Koika No Karaage - their version of calamari - 10/10 - lightly fried with the most amazing texture and paired with a yuzu mayo. For the price I wish the serving size was larger but that's my only gripe. Kani - 10/10 - snow crab with spicy mayo - 2 came with the order and they were amazing. The Japanese crest was the perfect contrast to softness of the snow crab. It was also seasoned well. Hotate Toryufu - 10/10 - the scallops melted in your mouth. Amazing. No notes. California Maki - 6/10 - my least favorite thing here. It wasn't awful but it didn't compare to the other things we had. Drinks - I WISH I could remember the name of the drink I had. Hands down one of the best drinks I've ever had and was paired with sparkling sake. Bathe me in sparkling sake, put a bottle in my casket, I want it with me forever. I would come back for sure but would opt to sit at the bar. It would definitely be easier to speak to someone sitting next to you than across from you. For the price you will not get full here but if you want to share some small bites of new food this is absolutely your spot.

    Hamachi Crudo
    Marilyn C.

    Top notch elevated sushi dining experience. Came her with a couple of friends for a birthday dinner. The drinks were phenomenal including the nonalcoholic Habani which comes in a cute puffer fish cup. My friends enjoyed their martinis. We started with the hamachi crudo and pork belly skewers and shared three rolls between us. This was great for each of us to have some small bites but if you're hungry, go for an entree. The service was very attentive and our waiter took care of us for all it birthday girl (dessert with a candle). And the ambiance is definitely upscale and sexy. Dress up for this one!

    Brittney V.

    Always a pleasure to visit Shōtō whenever I'm passing through DC. I remember when they first opened and they have remained consistent since then. Top Tier food and excellent service per usual. The Miso Cod remains my favorite.

    Aleena M.

    stopped by the bar yesterday after a celebration for school and was NOT disappointed. i ordered the spicy tuna and shrimp tempura which was so yum! i also got a cocktail that i cannot find the name of but it was their rendition of a pornstar martini with a sparkling sake shot!

    Shoto Menu
    Nessa R.

    This is arguably one of my most favorite restaurants in the city. Let's come once or twice a month please! Date Night me here over and over again! Shōtō is one of DC's most striking Japanese dining experiences, equal parts upscale restaurant and high‑energy nightlife spot. The moment you walk in, you're hit with dramatic lighting, a sleek volcanic‑stone aesthetic, and a buzzy crowd that's clearly here to make a night of it. If you're looking for quiet, this isn't your place; if you're looking for a vibe, you've found it. The food is genuinely impressive. The robata‑grilled dishes are the stars, especially the short rib with chili‑soy glaze and the wagyu cuts that arrive perfectly caramelized. Sushi is clean, fresh, and beautifully presented; the hamachi and tacos are crowd favorites for a reason. The omakase is high‑quality, though ordering à la carte gives you more freedom to explore the menu's highlights. Don't skip the lobster tempura or the black cod gyoza. These are two of my absolute favorites! Service is polished and knowledgeable, though it can be a bit inconsistent on busy nights. The dress code is enforced, so come prepared...this is not a sneakers‑and‑hoodie kind of spot. Glam up! Prices are undeniably steep, and portions lean small, but the overall experience, food, atmosphere, and presentation, makes it feel like a worthwhile splurge for celebrations, date nights, or anyone who enjoys a lively, modern Japanese dining scene. If you want a quiet, traditional meal, look elsewhere. If you want great food wrapped in a high‑energy, beautifully designed setting, Shōtō delivers. Yes to this place! Over and Over AGAIN!

    Ceviche with caviar
    Ciera M.

    My favorite dish there is the ceviche and the caviar. Goes perfectly together as an appetizer. Always ask for more Bellinis

    Taylor A.

    We loved everything about this experience, from the knowledgeable staff to the each delicious bite. There's an entire wall of mini fire places and the entire restaurant has high ceilings with a mostly open floorplan. It's gorgeous. The seats are well arranged, close but angled and not overly intimate. We ordered the tuna & salmon tartar, ceviche, a pair of salmon belly tacos, an eel roll, two cocktails, and they gifted us a celebratory small sorbet dessert. Every moment felt perfectly curated and thoughtful. Every member of the staff was kind, swift, and knowledgeable. The prices are high and the portions are small, so be warned. Definitely will feel a bit of sticker shock but it's excellent for a celebration. Above all, the tartar was a crowd favorite and we cannot wait to return!

    Melissa S.

    This was a very cute girls night! The food was so yummy! I have to back for those scallops! The servers were attentive and quick.

    A5 Wagyu Gyoza
    Usamah N.

    We went to Shoto for Valentine's Day and everything from the service to the food was absolutely incredible. We ordered the tuna tacos, wagyu tacos, shrimp tempura roll, beef ribs, scallops, sea bass, and wagyu gyoza and honestly, almost everything was perfect. The tuna tacos completely stole the show, easily one of the best bites I've had in a long time. My fiancee now calls this her favorite restaurant and wants to come back. Yes, it's on the pricier side, but the quality absolutely justifies it. Every dish felt intentional, flavorful, and beautifully done. The only thing I wouldn't order again is the California maki roll, but aside from that, the menu seriously delivers.

    Ashlyn B.

    INCREDIBLY good food but also extremely expensive! This is a great place the truly celebrate and indulge.

    Sweet potatoes
    Stephanie B.

    We came here for a friends birthday dinner and everything was amazing! We were a group of 9 so everyone had to spend $150 pp. They have a chef options which serves cold and hot plates and you can do al la carte as well. There's a DJ that plays music. The ambiance is beautiful and not too dark inside. The drinks and mocktails are great! Our server was amazing as well!

    Sake no teriyaki kyuri zoe

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    Shōtō Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Shōtō

    Is there any gluten free options available for sushi?

    What is the website? I can not find it anywhere. Also, the site for reservations is down.

    Sevenrooms.com is the website noted for reservations and is shown when you google the restaurant. I just attempted to check the link before posting this answer and it works.… 

    Is there all you can eat?

    No there is no ayce

    Are they open on Sundays? They have reservations available and I made one, but google and their website says they aren't open Sundays...

    Yes. They are open on Sundays.

    Is it hard to find parking ? How much will they charge for parking?

    I wouldn't park anywhere near there- go somewhere else for better food and service

    How do you get a reservation? There's nothing at all available on their tool.

    You go on their website and you can make a reservation from their website.

    Is there a happy hour menu? It's really annoying that they don't have a website

    Nope they don't have one yet, maybe in the future but currently there is no Happy Hour. We asked when we went 😂

    Can I buy a gift card?

    No! Super annoying. Tried to buy for a friend and hey don't have the "capabilities" to do so. Maybe in April they said.

    Full menu at the bar for walk-ins or is all seating reservation only?

    Full menu at the bar for walk ins. Sushi bar is reservation only.

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    Love Makoto - Hand rolls

    Love Makoto

    4.5(580 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    •$$$$

    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.

    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

    Ko Japanese Dining

    Ko Japanese Dining

    4.5(74 reviews)
    0.8 mi•Dupont Circle

    I had a solid dinner at Ko and ordered the Katsudon Set. I had the pork cutlet which was…read more simmered in a sweet broth and topped with fluffy egg over steamed rice. It came with miso soup. Service was great and the restaurant itself was very lovely. The portion was huge and I was stuffed when I left. I really appreciated the presentation of the meal. I ended up repeating the order for takeout a few weeks later. I would definitely return in the cooler months and reorder the Katsudon Set as it seems like it would be a comforting meal in colder weather.

    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.

    Photos
    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

    Beef Sukiyaki

    Ko Japanese Dining - Delicious chilled sake

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    Delicious chilled sake

    Izakaya Seki - Sashimi platter

    Izakaya Seki

    3.9(527 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    •$$$

    Date night! I was surprised when I was walking up to the place because it was so tiny, and the…read moreentrance is so small. Once I got inside, it was a long L-shaped counter and just a couple of tables along the outer perimeter of the wall. Our server checked on us efficiently, and I definitely have a few highlights from what we tried. Fried oysters: simply delish! I didn't want anything fried, but I was talking to this and didn't regret it haha. Eggplant: if you don't like the texture, don't get this. But the ginger and other flavors going on really make it hit. BBQ eel & cucumber: my favorite dish! It was both refreshing and flavorful, and we enjoyed it so much we got to. The omakase dish had a fun colorful variety of fish on it, and while it was good overall, some fish just tasted so plain compared to others. I would come back here, mainly for the dishes I highlighted and for the daily options that become available. It might take quite a while to get through everything!

    I went with a group of friends to try Izakaya Seki after having it on our list for years. The space…read moreis very small and it can be challenging to get reservations, so you have to make sure to book early (especially for a larger group like ours). We ordered family style and tried a fair bit of the menu. I enjoyed the food enough but wasn't blown away by any of it. It was very expensive with tiny portions, but the flavor and quality wasn't any better than much cheaper restaurants. The croquettes were $18 for just two, but it didn't have as much crab as comparable croquettes I've had for less, and it felt under-seasoned. The standout was the garlic rice, funnily enough, and the eel tamago dish for me. I enjoyed the kakuni and the pork belly in the soba noodles, but it wasn't particularly well-prepared and the serving style was awkward for a group (3 big pieces with no way to cut or portion - they said they had no knives). The other savory dishes were just okay, and really none of them were something I would order again at this price point. The cod in particular disappointed me by being so bland. I did love the ice cream we ordered at the end, although each of us ordered a separate flavor and they confused us a bit by combining them at random in 2 bowls for 5 people. Honestly, I think my views are being colored slightly by the service, which was poor across the board. I would have been more generous with my rating if I felt the service was good or friendly, but to have cold service and high prices and tiny portions and unimpressive flavors made me feel less inclined to return. Still, it wasn't bad food, just mediocre - I wouldn't go back but I wouldn't warn anyone away, if that makes sense. Looking at the other reviews now, it seems we weren't the only ones to receive poor service, so it wasn't just an off night. The prices are one thing, but when you compare the service to an izakaya in Japan it's a pretty stark difference, right?

    Photos
    Izakaya Seki - Interior

    Interior

    Izakaya Seki - Salmon Roe and Yukari Riceball in Nori

    Salmon Roe and Yukari Riceball in Nori

    Izakaya Seki - Outside

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    Outside

    Sakaki Izakaya

    Sakaki Izakaya

    4.4(324 reviews)
    3.6 mi•Clarendon

    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!

    Photos
    Sakaki Izakaya
    Sakaki Izakaya
    Sakaki Izakaya

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    Daikaya the Izakaya - Spicy Miso Ramen

    Daikaya the Izakaya

    3.9(988 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    •$$

    We are here for work and one of my colleagues wanted to come here…read more It's located upstairs so remember to take the stairs on the left side. Super cool looking restaurant. As soon as we reached the top of the stairs, to the right is an amazing bar. Darker warm lighting in the whole restaurant. There are a few tables to the left of the bar, that's where we were seated, and more to the right and there's bar seatings as well We shared all the items ordered and enjoyed it all. Gyozas had wasabi on it so be careful but it was amazing with layers of flavors. The rice pot was more than enough for 4ppl to share with tons of meats and seafood inside. Like a paella but Japanese. Meatballs were underestimated but it delivered. Tasted amazing we had to order another one. Most items are one order, one item so ask before ordering. Service was perfect. Waitress always checked on us and food came out very timely.

    I was excited to try it because I had a craving for ramen and other dishes. Unfortunately, the…read moretonkotsu ramen was mediocre at best. The broth was okay (lacked a lot of flavor). The noodles were good, and the pork belly... puny and tasteless. I also ordered a pork katsudon to eat later; although slightly better, the meat portion was terribly small. The only bright spot was the chicken katsu, which was very good... though everything fried is usually good.

    Photos
    Daikaya the Izakaya - The third sake trio on the menu served like this, strength is weakest to highest left to right. They might substitute if unavailable

    The third sake trio on the menu served like this, strength is weakest to highest left to right. They might substitute if unavailable

    Daikaya the Izakaya - Tsukune Grilled Chicken Meatballs

    Tsukune Grilled Chicken Meatballs

    Daikaya the Izakaya - Pee Wee Potatoes

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    Pee Wee Potatoes

    Kyojin DC

    Kyojin DC

    4.4(331 reviews)
    1.7 mi•Georgetown

    Tucked away in the alley behind the Main Street nw in Georgetown, we got there right around 5 when…read morethey open, and watched it turn from a quiet restaurant to a thriving and lively place. Excellent service, the food was great and not outrageously priced (considering the area), and looked amazing inside! The decor and the lighting is makes it a cozy and intimate place but also great for a large party as well We booked our experience during restaurant week, we love trying out new places and their restaurant week menu offered a little bit of everything. We got some champagne to start, ordered some cocktails after, and the food started rolling in. We started with a caviar bump, and moved into the beetroot salad (which was amazing and so flavorful, we both wanted more), had the Tataki/carpaccio style followed by the nigiri/sashimi, then for the main course - the winner/volcano lobster roll. We didn't want our night to end there, there were so many great options in the menu so we opted to hold off on our desert and ordered some more food We got the sushi dinner dish to share along with the lavender smoked salmon Tataki style. Definitely could've eaten more after but decided to end our night after that, and had our ice cream to finish the night (matcha ice cream and raspberry sorbet) The service was 11/10, our waiter was extremely knowledgeable and all of the other waitstaff was extremely kind and was more than willing to help us with any questions or things we needed. The restaurant was very clean and they had nice bathrooms. The quality of the food was amazing and every dish had us hungry for more. This is definitely a place we'll be coming to again and will be recommending to everyone

    Birthday dinner brought us to Kyojin Sushi on a Monday night, and while the food definitely…read moreimpressed, the service kept this from being a five-star experience. We had a reservation for 7:30 p.m. for a party of 12, and I think that was the first issue. A group our size really needed a dedicated server, but instead we had one server covering our entire section. To be fair, he may have been stretched thin, but unfortunately, the service itself also left a lot to be desired. We were seated at 7:30, but our drink orders weren't taken until around 7:50. Then he disappeared for another 20 minutes before returning to take additional drink orders from people who had arrived later. We were ready to order food, but kept hearing, "I'll be right back." Throughout the night, drinks and items were forgotten. One friend finished her first glass of wine, ordered a second, and didn't receive it until we were literally asking for the check. At that point... we're leaving, friend. To make matters worse, several menu items we wanted weren't available. The mochi? Sold out. The Wagyu? Sold out. There were three or four different items people at our table ordered that were unavailable. On a Monday, that was a little surprising. Now for the good part... the sushi was REALLY good. I ordered the Yume Roll and the Tiger Roll, and both were incredibly fresh. The Yume Roll was especially unique and one of my favorite specialty rolls I've had in a while. It was made with spicy tuna, avocado, seared tuna, jalapeño, spicy mayo, eel sauce, and crunchy tempura bits, which gave it the perfect combination of heat, texture, and richness. The Tiger Roll was another standout, made with lump crab, avocado, cucumber, spicy mayo, steamed tiger shrimp, and a mango tobiko sauce. The combination of flavors was fresh, light, and perfectly balanced. I also ordered the edamame with the spicy black garlic sauce, and I absolutely loved that twist. It was a nice change from the usual salted edamame. One dish that completely missed the mark was the Tempura Rice with Chicken, which I shared with the table. Unfortunately, this was the only thing we ordered that I genuinely didn't enjoy. The chicken was dark meat, lacked seasoning, and honestly tasted like it had come straight from a bag of frozen Tyson nuggets. It didn't have the crispy, flavorful bite I was expecting and felt completely out of place compared to how fresh and well-executed the sushi was. I'd definitely skip this one on my next visit. My cocktail was just as impressive as the food. It was made with Ilegal Mezcal, pomegranate, hibiscus yuzu, simple syrup, and egg white, and it was absolutely gorgeous. The egg white gave it a silky, frothy finish, while the pomegranate and hibiscus yuzu added a bright, slightly tart flavor that paired beautifully with the subtle smokiness of the mezcal. It was as pretty as it was delicious. The restaurant itself is gorgeous. It's tucked away in an alley, so it's a little easy to miss, but once you're inside, the space is modern, spacious, and has a really cool stone bar that gives the restaurant a sleek, upscale vibe. I was also pleasantly surprised by the prices. Specialty rolls ranged from about $12-$20, with only a few premium options around $25. The edamame was about $8, so overall I thought the pricing was very fair, especially for Georgetown. Would I come back? Yes... but probably with a much smaller group. The food and ambiance are worth another visit, but I'd definitely be hoping for a better service experience next time. I also hope they have a better handle on inventory because I'd still love to try the Wagyu and finish dinner with the mochi.

    Photos
    Kyojin DC - Inside the restaurant

    Inside the restaurant

    Kyojin DC - Lobster Volcano

    Lobster Volcano

    Kyojin DC - Kamikaze Roll@ Kyojin!

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    Kamikaze Roll@ Kyojin!

    Shōtō - japanese - Updated October 2026

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