Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Toki Underground

    4.1 (2.6k reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:30 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Waitlist - Toki Underground

    Waitlist closed

    The restaurant is not taking waitlist parties right now

    Toki Underground Reservations

    Order Toki Underground Takeout or Delivery

    Toki Underground Photos

    Business Info

    TOKI UNDERGROUND ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Moderate noise

    More like Toki Underground

    Recommended Reviews - Toki Underground

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Tokyo Curry Chicken Ramen (Chicken Broth)
    Brianna T.

    My favorite ramen place ever! They're a small little upstairs restaurant with perfect "I just popped in a shop in Tokyo" vibes! They have a small menu, but every single thing is AMAZING Our favorites are the Tokyo curry chicken ramen, but the garlic mala tonkotsu with creamy garlic broth is also a winner We also love their shrimp bao buns with shrimp fried in potato flour, served with kimchi and fresh cucumber We once had a root beer cocktail here that was so good, but they haven't brought it back to their menu since (this is my petition, we ask for it every time we go in hopes it will return!).

    Timestamps for my waitlist add. I don't think I would have ever got a table if I didn't go back.

    Didn't have a reservation and showed up on a Sunday. I was told I had 45min -1hr wait but the time showed up on the text and 1hr and 45 min. Then 15 min later my wait was updated to 1hr. I went back 45 min later to see if we could get seated and practically the whole restaurant was empty. Honestly got the feeling that they didn't want to seat me or at least were indifferent to seating me. Food and service we so so. Broth was warm and not hot. Egg was cold. Overall it was good ramen but I remember it being better. At the end I was presented with a bill that included a tip and also a surcharge to use my credit card. I think both of these are insulting. You charge $20 for ramen, have mediocre service (probably cause they know their tip is included) and then charge 3% to use a credit card? I would think at $20 for ramen you could include any sort of credit card fee. I'm sure there's better options, with better service and better ramen. I hope others read this so you a least know what you are getting into. It is a cool location I just think the bar has dropped and needs to be raised again.

    Interior
    Alexandria R.

    When you only have three days in DC during cherry blossom season, every meal has to be a hit--and this spot did not disappoint. Food: 5/5 As a ramen lover, I was eager to see if this place lived up to the hype--and it absolutely did. The second-floor space is trendy and chill, with mostly bar seating. We started with four bao buns--the fried chicken and fried cauliflower were standouts. For ramen, we got the kimchi ramen and the classic, both flavorful and satisfying. Dessert was the Yuzu custard, a refreshing and tangy way to end the meal. My top 3 dishes: 1. Cauliflower Bao 2. Kimchi Ramen 3. Yuzu Custard We also enjoyed Yuzu sake and a plum-based Ume cocktail--clearly, Yuzu was the way to go. The $130 bill included an 18% auto-tip, but we added extra because the service was that good. Service: 5/5 We had an 8:15 PM reservation, but wanted to eat earlier. The staff accommodated us at 7 PM, which was a huge plus. Sitting at the bar, we got menus immediately, drinks came fast, and appetizers were on point. While the space is a bit cramped, the overall experience was smooth and enjoyable. This place has great prices, amazing food, and a lively vibe--perfect for a casual night out with friends. I'd 100% come back!

    Completely obscure location.
    Randy B.

    Literally a hidden eclectic spot. Dinner, Drive-ins, and Dives featured this spot a couple of years ago. You can find the episode on YouTube, and I recommend you watch it before coming so you hear the background story. The ramen is so delicious, and thankfully not too salty like other ramen places such as JINYA or Chaplins. Service was great! I came on a Saturday around 12pm, and was able to sit right away, but while I enjoyed my order people filled the restaurant.

    Viki S.

    What so interesting about this bowl of ramen is the egg...I don't know why but that egg were the most perfectly cooked egg I've ever had. We went during happy hour. The Yuzu Sake was so yummy!! I do prefer traditional sliced meat in Ramen over the shredded they have but everything was so good...

    Fried chicken steamed buns
    Han V.

    With so many options in the area , Toki Underground was a little overrated and underwhelming overall in my opinion. I don't think that anything quite stood out as extraordinary to me that would warrant going out of the way to dine here. Fried chicken steamed buns were decent. The sauce that the chicken is tossed in is pretty sour and overwhelmed the other flavors, but it was a good concept. The Toki classic had a nice tonkatsu broth that was rich but wasn't greasy. The curry chicken ramen and kmi chi ramen were also tasty if you want to try something different. Their osen egg was perfectly cooked with the gooey yoke and was nicely marinated. The cookies with miso were initially intriguing until we were presented with regular chocolate chip cookies on top of a smear of miso. I think if somehow the miso was in the actual cookie or if they made a miso icecream it would have been more of a wow. The cookies weren't all that great otherwise in my opinion-- they were too hard and crispy.

    Toki monster
    Ben D.

    Amazing spot with great food and fun atmosphere. Food was delicious we got a special tepei chicken curry and buns with fried chicken. Both were delicious the buns had great flavor with chicken as well as the veggies. Drinks I got the monster cocktail with whiskey and a pork belly garnish. Was really well balanced and tasty. Not too sweet or tart had a nice whiskey flavor. The ramen was perfectly seasoned and the chicken paired well with broth that was not too spicy had a nice flavor. Id recommend some kimchi with it to balance it out if you want more spice. I also got some pork belly. It was a great addition with chicken they played well with each other. Service was extremely friendly and helpful with everyone will definitely be back.

    Vibe of the restaurant
    Kiana M.

    This spot is absolutely amazing!! Hubby and I came here for a date night and it did NOT disappoint! The food was amazing!!!! I mean, really good! The service and drinks were on point! I was skeptical when we arrived, but this is a hidden jewel!

    Kimchi Ramen
    Yanin H.

    Amazing grungy, Japanese decor. For appetizers you can skip the steamed dumplings but the chicken wings were SOOO DELICIOUS! The kimchi ramen was delicious, not too spicy. Great service. The portions are huge and all very affordable!

    Exterior
    Erin O.

    Giving it 4 stars instead of 5 because of the interior space. Ramen is delicious and the service was pretty quick considering their limited staffing. If you want a quick bite to eat and you're in the mood for ramen, this is the place! The broth is really flavorful and the noodles are chewy. Their karaage was the best I've had and their cauliflower steam buns were seasoned very well. At first glance they almost look like chicken, faked me out for a second. I also liked the fact that they have take out containers for leftovers out in the open so you can help yourself. Space inside just has tall counters around the room, I wouldn't recommend this space for a large group. I also liked that you could make reservations in advance. The parking across the street is kind of pricey, so try to find street parking. On the weekends, you can park by the curb in the residential areas without a permit. Would definitely come back here again.

    Chicken buns
    Lauren F.

    This is my second time visiting Toki Underground, and it's been a mixed experience both times around. The food is so close to being great but always seems a little off: the chicken and pickled veggies in my steamed buns were delicious, but the buns themselves were dry, hard, and unpleasant to eat. The broth for the mala garlic ramen was good enough but not as garlicky or spicy as we were hoping based on the name. The pork belly mazeman on my first visit had a great sauce, but the meat was disappointingly tough and a bit bland. The dessert this time was excellent, though, I have to say - I love the yuzu and matcha flavors together, and it wasn't sweet at all, which was perfect. It was a great summer dessert. I just wish the dishes here had that little extra oomph to push them over the edge - it feels like there's always something off about the dish that pulls it down (dessert excluded!). I'm sure I'll come back here again, but I'm never quite as happy after eating here as I want to be. Portions are generous, the new happy hour menu is really nice, and I love the way it's decorated. Staff are all really nice, but service is a bit slow (it took a while for us to put in a dessert order or get a to-go box). Seating is very scarce. Definitely come early, make a reservation, or be prepared to wait - it's just a tight space. It's a little on the warm side (AC is struggling a bit in this heat, I think!), but I'm perpetually freezing, so it didn't bother me personally.

    See all

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Olivier C.

    Olivier C.

    Thank you so much for visiting, Josh!

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Olivier C.

    Olivier C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Olivier C.

    Olivier C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jake P.
    162
    28
    35

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Elisa H.
    2012
    897
    2199

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cyndy K.
    361
    1284
    77257

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Olivier C.

    Olivier C.

    This review is everything. Thank you so much.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jim J.
    0
    28
    2

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ron C.
    1538
    1212
    688

    4 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Olivier C.

    Olivier C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Evelyn J.
    9
    21
    107

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Katie K.
    284
    17
    24

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Olivier C.

    Olivier C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Olivier C.

    Olivier C.

    Love the photos! Thanks for stopping by… see you next time.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    Page 3 of 66

    Ask the Community - Toki Underground

    Does this place have a Kid friendly menu?

    There is no particular menu for kids, but you may ask extra bowls or plates to share with younger children.

    I only see reservation times for 5pm and later, are we able to make reservations for lunch?

    No, they are only open for dinner and late night!

    Are children allowed, specifically a 1 yr old?

    yes, we get plenty of kids n here- we only have bar seating/stools so please keep that I mind!

    Hi is the reservation through Yelp or Resy?

    Resy

    Are they opened for dining?

    Yes everyday at 5p

    How do you get a reservation here? Every time I go on Resy it says it is unavailable?

    Hi Mandy, we switched to yelp waitlist and dont do reservations anymore through resy. You can add your name the waitlist through our yelp page. Thanks-

    Are there gluten free noodle options?

    Hey Nik, Yes, we offer kombu (seaweed) noodles as well as great gf apps. Additionally, if seaweed isnt your jam, if you wanted to bring your own gf noods we'll cook them for you. Thanks-

    Do they have broth made without pork? And if so, can you substitute it into any dish?

    They do pork broth or vegetable broth. They'll ask when you order

    Do all the non vegan ramen options contain pork in the broth?

    I don't I've only been there once I could find out but as of now I don't know

    Is Toki Underground handicapped accessible?

    No and It's not worth the trouble. Even if they let you use the freight elevator, the restaurant is very small. I know they take to-go orders. I've seen them run food downstairs. Try Daikaya on 705 Sixth St. NW.

    View All 12 Questions

    Izakaya Seki - Sashimi platter

    Izakaya Seki

    4.0(521 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$$

    First time coming here on May 15 and food was delicious and delightful. We had a bit of a late…read morereservation so had to put our order in quick before they close at 9:30 so keep in mind. Highlights were karate, sashimi, skewers.

    We were looking forward to a mildly adventurous night out and approached this open to trying and…read morelearning about new things. Unfortunately, the restaurant staff wasn't particularly helpful or supportive in this endeavor. Asking for details on the menu and suggestions seemed like either a burden eliciting sighs and slight eyerolls or an inability to offer any meaningful suggestions; so, alas, we were left to ourselves. The space, at least on the first floor, is tiny - just counter bar seats in front of the kitchen in a narrow rectangular room. We were excited to use this as an opportunity to learn more by watching and interacting with the cooks, but that did not occur. Without guidance, we ordered hamachi, salmon, and kampachi sashimi. The portions were generous - 5 slices of each. The salmon was buttery and the kampachi fantastic - rich and interesting flavor. The hamachi was not liked - it was streaked with some sinewy type substance that didn't help the otherwise unflavorful fish. The soba noodles came with a rich, smoky/strong fish-flavored broth that was interesting. Unfortunately, there is no gluten-free option for the broth. The yakatori skewers (only ordered because they were the only gluten-free skewers) were nothing interesting. The wine list is quite small (understandable considering the tiny size of the restaurant) and the chilled red and the Italian rose were both quite good. The pricing was reasonable in general and considering the quality of the meal and the overall experience.

    Photos
    Izakaya Seki - Interior

    Interior

    Izakaya Seki - Salmon Roe and Yukari Riceball in Nori

    Salmon Roe and Yukari Riceball in Nori

    Izakaya Seki - Tempura Special, sake

    See all

    Tempura Special, sake

    O-Ku - Salmon Usuzukuri

    O-Ku

    4.5(791 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    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.

    I might give them another shot given the rave reviews, but tonight I'm disappointed. At this point,…read moreI haven't even seen my check so the price is not the issue, but the service and overall flavor for the price point definitely are. My Hotote crudo app which should be served cold was served cold on a super hot plate which means by the time I ate it, it was thus weird hot/semi-luke warm temp and honestly, not appetizing. I tried the Moriawase after and told my server I wanted to add caviar if it was possible and since I didn't get any, I assume it is only an option for the nigiri/sashimi. Silly but no problem. I was still sooooo hungry I ordered a Surf&turf roll and it was less than appetizing. It had no flavor which was terribly unfortunate. I didn't make a review about the sake mixup or my server only to be polite but there are definitely low points, and those make the list. I hope it's better for everyone else!

    Photos
    O-Ku - Inside

    Inside

    O-Ku - Complementary cucumber salad (tasty AF) @ O-Ku!

    Complementary cucumber salad (tasty AF) @ O-Ku!

    O-Ku - Tempura shrimp roll!

    See all

    Tempura shrimp roll!

    Daikaya Ramen Shop - Super spicy shoyu

    Daikaya Ramen Shop

    4.1(3.8k reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    Food is always good. One of the few ramen places that I can actually finish my bowl. Favorite ramen…read morein the menu is the Shio, but I gave Mugi-miso a try, and it was really good. Not strong miso flavor that hurts your throat, but still has that umami flavor. Place can get packed especially at dinner. But quick turnaround. Can be a group or solo.

    I had heard rave reviews about this place, which is why I finally decided to check it out. The…read morespace is small and cozy, but we went on a Monday and were seated immediately. Since there were only two of us, we shared an eight-person table with three other couples, which gave it a very authentic Japanese ramen shop vibe. Our server was attentive from the start. As soon as he finished taking our order, he asked if anyone needed a fork. I really appreciated that, since I don't know how to use chopsticks and didn't have to awkwardly ask for one myself. We started with the gyoza, which were so crispy and flavorful that we ended up ordering a second plate. For ramen, we tried the tsukemen, which comes with cold noodles that you dip into a rich, soy-forward broth. It was an interesting experience, but after a while the repetitive dipping became a bit tedious for me. We also ordered the spicy miso ramen, which was my favorite of the two. It had a nice kick without being overwhelmingly spicy. It also came with bean sprouts, which aren't usually my favorite, but they added a pleasant crunch and texture to the bowl. Overall, this was a really solid meal. It wasn't quite the mind-blowing experience I had built up in my head, but it's still one of the better ramen spots I've had in DC. I'll definitely be back to check out the izakaya upstairs.

    Photos
    Daikaya Ramen Shop - Clean tidy organized

    Clean tidy organized

    Daikaya Ramen Shop - Spicy Miso

    Spicy Miso

    Daikaya Ramen Shop - Super Spicy Shoyu - very good and actually spicy!

    See all

    Super Spicy Shoyu - very good and actually spicy!

    Shōtō - Pork belly skewers

    Shōtō

    4.0(697 reviews)
    2.5 miDowntown

    Took my girlfriend here for her birthday and it was the right call. The edamame was a simple,…read morewell-executed starter -- nothing fancy, but it set the tone before the real highlights arrived. The toro tacos were a standout -- rich, buttery toro paired with a crisp shell, the kind of bite that balances luxury with a little bit of fun. We rounded things out with several maki rolls, all fresh and well put together, each one distinct enough that ordering a few felt worth it rather than repetitive. Beyond the food, the service made the night -- attentive without being intrusive, which is exactly what you want for a birthday dinner. The ambience matched too: romantic, trendy, dim lighting that made it feel like an occasion without trying too hard. Great pick for a celebration -- between the toro tacos, the maki, and the overall vibe, Shoto delivered on every front.

    Came here on 6/28/26, had a reservation at 8pm and were seated immediately…read more 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.

    Photos
    Shōtō - The beautiful bar

    The beautiful bar

    Shōtō - Premium omakase (tempura)

    Premium omakase (tempura)

    Shōtō - Dessert. Very artistic.  Churros and sauce was delightful

    See all

    Dessert. Very artistic. Churros and sauce was delightful

    Bar Japonais - Street view from bumpout

    Bar Japonais

    4.1(80 reviews)
    2.4 miLogan Circle

    I've been meaning to come for their happy hour but my friends and I came on a weekend as a…read morespontaneous dinner after thrifting on 14th street. We sat at the bar because they said they didn't have tables available... which was a bit annoying because there were many empty tables when we came in and the entire time we were there. The partial emptiness on a Saturday night also threw off the vibe, which we didn't discuss at the time but later realized we'd each noticed. Anyway, service and food were good but nothing crazy. I like sushi and sake, so I'd recommend coming for happy hour

    Just Go... please just go…read more... If you're reading this review then you are half way there... the second half is walking through the door. Bar Japanais is an absolute gem in DC. They have perfected the food/service experience combining it with a beautiful restaurant. I feel confident in saying that we are 90% of the items on the menu u minus anything that was strictly vegetables and there was not one thing I wouldn't order many times over. This place has perfected simple, good food. Nothing is over the top it's just done to perfection. I wish I could tell you a highlight but honestly everything is the highlight. The food literally makes you smile after each bite. The staff is second to none. If you're lucky you will go on a night when Oscar is working, class act.!!! Definitely sit at the bar!!! The restaurant itself is absolutely gorgeous. I love the huge windows that drench you with sunlight from every direction. This is a must if living/visiting DC. A true gem that should not be skipped. Enjoy!!!

    Photos
    Bar Japonais - Cocktail Menu

    Cocktail Menu

    Bar Japonais - Karaage

    Karaage

    Bar Japonais - Chocolate Mousse

    See all

    Chocolate Mousse

    Toki Underground - ramen - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...