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Disappointed to hear Tonari is closing! I marked my calendar to try their next cheesesteak night in May, which I was so looking forward to! I had a nice dinner here recently and the pizza was absolutely delicious, actually one of my favorites. I will note that my guest was served their entree almost 10 minutes before mine came out and was finished by the time I started to eat.
[[HIGHLIGHT]]Cute Christmas themed Godzilla decorations upstairs![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We came on New Year's Eve and I guess they were down a bartender since we got and finished our pasta before our drinks we ordered arrived. We did ask about it but the waiter actually ended up comping the drink since it came so late so can't complain at all for such good customer service in return for wait! Uni pasta - no Uni pieces and honestly I can't taste like any Uni. Otherwise it's a nice light, kinda oily/ buttery pasta. Made a bit more interesting with the bread crumb bits 2.25/5 Black ragu - in a pesto based type sauce with little soft bouncy pieces of fish. It's kinda salty but still good. Pasta is cooked decently but the texture is not memorable and it's more of a dish to eat with the sauce 3/5 Mentaiko corn half pizza - very light and fluffy but also chewy bread! The crisp on the outside is very nice too but does get a bit oily. Mentaiko is nice and salty and adds a nice savory touch to the sweet corn and very cheesy chewy bite 3.75/5 Mochi sour - not very sour, a little too much foam, foam was good but the ratio to the drink seemed a bit off. On the sweeter side of sweet and sour, alcohol is not strong but taste comes through 3/5 Draft cocktail new years spritz - strong and maybe a bit watery at the same time 1/5
Sad to see this spot go!! Tonari was a consistent go-to for Asian / fusion food when the cravings hit (already not enough in this city..) Will dearly miss Tonari's mentaiko pasta, japanese philly and mentaiko corn pizzas. Hope they return to DC in some form in the near future. :')
We heard Tonari was closing so we had to visit. I felt that their Japanese pizza (not pictured) was better than the pasta. The Uni pasta was pretty good. The other pastas were just okay in my opinion, tasted home made. The drinks were pretty good as well. Service was friendly and fast. And [[HIGHLIGHT]]I preferred the ambience downstairs with a large bar and more light better than upstairs, which actually made me feel a bit tired because it was dark walls with dim lighting.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]
Stopped by after doing the holiday market. Was able to be seated right away at the bar 2 people around 730 on a Tuesday evening. We did half hot honey and half mentaiko corn pizza. While I loved sitting at the bar and watching the food being made, it did take a bit longer than expected for it to come out. When it did however, it was hot and delicious - dip dish style, with crusty edges and soft pillowy inside. Total cost with 1 drink tax and tip came to $31 which for this area and the quality of food I'd say is great! They also had great looking deals such as 50% pizzas during HH, 50% off bottle of wine on Wednesday's, and a multi course tasting menu for $55. Would recommend and come again myself.
Prior to last night I had been to Tonari for brunch a handful of times, and the bar for happy hour once. It's always been a solid spot and I've enjoyed their strawberry matcha, dalgona coffee, and their onigiri. I've tried their chocolate chip cookie topped with Parmegiano Reggiano and black pepper - very unique; the cookie is thick and delicious but I'm still torn on the parm on top. I don't know if I'd get it again (maybe I'd order the cookie with the parm, or have it on the side at least), but it was fun to try with friends! I've also enjoyed their kakigori (Japanese-shaved ice). Food can come out pretty fast or a little slow depending on the day. Last night, I hosted a group dinner at Tonari and made a reservation for 8 online. More people RSVP'd so I messaged in the OpenTable app to ask if they could accommodate 10 people (you have to call for reservations larger than 8 people) and they said yes. The day of the reservation, one person needed to be added so I called to ask if they could accommodate one more person, and they said 10 was the max. My group arrived and we figured either we'd have a no-show or we could separate into two groups, if needed, but when we arrived they had prepared us a table for 12. I was very relieved, and appreciated they did this, especially since it was last minute! But it was only when we were getting seated that they mentioned they were able to seat up to 12 after all, so just call ahead for a group of up to 12. I had budget to use so I ordered for the table ahead of time and closed out, then had folks order additional items on their own tab. I ordered 2 orders of the Korean style garlic bread, 1 large wafu Caesar salad, 1 mentaiko corn pizza, and 1 Tonari classic pizza. This amount was good as appetizers / samplers for such a large group, and most people ordered their own main. The mentaiko pizza was a hit, and the wafu Caesar salad (Caesar salad with potato chips) was yummy and fun. I ended up ordering the Godzilla ragu (made with alligator meat) and it was tasty - perfectly cooked pasta and the ragu was nicely spicy and flavorful. As for the alligator meat, it was like a cross between beef and chicken in terms of texture. Our server, Mars, took a group photo for us (he even adjusted the lights above us, so considerate!) and was nice and attentive. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Tonari is on the pricier side but the location is convenient (a few minutes walk from the metro and easy to get picked up/dropped off via car; parking isn't too bad, either) and the food's always been solid.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] One day I'll try their cheesesteaks when they're back on the menu! (update: starting 2/1/2026 they're available the first Sunday of every month!)
I recently learned that Tonari's closing down on May 3rd and immediately booked a reservation. Tonari is such a DC staple and I'm really sad to see it go :/ we ordered our usual, mentaiko pizza and the Gorgonzola pizza. We also got 2 drinks, the melon ale and the mochi sour. The food was amazing like always! The mentaiko is their specialty on the menu so I highly recommend it. The drinks were also amazing. We enjoy drinks that are leaning a little sweeter and both were perfect for us. Service was extremely quick and attentive even though the restaurant was completely packed. I'm definitely coming back before they close down!
[[HIGHLIGHT]]Tonari is one of the most memorable dining experiences I've had in DC, and it shines in both atmosphere and creativity.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant itself sits on a lively stretch of DC's Chinatown, surrounded by bright signage, foot traffic, and the bustle of Capital One Arena just a block away[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. From the outside, it's understated compared to some of its flashier neighbors: dark, modern signage and a minimalist façade that hint at the sleek design inside. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Once you step through the doors, the atmosphere shifts immediately: the interior is polished, contemporary, and warm, with clean architectural lines and a stylish bar area on the main level.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The surroundings set the tone for Tonari's Japanese-Italian wafu concept; the upstairs area, where I was seated, features a stunning sculptural art installation that adds an elevated, gallery-like feel.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I arrived for my 6:30pm Saturday reservation and found the restaurant about three-quarters full--buzzy and energetic without being overwhelming.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My server was incredibly kind and walked me through their menu of appetizers, salads, inventive pastas, seasonal specials, and their celebrated Detroit-style pizzas. I ordered the Mentaiko Corn pizza ($16 for a half, two very generous slices), which earned the title of "Best Pizza Slice in the US 2023" from Food & Wine. It lived up to the hype--unlike anything I've ever had before. The crust was pillowy yet chewy with a crisp bottom and subtle yeast flavor, the combination of mozzarella and brick cheese added just the right amount of gooey richness without heaviness, and the corn brought sweetness and texture. The kewpie cod roe cream gave a perfectly balanced umami zing, and the chives added a refreshing finish. Even as someone who is unfortunately both gluten- and lactose-intolerant, I thought it was absolutely worth it, and at $16, surprisingly affordable for the portion size. I also loved being able to use inKind for 20% cash back. Tonari is a standout in Chinatown for unique, thoughtful fusion and reasonable prices...and I'll definitely be returning to explore more of the menu (including some of their great happy hour deals)!
Seated at the bar for happy hour. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The hostess said we could choose any of the bar seats. We took her suggestion of sitting in front of the pizza oven to watch the pizzas being made.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The server was friendly and attentive (getting us more water, napkins, etc). The passion fruit drink was citrusy and bright. I didn't think it was too special but still refreshing to have when eating so much cheesy pizza. All the pizzas are great but my favorites were the Japanese Philly and Mentaiko Corn. The Japanese Philly is cheesy, savory, and full of flavor. I love cheesesteaks so this was a good choice for me. The Mentaiko Corn is sweet and salty. It's not a red or white pizza but something totally different. I recommend this one if you're only getting one pizza. The Gorgonzola is unique and spicier than expected. Not sure I would order it again but glad I tried it. The Hot Honey comes with pepperoni. It's a more basic pizza and a pretty wet pizza so you get kind of messy. I needed a take out box to take the rest of my slices. With quality of the pizza and the price I will definitely be returning for another happy hour soon.
Spent our anniversary night here because we were interested in the Italian-Japanese fusion, but we were overall disappointed. We ordered the wafu aracini to start off with and the texture was great along with the paired marinara but the flavor was extremely underwhelming. Felt like this was under seasoned and bland. There was supposedly mozzarella but we couldn't really taste it. For the main course we had the cuttlefish ragu pasta which was amazing! This was on their dinner specials and tasted clamey if you're into that. The noodles were cooked well and no complaints here aside from the small portions. The mentaiko was their famous dish and it was also extremely underwhelming. Portions were extremely small. Flavor was fragrant of the toppings but not much more to it. The noodles felt like they were undercooked. Service was meh too. I typically don't really note service as a key component to my review but it felt like our waiter just didn't want to be there and only came around to give us the check. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance - probably my favorite thing. The seating and the lighting along with the Japanese knick knacks like ultraman figures.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Overall - in my personal opinion, your money can be spent better elsewhere. It's an okay spot to try but wouldn't recommend.
Tonari is a Japanese-Italian fusion where it's Italian dishes like pasta and pizza with Japanese flavors. I've heard mixed reviews about Tonari from multiple people, either that it's fantastic or it's mid. Never anywhere in between. I went with two friends (who love Tonari) this past Sunday for dinner, and the three of us can agree that our experience was not great. BURRATA - 17 I love burrata appetizers, so I was looking forward to this one. It sat on top of Sichuan chili oil and a citrus-based dressing with small pieces of clementine, served with toasted bread. When we cut into the burrata, we noticed it was solid. There was nothing spilling out, which meant we couldn't mix it with the citrus-chili oil sauce. It was hard to dip the bread in the sauce since it was on the runnier side, and the burrata would have given it a more dip-like texture. Bread was also really hard, and eating the edge hurt the corners of my mouth. Overall, unique concept, but disappointing execution. MENTAIKO CORN (WHOLE) - 28 We got the whole pizza, which comes with 4 thick slices of Detroit-style squares. The pizza dough was underbaked, flimsy, and not at all crispy. We also didn't really taste the mentaiko flavor since it was overpowered by the corn sauce and kewpie mayo. UNI PASTA - 26 The uni pasta didn't taste like uni -- just lots of oil mixed with some crispy breadcrumbs. It was also a bit bland. One of my friends initially assumed he was eating the mentaiko pasta because we didn't taste any uni. Very greasy. When we cleared the plate, we saw a pool of oil sitting there which was not appetizing. Someone mentioned it reminded them of "Olive Garden pasta." The three of us agreed we would never order this one again. MENTAIKO - 23 The mentaiko pasta was rich, creamy, and had a strong roe flavor. This was definitely our favorite one of the night. It had a lot of sauce, and I could taste the strong sea flavors and mild sweetness. The nori and chili threads as garnish were great touches. Very good, and we would recommend! The pricing here is pretty steep, but I'm glad I was able to pay the bill using inKind which brought down the bill by a significant amount. My friends said this was a one-off mediocre experience, but personally, I'm reluctant to return to give it another try.
After reading about Eater, we finally made it to Tonari - and ended up going twice in one week. That should tell you everything. First Visit: Drinks: - The Mochi Sour was beautifully crafted and, surprisingly, not too sweet. - The Sesame Gin Martini, though? That's what martini dreams are made of. I could drink buckets of it. The sesame comes through more aromatically - infused into the shochu with a few drops of sesame oil on top - giving it a subtle fat-wash vibe rather than overpowering the drink. It goes down smooth... almost a little too smooth. Appetizers & Mains: - The Korean-style garlic bread is basically Parker House rolls on steroids - pillowy, buttery, with a cream cheese filling that melts into a rich, Parmesan-laced base. - The Little Gem Caesar is a must if you love anchovies (I do). - The Mentaiko Pasta? Truly unforgettable. The cod roe delivers that perfect funky, umami punch - honestly one of the best pastas we've ever had. - We also tried the Mentaiko Corn Pizza. While good, the sweetness of the corn slightly overshadowed the briny depth I was hoping for. Despite arriving at 8:30 PM with a 9:00 PM kitchen close, the staff was incredibly accommodating - making sure we got our order in without ever feeling rushed. Second Visit (one week later): Yes, it was that good. We came back for happy hour (5:00 - 7:00 PM), this time with our 10-week-old in tow. The team was once again gracious, making space for our stroller at the bar so we could enjoy discounted cocktails and whole pizzas. Drinks: We didn't stray--the Sesame Martinis called us back. Pizzas: - The Gorgonzola pizza might be one of the best I've had in a long time. Gorgonzola, red onion, hot honey, and pistachio strike a perfect balance--funky, sweet, crunchy, and just indulgent enough. - The Japanese Philly was also excellent: quality prime rib topped with Cheez Whiz (as it should be - Philly style - for those who have not had a traditional Philly Cheesesteak from Phila). It could use a touch more acid for balance, but the pepperoncini on the side helped - would've happily taken more. Atmosphere & Set Up: [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is well-designed, with cozy booths and plenty of bar seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] That said, [[HIGHLIGHT]]both restrooms lack a changing table. As a new parent, this small detail makes a huge difference. Within 30 minutes of sitting down, our son had other plans, and while we were fully prepared (fed, burped and changed diaper before we left), there wasn't a clean or safe place to change him.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Luckily, we live nearby and could head home - but for others, this could mean cutting a visit short or resorting to an uncomfortable workaround. It's an easy $100 fix that would go a long way in making the space more welcoming to families. Bottom Line: Incredible food, standout cocktails, and genuinely thoughtful service. With one small update, Tonari would be nearly perfect.
~Food/Drinks~ Korean Style Garlic Bread: Comes sliced into 4 pieces. I love Korean garlic bread with the cream cheese stuffing so was very excited for this. It could be warmer but besides that, I thought it was good. Sweet and garlicky at the same time. Wafu Arancini: Comes with two pieces. What a clever twist on Japanese-Italian fusion food. Very crispy and tasted like a cheese pizza in the form of an onigiri. Pizza: We tried the Japanese Philly and Mentaiko Corn. A half order comes with two slices and these are pretty large slices, similar to Prince St. Pizza. These are Sicilian square pizzas and the crust is very crunchy with a fluffy middle. Between the two, the corn was my favorite, even though I couldn't really taste the mentaiko. It was more of a corn cheese pizza. If you like cheesesteaks, you might like the Philly one more. Mentaiko: Had to try since it seemed like it was one of their popular dishes. The pasta is cooked al dente so it'll be firmer and not that mushy or soft. Great seafood flavor from the cod roe and the sauce was tart and creamy. It doesn't really come with much so I'd recommend ordering at least one of the starters to pair with it. ~Service~ Servers were efficient and the food came out fairly fast. I don't think we waited more than 10 minutes before the first dish came out. ~Logistics~ We booked reservations on OpenTable just to be safe. At the time, we used an offer on the inkind app to get $25 off $75 minimum! The restaurant is two stories so it might be best to call ahead to make sure there's accessible tables when you come in. ~Conclusion~ Overall, we left stuffed and satisfied. I think this restaurant did a great job fusing two different cuisines and I'd be happy to come back to try the rest of their menu!
Review Insights
We wanted to check out this place for a while. And since we were planning to go to the Wizard game, this was the perfect spot. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We were seated on the second floor, with a nice, dark ambiance. Seatings have decent space between each table.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We started with the mentaiko pasta, which was really good. Unfortunately, the portion is a little smaller than we anticipated. We also shared the hot honey and mentaiko pizza. It was pretty good as well, I like the hot honey one more based on my personal preference. And it felt like it had a little more flavor than the mentaiko one. Overall, we enjoyed our dinner but had higher expectations. Definitely recommend checking out this spot. read more
Came here for the Weekend Onigiri Teishoku for Sunday brunch. We came on a Sunday so we were able to find free street parking. Didn't get a reservation in time but was still able to walk in and get a table with no wait. Pretty simple, basically picked an onigiri from each of the two sections and it also came with soup, pickles, and a side dish. I got the Inarizushi and Cheesesteak and my wife ordered the Umeboshi Honey and the Unagi. Both sets came with pickled pearl onions, potato salad, and a pesto soup. The Inarizushi was pretty interesting since it was different coming in the tofu pouch with the anchovy on it. The cheesesteak was also good, basically how it sounds, rice ball cheesesteak. It wasn't enough for us at first so we also added on the Wafu Arancini which was fried and the Spaghetti & Meatball which like the cheesesteak was self explanatory. Sides were solid, really loved the pickled pearl onion. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Not bad for a lowkey brunch.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They also got some coffee drinks and cocktails. We got the Coconut Shakerato and the Espresso Martini. Really loved the Shakerato and would order again. read more
Disappointed to hear Tonari is closing! I marked my calendar to try their next cheesesteak night in May, which I was so looking forward to! I had a nice dinner here recently and the pizza was absolutely delicious, actually one of my favorites. I will note that my guest was served their entree almost 10 minutes before mine came out and was finished by the time I started to eat. read more
7 months ago
[[HIGHLIGHT]]Cute Christmas themed Godzilla decorations upstairs![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We came on New Year's Eve and I guess they were down a bartender since we got and finished our pasta before our drinks we ordered arrived. We did ask about it but the waiter actually ended up comping the drink since it came so late so can't complain at all for such good customer service in return for wait! Uni pasta - no Uni pieces and honestly I can't taste like any Uni. Otherwise it's a nice light, kinda oily/ buttery pasta. Made a bit more interesting with the bread crumb bits 2.25/5 Black ragu - in a pesto based type sauce with little soft bouncy pieces of fish. It's kinda salty but still good. Pasta is cooked decently but the texture is not memorable and it's more of a dish to eat with the sauce 3/5 Mentaiko corn half pizza - very light and fluffy but also chewy bread! The crisp on the outside is very nice too but does get a bit oily. Mentaiko is nice and salty and adds a nice savory touch to the sweet corn and very cheesy chewy bite 3.75/5 Mochi sour - not very sour, a little too much foam, foam was good but the ratio to the drink seemed a bit off. On the sweeter side of sweet and sour, alcohol is not strong but taste comes through 3/5 Draft cocktail new years spritz - strong and maybe a bit watery at the same time 1/5 read more
3 months ago
Sad to see this spot go!! Tonari was a consistent go-to for Asian / fusion food when the cravings hit (already not enough in this city..) Will dearly miss Tonari's mentaiko pasta, japanese philly and mentaiko corn pizzas. Hope they return to DC in some form in the near future. :') read more
We heard Tonari was closing so we had to visit. I felt that their Japanese pizza (not pictured) was better than the pasta. The Uni pasta was pretty good. The other pastas were just okay in my opinion, tasted home made. The drinks were pretty good as well. Service was friendly and fast. And [[HIGHLIGHT]]I preferred the ambience downstairs with a large bar and more light better than upstairs, which actually made me feel a bit tired because it was dark walls with dim lighting.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more
8 months ago
Stopped by after doing the holiday market. Was able to be seated right away at the bar 2 people around 730 on a Tuesday evening. We did half hot honey and half mentaiko corn pizza. While I loved sitting at the bar and watching the food being made, it did take a bit longer than expected for it to come out. When it did however, it was hot and delicious - dip dish style, with crusty edges and soft pillowy inside. Total cost with 1 drink tax and tip came to $31 which for this area and the quality of food I'd say is great! They also had great looking deals such as 50% pizzas during HH, 50% off bottle of wine on Wednesday's, and a multi course tasting menu for $55. Would recommend and come again myself. read more
7 months ago
Prior to last night I had been to Tonari for brunch a handful of times, and the bar for happy hour once. It's always been a solid spot and I've enjoyed their strawberry matcha, dalgona coffee, and their onigiri. I've tried their chocolate chip cookie topped with Parmegiano Reggiano and black pepper - very unique; the cookie is thick and delicious but I'm still torn on the parm on top. I don't know if I'd get it again (maybe I'd order the cookie with the parm, or have it on the side at least), but it was fun to try with friends! I've also enjoyed their kakigori (Japanese-shaved ice). Food can come out pretty fast or a little slow depending on the day. Last night, I hosted a group dinner at Tonari and made a reservation for 8 online. More people RSVP'd so I messaged in the OpenTable app to ask if they could accommodate 10 people (you have to call for reservations larger than 8 people) and they said yes. The day of the reservation, one person needed to be added so I called to ask if they could accommodate one more person, and they said 10 was the max. My group arrived and we figured either we'd have a no-show or we could separate into two groups, if needed, but when we arrived they had prepared us a table for 12. I was very relieved, and appreciated they did this, especially since it was last minute! But it was only when we were getting seated that they mentioned they were able to seat up to 12 after all, so just call ahead for a group of up to 12. I had budget to use so I ordered for the table ahead of time and closed out, then had folks order additional items on their own tab. I ordered 2 orders of the Korean style garlic bread, 1 large wafu Caesar salad, 1 mentaiko corn pizza, and 1 Tonari classic pizza. This amount was good as appetizers / samplers for such a large group, and most people ordered their own main. The mentaiko pizza was a hit, and the wafu Caesar salad (Caesar salad with potato chips) was yummy and fun. I ended up ordering the Godzilla ragu (made with alligator meat) and it was tasty - perfectly cooked pasta and the ragu was nicely spicy and flavorful. As for the alligator meat, it was like a cross between beef and chicken in terms of texture. Our server, Mars, took a group photo for us (he even adjusted the lights above us, so considerate!) and was nice and attentive. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Tonari is on the pricier side but the location is convenient (a few minutes walk from the metro and easy to get picked up/dropped off via car; parking isn't too bad, either) and the food's always been solid.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] One day I'll try their cheesesteaks when they're back on the menu! (update: starting 2/1/2026 they're available the first Sunday of every month!) read more
I recently learned that Tonari's closing down on May 3rd and immediately booked a reservation. Tonari is such a DC staple and I'm really sad to see it go :/ we ordered our usual, mentaiko pizza and the Gorgonzola pizza. We also got 2 drinks, the melon ale and the mochi sour. The food was amazing like always! The mentaiko is their specialty on the menu so I highly recommend it. The drinks were also amazing. We enjoy drinks that are leaning a little sweeter and both were perfect for us. Service was extremely quick and attentive even though the restaurant was completely packed. I'm definitely coming back before they close down! read more
9 months ago
[[HIGHLIGHT]]Tonari is one of the most memorable dining experiences I've had in DC, and it shines in both atmosphere and creativity.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant itself sits on a lively stretch of DC's Chinatown, surrounded by bright signage, foot traffic, and the bustle of Capital One Arena just a block away[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. From the outside, it's understated compared to some of its flashier neighbors: dark, modern signage and a minimalist façade that hint at the sleek design inside. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Once you step through the doors, the atmosphere shifts immediately: the interior is polished, contemporary, and warm, with clean architectural lines and a stylish bar area on the main level.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The surroundings set the tone for Tonari's Japanese-Italian wafu concept; the upstairs area, where I was seated, features a stunning sculptural art installation that adds an elevated, gallery-like feel.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I arrived for my 6:30pm Saturday reservation and found the restaurant about three-quarters full--buzzy and energetic without being overwhelming.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My server was incredibly kind and walked me through their menu of appetizers, salads, inventive pastas, seasonal specials, and their celebrated Detroit-style pizzas. I ordered the Mentaiko Corn pizza ($16 for a half, two very generous slices), which earned the title of "Best Pizza Slice in the US 2023" from Food & Wine. It lived up to the hype--unlike anything I've ever had before. The crust was pillowy yet chewy with a crisp bottom and subtle yeast flavor, the combination of mozzarella and brick cheese added just the right amount of gooey richness without heaviness, and the corn brought sweetness and texture. The kewpie cod roe cream gave a perfectly balanced umami zing, and the chives added a refreshing finish. Even as someone who is unfortunately both gluten- and lactose-intolerant, I thought it was absolutely worth it, and at $16, surprisingly affordable for the portion size. I also loved being able to use inKind for 20% cash back. Tonari is a standout in Chinatown for unique, thoughtful fusion and reasonable prices...and I'll definitely be returning to explore more of the menu (including some of their great happy hour deals)! read more
Seated at the bar for happy hour. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The hostess said we could choose any of the bar seats. We took her suggestion of sitting in front of the pizza oven to watch the pizzas being made.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The server was friendly and attentive (getting us more water, napkins, etc). The passion fruit drink was citrusy and bright. I didn't think it was too special but still refreshing to have when eating so much cheesy pizza. All the pizzas are great but my favorites were the Japanese Philly and Mentaiko Corn. The Japanese Philly is cheesy, savory, and full of flavor. I love cheesesteaks so this was a good choice for me. The Mentaiko Corn is sweet and salty. It's not a red or white pizza but something totally different. I recommend this one if you're only getting one pizza. The Gorgonzola is unique and spicier than expected. Not sure I would order it again but glad I tried it. The Hot Honey comes with pepperoni. It's a more basic pizza and a pretty wet pizza so you get kind of messy. I needed a take out box to take the rest of my slices. With quality of the pizza and the price I will definitely be returning for another happy hour soon. read more
10 months ago
Spent our anniversary night here because we were interested in the Italian-Japanese fusion, but we were overall disappointed. We ordered the wafu aracini to start off with and the texture was great along with the paired marinara but the flavor was extremely underwhelming. Felt like this was under seasoned and bland. There was supposedly mozzarella but we couldn't really taste it. For the main course we had the cuttlefish ragu pasta which was amazing! This was on their dinner specials and tasted clamey if you're into that. The noodles were cooked well and no complaints here aside from the small portions. The mentaiko was their famous dish and it was also extremely underwhelming. Portions were extremely small. Flavor was fragrant of the toppings but not much more to it. The noodles felt like they were undercooked. Service was meh too. I typically don't really note service as a key component to my review but it felt like our waiter just didn't want to be there and only came around to give us the check. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance - probably my favorite thing. The seating and the lighting along with the Japanese knick knacks like ultraman figures.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Overall - in my personal opinion, your money can be spent better elsewhere. It's an okay spot to try but wouldn't recommend. read more
5 months ago
Tonari is a Japanese-Italian fusion where it's Italian dishes like pasta and pizza with Japanese flavors. I've heard mixed reviews about Tonari from multiple people, either that it's fantastic or it's mid. Never anywhere in between. I went with two friends (who love Tonari) this past Sunday for dinner, and the three of us can agree that our experience was not great. BURRATA - 17 I love burrata appetizers, so I was looking forward to this one. It sat on top of Sichuan chili oil and a citrus-based dressing with small pieces of clementine, served with toasted bread. When we cut into the burrata, we noticed it was solid. There was nothing spilling out, which meant we couldn't mix it with the citrus-chili oil sauce. It was hard to dip the bread in the sauce since it was on the runnier side, and the burrata would have given it a more dip-like texture. Bread was also really hard, and eating the edge hurt the corners of my mouth. Overall, unique concept, but disappointing execution. MENTAIKO CORN (WHOLE) - 28 We got the whole pizza, which comes with 4 thick slices of Detroit-style squares. The pizza dough was underbaked, flimsy, and not at all crispy. We also didn't really taste the mentaiko flavor since it was overpowered by the corn sauce and kewpie mayo. UNI PASTA - 26 The uni pasta didn't taste like uni -- just lots of oil mixed with some crispy breadcrumbs. It was also a bit bland. One of my friends initially assumed he was eating the mentaiko pasta because we didn't taste any uni. Very greasy. When we cleared the plate, we saw a pool of oil sitting there which was not appetizing. Someone mentioned it reminded them of "Olive Garden pasta." The three of us agreed we would never order this one again. MENTAIKO - 23 The mentaiko pasta was rich, creamy, and had a strong roe flavor. This was definitely our favorite one of the night. It had a lot of sauce, and I could taste the strong sea flavors and mild sweetness. The nori and chili threads as garnish were great touches. Very good, and we would recommend! The pricing here is pretty steep, but I'm glad I was able to pay the bill using inKind which brought down the bill by a significant amount. My friends said this was a one-off mediocre experience, but personally, I'm reluctant to return to give it another try. read more
After reading about Eater, we finally made it to Tonari - and ended up going twice in one week. That should tell you everything. First Visit: Drinks: - The Mochi Sour was beautifully crafted and, surprisingly, not too sweet. - The Sesame Gin Martini, though? That's what martini dreams are made of. I could drink buckets of it. The sesame comes through more aromatically - infused into the shochu with a few drops of sesame oil on top - giving it a subtle fat-wash vibe rather than overpowering the drink. It goes down smooth... almost a little too smooth. Appetizers & Mains: - The Korean-style garlic bread is basically Parker House rolls on steroids - pillowy, buttery, with a cream cheese filling that melts into a rich, Parmesan-laced base. - The Little Gem Caesar is a must if you love anchovies (I do). - The Mentaiko Pasta? Truly unforgettable. The cod roe delivers that perfect funky, umami punch - honestly one of the best pastas we've ever had. - We also tried the Mentaiko Corn Pizza. While good, the sweetness of the corn slightly overshadowed the briny depth I was hoping for. Despite arriving at 8:30 PM with a 9:00 PM kitchen close, the staff was incredibly accommodating - making sure we got our order in without ever feeling rushed. Second Visit (one week later): Yes, it was that good. We came back for happy hour (5:00 - 7:00 PM), this time with our 10-week-old in tow. The team was once again gracious, making space for our stroller at the bar so we could enjoy discounted cocktails and whole pizzas. Drinks: We didn't stray--the Sesame Martinis called us back. Pizzas: - The Gorgonzola pizza might be one of the best I've had in a long time. Gorgonzola, red onion, hot honey, and pistachio strike a perfect balance--funky, sweet, crunchy, and just indulgent enough. - The Japanese Philly was also excellent: quality prime rib topped with Cheez Whiz (as it should be - Philly style - for those who have not had a traditional Philly Cheesesteak from Phila). It could use a touch more acid for balance, but the pepperoncini on the side helped - would've happily taken more. Atmosphere & Set Up: [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is well-designed, with cozy booths and plenty of bar seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] That said, [[HIGHLIGHT]]both restrooms lack a changing table. As a new parent, this small detail makes a huge difference. Within 30 minutes of sitting down, our son had other plans, and while we were fully prepared (fed, burped and changed diaper before we left), there wasn't a clean or safe place to change him.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Luckily, we live nearby and could head home - but for others, this could mean cutting a visit short or resorting to an uncomfortable workaround. It's an easy $100 fix that would go a long way in making the space more welcoming to families. Bottom Line: Incredible food, standout cocktails, and genuinely thoughtful service. With one small update, Tonari would be nearly perfect. read more
~Food/Drinks~ Korean Style Garlic Bread: Comes sliced into 4 pieces. I love Korean garlic bread with the cream cheese stuffing so was very excited for this. It could be warmer but besides that, I thought it was good. Sweet and garlicky at the same time. Wafu Arancini: Comes with two pieces. What a clever twist on Japanese-Italian fusion food. Very crispy and tasted like a cheese pizza in the form of an onigiri. Pizza: We tried the Japanese Philly and Mentaiko Corn. A half order comes with two slices and these are pretty large slices, similar to Prince St. Pizza. These are Sicilian square pizzas and the crust is very crunchy with a fluffy middle. Between the two, the corn was my favorite, even though I couldn't really taste the mentaiko. It was more of a corn cheese pizza. If you like cheesesteaks, you might like the Philly one more. Mentaiko: Had to try since it seemed like it was one of their popular dishes. The pasta is cooked al dente so it'll be firmer and not that mushy or soft. Great seafood flavor from the cod roe and the sauce was tart and creamy. It doesn't really come with much so I'd recommend ordering at least one of the starters to pair with it. ~Service~ Servers were efficient and the food came out fairly fast. I don't think we waited more than 10 minutes before the first dish came out. ~Logistics~ We booked reservations on OpenTable just to be safe. At the time, we used an offer on the inkind app to get $25 off $75 minimum! The restaurant is two stories so it might be best to call ahead to make sure there's accessible tables when you come in. ~Conclusion~ Overall, we left stuffed and satisfied. I think this restaurant did a great job fusing two different cuisines and I'd be happy to come back to try the rest of their menu! read more
6 months ago
Opened in early 2020 by the legendary Chef Katsuya Fukushima and the Daikaya Group (the masterminds behind Daikaya, Haikan, and Bantam King), this spot is a love letter to "Wafu" (Japanese-style) Italian cuisine. It's not just fusion; it's a total reimagining of comfort food. The menu revolves around two main pillars: Pizza and Pasta, but with a massive twist. The Pizza: These are thick, square-cut pan pizzas made with Hokkaido flour. The crust is unbelievably pillowy and airy on the inside, but the bottom has this golden, buttery crunch that reminded me of a high-end focaccia. It's a texture I've never found at any other pizza spot in the city. The Pasta: You can really taste the Chef's ramen expertise here. They use alkaline water to give the pasta a specific "snap" and chew you won't find in traditional Italian spots. The Standout: You HAVE to get the Rigatoni with Miso-Bolognese. The sauce is deep, dark, and incredibly savory thanks to the miso. The rigatoni itself was cooked to a perfect al dente, catching all that rich sauce in every ridge. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The vibe inside is retro-cool and sleek, making it a great date spot or a place to impress out-of-towners.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] After eating at Fukushima's other spots like Hatoba, I had high expectations, and Tonari absolutely nailed it. It's carb-heavy, umami-forward, and totally unique. Pro Tip: Start with the Mentai Radish salad to cut through the richness of the pizza! read more
I was so excited to discover Tonari. Coming from Italian and Chinese roots, I thought their fusion meatball baos and other dishes were so cool. I had heard their pizzas were one of the more memorable dishes, so I ordered their hot honey pizza, Brussels, and rigatoni. I should have ordered the side of meatballs because the meal was very carb-heavy, but everything was really good. A half pizza would have also been filling enough; their crust is similar to a Detroit style dough. It's thick, soft, and sweet....the perfect trio for me! The table next to me ordered the garlic bread and it looked soo cheesy, buttery, and soft. I'll definitely have to get that next. I recommend you make reservations because their seating is relatively limited. All the tables around me were filled, and I dinned on a Thursday evening. read more
7 months ago
Japanese cheesesteak at the Downtown DC holiday market. The smiling face at the register was kind and polite, he offered me a small sample cup of the broth the steak is marinated in. I agreed to the cheesesteak with the melted cheese and had a Jasmine tea. I love when establishments do a few things well; the sandwich lived up to its name on the ig streets. The beef was tender and drenched in that velvety broth, the toasted bread was lined with mayo, and I added pickled vegetables for additional flavor and texture. Lovely addition to the holiday market and if you have a chance definitely stop over! read more
Conveniently located near a metro stop and had the bar you can eat at downstairs and another dining area on the second floor. They have a pretty good happy hour for food and I've been here a few times now. Service is fine. I've had their set menu, which was great because I got to try a little bit of everything. A small bite, salad, slice of pizza and a dessert. I liked the radicchio salad, it was sweet to offset the bitter of the raddichio. The slice of pizza was good and reminds me of Detroit style pizza. The mentaiko pasta was really good and I could eat the whole plate--if I didn't have all the other food. The meatball bao was my least favorite, the bao bread was nice and soft but the meatball was also soft, I kind of wanted something crispy. The dessert was a nice way to end the meal. My carrot cake was pleasantly mellow and not overtly sweet. On another occasion, we've visited for their Philly cheesesteak pop up. It was tasty and we got it with the beef au jous and the onions and a gyudon donburi and a side of curry fries. The Philly cheesesteak was nice the bread they used was nicely toasted and the onions really tasted nice with the meat and cheese whiz. The donburi was not bad but pretty basic. The kimchi it came with was good with the donburi. Curry fries was actually our favorite and would make a great snack. read more
1 year ago
I had family in town and they suggested we get dinner at this Italian Japanese joint that I haven't heard of before. Honestly don't know how I didn't hear about this place sooner! We enjoyed a menu of some flavorful concoctions like a Bao created with meatballs, Mentaiko pasta with cod roe, and a Detroit style pizza created with Japanese flour as the crust base. The pizza was a true standout: so fluffy and light compared to regular Detroit-style pizza. We got the Mentaiko version with corn but I cannot wait for a return visit to try the rest! read more
8 months ago
Nice dining experience, but didn't fully live up to my expectations. Excellent interior, cozy and vibey. Food was good but not great. We got the hot honey pizza and the classic marcela hazan tomato sauce. Pizza was tasty, the pasta sauce was pretty bland. Also, expensive for what it is. Great service though! read more
This distinctive place proffers a brand of Japanese-Italian cuisine. While the pizzas look mouthwatering, I found occasion to try their weekend brunch menu, which does not have pizza but instead focuses on ramen with an Italian twist. Also on the menu was a garlic bread sushi, which sounds ridiculous, but let me tell you, a bunch of sushi rice with a filling like the stuff you'd put on top of garlic bread is in fact delicious. The fusion ramens were distinctively flavored. My arrabiatta had charred tomato and garlic confit. The pesto was strongly flavored as well. Italian ramen is apparently just as salty as Japanese ramen, so hydrate well. In addition to water, I also drank a hojicha hot chocolate, and roasted green tea with chocolate is another winning flavor combination. It's a menu with decent vegetarian options but not a lot of protein (though to be fair the higher quality ramen noodles are probably not terrible in that respect). I felt this place delivered on its premise enough for me to recommend the brunch menu, and I'm curious to try the pizza. read more
[[HIGHLIGHT]]we walked in on a saturday night around 8 no reservation so we were sat at the pizza bar. wasn't too busy![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] we were eventually greeted by one of the bartenders. service was very direct and efficient. the menu is very concise - no messing around and highlighting their specialties with a few options per section. i noticed some of the apps were on the smaller side compared to price (to be fair, maybe there are special ingredients i don't know about) so we stuck to entrees. we ordered the philly cheesesteak pizza (half size) and godzilla ragu - i was excited to try alligator! the ragu came out first and we ate it while waiting for the pizza. everything was tasty! nothing to complain about, definitely hit the spot. [[HIGHLIGHT]]while we waited for the pizza we looked around - a lot of neat decor. love the jollibee representation :) also the decor reminded me to place my from roy order before the holidays lol.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] i'd be interested in coming back in the summer to try their brunch - the bartender said they flow in ice from japan for their kakigori desserts! read more
I really really wanted to like this place, but I didn't do my research on their opening hours and the brunch menu fell short of my expectations. I didn't have enough time to return for the dinner menu because I was so looking forward to trying their mentaiko pasta or mentaiko corn pizza. I got the avocado "roll" toast. While I liked each element separately, I don't think it came together. My biggest dissappointment was with the sourdough. It was too thick for me to cut or bite without embarrassing myself. The bread's inherent sour taste also didnt' really match the avocado/seaweed/unagi vibes. While I appreciated the generous avocado serving, I wish there was more unagi and the eel sauce. For dessert, I really liked the black sesame affogato. I liked how the black sesame ice cream had bigger chunks of the sesame seed so it gave a nice texture contrast with the actual smooth ice cream. Espresso was decent. The addition of nutella smear on the side was a nice addition. The purin or caramel custard didn't look that aesthetically pleasing but it was quite smooth on the inside. I love Japanese wafu places and the fusion dishes, so I'm more upset at myself for not being able to check out Tonari's dinner menu during this trip. Staff were polite. Food came out at a reasonable time. Street parking available. I would love check out their dinner options the next time I'm in DC!! read more
This place delivers what it's known for - Japanese-style Italian food! The menu is small but mighty - small selection of appetizers and then just pasta and pizza. However, it's got the most amazing pasta you could ask for. My #1 recommendation is mentaiko pasta. Omg we ordered two because we each want one on our own. It's THAT good. We also literally licked our plates to get every bit of that sauce. The uni pasta was good as well - buttery and creamy. The service is excellent. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The upstairs ambiance is casual and dark.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]They have outside seating with ample lighting.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] If you are in the mood for special pasta, you can't go wrong with Tonari! read more
Tonari was a restaurant I was really excited to try with it being an Italian/Japanese fusion of food. The menu itself was enticing because everything sounded good. I went with the Japanese Philly pizza and it was really good. I sat by the bar where the pizza ovens were and saw the whole thing be made. The rigatoni was probably some of the best pasta I've ever had and I've been to Italy. The creamy sauce mixed with the garnish on top of the rigatoni was perfection. The flavorful meat balls complemented the rigatoni well. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere is cozy and inviting yet also gives off a bit of a cool and unique vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The decorations they had were all little Japanese trinkets that added to the look of the restaurant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more
Tonari was a very unique and yet also very quick dining experience for me! I went here as soon as I caught it when the restaurant opened up for business at 5 PM. I didn't have a reservation but I was immediately able to be seated. Next time I'd most likely keep that in mind as I wasn't sure if it would be packed or not. The ambiance is very casual, it's very dimly lit where I think people who like something more intimidate would like it too. The staff are friendly and nice and even recommend what they like from the menu! I decided to be adventurous and get something out of my comfort zone. I got the Mentaiko Pasta which consists of spaghetti, cod roe, butter, shoyu, mirin, dashi, lemon, micro shiso, nori and chili threads. This was such a a delicious pasta but the portion to me felt small. I didn't really taste the roe until I started getting closer to the bottom of the dish but within it's rich seafood and buttery taste, it was amazing. I can't highly recommend this dish as I'd order two more! I want to come back here for the cheese steak, or the pizza. I love how inventive this place is! read more
I had brunch at Tonari last weekend with a friend after having it on my to try list for a while, and it definitely lived up to my expectations! Why was I so excited about it? It's DC's first Wafu Italian restaurant. "Wafu" means Japanese style, so Wafu Italian is a sort of Japanese-Italian fusion. Some dishes can be Italian but with Japanese ingredients. Others are more Japanese. You might not think that these cuisines have a lot to say to each other, but they do (don't they all?)! I started with a Wafu michelada (Sapporo beer, tomato brine, tomato juice, lime, chile tincture, and celery bitters), which was a very good brunch drink. Then my friend and I shared two brunch entrees: the omelet and the tamago salad sando. The omelet comes with a greens side salad, sitting in a sake cream sauce and topped with chives. You can add truffles ($2), Parm ($2), trout caviar ($8), or Mentaiko ($2). I added truffles. There are lots of things I am annoying about. Omelets are one of them. I am so picky about them, because when they are good they are like the best things ever. But most of them suck (overcooked/cooked too hard until the eggs have the texture of cardboard, filled with 10,000 ingredients). Tonari's omelet was fantastic. The eggs were fluffy and not overcooked in the slightest. The sake cream sauce was a dream - seriously, I'd eat anything served with that sauce (we found that we loved it as a dressing for the salad, since the salad was sitting on the same plate, it got quite a bit of the sauce mixed into it). The egg salad sando was also good - very classic, very simple, just done right. I couldn't resist ordering dessert when I saw "Chocolate Chip Cookie topped with grated Parmigiano Reggiano" on the menu. Wild and amazing. The cookie was great - warm and gooey and thick. The Parm added some salt and umami (you can definitely smell that it's Parmesan, but the flavor ends up melding into the cookie well and it just tasted like a very good chocolate chip cookie! Great music, cool decor (lots of bar seating with views into the kitchen), and good service? What's not to like at Tonari? I definitely plan on returning for more of their brunch dishes (pesto ramen?), their kakigori (not served until noon on Sa/Su, so we missed it), and dinner. read more
1 year ago
Decided to go here post cherry blossoms! Our first round of drinks and appetizers were amazing! I didn't even get to take a photo of the Arancini but then the garlic bread and burrata were also amazing. I got the hot honey pizza and really loved it. It's got a nice kick to it for sure. The other pizza we got (the Philly Japanese" was very dense and actually ended up being under cooked. We had to send it back but the rest of the food was good enough to cover us. I would go back to try other menu items for sure! read more
The vibes here were amazing!! Perfect date night spot, especially if you're tired of the same old cuisines. They do an amazing job and combining japanese and italian flavors and techniques. It's been a while since I have visited, and i'm already itching to go back! read more
I had reservations to Tonari and was super excited to try their Asian fusion pizza and pasta! I came at prime time dinner and it was bustling inside. Ordered the Miso Clam pasta, Japanese Philly pizza, Yuzu Lemonade, and the Tonari Iced Tea. My absolute favorites were the Japanese Philly pizza and the Yuzu Lemonade. Flavors were perfect for both. The pizza had the perfect crunch. Think of their pizzas like Emmy Squared, but unique flavors. I will definitely be coming back to try other dishes! read more
11 months ago
Came here for dinner during restaurant week. Everything eaten was 10/10, had no complaints! The pasta had a good amount of sauce and spice to it. The meatballs were an added bonus. Loved the ice cream that was served in a coconut. I was skeptical about the hoagie salad but I was pleasantly surprised by it. Food did not miss. Service was great along with the vibes of the place. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Low lighting, nice decor.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Will be back to have items from the full menu. read more
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707 6th St NW
Washington, DC 20001
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(202) 289-8900
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https://www.tonaridc.com
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If I wanted to bring my own wine is that allowed and would there be a corkage fee?
Hello William! You can definitely bring your own wine and our corkage fee is $30 per bottle.
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Tonari - japanese - Updated August 2026
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