Love, Makoto
Japanese restaurant · Downtown
200 Massachusetts Ave NW Suite 150, Washington, DC 20001
Highlights
Sushi, grill, izakaya, and fast-casual food hall.
Sushi, grill, izakaya, and fast-casual food hall.
"While DC’s East End can still feel a little soulless, Hiya Izakaya in the sprawling Japanese food hall Love, Makoto is worth going out of your way for. Head to the back of the hall to find Hiya Izakaya in a cozy nook, where you can sip Japanese whisky and eat robata grilled skewers and ramen. You can’t go wrong with any of the three bowls on the menu, but it’s the tantanmen ramen with ground beef in a pork and chicken broth that we wake up longing for on cold, lonely nights. The ramen is enough on its own, but a chicken thigh skewer or a dragon roll never hurt anybody." - Madeline Weinfield
"The Japanese food hall’s classy sushi restaurant centers around omakase tastings ($85). Dinner starts with bite-sized seasonal snacks, and sushi courses showcase fish in both “old school” and “new school” preparations. Bluefin, for example, arrives with a touch of soy and wasabi in the more traditional version, and “burnt” miso and foie gras in a modern interpretation. Diners can order optional upgrades like prized cuts of tuna, caviar, and wagyu. The restaurant recently introduced a generously portioned lunch omakase express option for $42." - Tierney Plumb
"The downtown multi-part venue recently introduced a lychee martini to its cocktail lineup; bar lead Alahin Mentado emphasizes balance and explains, “I think the original appeal of the lychee martini is the fruit itself … that’s versatile, floral, tropical and refreshing.” Mentado also highlights the importance of citrus: “the right amount of citrus – because the lychee itself is already very sweet, the best way to create balance is to play with the level of citrus.”" - Lulu Chang
"This Japanese food hall is offering picnic packs for two (a Rainbow Roll, kale soba salad, two rainbow vanilla doughnuts, and two yuzu lemonades) for $45, with a Party Pack version for $65 that swaps lemonades for Makoto margaritas or Chika Sake Cups; orders can be placed in person at Love on the Run or via the restaurant’s website, and delivery is available through Uber Eats and DoorDash. Proceeds from any heart‑shaped rainbow vanilla doughnuts sold during June will go to The Trevor Project." - Emily Venezky
"Your parents have been bragging about their new grill and all the cookouts they’re going to have now (you know they won’t). But give them a chance to show off their cheffing skills at Beloved BBQ, a Japanese steakhouse in the East End. Located inside the Love, Makoto food hall, the upscale spot is a combination of date night and family dinner spot—so you’ll fit right in even if you’re seated next to a couple that will definitely get your parents asking you about your (off again) partner. Instead of rolling your eyes, focus your energy on the $68 omakase, which gives you the best showcase of the buttery Japanese wagyu. Don’t order it for the whole table, though. Split one, and supplement with the a la carte menu." - omnia saed
