ONGGI

Easily one of the most memorable dining experiences I’ve had. The food was so proudly Korean, with every dish demonstrating a deep understanding and love for Korean food tradition. The service was similarly phenomenal. I sometimes feel the term “hospitality” is bandied about a bit too much, but it’s really what came to mind when thinking about this entire dinner. From the tea service to the other pleasant surprises that I won’t spoil, it really did feel like I was a guest in someone’s home and not just here as a diner. I truly don’t want to overhype things, but I do feel like James Beard and Michelin are in Onggi’s future. Make sure to visit while the reservations are still easy to get

The food was delicious! Went by yesterday with my friend who got the "experience Korea" pre-fixed HanJeongSik menu, and I ordered a la carte. All the food was delicious - even the abalone, which I usually do not like, but they season and cut it up well. Pros: If you're ordering from the "explore Korea" a la carte menu, I highly recommend the samgyeobsal. It's tender and the meat melts in your mouth, and the plum sauce is delicious. I also quite liked the dak galbi (spicy chicken with rice cakes). If you love pickles and/or kimchi, then I also recommend the jangajji. Speaking of which - I noticed they spelled it wrong on the menu. They have it as 짱이지 ("jjangaji" - but then they misspelled that too and put "jjangajji"), and it's supposed to be 장아찌 - or "jangajji." It's subtle but it's the difference between "pickled vegetables" and nonsensical words lol. The kimchi they use throughout their dishes is perfectly fermented and tasty. The vibe is cute inside, with subtle Korean-Asian touches in decor. Seating is a little too close to each other for my taste but it's fine if you don't have anything salacious to talk about lol. Some of the tables have a "booth" side where the seat is a bench made up of Himalayan salt blocks, and it's heated. There's a seat cushion you can use as a barrier as well. Cons: service was incredibly slow. For a 6-course menu (technically 7 because we got the add-on), it should not take 2+ hours, and at some point I feel like our server simply forgot about my a la carte dishes. The pacing was all off. We spent SO much time just waiting for our food. Our reservation was at 7:45pm and we didn't leave until about 10:10pm. At least some check-ins or a heads up about cook times would be appreciated. Waters were also rarely filled as our server almost never came by unless it was to deliver dishes. Not sure why they don't just leave the carafes at the table, as the cups are pretty small. I would definitely come back here but perhaps will try at a less busy time, and/or hope we get a different server.

Excellent service could not make up for the middling tasting menu, or the desolate atmosphere of this empty but otherwise lovely restaurant. I dined here on Friday evening with a Korean friend with high hopes, but they were quickly dashed within the first couple of courses of our tasting menu. While there were some highlights, they were far and few in between a growing set of disappointing dishes that were long on presentation but short on flavor or any other distinction. Sadly, this attempt at high end Korean food fell quite short, and unless there is a serious remedy to menu to inject more compelling dishes with unique flavor, this place will shutter in a few months. It was 8pm on a Friday evening, and there was literally one other pair of guests there while we were. The staff was polite and professional but even they seemed to sense the end was near. Hope they fix the menu / chef situation, otherwise we would lose a great opportunity to bring high end Korean to DC.

never have i felt more tension in the dinner room. it was like the plot of a movie. by the end, i genuinely had indigestion from the stress (or was it the lack of quality ingredients and the sodium rush?) we were pleasantly surprised they had open seating for four in a private room on a saturday evening. that shouldve been a red flag the course menu is $115, and at first we were pleased by the welcome course — a yummy platter of dried korean ingredients like puffed rice dusted with matcha, candied ginger, and seaweed crackers, as well as a tasty drink. the assistant general manager explained the platter flavor profile and it SEEMED deeply intentional then, they brought out the next course before we even finished the welcome. Please slow down #1. a salad (which was just basic), kabocha porridge (i enjoyed), and an asian pear soup (also enjoyed). the next platter also came too quick. they kept kicking our umbrella, and bumping into our shoulders. please slow down #2. it was a “banchan platter” with 3 dumpling wrappers. mind you, there were only 2 platters even though we came as a group of 4. the ingredients were also not even noteworthy, nor as delicious as you can get compared to unlimited banchan from any mom and pop korean place. no cooking techniques even required the seafood abalone dish was actually good. but they did not give us knives despite having a big piece of oyster mushroom. there was also inconsistency in the cleaning and clearing of plating next came a plate of jeon, which also did not have any special ingredients nor creative spin. they only gave us one serving of dipping sauce, then when we asked for more, they gave us 3 total instead of 4… they finally understood our requests to slow pacing #3. final savory course was bulgogi japchae which was too salty and squid kimchi that was too spicy. the texture of the squid was more like jelly, and the bulgogi was not even premium beef. finally, dessert required no pastry chef — just fruit and a store-bought yakgwa (which the seever butchered the pronunciation of) this was the first time i’ve had to get the manager. not going to lie i was shaking and nervy BUT, we gave our two cents (this restaurant would not survive in nyc. it fails compared to competitor shoto. the food was good (a white lie), but the service is NOT fine dining esque. even cordelia fishbar at half the price had much better service). - rushed pacing - no clearing of plating - bumping into us all the time - lowkey perception that they hated us for being bratty LOL - lack of explaining the menu CONTROVERSIAL TAKE: servers at fine dining restaurants should at least be able to communicate proficiently in english. our head server also kept butchering the names of the dishes and did not offer any explanation of each dish. CLEARLY this “authentic” place (which tbf, they do use authentic ingredients that should be priced at 20% of this bill) is catering to non-koreans because the manager said she felt “insecure” we failed to get a discount but at least we got a free meal for next time… if we even want to come back. not mentioned to the manager: 1. the music outside turned to loud house music. THIS IS NOT SHOTO. 2. at one point, they simply left the water and tea in the room and the tea became cold. so we asked for more hot tea, which the server poured without keeping her hand on the lid, and basic laws of physics came into fruition and the lid dropped, splashing tea on us. 3. the bussers were kinda scary because they didnt speak english and kept standing outside the room like security guards.

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing the six-course vegan tasting menu at Onggi, and it was nothing short of exceptional. From start to finish, the variety, innovation, and attention to detail in each dish were clear. Every course was thoughtfully put together—not only flavorful and beautifully presented, but also the textures and mediums made it engaging to eat. What stood out to me most was how the vegan menu didn’t feel like an afterthought. It was fully in sync with the spirit of the regular menu, while still showcasing the depth and nuance of Korean cuisine. It’s rare to find a plant-based experience that feels this intentional and complete. The pacing of the meal was another highlight. Each course was spaced perfectly, allowing us to savor the food and engage in conversation without feeling rushed. In a time when so many restaurants seem focused on turning tables quickly, it was refreshing to enjoy a dining experience that respected the value of time and presence. A final, memorable touch that sets Onggi apart was the chef personally visiting our table to talk about the menu. Hearing about his process and added an extra layer of connection to the meal. I will definitely be back to see what fun and delicious things Onggi has in store. OH! And the booth bench was heated!!

Such a modern and elegant Korean restaurant! The food is not only delicious and nutritious but also beautifully and artistically presented. A truly wonderful dining experience — highly recommended!

Incredible food and without the most wonderful experience I ever had. The service on point and the atmosphere is amazing. It’s a brand new restaurant that you definitely have to visit. Authentic, modern and so fresh. ITS A MUST!

It's a very pleasant environment and you can have a conversation without screaming. The a la carte portions are very generous.

Recently had the opportunity to experience the new brunch menu and it was amazing! Highly recommend for a new dining experience in DC. As the restaurant is newly opened (just five weeks as of this review) it was easy to reserve and the restaurant was not crowded for a Saturday afternoon brunch. The team was extremely helpful with recommendations and we were presented the entrees and drinks by the beverage manager/director. From the drinks to entrees everything was presented beautifully and the flavors were phenomenal. My favorites were the kimchi fried rice and sugar filled pancakes; however each dish we had during brunch was amazing. The decor is minimal and chic featuring heated salt benches at the booth seating. The restaurant also has an an enclosed front patio and outer patio. The ambience during brunch was quiet with lovely music playing (if you enjoy soul and R&B:) the team was prompt when clearing dishes and following up during our meal. There is paid street parking (none that I could find relatively close to the restaurant so ride share or early reservation is recommended as it took a while to find parking). $$ @sharpandsoundstyle

Came here with the Tasting collective and am so glad I did! I lived in Korea for a year so am always seeking new Korean flavor experiences. I especially nerd out about regional specialties. The place has indoor and outdoor (covered) seating but has a decently small dining room. They focus on multi-course experiences and make almost everything in house (the sauces are particularly lovely). They offer a meat and vegan menu. The flavors of everything are very intentional and delicious, and it's clear that they care quite a bit about making everything beautiful in presentation. Service was very attentive and kind and they are very clearly proud of what they are doing. It's especially cool since the chef used to be the chef to the Korean president! Can't wait to come back here. The brunch menu looks good but none of the brunch specific options are vegetarian sadly.

The food was delicious! Went by yesterday with my friend who got the "experience Korea" pre-fixed HanJeongSik menu, and I ordered a la carte. All the food was delicious - even the abalone, which I usually do not like, but they season and cut it up well. Pros: If you're ordering from the "explore Korea" a la carte menu, I highly recommend the samgyeobsal. It's tender and the meat melts in your mouth, and the plum sauce is delicious. I also quite liked the dak galbi (spicy chicken with rice cakes). If you love pickles and/or kimchi, then I also recommend the jangajji. Speaking of which - I noticed they spelled it wrong on the menu. They have it as 짱이지 ("jjangaji" - but then they misspelled that too and put "jjangajji"), and it's supposed to be 장아찌 - or "jangajji." It's subtle but it's the difference between "pickled vegetables" and nonsensical words lol. The kimchi they use throughout their dishes is perfectly fermented and tasty. The vibe is cute inside, with subtle Korean-Asian touches in decor. Seating is a little too close to each other for my taste but it's fine if you don't have anything salacious to talk about lol. Some of the tables have a "booth" side where the seat is a bench made up of Himalayan salt blocks, and it's heated. There's a seat cushion you can use as a barrier as well. Cons: service was incredibly slow. For a 6-course menu (technically 7 because we got the add-on), it should not take 2+ hours, and at some point I feel like our server simply forgot about my a la carte dishes. The pacing was all off. We spent SO much time just waiting for our food. Our reservation was at 7:45pm and we didn't leave until about 10:10pm. At least some check-ins or a heads up about cook times would be appreciated. Waters were also rarely filled as our server almost never came by unless it was to deliver dishes. Not sure why they don't just leave the carafes at the table, as the cups are pretty small. I would definitely come back here but perhaps will try at a less busy time, and/or hope we get a different server.

Great food and service! I caught the happy hour 2-5pm on a Sunday afternoon for a few bites and a cocktail. The dishes I tried were delicious and I would recommend ordering multiple of each if sharing. The restaurant was modern and clean, definitely a good atmosphere. Looking forward to returning for the full menu!

Nice upscale Korean restaurant in Dupont Circle. We ordered a la carte. Excellent fried chicken (super crispy and juicy) and kimbap (large, well worth the money). Admittedly, I was disappointed by the little amount of banchan that came with the galbi, especially for the price. (More, please!) But my husband raved about the galbijjim, or short rib stew. Will probably return to try the tasting menu.

Stopped in for the lunch special! My son had the beef rolls and absolutely loved them. My husband had a rice bowl and loved it as well! Great food and EXCELLENT service!

A warm spring afternoon found us at Onggi, looking for some Korean flavor in the District. We nestled into a cozy basement corner and started with the Black Garlic Wings - crispy, plenty of breading, and lots of flavor. The Bibimbap was really deconstructed, meaning you assembled everything yourself instead of just mixing what arrived in the bowl. Plenty of flavors to mix together. The Galbi set had all kinds of panchan to go with the beef, well-marinated and sweet. But the Jigae set was my favorite, a deep broth with spice and umami, along with plenty of panchan bites on the side. Good stuff, and the chef came out to make sure we were happy with the food. Friendly and sedate, the ambiance at Onggi is distinct and worth a try.

A one-of-a-kind Korean restaurant in the states! I've eaten Korean food since I was a kid, and most Korean spots fall into one of two categories: Korean barbecue or Korean mom-and-pop. Both have their pros and cons, but this spot is just a little different. It's a bit more high-end without being too ostentatious and the chef makes most of his stuff by scratch (even the gochugang!). I stalked the restaurant's opening and dug in a bit on the owners. The owners in Korea are known for slightly pricier, private room course meals, suitable for workplace networking. And the food is known for being delicious and healthy! It's not as expensive as a super fancy schmancy spot, but it's not necessarily cheap either. However, the price and portion of the food is very good considering the taste and decor. The decor is really nice for a work lunch or dinner, a romantic date spot, a friend gathering, or to eat by yourself (cough cough, me). Have I been coming here a little often for my wallet. Perhaps. Anyways, if you're hungry, get the meal courses. Lots of vegetables and meat (they even have more vegan options too!). Highlights: tender galbi, fried chicken wings, jeon (fried items from vegetables to fish), bibim gooksoo (slightly spicy but refreshing!), and the bibimbap (nutritious, crunchy, fresh!). And their bibimbap's quality significantly outshines their competitors since everything is done in-house. Not another lychee martini is the best cocktail and the flower tea and the black bean tea are elite (flower for #1!). They're in the soft opening stage until April 01, when they officially open. Try to get in now, because I have a feeling they will be very popular soon! Also, shoutout to Chef Kim and his wife along with Colin for the welcoming service and comforting food!

The food was so delicious that I will definitely visit again next time. It was the best Korean food I have ever had. I was surprised that it was much more delicious than what I had tasted in Korea. It is a place that many people can enjoy.

Onggi is a modern take on Korean cuisine that leaves you feeling very well cared for. From the heated bench seating to the very friendly and helpful staff to the very personable chefs, you are in very good hands when you dine here. Our meal started with a trio of 3 color jeon. Our favorite was the kimchi one. The next course was a delicious flounder with wild west seaweed. This is different from the typical nori. It was really flavorful and softer and didn't stick to the roof of your mouth. The flounder that you filled the seaweed with was also excellent with a great flavor and very satisfying texture. Bibimbap is one of my favorite Korean dishes and this deconstructed version fit the bill. We especially liked the soybean paste sauce which we had never had with bibimbap. This was just one of the three sauces offered with the very generous entrée. The land and sea featured short ribs, scallop, abalone and a kabocha squash puree. The plating is always beautiful, often decorated with edible flowers. One of our favorite dishes was the black sesame ice cream and berries. Black sesame ice cream! Where have you been all my life?! Yum! The space itself it light filled with both indoor and outdoor seating and there is street parking all around. We truly enjoyed the food and the staff made the dinner even more welcoming.

The food is ok, not authentic Korea dishes as we expected. Our servant is quite rude. The overall atmosphere is so so. We won't come back.

Absolutely LOVED our visit during their soft opening! The host was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, where things were sourced, and how the dishes were prepared. The interior was gorgeous and they had heated bench seats that reminded me of Korean spas. They also had a private dining space for larger groups! The drinks were amazing (we got the yuzu highball, ogok-bap, the Not Another Lychee Martini, and their adaptation of University Days for a welcome drink). You can't go wrong with any of them. For food, the three of us opted for ordering all the all-day gourmet bites (yes, all of them). This was a great way to sample their offerings before committing to their dinner set menus. Our favorites were the mandu, jeon, and wings. The banchan that came with the galbi were also yummy and quite authentic - the host said they are prepared by Korean imos (Korean aunties), and it showed!! We'll have to come back for their lunch menu and dinner set menus! I understand that they are taking an upscale Korean dining angle, but I hope they expand their bites and jjigae menus so folks can still experience the restaurant but at a more approachable price point. I'm so excited to see how this restaurant grows - I can definitely see it getting very popular very quickly!

never have i felt more tension in the dinner room. it was like the plot of a movie. by the end, i genuinely had indigestion from the stress (or was it the lack of quality ingredients and the sodium rush?) we were pleasantly surprised they had open seating for four in a private room on a saturday evening. that shouldve been a red flag the course menu is $115, and at first we were pleased by the welcome course -- a yummy platter of dried korean ingredients like puffed rice dusted with matcha, candied ginger, and seaweed crackers, as well as a tasty drink. the assistant general manager explained the platter flavor profile and it SEEMED deeply intentional then, they brought out the next course before we even finished the welcome. Please slow down #1. a salad (which was just basic), kabocha porridge (i enjoyed), and an asian pear soup (also enjoyed). the next platter also came too quick. they kept kicking our umbrella, and bumping into our shoulders. please slow down #2. it was a "banchan platter" with 3 dumpling wrappers. mind you, there were only 2 platters even though we came as a group of 4. the ingredients were also not even noteworthy, nor as delicious as you can get compared to unlimited banchan from any mom and pop korean place. no cooking techniques even required the seafood abalone dish was actually good. but they did not give us knives despite having a big piece of oyster mushroom. there was also inconsistency in the cleaning and clearing of plating next came a plate of jeon, which also did not have any special ingredients nor creative spin. they only gave us one serving of dipping sauce, then when we asked for more, they gave us 3 total instead of 4... they finally understood our requests to slow pacing #3. final savory course was bulgogi japchae which was too salty and squid kimchi that was too spicy. the texture of the squid was more like jelly, and the bulgogi was not even premium beef. finally, dessert required no pastry chef -- just fruit and a store-bought yakgwa (which the seever butchered the pronunciation of) this was the first time i've had to get the manager. not going to lie i was shaking and nervy BUT, we gave our two cents (this restaurant would not survive in nyc. it fails compared to competitor shoto. the food was good (a white lie), but the service is NOT fine dining esque. even cordelia fishbar at half the price had much better service). - rushed pacing - no clearing of plating - bumping into us all the time - lowkey perception that they hated us for being bratty LOL - lack of explaining the menu CONTROVERSIAL TAKE: servers at fine dining restaurants should at least be able to communicate proficiently in english. our head server also kept butchering the names of the dishes and did not offer any explanation of each dish. CLEARLY this "authentic" place (which tbf, they do use authentic ingredients that should be priced at 20% of this bill) is catering to non-koreans because the manager said she felt "insecure" we failed to get a discount but at least we got a free meal for next time... if we even want to come back. not mentioned to the manager: 1. the music outside turned to loud house music. THIS IS NOT SHOTO. 2. at one point, they simply left the water and tea in the room and the tea became cold. so we asked for more hot tea, which the server poured without keeping her hand on the lid, and basic laws of physics came into fruition and the lid dropped, splashing tea on us. 3. the bussers were kinda scary because they didnt speak english and kept standing outside the room like security guards.

Onggi is a new neighbor in Dupont Circle and I am VERY happy to make her acquaintance. This restaurant is located at a very prominent location. The construction has had the neighborhood in a tizzy since last year and I am happy to say that the wait was worth it. Onggi is a Korean restaurant - but it isn't your father's restaurant (if, in fact, your father ever went to a Korean restaurant)! My spouse and I have loved Korean food for a long time and we have visited many Korean restaurants. I can honestly say that this restaurant is different than most Korean restaurants and in a class of its own. The story is that the current owner, Tanya, is a protege of a famous restauraneur in Seoul. In fact, the mentor owns and runs a well-known restaurant right next door to the Korean president's official residence and is used for official functions. Consequently, you can imagine the level of sophistication and luxury. Onggi reflects this same level of quality. The interior is serene and beautiful in a modern style. Not necessarily Korean interior - just modern and elegant. The chairs are luxuriously comfortable. The utensils were so heavy and beautiful that I thought about stealing them. But, of course, since I live so close to this restaurant and I hope to be a regular, I did not want to start out our relationship this way. The service we received in Onggi was top notch. Calvin and Devin were super polished and helpful in helping us to navigate the unusual menu. Both were delightful and we enjoyed our conversations with them. We went to Onggi during the soft opening so maybe the menu has some fine tuning. However, if I have anything critical to say about this restaurant, it is that some of the food needs to be Americanized a bit. We started out with the black garlic fried chicken wings. Never have I had crispier chicken wings with no grease on them. They were great. The dipping sauce was the star of this dish for me and I actually used my spoon to get it all!!! Our next dish was galbi with three banchan. This is the dish that needed some fine tuning in my opinion. The steak, while tasty, was too fatty and full of gristle to be satisfying. We could eat only a small portion of the entire dish. Perhaps this is the cut of beef used in Korea but it does not really work for Americans like us. When we were done eating this dish, most of the beef still sat on the plate. We finished up with the Japchae and it was - without a doubt - the best japchae that I have ever had. Delicious! My only negative here was that I wish there had been more of it! We did not order the tasting menu because we were not that hungry. So, we made our dinner from the appetizers. I cannot comment on the tasting menus at all. They looked nice but, again, I did not experience them. I really hope that this place becomes a HUGE success and I also hope that I become a regular because I love Korean food. I highly recommend Onggi for anyone who wants to experience an elegant lovely meal in a beautiful dining room! Just don't expect the bulgogi to be thrown on a styrofoam dish as it is in most Korean restaurants. This place elevates Korean food to an entirely new - and I must admit luxurious - level! Bravo!!!

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing the six-course vegan tasting menu at Onggi, and it was nothing short of exceptional. From start to finish, the variety, innovation, and attention to detail in each dish were clear. Every course was thoughtfully put together--not only flavorful and beautifully presented, but also the textures and mediums made it engaging to eat. What stood out to me most was how the vegan menu didn't feel like an afterthought. It was fully in sync with the spirit of the regular menu, while still showcasing the depth and nuance of Korean cuisine. It's rare to find a plant-based experience that feels this intentional and complete. The pacing of the meal was another highlight. Each course was spaced perfectly, allowing us to savor the food and engage in conversation without feeling rushed. In a time when so many restaurants seem focused on turning tables quickly, it was refreshing to enjoy a dining experience that respected the value of time and presence. A final, memorable touch that sets Onggi apart was the chef personally visiting our table to talk about the menu. Hearing about his process and added an extra layer of connection to the meal. I will definitely be back to see what fun and delicious things Onggi has in store. OH! And the booth bench was heated!!

We went for dinner on Mother's Day of all days - the one day you don't want to cook - and the experience was memorable for how terrible it was. We ordered four entrees - one didn't even make it out and the other three came out separately, 20 minutes apart. So we weren't able to eat our meal as a family but had what felt like an extended evening of small bites. We also ordered rice to go with the bulgogi which never arrived. The japchae noodles were overcooked and mushy. As a Korean, there are some basic rules for common dishes and it was disappointing such a basic dish couldn't be served correctly. The kimbap is very good. We only ordered this item off the happy hour menu but was charged the regular dinner menu fee. We didn't say anything because by the time we got our check, we were so ready to get out of there. I read other people's reviews and there seemed to be a lot of notes on the good service. Everyone there is nice but no one knows how to run a restaurant. We sat at a table without utensils and had to ask for them after our first entree was served. No one noticed and it was just generally a clueless staff. For $250, so many other choices in the DC area.

The ambiance is so relaxing plus the heated seats are new to me. The Yuzu Ginger Honey Tea is simple yet cleanses my palate. The Galbi is so tender and tasty service is also great, very accommodating It's conveniently located near my job so I will definitely pop in here often. I love the hibiscus tea in a pouch too! 5star!

Great deal for HAPPY HOUR. I want to go back and experience the full menu. The HAPPY HOUR food choices were delicious. Get one of each and you'll be full! And they have KLOUD for happy hour price!

Excellent. Amazing experience. The food super organic, the service really attentive and friendly. The atmosphere is elegant and comfortable. Everything matches in an impeccable way! It's a must!