Perry's Restaurant
Japanese restaurant · Kalorama Triangle ·
Japanese fare, sushi, speciality cocktails, rooftop bar, drag brunch
Japanese fare, sushi, speciality cocktails, rooftop bar, drag brunch
"Always an Adams Morgan favorite and a pioneer for its longtime drag brunch service, this ever-evolving Japanese restaurant has been transformed into a true destination since chef Masako Morishita took over the kitchen in 2023. Now a James Beard Award winner, Morishita keeps innovating with festive comfort food touches, and the restaurant has never been better. Japanese breakfast is the move here: for $42, there’s a generous sampling of standout dishes that might include a wagyu play on beef stew nikujaya or vegetables delicately poached in a strong dashi broth, alongside standard offerings of salt-cured fish, miso soup, pickles, and rice, plus an accompanying miso leek paste that wouldn’t be out of place filling an onigiri the next day if taken to go. Udon carbonara, which became a Morishita signature when it first hit the dinner menu, remains a delightful umami bomb with a nice toothsome texture and salty prosciutto in the mix. Sushi has long been a staple here and is quite good these days: the $35 chirashi is a reliable way to sample a variety, while the “tuna lover” combines pieces of nigiri, sashimi, tuna maki, and a crunchy tuna roll for $28, with good deals available during happy hour. Weekend mornings are best for either booking Japanese breakfast or the iconic Sunday drag brunch, when a good time is practically guaranteed. Japanese breakfast service also gives Morishita room to experiment, so the a la carte add-ons are not to be missed; recent highlights have included loaded tater tots with fermented shiokoji ranch dressing, an unimpeachable take on spam musubi, and a fruit sando on fluffy milk bread for a sweet finale." - Missy Frederick
"Kick off 2026 with a New Year’s treat at Perry’s, where James Beard Award-winning chef Masako Morishita is serving a festive Japanese breakfast inspired by her childhood in Kobe. With extra-special dishes on New Year’s Day, the $42 tray features grilled fish, small plates, pickles, and comforting dashi-based soups that honor Japan’s most important holiday. Expect classics like namasu and ozoni to bring symbolic good fortune, health, and prosperity, alongside a la carte specials such as buri sashimi, uni grilled cheese, and a chestnut monaka dessert crafted with ingredients sourced from Morishita’s recent trip to Japan." - Vinciane Ngomsi
"There are as many ways to make a “good” restaurant as there are restaurants in the world. One well-worn path, however, is to serve exceptional food at reasonable prices in a living room-esque atmosphere that works as well for blowout celebratory dinners as it does routine date nights. Perry’s Restaurant accomplishes all of these things, and they have sushi. Sure, the crowd leans loud and you might have to raise your voice when giving life updates, but every table is in high spirits and the attitude is contagious." - Thomas Rose
"This Adams Morgan stalwart for reliable raw fish got a big boost with James Beard Award-winning Japanese chef Masako Morishita at the helm. Choose from a long a la carte lineup of two-piece nigiri or sashimi and six-piece maki rolls; the morikomo platters are a good way to sample a variety. Morishita has fleshed out the menu with other creative items (and her Japanese breakfast sells out almost instantly), but sushi is still a major draw here." - Tierney Plumb
"A boozier take leverages HAIKEN Lychee Vodka but adds Nigori Sake, Daiyame shochu, and lemon to broaden and strengthen the cocktail's profile." - Lulu Chang
