Sakedokoro Makoto

The #1 authentic Japanese food experience. Amazing sushi and appetizers! The mussels are so plump and flavorful, quite possibly the best thing on the menu. Many of the other dishes come across as a little bland and lacking depth. The dessert is quite yummy

Really good Japanese food. I like how courses change based on what is available during the season. You need reservation, I made it about three days in advance. You have to put your credit card info when you make the reservation. The food itself was delicious. I didn’t know you could make veggies taste so delicious, yet so simple and elegant. We celebrated my boyfriend birthday and they gave us a mini tart cake with candle. At the time of reservation , they asked if there was an occasion.

It is a place where you can feel Japan while you are in the United States.Chef's arm is top notch.I was able to have a happy time.I highly recommend the Japanese cuisine of this restaurant with confidence. お父さんの時代からお世話なりました。 ありがとうございます。

Best food I’ve had in DC. A+ but with C- service. Slow. We got one dish then waited forever then a bunch at once. The waiters need to repeat the order back to the customer so they get it right. She wrote down 1 ice cream dessert instead of 2. 1 came out, we asked for another and then it took forever for the kitchen to make. The ice cream melted all over the place as we waited. Definitely some kitchen hold-ups. The mocktails wouldn’t feed a mouse. With all the crushed ice not much at all. Cups are way too small. No soy sauce, wasabi and ginger at the table or given until we asked twice. We ordered a block of tofu that could simply not be served with chopsticks and yet we had no spoon or cutlery with which to serve it (soft tofu that falls apart if you try to eat with chopsticks.) So we had to wait a while for that. Some service ineptitude but magnificent food!!! Yum!!!!

Makoto is an excellent complete dining experience. Be sure to schedule your reservation far in advance, OVER 4 months, and be ready to submit yourself to the chef. Makoto is a tiny traditional upscale Japanese restaurant. Don't come looking for crazy rolls filled with cream cheese and covered in some kind of hot sauce. The sushi here is melt in your mouth simple fish. Makoto is wonderful for intimate and romantic dining. There are very few tables and you find yourself leaning in towards your dining companion talking and marveling at the food as it is delivered to your table. If you order the tasting menu you open yourself up to as they describe it "food should be to fill the soul not the belly." Each course is small but expertly crafted, and delicious. Our meal here was special and truly one of a kind in a sea of many average restaurants.

tldr; most authentic Japanese experience in the DC area. Great service and great food. I visited Sakedokoro Makoto with my fiance for my birthday dinner. The price was around what was expected. +1 star. The waitress met us at the door and gave us slippers for the interior. She was extremely polite and reminded me very much of my eating experiences in Japan. +1 star. The ambiance was also extremely Japanese (wood everywhere) and very tightly squished. +1 star. But the chairs were extremely small and uncomfortable to sit on considering we sat there for maybe four hours. -1 star. Service overall was impeccable. +1 star. But the time between servings was between 30-45 minutes given that there were only two chefs and they were trying to sync all the guests up. -1 star. At the beginning of the meal, they provided some complementary sake, which my fiance said was some of the best liquor he'd ever tasted. +1 star. It's been a while since my visit so I may miss some dishes or place them out of order. Our first dish was a clam soup. The flavor was great, but there was sand in the soup... unacceptable given it's avoidable with good preparation. -1 star. Our second dish was a fish dish cooked to perfection with crispy skin and juicy flesh. +1 star. Our third dish was a sashimi platter that had extremely fresh and delicious slices of fish. +1 star. Our fourth dish was a soft shell tempura crab - not greasy or heavy at all! Came with a side of different salts which were fun to pair. +1 star. Our final entree was fois gras which was cooked so well none of that organ flavor remained. +1 star. As a special birthday surprise, they came out with a small apple tart which was absolutely delicious! +1 star. Total: 7 star.

Went there for our anniversary and Gene prepared everything right in front of us. It was the most amazing, fresh, delicate Japanese food I've ever had. I do plan on going back for this year's anniversary. Thank you so much!

The best Japanese meal I've had in DC. Every course was fantastic. A wonderful, intimate dining experience. Expensive, but highly worth it in my opinion of you can afford it.

Kappo is located on MacArthur Blvd and is close to Georgetown. There is street parking nearby via Parkmobile. This was truly a remarkable experience for me. I came here on my birthday as a special treat. They specialize in Japanese Wagyu omakase. They also have traditional sushi as well featuring Otoro. Kappy truly stands out even from the outside entrance. There is a walk downstairs to the basement so watch your step. It is a bit dark in here with a black and wood interior. It can get a little chilly in here so I recommend bringing another layer even in the summer. From start to finish, everything on their menu was delicious. I was full after the meal. I would come back again on another special occasion.

Was running later than I had originally planned so I didn't get to check in to my hotel before coming here straight off of driving down from Philly during rush hour. I was hoping that this meal was my saving grace and revitalized me for the start of my DC weekend. The inside of the place was cool, gave izakaya vibes. Overall, I think this was just a painfully average meal. At the price point, it can be viewed as below average in my opinion. Here are my thoughts: 1. There were many questionable things I noticed throughout the night. The most questionable of them all is that they use vegetable oil to coat the stainless steel pan that they cook the wagyu steaks in.... wtf?!?! Cooking an A5 Wagyu steak is literally the perfect natural invitation to just cut off a small piece of the fat and grease the pan with it. Using vegetable oil, or honestly any fat other than A5 fat, to cook an A5 steak is a sin. A place of this price point should NOT be doing that. 2. The chef's cooking technique of the A5 steak was very amateur feeling. The pan was still cold and he put all the meat in it. There was absolutely no sear on any of the meat, such a critical component that was overlooked. 3. The first dish of Wagyu maki with scallop tasted fishy and not fresh. 4. The uni and caviar pairing felt extremely random and wasn't cohesive with a majority of the dishes. Was just a boujee add on to make you feel like you were having a more lavish experience. 5. THEY USED METAL SPOONS TO SCOOP OUT AND PLACE THE OSETRA CAVIAR. Bruh A lot of extremely rookie mistakes were made that show a clear lack of attention to detail, refined techniques, and overall experience. In my opinion, you'd be fine if you skipped this one.

KenScale: 8.25/10 Visit: January 2025 DC has no shortage of Japanese restaurants but it is rare to see a Kappo-style tasting menu focusing on the famed Japanese wagyu beef. Kappo in the Palisades neighborhood, started by chef Minoru Ogawa in partnership with co-owner Ari Wilder, had long been on my list of new DC restaurants and it was only recently this month that my wife Jun and I finally got around to visiting. It was on a very cold Saturday after heavy snows during the weekdays. As we were led to the cozy dining space with chef Ogawa meticulously working behind the counter, I felt there was something special about this restaurant. Our dinner at Kappo indeed turned out to be a memorable one. The eight-course menu at Kappo, at $150 per person, was a model of consistency and high level of execution throughout. An early highlight was probably one of the best chawanmushi dishes I had encountered, with wagyu and foie gras inside to produce awesome umami. Jun was also very complimentary of the lobster saikyo misoyaki, with lobster grilled more or less to perfection giving irresistibly rich flavor. A few of the fish dishes in the form of red snapper (accompanied by ponzu, salsify and kumquat) and then salmon were also of high quality. After a palate cleanser of yuzu shiso lemon granita, we were served the highlight of the night. I had eaten some really outstanding wagyu beef dishes in my wife, but what Kappo brought in its steak dish was truly remarkable. The texture of the wagyu, which came with carrot and zucchini on the side, was just heavenly, melting in my mouth from impeccable marbling with no tough parts anywhere! My only regret is that the portion came a little smaller with around half a dozen cubes of the steak, which made each bite that much more precious. The last savory course was a soulful combination of rice dish and miso soup; I was particularly fond of the rich flavor from the soup with generous amount of beef inside. For dessert, we had red miso-caramel panna cotta and judging from how quickly Jun was eating it, it marked a delightful end to our meal. Kappo has both counter and table seatings, run twice a day on weekdays and three times a day on the weekends. If you are looking to grab prime time seatings on the weekends, advance planning for booking is highly recommended. Unfortunately, Jun had a dental procedure a few days before our visit so she wasn't able to try any alcohol drinks (and being mindful of her predicament, I ordered just one cocktail and a glass of sake). She vowed that next time we visit, she would definitely want to try the sake pairing (currently available at $80 per person). Overall, the beverage program at Kappo looked quite thoughtful with an extensive list of sake and wine options. We really enjoyed our dinner at Kappo and whenever we need a fix for Japanese wagyu, this will certainly be the first place we will think of. For any meat lover, I highly encourage you to give it a try and experience the magic happening at the kitchen with possibly the most delicious wagyu beefs you have eaten in your lifetime.

The restaurant is very lowkey, but it has plenty of street parking. They have counter seating as well as a few tables. It is definitely a smaller restaurant but it is a nice intimate ambiance. The staff is very attentive and nice. The door is hard to find since it blends in. The food was good. Some of the dishes had interesting texture. I wish one of the dishes had slightly more rice. My friend had some drinks. Overall paid $400 for two people including tip. Definitely come for occasion.

One of the finest dining experiences I had in the DMV area. Kappo DC specializes in wagyu omakase. Location is a bit off- main part of DC, but I would travel out here in a heartbeat to get a piece of Kappo. Ambiance is much cuter, quaint, and Japanese- like than the yelp photos. I would advise you dress up for the occasion -- at least business casual. Their wagyu quality was AMAZING. Not necessarily the best Wagyu I've had, but one of the better ones / not fake :) Every single dish was tastefully presented, and extremely flavorful. One dish I thought I could do without was fried pufferfish. It had a very fishy taste, which made me think it wasn't prepared right. All else was ON SPOT with the flavor profile, presentation & mix of different ingredients. Service was phenomenal. We didn't do the sake paring, but ordered a bottle of junmai daiginjo and their sake selection is GREAT. Overall, Kappo is pricey but definitely worth every penny. Highly recommend for a special occasion. We are so happy with the experience that we are going to Sushi Ogawa next!

We booked a dinner reservation in Kappo to celebrate my birthday. We were the first to arrive for the dinner seating time and we were seated right away. Kappo is located in a residential area in DC and we weren't sure about the parking situation. I highly suggest getting an Uber going to Kappo. The space is intimate but still enough space for guests and staff to move around. While waiting for the dinner to start, we had some cocktails which was prepared in front of us. We had "The Bully" and "Feels like a Million" for cocktails. We had the 8-course meal with the additional uni and caviar selection plus sake pairing. Everything was marvelously prepared in front of us and the staff patiently explained to each guest what the dish or drink is going to be served next. My favorites are the Chawanmushi and the Fugu Tempura. This is probably one of the best meals that we had this year. A little on the expensive side but would love to revisit again.

Came for a birthday dinner and unfortunately left not full (the courses are tiny for the most part). We even tried it with the add-on of uni and caviar. First off, no use being early; they don't let you in until the precise time of your reservation. When we were finally settled and everyone in the restaurant had their drinks, the courses finally started delivering. Some of the dishes were good while others were frankly confusing. For example, the tempura came out not hot and soggy, like it had been sitting there for a while. The chawanmushi was my favorite. The servers were all very friendly but I hate leaving restaurants hungry so probably not a return.

Truly a remarkable experience in DC! I felt like I was in Japan enjoying a good meal and a good time! This winter menu is full of delicious wagyu, caviar, drinks, and more! Thank you for an amazing omakase night out with friends!

A culinary dining experience, first time experiencing Omakse at Kappo; a Japanese dining experience where the chef chooses the menu based on their expertise and the freshest ingredients, and the customer leaves it up to them. The term literally translates to "I'll leave it up to you". Pricey, but so worth it! From start to finish our tastebuds were in heaven! Service was great, with each course our host explained the ingredients that went into making each dish and explained the origin of the name of the dish. The setting is very intimate, a long counter that seats 8 and 3 small tables behind where each table seats 4, reservations are mandatory. The whole vibe feels like you're being invited to an intimate dinner party. Sitting at the chef's table (we sat at the counter right in front of the kitchen where they prepared the dishes) was an honor. Everything from the drinks to the food were delectable!

Kappo is truly a hidden gem and an incredible experience. I saw about them on social media and immediately went to the website to book a table. I took my husband here to celebrate some work achievements and we had an amazing time. It was exactly what I was hoping for and then some! We ordered the omakase with the sake pairing and sat at the bar. Getting to watch the chef and her team work on the food and then talking with her about the food & her inspiration for it was so fun. Everything was truly delicious, I can't even begin to have a favorite. For us, Kappo was an intimate and elevated dining experience that we absolutely loved. We went for a date night/ celebration, but I saw some other tables there for what seemed like business dinners as well. Whatever the reason, I recommend you make your way to Kappo asap!

Kappo DC is set up to provide a unique dining experience. Located in the basement of a rowhouse in the Palisades, the small dining room sits only 21 people with a few seats at the bar watching the open kitchen. Previewing their Fall 2024 menu, here's my experience. 1) Food: It's a tasting menu and $150 gets you eight courses. However, one course is a trio so it felt like an 11-course meal. Not a bad price in an expensive city like D.C. The menu is wagyu-centric and expect lots of raw or lightly cooked meats. As a former vegetarian, it was a lot of meat, but each dish is creative and a blast to watch being prepared in front of your eyes. On their Fall 2024 menu, the standout dishes were the Menchi Katsu, Sashimi Tripo, Wagyu Takikomi Gohan, and the dessert (shaved ice). 2) Drink: They have a full cocktail, sake, wine, and more menu. Enjoying more sweet cocktails, I enjoyed their version of a margarita and their version of a sour. 3) Service: Once you sit down, you're offered sparkling, still, or tap water as well as a warm towel to wash your hands. A dedicated staff, every dish is explained and they are happy to answer any question. 4) Space: It's small and intimate, making it a great spot for date night. If you can, get a seat watching the open kitchen. 5) Area: Located in the Palisades, there are a handful of hyper local restaurants and shops along MacArthur Boulevard. Street parking is easier to find, especially on a Sunday

I have been wanting to come here for quite some time and I'm glad I was finally able to check this place out while celebrating the holidays. I had a great time and loved the experience of dining at Kappo DC with their 8 course meal that was super unique and tasty. I also opted for getting the Caviar and Japanese Uni as well as the Sake pairing. I highly recommend the Sake pairing but I wasn't impressed with the Japanese Uni and caviar as it was just added on to each course but I feel like for some of the dishes it didn't pair well. The sakes were a variety of different flavors that blended well with each of the meals. You would get a new sake tasting per 2 servings of the course meal. They also offer a variety of cocktails and drinks. Regarding the 8 course meal, I loved the different types of flavors and the presentation. Each meal ingredient was told to us as they were presented to our table which was nice to know exactly what you were getting. There were definitely some meals I liked more than others since some had texture differences rather than just mushiness that blended in together. The ambience was very relaxing and elegant. There is no waiting room so I highly recommend coming closer to your scheduled time. The parking situation isn't the best as it's all street parking and it's shared with the surrounding neighborhood. Overall the staff were nice and helpful with each meal and this restaurant experience definitely made me feel like I had traveled to Japan.

I loved this experience it was very upscale and the food was delicious. This is an intimate atmosphere as it only seats 21 people. The servers were very attentive and very knowledgeable about the food. Everything was delicious. This was an amazing omikase experience.

We had an absolutely amazing and nostalgic dinner at Kappo DC. We used to love the tasting menus at the formerly Makoto and couldn't be more excited to try their A5 Wagyu tasting menu by chef Ogawa. The A5 Wagyu was imported from Japan and chef Ogawa prepared and cooked it in many different ways, highlighting the quality of the meat, as well as delivering a thoughtful menu from start to finish. I think my favorite dishes of the evening were the Chawanmushi, the soft shell crab, and the wagyu steak with the thick cut pieces of tender and tasty wagyu meat. I complimented my tasting menu with uni and caviar for an additional $100. I do highly recommend this if you like uni and caviar like I do. They topped almost every dish with additional uni and/or caviar and I felt like it elevated my dishes even more. Sadly, I am not an alcohol person so I cannot speak about the alcoholic beverages such as the sake. I did have one mocktail with seltzer water, lemon zest, and orgeat and it was a memorable mocktail of all the mocktails I've had from other restaurants. Service was fabulous as expected. My husband and I don't go out often without kids so this was a special tasting experience. We got to watch chef Ogawa in action and assembling the dishes with imported and local ingredients. We cannot thank Kappo DC enough for such a wonderful meal and experience.

Back at my happy place! Love love love Kappo, I've never had a meal I didn't love. We brought a friend from out of town and they absolutely loved Kappo. Service was great as always ans the food was delicious. Love seeing all the different iterations of their menu!

Reservations require a deposit that goes towards your final bill! I love walking down into the restaurant that felt very clean, fancy and pretty private with most seatings at the counter and a few tables. Our waiter was very professional and kind and provided us great recommendations! We're ok with caviar but love uni so we asked if instead of the caviar and uni add on if we could do just an uni add on. The waiter checked with the chef for us and said today it was ok and we're so happy we did that since the uni was super creamy, sweet and delicious! 4.5/5 Overall I did like all the dishes and think it's a pretty good value for price considering a5 wagyu is always expensive. There were quite a few courses where I wish they added more wagyu for a more even distribution rather than piling it all in the steak bowl but that's not a huge complaint. Omakase Wagyu Shabu Shabu - very yummy, not too heavy and flavorful 4.5/5 Chawanmushi - for flavor 4.5/5 but really disappointed with how little wagyu it came with so more like. Love the egg, mushroom flavor and texture 4/5 Wagyu Kojizuke - very yummy and soft but not too unique and not much meat 3.5/5 Watarigani Tatsutaage - lots of meat inside the crab and no hard pieces. Yummy, not oily 3/5 Sashimi Trio - yellow tail - clean 3/5 Bluefin tuna - don't like the leaf but not fishy at least. Soft but not the best too 3/5 Scallop - super soft and flavorful, love the sauce it came in! A little citrusy and sweet 4.5/5 Wagyu Steak - very yummy, soft and heavy 4/5 Wagyu Nigiri - rice a little too sticky but good flavors and soft not too heavy 4.5/5 Dessert (shaved ice with strawberry and matcha) - ice not really special but perfect refreshing for summer and cuts the heaviness! You can taste the matcha and strawberry very nicely so I liked it 3.75/5 Chocolate - rich and yummy! 3/5 Drinks - Mt Fuji - 3.5/5 little strong but still sweet and refreshing BIN #I2 JUNMAI, NANBU BIJIN, IWATE - 4/5 smooth and nice sweetness. Sake pairing - had sips of them but none really stood out to me. Most were good but not very great too. 3/5

From the moment you walk in you know that you've made an excellent choice. We opted for the sake pairing to go along with our meal. Each pairing was explained to us along with the bottle being displayed and tasting notes. They were extremely detailed about everything which helped them move around effortlessly. We took a seat at the chefs counter which allowed us to get a better view. We loved the counter experience. Everything was perfectly balanced up to dessert with the miso caramel. You couldn't ask for a better experience. This truly made me feel like I was back in Japan. Just book the reservation already you won't be disappointed!

Very unique and one-of-a-kind experience. It's a little pricey at $150 per person, but definitely worth it for a great dining experience. The interior is very chic and well-designed. You can tell they put a lot of thought into it and it's a very intimate vibe, as the place only seats about 20 people. If you sit at the counter, you can watch the chefs prepare the food in front of you, which is really cool. Every course is really rich and unique and we didn't have a bad one! It was also really cool seeing the wagyu before they prepared it and the staff gives you an overview of each dish before you try it.

Here is the good, the bad, and the ugly for this restaurant: The ugly: nothing really. The bad: I've had better wagyu in other restaurants especially in NY. Here, the beef was fresh but other restaurants were able to season it better with different flavours or presentations even. The good: amazing sake list, great service, and beautiful bathroom and restaurant decor. If you want an omakase A5 experience, sure, try it. I've just had better seasoned A5 with wasabi or soy sauce; or just plain salt. It's hard to put a finger on, but this restaurant's pairing of meat and vegetables just didn't hit the mark.

Hands down once in a lifetime omakase experience centered on wagyu. Michelin listed, and I expect a star is just a matter of time; they treat every customer like an inspector. The staff predicts the customers desires, guides the customer without offense on etiquette, and delivers the omakase notes perfectly and with timing specific to each party. Parking is easier in this part of town, and the interior of the restaurant is nestled amongst a city block of neat establishments. Kappo immediately transports you to an intimate luxurious Kyoto like restaurant with front row seats expected in an izakaya. We had so much fun interacting with the staff, exercising our broken Japanese language skills, and enjoying the incredible flavors of the food and drink. You need to try these flavor profiles and sake pairing. The staff exhibit their passion by taking excitement with the guests enjoyment of the experience while delivering such high attention to detail and are not daunted by those who may not have experienced the pace, nuance, and omakase before. Add Kappo to your destinations list, your celebration list, and your rotation if you can. We cannot wait to return to enjoy the experience and flavors again!

My goodness...I am pretty sure Kappo DC is the closest thing to heaven on earth. Upon arriving, you are greeted with a conspicuous entrance, light brown wooden door, and a gold plaque with "Kappo Makoto" carved into it. It gave off a very exclusive and high end vibe. Once our dinner reservation time arrived, the door finally opened with a host greeting and welcoming us in. Walking by an amazing display of various bottles of sake and a large mirror for us to snap a picture together, we entered the main dining area. To start, the chefs introduced themselves and gave us a little history on the restaurant's creation and overall vision. We ordered our drinks and we were given the option for the uni & caviar add-on. Since it was my birthday, you can bet your ass we got it! To start, we were presented with the wagyu summer salad. Every ingredient paired perfectly together with a dash of acidity from the light dressing. The uni was absolute butter. The wagyu was melt in your mouth goodness. The greens provided the perfect balance to the rich, complex flavors from the uni and Wagyu together. I knew we were in for an amazing night. Next up was the Chawanmushi, a savory egg custard with wagyu. It was delicate and velvety, yet bursting with umami. Of course, with our caviar topping, this dish was the perfect amuse-bouche. The sashimi trio that followed did not disappoint. The first was light, refreshing, and well balanced. The colors of this dish popped, with bursts of green, pink and orange. The fish (I believe it was hamachi) was super fresh and perfectly marinated. The next one was more meat centric and being paired with the uni, it balanced out the sharper taste of the tuna. The final of the trio was a scallop sashimi, with thin cucumber slices and red onions in an acidic drizzle. Like the first one, it was refreshing and bright. Annnd let's not forget, the caviar/uni pairings which perfectly meshed with each dish. Next up we starting getting back into the wagyu with the Wagyu Menchi Katsu. This one was fun to eat, not anything super impressive, but overall had rich flavor and sat atop a small pool of sauce and a shishito pepper. Overall, a nice change of pace from the fish heavy dishes from before. Onto the Wagyu Chirashi Sushi, this was by far one of my favorite dishes on the menu. The presentation was gorgeous, with a small ball of white rice topped with orange salmon roe, red tobiko, bright yellow quail egg, vibrant green chives, a little yellow flower and a gold flake on top. Let's not forget the radiant uni and caviar to top it all off, this dish was bursting with color. The flavor was overwhelmingly good. My friend, wife and I couldn't stop ourselves making awkward "mmmm's" and "oooh's" out loud lol. It was served in the perfect portion, as any more would have been too overwhelming, but any less would leave much to desire. The Wagyu sukiyaki was a good transition from the rich and savory flavors of the Chirashi. It was solely Wagyu beef with glass noodles and some greens on top, sitting in a puddle of delicious sauce. Sweet yet savory. At this point I was getting very full. Finally the Curry Udon arrived. It was good, but honestly it was definitely well past the climax of the courses. I found this to be a grounding dish, bringing us back down to earth after being sent into space. It was comforting and warm. I wouldn't say it was amazing, it was just nice. A reminder that overindulgence can be detrimental to your overall enjoyment. They did provide me with a scoop of some yummy ice cream since it was my birthday, but also we were sent home with some Royce chocolate. Among the dishes, they had really great cocktails and we also got a bottle of "Seven Spearsmen" sake, which paired really well with the rich and fatty flavors we consumed. Service was phenomenal and I think the chef's enjoyed us at the counter because of how expressive we were and amazed by each dish that was put forth. They spent a lot of time chatting with us while preparing the meals. All in all, this was a five star experience and I would totally go back. I just need to figure out how I can afford this for a second time

Amazing wagyu restaurant! Small and cozy atmosphere. Menu is a set course that changes from time to time. I got the uni/caviar add on. The uni worked really well with the dishes that it was paired with but the caviar was ok. Will definitely be coming back. Service was awesome.

Been here twice now, sat at the counter both times, and loved both our meals. I love wagyu and I love omakase...so it makes sense why I would love this place :) I used to visit the old Makoto in this location years ago and was sad to hear when they shut down. However, I am looking forward to more meals and memories here. The chef and her team are great. The food and concept are unique and delicious. We have left happy and full each time.

Street parking all around DC, mainly 2 hour parking signs. If the restaurant is on your right, there's additional street 2 hour parking making the 1st right past the gas station. Walking in, you're immediately greeted. They take your coat and hang it up for you and are escorted to your table. We booked the Chef's counter. It's a small area but being at the Chef's counter was cool, you can see everything happening and the waygu cooking and preparations. The service is amazing, they don't miss a step at all, immediately clearing your plate and drink glass once finished. Every course was amazing and beautifully put together. They announce each dish and their ingredients and the best way to enjoy it. I was full after the dinner and satisfied. Loved everything and fully enjoyed the uni and caviar add on as well. For our cocktails, we ordered the Mt. Fuji and the Calor Con Leche. My 2nd cocktail was the Intercontinental. I loved both cocktails. The Intercontinental was a little sweeter than the Calor Con Leche but not a sweet drink overall. We also had the matcha beer and the salty Plum beer as well. I loved the matcha IPA beer, not very hoppy and quite delicious. I didn't really enjoy the salty Plum beer because it was a tad too salty for me but it was a good beer in general. I would definitely come back, everything was fantastic.

FOOD - next level! 100% recommend the unagi / caviar add on for those who are fans. Pairings offered too (we passed). Absolutely enjoyed experiencing the Wagyu-centric tasting menu - each dish was uniquely presented and quality of ingredients and care to preparation was evident in every item. No substitutions or accommodations for dietary restrictions - no issue for our party SERVICE - Friendly & efficient / brisk as they are on a timetable due to timed seatings. AMBIANCE - Intimate and extra nice when you are fortunate enough to score seats directly in front of Chef Ogawa!

Went here to celebrate my birthday and it was absolutely amazing. They have a delightful course menu where you get to try some amazing dishes. The salmon trio was super fresh and the waygu was delicious. For drinks the peak excess is perfect-amazing flavors. You get to watch them prepare it if you sit at the bar and the chefs carefully explain each dish to you and suggest to you how to eat it. The whole menu is completely thoughtful and delicious. Tips: make a reservation. Pretty sure they don't do walk ins. This makes for a great special occasion or a treat yourself meal.

Overall, it was a great meal and experience that's perfect for a special occasion. The counter seating was a nicer experience as you get to see the chef prepare and plate every dish. Loved every wagyu and sashimi dish and left very satisfied. It was also my birthday, so they surprised me with a small matcha cheesecake and a candle. Only 21 seats and by reservation only. If you come earlier than your reservation, there's really no bar for you to wait in. So we ended up getting a drink at Lupo next door until our reservation time.

Food: 8/10 Service: 10/10 Vibes: 9/10 Value: 7/10 Bottom line: I would recommend Kappo for special occasions where you want high quality yet predictable Japanese food. Kappo is delicious and the wagyu dishes were delectable, succulent, and melted in your mouth. I give it a 4/5 mostly because it's so expensive while the flavors were kinda predictable. For $150 (without tip) I'd like to have more innovative plays on seasoning and variety in textures. For example, one of the dishes was curry, which is like pedestrian comfort food. Also the raw scallop was in desperate need for a crunchy element. I did enjoy the wagyu egg roll, that was a creative morsel that is fun and new. Outside of the food, the service is incredible, the head chef "presents" each dish to you, sharing its ingredients and how it's made, and the atmosphere is chic, intimate, and exclusive.

This place was on our list for a long time and we had a dinner here to celebrate after getting married. The restaurant has a very intimate feeling to it and creates a great atmosphere for a date. Come hungry! 8-course menu was a lot for me and I definitely was not up for it after course 5, this is something to keep in mind! Every dish on the menu was delicious and the team knows what they are doing. We never had so much waguye prepared in different ways. The service was smooth and the staff were friendly, we asked for sake recommendations and we received a few great recommendations we went with. Overall, it is worth to make a reservation and enjoy this dinner, you will have a lot of fun. Just keep in mind, it is an 8-course dinner and is a lot of food.

First thing's first: make sure your money is long before you eat here! While everything was superb, this was also the most expensive meal (per person) I've ever had in my life! Service was also very polite and attentive. The restaurant is a narrow space with a limited amount of tables and chef's counter seating. I dined here with a friend and we chose the earliest seating time; we upgraded our dining option with the uni and caviar add-on. The uni was perfection! I love its creamy, "ocean-butter" like taste. Of the eight progressive course, my favorite was definitely the deconstructed sushi roll. Everything was so fresh. Remember I said this was the most expensive meal (pp) that I've ever had? After the cost of the meal itself, plus uni and caviar upgrade, one cocktail each, and 20-something-percent automatic gratuity, the bill came out to $660. Again, BRING YOUR BENJAMINS TO DINNER. An experience, for sure.

The restaurant is very unique- located in an underground basement. It's very small maybe seats ~20-25 people at a time. The service is on point! The menu is seasonal but Waygu centric. Eight courses is $150 pp. Eight course includes: Wagyu Salad - very refreshing Chawanmushi - DElicious! I could use a gallon of this to take home. Sashimi Trio- my favorite out of the three is the salmon Wagyu Harumaki - alright Wagyu Chirashi Sushi - good Wagyu Yakishabu - excellent!!! Succulent! Wagyu Curry Rice - not my favorite since all the pieces in the curry was indistinguishable - maybe replace this with a Waygu fried rice instead? Dessert - alright

This was my second visit to Kappo and again it did not disappoint. My only complaint is there were two gentlemen that present each dish. They would rotate each course depending on where you were seated. One of the gentlemen had a thick Spanish accent and was hard to understand. They also presented my wife a birthday dessert while I took a few minutes to use the restroom and as a result I missed it. This could have been timed better imo.

Was able to try this omakase out again for a revamped menu plus added uni and caviar to the dishes, which was only for a few of the dishes but definitely added some great flavour to the wagyu dishes! My favourite part was probably at the end with the wagyu nigiri pieces, which the wagyu was so flavourful with alongside the caviar and uni. My only complaints this time around were that once, the wagyu wasn't cooked all the way, so I had to chew on a raw piece for quite a while, and I believe my friend's eggroll dish was also frozen inside. But other than that, it's like I remembered the first time with being full and complimentary sweets at the end with the kind staff.

Really had such an amazing experience at Kappo! We had the 9pm counter seating and loved it. Every course was delicious and it was so fun to see them putting everything together. The drinks are pricey but really enjoyed the cocktail I got. Definitely recommend going for a fun fine dining experience!

This place is a gem. Cannot wait to go again! The restaurant is very intimate and small which makes for a more personal dining experience. Our server was very attentive. Definitely do the add on for the uni and caviar. We really enjoyed every bit of our meal from start to finish. The cocktails were yummy and strong in a good way. The chefs really nailed it with the flavors of each course. Every time a new course was brought out, my tastebuds were reeling. The servings are perfect- almost like I got more full than a typical omakase. Sorry I can't add more pictures to this review. You must taste it all!!

What an amazing meal right here! The food and ambiance were great but just one thing, at the counter seating, we felt we were rushed through each course. Other than that, it was a great experience. The waygu eggroll was delicious, the yakishabu and yakiudon were both amazing, and we definitely recommend the caviar and uni addition if you're into it. They were both great compliments to each course.

This is a dope dining experience and is a great way celebrate a special moment in your life. If you are vegetarian or vegan I do want to say this is a Wagyu Tasting Menu. My date and I sat at the counter which means we were able to talk with the chef and also see how each dish was prepared. The staff is very attentive and adds to the overall experience as well. Now this will hit the pocketbook. So be prepared for that $$$$

This is @kappodc located in DC. This was a great experience. As you walk in you're greeted and walked to your seat. It's an intimate setting that seats 21 people. I went with the bar seating though I made reservations at the table. It was nice to be able to see Chef Ogawa prepare the dishes. My favorite dishes were the Wagyu Salad and Sashimi Trio. I wish I had more of it!!! Unfortunately the other dishes lacked in flavor which is why I'm giving this establishment 4 stars. The service made up for it. Here is everything I experienced. Wagyu Salad Chawanmushi Wagyu Tataki Wagyu Harumaki Sashimi Trio Wagyu Yakishabu Wagyu Sushi Dessert

Kappo DC is an intimate 21 seat restaurant serving a wagyu-centered Japanese tasting menu. It is delicious! You will be treated to eight delightful dishes. This restaurant has it all...service, style, and great food. I enjoyed almost everything and even what I didn't, I still loved the experience! I can't wait to go back for the spring or summer season and see what they come up with next.

What a beautiful, cozy space. We were greeted immediately upon arrival and shown to our counter seats, right in the center. Happy Birthday to me! I really am just going to echo what has already been said. You want to try this omakase. Service was excellent and the staff really seemed to enjoy being there (see pic for evidence). We opted for the caviar and uni add-on and I'm certain the dishes were fantastic even without them. Go to Kappo, order a drink, watch the dishes being made, and enjoy.

Kappo is absolutely amazing for a special dinner. We celebrated my fiancés 30th birthday here and everything was divine. The dishes were so unique and flavorful. It wasn't just a dinner it was an experience. The whole thing takes about two hours. Our server was so attentive and was there for anything we needed. The cocktails although don't seem like they have a ton of alcohol definitely do and were some of the best we ever had. (We had the feel like a million and the intercontinental). Originally we were a little worried we would leave hungry because of the small portions, but we left stuffed and extremely happy. The restaurant was super sweet and provided a small cake with candles. Which was out of this world. I would definitely recommend taking your loved ones to here for a surprise and wonderful meal.

Delightful, unique omasake experience. Ogawa is a genius and a true culinary artist. Each dish was very well thought out and had its own personality. So much fun! We didn't want this experience to end. The restaurant was intimate, high end yet cozy. We look forward to returning to try their spring menu.

Yes. Yes. And yes. Definitely get the caviar-uni upgrade. Sushi party in my mouth. Excellent omakase.

Outstanding experience! Such an incredible meal. Every detail was perfection! Wagyu tasting was incredible! Expertly prepared, delicious, and beautifully presented. Started with a terrific cocktail and enjoyed a curated wine list. Each dish was a treasure. Service was attentive but not intrusive. Just perfect. Small dining room with minimal and tasteful decor. The focus is really on the meal. We sat at the chef's counter so had a great view of the action and a delightful interaction with the chef. She was incredible! Highly recommend for a very special, memorable experience.

WORTH IT!!! I've been wanting to try Kappo Makoto for the longest time and finally we went yesterday! The vibe of the restaurant is very clean, fresh, intimate and very inviting. We sat on the chef's table so we witnessed everything! Everything we had on the menu was superb! My personal favorites are the fish of the day (tuna) and Wagyu Chirashi! My husband loved the Sukiyaki. Our drinks were spot on too! We had the Calde Con Leche (which to me tasted like a spicy margarita) and Springs Bounty (which was so refreshing). The service was excellent! Everyone was very attentive and knowledgeable! We definitely recommend Kappo Makoto and will definitely be back!

Fantastic, food, ambiance, and service. On the night I went, our menu was wagyu intensive and everything tasted fantastic. You can tell the qualify of the beef and other ingredients was high. The tasting menu was about 8 courses and you definitely leave full. The staff was super friendly and attentive and the chef even let us sample some of their higher quality sake. This place is definitely worth the money!

What a cool place! It is very small and intimate, but that is part of the charm for sure. Service, even in the small space, really was great and seamless. This resturant only has one tasting menu, and it focused on Wagyu, which is a really interesting concept. Each dish had a different texture and tate even though wagyu was weaved throughout the whole meal. You'd expect an overly rich meal with all the waygu, but it was pretty well balanced with different tastes, textures, and flavors. Overall, it was a great experience and definitely a place to stop by if you can get a reservation!

Had an amazing experience here! Paired with Uni and caviar and was amazing! We almost licked every dish dry. Service was amazing and very tentative. The ambiance reminds me of a "hole in the wall" place in Japan. Highly recommended!

Kappo is a reservation only restaurant with 21 seats and a wagu-centric menu. The price starts at $150/person for an eight-course meal, and you can opt for sake pairing or additional dishes. From the moment you walk through the unnoticeable entrance down to a small dining room below street level to the end of the meal, it's a quiet experience. The food is of course not. Every dish is bursting with flavors. I don't always think an expensive tasting menu is worth trying, but this one definitely is.