SHŌTŌ Washington DC
Japanese restaurant · Downtown ·
Sushi, robata skewers, Wagyu steak in lavish dining room
Sushi, robata skewers, Wagyu steak in lavish dining room
"The luxe aesthetic of downtown’s Japanese showpiece screams celebrity hotspot, so it’s not surprising the likes of the Obamas, Alex Ovechkin, and actress and producer Issa Rae have all sat down for a meal at the Eater Award winner for 2022 Design of the Year. Comedian Dave Chappelle hosted a late-night party here after his recent D.C. show and comedian Kevin Hart once bought out the venue to celebrate his wife’s birthday. SHŌTŌ expanded the party to the back last February with the arrival of luxe lounge Ākedo." - Vinciane Ngomsi
"On weeknights, Shōtō is packed. There are mostly professional types here—often formally dressed co-workers enjoying an endless stream of sake while patiently waiting for their clients to handle the bill. It comes as no surprise then that this downtown Japanese steakhouse knows how to keep a crowd. And while the sushi here is good, great even, the sashimi is absolutely outstanding. Opt for the omakase, which will run you around $125, or order a la carte, though you’re likely to spend around the same amount with pieces averaging anywhere from $18-32." - omnia saed, tristiana hinton
"This buzzy operation is located in DC's brand new Midtown Center; once home toThe Washington Post. Comprised of a bar, tables and a dining counter, the space is large yet inviting. The perfectly calibrated lighting shows off the room's pretty faces. Gorgeous appointments, including a volcanic stone installation cascading from the ceiling, ivy-covered wall and a space enveloped in richly toned wood, are equally dazzling.Well-made drinks, an impressive listing of Japanese whiskey and a range of succulent Japanese fare highlighting robata-grilled preparations and sushi are the order of the day. Start off with the Toki old fashioned to accompany dishes that includes prawn and black cod gyoza, skewered chicken wings, soft-shell crab maki and yuzu cheesecake." - Michelin Inspector
"At Midtown Center’s showy Japanese izakaya, executive sushi chef Kwang Kim (also of Morimoto and Nobu fame) works with seafood vendors at Japan’s renowned Toyosu Market to fly in amberjack, A5 wagyu, fatty O toro tuna, mackerel, uni (sea urchin), amberjack, scallops, and even tamago (egg). Omakase menus starting at $95 per person join a la carte options." - Tierney Plumb, Eater Staff
"Not many restaurants serve both the best steak and the best sushi in DC, but Shōtō, a Japanese steakhouse, isn’t most restaurants. The absolute best way to enjoy the downtown spot is to go straight for the grill, where you can share charred shishito peppers and yellowtail sashimi before cutting into a perfectly cooked wagyu sirloin. Our go-tos are the fork-tender short rib braised in a chili-soy glaze and the beautifully caramelized wagyu tomahawk steak that's roughly the size of your head." - omnia saed
