Nestled in a chic, trendy space, SHŌTŌ dazzles with its inventive sushi, exquisite Wagyu, and robata skewers, making it a go-to for a stylish night out.
"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, Tierney Plumb
"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
"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
"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
"A wall of softly illuminated, rare Japanese whiskeys serves as the entryway to SHŌTŌ, a no-expenses-spared izakaya in downtown D.C's gleaming new Midtown Center development. This offshoot of high-end global brand Zuma aims to bring a bit of Miami glitz to dinner in D.C.. The design is lavish, from the Japanese volcanic rock hanging from the ceiling to the very zen bathroom. For all the attention to the design and the scene, the food here is way more than an after-thought: it's legitimately delicious. Here, "tacos" feature made-in-house potato chips that sub in for a tortilla as a crunchy contrast to fillings like salmon with wasabi mayo, fried eggplant or yuzu-dressed tuna. You'll want to hop all over the pricey menu, which includes skewers cooked on a robata grill, sushi, and Wagyu steak. (There's an omakase menu, in case you can't handle making decisions.) The dessert platter loaded with fresh fruit and ice cream is a sight to behold." - Adele Chapin
