Taneda

"At Taneda Sushi In Kaiseki, an omakase restaurant with only nine chairs, you’re often left with no choice but to book a seat for one—if you can even find a reservation to begin with. Conveniently, it’s actually better that way. Because when you’re shooting the breeze with a chef who becomes your confidante after tossing you 25 courses of quality fish, it never feels lonely. While the $195 menu changes every month, you can expect amazing bites like otoro hand rolls with pickled daikon, torched A5 miyazaki wagyu nigiri topped with caviar, sweet shrimp wrapped around custardy uni, and grilled eel placed directly into your open hand like a love note. This is the best kaiseki experience in the city, and much like running a marathon or traveling the world, you can enjoy it all by yourself. The restaurant’s Instagram announces when reservations will go live, typically at 11am on the second to last Saturday of the month. It’s in your best interest to try to secure one at that time exactly. If you miss it, try again next time or sign up for the waitlist." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley

"There are only eight seats at Taneda Sushi In Kaiseki, and with two seatings per night (one early in the evening and one during primetime), only 16 people eat at this Cap Hill spot every day. They serve such exceptional sushi that you should put in the work to get a reservation. This is an extremely special, intimate omakase involving about two dozen courses for $235, and the chef will personally walk you through the origin and preparation of each type of fish during your meal. The menu changes every month, but some of our recent favorites were a sea salt-marinated flounder nigiri from Tokyo and seared A5 Miyazaki wagyu nigiri topped with caviar. The restaurant’s Instagram announces when reservations will go live, typically at 11am on the second to last Saturday of the month. It’s in your best interest to try to secure one at that time exactly. If you miss it, try again next time or sign up for the waitlist." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley, gabe guarente

"This nine-seat sushi counter hidden inside Capitol Hill’s Broadway Alley has an array of offerings besides seafood on its artful multi-course omakase menu. Still, master chef Hideaki Taneda’s Edomae-style sushi preparations are the main event. Each seasonal dish is lovingly crafted and presented like mini gifts — a one-of-a-kind experience in a city with plenty of competition. Reservations are normally booked out at least a month in advance; your best shot at snagging a seat is regularly checking the restaurant’s website to get a reservation as soon as new spots open up or adding yourself to the waitlist and hoping someone cancels." - Harry Cheadle

"Your best bet for a reservation here is to go solo—if you can even find a reservation to begin with. Conveniently, it’s actually better that way because when you’re chatting with a chef who becomes your confidante after tossing you 25 courses of quality fish, it never feels lonely. While the $235 menu changes every month, you can expect amazing bites like otoro hand rolls with pickled daikon, torched A5 miyazaki wagyu nigiri topped with caviar, and grilled eel placed directly into your open hand like a love note. Quite simply, this is the best kaiseki experience in the city." - kayla sager riley, aimee rizzo, gabe guarente

"At Taneda Sushi In Kaiseki, an omakase restaurant with only nine chairs, you’re often left with no choice but to book a seat for one—if you can even find a reservation to begin with. Conveniently, it’s actually better that way. Because when you’re shooting the breeze with a chef who becomes your confidante after tossing you 25 courses of quality fish, it never feels lonely. While the $195 menu changes every month, you can expect amazing bites like otoro hand rolls with pickled daikon, torched A5 miyazaki wagyu nigiri topped with caviar, sweet shrimp wrapped around custardy uni, and grilled eel placed directly into your open hand like a love note. This is the best kaiseki experience in the city, and much like running a marathon or traveling the world, you can enjoy it all by yourself." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley