(Updated at 9 a.m. Thursday) The chef behind a sushi restaurant in Bethesda has plans to open a new eatery in downtown D.C.
Yoshi Ota, executive sushi chef at Yuzu in Bethesda, will open a new restaurant called Sushi Gakyu at 1420 New York Ave. NW later this year, he told Borderstan.
The forthcoming eatery will serve “traditional and modern sushi, sashimi, and varieties of Japanese fish menus with my 30 years experience as a sushi and fish expert,” Ota said.
Ota is a veteran of Sushiko in Chevy Chase and the late Kushi in Mt. Vernon Triangle, according to his bio. He also previously owned a restaurant called Ginza Gakyu in Tokyo, Japan.
If all goes according to plan, Sushi Gakyu should open “around the end of 2016,” Ota said.
(Updated at 12:15 p.m.) Dozens of locals stood outside a new Dupont Circle restaurant in hopes of snatching free burrito-sized sushi rolls this morning.
Buredo promised free giant sushi rolls to its first 200 customers who visited its new 1213 Connecticut Ave. NW outpost, which opened today.
A line started to form at least 30 minutes before the eatery welcomed its first diners at 11 a.m.
“I work close by, and I figured why not?” said Derek Hottle, a consultant, who had joined the queue. “I eat a lot of sushi, and I saw their opening sign.”
Grants manager Armaine Decastro and graphic designer Jazmine Johnson, who have had Buredo’s food from its other location near Franklin Square, also stood in line for its complimentary sushi meals.
“I love sushi,” Decastro said. “It’s different [at Buredo]. But it tastes really good.”
As of 11:45 a.m., about 25 people still were waiting in front of the restaurant for its free food.
Photos and video by Alyse Mier
(Updated at 7:31 p.m. to correct a misspelling) Massive sushi rolls are set to arrive in Dupont Circle tomorrow.
Buredo, an eatery that serves burrito-sized sushi, will open its second location at 1213 Connecticut Ave. NW tomorrow morning at 11 a.m., according to co-owner Mike Haddad.
The new location will serve Buredo’s menu of burrito-sized sushi rolls stuffed with fresh veggies, seafood and pork, and maybe a “few surprises,” Haddad told us earlier this year.
And here’s an added bonus: the first 200 customers through the door get a free giant sushi roll, the restaurant announced on Facebook earlier today:
The wait is over DC! We are opening our Dupont location tomorrow, August 3rd at 11 am. We have some new menu items in store for you, plus we are giving a free buredo and Spindrift Fresh sparkling water to the first 200 people to join us. Hope to see you tomorrow at 1213 Connecticut Ave. NW Washington, DC 20036!
h/t to Jason Shevrin for checking our grammar
A Japanese restaurant in Dupont Circle is looking to reopen with a new look and a new menu next month, according to one of its owners.
Rakuya — formerly known as the sushi joint, Raku — could open its doors at 1900 Q St. NW as early as mid to late July, said partner Marcel The. Signs for the new eatery went up about three weeks ago.
“We are very, very close,” The said. “The construction portion of it is on its last week. We’re gearing up for final inspections.”
When the restaurant reopens, diners can expect a menu that includes “sushi, skewers, some Japanese small dishes, braised meats and ramen,” The said. Rakuya will also serve sake and shochu, he added.
“The menu is still in the works,” The explained. “We’re going to start out dinner only, then progress into lunch.”
Though Raku announced it planned to temporarily shutter the Q Street sushi joint last year, The and the restaurant’s other co-owners planned to rebrand the restaurant for a while.
“We had plans to do a Japanese concept somewhere for a long time,” The said. “When we decided to finally stay and renegotiated the lease, we realized that this Dupont space is actually a perfect location and size for us to do this Japanese concept.”
Just a few weeks ago, we reported that sushi burrito purveyor Buredo might be headed to Dupont Circle. Now, it’s official.
Buredo’s owners, Mike Haddad and Travis Elton, have signed a lease for a new location at the former Pinkberry space at 1213 Connecticut Ave. NW, according to Washington City Paper. Haddad confirmed the news with us yesterday.
“Aiming for late spring [opening], with the same menu but a few surprises in store,” Haddad said in an e-mail.
According to the City Paper, the new location will likely serve new sushi rolls, ceviche and poke bowls, and may be open as late as 3 or 4 a.m.
Sushi burrito photo via Facebook / Buredo
Changes are coming to the former Raku sushi restaurant in Dupont Circle.
According to the sushi chain’s newly updated Facebook page, the spot is slated to become Rakuya, a Japanese kitchen and bar. Design renderings posted to the page last week show an interior decked out in dark wooden beams, ornate lanterns, Asian art and white walls.
The sushi eatery announced its temporary closure last summer. Though Raku did not specify exactly when the newly renovated restaurant might open, its website says it’s slated to open some time this winter.
Photos courtesy of Raku
It may eventually be possible to get burrito-sized sushi rolls down the street from Dupont Circle.
Buredo, the super-sized sushi restaurant that opened in Franklin Square in July, is considering opening a new location in the former Pinkberry space at 1213 Connecticut Ave. NW, a representative with the company told us today. (more…)
You’ve probably heard by now, but in case you haven’t: Nobu will open a restaurant in the District next year.
The Los Angeles-based fine dining chain moved one step closer to opening its anticipated new D.C. location at 2501 M Street NW by applying for a liquor license earlier this week:
First class, high quality, full-service “Nobu” restaurant, including a full-service bar, take-out service, and private events. An innovative new style of Japanese cuisine. Live entertainment during private events. No nude performances. Number of seats inside premises is 345. Total Occupancy Load is 370. Summer Garden with 40 seats.
The company seeks to serve alcohol until 12:30 a.m. inside and 11 p.m. in its summer garden, according to the application.
The new Nobu will span 11,600 square feet and include two private patios overlooking Rock Creek Park, sushi and cocktail bars, a main dining room and two additional private dining rooms, according to a Washington Business Journal article from September.
The location is currently slated to open in the fall of 2016.
Photo courtesy of Nobu
A planned sushi restaurant is one step closer to opening near Adams Morgan.
A public hearing notice for a new liquor license application appears to show that the restaurant, Sushi Ogawa, is planning to move in soon at 2100 Connecticut Avenue NW.
According to the application, the restaurant would serve “traditional Japanese sushi and washoku sushi in addition to fish and vegetables” with seating for 56 people.
PoPville noted that the forthcoming restaurant had installed a sign roughly one year ago.
The restaurant’s listed contact, Yumiko Stegner, was not immediately available to comment, but Sushi Ogawa appears to have a Twitter account advertising a fall opening.
Photo via Google Street View
Izakaya Seki at 1117 V Street NW. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Aparna Krishnamoorthy. Email her at aparna[AT]borderstan.com. Follow her on Twitter @aparnakris.
After a lazy evening spent watching the mouthwatering Jiro Dreams of Sushi (which recently made it to the Netflix Watch Instantly list), I was hungry and decided to go over to the newly opened Izakaya Seki at 1117 V Street NW.
So off I went looking for the red lantern on V Street — the only indication that the place is open! And thankfully it was. Did you know izakayas are sometimes referred to as akachōchin (red lantern) since paper lanterns are traditionally found in front of an izakaya?
The front of Izakaya Seki is nondescript and blends right in to the residential block that it is on. It sits next to the game-changing Tacos El Chilango, so this block is going to get crowded very soon.
They don’t take reservations (for parties less than eight people), and at 7:30 pm on a Wednesday evening, we were told there would be a 40 to 60 minute wait. We gave the hostess a phone number and then went over to American Ice Company which is just a couple of blocks away — 20 minutes later, our table was ready!
Run by a Japanese chef and his daughter, the first floor of the two-level space has 10 stools overlooking Chef Seki’s counter, and the second floor dining area accommodates up to 30 people.
Izakaya Seki’s authentic Japanese menu is exciting and slightly unfamiliar, grouped into sections by cooking method – raw, grilled,fried etc. They offer an extensive sake selection and some basic drinks. No cocktails.
We started off with the sashimi special for the night, which was toro. Fresh, delicious, melt in your mouth toro which was served simply with some sliced zucchini and soy sauce. Next up was the kyona salad — an arugula salad elevated with savory tuna shavings and a slow poached egg that is beaten lightly by the server at the table and then poured over the salad.
Now on to the fried goodness. The cream croquettes with béchamel, crab and corn were sinfully creamy with a distinct flavor of fresh crab and went nicely with the crispness of my unfiltered sake. The pièce de résistance however was the kushikatsu. Deep fried pork belly and onion. On a skewer. Need I say more? The meat was perfectly cooked with a crisp panko breading, served with a light teriyaki sauce and mustard. Although the 2 skewers make for a sizeable portion, I did not want to share!
The dish that made my day, however, was the mero grilled with miso – a perfectly grilled sea bass, moist and flaky, served with pickled greens. I will go back just for this. We rounded off the meal with garlic fried rice and wasabi chicken tenders, both of which were very good. Throughout our meal, service was excellent but unobtrusive – my sake glass was never empty and our water was always refilled.
There was so much more on the menu that we wanted to try – the rice balls, fried chicken thighs, and for the more adventurous diner – pork trotters and monkfish liver. The menu is amazing, and I will definitely be going back for more. But for now, I am satisfied with the memory of the pork belly and the sea bass.
Izakaya Seki: The Details
- Where Am I Going: 1117 V Street NW.
- When Am I Going: Sunday/Monday/Wednesay/Thursday, 5 to 11pm. Friday and Saturday, 5 pm to midnight. Closed Tuesdays.
- Paycheck Pain: Small plates cost between $7 to $12.
- Say What?: Casual atmosphere, but you will be too busy focusing on the food.
- What You’ll Be Eating: Authentic Japanese bar style food served in small plates.
From Alden Leonard. Contact him at alden[AT]borderstan.com and follow him @aldenleonard on Twitter.
Officials are trying to track down the source of several salmonella cases in the area. (Kim Vu)
The DC Department of Health confirmed at least two cases of salmonella in the District, the Washington City Paper reports. No details – including the cause of the outbreak — are currently available, and no DC restaurants have been cited or closed in connection with these cases.
A total of eight people have been stricken with salmonella in Maryland, where health officials have reported that sushi is a leading suspect for transmitting the bacteria.
Now do you believe the rest stop California roll was a bad idea?
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Tsunami Sushi and Lounge will be above Thai Tanic at 1326 14th St. NW. (Luis Gomez Photos)
Tsunami Sushi and Lounge plans to open by mid-November, according to General Manager Sapol Jirapanjavat — possibly sooner. The Thai Tanic group is behind the new place that will be located above the restaurant at 1326 14th St. NW.
Thai Tanic was one of the first new eateries to open on this stretch of 14th St. in the previous decade, and has a second restaurant in Columbia Heights, also on 14th St. Now, however, newly opened Teak Wood across the street is also serving up sushi and Thai, and Rice is just up the street north of Q St.
Here are some suggestions of things to do during the weekend in Borderstan, really close by or in the city.
Sushi Taro, 1503 17th Street, NW. (Photo: Luis Gomez)
Circa at Dupont, 1601 Connecticut Avenue NW. (Photo: Luis Gomez.)
Sushi Taro at 1503 17th Street NW always had a reputation for the best sushi around, a place where the Japanese Embassy brought the country’s prime minister when he was in town. After having undergone a renovation that included its menu, the prices went up (it was never cheap). Sushi Taro was a place of no surprises but excellent dishes. That seems to have changed as the reviews are mixed, but give it a try.
Circa at Dupont at 1601 Connecticut Avenue NW is one of those perfect city places: a little bit of everything and everything is good… and good people watching just off Dupont Circle. Great atmosphere for a casual meeting, lunch or dinner. They also have brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.
“1460 Wallmountables 2009” at the DC Arts Center, 2438 18th Street NW. (Image: DC Arts Center.)
“The Ceramics of Paquimé and Mata Ortiz: Tracing a Family Legacy,” at the Mexican Cultural Institute, 2829 16th Street NW. (Image: Mexican Cultural Institute DC.)
“1460 Wallmountables 2009,” is at the DC Arts Center, 2438 18th Street NW. It is a chance to experience DC’s art scene in a very different way, mingle with the artists and purchase some of the fantastic works for sale.
“The Ceramics of Paquimé and Mata Ortiz: Tracing a Family Legacy” is showing at the Mexican Cultural Institute, 2829 16th Street NW. “One town, five families, 46 artists, a revived centuries-old tradition: this is the story of Mata Ortiz. Located near the ancient city of Paquimé in northern Chihuahua, Mata Ortiz has gained an international reputation for exquisite pottery. The town’s artists place their individual stamps on methods, materials, and patterns developed at Paquimé and rediscovered by Juan Quezada. The Mexican Cultural Institute is proud to welcome ancient pieces from Paquimé and modern pieces from Mata Ortiz to Washington.”
Wanda Sykes is at the Warner Theatre, 1299 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. (Image: Wanda Sykes.)
Charles Covington, Jr. is at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. (Image: The Kennedy Center.)
Comedian Wanda Sykes” is appearing Saturday, August 22, at the Warner Theatre, 1299 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. She has new material and a TV Show.
Charles Covington, Jr is playing Saturday, August 22, at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Covington is “recognized as a virtuoso jazz pianist and jazz organist extraordinaire, enjoys a high reputation among performers all over the world.”
“Prague Through the Lens of the Secret Police” is at the Woodrow Wilson Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. (Image: WWC Web site.)
“Woodstock at 40: The Rise of Music Journalism” is at the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. (Image: Newseum Web site.)
“Prague Through the Lens of the Secret Police” is showing at the Woodrow Wilson Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. “The photo exhibition Prague through the Lens of the Secret Police features a selection of never before seen photographs and films of ‘subjects of interest’ taken secretly by the Czechoslovak State Security Service’s Surveillance Directorate during the ‘normalization’ era of hard-line socialist entrenchment which followed the 1968 Soviet-led occupation of Czechoslovakia.”
“Woodstock at 40: The Rise of Music Journalism” is at the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. It “features rarely seen photographs and artifacts from the historic music event.” Woodstock “marked a moment when the news media first recognized music and entertainment as a cultural and commercial force.”
Galaxy vs DC United at the RFK Stadium, Saturday, August 22. (Image: DC United Web site.)
In sports, see the Galaxy vs DC United on Saturday, August 22, 7:30pm at the RFK Stadium. Enjoy a great soccer match this weekend.
Sushi Taro has reopened after a complete renovation. (Image: Sushi Taro Web site.)
I have walked by there several times the past couple of days and didn’t even notice… Sushi Taro has reopened at the same location on 17th Street NW just above P Street. It had closed for a total renovation. I ate there twice a few years ago. It ain’t cheap, but it is excellent. Found this at Chowhound.
