Kappo DC

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: 8.25/10Visit: January 2025DC 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.

If you can, sit at the bar where you can watch the show as the chef prepares a 8 course meal that was excellent using Japanese Waygu as the centerpiece. My favorite courses were the wagyu oyster maki, chawanmushi, lobster, wagyu steak. The dessert was a red miso caramel panna cotta which was amazing as well and I really enjoyed the Mt Fuji cocktail which was very refreshing. For $150 per person for omakase, I found the price was definitely worth what you get and I would com back again to try their next seasonal menu in the spring.

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!

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.

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