Ko Japanese Dining

As authentic as dining in Tokyo. We went to Japan last year and have always wanted to find a place here that does authentic Japanese cuisine. This place went above and beyond that. Had the full kaiseki meal and it was amazing. The sushi is fresh and the tempura is not heavily battered just like traditional Japanese tempura. Everything was delicious. I will definitely come back again.

I recently dined here, and the food is both visually stunning and mouthwatering. The 35 cm Jumbo Fried Shrimp is a real showstopper—crispy, golden, and uniquely presented. Each dish looks thoughtfully plated with fresh greens, vibrant garnishes, and appealing colors. The cozy lighting adds to the warm atmosphere, making the experience all the more memorable. Highly recommended if you’re craving both flavor and fantastic presentation!

We had an amazing dinner at Ko! The yuzu margarita was so good (and you can also get it at happy hour). We started with the salmon and spicy tuna sushi - which was served with REAL wasabi (a much welcome surprise) - the fish was fresh and wonderful. The main entrees can take a bit longer to come out, but well worth the wait. I got the tempura set and my partner got the chicken katsudon. Both came with miso soup which was not your typical miso soup - it was filled with plenty of vegetables. The tempura set had a mix of shrimp, inoki mushrooms (my absolute favorite), and other vegetables. The tempura was so light and fluffy, it was perfectly battered and not heavy at all. My partner loved the katsudon, it was very flavorful and filling. Our server Chris was an absolute delight - this is my second time here and I don’t write reviews often but would recommend everyone try this place out and show them some love!

I'm not even gonna lie, I never make a review for restaurants but I had to for this place. This is the best food I have ever had in my life. I got the Yakiniuku and it was absolutely delicious. The atmosphere is very relaxed with a good choice of lofi music playing. It is slightly pricey but I quickly found that it was worth every penny. Highly, HIGHLY recommend

We were craving some authentic Japanese cuisine. Brought my sister who was visiting from TX and my daughter to Ko Japanese restaurant in DuPont Circle. It's literally less than 3 minutes walk from the Metro station. We ordered the Lychee martinis and hot green tea. For appetizers, we had edamame, fried tofu which came fried served in a delicious sauce. We used the sauce on our steamed rice afterwards! My sister and daughter had the potato croquettes which had minced beef in it. Not too much, just the right portion. For the main course, we had the grilled mackerel, minced beef katsu (cutlets), tempura, and the jumbo fried shrimp. Each dish was served with steamed rice and soup. The tempura was not like any other tempura and were not overly breaded. The shrimp was soooooo good and crispy! They did not stinge on the minced beef in the katsu. I kept joking that they were beef cakes . The mackerel was fresh and delicious. Finally we had the warm matcha chiffon cake that was topped with red beans and whip cream. I have never had anything that delicious! Note to all, Asian desserts are not too sweet so please know that when you order the cake. The staff were so friendly and knowledgeable. We were there for a late lunch and on a Saturday. We were seated immediately and were even graced by the Japanese chef and owner who checked in on us. I highly recommend this restaurant. It is not your usual Japanese restaurant in your neighborhood. This is the real deal and genuine experience and authentic Japanese food. Certain dishes may take a little longer because food preparation is an art form and you can tell from the presentation. Our dishes did not take long and food temperature was hot. We drove 2 hours and then took the Metro (13 stops). Yes, they are that good! Now it's time to walk the food off . I'm the biggest in the group. You can trust me cos I love good food

Easily the best Japanese restaurant I’ve been to in DC. I’ve done the Kaiseki twice now with my partner, which requires a reservation one week in advance because many of the ingredients are flown in from Japan, and it has never disappointed. The staff are polite and attentive, and the owner is incredibly friendly. She makes it a point to stop by each table to check in on customers to make sure they’re having a good experience, and even remembered us on our second visit. I cannot recommend it enough.

We had a delightful meal - the food was delicious with incredibly fresh fish, and the service was excellent. The yaki tamago is a must-order! The tempura was perfectly crispy and light. Every piece of sashimi and sushi melted in your mouth. We also sampled the matcha and yuzu cheesecakes, both of which were just the right about of richness and flavor. I look forward to returning!

We had a fantastic meal here! The food was delicious with good portions, good prices, and really knowledgeable, friendly staff. We had a chef's choice sashimi and the katsu beef with an order of the grilled beef. All winners! We certainly want to come back to try the prefix dinner.