DAIKAYA 2F THE IZAKAYA

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1. DC

   DCDiner

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined 4 days ago

   overall1food1service1ambience1

   Quite possibly the worst dining experience in DC, or perhaps the whole east coast. The quality of food is way overrated, and price way too high. After apptizier, I waited 50+ min for the next dish. At the end the bill came out to be 130+ for 2 ppl, including a MANDATORY 20% tips. Unbelievable.

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2. JJ

   JenJen

   Miami

   5 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   5 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   We didn’t know it was two separate spots, but they were soo nice we were able to experience both. We had small tapas upstairs with a delicious drink, I give everything a 10/10. Then we continued downstairs for some ramen, we had three types and all delicious. I definitely recommend this place.

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3. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Washington DC

   4 reviews

   3.0

   4 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   overall3food3service3ambience4

   Having lived in and spent time in Japan, we were excited about enjoying some authentic izakaya treats. This missed the mark. The atmosphere is great and very authentic. The food, however, lacked flavor and the genuine Japanese dishes we were expecting. The beer and alcohol selection were also lacking, with only limited Japanese and domestic choices.

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4. MP

   MariellaP

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 7 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Loved this Japanese place! Food, service and price was really good!

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5. J

   Jared

   Richmond

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined on March 22, 2023

   overall3food3service5ambience5

   Shoutout to Brelynn for fantastic service and great energy. The cocktails were also on point so props to the bar as well! The food on the other hand was definitely a miss. Proper seasoning was sparse, many dishes felt like salt never touched them. Even the rice for the onigiri was underseasoned. Will definitely go back for drinks and service but will probably skip the food upstairs and just hit the ramen downstairs (always fantastic).

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6. GD

   GavinD

   Washington DC

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on March 19, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   To say the food was amazing is an understatement. Everything we tried was just superb. Our waiter was super knowledgeable and knew how to make great recommendations and pairings

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7. TJ

   TrishJFL

   New England

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on March 12, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   We truly enjoyed our dining experience! Our server was very friendly and attentive, the small plates we tried were delicious, and the whiskey was top notch. The ambiance made us feel like we’d found a local favorite on a side street in Tokyo. We’ll recommend to others!

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8. DA

   DianneA

   Washington DC

   5 reviews

   4.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on March 11, 2023

   overall4food5service1ambience4

   The food and drinks were quite good. However, the experience was tainted by the waitressing service. It was a busy night and we were a large group. Perhaps the waitress was overwhelmed, and this reflected on the quality of service we received, which was poor.

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9. VB

   VictorB

   Washington DC

   9 reviews

   5.0

   9 reviews

   Dined on March 11, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Service was great. Our table was ready when we got there. Really enjoyed our food.

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10. SF

    SFNVM

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on March 10, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience3

    Bathrooms were so dirty! Unacceptable. The vegetarian menu is misleading since there isn’t actually that much vegetarian food and a few of the items on the menu weren’t available. Service was fine but not particularly friendly.

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11. JK

    JeffreyK

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Food was unique and full of flavor. Lots of variety if you like to be adventurous! Highly recommend!

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12. GB

    GregoryB

    Washington DC

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on February 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Excellent service and wonderful meal

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13. OC

    OakjooC

    Berlin

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 18, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience4

    I thought the service was pretty bad, and the food was just subpar. An izakaya can't get gyoza wrong - and this place did. Pretty disappointed overall. I would skip this one and find something else.

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14. FN

    FoodieNoogie

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 17, 2023

    overall2food2service5ambience4

    Food was overly seasoned. Sauces over power the food. Staff was very friendly. Restaurant is rather dark.

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15. DA

    DanA

    Washington DC

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on February 14, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5

    The wait staff is knowledgeable about gluten free options, but the variety of GF items on the menu is limited. House cold sake was great. Excellent service even on a busy night.

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16. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Was amazing as always!

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17. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 4, 2023

    overall4food3service3ambience5

    Some of the food was a bit overcooked, but enjoyable none the less.

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18. S

    Steve

    San Francisco

    9 reviews

    4.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on January 28, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience3

    All small plates. Many unusual, all delicious. I particularly enjoyed the chicken wings and the fried garlic. Unfortunately, the combination of boisterous patrons and ear-splitting music made the noise level nearly unbearable. Conversation almost impossible.

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19. A

    Anna

    Washington DC

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 25, 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience4

    We went to Izakaya for the Restaurant Week menu. As a table we tried most everything. The first course was great, we especially loved the oysters. The second course was also good both the chicken wings and tofu options. For the third course we all got the Salmon Ochasuke, which left us all disappointed. The presentation was poor and the flavor was not there. We had to ask for a side of wasabi in order to give it any sort of flavor, rather disappointing. The dessert course was also good and made up a bit for the third course being disappointing. Overall a fine restaurant week menu, but nothing that would make us want to go again.

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20. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 22, 2023

    overall3food2service4ambience5

    We did restaurant week at the Izakaya. Usually, my bf and I are super excited to do restaurant week, but unfortunately our gastronomic experience here simply fell flat… The dishes had great presentation, but we felt like they didn’t taste that great. I wanted to keep an open mind about some of them, but the green tea/salmon/boiled rice soup that was served as a main just ended up putting a bad taste in my mouth because it was somewhat flavorless. Awesome ambiance, staff and ingenious restaurant design, but I wonder what will make me reconsider going back. ❤️

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21. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Everything was amazing!

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22. AK

    AKAL

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 21, 2023

    overall5food5service1ambience1

    The food was decent but won’t go there again. They were trying to rush us and brought all the courses together

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23. JR

    JRey

    New York Area

    20 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on January 19, 2023

    overall2food2service2ambience3

    I went for restaurant week and maybe that’s why it wasn’t a great experience. The staff seemed overwhelmed as the place was very busy. It took over 20 mins for the waitress to take our orders and each course took forever. However, they recognized this and remove the drink pairing from our bill without us having to say anything. The place is also super dark and had to use our phone light to read the menu and see the dishes, hahaha. Food was interesting and I’m intrigued enough to go back when it’s not RW.

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24. KP

    KrisP

    Washington DC

    3 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on January 19, 2023

    overall2food2service1ambience2

    Ate there during restaurant week 2023. Weak selections, only 2 choices per course (and 1 of them was liver!). Sometimes took 1/2 hour between courses being served. Took 3 hours to eat 4 courses. We have had good meals there, but this was a major disappointment considering the many options available during restaurant week.

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25. JV

    JulV

    Washington DC

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 16, 2023

    overall3food5service2ambience4

    The food was excellent and I enjoyed being able to sample a variety of small dishes. Unfortunately, the service was subpar. Our first waiter was inattentive and our dishes were served sporadically over the course of over 30 minutes; in fact, it took over an hour for my final dish to arrive. There also seemed to be repeated confusion among the waitstaff about what dishes were still owed not only to our table but to others around us as well. With that said, the second waiter who assisted us was much kinder and also gave us a discount to compensate for the wait, which was much appreciated. I would certainly return if I could expect better service!

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26. B

    Buffy

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 15, 2023

    overall4food3service5ambience5

    The negatives: I thought the grilled avocado was poor value for the money, expected it to be at least one whole avocado for $8. Found several elements of the meal to be undercooked (chicken, egg) for my personal taste. No ginger beer was available on the night I went. Positives: Service was excellent. Potatoes were delicious, as was the rice ball. Drink specials were great. My partner enjoyed the green tea mochi dessert special. Overall a middling experience, but I would try one of the partner restaurants.

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27. T

    Theo

    Washington DC

    15 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on January 15, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience3

    Having returned not since before the start of the pandemic, a notable difference is the limited menu options. The past seemed to have more options that fused many flavors, but now, instead perhaps, more options of fried foods. Ramen has also been included on the menu that was only available downstairs.

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28. EF

    ErnestF

    Chicago

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on January 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great food nice atmosphere good service. What else do want?

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29. JC

    JillianC

    New England

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 7, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    This place is just amazing. Food was excellent and service was great. A dish for every appetite with unique drinks to go along. Have been here before and will definitely be back again.

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30. A

    Asmar3

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 2, 2023

    overall3food2service3ambience4

    The food wasnt explained to us. We tought we would get meat we got eggplants, thinkgs like that. Everything was too salty

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31. M

    Maya

    Washington DC

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 1, 2023

    overall1food1service2ambience3

    The New Year’s Eve menu was a horrible value for your money. One of the courses was a small piece of white bread with bland egg salad. The bubbly was flat and the other courses weren’t much better. The clams were sandy. Absolutely do not recommend and was disappointed at the lack of effort for what was supposed to be a special meal.

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32. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    1 review

    vip
    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 1, 2023

    overall1food1service3ambience3

    Multiple dishes were completely inedible. There was way too much salt in 75% of the dishes. Also definitely not worth the money even if the food was edible (served hot dogs in the shape of octopus and egg salad sandwiches). The only pro was the alcohol selection and the aesthetic of the restaurant. Will never return to the upstairs restaurant.

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33. l

    libby

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 30, 2022

    overall5food4service5ambience5

    Glad we went. Food was interesting and tasty. Got to try a variety.

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34. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Baltimore

    6 reviews

    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on December 29, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    Servings were small plates for the most part and everything was delicious. Bring friends or family and order enough dishes to share.

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35. PG

    PeterG

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 21, 2022

    overall2food2service1ambience3

    Ate here for the first time three years ago and had a fabulous experience but this time was a massive disappointment. Food was underwhelming and servers kept bumping into my chair. Worse, despite the restaurant being largely empty, the hostess insisted on seating people directly next to us and forcing which felt cramped and uncomfortable. Our efforts to appeal to her were met with a fairly rude and condescending attitude. Sadly, we won't be going back here.

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36. D

    Drea

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 18, 2022

    overall3food3service5ambience5

    The pork and Brussels were amazing! However everything from the grill taste like grill and char, no real flavor. We also weren’t aware that we couldn’t order ramen, bummer. Unfortunately, we had to go to another restaurant because we left still hungry. I’d recommend this place for drinks and ordering small plate to palette cleanse, not to fill up.

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37. KA

    KennethA

    Washington DC

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 18, 2022

    overall2food5service1ambience4

    I have been to this restaurant numerous times before and I’ve always recommended it to friends and people visiting from out of town. Last night we went out for my birthday, and I had what was probably the worst service I’ve had in a long time. We were a party of four, and to be fair our server had a high maintenance party of eight, and was double sat with another four top sat right after us on top of the rest of his section. Initially, our server was great, he greeted us, poured our waters, and gave us a rundown of the food they were out of. It took a long while for him to come back to get our drinks ordered, but we could see he was busy, so we made sure to have our order for our first round of food ready. The food came out quick from the kitchen, and was fantastic. We had empty drinks, and we’re ready for a second round for quite some time, with the two people at the end of the table, pushing their empty glasses towards the edge, so they could easily be seen, and even tried to flag him down to get another round, but we were not seen. After being done with out first round of food and drinks for quite some time, he showed back up, and we were finally able to order another round of drinks and and food. I was the last order, and was ordering for my wife and I. I requested an item off the special menu he had talked about previously, but was informed they had run out of it since we got there. No big deal, so I’m ordering the other item that we wanted and quickly trying to think of something to replace the item they were out of our server starts walking away, in the middle of me talking. I was completely blown away by this, and I’ve never experienced such a thing while eating out. I basically had to shout the last item of food, all as he was putting stuff in on the ordering tablet, and he nodded his head that he had heard. Our drinks arrived and our friends, food arrived, but the food that I had ordered as he was walking away, never showed up. Super frustrating and rude

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38. E

    Emmam

    Las Vegas

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 18, 2022

    overall3food2service5ambience5

    This reservation is not for Daikaya. It’s for the accompanying small plates restaurant. Did not see this info anywhere on the reservation so was disappointing. Additionall, the small plates restaurant was not amazing. Some good stand out pieces but very overpriced.

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39. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    7 reviews

    4.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on December 11, 2022

    overall4food3service4ambience5

    They changed the menu and the seasoning. The food now is more similar to bar food and Chinese food. It is missing the Japanese flavor now. I miss the old menu and food.

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40. AM

    AshleyM

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 10, 2022

    overall4food5service3ambience5

    We went to dinner before a Wizards game. It would have been helpful to have had a portion recommendation ration before we ordered, and the food was slow to come. However, the ambience is fun and the food was delicious.

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