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Kaliwa, Washington, DC
Award-winning

Kaliwa

3.9
3.9
535 Reviews
$30 and under
Asian
Top Tags:


Award-Winning, Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022 Recipient! Kaliwa presents upscale, South East Asian fare accompanied by vibrant cocktails in classy, waterfront digs. Enjoy interpretations of Thai, Filipino and Korean dishes under a sky of eclectic chandeliers, or dine Al Fresca on the patio overlooking the bustling waterfront.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 36 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Cuisines
    Asian, Korean, Thai
  • Hours of operation
    Mon, Wed, Thu, Sun 11:30 am–10:00 pm Tue 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:30 am–11:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (202) 516-4739
  • Website
    https://www.kaliwadc.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Cathal Armstrong
  • Location
    751 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024-3433
  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2022
  • Neighborhood
    Southwest Waterfront
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 535 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

3.9
3.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4Food
  • 3.8Service
  • 4.1Ambience
  • 3.5Value

Noise • Moderate

535 Reviews

  1. mew1222

    Richmond

    26 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    26 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall2food2service2ambience3
    Kaliwa has good ambience. It’s a fusion of Thai, Korean and Filipino…which doesn’t work. There is nothing authentic about the taste. We had the Lumpia, Pancit Canton, Inasal Chicken and Pork Adobo. The chicken was overdone and the Pork adobo was awful. The basic ingredients of vinegar, soy sauce and garlic is lost in the translation of spices and non-existent. The only saving Grace and not much is the lumpia. The pancit canton has the flavors but missing so much of the traditional pancit canton but yet labeled as traditional. This restaurant has so much potential or a better chef who actually is familiarize with the cultures. Will not be back.

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  2. OpenTable Diner

    Manchester

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Absolutely amazing tasting set menu. Really recommend the Marlyland Blue Crab curry and the Beef Bulgogi, but you won’t go wrong with any choices you make. Only in DC for three nights, and dined here twice.

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  3. EmilyA

    Greater Boston

    8 reviews

    2.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall2food1service2ambience2
    Really bummed about our experience. I called earlier to ask if there were vegan options and the hostess said many, it turns out only one option was truly vegan and it was really not good. The peanut sauce was watery and tasteless and we did not eat it.

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  4. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    The best food experience I’ve had in my life it was busy and the actual menu is different than the online menu so keep that in mind however don’t let that deter you the food was excellent

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  5. SharonC

    San Diego

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had a lovely experience dining outdoors last night. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and efficient. We had vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes and the waiter was able to describe and advise on our choices. Among them was the mango salad, the beef bulgogi, the green curry and the pancit Canton. The food was so flavorful and delicious! Inside seemed a little noisier, the the patio was very serene.

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  6. Garima

    Atlanta Metro

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on September 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Beautiful ambience and delicious food, not to mention beautiful views of the Wharf.

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  7. Comus3

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 18, 2023

    overall2food3service3ambience3
    Mediocre. Food was fine but overpriced for what it was.

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  8. OpenTable Diner

    Central Texas

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on September 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Kaliwa has such delicious and creative food, I always have a good experience there! I’ll absolutely be back to try more stuff on the menu. Side note though, there was a random pork rib on the floor chilling near our table lol

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  9. RexP

    Washington DC

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 16, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience1
    The worse experience ever! The manager was not accommodating at all. He lost business of 9 customers and ruined our special occasion. We left because of that. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone.

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  10. MariaY

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 16, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience4
    Food was ok. Nothing exciting. Very overpriced. Be careful when you pick the special deal for $50 per person. We got over charged for 4 people instead of 3.

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  11. CynthiaS

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 16, 2023

    overall4food5service4ambience4
    The food was great, but pricey. We sat outside and it became very crowded. The inside looked great.

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  12. BenI

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 16, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience4
    I love the location and wish we could have sat outside. Our reservation was at 6 pm for 7 people. The reservation was under my name and I arrived at 6 pm but they would not seat me until more than half of our party arrrived which was frustrating. We had to wait like 15-20 minutes. Obviously the traffic was bad in that area and there wasn’t much parking. Food was good, but I don’t like their over 8 people in a reservation gotta pay $49.99 per person. Also, our waitress didn’t ask if we wanted to split the bill at the beginning so I got stuck with the bill at the end and it was a little awkward and obnoxious trying to figure out the bill at the end. Also they took a long time bringing out my main course so I was eating it while trying to figure out the bill.

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  13. MaryB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 16, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    We had a lunch reservation for 7. Everything was good except that majority of us find the food we ordered though taste good, were a bit too salty.

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  14. OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    5 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on September 16, 2023

    overall3food4service4ambience5
    Food was decent but my food came out and then my guest didn't get there for at least 40 min. Very odd because it was a simple dish... Server was nice.

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  15. LuLu

    Austin

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 13, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    Great Fusion! Everything was delicious 😋 Thanks for the memories.

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  16. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food was very good and the wate staff were excellent. We will be back!

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  17. MonicaL

    Washington DC

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 8, 2023

    overall3food2service4ambience5
    My husband and I were underwhelmed with the food. The pad thai was sour (too much tamarind) and not enough sweetness to it. It also lacked fish sauce. The crab curry was too creamy for a red curry and bland (missing critical components like galangal or kaffir lime leaves). The cocktails were great and the thai salad was nice. But the main dishes were sadly disappointing. I really wanted to like this restaurant.

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  18. Gothvenus

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 6, 2023

    overall3food4service5ambience4
    The food was good, did the tasting menu for two. Portions were small, but I expect that at a restaurant like this. We had the mango salad, tuna sashimi, blue crab curry, and pad thai. Drinks we also good. Overall enjoyed, would recommend.

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  19. SakibK

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 4, 2023

    overall2food3service1ambience3
    Poor service, nothing that stands out about food quality and over priced

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  20. Clarendonrunner

    Washington DC

    10 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on September 2, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience1
    Very disappointing. They were not prepared to seat us despite having a reservation. We roamed the restaurant and then they stuck us at a table where one seat had no back to it. We had to hunt down staff to request being moved to a suitable table. Because it was restaurant week, we were limited only to the special menu which we did not know coming in. This was problematic for someone with dietary restrictions for which the full menu would have afforded many more options. Then they insisted on serving subsequent courses even though we had not yet finished the current course. Food was hastily prepared and not great. Some of the staff were attentive and tried to be helpful.

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  21. danielv

    Raleigh

    1 review

    vip
    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 2, 2023

    overall3food4service2ambience4
    The food was outstanding. The service and overall experience were just ok. Wait times were really long. The food came out to the table with servers calling out dishes. "Who had the xxx." You just took our orders - it shouldn't be that hard to remember who had the "xx" Ordered a beer, and they didn't have any IPAs available ("I'm sorry, we ran out.") How does any restaurant today not have a single IPA available? I'd enjoy it again, paying normal prices for their excellent food. But absoutely the wrong place to go for restaurant week. WAY overpriced for the overall quality of the experience.

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  22. ValerieG

    Washington DC

    9 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on August 30, 2023

    overall3food4service3ambience5
    Disappointed that only restaurant week menu available & not alerted to that in advance Hostess almost nonverbal. Communication mostly by confusing facial expressions. Ignore multiple times & hostess kept running errands without any urgency & leaving me waiting for no reason Really big fan of Cathal Armstrong & looking forward to trying this restaurant. But overall impression was that rested on laurels of waterfront views & offered next to no hospitality. Staff seemed to have zero hospitality philosophy or training

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  23. Dreamstar

    Austin

    6 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on August 28, 2023

    overall4food3service5ambience5
    I came during restaurant week and was disappointed that I couldn't order off the main menu. The dishes were pretty good but the ones I was most interested in and looking forward to trying were not available. I'll have to come back again to really try it and decide how I feel about the restaurant.

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  24. MillieD

    Minneapolis

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on August 27, 2023

    overall3food2service3ambience2
    If you are looking for an authentic Filipino food, this is not the place.

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  25. Sway

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 27, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Would like more vegetarian options. A little less of the fried foods.

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  26. Washingtonfoodie

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Definitely a must try! Food was exquisite! The tasting menu was great!

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  27. OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    1 review

    vip
    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 19, 2023

    overall2food1service5ambience5
    I'm not sure what happened to this place. My wife had been some months ago and really enjoyed it so she brought me and everything was pretty terrible. Every dish needed salt and overall more seasoning. The corn side dish tasted like the Trader Joe's frozen roasted corn. The lettuce in the peanut salad was like cheap bag salad. I've had canned peanut sauce that was better than the Kare Kare. Service was great!

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  28. KristinaM

    Seattle

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 18, 2023

    overall2food1service2ambience3
    The food was gross, and surprisingly overpriced. Riding its location.

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  29. RurikoW

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was outstanding! Happy hr. to regular menu, all great. Awesome decor!

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  30. EnyawH715

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 16, 2023

    overall2food2service2ambience4
    This was my third visit and it was most disappointing! My first two experiences I gave Kaliwa 5 stars. Our waitress was slow and forgetful. It took her forever to come to the table for our orders. Afterwards, she delivered our drinks to the table next to us! She seemed really disconnected. The pad Thai was so unappealing that I left most of it after I picked out the shrimp. The shrimp were cooked to perfection. That's the one good thing I can say. Had this been my first time, I would not return. However, since I have had two great times before, I will chalk this up to a bad day for Kaliwa and give it another try some other time. So, for now, my advice is proceed with caution.

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  31. Gileo

    New York Area

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 13, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    I had an absolutely delightful experience at Kaliwa in Washington DC, where I had the pleasure of trying their Thai Fried Rice. The dish was a true masterpiece of flavors, with each bite offering a perfect balance of savory and aromatic spices. The rice was cooked to perfection, with just the right amount of fluffiness, and it was generously packed with fresh vegetables and tender pieces of protein. The presentation was visually stunning, and the portion size left me feeling satisfied yet wanting more. The staff's attentive service and the vibrant ambiance of the restaurant added to the overall wonderful dining experience. Kaliwa's Thai Fried Rice is a must-try for anyone looking to indulge in an exquisite blend of flavors that transport your taste buds straight to Thailand.

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  32. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    1 review

    vip
    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 13, 2023

    overall1food2service1ambience3
    I would not recommend this place. The food is mediocre and there are much better options at the wharf - the restaurant was empty around lunchtime and the service was poor.

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  33. DougH

    Washington DC

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on August 10, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience3
    Not at all tourist food as I expected. The blue crab curry was superb, as was the pork adobo. A very pleasant surprise to find in a heavily touristy area.

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  34. Fred

    Washington DC

    5 reviews

    2.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on August 9, 2023

    overall2food2service2ambience3
    Bland food and experience for the price. Will not be going back.

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  35. Sing

    Charleston

    2 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 9, 2023

    overall1food2service1ambience2
    Don’t go here, the service is terrible. The bill for our meal came to $123.20. Two days later my card had a charge for $240.80. I contacted the restaurant to have this corrected and the manager Adama told me he would correct it. Two more days later, not only was I not refunded, the charge had increased to $364.00! When I contacted the restaurant again, Adama told me that they had erroneously charged me someone else’s bill on top of mine, and that the $240.80 would be refunded to me. It has been two weeks and still no refund has come to me.

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  36. JosephS

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 7, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience3
    Food was good but not great. The Bolgigi was bland and tasted more like a philly cheesesteak without the roll. Spring rolls and fried rice main dish were very tasty. However prices for what you seem a bit high.

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  37. Cyberenforcer

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 6, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Would suggest adding more options to the menu, otherwise a really great experience!

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  38. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 5, 2023

    overall2food4service2ambience4
    I would like to say thanks to the supervisor for assisting with my reservation. I mistakenly put 2 instead of 3 guest on open table. He was able to accommodate us. Thank you! But, the waitress knowledge was very limited. My husband ordered a Long Island ice tea and she said she had no ice tea😳 Then we explain what it was and she came back with coke with lemon and called it “Long Island” when we placed our dinner order my daughter asked if her order comes with rice, she said no. We ordered a extra order of rice. But the dish came with white rice. Then she proceeded to stay away from our table only showed up when the supervisor was around. Overall the food was good, but the service we received from her was very poor. The final straw, my husband try to go to the bathroom before leaving. The lady cleaning the bathroom closed off all the bathrooms and said she is cleaning them. He had to make a complaint to the supervisor. I am not sure if my experience will allow me to visit the restaurant again.

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  39. AndersonA

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 5, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience5
    This was one of the better culinary experiences that we had in a while. The ONLY drawback is that almost all the food had some degree of spice. For some that may not be an issue, but others might have a hard time fully enjoying the food. Other than that, absolutely brilliant.

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  40. ChristyS

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food was great and so was the service. The Ube Moose was amazing.

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Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers

  • Physical distancing

    • Distancing maintained in common areas

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Kaliwa offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (202) 516-4739.

Kaliwa is rated 3.9 stars by 535 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 36 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Kaliwa

751 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024-3433

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2022
  • Neighborhood
    Southwest Waterfront
  • Hours of operation
    Mon, Wed, Thu, Sun 11:30 am–10:00 pm Tue 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:30 am–11:00 pm
  • Cuisines
    Asian, Korean, Thai
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Cathal Armstrong
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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