The Guide: March 24, 2023

restaurant reviews for here

ILLUSTRATIONS BY: REINA LAU, KATIE SCHWEICKERT, AND JASMINE CRIQUI/THE HOYA

A COZY, AUTHENTIC JAPANESE EATERY

kintaro 

Alexis

Kim

In Japanese folklore, Kintarō is known as the “golden boy,” a hero with superhuman strength who was raised in the wild by a mountain witch. While Kintaro the restaurant may not be quite as exciting, it is still the “golden boy” of Japanese restaurants in Georgetown.

An easy 10-minute walk from campus, Kintaro is unassuming and can be hard to spot at first glance. Located behind a mural of flowers at 1039 33rd St NW, the restaurant is tiny — there are only a few tables in its tight interior and essentially no space to wait around inside. To avoid being stuck on a long waitlist, make sure to get there when they open 12:00 PM for lunch or 5:00 PM for dinner every day except for Monday.

Before you even walk in, you are greeted by handwritten signs posted all along the door, which contribute to the comfortable and homey atmosphere. Parts of the menu are even posted along the restaurant’s walls, reminiscent of many izakayas, or restaurants described as “stay-drink-places,” and other small Asian restaurants.

Each time you visit, the same hostess greets you and the same sushi chef is preparing fish in the corner of the restaurant. The staff and interior make the small space feel cozy rather than cramped, and you can tell that you will be in for a good, homecooked Japanese meal as soon as you walk in.

The menu is surprisingly comprehensive and includes everything from onigiri (Japanese rice balls filled with toppings such as salmon and ume — pickled plum) to sashimi (raw fish) and ramen. Some of the available dishes are only posted on the signs on the wall, not the menu, so make sure you take a look at those before you make your selection.

Everything on the menu is reasonably priced and the portions are generally decently sized, though a few of the dishes — such as the green tea cheesecake — can be smaller than expected. The ramen and curry have heartier servings and are a more price-effective option than some of the other items on the menu.

The sushi options are extensive and the fish is fresh. There are even options for those who do not enjoy raw fish, including tamago (sweet Japanese omelet), California rolls and more. You can also order smaller, one-piece portions of the sushi if you are looking to add some fish to your meal without breaking the bank.

For those looking to try something a bit different than the typical sushi or sashimi, I would recommend the kaisendon — a bowl of rice topped with the chef’s choice of fish. Though the kaisendon is a bit pricier due to the nature of its ingredients, it comes with thick slices of fresh fish and is priced reasonably for the amount of sashimi you get.

There are also plenty of hot dishes perfect for cold winter days. I would recommend the Japanese curry, which comes with thick, well-spiced (though not spicy) and slightly sweet gravy that works perfectly with the fluffy steamed rice it is served over. The curry also comes with pickles, which cut through the rich gravy and contribute to a perfectly balanced flavor profile.

You also should not discount the wide variety of starters and appetizers Kintaro offers. The onigiri is made-to-order and stuffed with plenty of ingredients, making it the perfect addition to your meal at just $3. There are also more uncommon options available, including takoyaki, or savory pancake balls with cooked octopus inside.

Though much of Kintaro’s menu is excellent, I would advise you to avoid the fried foods it offers. All the fried dishes I have tried tend to be soggy and greasy, making the meal feel a bit too heavy. Additionally, their fried meat dishes, such as the pork katsu (fried pork cutlet) and karaage (Japanese fried chicken), are tough, fatty and difficult to chew.

Overall, Kintaro is a great, cozy place to have a meal with a friend, especially before or after a studying or shopping session on M Street. There are many familiar and unfamiliar options, making it the perfect choice for both bold and picky eaters. Going to Kintaro guarantees that your tastebuds will go on an adventure, just like Kintarō the folk hero, leaving you feeling like a “golden child” yourself.

CLASSIC, AUTHENTIC ETHIOPIAN

das ethiopian 

Sofia Wolinski

If you’re looking for an authentic Ethiopian dining experience, look no further than Das Ethiopian in Georgetown. Located on the corner of 28th and M St., the warm, inviting atmosphere sets the tone for an unforgettable meal.

The menu offers a wide variety of Ethiopian dishes, and I was impressed by the range of vegetarian and meat options. When ordering, I was given the option of receiving my meal house-style, where dishes are served together on a large piece of injera — a spongy Ethiopian sourdough flatbread — or receiving each dish individually, in a more traditional American style. I chose house-style and was not disappointed.

I decided to start with the sambusas, which are crispy pastry shells filled with spicy lentils. They were absolutely delicious, and the dipping sauce that accompanied them was the perfect balance of tangy and sweet.

For my main course, I ordered the combination vegetarian entree sampler, which included a variety of dishes served on injera. The platter was beautifully presented and included dishes such as tikil gomen (cabbage with carrots in sauce), kik alicha (split peas) and gomen (collard greens). Each dish had a unique flavor profile that perfectly complemented the others.

Alongside my main course, I ordered the house salad, which was an exciting mix of beets, string beans, onions and bell peppers in a lemon and olive oil dressing served on injera. Every flavor melted in my mouth in a tasty combination of vegetables and spices. I had never eaten a salad without silverware before, so every bite was a thrilling and novel experience.

The injera was the perfect accompaniment to the meal, and I loved how I could use it to scoop up every bit of the different dishes I ordered. It was light and airy, with a subtle sourness that added to the overall flavor of the meal. The portions were generous, and I was impressed by how much food I got for the price.

The highlight of my meal, however, was the doro wot, a spicy chicken dish that is a staple of Ethiopian cuisine. The chicken was plated in the middle of injera and was tender and flavorful, the spices perfectly balanced. The dish was served with a boiled egg and a red pepper sauce, and it was so good that I ended up ordering another portion to take home with me.

What really sets Das Ethiopian apart is the quality of its service. The staff is incredibly welcoming and attentive, and they are more than happy to guide you through the menu if you’re new to Ethiopian cuisine. My waitress brought me numerous additional servings of injera throughout the evening, ensuring I would not leave hungry.

In 2021, Das Ethiopian made Michelin’s D.C. list of Bib Gourmand winners. The Bib Gourmand, a lesser-known Michelin distinction, recognizes restaurants that offer a three-course meal at a reasonable price. While there is no set algorithm for what makes a Bib Gourmand winner, they usually offer a simpler style of cooking than Michelin star winners. Michelin called Das Ethiopian “a haven of soothing colors and lush fabrics.”

Whether you’re looking for a unique dining experience or just want to try something new, Das Ethiopian is a must-visit. The food is delicious, the service is exceptional and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. It’s no wonder that this restaurant has quickly become a local favorite.

yellow

LEVANTINE FUSION TREATS



Maeve Pierson

Walking into YELLOW will brighten your mood. Between the glorious scent of freshly brewed espresso and whatever is emerging from the wood-fired oven — which is adorned with yellow tile — the cafe exudes fun and delights the senses. Since opening its doors in Georgetown in December of 2022, YELLOW has been a smash hit. Offering a menu of decadent pastries, wood-fired pitas and sandwiches, specialty soft-serve and unique coffees and teas, YELLOW draws inspiration from Chef Michael Rafidi’s Middle Eastern roots and background in French cooking techniques to create the highest quality cafe experience.

Once you see a pillowy pita sprinkled with za’atar and drizzled with olive oil emerge from the oven, it’s hard not to order one for yourself. Other offerings include the twicebaked almond arak croissant, a sweet, nut-studded and glazed confection that will leave you wishing you had one more bite when you’ve finished.

If you’re looking for savory options, look no further than the wood-fired shakshuka. Two poached eggs nestled inside a stew of smoky tomatoes and onions, charred peppers, feta and harissa are a flavorful explosion — and of course, the dish comes with a steaming hot pita, the perfect vessel for soaking up every last bit of the delicious sauce.

The coffee program at YELLOW is curated by Coffee Director Ayat Elhag and sourced by Counter Culture, a coffee roasting company based in North Carolina. Offerings include a smoked chai, halva honey and turmeric honey lattes, coconut cardamom iced coffee, Damask rose milk tea and several delightful-sounding cocktails. I’m partial to the turmeric honey latte, a slightly sweet and spiced creation that is the perfect addition to any food order.

Perhaps you stroll into YELLOW in the afternoon, searching for a light snack. A wood-fired pita and specialty dip will likely satisfy your peckishness. At $3 per pita and $3 per dip, it’s an economical snack and a delicious one, too. If you’re like me, the sumac-scallion labneh is your obvious choice in dip, but you cannot go wrong with any choice. That said, YELLOW is not your average budget cafe or bodega. The ingredients used are sustainably sourced, and the prices tend to reflect that reality, so perhaps save your order of a $17 lunch pita for when the parents are in town.

Another word of advice: if you’re not looking to play seat roulette, visit YELLOW on a weekday. The weekend gets quite busy, and you will likely find a line out the door. YELLOW does have a no-laptop policy, which I’m sure initially frustrated some students. However, it seems the decision was intentional. It’s a place to meet a friend for coffee and catch-up, sans-laptop and sans-staring at your phone if you can help it.

If you are looking to visit YELLOW, make it an experience where you can be present and enjoy the moment. The cafe hopes to foster relief from daily burdens and stressors so that while you are inside its four walls, the only things that matter are zesty za’atar and silky smooth hummus.

YELLOW opened with limited hours in the summer, but it will now be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays. Rafidi also started offering “Family Dinners,” prepared meals togo, and discussed plans to expand the menu to include Lebanese flatbreads. He expects YELLOW to return to Navy Yard as well — though he is not sure exactly where or when.

where in the world?

oyamel cocina mexicana

los hermanos

sovereign yellow lapis

kintaro il canale

taichi bubble tea

shouk

maman

das ethiopian

the

ILLUSTRATION BY: ALAN CHEN AND JASMINE CRIQUI/THE HOYA

shouk

Leah Cohen

For vegans and vegetarians, the opening of Shouk is great news — but carnivores are better off sticking to what they know best. Shouk, a plant-based fast-casual food chain in the Washington, D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area, recently opened its fourth location on Wisconsin Avenue. The diner serves a variety of dishes inspired by Tel Avivian street food, including falafel and fresh hummus, as well as more creative dishes like oyster mushroom schnitzel and veggie sausage.

Our group ordered pita chips and hummus, the falafel sandwich, spice fries with Shouk sauce, the Shouk burger, the sausage pita and the za’atar cauliflower bowl. The dishes, unfortunately, were hit-or-miss.

The falafel was fantastic: crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and paired perfectly with the hummus. The spice fries were also excellent, and the sweetness of the Shouk sauce perfectly balanced the seasoning on the fries.

On the other hand, the cauliflower bowl was drowning in sauce, and I could barely taste the flavor of the vegetables. The experience with the Shouk burger was not too different from the cauliflower bowl. Between the tomato jam and tahini, there were simply too many flavors in the sandwich.

With its official grand opening on Saturday, March 24, Shouk is worth a first visit — but maybe not a second.

oyamel mexicanacocina

VIBRANT MEXICAN FOOD

Gaang Choi

If you don’t like sharing with others, Oyamel will not be for you.

On Friday nights, the brightly patterned interior of this Penn Quarter restaurant fills with waves of lively chatter to an almost deafening degree, and its small tapas plates are best suited for passing around the table with friends.

All of the tapas are high-quality — especially the pulpo negro (octopus marinated in salsa), the tamal verde and the Brussels sprouts. The tacos and quesadillas do not disappoint either, especially the fish. The harmonious mixture of different salsas with vibrant flavors and textures certainly makes the price difference with your standard Epicurean quesadilla worth it. Sweet potato tamales and a wide variety of tortillas are some other standouts on the wide-ranging menu, which even includes grasshopper tacos.

Oyamel is almost always packed — it is a true happy hour restaurant for a night out with friends. Still, it does not sacrifice good value for quality, and it offers a joyful environment with equally enjoyable food.

CLASSIC, AUTHENTIC ITALIAN

Caitlin Keffer

If you’re looking for a more affordable but still delicious Italian option, il Canale, located 15 minutes from campus at 1065 31st St. NW, does not disappoint in delivering mouth-watering food that will leave you awaiting your next visit and dreaming of their lasagna. I always take my visiting friends and family there for dinner the first night, and, without fail, they beg for a second meal there before they leave.

The ingredients for their pizzas are all imported directly from Italy and whipped into perfection by Chef Joe Farruggio, a native Sicilian whose personal philosophy is to serve the “best pizza Napoletana in the world.” But if you’re not in the mood for pizza, the restaurant’s menu also features an array of appetizers, homemade pasta dishes, salads and more, all of which feature the same authentic ingredients and perfect taste.

If you are looking for a scrumptious Italian bite, then I highly recommend you join Washington, D.C. A-Listers Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, Brigitte Macron and Ivanka Trump — whose pictures you can find alongside the awards lining the walls — at il Canale for the best pizza and pasta in Georgetown.

Sofia Wills

A recent addition to Wisconsin Avenue, just a 10-minute walk from the front gates, Taichi is a stellar Taiwanese-Japanese fusion spot that every Hoya needs to try. Taichi offers an enticing menu with a variety of dishes, including poke, ramen and bubble tea. Following its opening week, my roommate and I decided to give it a try, and we were blown away by the flavors. We opted for some poke bowls for dinner and, although the price was on the higher side at around $16 apiece, the portions were generous. We were able to customize our bowls, making the experience more interactive and personalized. The customized poke bowl I had was refreshing and filling and the boba was equally impressive. Located just a few blocks from the front gates, Taichi could very well give the other boba spots in the area, such as Gong Cha, a run for their money. With a fantastic location and an inviting atmosphere, Taichi is a must-visit Georgetown restaurant.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY: CE MI LEE AND LAUREN FRANK/THE HOYA

VEGAN TEL-AVIV STREET FOOD

TASTY TAIWANESE FUSION TREATS

to go

los hermanos

TROPICAL DOMINICAN CLASSICS

Celeste Viana

As someone who hails from Miami, I have to say that Washington, D.C. — and espe cially Georgetown — has a startling lack of Caribbean cuisine. To find some Caribbean cuisine, I had to venture onto UberEats. Af ter some searching, I stumbled upon a Do minican restaurant called Los Hermanos.

For my entree, I ordered pulled pork with mofongo, a garlicky plantain mash. The pulled pork was deliciously tender, but I found the mofongo to be a bit rub bery to chew. The food delivery took a bit of time, however, so I will cut the restau rant some slack.

For dessert, I ordered their “Dominican Cake,” which is a pineapple cake with me ringue frosting. The sweet filling and fluffy frosting perfectly complemented the light vanilla cake, and it was reminiscent of the cakes I used to eat when I was little.

To wash it all down, I ordered the mango and guanabana juices. Guanabana is a white, fleshy fruit with a flavor best described as a tart apple creamsicle. Both juices were refreshing and full of pulpy goodness.

Despite some minor flaws, I would recommend Los Hermanos to anyone looking for some authentic Dominican food in the District.

Sofia Wolinski

The Sovereign, a Belgian-inspired eatery located in the heart of Georgetown, is a must-visit for those seeking a mix of French, German and Dutch cooking techniques and cuisine. With its charming decor and warm ambiance, this restaurant offers traditional European dishes with modern twists.

The menu at the Sovereign features a range of Belgian favorites, from hearty stews and savory schnitzels to classic waffles and house-spun seasonal gelato. The specially sourced Dutch-style mussels are a plump and juicy standout dish, served with a side of crispy fries.

For those with a sweet tooth, the waffles at the Sovereign are a must-try. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, the waffles are served with a delectable sprinkling of powdered sugar.

The staff members at the Sovereign were extremely attentive and friendly. Waiters are eager to recommend dishes, hang up coats and bring extra bread fresh from the oven. Whether you are celebrating a special occasion or simply looking for a delicious meal, the Sovereign is sure to impress.

COMFORTING AFGHAN COOKING

Maeve Pierson

For those looking to break free from the Georgetown bubble on their culinary adventures, Lapis should be somewhere at the top of their lists. A quaint bistro in Adams Morgan, Lapis specializes in Afghan cuisine, offering seasonally inspired family recipes in a cozy and casual but chic atmosphere.

The restaurant’s lunch and dinner menu is extensive, offering items such as bolani (a stuffed Afghan flatbread) served with mint yogurt and chutney, a plethora of vegetarian dishes bursting with flavor, lamb shank, grilled meats and fish, as well as meat and veggie platters.

Dishes are meant to be shared, so consider visiting Lapis with a group and trying as many things as possible — plus, don’t be afraid to bring your non-meateating friends, as there are plenty of vegetarian offerings (my favorite being the dal, a flavorful and smoky lentil dish!).

Lapis also offers a fantastic brunch service. Rose water cardamom pancakes with warm rose water syrup and pistachios, and karayee, a dish of eggs over sauteed tomatoes, potatoes, onions and hot peppers, are just a few of the fantastic choices on the brunch menu.

If you visit on a sunny day, light streams in through the bistro’s large windows, setting the scene for the main character meal of your dreams.

Melisa Ozturk

Upon entering the recently opened Maman — located at 1353 Wisconsin Ave. NW, just a 10-minute walk from campus — one is greeted by rustic and elegant decor accented by the chain’s recognizable white and blue pattern, which conveys an inviting and soothing atmosphere.

Maman, a hybrid cafe, bakery and restaurant that originated in New York City, delivers the comfort and aroma of homestyle meals with a nod to southern France and North American cafes. It delivers a flavor of childhood in its distinctive fusion of multiple cuisines, all in a serene ambiance bathed in natural light. Glancing at their menu brought back fond memories of my childhood in Paris.

During my visit, I discovered the chef’s selection of three pastries: the classic but timeless croissant and “pain au chocolat,” as well as an almond croissant loaded with traditional frangipane, or almond cream, all for the decent price of $13. These soft and delicate pastries succeeded in giving me a delightful sense of comfort, though they lacked the accompanying crispiness I would find at a boulangerie in Paris. However, the heartwarming atmosphere of Maman, embellished by family photos and French music, is what struck me: the restaurant truly embodies the warm endearment for “mother” in French.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY: ANNA CRESSMAN AND VARSHA RAMMOHAN/THE HOYA

CHARMING FRENCH CAFE

CROSSWORD

By Varsha Venkatram

This Week’s Theme: World Cuisines

ACROSS

ACROSS

1. I hope it _____ this winter

DOWN

DOWN

1. Appetizers in Spanish cuisine

5. Japanese steamed rice dish

6. Resident Assistant, for short

7. Abbreviation for the U.S. state whose state vegetable is the sweet potato

8. More accurate or exact

10. Tidal bore

1. Multilayered cake

2. Nigerian bean fritters

3. “Kung Fu Panda” character who needs no secret ingredient

4. Machine used in agriculture

5. Half of a French exclamation meaning “Holy blue!”

9. Leavey Center Corp coffee shop, for short

6. The Suez _____

7. Lane

8. Mobile home

9. Kinetic energy

10. Large, celebratory meal

1. Cozy accessory

2. Innocent, unknowing

3. Antonym of “off,” plural

4. “It’s too cold to go on _____ in winter”

5. Icy precipitation

ILLUSTRATION BY: SOPHIE LIU/THE HOYA