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SHŌTŌ Washington DC is the latest concept from globally renowned restaurateur, Arjun Waney (ZUMA, ROKA, COYA, La Petite Maison [LPM] & The Arts Club). Located in the heart of the Nation’s Capital, SHŌTŌ offers a contemporary and sophisticated twist on the Japanese izakaya style of informal dining, while respecting traditional technique and commitment to culture. Showcasing the unique flavors of modern Japanese influenced cuisine, the menu features a variety of shared plates including snacks, sushi, tempura as well as skewers, meats, fish, poultry and seafood options from the robata grill. The high-energy bar at SHŌTŌ offers bespoke hand-crafted specialty cocktails as well as an extensive selection of Japanese Sake and Whiskey.
Modern restaurant serving sushi, Wagyu steak & grilled robata-style skewers in a lavish dining room.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 1100 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 796-0011
Website: https://www.sevenrooms.com/reservations/shotowashingtondc/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: tripleseat.com
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Shōtō – Washington – a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant
This buzzy operation is located in DC’s brand new Midtown Center; once home to The Washington Post. Comprised of a bar, tables and a dining counter.
Book Your SHŌTŌ Washington DC Reservation Now on Resy
A dazzling upscale izakaya, with 25-foot wooden-grid ceilings, electric hearths set into a wall of greenery, custom ceramics, volcanic stone, and more.
SHŌTŌ Washington D.C. (@shotodc) – Instagram
Contemporary Japanese Cuisine Restaurant • Bar • Lounge • Terrace Located In The Heart of the Nation’s Capital NOW ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS
Reviews
Michelle Ramsaroop Berry
From the moment we walked into Shōtō, we were completely blown away by the ambiance. Every detail — from the entrance to even the restroom — was thoughtfully designed and beautifully executed. The atmosphere alone sets the tone for an unforgettable dining experience.
The staff delivered service beyond anything I’ve experienced before — attentive, welcoming, and truly passionate about what they do.
This restaurant came highly recommended by a friend who raved about their Old Fashioned and Whiskey Sour. After looking over the menu and debating what to order, we decided to trust the experience and go with the chef’s choice — and it was the best decision we could have made.
The very first sip of my Whiskey Sour completely blew my mind. I’ve never had a drink so incredible with such simple ingredients. Every course that followed was thoughtfully prepared, beautifully plated, and absolutely delicious. Each dish brought excitement and joy, especially trying flavors that felt new yet comforting.
Shōtō has easily become one of our favorite restaurants of all time. Walking in already impresses you — but just wait until you experience how everything comes together through the food, the staff, and the overall atmosphere.
Highly recommend!
… moreThe staff delivered service beyond anything I’ve experienced before — attentive, welcoming, and truly passionate about what they do.
This restaurant came highly recommended by a friend who raved about their Old Fashioned and Whiskey Sour. After looking over the menu and debating what to order, we decided to trust the experience and go with the chef’s choice — and it was the best decision we could have made.
The very first sip of my Whiskey Sour completely blew my mind. I’ve never had a drink so incredible with such simple ingredients. Every course that followed was thoughtfully prepared, beautifully plated, and absolutely delicious. Each dish brought excitement and joy, especially trying flavors that felt new yet comforting.
Shōtō has easily become one of our favorite restaurants of all time. Walking in already impresses you — but just wait until you experience how everything comes together through the food, the staff, and the overall atmosphere.
Highly recommend!
M Khan
This is my second visit here and it was even better then I first time. In my initial visit, we opted for the omakase experience (premium version $195 per person) with 3 people. Many of the items I ordered this time was because I had it last time a la cart. I will say that for me, personally, getting the a la cart items had more value than getting the omasake experience because it felt like we were getting charged more for significantly less food.
Overall, the staff was amazing. Despite being crowded, they were mostly attentive and pleasant. We ordered many items, including the chicken and beef skewers, mixed tempura (shrimp and vegetable), fried baby squid, steak, salmon, the mini tacos (wagu and salmon), and cauliflower. We really wanted the corn and brocolli, but they were sold out (hence the cauliflower replacement). Everything was amazing – from the taste, quality, and presentstion. However, I would pass on the cauliflower. I am not sure how to describe how it tasted, but it didn’t seem to my liking and a bit salty. The steak (cooked medium) was cooked perfectly, and had a slightly sweet taste. The fried items were light and crispy, including the shrimp which was excellent and didn’t have a seafood smell. There were so many other items I would love to try, but maybe next time like the cod and lamb.
For dessert, we got the vanilla ice cream and churros. Though the churros comes with cinnamon ice cream, we opted to replace it with the vanilla. This has one the best vanilla ice cream I’ve ever tried. It was creamy, light, and had a fresh vanilla flavor. Last time, we also ordered the deluxe dessert platter ($25 per person), which included churros, a chocolate cake, ice cream, and array of exotic fruits, which were neatly assembled on a ice display.
I love the ambiance as well. It really shines at night ~ and anywhere you sit seems like you’d have a good view. The bar has fun things to look at and it was fun to see the kitchen in the background.
Note that they charge a 3% added service fee, which isn’t a tip.
… moreOverall, the staff was amazing. Despite being crowded, they were mostly attentive and pleasant. We ordered many items, including the chicken and beef skewers, mixed tempura (shrimp and vegetable), fried baby squid, steak, salmon, the mini tacos (wagu and salmon), and cauliflower. We really wanted the corn and brocolli, but they were sold out (hence the cauliflower replacement). Everything was amazing – from the taste, quality, and presentstion. However, I would pass on the cauliflower. I am not sure how to describe how it tasted, but it didn’t seem to my liking and a bit salty. The steak (cooked medium) was cooked perfectly, and had a slightly sweet taste. The fried items were light and crispy, including the shrimp which was excellent and didn’t have a seafood smell. There were so many other items I would love to try, but maybe next time like the cod and lamb.
For dessert, we got the vanilla ice cream and churros. Though the churros comes with cinnamon ice cream, we opted to replace it with the vanilla. This has one the best vanilla ice cream I’ve ever tried. It was creamy, light, and had a fresh vanilla flavor. Last time, we also ordered the deluxe dessert platter ($25 per person), which included churros, a chocolate cake, ice cream, and array of exotic fruits, which were neatly assembled on a ice display.
I love the ambiance as well. It really shines at night ~ and anywhere you sit seems like you’d have a good view. The bar has fun things to look at and it was fun to see the kitchen in the background.
Note that they charge a 3% added service fee, which isn’t a tip.
Edward Oates
We wanted to go all out on a dining experience for Valentines Day and this place did not disappoint! We wanted to try the special platters they had for the occasion, but opted for the omakase experience instead.
We started off with a few cocktails, the Shoto old fashioned and the lychee martini- both were delicious and the ice cube in the old fashioned was branded, a testament to the detail that goes into the dining experience here.
After a few moments to enjoy the exquisitely decorated interior and the in house DJ, the food started coming out and it didn’t stop for 2 hours! Plate after plate, all delicious and all different flavors-
Shoto tacos – 9/10
Miso soup – 6/10
Tuna tartare – 8/10
Chicken kebabs – 8/10
Mixed green salad – 7/10
Sea bass nigiri – 8.5/10
Tempura medley- 5/10
Sushi nigiri platter – 9.5/10
Fried potatoes – 6/10
Steak – 9/10
Corn – 8/10
Marinated white fish – 10/10
Mochi – 4/10
Churro ice cream dessert- 10/10
Highly recommend the omakase experience , it is pricey but worth it. We will be back to try our own adventure with the menu!
… moreWe started off with a few cocktails, the Shoto old fashioned and the lychee martini- both were delicious and the ice cube in the old fashioned was branded, a testament to the detail that goes into the dining experience here.
After a few moments to enjoy the exquisitely decorated interior and the in house DJ, the food started coming out and it didn’t stop for 2 hours! Plate after plate, all delicious and all different flavors-
Shoto tacos – 9/10
Miso soup – 6/10
Tuna tartare – 8/10
Chicken kebabs – 8/10
Mixed green salad – 7/10
Sea bass nigiri – 8.5/10
Tempura medley- 5/10
Sushi nigiri platter – 9.5/10
Fried potatoes – 6/10
Steak – 9/10
Corn – 8/10
Marinated white fish – 10/10
Mochi – 4/10
Churro ice cream dessert- 10/10
Highly recommend the omakase experience , it is pricey but worth it. We will be back to try our own adventure with the menu!
Betty
The place is very elegant and aesthetically beautiful. The DJ was really good, the beats were really fluid (1 touch lower volume would have been better). The bar is nice, people are friendly.
The bartenders are nice but not pros. Had the espresso martini, no —don’t know what liqueur they’re using but, no, and the French martini, also no —too sweet.
The omakase is not an omakase it’s a tasting menu. It was a lot of food (it was tasty but not haute). Too much sauce for classical Japanese.
The standouts were the lamb is Excellent (and I make lamb chops, so they get my blessing, they are cooked perfectly and the flavor was a touch heavy but yumyum the salmon teriyaki was also cooked to perfection as a medium rare -nomnom the churros were not warm to the touch (offensive!) but the caramel inside was warm so I got over it quick
Overall everything was pretty basic (sorry) and saucy, (which i love on rice but…) they even had an nice orange sauce on another sashimi (gimme rice)
This is a good intro to a Japanese menu if you are not familiar with the cuisine and this is your city.
But yes I will go chill at the bar there…
… moreThe bartenders are nice but not pros. Had the espresso martini, no —don’t know what liqueur they’re using but, no, and the French martini, also no —too sweet.
The omakase is not an omakase it’s a tasting menu. It was a lot of food (it was tasty but not haute). Too much sauce for classical Japanese.
The standouts were the lamb is Excellent (and I make lamb chops, so they get my blessing, they are cooked perfectly and the flavor was a touch heavy but yumyum the salmon teriyaki was also cooked to perfection as a medium rare -nomnom the churros were not warm to the touch (offensive!) but the caramel inside was warm so I got over it quick
Overall everything was pretty basic (sorry) and saucy, (which i love on rice but…) they even had an nice orange sauce on another sashimi (gimme rice)
This is a good intro to a Japanese menu if you are not familiar with the cuisine and this is your city.
But yes I will go chill at the bar there…
Brigitta Hovor
We chose Shōtō D.C to celebrate our anniversary, knowing my husband’s love for wagyu and Japanese whisky, and it absolutely delivered.
From the expertly crafted cocktails to the mouthwatering appetizers, sushi, and mains, every dish was a hit. The food comes in hot whenever it is ready from the kitchen. Made it feel like we had food on our table at every given time. Food was so good, I forget to take pictures after our appetizers came in.
My husband was so impressed he’s already planning a return visit to explore more of the menu. A perfect blend of elegance and flavor. Shōtō made our special night unforgettable.
… moreFrom the expertly crafted cocktails to the mouthwatering appetizers, sushi, and mains, every dish was a hit. The food comes in hot whenever it is ready from the kitchen. Made it feel like we had food on our table at every given time. Food was so good, I forget to take pictures after our appetizers came in.
My husband was so impressed he’s already planning a return visit to explore more of the menu. A perfect blend of elegance and flavor. Shōtō made our special night unforgettable.
William Hurd
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Precision is the Name of the Game
In Japanese, “Shoto” refers to a short sword, symbolizing commitment and precision. It is a bold name to live up to, but after an evening at this DC izakaya, I can confirm: the execution here is razor-sharp.
The vibe is super chill. It’s a perfect blend of high-energy dining and a relaxed lounge atmosphere.
The Litmus Test:
I judge a bar by its Old Fashioned, and SHOTO’s was incredibly smooth. Balanced, cold, and devoid of that harsh bite you get at lesser establishments. It set the tone for the rest of the meal.
The Culinary Plot Twists:
The menu is designed for sharing, but you might find yourself fighting over the SHOTO Tacos. Forget corn or flour; these come in a delicate, homemade potato chip shell. It sounds like a novelty, but the crunch is the perfect counterpoint to the fresh fish.
-The Maguro (Tuna) with yuzu chili miso was vibrant and spicy.
-The Sake (Salmon) with wasabi mayo was rich and creamy.
From the Fire:
You can taste the difference in the grill. They cook over Binchotan (Japanese white oak charcoal), which imparts a clean, smokey flavor you just can’t fake. The Negima no yakitori (chicken and scallion) was simple, juicy, and perfect.
But the heavyweight champion of the night was the Black Cod (Gindara no saikyo-yaki). Marinated in shiro miso, it was buttery, flaky, and dissolved on the tongue.
SHOTO isn’t just dinner; it’s a sensory experience. Whether you’re there for the robata or just a smooth drink in a great atmosphere, this place cuts through the noise of the DC dining scene. ⚔️
… moreIn Japanese, “Shoto” refers to a short sword, symbolizing commitment and precision. It is a bold name to live up to, but after an evening at this DC izakaya, I can confirm: the execution here is razor-sharp.
The vibe is super chill. It’s a perfect blend of high-energy dining and a relaxed lounge atmosphere.
The Litmus Test:
I judge a bar by its Old Fashioned, and SHOTO’s was incredibly smooth. Balanced, cold, and devoid of that harsh bite you get at lesser establishments. It set the tone for the rest of the meal.
The Culinary Plot Twists:
The menu is designed for sharing, but you might find yourself fighting over the SHOTO Tacos. Forget corn or flour; these come in a delicate, homemade potato chip shell. It sounds like a novelty, but the crunch is the perfect counterpoint to the fresh fish.
-The Maguro (Tuna) with yuzu chili miso was vibrant and spicy.
-The Sake (Salmon) with wasabi mayo was rich and creamy.
From the Fire:
You can taste the difference in the grill. They cook over Binchotan (Japanese white oak charcoal), which imparts a clean, smokey flavor you just can’t fake. The Negima no yakitori (chicken and scallion) was simple, juicy, and perfect.
But the heavyweight champion of the night was the Black Cod (Gindara no saikyo-yaki). Marinated in shiro miso, it was buttery, flaky, and dissolved on the tongue.
SHOTO isn’t just dinner; it’s a sensory experience. Whether you’re there for the robata or just a smooth drink in a great atmosphere, this place cuts through the noise of the DC dining scene. ⚔️
Brooke krauss
The food was truly immaculate. Everything was fresh, and the big ticket items were classic/curated to let the dish shine. Many upscale places I have been to have tried “too hard” with curating a dish that does not need curating, and this place let things such as fresh fatty tuna and wagyu shine in their own right. The staff has fabulous recommendations, and the sea bass was a favorite amongst my husband and I. The light dressings and fresh greens truly accentuated the bass itself. We spent our 1 year anniversary here, and it did not disappoint. We are looking at our next trip with friend to go after the 45oz tomahawk, and we could not be more excited. Thank you to all the staff, especially our amazing and attentive server, for creating such a lovely experience with top noch fish in the DC area. I mentioned to my husband that I am worried that this experience will not only rival, but be better than the michelin star experience we have planned next. This place among many Japanese centric restaurants I have been to is one of the best (to include the extensive/knowledgeable sake list), and I cannot wait to come back with friends! Go a little bit earlier (5:30pm-6:00pm) for the best experience with the staff. The price seems steep until you see the quality of foods offered at the place. As an industry person myself, the prices were fair. Thank you all for a memorable anniversay and incredible dining experience!
… moreBedur Alshrif
Authentic Japanese flavors with a modern twist. The service was polite and attentive. Everything felt premium and carefully prepared. Will definitely come back
… moreRakel Raigns
My husband and I recently dined at Shoto on Sunday evening before the Katt Williams show in DC. Despite the Chilean sea bass being absolutely amazing, we both left feeling uncomfortable and disappointed.
Now I will be the first to admit that Dauphine’s was our initial dinner location, but they were closed for their Madi Gras celebration. And we decided to skip Grazie Nonnas as that is our GO TO!!! We decided on Shoto, as it was a place neither of us experienced before, and honestly, we should’ve stuck to our go-to, and here is why: we were RACIALLY profiled!!!
Upon being seated at the bar, we ordered some appetizers and drinks while we looked over the menu for our entrees. The server, while entering our order, asked for a card to hold. We complied, assuming it was standard policy. However, during our meal, we noticed a white couple came in, seated nearby, and was NOT asked for a card to hold despite ordering drinks just as we did. That inconsistency immediately raised concerns and made us question why we were treated differently.
The discomfort this situation created overshadowed the first-time experience. I hope management reviews their procedures to ensure ALL guests are treated equally and respectfully.
… moreNow I will be the first to admit that Dauphine’s was our initial dinner location, but they were closed for their Madi Gras celebration. And we decided to skip Grazie Nonnas as that is our GO TO!!! We decided on Shoto, as it was a place neither of us experienced before, and honestly, we should’ve stuck to our go-to, and here is why: we were RACIALLY profiled!!!
Upon being seated at the bar, we ordered some appetizers and drinks while we looked over the menu for our entrees. The server, while entering our order, asked for a card to hold. We complied, assuming it was standard policy. However, during our meal, we noticed a white couple came in, seated nearby, and was NOT asked for a card to hold despite ordering drinks just as we did. That inconsistency immediately raised concerns and made us question why we were treated differently.
The discomfort this situation created overshadowed the first-time experience. I hope management reviews their procedures to ensure ALL guests are treated equally and respectfully.
Hannah
I was really excited to try Shōtō as I kept seeing pictures people post, but was pretty let down by the food. This restaurant is beautiful, the detail that went into the design is impressive and tasteful. The environment and ambience feels sophisticated and fun. However the food was where I was let down. The tacos weren’t bad, edamame is the same as every other restaurant, the sashimi was fresh but not like sushi taro or another high quality sushi restaurant. The specialty maki rolls are where I was really let down. Probably the worst sushi I’ve had at a dc restaurant, including all you can eat places which I’ve tried some bad ones. First off, there’s nothing special about them. There was not that much fish, the rolls were not rolled evenly which at a restaurant at this price point I would expect a lot more.
… more