Daikaya Reviews

I had the Veggie Ramen with a spice bomb. It absolutely rocked my world. When it came out, I learned that appearances could be deceiving. The veggie spicy bomb sent me to a World of spice where I was sweating profusely and enjoying every second of it. Thanks Daikaya Ramen for the great experience. The staff was great as well. I would recommend to everyone.

Hands down the absolute best fresh ramen spot anywhere near here!!!! Also great atmosphere and music.

Delicious!! Awesome service. Took us in at the very last 4 minutes of them closing. Everything tasted fresh and so good.

We went for restaurant week. I hadn't been in a while, about since the time they started altering their menu with daily specials that were just rotations of their previous menu. Restaurant week was fairly disappointing. Uninspired but fusion-y edamame, mozzarella and roe, egg toast as appetizers preceded disappointing "chashu" and an aji (mackerel) sandwich that was little more than a filet-o-fish. Dessert was boring at best, annoying at worst with a chocolate mochi ice cream and too-big salt flakes. I applaud them on their third courses of beef tongue and tenderloin skewers, which were both textured and delicious, albeit simple. Skip the fancy Mayo on the tenderloin. I was also intrigued that they used mountain yam in their onsen egg dish; the root is common to Japanese traditional dishes but produces a natto-like texture that most Americans would find unfamiliar. I don't like it much myself but it's a more daring menu choice. Overall, Daikaya is an okay dining experience. It's definitely a slightly more inspired fusion restaurant, but they fail to execute on a number of dishes. I probably can't recommend or return for dinner unless I hear about some pretty significant improvements and inspiration. Still likely a good and quick lunch or happy hour spot that will stick around.

This place is always delicious. I typically head to MAKI in Rockville since it's closer to where I live, but when I have friends visit from out of town, we go here. All the great museums are just a short walk away, and the flavors here will blow you away. There's usually a sizeable wait so I recommend getting there right at opening on the weekend, then get those museum visits in.

For folks that like spicy, the spicy miso ramen is fantastic. Add butter and corn to tone it down and add some flavor. If you have 2 or more people I absolutely recommend the gyoza!

They discriminated us. The service was verrry very very bad. I neve ever had such a bad service in my lifetime. They didn t have any respect for us. They doesn t deserve tips. They were rushing to go home. We were not finished eating but they came to take our ramen bowl. They ruined our night and we even didn t finish our beer because they disappointed us. We left and we are very sad and angry. We never ever come here.

Best ramen on town. Wait can be very long though he prepared to wait. It is completely work it though

Good veggie ramen. Served very hot as it should be. Noodles with correct texture. Would come back. $15 a bowl is a bit much esp when it's $6 in Japan

This is my favorite place for ramen. The broth is full of flavor. The noodles are perfectly done. The place is small and very busy. On several occasions, we were given waiting time of over one hour. It certainly is on the expensive side but well worth it. I also highly recommend the soft serve with avocado lime sauce, topped with toasted coconut. At $3, it is a great treat after a great meal.

The place is small but really cute. Their ramen are simply delicious for an affordable price.
Note to the manager: this is a restaurant not a club, please for everybody's hearing sake. Don't put the music so loud. It turns this great experience into something painful.

Truly delicious food, excellent service, experience a different style of Japanese cuisine than you are likely used to. Keep an eye on the number of plates you order, they add up quickly.

Great ramen, cool aesthetics, and a fantastic drink menu for the bar upstairs. This place is awesome!

Ramen (x)
Japanese style US noodle(o)

Possibly the best place to have Ramen in Chinatown and the whole of DC area. The marinated egg in broth was super delicious. Would go there again! The wait is really really long though. Specially on the weekends. But definitely worth the wait!

Fantastic food, but deafening volume. Still worth trying at least once.

Incredible food time and time again, with pleasant staff in a fun joyful place. Would have gotten a five star rating if not for the host, for his better than God's attitude is a real turn off.

Excellent ramen shop. Won the approval of my Japanese colleagues, so it must have been good.

An hour wait for 2 people at 2 PM on a Monday? No thanks. Interesting too that the family of 4 got there at the same time but was being seated before us. Disappointed.

Hands-down, best Ramen shop in DC. As a Japanese-American that grew up on the West Coast, this is the closest I've had to no-frills, fundamentally sound ramen. Service is quick and the food is great.

Always amazing. You can come just for the noodles and gyoza.

The atmosphere is incredible w drinks & food to match. My only complaint would be that the menu is quite small.

Totally next-level ramen! If you like ramen, you must try this spot out. Just be prepared for long lines during peak times.

Daikaya in Chinatown is an awesome place for ramen. I've tried several places in DC so far for ramen and I think it's the best in NW. Other places are not quite as traditional as Daikaya. The wait can be a choir if you have a group buy it's well worth it. All their ramen are very good. Head upstairs on Friday at lunch for the special weekly ramen.

The best shio ramen I have ever had. The flavor was complex and addicting. Ate all the noodles and toppings and couldn't get enough of the broth. I'm not from the area so unfortunately I cant speak to the rest of the menu but when I come back I'm trying more! Solo dining is good for busy evenings, I was able to get seated within a few seconds at the bar. Larger groups, be prepared to wait! Super chic, modern atmosphere and very kind staff both on the floor and in the kitchen. Loved the vibe in this place.

We're always on the hunt for a ramen place with delicious broth, which seems hard to come by. We got the classic shio broth at Daikaya to get a feel for the base flavors, and I will say it was pretty dang good. I wasn't 100% sold on the hint of char/greasiness that I think was coming from the ground pork. Other than that, the flavors were delicious and the noodles were perfectly cooked. Out of our most recent ramen excursions, Daikaya is my #2 place, losing narrowly to Toki because of their delicious tonkotsu, but Daikaya was #1 to my b/f.

FYI the ramen bar's a really small so the wait times to get a seat are crazy. At least they turn "tables" really fast. Don't come here to relax and have zen-like conversations regarding the fleetingness of life. Get your ramen, eat, leave. :)

This place is dangerous. You're going to want to eat everything on the menu.

Came here on a very cold wintery night because I was craving for something soupy. This place is unpretentious and unassuming. Had an amazing bowl of vegetarian ramen which hit the spot for me. Great place for a noodle fix. FYI there is usually a queue and you would only be seated once your party is complete.

Excellent ramen at decent price. I will definitely return next time I'm in town!

Very nice ramen; efficient service and too hip 80s remix tunes. What more could you ask for? Oh yeah, wasabi ice cream!

One of the best places I ve had ramen. Super tasty. Fast. Friendly. Customizable orders. Little of this and that. Or a lot of this and that. Quick tip: order the gyoza!! You will not be disappointed.

There was shell on my egg and they will ask you to leave if they are busy.

Good service, great food! The decor is very interesting and devine. It's a good mixture of some hardwood benches and modern wall prints. The food is very tasty and yet small. I would say that my biggest criticism is that I get bored with the menu after a while. I wish they had a few more homestyle options to choose from occassionally. The drinks are a good deal at Happy Hour, and the food specials are on par with other moderate priced DC restaurants. When it comes to reserving space they are very casual and don't seem to have a formal large party process. They saved a nice large high top for me for a brunch even though they don't take brunch reservations. Mentioning brunch, I like a lot of their options, but most of the truly japanese food is just copied from their other menu's with a breakfast twist; I wouldn't call it a traditional Japanese breakfast spot ( I have yet to find one in DC). They cater mostly to what Americans expect for brunch with some very unique japanese twists. They have some unique versions of waffles, and egg dishes. Overall, It's a solid restaurant with knowledgable staff. The thing that really cracks me up is that their phone machine records an older man with a very strong Japanese accent, but when you go to the bar, most of the bartenders are American. It's made me think at times that it's a corny joke, but I know it's not.

Delicious rice bowls and noodles, very reasonable for the quality and location.

This is for Izakaya : fun Japanese place, restaurant, the cooked variety, so get ready for a heavier meal! chawammushi, grilled avocado, rice balls very good.
Cocktails : Super Ritzy is a good twist of the classi aperol sprtiz

Nice flavor of ramen, reasonable price. Vegs were overcooked thou.

Small, but yummy. Friendly service, efficient and good food.

The broth was really flavorful... beware though may have to wait in line for awhile.

This place is great. Sat at the bar and received great service and recommendations from the bartender. Food was excellent, high ball was perfect, sake was great, and final cocktail was off menu and unique. Can't recommend this highly enough, great for just a casual visit or even a fun date night.

Prompt service, amazing food. Prices high, but it's a tourist area, so...

The food is boss and they have good vegan options (including a vegan spice bomb; most spice bombs contain chicken stock). Small space means they want you to leave fast, tho, so they keep the music too loud.

This is an awesome place for lunch or the kind of dinner where you're too busy eating awesome food to talk, but not a good spot for getting to know a date or a leisurely evening with friends.

Great food. Downsides are limited veggie options, cramped space, long wait times

Visited during covid-19 so it had a limited menu. That said, what we did have was excellent. The ramen was good and quite satisfying. Service was also very good. Only thing that was a downside about the meal was the price, but all things considered it was about on par for DC. All in all, I will probably end up returning.

Spicy Ramen and gyoza excellent. Great for a quick lunch. Small dining room can mean wait times during peak periods

I love the veggie bowl with extra nori, with a spice bomb. It sooo good. The food is fast and a very nice size.

I'm pretty sure I would eat this once a week if I lived here. Delicious and perfect for a chilly day. However, it's a small place and there aren't many seats. Make a reservation or be prepared to wait awhile for a table. We went after 9 on a Tuesday night and still had a 30 minute wait.

Interesting dishes. Was here several years ago and it really left an impression on me, this time not so much. Decor is still cool but the service is just blah. I don't mind how they take the order digitally but it comes out almost conveyor style.

Absolutely phenomenal house stock. Get the Mugi-Miso base, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. They have a good selection of toppings with a hefty 'extra veggies' option; my picks were chashu, egg, extra veggies, bamboo shoots, and butter.

Expect to wait a while because this is a popular spot. Reserving a table for the upstairs area is the play if you're coming with a group. The bar upstairs has a nice, relaxing atmosphere without being too dark.

I've come to Daikaya on 4 separate occasions: once in 2015, twice in 2018, and yesterday. The flavor has definitely degraded significantly over the years.

The first time I came here, I was blown away by the quality and quantity of the ramen, and the ambience was a funky balance between quick-dining and homey.

Yesterday, I vowed that I will never return to Daikaya Ramen. The ramen's portion has reduced drastically, and it tasted rather plain compared to the past. The worst part was the ambience. Daikaya has always had upbeat music, but yesterday, the music was so loud and at such a high RPM that I felt like I could not digest the food. It wasn't just one song - it was a carefully concocted playlist of fast, loud music to increase the transition between customers. I completely understand the desire to serve more customers, but I feel that they've taken it too far and the quality of food and ambience have slipped away.

I'm sad that I lost a nice ramen spot in DC, but it's just not worth it for me any more. 2 stars for the memories.

The food was mediocre at best, and it is most definitely overpriced (when compared to Philadelphia or NYC). The Chashu (pork belly) tasted old and tough, the broth was uninspired and lacked any sort of body, and the noodles were just bad. I don't understand how this place has such a high rating. The only redeeming quality was the swift service. Will not be coming here again.

Excellent noodles. Flavorful broth. Quality of food would earn four stars, but it gets dinged due to prices...$14 for a lunch bowl of noodles is too much.

I love their ramen! Only downside is the waiting part!

I got a take out ramen this evening shortly before closure. My food was ice cold. I am visiting and living in a hotel so I had no opportunity to warm it up. It would be good if you would inform the customer ahead that ramen for take out is More

Super fast service, good ramen, have had better but definitely worth it.

Crowded but staff was accommodating.

Great selection of sake. Everything we ordered came out quick and delicious.

It is pricey if you are looking to get full.

Fusion style Japanese food. No option for ramen, sushi or sashimi.

Good ramen, just be prepared for a long wait to get seated

Amazing food and atmosphere. They've secured a repeat customer. Ramen was fantastic and the tuna poke was phenomenal.

Authentic Japanese style noodle restaurant near the building museum of DC. We had a short 5 minute wait and the food was straight out of a Kyoto noodle house.

Waited for over an hour to get our Ramen. It's cold outside and having warm soup is fun. We're big Ramen fans and this isn't in our top 3 ramen places, although that said, it is a great soup place. Expect uncomfortable seating and fast service. Not all ramen dishes come with an egg which is disapointing and when you do, it's only half an egg. I was also missing sesame and matching spices...

Beautiful ambiance to go with amazing authentic Japanese food. Will return for as long as they're open

Best Ramen I've had in the DC area. Very busy with no reservations

As a very very frequent traveler to Japan and ramen lover, I say they are simply so so. I come here often only because they are the only restaurant with ok ramen in town and I am too lazy to cook my own. It really gets interesting and infuriating when it comes to their seating policy. If you are 1 minute late to their 21:55 last seating, sorry no you are rejected. Fine enough, 10 miles of driving and 40 minutes wasted. Whatsoever, you guys love the long queue, mundane exotic food and arrogant servers.
Considering my trip to Aomori is several days away, I ll be fine with IHOP today.

Awesome, great crowd, nice setting, small portion for e

Great food! Small place cozy fast pace vibe. Over an hour wait on weekend and rush hour so plan to have drinks before. Smaller 25 minute wait on weekdays off peak. Best Ramen!

Best ramen ever ! The miso ramen is my personal favorite. The savory taste brings you back to life

Simply some of the most fantastic ramen I've had in DC. I've ordered it from delivery services and recently dined in for the first time. Always absolutely satisfying. The vegetarian ramen with the spice bomb and seaweed is a winner!

Ok so the soup was fine for a $20 bowl of Ramen, yes that Ramen. They add broth, a handful of fresh vegetables, nori and a slice of day old pork roast. It was loud and cramped. We waited over 45 minutes for what a friend called "the best Ramen ever" and we got Ramen. Overpriced and unimpressive soup.

Great Roman here! The seating arrangements may be a little cozy in comparison to the typical American dinning experience but still great food and great customer service!)

I grew up in Japan for 15 years and have spent the last 7 looking for good ramen in the U.S.. I've had all the "best" in NYC/LA/SD etc and was always disappointed (either lack of flavor or wrong noodles, grrr!). To my delight, that was NOT the case with Daikaya! I can honestly say it is the only bowl of ramen I have had in the U.S that is on-par with an average japanese shack in Tokyo (not an great one mind you). And that is a heck of a compliment. The only difference is it's much more expensive and you have to pay extra for the add-ons that are typically free in Japan. I had spicy miso and my wife had shoyu. Both were great, but I was especially impressed with the shoyu which is difficult to pack enough/right flavor into at most joints. Also the eggs soft-boiled in broth were delicious, and tasted just like in Japan. Keep up the good work! I'm sure they know they are one of the only restaurants doing ramen right in America.