Daikaya Reviews

Great noodle dishes, but somewhat loud so be prepared. You don't need the extras as the basic dish is plenty. A favorite!

Had a great time and good food. Definitely recommend it as a good hangout spot.

Interesting choice of sauces, but the chawanmushi is DELICIOUS, highly recommended.

Worth the trip. Good Ramen but a little pricey and brutally loud downstairs.

Had the mugi miso ramen. Broth was rich but not too oily or salty. It's different from regular miso ramen. The noodle had just the right texture. Even at the end of the meal, it was still springy and not a soggy mess. This was perfect for a cold afternoon!

Didn't even get in. Line was 1.5 hour wait at 2:30 in the afternoon.

The first ramen shop I've found in DC and outside of Japan that actually tastes like ramen served in Japan! This shop ships its noodles all the way from the island country, and the owners are actually from Japan. I tried the gyoza, miso ramen, and the shio ramen. All very delicious! The bamboo shoots were so flavorful and crunchy. While I went to Daikaya, they do offer an Izakaya shop upstairs with some items reminiscent of Okinawa (taco rice). Even the Orion beer is from Okinawa. I will definitely be returning to try the upstairs food.

Go upstairs, sit at the bar. It's not ramen but it is phenomenal. Best dinner in DC. Small plates and truly amazing.

Both spots (downstairs and upstairs) are delicious! The ramen (only served downstairs) is great; but don't forget to try the unique food they have upstairs!

The ramen was okay. But their pork belly was tough and their broth was not very tasty. Great service, though.

The wait is long for a reason. The ramen here deserves its place in the top ten in DC. Pretty loud and crowded, though. It's a hip place, not something you would go to with your family or a romantic evening.

Great ramen house. Had the spicy miso and shoyu ramen. Both were authentic Japanese noodles. Spicy was only 10% spicy though and I usually can handle medium spice well. Great vibe, service and food.

Amazing Ramen. The upstairs restaurant has awesome small plates.

The food and staff are so phenomenal, they sometimes forget to pay attention to the music in the bg... Backstreet Boys while eating ramen? That's a joje btw. Haha. In anycase 100% recommend this place!

Everything here is so good! From service to the food and drinks themselves, I will definitely be back when I'm able!

This is a review for the Izakaya which is upstairs. Izakaya is Japanese bar food. For alcohol they have an good selection of beers on tap and bottles. A few of the beers were Japanese and are not available in that many places. They also have sochu, sake and mixed drinks. The sake is interesting because they have two kinds of unpasteurized. Unpasteurized sake is interesting when you can get it because it is much more floral than the pasteurized kind. The sochu selection is great because they don't just have the standard buckwheat and sweet potato. They have a sesame and brown sugar. I had the sesame which was very interesting.

As to the food, I'd say it is very interesting. I loved everything that I had and personally I though that it was very authentic (I spent two weeks eating in Japan so hopefully I can tell). The Onigri (rice balls) were excellent, some of the best that I had and the grilled avocado is amazing. Never would have thought of that.

All in all it is a great addition to DC.

This place has it's own taste. However, unlike what they say on their sign, it's not worth the wait and money it cost. I've tried much better ramen.

Unbelievable flavors and creativity in this menu. Love the concept. Excellent shareable dishes.

Service is prompt, food is amazing, fresh and there is a vegan option! Can't go wrong. Authentic noodles flown in from Japan each day!

Pretty good Ramen probably the best in town but a little pricey, even though I had the Spicy Miss, would suggest the Veegetarin Ramen, it's awesome.

Update: I recached out to you per your request, but have yet to receive a response. I suppose your response was an effort to show a desire to address this issue, but failure to follow up proves it was more about google review process.

I am giving one star as a result of the poor management of the waiting list. The place was busy, with an hour to and hour and 15 minute wait. Against our better judgement, we decided to wait. The issue became apparent at the 1 hour mark, when we started to notice people that had arrived after us were being seated prior to us. The issue was that we were a party of 3, and the staff felt it beneficial to seat groups of 1 and 2, and even 4 before us. Rather than maintain the waiting list and create room for the whole party in order. I understand the desire to fill seats and move the waiting list, but without creating space, a party of 3 will never get seated. Even giving a table to a party of 4 that arrived well after us in order to maximize seating is crazy. We ended up being seated at the 2 hour mark. It took so long to seat us and the wait list management was so poor, once we were seated the waiting list was nearly complete. There was so much seating available at that point, we could have sat anywhere, we had essentially been pushed to the back of the list. We endured, and must have been crazy to stick it out. We did this most likely as the choice to move to a different location would not have improved our ability to be seated anytime sooner, and the fact we were vested in time, not sure I would again. As a self proclaimed ramen connoisseur, I have to admit the ramen tasted good.

Everything there was amazing!!!!! I had to order seconds of the crab croquettes because I couldn't get enough of them!! Also had the beef and broccoli skewers, roasted oysters, chicken wings, wasbi salmon, rice balls and a couple other items. They were small plates, hence all the items we got. But you couldn't go wrong with anything here! It was Friday night and we didn't make reservations, which was a mistake bc they were booked. But we got a seat at the bar eventually and I think it was better that way. Also, you can never go wrong w Moscow mule on tap. Definitely recommend to anyone!

Very clean friendly...different style.of Japanese food ...if you enjoy Tapas and willing to experience other flavors beside the typical sushi...than this is for you...I love the place and setting

Love this place and the people here! There is typically a wait but it is worth it especially considering they can text you when your table is ready. Get a beer to compliment the ramen.

Went for lunch so they don't have what we want until dinner. I don't eat seafood but from my friends they said it was pretty delicious.

I'm super surprise I can taste so Japanese local flavor ramen in Washington. Strong flavor and harder noodles, only perfect can describe it.

There are two floors to this restaurant: the first where they serve ramen and the second where they serve small plates! We were very surprised to find out that they were indeed very small plates.

We ordered the tuna poke, or their version of it, with rice crisp on top, rather than actual rice on the bottom, and in between an egg yolk. Not a huge fan of that.

We also ordered their salmon, octopus, scallop, hambagu, chicken karaage, and onigiri. Out of all we ordered, the only one to my liking was their onigiri, and even then they skimped out on the filling.

They plate fancy and was just not into it. If you're up for gourmet style plates, then give this place a try.

Excellent ramen but the big room in the back has an odor.

Go for the spicy ramen. I stumbled upon this place looking for something warm and comforting with this weather. I'll be making my way back here.

Came here due to its positive reviews. A 45 minute wait on a Saturday afternoon was something that we were willing to do.

Let me just say this - if you are looking for an authentic Japanese ramen experience, this is not the place to go. I could barely recognise the bowl in front of me as ramen - sure it had all the necessary ingredients, but the flavours and texture were nothing compared to those I had experienced in Japan. Perhaps we missed the memo on this place or came here with wrong expectations.

Anyway, good service and ambience - could not fault their enthusiasm.

Really good authentic Japanese-style restaurant and food, but a very long wait

I ate at the Izakaya and the food was good, though the dim red light made it hard to see what I was eating. I probably wouldn't return upstairs, though I would like to try the ramen downstairs.

Daikaya has always been one of my favorite places to dine, however my last experience wasn't so pleasant. I went to Daikaya on 8/13/2016 with my gf around 3-4pm and we were seated at the bar. The experience started off well until we received our ramen and I noticed that the pork belly I ordered wasn't in my bowl. I called the waitress over and told her that my order was wrong and if I can have the pork belly on the side so we wouldn't have to replace the whole bowl. She was nice enough to approach the chef (African American women) to ask if she could put some pork belly on a side plate. Sounds easy enough right? Well no, the chef gave attitude to the waitress and fought her about a task so simple. Then she had the nerve to give me a discussed look (rolling her eyes and smacking her lips), while making rude remarks under her breath. I wasn't sure why she was giving everyone such a hard time about a simple task. No one approached the chef in a rude way and I was paying for it. Well long story short, I ended up getting charged extra for something that was suppose to be in my bowl in the first place. I was so frustrated I didn't even want to argue it because I just wanted to leave.

Got the miso ramen and Sapporo on tap. Overall was tastey and staff were very nice. Place is small and is very busy so you might have to wait for a seat.

We really enjoyed eating here, the atmosphere was very modern and chill and the wait staff knew what they were talking about and had really good recommendations. I highly recommend the Veggie Vegan Ramen with seaweed the Spice Bomb, it was amazing! But a warning for people who eat smaller meal sizes, it's A LOT of ramen. I took half home and it was even better the next day! I also recommend the ichimi chocolate hazelnut soft serve, they explain that it is spicy but it isn't spicy at all. It was still super delicious! I would definitly visit the Daikaya again, but make a reservation ahead of time because we had to wait 30 minutes for a table. It was definitely worth the wait.

Was in town for business so went to this place on a recommendation. Definitely worth a try! I ate by myself and still had to wait 50min for a spot so definitely call ahead if you can. Seating is tight, but a great and fun atmosphere. Loved the throwback hip-hop jams!! The only reason they didn't get 5 stars was my noodles were a bit under done this is probably why I got my food literally within 5min of ordering. Definitely will be back

Wow! Everything I ate was good. The Dynamite Wings are a steal on the happy hour menu - definitely order those. The food was quick and good portions. I loved it!

Casual, sometimes there s a long wait but it s totally worth it.

Awesome Raman noodles. Savory broth, not salty. Great place.

Absolutely wonderful food, with a very good presentation. You could try a lot different dishes with the small portions, particularly enjoyed the beef tongue.

Fantastic marinated and fried catfish with ginger tartar sauce. I'll be back.

Tasty as hell. Try the spicy broth (not on the menu). Pricey for what you get.

The wait time was long - around 45 minutes even though the host told us it would be about 30 minutes at most. The decor was alright but the atmosphere itself was loud. It's very strange to have Japan-inspired decor on the menu and throughout but to blast remixes of early 00's and hip hop songs. The seating reminded me of Japan because you could sit in front of the people preparing the meals but the ramen itself is nothing worth recommending. The ramen I had was salty and my friend said the same for his; it was also too greasy. I could be expecting too much when I compare it to my experience in Japan or New York City, but even if I had a craving for ramen I'd never come here. The prices were also too high for my liking, too.

Pros: FAST service. Good broth. Big servings. Cozy atmosphere.

Cons: They will boot you out after a time limit, so not a place to sit and chat over your noodles. Shared seating may not be your thing. Got busy as we were leaving, so get there early!

Don't forget about the 2nd floor. 1st floor had very rich thick broth for ramen. Pork belly was very tender and thick.

Great food and great service. Upstairs was super nice and downstairs has excellent ramen bowls. Only reason I subtracted a star is because I was confused about the upstairs and downstairs differences. It wasn t really obvious that upstairs and downstairs were different as I entered. I also thought the one small plate I had that starts with a c and is egg based tasted a little weird in its consistency. Hope this helps!

Edit: Went there for a second visit and gave my phone number to get in line for a seat. They told me it would be 15 minutes and they ended up never texting me like they said that they would. They closed and never contacted me, needless to say I am quite bummed by the lack of customer service and communication.

A very unique experience for anyone who enjoys Japanese food with a twist. When going thru the menu (items are small plates) I recommend starting with the smaller dishes and saving noodles and rice for last- as they will fill you up quickly.
That staff were also very friendly and accomadating!

Incredible ramen. Gyoza was decent. A bit of a wait, but totally worth it.

Good food. Although I felt kind of like they were trying to rush my friend and I out as soon as possible. If you are in a wheelchair, know that the door is hard to open and none of the stuff helped me open it.

Came here for lunch and had an AMAZING meal! They have such a simple menu with amazing flavors and variety. The restaurant itself is small, so if you have a large party (more than 4 people) be prepared to wait or be willing to split your party. The ramen was delicious and the service was prompt and cheerful. The portion sizes are large so come hungry! I will definitely return for dinner and drinks!

The service sucked! The food was ok. Nothing amazing. They did not have any other meat options besides pork, Waiters are unfriendly and they will try to rushed u out

Anyone who gives this place less than 5 stars is a communist

Went here during lunch on a workday and was sat at the ramen bar with no wait and it reminded me of a busy Japanese establishment. Loved having a fantastic view of the kitchen and seeing your dish being made in front of you. Ordered the classic ramen with both types of pork meat as an extra. Even without the extra noodles, you get a surprisingly large amount of food that can satisfy any hunger cravings you may have. Pork belly was delicious, creamy and soft and they're not stingy with portions. Chashu was lean and meaty with good texture. They unload a lot of stir fried bean sprouts on top which is perfect for me as I love them but I can see someone people not as enthused. The marinated egg was textbook and a great flavor enhancer along with the scallions and perfectly chewy wide noodles. Service is quick and friendly and prices are on the high side but still reasonable.

Everything we had was fabulous. It was off the charts good. Definitely get the octopus, the avocado and the kara-age chicken thigh! Their Japanese whisky selection is also very good. Pretty decent draft beer selection as well. Will 100% come back.

Outstanding experience. First time upstairs (for dinner) after having eaten at the Ramen shop 4-5 times for lunch. Excellent service, prompt and orderly. Very responsive service and they knew the dishes and drinks very well. Dishes were much more substantial than expected, so wanted a full bites but we left very full. Udon noodle special and cream dumplings were standouts. Chicken livers were excellent. Avocado was very good. Soft serve ice-cream was also good. Drinks (had earlier in the night, we came back after the game) were refreshing. Excellent drink specials. Will definitely come back for the service, atmosphere, food and drinks.

One of the best spots for ramen in DC. There's usually a wait but you can wait upstair and grab small bites and theyll text you when a seat is available.

Good Raman! But do get there very early to put a name down because of limited seating! Also recommend not bringing a lot of baggage because most of the seating is quasi bar style.

Excellent ramen, large portions - my 9 year old couldn't finish his but he loved it!

Wow. Just amazing. A great experience with awesome food

Delicious ramen. The spicy ramen was delectable. Make sure you try the soy egg. Ice cream is amazing and unique. Ramen is shipped from Japan everyday.

Love the ramen here! Hands down one of my favorite ramen places in DC. The restaurant is small but they make the food fast and tables turn over quickly.

Best ramen in town! Expect a wait to be seated... It's that popular.

Everything's perfect other than the fact that they only take reservation on site.

There were some mishaps with the service but the food was great and the ambiance is pleasant.

My sister came in from out of town and I chose Daikaya because of all the fantastic things I've heard about it. I have been to the ramen shop downstairs but never the restaurant upstairs so I was really excited to try it.

I made a reservation for 6:45 and arrived on time, only to be told my table was still sitting AT the table and that they were going to get up and leave in a few minutes. I waited for nearly half an hour before I was seated which I understand isn't fully in the restaurant's control so I tried to be cool about it. I wasn't really kept in the loop until probably the 25 minute mark which I found a little strange but I kept a positive attitude about the whole thing.

My sister arrived and was really put off because she had accidentally gone to the downstairs part of the restaurant and asked if I was there. The hostess was incredibly rude to her and didn't even look to see where I was, very matter-of-factly stating that "NO ONE is here with that name." She did not explain to my sister that the restaurant was upstairs nor did she try to be helpful, which was really disappointing to hear about.

Once we were seated our meal took off pretty well. We ordered a bunch of different things -- the salmon, the brussels sprouts, fried cauliflower (a special), nigiri and the hambagu. Everything was pretty tasty but the salmon was the best.

Our hambagu order took much longer than usual to come out because the runner mistakenly delivered it to the table next to us (which sat down around 20 minutes after we did). I guess they had ordered hambagu as well and obviously didn't know it was our order so they started eating it. We informed our server about this and then he had to put in for another order of the hambagu. The runner kept on delivering the wrong things to our table which we had to send to the table next to us.

The hambagu was FANTASTIC, topped with an over easy egg and one of the best dishes I've had in all of DC.

To make up for the order issues, the waiter gave us this strange sake ice cream which was not good. Probably just a personal preference but sake should never, ever become ice cream. I appreciated the gesture though.

I really liked the food here (especially the sprouts, hambagu and the salmon) but things weren't totally smooth from start to finish. I hope to come back and raise the star level of Daikaya since the interior is really cool and the food is high quality.

Only issue is that it can get a bit busy with a long wait list but that's completely understandable because the ramen is so good!

Tried the Shoyu ramen downstairs. Very excellent broth and noodles. Salt level is perfect. Not over seasoned, but clear umami flavors.

Such a variety of options and a really tasty noodle make for an excellent and speedy dining experience!

The food is absolutely worth the wait. Extremely flavorful and well made spicy ramen.

Good ramen, but the place is tiny, cramped, and not comfortable. You'll probably have to wait to be seated.

It probably earns the reputation of the best ramen in town, but it's not so much better to be worth the hassle in my opinion.

Downstairs ramen and upstairs fine Japanese dining are both fantastic experiences great food, service and atmosphere. As our server said, "I'm gonna take you on a culinary journey. . ."

Went to 2nd floor - very hip Japanese bar serving a range of drinks and tapas. Make sure to reserve as even with a reservation, we had to wait 15 mins.

Food was very food, but note that they are tiny one person portions so order a bit more. Loved the beef tongue, pasta, karrage chicken, scallop.