Daikaya Reviews

I absolutely love Daikaya. It was my favorite Ramen outside of Japan until recently. The wait is always long, but it s always worth it. Go get a drink over at Bar Deco while you wait!

Great place for ramen in the center of D.C.
The base of their ramen is always the same as far as I could understand the menu, which looks a bit odd on first sight. They offer different variations of the base and a couple of additional toppings to choose from. The spicy one was the right level of spicy for me (I consider Tabasco as a comfortable level of hotness).
There is a lot of vegetables in the soup, I really liked that.
Service was fast and convenient and wait for our table was not too bad since there are a couple of Sportstars close by.

My favorite ramen shop in DC, and totally worth the wait (can be up to 1.5 hours).

The pork broth has a ton of flavor and the pork belly is one of the best I ve had. Order the gyoza which is made in house, and use the dip that is accompanied by it!

If you get there early you can go upstairs to the separate Izakaya restaurant and order alcohol which can be brought to you downstairs by a waiter/bartender. The food upstairs is tapa style Japanese food and the times that I have ate there it pretty great, just don t think that you will be filled up so easily - got to order many dishes so don t go too hungry.

Daikaya is a must go to ramen spot! The wait is well worth it.

Great friendly staff! Tried the spicy miso ramen it was very good, not that spicy and good flavor.

Decent place, fusion restaurant. Prices are good for quality of food.

Good snacks and drinks - wish there were more veg options. Our server was rude and service was rather slow.

I would highly recommend this place if you want to try something different. They do have small serving size but if you want ramen its downstairs. Their food tastes amazing

Love the spicy ramen big enough for 2 meals at a great price

The egg is perfect, noodle is good, the broth is average but passable, but the chashu is tough and chewy.

It looks like they use Nishiyama noodles. was delicious

Taste good, but certainly not the best I've had in the state, and not authentic either compared to the ones in Japan. A little too pricey for just a bowl of ramen, especially considering the tight-space environment and the long wait. Good thing is the service is prompt and pleasant.

Best ramen ever! Had planned to take out but decided to eat in.

Awesome and delicious tapas style Japanese and a few Asian dishes! We ordered 4 different chicken skewers which were all so delish and 10 other dishes...each one rocked...except the Grilled Oysters. Then we went downstairs and shared a spicy miso ramen. Equally as awesome! Service was beyond great! Wait times were horrendous...

Usually I dont like Ramen too Salty but Daikaya has basic broth soup that I can mix with my Ramen soup. This makes Daikaya Ramen So good for me. Very good

Good. Long wait and the ramen had a slight burnt taste.

Meh. It's was okay I guess. I may be a little hard to please since I've had ramen from it's home country of Japan. Some might even call me a ramen conniseur. Either way, if you're too uncultured to visit the birthplace of ramen give this place a try. Perfect for those who prefer things Americanized. Yah feel?...just go try it

It's usually busy, and there's almost always a wait. Food is very good. Noodles are delicious. Broth is savory. Total yumminess!

Authentic ramen, same as what I had in Japan. And a lot of variety to choose from

This place is in demand - but worth the wait. The ramen is delicious - I've also tried Izakaya during restaurant week - and I can't recommend it enough. The food and atmosphere is fantastic!

Ordered the spicy miso, and it was delicious!
There's often a wait, but they'll send you a text when it's your turn, so you don't have to stand in line.

I would definitely recommend making this part of any trip to DC!

I usually don't get ramen often but when visiting D.C. I really wanted to try some. My friend and I stumbled upon this place and it was so cool! We sat at the bar and you could watch them cook and make your ramen. The ramen was also so good! I usually don't like it when ramen bowls come with bean sprouts because the places I've been pile it on but the ramen to sprout ratio was perfect. If I was in D.C. again I would definitely come back for more!

I visit this spot a lot since I work in the area. I love how their customer service is always good and they keep the place well kept consistently. Pricing is affordable and they serve generous portions.

Spicy miso ramen was fantastic. Delicious food and lively environment, but...

Staff made dinner a bit awkward. Our party was only there for 30 minutes when the staff (especially the hostess) started hovering and trying to take away our only half-eaten bowls. We're going to respect your time limit, but at least let us enjoy the ramen.

The ramen was AMAZING!! My friends and I had the best server Lucas!! It's definitely one of my favorite spots!!

Amazing ramen, I usually go for the spicey miso but they have a soup to accommodate yr every mood and hunger level. Occasionally they have some pork belly in which is to die for. Upstairs is the "Itzakaya" where small plates are served at well as craft beer, wine, and Japanese beverages like sake, Japanese whiskey, and shochu (which is an incredible beverage). Be prepared to wait tho: my shortest wait ever was about half an hour for a two top, in the middle of winter that can stretch to an hour and a half. BUT you can wait upstairs at the bar and have an aperitif, so it's not so bad.

The BEST ramen I've ever had! This is my second time eating here and it was perfect both times. Very flavorful and top quality food. Everything was cooked perfectly. Obviously, quality and taste are most important (and this place is too notch)... But also, the amount of food is quite large as well (if your really hungry). They put more pork in their bowls than any place I've been (and that's s good thing). I love this place and will def stop in again the next time we are in DC.

We had our first visit to Izakaya this past weekend after watching a show at the Kennedy Center, and the food and ambiance was great. We ordered several of the smaller dishes as well as the whole fried fish (porgy), and all but one was great. The portions were similar to what you would get in a Tapas restaurant, which gave us the opportunity to try a variety of different selections. Our waitress made great recommendations and knew the menu very well. The Sake bombs were also a nice treat to enjoy with our meal. Will definitely be going back again when we visit DC again.

Second time eating here, and have loved it both visits. Spicy miso with soft boiled egg and pork belly for lunch today. My first visit was 3pm and it was easy to get a seat. Today I was there in a lunch rush. They were packed, but I was still able to get a seat at one of the communal tables within a couple minutes.

Good service, big portion but it doesn't taste anything like Ramen supposed to.

This place calls themselves a Japanese tavern. They serve Japanese tapas. I'm not a fan of tapas or the tapas experience but this place had excellent food.

Very cool atmosphere, delicious ramen, quick and friendly service.

Food is very underwhelming. However music was very good!! A+

Good ramen place! Got the Shoyu ramen and gyoza. Broth was very tasty and noodles were chewy. I didn t wait long for a table and my food came out very quickly.

My first time trying Ramen, other than the packages in College. Excellent! Great seasonings and hearty portions!

I believe the waitstaff to be extremely pretentious. A limited menu was fine but I asked for one particular accommodation and I was looked at like I was some sort of space alien. Everything was an upcharge. I overheard the waitsaff ill mouthing customers while still in attendance. This is not the in spot for ramen.

Great ramen, including a vegetarian/vegan option which can be hard to find. Noodles are legit Ava what set this restaurant apart, along when a nice vibe and fun music. Personally, I always request a spice bomb as I like a lot of flavor but each their own.

Daikaya Ramen Shop is super popular and there is always a line outside the restaurant. We finally got a chance to try until our 4th visit.

The ambiance was causal, lively and not like a traditional ramen spot which is run by Japanese. The staff was friendly, attentive and served everything quickly.

The options on the menu was limited for soup broth and sides. The ramen was decent with reasonable price and portion but not surprisingly great. We were kind of disappointed due to the high expectation and long wait.

Great food and service... just need to time when you would like to eat as there is no reservations.

Why haven't you visited yet? Best vegan ramen in the city, hands down.

Excellent!!!!! Delicious Ramen if you are in Washington you can not stop visiting it.

Delicious ramen on ground level and a grwat selection of alcohol on the second level. Its a taste of Japan

I think this is my favorite ramen place in DC. Come early! And expect a wait. But it's so worth it! I got the spicy miso and oh man, it's so delicious.

As authentic a ramen spot you can get in DC. Tastes are more flavorful at Toki Underground but one can let that go. The experience here is unparalleled, with the incredibly fast and friendly service, to the water pitchers (just like Japan). The spicy ramen has a nice kick and a delicious broth. Come here for a delicious and inexpensive ramen bowl.

Delicious Ramen soup. Very small and noisy but clean design. When my friend ordered sake she was given the $15 sake without being asked if she wanted the house version at half that price. Pricey.

My husband and I were in the DC area for two short days and one place we were absolutely dying to dine at was Daikaya. When we called to inquire about a reservation Friday night, Amy, the hostess, informed us that they were booked and no tables were available until after 10pm. Amy offered to put us on the wait-list, but we did not have high hopes.

Well, about 1 hour later we received a text that a table was available! And what an incredible experience we had! First, Amy was absolutely fabulous. She was wonderful to talk to over the phone, was very patient, answered all of our questions even though the restaurant was busy. When we arrived, she greeted us warmly and showed us to our table which was booth (I LOVE booths!). Honestly, the night goes to Amy. She coordinated everything for us: from the perfect table, to our waiter Mike. Amy set the tone for a fantastic evening.

Our amazing experience continued! Mike was our waiter and he was truly wonderful! He was extremely knowledgable about the menu and sake, which my husband and I were both interested in trying. Mike delivered outstanding customer service too and ensured we were happy. He even did his very best to find the right sake for me! The hospitality industry can be very challenging, but Mike made it look easy. He was very attentive, professional, timely, and personable. We seriously could not have asked for a better waiter and guide for all things sake!

Last but not least, we spoke to Nick, the General Manager, about the outstanding time we had at Daikaya. Incredible service is important to us, and the entire team at Daikaya delivered exceptional service. The food was prompt, fresh, and delicious. We cannot wait to visit again and tell all of our friends about this fantastic establishment!

Thank you Amy, Mike, and Nick!

Ramen soup based is a bit salty for my taste. But the soft boiled egg is superb here!

Great bar and amazing food. Try the tongue and whatever the drink special is. Service is spot on, and the bartenders have your best interests at heart.

This review relates to 2F, Izakaya. Tapas like plates of savory dishes. I recommend the crispy whole fish. Excellent sake of course! We did not have any of the desserts. It can get pricey. I recommend the chef consider a prike fixe menu which helps a new customer sample their wares.

On my quest to find the taste of authentic ramen from my childhood in Japan I think I've found the place that has come the closest. Daikaya has brought the unique taste of Sapporo Miso ramen to DC and it is absolutely amazing. Next I'll have to try the Izakaya!

Interestingly nobody tells you there are two completely different restaurants on two different floors. We entered the downstairs, which is a ramen restaurant, more like a fast food place. Waiter seated us to the stools. There were available common table. We wanted to sit there, but waiter didn't allow us because "they try to distribute the customers". What a stupid answer. 5 minutes later another couple sat there. Very rude. Then we went to upstairs, much better environment and waiters. Food was good. I normally don't care about the service, but I don't think I will go back to ramen shop.

Mmm - good spicy miso ramen! The place was packed when I went, so prepare to wait 15-20 during peak hours. Don t expect too much comfort, the tables are quite low and the aim is clearly to turn-and-burn tables (there s a sign letting you know you have a 45 minute maximum). But if you re in for a quick bite, this is a nice place!

Best ramen I have ever had. Staff was friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend eating here :)

Noodles were fine. I had the spicy miso and it was right amount of hot for me.
Service was prompt. There can be a bit of a wait. Otherwise nothing remarkable about this place. Come here if you're nearby but don't go out of your way.

Good food. Great atmosphere. Mary was great but one guy was a bit standoffish.

I've tried Ramen in several places (mostly in Boston) - this is the best Ramen I've ever had! The add-on veggies were delicious, as was their sake.

This place can be a little confusing. The first floor is the place that serves the ramen and does not take reservations. Meanwhile, the 2nd floor is where you can make reservations, but strangely doesn't serve ramen (I still don't really understand this part since it seems to be run by the same people). You want to come here for the ramen, however you end up waiting for so long for a space to open on the cramped first floor, while you look above and there are so many open seats. The ramen was good, but I would question if it was really worth the wait.

Tasty food, carefully done; brunch portions were appropriate; friendly staff.

Ramen was great but i couldn't get satisfaction from izakaya food.

Great food, long wait but worth it! Wish they did take out

Authentic Japanese cuisine with an American spin. The miso was excellent. The place was packed, so very popular.

IZAKAYA- Upstairs is Japanese small plates, entirely separate entrance, separate menu from Daikaya Ramen, so I'm not sure why Google has just one listing. Izakaya is such a gem. Nice atmosphere, good service, great food. Good drinks selection, beer and sake, also wine, cocktails. I'd list what I liked but we had at least 10 dishes and liked everything. Food comes quickly so you can be in and out fast if you want, but they don't rush you. Reservations available through Opentable.

Without question one of the best ramen places in the United States and worth the frequent waits. Noodles are flown in from Japan fresh, and Daikaya has to maintain the standards of one of Japan's legendary ramen makers with twice annual inspection. True to the Japanese ethic of simplicity and focus, ramen is what they do here, full stop. A few good sakes and a side of perfect made to order pan seared dumplings are as far afield as you can stray.

My recommended order: spicy miso, extra noodles, nori, wakame, butter.

Upstairs is the refined and aesthetically engaging Izakaya, where Japanese tavern style small plates are mixed with a world class cocktail program.

Great small plate dinner. Service is quick and enjoyable.

Great food! The plates for sharing are kind of small, depending on how hungry you are, you can have one by yourself.

Took the family there, probably a 20 minute wait. The Shio and Shoyu ramen were worth the wait. We had a very friendly waiter. Would definitely go back there next time we're in D.C.!

Not enough seating, and not a lot of options. But what they do have is pretty good.

This d THE Raman place in DC. It was AMAZING. Crowded, and a LOT of people were waiting but I got lucky since I was solo. They had an option on the menu to buy a six pack for the kitchen crew for $10 and that seemed like a fun thing to do. I had a really good meal and a really nice time.

Didn't get a chance to try the food. There was a serious lack of friendliness from the welcoming staff... We left after 2 minutes

I was blown away by the level of customer service along with how friendly all of the staff were. I was expecting the ramen to be stellar which it was but all the staff were top notch. They text you when you re reservation is ready which makes it easy to pop upstairs to their other restaurant and grab a cocktail from some real bartenders who know what they are doing. The ramen is amazing and very traditional with just variances in the type of base you can order. Great experience overall!

Freaking delicious. Beat order: spicy miso ramen with egg, corn, and butter on the side!