O-KU: THERE IS MORE THAN SUSHI AT THIS HIGH END DC JAPANESE RESTAURANT
The Cost - $52 per person
The Atmosphere – Located on two floors with counter seating and some tables on the first floor and a larger dining space on the second, O-Ku exudes coolness from the design to the music, the vibe and the clientele. It’s a great place to go for drinks or for dinner and fantastic option for dinner before a night out.
I was in DC and looking for a trendy spot to make a reservation at for a Friday night date night. That’s when I saw that O-Ku, a high end modern Japanese restaurant with locations throughout the Southeast U.S., had opened up an outpost in Washington DC’s NOMA neighborhood. Party of 2, 8pm. Check.
The Order - Peso for your Thoughts and a Lemonade to drink. Hawaiian Poke, Niku-Dango, Scallop Kun, Curry Noodles and the Surf & Turf Roll to eat.
The Fantastic - The Curry Noodles, udon noodles in a coconut curry with chiles and herbs, were full of flavor and spice and it was my favorite dish of the night. I didn’t add a protein to it and it didn’t need it, especially as an appetizer or side. The Niku-Dango were also amazing; the Asian style pork meatballs were a touch sweet and the soy and scallions gave them great flavor.
The Great - The lemonade, infused in-house with muddled cucumber, and the Peso for your Thoughts, a tequila based cocktail featuring liquid smoke and an egg white, were both very tasty. Though I don’t typically order sushi rolls with meat, I went for the Surf &Turf roll and I’m glad I did. The wagyu beef and shrimp tempura roll with tare sauce, avocado and cilantro aioli was fun and delicious despite having a little too much aioli. The Scallop Kun was a great appetizer and I was pleasantly surprised it came with 7 pieces of scallop. Served with baby peach, chili oil and yuzu juice, it was a great combination of sweet and spicy.
The Good - With great quality sashimi, Asian pear and the usual poke staples, the Hawaiian Poke was good but wasn’t better than your typical poke with fresh fish. I was a bit underwhelmed.
The Verdict - O-Ku serves up some good Japanese food at a fair price given the quality of their fish and meat and the chic interior makes it a great spot for date night. I recommend a visit.