Photo by Rey Lopez

Ed. Note: This is the spot with the dope indoor moss garden we looked at last week. I got to see it in person and it is incredibly cool. And of equal import – the food was delicious too. This is gonna be another very popular spot.

From a press release:

“Celebrated Daikaya Group partners Yama Jewayni, Katsuya Fukushima, and Daisuke Utagawa are thrilled to announce the opening of their fifth restaurant in the District – Tonari (at 707 6th Street, NW; www.TonariDC.com; 202-289-8900) – meaning ‘next door’ or ‘neighbor’. Opening today – Friday, February 7th – at 5pm for dinner service, Tonari will serve as the first restaurant in Washington D.C. to showcase Japanese-style or ‘Wafu’ pasta and pizza located directly next to their flagship restaurant Daikaya in Chinatown. Lunch service, and a dessert tasting experience on the 2nd floor within Tonari is slated to launch in the coming weeks. Read More

2418 18th Street, NW

Back in July we reported that would be coming to the former #1 Juicy Cajun Seafood space. They suffered a devastating fire back in December 2017. But now Isshin Ramen looks ready to open any day now: Read More

1900 Q Street, NW

The liquor license placard says:

“Applicant requests to expand the Sidewalk Café seating capacity from 38 to 68.”

Rakuya opened here back in July 2016.

Check out their menus here.

15th and L Street, NW

Last week we learned that the fast casual Japanese restaurant Akedo, from one of the co-founders of a Japanese restaurant group, Zuma, was coming to the new Midtown Center building (the old Washington Post HQ.) Read More

Thanks to Catherine (and Craig) for sending:

“This is a fast casual Japanese spot opening up in Midtown Center (15th and L). We’ve heard it’s opening at the end of the year.” Read More

courtesy RAKUMI

Ed. Note: The owners of Kotobuki (upstairs) have taken over the former Makoto space at 4822 MacArthur Blvd, NW.

From an email:

“Finally we open the new restaurant “RAKUMI ” last week!! We are authentic Japanese Izakaya/sake house. Great selection of sake and Japanese beer. Serving Sukiyaki,Sha-bu sha-bu, yakitori, several noodles and small appetizers too.”

Check out their menus here.

4822 MacArthur Blvd, NW via Facebook

Thanks to a commenter for sharing in our initial post about all the restaurants that have closed in 2018. Makoto’s Facebook says:

“After almost 26 years, Sakedokoro Makoto will close on December 29th. Thank you for all the support and goodwill over the years. It has been an absolute honor serving our customers.”

Their website says: Read More

What does it all mean? Let me tell you what it all means. Nothing. It means nothing. In the wise words of Gorgias:

“Nothing exists; Even if something exists, nothing can be known about it; and Even if something can be known about it, knowledge about it can’t be communicated to others. Even if it can be communicated, it cannot be understood.”

Thanks to Will for sending:

“Starbucks Dupont south is closing on December 30th.”

What the hell – first one of the many Comfort One closes and now one of the many Starbucks is closing. Dark days in Dupont indeed.

Now hold on just a second – a liquor license application has just been applied for a Tokyo Pearl at 1301 Connecticut Avenue, NW: Read More

1901 Pennsylvania Ave, NW

Grant reported on Friday: “Toryumon Japanese House at 19th and Penn is getting delivery of rice and noodles right now.”

This is the long vacant subterranean space previously home to SOHO, Crossroads and Heritage India/Zanzibar. And it looks like they’ve opened on Sunday:

Check out their menu here.

“Toryumon Japanese House offers tasty Southeast Asian Cuisines. It’s trendy eatery offering creative sushi, Tokyo style Ramen Asian fushion meals!

Toryumon Japanese House serving everything on the menu is freshly prepared in-house with thoughtful attention to even the most subtle details. Read More