DC has no shortage of Japanese restaurants but it is rare to see a Kappo-style tasting menu focusing on the famed Japanese wagyu beef. Kappo in the Palisades neighborhood, started by chef Minoru Ogawa in partnership with co-owner Ari Wilder, had long been on my list of new DC restaurants and it was only recently this month that my wife Jun and I finally got around to visiting. It was on a very cold Saturday after heavy snows during the weekdays. As we were led to the cozy dining space with chef Ogawa meticulously working behind the counter, I felt there was something special about this restaurant. Our dinner at Kappo indeed turned out to be a memorable one.

The eight-course menu at Kappo, at $150 per person, was a model of consistency and high level of execution throughout. An early highlight was probably one of the best chawanmushi dishes I had encountered, with wagyu and foie gras inside to produce awesome umami. Jun was also very complimentary of the lobster saikyo misoyaki, with lobster grilled more or less to perfection giving irresistibly rich flavor. A few of the fish dishes in the form of red snapper (accompanied by ponzu, salsify and kumquat) and then salmon were also of high quality.

After a palate cleanser of yuzu shiso lemon granita, we were served the highlight of the night. I had eaten some really outstanding wagyu beef dishes in my wife, but what Kappo brought in its steak dish was truly remarkable. The texture of the wagyu, which came with carrot and zucchini on the side, was just heavenly, melting in my mouth from impeccable marbling with no tough parts anywhere! My only regret is that the portion came a little smaller with around half a dozen cubes of the steak, which made each bite that much more precious. The last savory course was a soulful combination of rice dish and miso soup; I was particularly fond of the rich flavor from the soup with generous amount of beef inside. For dessert, we had red miso-caramel panna cotta and judging from how quickly Jun was eating it, it marked a delightful end to our meal.  

Kappo has both counter and table seatings, run twice a day on weekdays and three times a day on the weekends. If you are looking to grab prime time seatings on the weekends, advance planning for booking is highly recommended. Unfortunately, Jun had a dental procedure a few days before our visit so she wasn’t able to try any alcohol drinks (and being mindful of her predicament, I ordered just one cocktail and a glass of sake). She vowed that next time we visit, she would definitely want to try the sake pairing (currently available at $80 per person). Overall, the beverage program at Kappo looked quite thoughtful with an extensive list of sake and wine options. We really enjoyed our dinner at Kappo and whenever we need a fix for Japanese wagyu, this will certainly be the first place we will think of. For any meat lover, I highly encourage you to give it a try and experience the magic happening at the kitchen with possibly the most delicious wagyu beefs you have eaten in your lifetime.   

Address: 4822 MacArthur Blvd NW, Washington, DC 20007

KenScale: 8.25/10 (Jun’s Score: 8.25/10)

Website: https://kappodc.com/

Reservation via Tock