The most authentic eating experience you can get here in DC! Quality food with reasonable prices. We had the omakase and the fish, most notably the horse mackerel, blew our minds. Not only is it fresh, but the flavor is so nuanced and texture is perfect. Paired with fresh wasabi and the enjoyment of watching the crew behind the bar. The hand drawn specials menu adds another level of charm, too!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sam
Asking for BILLING INFO just to make a reservation is absurd. I’ve never heard of such a thing before and should not be normalized. Needless to say I won’t be checking this place out until that policy changes.
ChirpyFromLA
Warm and friendly Japanese home cooking. Small but curated menu. Steak rice is a standout. Pork belly and tofu Kushiyaki was also great.
William Schooley
Lucked out and was able to grab a quick bite in this hip little sushi joint. Was in town for a show and wanted a snack before the show. Wandered in on a weds night and it was pretty full. They were able to squeeze us in for a short seating which was perfect. Had the Toro, tofu and pork belly skewers, and nori(Wife had salmon and i had the plum) and everything was amazing. Will definitely be back and suggest you stop in if your in town. Its walking distance to 9:30 club, dont miss this tiny gem.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Miranda Rider
The greatest, most unique food in all of DC in a delightful building with super helpful staff! It was all so good, I forgot to take pics before it was all gone. The yuzu sake + shochu cocktail absolutely rocked. While the portions are delicate, the variety and ability to share a bunch of delicious items was delightful. The sea grapes, ankimo, eel, and mushrooms were my fave.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sam Fitz
In a city drowning in over-rated celebrity chef haunts and restaurant group new openings, this place is it! Ignore the noise. Bring your taste buds and be ready for maximum enjoyment. It’s perfect!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alex A
Great Japanese neighborhood spot. Good sushi but think of the cuisine as a Japanese neighborhood bar rather than a sushi restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Eric Noriega
It's a great experience. If you love japanese food, this is the place to go for sushi, sashimi ,and various japanese dishes. It's very driven by ingredients and what's available. The downstairs definitely has that izakaya feel. The upstairs is more of a table restaurant experience. It doesn't need to be expensive, but it won't be cheap. Totally worth it.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Christopher Ewell
We had a phenomenal and very interesting dinner here! Highly recommend. And the service was very lovely. Our waitress had lots of great recommendations. Loved the variety of sake as well!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Benjamin Allen
Tucked away on V Street, Izakaya Seki doesn’t announce itself with flash or fanfare. It doesn’t need to. You walk in, and you’re hit with that warm, lived-in intimacy that says: this place is here for the people who care. No gimmicks, no forced fusion bullshit. Just a father and daughter running a kitchen that respects tradition while refusing to fossilize it.
The food is precise, unpretentious, and deeply satisfying in the way only Japanese drinking food can be. Grilled mackerel, still smoky from the binchōtan, crisp on the outside and bleeding with rich, oily flavor inside—it demands sake, not polite conversation. The sashimi is cut with the confidence of someone who knows their knife is an extension of their hand. Even something as simple as the fried chicken feels elevated without ever losing that essential, greasy joy.
It’s the kind of place you come to be. To drink, to laugh too loud, to eat food that makes you feel like the world outside can wait. In a city obsessed with shiny new openings and over-conceptualized menus, Izakaya Seki doesn’t bother trying to impress. It doesn’t have to. It’s comfortable in its skin, and if you’re smart, you’ll slide into that comfort too.
Izakaya Seki isn’t just a restaurant. It’s proof that hospitality doesn’t have to be loud to be profound. It’s a room full of good smells, clean flavors, and the kind of honesty that’s increasingly rare. A reminder that sometimes the best nights are the ones that feel a little like coming home.
Would you like me to punch it up with some sharper Bourdain-style bite—more grit, more critique of DC’s food scene—or keep this balance of warmth and edge?
Delicious Japanese spot, highly recommend the cod and the pork cheek skewers
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Donte Harris
I’ve frequently come for the evening wine bar experience, and while the majority of the staff is wonderful, there is one person in particular who makes the experience dreadful. Dismissive, rude, and unwelcoming. I was celebrating with my partner for our anniversary and came with a few friends. My reception from the start truly made me feel unwanted as a guest. I see from other reviews this is not an isolated experience.
The pork cutlet sandwich we received was also undercooked.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Meredith Adams
There are so many great restaurants out there but Izakaya Seki truly stands out! The service is timely and helpful. The food is delicious. This is one of my boyfriend’s favorite Japanese restaurants around town. And he’s been to Japan twice. Highly recommend the squid, the chicken meatballs, and the udon but you really can’t go wrong with anything they’re whipping up. Definitely recommend making a reservation.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
AO D
Underwhelming and overrated.. and that’s all I have to say about this place, after just getting back from Japan..
The most authentic eating experience you can get here in DC! Quality food with reasonable prices. We had the omakase and the fish, most notably the horse mackerel, blew our minds. Not only is it fresh, but the flavor is so nuanced and texture is perfect. Paired with fresh wasabi and the enjoyment of watching the crew behind the bar. The hand drawn specials menu adds another level of charm, too!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Asking for BILLING INFO just to make a reservation is absurd. I’ve never heard of such a thing before and should not be normalized. Needless to say I won’t be checking this place out until that policy changes.
Warm and friendly Japanese home cooking. Small but curated menu. Steak rice is a standout. Pork belly and tofu Kushiyaki was also great.
Lucked out and was able to grab a quick bite in this hip little sushi joint. Was in town for a show and wanted a snack before the show. Wandered in on a weds night and it was pretty full. They were able to squeeze us in for a short seating which was perfect. Had the Toro, tofu and pork belly skewers, and nori(Wife had salmon and i had the plum) and everything was amazing. Will definitely be back and suggest you stop in if your in town. Its walking distance to 9:30 club, dont miss this tiny gem.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The greatest, most unique food in all of DC in a delightful building with super helpful staff! It was all so good, I forgot to take pics before it was all gone. The yuzu sake + shochu cocktail absolutely rocked. While the portions are delicate, the variety and ability to share a bunch of delicious items was delightful. The sea grapes, ankimo, eel, and mushrooms were my fave.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
In a city drowning in over-rated celebrity chef haunts and restaurant group new openings, this place is it! Ignore the noise. Bring your taste buds and be ready for maximum enjoyment. It’s perfect!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great Japanese neighborhood spot. Good sushi but think of the cuisine as a Japanese neighborhood bar rather than a sushi restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
It's a great experience. If you love japanese food, this is the place to go for sushi, sashimi ,and various japanese dishes. It's very driven by ingredients and what's available. The downstairs definitely has that izakaya feel. The upstairs is more of a table restaurant experience. It doesn't need to be expensive, but it won't be cheap. Totally worth it.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had a phenomenal and very interesting dinner here! Highly recommend. And the service was very lovely. Our waitress had lots of great recommendations. Loved the variety of sake as well!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tucked away on V Street, Izakaya Seki doesn’t announce itself with flash or fanfare. It doesn’t need to. You walk in, and you’re hit with that warm, lived-in intimacy that says: this place is here for the people who care. No gimmicks, no forced fusion bullshit. Just a father and daughter running a kitchen that respects tradition while refusing to fossilize it.
The food is precise, unpretentious, and deeply satisfying in the way only Japanese drinking food can be. Grilled mackerel, still smoky from the binchōtan, crisp on the outside and bleeding with rich, oily flavor inside—it demands sake, not polite conversation. The sashimi is cut with the confidence of someone who knows their knife is an extension of their hand. Even something as simple as the fried chicken feels elevated without ever losing that essential, greasy joy.
It’s the kind of place you come to be. To drink, to laugh too loud, to eat food that makes you feel like the world outside can wait. In a city obsessed with shiny new openings and over-conceptualized menus, Izakaya Seki doesn’t bother trying to impress. It doesn’t have to. It’s comfortable in its skin, and if you’re smart, you’ll slide into that comfort too.
Izakaya Seki isn’t just a restaurant. It’s proof that hospitality doesn’t have to be loud to be profound. It’s a room full of good smells, clean flavors, and the kind of honesty that’s increasingly rare. A reminder that sometimes the best nights are the ones that feel a little like coming home.
Would you like me to punch it up with some sharper Bourdain-style bite—more grit, more critique of DC’s food scene—or keep this balance of warmth and edge?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Delicious Japanese spot, highly recommend the cod and the pork cheek skewers
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I’ve frequently come for the evening wine bar experience, and while the majority of the staff is wonderful, there is one person in particular who makes the experience dreadful. Dismissive, rude, and unwelcoming. I was celebrating with my partner for our anniversary and came with a few friends. My reception from the start truly made me feel unwanted as a guest. I see from other reviews this is not an isolated experience.
The pork cutlet sandwich we received was also undercooked.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
There are so many great restaurants out there but Izakaya Seki truly stands out! The service is timely and helpful. The food is delicious. This is one of my boyfriend’s favorite Japanese restaurants around town. And he’s been to Japan twice. Highly recommend the squid, the chicken meatballs, and the udon but you really can’t go wrong with anything they’re whipping up. Definitely recommend making a reservation.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Underwhelming and overrated.. and that’s all I have to say about this place, after just getting back from Japan..
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
My favorite dish was whole grilled squid
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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