Washington DC｜Love, Makoto 🍣🍢

On our last day, we stopped by this Japanese spot near the hotel—perfect for a hot day craving something fresh and light! 🌞🍱 The restaurant layout is super complex—divided into four sections: • Sushi counter (hand-pressed nigiri) • Yakiniku (grill-your-own meat) • Izakaya (casual dining & drinks) • Takeaway counter (budget-friendly) The deeper you go inside, the more affordable it gets—catering to all kinds of diners! 🚪➡️💰 We’d just had omakase and BBQ in New York, so we headed straight to the izakaya section. Most reviews online focus on the first two areas—looks like we were the first to try (and unfortunately, stumble) in this zone. 😅 🍱 Sushi Boat (for two): Everything came in pairs except the California roll and tamago. King salmon was decent—fatty and fragrant. The “bluefin” akami didn’t stand out. Scallop and squid had a slight off-taste and lacked freshness (come on, even if it’s frozen, thaw it properly! 😤). Two giant veggie rolls on the side—the daikon wrap was stuck to dry ice and had to be peeled off… disappointing. The rest felt like average buffet-level sushi—not terrible, but poor value for the price. 🥔 Potato Salad: Pretty good! Soft-boiled egg, crunchy bits, and well-balanced flavors—just a small portion. 🍜 Ramen: The best dish! Less pre-made vibe, and despite being called “miso ramen,” the shoyu flavor stood out—great for the price. 🍢 Yakitori: Fresh from a top-tier yakitori spot in NYC, Dad said he couldn’t tell how much better grilled chicken could get—so we ordered one skewer to compare. Of course it’s unfair to compare, but the chicken thigh was overcooked and dry—like chewing chicken breast. 🐔💔 A 20% service fee was automatically included in the bill—no heads-up until after paying. Not even a note like some other places give… left us feeling annoyed. 💸😠 Wish we’d gone straight to the takeaway counter for curry rice or noodles—probably would’ve left much happier! Have you been to Love, Makoto? Which section did you try—sushi, grill, or izakaya? Share your experience below! 👇🍙 #WashingtonDC #DCJapaneseFood #SushiBoat #IzakayaVibes #DMVEats #RestaurantReview #HitOrMiss #FoodDiary #DCDining