Shinwa Izakaya — Restaurant in Washington

[I hope the owner or manager see this] I live in the area and have passed by this place many times, always wanting to try it. So, I finally did it last week. Super excited! We ordered the spicy tuna roll, fried oysters, and spicy Tonkatsu ramen.

First off, I rarely leave negative reviews, but I feel the need to warn people who might have certain expectations. This isn’t an authentic Japanese restaurant. It’s more of an American-Japanese fusion spot. And I prob won’t go back again. Here’s why:

I ordered spicy ramen, but they served me the original version. When I told them I ordered the spicy one and asked if they could make it spicy, I expected them to take it back to the kitchen. Instead, they just handed me a chili paste. I did mentioned that they could either bring it back or give me a sauce dish, but they didn’t even try to make any effort brining it back to the kitchen. This is the first I experienced this at a Japanese restaurant. I still wanted to give a chance, so I tasted the sauce, but it didn’t resemble Japanese spicy sauce at all. It was more like Chinese garlic chili sauce. I poured ALL of it into the soup, but still wasn’t even mildly spicy, so I asked for more. This time, they gave me a different sauce, which tasted more like Vietnamese Sriracha. I didn’t think it’d taste good so I just left the sauce untouched.

Also, the soup wasn’t hot (temperature hot). I had to ask them to “microwave” it, which they did, and I genuinely appreciated that.

The fried oysters were probably the best dish out of the three, but overall, I don’t think the quality justifies the price. I’m disappointed, and I hope the restaurant takes this feedback seriously and improves the menu because, honestly, the local community could be their most valuable customers as we would keep coming back.

After this experience, I’m not sure if I’d return or recommend it to anyone unless they make some...

A Rare Gem of Hospitality & Culinary Excellence – Shinwa Izakaya DC

Warm hospitality is hard to come by these days, but at Shinwa Izakaya DC, it shines effortlessly. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with genuine smiles, attentiveness, and a level of service that felt both personal and professional. This kind of welcoming environment is something you don’t easily find, especially in the hustle of the DMV dining scene.

The food, as always, was nothing short of exceptional — artfully presented, rich in flavor, and a true testament to the kitchen’s craftsmanship. In our opinion, it surpasses many of the Japanese dining experiences we've had in the region. This time around, we noticed a few new faces on the floor, and to our delight, the energy among the staff was positive, polished, and refreshingly polite.

A special note of appreciation goes to the new General Manager, Mr. M. His presence is unmistakable — tall, poised, and clearly passionate about his work. It’s rare to see someone so actively engaged with both the staff and the guests, ensuring everything runs seamlessly. His leadership was felt throughout the evening, and it’s clear he truly cares about the experience of every diner who walks through the door.

To top it off, the recently revamped beverage menu was a wonderful surprise — thoughtfully curated and a perfect complement to the menu. Overall, we continue to love Shinwa Izakaya and look forward to many more meals here. It's a standout destination, and we’re proud to keep supporting this fantastic...

This restaurant is fairly new, it just opened in the City Ridge complex located on Wisconsin Ave in NW DC. I made reservations for a friend's birthday dinner. When we arrived, the staff greeted us and showed us to our table.

We were surprised at how narrow the chairs were. Although attractive and stylish, we did not find them comfortable initially. The atmosphere and decorations were standard Asian flair, paper ball lanterns covering light bulbs and design painted walls. (koy fish and characters)

Our server welcomed us and asked if we were celebrating any special occasions and we told her about the birthday. She congratulated my friend and wished her a happy birthday and started explaining the menu, drink and food specials.

We ordered appetizers (cubed fried rice with spicy tuna (tasty), pork belly skewers (tasty), sushi, and for our main course we each ordered Ramen. The ramen broth was delicious. All in all, the food was tasty and delicious. I think as this restaurant matures, the food will get even better.

We will definitely go back to eat here again. The food was fresh and the restaurant was clean. Some of the flatware was a bit clunky, but pretty nonetheless. (Specifically the ramen spoons)

All in all a nice experience and an...