By now, we all know the District is a culinary hotspot, so it's not exactly a surprise when local restaurants make it onto best of lists. The latest? Review giant Yelp just released its list of the Best New Restaurants of 2024, and two Washington, D.C. restaurants are included.
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Kappo DC and Love, Makoto made it into the top 25 on Yelp's list. To come up with the list, Yelp analyzed its own users' reviews of restaurants that opened after January 1, 2023 by examining metrics such as total volume of reviews and positive ratings in those reviews. The dataset looked at reviews from January 1, 2023 to September 1, 2024.
Some notable trends emerged: approachable, relaxed environments reigned, as did Japanese cuisine (six of the top 25 restaurants, which include the two D.C. spots, serve Japanese food). Keep reading for a closer look at the two D.C. picks.
The two Washington, D.C. restaurants on Yelp's Top 25 Best New Restaurants of 2024
#18: Kappo DC
A Michelin Guide selection, Kappo DC snagged the 18th spot on Yelp's list. This Japanese restaurant from Chef Minoru Ogawa operates in the casual Kappo style, which means "to cut and to cook;" multi-course meals are created by the chef right in front of the diners. The menu utilizes plenty of rich and luxe A5 Miyazakigyu beef, and the intimate Palisades dining room only has 21 seats.
One Yelp review cited in the list had this to say: "Once-in-a-lifetime omakase experience centered on Wagyu. Kappo immediately transports you to an intimate, luxurious Kyoto-like restaurant with front-row seats. We had so much fun interacting with the staff and enjoying the incredible flavors of the food and drink. Add Kappo to your destinations list, your celebration list, and your rotation if you can.”
#22: Love, Makoto
Love, Makoto is an essential stop for all lovers of Japanese food in the District, and it secured the 22nd spot on Yelp's list. This multi-restaurant space from celebrity chef Makoto Okuwa is an immersive taste of Japan. The complex include four discrete restaurants: Dear Sushi, the omakase experience on-site that's another Michelin Guide pick; fast-casual Love on the Run, which serves boba and mochi donuts; cocktail spot Hiya Izakaya!; and Beloved BBQ, which is known for its premium beef cuts and biscuits with miso honey butter.
Check out one Yelp user's review of Love, Makoto: "“We celebrated Valentine’s Day at Dear Sushi in Love, Makoto, and it was absolutely unforgettable! We had the sushi omakase, and every single dish was a work of art. The flavors were perfectly balanced, and the freshness of the fish was outstanding. The attention to detail was exquisite—from the way the sushi was prepared to how it was presented, everything felt so thoughtful and intentional.”
Curious about which other restaurants Yelp users loved? Take a look at the top 25 new restaurants on Yelp's list here and below.
Yelp's 25 Best New Restaurants of 2024:
1. Mēdüzā Mediterrania, New York, New York
2. Noko Nashville, Nashville, Tennesee
3. Meesh Meesh, Louisville, Kentucky
4. Kinme Omakase, San Diego, California
5. Burnin’ Shell, Los Angeles, California
6. Wicked Butcher, Dallas, Texas
7. Course Restaurant, Scottsdale, Arizona
8. Boujie Mana, San Diego, California
9. Paseo, Anaheim, California
10. Little’s Oyster Bar, Houston, Texas
11. Kawa Ni, Denver, Colorado
12. Gannons Nashville, Nashville, Tennessee
13. Rustica Earth Sea and Fire, St. Augustine, Florida
14. El Cielo, Honolulu, Hawaii
15. Nami, Orlando, Florida
16. The Evie, Chicago, Illinois
17. Katami, Houston, Texas
18. Kappo DC, Washington, D.C.
19. Sartiano’s, New York, New York
20. Casa Pollastro, Dallas, Texas
21. Carbonara, Arlington, Virginia
22. Love, Makoto, Washington, D.C.
23. Wolf by Vanderpump at Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada
24. Percy, Boise, Idaho
25. Catalina Kitchen + Bar, Charlotte, North Carolina