Toki Underground
1234 H St., NE
Washington, DC 20002
202-388-3086
Neighborhood: H Street NE, Capitol Hill, Northeast
Cuisines: Japanese
Opening Hours:
Sunday through Wednesday 5 to midnight (bar closes at 2 AM), Thursday through Saturday 5 PM to 3 AM (kitchen and bar).
Price Range: Inexpensive
Dress: Informal
Noise Level: Chatty
Reservations: Not Needed
Website: http://tokiunderground.com/#/
Best Dishes:
Classic and miso ramen; pork dumplings; beef dumplings; passionfruit gelato; Pizzicato Five cocktail.
Price Details:
Dumplings $5 for six, ramen $10, desserts $7.
Chef/owner Erik Bruner-Yang may not adhere to tradition—witness the Toki Monster, a bourbon cocktail garnished with a skewer of grilled pork belly—but his punky edge doesn’t diminish the perfectionism that keeps devotees lined up at his ramen house. Diners sit shoulder to shoulder slurping soups in which hunks of Virginia-raised pork bob alongside red pickled ginger and slow-poached eggs. Sides, specials, and desserts live up to Toki’s hype—come very early or prepare for hour-plus waits. If the line is long, grab a beer at the Pug below. Toki texts when seats are ready, and unfinished drinks are welcome upstairs. Don’t miss: Pork-fat noodles; Toki Classic ramen; pan-fried chicken dumplings; Taiwanese-style cold tofu; chocolate-chip cookies with red-miso buttercream. Open: Monday through Saturday for dinner. Inexpensive.
