About DC Restaurant Openings
A guide to the newest places to eat and drink.
It used be that if you wanted to eat at a Korean barbecue restaurant, you had to head to the suburbs. But that’s changed over the last six years with places like Gogi Yogi in Shaw and Iron Age in Columbia Heights. Now, one of the region’s very best tabletop grill restaurants, Ingle Korean Steakhouse, has expanded from Tysons to 14th Street.
Since opening in 2022, Ingle Korean Steak has become a standout on the Korean barbecue scene for its higher-end vibe. Cuts of American wagyu are presented in shrouds of dry ice, and the dining room has a clean, modern look with marble tabletops and walnut accents. Expect a similar experience at the new location in the former Nama Ko space (1926 14th St., NW). The restaurant opened with a limited menu this week and will expand its offering after a grand opening in mid-December.
Owner James Jang, who previously ran Japanese rice bowl restaurant Donburi, says the DC version of Ingle will focus on prix-fixe menus, continuing to source high-quality cuts from specialty American wagyu farms. The Virginia menu, overseen by chef Jae Youn, currently includes appetizers such as ice-chilled oysters, cod roe garlic toast, and Korean-style steak tartare. There’s also beef fried rice, spicy seafood noodle soup, and other other soups and stews. Going forward in DC, Jang and Youn plan to add more small plates showcasing the beef as well as bar menu items, such as a Korean-style charcuterie board (think dried persimmons and cured fish roe). They’ll also be adding more desserts with Korean ingredients like black sesame and jochung, a rice and barley malt syrup
The new restaurant will focus more heavily on the bar with a more extensive wine list. In DC, they’re able to import a wider range of Korean spirits that they can’t get through Virginia’s government-run alcohol distribution system. The place has a similar modern aesthetic but with a slightly darker, moodier vibe with lots of Korean artwork.
This story has been updated from a previous version published in October 2024.
Jessica Sidman covers the people and trends behind DC’s food and drink scene. Before joining Washingtonian in July 2016, she was Food Editor and Young & Hungry columnist at Washington City Paper. She is a Colorado native and University of Pennsylvania grad.
