About DC Restaurant Openings
A guide to the newest places to eat and drink.
Mirai, 1850 K St, NW (The Square)
Kiyomi, the sushi counter known for its quick lunch omakase, closed its outpost inside Downtown DC food hall the Square earlier this fall, with plans to open in a standalone location next year. In its place is a new sushi counter called Mirai. If the name sounds familiar, that’s because it’s a revival of a Shaw spot from Sushi Capitol owner Can Yurdagul that was the first in DC to offer a 30-minute omakase back in 2017. Now, Yurdagul is planning to expand the sushi offerings and open a ramen and robata counter at the food hall in the new year. Meanwhile, Sushi Capitol, which closed in February, also aims to make a comeback in Capitol Hill in early 2026.
Mirai opened its 12-seat counter in October with the same lunchtime deal as Kiyomi: seven pieces of nigiri, a handroll, and miso soup for $40. A la carte nigiri and rolls are also available to eat throughout the food hall’s main dining area or for takeout. But when Mirai opens for dinner in the coming months, it will offer a more customized omakase. When diners book, they’ll be able to share their budget (starting at around $50) and their preferences and get a tailored experience.
“Omakase literally translates to ‘I leave it up to you.’ It’s not meant as a tasting menu format in which chef has pre-selected, pre-decided items that they serve to every single person,” Yurdagul says. “We’re really focusing on that relationship aspect of the omakase. So our prices will be flexible and our menu will change accordingly to that flexibility.”
The sushi spot, overseen by Sushi Capitol alums, will also move to another stall across from Taqueria Xochi where it will share kitchen space with the robata grill and ramen concepts. All will be under the Mirai umbrella, but have their own distinct menus and identities, with six seats for sushi and six for the robata and ramen.
When it comes to ramen, Yurdagul says his team will focus on a shoyu broth and hope to make their own noodles. For robata, affordable sets of grilled meats will be available during the day. In the evenings, customers will be able to get a more elevated tasting with everything from wagyu to organ meats. “I think robata is one of the most underrepresented genres within the Japanese cuisine, especially in DC area,” Yurdagul says.
As for Sushi Capitol, Yurdagul says he owns its building, and that he closed the restaurant earlier this year for some much-needed renovations. When it reopens, he plans to expand operations to the basement and upper floors. While exact plans are still in the works, Yurdagul imagines a casual izakaya with some sushi options on the first floor, sushi omakase upstairs, and an intimate cocktail den downstairs.
“It will have a cohesive feel to the whole building, but each floor will have its own little experience,” Yurdagul says.
It aims to open in the first quarter of 2026.
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.
