Himitsu
A no-reservation D.C. spot that isn’t afraid of a little fermented spinach powder.
GO HERE: for an imaginative Japanese-inspired meal that isn’t preoccupied with tradition. Yes, there’s a solid selection of nigiri and sashimi for those who want to play it safe, but we recommend heading for more unfamiliar territory—like uni paired with Alabama white sauce.
ORDER THE: dishes that are denoted with emojis on the menu—those are co-owners Carlie Steiner and Kevin Tien’s current favorites. If the fried, shell-on shrimp are available, they’re the perfect salty-crispy snack to start off dinner.
THE VIBE IS: friendly with just the right amount of quirk. Cocktails have almost-corny names like “Finding Nori,” and checks are delivered in the mouths of toy plastic dinosaurs.
GETTING IN: is much easier on weekdays. But if you roll up on a Saturday during prime eating hours, wait it out with a drink across the street at the Reading Room. Himitsu will text you when a table is ready. No reservations. Just two dozen seats.
MICHELLE OBAMA SAYS: to wash your hands. No, really—there’s a photograph of her above the bathroom sink reminding employees to scrub up. There’s also an homage to Mean Girls on the bathroom wallpaper. How very fetch.
