3 Of The Country's Best New Restaurants Are In NoVA, DC

ARLINGTON, VA — Three of Yelp’s Best New Restaurants of 2024 are in Northern Virginia or Washington, D.C.

To determine the ranking, Yelp considered the volume and ratings of reviews for full-service restaurants that opened after Jan. 1, 2023, and consulted with trend expert Tara Lewis.

Here are the NoVA and DC eateries Yelp singled out for its honors, and a brief description of what they are known for:

Kappo DC, Washington, District of Columbia, No. 18

The Yelp description: "Almost every dish on the 8-course omakase menu features Wagyu, from the “extremely fresh” summer salad that starts the experience to the climax of the sukiyaki (hot pot) broth for dipping. Kappo’s name refers to a more laid-back and casual type of Japanese restaurant, a sort of dinner party, where guests get up close and personal with chefs at the counter who chat while preparing each course for service."

One Yelper said: "We had the 8-course meal with the additional uni and caviar selection plus sake pairing. Everything was marvelously prepared in front of us and the staff patiently explained to each guest what the dish or drink is going to be served next. This is probably one of the best meals that we had this year."

See more on the Kappo DC website.

Carbonara, Arlington, Virginia, No. 21

The Yelp description: "Dinner is theater at this Italian hotspot from Chef Mike Cordero. … The star of the evening, however, has to be the eponymous Bucatini Carbonara Table Side, where homemade noodles are tossed on top of an 80-pound Italian parmesan wheel that has been flambeéd, coating them with extra cheese before being transferred to your plate."

One Yelper said of the Bucatini Carbonara: "This is their signature dish and is WONDERFUL. It's truly heavenly and my mouth is watering now just thinking about it again."

See more on the Carbonara website.

Love, Makoto, Washington, District of Columbia, No. 22

Says the Yelp description: "The concept encompasses full-service sushi restaurant, a Japanese grill, an izakaya and a fast-casual food hall. Dear Sushi offers an omakase that celebrates both traditional and envelope-pushing takes on sushi. The omakase starts with seasonal snacks, moves into several sushi courses that showcase both traditional and Chef Makoto’s modern takes, then ends with a dessert."

“This was one of my favorite-ever dining experiences,” one Yelper wrote.

"I chose Beloved BBQ when I went and I got the tower, dumplings, and wagyu fried rice and I was not disappointed. This restaurant also gave a great luxury sexy vibe perfect for a date night. The customer service was also top tier," another diner said.

See more on the Love, Makoto website.

To view the full list of 25 restaurants, visit Yelp’s website.