Irina

So- Daikaya in DC is where it’s at for ramen. Or so I thought. But here’s my origin story…. My very first – really real – ramen experience (that wasn’t my childhood ten cent top ramen as a poor person) was at Daikaya. Grace took me there one day many years ago and it… Blew. My. Mind. I proposed marriage to the ramen bowl and carried around three tablespoons full of leftovers to our next event that evening,  because I simply couldn’t bare to throw it away.  Since then I learned a whole lot about good ramen, and also unfortunately developed a pretty bad pork, beef, lamb, and dairy allergy since. So, as much as Daikaya was my first… people are forever fond of it… but they learn and grow. Hence, this quest I got the vegetable ramen – loved it, especially the egg, bit it wasn’t the perfect ramen anymore. I had experienced better, and know I know I deserve better. Daikaya- you’ll always have a special place in my heart – but there are better and more balanced, and sophisticated, ramen dishes out there that will treat you right. 😉 

Erin

What do I say about Daikaya that hasn’t been said on Yelp or other review spots before? I guess I will say that while I prefer tonkotsu broth, Daikaya still provided me with excellent ramen that far outscored many other places that did specialize in tonkotsu ramen. I ordered the shio ramen, meaning salt-based ramen, and it was delicious. The broth was rich and tasty, but not too salty or heavy. The toppings were delicious and I got the nitamago which was well cooked and perfectly unctuous. I do have to say that Marumen’s egg still beats Daikaya’s egg, but as an overall choice, I would still choose Daikaya over Marumen any day of the week. The noodles at Daikaya were my favorite thus far. They were tasty, springy, and felt the freshest of all of the noodles we have tasted. 
The one thing I will say is that you may feel rushed at Daikaya. At Chaplin’s or other places, I never felt that I needed to eat and get out and I felt welcome to order drinks and other appetizers. At Daikaya, which honestly is probably more traditional to a popular ramen spot in Japan, you have a 45 minute limit and you do not feel like your party could hang around for a long dinner or for drinks. All in all, Daikaya is a top ramen spot in DC for a reason.

Grace

Daikaya has been one of my favorite ramen spots in DC for years now. When you go to Daikaya, it’s a good idea to arrive early, as there’s always a line and no reservations. You show up at the door, put your name in, and then you’ll get a text when your table is ready. Once you sit down, you do have a pretty strict time limit to eat your food and leave the restaurant. It’s the kind of place you go to eat delicious ramen, not to hang around and visit/drink afterwards. On this visit to Daikaya, I ordered the veggie ramen, which is my favorite there. I tried it for the first time one year during Lent, and I was hooked. The soup features non-traditional veggies like brussels sprouts and snow peas paired with more traditional ramen staples like wooden ear mushrooms and bean sprouts. The vegetables still have a nice crunch to them, and I felt like the soup was well balanced. I recommend getting the egg, which is fantastic. And of course the noodles are perfection. I do agree with Irina though–even though Daikaya has long been a favorite, I think that our Ramen Quest has helped me discover that there are other places that are equally as delicious. And that’s a good thing, because sometimes I am in the mood for quick and delicious Daikaya, but it’s also nice to have options where I can linger and catch up with friends.