Welcome to Takara 14
Takara 14 is a delightful gem located on the bustling 14th Street in Washington, DC. Nestled on the second floor, this intimate Japanese cocktail bar offers an unforgettable dining experience. With a focus on fresh, high-quality ingredients, Takara 14 expertly crafts a diverse menu that showcases both cold and hot small plates, including exquisite sushi rolls and traditional dishes like Chicken Karaage and A5 Wagyu. The cozy ambiance, adorned with cherry blossom decor, creates the perfect setting for a romantic evening or a special occasion. Every bite here feels like a precious discovery—a true celebration of Japanese culinary artistry.
- 1326 14th St NW 2nd floor, Washington, DC 20005 Hotline: (202) 507-8973
Welcome to Takara 14, a hidden gem nestled above the bustling streets of Washington, DC. Situated at 1326 14th St NW, 2nd Floor, this Japanese cocktail bar and restaurant offers a unique blend of traditional and contemporary flavors, presenting a stunning array of dishes that cater to every palate. As a food reviewer dedicated to uncovering the culinary treasures of the city, I can confidently say that Takara 14 is a place you don’t want to miss.
Upon entering, you are greeted by a cozy, intimate ambiance where cherry blossom-themed decor creates a serene atmosphere—perfect for date nights or special occasions. The restaurant's limited seating promotes an exclusive and personal dining experience, encouraging guests to savor each dish while enjoying the vibrant view of 14th Street below.
- Hot Small Plates: Every dish at Takara 14 is crafted with precision. The Grilled Nasu offers a delightful fusion of eggplant and sweet potato mash, while the Chicken Karaage, Japanese fried chicken, delivers a satisfying crunch and umami flavor. A standout recommendation is the A5 Wagyu Takaki, a luxurious serving of Miyazaki A5 wagyu paired delightfully with ponzu sauce—an exceptional experience for meat lovers.
- Cold Small Plates & Sushi: The seafood offerings are nothing short of mesmerizing. The Hamachi with its truffle yuzu drizzle and the house-smoked Scotsman salmon are striking in both presentation and taste. Diners rave about the freshness and creativity of the sushi rolls, with unique combinations like the Alexandrite captivating patrons with every bite.
- Omakase Experience: For those seeking culinary adventure, consider indulging in the omakase menu. It promises an array of flavors, showcasing seasonal ingredients and the chefs' top selections. Past diners have left raving about their experiences, feeling full yet enchanted by the variety of tastes.
Beyond the exquisite food, the cocktails at Takara 14 are crafted to perfection. Sipping on their Lady of Kyoto cocktail is a delightful treat, as it perfectly balances flavors without overwhelming sweetness. Guests frequently praise the attentive service, with knowledgeable staff ready to guide you through the menu.
In essence, Takara 14 is more than just a dining locale; it’s a treasure trove of Japanese culinary delights waiting to be explored. Whether you’re looking for a cozy meal, a celebratory dinner, or simply a place to unwind with a cocktail and sushi, Takara 14 delivers an experience that you'll want to revisit time and time again. Don’t hesitate to grab a reservation and indulge in your next culinary adventure at this enchanting escape.
For reservations or inquiries, call (202) 507-8973. Happy dining!

Came in here on a Sunday after getting destroyed at a hiit workout class; so it was much needed! Luckily there were no other patrons there at the time, so I was seated instantly and service was smooth. I ordered the Alexandrite sushi as a starter, and WOW. This roll was delicious. It was literally love at first bite. 10/10 would order again. It was a chilly day so I decided to order ramen. No regrets, but I would not order the Kuro Ramen again. It was not bad, but it was not a standout/anything special in my humble opinion. Overall, it was a cozy place and had a decor that said date night or special occasion. I will definitely be returning to try more sushi!

We did the omakase here a couple of years ago and we still think about it! Great, fresh food with lots of different flavors. You will not leave hungry. We could barely finish everything by the end. Very friendly servers as well.

Stopped into for dinner. Had a couple amazing rolls, some delicious sushi. Service was great and the interior is really nicely decorated. Also, had a really great Old Fashioned. The upstairs location is nice to watch the action on the street outside.

This omakase has some of the freshest and unique rolls that I have had in the D.C. area. For the quality of this sushi, the price is 100% worth it. For an appetiser, we ordered the squid karaage. For rolls, we got the peridot, spicy tuna tempura, pearl, diamond, spicy crunchy roll with angelfish, and the citrine. We also ordered an entree of tonkatsu. The ambiance of this place is also super cool, there are big windows adorned with a cherry blossom design. The seating is very very small and intimate (make reservations!). There is about a 6 top bar seating and then maybe about 12-16 2 tops (they can be pushed together for bigger parties). There is also a tasting menu option, which is separate from the dinning room which requires reservations.

Cozy lounge ambience. Food is pretty good. I personally think the sushi rice has stronger vinegar taste. I like the eggplant kastu and the pyrite roll the best probably.

Best Sushi I have had in about forever. I have quit easting sushi to be honest to a lot of bad experiences. But it was a walkable option for our Hotel and she wanted Sushi. The ambiance is perfect, and the view from the second story is a really cool feature. Service was attentive and other than waiting for the check on point. I will return thats for sure.

Hands down the best sushi I have had in the city. Takara 14 has been on my list for a while and finally decided to go after the H st. festival. We were greeted and sat quickly. Our server was very nice and suggested her favorite items. I decided on the Lady of Kyoto for my cocktail and it was delicious. Not too sweet and not too strong. We ordered the Chicken Karaage 5/5 we all loved it. The chicken was seasoned and fried well. The umami mayo and slaw were the perfect add. I ordered my favorite Nigiri's - Yellowtail and Scallop. I thoroughly enjoyed both 5/5. They were top quality. My group also had the Tuna Tartare which they all loved. I also ordered the Yellowtail Scallion roll and Amber roll which were also delicious 5/5. It's safe to say we found our new sushi spot. I can't wait to return to try more of their menu.

Hidden gem. Metered parking across the street. Attentive service. Charming decor. What's not to like?

Takara 14 served us a variety of Japanese treasures for a very enjoyable meal. "Takara" is precious or treasure in Japanese and it is located on a busy stretch of 14th Street. You'll go up a flight of steep stairs to reach the restaurant. It is small, like a jewel box, with small tables and they seated us by the window, decorated with pink blossoms. They are two special omakase menus, but we went for a la carte. Check in in Yelp for a discount coupon. We shared Brussels sprouts with shaved bonito flakes. The heat from the sprouts made the bonito dance. Crisp, perfectly cooked and melt in your mouth, the sprouts were the best I've had (I've had plenty). The tempura and chicken karaage (squid was sold out) were hot and crisp, tasty. I had Saba nigiri and these were like melt-in-your-mouth tender, never had Saba so nicely fresh like that. My broiled mackerel came with miso soup and several small dishes of pickles--plum, cucumber, kelp--as well as a bowl of rice with furikake. As for the fish--Holy Mackerel!--broiled to perfection, nice flavor, no bones--simply prepared and exactly right (can't say perfection again). My companions enjoyed their dishes too - Chirashi filled with colorful and fresh seafood, gleaming little jewels, Chicken Katsu Curry - generous portion of crispy chicken with little vegs in curry and Salmon Don with generous and fresh chunks of fish atop rice. Hayden, our server, did a nice job keeping the dishes coming at a timely pace, was very gracious and efficient. All the dishes were well executed and at a very high quality. I think a future visit merits the chef's choice menu, don't you? This was a fine dinner to treasure.

Five Stars! We got the restaurant week tasting menu and it was absolutely delicious. I want to come back and try everything on the menu. Great service, super fresh food, and the cocktail hit the spot too! My only complaint is they can't split payment so if you come in a group it's good to know - they can only split 50/50 on two cards: it would have been been nice to pay individually since it was a large bill for my party. However the quality of the food was worth the inconvenience. I definitely plan to return, the ambiance inside is also nice, cozy and pretty. I very much enjoyed my Experience.