Daikaya rolls out Chinatown hand roll pop-up

Anna Spiegel

Two-panel image: left shows a gray-haired man in a blue shirt and apron behind a bar, wearing glasses; right shows a wooden boat-shaped platter with three seaweed-wrapped sushi cones filled with rice and fish. — Daikaya chef Kitamura leads a five-night hand roll pop-up. Photo: Courtesy Daikaya

Hand rolls are having a moment — and Daikaya Izakaya is the latest D.C. restaurant jumping on the trend with a pop-up hand roll bar starting tonight.

Why it matters: Temaki bars are booming from New York to Tokyo, offering a faster, more affordable and filling alternative to formal omakase.

Driving the news: For five nights only (tonight to Thursday and July 28-29), the Chinatown izakaya will transform part of its dining into a hand roll destination helmed by longtime chef Toyoaki Kitamura.

Options range from bluefin chutoro and caviar to Hokkaido uni and fun bites like mapo tofu. Vegetarian options are available.
Diners can order individual rolls, or tasting sets starting at $30.
Walk-ins only.

The big picture: Hand rolls are built for the moment: quick, interactive and meant to be eaten seconds after they're made, when the nori is still crisp and the rice is warm.

D.C.'s hand roll scene has grown quickly this year. Capitol Hill's buzzy Japanese-Peruvian restaurant Maru San draws waits for counter space, while downtown newcomer Kiyomi also serves hand rolls as part of its popular $40 lunch.
You'll also find wallet-friendly temaki at Dupont's Umai Nori and Uchi's happy hour.

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Daikaya rolls out Chinatown hand roll pop-up

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