A popular Japanese-Italian restaurant in Washington, DC, has announced its permanent closure. Tonari, a Chinatown staple, will serve its final meal on May 3, marking nearly six years in the neighborhood. The restaurant, operated by Daikaya Group, shared the closure announcement on social media.
D.C.’s Tonari Sets May 3 as Its Final Day
Well-known for its Wafu Italian cuisine, Tonari is a community favorite restaurant for its unique dining experience in the DC area. ‘Wafu’ translates to Japanese-style, and the restaurant has built its reputation for combining Italian flavors with Japanese forms and techniques.
In an Instagram post, the restaurant team shared the news of its closure. The team said, “Final weeks at Tonari—book your table now before we close May 3.”
The restaurant has not shared any additional details regarding the closure.
According to a report by Eater, Fukushima stated, “We’re incredibly proud of what Tonari has been. We hope the city will come back, celebrate with us, and help us close this chapter together.”
Following the closure announcement, several fans of the restaurant shared heartfelt messages on social media. One of the customers commented, “This is the saddest thing ever.”
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Japanese-Italian Eatery Becomes a Community Favorite
Tonari is the fifth concept from the Daikaya Group and is located next door to Daikaya. It is a go-to spot in Chinatown, especially for those looking to try something new and a little different.
Operated by chef-partner Katsuya Fukushima, Tonari’s menu showcases Japanese and Italian fusion.
With its Japanese-Italian fusion concept, Tonari stood out in DC’s competitive dining scene. During its six-year run, the restaurant space became a social gathering spot and grew into a favorite.
The restaurant has steady foot traffic and offers affordable dining options, especially before and after events at Capital One Arena, stated the Eater report. The report also noted that the arena is set to close for major renovations from later this month through September. The redevelopment could result in slower business activity in the surrounding area.
As the restaurant prepares to shut down, it hopes to serve the DC community and invites fans to visit before its final day. With the Tonari closure, the Daikaya Group will lose one of its popular concepts in Chinatown.
