The Room
Angel Barreto opened Anju in Dupont Circle in 2019 — a Korean-American chef-driven dining room dedicated to the proposition that DC needed a serious modern-Korean fine-dining destination. The Michelin DC guide assigned Anju a Recommended designation.
The dining room is intentionally restrained — black walls, a long bar at the front, an open kitchen at the back. The James Beard Foundation has shortlisted Barreto for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic.
The Food
The banchan programme — fifteen rotating Korean side dishes — accompanies every meal. The wood-fired Korean BBQ programme handles the protein menu. The seasonal-rotating Korean preparations and the chef's tasting handle the menu's wider draws.
Soju programme is one of DC's deepest. Cocktails are Korean-spice-led. Wine programme is short, weighted toward Riesling.
Best Occasion Fit
First Date: The bar at Anju is one of Dupont Circle's most-reliable first-date seats.
Solo Dining: The bar at Anju is one of the better DC solo-dining seats.
Impress Clients: International visitors recognise the Michelin-recommended modern-Korean format immediately.