Tom Sietsema Awards Toki Underground 2.5 Stars

In lieu of a regular review this week, Tom Sietsema presents a roundup of picks for Valentine's Day, including Cashion's Eat Place, Plume and Toki Underground. This, however, would be the very first time Sietsema has taken a critical look at the H Street ramen shop. And it looks like Sietsema's as big a fan as all the people who wait for hours to get in, awarding it 2.5 stars and "a 10 on the fun meter, too."

"The two ramen I tend to spoon into most often are curry chicken Hakata, floating crisp nuggets of spiced chicken and pickled ginger, and the meatless masumi, packed with a garden of vegetables including squash, seaweed and mushrooms, its broth dark and intense.

Sietsema also digs the decor and highlights the Toki Monster, a cocktail garnished with a pork belly skewer. [WaPo]

In case you don't subscribe to the print version of the Washingtonian, they've finally put their 100 Very Best Restaurants reviews online, which were originally published in the January issue. Peruse at your leisure or look back at last month's bullet point analysis. [The Washingtonian]

Rina Rapuano visits Montgomery County's Go Fish food truck this week for a Washington Post review. The truck offers shrimp and mahi mahi tacos and a crab cake sandwich, but Rapuano "opted for the Crabby Melt ($11) topped with cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses and served on a soft sub roll. While the flavors are terrific, we ate it with a fork because the bun was steamed into sogginess before we got home." [WaPo]

Newly installed Northern Virginia Magazine dining editor Stefanie Gans visited Will Artley's pop-up dinner in Del Ray this week. And, as with anything, there are hits and there are misses: "Braised collards, massaged with vinegar and chili, feel familiar while unexpected smoky cauliflower brings texture to the accompanying softened greens. Salmon, a fish that needs no masking, is punished by a charred, crusty coating that can’t distract from the over-cooked flesh." [NVM]

Don Rockwell offers his minibites on restaurants across the DC area, including Kotobuki, Yechon, Kaz Sushi Bistro, La Caraquena, and Bollywood Bistro. He demotes Pearl Dive Oyster Palace for his experience there on an evening that "was kids serving kids," but he maintains a high rating for Little Serow, which again earns his Restaurant of the Week nod. He might have also Tebowed Johnny Monis. [DCDining.com]

THE BLOGS: We Love DC visits Rogue 24 during Spike Gjerde's week of the Rogue Sessions; DMV Dining wasn't blown away by America Eats Tavern, but had fun; Prince of Petworth's food truck reviewer tests the burgers at Dorothy Moon; DC-Wrapped Dates has a solid experience at Dickson Wine Bar; Bitches Who Brunch visit Warehouse Bar & Grill in Alexandria and the newly opened Irish Whiskey.

Toki Underground [Photo: Amy McKeever/Eater.com]