A Lowcountry Sushi Restaurant is Coming to Union Market

An award-winning sushi restaurant from South Carolina plans to add Japanese whiskey and rooftop drinking into the mix around Union Market when it arrives next spring.

Washington City Paper reports that the powers that be behind the trio of O-Ku restaurants that currently stretch from Charleston to Atlanta are interested in adding D.C. to their growing collection of metropolitan cities. The forthcoming O-Ku (1274 Fifth Street NE) is projected to have seating for about 120 people, a rooftop bar that can accommodate 40 more, and a cocktail lounge that celebrates imported brown liquor.

While O-Ku restaurants tend to focus on traditional nigiri, sashimi, and specialty sushi rolls, managing partner Steve Palmer indicated that the D.C. location is expected to feature a bonus wood-burning grill used to prepare flame-licked meats and vegetables.

"The chef when they take over this O-Ku will have complete autonomy to do their food. That makes it unique,” Palmer told WCP.