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D.C.’s Wild New Standing-Room-Only Asian Grill Is Here

Communal restaurant Spoken English is Erik Bruner-Yang’s ode to Japanese tachinomiyas

A picture by founder Erik Bruner-Yang of the decor inside his new restaurant, Spoken English.

Restaurateur Erik Bruner-Yang has opened his second restaurant inside Adams Morgan’s Line hotel, unveiling the funky, standing-room-only Spoken English over the weekend.

As opposed to companion restaurant Brothers and Sisters, which stretches across the entire hotel lobby and boasts two bars, Spoken English takes place entirely within a kitchen anchored by a wood-burning Grillworks oven. The compact space, which is modeled after Japanese tachinomiya — busy little bars that supply diners with beer, snacks, and sake — can accommodate around a dozen people at a time and is designed to spur interactions among customers gathered around the communal table.

Washington City Paper reports that the menu is split into four sections: assorted skewers, small plates, large plates, and desserts. Chefs de cuisine Matt Crowley and James Wozniuk have been tasked with handling the savory selections, while pastry chef Pichet Ong deals with all the sweets. Featured offerings include: twice-baked potatoes topped with uni and roe; an elaborate chicken skin dumpling with ginger dipping sauce; and a family-style duck dinner.

Spoken English is projected to operate from 6 p.m. to midnight, Tuesday through Saturday. It does not take reservations.

Status: Certified open. 1770 Euclid Street NW; website.

Spoken English

1770 Euclid Street Northwest, , DC 20009 (202) 588-0525 Visit Website

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