Himitsu’s Chef Is Opening a New Capitol Hill Restaurant

Chef Kevin Tien, owner of Petworth’s critically acclaimed Himitsu, just announced plans to a new restaurant five times the size across town on Capitol Hill next spring.

The 100-seat restaurant will be called Emilie’s (1101 Pennsylvania Avenue SE) and sit at Penn Eleven, formerly Frager’s Hardware store.

“I’m looking forward to writing the next chapter and sharing my passion with the community on a larger scale and a different service style,” says Tien, in a release about the news, which Barred in DC broke on Friday, September 14.

The menu at Emilie’s will rotate daily, playing up lots of seasonal and local ingredients with large plates and an a la carte menu. Small plates on rolling carts will also work the room under a dim sum-style format.

Partners on the 3,300-square-foot project include Sam Shoja, an owner at noodle house Jinya Ramen Bar, and D.C. retail broker and restaurant veteran Arris Noble.

Rendering/Penn Eleven

Tien has racked up numerous awards since opening Himitsu with beverage guru Carlie Steiner in late 2016. James Beard Foundation judges nominated Tien for a rising star chef of the year award, and Eater restaurant editor and roving critic Bill Addison named Himitsu one of the 12 best new restaurants in America. He recently appeared on the second season of Food Network’s Iron Chef Gauntlet, as well as got mad social media love from entertainer and foodie Questlove.

• How Himitsu’s Founders Keep Challenging the Status Quo [EDC]
• Questlove Fanboys Over Himitsu Chef Kevin Tien [EDC]