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Kaliwa, Washington, DC
Award-winning

Kaliwa

3.5
3.5
823 Reviews
$30 and under
Asian

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 3 times today
  • Lively
  • Great for outdoor dining
  • Good for groups


Award-Winning, Michelin Bib Gourmand 2024 Recipient! Kaliwa presents upscale, South East Asian fare accompanied by vibrant cocktails in classy, waterfront digs. Enjoy interpretations of Thai, Filipino and Korean dishes under a sky of eclectic chandeliers, or dine Al Fresca on the patio overlooking the bustling waterfront.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Asian, Korean, Thai
  • Hours of operation
    Mon, Wed, Sun 11:30 am–10:00 pm Tue 5:00 am–10:00 pm Thu 11:30 am–1:00 am Fri, Sat 11:30 am–2:00 am
  • Phone number
    (202) 516-4739
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Cathal Armstrong
  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2022
  • Neighborhood
    Southwest Waterfront
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 823 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

3.5
3.5 based on recent ratings
  • 3.6Food
  • 3.4Service
  • 4Ambience
  • 3.1Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Kaliwa offers a unique dining experience at the Wharf with a modern ambiance and a creative Asian fusion menu. Guests appreciate the "amazing service" and "flavorful food," with standout dishes like the crab and shrimp curry. The terrace is a delightful spot for enjoying the scenery. However, some diners note service delays and portion sizes.

823 Reviews
  1. Seani

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined today

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 5
    The staffing coverage was so low that the bartender Jeff was waiting on us and training someone at the bar… our calamari and cauliflower came out cold and it took 25 minutes for them to bring a coke drink to our table.

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  2. FrankF

    VIP

    Washington DC

    6 reviews

    2.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    Food was quite good. HOWEVER 1) there's no need for an overly loud DJ singing Christmas carols in a high end restaurant.. 2)We were five and asked to be seated at a table for 6. Naturally, they gave us a table for 4 and tried to squeeze in a fifth. We refused and again asked for a table for 6. After we moved, they neglected to assign us a waiter and we sat for 20 minutes before I had to go to the hostess station and ask for a waiter. Was this retribution from the hostess? 3) One of us got the wrong meal. Had to reorder. Waiter was very apologetic and considerate. Summary: it's a mystery how they ever got anything labeled Michelin. Footnote: the term is al frescO, not al frescA! (It's not a soda ..)

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  3. Carrie

    Washington DC

    17 reviews

    5.0

    17 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Another excellent experience. We had someone in our group that is gluten free. Staff did a great job answering questions and verifying the GF process. Pad see ew was excellent. Skewers were a hit, we had a variety of chicken, shrimp, and pork belly. Great spot at The Wharf before the theater.

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  4. Holly

    Washington DC

    6 reviews

    3.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    In for food and drinks on a Saturday afternoon (5:00pm). There were no limes available for drinks garnish. The fried Red Snapper was drowned in a brown sauce, making it soggy and unappealing very soon after serving. With so many other options in the area, cannot say that I will be back.

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  5. Lillian

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Went to Kaliwa on 12/19 for lunch. Service was mediocre. I asked the waiter to fix our table because it was rocking pretty badly. Had to remind him to do so; he finally brought a door stop. Ordered the TOFU pad Thai-waiter brought shrimp pad Thai. I am allergic to shrimp, so that was a big No-no. Waiter then proceeded to argue with me, that he heard me order shrimp. I explained that I would never order shrimp, because of my allergy. He then huffed at me, took my plate away, and brought me the tofu pad Thai. It was mediocre. Hardly any flavor or sauce and the noodles were not cooked through. We have been to Kaliwa when they first opened, and it was mediocre. Seems not to have improved.

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  6. Diane

    VIP

    Philippines

    23 reviews

    5.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on December 14, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a wonderful lunch at Kaliwa. Our server Brenda was great! We loved the chicken and pork belly in skewers, the fried snapper and the chocolate dessert.

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  7. Debbie

    VIP

    Coastal Georgia

    21 reviews

    3.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on December 12, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    The food was excellent. Unfortunately the service was very average at best.

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  8. Sunny

    Atlanta Metro

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 8, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Af first the hostess told us they were booked for entire evening. So we left and started walking around, then I thought to hi on open table to look for Reservations . There were several available to choose from starting at 8:15. So I’m glad we looked and were able to have the experience as the rest of the evening at the restaurants was wonderful!

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  9. Lara

    Caribbean

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on December 7, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We recently dined at Kaliwa, and overall, it was an outstanding experience! The atmosphere was warm and inviting, the staff was incredibly attentive, and the food was nothing short of amazing. Each dish was beautifully presented and packed with flavor—clearly crafted with care and fresh ingredients. The only downside is that it’s a bit on the pricey side. While the quality certainly justifies the cost, it might not be a place you’d visit regularly if you’re on a budget. That said, for a special occasion or a treat-yourself moment, it’s absolutely worth it. Highly recommended!

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  10. Carrie

    Washington DC

    17 reviews

    5.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on December 7, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wow! Fabulous meal. The bok choy was very good. Salmon was awesome, we added white rice. Chicken satay was delicious. We even had some live music, it created a great atmosphere.

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FAQs

Kaliwa offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (202) 516-4739.

Kaliwa is rated 3.5 stars by 823 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 3 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Kaliwa

751 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024-3433

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2022
  • Neighborhood
    Southwest Waterfront
  • Hours of operation
    Mon, Wed, Sun 11:30 am–10:00 pm Tue 5:00 am–10:00 pm Thu 11:30 am–1:00 am Fri, Sat 11:30 am–2:00 am
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Asian, Korean, Thai
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Cathal Armstrong
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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