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Kaliwa, Washington, DC
Award-winning

Kaliwa

3.2
3.2
810 Reviews
$30 and under
Asian

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 16 times today
  • Lively
  • Good for special occasions
  • 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–Fri 11:30 am–10:00 pm Sat, Sun 11:00 am–11:00 pm
  • 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
  • Neighbourhood
    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 810 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

3.2
3.2 based on recent ratings
  • 3.3Food
  • 3.1Service
  • 3.7Ambience
  • 2.8Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Kaliwa offers a vibrant atmosphere with a diverse menu featuring Asian fusion cuisine. Guests have praised the "amazing sevice" and "flavorful food." The Crab and Shrimp Curry is a standout dish. While some patrons note slow service, the location and ambiance on the Wharf remain appealing. The restaurant excels in creative cocktails and a lively dining experience.

810 Reviews
  1. Chuck

    Washington DC

    29 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    29 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Food was very good with an interesting array of flavors. Service was okay, but live music was too loud for pleasant conversation at the table.

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  2. melissa

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    The crab cake and pad Thai was delicious. The drinks were decent, too much ice and not much presentation for a $18 cocktail. Our server was very kind. We had aimed to get the lobster but was told there was none left, which was odd for us being near the marina. Also ordered the calamari, was not the best as well as the portion was more chips than calamari, won’t not order again nor recommend it. The ambiance was very quiet , not crowded at all. Nice lounge vibe music. This was our first time visiting this restaurant, I am unsure if I would go again.

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  3. Sara

    Washington DC

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 16, 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    One of the most disappointing dining experiences I have had in a long time. The appetizer, which was recommended by the server, was a flavorless bowl of roasted cauliflower. We asked for chili oil, only to be given a bowl of pink colored vegetable oil, also with no flavor. The recommended Adobo dinner was described as “fall off the bone”, but we received three chunks of rubbery, fat-heavy meat that was difficult to cut in an over-salted Adobo sauce. Cocktails were served in plastic cups, not glassware. The entire experience was a disaster. We will not be returning.

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  4. David

    Greater Boston

    4 reviews

    1.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 14, 2024

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    Terrible service. Needs to be removed from the Michelin bib gourmand list. Mid level food for expensive prices and some of the worst service. Would not recommend

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  5. Kent

    Washington DC

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 11, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    The charred Brussels sprouts were a delicious highlight! We also enjoyed the pad see ew with tofu. The satay skewers could have been more flavorful, but the salad they came with was tasty. Overall, a good meal.

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  6. Jose Carlos

    Houston

    5 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on November 9, 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Food was bad and overpriced. Spend your money elsewhere.

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  7. Dan

    New York City

    9 reviews

    3.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on November 9, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Disappointed twice, the food, and the bill. Not much more to say.

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  8. Franklin

    London

    3 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 8, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Painfully slow. Food was good. Filling in to hit 50 characters.

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  9. Amoon

    New York City

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 1, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great experience and food at the warf! We had a party of 7 and we got a nice table outside, the noise level was a bit high but amazing experience over all!

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  10. Daniel

    Washington DC

    49 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    49 reviews

    Dined on October 31, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Great location. Good service. Food was good, but not as good as either advertised or the price led one to believe. Chicken Satay - the salad was very fresh chicken was expertly prepared, but the satay sauce was like a hiughly watered down nothing tahini. It didn't have the umami of a strong peanut taste or the creamy texture one expects of a great satay sauce. The shrimp in the crab and shrimp curry was good, but the crab in the dish was non-existent. Green beans or some other vegetable in the curry or as a side would have turned this into a complete dish. The chef ruined what was an excellent crispy fried red snapper by dropping the perfectly cooked fish into a bowl of soy sauce based vegetable soup. The waiter, who was great, told us that it wasn't served the way he expected it to with a small amount of the sauce on vegetables on the side. No individual dish was terrible, but neither was one very good. Overall a disappointment. Might be back after we try all the other restaurants on the wharf first.

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FAQs

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

Kaliwa is rated 3.2 stars by 810 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 p.m.
Booked 16 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
  • Neighbourhood
    Southwest Waterfront
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Fri 11:30 am–10:00 pm Sat, Sun 11:00 am–11:00 pm
  • 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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