An elevated Japanese dining experience is coming to McLean. Modan will feature high-end omakase dining, a sushi counter, and a dry-aging program for fish and meat.
“We’ll be offering an exquisite culinary experience with top quality A5 [Japanese wagyu] beef,” says Joon Yang, lead operator of The Modan Hospitality Group. “We’re also going to be doing things that people don’t typically do at sushi restaurants — we’re going to be dry aging our fish as well.”
Located at 1788 Chain Bridge Rd. in McLean, the restaurant team is planning for an October grand opening. The chic, 7,000-square-foot restaurant will feature an upscale bar, a private dining space, and a patio. It’s on the ground floor of the newly erected Heming apartment complex.
Modan means ‘modern’ in Japanese; in fitting with the name, the restaurant promises an immersive, entertaining guest experience with exquisite cuisine and sleek atmosphere. Guests can taste classic Japanese fare and discover new flavor profiles through a luxurious omakase experience and other offerings. Omakase, which literally translates to “I leave it up to you,” allows the chef to choose what specialties to serve.
“We’re offering an omakase counter where you will have an omakase chef actually preparing items in front of you,” Yang says.
At the culinary helm is executive chef Micheole “Chico” Dator, who was previously the executive sushi chef at Nobu DC. Prior to that, he worked in Nobu Kuala Lumpur, Nobu Malibu, and Nobu Lanai.
“His creativity is amazing — he has a Filipino background, so some of the dishes he’s able to create do have hints of his heritage within them,” Yang says.
Dator blends traditional and modern Japanese techniques with elements of Southeast Asian cuisine.
“Traditional Japanese cuisine emphasizes seasonal ingredients, meticulous preparation, and presentation, while modern Japanese cuisine often incorporates innovative techniques and global influences,” Dator says.
The interior has an open concept sushi counter, expansive dining room, two private dining rooms, and visually stimulating decor. Whimsical, “Insta-worthy” spots in the restaurant include restrooms with Hello Kitty and cherry blossom themes.
“We’re trying to make it fun,” Yang says.
Feature rendering courtesy Modan
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