Eater on Those Crazy Long Waits at Toki
Eater talks to the man who mans the door at Toki Underground (2nd floor of 1234 H Street) where waits of 3-4 hours are quite common on weekends (the ramen is worth it).
posted by inked at 10:43 AM
Friday, February 22, 2013
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16 Comments:
The wait at my house for Ramen is 6 minutes.
Feb 22, 2013, 11:34:00 AM
Take reservations already. Call me old fashioned, but the message a two-three hour wait sends is a total lack of respect for customers. This being Washington, though, the wait makes it that much more exclusive and desirable, right?
I never got the velvet rope thing growing up either. Always felt a tool waiting in line for the privilege to part with my money just because everyone else was doing it.
After a certain point, one no longer needs to join the crowd. Shame too, because I ate there once early on, and it was good. Obviously they have no need for my business.
Feb 22, 2013, 12:47:00 PM
they do take reservations - through CityEats
Feb 22, 2013, 2:14:00 PM
I overheard them quote someone 5 hours a couple of weeks ago. Of course, I didn't care much because I was getting carry out.
Not sure a 2-3 hour wait signals a lack of respect to their customers. Get there early and the waits not bad. It's nice to have the option to put your name in at 6 if you want to eat at 8.
You can still go out on a whim--more so than having to make reservations five weeks in advance.
Feb 22, 2013, 4:30:00 PM
Boo hoo, I want special treatment over and above those of us who willingly wait to eat Toki (including my wife and I who go *weekly* by putting our name down at 6 or 6:30 and eat at 8 or 8:30). Get a grip, Boris. It's a popular, affordable spot and it's called supply and demand. Enjoy stewing in your selfish, unwarranted, laughable sense of entitlement. We'll enjoy our Ramen along with the rest of Toki's regulars who wait our turn (the precise opposite of the "velvet rope" mentality, incidentally).
Feb 22, 2013, 8:37:00 PM
there is NOT ONE PLACE on H Street with food good enough where it would be worth waiting over 45 minutes. Truth.
But hey, if you have nothing better to do with 4 hours, who am I to judge?
Feb 23, 2013, 2:40:00 PM
Unless you wait in the comfort of your own home which is what we do...
Feb 23, 2013, 5:09:00 PM
Unless you're an extrovert, and aren't afraid of people..... The lines aren't a problem if u go early. I had no idea so many old people and asperger's folks read this blog!
Feb 24, 2013, 8:24:00 AM
Why don't all of you get a life!
Feb 24, 2013, 12:20:00 PM
It's actually failure of supply to meet demand.
Feb 25, 2013, 8:07:00 AM
How does the wait work? I still haven't been to Toki and want to know what I'm getting my girlfriend into before I make her try it with me. Do they call/text you when they're ready, or do you get one of those buzzer things or just wait for them to call your name? If we can go home while we wait it wouldn't be too bad.
Feb 25, 2013, 10:14:00 AM
Caroline,
They call your cell.
Feb 25, 2013, 10:17:00 AM
caroline, you "make" your girlfriend do things?
Feb 25, 2013, 10:21:00 AM
She's one of those people that doesn't like to try new things, so I have to force her out of her comfort zone every now and then.
Feb 25, 2013, 10:41:00 AM
there is NOT ONE PLACE on H Street with food good enough where it would be worth waiting over 45 minutes. Truth.
Just so we can get a sense of where you're coming from--what *would* be a restaurant worth waiting 45 minutes for?
Feb 26, 2013, 4:06:00 PM
1) They have very little space for seating. When you have a super popular restaurant with few seats, the wait is going to be very long.
2) They do take reservations.
3) They do takeout! My husband and I get Toki ramen for takeout and we're sitting on our couch eating ramen within a half hour.
4) There are places on H street worth waiting for. Specifically, Atlas Room, and Granville Moores for mussels (specifically their butternut squash mussels in the fall which are the best mussels I've ever had)
Mar 2, 2013, 10:11:00 AM
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