Zeppelin | Our Story

The Zeppelin Story

Founded in 2019, Zeppelin pairs the artistry of Japanese cuisine with the adventure of the Golden Age of airships. Zeppelin brings together Edomae-style sushi, charcoal-grilled yakitori, omakase, and Japanese comfort dishes in a space designed for casual gatherings, raucous nights, and celebratory ocassions. Led by Chef Minoru Ogawa, a Tokyo native and second-generation sushi chef, the menu honors tradition inside a space that captures the vibrant spirit of rock-and-roll. With Adrian Williams, Ari Wilder, and Micah Wilder of Chaplin’s, Zeppelin blends craftsmanship, hospitality, and atmosphere into an experience that feels timeless and alive.

Shaw's first omakase destination

Zeppelin opened in Washington, D.C.'s Shaw neighborhood in 2019, inspired by the Golden Age of Great Passenger Airships and built around the belief that extraordinary Japanese craft and a genuinely fun night out belong in the same room.

How Zeppelin came to Shaw

Chef Minoru Ogawa partnered with Adrian Williams and the Wilder brothers of Chaplin's to open the restaurant Shaw had never seen — serious Edomae-style sushi in a neighborhood full of restless energy.

A family legacy, fifty years deep

Chef Ogawa grew up in Nippori, Tokyo, training under his master-chef father. His father and brother are both renowned sushi masters in Japan — over 50 years of family craft travel with him to every bar he stands at.

The Edomae tradition, sourced from Tsukiji

Edomae is the historic Tokyo style that prizes technique, precise seasoning, and fish quality above all. Chef Ogawa imports directly from Tsukiji Market so every piece carries an unbroken line back to its source.

Beyond the sushi bar

Alongside omakase, the kitchen fires Japanese charcoal-grilled yakitori — a second craft that gives guests another reason to linger. The menu moves between meticulous and convivial with ease.

Where the night takes off

The patio, dimly lit bar, and late-night karaoke (Thursday–Saturday) are as much a part of Zeppelin's identity as the nigiri. Come early for omakase, stay late for everything else.