diff --git a/packages/connect/src/method-type.ts b/packages/connect/src/method-type.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f99f6137c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/connect/src/method-type.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+// Copyright 2021-2023 The Connect Authors
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+import type {
+  AnyMessage,
+  Message,
+  MethodInfoBiDiStreaming,
+  MethodInfoClientStreaming,
+  MethodInfoServerStreaming,
+  MethodInfoUnary,
+  ServiceType,
+} from "@bufbuild/protobuf";
+
+interface mtShared {
+  readonly service: Omit<ServiceType, "methods">;
+}
+
+/**
+ * A unary method: rpc (Input) returns (Output)
+ */
+export interface MethodTypeUnary<I extends Message<I>, O extends Message<O>>
+  extends mtShared,
+    MethodInfoUnary<I, O> {}
+
+/**
+ * A server streaming method: rpc (Input) returns (stream Output)
+ */
+export interface MethodTypeServerStreaming<
+  I extends Message<I>,
+  O extends Message<O>,
+> extends mtShared,
+    MethodInfoServerStreaming<I, O> {}
+
+/**
+ * A client streaming method: rpc (stream Input) returns (Output)
+ */
+export interface MethodTypeClientStreaming<
+  I extends Message<I>,
+  O extends Message<O>,
+> extends mtShared,
+    MethodInfoClientStreaming<I, O> {}
+
+/**
+ * A method that streams bi-directionally: rpc (stream Input) returns (stream Output)
+ */
+export interface MethodTypeBiDiStreaming<
+  I extends Message<I>,
+  O extends Message<O>,
+> extends mtShared,
+    MethodInfoBiDiStreaming<I, O> {}
+
+/**
+ * MethodType represents a self-contained method type. It must contain
+ * references to the service that implements it.
+ *
+ * This type should ultimately live inside @bufbuild/protobuf but will
+ * exist here for now until https://github.com/bufbuild/protobuf-es/pull/594
+ * can be merged/resolved.
+ *
+ * - "name": The original name of the protobuf rpc.
+ * - "I": The input message type.
+ * - "O": The output message type.
+ * - "kind": The method type.
+ * - "idempotency": User-provided indication whether the method will cause
+ *   the same effect every time it is called.
+ * - "localName": The local name of the method, safe to use in ECMAScript.
+ * - "service": The service that implements the method, without methods.
+ */
+export type MethodType<
+  I extends Message<I> = AnyMessage,
+  O extends Message<O> = AnyMessage,
+> =
+  | MethodTypeUnary<I, O>
+  | MethodTypeServerStreaming<I, O>
+  | MethodTypeClientStreaming<I, O>
+  | MethodTypeBiDiStreaming<I, O>;
diff --git a/packages/connect/src/router.spec.ts b/packages/connect/src/router.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fa7fc338b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/connect/src/router.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+// Copyright 2021-2023 The Connect Authors
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+import {
+  Int32Value,
+  MethodIdempotency,
+  MethodKind,
+  StringValue,
+} from "@bufbuild/protobuf";
+import { createConnectRouter } from "./router.js";
+
+const testService = {
+  typeName: "TestService",
+  methods: {
+    unary: {
+      name: "Unary",
+      I: Int32Value,
+      O: StringValue,
+      kind: MethodKind.Unary,
+    },
+    server: {
+      name: "Server",
+      I: Int32Value,
+      O: StringValue,
+      kind: MethodKind.ServerStreaming,
+    },
+    client: {
+      name: "Client",
+      I: Int32Value,
+      O: StringValue,
+      kind: MethodKind.ClientStreaming,
+    },
+    biDi: {
+      name: "BiDi",
+      I: Int32Value,
+      O: StringValue,
+      kind: MethodKind.BiDiStreaming,
+    },
+  },
+} as const;
+
+describe("createConnectRouter", function () {
+  it("supports self describing method type", function () {
+    const methodDefinition = {
+      name: "Unary",
+      kind: MethodKind.Unary,
+      I: Int32Value,
+      O: StringValue,
+      service: testService,
+      idempotency: MethodIdempotency.NoSideEffects,
+    } as const;
+    const router = createConnectRouter({}).rpc(methodDefinition, (request) => {
+      return { value: `${request.value}-RESPONSE` };
+    });
+
+    expect(router.handlers).toHaveSize(1);
+    expect(router.handlers[0].method).toEqual(methodDefinition);
+    expect(router.handlers[0].service).toEqual({
+      ...testService,
+      methods: {},
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/connect/src/router.ts b/packages/connect/src/router.ts
index 7a8077dc2..5ef42b4fd 100644
--- a/packages/connect/src/router.ts
+++ b/packages/connect/src/router.ts
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import type {
   UniversalHandlerOptions,
 } from "./protocol/universal-handler.js";
 import type { ProtocolHandlerFactory } from "./protocol/protocol-handler-factory.js";
+import type { MethodType } from "./method-type.js";
 
 /**
  * ConnectRouter is your single registration point for RPCs.
@@ -52,17 +53,33 @@ import type { ProtocolHandlerFactory } from "./protocol/protocol-handler-factory
  */
 export interface ConnectRouter {
   readonly handlers: UniversalHandler[];
+  /**
+   * Provides implementation for a set of RPCs on the service.
+   */
   service<T extends ServiceType>(
     service: T,
     implementation: Partial<ServiceImpl<T>>,
     options?: Partial<UniversalHandlerOptions>,
   ): this;
+  /**
+   * Provides implementation for a single RPC given service and associated method.
+   */
   rpc<M extends MethodInfo>(
     service: ServiceType,
     method: M,
     impl: MethodImpl<M>,
     options?: Partial<UniversalHandlerOptions>,
   ): this;
+  /**
+   * Provides implementation for a single RPC given a method type.
+   * 
+   * @private This is an experimental API. Please do not rely on it yet.
+   */
+  rpc<M extends MethodType>(
+    method: M,
+    impl: MethodImpl<M>,
+    options?: Partial<UniversalHandlerOptions>,
+  ): this;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -119,6 +136,7 @@ export function createConnectRouter(
 ): ConnectRouter {
   const base = whichProtocols(routerOptions);
   const handlers: UniversalHandler[] = [];
+
   return {
     handlers,
     service(service, implementation, options) {
@@ -131,11 +149,34 @@ export function createConnectRouter(
       );
       return this;
     },
-    rpc(service, method, implementation, options) {
-      const { protocols } = whichProtocols(options, base);
+    rpc(
+      serviceOrMethod: ServiceType | MethodType,
+      methodOrImpl: MethodInfo | MethodImpl<MethodInfo>,
+      implementationOrOptions?:
+        | MethodImpl<MethodInfo>
+        | Partial<UniversalHandlerOptions>,
+      options?: Partial<UniversalHandlerOptions>,
+    ) {
+      let service: ServiceType;
+      let method: MethodInfo;
+      let impl: MethodImpl<MethodInfo>;
+      let opt: Partial<UniversalHandlerOptions> | undefined;
+      if ("typeName" in serviceOrMethod) {
+        service = serviceOrMethod;
+        method = methodOrImpl as MethodInfo;
+        impl = implementationOrOptions as MethodImpl<MethodInfo>;
+        opt = options;
+      } else {
+        service = { ...serviceOrMethod.service, methods: {} };
+        method = serviceOrMethod;
+        impl = methodOrImpl as MethodImpl<MethodInfo>;
+        opt = implementationOrOptions as Partial<UniversalHandlerOptions>;
+      }
+      const { protocols } = whichProtocols(opt, base);
+
       handlers.push(
         createUniversalMethodHandler(
-          createMethodImplSpec(service, method, implementation),
+          createMethodImplSpec(service, method, impl),
           protocols,
         ),
       );