3 minute read
Uber-Cool Asian Restaurants in D.C. to Try Now
The nation's capital is an international city. No surprise, then, that food lovers find a world of flavors right here. These days, hip Asian eateries are all the rage. Here are a few making waves.
Vada Pav at Bombay Street Food (©Laura Chase)
BOMBAY STREET FOOD
Punchy colors, festive music and a lively Capitol Hill crowd make the second outpost of Asad Sheikh’s Columbia Heights original one of the city’s brightest new stars. On the menu, find Sheikh’s home town street food favorites like vada pav, a.k.a. “Bombay Burger,” a fried potato patty sandwiched between two thick slices of toasted bread and served with an addicting chutney. Other favorites?
The crowd-pleasing thali, a combo plate that also comes in a vegan/veggie version; Bombay palak chat, a pile of crispy spinach drizzled with yogurt and a sweet chutney; lal mirch, a thick curry that doesn’t hold back on the spice. 524 8th St. SE, 202.558.9506 (also in Columbia Heights), www. bombaystreetfood.us
Hanumanh (Courtesy The Monkey Team)
HANUMANH
The owners of lauded Thip Khao and Northern Virginia’s Padaek bring their skill with Laotian flavors to this bar-forward concept, which also highlights another D.C. trend—tiki drinks. Barmini alum Al Thompson’s concoctions pair well with the funky flavors in dishes like naem khao kob, a crispy rice and herb salad, and khao jee, an egg dish refreshed with milk bread and crispy chicken skin. 1604 7th St. NW, no phone, www.hanumanh.com
Laos in Town (©Rey Lopez)
LAOS IN TOWN
This newbie in NoMa claims the real thing in its team (a chef and owner with deep roots in Thai/Essan cuisine and extensive on-the-ground research, plus staff from Laos. The result? Plenty of hits on the menu. Diners have raved about everything from the pork sausage fragrant with lemongrass to the seen hang, a tender, flavor-filled beef jerky, and the grilled whole fish. The modern indoor/outdoor space filled with finds from Vientiane add to the appeal, especially as the sun dips down into golden hour. All that’s missing is the mighty Mekong. 250 K St. NW, 202.864.6620, www. laosintown.com
QUEEN’S ENGLISH
New York transplants Henji Cheung and Sarah Thompson’s glam restaurant in Columbia Heights brings to life Cheung’s childhood memories spent in the Northern Territories near Hong Kong. Those flavor-filled memories find their place on the menu here in hand-cut noodles stained black with squid ink on one side and smashed cucumbers topped with smoky celtuce and trout roe. The mostly walk-in spot accepts only a limited number of reservations, so get there early. 3410 11th St. NW, no phone, www. queensenglishdc.com
THAMEE
After perfecting their native Anglo-Burmese flavors at Toli Moli in Union Market, owners Jocelyn Law-Yone, her daughter Simone Jacobson and their business partner Eric Wang go full-blown restaurant with this endeavor in the nearby H Street corridor. Inside, the simple subway-tile-lined decor shines the spotlight on the food Law-Yone and Jacobson grew up eating. Dishes like whole steamed fish with turmeric and citrus reference family meals, while treats like falooda layered with ice cream, jellies and basil seeds make sweet endings. 1320 H St. NE, 202.750.6529, www.thamee.com
Zeppelin (©Darlene Cassello)
ZEPPELIN
A mural on the building housing this lively Japanese izakaya depicts Godzilla about to rumble with a giant squid. Inside the two-story space, diners wrestle with what to order—there’s so much to choose from. The wide-ranging menu references Japan’s Edomae era with sushi (rolls, nigiri, sashimi) that doesn’t lean on frilly extras for its straight from-the-Land-of-the-Rising-Sun cuts. A cionados can also lean on expert chef Minoru Ogawa’s omakase. Charcoal-grilled skewers and comfort favorites like takoyaki quell any lingering hunger pangs, while expertly mixed cock tails (plus a Japan-forward spirits list) may—as the menu warns— lead diners to believe they can belt along with the best of them when the dining room turns into a karaoke lounge. You’ve been warned. 1554 9th St. NW (shared rides recommended as street parking is limited), 202.506.1068, www.zeppelindc.com
