First thing's first: I'm not a fan of Korean BBQ per se. I don't see the logic of going to a…read morerestaurant to pay for the privilege of cooking. However, sometimes you gotta get out. Kanpai is in a prime place along Rockville Pike, but depending on when you go you may find easy parking. (If you're not bothered about where to park, ignore what I just said.) Out front there's something that looks like a tuk-tuk or rickshaw. Tbh, don't know if it's theirs or the business next door. The restaurant itself is clean and elegant. Also, not as loud as some Korean BBQs (thinking of KPOT off of Randolph Rd), which is important if you don't like being overwhelmed by everyone else's noise. That is one big '+' in Kanpai's favor. The waiter was cool and very helpful. Because of him I now know what the thin meat slices are meant for (which is for the soup), before then I had no clue. The food itself is good. Like, why wouldn't it be? I actually prefer the shabu-shabu (soup), makes me wish I knew how to do that myself so I wouldn't have to go out as much. Yes, the grill meats were great, as was the kimchi. These places are not cheap, but it was enjoyable while I was there. If you're not in a rush you can go a few doors down afterward to an import store selling everything from K-chips to puzzle-kits. So I would say...take your time. But don't warm your seats for more than 90 minutes, as Korean BBQs tend to kick people out (nicely, nicely) if one overstays. P.S. I'm sure they have some great drinks there, but even if I wanted to I couldn't loiter. That's what Bethesda is for. (Or at least how it used to be.)

This is a place you need to come to hungry! I had a great time here with friends a few weeks ago…read more We were able to get some drinks from the happy hour menu right before it ended. Our server, Kelley, was great. She explained how everything works here. The buffet is pretty extensive and you can get full from that alone. They have an option to just do the buffet (during lunch hours). There is a good selection of meats. there's a robot here that brings stuff to the table - pretty cool. We were stuffed! It's a bit pricey but was worth it. I would visit again.

Astoria completely lived up to the hype. It's one of those coveted DC reservations that's…read morenotoriously hard to get, and after having it on my list forever, I can confidently say it's 100% worth the wait. Tucked into the heart of Dupont Circle with its unmistakable bright blue awning, the restaurant is intimate, moody, and always buzzing. Inside, you'll find dim lighting, a handful of cozy wooden bar booths, seats along the bar, and a few outdoor tables. It's not a huge space, which only adds to its charm and makes every reservation feel like a win. The atmosphere is perfect for sharing dishes and lingering over dinner with friends. The food was incredible...I genuinely loved every single bite. Just be prepared: the Sichuan spice is no joke! If you aren't expecting it, it'll definitely sneak up on you (in the best way). My must-orders? The chili wontons, Dan Dan noodles, and beef noodles. Every dish was packed with bold flavor and left me wanting to come back for more. If you've been trying to score a reservation, keep at it. Astoria is one of those places that's absolutely deserving of its reputation, and I'll be thinking about those noodles until my next visit.

There was a line waiting to go in before opening and I think it's still be easy to get a seat if…read moreyou arrive right at opening time but it definitely got filled by the time we left! Inside had small tables and a kinda casual cocktail bar vibe Beef Noodles - the highlight and actually very good! The noodles are long and handmade and chewy. They hold onto the sauce very well! The sauce has a slight kick and is very savory. The beef is soft and also flavorful! I feel the price for the portion is kinda expensive though 8/10 Chili wontons - skin is silky and soft, sauce is savory with a small kick as well! Even though the sauces look similar to beef noodle they taste very different. The fillings had good flavor and overall were good but were a bit tougher and dryer than I would prefer. 6/10 Crab fried rice - crab is slightly overcooked but naturally sweet. It has a light curry taste throughout and was pretty good but didn't really stand out 5.5/10 Mapo tofu - slight kick and nice savory taste in the sauce! However I think they cut the tofu pieces way too large or the tofu they chose had way too much tofu flavor that overpowers the sauce. I'd prefer a very light silky tofu but this was a soft tofu. 6/10 Vpod - at first it just tasted like orange juice but then the other flavors peek through on the after taste and when I mixed it more. Even though it was good, it still felt very basic 5/10 Philadelphia Scotsman - it's pretty ginger forward. Technically the level of ginger spice is fine but strong but then the rest of the drink got completely overpowered and so this just wasn't that great 2.5/10

This place is such a fun twist on a Chinese takeout bar. The atmosphere blends tiki hut vibes with…read moreChinese influences, making it feel lively, unique, and perfect for grabbing drinks with friends. One of the highlights of the night was meeting the owner, Jason. We bonded over our shared Cantonese backgrounds and even got to meet his aunt, who was visiting from California and happened to be sitting next to us. It made the whole experience feel incredibly welcoming and personal. We ordered the Dynamite Roll, which was a solid choice with 8 generous pieces, and the Szechuan spicy wontons, which were juicy with just the right amount of heat. If you visit, definitely grab a seat at the bar. The bartenders are friendly, engaging, and really add to the experience. We were treated to a complimentary shot of Jäger with Jason and even got to sample their Lychee Pearl cocktail because the bartender had made an extra. The cocktails really stood out. Instead of masking everything with sugary juices, they use extracts and creative techniques to build balanced drinks that complement the flavors beautifully. Jason also mentioned that their cocktail specials change every month, so we already told him we'll be back regularly to see what new creations he comes up with.

Nah, I used to live in the SGV. We have the best Asian food. So this place was a solid 2 out of 5…read more It's open late. That's why I came. I've been here a few times and tried several different things. All average or basic. Nothing wow. I think people come here for the drinks and vibes. Which is fair. Cool ambience. Music, dim lighting, comfortable booths and plenty of parking. Hard pass for me. Prices are a bit high given the portions and quality. But whatever. Don't take my word for it, give them a try for yourself. I've had enough. Unlike their dishes, I'm not salty, just won't be back

Chiko hosted a pop up event for the Lunar New Year and it was absolutely incredible. Every bite was…read moredelectable and ambiance was 10/10. Waiter was super friendly and explained every bite and tea we had. Owner came over and said hello. Would absolutely come back. 10

Overall a nice experience! Order at the counter and everything is brought to you. Staff was all…read morevery polite. It's a bit of a small space and you get hit with the smell of frying oil right when you walk in - but, you get used to it pretty fast. Soy glazed brisket was solid, kimchi was tasty and crisp, pork dumplings were a nice size and had great flavor. The halfacado salad was refreshing, crisp, and had a nice flavor profile with the avocado, radish, and cucumber. Crispy brussel sprouts were as advertised, nice and crispy! Wok blistered green beans were cooked perfectly but lacked flavor oddly enough as they looked like a flavor explosion. Definitely needed at least more salt. Large portions for the small plates!

Pro: moderate size parking lot, clean interior, friendly staff,…read more Con: none. Was looking for a restaurant to try in the Rockville area so, I was sifting through google and happen to find this restaurant. The parking lot is shared by many restaurants but it moderate size so no issue finding a parking space. Upon entering on a Monday at noon time for lunch we were seated fairly quickly. The interior was very clean and modern with nice music playing in the background. We decided to skip the appetizers and instead ordered three entrees which were the boat noodle soup, chicken pad thai, and the crab fried rice. For the boat noodle it had medium spice but don't let that fool you. The first sip of broth had me coughing and birth was flavorful. The pad Thai had a good flavor but the best pad Thai will always be at mi lay cay in Wheaton. Crab fried rice had good portion size and flavor also good. All in all, had a good experience here and would recommend anyone to come and try this place. Will be back in the future to try the different variety of dishes.

I enjoyed Over My Dead Body (fried tilapia) and how it also comes with veggies and a bowl of rice…read more They also deep fry some of the rice which makes you think there's extra fish fillets in there. The Little Hanoi was interesting. I didn't enjoy it much. The Laotian papaya salad was good, but it was overly salty and saucy. I came on a Friday (a day before the holiday) and they didn't have AC, so it was hot inside. The ambiance is also pretty dimmed and mostly using natural lighting. It is a pretty busy restaurant I'd say for being in the corner/back of the shopping center.

One of the first restaurant's to get an A for everything. I couldn't find anything wrong. The…read morefood, ambiance, staff, drinks ect... everything was just perfect.

This was my first ever Blue Sunday! I don't come as often these days but yesterday I stopped by to…read morecatch some of the Spain vs. Argentina game! We arrived right before 3 and a few others were waiting for them to open. Got bar seating and had great service provided by Dre. I love that they do happy hour everyday. The specials are pretty good. I decided to try a new cocktail, well new to me. The "passion promise," which is gin based. It was really good. I might get another this week. We got a few apps and enjoyed the game. By time we left the place was packed. I'm glad to see this location still thriving and doing well! Woot!

I really enjoyed this restaurant. The food was fresh and full of flavor. The staff was friendly,…read moreand the place had a nice atmosphere. I would definitely come back! The mango drink is amazing

Your average indo-chinese - portions are decent but for the price point, I didnt feel like you were…read moregetting a lot for your money. The chicken fried rice was good and I would prob get that again but the general Tso Chicken - where is the chicken? Tastes like all batter and very thick sauce that is hard to get through. Overall, just OK.

If you want a good cocktail, come to Copycat Co for a GREAT cocktail. They have a huge cocktail…read moremenu, filled with drinks I haven't even heard of. The graphic design of the menu is also really cool. This restaurant is a vibe. The music is soooo good here. Upstairs/inside had punk rock and downstairs/outside had R&B. The service was a bit strange outside, but fine overall. If you want indoor seating you'll go upstairs to their bar. If you want to sit in their outside covered patio, you'll continue past the bathrooms and down some more stairs. They have gender neutral single stall restrooms here. We came here after the US v. Australia World Cup game and had a blast. I loved my mojito. My husband and our friend really liked their masterson and four corners drink. We family styled a few dishes. I loved what we ordered. We tried the chili wontons, pork bao, triple delight potstickers, and dan dan noodles. It was a yummy trip at a super trendy place.

Several drinks plus complimentary goldfish…read more My favorite was the maneater The zombie killed me but it was a happy death lol I'll be back