Chef Paolo Dungca has done an incredible job transforming the food hall space at the Block DC into an elegant dining experience. Getting to experience southeast Asian food in a fine dining setting is not very common so as someone southeast Asian myself, it was a super special experience that made me feel like I was getting Michelin star food and sitting in my mom's kitchen at the same time. The 8 course tasting menu is a great deal for the food you get. My favorites were the egg yolk oatmilk custard and the laing cod dish. I went in March and they've already rotated menu items, so I'm definitely interested in going back! read more

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It's exceedingly rare to have the privilege to experience dishes that are fiercely original while, though sheer power, force you to acknowledge their deliciousness. I had four such moments during Hiraya's tasting menu. It's true, a few of the earlier small bites needed further refinement, but dear god, the sunchoke and morel entree was nearly perfect, and the chargrilled monster prawn was an utter triumph. I won't name names, but this is more worthwhile than 80% of the Michelin restaurants in D.C. I will be back. read more

So happy this authentic Filipino restaurant opened up on H Street. It's a great addition to the neighborhood and their creative play on Filipino breakfast and pastries are delicious. read more

Hiraya Cafe - Ube and pandan lattes - Filipino Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The ube latte was yummy, and I enjoyed the ube flan cupcake as well, though there was barely any flan inside. It was pretty busy on a Saturday morning, about 8 people in line, but the drinks and food were served pretty quickly and there's plenty of seating. read more

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After ordering from Hiraya's day time menu 3 times (highly recommend the mushroom breakfast bowl!), we were excited to finally try their dinner menu for a special occasion. Unfortunately, although the service was decent, it was not the experience we had hoped for. Starter: wild mushroom sisig. Generous amounts of diced mushrooms, but quite salty. It would've paired well with rice. Main plate #1: adobong pusit paella (fried calamari). As mentioned by others, the paella was indeed salty and consisted of a very thin layer of rice (imagine 3 horizontal grains of rice stacked on top of each other). With the scarce amount of rice, the squid ink and alioli flavors were too concentrated. Main plate #2: king salmon escabeche. Based on the description, we imagined a balanced flavor, similar to tom yum's sour and slightly sweet profile. The reality was overcooked salmon sitting on top of an off-putting broth, not a "sweet and sour sauce." There was no sweetness detected, and the off-putting broth can only be described as: if the smell of bad fish was liquified. Sadly, this was the least tasty salmon dish (minus the broccolini) we've ever received while dining in. Maybe it was simply a bad batch? Dessert: milo crepe cake. Having enjoyed Milo as a child, I was looking forward to trying this but I agree with other reviews that the crepes are thicker than a standard crepe cake, which is not my preference. Hiraya's take on the crepe cake also incorporates .5" layers of sponge cake, which were regrettably dry. This was very disappointing, but the cream is light and doesn't leave a film residue in your mouth, and the milk jelly was a fun touch. Overall, the experience left something to be desired and was unfortunately not worth $125. Perhaps we'll stick to Hiraya's day time menu in the future, as those experiences were much more noteworthy. (While Hiraya can be a bit pricey, there are certainly items worth trying from their day time menu. The breakfast bowls never steered us wrong: the mushroom bowl is perfection.) read more

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I think this is a really good place. The location is good, the decor is amazing and cozy, and the food is good. I was sad they were out of almost all of the baked items by 3pm on a Saturday, but I'll go back and try later. I had the burger and my husband had the pork belly. The burger was surprisingly good. The ube bun balanced well with the meat. The pork belly tasted good, but had too much of the fat and too little of the meat. The prices were a bit steep, but that's everywhere now. I would go back to try the dessert. read more

Hiraya Cafe - Burger with sweet potato fries - Filipino Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I wanted to love this place cause I adore Filipino food. They didn't disappoint on flavor and service everyone was kind and the food was yummy. However the seating was very crammed. My friends and I had to sit on the edge of plants cause there wasn't enough chairs or tables in the space. Only go with a very small group if you decide to visit. read more

Hiraya Cafe - Delicious Filipino sausage breakfast! - Filipino Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Wow...to say that I was completely and utterly impressed by Hiraya would be an understatement. From the cute and beautifully decorated space, to the friendly and attentive staff, to the delicious and meticulously crafted dishes, everything at Hiraya was absolutely divine. I came here for dinner with my roommate on a Friday night, and it was honestly hard to believe that Hiraya had only opened a few months ago; they seemed to have everything down to a T, with their unique and refined eight-course menu, the incredible speed at which they cleared the table between courses and delivered the next delicious plate, and amazing set of mocktails (and cocktails). Their menu rotates on what seems like a monthly basis, but I'm sure their team of talented chefs will be able to deliver every single offering perfectly. The meal starts with three snacks/appetizers, presented on the most adorable wooden or bamboo tray. For the March 2022 menu, the snacks included puffed rice with squid ink, pimenton, and garlic aioli; miniature toast with foie gras, adobo onion, and chives; and Chef Paolo Dungca's award-winning savory cassava cake with crab fat, lardo, and ikura. Each of these were absolutely delicious and flowed wonderfully into each other. These snacks transitioned perfectly into the next course, an oat milk custard topped with egg yolk, caviar, and pork floss. This was followed by a lighter, more summer/spring-y take on sinigang made with a seared yellowfin tuna in a delightfully sweet, savory, and sour tamarind dashi. The sinigang was followed by three heavier, heartier dishes -- the most beautiful and decadent dumplings filled with foie gras and shrimp, and topped with crab fat mixed with XO sauce, tobiko, and cilantro; a unique take on liang paired with Icelandic cod; a wonderfully elevated bistek that included two slices of ribeye with the most incredible yeasted onion sauce, pureed and sliced beets, and shaved black truffle. We ended the meal with two incredible desserts, including their unique take on a traditional Filipino mango sticky rice made with sago, and sans rival. I particularly loved all three of the initial snacks (especially the puffed rice and cassava cake), the dumplings, and the sago. The sinigang was also a much-appreciated breath of fresh air; it was super refreshing and a great way to break up the otherwise dense/heavy courses. The only thing that I would have changed about the entire experience would have been the ability to make adjustments based on allergies and dietary restrictions. Thankfully, I'm currently pescatarian and am not ~too~ picky about my food coming into contact with meat products (and I had a companion who was more than willing to eat the meat dishes), but I can imagine that it would be tough for anyone with a more stringent diet or with severe allergies to be able to fully enjoy the Hiraya experience. Even so, fully understand why Hiraya isn't able to accommodate these adjustments, considering the level of detail they consider when refining each dish's flavor, especially with how new the restaurant is. I would love to see more flexibility as the restaurant continues to grow. All in all, truly could not recommend Hiraya enough! If these photos and descriptions aren't enough to convince you that their tasting menu is ABSOLUTELY worthwhile, check out their Instagram account @hirayadc for even more beautiful creations. read more

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We ordered the sisig which was delicious. However, I had a mixed experience with the drinks. The hot lattes we ordered were lukewarm and not hot, but the ube horchata was good. read more

Hiraya is certainly a rollercoaster of expectations. Having both an upscale restaurant and cafe/bakery on the bottom floor, the establishment appears to be confused about what it's trying to be. I would have to agree with other reviewers that the food is trying to be high end and is overpriced. I spent about $140 for dinner at the cafe for three "entrees" and a couple of drinks only to find myself cooking more food at home. Felt more like a tapas than an entree and granted I understand the concept of small portion sizing at upscale restaurants but we were dining in the cafe not the restaurant above (feeling lost yet?) Also, with a 22% auto service fee tacked on I would've hoped for the service to be more attentive, but I found myself requesting basic necessities, grabbing the check an absolute nightmare and waiters looking soulless. Having been on the food service industry side myself, the attention and service was simply just not there -- sort of felt robbed to be quite honest. What I ordered: Brunch Ube and Pandan Lattes - underwhelming - think of normal lattes sprinkled with a mild taste of ube or pandan flavoring Breakfast rice bowls (pork and beef) - great/exceptional - garlic rice elevated the experience; Dinner Cauliflower Kare Kare - Decent Ribeye - Few great bites and few bites of fat Calamari Squid Ink Paella - Tasty, maybe a bit on the salty side but the portion size was just way too light for me to appreciate this. Found myself constantly giving Hiraya another shot but I always end up leaving disappointed and feeling that the value for the price paid not to match with my expectations. read more

Hiraya Cafe - Filipino Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Went on only the 4th night since they opened so there were definitely some serious service issues (e.g. they totally skipped a dish but then comp'd a drink to make up for it) ... but this place shows SO MUCH PROMISE. It's weird to have fine dining inside a sectioned off area of a food court but i understand how hard it is to find an affordable rent. They really made the best of the space. The star dish of the night was probably the cod - such a strong an clear crisp flavor to the sauce. Another standout was the aligue pasta with scallops but "squid shaped" rigatoni as a nod to the original. Really creative. Honestly really impressed with the thought and care used to elevate Filipino dishes which are normally associated with home, family style cooking, and make those flavors work for fine dining. Will be rooting for you, chef Paulo! read more

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Food was amazing! No wait, but it did get pretty busy while we dined. Ordered the Tocino, and who doesn't love a perfect fried egg?! Definitely going to visit again soon, maybe for their dinner menu. read more

Hiraya Cafe - Filipino Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Hiraya is so unique! It's Filipino food but fancy What I tried in the 9-course menu: Drinks: Ube Horchata + White Sangria Seasonal Chefs Menu: Ensaymada (sweet brioche, aged smoked cheddar, black truffle butter, Cassava Cake (crab fat, lardo, ikura)+ Maiz (corn fritter, mentaiko, Maryland blue crab) + Custard (asparagus, egg yolk fudge, Kalisz caviar) + Kinilaw (hiramasa, Granny Smith apple, celtuce) + Siomai (foie gras & shrimp dumpling, crab fat xo, tobiko) + Laing (halibut, leeks, bottarga) + Adobong Dilaw (smoked duck, rapini, burnt coconut) + Maia Blanca (sweet corn custard, corn jam, salted caramel popcorn) + Saba Banana (dulce de leche, queso fresco, cheddar cheese ice cream) I enjoyed basically everything except I'm not a huge fan of sour so didn't really enjoy the Kinilaw. First time trying cheddar cheese ice cream! It wasn't as cheesy as I had imagined to be but was definitely interesting! Would go back to try their other seasonal menus :) My instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CifPD8ejryu/ read more

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Great take on modernized Filipino. Took my parents and family and found the dishes not straying too far from the traditional flavors. I recommend trying this place for a change of pace with Filipino cuisine, since you high end versions are hard to come by. Service: 5/5 - water promptly refilled - knowledgeable staff Taste: 5/5 - like a luxurious version of what I grew up with - each course was well seasoned - the kinilaw was slightly more sour than I wanted Texture: 4/5 - mostly perfect - the halibut was a bit over cooked - the duck was not as tender as I've had at other high end restaurants Timing: 3/5 - it took us about 20 min from being seated to get our first course / time between courses was not consistent and felt long greater than 15 min between courses Overall, just timing and texture could be fixed so I do recommend trying Hiraya and am looking forward to their growth! read more

Hiraya Cafe - Ube Horchata - Filipino Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Another amazing creation by paolo dungca. The chef behind bad saint. Kaliwa, pogi boy and sari kucina is back again. His all day cafe is breezy and beautiful. And the food is excellent! Can't wait to try the upstairs high concept restaurant soon! read more

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Love this place! Great for breakfast. The service is exceptional and the outdoor patio perfect.

Got the Turon latte for about $6 based on the barista's recommendation and it was super well made! Would definitely get it again if I wasn't so excited to try the other flavors. There's free wi-fi, a decent amount of outlets, and plenty of tables indoors and outdoors, so a great place to do work. Ambiance is on point as long as you're not looking for somewhere super quiet. I also tried the ube bread pudding toast ($8) which was beautiful and way bigger than I was expecting. The sauce has nice ube flavor- the toast itself I couldn't detect the ube but as a bread pudding toast it was still good. I'll definitely be back and am looking forward to trying some of their regular food options soon! read more

Hiraya Cafe - ube bread pudding toast ($8) - Filipino Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Awesome drinks and pastries! Get there early because it fills up fast. Good pricing compared to competitors read more

Hiraya Cafe - Tiramisu bun - Filipino Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

In my traveling, there is nothing I love more than stumbling into a treasure by accident. I was looking at Washington DC's restaurant week offerings when @hirayadc popped up on my browser. Funnily enough, I was just arguing with Ray about his disinterest in Filipino food and his reluctance to try more of it so I figured an upscale version could definitely change his mind. So we opted to join them for Saturday night dinner. When we walked in, I immediately noticed the little touches of "kababayan" in the decor: the wicker chairs, the ceiling fans made of wood, the paintings depicting rural community life. I heard the low murmur of Tagalog from patrons and staff alike. I felt like I was walking into my old dining room in the Philippines. And it definitely felt like family. The drinks were excellent, incorporating flavors of calamansi and buko pandan with creative twists of apertivo and bubbles. Both nostalgic and edgy. The food was exactly as I hoped: familiar yet forward. From the first bite of the crab lumpia with caviar starter, I knew we were in for a culinary adventure. Dishes like cassava cake with aligue (crab fat), hamachi kinilaw, and chicken liver toast teased the taste buds for the richer courses. The sirloin prepared adobo-style and paired with garlic rice was simply superb. All that was missing was a fried egg! The desserts were perfect: Black Forest cake and their spin on a flan made with coffee and caramel. We were even given a small surprise of cantaloupe granita with cheese and jellied fruit, which was so refreshing! And to finish off the evening, we got to taste their exclusive rum made in collaboration with @cottonandreed. It was so good, we ended up taking a bottle home with us. To Chef @paolodungca and his crew at Hiraya, I thank you for an unforgettable evening. You filled my belly with amazing food and my mind with forgotten memories. It is an experience I would not soon forget. I am looking forward to returning to Hiraya with the whole family next time! read more

Really fantastic and original food, the tofu was incredible and I'm not usually a fan of tofu. The portions were also very generous and the service was fantastic. read more

Delicious food, really interesting. Brioche egg sandwich and pastry were savory and yummy. Lattes were excellent and works of art. Very cool ambience. read more

Ambiance was definitely trendy and the drinks although expensive were definitely great including calamansi iced tea and unfortunately they did not have the Ube horchata but had ube with iced milk which was good. Had the Caesar salad which was well made not drowning in salad dressing. Mushroom breakfast bowl was just okay. It needed more salt and flavor. The mushrooms were just deep fried. To qualify we did have it without the egg. Service was fast as I was taking out and people were nice service wise. read more

Hiraya Cafe - Menu - Filipino Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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(Amone x Hiraya - Nov 19th review) This was perhaps one of the most disappointing prefix dinners I've had. It was a one night only prefix meal for $110/person not including a 22% service charge + tax. 1. Raw food. Three separate plates of prawns were raw. The prawn in one plate was mostly raw while the prawns in the other two plates were partially raw. It's a pretty big blunder to screw up three separate plates of food. Aside from the kaya dessert and the rockfish, all the other dishes were subpar. 2. Service was below par. We were not given any utensils. We had to ask several servers on three separate occasions before we received a complete set of utensils. We also had to keep asking for water. 3. The bathroom looked like a trashed bathroom in a club. This is not a review of Hiraya's regular menu. I like Hiraya as a cafe, but I would never ever go back for a special table service. Amone x Hiraya was a disaster. I really wanted to like it as a proud Pinoy, but this was an utterly terrible experience. I will continue to support the cafe though! read more

Filipino American History Month in October. Ordered Thursday lunch through ToastTab pick up. OG Cheeseburger w Kamote fries delish but I personally would order without sauce next time. (Didn't like the sour tasting burger sauce) Makulay Latte was hot & smooth. read more

Truly a disappointing experience. The famed Filipino fare has been reduced to the palates of the bland group. We had high hopes for this restaurant and came out extremely confused. Tapsilog- no flavor except the oil that was used to fry it. Heirloom rice: no flavor, could've used more garlic Truffle Ensaymada: the worst! It was brioche with butter.... that's it. Pandan Latte: The only saving grace Tocilog- no flavor, no sweetness, no character Atsara: another miniscule saving grace Ni loco moco: Where's the gravy? it should be smothered or decently sauced. The price: TOO outrageous for the food. It only justified the fancy decor. If you want to experience authentic Filipino food just do a quick travel to MD or VA. Its def worth the travel. If you still want to check out Hiraya.... go with someone willing to pay for you. The $60 for tapsilog, latte, and ensaymada is robbery. read more

Went to Hiraya on a Saturday evening. Located inside the Block DC. Good amount of street parking available near the area and also garage parking as well. Had an AMAZING 8-course dinner - every single dish and detail was beautifully presented and well thought out. The nicest servers helped guide us every step of the way. A taste explosion with every bite! So impressed with chef Paolo and his ability to elevate Filipino cuisine to such a high level. Added bonus: Since I rarely venture out to DC, Pogiboy and Picoletto are located in the same building and we were able to get some food to go before they closed. Loved every single item we got! Can't wait to go again! read more

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Great food but poor service. The gentleman who took my order misheard the type of bowl I ordered. When they brought me the wrong bowl and I mentioned it, confused, the gentleman approached my table and confronted me, saying he confirmed my order and that's what I said. I felt embarrassed and did not appreciate being publicly shamed for a simple miscommunication. read more

A solid coffee and light food spot. I've only been for breakfast brunch time (cannot speak for dinner). The lattes are all 10/10, even non caffeine items are delicious. Guava and cheese pastry is a must get, calamansi toast also delicious. The egg and brisket breakfast sandwich is delicious as well. On weekends can get a little crowded depending on timing, but on a weekday for a work hour situation very good and playlist solid. read more

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When you think of a Food Hall, you may not often associate it with a "Dining Experience", but the team at Hiraya has broken the stigma of a Food Hall and put together an amazing experience! The team at Hiraya has transformed a mezzanine level area into an inspiring and comfortable space to enjoy their wonderful collection of Filipino native dishes. This is combined with a great selection of mock-tail beverages to complement the amazing cuisine. The eight course meal is well presented and worth the trip to DC to experience the flavor and cuisine. The team is knowledgeable on all of the dishes and it is great to hear about the history of the dish and how it ties to the Filipino culture. The eight course experience starts off with three great snacks. I could have merely consumed three trays of these delicious snacks and been satisfied, but that is just the "Warm Up" act. The dishes on the menu exceeded my expectations and left me with a great experience from the Filipino culture. I would recommend a reservation at Hirya. They are only open a few days a week, so plan in advance before and don't miss out on this great dining experience. read more

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Did the spring tasting menu at Hiraya with friends in from out of town and it was spectacular. Our server navigated the meal for us beautifully and was very personable. The upstairs restaurant is beautifully designed and the open concept kitchen moves like a well oiled machine. The food is incredible - a true reimagining of Filipino cuisine that honors the flavors and traditions of the different regions. Can't wait to go back! read more

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Great place, great ambiance and wonderful food options. Must try for anyone wanting to try unique dishes.

The ube cheesecake is the BEST cheesecake I ever had! Coffee drinks, pastries, and breakfast sandwiches and bowls were all tasty. What's not to like. read more

The staff was really friendly and nice and i enjoyed the atmosphere there a lot. I wish I could have ordered more because everything was very delicious. read more

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Been here twice and it's an absurdly overpriced gimmick with shady prices. Their "rainbow" lattes are made with cheap, burnt-tasting espresso. Truly not good. The real SCAM was the Longanisa burger (overcooked) which was 20 bucks on the menu. Somehow when I ordered a diet coke the bill came to $34. This was counter service and there was no option to leave a tip, but clearly the barista decided to leave one for me. So nice of him! Avoid this place and go to Maketto instead. read more

Craving for some Filipino food?!! Come and check HIRAYA out‼ located at the Block DC Food hall. Check their Instagram account @hirayadc to see what's up!!! Well, I've attached photos (just simple ss from the videos I took) so you will have an idea on the presentation and amount of good food that you're gonna get!!! (I was drooling again just by looking at it while doing this review! ) These pictures won't even do justice with the delicious food that they had serve! So there only 4 photos of the food but take note, this is an 8-course meal!!! So it's really worth the try and come back for more!!! I highly recommend for the food lovers out there, come check them out!! you'll be amazed with the kind of service, hospitality and food they offer!! read more

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Hiraya has got to be one of the best fine dining restaurants I've been to! The restaurant has a pleasant ambiance. The food was delicious! Each of Hiraya's dishes has a unique flavor. Not to mention, the food was soooo fresh! I'm truly amazed by how yummy this 8 course is!!! If I had to pick a favorite, it would be the Adobong Dilaw dish. The lamb was so delicious. I also recommend getting their wine pairing with the 8 course. It really pairs well with the food! 100000/10 recommend Hiraya! read more

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Wonderful food... not unexpected for the price point. Service was exceptional as they were very attentive and personal at each course offering. The meal is wonderful-- each dish evokes a particular childhood memory, sometimes a play on the dish. Chef Paolo was sweet to come out at the end of service and chat with us. A nice, homey feel to a wonderful dinner service! read more

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Me and my friends visited this restaurant while visiting DC. Good thing It was a couple of miles 15 minute drive from the monument. The place looks great and the service is good. The waiter recommended what is their best recipe ŵhich is the pancit canton that turned out okay. I give 3.5 stars for it though. The best is the fried black rice which amazingly delicious. The porkchop dinuguan is No. I do not know what is the intention of this menu item. They named it Pork chop Dinuguan but did not used blood, I thought it was squid ink, it should have been named simply as a pork chop. Sisig is good although i am still expecting to taste the real pork meat instead of mushroom I thought mushroom should be great for a non Filipino diners. How do I describe my dining experience? Great venue, good service but not a wow factor on food. We did not try their drinks and dessert but they sèem great. read more

Hiraya is a old tagalog word meaning dream or aspiration, That is what we are tasting in the 7 course menu curated by one of the trailblazing chefs of the filipino food movement here in America, chef paolo dungca. Every dish has its own story, a taste of his past or an idea that came to him while eating, the execution of each dish is a reflection of his meticulous methods of cooking, taste are familiar but new. A mix of i had this before, with i didnt know that could go together, the more i eat the more im tasting his dreams coming into fruition on my plate. Simple yet modern, its not a complete change of filipino flavors, but a slight push to modernization of the cuisine. read more

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Such a fun, cute restaurant. Went for lunch during a weekday so can't speak to the weekend crowds, but there were ample tables available without a wait. The servers were very attentive and polite. We tried some of the bowls (tocino and longganisa) as well as the burgers and everything was extremely tasty and well-seasoned. The sweet potato fries were perfect - so often they are soggy and oily, but not here! Crisp and lovely. Don't skip the drinks! The ube latte did not disappoint. My kids enjoyed the ube horchata for a caffeine-free option. As an added bonus, there's a parking lot directly across the street which was super convenient, and it charges based on when you end parking so you there's never need to add time or feel pressed. Just as an aside: if you are ordering the bowls for any small children or if you are averse to spice, the pickled veggies that come with do include a few spicy peppers. read more