Tell me you want an understated luxe vibe for a special occasion that won't soon be forgotten without telling me... What a fantastic bday dinner for my husband! Food/drinks: not a bad thing consumed! We each did two cocktails (the go bananas was great for the banana and pb-lover), the bread plate, and five dishes (too much food but all fantastic). Hub's fave: gnocchi and sweet potato. My fave: prawns. Also worth while (in order of my preference): rice cakes, eggplant, and the wagyu beef roll. Don't sleep on the gluten free bread (not on the menu). Oh and the special bday cake! Service: Fantastic! Marisol was helpful and patient. Their support navigating and accommodating GF and dairy free was chef's kiss. The whole team ensured we had an experience. What I loved the most is that we had excellent service but wasn't stuffy. Ambiance: You can walk by it easily and not even notice this three-room restaurant is right there! Each room has a different vibe; we were placed in room three: intimate, moody lighting, like someone nice living room. Thank you to Moon Rabbit for a night we won't forget anytime soon. Truly deserves all the stars. read more

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I started with the Go Bananas cocktail. It was a peanut butter and banana cocktail. He said it was sweet but I didn't think so. I liked it a lot. We decided to order the tasting menu and the salmon appetizer. The apps were amazing. Loved the pate on a Madeline, delicious and a future idea for a dinner party. The shrimp croquette with pickled mango was awesome too. Loved the bread with all the salts. Honestly the menu is a blur but I still can't stop talking about it and recommending the restaurant and the tasting menu to my friends. I want to return! Service was perfect. Wish the place had a little more ambiance. It was a bit bright for me. read more

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I went for a friend's birthday and we all had the chefs tasting (fyi, everyone must participate) and WOW, what an incredible meal from start to finish. To start, the bread. It was such a perfect start to an amazing meal. The chefs tasting is a hodge podge of everything on the menu. They can accommodate dietary restrictions (we vegetarian and pescatarian confirmed), but it's best to call ahead and confirm. The amount of small bites turned out to be so much and we enjoyed every last bite. One particular side I was obsessed with was the rice. It was sweet and savory and beautiful as well--purple, orange, and green. Asking our server, he explained the thorough baking process and we were blown away. It explains why we enjoyed it so much! Also, shout out on the fish and eggplant mains. They were so great. Also, separate round of applause for the desserts. My favorite was the chocolate dessert with foam and boba. Everything was just wonderful! We were able to get the story on the naming of moon rabbit, and our server Jose was spectacular. The restaurant had a very laid back vibe and aesthetic, making it a very comfortable experience. While several tables are seated together in the same room, you never actually felt it. I had an amazing time and still think about every bite happily. read more

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Incredible staff and service. Lots of interesting dishes. My friend wanted to do the taste of Vietnam for her birthday. I was hesitant due to the price and due to not knowing exactly which dishes would be served. They did at least observe a pescatarian option. The menu ended up being very satisfying, but it was expensive, and cocktails are expensive, and then they imposed a 20% tip AND taxed after tip. I felt pretty scammed, because the price is already so high. Taxing after the high price and a forced 20% tip seems very cruel. We enjoyed the dipping sauce cocktail, the old quarter, and the golden prosperity. Favorite dishes included the taro bread, the bamboo, the rice cooked in coconut milk, the lemongrass pork (for the two meat eaters,) the snapper, and the mango chocolate dessert. read more

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We were wandering around exploring Chinatown and the National Portrait Gallery and randomly found Moon Rabbit. There were only 2 of us and we did not have a reservation but they were nice enough to seat us right away at the bar. It is a lively place, lots of friends gathering, celebrations, but a fair number of solo diners sitting up at the bar ordering the chef's tasting menu. I mentioned to our server that I do try to avoid dairy if possible so she marked our menu with the options that do contain dairy, and which ones have dairy free substitutions. We had the Taro Milk Bread (which does have dairy) with the culantro butter, which was a gorgeous sweet/spicy combination. The stuffed leaves were very flavorful, with wagyu beef and pickled shallots. Our favorite was the lemongrass pork, which was perfectly charred on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside, with an xo jus that was absolutely perfect. Wonderful experience. read more

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Amazing chef's menu experience of 6 dishes -- standout cocktails Old Quarter and mocktail Life of a Showgirl. They had complimentary bag check at the reception table which was a nice touch, and the pick up tag was a Pokemon card from the chef's collection! read more

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Moon Rabbit gets better and better every time I go, and it started out excellent. It's become one of my favorite places in the DMV. The food is just so creative, beautiful, and delicious. I loved all the dishes especially the mochi beignets. And as someone who loves New Orleans, I was thoroughly charmed by the rice that comes with the pork - it's Mardi Gras colors - and so yum. The staff is very skilled, as well. Try as many dishes as you can. read more

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Solo Diner Review: If you're going to Moon Rabbit as a solo diner, I highly recommend getting the Chef's Tasting menu. Much like tapas, Moon Rabbit's menu has many exciting options for shared plates, but they don't always lend themselves well to solo dining experience. However, I found the tasting menu to be, far and away, a delicious and cost effective alternative at $96. I had an early reservation (5pm) on a weeknight before a show at the Shakespeare Theatre. It's a super convenient location for a pre-theatre meal, right near the Gallery Place Metro station and around the corner from multiple theaters, museums, and the arena. The dining room is furnished with natural cool tones and I enjoyed perusing their bookshelves of novelties while I dined. The only thing slightly confusing was the number of choices. Cocktail or wine pairing? Tasting menu or a la carte? Even within the tasting menu there was a choice of entree. These are definitely first world problems, but it did feel slightly overwhelming at the start of my meal. Standout dishes were the Banh Sua (fluffy with surprisingly umami pork floss on top), Hoanh Thanh Cuu Non (black vinegar, garlic, and lamb wontons), and the Che Khuc BAch (with pandan, Asian pear, and kumquat for a delightfully tropical dessert in the middle of winter). Being there on a weeknight meant people coming from work and wearing their work clothes, but everyone looked business casual or nicer. Bathrooms were single stalls at the back of the bar area. Staff was friendly and welcoming -- constantly refilling my water glass and engaging me in light conversation. Definitely worth coming back for another visit! read more

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I love the Vietnamese flavors (not pictured is the lemongrass pork, which was flavorful and delicious), but I really missed the old menu from when Moon Rabbit was at the Wharf. I think my judgement might be a little clouded by that, but I thought there was more focus on the Vietnamese dishes and less on fine dining. There were some really cool techniques - like the almost mochi like gnocchi and their take on corn bread (sweet and savory and definitely a must try). Also their bar program is stellar! I would rate that higher than any of the dishes we had. If I was in the area and there was a free seat at the bar, I would grab one just for a cocktail or glass of wine. The ambience is cozy, approachable... unfortunately the price tag is not. Honestly, the one thing I dislike the most is a hefty price tag that leaves we wondering what the heck I ordered and still feeling hungry. Everything is shared plates which I find it hard for places to do at a reasonable price where the you actually leave sufficiently full... I am not asking for stuffed, I am asking to just feel like I ate a meal. Fortunately - that corn bread was so good, we had another one for dessert and that did the trick. Bottom line: Would I go back? Not in a hurry, which sucks because I was so looking forward to this. I have seen some excellent reviews of their tasting menu, so I may give that a go during one of the restaurant weeks... read more

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Had a lovely experience at Moon Rabbit. It's quite rare to find a restaurant in DC that has great quality food that cannot be found elsewhere while offering a price point that is fair. The service is top notch too... the waiters care about your experience and are happy to provide their two cents on items. Lastly, their indoor space was plentiful where there were always seats taken (I had to book my reservation months ahead) I definitely recommend others to check this place out! read more

Really great dinner at moon rabbit. I was able to book a reservation about a week before dining. I got a few plates and enjoyed all of them. I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu. I wish I ordered more Vietnamese type of dishes since most of the things I ordered were not. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful and spacious. read more

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One of the best Vietnamese fancy meals I've had. Everything was amazing, from the meals to the service to the food and drinks. Very cool modern and eclectic takes on Vietnamese food. Me and my friends thoroughly enjoyed it. What we got were all excellent in no certain order: Summer roll Chili saté beans Curry prawns Pâté chaud with rabbit Fried quail with tomato rice Sweet potato and crab Boudin noir Octopus with blood sausage Grandmas candy jar Have you eaten yet? Duck Around read more

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What an amazing experience! I love how well Moon Rabbit utilized traditional, staple Vietnamese ingredients and turning it into not only such creative dishes, but the cocktails here are truly one of a kind! Junior greeted us with choice of water, not only made sure our utensils were changed out through every course..but he is phenomenal in creating such a warm atmosphere simply by bringing his personality to the restaurant. He truly made the evening special and can tell he holds his role to high level. We got to experience Moon Rabbit during Restaurant Week, in which we opted in for the 7 course meal. Seven Courses - $105 -Bánh Sữa milk bread, toasted sesame, coconut butter -Tép Mơ salt & pepper pork cracklin, chili vinegar water -Gỏi Cua maryland crab tartlet, citrus, tahini, sambal, herbs -Bánh Bắp Xào corn hushpuppies, spring onions, shrimp salt, tartar -Cá Ngừ Sống seared tuna, coconut tiger milk, puffed amaranth, avocado -Thịt Kho Tàu braised pork belly, tamarind fish sauce, cucumber -Mì Tôm Xào Xả Ốt BBQ shrimp, temomi, lemongrass, chili, rice panko Entree -Cá Hấp Hành Gừng steamed king salmon, black vinegar, ginger; herbs, daikon -Thịt Bò Sốt Tiêu Đen black pepper beef, charred gai lan, escabeche Dessert -Cơm Kem jasmine rice sorbet, Satsuma Granita, citrus, shiso Bánh Quả Hồng saigon cinnamon spiced cake, persimmon, bergamot curd, coconut-ginger ice cream, sesame caramel Every dish was so special! I LOVED the little "snacks" we got to much on before diving into starters and entrée. The milk bread was so fluffy and the incorporation of coconut butter complimented it so well and coconut being a commonly used ingredients it was the perfect touch. The Thịt Kho Tàu (Pork Belly) reminiscent of so so many childhood meals. So comforting and to see that Moon Rabbit kept it very traditional and did not change it up is special. The pork belly was so soft and tender. The Mì Tôm Xào Xả Ốt, was perfectly cooked, creamy, lemongrass goodness! Both of the dessert were the perfect ending and persimmons always takes me back to childhood so I appreciate the deconstructed dessert of it. Beautifully presented. We were also given a complimentary coffee cream puff, which was divine! For cocktails, there was no way we were not going to try one that contained 'fish sauce' it was a must! We got the Hết Nước Chấm | Out Of Dipping Sauce haku japanese vodka, chinola passionfruit liqueur, lemon, nước chấm syrup "contains fish sauce This drink was delicious. You can definitely taste the faint fish sauce in there but it was balanced out perfectly with flavors of lemon and passionfruit. My absolute favorite drink from the three we did try is Phố Cổ | Old Quarter toasted rice infused michter's rye, pandan syrup, angostura bitters The toasted rice infused michter's rye was truly amazing and special. It also reminded me faintly of "rice wine" but in a bourbon rye version. Lastly, I also go the Vịt Quay | Duck Around duck fat washed angel's envy bourbon, house blended amaro, black pepper tincture, tamari The presentation for this was truly unique ans thought out. There was a quail egg a top of the drink and it was poured at table from a bottle that resembled a fish sauce bottle. Creative! The drinks here are truly so unique and cannot wait to come back again! read more

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Second time visiting Moon Rabit and experiencing their tasting menu! The flavors felt elevated from my first experience 1.5 years ago. The chef & team continue to surprise and impress with their creativity with traditional Vietnamese dishes. We were sat in a different area this time around and the space was well organized, designed, and spaced out. Looking forward to another tasting menu experience. read more

Moon Rabbit - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Not bad, but not worth all of the hype IMHO. We were so excited to snag a reservation, but found the ambiance to be quite LOUD, tables very close together which made meaningful conversation challenging to say the least. Service was OK. The food was very pretty to look at - but we both found it lacking in any wow factor for flavor and the high price tag. I think we maybe expected too much from all of the hype, but I don't believe we will return. read more

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A memorable meal We enjoyed every plate and cocktail. We debated whether to try the Chef's menu or order à la carte. Our party of 4 opted for the à la carte menu to ensure that we were able to taste some specific dishes. No regrets. The cocktails are unique and delicious. The Quail Egg garnish in the Duck Around added a pleasant contrast. The ingredients in every dish produced an array of flavors. Every plate was presented with a description. It was difficult to pick out the best plates - everything was exceptional. Be sure to order the Cassava Corn Bread, it was unexpectedly a highlight. Our server was helpful and attentive. The room is bright and comfortable. read more

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I had a wonderful celebratory meal at Moon Rabbit during my trip to DC! Drawing from Chief Tien's Vietnamese roots and Louisiana influence, it is no wonder how they got their Michelin star and top-50 North American restaurant title! They offer a chef's tasting menu with cocktail pairing as a option, but we opted for a la carte. My partner and I were very intrigued and tried a lot of their dishes/drinks so please bear with my lengthy review. =Food -Water Fern Rice Cake: chewy rice cakes that weren't too grainy with a mixture of aromatic mushrooms, XO, and herbs. Be sure to get some sauce to maximize the balance of savory, fishiness, and sweetness. -Grilled Bamboo: a highlight of my meal! I haven't really had whole bamboo, let alone grilled liked this. I loved how it was tender but still preserved the crunchy fibrous bites. The confit leeks and mushrooms soaked up the sauce and chimichurri that was both simultaneously spicy and sweet. Don't forget to add an herb leaf to your bite! -Sweet Potato & Crab: another highlight of my meal! I'm not a huge tomato person so I was worried it would be too tomato-y for me. To my surprise, the sauce reminded me of a creamy lobster bisque/ramen broth instead. The crab and the sauce complemented the chewy QQ tapioca gnocchi. Wish I had more gnocchi pieces to soak up the sauce! -Mochi Beignet: interesting combination of flavors but not sure if I'd re-order next time. The beignet's were chewy and the eel pieces were good. Didn't quite match the sourness of the pickled carrots/radish. -Pâté Chaud: It was my first time trying rabbit meat, and it tasted like a mix between chicken and pork. Meat was tender and the pastry was flaky, although I wish it was warmer. The accompanying green sauce and carrot agrodolce respectively added a nuttiness and sweetness to the pastry. -Lemongrass Pork: pork slices were very tender and well seasoned. I really enjoyed their version of XO sauce, especially with the hint of umaminess, dried shrimp, and spice. The sticky rice interesting was sweet but very fluffy. =Drinks -Lotus: light whiskey-based drink with a sweet profile (likely from the lemongrass syrup) -Have You Eaten Yet?: reminded me of a purple sticky rice dessert but blended up. Its thick with prominent purple yam and rice flavors. The herbacious (likely from the gin?) and citrus taste helps cut the richness. -Golden Prosperity: loved the sweet, but not-too-sweet mango aperol and mint flavors -Phở Đặc Biệt: definitely smelled like pho and tasted like pho broth! The star anise and other familiar herbs came out towards the middle. Loved the concept and execution! -Out of Dipping Sauce: tasted more sweet cause of the passion fruit; couldn't really tell the presence of nước chấm fish sauce -Old Quarter: strong toasted rice aroma and pandan flavors but a little too strong for me =Dessert -Seaweed: while I've had seaweed-based desserts, I've never had the combo of seaweed and chocolate! The pandan/coconut creme and panna cotta were both very tasty by itself. The three different types of seaweed offered interesting textural contrast against the smooth cream, iciness of the granita, and the crunchy chocolate crumble. -Pandan cake: strong pandan and coconut flavors; the lemon cream on top was too sour for me. Appreciated this free cake along with a hand-written card from the executive chef/beverage director! Staff members were all very nice and polite. They provided great recommendations and thorough explanations. A 20% service charge is already included in your bill. The restaurant is pretty big with 3 separate sections. I love how Chef Tien showcases his kids' artwork. Open Table says there is a dress code of business casual but not sure how strictly they reinforce it because guests were wearing a range of outfits. If I'm in town again, I'd love to come back for any special occasions! read more

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Had the absolute pleasure of dining at Moon Rabbit on 01/28/2026, during Restaurant Week while my husband and I celebrated our 11 year dating anniversary. My husband and I both chose the 5 course menu with an additional order of their bread course. Let's start with the food -- enjoyed every bite. Personally, my favorite dish was the Cajun-esque shrimp pasta. It was one of the best pastas I've had in a long time and the spice level was perfect. My second favorite bite was the crab tartlet which to my dismay was just a little taster so we only had 1 each, yet, that was one of my favorite flavor profiles. The milk bread itself deserves a mention because it was so delicious, soft, slightly sweet - a real gem. Overall nothing went wrong food wise. Service - impeccable. They have a coat check which is great given the weather this week and we never had to look for someone to refill our water - which is one of my restaurant pet peeves. Ambiance - it was light and airy, it was simply decorated but effective to make you feel at home and somehow also elevate the space. Many people we knew had either recommended this spot or had mentioned it was on their list to check out. Rightfully so. Go check it out! read more

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Moon Rabbit Overall Rating: (5/5 Stars) Vietnamese food is here to stay. The chefs blend comfort and fine dining in a way that feels both familiar and elevated. Add a cocktail menu that's just as intentional as the food, and you've got a well-rounded experience that actually delivers. Restaurant Week Dinner Menu (5 courses, $85) : We also received a few complimentary extras. * Bánh Sữa: The greatest bread and butter in the world? Would it be crazy to say yes? Because it truly might be. * Gỏi Cua: Simple, fresh, and comforting. Familiar flavors done well. * Bánh Bắp Xào: You really can't go wrong with a hushpuppy. Crispy outside, moist inside. Exactly how it should be. * Tép Mơ: An elevated chip-and-dip moment that was unexpectedly delicious. * Extra Surprise Dish: I'm not usually a rice cake fan, but the sauce and mushroom topping were so good I found myself scraping the plate. * Cá Ngù Sống: Perfect! No notes. * Thịt Kho Tàu: You can't tell from the photo, but there was a generous portion of some of the most tender, flavorful pork belly I've had in a long time. * Mì Tôm Xào Xả Ớt: My least favorite dish. I wanted more from it, because the flavors didn't spark my palate like the others. * Cá Hấp Hành Gừng: Salmon cooked beautifully. The sauce paired with the daikon was deeply satisfying. * Thịt Bò Sốt Tiêu Đen: Wagyu cooked perfectly, with another standout sauce moment. * Palate cleanser* * Bánh Quả Hồng: Not a fan of the cake itself, but I enjoyed the ice cream and accompanying elements. * Off-menu dessert: I don't eat chocolate, but my friend was very happy. Service: You can always feel when a restaurant operates at a high level, and Moon Rabbit absolutely does. The staff knew the menu inside and out, plate clearing was perfectly timed, and the pacing of courses felt effortless. Seamless service from start to finish. Disclaimer: These are my personal opinions. Please try these restaurants and form your own judgments--it's what I would do. IG: @_edaj_ TikTik: @_edaj_jade_ read more

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Truly amazing!!! Highly recommend checking out this place for elevated Vietnamese food and if you need a place to celebrate and treat yourself! They are very accommodating and friendly here :-) We did the Chef's Visit to Vietnam by Chef Kevin Tien and his team for $89. They made sure we were satisfied, and we were! The space is very warm and pretty. They started us off with complimentary wine (and spirit-free for those who don't drink) for all 8 of us!! I really loved the Canh Chua mocktail. It's basically exactly the tamarind tomato soup but cold n_n I even got to enjoy some Thỏ Ngọc (Jade). You can really taste the osmanthus with the soursop. The savory portion consisted of Cassava Corn Bread with coconut milk butter, an off-menu tuna tartare, an off-menu pate croquettes, Pâté Chaud (braised rabbit, black truffle), Stuffed Leaf (wagyu beef), Amberjack Crudo, Sweet Potato & Crab (Bún Riêu), Red Snapper, and Lemongrass Pork. All were so good! My favorites are Cassava Corn Bread, Amberjack Crudo, Sweet Potato & Crab, and Red Snapper. The sweet portion really blew our minds because they gave us 6 different desserts to try, which is so generous. AND they were all so innovative and delicious!! They served us a sorbet palette cleanser (only for tasting menu) that was sooo nice and refreshing. The dessert portion consisted of Curry (green curry sponge cake, avocado sorbet), Durian (mousse), Seaweed (pandan panna cotta), and a mango chocolate mousse. Y'ALL IT DOESN'T STOP THERE. We received 3 tiny sweet bites each: fruity marshmallow, pork floss ball, and a fudge. I enjoyed every single one of them. I was beyond full. I will be coming back!! read more

Moon Rabbit was hands down one of the best meals we've had in a long time. Every dish was incredibly unique, with bold, thoughtful flavors that felt both creative and perfectly balanced. The spring rolls set the tone for the night, and somehow each dish just kept getting better from there. The crab was outstanding, and the pork chop was a true standout--rich, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. Absolutely one of our new favorite spots in DC. Can't wait to come back and work through more of the menu. read more

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Get the nuoc mam cocktail! There's a reason the BAR also has a Michelin star All the servers and service we received was fantastic read more

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I visited back in October last year. The innovative menu has some tiny misses but is too good to not give 5 stars because I'd seek this place out again if I'm in D.C. Service wasn't the best, but I'm fairly easy to please so it hardly factors into this review (one example: lowkey got some attitude when I asked to see the dessert menu so I could plan for it later). Like any other place though, I could live without the mains. They're worth a try if you must have something, but I enjoyed the smaller plates more. The following dishes fed 3 people. A little on the pricier side, but not surprising for D.C. Overall, the plating is chaotic with a lot of herbs (which does feel very Vietnamese) and sometimes visually it's overwhelming and makes things hard to split/share. Charred eggplant ($23): A slight letdown to eat due to the sharp shards of skin and big leaves. Not easy to share. Summer corn pasta ($29): One of my favorite dishes. The pasta had the texture of the softest rice cakes and the umami from the shrimp with the sweetness of the corn made this a dish I could just keep eating. Fried quail and tomato rice ($30+): good. The clementine dollops were a little too big with not enough rice. Soft and juicy bird. Pâté Chaus (rabbit, $32): delicious au jus, but the inside was just like a meatball which was meh. Crust was delicious and presentation was fun. Snapper ($32): good, soft fish. I had one bite with a lot of salt but otherwise it was flavorful and worked well with the sauces. Desserts-- all well-presented and certainly intriguing. Curry ($18): I just got this because I couldn't resist a savory-ish dessert, but I can't remember much about it. Tomato ($19): The herbs made this a little chaotic and were honestly unnecessary, but still a fine dessert. Durian ($19): The mix of mousse and granita is never my favorite. I would've rather just had a lot of durian flavor and the passionfruit in some other form. read more

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We went to celebrate my birthday which was such a treat! Literally had a ratatouille food critic moment (the movie) when it bought me back to my mom's cooking. We decided to order several dishes instead. Very attentive with cleaning in between and changing out for fresh plates and utensils. The decor is soooo pretty. Taro Milk Bread (Banh Khoi Mo) - a must Grilled Bamboo (Mang Noung) - sweet, massive portion for two Sweet Potato and Crab (Bun Rieu)- one of my favorites! very flavorful and the tapioca gnocchi was perfect texture. taste rich like my moms soup Fried Quail and Tomato Rice (Chim Cut Chien) - it was a little dry but the flavors were there Lemongrass Pork (Thit Heo Nuong Sa) - taste 10x better than the regular Vietnamese restaurant thit com dish. What a lovely twist with the rice to pay tributes to NOLA Drinks: Het Nuoc Cham - it wasnt my favorite but not the worse. Vit Quay- like an old fashioned, rec Next time, would like to try go bananas and midnight ca phe on the dessert list. Then they finished off the evening with a birthday celebration. Thank you Moon Rabbit. read more

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Fantastic meal We did the tasting menu for four of us which gave us several appetizers, four entrees and several desserts. Each one was better than the next The service was great also! read more

Moon Rabbit - Selection of appetizers - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I enjoyed this restaurant, the service was great, ambiance was great, it was clean. We got the tasting menu and I don't recommend it, didn't think it was worth the $90. It's good if you don't wanna pick and think about it but you're probably gonna leave hungry. Also one of the drinks has a huge square ice cube so you're paying $20 for basically ice. read more

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The hype was right about Moon Rabbit. Can't believe it took me so long to eat here. Good food, good service, creative and tasty drinks, awesome desserts! Feels like one of those places where you can't go wrong on anything you order! read more

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The food was exquisite. We had the Cassava corn bread, which was luscious and sweet, Charred Eggplant with miso tamarind glaze, shaved kholrabi and turmeric tofu crisps, and the Szechuan spiced red snapper with perfectly charred caulini. From the first bite it was good to savor. Oh, so delicious! The price was not bad for downtown DC for such delicious fare, $100 for everything above plus a fragrant passion fruit green tea including gratuity. Our meal was a birthday dinner. The two of us left feeling we had made an excellent choice. Hats off to the chef, Kevin Tien! read more

Moon Rabbit - Red snapper - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This was one of my most exceptional fine dining experiences ever! Note this is a Michelin guide restaurant. Think of this as an innovative take on modern Vietnamese food. It's also my first time dining at a restaurant where I was given a chance to try every dish on the menu, even some off the menu dishes as well! We dined here on Saturday night with a party of 6. After having dined here, I realized food will never taste the same again. A big thank you for the staff for their hospitality from front to back. The servers were attentive with the orders, the introductions to every dish well delivered, and our drinks were always refreshed or topped. They checked on us after every dish, whether we enjoyed it and the flow of food was constant. For the first time, I can say you have to try the food here as my photos do not do it justice. I suggest trying their tasting menu, so you can get a sampling of a variety of dishes. Here are a few of the standout dishes, I'll leave the rest for your dining experience so you can write about it yourself. I cannot even begin to describe how wonderful the food is, once it hits your palette with the pairing of other sides/accompaniment, you'll understand. Just save this list for when you're ready to go: * Cassava Corn Bread, Bánh Khoai Mì * Water Fern Rice Cake, Bánh Beo * Amberjack Crudo, Cá Hổ Phách Thô * Sweet Potato & Crab, Bún Riêu (personal fav) * Curry Prawns, Tôm Chiên Cốm * Stuffed Leaf, Bò Lá Lốt (2nd fav) * Lemongrass Pork, Thịt Heo Nướng Sả * Durian, Sầu Riêng (personal fav but I enjoy this fruit) * Tomato, Cà Chua (refreshing dessert) The cocktails menu should not be overlooked. It's super fun and creative. I really enjoyed my Chè Thập Cẩm, playful take on a dessert with an alcohol twist. This was well presented, delicious and light! The decor is intimate, feels like a sophisticated library cafe. Don't let me overhype this for you, plan to go to a nice Vietnamese restaurant and enjoy every dish you ordered. Parking is a struggle here if you can't find street parking, opt for one of the nearby parking garages. I can't wait for my next experience back to dine here read more

Moon Rabbit - Creative drinks: front - Chè Thập Cẩm Left - Nàng Thơm, Ms.Pineapple Right - Xí Muội, Grandma's Candy Jar - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Ten out of five stars is the only rating that makes sense for Moon Rabbit. Truly one of those meals where every single course makes you pause for a second. We did the prix fixe chef's tasting with the cocktail pairing, and it was unreal from start to finish. Every dish felt thoughtful, beautifully presented, and packed with flavor. Not a single miss. The kind of menu where you keep saying "this might be my favorite course"... until the next plate comes out. The cocktail pairing elevated everything. Each drink complemented the dish perfectly and felt just as creative as the food itself. I specifically loved the lotus so much, that I ordered another one, separately. Honestly, I would eat every single thing again. The experience felt special without being stuffy, the service was warm and knowledgeable, and the whole night just flowed effortlessly. Also, the decor was so cool, clean, and thoughtful. If you're even considering the tasting menu, do it. It is absolutely worth it. One of those meals you keep thinking about long after you leave. read more

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A mix of interesting varied textures and flavors that I generally enjoyed a lot! My favorite dish was the mochi beignets - sweet, salty, slightly sour and a little spicy, it paired perfectly with the chew mochi. the durian dessert was also SO good - strong passionfruit flavor coming from the granita and the icy texture contrasted well with the super creamy mousse, and then the durian flavor comes punching in late with the crumble. The summer corn pasta was my least favorite dish because the cilantro really overpowered a lot of the other flavors. It was also quite sour. The lemongrass pork was ok - it was slightly dry in the middle for me and a little too burnt. The salad that came with it was really good though. The sweet potato and crab was tasty, but I felt like it had too much crab roe flavor and the gnocchi was too chewy. Service was impeccable, and the restaurant was super vibey. I would love to come back and try other dishes. read more

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So lucky to be able to grab a reservation! The restaurant has a clean, modern, somewhat fancy but more fun with the little decor and toy designs all around. Our waiter was so nice and gave recommendations as well as check in on how we're liking everything, he said his favorite was the stuffed leaf! Since it's our first time and also since I love less choices, we did the chef's visit to vietnam prix fixe menu and really loved it. While everything is great looking, I would say everything taste way better than they look. Some items so simple had so many layers of flavor and I could tell how intentional each compenent and texture were taken into every single dish. Hoa Sen | Lotus - Lightly sour and so refreshing! This was very good and love the lotus chip on top 4.5/5 Che Tap Cam - so well balanced, lightly sweet, lightly creamy and milky, the lychee bites add a bit more sweetness too and love how its served. 4.5/5 Taro Milk Bread with Cilantro Butter - Very soft, warm and fluffy bread with a very light savory sweetness from the taro! I love the toppings and the cilantro butter it comes with goes perfectly with it with its herby flavor 3.75/5 Tart - i think it's beet if i remember right. its refreshing 2.75/5 Mini bread bite - this was kinda dry. 2/5 Pate croquette bite - This was extremely good. the pate flavor is so nice and savory and creamy and the filling was bouncy (i think shrimp?) 5/5 Amberjack Crudo - it doesn't look like much but has such a nice strong, vietnamese, sour, refreshing flavor! No fishiness and was super great, i really loved it. they were very mindful with the textures as well with crunchy bits, soft fish, creamy sauce, etc. 4.75/5 Stuffed Leaf | Bò Lá Lốt - It doesn't look like much again but the leaf is filled with super tender, not too fatty wagyu! It was actually a very delicious bite and the onion topping and dip made it even better 4.75/5 Forbidden rice - slightly sticky but not much flavor. It works with the entrees but doesn't standout. 2/5 Lemongrass Pork | Thịt Heo Nướng Sả - This has that extra flavor bursts from the lemon grass and seasoning, taste like an extremely tender, juicy, perfectly charred pork chop that comes with pork chop rice in viet restaurants! 4.75/5 Sweet Potato & Crab | Bún Riêu - This was so unique tasting and so good. the crab was sweet, i love the soft chewy rice cake gnocchi things, and the sauce was super great. 5/5 Lettuce salad - Not sure what this is called but it complemented the heavier bun rieu and even the pork chop as a cleaner or wrap so well! i don't usually like salad but this was so flavorful and crunchy. Surprisingly the tomato was also a highlight even though i tend to hate raw tomato. 4/5 Yuzu ice dessert - served as a palette cleanser from the heavier entrees to dessert. It's refreshing and nicely citrusy from the yuzu/citron type flavor! the ice cream on top was surprisingly good 3.75/5 Curry | Cà Ri - even though it is green curry flavored, it's so light and other components are sweet so it definitely taste like a dessert! it was very good. 4.5/5 strawberry - I think it's strawberry and this one was given as a gift since we were celebrating our anniversary! SO light and flavorful, i love it. 4.5/5 Popping cloud dessert - I don't usually like popping boba but it taste very handmade and the filling is not so artificial tasting. goes well with the chocolate crispy bits too and love all the textures. 4.5/5 assortment of desserts - 3 various kinds, all too heavy for me though. a fudgy one, forgot what the white one is, and pork floss one. 2/5 read more

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The vibe inside the restaurant was nice and crisp... full of cool Asian decors. Staff were very attentive and met our expectations! They even sent a waitress with some knowledge of American Sign Language to our table! Made the experience much nicer and unexpectedly exciting. We were there for the restaurant week! Of course we went out for 7-courses dinner! It's beyond amazing really! I'll share some of my favorites! Taro Milk Bread (kasama cultantro garlic butter, lemon olive oil) - this is the star! Soft and warm bread, smothered with their kasama garlic butter! I'd devour just this milk bread for dinner and be happy! Impressed with how they perfected this milk bread! Hoa Bí Ngòi (tempura squash blossom, crab, brie, pepper jelly) - fried squash blossom, who doesn't like it!? It was delicious with some creamy Brie inside the blossom sided with crab bits and drizzles of pepper jelly! Mì Xào Tỏi (cacio e pepe rice cake, garlic miso, summer corn) - a twist to cacio e pepe! But with rice noodles instead. Very filling with some bursts of garlic miso, and bits of corn. Good combination for this dish! Bò Kho (lemongrass beef short rib, heirloom grits, tomato gravy) - very tender, it melts in your mouth as you take a bite! Amazing grits to complements this beef short rib! Trước Tráng Miệng (yuja honey sorbet, ginger osmanthus granita, shiso) - very refreshing to wash down all courses! It is basically cleansing your palate. So flavorful though! Phố Cổ | Old Quarter (toasted rice infused michter's rye, pandan syrup, angostura bitters) - amazing and strong drink, similar to old fashioned. Was impressed with how they crafted the drink with smoky flavor of rice then mixed with pandas syrup. Wasn't too sweet though! Whatever you have for the leftover, they'd give you a Pokémon card (nostalgic much?!) then after you're done and about to leave... give the card to the front desk, they'd use this card, finding the matching card to get your goodie baggie with your leftover to go! Very thoughtful with this process than awkwardly leaving the box of leftover on your table as you try to enjoy your company there... very collective mind, that's what makes me admire this restaurant! read more

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As someone with very limited fine dining experiences, I can't say I have much to compare Moon Rabbit to, but it felt very unique to me. Moon Rabbit has two primary seating areas. We were sat in a well lit room, and were asked if it was our first experience there. We had a late reservation (8:45pm) and the server shared that there were two primary ways to dine: prixe fix (~2 hour experience curated by the chef) or family style ordering of individual plates (recommended 4-6 dishes for 2 people). We opted for the rice cake starter, 2 dishes from the sea (eel mochi beignet and red snapper), and the curry dessert. The rice cake dish was delectable -- refreshing and beautiful. The eel dish had a beautiful presentation and the eel was incredible. It was so soft and buttery - and perfectly balanced sweet and savory. I wasn't a fan of the sauce that the mochi beignet was paired with, but I can see it being for others. In my opinion, the red snapper dish was the most impressive. The fish was flaky and soft - yet the skin was perfectly crispy (and not overly salty!) it paired really well with the banana sauce and green grain it was served with. Dessert wasnt quite for me (either the one we ordered or the complimentary 'to finish' dish that was a salted egg pork floss bite). I found them both to be a bit too salty for my personal preference. Knowing that their cocktails were award winning, we each ordered one. I had the Lotus, which was under the sours section. And I thoroughly recommend it! It had a nice clean and balanced taste. It wasn't overly strong, sweet, or dry. And it was garnished with a cute small piece of lotus. I had a sip of my companions drink and it was also good (it was purple and rice milk washed, but its name is escaping me). It was much more sour and bubbly than the drink I had but still very good. Service was fantastic. Dishes were brought out in a timely fashion, and the servers were very polite when moving cutlery. They also did a fantastic job of explaining the dishes and providing context on what the chef aimed to achieve. The best way I can think to describe the food is inventive but reminiscent of the pillars of Vietnamese cuisine. It is contemporary, refreshing, and aesthetic. read more

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Had a wonderful birthday experience here. Service was impeccable and left full and happy! Ordered the chef's tasting with cocktail pairing. Presentation was beautiful with a lot of thought and details considered with each bite and sip. Even the cocktail with fish sauce was delicious (as was EVERY cocktail in the pairing). The restaurant is decorated well and very clean. Could have done without the post-dinner salted ice coffee because I was so full... but the drink was tasty! Highly recommend for a great experience. read more

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We wanted to lick our plates but we were in public so... So many unique and palate pleasing flavors! Every thing we ate and drank was delicious. Loved the creativity of the dishes; the meal was a solid 10. Didn't have a res but was added to the waitlist and seats were available within half an hour. The service was exceptional. Each dish was well explained, and we got just the right amount of attention. The noise level was just right, easy to have a conversation or just drift away and focus on the flavor experience. Truly a great dining experience. read more

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Food 4.0/5.0 Service 4.0/5.0 Value 3.5/5.0 Decor 4.0/5.0 Overall 4.0/5.0 Quite a nice spot, with the M* being reasonably well-deserved. Service is as expected from a spot that's earned the star. Food was very good. Would definitely consider going back. read more

4.5, new location, chef tasting menu 5 course $89, constantly rotating menu but creative modern "fancier" takes on classic Vietnamese combining different flavors, more like a fusion. Bánh Bèo - caramelized braised king trumpet mushrooms, sunchoke XO, herbs, ginger oil, nice combination of flavors and textures Cá Nướng Gập Lá Chuối - Szechuan spiced snapper, pepper & plantain, herbed freekeh, charred caulini Bò Lá Lốt - wagyu beef, perilla leaves, labne, fermented honey, pickled shallots - fast prep, meaty leaf wrap, popular Thịt Heo Nướng Sả - berkshire pork chop, sticky rice, peach, xo jus, tasty interesting ends but also pricey. read more

The time before this past visit, Moon Rabbit was still at the Wharf. So, it has clearly been a while. However, the food is still excellent, and I'm glad they moved to Penn Quarter. Food: Kevin Tien really does have a way with spices. I think the food is excellent. We were there for Restaurant Week this time around and even though Restaurant Week can be sub-par, Moon Rabbit did it right. A ton of selections, and the food was delicious. I certainly want to return during non-Restaurant Week to have more choices and it not to be as slammed! Service: Service was very good, especially given that it was Restaurant Week and Moon Rabbit was packed. The server offered very helpful suggestions, the meal was paced nicely, and we were allowed to try tastes of wine before committing to glasses. I always appreciate that about a location. Ambiance: As I mentioned I really like their Penn Quarter location. It's in the old Co Co Sala space, which is very convenient to public transportation. Be warned that when it is busy, it is REALLY loud. The food's worth it, though ;) Save your conversation for after the meal! read more

Excellent service, overall okay food, and excellent ambiance. This is more of tapas meal vibe and portions. We were still hungry after and grabbed some pizza. I would recommend instead of sharing the dishes to order a meal each and then share a couple of the larger dishes. The bartender did a great job with explaining the menu and we ordered based on portion size but it wasn't enough for two people to share and be satiated. The meals were very different but delicious. The corn bread was different than traditional southern corn bread. It tasted more like a pound cake. Our favorite was the grilled fish. So pretty and oh so delicious. I almost ordered one just for me. We didn't have a reservation so we were sat at the bar with a 1.5hr (I think) dining timeline. It's DC so I would recommend making a reservation and most restaurants ask for a reservation. We found restaurants in DC were pretty expensive. Be prepared for your bill to be between $100-$200 for two people. This was a great experience but not one that we would return to but definitely recommend folks trying them out! read more

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