This spot has been on my list for years, so I was very excited to finally try it...and it definitely lived up to all the talk. The space is small, cozy, and intimate, with a dark, moody ambiance. Tables are fairly close together, so it's not the place for a quiet, private dinner, but it adds to the lively energy. The decor is beautiful and feels authentically Hong Kong. Service was solid, nothing over-the-top, but smooth, especially given how busy it gets. I'd definitely recommend making a reservation in advance since space is limited. The menu is on the smaller side, but thoughtfully updated. Everything is served family-style, so it's perfect for sharing with a small group. That said, portion sizes can vary...some dishes are great for the table, while others feel a bit small to split. Now, the food: We started with the croquettes-absolutely divine, especially with the bright yuzu sauce on top. The green beans were a standout for me (I'll never say no), and the addition of Anaheim peppers gave them a really nice twist. The scallion pancakes were perfectly fried with that ideal crispy texture. The daikon fritters were new to me, but I loved the dense, savory combination of shrimp and shiitake. The truffle dumplings were packed with flavor and definitely a highlight. The drunken noodles were good overall, though slightly on the dry side. The BBQ beef short ribs were a crowd favorite: rich, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying (even if a bit tricky to cut on the small plates!). And dessert deserves its own moment. The toasted sesame ice cream was so good. Light, nutty, and refreshing while still hitting that sweet craving. I'd honestly order THAT again and again. Overall, I'd absolutely come back to explore more of the menu...and next time, I'm vying for a seat at the chef's counter, which I've read is the best seat in the house. read more

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The kind of place where you're craving Chinese food though make it upscale especially if you're celebrating. In this case, my Birthday! Went for dinner. Perfectly cozy and intimate. Queen's English made 20 out 100 in Washingtonian's Best Restaurants. Sometimes I am skeptical at dining in at places like this as the ambience can take away from the food itself. I've been to a few modern Chinese restaurants and resulted in being disappointed. Here, the quality of the food is evident. Out of all the items, the Bobo Chicken was the real winner. I was actually blown away. I've never had chicken like this that tasted so good. In Chinese, we call this dish Bak Jam Gai which translates to White Cut Chicken. The plating was exceptional and each piece of cut chicken was tender. The ginger-scallion sauce was elegantly plated above the chicken. While the tamarind brown butter isn't what is used traditionally to make this dish, it added a beautiful contract to the white meat and was subtle. It really had the same flavor profile as what I grew up eating. +Curry Shrimp Croquettes-yuzu koshō aioli +Vegetarian Noodle-hot chili, sour cabbage, corn, tofu, scallion +Bobo Chicken-baby kale, tamarind brown butter, ginger-scallion +Chocolate Sichuan Ice Cream-elderflower whipped cream, birthday sprinkles w/ sparkler +Orange Wine +Jade Scorpion Green Peppercorn Pilsner The restaurant delivered a hand-written Birthday note which I thought was the cherry on top. read more

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Cute ambiance! Loved the decor and chill cool vibes of this restaurant on a Saturday night. They kindly gave us a hand written note for our anniversary! The daikon fritters are a very popular dish! Cool to see a fun spin on what I've only had made at home by my parents! The fritter itself was a bit on the drier side but the pork floss and scallion definitely helped in flavor. The truffle edamame dumplings were very unique! I loved the corn espuma. It had a rich sweet corn flavor and brought the dish together. Can't go wrong with the curry shrimp croquettes either. Subtle curry flavor paired well with the shrimp. The drunken duck noodles had good wok charred flavor. The pieces of duck were tender and I always enjoy tofu as well. Drinks are solid but nothing crazy memorable. read more

Queen's English - Truffle Dumpling, Curry Shrimp Croquettes, Daikon Fritters - Hong Kong Style Cafe Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I respect this place and I think everyone should go and try everything on the menu at least once. I love when dinner conversations can start off by saying "this is something I've never tried before" The restaurant itself is very small and requires a reservation. The ambiance was not too lively when I was there, but I was there early around 5pm. It was a fun culinary adventure. The plates are bit small, so if you're doing family style order more than you think. read more

Queen's English - Hong Kong Style Cafe Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I watched a YouTube video of this place, and the video made it seem like they were making elevated Canto food and bringing a modern HK style. I got there and I was instantly disappointed. Its crazy the hype this place received. Im absolutely boggled. So you've got Panda Express, corporate and corny Now imagine PF Changs, corporate and corny Ok, then there's Queen's English. Indie and kitsch and hipster but still bourgeois. This is the trendy bourgeois local version of nicest Pf Chang you ever been. Is that why people like this place? I really should have double checked exactly who liked this place and why. Having said that, I don't mind fake Chinese food if im in the mood for it. But it's gotta be good. It's rather easy a feast of Panda express. But for the price it ain't there. Everything else about the place is great. Service, decor, I can see why its popular. Especially as a date spot. But for me. If your food isn't hitting, the rest doesn't really matter when charging these prices. read more

I was drawn in by the hopes of the "Hong Cafe-Style" tag on this restaurant and was severely disappointed. They make the recommendation of having 3 dishes per a person (and mind you, these prices are 16+ per a dish) so I ordered five things: 1. Yellowfin Tina Crudo - 3/5 very vinegary 2. Truffle Dumplings - 5/5 best thing ever and was the only thing we actually liked. 3. Daikon Fritters - 0/5, this actually made me so mad because lo bak gao is VERY easy to make and somehow this was bland tasting and relied on takoyaki-like sauce to even taste like anything 4. Rabbit Stirfry - 3/5, the vegetables took on the flavor very well 5. Chinese-style bbq beef short ribs - 0/5 how is it that the short ribs had ZERO flavor? It was like it was reliant on the bokchoy salad for any smidge of flavor. The ribs, like the daikon had NO seasoning or salt and this wasn't a cheap dish, it's $36 for 3 pieces. If you have been to a HK cafe and are looking for that taste, this is NOTHING like it. Skip this place unless you want something western styled cooking with Chinese ingredients. The service here is top tier but for the food it is absolutely not worth it for the price and taste. While I didn't leave hungry (portions are ok), I wasn't happy with what I ate and ended up at a fast food chain for flavor. read more

Queen's English - Chinese style bbq beef short ribs - Hong Kong Style Cafe Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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KenScale: 8.5/10 Visits: February 2025 [Note: After some deliberations, I have decided to upgrade all restaurants receiving 8.5 or 8.75 KenScale to five Yelp stars from four.] Last month, my wife Jun and I revisited Queen's English, a popular restaurant in Columbia Heights featuring Hong Kong cuisine. We have been to the restaurant a few times already, and it just felt like another visit was long overdue. We've never had bad meals at Queen's English with its well-executed modern take on Hong Kong dishes, but this visit was even more memorable than the previous ones. After this visit, Jun and I agreed Queen's English deserves a slight upgrade in the KenScale score from 8.25. Each dish (including one that we have ordered every time we come to the restaurant) really stood out on its own. As we were browsing through the menu, the bartender at the counter (which is where we always sit) offered an off-menu special dish. Good thing we listened to her, as the scallop crudo in red vinegar foam and tobiko fish roe on top was quite delicious. The scallop was very fresh (Jun, who is more sensitive to shellfish freshness than I am, had no issue with enjoying the crudo) and the addition of red vinegar was spot on to give refreshingly sour flavor. Another standout dish from our dinner was a new one from the menu, a plate of chili crunch squash with pumpkin seed-chili crunch and candied walnut. The contrast of texture between the soft squash and crunchy walnut was quite memorable, and enhanced even more from the wonderfully spicy kick from the chili crunch. Each time we have come to Queen's English, Jun insists on ordering the daikon fritters and baby shrimp and shiitake, and it was just as delicious this time. For the large dish, we tried the crispy whole branzino with napa cabbage. It was one of the best dishes we've had this year, with the fish showing lovely texture and the combination of chili sauce and crab butter displaying an incredibly delicious mix of spicy and sweet flavor that was quite unlike anything I had tasted before. I hope the restaurant keeps this dish on the menu permanently. For dessert, we split toasted sesame ice cream with peanut crumble; the delightfully nutty flavor from the ice cream and crumble was an icing on the cake for a wonderful dinner. Getting a reservation at Queen's English is still not overly challenging but I would still book in advance if you are looking for prime time slots; the restaurant was fairly quiet when we showed up for early dinner but was almost packed by the time we were finished. The beverage list at Queen's English on our visit was just as interesting as the previous ones, with an eclectic mix of cocktails and natural wines designed to work together with food well. After our dinner, Jun said we should visit the restaurant more often. I will certainly monitor how the menu at the restaurant changes over time and make a repeat visit soon, perhaps with a friend or two so we can share more dishes together. read more

Everything was really good. The daikon radish, truffle dumpling, and beef younger ragu was all a 5/5. You have to get those. I do wish the beef tongue ragu's portion size was bigger though. Other than that I would definitely come back. read more

Queen's English - Hong Kong Style Cafe Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The ambiance here is warm and modern and the service is attentive and welcoming the second you walk in. Everything on the menu sounds delicious and everything we had hit the spot. The portions can be quite decent depending on the dish (the crab snow pea salad was a well priced portion and larger than I had expected, but still very small plates sized). The truffle dumplings had this delightful sweet corn espuma that balanced the extreme umami-mushroom flavor so well. I had a great time here and the food had a lot of care put into it. Would definitely return! read more

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For my final meal in DC, I opted to dine at Queen's English. Chef Henji Cheung moved from Brooklyn and opened Queen's English six years ago. He is a finalist for the 2025 James Beard Best Chef Award in the Mid-Atlantic and that caused me to want to visit his restaurant tonight. I had the pleasure of meeting Chef Cheung and what a cool guy to lead the kitchen. I can understand why he's created such a welcoming environment for his staff and diners. As a solo diner tonight, I went with several of their signatures. Nemo, my server was awesome and she customized my menu. I started with half portions of the incredible Truffle Dumplings and Daikon Fritters. The dumplings are praised for their rich aromatic flavor. The fritters are cooked three times and then seared and topped with Kewpie mayo and oyster sauce. For my main entrée, I went with the Drunken Duck Noodles. I had Nemo tame down the heat for me. It features duck, hot chili, sour cabbage and tofu. Yum! For dessert, the Toasted Sesame Ice Cream with Peanut Crumble was rich and decadent. Check out their craft cocktails. The Wang Cheung Tonight with Bourbon was awesome. It is a creative twist on the classic Manhattan and incorporates a Chinese herbal medicinal syrup. They also have a great martini selection which is half priced if dining on the patio. The Gin & Sin was perfect with apriocot liqueur, absinthe and an orange twist. An incredible meal. What a way to finish my dining excursion to DC! read more

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Very nostalgic. It was the first time I almost teared up / felt emotional when eating something. Loved sitting at the counter and watching the chefs cook. The smell of sesame oil, soy sauce, & radish - the smells I had growing up when my family cooked while I did my homework. Eventually, they'd just put a plate in front of me, and I'd know that it's time to take a break. The tastes were nostalgic as well, yet with a modern twist: daikon fritters with pork floss & scallion (fantastic combination) and truffle dumplings (immaculate). The idea of combining truffle oil, sesame oil, cream (and probably other ingredients that I could not recognize) is ingenious. This menu item definitely deserves the hype that it does. The duck drunken noodle was good too, but this item was only ok compared to the others. Toasted sesame ice cream was fine too. Good service as well. Our waitress was very attentive. Overall, I recommend. read more

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I had always heard great things about Queen's English and it did not disappoint especially as a celebratory dinner. The cocktails were well made and quite strong I might add. The scallion pancake was really well made and had a great dipping sauce that I kept for my tofu veggie noodles later which definitely went well with the sauce I saved from the scallion pancake appetizer. While I'm not a big beef person, I did try the beef tongue entree that my husband ordered and it was extremely flavorful and tasted like a homemade stew. I did accidentally end up making two reservations because I never got confirmation for my first reservation, but the restaurant was very responsive and we were able to figure out the reservations. read more

Queen's English - Hong Kong Style Cafe Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Haven't had a modern take on Hong Kong food in the US so checked out Queen's English! Fun atmosphere with dishware similar to what I would see in a Chinese American buffet growing up. - Scallop crudo: 5/5, great texture balance and love the foam - Shrimp croquette: 4/5 a little strong on the curry powder - Daikon fritter: 5/5 love this take on the taro fritter, more light because daikon was used! - Drunken noodle: 3/5 name is misleading and felt a little chaotic of a dish. noodles were more chow mein style and they went overboard on the sesame - Branzino: 4/5 very Chinese American style with a sweet and sour sauce, not my style but it was a nice sauce. The garnish felt a little strange and wish the fish was more freshly cooked (it was lukewarm) read more

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Best chicken dish in DC! Bobo chicken is a must! Yup, that's right. I said it. And that comes from a girly that loves fried chicken. Queen's English is on the same block as the now closed Makan in Columbia Heights. Decently close ish to the metro. Decor is modern and clean vibe with some HK evoking design elements like the wall paper and candles along their lattice divider in the front and mood lighting. Open kitchen set up that you can see past the bar. We were seated behind the lattice by the door which turned out to be a chilly spot for the winter evening so would recommend seating further inside when it's cold. We ordered the temple street octopus (highly recommend!), charred broccolini (very good), bobo chicken (a must!!), rice (gotta have rice when you're eating asian food), and drinks. Friend of a friend had the inside scoop on recommended dishes to order so we followed that and got some input from our server who was very pleasant and helpful. Needless to say the chicken was the star of the show and would have definitely regretted not ordering it. All in all, 4.5 star experience! read more

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A superb dining experience. From the minute we walked in until the time we left Queen's English, everything about our evening enjoying Hong Kong style Chinese food was absolutely first rate. The restaurant is a nice size but the tables fill quickly. So either come a bit early or make sure to have a reservation. We did both! We walked in and were promptly seated by one of the staff. We had several servers, including one of the owners, the wife of the chef. All of the staff were friendly, patient and helpful. Frankly, I read the reviews written by others and they helped us choose absolutely fantastic dishes. Our favorite dishes were the Branzino (we ordered the 1 lb fish) and the Truffle dumplings. They were both just superb. Other dishes that we really enjoyed were the Roasted Borchollni, Bobo chicken and Scallion pancakes. Everything was really good. We had several of the drinks including the strawberry soda and the luzhou sanrenxuan. This was a shot glass of a very strong (104 proof) and uniquely delicious drink originally from Sichuan. The Sesame Ice Cream was also quite good. It was like cold and creamy halva. This is not an inexpensive dining experience. But from start to finish we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. read more

Queen's English - Branzino - Hong Kong Style Cafe Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Nestled in the Columbia Heights neighborhood north of downtown. This quaint spot brings some serious flavor! Both indoor and outdoor seating is available. The menu features a modern take on food from Hong Kong. We tried some small bites and everything we had was packed with flavor. Service was also quick and very attentive. Looking forward to coming back! read more

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Amazing spot that completely delivers on elevated HK style soul food. Reservations are definitely recommended and the portion size is good. We definitely had some leftovers for the next day. The ambiance is relaxed but still elevated so it can accommodate all different kinds of events. read more

Had a great birthday dinner here! Staff was lovely and food was delicious: - pig ears: good but a little too chewy for me, someone said this dish grew on them - jellyfish and cucumber: just not my favorite way for jellyfish to be cooked, have had different with a better texture - daikon fritters: I love anything with pork floss and this was no exception - charred broccolini: yes, one of my faves, perfectly cooked with savory sausage and creamy tahini sauce - bobo chicken: the most tender chicken ever read more

Queen's English - Spicy Jellyfish Cucumber and Crispy Pig Ear - Hong Kong Style Cafe Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The food? Absolutely outstanding. The service? Flawless. Every detail about this place is simply exceptional. It's intimate, cozy, and beyond excellent--an experience that photos could never fully capture. read more

Queen's English - Truffle Dumpling - Hong Kong Style Cafe Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I've been trying to make my way to Queens English for some time, but given that the space is pretty small this is not a walk-in spot. Highly suggest reservations, especially for a weekend! We had a lovely dinner with 4 friends the other night! They have a pretty small cocktail menu (5 options total) so I'm pretty sure we tried every one on their menu. All of them were good, but no huge standouts. For food - we tried the truffle dumplings, charred broccolini, crispy whole branzino, and an octopus special. Omg those truffle dumplings - if you like truffle I HIGHLY recommend, they were so good!! Our waitress recommended the branzino, and I'm so glad she did! It was such a hit and came with a side of rice to soak up some of that delicious sauce. The broccolini was topped with some sausage that was fabulous, and the octopus special was good, but not memorable. I think this is a solid 4.5, I wish their desert menu had offerings besides ice cream and there were a few more cocktail options, but the food and service were outstanding, we had a great time! read more

Queen's English - Miss Hong Kong (left), Dragons blood (right) - Hong Kong Style Cafe Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Came for my husband's birthday and we had an amazing experience! Walter was our host for the night and he was fantastic! We sat at the chef's counter which was really nice; cool to see the kitchen in action. I decided to get a white wine and my husband said, make it two. Walter actually brought both whites for us to try, which I think is so thoughtful! I stuck to what I ordered and my husband liked the other option so he got that. Both delicious! We started with the spicy jellyfish and cucumber, we thought it was light and refreshing, and such a unique texture. We then enjoyed the charred broccolini (one of my favorites) - topped with Chinese sausage is so different! The scallion pancake was solid. The cumin lamb belly was amazing! Flavorful and tender. The bobo chicken was really good! It's white meat but so juicy and tender, I've never had chicken like that before. Yum!! We were so full we asked to take our dessert to go. We needed to walk a little to digest. Once we got in the car, within minutes, we started eating the ice cream. So delicious and that espresso crumble on top is a nice touch. Fantastic meal, impeccable service! Will definitely be back and highly recommend you checking it out too. read more

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Took my sister here for her bday. The inside is cozy and inviting. We sat at the window and it was a tight fit (my butt grazed the other table), but once seated, its chill. Ordered truffle dumpling, shrimp croquettes, and daikon fritters for appetizers. Fav was the truffle dumpling, felt Ike a cheesy ravioli. The other two were okay (with shrimp being a lil salty). For entrees, got bobo chicken, drunken veggie noodles (felt like elevated lo mein, don't get it), clay pot rabbit, and branzino. The table didn't like the rabbit but I enjoyed it. The chicken and fish (the sauce was perfect) were better though, so get those of these 4 entree options. For dessert, tried sesame ice cream and loved the crunchy nuts on top (also had the chocolate ice cream but preferred sesame). It's a solid spot to grab dinner once. read more

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A belated birthday treat thanks to my brother and SIL, I had picked out Queens English a few weeks ago for dinner. They just this week were announced as a James Beard nominee semi finalist. Suffice it to say I was very much looking forward to the food. We were sat at the window bay seat, which honestly felt a little awkward to fit into I would have preferred a regular table instead. However the interior is pretty small and intimate and done up very nicely with an aesthetic that screams 'take photos'. We pretty much ordered maybe 75% of the menu probably (math is not my strong suit but definitely felt like it.) The Daikon Fritters, the Curry Shrimp croquettes, the Truffle Dumplings, the Vegetarian Drunken noodles, the .75 lb fried Branzino, the Clay pot Rabbit Stew, the Bobo Chicken and both the ice creams. Hits - We all were big fans of the Truffle dumplings, the Bobo chicken and the Branzino. The scallion sauce over the chicken was yummy. Be sure to get sides of rice to mop up all the sauce (it did not seem like the Branzino nor the chicken came with rice.. we asked for sides of rice) Misses - The Curry Shrimp croquettes were almost inedibly salty. This was a unanimous decision at the table. Not sure if a bad batch? And if you label something Drunken Noodles which is such a staple of Thai cuisine, and the flavor profile is not reminiscent of it at all, then it hurts the dish. The clay pot Rabbit Stew wasn't exactly what I was expecting. It's not a bad dish but most of the table agreed we would not get it again. Both the dessert ice creams were good though. Neither were too sweet. The numbing sichuan pepper in the chocolate ice cream gave it an edge over the sesame ice cream to me. Service was great, very attentive. Wishing them the best of luck, but please keep an eye on the shrimp croquettes.. and maybe revamp the drunken noodles dish. read more

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I feel that calling this Hong Kong influenced is a bit of a stretch. I wasn't really reminded of Cantonese cuisine except for maybe the use of Chinese sausage on the vegetables. The food overall was fine but probably wouldn't return because it wasn't anything noteworthy. read more

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A great celebration spot! The restaurant is pretty small but they have a lot of nice outdoor seating in the front, it's also apparently dog friendly! Service was really good and all of the staff was attentive and eager to help whenever we needed. It was my birthday dinner and they even put a birthday card on our table. Food was really good overall- we got a variety of dishes and some favorites included the truffle dumplings, duck noodles, beef tongue ragú. We didn't love the bobo chicken, a big too salty for our tastes and it didn't feel worth the price tag. read more

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This was a five star dining experience from start to finish. Despite not having a reservation, we were able to snag seats at the bar which overlooks the open kitchen. The service was amazing from every single person working here. The wine selection is great featuring natural wines that were delish. I had a lovely glass of bubbly to start and transitioned over to an amazing red wine later on with dinner. The menu is organized in a few different sections. The first, cold appetizers and the second, hot appetizers. The further down the menu you go, the larger and heartier the portions get. Everything is served family style and comes out whenever it's ready. I LOVE the fact that everything is marked clearly for food allergens. As much as I love Chinese cuisine, I don't see gluten free options clearly marked at most Chinese places, so I was thrilled to be able to eat so many things without having to worry - my gluten free heart could barely take it! We got the pig ears, the crispy Chilean sea bass, and the chicken. The pig ears were delicious and served over a refreshing salad that helped cut the savory flavors of the fried pig. The Chilean sea bass was absolutely incredible and probably my favorite thing of the night. It was cooked to perfection and the small size was definitely enough for two people. The chicken was also amazing and a huge portion size served with a lovely ginger scallion slaw. Make sure you get their chili oil and scallion sauce on the side too. It went so well with everything we ordered! We even left with one of their signature candles which smells like ginger. I smelled it burning in their bathroom and absolutely needed to have it. This was one of my favorite dining experiences in DC so far and I'll definitely be back! read more

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A favorite restaurant in the city. Queen's English was my last meal outside the house before an 18-month overseas assignment, I visited again while home for one week, and just went again last night after moving home less than 60 days ago. It's the spectacularly creative chef-sommelier pair that makes this place a treasure - and you can taste the heart and soul in every bite. This time I had the beets, shrimp croquettes, edamame dumplings, and Branzino. I wouldn't change a thing about my menu selection; it was out of this world and my girlfriend from out of town was equally enchanted. Two tips for Queen's English - 1) please continue making vegetarian-friendly modifications an option (thank you!) and 2) I strongly recommend investing in noise mitigation measures. My girlfriend and I hit a point mid-meal at 8p last night (Saturday night) where we simply stopped conversing. Trying to hear one another, and to speak louder than the packed restaurant, was an exhausting and uncomfortable competition. We were disappointed by this. read more

HOKAY. this was delightful. Service was a+++++ this is one of those places where they clear an empty plate once the last morsel is gone immediately and your water is never half empty more than a minute. The place was cute and charming - I like how intimate the space is without feeling crowded. The food was great but there are some things I would def get again and things I would skip. Truffle dumplings: yes 100% yes. Flavorful mouth watering yes. I don't even really like edamame tbh. Ordering every time I return. Shrimp croquettes: also very good but probably my number two. Would order again but don't HAVE to every time I come. Chili Crunch Squash: this was a miss for me. The flavors were good but it was a texture thing - the squash was pretty tough and unpleasant to consume. My friend dining with me agreed. Broccolini: honestly this was just hard to eat with chopsticks lolz. The flavor was fine but it wasn't notable - I think broccolini is generally prepared the same everywhere. Ice cream: we got both but I LOVED the sesame flavor. So tasty and unique. Would definitely eat here again! read more

Queen's English - Truffle Dumpling - Hong Kong Style Cafe Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

took my parents here and they loved it. what a creative twist! the scallop crudo was phenomenally complex but refreshing the bobo chicken was incredibly tender and paired with the mountain of ginger scallion was chefs kiss truffle dumplings were fun and unique but tbh reminded me more of ravioli LOL charred broccolini was rich and my mom loved it would skip: drunken duck noodle read more

Hands down my favorite restaurant in DC. This was my second time after coming for the first time two years ago - headline: it's as good as I remember and lives up to the hype. The first time I came was so special - they had a cold tongue and jellyfish dish that absolutely blew my mind away. This time around we started with the numbing beef and egg. The numbing is exaggerated as there's an essence of Szechuan peppercorn but it's not overpowering which I prefer. This was probably my favorite dish this time around as well as crispy pig ears (bc it's so delicious). The seafood congee made our mouths and lips dark with the most copious amount of squid ink I've ever had in a dish. It ate more like a loose risotto than congee - there was no rice. The restaurant is small and cozy with a four seat chefs counter and a small dining area. I was surprised to see they have to go service - if I lived here I would do take out too much! I also want to come back in a larger group to share more items. The natural wines here are special - they carry this amazing wine from the Texas highlands which carries the Queen's English wallpaper on their label. read more

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It's small and loud in here. Not blaming the restaurant, but just a heads up if you plan on visiting. Scallop Crudo was meh - we did not want to finish it. Curry croquettes were tasty - the only thing we would get again. XO Dumplings were meh - we did not enjoy the sauce that it is smothered in. Daikon Fritters were too large to be enjoyable - it was tasty but there was too much. Bite sized pieces would be better IMO Drunken Duck Noodles were actually trash. Tasted like straight oil, tofu was overcooked, and they used ramen noodles (?) instead of flat rice noodles We would recommend spending that amount of money elsewhere. read more

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Shrimp croquette, octopus and clay rabbit were delicious. Scallion pancake was a letdown - it was bland and not as flaky /layered as it should have been. Drunken duck noodles was should have been named duck lo mein. It had the thick egg noodles but not wide flat rice noodles. The noodles were delicious but the tofu was bland and the duck overcooked. Overall would go for the dishes I liked but there's better canto food elsewhere. read more

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Had a beautiful dinner here for our anniversary- the entire staff was incredibly welcoming, knowledgeable, and gave amazing recommendations about the menu and the neighborhood. The food was absolutely amazing with no misses and we left full and excited to see what else they have to offer as the seasons change. Love the natural wine offerings which pair so well with the diverse flavor options. 100% will be back! read more

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Delicious! Neighborhood Gem! We tried the Scallop Crudo, Curry Shrimp Croquettes, Daikon Fritters and Charred Brocollini. Every thing was delicious. My favs were the Daikon Fritters and Brocollini. So flavorful! The staff are friendly and provide the right balance of attentiveness without being intrusive. Very well run restaurant! read more

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We decided to come to Queen's English for dinner to celebrate my girlfriends birthday after much deliberation. We booked a 5:30 time slot on a Saturday evening so the crowd will be a little smaller to start. We had an Uber/traffic issue causing us to be 20+ minutes late but luckily they answered their texts and we're still cool. We did have to move outside if we wanted to have a longer limit but it was a nice night so we agreed. The restaurant staff was nice enough to write my girlfriend a card which we appreciated. Our server walked us through the menu and gave us suggestions on how we should order. He informed us that their bartender is the best in DC so we had to try the cocktails. We tried all five of their cocktails along with the Mock-quiri mocktail. They definitely delivered on the drinks and they were all amazing. I myself got the Monkey Mountain and the Mock-quiri which were both on point. Foodwise, we basically ordered everything except two dishes because we just had to try it all. They coursed everything out nicely and the whole dinner had a great flow to it. The highlights for us were the Oysters, Rock Shrimp, Numbing Steak + Egg, Crispy Pig Ear, Daikon Fritters, Octopus Pancake, Truffle Dumplings, and the Whole Red Snapper. If I had to pick one, it would be the crispy pig ear mixed with the lychee/watercress/vinaigrette under it. We were almost fighting over the last bits of it. Lastly, we ordered both ice creams and they put a candle in one of them which was appreciated. The presentation was nice and simple but the flavors were very unique (White Rabbit and Salted Duck Yolk) and are definitely worth a try. Great experience and really unique flavors in every bite here. I would love to come back someday. Definitely deserves a Michelin star in the near future! read more

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Service and ambiance go above and beyond. But they are only side players to the awesome Asian inspired dishes this place is serving up. Started with the mushroom mushroom and crispy pig ears which were delightful. Didn't know you could make mushrooms taste this good! And think fancy sour cream and onion pork rinds with some lychee and salad. Tastebuds have awoken! Next we got some solid scallion pancakes and tofu noodles that were good but nothing to write home about, probably wouldn't get those again. Now we come to the stars of the show. The truffle dumpling is just an indulgent bite and a crowd pleaser. Then the whole fried snapper in a sweet soy sauce marinate had me weak in the knees! Hats off to this place! Finished off with a salted duck yolk ice cream that is unlike anything I've had. A balance of umami and sweet creamy richness. Incredible meal all around, and they got me drunk enough to buy one of their expensive bathroom candles so good on them. Im coming back very soon! read more

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Very interesting twists on Chinese food! I was surprised to taste to many unique flavors among some traditional dishes. Crispy pig ear: one of our favorites! it was extremely crispy, savory, and had a hint of sweetness to it Mushroom mushroom: how did they elevate even a simple mushroom dish? Octopus pancake: scallion pancake topped with a generous amount of octopus and other toppings, the pancake itself was very chewy and was slightly overwhelmed by the toppings Truffle dumpling: four dumplings covered in sauce - soo creamy! Ribs (dinner special): the meat was made to smoky perfection - absolutely delightful, and they added many herbs to accentuate the flavors Drunken duck noodle: corn and tofu are a genius addition - if we had enough stomach space, we would have easily ordered a second of this dish Salted duck yolk/white rabbit ice cream: so creative! the ice cream was creamy and sweet, and the toppings paired well - a nice finish to our meal Dining inside felt elegant, with plenty of space between tables to create a private yet warm atmosphere. The staff were incredibly friendly, checking in on us often and taking the time to explain each dish. Our server also brought us complimentary cherry lime mocktails. Overall we really enjoyed the dining experience! read more

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My family comes from Guangzhou and we are Canto. So when my in laws sent me Queen's English, I was a bit skeptical. I've had a ton of new interpretations of traditional Chinese cuisine before and have definitely been unimpressed and burned before. But Queen's English delivered. I made reservations about a week in advance for a Friday night and didn't have any issues. They do charge you $25 per person for the reservation upfront, but it's refunded if you actually dine. We showed up about 20 minutes early and they were able to seat us no problem. Since it's family style, we split 5 dishes amongst the 4 of us: - Crispy Pig Ear - Scallion Pancake - Daikon Fritters - Drunken Duck Noodle - Bobo Chicken First, drinks. I had the Wang Cheung Tonight, which has bourbon, bonal, pei pah koa, and angostura. I was actually super interested in this drink because pei pah koa is... a herbal supplement that I continue to take as an adult whenever I have a sore throat. Tbh, I didn't really taste it in my drink, but it was a good drink. Super strong. The food, everything was great. I wouldn't say it's traditional, and with some dishes, even remotely Cantonese. But if you just forget those aspects, and just try the food, the food itself is very good. The Scallion Pancake with mapo octopus and bonito flakes on top were genius. I've never had a scallion pancake with toppings before, but I'm going to do this at home now. The Daikon fritters, which is just basically law bak go, was inspired. They put pork floss on top of it and topped it with kewpie mayo and a sweet & tangy sauce. X loved this, and he normally does not care for turnip cake. The Bobo Chicken was tender and juicy - definitely get rice with this. It's a bit pricey, but nothing insane. I think for 4 people, with 6 drinks, 5 shared dishes, 1 dessert, and tip, it came up to just shy of $300. So $75 per person roughly. Service was attentive and on point. They did send over a ground of dessert shots because their bartender was so swamped that night and we waited a while for our drinks. That was extremely nice and generous. read more

Five stars. What a great experience. We sat at the chef's counter for dinner; the right choice for me!! Can't want to do it again. Great service and hospitality; interacting w/ our server was a blast. We ordered baijiu to drink; straight-up & in an off-menu daiquiri per our server's recommendation; great!! Loved it. Then I moved on to a perfect blend of vermouths after asking our server to surprise me. So fun and good. Dinner was a delectable mix of plates; curry shrimp croquettes (wow @ the curry flavor; hot, delicious, delightful), scallion pancake (perfect; delicious; the onion; the egg; thin and crispy; love), truffle dumpling (like savory beignets......from heaven...oh my goodness; never before had anything like these; the stuff food-dreams are made of), charred broccolini (perfectly cooked; perfect texture; delicious; great way to incorporate some veg to our meal), temple street octopus (also...delicious; precut to bite size, so less time cutting; more time eating; great preparation), daikon fritters (dense, comforting, flavorful). Everything was great... (I know; Ive already said so multiple times...) Love this place. Ambiance is cozy; intimate. ...Go w/ ppl you know you like. read more

Three stars based on just the food as the service was lovely. Everything we had was just not memorable. Glad we tried it but would not come back. Based on the price vs value/flavor it just isn't justified. Nothing we had except for the cauliflower was memorable Chicken- seemed almost undercooked and texture was soft and mushy Duck noodles- barely noticed the duck and more extras in it that noodles itself. We asked for it spicy and I tasted no spice. Flavor was subpar Lamb- tasted like chorizo taco and I don't understand the popcorn. They said for different texture but the popcorn was soggy. Scallion pancake- more like pita bread and the flavor of the whole dish relied on the sauce but not a lot of flavor and not memorable . I felt for the wine they tried to be cute with the "flavor profile" but some of the descriptions made me not even want to try the wines because the describing words were just gross like ham and cheese. Put more effort into the food and creating more memorable flavorful dishes. read more

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