This is always in the work lunch rotation. Great food, kind staff, and usually good space to meet up with a colleague or eat solo.

Monday lunch. Chose a bento box with an intriguing name "handroll tea soaked salmon". Turns out these are pieces of lux ( regular smoked salmon that is tasty on a bagel with cream cheese but not so much when you roll them into very dry nuri sheets ). Size wise it can be a good appetizer but not enough if you come in hungry. A pot of hot Jasmin tea at $6 is a low quality , not very flavorful tea. Teaism food pre-Covid years was better in my very subjective opinion. Overall, solid 3. Good lunch option if you want a light lunch and don't want unhealthy fast food . The prices are reasonable for the prime central location, lunch service is very efficient ( though very indifferent), plenty of sitting downstairs. You order first at the counter and pay. At the same time they want you to add the tip ( before you are served). Not sure what I am expected to tip for. There is literally no service. You pick up your food yourself, collect the utensils, pour water, take it to the table, then clean up the tray from the table. Plus, the service is literally robotic, on the boarder of unfriendly. All staff look like they are annoyed by your presence. It is truly a healthier version of a fast food but with an expectation of tipping read more

Teaism Penn Quarter - Hand roll Bento box - Asian Fusion Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Teaism is always cute. I was grabbing and going so I didn't stay for food. I grabbed the lavender mint tea on ice and it was great. I ordered it unsweetened. It was just right for a hot day. The sizes are a bit small but this isn't starbucks The staff were nice. They walked me through the process and told me about my options. It took about most 7 minutes for them to make it. read more

Teaism Penn Quarter - Lavender Lemon Mint tea - iced - Asian Fusion Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Best bang for your $$$ The food was delicious and refreshing. I also got the Dragon Well tea and it paired very well with the chicken bento. The cashier was efficient, but there wasn't much to the service. You pick your food up and then find a table. How ever they did clean the table relatively quickly. It's a small top floor dining space, but it's cozy like a café. I saw that there was a downstairs area, but I didn't go down to take a look. Overall I will be returning for future trips! read more

Teaism Penn Quarter - Chicken Bento - Asian Fusion Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I need 10 to be an option for this place! I am in awe of the food and tea options. I feel like I'm eating a real home cooked meal when I eat here. Everything is so good!! I'm so glad I stumbled upon this gem. I'm actually so upset that after working nearby for EIGHT entire years, I've never been here. PLEASE TRY THE BEEF BRISKET - Amazing!!!!!! read more

Teaism Penn Quarter - Grilled Vegetable Kabob and Beef Brisket Portion & Gochujang Sauce. ABSOLUTE FAV!! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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First time here with some co-workers. Limited menu with the same 5/6 items packages in different ways (sandwich and bento box). I got the Korean bbq bento which was very good but actually enjoyed the sweet potatoes and broccoli sides more! Service was decently quick given how busy they were at noon. read more

D.C. can get rather hot & humid but the salads and sandwiches at Teaism really know how to zap freshness and rejuvenation back into our desaturated souls. Things you should know: I. PARKING Like any city setting, parking can be tricky. You can either choose to park on the street or in a nearby garage. II. SERVICE You order and pay for your food at the register cafeteria-style. They're relatively fast at bringing your food out to the counter where you'll proceed to get the utensils you need. I like that Teaism provides a water station for unlimited refills. III. QUALITY Fresh and delicious. I highly recommend the Dream Salad ~ the refreshing flavors and variety of textures is out of this world..! Teaism is very vegetarian and vegan friendly. IV. CAPACITY For lunch hours, there is a reasonable amount of seating available. If you can't find seating upstairs.. no worries, they have more downstairs. read more

Teaism Penn Quarter - Dream Salad - Asian Fusion Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The hand roll salmon bento box was amazing! Get there early as it gets crowded. The place has some seating that is kept clean.

This is the perfect lunch spot. The bento boxes were amazing, and the tea was delicious. I had the Salmon Bento Box and the Ginger Limeade Iced Tea. It was super crowded, but they have a basement full of seating as well. Good for a fuel up after strolling through the museums. read more

We came for dinner on a Wednesday evening. It was not crowded at 6 pm so we were able to get a table. You order at the counter and pick up your order at another counter. Employees were friendly. We tried Okonomiyaki salmon pancake and Panko fried chicken bento box. Both were ready in 10 minutes. Both entrees were large and filling. However, the chicken in the bento box was dry, not juicy. The vegetables (broccoli and spaghetti squash) that came with the bento box were served chilled, but the menu did not specify this. I would have preferred warm vegetables. This is not your typical traditional Japanese restaurant, but is more fusion like, which makes it unique. read more

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high quality smoked salmon with a creative twist -- made for a light meal with textural diversity. read more

Teaism Penn Quarter - Asian Fusion Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Tasty and reliable. I always go back for the inimitable okonomiyaki. This location is accessible from the Children's museum and Old Post Office. Longtime customer; only good experiences. read more

Teaism Penn Quarter - Okonomiyaki - Asian Fusion Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I wanted to sit and stay for a cup of tea, but there were a couple of reasons why I didn't. 1.) SPACE - it was super crowded and loud. I usually look for a serene spot to enjoy my tea, but this time wasn't it. 2.) PRICE - I frequent the Teaism in Dupont Circle, and seeing the upcharge here felt a little disappointing that what I would pay before tax and tip here would already be the final price after tax and tip in Teaism Dupont circle 3.) NOT WHAT IM LOOKING FOR - I was also hungry and wanted a small bite but last time I got a small bite, it was their spaghetti squash. I can't understand why they make it a cold salad when spaghetti squash is supposed to be warm? For what it's worth, I decided to walk out and opt for my Teaism time to be spent at and only the Dupont Circle location. Can't say too much about service since I didn't give it a shot and sit down. read more

Teaism Penn Quarter - Menu - Asian Fusion Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Dined in to have the d'artagnan chicken and beef brisket bento and boba teas. Service was easy and quick. You place your order with the counter and they call your number when it's ready. We had our food for dine in and it was easy to find a seating area. We sat downstairs, lots of space. The food was good, as usual. We were a little sad that they changed out their side dish, specifically the sweet potato with spaghetti squash. The sweet potato was so much better. I also wish there was more sweetness (or less sweetness) options for the boba. Their prices appeared to have increased a little. read more

Teaism Penn Quarter - Chicken Bento - Asian Fusion Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I met a colleague for lunch and was pleasantly surprised by the breadth of lunch items on the menu. They have many vegetarian and vegan options. I got the okonomyaki with egg. It was delicious. I also got a ginger lemon drink. It was also excellent. The prices were good and the portions were generous. This location has seating downstairs as well. It would be a nice place to work for a while. read more

Teaism Penn Quarter - Inside - Asian Fusion Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Delicious healthy and creative Asian fusion! Perfect place for lunch while visiting the Smithsonian natural history museum or the National gallery of Art. Excellent selection of tea. The Thai chicken curry was outstanding. The salmon bento box was perfectly cooked, and every part was delicious, including the broccoli salad and the cucumber. The udon soup was generous and delicious with varied vegetables, including beautiful tomatoes. The vibe is casual. The service was excellent. Definitely recommend! read more

O my goodness. Now I can see why there a massive reviews, featured in magazines and the line to get in! Luckily I showed up on a weekday and it was still relatively packed. Thank goodness there is a lower level. The foods are a bit spicy if you cannot tolerate but those who are able to take, it is not spicy to them at all. So just be aware if you have low tolerance. The entire menu is worthy of Michelin recognition. This is a prime example of a successful operation an that you do not need to be at a 10-star restaurant to be able to access exceptional cuisines. read more

I love how this place offers so many tea options; I definitely want to come back again to try more! I stopped by this place on a rainy afternoon, so it was the perfect pick-me-up for a warm meal and a hot drink. I ordered the Thai Chicken Curry and the Yunnan Gold Black Tea. I wish that the vegetables on the Thai Chicken Curry weren't so burnt, but I just set those burnt pieces aside. The Thai Chicken Curry was very creamy and helped give the chicken and brown rice some taste. The tea I ordered was also fragrant and the taste of the reddish infusion was fairly prevalent. As for the service, someone takes your order at the register and then you go to the counter for your food when your number is called. The atmosphere is nice, and the noise is at a relaxing level for conversations. There is even a lower level you can sit at when the upper level (i.e. where you enter from) starts getting packed. read more

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I've been to Teaism several times, and I'm glad I waited until today to review because this was my most positive experience. Not that any of the other times were negative, but I was just that overjoyed to learn that not only can you get unsweetened boba milk tea (you just have to specify that you don't want the classic, and choose from one of the many tea options on the menu) but you can also get it HOT. Hot, unsweetened boba milk tea on a frigid January evening, yes please! I got it with Anxi oolong tea and it was delicious. I added a bit of raw sugar, available in packets, and really appreciated that I could customize it to be only as sweet as I wanted (standard boba milk tea is too sweet for me). How about the other times I've been to Teaism? The green tea lassi is great (sweet, but not overly so), but I was sad to learn that a hot version of matcha was unavailable. The cilantro scrambled eggs are good but honestly not too memorable. The chocolate salty oat cookie is definitely worth a try though I wouldn't rave about it like some of the reviews here. I've heard high praise for the Spicy Glass Noodles and Tofu and the Vegan Black Bean Cake Bento box. Portions appear ample but not overly so. The menu is a bit limited but at least the items available are done well for the most part. I've always been exceedingly pleased with the service, from the cashier and serving staff behind the counter to the management. I've held several events here for my organization, DC EcoWomen, and attended many other events as well, and it's always a very nice vibe. Maybe not 5-star perfection, but for decent food and a great tea selection, great service and a pleasant ambiance, it's hard to find a better a more reasonably priced, more conveniently located downtown DC option. read more

Wooow - I love this place! It is the perfect spot to grab a bite to eat and pick-up some unique teas at their shop next door. I was able to get a very nice (and affordable) ceremonial grade matcha powder and whisk for about $40 total. The shop smelled delightful, the tea leaves are so fragrant and we were helped quickly and kindly. I also stopped in for a bite to eat and got the all-day breakfast okonomiyaki, curried lentil soup, and a lavender lemon mint tea. I really enjoyed the okonomiyaki, it was a warm and savory vegetable pancake topped with eggs (over-easy) and tonkatsu sauce. I really liked this, it was filling and the vegetables were cooked to the perfect consistency (not too crunchy or soft). The seasoning was on point as well. The soup was decent and definitely had a kick to it, but nothing too special. Of course, the tea was amazing. I love how you can see the actual tea leaves in the pot and really enjoyed how strong the flavor was. It was quite floral and had a nice hint of citrus. Definitely recommend! read more

Teaism Penn Quarter - Okonomiyaki with egg, curry lentil soup, lavender lemon mint tea - Asian Fusion Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Retreat to this calm cafe in the bustling Penn Quarter (the lower floor is simply serene). Teaism is consistently good with fast service making it perfect for a quick, casual bite near the Mall; I always take my out-of-town friends here while museum hopping. Their fresh, simple ingredients truly shine especially the tea-cured salmon handroll. Don't miss the salty oatmeal double chocolate cookies--pure decadence! I recommend enjoying their loose-leaf teas (try boba elsewhere). read more

Teaism Penn Quarter - Tea Cured Salmon - Asian Fusion Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

With larger space than the DuPont Circle location (due to its humongous basement with so many tables that it makes this place feel like a cafeteria), this spot is good for those who are wanting something near the National Mall. Teaism to me is a small local chain that I believe is more popular with vegetarians/vegans due to the many options they have here. For non-vegetarians/vegans, I don't think this place is that popular nor does it get that many rave reviews. Also, with the Japanese offerings in the menu, I've heard complaints from a Japanese friend of mine who felt that the food was not authentic - but I did particularly like my okonomiyaki enough to eat it and I did feel that it was a decent value considering the location. Of course, this chain is also popular for the large tea offerings - you can't go wrong with them here. The service here is pretty much self-serve, and knowing myself, I'd say it's great! LOL. You order at the front, and then collect your food on a tray and seat yourself - and yes, you throw your own trash away. read more

I have been to Teaism a handful of times and they don't disappoint. They have a lot of seating downstairs if you are eating. The salmon, the bento boxes, and the teas are all wonderful. If you are in the area, treat yourself to a nice lunch. read more

I'm always pleasantly surprised by the food here. It's unusual - they have scrambled eggs and smoked salmon but also Okonomiyaki pancakes and other Asian inspired dishes. But everything is always very good. The interior isn't very comfortable but there's lots of seating since they have the basement available in addition to upstairs. And the service is always pretty fast. read more

Teaism Penn Quarter - Breakfast Okonomiyaki - Asian Fusion Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I came here to meet a friend and tried their okonomiyaki (breakfast version). It was really good, on the lighter side, but the sauce on top made it enjoyable to eat and sufficiently filling. The eggs it is served with are runny though. I had this with a mango juice boba. Here I guess I needed to specify I wanted it hot (my bad) but the problem was that there was a ton of ice. So when you try to chew the boba you end up chewing on ice - yuck. They were out of the berry beauty. Maybe a hot boba tea here is better? Overall, it was an okay experience. Perhaps better coming in the morning for tea pot and their decadent salty oat cookies. read more

Stopped here twice while in DC, but wish I had the chance to come more. Excellent tea and bites. Wish I had the chance to stay for a full meal. Location is busy at times, but they are efficient and move things along quickly. You won't wait long. Ordered Chai Latte both times and the broccoli tots which had a little kick. They were fantastic! Worth the stop for sure! read more

Teaism Penn Quarter - Chai tea latte and broccoli tots - Asian Fusion Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A consistently good to above good cafe; great for meeting friends, or before or after a meal. The teas have always been good though desserts have varied in terms of selection and quality over the years. Very international and diverse selection of tastes; teas and otherwise. Service is also subject to highly vary. Depending on which location you go to, seating may be plentiful or limited; decently spaced out or unconscionably claustrophobic. Go with no expectations, and you're always in for a good to great time. Go with expectations, and you're going to hate me for misleading you. Everyone coming from out of town has to go here at least once. It is indeed a long-term if dated staple of dc. My advice to the staff is to focus on quality of ingredients and execution as you were once known for, as well as to make better decisions in terms of what to keep and what to rotate or experiment upon, particularly when it comes to desserts read more

Teaism Penn Quarter - Asian Fusion Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I purchased the vegan ginger scone and it tasted strongly of ginger with sugar crystals on top-yum. No complaints and at $4 for two was a deal. Also came with a packet of jam. The odd thing was it also came with butter. They didn't realize it was a vegan scone? Regardless, I'd return. In a great location, too. read more

Teaism Penn Quarter - Vegan Ginger Scones - Asian Fusion Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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If you don't love Teaism.....what's even happening? This location has a koi fish pond in addition to all the amazing food and tea. read more

Delicious food and cozy vibes! I visited Teaism Penn Quarter 4-5 times during my stay in DC, and it never disappointed. The Korean beef sandwiches and Ceylon tea were absolutely delicious. A must-visit spot for great food and a relaxing atmosphere! read more

Teaism Penn Quarter - Asian Fusion Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I was on the hunt for healthy tasty food and this place seemed to fit the bill. OK the rave reviews for the salty oat cookies were a selling point too. I was not disappointed. I enjoyed everything in the salmon bento box, except for the seaweed. I just cannot acquire a taste for those dry seaweed sheets. . What I really enjoyed was the tea, not only was it delicious, it was served in a pot and the tea stayed hot my entire meal. And yes, the salty oat cookies are delish. It lasted me three days. It was so good and rich. It was a short walk from the National Portrait Gallery and my hotel. Fun experience and good food. Great tea and cookie. read more

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Delicious! Been coming here since 2018 and food never disappoints. People don't seem to know about the downstairs. It's calm and beautiful with a nice water fountain. You can't go wrong with the teas. Comes in a kettle with about 4-6 servings. Great for dates and groups. read more

Teaism Penn Quarter - Salmon Bento - Asian Fusion Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This is a cute little spot right behind the Navy Memorial metro stop. There is shaded outdoor seating out front and around the corner. I was in town for work April 30 and this was a relatively quiet place to have breakfast at 11:30ish on a Saturday; because D street dead ends into the FBI building there isn't a lot of foot or car traffic on that side of the street. The food is definitely Asian fusion/Asian-inspired rather than strictly authentic and leans towards light fare. I ordered ahead of time online for pickup which was very easy. The All Day Breakfast Okonomiyaki was great - crispy cabbage pancake, two fried eggs, okonomiyaki sauces - I'm a big fan of cabbage but didn't think it was too cabbage-y for someone who isn't sure they are. I opted not to add bacon but might next time. The Matcha Sweet Green Tea is wonderful! At $3.50 it's definitely the cheapest matcha drink you can get basically anywhere. I can't stand an iced matcha latte that ends up being a $7 cup of slightly green milk; this, without milk, is sweet enough for a matcha beginner. I ended up buying a canister of the powder for ~$9 and am already halfway through it and planning to get more. If you're a matcha purist it's probably too inexpensive to be a high grade but idc as long as it tastes good. Years ago they had some sort of chai milkshake (had it at Dupont Circle), would love to see that come back! read more

Teaism Penn Quarter - Breakfast Okonomiyak, Matcha Sweet Green Tea - Asian Fusion Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Discovered this gem. I like the lower level. Food is tasty and filling. Menu is vast. Ginger lemonade was refreshing. read more

Teaism Penn Quarter - Scrambled egg sandwich with turkey bacon was tasty and filling. Be sure to check out the basement level. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I think this is a great place for tea/boba, but would probably not come again for food. This place was located pretty close to my office so I came for a work lunch. The food is overpriced for the quality/portions. It was crowded during lunchtime and not much space to sit. The service was good, everyone was friendly and I loved the boba. I ordered a milk tea, and it was one of the best I've had in dc. Would definitely come back for a drink! read more

Teaism Penn Quarter - Milk tea - Asian Fusion Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

On a rainy day after a visit to the National Gallery (now both east and west wings are open with timed entry) it wasn't easy looking for a place nearby to have a bite since both the Starbucks and the Paul Bakery on Penn Ave I've been to before are now closed. But then we stumbled upon Teaism at the corner of 8th and D. I wasn't really expecting anything more than a drink and pastries but it turned out they have bento boxes which were just perfect for a late lunch (they also have cookies but they look rather dense and hard). Service was pretty quick - counter ordering and food was ready for pickup in less than 10 minutes. The place is not big so for seating there are a few distanced tables inside and two small tables outside with umbrella cover. We had the beef and salmon bentos, which came with rice, sweet potatoes and pickled cucumbers. The beef was a bit tough but the salmon was tender and delicious. My friends also raved about the iced soba cha which was quite refreshing. Considering the lack of food options in the vicinity of the museums this is a pretty good find so will definitely keep it in mind for our next visit to the area. Aside from the teahouse there is also a small shop next door where you can get loose leaf tea as well as a variety of Asian gift items. read more

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Service: great. Staff are so kind and they make sure that you have everything you need. They are willing to walk you through the menu if you need help. Food: the food was a bit of a disappointment. It wasn't anything outstanding and would probably wouldn't come again unless everything around the area was closed and had to find a place to go. I would say that the chicken breading in the chicken bento was very good, but the salmon was nothing special. Okonomiyaki is probably something that you can make at home as well. Ambiance: plenty of seating (1st and basement) but felt more like a fast food place. read more

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I've been going to Teaism since 1991, but no more! Over the summer they reverted all the dishes to be served with white rice and it is against what they have been standing up for all these years -being the healthy option! That is not a place to save money IMO. Also, their policy of not serving chai refills at Penn location, but other locations are absurd! The cashier is constantly rude! Salty oat remains the only good thing they have -if you want to pay $5 for a cookie, that is! It is a bummer because I really like their chai read more

Best black tea boba I've ever had. Chewy boba. Fast efficient service and they have kayak chocolate salted oat cookies, which are amazing. read more

Teaism Penn Quarter - Classic iced bubble tea with Boba Tea - Asian Fusion Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

What I love about The Teaism in Penn Quarter, is that they have a really nice casual vibe for a busy city like DC; drop in, order some food/drinks, pick it up from the counter, and chill out. I like that they have a big open seating area in the lower level, and it's well kept and clean! I had the Thai Chicken Curry big dish, with the Broccoli Tots appetizer. Looking at the ingredients list at first I didn't know what to expect, as with a lot of their Asian dishes, it's not the most traditional take on the cuisine it's claiming to be: brown rice with a skewer of grilled vegetables, none of which are traditionally in Thai curry? So it's a more modern take on classic dishes, which is fine as long as it tastes good, and is respecting the culture the dish is from, and I'm glad to say Teaism definitely does! The curry was tasty and the ingredients definitely tasted fresh and quality, the chicken had nice flavor to it, but some of the bits in my curry were on the dryer side. Also the curry was a bit too sour for my preference, but it still overall was a tasty dish! The broccoli tots were tasty but a bit on the doughy side, but the combination with goat cheese and the tasty dipping sauce is a flavorful bite! I do have to give props to them for focusing on using organic and some locally sourced ingredients! They have a wide range of Asian dishes which I find really interesting: Japanese, Korean, Thai, even some Indian! Along with their variety of hot or cold drinks and their vast tea selection, I definitely will be back to try some more. read more

Teaism Penn Quarter - Thai Chicken Curry with Broccoli Tots - Asian Fusion Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia