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    Wasai

    3.9 (244 reviews)
    ModerateDim Sum, Ramen
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:45 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Wasai Photos

    WASAI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - Wasai

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    Reviews With Photos - Wasai

    Steamed D2. Pork, Shrimp Chive Dumplings
    Stephanie T.

    Me and my son came here for early dinner prior to the wizards game. The people working there were super busy making noodles since they are handmade and boba but the guy taking orders was very friendly. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The tables were super dirty, several customers were very vocal about it and got their food to go.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff there were VERY BUSY so maybe they need an extra person to clean tables on their busy days. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I wanted to eat in the restaurant so I cleaned our eating area with sanitizer and napkins.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My son got the spare rib noodle soup and I tried it and it was good! It wasn't the best we've had and the broth was a little bland. His strawberry goncha tasted like fake flavoring and was gross. The spring rolls were very tasty. Everything came out hot and fresh so that was great. I got the steamed dumplings and they were very good. The dumpling sauce was delicious. The reason I gave it a 2 was because of the short rib soup and the goncha. For the price of the goncha it should have tasted better. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Also the tables were yuck. Like they need to get that figured out.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Sesame chicken
    Neil W.

    We were in Chinatown, on the hunt for something that isn't too expensive, and my friend recommended we go to Wasai. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We got to the front, seemed fairly crowded, I think a show had just ended at the Capital One Arena.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] But seeing that the line was moving, we decided to give it a go. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was pretty crowded and loud inside, but we managed to get seated when a couple got up.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food took a while to come out. Not anything astounding, the sesame chicken is what you'd expect. The soup was a little bit of a disappointment, I'm sad to say... The broth could have used more seasoning or something..? Something was missing, I couldn't put my finger on it. Something I wish they did with the hand pulled noodle is for the noodles to be bouncier, or thicker, something with a little more body. All in all, the prices are reasonable and the location is convenient, the food didn't quite hit the mark for me. My friend seemed perfectly happy though, so maybe you'll be fine here too.

    Tori H.

    The best pulled noodle spot in Chinatown dc! [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a fast casual spot with gongcha inside too?![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] You order on kiosks in the back. The menu was extensive. I got both beef pulled noodles with thin noodles. The broth was perfection and not too salty, the beef was tender, and the noodles had a good chew and pull. It made for the perfect slurp. The soup dumplings were well seasoned you didn't need soy sauce. It had a good amount of soup too. The service was quick. Everything was so so delicious! I'll be back soon!

    Kassidy K.

    Stopped by on a day trip for a festival... I they've got good options for vegetarians as well as meat eaters. They have 2 self service kiosks. One for JUST boba. And the other for food! I got the Vegetable Fried rice and the Vegetable Fried Dumplings. They were amazing and great for the price. Wish I could've tried the boba- but it looks like it must be good if everyone else in there had it besides us. The staff are friendly and quick with their services. Would def visit again to try the boba and get dumplings again !! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Cozy little building too.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Beef Flank Pull Noodle Soup and Spicy Cumin Toothpick Lamb
    Nik W.

    Definitely a fast casual experience. Soup was flavorful, included meat was tender, and the hand cut noodles were chewy. The lamb was tasty and tender as well. Staff were very nice and topped up our drink when we asked for more ice. A solid and convenient stop for some basics! Curious to try other items on the menu.

    chive & pork dumplings.
    Kwame S.

    I had some time to spare before meeting a friend for drinks, so I decided to grab a quick snack from Wasai since the restaurant was in the same area where i was meeting my friend. For my quick meal, I went with the Pork and Chive Steamed Dumplings, which were about $10 for a serving of eight dumplings. I thought the dumplings were quite delicious. Since I am not a huge dumpling aficionado, I cannot give great details about the dumplings; however, I definitely would not mind ordering these dumplings in the future. While I would visit this restaurant again, I probably would not go out of my way (e.g., 15+ minute walk) to dine here. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Although the restaurant has plenty of seating, the restaurant seems to more of a take out type of establishment - at least from what I saw from other customers.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Eh, maybe folks nowadays are more interested in take-out options, rather than dine-in options. The restaurant is pretty much a self-service spot where you order the food from one of four tablets and bus your own tables. While I provided a tip with my order, I will admit that it sometimes rubs me the wrong way "having" to tip when I have to enter my own order, pick up my food at the counter, and buss my own table after eating.

    spicy Beef Pull Noodle Soup
    Sharon L.

    I got the spicy beef noodle soup (with the hand pulled wide noodles) and it was delicious ! This place is a fast casual spot where you can order from a kiosk and pick up your order once your number is called and dine in any of the available seats. The total came out to close to $17 and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the restaurant interior was clean with lots of seating (for both small groups and solo diners).[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The soup was delicious and the pulled noodles had good chew and texture. I would definitely come back and recommend !

    Beef pull soup with spicy broth
    Joan B.

    10 out of 10 Everything was delicious! Loved the shrimp dumplings which tasted fresh. The soup with spicy broth is a must try. I couldn't stop drinking the broth.

    Samantha G.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Good enough the ambiance lowkey sucks and price high[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], also u can clearly tell the ramen is eh and pre cooked. Not wowed, but had flavor. Good portion size

    Soup dumplings
    Richard G.

    This is an order at the electronic board and wait till they call your name. Great tasting noodle bowls. Loved the shrimp and broccoli with plenty of shrimp. The soup dumplings were delicious. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Good portions, good food, good vide.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Try it!

    Belldandy C.

    Came in for a bite of lunch. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was pretty busy but we were able to snag a table.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] You order at the kiosk and they'll call your number out when it's ready. I love that it's two establishments in one. We were able to order noodle soup and boba! I got the Assorted Beef Pull Noodle Soup w/ hand shaved noodles & Pork Soup Dumplings. The noodle soup was ok. The hand shaved noodles were a bit lacking and didn't have the correct texture/mouth feel & the soup was lukewarm. The soup dumplings were good but the skin was a bit thick & no ginger was served with it. Overall, food is good if there's nothing like it around but nothing I'd crave to come back to again.

    Seafood noodle soup, beef noodle soup
    Sonya H.

    I had honestly almost entirely lost hope in finding good, authentic, and affordable Asian food in Chinatown until I randomly stumbled upon Wasai. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It, admittedly, doesn't look like much at first glance -- the decor is pretty utilitarian, the menu is pretty simple, and they share their space with a Gong Cha.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] However, the simplicity of their menu and decor is what makes Wasai shine -- they do one thing (okay maybe two things), and they do those things incredibly well. My friend and I dropped by Wasai after wandering around the National Mall until the mid / late afternoon on Saturday. We, of course, did not plan ahead and were absolutely starving by the time we made it to Chinatown. We had only moderate expectations for Wasai (for all the reasons above), but they absolutely blew us out of the water. We each got one of their noodle soups -- my friend got their beef, and I opted for their seafood. The noodles were absolutely perfect; they were springy, but not too springy...chewy, yet not too chewy...and doughy while not being too doughy. The texture was absolutely spot on, and these delightful hand-pulled noodles were the perfect vessel for the rich beef / seafood broth. My friend's soup came with a generous helping of beef, and mine had a great bit of mixed seafood. I did think the veggies were a bit lacking, as one sprig of bok choy and two slices of radish aren't quite enough vitamins to keep my doctor happy, but the bowls were otherwise phenomenal. And, lest you think that it was just our post-walk hunger that made us fall in love with Wasai, we've both separately been back there multiple times and have continued to feel the same way each time. I've even ordered it for delivery a few times and it's still fantastic, although I will say that you do lose a bit of the noodle's springy goodness in the transit time.

    Christopher S.

    WASHINGTON, DC / CHINESE / 07-04-24 / LUNCH +Handmade pulled noodles, hand-cut noodles, or skinny noodles. +The cumin lamb skewers were delicious. +The restaurant concept is awesome! +Customer service was excellent. -The broth left a lot to be desired. -The potstickers were a little too salty.

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    Review Insights

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    1 year ago

    got food poisoning a few hours after having their noodles, would not recommend this place.

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    1 year ago

    Very low quality food. Would not go again. The noodles, protein were barely edible. Our family essentially threw all our food away.

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    1 year ago

    Quick and inexpensive very average food. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The inside has a fast food feel; melamine dishes and plastic utensils.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

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    2 years ago

    The food was very fresh and quick. Staff were friendly and helpful. Very fair price for dinner

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    3 years ago

    Food was ok. No service. Guy didn't help with bringing order to table. Also very flimsy fork and spoons.

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    Page 3 of 7

    Wasai Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Wasai

    How would you describe the ambiance or atmosphere of the restaurant?

    Very casual, and I would say it's nice and modern inside! It's good for a quick meal. There isn't a ton of seating either.

    Do you have any vegan options?

    Do we need to make reservations first?

    Wasai doesn't do reservations! You can just go in and order at a kiosk. They have seating available but during busy nights it can fill up quickly.

    Is it only takeout, or do they have a dine-in area?

    they have dine-in tables!

    Is there parking nearby?

    Street parking or garage parking

    Is there an online menu? Can someone post a pic

    It's on their website at https://www.wasai.us

    View All 8 Questions

    Han Palace - A14. Bean Curd Beef Ball

    Han Palace

    3.9(351 reviews)
    2.4 miWoodley Park
    $$

    Service is great, waitress was amazing, celebrated my brother and I's birthday here! Loved the…read moreenergy 10/10 will come again. Food was tastey, drinks are good with great happy hour deals too!

    Not all chains are created equal. Reviews confirmed that and I trusted them enough to travel to the…read moreWoodley Park location for the best experience. It did not disappoint. Easy street parking got me inside just before the 2:30pm brunch cutoff. The vibe inside was immediately inviting. Cute trees growing in the center, real or not I was not brave enough to touch them, and well appointed tables throughout. We sat at the bar, ordered a Mai Tai and it arrived quickly. The service set the tone from the moment we sat down. We started with egg drop and hot and sour soup. Egg drop is my go to and I make it a point to try it wherever it appears on the menu. This one is one of the better ones in the area. Served hot and full of flavor. No enhancements needed. Then on to shrimp dumplings, roasted pork bun, and pork dumplings. The pork dumplings were my favorite and the roasted pork bun was my guest's. We could have stopped right there and been happy. One word of advice, the chili oil served on the table is super hot. We did not expect it so be careful when using. It is so good but it will catch you off guard! The shared entrees were the Han Style Peking Duck and Yang Chow Fried Rice. We have had Peking Duck previously at Philippe Chow and this one outperformed it. Served without the tableside theatrics but delivering every bit of the flavor. Goes to show sometimes good meals do not need the pomp and circumstance. Even though I love the thrills. The Yang Chow Fried Rice was not your typical version. The pork was marinated sweeter than anything I have had before and it elevated the whole dish in the best way. If you're going for a more traditional take on fried rice this would not be your go to. We ended with sesame balls served warm. Like a donut but with a not overwhelming sweetness. Filled with something I could not quite identify but it did not matter. A great ending to the meal. The bartender was attentive and reading the room the entire time. The next Mai Tai arrived right as I took the last sip of the first. I could not finish it completely but it was that good. All hands on deck made the food ordering and arrival quick and efficient. One honest note worth sharing. Han's Palace adds 20% gratuity to the menu but the bill comes out prompting you to select a tip again. Easy to miss. I went back in after visiting a spot next door to flag it and the waiter assured me nothing additional was charged even though I selected more. Noble of them. Just something to be mindful of when you go. Han's Palace Woodley Park is a gathering worth coming back to and the perfect starting point for a full day of fun in the surrounding area. Especially if you have family or friends visiting the city.

    Photos
    Han Palace - A5. Beef and Vegetable Dumpling & D1. Purple Gold Yolk Bun

    A5. Beef and Vegetable Dumpling & D1. Purple Gold Yolk Bun

    Han Palace - Dim sum time

    Dim sum time

    Han Palace

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    Tiger Dumplings - D15. Chicken Shiitake Pot Sticker

    Tiger Dumplings

    4.3(564 reviews)
    4.1 miClarendon
    $$$

    I though hard on this, and it's tough to justify anything less than 5 stars, especially for the…read moreprice point for the all you can eat brunch option. I visited with 4 friends, and we had a private booth. The food kept coming...and coming...and coming! I was genuinely surprised how fast the turn-around between ordering a dish and it arrived at our table. We visited on a Sunday so they had $1 mimosas. Yes-please-thank you! All the dishes were good-to-great. I don't recall a single one of us complaining about anything we tried. And if you don't like something - order something else!

    Was walking with family and we're looking for somewhere to eat for dinner. We stumbled upon Tiger…read moreDumplings and was able to get seated immediately. Not too busy inside but a good amount of people for a Saturday at 7PM. We ordered a Thai Tea, Passionfruit Iced Tea, Scallion Pancakes, Crystal Shrimp Dumplings, Pork Shrimp Shu Mai, Cucumber Salad, Shanghai Soup Dumplings, Tiger Signature Dumplings, and Pork Chive Dumplings. Food came out as it was ready. The teas were ok, the Passionfruit was the best. The soup dumplings were disappointing. You can't avoid them breaking but there was hardly any meat, was lukewarm, and mostly fat. The Tiger Signature and Pork Chive dumplings were better, but not too much flavor. The amount of filling in there were ok. The Shu Mai and the Crystal Shrimp Dumplings were solid, not too bad at all. The Cucumber were refreshing and also a little spicy. The Scallion Pancakes were fine, nothing special. Food was ok overall. The staff is nice but it seems that they were a little slammed despite the restaurant not being too full. Hard to get the server's attention at times. I wouldn't go out of my way but I might come back if I'm in the Clarendon area again.

    Photos
    Tiger Dumplings - Inside

    Inside

    Tiger Dumplings - T03. Coconut Mini Sago

    T03. Coconut Mini Sago

    Tiger Dumplings - Chili Oil Peanut Noodles

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    Chili Oil Peanut Noodles

    Hong Kong Pearl Seafood Restaurant - Chicken Feet or Phoenix Claw. You can call it by either name. Chicken feet is more common.

    Hong Kong Pearl Seafood Restaurant

    3.3(1.1k reviews)
    7.2 mi
    $$

    It's a huge restaurant , big enough to hold weddings of hundreds of people…read more The service was efficient and friendly. The food was Cantonese style with generous potions We had fried Salt and Pepper Fish, and Pork Flakes w. String Beans. Both were mild flavors.

    Went here with 4 of my friends right when they opened. Waited a little before being seated. Before…read morewe even sat down we were bombarded by servers telling us to order the food with super rude attitudes. Honestly we thought that was funny and didn't mind it. We were like the food must be good lol When we got our food it was pretty cold. Which is weird cause they just opened. During our meal we hear screaming. It was 2 employees yelling at each other. My friends are Vietnamese and were saying that they were yelling about gambling money. It was pretty annoying and I could tell my friends were uncomfortable. But at the end is where it got really uncomfortable and awkward. The food and service was not good. So I tipped 15 percent. I should have tipped nothing but that's not me and I was in the service industry so i understand everyone has a day off. The, I assume manager or owner came up to the table and told me I'm required to tip 18 percent. I said where does it say that? He says on the receipt. I told him that says suggestions not required and that I could give him 0 tip. He proceeds to make a huge scene about the 2 extra bucks I need to pay. I finally cave because my friends were very very uncomfortable. As we leave my friend said the guy was a talking shit in Vietnamese to his employees about us. My recommendation is to go somewhere else. This was the worst restaurant experience I've ever had and all over 2 dollars that they didn't deserve. I see why they have a low yelp review.

    Photos
    Hong Kong Pearl Seafood Restaurant - A temple to bring good luck to the restaurant.

    A temple to bring good luck to the restaurant.

    Hong Kong Pearl Seafood Restaurant - Beef Rice Crepes

    Beef Rice Crepes

    Hong Kong Pearl Seafood Restaurant - Chinese spinach in garlic sauce

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    Chinese spinach in garlic sauce

    Tiger Fork - Vegetable Fried Rice (ordered without the tofu)

    Tiger Fork

    3.9(976 reviews)
    0.5 miShaw, Downtown
    $$

    My friends and I came here for dinner on a Sunday night! It was pretty chill and we got seated…read moreright away. The restaurant had a good ambiance and would be a good spot for a date night. For appetizers, we shared the salt and pepper calamari and the jah leung. The calamari was good was but was on the saltier side. I've never had jah leung; it was a very pretty dish and tasted interesting but not sure if I really liked the textures. For my entree, I ordered the beef brisket chow fun. I liked how tender the beef was but it was also on the saltier side. I got to try my husband's char siu place and my friend's crispy pork belly. Both were really tasty and I would probably get those next time instead! Overall, the service was good and I was pretty happy with the food in general (maybe I'm just sensitive to salt).

    We popped into Tiger Fork last minute with friends and were pleasantly surprised. The restaurant…read morehas a great atmosphere, and the bar is vibrant with plenty of drink options to choose from. I ordered the combo fried rice for my entrée, and it was absolutely fantastic! Easily the highlight of the meal. Service was quick, but that's where things became a bit inconsistent. My entrée arrived way before my friends' meals, so I was left deciding whether to eat alone or let my food get cold. On top of that, our server had about as much personality as the napkin on the table. There was nothing outright wrong with the service, but it felt cold and disengaged. As a Michelin-recognized restaurant, the food absolutely lived up to the reputation. Unfortunately, the service didn't come close. If they matched the quality of the hospitality with the quality of the food, this would be an easy five-star experience.

    Photos
    Tiger Fork - Neon & brick

    Neon & brick

    Tiger Fork - Pork belly

    Pork belly

    Tiger Fork - Crispy wontons - shrimp/pork

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    Crispy wontons - shrimp/pork

    Soupy Dumpling & Fancy Cuppa Bubble Tea - 5. Spicy Wonton In Chili Oil

    Soupy Dumpling & Fancy Cuppa Bubble Tea

    4.5(129 reviews)
    0.8 miLogan Circle, Downtown
    $$

    I found this place on tiktok and I love soup dumplings, soup and boba. This place has it all!…read more Coming inside there's a counter where you can order drinks and food to go but if you plan to dine in, you just sit down at any available table and order from the QR code. The restaurant I very clean and the decorations are really pretty. We ordered soup dumplings and noodles and our food was ready really fast. I ordered the veg spicy and sour noodles and they come with an egg and crispy pieces of corn and a lot of boi hot which I love. The flavor was spicy with a hint of lime for the sour flavor. My husband ordered the beef noodle soup and he said it tasted amazing. Our chicken soup dumplings were full of flavor and a lot of broth inside. This place is really similar to Yu noodles which is one of my favorite places so if I'm ever in the area again I would go to this place for soup dumplings. Our server was really sweet as well.

    Stopped by for dinner and had a good time overall. Seat yourself at an open table and place your…read moreorder using the QR code. Our order was brought out faster than I expected, with our mains coming up before the apps. Although not as spicy as I was hoping for, the spicy mapo tofu with noodles was really good. Of course I had to add ground pork for a few dollars more! To drink I had the strawberry fruit tea (50% sugar), which was good and refreshing. I also tried the pan fried dumplings and spicy wontons in chili oil. Both were just okay. I'll be back when I'm in the area to try out additional items.

    Photos
    Soupy Dumpling & Fancy Cuppa Bubble Tea - Inside

    Inside

    Soupy Dumpling & Fancy Cuppa Bubble Tea - 1. Spicy Beef Noodles

    1. Spicy Beef Noodles

    Soupy Dumpling & Fancy Cuppa Bubble Tea - Assorted soup dumplings.

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    Assorted soup dumplings.

    Wasai - dimsum - Updated July 2026

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