| Address | 2009 R St., Washington, DC 20009 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (202) 667-3827 |
I finally made it over to Teaism! There are three different locations, one in Dupont Circle, one in Lafayette (Farragut), and one in Penn Quarter. The Dupont Circle location is open the latest and has the largest menu (about the same as the Penn Quarter's). The Lafayette location only serves lunch until 230, but has afternoon tea options at a set price and menu until closing. All locations serve breakfast -- I hope I can get over there one day to taste that menu.
The Dupont location has two levels. The first level is great for solo diners. To the right hand side upon entering is where you place your orders. There are also small areas on the first floor where you can buy various tea pots, cups, books, teas, and accessories. I'm particularly interested in the Tea Tiger (image in the gallery below), which is a plastic thermos that you can put tea leaves directly into, pour water over, and close the lid. The tea will brew within the thermos and you can drink through the second lid, which has a filter on it.Unfortunately (fortunately?), I don't care much for tea (outside of Chinese restaurants and Chai). Low tables with chairs line the two large windows on the storefront. It's quite hard and crowded to eat hear as a group, but would be quite comfortable for a long, quite sip by your lonesome.
If you travel up the worn, wooden stairs, you'll see an elegant, bare-bones dining area. Simple Japanese fabric lines the booths along the walls and wooden tables are spread generously throughout the area. One of the greatest things about the upstairs seating is the view. Teaism has the windows open, looking out onto the quaint row houses outside as the sun set. Even though Teaism is right off of a major road and next to a Starbucks, there's something quiet and relaxing about this. It reminds me of maybe a restaurant in a third world country that doesn't have air-conditioning, so leaves windows open and lets natural wood speak for itself. The restaurant is worn, but in an elegant and sophisticated way. This is a restaurant to go by yourself for contemplation or a nice read, or to come with a friend for a long catch-up chat that can go on for hours (I speak from experience).
I was set on getting the naan and mango chutney with the sweet potato salad, but when I arrived at the register to order, I spotted the Seitan Stir fry Special. Seitan is wheat gluten with a meaty texture that many vegetarians and vegans eat as an alternative to meat (of course) and tofu. I also ordered the Zhenzhou Pearls bubble tea. My friend ordered the Salmon Bento.
The food was ready very quickly and was served on trays lined with brown and green Japanese-looking paper. I took the food upstairs and sat at our table. Chopsticks as well as normal utensils are available (self-serve style). Seitan stir fry wasn't really a stir-fry. It reminded me more of an ocha-zuke with the crispy rice ball in the middle with sesame seeds, spinach, seitan, and delicious macadamia nuts surrounded by a savory, shallow broth. Each bite was delicious and complex, yet clean. The sweet potato salad was interesting. For only 2.50, I received a very large serving. First bite was too flavorful, but after a few bites I got adjusted to the taste. After adjusting, the sweet potato was nice (a bit too firm for me), but the sauce was still a bit off. The miso sauce tasted more like a gravy, and I had been expecting a potato salad-just made with sweet potatos. I packed up my remaining half of each dish and took it home to eat the next day. The bubble tea had a nice flavor, not too sweet like most bubble teas, but still pleasant to drink. Unfortunately, I drink my tea a bit slower than most, so some of the bubbles were soggy by the time I got to them.
My friend's bento was served in a traditional Japanese bento box, complete with dividers and lid. There was a small piece of teriyaki glazed salmon, a sliced cucumber and ginger salad, and two brown rice balls and edamame. We shared a Salty Oat cookie as well. This cookie was substantial. It wasn't too large, but it was dense. At first bite, the salt is jarring, but if you hold the bite in your mouth, the sweetness blends with the salt and becomes perfect.
The food itself really fits the weather (warm with a nice cooling breeze through the windows). It's hot, but not hot. It's cool, and placed neatly on plates- more of an indoor picnic than anything else. I will definitely have to return very soon to try one of their ochazuke (rice served in tea), and many of their teas, drinks, sides, and desserts, as well as breakfast and afternoon tea.This is truly a unique establishment in DC.
Teaism is an oasis in the city. It is perfect for a rainy, cold, or otherwise miserable day. While I've heard some dishes can be hit or miss, the Chinese Noodle Soup is always a wonderful meal filled with yummy veggies, mushrooms, and packed with ginger - by far the best vegetarian soup in the city. The Bento Boxes are also fantastic and just the right size for lunch.
The best french toast and scrambled tofu in the city. Wow. The Dupont location is really cute, but too small and gets very crowded at weekend breakfast time - pay attention to the signs about not sitting at a table until you have your food. It really does always work out.
The food is great - quality ingredients and not your typical fast, under $15 fare. Don't expect much in terms of service though, regardless the the time of day you go!
The tea selection is very diverse, including selections such as Japanese Sweet Green Tea. Teaism is conveniently located next to Layfayette Park, across from the White House, and boasts an excellent location for downtown office workers who are looking for quick carryout or dining in. The seating area is large enough to handle the lunch time crowd and has outdoor seating as well. However, if you want to spend your afternoon lingering over a cup of tea and a good book, you may prefer to go to the Teaism on R Street because the tables and floor are cleaner and the service is a little better.
I eat and drink here regularly, enjoying most things. Complaint? The bubbles/pearls are very inconsistent. One day lovely little gummies that add spring to your chilled tea drink. The next time they are uncooked beans waiting to chip your teeth.
I am happy to have this establishment in my neighborhood.
Place is small and cramped ...
but, ... hey it's worth it.
I like the sencha (Japanese green tea), bento box, and mochi(Japanese rice cake)it's good .....
Go upstairs, there are several tables upstairs too...
Prices are very cheap but foods are good ...
beware ... it's a crowded house !!!
Everything was good, even with the tofu a little "burnt" tasting. The wait for the food was a little long for an order-at-the-counter type of place, but it's not a bad place to be waiting. I'd go again.
Teaism is busy at lunch and you have to wait for your food before finding your own table. Many prefer to eat on the front porch to view the local "wildlife" passing by
This place is always very relaxing and congenital, even when crowded. It would be nice if they opened a location in MD.
Teaism is fine and good. A tad pricey, average portion size, good taste. The hype is misplaced, but if you want a decent meal, this is a decent choice.
An acquired taste is needed.
I like tea so I tried here.
I need to eat healthy, so I tried here.
It was okay...definitely eclectic but a cool place to waste some hours and talk. I nice alternate to Starbucks. No not cheaper. Just an alternate. Their sandwiches are good. If you are a vegetarian you will love it.
The veggie bento box could be a surprise for those not familiar with nato (fermented soy beans). At least I think it was nato. Anyway, an odd combination of squashes (zucchini, summer and butternut) made for a less than palatable experiece - I relied on the salads my carnivorous friends rejected (cucumber and pickled ginger) to fill up. Also, brown rice isn't an option, which would make for a more nutritious meal.
However, the tea selection (iced and hot) is lovely, as well as choices like ginger limeade. That, along with the generously-sized salty oatmeal cookies make it worth a stop just for "tea time."
For a tea house, it's tolerably good, for the atmosphere (only the one in Dupont Circle area) and for the availability of variety of teas.
However, if you are an expert on teas and Asian food, do expect disappointment. The chai has too much cloves and the bento boxes cater to pseudo-health nuts who don't know good taste. Still, if you want to get away from the mass-produced Starbucks, go here.
This glowing review is based on one thing and one thing only: the salty oatmeal cookies. Sounds weird, right? But, intriguing enough to try, and they even tell you right on the menu that these cookies are oddly addictive. That they certainly are! There aren't any surprises here -- they are exactly what they say they are -- but somehow the unusual combination just works. Take the salt out, and you've got a damn fine cookie by any standards, but with the salt, it is, strange enough, something I go back for again and again. Oh, and you know, the knowledgable staff can make a pretty solid pot of tea as well. A nice combination to sit down outside with, sipping, nibbling, and reading on a sunny spring afternoon.
This is a delicious place to spend a budgeted afternoon. Try the roll-your-own sushi Bento Box, while drinking the Shenzhou Pearls! The only drawback is that it is sometimes hard to find seating during peak hours.
Perfect on a bitter cold day or a breezy summer one. Have never been disappointed. The salty oat cookies are like crack!
Teaism successfully delivers cafe ambience while providing several tasty entrees that make it easy to stop by any time of the day. While a great place to chat over a cup of chai or enjoy a book, the curries and bento boxes are satisfying and tasty. The salted oat cookie is not to be missed. It can get a little crowded waiting for your food at the counter, but I have never had trouble finding a table and the staff is pretty good about gently encouraging people to leave when necessary.
