Bar Chinois
📍 455 I St NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
Weighted rating from:
Google: 4.4 • TripAdvisor: 3.5
JetlyGo Score
Score calculated from online mentions, review sentiment, and dining indicators across Washington. Trust this score to find where to eat, drink, and dine in Washington.
Available amenities(20)
Based on verified guest experiences
Offers:Bar Chinois is known for its happy hour specials, offering $1 dumplings and half-off cocktails from 5 PM to 7 PM. This promotion is a favorite among patrons, making it an ideal time to experience the menu without breaking the bank.
Located in the vibrant heart of Chinatown, Bar Chinois is a delightful blend of contemporary Asian fusion and a lively bar atmosphere. This cozy spot is celebrated for its exceptional cocktails and an array of delicious dishes that keep diners coming back for more. With a charming ambiance marked by dim lighting and soft music, it’s the perfect setting for both a casual night out or a special occasion. The restaurant has gained a loyal following among locals and visitors alike, known for its friendly service and a menu that showcases standout dishes like the pork soup dumplings and garlic noodles. Whether you're stopping by for happy hour or a full dining experience, Bar Chinois offers a unique taste of Asian cuisine that resonates with diverse palates.
Signature Dishes
- •Pork XLB Soup Dumplings
- •Garlic Chives Gao
- •Crab Rangoons
- •Chicken Curry Rice
- •Matcha Cheesecake
Overall rating 4.4 / 5 (503 reviews)
Google: 4.4 (496 reviews)
TripAdvisor: 3.5 (7 reviews)
Customer Reviews
In the heart of Chinatown is this small fabulous contemporary asian fusion restaurant. Cocktails are amazing and the food fantastic. The noodles OMG the noodles, believe me one order never will be enough. Try the dumplings, they have a happy hour from 5pm to 7pm and $1 dumplings. We just loved the place. Amazing service as well
I have been pleasured. We were eating outside, it was 50 degrees with a slight wind chill, but the warmth of the dumplings permeated through our innards. The dollar dumplings were worth every dollar, the pork in particular, and the bartender did their thing with the surprise mocktail. I especially recommend the chive dumplings, the flavor is divine. Wonderful late night culinary experience with a dear friend.
A friendly local vibe with great food and the best cocktails… off the beaten track this little venue caught my interest with a simple menu and some good cocktails at happy hour… Emily kept them coming for me and a few locals I met… the food was quick and delicious.. can’t fault it . Would reccomend!
Maybe my expectations were too high considering all the positive reviews, but my friend and I left confused as to why people love this place so much. We had an early evening reservation and since it was a fairly stuffy evening, we opted to sit inside even though they do offer outdoor seating as well. We were seated at a table between two other tables. When asked if we could sit at a corner table, we were told that there was a group arriving in under an hour that they would need to use that table for. Firstly, it was another 2-people table and they wouldn't be able to connect other tables to it since there was a barrier on the side. Secondly, we were there for about 1.5 hours and there was no group seated nor waiting to be seated. I guess they just didn't want us to be comfortable. Oh well! We tried a few food items: shrimp bao, chicken dumplings, har gow dumplings and char siu chicken rice. The food was just alright, not terrible, but definitely nothing to write home about either. I have had better bao buns for less the cost. I also had one drink - the dorsia and it did not hit the spot! Before anyone tires to justify that it's because mezcal is an acquired taste, I always drink mezcal based cocktails. Good thing, I got it for the happy hour price. Overall, even though we didn't hate our experience, we see no reason to go back either.