Bar Chinois

Name: Bar Chinois
Address: 455 I St NW, Washington, DC, United States, 20001-3054
Telephone: (202) 838-9633
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.7

4.7

367 Reviews

$30 and under

Chinese

Top Tags:

Since opening in October 2021, Bar Chinois has been recognized for its constantly-evolving Chinese menu combined with a signature French-inspired cocktail and wine program. Recent accolades include being listed in the Michelin Dining Guide USA and the Washington Post Fall Dining Guide.

Located in Mount Vernon Triangle, Bar Chinois is a short walk from the Washington Convention Center, Capital One Arena, National Mall and Union Station. We offer happy hour specials Monday-Saturday from 5 pm-7 pm and a bottomless brunch on Sundays.

If you are looking for an energetic Washington, DC dining experience with great food, drink and service, we would love to host you!

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Mar 28, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 31 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(202) 838-9633

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Chinese, Chinese (Canton)
Hours of operation
Bar Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–1:00 am Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–2:00 am Sat, Sun 12:00 pm–5:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 12:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am
Phone number
(202) 838-9633
Website
http://www.barchinoisdc.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Chef Satang Ruangsangwatana

Location
455 I St NW, Washington, DC 20001-3054
Neighborhood
Shaw
Cross street
5th and I Streets NW
Parking details
Metered street parking. Numerous parking garages and lots within a three block radius.
Public transit
Closest metro stations are Chinatown, Mt. Vernon Square/Convention Center, Judiciary Square and Union Station. DC Circulator bus stops on Massachusetts Ave. NW and 5th Street NW and a number of other bus stops nearby.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

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Squash Soup$7.00
Butternut squash, szechuan peppercorn, cumin, fish sauce, honey, cashews
Marinated Cucumbers$9.00
English cucumbers, sesame, chili flakes, soy
Roasted Mushroom Salad$11.00
Shiitake mushrooms, bean sprouts, harissa, black vinegar, confit garlic, scallions
Red Chili Wontons$10.00
Pork & shrimp wontons, garlic, chili-oil, scallions, soy vinaigrette
Har Gow$10.00
crystal prawn dumplings, bamboo shoots, toasted sesame
Karaage a L'orange$11.00
Chinois style fried chicken, orange butter sauce, toasted sesame seeds, arugula; Gluten-Free Available
Salt & Pepper Shrimp$12.00
Garlic, ginger, scallions, Szechuan peppercorn, Shaoxing wine
Crab Rangoon$10.00
Fried crab & cheese wontons, homemade apricot duck sauce, toasted sesame
Gyoza De Boeuf$10.00
French onion beef gyoza, gruyere, swiss, pickled onions, cilantro aioli
Garlic Chives Gao$9.00
Fried chives dumpling cubes, sambal chili, pickled onions, dark soy sauce
Steamed Shumai$10.00
Chicken and shrimp, water chestnut, fried garlic, scallions
Pork Belly Bao$15.00
Homemade tian-mian bean sauce, mustard, cucumber, spring onions
Lu Rao Fan$15.00
Slow braised 5-spiced pork belly bits on rice, soy egg, scallions, ginger, arugula salad
Char Siu Chicken Rice$18.00
Hong Kong Style BBQ Chicken, red soy, seasonal Chinese greens, soy egg, ginger chimichurri
1970's Garlic Noodles$15.00
Egg noodles, shiitake, spinach, garlic butter, parmesan, chef's soy sauce
Zi-Char Chili Garlic Fish$18.00
Singaporean fried fish with spicy chili & garlic sauce, shaoxing wine, jasmine rice; substitute tofu, shrimp or chicken

Desserts

Matcha Crème Brûlée
Chocolate Cheesecake
Lemon Mascarpone Cake

What 367 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.5Service
4.5Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Energetic

Loved For

Washington, D.C. Area
Lively
District of Columbia
Hot spot
District of Columbia
Lively

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OT
OpenTable Diner
London
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Celebrating my wife’s birthday! Great place. Fantastic service!
n
nomdeguerre
Washington DC
13 reviews
vip
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on March 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Drag brunch is once a month with Cake Pop and her ladies!
GR
GwenR
Baltimore
31 reviews
vip
5.0
31 reviews
Dined on March 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
The food is really great and is served as soon as it is ready. The drinks are delicious. We definitely will go back. The restaurant was pretty loud though.
AP
AlexP
Columbus
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Incredible service, really interesting menu, and a great happy hour.
AM
AllMussel
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on March 10, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience2
Karaage chicken was soggy and cloyingly sweet. Super loud. Indifferent service.
JS
JuliaS
Richmond
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 9, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Amazing happy hour, quick service, great cocktails and food is delicious
PQ
PQFoodie
Washington DC
16 reviews
vip
4.0
16 reviews
Dined on March 8, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience3
Delicious food and nice ambiance. Too bad it’s so loud you cannot hear the people at your table. My watch’d alarm even went off to let me know it was dangerously loud.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on February 23, 2023
overall3food4service3ambience4
Felt very rushed to leave. And the hostess was overall VERY unpleasant.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
loud inside but we didn’t mind. great service even when busy! small plates can get pricy but we were happy with the value. plates are great to share. might be my favorite crab rangoons. good cocktails.
RM
RohanM
Washington DC
13 reviews
vip
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on February 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always a fun time at BCDC.
K
Kins
Washington DC
15 reviews
vip
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on February 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was amazing and service was awesome!! The wine list curated by owner Margot is the best and most thoughtful. She was wonderful to meet and lovely to chat with.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Tucson
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 10, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience3
Great sitting outside, very loud on the inside to the point of being non-enjoyable.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on February 9, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Only thing I did not like was a time limit on the table. We would have ordered more. Overall great food and drinks
SE
SEANH
New England
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on February 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful food, great cocktails, a real find. Very good service.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
11 reviews
vip
4.0
11 reviews
Dined on February 1, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience4
great food and drinks, very loud when crowded. bad acoustics.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
One of my favourite places in DC. Food is great, service is wonderful. Ambiance is FUN. Rare combo in the DC dining scene.
LA
LeilaA
Washington DC
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on January 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This is a neighborhood gem. It can be your go to place or be a special occasion place! Love this restaurant
RH
RealHouswinesofVA
Washington DC
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on January 26, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
Great happy hour
Y
Ylavanchy
San Francisco
6 reviews
vip
1.0
6 reviews
Dined on January 23, 2023
overall1food1service1ambience1
Food was bland and not cooked well breaded tofu was mushy and not fully cooked. Noise level extremely high. Waitress was not attentive
OT
OpenTable Diner
Las Vegas
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Came for lunar new year dinner. Great variety of dumplings, a lot of the food was on their regular menu but was still delicious
L
Lyralou
New England
26 reviews
vip
5.0
26 reviews
Dined on January 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We went for Restaurant week Brunch. It was wonderful!! Yummy food, fun place.
SB
SophiaB
Washington DC
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on January 22, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience5
We went for Restaurant Week brunch and had a great time! Drinks were flowing. Appetizers and desserts stood out as unique and VERY tasty. One person who ordered vegetarian dishes was not served at the same time as the rest of the table which was a little awkward. Still, overall, would return!
KF
KatrinF
Washington DC
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on January 22, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Great food, service and ambiance, slightly rushed as seating is only 90 minutes.
AT
AshleyT
Raleigh
20 reviews
vip
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on January 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Quite possibly the best cocktail bar we’ve ever been too! What an amazing curated experience
DC
DCFoodie
Washington DC
57 reviews
vip
4.0
57 reviews
Dined on January 19, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience2
We went for Restaurant Week. The menu selection was great. The portion size was very nice too. The bean sprout salad appetizer was a bit odd as the spouts didn’t really go with the mushrooms—the whole thing felt a bit deconstructed. The main course was fabulous—loved the Tofu noodles. My dessert was amazing—matcha crème brûlée was tad on the sweet side. My friends ordered the chocolate cheesecake and they said it was very underwhelming. Overall it was a great experience for me. We did have some trouble with one of the staff adding another table’s 6 drinks onto our check. Luckily we were able to get them to correct it.
AS
AngelaS
Washington DC
3 reviews
2.0
3 reviews
Dined on January 18, 2023
overall2food2service2ambience2
Very busy restaurant with impersonal service and decent food.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
10 reviews
2.0
10 reviews
Dined on January 18, 2023
overall2food3service2ambience4
Unfortunately we had a bad experience- the QR code menu didnt work for anyone in our party and the wait staff repeatedly forgot or mixed up our orders. They were courteous, but seems like alot of front of house problems. Add to the fact that the restaurant is extremely noisy. I can’t recommend Bar Chinois.
s
sammy
Washington DC
9 reviews
vip
2.0
9 reviews
Dined on January 14, 2023
overall2food3service3ambience2
Hostess seemed to have forgotten that she was in the hospitality business. Her idea of a greeting guests was to start with a warm, friendly "We'll need the table back at 8:30". (It was 7:15). I would have left had we not already gone through the trouble of finding parking and walking in the cold. Needless to say, starting dinner with that rudeness and that time pressure was already a turn off. No option for physical menus, which is also an annoying dining experience. Busy bar scene meant that it was extremely loud throughout the restaurant couldn't have a conversation without yelling. The food and cocktails were pretty good, and our server was good. Would not go back, and would not recommend given the much better alternatives in the area.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 29, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
Went with a reservation, we were greeted by the VERY nice hostess and sat quickly. The ambiance is lovely and cozy. It did get loud as the night went on but it wasn’t unbearable. We went during happy hour and had $1 dumplings, they were a 4/5 on flavor but the sauce for dipping made up for it! We had Karaage L’orange and the Char Siu Chicken, both were lovely! The Soy egg that came with the Char Siu was one of the best eggs I’ve ever had! Our cocktails were spot on too. Going during happy hour was for sure the move and it did get busy. The staff was attentive kind and efficient.
M
Mandy
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on December 16, 2022
overall1food1service1ambience3
Really rude hostess made the entire night unenjoyable
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 14, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
:) excellent
TT
TaylorT
Atlanta Metro
8 reviews
vip
4.0
8 reviews
Dined on December 14, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience5
The service was okay. Not a good place for a quiet dinner. Food was great!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
3 reviews
vip
1.0
3 reviews
Dined on December 11, 2022
overall1food1service2ambience1
Horrible ambiance. Not fresh fish dishes. Cold draft from entrance door to dining area. Must had a jacket on while dining. Over prices. Will Never go back again.
MT
MorningstarTravels
New York Area
18 reviews
vip
4.0
18 reviews
Dined on December 7, 2022
overall4food4service3ambience2
This is a very lively spot. It's fun to share the dishes, which are well prepared. It was quite busy on a Wednesday evening so the service was less than anticipated. But overall, it was okay.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on December 4, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Bar chinois is one of my fave local spots. We always have a great time. The ambiance and service is amazing, the food is consistently delicious and aesthetically pleasing, and the vibes are right. They made my 29th birthday very special.
J
Jarto
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 2, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Sweet happy hour deals and ridiculously fast service. Impressed I was able to eat my fill and have a couple drinks for like $25. AND I could’ve been in and out in under 45 mins
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on November 26, 2022
overall4food3service4ambience5
The food was lackluster, but the drinks were good. Too expensive dim sum for the quality
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 20, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
Great food, cocktails and fun ambiance. Bit loud so fun for friends meeting and occasion celebrations.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 17, 2022
overall3food4service3ambience3
I was pretty disappointed by my experience here. We felt very rushed by our server - they imposed a hard 90 minute limit, even though by the time they brought the check (while we were still eating), the restaurant was quite empty and there was nobody waiting for our table. Food was good but nothing to write home about. I think the cocktails were the best part of the meal.
WB
WillB
Washington DC
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on November 17, 2022
overall4food5service5ambience5
Terribly LOUD! We could barely hear each other sitting at the same table.

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Sealed or wrapped utensils used
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Bar Chinois offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (202) 838-9633.

Bar Chinois is rated 4.7 stars by 367 OpenTable diners.

Bar Chinois does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Mar 28, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 31 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(202) 838-9633

455 I St NW, Washington, DC 20001-3054

Additional information

Cross street
5th and I Streets NW
Neighborhood
Shaw
Hours of operation
Bar Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–1:00 am Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–2:00 am Sat, Sun 12:00 pm–5:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 12:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am
Cuisines
Chinese, Chinese (Canton)
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Metered street parking. Numerous parking garages and lots within a three block radius.
Public transit
Closest metro stations are Chinatown, Mt. Vernon Square/Convention Center, Judiciary Square and Union Station. DC Circulator bus stops on Massachusetts Ave. NW and 5th Street NW and a number of other bus stops nearby.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Executive chef
Chef Satang Ruangsangwatana
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.barchinoisdc.com/
Phone number
(202) 838-9633

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card

Bar Chinois

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Additional information

Gift card

Main

Squash Soup$7.00

Marinated Cucumbers$9.00

Roasted Mushroom Salad$11.00

Red Chili Wontons$10.00

Har Gow$10.00

Karaage a L'orange$11.00

Salt & Pepper Shrimp$12.00

Crab Rangoon$10.00

Gyoza De Boeuf$10.00

Garlic Chives Gao$9.00

Steamed Shumai$10.00

Pork Belly Bao$15.00

Lu Rao Fan$15.00

Char Siu Chicken Rice$18.00

1970's Garlic Noodles$15.00

Zi-Char Chili Garlic Fish$18.00

Desserts

Matcha Crème Brûlée

Chocolate Cheesecake

Lemon Mascarpone Cake

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Sort by

Filters

Cleaning & sanitizing

Screening

FAQs

Does Bar Chinois offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Bar Chinois restaurant rated?

Does Bar Chinois offer gift cards?

Is Bar Chinois currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Additional information

Gift card