Hälsa

Came here with a friend and got the Chicken Breast with Stuffed Avacado and Wild Rice while he got the Salmon with Seasonal Vegetables and Braised Red Cabbage — All in all the food was DELICIOUS (and the quality PHENOMENAL), the place itself was modern and comfy however the portion size was rather small for the amount of money you’re paying per meal. Nonetheless, I’d still come back and recommend everyone check out the place at least once.

Nice genuine food. The green smoothie is expensive but very tasty. I really like the grilled stuffed avocado, and the chicken sausage that’s home made.

I’ve been here a number of times and the speed of service has improved somewhat and they have introduced a customer loyalty card, which was way overdue.
You should come here for the pork entrees as well as the savory broths. I recommend to add a poached egg or two with the broth. It’s money as is definitely worth it on cold wintry days.

Its a great concept, and the staff were so friendly, but the food was only so-​so.
The concept (as I understand) is to have a chill space where people can hang out and eat healthy delicious food. The shelves you can see in the pictures have some great local products at reasonable prices. (Sadly some of my favorite things on the shelves were not for sale at Halsa, but had Crate and Barrel tags on them.)
The staff were great. I had some raspberry kombucha (on tap) which was delicious and the staff told me all about the process of making kombucha, who they buy theirs from, and how the flavors change weekly. 5 stars for that guy.
Last, the food. The shredded pork was good — but I’d have liked some BBQ sauce or a smokey flavor. The brussel sprouts were the most disappointing. Not that they were bad (a little too greasy), just that they weren’t any better than something any of my friends could make at home. I wasn’t a fan of the mashed root (like mashed potatoes, but with other white root veggies) — it was lacking flavor. In general, none of the food wow-​ed me.

This place was so good that I just had to write a review ASAP. So, your first question might be, if they were so great why would I give them 4 stars? Well, their staff were super obviously to even how certain things were prepared and couldn’t answer a simple question like «are these chairs cement?»…the BF and I were debating.
But, the food… O.M.G. SOOOOOOOO GOOOOD! I got the pulled pork which was better then most BBQ joints I have been too. It was super moist with a little bite and not overly seasoned. I think it was just really good salt and pepper. For my sides I choose the potato leek hash and brussel sprouts. The sprouts were sauteed and not mushy. It also came with a little dressed spring salad. For an extra $ 3 you can throw in a cup of broth (phở broth) which has spirals of carrot an cilantro. My total came to $ 13 and I would totally spend it again.
So, now, I’m full and happy while having a Netflix and Chill night!
**Oh, they were out of kimchee, which they said they run out of often. Thr Korean half of me walked away sadly.
We will meet again Halsa… we will meet again!

Whether you’re looking for a quick bite while passing through, or are looking for a delicious spot for a healthy meal, I highly recommend Halsa in Brookland.
This place is basically a café, although I think their menu changes seasonally and it isn’t updated on their website. I ordered the chicken sausage with sweet potatoes with quinoa a few weeks ago. They also serve coffee and tea, and wine, with a good selection of beers on tap!
They have a pleasing outdoor seating area when the weather is amenable and a reasonable happy hour. This place attracts a small crowd from Catholic University, but was otherwise quiet and offers some unique market-​style items and desserts as well. Definitely worth checking out.

This part always makes my heart (& tummy) happy. Guilt-​free quick eating right here. The only downside is that the salmon isn’t consistent. Sometimes it’s perfect. Other times, the salmon is a bit over-​cooked and a bit dry.
Also, thumbs up to some of the new sides I tried on the fall menu. If I host thanksgiving this year, ill probably be picking up some sides to serve as well. :P

I stumbled on Halsa during a work event in Brookland. I am glad I did because the food is fresh and I was able to customize what I got. I got the chicken bowl with arugula, a cucumber side, an egg, and spicy sauce. The chicken was the main attraction. It was browned to perfection and even had a crispiness to it. I really enjoyed it. The spicy sauce is a must and really adds additional layers of flavor. I am going to have to try some different items and sides next time. I am sure everything is also yummy.

Pros: clean Scandinavian design, friendly service. Cons: food is subpar, hummus toast is a thin layer of green something on bread, mushroom soup tastes like Campbell’s. Plus they forgot about my husband’s toast. I wasn’t impressed. Go to &pizza next door instead.

When you get a BOGO coupon to Halsa from WeWork, you have to proclaim «ALL HAIL HALSA!»
If Ikea had a fast casual restaurant in Brookland, I swear… this is it! In. Real Life.
Love:
+ Healthy food options
+ Sweet potato & raw asparagus salad are the best sides.
+ Super clean
+ Super friendly service
+ Books on shelf for your reading pleasure
Not so love:
— Not fast for fast casual. My friend and I waited for 15ish mins with no one ahead of us. I believe it’s still bc they are new, but I am hopeful it will pick up.
— Cauliflower couscous
Overall, Halsa is healthy and I leave happy.

It was a beautiful and unexpected change of pace. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the cleanliness and natural feel of this restaurant. I ordered a salmon dish with potatoes and chickpeas. I personally like my food a little more seasoned (NOT SUPER SALTY) but I do want some flavor.
I stopped by this spot after a swim class and my taste buds were just yearning something new. I am glad I did take a chance on this place. It felt healthy and the vibe was just the right balance of calm and airy that is necessary after a long day of work.
I treated myself to a cup of mushroom soup while my main order was cooking and WOW. I was blown away! Maybe I am a basic when it comes to food choices but the broth was killer. ***My general rule is that if something classic is done right then you can trust the other menu options to be worth a standing ovation.*** Thus, I was so glad I tried it. It was flavorful and I could literally drink it all day. Also, there were some sauteed shitake mushrooms at the bottom of my cup… can you say heaven? (Side Bar: I am slightly bias because mushrooms are my kryptonite.)
The menu consisted of a main protein that you build around with interesting toppings. It was similar to other fast casual restaurants in that way. The main difference is that there are specials which are great if you just want to trust someone else’s opinion and leave your food brain at home.
It was pretty pricey but overall I enjoyed it.

Great food and ambiance. Comfy place to eat. Lots of great books and trinkets for sale.

Great food if you are into asian style health food. May be exotic faire for those less adventurous. I enjoyed the miso tofu with kimchee. Environment is clean, simple, Eco-​japanese style. I’d eat there again.

Pros:
Healthy food
Nice ambiance
Cons:
Fast, not so much (15 – 20 min wait with no other customers)
Had 2 physical menus on hand…
Clean and Dirty water cups are in same location — space saving but definitely sketch
1.50 for hot sauce— I mean.
Sustainable? Not exactly the vibe I’m getting
It’s a cool place. It took unreasonably long for the food to be prepared considering there was not another person in line, at least, if you’re gonna say you are fast-​food. Service can be more enthusiastic, menus. Print them! The food is ok. The hot sauce, come on.

The interior design was minimalistic, with a color scheme of neutral colors (black, grey, white, and beige)! Upon walking in, the kitchen is in view and there are some knick knacks for sale on one side of the restaurant. I was actually disappointed in the lack in variety of food on the one-​page menu. Depending on the protein-​enriched meat chosen, your meal can actually be pretty pricey.
I chose the «catch of the day» (salmon) with asparagus, a salad, and roasted potatoes. My date got a breakfast burrito, but when I took one bite out of it, I thought the tortilla was too thick and didn’t balance well with what it was packed with (which tasted like mostly scrambled eggs). I actually really enjoyed my meal despite its size, mainly because the fish was seasoned and cooked so well. Most restaurants make their fish taste too salty, but here, it paired perfectly with the sides. Since they’re also health-​conscious, I noticed that they didn’t overdo the potatoes and fish with oil!
Great place to eat lunch at if you’re looking for a healthy and portioned meal (didn’t make me too full to be honest). Most of their drinks and other menu items are pretty pricey, but the atmosphere and noise level (I went during lunch time) is great for business meetings and studying.

I immediately like this place because of its simplicity.
I tried a bite of a bar they were sampling and it was quite good. For lunch, I ordered the tofu kimchi, salad and a cold detox water. While everything was good, it’s nothing spectacular and I could easily make the very same meal at home.
As much as I like the idea of this place, it’s just not THAT good. Not sure if I’ll give it another try.

First time here. Looks nice and «green». Very cute and conveniently located near Catholic University. I had the salmon and fingerling potatoes. It was very good!

As other reviewers have pointed out, the customer service is often indifferent (based on my 5 visits thus far) and the prices, while fair for the high quality of ingredients used and inventive preparations, are on the higher end for takeout. However, everything I’ve had so far has been phenomenal. From the braised pork with pickled cabbage slaw, to the chicken sausage and raw cheddar sandwich, to the catch of the day over trumpet mushrooms, there’s nothing I’ve had so far that I haven’t loved.

Been here 3 times. I like the place overall.
The menu is unusual. Takes some time to figure out.
The pulled pork with red cabbage is deftly prepared and enjoyable. The chicken sausage that comes in patty form has savory flavor but found it rubbery. The catch-​of-​the-​day (grouper) that I ordered one time – superb. The mashed celery root is light and pleasant. The rainbow beet salad is just okay. The coffee is forgettable. Never had breakfast, only lunch and dinner.
Did a «protein» full meal as take-​out recently, but did not check it before departing. It lacked a vegetable side – was bummed out when I got home.
Samples are possible – nice touch.
Bone broth is for sale – this takes a lot of time to make properly. A mainstay of the GAPS diet; good to know it’s here.
Extremely attractive space; a lot of effort went into getting this new eatery ready for opening.
I respectfully disagree with statements that it’s expensive; the food consists of high quality ingredients and is priced pretty competitively.
I’ve experienced an indifferent customer-​service attitude by some staffers. I see a lot of new employees being trained regularly. Maybe this contributes to the detached feeling I get from the folks behind the counter – they are still learning their jobs.
Halsa is new; has some more hurdles to clear.

I like the place, it has very minimal looking deco. It is a kind of fast food casual restaurant. It is all white Scandinavian looking (kind of Ikeaish). It is billed as healthy sourced food. The menu is simple either build your own plate or you can choose the pre-​determined component main dish. Fish is $ 15, the most expensive and then other entrée could be Chicken Sausage (a staple) or pork… I had a Blue Catfish with Beet Salad and Arugula Mixed Green, the portion is not big, but that suits me fine. My dinner partner’s chicken sausages was great too.
The cuisine is supposed to be somewhat Asian inspired as owner spent time in South East Asia and wanted to create healthy food with the theme, but I did not see any particular strong influence in the menu.
The place has no liquor license, so there is no chance of having a drink, it is all healthy choices.
In one corner of the place, it also sells some other health product. Parking was easy, so definitely going back some time.

After working from home for the past two years, my immunity has pretty much turned to poo. I walked into Halsa a stuffy, weezing, sniffling, coughing mess. The prescription for this? More bone broth!
$ 5 gets you a cup of steaming hot bone broth and an extra $ 2 gets you some extra protein goodness in the form of a poached egg. I sipped my bone broth all the way to my next meeting and it immediately filled my insides with a fiery warmth. It was a little bit spicy, a little bit herby, and oh-​so-​very-​very necessary.
The prices here are a bit more expensive than other fast casual restaurants but I believe in investing in your health so this is something that does not bother me. I’d love to come back and try their other entrees, but on this cold, blustery winter day the bone broth was just what I needed.
Also — — I’m a huge fan of their hand printed cardboard packaging, open windows, and bleached wood shelves. I felt like I was walking right out of a Kinfolk magazine feature.

We had and appreciated the chicken sausage, quinoa, mashed cauliflower, rainbow chard, steamed beets, and traditional soup.
The herb lentil mushroom meatballs and kimchi were okay but could be improved.
The herb roasted mushrooms and brown rice were unfortunately not enjoyed.
We look forward to giving it another go as they find their rhythm and further establish their menu.