Teaism

This branch of their restaurant has the best options. They have so many side dishes, warm and cold, that you can mix and match. They have the most expansive menu, with miso soups and bentos and sandwiches and so much more. They have a few options that are made from «leftovers» to reduce food waste. There are just so many delicious combinations of ingredients, with lots of veggie options. I loooove this Teaism :)

Teaism is fast becoming our favorite brunch place. The french toast and sourdough waffles are so good. The amount and quality of the food for the price is really hard to beat in DC.

Wonderful artisanal foods and teas. It’s a busy place with seating upstairs and down. There is a sign at street level seTs warning patrons to watch out for pick pockets!

Teaism will always have a happy place in my heart, if just because it focuses on tea. As a dedicated tea drinker in a country of coffee people, I will always give tea places a bit of a pass. That said, Teaism — specifically this location — is a pretty decent chain that uses fresh, quality ingredients and allowed me to actually try okonomiyaki! (Seriously, I’ve been wanting to try okonomiyaki for nearly 20 years.)
I will say that the pot of tea I got here (Dragon Well — hearty black tea) was excellent, but it was in-​pot leaves, so I’d be careful with the more delicate blends. The okonomiyaki was tasty — I got the vegetarian — but the sauce was a bit more vinegary than I’d like. Still, it was cooked well and hit the spot after a day of wandering. Lastly, the ginger scones were perfectly baked and flavorful without being overbearing. It was a little pricier than I’d have liked, but my lunch was filling and warm, and this is a pretty touristy area.

DELICIOUS chai tea pot. Perfect amount for two – maybe three small cups per person from one $ 4 pot. Huge menu of teas and other foods if you’re hungry.
Awesome koi pond downstairs where the extra seating is. Upstairs seems more of a dining atmosphere though, lots of people working/​holding meetings.

It was okay. Just okay. The environment was nice, warm, and you just felt compelled to sit and chat. But I think it was overrated. It was too pricey and I usually pay way too much for food anyways. But this was way too pricey. We ordered a chicken kabob, one stick of it, and it was already $ 7. Just for that. If that satisfies you, then this will be a place you should try. But I think it’s one of those places where you just have to try it at least once. Other than that, I don’t think there was anything special.
But it was pretty cool, serene, and even a little cozy. I give it 3 stars because the food was okay (even though I think it’s overpriced), and because there were coy fish inside – which was awesome. But other than that, if you’re in the area, then go for it, but please don’t go out of your way just for this place because I honestly don’t think it’s worth it. This place is way too overrated.

We actually drove around in busy traffic looking for this place. Yikes, I wasn’t impressed in the least. My drink was way too sweet and nothing special; not sure of what all the hoopla is about this place. Meh

Suckkkkked.
Small cups
Powdery bubble tea.
Mango drink was icy and not milky like it is suppose to be.
One of the worse bubble tea I’ve ever had.

Great service. The space is simple but the food is tasteful! I don’t eat very much, I could have ordered one curry to share.

I was excited to try Teaism after reading the reviews, but the staff left me underwhelmed. I had studied the menu online and already decided on my order before I even left my home state. I know I looked a frightful mess after sightseeing by foot from nine a.m. until nearly four p.m. without a decent break. However the young man at the cash register was out of line when I tried to buy a box of chocolates and he turned them over and showed me the price saying, «Are you sure, they’re nine dollars?» Let’s hope he never decides to try his luck at selling cars.
They weren’t very helpful at pickup either, having part of the first order ready and getting cold on the counter with no pickup announcement. However, once you manage to get it, the food is good.

What would you do if you made it in life, if you had the money and could just do whatever you wanted? Some people might buy a tropical island and lounge around full time. Others might fly to space, or start a music career, or otherwise indulge in fantasies. Myself, if I had my pick of things to do I think I might end up starting my days watching traffic go by in Penn Quarter as I enjoyed a sourdough waffle and tea. Seems like that isn’t setting my sights all that high, but I must say that is a f*cking good waffle what with the sourness contrasting the orange butter and maple syrup, and there’s nothing like being in the heart of DC.
Nonetheless, I do find myself tempted by Teaism&

Quick, simple Japanese eats and a lovely, extensive selection of drinks! Perfect light meal after browsing some of the exhibitions/​museums in the area.
My bf and I went during the late afternoon, and there were a few groups dining in when we went. There is minimal service — you order at the counter, grab a table (there’s a lower floor with more seating) and wait for your order number to be called. We ordered the fried chicken bento to share, a zhenzhu (bubble tea) drink, and the Moroccan Mint cold tea. Food was ready in like ~5 mins, which was quicker than I expected. Seems like most of the food is prepared ahead of time and not as fresh as it could be.
The bento comes with 5 pieces of fried chicken, which were delightfully crunchy and crispy, although the actual meat was a little dry. It was also room temperature, so not freshly fried. Still pretty yummy though! Sides for the bento included some sweet yam, pickled cucumbers, brown rice w/​seasoning, and a mayo/​onion/​vinegar sauce to dip the chicken in. For ~$ 13, it was quite satisfying, appeasing our mild hunger and pretty cheap too! And as an added bonus, quite healthy as well. :P
Both drinks were nice and refreshing. Bubble tea is sweet but still retained some herbal hints, and the bubbles, although a little mushy, were nicely sweetened. Moroccan tea was crisp and very minty.
Everything was decent, and I’d probably return the next time I’m in the area.

I ate a large order of Five Guys fries for dinner last night.
I followed up that performance with a Dove Dark Chocolate bar for breakfast.
Talk about being on a roll. It amazes me the things I subsist on when my husband is out of town. Oh well, I drank some disgusting Burdock Root tea this morning — the liquid version of dirt, so maybe that evened things out a bit?
After gagging that down, I decided I needed to think of something healthy to quell the shakes, and an image of Teaism’s Salmon Ochazuke washed over me like a vision from above. It’s satisfying on a soul level. It’s a deep dish.
It’s a Japanese «soup» with lots of rice served with a side of green tea to pour on top. You can add a little or a lot of the tea to make it as soupy as you want. I usually put about half of the green tea over it and drink the rest. Yep, that’s how I roll. The best and worst part of the entrée? It’s served with a strong side of Wasabi, which is not mentioned on the menu, and hold on to your shorts, cause that shit will CHAP YOUR ASS. I love it and I cuss it at the same time. I’m sure I’ve lost some brain cells because of it.
Imagine my dismay when I got my order today and some of the salmon was warm (as expected) and other sections were cold. Like refrigerator cold. Like — this salmon just came out of the microwave and was heated unevenly.
So much for thinking I was doing something healthy for myself. #smh
I’ll be back to order more as soon as I forget today’s unmemorable experience.

Decently tasty food and bubble tea.
I appreciated the «trash or treasure» menu section. The price seemed a bit elevated considering both the restaurant space and the time it took to get my food. I paid over $ 22 for tea, a tempeh burger, and a small seaweed salad.
I wouldn’t complain if someone asked me to come back, but I wouldn’t pick it again on my own.

Review is for drinks only.
I’ve stopped here twice now, it’s a great little air-​conditioned oasis to rest your feet if you’re in the area. Inside is surprisingly big with two stories, an upper level where you enter, which has small tables and lots of natural light, and downstairs, which has room for larger groups and a small koi pond under the stairs.
The iced teas I’ve had have all been excellent – I especially like the mint tea because you get free in-​house refills on it!
Last time I came, my boyfriend got their ginger margarita which was very ginger-​y and refreshing, but a little light on the alcohol. A nice spritzer for the afternoon at $ 7 thought!
I’ve had their boba (pearl) milk tea too – it’s probably the best in DC, but definitely can’t hold a candle to LA. The milk tea itself is on the sweet side for sure and the boba was just OK – not super fresh, but I’ve definitely had way worse. As a SoCal native, I think my standards are probably way higher than they should be for boba, so take that with a grain of salt!

I often wish that Unilocal would let me give half-​stars. This is a solid 3.5 star. I always enjoy Teaism lunches, but generally find dishes to be underseasoned. Here are my go-​tos that keep me coming back:
— The salty oat cookies: I love them. There’s a chocolatey version that’s great, too. I often find cookies too oily or too sweet or too undercooked. These are hearty with a touch of salt to cut through the sweetness. They have heft and they hold up well. When I stay with friends or visit for the holidays, a set of teaism cookies are my standard gift.
— Salmon Ochazuke: This is poached salmon, that’s been broken up into smaller pieces, put over rice with bits of seaweed and sesame, and a pot of green tea on the side to be poured in. There’s also a glob of wasabi that can be mixed in for a kick. I love this dish. It’s delicious yet healthy and filling and light.
— Palak Paneer: It’s a lighter, tamer version than you’d get in an authentic Indian restaurant. But I enjoy the spinach, yoghurt, paneer mix over rice. I find it to be one of the more flavorful entrée options.
When my work orders takeout, the meal always consists of the box lunches. The poached salmon (cold) is always completely tasteless without the sesame sauce on top. It comes with rice with a small dash of seaweed and sesame on top (that will be the only seasoning on the plate), then a small couple of salads on the side. I enjoy the cucumber salad which is light and refreshing. The roasted squash is also good. Some of the other salads are just too tasteless and forgettable to be mentioned. The fried chicken box is quite tasty but obviously heavier. Another option is the sushi box which is basically deconstructed sushi: sushi rice, a few pieces of salmon sashimi, and a few pieces of seaweed. It’s tasty but pretty paltry for a meal, at least for me, and I’m always hungry.

Underwhelmed.
It’s easy to get confused when you first walk in. The counter where you order your food is indiscreet and off to the left, so you may wander around a bit, wondering if the place is actually downstairs (which is very close to the door). I did at least. The menu above the counter where you order your food is done very… artfully. Honestly, it took me a minute to even figure out what was food and what wasn’t. Hard to read is a good way to describe it. But they have paper menus if you ask. Everyone seems busy doing something else. I don’t recall any background music. I don’t know, it’s just one of those places you walk into and feel like you’re one of a billion people being served that day. Call me selfish, but when I order food, I want it to be about me.
We sat with a large group in the downstairs seating area. They will reserve a space for you if you ask.
Tea: I didn’t order but it got rave reviews from everyone who did order it in my group of 20.
Fried Chicken Bento Box: Rice and chicken are good. Yogurt sauce has no flavor. Warning, pickled cabbage is very vinegary. Brussels spouts are cold. Seriously, who does that? $ 18 for this and a soda? I don’t know.
There is outdoor seating and metered parking nearby. I was surprised to see so many open parking spots at 11 a.m. on a Saturday in May. This was certainly not the case when I left at 1 p.m.

I could see this being a nice retreat from the city. With two floors to choose for seating, I ended up going downstairs because it is much larger and away from the entrance where customers open the door and usher in cold air. Surprisingly, all the upstairs seats were claimed when I arrived shortly before 5 pm yesterday.
I ordered a chai and a salty oak cookie — both are worth it and delicious and live up to their reputation. Thank you, fellow Unilocalers for helping me find a nearby place that serves a yummy, well spiced chai. The large mug was a comforting surprise and the cookie, large, thick, salty, sweet, was perfectly made.
When I went downstairs, less than a handful of people were there, two reading books, one looking at her phone. I chose a seat at a corner table and was surprised to see how many people joined me downstairs. By the time I left, about 30 minutes later, many tables were claimed.
I couldn’t finish my chai and didn’t eat my cookie until I got home so I took my tray upstairs and asked for a to go cup and something to take my cookie home. I couldn’t tell if people were eating or drinking but it seems like a popular place and somewhere I’ll have to return to so I can try the other items on the menu.

The salmon bento box is now $ 14+ ??? That’s so ridiculous! No one should be charging $ 14 for a tiny piece of salmon, two rolls of seaweed, a few little veggies, and a scoop of rice. It’s pretty outrageous. I’ve been to all of the Teaism locations in the DC metro area and I used to love this place. I recently visited again and realized how much they have increased the prices. It’s really not acceptable. I will probably only visit for future social events that take place at Teaism, and even then I would highly consider ordering something very inexpensive from here. It’s such a shame, since I loved the salmon bento box when it was only slightly overpriced. :(

My boyfriend had Chai and I had Bubble Tea from Teaism. We are always skeptical about «fusion» places because most of the time they can’t do anything right. And we are unimpressed: both bubble tea and chai is over sweetened and they do not offer sugar free versions. DC needs a better bubble tea place!