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    Chaia

    4.4 (210 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Chaia Takeout or Delivery

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    CHAIA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Chaia

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    Scrambled egg and black mean taco, braised mushroom taco and green rice.
    Stacey M.

    The restaurant was clean and the staff were friendly. The restrooms were also clean. My mom and I both had tacos. We both had amthe braised mushroom taco and I also had the scrambled egg and black bean taco. They were both delicious! I also had the green rice and it was fantastic. It was great for my mom who is vegan. I'm not vegan nor a vegetarian but it was still a great experience.

    Brussels sprouts quesadilla
    Sonya H.

    Absolutely delightful spot!! Whether you're gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, or none of the above, Chaia is a must-try! They have the most delightful tacos, with the most flavorful and fun combos of veggies. I usually opt for a taco trio, but, from there, the decision-making starts to get a bit challenging -- they have such a fun assortment of tacos, so it's nearly impossible to settle on just three! - Their creamy kale and potato is a classic for a reason, with a great richness from the cream / pepper jack and heartiness from the potato. They also top the taco with a bit of salsa verde and pickled onions, the perfect little vinegary / peppery bite to cut through the rest of the taco. - The braised mushroom and smoky collard green tacos are equally delicious, and they definitely pack a deep earthy, umami and smoky flavor. They're extremely mushroom / collard green-forward, so I'd only recommend these if you're a huge fan of either vegetable. They're both a bit on the lighter side, so they're the perfect way to balance out a heartier taco like the creamy kale and potato or sweet potato hash. - Chaia's sweet potato hash has to be one of my favorite tacos; not only are the sweet potatoes perfectly cooked, with a nice, soft interior and crispy outer shell, but they have a great smokiness from the chipotle peppers that balance out the slight zing from the feta and arugula pepita salsa. Similarly, the roasted butternut squash taco is incredible, with a great hearty yet somehow light-ish base from the squash and layers of flavor from the goat cheese, caramelized onions, chipotle yogurt, and mint. - If pure veggies aren't your thing or if you're looking for a bit more protein, the scrambled egg and black bean taco is calling your name! It's a wonderful taco, perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and has a wonderful creaminess from the queso fresco, freshness from the cilantro and salsa, and tiny hit of heat from the jalapeno. I usually need to get at least one of these guys in my trio to create a balanced meal, but it absolutely deserves to be a go-to

    Kia D.

    I've been here before for a Yelp event quite some time ago now, but haven't been back. Clocking in some steps on my lunch break, I ran into Chaia. I'm so glad to see this business is still here and thriving. At the time, DC seemed a bit inundated with tacos after the cupcake craze... But guess who's here for tacos and plant based options now? Who always thinks it's tacomagarita o'clock? *Raises hand* Everything was a great combination of flavors and textures. The coconut based drink I had was tasty. I can't recall each taco name, but just know that I chose options with my fingers crossed and my taste buds were elated. I'll be returning soon!

    Sweet potato nachos
    Matt D.

    CHINATOWN, Washington DC - A swell fast-casual vegetarian taco joint. The missus and I went there on a Saturday, 1245ish. Some customers, but plenty of available seating. Very clean and bright. I got the sweet potato nachos ($9.75) and the mushroom quesadilla ($5.95). Pretty good nachos, with cubes of roasted sweet potato as a topping. The mushroom quesadilla was simple but done well. Would definitely get the nachos again. She got the taco trio ($13.45) of a kale & potato taco, braised mushroom taco and acorn squash taco. All three were interesting flavor and texture and color combinations, and all three were tasty. The tortilla held up well. Pro tip: little cups of water are free if you don't want a drink. As greens, we like that they compost. Would definitely partake again.

    (From left) Roasted Eggplant, Chipotle Sweet Potato Hash Taco, Braised Mushroom Taco
    Hannah K.

    Yummy vegetarian food! What you order is what you get (complimentary). Reasonably priced and food atmosphere. Fun to try a variety of tacos on the first visit, but be careful with the eggplant one if texture bothers you!

    Black Beans
    Kristi W.

    Super healthy vegan/vegetarian/GF optional taco spot that did not disappoint! The ingredients were fresh and delicious! The black beans were hands down the BEST that I've ever had in my life! I wish I could buy them by the pint! So good! My braised Mushroom taco had a little heat which complimented it perfectly. The scrambled egg & black bean taco was just as tasty! The chips and salsa was good. Had a kick there, too. I ended up getting the combo with two tacos and a side of chips and salsa, which was more than enough. I did get the hibiscus tea and it was refreshing! Prices were a bit on the higher end but it is a healthier spot, too. If you want fresh, quality ingredients these days, you kind of expect it. This, Im not complaining at all and will definitely be returning soon. The creamed potatoes looked divine. That will be on my return list for sure! The customer service was great. They were friendly and helpful. There is an ample amount of sitting inside and even a couple of cute couches to lounge on. They have a few adult beverages, too. I can see those couches being beneficial for that alone. Haha.

    Menu
    Neha G.

    Happy to see another location easier to access via metro vs going all the way to Georgetown. This is a larger location with more sit down space. Order at the kiosk and your name will be called when the order is ready. The $4.95 tacos are tiny. I see why people do 3 to feel full. Good vegetarian taco but wish they had some bean or tofu options. Also, no one by the kiosk if you have a question about ordering or food substitutes. They have restrooms.

    Smitha M.

    The food is so delicious! I am so happy to see plentiful vegetarian and vegan options. The service was smooth, quick, and easy. I got all three tacos adapted for vegan and they used vegan cheese as well! And the eatery has a nice, relaxing vibe, it is a wonderful spot to catch up with friends in a quiet, relaxing environment. I hope to be back again soon!

    outdoor seating
    Shubha A.

    My friend and I were looking for some tacos for Cinco De Mayo and saw Chaia - it was a 10/10 experience! The entire menu is vegetarian, and items can be made vegan upon request. When you walk in you can order at the kiosk, or you can seat yourself and order from your phone. They will call your name when it's ready - and it's decently fast service. There is a good amount of seating and everyone is super nice! My friend and I got the nachos to start with and if you're checking out Chaia - you MUST try the sweet potato nachos, simply amazing!! We also got the braised mushroom, roasted asparagus & edamame and citrus-roasted beet tacos which were all amazing. My favorite was the asparagus and edamame! They also have vegan cheese available for no upcharge, which I thought was very nice and it tasted ok - not my favorite, but was still good. They have a dessert option that is vegan and gluten free, which we thought was very nice - we did not get to try that this time, but will definitely be coming again! Highly recommend checking out Chaia.

    Interior
    Susan H.

    Great modern atmosphere and imaginative tasty food near downtown Chinatown and National Portrait Gallery. Lovely food and service. Good prices. I look forward to returning.

    Cheese quesadilla with spicy Monterey Jack and mushrooms. Not recommended.
    Jerry T.

    Service: 0/5 Going to this restaurant in person is like ordering through Uber Eats. There is basically zero personal attention. You walk in and no one greets you. Standing around I finally saw the small sign that tells you to go find a seat and scan the QR code for the menu. Then sat for almost 20 minutes trying to figure out what to order. No one came out to ask if I needed any help or to make recommendations. I did go up to the counter to ask why the prices on the menu board near the door don't match either the website or the computer ordering screen they have set-up up by the grill. They advised the board isn't accurate. Course they want you to pay the higher amount ... Food: 3/5 Very fresh but there are no meat options. And the portions left me needing an entire order of 2-3 more tacos to feel full. This would have been $28 for dinner at a place that doesn't justify this. After reading about 20 reviews I went with 2 of the squash and 1 kale & potato. The squash was spicier than expected. Flavor was pretty good and the ingredients are very fresh. The taco shells stayed together and were stuffed, just not enough with three. My friend went with two quesadillas. There wasn't enough flavor and neither sauce was good (salsa better of the two). The cheese was good but wasn't stuffed enough so it was mostly shells. Drink: Tried green tea. For $4 this was a ridiculously high price for a small cup filled heavy with ice and no refill. Was also not sweet enough and when requested they have no sugar to add. They gave us a plastic container with some honey that really didn't mix well with cold tea. A huge disappointment at $4. Ambiance: 2/5 No one wiping tables so had to clean off the one we used before sitting down. Very bright. Can be a little loud when full of people. Chairs are a mix of cushion seats on one side and light aluminum hard chairs on the other. Some cute decorations but some live plants are dying and wonder if they have anyone assigned to water and clear dead parts. At this price point and service level I don't recommend this place. Maybe if you're a vegan this would be better...

    Interior
    Dave K.

    I stopped here for lunch with some coworkers. They said tacos, I said yes, had no idea it was vegetarian. I was a little concerned initially given the price ($13 for 3 tacos is not unreasonable, but not a screaming deal). Anyways, we ordered from the kiosk and waited for our food. Took only about 5 min and was well packed up to take back to our office to enjoy. These tacos were great! Not spicy, but full of flavor and lots of great options. I think my favorite was the butternut squash, closely followed by the sweet potato. The kale ones were not bad, but not nearly as tasty as the other two.

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    Elizabeth, so glad you enjoyed our restaurant and the food!

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    Just amazing!!!! Thank you, Sarah, for the enchilada love.

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    Thank you, Smitha. Thrilled that you loved Chaia. We do too:-)

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    Hi Bryan G., thank you for your amazing review!

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    Ask the Community - Chaia

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    dLeña - Pork Belly** and Short Rib**

    dLeña

    (1.3k reviews)

    $$$

    Came last night before a comedy show at the Capital One Arena and OMG...10/10 hands down I have no…read morenotes. We went in right as they opened, on a Friday at 5 pm, and there was already a line! The reservations were full, but we were offered a seat either at the bar or outside. Luckily it was a beautiful day so we took a seat outside. They started us off with a sweet hibiscus flavored juice as a palate cleanser which was super refreshing. The left side of the menu had appetizers and shareables, while the right side had entrees. We ordered the short rib tacos, pork belly, wagyu empanadas, and seafood enchiladas. Everything had a beautiful bright orange sauce on it and made it look like it would be spicy but it wasn't! I think it's their signature guajillo sauce and it was VERY good, super creamy. Seafood enchiladas: This was my fav. Might have been because it was extremely hungry and it was my first bite. Definitely best when eaten warm, as the cheese is gooiest and the seafood inside is hot. I wasn't sure how the salad was going to be but it added a perfect refreshing and acidity to balance out the creamy sauce. Wagyu empanadas: Much gooey-er and cheesier than expected, but also a hit! Came with a decent amount of beef inside. Comes with the orange sauce and a chimichurri, which I think was a good idea because given how cheesy and creamy the filling already was, the chimichurri was a nice balance as well. Pork belly: Melts as soon as you cut into it. The Asian in me low key wanted a giant bowl of rice with this so that I could soak up all the sauce and veggies. Pretty fatty so if you're not a fan of that you might not like this. Short rib tacos: These were loaded, not with meat but with tons of crunchy topping (maybe fried carrots?) Could have done with slightly less crunch but overall still good. The orange sauce on the bottom had a peanuty flavor which I thought added a unique kick. Also, we were surprised at how quickly the food came out. We were in and out in under an hour. Our server Rebecca was also extremely nice. Will def be back if in the area. Highly recommend all around!

    I came to dLeña for brunch with friends on a Saturday, and overall, it was a decent experience but…read morenot one I'd necessarily go out of my way to repeat. We went around 11:30, so it started off pretty quiet, but as brunch picked up, it definitely got louder. The ambiance is nice though, very laid-back, chill, and a great vibe for a group brunch or celebration. We did the bottomless brunch, and one thing I really appreciated is that the bottomless food and drinks are priced separately. Not everyone in our group wanted drinks, so it was nice that we were only charged for the people who actually ordered them. The only downside is that mocktails aren't included. The food is served as small plates brought out progressively, but I do wish this had been explained better upfront. It was presented as if they would just bring items out, but it wasn't clearly communicated that we could also order anything we wanted from the menu. That made the experience feel a bit confusing. The meal started off strong. The salad was fresh, and there was a fruit/yogurt dish with agave that was honestly one of the best things we had. From there, it became hit or miss. The ceviche and chips were good, the fish tacos were solid, and I appreciated that they had some vegetarian options (though somewhat limited). The waffle and churro were highlights, but the potato hash fell flat. As the meal went on, service slowed down quite a bit. We were waiting a while for certain items (like the corn), and it felt like things just started to lag toward the end. Service overall followed a similar pattern. Strong at the beginning, but less attentive as it got busier. Overall, I'd rate it around a 7 out of 10. It's a fun spot for the experience and group setting, but the lack of clarity and inconsistency in pacing took away from it. I might consider trying it for dinner since I've heard good things, but for brunch, it's not a place I'd go out of my way to revisit.

    El Sol Restaurant & Tequileria - Fajita El Sol

    El Sol Restaurant & Tequileria

    (779 reviews)

    $$

    Shaw, Downtown

    This place hit the spot, even toddler approved! We ordered take out and it was prepared pretty…read morequickly. The menu is quite extensive, it took us longer to decide on what we wanted. I got the nachos, my husband got tacos, and we got a chicken quesadilla for our toddler. The nachos were PILED with toppings and so colorful - even in a take out container is looked beautiful. They were SO tasty, very full of flavor and spice. My husband said the tacos were delicious and our toddler actually ate a lot of the quesadilla. Win all around. Highly recommend!

    In town for the week, tried to get into Unconventional Diner for brunch...a backup was needed. We…read moreventured down a few blocks looking for anything and found El Sol. Fair sized joint with a smallish patio out front. Having perused the menu on the way, I was looking to try something just beyond "staple of cheap Mexican." Sadly, we were presented with brunch menus, so it was a breakfast burrito for me and the breakfast tacos for her. I was remarkably hungry, so the burrito was eaten (and quickly). But truth be told, it's standard Mexican fare made with breakfast ingredients. No more description necessary - you've had this before and you'll have it again. The service was marginally lackluster- if you're not in a big party, you might get shuffled down in prioritization (or at least I thought we were...once ready to leave I did the 'fidget with credit card' trick to get the staff to close us out. It took frustratingly long. All in all, if I lived in the neighborhood, this would be my cheap Mexican place and more out of convenience than culinary merit.

    Talkin Tacos

    Talkin Tacos

    (195 reviews)

    $$

    Downtown

    One word, AMAZING! I was in DC for a week and we went here 3 times. We even made it a point to get…read moreour last lunch before our flight here. The food is fantastic, fast, with great service with a smile. If you're in DC, don't pass this place up. One last update, I ordered the street corn as a side. Wow! It was amazing but beware it is more than a side, it's almost a meal so you could certainly share.

    I was so excited to come try the Birria Mac n cheese. As a reviewer I would say Mac n cheese is my…read morespeciality! I love it! But unfortunately this Mac n cheese was not it at all. I would not order it again. The birria was good, the takis were a little Over powering so I'm glad they added a small amount. But the noodles and cheese itself. Just not good the most bland thing I've had. Like seriously I think Kraft Mac n cheese would have had more flavor. It was also super watery... and I usually love my mac n cheese creamy but this wasn't creamy. I'm not sure the cheese they used but it was not it.... I also asked for a side of hot sauce on the Kiosk and it was not brought to me. So I can't rate how that was. The horchata was good though. But there weren't that many people and the churros took forever to come out. They were the best thing I had there though lol. I left hungry... time to try the next spot in DC. Final thoughts: I think all food should come out at once... With so many spots to try in this spot I'll skip it for a retry. Even the birria was okay but not best birria I've ever had... not even top 10... maybe an off day? The vibe inside was beautiful though! I dig the video showing the process of making the food.

    Dos Toros Taqueria - Bacon breakfast burrito

    Dos Toros Taqueria

    (57 reviews)

    This is a Mexican food joint located in Chinatown, across from the Arena. It is part of a small…read morelocal chain of restaurants. There is metered street parking within a reasonable walking distance. The restaurant has a nice patio and a decent-sized dining area. The staff was friendly enough, but I had a hard time understanding them. This place serves basic Mexican food, including tacos, burritos, bowls, nachos, chips, and salsa. You just pick your protein and toppings. They have asada, chicken, asado, carnitas, and potatoes. Some toppings include shredded cheese, guacamole, salsa, corn, onions, and lettuce. You also have to choose between brown rice, Mexican rice, black beans, and pinto beans. I ordered a chorizo burrito. It took them about 5 minutes to prepare. The burrito was huge. I must say that it was very good. Very tasty and flavorful. It could have been a bit warmer, though. After I ate my burrito, I was full. I really enjoyed my meal here, and I highly recommend checking this place out. They serve some good, fast Mexican food.

    Dos Toros consistently has better quality food and service than both Chipotle and Moe's based on my…read moreexperience. Food - I always get a chicken bowl with a ton of toppings. This is the only place where I can get crushed chips in my bowl too. In terms of the price point, it's similarly priced as other texmex places. I can also appreciate how I won't run out of options here. Service/atmosphere - the employees are also speedy when preparing my food. They're also generous with their scoops, which I can always appreciate. The place indoors is always clean too. I would skip Chipotle and other Texmex places and go here instead!

    HipCityVeg - Burger

    HipCityVeg

    (1.2k reviews)

    $$

    Entering HipCityVeg after getting pleasantly lost during my evening DC stroll, I realized I was…read morereally hungry. In that state, I could only stare dumbly at the menu while standing at the counter. Everything looked like exactly what I wanted to eat. But I finally settled on the smokehouse burger: a Beyond Meat patty topped with onion rings and smoked gouda with a golden BBQ sauce. Extremely satisfying. The employee at the counter recommended the Sriracha aioli to go with my sweet potato fries, and I'm glad she did. It's sharp and savory and adequately balanced the sweetness of the fries, which were nicely crispy. I topped it off with a glass of their refreshing turmeric-tangerine beverage. This place is vegan, fast-casual burgers done right.

    This was really good!! I had this place bookmarked since the previous time I visited DC. We had…read moreattended a hockey game and were starving afterwards. As we were walking back towards our hotel, we actually were passing here so I chose it for our din din spot. I thought for sure it was going to be packed but luckily it was not. I knew I wanted a burger but was struggling with choosing which one. Hubs knew he wanted the Cheesesteak and knew I wanted fries. I went with the Smokehouse burger. We grabbed a seat and did not wait long for our food to come out. I really enjoyed my burger and scarfed it down! I paid for sauces, which were tiny and super overpriced. Hubs enjoyed his cheesesteak but he prefers meat. I had a bite and thought it was really flavorful and very closely tasting like the real thing. I noticed later this is a chain, which is pretty cool. I think the prices were pretty steep so I might skip on the fries next time. The food could have been warmer as well. Definitely worth a visit and will most likely be back when in DC again.

    Chaia - tacos - Updated May 2026

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