A fantastic experience! I highly recommend coming to Chang Chang with at least a party of four (if you decide to do dine-in), as the restaurant focuses on a shared plate model, plus allows everyone to try and enjoy the 4-way duck relatively affordably. Chang Chang's location between downtown and DuPont Circle is extremely convenient for an after-work meal or before a night out in DuPont Circle.
I made a reservation with five friends for an early weeknight dinner in December 2022 and we were seated early. Chang Chang does require a $25 per person deposit on reservations for six or more people that is deducted from the final tab, so prepare to front money if you decide to go this route and also ensure your entire party comes so you don't get left with this expense. Chang Chang's ambiance is simple and tasteful-white tablecloths, minimal decorations, and reasonable noise levels. I never had to raise my voice or ask my friends to repeat themselves because of the volume.
Overall, the service was fantastic, with two areas that could and I am sure will be improved once Chang Chang is around for longer: I had to inform the host about the $150 reservation charge for them to deduct it from our bill rather than having that happen automatically, and the duck four ways took a bit over an hour to arrive instead of the 45 minutes Chang Chang advertised.
My friends and I shared five dishes and a couple of people got their own mains and cocktails. A couple of the cocktails come in panda mugs, which is a nice touch. The quality of the dishes we shared ranged from could have used more flavor to outstanding. I also appreciated that there are plenty of delicious vegan and vegetarian options on the menu, some of which were the best dishes I had.
Mushroom Spring Roll: I found the mushroom spring roll to be disappointing. The fried dough and the sauce completely overwhelmed the carrots, vermicelli, and mushrooms. When I did taste the filling, it needed more flavor and some spice.
Black and White Cauliflower: An outstanding dish. The cauliflower was crispy and perfectly cooked, complemented nicely by the black bean puree, onions, and sesame powder.
Wok-Charred Eggplant: Another outstanding dish and don't be put-off by the three spicy peppers indicator. We had people in our group who can't eat spicy food and they were fine with the eggplant. The smoke on the eggplant was phenomenal and added great flavor and the sweet and spicy sauce paired perfectly with the smoky eggplant. The chilled whipped silken tofu topping the dish was a Michelin-level innovation and elevation of this dish.
Buddha's Wudong Noodles: Perfectly fine but nothing special and something that you can find cheaper and better at other restaurants.
Duck Four Ways:
1. Duck bone broth with foie gras dumpling: The dumpling was fantastic, with a nicely-cooked dumpling and delicious filling. The broth itself was a bit too salty and oily.
2. Duck Leg: Extremely tough, dry, and disappointing. The leg needed a sauce or gravy to add moisture.
3. Duck Confit Pie: An interesting idea that could be better executed. The crust-to-filling ratio was way off, where it seemed that 75 percent of every bite was pie crust. The crust itself could have used more flavor.
4. Duck breast: The highlight of the 4-way duck and should be its own dish. The breast was perfectly smoked rare with the right amount of fat and set in a good amount of its juices. Most places that serve duck breast should strive to emulate Chang Chang's technique.
For the restaurant quality and the amount of dishes everyone got to try, Chang Chang is extremely affordable. I would expect to pay between $35-60, depending on whether you order dessert or drinks. Dedicate two hours for a sit-down dinner for the optimal experience. Chang Chang is a great addition to the DC and especially downtown dining scene!
I got the Sizzling Three-Pepper Chicken for takeout in December 2025 and got my order on-time. The chicken was well-cooked, had good flavor, and wasn't too greasy. read more