Great food and quick service. The staff was super nice and kept our waters full.

Have been coming to this place for almost 10 years and it never fails to be a decent go-to spot for local government workers looking for a bit to eat in Columbia Plaza, where The Magic Gourd is located. As fanciful as the name sounds, the only thing "Magic"-cal about this place is the prices. In a congested and high end area smack dab between Georgetown & The National Mall, you can rarely find a low-cost sit in restaurant with servers. However, Magic Gourd fills this void and has stood the test of time. You can easily grab lunch for $10, which includes free hot black tea. It's a medium sized space that can get kind of cramped, but there's high turnover with seating Bc folks are typically in for a quick lunch or working lunch. Today I indulged a bit and tried something new. I struggled to pick the most non-typical Asian American dish as possible. The Moo Shi Pork (also called Moo Shu Pork at other Asian restaurants) was about all I could find so I ordered it. It was described as pork, cabbage, hard scrambled eggs & shiitake mushrooms served with plum sauce & pancakes. What I got was a decently flavored sautéed dish, mostly flavored with Oyster sauce I believe, served with--white flour tortillas. I did not ask for tacos, but that's what I got. read more

So, only because it's conveniently downstairs from my boyfriend's place in the Columbia Plaza apartment complex, I had to eat here for a second time last night. This place would be fabulous for a karaoke night venue, or maybe a party rental for it's Vegas-like atmosphere. I am a big fan of the booths and dusty-looking bar. But, this is a restaurant not so much a bar. BUT, this is definitely not fine dining, nor fine nor authentic Chinese food. You know it isn't good Chinese food when you don't see any Chinese customers in the place. Everything seems to be battered, deep fried and then finished with a thickened (probably by corn starch) sauce. No matter what, you will wake up in the next morning parched and with the morning-after-MSG feeling in the mouth... The owner and staff are nice and friendly, but the place is definitely not a China Garden. The waitress also was short $10 when returning change for our bill...so make sure you count your change! read more

I'd recommend the food here for take-out, but probably would stay away from a sit-down meal. Inside the restaurant is VERY dated and dark. I joked to my boyfriend that it would be the perfect candidate for that TV show "Bar Rescue". There are tacky white xmas lights around the bar, the lighting is poor, the bar area itself looks like it has seen better days and the furniture is probably twice as old as I am (not in a good way). Also, the waitstaff are not terribly responsive the one time I did go in for a sit-down meal. I usually do order a chicken dish for takeout on the weekends from time to time. It is a HUGE portion of food and I can usually pack some of it up for lunch the next day. As far as the food quality, it's typical Chinese. Nothing special to write home about, but it'll do the job if you are craving some General Tso's chicken! read more

Great food, great staff. I recommend getting the boiled dumplings in hot sauce and the spicy green beans!!!

Good food, good service!!! Regular sized entrees are perfect for sharing. We went with a group of 10, no reservation, on a Wednesday afternoon- and they took great care of us. read more

My friend and I ate here on 9/20/22, before going to the Kennedy Center for an evening performance. Lots of variety on the menu, and the meals were delicious. The staff was very friendly and welcoming. In fact, I'll be going back to eat there, again, this week, because my other friend wants to try it. read more

Good quality Chinese food, with large portions, and for a cheaper price. It is kind of hidden from the main road, but if you're looking for some good Chinese food, either to go or sit in, this is a place you should go to. Also, the service is pretty fast for the walk in to go orders and the staff is always extremely welcoming. This is especially a good place to go for nearby GW students or anyone looking to get two meals for the price of one. read more

A close place by to get chinese food. I got take out. The general tso was goof and a nice portion. It came with white rice and I should have upgraded for fried rice. It was a bit expensive. I might go back just because it is convient. read more

This place just makes me laugh. This place just seems like it was really popular in the 70s but has never been updated. The decor is laughable. Actually, I recommend you go check it out if you weren't alive in the 70s but want to pretend that you were. Anyway. There is never anyone in here for dinner which can be a bit unsettling. I am a little afraid of what the kitchen is like since it just doesn't seem like the place is spick and span. You might be wondering, how is the food? It is fine. I wasn't impressed. I was actually fairly bored. I should have gotten something classic like lo mein. Instead I split this fried chicken thing with a friend which was actually a little gross because you had to pull it off the bones (and I just started eating meat again after a 9 year bout of vegetarianism). I don't think Foggy Bottom has a huge assortment of restaurants so you might get trapped one day into venturing into Columbia Plaza. However, I say, go for Sizzling Express! read more

I've ordered the General Tao's chicken here a couple of times and almost every time it has been really bad. The chicken is so rubbery you can chew it forever without it breaking in your mouth. Quite disappointing. read more

Okay I've been here 3 times for lunch. It is not a good restaurant. but there is nothing else around the area (Such a loser area). So it's where you go for sitdown chinese. The food is Meh... the service is even Meh-er. The interior is dark and attempts to be more upscale than the quality of the food and service would reflect. Will I go here again? Yes. but only because there is no choice. not because I want to. =) read more

We went there after catching a show at the nearby Kennedy Center - an easy walk. My wife and I both had dishes with Hunan sauce. Decent, if not spectacular. Decent prices for the area (but not overall). The restaurant is a bit rundown but service was prompt & friendly. We were, however, just about the only folks in there. I'd consider it again if I was in the immediate area but wouldn't go out of my way to go there again. read more

The Magic Gourd is not a restaurant, it is a lifestyle. Until you find yourself dining at this family owned tucked away magical delight nightly and even twice daily, you have not truly experienced the delight of fine dining. Winnie and Frank are two of the most respected people on campus at The George Washington University. Catering to the needs of Student Organizations and hungry students for many years, this great pair takes the time to make it right. I only order one thing: shrimp fried rice with egg drop soup - not because that is the only thing I like, but because it was the first recommended meal that Winnie suggested to me. Accompanied by a Long Island Iced tea, the occasional absinth, and perhaps a bottle of wine, this dining experience is one not to be missed. read more

The volcano changed my life. Managed to down dat behemoth by myself in 20 minutes. Needless to say the orange chicken was ethereal. The toilets were clean and ready for the volcanic eruption and cultural reset that subsequently occurred. Waitstaff could not be more polite and I will be back EVERY time I am in town. read more

This is Mona M.'s boyfriend. Yes it is true that I found a piece of broken china in my Pork Lo Mein and that the (male) manager is unaccommodating and rude sometimes. However, this restaurant is a usual haunt of my friends and I and we have shared many a good time at this place, enjoying each other's company over some warm chinese food. Also, while the male manager may seem like a douch at times, the female hostess whom I would presume to be the male manager's wife, is a very gracious host and she has a nice grandmotherly aura to her. In conclusion, I am a fan of Magic Gourd and so long as I live two blocks away from this restaurant, I will continue to eat here. read more

Nice environment, but terrible food. The dishes are all drenched in syrup and are sweet even though some of them may be labeled "spicy" on the menu. There's no Chinese on the menu, nor is there a separate menu in Chinese. Once I went with a Chinese family and the parents couldn't even order food. The service is lackluster, too. I had to ask repetitively for my Corona AFTER the food had been served. Servers rarely check back on you, if at all. A total letdown compared to other Chinese restaurants in the area like Sichuan Pavilion or even Meiwah. Lunch is busy because of all the professionals in the neighborhood, whereas dinner is much quieter. read more

Happened to come across this restaurant And I'm in loss of words... of how GREAT the food and service was!! Their food looked great and tasted outstanding with little wait time. The food was not only appetizing but they portion the serving to ensure we get full... The servers were very helpful answering our questions. Best to come by the lunch hours for the best price and experience. read more

Like Rodney Dangerfield, this restaurant doesn't seem to get much respect. Yet I've really never had a bad meal there and much of the cooking is quite good. For the area, pricing is reasonable. Atmosphere is calm and relaxed, and service is quiet and efficient. A lot of people going to the Kennedy Center will eat here,, so the service will get you in and out in time for your show, The only problem I've had there is the room gets warm in the summer; hopefully, this has been fixed. read more

If you don't work at the State Department or PAHO, go to GW, or live in Colombia Plaza, you really have no reason to come here. The space is arguably nicer than your average Chinese-American joint, with soaring ceilings, an 18-seat bar, (and a design aesthetic that cries "late 70's"), but the food isn't anything to write home about. The lunch specials are a decent value: $9.90 gets you a soup (hot and sour or egg drop), a main course that changes daily, and fried rice. The Tuesday I stopped in it was Hsiang River Pork with zucchini (!?!), bamboo shoots and carrots in black bean sauce. The fried rice was just that: fried rice, with nothing in it and the pork was a tad on the sweet side. Certainly there are better Chinese options out there. For something more authentic nearby, try Szechuan Pavilion on K Street. read more

A friend and I stopped by here for a quick meal before heading to the Kennedy center for show. Although it was literally on our way up Virginia Avenue NW, the place was a little hard to find. We did not see any dedicated parking, which is not unusual in this area of town. That did not matter to us- we were walking anyway. With a name like 'Magic Gourd' and being in this area of town, I was expecting this restaurant to modern, fresh and vegetable oriented. Once we had entered the restaurant, I knew I was sorely mistaken. Except for the nearly full bar, the restaurant was nearly empty. The two of us were escorted to a table in the back section. Looking around, I would guess that this restaurant was last updated in the early 1980s. It certainly wasn't dirty, but seemed more of a corner shop where one would stop in for quick Chinese food on the way home from a long day at work. The waitress was the perfect combination of attentive and not hovering. I know that is a very simple sentence, but cannot stress how much I appreciated that! The food was quick and greasy and fairly cheap. Nothing really to write home about here. It wasn't overly fancy or flavorful. Considering the area, we got a solid bang for our buck. I certainly wouldn't make it a point to ever come here again, but wouldn't actively stay away if in the area and craving cheap Chinese food. read more

We thought they sold pot here. I wish they would do better than "Magic Gourd" for a name. As a disclaimer, I work in the area and visit State every once in a while. Couple of colleagues and I were looking for a place to eat after a presentation. The decor is dated. It isn't dirty, which is my standard. Couldn't tell where the host/hostess stand was, so we meandered by the bar for about 3 minutes before we were greeted and seated. Menu was pretty standard Chinese fare. The service was FAST. Like as soon as we were done with the appetizers, out came the entree. As a lunch deal, it is pretty hard to beat unless you are eating from a truck. Food is better than passable and the portion size is fairly healthy. If you are a big eater, you aren't going to take any home, but I didn't leave hungry. Kung Pao wasn't overly spicy, but at least it wasn't covered in syrup like some lower class places. 3 stars, but mostly because of the lunch price. There are better Chinese places in the DMV, but if you are around Columbia Plaza you can certainly do worse. read more

Walked right out after the hostess was a complete See You Next Tuesday to me. And after I told her that I will find some where else to eat, she went right back to her phone and said Okay! Restaurant is empty and would have thought they wanted one customer but nope. read more

used to go there all the time for pick up but honestly the food is just too heavy and greasy and the portions have gotten smaller. They also harass you for a vaccine card and masks which personally is ridiculous when they know the person who's been coming there for years and the place is empty. It's also filled with college kids that are very loud and very nasty from Gwu. read more

We had pad thai, and orange and sesame chicken. The pad Thai was good, the chicken was crispy, crunchy and sweet and savory. Service was also great. read more

My husband and I and friends have been eating at the Magic Gourd for many years when we attend the Kennedy Center. We are always greeted in a welcoming manner. The service is speedy but not rushed. We have tried several of the dishes but my favorite is the shrimp fried rice that I can share with a friend as the portions are generous. when friends tell me they are going to the Kennedy Center i ALWAYS tell them to eat at the Magic Gourd for service, price and quality AND its accessibility to the Kennedy Center. read more

I just paid 21 dollars for lunch. combination fried rice,( most places have 3 meats, this only had a few shrimp and a few pieces of chicken, very bland) and Overpriced for what you get. Egg rolls overcooked, dark and hard. Very disappointing lunch for 21 dollars. Not happy! NO good Chinese restaurants in foggy bottom area. YUMS please come to this area! Too expensive and not good. read more

Average Chinese restaurant in DC. Food is fine, economical, they rush you along though. Can't say anything bad, it is what it is. Food is kind of bland. I'd go back. But there are much better choices. Good fortune cookies! read more

This place was okay. There was no one else in the restaurant. They say us at a table with ripped seats and when I asked to move the waitress scowled at me. They had a plastic ikea type shelf in the middle of the dining room with supplies on it. However the food was okay. I had the basil chicken which was tasty. The pan fried dumplings were a little greasy but good. My son had the duck, which was over cooked and dry. There was no option for dessert. As soon as we were done she gave us the check with stale fortune cookies. read more

My husband's family comes here every Christmas season out of nostalgia from when they were growing up in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood. It's actually kinda rare for DC where it seems like there are not many regular sit down Chinese restaurants (takeout joints also affiliated with subs and fried chicken and seafood are plentiful). It's nostalgic and not updated inside, but has managed to stick around for decades so they are doing something right. The food is fine and I would probably take out from here much more often if I lived in the neighborhood. It's very fried and heavily sauced - So if you're on a diet, this is not the place for you. Highlights were the crispy green beans and hot and sour soup. We ordered plenty of chicken/beef fried in sauce dishes too and they were gobbled up. Don't make a special trip for the Magic Gourd, but if you live in the neighborhood and are looking for takeout, then this is your place. read more

Wonderful food and service! We had been walking a long time and as soon as we were seated the waitress turned a fan on for us. All of the meals were delicious! read more

Ordered delivery of General Tso's Chicken for lunch. Arrived in about 30 min! Hot and crispy with tasty sauce, fresh steamed rice, a couple pieces of broccoli, and bonus - a crispy vegetarian spring roll! I was craving some good ol' American Chinese food and this hit the spot. Items were neatly packaged stapled in a brown bag wrapped inside a plastic one. Utensils and napkins were included. The restaurant only offers take out and delivery at the moment. Given that and the packaging job on my food, it appears they're taking appropriate COVID precautions. read more

The food was all well prepared, service was kind, the restaurant is clean and welcoming. Best Chinese in Foggy Bottom

Not bad not bad. Strolled in here since there wasn't any other closer spots for quick food. It was about 7 and the restaurant was fairly empty. Food is affordable and they give you a decent amount (10 minutes for a Togo order). I got the combination rice and there wasn't as much chicken as I would have liked and the rice seemed as though it may have been cooked too much, possibly too much oil? Good portion size though! read more

Spent 22 dollars on peking duck. Duck was stone cold. They forgot to give me pancakes with the order and no rice was included. Im sorry? 22 Dollars for this is a disgrace. DO NOT EAT HERE! read more

Truly horrible... food are tasteless... The rice they gave me for my take out order were smaller than my fist, even not enough for a cat ...

Food was very heavy and a bit over priced. The place can get very busy and crowded during the lunch crowd rush. Service was not very good, it took forever to get water and refills. read more

What can be said about this wondrous establishment? After hours of pouring over the dictionary and multiple thesauruses, I am able to confidently state that there are no words in the English lexicon that can adequately describe this fine eatery. The closest word that I can use to describe The Magic Gourd is, well, magic. The second you enter you will be given immediate clarity as to the feelings Alice had when she fell down the rabbit hole in Lewis Carrol's classic: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. When you cross the threshold you will wait for the hostess. There is none. You will stand patiently awaiting your destiny. However, it will not arrive until you walk five paces forward. From there the woman behind the bar will greet you and ask you the question that will change everything: "How many?". This is the exact physical location where everything you were, everything you are, and everything you will be shall become one. She -like Charon the Ferryman of the River Styx- will guide you to your seat. Immediately, you will notice the large fans that decorate the wall and the crystal chandelier. It will make you wonder: Is this what The Great Gatsby would look like if it were set in an Asian old folks' home? The answer is yes. Euphoria will overcome you and you'll begin to weep. Do not fret young one, it is merely a part of the process. Then, in a cloud of smoke, your server shall appear. It will quickly become apparent as your server sprints from table to table that she is a natural born runner. Although it is most likely an urban legend, it is rumored that every individual on the wait staff has defeated Usain Bolt in the 100m. After being enamored by the staff's raw, physical prowess, the heat will set in. You will begin to experience a strong, insatiable thirst and will down a minimum of three glasses of water. The lifeless fans (both traditional Chinese and modern day oscillators) lining the walls will mock you as the oppressive heat only increases your desire for nourishment. Why don't they simply turn on the fans? We may never know. Finally, food. The food is magnificent. You would begin to weep again if the hot atmosphere hadn't suck the moisture out of your body. Upon your first bite, you will reach total enlightenment. You will attempt to take your third bite but will realize that you have succumbed to the sin of gluttony and have already eaten the remainder of your meal. As you sign your check and leave, the fortune cookies and orange slices will enter your taste buds and act as the last chapter to the most satisfying novel you have ever read. You will grab your things, you will walk out, you will leave. With any luck, your waiter will chase you down with the speed of a hungry cheetah, and ask you if you took the merchant copy of the receipt by mistake. A poetic reminder of the time you spent at MG. Regardless, D.C. has changed with the passage of time. And now, although there are things still unknown, although there are aspects about yourself that you wish you could improve, you've had this evening. However fleeting, however draining, it happened. And it is yours. read more

Literally have grown up going here. Food is always delicious, even leftovers that are heated up the next day. Everyonr who works there is great! Definitely a place you should try. read more

I go here about once a month only because I work about 3 blocks away from it. The food is mediocre, place is dirty, decor is just plain ugly. It's packed during lunch b/c of the offices around it, but i doubt it will get business on weekends/night. read more