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I heard so many great things about Moon Rabbit and I was intrigued by their menu. You can tell by the names of the dishes that the chef was a true Vietnamese. I liked that you could do à la carte here without having to commit to a tasting menu. We had a party of 4 and we ordered 8 dishes total and we left feeling content. I was skeptical at first ngl but the experience exceeded my expectations. As someone who was born and raised in Vietnam, I appreciated the elevated Vietnamese dishes where the chef expressed their creativity while somehow capturing the Vietnamese essence. Very sophisticated dishes. The price was not bad at all for Washington DC. I would argue that it's on the lower end for fine dining restaurants. I would recommend checking this place out if you want to go to a fancy restaurant in DC.
Moon Rabbit is such a great experience. The restaurant is upscale without feeling stuffy, and the service is excellent - friendly, professional, and attentive. My friend and I were completely in awe and have decided we need to come back because we need to try more dishes, even after getting the tasting menu. The tasting menu provides essentially a dish in every category in their menu. They did really well to consider my friends dietary restriction. The dishes were so thoughtful, down to the garnishes. The chef really paid tribute to all the traditional elements of Vietnamese flavors. Our favorites were the rainbow trout (I would not have ordered this ordinarily, but OMG get the trout), the beef leaves, salmon crudo, and milk bread with 3 types of butter. The "curry" desert especially good, do not leave without it. The pastry chef incorporated kefir lime "caviar" and dill leaves which is so genius. I'd come back just for the desert. The cocktail menu is so creative and enticing but left me disappointed. Perhaps I should have stuck with the light and joyful section because I tried the Pho cocktail (DONT DO IT - it's not good), the Duck Around, and the Vietnamese coffee cocktail, and the Old Quarter, and only the later was good. Regardless, I'll be back, and maybe I'll give the cocktails another shot.
Had a lovely experience at Moon Rabbit. It's quite rare to find a restaurant in DC that has great quality food that cannot be found elsewhere while offering a price point that is fair. The service is top notch too... the waiters care about your experience and are happy to provide their two cents on items. Lastly, their indoor space was plentiful where there were always seats taken (I had to book my reservation months ahead) I definitely recommend others to check this place out!
How lucky that I was able to obtain a dinner reservation on short notice and with no time to spare, headed to DC on a Thursday evening. We settled on the "Chef's Visit to Vietnam" tasting menu so that I could try a little bit of everything and not have to endure decision fatigue. It was the perfect amount of food leaving you feeling satisfied but not overly stuffed. Started with my drink. The flavors in the Out of Dipping sauce beverage caught my eye; very unique craft cocktail that you likely cannot find elsewhere. There are several recipes on what makes the perfect nuoc mam (fish sauce) to enhance your food but what about drink? Can't say I've had a fish sauce drink before. Well, I loved it. So whoever was the creative mastermind behind this one, here's a toast to you. My dinner companion had similar thoughts with the taro milk bread. In fact, they loved it so much that they though it was better than the Ozzie Rolls at any GAR (Great American Restaurant). I probably shouldn't compare here... but listen... for those who frequent the Northern Virginia area, everyone knows the Great American Restaurants and their famous Ozzie Rolls. It's hard to beat GAR's bread service as they are like the best warm donuts you could imagine. So double kudos to the creation of this delightful Taro Milk Bread. I was obsessed with dipping it in the seasoned salts with my favorite being the BBH. Now . . . moving on to the main tasting menu. Each and every dish was intentionally created and all of the flavors were superb with great attention to detail. All dishes came out immaculately. Enjoyed the order in which I got to try the dishes. I really couldn't choose a favorite as they were all wonderfully done. I just wish I took better notes by the time dessert came. I wish they had a print out of the dishes I ate tonight so I could remember and reflect back to this moment in time. Lastly, a detail that I found heart warming was the framed artworks by Kassio Tien, son of Chef Kevin Tien, on display with associated labels. This month's artworks featuring "The Legend" and "Lola", their family dog. Drinks +Het Nuoc Cham (Out of Dipping Sauce)-haku japanese vodka, chinola passionfruit liqueur, lemon, nuoc cham syrup *contains fish sauce +Proper, "Koji Gold," Lager (Tennesse) Starters +Taro Milk Bread (Banh Khoai Mo)-cultured butter and seasoned salts (Phu Quoc BBQ, Bun Bo Hue, and Mac Khen) +Dried Meat w/ Cantelope +Pending notes for starter #3 +Pending notes for starter #4 Tasting Menu +Ora King Crudo (Ca Hoi)-citrus cured salmon, rau ram nuoc cham, lemon balm, mint, berries +Stuffed Leaf (Bo La Lot)-wagyu beef, perilla leaves, lane, fermented honey, pickled shallots +Sweet Potato & Crab (Bun Rieu)-sweet potato tapioca gnocchi, tomato roasted crab fat, maryland jump lump crab +Lemongrass Pork (Thit Heo Nướng Sa)-berkshire pork collar, broken rice, nectarines, xo jus +Pandan Sticky Rice Palate Cleanser +Sorbet with passionfruit granita Desserts +Pending notes-to be identified #3 +Pending notes for small bites-to be identified #4
Wonderful dining experience at Moon Rabbit, even without reservations on a Thursday evening. Service at the bar is still formal and they were just as attentive as if we were sitting at a table. Loved my cocktail! Golden Prosperity offers tequila, mango infused aperol, lime, mint syrup, and pomelo gel. The Lemongrass Pork was substantial in portion. The pork was tender and flavorful with hints of peach, accompanied by a colorful rice. Green curry sponge cake contained avocado sorbet. I enjoyed the bright mild burst of lime flavor. I understand the wonderful buzz around moon rabbit, the decor is pastel, easy on the eyes, and the dining is enjoyable and decadent! I will be back.
We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Moon Rabbit on a Friday night. The restaurant was relatively full, yet we were never rushed or made to feel anything but fully welcomed. There are many tables in the restaurant and it is much bigger than you realize when you first walk in. Our server was extremely helpful, both with choosing drinks and food. I chose the IPA from Brooklyn that I very much enjoyed. My friend selected the the Vietnamese beer that he liked a lot. The ladies enjoyed their wine, my wife chose the one from S. Africa. As this was our first visit, we decided to go with the tasting menu. It has various names as the chef includes different dishes. It includes an amuse bouche, several appetizers, entrees from fish, meat, and a vegetarian choice. I think my favorites of all were the stuffed leaf with wagyu beef and grilled bamboo. The bamboo was sweet and chunky, I had never eaten bamboo-it's great!. Everything we ate was excellent. The pacing of the meal was comfortable: we were able to enjoy each course without hurry but dinner didn't require a 2 1/2 experience. Our dessert was also very interesting with a combination of flavorful ice cream with other delectables. The price of the tasting menu was $95pp plus tax and 20% service already added. I highly recommend this for dinner. I've paid much more for a lot less in quality and quantity in the District.
Very busy place with many cute tables. All dishes on the menu looks appetizing and well thought out. I really liked the bamboo dish. Seems simple but the charred taste combined with the sauce really hit home. The green garbonzo in the trout dish was kinda dry (I wish they used peas instead). The fish, lotus seed puree, and lotus root was good. For the quail dish, adding an au jus sauce on the side would make the experience better. The flavors were on point. The dessert was really good, very light mainly mouse and not much cake. Overall, good experience for Vietnamese fusion dishes z
I started with the Go Bananas cocktail. It was a peanut butter and banana cocktail. He said it was sweet but I didn't think so. I liked it a lot. We decided to order the tasting menu and the salmon appetizer. The apps were amazing. Loved the pate on a Madeline, delicious and a future idea for a dinner party. The shrimp croquette with pickled mango was awesome too. Loved the bread with all the salts. Honestly the menu is a blur but I still can't stop talking about it and recommending the restaurant and the tasting menu to my friends. I want to return! Service was perfect. Wish the place had a little more ambiance. It was a bit bright for me.
This is the most unique restaurant I have ever been to. They really push the boundaries when it comes to flavor combinations. Things you would think are only savory and only sweet are being combined. It took a while to process my experience here. We started with drinks. The golden prosperity was my favorite. The purple yam drink was okay but I wouldn't get again. Same with the grandmas candy char. Then we got the taro milk bread and their vegan bread. This was a great start. The culantro butter was amazing. The bread was soft. The vegan butter was nothing like I've ever tasted. You would never guess it was vegan. So flavorful and creamy. Then we got the salmon crudo. This was simple but flavorful. The strawberries weren't needed though. Then we got the mochi beignets. This was so unique. Flavor bomb for sure. I liked the eel but not sure if I liked it with the mochi. Then we got the charred eggplant. This was my least favorite dish. Nothing exciting and the consistency of the eggplant could have been softer. Then we got the gnocchi and crab. This was our absolute favorite. Like wow! So flavorful and decadent. The crab was the cherry on top. Then we got the quail and tomato rice. The quail was kind of dry on its own. Needed the tomato rice. The lemongrass pork was another favorite. The char and consistency of the pork was so good. The mango added a nice contrast. Then we the dessert. I wanted to like these as they have received awards for their desserts but this was just too complex for me. First we got the pandan pannacotta. There were these pieces of seaweed that really threw off the whole dish. Then we got the green curry sponge with a fish caramel sauce. This was okay but not sure I liked this savory/sweet combo. Overall very unique, very complex very interesting meal. I recommend trying it at least once but I probably won't be back.
We went to celebrate my birthday which was such a treat! Literally had a ratatouille food critic moment (the movie) when it bought me back to my mom's cooking. We decided to order several dishes instead. Very attentive with cleaning in between and changing out for fresh plates and utensils. The decor is soooo pretty. Taro Milk Bread (Banh Khoi Mo) - a must Grilled Bamboo (Mang Noung) - sweet, massive portion for two Sweet Potato and Crab (Bun Rieu)- one of my favorites! very flavorful and the tapioca gnocchi was perfect texture. taste rich like my moms soup Fried Quail and Tomato Rice (Chim Cut Chien) - it was a little dry but the flavors were there Lemongrass Pork (Thit Heo Nuong Sa) - taste 10x better than the regular Vietnamese restaurant thit com dish. What a lovely twist with the rice to pay tributes to NOLA Drinks: Het Nuoc Cham - it wasnt my favorite but not the worse. Vit Quay- like an old fashioned, rec Next time, would like to try go bananas and midnight ca phe on the dessert list. Then they finished off the evening with a birthday celebration. Thank you Moon Rabbit.
Tell me you want an understated luxe vibe for a special occasion that won't soon be forgotten without telling me... What a fantastic bday dinner for my husband! Food/drinks: not a bad thing consumed! We each did two cocktails (the go bananas was great for the banana and pb-lover), the bread plate, and five dishes (too much food but all fantastic). Hub's fave: gnocchi and sweet potato. My fave: prawns. Also worth while (in order of my preference): rice cakes, eggplant, and the wagyu beef roll. Don't sleep on the gluten free bread (not on the menu). Oh and the special bday cake! Service: Fantastic! Marisol was helpful and patient. Their support navigating and accommodating GF and dairy free was chef's kiss. The whole team ensured we had an experience. What I loved the most is that we had excellent service but wasn't stuffy. Ambiance: You can walk by it easily and not even notice this three-room restaurant is right there! Each room has a different vibe; we were placed in room three: intimate, moody lighting, like someone nice living room. Thank you to Moon Rabbit for a night we won't forget anytime soon. Truly deserves all the stars.
Incredible staff and service. Lots of interesting dishes. My friend wanted to do the taste of Vietnam for her birthday. I was hesitant due to the price and due to not knowing exactly which dishes would be served. They did at least observe a pescatarian option. The menu ended up being very satisfying, but it was expensive, and cocktails are expensive, and then they imposed a 20% tip AND taxed after tip. I felt pretty scammed, because the price is already so high. Taxing after the high price and a forced 20% tip seems very cruel. We enjoyed the dipping sauce cocktail, the old quarter, and the golden prosperity. Favorite dishes included the taro bread, the bamboo, the rice cooked in coconut milk, the lemongrass pork (for the two meat eaters,) the snapper, and the mango chocolate dessert.
I went for a friend's birthday and we all had the chefs tasting (fyi, everyone must participate) and WOW, what an incredible meal from start to finish. To start, the bread. It was such a perfect start to an amazing meal. The chefs tasting is a hodge podge of everything on the menu. They can accommodate dietary restrictions (we vegetarian and pescatarian confirmed), but it's best to call ahead and confirm. The amount of small bites turned out to be so much and we enjoyed every last bite. One particular side I was obsessed with was the rice. It was sweet and savory and beautiful as well--purple, orange, and green. Asking our server, he explained the thorough baking process and we were blown away. It explains why we enjoyed it so much! Also, shout out on the fish and eggplant mains. They were so great. Also, separate round of applause for the desserts. My favorite was the chocolate dessert with foam and boba. Everything was just wonderful! We were able to get the story on the naming of moon rabbit, and our server Jose was spectacular. The restaurant had a very laid back vibe and aesthetic, making it a very comfortable experience. While several tables are seated together in the same room, you never actually felt it. I had an amazing time and still think about every bite happily.
Wow. After hearing about the spot for so long, the opportunity finally came to check it out for dinner. My girlfriend made the reservation and we ended up having an awesome meal on a weeknight. We got seated immediately and wetr given menus -- one for food, and one for drinks. The priority for me was food, and I saw so many items that I wanted to order. Our server explain the menu to us, telling us what plates were what sizes. It was also a six course option, that she recommended would be good if we were hungry and open to exploring a bunch of things. It was cool, because we were able to get different main courses so we could explore more. I will let the pictures speak for themselves, but I will say that the meal both started and ended with a bang. That milk bread, omg. If I have to pick a least favorite item, I think it would be the cutlets, and they weren't even bad. Everything was just so bursting with flavor, that one was lacking just a little bit in comparison, but everything was amazing. And what made it all better is that most of the items that I did want were included in the six courses. I would go back for sure. read more
These days, it's unclear what restaurants are giving you the standard out-of-the-box experience that is nice but not incredibly high class or what is truly worth it. Moon Rabbit, with their laid back atmosphere and kitschy decorations on the shelves, may look like your casual neighborhood spot but beneath that is one of the most refined culinary experiences I've had in DC. I am vegetarian and though we only got a few dishes, I was so full on the way out I couldn't have taken another bite. The flavors are so rich and complex that the modest size of the dish is plenty, From the attentive and educated servers, to their food and drink presentation, to the complex and interesting flavors. Moon Rabbit was the perfect place to spend my boyfriend's 35th birthday. The staff even brought out complementary bubbles to cap off our evening. While expensive, Moon Rabbit is an investment dinner worth every penny. Chef Kevin, take a bow. read more
1 month ago
Third time visiting and this time we decided to just order dishes directly from the menu. Started with the Tomato Milk Bread and Crispy Mountain Salad. The bread seems to be a bit less than the tasting menu and the salad is ok. The sweet potato & crab is as good as I remember. The king salmon has a nice crust and the sauce is full of flavor. The curry shrimp is big and juicy for me but unfortunately, one of my wife's piece has a texture that indicates the shrimp is not fresh. The final dish is the Quail. It is unique as they remove the quail meat and replaces with duck sausage meat. No need to pick out any bones. Close out the night with Seaweed dessert. Definitely a different vibe when doing the a la carte dishes versus the tasting menu. The minor complain would be the dishes took a long time to come out. It was almost 30 mins between the crab and king salmon dishes to the curry shrimps and quail. Also took a while to get to the first two dishes as well. read more
I heard so many great things about Moon Rabbit and I was intrigued by their menu. You can tell by the names of the dishes that the chef was a true Vietnamese. I liked that you could do à la carte here without having to commit to a tasting menu. We had a party of 4 and we ordered 8 dishes total and we left feeling content. I was skeptical at first ngl but the experience exceeded my expectations. As someone who was born and raised in Vietnam, I appreciated the elevated Vietnamese dishes where the chef expressed their creativity while somehow capturing the Vietnamese essence. Very sophisticated dishes. The price was not bad at all for Washington DC. I would argue that it's on the lower end for fine dining restaurants. I would recommend checking this place out if you want to go to a fancy restaurant in DC. read more
2 months ago
Moon Rabbit is such a great experience. The restaurant is upscale without feeling stuffy, and the service is excellent - friendly, professional, and attentive. My friend and I were completely in awe and have decided we need to come back because we need to try more dishes, even after getting the tasting menu. The tasting menu provides essentially a dish in every category in their menu. They did really well to consider my friends dietary restriction. The dishes were so thoughtful, down to the garnishes. The chef really paid tribute to all the traditional elements of Vietnamese flavors. Our favorites were the rainbow trout (I would not have ordered this ordinarily, but OMG get the trout), the beef leaves, salmon crudo, and milk bread with 3 types of butter. The "curry" desert especially good, do not leave without it. The pastry chef incorporated kefir lime "caviar" and dill leaves which is so genius. I'd come back just for the desert. The cocktail menu is so creative and enticing but left me disappointed. Perhaps I should have stuck with the light and joyful section because I tried the Pho cocktail (DONT DO IT - it's not good), the Duck Around, and the Vietnamese coffee cocktail, and the Old Quarter, and only the later was good. Regardless, I'll be back, and maybe I'll give the cocktails another shot. read more
Had a lovely experience at Moon Rabbit. It's quite rare to find a restaurant in DC that has great quality food that cannot be found elsewhere while offering a price point that is fair. The service is top notch too... the waiters care about your experience and are happy to provide their two cents on items. Lastly, their indoor space was plentiful where there were always seats taken (I had to book my reservation months ahead) I definitely recommend others to check this place out! read more
How lucky that I was able to obtain a dinner reservation on short notice and with no time to spare, headed to DC on a Thursday evening. We settled on the "Chef's Visit to Vietnam" tasting menu so that I could try a little bit of everything and not have to endure decision fatigue. It was the perfect amount of food leaving you feeling satisfied but not overly stuffed. Started with my drink. The flavors in the Out of Dipping sauce beverage caught my eye; very unique craft cocktail that you likely cannot find elsewhere. There are several recipes on what makes the perfect nuoc mam (fish sauce) to enhance your food but what about drink? Can't say I've had a fish sauce drink before. Well, I loved it. So whoever was the creative mastermind behind this one, here's a toast to you. My dinner companion had similar thoughts with the taro milk bread. In fact, they loved it so much that they though it was better than the Ozzie Rolls at any GAR (Great American Restaurant). I probably shouldn't compare here... but listen... for those who frequent the Northern Virginia area, everyone knows the Great American Restaurants and their famous Ozzie Rolls. It's hard to beat GAR's bread service as they are like the best warm donuts you could imagine. So double kudos to the creation of this delightful Taro Milk Bread. I was obsessed with dipping it in the seasoned salts with my favorite being the BBH. Now . . . moving on to the main tasting menu. Each and every dish was intentionally created and all of the flavors were superb with great attention to detail. All dishes came out immaculately. Enjoyed the order in which I got to try the dishes. I really couldn't choose a favorite as they were all wonderfully done. I just wish I took better notes by the time dessert came. I wish they had a print out of the dishes I ate tonight so I could remember and reflect back to this moment in time. Lastly, a detail that I found heart warming was the framed artworks by Kassio Tien, son of Chef Kevin Tien, on display with associated labels. This month's artworks featuring "The Legend" and "Lola", their family dog. Drinks +Het Nuoc Cham (Out of Dipping Sauce)-haku japanese vodka, chinola passionfruit liqueur, lemon, nuoc cham syrup *contains fish sauce +Proper, "Koji Gold," Lager (Tennesse) Starters +Taro Milk Bread (Banh Khoai Mo)-cultured butter and seasoned salts (Phu Quoc BBQ, Bun Bo Hue, and Mac Khen) +Dried Meat w/ Cantelope +Pending notes for starter #3 +Pending notes for starter #4 Tasting Menu +Ora King Crudo (Ca Hoi)-citrus cured salmon, rau ram nuoc cham, lemon balm, mint, berries +Stuffed Leaf (Bo La Lot)-wagyu beef, perilla leaves, lane, fermented honey, pickled shallots +Sweet Potato & Crab (Bun Rieu)-sweet potato tapioca gnocchi, tomato roasted crab fat, maryland jump lump crab +Lemongrass Pork (Thit Heo Nướng Sa)-berkshire pork collar, broken rice, nectarines, xo jus +Pandan Sticky Rice Palate Cleanser +Sorbet with passionfruit granita Desserts +Pending notes-to be identified #3 +Pending notes for small bites-to be identified #4 read more
Wonderful dining experience at Moon Rabbit, even without reservations on a Thursday evening. Service at the bar is still formal and they were just as attentive as if we were sitting at a table. Loved my cocktail! Golden Prosperity offers tequila, mango infused aperol, lime, mint syrup, and pomelo gel. The Lemongrass Pork was substantial in portion. The pork was tender and flavorful with hints of peach, accompanied by a colorful rice. Green curry sponge cake contained avocado sorbet. I enjoyed the bright mild burst of lime flavor. I understand the wonderful buzz around moon rabbit, the decor is pastel, easy on the eyes, and the dining is enjoyable and decadent! I will be back. read more
3 months ago
We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Moon Rabbit on a Friday night. The restaurant was relatively full, yet we were never rushed or made to feel anything but fully welcomed. There are many tables in the restaurant and it is much bigger than you realize when you first walk in. Our server was extremely helpful, both with choosing drinks and food. I chose the IPA from Brooklyn that I very much enjoyed. My friend selected the the Vietnamese beer that he liked a lot. The ladies enjoyed their wine, my wife chose the one from S. Africa. As this was our first visit, we decided to go with the tasting menu. It has various names as the chef includes different dishes. It includes an amuse bouche, several appetizers, entrees from fish, meat, and a vegetarian choice. I think my favorites of all were the stuffed leaf with wagyu beef and grilled bamboo. The bamboo was sweet and chunky, I had never eaten bamboo-it's great!. Everything we ate was excellent. The pacing of the meal was comfortable: we were able to enjoy each course without hurry but dinner didn't require a 2 1/2 experience. Our dessert was also very interesting with a combination of flavorful ice cream with other delectables. The price of the tasting menu was $95pp plus tax and 20% service already added. I highly recommend this for dinner. I've paid much more for a lot less in quality and quantity in the District. read more
Very busy place with many cute tables. All dishes on the menu looks appetizing and well thought out. I really liked the bamboo dish. Seems simple but the charred taste combined with the sauce really hit home. The green garbonzo in the trout dish was kinda dry (I wish they used peas instead). The fish, lotus seed puree, and lotus root was good. For the quail dish, adding an au jus sauce on the side would make the experience better. The flavors were on point. The dessert was really good, very light mainly mouse and not much cake. Overall, good experience for Vietnamese fusion dishes z read more
6 months ago
I started with the Go Bananas cocktail. It was a peanut butter and banana cocktail. He said it was sweet but I didn't think so. I liked it a lot. We decided to order the tasting menu and the salmon appetizer. The apps were amazing. Loved the pate on a Madeline, delicious and a future idea for a dinner party. The shrimp croquette with pickled mango was awesome too. Loved the bread with all the salts. Honestly the menu is a blur but I still can't stop talking about it and recommending the restaurant and the tasting menu to my friends. I want to return! Service was perfect. Wish the place had a little more ambiance. It was a bit bright for me. read more
This is the most unique restaurant I have ever been to. They really push the boundaries when it comes to flavor combinations. Things you would think are only savory and only sweet are being combined. It took a while to process my experience here. We started with drinks. The golden prosperity was my favorite. The purple yam drink was okay but I wouldn't get again. Same with the grandmas candy char. Then we got the taro milk bread and their vegan bread. This was a great start. The culantro butter was amazing. The bread was soft. The vegan butter was nothing like I've ever tasted. You would never guess it was vegan. So flavorful and creamy. Then we got the salmon crudo. This was simple but flavorful. The strawberries weren't needed though. Then we got the mochi beignets. This was so unique. Flavor bomb for sure. I liked the eel but not sure if I liked it with the mochi. Then we got the charred eggplant. This was my least favorite dish. Nothing exciting and the consistency of the eggplant could have been softer. Then we got the gnocchi and crab. This was our absolute favorite. Like wow! So flavorful and decadent. The crab was the cherry on top. Then we got the quail and tomato rice. The quail was kind of dry on its own. Needed the tomato rice. The lemongrass pork was another favorite. The char and consistency of the pork was so good. The mango added a nice contrast. Then we the dessert. I wanted to like these as they have received awards for their desserts but this was just too complex for me. First we got the pandan pannacotta. There were these pieces of seaweed that really threw off the whole dish. Then we got the green curry sponge with a fish caramel sauce. This was okay but not sure I liked this savory/sweet combo. Overall very unique, very complex very interesting meal. I recommend trying it at least once but I probably won't be back. read more
We went to celebrate my birthday which was such a treat! Literally had a ratatouille food critic moment (the movie) when it bought me back to my mom's cooking. We decided to order several dishes instead. Very attentive with cleaning in between and changing out for fresh plates and utensils. The decor is soooo pretty. Taro Milk Bread (Banh Khoi Mo) - a must Grilled Bamboo (Mang Noung) - sweet, massive portion for two Sweet Potato and Crab (Bun Rieu)- one of my favorites! very flavorful and the tapioca gnocchi was perfect texture. taste rich like my moms soup Fried Quail and Tomato Rice (Chim Cut Chien) - it was a little dry but the flavors were there Lemongrass Pork (Thit Heo Nuong Sa) - taste 10x better than the regular Vietnamese restaurant thit com dish. What a lovely twist with the rice to pay tributes to NOLA Drinks: Het Nuoc Cham - it wasnt my favorite but not the worse. Vit Quay- like an old fashioned, rec Next time, would like to try go bananas and midnight ca phe on the dessert list. Then they finished off the evening with a birthday celebration. Thank you Moon Rabbit. read more
5 months ago
Tell me you want an understated luxe vibe for a special occasion that won't soon be forgotten without telling me... What a fantastic bday dinner for my husband! Food/drinks: not a bad thing consumed! We each did two cocktails (the go bananas was great for the banana and pb-lover), the bread plate, and five dishes (too much food but all fantastic). Hub's fave: gnocchi and sweet potato. My fave: prawns. Also worth while (in order of my preference): rice cakes, eggplant, and the wagyu beef roll. Don't sleep on the gluten free bread (not on the menu). Oh and the special bday cake! Service: Fantastic! Marisol was helpful and patient. Their support navigating and accommodating GF and dairy free was chef's kiss. The whole team ensured we had an experience. What I loved the most is that we had excellent service but wasn't stuffy. Ambiance: You can walk by it easily and not even notice this three-room restaurant is right there! Each room has a different vibe; we were placed in room three: intimate, moody lighting, like someone nice living room. Thank you to Moon Rabbit for a night we won't forget anytime soon. Truly deserves all the stars. read more
Incredible staff and service. Lots of interesting dishes. My friend wanted to do the taste of Vietnam for her birthday. I was hesitant due to the price and due to not knowing exactly which dishes would be served. They did at least observe a pescatarian option. The menu ended up being very satisfying, but it was expensive, and cocktails are expensive, and then they imposed a 20% tip AND taxed after tip. I felt pretty scammed, because the price is already so high. Taxing after the high price and a forced 20% tip seems very cruel. We enjoyed the dipping sauce cocktail, the old quarter, and the golden prosperity. Favorite dishes included the taro bread, the bamboo, the rice cooked in coconut milk, the lemongrass pork (for the two meat eaters,) the snapper, and the mango chocolate dessert. read more
6 months ago
I went for a friend's birthday and we all had the chefs tasting (fyi, everyone must participate) and WOW, what an incredible meal from start to finish. To start, the bread. It was such a perfect start to an amazing meal. The chefs tasting is a hodge podge of everything on the menu. They can accommodate dietary restrictions (we vegetarian and pescatarian confirmed), but it's best to call ahead and confirm. The amount of small bites turned out to be so much and we enjoyed every last bite. One particular side I was obsessed with was the rice. It was sweet and savory and beautiful as well--purple, orange, and green. Asking our server, he explained the thorough baking process and we were blown away. It explains why we enjoyed it so much! Also, shout out on the fish and eggplant mains. They were so great. Also, separate round of applause for the desserts. My favorite was the chocolate dessert with foam and boba. Everything was just wonderful! We were able to get the story on the naming of moon rabbit, and our server Jose was spectacular. The restaurant had a very laid back vibe and aesthetic, making it a very comfortable experience. While several tables are seated together in the same room, you never actually felt it. I had an amazing time and still think about every bite happily. read more
8 months ago
Ten out of five stars is the only rating that makes sense for Moon Rabbit. Truly one of those meals where every single course makes you pause for a second. We did the prix fixe chef's tasting with the cocktail pairing, and it was unreal from start to finish. Every dish felt thoughtful, beautifully presented, and packed with flavor. Not a single miss. The kind of menu where you keep saying "this might be my favorite course"... until the next plate comes out. The cocktail pairing elevated everything. Each drink complemented the dish perfectly and felt just as creative as the food itself. I specifically loved the lotus so much, that I ordered another one, separately. Honestly, I would eat every single thing again. The experience felt special without being stuffy, the service was warm and knowledgeable, and the whole night just flowed effortlessly. Also, the decor was so cool, clean, and thoughtful. If you're even considering the tasting menu, do it. It is absolutely worth it. One of those meals you keep thinking about long after you leave. read more
3 months ago
We were debating between going à la carte vs tasting menu, and we were so pleasantly surprised by the tasting menu - it came with virtually everything we wanted and more little appetizers and desserts along the way. They brought us along for the journey and we felt well taken care of. I didn't get a picture of everything but some of my favorite bites included the crudo, pork, the madeleine with pate, and the dessert (it's like a terrarium of flavors). So glad I got to try this restaurant! read more
7 months ago
We were wandering around exploring Chinatown and the National Portrait Gallery and randomly found Moon Rabbit. There were only 2 of us and we did not have a reservation but they were nice enough to seat us right away at the bar. It is a lively place, lots of friends gathering, celebrations, but a fair number of solo diners sitting up at the bar ordering the chef's tasting menu. I mentioned to our server that I do try to avoid dairy if possible so she marked our menu with the options that do contain dairy, and which ones have dairy free substitutions. We had the Taro Milk Bread (which does have dairy) with the culantro butter, which was a gorgeous sweet/spicy combination. The stuffed leaves were very flavorful, with wagyu beef and pickled shallots. Our favorite was the lemongrass pork, which was perfectly charred on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside, with an xo jus that was absolutely perfect. Wonderful experience. read more
One of the best Vietnamese fancy meals I've had. Everything was amazing, from the meals to the service to the food and drinks. Very cool modern and eclectic takes on Vietnamese food. Me and my friends thoroughly enjoyed it. What we got were all excellent in no certain order: Summer roll Chili saté beans Curry prawns Pâté chaud with rabbit Fried quail with tomato rice Sweet potato and crab Boudin noir Octopus with blood sausage Grandmas candy jar Have you eaten yet? Duck Around read more
8 months ago
Solo Diner Review: If you're going to Moon Rabbit as a solo diner, I highly recommend getting the Chef's Tasting menu. Much like tapas, Moon Rabbit's menu has many exciting options for shared plates, but they don't always lend themselves well to solo dining experience. However, I found the tasting menu to be, far and away, a delicious and cost effective alternative at $96. I had an early reservation (5pm) on a weeknight before a show at the Shakespeare Theatre. It's a super convenient location for a pre-theatre meal, right near the Gallery Place Metro station and around the corner from multiple theaters, museums, and the arena. The dining room is furnished with natural cool tones and I enjoyed perusing their bookshelves of novelties while I dined. The only thing slightly confusing was the number of choices. Cocktail or wine pairing? Tasting menu or a la carte? Even within the tasting menu there was a choice of entree. These are definitely first world problems, but it did feel slightly overwhelming at the start of my meal. Standout dishes were the Banh Sua (fluffy with surprisingly umami pork floss on top), Hoanh Thanh Cuu Non (black vinegar, garlic, and lamb wontons), and the Che Khuc BAch (with pandan, Asian pear, and kumquat for a delightfully tropical dessert in the middle of winter). Being there on a weeknight meant people coming from work and wearing their work clothes, but everyone looked business casual or nicer. Bathrooms were single stalls at the back of the bar area. Staff was friendly and welcoming -- constantly refilling my water glass and engaging me in light conversation. Definitely worth coming back for another visit! read more
What an amazing experience! I love how well Moon Rabbit utilized traditional, staple Vietnamese ingredients and turning it into not only such creative dishes, but the cocktails here are truly one of a kind! Junior greeted us with choice of water, not only made sure our utensils were changed out through every course..but he is phenomenal in creating such a warm atmosphere simply by bringing his personality to the restaurant. He truly made the evening special and can tell he holds his role to high level. We got to experience Moon Rabbit during Restaurant Week, in which we opted in for the 7 course meal. Seven Courses - $105 -Bánh Sữa milk bread, toasted sesame, coconut butter -Tép Mơ salt & pepper pork cracklin, chili vinegar water -Gỏi Cua maryland crab tartlet, citrus, tahini, sambal, herbs -Bánh Bắp Xào corn hushpuppies, spring onions, shrimp salt, tartar -Cá Ngừ Sống seared tuna, coconut tiger milk, puffed amaranth, avocado -Thịt Kho Tàu braised pork belly, tamarind fish sauce, cucumber -Mì Tôm Xào Xả Ốt BBQ shrimp, temomi, lemongrass, chili, rice panko Entree -Cá Hấp Hành Gừng steamed king salmon, black vinegar, ginger; herbs, daikon -Thịt Bò Sốt Tiêu Đen black pepper beef, charred gai lan, escabeche Dessert -Cơm Kem jasmine rice sorbet, Satsuma Granita, citrus, shiso Bánh Quả Hồng saigon cinnamon spiced cake, persimmon, bergamot curd, coconut-ginger ice cream, sesame caramel Every dish was so special! I LOVED the little "snacks" we got to much on before diving into starters and entrée. The milk bread was so fluffy and the incorporation of coconut butter complimented it so well and coconut being a commonly used ingredients it was the perfect touch. The Thịt Kho Tàu (Pork Belly) reminiscent of so so many childhood meals. So comforting and to see that Moon Rabbit kept it very traditional and did not change it up is special. The pork belly was so soft and tender. The Mì Tôm Xào Xả Ốt, was perfectly cooked, creamy, lemongrass goodness! Both of the dessert were the perfect ending and persimmons always takes me back to childhood so I appreciate the deconstructed dessert of it. Beautifully presented. We were also given a complimentary coffee cream puff, which was divine! For cocktails, there was no way we were not going to try one that contained 'fish sauce' it was a must! We got the Hết Nước Chấm | Out Of Dipping Sauce haku japanese vodka, chinola passionfruit liqueur, lemon, nước chấm syrup "contains fish sauce This drink was delicious. You can definitely taste the faint fish sauce in there but it was balanced out perfectly with flavors of lemon and passionfruit. My absolute favorite drink from the three we did try is Phố Cổ | Old Quarter toasted rice infused michter's rye, pandan syrup, angostura bitters The toasted rice infused michter's rye was truly amazing and special. It also reminded me faintly of "rice wine" but in a bourbon rye version. Lastly, I also go the Vịt Quay | Duck Around duck fat washed angel's envy bourbon, house blended amaro, black pepper tincture, tamari The presentation for this was truly unique ans thought out. There was a quail egg a top of the drink and it was poured at table from a bottle that resembled a fish sauce bottle. Creative! The drinks here are truly so unique and cannot wait to come back again! read more
I love the Vietnamese flavors (not pictured is the lemongrass pork, which was flavorful and delicious), but I really missed the old menu from when Moon Rabbit was at the Wharf. I think my judgement might be a little clouded by that, but I thought there was more focus on the Vietnamese dishes and less on fine dining. There were some really cool techniques - like the almost mochi like gnocchi and their take on corn bread (sweet and savory and definitely a must try). Also their bar program is stellar! I would rate that higher than any of the dishes we had. If I was in the area and there was a free seat at the bar, I would grab one just for a cocktail or glass of wine. The ambience is cozy, approachable... unfortunately the price tag is not. Honestly, the one thing I dislike the most is a hefty price tag that leaves we wondering what the heck I ordered and still feeling hungry. Everything is shared plates which I find it hard for places to do at a reasonable price where the you actually leave sufficiently full... I am not asking for stuffed, I am asking to just feel like I ate a meal. Fortunately - that corn bread was so good, we had another one for dessert and that did the trick. Bottom line: Would I go back? Not in a hurry, which sucks because I was so looking forward to this. I have seen some excellent reviews of their tasting menu, so I may give that a go during one of the restaurant weeks... read more
1 month ago
Moon Rabbit has been on my "must try" list for ages, and it lived up to every expectation when I finally made it in on a brief DC trip. I was a walk-in -- with luggage and a bit soaked from a summer thunderstorm -- and I was warmly greeted and even was invited to leave my bags with the hostess while I dined (and was given a Pokémon card as my claim tag!). I was seated immediately at the bar, and both bartenders were lovely. I ended up with a tasting menu -- I asked for it to lean vegetarian but was OK with fish, and they delivered perfectly. I didn't jot everything down, but a few of the highlights: - The taro milk bread with butter and a variety of seasonings representing different regions of Vietnam. It's some of the best bread I've had, the butter was delicious, and I'd have happily bought a bottle of each of the seasonings (especially the one with, I think, cardamom and peppercorn). - The grilled bamboo! I had never had bamboo in this style before, and it absolutely made me a fan. It had a unique, hearty texture and a delicious sauce. It was one of the most savory vegetarian dishes I've had in ages, and I'd have it again in a heartbeat. - The curry cake! I know their pastry chef is renowned, and it's easy to taste why. This was one of the most unique and most delicious desserts I've tried anywhere. Who'd have thought fish sauce caramel could be so good? The cocktail pairing was also fabulous! I like wine pairings but really enjoyed the cocktail option here. The Lotus was the highlight of highlights for me, but I really enjoyed the Good Luck, Babe! and the Out of Dipping Sauce (another fish sauce surprise in its deliciousness and utility), too. The ambiance was fun -- upscale but not stuffy, with a playlist that featured just about every song I loved as a stereotypical college kid in the '00s. And the bar was very comfortable, too. Plus, I never felt undervalued as a solo diner. Was it pricey? Yeah, but not unreasonably so. I absolutely felt I got my money's worth. I am so glad I tried Moon Rabbit, and I will definitely be back. read more
10 months ago
Moon Rabbit was hands down one of the best meals we've had in a long time. Every dish was incredibly unique, with bold, thoughtful flavors that felt both creative and perfectly balanced. The spring rolls set the tone for the night, and somehow each dish just kept getting better from there. The crab was outstanding, and the pork chop was a true standout--rich, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. Absolutely one of our new favorite spots in DC. Can't wait to come back and work through more of the menu. read more
Second time visiting Moon Rabit and experiencing their tasting menu! The flavors felt elevated from my first experience 1.5 years ago. The chef & team continue to surprise and impress with their creativity with traditional Vietnamese dishes. We were sat in a different area this time around and the space was well organized, designed, and spaced out. Looking forward to another tasting menu experience. read more
2 months ago
I recently enjoyed a 5 course culinary experience at Moon Rabbit for Restaurant week! I most say I was surprised that the menu has taken a completely different direction than the southern fusion that wharf location had years ago. While I was very much looking forward to the southern twist the meal was outstanding from start to finish. The service, presentation and ambiance were top tier. The restaurant is light with classic furniture and thoughtful tableware. There are nods to pop culture and traditional Asian culture throughout the restaurant. The drink menu also has something for everyone. We had a blend of hot, cold, savory and sweet and of all the dishes my favorites were the scallops, the New Zealand clam, the bread ... get the bread and while I was stuffed by the time the duck came it was delicious. My dessert really sent me over but it was worth the wobble to the car! I will definitely return and I hope chef will consider doing a little fusion special and I'm hoping the next time I can be seated by the window (I was told no because it was for a later reservation and the person arrived 5 minutes after us). Also major round of applause to the young woman who explains each dish she had a lovely bright personality and explained everything to perfection. read more
10 months ago
A memorable meal We enjoyed every plate and cocktail. We debated whether to try the Chef's menu or order à la carte. Our party of 4 opted for the à la carte menu to ensure that we were able to taste some specific dishes. No regrets. The cocktails are unique and delicious. The Quail Egg garnish in the Duck Around added a pleasant contrast. The ingredients in every dish produced an array of flavors. Every plate was presented with a description. It was difficult to pick out the best plates - everything was exceptional. Be sure to order the Cassava Corn Bread, it was unexpectedly a highlight. Our server was helpful and attentive. The room is bright and comfortable. read more
9 months ago
Had the absolute pleasure of dining at Moon Rabbit on 01/28/2026, during Restaurant Week while my husband and I celebrated our 11 year dating anniversary. My husband and I both chose the 5 course menu with an additional order of their bread course. Let's start with the food -- enjoyed every bite. Personally, my favorite dish was the Cajun-esque shrimp pasta. It was one of the best pastas I've had in a long time and the spice level was perfect. My second favorite bite was the crab tartlet which to my dismay was just a little taster so we only had 1 each, yet, that was one of my favorite flavor profiles. The milk bread itself deserves a mention because it was so delicious, soft, slightly sweet - a real gem. Overall nothing went wrong food wise. Service - impeccable. They have a coat check which is great given the weather this week and we never had to look for someone to refill our water - which is one of my restaurant pet peeves. Ambiance - it was light and airy, it was simply decorated but effective to make you feel at home and somehow also elevate the space. Many people we knew had either recommended this spot or had mentioned it was on their list to check out. Rightfully so. Go check it out! read more
Moon Rabbit Overall Rating: (5/5 Stars) Vietnamese food is here to stay. The chefs blend comfort and fine dining in a way that feels both familiar and elevated. Add a cocktail menu that's just as intentional as the food, and you've got a well-rounded experience that actually delivers. Restaurant Week Dinner Menu (5 courses, $85) : We also received a few complimentary extras. * Bánh Sữa: The greatest bread and butter in the world? Would it be crazy to say yes? Because it truly might be. * Gỏi Cua: Simple, fresh, and comforting. Familiar flavors done well. * Bánh Bắp Xào: You really can't go wrong with a hushpuppy. Crispy outside, moist inside. Exactly how it should be. * Tép Mơ: An elevated chip-and-dip moment that was unexpectedly delicious. * Extra Surprise Dish: I'm not usually a rice cake fan, but the sauce and mushroom topping were so good I found myself scraping the plate. * Cá Ngù Sống: Perfect! No notes. * Thịt Kho Tàu: You can't tell from the photo, but there was a generous portion of some of the most tender, flavorful pork belly I've had in a long time. * Mì Tôm Xào Xả Ớt: My least favorite dish. I wanted more from it, because the flavors didn't spark my palate like the others. * Cá Hấp Hành Gừng: Salmon cooked beautifully. The sauce paired with the daikon was deeply satisfying. * Thịt Bò Sốt Tiêu Đen: Wagyu cooked perfectly, with another standout sauce moment. * Palate cleanser* * Bánh Quả Hồng: Not a fan of the cake itself, but I enjoyed the ice cream and accompanying elements. * Off-menu dessert: I don't eat chocolate, but my friend was very happy. Service: You can always feel when a restaurant operates at a high level, and Moon Rabbit absolutely does. The staff knew the menu inside and out, plate clearing was perfectly timed, and the pacing of courses felt effortless. Seamless service from start to finish. Disclaimer: These are my personal opinions. Please try these restaurants and form your own judgments--it's what I would do. IG: @_edaj_ TikTik: @_edaj_jade_ read more
9 months ago
Went for restaurant week and I don't think the food quantity OR quality matches the $200 price tag... we were served pork rinds in the first course and I ordered the hangar steak, which was incredibly chewy and I couldn't eat some of it. For a "fine dining" establishment I would not expect pork rinds and chewy steak... The service was good, but tbh that's expected when they charge a 20% service fee Also it's supposed to be a Vietnamese restaurant yet none of the dishes were Vietnamese read more
10 months ago
Get the nuoc mam cocktail! There's a reason the BAR also has a Michelin star All the servers and service we received was fantastic read more
I visited back in October last year. The innovative menu has some tiny misses but is too good to not give 5 stars because I'd seek this place out again if I'm in D.C. Service wasn't the best, but I'm fairly easy to please so it hardly factors into this review (one example: lowkey got some attitude when I asked to see the dessert menu so I could plan for it later). Like any other place though, I could live without the mains. They're worth a try if you must have something, but I enjoyed the smaller plates more. The following dishes fed 3 people. A little on the pricier side, but not surprising for D.C. Overall, the plating is chaotic with a lot of herbs (which does feel very Vietnamese) and sometimes visually it's overwhelming and makes things hard to split/share. Charred eggplant ($23): A slight letdown to eat due to the sharp shards of skin and big leaves. Not easy to share. Summer corn pasta ($29): One of my favorite dishes. The pasta had the texture of the softest rice cakes and the umami from the shrimp with the sweetness of the corn made this a dish I could just keep eating. Fried quail and tomato rice ($30+): good. The clementine dollops were a little too big with not enough rice. Soft and juicy bird. Pâté Chaus (rabbit, $32): delicious au jus, but the inside was just like a meatball which was meh. Crust was delicious and presentation was fun. Snapper ($32): good, soft fish. I had one bite with a lot of salt but otherwise it was flavorful and worked well with the sauces. Desserts-- all well-presented and certainly intriguing. Curry ($18): I just got this because I couldn't resist a savory-ish dessert, but I can't remember much about it. Tomato ($19): The herbs made this a little chaotic and were honestly unnecessary, but still a fine dessert. Durian ($19): The mix of mousse and granita is never my favorite. I would've rather just had a lot of durian flavor and the passionfruit in some other form. read more
1 month ago
What a fun restaurant with great energy! I had high expectations going in, which is always risky, but Moon Rabbit definitely surpassed them. Our waitress was so kind and clearly so knowledgeable about all of the items on the menu. She also provided some top notch recommendations. I highly recommend the Tour of Vietnam experience since you get a great variety of dishes, which are both gorgeous and delicious. My cocktail was also just so creative. It came with a chocolate garnish that I could stir in to sweeten the drink. Unfortunately, I only took photos of the dessert courses! read more
The hype was right about Moon Rabbit. Can't believe it took me so long to eat here. Good food, good service, creative and tasty drinks, awesome desserts! Feels like one of those places where you can't go wrong on anything you order! read more
The food was exquisite. We had the Cassava corn bread, which was luscious and sweet, Charred Eggplant with miso tamarind glaze, shaved kholrabi and turmeric tofu crisps, and the Szechuan spiced red snapper with perfectly charred caulini. From the first bite it was good to savor. Oh, so delicious! The price was not bad for downtown DC for such delicious fare, $100 for everything above plus a fragrant passion fruit green tea including gratuity. Our meal was a birthday dinner. The two of us left feeling we had made an excellent choice. Hats off to the chef, Kevin Tien! read more
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927 F St NW
Washington, DC 20004
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(202) 525-1446
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