I'm a West Coast girl who grew up eating authentic Vietnamese food. For my first time visiting the East coast, I am pleasantly surprised to have stumbled across this restaurant. This newly relocated restaurant has both a modern and home-like vibe to it that I adore! I also noticed they hang customers' coats too! There is a $35 option that lets you choose any appetizer, entree AND dessert! The foods I tried had a unique twist to the original version of the dishes I usually try at home, such as the Banh Beo (rice cakes). They made it to be vegan-friendly and yet still had a delicious taste. Beef & Leaf was delicious but it could get a little messy; the ingredients would fall out when I tried to fold them all together and dip in the sauce. Overall, I was very pleased with my experience! read more

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Great experience for dc restaurant week. Left full with a doggie bag to go. The staff were all great and ambiance was comfortable --allowed for conversations without feeling stuffy. read more

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I had an INCREDIBLE meal at Moon Rabbit. It was the best food I ate during my D.C. trip, and I ate a lot of killer meals. I was in Penn Quarter for research and managed to snag a one-person reservation for 6:30. The space has really nice lighting and ambiance without going overboard; I feel like I have developed a sixth sense when it comes to restaurants that prioritize vibes over food. Moon Rabbit is not one of those restaurants! I ordered the water fern rice cake as an appetizer, the boudin noir as a main, and the tomato (ca chua) dessert. I did not order any drinks, but was intrigued by the creative cocktail menu--yep, my eyes did not deceive me, they made Laughing Cow cheese liquor. The water fern rice cake was the perfect app--it was quite substantial and like a giant banh beo. I enjoyed the wisps of cucumber and melon, and nuts on the slippery rice cake, which was so refreshing for a muggy day. The boudin noir had fried baby octopi and Vietnamese blood sausage (the texture reminded me of the steamed pork and egg omelette you get at Viet restaurants when you order a broken rice combo), paired with mustard, chimichurri, and golden raisins. These are ingredients and condiments I would not assume would go together, but they did. I think the golden raisins made the dish slightly sweeter than I would've liked, but it was still extremely enjoyable and delicious. Lastly, the tomato dessert blew my mind. It is like a sweet but not too sweet riff on panzanella, featuring burrata ice cream, tomato sorbet, crunchy puffed rice, milk bread croutons, tamarillos, and a green cube that tasted like nata de coco. I enjoyed every bite and can't stop thinking about it. Also, shout out to my sweet server (IIRC her name was Kayla), who hand-wrote me a list of other restaurants in the area that she highly recommended. Moon Rabbit supremacy! read more

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Not even sure where to start, we dined here for dinner and honestly one of my best dining experiences. Everything we ate was so delicious and innovative, the service was exquisite and the vibes in there just felt upscale and nice. My favorites or remarkable dishes were; Summer Roll| Goi Cuon Fried Quail & Tomato Rice| Chim cut chien Stuffed leaf| Bo La Lot Sweet Potato & Crab| Banh Canh Cau You absolutely have to get the fried quail and the crab soup, real Star of the show read more

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I was so excited to try out the extensively- hyped Moon Rabbit for the first time! My friend and I got restaurant week reservations, and the wait staff was incredibly accommodating. The ambiance is also extremely elegant and inviting. We got the $65 tasting menu, and unfortunately, I was really disappointed! The appetizers, while creative, left much to be desired regarding both taste and portion-size. We split both entree options, and while the short rib and grits were stellar, the cod was just fine and lacked any kind of starch or accompanying base. The desserts were easily the star of the show, but for a $65 tasting menu, I expected to leave with my stomach full and my palate satiated. Unfortunately, I was not met with either outcome. I hope their normal menu has more enticing options, because there's great potential! read more

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Big thanks to Monique ( sorry if I misspelled!) for being a great server. Informative, friendly and so sweet to my energetic toddler! We had 5pm reservations and got a table with space to fit our giant stroller. She quickly set up a super comfy high chair, baby water bottle, a rubber plate, plastic fork and spoon. For 3 of us, we got 2 cocktails, the rice cake and the chefs tasting. I was stuffed!! They definitely didn't skimp on the portions. Everything was creative and delicious. Even the little details in the decor (drawings from a child with humorous description cards), and the pokemon trading card prompt was so cute! The highlights for me are the pandan bread, wagyu roll, crab and sweet potato and the cumin lamb. We will definitely be back to try more items! read more

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For my last of 2024, I give you Moon Rabbit. Where once coco sala lived (I have fond memories), now stands Moon Rabbit. Certified Viet here, so here's my thoughts on this Viet-twist food spot: Chef's tasting - We enjoyed 90% of the dishes with our absolute fav being their main ("gnocchi" and crab) and our least fav being their lamb dish. We did not enjoy either of the desserts (sorry) and I'm a dessert slore so I enjoy just about anything sweet. We ordered 2 drinks each (4 diff. drinks total) from their cocktail menu: The drinks (by recently won Michelin-drink Master Chef) were ok and neither of us loved our drinks. 4.5 Stars cause I liked most of my meal and would return for another try and their culinary attempts and taking me to unfamiliar palate roads. read more

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I'd say I'm at. 3.5 but I can't rate it like that on yelp. Ambiance, it's a clean, modern restaurant with a medium sized bar and some modern art. Here's the best: drinks were phenomenal. Even though Rice Rice Baby was too sweet for me (but at least there was citrus) the shrimp salt was so impeccably salty and full of umami (and some spice!) . It's memorable in the best way possible. I also had the Kiến khỏe không (means "Kiến, how are you" or "Kiến, you alright?"-- depends on the tone). You can add this Vietnamese Golden Ant Salt (yes, real ants!). It's stir fried with lemon grass and reminds me of the sea snails from Vietnam. Yummy! The salt is savoury and salty and a bit refreshing from the lemon grass. It lightens up an otherwise heavy salt. However, the salt is heavy for the glass and it falls off easily. I spent two bucks on this salt, so I will eat every grain! Here were my issues with the restaurant: Some of the flavouring. I think the chef or his family is from southern Vietnam and I'm used to more middle Vietnamese flavourings. Southern is very sweet based, middle is spicy, and northern is "natural" or "light". I had their version of banh béo. It's a baked/steamed rice dish that is traditionally served with fish sauce, fried thin shrimp, and green onions. The best ones are served piping hot in the baby ceramic plates and are salty and savoury. He served his in a traditional western plate with extra accoutrements like micro greens, fried enoki, peanuts, and a soy based sauce. Surprisingly, flavour wise, I liked it. But it came out cold and the fried enoki was too limp (more like pork floss than fried mushroom with some crunch for texture, which I think he was going for but it didn't work). Also, way too salty. If he cut back on the salt or the amount of sauce by 50% and made sure the dish was hot, it would have been leagues better. I also got the $89 bun chá Hà Nội (a LOT more expensive than the average)-- the iconic dish of northern Vietnam. It's actually a favorite of mine and this one was probably one of the best in terms of cooking technique. Traditionally, it's a dish of pork patties, carrots, and daikon in a light broth served with lettuce, Vietnamese mint/basil (very different from the western version!), and thin vermicelli noodles. Here, the meatballs were impeccable and that crispy pork belly (a twist from No Reservations) was salty, sweet, and fried to perfection. However, the broth was sickeningly sweet and a bit too viscous. I expected the broth to be lighter or at least saltier. No, they added too much sugar or something. Also, they gave me tons of pork skewers with pineapple. This too is non-traditional (but that'd be okay if the pork skewers were barbecued superbly) However, Vietnamese people do a barbecued pork dish that we eat alone, with rice paper wraps, or with noodles, and while the skewers weren't bad (the skewers were pretty moist), it just didn't make the mark. I've just had better barbecued pork where the fat is rendered well and the meat has that nice charcoal smoke flavour. Also, being nitpicky, but some of the lettuce was too bruised to be a Michelin quality item. For service, the servers came by frequently enough to clean my table after each course; to refill my water; and to make sure I had everything I needed course-wise. However, I ordered a second cocktail with the ant salt and one of the managers said they didn't have the ant salt, but my first cocktail of the night did have the ant salt. It wasn't a big deal to me, but for a Michelin star place, everyone needs to have a better grasp of what's in stock. On a side note, I also ordered some hot sauce or peppers. I didn't care, whatever they had. They gave me their ớt sa tễ or fried chili sauce. It's sautéed chili with oil and other spices like lemongrass. Again, this place's ớt sa tế was too sweet and not spicy to me. For me, it's a 1/10. I kind of tasted a bit of the natural pepper, but it was too weak and flabby. Vietnamese people don't eat as much spicy food like Thai people, but we can still make a decent chili sauce. This was way too meek. So, overall, there were some highlights of the evening and the drinks are definitely something I'd come back for. I'd even come back for the bún. But I just need a better balance of flavour or at least actual spicy, chili sauce. The sweet undertones were killing me, especially for certain dishes that don't need it. You can put some sweetness in curry, but not my chili pepper sauce! read more

Moon Rabbit - Kiến khỏe không cocktail with ant salt for an extra $2 - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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KenScale: 8.25/10 Visits: July 2025 Throughout our culinary journey, my wife Jun and I often ask after visiting a restaurant, "Would we be happy to visit this restaurant again in the near future?" If the answer is no, more likely than not we end up not visiting the restaurant again. The reason behind the no answer almost always hinges on the quality of food; even where the overall experience was somewhat uneven, there may be one or two outstanding dishes that convince us the restaurant should get a second look. When we first visited Moon Rabbit, from the famed DC chef Kevin Tien, in 2022, the restaurant felt somewhat outshined by the glitzy surroundings of the Wharf area, and I felt we needed to try a few other dishes before we could endorse the restaurant. Since then, the restaurant moved to the Penn Quarter neighborhood in early 2024; I had been keeping the restaurant on my radar and finally pulled a trigger to try Moon Rabbit 2.0 with Jun last month. We were both very surprised how much more we liked our dinner experience this time. If you think Vietnamese cuisine is just pho noodle soup or spring rolls, you will be wowed by Moon Rabbit's dishes. Chef Tien's cooking, drawn from his Cajun Louisiana and Vietnamese roots, really stood out on our recent visit for its creative use of ingredients. Jun was amazed how much she loved the mochi beignet with freshwater eel even though the eel is not her favorite fish, and I couldn't agree more. If we have to order again from the menu on our next visit, the first thing we will get is this playful dish showing that mochi and eel can be potent combos. Charred cabbage was another a very delicious dish, thanks to the sesame eggplant puree that gave the cabbage a smoky lift. The main dishes were also both successful. Red snapper was spiced with Szechuan sauce to give a spicy kick that worked very well, while the lemongrass pork chop was more or less perfectly grilled, and I was very fond of the braised kale that gave the dish a classic Southern feel. One thing we should've done on our visit to Moon Rabbit 1.0 was to order at least one dessert; Moon Rabbit's desserts have been widely lauded thanks for the pastry chef Susan Bae. This time, we ordered two desserts, one of which was truly memorable. I don't recall ever trying a cheesecake made of tofu before, and the ethereal texture of the cheesecake with a more savory than sweet flavor was pure magic. Jun thought the cheesecake could've worked even better with the Nardello pepper, but I was fine with the spicy kick from the pepper. The other dessert we ordered, consisting of roasted corn mousse and gjetost cheese gelato and coffee granita, also displayed the wide range of imagination with unexpected ingredients. Getting a reservation at Moon Rabbit is pretty challenging and the dining room, which was by no means small, was nearly packed during our dinner, so booking in advance is highly recommended. The restaurant has a full bar with creative cocktail offerings and a wine list with surprisingly range of geography and grape type (there is even a suggested drink pairing for each dessert). The dining space, unlike the predecessor in the Wharf, felt more inviting and cozier than touristy. The only regret I had from our dinner at Moon Rabbit is that we didn't visit the restaurant sooner. Jun and I would be very excited to visit the restaurant again and see what else on the menu surprises us. And yes, I hope the mochi beignet and eel is still on the menu on our next trip! read more

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All of the dishes were just fine but definitely not worth the price. The atmosphere, menu and vibe of the old location were better. Service was also just fine--clearing plates prematurely, not checking in. read more

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Greeter stated that there were no tables available when we arrived at 5pm and only the bar was open. When we departed at 6:40pm there were plenty of tables available. there were more than 10-12 tables open the entire time. Food was good, portions were extra small. read more

Moon Rabbit - Greeter stated that there were no tables available when we arrived at 5pm and only the bar was open. - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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What an experience!!! We did the chefs taster menu that way the pressure was off for making the perfect selection! Lol The service was impeccable. The knowledge of the servers was top tier. The hospitality was worth returning to experience. The decor was amusing and my friend even suggested capturing a picture of the bookshelf to use as his new Zoom background. I have no notes for this experience! It was spectacularly curated and I will definitely return!! Oh I forgot the drinks were crazy! Talk about a party on your palate. read more

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I loved everything about this spot. It's been on my list for so long- inventive Vietnamese. The cocktails are highly regarded and with reason. The ice ice tamarind and night market were so delicious. Came for restaurant week and honestly it's a fantastic deal. If you let them know you'll be sharing plates, they'll plate and slice accordingly to make it easy to try everything. Some of the best duck my husband has ever had and the flavors were perfectly balanced and portions were good. Beyond the food is the service. The place is swarming with servers and runners and they are buzzing around to make sure your water glass is never empty, your food is coming out at a perfect temp AND they're nice. The vibes are so cute, modern but cozy. Perfect dim lighting but not too dark. Great spot for an elevated dinner, special occasion. I was blown away by the service and I will for sure be back again! read more

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Really innovative cocktails and food. I really loved the shrimp and gits dish. A great vibe and really yum drinks too read more

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Heard great things about Moon Rabbit and had to come see and taste for myself. We opted for the a la carte dining instead of the tasting. Loved the fusion dishes and drinks. We ordered several dishes to share: the Tuna Crudo, Summer Rolls, Stuffed Leaf with Waygu, Shrimp Thermidor, and the Octopus (Boudin Noir). My favorites were the stuffed leaf, summer rolls, and Shrimp. Each dish is very unique and full of flavor. There was a good balance of Vietnamese flavors with a twist. They really are as busy as they look. We arrived early for our 8pm reservation but didn't get seated until the reservation time. If I remember correctly, they have 3 separate rooms and they were all full. Beautiful interior and very well lit. Fantastic food, service, and location. Can't wait to come back to try more dishes. read more

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I had friends visiting and had to bring them to this amazing spot. The aesthetic and decor is so clean and welcoming. The staff is so attentive and professional. And the cocktails and food are top tier. We went with a group of six so we were able to try quite a few dishes and my favorite was the crab sweet potato. read more

Modern Vietnamese with Cajun/Louisiana influences? Sign me up. Hit this spot with my best friend during his last visit and it was exactly what I'd hoped for. Amazing food, great service and pitch perfect ambiance. Hoping to take my wife and introduce her to this amazing restaurant next time we're in the city. read more

I loved absolutely everything about my experience at Moon Rabbit. First, the ambience. After braving the cold and winds to get to this restaurant for our dinner, the warm, cozy environment was exactly what was needed! Service was quick and our server was incredibly helpful, pointing out vegetarian options and the most recommended dishes. We ended up going with the rice cakes, twice cooked squash, and cecemariti from the from the Earth section. Each dish had a unique flavor profile and just bursted with different flavors. My favorite was the twice cooked squash. (there was nothing left on the plate) For dessert we got the seaweed pandan panna cotta. A unique flavor combo but it worked! I would love to go again! read more

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Moon Rabbit hosted a pho pop up where all proceeds went to Minnesota! The pho itself was amazing - they didn't have a vegetarian pho option on the special menu but when I asked for one without meat they were more than happy to accommodate. The restaurant was modern with stylish chandeliers and good color schemes. Highly recommend! read more

Moon Rabbit - Vegetarian Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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When Moon Rabbit opened its original location at the Wharf, I fell in love with it after one meal. The umami butter on the rice in its canh chua dish was among the top 3 things I've ever eaten. So when the restaurant closed, I was devastated. So when I found out it had reopened in its new location, I could not wait to go try again. While the restaurant has a slightly new menu without the umami butter, I still think it's an amazing restaurant. My friends and I went the other day and we tried a little bit of everything. We ordered the tuna crudo, crab rangoon, stuffed leaf, banh beo, pandan bread, shrimp thermidor, sweet potato and crab, pate Chaud, durian dessert, mushroom dessert, and tofu dessert. We also each ordered a unique drink. I'm not normally a durian guy, I actually dislike it...but this dessert was our favorite. Besides that, the shrimp dish was amazing and the best dish of the night. The meal was everything we hoped it would be. I still miss the umami butter at the old location but the second evolution of Moon Rabbit is still amazing. read more

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Moon Rabbit's upscale take on Vietnamese fusion and award-winning dessert program landed it on me and my wife's "must-try" restaurant list. A recent dinner lived up to the hype and cemented it as among our favorite DC dining experiences. We made a reservation for Saturday evening and were seated immediately upon arrival. The space is divided into three distinct dining rooms. The first houses the bar, the second houses many tables, and the third, where we ended up, feels quieter and more intimate. We personally found the middle dining room a bit loud, so I would advise asking for the spaces on the ends to best enjoy your meal. Regardless of which table you end up at, the ambiance evokes warmth while maintaining elegance. Our server greeted us shortly after seating and explained the menu and concept. We found our specific waitress's service the weakest part of our meal, as she failed to describe dishes accurately and disappeared when we needed the check. Her service issues were more than made up by the skill and friendliness of the other staff members who took care of us and explained the dishes excitedly and with candor. Furthermore, the pacing of our meal and course progression was ideal, so ultimately no fault occurred with the service. We ordered five items total, two "appetizer" and three "main course" sized dishes. Our selections yielded the ideal amount of food to fill us up while still keeping room for dessert. All but one of the dishes we ordered tasted great and demonstrated deft execution. The boudin noir possessed bold flavoring and tasty, sweet-savory-sour sauce work. The mochi beignet reminded us pleasantly of a banh mi with a deliciously crispy and chewy fried mochi ball instead of baguette. The quail dish tasted comforting with both rich, tender poultry as well as well-seasoned tomato rice. Our crab gnocchi had an addictive, creamy tomato sauce infused with the bold flavor of crab fat and pleasantly bouncy tapioca dumplings. The only dud of the evening was a newer chili-bean dish. We found the flavors muddy and underseasoned, and the dish lacked the promised fermented funk and heat of chili bean paste. Fortunately, an exemplary, soft piece of focaccia served alongside ultimately saved the dish, as the bread made for pleasant munching especially dunked in the crab gnocchi sauce. The desserts at Moon Rabbit have earned national acclaim, and we found the sweets here completely worth the praise. Our "tofu" dessert comprised an addictive cheesecake layered with salty-sweet miso cream and other unique ingredients such as sweet peppers and squash. Each bite provided a unique taste experience with exciting yet balanced flavors. We also dug the quirky "breakfast" dessert which combined sweet corn cream with a cheesy caramel gelato and a bold coffee shaved ice, a clever nod to an American breakfast of corn flakes with coffee. While these creations may sound unusual, they are truly delicious, innovative, and represent the best sweets we have had in DC. The cocktail program is similarly well-renowned, though out of solidarity with my pregnant wife I chose to abstain from the mixed drinks. Instead, I enjoyed a Vietnamese craft beer which paired quite well with the food. We spent just shy of $125 per person for our five dishes, two desserts, and the beer. These prices are on par with other similar caliber restaurants in the city. We truly enjoyed the Vietnamese-Cajun-haute cuisine fusion Moon Rabbits offers and are still reminiscing about those revelatory desserts. We consider it among the best dining experiences we have had in the city thus far and are eager to return to try more of the menu. read more

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We visited DC for a week for World Pride. I dined here with my partner & enjoyed the food so much that I decided to come back here another night with another friend to try the other items we didn't try the first time. It's not vietnamese food, but more of new American cuisine with vietnamese flavors. All the dishes are good to phenomenal. The standout dishes for us are the crab with gnocchi, the mochi beignet with sea eel & the durian dessert. I'm not a fan of durian but our server highly recommended it saying it's a crowd pleaser. It definitely did not disappoint. read more

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First time at Moon Rabbit. Nicely decorated room, quite bustling but noise was tolerable. Service generally good, though we had a 15 minute period between the arrival of our drinks and the first course, which had us wondering "where's the food?" (From the time we walked into the restaurant to our first bite was about 35 minutes, though we had been seated immediately). Other service issues: one of the servers (not our waiter) would tell us what we were being served, though using terminology we didn't understand at times, and on asked for clarification she seemed flustered, muttered something, and fled. Food-wise, we ordered the "Vietnam tour" and everything was really very good, and we were quite satisfied at the end of the meal. Cocktails were delicious. Dinner for two with three cocktails in total: $320 read more

One of the very best meals I've had all year. Service was excellent, attentive, but not intrusive and so knowledgeable. Four of us had the tasting menu and in addition to being a great value, there was a ton of food, but we didn't feel over full. The starters were fantastic and woke our tastebuds. The vegetables and mains were good and the desserts were truly tremendous. I don't usually like elevated or fusion Vietnamese food (give me the basic street food all day), but this made me a believer. If I lived in DC, I'd be here once a month. I'll just have to plan another visit soon. read more

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Great value for your money! Moon Rabbit was not only in a convenient location near Metro Center and Gallery Place, but also was beautifully decorated inside with art and a bookshelf that gave you a sense of the chefs personality and inspirations. Staff were friendly and provided great recommendations. It was packed for the lunch hour (which was good to see that the power lunch is still a thing). With it being busy, service was a little slower and the lunch went a little beyond the typical lunch hour. That being said - there was a good cadence for the dishes coming. The food was very tasty and provided great value for the price. The 3 course tasting menu was a steal at $35 per person as we both left full, very happy with the flavors, portions, and distinct dishes, and price. Definitely worth a visit, especially if you can sneak away for lunch! read more

I lived in DC for about a decade and this is the one restaurant I prioritize visiting when I'm back in town. Keep in mind I'm majorly skeptical of Vietnamese fusion but Chef Tien honors our culture while elevating elements in creative ways. Dessert Chef Susan Bae is out of this world innovative mixing savory and sweet in controversial sounding pairings that just work. My favorite is the tapioca "gnocchi" and they have a seasonal rice noodle that could make me, the proud carnivore, a vegetarian. I have followed this restaurant to three different locations and I hope the amazing team thrives in F street for many moons to come. read more

Great restaurant. Outstanding food and service! We were there during restaurant week. They offered a 3-5 or 7 course option, we went with the 5 course option and everything was great. The presentation was first class and our server made sure to inform us about each item for every course. read more

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We had the best meal here! For only $75, we did the "chefs menu" which was more than worth it. I can't remember all of the food that was brought out-- we just had a sampling of appetizers, dishes from the land and sea, and what felt like one of each of the desserts! Being Vietnamese, I was looking forward to seeing how Chef Kevin was going to elevate the flavors I grew up with and he more than did that. Honestly, I'm so happy people get to explore Vietnamese cuisine through the dishes created at Moon Rabbit. I had been to its previous location prior to where it's moved to now-- it was good then, and it's great now! The cocktails really don't disappoint either! The flavors are unique and delicious. Our waiter and the entire wait staff were excellent, super attentive and just great to interact with. We had the best seating in the house! Overall the restaurant is beautiful in design with touches of art that add to its charm! My favorite thing (though hard to choose) was probably the tuna crudo! Can't wait to return for another delicious meal! read more

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Came for dinner last night and sat at the bar--make reservations! Thankfully the bar was empty and is first come first served but it wasn't the most welcoming vibe. That being said, the food absolutely made up for it. To start, we had the Stuffed Leaf | Bò Lá Lốt which was incredibly flavorful and just overall a great bite. Next, we had Water Fern Rice Cake | Bánh Bèo--this is an ABSOLUTE must order it was SO good oh my gosh and recommended by our server. Loved the ginger, loved the texture, just everything about it was incredible. Lastly came the Sweet Potato & Crab | Bún Riêu, the texture was interesting on this. The gnocchi was mochi-esque, very chewy almost soft gummy. The sauce was tomato-based and slightly spicy with some crispy sweet potato on top which was better once it had slightly softened as it was very crispy initially which was kind of too much of a contrast with how chewy the gnocchi was. read more

Moon Rabbit - Sweet Potato & Crab | Bún Riêu - Vietnamese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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A colleague made a reservation here and I was lucky enough to snag a spot in the group of 4! I love interesting and creative food, and I must say, the menu initially seemed a bit challenging, but I figured the chef and team must know what they're doing with the creative combinations and less common ingredients and this was definitely the case! Even the cocktail menu was creative and will push most out of their comfort zone a bit. I had the District 5 which included mezcal, lacto fermented pineapple and bruleed egg white among other ingredients. Our server advised me to stir it with the straw before drinking. It was kind of like a cross between eggnog and a smoky pina colada - I enjoyed it! We shared an assortment of smaller and larger plates. We enjoyed everything, but the standouts were the lemongrass pork, curry prawns, summer roll and red snapper. We tried a couple of desserts; the corn and the seaweed. We liked both but really enjoyed the corn dessert which did remind us of coffee and cornflakes as described by our server. We just couldn't bring ourselves to try the durian...our server said it was the least ordered item, but that it is a good preparation...maybe I'd try a bite if someone else ordered it.., Service was excellent, and we appreciated the fresh plates and utensils throughout the meal along with touch ups of the table to clean up our messes. Definitely a fun spot for those with a good sense of food adventure! This is NOT the place to bring a picky friend. read more

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Seated at the bar. Service was majorly lacking. I order down the menu. They start the menu with things without meat and then categories with meat. I'm not trying to end the night with some cabbage. They served that last out of the items I ordered. For an elevated restaurant, I'm a little disappointed. First drink took forever. The kitchen team seem to know what they are doing but perhaps when the customer is visibly angry, the service might act on it. On top of that, if I'm not happy with the service I shouldn't charged an automatic service fee of 20%. A bit insulting... Heard amazing things about this place. Left angry and don't expect to be back. read more

It was a wonderful experience from start to finish. Every dish we tried was absolutely delicious and clearly crafted with care and attention to detail. The staff were incredibly kind and attentive, striking the perfect balance between being helpful and giving us space. Overall, a truly enjoyable dining experience read more

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This place was on my to-try list and I went with my co-worker who was visiting DC. Good thing work paid for some of it. Everything we ate was delicious but it was definitely fancy smancy compared to the cheaper Vietnamese food I've had in the past. We especially liked the turmeric mantou, how can you not love a good carb? The restaurant itself was cute, the colors were easy on the eyes. All of our servers were super friendly, provided some good recommendations. Overall, if it wasn't for the prices, I would come back. Will recommend to other colleagues visiting the area who want some delicious Vietnamese food! read more

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One of my new favorite restaurants! Had dinner here on a Friday during prime time and had made a reservation a week in advance. I definitely recommend making a reservation, as it was packed when we arrived. The restaurant's interior is cute and clean but minimalist, with lots of wood and neutral tones. On one hand, this allows the food to stand out; on the other, it felt mismatched with the bold personality of the dishes. With that said, I love the thought put into each dish, especially the use of texture and the balance of salt, fat, and acid. Being half Vietnamese, I appreciated how the dishes felt familiar yet were reimagined and innovative. We opted for à la carte instead of the chef's choice because we weren't in the mood for surprises. My Oi My - A great cocktail. The mezcal was used well, so the smoky taste wasn't overpowering. Unique, refreshing, and lovely. (5/5) Summer Roll - Bright, flavorful, and tasty. A perfect start to the meal with a refreshing twist on a Vietnamese classic. (5/5) Stuffed Leaf - Savory and flavorful. The perilla leaves worked beautifully with the wagyu beef and labne. The pickled shallots added a nice touch of acidity. (5/5) Late Summer Cecamariti - The green cecamariti rice noodles, resembling peas, were a delightful surprise. This well-balanced vegetarian dish beautifully captured the essence of summer in full bloom. The pickled green tomato added a nice acidity and texture, and the sunflower crumble provided an additional satisfying crunch. (5/5) Cumin Lamb - The lamb was seasoned and cooked nicely, but I did not care for the chicory leaves. I would have preferred a different vegetable. I felt that a touch of acidity from something like onion or pickled daikon would have been better in its place. The presentation was also underwhelming, with the cooked chicory leaves making it look brown and lifeless. However, the beets and beet sauce were lovely with the lamb. (4/5) Sweet Potato & Crab - Sweet Potato & Crab - Absolutely delicious--fatty and savory, with beautifully vibrant colors. The gnocchi, crab, sausage, and tomato created a rich, buttery harmony. I wanted to lick the plate clean. (5/5) Cheesecake - Beautiful use of different textures. You can't go wrong with cheesecake and streusel. The taste and texture provided by the honey compressed cosmic apples were a great addition. While the dish was impressive on a technical level, I wouldn't order it again--I'd opt for something more comforting and satisfying instead. (4/5) read more

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My wife and I were simply wanted to try out this Moon Rabbit out. We were happy that we get the table in the main room in front of the bar. We were surprise that a mandatory 20% tips will added regardless even though we are regularly tipped at the same rate. We ordered the crispy mountain salad, interesting limy taste, charred eggplant which we liked, amberjack crudo which ok and muffeletta which is the least of our liking. The waitress was pleasant and cordial for our experience. So overall, the 20% tips mandatory simply brought us to our negative expression of the establishment, I did contemplate of bringing my concern to the management but I was not in the mood for a back and fourth discussion. The tax calculation was at 12%, DC tax rate is at 10% which the establishment risked of violating DC code. read more

This is my second visit to Moon Rabbit, but it is my first in the new location. I enjoyed my most recent visit more. I went for lunch and the fixed price lunch special is a screaming bargain. I usually do the price at the end of the value analysis, but I will start with that this time. All in including a pre-included tip, tax, appetizer, principal plate and dessert was only $66. This is a good value for the level of service offered. Service is friendly and efficient. For me, the strongest dish was the squash and apple salad. It was a nice mix of textures and flavors to start the meal. The principal dish was a chicken confit (Chicken Katsu). It was certainly fine, but it was not memorable. I'm not sure if it was just a little too greasy or the presentation as a block was a little offputting, but I would not get that again. The tiramisu for dessert was also very nice. It was not too sweet and a great way to finish the dinner, although I would suggest a little more texture besides the sprinkling of coconut. The Rosé (La Roche Buissieère) was an additional nice surprise. Its tartness worked well with the apple in my starter and helped cut the grease in the chicken katsu. The color of the rosé was also a little unusual from a typical rosé. I would definitely order it again. I find it a good bargain for the overall quality and service. If I return before they change the menus, I would try the duck soup as my principal dish next time to see how that compares. read more

Really amazing food and service overall. The deserts were literal art and the food was clearly crafted with care. If you go you HAVE to get the bread basket, trust me don't skip it. One of the best things I have eaten in a while. I have also heard their cocktails are great but we didn't get any during our visit. The service was fantastic as well. The only reason I can't get it to five stars now is that it is really expensive and the portions were fairly small. Also, while all the food was tasty, not everything wowed us. I would absolutely come back for happy hour and to try some of their other dishes. read more

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Moon Rabbit is doing it right. Enjoyed a leisurely restaurant week dinner there, and albeit having to wait for the table and between courses, everything was spectacular. From the ambiance, to the outstanding service (love a surprise take home treat), to the food that was thoughtfully crafted and beautifully executed. I'd recommend it for a date night or a special occasion, as they do the little things to make their guests feel celebrated. It's on the short list for my birthday celebration! Favorite bite was the turmeric bao bun with the sweetened condensed milk butter. I could've eaten 5 of those. read more

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We had an outstanding meal this evening with a couple of very old friends. Outstanding personal service with useful recommendations about the menu, and wonderful food. The a la carte dishes among us were the stuffed leaf (with wagyu beef), fried quail, berkshire pork chop, charred cabbage with eggplant puree, twice-cooked squash and kanpachi crudo. Bread with a tomato butter was nice as a side, and although I would have like a better beer list, its limits steered me to the cocktails; the hit drinks were the Don't Be Naive and Out of Dipping Sauce. Room for dessert brought the so-called "mushroom" (chocolate mousse inside a delicate pastry crust) and durian mousse with passion-fruit granita. All the tables were occupied but it was not so noisy that we could not carry on a conversation at normal voice levels. This was a considerably more expense meal than we commonly have, but we will be back read more

An excellent experience. The food is very well prepared and executed, with a unique combination of flavors and textures. We had the "Chef's Visit" tasting menu and we enjoyed everything. We were also very pleased that the restaurant was able to accommodate my wife, who doesn't eat seafood. In addition, the service was outstanding. read more

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