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    Wasai

    3.9 (247 reviews)
    ModerateDim Sum, Ramen
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:45 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Wasai Photos

    WASAI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - Wasai

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    Reviews With Photos - Wasai

    Kavi T.

    Restaurant is gongcha combined. Got a beef tendon handpull noodle which was a solid eat before heading to the national museum of portraiture. Overall a good stop to grab a quick lunch before exploring museums around the national mall.

    Steamed D2. Pork, Shrimp Chive Dumplings
    Stephanie T.

    Me and my son came here for early dinner prior to the wizards game. The people working there were super busy making noodles since they are handmade and boba but the guy taking orders was very friendly. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The tables were super dirty, several customers were very vocal about it and got their food to go.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff there were VERY BUSY so maybe they need an extra person to clean tables on their busy days. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I wanted to eat in the restaurant so I cleaned our eating area with sanitizer and napkins.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My son got the spare rib noodle soup and I tried it and it was good! It wasn't the best we've had and the broth was a little bland. His strawberry goncha tasted like fake flavoring and was gross. The spring rolls were very tasty. Everything came out hot and fresh so that was great. I got the steamed dumplings and they were very good. The dumpling sauce was delicious. The reason I gave it a 2 was because of the short rib soup and the goncha. For the price of the goncha it should have tasted better. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Also the tables were yuck. Like they need to get that figured out.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Sesame chicken
    Neil W.

    We were in Chinatown, on the hunt for something that isn't too expensive, and my friend recommended we go to Wasai. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We got to the front, seemed fairly crowded, I think a show had just ended at the Capital One Arena.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] But seeing that the line was moving, we decided to give it a go. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was pretty crowded and loud inside, but we managed to get seated when a couple got up.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food took a while to come out. Not anything astounding, the sesame chicken is what you'd expect. The soup was a little bit of a disappointment, I'm sad to say... The broth could have used more seasoning or something..? Something was missing, I couldn't put my finger on it. Something I wish they did with the hand pulled noodle is for the noodles to be bouncier, or thicker, something with a little more body. All in all, the prices are reasonable and the location is convenient, the food didn't quite hit the mark for me. My friend seemed perfectly happy though, so maybe you'll be fine here too.

    Tori H.

    The best pulled noodle spot in Chinatown dc! [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a fast casual spot with gongcha inside too?![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] You order on kiosks in the back. The menu was extensive. I got both beef pulled noodles with thin noodles. The broth was perfection and not too salty, the beef was tender, and the noodles had a good chew and pull. It made for the perfect slurp. The soup dumplings were well seasoned you didn't need soy sauce. It had a good amount of soup too. The service was quick. Everything was so so delicious! I'll be back soon!

    Kassidy K.

    Stopped by on a day trip for a festival... I they've got good options for vegetarians as well as meat eaters. They have 2 self service kiosks. One for JUST boba. And the other for food! I got the Vegetable Fried rice and the Vegetable Fried Dumplings. They were amazing and great for the price. Wish I could've tried the boba- but it looks like it must be good if everyone else in there had it besides us. The staff are friendly and quick with their services. Would def visit again to try the boba and get dumplings again !! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Cozy little building too.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Beef Flank Pull Noodle Soup and Spicy Cumin Toothpick Lamb
    Nik W.

    Definitely a fast casual experience. Soup was flavorful, included meat was tender, and the hand cut noodles were chewy. The lamb was tasty and tender as well. Staff were very nice and topped up our drink when we asked for more ice. A solid and convenient stop for some basics! Curious to try other items on the menu.

    chive & pork dumplings.
    Kwame S.

    I had some time to spare before meeting a friend for drinks, so I decided to grab a quick snack from Wasai since the restaurant was in the same area where i was meeting my friend. For my quick meal, I went with the Pork and Chive Steamed Dumplings, which were about $10 for a serving of eight dumplings. I thought the dumplings were quite delicious. Since I am not a huge dumpling aficionado, I cannot give great details about the dumplings; however, I definitely would not mind ordering these dumplings in the future. While I would visit this restaurant again, I probably would not go out of my way (e.g., 15+ minute walk) to dine here. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Although the restaurant has plenty of seating, the restaurant seems to more of a take out type of establishment - at least from what I saw from other customers.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Eh, maybe folks nowadays are more interested in take-out options, rather than dine-in options. The restaurant is pretty much a self-service spot where you order the food from one of four tablets and bus your own tables. While I provided a tip with my order, I will admit that it sometimes rubs me the wrong way "having" to tip when I have to enter my own order, pick up my food at the counter, and buss my own table after eating.

    spicy Beef Pull Noodle Soup
    Sharon L.

    I got the spicy beef noodle soup (with the hand pulled wide noodles) and it was delicious ! This place is a fast casual spot where you can order from a kiosk and pick up your order once your number is called and dine in any of the available seats. The total came out to close to $17 and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the restaurant interior was clean with lots of seating (for both small groups and solo diners).[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The soup was delicious and the pulled noodles had good chew and texture. I would definitely come back and recommend !

    Beef pull soup with spicy broth
    Joan B.

    10 out of 10 Everything was delicious! Loved the shrimp dumplings which tasted fresh. The soup with spicy broth is a must try. I couldn't stop drinking the broth.

    Samantha G.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Good enough the ambiance lowkey sucks and price high[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], also u can clearly tell the ramen is eh and pre cooked. Not wowed, but had flavor. Good portion size

    Soup dumplings
    Richard G.

    This is an order at the electronic board and wait till they call your name. Great tasting noodle bowls. Loved the shrimp and broccoli with plenty of shrimp. The soup dumplings were delicious. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Good portions, good food, good vide.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Try it!

    Belldandy C.

    Came in for a bite of lunch. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was pretty busy but we were able to snag a table.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] You order at the kiosk and they'll call your number out when it's ready. I love that it's two establishments in one. We were able to order noodle soup and boba! I got the Assorted Beef Pull Noodle Soup w/ hand shaved noodles & Pork Soup Dumplings. The noodle soup was ok. The hand shaved noodles were a bit lacking and didn't have the correct texture/mouth feel & the soup was lukewarm. The soup dumplings were good but the skin was a bit thick & no ginger was served with it. Overall, food is good if there's nothing like it around but nothing I'd crave to come back to again.

    Seafood noodle soup, beef noodle soup
    Sonya H.

    I had honestly almost entirely lost hope in finding good, authentic, and affordable Asian food in Chinatown until I randomly stumbled upon Wasai. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It, admittedly, doesn't look like much at first glance -- the decor is pretty utilitarian, the menu is pretty simple, and they share their space with a Gong Cha.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] However, the simplicity of their menu and decor is what makes Wasai shine -- they do one thing (okay maybe two things), and they do those things incredibly well. My friend and I dropped by Wasai after wandering around the National Mall until the mid / late afternoon on Saturday. We, of course, did not plan ahead and were absolutely starving by the time we made it to Chinatown. We had only moderate expectations for Wasai (for all the reasons above), but they absolutely blew us out of the water. We each got one of their noodle soups -- my friend got their beef, and I opted for their seafood. The noodles were absolutely perfect; they were springy, but not too springy...chewy, yet not too chewy...and doughy while not being too doughy. The texture was absolutely spot on, and these delightful hand-pulled noodles were the perfect vessel for the rich beef / seafood broth. My friend's soup came with a generous helping of beef, and mine had a great bit of mixed seafood. I did think the veggies were a bit lacking, as one sprig of bok choy and two slices of radish aren't quite enough vitamins to keep my doctor happy, but the bowls were otherwise phenomenal. And, lest you think that it was just our post-walk hunger that made us fall in love with Wasai, we've both separately been back there multiple times and have continued to feel the same way each time. I've even ordered it for delivery a few times and it's still fantastic, although I will say that you do lose a bit of the noodle's springy goodness in the transit time.

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    6 months ago

    10/10 beef and broccoli. I also had the soup dumplings which were also very good and hot

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    1 year ago

    Food was so so very basic and Americanized. Dumplings were great. Boba took forever and was blended wrong.

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    Wasai Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Wasai

    How would you describe the ambiance or atmosphere of the restaurant?

    Very casual, and I would say it's nice and modern inside! It's good for a quick meal. There isn't a ton of seating either.

    Do you have any vegan options?

    Do we need to make reservations first?

    Wasai doesn't do reservations! You can just go in and order at a kiosk. They have seating available but during busy nights it can fill up quickly.

    Is it only takeout, or do they have a dine-in area?

    they have dine-in tables!

    Is there parking nearby?

    Street parking or garage parking

    Is there an online menu? Can someone post a pic

    It's on their website at https://www.wasai.us

    View All 8 Questions

    Toki Underground - Pork gyoza/dumplings- served with chili oil, sweet soy sauce. Pan fried, steamed or fried

    Toki Underground

    4.1(2.6k reviews)
    1.8 miH Street Corridor/Atlas District/Near Northeast
    $$
    13 years in business
    Vegetarian friendly

    Best way to describe the place is: If you know. You know!…read more And if you don't know. Find a local to find out. Took us a little while to find the place. Not the address but the place. If you're looking for a hole in the wall keep looking. You're looking for hole in the hole in the wall. Basically it is a bar on the 2nd Floor of the old building which has another bar on the first floor. Once you find it I can't say you'd be disappointed. Although we didn't get there when they have their busiest time like Friday or Saturday night but we were seated immediately service was great prices reasonable. The Menu isn't vast (this is not a Cheesecake Factory) and I didn't see any issues with anything we ordered. Cocktails were superb even without Pork Belly Garnish on my Monster. Ordered all appetizers from the list. All of them were wonderful. Karaage, Pickles, Wings, Buns It is all delicious. Same with Ramen. Nothing had any issues to note all were absolutely superb.

    TLDR: would recommend, decent ramen. Appetizers are great and the drinks are well made. Definitely…read morenot good for a large party size due to restaurant size. Servers are very attentive and come by very often. Must Try: Shrimp Naruto Atmosphere/Setting: very small place with dim lighting. This isn't the place to have your birthday celebration with a Partiful of 20 people. It's moreso catching up with a friend or having a good meal after a long day alone. Food: it's a ramen spot but honestly I've had better ramen but this one is pretty good. I think the appetizers are moreso the star of the show ! Appetizers : Shrimp Naruto (10/10) , Brussels Okonomiyaki (8/10) , Yuzu Rootbeer Wings (6/10) Shrimp Naruto is phenomenal , literally my favorite. I wanted to like to e wings but they were too soft for my liking. If they were fried harder or had a bit more of a crunch I'd rank them higher because the flavor is there. Drinks: both drinks were great !

    Photos
    Toki Underground - The Toki Classic- tonkotsu (pork bone soup), chased, soft egg, kale, pickled ginger

    The Toki Classic- tonkotsu (pork bone soup), chased, soft egg, kale, pickled ginger

    Toki Underground - Shiiitake & Cashew Dan Dan

    Shiiitake & Cashew Dan Dan

    Toki Underground - Fried Chicken Steam buns- karaage fried chicken tossed in sweet chili sauce served with kewpie mayo, pickles, scallions and cilantro

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    Fried Chicken Steam buns- karaage fried chicken tossed in sweet chili sauce served with kewpie mayo, pickles, scallions and cilantro

    Daikaya Ramen Shop - Super spicy shoyu

    Daikaya Ramen Shop

    4.1(3.8k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Let me start by saying I recently visited Daikaya on Monday, August 3, 2026, and unfortunately the…read moreservice that day was disappointing. I gave that particular visit 1 out of 5 stars. However, I also want to mention that Daikaya is one of my family's favorite ramen spots, so we were genuinely surprised by the experience because it has always been much better in the past. When we arrived, we were told that our entire party had to be present before we could be seated, which we understood. We also know that seating is first come, first served. In the past, we've been able to sit in a booth with two people, but this time we were informed that booths were reserved for parties of three or more. It was a little frustrating because the restaurant was slow at the time, and my wife politely explained that we would likely be finished before the dinner rush. Even so, we respected the policy and waited until a seat became available. I do want to give Terry a shoutout because he was very kind and professional. I explained that I couldn't sit at the bar due to my foot, and he was understanding. However, when he relayed that information to another employee, I immediately noticed a change in the other gentleman's body language and attitude. He seemed irritated about having to seat us. Once we were seated, the interaction only became more uncomfortable. He slammed our cups onto the table, and when I asked for a straw, he didn't hand it to me--he simply placed it down without saying much. There were several other small interactions throughout our meal that made us feel unwelcome. It reached the point where we decided we'd rather leave, so we flagged Terry down, asked for to-go containers, and requested the check. During our visit, I also noticed a party of four seat themselves and grab their own menus while both servers had their backs turned at the bar. When the same gentleman approached them, his demeanor was completely different. He was pleasant, took their order right away, and their food came out promptly. Watching that interaction made our experience feel even more disappointing. The food, thankfully, was excellent as always. That's one thing Daikaya continues to get right. I also noticed that none of the staff members we're used to seeing--who have always been warm, welcoming, and respectful--were working that day. Overall, this visit was a rare disappointment because the customer service simply wasn't up to the standard we've experienced over the years. While this particular experience deserves a low rating, I also want to acknowledge that every previous visit has been excellent. I'm hoping this was just an off day because Daikaya has consistently been one of our favorite places for ramen.

    Daikaya -- Washington, DC…read more Walked in expecting a solid bowl at a shrine to Sapporo-style ramen and left feeling swindled by a soup that tasted like it had never been to Japan. This wasn't a bad day in the kitchen -- this was a fundamental misunderstanding of what Ramen is supposed to do. The Breakdown Broth: F -- I ordered the shoyu. It's way too simple, flat, and an insult to the bowl it was served in. Does it really take 16 hours to make soup that tastes like beef broth bought at Walgreens? I'm not a heavy oil person but there was also a noticeable lack of oil to give the soup any depth either. Is anyone in the kitchen tasting the soup or had ramen before? Genuinely puzzled by how bad this is. This would never fly in Japan. It shouldn't be ok here either. Noodles: B -- honestly the only competent part of this bowl. They say they're shipped in from Japan. Protein: F -- a pile of unseasoned ground pork sitting next to massive slice of chashu so bland it made me question the pig. What are we doing here? This is too much poor meat. Quantity over flavor, and it showed. Toppings: C -- the egg was tasted great, perhaps the most flavorful part of the meal, but half of it was warm and half was cold. Green onions seemed to be all the green bits from the top and none of the white parts on the bottom. And then -- the cucumber salad. A tiny $10 side dish for a quarter of a cucumber in soy sauce and sesame seed oil. Charging this much for such a small quantity is it's own kind of crime. Mind you, it tasted fine but I really expected more and it's ultimately what bumped this 2 star review down to 1 star. Overall: My Japanese ramen radar was blaring "fake ramen" the whole time at this place. This felt like a Ramen place run by people who had never been to Japan. And while that is ok, if you end up serving ramen that's so lacking in redeeming qualities then I have to call it a failure. That bad pricing on top of that is just a kick in the nuts. I felt misled by the reviews. DC's ramen scene deserves better than this 2/10

    Photos
    Daikaya Ramen Shop - Clean tidy organized

    Clean tidy organized

    Daikaya Ramen Shop - Spicy Miso

    Spicy Miso

    Daikaya Ramen Shop - Super Spicy Shoyu - very good and actually spicy!

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    Super Spicy Shoyu - very good and actually spicy!

    Akira Ramen & Izakaya

    Akira Ramen & Izakaya

    4.7(99 reviews)
    5.8 mi
    $$

    Hats off to this restaurant! From the moment you walk in, the service is impeccable. The…read more restaurant is clean, comfortable, and has a relaxed setting with a view of the sushi chef. We started with the sashimi appetizer for $12. There were 6 large pieces...salmon, tuna, and yellowtail. All fresh and very very good. The wasabi was even of high quality. The sushi rolls were pick any 2 for $13. Absolutely fantastic rolls. I came in for the volcano bowl and I would come back again for the volcano bowl. I like a spicy broth and this was perfect. The curly noodles were just the right size and they were freshly made. The pork was very high quality and was a great treat. The Akira ramen was not spicy, but was still very tasty. The skinny noodles are wheat noodles, but didn't taste any different from regular noodles. The bento box was very good as well. The chicken was cooked to perfection and the teriyaki sauce was excellent. The waitress was really good and finished the night with some complimentary bites of the mochi. Great night, great food, great people! Compliments to all from the servers to the chefs!

    Came here on May 1, 2026 after leaving the MVA...IYKYK so I was irritated and hungry...lol. I was…read morein the mood for some sushi and maybe some ramen to go so just yelp a place close to me and this popped up. Easy access to a garage that's just around the corner because it is on a very busy street. So garage parking is a must. I don't believe they have been open too long as they are still working on their liquor license. Very cute restaurant nice and tidy but a lot of personality in a small space. I was greeted when I walked in and since I was by myself I opted to sit at the sushi bar area. I forgot to take a picture of my food when I came out because I was so hungry...but the rolls were delicious and fresh. I also took some ramen home and I loved how they packaged everything up for me. I would give them a 3.75 stars because I wish they offered more ramen like beef and with the chicken broth not chicken that's fried. As the chicken was soggy and not eatable when I got home even though it was separated from the ramen. I would give them another try if I'm in the area to try more rolls and their alcohol selection.

    Photos
    Akira Ramen & Izakaya
    Akira Ramen & Izakaya
    Akira Ramen & Izakaya - Spicy crunchy Shrimp Roll w/ a Traditional California Roll

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    Spicy crunchy Shrimp Roll w/ a Traditional California Roll

    Ramen Ya - BEEF BOWL

    Ramen Ya

    4.6(376 reviews)
    26.3 mi
    $$

    Ramen Ya Location:…read more7938 Crain Hwy S, Glen Burnie, MD 21061 Hours: Sunday Closed. M-T 11.30AM-2.30PM & 4.30PM-8.30PM. F-S 11.30AM-2.30PM & 4.30PM-9.30PM Restrooms : inside the building Accessibility: strollers and wheelchairs accessible just tight space Information: ramenya1.com The restaurant itself has a warm and cozy atmosphere that very inviting for customers plus the friendly and attentive crews/staffs. The interior looks clean, bright and minimalist, a perfect combination. Our orders: Appetizer: Pork Bun, the pork is juicy and deliciously flavored. Tonkutsu Ramen, the broth is rich and creamy perfection, a non spicy one. Black Tonkutsu Ramen, this is the star item where you can taste the garlic kick in the broth. Love it! Spicy Miso Ramen, is the most favorite menu here and for us too! The spicy level is at perfection level that's not too strong. All ramen are served with generously served with chasu and veggies, the eggs are perfectly cooked. This ramen place is very recommended if you're looking for something that taste delicious consistently. What amazes us was the noodle maker space is setup facing dining area where we can enjoy the noodle making process while enjoying the food. Love this idea! #ramenYa #blacktonkutsuramen #spicymisoramen #baltimorecounty #preservefootprints

    A very tasty quick bite - while the restaurant is very cute and aesthetic we picked up for takeout…read morebut would absolutely come back to dine-in. They are busy, justifiably so, so prepare accordingly. Ramen was delicious, edamame perfectly seasoned, the miso broth is top tier, and the Bao buns were out of this world!

    Photos
    Ramen Ya - Inside

    Inside

    Ramen Ya - BLACK JACK RAMEN

    BLACK JACK RAMEN

    Ramen Ya - SPICY TONKATSU

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    SPICY TONKATSU

    Wasai - dimsum - Updated August 2026

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