Teaism Penn Quarter

This was my first trip and this has now become one of my favorite places! The food here is something that satisfies your pallet. I enjoyed the Panko Crusted Salmon Sandwich. A friend enjoyed the broccoli tots with lentil soup, and another friend had the salmon bento box. Their Blue Jasmine Bubble Tea is 😍! Overall, I was a very satisfied customer.

The food was great and the staff was fantastic. We asked to reserve a space for about 20 people after an event nearby. While they normally have open seating, the owner offered to put a sign up to mark a few tables as reserved downstairs. When we arrived we were greeted by a sign on the door and a note at the space downstairs marked off for us. We will definitely be back.

Tried the vegan udon soup, spicy glass noodles with tofu, vegan ginger scones, and some jasmine tea. I really recommend the scones! The glass noodles were delicious, and the soup was just okay.

We dined at this Asian-inspired casual tearoom/restaurant some time ago and thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast. Their "weekends only" French Toast was a highlight, with the right sweetness and perfect texture from the toast to the stewed apple and cranberry mixture on the side. The restaurant was well-maintained and offered ample seating. All the breakfast items we ordered were freshly cooked and tasty, and the tea was delightful. We highly recommend this place for breakfast or afternoon tea, and we plan to return to try out their other food options.

Had lunch at this location and ordered a variety of their big dishes and some drinks to experience their menu. We ordered Okonomiyaki, Thai Chicken Curry, Dream Salad and their Palak Paneer. Their version of the Okonomiyaki (the Japanese cabbage pancake) tasted great and the presentation was excellent - we loved it. The dream salad was a perfect balance of crispy ingredients and juices from the orange, dates and the vinaigrette and the best hummus was amazing. The Thai Curry was delicious although was not an authentic Thai yellow curry but A for effort and we liked it. The Palak Paneer was very disappointing - unfortunately these guys have no clue what Palak Paneer should look or taste like. I can describe their version as chopped blanched pieces of spinach cooked in cream with chunks of tofu. The texture, look and the taste were all wrong. We also ordered their Lassi (mango flavor) and again, it was disappointing - it was very watery and barely tasted of mangoes. The location is great - very close to the mall and atmosphere was fun. I hope they would work on some of their creations to improve them in future.

A comfortable quick stop place to enjoy a pot of tea, snacks, and some savory food if wanted. The tea variety is wide and it comes in a pot which is very nice. The jasmine crème brulee paired very nicely with my oolong, not too sweet while still rich. Plenty of tables, too. Price is as expected for the area and quality.

Great flavors, friendly staff, and room to actually sit and enjoy your meal. Between this spot and the noodle spot across the street we’d happily eat here exclusively all week! You can’t go wrong!

Teaism is a great find in the middle of D.C. Dinners cost between $15 and $20 and are ample portions! We loved everything we tried, especially their selection of hot and iced teas and their bento trays. There is plenty of seating upstairs and downstairs. The atmosphere is clean and tasteful. I would definitely recommend this place for a casual eating experience!

Nice tea place. There is seating in the main area and more downstairs. I sat upstairs so I wouldn't have to carry my udon soup down the stairs. The udon comes with a choice of chicken, shrimp, or veggies. I got shrimp, and the soup already came with leafy greens, mushrooms, ginger, scallions. It was a delicious mushroom broth. The udon noodles themselves were hot and chewy, my favorite. I drank most of the soup even when I was already full! It was a really good, hearty, hot soup for a cold rainy day. I also tried the blue jasmine tea with boba, the jasmine flavor came through subtly at first but I tasted it more and more as I drank it. I think sipping it while having my salty udon at the same time made my taste buds miss some of the delicate flavors of the jasmine. The boba flavor was good, but the boba were a little too big and a little too soft for my taste; I like it chewier and smaller. Service was excellent, there were plenty of available utensils and napkins, and someone helped to clear the table immediately when you were leaving.

Undeniably great place for pearl milk tea or bubble tea. They have a great selection of authentic teas that can be enjoyed in shop or to go. If one decides to dine in, they provide the tea in a reusable cup with delicious boba, the option for oat milk, and compostable straws. They also have a selection of bento boxes and dessert options! My preferred is their beef brisket and classic milk tea. Otherwise, the boba can be on the sweeter side, but they don't add much extra sugar into the drinksm They also offer a delicious Jasmine Creme Brulee, which honestly is to die for! Everything is self-serve. You order at a counter and pick up a tray when your number is called Note that there is extra space in the basement, and it is a lovely spot to get some work done or enjoy a meal!

Wooow - I love this place! It is the perfect spot to grab a bite to eat and pick-up some unique teas at their shop next door. I was able to get a very nice (and affordable) ceremonial grade matcha powder and whisk for about $40 total. The shop smelled delightful, the tea leaves are so fragrant and we were helped quickly and kindly. I also stopped in for a bite to eat and got the all-day breakfast okonomiyaki, curried lentil soup, and a lavender lemon mint tea. I really enjoyed the okonomiyaki, it was a warm and savory vegetable pancake topped with eggs (over-easy) and tonkatsu sauce. I really liked this, it was filling and the vegetables were cooked to the perfect consistency (not too crunchy or soft). The seasoning was on point as well. The soup was decent and definitely had a kick to it, but nothing too special. Of course, the tea was amazing. I love how you can see the actual tea leaves in the pot and really enjoyed how strong the flavor was. It was quite floral and had a nice hint of citrus. Definitely recommend!

Got the Blue Jasmine Pearl boba tea. It was delicious! As soon as we walked inside we were delighted over all the sweet savory smells. We just settled for tea as we were on our way back to the train station. Service was quick and staff were friendly.

Teaism has been around for a while and has been a staple at Archives/Penn Quarter. I was obsessed before, but I'm obsessed even more now that I can appreciate the menu even more... Vegan options, jasmine boba tea, jasmine creme brulee, and more. It's just a pleasant, awesome place to relax, treat yourself or have good food that you don't feel too guilty about. I'm so glad they were able to withstand covid and other strongholds that took other businesses away.

I need 10 to be an option for this place! I am in awe of the food and tea options. I feel like I'm eating a real home cooked meal when I eat here. Everything is so good!! I'm so glad I stumbled upon this gem. I'm actually so upset that after working nearby for EIGHT entire years, I've never been here. PLEASE TRY THE BEEF BRISKET - Amazing!!!!!!

Tasty and reliable. I always go back for the inimitable okonomiyaki. This location is accessible from the Children's museum and Old Post Office. Longtime customer; only good experiences.

The udon (they only have one udon dish on their menu) is good; hearty, nice soup base, jumbo prawns. Okonomiyaki is great (you can add protein on top of the Japanese pancake, such as salmon or shrimp). Salmon bento box looks good though food is really simple: salmon + sweet potato + broccoli + brown rice, and a few pieces of dried seaweed. Quite sad compared to "real" bento boxes. Nice ambiance and setting, interesting fusion dishes, great location, grumpy kitchen staff who either don't speak English or choose not to interact with any customer who asks simple questions. The staff at cashier is reasonably nice.

Despite its name, do NOT come here for its boba milk tea. Maybe their actual tea is better, but their milk tea literally tastes like if I were to brew a packet of black tea in water... Maybe a dash of coconut milk. Apparently they don't even do real whole milk in their premade boba, it's half and half. You have to specifically request for whole milk or oat milk for dairy-free. But don't worry, it won't taste like there's any milk in it anyways. Just completely watered down. The only saving grace is at least the boba tastes like boba. Nothing special here, don't come here if you're craving boba because you will just leave disappointed.

The food is consistently very good I love the tea service and the very large dining room downstairs. The staff are usually helpful and somewhat friendly. I wouldn't say the food is great value but it's a decent value for current Washington DC prices. The Teaism brew shop next-door, which I never realized was there until 2024 because the signage is so inconspicuous, has some really fantastic selections. Their buyer/curator has excellent taste !

Been here a couple of times - the first time about a year ago to get some bubble tea and an appetizer for a snack, and again a few days ago for a more substantial meal. (I think I even came here many years ago, but back then, their menu was very limited. It's definitely grown a lot since then.) The bubble tea, I remember, was very good and a step up from your run-of-the-mill bubble tea shops that barely use much real tea, and I was able to ask for it to be made with less sugar and with non-dairy milk. The other day, I got their Spicy Glass Noodle & Tofu dish. It actually wasn't that spicy, but it was still delicious. A good portion of grilled tofu, LOTS of bok choy that was perfectly cooked, all over glass noodles tossed with a chili oil sauce. The bottom of it ended up being VERY oily and greasy, so I ended up not eating all the noodles. But I gobbled up all the tofu and bok choy and very much enjoyed it. A nice vegan lunch. Boyfriend got their brisket sandwich and enjoyed it as well. There's a handful of tables upstairs, but a larger dining area downstairs that was much less crowded. It was clean and well-kept. You can order on their kiosks or with a person - the people taking orders were helpful with answering questions and customizing our dishes.

$17 for a bento the menu does describe what's in the dish but fails to mention temperatures. The sweet potato and broccoli are both served cold. Overall this experience as ok nothing tasted bad but I wouldn't necessarily call this a genuine asian spot. Everything was very light seasoned and the flavors are quite interesting with the broccoli being tart the sweet potato being salted miso. This is definitely not somewhere I'd visit a second time for food but maybe for the teas. The boba milk tea I got was ok I could taste the tea flavor but my friend did say it taste like something out of a can - the boba pearls itself was overcooked and mushy like it had been sitting out. Overall this wasn't a great experience and not something I'd justify spending $17 on it kinda just tasted like ingredients with squirts or sauce.

A consistently good to above good cafe; great for meeting friends, or before or after a meal. The teas have always been good though desserts have varied in terms of selection and quality over the years. Very international and diverse selection of tastes; teas and otherwise. Service is also subject to highly vary. Depending on which location you go to, seating may be plentiful or limited; decently spaced out or unconscionably claustrophobic. Go with no expectations, and you're always in for a good to great time. Go with expectations, and you're going to hate me for misleading you. Everyone coming from out of town has to go here at least once. It is indeed a long-term if dated staple of dc. My advice to the staff is to focus on quality of ingredients and execution as you were once known for, as well as to make better decisions in terms of what to keep and what to rotate or experiment upon, particularly when it comes to desserts

Went here after a brief walk from the National Gallery of Art ( It's cool, check it out ) with my friends. While it's spacious and features more tables downstairs, I did not really see what made it unique. Sure the focus here are the drinks and I guess the food but it's just there. Maybe I am a bit harsh but I just don't see myself getting anything else besides a quick drink or so. I'm sure it's wonderful as a place to hang out given the space. I got a Matcha Sweet Green Tea drink... not sure what consists of that but it lived up to it's name. Sweet, refreshing, and overall just nice to consume after a half a mile walk. This place wasn't really the calm, quiet like Zen area I wanted but it's definitely a place to converse with friends. Especially after a day at the Art Museum. I would recommend this place over the other locations though; this is spacious.

Retreat to this calm cafe in the bustling Penn Quarter (the lower floor is simply serene). Teaism is consistently good with fast service making it perfect for a quick, casual bite near the Mall; I always take my out-of-town friends here while museum hopping. Their fresh, simple ingredients truly shine especially the tea-cured salmon handroll. Don't miss the salty oatmeal double chocolate cookies--pure decadence! I recommend enjoying their loose-leaf teas (try boba elsewhere).

Best bang for your $$$ The food was delicious and refreshing. I also got the Dragon Well tea and it paired very well with the chicken bento. The cashier was efficient, but there wasn't much to the service. You pick your food up and then find a table. How ever they did clean the table relatively quickly. It's a small top floor dining space, but it's cozy like a café. I saw that there was a downstairs area, but I didn't go down to take a look. Overall I will be returning for future trips!

I met a colleague for lunch and was pleasantly surprised by the breadth of lunch items on the menu. They have many vegetarian and vegan options. I got the okonomyaki with egg. It was delicious. I also got a ginger lemon drink. It was also excellent. The prices were good and the portions were generous. This location has seating downstairs as well. It would be a nice place to work for a while.

I think this is a great place for tea/boba, but would probably not come again for food. This place was located pretty close to my office so I came for a work lunch. The food is overpriced for the quality/portions. It was crowded during lunchtime and not much space to sit. The service was good, everyone was friendly and I loved the boba. I ordered a milk tea, and it was one of the best I've had in dc. Would definitely come back for a drink!

Teaism is always cute. I was grabbing and going so I didn't stay for food. I grabbed the lavender mint tea on ice and it was great. I ordered it unsweetened. It was just right for a hot day. The sizes are a bit small but this isn't starbucks The staff were nice. They walked me through the process and told me about my options. It took about most 7 minutes for them to make it.

O my goodness. Now I can see why there a massive reviews, featured in magazines and the line to get in! Luckily I showed up on a weekday and it was still relatively packed. Thank goodness there is a lower level. The foods are a bit spicy if you cannot tolerate but those who are able to take, it is not spicy to them at all. So just be aware if you have low tolerance. The entire menu is worthy of Michelin recognition. This is a prime example of a successful operation an that you do not need to be at a 10-star restaurant to be able to access exceptional cuisines.

I love how this place offers so many tea options; I definitely want to come back again to try more! I stopped by this place on a rainy afternoon, so it was the perfect pick-me-up for a warm meal and a hot drink. I ordered the Thai Chicken Curry and the Yunnan Gold Black Tea. I wish that the vegetables on the Thai Chicken Curry weren't so burnt, but I just set those burnt pieces aside. The Thai Chicken Curry was very creamy and helped give the chicken and brown rice some taste. The tea I ordered was also fragrant and the taste of the reddish infusion was fairly prevalent. As for the service, someone takes your order at the register and then you go to the counter for your food when your number is called. The atmosphere is nice, and the noise is at a relaxing level for conversations. There is even a lower level you can sit at when the upper level (i.e. where you enter from) starts getting packed.

What I love about The Teaism in Penn Quarter, is that they have a really nice casual vibe for a busy city like DC; drop in, order some food/drinks, pick it up from the counter, and chill out. I like that they have a big open seating area in the lower level, and it's well kept and clean! I had the Thai Chicken Curry big dish, with the Broccoli Tots appetizer. Looking at the ingredients list at first I didn't know what to expect, as with a lot of their Asian dishes, it's not the most traditional take on the cuisine it's claiming to be: brown rice with a skewer of grilled vegetables, none of which are traditionally in Thai curry? So it's a more modern take on classic dishes, which is fine as long as it tastes good, and is respecting the culture the dish is from, and I'm glad to say Teaism definitely does! The curry was tasty and the ingredients definitely tasted fresh and quality, the chicken had nice flavor to it, but some of the bits in my curry were on the dryer side. Also the curry was a bit too sour for my preference, but it still overall was a tasty dish! The broccoli tots were tasty but a bit on the doughy side, but the combination with goat cheese and the tasty dipping sauce is a flavorful bite! I do have to give props to them for focusing on using organic and some locally sourced ingredients! They have a wide range of Asian dishes which I find really interesting: Japanese, Korean, Thai, even some Indian! Along with their variety of hot or cold drinks and their vast tea selection, I definitely will be back to try some more.

Service: great. Staff are so kind and they make sure that you have everything you need. They are willing to walk you through the menu if you need help. Food: the food was a bit of a disappointment. It wasn't anything outstanding and would probably wouldn't come again unless everything around the area was closed and had to find a place to go. I would say that the chicken breading in the chicken bento was very good, but the salmon was nothing special. Okonomiyaki is probably something that you can make at home as well. Ambiance: plenty of seating (1st and basement) but felt more like a fast food place.

D.C. can get rather hot & humid but the salads and sandwiches at Teaism really know how to zap freshness and rejuvenation back into our desaturated souls. Things you should know: I. PARKING Like any city setting, parking can be tricky. You can either choose to park on the street or in a nearby garage. II. SERVICE You order and pay for your food at the register cafeteria-style. They're relatively fast at bringing your food out to the counter where you'll proceed to get the utensils you need. I like that Teaism provides a water station for unlimited refills. III. QUALITY Fresh and delicious. I highly recommend the Dream Salad ~ the refreshing flavors and variety of textures is out of this world..! Teaism is very vegetarian and vegan friendly. IV. CAPACITY For lunch hours, there is a reasonable amount of seating available. If you can't find seating upstairs.. no worries, they have more downstairs.

I'm always pleasantly surprised by the food here. It's unusual - they have scrambled eggs and smoked salmon but also Okonomiyaki pancakes and other Asian inspired dishes. But everything is always very good. The interior isn't very comfortable but there's lots of seating since they have the basement available in addition to upstairs. And the service is always pretty fast.

I've been to Teaism several times, and I'm glad I waited until today to review because this was my most positive experience. Not that any of the other times were negative, but I was just that overjoyed to learn that not only can you get unsweetened boba milk tea (you just have to specify that you don't want the classic, and choose from one of the many tea options on the menu) but you can also get it HOT. Hot, unsweetened boba milk tea on a frigid January evening, yes please! I got it with Anxi oolong tea and it was delicious. I added a bit of raw sugar, available in packets, and really appreciated that I could customize it to be only as sweet as I wanted (standard boba milk tea is too sweet for me). How about the other times I've been to Teaism? The green tea lassi is great (sweet, but not overly so), but I was sad to learn that a hot version of matcha was unavailable. The cilantro scrambled eggs are good but honestly not too memorable. The chocolate salty oat cookie is definitely worth a try though I wouldn't rave about it like some of the reviews here. I've heard high praise for the Spicy Glass Noodles and Tofu and the Vegan Black Bean Cake Bento box. Portions appear ample but not overly so. The menu is a bit limited but at least the items available are done well for the most part. I've always been exceedingly pleased with the service, from the cashier and serving staff behind the counter to the management. I've held several events here for my organization, DC EcoWomen, and attended many other events as well, and it's always a very nice vibe. Maybe not 5-star perfection, but for decent food and a great tea selection, great service and a pleasant ambiance, it's hard to find a better a more reasonably priced, more conveniently located downtown DC option.

We came for dinner on a Wednesday evening. It was not crowded at 6 pm so we were able to get a table. You order at the counter and pick up your order at another counter. Employees were friendly. We tried Okonomiyaki salmon pancake and Panko fried chicken bento box. Both were ready in 10 minutes. Both entrees were large and filling. However, the chicken in the bento box was dry, not juicy. The vegetables (broccoli and spaghetti squash) that came with the bento box were served chilled, but the menu did not specify this. I would have preferred warm vegetables. This is not your typical traditional Japanese restaurant, but is more fusion like, which makes it unique.

With larger space than the DuPont Circle location (due to its humongous basement with so many tables that it makes this place feel like a cafeteria), this spot is good for those who are wanting something near the National Mall. Teaism to me is a small local chain that I believe is more popular with vegetarians/vegans due to the many options they have here. For non-vegetarians/vegans, I don't think this place is that popular nor does it get that many rave reviews. Also, with the Japanese offerings in the menu, I've heard complaints from a Japanese friend of mine who felt that the food was not authentic - but I did particularly like my okonomiyaki enough to eat it and I did feel that it was a decent value considering the location. Of course, this chain is also popular for the large tea offerings - you can't go wrong with them here. The service here is pretty much self-serve, and knowing myself, I'd say it's great! LOL. You order at the front, and then collect your food on a tray and seat yourself - and yes, you throw your own trash away.

Stopped here twice while in DC, but wish I had the chance to come more. Excellent tea and bites. Wish I had the chance to stay for a full meal. Location is busy at times, but they are efficient and move things along quickly. You won't wait long. Ordered Chai Latte both times and the broccoli tots which had a little kick. They were fantastic! Worth the stop for sure!

I came here to meet a friend and tried their okonomiyaki (breakfast version). It was really good, on the lighter side, but the sauce on top made it enjoyable to eat and sufficiently filling. The eggs it is served with are runny though. I had this with a mango juice boba. Here I guess I needed to specify I wanted it hot (my bad) but the problem was that there was a ton of ice. So when you try to chew the boba you end up chewing on ice - yuck. They were out of the berry beauty. Maybe a hot boba tea here is better? Overall, it was an okay experience. Perhaps better coming in the morning for tea pot and their decadent salty oat cookies.

I purchased the vegan ginger scone and it tasted strongly of ginger with sugar crystals on top-yum. No complaints and at $4 for two was a deal. Also came with a packet of jam. The odd thing was it also came with butter. They didn't realize it was a vegan scone? Regardless, I'd return. In a great location, too.

Best black tea boba I've ever had. Chewy boba. Fast efficient service and they have kayak chocolate salted oat cookies, which are amazing.

Upstairs/ordering area is pretty small and very cramped when busy/trying to order, but they have a large seating section downstairs that gives off college library vibes. Definitely a place you can come for a meal and study session! I think the prices are mostly fair, nothing is too highly priced and the portion sizes are appropriate. I appreciate all the different tea flavors to try - they have hot and cold so lots of options! A cute place to try at least twice to get the feel!

Discovered this gem. I like the lower level. Food is tasty and filling. Menu is vast. Ginger lemonade was refreshing.

I wanted to sit and stay for a cup of tea, but there were a couple of reasons why I didn't. 1.) SPACE - it was super crowded and loud. I usually look for a serene spot to enjoy my tea, but this time wasn't it. 2.) PRICE - I frequent the Teaism in Dupont Circle, and seeing the upcharge here felt a little disappointing that what I would pay before tax and tip here would already be the final price after tax and tip in Teaism Dupont circle 3.) NOT WHAT IM LOOKING FOR - I was also hungry and wanted a small bite but last time I got a small bite, it was their spaghetti squash. I can't understand why they make it a cold salad when spaghetti squash is supposed to be warm? For what it's worth, I decided to walk out and opt for my Teaism time to be spent at and only the Dupont Circle location. Can't say too much about service since I didn't give it a shot and sit down.

I was on the hunt for healthy tasty food and this place seemed to fit the bill. OK the rave reviews for the salty oat cookies were a selling point too. I was not disappointed. I enjoyed everything in the salmon bento box, except for the seaweed. I just cannot acquire a taste for those dry seaweed sheets. . What I really enjoyed was the tea, not only was it delicious, it was served in a pot and the tea stayed hot my entire meal. And yes, the salty oat cookies are delish. It lasted me three days. It was so good and rich. It was a short walk from the National Portrait Gallery and my hotel. Fun experience and good food. Great tea and cookie.

Dined in to have the d'artagnan chicken and beef brisket bento and boba teas. Service was easy and quick. You place your order with the counter and they call your number when it's ready. We had our food for dine in and it was easy to find a seating area. We sat downstairs, lots of space. The food was good, as usual. We were a little sad that they changed out their side dish, specifically the sweet potato with spaghetti squash. The sweet potato was so much better. I also wish there was more sweetness (or less sweetness) options for the boba. Their prices appeared to have increased a little.

Always so fast and so good! Best bubble tea around, and its customizable with ice / utensils, etc. My husband also raves about the mint iced tea, which is crazy because he doesn't generally like craft n/a beverages! Also try the egg sandwich & every one of the desserts. Dont change a thing and this will continue to be my go-to to-go spot!

I do not understand the decisions made about the food at Teaism. Maybe it's a me issue. It seems like much of the menu is served cold, for reasons I can't comprehend. I recently ordered the sweet potatoes with miso. Cold, and the potatoes (which I think are boiled or steamed) were peeled, but then served in the dish with the peel just hanging out there. Not appealing. The tea is fine, I think, though I'm not any expert, but the food leaves me cold--pun intended.

Overall, I think Teaism is a nice spot but the food didn't wow me and was a somewhat small portion. They do have lots of seating downstairs and quick service.

We wanted a nice hot meal and cup of tea while visiting the Smithsonian on a cold and rainy day in DC and decided to stop by Teaism. It was bustling around lunchtime, but seemed to have plenty of seating in the main floor area and downstairs as well. Counter service is available and quick for food to come out. The food overall was just okay. I tried the okonomiyaki or Japanese cabbage pancake - the pancake itself was good (it was my first time, so nothing to compare it to really), however there was just way too much sauce on top and in my opinion ruined the flavor of the whole thing. My husband had the veg udon soup which was disappointing - the broth felt flat with no unification of flavor rather that it was veg broth and a few sauces had been tossed in before serving. The veggies did not feel cohesive with the whole soup, though I appreciate the amount of veggies that were in there. Green tea lassi - not a favorite, way too sweet in my opinion. And then lastly, a pot of oolong tea - just fine, honestly there wasn't really a calming enough environment in the main dining area for me to enjoy it, a lot of seats crammed together near each other. I think the best thing in the whole meal was the chocolate salted oat cookie for me - don't expect it to taste like a gooey chocolate chip cookie and you will enjoy it. Take it for what it is! Anyway, it was an overall okay meal, not very memorable to me but they have a lot of asian fusion options, some better than others.

A great spot for a quick bite to eat or for settling down to study / work / chat with a nice pot of tea! Sandwiched between a row of the Smithsonians and Ford's Theatre, Teaism is a breath of calm, fresh air in the hustle and bustle of downtown D.C.'s tourist attractions. It's a wonderful, quiet spot to study or have a long chat with someone without being interrupted or feeling rushed by a constant stream of people. The few seats upstairs tend to be a bit busier with guests coming in and out, ordering at the counter, or picking up food / dropping off dishes; however, they have a huge downstairs section with a bunch of seating where you'll be completely undisturbed. I love how expansive their tea menu is, and the staff is super patient and friendly; they're happy to help you decide which of their many hot / iced teas to go for (as well as list out a number of back-up options for your next visit)! The hot tea comes in a small teapot, and you can enjoy 5-6 cups. If you're in the mood for food, Teaism also has a number of affordable and tasty dishes, including their bento boxes. I'm a huge fan of their Grilled Salmon Bento, which centers on a perfectly grilled fillet of salmon, which pairs delightfully with their citrusy yuzu dipping sauce. It comes with their classic bento sides -- broccoli with another citrusy sauce, miso sweet potatoes, and a hearty scoop of brown rice. The sides rotate every now and then based on the season, but every single one is incredible. To round out the meal, their Hempheart Cookie, despite sounding terrifying, is not only gluten-free, but also delicious -- it's not overly sweet (and has absolutely no hemp flavor), and I love the dried cherries. All in all, Teaism is a great spot if you just need a quiet place to decompress from all the tourism, chat with a friend, or work / study. They have a fantastic selection of tea, as well as a tasty and relatively cheap selection of food items. Teaism has definitely made it onto my usual rotation of quick lunch spots / weekend stops, and I can't wait to come back and try out more of their wonderful teas!

I bought loose leaf jasmine tea and hojicha at next door tea retail shop. They let me smell the tea leaves and answer my questions on different types of oolong tea. I went to the Teaism restaurant and tried the buying oolong tea and liked the smoky taste.

teaism is an absolute blessing to DC - it is open late and serves both a large selections of hot teas and food. The environment is fairly peaceful, and it is perfect for chatting with friends or reading alone.

Tried this place based on a recommendation from someone at the box office of Woolly Mammoth ( in the next block). The food is good, fresh and it came super quick. You can eat in or take out. The person that I placed my order with was very nice and recommended some menu items.

Really delicious food and friendly atmosphere. Service is great too. I recommend this place with pleasure.

This is a cute little spot right behind the Navy Memorial metro stop. There is shaded outdoor seating out front and around the corner. I was in town for work April 30 and this was a relatively quiet place to have breakfast at 11:30ish on a Saturday; because D street dead ends into the FBI building there isn't a lot of foot or car traffic on that side of the street. The food is definitely Asian fusion/Asian-inspired rather than strictly authentic and leans towards light fare. I ordered ahead of time online for pickup which was very easy. The All Day Breakfast Okonomiyaki was great - crispy cabbage pancake, two fried eggs, okonomiyaki sauces - I'm a big fan of cabbage but didn't think it was too cabbage-y for someone who isn't sure they are. I opted not to add bacon but might next time. The Matcha Sweet Green Tea is wonderful! At $3.50 it's definitely the cheapest matcha drink you can get basically anywhere. I can't stand an iced matcha latte that ends up being a $7 cup of slightly green milk; this, without milk, is sweet enough for a matcha beginner. I ended up buying a canister of the powder for ~$9 and am already halfway through it and planning to get more. If you're a matcha purist it's probably too inexpensive to be a high grade but idc as long as it tastes good. Years ago they had some sort of chai milkshake (had it at Dupont Circle), would love to see that come back!

ALERT! Is your Chai Team Is prepared in a Microwave? I caught them cheating the customers. There are two ways of preparing chai tea at Teaism Penn Quarter, DC. One method uses a boiler (the better way), while the other heats it in a microwave (the worse way). In the latter method, they put hot water, hot milk, and some spices in a cup and heat it in the microwave. The chai prepared in a microwave is light brown with less taste and flavor. I have seen this several times but didn't pay attention to how they made it until recently. As soon as I caught them preparing chai tea in a microwave, I confronted the employees. I engaged the manager, who was not surprised and hesitated to apologize until I pushed him to do so. I refused to drink the first light brown tea, and later they gave me one from the boiler. The employee who made it didn't even apologize. It seems to be a common practice at Teaism Penn Quarter, DC i would regularly watch them how they prepare my tea.

Delicious! Been coming here since 2018 and food never disappoints. People don't seem to know about the downstairs. It's calm and beautiful with a nice water fountain. You can't go wrong with the teas. Comes in a kettle with about 4-6 servings. Great for dates and groups.