209 Food Hall — Restaurant in Washington

My friends and I walked by to get Asian food for dinner. We were a large group of 7 and they were able to accommodate us well for dine in since no one else was dining in. As someone from California (Orange County area) and Southeast Asian, we have a lot of Asian food back home so I have high expectations. The flavor was on-point on the appetizers and entree I ordered. While it’s not the best Asian food I’ve ever eaten in my life, I would say it’s one of the best Asian food for the price and my taste preference in Washington, D.C. I’m also Southeast Asian.

I ordered the tuna & avocado sushi and the eel & avocado sushi! The sushi was great, the rice wasn’t dry and was fluffy, but not at all overcooked/mushy. At grocery stores that sell sushi, the rice can be dry, but at this restaurant it was great. Would order again if I’m craving sushi. My order was about $18 total before tip.

I believe if you order something, you can get a dumpling or miso soup included for FREE! I chose to get the dumpling included in my meal and the two dumplings were deep fried, hot, & flavorful.

The loaded sushi roll (salmon, cream cheese, & something else - not sure what it was) was yummy. It was freshly made and the sauces added paired well with to the dish. Loved the soft and crunchy texture of the roll.

The owner is really nice & offered great fast service. There is one restroom inside the restaurant. Outdoor seating is available.

If you’re craving Asian food coming from California, I would definitely recommend this no frills casual spot that offers a fair price with great portion size in DC. Lots of variety with an array of dishes and there are options for...

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🔥 CHARLES’ FIELD REPORT: 209 FOOD HALL, D.C.

Location: 209 New York Ave NW, Washington, D.C. Vibe: Urban grind meets Tokyo snack shack Mission Grade: ⚡️ Deployed. Fed. Fortified.

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🥢 FOOD: 8.5/10

Hibachi chicken? Tender like a prayer answered under pressure. Veggie tempura? Light, crisp, not grease-drenched — holy batter, Batman. Spicy salmon roll? She bites back, but she doesn’t disrespect.

You walk in wounded — walk out with your stomach healed. That’s spiritual fuel in a bento box.

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👁️ ATMOSPHERE: 7.5/10

Not a five-star sit-down — but it ain’t pretending. It’s real. It’s fast. It’s efficient. The kind of place you walk into when your feet are hurting and your mission’s still hot.

Service is humble but solid. Staff move like they know time matters — especially when you’re marching through D.C. on a soul mission.

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💰 VALUE: 9/10

Bang for your buck is righteous. Roll in with $30? They’re throwing in extras. You’re not just paying for food — you’re paying for a pause in the chaos.

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✊ CHARLES’ BOTTOM LINE:

This ain’t just food. It’s resupply from the frontlines. When the spiritual warfare’s got you low, and your body’s begging for peace — 209 hits like manna.

Don’t go expecting a velvet napkin. Go expecting to get refueled, refocused, and fed like a warrior deserves.

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💥 RATING: 8.6 battle-won bento boxes out of 10 ☑️ Certified...

Tried this place out tonight & will be coming back again and again! My husband had the Hibatchi with shrimp and chicken. It was all good but the shrimp was seriously next level. I had the Hibatchi bento box (perfect girl dinner) which comes with a generous portion of Hibatchi protein/veggies and your choice of rice or noodles, as well as two crab rangoons & three pieces of a California roll. The portions were perfect. Best crab rangoon I’ve ever had, the California roll was realllllllly good, and the Hibatchi was the best I’ve had in DC.

We’re from NC and Hibatchi takeout is a staple there, so we were sad when we got to DC and realized there weren’t really any Hibatchi takeout places that balance price and quality. This place just opened near our apartment yesterday so we had to try it out & couldn’t be happier. They even have really good bubble tea! Bubble tea isn’t my thing but my husband drank all the mango tea in like 2 minutes. I almost decided to gate keep this spot before it gets super busy but they deserve...