Bar Chinois - DC

4.5 (831)

$30 and under

Chinese

455 I St NW, Washington, DC 20001-3054

Make a reservation

Bar Chinois - DC

4.5

$30 and under

Chinese

Shaw

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 7, 2026

10:00 PM

Booked 38 times today

About this restaurant

Lively
Great for happy hour
Hot spot

Bar Chinois is recognized for its constantly-evolving Chinese menu and French-inspired cocktail and wine program. Recent accolades include being listed in the Michelin Dining Guide USA, the Washington Post Fall Dining Guide, Modern Luxury DC Best of the City and 2024 RAMMY Award Winner for Best Bar in DC.

Located in Mount Vernon Triangle, Bar Chinois is a short walk from the Washington Convention Center, Capital One Arena, National Mall and Union Station. We offer happy hour specials Tuesday-Sunday from 5 pm-7 pm and a bottomless brunch on weekends.

If you are looking for an energetic Washington, DC dining experience with great food, drink and service, we would love to host you!

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Chinese, Cantonese
Hours of operation
Bar Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–1:00 am Fri, Sat 11:00 am–2:00 am Sun 11:00 am–12:00 am Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–5:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am
Phone number
(202) 851-6250
Website
http://www.barchinoisdc.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Chef Satang Ruangsangwatana

Location
455 I St NW, Washington, DC 20001-3054
Neighborhood
Shaw
Cross street
5th and I Streets NW
Parking details
Metered street parking. Numerous parking garages and lots within a three block radius.
Public transit
Closest metro stations are Chinatown, Mt. Vernon Square/Convention Center, Judiciary Square and Union Station. DC Circulator bus stops on Massachusetts Ave. NW and 5th Street NW and a number of other bus stops nearby.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Wonton Soup$8.00
Pork & shrimp wontons, shiitake mushrooms, chicken bone broth, spinach, garlic
Marinated Cucumbers$9.00
English cucumbers, sesame, chili flakes, soy
Roasted Mushroom Salad$11.00
Shiitake mushrooms, bean sprouts, harissa, black vinegar, confit garlic, scallions
Red Chili Wontons$11.00
Pork & shrimp wontons, garlic, chili-oil, scallions, soy vinaigrette
Har Gow$10.00
Crystal prawn dumplings, bamboo shoots, toasted sesame, Chef's soy
Chili Karaage$11.00
Chinois-style fried chicken, spicy chili & garlic sauce, shaoxing wine, toasted sesame seeds, arugula (Gluten Free available)
Salt & Pepper Shrimp$12.00
Garlic, ginger, scallions, Szechuan peppercorn, shaoxing wine (Gluten Free available)
Crab Rangoon$10.00
Fried crab & cream cheese wontons, homemade apricot duck sauce, toasted sesame
Gyoza de Boeuf$11.00
French onion beef gyoza, gruyere, swiss, pickled onions, cilantro aioli
Steamed Shumai$10.00
Chicken & shrimp, water chestnut, fried garlic, scallions, Chef's soy
Pork Belly Bao$15.00
Homemade tian-mian bean sauce, mustard, cucumber, spring onions
Lu Rao Fan$17.00
Slow braised 5-Spice pork belly bits on rice, soy egg, scallions, ginger, arugula salad
Char Siu Chicken Rice$18.00
Hong Kong Style BBQ Chicken, red soy, swiss chard, soy egg, ginger chimichurri
1970's Garlic Noodles$16.00
Egg noodles, shiitake, spinach, garlic butter, parmesan, Chef's soy
Zi-Char Chili Garlic Fish$18.00
Singaporean fried fish with spicy chili & garlic sauce, shaoxing wine, jasmine rice. Gluten Free available. Substitute tofu or shrimp

Desserts

Matcha Crème Brûlée$7.00
Chocolate Cheesecake$7.00
French Vanilla Profiteroles$9.00

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Bar Chinois - DC.

4.5

(831)

4.5Food
4.5Service
4.4Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Bar Chinois in DC is celebrated for its "excellent service" and a vibrant atmosphere. It's a popular choice for happy hour with "great deals" on drinks and "delicious" dumplings. The brunch and bottomless dim sum also receive high praise. Reservations are recommended due to its popularity.

831 Reviews

C
Catherine Gold
Washington DC39 reviews
4.0
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 2
Delicious dishes and great cocktails. Attentive service. The lighting is very low so it's really hard to read the menu.
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N
Nicole
Washington DC16 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 30, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We dined outside so it was quiet. Inside was busier and louder but reasonable. Our server, Mati, was knowledgeable about the whole menu and gave wonderful recommendations. The food was delicious with some unexpected combinations that I loved.
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M
Mark
Philadelphia5 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 27, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Sweet spot in DC. Great happy hour, staff & menu. Recommend reservations as it filled up fast with the after work crowd. Inside or outdoor seating in a nice neighborhood.
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M
Maribeth
Unspecified1 review
4.0
Dined on October 25, 2026
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
The food was amazing, especially for the price of the bottomless dim sum.
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S
Samantha Gold
Washington DC21 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 6, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Love Bar Chinois! Reliably good and has been for years - an impressive feat.
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S
Susan
Washington DC2 reviews
5.0
Dined on September 26, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent service at Bar Chinois! First time there - so glad that I made a reservation - the place was packed and people kept showing up. My favorite was the dumplings. Service was the best - servers were very attentive. Plan to go again and try other dishes. Good Food + Good Service what else can you ask for?
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A
Ariadne
Panama7 reviews
5.0
Dined on September 25, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
La calidad de la comida 10/10, super diferente a todas las que he probado. La atención y el ambiente, divino. Sin duda regresaría
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N
Nicole Gold
Washington DC11 reviews
5.0
Dined on September 19, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Starting to be me of my favorite brunches in the city.
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M
Michell
Baltimore1 review
5.0
Dined on September 19, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We sat outside on a Friday evening and it was perfect! The food and the drinks were outstanding! All great creations and very tasty and we thought the pricing wasn’t too bad either
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S
Steven
Washington DC11 reviews
2.0
Dined on September 5, 2026
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 3
Our experience at Bar Chinois was very disappointing. Most of what we ordered was bland and uninspiring. The cocktails were much better than the food. The noise level was very high - which made it hard to converse across a table for two. The host was pleasant but the service was very slow.
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Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Chinese, Cantonese
Hours of operation
Bar Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–1:00 am Fri, Sat 11:00 am–2:00 am Sun 11:00 am–12:00 am Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–5:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am
Phone number
(202) 851-6250
Website
http://www.barchinoisdc.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Chef Satang Ruangsangwatana

Location
455 I St NW, Washington, DC 20001-3054
Neighborhood
Shaw
Cross street
5th and I Streets NW
Parking details
Metered street parking. Numerous parking garages and lots within a three block radius.
Public transit
Closest metro stations are Chinatown, Mt. Vernon Square/Convention Center, Judiciary Square and Union Station. DC Circulator bus stops on Massachusetts Ave. NW and 5th Street NW and a number of other bus stops nearby.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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FAQs

Bar Chinois, Bar: Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–1:00 am; Fri, Sat 11:00 am–2:00 am; Sun 11:00 am–12:00 am. Brunch: Sat, Sun 11:00 am–5:00 pm. Dinner: Tue–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–11:00 pm; Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am. The restaurant also notes happy hour specials Tuesday–Sunday from 5 pm–7 pm and a weekend bottomless brunch.

Yes, Bar Chinois’s cocktail-forward menu and lively, low-lit vibe make it a popular pick for dates, with multiple guests specifically recommending it for a first date.

For a standout visit try weekend brunch, Bar Chinois’s Saturday–Sunday bottomless dim sum and mimosas are a frequent guest favorite.

Yes, Bar Chinois welcomes private parties as part of its offering.

Yes, families dine here: guests report bringing children for happy hour, and staff even brought crayons and coloring pages to keep kids entertained.

For great deals and a lively bar vibe, go to Bar Chinois during happy hour (Tuesday–Sunday, 5–7 pm); for a relaxed weekend treat, their bottomless dim sum brunch runs Saturday and Sunday.

Casual dress is the guide for Bar Chinois, come relaxed and comfortable; nothing formal is required.

Bar Chinois feels low-lit and energetic with a music-forward, bar-style vibe, reviewers describe a cool, colorful, party atmosphere, with the patio offering a quieter people-watching option.

Yes, Bar Chinois has a patio; guests mention sitting on the front patio and enjoying outdoor seating for people-watching when the weather is nice.

Bar Chinois is at its busiest around happy hour and early evening, the restaurant posts happy hour Tue–Sun from 5 pm–7 pm, and reviewers say it fills quickly after the 5 pm opening and can be packed on Thursday and Saturday nights.

How FAQ content is generated

Make a reservation

Bar Chinois - DC

4.5

$30 and under

Chinese

Shaw

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 7, 2026

10:00 PM

Booked 38 times today

Bar Chinois - DC

Make a reservation

Bar Chinois - DC

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Dining areas

Additional information

Gift card

Main

Wonton Soup$8.00

Marinated Cucumbers$9.00

Roasted Mushroom Salad$11.00

Red Chili Wontons$11.00

Har Gow$10.00

Chili Karaage$11.00

Salt & Pepper Shrimp$12.00

Crab Rangoon$10.00

Gyoza de Boeuf$11.00

Steamed Shumai$10.00

Pork Belly Bao$15.00

Lu Rao Fan$17.00

Char Siu Chicken Rice$18.00

1970's Garlic Noodles$16.00

Zi-Char Chili Garlic Fish$18.00

Desserts

Matcha Crème Brûlée$7.00

Chocolate Cheesecake$7.00

French Vanilla Profiteroles$9.00

Review summary

Dining areas

Additional information

Gift card

FAQs

What are this restaurant's opening hours?

Is this a good pick for date night?

What is the best day to go to Bar Chinois - DC?

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Is this restaurant kid-friendly?

When is the best time to go to Bar Chinois - DC?

What is the dress code for Bar Chinois - DC?

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Does this restaurant have outdoor seating?

When is this restaurant busiest and quietest?

Make a reservation

Bar Chinois - DC

Make a reservation