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Name: Cafe Asia
Address: 1550 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA, 22209
Telephone: (703) 741-0870
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.14

Cafe Asia

1550 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA, 22209

(703) 741-0870
Store is closed

Cafe Asia Menu

Appetizer

Succulent Pork

Soft Shell Crab

Bbq Beef Ribs

Pepper Seafood

Yakisaba

Mussel

Misozuke

Sichuan Spicy Cold Noodle

Gyoza

Nippon Tofu

Spicy Chinese Ravioli

Vietnamese Spring Rolls

Vegetarian Spring Rolls

Summer Rolls

Grilled Scallop

Crab Wonton

Satay

Crispy Fried Calamari

Sashimi Appetizer

Tuna Tataki

Tempura Appetizer
Soup

Miso Soup

Chicken Wonton Soup

Tom Yum

Tom Ka

Hot & Sour Soup
Noodle Soup

Tom Yum

Curry Laksa

Ramen

Tempura Udon

Vietnamese Lemon Grass Chicken Noodle Soup
Salad

Seaweed Salad

Takonuta

Sunomono Salad

Shrimp &avocado Salad

Sesame Cole Slaw

Yum

Asian Green Salad

Asian Grilled Salad
Fried Rice

Chinese

Indonesian

Singapore

Thai
Fried Rice - Additions

Vegetables

Chicken Beef Or Pork

Shrimp

Combination

Seafood
Entree

Nasi Uduk

Rendang

Belado

Red Curry

Thai Basil

General Tao Chicken

General Tao Shrimp

Chinese Stir Fried Broccoli

Chinese Style Stir Fried Mixed Vegetables

Szechuan Style Garlic Sauce

Tonkatsu

Panggang (grill)

Teriyaki

Lime Chicken

Lemon Grass Chicken

Lemon Grass Beef

Satay Combinasi

Ikan Pepes

Panang Curry

Yellow Curry

Tempura Entree
Dessert

Ice Cream

Pisang Goreng

Brownie And Ice Cream

Combo Banana

Mango Sticky Rice

Healthy Meal suggestions for Cafe Asia

Appetizer

Succulent Pork [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soft Shell Crab [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bbq Beef Ribs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pepper Seafood [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yakisaba [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mussel [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Misozuke [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sichuan Spicy Cold Noodle [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gyoza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nippon Tofu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy Chinese Ravioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vietnamese Spring Rolls [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian Spring Rolls [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Summer Rolls [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Scallop [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crab Wonton [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Satay [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crispy Fried Calamari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sashimi Appetizer [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuna Tataki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tempura Appetizer [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soup

Miso Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Wonton Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tom Yum [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tom Ka [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot & Sour Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Noodle Soup

Tom Yum [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Curry Laksa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ramen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tempura Udon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vietnamese Lemon Grass Chicken Noodle Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salad

Seaweed Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Takonuta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sunomono Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp &avocado Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sesame Cole Slaw [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yum [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Asian Green Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Asian Grilled Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Fried Rice

Chinese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Indonesian [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Singapore [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Fried Rice - Additions

Vegetables [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Beef Or Pork [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Combination [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seafood [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Entree

Nasi Uduk [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rendang [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Belado [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Red Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thai Basil [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

General Tao Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

General Tao Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chinese Stir Fried Broccoli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chinese Style Stir Fried Mixed Vegetables [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Szechuan Style Garlic Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tonkatsu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Panggang (grill) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Teriyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lime Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lemon Grass Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lemon Grass Beef [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Satay Combinasi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ikan Pepes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Panang Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yellow Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tempura Entree [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Dessert

Ice Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pisang Goreng [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Brownie And Ice Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Combo Banana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mango Sticky Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Arlington for healthy meals suggestion.

Subway ( 4817 Lee Hwy )

Arlington Rooftop Bar and Grill ( 2424 Wilson Blvd )

Visit below restaurant in Arlington for healthy meals suggestion.

Subway ( 4817 Lee Hwy )

Write An Anonymous Review

Berry C.

Amazing servers; both friendly and attentive Randomly decided to try this place out one day and I was really happy with the food quality and price! We ordered the fried calamari for the appetizer-super yum! And I ordered a lychee mojito My friend ordered the Thai iced tea, Both were super gooddddd For the main entrees, we got a whole selection of sushi rolls, I think my favorite was the dynamite roll-has a nice kick to it For dessert, we got the fried bananas with the green tea ice cream! Can't wait to come back. soon. soon.
(5)
Michael P.

Just regular. Of course I don't have to tell you: do not order sushi here, eh? The cocktails are silly. Everything else is fine and cheap. The space is utilitarian and uncomfortable - but that's fine. It does get loud due the glass large glass windows, wood decor, and clientele. The staff is unpleasant - but that's fine. Just eat the cheap good food. Portions are large. Good Value. Don't order take away because this place is NOT eco friendly - everything you order is wrapped in separate paper bags, they use staples to close things like it is the 1980's - no body uses staplers/staples anymore - oy. So all the paper and plastic is wasteful - FYI
(3)
Vincent C.

This restaurant is amazing if you want good quality, but cheap, Asian food. Portion size is extremely generous, and it's possible to stuff yourself for just ~$12. Service is very fast; my waiter immediately took my order and within 5 minutes, I had my food! So why the -2 stars you ask? You have to brave the decor and cleanliness of this restaurant. The interior looks poorly maintained and tacky. Additionally, my table was excessively sticky, while the seat across from me had what appeared to be sauce on it from the previous patron. When I went to the bathroom, there was a large pool of liquid by the urinal that covered a quarter of the floor.
(3)
Carter S.

This place is awesome. Their happy hour is great--discounted sushi, bar appies, and 2 dollar certain drafts til 7:30 (even Saturday)! I love their veggie yaki soba (brings me back to eating this street food in Tokyo!) and their CafÃ© Asia roll is great. I did try their Thai and was not too impressed. They did not have veggies in their red curry, so it just came with tofu. A little odd, but not bad tasting by any means. The waiters and waitresses are attentive and nice. For a happy hour, there is nothing better. Love this place! Sit down outside if you get the chance; beer, sushi, and a sunny day = one happy girl!
(4)
Eric T.

My absolute favorite venue in all of Rosslyn! I've been coming here since 03', and this location has never disappointed. Whether it is Chicken Satay or regular soup combined with a silver bullet can of Sapporo beer to wash it down, Cafe Asia is certainly a good lunch or dinner spot if you have the cravings for quality Asian food. If there is one small gripe that I've had, its with parking. Sometimes, you can get lucky by parking a few blocks away in a garage and walk while most of the time, you will find parking on the street either up the street or on the adjacent block behind the cafe. When I used to work in Rosslyn, I would walk the couple of blocks up or so to Cafe Asia and leave my car within the parking garage if I wasn't taking the metro orange line that day. Just be careful in parking, or you will most certainly get ticketed and/or towed.
(5)
Matt D.

Ordered take-out the other night and was quite pleased with the presentation of the food as well as the taste. I had the dragon roll and wonton soup - both are a-ok with me :) Stomach: 5 stars Taste-buds: 5 stars Only reason it's a 4 star is that I'd like to dine there and see what the service is like. I'll update the review accordingly.
(4)
Zack B.

I came here for dinner with a friend at her insistence. It really was take-out quality food with the prices of a nicer, sit down restaurant. I was honestly shocked by the low quality given her strong drive to go. The flavor wasn't even good. In addition, I ordered a glass of house Chardonnay. My entrÃ©e was $12 and my glass of wine was $10. Seriously? I will not be back.
(2)
Julie G.

Extremely disappointed. This is my second visit. Came in with a party of six all from out of town. We were expecting to have good service and good food since they have a good location and sits across from Pho 75, who earned 5 stars! When we first came in, greeter told us that we can't bring outside drink, we can understand that, but we all had water in our hand... Most of us ordered Ramen, Udon, and I had squid Yakisoba. My order came out to be wrong. Server immediately responded that she didn't take the order, this is where it got wrong! You are not suppose to deny your mistake, but should accept what was wrong and correct it! I was friendly enough to tell her that I can take the wrong order, but she took it back after I had a bite. My right order finally came, worse than what I imagined. Squid was not fresh, and smelly! I didn't eat much of it, because I didn't want to get sick obviously. Other guests complaint about their dishes as well. Overall, we were all disappointed! When we asked for the check, it took them 15 minutes to finalize it, I was tempted to leave already. What got me more pissed off was they automatically charged a charge amount of tip on the check without notifying me. I won't be surprise if they go out of business soon. People, stay away!
(1)
Sean G.

I went here for happy hour, and I am satisfied. I had three vodkas, gyoza, spicy tuna maki, cucumber maki, and smoked salmon maki. It cost me like 35 with tip. It tasted pretty good to me, nothing extremely mind blowing but I thought it was good. I would come here again certainly.
(4)
Amanda S.

Hands down my favorite Asian restaurant in the area. Kitty is the best bartender we always love having her and the happy hour specials are amazing.
(5)
Flo S.

I recall coming to Cafe Asia a long time ago when trying to get a table was a challenge. Well, this past rainy Tuesday, I got a table without any problem. Thanks rain:) Since it was a bit cold and Pho 75 closed at 8pm, I desperately needed soup. So, I got the Lemograss Chicken Soup with vermicelli. It was pretty good, but I think the broth needed more flavor to it. I asked for some jalapenos to make it more spicy and some red chili sauce so it helped a little. I think it also needed a little more salt as well. I first started with the pork belly bun and it was very tender and flavorful..I highly recommend. In the past, I recall the best deals are their Happy Hour drink specials. I recall it being $1 for some nigiri sushi and ordering like there was no tomorrow. Will I be back? Maybe, but there's just so many asian choices in the area that I want to try the new ones. But for old times sake, why not:)
(3)
Marc L.

I can't believe I have never reviewed Cafe Asia!! This is one of my all time favorites. When I'm anywhere near Rosslyn, this is my go-to restaurant. The other night we picked up my best friend from Reagan National airport and wanted to dine before dropping him at his downtown hotel. Cafe Asia was the obvious choice. I've eaten here a bunch of times and always love it, never disappointed, and the other night was no exception. It happened to be a beautiful cool summer evening, perfect weather, and Cafe Asia has nice outdoor seating with good service and plenty of seats. Sometimes outdoor dining means lousy service; not the case here. We had two wonderful sushi dishes to share, and then individual noodle/tofu/vegetable dishes. We had a problem: too many outstanding choices. The server was extremely patient going over all the choices with one of our party. Everyone loved their food. They also have a solid drink selection, including my favorite draft Kirin Ichiban. I like coming here because the servers are consistently good, efficient, polite, and sometimes very attractive, which helps the overall experience. The indoor atmosphere is wonderful, airy, fun, lovely decor. Outside is great during nice weather. True you are sitting on a sidewalk on Wilson Blvd with a fire station across the street, but it's rarely noisy, and it's a wide sidewalk. I worked in Rosslyn for several years and this was the best place around. Now I work in Rosslyn occasionally, and there are many more food choices today. I still think that Cafe Asia is among the best. I see the overall rating is only 3 stars, which I don't understand, this place has always been great for me and I will continue as a loyal customer.
(5)
Viona L.

My family and I went there earlier for dinner. We ordered curry laksa, nasi uduk, chicken satay and succulent pork. I have to say that all the food we ordered satisfied my Asian tongue. They're good. I can really taste 'the real Asian spices' there. They even give some real 'emping belinjo' and 'acar'; Indonesian style pickle. However, I am very sensitive with MSG. I will always feel thirsty and get a little headache soon after I ate some food with too much MSG. And it happened to me last night. I don't know from which food though. The food are a bit pricey, but they come in a big portion (at least the food I ordered) And for additional information. Somehow, maybe all the waitress are robot because non of them were smiling last night. They served the customer with their 'flat' faces
(3)
Nomin D.

I don't know where to start. I've been coming here since 2005 and their service is getting worse and worse every visit. Today's visit particular, we didn't get out hot water with lemon until our entree arrived. Our server was rude and didn't check up on us at all. When he brought the water at first, it was room temperature. When we asked to get a HOT water he said that's their standard. But when I said "you guys serve hot tea and that requires hot water" in which he went back and didn't come back for 15 minutes with 2 cups of hot water when we were 3 of us. I don't know if I ever want to come back here again! I'm a big customer service junkie and they just don't do it for my anymore.
(1)
Seong-Kook B.

I go here a lot due to the it's close proximity.The food is okay. They have a lot of variety but nothing really stands out, expect the crab wonton, which is my personal favorite. I've had the ramen, pad thai, tonkatsu, and some other dishes which were okay but nothing special. The sushi is good and fairly basic. If you like basic sushi and rolls I definitely recommend coming here. The place is pretty big and it has plenty of outdoor sitting. One thing that annoys me is it seems that all the tables are wobbly.
(3)
Kim C.

Pretty good happy hour. $4 house wine and beer; specials on mixed drinks as well. Okay sushi for happy hour. our server actually did a good jon making sure our drinks were full. It was okay, but there are definitely better happy hour spots.
(3)
Reeping W.

This neighborhood places never fails to please. I'm stuck on Pad Thai (plenty for the next day) with chicken and shrimp, and dining partner moves around, settling this time on Rendang, which was tender, spicy, tasty, and plentiful even with me dipping into it. A new favorite. Service is solicitous but not fussy. An accident, when a glass shattered beside us, was immediately taken care of, with manager, waitress, and cleaner racing to sweep it up and check on both of us to be sure we had not been hurt (glad it was empty: wine would have made a mess!). They could not have been kinder.
(5)
Steve R.

I always think the food is really good here. Pad Thai and mango sticky rice never lets me down. Never had anything else
(5)
Joanna M.

I'm often weary of Asian joints that have multiple dishes that spread over numerous cultures. I admit I was weary and going in with my standards low knowing that CafÃ© Asia has quite a diverse menu of mediocre fare: sushi, Chinese dishes, thai food, Korean dishes, Vietnamese dishes, etc. Their Happy Hour specials are pretty sweet alcohol wise but when you are craving for sushi delivery in the Rosslyn area, CafÃ© Asia fits the bill. For delivery, we placed our order for summer rolls and a few sushi rolls. The summer rolls made with shrimp, cilantro, lettuce, mint and rice noodles wrapped in rice paper served with side of peanut sauce are no where close to the "summer" rolls of Four sisters further down the road or shrimp rolls of Eden center and instead, jam packed with mostly rice noodles and fillers but hey it's delivery and it's CafÃ© Asia. Our spicy tuna roll, Yellowtail and scallion roll, Fireball roll (Scallop, Cucumber & Japanese Mayo inside, Spicy Tobiko outside), and Crazy Rock and Roll roll (Smoked Salmon & Eel inside, Salmon & Avocado outside). Fish is okay but you can tell it's not the highest quality or freshest in comparison to other sushi places that don't deliver. All in all, while I've had better sushi, Cafe Asia's sushi was delivered to my door and was ok but nothing that would blow your socks off.
(3)
Beatrice G.

I've waited to write this review because I wanted to make sure that I had the proper word choices. This is a beautiful restaurant. Once you walk in, you are greeted by the 'sometimes not so quick to smile' hostesses, but they accommodate you very quickly. There is a huge bar area separate from the main restaurant. If you had to think of the layout of two restaurants in an open space, then you have the right idea. (Have I lost you? lol) They do not serve orange chicken (and that may have been my naivety because I'm use to the local Chinese carryout), but they do have general tso. It's very good and not nearly as much as you would get at a Chinese carryout. But hey, I'm not complaining, it's satisfying nonetheless. Just recently I ordered the shrimp and avocado salad to go. My pic of that is attached. Hmmm. Light and refreshing and delicious all wrapped in one!
(3)
Charlotte S.

I am a fan! I came here such a long time ago and I never wrote a review but I left totally satisfied. My friend and I met up for dinner after I got off work one day. We got there early enough that there were barely any customers so we got our pick of seats. The interior is huge. I did not expect the place to be so big! The setting is clean and the place didn't overly smell like any sort of particular cuisine. Maybe it's because we went early. I, being boring, got the typical chicken teriyaki but it was so good! The serving was huge (my friend ended up eating a good amount of it) and it was seasoned just right. The only downside was the restrooms, as they were shoddier than the rest of the place but I would definitely come here again!
(4)
Sandeep K.

Affordable, but mediocre. There was a point in time where this restaurant is swarming with mid 20s early 30s people. The waitstaff is so so, the food is so so, the price is what you'd expect for your average / mediocre Asian fusion place.
(3)
Monika K.

Had a good time on our first visit at this joint. It was a friday night. Place was busy but we got a seat outside. Ordered Indonesian foods: nasi uduk very yummy!!!, pepes ikan, satay appetizer, chicken teriyaki and also mee goreng. Bucket of Singha for $14 was a great addition to the four of us. Ordered mango sticky rice for dessert. Soo good!! I was reading the review regarding the waitress or the grumpy staffs?? We might be the lucky one because our waiter Jay was great. He waited us with his big smile. Thanks so much.. if we are in the area. Definitely we will be back!
(4)
Richard K.

Happy hour is truly a bargain!! Food is above average. If it wasnt for the hh id give a 3 but hh value gives this a 4!
(4)
Jason G.

Dropped in with coworkers for lunch yesterday. The place was moderately crowded, but service was prompt...though I didn't see a smile on any staff members at any point during our visit. We ordered several dishes, and shared. The drunken noodles were ok, but forgettable. The pad thai was awesome. The basil thai chicken was good. And, the two roll lunch sushi plate was solid. All in all, a decent place.
(3)
Amber G.

Cafe Asia is okay if you're stuck in Rosslyn and craving sushi. Their sushi is actually quite fresh and good. Come for sushi happy hour - nigiri is $1 each and totally worth it! As far as the hot food goes, appetizers are not bad (try the spicy Chinese ravioli) but the noodle dishes and other meat dishes are usually not enjoyable in my experience. The pad thai I ordered there once was among the most flavorless noodle dishes I've ever had the misfortune of paying for. As for the service, the wait staff is comprised of Asian workers who are usually not too friendly. In fact, several times they have been downright rude. Once, I brought my dad to eat there and the restaurant was COMPLETELY EMPTY -- when they placed us at a tiny 2 person table, we nicely asked if we could sit at a slightly larger 4 person table to have some space, since literally no one else was in the restaurant at that time. The woman said no! Ridiculous. Ordering delivery here is a solid choice though - they are pretty fast and have never messed up one of my orders.
(3)
Allison H.

Amazing Pad Thai! This is a must try if you're in the Rosslyn, Arlington area.
(5)
Auro R.

I do not recommend. My friend and I both asked for cooked food, and we got raw fish. Also I wanna emphasize the attention by the waitress was not good. I will never be there again.
(1)
Kat B.

I grew up in 5 different countries across Asia. Obviously nothing here compares to the local delights I sampled over there but then again, why would I expect that? That being said, Cafe Asia is pretty a solid pick for this area. I can always find something tasty on the menu, they have a good drink selection, snappy service, good prices, lots of room, and a pretty unassuming atmosphere. Indoor and outdoor seating abound. I can always trust I'll be satisfied after I leave.
(5)
Susan A.

Any Asian person who looks at this menu before coming knows not to come here. They have Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Indonesian and Vietnamese food all at this one place! NO single kitchen can get all those different tastes right. I know my Korean food, and it's just not right. Their Thai food is lacking as well. The flavors aren't right. If you want authentic Korean food -- go to Annandale. If you want authentic Vietnamese good -- go to Eden center. If you want authentic Japanese food -- go to Sushi Taro in Dupont Circle. I gave this place two stars instead of one because of their cheap happy hour specials and their outdoor seating. Also -- this place is good for taking larger groups because of their ample seating and space as well as their diverse menu. It's also good for bringing people new and unfamiliar with Asian cuisine.
(2)
Miranda P.

I live down the street and usually get take out from here once a week. I dream about the Curry Laksa soup and have turned my 2 best friends and my husband on to it, too. As others have said the menu is so big that it can be hit or miss. I love to try new things so have tried a lot, and my hits and misses are as follows: Hits: Curry Laksa soup, Pork buns (although you only get 2 & they're small), vietnamese chicken noodle soup, red curry, panang curry, chinese fried rice, satay combinasi In general I think the sushi is hit or miss, but I've tried a few and found the hits (in my opinion!): Cajun Roll, Explosion Roll & Firecracker Roll Misses: Ramen, yaki soba, korean bbq (only a miss because of the tiny portion for the price!), nasi uduk (this, I think, is an acquired taste - my husband liked it) Overall, I love living down the street from this place and will continue to frequent it, well, frequently!
(5)
Tiffany Anne M.

worst service ever. I work as a waitress and I understand how it is when restaurants get busy. Cafe Asia? there's barely anyone here and the entire waitstaff just sucks. They're all on their phone, texting and on a call, mind you - ON THE FLOOR. and it took one of them a good 10minutes to come to our table to see what we wanted. Stupid b!tch had her arms crossed like we were the ones bothering her and she had some place to be. Don't even bother to eat here. It's my first time here. Never coming back. Waitstaff is horrible. Food isn't even that great. If I didn't have to rate this place, I'd give this a negative rating and have this place go bankrupt. You want business? Be professional. You want to get tipped for your service? Be available and get the hell off your phone. If you didn't want to be at work today, then maybe you shouldn't of woken up.
(1)
Anne C.

A solid 3 stars. I've been here before but never ate and it was never for HH. Today was for HH and I got the opportunity to sit at the bar, interact with the bartenders and order from the HH menu! The nigiri is not a bad deal for 1.25 & their $4 special cocktails are good---note: they tend to make their HH drinks very watery (aka not enough alcohol, too much sugar) but if you ask, they (or this particular bartender) makes it SOOO STRONG you can leave the place feeling good after this one drink. Their sushi rolls which aren't on the HH menu aren't expensive and they're def not bad for the price. In addition, their spicy ravioli (really just wontons in spicy soup) is good for $3! =) yumyum overall a fun place for HH and great service as well!
(3)
Michelle N.

I don't know what it is about this place that keeps me coming back because the food and service are mediocre. Maybe it's the charm of being a hot happy hour spot or the fact you can drink AND eat sushi. I suppose those two together are enough to get me in the door. Or the fact that I am in love with their lycheetinis and don't know where else to get one. I used to frequent this place so much until I realized that there really is better sushi out there and late night service is horrible. When my friends and I would still be deciding on what we wanted to order, the servers would keep coming back to visit, kind of pressuring us to order fast. Then when we were finally ready to order or needed anything else later in the night, they were nowhere to be found. Service is pretty sparse during happy hour. I understand they're busy but it's really hard to get what you want when your server is nowhere to be found OR takes forever to get you something. The sushi is okay. Not great, not horrible, but having experienced much better sushi elsewhere, the sushi at Cafe Asia is nothing to write home about. I *do* like that they offer a full menu which helps when you dine with people who aren't sushi fans. And it fits every budget. The entrees can be somewhat pricey but you get lots of food. However, it doesn't always taste awesome. I know the calamari rocks, but I've had the pad thai (meh) and thai fried rice (more meh). They do have sushi roll specials during happy hour, so that's another perk. Onto the lycheetinis. Try one. If you've never had a lychee, don't be scared. Think of it as Asian berries. The drink can be strong, which is great because I'm a light weight and cheap, so one is all I need. But it's fantastic. Fruity and vodka-y. Overall, this wouldn't be a place I would consider just dining at, but if I'm meeting friends for a drink and we have a hankering for sushi, I'll visit. ** Oh and there is an entire back section which I never realized existed. Another bar and more dining tables are back here. I think during the weekends after hours there is a dance floor.
(2)
Valarie G.

Good sushi, good service, all around decent food and a good price. I really am happy with Cafe Asia. It can get loud but it is a casual place so I don't mind. Also an expansive menu for non-sushi items for those who prefer. I do have to 2nd Sarah K's review in that it is a disappointment to see Bluefin tuna on the menu. "Bluefin tuna is one of the most threatened specials in the world--hovering at 3% of it's population from 1960. The sushi/fishing industry does not want you to know this because bluefin fetches a much higher price on the market than other species of tuna. What's so sad is that most people don't even know that ordering this is supporting the extinction of this species (one that is even now more threatened because of the oil spill in the Gulf.) Please JUST DON'T order it if you go to Cafe Asia!" I wish more people knew about this issue! Go to Cafe Asia, it is good - but please don't get the bluefin tuna!
(3)
Bre B.

I came here for lunch with a friend. We ordered Panang Curry with tofu (me) and a sort of deconstructed tuna roll (raw tuna over rice) dish (my friend). FOOD: Mediocre. The curry was spicy, but tasteless. It was served in a large bowl with tons of sauce, and a side bowl of rice. There was no way to eat it except dumping the rice in the large bowl, which made for a curry sauce-to-rice ratio that was way too much sauce. My friend's tuna was unexceptional as well, as was the giant bowl of Miso soup that came with her meal. My meal was $10 and hers was $15--for lunch! SERVICE: Non-existent. We ordered (after quite a wait) and then were brought our food, and then we were brought our check. That's all the interaction with the server that we had. Overall, really disappointing. There are many much better restaurants in Arlington--perhaps this one is trying to do too many different styles, and so isn't good at any of them? For these lunch prices, I expected so much more. Definitely won't be returning here!
(1)
Betsy S.

I go for the curry - I've gotten the sushi and the pad thai before, but the curry is where it's at. I ordered the panang curry with chicken and my bf ordered the red curry with chicken. I know, aren't we exciting? And waters all around! My curry was just spicy enough that the waiter should've left a pitcher at the table. But I'm kind of a spice wimp. The coconut milk tempered a bit of the kick, and the chicken was tender and soaked up the sauce just right. I tried a carrot from the red curry, and it was fork tender and made me want to eat carrots everyday. And...guess what I'm having for lunch in one hour! Leftovers. I'm pumped.
(4)
Liz J.

This place has good basic Japanese/thai food. The pad thai is ok compared to most places, the curry is pretty bland but the drunken noodles are fabulous- a bit oily but they're really good. The sushi is pretty good too. I give it a 3/5 because it's consistent, has a wide variety of food, and good. They are also open late and always have seating, which is key on the weekends.
(3)
Amber H.

Quick summary: Good ambiance, mediocre food, terrible service. Went here with my friends for some casual dinner. We had a reservation and was seated outside quickly, but our table was a combination of a round table and a square table, making the seating arrangement fairly awkward. Ordered 6 dishes to share between the 8 of us, and we ate fairly well. The food is okay- not bad, but not anything new. But having said that, given the quality/taste, it's overpriced. You'll get the same quality food (but probably not the same selection) at your local Chinese take out place, but for a lot cheaper. The ambiance is pretty modern, casual chic. Big place, good for drinks and happy hour, I think. The service is terrible. Our server was rude, barely filling up our water; we got napkins and forks ourselves from the cart nearby because we were tired of waiting for her. Also, when we wanted to order dessert after she gave us the check, she said "You said you didn't want anything else." Ummm WTF?! First of all, we meant that we didn't need anything else at the moment during the dinner. Second, WTF????!!!! Is it THAT much more work for you to put some dessert onto our check?? AND when it came out, the dessert had a mosquito or something in it. When we asked for a new one, she didn't even apologize (granted, it's not her fault, but really?) I was afraid she was gonna spit in our food. SIGH. Do try to stay away from this place.
(2)
Gaz H.

Had lunch here and fell deeply in like. Resto looks great, and more importantly, the food does not fall victim to "fusion syndrome" where the menu Is extensive but nothing is that good. Here, things are tasty. Portions are ridiculously large. Wait staff is attentive, friendly, and very accommodating. I didn't try the sushi (so can't opine on fressness, etc.), but everyone in our large party ordered something different and everyone was happy - including me with my "small plate" order of cold noodles and roast pork. Really hit the spot and had no room to eat my massive side order of Asian slaw...which I enjoyed the following day for lunch.
(4)
Sandy T.

Been here a few times and still found it to be ordinary. The venue however, is decent. It's nice and clean, but nothing exceptional that I should mention. Also, service was horrendous. They weren't agile nor attentive. At least they could of given us a smile, sheesh, how rude!! They seemed aggravated when we asked them for service. Seriously need to hire better servers. This place, however, is a good spot for happy hours and lunch time. Many drinks to choose from and the prices for lunch menu is cheaper for about same portion size as dinner. I'm not much of a drinker, but I know when mix drinks are good and their's weren't! gross If you're here to eat, the food barely reach average. I've tried many of their dishes here and nothing seemed to be amazing. The sushi was mediocre and their rolls are undistinctive. They did have a good variety to choose from though.
(2)
Vladimir G.

This place has been around forever and I know when I go that I feel comfortable ordering something new. The place is huge. It feels a bit out of style and place and doesn't match the other restaurant in DC, but the food is GREAT!. Sushi here is pretty good. I always get Philly roll and it never disappoints. I also thing their TUM YUM veggie soup is AMAZING! Good place to visit every once in a while.
(4)
Foodie C.

Food was nice. Place is a bit trendy Good selection More Asian 'Con'Fusion type cuisine Food 3 Service 2 Cleanliness 3
(3)
Alisha D.

I felt a little underdressed for a "cafe." It's actually a little more upscale than the name implies. The sushi is absolutely amazing and very reasonably priced for the Rossyln area. In the evening they have a very nice bar section, with all kinds of fun mixed drinks, and several TV's to watch different sporting events.
(4)
S V.

Prime time now for outdoor seating at this long time solid spot to get sushi or thai or other asian + hh too
(4)
Linda C.

This restaurant turns out good food fast. It gives you a taste of different types of Asian cuisine in one place. Don't expect it to be the most authentic interpretation, but it hits the food notes at about 80%. Service is efficient and friendly.
(4)
Caesar G.

I've been coming here for years, both for the food and atmosphere. Cafe Asia has a wide selection of Asian foods from Thai to Vietnamese and sushi. They also have a FANTASTIC Happy Hour with some of the cheapest prices I've seen: just $2.50 for craft beers and good app specials. The place is always packed after 5pm so get there early!
(4)
yvette r.

Cafe Asia is a mixed bag. The Rosslyn location is better than the DC location. It is a little quieter and the service is a bit better. Both locations needs to be scrubbed. I hate looking around when I am at either because there is always something dirty in plain view. (i.e. the really dusty light fixtures in Rosslyn and the splatters of someone's spilled sticky drink on the wall in DC.) The cocktails are strong, and the prices not too bad. Avoid the sushi. It is made ahead and served super cold from the fridge, making it rather tasteless. The fried appetizers are also sorta gross because they are too oily. I usually go with one of the big noodle soups or noodle dishes because they are the better parts of the menu. The Curry Laksa is yum and the portion is absurd. You will have three meals. I feel the same way about the Mee Goreng. Rosslyn does get really loud during happy hour when all of the youngsters in boring grey office wear come in to get trashed. I stick to lunches to avoid that scene.
(3)
Mark S.

I've been here a few times. I'll try to put everything together. PROS: They host a lot of charity functions. I'm sure they do get some of the profits, but at least SOMETHING is going to charity. The atmosphere is great. It's a very contemporary restaurant. After hours it turns into a small nightclub. Food is pretty good. Sushi seems fresh. CONS: a bit pricey and hard to find parking. Be careful if you park in a nearby parking garage late at night.. they often close around midnight or so.. and your car might be stuck in there overnight (didn't happen to me thankfully).
(4)
Caitlin C.

I came here with 5 other girls at 4:30 for the happy hour on Tues. We had a split experience and I say this because the first half of the service was great and the second half was horrendous! Happy hour drinks were great, a good deal, and the food was wonderful. Our first server was the nicest guy and did a wonderful job. The Yelp reviews stated the service was bad, so I was glad we were having such a great experience with our server. The server was attentive, informative, knew everything about the drinks, water was always full, etc. Foodwise, the happy hour drinks were a great deal! My udon tempura was yummy, my friends' food was tasty (fried rice, sushi, chicken teriyaki all great). So, first part of my experience was 4 stars. A lady bar tender started serving us after about 6:30. She was understandably busy while the happy hour was still going on (til 7:30), but drinks were never full and she rarely came to check if we needed refills. The most annoying part of this service was that she kept trying to take our meals before we finished. She would ask and we would decline, and then while we were conversing she came and took our food without us noticing...I found this odd/frustrating. After happy hour ended, our bartender was still incredibly inattentive. It was dead in the restaurant but she never stopped by to check on us. We tracked her down at about 9:00 for our check and she printed it out, handed it to us as one huge bill. I was frustrated that a tab of 6 girls was not separated, but we didn't ask so maybe this was our fault. But she didn't assist us in creating separate bills. She asked us to add up our part ourselves which was a huge hassle to calculate the tax per person on top of our drinks/food. Also, the gratuity was already included...For rather crummy service.... We were finally finished and rung up by 9:30. Although the food and happy hour drink specials were good, I'm giving this place a 3 because, like all the other reviewers have said, the service is just not there.
(3)
Trang N.

STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE! People are talking about how this place is trendy, hip, modern, etc, but seriously, all you see is plain wood in a big white room. Not that great of a venue! But anyways, I came there recently with a big party for dinner. Here are some memorable/mentionable things: 1. The chairs were extremely squeaky and they needed folded napkins to keep the tables from wobbling. Someone's chair actually BROKE! 2. My friend had brought in an energy drink from outside and our server (who, by the way is one of the worst servers I've ever had in my life) came up to my friend and said "no beer in here"... Uhm, hello? Can you look thoroughly before you get so rude? Anyways, after my friend told him that in fact, it was an energy drink, the server came back to my friend 5 minutes later with a cup full of ice saying "put it in here so my manager won't yell at me." in the most jerk off tone. I felt like we were children! SERIOUSLY. 3. Me and my other friend ordered sushi, gave our sushi order (via paper) to the server. He snatches the paper from her hand and asks "Whatchu want!" Seriously.....????? He was so rude. Overall, the food was mediocre, I've had way better sushi for less money. The decor is not that great. Service was terrible. I wish I had the server's name to warn you guys, but I don't. I am never coming back.
(1)
Diana K.

Came here for a client lunch meeting because my client wanted to go - wasn't dazzled, wasn't appalled. Definitely caters to more Americanized taste buds, but it's supposed to be fusion, so I guess that's to be expected. I don't remember the sevice being very good or feeling like the restaurant was very clean. It's a C-class restaurant and though it sufficed as a place to eat lunch at, I would never go here for dinner.
(3)
Caroline J.

I went to this Cafe Asia this past Friday night. The place was Chuck E. Cheese, an afterwork happy hour and sit-down dinner joint all in one. It was just odd to see a crowded bar to the left and back-to-back parked strollers at the front door. And the food was awful. My pad Thai tasted as if had been cooked in dirty cooking oil recycled/re-used throughout the day. And the bottom of my plate was packed with the dirtly OIL, not sauce. I tasted my date's chicken satay and fried rice....and it tasted like an Asain-inspired lean cuisine frozen dinner.
(1)
Sally M.

I remember loving Cafe Asia the last time I lived in DC, though was a bit disappointed last night when I grabbed the Indonesian Fried Rice to-go. The mushrooms tasted bad, and the rice was oddly textured & clumpy. Will need to try other varieties of Fried Rice to compare, as well as a few other menu item staples before I determine my overall stance.
(3)
Qwerty -.

I thought it was strange when our curry arrived in five minutes flat, and the edges had congealed, as though it had been heated intensely. But it made sense the next day when I microwaved my leftovers: The curry had gone sour. Yes, in under a day. Clearly, they keep the entrees in lukewarm food trays and nuke 'em when someone orders up a serving. I guess I should be glad I didn't get food poisoning or something. Not getting food poisoning: the highlight of Cafe Asia.
(2)
Stephanie W.

This was the first place I ever tried sushi. My friend had been eating sushi for years and she finally convinced me to try it. I went with something safe, the California roll and Cucumber roll, nothing fancy. The rolls were okay, nothing about them made me want to order more, of course it could have been because it was my first time. I had ordered the Teriyaki Chicken and it was very yummy. The carrot salad that came with it had a delicious ginger dressing, one I have not been able to find anywhere else. The parking was slightly obnoxious. But what do you expect when you are visiting the Arlington/DC area...parking garages is all you get. The restaurant was HUGE too. The front area was mostly occupied by the bar and the sushi bar. Seating was abundant but it was odd getting to the tables. It was almost like walking around a maze. Once we did arrive at our table the space was very lofty. There was also a HUGE tv screen playing some Asian inspired video and music. Overall the experience was worth it because trying Case Asia's sushi did get me trying more.
(4)
Cara R.

I am not sure why I do it. I just keep coming back to Cafe Asia. It must be due to the location, because it certainly is not the food. The calamari is okay - but not wow. The sushi is terrible - not - damn - they had a bad night terrible, but I have ordered it five different times & not once was it good terrible. I am breaking the cycle. Next time someone says - let's meet at Cafe Asia - I will stop being lazy & suggest going elsewhere.
(2)
Buddha N.

I think this place is better of the two CAFE ASIA'S The one in DC needs some updating and food isnt as fresh as the Arlington Location. Love this place, good selection of Asian foods but it is catered to the American Taste buds, so if your looking for that Authentic flavor, go else where. Sushi is good and fresh Soups are good the Grilled Asian Salad is awesome and huge at this location, it comes in a huge white bowl The Calamari here is good too and huge portion for appetizer. Happy Hour prices for Sushi here is pretty good too. Only thing that sucks at this place is parking.
(3)
Eriko I.

I went to afternoon time with my friend. I ate Sushi plate. It was not bad. but it's not delicious. Because, I'm Japanese. So I know taste of "delicious sushi" .
(3)
Jon R.

Last night we were treated for dinner by some friends of ours. We decided we wanted a bit of all Asia. We were very happy with all of it. Our server was a little on the "not around" side but the food and the conversation made up for a most amazing meal. The sushi was excellent, the pad thai was fine and the rest of the meal from what i gathered was very well done. We left full and happy. Will totally go again.
(4)
Chris N.

This is one of these places that can be really good with the right dish or really bad if you order say sushi. The soups are especially good here! And can someone please explain to me what that giant unused room is in the back?
(3)
Tori M.

I'll be honest, I like pretty things. And I like to spend time in pretty places. The food and ambience are all very pretty. Everything kinda goes downhill from there. Cafe Asia is a fusion restaurant that's more style over substance. Anyplace with Thai, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean food on the menu should send warning flags up for you. I would bring my friends here for a happy hour drink, but not for the food. There are far better Thai restaurants, Chinese restaurants, and Japanese restaurants in the DMV. Your friends will probably like Cafe Asia if they don't know what good Asian food tastes like. They'll like the presentation and the ambiance. If you're looking for authentic food, looks somewhere else. As an aside, Cafe Asia has a big area in the back that you can rent out for a party or event of some kind. The staff is usually accommodating, but dont expect any smiles.
(2)
Ashley W.

I came here today for the first time during a lunch break at my new job. I was looking forward to finding another sushi place since my favourite one had closed and my new home for a disproportionate amount of my week is now five minutes away from this place. However, I was sorely disappointed. I love sushi and I'd like to think I know what I'm talking about when it comes to freshness and composition, and this sushi was not quality sushi. I know this place is supposed to be a fusion restaurant and I can respect what they're attempting to do, but maybe they should focus more on the Japanese element. The sushi was sweet. All of it. Without exception. I've never had sweet sushi in my life, and it was disconcerting. I like my sushi to be flavourful and fresh and savoury, and this sushi was none of those things. They also used a TON of tobiko- it was in the rolls with the fish, coating the rolls all around the outside, and littered all over the plate. It gave the sushi a graininess I hadn't encountered before and wouldn't care to again. I decided to order dessert to see if I couldn't salvage the experience somewhat and got the fried banana. I like fried things- I am often heard saying, "Fry anything and I'll eat it". This, in general, is true. I guess I wasn't expecting them to fry the banana in the tempura style. The saltiness and the sweetness collided in a way that was unpleasant instead of surprising or delicious, and I ended up kind of carving the banana out of the tempura and eating it with the peanut bits, honey, and ice cream that comprised the rest of the dish. All that being said, the staff were very nice and friendly with the exception of one guy who, I kid you not, was staring at me the entire time. From like, ten feet away. He didn't even pretend he wasn't doing it when I looked up and locked eyes with him once or twice. He just stood there and stared at me. This was distinctly weird and made what would have been a merely disappointing experience into something more akin to 'disturbing'. I'll avoid this place in the future.
(2)
Christopher O.

Omg I had a feast here last night. My sister and I came around 8:30 and got sat right away, and we ordered these two sushi dishes to start. I forgot the names of them but one was smoked salmon and the other was tuna. In total we had 16 pieces, and I also got the tonkatsu which is breaded pork cutlet with some slaw salad and rice. I grew up in Korea so I love this dish and they made it really well. My sister also got a sashimi with noodles dish which she enjoyed a lot. I'd say this is like an Asian Cheesecake Factory because you get a ton of food and we only paid about 55 bucks for all of it. Come here hungry.
(4)
Natasha S.

This place is definitely all about atmosphere and a great social gathering. The food is pretty good, depending on what you order. They have great Happy Hour specials, and offer plenty of seating. Weekends generally get really busy, and most likely you will have to wait a short while before getting a table. Of course smaller groups, get in sooner. This place also offers a pretty romantic scene. Definitely a great place, to take a first date! Back to the more important things... FOOD! The food is pretty good, like I said. Sushi is decent. Although does have it's days. They offer a wide variety of choices of Asian food. And I'd have to say the best is probably within the Thai - Japanese range. I don't care for the Chinese options that they offer. Then again who am I to judge, since I am half and probably just used to authentic Chinese. Regardless, I think everyone should at least try this place once. I feel like it has mixed reviews, and really just depends on what you like. Overall, this place has dishes to accommodate everybody.
(4)
Brent S.

Cafe Asia tries to have all types of asian food, and in the process, everything is mediocre or not good. The sushi here is sub par and not cheap, for better sushi go to Kanpai down the street. The Thai curry dish I got just plain wasn't good. Location and lack of options within a quick walk of here (other than sushi) are the only reasons to go here. They do seem to have a decent happy hour though. A group of us got a pitcher of beer for a good price here, and some of the sushi is cheaper.
(2)
Derek H.

It's crazy how much better the Courthouse/Roslyn Cafe Asia is compared to the one downtown. The downtown one is quiet, looks like an IKEA catalogue, and feels like a closet. The Roslyn one has a huge glass finish, big open spaces, nice wood furnishing, and a pretty good bar. This place is a great place to go on a weekend before going out; it's got a good drink selection, good food for a really affordable price (I like the Drunken Noodles; maybe not Thai-perfect but hell, it all tastes pretty good), a huge selection of food choices befitting the name, and a nice amount of space if you're looking for a normal sit-down meal or some appetizers at the bar. This place tends to attract an international crowd, I guess because late night the back room becomes a dance club or something. I've never bothered with that. But the crowd is a nice mixture of age groups and ethnicities that you don't see too often in Arlington. Sushi is hit or miss, but the cost is right. They usually have some special rolls -- the best being the Firecracker Roll. Come here with a few friends, spend 2 hours getting drinks, and just order sushi before heading to Georgetown. You can't go wrong.
(4)
B G.

Cafe Asia isn't what it used to be. the food was terrible and service was the worst I have had in a long time. everyone from the hostess to the waiter to the bus boy was rude. i will not be coming back here again.
(1)
Yule K.

Cafe Asia is a "fusion" restaurant...the type of place now ensconced in the better strip malls across the American heartland. As a rule, I generally avoid "fusion" restaurants for the simple reason that I don't fully understand the appeal of being able to order candied Pad Thai with a side of California rolls squirted with syrupy teriyaki sauce on top. But, as it so happens, I was meeting some people after work and since this restaurant is conveniently located in the hive-like catacomb of office buildings in Rosslyn, we all decided to come here. The interior is of a minimalist design, de rigueur for this type of establishment. The walls are primarily glass, the open-air kitchen is composed of burnished stainless steel, the furnishings are made of blonde laminate, and the place is otherwise unadorned with ornament (the gigantic projection screen broadcasting a basketball game being the one notable and garish exception). The color palette of the interior is, much like the food, whitewashed. All we would need to complete this archetypal design scheme is a gigantic Buddha statue, a rock garden, and some bonsai trees surrounding a little electric-powered fountain with a cutesy spout. The clientele is to be expected: young urban office drones wearing their Friday night best, sipping on industrial pinot grigio and gamefully spearing pieces of gamy spicy tuna roll on their chopsticks. Luckily, since it was a Friday, they kept their yoga mats at home, though every table had a Blackberry, Droid, or Iphone sitting next to the bottle of soy sauce and packages of Nutrasweet. As for the cuisine, I ordered a beef rendang, which the menu characterized as an Indonesian curry. I have had this type of curry before in Malaysian restaurants, and it is an interesting cross between Indian and Thai style curries: it contains the earthiness, weight, and deep color of an Indian curry while also having the creaminess and some of the brightness of a Thai curry. The sauce in this dish was actually pleasant and piquant; unfortunately the beef was not properly braised and thus insufferably stringy. After eating this dish, I can now safely report to any medical journal two surefire ways to contract lockjaw: stepping on a rusty nail and masticating the beef in this rendang. I had a taste of my friends' dishes as well. One ordered the Lemongrass Chicken, which was fine. It was made out of boneless, skinless chicken thighs (vastly superior in flavor to chicken breast). It had a nice char, was moist, and surprisingly tasted like chicken (though I didn't taste any lemongrass). Nothing you couldn't get anywhere else. My friend had Shrimp Pad Thai. It was bland and limp, which is actually a vast improvement to most other pad thai I have eaten because at the very least it wasn't saccharine and cloying. Then there was fried rice. It looked fine. At least it looked like it wasn't prefabricated in a factory and reheated in a wok. All in all, the one reason you would come to this place is that it is convenient and there is so-so people watching, if pasty-faced Rosslyn office workers tanned by fluorescent lamps are your thing.
(2)
Fina A.

I have to go back here again. For the first timer, I got to try their Curry Laksa. My friends told me it was okay, good but mehhh nothing special. Well, referring to my taste bud, I have to agree with them. It's good, but next time I am so gonna order the other menu they have. I got to try the Mee Goreng, it's crazy awesome, so gonna have my own plate next time. For the price they have, the portion is huge, that's another plus. Can't wait for another visit.
(4)
Mrs C.

I lived in DC two years ago and the food seemed better at that time. I recently ordered vegetable panang curry. It didn't have much of a taste and there were hardly any vegetables in the curry, two pieces of broccoli and three baby corns. I asked for it to be spicy but I guess that wasn't communicated. I wasn't asked if I wanted brown or white rice either, it's partly my fault that I didn't remember but I dislike that I've never had anyone ask. The only thing that they make here that I would actually go back for is the Singapore noodle bowl. I also ordered another vegetable dish, the Chinese style stir fried mixed vegetables. It wasn't anything I'd recommend. I didn't eat all of it and asked if I could get it in a to-go bag. The women brought my dish back packaged up but she told me that I shouldn't tilt the bag at all because it was in a flimsy container. Just the two block walk to our apartment had the liquid soaking through the bags. I have no idea why she would put a dish with a lot of liquid in such a flimsy container.
(2)
Paige M.

The interior of Cafe Asia is chique and trendy. If "state of the art" and "Thai" could be a combined thought, this would be it. Think: Target decor and lots of windows. Some tables have a view of the open kitchen where you can watch the chefs prepare food. Our group thoroughly enjoyed our meals. I had some fantastic sushi. There were many different choices than the standard selection...I was enthralled! My friend swears his tofu pad thai was the best he's ever had. (He's also suggested returning to D.C. solely to eat here again!) Our other friends had stir-fry dishes which they raved about. Cafe Asia was packed full of people during our visit, so others must agree; their food is quite memorable!
(4)
Doug P.

I tried Cafe Asia for the first time yesterday during happy hour. The place was a lot larger than I would have imaged for a "Cafe" but was very clean and modern styled. It was a little hard to get their staff's attention at times but they were not overtly rude. The food itself was average. I had 5 rolls and two appetizers. Nothing really blew me away unfortunately. It was decent but I would not rush back for a full price meal. We asked the bartender what the wine for happy hour was and he was not sure and just showed us the bottle and said "It's this stuff." Not to be pompous, but I expect the bartender to be well versed in the drinks they are selling, especially the deals of the night.
(3)
Nadia A.

The food here is ok. I always get the vegetable lo mein which is good. I like how the restaurant looks; very trendy. The only thing that sucks is the waitress/waiters. We almost always have to wait a long time for them to come to our tables. Especially to check in on us.
(3)
Annie K.

The service is decent and the food is okay, but their drinks are good. I usually get the Singapore noodles and calamari. (in my opinion, the best in this area) They only have street parking, and a lot across the street, but overall, this place is just average.
(3)
Sally R.

Recently ordered delivery which arrived within the estimated 45mins. One thing is for sure, the portions were pretty big, the prices reasonable. I ordered Curry Laksa which tasted good, but the chicken was a it dry if it hadn't been for pouring the broth over it, I would have been unhappy. I think the soup could have used a little dimension- it was simply noodles, shredded chicken, bean sprouts and fried tofu. I don't like when people fry tofu, it gives it an unappealing sponginess- I would much prefer it to steamed or boiled in the soup. The summer rolls I ordered were also alright, but I found the dipping sauce to be a bit gritty, not sure why. The red curry chicken was also one dimensional like the soup. No complaints on the seaweed salad and Dragon roll.
(3)
Nicole K.

I came here couple months ago for Sunday brunch. I was craving asian tapas and sushi so stopped by as I remembered ten years how the food tasted. Boy did the food change from ten years. I wished I read the reviews before spending $70 dollars here! First, sushi tasted all the same, ordered shrimp tempura and received only 2 shrimps, wontons tasted funny and crab wontons were horrible. Service was not bad. The server was rude in the beginning. I get it, who wants to work on a Sunday, but why take it out on your customers? Anyhow, will not be coming back!!
(1)
Reggie B.

This has to be the best Asian joint in the area!!! Every time I go there I have to order the General Tso Chicken. It's to die for!!! It's not hard and crunchy like the neighborhood Chinese restaurants. Shrimp tempura and California rolls will keep you coming back too!!!! Be prepared to ride around for parking if you go around lunch and happy hour just like with most Arlington restaurants. And hopefully you don't find a parking spot down Wilson Blvd cause that hill is a biatch! Lmao!! There is a club thru the restaurant too. Not sure which night is the best.
(5)
Aja A.

I can't count how many times I have driven or walked past this place, and never been inside. It would be a nice place for happy hour on the patio, given the weather being perfect, and last night it was spitting rain so that wasn't an option. We hit the tail end of happy hour, but wanted to order rolls, so it didn't matter. We tried the dragon roll, the cafe asia roll, the spicy salmon roll, a fireball roll with scallop, and the spicy crab roll. We also had the crab rangoon appetizer, which came with a lemon favlored dipping sauce that was really fantastic. My friends had beers and I had a glass of cava, and our bill was just under 60$. The service was fine, although they seated us in a section that was completely full of patrons, with two tables close on either side of us, when the rest of the restaurant was completely empty. It was so loud in that little section we practically had to scream to be heard. They deliver, so I will definitely have to check that service out. We only had sushi, and my friends assured me the other entrees are nothing special, but I'm keen to find out myself.
(3)
Tiffany W.

I always enjoy going to Cafe Asia, and tonight's visit was no different. Arrived around 5pm on a Friday and was surprised at how empty it was - no happy hour crowd, no wait for a table - nice! Had edamame as an appetizer, which was ok, but not stellar (Pei Wei takes the cake for their edamame!). Ordered the SZECHUAN STYLE GARLIC SAUCE with shrimp and was pleasantly surprised that it came with broccoli (wasn't mentioned on the menu). It was good - although there was A LOT of sauce! I brought 2 sushi veterans with me, folks who have had sushi in 5 states, as well as Mexico and Vancouver, and they thought Cafe Asia was great! A testatment to it's wonderful menu :)
(4)
Lily S.

Ok soooo...I don't usually eat Indonesian food (the food of my people) at places that serve food OTHER THAN Indonesian. But I took a chance and did here. And it was DAMN good. A close second to my mum's cooking. Despite the fact that the lighting in that place is blinding, the food was fantastic and the service was great as well. And the people we were with? HI-LAR-IOUS (you know who you are). We heart DC.
(4)
Heather G.

Having never been to this location and craving something Asian (I'm clearly not an Asian cuisine connoisseur) we decided to come here. They offer Japanese, Korean and Chinese on the menu (something I've been told to avoid) and the location is convenient. This restaurant is described as "Asian themed" and the decor (or lack thereof) was unimpressive. I do like the simple little tables. I almost felt like I was eating in my high school's cafeteria because of the high ceilings and cramped seating arrangements. It was also very loud as it was busy and the echo inside is nuts. The location could have been cleaner but our waiter was awesome. Very efficient. He made sure I was aware cherry cokes don't get free refills, which I thought was okay of him. We ordered the calamari as an appetizer and it was brought out within 10 minutes. It was pretty bland and we got a TON of it. I've never been served so much calamari before. Wasn't a big fan of the chili sauce that accompanied it either. It was pretty rubbery, was it heated up and brought out to us? It was, however, reasonably priced. I would have been pissed if I had payed $9 or $10 for it. We got the Drunken Noodle and the Lo Mein with shrimp and chicken, no cabbage. The Drunken noodles were the most bland and tasteless we had ever had. The minced chicken that topped the dish was just plain gross as it had no flavor except that of chicken flavored water. Gross. The Lo Mein was delicious. I wish the noodles had been a little bit thicker, but that is my personal preference, I suppose. We were in and out within an hour, which I like, but I could sense that perhaps the wait staff is hardcore on turning tables over quickly.. a habit that I'm sure would piss off a lot of people I know. Overall, I might get the Lo Mein to go if I happened to be in the area one day but I wouldn't go out of my way to go back here.
(2)
David K.

Cafe Asia is an example of style over substance. The place is certainly trendy, has a large outdoor patio in the summer, and attracts large crowds since there are very few competitors for after work dining in the Rosslyn area. It is a good place to meet up with friends and enjoy their excellent happy hour specials. Just don't expect to be wowed by the food. The sushi fish was a bit chewy, and my stomach felt rumbly afterwards. The chicken satay was good, but nothing exceptional. I'd put the quality on par with what you'd find in a mall food court. I think this is a case of an Asian restaurant that tries to cover multiple cuisines, despite the fact that the cuisines are extremely different. Personally, I prefer restaurants that specialize in what they do best, rather than water down their skills trying to be a jack of all trades. When the summer comes around again, I'll most likely be back at Cafe Asia for several Friday happy hours, but beyond that, there are so many better options to eat at in the area.
(2)
Izzat A.

This was one of the first places that I ate at when I came to DC. My friend raves about this place and took me there. I really liked the ambiance there. It's definitely very chic and seems to be minimalistic. Getting a seat never took long. I got the chicken paid thai and asked them to make it hot and from what I remember it was. It was pretty good. It was a bit pricey, but overall it's a solid place. You can definitely do a lot worse than here.
(3)
Sarah K.

Why is Cafe Asia serving endangered Bluefin tuna as part of their sushi specials? Bluefin tuna is one of the most threatened specials in the world--hovering at 3% of it's population from 1960. The sushi/fishing industry does not want you to know this because bluefin fetches a much higher price on the market than other species of tuna. What's so sad is that most people don't even know that ordering this is supporting the extinction of this species (one that is even now more threatened because of the oil spill in the Gulf.) Please JUST DON'T order it if you go to Cafe Asia! (PS I am not vegetarian or a super-environmentalist but I wanted to spread the word. Don't order this--you are better than that!) montereybayaquarium.org/â€¦
(1)
Marivic L.

I've been to Cafe Asia lots of times, so I've been able to sample quite a bit of their menu. I've tried various items off their sushi list. It's passable, but nothing to write home about. It's basically what you'd expect from a place that doesn't specialize in sushi. Their veggies have been good, and their fried rice was good, though I've only had it once. They do simple well. Their appetizers are their strong point, again, probably because they're simple. You can't really go too wrong with edamame, spring rolls, tempura and summer rolls. My fave is the Spicy Chinese Ravioli. It actually tastes freshly made, and the sauce is spicy and flavorful. Their other stuff is pretty much on-par with their sushi. I've tried their pad thai (meh), drunken noodles (very disappointing since I love this dish), and the lo mein and yaki soba just lacked flavor. I don't know what happens when a place is considered asian-fusion. Sometimes, I think "fusion" is code word for "not as good as a regular asian place." It's a large stylish place where people seem to go to see and be seen, or party it up. If you're into that, then go, and just know that the food will be decent, but nothing fab.
(2)
Jake K.

If you're a single professional who is looking for a target rich environment of other unhitched counterparts, this is your place. Oh yeah, and if you like Asian food, this might be for you too. I remember walking into this joint a few years ago when I was single and hearing the trumpets blaring with clouds parting to allow a ray of sunshine to beam down on me...unfortunately, while I thought it was one of those Holy Grail moments, it turns out it was to highlight the pimple on my face discovered only after a few sneers that responded to my creepy, "Can I take you home?" smile. Fast forward a few years and it's the same type of place. I guess this time I could say, I just keep getting older and they stay the same age...the singles, that is. It's still a bit of a meat market - only I've got The Wife to remind me that I no longer have any more business in that joint besides the occasional employer sponsored happy hour. Food is ok - I mean, it's not remarkable but it will keep you off of smokey the bear's radar for a couple more minutes if you choose to brave the roadways in a sake-bomb induced stupor (which I don't encourage). Oh, and it's louder than hell in there so if you do decide to stay more than 30 minutes, take a few shots of volume juice and enjoy the hoarse throat the next day.
(3)
Leon E.

I ordered some delivery Sushi from here for dinner with my fiancÃ©. We both agree that it was the worst sushi we have ever had. I've had better sushi at my campus cafeteria. I'm not sure if this was an off day or not...while the prices are lower than most sushi, you don't even get what you pay for. We ordered 5 rolls, many had overpowering flavors and some were just bland. We also ordered tempura app, which while it was pretty good, you only get 4 pieces for $8. Surprisingly we did not get sick. Can not recommend this place after this experience.
(1)
King C.

I came to Cafe Asia for their Happy Hour, which is $1.25 for Nigiri sushi. That does not include rolls or any other kinds of Sushi and I believe it's half off beers as well. The atmosphere was very well done. They have a main dinning area and a huge secondary dinning area in the back. Their sushi was amazing. It was sooo fresh and you can taste every bit of it. Would've ate a lot more but at 1.25 a piece it gets kinda of pricey after a while. However, I would definitely recommend this place if you want to try different kinds of Nigiri sushi and their quality is amazing.
(4)
Mo J.

Consistently bad-mediocre Asian food.
(2)
N P.

------------------------------ DO NOT GO HERE ------------------------------------ I had possibly the worst meal of my life here. The sushi I ordered was straight up rotten. I had one piece of a yellowtail and scallion roll... tasted it's funk and then pr
(1)
Elina T.

We've been coming to this place for years and they do many things well: - rice dishes, like Singapore rice - creative rolls - appetizers, especially the crab rangoon This is not the place for authentic Japanese and fresh fish for sashimi and sushi. It's "a little bit of everything" Asian. So, take it for what it's worth. They have good happy hour and lots of outdoor seating. The place is always happening and has good energy. It's also really spacious and you can choose to get a table, sit at the bar, or sit at the sushi bar. The service is always decent as well.
(4)
Peter M.

I really want to like Cafe Asia. I live close to it, I work close to it, my friends like it, but I just can't get into it. The space is gigantic, the menu is confused and the service is terrible. Came here tonight because I got home late from work and didn't have anything in the fridge. I've had the noodles and General Tao Chicken before so I thought I might as well give the sushi a shot and ordered the Sushi Dinner with 8 pieces of sushi and one roll. Came out with bland miso soup, white tuna, tuna, white fish, yellow tail, surf clam, octopus, salmon, squid and a tuna roll. We ordered fried calamari to share. The calamari came out in a mound of what looked like short soggy french fries. They tasted like rubber bands that had been battered and fried. When the sushi came it actually looked pretty good, but if I had closed my eyes the only one I would've been able to distinguish would have been the octopus because of the suction cups. Just really disappointing. If I go back, I will probably stick with a noodle dish or something like that, but if you want asian, there are much better places in the area.
(2)
Laura L.

Cafe Asia is a great place in the "fancy-casual happy hour dining experience" category. I think they used to have some sort of "$1 sushi' happy hour special, but I am unsure if they do this anymore. My favorite here is the enormous bowl of hot curry laksa soup noodles ($10-$14). I get it when a combo of chicken veggies, and with egg noodles. It has a light coconut milk + lemongrass-y spice curry taste. The prices at Cafe Asia are *so* reasonable if you are staying away from the alcohol (other than happy hour drink specials... if so, then go for it!) I personally wouldn't get the sushi here. Not because it isn't fresh, but because there are so many other places to get sushi-- the star here is the laksa!
(3)
Wayne K.

Since my friend said I needed to write a review, I thought I'd do one on Cafe Asia since this is the only restaurant where I've been to their happy hour more than 5 times...ugh....:) I've also eaten here twice and the food was nothing special. Average at best. Service is also mediocre, both during dinner and at the bar. However, I have to give it some points for the big open space in the back where there's plenty of room to hangout and not get trampled on. Also, if you like chilling with a bunch of Asian people, this seems to be a great place to go. Almost every time I've been, I'm always surprised to find so many Asian Americans getting their dinner/drink on. Everyone seems pretty friendly, but it also attracts the big birthday party crowd, which can be a little cliquish sometimes. However, overall, I've had fun the times I went.
(3)
Steve O.

All dishes are (including their sushi) served as "good enough to eat". Don't expect to be WOW'd by anything because you won't. People go here for either happy hour or for lunch due to the lack of good lunch spots in Rosslyn. I recently went for lunch and ordered spring rolls and Singaporean noodles with pork. When I got my food, I felt something was missing so I asked for Sriracha hot sauce. The waiter said he could bring it out but he will have to charge $1 extra for it. WTF!!!??? Maybe it's pressure from the economy but nickel and diming your customers for a small saucer of hot sauce is.... well... distasteful. And any restaurant that charges extra for hot sauce should not be able to have "Asia" in its name. From now on, I'll only refer to this place as Cafe.
(2)
Chantelle A.

So...I've heard plenty about this place...tried the Spicy Tuna Roll and the Spider roll.....It was okay...I've had better. I also ordered the Miso Soup....it was $4...as much as I eat sushi-I have never spent that much for soup. The actual restaurant was odd to me...not your normal sushi place...usually sushi joints are intimate and small and quiet. Nooo not this one...it had high ceilings...was it a previously a factory or something? I wasnt impressed with my experience at this place.
(2)
Jen G.

YUM YUM! Pannang curry , sushi, beef randang sooooo good. new regular
(5)
Hannah B.

We go to Cafe Asia at least once a month for either dinner or happy hour. They have great happy hour deals on beer, apps, and sushi. As for dinner, it is a good option for big groups and they are generally pretty quick with the food. The quality of food is OK not award winning. I prefer Sawatdee's drunken noodles. But Cafe Asia has enough options that you can find something you like. They do have the best asian styale Calamari of all the restaurants in Arlington! Check it out!
(4)
Bryan J.

I'm torn. The service was great. Head chef honored our request for something fried. But cafe Asia had been touted as "amazing happy hour place". Not so. Crappy beers on tap were cheap and nigiri (1.25 per piece) were cheap but the cuts were so tiny it was laughable. Quality was nothing to write home about either. Overall the experience left me feeling like I have no reason to return given the variety of other sushi places in DC
(2)
Katie B.

The food is good, not amazingly fabulous, but good, and worth its price. The restaurant has a nice casual atmosphere, and even though it is usually full and busy it doesn't feel like it- or sound like it. You can have a nice dinner and conversation with friends, without feeling rushed or having to talk loud over the hustle and bustle. More often then not I do take out or delivery, and they're pretty speedy about getting my food together.
(4)
M B.

Ughh this place is a mess. I had dinner here a year ago and the sushi was average, nothing special but the decor is cute so I would give dinner an extra half star. However, it is overpriced ... lame! I recently went there for happy hour and it was horrible. I actually got there too late for happy hour, it ends at 7:30 There was no seating, the crowd was weird and my mojito was clearly was made from a mix. They charged me $8.50 for it. What a rip off. It's basically like every other over-priced, trendy restaurant in D.C. you pay for the nice interior decorating.
(2)
bill s.

Generous at 3 stars. More like 2.5 would be in order here. There is better food in the area. Went with group for happy hour. Sushi was pretty good. Took a little while for it to arrive. Some was a little too warm when served. Used to better quality sushi in Georgetown and around Verizon Center. Dumplings were awful. Over cooked, mushy. Dumplings from HMart made at home twice as good. Calamari was fair. Nice out door area.
(3)
Nicole R.

Loved it. Went for happy hour and it was great. Got a Green Tea Martini for $4 (I think?). It was strong, and pretty reasonably priced. Also got some sushi (1/2 price during happy hour for a couple special rolls) -- eel, masago, avocado, and tuna I think? It was stellar. Got the summer rolls... only $3 - awesome! Spring rolls were $3 too. Cheap bill, great service, awesome food, definitely going back.
(5)
Ally C.

Overall I'd say Cafe Asia is pretty mediocre. The food is edible, but if you're looking for truly authentic Asian food, eat somewhere else. I've had some Thai & Vietnamese dishes for work meals here, so can't really speak to the sushi but both times I was disappointed. You could definitely find other restaurants in Arlington that provide better quality food for the same price. This restaurant thrives simply because of its convenient location and the lunch crowd it gets from the surrounding businesses on week days. I only come here out of convenience, but if I'm craving really good Asian food I'd go somewhere else.
(3)
Christopher R.

I'm a pretty good judge of Asian food being from Seattle! I think this place is great! Especially for lunch and Asian Brew happy hour. The Sushi is fabulous!!! It reminds me, fondly, of all the fabulous places to have sushi at home! I had a house special and a Red Dragon Roll, yum! My office tends to go here every 2 weeks or so. It's large and so can easily house 8 people with minimal wait. Parking is also convenient in the building next door (with a fee of course). I also like the atmosphere, it is very open, and feels like a big place. The service was also great, my water glass was always topped off. They have a HUGE menu, but I have heard (and attested that the sushi is the best). I'm willing to come back and try some other things on the menu. Only downside is the price, this place is pretty dang pricey for what you get. It may be worth it, but definitely not the every week place.
(4)
joe w.

Note the raw sushi was more affordable than the cooked sushi. The selection of cooked sushi was better than the selection of raw. If you liked cooked and don't mind paying a premium for the combination, this could be a happening fusion place to eat. We used a livingsocial coupon to improve upon the affordability of this place.
(3)
Becky C.

The funny thing is that I'm a regular here - as in multiple times per month - but it's not like it's the greatest place I've ever eaten. It's a very convenient location and offers a pretty broad menu. From Thai to sushi to Chinese, you really can find something for everyone on this menu. But none of it is out-of-this-world good. The pad thai (which I order a lot) is kind of dry and lacks any sort of heat. The sushi (I get veggie rolls) are pretty average. The seaweed salad and edamame is about what you would expect from anyplace. The layout is very cafeteria-esque. I initially was not a fan of this, but have since learned that this huge, open layout means so many table that there is never a wait. So that made me warm-up to it a bit. So this isn't anything remarkable, but a good, inexpensive option for dinner or lunch.
(3)
Ashley A.

The place is huge, so if you're looking to accommodate a big group of people, Cafe Asia is one place you can definitely consider. The portion size is pretty large when it comes to entrees, so it seems like they definitely designed this place for larger groups who plan on sharing their meals. Now when it comes to the taste of the food...I always get the Nasi Uduk, which is an Indonesian dish that literally means "mixed rice." It comes with an assortment of yummy sides, including beef satay and gado-gado (Indonesian peanut sauce salad). If I had to rate this place based on the Nasi Uduk alone, it'd get 4 stars, but that is not the case. I've tried other dishes and everything else pretty much falls short. The Kway Teow is way too sweet, the sushi is below average and does not taste fresh, and the Mee Goreng tastes better when I make my own from the IndoMie ramen noodle packages you can buy at the Asian stores. Seriously, just be safe and order the Nasi Uduk and the Thai Iced Tea was actually pretty good too. Like other reviews mentioned, the service is good, but a bit slow (maybe because the restaurant is so big).
(3)
Juichia C.

Authenticity is not their forte, but their food is clean, fast and satisfying. They offer a "fusion" of Asian dishes, including Thai, Japanese, Chinese styles. It's a good place to hit when you're not sure which Asian style cuisine you want that night! I also like the decor of Cafe Asia as it's simple and modern. The bar area is very lively on weekend nights, and as you may have guessed, the scene consists mostly of Asians. What I love about the place is their fast and friendly service, and wide variety of choices. Recommend the spicy Chinese dumplings from the appetizers, the pork ramen, the spicy shrimp salad, and other noodle dishes. I don't recommend the sushi there, it's just okay.
(4)
Joellen S.

So on a recent business trip to DC I got a recommendation for this place from an Internet friend. I like Asian food in general - and I eat a lot of it as I live in a San Diego suburb that is primarily Asian. I went twice on my trip - for two reasons: The Chocolate Martini and the Sticky Rice with Mango both of which were really excellent. The sticky rice in particular I am very fussy about - I like it sweet AND sticky and Cafe Asia delivered - and they served it in a huge bowl/plate type thing. My eyes got all wide. YUMMY! I'm addicted! 5 stars! As for the other food the first night I had sushi. A couple different types. 2 Stars. Sushi should not be chewy (it was) AND it should not fall apart. I was not overly impressed. So the second time I went I had the Thai Red Curry. It had a nice flavor, adequate meat and veggies/potatoes in it but was not as hot as I like it. I think it would be hot enough for most who don't frequent Thai restaurants (or Mexican ones) but for those of us from SoCal used to really hot food - it needed some more bite. The other strange thing is that they served it in a big bowl - with a small side bowl of rice. Now I usually eat Thai curry OVER rice which, effectively, I really couldn't do. I sort of made do - but it was awkward. 4 stars though for the flavor and the fact it was not too oily or sweet. So really about 3 1/2 stars I rounded up on account of the SUPER fantastic sticky rice with Mango. I'd eat here again. The ambiance was fine - nothing special. It was fairly busy both times I went (one weeknight and one Saturday) and that's usually a good sign. The overall cost was reasonable as well. I walked up from my hotel and hit up the Safeway on the way back for some snacks for the hotel room.
(4)
Carolyn B.

You walk in and the bar seemed to be a happening place. We luckily didn't have to wait long to be seated so that was nice. I was with a group and the service was actually quite nice. After we ordered, we got our food in about 10 - 15 minutes. We were all surprised on how fast our food came after we ordered it. I ordered the Pangang Curry which was pretty good with Tofu. One of the people I was with said she enjoys their Pad Thai although I did here someone say it wasn't very good and since I have been to Thailand, I have a feeling it wouldn't be as good as the real thing. The service was good and the food was appetizing. I didn't puke any of the food out or spend hours in the bathroom so i would go there again. Although it wasn't a place that would stand out in my mind as amazing to take my dying unicorn to as it's last meal. ;-)
(3)
Marco C.

I'm embarrassed to even admit I've eaten here more than once (not my choice), but I survived each dining experience. And that about sums up the positives. If you're looking for American Asian food, go to Panda Express. It's at least ghetto good.
(1)
Amanda B.

Wanted to be able to give this business more stars seeing as its right around the corner from my place in Rosslyn,but didn't feel like it met the criteria. Long story short sushi was not great, asked for tempura flakes and was charged $1.50. I understand everything has a price and cost the business money, but when I'm charged something I want to see and taste what I am paying for. Ordered a Thai and Chinese dish as our main meal, tasted pretty good and pleased with the portion, but again when asked for a small side of rice to take home for leftovers we were told it would be a $3.00 charge. On a lighter note $3.00 beer specials till 9:00 on Fridays so thats a plus. Overall food wasnt bad, but I don't care to be nickel and dimed when I'm already ordering more than enough for a table of two. Maybe they just had an off night!
(2)
Am R.

Terrible. Everything that I DID eat was pretty sub-par. Gyoza was cold and super fishy tasting. I get it shrimp is seafood, but it shouldn't taste like rotten fish. Chicken tasted more like microwaved turkey. I love Thanksgiving. However, I don't expect my teriyaki chicken to taste like leftover microwaved turkey. The best part of the experience, once returned the manager insisted there was nothing wrong with it. They removed more than half of my barely touched meal off of the $80 check and simply apologized after insisting over and over that there was nothing wrong with it. Not saying that I would want to try anything else on their menu even if it would be a free dessert.
(1)
Gloria S.

great hh spot - they have daily drink specials till 9pm (gray goose, stoli for 5 bux) and totally solid for to-go orders on your way home. their sushi rolls hit the spot. i like their vietnamese noodles w spring rolls. i think their lo mein had too many onions, tho. also like their spicy ravioli and other things. their bartenders are super friendly and nice, too!
(4)
Ellen L.

Landlord: There is this amazing sushi restaurant. It's just like New York! Beautiful decor, delicious food, just fabulous. Me: Wow, really? I want to go! What's it called? Landlord: Its just down the street, its called Cafe Asia! (I go try Cafe Asia. Spider Roll = tastes like old grocery-bought sushi. Questions landlord's food tastes. Subsequently dismisses landlord's other claims.) Coworker #1: I love Cafe Asia! Me: WHY!? I had the sushi, it's awful. Coworker #1: OHH! Don't get the sushi, you should get the cooked food. (Goes back for a work lunch. Gets a curry. Picks at food.) Coworker #2: I love Cafe Asia! Me: WHAT, why? Their sushi isn't good and neither is their cooked food. Coworker #2: Oh, yeah yeah I know. Their HAPPY HOUR is good. (Goes back for a social event. The lychee martini isn't bad.)
(1)
Giang L.

I've sat down and eaten here twice. Once at the bar and once in dining area to the right. Both times I've eaten the food here I got food poisoning and puked my brains out the next day. First time I had sushi. Second time I ordered Pad Thai. Neither the raw or cooked food stayed in my system. FML. I guess the saying is true, "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me"
(1)
Emily V.

So I was a little hesitant about trying this place because the reviews were so mediocre. But it's actually not too bad. I went for dinner on a Sunday, so I imagine the crowd was different than what it's usually like for HH. On Sunday we were seated quickly and service was good. It's pretty trendy looking inside, lots of high ceilings and glass everywhere. I was a little annoyed at how tightly packed the tables were to each other - it was fine when I first got there and the place was empty, but when I left and the place was full, my chair was jammed into the table behind me (actually, the guy sitting there was probably more annoyed than me). The food - we shared a seaweed salad which was good, pretty much as good as any other seaweed salad I've ever eaten. We each got a spicy tuna roll which were, again, just as good as any other spicy tuna roll I've ever eaten. I also got a Ninja Roll which was actually really unusual in a great way. All in all - the sushi is pretty standard - not anything special but not anything bad either. I imagine some of the more complex rolls are probably better based on my experience with the Ninja Roll. The prices were probably a little lower than I expected them to be, since this is DC, after all. All in all, I'd probably be back if I was in the neighborhood, but probably wouldn't make a special trip out here.
(3)
Helen C.

We hit up Cafe Asia on a Friday night to get some grub and it wasn't quite packed. The place was pretty big inside, and we were quickly seated (kind of at an awkward table in the middle of the vast empty spaces). The food was your typical pan-Asian fare catered toward your non-Asian crowd. Not bad, but not memorable either. We did some sake bombs (it got a bit messy and the cups were a bit big for sake bombing...) and all in all, it wasn't bad. But the service was slow considering the fact that there weren't too many customers inside.
(3)
Fuzz H.

Slow service but great food. The lunch bento boxes are the perfect meal of light (tasting) but well-balanced sushi. Highly recommend the noodle dishes as well.
(4)
Sai D.

Cafe Asia is (supposedly) an Asian fusion restaurant that features dishes from several countries in the Far East such as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Japan, and Vietnam. This restaurant was just up the hill from the hotel I was staying in so my colleague and I walked over for dinner. Being an Asian myself, I find this place to be (almost below) average at best. When I walked in I didn't get that Asian ambiance. The decor was minimalist and geometric, very contrary to your normal Asian flair. The only thing I can think of to describe the menu is that it's an Asian hodgepodge. While it showed items from different countries mentioned above, the selections were not appealing. I did not order any sushi/sashimi since I only trust Japanese restaurants on that. And isn't this supposed to be an Asian fusion restaurant? I really didn't see much "fusion" here. Here's what I had: Chicken satay - awful. The peanut sauce was worse. Nippon tofu - eh... I've tasted better. Gway tio - Never had it before so I thought it'd be interesting. It wasn't. Yellow curry - it was about half potatoes and other half bits of everything else. Combo banana - it tasted more like a plantain than a banana The service was not bad; I'll give them that. And I might go back if I'm desperately hungry. But the food is just not that good. I've tasted better.
(2)
Darjeeling T.

Convenience and quality--that's why I keep coming back here. Their sushi is pretty fantastic (although some of the "special" rolls tend to get a bit pricey, and not always deservedly so) and their massive soup bowls have fed me through dinner, lunch, and dinner again. They have a lemongrass/chicken/coconut soup which is my go-to soup when I feel a cold coming on, and is so much better than actual medicine. It gets crowded. The clientele is frequently young (loud) professionals. The service can range from warm and friendly to aloof and dismissive. But I don't think I've ever been disappointed foodwise. Again, some of it is overpriced, but if you want to pay $6 for edamame, that's your call. I'm sticking to spending that on the sushi.
(4)
Eric W.

I live near Cafe Asia and have been there many times, but with decidedly mixed results. The sushi is pretty good, as you'd expect at any large, relatively pricey Asian restaurant, but not particularly noteworthy. I've tried, and liked, the Mee Goreng. But the Pad Thai was disappointing (I've had better Pad Thai at a dozen other places), and the Drunken Noodle was so bad that I had to send it back. Also, the spring rolls are gruesome, with the texture of something that just came out of a box from the grocery store. I also didn't care for the chicken satay ... how difficult can it be to make decent satay? Cafe Asia does have a large bar area that makes it easy for groups to meet for happy hour. It also has outdoor seating which can be nice during the summer months. As far as bringing a date or meeting a friend for dinner, it's not particularly intimate and it can also be quite loud on weekends. Cafe Asia isn't awful if you know what to order. But it's certainly not near the top of my list of Asian restaurants in the D.C. area.
(2)
Melody C.

I like this place - it's definitely a-ok by me. Though most people I know who have eaten here really aren't fans because they think it's unoriginal or that the food isn't that good. I can't disagree with that. Cafe Asia's concept really isn't that original, it's borderline lazy, but it works for me. Whenever i crave noodles or sushi but don't feel like driving out to eden center or a more authentic sushi place, it's not a bad place to go since it's close by. the food isn't the best of all asian food, but overall, it's satisfying. my favorite thing to order here is the gway tio. an indonesian noodle dish. yummy...big bowl of noodles for $10-12 the happy hours are what i think a lot of people come for: $3 beers or sake, $3 appetizers (dumplings, $1.25 nigiri) but the prices for entrees are proper - at least they're not a pretentious overly priced "asian fusion place" and they acknowledge that their food isn't all that, but good enough.
(3)
Mike M.

Do not get the spider roll. It tastes weird!
(2)
Ren C.

Oh wow, the worst expensive lunch I've ever had. For some reason we decided to get carry out from here and I'm guessing we'll never get it again. $14 for blah General Tso's Chicken for lunch. Absolutely disgusting hot and sour soup. Wife got Pad Thai and said was way worse than the Sawatdee that is just down stairs. Maybe the sushi is good but what we got was absolutely disgusting, especially for the price.
(1)
Rolph Z.

Agree that there are many menu options. I had Thai Curry dish that was great and wife had Japanese style prepared fish that was very good. We went on a Thursday and it wasn't very busy and eating outside was really pleasant. The service was pretty bad. I had to find the waiter twice once for silverware and once to get a beer. Seems like he just disappeared for awhile and had other things to do and he didn't seem to have other customers to look after.
(3)
Jaye V.

Cafe Asia is great for what it is, and it's open so late. So it's the best thing available at that time of night. I'm going to give it a 4 star because a couple of dishes are 5 star for me...and the rest are 3. The major dish which is a five is the fried calamari appetizer. Seriously, if you don't like squid, you just have not had it right. One taste of this dish and you'll be a convert. I happen to love squid, though, and this is the best squid I've ever had. It's consistent, and they give you a huge portion for what? Like 6 bucks? The dipping sauce is spicy and sweet, and the little super tender rectangles have such a great light seasoned batter. It's like chewing on little pillows :). My other favorite calamari was a taverna on the beach in the Pelopponese, Greece. So yeah, it's that good. The sushi assortment is so cheap for what you get, too. Huge pieces of sashimi included too. Getting it and sharing it with someone...with the squid appetizer...is more than enough food for 2 people. As for the rest of the dishes, like I said, 3 star overall. The happy hour sushi was horrible the one time I had it ($1 sushi), but thankfully the stuff on the menu was a lot better. Oh yeah, and the ramen soup there was really hearty and good too. LARGE portions, even the appetizers are large.
(4)
Nagrad D.

I absolutely love this place. They have some fantastic food options, which come in an incredible variety. They truly are "Cafe Asia" in that they have Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and many more. The flexibility and number of options you have are one reason I keep coming back - that and the fact that I have yet to find something I don't like. I'm particularly fond of their Indonesian Beef, some of their sushi options, and their calamari app (which frankly is a big app - make sure you have someone to share it with!). I also enjoy any of their curries but my personal favorite is their Panang curry. My girlfriend LOVES their Asian Green Salad and Summer Rolls. They also have a huge back-room type area with a second bar where they can easily accommodate larger groups or if you and a group of friends want to go out for happy hour and have some space to yourselves. All in all, I really enjoy the place and would suggest it to anyone who likes any type of asian food. Afterthought: I always get their thai iced tea also... that stuff is like crack, just can't stop myself.
(5)
Kristi F.

We have been to Cafe Asia many times, both dine in and take out. There is certainly a wide variety of food here. Every time I order something different, and it is always okay, but usually leaves me wishing I had ordered something else. The sushi is great and there are a lot of choices. I have had Nasi Udak, Lime chicken, Tonkatsu, all of which left me wishing I had ordered something different. The teriyaki chicken and druken noodle were both good. General Tsao's chicken is good as well. The Vietnamese spring rolls are amazing every time. The service is good for both dine-in and carryout. The restaurant is very large with a lot of seating on 2 sides and we have never had to wait for a table. I think there is a lot of very good food here mixed with a lot of average food.
(3)
Sondra L.

Cafe Asia has great, fresh sushi! My particular favorite is their Cajun Roll - it has a wonderful spicy mayo that they flame to give it a slightly crispy flavor. Delicious! The ambiance is modern and chic, but the noise level can be quite high. Sean, the manager of the sushi bar is knowledgeable and friendly and he advised us about the daily fresh sashimi of toro and salmon from Scotland. It just melted in my mouth! All in all, if you like sushi, Cafe Asia has a vast selection and the sushi is always tasty!
(5)
Pamela P.

Cafe Asia is just decent. I've had a number of lunches here, all sushi and dinner a few times. The service is hit or miss; can't say I've ever had great service. The sushi is predictable, but that's not a horrible thing. Friends who order off the menu seem to enjoy the menu items, lemongrass chicken is a big hit among my friends. There's a nearby parking garage but street parking is a tough one in that section of Rosslyn so you'd likely be better off taking the Metro and walking the 2 blocks up hill.
(3)
Crystal-Nicole B.

Sushi was good but a bit pricey.
(3)
Amy P.

Cafe Asia is my neighborhood joint and I don't have a clue why I keep going back. Service is spotty and food is meh. I'm a vegetarian and I've been disappointment with everything I've ordered off the menu (Pad Thai, Curries, and Rice dishes). I recommend going to their Happy Hour - cheap sushi and drinks. Not phenomenal but affordable.
(3)
Alisa M.

I'm going to give Cafe Asia 4 stars for tonight because my takeout dinner was so good. And overall 3.5 stars. I have been there on several occasions for dine in dinner at the restaurant and the food is usually on a meter of OK- Good. Tho, If you know what to order, Cafe Asia can be really good place to eat. Here is what I've learned: SuSHI - I've never found sushi to be real good to excellent so I try to avoid ordering sushi at all. Sushi just has to be made of really fresh fish, and really fresh rice. Just haven't had good luck with sushi here so I'd suggest if you want sushi, go to a sushi restaurant. THAI - Don't order Thai food at Cafe Asia. If you are craving Thai food go to Sawatdee in Courthouse. They are pretty authentic for around here. It's about a 3 block walk from Wilson Blvd location Cafe Asia. NOODLES/ FRIED RICE - noodles in general are good here, and so is the various types of fried rices. The curry laksa is good. Meegoreng is good. I would say anything in the Malasian, Indonesian, or Singaporean type foods, Cafe Asia does well in. At least, it tastes good to me! If you stick to those general rules, you will really enjoy food at Cafe Asia. I like going there for the outdoor atmosphere because there is plenty of outside seating. No matter what, this place always seems to be hoppin' regardless of how early or how late it may be. Staff seems to be okay. I think there are just so many people that work there, and the place is loud, its tough to be super intimate with the people you serve. SCENE - I have noticed that a LOT of asians go to this restaurant. People of all ages. Perhaps its the international school that is below the restaurant. I don't know. This is a big happy hour place in Rossyln as well. I always see people dressed up in suits and such when walking by. DECOR - Contemporary/ Asian mix? I'm not really sure. TAKE OUT FOOD - Cafe Asia offers free delivery on orders over $12. I love living a block away. It is perfect for those lazy work week nights like tonight. Tip is suggested. I just ordered some dinner from Cafe Asia in Arlington... this is what we got: Curry Laksa with Shrimp Singapore Fried Rice with Chicken Gway Tio with Pork Believe it or not everything was delicious! Maybe because I ordered a little earlier around 6pm before the restaurant got busy. It took about 25-30 mins before I got the food, which is not bad considering it includes delivery time. Check it out!
(3)
Stuart B.

A bit pricey but the food was very good. Waitress forgot my drink order a couple times and I feel like the interior design doesn't really compliment the food. If you want some great pan-asian food just go already!
(4)
Stephanie T.

My boyfriend really loves the Indonesian fried rice. We order delivery, so we don't usually have the same issues with customer service. But I have eaten in there a couple of times, but not lately. It was okay, service wise. I guess I don't expect a cheery waiter/waitress everytime, and service can be slow and not attentive. Although getting Sriracha sauce is extra (WHY?!). The pad thai isn't great and the sushi is okay. I'd rather just go into DC for sushi though.
(3)
Randy G.

Gotta say I was overall disappointed with my experience. I had heard many good things about this place, which is why I chose it for 5 of us to meet for a casual mid-week dinner. Some of us showed up early to grab a drink. We tried 3 different cocktails, but all were pretty bland and non-descript. Strike 1. The food itself was very hit or miss. For starters we got some sushi (also fairly bland, even though I got one of their special rolls), while one person got the gyozas. He specifically asked if they were pan-fried (which is what he wanted) and was reassured that they were. Instead, they ended up being deep-fried. And yes, they were apparently bland too. Strike 2. Though the satay is reportedly very legit, at least according to those at the table who actually lived in Indonesia, so that fact alone earns the place more than 1 star. Main courses - Two of us got the fabled laksa. Meh. My friend had a long hair in his, so they had to give him another one. I thought it was (you guessed it!) bland, and my friend agreed he has had better (with or without hair). I got the combination laksa with chicken and shrimp, though they only gave me three small shrimps and a ton of (funky tasting) chicken. One person got the red curry chicken which they were happy with. Strike 3 I guess. The service was actually good, which is part of the reason why I give it more than 1 star, but otherwise I walked out thoroughly unimpressed with my experience. Somehow even the bottled beer seemed bland. I might be willing to give the place a second chance, but there are far too many Asian places worth trying and/or returning to in this area.
(2)
J L.

Awesome happy hour, the food their is a bit westernized but it's still good, great place to go after work with your co workers or with a group of friends. Try the Warm Sake it's like 8$ and but goes down smooth with any meal or by itself. Never bothered staying here on weekends for the bar which I heard they open up downstairs for some kind of mini dance club or something since usually the plan is to eat here, let the food sit, drink then go up Wilson Blvd. to the other bars, ballroom or walk down the street (like 10 minute walk) to Rosslyn Metro to go to D.C. They have a parking garage in the building that validates as well, it's on the side. Food is reasonably priced, drinks as well, all in all a pretty good scene to go to for a meal, drink and just hang out with friends.
(4)
Maryam K.

I have tried this place the requisite 3 times now and each time I leave wanting for more. Taste and quality are nothing more than average, at best. Presentation fails to appeal. Don't think I'll be coming back.
(1)
Bobby S.

How can you call this sushi? The rice is hard and cold... and just plain bad. The fish quality is just atrocious. I can't believe this place is packed every night. I guess the mixed drinks get people drunk enough so that they can't really taste the food they are tasting. More than the food, this is just a hang out place for young kids and those who'd rather drink than eat quality. If you want to eat good quality sushi... There is a small sushi restaurant right down the street that I adore. Check out Kanpai... STTR or Fire roll... you won't be disappointed.
(1)
bahareh t.

...sigh... I really wanted to love the happy hour. The prices were good...I mean $3 apps...you can't really beat that. And $4 for a relatively decent cocktail. Pros: 1. We sat in the back and it's actually a really cool space. Man friend and I spent the majority of our date planning a party that we could throw in there...and then we remembered we're in med school and have no time/$$ for this... but dreaming of such things is nice. 2. The service was awesome. They're quick and so nice! So-So: 1. The Vietnamese egg roll was ok 2. Gyoza was ok too...i like the ones that you buy at trader joe in the freezer section more. 3. Summer roll -- you can't really screw that up, there's no cooking. Cons: 1. Quite possibly the worst sushi I have ever had in my entire life. We couldn't even finish it. We treid to eat it in an effort not to be huge sushi snobs...but we couldn't. They really should be embarrassed to serve that fish. We may go back from drinks because this place is 2 blocks from our home... but that's pretty much it.
(2)
L Z.

This restaurant serves Thai, Japanese and Chinese cuisine and probably food from some other Asian country that I've missed. The diversity in choice alone is worth going for, you know, when you're in that "I want Asian food" mood but you are too lazy to specify a nation. I also live 2 blocks from this place so, when the whether is inclement, it hits the spot to be able to walk to it in Rosslyn. Not the best Chinese in Arlington, though, but it has a cool inside, the service is great and the prices are reasonable. They should give you more steamed rice with your order - this isn't the great leap forward anymore, we have an abundance of rice in these United States. Namaste, and, good luck.
(4)
Clara L.

I've been to Cafe Asia a few times (whether for happy hour, dinner or bday celebration) and I've decided that it's somewhere between meh and ok. The happy hour specials aren't too bad. $2.50 drafts--sam adams, kirin, bass, some others $3 appetizers-- spring rolls, gyoza, edemamae, crab wontons $6 selected cocktails $1.25 per piece of nigiri And it's 7 days a week! Unfortunately, the apps are a bit on the small side... for $3, you get 2 spring rolls and lots of dipping sauce. or 4 gyozas and plenty of dipping sauce. or 6 crab wontons and of course more dipping sauce. And of the couple times I've tried the sushi, the fish did not seem fresh. So I haven't ordered anymore since! I was here last night for HH and after 2 apps, I was still quite hungry, so I ordered the beef gway tio (Singapore style stir fried flat rice noodles) which was quite good... but for $10, that's kinda pricey for what I got. Anyways, my overall review of this place is around 3 stars... since the non-sushi food has been pretty good, but I think it's a little pricey for what it is. Plus $2.50 drafts during happy hours is nice
(3)
Rica G.

Food is full of great flavors. Lots of choices. During lunch time the prices are great. You will actually pay more at Cosi for a salad than here. The food portions are HUGE! Definitely worth checking out.
(5)
Super H.

Mediocre restaurants deserve mediocre reviews. Is the sushi terrible? No, but I've had better. Is the service crap? Not really, they're pretty friendly I guess you could say. What the hell then? You know what it is? The place is just too freaking big. It's just...too big. I think it could benefit from a large giant coming over and squeezing the entire building so that the back room is now part of the front and the side bar is more, like, in the middle. Then you lower the ceiling by about 20' and dim the lights down so that it doesn't feel like a middle school cafeteria. You then could give the menu an overhaul by making it much smaller and cutting it into a cool shape, like a circle or an octagon. Finally, you change the whole concept and it's no longer a sushi bar but rather a trendy nightclub with DJs and you only serve ten different kinds of vodka and a few microbrews in bottles. Yeah, then I'd probably give it 3 stars. The sushi rolls are pretty good for Arlington, though.
(2)
Ellen W.

This use to be the happening spot and I would go to Cafe Asia all the time before going out for the night. I came here recently for happy hour after work. It wasn't very crowded, which I like, and there were place to sit. They also offered a few select items at great prices. Everything we ordered came out quick and it was pretty good. I have to say the food here is good but not fantastic. Service was ok as well. Our server didn't really come to the table that often and we had to flag her down if we wanted something else. I just held up my bottle when I was empty and she knew to get me another one. I'll go there to hang out again because that's a nice meeting spot for most of my friends but I wouldn't go there just for food.
(3)
Philip K.

My I'd like to give it 2.5 stars, because my wife liked the place and wants to go back. Her sushi roll and the fried calamari were excellent. The fried rice was also good. The spring rolls were pretty greasy. My big beef was the service. They seemed to have one waiter for about 16 tables. Refills and extras (lemon for the calamari) took forever to get. Also had to wait a while for the check. I wasn't inspired enough to return, but my wife wants to so I probably will.
(2)
Morgan V.

It has a nice amount of outdoor seating. Each time I've gone, the food has been good. I particularly enjoy the special roll that has crawfish (the cajun roll I believe). This is definitely my favorite sushi spot in the area.
(4)
Katy G.

Nope nope nope nope nope... that's five nopes. Eating at Cafe Asia is like eating in a giant high school cafeteria, but no chicken nuggets here (I wish!). Icky sushi, icky service, lots of noise. The bus boy wiped down the adjecent table with a dingy, smelly rag and left it hanging off the edge of the table in the middle of our meal. This wouldn't have been so bad if the rag wasn't 12 inches from our food. Skip this one. You'd be better off somewhere else.
(1)
Ayanna K.

What's worse than having your 3 year old find a bug in your food? Having the wait staff trivialize your experience by rationalizing it as being a "bug that flew in from outside" and laughing amongst themselves behind your back. That's what I experienced at Cafe Asia in Arlington, VA last Friday night. This spot used to be my favorite restaurant. I held my 30th birthday celebration there some years ago and used to frequent this and the DC location quite often over the years. Needless to say, I will never dine at either location again. Not just because the food was mediocre, or because I found a bug in my food (really, flew in from outside? How many outside bugs do you see flying around in winter that bury themselves in your food as opposed to flying away when being poked and moved around?) but because of the inappropriate and nonchalant response/service received by the manager and wait staff. Normally, when situations like this occur, it's been my experience (limited experience, thankfully) that managers bend over backwards to accommodate you as an attempt to retain the relationship and maintain your patronage. An $8.00 employee discount is insulting and unprofessional.
(1)
Koko O.

I'm utterly confused as to why this place is so crowded ALL THE TIME. It's not that awesome. Seriously. Not even close. Yeah it's a huge space with cruel wooden furniture, but that doesn't mean it's super amazing. They've got sushi, it tastes good and is fresh. They have soup, it's warm and tastes soupy. They have entrees of non sushi, non soup, they're pretty cool too. That's about it. Oh wait. The back room is just horrendous. It's ghastly. It's an asian techno stereotype. Swirling lights and I think there;s a disco ball. The huge screen that plays UFC matches. The dj...oh god the dj. Dear Cafe Asia, what is the point of that back room? What? Why? Stop being pathetic and shut it down. P.S. love your dumplings.
(3)
Lydia P.

For sure I like Cafe Asia, because they have some good Indonesian dishes and I enjoy their sushi and sahimi. I like the place, the big window all around the place. I like the bar, the crowd, the people, the service from the employee. Even though, the managers well known as Bitchy as can be to their employees! But I want to say it's a smart concept, to take the cuisine from different part of Asia, even once again, not as good as a home cook meal. But less hassle, makes my life easier and simpler, to just enjoy the meal and just pay for it. Good place for happy hour. Good place to meet other fellow Asian to. Or others that like Asian food and Asian people. Well, always a good time I had with friends here! Always music, good buzz, and good memory! Cheers to that!
(4)
Karen Z.

Great service, decent prices, and PHENOMENAL general tsao's chicken. I can't speak of the sushi, as I don't like it anywhere, but my sushi-loving friends were impressed with the selection.
(5)
Kay H.

Delicious food! Been coming here for years on and off. The staff is nice enough and the restaurant is nice and vibrant. I LOVE their mango and sticky rice dessert and every entree I've tried is good, but my fave would have to be the Chicken Satay Combinasi. (8 skewers of satay served with Indonesian fried rice . Topped with peanut & fried shallots). Sooo delish! And the strawberry shortcake cocktail is to die for. The only thing I hate is having to find street parking to avoid paying to park in a garage and on a cold night, it sucks when there's no parking nearby.
(4)
Jason C.

Whenever I go to Cafe Asia, I rarely know if I want to be there. The atmosphere is fairly comfortable and the high ceilings help keep the noise down to a nice buzz. The bar area looks nice but the boring little tables in the dining area are situated in strange little cubbyholes that make me feel like a mouse in a maze. The service is always hit or miss and the servers rarely look like they enjoy what they're doing (I've never seen a smile from any of them). I know the food is supposed to be "asian fusion" but the owners seem to define that more as "americanized asian" which is a more accurate description of the flavors (or lack thereof). Most of the stuff on the menu is bland, not spicy enough, or spicy in a flavorless way. The sushi is mediocre and the sake sucks. Their only stand-out is the calamari which is like little pieces of squid popcorn, and it comes with a surprisingly good sweet/spicy sauce. They would greatly improve the quality of many of their dishes if they added this sauce to them. The prices are very reasonable and it's conveniently located near where I live, but I would prefer just hanging out at the bar with friends to having dinner there. And, if I need to nosh on something while I'm drinking whatever is NOT sake (actually, their sake probably doesn't count as sake), I could just order the calamari there.
(3)
Blaine P.

$2.50 draft specials with my Asian food? Sign me up. The menu selection is either intimidatingly or awesomely large - I'll have to make stops back to tell you how other dishes hold up, but my Indonesian curry soup was good and generously portioned! However, it definitely wasn't the best I've ever had. Service was brisk, especially with our food and water refills, and early in the evening it was doing business but not too crowded. The acoustics could have been better, or maybe it was just that our table was two feet from the next one over. Pretty and airy style, not at all kitschy but not especially unique. I'd probably eat outside next time. Overall, not bad at all but not stellar. It'd be good place to bring an indecisive group, as there's definitely something acceptably good for everyone.
(3)
Jesse H.

That entire staff could certainly benefit from customer service training. We had booked the room in the back for a birthday party. Upon arrival they seemed to be completely unaware and insisted we booked a corner at the bar, for ~ 60 people. Then we asked if there was a server available to take our drink and food orders; we were told to order everything from the bar (very crowded and the bartenders were often confused about the drink orders) During the night we noticed our jackets, which we placed next to our group on the counter by the window were missing. The staff couldn't have been less interested. I asked if we could leave our contact information in case someone brought them back and I was told to just call back the next day, we won't call you. I clarified, you won't take my information, you won't call? "No, just call later." I called on Monday, explained everything to the man who answered the phone and multiple times placed on hold, "What color were the jackets?... Okay, hold." Then a lady picked up as if it were a new call. I started to reexplain to her and then asked, "Perhaps you know why I'm calling?" She answered, "I heard you are complaining that you lost your jacket." Then, after a bit she said, "How could you lose your jacket? Most people know where their stuff is." I explained we put them next to the bar and it being a birthday party we were actively engaging in different conversations and such. Her response, "Well I can not understand how you could lose it. You should be responsible for your belongings." She made another comment and then I just asked if I could leave my name and number and if the jackets are returned then maybe someone could call me. ... no calls received. I do know roughly when they went missing and all I can say is don't judge a book by its cover, apparently anyone will steal. Perhaps it was just for the fun of it? Because no one there appeared to be without a jacket or the means to buy one.
(1)
Janice C.

I'm always looking for Indonesian cuisine. Cafe Asia has a yummy Satay Combinasi -- skewers of chicken or beef alongside a generous helping of nasi goreng (Indonesian fried rice), with a little side dish of pickled cukes. I almost always order this same thing when I go there. Love it!
(4)
Sarah K.

Great staff and a good menu. I've never had to wait to be seated which makes it one of those places you can never go wrong if you are looking for someplace to go after work.
(4)
Steph S.

Amazing restaurant, courteous staff & delicious food. Highly recommend the newly reinvented pork belly appetizer now served on a steamed bun.... Wow! Also the dragon roll is superb. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Helen S.

I was taken here by my manager to have lunch. This place was packed and they tried to leverage evey inch of space and put as many tables as they can. It was pretty difficult to walk around and I was very uncomfortable at first because we were literally one arm length from touching the people who sat around us. But as my manager and I started getting in our conversation, it really didn't matter much anymore because everyone just mind their own and seemed to be used to this environment. Despite the business, our orders did not take long at all, and our sushi came rolled perfectly. We also ordered soup, edamame and fried tofu. Everything was delicious. Our cups were never empty. I can see why this place is so busy everyday because they can keep up with the quality and speed. Very nice restaurant!!
(4)
Matthew C.

Considering how difficult it can be to find an open table in the heart of the hustle and bustle of Arlington, Cafe Asia is a good ol' standby. With its spacious interior, you probably won't have to wait to be seated. The bright, airy atmosphere is nice, but I thought all the food was fairly average. Like many other Asian restaurants I have eaten at, there were WAY too many options. (Better to do a superb job at one thing than a mediocre job at many.) There is Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai. I guess at least it's true to its name. The Asian chicken salad was good and the lemongrass vinaigrette had a nice kick to it. Everyone else in my group seemed to enjoy their food as well, though nothing really stood out. Cafe Asia is a good place for a quick, affordable meal. I'll keep it as a default/fallback for the next time I'm in the area.
(3)
Jess B.

Please avoid the Singapore noodle. The waiter recommended it bit I had to send it back to the kitchen.
(2)
Kimberly S.

Everytime I go to Cafe Asia I throw up. 1) Their happy specials are a-mah-zing. Like, I don't know why it's only Wednesday but I am drinking 3 sake bombs, a glass of reisling, a sapporo, and four woo woos...and now I am about to throw it all up, but its okay because I only spent $20 a-mah-zing. 2) Their sushi/fish selection SUCKS. Like, I just stuck a tuna roll in my mouth and now everything is coming up from my stomach sucks. Luckily the bathroom is only a short walk from the bar.
(3)
Hadas G.

Honestly, Rosslyn is so desperate for some good food this place may get more points just for that. Went for lunch recently and hit all the good points - good cocktails, good solid food, decent price (not cheap but not ridiculous) so why not.
(4)
Tom G.

Everything on the menu tastes fresh and reasonably priced. The staff are friendly and helpful
(5)
Allison W.

Upon walking into this restaurant, I noted the industrial ambiance. It looked promising, and the restaurant was hustling and bustling, so it seemed to be a popular place. Unfortunately, the food was average and the service was lacking. Our app was the soft shell crab tempura which was not good at all. Almost all fried batter, and what little crab there was didn't taste fresh. I ordered salmon nigiri and a spicy tuna roll. I thought the portion size of the salmon could have been more generous. It didn't look like a solid, fresh piece either. The spicy tuna roll was actually spicy, which was nice, but the taste wasn't anything special. I also ordered the ramen with pork. The broth seemed to be just canned chicken broth. Tasteless. The single piece of seaweed they put in here did not look appetizing at all, so I didn't even try it. The only thing redeeming about this dish was the slices of pork which were tasty. Sadly, there were only about 5 slices of pork. The service was abrupt, basically what you would find in a typical Chinese restaurant. Our waitress seemed to be in a bad mood, but at least she kept our teacups refilled with the barley tea which I liked. She cleared dishes away so fast. I had just barely put the last sushi piece in my mouth before she whisked it away. I liked the wooden booth that she sat us in, it provided some privacy in an otherwise loud and noisy restaurant. I sat facing the open kitchen. They could have spruced it up a bit if it was going to be placed in the center of the restaurant. A lot of the decor was crooked. One of the paintings was crooked, the soap dispenser in the bathroom was crooked, and other things in the bathroom were crooked as well. It's not a major issue, but it just seemed like they rushed through everything. I would only come here again if I was in the area, but I would not make a special trip out.
(2)
Albert L.

Been here for a quick meet up with friends. Wasn't sure about what to expect, and I can say that once I got there, I was still confused. The layout and decor is kind of weird to me. It's a cafe/restaurant, but it sort of feels like it wants to be a lounge/library. The decor is kind of minimalistic, which is a good idea, but i think it borders industrial. Anyway, service wasn't bad for our party of 7-8 people, and the staff was good about making sure we had our orders out on time. The menu was all over the place, which is to be expected of an Asian fusion restaurant because they need to cater to lots of different cuisines and palates. I rarely give fusion restaurants any good ratings because in the end, it's mostly mediocre, trendy stuff that costs more than it really should. Cafe Asia is no exception. It's not to say the food is bad, but it's really not memorable. Sure, if you want to get some food in your belly, go here. However, I think you can do better really. Maybe I'm just biased. Good location, meh service, and meh food. Take it or leave it.
(2)
Mona K.

I am big fan of their Mee Goreng. The ambiance is great especially in the summer with the outdoor seating open. This is not one of the places that every single item on the menu is perfect. It is a hit and miss kinda menu! I am a sushi addict, but this is not the place to get it.
(3)
Ice D.

Service is fast. Food tastes just ok. The bad thing is that my friend saw a RAT run from the kitchen door to the waiters by the reception desk!
(1)
Julie P.

My husband and I used to order takeout from here several times a week. Recently their service and food quality has gone way down. The last time we ordered from here (takeout), we received RAW chicken in the Chicken Pad Thai dish as well as the Chicken Satay dish. It was disgusting - not to mention one of the people eating it is pregnant. Thank goodness we noticed it before she bit into a raw piece of chicken. What was even more disturbing was lack of customer service. When we called to explain the situation, the manager, Kaoru, was extremely rude and questioned whether the chicken was actually raw. Since we were home (after ordering takeout), she suggested we bring our meals back to the restaurant so she could determine if the chicken was actually raw. After going back and forth for 20 minutes, she said she would credit our account for those two meals. Determined to give them another chance (I don't know why), I just called and asked for one of the credits. The manager on duty told me I had a $6 credit only. I explained the situation and she said there was nothing she could do. Talk about disappointing! We received two meals with extremely raw chicken (with pictures to prove it) and poor customer service in return. We will never order from or frequent this restaurant again. Be wary! (They also told us they've lessened the portions they give out as well as changing from white meat to dark meat in many of the dishes, in order to save money. Something is not right here.)
(1)
Silvia L.

Humongous portions and good prices. Taste is so-so, but I love the spacious and bright atmosphere. I went to this place to surprise a friend for her birthday, and the staff was very accommodating and helpful. They were very nice about letting me bring a cake from another store, refrigerated the cake for me until the end of dinner, put a candle in the cake for me, and brought it out at the end. I may go again if I'm in the area.
(3)
Jessica H.

1) Get the mojito. It's my favorite mojito on the planet. Honest to god, it's fantastic. 2) Large servings of fried rice and noodles. 3) Spicy means spicy. Probably not the best place to come for sushi, but the pan-Asian food can be excellent if you order right. I've gotten the Indonesian sampler platter a couple times, and it's spicy and tasty and unusual for the area. And your table-mates will say "ooh," probably. I've also gotten noodle dishes, and they're a bit spicier than my preference (not a wimp, either), but still good. Big enough for lots of leftovers. Friends who order fried rice can usually only eat half the portion size. General Tao's chicken was fine (also pretty spicy). Come for happy hour and Thai/Chinese/Indonesian mash-up dinner. Not for sushi. (Edit: I did try the omakase sashimi a few months after this review, and the sashimi was actually fine; it was the vegetable tempura that was heavy/oily/inedible.)
(4)
Phil A.

Great location... That's about it. This place has been a long time staple in arlington, but it's due for an overhaul. The food is mediocre at best. I wouldn't recommend it.
(1)
Monica H.

The management here is SO awesome. The food is pretty good. The drinks (and drink specials) are great. They have big TVs in the bar area for watching games. They have a HUGE and amazing party loft space for rent in the back. Fast service, nice waiters. Large enough that the wait is never too long. Parking is easy, close to metro. Definitely worth a visit!
(4)
Juliet A.

Outstanding selection of Asian cuisine, but only average in delivery and taste. At Cafe Asia, patrons can dine on dishes from an assortment of countries (namely, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian, and Malaysian). There is a section of noodle dishes, soups, and entrees which all feature popular ticket items from each of the aforementioned nations. For a Saturday night, this place was full, but not busy. It is, after all, a huge restaurant. Lacking in any one specific cultural decor, Cafe Asia feels modern and simplistic with efficiency-styled furnishings and layout. Definitely not an intimate setting. The noise from the kitchen (perhaps only depending on your seating placement) can be a bit much, although certainly not enough to ruin a meal. My husband and I ate the following: miso soup: big big bowl with a generous amount of tofu Mee Goreng: a Malaysian chicken and tofu noodle dish assortment of sushi rolls (futomaki, shrimp tempura, and tekka) Asahi beer: enough said. The Mee Goreng was great - enormous serving, great mix of textures with the soft noodles, spongey fried tofu and chicken, and some unrecognizable but tasty crunchy noodle topping spinkled over it all. A bit heavy on the sauce for me, but overall quite satisfying. The sushi - not so great. Decent, yes, but not the same quality you'd get at a strictly Japanese place (I guess that is obvious to some). They do have a really lengthy selection of sushi and sashimi, and specialty rolls, but I don't think they are worth it. The shrimp tempura was the most disappointing. Hardly any crunch to it at all. In all - a decent standby Pan-Asian place. Good service, fair prices, and great selections.
(3)
Shady L.

Cafe Asia is a sentimental favorite from the days of my first job in that area. I spent many happy hours there previously and one more recently. Now that I'm older and wiser, I recognize that other purveyors may provide a more culinary or refined sushi experience, but Cafe Asia is still a good stand-by. Plus, the indonesian style fried rice is a flavor explosion.
(4)
Angela N.

I've been to Cafe Asia numerous times over the years and keep going back, so it must be good. What I like about the place is that it's big, so I've never had to wait for a table. I agree, the tables are a bit close together and there are a lot of hard surfaces, which can make it kind of noisy. They also have quite a range of Asian dishes, including sushi, and their pad thai is some of my favorite in the area. Downsides to Cafe Asia are that the servers generally seem to hover and try to hurry you along. When I went tonight, our server was better about this than usual, which was much appreciated. Another new tidbit I learned tonight: I asked for no MSG in my pad thai and my server said that wasn't possible, that ALL of Cafe Asia's dishes have MSG in them except the sushi (and then the soy sauce does). This was a major disappointment to me because I have noticed that MSG doesn't always sit well with my digestive system. I'd really like it if Cafe Asia would offer a few menu items with no MSG. It's hard to argue with quick seating and tasty food that has a quick turnaround time from the kitchen, but maybe now that I know about Cafe Asia's MSG policy, I won't be as gung ho to go there.
(4)
Janine S.

Fast service and delicious food. We've never waited here and great portions. Love this place!
(5)
Ryan H.

I should have updated this review sooner, they have gone back to being FANTASTIC, we have been there 10 times since the last review and it has never missed, as of 2014 it's one of our favorite spots again!
(5)
Rob F.

It has been atleast seven years since I last went to Cafe Asia in Rosslyn. From what I remember, the food was pretty good and the restaurant was always pretty crowded and noisy. I went to dinner there a few nights ago with a friend. We ordered the calamari for our appetizer. It was just okay. Not greasy but probably a little overcooked since there was some chew to it. For my entree, I ordered the Bun which is a Vietnamese dish consisting of vermicelli, sprouts, carrots, cilantro, basil and lettuce with a side of seasoned fish sauce to pour in. I have had this dish in a variety of Vietnamese and Asian places so I am pretty familiar with the dish. I'm sorry to say that Cafe Asia's version was not that good. My issue with the dish were the noodles they used. The noodles used were not the typical soft, white vermicelli noodles. They definitely used a different type of noodle that was the complete opposite of what I know to be vermicelli noodles. Cafe Asia's noodles were not the right consistency or type. They were a little harder and may not have been made from rice. The pieces of lettuce in the dish should have been cut more consistently and smaller so that it doesnt become some sort of oragami project to get it to fit into my mouth. The next time I consider Asian food for a meal, I will probably go elsewhere.
(2)
Mike M.

I'm a fan of Cafe Asia. For a number of years, before relocating I was a regular in the bar area. It was arguably my favorite place to pre-game before going out in DC or it was a nice alternative spot to hang out if the work week didn't leave any energy make the trek into DC. I've had plenty of fun and memorable nights at Cafe Asia. Their Halloween Party is always a big event. The waitstaff is friendly and attentive. The bartenders are awesome. They have a great happy hour and a good selection of drink specials and food options. The atmosphere is nice too, although I'm more a frequenter of the bar area than the dining room. I find the food to be pretty good. I tend to avoid the sushi, not because I dislike it (I think it's ok. not the best, not the worst), but rather because when I'm out drinking I tend to prefer the various appetizers, noodle soups, and hot entrees, that they have on their menu. The past few times that I've been, I've noticed that the crowds don't get as big as they used to. One of the bartenders told me that spider kelly's takes away a lot of their business. But I like Cafe Asia, I'm very nostalgic about this place. It's still a great place to grab a beer, a sake bomb, or lycheetini (for you ladies) before going out to DC. Or to have a nice casual dinner with friends. Check it out!
(4)
Cheryl L.

Cafe Asia gets crowded at the bar on weekday afternoons, and from all the people-watching that I've done during Happy Hours here, I've concluded that the crowd here is mostly working professionals who value a relaxing ambiance to kick back after a long day of working in DC. Most dishes here are hit or miss, but the hits in my opinion are the Cold Noodle (shredded chicken, carrots, cucumber, shredded egg, and a sweet light soy sauce coat on top of lo mein noodles) and General Tso's Shrimp. Service has always been great, and this is my default place for HH's and business lunches since it's always buzzing with with people and food.
(3)
Lena P.

This place had a great, sophisticated ambiance and I'm happy to say that the food ordered was as solid as one can expect! I especially liked the fact that there was something from just about every Asian cuisine on the menu, with tons to choose from. Between my friend and I, we ordered Saki, beer, eel (unagi) nigiri, eel and avocado roll, spicy chinese ravioli (aka steamed dumplings soaked in spicy sauce), curry laksa (Malaysian chicken curry noodle soup), and satay combinasi (Indonesian satay pork). We ate to our hearts content (while expensive the servings for entrees are huge!) and everything ranged from good to delicious. I especially enjoyed the Indonesian fried rice, and the curry laksa broth (just the right combo of sweet, creamy and spicy). The sushi and dumplings were pretty decent as well. I will probably be back at one point to try other things on their expansive menu!
(4)
Good E.

Had sushi with afriend. Food was decent I really like the ambience of the restaurant. But not sure it's enough for me to recommend
(3)
Daniella P.

One of my favorite spots to go for many years. Cafe asia in arlington va has some really great asian fusion foods, a great bar and esthetically appealing interior suited for the trendy groups of all ages. While parking may be quite difficult, its a short drive from georgetown so if you want to make this your starting point of the night, its a great place to start. I havent gotten a chance to get acquainted with the staff, but they seem friendly as trending restaurant/bars go. I know some people who make a frown when i suggest this place for some reason, but that's probably only because everyone has been here and has made memories at cafe asia at one time or another. I'd rate: Menu's 4/5, atmosphere and location is a 5/5 and customer service is 3.5/5. awesome place to be any time of the week and a cash cow for the owners. no reservations needed unless your coming with a large party. this place has been known to be a hookup central over the years for the metro accessibility and hotel/motel locations, not to mention the young city that made one of the top national STD cities many years ago so enjoy ;)
(4)
Jane M.

Nothing wows me about this place but always a good lunch option in an area that is lacking good restaurants. It's nice because it has such a variety of Asian food so it's good for most pallets. Everything I have had has been good but nothing fantastic. Very affordable - which is why I give it 4 stars and not 3.
(4)
Olga N.

Had dinner here with some friends on a Thursday night. After some so-so experiences at Cafe Asia downtown, I wasn't too excited about coming here but we were looking for something close to the metro, and this worked pretty well. Maybe my expectations were low or we lucked out with our food choices, but I was certainly pleasantly surprised - I got pad thai with shrimp and it was absolutely delicious, fresh, and the portions were enormous. My friend's tom yum soup was also fantastic - and that bowl could seriously feed all four of us at the table. Happy hour mojitos were a bit too strong for my taste, but I can't really complain about that, can I? 5 stars from me tonight, I'd love to go back soon.
(5)
Patrick C.

Not sure what happened to this place. Five years ago I would have been here for sushi happy hour fairly often. Today it seems like the food is slightly blander, and their delivery service has gone downhill. I ordered quite a few items for delivery tonight: Indonesian fried rice, Chinese stir fried vegetables with chicken, fried shrimp gyoza, and a wonton soup. I've ordered the Indonesian fried rice before a countless number of times, both for delivery and dine-in at the restaurant. The Indonesian fried rice was not seasoned correctly, with not enough spice. In addition, it was relatively soggy. Also my delivery was missing the white rice that should accompany the stir fried vegetables. I complained on the phone to a manager named Sandy, who assured me that both problems would be fixed. An hour later, a new Indonesian fried rice showed up, but still no white rice for my vegetables, even though I specifically mentioned that. Can't say I'll be ordering again from here anytime soon.
(1)
Boon K.

After reading Kimberly review when I got to the restaurant, I just didn't want to eat there but gave it a shots as my husband use to come here a lot when he lived in the area. We had the tempura and the mango and sticky rice, both were ok but prices for what you get.
(2)
Stefano Z.

I went back to Cafe Asia tonight, and I confirm my impression. Service is a bit rude maybe, but the food is good and not too pricey.
(4)
Kat M.

The hubby and I were in town for a techie conference of his and a friend recommended this place. It was okay. I guess living in LA for 12 years has spoiled me in regards to sushi. This sushi was just C level in my opinion. We ordered the Omakase for 2. The miso soup was delicious. The tempura was a bit over-battered for my taste, but still good. The giant sashimi plate that followed was just okay. The toro pieces were Delicious. I found 3 bones in my salmon sashimi. The tuna sashimi, usually one of my favorites, was super fishy and we did not resume eating it. We both felt a bit sick to our stomachs, so we discontinued eating and asked for the check. We never wound up getting sick, but I would not order the omakase from them. Also we ordered the miso cod. It was way overcooked. We left it barely touched. The place is very cute and the service was very good. If we ever go back to DC, we will skip this place.
(3)
Jenifer S.

Had a great dinner about 6pm this Friday evening here. I had shrimp (fozen but flayed) and avocado and seaweed salad followed by Pangang tofu with shredded cabbage and carrot served with a peanut sauce that was very delicious. Hubster had lemon chicken that also was totally delicious. Drinks were cheap ($5 Yuengling beer and $5 Absolut citron martini) and service was friendly and quick. We came again here with family visiting from out of town and they loved the food and drinks. Parking is an issue, so use public garage around the block up the hill and don't forget to get stamped. I'm saying it's wheelchair accessible but it's a tight fit table and chair wise, despite it being a new modern place (and I think you'd have to go outside from the restaurant to go back in to use the bathrooms which are over near where the bar is).
(4)
Jon D.

Very good experience. Cabbage salad and sushi excellent as well as spring rolls. Good atmosphere, east and quick.
(5)
Vonetta Y.

Cafe Asia was a little weird to me. Mostly because, as Candace H said a way long time ago, it really did remind me of a high school cafeteria. I think it's becuase of the high ceilings. Shrugs. The dichotomy is kinda weird, too. There's the restaurant, then there's the bar, which is far more popular. And huge. It's got lots of TVs, and the Celtics-Knicks sham showing on a projector screen last night. I can see this being more of a happy hour place than a dinner place. At any rate, the food was okay. Thanks to all my Asian friends, I have a prejuidice against pan-Asian restaurants, and this one is not exempt. (Though, yelp lists Cafe Asia as "Asian Fusion," but I don't think that's correct since there's not really anything to its fusing with.) So, on the one hand, that means that there's a ton of variety of dishes from which to choose. On the other foot, I don't think any dish particularly screams because they can't concentrate on it. But maybe that's just my take. I got the Chinese fried rice with chicken, which tasted fine, but was kinda greasy, which my stomach realized when I got home and needed to ball up into the fetal position. The others shared a massive sushi plate, which they said was quite good (I don't indulge for fear of sparking one of my many food allergies), especially the spicy ones with the spittle of chili sauce. My pinot noir was drinkable, but not worth writing a sonnet over, however, dessert was terrific! We had this sort of smushy brownie and fried plantains and green tea ice cream (which didn't move me), and they were all surprisingly very good (save the green tea ice cream)! We did have a great server, too, who was prompt and such. We were having a meeting, actually, so he was respectful in giving us time to talk before we ordered. The only thing I would have liked was more water, but meh, you can get water anywhere, so no big deal. Overall, it's a decent place. I wouldn't oppose going again, but I don't think I'd propose it either. Too many high school cafeteria flashbacks.
(3)
Luke A.

Ewwww all i can say! i saw rats under tables running! and i saw the cook and chiefs touching their head, cloth and stuff and didnt wash their hands. i used to eat there alot! omg i can't believe i saw that! never coming back. RATS EWWWW!!!
(2)
Andy H.

Ordered shrimp ramen soup last night for take out. The noodles tasted less fresh than top ramen, and the shrimp were so limp I needed to cook them some more myself. Not worth $16. Not going back.
(2)
Joe S.

Its actually not bad here. It's huge! If you have a large group, this is a great place. The chirashi seemed a little weak in the fish department. I like to see a bit more variety. They did, cut the fish sashimi style rather than just rolling up peices of fish like some places do.
(3)
Victoria Z.

Very horrible noises come from sliding in your chair! Lift to move it please! Big and open Cafe Asia has a bit of a "fancy" cafeteria feeling. You can hear the kitchen and I feel like I was back in school eating except for the fact that the chairs were stylish and wooden. There was a lot on the menu and had a lot of sushi to choose from. I'm not a fan of sushi but was daring and tried some of my friend's eel. That sounded kind of dirty, didn't it? Regardless, it didn't have much flavor. Maybe eel isn't supposed to? The rest of our food was pretty good and service was prompt. I wouldn't ever expect much of a wait here, the place is huge!
(3)
George G.

While working in Rosslyn, stopped by Cafe Asia w/ a client for lunch. After viewing the extensive menu, settled on the Edamame and the Ikan Pepes. The amount of Edamame was OK for 5$ but somewhat less than you would receive at a Sushi shop. It was lightly salted with no other special seasoning. The Ikan Pepes at 18$ was a good deal for the quality. This was an Indonesian style grilled fish filet with spicy turmeric sauce, fresh basil, and lemon grass, all wrapped w/ banana leaves and then grilled. The flavour of this dish was fantastic and there was a good portion of fish. My only complaint was that it was a bit boney in a few sections and think I counted picking out maybe 15 pieces in one bite, lol. However, I would definitely order this dish again (but may be tempted to try the other fish dishes). This entree was served with a side of white rice. I mixed this with a 'house' hot sauce which I had requested. This was red chili type sauce with some fresh hot peppers minced atop. Reminded me a bit of Jalapeno but it was much stronger. Recommend trying it. Service was OK but then again, we were sitting outside in a corner. Water was refilled often and with no ice as requested by both of us. Really no complaints, but not stellar.
(4)
Evonne L.

Cafe Asia is a safe bet for decent asian food. I went a few weeks ago and had ME GORANG (see pic) which was some sort of Malaysian spaghetti, and was ok if you like mild tasting spaghetti sauce with ketchup. My friend had the gway tio, which was pretty much Chinese chow fun, but greasier and sweeter. I've had their rolls before too, which were decent as well. Sashimi is not worth it though, the fish doesn't seem fresh enough in that quantity. Outdoor seating was a plus, which is fun during HH or even later into the night in nice weather.
(3)
Charles H.

Cafe Asia is a nice water hole to grab a flavorful martini and Japanese beer during happy hour. The lychee martini is my preferred choice. If you're drinking beer and prefer taste over consumption, then buy the Sapporo reserve or anything in a bottle / can. The draft beer is a bit watered down.
(3)
Amanda H.

Came to Cafe Asia for the 3rd time back in February of 2011, and was very disappointed. While the food portion sizes were very generous, the seating was uncomfortable & extremely close together. The tables and chairs felt crammed together, and the waitress became rude when I requested different seating arrangements, as the table she gave us only had about 2 inches between the back of my chair & the back of the person at the next table's chair. I didn't really want to be unintentionally caressing the shoulder of someone I don't know during lunch. We were moved to a booth, and all seemed well. 3/4 of the way into my bowl of ramen, I discovered several bugs in my broth. I don't think they fully washed off the vegetables before they put them into the soup. My boyfriend, who ordered ramen as well, noticed the same in his broth. We were disgusted. The manager took the charges for the ramen off of our bill, but didn't even have the decency to personally come to our table and apologize. We'll never be coming back. Also, on a Saturday afternoon for lunch, nothing we requested from the dessert menu was available, since "the fruit went bad". If the waitress lets you know up front that all the fruit in the kitchen has gone bad, that's a bad sign. Eat here at your own risk (during lunch).
(1)
Johanna M.

I eat at Cafe Asia very regularly since it is close to my work and my home in Rosslyn. The last time I went there with a work group, one of my coworkers knew the owner. It was nice of him to come over and say hi to our group, although my coworker seemed shy that he did. At the end they brought out a wide variety of desserts to try including so many different flavors of icecream: lychee, green tea, red bean, ginger....some may sound a bit strange as icecream but they were all really yummy! The next time I went in over the weekend with my boyfriend the same lady remembered that I really liked the lychee flavor so our waitress brought us a bowl at the end. Again, that was very thoughtful of them to do that! My boyfriend was really impressed with how fresh the broccolli tasted in a simple dish like chicken broccolli, but it made a big difference. I always have the Misuzake and am impressed with how the fish melts in my mouth. I still haven't found my favorite sushi restaurant in DC compared to California sushi. Cafe Asia has decent sushi, but nothing spectacular. The thai and chinese options on the menu are much better!
(3)
Ryna D.

We came here just for some snacks. Perhaps if I came here for a full meal I'd have a better experience but I wasn't impressed and it's more of a decent stand-by type of place. The food is ok and reasonably priced. The cocktails were too sweet for my taste.
(2)
Eileen N.

Had a pad thai and chinese rice, they were good and big portions. Service was very nice. The place is pretty big and they are fast. Would go again.
(4)
Aaron C.

The good in Cafe Asia is very bland. No one at my table enjoyed their food. It has good portions but sucks to get a big portion of crappy food. Not even the Pad Thai had flavor. I also feel like they are tying to do too much.
(1)
Lauren P.

Great prices for great sushi! Large assortment of specialty rolls, great classic rolls, great happy hour specials and they deliver! My all-time favorite roll in the DMV, Cafe Asia's Explosion Roll, it's not on their menu anymore but they still make it--white tuna, spicy mayo, jalapeÃ±o, crispy potato flakes, orange roe. Awesome choice for sushi!
(4)
Mariah V.

My sister had her birthday at Cafe Asia. It was just dinner with our parents and some of her friends. We had a large table in the back room, which was fine...until the lights slowly were turned down and the music was turned up. What was a normal restaurant suddenly turned into a bumpin' Cafe Asia club. Tables were moved out of the way to make room for a dance floor, and there's a bar in the back room. The bartenders had a sense of humor and were willing to make my sister some disgusting shots that her friends requested. I had the lemongrass chicken which was pretty good but not fantastic. A lot of people ordered sushi, of which I am not a fan, so I'm not even going to pretend like I have an opinion on that. I tried some of the tempura which was a bit oily but tasty. The menu doesn't have only the typical Asian things like pad thai and miso soup. There are also some Indonesian dishes like rendang and panggang, but I'm not sure how authentic they are. The service was good especially for dealing with such a large group as ours. They were attentive, and our food came out pretty quickly. Overall the food was decent although hit or miss, but it seems like people come here to drink just as much to eat.
(3)
H. B.

Went there on a saturday night for dinner. The waiter was accommodating when asked, but other than that, he seemed uninterested and lacked any personality. He also RARELY came around. There was also another woman that helped with the initial appetizer order and she was absolutely rude. Snappy, unhappy, and condescending. The appetizers were not bad but not good either. The entree and sushi was okay but i've had better. Their lycheetini was GREAT though. It was strong but fruity and I would've had more of it if the waiter came around more often to take more drink orders. Overall, the service was awful and the food was okay. I would not come back unless it's to get drinks.
(1)
Julia M.

Not really authentic tasting, but still a nice atmosphere. Maybe there are some stellar dishes here but the sushi doesn't really taste like the strong suit. I'm wary of pan-asian restaurants.
(3)
Brian W.

Cafe Asia is one of my favorite places. I am a happy hour regular who sits in the bar for the good prices on appetizers, drinks, and sushi. Food: Cafe Asia is appealing as it is a busy place. To me, this means that the sushi doesn't sit around in coolers because the orders are high. Yes, this isn't solid logic, but good for me. I eat Sashimi. You can't really mess this up other than having bad fish. There fish is good. My favorites, Salmon, Yellowtail, Tuna, Unagi, and Mackerel are always delicious. I also order crab wonton that is a small serving but can be shared by two. I've ordered noodle dishes, drunken noodles, etc. Always great. Service: Always great. The staff are friendly, attentive, and quick. Pricing: You can't beat it. Ambiance: Everyone can feel comfortable here. I've seen older couple, families with young kids, dating couples, young people, hipsters, etc. I would bring my mother one night and date the next. It is lively, can be loud at peak times, and has a very contemporary/lounge feel. Summary: This is a generally great place. The price and quality can't be beat in such a nice setting. It isn't a 3 star michelin place, but a great local gem. ***Update*** I would warn that the two locations, this awesome place and the not so awesome Farragut spot, are affiliated but under different ownership as evident in customer service and management. Rosslyn is superior in all aspects and I do not recommend the Farragut location
(4)
Vah G.

I have dined here a quite a few times with my friends when I lived in Alexandria, VA. The sushi and Asian fare menu is great. The restaurant gets pretty busy in the weekend evenings. At the back there is extra space for more dinning and after dinner hours the space is transformed into a dance floor. The waiters are pretty friendly, in fact I ended up making out with one of them at our table one night. The bar is pretty good and serves nice mixed drinks and cocktails. I would definitely keep coming back to this restaurant but I now live in Rockville, MD and it's not convenient for me to go partying at this place anymore. :(
(5)
Carly V.

Have been here a few times, and each time it gets better. The sushi is really fresh, and a nice presentation. Their main dishes are portioned correctly - not too much, but enough for your money. Staff is friendly as well. The happy hour specials are also pretty great. Good find in the Rosslyn neighborhood!
(4)
Nina B.

Meh. While this place is HUGE, has a mega screen by the bar to watch games, and can accomodate large groups for parties and what not, I just found the food to be just OK. It's pretty close to the metro, so that makes it easy to get to, and if you're throwing an event, then I can see how this place is great. But, if you're just going out for dinner with a group of friends, you'll be happy enough.
(3)
Lauren P.

Great sushi. Great Asian food. OK service. Delivery can be iffy, but overall its a good spot for a variety of Asian dishes. They've cut back on their drink specials lately, but still have a good happy hour. As a heads up, this location is much nicer (and CLEANER) than the one downtown.
(4)
Renata K.

If you like to pay $12 for lomein? Do you like half ass service? Do you want your food to have no taste and just have a hot fire taste? Do you like to finish your meal, groan when you see the total, and realize you could have gotten the same with at some China-Express down the street? If so, go to Cafe Asia. Need I say more? It's edible, portions are big, taste is so-so, service is not genuine (they don't even try to act interested), Servers crowd around the middle and people watch as you try to enjoy your food and horse around with each other giggling and hitting each other just a couple of feet away from your table (unacceptable - I've experienced this during lunch and dinner). One time two male servers almost got into a fight and started to push each other getting in each other's faces. No managers apologized for the show or mediated the hostile environment. Take out menu and quality of take out is a joke. Don't ever call them: I'm Asian and if I don't understand you... you should have someone else grabbing the phones. Don't ever get take out. Don't ever get a salad. Don't get to red curry with tofu. Don't get the lomein. Sushi rolls aren't bad when you eat it there - take out is horrible. Lemon-grass chicken is salty and hard on the outside. Beef and broccoli was disappointing What should you get? I don't know, I don't recommend spending money at Cafe Asia. But if you must, I suggest getting any of the rolls that's at least $12, never a salad, or if you like miso soup, you'll get a gigantic bowl of miso soup for $5. I hear people go for happy hours a lot. To be fair, I rate this Cafe Asia no more than 2 stars because food is still edible but not a good buy vs quality, horrible service, and lacks taste (which equals the 3 stars that they're not getting from me).
(2)
Dee M.

Before I moved to Cali, Cafe Asia was one of the places that my friend Chantal and I would get together for drinks or lunch on Fridays. The food is good, but not the best. I always stuck to the sushi and noodle dishes. The service is usually pretty slow, however, the atmosphere is pretty lively, so for me it really wasn't that big of a deal. Definitely not the place for a quite dinner date. The parking situation is a beast. However, living in the DC area you learn to expect that. If you do decide to drive to Cafe Asia, be prepared to circle Wilson a few times. Otherwise, I recommend taking Metro.
(3)
Bitania E.

A place that is blindingly average it's extremely disappointing. Only thing it has going for it is the outside patio. Maker of all Asian foods and master of none (almost incompetent actually)
(2)
Noel O.

It's always interesting to see how one's own opinion of a place can either be spot on with what other Yelpers as saving...or not. Cafe Asia has pleasantly surprised me multiple times now, so I do feel it merits the 5-star treatment, but that's only based the value of what you get as compared to what you have to put in. I watch a lot cooking shows on TV, which usually translates to 18 different elements on one dish that requires a 10-minute explanation. Although the dishes here are varied and rich, it's pretty simple stuff. Case in point: last night I needed some sustenance after going to an open bar event, so I felt a little fried tofu and broccoli would be perfect. And Cafe Asia delivered! But it was just what the menu suggested: some steamed broccoli, fried tofu, and a sweet glaze over everything mixed perfectly well with both elements. I've known about Cafe Asia and have gone a handful of times over the course of years. Every time I come out smiling, which says a lot about a place. Prices are reasonable, food is filling, and they've got a pretty fantastic happy hour. All of these factors really make this the kind of restaurant I want to eat at for years to come.
(5)
Jamie R.

My experience at Cafe Asia was a bit of a disappointment. Although not very expensive, the nigiri portions were rather small. In addition, while although they had Toro on the menu, they did not have it available the night I was there. Always disappointed when restaurants don't have items on their menu. Menu was way too extensive. Combination of Thai, Japanese, and Chinese, always a sign of an OK Asian restaurant. Need to focus on simplifying it. Way too much to choose from. Also the menu had torn pages and soy sauce stains on it, again, poor attention to detail on their part. As for the rolls, they were just ok. I had a Maryland roll, Dynamite roll, Dragon roll, and one other can't recall and the menu on their website isn't up to date. But two of the rolls were topped with crab. It was just ok, did not taste fresh. One of the rolls, quite common to DC sushi and very much unlike West Coast sushi, diced the tuna so it was almost like a paste, I can't stand sushi places that do that. The texture to me is very unappetizing. On the positive side, the Tom Ka soup I had was the best ever. Very nice coconut broth and delicious flavor. This was a definite winner. I may need to go back to try some of the other menu items, but the sushi definitely was better than grocery store sushi, but comparable to late night college sushi, just average and ok.
(2)
Gordon M.

I love the Mee Goreng with a glass of chardonnay. Tom is a great bartender and always made great conversation and kept my glass full too! If you are in Rosslyn this is a solid and tasty place for lunch or dinner.
(4)
Thelonius M.

To be clear, this is not a place to come to for sushi. Not that their sushi is bad, but their slices are a little too small (at least at the bar during happy hour). Everything else I have eaten here has at least been good. I highly recommed a bowl of their ramen, they must have changed the recipe for the noodles from a year or so ago but its tasty.
(4)
Jimmy J.

Sooooooo umm...why do people like this place? PROS + Big venue + Drinks were pretty good CONS + Food is not good + Bland + Expected but... its not even close to being authentic. If you're going to make fake Asian food, at least make it taste good SUMMARY Probably won't come back. And if I do, its not for the food.
(2)
Cynthia L.

I've been to this place for almost 10 years now. The service and food are always consistent: large portions at a fair price. At night on the weekends its more of a bar/club, but the hip atmosphere makes it very worth it to check out. You Must try: - (Appetizer) Calamari - Nasi Uduk (an indonesian dish & it's alot to handle, but the bitter crispy chips, satay, rendang, and satay are very good) - Gway Tio - Singapore Fried Rice (or any of their fried rice) - Pad Thai - Drunken Noodles (very spicy) - Desserts - I've had their fried banana w/ ice cream as well as their mango w/ stick rice (in and out of season) - Their drinks are amazing (not too much sugar & you can taste the liquor). Try their Flirtini
(5)
Anpan W.

Maybe Rosslyn on Sunday is not a good idea. We had a late lunch. Service was poor, falling into the "we may have 12 staff doing nothing and 4 total clients, but we will not refill your drink or ever check on you" category. We got drunken noodles and tonkatsu. Portions were generous and the food was good.
(2)
Daniel B.

Such a great place! Yes it is not authentic, but it has a great selection from all across the Asia-pacific rim, reasonable prices (nothing here is really that expensive), generous portions. While the service can be spotty (and slow... not the best place if you are in a hurry) it really is worth it. If you come here and don't try the Chinese Ravioli? That would be a shame. Some other favorites are Curry Laksa (really this is such an awesome dish...I have a hard time not choosing it every time), the calamari appetizer, Mee Goring and Yaki Udon.
(5)
Brenda D.

I have been here a few times and every time I do, I try something new because I want to "give them another chance'. But each time I am disappointed. I really don't understand why people like this place so much! The pad thai is choppy, their grilled fish was flavorless and full of bones, and their sushi was warm. It does not matter if you come for lunch or dinner. It is just as expensive and not tasty. Maybe the only thing that was decent were the skewers of beef and chicken(?) and lycheetini. PLUS parking is hard to find and they only validate for like half the ticket if you park in the garage. I'd rather walk across the street and sink my teeth into a nice, juicy Ray's Hellburger or chow down on some Pho 75.
(2)
Stacy D.

We had the pork asian raviolis as an appitizer - VERY yummy. There were 4 or 5 in the ap, so we could split. Rest of the meal was all sushi. Really good! Good service too. No complaints.
(4)
Marianne D.

SETTING: Weekday night. ENTREES: Standard Avocado roll & Edamame order from me. STAFF: Quality service. DRINKS: Free refills on $2 Pink Lemonade. DECOR: If they work on the acoustics and add drama/decor in the ceiling and here and there a bit more to liven it up then it would be a touch better. Oh, and loose the table by the double doors on the long wall. Was a private table, but the handles right there made for a bad impression.
(3)
Neil S.

One of my favorite Asian places. I used to order or dine in practically every week when I lived nearby. The variety always pleased everyone. What I would recommend for vegetarians: Sushi - Avocado or Mushroom rolls. cheap, but slightly sub par. Good enough for me and my friends. Schezwan style w/ Garlic sauce w/ Tofu - excellent! Broccoli is usually slightly undercooked, but the sauce is incredible. Panang Curry w/ Tofu - creamy with just enough peanut flavor and fresh basil. Good atmosphere, decent service, but don't expect the best meal you ever had. Just decent food at a decent price.
(5)
Fooda H.

This place is OK. The prices are reasonable, and the food selection, pretty extensive. They do lots of things 'OK', but very few things are really good. Service is fast. The only complaint I have regarding the food, is the quality of meat they use. Some of the dishes would be excellent, if only they didnt always use cheap/low standard meat. The chicken usually tastes gamey, and the beef is frequently dry.
(3)
Michael S.

Ah, Cafe Asia...you never really fail me. At least, some of your dishes don't. Your General Tao Shrimp really hit the spot. Just what I needed on a Friday night. You reading this should try that too. Yum, yum.
(4)
Chandni K.

I had the Tom Ka soup and Explosion roll. It was pretty yummy. The roll wasn't as spicy as it's description led on to be, but good nonetheless. This place has a decent happy hour too!
(3)
scott s.

service remains spotty but friendly, prices are not too outrageous, quality of food is fair-to-middlin', lots of outdoor seating as well as an ample dining room. no change here - still three stars. i came here for lunch on a weekday. at first i was surprised how packed the restaurant was, but then i remembered that rosslyn is just crawling with offices. so yeah, makes sense. it was just two of us so we got seated immediately and the server was over right away to get our drink order. by the time he came back with the drinks we were ready to put in our food order, which came out in about ten minutes. the server was friendly and always available, although i have to say we had a bit of communication trouble not sharing a common first language. no worries, though - we got what we wanted and everything was cool. we then proceeded to dine on just ok vietnamese bun and japanese tonkatsu. nothing about the cuisine at cafe asia compels me to come back. but the prices are ok, you can't beat the location, and the variety on the menu helps when you're with a group - pretty much anyone can find something they like here. my friend and i each had a couple drinks, plus our main plates, and we were out of there including tax and tip for about $38. really not bad.
(3)
Ira R.

I was there couple times for lunch. Sushi are great, but they don't have the lunch special as other places usually have- rolls with soup & salad :(
(3)
Tom N.

I ordered spring rolls with bÃºn noodles at CafÃ© Asia once, and I will never make that mistake again. The Vietnamese food here had me thinking Asian fusion was the worst cuisine imaginable. I eventually tried gway tio and laksa upon realizing the best bet was to order anything Indonesian, Malaysian, or Singapore styled. Otherwise, I hope you're not hungry when you come here. The menu gives you a lot of choices as it's a hodge-podge of various Asian dishes, but seriously, you'd enjoy it better if you just came for the bar. Happy hour was business as usual yesterday, like any other weekday: $1.25 nigiri and $2.50 draft beers. Sushi is usually decent as well; it's a good place to meet up for drinks if you're passing through Rosslyn.
(3)
Heather U.

This rating is for the happy hour aspect of cafe Asia. Though i will add that I've dined here for both lunch and dinner and never had a bad meal....keep in mind i've had the vegetarian dishes only and cannot comment on the quality of the seafood/sushi. The place can be pretty crowded for happy hour. If you are coming with a group...call ahead. Not that it necessarily matters, but it can help. there is outdoor seating which is great in the spring. I'm not sure if the happy hour special carry over into the outdoor. They are not available in the dining area. There's a great HH drink list with a selection of fun martinis. The food list is reasonable diverse and the quality is actually pretty good. This is not your typical bar food, which i appreciate. It's a bit noisy, but even when it is packed there is room to move. The bathrooms are clean even at a busy point....*very* important. I think the only down-side is the happy hour at Cafe Asia does not carry through into standard dining hours. However, if you happen to want a meal after your HH experience, this is a great place to stay put and order dinner. Oh, I can tell you this....do NOT ask the cocktail waitress to give your number to cute guys. She snags them for herself!!
(3)
Rina S.

I'm done with Cafe Asia. It used to be good, but not anymore. We went for lunch the other day and our waiter was unfriendly, the pad thai was seriously too SALTY and the chicken panang was bland. I considered sending the pad thai back, but considering the attitude of the wait staff, I can only imagine what revenge awaits from the kitchen staff.
(1)
Mai T.

Not sure why I come here as often as I do. But that goes back to not sure why all my friends still celebrate their birthdays here. I guess its just a good old standby. I haven't had food here in ages, but from what I remember, its nothing special. I do like the fact that they have a huge room in the back for large parties, and plays pretty good music. But here's the catch... I can't stand the 21 year old girls that are freaking each other in the middle of the floor. Way tacky. Way played out! I did notice that they added more outdoor seating in the front, which is really nice.
(2)
Vanessa A.

Bland, even for a watered-down Asian spot.
(1)
Sanam T.

The sushi is okay, but not the best in the area. The service is usually slow and not very good. On several occasions when I have gone the service has been not that good and very slow. I have had to literally go up to the wait staff to get their attention. If you want to go there during the summer to sit outside to catch with friends this is the place, but don't count on great service and food.
(3)
Frank H.

Cheap mid-quality sushi and beer at happy hour I came here for happy hour and first noticed the high ceiling and modern ambience. We ordered beers and had some sushi. Beer was cold and service was decent but nothing exciting. The sushi was mediocre and lacked finesse. I think the fish was fairly fresh. Not a bad happy hour spot.
(3)
Kate S.

It's over.... After a three year - multiple times a month - affair with the Rosslyn-based Cafe Asia, I've ended it officially. Don't get me wrong. There were plenty of good times. Mid-week dinners, massive takeout orders, Saturday night pre-bar sushi-fests...not to mention the 3 years of birthday dinners hosted at Cafe Asia. A creature of habit, I went for the edamame, spicy crab roll, cafe asia roll and my ultimate appetizer: spicy chinese ravioli. Sake bombs on the side. Love is blind and for awhile I tired to ignore its flaws. But I was pushed over the edge and was tried of being treated like crap. So one night...after several negligent servers and too many subpar spicy crab rolls...I had a "determine the relationship" talk with the manager. I mean, how could I not, they even screwed up the ravioli, which offended me to the core. When the manager couldn't even apologize as I removed shards of crab shell from my teeth and my best friend searched through layers of tempura in search of a morsel of crab meat....I ended it right there and didn't look back. But I do miss the good old days of spicy Chinese ravioli. The night we broke up I promised myself that I would just go into DC and get my fix But unfortunately, I still miss my one-time obsession, perhaps mostly out of convenience. But everything happens for a reason....and now I'm not limiting my sushi options just to stay faithful. Monogamy is overrated....
(2)
Amanda B.

Cafe Asia has become part of my weekly routine. A friend started hosting a happy hour get together on Mondays over two years ago. We've come to love Cafe Asia. Sure, i can follow the argument that it's not terribly authentic, but I think it does a solid job across pretty much all of the cuisines and is cheap. Especially their happy hour - $3 appetizers. Thomas and Mei at the bar are awesome and have great recommendations when you are feeling like trying something a little different. Also the food is always done in a flash!!
(4)
Artur K.

This place screams average. Average sushi, average noodles, and average soup. But is that such a bad thing? Yeah, no one is going to be raving about this place, but if you're looking for an inexpensive, reliable meal, this is the place. The Cheesecake Factory of Asian food.
(3)
Jake S.

The food here was very underwhelming. The spring rolls, or whatever the hell they're called, had waaaay too much mint leaf, and the mintyness didn't really go well with the spicy ginger sauce they provided with it (the sauce itself was quite good though). The sushi was mediocre, but was ok for the price. The only real reason to come here is the happy hour. It runs from 4 to 7:30 on weeknights, and features 2.50 drafts (all the drafts, not just the American urinewater beer... definite plus), and cheap sake of a decent quality, among other things. Location also gets a plus, being very close to Rosslyn and Court House metro stops. Service was ok. The bartenders were timely, but it took a while to get one to notice you for some reason, even if they were standing around doing nothing... weird. Overall, with the underwhelming food, I'd say avoid this place around mealtime, but if you're looking for a happy hour, you'll be hard pressed to find a better one.
(3)
Gary R.

Seriously?! Can I tell you how much I love to eat at this place? Its a staple in my life. I can't go longer than 7 days without some Fried Calamari or General Tao chicken in my life. This is my 'go to' spot whenever I want consistently good Asian cuisine. This isn't the same stuff that you get from China Garden or Charlie Chiang's. It is traditional food with a modern twist, and most of it is 'fusion' from several different Asian styles. Now, I am basing my rating on the food here along. Service, I would have to say is not so much here. But there are always places that you will forgive its shortcomings for the food. And Cafe Asia is my place for that. Definitely give the Fried Calamari a try, even if you do not like Italian style calamari, I am assured that you will like this stuff. Lightly battered and fried with black pepper to season and served with a traditional Thai style dipping sauce. It's always been delivered hot and tasty. Soups are very hearty and filling. Portions are large (hot and sour soup could be a meal on its own) and ingredients always seem to be of good quality. Entrees are many to choose from and I have never been disappointed. As far as sushi goes, I find it all to be foul and revolting. So I have never tried it here, but those of you who do like the scrapings off the ocean floor shouldn't be disappointed with their selections. Also, this tends to be a 'see and be seen' type of spot for the throngs of young professionals who work in the Arlington area, especially on Friday nights. Not that I mind this, but getting a table after 7PM can require a bit of a wait if you are with a larger (4 or more) party. Decor here is sparse and modern. The ply wood banquets and seating lends an industrial feel, but may not be as comfortable for long dinners. Also the lack of any type of noise reduction fabrics or surfaces make this place fairly loud, especially near the open kitchen or bar area. I much prefer the large annex space in the back which usually provides a respite from the groups gathered near the bar area. This section also is referred to by many as 'Club Asia' since there is usually a DJ playing here on Friday and Saturday nights. All in All Cafe Asia is one of my favorite places to eat in the DC area. It also tends to impress those from less urban/hip areas of the country and gives them the feeling of dining in the 'big city.'
(5)
FoodLover Z.

i've been here a couple of times, not because i like this place but becuase there aren't very many eating options in the Rosslyn area. This place is aweful. Bad chinese food and even worse sushi. I just had the sushi and it had a dirty smell like the fish was stale. Gross. Never going here again, I'd rather stay hungry!
(1)
Tabetha J.

I love the mojitos here! Short but sweet and filled with the minty leafy stuff. Another reason that I love it here is because my 2 favorite items that I totally mentally rate at every asian restaurant are: Agedashi Tofu, and Tempura Udon! I'm thinking about making a Tempura Udon LIst Tracker since I can never remember where the place was that I loved the udon at! I love tempura udon! However, when I ordered it at CafÃ© Asia, it was the hugest bowl EVER. It was LUNCHTIME. It was so large that I was rather embarrassed! The broth was nice and I DID end up eating a nice portion of it while sharing a very tasty, warm and soothing agedashi tofu. Comforts like chicken soup. It was a gray day. On the way out, i did notice some asian chick by herself with the largest plate EVER of tinted pink saucy hot food dish. I wondered what would happen to all of that. I mean, I know skinny asians can put away some food but it was like a huge casserole for one! So I guess my point is that their dishes are large and in charge, and their drinks are on point. Be careful if your wearing heels of ANY height. The floor is slick as sh* and I have busted my a** at least once and had many 'almosts'!!! Fun place. Check or reserve the back room. Nice back bar. Nice space back there.
(4)
Mochi K.

I used to go all the time and loved loved loved the food....especially happy hour sushi and the Calamari (probably my fav. place for calamari.) I have been going for about 4 year but in this past year it's been going down hill. The calamari was soggy, the sushi tasted old and the rice was dry. I haven't been back for 1/2 a year because of the consistent decline in food quality. I definitely still love it for drinks, the back bar is nice and I love their mijotos.
(2)
Kat G.

I LOVE the sushi bar. Yes, I admit, I come to eat sushi alone and I love it. The sushi is always great and the customer service is like no other! I highly recommend this place, whether you're going on a date, or just have a sushi craving one night. It has a bar, but it's not really the type of place to go to meet new people, more so to hang out with friends and enjoy some good food and drinks in a trendy atmosphere.
(4)
David C.

This is where the hipster doofuses that love the "Asia" culture go to eat because it makes them feel hip and cultural. However, the only thing "Asian" about Cafe Asia is the name. OK, OK, I happen to be Asian so I'm a tough critic. I actually like this place. It has decent food. The fried calamari is the best appetizer to order and the sushi is average. The drunken noodles aren't that good. The only thing I can suggest for an entree is the lemongrass chicken or the General Tao chicken. If it's a nice day sit outside and eat. Another downfall is their service is not that great so be ready. The bar area is not bad. They also have this back loungey type of area, not sure if they still have it open. Really, the only places I really like in the Arlington area is Cafe Asia and Guarapo since it's not a huRting meathead frat bar like Whitlows or Clarendon Grill.
(3)
vinnie t.

happy hour is great but the sushi isn't that good at all. food here is way too Americanized. personally the only thing I like to eat there is the calamari. nice place to have a drink but it's way overpriced. bartenders there are shady. I've heard rumors that they double charge your credit card and if you pay cash they sometimes make their own prices and pocket the money. just a warning for yall.
(2)
Judy C.

I go to Cafe Asia about once every month or two. It's a safe bet to take friends, dates, and co-workers there because the food is pretty "americanized", so it doesn't scare off the non-adventurous. Also, the decor is nice and modern. The food used to be decent, but with my last two visits within the past three months the food and service have been pretty awful. I ordered the sushi and the rice was hard. I didn't send my dish back, but there was a table next to me which did. It was the first time I had bad sushi there, so I figured it was just a bad day. During my most recent visit, I had the drunken noodle. It's nothing like you would expect at any Thai restaurant. The sauce was gummy and thick like gravy and there was no heat to the dish. Also, my table's dishes came out within one minute of ordering them, which makes me think that everything was pre-made and just thrown into a bowl and served.
(3)
Nik N.

um, so ... no. a coworker and i needed some grub after 10pm in arlington. we had suffered a loong, hot and slow train ride to dc. we were starved for some substance and some libations. Cafe Asia was one of our only choices near the hotel. we sat at a table in a bar. *loud* sports on the many tvs, and drunk *loud *a-holes smoking up the place. the waitress was: a - uninterested, b - lacking knowledge, c - slow as all hell (not that it was busy, mind you) we had some sushi which was decent so far as i could tell through the nicotine soaked air. my favorite part was when i asked for the sake menu and she said - we only have one. i said, i want cold sake. do you have that? she said, yes, we only have one. she brought a large cold sake that i am pretty sure was intended to be served warm. bottom line... no matter how tired, hungry, thirsty i am next time i visit arlington... i would rather starve, pass out, and/or die of thirst than return to Cafe Asia.... even if it were the only place open. save your time and save money - spare yourself the agony and stink.
(1)
Fay S.

I love Cafe Asia. The food is good and the mojitos are to die for. They keep adding a dollar to their meals, but they're still cheap comparitively.
(4)
edwin l.

solid asian food...
(3)
Maddie N.

I went here for a work dinner, and the service was pretty great considering we had a group of almost 50! They brought out platters and platters of samplers, I thought the sushi was more on the bland side, but the sauces were excellent! The mixed drinks on the other hand are very strong, I wouldn't recommend anything except the paradise punch, which is one of the better drinks I've had! The dessert needs to be more varied though.....sticky rice? Ugh, I've just had stomachfuls of rice...
(3)
Todd F.

Another of my old NOVA stomping grounds. The sushi here is pretty good. I was always a big fan of the Cafe Asia roll. Their prices were reasonable and they did run regular sushi/drink specials which was clutch. It tends to get very overcrowded and as someone else points out the acoustics are terrible so it's always very noisy no matter where you are sitting. I would frequently hit up Cafe Asia during the week after work since it tended to be less crowded and I'd sit at the sushi bar.
(4)
Jessica S.

Cafe Asia has become one of my favorite places in Arlington. Great happy hour - $1 sushi and cheap beer; great variety of food and excellent food when served. You get exactly what you ask for and nothing hidden. The service can be hit or miss, but one thing I love is that it is one of the very few good restaurants in Arlington that takes reservations.
(4)
Kendra K.

CafÃ© Asia is the perfect example of a "Jack of all trades, master of none." If you're looking for authentic Asian food, you won't really find it at CafÃ© Asia--but to be fair, that's not what they're aiming for. I've eaten many times here (and gotten take-out), and it's a solid place that's great for groups. They may seem crowded since the front street-view area is always bustling, but there's more tables in the back that aren't apparent upon first-glance. There's tons of menu options, so unless someone flat-out hates Asian food, they'll be able to settle for something. There's happy-hour sushi, which is nice, though the sushi itself is nothing special. I will recommend that if you want a large volume of food, the bÃºn (Vietnamese noodle salad) comes in a huge HUGE bowl.
(3)
John M.

Most people complain about the sushi but since I don't order sushi in the U.S. (always too much moeny for too little raw fish and a lot of cheap rice) I can not speak about that. I had the crispy fried calamari which was OK but I think it was from a frozen package you can buy from the supermarket but still OK. I then had the seafood Tempura Udon and that was veyr good. A lot of food for the money. The service was nothing speicial but since I was not in a hurry it did not bother me. The ne thing I hate is the check came (we all had personnel bills) and it had the price and then the tip and it said balence due whcih was the price plus the 18% tip. OK first of all that is not the balence due it is the balance plus the tip if I choose to pay it. I almost left $2 less but decided it was not the servers fault but since I was with my boss I did not want to come off looking like a jerk. It is not the money but the principle, I hate being told I have to pay the tip. I will give 15% of ythe service is not that great 10% if it is really bad 18% if it's good and 20-22 if it is fantastic. But I never want to be told that I owe that I owe you nothing above the price get that stright.
(3)
A-dogg S.

I've been to the Cafe Asia on I street near Farragut West, and this one is much better in my opinion. Food is better quality as is the physical restaurant. Pretty good sushi over here, not great but will definitely satisfy a craving. Good bar to hang out at with a huge projection screen. Also, if you want teriyaki or some thai dishes they have a huge menu and most things I've tried are pretty good as well. They also deliver in the area, a huge plus. I have had a bad experience trying to do take out once, but usually its good all around.
(4)
Armstrong B.

Cafe Asia is a pan asian restaurant meaning they serve Chinese, Japanese (not just sushi), Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Thai. I normally order General Tso's chicken ($10). Spicy, crunchy chunks of chicken is served with a bowl of rice and steamed brocolli. During my last visit, I received a milder version so your experience may vary. On Friday and Saturday nights, the noise in the restaurant is loud due to the crowds in the bar area. They have a large projection screen (over 50") and a club area in the back.
(3)
Jennie L.

food here is just okay. service is okay. pricey for what you get. convenient if you live in the neighborhood, but parking is a pain otherwise.
(3)
Stephanie N.

Very well decorated with clean modern lines and a fun environment to spend with friends. Prices are reasonable although the service we had was a bit lacking. Sushi was really good, although I was disappointed that they offer some rolls with lettuce in them. Maybe is a VA thing, but I've never heard of putting lettuce in sushi - plus I tried it once and it doens't taste good. It just seems like a cheap filler instead of using avocado or cucumber. The specialty rolls that I did try, however, was excellent and I would go back if I was with a group of friends.
(3)
Kim G.

I have to meet up with my girls here whenever I come into the area or leave town. It's become one of my favorite places to catch a good meal before crossing the Key Bridge, especially because of SHINE, the bartender extraordinaire!! Service is friendly, pork cutlet is yum and so is their variety of fried rices and noodles...Big portions! We threw a speed dating event here and got the entire back room and bar for the night, which I like better. Downside-smoking indoors-why wouldn't you get a table at the huge patio outside?
(4)
Michael T.

It's no Oishi, but def the closest one I've found in DC. Two words, $1 Sushi...during Happy Hour; why don't we have that in Boston? This is where the hip and cool ppl of DC go to hang out and chill; I don't think it's technically right for our politicians to be hitting on interns, but after going to this place...I at least understand the temptation. Pretty girls who can quote you C-SPAN, CNN, and give you an update on the current administration's crazy fiscal budgetary policy...my kinda place. Oh, $1 drafts, as well...
(5)
Christine B.

Small, lacking fish, rolls. Unattentive service on a non-busy night. We brought out-of-towners with high hopes. We were sorely disappointed.
(2)
sunny n.

Great Hip Urban contemporary hang out with oriental menu choices from sushi to Satay !!!
(4)
RonAnderson ..

My pad thai was a bit unusual but good (it was not tangy or sweet --but I actually like it this way, with lots of egg and peanuts); my dinner date ordered a very tasty drunken noodles, and we shared a great spicy tuna sushi roll and california roll. (it was a lot of food, but we were hungry!!) I like the atmosphere too--good for two people, or for dinner with a large group of friends. Definitely one of the better pan-asian restaurants in the DC area. very reasonable prices too.
(4)
Karen S.

I love Cafe Asia! I first went to its sushi happy hour on the recommendation of Phyllis Richman (many years ago, just before she retired). Although the nigiri pieces have gone up from $1.00 to $1.25, they never fail to have fresh fish, eel, whatever; friendly sushi chefs; a delicious (and generously sized) Sesame coleslaw salad; great Vietnamese lemon grass chicken; and friendly and efficient staff. If you can splurge a bit and order some of the exotic rolls, you won't go wrong here either. I'm a huge fan of the spider roll (love soft shell crabs) - this tempura version is light and delicious. For the drinkers in the crowd, $4 large saki and half-price Sappora can't be beat. For the teetotalers in the crowd, there's never pressure to drink either, a nice change of pace from some places.
(5)
karen r.

i have eaten here once. the food was pretty good, and the menu is huge, panasian. the atmosphere is pretty nice, although from the inside it certainly doesn't feel like arlington. i see that as a plus. there is this accessory club scene that goes on also, very confusing at first when you go to find the bathroom and are suddenly smack in the middle of a dance floor. clientele going to the aforementioned dance floor provides quality people watching as you enjoy your dinner.
(4)
Kelly E.

I love this place. It's a hang out for the hip, urbn crowd and it's fun to people watch. The bartenders are Hot and friendly. I went with a friend who knew EVERYONE and we were treated like celebs.....the sushi was phenomenal...I can't wait to go back and eat there again. Crowded, but worth the wait for a table....or just eat at the bar and flirt with the bartenders!!! 5 stars.
(5)
Christopher T.

I've been here many many times, and have enjoyed every one -- except for the time i tried to bring my family here and stear them away from american food. I also prefer this one in Arlington way much more so than the one in Washington -- think it is the atmosphere. Somwhow they manage to get it all correct in Rosslyn and not in DC. Also there is this big jumbo screen that shows sports , and etc -- with an addition to outdoor seating, its all good. You would expect from a large place such as this one that the food would be bland, and the service rushed to get the next group in. I actually really like the food here, and the service is pretty average to restaurants -- a lil less sometimes. I dont think you can go wrong here though, the food is very good and the prices dont come anywhere near shocker. With all of this combined with a young and kinda hip feel, for as hip as possible in NOVA, this is a win win for a date or with friends.
(3)
Alex B.

I will never order from this place again. They messed up my order and then when I called to let them know, they accused me of eating the missing food already and would not refund the difference or complete the order. Then after about 2 pieces of the sushi I was actually happy they left out some of the order. Didn't taste fresh at all. This is my first and last time eating here. Should have trusted the yelp reviews.
(1)
Lindsay H.

I met a group of colleagues for dinner and drinks last night--the same colleagues that I used to hang out with at Cafe Asia eight years ago. We had a blast and the food, drinks, and service was great. The mojito was excellent, and so was the panang chicken curry--which comes in a giant bowl--and I was starving, so I could have eaten a whole vat of it. I did end up scraping all the sauce out of the bowl with my spoon, and had I been home alone, I probably would have licked the bowl. It was that good. I don't eat sushi, but my friends seemed to enjoy theirs. The wait staff was friendly, if a little overwhelmed outside. I had to flag the waiter down to take my order, but once I had his attention, he was very attentive and made sure all our food and drinks arrived on time. I had to flag him down for the check, but I appreciate a restaurant that isn't trying to force customers who are having a good time to move along and make room for others. A great evening, and I hope to go back soon.
(4)
david m.

cafe asia--the ultimate group locale for no-frills good food and easy dining. amble on the street and an easy walk from clarendon, courthouse, and roslyn (heck, walk from m street if you want). my favorite time is an easy late saturday afternoon or early sunday afternoon meal. cafe asia is huge (200+ seating), and has $1 sushi for which they could charge $5-8. during warmer months there is tons of outdoor seating. service is efficient and properly timed even if you have a group.
(4)
Lisa I.

My first year in Virginia, Cafe Asia was a staple in the weekend plans. Because I'm a commited sushi fan, I can tell you that the sushi at Cafe Aisa is very good, but can't really comment on the other dishes. The restaurant tends to get very busy (especially when they boast outdoor seating in the spring and summer), but they offer a large and trendy bar area for killing time before your name is called. NOTE: the acoustics are not ideal in the dining area, so don't bring relatives that are hard of hearing!
(4)
Zhicong Z.

So bad! Everything is not fresh. The sauce of the tontakaysu is really salty and the pork has stunk. What's more, the ramen is so bad It is too soft and sticky.
(1)
Jackie N.

My PIC/BFF and I were craving sushi on the last Friday of Lent, and most of the sushi places around us close for their lunch break at 2:30pm. Thankfully Cafe Asia was till open. I have always wanted to try Cafe Asia and was so glad I finally got the change to. it is located in the Rosslyn area on Wilson Boulevard coming towards Arlington. The restaurant is HUGE and I am bumpin for HH and late nights. We got the seaweed salad as an appetizer and ordered a few rolls to split. Our delicious rolls: Tohuku - shrimp tempura, avocado, crab, spicy mayo and fish roe Ninja - eel, crab meat, spicy tobiko, and avocado spicy salmon roll fireball roll - scallop, cucumber and Japanese mayo inside with spicy flying fish roe The rolls were all great and the perfect amount for us. We ended up splitting the bill, which was only about $21 each before tip. I definitely want to come back here for their happy hour, which lasts from 4pm to 7:30pm with $1 per nigiri sushi, $2 per piece of sashimi, and 20% off all sushi rolls, minus the special maki. Awesome!
(4)
Eric S.

One of my go-to spots in Rosslyn. Is it the best Asian food I've ever had? No, but they do have a fairly wide selection, from Bun to Yaki Udon and Yakisoba and sushi. Remarkably inexpensive for the area, and they have Sapporo and Kirin too. Would I go out of my way to get here? No... But if I'm going to be in the area and craving some decent Udon, I stop here. Their spicy "ravioli" (dumplings, really) is pretty good too, and although they serve fried calamari, like many other restaurants do, the calamari had a nice light batter and a sweet chili sauce for dipping.
(4)
Ning Z.

How have I not already written a review on this restaurant? This is our go-to Asian restaurant in the Rosslyn area because of their varied menu. They have so many different Asian food that they can pretty much satisfy all my Asian food cravings. Ever since we discovered the roast pork appetizer, we always get it when we're here. It's $8.00, so it's a big pricey, but it's literally heavy in your mouth. It comes with two buns that has melt-in-your-mouth soft pork belly with a sweet and salty sauce. It is AMAZING!! Everyone must try this!!! I kind of cycle through my food choices when I go here. They have a pretty good selection of sushi happy hour, but recently I've been more into the entrees. I usually switch between Gway Tio, which is a stir-fried flat noodle dish; some kind of fried rice, all of them are really good; and the Panang curry. The Panang curry is a bit too spicy for my taste though. I just love this place for its versatility and I'll always come back here when the Asian food craving hits!!
(5)
Jonathan V.

It's hard to go wrong here if you are interested in Asian food at a reasonable price. The food is generally fresh and tasty, and they arguably make the best Pad Thai in town. They also offer happy hour specials virtually every evening. I consistently have a good experience when dining here.
(4)
Megan J.

best sushi ever? sushi taro by a mile but hey, it's rosslyn great happy hour cheapest nigiri, dumplings $2.50 draft beers! sometimes, cheap beats good dumplings weren't bad bargain for the win
(3)
Reubin D.

The food was good as always but... there were a few unexpected occurrences. After catching the one minute flu and nearly dying in the waiting area without being checked on... Dinner was great, conversation was great, but then I saw the furry creature. Nuff said
(4)
Ananya M.

I came here with my Japanese language meetup group. As the restaurant is massive, there was plenty of space for all ~30 of us, and the waiters were very attentive about making sure we had plenty of food and drinks. As for the food, the Succulent Pork (= pork buns) are AMAZING. 4 people at my table got them and they all absolutely loved them, so I highly recommend them. Some of them dishes can also be really big, so I suggest asking before you order if you're not too hungry. The sushi is typical, nothing too special to report on that front. All in all, a good experience, and I look forward to my next meetup there.
(4)
Jerry X.

Very family oriented place, great food, including some authentic Indonesian food. The nasi uduk is just like in Jakarta. Also try the calamari.
(5)
Nathan D.

Yeah... I really, really want to like this place. They've got a diverse and interesting menu encompassing cuisine from half the Pacific Rim. The people are pleasant, the sidewalk seating is nice as long as nobody has called 911 at the fire station across the street, and they've got happy hour prices as cheap as anywhere I've been able to find in this town (and believe me, I am not under-appreciating this last point - $2.50 drafts!). I want to like it so bad that I come back again and again. It's an abusive relationship. There's just not very much on their menu that is reliably good. Sushi's fresh and OK but nothing exciting. I have a soft spot for their succulent pork (I keep it above my belt buckle and it weighs about ten pounds...) and there are a few hidden gems on their menu like the Nasi Uduk which is interesting and tasty. Apart from that, the theme seems to be "but". The grilled pork on their Vietnamese bun cha is delicious "but" the noodles are hard and flavorless and the sauce is bland. The drunken noodles are satisfying "but" not the slightest bit spicy. The Sichuan spicy noodles are distinctive and really tasty "but" the obviously recycled meat is tough and dried out. The Tom Yum Noodle Soup is distressingly bad, "but" nobody is making you eat it. Their inconsistent quality control is detectable enough to give you hope that it'll be better next time, and sometimes, it is. The interior seating can reach window-rattling levels of noisiness right around the end of happy hour but the outdoor seating is a great place to spend a warm evening. I'm probably slamming on them more than they deserve - one can only be so critical if they're going to own up to eating there again and again. It has selling points. The value is good. The drink menu is diverse. There are good things to eat once you find them and it's a great option when you've got five or six people with you who just can't agree on what they want to eat. If I don't really have good meals at Asia, I don't really have bad ones either. What I do usually have is a meal that I keep thinking should have been better somehow.
(2)
Juicy G.

I think Cid H. said it best in his review that, "Cafe Asia is decent. Nothing more, nothing less." The food wasn't bad, but it also wasn't spectacular. For how well my Yaki Udon was presented on the plate I guess I just expected a whole lot more flavor to be present. There were no distinctive flavors to it that would make it memorable to your mouth, and actually got rather boring to sit there and eat. This of course resulted in a rather bland and unmemorable dining experience with the end result being that I probably won't even remember this place exists come next month. So right there the opportunity for repeat business is lost. Service is actually pretty terrible. Our server took the order, brought our drinks and then disappeared. Someone else brought the food about twenty minutes later, and I was sucking on ice cubes for a good ten minutes before someone else brought me another drink. The server finally returned to the table at the end of the meal to bring the check, and nobody checked on us in the interim. I'll pass on Cafe Asia in the future.
(2)
Souf'east S.

I haven't had the pleasure of dining in at Cafe Asia, I always have it delivered to my job. They're alway quick and punctual. The food is ALWAYS hot on delivery. The drivers are friendly. Excellent delivery service and the food is excellent! The Singapore Rice Noodles with Shrimp are my faves. Also try the fried rice, lo mein and sushi.
(4)
Cid H.

Cafe Asia is decent. Nothing more, nothing less. I ordered the Korean BBQ chicken, and I received a grilled chicken breast, two lettuce leaves, a small bowl of white rice, and an even smaller cup of "Korean" BBQ sauce. It was a laughable entree for $12, and probably still would have been overpriced at $8. The chicken breast was fine and the rice was...rice, but what's the point of the lettuce leaves? Take my advice...don't order the Korean BBQ chicken. Anyway, my wife's chicken teriyaki entree was actually an extremely generous portion, and her side salad was okay. But honestly, the more I think about a single-lobe chicken breast tossed on a large plate next to two lettuce leaves and a cup of BBQ sauce...I just get angry. This review was originally three stars, but I'm now experiencing buyer's remorse. Skip this place. There are far, far better Asian options in the DC area. I *knew* I shouldn't have come here.
(2)
Jennifer W.

They have a little bit of food from each country in Asia. I love their sushi, great place to hung out with lots of friends especially happy hours, lots of spaces. Great location, 15 minutes away from center of DC.
(5)
Blair S.

I came for the sushi. The $1 nigiri and 20% off for rolls probably makes it the best value in Arlington. The only weakness is that you get what you paid for. The nigiri reminds me of the kind you find at a buffet - which, while acceptable, will disappoint those looking for higher quality fish. The rolls, however, are worth the money in terms of quality and quantity. If you need sushi and don't want to fork over a large amount of money, this is probably the place.
(3)
Rostam U.

Ate some sushi here during happy hour. Now I'm in day 3 of food poisoning. Puking, nausea, headaches, diarrhea. Avoid at all cost
(1)
Marie M.

I enjoyed this place for the thai inspired noddle dishes, they are very good. However, they up charge you for everything. They charged me $3, yes, $3 for American broccoli! That is absolutely insane. Recently got delivery. They deliver in the time frame that promise. 15 mins over. But that's ok. The lemon grass chicken with fish sauce was meh, not very good. The chicken is almost like dark meat. The broccoli and beef is good, great sauce. However, all they give you is broccoli no beef! The Chinese fried rice is amazing! very good!
(3)
Matt S.

Just somewhere to go when I don't feel like driving or taking an uber to get sushi. But consistently lack luster in terms of quality.
(2)
Tiger S.

By far our most favorite Asian cuisine restaurant ever!!! We have been going to this place for over 4 years. Everything is delicious and the price is just in our budget. You must eat here!!! ( I do wish they had more comfortable seats and that it was less noisy. But I/we don't care the flavors makes up for everything, even some of the rood staff )
(5)
Josh B.

My coworkers and I go here a couple of times per month. The food is decent, though not particularly noteworthy. Every time I go, I try a different dish. Nothing has tasted bad, but nothing has really stuck out either.
(3)
KC C.

After going here a number of years, I always go back to this place as a staple. Food is consistently good and has a wide variety. On this last visit, I ordered their suhi/sashimi during happy hour and then got the teriyaki chicken and Korean beef dish. Despite the size of this place and the fact that it always busy, the service is good and food comes out quick.
(4)
Nabeel Z.

Go here if you like a place with mediocre food and terrible service. Last 3-4 times I went by myself it took nearly 10 minutes for someone to acknowledge my presence/ask for drinks. It wasn't peak time and they had no more than 5 customers there with at least 3 waiters. Talk about lazy! Service wasn't any better the other times I've gone with a group. Food is meh and not cheap either! I don't plan on giving them my business any longer.
(2)
Bianca K.

The food was great! I got the pad Thai. I only took away one star because the service wasn't the best. But I would still defiantly go back! I have gotten more food since my last review. All delicious!
(4)
Adrian A.

Cafe Asia is down right delicious! They have amazing Sushi as well as one of the best pork buns I have had in Arlington. I typically order either Sushi or Beef Satay. I can say that both of these are amazing. Another amazing thing about Cafe Asia is that they deliver! I would highly recommend this to someone looking for amazing Asian food. Lunch or Dinner!
(4)
Kelsey Y.

Everything was very watery...We got vegetable steamed gyoza and it was like the dumpling was filled with water. The gyoza dipping sauce was also watery, as was the veg spring roll sauce. We also got the chinese broccoli stir fry with tofu and the tofu also felt watery once you bit into it. The broccoli and sauce were fine. We also got a vegetable pad thai which was fine. It wasn't awful but not going to go back.
(2)
Mark K.

Tasty food without any heavy oil & grease. The dumplings were not oily at all -- and were very tasty; the pho was absolutely delicious (but be warned: it's HUGE and can easily be a meal for 2 people), and the sushi was nice -- and this was at 10PM when the place was winding down. A great place for a late dinner.
(4)
Lottie Y.

the food is fine. we had ramen and sushi rolls, but it is really expensive. $18 for a ramen??!!
(3)
Ani J.

This was my first time dining at Cafe Asia. We walked in and were seated promptly. The menu has a variety of options for vegetarian people. After going through the list, I wasnt sure what to try. I ended up getting the following: - Tom Yum Soup (with vegetables): very good, but the vegetables should have been chopped more. - Gway Tio -- Singapore Flat Noodles: This was recommended by the waiter. This was different from the traditional drunken noodles at Thai restaurants. It has a little burnt flavor, but was very well made. The service is ok. We were asked to sit way at the back, so could hardly enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant. I would like to come back and try a few more things before I really make up my mind on this place. For what I ate yesterday, the food was decent.
(3)
Helen Z.

My friend and I went there for dinner, and ordered the laksa and gway tiao . The laksa was great, but not mind blowing. The gway tiao was way too sweet, so sweet that I could only eat a couple of mouthfuls before pushing the plate away. The disappointing thing for me is that my friend got food poisoning shortly after leaving the restaurant, which made us hesitate to go back to the restaurant to try their other dishes.
(3)
Rick B.

This establishment seems to attract a scattergun of marks, and I'm not entirely sure why. I've used it often as a convenient neighbourhood dining option for one of my default hotels, and have always found the food to be good (both the sushi options, and the mainstream oriental dishes). My main quibble has typically been with service, which can be a bit variable.
(3)
Trang G.

I eat here often. They have the largest selection of Asian dishes on the menu. I have tried a few such as chicken noodles which is ok. But I come back over and over again for their curry laksa soup. OMG. I dream about this soup. I ordered with thin rice noodles with chicken and shrimps. It's heaven in a bowl. The cost is reasonable at 14.00. The restaurant is on Rosslyn but has plenty of parking available. Service is spotty depending on the server you get. Highly recommend this soup! Come and try it.
(3)
Johanna A.

So I've lived and attended school right down the street from this restaurant for almost a year now, but this was my first time eating here. My boyfriend and I were craving some sushi, so we thought we should try it out. It was lunch time and our server was alright. He refilled our drinks occasionally, but I guess we came during a weird hour of the day because he and some other staff went on break and began eating in the back corner of the place, but it was really open and near our table, so we could see the group of them and hear them. It was kind of weird to us. I ordered a special of sashimi, sushi, and spicy tuna roll while my boyfriend ordered a seafood medley (essentially sashimi and other seafood served with rice). We're die-hard sushi eaters, so we have pretty particular opinions whenever we go out for sushi. Overall, the food was just okay. I had an issue with their spicy tuna rolls being much more spicy than I've ever experienced at any other sushi establishment and my fish was served at just a little colder than room temperature. I don't know about you, but when raw fish is served to me and it's not cold, I feel uneasy. It might have been because it was just after lunch hours were over, but our meal added up to around $60+ with 20% tip. All in all, I probably won't go back there unless I'm really in need of a sushi fix. I'd rather spend that amount of money on a quality meal.
(2)
Stephanie C.

Nice, amply-sized, airy Asian fusion place (a holdover from when it was in cramped quarters on 19th between L and M, I think). Tempura, noodles, sushi, sashimi, Miso soup, the usual fare but they are prepared well. The Tempura in particular was light, lovely. Try the cocktails and wine -- very nice place to meet a friend, catch up, share a meal. Two, maybe three blocks from Metro.
(4)
David B.

We visited the DC area on Christmas Day and were very hungry. With most stores being closed at 10pm Christmas Day, we were very happy to find a Asian restaurant open. Everyone was very nice and food was great. They have a large projector showing the games on TV and a nice sized bar to socialize. Thank you for being open Christmas night and providing us with wonderful food and service!
(5)
William F.

Went here on a date. The food was kind of disappointing. I think with so many different cuisine options, it's difficult to maintain consistency! But, I ordered the nasi uduk and it was really good! The spicy sauce was incredible. Chicken satay and beef were succulent and flavorful. My opposite ordered he laksa curry soup or whatever that got high praises, but we both agreed it was pretty darn bland. It lacked flavor and substance. The portions were massive but she didn't even come close to denting that soup. The fried banana with vanilla ice cream was a solid dessert, can't really mess that up though. Overall, the food was just average. Didn't try the sushi so I may come back to check out other options. And I still don't know why I ever order hot sake, it's always gross.
(3)
Alex W.

For the mains, I thought that my friends would enjoy some of my favorite dishes. The first is Curry Laksa, a Malaysian dish that I grew up on and was regularly cooked by my maternal grandmother for our weekly Saturday lunch gatherings. It comes in a huge bowl filled with a sea of a light coconut milk curry broth, a flotilla of fried tofu squares, little islands of chicken and shrimp, all hiding a huge mound of egg noodles and rice vermicelli noodles. My friends exclaimed that it was interesting as it tasted like a lighter version of Thai food as they expected a richer creamier dish. But it has to be this light since it is basically a noodle soup, thus the large quantity which would be difficult to finish if it were richer. That day's serving was lacking enough lime juice which is necessary to cut through the richness. But I still enjoyed it thoroughly which made it the perfect dish for a Saturday afternoon, much like during my childhood - it nearly made this former Catholic want to praise one of the Saints for this bowl of heaven. To read rest of review and view photos, check out my blog at Wongeats.
(4)
Patrick B.

Well a four year relationship ends tonight with an unclear menu description and as a result a simple ordering error which the restaurant staff and manage refused to acknowledge and correct. Cafe Asia's on line menu offers "Chinese Style Stir Fried Mixed Vegetables" for $10. Also "with chicken, beef, pork, OR tofu for $12. We ordered the veggies with chicken but got the veggies with tofu. Minor unintentional error. NO. Not according to two people at Cafe Asia, including the manager on duty. Apparently all of the mixed Chinese vegetables come with tofu and our repeated efforts to replace the unordered tofu with chicken were repeatedly and adamantly rebuffed for about 15 minutes until the restaurant manager just hung up on us. Really impressive customer service. Not worth the time, money or hassle. Too many other great and responsive and friendly Chinese delivery restaurants in Arlington to give our business, rather than the arrogant and belligerent crew running Cafe Asia. Good bye Cafe Asia from a customer since 2011.
(1)
Airicko S.

Everyone here is so nice. The food is Amazing and the services just makes the food taste so much better! Delivery is pretty amazing as well. The drivers are nice and friendly.
(5)
Heather G.

I have partied here before but recently was my first experience dining. The spicy tuna sushi was good, but not the best. For entree, I ordered the Panang Curry with Chicken. The dish comes in spice levels of 1-4. The waiter put my order in as a 3 and this was enough to make me cry. However, I LIKED IT!! Full of spice and full of flavor. I am sure if I went to a level 4, I wouldn't have been able to taste my food. Overall, I appreciated not being rushed after we were finished our meal. It was the perfect place to catch up with a good friend.
(4)
A H.

I used to love this chic place. I love fusion, especially Asian fusion. They are still OK, but the quality of lots of dishes has declined dramatically lately (especially pepper seafood which was my old favorite, all the noodle dishes, and sushi). The bar area may be good for guys night out watching sports on TV. The dining section is not so good. They need to pay attention to the upkeep (hard as hell booth seats, table shaking, better seats, need cleaner floor). They are still pretty fast with take-outs and deliveries (to the neighborhood), so that's one good thing remaining. Lately I feel like they are ripping customers off. Pepper seafood (fried prawns, scallops, and calamari with perfect seasoning of pepper and salt, and spices) used to be a great appetizer. They now changed it to an entree, and more than tripled the price. But loh and behold, the content has not changed! That is a total rip off. Same amount of food, in a large plate, with rice. How dare they call it an entree? And this popular dish is removed from their appetizer menu. New discovery: Nasi Uduk (entree) is pretty good. It's an Indonesian style dish: coconut rice platter with spicy beef, crispy anchovies, pickled veggies, emping (acron chip), chicken satay, gado-gado & spicy prawn sauce. Note: this restaurant is very loud. The cavernous tall roof does not dampen noise. It amplifies everything. I often found myself tired from having to yell across the table.
(3)
Kenya J.

Mmmmaaaannn!! It started with someone bringing their fried calamari to our Xmas party. I was hooked!! Then my coworkers said they were going for lunch. We had the calamari, as well as crab wontons for appetizers. I ordered the general tao's shrimp with steamed white rice & broccoli. So good & they give you plenty. This is the kind of place where you eat & should not plan to come back to work! All that food made me sleepy! LOL!! I begin to get that "i-tis!" Black people know what I'm talking about! LOL!!
(4)
World War Z.

This place is 3-4 stars. It's better than okay but a bit below good. I enjoy the variety, service, and atmosphere. The food is good, but not great. Some of the dishes were great and others were a bit bland. When you do fusion and have so much variety, you're going to be a jack of all trades and master of none. My favorite dish was their soft shelled crab. I did not like their sushi. You won't find the best Asian cuisine, but it's a good place to go for any meal and because they have such an interesting variety, you and your friends can find something you're in the mood for.
(4)
Russell N.

Has this place changed ownership? It used to be pretty OK but this week it was pretty not OK... the sushi rice was dry and mealy, the soft shelled crab was murdered with panko. I'm pretty hard to gross out but the men's room was unspeakable with rivulets of urine running several feet across the floor in the troughs between the tiles and slippery when wet wasn't the mop water. TOTALLY GROSS! I have eaten here every spring visit for many years but I WILL NOT BE BACK!
(1)
Jay S.

I've definitely had better. The food wasn't bad tasting but you can tell that the quality and flavors just weren't there, despite the the gorgeous decor that would tell you otherwise. There was a bit too much rice in the sushi rolls and were compressed too much. The rice is supposed to be light and fluffy. The panang curry was very average tasting as well. It was lacking quite of bit of fresh ingredients. The only thing going for it was the serving size. It came in a HUGE bowl with tons of chicken whereas you usually get a small bowl at Thai restaurants (but a small delicious bowl). Bottomline, you get quantity over quality here.
(3)
Pratik P.

I knew it. I knew food at Cafe Asia would be average at best. But, after finally going here today for lunch, this has got to be **one of the worst** Asian restaurant in Arlington. The only reason this place is popular is because it's trendy. I'll admit, the inside looks pretty modern. My review is only for the non-sushi dishes, more specifically the spicy Sichuan pork noodles and the Chinese dumplings in Sichuan sauce. Let me start off by saying Sichuan Chinese is one of my favorite cuisine, so I was INCREDIBLY disappointed when I opened my dishes. "Spicy" Sichuan Pork Noodles: No color. No flavor. Awkward pork texture. And most importantly, NO SPICE!!! What the hell!? And $12 for a small little plate? No thanks. "Spicy" Chinese Dumplings: Perfect sized dumplings, but WAAAAAAY too vinegary. It was almost unbearable to eat. My face was practically cringing during every bite. I hate to give negative reviews, but the food (non-sushi) here is so gross. Waste of $18. Skip it.
(1)
Elle F.

Sushi is fairly good. Summer Rolls are very good. Rest of food SALTY. They use MSG - loads of it. I'm sensitive. no go. :(
(2)
Josephine W.

loooooove the happy hour! i wish i wrote down the names of the two people who worked here providing an awesome experience!!! i think me and my friend spent around $60 on their spicy salmon roll and wine bc it was so good. wine was around 5. and for spicy salmon roll and avocado, - it was on point. ive had a lot of sushi out here and didnt feel a need to yelp anything subpar, but this! i am raaaaaaving about. so fresh and so goooood! i think it was $4 for 6 pieces. We got there around 6pm, check hours for happy hour. the salmon was fresh and the avocado was plump and creamy w. perfect ripeness. special thanks to the bartenders that night, a handsome fellow and a charming pretty girl. thank you for a 6 star service experience! looooooved your happy hour and i will be back soon!!!
(4)
HJ C.

Cafe Asia is amazing! They have a great sushi menu, a variety of food from different Asian countries, and a great drink menu. I recommend their fried calamari, soft shelled crab, satay, crab rangoon, pad thai, ramen, eel on rice, fried banana combo etc... You can never go wrong with those dishes. The Summer Breeze and the lycheetini are definitely my favorite cocktails that are both delicious and refreshing. They also have another huge section in the back for private parties. I've gone to the New Year's Eve and Halloween parties a few times already and I have always have a great time. I especially love the Halloween party because they always have a costume contest and everyone goes all out with their costumes. During Chinese New Year, they get this amazing lion dance group that goes through the entire restaurant. I'll definitely be going there for dinner next week to see the lion dance again! All-in-all, Cafe Asia is definitely a place to try a variety of Asian flavors and enjoy it in a nice atmosphere. Sadly, this place has pretty much made it difficult for me to enjoy sushi at other restaurants; they just don't measure up. If I lived closer, I'd go eat at Cafe Asia all the time.
(5)
Lola K.

There are too many choices on the menu for them to be great at everything. It's on the expensive side for lunch but, is in a good location if you work in Rosslyn. I recommend the chicken satay and calamari appetizers, lemon grass beef and chicken entrees and thai iced tea. There are cheaper and better sushi options close.
(3)
Michael H.

We just hosted a rehearsal dinner for a wedding in Cafe Asia's large private room adjacent to the restaurant. We received so many compliments on the food, the service and the great space that features its own bar, restrooms and A/V setup. Cafe Asia was a perfect place for our dinner and everyone had a great time. It was a pleasure to work with Annie in planning the menu and other details. Would recommend to anyone.
(5)
Jen L.

The huge party/special occasions room in the back was able to accommodate the massive number of people. A great spot to hold an event. The place was jam-packed, yet I only spotted one emergency exit, which was also the narrow entrance in the front. Not safe. What if there was a fire? I didn't patronize the main restaurant, but I can say the service from the bartenders were excellent.
(3)
William D.

The key to this restaurant is to stick with what it does well. And what it does really well is Chinese food and cheap drinks. I haven't had much success with their Japanese or Thai dishes, but their Chinese is delicious. I've enjoyed the Lo Mein, General Tao, beef with broccoli, fried rice, and gyoza (steamed, not fried) in the past. This is a great spot for big groups and happy hour. Lots of long tables or places to get a drink. Never had to wait to get seated. They have some excellent happy hour deals. Takeout is ridiculously fast. Ordered for New Years the same day and it only took 30 minutes instead of 15.
(4)
Amy B.

Went here with a friend on a rainy day. The tom yum soup hit the spot, but the employees were so rude! When I got in, I greeted my friend who was waiting for me, making sure to hold my wet umbrella over the mat in front of the door. When I looked at the hostess station, one of them (possibly a manager?) was holding out an umbrella bag for me, with a stone-cold look on her face. No "here you go," or "please take one of these," just an unwelcoming look. I could have ignored that, but our waitress was just as rude! I asked for the tom yum soup, with vegetables, as I pointed to the menu. She said "huh??" and gave me this nasty look like I was making something up. (By the way I am from the area and don't have any accent.) Really, if she didn't understand what I said, there are a hundred ways to politely ask me to repeat myself. Overall the soup was good and quick, but with nasty employees and other restaurant options, there's really no reason to come back to this place.
(2)
Phillip D.

Popped in here for dinner on hey Wednesday night me and my dinner companion ordered five rolls of sushi total. Everything was delivered quickly and was presented very well. We both sampled some of the sushi from all five rolls and either this restaurant serves really good sushi or we just picked five of the best rolls on the menu. When I visit DC I am often in the Rosslyn area and will be coming back here for more sushi and Asian food. Sidenote our server was very attentive and took very good care of us
(4)
Kristen M.

I absolutely love this place! The service is great and the food is always tasty :) There is a good mix of Chinese, Thai, Indonesian and Japanese dishes here. I highly recommend the fried calamari. It goes great with a mojito! My favorite dish at Cafe asia is the thai basil chicken. You can get it spicy or mild (even mild tastes spectacular!) I am a person who can't handle much spicy food and to be able to order a spicy dish mild and it still tastes good is awesome! This is really a place that everyone should check out! Cafe Asia is the full package :)
(5)
Lauren R.

This is my go to Asian place in Arlington. Little known fact- they WILL deliver! You just have to call. They cover all possible Asian food cravings, so I can get wonton soup and pad Thai at the same time, which is great when I don't want to pick a cuisine. I mostly do delivery, but have eaten there as well. The decor and atmosphere is pleasant and happy hour has great deals on drinks and sushi. I would recommend the pork spring rolls (especially delicious), pad Thai, curry fried rice, wonton soup, and cafe Asia sushi roll. It's also reasonably priced for the amount of food they give and delivery is usually very quick depending on day/time. Love this place! The only downside is no online ordering, but maybe this will change.
(5)
Jini K.

My SO and I dined at Cafe Asia recently after a long hiatus for each of us. As soon as I stepped foot inside, I was reminded why I had waited so long between visits. The Cafe Asia I had remembered coming to had a hip, sexy vibe and a happening bar scene. However, on this particular Saturday night around 8pm, the restaurant was anything but hip and sexy. The patrons ranged from families with children and the elderly, to couples dressed as if they missed the turn off to Ruby Tuesdays. The service was atrocious, to say the least. We had to ask for literally every single piece of cutlery and dish to be brought out to us (individually, at that). Our waitress would go MIA for minutes on end and only came back to check up on us once, after we had gotten everything we needed either from other waitstaff or by getting up and getting it ourselves (last I checked, I dined out so I didn't have to do that!). Onto the food and drinks, both of which were MEH. The drinks were overly sweet and one-dimensional, something which I probably could've created at home without much creativity. The vegetarian spring rolls were tasty, but seemed to be fried in a vat of oil, which was not at all drained from the actual spring roll. The singapore noodles were not awful, but needed a significant amount of sauce and flavor to make them a dish I would ever order again. Lastly, the vegetarian yellow curry was decent, but still somewhat underwhelming where flavor is concerned. The restaurant also lacked a brown rice option, which was disappointing. We didn't have any sushi on this trip, so I can't comment, but for Cafe Asia's sake, I hope the quality of sushi makes up for an otherwise lackluster dining experience.
(2)
Andrew H.

There are a lot of mixed reviews about Cafe Asia. Some claim that it's not "authentic" Asian food. In my opinion, if it's high quality and tastes great, then that is all that matters! Cafe Asia more than fits that bill! While it's food it's not the most authentic, that's not a bad thing. Their special sushi rolls are delicious, the explosion roll in particular, will give you a flavor explosion in your mouth. This place also has the best general tso's chicken I have had, it's very tasty and not too salty, with mostly chicken and not batter. The pork belly is also one of the best I have had, they sear it perfectly and fits perfectly with soy sauce. After you try the pork belly here, you realize that their semi-sweet and salty soy sauce is the best mix with pork belly. The pork ravioli w/ vinegar is delicious as well for small plates. All in all I haven't had a bad dish here. The decor is also nice, high ceilings and all white, it definitely feels very "Arlington" in here with an Asian twist. This place always has a great lively atmosphere, and good food. I am a critical reviewer and generally review things lower than what their actual rating is, but Cafe Asia is an exception. If I could give it 4.5 stars I would.
(4)
Brian L.

There food is amazing, but have one of the worst customer service. We asked a waiter to re-heat our soup, he rolled his eye. We didn't even finish our meal, but put the check in the table, and continue to stare at us like they want us to get out. Waiter and Waitresses didn't check upon our food or asked hows the food. Then they stares at our table to see if we give tip or not. If the customer service was amazing, I would give a 5. Only good thing is the food is AMAZING and reasonable price
(3)
Zach H.

My dad grew up in Malaysia and this place serves some of his childhood favorites. Aside from Malaysian cuisine, the menu has Chinese, Thai, Japanese, as well as other Indonesian items, hence the name of this place. It covers everything in the gamut. In typical Asian fashion, my family got several different things to share. We ordered the following: - Laksa (Malaysian style spicy & sour curry noodle soup with coconut milk, tofu, bean sprouts & fried shallots) -Mee Goreng (Malaysian style stir fried egg noodles with dark soy sauce, chili, eggs, tofu, bean sprouts) -Char Kway Teo (Singapore style stir fried flat rice noodles, with sweet soy sauce, eggs, scallions, bean sprouts) -Nasi Uduk (Indonesian style coconut rice platter with spicy beef, crispy anchovies, pickled veggies, emping (acron chip), chicken satay, gado-gado & spicy prawn sauce) -Rendang (Indonesian style spicy beef slowly simmered in a thick coconut gravy) -General Tso's Chicken (No explanation needed unless you've never been to a Chinese take-out place) The Laksa was absolutely delicious and exploding with flavor. The Mee Goreng and Char Kway Teo were extremely nostalgic of my travels to Malaysian and Singapore. Nasi Uduk was also great, absolutely nothing wrong with it. The beef in the Rendang was dry, but the sauce was good. The breading for the General Tso's Chicken was really thick. I would have preferred a better breading-to-chicken ratio. Overall, both the food and service were great. I would certainly return here for the Indonesian specialties.
(4)
Nick J.

I've been going here off and on for 10 years. While it's far from the best Asian food in the DMV it's got plenty of things going for it: reasonable prices, plenty of space for large groups, open late at night, and a diverse selection of different asian cuisines. I usually get the calamari appetizer and the Tom Yum noodle soup, and the fried banana w/ ice cream for dessert. They also have a large bar area, which is good for happy hour and drinks are pretty cheap. The happy hour specials are a great deal.
(4)
Ryan H.

I love living in Rosslyn. And in the heart of the hustle and bustle of Arlington, Cafe Asia is a good ace in the hole to have. With its spacious and bright interior, you probably won't have to wait to be seated no matter what day of the week. They have a nice outdoor seating area which is splendid on a nice evening. To be honest, I've never really eaten in the dining area of CafÃ© Asia. I always move right to bar area. They have a huge projection screen TV and ample bar seating room. Like many other Asian restaurants I have eaten at, there were soooo many options. The sushi is great, food is delicious with huge portions, and not too pricey. A reminder to anyone that reads Yelp reviews....everyone has a different experience. Some people are sensitive to certain things such as service and food and others will be happy eating a decently priced and good meal without a bunch of charades. I've had exceptional service in the bar area. Word to the wise.... if you generously tip your server and engage in friendly conversation, they will remember you, and in some cases they will reward you for your generosity. Pay it forward people! Anyways, this is great spot in Arlington for Asian food and a different atmosphere. Would not recommend coming on Friday or Saturday night if you want dancing, loud music, and crazy young adults. You can find that down Wilson Blvd in Clarendon. This is a cozy date spot and a great happy hour!
(4)
Kathryn M.

Good, solid food. Large portions. Nice ambiance.
(4)
Keith M.

The food is outstanding and the prices are FTW. Must do. It is great for lunch and dinner. Great atmosphere. The staff is friendly.
(5)
Marianna O.

I've been here numerous times. I used to be addicted to the spicy fresh crab roll and the ramen with shredded chicken. I just got the same combo tonight and I found it to be just okay. I'm not sure if the quality went down or my tastes have changed in the past year. Honestly, the ingredients just didn't taste fresh enough. I got the summer rolls with shrimp and veggies. The rice paper is a bit thicker than normal for those rolls and there was very little shrimp involved. The peanut sauce was nice. I also got the spicy fresh crab roll. The seaweed and rice just weren't fresh. They had that stick-to-your-mouth feel. But with enough wasabi, ginger and spicy mayo, anything tastes grand! The ramen is good but the broth was bit salty. They add three fish cakes and one piece of dried seaweed. The fish cakes are awesome. I got it with shredded chicken. I think they used to serve a lot more chicken and broth. There was barely any chicken this time. Also, I forgot how overpriced this place is. Lol. It just really adds up. Everything still tasted nice and reminded me of going there in the past. But I won't be back for a while. Ps - get the BBQ Korean chicken if you want safe good food. It's always juicy and delicious, even though it is a bit plain.
(3)
Joe P.

Nice modern Asian fusion restaurant. Lemongrass soup was incredible. Chicken teriyaki was very good. Sushi was average. They have beer! My gf loves this place. If we go back to DC we're definitely going back.
(3)
Grand Y.

3.5 stars because the staff is really nice, and the place is so big that you don't have to wait for a table. The food was just ok. The sushi portions are so small that I've stopped getting the sushi. The happy hour is decent, though I can still walk away spending $30 and feeling hungry. I had a better experience with the soups, though they were still off the mark. The curry Lhatska had some kick, and I'd get it again even though the fried tofu in it was awful. The tom yum soup was very sour. It's an easy place to meet friends because there is a big menu. I'd go back for that reason, and try the other curries. Sri racha can make anything taste good.
(3)
Branden B.

Great place for Dinner. Stopped here at random because another place we were going had too long of a wait. It was fantastic! I had the teriyaki chicken and my gf had some sushi rolls that she liked. Portions were generous and price was fair. Our waiter was quick and friendly. Drinks were great too. I enjoyed the Arlington Iced Tea and she had the lichitini. We will definitely come back here again!
(5)
Brad D.

Stopped in for some sushi a few weeks back. We sat outside and it has a nice outdoor seating area on wilson blvd. Staff is friendly prices are not outrageous but neither is the sushi. Ive eaten at most places around town and in other parts of the world. While the rolls here were very nicely prepared and the presentation is good its nothing to rave about.
(3)
Steven S.

Needing a change of pace for lunch in Arlington, I walked up the street to visit Cafe Asia with a coworker friend of mine. Together, we've traveled across the country in such dining meccas as Miami, Las Vegas, Memphis, Chicago, and many others. By now we know what we like. Today, we felt like Cafe Asia, which is a well-known local Asian Fusion spot with a heavy emphasis on Indonesian cuisine. There is outdoor seating but today they were installing new deck furniture so we went in and sat at the bar for lunch. I ordered the Nasi Uduk which is essentially their sample platter. At first I was afraid it meant "Nasty Duck" in English. But it doesn't. It contains Indonesian coconut rice, spicy beef, crispy anchovies, pickled vegetables, emping (acron chips), gado-gado, chicken satay, and spicy prawn sauce. Impressed that I remembered all of that? Don't be. I took a quick shot at the menu with my phone so I wouldn't forget it. So now you know. Anyway the order comes out and it is a festival of colors. I instantly liked the variety of this Nasi Uduk. But this one part of my plate contained a dark peanut combination with something else mixed in. This something else looked a little like beetle antenna or even pincers (but it couldn't really be that...could it??). They were slightly curved and translucent. I figured hey, I watch Fear Factor, I can handle this. So I loaded a bunch of them on my fork and went for it. CRACK!!!! OUCH!!! Those things hurt! It was like chewing sticks. To say they were a bit crunchy would be like saying a volcano is bit warm. I don't have any dental issues but I seriously thought I might crack a tooth if I kept eating these. They didn't have much flavor either so why push it? But curiosity got the better of me and I asked the server what on earth those things were. He responded: "Oh those. Those are crispy anchovies. Indonesian style." I have a new respect for the Indonesian people. I pray we never go to war with them. They'll pop our weapons into their mouths and crunch them with ease. How was the rest of the entree? Loved the chicken satay. The coconut rice was good rice but I tasted no coconut. Maybe they forgot to add it? The spicy prawn sauce is excellent although if you like it really hot you may be disappointed as it's a little on the mild side. The chips were decent but nothing I'd ever crave. And I like my chips. The pickled vegetables tasted like vegetables with a slight pickle taste. Go figure. All in all this is a decent place with a vast menu. I have had better dishes on previous visits. I may come back and try the sushi because I haven't tried it yet. If you go, just please watch out for the sharp Indonesian anchovies. They're for real.
(3)
Samira G.

very bad customer service. I ordered a delivery, the roll was supposed to have crab meat in it but it didnt. I called them to return it and get a new one however we ate 3 out of 8 pieces before we realized there was no crab meat. They refused to come and pick it up and deliver a new one or refund. The manager started shouting and not letting me speak.
(1)
Ai C.

I went to this place for HH during the World Cup 2014 and enjoyed it. The bar area was very crowded but we got our food and drinks without a problem. The waitress was working hard to get everyone's order. I love their HH special and they had Sapporo beer special which I looked forward to.
(3)
Jenny C.

I've been here multiple times to dine with friends, happy hour and an organization event. The food is average but you can find some good deals during happy hour. It's a popular place in the heart of Roslyn.
(3)
Deirdre S.

It really is as good as it gets. My husband and I have been going here for years. There are always a lot of people here because they are that good! They have the best sauces and the finest quality fish and meats in town. We have literally paid hundreds of dollars for meals at upscale restaurants that do not match the quality of this inexpensive gem of a restaurant. If you haven't been you have to go. Spicy Chinese ravioli, miso sea bass, shrimp and avocado salad, gway tio, korean beef, tom yum soup are just a few of my favorites. My husband says its the best sushi in the DMV. (I don't do sushi). And last but not least, I challenge anyone to find a better calamari anywhere in the US. We've been trying. Try it and if you find a better calamari anywhere yelp at me!
(5)
Mindi W.

I love love love this place, particularly it's $2.50 Kirin Ichiban drafts until 7:30 and $3 Sapporos until 8:00. Also, discounted sushi during HH, and a wide selection. Lots of space inside and out, and I've never had to wait for a table, even with a group of 8. That said, it never feels empty. Thai Basil with chicken and the Drunken Noodles are both really good. Two reasons this isn't getting a 5: No green curry on the menu, and I've had better sushi elsewhere, so it doesn't seem fair. Still give the sushi a B+, though. Except the Maryland roll - That gets six gold stars, one for each time I asked my friend "Why didn't I order this myself?"
(4)
Jessica N.

Writing my review right here at the resto while waiting for my folks to finish their food. We ordered a variety of their special sushi, pad thai with combination chicken and shrimp, and yaki soba. Although I enjoyed the pad thai, I wouldn't recommend the yaki soba. I think they put too much ginger and soy sauce which made it too flavorful (and not in a good way). It's our 2nd time here and I will definitely come back again, maybe I'll explore their Indonesian or Vietnamese cuisine. :)
(4)
Lilli M.

I revisited here after not having been here for years. Sadly, this visit failed to entice me to return but I want to preface the review by saying I only ordered the ramen, so perhaps other dishes I didn't try deserve a warmer reception. I love Toki Underground's ramen but am looking for somewhere that offers ramen in a more time- and transportation-convenient manner. I therefore thought to sample Cafe Asia's ramen, not with the expectations that it would rival Toki's but perhaps be adequate. Alas, it was not to be. The ramen was probably just boiled in water, b/c the "broth" containing the ramen had very little flavor. The ramen was probably a dried pack of ramen from Great Wall or H-mart and really looked and tasted like something I could have made at home. To be fair, the portion size was decent and it was just 11 bucks. But for 11 bucks, you can also get a bowl of ramen from Toki. So unfortunately, I won't be returning to Cafe Asia for their ramen. Perhaps if I'm in the neighborhood, I'll come back and sample another dish, but I'm in no hurry to do that. I wasn't too impressed by their happy hour sushi prices either. For that, I would prefer Thai Chef in Dupont or Mate in Georgetown.
(3)
Leeann S.

Group of us sat down for a quick lunch. As soon as the food was brought out was asked for checks since we were in a rush. Checks came quickly and paynent was processed promptly. Three others got sushi which I heard no complaints about. I had chicken pad thai. Good portion, piping hot, chicken was tender and juicy and flavor was spot on. Menu options range from Korean to Japanese to Thai to Chinese. Sushi can be ordered on the traditional menu by roll or combination (they have sashimi!) Or by individual nigiri from a paper menu. Supet plus, they have uni! Will try next time. Id definitely go again and hope to soon!
(4)
Cliff W.

...and there was just lil ol me, 9 to 5 worker bee in Rosslyn VA. Lunch options are scarce, but Cafe Asia is a nice spot to hit up every now and again. A coworker and I went for lunch and the service was quick, the food was good, even if a little overpriced. Their happy hour is one of the better options in Rosslyn for sure, nice open space, and they have a nice patio out front too for the nice days. I've definitely tossed more than a few back here. Do I go there all the time? Nah, but every now and again I do and don't mind doing so.
(3)
Daryl T.

Ate here while visiting DC. Took 8 others, 5 being from an asian-heavy section of LA. We ordered a bunch of asian entrees and shared family style. Entrees included red curry chicken and several noodle dishes. Also had a couple salads including the "yum" salad. The food was all very good and everyone was happy with it. That's saying something considering the quality asian food they are used to. The only downside was that we had to wait awhile after placing our order, but the food made the wait worthwhile.
(4)
Anthony I.

This place is a great lunch option in Rosslyn, the menu is expansive and the food is always consistently good.
(3)
Food L.

Huge space, big menu. It's kind of like a free for all of asian cuisine here. The service is ok. I've been in a few times now and I have to say the servers do the minimum. There is no going above and beyond here. They have a decent bar area which showcases the game of the moment on the wall with a large projector. The food is decent, but not spectacular.
(3)
Abdiel A.

This past weekend I stopped by this location to experiment their sushi. I have to say it was horrible, all the different sushi tasted the same, salty, no flavor whatsoever, tasted like it was bought from a supermarket. I think I left over half the 4 sushi's I ordered. The only dish I really enjoyed was the Satay. I will definitely not go to this location for sushi or recommend it.
(2)
Elina Y.

Been coming here for years now and I have yet to encounter a less than satisfying experience. It can get crowded on weekend nights, which is a good thing. Their calamari appetizer delivers more than enough portion for two, which is a HUGE plus for me, considering its only $7! Their happy hour is not too shabby as well, with nigiri rolls starting @ $1.25, draft beers @ $3 and different mixed cocktails starting @ $4. Can't go wrong with good food and great prices. c:
(4)
gigi g.

Always happy with my food here. The service is mostly good here and server Mohan is awesome. He is very knowledgeable about the menu and extremely attentive. I love a the curries, the sushi is G-R-E-A-T! The veggie spring rolls aren't too bad either when they are not to greasy. The curry laska is also delicious!There are so many choices here for vegans and carnivores alike that everyone can be happy. Love it!!!
(5)
Dj S.

Sushi lovers! This has become my favorite spot for grabbing sushi. I've traveled to many countries overseas (to include 3 in Asia) and tried sushi is various parts of the world - but this place is on point. My favorite happens to be back in my hometown, but all of the rolls I've tried are excellent. Always great service, always better sushi. Very large restaurant, plenty of space. Last but not least, get the calamari.
(4)
Scott C.

I'm kind of stunned. I've never actually had food from a restaurant that was so bad that I would never eat there again. This is a first for me. It's kind of a turning point in my life I guess. I ordered the drunken noodle. I've never actually had bad drunken noodle before, but this drunken noodle was awful. It wasn't pleasant to look at, it didn't taste particularly flavorful. It was like a little bowl full of what appeared to be ground up chicken piled high on top of some pale flavorless noodles underenath with a few small chunks of pepper, bean sprouts, and onions. Honestly it looks like something you'd feed to a dog. I can't help but wonder if the meat came from a can with a picture of a happy looking german shephard on it with its tongue hanging out. Did I make a mistake here? Was the problem that I ordered delivery at 8:30 PM on thanksgiving? I really don't want to find out. Utterly repulsive. For the first time ever I'm going to throw out my meal when I'm still hungry. Ugh. So much regret. I feel like maybe I should do a chargeback. Disgusting.
(1)
M M.

good sushi although not amazing.. service was a touch slow. The restaurant has no Asian vibe though.. very much feels like an large version of a place you would find in a mall.. not a place to go if you really want to experience great sushi..
(3)
Blake C.

Their happy hour specials are very good. It was only $2.75 for anything on draft whatsoever. I didn't know when happy hour ended, but the beer changed to $5.50 after happy hour and wasn't really notified. I can't speak for the food, but based on what my friends got, it looked pretty amazing. One friend stated that "That was the best General Tso's Chicken" he's ever had. The sushi on the other hand wasn't something that was raved about with my other friend. The prices on food are pretty expensive though. They do have pretty big portions based on what you get though, so you do get what you pay for. I only like this place because of the happy hour, otherwise I would go somewhere that specializes in the Asian food that you want, sushi, Chinese, or Thai.
(4)
Haotian D.

we tried fried porkï¼Œ ramenï¼Œlaksa and soft shell crabã€‚all food staleã€‚ã€‚ã€‚the worst restaurant I ever eat in DCï¼
(1)
Erin W.

Cafe Asia is the perfect place for some comfort food--delicious noodles, curries, and sushi. The food is good, the service is always friendly, the bathrooms are clean, and I have never had to wait to be seated, whether with a party of 2 or a party of 10. I have lived in the Northern Virginia area for 5 years now, and I have been here easily 30-40 times. Ample street parking and metro-centric location makes this an easy spot to meet up and head into the city afterward. I would highly recommend it for evenings when you want a good meal without the hype or the wait.
(4)
Arlene T.

I am a huge summer roll addict and I was not impressed with their summer rolls. They were thinner in size than what I like/prefer. The rice paper wrap was a different thickness than what most use and they added too much carrots. To be honest with you very rarely do I ever see carrots in summer rolls and it was too strong of a flavor which destroyed it for me. The peanut sauce was ok, but not a fan of it either. I am glad I didn't order sushi as I would probably be disappointed with that as well. I definitely don't plan on going again. I have tasted better summer rolls at grocery stores!
(2)
Cory R.

The first time I came here, I went with a couple of friends and I had a great experience. They have a nice outdoor seating area which was awesome on a nice Friday summer evening. I got the General Tao Chicken. The sauce had a nice flavor to it and they gave me a ton of chicken with a side of white rice. I would definitely go back and I would recommend it to someone looking to indulge in some Asian cuisine near Rosslyn! The next time I came here, I had an even better experience. My brother and I got two rolls of sushi, edamame, thai basil chicken, and panang curry chicken. Everything we ordered was fresh, delivered fast, and delicious. The waitress was very friendly and attentive. In addition, we were there during the happy hour so the beers were fairly cheap. Overall, a great experience and I will definitely be coming back.
(4)
Zena T.

Possibly one of my favorite places on earth. The sushi is fresh and they have good entrees too. I love the calamari. It may be the best I've had. They also have a good happy hour with great drink and food specials. The service is always good as well. You cannot go wrong here.
(5)
R C.

If I had the option to give zero stars, I would. I've been to this restaurant before and enjoyed the noodle soup, rice, sushi, and other dishes. This time, I went with a coworker who cautioned me to put my spoon down immediately, announcing "There's a critter in my soup." The critter in the Tom Yum was a roach. The waiter came over and didn't display the appropriate signs of horror or suprise you'd hope to see in situations like this. He merely asked us if we wanted another bowl of soup, likely from the same disgusting, roach-laden vat from somewhere in the back. No thanks, dude. The manager then came over and tried to justify the situation by saying "All restaurants have roaches." Not reassuring or acceptable. Stay away.
(1)
Windi L.

"Authentic" or not, I like the food here. The concept of the Asian Fusion food makes my tum tum happy. I've only been here for happy hour and find their specials completely reasonable, especially given the area. Sure parking is hard to find but drinking and driving is bad so just walk here. It's close enough to the metro. For food I've had the various types of sushi rolls (yum), calamari plate (huge serving!!! like ihop big!) and the dumping (egh, not the greatest. The drinks are unique in ingredients but vary on greatness based on the bartender. Some make the drink too "booze" tasting and my pallet enjoys not tasting the booze just the effects of it. A great HH spot indeed!
(4)
Rani P.

My sister and I were planning on getting take-out, but the outdoor seating was so appealing we decided to stay. Of course I ordered edamame- nothing special. I then ordered chicken wonton soup- I was shocked when it came and I noticed the wontons were fried. I hate to say it, but the soup makes or breaks the deal with me, and I didn't like the soup whatsoever. My sushi order was fine- and my sister's curry tofu was alright. Although I'm not a local, I can speak for my sister who lives nearby who never seems to order something she's in love with. So, I would say exactly what my rating says: A-OK. Nothing special, and if the people sitting near you are loud talkers- you won't be able to carry conversation very well...
(3)
Tuan N.

Great food, great prices, large portions, and awesome service. I also like the decor at this location a lot more then the Cafe Asia in DC.
(4)
Joon C.

Came here and ate a Pad Thai. It had no flavor and the service was terrible. Will not be back. It is also way overpriced
(1)
Lindsey S.

Eh. I come here for happy hour occasionally because someone else suggests it, and I get excited all over again about the cheap nigiri. Problem is that I still feel like I'm paying too much, because afterwards I'm not actually satisfied. Some of the cooked appetizers are good (and also on special during happy hour) -- I really like the gyoza. If you're looking for a sushi dinner, go elsewhere. If you're looking for a decent happy hour, give Cafe Asia a shot, but don't get your hopes up too far.
(2)
Shawn N.

Good Happy hour! Awesome fried rice.
(3)
Dave L.

What's up with Pan-Asian cuisine? I mean, who eats sushi with lo mein, and washes it down with a Thai ice tea? Is that weird or what? My impression of most Pan-Asian places is that since they're all over the place, nothing is done well. But food at Cafe Asia is surprisingly good! The calamari appetizer was meaty and flavorful and tonkatsu, thick and juicy. So, I guess I'm ok with the Pan-Asian bit for now. You just can't go in expecting an authentic Asian experience. Tips: For a jollier time, come for happy hour. If you meet "Helen," tell her to stop hanging out at Cafe Asia.
(5)
Sherry B.

I used to come here all the time when I lived across the street for a few years. Portions are filling and the menu offers a good selection...some items are bad, some ok, some great....you just have to know what to get. If I have a hankering for some meaty goodness, the Satay Combinasi fits the bill nicely. 8 skewers of beef, pork, and chicken chunks topped with a yummy peanut-based sauce, along with a mound of Indonesion (slightly spicy ) fried rice. Go for the lemongrass chicken if you want something lighter. For sushi, the Lunch Bento ($11) can't be beat in terms of value. It includes 1 california roll (6 pc), 4 pieces of sashimi (tuna and white tuna or salmon), 4 nigiri, and an unusually large bowl of miso soup. If you're extra hungry, spring for the Dinner version for $15 and you'll get an extra 2 pieces of sashimi and a bowl of rice topped with 2 pieces of unagi. Service has always been average every time I've gone so no complaints here.
(3)
Leigh K.

I had a close Chinese friend of mine tell me that she thought Cafe Asia was "not great". Well, every single time I have gone there, which has got to be at least 10 times by now, I have gotten the exact same thing. LIME CHICKEN--Vietnamese style skewered grilled chicken marinated in fresh lime juice & garlic......$11.00 Is it one of my favorite dishes of all time? Yes. Have I ever eaten anything else here? Appetizers, yes. But I can't ever stray from my one true love. Being in Chicago for 5 years, I miss you Cafe Asia. I don't get to visit you often enough, but when I do, oh yeah. Hits the spot.
(5)
Ken L.

This place has terrible service (due to the regular flood of tourists looking for Asian fusion food). The food here is overpriced, expect to drop at least $30 for a party of 2. I used to come here for sushi, until they changed the prices while I was eating. Simple math: 6 pc Sushi roll: $12. Drink: $4. = $16. Next door Piola: Brooklyn Pizza + _beer_ = $12 Pros: Projector to watch games. Cons: Everything else.
(1)
Judy Y.

I have only come to this place for dinner. People seem to have a lot of different experiences here, but there is one thing that is consistently good - get a noodle dish and you cannot go wrong
(4)
Minger M.

I like the spaciousness and the size of the portions. The noodle dishes and curries are good. Outdoor seating is nice during the summer time, and the back area is good for big groups or special events. The vibe is young and trendy. It does tend to get noisy and isn't the best place to go for an intimate dinner. It's best for group outings or HH.
(3)
Dee W.

In between a wedding ceremony in Woodbridge and a reception at China Garden, we had three hours to kill so many of the wedding guests found their way here to Cafe Asia for a mini happy hour. Their calamari is amazing and fresh yet well seasoned. Staff is very friendly and helpful. However, when we asked for shots of Level, the bartender told us that they didn't have Level but when we pointed out the Level bottle in the back, he told us that it was $6 per shot (which is pretty cheap in my eyes - I've been used to paying $10 per shot in Chicago) and after he poured us our shots, he went and turned the Level bottle around so you couldn't see the bottle label. LOL. Maybe he was saving the Level bottle for someone else?
(3)
Hass L.

Rarely amazes, but also rarely disappoints. Their happy hours are a consistently good experience (cheap-ish Kirin Ichiban), especially in favorable weather for the outside seating. If I were to distill the key benefits of this place: location, very good ambience (modern, high ceilings, plenty of room, a party venue in the back), the above average special sushi rolls, good portions, and reasonable "mainstream" renditions of hole-in-the-wall ethnic food. A reliable food haunt with variety, for that yuppy lifestyle :)
(4)
Lea G.

Service grudging, food mediocre
(2)
Joye P.

I visited Cafe Asia last night; it was good, not great. We got a special roll that included crawfish tails. It was spicy and good, although I did not prefer the tempura bits in it. For $10, we got 8 small pieces. We also ordered nigiri: flying fish roe (good); tuna (ok); and salmon (not fresh). The salmon was the biggest disappointment to me. It was dried-out looking and darker in color, instead of bright and fleshy like fresh salmon should be. The taste was ok, and neither of us were sick, so that's good. Ambience was good. We sat outside on the patio, and the good weather and noise levels were acceptible. It's just okay.
(3)
Cory L.

Atmosphere is good for city dining, drinking, and even partying. Lots of space inside, and good amount of outdoor seating. Huge back room with separate bar and space to dance, lounge, or relax. Highlights- Two full bars, one in the front, one in the back as needed. Great place for lunch, happy hour. As varied as the food is here (Southeast Asian, Chinese, Japanese), it is consistent. My two faves: Singapore Fried Rice - excellent Rice is dry and fried, the way its supposed to be. Perfect amount of curry spices and ingredients. Drunken Noodles - excellent Flat noodles cooked just right with minced chicken meat, peppers, and Basil!
(4)
Melanie S.

I went here for lunch on a workday, it was a farewell lunch for one of the interns. There were quite a few of us and the restaurant easily accomodated us even with several other large groups also being seated. The prices were perfect, all the entrees were in the $8-13 range and the food was good. I didn't hear anyone at the table have a complaint. It was a great place to go when you have time to get out off the office and have a nice sit down lunch. The only downside was the service. At our table 2 of us had to leave to go to a meeting, our waiter was no where to be found. After about 10 minutes I got up and walked around the restaurant to find him. I told him that 2 of us needed our bills and had to leave, so about 15 minutes later he showed up at our table with the bill. It was just a little bit annoying. He also never refilled out drinks.
(3)
Ryan C.

I was skeptical at first. What kind of weird Asian fusion were they trying to pull off? But, it's half authentic, and wow, the huge portions! How can anyone eat so much?? And they are really good about refilling water too. I ate here twice. Once I got the indo fried rice and the other time the pad see ew. Both times i got the seaweed salad. You will be stuffed eating here by ordering these dishes. I did not try the sushi as a matter of not eating seafood in principle, but they have it too. It also has some pretty hip decor which is definitely a big plus.
(4)
C P.

Cafe Asia has one of the best happy hours in town. $2 Kirin and $1-3 apps. Sushi is good, but I'm not a huge fan of the asian fusion stuff... You have to get here early to find a seat and parking can be a pain (like everywhere else in NoVa/DC) but I would recommend parking in the garage behind the restaurant. You can validate your ticket after a certain time and will save you from running back and forth to the meter which has a short time limit. It becomes a party place after 10:30pm on weekends, and it's great people watching. The Halloween party, in the back room, was really fun last year.
(4)
Sal M.

A lot of people have reviewed this place...so as we can see its a pretty popular place to go. The food usually is quite good. The service is not "on point" all the time for different reasons on different days in my experiences, but I guess they are decent overall. It has ranged from "slightly unsatisfactory" to "it was good." The variety of food is very convenient for satisfying multiple people in your group in finding the asian food that they are craving. Its also great because there is so many new dishes to try for the first time! The portions are big, so Cafe Asia is a good value as an overall restaurant experience. (don't waste food people...take it home!) And, they have a great dining environment inside....I like the design of the place. I like coming back since their menu is so extensive! One thing to note, on the vegdc website they mention Cafe Asia has a lot of vegetarian dishes, but last time my friend asked the waiter, we were told that most of the dishes contain "oyester sauce" (or something like that)....so you might want to confirm if you are vegetarian...there were only a few dishes that were totally vegetarian.
(4)
Jane C.

the decor is cool, but it doesn't make me feel like I'm at an asian (fusion) restaurant... (i take away one star) the food here is BOMB. great sushi, great entrees. great portions! my favorites would be the sushi with fresh crabmeat and the Indonesian hot dishes.... (I do know the main chef here is Indonesian- no wonder :])
(4)
Ian M.

Cafe Asia is a staple of a take out diet in Arlington. The sushi is about par nothing great. However, really stick to their grilled chicken. The Vietnamese Chicken soup is awesome comparable to Pho 75 in terms of comfort food if you're feeling a little sick. I only take away a star because some of the other dishes I've tried here are a little bland.
(4)
adriana a.

My boyfriend and I eat here frequently. Only for dinner. Neither one of us eat sushi/seafood but love this place. Fave Appetizers: Edamamy, Spicy Chinese Ravioli (sooo good!), and the vegetarian spring rolls. I've tried the Crab Wonton as well and liked it. Likes: General Tao Chicken, Avocado roll, Cucumber roll, Chicken Wonton Soup, Teriyaki Chicken (although a little salty) Dislike: Lime Chicken (no real flavor and kinda dry) We tend to order the same dishes every time but overall my impression of the place is that they have good food for a decent price. The chairs are kinda weird and not the most comfortable to sit in. Patio dining is nice when the weather cooperates. Service is not the greatest and sometimes takes a while to get refills on drinks. We've never had to make reservations. We've called our order for takeout and never had any problems. The place seems to stay pretty busy with a mixed crowd and can be kinda noisy inside. But we continue to eat here and definitely recommend trying at least once.
(4)
Amanda L.

Hunger is the best sauce, and when my boyfriend and I came here after a 4 hour bus ride from NY, we were ready to douse whatever we ate in that extra-special flavor that only comes from starvation. I got the Ganeeg (I think?) Curry on the rec of our waiter. It was coconutty, with plenty of tofu, cooked to that perfect balance where it's crispy outside and squishy inside. By the time I got to the bottom of the MASSIVE bowl, though, the hotness-factor had increased by about 40%. My boyfriend got this huge plate of mixed foods. The standouts were a crunchy seaweed salad with spicy hot peanuts, a shredded salad, and the pickled veggies. One of the cubes of meat-stuffs tasted like homemade American stew, and the skewers tasted pork-y, but I think he said they were beef. The mango sticky rice (which I pushed for) was delicious. Service was significantly less delicious, though -- it took forever to get our water, and eventually our server just left a pitcher on the table. Which is great, if it's busy and the server just wants to keep you satisfied... but it was late, and he didn't seem to have any more tables to wait on. Weird. Overall, good choice if you're starving and need to be full until approximately noon the next day.
(3)
Paul W.

I used to live behind this place so I've probably tried everything on the menu... at least 20 times. Unfortunately, 90% of the food here is below-average to average in taste. I only give them 3 stars because they're fast, consistent, the atmosphere is great, and their pad thai and chinese ravioli are money. Stay away from the sushi, especially during HH.
(3)
Bro H.

Finally finished up a 50 dollar gift certificate we got for half price online somehow. When we first started with the thing we used it on 1.00 sushi at happy hour, which, for the quality, was a fair price, not really a bargain. I see now that the happy hour price is up to 1.25, which is too expensive for crappy sushi. Tonight, we strayed from the sushi, and it was a terrible mistake. I'm pretty sure the Tonkatsu was Shake-N-Bake, and the Panang was clearly made from a paste and didn't have any lime taste whatsoever. The slaw with the Tonkatsu wasn't bad, I guess. Service was attentive, but they clearly make it a policy to seat people in large clusters so that everybody is afforded the privilege of hearing two other groups' conversations even though there are empty tables all over the restaurant. Recommended for: Obnoxious groups of loud girls and people that have never had asian food before. It wouldn't be bad if you wanted to watch a bunch of people in khakis walk by during happy hour and you just stuck to the beer. Edit: I notice the picture for this place is of the Tonkatsu, and I got half as much crappy Tonkatsu as in the picture.
(1)
Adrienne M.

OK sushi and OK prices. I live near by and it will get me through a sushi craving fix but not one of my favorite places.
(3)
Michael L.

What's not to like? Reasonably priced food that 's consistent/predictable every time. Only problem is parking.
(4)
Kristen W.

I have a very tumultuous relationship with Cafe Asia. On the one hand, sometimes I really hate it. Like last night when I was sitting outside with a friend and the waiter was obnoxiously draping chains over the tables and chairs to hint at us that it was time to leave. I really hated Cafe Asia when that happened. But yet on the other hand, I love it. I am not joking when I say I go there at least once a week for either dinner or take-out. Like a moth to a flame, I can't stay away. Is it tragic that when my husband and I were house hunting, one of my criteria was "Distance from Cafe Asia"? True story. Cafe Asia is reliable - you know that no matter what time you go there, you can always get a table, you can feel comfortable wearing anything from sweatpants to a nice dress, and you'll get decent service. You know the drinks will be strong, the food will be good, and the sushi will be fresh. You know everybody in your party will be able to find something they can eat on the menu, because there are so many different kinds of dishes. But sometimes Cafe Asia just really gets on my nerves. For example, even when the restaurant is wide open, there is a 99% chance they will seat you at a table that is basically in someone else's lap, it's so close. I don't understand it. At first I thought maybe it was to help the wait staff but they do this even when there are open tables like, two feet away. Also, the food is kind of overpriced for what it is (generic Asian fusion). And why is their happy hour limited to sake and beer? Don't they know wine is a perfect compliment to some sushi after a long day at the office? Still, this is my favorite Arlington staple. In a nutshell, it's worth coming here and getting some good food. And be sure to be nice to your fellow diners when they're seated in your lap.
(3)
Tony P.

So, I saw this place, and I liked the Vibe of it. Has a front porch area, plenty of seatings, and it seem like it was happening. So I went ahead and asked for a seat, and got seated fast enough. Ordered the panang curry, and the salmon sushi. The salmon sushi was okay. Wasn't great. But wasn't bad either. The panang curry was very Americanized. I wanted spicy. That was not spicy. The server was okay, kinda quiet, but wasn't rude or anything. I recommend this place for like, once a month or something, but not like everyday. Maybe it has other food I'll try some other meal some other time
(3)
joanna e.

Eh.... came here for literally 10 minutes. Enough to have two shots of Sake and a Jaeger Bomb. Sake was decent, but what's up with the Jaeger Bomb? They gave the shots in plastic cups - what happens to plastic when it is in liquid: IT FLOATS! Imagine how awkward that was when we all had to dip our finger into the red bull and fish out our plastic cup? Secondly, what's up with all the lights? For a 'night spot' - they sure have lots of lighting which is an absolute no-no in nightlife. I hear they have good sushi for happy hour, so if I'm ever in the area - I may consider going back.
(3)
Roll T.

My g/f told me to meet her at Cafe Asia. She lives in Arlington so I retardedly assumed that she meant the Rosslyn location -- even though she works downtown and was meeting co-workers. Sadness. Of course, this minor tragedy didn't have to be so bad. I called, explained the mix-up, and decided to have a drink over at Cafe Asia (Rosslyn) and order some sushi. It took awhile before the bartender came over to take my drink order. I should have known this tale was going to veer southward when the bartender purposefully mistook me saying "Asahi" to mean "sake". He also assumed without asking me that I wanted the large sake instead of the 3 cup version. By the way, for those of you who like sake, this is not the place to go. They only carry one variety. Now, even though the guy clearly mixed up my drink order, I decided I wouldn't call him on it (as I am unnaturally pacifist when it comes to individuals who can handle food and drinks). When I asked for an appetizer menu, he unceremoniously plopped the menu in front of me and proceeded to ignore me for the next 20 odd minutes. Unbelievable. When one of the other bartenders FINALLY took my order, it wasn't even happy hour anymore. For that matter, the sushi wasn't great. I ordered the "Pacific", and it wasn't even aesthetically pleasing. I took the hint and left, but I wondered what exactly was wrong with these guys that they acted in such a disrespectful manner? Did they get a bad tip from an Indian dude in the past? Were they too busy partying with some of their friends at the bar to serve drinks to paying customers? I have no idea, but I do know that the Cafe Asia downtown is VASTLY superior to their Rosslyn counterpart. Oh yeah, and the first guy should be reprimanded at the very least. Absolute worst service I have had in the DC metro area (and it's not even close).
(1)
Cameron T.

I have to agree with the majority of Yelpers here and agree with the "so-so" ratings. Nothing was outright bad, but none of it was great. We ordered chicken lo mein, mee goreng with beef, malaysian fried rice & lemon grass chicken. The lemon grass chicken was the only thing I really enjoyed. None of the dishes were prepared in a "traditional" manner which is fine as long as their version is really good. (which it wasn't) I probably wouldn't go back.
(2)
Jessenia G.

Sushi - Bad, which is sad, they used to be good at one point. Cooked entrees is ok. Appetizers are good. Drinks are not bad.
(2)
Jinny J.

I came to DC on a rainy and gloomy day. The last thing I wanted to do was to do out in the rain. Thankfully, we had Cafe Asia around the corner from my friend's place. I went, I ate some rolls, and I was happy. the food is about the average on spicy crab roll, soft shell crab and philadelphia roll and slightly above average on the dragon roll. But the atmosphere was pleasant, servers were cool and the best part was my drink called Hello Kitty! I definitely enjoyed the place .
(4)
Matthew L.

I wouldn't say it has the best food. It's definately not authentic and the dishes are mediocre. They took the 2 or 3 most popular Asian dishes from each culture and combined them on 1 menu. They can serve large parties and have decent service. I do think it's a great place to be with friends. Large open room, and a great bar.
(2)
Jenna G.

My husband loves sushi (me not so much) so this is a great place for us, as they have a huge sushi selection, and a HUGE Asian menu. They have meals from all over the Eastern Hemisphere pretty much. I have tried a wide variety of dishes from here and all have been fantastic! The bar area is usually hoppin at Happy Hour and on Fri/Sat nights, and it is usually hard to get a table, so reservations are suggested if you have a party over 4. I have tried going here for lunch a few times, but my hour alloted time it used up pretty quick, and I am usually hitting around the 1hr mark from time getting to the restaurant up til the time I am out the door. Not a quick place to have a bite to eat, but the food is fantastic!
(4)
Vinh N.

This place deserves a 0, super slow service, food is only decent but incredibly pricy. When we came here, it wasn't that crowded but it took them over 30 mins to get our orders and another 30 mins to make food. The food came out as the cook couldn't care less to make the dish look good. Then the bill came out, I asked them to charge $10 on my credit card, turned out $14.59 with 20% gratitude included, fine, I signed it, I went back and checked my credit card statement, $17...NOT fine anymore. I ordered a Tofu Penang Curry, which is around $10 on the menu but I ended up getting charged $17??? Really? This is not even a high-class restaurant, if you're around Rosslyn area, NEVER COME HERE.
(1)
Daphne C.

The highlights of this restaurant is that it's big, sits in a great location, and is good for people watching. The crowd is always lively. It's a good spot to take your friends from out of town to chat or just to grab drinks. The food can be mediocre, but I've discovered a couple items on the menu that keep me coming back. They are the Nippon tofu (appetizer) and the dinner bento box. The tofu is deep fried, crispy on the outside but soft on the inside, and it's accompanied with a sweet-scallion soy sauce. The dinner bento box is good for anyone who loves sashimi. You get many cuts of sashimi, a california roll, and a side of rice topped with Eel. The portion size is huge for me and it's pretty reasonable $15. My bf is sick of this place so that's why we don't come here very much. When I do get a chance, I always enjoy it.
(4)
H C.

We tried their Nigiri Sushi only. We were very disappointed. We had salmon, ikura, uni, crab, and red/green topiko w quail eggs. The raw fish wasn't fresh. The sushi rice was horrible: hard and not the high quality rice. The nori was soggy. There was no choice in sake, and what they offered was almost undrinkable -- horrible. We left after the first round of sushi (hardly getting started) but still ended up with $50 bill. We may have high standards for sushi since we are from Hawaii, where excellent sushi is easily available, but this place sucked by any standard.
(1)
Jaime M.

One of my favorite places. Good atmosphere. Great customer service and amazing food!
(5)
Hannah B.

If you're looking for good quality oriental food, then this is the place. Although it's a bit more pricier than your average chinese food place...it's still worth it. I'd have to say my favorite item is the Lo Mein. It is a huuuggeee portion, and I always have left overs. The vegetarian spring rolls are another favorite. I'm not a huge sushi fan...so I can't really speak for how that is, but I know that they menu has a wide variety of it. The overall atmosphere of the place is really nice. The only downside I'd say is the service. I've had a couple of servers who suddenly become ghosts, or don't look super thrilled to be there...other than that I strongly recommend this place for anyone looking for some delicious oriental food!
(4)
Just Saying A.

I love this place! I come here once a week and the food and drinks are always great. The sushi is fresh and the hot entrees (tofu, chicken) are yummy. It's a very good deal for happy hour--$3 appetizers, $2.50 beers, and $4 wines/rail drinks. The service is superb during happy hour and during the lunch rush it's a bit slower, but you can't expect a plate of Cafe Asia yumminess in front of you in just 10 minutes. Give it time! The outdoor seating area is great and lively during lunch and happy hour!
(5)
Go K.

Date Attended: 04/10/09, Friday This is one of my favorite places to go to. Situated in the Rosslyn area, it is a nice place to go meet friends before heading out for a night into DC. They've got a good selection of Asian food that's delicious and they also hold special events which make for a better time here. Although, there are times where this place can be a hit or miss as far as how many people hang out for happy hour or on a weekend night. But all in all, it's a nice place in a good location.
(5)
Lala B.

Update: A year after my first review, and the door is still broken...not sure what's up with that, but it has been broken for over five years now. It's worth putting up with for the good food; just be careful when you go to open the door. :-)
(4)
Suzanne M.

This is one of my favorite places in Arlington. I go to the place and have them deliver they are wonderful. They know me by name when I come in and when I order for delivery. They are so sweet, not to mention the food is amazing. All of the food is priced affordable for sushi and just very enjoyable.
(5)
Brian H.

I don't know about the food here, but they get four stars for having a great happy hour: $2.50 drafts until 7:30pm. Count me in for another visit the next time I'm in Rosslyn
(4)
Rob A.

This is possibly the best place in Arlington for some good sit-down Asian food. I've had lunch here several times and recently brought family from out of town for dinner. The sushi was okay. I had a decent spicy tuna roll, and an "ok" salmon and cream cheese roll. I ordered the drunken noodles, and frankly the noodles were a little over cooked but the flavor of the sauce was actually really good. I've had the fried rice and chicken curry and it was those dishes that turned me on to Cafe Asia. The simpler the better. Overall the service is okay, and the food is decent, so I will recommend Cafe Asia. It has a really nice outdoor dining area. So go for some after work sushi and drinks.
(3)
Ryan S.

Cafe Asia has a good pan asian menu. They also offer sushi. I live nearby, and have eaten there many times over the past four years, and I've never had a meal that was "bad", but I've also never had a meal that I raved about either. As many others have pointed out, the acoustics are poor, and sounds bounce around easily, making for a noisy environment during peak hours. The decor is modern, and for an asian restaurant strikes me as oddly feeling scandinavian. I've only ordered sushi a couple times for an appetizer, and I find it to be acceptable, but I would go elsewhere if sushi was my main meal. I think Cafe Asia's biggest strength is in its menu variety. When you are eating with others, and some are craving Chinese, some Thai, and others Vietnamese, you can satisfy everyone's cravings here, and they won't have a bad meal. I should note that the bar area has a healthy happy hour crowd, which seems generally young and single; however I have only once visited Cafe Asia for drinks at the bar. Overall, Cafe Asia is a good restaurant; but in the end, I can't give more than 3 stars to a restaurant that is a two block walk from my home, and I frequent less than once a month on average.
(3)
Candace H.

Wow- I can't believe how many people have reviewed this place! I went to Cafe Asia for dinner. Huge selection of food. They have all kinds of stuff from sushi to miso soup to pad thai, and all of it is pretty darn delicious. - Way better than your average sushi joint, but not as good as Ichiban in McLean. The service was great. The place was pretty loud, which sucks. The bad part was that the whole atmosphere was way too "cafe" for me... I guess I never take that word literally but it kind of reminded me of my high school cafeteria. Loud, clattering noises, and tons of people running around everywhere. On a weekday evening you'll find loads of professionals meeting up for food after work. I'd hit it up if you're interested in a place that has generally good food but you're not too concerned about intimate conversation or any unique boutique type of feel. Would I go again? Yes - if I happen to be in Arlington. Would I crave it and drive across the city just for Cafe Asia? No.
(3)
Asa C.

DO NOT ORDER SUSHI OR ANY RAW FISH!! I have only been to this restaurant twice. First time got some wine and calamari, both were pretty good. The second time I went I got sushi sashimi for lunch, it was pricy. Not only was it not a good value, I got sick the whole afternoon and had to go to bathroom multiple times at night. I am pretty sure it was the raw fish since I did not eat anything else the whole day and the fish was not very fresh when I had it. The fish tasted like it had been defrosted and sat out for a long time. Horrible texture!
(1)
Sarah G.

This place is fantastic! Evrything there is good literally! The sashii appitezer is AWESOME!! i got yellow curry and i LOVED it. Boyfriend got General Tso's chicken and said it as th best he's ever had. I love this place and recommend it to everyone! Worth going out of your way for. Only downfall is poopy parking situation!
(5)
Siobhan N.

I think this is the only decent asian restaurant in the DC area. Our local friends call Cafe Asia "old reliable" -- we must come here every time we go back east and it seems to always be popping when we go. No complaints here, sure it doesn't beat Cali asian food... but it gives me my california role fix when we're on the east side!
(4)
Jeremy R.

I am not one to bash places usually. I have worked in a lot of restaunts so I am usually pretty sympathetic when mishaps occur. However, I have eaten here three times and thats three times too many. Where to start? I have had bad service mulitple times from a server that seemed like they didn't even care. I understand if you are triple sat and you have fifteen tables in your section. But at least act like you care that I am there. The sushi? Please, there are much better spots all over this area than that. I know of at least two in old town that are much better deals with much better fish. The spicy tuna is horrible. Don't waste your time. For the life of me I cannot understand why this place is so crowded all the time or seems like a college house party is going on at the bar. Save your time and your money. Go somewhere else.
(1)
Karthik B.

When I first walked into Cafe Asia, I was impressed by the menu. Seating was fast, even though the restaurant was pretty crowded, and the wait staff were attentive. I ordered a Thai Basil, which really is quite hard to mess up. It turned out to be alright...edible, but the tofu was too chewy (almost rubbery) and the basil a little burned. Their sushi wasn't that great either. It's pretty hard to do fusion right. Cafe Asia is getting there, but not completely.
(3)
A.J. L.

Good location, reasonable prices and a varied menu. The Bento box and the Chinese Mixed Vegatables are my favorites and never disappoint. EDIT: Get the Lime Chicken as well. It is fantastic.
(4)
KeL L.

I love their thai iced tea the lomein Satay and Pat Thai Fried Rice Sushi What bothers me a little is that the place becomes so loud .. it's hard to hold a conversation .. I had to repeat myself many times when talking. Parking is a little hard some times. Very low key place, service is okay ..I wouldn't recomend this for a date, unless the weather is super nice and you eat outside then you'll be able to hear each other.
(4)
Natasha K.

I think they have the best Spicy Tuna I have ever tasted. I brought my boyfriend here and he went as far as to say, it was one of the top 3 sushi places he has eaten in. I would not try the Salmon and Asparagus..the asparagus was raw and crunchy...those two should not be combined. I really love their Tom Ka soup (with chicken)...I prefer chicken, because I had a friend get shrimp...and there were about 4 in there. I like the ambiance at the Arlington location 100x more than the DC location. I feel like I'm in a 8th grade cafeteria at the DC location...with round park benches. Yes the seats have no backs. Parking: $3 next door after validation Metro: Rossyln Orange Line I would definitely eat here again.
(4)
C S.

I returned here with a co-worker during lunch and my experience was better, but not great. The sushi here is still awful, but the Thai selections are decent. The panang is spicy and flavorful, and the portion generous. Ask for an extra plate and spoon. It is served in a large bowl with a small bowl of rice. How does one eat this without a plate to pile the rice on? Service varies and tends to be better during lunch. It's still not a place I would go out of my way for.
(2)
Maria S.

Ugh, awful. To be fair, I can only speak for what I ate. I did not try any of their fried rice meals. But if you are a true fan of sushi then I would skip this place. The sushi was horribly made. Their Vietnamese rolls aren't true Vietnamese rolls and are fried. When we eat the rolls the grease (literally) poured out in a stream from the roll. Even the seaweed salad was probably the worse I have ever had. The service, as others have mentioned, is perhaps the worst part of this restaurant. My friend's water came with large black specks of some unidentifiable substance floating in it. After requesting a new water glass he tried to convince us that it was nothing instead of just replacing it right away! For the rest of the evening the service was cold and mostly annoyed with us. There are so many great places to eat in that area. Please don't waste your time and money with this one. Edited to add that the restaurant is extremely loud, as others have pointed out.
(1)
Jackie V.

So I got coerced into joining Yelp, I figured I'd start here with Cafe Asia, because, well, just because. I think the real highlight here is the dollar sushi happy hour, which is always PACKED (and loud--head to the back room if you want to have quiet convo). I used to spend enough happy hours here to convince me that every hour would be happier with sushi specials, rather than drink specials. I'm also not a beer drinker, so getting a $7 mojito (made with some wacky cilantro instead of mint, ps) is not necessarily "happy". Anyhow. I have always found the sushi to be tasty (full disclosure: I only eat the veggie rolls) and really like the gyoza. They are also very helpful about modifying any foods for specific dietary needs, which for me, was a big plus. Their curries are also very good; my sister would always request a yellow curry whenever I'd have to pick her up from Dulles, and the she would have finished it before we were through Reston, so that must be a good sign. Decor--not that anyone really cares--is what i call Ikea-chic (okay, I just made that up). Very modern, modular furniture and hanging lights. Not exactly date mood-lighting and cozy booths, but come one. This is dollar sushi we're talking about here! Service can be a little sluggish; the staff is very friendly, but on there behalf, the place is set up like a warehouse full of tables and often is pumping more bass-infused music than you average Abercrombie & Fitch store. If you're a "regular" though, they always seem to take care of you. Bottom line: great happy hour, tasty food, plenty of space to come with a group. Thumbs up.
(4)
Michelle B.

We went to Cafe Asia for happy hour because it offered both drink and appetizer specials. When we got there, the prices had been changed by handwriting the new, more expensive prices over the old ones. When ordering an appetizer during Happy Hour you expect a full portion, not a $3 portion of the appetizer. We were disappointed by the prices and size of the appetizer. Atmosphere was good. I will probably go back, just not for happy hour.
(3)
Mina B.

Came here for lunch ~1245 p.m. with a couple of co-workers; it was incredibly busy but the tables were turning quickly enough for us to be seated within 10 minutes. It took longer to get our menus. The extensive menu pretty much covers the gamut of Asian cuisine, albeit on the safe side of things - which was a signal to me that the food quality might not be as fresh as I'd want. I'd describe it as a sort of Asian version of the Cheesecake Factory - not that there's anything wrong with that. Everyone in your dining party will find something he/she likes. It just struck me a bit funny to have the Bento box special (like I did) while sitting across from a co-worker who was eating pork lo mein. Not that there's anything wrong with that either. As long as you're not expecting anything extraordinary and are seeking to eat rather than dine, this will do okay.
(3)
Abigail S.

Meh. Dull grilled chicken salad. And it's really loud. Not a place for conversation.
(2)
Layla C.

This was just... bleh. Mediocre sushi, even for D.C. And overpriced. Happy hour sushi only included Nigiri... lame. Gets two stars instead of one because the server was at least helpful and the happy hour beer special was pretty good ($2.50 for a pint, limited selection though). Would not go again though.
(2)
Kate R.

Cafe Asia is mdoerately-priced and in a not-great location, but I'm a fan of this place because among my friends and family we can never seem to agree on ethnic restaurant choices. For instance: when my parents come into town, my father loves Indian, Thai, and Malaysian food, my mother won't eat anything with curry or cumin, and I'm the only one in the family who likes sushi. Cafe Asia presents the perfect solution. The sushi - good, but on the pricey side The soups - excellent The Malaysian dishes - good, and they're so hard to find! The Vietnamese, Chinese, and Thai dishes - if they're really what you're looking for, go to an actual Vietnamese, Chinese, or Thai restaurant. There are plenty in the area if you head down Wilson Blvd. away from DC.
(4)
BlueCat P.

Worst sushi and sashimi I've ever had. I don't know whether this is consistent or a one time thing, but I did not know that these offerings could taste this bad, short of what you can buy at a grocery store. The fish choices were awful. Chewy, strong and strange. The service was fine and the atmosphere was fine also. (We sat outside.) Maybe the other offerings are tasty, but I would steer clear of these two items.
(2)
Christina A.

I decided to review this place knowing I would give it 3 stars and whaddya know seems like everyone else is pretty much in agreement with me. I was craving Asian food last night and left my house at like, 9:50 pm, as every Thai (that's what I really needed in my life) restaurant in the area was shutting its doors for the night. I saw that Cafe Asia was open till 11 so hey, why not? The man friend and I headed over for a late dinner. The place is decorated cute, and was bumping some music I would like to hear in the club but it's dinnertime here, poeple. We got steamed shrimp gyoza (eh), a tuna roll with tempura flakes topped with avacado and sriracha (highlight of the night), and pork garlic and basil stiry fry that was decent but not impressive. Cafe Asia served its purpose but I would never go out of my way to return.
(3)
Reena V.

I went there for lunch a couple weeks ago. I ordered a dish and the aftertaste was horrible. It actually tasted like it was a little undercooked. Maybe it was my own taste buds and it may not have been the food at all....but the customer service was HORRIBLE. I called the manager over to tell her I would like to order something else as the food had a bad after taste. She comes back to ask me what I want, but rudely says "We tried the food, it tastes FINE and maybe next time you shouldnt order that dish" Her tone was so rude, and even the people I came with were shocked. I will not go back there now.
(1)
Mer Z.

Love this place, love the people and the food too.
(4)
Kim N.

came here last night for happy hour after a grueling week (yes, I realize it was only Tuesday). They have new happy hour menus, same specials though slightly pricier (by 50 cents - $1) but at least the prices weren't changed by white out as it was on the previous menu. Crab wontons, curry laksa, and sake all still good. Service was a bit slow, but they still let us order sake at happy hour prices though happy hour had ended 10 - 15 minutes prior.
(4)
Jeff M.

This is a tricky review. For an after work/happy hour/early-ish dinner, this place is perfect. It is cool and hip, the sushi is good (not fantastic...though I do recommend the firecracker roll), the happy hour sushi price is very reasonable, and they offer a pretty good selection of non-sushi so if you go with a group, no worries if some aren't into raw. If you are looking for a a great sushi dining experience for a better than average dinner, you may want to try something else. It is very casual and almost has a sports bar feel. A good place to meet people or go on a casual fun date.
(3)
Jina K.

Just a very average place. The different types of asian dishes is just EH~~. Nothing to rave about. It gets very loud and the service tends to be pretty bad. I would not recommend this place. There are a lot of good restaurants that specializes in each ethnic category.
(1)
shoaib a.

I can't justify giving Cafe Asia only 3 stars as I did before considering I go there so often and recommend it so frequently. I was back there again with some friends and we all came away with great meals. I almost always get sushi but I've also had their curry laksa soup which is spectacular! Parking in Rossyln isn't terrible and there generally isn't more than a five minute wait for a small party.
(4)
Nathan C.

Almost a perfect bell curve with this one. I'm not rocking the boat. Cafe Asia has consistently delivered on decent sushi with a great interior space - lots of natural light, and it's great for groups.
(3)
Rob M.

Jack of all trades, master of none. Sushi is so so, Thai isn't very good, Chinese isn't very good, etc. I've tried it a few times, and each time I'm a little disappointed. The food basically tastes like a good tv/microwave dinner. Atmosphere is okay and service is adequate. It might be fine for a happy hour, but I wouldn't get your hopes up for the food menu.
(2)
Phillip P.

K. so first of all. I had to select which Cafe Asia i was suppose to comment on. Low down on the food: Any Asian restaurant that has to call itself "Cafe" first isn't really Asian food. All in all the food is at best ok. Since the cuisine is a mix of all different types of disciplines, I would find it highly unlikely that the chef is highly skilled in the art of creating any type of Asian cuisine. Seriously. It's pretty hard to make a mad Pad Thai, Kung Pao chicken, (or my favorite) Orange Chicken. I hate to break it to you folks. There is no such thing as Orange Chicken in China. Sushi is just a tad better than something you might find at a food bar along 20th street. Atmosphere: If you are down with chilling, I'd say go to Arlington. But be prepared to have a bunch of people sitting around you that think Cafe Asia is real "Asianese" food. "Hey there lettuce wraps are better than P.F. Changs!" The Cafe Asia on I is a "I want to be hip yet eat Chinese" joint. I'm not saying you can't have a good time there. But please don't front like Iron Chef Chinese just visited the joint kicking ass and taking names.
(2)
Mike Z.

There are tons of reviews for Cafe Asia, so I'll only give my brief impressions after having eaten here several times: The sushi is pretty tasty, but there isn't a huge variety of standard rolls. Their special rolls are awesome, though. No free soup or salad with standard sushi. You have to order the super-mega deluxe roll combo to get free soup. If you order soup separately, the bowls are huge. I find the seats a little uncomfortable and must shift every couple of minutes or so.
(3)
Deanna J.

Because there are so many restaurants that serve similar food, Cafe Asia comes off as an over-priced, forgettable place. A beautiful restaurant with Asian staff, my expectations were high. It just falls short. I'd rather spend half the money with take out.
(3)
Molly O.

I went here for a birthday lunch with colleagues. They had no problem taking a reservation for 9. We arrived, were seated and served pretty quickly for what seemed like a busy lunch hour. I got the wonton soup and the grilled Vietnamese salad. The sushi looked amazing, but I was really hungry, so I went for something a little more filling. I would definitely like to come back for the sushi. Oh, and they brought out ice cream and a brownie for the birthday girls. A nice touch!
(4)
Tess D.

Their food meets the level of their pricing, especially during happy hour. Its great to be able to get a $2.50 beer and half off sushi after work. If you're looking for halfway decent inexpensive sushi and its happy hour, this is a good bet. Don't expect any fine dining though, they won't meet your expectations.
(4)
jazzy l.

We came here for a big birthday party so they had to split the group into two tables. Large spacious area, huge ceilings and a bar area. The food was A-Ok. The calamari appetizer was surprisingly good. It's shaped differently than the circular calamari appetizer dish. My lemon grass chicken noodle dish was okay. The chicken was too big. This restaurant is near the business district area so you can imagine the lot space of the restaurant to be pretty big.
(3)
Kim T.

I just can't like this place, not with all the great alternatives to be found. First of all, you know you're not going to be pleased when you're sort of an Asian food foodie and you go to a pan-Asian place. But, I like Nooshi...so why don't I like Cafe Asia? Well, #1: The service -- it's bad. You wait for 20 minutes just to sit down and then you don't see the server for another 15. Or 30 (yikes!). I've been here 4 times and have never had prompt and polite service. #2: The food -- it's mediocre. Come on, the sushi is like Wegman's sushi (no dis to Wegmans!). Very few creative veggie types (NO UME?!), and the fish is just so-so. The Drunken Noodles kinda suck big time (ground chicken meat? Ugh, go to Sawatdee if you want Thai in Arlington). The noodle soups are not very authentic (what, pray tell, is "Vietnamese Lemon Grass Chicken Noodle Soup"?), though that's not always a bad thing -- I like innovation, I just like it to be TASTY innovation. I guess the pad thai is ok (can anyone mess that up?) and the Indonesian food is good (but I've never had it elsewhere, so who knows). Overall, nothing is authentic, it's all "shopping-mall" Asian food. #3: The space -- just ugh. Why is it filled with annoying frat-types half the time? And why is it so loud that you can't hear anything, even though there's no music? Seriously, this place is deafening. Also, why are the chairs so uncomfortable? Asian asceticism? ^_^ It gets two stars because the atmosphere is marginally better outside, and it's fun for people-watching. If you're forced to go, get a Thai iced tea or your favorite libation, people watch, then truck it to Sawadtee or Matuba or Minh's or whatever for real Thai/Japanese/Vietnamese food. Bottom line: Overall, I can't recommend this pace unless you don't really care much about food. Or service. Or atmosphere.
(2)
Jalyn H.

Each time I go here, I'm amazed at the good food and the affordable prices. The service is not fabulous by any means, and parking is tough to come by most of the time. I recommend the soups. I've never had a bad one. The dinner bento box is solid, as is most of the sushi. Very good dinner or lunch option all around, either this location or the one in DC.
(4)
Jon W.

Great energy and great food here. I love Pan Asian cuisine. This place gets pretty crowded in the evenings and for good reason. The bar is really cool too. I recommend the Mee Goreng or the Bun with sesame dressing.
(5)
Daniel A.

Cafe Asia...it is a place that tries to cater to everyone but doesn't excel in anything. Good for large groups with different tastes so there is something on the menu everyone will eat. Here are my points: - I go at least once a month...mainly since i live a mile away (easy for takeout) but would not go otherwise - Apps/entrees are basic, nothing great but I've never been disappointed...i actually I like the shrimp Gyoza though - Sushi is decent, some interesting rolls...never been sick (unlike a place in Ballston i won't mention); i wouldn't go here if craving a nice sushi dinner - Only 1 sake choice and no cold (at least when i was there). It's better to have none in my opinion - Heavy smoking in the bar area... Good for groups, outdoor seating, happy hour scene or if unsure of what u want...but not a destination since there are MUCH better Thai, sushi, Japanese, and Vietnamese places a metro stop or two away...
(2)
Jeff M.

Mediocre Asian food here. If it is going to be this bad, they should have made it fusion so they have an excuse. They have a great variety of Asian foods, but they don't do any of them well.
(2)
Dave C.

Cafe Asia can be summed up in one word: Steady. The food is pretty good, and it's handy to go to if you don't' want to commit to one type of Asian cuisine; their sushi is pretty decent, with the veggie rolls being an excellent value. Their thai dishes are also pretty decent. Better versions of their dishes can be found elsewhere, but overall, you won't be too disappointed in it.
(4)
Tom M.

The bartender with a mop on his head and tattoos on his forearm has an attitude. I asked for a drink he didn't know and when I told him what was in it he wouldn't make it. The only other experiences has been take out and the food rocks.
(4)
A. P.

Please note: these four stars are dedicated to one sole menu item: the curry laksa soup. I've no idea whether the rest of the fare is any good, and, judging from the plethora of "meh" reviews featured here, doubt I'll bother to find out. BUT! The curry laksa is the stuff of lavish food fantasies. Spicy broth of coconut milk and lemon grass, tons of noodles, plenty of your chosen protein (I recommend the shrimp), garnished with cilantro and lime. It is the ultimate in pan-asian comfort food. The lunch menu price escapes me, but I recall it being extremely reasonable, especially considering the portions are sized so that you're getting two meals in one. Curry laksa is the one and only thing I miss about working on Wilson Boulevard.
(4)
Lara R.

I think Cafe Asia is clearly the unofficial sponsor of my recent injury, having delivered many a dinner to my new place. They always cite a delivery time of 40 minutes and show up at my doorstep within 15-20. How can I not be pleased? But seriously, their sushi is my personal favorite in the area. Love their spicy fresh crab roll, their eel and avocado roll, and especially the crab wonton appetizer.
(5)
Frankie D.

Rotten lettuce in the sloppy soggy spider roll. The sashimi smelled like rotten fish. Gag! I could still smell it on the drive home. I didn't try the hot dishes, but I really don't think I'm going back to try them. Worst part was that I spent $70 dollars not including tip for two people and I was still hungry.... bc I couldn't eat most of the sushi.
(2)
Sasha S.

I think this place is great for the price. It's clean, the service was decent, food pretty tasty, decor nice and plenty of selections on the menu. It's not fine dining, so raters need to take that into consideration. It was pretty busy, but we had no reservations and were seated fairly quickly for a party of 5. In terms of service, as with any other restaurant, it depends who you get. Our waittress was pretty good.
(4)
Bailey G.

Long time Cafe Asia orderer, and the food is good, standard for asian fare, but this review is all about their customer service... EEK! It was bad, we ordered delivery and they brought the wrong sushi (ordered vegetarian and they brought regular non-veggie sushi) and when we called and asked that they bring the correct order for my vegetarian friend everyone we talked to was incredibly rude. We spoke with three separate employees, including the manager on duty. All three were unaccommodating and explicitly said it was our fault they brought the wrong sushi. They finally offered to bring the correct sushi as an exchange for the wrong sushi they brought, only it was going to take them 30 mins for it to arrive. Only it didn't take 30 mins, it took over an hour! Finally, 2.5 hours after we ordered, the sushi arrived. My starving friend opened it to find the sushi rolls were in a complete disarray. My friend had to put all the rolls back together before she could even eat it! Don't believe we'll be ordering from Cafe Asia anytime soon, we had a fairly simply problem and they were pretty unreasonable/unaccommodating in trying to solve it. If you're looking for similar food in the area, try Sawatdee, Asahi or Thai at the Corner before Cafe Asia!
(1)
Corrie D.

Great sushi. Big fun space. Most authentic Indonesian food I've had in the USA.
(5)
Sara J.

Reliable, fresh asian fare. I like the salmon teriyaki served with rice, carrot slaw and shaved lettuce with ginger dressing. Doesn't feel heavy or overdone. Atmosphere is kind of like a modern diner. Big restaurant with contemporary light wood furniture, no frills.
(3)
AC P.

I must admit that this was one of my favorite restaurants until a couple of days ago. I usually dine here once a week but their service is so terrible that I have chosen to stop going. Not only do they charge you an additional $4 to substitute certain sides, but their service is absolutely terrible. Eat at your own risk.
(3)
Kat D.

I cannot speak to authenticity of the food, but I love everything there. Highlights include crab wontons, calamari, sushi/rolls, and on.. The staff have always been courteous, friendly, and helpful. The place is great for a dinner for two through a holiday party. Try the Mojito - it's one of the best around
(4)
Liza P.

Overall a good place to go if you are craving Asian food but not sure what type you are in the mood to eat. The sushi is decent as is the summer roll. The noodle dishes I have had in the past have always been good sized and tasty. There is plenty of protein vice all noodle and veggies. There is a pretty large outdoor seating area for those perfect spring and summer days and nights. You can dress however you want and not feel out of place. Reliable and satisfying food.
(3)
A. S.

Cafe Asia is my favorite Asian restaurant in Virginia. The atmosphere is great, sort of a modern cafeteria style. There's tons of tables, so there's rarely a wait, even when its really busy. They have all sorts of Asian foods-- from chinese to thai to sushi. I like this because I can go there with someone and split a chinese dish and sushi. There's not many places in Virginia where you can do that. They let you make substitutions. I like really spicy food, and the waiter changed the recipe on the chicken broccoli to make it spicy, and it tasted amazing! The only con is that there's not much parking. You have to parallel park on the street, and it's hard to find a space on the weekends/busy hours.
(5)
Michael F.

I went to Cafe Asia with my roommate for Happy Hour. The place was packed! But, luckily we were able to grab a small table over by the sushi bar. We started with an appetizer of calamari, which was not very good unfortunately. But, it was huge, so it did a good job of filling us up. I also ordered a Kirin Ichiban, which was only $2 during the Happy Hour; great price! We then ordered a good amount of sushi which arrived fairly quickly, despite the huge crowd. The quality of sushi was OK. Not bad, but not really awesome. The price was excellent, though. Only about a dollar a piece! Cafe Asia is located in the heart of Rosslyn. It's a really nice area, but parking is awful. I had to drive around for 15 minutes before finding a space to park in. I would definitely recommend taking the metro. So overall, while the quality of the food at Cafe Asia was nothing special, the price during Happy Hour is hard to beat.
(3)
Jamie M.

Very chic, NOT too pricey, good Asian restaurant. Visiting from San Diego, I would have to say this place was one of my favorite places to hang-out, eat, and drink. It is a good mixture of a sushi bar, a lounge drinking bar area, and a sit-down restaurant!! A group of seven of us sat at the bar area. Since my friends and I were HUNGRY, we ordered quite a bit of entrees. I ordered and very much enjoyed the Beef Mee Goreng Noodles. And even more the next day since I had a lot of leftovers. In addition, I ordered the salmon skin hand roll. I've had a lot of sushi in my lifetime, and I would have to say it was very well done!! My boyfriend ordered the General Tao Chicken. We hardly see this entree in the West AND my boyfriend loved it! He's had General Tao Chicken in a few other places, but he said this place cooked it just right! My other friend ordered a sashimi bento box. Because she's had FRESH 30.00 sushi in Japan, she was a little skeptical. But it turns out that the sashimi was pretty fresh!! And as we sat at the bar, the bartender was nice enough to suggest a couple places we, tourists, should visit around town. I also mentioned to the bartender to suggest to the owner that this venue/restaurant would be A TOTAL HIT in San Diego (considering that the owner wants to branch in other areas besides the east coast)!! Overall: GREAT, FAST SERVICE. GOOD FOOD. GOOD MUSIC. AFFORDABLE PRICES. Note: Great happy hour. Monday - Saturday. 4 - 7pm. Also, they're trying to do a night/clubbing scene on Fridays and Saturdays. *pictures up later.
(5)
ajwest f.

Waste of money. Nothing about this place was good. The Soba was made with sweet and sour sauce, the manager was totally nasty and the food was waaaay over priced. The only good thing I can say is that the waiters were friendly.
(2)
Jessica h.

I am a big fan. When I lived in the Rosslyn area, I could walk here, and did plenty of times, to get the happy hour sushi. It's satisfying to get a good piece of nigiri for a $1.25 (although I sure liked the pre-economy crisis $1a pop price a bit better). Plate of sushi and a Kirin and I'm all set for the night. Tab usually comes in under $20pp. I think the alfresco dining experience is best, but eating inside can be exciting with the electrifying crowd as well.
(4)
TP N.

Food was just okay. I've had better for cheaper. I had the Japanese shrimp fried dumplings, Singapore noodles, and shrimp tempura sushi rolls. I don't think that was real shrimp in the dumplings, so they were not worth the price (4 small for $5). The noodles were a bit salty. Tempura rolls weren't fresh. While the food wasn't spectacular, there was a nice variety. The menu consisted of all sorts of Asian dishes (Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese, Malaysian, Thai, etc.) The place looked great, really bright and spacious inside. There was a large area for outside seating. I liked how the kitchen was designed to be open, like you could see what they were cooking (if you stood up, depending on which part of the room you were in). Service was good. All in all, nice looking place, great service, but the food was mediocre. I wouldn't come back.
(2)
Regan T.

Three stars for the food, four stars for the sushi happy hour (from a purely economical point of view). Every time I have been here, the food has been mediocre at best, and the sushi seems a bit off-color and never tastes fresh. That aside, it's hard to beat $1.25 nigiri and $2.50 beer, regardless of the cons of eating here. The sidewalk location is great when the weather is nice and will keep me coming back. I just would never recommend this place to anyone wanting a legitimate Asian meal of any kind.
(3)
Paul R.

A wide selection of menu items from across Asia, including some Malay & Indonesian dishes that aren't too common around here. Stick with those or a few of the Chinese dishes. The sushi is mediocre at best with a big emphasis on rolls. Services is spotty; they really just want to change over the table. And $8 for a canned Sapporo? Get real.
(2)
Tim P.

Food is moderate but the happy hour is great!
(3)
Tub V.

I've been here a couple of times because I work close to it. Every time I come the food gets worse and worse. I've had everything from the pad thai to their selection of sushi. There is nothing positive that I can say about this restaurant. This and the service is mediocre at best. One of the most disappointing restaurants I've been to since I moved to the east coast.
(1)
Laura V.

Cafe Asia has great food. There I said it. I always shy away from admitting that I like Cafe Asia because everything else about the place is annoying. But I've learned how to work it there - go early (like the BF and I did recently). This is good for a number of reasons: 1. The place has acoustics that are out of control. When it's crowded, forget about having a conversation. Go on an off time, and enjoy what your buddy is saying. 2. No wait. Well, except for waiting while the host staff sorts out the confusion of where to seat people in an almost empty restaurant. 3. Food comes out hot and fast. I've gone at other times, and had my food brought to me almost cold. I wish I could say that going early would contribute to better service, but I just can't. No matter when I go or what is going on, the service at this place is just awful. I've had about 97 different servers here and they are all equally bad. I think they've all been training to learn this same bad style. This most recent time, the server took our drink order, then proceeded to line up all the tables in the row next to us, fix two wobbly tables with sugar packets, and wipe the tables down. Had he put our drink order in? No. And we weren't surprised when he went through this same exercise after our food orders. Weird. That all being said, the food is good here. It really is. I like a few staples, but even tasting other people's meals, I've found it to be good. They have a fun happy hour with dollar sushi during the week, but I'm not sure I could deal with coming then so I'll rely on others who seem to like it to tell me about it.
(3)
Shannon R.

Beautiful day, we loved the atmosphere sitting outside, service was good, the inside seating was classy in appearance, but food was just ok. We got 3 specialty rolls, they were edible but I wont seek this restaurant out again.
(2)
Cindy Y.

I went to an event at Cafe Asia, and the food was surprisingly good. I've been to Cafe Asia before, and I must say that it didn't taste like this before. The last time I went prior to this event was almost 3 years ago though. I didn't think their cucumber rolls were all that great, but they had some pretty good avocados in their avocado rolls. Their chicken satay was so good that I wished I had a plastic bag somewhere so I can stow some away in my purse. Their curry chicken dish was pretty tasty as well. I think more than anything, from what I tried, their Thai dishes were probably the best in flavor, texture, and overall.
(4)
Sarah F.

Now I do like the food here, (mostly just the tom yum soup... I could live probably live on it) but the wait service is AWFUL, AWFUL, AWFUL. Waited almost 15 minutes last night just to get menus and water and then when we told the waiter we had been waiting he gave us an attitude. The only reason we didn't leave was because I has spend the day flying back from Mexico and really didn't have the energy to go somewhere else. Also the waiter brought out my soup with my entre, I HATE that.
(3)
Fitz T.

Mango sticky rice was...old.... crusty. Our server made a face when I asked him if there was any dairy in the dish. I'm sorry, dude. I'm lactose intolerant. I have to ask these kinds of questions..... not the end of the world. The background music was awesome. Somebody there has good taste. Overall, kind of a crappy place, but it's really cheap, so I can't hold them up to a high standard. Would go there again in a pinch. (not worth a trip, though)
(2)
Donna C.

I've been here several times over the last couple years and figured out that I really like it. The sushi has always been good, the cocktails are tasty and strong and the atmosphere is pretty cool. Plus they have a decent selection of other non-sushi entrees. So I decided to go here last weekend for my 30th bday celebration. We made a reservation for 25-35 in the back room next to the bar. We confirmed it a couple days before as well. However when we got there, they were like 'Oh yeah, just go to the back bar.' There were no actual tables reserved for us, they just thought we'd be mingling in the back bar. They're lucky that that's actually what I wanted to do and that there were 4 bar tables empty, bc otherwise my friends who wanted to eat would've had a hard time. I was a little peeved with that, but I can let it go. Overall, we had a great time. The DJ was my friends cousin so of course he played whatever we wanted and their huge projection TV was playing college basketball. Two thumbs up. There was plenty of room to socialize and since we hoarded all the tables, plenty of room to sit and chill. Everyone loved their food and the drinks definitely helped us have an even better time. It might not be the best sushi, but whatever, it's got atmosphere and music and seems to attract a decent crowd. I'm a fan :-)
(4)
Namtran N.

Cafe Asia is a lot like what you would get if you took all the best parts of Asian cuisine from around the continent and mixed them with a nightclub. The sushi is standard. Everything I've had there was good, but not spectacular. So.. if one of your friends wants sushi, another wants thai food, and you want chinese, then this is the place for you. Prices are decent. Fully stocked bar. Help is mediocre. Not good.. or bad.. just there. Oh.. and I believe they started doing a dance club or something on the weekends (?). I've never been, but I'm sure it's pretty basic as well.
(3)
Jonathan M.

This is a review of their sushi only. It's not that good. I got the dinner sashimi plate, which was $28. It came with 11 pieces of sashimi, 4 nigiri, and one tuna roll. The chef selects the type of fish and they gave me way too much tuna. Mostly tuna actually, and it was pretty stringy. Also got mackerel, which was too meaty. Conclusion: Go somewhere else if you want sushi.
(2)
Karman L.

Service SUX!!! We were there for happy hour....waiter totally didn't know what he's doing...never gave us menu (had to ask couple times)...took forever to check back with us to take our order...he just dropped stuff off and sorta ignored us and never ask if we need any thing else... food was okay...wont' go back
(2)
Alexandra S.

Meh. That's how I feel about Cafe Asia. It's okay but nothing amazing.
(3)
Sharif N.

I really like the feel of the place when you walk in. It has that something feeling with a huge bar and tv screen to your left and the restaurant to your right. The food isnt bad, sushi is pretty good, and the pad thai with chiken and shrimp is pretty good. I wouldnt say its the best place to get asian food, but it has a nice feel to it inside the restaurant.
(3)
David M.

Always enjoy Cafe Asia. Best Happy Hour in town! Great food at half the price. And not just food they are trying to get rid of, but food that you would order if you were their for dinner as well. I have also had dinner there, and it is good. I didn't give it 5 stars because I feel the Sushi quality is not best for the price. You can do better for Sushi elsewhere.
(4)
Mimi C.

Cafe Asia's location between downtown DC and the VA suburbs makes it a viable option for networking functions. Its location in the business area several blocks from the Rosslyn station doesn't hurt either. The back room has the capacity for parties of 100, perhaps more. However, the acoustics are worse than your school's cafeteria, back in the day, so your presenter or the speaker panel are going to have to work hard to be heard. The back room's projection screen mentioned in another review is actually a wall across from the bar. Your audience members sitting or standing closer to the entrance of the backroom right below the wall will strain to see the video or presentation. If you do somehow manage to quiet your group, there may be other customers enjoying drinks and dinner whose background chatter drown out your speaker. Cafe Asia's backroom is spacious enough for a large networking event without feeling claustrophobic but forget about listening to any speeches unless you've invited a guest who enjoys yelling to him/herself in public. The staff is accommodating and we were able to reserve space without signing a contract or paying a deposit. The bar staff will help you manage your costs by accepting drink tickets. I agree the mojitos are tasty. On the other hand, boo to sake bombs with plastic cups.
(2)
Andrew K.

I wanted to dislike this place. The atmosphere is pretentious in that it's trying too hard to be all LA and hip in this outdated uber-white space. The menu was varied. Some would say too varied to do any one thing right. But, free refills on soda were great. And, my Indonesian beef dish was affordable at $10, and filling as heck. The sesame cole slaw was mmmm. My waiter was mumbly, but nice. I would happily bring my wannabee friends here - the food was yum.
(4)
Jimmo X.

Great place to take someone that can't make up their mind. They have a good variety. The ingredients are fresh an service is pretty quick. It's affordable and you get seated fairly quickly. I love the big bowl of Tom Yum - it's HUGE! The only reason I don't give this place 5 stars is the food is good but not great.
(4)
Nancy D.

Didn't get an opportunity to try the food because I've been sitting here for 30 minutes waiting for service so now I'm leaving. Heard the food is not worth the wait anyway. I wouldn't waste your time on this place.
(1)
Cameron S.

I've eaten at Cafe Asia twice. Both times my wife and I ordered different dishes and I can honestly say the food isn't good, It's simply mediocre. I found the noise from the bar very distracting as well, as it makes it difficult to have a conversation with your dinner party.
(2)
Jen M.

Don't get the sushi - it's the most disappointing sushi I've ever had. But the noodle & soup dishes are delish - especially the curry laksa and the grilled chicken bun.
(3)
Kevin J.

I went for lunch with a group. The place wasn't too busy and service was good and accommodating (helping us to move inside when it started to rain). The menu, as mentioned by other reviewers, contains a wide range from a number of Asian Cuisines, so it's easy to find something you'll like. One of the vegetarians in our group was able to request a non-menu dish with no problem. I found the crab wontons had too little crab and were almost entirely wonton. They did however come with a very interesting yoghurt based dip. The veggie spring rolls were OK, but not exciting. For main I had Nasi Udung, a selection of Indonesian dishes including Satay, a spicy beef curry and a tofu salad with peanut dressing. Also included (not for those squeamish about fish with eyes etc) was a curious mix of very small fish with peanuts, which had a strange taste combining sweetness and saltiness. OK in small amounts, but the only bit I didn't finish. On the whole Cafe Asia was a good experience, and the variety should satisfy most tastes.
(3)
Jamie C.

There are few places I hate more than Cafe Asia. The high ceilings and minimal decor make the place impossible to hear and unwelcoming. The food is awful. Everything even simple things that are not too hard to mess up suck. California rolls, fried rice, pad thai - all bad. The happy hour deal is nothing special. Cheap saki can be found at other places with better sushi that is at least edible. I've given this place a lot of chances, maybe the DC location is better, but I doubt it. Last time I was there I sat at the sushi bar area. Service was quick, but the waitress was rude and unattentive. Definitely not worth it.
(1)
Angela J.

I feel like this place is going down hill over the last several years. Went last night and the service was absolutely terrible. I have had better service at a fast food drive through window. The sushi was great however.
(2)
Jane P.

I forgot to mention: Thomas = Best Bartender Ever. Enough said.
(4)
Todd R.

This review might be a little stale since I ate there about a year and a half ago... Cafe Asia has enough variety to suit just about anyone. My party primarily had sushi and teriyaki. Both were good, but nothing to make me give this place 5 stars. The price seems reasonable and the portions were more than adequate. It was pretty busy even on the Wednesday that we went. It took us a little while to get our seat even with reservations.
(4)
K V.

Great food! decent service! Reasonable price! Also Good menu selection. I enjoyed it! If i'm in the area i'll be returning!
(4)
Rebecca H.

Pretty good happy hour. I like the funky calamari. My go to dish is Gway-Tio w/ Beef. Very casual, I wouldn't ever consider a sit-down dinner there.
(3)
Kenneth L.

Bustling pan-Asian restaurants offers sushi and other Asian specialties in a chic, minimalist setting. The Sushi is great, it's freshly made and quickly served. The services are too rude and the staff need to focus on their guests instead of wandering off unexpectedly.
(3)
Jennifer S.

Cafe Asia is one of those places where no matter who you are with, they are bound to find something to enjoy. Their pan-Asian menu is tremendous and no matter how often I go, I always need "more time to decide," much to the annoyance of most of my friends who typically order sushi. I've tried almost all the appetizers and sometimes get a few with a salad or soup (miso is best) as my dinner. Favorites apps are: summer rolls, satay, crab wantons and veggie gyoza. The soups are great, especially the lemongrass chicken noodle soup. As for entrees, generally anything chicken or tofu has always worked for me (except the fried rice which was way too oily the one time I ordered it). While the food is great at both locations (DC and Arlington), I tend to prefer Arlington since it's in my hood.
(3)
Scott G.

This gets the same Yelp elitist treatment as Lauriol Plaza and countless other good, cheap, but "too maintstream to be cool" places. As I alluded to: Cafe Asia is good, cheap, dependable. They have a great happy hour and they're good for groups. I take a star off for merely average sushi- but then again it's not priced to have great, fresh sushi.
(4)
mark j.

Good food, atmosphere and reasonable prices. Service was also good the several times I have eaten here. Dessert was delicious. Parking tends to suck though.
(4)
Michelle Y.

This place is a classic example of a "Pan-asian" restaurant that tries to do everything, thus doing nothing very well. We went here for a friend's birthday and all ordered different noodle dishes (indonesian noodles and singapore noodles were two I remember) and my friend ordered the ramen soup. They were all slighty bland and unmemorable and the indonesian noodles were just seasoned poorly. It looked like a cute place and the prices are reasonable, so my hopes were high, but the consensus was a resounding: meh.
(2)
Krista L.

I have always loved coming to Cafe Asia! It had been a few months since my last visit and when my family came to town I decided it was the perfect time to try it again. The service is always fantastic and the food is even better, so much so, no one wanted to share their food with each other like we normally do. The place is huge and great for groups. The even have a nice sized party area in the back should you want to host a private event. I definitely recommend this spot if you are looking for somewhere to go in Arlington.
(4)
Elafoodie W.

Cafe Asia has the best Laksa noodle soup I have had in the US. Also, the sesame cole slaw is out of this word.
(5)
Bridgette H.

I love Cafe Asia! Great sushi, and quick service!
(4)
Ju L.

Pros: Back room is great for groups & functions. The dishes are delicious. Cons: Noisy atmosphere.
(4)
Linda V.

In a desperate search for a venue for a corporate workshop, Cafe Asia provided the perfect solution this. The back room of Cafe Asia provided ample space for 50 people(it can definitely hold more) and they accommodated all of our needs. Plus you can't beat their happy hour $1 sushi special, I'll take that.
(5)
Bindesh S.

[-] a/ Weird, college cafeteria look-a-like decor. [+] a/ Decent food. b/ My favorites. Calamari (Best in DC) - they come in French fry shape and Indonesian fried rice.
(3)
Marco F.

When I was in college and this place just opened it was a regular hangout for us. The food is pretty good and its not a bad place to hang out and have cocktails. If you need a place to start the night off before going into DC this is the place
(5)
Derrick L.

Overrated. I would go for the atmosphere and crowd, but not the food. Mixed drinks are okay. The sushi quality is generally poor. The rest of the food is pretty dull. There's better Asian food a couple blocks away.
(2)
Sara S.

My favorite restaurant in Rosslyn. You cannot beat the General Tao's chicken. It is the only thing I get now.
(5)
Melissa H.

I haven't been here for a full meal in years, but their happy hour prices encourage you to eat your fill at the bar. Cheap eats and drinks. Service was good and it helped that I was with a "regular". Definitely a great place to go with lots of people.
(4)
Cameron H.

Cool atmosphere. Good entres. Fun for happy hour. Don't go just for the sushi, not worth it.
(3)
Charles B.

Trendy (and not necessarily in the good way) but delicious. Great for lunch, but when happy hour hits on a Friday or Sat, make way. Good Pad Thai, other noodle dishes. Appetizers often better than entrees.
(3)
Justin W.

Definitely like this place. There is a ton of different asian food choices and the prices are right. If you come early, there is a great happy hour with $1 sushi and cheap beer. I recommend any of the noodle or soup dishes. The sushi is good too. If you enjoy Raku, consider this place a cheaper alternative.
(4)
Z T.

Good food but a bit pricey for what they served.
(3)
Seth M.

usually only get the sushi dinner here. all is good and at a good price, whether its nigiri or rolls. not the best sushi in the world, def not the worst. this place is home to my favorite dessert of all time: Combo Banana. "Vanilla ice cream & Indonesian fried banana topped with dry coconuts, peanuts & honey." its probably the best dessert ever created.
(4)
Christine E.

Good stuff here. Came here for a Friday night happy hour and it was certainly a packed house! My group reserved the back end of the restaurant and it was pretty easy to order my warm sake and sushi since there was a bar in that area. Nigiri sushi was $1 per piece, which seems kinda overpriced for happy hour service. The rolls were pretty good though. And I enjoyed 2 bottles of sake for myself! The crowd was pretty cool, too. *I came here another time for dinner and it was pretty good. I had the General Tso's chicken. Pretty good portions! Plus, there's a backroom where you could hold private events. It's pretty spacious.
(4)
Afshan K.

Eh! I ordered Chinese stir fried veggies with chicken. The quantity of food was huge so the advantage is you can get two meals for the price of one. But other than that it was ok food. Not the best I've had and not the worst either.
(2)
Megan W.

Firstly, they have a drink called the Hello Kitty, so basically fell in love then and secondly, they have really tasty crab rangoon, so I fell in love again. Their sushi is good, it's your run of the mill type at an average price. Also, I tried my friend's fried rice, I think it was the indonesian fried rice with shrimp, and it was super yummy too.
(4)
Evi D.

I have been here twice now for Happy Hour, and have had a great time. Pretty good specials for happy hour, including appetizers. It's a fun place where you can go with a group, or just 2 people and they are able to accomodate with the space. It gets a bit loud in there, but enough that you can still hold a coversation. Fun place to meet someone you haven't seen in a while to catch up!
(4)
Manda J.

I used to come here often for sushi, but the food and service have declined a LOT over the past year and a half. I remember thinking the sushi was good in 2007, but it has gotten progressively worse since then and they've served us some bad pieces of sushi (bad fish). Waiters disappear after taking your order, so plan to flag down a busboy if you want a refill or the check.
(2)
Robert K.

Cafe Asia has sushi. I am always drawn to sushi when it's on the menu. I think it's telling when I go to a place and stop ordering sushi, though, as I have at Cafe Asia. Let me be clear though - it's not that the sushi there is bad. It's just that, I don't want to eat sushi that isn't really good. I would rate Cafe Asia's sushi as "ok" which just doesn't cut it for me. So I have turned to the other dishes. The non-sushi here rates from "ok" to "good" - there isn't really anything spectacular about presentation or taste coming out of the dishes; at least, nothing surprising from any reasonably reputed Asian restaurant. I think you can tell why this place got 3 stars from me. I'm brought back by friends who like to meet there. The bar area is nice, and there is sometimes good people-watching to be had. While that's enough to bring me back, it's not enough to raise my rating.
(3)
Laura W.

I had previously been to Cafe Asia's DC location, which I liked. But the Arlington location, I would not recommend. The service was slower, and the waitress did not even offer me a sushi menu when I joined some friends for happy hour. There was also some confusion over the drink specials, causing some of my companions to pay more than they thought they would for their drinks. I cannot vouch for the sushi quality as I did not order any that evening. But here is my main complaint: Since it's located in Virginia, smoking is allowed inside, and we had the unfortunate luck to be seated next to a table of heavy smokers. This completely took away my appetite. What can I say? I'm a purist. DC restaurants have spoiled me with their clean air. For a good, clean sushi experience, stick to establishments in the District if possible.
(2)
Ken C.

its nice big and clean, dont really like their decor, but nothing exciting i should mention, we came here for sushi, it was pretty bad, rice is too thick.
(2)
Liam D.

Cafe Asia is a little trendier than I like my eateries to be. I've been to the one in Arlington, but I tend to frequent the DC location more often because it's closer to work/home for me. Typically, I'm not the type of guy who appreciates form over function--I think people who do are morons, and Cafe Asia is the kind of place where this problem exists. First off, sitting on "stools" that are only 1.5 feet from the ground will leave your knees hurting when you get up to leave, and without any backrest, it makes it hard to relax--(read the following from a sarcastic and satirical point of view) but it "looks cool" so go with the flow.....i mean seriously....who needs a backrest anyways? And at least you're not sitting on the floor with your legs crossed, right? WRONG! This warehouse reminds me of one of my other least enjoyable sushi experiences, the ever trendy Dragonfly, only I don't believe that Cafe Asia has sushi as good. I find the rice to be dry, pieces to be small, and service to be only average. This being said, there are some bright sides to Cafe Asia. Firstly, you can score some great items on their menu for an inexpensive price. While I generally drop at least $20 whenever i eat sushi there, i'm usually pretty full afterwards. If you're into spending less or not into sushi, I've tried bits and pieces of meals from other friends that cost $10 and are good (like curry beef). What is really a good way to go here is to order a Sashimi dinner with a bowl of seaweed salad (gotta throw extra soy sauce on it to get rid of the "sea" taste a bit, but then it's awesome, and very healthy for you--minus the soy sauce). You can mix the sashimi with the seaweed, or eat em separately, but either way it's enjoyable. One thing I don't recommend is going with the "expensive" rolls. These are the rolls that are 8 pieces for $8-$12. They aren't big, they aren't particularly beautiful to look at, and the general sense of "well that was a nice treat" that i've come to expect from "special rolls" doesn't exist at Cafe Asia. Unfortunately for me, its one of the only places that serves halfway decent sushi within 10 blocks of my office, so I go there more often than I would otherwise. Bottom line: Not a sparkling endorsement, but those who aren't particularly critical will enjoy.
(3)
omid a.

i used to live in clarendon for a little over a year, and ventured to cafe asia a few times. most times for happy hour and an entree. always found their entrees overpriced and under quality. just last night, the gf suggested we go there for sushi instead of our normal sushi place in tysons. well this was pretty much a choice i wish i could take back. we got 4 rolls (cafe asia roll, shrimp tempura roll, smoked salmon and cream cheese, and spicy tuna). each one of these rolls tasted like they came out of the deli section at harris teeter. not fresh tasting, and definitely didnt feel like it was at a well prepared sushi joint. we did also get the calimari, which was a delightful appetizer, but i still dont think it nearly made up for our poor excuse for sushi. let me repeat, it basically tasted like a grocery stores packaged sushi.
(1)
Maurina R.

Had lunch there today. Seaweed salad, and Yaki Udon with shrimp. Service was okay-not what I'd call attentive, but we didn't have to wait to order or for the check. The food was plentiful, but nothing to draw me back. The flavor was bland, and nothing really made me want more. Why go to a place that tries to be all things Asian and is mediocre, when you can go to a restaurant that does one cuisine well? In this area, there's no excuse.
(2)
M T.

Cafe Asia has a nice big menu of unremarkable food. I've never had an awful meal here but I've never had something that I absolutely had to order again because it was so delicious. The consistantly bad service doesn't help either.
(2)
Mindy D.

The best sushi happy hour EVER! $4 sake? $1 nigiri? We had a huge meal Friday night and our bill was under $50 for two. Not bad when you order soup, rolls and off of the HH list. Huge place and the bar is packed after work.
(5)
Elizabeth S.

Always a good standby option for sushi in the DC area. I always get the sushi. They have great happy hour specials here and their "special rolls" are usually really good -- I had dinner here with a few friends on Sunday and LOVED the double dragon roll. I highly recommend it if they have it on the menu!
(3)
ike s.

The fish portions are lacking and the service makes you feel more like grazing cattle than a customer. The night we waited twenty minutes to be noticed by the wait staff and my girlfriend got food poisoning, we swore off this place forever. It's not a one star, because I wasn't personally poisoned.
(2)
Claiborne I.

Yelp's definition of 2 stars ("Meh. I've experienced better.") accurately summarizes my first and likely last visit to Cafe Asia. I always thought it was a college cafeteria since there is a college sign above it. (The college is located in the same building apparently.) Anyway, it gives the ambiance of a cafeteria, and I've had better and cheaper food at college cafeterias. The food isn't bad, the service isn't bad, and the experience wasn't bad. I've just had much better food in better environments for the same or less money. Skip Cafe Asia and go to Bangkok 54. Yes, slightly different menus and no sushi, but it's a much better value with much better food.
(2)
Anne K.

I have been to Cafe Asia many times. Every time I visited Rosslyn, I always go there. The Lychee-tini was a great drink. All of the food I tried was very good. E.g. satay, Curry Laksa, Tuna Tataki, are all my favorite. The price is also fantastic. This place has my highest recommendation. I travel a lot and this is a very memorable place.
(5)
Susan J.

I ate at Cafe Asia on a recent trip to Virginia and was very pleased with the food and drinks. Even though it was Friday night and the place was mobbed, we were seated in less than 15 minutes without a reservation. The drinks are delicious, but as it became apparent that we weren't buying another round, our waiter got less and less attentive to refilling our water glasses. He also brought me the wrong entre by mistake, but quickly remedied the error and apologized profusely. All in all, a reasonably priced dinner and a lively scene.
(4)
Rosalie K.

We come here as often as our budget will allow. The sushi is excellent and fresh, service is pretty good & always friendly if sometimes slightly slow. Haven't tried any of their food other than sushi.
(4)
Professional Eater S.

The only nice thing about this place is their happy hour: $1 sushi, and cheap beer. Otherwise, this place is just like hundreds of other mediocre, uninteresting asian-fusion restaurants that litter the DC metro area. I'm not asking for some ultra fancy exotic food, just that some place make a little extra effort to get their food to taste just slightly better than other places. I get the feeling that there is this huge asian-restaurant supplier that is making a fortune in the area selling the same food to tons of restaurants.
(2)
David M.

CafÃ© Asia always has the freshest food, and the pan-Asian variety of dishes on the menu is really something to explore. The staff are always friendly and attentive.
(5)
L. M.

I came here for happy hour after work. For specials, they had $2.50 pints, $1 pieces of sushi, and very good sake for $2 or $4 (depending on the size of the bottle). I tried their spring rolls which were an odd pairing of mint leaves and a spicy sauce. They weren't bad, but I probably wouldn't get them again. Their sushi was better, but not outstanding. I liked the lay out of the place, and they had college basketball on a projector screen across the bar from me.
(3)
Allison S.

The happy hour drink specials are good -- specials vary by day -- but our server was awful; she was not at all friendly and rarely came to check on our table. They have a good size list of $1.25 nigiri sushi during happy hour, but it's not great. My experience with the dishes offered in the restaurant part of Cafe Asia was also underwhelming.
(2)
Emily S.

Given that it's Rosslyn and that there is NOTHING in Rosslyn it's absolutely worth going to, but if it were couched among other Asian restaurants in, say, a city where Chinatown actually offers Chinese food, I would recommend that you pass it up in an instant. The service was fine - not good, not bad, the bare minimum you would expect to consider a restaurant passable. As for the food itself, my Cafe Asia experience was consistent with my overarching theory that Panasian cafes are never very good. I ordered the Malaysian rendang, a dish I have enjoyed thoroughly at restaurants actually specializing in Malaysian food, and it was blah. Not spicy. Not all that flavorful. Nothing particularly wrong with it, but I probably could have made an equal version of it myself after a quick google search for the recipe. Perhaps Malaysian was really testing their boundaries and I should have played safe by ordering sushi or Chinese - my friend did enjoy his General Tso's chicken, though he admits to not being able to taste differences very well - but that kind of defies the purpose of it being a Panasian restaurant, n'est-ce pas? On the bright side, I went just for drinks once and the plum wine was both ample and delicious.
(3)
Brandon S.

Decent Asian food for a group, everyone is bound to find something they like. Sushi is decent, well priced. Other Asian ethnic food is presented well with a decent selection. Can be quite loud though at times, one big room.
(4)
Christopher E.

Cafe Asia is more about the scene vice the food; so, I know that going in. I grabbed lunch there today and was SUPER bummed out. I ordered Chinese Broccoli and Tofu; what I got was regular broccoli stir-fried in some mediocre brown sauce. I was really expecting kai-lan vice regular broccoli. I was super bummed out. I feel like I could get better food, for less, at some dive Chinese take-out joint. I'll go there to hang out and eat sushi at happy hour, but ordering an entre is OUT.
(2)
Joanna C.

I don't know why people like this restaurant so much. The food is just OK and the service SUCKS... yet, I always find myself accepting invites to meet up at the Arlington location. 90% of the time you have to wait to be seated even if you have a reservation!!! I think it's overrated, but I guess it's got that hip, modern vibe that other asian establishments are missing. The bottom line: go somewhere else for good food, maybe meet up for drinks and people watching at the bar/back lounge if you can't find anywhere else to go.
(2)
shawn g.

Spent new years here and got in to the back room/bar about fifteen minutes before the clock struck. Just enough time to battle through the crowd to order a round of drinks. The scene was better than I expected with a name like Cafe Asia, drinks were good, but I'm not a fan of the smokers that Virginia allows in their bars. I would go back, but wouldn't wear my favorite clothes though.
(3)
Ryan W.

Cafe Asia is a hip, pan Asian restaurant in Rosslyn. We usually get take-out since the euro/techno/contemporary vibe isn't my scene. The chicken satay entree is a favorite, along with their crab wontons. They have a nice selection of sushi too. The Pad Thai is just ok. It's not "authentic" Asian cuisine, but it doesn't purport to be. If you're looking for a selection of dishes from a variety of Asian countries that are done well, but not the best you've every had, Cafe Asia is a good choice.
(4)
Margo E.

It's my favorite go-to for happy hour AND dinner - both are fantastic, especially for larger groups. I've never been disappointed with a meal, sushi or noodle/rice dishes. The crab won-tons are infamous, for good reason. Enjoy!!
(4)
St p.

I like the pad thai and my wife likes their sushi. Price is reasonable and service is good. Nothing is authentic but I don't care as long as it tastes good. Not much else to say.
(4)
Nam H.

It's rare to find Indonesian food in the states. The Ikan Pepes (steamed fish in banana leaves) is really good here if you want to try something new!!!
(4)
PC W.

Happy hour is a good deal but the last time I went the service was horrible. I probably won't go back for a long while. The quality of the sushi is decent.
(2)
Jess K.

The food is delicious and so well presented. This place seems like it would be really fun at night as well! My coworkers like to go here for a fun lunch and expense it to the company. It is a little pricey but worth it...especially if it isn't your dime.
(4)
Sean C.

I'm embarrassed to say I've lived in the Courthouse/Clarendon area for 2 years and just went here for the first time tonight. Perhaps it was that we arrived a bit late on a Sunday night, but the whole experience was quite "meh." My wife and I sat outside, which was nice. The weather was lovely. The service was attentive enough. However, we ordered hot sake and it was warm sake, which soon cooled to cold sake. The sushi rolls we ordered were good. However, I had the ramen soup, which I have to say was a bit substandard, though not bad. My wife had the chicken panggang, a grilled indonesian dish, but it was quite bland and very similar to teriyaki. In addition the meat was overcooked and the vegetables undercooked. Worst, and this is a pet peeve of my wife and i, being former servers, the waiters began chaining the unoccupied tables while we were having our meal. OK, if we had arrived right at closing time, maybe I could see that, but there were still five or six other tables still seated outside and I think they had at least another hour until closing. I might give it another chance, but not before other options.
(2)
Scott C.

The food was quite good. Had the General Tao Chicken. It was awesome. Some of us got sushi. The spicy tuna was pretty bad. The service, was not good at all. We got sake and asked 4 times for extra shot glasses. They never came. Some of us ordered sushi. We asked the waiter to explain which was which. He didn't really know and tried to fake it. The food took a realllllly long time to come out. They weren't that busy either. I was having a good time with co-workers, so the cons weren't that big of a deal.
(2)
David M.

I, too, want to dislike this place. It's modern and crowded, without being fun. There's usually little in the way of street parking, unless you arrive early. It's in a drab part of Arlington, and I want to not like it, but at happy hour the prices are too good to complain -- so show up at happy hour and know you're getting a bargain on good drinks and OK food. I also like the menu's inclusion of Indonesian food. It's nice to see pan-Asian without pandering. I can't dislike Cafe Asia for the above reasons, but if you're going outside of happy hour, I'd love to steer you elsewhere.
(3)
T P.

Please refer to my review of the DC location. It is the same except I ordered here the shrimp and avocado salad. WOW. Delicious shrimp, cucumber, and about half or more of a delicious avocado in a light vinagrette. Absolutely amazing. Not sure if it's on the menu at the DC location. If it is I will order it there. Sushi is terrific, fresh and service was excellent. This location is huge with a gorgeous outdoor patio for people watching!
(5)
Tu-van L.

Overall a fun hip place to meet with a bunch of friends for food and drinks. Good food no matter what you ordered. I've been to both the VA and the DC restaurant and they're both nice. I especially love their lycheetinis and other exotic mixed drinks. It's a great place to go with friends, but it can get loud and crowded. And the back room is wide and somewhat unfinished with the cement floors.
(3)
CYNTHIA C.

Good food and great crowd BUT.... the place gets so loud, you can barely talk to anyone sitting next to you.
(3)
Rachel E.

I found Cafe Asia to be really good. I had the Yaki Soba with shrimp. Lots of portions, so I have leftovers. :) The shrimp dumplings with the sauce is recommended as an appetizer, along with enname (spelling).
(4)
Jen C.

Every time I come here I am kind of underwhelmed. The food is passable but you can get better elsewhere. Very loud place and service is so-so. The bar looks fun. Would probably come here for drinks. But for Thai or sushi I would go elsewhere.
(2)
Gilbert G.

cafe asia was walking distance from our house in rosslyn and it always seemed like a good crowd during happy hour. we came here after work and it was a pretty happening place. we were there mainly for the appetizers and drinks, which were not bad, but i think the atmosphere made it more relaxing than anything. guys had to stand since we can only find 2 open seats at the bar.
(3)
Christopher S.

The sushi here is terrible. Like so many others, I can't figure out why this place is so popular for happy hour and why people rave about the sushi because, quite frankly, it's not good. I guess a restaurant can be saved by someone who knows how to mix a cocktail, but you'd have to be wildly drunk to arrive at even a modicum of liking the sushi they served us the other night. . . and then I realized (after three strikes now) that Cafe Asia COUNTS on their patrons not knowing what the hell they're ordering when it comes to fresh fish served with rice. The "yellow tail tuna" they attempted to serve us was an orange, opaque hue somewhere between shrimp and cooked salmon and it was marbled with fat, along with a strip of skin. You could walk into any third rate sushi place, look at a picture on a menu and KNOW this was not yellow tail. The server, who was both gracious and helpless, could only do so much. When we sent it back, the chef came back with some lame excuse that those pieces were from the "ending of the fish". They weren't. But even if they were, why serve it? The spicy tuna roll was a disaster and confirmed my suspicion that if you put enough spice, pepper and garlic on shit it, too, will taste good. Now, let's talk about the service. . . our server being the exception, their door staff simply didn't give a crap. The hostess saw us to our seats, dropped the menus on the table and kept walking without saying a word. Amazing service standards to say the least. The best part of the night was leaving. . . they were as cordial on our way out as they were on our way in. . . where cordial means sitting there staring at their phones. Cafe Asia has run it's course. . . the hanging light fixtures, plywood furniture, and insouciance are all dated in a part of town where the restaurant competition is now fierce. I will never go there again and, instead, will opt for sushi magnitudes better at a sushi restaurant right up the road, seated on uncomfortable chairs in a plain, brightly lit room where they treat you like a king from the moment you walk in the door to when you leave, and where they serve sushi that's equally-suited. Cafe Asia can keep it's cocktails and happy hours.
(1)
may f. r.

Dang, why can't these idiots do tempura correctly, how hard is it? and the spring rolls? still wringing wet with grease. what a let down.
(1)
M. C.

Never had a bad meal or experience there. I think it's got a fun upbeat vibe--the sort perfect for large parties. But the first two times I went there were on dates and those were great too. The restaurant experience, as well as the dates ; )
(4)

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Address : 1550 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA, 22209
Phone (703) 741-0870
Website https://www.cafeasia.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 11

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

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Cafe Asia

1550 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA, 22209

Cafe Asia Menu

Appetizer

Soup

Noodle Soup

Salad

Fried Rice

Fried Rice - Additions

Entree

Dessert

Healthy Meal suggestions for Cafe Asia

Appetizer

Soup

Noodle Soup

Salad

Fried Rice

Fried Rice - Additions

Entree

Dessert

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