An Asian garden cafe just opened on the National Mall
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The new cafe overlooks Moongate Garden (pictured) and its zen-like pools. Photo: Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post via Getty Images
Moongate Cafe just opened at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art, bringing banh mi to the National Mall.
Why it matters: Promising new restaurants are rare on the Mall, but thankfully that's starting to change (e.g. Bar Americano).
Dig in: The cafe overlooks the museum's Moongate Garden — inspired by Beijing's Temple of Heaven — with indoor greenery and outdoor seating.
- Japanese chef Risé Namiki turns out a pan-Asian menu of Vietnamese banh mi, rice bowls, summer rolls and Tokyo-style hot dogs.
- Treat yourself with mango sticky rice and yuzu cheesecake.
The intrigue: Visitors can tour an exhibit on Japanese tea practices, and then head to the cafe for rishi loose-leaf tea service — all while settling into the cafe's artful mahjong-inspired couches.
Meanwhile, over in Chinatown, a Japanese convenience store recently opened at the National Building Museum.
- Konbini by Daikaya offers addictive Japanese chips and candies, matcha ice creams and heat-to-order Daikaya ramen.