Teaism Penn Quarter

They serve a tiny piece of salmon, raw broccoli, and cold sweet potato and rice in a bento box—for $17, before tax and tip. Not worth it. The matcha is only available sweetened, which defeats the point. Also, don’t expect gluten free options. Save your money and go somewhere that doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not.

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