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East Street Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Chinese Restaurants Korean Restaurants Vietnamese Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese [Edit]
Union Station50 Massachusetts Ave NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 371-6787
- Nearest Transit:
-
Union Station Metro Station (Red)
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
30 reviews for East Street Cafe
Review Highlights
"I decided on the drunken noodles (flat rice noodles topped..."
(in 5 reviews)
"They have a great pan-Asian menu."
(in 7 reviews)
"...large (many can be shared by two), and the food good."
(in 3 reviews)
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30 reviews in English
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Review from Vincent M.
Washington, DC
1/11/2012
really surprisingly good curry and the staff is always very pleasant.
You can always get a table and the service is quick -
Review from Abegail A.
Washington, DC
I should have known this place was going to be less than tasty when my "Thai iced tea" tasted like a semi-watered down chocolate milk. :'(
Came here for an early dinner one night (around 530pm), and we were seated right away. I decided on the drunken noodles (flat rice noodles topped with ground chicken, onions, bell peppers & basil in a sweet & spicy sauce-$10.25) and a Thai iced tea. The drunken noodles were more sweet than spicy (I'd prefer them more spicy than sweet) and didn't pack much flavor in them. I've only had drunken noodles with beef before, so having it with ground chicken was a first. The ground chicken wouldn't have been so bad if it was seasoned better. To wash down all this deliciousness (sike!), I had a Thai iced tea. This definitely has to be the worst Thai iced tea I've ever tasted. It's sad when what a restaurant calls Thai iced tea is a more like a watered downed chocolate milk. What a disappointment!
Maybe other items on their menu are better. But, I sure won't be back to find out if that statement holds true. -
Review from Stephanie K.
Washington, DC
12/22/2011
I've eaten here a few times and have picked up takeout on several occasions. While the restaurant is nothing special, it's a nice spot to have a sit down meal while killing time at Union Station. The food is tasty, the service is pleasant, and the prices are very reasonable.
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Review from Alannah A.
Arlington, VA
10/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is great. It's tucked away in the second level of Union Station. They have a great pan-Asian menu. Highly recommend it!
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Review from Lisa G.
Silver Spring, MD
7/14/2011
I recently had lunch with a friend at East Street Cafe because she works downtown and it gave me the rare opportunity to eat here again. I frequented this cafe years ago while on a contract in DC when it was in walking distance for lunch. I love that it is in Union Station and you get an ecclectic mix of people walking by. It has pretty nice view of the comings and goings since it is on the second floor in Union Station.
The food was as good as I remembered although I mainly do shrimp fried rice (no peas please!) and I also like the fried dumplings. One thing that I noticed is that they now serve baby sized shrimp in the rice...maybe the recession has impacted the size of the shrimp...not sure but thankfully it didn't alter the great flavor of the dish. One thing I noticed when moving from Jersey many years ago is that many places that serve fried rice in the DC area over cook it until it is mushy so when I find a place that can do fried rice right I'm a fan.
I must put this place on my list to visit more frequently. Parking is pretty convenient in Union Station -
Review from shayne j.
New York, NY
6/14/2011
Best place to eat at DC's Union station.
Their Thai iced coffee, chicken satay and fried rice festival(and they are not fooling... it's more than enough to feed 2 adults) were all very good. -
Review from Miki H.
Washington, DC
2/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
This restaurant offers combination of Asian foods. Not just from East Asia but from Southeast Asia and even South Asia.
If you have some time to spare in Union Station and got hungry for something other than ordinary soups and sandwiches, this is the place.
This restaurant is located in the 2nd floor of Union Station. You need to take an escalator to go upstairs. It has a bit of "cafe" atomosphere because there is no wall around the restaurant. Most of the eating spaces are in open space. Sit by the railing and you can see how people are moving/waiting on the first floor. I enjoyed that.
I tried their vegetarian curry laksa (malaysian food), and it was great.
texture of noodle is good and the flavor of food was awesome.
Price was somewhere between $9 and $11. Very reasonable.
Service is not bad. Servers I have seen are not the friendliest people, but food is good enough for me to want to go back.
Comeback value: mid-high -
Review from Mattie C.
6/16/2011
This is probably my favorite place in Union Station to eat. The atmosphere is great, you are basically out in the open and get to peoplewatch/hear the sounds of the train station. It is on the second floor away from the huge crowds and very relaxing, especially compared to the hectic zoo that is the food court. The food is good too, and the prices are not terrible for a train station. If you have a wait before your train, this is the perfect place to go with a magazine and fill up and enjoy yourself. I have always had a pleasant time here.
-
Review from Erich N.
San Francisco, CA
6/29/2010
So you are at Union Station for some reason or another, and you want something non-processed/non-fried? Maybe even somewhat tasty? I recommend East St. Cafe.
First and foremost, it is on the upper level, elevated two levels up above the burgeoning hordes of the food court. I really like this. Sitting at a small table overlooking the foyer is actually fun in and of itself.
Of course we have food, and by "East St.", they mean EAST! The menu is all over East Asia, and pretty solid. My beef was well marinated and tender, my veggies not overcooked into mush. Keeping in mind I'm at a train depot, I'm happy with the fare overall.
At approx. $11/person, it is right in line with most of the other venues, but without all the B.S.
I'll be back. -
Review from Tom D.
Washington, DC
3/22/2008
3.5 stars
Their sweet and sour noodle soup is unique -- and delicious.
E St Cafe is located on the second floor of Union Station, so while it does get a lunch crowd during the week, it is usually a nice, quiet spot to enjoy lunch on the weekends.
Will return.Listed in: Favorite Asian Food
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Review from Larry G.
Capitol Heights, MD
9/2/2008
Friends of mine recommended this place for lunch since it was nearby. Actually, I lost the vote for the place I wanted to go. But whatever.
Hmm, not a bad place...except for the dark atmosphere in the top tier of Union Station.
First of all, whooo, expensive! Well, compared to other places. I could have just gotten a meal at the Rice Bowl in the food court down in the basement for half the price.
Had the Hot & Sour Soup...it was just ok. Had General Tso's Chicken. I liked the fact that East St. Cafe was attentive to portion servings. However, I've had better General Tso's elsewhere, like at Yum's.
Service was ok. We had a good waiter, an older gentleman. But then this young gal (I assume was the manager or whatever) butted in repeatedly and was obnoxious. The waiter was fine on his own.
I'm not sure if I'll go back. Maybe if a friend picked this place, I might go. *shrug* -
Review from Laura V.
Alexandria, VA
7/18/2007
Ok, because there is a total lack of lunch choices around my office, I find myself at Union Station fairly often. I also find myself at East St. Cafe about once a month.
This is a good place to get a quick lunch. The food is really tasty and served up hot and fast. I like the Drunken Noodle, the Tom Yum Noodle Soup and the Pad Thai. But I always find myself having food envy when I see other people's plates come out.
The only real problem with this place is the service. It's just so so. The busier it gets, the less attentive they are. I regularly find myself waiting 10 minute or more to get my check. Since there's always a line to be seated, I can't figure out why they just sort of give up on you when you finish instead of getting you the heck out of there.
But, overall, this is a solid choice for lunch. Good quality food. -
Review from Nicole G.
Alexandria, VA
4/13/2011 1 photo
Nothing to recommend about this place aside from convenience. Food was fine but that's it.
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Review from Roger F.
Washington, DC
1/12/2009
Short of going to that circular cafe in the middle of the Grand Hall, there's no better place to enjoy the grandeur of Union Station than sitting at East Street Cafe and partaking of their Asian fusion cuisine.
One of the previous reviewers mentioned that this place was expensive, but honestly, it's only like $3 or $4 more than any of the food court places, but an exponentially better experience (unless your idea of a great experience is sitting downstairs in that dingy, dirty food court being hassled by homeless people every 15 seconds).
East Street's food was also pretty good (I won't say excellent, but certainly above what I expected going in), and the service was attentive and professional. Overall, this is probably my favorite sit-down restaurant in Union Station (though Union Station is not the first place I'd go for restaurants... probably not even the 100th place I'd go). -
Review from Brandon B.
Washington, DC
4/10/2009
I normally don't dig a place with no real direction. This place kinda covers the entire gambit of Asian cuisines and throw them on their menu so as to satisfy even the most generic American.
I don't know if it was the 3 miles I did on the treadmill this morning or what, but my drunken noodles were pretty damn good. I ate the entire plate. The onions and bell peppers were crisp and the chicken seasoned very well.
The cafe is located on the mezzanine level of Union Station, so you get to take in all your surroundings (with some tacky Christmas lights dangling over your head).
All in all, definitely a place I would eat at more in Union Station. I mean, the choices aren't very good in there to begin with. Uno - boo, Corner Bakery - methinks not, East Street Cafe - I can roll with it. -
Review from Michael C.
Henderson, NV
1/8/2011
Had a fish cake soup here with noodles, and saying it was underwhelming would be generous. Very bland, no texture - the shrimp, noodles, and fish cake all ran into each other. Thai iced tea, as I understand, should not look like iced cappuccino, and taste like spiced chocolate milk.
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Review from Alisha C.
Arlington, VA
4/11/2009
"Not the All Time Best Asian Food I've Ever Had But Good Enough For Me to Come Back"
In comparison to all the other restaurants located in Union Station this is definitely one of the better selections for good food. I work nearby and am always wanting to find good lunch places. So far this is the only one that I actually make a point to return to at least once a month. If you go in a group during lunch time get their slightly early or you will be waiting for a table!
My advice to new customers would be to select your dish wisely because I find the menu items to be Hit or Miss. I love their Curry Laksa Soup!! And its actually big enough for two meals so you get your money's worth! I've also heard good things about the Drunken Noodles dish. Would not recommend the Hot and Sour Soup--definitely lacking flavor. Overall, I think you can find a few good dishes at this spot. -
Review from Allyson W.
Mt Rainier, MD
11/2/2010
I had the mee goreng and it was watery and had little taste. I was expecting something savory and delicious like you get at Cafe Asia, but this was completely lack luster. Additionally the server ignored us for a long time, was not friendly when she did get to us and made us feel like she needed to quickly get our order and move on. Will likely not go back.
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Review from JW S.
Bowie, MD
5/8/2011
The food quality, taste & portion are always excellent. The owners, Jerry & Anita, are the best; they are like family to my wife & me.
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Review from Allison S.
Washington, DC
8/18/2010
I've been here 3 times now, each time the food was mediocre and the service was poor. I got the drunken noodles twice (greasy, ground chicken which is weird, otherwise fine) and once the beef on flat noodles (beef was low quality, sauce and noodles were fine.) The service here really sucks - even when they are not busy but especially at lunchtime. We went with a group today and the first person got food 15 minutes before the last one - if this is going to happen, they should have said something.
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Review from Colin S.
Smithfield, RI
12/8/2010 1 Check-in Here
This restaurant was surprisingly OK. Based on the fairly negative recent reviews, I was not expecting much but my party was looking for a sit down restaurant with some variety. The menu offers cuisine from across South Asia. Each dish we ordered was at least OK. My pork was solid. The service was OK and the prices were reasonable for Union Station. I would eat here again.
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Review from Reed G.
Great Falls, VA
12/19/2010 1 Check-in Here
Drunken noodles were not good. The dish was loaded with green peppers with runny meat sauce over wide rice noodles.
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Review from Geraldine G.
Washington D.C., DC
1/13/2011
I been to East St. Cafe three times, with 3 different group, we all got something diffence and cocktails. The food and cocktails were outstandling and the prices are good.
Geraldine G.
Washington, D.C., SE -
Review from Mel C.
Washington, DC
7/25/2011
I tried the pad thai here, was was hopeful it'd be tasty since the place was packed. But it was NOT GOOD. It was tasteless and the noodles were overcooked. (I would've forgiven the dry chicken and tiny shrimp if the noodles had any life in them, and if there was any flavor!) I only ate about 1/3 of my plate, even though I was pretty hungry. With all the other options in Union Station, I'm not likely to try this place again.
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Review from Jack F.
4/9/2009
Sigh. Yet another sub-par pan-Asian restaurant peddling food that range from the Philippines, Japan, Thailand, China, Sinapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Korea. The food is unremarkable but , at the very least, it's edibile. But it's not cheap either with entrees priced between $8.95 and $13.95. You're better served visiting the food court downstairs where it's less expensive and you don't need to tip anyone. [Original Visit: April 2008]
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Review from Nikki W.
Bailey's Crossroads, VA
1/22/2010
This place is horrible! This is the second time I have tried it as I work across the street from union station. The first time I had a horrible experience, but I thought I would try it again. I just went with my coworker and placed a takeout order. The girl finally took our order after we waited for several minutes. The food took over 25 minutes and when we asked the status the staff was very rude and just ignored us. Part of the order (our soups and springrolls) sat there for over 15 mintues getting cold while we waited for the fried rice. IF the food was extremely good, perhaps I would say it is worth the wait, but it isn't. The chicken they use in the soup is disgusting. Please learn from my experiences, the food is not very good, the wait is far too long, and the service is horrible!
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Review from Linda S.
Houston, TX
4/26/2008
I can't take credit for finding this place on my own. I was visiting a friend from D.C. (I'm from Houston) and this is one of the first places she took me. I've been back a few times and have not strayed from the first dish I tried. It's not that I'm not adventurous or anything.. it's just that when you find something this good, you don't want or need anything else. The dish is Beef Kway Teow (the menu says it's from Malaysia/ Singapore and describes the dish as flat, pillowy rice noodles, slightly charred from the wok, tossed with dark, spicy sauce & marinated beef). Doesn't sound earth-shattering but it rings this noodle lover's bells. The portions are generous and you COULD share it with a friend but you won't want to so I suggest you order your own.
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Review from H B.
Camp Hill, PA
6/7/2009 1 photo
Great food! Always a must hit when I'm in DC!
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Review from Michelle V.
San Jose, CA
4/22/2009
BLEH. I didn't really care for this place at all. A bunch of friends and I only tried this since our tour guide raved about it, and we haven't had Thai food in a while. Pad Thai was nasty. It wasn't orange! That was a big red flag of no flavor. The shrimp included in it was really small. Smaller than cocktail shrimp. Definitely not the huge prawns used back home. My Thai tea tasted more like a milk tea, which was alright, but not what i ordered. Service was horrible, even if there were only probably 5 tables being waited. HORRIBLE. 2 stars because my friend's yellow curry was okay. I guess it's my fault for expecting good Asian food with no Asians in the kitchen.
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Review from Sean C.
Washington, DC
12/12/2009
I've been going here off and on for years. The staff is always friendly, portions large (many can be shared by two), and the food good. It can fill up during the noon hour, so try to get there a little early or late for lunch.
I would give it four stars except for one thing. About a year ago they began adding an 18% gratuity automatically to every check, no matter how many were in the party. I saw no notice of this except on the check itself after looking carefully. I almost added another 20% to the check. They should be more up-front about this policy. Look at your check carefully!
It is a stupid policy, in my view. It annoys me so that I don't return as often. And they end up getting a smaller gratuity than I would give otherwise, as the service is good. I can see a mandatory gratuity for large groups, but one person? Come on.
