Ka'nin

We visited this place with our family. Probably one of the best Chinese Sichuan food places in the dmv area - delicious food, excellent service, nice atmosphere and great value for money. We ordered a bunch of dishes and all were very good - The Woodear Mushrooms, Tofu and Fish, Fried eggplant, and Dry Pot Fried Shrimps. Will visit again!

The food was really good and properly prepared! (Proper Chinese flavors, good use of ingredients, etc.) We ordered 10-12 small plates and a half Peking duck, and everything came out quickly. One small note: if you order gift cards and get credit vouchers ahead of time, there's a chance the scanner won't take the credit vouchers. We didn't have any problem using the gift card though.

This is the first time I have had Chinese food is years. This is due to living in an area that mostly caters to Japanese clientele. However, if I lived in the area… I would definitely have a weekly craving for this restaurants Chinese noodles! Not only that but the staff was very attentive. If I had to complain about anything it would be the bathrooms trash can situation… ya it’s a mess but other than that the place was fantastic. I would highly recommend this location.

Small restaurant with big flavor bites. Was headed here and got more excited when I saw it was Peter Chang's related. Came here for some quick drinks and apps. Tapa style portions were still filling, soup dumplings were perfect, and they had a solid selection of cocktail and mocktails. There was a nearby parking garage that was free due to after business hours.

Dinner: Ended up at this place a second time during a trip. Lunch was very good. Dinner was great. Tried a wider variety of dishes. Kung pao chicken, scallion bubble pancake, three pepper beef, soup dumplings. Everything was delicious again. I am not sure where people are getting poor service as they were very attentive during lunch and dinner. Unlike other places in the area great value for the price and not too loud. Lunch review:Casual and friendly atmosphere with amazing food. We had the Bento box and lo mein. Scrumptious. Explosion of flavor. Sweet person as our server.

This is Chang Chang for people who can’t get into DC and that’s not a bad thing. The food flavors are all there in each dish. It’s almost good enough to make me start calling Crystal City “National Landing.” NiHao, new lunch spot.

This is another Peter Chang location - so if you are familiar with the DC dining scene, you can already guess: this place is fantastic. The decor makes it look a little fast casual, but the food is phenomenal. Possible the best mala (numbing spice) I have ever had. Memorable, and incredible- spice fried fish, spicy wontons, scallion pancake, shrimp dumplings, soup. Also good - BBQ Buns, soup dumplings

I went there to try their AYCE dim sum, and it turned out really good. I'll definitely go back for their Peking duck. Gratuity included even for a party of 2 people.

The restaurant was busy but we were served in a reasonable time. We loved fish tofu, the braised pork belly, stone hot pot rice and shredded beef with peppers. All the dishes were delicious. The atmosphere was nice. The service was excellent.

After an extensive day at the car dealership, my companions and I found ourselves in search of a quick yet satisfying dining experience. We chose NiHao Arlington, a restaurant recommended by a friend who had previously dined there. Although we did not have a reservation—a decision that could have proven risky given the restaurant's popularity—we were fortunate to be seated within a mere 10-15 minutes. Upon settling in, we opted for a selection of dishes that truly showcased the culinary excellence of NiHao. Our meal commenced with four refreshing beers, which perfectly complemented the flavors of our appetizers: the dry-fried green peas and the dry-fried fish. We then indulged in the mayo tofu, salt and pepper shrimp, and Sichuan beef with green onions, each dish remarkable in its presentation and taste. The Shanghai scallion bubble pancakes were a delightful addition, followed by a hearty beef stew that exemplified comfort food at its finest. To round out our feast, we savored the chili dumplings, which were bursting with flavor. The food was nothing short of exceptional, and the staff exhibited a commendable level of friendliness and efficiency throughout our visit. NiHao Arlington is an ideal venue for group gatherings, yet also offers a welcoming atmosphere for solo diners at the bar. For those visiting, I highly recommend pairing the salt and pepper shrimp with a refreshing cocktail for an unforgettable dining experience. Overall, NiHao Arlington is a culinary gem that promises both quality and satisfaction.

First time trying this place! Fantastic Culinary Experience! From the moment we sat down, the service at this restaurant stood out — attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely caring. Our server not only took the time to explain the menu, but also gave us a perfect drink recommendation — a beautifully crafted cocktail with rosemary that was both aromatic and balanced. The dishes arrived beautifully presented and full of color, texture, and authentic flavor. The bone broth soup was soul-warming, rich, and delicately seasoned with goji berries. Each shared plate, from the tender stir-fried beef with green peppers to the cold sliced pig ear appetizer, was expertly made and full of bold, exciting flavors. The dumplings were juicy and satisfying, and the chili oil brought just the right amount of heat. Everything came together so well — great food, great drink, and even better service. This place nails both the traditional and the elevated dining experience. Highly recommend and can’t wait to return!

Stopped in at about 5 pm on a Wednesday evening with a party of 3. It was packed but we were seated with no issues. The food was amazing! Some of the standouts were the eggplant/string beans and the dried fried fish! Cannot wait to go back!

Have been here only once, but this place is good. They serve Tapas style Chinese menu, which is perfectly fine for lunch or light dinner. Atmosphere is lively and the staff is young and professional.

A few of us Foodies came in for lunch one day… two things that made us really want to try this place were: 1. We knew it was a Peter Chang joint 2. They offered “Szechuan tapas” Love the idea of sharing a bunch of small plates!!! But the “small plates” here weren’t so small! Many were piled full of food, yet the prices were very reasonable, like a typical tapas joint! We ordered many different items and enjoyed them all! Here’s what we tried: • “Husband and Wife” Tendon and Tripe Slices • Garlic Cucumber Salad • Scallion Bubble Pancake • Pig’s Ear Slices in Chili Oil • Shanghai Soup Dumplings • Dry-Fried Green Beans • Sichuan-Style Beef with Onions • Shredded Beef with Green Peppers • Dry-Fried Fish • Spicy Garlic Eggplant • Stir Fried Beef Chow Fun Lots of items for only 3 people! And the size of these dishes were definitely slightly bigger than what you’d expect from normal small plates – But we had plenty to take home afterwards! Some favs of ours were the Scallion Bubble Pancake which came with a really nice dipping sauce. The Dry-Fried Green Beans were good, but lacking in heat to go with the flavor. Stir Fried Beef Chow Fun was really good, definitely filling and flavorful! All of us agreed the spiciest and most flavorful was the Dry-Fried Fish – it was EXCELLENT!! It’s actually what I love when I go to Mama Changs and Peter Changs too… very similar in taste to the other locations! The beef dishes we tried (Shredded Beef with Green Peppers and Sichuan-Style Beef with Onions) were bland – Not very spicy at all. Kinda disappointing to be honest. Overall… we really did enjoy this visit! The service was great! The food was tasty (even the bland stuff, which was blander on the elevated scale of the amazing Dry-Fried Fish). The venue is great too. We got there early at lunch and were the first of the day, but within 30 minutes, the place was packed! So, get there early or make reservations – It’s definitely worth visiting!!

Great experience, great service, great food, and good portions for the price. The rice and noodle dishes are quite sizeable if you want something a little bigger than the sharing plate. Everything had big flavours and it all felt fresh. Easy to recommend people dine here!

NiHao Arlington provides authentic Chinese food, great service and welcoming atmosphere. We walked in around Saturday noon and were seated immediately. Their chairs were comfortable. I like that most dishes on the menu are small plates. You can order 2-3 dishes per person and are able to try more items than you would normally have at a Chinese restaurant. The only downside is that the price could add up quickly.

Having lived in the area for a few years I am always willing to stop by to try out new restaurants. I stopped by for lunch on my own and enjoyed the food so much that I convinced friends to try out more of the menu a few weeks later. The entrance is a small area that opens up to a larger restaurant area. I was surprised for lunch that there were so many empty tables but it allowed us to be seated right away. It took us a little while but we did order several items to share including soup dumplings, a scallion pancake, pork belly, and others. This was my first time trying soup dumplings and they were absolutely delicious. I will definitely be going back again another day!

NiHao is one of my absolute favorites. The food is consistent and always delicious. The atmosphere is moody and elevated and staff is great! Some of our go to items are the lychee mocktail, udon noodles, string beans and soup dumplings! My friend and I always think we’ll try a new place but always end up craving their food. Perfect for a catch up, date or group. Love it!

Trang Huynh

The restaurant was busy but we were served in a reasonable time. We loved fish tofu, the braised pork belly, stone hot pot rice and shredded beef with peppers. All the dishes were delicious. The atmosphere was nice. The service was excellent.

Mr. Tre

After an extensive day at the car dealership, my companions and I found ourselves in search of a quick yet satisfying dining experience. We chose NiHao Arlington, a restaurant recommended by a friend who had previously dined there. Although we did not have a reservation—a decision that could have proven risky given the restaurant's popularity—we were fortunate to be seated within a mere 10-15 minutes. Upon settling in, we opted for a selection of dishes that truly showcased the culinary excellence of NiHao. Our meal commenced with four refreshing beers, which perfectly complemented the flavors of our appetizers: the dry-fried green peas and the dry-fried fish. We then indulged in the mayo tofu, salt and pepper shrimp, and Sichuan beef with green onions, each dish remarkable in its presentation and taste. The Shanghai scallion bubble pancakes were a delightful addition, followed by a hearty beef stew that exemplified comfort food at its finest. To round out our feast, we savored the chili dumplings, which were bursting with flavor. The food was nothing short of exceptional, and the staff exhibited a commendable level of friendliness and efficiency throughout our visit. NiHao Arlington is an ideal venue for group gatherings, yet also offers a welcoming atmosphere for solo diners at the bar. For those visiting, I highly recommend pairing the salt and pepper shrimp with a refreshing cocktail for an unforgettable dining experience. Overall, NiHao Arlington is a culinary gem that promises both quality and satisfaction.

Dish, Don't Kill My Vibe

This is Chang Chang for people who can’t get into DC and that’s not a bad thing. The food flavors are all there in each dish. It’s almost good enough to make me start calling Crystal City “National Landing.” NiHao, new lunch spot.

Liam Randall

This is another Peter Chang location - so if you are familiar with the DC dining scene, you can already guess: this place is fantastic. The decor makes it look a little fast casual, but the food is phenomenal. Possible the best mala (numbing spice) I have ever had. Memorable, and incredible- spice fried fish, spicy wontons, scallion pancake, shrimp dumplings, soup. Also good - BBQ Buns, soup dumplings

BB Hamer

I went there to try their AYCE dim sum, and it turned out really good. I'll definitely go back for their Peking duck. Gratuity included even for a party of 2 people.

Ayana Clark

Stopped in at about 5 pm on a Wednesday evening with a party of 3. It was packed but we were seated with no issues. The food was amazing! Some of the standouts were the eggplant/string beans and the dried fried fish! Cannot wait to go back!

Tommy Tang

First time trying this place! Fantastic Culinary Experience! From the moment we sat down, the service at this restaurant stood out — attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely caring. Our server not only took the time to explain the menu, but also gave us a perfect drink recommendation — a beautifully crafted cocktail with rosemary that was both aromatic and balanced. The dishes arrived beautifully presented and full of color, texture, and authentic flavor. The bone broth soup was soul-warming, rich, and delicately seasoned with goji berries. Each shared plate, from the tender stir-fried beef with green peppers to the cold sliced pig ear appetizer, was expertly made and full of bold, exciting flavors. The dumplings were juicy and satisfying, and the chili oil brought just the right amount of heat. Everything came together so well — great food, great drink, and even better service. This place nails both the traditional and the elevated dining experience. Highly recommend and can’t wait to return!

Tejas Dakve

Have been here only once, but this place is good. They serve Tapas style Chinese menu, which is perfectly fine for lunch or light dinner. Atmosphere is lively and the staff is young and professional.

Bridget Nistico

NiHao is one of my absolute favorites. The food is consistent and always delicious. The atmosphere is moody and elevated and staff is great! Some of our go to items are the lychee mocktail, udon noodles, string beans and soup dumplings! My friend and I always think we’ll try a new place but always end up craving their food. Perfect for a catch up, date or group. Love it!

F'burg Foodie

A few of us Foodies came in for lunch one day… two things that made us really want to try this place were: 1. We knew it was a Peter Chang joint 2. They offered “Szechuan tapas” Love the idea of sharing a bunch of small plates!!! But the “small plates” here weren’t so small! Many were piled full of food, yet the prices were very reasonable, like a typical tapas joint! We ordered many different items and enjoyed them all! Here’s what we tried: • “Husband and Wife” Tendon and Tripe Slices • Garlic Cucumber Salad • Scallion Bubble Pancake • Pig’s Ear Slices in Chili Oil • Shanghai Soup Dumplings • Dry-Fried Green Beans • Sichuan-Style Beef with Onions • Shredded Beef with Green Peppers • Dry-Fried Fish • Spicy Garlic Eggplant • Stir Fried Beef Chow Fun Lots of items for only 3 people! And the size of these dishes were definitely slightly bigger than what you’d expect from normal small plates – But we had plenty to take home afterwards! Some favs of ours were the Scallion Bubble Pancake which came with a really nice dipping sauce. The Dry-Fried Green Beans were good, but lacking in heat to go with the flavor. Stir Fried Beef Chow Fun was really good, definitely filling and flavorful! All of us agreed the spiciest and most flavorful was the Dry-Fried Fish – it was EXCELLENT!! It’s actually what I love when I go to Mama Changs and Peter Changs too… very similar in taste to the other locations! The beef dishes we tried (Shredded Beef with Green Peppers and Sichuan-Style Beef with Onions) were bland – Not very spicy at all. Kinda disappointing to be honest. Overall… we really did enjoy this visit! The service was great! The food was tasty (even the bland stuff, which was blander on the elevated scale of the amazing Dry-Fried Fish). The venue is great too. We got there early at lunch and were the first of the day, but within 30 minutes, the place was packed! So, get there early or make reservations – It’s definitely worth visiting!!

Ryan Lawler

Great experience, great service, great food, and good portions for the price. The rice and noodle dishes are quite sizeable if you want something a little bigger than the sharing plate. Everything had big flavours and it all felt fresh. Easy to recommend people dine here!

Bo

NiHao Arlington provides authentic Chinese food, great service and welcoming atmosphere. We walked in around Saturday noon and were seated immediately. Their chairs were comfortable. I like that most dishes on the menu are small plates. You can order 2-3 dishes per person and are able to try more items than you would normally have at a Chinese restaurant. The only downside is that the price could add up quickly.

We had been curious about the restaurant since we found a new sign outside before they opened, and finally we dived in. They have various tapas inspired Chinese dishes on the menu. We were not sure how small they were so ordered 3 plates in the beginning. The Dan Dan noodle was a little hot but tasty. The steamed rice wrapped with lotus leaf was good and smelt good. Probably some people might care about the smell if they have never tried this dish. The beef with green onion was the best of the three and really tasty. We should have ordered white rice together as that would go well with the beef. After we finished eating them, we noticed we could eat more, so we ordered 2 more, the lo mein and the balloon pancake. When we saw them coming, we were slightly shocked by the size because we believe they were as small as the previous 3 dishes we ordered. Well, it was our fault, but we did not really regret it. The balloon cake looked big but actually there was nothing inside so we easily finished eating it, but the curry flavored dipping sauce was not our taste. We thought we could not finish the lo mein, but it was tasty so in the end we ate all of it. Overall, their food is really good. The best Chinese restaurant around the Crystal City and Pentagon area. Probably you will enjoy whatever you order. From the outside the restaurant looks small but actually they have many tables inside and there was a large party room in the corner, so it is good for solo, couples and families, but if you eat in a big group, you might need a reservation beforehand not to be disappointed. The employees are friendly, and answer any questions about the food or the portion. We went there at a weird time (not lunch not dinner time), but they served us fast, but all the food was fresh and hot which is a very good sign as some other restaurants start getting their B-team in at that time.

+3

Food was good including portion sizes, price and flavour. They had a number of options for dietary requirements. Gluten free folks note they use a non GF soy sauce in the majority of their dishes but it’s called out on the menu making it easy to order low gluten vs gluten free. The one downside is that we came for happy hour and were told after being seated that happy hour was only for the bar area. The bar area only has about 5 chairs and no other high tops. It wasn’t a very inviting space and we felt a bit mislead.

Huge servings and tasty enough, though definitely westernized. A bit overpriced for what you get, and nothing really stands out.

This place was really good. I absolutely loved the braised pork belly and the shrimp dumplings! Those dumplings were so plump and juicy. The vegetable rolls were very good too but kind small. I wasn't too crazy about the rice though. It had a taste I wasn't accustomed to but that is likely just my personal preference so I'm not dinging them for that. Regardless, the whole meal was delicious. I was looking at other tables and folks ordered some pretty interesting things that I definitely want to try next time. So this place is a tapas style restaurant so the portions are smaller for many items. The pork belly actually was a really nice big serving so I guess not everything is tapas small. I ate alone and sat at the bar which is pretty nice because you can stare out to the street and the park across the way. The only major improvement I suggest is make the chair taller. I felt like a hobbit sitting so low to the bar and I'm 6 ft tall! Other than that, all was great including the drinks and service.

NiHao offers an authentic culinary experience while still appealing broadly to non-Chinese diners as I observed, which a lot of restaurants struggle to achieve. With mosaic tiles, the space is stylish, with thoughtful details that set a relaxed yet refined tone. The menu leans into a small-plate format reminiscent of Chinese xiaochi (小吃), which makes it easy to try a wide variety of dishes. The stir-fried pork with green peppers was a bit on the salty and sweet side—noticeably so for someone from Hunan, where the dish originates. In contrast, the stir-fried celery with egg and tofu was perfectly balanced, with the richness of the egg and tofu beautifully offset by the fragrance and crunch of the celery. The stone-pot rice with shrimp and the mapo tofu were solid and satisfying—flavors were bold, and we polished them off quickly. The salt and pepper shrimp-fish-scallop trio was fresh and lightly crisped, though not particularly memorable flavor-wise. The sesame noodles skewed too sweet for our taste, but the texture was spot-on. We finished the meal with a matcha cake that was light, mildly sweet, and pleasant—though it wasn’t clear if it was house-made. Overall, NiHao delivers quality Chinese fare with a modern twist in a setting that feels both welcoming and elevated. A great spot for sharing plates and trying something new.

Great experience overall. The dry fried string beans was the best dish we tried, but a bit on the salty side. It was the first time we tried Dan Dan noodles, it was just ok although I don’t have much to compare to. From the bento box sampler, the garlic cucumber salad was refreshing. The “ha-gau” shrimp dumpling was great, they should have an a la cart option for that. I loved all the different sauces each side dumpling came with to try. The steamed pork bun was also pretty tasty. The shrimp and snow peas stir fry was good too, everything tasted fresh and veggies were crispy. All there deep fried battered dishes looked tasty too.

Marcos Bolaños (The Flavor Analyst)

This place was really good. I absolutely loved the braised pork belly and the shrimp dumplings! Those dumplings were so plump and juicy. The vegetable rolls were very good too but kind small. I wasn't too crazy about the rice though. It had a taste I wasn't accustomed to but that is likely just my personal preference so I'm not dinging them for that. Regardless, the whole meal was delicious. I was looking at other tables and folks ordered some pretty interesting things that I definitely want to try next time. So this place is a tapas style restaurant so the portions are smaller for many items. The pork belly actually was a really nice big serving so I guess not everything is tapas small. I ate alone and sat at the bar which is pretty nice because you can stare out to the street and the park across the way. The only major improvement I suggest is make the chair taller. I felt like a hobbit sitting so low to the bar and I'm 6 ft tall! Other than that, all was great including the drinks and service.

Salikea Thompson

Great experience overall. The dry fried string beans was the best dish we tried, but a bit on the salty side. It was the first time we tried Dan Dan noodles, it was just ok although I don’t have much to compare to. From the bento box sampler, the garlic cucumber salad was refreshing. The “ha-gau” shrimp dumpling was great, they should have an a la cart option for that. I loved all the different sauces each side dumpling came with to try. The steamed pork bun was also pretty tasty. The shrimp and snow peas stir fry was good too, everything tasted fresh and veggies were crispy. All there deep fried battered dishes looked tasty too.

Yunong Shi

NiHao offers an authentic culinary experience while still appealing broadly to non-Chinese diners as I observed, which a lot of restaurants struggle to achieve. With mosaic tiles, the space is stylish, with thoughtful details that set a relaxed yet refined tone. The menu leans into a small-plate format reminiscent of Chinese xiaochi (小吃), which makes it easy to try a wide variety of dishes. The stir-fried pork with green peppers was a bit on the salty and sweet side—noticeably so for someone from Hunan, where the dish originates. In contrast, the stir-fried celery with egg and tofu was perfectly balanced, with the richness of the egg and tofu beautifully offset by the fragrance and crunch of the celery. The stone-pot rice with shrimp and the mapo tofu were solid and satisfying—flavors were bold, and we polished them off quickly. The salt and pepper shrimp-fish-scallop trio was fresh and lightly crisped, though not particularly memorable flavor-wise. The sesame noodles skewed too sweet for our taste, but the texture was spot-on. We finished the meal with a matcha cake that was light, mildly sweet, and pleasant—though it wasn’t clear if it was house-made. Overall, NiHao delivers quality Chinese fare with a modern twist in a setting that feels both welcoming and elevated. A great spot for sharing plates and trying something new.

This is a decent Chinese food tapas place. The portions are generous and the menu selection is varied. I've eaten here a few times when I am in the office. They do a proper spice level on the Kung pao chicken. I also really enjoy the pork buns. The yuzu soda is delicious as well.

Laurie Zabala

This is a decent Chinese food tapas place. The portions are generous and the menu selection is varied. I've eaten here a few times when I am in the office. They do a proper spice level on the Kung pao chicken. I also really enjoy the pork buns. The yuzu soda is delicious as well.

Took my fiance for birthday dinner on a quiet Monday night and when I asked if we could have a candle in the cake we ordered for dessert was told "we don't do birthdays". Wish I had known this before I booked. Waiter was very nice about it and said he would ask if he could get a candle but wasn't able to. Have been in several times and thought it would be a fun spot to take my partner for a birthday, so pretty disappointed. Would not consider again for future festive occasions.

I wanted to give the food 5 stars. I love the tapas concept and the portions and price were reasonable. But the wood ear mushroom salad I had and the glutinous rice wrapped in lotus leaf were VERY heavy-handed on MSG and salt. I thought it was just salty at first but they both had that very lingering taste that could just be a flavor enhancer like MSG. I wish I could have finished them because I loved them otherwise but they were too salty/MSG. :-( Sad because I would have loved to return more often after this first time. The dan dan noodles were alright.

+1

This restaurant is definitely overrated at an average of 4.5 stars. The food quality was acceptable, but not authentic Chinese cuisine at all. We ordered three dishes, which were either over sweetened or cooked in ways that used their own imagination of what Chinese food looks like. Not recommended for people who are looking for authentic Chinese food.

Spectacular food. Good service, generally, but can be a little bit inconsistent. Lighting is about 2x too bright. Really does affect the atmosphere...such an easy fix, really surprised they wouldn't know that and address it.

I’ve been a fan of Chef Peter Chang for over a decade and was eager to try his new Chinese small plates concept. Unfortunately, this restaurant did not live up to my expectations for authentic Chinese cuisine. The ambiance was confusing and poorly executed. The decor felt more like a Mexican restaurant than a Chinese one, with colorful tiles, hard surfaces, and inexpensive-looking furniture creating a noisy and uncomfortable environment. The attempt to merge a sit-down dining experience with a trendy fast-casual vibe lacked cohesion, making it unclear what the restaurant was trying to be. Service, while attentive, was overly complicated, with too many servers handling our table, which made the experience feel chaotic rather than polished. The idea of a tapas-style Chinese menu is appealing, especially in National Landing, where upscale dining options are plentiful. It’s a creative way to introduce diners to Chinese cuisine by offering smaller portions of several dishes. However, the execution was disappointing. I noticed multiple tables around me not finishing their small plates of food and not taking leftovers home, which was a clear indicator that the food wasn’t resonating with diners. As for the food, it was either overwhelmingly salty or lacked flavor altogether. I ordered the Three Pepper Beef, Chongqing Chicken, and Mapo Tofu—staples of Sichuan cuisine—but none were prepared well. The Three Pepper Beef was so salty that it had to be sent back to be remade. The Chongqing Chicken and Mapo Tofu lacked the bold, vibrant flavors that make these dishes memorable, as they were just plain salty; So salty that my tongue went numb from the salt. The smaller portions fit the tapas theme, but they didn’t compensate for the lack of quality—it just felt like less food to have to waste. Overall, the restaurant struggles to deliver an authentic and enjoyable Chinese dining experience. While the concept has potential, the lack of attention to detail, muddled atmosphere, and uninspiring dishes make it hard to recommend. For those seeking genuine Chinese flavors, this isn’t the place to find them. I would recommend Chef Peter Chang's other concept, Mama Chang, in Fairfax for a more authentic Chinese experience.

Foods were yummy, but customer service was terrible. I have been here twice and I could say I love their food. Unfortunately, both times, the servers were rude and not attentive. Recommend order To-go.

Several people had told this place was really good. I stopped in finally to try for myself. I was honestly not impressed. I ordered two appetizers and one entree with rice, it’s an extra. And hot tea. So the rolls come out. Then the main dish comes out. The plate is small for the dish. No spoon to scoop it out. Then I ask about my dumplings, I pretty much thought they lost! Finally they come out. The pepper in the entree was all broken up in the dish. Plate full of oil as well. I honestly don’t recommend the place. For as long as they have been open they should have the logistics figured out by now!

Steve Perry

Several people had told this place was really good. I stopped in finally to try for myself. I was honestly not impressed. I ordered two appetizers and one entree with rice, it’s an extra. And hot tea. So the rolls come out. Then the main dish comes out. The plate is small for the dish. No spoon to scoop it out. Then I ask about my dumplings, I pretty much thought they lost! Finally they come out. The pepper in the entree was all broken up in the dish. Plate full of oil as well. I honestly don’t recommend the place. For as long as they have been open they should have the logistics figured out by now!

I made a reservation for four people and asked for a larger table, but the server did not offer one. The server for my table was always talking with other staff, and the response was very slow. Once we asked for something, we had to wait a long time. We ordered some beer, which was not remarkable; we asked for spoons, and it took a very long time to get one, and so forth. I always liked this place because of the food, but the level of service is always disappointing. If somebody wants to stop by, pick up the food instead of dining in. This was by far the worst dining experience here.

I’ve had so many people rave about NiHao and finally decided to try it since it was close by. I think the interior is beautiful and the staff is kind and welcoming. My friend and I came with a list of things we wanted to try and ordered; some of these things were great! BUT some of these things were not … (The Nots are at the bottom). I would recommend getting the garlic cucumber salad! This is a MUST especially when eating so many fried foods it cuts the greasiness. The Dan Dan noodles, Pork Buns, Red Braised Pork Belly, Walnut Shrimp *Green Beans, and *Fried Eggplant were all good dishes! *The only thing about the veggie dishes that i didn’t like was the saltiness. The Cumin Lamb, Guangong beef, and Chongquin chicken were SO SALTY; so much so that we even asked our server about it and she apologized! (we weren’t going to send back our food - just genuinely curious if it was because we had gone close to closing, or if it was due to the mala pepper - it was neither, instead it just depended on the chef who was cooking it). Honestly, we should have gotten it remade especially for the amount of food we got. Skip out on the Fried Fish and Chongquing Chicken it’s just batter! This too was also salty. Overall, based on the first experience i’m hesitant to come back. Half of the food was OVER SALTED, and straight batter. The price point for the dishes i would say are fair since they are tapa style, but the mains i.e Meats & Fishes missed the mark thus the price did not match the taste in this case.

+6

Peking duck was dry and terrible. Not what I expected. The sweet and sour Benzino was good. Service was none existent. I have to raise my hand and ask for the waitress a few times. It wasn’t busy either. She was just sitting in the front the whole time

Mon Nguyen

Peking duck was dry and terrible. Not what I expected. The sweet and sour Benzino was good. Service was none existent. I have to raise my hand and ask for the waitress a few times. It wasn’t busy either. She was just sitting in the front the whole time

I do not recommend! I have ordered delivery several times since they opened and after a couple orders I noticed the quality changed. I gave them a couple more chances. Tonight's food was the last I will ever have from them! Quantity has drastically changed - much smaller and a lot less beef than any other time -- also quality of the meet is worse than when they opened (use to give nice sliced pieces of tender beef, now it is small chopped pieces - like one fajita strip cut in thirds) and is another trend I noticed previous times. There was no sauce, just a pool of oil. It was not flavorful at all.....just oily mix of onions and smal slivers of beef. Finally, a whole onion was used (to make up for little beef)....as the old commercial said "where's the beef?" I noticed the same trends the past one or two times I ordered but this was absolutely the worst of them all. This is overpriced food. Quality drastically changed for the worse. Quantity definitely smaller (I have pictures of larger round containers they use to use and tonight's small one....big difference). Food lacks flavor and love. Big disappointment and waste of money. Expect this place to close down soon.

Overrated. Ordered sweet and sour chicken, more than half the plate was fried breading without chicken, I cut into the breading pieces to make sure. Our server took our order and we didn’t see him until we were almost done eating, at that time we reminded him we never received our drinks. After delivering our drinks we didn’t see our server again for a long period of time. We had to stop the food expo employee and ask him to find our server so that we could pay our bill.

Ordered the Mongolian beef and it was not good at all. It was rubbery, salty, and did not taste like Mongolian at all. I couldn’t even bring myself to finish the meal. In addition, the portion was very small for the price I paid.

I went to pick up my mooncake order on Saturday at Nihao Arlington and immediately noticed that one of the boxes was labeled “lotus seed paste and egg yolk,” instead of the purple yam and egg yolk that I ordered (and yes, I can read and speak Chinese). When I pointed it out, the manager confidently reassured me that the sticker was just a “universal label,” and that what’s inside was definitely purple yam. Well, guess what — when I got home and cut the mooncakes open, every single one was lotus seed paste with egg yolk. Admitting a mistake is not that hard. You could have simply told me, “We’re out of purple yam, only lotus seed paste is available.” Instead, you chose to make something up and lie to my face. As a paying customer, I expect honesty and to receive exactly what I paid for. I would have been understanding if you had told me the truth — but being lied to is completely unacceptable.

t was my third time dining here, and I have noticed a common theme, bad and inconsistent service. I have tried their three pepper beef, stone pot tofu fish, guandong beef, deep fried eggplant and cabbage with black bean sauce. Their food is great in terms of richness in flavors, seasoning and spiciness if you’re into spicy dishes. Their drinks are unique and delish even though it takes a while to get be served if you’re ordering a cocktail. Very understandable given how busy they can get. However, as somebody who has worked in the restaurant industry before, their service needs so much improvement. I had to flag down the waitress to check on my order, just to be told that our ticket got lost. Also, they gave us a wrong order, and we had to ask the server if that was meant to be for us, which obviously was not. And the tables who got sat down later than us got their orders first while we constantly had to ask our server to check on the status of our dishes. The cherry on top was that we did not get our rice until we asked for them after eating more than half of the dishes already. It would be great if their staff prioritized their customers than chatting with each other.

Celine Park

t was my third time dining here, and I have noticed a common theme, bad and inconsistent service. I have tried their three pepper beef, stone pot tofu fish, guandong beef, deep fried eggplant and cabbage with black bean sauce. Their food is great in terms of richness in flavors, seasoning and spiciness if you’re into spicy dishes. Their drinks are unique and delish even though it takes a while to get be served if you’re ordering a cocktail. Very understandable given how busy they can get. However, as somebody who has worked in the restaurant industry before, their service needs so much improvement. I had to flag down the waitress to check on my order, just to be told that our ticket got lost. Also, they gave us a wrong order, and we had to ask the server if that was meant to be for us, which obviously was not. And the tables who got sat down later than us got their orders first while we constantly had to ask our server to check on the status of our dishes. The cherry on top was that we did not get our rice until we asked for them after eating more than half of the dishes already. It would be great if their staff prioritized their customers than chatting with each other.

Yibing Tang

I went to pick up my mooncake order on Saturday at Nihao Arlington and immediately noticed that one of the boxes was labeled “lotus seed paste and egg yolk,” instead of the purple yam and egg yolk that I ordered (and yes, I can read and speak Chinese). When I pointed it out, the manager confidently reassured me that the sticker was just a “universal label,” and that what’s inside was definitely purple yam. Well, guess what — when I got home and cut the mooncakes open, every single one was lotus seed paste with egg yolk. Admitting a mistake is not that hard. You could have simply told me, “We’re out of purple yam, only lotus seed paste is available.” Instead, you chose to make something up and lie to my face. As a paying customer, I expect honesty and to receive exactly what I paid for. I would have been understanding if you had told me the truth — but being lied to is completely unacceptable.