Wasai in Washington, DC: The Best First Bowl Starts With the Noodles

Wasai at 716 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001, puts noodle-making at the center of a meal in Chinatown. Before choosing a soup or a dry bowl, it helps to consider the noodles themselves: the restaurant's published story describes flat, skinny and hand-shaved options.

That choice gives a first visit a focus beyond simply picking a protein. Our best advice for a first bowl is to start with the noodle style that interests you, then ask which preparations and shapes are available for your order. A menu choice is more useful when it helps you describe the bowl you want.

Chef Jerry Li's noodle background

IVEA's published profile identifies Chef Zaifu Jerry Li as its co-founder and Noodle Master, and as the creator of Wasai. He trained under soba master Shuichi Kotani and made noodles in house at the first Akira Ramen in Rockville when it opened in October 2017.

At Wasai, the focus is Chinese noodles. The profile describes dough stretched for each order, alongside the flat, skinny and hand-shaved choices. Hand-shaved noodles are a distinct form; the three names should not be treated as three identical ways of pulling dough.

Chef Li's later work with Kajiken's Japanese team on flour and noodle texture belongs to another part of his career. It does not make Wasai a Japanese ramen shop. Here, the useful question is which Chinese noodle preparation you want to order.

Soup or a dry bowl?

Beef Pull Noodle Soup offers original or spicy braised broth with beef and hand-pulled noodles. The menu also lists Beef Flank Pull Noodle Soup, Spare Rib Noodle Soup and Seafood Pull Noodle Soup. If a soup bowl is what you have in mind, these names provide a starting point for asking about today's options.

Zha Jiang Mian takes a different direction: a dry noodle dish with fried bean sauce. Stir-fried noodles are another choice, with chicken, beef, shrimp, seafood and vegetable versions listed. Choose the preparation first, then confirm the noodle shape available with it rather than assuming every combination is offered.

Add a supporting dish if you want one

The menu includes Pork and Chive Dumplings, Vegetable Dumplings, Pan-Fried Dumplings and Pork Soup Dumplings. Rou jia mo, a Chinese stewed burger, is another option. These can be considered alongside the noodle bowl according to your appetite; they do not form a fixed meal package.

Wasai shares its space with Gong cha. Drinks from the separate counter are separate orders, rather than an included component of a noodle meal. Discuss allergies and dietary requirements with the restaurant before choosing dishes.

Visit Wasai

Wasai is at 716 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001, near Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro and Capital One Arena. Pickup and delivery ordering is available at https://order.online/store/-23657497/. Call (202) 735-0693 for current hours and noodle availability before a late trip.

Chef Li's background is documented at https://www.ivea.co/journal/chef-zaifu-li-noodle-master-akira-ramen-wasai-dmv. Hermes iMedia and Wasai share IVEA ownership.