Pow Pow

Plant-based takes on my favorite childhood AND drunk college favorites? Sign. Me. Up. Pow Pow is my life embodied in a single restaurant, with all of the indulgent, delicious Asian guilty pleasures that were forced out of my diet when I became a pescatarian. Whether it's orange chicken, sweet and sour pork, and a good ol' teriyaki stir fry, Pow Pow has you covered with its delicious array of vegan bowls. They're also super accommodating of other dietary restrictions, with a separate GF menu (or you can make any of their other bowls GF with a few substitutions). It's genuinely impossible to go wrong with a single item on their menu, but a few favorites are: - Tokyo Roboto: perfectly balanced teriyaki sauce with a touch of bright acidity from the grilled pineapple...absolutely chef's kiss. - K-Town BBQ: maybe I'm just a sucker for pineapple because the pineapple kimchi really binds this whole dish together...the sesame drizzle on top of the Korean BBQ-flavored "chicken" also kicks this bowl up a notch - Sticky Sesame: if I'm feeling something a bit more indulgent, this is the perfect go-to -- the "chicken" is fried to perfection, and the sauce is perfectly sticky and sesame-y - Trolley Fries: my favorite when I'm feeling ~especially~ indulgent. The flurry of sauces / toppings (kimchi, Korean ketchup, togarashi mayo, cashew cheddar) gives these perfectly crispy fries all the flavor in the world. The slivered scallions add just a touch of green to help you pretend you're being healthy, and you can also top this bundle of wonders with a protein of choice - Thai Pumpkin Soup: I'm 99% sure this is just a seasonal item for the fall / winter, but it is fantastic, and I'm going to need this on the full-time menu ASAP. It has a rich pumpkin flavor made luxurious by the coconut milk and delightfully comforting with a touch of heat by all the spices Beyond the absolutely PHENOMENAL food, everything about Pow Pow sparks joy -- from the utilitarian, but upbeat atmosphere with A+ music selection, to the quick and friendly service, every element of Pow Pow's dining experience was well thought-out and expertly executed. You can order at one of two kiosks (great if you're feeling antisocial and / or just want to spend some extra time staring at the menu), and then take your pick of a table or barstool if you'd like to watch passerby while waiting for your name to be called. All in all, Pow Pow has solidified its spot as one of my go-to D.C. spots -- while the H Street location will always have a special place in my heart as our OG, I'm so excited that we also have the Franklin Park location!

The food is excellent! Everything is very flavorful. We got the fried mozzarella, Angry Noodles, Fried Chick'n, and Chick'n Fingers. The serving were huge. Highly recommend!

The food was delicious. Fresh and flavorful. So many options it was hard to decide what to get. Even my picky kids loved it!!

My daughter took me to PowPow for a quick lunch- 1253 H Street NE WDC 20002. Parking was super easy in the strip mall of Advanced Auto Parts. I ordered Sichuan Dumplings ($9), a side garden salad, and the Tokyo Roboto Bowl ($11)! Yum! Yum! Yum! Delicious! You can immediately taste freshness! I love the interior design of the place, the music was pumping good, plants on each table, great staff, peaceful and pleasant energy! Hi there! Great food! Plant based menu!!!

This food is INSANELY good. You’d think your meal was a 5 star vegan restaurant not a fast food spot. It’s fresh, original, tons of flavors and not over cooked or covered in sauce. As a life long vegetarian I’m blown away. One thing they need to mail down is getting these dishes out faster… since technically they are trying to be a quick service restaurant. It’s hard I get it!! Good luck!