Any food reviews from LNY opening weekend?
We (Myself, my wife and 18-year-old daughter) went yesterday and each bought Sip and Savor passes knowing we'll return at least once more during the Lunar New Year promotion. We planned the trip specifically so we can sample the foods at the booths. I know tastes vary but here's what we ate and what we thought of each.
Lucky 8 Lantern
Quesabirria Egg Roll - Ordered 2 of these to share. Best thing I ate all day by far. Will be getting again when we go back. DD thought it was good too. DW didn't care for it that much so she let the two of us have her share. Yum!
Chocolate Firecracker - We all liked this one a lot and will be getting it again. Good chocolate taste throughout.
Red Dragon Spice Traders
Spicy Gochujang Chicken Tacos - I ordered the tacos as was corrected by the order CM that it was taco ... singular. Signage says "tacos" so I'm not sure if it was because I was redeeming a Sip and Savor pass? Spice was good. Little to no chicken. Small for what it cost. Taste was fine but will not get this again.
Longevity Noodle Co.
Garlic Noodles - DD loves noodles and garlic so this was a hit for her. DW said they were good too.
Shrimp Lo Mein Noodles - Shrimp was too spicy for DW (who really doesn't like spicy things anyway) but DD liked them. DW said that the noodles were good but not anything she couldn't find elsewhere.
Wrapped with Love
Fried Lemongrass Chicken Dumplings - DD did not like them and she likes dumplings. I finished them for her and thought they tasted fine. Nothing to write home about but fine. Surprised she didn't like them. Seemed to be the sauce on them that she didn't care for.
Mandarin Orange Cream Puff - Another in the "fine" category. DW ate it and said it was OK but rather dry. Won't be getting again.
Bamboo Blessings
Strawberry Milk Tea Macaron - Tasty, very strawberry-flavored. I like sweet stuff but this was probably the sweetest thing I've ever eaten. Would get again but the Chocolate Firecracker was better for dessert. For reference, I really, really like the toffee macaron from the holidays and I liked the Snickers one from last year's Food & Wine Festival. This would be in 3rd place out of all of those.
Brown Sugar Milk Tea - DW and DD thought it was OK. Felt it had a bit of a strange aftertaste. I'm not a milk tea drinker but tried it and felt it was OK at best too. I've tasted better elsewhere but I think this will really be a YMMV type of thing.
Overall, the food was good and we filled up. Next time, the girls are going to try the bao and the Phở dip. We'll reorder the birria egg roll, chocolate firecracker and garlic noodles as well.
On a side note, it was probably the busiest we've ever experienced at DCA. Surprised with it being January. Masses of people walking everywhere. Long lines (that moved) at all the stands. Some refurbishments and down attractions probably didn't help. We had fun and look forward to going again before the Lunar New Event disappears.
