I came here on the recommendation of a friend, who said it was the best Szechuan food in DC. I don't have much to compare it to, but it's definitely a different vibe than, say, Sichuan Palace, with its more traditional takes and ambiance. Chang Chang feels more upscale, with price points to match, and has more modernized or dishes with a twist. We ordered way too much food. They actually didn't bring one dish we ordered, thank goodness, and we didn't remind the waiter and it wasn't on our bill. I think it would have gone right into a to-go bag had it actually arrived! But everything sounded so good it was hard to choose. We order the garlic cucumber salad, which was great and a nice balance to some of the warmer dishes. We ordered a whole Peking duck, which was good, but I can't say it was better than anywhere else I've had it. The eggplant was good a nd beautifully presented. The standouts, however, were the Waygu Beef Lo Mein and the Mandarin Branzino. I would eat those two dishes any day of the week. Even setting aside the Waygu, the Lo Mein itself was some of the most delicious I've ever had. And the Mandarin Branzino--I've never had anything like it. It was boneless, deliciously crispy and golden fried, then bathed in sweet and sour sauce. I wish I had more right now. The restaurant was very accommodating of a gluten intolerance, and was able to make several dishes gluten free, however they did not have any gluten-free soy sauce. In the end, everything was delicious, and I would go back.

Gluten-free Szechuan food? Yes please! Last Thursday I went to dinner at Chang Chang, a Szechuan restaurant in Washington DC. As a Celiac, I'm so glad I found a place with great gluten-free options. (My Taiwanese mother-in-law found this place on Facebook in one of her Chinese language travel groups.) This place had a bunch of marked options that could be made gluten-free upon request. Szechuan food is spicy and filled with chili peppers and numbing pepper, so if you like bland food, this is not the place for you. Be warned though. Double check with the staff before and after the food comes that it is gluten-free. I asked a food runner for gluten-free soy sauce. She delivered it in a ramekin and I asked if it was for sure gluten-free. She said she'd check and just never returned. I didn't use it. Despite that interaction, 100% I would go back. I highly recommend it. Asian food is almost never gluten-free because soy sauce contains wheat, and soy sauce is in pretty much all Asian food. Even Shaoxing wine contains gluten! I was sad we didn't have leftovers the next morning because it was just that good. Cold Chinese food is better than all other breakfast foods. What we ordered (price does not include taxes or gratuity.) 1. Gluten-free beef chow fun 干炒牛河 $26 (stir fried flat rice noodles with beef and onion.) 2. Gluten-free Mala Crispy Pork Belly 麻香脆乳肉 $15 (deep-fried pork belly coated in dry spice mix with umami-rich "furu.") 3. Gluten-free Sichuan Lazi Chicken 四川辣子鸡 $23 (spicy boneless fried chicken pieces with sesame seeds.) 4. Gluten-free Cumin Beef 孜然牛肉片 $30. Spiced slices of beef sauteed with onion, red pepper, and cilantro. 5. White rice $1.50 per bowl. Ambiance is nice. Think business casual. Lighting is very yellow in the back dining room. Overall, I highly recommend this place. Visited June 2024

I was not sure what to expect from this place even though it has many great reviews and I'm a fan of David Chang. Came with the wife and in-laws and we ordered a bunch of stuff! The wife and I have lived in Southern China for 5 years and we're intrigued by the offerings here. Cucumber salad: Very tasty and garlicky. It is quite different from the "smashed" version you get in China, but we really enjoyed it. Eggplant: it's the first time I've liked eggplant ever. The outer layer is nice and crisp, but if you leave it for a bit, the rest gets a little soggy. Really nice flavor and a large portion. Dumplings: We tried the pork and the soup dumplings and they tasted good, but we're not the stars. Cumin beef: This was excellent and the cumin flavor was not overwhelming. This was also a hearty portion. Fried pork belly: This was also a favorite of all at the table. The service was very good and we enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant as well. My wife and I tried two different Baijiu (Chinese hooch) cocktails. That liquor has a VERY unique and strong taste that we felt was not masked enough by the other flavors. The in-laws were not fans. I think these drinks can use a little more testing, but this is just our opinion. I also wish that the music that was played was Chinese or at least Chinese-esque, but this is a minor thing that only I notice.

Chang Chang offers a hip, modern twist on Chinese-American cuisine in Dupont circle. We went on a weeknight and the place was packed! The decor was minimalist with soft-wood palates and vibey music. Service was fantastic--we ordered A LOT of food and our server made sure to bring everything out at a nice pace. As for the food, I have never had a better cucumber salad. The garlic, sesame dressing was so damn good I wish I could recreate this at home! Everything else was equally delicious--compared to other modern up-scale Chinese-American restaurants (eg, Buddakan), Chang Chang rarely parts from tradition and their dishes feel pretty safe and more similar to the dishes you'd get at your local Chinese joint. However, everything was still extremely well executed. The hot and sour soup included duck and dumplings had a crispy blanket which added an elevated, delicious crunch. The Peking duck was also more on the traditional side; still, it was well-prepared and easy to share. For dessert, we went with the matcha cake, sesame dessert (the name escapes me), and the passionfruit pie. Nothing was too overly sweet and each dessert was fresh, fruity, well-balanced. A perfect way to end a delectable meal. Chang Chang may not be the most experimental ( or affordable) Chinese restaurant in the region, but it definitely does not disappoint! 4/5 stars.

A few of my coworkers and I ate lunch here a couple days ago. The service was fantastic from the server to the busser to the host. The interior was super clean and tables neatly set and had a superb vibe. We received food from a set menu, and I tried the crispy green beans, garlic cucumber salad, spicy eggplant, fried cauliflower, and kung pao chicken. All five dishes were truly exceptional! My favorite was the fried cauliflower because it had a great crunch to it, felt healthy but wasn't, and had a kick to it. The king pao chicken was small kernel-sized chicken pieces drenched in savory sauce and worth ordering again. The spicy eggplant was firmer than I expected for cooked eggplant but it still had that deliciously slippery feel and was packed with flavor! The garlic cucumber salad was great, although some of the cucumber slices were soggy. The green beans were crispy, flavorful, and satisfying. I definitely will dine here again and recommend it to others!

Try: Mushroom Spring Rolls, Hot & Sour Duck Soup, Prawns & Scallops, Sweet & Sour Spare Ribs, Jasmine Tea Beer! Why: A friend and I wanted to do family style so ordered a feast. Started with Mushroom Spring Rolls, which came with 3 fairly small rolls but they were nice and crispy. The Hot & Sour Duck Soup was unique (never had duck or other meats in my Hot & Sour Soup before), and really grew on me. We both had our own bowl and ended up finishing them throughout dinner because it was larger than it looked. I was able to taste the duck mixed in with hearty soup. Prawns & Scallop came with lots of veggies and we loved the snow peas. The Spare Ribs were saucy and the meat almost fell off the bone. Washed everything down with a refreshing Jasmine Tea Beer, which is one of my favs that isn't available at many restaurants so it was a great surprise to see it on menu. We were incredibly full and had an awesome feast trying various dishes. Notes: Restaurant is large with many tables and booths. Clean and spacious with neat decor. They still had some Lunar New Year decor, which was fun. Host and server were friendly and helpful. We had a delightful meal and lots of catching up to do since I have not seen my friend in a while since she moved to DC. Glad she recommended the place during my visit!

Great for groups - with several stand-out dishes and good cocktails to enjoy --- Capped-off a long work week with dinner at Chang Chang with two buddies. By 7 PM the restaurant was packed, but the tables are very well spaced out and the ambiance feels bright and relaxed. The service when we arrived was quick and friendly. We placed orders for drinks, and then throughout the night placed a couple orders for a series of shared dishes. I really enjoyed my mezcal-based cocktail. They used a licorice-based liqueur, which while normally I dislike in cocktails, was perfectly blended and subtle enough that it didn't over power the drink. Overall I enjoyed all the food as well. There were two standouts in particular: the Dan Dan Noodles and the Sesame Tofu. The Noodles were a substantial portion, and in my opinion the perfect ratio of Noodles and Sauce and Meat and Toppings. While it could have been an entree on it's own, was better as a compliment to the rest of the meal. My friend hyped-up the Sesame Tofu, and we ordered it the same time as the Golden Mountain Beef. The beef was ok, but the tofu blew it away. Even for a meat-lover like myself, you can't help but appreciate the flavor of the sauce and how well prepared the tofu-was. We also ordered pork dumplings, the bubble pancake, and the beef. Dumplings were good, especially when dipped in the chili sauce they came with. The pancake was a solid accompaniment as well. The beef was fine, although quite plain and a bit tough relative to the other excellently-prepared dishes. We capped the night off with an evening, specialty tea. The food left us all stuffed and satisfied, and (with drinks) still came to under $50 per person! I'd be excited to come back again, and would recommend this to restaurant to anyone looking for good, fair-priced food.

Loved coming here to take advantage of their happy hour menu. They have good cocktails, wines and beers for $8. They also have bites between $6-8. One of my favorites are the chili wontons! They have a nice kick-- for HH you'll get 3 on a plate. We also tried the shrimp dumplings-- great big in your bites. I needed some sauce to dip them in-- and they brought by a nice sauce :) My friends had rose which they enjoyed! I enjoyed my mule. :) HAPPY HOUR is a plus-- you may have to ask for the menu. 430-6pm :). Enjoy!