The first Washington opening for lauded Szechuan chef Peter Chang begins this weekend. Business partner Gen Lee confirms that the eatery at 2503-E North Harrison Street will begin its soft-opening period on Saturday at 11:30, with an official debut scheduled for next week.
The sizable menu is similar to Chang’s other full-service restaurants, which include branches in Charlottesville, Williamsburg, and Fredericksburg (the Arlington location was originally rumored to be a more casual concept). In the past we’ve happily traveled for searing ma po tofu, scallion pancakes puffed up like balloons, cumin-scented fish, and wontons in chili oil. Look for more of the same on the all-day menu, plus a section of “grandmother home-style cooking” with Szechuan double-cooked pork belly and hotpot. There’s also a small $5 children’s menu.
Check back in on Monday for a full preview of the new restaurant.
Peter Chang Arlington. 2503-E N. Harrison St., Arlington; 703-538-6688. Soft-opening hours: 11:30 to 10:30.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
