Sections
  • Home & Style
  • Editors’ Picks
  • Events Calendar
  • Food
  • Health
  • News & Politics
  • Longreads
  • Our Events
  • Parenting
  • Real Estate
  • Shopping
  • Things to Do
  • Travel
  • Weddings
Reader Favorites
  • 100 Best Restaurants
  • Takeout Guide
  • Quiz
  • Neighborhoods
  • Newsletters
  • Directories
Washington’s Best
  • Apartment Rentals
  • DC Travel Guide
  • Dentists
  • Doctors
  • Financial Advisers
  • Health Experts
  • Home Improvement Experts
  • Industry Leaders
  • Lawyers
  • Mortgage Professionals
  • Pet Care
  • Private Schools
  • Real Estate Agents
  • Restaurants
  • Retirement Communities
  • Wedding Vendors
More
  • Subscribe
  • Manage My Subscription
  • Digital Edition
  • Shop
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
© 2021 Washingtonian Media Inc.
Privacy Policy
All Rights Reserved
 Rss
Skip to content
Washingtonian.com
  • Search
  • Subscribe
  • Menu
  • News & Politics
  • Things to Do
  • Food
  • Health
  • Shopping
  • Home & Style
  • Real Estate
  • Weddings
  • Travel

  • 100 Best Restaurants
  • Takeout Guide
  • Quiz
  • Neighborhoods
  • Newsletters
  • Directories
  • Trending Now in Food
  • Takeout
  • Daoud Harris
  • Winter Fun
  • Food Events
  • Outdoor Dining
Food

Maketto Chef Erik Bruner-Yang’s Asian-Italian Noodle Shop Opens Today in Navy Yard

ABC Pony gets playful, mixing Chinese and Italian red-sauce flavors.

Written by Anna Spiegel
| Published on December 3, 2019
Tweet Share
ABC Pony, a retro noodle shop that plays with Asian and Italian flavors, opens in Navy Yard. Photography by Evy Mages

Some people may not see the connection between Asian noodle shops and Italian red-sauce joints, but to restaurateur Erik Bruner-Yang, the two are a natural fit—and are the theme of his newest restaurant, ABC Pony, opening tonight in Navy Yard.

“A lot of the techniques and ingredients are similar,” says Bruner-Yang, who’s also behind Maketto and Line hotel restaurants Brothers and Sisters and Spoken English. “Every good neighborhood needs a good noodle place. That’s what cities across the US have been like, whether it’s your Chinese carryout or your pasta shop.”

Clams with prosciutto dashi and garlic chives. Photograph by Evy Mages

Bruner-Yang found two fitting chefs to bring his idea of American melting-pot cuisine to life: Paolo Dungca, who just left a head-chef post at Thai/Korean/Filipino spot Kaliwa, and former Elle chef Chris Yates (ABC is an easy place to namedrop—restaurateurs Eric and Ian Hilton are also on board). Together the team put together an all-day menu that’s eclectic yet fairly approachable, price-wise. All dishes are currently under $20, while cocktails are a throwback $10.

Cocktails like tequila with soju, lime, and spicy gochujang are all $10. Photograph by Evy Mages

The lineup of a dozen-odd dishes—cold and hot appetizers and pastas—explores the intersection of Asian and Italian cuisines. Take the egg drop soup, well-known as such on Chinese menus and lesser-known as Italian straciatella all Romana (meat broth with shreds of egg and parmesan). Or burrata-stuffed lumpia spring rolls, “basically a mozzarella stick,” per Bruner-Yang. A puttanesca-style spaghetti gets its signature punch from XO sauce, capers, and anchovies. For traditionalists, there are more straightforward Italian items among the cold antipasti, noodles like tagliatelle arrabiata, and gelato for dessert.

The space opens at 7 AM for coffee and serves an all-day menu. Photograph by Evy Mages
The design by Foklor mixes old world Italian with 80s and 90s America. Photograph by Evy Mages

Design firm Foklor is behind the retro-chic decor, which nods to Little Italy with tile floors and marble tables as well as ’80s and ’90s pop-culture (note the checks delivered in cassette-tape cases). A vintage Coca-Cola soda machine behind the bar, which was built in the ’80s to mix soda syrups and carbonated water on demand, has been repurposed for the trend du jour: spiked seltzer. Instead of soda, the machine will produce flavored vodka-sodas at the push of a button.

A vintage soda machine turns out homemade spiked seltzer. Photograph by Evy Mages

ABC Pony, named for a toy favored by Bruner-Yang’s kids, was partially built as an amenity to the new luxury condo building in which it resides. The 99-seat space opens early at 7 AM for residents (and everyone else) to get coffee and, soon, breakfast.

ABC Pony. 2 Eye St., SE

Chef/co-owner Erik Bruner-Yang. Photograph by Evy Mages

Get Our “Brunches This Weekend” Newsletter

The best breakfasts and brunches to try every weekend, plus our most popular food stories of the week.

Or, see all of our newsletters. By signing up, you agree to our terms.
More: ABC PonyChinese foodChris YatesEric HiltonErik Bruner-YangIan HiltonItalian restaurantNationals ParkNavy YardPaolo Dungca
Join the conversation!
Share Tweet
Anna Spiegel
Food Editor

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.

Most Popular in Food

1

5 New Restaurant Pop-Ups to Try Around DC This Weekend

2

Tasting Room Georgetown Opens With Prix-Fixe Menu and All You Can Eat Taco Nights

3

The Most Charming Outdoor Bar and Restaurant Setups Around DC This Winter

4
Pair pizza with beer at Pizzeria Paradiso's winterfest. Photograph by Juliana Molina, courtesy of Paradiso

5 Fun Food Events Around DC This Weekend

5

DC-Area Restaurants Extend Outdoor Dining Season This Winter with Igloos, Lodges, and Yurts

Washingtonian Magazine

February 2021: Great Neighborhood Restaurants

February 2021: Great Neighborhood Restaurants

View Issue
Subscribe

Get Us on Social

We'll help you live your best #DCLIFE every day

Get Us on Social

We'll help you live your best #DCLIFE every day

Related

Pete Buttigieg Spotted Wobbling on a Capital Bikeshare Bike

The car in front of Nats Park. Photo courtesy of the Yards and Optimus Ride.

Self-Driving Cars Are Now Cruising Through The Yards

Smash Hit Chinese-American Takeout Lucky Danger Is Expanding to Arlington

Pioneering DC Cocktail Bar The Gibson Will Reopen in a New Location This Spring

More from Food

5 New Restaurant Pop-Ups to Try Around DC This Weekend

Today at 11: Chat With Food Critic Ann Limpert

Tasting Room Georgetown Opens With Prix-Fixe Menu and All You Can Eat Taco Nights

Pair pizza with beer at Pizzeria Paradiso's winterfest. Photograph by Juliana Molina, courtesy of Paradiso

5 Fun Food Events Around DC This Weekend

A New Dining App Aims to Support BIPOC Chefs in the Pandemic

This Friday: Chat With Food Critic Ann Limpert

8 National Margarita Day Specials Around DC—to Stay or Go

Denizens Brewing Co-Founder Is Joining the Biden Administration

© 2021 Washingtonian Media Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
Washingtonian is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Privacy Policy and Opt-Out
 Rss
Get the best news, delivered weekly.
By signing up, you agree to our terms.
  • Subscribe
  • Manage My Subscription
  • Digital Edition
  • Shop
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs