Restaurant in Washington DC, United States
Ramen-forward Shaw bar worth returning to.
Chaplin's in Shaw is a reliable, bar-forward Asian kitchen at the $$ price point with a ramen program and cocktail list that both outperform their tier. Chef Myo Htun's operation holds a 4.4 Google rating across 1,700-plus reviews. Easy to book, worth multiple visits, and one of the more complete casual dining options in Washington, D.C.
Chaplin's in Shaw earns a clear recommendation at the $$ price point: this is one of the more complete Asian kitchens in Washington, D.C., pairing a ramen program that genuinely competes with the city's leading with cocktails strong enough to anchor a full evening. Chef and partner Myo Htun's 9th Street NW operation holds a 4.4 Google rating across more than 1,700 reviews, which at this price tier signals consistent execution rather than occasional brilliance. If you are deciding between a single visit and building Chaplin's into a rotation, go with the rotation. The menu has enough range that two or three visits will cover meaningfully different ground.
Chaplin's is a 21-plus venue, which shapes the room. Expect a bar-forward layout where cocktails are as central to the experience as the food — this is not a ramen counter you eat at quickly and leave. The atmosphere skews social and convivial, making it a practical choice for date nights, small group celebrations, or a lower-key special occasion where you want good food and drinks without the formality or price tag of a fine-dining room. The physical setup suits groups of two to four comfortably; if you are planning a larger gathering, check directly on current availability and seating configurations. For a celebration dinner where the bill matters as much as the experience, Chaplin's positioning at $$ makes it one of the more accessible options in the Shaw neighbourhood without feeling like a compromise.
On your first visit, the ramen is the right place to focus. The hot version, the Chaplin A.S.S., is built around tender chicken and a broth described as deeply seasoned and warming , the kind of bowl that justifies the reputation. The cold ramen, with springy noodles, ginger, and cucumber, gives you a structural contrast worth ordering as a secondary option if your table is sharing. These are not generic interpretations; Myo Htun's approach to ramen is personal and wide-ranging, which is why this kitchen gets mentioned in conversations about D.C.'s stronger noodle programs alongside spots charging considerably more. Pair the ramen with one of the cocktails that the venue has built its reputation on. Chaplin's is known for conversation-worthy drinks, which in practical terms means you are not just ordering something to wash down food , the bar program has genuine intent behind it.
If you return, shift your focus to the smaller plates. The kitchen produces gyoza, shumai, and chap ban ji alongside the "pay day injected dumplings" that have become a recognisable menu reference for regular visitors. These bites are described as intrinsic to the kitchen rather than supplementary, which means they deserve attention on their own terms rather than as filler before the main bowls arrive. Order two or three and treat the meal as a broader tour of what Myo Htun is doing beyond ramen. The chocolate lava cake with Cognac and ice cream appears consistently in descriptions of the menu and is worth ordering at least once, particularly if you are closing out a special occasion meal and want a dessert that fits the register of the evening.
By a third visit, the format that makes most sense is building the evening around the bar rather than arriving with a full ramen order as the goal. Chaplin's cocktail program is a defined part of its identity, and the 21-plus door policy underlines that this is a venue designed as much for drinking as for eating. Order the bites as accompaniments, revisit the cold ramen if the season suits it, and use the visit to settle into the space on its own terms rather than working through a checklist. This is also the format that suits a date night or low-key celebration where pacing matters: drinks, small plates, something sweet at the end.
Chaplin's sits at 1501 9th St NW in the Shaw neighbourhood, a walkable, transit-accessible part of D.C. with a concentration of independently operated restaurants and bars. Booking is rated easy, meaning you do not need to plan weeks ahead to secure a table the way you would at higher-demand venues in the city. Hours and phone contact are not published in our current data, so confirm current operating times directly before visiting. The $$ price range positions Chaplin's as an evening out that does not require significant budget planning, and at a 4.4 rating across a large review base, the consistency is reliable enough that a spontaneous booking carries low risk. For a broader picture of what to eat and drink in the area, see our full Washington, D.C. restaurants guide, our full Washington, D.C. bars guide, and our full Washington, D.C. hotels guide. If you are exploring the broader Asian dining scene in D.C., Maketto and Bar Chinois are worth comparing directly for format and price positioning. Astoria DC rounds out Shaw's more interesting independent options if you are planning a neighbourhood evening. Internationally, if you want to benchmark Chaplin's ramen and cocktail-led approach against strong Asian concepts in other cities, taku in Cologne and Jun's in Dubai offer useful reference points. For D.C. experiences and wineries beyond dining, see our full Washington, D.C. experiences guide and our full Washington, D.C. wineries guide.
| Venue | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Chaplin's | $$ | — |
| Oyster Oyster | $$$ | — |
| Albi | $$$$ | — |
| Causa | $$$$ | — |
| Rooster & Owl | $$$ | — |
| Rose’s Luxury | $$$$ | — |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
Start with the ramen — the Chaplin A.S.S. (hot version with chicken and a broth described as sweltering) is the anchor dish and the clearest reason to visit. On a second visit, work through the bites: gyoza, shumai, chap ban ji, and the pay day injected dumplings are all worth your time. Finish with the chocolate lava cake with Cognac and ice cream if you want dessert.
Yes, and for solo diners or pairs it's arguably the right call. Chaplin's is a 21-plus, bar-forward venue where the cocktail program is as central as the food, so the bar is a fully supported way to eat. It suits anyone who wants to order widely across the menu without committing to a table-service pace.
At $$, yes — this is one of the stronger value propositions among independently operated Asian kitchens in D.C. You get creative ramen, serious cocktails, and a kitchen that runs from dumplings to dessert under the same roof. Compared to Rooster & Owl or Rose's Luxury, Chaplin's costs less and fits a more casual, repeat-visit format.
The venue data doesn't document specific dietary accommodation policies. Given the menu's focus on ramen, dumplings, and bar bites, diners with restrictions around gluten or shellfish should check the venue's official channels before booking to confirm options.
It works well for low-key celebrations — birthdays, date nights, or group dinners where the mood matters as much as the food. The cocktail program and the 21-plus format give it a genuine bar-night energy, which suits relaxed occasions better than formal ones. For a more structured special-occasion dinner, Albi or Rose's Luxury would be stronger fits.
No tasting menu is documented for Chaplin's. The format here is à la carte, with the ramen and bites designed for mix-and-match ordering rather than a fixed progression. If a set-menu format is what you're after, Rooster & Owl or Causa offer that structure at a comparable or higher price point in D.C.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
