I used to work on Georgetown for nearly 3 years, and was working there when Snap opened. They specialize in crepes and bubble tea. This is a good place to go for a snack, but the bubble tea is not that great. It’s made from a powder that is sometimes not mixed well, and the bubbles are hit or miss. Sometimes they’re hard as rocks, sometimes they’re just smooshy.
The crepes are kind of expensive at $5+, depending on which kind you get. I like the nutella with banana, and the spicy chicken thai crepe. While I haven’t been there in quite some time, they used to offer other street foods, like Belgian frites and okonomiyaki (which was just okay and took a long time to prepare).
It is located in a rowhouse that is very very tight. It gets very hot in there and there is not much by way of central air. There is outdoor seating in the back in nicer weather. They are open late, which is a plus. The staff here is hit or miss—they often take a very long time to prepare the crepes, even though the crepe batter is precooked already!
If you are looking for tea, go a bit down the street to Baked & Wired, which has a good selection of tea and cupcakes.
Please note they accept credit cards ONLY. They do not accept cash due to “security reasons”.
“Cha” is the Chinese word for tea, and “Ching Ching” is the owner of this serene tea house!
I have been to Ching Ching Cha a few times. This is a quiet getaway in the heart of Georgetown. The decor is what I would call “Chinese apothecary”—dark wooden furniture, with traditional Chinese motifs. It looks like a small place from the outside, but it’s quite spacious inside, with natural lighting and high ceilings. They have low tables (where you’re sitting on the ground) that can seat up to four people, or if you prefer sitting at a regular table, they have those, too. There is a burner at each table and when they bring your tea, they set the kettle on top of it so it remains warm during your visit. In the middle of the tea room they display a variety of tea ware and accessories.
They have a limited food menu, but the true beauty of this place is the tea. They offer nearly 70 varieties, hot and cold, with an emphasis on Chinese tea. The staff is very knowledgeable and will instruct you on how to properly prepare and enjoy the tea you order. I highly recommend ordering any of the oolong teas for a more unique experience.
I have had a few items from the food menu and here are my opinions on them:
Mongolian Dumpling: Set of 4, with lamb, cabbage, and garlic. A good starter to your meal. Chicken Roll: Chicken prepared in a flaky puff pastry. Good, but something I can easily make at home, so I will not reorder it. Bento Box Lunch: I started off with the tomato soup, which was delicate and delicious. For the bento, pick a main entree, and two vegetables. I selected mustard miso salmon and kale and Korean squash. I felt there was too much mustard on my salmon; other than that, it was pretty good.Ching Ching Cha serves light fare, however. I do not recommend coming here if you are famished, as you will easily spend $20+ per person. They do accept credit cards, but I am not sure if there is a minimum order, as I have always spent more than $20 here.
Albeit on the expensive side, bear in mind that you are paying for the experience and ambiance. Don’t come here if you only have 30 minutes to spare for lunch, as the staff can be slow to prepare food. Come here on a lazy Sunday afternoon and forget about deadlines, errands, and feel the stress just melt away!
