Moon Rabbit
✨ Vibe
Located in the heart of Penn Quarter, Moon Rabbit blends sophisticated modern elegance with warm, personal decor that creates the intimate feel of an upscale dinner party hosted by a close friend.
🍸 Best For
Adventurous foodies, celebratory tasting menus, world-class pastry exploration, and impressive date nights.
🔥 Highlights
- Acclaimed Culinary Innovation: Ranked #17 on the inaugural North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list, Chef Kevin Tien’s menu masterfully reimagines Vietnamese cuisine through a creative lens, featuring standout dishes like wagyu beef with perilla leaves and mochi beignets with freshwater eel.
- World-Class Pastry Program: Indulge in the boundary-pushing desserts of Susan Bae—named North America’s Best Pastry Chef—whose signature creations like seaweed pandan and savory-sweet chocolate mousse have garnered international praise.
- Award-Winning Mixology: Enjoy the 2024 MICHELIN Guide Exceptional Cocktails Award-winning beverage program by Bar Director Thi Nguyen, which features both expertly crafted cocktails and sophisticated zero-proof options that elicit nostalgic flavors.
ℹ️ Need to Know
- Reservations are highly recommended and can be booked via their website for either the "Chef’s Visit to Vietnam" tasting menu or a la carte dining.
- A 20% service charge is included on all checks to ensure equitable wages and benefits for the entire hospitality team.
📰 In the News
8 of the best restaurants in D.C.’s Penn Quarter
Moon Rabbit is featured as one of the eight best restaurants in Washington, D.C.’s Penn Quarter. The establishment is recognized for its modern Vietnamese cuisine and is cited as a key destination in the neighborhood's diverse and high-end dining landscape.
3 D.C. restaurants score spots on new "50 Best" list for North America
Moon Rabbit earned the top local ranking at #17 on the inaugural "50 Best" restaurants list for North America. Additionally, pastry chef Susan Bae was honored as North America's Best Pastry Chef for her innovative sweet-savory desserts that draw on nostalgic Vietnamese flavors.
Moon Rabbit, Albi, and Dogon Named Among North America’s 50 Best Restaurants
Moon Rabbit, Chef Kevin Tien’s reimagined Vietnamese restaurant in Penn Quarter, was ranked 17th on the inaugural North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list in late 2025. The acclaimed dining spot is noted for innovative dishes like the freshwater eel mochi beignet and exceptional desserts by pastry chef Susan Bae.
What’s In That Dessert? Vegetables.
Moon Rabbit features a pastry program led by Susan Bae that incorporates savory Southeast Asian elements, herbs, and vegetables into its dessert menu. Notable offerings include a sweetened doenjang jjigae tofu cheesecake with zucchini and Nardello pepper jam, as well as chocolate mousse paired with chanterelle ice cream. These adventurous creations are designed to balance sweet and savory flavors while challenging traditional diner expectations.
Moon Rabbit | North America's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 | Ranked No. 17
Moon Rabbit, ranked No. 17 on North America's 50 Best Restaurants list for 2025, serves cutting-edge Vietnamese cuisine reimagined through a Cajun lens in downtown Washington DC. Led by chef-owner Kevin Tien and acclaimed pastry chef Susan Bae, the restaurant features innovative dishes like mochi beignets with freshwater eel and green curry sponge cake.
Recent Reviews from Google
First time here but loved it. Service was warm and very personal. Decor is homely and I like how there are personal effects and other personal touches everywhere you look. Pacing of the food is...
Exciting food, great flavors and nicer presentation. I tried the set menu and loved everything. My favorite was the crab with potato dumplings, and the wagyu kebabs were surprisingly good. The fish...
We recently tried the chef’s tasting menu at Moon Rabbit DC, and the experience was a mix of highs and lows. The meal started out strong—every starter we tried was excellent. The Summer Roll and...
$364 after tax + tip for 2 tasting menus ($89 each) and two wine pairings ($49 each). Great overall. We got one vegan tasting menu and one regular. The vegan one was just as great. Got one cocktail...
We were very excited to try out this place and were lucky enough to get a reservation last minute on a Monday night. We went as a group of 3 and got the Chef's Visit to Vietnam - which is 5 courses,...
