by Reggie G.

Chi-cha is a bit of a conundrum.  Just when you become convinced about how cool it is, it does something stupid to fuck it all up.  You have to take this place at face value - it gets really crowded on weekend nights with a bunch of fools.I recommend coming at happy hour - from 5-8, pretty good deals on food and drinks and you can sit outside or on one of the fabulous couches.Downsides - the music can really suck, it can be expensive and you may have to put up with some snobbery. Upsides - they have caipirinhas, they have awesome lounge couches, they have fried yuka and you can totally make out without being noticed.

by Czarina B.

(Sidenote: I love being a hater and giving the opposite reviews from other Yelpers!)I think this place is great.  I love 'lounges' with antiquey couches thrown about strategically to create a comfortable, bohemian ambiance (as a counter: Tryst tries to do this and fails miserably.)  Top it off with some mood lighting and it's a great place to just chill with vices -- alcohol and something you inhale through a pipe.I went on a weekend early evening and it was near empty when I got there.  I was promptly greeted by not 1, but 2 servers.  Our initial server was very friendly and attentive.  The downside is that there seems to be a gaggle of servers floating around who are ambiguously dressed and blend in with the customers.  We had to move to accomdate a reservation and then were pointedly ignored by the other 3 ladies whose section we were probably sitting in but wouldn't be contributing a tip to.It worked out for the best though, because it gave me more uninterrupted time to get cozy with a cute girl and imbibe chocolate flavored cocktails.  I even consummated my growing infatuation with chicha...shisha... however you spell it, and learned how to "pull a pipe".  I know, I feel so worldly now, I'm blushing.Supposedly the crowd has changed and now draws from Georgetown.  There was either no music playing or else the music was really random, like Britney Spears random.  It didn't fit in with the chill atmosphere.  But, I was paying too much attention to my ladyfriend to care.  So minus the music, the atmosphere is perfect for an intimate gathering of friends or just one "friend"

by Mia K.

My new favorite DC venue for sure!I find it odd that everyone is commenting on the prices - We actually went there twice in a week because it was so cheap.8$ for hookah (and then 18$ on Saturday but whatev) is almost Steinway Street price (if you smoke hookah, and don't know what Steinway is kill yourself, seriously).  3$ blue moon pints, 10$ martinis.  Seriously, that's cheap.Plus I loved the couches and the place attracts a very diverse crowd, so people watching is incredible.  The staff is also very nice and helpful.  They will make sure you get a table.

by Clarissa P.

If you don't want people to see your face and you like dungeons, or perhaps you want to be surrounded by melon smoke and red velvet, then this is the place for you. Okay,  so hookah is not my thing. But I've been to a few shisha places, and this one is about as tacky as it gets. Yes, Matt was a nice waiter. And the first time I went there, a Thursday night, I had great service, and a good drink, but only a drink because...well, I blame the economy.  Second time-not Matt-horrible service. Took about an hour to get my first drink. The DJ was alright this time. And thank goodness for the good company.Next time I'll be at Tarbouch.

by tina r.

god i'm getting old. i remember when this place was cool... and that was over a dozen years ago. i frequented this spot less and less through the years because the quality and ambiance of this spot continued to get worse each time i visited.what can i say that really hasn't been touched on before. the couches are busted. the wait staff SUCKS. the people are ridiculous and try too damn hard. the drinks are weak. the last time i came here my purse got stolen from right under my nose, literally... and i keep a good eye on my shit so how this magician managed to take me for my goods beats the shit out of me. however, that was the icing on the cake... realized it was long overdue to say ciao to chi-cha.def wont be back.

by Robert M.

This place has been reasonably covered by the gamut of fans and enemies, so I'll just add this:I happened upon it by accident whilst on walkabout from Dupont circle area heading down to 7th and K or so.  It was early afternoon.  Happy hour was in effect, and it's a pretty good happy hour.  Apparently lasts until 8.  I can't comment on the crowd because of how early it was--seems like a decent, mixed sort that frequents it.  Service was fine--again perhaps related to the no crowd situation.Less than 4 bucks will get you a glass of sangria or the "chi cha," which is similar but stronger I think and smacks of cinnamon and is definitely worth a sip.I had the stuffed avocado and being from California I love me an avocado.  It was good.Today I had the chorizo, which is fine, but the lentils that come with it are probably better.  And during happy hour, a mere 3 bucks.  Appetizers are half off.  Mojitos 6 bucks.  Beer 3 bucks.  3 fruity martinis are less than 6.  One is called the Strawberry Cheesecake.  My cohort seemed to like it.

by Ann L.

Worst. Ever.Let me put this out there, the first two times I was a fan.  Nice couches, cool music.  Then, out of nowhere in Fall 2007, my experiences went down hill and I vowed to never go again.  No matter how cool the decor is or good the music, it all comes down to staff.  And unless they've changed management recently, I'm sure it's still awful. Prepare for there to be a line anytime after 10 pm on a weekend.  That being said, I was not surprised to wait.  But when I showed up by myself to meet friends already inside, I didn't expect to wait twenty minutes when I was the next person to go in.  Not only did the bouncers make me stand in the cold for that long when they knew I was a party of one, they kept asking me why I was by myself.  Oh, and always prepare to wait over fifteen minutes to get your order in at the bar.  The last time I went, I was with friends there standing by the bar and having a good old time and saw two couches freed up.  We sit down and the waitress informs us that we need to order at least $30 in drinks each to sit.  I ask her if that could be combined with the tabs we already had at the bar (most of us had already a tab of $20).  She says no and walks away.  Then the manager comes up to us ten minutes later and asks what's the problem.  I said there is no problem and wanted to order some drinks but the waitress had not been back yet.  He told us we shouldn't give her a hard time.  Okay.That was the beginning of a night that ended with the waitress giving us attitude the rest of the night, the manager shoving in our couch while we were still seated, and then one of my friends getting burned by a lit cigarette the manager (of all people!) had in his hand while walking by.Needless to say, I have not been back since and will never go back.

by Sam M.

I had decently high expectations going to Chi-Cha based on what friends and acquiantances had told me, but I was severely disappointed.First of all, we got there for happy hour, and the happy hour menu was not what is advertised on their website and others. Only about 3 or 4 of the 12+ appetizers were actually half off. I ordered a tamal de pollo (chicken tamal) and it was actually pretty good. The sangria was half-off, and that was also tasty, but nothing extraordinary. Apparently, they ran out of beer at 6:15--are you kidding me??The reason I'm giving Chi-Cha two stars is due to the ATROCIOUS service we received. I don't know if our waiter was intentionally an asshole or just oblivious, but he was extremely snide and inept when it came to taking orders and bringing us the correct orders. Several of my friends ordered diet cokes and rum and got some version of bourbon and regular coke. The gin and tonics I ordered were not very strong and I basically felt like I was drinking water with a splash of lime. The worst part about the service was that our waiter was actually training another waitress. You would think that he would try to show his best waiter skills, but apparently the terrible service needs to be passed on to the next generation of wait staff. Overall, Chi-Cha has decent food and atmosphere, but the horrendous service definitely tainted the evening.

by Fasle C.

This is the premiere extavaganza place for happy hours! I mean top of the top, cream of the crop place. It has space, perfect space to move around for a party of 30 or more. Management is great and service is not perfect but you've got to love the surrounding, like a walk in the clouds if you are drunk but sane enough to drive, you'll realize its the smoke of Chi-Cha! Now the food is surprisingly good, whether it is their non-greasy fries or their delightful grilled chicked. The seating may not be the typical restaurant logo but hey, who cares when its a giant living room where you can lift your legs, lounge yourself to a great crowd after a hard day .

by Paul M.

I actually thought I was going to a Chi-Chi's before I got here.Let me get sentimental about Chi-Chi's for a second. The first Mexican restaurant in the US I ever went to. Cleveland, Ohio. It was a business lunch - ( in fact the first business lunch in America I ever went to)  there was about 30 of us, all starting a new project together. Someone ordered an iced tea and I thought they were having a cocktail so I order a margarita. Not appreciated by my peers. Welcome to America. You alcoholic Irish bastard.Sadly, Chi-Chi's is no more, but the U Street Corridor has the Chi-Cha lounge. I can see the business plan meeting a few years ago:"Here's what we'll do, we'll have hookahs, couches, hot wait staff and great music. All the cool kids will come and we'll make a bomb - are you in?"Nobody at that meeting asked: " yeah - but how we will we constantly innovate and renew the value proposition for our customers - what about disruptive innovation? won't people ever get fed up coming to a bar where the couches get mouldier, the service gets worse, and might the whole hookah thing lose its novelty?"if they did the answer might have been: "it doesn't matter - women will come here because it's cool and different  and guys will come here because the women come here - we can never lose"They can't, but you might. I prefer Chi-Chi's.

by Candace H.

Somewhere in between a 2 and a 3.Does NOT compare to Tarbouch.  A notch down from Gazuza, and a notch up from Soussi (since it was overrun by weird folk).I was there on a Thursday night.  The place was pretty empty.  The tunes went from good, to bad, to good, to worse.  Definitely inconsistent, Mr. DJ.  Our waiter, Matt, was a sweetheart.  But his being a sweetheart didn't make the drinks any less expensive (not like I really care... but they kind of sucked for what I paid).  The shisha isn't amazing... just your run of the mill shisha.The decor is kind of tight.  Cement floors, red paint everywhere... couches that look dirty and a little bit 18th street lounge but not as posh.  Huge space.I mean, if you're going to chill.. there are better places than chi cha lounge.  But if you're stuck on U street and you're hankering for shisha and a good time, you might as well.Negative one star for spelling shisha "chi cha".  wtf?

by Alex M.

This place has over-priced drinks ....The ambiance is the best thing about this place and all the nooks it has.....  kool people  having good times..

by Judy C.

Went there for a friend's birthday party.  We got there really early, so no problem getting seated.  The waitress was training a new person, so she was doing her job very well.  She took our orders and was really good remembering all of our orders (6 of us).We shared a whole bunch of food, and the food was not bad.  I was excited when I saw they have arepas, but they were ok.  Nothing bad about the food, but I don't think I would go there just for food.With that said, there are hookahs (we didn't have one), and the place seems like it gets crowded fast.  We did get a chocolate dessert cake for my friend, so overall it was a nice experience!

by Mikkela T.

Blonde hostess and an international crowd made it an enjoyable evening. It was a rainy (monsoon anyone?) Thursday and the lounge did not get crowded so it was good for them that our group numbered more than 30. Still, our waiter couldn't remember drinks that cost less than four dollars... I liked the retro music as I recall dancing to many of those tunes back in '91 but it seemed not as "ambient" as I'd expect in a shisha lounge. I did really "dig" the looooww couches that required thighmaster exercises to get up from (every time a new person joined the group - count 30). The red walls and moochy couches reminded me of some of my days at home - lounging and lolling about with friends. The food was mostly latin influenced and my meat on stick with al dente brown rice, spicy chimichurri sauce and ceviche style salad was fine but slightly hoo-ha for $12 (was it 50 grams of meat? I'm not really a fan of my meat servings reminding me of retail drug quantities). My two glasses of wine (one HH price, one regular) and food cost me $26 not including tip. Despite my body being soaked up to my knees, I warmed to the company of the DC cosmopolitan scene (I can't name them, and for some of them I can't remember their names... so sooorry). Overall, I'm not sure I'd come back here for the place, but if there are more shaved and perfectly-symmetrical heads and tales of Baku... well, I might walk a mile in the rain.

by Julie H.

I walk by Chi-Cha daily going to and from my home and never thought much of the mirrored windows and tables that spill out on to the sidewalk during the summer. What you can't tell from the outside is that inside Chi-Cha is an almost cavernous space, with couches and low tables scattered throughout, some spots obscured by curtains or wall columns.Needless to say, I get why people like Chi-Cha.I visited for the first time on a late weekend night - though the list for a table seemed long we had barely considered a drink at the bar before we found ourselves being seated (at a $20/person minimum table, no less). It was a perfect spot in the middle of the bar and table action. I spent a large portion of the night watching people dancing, taking photos and being ridiculously jealous of a guy with a gold ROPE chain around his neck. The other part of the night was spent distracted by the showing of "True Romance" on the flat screen TV above the bar (a movie that was followed by "American Psycho" - quite the disturbing experience). Hookah will set you back $18 but will be enough to wile away the hours. The drink list is ample and the flavored mojitos are delicious ($9). Though it was busy our waitress was frequently back to check on us and make sure we never waited for a drink. The DJ helped us get in a better going-out mood though the random mixing of typical bar songs without regard to consistency was a big downer that encouraged us to scout out a better dance locale. I'm happy to no longer wonder about the mysterious front of Chi-Cha Lounge and even more pleased to know that this hookah bar is right in my neighborhood.

by Lemon C.

I went for happy hour and the sangrias were good! I keep trying to like their signature drink the Chi Cha Morada, but don't. I do like real morada juice that I had in Peru. I ordered the Tres Leches cake and was sorely disappointed! No where close to what a Tres Leches cake is supposed to be. Very dry and little liquid. This was probably the one time I didn't finish a dessert.

by r. r.

On Wednesday: Funky meters, sultans of swing, bronx parkway express, naive melody, 3$ dutch beers, 9$ hookah all night, bearded DC hipsters in tight shorts (working for the government and riding an uncomfortable bike to work is so daring) and girls wearing proper dresses. Very nice, chi cha lounge. If they play cymande and throw in some hieroglyphics or quannum mc's next time I will have to become a regular, if only for the massive shot of tequila you get along with your dos equis for seis dolares.

by christine A.

If we were grading DC lounges, I would have to give Chi-Cha Lounge a C-.  First off, there is a $20 per person minimum for  people sitting at a table. That would be OK except last night they were at out of 2 of the 6 white wines on their menu at 9:30pm on a Saturday - including the common Pinot Gris?! If you are going to have a $20 minimum at least make sure you have everything on your menu.  Lastly, when my friend order the Pinot (that the waiter told me 20 minutes before they were out of), he gave her the glass of "Pinot" which turned out to be Chardonnay.  The atmosphere was nice, but sketchy service and over priced drinks that they didn't have =  C-.

by Nihar S.

Chi-cha, what happened to you?! When i first moved into the district, this place was NICE. Great music, great staff, good hookah and drinks with a great crowd. Every time I come back, it gets a bit worse and worse. I have an idea -- switch the DJ and turn on the A/C. I went this past weekend and it was 90 degrees outside and approximately 98 degrees inside...I guess it didnt matter because nobody could dance to whatever crap that was playing on the speakers. Only tried the food there once and it's decent. The hookah is pretty good too, and the drinks are cheaper than most venues in DC.  Stick to gazuza for the hookah or go to another venue if you want to dance, but chicha's is declining...I hope it'll pick back up, but until then...I'm out.

by Becky T.

Hookah on a school night?  Hell yeah, but shhh, don't tell any of my patients.  This review is of their happy hour since a lot of people seemed to touch on their night life aspect and the vibe of the place.  They have happy hour half price hookah from 5pm-8pm with specials on appetizers and drinks as well.  They have a variety of hookah flavors from your standard apple and orange to stuff like caramel, cappuccino, and my favorite, jasmine.  The half priced appetizers we ordered were decent, the best was the torta de los andes which is this mashed potato bun that was stuffed with ground beef.  We also shared an empanada platter.  The empanadas weren't spectacular but it came with generous amounts of fried yucca, plantains, and croquettes.  They had a sangria special that was $20 for a pitcher, which I would pass on next time.  No fresh fruit or anything special about it at all.  I'd stick with the $3 Stellas though.Service was comedic.  Not as in they were witty but that it was charmingly spotty at best.  There was one guy serving the entire room along with his trainee.  When I asked for water for the table, they brought me one small glass for just me.  When we again asked for water for my friends, they brought out another single glass.  We had to ask again for a third one.  They were not surprisingly fast though when we asked for our beers.  Still they were friendly, though seemingly absent-minded and it was a nice way to unwind after a hard or in my case, a not-so-hard day of work.

by Lauren K.

I was pretty confused to see that "Twilight" was playing on the flatscreen above the bar, since I thought that movie's target audience wasn't old enough to be admitted into Chi Cha Lounge. As I was wondering about the odd film selection, the DJ busted out "The Thong Song." Yes, the very song often playing at the 8th grade tri-city dance as you were grinding against a boy 4 inches shorter than you. Maybe I could have been down with the middle school party vibe... if the place didn't bill itself as a "lounge" and everyone weren't smoking hookah on velvet couches under dim red lighting. The place was too hot, too crowded, and too dark; the atmosphere was too weird for me. In a word: creepy.

by Vincent G.

Oh, neighborhood gem of mine, what's happened to you?I am the first one to recommend you to my friends. After all, you are attractive for your hookas, atmosphere, and happy hour prices. I even accept your loudness with the after-work crowd, and that your drinks are, well, just OK at times. But you crushed my heart last night with your new working menu!Your new tapas-style dishes are simply not as tasty or memorable as my old favorites. Your long-served "platos fuertes" were outstanding. My mom visited from NYC in March and agreed. She happily enjoys your Andes/Latino-inspired flavors, a woman who prides herself on making authentic Ecuadorian dishes. Your favorite, "Mauricio's favorite," was my favorite -- mmm, the pork loin and sweet plantains truly reminding me of home. The Lomo Saltado -- your Peruvian-style beef with onions/tomatoes + rice and fries: phenomenal and filling.Maybe I'm too old school, but your tapas yesterday were boring. I understand you are following a trend, and that your dishes are a work in progress, but the quality of your food has gone down. What's happened to your ceviche, for instance? I want the old ceviche back. The ceviche sampler I had last night tried to do too much within its small four or so compartments.As a U Street corridor favorite, I will always come back to you. Your music is appealing to those with ears for the obscure. And yet you also retain a good balance of the lively, popular, and familiar. Your have a unique, beautiful inside space. Your deep reds, patterns, and paintings elicit ideas of warmth-- ranging from the exotic (some of your parties can be crazy), to the romantic (sometimes a little too much PDA), to the peaceful.

by Nicole L.

It's been ages since I visited Chi-Cha, a friend of mine used to perform at the bar so I came to support a couple of times. Brazilian music makes it more tolerable! It's an exotic place for drinks and hookah, very boudoir-like, all you need is to show up with some hot chicks haha. I remember the hookah was pricey though. I ought to come back here and check out the menu!

by Monique M.

Their Happy Hour(HH) is phenominal!!! The music was nice and upbeat, the food was fantastic, and the drinks even better. I never thought a "rail" rum, pineapple w/grenandine could taste so damn good!...This was the HH version of Malibu and Pineapple. The best part is that I drank for 2.5 hrs.(YES I was the 1st one there at 5:30p) and my bill was about $19!!!...They will definitely see more of me!

by Tracey C.

I went here for happy hour and it was great. Nice atmosphere and not at all crowded. I think that may have had to do with DC folk migrating elsewhere for the Memorial Day weekend. Jason is the best and I have a new summer drink to introduce to the ladies for the summer. Pink Lemonade! It's easy and goes down so smooth that I won't know I'm drunk until I wake up the next morning. If I'm too lazy to make it myself I'll stop by here for a $6 martini. The food is pretty good. Nice happy hour dishes for $5. I like the yucca fries, calamari, and a sweet corn cake dish with cheese dish. I think it was missing jalapeno or something to add a kick of flavor but still good.

by Andrea P.

Although I don't quite understand the relationship between hookahs and latin american cuisine, Chi-Cha Lounge is great. Happy hour specials allowed me to get wine for $4.00, and the wine was really good.  We also tasted chi-cha, a spiced wine, which was good but not for me, and the sangria, which had good flavor but was a little to sweet.   We also tried the coconut, mango, and champagne mojitos-the coconut mojito (coquito) was definitely the best of the bunch.  Moreover, the service was spot-on.  Our server and the hookah coal people were super fast and helpful.  The couches and lighting are pleasant and definitely gave me the ambiance that I wanted.  We also ordered the yuca fries with a cheese sauce.  They were out of this world.  The plantain maduros were so perfect, they brought me back to my time in the dominican republic.  But the shrimp was only so-so.  In conclusion, Chi-Cha Lounge is cool! Definitely stop by...

by Lisa B.

I'm torn between a 2 and a 3...but just for the hookah, and only the hookah, I'll make it a 3. I've been here four times now and can gladly say the service is consistently under par (sorry, watching the PGA Tour) - and I say gladly cos at least it's consistent...Arrived at about midnight Friday and no line at the door. A very eager male host offered a table and we declined choosing a high top right by the door. Waited 5 minutes, received no service. Finally asked the host if we could order a drink and a hookah and were advised that just this particular table did not permit it....So we were seated at a table in the rear and waited...and waited....To cut a long story short - service failed. And to add injury to the insult we spied the remains of a hookah pipe and a round of empty glasses on that very same high top as we departed! Pros - I like the decor and dark burgundy walls; dimmed lighting creates the right ambiance. Music is usually good (although last night begged the question of how much longer have I to listen to 80's sound tracks thrown in at random on an otherwise decent line up?) The martini list is good and the Ecstacy cocktail is delicious. Cons - The crowd has gone downhill since my earlier visits...or perhaps I'm just getting older and less tolerant :) Ventilation is poor and the whiff upon entering is, well, gross. But not half as bad as the odor in the women's restroom...which is just the right intro to a completely filthy scene. Now I completely understand it was the wee hours of the morning etc, but there's a limit to what's acceptable...and it's not as if I wasn't paying a fair penny for my martini. If you want to set a scene and a standard - deliver. Highlight of the evening - guy sitting across from our table sporting a transformers tee-shirt...oh I how I wish iphone camera had a flash for that.

by Tameka D.

HOOKAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH was GREAT!So definitely went to Chi Cha for the first time this weekend with a few friends! I had an awesome time...it is a great lounge for a chill night out. For a Saturday night, it was busy, but not wall to wall and we were able to get a table. After 1 maker mark, 3 beam and cokes, and a shot of patron...I felt right at home. I kicked my feet up and sat on the lounge couch! They have a variety of comfy cushions and couches. Fun place to people watch get twisted! They have Andean-inspired tapas and the DJ plays Fri-Sat good variety of music! I sat down on the couch and smoked Arabic tobacco through a 3-foot  hookah...I left feeling GREAT and we peaced out and went bar hopping in Adams Morgan.I definitely recommend this spot!I wanted to give this spot 5 starts but couldnt but the only part that sucked was Chi-Cha has impossible parking since its in the U Street area which already has limited space. So catch the train or walk...parking is wonk wonkkkkkkkkkkkk

by John K.

H-O-O-K-A-H.  Oh YEA!  Right in between U street and Adams Morgan, it's quite the locale.  Not recommended after heavy heavy drinking since the hookah buzz will KNOCK YOU OUT!I remember the first time I came here, I barely remembered where I was.  That's why I couldn't Yelp it.....I should probably come here sober one night to give it a real review.The hookahs are awesome and plentiful.  Plenty of places to sit.  And I think they serve pretty good food too (from what I remember).

by E. Y.

Very good food, cool lounge music and a pleasant atmosphere

by Mick S.

3.5 stars.  Needed a shisha fix after a crappy Lebanese meal in the neighborhood, and this was recommended by a friend. Hookah's weren't bad at all. Bonus for us, we were seated near the back room, and there was a speed dating meet-up happening for our amusement. This made the place pretty fun and cool, maybe more so than it would have been on a regular night. But I would go back

by Kristin S.

Let's take a peek into the sober mind of Kristin S. the night I went to Chi-Cha:- Long line? WTF!  It's 1am........wait, we're bartering with the doorman to get in?  Grr...................WAIT, there's hardly anyone in here?  Why is there a line?- Ok, bartender is good.  And cute.  Should I make eyes at him? ..........no, sober eyes are bad.  Awkward for everyone.- Oh, look.  Someone just spilled their drink on me......................But hey, I like this music they are playing.- Anddddd someone just fell on me.  Legit fell on me.............I like their light fixtures.- Did someone just do the robot? ...............still good mix of music.- Sweet, time to go home.  Finding a taxi should only take us about 3 days. THE.END.

by Eric T.

I enjoyed this hookah experience. I wound up here the second week after moving here. It was fun! The drinks are VERY reasonably priced, the crowd is cool (the spiky hair and gold digging set is well represented, but not ubiquitous) the staff is very friendly and the hookahs are very good. Hookah flavors are rich not dry, the atmosphere begs for sharing and they keep the lights low, great for us with less than stellar features that need a liitle assistance. I loved the night life at Chi-Cha!! Very fun.

by Ana V.

A great place to chill out with friends! The lounge and house music selections are awesome. The crowd is hip and culturally diverse. I have only tried the appetizers and they are a delicious fusion of Middle Eastern and Latin cuisines. Be sure to try the Friday Happy Hour specials!

by Laura T.

OK, "Notoriety" night on Wednesday. Went 8/26/09. Here are some talking points:All-night drink specials (these may change):-$6 Dos Equis + tequila shooter-$7 Patron Coffee (urgh)-$5 rail tequila mixed drinks-$7 Cuervo mixed drinks-$8 Patron mixed drinksHappy hour specials, 7pm-8pm: -$4 mixed drinks-$3 draught beers (Amstel, Heineken, some sort of hefeweizen, Dos Equis)-$9 (half-price) shisha. Latin, funk, hip hop, soul, indie rock (Smiths, Talking Heads) - awesome.Old movies projected on the back wall usually, except last night it was an infinite loop of Radiohead videos, which are horrifying. Truly grim, although comfortable, couches.Starts out yuppie but turns into BYT crowd around 10pm.  FYI, for those unfamiliar with Brightest Young Things or BYT(http://www.brightestyo...), it's appears to be a community of the few hipsters have taken root in the dry, uncool soil of DC. They throw good parties. Totally chill. Highly recommend. I put Chi-Cha in the same box as Cafe Saint-Ex, that is, decent-to-meh when sober--MINDBLOWINGLY FUN…

by cotie s.

"A Top Chef judge was our waiter" or "We were totally duped"Scroll below to read my review of the food. Read directly below to read a story that is either very exciting or a sad, sad ruse. (Side Note: I heart Top Chef with a medium sized passion and easily consider it one of my favorite shows)So showing up around 8pm we basically had the place to our selves and sat towards the front on a comfy corner spot. Our waiter at first was fairly lax with our service because we had to ask for enough menus and for plates when our first round of food came out. Then he only brought 3 plates when there were four of us. Either way food was good and our service improved considerable. Now the story...Ivan, our waiter, starts talking to us and eventually tells us he will pay our bill if we can guess where he is from. He already revealed he speaks fluent Spanish, and he looks Spanish. So we realize he's probably not Spanish. We make our three guess he provides over the next several times he brings us food/drinks. Turkey, Russia, and New Zealand were wrong. He reveals he is from France. He then reveals he speaks fluent French. We talk some more and continue to order drinks.At some point Ivan reveals he is a chef. Let me correct that, he claims he one ONE OF THE BEST CHEFS IN EUROPE!! So we start grilling him about cooking, why is he waiting on us at this restaurant, and where does he work as a chef. He claims the following: A) He works at El Bulli, perhaps the most famous restaurant in the world http://www.ebulli.com. And he is working in DC because El Bulli closes for six months out of the year and is spending time in the US.B) His uncle owns a restaurant in DC and he got him a job at Chi Cha so he can spend time in the US and learn about the other end of working in a resturant.C) He will be on TOP CHEF AS A GUEST JUDGE for a quick fire challenge. He then said the contestants food sucked and they gave him hard time for being so critical of their food. He said he did not meet Tom Colicchio.D) The next day he will be competing in a food competition in Crystal City.E) That he would email us with some recipes we could make at home.F) Recommended the "Mango Crisp", it was terrible.Since leaving we have found nothing to substantiate Ivan's claims. We've scoured the internet and have yet to find any evidence. Perhaps we should have asked his last name, but that though eluded us while we were there. While the jury is still out, we've pretty much decided Ivan was full of crap. Though there is still the possibility that maybe he wasn't...If anyone can verify Ivan's story, please contact me. If you're pretty sure I'm a complete dope for even humoring him, please contact me.Food:Definitely good tapas food and we ordered about half the menu. Below is a rank order of what we had from favorite to least."Tender Steak"-off menu item were were told was a special. Super tender slow cooked beef tenderloin with an amazing gravy over the steak and potatoes."crab freschetta"-sweet crab meat, tomatoes, and chewy bread. Yum!!!"cheese filled corn fritters"-cheesy crunchy goodness, tasty sause"Pepper steak"-tasty, little dry, nothing compared to the tender steak"Pita Chips and guacamole"-mediocre at best"Tuna steak"-kinda dry, not a lot of taste, punch in the face spicy salad with Chinese five spice."Nutella cake"-dry and bad"Mango Crisp"-terrible

by martha w.

If you like red velvet, this is the place for you. No - it's more than that. I actually really like Chi-Cha's - especially when there is live classical guitar (and other) music. The sofas are a little smelly but the servers are  friendly, the drinks are reasonably priced, and it's an ecclectic crowd. My friends and I automatically relax when we go inside. The atmosphere sort of demands that you chill and enjoy. I would give it four stars except that the food and drinks aren't especially thrilling. But will definitely go back.

by C. A.

Ok...visited Chi-Cha over the summer as some friends hosted a weekly "I Love Patron Happy Hour" and the atmosphere was nice because I often went with friends, however, the lounge is in dyer need of some renovations. The Pros: * The Food (great and reasonably priced) * Drinks (great price for U Street) * Hookah (affordable, relaxing, and mellow) * Lighting (I enjoyed the dimly lit lounge as it made it very relaxing) The Cons: * Parking (the worst...but its expected on U Street) * The Sofas Chairs (old and in need of replacing...not repairing) * The Restrooms (very small stalls as I'm sure is a challenge for larger patrons) * Bartenders (while they mix drinks well it takes FOREVER to arrive, but this could change if management have enough bartenders for functions) * Wait Staff (try to ensure a good time, but if its packed, their lost) This isn't someplace I'd go out of my way to visit, however, if you're in the area, stop by and try the Hookah...its real chill.

by Brendan F.

WTF?We sat next to a party of 5 (no, not that Party of Five but they would have been a lot cooler) that was ordering gobs of food, drinks and hookah. Meanwhile, my friend and I sat next to them waving our arms like a couple of assholes trying to get the server's attention. He walked by like, mmm, a half dozen times bearing gifts to our neighbors and finally my friend literally stuck her hand on his chest to get his attention. No worries, dude, we just want to order a drink. Which ended up taking 15 minutes. And he forgot mine. Whatever.

by Nate M.

I've worked in the restaurant industry for a long time and plan on sticking around for the rest of my life. Once a cook, always a cook. But I've been a server too at one point and it's changed the way I eat out. I pay attention to a lot of subtleties because they are the biggest tells of frustration. And on this night, we were that frustrating party.We were:-The party of 15 on a friday night that turned into the party of 20 so every server who walked by we constantly kept asking for chairs.-Ordering thins one a time as opposed to all at once, then resulting in our table wondering why service is taking so long.-Demanding we just "send us food, I'm hungry, I don't care"-Grabbing the table next to attach to ours, and in the process breaking the hookah and a few cocktail glasses around it (the echoes of shattering glass in the smaller part of that lounge was beautiful)-Splitting the bill between 8 and 9 debit cards.-Too drunk to remember what exactly any of our drinks and food were, but quick to point out what we didn't order.Writing this out reminds of the fact that I really dislike dining out with non-industry people. Anyways, after all that I wondered if our server would lose it but you know what? She didn't.. not one bit. I wish I had got her name because she handled us pretty well. Of course, our party left unhappy because "the service sucked" but 90% have never worked in a restaurant before. The spread sampler and pita, yucca fries and calamari were all delicious. One drink you need to try is the Maltido Amor: Passionfruit, ginger, vodka and a serrano chili. Sweet, spicy... a real kick in the mouth.I'll probably give this place another try.

by Nate M.Brendan F.C. A.

I've worked in the restaurant industry for a long time and plan on sticking around for the rest of my life. Once a cook, always a cook. But I've been a server too at one point and it's changed the way I eat out. I pay attention to a lot of subtleties because they are the biggest tells of frustration. And on this night, we were that frustrating party.We were:-The party of 15 on a friday night that turned into the party of 20 so every server who walked by we constantly kept asking for chairs.-Ordering thins one a time as opposed to all at once, then resulting in our table wondering why service is taking so long.-Demanding we just "send us food, I'm hungry, I don't care"-Grabbing the table next to attach to ours, and in the process breaking the hookah and a few cocktail glasses around it (the echoes of shattering glass in the smaller part of that lounge was beautiful)-Splitting the bill between 8 and 9 debit cards.-Too drunk to remember what exactly any of our drinks and food were, but quick to point out what we didn't order.Writing this out reminds of the fact that I really dislike dining out with non-industry people. Anyways, after all that I wondered if our server would lose it but you know what? She didn't.. not one bit. I wish I had got her name because she handled us pretty well. Of course, our party left unhappy because "the service sucked" but 90% have never worked in a restaurant before. The spread sampler and pita, yucca fries and calamari were all delicious. One drink you need to try is the Maltido Amor: Passionfruit, ginger, vodka and a serrano chili. Sweet, spicy... a real kick in the mouth.I'll probably give this place another try.WTF?We sat next to a party of 5 (no, not that Party of Five but they would have been a lot cooler) that was ordering gobs of food, drinks and hookah. Meanwhile, my friend and I sat next to them waving our arms like a couple of assholes trying to get the server's attention. He walked by like, mmm, a half dozen times bearing gifts to our neighbors and finally my friend literally stuck her hand on his chest to get his attention. No worries, dude, we just want to order a drink. Which ended up taking 15 minutes. And he forgot mine. Whatever.Ok...visited Chi-Cha over the summer as some friends hosted a weekly "I Love Patron Happy Hour" and the atmosphere was nice because I often went with friends, however, the lounge is in dyer need of some renovations. The Pros: * The Food (great and reasonably priced) * Drinks (great price for U Street) * Hookah (affordable, relaxing, and mellow) * Lighting (I enjoyed the dimly lit lounge as it made it very relaxing) The Cons: * Parking (the worst...but its expected on U Street) * The Sofas Chairs (old and in need of replacing...not repairing) * The Restrooms (very small stalls as I'm sure is a challenge for larger patrons) * Bartenders (while they mix drinks well it takes FOREVER to arrive, but this could change if management have enough bartenders for functions) * Wait Staff (try to ensure a good time, but if its packed, their lost) This isn't someplace I'd go out of my way to visit, however, if you're in the area, stop by and try the Hookah...its real chill.

by Nate M.Brendan F.C. A.martha w.cotie s.

I've worked in the restaurant industry for a long time and plan on sticking around for the rest of my life. Once a cook, always a cook. But I've been a server too at one point and it's changed the way I eat out. I pay attention to a lot of subtleties because they are the biggest tells of frustration. And on this night, we were that frustrating party.We were:-The party of 15 on a friday night that turned into the party of 20 so every server who walked by we constantly kept asking for chairs.-Ordering thins one a time as opposed to all at once, then resulting in our table wondering why service is taking so long.-Demanding we just "send us food, I'm hungry, I don't care"-Grabbing the table next to attach to ours, and in the process breaking the hookah and a few cocktail glasses around it (the echoes of shattering glass in the smaller part of that lounge was beautiful)-Splitting the bill between 8 and 9 debit cards.-Too drunk to remember what exactly any of our drinks and food were, but quick to point out what we didn't order.Writing this out reminds of the fact that I really dislike dining out with non-industry people. Anyways, after all that I wondered if our server would lose it but you know what? She didn't.. not one bit. I wish I had got her name because she handled us pretty well. Of course, our party left unhappy because "the service sucked" but 90% have never worked in a restaurant before. The spread sampler and pita, yucca fries and calamari were all delicious. One drink you need to try is the Maltido Amor: Passionfruit, ginger, vodka and a serrano chili. Sweet, spicy... a real kick in the mouth.I'll probably give this place another try.WTF?We sat next to a party of 5 (no, not that Party of Five but they would have been a lot cooler) that was ordering gobs of food, drinks and hookah. Meanwhile, my friend and I sat next to them waving our arms like a couple of assholes trying to get the server's attention. He walked by like, mmm, a half dozen times bearing gifts to our neighbors and finally my friend literally stuck her hand on his chest to get his attention. No worries, dude, we just want to order a drink. Which ended up taking 15 minutes. And he forgot mine. Whatever.Ok...visited Chi-Cha over the summer as some friends hosted a weekly "I Love Patron Happy Hour" and the atmosphere was nice because I often went with friends, however, the lounge is in dyer need of some renovations. The Pros: * The Food (great and reasonably priced) * Drinks (great price for U Street) * Hookah (affordable, relaxing, and mellow) * Lighting (I enjoyed the dimly lit lounge as it made it very relaxing) The Cons: * Parking (the worst...but its expected on U Street) * The Sofas Chairs (old and in need of replacing...not repairing) * The Restrooms (very small stalls as I'm sure is a challenge for larger patrons) * Bartenders (while they mix drinks well it takes FOREVER to arrive, but this could change if management have enough bartenders for functions) * Wait Staff (try to ensure a good time, but if its packed, their lost) This isn't someplace I'd go out of my way to visit, however, if you're in the area, stop by and try the Hookah...its real chill.If you like red velvet, this is the place for you. No - it's more than that. I actually really like Chi-Cha's - especially when there is live classical guitar (and other) music. The sofas are a little smelly but the servers are  friendly, the drinks are reasonably priced, and it's an ecclectic crowd. My friends and I automatically relax when we go inside. The atmosphere sort of demands that you chill and enjoy. I would give it four stars except that the food and drinks aren't especially thrilling. But will definitely go back."A Top Chef judge was our waiter" or "We were totally duped"Scroll below to read my review of the food. Read directly below to read a story that is either very exciting or a sad, sad ruse. (Side Note: I heart Top Chef with a medium sized passion and easily consider it one of my favorite shows)So showing up around 8pm we basically had the place to our selves and sat towards the front on a comfy corner spot. Our waiter at first was fairly lax with our service because we had to ask for enough menus and for plates when our first round of food came out. Then he only brought 3 plates when there were four of us. Either way food was good and our service improved considerable. Now the story...Ivan, our waiter, starts talking to us and eventually tells us he will pay our bill if we can guess where he is from. He already revealed he speaks fluent Spanish, and he looks Spanish. So we realize he's probably not Spanish. We make our three guess he provides over the next several times he brings us food/drinks. Turkey, Russia, and New Zealand were wrong. He reveals he is from France. He then reveals he speaks fluent French. We talk some more and continue to order drinks.At some point Ivan reveals he is a chef. Let me correct that, he claims he one ONE OF THE BEST CHEFS IN EUROPE!! So we start grilling him about cooking, why is he waiting on us at this restaurant, and where does he work as a chef. He claims the following: A) He works at El Bulli, perhaps the most famous restaurant in the world http://www.ebulli.com. And he is working in DC because El Bulli closes for six months out of the year and is spending time in the US.B) His uncle owns a restaurant in DC and he got him a job at Chi Cha so he can spend time in the US and learn about the other end of working in a resturant.C) He will be on TOP CHEF AS A GUEST JUDGE for a quick fire challenge. He then said the contestants food sucked and they gave him hard time for being so critical of their food. He said he did not meet Tom Colicchio.D) The next day he will be competing in a food competition in Crystal City.E) That he would email us with some recipes we could make at home.F) Recommended the "Mango Crisp", it was terrible.Since leaving we have found nothing to substantiate Ivan's claims. We've scoured the internet and have yet to find any evidence. Perhaps we should have asked his last name, but that though eluded us while we were there. While the jury is still out, we've pretty much decided Ivan was full of crap. Though there is still the possibility that maybe he wasn't...If anyone can verify Ivan's story, please contact me. If you're pretty sure I'm a complete dope for even humoring him, please contact me.Food:Definitely good tapas food and we ordered about half the menu. Below is a rank order of what we had from favorite to least."Tender Steak"-off menu item were were told was a special. Super tender slow cooked beef tenderloin with an amazing gravy over the steak and potatoes."crab freschetta"-sweet crab meat, tomatoes, and chewy bread. Yum!!!"cheese filled corn fritters"-cheesy crunchy goodness, tasty sause"Pepper steak"-tasty, little dry, nothing compared to the tender steak"Pita Chips and guacamole"-mediocre at best"Tuna steak"-kinda dry, not a lot of taste, punch in the face spicy salad with Chinese five spice."Nutella cake"-dry and bad"Mango Crisp"-terrible