For those who have gotten sick of the Tombs/Sweetgreen/Pizzeria Paradiso rotation of restaurant choices on the weekends, new and interesting places are only a GUTS bus away. While it only runs regularly on weekdays, the DuPont GUTS loop on a Friday evening is the perfect opportunity to get out of Georgetown and try a new cuisine or restaurant.
While it is about a 20-minute trip in rush-hour traffic, the options that await you make the crowded, uncomfortable bus ride worthwhile. On my latest excursion, heeding the advice of a wise upper-classman, I decided to try ShopHouse, a misleadingly named Southeast Asian market restaurant located at 1516 Connecticut Ave (for us directionally challenged, a 3 minute walk from the GUTS bus stop next to BGR and Sweetgreen).
The décor is reminiscent of Sweetgreen: neutral, organic, minimalist. And similar to its salad-making neighbor, ShopHouse operates under the “make what you like” mentality. With various meats, vegetables, sauces, and condiments, ShopHouse is a great alternative to the Guacamole Greens or Chic P that you have been ordering since freshman year. The hustle and bustle of the huge wok manned by the incredibly gracious staff adds to the excitement and demonstrates the freshness of the ingredients, at the same time, adding a delicious smokiness to the dishes.
I decided to go for the cold rice noodles (Leo’s never ceases to disappoint on the pasta-front, so I tend to go for a macaroni option when I’m out). Though I was skeptical about the cold noodles, the warmth of the grilled chicken, (complete with crispy skin) as well as the heat of the chili-infused eggplant, completely compensated. The green beans were perfectly cooked and the crispy shallots made for a perfect pair. However, it was the green curry sauce that brought the dish together with the sweetness of the coconut milk and the heat of the curry.
While my choice of a second vegetable added $1 to my check, this college student-friendly locale cost under $10—thanks to the free transport!
A fantastic choice for Asian cuisine when Mai Thai is out of this month’s budget, ShopHouse is a great option for getting off campus for delicious, cheap, and interesting food.
*Disclaimer: many of the sauce options are not vegetarian and the spices used packs a punch, so beware if you are a not heat-lover.