Photo courtesy Paul Meyer
NaiNai’s Noodle and Dumpling Bar on East-West Highway is temporarily closed to implement some equipment and menu changes.
“With the closing of Oriental East, there was a need for a wider variety of Chinese offerings in the area,” said owner Joanne Liu in an email interview.
“At the same time, we had some equipment issues and needed to revamp our setup, so it was a good time to close for a couple of weeks, retrain staff, get some new equipment and add a number of items like rice bowls, which many of our customers have asked for for awhile now,” said Liu, who with her sister, Julie, also is the owner of nearby Scion Restaurant.
The family opened and operated Jenny’s Chinese Restaurant in southwest Washington in 1981. The restaurant changed to Asian fusion cuisine in 2004 and now is in its current iteration as Jenny’s at the Wharf.
Scion, whose original location is in Dupont Circle, opened in Silver Spring in 2013 and NaiNai’s followed in March 2014.
“We hope to expand our offerings so more of the neighborhood comes out and supports our desire to provide affordable, tasty Chinese comfort food like dumplings, baos, noodles, rice bowls and other Asian street snacks,” said Liu about the new version of the restaurant. “We will throw a grand reopening party in February and have a number of specials to celebrate Chinese New Year, so we look forward to that!”
Liu said they are hiring for the new opening. Interested applicants can contact her at [email protected]