New Restaurant Aims to Bring Life Back to D.C.’s Chinatown

Many residents and legacy businesses have been pushed out of Chinatown D.C. recently due to developments and public safety concerns. However, one businessman is working to start a new chapter.

Chef and entrepreneur, Gene Nguyen, recently opened Ambrosia Vietnamese Restaurant in the space former occupied by Tony Cheng’s Seafood Restaurant, which closed in late 2025 after nearly 40 years.

Ambrosia is located at 619 H Street NW.  It sits in front of a new 75-million-dollar Marriott hotel project, as well as near construction at the Capital One Arena on Sixth Street.

Nguyen emigrated from Vietnam to California, and then to D.C. in 1988. Since then, he has watched the vibrant Chinatown community not “catering that pride anymore.”

“When you get here, you see the gate. After that gate, what is shown that is Chinese?” said Nguyen.

Chinatown is now considered “China Corner” because of the number of Asian small businesses closing.

Nguyen said he has opened restaurants across the DMV since 1993, including “Present Restaurant” in Falls Church, has cooked for large events at MGM Casinos, has catered to famous artists such as Snoop Dogg, and has even been featured on national television with Fox News and on local networks WJLA and WUSA.

Nguyen said he has seen the drop in Chinese population in Chinatown as well.

“They all moved away because the property is bought off. So, they moved to Rockville, Bethesda; they have their own community out there,” he said.

Erica Fitzgerald, who works in Chinatown off of Massachusetts Avenue and has lived in the D.C. area for the last 10 years, has seen a lot of change in the community specifically post Covid.

“It’s a shame to lose out on culture. A lot of places have shut down; new places have come up. It’s sad to see some of those businesses go.”

With the culture of Chinatown decreasing and the identity closing into just one corner now, businesses like Ambrosia are finding ways to bring back what Chinatown once was through Nguyen’s eyes.

Nguyen said he has a goal to rebuild Asian culture in Chinatown with three organizations to bring life back to Chinatown.

Ambrosia is working with the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA), Lions Path D.C. Revitalization Initiative, as well as Save Chinatown DC.

The restaurant is fighting to back the long-term trends in the community by remaining open late in the night to bring back late night vibrant energy.

Nguyen said a lot of work will need to be done to accomplish that goal, but it starts with safety in the area.

“It takes a lot of effort. Number one is the safety, a little bit more police presence, so when its safe, people can come down, and it’s important that tourists come down here,” said Nguyen.

Cassie He, an organizer with Chinatown Solidarity Network, has been with a new organization, Save Chinatown, for two and a half years since its start up in February 2024.

The organization’s goal in the community is to uplift the voices, needs, and concerns of the residents and long-term working class in D.C. Chinatown.

Save Chinatown works with two affordable buildings in Chinatown, Museum Square and Wildlock House, to advocate for the needs of tenants, and long-term legacy small business in Chinatown to help them fight for the needs in their community.

He said the cultural aspect of a city is what ultimately makes the city. “It’s the food scene, canoeing music, and displacement as a result of intentional decisions by government and policy makers.”

He only hopes that the culture in Chinatown and D.C. will come back to what it once was. “I’m hopeful that there’s new energy in D.C., and I encourage folks to get involved in their communities.”

Save Chinatown engages in big campaigns, host events for holidays, and attract numerous volunteers to come together and bring change and life to Chinatown.

“We want to be a part of this new revitalization of Chinatown,” said Nguyen.