The Weeaboo and Koreaboo’s Guide to Tysons Corner in Washington DC
When it comes to shopping in the Washington DC area, nothing beats Tysons Corner Center, one of the largest and most renowned shopping malls in the United States. But there’s also plenty to see for fans of Asian cuisine and culture, as Tysons Corner has both local bakeries and restaurants as well as outposts of larger Asian franchises. Many DC locals know the nearby town of Annandale as the place to go for all things Korean, but it’s harder to get around if you don’t have a car. If you’re visiting DC, Tysons is accessible from both Dulles Airport (IAD) and National Airport (DCA) through the Metro Silver Line. Here are some of the best spots to visit on a trip to the mall.
Matcha Maiko
Right in front of the doors to the Silver Line subway station is Matcha Maiko. This matcha cafe hails from Honolulu, Hawaii, however all the matcha is sourced from Uji, southern Kyoto. At Matcha Maiko, customers can enjoy a variety of matcha-based treats, including traditional ceremonial-grade matcha tea, matcha lattes, and desserts such as matcha soft serve ice cream and fluffy matcha-infused pastries.
Shilla Bakery
Shilla Bakery started in Northern Virginia thanks to two Korean bakers who wanted to share authentic Korean pastries with the community. The bakery soon took off, and they expanded outward to more than six different locations throughout the DMV. Their original Annandale location is the source of many great childhood memories for me, and I try and visit their Tysons Corner location any time I’m back in the area.
The Tysons Corner bakery has a lot of Korean bakery classics like pat-bbang (red bean buns) and soboro-bbang (sweet buns topped with baked streusel), along with newer, trendy products like crookies, an unholy combination of cookie and croissant dough that appears to be the croffle’s mutant cousin.
Soricha
Much like Shilla Bakery, the Soricha Tea kiosk at Tyson’s Corner is an offshoot of the Soricha Annandale Korean teahouse, which not only offers Korean traditional teas but also hosts Korean cultural performances and events. The Tysons Corner kiosk offers Korean smoothies and lattes (dandelion smoothie, anyone?) as well as organic teas like mugwort, matcha, citron and hojicha (roasted green tea) powder.
The kiosk offers free samples, so if you’re too scared to order the aforementioned dandelion smoothie, you can try a sip of the drink first.
Heuk Hwa Dang
Heuk Hwa Dang is a tea and dessert cafe with locations all over Korea, but just a handful of overseas stores, including a Tysons Corner kiosk. The shop offers boba, ade (fruit juice or tea mixed with sparkling water), and a variety of desserts and baked goods for sale.
Capitol Musubi
Capitol Musubi is a brand new local establishment offering a unique take on the traditional Japanese rice ball snack called musubi. This store specializes in handcrafted musubi featuring various fillings such as teriyaki chicken, spam, and other options wrapped in nori (seaweed) and rice.
Uniqlo
Uniqlo is a popular Japanese retail brand known for its high-quality, affordable clothing that combines simplicity and style, with over 50 locations across the USA. At their Tysons Corner location, you can find all of Uniqlo’s signature items, including their famous Heattech line for cold-weather layering, ultra-light down jackets, and comfortable, versatile basics like t-shirts, jeans, and leggings. But since you’re reading this guide, you’re probably more interested in their new Oshi No Ko graphic tees, Final Fantasy prints, and the other anime-themed clothing collaborations they have available.
Miniso
Unfortunately, Tysons Corner lacks a proper weeb shrine anime and manga store, however it makes do with a Miniso location. This Miniso has everything from home goods and electronics to beauty products, stationery, and fashion accessories, all with a sleek, minimalist vibe. I was able to find Japanese makeup, rows of sheet masks, and cute Sanrio plushies.
K-Pop stans may be interested in the wall-to-wall selection of BT21 plushies, backpacks, and tumblers they have available.
Overall, the large Asian community in the DC metro area means that there are plenty of options available for fans of Korean and Japanese culture and cuisine.
