Rooster & Owl

The story

Rooster & Owl Washington DC | Michelin-Starred Contemporary Fusion

Rooster & Owl, Washington

On 14th Street NW, Rooster & Owl is a chef-owned restaurant that turns the traditional tasting menu into a genuinely social affair. The concept is simple: build your own four-course meal and share it with the table. The result is a dining experience that feels both refined and relaxed.

The restaurant is the work of husband-and-wife team Yuan and Carey Tang. The name comes from their opposite schedules—one an early riser, the other a night owl—and their shared belief that eating out should be a communal event. Chef Yuan Tang, a veteran of three-Michelin-star Jean Georges and one-Michelin-star The Modern in New York, leads the kitchen. His cooking is market-driven, letting seasonal ingredients dictate the menu. The kitchen dedicates a full day each week to recipe testing, ensuring each dish is inventive and precise before it reaches the table.

The menu is a showcase of contemporary fusion cuisine that draws on global techniques. A recent sample included bluefin tuna with strawberry boshi and citrus dashi, lobster mapo cavatelli with Sichuan chili oil, and a Xi’an spiced lamb rack with green harissa. Desserts, led by executive pastry chef Corey Jamison, add a playful touch—think peppercorn Basque cheesecake with strawberry tomato basil sorbet, or mango sticky rice pavlova. A wine pairing is available for those who want the full experience.

This thoughtful, ingredient-focused approach earned Rooster & Owl a Michelin star, a recognition that speaks to the consistency and creativity of the kitchen. The team is tight-knit, with a corporate chef de cuisine, a wine director, and even a pair of "complaint managers" (the Tangs’ young children) adding to the warm, unpretentious atmosphere.

Rooster & Owl is open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner. It’s a place where the food leads, the team collaborates, and guests are encouraged to be bold, try new things, and eat together.