A local option for Chinese street food has closed in Idylwood.
Bing & Bao officially closed its doors at the end of July, bookending a four-year stint in the Idylwood Plaza shopping center.
The restaurant, which began serving customers during the coronavirus pandemic, specialized in, well, bing and bao dishes — Chinese savory crepes and steamed dumplings, respectively.
Visitors to the restaurant, located at 7505 Leesburg Pike, are now greeted by a sign that announces the permanent closure after July 31, but no reason for the closure is provided.
Japanese noodle restaurant Kajiken appears to be taking over the storefront, based on graphics placed on the window.
Kajiken, which launched in Japan in 2010, specializes in abura soba dishes — a type of soup-less ramen featuring homemade thick noodles and other Japan-imported ingredients.
“With precise seasoning, meticulous cooking methods, and the finest ingredients,” the chain’s website says, “we create an unparalleled taste experience that defines our brand.”
The chain opened its first U.S. location in 2022 and currently possesses five restaurants nationwide, including ones in Rockville and Baltimore, Maryland. The company plans to rapidly expand, opening up more than 100 locations by 2028, according to its website.
The additional locations include one in Lincolnia, where Kajiken is replacing the popular Foxfire Grill in Pinecrest Plaza. The franchise owner told FFXnow in February that they expected to open in six months, but didn’t immediately respond to a request for an update.
