After serving the Wheaton, Maryland neighborhood for almost thirty years, we informed you last month that the well-known Hollywood East Cafe, which serves Chinese and Hong Kong-style dim sum, would close its doors on August 24, 2025. The upcoming closure has been added to Eater DC’s list of the saddest restaurant closures in the DC area.
The restaurant has been a beloved local institution since the Yu family founded it in 1996. It is well-known for its pan-fried dumplings, crispy shredded beef dishes, and rolling dim sum carts, all of which have come to represent shared memories for many of its customers.
The Yu family is taking this moment to look back on an amazing journey full of community, culture, and food as the lease for the well-loved restaurant comes to an end. The family thanked the devoted patrons who have helped Hollywood East Cafe feel like home over the years, saying, “Thank you for 29 amazing years.”
To savor their favorite dishes and bid farewell to a local mainstay, fans are urged to visit the restaurant before its closure date. The Yu family’s culinary history is far from done, though, as they have intriguing new endeavors planned. With well-liked items like dumpling sauce, almond biscuits, and chili oil, Janet Yu will grow Grannie Yu’s. Timothy Yu intends to carry on with Red Thread Table’s pop-up events and offer private catering services with food influenced by Hong Kong. More information on Corey Yu’s upcoming voyage will be released soon.
