ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen is set to open in Dupont Circle on Thursday, September 15. I was able to get a sneak peek at the food and the inside earlier today.

Diners can choose between two entree styles: bowls ($6.59-7.50) and banh mi ($6.14-7.05). The protein selections include grilled chicken satay, pork and chicken meatballs, grilled steak or organic tofu. For those who select bowls, this is nestled atop your choice of jasmine rice, brown rice or rice noodles. This is then accompanied by a vegetable, sauce, garnish and topping. The banh mi in its baguette is topped with green papaya slaw, mint and crushed peanuts.

You can then drink up on BeerLao, Singha, Chang, and Dogfish Head 60 Minute or the usual selection of granola-y ginger ales, iced tea or young coconut water.

The grilled steak banh mi I tried had plenty of chargrilled flavor. However, the heavy handed seasonings indicate without mistake that this is definitely not a purist’s rendition of a Vietnamese-style sandwich. The bread is a bit too soft and under-baked for my tastes.

But the reality is that like Chipotle, one isn’t intending to go to ShopHouse for an “authentic” Asian food experience, but a reinterpretation of the cuisine. It is certainly a better alternative to many of the painful Asian restaurants in the area.

From the menu: “Drawing on the bold and complex flavors of Southeast Asian cuisine, our menu includes distinctly spiced homemade curries and sauces, fresh vegetables and herbs, artisanal organic tofu, and meats raised responsibly without the use of antibiotics or added hormones.”