A year after it was sold at auction for a hefty $44 million, the The Shops at Congressional Village is transitioning into its new identity as a hub for Asian restaurants on Rockville Pike. The center was half-empty when it was purchased by Ivea Restaurant Group, the company behind such Rockville-area favorites as Lao Sze Chuan, Urban Hot Pot, Akira Ramen, Gyuzo Japanese BBQ, Kyoto Matcha, The Spot Asian food hall and the Gong Cha bubble tea chain. At Congressional Village — currently home to 7-Eleven, Mosaic Cuisine, a Verizon store and MyEyeDr. — Ivea is bringing in four new restaurants so far:

  • Kanpai will offer Southeast Asian BBQ and shabu shabu cook-your-own hot pot buffet.
  • Kajiken will serve up “soupless ramen” that you mix at your table with a variety of ingredients and “secret sauce.”
  • Uzu will be a revolving sushi bar, going head-to-head with the upcoming Kura revolving sushi bar that’s now under construction at nearby Federal Plaza,
  • Okaeri Japanese Cafe will offer trendy desserts and light bites.
  • In addition to the new restaurants, orthopedic furniture chain Relax the Back is moving in to replace the recently closed Healthy Back shop.