A new Ballston Quarter kiosk is bringing a Japanese twist to sweet and savory crepes.
Since this spring, T-Swirl Crepe has been selling confections a little different from the flat, pancake-like treats familiar to many diners.
In Japanese-style crepes, the batter is cooked until crisp, and the crepes are wrapped into a handheld cone, rather than sitting flat on a plate, manager Thao Nguyen told ARLnow.
“The ingredients inside are pretty much the same … but the way it represents is different,” Nguyen said.
Sweet crepes at T-Swirl, located at 4238 Wilson Blvd, offers fresh fruit fillings, nuts and spreads. Those are joined by homemade chocolate truffles and custards, which come in chocolate, rose and matcha flavors.
Nguyen recommends pairing custard with whipped yogurt, one of T-Swirl’s distinct toppings.
“It’s kind of like whipped cream, but it tastes like yogurt, so it really balances out the sweetness of the custard and it’s really unique,” Nguyen said.
The savory fillings, meanwhile, include shrimp avocado, T-Swirl BLT, smoked salmon and Thai chicken flavors. All crepes at the restaurant are gluten-free and made with rice flour.
Are the T-Swirl crepes a meal, dessert or snack? That’s up to customers, Nguyen said, although given the kiosk’s location in the Quarter, many people visit for a sweet treat after a meal.
“More people often go to our place after lunch, after dinner,” Nguyen said. “It can be also a snack, like for the afternoon, when they’re craving [something] sweet … But I also really want to educate people more. It can be treated as a whole meal.”
Nguyen went into business with T-Swirl about 10 years after she first discovered the brand, during her college years in New York City. A franchise location was right next to her old apartment, she said, and she always wanted to own a physical business.
“I love their product,” Nguyen said. “That’s why I chose T-Swirl, because I have to like the products in order to open the business.”
The New York City-based company has 30 locations across the country. The Ballston Quarter location is the only one in Virginia.
