Wednesday, July 1, 2026
On most nights at Ono Brewing Company in Chantilly, the usual brewery soundtrack of clinking glasses and conversation is now joined by something less expected: the soft shuffle of tiles and the quiet concentration of players trying to complete a winning hand in Mahjong. The centuries-old game has suddenly become one of Northern Virginia’s fastest-growing social pastimes.
Cyndi Hoffman, owner of Ono Brewing Company, says the surge reflects a broader cultural shift that began after the pandemic, when people emerged from isolation looking for in-person connection.
“In the last five years, people were seeking opportunities to connect and do things with humans again,” she said. “And now people are just tired of scrolling endlessly on phones and looking for things to do and Mahjong is it.”
THE GAME’S RECENT RISE has been fueled by social media and renewed visibility, but Hoffman says the real driver is simpler: people want something to do together.
“It’s super popular right now,” she said. “It’s hit the mainstream.”
Mahjong at Ono did not begin as a planned expansion. It started, Hoffman said, as a way to fill a familiar seasonal lull at the brewery in January.
Two beginner classes launched in late January and sold out almost immediately. More followed, along with social play nights and structured leagues. Demand kept climbing.
“It’s gotten so popular I’ve had to hire additional instructors just to meet demand,” Hoffman said. “We’re teaching about 45 people just this week.”
What began as an experiment has quickly become a defining feature of the business.
Mahjong has also transformed the brewery experience itself. Players can sip a beer, grab BBQ, and settle into an evening that blends strategy with something closer to a social club than a classroom. Hoffman calls it “socialize and strategize.”
The introductory class runs about two to two-and-a-half hours, enough time to learn the basics, not everything.
After that, students are encouraged to simply play.
“The game is very complex,” Hoffman said. “You can spend months or years mastering it. But after one class, you can go play socially.”
Participants can then move into intermediate and advanced classes — or simply return for social nights and league play. One recent four-week Wednesday night league for 32 players sold out.
The appeal, Hoffman said, is that Mahjong is both structured and endlessly expandable. It rewards repetition, strategy, and the subtle art of paying attention to what everyone else is doing — without making it look like you are.
“I had only heard about Chinese mahjong from movies, but when I saw an American mahjong class, I jumped at the chance and quickly fell in love with it,” said Shirly Wirwati. “I enjoy the challenge, learning the strategy, meeting new people, and the competitive energy of league play.”
“My gift to my husband this Valentine’s Day was Mahjong 101 at Ono Brewery,” said Jacque Whang. “It’s relaxed, social, and doesn’t feel intimidating especially if you’re just starting out.”
Aimee Besler said she had long been curious about Mahjong but never had a way to learn until now.
“I jumped at the opportunity,” she said.
She now plays regularly and helps organize meetups. “It’s pretty amazing how people come together to share something cerebral, but also social.”
After 18 years teaching high school biology, Hoffman approaches Mahjong instruction the same way she once approached scientific concepts: by breaking complex concepts into manageable steps.
“You have to chunk it out,” she said. “Just like mitosis or photosynthesis.”
Even instructor training follows a structured format to ensure consistency across classes.
Hoffman encourages new players to give the game time before deciding whether it’s for them.
“It took me five exposures before I really felt like, ‘oh, I get it,’” she said. “I encourage people to give it at least three.
Patience, she added, is essential. The game tends to reward those willing to sit with uncertainty long enough for it to make sense.
Hoffman envisions Mahjong at Ono growing beyond classes and social nights into more structured competitive play.
“I’d love to be a Northern Virginia hub for tournaments,” she said.
Future plans include intermediate and advanced leagues and possibly regional events drawing players from across the area.
For now, growth is measured more simply: full classes, returning players, and a steadily growing waiting list.
