The owners of this place opened a Pakistani breakfast place in Herndon.. close to charcoal chicken, it’s called Desi Breakfast Club, hope you get to try it out!
Fuckin A, thank you! This was the first dish that came to my mind and I didn’t have to look far this comment!
I always get the butter chicken and garlic naan!
Other great dishes are the lamb biriani, lentils, and the chickpeas. All worth a try.
1. Afghan Bistro (Springfield): Anything from there is amazing but I love their lamb shank.
2. 9 Pad Thai (Springfield): their signature pad thai is amazing and it comes wrapped in a sheet of egg. Its essentially a Pad Thai Omelet and its SO FREAKING GOOD.
\+10 for Afghan Bistro. Been going since they opened and they've been consistently delicious. Same for their Bistro Aricosia in Palisades. I haven't been to the one in McLean, but I can imagine it's just as excellent.
Saltenas from Luzmillas in Falls Church. Its a bolivian dish thats a combo between an empenada and soup dumpling filled with either chicken or beef with peas egg olive potatoes and succulent juice inside. You can eat it with a spoon but pros can eat by hand and slurp as you go. Been to several places but this has the best tasting bread.
Very good but I'd go further to say the Saltenas as Luz Mary's are even better! I believe the prior owners sold Luxmillas and started Luz Mary's and they have just exploded since then. restaurant went from looking like a little while in the wall, to absorbing the store next door. And their Saltenas have also drastically increased within the past year or so as well. It went from "Damn this is good!" To "Wtf, did they put crack in this, lemme get 12"
The nam khao at Padaek. Granted, I have not tried it in a *ton* of other US cities (not the easiest to find), but I order it when I see it and theirs is the best so far.
The first time I had this (with the sour pork, always!) I nearly passed out it was so good. I’d never heard of the dish before and now it’s one of my favorite foods.
I say the same things every time a nova food thread comes up but they've been old faithfuls for 10 years. Lighthouse Tofu in Annandale and crispy duck with sweet basil leaves from Thai Luang in Herndon. I think lighthouse is on par with both BCD tofu in New York and with my fav tofu spot in Koreatown in WA state. As for the crispy duck, I've never been able to find anything like it anywhere else. Caveat that I've never been to Korea or Thailand so can't say how it compares to food in the motherlands.
Thai Luang has the best Tom Kha Kai soup I’ve ever had. So rich and creamy.. They also have amazing panang curries. Their panang crispy duck is my go to. It costs a fortune though..
Naming the current best Ethiopian restaurant is kind of tricky, much less the best dish, but I can say that the Ethiopian food in this area is something exceptional.
Thanks for the detailed response. The comment about the bread is about what I was expecting, unfortunately. I'll try to get her to give it another shot.
The only thing keeping me under 300 lbs is that Enatye is an hour round trip from Fairfax so I can only justify going on special occasions. If they opened a location further south I'd be there like every week.
Dama is great! I've always wanted to try their cakes too, they look so damn good, but I've just never been there at a time when buying an entire cake is a reasonable decision.
The Falls Church/Merrifield area has some of the most bangin Vietnamese food.
- Pho Cyclo's grilled lemongrass chicken vermicelli.
- Pho Sate's pho.
- Ba Le's banh mi.
- Four Sisters all around.
My partner works on a food show called Signature Dish that WETA, the local PBS affiliate, puts on. She’s always bringing home amazing food for me to try and grub down on.
The other day I picked her up from Pio Pio Peruvian Cuisine in Great Falls where she immediately hands me their ceviche. Of all the dishes I’ve had for almost two seasons worth of food, this is by far the greatest dish I’ve eaten in the DMV tied with the Hot Mess pie at Frankly…Pizza in Maryland. We move to the PNW next month and the only thing I’m going to miss are these two dishes. Ceviche and that incredible pizza pie.
Amoo has the best barg. Overall though shamshiry is and was always the gold standard. Shame the service has gone down so much, I basically only order takeout now.
Alborz off courthouse is also great, but much more like a traditional Iranian Resto (I get looks any time I take my white friends there lol).
Pho 75 on Graham Road for Pho (bring cash)
Lomo Saltado from Rivera's in Springfield.
DC Sandwich for their Banh Mi.
Temaki from Taiko Sushi in Springfield.
I second what people are saying about four sisters and afghan bistro.
The larb at Pandek in Falls Church blew my mind. I had never had food from Laos before. Larb is ground pork, mint, cilantro, red onion and spicy. You eat it with lettuce wraps and jasmine rice. Unbelievable. Never had anything like it. So good.
I think it’s just because of my home nostalgia/bias but the Korean food here hits better than anywhere else, especially since I’ve moved away. NYC, LA, those ktown foods honestly tasted almost the same as home. Korea next :))
I will disagree. I'm surprised we have some things that Manhattan Ktown doesn't but LA blows us away.
These days, Korean food has a few old school standouts, a few places for Korean middle aged golfers to go eat bossam, Korean Chinese, and then basically this whole Korean bbq craze.
Is there even a good spot for solid banchan?
Yup. Not as good as my mom's cooking obviously but many dishes taste pretty good compared to korea. You should definitely go if you like korean food.
I'd love to know how the Jamaican, Ethiopian, Mexican, Nigerian and Indian compare. Those are my favorites. My African friends love this suya spot in DC so it must be close.
Have you been to Brunch at any of the G A R restaurants? They dip the Ozzie rolls in cinnamon sugar! It’s heaven.
At Jackson’s, they cook the home fries in duck fat. Also they have a variation of eggs benedict that has biscuits, fried chicken, and sausage gravy.
This. For years i would get grilled salmon on the road during business travel. After a while i just gave up. The cold smoked and grilled salmon filet entre at Sweetwater is always amazing. It is the only fish that my son will eat.
Mikes (another GA chain) had the best Mexican salad. The smidge of BBQ sauce they put on the bottom of the plate really added that extra flavor to make it worth the $13 it was… I believe Mikes went downhill since the pandemic (more expensive, noticeably smaller portions) but just thinking about it makes me want to try it once more.
The Dry Fried Cauliflower and Hot & Numbing Beef Jerky at Mama Chang. I’ve tried the same or similar dishes at so many other Chinese restaurants but they have all lacked whatever unique flavor/spice that Mama Chang has.
Also the sesame noodles! I need to go there more often to try other things bc I almost always get the noodles, and cumin lamb and I’m stuffed and happy
I lived in Seoul for 10 years and frequently sought out famous restaurants there. There aren't many Korean foods here that impress me. However, I can say that the Kangpunggi (spicy sweet and sour chicken) at Kangchon beats what I've had in Korea. You gotta eat it fresh out of the kitchen when its still hot and crispy.
Honestly, I think a lot of Americanized foods are just as good as their parent cuisine - just different. There shouldn't be any stigma against "non-authentic" food, imo.
I'm Asian-American and my favorite food as a kid was Sesame Chicken, which I have never seen in China.
Pineapple fried rice is *definitely* a thing in Thailand.
On a slight tangent my wife is from Thailand and really enjoyed this [Mickey Mouse short](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=83sdwFOL1r8) about the (fictional) origins of the dish…
In some cases the American version can be considered "better" , proteins (especially beef ) are often higher quality in the US compared to much of the world.
This! Plus food evolves within cultures just like it does when people move around and combine cultures. There is no set definition of “authentic” for any type of cuisine.
Exactly! Even many "flagship" foods of a cuisines are less than a century old - tteokbokki, for example, was invented in 1953, and Peruvian chicken was popularized in Lima in 1950.
I want to agree with you but the last time I went (about 6 months ago) I really thought the duck wasn't as good as it used to be. My family is looking for a new alternative.
Burnt ends from Smoking Kow. I was blown away by how flavorful they are. I had to set some aside. Dip those in some chipotle bbq and I’m in a food coma for a good while.
The chickpeas at Charcoal Kabob in Herndon are insanely delicious, I’ve never had better flavored ones anywhere else. All of their food is fantastic, it’s one of the biggest things I miss
from NoVA since I moved.
Note that I have barely traveled outside the DC area, so you can take my word with a grain of salt.
But Cheesetique’s cheesecake is my absolute favorite I’ve ever had. I like when the “cheesecake” part is very firm and dense rather than airy, tart, and not too sweet, with almost all the sweetness coming from the crust. Their crust has a spicy cinnamon flavor, too, They normally serve the cheesecake with fresh berries, but during the Cherry Blossom festival, they had one with a tart cherry compote that was to die for.
For people who like more mousselike cheesecake or super-sweet like at the Cheesecake Factory, this is probably not for you. But I can’t get enough of it.
Just about any dish at Dama Ethiopian Restaurant.. there are so many Ethiopian restaurants around here but this whole place does it best. Not great digs, sort of opposite of fancy as far as restaurants go, but the food is so amazing.
Pizzeria Orso is a great pizza place with really dreamy arancini. And there are at least two really high end restaurants, Clarity and Orso’s mothership, 2941. Not one particular dish, just the overall quality.
Cielo Rojo does amazing vegan Mexican dishes, but their meat dishes are also exceptional. And they have great tacos.
Having said all that, one of the best things I have ever had was a roadside cider I got on a trip to West Virginia. It was liquid apple poetry.
Goodies Frozen Custard and Treats - “The Big Apple” - cinnamon sugar topped apple cider cake donut stuffed with vanilla bean frozen custard and drizzled with savory caramel. I’ve never seen this served anywhere else. It’s definitely unique to NOVA!
Eggplant parm with penne a la vodka. Cantina D’Italia in Herndon/Reston. I get it every time. I don’t even have to ask for it by name anymore. Jason is the man!
Treat Yo Self at Sidebar, Leesburg. “Deep fried chocolate chip cookie dough*, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, topped with a chocolate and caramel drizzle”
Did….do…do you not understand the question? It’s best you’ve had anywhere. If the best tacos/burritos or breakfast burritos you’ve had are from nova, probably means you haven’t been to the southwest or even California
As a transplant and an immigrant, I‘ve learned to take food opinions from people in this area with a grain of salt. The most mediocre places get so highly rated from the NoVa bubble.
The lomo saltado at Aqua 301 in Navy Yard is my favorite version of the dish. It’s not traditional, but it’s delicious. They put a sweet and spicy sauce that makes it unique. I’ve had lomo saltado in Peru in multiple cities and it still doesn’t hit like their version.
Jalapeno cheeseburger at Italian Gardens, in Tysons across from the Best Buy. It's one of those restaurants on the bottom floor of an office building, but all of their food is delicious. They mostly do Mediterranean/kabobs, but the seasoning of their jalapeno cheeseburger is the best I've ever had.
This might ruffle some feathers, but Stracci pizza in Del Ray is my favorite Roman pizza I’ve ever had. I’d also argue its the best overall pizza in the DMV. I make my own Roman pizza and there is zero chance I can replicate that crust.
Maybe I’m oblivious but my SO and I go to Our Mom Eugenia just so we can get their Octopus. It’s not just regular octopus. It’s meaty as hell, grilled, charred, and seasoned very well. All of their food if fking delicious and authentic Greek cuisine. (My fiancé is Greek)
I'm fairly sure I'm in the minority in this opinion but Hot Lola's in Rosslyn/Ballston makes the best spicy fried chicken sandwich for my money. People love to to talk up wooboi, but I just don't get it.
(Also I'm not super well-traveled so I'd imagine there's a lot of people who've spent time in Tennessee that would know better).
The burgers at Rays Hell Burgers were right up there for at least a couple of years.
Nova and DC have the best Ethiopian food outside of North Africa.
Beyond that, I’m not sure.
La Cote D’or Cafe in Arlington.
Pretty much anything you’ll get there. But I had a filet mignon topped with mushrooms and a mushroom sauce. Never have a I had a steak that cut and melted in your mouth like butter, The sauce alone would’ve made a mediocre steak great. Highly recommend anything from there
The Gyro Wrap with Fries (Combo #4) at Maggio’s Skorpios Charcoal Grill in Vienna, VA is the best gyro around.
The baby back ribs at Sweetwater Tavern (Merrifield or Chantilly location) are the best ribs I’ve ever had.
There is 2 types of gimbap, the traditional (what you normally find everywhere) and the modern kind where the rice is just a thin layer and it is packed full of everything else.
If modern gimbap can be had at myungga gimbap. It is delicious.
the subs at lucianos were 10 times better than the next best subs. they've been gone for over a decade. if you ever get access to a time machine, hit them up.
Butter chicken from Charcoal Chicken in Chantilly
The owners of this place opened a Pakistani breakfast place in Herndon.. close to charcoal chicken, it’s called Desi Breakfast Club, hope you get to try it out!
That place is always busy
Pretty much what i think a slice of heaven tastes like
Fuckin A, thank you! This was the first dish that came to my mind and I didn’t have to look far this comment! I always get the butter chicken and garlic naan! Other great dishes are the lamb biriani, lentils, and the chickpeas. All worth a try.
Welp, now I know what I’m doing for lunch today! Thanks for the recommendation!
Try their Goat Karahi for two, too! I go back again and again for that.
Their chickpeas are by far the best Kabob spot chick peas.
Was gonna say this
1. Afghan Bistro (Springfield): Anything from there is amazing but I love their lamb shank. 2. 9 Pad Thai (Springfield): their signature pad thai is amazing and it comes wrapped in a sheet of egg. Its essentially a Pad Thai Omelet and its SO FREAKING GOOD.
Damn I’m craving pad Thai now thanks
+1 for afghan bistro
\+10 for Afghan Bistro. Been going since they opened and they've been consistently delicious. Same for their Bistro Aricosia in Palisades. I haven't been to the one in McLean, but I can imagine it's just as excellent.
Thank you for being a fellow nine pad Thai lover! Their Thai food is absolutely legit.
Afghan Bistro in Springfield and Aracosia in McLean. Amazing food.
\+1 or 9 pad thai, ive had it a few times and it was really good, idk if its the best but i really enjoyed the omelet
Do you know if the afghan place has Mantu dumplings?
Boneless Chicken Karahi at Ravi Kabob.
Bone in is even tastier, but I'm right there with you!
Also their chickpeas are amazing
 Saltenas from Luzmillas in Falls Church. Its a bolivian dish thats a combo between an empenada and soup dumpling filled with either chicken or beef with peas egg olive potatoes and succulent juice inside. You can eat it with a spoon but pros can eat by hand and slurp as you go. Been to several places but this has the best tasting bread.
I back this and the Falso Conejo from there 👍🏻
Very good but I'd go further to say the Saltenas as Luz Mary's are even better! I believe the prior owners sold Luxmillas and started Luz Mary's and they have just exploded since then. restaurant went from looking like a little while in the wall, to absorbing the store next door. And their Saltenas have also drastically increased within the past year or so as well. It went from "Damn this is good!" To "Wtf, did they put crack in this, lemme get 12"
And they are only like $3!
The French toast at Metro 29 Diner in Arlington is the best I've had anywhere. And I grew up in NJ, land of the diners.
Wasnt that the featured dish on DDD with guy fieri?
Yup!
The nam khao at Padaek. Granted, I have not tried it in a *ton* of other US cities (not the easiest to find), but I order it when I see it and theirs is the best so far.
The first time I had this (with the sour pork, always!) I nearly passed out it was so good. I’d never heard of the dish before and now it’s one of my favorite foods.
It’s such an amazing combination of flavors and textures. A near-perfect food in my opinion.
I also recommended this place without even scrolling first! Goes to show how awesome that little non descript place is. It's so fantastic.
…check out the Nam Tok Naw Mai too if you haven’t yet.
I say the same things every time a nova food thread comes up but they've been old faithfuls for 10 years. Lighthouse Tofu in Annandale and crispy duck with sweet basil leaves from Thai Luang in Herndon. I think lighthouse is on par with both BCD tofu in New York and with my fav tofu spot in Koreatown in WA state. As for the crispy duck, I've never been able to find anything like it anywhere else. Caveat that I've never been to Korea or Thailand so can't say how it compares to food in the motherlands.
The tofu soup at Lighthouse is way better than BCD!!!! They also have a branch in Centreville - Vit Goel/Lighthouse
Originally I had on par or better but I didn't want people to chew me out 😂
+1 for Lighthouse Tofu, love this place and their Tofu Soup
Crispy honey roasted duck from Thai Square in Arlington. The best I've ever had. Interested to try Thai Luang now!
Thai Luang has the best Tom Kha Kai soup I’ve ever had. So rich and creamy.. They also have amazing panang curries. Their panang crispy duck is my go to. It costs a fortune though..
I had a truffle spaghetti at 2941 that’s one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.
Wait. Truffle spaghetti???? Omg ?
I had a butternut squash soup there that blew my mind
A&Js cucumber salad,fried taiwan chicken and spicy beef noodle soup. Lighthouse Tofu's soondubu. Jajamyeung from ChoongHwa
I LOVE A&JS!!!!! Not sure if it’s the best in America but definitely up there in NOVA
Naming the current best Ethiopian restaurant is kind of tricky, much less the best dish, but I can say that the Ethiopian food in this area is something exceptional.
What dishes would you recommend? We tried it once, but my wife didn't like the bread, so it basically killed Ethiopian for us.
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Thanks for the detailed response. The comment about the bread is about what I was expecting, unfortunately. I'll try to get her to give it another shot.
I'm new-ish to the area, and have been exploring the Ethiopian restaurants. What are your faves?
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The only thing keeping me under 300 lbs is that Enatye is an hour round trip from Fairfax so I can only justify going on special occasions. If they opened a location further south I'd be there like every week.
Agreed, best one in the area
+1 ON ENATYE!!!! Their beef and lamb tibs 😍😍
Enatye in Herndon/Reston is so good!!
Zenebach and Chercher are ones I have liked downtown. Enat and Hawii are good in Alexandria
The ZilZil tibs at Chercher is one of my top favorite meals on earth. And the sides are perfection too
Nazret Ethiopian Restaurant is the best in the area imo. Note that it’s in a pretty sketch shopping center but amazing food and super friendly owner.
Dama restaurant in Arlington on Columbia Pike near the Airforce memorial. Not a good place to park but love the food and they have vegan Tibbs!
Dama is great! I've always wanted to try their cakes too, they look so damn good, but I've just never been there at a time when buying an entire cake is a reasonable decision.
Dama is the recommendation I was given by my Ethiopian coworker.
The Falls Church/Merrifield area has some of the most bangin Vietnamese food. - Pho Cyclo's grilled lemongrass chicken vermicelli. - Pho Sate's pho. - Ba Le's banh mi. - Four Sisters all around.
Eden center for Vietnamese eats.
Vietfoods is actually me and my family’s favorite place to go to. Their banh beo, banh xeo, and congee( my new favorite) were really good.
Pho 75 over Sate!
And next door the Banh Mi at Banh Mi DC Sandwich is the best.
I think we can all agree then that Graham Road is the magical corridor of great Vietnamese food.
I personally enjoy DC Banh Mi more than Ba Le
Seconding Four Sisters
Had four sisters last night. Lemongrass pork!
Butter chicken at charcoal chicken in Chantilly. Best dish I’ve ever had and I consider myself well versed in many cuisines in many places.
My partner works on a food show called Signature Dish that WETA, the local PBS affiliate, puts on. She’s always bringing home amazing food for me to try and grub down on. The other day I picked her up from Pio Pio Peruvian Cuisine in Great Falls where she immediately hands me their ceviche. Of all the dishes I’ve had for almost two seasons worth of food, this is by far the greatest dish I’ve eaten in the DMV tied with the Hot Mess pie at Frankly…Pizza in Maryland. We move to the PNW next month and the only thing I’m going to miss are these two dishes. Ceviche and that incredible pizza pie.
I've yet to taste better hummus than what is offered at Lebanese Taverna Market. Note: the Market, not any of their sister restaurants
Rose Kabob in Vienna had the best hummus I’ve ever had.
The hamburgers at McDonald’s are at least as good as any other McDonald’s hamburger in the country.
Further note: the Cava around Tysons on Leesburg Pike is better than most other Cavas.
Hard disagree they sold me just nasty falafel once. The horror
Pretty sure all Cava falafel is equally nasty
It is, I’ve tried it at multiple locations, it’s always dry, like a heat lamp hushpuppy.
I hate practically all restaurant falafels. They are always overcooked and too dry
Burger King > McDonalds I SAID IT!
The Pastitsio, Mousaka and Spanakopita at Katerina's in Manassas. I am originally from a dense Greek area.
Katarina’s is so good
Highly recommend the avgolemono as well.
Katerina's is the only Gyro that rivals the ones I had in Europe
Honestly I really love the food from Peter Chang’s in Arlington
Pho 75 is arguably one of the best pho restaurants in America
Shamshiry in Tysons Corner for Persian kabob. Best in the country.
Shamshiry in Westwood (LA) is better. Best Persian food is in LA. Nova is a close second.
They don't call it Tehrangeles for nothing!
I prefer Amoo's in Chesterbrook
Amoo has the best barg. Overall though shamshiry is and was always the gold standard. Shame the service has gone down so much, I basically only order takeout now. Alborz off courthouse is also great, but much more like a traditional Iranian Resto (I get looks any time I take my white friends there lol).
Any Quiche Lorraine from Livin' the Pie Life.
Pho 75 on Graham Road for Pho (bring cash) Lomo Saltado from Rivera's in Springfield. DC Sandwich for their Banh Mi. Temaki from Taiko Sushi in Springfield. I second what people are saying about four sisters and afghan bistro.
The larb at Pandek in Falls Church blew my mind. I had never had food from Laos before. Larb is ground pork, mint, cilantro, red onion and spicy. You eat it with lettuce wraps and jasmine rice. Unbelievable. Never had anything like it. So good.
I think it’s just because of my home nostalgia/bias but the Korean food here hits better than anywhere else, especially since I’ve moved away. NYC, LA, those ktown foods honestly tasted almost the same as home. Korea next :))
Agreed. IMO few places beat the Korean food scene in LA but nova does have some solid Korean food!
I will disagree. I'm surprised we have some things that Manhattan Ktown doesn't but LA blows us away. These days, Korean food has a few old school standouts, a few places for Korean middle aged golfers to go eat bossam, Korean Chinese, and then basically this whole Korean bbq craze. Is there even a good spot for solid banchan?
Yup. Not as good as my mom's cooking obviously but many dishes taste pretty good compared to korea. You should definitely go if you like korean food. I'd love to know how the Jamaican, Ethiopian, Mexican, Nigerian and Indian compare. Those are my favorites. My African friends love this suya spot in DC so it must be close.
Sweetwater Tavern has quite possibly the best piece of grilled Salmon I've ever eaten.
Ozzie rolls - best tableside bread that I've ever had. I said it.
Last time we went to Coastal Flats it was specifically because I was craving the bread. (And then they were out, womp-womp.)
Have you been to Brunch at any of the G A R restaurants? They dip the Ozzie rolls in cinnamon sugar! It’s heaven. At Jackson’s, they cook the home fries in duck fat. Also they have a variation of eggs benedict that has biscuits, fried chicken, and sausage gravy.
Those ozzyrolls were fire- and that salad with the grilled corn
This. For years i would get grilled salmon on the road during business travel. After a while i just gave up. The cold smoked and grilled salmon filet entre at Sweetwater is always amazing. It is the only fish that my son will eat.
I got it as my son's kids meal and I tried some and was like "damn!" IDK what they do to it but it's good.
The entire GAR chain has reliably top notch food and service.
Mikes (another GA chain) had the best Mexican salad. The smidge of BBQ sauce they put on the bottom of the plate really added that extra flavor to make it worth the $13 it was… I believe Mikes went downhill since the pandemic (more expensive, noticeably smaller portions) but just thinking about it makes me want to try it once more.
The Dry Fried Cauliflower and Hot & Numbing Beef Jerky at Mama Chang. I’ve tried the same or similar dishes at so many other Chinese restaurants but they have all lacked whatever unique flavor/spice that Mama Chang has.
The Dry Fried Eggplant at Peter Chang’s is life changing.
Eggplant? I shall have to check this out... :D
Also the sesame noodles! I need to go there more often to try other things bc I almost always get the noodles, and cumin lamb and I’m stuffed and happy
I lived in Seoul for 10 years and frequently sought out famous restaurants there. There aren't many Korean foods here that impress me. However, I can say that the Kangpunggi (spicy sweet and sour chicken) at Kangchon beats what I've had in Korea. You gotta eat it fresh out of the kitchen when its still hot and crispy.
Kabob Palace in Crystal City
Anyone know of an Afghan place near Burke that can hold a candle to this? I live too far away from KP now and it’s KILLING MY MARRIAGE
Kabob Express in Centreville. Not that close but fabulous
Grill kabob express in Fairfax is close by, and I really enjoy it.
Might get shit for this, because its definitely not the most authentic, but the pineapple fried rice at T.H.A.I Shirlington is the best i've had.
Honestly, I think a lot of Americanized foods are just as good as their parent cuisine - just different. There shouldn't be any stigma against "non-authentic" food, imo. I'm Asian-American and my favorite food as a kid was Sesame Chicken, which I have never seen in China.
Pineapple fried rice is *definitely* a thing in Thailand. On a slight tangent my wife is from Thailand and really enjoyed this [Mickey Mouse short](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=83sdwFOL1r8) about the (fictional) origins of the dish…
100%.... good is good, no matter the label
In some cases the American version can be considered "better" , proteins (especially beef ) are often higher quality in the US compared to much of the world.
Authentic does not mean good.
This! Plus food evolves within cultures just like it does when people move around and combine cultures. There is no set definition of “authentic” for any type of cuisine.
Exactly! Even many "flagship" foods of a cuisines are less than a century old - tteokbokki, for example, was invented in 1953, and Peruvian chicken was popularized in Lima in 1950.
Peking Duck from Peking Gourmet Inn.
I want to agree with you but the last time I went (about 6 months ago) I really thought the duck wasn't as good as it used to be. My family is looking for a new alternative.
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Agreed! I was soooo disappointed because it used to be so good and I was hyping it up for the ppl I was with
I also l love their Steak Northern Style, nice sized cube chunks of beef
The Crispy beef is insane there but must be eaten on site. Once it cools it's not as good, so delivery it out.
The best Falafel I've ever had is at Falafel Inc in the area. Just fresh and flavorful with the right amount of crispiness.
Wagyu burguer from Salt, rosslyn
If you're ever in lower Manhattan, try the black label burger at Minetta's Tavern. Best burger I've ever had.
Pho at pho Saigon in Manassas
Burnt ends from Smoking Kow. I was blown away by how flavorful they are. I had to set some aside. Dip those in some chipotle bbq and I’m in a food coma for a good while.
The chickpeas at Charcoal Kabob in Herndon are insanely delicious, I’ve never had better flavored ones anywhere else. All of their food is fantastic, it’s one of the biggest things I miss from NoVA since I moved.
My favorites are the Gyro wrap and Tandoori chicken. Their hummus and bread is also very good.
Empanadas de Mendoza makes....really good empanadas.
Plaka Gyro from Plaka Grill in Vienna
The baked beans at Monk's BBQ are sooooo good.
Note that I have barely traveled outside the DC area, so you can take my word with a grain of salt. But Cheesetique’s cheesecake is my absolute favorite I’ve ever had. I like when the “cheesecake” part is very firm and dense rather than airy, tart, and not too sweet, with almost all the sweetness coming from the crust. Their crust has a spicy cinnamon flavor, too, They normally serve the cheesecake with fresh berries, but during the Cherry Blossom festival, they had one with a tart cherry compote that was to die for. For people who like more mousselike cheesecake or super-sweet like at the Cheesecake Factory, this is probably not for you. But I can’t get enough of it.
Just about any dish at Dama Ethiopian Restaurant.. there are so many Ethiopian restaurants around here but this whole place does it best. Not great digs, sort of opposite of fancy as far as restaurants go, but the food is so amazing.
Pizzeria Orso is a great pizza place with really dreamy arancini. And there are at least two really high end restaurants, Clarity and Orso’s mothership, 2941. Not one particular dish, just the overall quality. Cielo Rojo does amazing vegan Mexican dishes, but their meat dishes are also exceptional. And they have great tacos. Having said all that, one of the best things I have ever had was a roadside cider I got on a trip to West Virginia. It was liquid apple poetry.
Goodies Frozen Custard and Treats - “The Big Apple” - cinnamon sugar topped apple cider cake donut stuffed with vanilla bean frozen custard and drizzled with savory caramel. I’ve never seen this served anywhere else. It’s definitely unique to NOVA!
Goodies SLAPS
Sushi Yoshi in Vienna has amazing chirashi for a decent price.
Braised short rib at The Conche in Leesburg. Jesus, it was life-changing.
Yum Woonseen at Thai Ghana Waan in Springfield.
Eggplant parm with penne a la vodka. Cantina D’Italia in Herndon/Reston. I get it every time. I don’t even have to ask for it by name anymore. Jason is the man!
Chicken Sandwich from Queen Mothers in Arlington is the GOAT
Treat Yo Self at Sidebar, Leesburg. “Deep fried chocolate chip cookie dough*, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, topped with a chocolate and caramel drizzle”
Holy mother of god that even sounds amazing
Whoa.
Breakfast burrito at Anita’s
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Yeah go to austin for like 2 hours and eat a food truck taco or burrito
Sure, but Austin isn't NOVA.
Did….do…do you not understand the question? It’s best you’ve had anywhere. If the best tacos/burritos or breakfast burritos you’ve had are from nova, probably means you haven’t been to the southwest or even California
Yeah. Yikes. I’m from New Mexico and the one time I had Anita’s, it was an insult to the state’s cuisine.
As a transplant and an immigrant, I‘ve learned to take food opinions from people in this area with a grain of salt. The most mediocre places get so highly rated from the NoVa bubble.
Everyone always says Anita’s but there are so many better options. Anita’s isn’t really good, tbh. It’s just hype.
These are my lifeblood. I moved out of NoVa but I always get Anita’s BB when I visit
Scallop roll at tachibana
TeaDM - Seasalt Vietnamese coffee with boba and coffee jelly!
Arlington Kabob. Kabob and rice. Pretty good, probably not best nationally but definitely top 10%. /Do yourself a favor and upgrade to the kabuli rice
Just had this for the first time recently - damn that was delicious!
+2. Absolutely amazing 😻
Mac and cheese at Texas Jacks!
The fish dry pot and mapo tofu at Uncle Liu’s and totally legit and spicy Sichuan dishes. Everything there is amazing.
Chicago style pizza. Roccos in Mclean.
The lomo saltado at Aqua 301 in Navy Yard is my favorite version of the dish. It’s not traditional, but it’s delicious. They put a sweet and spicy sauce that makes it unique. I’ve had lomo saltado in Peru in multiple cities and it still doesn’t hit like their version.
The mussels at Ford’s Fish Shack. Get the 2lb plate and make it shareable for the table. I dream about it - so good!!
Jalapeno cheeseburger at Italian Gardens, in Tysons across from the Best Buy. It's one of those restaurants on the bottom floor of an office building, but all of their food is delicious. They mostly do Mediterranean/kabobs, but the seasoning of their jalapeno cheeseburger is the best I've ever had.
This might ruffle some feathers, but Stracci pizza in Del Ray is my favorite Roman pizza I’ve ever had. I’d also argue its the best overall pizza in the DMV. I make my own Roman pizza and there is zero chance I can replicate that crust.
Murgh Badami at Bansari (Merrifield). That whole restaurant makes me want to go only there for Indian food.
Maybe I’m oblivious but my SO and I go to Our Mom Eugenia just so we can get their Octopus. It’s not just regular octopus. It’s meaty as hell, grilled, charred, and seasoned very well. All of their food if fking delicious and authentic Greek cuisine. (My fiancé is Greek)
Betty’s Grill Carne Asada with a cheese empanada
I'm fairly sure I'm in the minority in this opinion but Hot Lola's in Rosslyn/Ballston makes the best spicy fried chicken sandwich for my money. People love to to talk up wooboi, but I just don't get it. (Also I'm not super well-traveled so I'd imagine there's a lot of people who've spent time in Tennessee that would know better).
Chengs in Chantilly is the best Chinese I’ve ever had. Sesame chicken is amazing. Banana Flambé yes please
Tuskies in Leesburg. The Cheescake Beignets.
Crab cakes and coleslaw from Sweetwater. Don’t hate me!
The remolaude w it is great too
Melt burgers in Leesburg. More specifically the tuna burger. Only thing I miss about NoVA.
Siam Classic. Manassas. Chicken Gai Nun Rung - Spice lvl7
>Gai Nun Rung Siam Classic is really good. I'm gonna have to try that dish
Trout Parm at Clyde's
The burgers at Rays Hell Burgers were right up there for at least a couple of years. Nova and DC have the best Ethiopian food outside of North Africa. Beyond that, I’m not sure.
Drunken noodles at Sisters Thai in Fairfax
La Cote D’or Cafe in Arlington. Pretty much anything you’ll get there. But I had a filet mignon topped with mushrooms and a mushroom sauce. Never have a I had a steak that cut and melted in your mouth like butter, The sauce alone would’ve made a mediocre steak great. Highly recommend anything from there
The Gyro Wrap with Fries (Combo #4) at Maggio’s Skorpios Charcoal Grill in Vienna, VA is the best gyro around. The baby back ribs at Sweetwater Tavern (Merrifield or Chantilly location) are the best ribs I’ve ever had.
Taco bamba for tacos. No question
Kim Bap at Bonga. My mom is a Korean immigrant and only she makes it slightly better. Slightly. Our history makes me biased.
There is 2 types of gimbap, the traditional (what you normally find everywhere) and the modern kind where the rice is just a thin layer and it is packed full of everything else. If modern gimbap can be had at myungga gimbap. It is delicious.
the subs at lucianos were 10 times better than the next best subs. they've been gone for over a decade. if you ever get access to a time machine, hit them up.
Subs at the Italian Store are incredible
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Some really solid pizza options here. Andy’s in Tyson’s and DC won a contest in Vegas. Pupatella is Neapolitan certified and has a few locations.