Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide

Cuban Corner Restaurant, web site, 825 Hungerford Drive, near Ivy League Lane, Rockville, MD, 301-279-0310, closed Sunday (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Three Guys From Miami | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

The best Cuban place around, as far as I can tell. Excellent pork and sides. The following is the rule of thumb on Cuban restaurants. The rice and beans are bound to be worthwhile. To have a great meal all you then need do is latch on to one other satisfactory dish. And here that is very easy to do. First-rate atmosphere, and I love the list of all the prominent Cubans on the wall, and the anti-Castro political propaganda. Definitely recommended, and very good for people-watching as well.

Hard Times Cafe, web site, 1404 King Street, Alexandria, VA, 703-837-0050; 3028 Wilson Blvd., Clarendon, Arlington, VA, 703-528-2233; 1117 Nelson Street, Rockville, MD, 301-294-9720; 394 Elden Street, Herndon, VA, 703-318-8941; and others; usually open. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

Chili up to five different ways, Texas and Cincinnati style, tasty and cheap. That being said, the tastes are blander than they used to be. Not up to the quality level in southern Ohio, but then again what is? Purists will never be happy here.

Green Field Churrascaria, web site, 1801 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD, 301-881-3397 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

This famous Queens churrascaria now has a branch in Maryland. The meats here are better than in the other Brazilian places of this area. That being said, the salad bar is a disappointment. Still worth the visit, however, especially if you don’t know the concept. And definitely construct your own feijoada from the salad bar (pile on the oranges and collard greens and farinha from the salad buffet).

Rinconcito Boliviano, Randolph Hill Center, 4824 Boiling Brook Parkway, Rockville, MD, 301-881-0332 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Yelp]

More mom and pop stuff. Live music on Sundays. You get to Boiling Brook by turning right on Nicholson, off of Wisconsin.

According to food-plan, this place is closed.

Urban Bar-B-Que, web site, 2007 Chapman Avenue, Rockville, MD, 240-290-4827 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Gayot]

Mostly take-out, they only have ten tables, always a good sign. They plan to expand, which I take to be a bad sign. The French fries are excellent. The sauces were not exactly to my taste. In any case this is a significant sign of progress. One of the best barbecue places around.

El Patio, web site, 12303 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD, 301-231-9225 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | City Paper | openlist | Gayot]

Washingtonian magazine praises this place to the skies, but not a word in its favor is convincing. How can do really do this cuisine without first-rate beef, which no U.S. restaurant short of Morton’s is going to have?