Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide

Bombay Indian Restaurant, web site, 11229 New Hampshire Avenue, White Oak Shopping Center, Silver Spring, MD, 301-593-7222 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper]

This place has gotten very good reviews and in fact it is now one of the premier Indian restaurants around. Very consistent with some Kashmiri inspirations. Rich spicing, though without being too hot. The bread with the cherries and nuts is one special dish you can get here but most of it is excellent. It's not near anything else you might visit, but worth the trip.

Brazil Market, 11425 Grandview Avenue, Wheaton, MD, 301-942-8412 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian]

They have Brazilian sandwiches, snacks, canned goods, and fried yucca thingies. Not an amazing selection but if you are yearning for a touch of Brazil this does in fact supply it.

Hollywood East Cafe on the Boulevard, web site, 2621 University Blvd., Wheaton, MD, 240-290-9988 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | Yelp | Gayot]

Right now this is the best dim sum place around. They don’t just churn out the usual stuff, they are consistently interesting and make the dim sum with care. At times you might be frustrated by the delays, but that’s part of the signal of quality. First-rate greens too. I might add that they make stuff in batches, and you should stick around for about two hours, and save up space in your stomach, rather than filling up right away. Go slow, slow, slow, and make an afternoon of it.

Paul Kee, 11305-B Georgia Avenue, Wheaton, MD, 301-933-6886 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Yelp]

One of the best Cantonese places around, although you hardly ever hear of it. Excellent seafood. I like the scallops in pepper sauce, among other dishes. There are also the casseroles, and make sure you get some greens to round out the combination.

Ceviche, web site (flash and music), 921-J Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring, MD, 301-608-0081 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Silver Spring Voice | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell]

I went here with about seven people and sampled many dishes. I thought the rice was quite good, the ceviche pretty good. They have lots of Peruvian dishes you can’t find elsewhere. All a good recipe, but somehow I ended up a bit underwhelmed. I wouldn’t mind going back, but I’m not pushing to either. It’s in “that part” of Silver Spring and appeals almost exclusively to yuppies. It’s missing a certain edge. It’s still pretty good, though, and never to go is probably a mistake. Not super cheap like some ethnic places, but cheaper than most other places for yuppies.

El Pulgarcito del Callao, 11333 Elkin Street, Silver Spring, MD, 301-942-5395 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | Yelp]

Peruvian, El Salvadorean, and Mexican dishes, but Peruvian at its core. I have yet to try it.

Crisfield's, web site, 8012 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 301-589-1306 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

Just off Georgia Ave. Plain fish of high quality. The Art Deco architecture and atmosphere is stunning. Is this 1953 or what? Great clock. Order the Flounder stuffed with crabmeat. Don't expect so much from the salads or soups, however. Not cheap, but a treat. The accompanying visit to Silver Spring is an object lesson in how Maryland and Virginia differ. A great place to bring visitors who want to see something they will remember.

Izora, 1115 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD, 301-495-2960 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Silver Spring Voice | Washingtonian | openlist | Yelp]

UPDATE May 20, 2006: A commenter says Izora is closed, replaced by Gallery with Carribbean and Latin food, web site, 1115 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD, 301-589-2555. I haven't been.

Or is this place Caribbean? Should it go under Nigerian? East-West Highway is prime territory for undiscovered spicy food, let me know if you visit this place.

Roger Miller Restaurant, 941 Bonifant Street, Silver Spring, MD, 301-650-2495 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Silver Chips Online | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp]

I love the name (named after a Cameroonian football player). It is probably the best general African restaurant around right now, although it is not the best we have had in the last ten years. The chef is from Cameroon, but you will find dishes from Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana as well.

Dusit, 2404 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD, Wheaton, 301-949-4140 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | City Paper | openlist | Yelp]

Wheaton is an ethnic food center, and here is one of its Thai places. There are many Thai places in Maryland, and as far as I can tell, they are all excellent.

Suporn, web site, 2304 Price Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 301-946-7613 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Yelp]

One of the best Thai places around, it has real bite. Thai food is going the way of Chinese food, where most restaurants have the same menu and same taste. Not this one. Most of the dishes sound ordinary but don’t be put off by that.

Ceviche, web site (flash and music), 921-J Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring, MD, 301-608-0081, closed for weekend lunches I believe. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Silver Spring Voice | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell]

Somehow I doubt if this place is good but I guess you should…um…get the ceviche.

See the update, February 2008

Samantha’s, 631 East University Boulevard, Silver Spring, MD, 301-445-7300 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Silver Chips Online | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

Gives every sign of being a yummy, upscale version of a mom and pop restaurant. There is only one catch: the food is bland and uninteresting. Nor is it cheap, as Mexican food goes. A disappointment. A bit Pan-Latin, but not in any way to its advantage.

Crisp & Juicy, multiple outlets [WaPo | 10Best | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Citysearch | Gayot]

• 4540 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA, on the corner of Lee Hwy and N. Woodrow Street, 703-243-4222 [Hobnob Blog]
• 913 W. Broad Street, Falls Church, VA, 703-241-9091 [Falls Church News-Press | Tarting it up]
• 1331-G Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD, 301-251-8833
• 3800 International Drive, Silver Spring, MD, 301-598-3333

Many of my readers like these places, I have yet to go.

Crisp & Juicy, 4540 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA

913 W. Broad Street, Falls Church, VA

Crisp & Juicy, , half of whole chicken dinner

Crisp & Juicy, , half of whole chicken dinner

Crisp & Juicy, chicken breast sandwich with everything on it

Crisp & Juicy, whole chicken

Crisp & Juicy, black beans and rice, fries, and salad

Max's Kosher Cafe, web site, 2319 University Blvd., Silver Spring, MD, Wheaton, north side, about two blocks east of Georgia Ave, 301-949-6297 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | openlist]

A central spot for Jewish and Kosher dining and shopping in the area. See also Tel Aviv Café under Israeli.

Yett Gol, 12337-G Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 301-949-9060 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Korean DC | WaPo (scroll down) | Yelp]

WooMi Garden, 2423 Hickerson, Wheaton, MD, 301-933-0100 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Korean DC | Washingtonian | WaPo (scroll down) | City Paper | openlist | Yelp]

Given how close to Annandale I live, I probably will never get to either one. The chance of them being bad is small, however.

York Castle Tropical Ice Cream, 9324 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 301-589-1616 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

Yes, they have soursop ice cream, among other flavors…worth a try…

Negril's, web site, 965 Thayer Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 301-585-3000 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

Also

• 2301-G Georgia Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-332-3737
  
• 18509 N. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD, 301-926-7220
  
• 12116 Central Avenue, Mitchellville, MD, 301-249-9101

Curried stews, red beans, ox-tail, and rolled breads. Cheap, and very tasty. Don’t be scared off by the branching, this place is great.

La Bamba Restaurant, 8241 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 301-589-3712 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | openlist | Yelp]

More Pan-Latin than Guatemalan, though they have a few specifically Guatemalan dishes, such as “Beef Stew Guatemalan Style.” Not my favorite, but if I lived next door I would go more than once.

Langano Ethiopian Restaurant, 8305 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 301-563-6700 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Silver Chips Online | Silver Spring Voice | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

Ethiopian food, for those who chose Maryland. They have a lunch and weekend buffet. Not the very best, but there is something to be said for the buffet feature if you are in a hurry.

El Guajiro, 8650 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD, 301-565-4985, right across from AFI (American Film Institute, web site, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD) (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | Gayot]

Update May 15, 2006: Closed

The location is perfect, eat here before or after your movie at AFI. Try the roast pork and beans and rice, duh. Now tell them to bring back the mofongos.

Cubano's, 1201 Fidler Lane, at Ramsey Ave., Silver Spring, MD, 301-563-4020, 11-11 daily (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Bethesda Magazine | Washingtonian | WaPo | Takoma/Silver Spring Voice | Silver Chips Online | City Paper | insider pages | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

There is a flourish of new Cuban places in this area, though we do not yet have critical mass for any of them to be knockouts, as you might find in Florida or New Jersey.

Los Arrieros, 7926 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, right at the DC border where the neighborhood turns dicey. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | Yelp | Gayot]

They have Mexican dishes also, I have not yet been. I’ll go when you tell me to, otherwise not. I am still waiting. Washingtonian recommends the seafood soup.

Half Moon Bar-B-Que, 8235 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 301-585-1290 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo (Eve Zeibart), WaPo (Eric Brace) | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Citysearch | Yelp | Gayot]

Update June 12, 2006: A commenter, tegwar, says this place closed in May, 2006. The web site (link removed) was recently changed to something unrelated to food

Recommended by Washingtonian magazine.

Mandalay Restaurant, web site, 930 Bonifant Street, near Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 301-585-0500 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Citysearch | Gayot]

The best Burmese place around. Order many dishes and follow their lead. A superb restaurant. I’ve only been once, but I do not hesitate to put the place on my favorites list.