Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide: Wheaton/Kensington Archives

Wheaton/Kensington Archives

January 24, 2010

Antipuqueño Restaurant

Antipuqueño Restaurant (also Intipuqueno), web site, 2504 Ennalls Avenue, Wheaton, MD, 301-942-1129 (web site says place is for sale)

This place is a total wreck and mess when it comes to service, décor, and organization. They also serve the best pupusas I’ve eaten in the U.S., ever. It’s worth it. The soups look pretty good too. The menu is ghastly in its presentation and it doesn’t list a lot of what they serve. Just try to talk your way into what you want to eat. The cute waitresses will giggle and mess up your order, but they do know what a pupusa is. I call this a find, though you need to go with the proper expectations.

Posted January 24, 2010 06:57 PM | Permalink | Maryland , Salvadorean , The Best , Wheaton/Kensington | Comments (0)

September 04, 2008

Nava Thai

Nava Thai, web site, 11301 Fern Street, Wheaton, MD, 240-430-0495 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | Yelp]

At any point in time there are four or five ethnic places which are way better than the rest. Nava Thai joins that select group. Everything tastes so real and it is the closest thing to Thai street food that I’ve had in the U.S. The Floating Market Soup is excellent, although too spicy for many. The Penang Curry – usually a boring dish – is a revelation. The tamarind sauce on the roast chicken is very good. The curry puffs are recommended as well. The service can be a little slow and not every dish is great (though all are at least good if you are confused just mimic the Thai customers with your order), but right now this is one of the places to visit. It also attracts more Thai customers than any other place with the possible exception of Thai Square.

Posted September 4, 2008 09:07 AM | Permalink | Maryland , Thai , The Best , Wheaton/Kensington | Comments (4)

May 21, 2006

Aling Pacing

Aling Pacing, 2311 Price Avenue, Wheaton, MD, 301-933-7070, not always open for lunch on weekdays (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window)

Is this place closed?

See the remarks above on Filipino food under Little Quiapo. This one looks less appetizing, however, although it is easier to find. Oxtail and peanut sauce are often good Pilipino dishes, adobe too.

Posted May 21, 2006 09:09 PM | Permalink | Korean , Maryland , Wheaton/Kensington | Comments (0)

Royal Mile Pub

Let’s hope they can fit as many Indians into that place as possible, as quickly as possible.

Posted May 21, 2006 06:33 PM | Permalink | Maryland , Scottish , Wheaton/Kensington | Comments (0)

May 09, 2006

Cancun

Cancun, 11260 Georgia Avenue, Wheaton, MD, 301-949-9838 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Yelp]

Mostly a Mexican and El Salvadorean restaurant, but they serve some Puerto Rican specialties on weekends. Sleeveless shirts are not allowed, that kind of place. Alas, no mofongos, however, which means not enough garlic for my taste.

See also Banana Café, under Cuban, they have some Puerto Rican dishes.

Posted May 9, 2006 10:07 PM | Permalink | Maryland , Puerto Rican , Wheaton/Kensington | Comments (0)

May 04, 2006

El Boqueron Restaurant

El Boqueron Restaurant, 2311 Price Avenue, Wheaton, MD, 301-933-4900 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper]

Another Mexican/El Salvadorean place. I haven’t eaten here, but it looks decent.

Posted May 4, 2006 10:33 PM | Permalink | Maryland , Mexican , Salvadorean , Wheaton/Kensington | Comments (0)

Matamoros

Matamoros, 2322 University Boulevard West, Wheaton, MD, 301-949-2929 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | City Paper | Yelp]

Mexican food by non-Mexican Latins. Above average for the area, but no great shakes overall.

Posted May 4, 2006 10:25 PM | Permalink | Maryland , Mexican , Wheaton/Kensington | Comments (0)

April 30, 2006

Max's Kosher Cafe

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.

Posted April 30, 2006 06:27 PM | Permalink | Kosher , Maryland , Silver Spring , Wheaton/Kensington | Comments (1)

Yett Gol and WooMi Garden

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]

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

Posted April 30, 2006 05:03 PM | Permalink | Korean , Maryland , Silver Spring , Wheaton/Kensington | Comments (1)

April 29, 2006

Seoul Soondae

Seoul Soondae, 4231-L Markham Street, Annandale, VA, 703-642-2220 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Korean DC (Annandale) | Korean DC (Wheaton) | WaPo | Yelp]

Branches in Wheaton, MD, 12203 Veirs Mill Road, Stone Mill Square Plaza, 301-942-5200 (equally good, pretty much the same thing); Ellicott City may be replaced by manna, 410-480-5050: 8801 Baltimore Nat'l Pike, Ellicott City, MD, 410-750-0006; and Queens, NY, 158-15 Northern Boulevard, Queens, NY, 718-321-3231 [Village Voice | AM New York]

If you don’t want buffet, one of the best Korean places around. Great seafood pancake here, Korean food for Koreans who know the difference. Gets crowded.

Posted April 29, 2006 11:37 PM | Permalink | Annandale , Korean , Maryland , The Best , Virginia , Wheaton/Kensington | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (2)

April 25, 2006

Sabang

This area has no first rate Indonesian place, but this is pretty good. Mostly I save up my Indonesian urges for when I am in other places, most of all the Netherlands. But if you are going to order Indonesian, no matter where you are, go for the Rijstafel (Ricetable), which offers a wide variety of dishes to two or more diners.

Posted April 25, 2006 03:59 PM | Permalink | Indonesian , Maryland , Wheaton/Kensington | Comments (1)

April 22, 2006

Sam’s II Karaoke & Restaurant (aka Jomel Restaurant and Karaoke)

Sam’s II Karaoke & Restaurant (aka Jomel Restaurant and Karaoke), 11125 Georgia Avenue, Wheaton, MD, 301-942-0061 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | openlist]

I have yet to go. The best Filipino food I’ve had in ages was last year, when a few of the Filipino GMU undergrads cooked some for sale in the GMU food court. That’s the way to go, cultivate Filipino friends, the best way to learn this exquisite and interesting and undervalued cuisine.

Posted April 22, 2006 07:31 AM | Permalink | Filipino , Maryland , Wheaton/Kensington | Comments (0)

March 06, 2006

Ruan Thai

Ruan Thai, 11407 Amherst Avenue, Wheaton, MD, 301-942-0075, not so far from Rt.29 and University Blvd. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | City Paper | openlist | Citysearch | Gayot]

My Thai restaurant of choice, after Duangrat’s. Not just the usual stuff. Fresh ingredients, and truly spicy. When it comes to ordering, you can’t go wrong. This place is exactly what a Thai restaurant should aspire to be.

Posted March 6, 2006 10:13 PM | Permalink | Maryland , Thai , The Best , Wheaton/Kensington | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (1)

Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide

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