Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide

Angeethi Indian Cuisine, web site, 645 Elden Street, Herndon, VA, 703-796-1527 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | openlist | Yelp | Herndon Cuisine | Gayot]

Excellent all around, this is currently one of the two or three best Indian places in the area. (Bombay Indian in Silver Spring is probably the current leader). The chat station, offered at lunch, is first-rate. Everything else is quite consistent and just generally tasty. I even enjoyed the Butter Chicken. Good breads. Good vindaloo and spinach and black lentils. What kind of Indian food is it? Most of all I would say it is like the Balti food you get in the UK and indeed they have a whole section of the menu devoted to Balti dishes. Definitely recommended.

A Taste of Burma, 126 Edds Lane, Sterling, VA, off Rte. 7, 703-444-8511 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | Gayot]

This place is supposed to be very good. As usual, in a Burmese place try some of the salads. The Post recommends the Singapore noodles as well, and the noodles more generally.

Hot Breads, next to Sichuan Village and Il Mee in Chantilly, web site, 14027 Lee-Jackson Memorial Highway, Chantilly, VA, 703-263-1466 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian - see also "The Guru's Pick: Hot Breads in Chantilly" | WaPo]

Also in MD: 70 Market Street (at Kentlands Blvd.), Gaithersburg, MD

Indian breads and sandwiches, chicken tikka, not really a sit down place. Part of a small chain, but very mom and pop. Curry-filled pastries and Indian sweets. For a quick lunch, this place is quite good. They also have Indian soft drinks.

Russia House, web site, 790 Station Street, Herndon, VA, 703-787-8880 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

I drove to this place once, but it looked boring and overpriced. So, I reoptimized and opted for Peruvian chicken in a nearby strip mall, I think it was called Pollo Inka.

See also under Serbian.

Khun Ya, 328 Elden Street, Herndon, VA, 703-742-8881 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper]

Good Thai place, rounds out the Herndon ethnic offerings nicely.

Update May 24, 2006: a reader says this place is closed and recommends Chao Phra Ya, 2465 Centreville Road, J1, Herndon, VA, 703-713-0103

Luang Thai or Thai Luang, web site, 171 Elden Street, Herndon, VA, 703-478-2233, recommended by a correspondent, on Baron Cameron/Elden Street, in the Virginia Power Building, across from an Outback (“somewhat,” writes Rick Gonzalez), hidden from the street. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

Hidden from street, that is usually a good sign.

El Manantial, web site, 12050-A North Shore Drive, near Wiehle Avenue, Reston, VA, 703-742-6466 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp]

A bit of Spanish, but arguably Pan-European as well. Not this region’s comparative strength.

Anita's, web site, several branches, the main one is on Rt. 123 in Vienna, often they are open quite late. 521 E. Maple Avenue, Vienna, VA, 703-255-1001 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

10880 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA, 703-385-2965
13921 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy, Chantilly, VA, 703-378-1717
701 Elden Street, Herndon, VA, 703-481-1441
9278 Old Keene Mill Road, Burke, VA, 703-455-3466

Once an excellent restaurant, now merely a good restaurant, sometimes a mediocre one. An attempt to mimic the food from New Mexico. Go spicy here, if you can. I like the Mr. T's special, spicy pork with potatoes. Quick, convenient, and sometimes hits the spot. Still has a place in my repertoire, whether it deserves it or not. And the atmosphere is total, classic Vienna Virginia. A good hang-out. The breakfast specials look intriguing, but I have never tried them.

Pollo Adovado

Mr T

The Serbian Crown, web site (WARNING: flash and speech), 1141 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA, 703-759-4150, near historic Colvin Run Mill (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

I have not yet been. They also claim to have Russian and French dishes. The image of Great Falls conjures up blandness in my mind, though.

Pollo Inka, 656 Elden Street, Herndon, VA, 703-481-9090 (703-871-0362?) (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper]

Another good Peruvian chicken place in a Herndon mini-mall.

A reader recommends Pollo Real, again in Herndon, 1114 Herndon Pkwy, Herndon, VA, 703-796-9000, Elden Street at Herndon Parkway. [Yelp]

Picante! The Real Taco, web site, 14511-B Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Chantilly Park Shopping Center, Chantilly, VA, 703-263-9533 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp]

Mom and pop Mexican, in Chantilly. This was once pretty good, now it is just ordinary.

Shahi Kabob House, 724 Pien Street, Herndon, VA, in the older part of Herndon (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [zabihah]

An avid reader recommends the Chicken Karahi there.

Teocalli Tamale, 336 Elden Street, Herndon, VA, 703-904-9336 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp]

A small place in Herndon where you order at the counter. Vies with the Bladensburg places for the best Mexican food around. Derived from a parent restaurant in Colorado. You construct your own meal, much like Chipotle, but better. Fish tacos, fresh ingredients, real sauces. Not perfect, but right now it is utopian to hope for more. Try it, if you can. Don’t expect a real sit-down meal, though, it is not that kind of place. Ideal for snacking.

Matsuri, 150 Elden Street, Herndon, VA, 703-707-0367 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper]

Gets consistently good reviews. The sushi here is good but I prefer the main courses. The best miso soup around. Excellent tofu. Consistent main courses, although some are a bit sweet. This is not a place for purists and the bento boxes are not cheap. Recommended, an underrated restaurant, although I have heard that of December 2005 they have narrowed the menu significantly. (See "Matsuri: What Price Success?" by Eve Zibart, The Washington Post, January 6, 2006.)

Matsutake Hibachi Steak & Sushi, 4121 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA, 703-351-8787 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | food-plan (Herndon) | openlist | Yelp]

Also in Worldgate Shopping Center, 13049 Worldgate Drive, Herndon, VA, 703-787-3700, 320 S. 23rd Street, Arlington, VA, 703-412-5301, Kabuki Sushi, Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, DC, 202-789-1159, and Washington Reagan National Airport, National Hall Center, 703-417-0521.

One of the best of the sushi buffet places. All you can eat sushi for lunch, and the sushi is reasonably good. Some of the branches have teppanyaki as well. Is it the single best sushi place around? No. Will it start you wondering why you ever order sushi a’la carte? Yes.

Supper Club of India, web site, 13055 Worldgate Drive, Herndon, VA, 703-736-0466 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | Connection Newspapers | City Paper | Gayot]

My readers like the place. It is more influenced by Persian ideas than are most Indian restaurants. I have yet to go.

Zuhair's, 720 Grant Street, Herndon, VA, 703-437-8733 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [zabihah | City Paper]

NOW CLOSED. Yes, Iraqi. Get the dish #2. The bread is quite good, and I like the sour yogurt drinks. Above average, recommended.

L'Auberge Chez Francois, web site, 332 Springvale Road, Great Falls, VA [Economist | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

L'Auberge Chez Francois does not merit my recommendation - an overrated restaurant, plus it burned down, they reopened a while back.

Warka, 275 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon, VA, 703-435-2166, that funny industrial park in Herndon with all the ethnic food (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Herndon Cuisine | Gayot]

Herndon continues its rise in the world of ethnic food. How bad can this place be?

Reston Kabob, web site, 11844 Sunrise Valley Drive, # A, Reston, VA, 20191 703-390-9070, near the International Center (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Yelp]

Maybe this is not even Egyptian, but they have kabobs, recommended by a reader.

Sphinx Cafe, 137 Spring Street, Herndon, VA, Sunset Park industrial strip mall, 703-464-0001 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Observer Online | Times Community | Yelp | Gayot]

This is a good strip mall, so this place has potential. I have yet to go. They have Persian and Lebanese dishes as well.

Alf Laylah Wa Laylah, 13975 Metrotech Drive, Sully Place Shopping Center, Chantilly, VA, 703-378-6677 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Alexandria Gazette]

An excellent name, no? The owner is Palestinian, the chef is Turkish, how should I list this place? Mostly the food is “Middle Eastern,” with many Lebanese dishes, but since they have hookah I will put it under the category “Egyptian.”

SBC Cafe (SBC = Sweet Basil Catering), 2501 Centreville Road, Herndon, VA, 703-793-7388 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Observer Online | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Gayot]

Here they have a little bit of everything, Tom Sietsema recommends the two-tone pepper soup.

Cincinnati Cafe, 2260 Hunter Woods Place, Reston, VA, 703-715-2500 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

Recommended by a reader as the closest we have to the real thing. I am not sure they are still open.

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.

A Taste of the World, web site, 283 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon, VA, 703-471-2017, not visible from the street, call for directions (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

They have Indian, Thai, and Mexican dishes. Better than it sounds. A kind of home cooking, tastes different than what you get elsewhere, and very good. Worth having in one's repertoire.

Texacan Beef and Pork Co., web site, preparation page, 21750 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn, VA, 703-858-5565, closes at 6:30 (Metro Trip Planner -opens in new window) take out menu

Update May 15, 2006: Closed

Hi-tech, I have yet to go.

Willard’s Real Pit BBQ, 4300 Chantilly Shopping Center, #1a, Chantilly, VA, on Willard Rd. at the Dulles Expo Center, off Rt. 28, not too far from Dulles Airport, 703-488-9970 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | food-plan | openlist | Citysearch]

They have St. Louis ribs, Texas brisket, Kansas City burnt ends, North Carolina pulled pork, and Jamaican jerk chicken, among other dishes. No one of these is up to the original but at least it resembles pit barbecue. Real side dishes, too. Excellent characters come to eat at this place. Recommended.

Euro Bistro (web site), 314 Elden Street, at Herndon Parkway, Herndon, VA, 703-481-8158 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Citysearch | Yelp | Gayot]

Austrian food, with some Thai (!) dishes. Spaetzle.

Big Bowl (web site), Reston Town Center, 11915 Democracy Drive, Reston, VA, 703-787-8852, usually open (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Citysearch | Yelp | Gayot]

Half-Asian, half-American, for Reston tekkies, this place is popular and has its defenders. Not for the purist, though. Try the curries, and hope for the best.

Clyde's, web site, Reston Town Center, 11905 Market Street, Reston, VA, 703-787-6601, plus branches near Tysons, in Georgetown, and in Chevy Chase (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Gayot]

When dining with the wimpy, I go to the Tysons one (8332 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA, 703-734-1901) which is across from Borders, back behind Rt. 7 a bit and not visible from the road. The bar scene here is unattractive, but the food is pretty good, reliable, and not overpriced. Many will scorn this place, but it comes in handy.

Wegmans, web site [WaPo | The Daily Ping | Manassas Journal Messenger]

• web site, 45131 Columbia Place, Sterling, VA, 703-421-2400 (just north of Dulles International Airport - off Rt.28, turn west at either Commercial or Waxpool) [Baltimore Sun]
  
• web site, 11620 Monument Drive, Fairfax, VA, 703-653-1600 (off Rt.29)

The best supermarket, with a dozen restaurants inside as well. Imagine Whole Foods times five, plus your favorite brands, plus half a dozen ethnic groceries. I don’t usually list supermarkets, but this place is worth its weight in gold.

The meats are excellent, the seafood selection amazing, the spice selection first-rate, and the cooked foods can be surprisingly good. The cheese and olive bars are hard to believe. An “A” for design as well. Go, and go often, this place has revolutionized food shopping. You might find you don’t even need this guide anymore.

Note: the Sterling branch has better foodstuffs than Fairfax, though both are impressive.

Charcoal Kabob, 394 Elden Street, Herndon, VA (in the Super K-Mart Center, also listed as 472 Elden Street), 703-435-2400 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [zabihah | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Citysearch | Gayot]

Above average kabob place, with some Afghan dishes too. Recommended. This mall in Herndon, and the accompanying strip, is one of the best locales around for ethnic food.

Pho 75, 3103 Graham Road, Suite B, Falls Church, VA, 703-204-1490, go early to avoid the line (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Citysearch | Gayot]

Other locations:

• 1721 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA, 703-525-7355
  
• 382 Elden Street, Herndon, VA, 703-471-4145
  
• 771 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD, 301-309-8873
  
• 1510 University Blvd. East, Hyattsville, MD, 301-434-7844
  

Do not fear tripe and the other nasty bits. Learn to eat for crunch and texture.

Minerva, web site, 10364 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA, 703-383-9200 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Citysearch]

Other locations:

• 2443-GI Centreville Road, Herndon, VA, 703-793-3223 [Gayot]
  
• 14513-B Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy, Chantilly,VA, 703-378-7778
  
• 4305 State Bridge Road, Alpharetta, GA, 678-566-7444

The best. Amazing buffet for lunchtime, weekend lunch is when you should go. Real Indian food, north and south. Truly spicy. The best are the dishes that look weird or unusual. Use the chutneys. Use the curd rice. Experiment. One of the best places on this list if you know how to choose from the buffet properly. Buffet spicier, and more interesting, on the weekends. (Non-buffet) dinner is also excellent, though sometimes a bit slow. Opt for their unusual dosas and south Indian specialties. Great for people-watching, especially at lunch.

You’ll notice they have some Chinese dishes, which mimic how Chinese food is served in India. The peppered chicken is best. Indians love these, they are evidence of how authentic the restaurant is, not the contrary.