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
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]
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.