Kababayan, 13840 Smoketown Road, Woodbridge, VA, Smoketown Road Shopping Center, at Smoketown Road and Minnieville Road, near Glory Days Grill, 703-580-0300 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window)
The Filipino version of cafeteria line dining, or so I am told. They do “turo-turo,” or “point-point,” because the diner points to what he wants to eat.
Fairfax Inn, 2946 Sleepy Hollow Road, Falls Church, VA, just off Seven Corners, located in a Medical Arts Building, 703-532-0616 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window)
Mostly they serve burgers and the like. You have to ask for the Filipino menu at the counter. I have yet to go, the recommendation is from Papan Devnani, who tells me the dishes are named in Tagalog, a good sign. They close at 7 pm evenings, 3 pm on Sundays, and also serve Filipino breakfast.
Karaoke Idol, 7151 Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA, 703-533-0024 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Falls Church News-Press]
The name alone makes this one worth a try, but frankly I am terrified. Recommended by a reader is the lumpia, Pancit, the tocino (sweetend cured meat), and longaniza. I've now gone, and thought it was "good for a Filipino place," but stil I can't fall in love with the cuisine, at least not in its restaurant versions.
Pampanguena Cafe, 16041 Frederick Road (Route 355), Gaithersburg (technically Derwood), MD, 240-631-2210 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | Don Rockwell | Gayot]
I don’t usually include the excellent Gaithersburg in this guide (just too far for me), but how many good Filipino places do we have? A Filipino reader says this is the best one around.
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.
Manila Cafe, 7020 Commerce Street, Springfield, VA, 703-644-5825 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
I find this to be the most interesting Filipino place around. The barbecued pig is excellent. But you must know exactly what you are doing here, or indeed in any Pilipino restaurant. Most of all, you need to understand how condiments are used in the cuisine. Otherwise you will be bored and disappointed. And there is no denying that the median dish here is not worth the trip. Consider also the specials, especially those that need to be ordered days in advance.
Little Quiapo, 4807 North 1st Street, Arlington, VA, 703-528-3194 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | Yelp | Gayot]
Hard to find - there are eight 1 Sts. in Arlington, and this doesn't seem to be on any of them. I once spent an hour looking for this place and finally had to give up. Several months later I found it on my own. It is located in the Arlington Forest Shopping Center, where there is an Outback Steakhouse also. Coming from the intersection of 7 and 50, go east on 50, turning left at Park, which is maybe your sixth (?) light (Park is between Carlin Springs Road and George Mason Drive). You'll see the mall then.
Filipino food is best enjoyed when served in homes and at weddings. Most Filipino restaurants I have been to (usually in Los Angeles) have been disappointing. Oxtail in peanut sauce can be too fatty and only brings you so far. The lumpia (a bit like spring rolls) are often good, but they're not that special either, at least not in America. Milkfish is no treat in my book.
In spite of all that, this place is pretty good. I like the Adobo very much, and the small lumpia. But beware when you order - even dedicated fans of ethnic food will not like much of what is on the menu. Strong fish sauce - not the sweetened Vietnamese version - abounds. High marks for atmosphere, by the way. And one of the cheapest places on this list, which is saying something.