You can never go wrong with Rice Paper in Eden Center. The small, modern restaurant has some of the best authentic Vietnamese food in the DMV. Rice Paper’s comforting and vibrant flavors are great features of Vietnamese cuisine.
Suggestion: Lemongrass beef skewers that come with rice paper to make your own rolls, or a comforting bowl of their Phở Đặc Biệt.
Another Vietnamese restaurant I could not recommend enough, Banh Mi D.C., serves the perfect banh mi with fresh french bread, delectable meats, fresh pickled vegetables and mayonnaise to top it off. Located in Arlington, these are a cheap lunch treat.
Suggestion: Combination sandwich with meats like paté (my favorite addition).
Tony Cheng Seafood Restaurant:
Even before COVID, Chinatown was struggling to maintain its Chinese culture which makes it especially important to support Tony Cheng’s. Their upstairs dim sum restaurant has an authentic experience that is very engaging. They serve a variety of traditional Chinese American dishes that hit the spot.
Suggestion: Grab anything from the carts, and you’ll be delighted!
Annandale, Virginia is home to a large Korean population, and therefore home to many delicious Korean restaurants, including Kogiya. Kogiya was recently named one of the best restaurants in 2020 by Washingtonian. Their Korean BBQ experience is immersive, and they serve great grilled meats. Their sides make each bite even better.
Suggestion: Bulgogi is a staple of Korean BBQ. Its sweet but tangy taste is incredibly satisfying. Pair it with some kimchi, and you have the perfect bite!
Kadhai is a Bethesda Indian restaurant that is perfect for takeout or delivery. They serve a variety of flavorful dishes that are easy to order on a busy school night. Their vast and flavorful options are definitely worth the visit.
Suggestion: Vegetable Korma packed with flavor.
Fairfax Inn is a diner but with filipino staples. Among their American ambience and traditional items, they have fulfilling filipino dishes like traditional breakfasts and lunches. This nook in Virginia is worth the drive for diner food with some special choices!
Suggestion: A filipino breakfast usually served with tocino (sweet cured pork strips), fried or steamed rice, sunny side up eggs and achora (pickled papaya) can never go wrong.
Sakuramen is located in a basement in Adams Morgan. While the space is quaint, the ambiance is comforting, just like the restaurant’s ramen. The ramen is served in very large bowls, making it a perfect split for two that still allows one to explore the depths of the flavor. Sakuramen also has a variety of vegetarian options to satisfy the ESS students.
Suggestions: Gyoza is the perfect appetizer and the tonkotsu red can never go wrong!
By Rose Boehm
