Comments for Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide

Comment on Zaaki Restaurant and Cafe by Chappy8

Chappy8 — Thu, 09 May 2013 23:38:13 +0000

“very best views of Baileys Crossroads when you look out the window”

This is a joke, right? This is like saying best views of the Mixing Bowl or of 7-Corners. This is largely highway.

Comment on Gharer Khabar by pete

pete — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 04:49:17 +0000

eve,
try the chotpoti next time. Its not dry, no rice-based. Simple streetfood, yet very flavorful.

Comment on Gharer Khabar by Steve

Steve — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 02:06:15 +0000

The curry is liquidy. They usually ask if you prefer bread or rice on the side.

The top two things to order which are indicative of Bengali food are the moghlai parotha (bread stuffed with egg and scallion) and the chotpoti (typical room temperature chaat with legume, chopped onion, cilantro, tamarind sauce.).

the alu gobi is indeed excellent – often listed on the chalkboard as “vegetable.”

Comment on Gharer Khabar by Eve B

Eve B — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:39:31 +0000

We tried this out a couple weekends ago. It was definitely cheap and barebones, not something we mind, but something that surprised me was that every dish was dry. We had a goat curry and chicken biryani and both came as rice with meat, spices and a few vegetables mixed in. We also had their Aloo Ghobi which was delicious. Were your dishes all primarily rice? We are wondering if they served us something different that what we ordered for the curry and biryani. Have you tried the Indian restaurant on that same block? Thats one of our next stops!

Comment on East Dumpling House by Eve B

Eve B — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:37:35 +0000

Hi Tyler – I just had lunch here this past Sunday and yes, its everything you say it is! I waited patiently for it to open as I work in Rockville Town Center, right around the corner. Like you, I live in Virginia, but I knew it was coming because I watched the signs, but, how do you learn about these restaurants as you are based in VA? Thanks!

Comment on Shamshiry by Connie

Connie — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 19:34:26 +0000

There is an important thing you need to know about Shamshiry: Their best items are not on the menu. They make a good lamb kabob, some decent gormeh sabzi (beef stew with green vegetables and kidney beans); and another stew with yellow split peas, eggplant and beef. Also, always ask for the tah digue, crispy rice.

Comment on East Pearl by Jenny

Jenny — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 15:29:14 +0000

I agree with you on the tofu dishes. We had a stuffed tofu and eggplant dish that was yummy. The shrimp stuffing reminded me of crystal shrimp dumpling dim sum. However, the meat dishes my friends and I tried were mediocre. The beef brisket dish was a huge disappointment in every way, which is surprising because it’s not easy to mess that up. (Perhaps it was because they were busy?) They also charged us $5.00 for rice, which was extremely weird. On a last point, all the dishes were really overpriced despite the simplicity and lack of quality of many of the dishes. I likely won’t be coming back. Next up: Sichuan Jin River!

Comment on Shanghai Taste by Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:49:29 +0000

The woman in the video doesn’t even pronounce xiaolongbao correctly.

The best way to eat one (as asserted by my Shanghai-nese mom) – carefully take one with chopsticks so you don’t break the dough shell. Then bite a little hole near the top. Suck out the soup. Careful, it’s hot! This way, not a drop of soup is wasted.

Comment on Nizam’s by Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide » Blog Archive » Rumi’s Bistro - All food is ethnic food.

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:38:11 +0000

[...] Bistro, web site, 523 Maple Avenue, Vienna, VA, 703- 242-2138, where Nizam’s used to be. (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [...]

Comment on Hunan Gate Restaurant by ralph ruben

ralph ruben — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 18:46:56 +0000

I can confirm that the lamb cumin here is great.