Zaytinya

Posted on 2006/04/30 by .

Zaytinya, web site (flash), 701 9th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-638-0800 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WBFN | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Has received much attention and a few awards. It is uneven, much variety, and many of the dishes have genuinely new ideas. Not just the same old stuff. Lots of vegetarian. Get the mezzes. Overall I feel the place is in decline, having become too trendy. Note also that the dining room is too noisy and crowded, even on weekdays.

Related Posts:

Posted in Chinatown/Verizon Center, DC, Lebanese | Comments Off on Zaytinya

Tofu Lighthouse Restaurant, or Vit Goel ToFu House

Posted on 2006/04/30 by .

Tofu Lighthouse Restaurant, or Vit Goel ToFu House, 4121 Chatelain Road, Suite 100, Annandale, VA, 703-333-3436 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Korean DC]
For Annandale, this place is not above average Korean. In other words, it is really good. Limited menu, this place has decided to specialize in tofu and barbecue dishes.

Related Posts:

Posted in Annandale, Korean, Virginia | 3 Comments

Lotte Plaza

Posted on 2006/04/30 by .

Lotte Plaza, web site, large Korean Mall in Fairfax. On Old Lee Highway, near Fairfax Circle, and next to Artie’s, 3250 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA, 703-352-8989 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [WaPo | Yelp]
The center of Korean life in Fairfax. A large Korean supermarket and a variety of small take-out Korean restaurants served by tables in a mall-like area. Great food, and definitely number one for atmosphere. A visit here is a must. I like the Bul-Gogi at the straight-up Korean restaurant, but there are many good dishes to have here.

Related Posts:

Posted in Fairfax, Food Stores, Korean, Virginia | Comments Off on Lotte Plaza

Yee Hwa

Posted on 2006/04/30 by .

Yee Hwa, 1009 21st Street NW, Washington, DC, near K Street, 202-833-1244 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Korean DC | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | Yelp]
Finally DC gets a Korean place. Living so close to Annandale I have no reason to go, but there are no bad Korean places around here.

Related Posts:

Posted in DC, Downtown, Korean | Comments Off on Yee Hwa

Yechon

Posted on 2006/04/30 by .

Yechon, 4121 Hummer Road, Annandale, VA, 703-914-4646, just off 236, always open, 24 hours (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist]
One of the best and most versatile Korean places, plus it has a festive atmosphere. The grilled deluxe specials are excellent but everything is consistent. The only drawback – many of the major dishes have to be ordered by both people. They have sushi too, though not early in the morning for breakfast.

Related Posts:

Posted in Annandale, Korean, Virginia | Comments Off on Yechon

Sun-dal Chung (Chung Sen Dal; Jung Sun Dal Restaurant)

Posted on 2006/04/30 by .

Sun-dal Chung (Chung Sen Dal; Jung Sun Dal Restaurant), 6499 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, VA, 703-642-1444, a bit west of the I-395 ramp, across from the Salvation Army (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Korean DC | Yelp]
Number one for atmosphere, and open 24 hours. A gem, if you can spot the sign. Look for Korean symbols, not the English name. Good food, great soups, limited menu, which is a good thing. The sort of place Korean truck drivers would go to, if we had them around here. My favorite is the pork soup – superb – plus the seafood pancake is first-rate as well, very juicy.

Related Posts:

Posted in Alexandria, Annandale, Korean, Virginia | Comments Off on Sun-dal Chung (Chung Sen Dal; Jung Sun Dal Restaurant)

Woo Lae Oak

Posted on 2006/04/30 by .

Woo Lae Oak, web site, 1500 S. Joyce Street, Arlington, VA, 703-521-3706, also in Tysons Corner at 8240 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA, 703-827-7300 (small international chain) (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Korean DC (Arlington) | Korean DC (Tysons) | Washingtonian | WaPo (Tysons) | WaPo (Arlington) | City Paper (Tysons) | City Paper (Arlington) | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp]
The best of the mainstream Korean places, as opposed to the mom and pops. You could even take a business client here. The best place to go for an introduction to Korean food, and the place with the best ingredients, though the overall feel of the restaurant is a bit sterile for my tastes. There now seems to be a branch at Tysons Corner as well, on Rt.7, just west of Capitol Grille.

Related Posts:

Posted in Crystal City/Pentagon City/National Airport, Korean, The Best, Vienna/Tysons, Virginia | Comments Off on Woo Lae Oak

Sambo Restaurant

Posted on 2006/04/30 by .

Sambo Restaurant, 6669 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA, 703-750-6846 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [WaPo | Yelp]
Above average Korean food and sushi, I like the eel here, and it is my favorite place for Bul-Gogi. Cute Korean waitresses as well. Recommended.
Update June 25, 2007: This place has reopened under new management and is a completely different place. The new review is here.

Related Posts:

Posted in Alexandria, Annandale, Korean, Virginia | Comments Off on Sambo Restaurant

Sam Woo

Posted on 2006/04/29 by .

Sam Woo, 1054 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD, 301-424-0495 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Korean DC | Washingtonian | City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
I’ve been to dozens of Korean restaurants in my life, and never experienced a bad one. This would be my second choice of the ones I know in Maryland, after Seoul Soondae on Veirs Mill Road.

Related Posts:

Posted in Korean, Maryland, Rockville/Gaithersburg | Comments Off on Sam Woo

Seoul Soondae

Posted on 2006/04/29 by .

Seoul Soondae, 4231-L Markham Street, Annandale, VA, 703-642-2220 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Korean DC (Annandale) | Korean DC (Wheaton) | WaPo | Yelp]
Branches in Wheaton, MD, 12203 Veirs Mill Road, Stone Mill Square Plaza, 301-942-5200 (equally good, pretty much the same thing); Ellicott City may be replaced by manna, 410-480-5050: 8801 Baltimore Nat’l Pike, Ellicott City, MD, 410-750-0006; and Queens, NY, 158-15 Northern Boulevard, Queens, NY, 718-321-3231 [Village Voice | AM New York]
If you don’t want buffet, one of the best Korean places around. Great seafood pancake here, Korean food for Koreans who know the difference. Gets crowded.

Related Posts:

Posted in Annandale, Korean, Maryland, The Best, Virginia, Wheaton/Kensington | 2 Comments