Balo Kitchen

Posted on 2017/10/20 by .

Balo Kitchen, web site, a food stand/restaurant in The Block, 4221 John Marr St., Annandale, VA, 703-942-5076 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Amazon | Washingtonian | TripAdvisor | Don Rockwell | NoVA Mag | Ylp]

I’ve been to The Block a bunch of times, and until now I have been reluctant to review it or any of the individual places in this food court. Each time I have felt I just don’t “get it.” And I guess I don’t.

On the bright side, The Block feels more like East Asia than anywhere else around, and it feels like the Asia of today, not the Asia or Korea of the 1980s that you get so often in Annandale. It is fun to be here, and the crowd is appropriately lively. On the down side, it is maybe the loudest place around, at least during busy hours. But that’s not my real gripe. What bugs me is that this is a place for people who think there should be mayonnaise on Asian food. If that’s you, go! I think many of the dishes here are well done, or at least “good enough,” but I also know they are not for me. I don’t like them, and when eating them I wish I was somewhere else in Annandale, because ultimately the food trumps all. So conditional on you liking this place, I am not the critic you should listen to. At the very least, you all should visit because I have seen the future and the future is The Block. Take that as you will.

Related Posts:

Posted in Annandale, Korean, Virginia | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Calabash African Cuisine and Bar

Posted on 2017/10/15 by .

Calabash African Cuisine and Bar, 514-C S van Dorn, Alexandria, VA (the strip mall with Savio’s visible to the street), 703-823-1333, closed Mondays. (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [NoVA Mag | Ylp]

The waok ye is especially good, which is a mix of rice, beans, plantains, fish, and noodles. Plus they have fried yam with turkey, jollof rice, Red Red, and of course Fufu. The décor is very basic, the crowd friendly, service a bit halting. Ghanaian food is not to everyone’s taste, but I would describe the offerings here as above average. If you are inclined to try this place, you should, that said do not expect too much variety in the offerings over repeated visits.

Related Posts:

Posted in African, Alexandria, Ghanaian, Virginia | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Calabash African Cuisine and Bar

Incredibowl

Posted on 2017/09/23 by .

Incredibowl, web site, 14005 Lee Jackson Highway (Rt.50), just east of Rt.28, Chantilly, VA, 703-631-5888 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Ylp]

IncrediBowl

Where Sichuan Village used to be located. No surprises here, but this is a considerably above average take on all the usual Sichuan classics. I especially enjoyed the Fish in Hot Chili Oil and the Shredded Potatoes with Peppers. Note that the place is small and it can fill up pretty quickly.

Related Posts:

Posted in Chinese, Herndon/Reston/Ashburn/Chantilly / Dulles Airport, Virginia | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Silk Road, Uyghur Cuisine

Posted on 2017/09/21 by .

Silk Road, Uyghur Cuisine, web site, 301 S. Washington Blvd., Falls Church, VA, 703-534-3838 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [FCNP | Ylp]

The smallest of the Uighur places, and possibly the most authentic, a true mom and pop. (They have “normal” American-Chinese dishes too.) Get the chopped noodle and also the Chili Paper [sic] Chicken, that should read Pepper. You should visit this excellent restaurant even if you already know and enjoy the other recently opened Uighur places in the area. They also serve lamb hoof and shredded tripe.

Related Posts:

Posted in Chinese, Falls Church/Seven Corners, Uyghur, Virginia | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Taco Bamba Vienna

Posted on 2017/09/18 by .

Taco Bamba Vienna, web site, 164 Maple Ave., Vienna, VA, 703-436-6339, note they open at 8:30 a.m. and thus are a breakfast option. (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [WaPo | Washingtonian | TripAdvisor | Ylp | Zagat]

If you read this guide, you probably already know the superior tacos of the original Taco Bamba outlet in Falls Church. The newer branch is yuppified, with longer lines, and the menu is broader, with more kinds of tacos, chilaquiles, tortas, and more sides. I was suspicious, but there seems to be no diminution in quality and a much bigger selection. Definitely recommended. Note that ordering a single taco here gives you much more food than in any other tacqueria I’ve seen, decide accordingly.

Related Posts:

Posted in Mexican, Vienna/Tysons, Virginia | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tortas y Tacos La Chiquita

Posted on 2017/09/05 by .

Tortas y Tacos La Chiquita, 2911 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA, 571-970-2824 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Zagat | Arlington Now | City Paper | Ylp]


Huaraches Recipe, Mexican Street Food, Antojito Mexicano

Formerly an Arlington food truck, this is now the best Mexican place and tacqueria in Northern Virginia, excellent all around. The tacos are consistent in quality, my favorite are the carnitas. The huaraches are better than anywhere else around I know. Weekends they serve pozole. If you like spicy, get the green peppers snack filled with cheese. I am delighted to now have this place in my repertoire, we haven’t had anything nearly this good in NoVa. Very casual, a comfortable place to sit down and eat, but not quite a restaurant either.

Related Posts:

Posted in Arlington, Mexican, Virginia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Tortas y Tacos La Chiquita

Esaan Cuisine

Posted on 2017/08/26 by .

Esaan Cuisine, web site, 1307 Old Chain Bridge Rd, McLean, VA, 703-288-3901 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [TripAdvisor | Don Rockwell | Ylp | McLean Connxn]

Another phenomenal northern Virginia restaurant, this one is food from Northeastern Thailand. I would describe this place as offering vivid flavors and full authenticity. You should get the vermicelli with fried mackerel (one of the best dishes around, period), the Kow Soi soup with noodles, and the fried chicken salad, for one of the best meals around, certainly tops in McLean. I tried a few other dishes and liked those too. One note: the prices are not super-cheap. They are entirely reasonable for the location and quality, but not the kind of steal that you might get from other places in this guide.

Related Posts:

Posted in McLean, Thai, Virginia | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

ABC Canteen

Posted on 2017/08/21 by .

ABC Canteen, web site, 9528 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA, 703-865-0377 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Fairfax Times | TripAdvisor | FCNP | Ylp]

The best tacqueria near my home, note it also serves fish and chips (OK), and subs (have not tried them). The carnitas are my favorite, then the barbacoa, the sauces bar is authentic as well. Do note it doesn’t feel like a tacqueria, rather like a converted Arthur Treacher’s Fish and Chips, which now serves tacos. That is because it is, extra points for that. Oh, and do not forget the tamales, definitely recommended.

Related Posts:

Posted in Fairfax, Mexican, Virginia | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Skopje notes

Posted on 2017/08/11 by .

…
The earthquake of 1963 is mentioned fairly often; it destroyed about 80 percent of the city.

Mother Teresa was born in Skopje, and there is a museum in her honor. A good day trip from Skopje is the St. Jovan Bigorski monastery, some of the finest woodcarving I have seen. It is striking to view the church in conjunction with the Saudi-financed mosque across the valley, thereby inducing one to ponder the use of stones to capture space in the game of Go.

I am told there are Macedonian enclaves in Totowa, Clifton, and Garfield, New Jersey.

The food is phenomenal, in addition to the roast peppers there are breads, baked pies, meats stewed with vegetables, white beans, stuffed peppers, trout, and Balkan cheeses, all with that farm to table touch. Further to the south I recommend the garlic spread.

Originally posted on Marginal Revolution – click to see comments and suggestions.

Related Posts:

Posted in Macedonia, Outside DC | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Skopje notes

Little Viet Garden

Posted on 2017/07/19 by .

Little Viet Garden, web site, 6783 Wilson Blvd., Falls Church, VA, 703-532-1069 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [WaPo | TripAdvisor | Arl Mag | Ylp]

An offshoot of the quite good, Viet Garden, this place feels a little fresher. The baby clams, the vermicelli, the broken rice, and the caramel fish are all well above average. I don’t think you’ll find any startling revelations here, but if you are looking for a good all-purpose, go-to Vietnamese restaurant, and with reasonable crowds, this is surely one of the main contenders.

Related Posts:

Posted in Eden Center, Falls Church/Seven Corners, Vietnamese, Virginia | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment