Alex and I will be there for the Southern Economics Association meetings, along with many other economists. I don’t know the city well, as I’ve been there only once. There might be a bit of free time. What should we do? Where should we eat?
Originally posted on Marginal Revolution – click to see comments and suggestions
Osaka, 6669 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA, 703-256-0152 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Yelp]
They keep on putting not-quite-feasible Korean-Japanese restaurants in this space. This place is OK, but I don’t see any reason to think it will survive.
Paraiso Latino, there are several El Paraiso and Paraiso Latino restaurants in the DC area, I ate at 4716 King Street, Alexandria, VA, 703-820-2040 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Yelp]
Below average, everything was a bit dry. In the El Salvadoran category there is too much competition for this place to merit a repeat visit. I might have hit a bad day but at my favorites that never happens.
Meanwhile here are links to YouTube videos of the band Paraiso Latino: “Grupo Paraiso Latino tocanda en una fiesta. Cumbia Sonidero Mix” and “Tocando un popurri de duranguense movidas”
Bay Lo, web site, 6757 Wilson Blvd., Falls Church, VA, Eden Center (Saigon East), northeastern corridor, #21, 703-241-4094 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [WaPo | MetroMix | City Paper | Yelp]
A very handy Vietnamese place. They have “Seven Courses of Beef,” frog dishes, goat, organ meats, Hot Pot, plus some (but by no means all) of the standards. Good for when you are craving something different.
Vannipa Thai Restaurant, web site, 6037 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA (please note that this address does not map properly if you use Falls Church as the city rather than Bailey’s Crossroads) – it is in the Culmore Shopping Center, next to Peking Gourmet Inn, between Seven Corners and Bailey’s Crossroads, 703-671-2201 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Yelp]
The Thai place in this spot is always OK (the original Neisha Thai started here many years ago), but never really worth going to. That has yet to change.
A parody we think loyal TCEDG readers will enjoy.
Why Are Swedish Meatballs So Much Smaller Than Their American Counterparts?
And although it should be obvious: The parody linked above is not by Tyler. Or Tyrone. Or Alex.
See this post by the real Tyler: Why are Swedish meatballs so much smaller than their American counterparts?
Café Assorti, web site, 1800 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA, 703-465-0036, open at 8 am for breakfast, through to 9 or 10 pm (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Washingtonian | Wash Times | Menu Pages | Don Rockwell | Yelp]
It’s called Kazakh food but in reality I know a lot of Russians who eat exactly this stuff. Vegetable salads. Pelmenyi dumplings. Crepes. Cutlet. Etc. But you know what the problem is? This place is right across the street from Ray’s Hell-Burger. Since my in-laws cook this food for me, I always head for Ray’s. I look forward to your reports.
The current Top 5 places appear in the right hand column, under “Current Favorites,” and are also listed separately in the category, “Top Five“.
Also be sure to check out “The Best” category.
As always, we welcome your comments and suggestions.
Sichuan Pavilion / Sichuan Jin River, web site, 410 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD, just north of Rockville Town Centre, invisibly deep into a strip mall with “Saigon” restaurant and Revere Bank. Enter on the north side of Beall Avenue (south side of the restaurant) between North Washington Street and Hungerfod Drive, across street from Taste of Saigon and the library, about 600 feet southeast of Bob’s Noodle 66. Don’t miss it! 240-403-7351, book in advance! (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [City Paper | Gazette.Net | Don Rockwell | Yelp]
Wow and double wow.
Get the Dan Dan Noodles and the Jelly Noodles. Get dumplings and more dumpling-like phenomena. This is the most authentic Sichuan restaurant around and it makes Hong Kong Palace look like Burger King. I haven’t yet “cracked” the best dishes on the main menu (I did like the crispy potato but thought the Chengdu chicken only decent), but it doesn’t matter. Just choosing from the starting, first section of the menu makes this a “Top Five” restaurant. First-rate ambience and clientele as well.
Highly recommended.
Maizbon Afghan Grill, web site, 6244-K Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, VA, in the Landmark Plaza Shopping Center, just west of I-395, with Verizon and Shoppers Food Warehouse, Alexandria, VA, 703-914-1700 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [WaPo | Yelp]
One of the best Afghan places around. The food is authentic, tasty, and they have dishes which are unavailable elsewhere. The buffet is of mixed quality, so if you can go here for a full, real meal, freshly cooked (even so, some of the buffet is quite good and in reality you need only one good dish on a buffet). The Afghan risotto is especially fine. Not quite a mom and pop, they try to have the feel of a real restaurant. Recommended.
