Korean Mini-Mall – Old Centreville Crossing Shopping Center

Posted on 2006/09/04 by .

Korean Mini-Mall, 12814-C Braddock Road, also 13814-B, 13860-B, Centreville, at Rt.29, technically it is called Old Centreville Crossing Shopping Center (use 13814 Braddock Road, Centreville, VA for directions).
It has Cheogajip Chicken, 703-815-8744, Tae Hwa Won Restaurant, 793-266-4785, and Hahmji Bahk BBQ, 703-266-6681. The chicken place specializes in Korean Fried Chicken, fresh, along the lines of the Korean chain back home. I expect they are all excellent.
Also see:

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Posted in Centreville/Manassas, Korean, Strip Malls for Food, Virginia | 2 Comments

Updates August 17, 2006

Posted on 2006/08/17 by .

Additions:

Closings:

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Posted in Updates | 1 Comment

Tay Do Restaurant

Posted on 2006/08/16 by .

Tay Do Restaurant, web site, 6793-C Wilson Blvd., Falls Church, VA, the old spot held by Dragon Star in Eden Center, 703-536-5728

Update January 2011: Closed. Now Anh Hong & Asian Spices BBQ

This place keeps closing and then opening again. Each time it gets smaller and it takes on a new relationship with sappy evening music. At times it has been excellent and I’ve never know it to be bad. I’m not sure what to say. If you’re already in the Eden Center, it’s hard to try a place that can’t keep its act together. But there’s plenty of upside with the organ meats, the clay pots, the congees, and other dishes, including Vietnamese pancakes. That is if the menu stays the same. Who knows?

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Posted in Eden Center, Falls Church/Seven Corners, Vietnamese, Virginia | 3 Comments

Pauli Moto’s

Posted on 2006/08/15 by .

Pauli Moto’s, web site, 7852-L Tysons Corner Center, McLean, VA (Tysons I), 703-556-7777 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [MenuPages | WaPo | City Paper | Tarting It Up | Don Rockwell | Yelp]
This is by Pauli Moto, the guy with the TV show and the fancy nouvelle Asian place in Philadelphia. I suppose he showed up for the opening, or something like that.
The food here is carefully made, reasonably tasty, and no doubt it is the best restaurant in Tysons Mall. The seafood is quite fresh. That said, I find the place a bore, and a somewhat expensive bore at that. Best for when there are lines everywhere else and you need to eat somewhere before the movie.
My first evaulation stands.

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Posted in Asian (Pan-Asian), McLean, Vienna/Tysons, Virginia | 3 Comments

Mama Leah’s Gourmet Pizza

Posted on 2006/08/14 by .

Mama Leah’s Gourmet Pizza (kosher pizza), web site, 4836 Boiling Brook Parkway, Rockville, MD, Randolph Hills Shopping Center, 301-770-1781, their hours observe the Sabbath (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window)
CLOSED.

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Posted in Kosher, Maryland, Pizza, Rockville/Gaithersburg | 1 Comment

Bamian

Posted on 2006/08/13 by .

Bamian, web site, 5634 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA, 703-820-7880 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Washingtonian | MenuPages | Suburban Tasteland | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper]
One of the best Afghan places around, the kabobs are juicy and succulent. That being said, I have some complaints. The air conditioning is overdone. The dining room is huge and understaffed. I can’t imagine trying to eat here at 8 p.m. on a Saturday evening. The appetizers all have strong minty tastes. This is better than going the sweet route, but a certain sameness creeps in. With some modest changes, this place could be very very good. Right now it hovers between good and very good.

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Posted in Afghan, Falls Church/Seven Corners, Virginia | 1 Comment

Chaba Thai Restaurant

Posted on 2006/08/13 by .

Chaba Thai Restaurant, web site, 2972 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA, 703-205-2430
Right near the Lee Highway Multiplex and thus it has a convenient location for many moviegoers. But it is not above average. The watercress salad is one good dish to get, but the net value added of this place is probably locational only.

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Posted in Falls Church/Seven Corners, Thai, Virginia | 2 Comments

Tandoori Nights

Posted on 2006/08/13 by .

Tandoori Nights, web site (Flash), 2800 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA, 703-248-8333 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Washingtonian | Wash Times | City Paper | Yelp]
Remember how Clarendon was once the epicenter of good ethnic dining? Well, those days are long since gone.
Avoid the Tandoori here. Some of the vegetable dishes are not bad. Don’t think this substitutes for any of the real Indian places around. But some of you will be caught short in Clarendon, wondering where to go, and tempted to try this. What can I say? You should be in your car driving down to Minerva. But you’re not. Boo-hoo. Give Tandoori Nights a try, but don’t complain to me if you go home disappointed. The décor is nice.

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Posted in Arlington, Indian, Virginia | 2 Comments

In the Language of Gastronomy, Those Michelin Stars Translate as Dollar Signs

Posted on 2006/07/13 by .

Receiving a Michelin star increases prices in a Parisian restaurant by 20 percent, controlling for measures of quality, décor and location. Michelin-starred restaurants in fancy hotels, or in areas with other Michelin-starred restaurants, also have higher prices, again adjusting for quality. Diners are paying more to eat in fine or prestigious surroundings, whether or not the food is better. One gastronomy expert, speaking in Le Nouvel Observateur, noted, “Gaining a Michelin star ensures that your banker will be kind to you.”
. . .
It remains easier to get good cheap food in the United States, if only by looking to the growing number of ethnic restaurants, most of which stand outside formal ranking systems. Labor laws that are more flexible than those in France also support more dining options in the United States. Most Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris are closed on Sundays, and many are closed on Saturdays as well. Labor costs are the major culprit.

“In the Language of Gastronomy, Those Michelin Stars Translate as Dollar Signs,” by Tyler Cowen, The New York Times, July 13, 2006

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Posted in Economics of Dining, General Tips | Comments Off on In the Language of Gastronomy, Those Michelin Stars Translate as Dollar Signs

Soo Rah – CLOSED

Posted on 2006/07/02 by .

Soo Rah (formerly Pokchangdong?), 7601 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA, 703-658-0508, open until midnight, starting at about 11 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window)

Update June 2007: Soo Rah is closed

The western-most of the Annandale Korean entries and also one of the best. Get the most expensive of the set menus for a treat. This will involve casseroles, ribs, dumplings, fish, egg dishes, steamed tofu, blue crabs, and the usual medley of Korean vegetables. The casseroles are to be recommended more generally. The bibimbop is good not though the very best. Fully authentic, and though I have for now put it on the favorites list, note that many of the competitors are not far behind.

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Posted in Annandale, Korean, The Best, Virginia | 2 Comments