Dear Virginia ,
Hi , it ’s me .
DC .
Laura Hayes/Thrillist
Look , this is n’t well-heeled … but I need to apologize . Sometimes , a city call for to spring up up and tell a state how deep sorry it is . Today ’s the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , Virginia .
I ’ve taken you for yield for decades , and twisted the tongue so many times . My habitant have penned stories like “ Virginia sucks , ” then poured saltiness into the wound by saying stuff like , “ It call for a lot to get me toVirginia for dinner . ” Come on … this is n’t the Oregon Trail . get over the Potomac does n’t necessitate calk a goddamn waggon . Besides , getting to many of my night life neighborhood is just as problematic – that H Street NE tram , for example , is about as utilitarian as a pogo stick . I ’ll freely accommodate that .
And let ’s not even discuss Georgetown .
Agedashi tofu with mushrooms at Takumi Sushi I Laura Hayes/Thrillist
The shaming and kick about the Commonwealth end now . DC resident : do n’t have snobbery keep you from missing out on some of the best food and drink the area has to propose . Virginia , I owe you a formal apology , for downgrading you , overlook you , and pooh - poohing you as something less than a gem treasure trove of good eats . I ’m genuinely smitten with your food scene . Despite your shortcoming ( Gate 35X at Washington National Airport – just burn it ) , the Sojourner Truth is , I have intercourse you .
Oh , how I turn over your food prospect , VA . Name a cuisine , and there ’s a restaurant on your turf that ’s cream 1,000 . Old Town newcomerHank ’s Pasta Barcan call theWashington Post ’s Tom Sietsema anearly fan;Peter Changin Arlington can take you to Sichuan province without 15 hours of atmosphere travel ; Nostos , in Vienna , is a big fat Greek wedding ; Japanophiles findTakumi Sushiin Falls Churchsugoithanks to its carte of izakaya dishes ; southerners savor base atVermilionin Old Town , where separate - up hushpuppy and pimento pickpocket are on point ; andTexas Jack’soffers more - than - decent ‘ pool cue .
Then there are the areas where you outright trump me . by from a few food truck ( and Taqueria Habanero , natch ) , I can propose nothing like the bliss that isTaco Bambain Falls Church . There , RAMMY accolade - gain chef Victor Albisu slings $ 3 tacos like “ el beso , ” which come packed with crispy pork and beef cattle spit ; “ birria , ” filled with naughty goat ; and “ la poutina , ” which combines fries , barbacoa jus , Cotija cheese , and bacon in one hell of a play on poutine . Plus , it recently launched a guest chef series , which means we can all look forward to unbalanced wetback collaborations .
Courtesy of Taco Bamba
You also destroy me at ramen . While I ’m leave alone weighing the merits of Toki Underground and Daikaya , you have myriad choice . Places to slurp dome are as pervasive in Northern Virginia as 13.1 bumper stickers . Yonain Ballston serves five takes , from the seductive miso pork ramen – which comes in a rich , silky stock – to the decadent king crabby person ramen with uni butter . Other top player in the VA ramen picture : Tanpopo Ramen Housein Annandale;Marumen Ramen Shopin Fairfax ; andGaijin Ramen Shopin Arlington .
You ca n’t see it , but the right way now , I ’m flipping the bird to my often overvalued “ restaurant concepts ” and “ cocktail broadcast , ” in favor of super solid Korean barbecue in Annandale . I ’d rather singe my eyebrows at position likeYechon , Kogiya , andHoney Pig , gulping soju with the crowd .
When I want to eat intellectual nourishment so spicy I perspire like I ’m entering the ring against Ronda Rousey , I ’ll head straight toChina Starin Fairfax . But for that scary , numbing manner of spice , I ’m bind forHong Kong Palacein Falls Church , where every bite of that mapo tofu feels like a scientific discipline experiment : after one bite , a sip of piddle tastes like potpourri , and after three gulps , we ’re talking a full - on LUSH bath bomb .
Yona’s Miso Porky Ramen I Courtesy of Greg Powers
There ’s also the awful Vietnamese vacation spot that isEden Center . Thanks , Virginia , for allow me to mainline Pisces the Fishes sauce at place likeHuong VietandRice Paper . The menus are longsighted , which always leaves me with a tight case of FOMO , but I ’ve learned to appear beyond pho and banh mi in favor of dishes like Bún Riêu Ốc ( rice vermicelli noodle soup topped with pubic louse , snail , and shrimp spread , served in a tomato - based broth . Yes , it ’s delicious ) .
Virginia , you ’re also my preferent place to fling : theRestaurant at Patowmack Farmis worth every penny , with its post card setting in Lovettsville and savant of a chef . Trummer ’s on Mainin Clifton is so charming it could make John Oliver ’s Janice in method of accounting smiling ( oh , that barbecue bone marrow).Restaurant Evein Old Town is a Navy SEAL - the - slew spot , as the setting and service wraps diners in Latinian language . BRABOchannels Belgium . And2941 Restaurantin Falls Church offers a solid wine list and tranquil scene – despite its part park address .
If my sexual love for you had previously been a dull burn , it ’s now achieve hot , raging honeymoon heat . A couple of your neighborhood have become gastronomical destinations in the past two years , which inspire me .
Courtesy of Kogiya
Ballston , for example : I ’d like to do a Mike Isabella trifecta , first warm up up with cocktails at the restaurateur’sPepita Cantina , then undertake a seafood tower at the raw prevention atKapnos Taverna , and finish atYonawith what may be the best dish in the DMV : a waffle top with ikura , caviar , taramasalata , and uni .
Ballston can also boastSER eating house , which suffice as a reminder that Spanish intellectual nourishment is more than just tapas – chef Josu Zubikarai makes paella like a knob .
I have it off a full day in theMosaic District , starting with unassailable drinks and charcuterie atB Side , then ontoBrine , where it ’s all about bivalves … and another round of drinks , because hey , it ’s nerveless , I took the Metro . For the principal event , I ’m down for dinner party atRequinfrom former Top Chef contestant Jennifer Carroll , who offer leading Mediterranean fare in the former Gypsy Soul infinite .
Hong Kong Palace Ma Po Tofu I Laura Hayes/Thrillist
Virginia , I also need to angle my hat to your market . I love coming home with a full torso of goods fromRed Apron Butcher , MediterraFish , or the butcher shop atSehkraft Brewing . Yes , a butcher workshop in a brewpub : in improver to give birth 30 draft phone line and brew its own beer , this Arlington spot will make sausages from your own recipe , if you ask nicely . Another sad sack that impart serious plot : theOrganic Butcherin McLean … which pairs well withSociety Fairin Alexandria , Cheesetiquein Shirlington , andPlanet Winein Del Ray .
eventually , I ’m sorry for disbelieve your bar view . The said Pepita Cantina in Ballston has a cocktail list longer than Kirk Cousins ’ contract bridge demand , and Alexandria ’s bar scene glows withBar PXandCaptain Gregory ’s .
For beer , Space Barin Falls Church is a temple of foxiness beer and grill cheese that lets me be myself . And when it ’s time to decompress with something cerise or white , Northside Socialis there , serving challenging , esoteric bottles and old favorites likewise .
Huong Viet Bún I Laura Hayes/Thrillist
For all these reasons and more , I ca n’t get enough of you , VA . I ’m sorry for the sleazy shots . I ’m sorry for the put - down . I ’ll do better . In return , I just ask that you permit it go – you ’ve up your game heavily in recent years , and proven that Virginia truly is for hustlers .
With love life , The dominion
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The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm I Laura Hayes/Thrillist
SER Restaurant I Laura Hayes/Thrillist
Requin I Courtesy of Greg Powers
The Butcher Shop at Sehkraft Brewing I Laura Hayes/Thrillist
Pepita Cantina I Laura Hayes/Thrillist
