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    Immigrant Food Ballston

    4.3 (81 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 10:00 pm

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    IMMIGRANT FOOD BALLSTON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

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    THAI NOODLE SALAD  Mango (No mango), edamame, cherry tomato, cabbage, sesame, peanut vinaigrette
    Lily J.

    I've heard of this restaurant in passing a few times so I was glad I got a chance to check it out. First things first, LOVE the accessibility as there's paid street parking directly in front of the restaurant as well as 2 parking garages directly next to and across as well. On the receipt it said that they do validate up to 3 hours though my friend and I did not inquire about this as we were on our way out at the time and it was only a few dollars. Service was great. We didn't end with the same server but both were warm, funny and attentive. We arrived at the tail end of happy hour into dinner so we had a chance to sample a lot more of the menu. I loved the variety of cuisines that were offered, my favorite items being the short ribs and the warm na'an bread by far. I could just eat a basket of the bread and be content. All in all, everything was good and I really enjoyed the restaurant, though I can't say I was blown away by the food to make repeat visits on my own accord outside of a friend or family member wanting to eat there.

    Evangeline L.

    Come for the Happy Hour! And use the InKind App! Before I write my full review, I had to give these two tips. Immigrant Food's Happy Hour is unbeatable in the area. I've gotten almost everything on the Happy Hour menu, and it's delicious - their truffle oil fries, papayas, peppers, dips... all for a really affordable price! I've taken multiple rounds of friends here, and they all are impressed by the deals. On top of that, if you use the InKind app, you get a ton of cash back (20%++) and all you do is use the app to pay. It's a big incentive why I come back and bring peeps - I always get massive discounts! So if you're reading this and don't yet have the app, download it, and you'll be able to use the app to pay for the receipt using whatever credit card you want. It's so worth it! Also, the team here is super friendly and attentive, always checking in.

    Yes, IMAG
    Rob L.

    A nice place to start your day in VA. The food was good, service was excellent, and the ambiance was chill. A totally laid back place to have your brunch while you're in VA. And to top it off, all the servers had this great tee. This is what America should be about.

    Shakshuka and Arepa

    Our waiter, Catalina, was friendly, kind, and knowledgeable. The food was quite literally heavenly and I absolutely loved it. The fires were the best fries I've ever eaten in my whole entire life. They were crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and had a garlicky taste which was put on evenly. I loved the decorations but my favorite was the 'passport' in which you get the check in! It's such a clever idea and people could write comments in it! That was my favorite check ever! Also, the guacamole was tasty and delicious and so was the mezze platter. Genuinely, every single thing we ordered was perfect! Thank you so much!!!!!

    Sangria
    Destiny E.

    Updating: This is a good happy hour place. There is a good number of appetizers to choose from, and the drink choices are good. Additionally, the prices are definitely right. Dos: -Truffle Parmesan fries are a hit. -white sangria (sweet but you'll be buzzed) -margaritas -labneh -potstickers -samosas Don't: -any West Indian or Caribbean inspired/adjacent dishes I DO NOT like their entrees and lunch items. I've actually contacted them previously because the last time I was here for an entree, it was HORRIBLE. They didn't care and made excuses for why the food was the way it was, but I let it go.

    Maitrayee D.

    We went there to celebrate a birthday party . Food is delicious . Two kinds of Branzino cooked to perfection. Chicken was good loved their roasted Brussels sprouts . Liked their Thai cold noodle salad . My only complain is wish they had done hot soup . Food was like warm . Not very hot . Since it was below freezing outside wish they served the food a little warm.

    Happy hour bites - gyoza, Shishito Peppers, fries, samosas
    Katherine T.

    I had a blast coming here for my first time! My sorority syzter and I were meeting up with another one who is down in DC for the summer before going back up to Philly so we decided to meet at Immigrant Food for dinner. The decor is absolutely beautiful! There is a bunch of street parking but I believe there is a garage nearby - Ballston metro accessible! The staff were very kind and the manager even came to check on the tables as well. The food hit every spot! And the drinks were just as good and a bit on the strong end which definitely stopped us at 2. I would definitely come back here again for another girls night or date night!

    Chilaquiles
    Kaya E.

    This recent visit reminded me why it's important to always give a place a second shot especially if they have more locations. I've been to Immigrant Food in DC before and thought that it was decent. Came to the Immigrant Food in Arlington and now I'm looking forward to coming back. The VA location is a lot bigger and I felt like the customer service was top tier here opposed to the city. They also have large room in the back where they can accommodate large parties and it's pretty private. We went for a birthday and just want to note if you plan on having cake they charge a $20 cutting fee. During this visit we ordered, * fries (duhh, they are the closest things to Belgium fries that I've been able to get outside of Belgium lol. Love the sauce that comes with it--it's a must get) * mezze platter (felt like it was a small portion considering the price) * chilaquiles (pretty good, not the best I've ever had) * Cuban sandwich (GET IT, one of the best I've had, the bread was chefs kiss) My friends also said the chicken sandwich was really good but I didn't have the chance to try it. Check it out, especially on a Sunday when there is free parking

    Ameena A.

    Gluten free peeps... another one for you to try 100%! My friend and I went, ordered a bunch of small plates (I had a lot to choose from that were GF), and they were all soooo delicious. For tapas style, I found the portion sizes to be great too. & one of my favorite parts was the affogato dessert - drool!!! Service was wonderful - I felt like our super was attentive and helpful, but not overly checking in or overbearing. Ambiance is very cute and I love some of the smaller details - like the check comes in a fake passport book (look at the photo). Can't wait to return!

    Maria K.

    Good happy hour spot, especially enjoyed the mushroom soup. The $5 HH sangria was also delicious on a warm day. Other food items on the HH menu didn't stand out as much, but everything was good still. The interior is cute and new, the outdoor patio also is a good option for nice days. The restaurant is also very metro accessible, right across the street from the Ballston metro.

    Happy hour bites
    Zarin B.

    Pretty good $5 happy hour deal. We ordered one of everything on the food list to try and only the mushroom soup really stood out. I wanted the red sangria but somehow they ran out by like 5:45pm so I got the white sangria instead. I did like the white sangria more than I thought I would, it was stronger than it seems, and really refreshing. They also filled the glass up to the brim. Service was friendly enough, the owner (I think) came over to us a few times. He did take my plate away prematurely without asking if I was done, and seemed a bit fussed about having to get me another to-go box after he brought one. And we also felt like we were being rushed out around 7:45pm too... but besides those little hiccups everything was pretty ok. I'd maybeeee come back to try more entree type dishes (but they are a bit pricey). Would come back for more $5 sangria though and hopefully will get to try the red next time. Ambiance inside was nice, seemed like a good spot to bring co-workers. Wish we got a patio table but those were already all taken by the time we got there.

    Piña colada
    Valerie M.

    Normally when I review a place, I snap lots of photos. This time, the food was so good and the company even better that I only managed ONE shot before my friend arrived and we laughed our way through lunch. Yes, this spot is on the pricier side, but you can really taste the care that goes into each dish. They clearly value fair business practices and authentic flavors, and that makes it worth it. Every dish had its own personality, but here's what I tried: * Venezuelan Toqueños - absolutely fantastic, cheesy little pockets with an addictive dipping sauce ‍ ($15) * The Heritage - not quite my taste; the pineapple felt out of place, but the portion was fair and I ate it twice ($17) * Crispy Chicken Lemongrass Dumplings - flavorful and light, I'd order again without hesitation ($10/4 dumplings) * Havana (Cuban Sandwich) - absolutely delicious! Best in town is accurate, and I've tried plenty. Fries were perfectly crispy too ($17.5) * Latin Flan - simple, silky, and irresistible, even after being full ($8) * Café Calma - dairy-free coffee option that hits the spot iced or hot ($7.5) * Piña Colada (the one pic I took) - a refreshing pandan-flavored green drink, highly recommend ($14) The restaurant itself was clean, spacious, and welcoming, with both indoor and outdoor seating. I easily made reservations on Resy, and we never felt rushed during our 90-minute stay. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and respectful of the pace and vibe of the table. Being right next to the metro makes it super convenient, and honestly, it's the kind of place you'll want to bring friends. This is more than just a great brunch spot--it's also a reminder of why it matters to support immigrant-owned restaurants in our community. The flavors, hospitality, and dedication here show how much these businesses enrich our cities.

    Mushroom Soup
    Tahir N.

    My mother was having lunch at the ICU at VHC so I took my sister to this place that I like a great deal. We came at about 12:30 PM as the lunch crowd was starting to thin out. There are tables along the windows and booths in back and high tops and seating at the bar. We were seated by a stately gentleman who shared his story of growing up in New Jersey, and then being an immigrant himself in Singapore, Hong Kong and Texas ( ) before settling here in Arlington The menu is a fusion of dishes from around the world melded with influences from other parts of the world to represent the melting pot that is America. For example, I had the banh mi sandwich, which is from Vietnam, but the wrinkle is that the grilled chicken is done in a Filipino style. I personally would've liked some fresh jalapeños on the side that I could add to the sandwich and I'm sure I could've asked for them, but I didn't. Besides the chicken, the sandwich is filled with Julian and carrots and daikon and spread with a mayonnaise base sauce. I don't generally salt my food at home so it struck me as very salty, but I'm sure others will be satisfied. I ordered the sandwich as part of their set lunch, which includes a choice of fries or salad, and a soup of the day which in this case was the mushroom soup The mushroom soup was surprisingly bland, except for the Japanese mushrooms and oyster mushrooms, which I think had been soaked in a vinegar. It was a pleasant contrast. The day of our visit, the kitchen had something extra on hand, so we were presented with an amuse bouche at the table, which was a form of cheese, puff in a delicious sauce. For a small extra charge, you can have truffle oil added to your french fries and I highly recommend doing so. This is the second time I've had the fries and they are so good with that oil. My sister thought so as well. Speaking of my sister, she has the spinach salad, which is called the heritage bowl We both found the portions large enough that though we almost thought we couldn't finish what was in front of us, we finally did.

    Filipino Fried Chicken Greek Wings

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    4 months ago

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    $$$

    I can't believe I haven't heard more people talking about Ambar in DC/Clarendon! We went to the…read moreClarendon location for dinner yesterday and it was absolutely incredible. They offer an all-you-can-eat dinner menu (plus brunch), and every single thing we tried was delicious. We were a party of two and definitely overstuffed ourselves trying as much as we could Honestly, I think 3-4 people would be the perfect group size so you can share everything and sample more dishes comfortably. The food came out quickly, tapas-style, which made the whole experience even better. Great price for the amount and quality of food, excellent service, and such a fun ambiance. The decor was also super cute. I really liked that they had a large disability ramp as well.

    Came here for the first time on Mother's Day Mother's Day. They ran a special three dish Mother's…read moreDay to their brunch experience for $49.99. When we walked in, we thought it was gonna be packed because there were no reservations on OpenTable however they were able to see us right away. A very nice touch to add a stem of Rose for the women. I would say that I gave it a lower star rating not because the food was bad. It was actually delicious, but probably the experience itself. The restaurant felt chaotic, and even though all the tables were not completely packed of course there were flowers everywhere people gathering with grandmother's mother's children, etc We were seated in a two people table and all the top past dishes started to pile up very quickly. Instead of monitoring, the progress of the finished dishes and removing those dishes due to space constraint, the dishes came from the kitchen, almost on top of one another, and at one point I had to hold a dish in my hand in order to make space to put a dish on top of another flatbread pan/dish, making things super chaotic. Also dishes had to be put on top of the menu because in order to order additional food, you need to leave at least one copy of the menu at the table. Overall, again the flavors and taste were good, though I might have had similar dishes from other places, and my partner commented that some of it is actually very close to the Capital One landing at DCA. I would just say that it was more due to the chaos and just the way that all the dishes piled up on top of us we felt like we were we had to eat super quickly so that we could stack dishes ourselves and create room at the table. Also, when serving the dishes were not kept level and basically was slide to the side of the dish, making presentation off

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    TG-Sudzuk Flatbread
    TG-Sudzuk Flatbread
    Croquette

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    Croquette
    Palette 22

    Palette 22

    4.4
    (2.6k reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$
    Full bar
    Large group friendly

    We had such a great experience at Palette 22 Arlington! It was our first time visiting this…read morelocation, and we were so impressed. The food was absolutely delicious, and the Italy drink specials were such a fun touch. Everything we ordered was full of flavor, and you can tell there is a lot of thought and creativity behind the menu. The highlight of our visit was the manager, who I unfortunately cannot remember the name of. She was amazing, so welcoming, attentive, and genuinely made us feel like valued guests. She took the time to talk with us about upcoming events and everything the restaurant has to offer, which made the experience feel so personal. We have always loved Palette 22 and still miss the NoMa location, so we were excited to visit the Arlington spot. It did not disappoint, and we are looking forward to coming back again soon!

    Late to the party as I knew of Palette 22 for a long time but never dined. I went on a weekday for…read morehappy hour with a pretty decent appetite. The focus of this restaurant is on food and art. I saw a man painting when I walked in here and it was very detailed. It is a lively scene in here. Palette is a nice play on words for the art palette and palate for taste. They serve tapas (small plates) for a reasonable price. There is an all you can eat option in which your entire table has to order, or you can order a la carte. I ordered primarily off the happy hour menu which included the chicken slider, shrimp tacos, jerk chicken skewer, garlic wings and for dessert, I got churros. Most of the food here were extremely salty and did not agree with my palate. The shrimp tacos were the best thing I ate as the veggies gave the taco a refreshing taste. Not the most sanitary either as I found a piece of hair in my food. There is a parking garage nearby a block away.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Dark Chocolate Mousse chantilly cream, hazelnut crumble, chocolate sauce
    Dark Chocolate Mousse chantilly cream, hazelnut crumble, chocolate sauce
    Each table was prepared for the small plate brunch!

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    Each table was prepared for the small plate brunch!

    Immigrant Food Ballston - newamerican - Updated July 2026

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