I was pleasantly surprised by the flavors of the food here! The food tasted delicious my first try so I came back for a second last week, and today was my third try! Still very tasty! I ended up speaking to the lovely manager, Jane, who told me a bit about the restaurant. She shared that everything is made fresh every morning from high quality ingredients. Nothing is served from the day before. She said even the meats are all fresh from a butcher and nothing comes frozen or prepared. I can certainly tell that by the textures and flavors of the food. It can be a little hard to find but is a great lunch spot if you like variety in options or are like me and like having a little of everything at every meal rather than one main meal! This place is definitely worth a try. Everyone has always been so kind and helpful and it's a clean environment. Great place for a quick breakfast or lunch spot! They have a great drink selection and I really enjoy the make your own salad options! Specifically the tomato, cucumber & avocado salad! I came back my second time just for that salad! It has a lovely light vinaigrette and I love that the produce is ripe every time. The noodles are packed with flavor and the sauces on the meats are also very good. They also have a grill area in the back for specific orders rather than the prepared options. Will be coming again! read more

Plaza Gourmet - Noodle, super veggies, beef and broccoli (delicious), avocado tomato salad, chicken - Delis Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

This spot needs a lot more exposure. I hope when this area is finished being fully developed, this place reap the benefits. Buried within the plaza, lies this deli style shop. Huge space, but mostly empty as no one is sitting in their dining area. They don't do the hot foods anymore as it's not financially viable for them, so all they do is subs and sandwiches. If you're looking for breakfast sandwiches, they do those as well at a reasonable price. Friendly staff members, seems to be family run for the most part. Hoping for better time for them in the future as I really want to see what they cook up for those hot trays. read more

Pretty solid spot to grab some breakfast and/or lunch. The breakfast is pretty good. I usually try to get fresh made pancakes rather than the ones that have been sitting under the heat lamp for some time. Standard breakfast with different types eggs, sausage, and fruits. Their lunch menu changes daily, so chances are you won't be eating the same thing every day. They have the standard Chinese food and typical buffet food. The fries were the selling point for me the first time I went. You just can't find steak fries anywhere now a days! Their London broil is juicy and delicious and seasoned well. They have fresh baked cookies from time to time, which are delicious! One is chocolate chip walnut, while the other is an chocolate chip Oreo cookie. All in all, I do enjoy this place. Super convenient from my office thanks to the underground path, which is great for when there is inclement weather! read more

Been coming here for lunch and sometimes breakfast since mid-covid. They ran a skeleton crew and just did sandwiches for a while, but have since reopened the buffet. It's been fabulous, and I'm glad they're up and running again. Always something new and interesting in the Jane's Special section of the hot dishes, and also tasty surprises in the cold food, too. Twenty-two years in operation, as I found out when I talked with one of the managers this week. read more

See all

I used to come here for the bibimbap all the time... now not so much. Ever since they started keeping the raw meat right next to the cold sides, it just grosses me out. I really cant believe that they do this... The risk for cross-contamination is just so high! I wish they had a website or email address where I could write to them directly about this, but all that comes up online is this yelp page. read more

Plaza Gourmet is basically a quick stop for lunch if you wanna eat food you'd find at a Chinese Buffet (not a bad thing!). Food: As stated, they serve Chinese buffet type of food and some homestyle comfort foods. If you want a plate of actually filling food for lunch, this place has got you covered with tons of variety. Don't load up too much though. This place does have DC level prices, and a single to-go container can cost you $20 (Which is super insane for a single plate of food at a Chinese buffet! (It's priced by weight of your overall selection). Service: There's not too much of a service aspect, just at check out. The cashier (/owner?) seems really polite and greets you as you walk through the door. Atmosphere: The place is nice and clean. It's bright and still reminiscent of a buffett like atmosphere. There is ample seating available in the restaurant if you so choose, but it mainly caters to take-out customers. Finish: Would go again when I'm especially hungry, but I'd be more discriminating with what I get so that I don't rack up a hefty bill again. read more

Eek. Really? The food was mediocre at best and it's only saving grace was that as a buffet and as such was quick. But hey it's also a quick trip to stomach problems. To each there own. It's not too pricey and quick but so is Dunkin Donuts read more

Finally was able to back to Plaza Gourmet.Called in my order and food was ready on time. Excellent service from Chef Bianca and her staff. Very healthy portions and the food is excellent. Loved everything and the fixings are so tasty. Also ordered dessert which was so delightful. Food cooked with love Thanks Bianca Continued success and God bless Patricia Stokes read more

I work right near this place, and I get lunch here at least once a week. It is shockingly clean and yummy food for being a buffet--in fact, I've never seen a Chinese buffet-type restaurant so sparkling clean in my life! I really like their made to order sandwiches, bibimbap, and bulgogi. The buffet bar food is good, but since I tend to eat a later lunch (~1:30p or 2p) sometimes the hot food in the buffet tastes like it's been sitting out for a while. To be fair, it probably has, and the few times I've grabbed earlier lunch (around noon) it's been much better! The salad bar is stocked to the brim with really fresh, inviting, local produce no matter the time though, so that's always a great option. Aside from the food, the service is great and the employees are all really nice people. They clearly care about making your experience nice, even if you're only quickly running in to pick up buffet food! The only downside is that it tends to be a little expensive in my book--a made-to-order hot sandwich with a side & drink or a full lunch from the hot food buffet will run you close to $15. read more

I came here for the first time and I can honestly say that this may be one of my new go-to lunch spots. You can choose to carry-out or dine-in. They have a variety of options including, but not limited to, Chinese food, salad/fruit bar, wings, sandwiches, fries, etc. Everything looks fresh and if you don't want to grab food from the buffet, you can get things made to order. It can get pricey because your price depends on the weight of your food, but it's definitely a convenient place to go to in the area. read more

I work about 3 blocks away and eat lunch here about 60% of the time. The hot bar variety is stellar, the options change from day to day and from week to week. You never need to eat the same thing twice. The quality also is excellent and the price is less than a whole foods salad bar (8.09 a lb here). The hot bar also goes to half price after some point in the late afternoon, I am not sure when, I get too hungry before that time. They also have a made to order deli that I have never tried but the sandwiches do look good. And they have recently added a made to order bibimbop which is delicious and every tenth one is free! Oh and everyone that works here is just super nice. read more

Plaza gourmet is a great lunch option. Jane is the friendliest and all of her food is high quality, fresh, and extremely tasty. There's a few staples she has everyday--wonderful salad bar, fried rice, orange chicken, steamed spinach, lomain, etc. and there's also a sandwich bar in the back you can order from. There is breakfast too in the mornings. We wanted bibimbap and she came through for us and just introduced it and it was amazing. PBS be folks loving plaza lunch! Try it out!! read more

Plaza Gourmet - an overhead view of a bowl of food - Delis Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

It's been a while since I've been to a buffet-style restaurant, but Plaza Gourmet was a solid choice. I had a very short lunch break while at a work event in Crystal City, so I stopped by Plaza Gourmet to fill up a box with lunch to bring back to the office. On first sight, there is A LOT of food--specifically Asian food. However, unfortunately, much of actual-meal food it isn't vegetarian-friendly (other than the fruit/salad bar, of course)... but, again, I only had 5 minutes to look, so I'm sure I overlooked some options. I was able to pick up some cheese ravioli, szechuan string beans, and fried marinated tofu, though. The set-up is weigh-and-pay. My pretty stuffed styrafoam box came out to around $10, which was decent. The food was pretty good! It wasn't amazing by any means, but the ravioli and tofu were flavorful and well-cooked. The beans were bland--I was expecting some hot Szechuan flavors to come through, but there were none. If I'm ever in Crystal City again, I plan on coming back to Plaza Gourmet--I'm interested in seeing the other veg options, and checking out the deli. read more

Best lunch in the area. Best chinese in the area too. Best price. Its sad that these massive trays of food are better than the establishments in the area. read more

The food was ok, but it's way too expensive. They charge $8.09/lb and unless you just get lettuce it's really hard to not walk out of there with a $15 tab. For what you pay you may as well go sit down at one of the nicer spots off Crystal Drive. read more

A nice place for lunch, not bad for breakfast, either. It's mostly set up for take out but there are some tables and chairs to sit at while eating. A wide variety of hot and cold foods and a great salad bar. Everything is fresh. read more

There are plenty of "weigh and pay" places sprinkled throughout Crystal City's underground. This one gets plenty of foot traffic and food turnover due to it's advantageous vicinity to busy Crystal Drive. There is plenty of variety with reliable everyday hot and cold foods as well as new ones that don't appear everyday. While they have great variety, don't miss the Korean specials such as the Korean fried chicken (sweet and spicy with an unbeatable crunch), kalbi short ribs, bulgogi , and kim chi. read more

They have a nice selection of food on the buffet. Food is by weight. It is a little pricy but it is convinent. They do have a lunch special everyday which is a good choice. After 230, food is 30 percent off which I like when hungry late in the day. Overall I do reccommend based upon selection and options. read more

I eat here several times a week. The food is always fresh and tastes great! I usually do the buffet and have never been disappointed. (You really need to try their Swedish meatballs. My Grandmother was Swedish and these are a close second in taste.) My husband is a vegetarian. Sometimes when we go out, it's still hard for him to find a good amount of food, but not here. There is always an incredible variety of food available. The staff always has a warm smile and ready to joke with anyone who comes in. Do yourself a favor and try lunch here sometime! read more

I gave this place 4 stars because Plaza Gourmet is as good as it gets in Crystal City. I don't know how they do it. Most self serving hot food sections don't look as good and clean as Plaza Gourmet. Everything looks fresh and they try to use local organic produce. It's about $6.89 per lb for breakfast and $8.09 per lb for lunch which is reasonable for the area. read more

The go-to lunch place for my coworkers and I, we go at least 3 days a week. I've never been one to hit up buffets, but the food here is fresh and delicious. They have a wide variety of foods, from traditional American fare, to Thai, to Korean and it's always rotating, so you're never at a loss for something yummy to eat. I have yet to try everything they offer, but so far my favorite dishes are the curried cauliflower, Korean BBQ and Bulgogi. They also have a wonderful assortment of drinks, including my favorite unsweetened bottled green tea. If the food isn't enough to tempt you, the staff is also ridiculously friendly. It's hard to walk away from here without smiling because everyone is so nice. You definitely won't regret visiting. read more

Imagine my joy when I started a new job in Crystal City and found this gem! I walked in and there was a huge display of hot food and a gorgeous salad bar. Everything looked so good, it was very hard to chose my lunch. Since then I have eaten here almost everyday.Everything is always fresh, and tastes homemade. There's too much variety to list, but favorites include the fresh fish, the Chinese food, Bulgogi and the comfort food, like meatloaf and mac n cheese. Breakfast is great as well. Jane's Breakfast Special is an omelet like egg dish made with rib eye steak and hashbrowns. You have to be quick to get it, as it goes fast. You can tell the owners take great pride and care with this place. read more

They have added pupusas!!!! And every Friday is Build Your Own Taco day. Also they said they are considering replacing the styrofoam plates and containers with something else. read more

I love this place for breakfast and lunch. Eddie at the grill knows what I want even before I order it. They always greet me by my first name. Anglea and Jane they always have a warm smile to greet you as you walk in. Its a lovely place too eat. The food is always amazing so if you're in crystal city stop by they have something for everyone read more

Excellent breakfast buffet (and I'm a sucker for a good one). Many choices. Great food. Very reasonable prices for the DC metro area. Highly recommend it. read more

Definitely one of my go-to places for lunch. Plaza gourmet has a little bit of everything for everybody. Great salad bar with lots of options, sandwich bar and hot foods bar that is constantly changes on a daily basis. I've eaten mexican, korean, italian, thai, southern and traditional american food here all in the span of one week. It's enough to keep you coming back for more. One of the things that makes this place special really is the customer service. The staff is very friendly. If you come here often enough they will know your name, greet you, and even take recommendations of foods you like, or foods they do not have but customers think might be popular. They seem to always be open to suggestions for improvements and very eager to please their customers. They even went so far as to offer me a gift card because they knew i had recently gotten married! guess it's easy to tell from this review that i really enjoy this place. stop by if you are in crystal city. read more

Really kind of expensive as $8.09 per pound... Food was variable as to taste and freshness. Breakfast items clearly had been there for hours... Not sure where all of the five star ratings came from but it was not worth the time for a special visit. There is a similar establishment on the other side of the Mall next to Rite Aid. You may have better luck with the Deli in the back but I wouldn't recommend the buffett for the price. read more

I love that they have scrapple! It's the only reason why I come in the morning. Be careful when getting a drink, my orange juice was bad when I looked at the date it was only 1 month away from expiring. I then noticed it was the same for all their juices. read more

I love this place. I go at least 2-3 times a week. They have such an amazing variety of fresh, organic prepared foods. And if you want a custom deli sandwich they will prepare it for you to your liking. The staff is friendly, the space is clean, the seating is vast and I always feel like I get a great value for my money. Jane, the manager, is very aware of every detail concerning presentation, taste and guest satisfaction. Definitely the type of person you want running the kitchen you visit so often. 5 STARS!! read more

Extraordinarily good buffet. MUST try the meat lasagne when they have it; absolute best lasagne in the DC area! My go-to lunch place in Crystal City. Angels sang from Heaven when I discovered this place, as the dine-in options on the street are way too expensive. read more

Yell it from the rooftops, this best kept secret shouldn't be a secret anymore. The best quality food and service Crystal City has to offer. Try the majority of their dishes for a week and you will see that Plaza Gourmet is amazing! read more

Everyone who has posted here before me is spot-on in their reviews! Plaza Gourmet is my "Cheers" for food - they all know my name, and I've never left disappointed. And it's not just me - every time I have been there, even when it's extremely busy, Jane is providing a friendly hello to everyone. As a diabetic, it's hard to find a place where I can keep my calorie and carb intake in check - fast food, greasy spoon, and outrageously expensive eateries litter Crystal City. However, PGs great variety of freshly prepared hot and cold dishes, and their fresh fruit which cannot be beat, keeps me on track. If I decide to skip the three rows of fantastic and inspired buffet items (which is hard to do), it's only because I'm ordering the daily breakfast or lunch special - and want to say hello to my friends behind the grill. read more

Wow, this place is nice! There is a large selection of whatever one's heart would desire for a nice, tasty, and very satisfying lunch. There's a sandwich counter, plus buffet stations that have plenty of variety to meet anyone's particular craving. Very vegetarian friendly, too. The tofu squares are to die for, as was the Singapore noodle and fried rice. I had some of their tilapia (I'm a pescatarian), and it was delicious. Everything I had was seasoned just right and tasted as great as they looked. There were many things I would've like to try today (like their bibimbap) because of how fresh and enticing everything looked, but I didn't want to get carried away...lol. Might have to go back again this week. Highly recommended! read more

Plaza Gourmet is one of the fresheast and healthiest food options in Crystal City. They source their ingredients from local farmers and prepare an amazing buffet lineup. Even more so, their people are amazingly friendly and keep you in mind as they explore new menu items. This is a great place to eat at and to bring freinds. read more