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    Southeast Impression

    4.5 (442 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 3:00 PM, 4:30 PM - 10:00 PM

    Southeast Impression Photos

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    SOUTHEAST IMPRESSION ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Southeast Impression

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    Various main dishes - my fav was the crispy pork (bottom)
    Lydia N.

    I've been here a couple of times now and the food has not disappointed either times! This is one of the best places in NoVa for southeast Asian food, and their desserts are also very impressive! Some highlights were their crispy pork belly, mango sticky rice, and Pandan chiffon cake. The servers were also friendly and attentive and the atmosphere was lively - just wish I lived closer so I can visit more often!

    Salmon ceviche
    Faith N.

    The service was amazing! Our waitress was so sweet and knew how to take care of my grandparents and the rest of my family! We were sat in a small room for our party of 8 and it was nice and private for our birthday event. My favorite dish was the grilled squid and hainanese chicken. Everything was cooked so well and so flavorful. I especially loved the 3 sauces that came with the chicken. Can't eat to come back again!

    Richard H.

    Very interesting southern Asian food. Everything we ordered is great! The size of the dish is bigger than I expected. Good interior decoration and option with table or bar. Service is great and I recommend do the reservation especially for the weekend. Parking can be find along the street or use the retail garage behind the building.

    Christina V.

    It was amazing!!!! Our server Tammy was amazing too :) we both got drinks- the espresso martini was DELICIOUS. I usually only take a sip of it but I took a lot of sips!!! I got myself a cosmopolitan and it was classic. For appetizer get the papaya salad, a wonderful dish to get your stomach ready for the entrees! I honestly believe their Panang curry is the best this area has to offer. No dessert tonite but maybe next time :)

    Duck Pad Kapow
    Sheran M.

    4.5 stars The food here is amazing, and the portions are generous. This would have been five stars, but the nasi lemak wasn't perfect. While some pieces of the rendang melted in your mouth as expected, others were a bit too tough for my taste. The duck pad kapow was a standout, with incredible crispiness and bold flavors. Service is attentive and the staff gave us great recommendations on how to navigate the menu, especially since it was our first visit. The ambiance is very modern and feels upscale, although the prices are quite reasonable. It's a nice blend of traditional Southeast Asian elements with a modern American style.

    Nasi Lemak with chicken
    Grace H.

    Great restaurant with amazing food! I hadn't had much Malaysian or Singaporean food before, so I was interested in trying this place out. It did not disappoint! The inside is really cute and aesthetic and the menu has a wide variety of Malaysian, Singaporean, and Thai dishes. I got the curry laksa which was delicious. The portions were very generous too! My fiancé got Nasi Lemak with fried chicken and his sister got the salmon. All were delicious and came out decently quickly. The rice on the Nasi Lemak had a nice coconut flavor. I'd definitely come here again-there were so many dishes on the menu that I want to try next.

    Sarah L.

    I've been to south east impression multiple times but every time the food is so good ! The server was very kind and attentive. We got the tamarind shrimp, Haines chicken, pineapple fried rice, and the roti appetizer. It is a little pricey but it's a nice restaurant with beautiful interior !

    Pandan Creme Brulee & Mango Sticky Rice
    Ellen D.

    I have been to Southeast Impression a handful of times and have loved every single experience. Most recently I went for a friend's bridal party get together; we were able to make a reservation via phone a few days prior for our table of 10 so that was nice! Food: (5 of 5) -Appetizer Platter: great to share with friends and great for you have a small taste of everything -Papaya Salad: was refreshing but could definitely use more heat/spice -Pad Thai: cant go wrong with a classic -Nasi Goreng: topped with a delicious fried egg -Pineapple Fried Rice: presentation was everything!! -Roasted Duck Curry: sweet, great with rice -Pandan Creme Brulee: best dessert on the menu -Mango Sticky Rice: refreshing mango, would order again -My cup of Kopi: their take on an espresso martini, it was amazing, i ended up having 2 that brunch. The service was fantastic, our server was nice and attentive and kept our water glasses filled, and kept asking if we wanted additional drink refills. The ambiance is nice, it has a cozy vibe to it; with some booths and mostly table/chairs. Theirs a full bar so you can order what you like. I would highly recommend for a date night or brunch with friends.

    Annette A.

    I can't wait to come back and try something else off this massive menu. Food was tasty (small negative, the fish was a tad overcooked). Good level of spicy on the duck. Everyone enjoyed their food. The pandan cake was excellent. Service was good. Ambiance was good. Cleanliness was good.

    Mia H.

    Southeast Impression is a really great concept, where you can get traditional dishes from multiple SE asian countries all in one spot! They have a diverse menu of different noodle dishes, curries, soups, rice, and so so many appetizers. Service here was amazing and food came out pretty quickly. For appetizers, we ordered their fried wontons, fried calamari, salmon ceviche, and roti canai. All of them were delicious, but I highly recommend the roti canai because of how buttery the roti was and the curry was absolutely delicious! For mains, we got their pad thai, their panang curry, crab fried rice, pad see eiw, and hokkien mee. Favorites of the night here were definitely their panang curry and crab fried rice! Wish we had room more dessert but everything was so good, I was stuffed by the end.

    Amy W.

    This is one of the places that I've been dying to visit for a while and got lucky that I was able to walk-in without a reservation on a Friday night during prime dinner hours. It was meant to be! Interior is fun, modern & trendy with lively atmosphere. Great for any occasion -- from a birthday celebration to dining solo and sitting at the bar (with a window view)! The parking situation is limited so have patience. Kudos to the bar staff who guided me where to park (Scout on the Circle Apartments or Giant). I originally parked my car at Dunkin Donuts and they warned me that I may want to relocate my vehicle so I don't risk getting towed. As for food, Southeast Impression has a lot of options on the menu and was feeling indecisive. The staff recommended I might try the soft shell crab as this is not a typical dish that you might find elsewhere. Great choice -- the perfect amount of food for someone with a big appetite and bursting with flavor. Below are the ingredients. +Signature Singapore stir-fry chili crab served with tomato, onion, ginger, shallot, garlic, egg -- comes with a side of fried buns and white rice The dish came with four soft shell crabs and although the menu suggests that this item is already spicy as noted by the green chili symbol, the bar staff asked if I liked spicy and brought out a spice rack with four compartments. I customized it by making it spicier by adding the Thai fish sauce with red chilis. There is also a Dungeness crab version though is meant to be shared between two people. I am looking forward to trying one of the cocktails, My Cup of Kopi, and the desserts for my next visit!

    Crab Rangoon and roti
    Christina Z.

    Amazing food, impeccable service from Sean, gorgeous interior. We loved the tom kha soup the best but all the dishes were great. Can't wait to come back and try more!

    Mercelis B.

    Very good Thai option! Would definitely return here. Creative and delicious cocktails, food is favorable, and a variety of dessert options. Would make a great celebratory restaurant for special occasions.

    Pad Kapow Crispy Pork

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    Southeast Impression Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Southeast Impression

    Is this halal?

    Yes all their meat are Halal

    Would the chef be able to substitute some of the dishes with tofu or vegetarian protein?Entree like Thai curries and Thai noodles.

    Yes most of the dishes and all most all the curries and all but a couple of the noodle dishes is already pick your protein, in which you can pick just veggies or tofu or egg. There are a few specify seafood dishes and a duck and a lamb dish that are… Read more

    Is it possible to get carry out in order to avoid the uncomfortably loud music?

    Yes, you can! They have online ordering options for pick up and delivery. While the ambiance is fairly noisy it may not be for everyone, people do enjoy the atmosphere. I normally don't like loud restaurants but enjoyed the liveliness of the place.… Read more

    Is meat halal?

    The chicken and beef is halal

    View All 7 Questions

    Padaek

    Padaek

    4.3
    (1.1k reviews)
    6.6 mi
    $$

    Loved Padaek. The service was friendly and thoughtful. Our server made great suggestions. We…read moreordered all kinds of dishes. The kra prow and the Burmese tea salad stood out the most. Flavors are authentic and the perfect balance of sweet spicy and sour. They also serve delicious cocktails. I had a tamarind cocktail which was to die for.

    It's been almost 2 years since I ate there last. Went on a Sat night and surprisingly not busy…read more Guessing the extreme cold made everyone stay home. We got the crunchy rice with sour pork (naem khao thadaeu), pork shoulder (ping), fried catfish (patod), chicken pad thai (kua mee), and warm coconut milky dessert (bua loy). All the dishes were delicious but a bit more salty than Thai. Feels like a lot of fish sauces in all the dishes. The crunchy rice came with lettuce but ours were not the best lettuce. The fried catfish were nicely fried with a perfect coating. Definitely a dish to get. The pork shoulder is another dish to get. Nicely seasoned with sticky rice. Their version of pad thai is uniquely different than Thai. A bit more sweet but the lime makes it better. Wife wanted to try bua loy dessert. It is a warm sweet dessert that balanced out all the salty flavors of the dishes. Something to try as well. Flavor are still the same. The dishes we order were too much for 2 of us. My only complaint was the restaurant smelled like smoke when we walked in. Not the kind where there was a fire in the kitchen but more like someone smoking in the kitchen?

    Photos
    Padaek
    Crispy Basil with Catfish
    Crispy Basil with Catfish
    Bua loy dessert ($9)

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    Bua loy dessert ($9)
    Mama Chang

    Mama Chang

    3.9
    (996 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    Overall great food, would come back again! We ordered these:…read more Hot Chili oil flounder and tofu: surprisingly very tasty. we only ordered this because this was a very popular item. I'm not a big fan of tofu but this was delicious. The fish was so soft and the sauce really worked well. Ganghood chicken: our favorite thing on the menu, when it comes to fried chicken I'm a harsh critic. With that being said this was REALLY good fried chicken. Combination Fried rice: it had a mix of shrimp, chicken, beef and egg. It was simple yet flavorful. Shrimp dumplings: A bit bland, would not order again.

    Mama Chang is the perfect place for a group dinner. Come hungry, order a bunch of dishes to share,…read moreand you'll still leave with plenty of leftovers. Our group of five sampled a great variety from the menu, including the Hot & Numbing Tofu Skin, Crab Roe Soup Dumplings, Cucumber Salad, Lettuce Wraps, Cumin Fish, Stir-Fried Beef Tenderloin, Crispy Pork Ribs with Scallion Crisps and Mixed Grain & Purple Rice, Stir-Fried Beef with Chilies, and Kung Pao Chicken with white rice. The standout for me was the cumin fish. It was fried perfectly--crispy without being greasy--and the cumin added great flavor without overpowering the dish. The crispy pork ribs lived up to their name and had a nice kick of spice. The cucumber salad packed a serious garlic punch, which I really enjoyed. The Hot & Numbing Tofu Skin was something completely different from what I expected. It's sliced into long ribbons that resemble noodles or pasta. The flavor was excellent, although the texture took some getting used to. The only dish that fell a little short was the stir-fried beef tenderloin, which could have used a bit more seasoning. Everything else was delicious. The portions are enormous. At first the prices seemed a little high, but once the food arrived it made perfect sense. Every entrée was easily enough for two meals. One thing to keep in mind is that rice is ordered separately and isn't included with the entrées. Service was excellent throughout our meal. We arrived for lunch and didn't realize they close between lunch and dinner (lunch is served from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.). We ended up staying until about 2:45, and the staff never made us feel rushed even though they had technically closed. They greeted us promptly, took our drink orders, and gave us plenty of time to look over the menu without hovering. The restaurant is tucked away on the ground floor of an office building, so it's easy to drive right past if you aren't looking for it. Parking was plentiful, and the oversized booths comfortably fit all five of us without feeling cramped. If you're dining with a group and want to sample a variety of authentic dishes, Mama Chang is definitely worth the visit.

    Photos
    Indoor seating
    Indoor seating
    Peking Duck
    Peking Duck
    Mala Hot Pot

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    Mala Hot Pot
    A&J

    A&J

    4.0
    (1.1k reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $$

    A&J is one of our go to spots…read more You can't go wrong with the spicy beef and tendon noodle soup. The spice is a nice kick without being overpowering.

    We tried A&J and liked it a lot!…read more This is not a typical Chinese-American restaurant. A&J has quite a few pleasantly unexpected dishes. Service was welcoming and efficient. On a mid-Saturday afternoon, the restaurant was about ¾ full. We started out with the Wonton Soup and the Spicy Wonton soup. The Wonton soup is just okay, but the Spicy Wonton Soup is wonderful and highly recommended. For another appetizer, we ordered the Scallion Pancake. It has a nice dense texture and I really liked it. It would've been even better if it came with a dipping sauce. We also ordered the pickled cabbage. It was good, though lacking seasoning. Our first entrée was ground pork in a delicious sauce accompanied by sprouts and thinly sliced cucumber (or was that zucchini?). Recommended! Our second entrée was a Pan Fried Beef Bun. The beef was flavorful but the bread was kinda dry. Our last entrée was the Beef Wraps. These were great! Who woulda thunk that beef and fresh carrots would go together so well?! Oh, the chili sauce in a jar on the table is extra tasty. At the end, before we got our check, we were given a plate with sliced cucumbers in a light tasty sesame chili sauce. Excellent! But the hot tea was an epic fail. It had no flavor whatsoever. Peeking inside the teapot, all I could see was a micro tiny tea bag floating or sort of sinking. One other thing I kinda don't want to bring up in light of the great food we enjoyed, but need to in the spirit of full disclosure, is to mention that A&J shares space in the building with several other businesses. The restrooms are common to all the businesses. A&J needs to lean hard on the property owner/manager to do a deep cleaning in those restrooms. I'll leave it at that.

    Photos
    Interior space is pretty small.
    Interior space is pretty small.
    Pan fried pork bun
    Pan fried pork bun
    Dining room

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    Dining room
    Lafayette Deli and Caterer

    Lafayette Deli and Caterer

    3.5
    (22 reviews)
    11.2 mi
    $

    I was pleasantly suprised! I got a bacon egg and cheese sandwich which is hard to make apparently…read morein Chantilly (I've tried at Anitas who burns the egg or cantina who gives you and omelet on bread). I loved my bacon, egg and cheese from here! Was quick, taste great and affordable!

    Called to make an order to-go, and the lady on the phone could not understand my order. My…read morereception isn't always perfect so I calmly repeated my order a few times, in a slower variation each time. I'm assuming the lady got upset and gave up, hanging the phone up on my while I was mid-sentence. I called back immediately thinking it was a dropped call, and no one picked up the phone after MANY rings. Finally, the phone was answered by a man this time, who understood my order fine and got me set up. Cool! I was a little thrown off with getting hung up on, but it was no biggie (I know how things are with COVID, and i'm generally a compassionate person, hence this being the first time i'm writing a negative review). I'm not sure if they record their own calls or not, but if they do, then it will prove my case. When I arrived to get the food, I gave a warm greeting and was met with angry/judgmental stares from the two people working there (and they let me stand in line in an empty deli without asking me if I needed help for a good 4 minutes). They didn't speak a word other than repeating my order to me to clarify I was picking it up. Whatever, it was not ideal customer service but I wasn't going to get in my feelings about it. When I finally sat down in my car to eat my food, I must say it was one of the worst variants of this food item that I have ever had in my life. And it's a simple one, which puzzled me on how it tasted so foul. There was a protruding odor coming from the food item that just didn't smell right. When I took a bite, it was extremely disgusting and I had to spit it out. Ever since then, i've been thinking about the possibility of my food being tampered with (since this is a small deli and not some big chain establishment) and I really really hope it wasn't the case, but there's just no reason for a food item like that to be as disgusting as it was. I am giving 2 stars because I don't have it in my heart to give this small deli 1 star, especially during a pandemic. They were not busy at the time, so there's really no excuse as to why I was treated so poorly. I was a first-time customer, and will never be stepping foot in there ever again. The food taste/smell will remain a mystery I presume, as nobody would ever admit to such a thing even if they did do it.

    Photos
    Mini Chocolate Brownie
    Mini Chocolate Brownie
    Tiramisu on a Cup
    Tiramisu on a Cup
    Lafayette Deli and Caterer

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    Southeast Impression - thai - Updated July 2026

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