Thanks to IG for the recommendation of trying out this spot. This spot is like a Viet Chipotle. You…read morecan choose a bowl they have set or your can make your own. The service was really great! They were patient and answered all of our questions. The vibe is very modern and cozy. It may look small, but there is a lot of seating upstairs. I made my own bowl with a side of the chicken broth. Bowl was good but what really caught my attention is the BROTH! I would come here just for the broth! lol. That's what really gives my review 5 stars. I highly recommend this spot!

AN is a typical bowl spot with both set and build your own bowl options and a variety of Southeast…read moreAsian inspired bases, proteins, and toppings to choose from. I made my own bowl and liked the topping options but the bases (vermicelli noodles, bok choy, and veg mix) and were underwhelming as was the teriyaki chicken. The best thing by far is the crispy pork belly which for a $2 up-charge you can have 3pcs. It also comes with a complimentary cup of broth which was surprisingly aromatic and flavorful. It's a large portion but not one I'd spend $20 on again.

I stumbled on this spot while working in the area and have been there 5 times this past year for…read morelunch so this review is long overdue. Located in the busy Clarendon area of downtown Arlington this spot is quaint, cute and gets quite busy. I started with the Chilli Hoisin Duck Bao Bun which was hot, fluffy and savory. Their motto is " from bowl to soul" and this is hands down the BEST Ramen I've ever had. The Spicy Pork Szechuan ramen had so much flavor and definitely warmed my soul! The Spicy chicken broth along with the szechuan ground pork makes the dish, and the broth was rich & savory. The pork flavor was strong and the teriyaki took it up a notch. Mmmm mmm good. The ramen is very hearty but you can't stop eating it. Oh yeah the Banana Katsu with salted caramel ice cream is a great dessert to close out this meal. One of these days I will definitely try another dish but for now if it ain't broke I don't plan on fixing it!

Always a solid spot for a meal. The restaurant is always clean and I always have good service. One…read morething to note is that not all of the seating is comfortable. I would ask for a booth/regular seating if you don't want to sit on the high top stools. I tried the mushroom and eggplant bao for the first time and was pleasantly surprised. I could definitely eat more than two of these. The chicken katsu curry is a generous portion size and I took some home. My only note is that I would prefer more curry sauce for a more even sauce to rice ratio.

Astoria completely lived up to the hype. It's one of those coveted DC reservations that's…read morenotoriously hard to get, and after having it on my list forever, I can confidently say it's 100% worth the wait. Tucked into the heart of Dupont Circle with its unmistakable bright blue awning, the restaurant is intimate, moody, and always buzzing. Inside, you'll find dim lighting, a handful of cozy wooden bar booths, seats along the bar, and a few outdoor tables. It's not a huge space, which only adds to its charm and makes every reservation feel like a win. The atmosphere is perfect for sharing dishes and lingering over dinner with friends. The food was incredible...I genuinely loved every single bite. Just be prepared: the Sichuan spice is no joke! If you aren't expecting it, it'll definitely sneak up on you (in the best way). My must-orders? The chili wontons, Dan Dan noodles, and beef noodles. Every dish was packed with bold flavor and left me wanting to come back for more. If you've been trying to score a reservation, keep at it. Astoria is one of those places that's absolutely deserving of its reputation, and I'll be thinking about those noodles until my next visit.

There was a line waiting to go in before opening and I think it's still be easy to get a seat if…read moreyou arrive right at opening time but it definitely got filled by the time we left! Inside had small tables and a kinda casual cocktail bar vibe Beef Noodles - the highlight and actually very good! The noodles are long and handmade and chewy. They hold onto the sauce very well! The sauce has a slight kick and is very savory. The beef is soft and also flavorful! I feel the price for the portion is kinda expensive though 8/10 Chili wontons - skin is silky and soft, sauce is savory with a small kick as well! Even though the sauces look similar to beef noodle they taste very different. The fillings had good flavor and overall were good but were a bit tougher and dryer than I would prefer. 6/10 Crab fried rice - crab is slightly overcooked but naturally sweet. It has a light curry taste throughout and was pretty good but didn't really stand out 5.5/10 Mapo tofu - slight kick and nice savory taste in the sauce! However I think they cut the tofu pieces way too large or the tofu they chose had way too much tofu flavor that overpowers the sauce. I'd prefer a very light silky tofu but this was a soft tofu. 6/10 Vpod - at first it just tasted like orange juice but then the other flavors peek through on the after taste and when I mixed it more. Even though it was good, it still felt very basic 5/10 Philadelphia Scotsman - it's pretty ginger forward. Technically the level of ginger spice is fine but strong but then the rest of the drink got completely overpowered and so this just wasn't that great 2.5/10

When I'm craving pho, Saigon Saigon usually hits the spot. I typically order the large dac biet…read more The portion is generous with plenty of meat, though at times the meat can be slightly overcooked, and I wish there were more raw cuts added at the start so they cook properly in the broth. That said, the broth flavor is excellent and stands on its own without needing sriracha or house sauce. The noodles are great, and the vegetables are always fresh and good quality. Consistency is a strong point here, both with the food and the service. The staff is friendly, quick, and accommodating. The restaurant is clean, nicely decorated, and the full bar is a plus. The summer rolls are tasty, though a bit on the smaller side.

Came here for dinner on a Wednesday night. Lots of people at the bar but not many diners around 8…read morePM. Was going to try their Japanese Ramen, but it didn't really hit the mark for traditional Japanese Ramen compared to the Ramen shops. Does it hit the spot? Sure because it's tasty but the noodles, the broth, the ingredients when compared to authentic Japanese is not quite there. Also tried the spicy beef pho. It really wasn't that spicy a lot more water down probably for more Americanized taste. I personally enjoyed it because I was actually afraid it would be super spicy, but it was more that it wasn't very aromatic. That was the missing piece for me.

They're were out of everything and I couldn't get a chance to try it. It's an airport and flights…read morecome in and out-if you're going to be open-you gotta have supply for the demand. Maybe on my way home I'll come back and get to try it.

I might be in the minority here but I liked it lol. I think the whole context that it's airport…read morefood matters here. If I was served the rice bowl in a restaurant, I'd probably give it some side eye but compared to MCdonalds or something, iam glad I choose this. Sure, the rice bowls are kinda visually unappealing. The taste was fine. I'd come back here for the bao. Don't expect an authentic experience, but if you want a dumpling and you're at the airport, this will meet that craving.

After working for years nearby this small bodega below a Crystal City apartment building, I finally…read morewent with my eight-year-old daughter. With an impressively high Yelp rating, I was disappointed to hear the new owners say the glowing reviews are from the previous owner (though I respect the honesty). Despite that, we really enjoyed our visit. The new owners live up to the legacy. First of all, the service is excellent. An older man makes the food and who I assume is his daughter takes the orders. Both are kind. At the end, she gave my daughter a granola bar for free. The menu is a mix of Korean food and the small market in the back sells Korean products and more. It's very fun to browse and pick up some snacks and treats. My daughter loved the juicy grape fruit snacks. To eat, we ordered the Japanese curry and milk tea. Both were full of flavor and made with love. "This is my new favorite meal of all time," said my daughter. She devoured the bowl herself! There's a small parking lot in front of the cafe. It's within walking distance from the Crystal City Metro.

For lunch this past Sunday, a few of us stopped by Paramount Cafe since they actually have 卤肉饭…read more(Taiwanese braised pork over rice) here. Who knew that there would be a cafe in Pentagon City with this option? The interior is a bit cramped with many cardboard boxes piling up. We were able to order the food at the counter and waited about 5-10 minutes before the food was ready. BRAISED PORK OVER RICE (卤肉饭) - 15.49 Lots of rice, more rice than I could finish with the amount of braised pork belly they give. The pork was very fatty, which made it tasty and juicy, but it wasn't very saucy. There were two halves of a bokchoy and half of an incredibly boiled egg, which was meh. Still, I finished all the toppings and maybe a little less than half of the rice. I was full, but $15.49 for the food was not worth it. Overall, 3.5/5 but bump it to a 4/5 since there's a scarcity of food like this in the area. They sell other comfort Asian dishes too, like coconut chicken cutlet rice and Japanese eel rice.

Took my girlfriend here for her birthday and it was the right call. The edamame was a simple,…read morewell-executed starter -- nothing fancy, but it set the tone before the real highlights arrived. The toro tacos were a standout -- rich, buttery toro paired with a crisp shell, the kind of bite that balances luxury with a little bit of fun. We rounded things out with several maki rolls, all fresh and well put together, each one distinct enough that ordering a few felt worth it rather than repetitive. Beyond the food, the service made the night -- attentive without being intrusive, which is exactly what you want for a birthday dinner. The ambience matched too: romantic, trendy, dim lighting that made it feel like an occasion without trying too hard. Great pick for a celebration -- between the toro tacos, the maki, and the overall vibe, Shoto delivered on every front.

Came here on 6/28/26, had a reservation at 8pm and were seated immediately…read more The space inside is gorgeous but cramped and LOUD. This is not a space to grab food if you're trying to have a conversation. We often found ourselves yelling across the table and when selecting items to share we crammed ourselves on one side of the booth squishing other patrons. Otherwise this would've been a 5 star review. Our waiter was amazing, albeit a bit distracted at times because of his service area, and helped advise us on the items we were interested in. We had: Koika No Karaage - their version of calamari - 10/10 - lightly fried with the most amazing texture and paired with a yuzu mayo. For the price I wish the serving size was larger but that's my only gripe. Kani - 10/10 - snow crab with spicy mayo - 2 came with the order and they were amazing. The Japanese crest was the perfect contrast to softness of the snow crab. It was also seasoned well. Hotate Toryufu - 10/10 - the scallops melted in your mouth. Amazing. No notes. California Maki - 6/10 - my least favorite thing here. It wasn't awful but it didn't compare to the other things we had. Drinks - I WISH I could remember the name of the drink I had. Hands down one of the best drinks I've ever had and was paired with sparkling sake. Bathe me in sparkling sake, put a bottle in my casket, I want it with me forever. I would come back for sure but would opt to sit at the bar. It would definitely be easier to speak to someone sitting next to you than across from you. For the price you will not get full here but if you want to share some small bites of new food this is absolutely your spot.

My friends and I came here for dinner on a Sunday night! It was pretty chill and we got seated…read moreright away. The restaurant had a good ambiance and would be a good spot for a date night. For appetizers, we shared the salt and pepper calamari and the jah leung. The calamari was good was but was on the saltier side. I've never had jah leung; it was a very pretty dish and tasted interesting but not sure if I really liked the textures. For my entree, I ordered the beef brisket chow fun. I liked how tender the beef was but it was also on the saltier side. I got to try my husband's char siu place and my friend's crispy pork belly. Both were really tasty and I would probably get those next time instead! Overall, the service was good and I was pretty happy with the food in general (maybe I'm just sensitive to salt).

We popped into Tiger Fork last minute with friends and were pleasantly surprised. The restaurant…read morehas a great atmosphere, and the bar is vibrant with plenty of drink options to choose from. I ordered the combo fried rice for my entrée, and it was absolutely fantastic! Easily the highlight of the meal. Service was quick, but that's where things became a bit inconsistent. My entrée arrived way before my friends' meals, so I was left deciding whether to eat alone or let my food get cold. On top of that, our server had about as much personality as the napkin on the table. There was nothing outright wrong with the service, but it felt cold and disengaged. As a Michelin-recognized restaurant, the food absolutely lived up to the reputation. Unfortunately, the service didn't come close. If they matched the quality of the hospitality with the quality of the food, this would be an easy five-star experience.