The Arlington dining scene earned quite a bit of recognition in Northern Virginia Magazine’s new list of the region’s best food spots.
Ten restaurants with Arlington locations won their respective categories, including Best Bagel, Best Deli/Sandwich Shop and Best Crabs, in the “Best of NoVA 2025” list. This is in addition to nine Arlington restaurants named as runners-up.
Call Your Mother
Category: Best Bagel
The self-described “Jew-ish” bagel shop and deli with D.C. roots opened a kiosk at Water Park in January, serving up egg sandwiches, latkes, pastries and classic Jewish deli fare.
1671 Crystal Drive (Crystal City)
Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe
Category: Best Bakery/Pâtisserie
The legacy bakery shop off Langston Blvd is an Arlington staple for custom cakes, decorative pastries, fresh bread, deli items and more. It celebrated its 50th anniversary in February.
2150 N. Culpeper Street (Hall’s Hill)
Bob & Edith’s Diner
Category: Best Breakfast Diner
The family-owned establishment serves classic American diner food and Southern cuisine 24 hours a day at its three Arlington locations.
539 S. 23rd Street (Crystal City); 2310 Columbia Pike (Columbia Heights); 5050 Langston Blvd
Quarterdeck
Category: Best Crabs
This Arlington crab shack has been around since 1979 and is known for its variety of crustacean specialties, including fresh blue crabs and snow crab legs as well as crab dip, crab sliders, crabcakes and Chesapeake crab soup.
1200 Fort Myer Drive (Fort Myer Heights)
The Italian Store
Category: Best Deli/Sandwich Shop
Northern Virginia Magazine praised The Italian Store’s “Milano” and “Roma” sub sandwiches. Available to order at The Italian Store’s Westover and Lyon Village locations, the subs are loaded with fresh deli meats like prosciutto and Genoa salami.
5837 Washington Blvd (Westover) and 3123 Langston Blvd (Lyon Village)
Good Company Doughnuts and Cafe
Category: Best Doughnut Shop
Good Company specializes in both yeast-raised and cake donuts. It sells classics varieties like honey dipped and cinnamon sugar, along with specialties like maple frosted and blueberry buttercream. The donut shop is also known for its rotating seasonal flavors.
672 N. Glebe Road (Ballston); 1350 S. Eads Street (Pentagon City)
Carbonara
Category: Best Italian
The star of the show at Carbonara is its namesake meal, prepared live in a flaming wheel of Parmesan cheese. The Virginia Square newcomer opened last spring under local restaurateur Mike Cordero.
3865 Wilson Blvd (Virginia Square)
El Pollo Rico
Category: Best Peruvian Chicken
The Northern Virginia restaurant specializing in charcoal broiled chicken opened its first location in a Wilson Blvd strip mall in 1988. The magazine lauded the restaurant for the chicken’s crunchy skin, plus the restaurant’s fried plantains and yuca.
932 N. Kenmore Street (Virginia Square)
Acme Pie Co.
Category: Best Pie
The recently relocated Columbia Pike mainstay secured the title with its wide variety of sweet and savory pies. Flavors include sour cherry and coconut custard, in addition to vegan apple and seasonal berry pies.
2406 Columbia Pike
Yume Sushi
Category: Best Sushi
Yume’s menu features over 26 inventive signature rolls with fillings like shrimp tempura, soft shell crab and salmon belly. Chef’s pick entrees include garlic butter miso scallops and toro tartare made with bluefin tuna, French caviar and gold garnish.
2121 N. Westmoreland Street (East Falls Church)
