Two restaurants in Arlington and three in Falls Church made the grade in Washingtonian’s new “100 Very Best Restaurants” list.
Regulars in the local dining scene will be familiar with most of these spots, all of which were also highlighted last year. They range from a Vietnamese restaurant in Falls Church’s Eden Center to a popular French-inspired establishment on Langston Blvd.
Arlington
No. 42: Padaek
This Lao and Thai restaurant debuted at the Arlington Ridge Shopping Center in October 2023 and has been picking up local accolades ever since. In 2024, the establishment ranked in The Washington Post’s list of the best new restaurants in the D.C. area, and chef Seng Luangrath won “Best Restaurateur of the Year” at the RAMMY Awards last year.
“You can thank chef Seng Luangrath for popularizing Laotian food in DC — and across the country,” Washingtonian wrote. “Her crispy coconut-rice salad mixed with peanuts, herbs, and sour pork is rightfully famous, but lime-punched salads, fragrant soups, and banana-leaf-wrapped fish with herby coconut curry are also highlights.”
2931 S. Glebe Road
No. 80: Cafe Colline
This is the fourth time in a row that Cafe Colline has made an appearance on Washingtonian’s annual list. The magazine highlighted menu items like “plump escargot tucked beneath puff pastry” and “stellar moules frites in a pastis-scented broth with crème fraîche,” along with dessert items such as chocolate-hazelnut pot de crème and vanilla rice pudding with salted caramel. A sister establishment, Bar Colline, opened last July in Crystal City.
4536 Langston Blvd
Falls Church
No. 30: Ellie Bird
Washingtonian spotlighted an array of “cleverly delicious mash-ups” at this popular restaurant on Founders Row, from steak tartare with Thai papaya salad to tornado omelets over kimchi rice. Ellie Bird also launched a carryout- and delivery-only fried chicken concept, Side Chick, over the summer.
125 Founders Ave
No. 79: NUE: Elegantly Vietnamese
“This modern Vietnamese restaurant turns out stylish dishes and dramatic Instagram-ready cocktails in a floral dining room swathed in impressionist pastels,” Washingtonian wrote. Menu highlights at NUE, which opened in summer 2023, include golden maitake with shaved fennel and radish bean sprouts, coconut curry risotto with Hokkaido scallops and a handmade pappardelle with braised short ribs and shaved parmesan.
944 W. Broad Street
No. 94: Truong Tien
This Vietnamese restaurant located inside the Eden Center opened to local fanfare in fall 2023. It’s listed as “inexpensive,” meaning a dinner for two costs $100 or less. The most popular dish, according to Washingtonian, is a spicy lemongrass noodle soup that comes with meatballs in a beef broth.
6763 Wilson Blvd
