Arlington and Falls Church restaurants ranging from all-day breakfast to upscale Vietnamese cuisine earned spots in a new ranking of Northern Virginia establishments.
Six restaurants in Arlington and five in Falls Church made Northern Virginia Magazine’s list of the top 50 restaurants in the region. The winners are as follows.
Arlington
1983 Chinese Cuisine
“This ornate Pentagon City dining room invites guests to think outside the takeout container,” Northern Virginia Magazine wrote. “Traditional Cantonese dishes prevail here, including roasted duck with golden, shattering skin, served bone-in amid a pool of savory duck jus.”
1101 S. Joyce Street (Pentagon City)
Carbonara
“Chefs looking to make a mark with pasta are more likely to wade into more modern waters,” Northern Virginia Magazine says. “Not Mike Cordero. For two years, the innovator has been making his chosen cuisine more fun, while still holding true to the flavors we love.”
3865 Wilson Blvd (Virginia Square)
Ruthie’s All-Day
“When a restaurant has a custom-built wood-burning hearth, ordering meat is almost compulsory, and diners here are happy to oblige,” this entry says. “Whether opting for the meat-and-three combo and creating your own meal, or choosing a composed dish, diners cannot go wrong with any of chef Matt Hill’s wood-smoked barbecue.”
3411 5th Street S. (Arlington Heights)
The Salt Line
“With a glut of steakhouses in this area, sometimes we all crave a bite of seafood instead,” the magazine wrote. “This tasty tribute to coastal cuisine in a modern-nautical setting is a welcome catch.”
4040 Wilson Blvd (Ballston)
Sfoglina
“Handmade pasta is the name of the game — it’s the largest section on Sfoglina’s menu for good reason,” Northern Virginia Magazine said. “With so many different shapes, sauces, and protein choices, there’s a noodle dish for anyone and any occasion.”
1100 Wilson Boulevard (Rosslyn)
Yume Sushi
This restaurant placed among Northern Virginia Magazine’s top 10 restaurants for its inventive dishes from award-winning sushi chef Saran Kannasute. The publication recommends the poke bowl, the Crazy Monkey Roll and the garlic butter miso scallop.
“While there is nothing wrong with more familiar sushi, chef Saran Kannasute’s elevated, artistic dishes prove that you can fix what isn’t broken,” Northern Virginia Magazine wrote.
2121 N Westmoreland Street (East Falls Church)
Falls Church
Ellie Bird
“A blanket of stretchy Gruyère and floppy ribbons of oxtail meld with chewy sourdough croutons,” the magazine says. “But it’s not the textural bounty of the Vietnamese French onion soup that makes it one of the best dishes at chef Yuan Tang’s casual Falls Church restaurant. The secret is in the Asian aromatics that make this soup not only one of the richest French onion broths around, but also a five-star pho — a blend of colonial-inspired flavors.”
125 Founders Avenue
Harvey’s
“Start with satiating duck confit croquettes, crackly orbs that encase a silky-smooth potato-duck filling,” wrote Northern Virginia Magazine. “The Dirty Bird sandwich is indulgent in all the best ways. The hefty stack features juicy fried chicken, fried green tomato, pimento cheese, honey butter hot sauce, pickles, and scallion ranch, all nestled in a fluffy brioche bun.”
513 W. Broad Street
Nue: Elegantly Vietnamese
“The crunchy brassicas are served in a bath of coconut tofu mousse that’s more spicy than sweet,” the publication says. “Leave the delightful dose of sugar to pickled and rehydrated apricots, chunks of lychee, and dried cherries. Fried garlic and strips of basil ensure that the appetizer never crosses the line into dessert.”
944 W. Broad Street
Rice Paper
“There may very well be a queue of eager customers waiting outside the door to get a table at this unassuming Eden Center hot spot, and it’s well worth the wait,” writes the magazine. “It won’t take long to be seated and served superbly crisp spring rolls loaded with pork, crab, and shrimp.”
6775 Wilson Blvd
Seoul Prime
“There’s more than one variety of meat craving,” Northern Virginia Magazine said. “For those who desire excess, there’s nothing wrong with an all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue spot. But some of us yearn for quality over abundance. In those cases, Seoul Prime is just the ticket.”
106 Founders Avenue
Photo (1) via The Salt Line/Instagram; photo (4) via Nue: Elegantly Vietnamese/Facebook
