Sunrise Cafe — Golden Triangle

Right across from City Place Cafe is Sunrise Cafe.  While they don’t have a menu available (just a big board when you walk in), they do offer a wide variety of options.  One day, maybe I’ll feel adventurous enough to take a photo.

• Food: One of my favorite sandwiches is their chicken gyros ($6 includes tax) because the chicken is always moist, the pita bread is good, and they put enough feta to taste but not too much.  The sandwich while it seems it might be “drippy,” it never is!  And it’s really filling.

• Service: They’re polite and pretty quick.  I can usually leave my office, get a sandwich and be back in my office in 15 minutes (or less).
• Atmosphere: With a couple of outdoor tables and chairs and only 5 or 6 stools, this is definitely more of a “grab-and-go” kind of place.
• Attire: Casual
• Price: $
• Overall: As an alternative to some of the other places, I’ve started to add this my list of rotating lunch places.  They offer frozen yogurt (hard yogurt, not soft serve) and ice cream; pizza pitas; gyros; burgers; deli sandwiches; etc.  Their prices are very reasonable and good portions.

Details:

• Hours: 7:30 AM-maybe 2 or 4 PM (?) Monday-Friday
• Address: 17th and L Street NW; Washington, DC 20036
• Ph: Not known

 

Suki Asia — Golden Triangle

I  vaguely remember when Suki Asia opened — I think two or three years ago.  I have been once before and remember ordering sushi and it was pretty good.  But it had been a couple of years since I had been so I thought I’d try it again for the blog.  Their menu is pretty brief and actually fits on one page here. 

11/2008 – Here’s their updated menu.  Page one here and page two here.

• Food: I was hungry and so I decided to order their original bibimbap and a bagel roll.  First, the bagel roll.  They get points for not dying their ginger to that horrible pink color and instead, leaving it to its original state.  I also give them major points for not giving me so much wasabi that I feel like I’m wasting it.  Their bagel roll was pretty good and I’d definitely order it again.  Next to the bibimbap.  I thought it was OK, but the bulgogi cart definitely makes a better version.  Plus, there was no egg.  And there wasn’t that much in there, but what was there was decent.

 

UPDATE: My lunch buddy kept raving about their udon mushroom with tofu so I had to try it.  It was really good (no MSG so no weird after-taste).  There weren’t a lot of veggies though, but the noodles and broth were really good.  A super filling lunch!

 

• Service: They’re very nice and while it can seem busy with a lot of people, they are pretty efficient. 
• Atmosphere: While it’s not a very big location, it has 5-7 tables.  The interior lacks much decoration, but considering most people are grabbing and going back to their office for lunch, it doesn’t really matter.
• Attire: Casual
• Price: $
• Overall:I think I’ll skip their bibimbap and go to the Bulgogi cart instead since it tastes so much better and is cheaper.  But I do like their sushi so I would definitely go back for that. 

Details:

• Hours: Monday-Friday 10:30-5:30
• Address: 1730 Rhode Island Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036
• Ph: 202.463.3400

 

The New Burrito Man? — Golden Triangle

Readers know how much I loved the Burrito Cart Man who lived in front of the CVS on K and 15th Street.

So I was walking around one day trying to figure out what to eat for lunch and found a burrito cart man on the corner of K and 17th Street (by Farragut North Metro, Dress Barn, and Starbucks).  He’s the green cart.  Now I know he’s been there for years, but I had never tried his cart.

Here’s the deal.  He offers:

• Tomato, spinach, or plain tortillas for $4.50
• Rice, beans (black or refried), and hot sauce
• For $0.50 more, you can get guacamole (not homemade) or cheese.  For $0.25 you can get sour cream.

So while he has only 7-9 hot sauces that are either medium or hot, his burritos are the closest I’ve had to the original burrito cart.  But his are definitely not the same.

• He has no salsa on the burrito so that means no big chunks of onions, tomatoes, or cilantro.
• He does put the tortilla into the steam heat so it’s hot, but he doesn’t throw the cheese on until the end (but it does still melt). 

While they’re not the same, it was a decent burrito for $5. 

 

 

Thai X-ing — U Street

I went to Thai X-ing with a friend who had a car because otherwise, I don’t think I would have ever had a chance to try it.  Their menu can be found here.

• Food: We ordered spring rolls which I didn’t love because I thought they were a bit bland.  But everything else we ordered was so good!  We also ordered Veggie Pad Thai which was sweeter than the normal pad thai you’d get at other restaurants, but then had a slight heat kick at the end.  It was fantastic!  Then we ordered Chicken Vigsittaboot with watercress and spicy peanut sauce which was also amazing. 

   

• Service: There’s one guy who cooks everything so his overhead has to be pretty low.  But it also means that you’re frequently waiting — even if you call in advance.  I called and placed our order and was told it’d take 40 minutes yet when we arrived about an hour later, he hadn’t even cooked it yet.  So if you have plans that require you to be somewhere at a certain time, this is not the restaurant for you.  I’d only go when you have no plans except dinner…just in case!
• Atmosphere: While he has a table and chairs, it’s definitely a grab-and-go place.  There are lots of chairs and items on the wall to entertain you while you’re waiting for your food.
• Attire: It’s to-go so it doesn’t matter.
• Price: $
• Overall: The Chicken Vigsittaboot was really good.  The pad thai was unique.  I’m looking forward to the next time I get to go back and try some of his curry dishes that I’ve heard so much about.  Definitely a hidden gem in DC! 

Details:

• Hours: Tues-Sun 4-10 PM (delivery only happens on Friday and Saturday nights)
• Address: 515 Florida Ave, Washington DC 20001
• Ph: 202-332-4322

 

House of Kebob — Golden Triangle

I’ve walked by House of Kebob a million (literally) times and only recently went in to try it out.  Their menu can be found here and here.

• Food:I ordered a lamb shish kebob which was served on home-baked pita with lettuce, tomatoes, and peppers.  The photo, if I may say so myself, makes it look amazing.  In reality, there were only 4 medium chunks of overcooked lamb.  It was dry and tough.  But the redeeming quality in my mind was the vegetables — lightly cooked, they were fresh, crispy, and oh so good.  There was a very thin yogurt sauce which too watery and dripped everywhere making a huge mess.  The bread was really good, but towards the end, soggy. 

• Service: It took them a couple of minutes to come out of the back kitchen, even though the door clearly shut.  Once they did, they were polite. 
• Atmosphere: There are about 6-8 tables and chairs and a bar with a few stools, but the restaurant is definitely small.  The atmosphere is not one that will impress anyone and is a bit bleak.  They also have a lot of pungent incense burning which was disappointing since to me, the best smell is that of food cooking in a kitchen.
• Attire: Casual
• Price: $
• Overall:I’d skip the lamb and instead, perhaps try to the chicken or the veggie kebob.  They also offer an all-you-can-eat buffet for $8.49 or carry-out buffet for $4.95/lb.  And they deliver (minimum order must be $15), but not at lunch (bummer)!

Details:

• Hours: Monday-Sunday 11 AM-10 PM
• Address: 1829 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
• Ph: 202-293-5588

 

Bulgogi Cart — McPherson Square/Golden Triangle

UPDATE 9/2008 — This is my new comfort food.  I go here so many times, it’s ridiculous.  My favorite is the spicy chicken bibimbap.  Yum!!!!

A friend of mine was raving about the Bulgogi cart — and with my love of cart food, I was intrigued and looking forward to going.  And avid readers of my blog know I don’t go to the same restaurant because I’m trying to try out as many restaurants as possible.  But in this case, I went twice. 

• Food: They seem to be mostly known for their bulgogi, but they also serve bibimbap.  While I LOVE, LOVE bibimbap, I thought I should branch out (and besides, I knew I was going to come back). Plus, my friend said the bulgogi was really good.  I ordered the chicken version (they also have a vegetarian and beef one) and spicy.  There was a little Iceburg lettuce covered in a very light (rice?) vinegar and a side of kimchi.  The kimchi was really good and had such a great, unique flavor (of course, every Korean family makes kimchi differently).  The chicken bulgogi was pretty good and a little bit spicy (although they used all dark meat).  My second trip, I ordered their bibimbap (or as it’s on their menu, bibimbab).  While it’s traditionally with beef, I went with chicken again.  So good — it was healthy with a great mixture of vegetables, egg, and rice.  Plus, there’s a ridiculous amount of food — I mean, take a look at these photos!  The one on the left is the chicken bulgogi, middle is chicken bibimbap, next is spicy beef bibimbap, and the one on the right is of the cart (just so you don’t misss it!). 

     

• Service: When I went, it seemed like it was a very nice mom and son who were working the bright yellow cart.
• Atmosphere: It’s a cart!  You can only grab and go.
• Attire: Whatever you want, IT’S A CART!!!  Ha, this is why I love carts.
• Price: $
• Overall:For $6.75 $7, this is a great place for lunch.  They offer ample portions in the Styrofoam container of the bulgogi chicken over white rice.  There was definitely enough food for lunch and dinner.  So yummy!  Oh, and here’s the menu:

     

Details:

• Hours: 11ish AM-2ish PM Monday-Friday
• Address: 14th and L (SE Corner of L and 14th Streets between N 14th St & N Vermont Ave) — it’s the bright yellow cart.  You can’t miss it.

 

Chop’t Restaurant — Dupont Circle

While I wasn’t able to try out their free salad, I was looking forward to trying Chop’t. 

• Food:I ordered the Kebab Cobb Salad (not on their take-out menu but on their menu board at the restaurant) with romaine, red onions, crispy flat bread, Goat Cheese (didn’t have Feta that day), and vinaigrette dressing.  You also get a whole wheat roll. 

 

• Service: The way it works is that you pick whether you want a salad or sandwich.  Since I ordered a salad, I’ll talk about what happens next.  You order from the guy with the clipboard, not the people behind the counter.  They mix it together into a big bowl.  Then they pass it to the guy with the big chopping boards.  That guy is the one who pours out your salad ingredients and then uses his double-bladed mezzaluna knife to cut up all the ingredients.  It’s not finely chopped, more coarsely chopped.  Then they put it into your to-go container.   
• Atmosphere: It’s very casual with high stools and counters. 
• Attire: Casual
• Price: $
• Overall: I thought the salad was good — I think it’s exactly like High Noon, but with more topping options.  They say they deliver, but there’s no mention of it on their menu.  Their menu can be found here: Chop’t Menu Page 1; Chop’t Menu Page 2; Chop’t Menu Page 3; Chop’t Menu Page 4

Details:

• Hours: Monday-Friday 10:30 AM-9 PM; Saturday 11-5 PM; Sundays closed
• Address: 1300 Connecticut Ave NW; Washington, DC 20036
• Ph: 202-875-2888

 

Loebs Deli — McPherson Square

I love NY-deli style sandwiches.  There’s something about that HUGE sandwich with three inches of freshly sliced meat on soft rye with a side of pickles…oh wow.  Damn, I have to get to NY. 

Anyway, I had heard a lot about Loebs Deli and thought I had to try it out for myself.  A restaurant that’s been around for 49 years — that means they have to serve something pretty good right?

• Food: I ordered their pastrami on light rye and matzo ball soup.  The pastrami was warm and had a bit more fat on it than Eli’s, so that means it was a bit juicier.  It was really good.  The matzo ball soup was pretty good too — though the two baby carrots were a little strange (Right?  Or is that just me?).  While the sandwich was good, it wasn’t exactly like a NY-style deli sandwich, but it was close (so is Eli’s).  BTW, this is definitely not a Kosher restaurant (they serve cheeseburgers).   My friend ordered a side of fries and they were these huge thick cut steak fries.  I’m usually not a fan of such fries, but these were really good.  They were crispy and hot.  Yum!

 

• Service: Knowing it’s a family-ran joint made the experience even that much more fun.  It did feel like you stepped into a NY deli with their thick NY accents.  They were really nice and we got our food in 15 minutes.
• Atmosphere: Inside there’s about 20 tables making it a pretty big lunch spot.  When you walk in, you can either go straight to order if you’re staying in (which means you grab a tray) or you go to the right where you can put in your to go food. 
• Attire: Casual
• Price: $
• Overall: Be prepared — they only accept cash or American Express.  If you’re looking for a menu, here you go: Loebs Deli Menu.  The food is really good and I’d definitely go back.  Would I rather go to Eli’s or Loebs?  Hmm, tough decision…

Details:

• Hours: Monday-Friday breakfast from 6 a.m.-11 a.m.; 11 AM-4 PM lunch
• Address: 832 15th Street NW, Washington DC
• Ph: 202-371-1150

 

Casa Blanca — Golden Triangle

I have found my new favorite restaurant.  This is ridiculously good food at an insanely cheap price.  Why haven’t people been talking about this place more often? 

• Food:I’ve been here twice in a week and yet I continue to find new and yummy items on their menu.  I feel like I haven’t even scratched the surface of possibilities!  Everything is outstanding — the fried plantains are some of the best in the city.  The spinach empanadas are also amazing because they’re so light and flaky.  They are a cavernous kind with spinach and garlic — way better (and cheaper) than Julia’s Empanadas.  In the 4th photo, the salad had a tang to it with a pico de gallo type dressing.  The rice was light and flavorful.  So far, the weakest item was the beef burrito because it was ground beef and didn’t have a lot of flavor. 

Photos from left to right are: cheese pupusa; two chicken tacos; spinach empanada; burritos amigos (1 beef and 1 chicken); fried plantains.

       

• Service: They’re very nice and it’s clearly a family-ran joint. 
• Atmosphere: What it lacks in character with their interior, their food more than makes up for it.  This is a bare-bones kind of establishment where you’ll see a variety of eaters from college students to business executives.
• Attire: Casual
• Price: $
• Overall: This is a cash only establishment so make sure you hit the ATM before you go.  So far, I know a half a dozen people who have gone and no one has had given this place anything but fantastic reviews.  This is definitely one of my favorite places and I can’t wait to try everything on their menu!  Speaking of which, here’s their menu: Menu Page 1; Menu Page 2; Menu Page 3.   Oh, and they do say they have delivery, but their service is sporadic. 

Details:

• Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 AM-10 PM; closed Sundays
• Address: 1014 Vermont Ave NW; Washington, DC 20005
• Ph: (202) 393-4430

 

Aioli Mediterranean — Dupont Circle

Feeling like taking a bit more of a hike for lunch than normal, I thought I’d try Aioli Mediterranean.  Thankfully, I was able to convince a friend of mine to join me. 

• Food:We looked at their menu online and I decided to order the Roma (right sandwich), with dry cured Prosciutto Ham, lightly smoked Mortadella, Genoa Salami, and Provolone cheese.  My friend decided to order the Capri which had Prosciutto blended with Geonoa Salami, Spice Capacola Ham and Provolone cheese (left sandwich).  And, since both sandwiches sounded good, we agreed to split our orders.  We were asked whether we wanted them hot or cold and we both said yes.  While we were waiting for our sandwiches to be made, we also looked at their sides.  I got a side of lentils as an impulse purchase — and am I’m really glad I did.  I thought it had a really good flavor and I felt pretty healthy eating it (I did have to add a little salt though).    The sandwiches had a little lettuce and a unique vinegar sauce.  This meant the bread ended up being soggy.  And while we both ordered hot sandwiches, they were cold and the cheese was not melted.  The highlight of the meal was definitely the lentils.  Oh, and they give you a small little container of salad with carrots, cardamon, celery, onions, olive oil, vinegar, and maybe a couple of other ingredients.  I don’t like cardamon seeds, but the salad was pretty good! 

 

• Service: There was a really nice guy behind the counter and we got the sandwiches in under 15 minutes.
• Atmosphere:With sparse artwork on the walls, it’s a bit of a sterile environment.  There are about 10 tables and chair inside and there’s also a small outside seating location.  There are also a few refrigerators with various sides, beverages, etc.  They have a small deli counter too.
• Attire: Casual
• Price: $
• Overall: I really liked the lentils and the little side salad they gave us.  Their Web site is really impressive and it seems like if you’re big on the sides, you’d love this place.  Their sides are pretty reasonablely priced.  I would skip the $8 sandwich though.

Details:

• Hours: Mon-Sat 11 am-9 pm, Sun 11 am-6 pm
• Address: 2153 P St. NW, Washington, DC 20037
• Ph: 202-558-6188

 

Adam Express — Mt. Pleasant

I went to Adam Express (Menu Side A and Menu Side B– click on the lower right hand box with the arrows so it makes the menu bigger) with a friend of mine to try out their food after reading so many great reviews. 

• Food:When we first went, it was packed (umm, there are only 5 stools so it’s not hard to be busy).  So we went to Tonic to grab a drink and then go back for dinner.  Of course, I ordered bibim bap.  It’s not like the kind you get in a restaurant, it was in a big bowl with a mixture of various vegetables and beef (so no clay pot).  But I have never felt like I was in someone else’s kitchen as much as I did here.  You could clearly see where they cooked and the ingredients they used to make their food.  The husband and wife team were adorable and very nice.  I really enjoyed the bibim bap, but it wasn’t like anything I had before in a restaurant — it was more like what someone cooks in their house.
• Service: As soon as we walked in, the wife took our order and two seconds later, the skillets were heating. 
• Atmosphere: Calling it a hole-in-the-wall is spot on.  As I mentioned, there are only 5 stools in the entire place and some are held together with wire.  But the intimate setting is great for a quick, tasty bite.
• Attire: Casual
• Price: $
• Overall: Perhaps you have a bad day and you don’t live close to home, but you want something cheap and good.  You should go here.  The couple’s warm smile and the intimate setting can almost make you feel like you’re home.  Well, if your home is a place where Korean/Chinese/Japanese food is served.  Regardless, it was good food at such a cheap price! 

Details:

• Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday; closed Sunday.
• Address: 3211 Mount Pleasant St., Washington, DC 20020
• Ph: 202-328-0010

 

Breadline Deli & Bakery Part II — Golden Triangle

You already know I went to Breadline once before.  I felt like going again to try their Oyster Po Boy sandwich since I heard so much about it. 

As you can see from the photo, the sandwich was very creamy.  I hate mayo, so for me, it was too much remoulade sauce.  The good stuff in the sandwich was the freshly fried oysters and the little heat (spice).

Overall, I wouldn’t order it again because of the remoulade sauce, but if you like mayo, you’ll love it.

Details:

• Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
• Address: 1751 Pennsylvania Ave. NW; Washington, DC 20006
• Ph: 202-822-8900

 

Dickey’s Frozen Custard — Golden Triangle

My friend suggested I try out this place for lunch one day and also was kind enough to go with me on my first visit. 

• Food:He recommended Panini D’Amour which comes with turkey, pesto mayo (except I asked for no sauce), red onions, artichokes, provolone, and avocado.  As you can see in the photo, it was cheesy!  It was crispy and I loved the addition of the avacado in the sandwich.  It also had a subtle garlic taste which didn’t overwhelm the senses (thankfully).   

• Service: They are polite and quite efficient.  You can get in and out in 15 minutes.
• Atmosphere: Inside it’s very small, but they have a few stool seats available, but it’s definitely more of a “grab-and-go” place.
• Attire:Casual
• Price: $
• Overall: I have never tried their custard (only offer chocolate or vanilla) but I am looking forward to trying their low-fat versions.  Regardless, the sandwich was really good and quite filling.  I’d definitely stop back here for the panini! 

Details:

• Hours: Monday-Friday 7 AM-5 PM
• Address: 1710 I Street NW; Washington, DC 20006
• Ph: 202-861-0669

 

Eli’s Kosher Restaurant — Dupont Circle

When my best friend from college came into town, she mentioned there was a kosher deli in Dupont.  I, of course, was intrigued and was looking forward to trying it out.  Unfortunately, we had just eaten breakfast so I wasn’t ready to order anything else.  Instead, I went with a friend for lunch a few weeks later.

• Food: I don’t know about you, but to me — pastrami or corned beef were the two sandwiches I was looking forward to trying.  I kept waffling and finally ordered the pastrami which was a great sandwich.  It came with chips and a pickle.  I think it might have been a homemade pickle because it had a distinct, yet salty and sweet yummy flavor.  While the sandwich wasn’t as big as I thought it was going to be (like you get in NY), there was still enough for 4 sandwiches! 

 

I’ve since gone back and gotten their Reuben.  Pretty good stuff and there was “cheese” (it’s a Kosher restaurant so it wasn’t real).  Still though, nothing like So’s Your Mom Reuben.  I think I’m no longer ordering Reubens unless I’m at SYM. 

• Service: We ordered to go, but they were nice. 
• Atmosphere: The interior reminds me a bit of Cheers, but with more sunlight.
• Attire: Casual
• Price: $
• Overall: I think it’s a great sandwich place and would absolutely go again.

Details:

• Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11 AM-9 PM; Friday 11 AM-2:30 PM
• Address: 1253 20th Street NW; Washington, DC 20036
• Ph: 202-785-4314

 

Rumi Restaurant — Golden Triangle

Feeling like something different for lunch, I convinced a friend of mine to go with me to Rumi Restaurant. 

• Food:I went twice — once I went to their restaurant and the second time I ordered delivery.  The first time, I ordered their chicken doner (first photo).  It was really good, but there was no “Special Rumi sauce” as the description promised.  Then the second time, I ordered the doner sandwich (mixture of beef and lamb).  The pita bread was pretty good and a generous size.  Unfortunately, again, there was no yogurt sauce (as they had promised).  So both of these sandwiches, while they were good, were dry.  If there was sauce on them, I bet they would have been good!

 

• Service: They’re pretty quick and polite.  My delivery order didn’t come with the soda though that I had ordered (and paid for). 
• Atmosphere: The interior completely lacks any character.  It’s fake wood tables and cheap chairs, but they offer good deals and big helpings.  For example, they have a $8 pizza special where they give you two slices and a can of soda (and the slices are pretty big).
• Attire: Casual
• Price: $
• Overall:Next time I order from here, I’ll make it very clear I want the sauce to be included on the sandwich.  I like the fact they’re open late and have an $8 minimum needed for free delivery. 

Here’s the menu to their pizza (Pizza Milano Menu Side A and Pizza Milano Menu Side B) and here’s Rumi’s menu (Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4).  Just click on the menu and then click on the photo icon to make the menu bigger.

Details:

• Hours: Sun-Thurs 10 AM-2 AM; Fri & Sat 11 AM-5 AM
• Address: 2001 L St NW; Washington, DC 20036
• Ph: 202-331-1922

 

Breadline Deli & Bakery — Golden Triangle

After hearing so many great things about Breadline, I had never gone to try it — until recently.

• Food:The “must try” dishes at Breadline, it seemed like to me, were the French Madrange Ham Sandwich and the fries.  So I ordered both of them.  On the counter where you order was a big bowl of mustard & horseradish mix (homemade perhaps?) and I grabbed a glob to put on my sandwich — such a good idea because it was a great addition!  Wrapped in butcher paper, the baguette was HUGE.  The bread was extremely crusty on the outside while not overpowering the flavor of the ham and cheese.  For a few brief moments, I felt like I was sitting in France…and then I snapped back into reality with the fries.  Double-fried, to me, means that they would be crispy.  Instead, they were pretty greasy and so soggy.  To say they were a disappointment is an understatement.  I would definitely skip the fries.  Oh, and in case you’re thinking I went at a weird time (which I am known to do), I went at 12 noon on the dot. 

 

• Service: My lunch partner and I commented that it felt like the Soup Nazi, but that the staff were nicer.  There’s definitely a process and if you don’t know it, you’ll feel a little frazzled.  When you walk in, you’ll see two lines.  The one on the left is for salads while the one on the right is for sandwiches and soups.  Then the counter (with the mustard/horseradish mix) where you’ll pick up your food.  There are three checkouts — two next to the counter and there’s one by the beverage cooler (a little hidden). 
• Atmosphere:With high ceilings and 3,500 sq feet of space, this place is big.  They have some seating in the back of the restaurant where you can grab your order, your laptop (free wi-fi), and get some work done.  Their bread offerings look really good too and I bet when they’re baking, the aroma is amazing.
• Attire: Casual
• Price: $
• Overall:Loved the sandwich, but skip the fries.  My lunch partner ordered the black bean quesadilla.  She said it was flaky and delicious.  I’m looking forward to coming back and trying other items.  Their Thursday Cuban Sandwich and Oyster Po’ Boy both sound really good.

Details:

• Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
• Address: 1751 Pennsylvania Ave. NW; Washington, DC 20006
• Ph: 202-822-8900

 

Pho Tay Ho — Fall Church, VA

After telling my friend that there’s this great pho place at Seven Corners, she thought this was the place I was referring to (it wasn’t).  But, we went into Pho Tay Ho to grab a bowl.

• Food: I ordered the beef pho which was really good.  I ordered the Tai and Nam beef (meaning eye round steak and flank) which was cut a bit thick.  But the broth with the fresh cilantro,  lime juice, bean sprouts, jalapenos, noodles, Sriracha sauce, and Hoisin sauce – I think it’s the freshness of all the ingredients that makes pho one of the best meals. 

On a side note, the place I love gives you the raw beef on the side and you put it into your hot broth which then cooks it.  It is in Seven Corners area and I remember the purple neon sign that just said “Pho.”  Does anyone know the address to that place? 

   

• Service: They are very polite and tables are cleaned quickly after being vacated. 
• Atmosphere: It’s very sparse and not a place to take someone if you’re trying to impress them with ambiance.  But if you want to take them for good pho, then take them here.
• Attire: Casual
• Price: $
• Overall: I’d definitely come back for the pho, but I’m still trying to figure out my “holy grail” pho place. 

Details:

• Reservations not needed (and probably not accepted).
• Hours: Daily 9:00am- 9:00pm
• Address:6015 Leesburg Pike; Falls Church, VA 22041
• Ph: (703) 578-3037

 

Nooshi (formerly Oodles Noodles)– Golden Triangle

When you’re looking for quick and decent Thai food in the Golden Triangle area, you go to Nooshi (formerly known as Oodles Noodles).

• Food:Surprise!  I usually order Pad Thai with tofu or chicken, but one day I thought I should try something different.  So I got the Mee Goreng which is described as spicy marriage of Malaysian & Indian-style stir fry egg noodles with chicken.  I thought the Mee Goreng was OK, but it definitely wasn’t spicy.  One of my lunch partners in crime always gets the Tom Yum Noodle Soup with spicy chicken in lemongrass broth served with rice vermicelli.  When I actually sit at the restaurant, I’ll usually order either the fried tofu or fried calamari — both tasty.

• Service: I was recently talking about this with some colleagues, but they claim that when they eat in here, they feel rushed throughout their meal.  I’ve got to admit that when I eat in, I don’t. 
• Atmosphere: With a dark interior, the restaurant is comfortable.  There’s a small sushi bar (or was it an actual bar?  Can’t remember) on the right hand-side. 
• Attire: Casual
• Price: $
• Overall: This is a good place to go with some friends for a casual bite to eat.  They also deliver (orders must be over $25)  and have a separate “restaurant” (and menu) for carry out.  It’s next door to their sit-down restaurant and is incredibly tiny.   If you’re in a hurry, call in your food and then walk past the line to pick up your food and pay. 

Happy Hour: Monday-Saturday 5-7 PM 1/2 off drinks.

Details:

• Reservations accepted.
• Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am- 11pm Sun 5pm-10pm; Delivery Hours: Mon – Fri 11:30 am – 2:30 pm, 5:00 pm – 10:30 pm; Sat 5:00 pm – 10:30 pm; Sun 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
• Address: 1120 19th Street NW; Washington, DC 20036
• Ph: 202-293-3138

 

So’s Your Mom — Adams Morgan

I had only been there for bagels (not sure where they get them from) because they are quite tasty.  I hadn’t tried their sandwiches, until recently.   And check it out — I took photos of their menu! 

       

• Food: While they offer 66+ different sandwiches, it’s the one that isn’t on their menu that I tried — the Reuben.  While I have no idea why it isn’t on their menu, they make it and oh so well.  The Reuben is on light rye which was perfect because the bread wasn’t overpowering but one can still taste the rye goodness.   When you’re eating the sandwich, there’s no dripping of sauerkraut, dressing, etc.  How did they do that?  With the light rye taste and no dripping, this is definitely one of the best Reuben sandwiches.  

   

And after hearing so much about their breakfast, I ordered an egg and cheese sandwich on a toasted sesame bagel.  There was a lot of eggs on the sandwich!  I did love the bagel and will definitely order those by the dozen…oh, with smoked salmon, red onion, capers, and shmear…forget it…

I also recently ordered a corn beef sandwich with dijon mustard on rye.  Delicious.  So’s Your Mom rules.

 

• Service: They’re very polite and fast.  So if you’re in a rush but want a good sandwich, go here.
• Atmosphere: There are no tables, so you’ll have to grab your sandwich and eat it somewhere else. 
• Attire: Casual
• Price: $
• Overall: The Washington Post says that they have “simple, old-fashioned sandwiches,” and it is true.  Their ingredients are fresh and have great pairings (#1 most popular sandwich is their turkey, avocado, lettuce, tomato, and mayo on sourdough).  I’m looking forward to going back and trying their other sandwiches.  BTW, make sure to bring cash because they don’t accept credit cards or checks.  Of course, there’s the Bank of America ATMs right next door too.

Details:

• Hours: Mon-Fri 7 AM-8 PM; Sat 8 AM-7PM; Sun 8 AM-3 PM
• Address: 1831 Columbia Rd NW; Washington, DC 20009
• Ph: 202-464-3666

 

Java Green — Golden Triangle

I used to be a vegetarian after I read Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle (not Fast Food Nation, I don’t know why either…maybe I didn’t think it was as disturbing).  Then one day, I wanted a burger and I haven’t looked back since. 

But, I appreciate vegetarian food and was intrigued when I found out there was a great vegan restaurant in the Golden Triangle area called Java Green.  Vraiment?  I had to find out more.

• Food:Well, after looking at their very tasty looking menu, I ordered the “Chicken” Ramen in veggie broth with bean sprouts, carrots, scallions, broccoli, and soy chicken (left photo).  Dear God I fell in love after the first slurp.  The faux chicken had a smoky flavor and there was a lot of it!  While I ordered the soup to go, when I opened the container, the broccoli still had a nice crunch.  The flavors were perfect — you didn’t need to add anything else.   However, I added a little hot sauce to give it a little kick.  The soup smelled fantastic too and was a perfect, filling meal on a cold day in DC.  Day 2 I ordered their special which was the Spicy Chicken Rice Bowl (middle photo).  I have to be honest — the rice was bland and dry.  The chicken was spicy (definitely a kick) and the noodles were good. 

  

Update: I went back again and ordered their spicy noodle soup with ramen noodles.  The soup has kimchi, bean sprouts, scallions, seaweed, and choice of noodles — ramen, udon, or soba.  There’s also wheat and gluten free options kelp, yam, and rice noodle.  It has a tiny kick (meaning not spicy), but it was delicious. 

 

 

• Service: Polite and extremely efficient.  You order on the left side of the bar, get a number and a little receipt, and the pay at the other side of the bar.  Think Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi counter, make it a little longer, and  you get the picture.  Though they do not act anything like the Soup Nazi. 
• Atmosphere:Not only the restaurant vegan, but it’s also eco-friendly. 
• Attire: Casual
• Price: $
• Overall: If I could, I’d eat here all the time.  Their soup was fantastic (I’d order the Spicy chicken but 86 the rice) and I can’t wait to go back.  They have a great list of smoothies and other healthy drinks too.  If there were more restaurants like this, I think I’d be vegan…well, maybe not…still not convinced?  Since I started this blog, I’ve tried to eat at a new place and don’t want to go back to the same place if possible.  I’ve been here twice.  Yeah, that good. 

Details:

• Address: 1020 19th Street NW; Washington, DC 20009 
• Hours: Mon-Wed 8:30 AM-8:30 PM; Thurs-Fri 8:30 AM-9:00 PM; Sat 11:00 AM-6:00 PM; Sun closed
• Ph: 202-775-8899