Restaurants in/close to Herndon, VA?

[emmyp]

I'm visiting Herndon (sp?), VA and the DC area this coming up week and would like to know of some tasty, rather inexpensive restaurants in the area.

Thanks!!!

[JudgeSmails]

My favorites are:
Curry N Kabob - Great Indian hole in the wall place in the Clocktower. They have a great lunch buffet.
Charchoal Kabob - best kabobs in NoVA (IMHO) but also check out their daily specials.

Here is a great site that covers all of the Herndon Dining options: http://www.herndoncuisine.com/index.html

[phearlez]

The Indian Supper Club is quite economical for lunch. Unlike a lot of Indian buffets they mix it up a fair amount and their food is quite good.

[scot]

No picante reports? Best mexican in the area IMO, on the other side of herndon, really chantilly but still close. Order the specials and not the standard burritos and I think you will love the food. ~12-13pp for the entre so standard fair.

[keithlb1]

Definitely worth a drive to Picante.
Good call there.
Salsa dancing on Thursdays.

[keithlb1]

Teocalli Tamale makes life a wonderful thing...Va Kitchen is great for breakfasts, fresh squeezed OJ, and Euro Bistro has a good owner/chef working there.
Jimmys has great wings and a decent bar menu. But to much smoke for me.
If you want a nice dinner check out Zefferellis in Herndon, romantic Italian place with an attentive staff. A little more expensive than the others listed though.

[hmwill]

Has anyone tried the Japanese place across from the Hunters Woods Village Center?

[trancemission]

I had lunch there a few weeks back. The building is attractive, but the sushi was average

[onlyislandlady]

The restaurant is Mikaku Sushi in Herndon and it is fabulous. Authentic Japanese secret!!

[jujuthomas]

There's also a Pho 75 in the Kmart Shopping Center - one of DH favorites.

[Dennis S]

Other pho alternatives are the one in the clock tower, one near Pollo Inka and Tortilla Factory and my favorite by far, Pho Reston 75 in Tall Oaks - I believe this one consistently blows all the others away.

[Xine]

I like Tortilla Factory for an inexpensive family-friendly meal (and excellent service -- I've been seeing the same waiters there for 10 years now, and these folks are pros). It's not authentic Mexican, it's not exquisite, but I think it's fun. And definitely inexpensive.

While I usually avoid Town Center because the restaurants are generally chains that cost more and deliver less than alternatives in the area, I went to Basura, a Thai place, last month and had an excellent meal.

The Tavern on the Lake at Lake Anne (the original center of Reston) also served me an excellent meal this fall, though I haven't been back since real winter set in -- one of the best things about eating at Lake Anne is sitting outside by the lake. That's a notch up in price from Tortilla Factory or Basura, but still not horribly expensive.

Finally, a new Indian place opened up this month on Elden St. in Herndon, directly across from the shopping center where Tortilla Factory is. I forget the name, but we were very pleased with our first meal there.

[Dennis S]

Also now a new Indian place in Hunter's Woods on Coltsneck. I've heard great things and have seen large numbers of Indians going in and coming out, but have so far failed to make it there myself.

Hopefully the one on Elden does well - that's one of those death locations.

[kneelconqueso]

I assume youre talking about Mayuri. Its awesome. I end up eating here twice a week most of the time. I find it to be a little better than the legendary Minerva.

[Dennis S]

Wow, with a backing like that, I'm going to have to try to get there this Friday!

[PollyG]

I'd also categorize the Tortilla Factory as no huge chowfind. On the other hand, Teocalli Tamale is one. I'm not sure which take on Mexican they serve (California, perhaps) but they make stuff fresh daily and their Mike's Mexolina brisket is wonderful, as is the corn salsa.

For sushi, we like Yoko, which is, like most places in the region, Korean-owned.

Pollo Inka is also very good. SBC Cafe is probably more moderate than inexpensive, but we love the place. For lunch, Minerva in the clocktower does a pretty good Indian buffet.

[Dennis S]

Second Euro Bistro, Pollo Inka, and Jimmy's - especially for a Friday fish fry.

Charcoal Kebab in the K-Mart shopping center is also good (this is also where Hard Times and many other great finds are located).

Tarin Thai is the other good thai in Herndon - do NOT go to the one in the clocktower or the one near Charcoal Kebab. The one near Euro Bistro is okay, but nothing to crow about.

For eats, generally skip Reston town center.

[trancemission]

Umm... what's wrong with Reston TC for food?

[Dennis S]

With all the other choices in the area, I can easily get more local flavor than any of the chains. Sure, I go to some of them a few times a year (Mc & S, Paolo's, Rio), but if someone is visiting and wants to find very local fare, then there are better choices. Cafe Montmarte at Lake Anne, El Manantial in Tall Oaks, any of the more authentic mexican, such as the taco truck on Rt 7, Lakeside Cafe in Lake Anne or the place in the Sterling clocktower (to name only three) seem more houndish than the near equivalents in TC.

Perhaps there's not a match for McCormick, I'll concede - though on the OP's request for inexpensive, that might cancel it out anyway.

[kneelconqueso]

I agree with the Town Center comment. Although M&S Grill is OK on occasion and I actually don't mind Wrap Works. Its nice to sit outside in the sun sometimes.

[Dennis S]

Also, try Teocalli Tamale on Elden St.

[Meg]

I second tinatuna's list and add: EuroBistro (Elden Street), Pollo Inka (Elden Street), San Vito's (Franklin Farm), and Five Guys.

[Meg]

Forgot to mention Hama Sushi in the clock tower complex on Centreville Road

[Chownut]

Do you know if this joint is authentic Japanese owned?

Also, I've eaten once at the Tortilla Factory...not impressed.

[meimei]

No, Hama and about all other Japanese places in the area are Korean owned. Which is fine, since sushi was originally from Korea. Only Japanese owned in the DC area I know of are Temari (Rockville) and Chez Mama San (Georgetown)

[Chownut]

Oh, there are many japanese owned sushi joints in the DC area

DC:
Makoto
Sushi Ko
Kaz Sushi Bistro
Kotobuki
Sushi Taro
Sakana
Tono Sushi
Cafe Japone

Nova:
Tachibana
Genji
Matuba

Md:
Tako Grill
Matuba

[onlyislandlady]

I dont agree either. I lived in Japan for many years. Tachibana is authentic Japanese owned and operated in No. Va. The rest, a close imitation at best...sorry! Korean food is nowhere close to Japanese especially the Tempura batter.

[onlyislandlady]

Besides Tachibana in McLean, less than 5% of "Japanese" restaurants are authentic Japanese. Most are Korean and the food is not the same for those who know asian food. There is an authentic Japanese restaurant and Steak house in Columbia, Md off Snowden River and Broken Landing by the Five guys pizza place and another one off Rte 28 near Chantilly, Centerville, Va also.

[tinatuna16]

Herndon born and bred, here are my suggestions of affordable but yummy places:

First and foremost, Tortilla Factory--some of the best Mexican I've ever eaten
- Hard Times (chili/all american, very affordable)
- Clyde's in Reston (little pricier)
- Ice House Cafe (again, pricier but sooo good)
- Amphora's Diner
All in Herndon minus Clyde's.

[Bob W]

here's a couple more:

Jimmy's Old Town Tavern: very good bar food
Thai Luang: esp. if you like your Thai food on the spicy side

[rosepoint]

One of my favorites is SBC cafe. The address is 2501 McNair Farms Rd. (Centreville Rd.), Herndon, VA 20170.