Moving to Falls Church - restaurant recommendations

[joshdacane]

Hey guys,

I am moving to Falls Church in August (Route 50 just east of the Beltway) and I work in Falls Church near Bailey's Crossroads/Seven Corners. I am looking for some gems in this area - places I can duck out for lunch, places I can pick up food on the way home from work, and even some of the better ethnic markets in the area if I decide to get brave and try and make some things myself.

I figure based on my roommate and I having different schedules (and, uh, both being guys) that we will bring in food or go out a pretty decent amount.

So have at it! Tell me the name, what type of food it is, and if there's anything in particular you recommend...

[Lowbar]

You have some great recommendations here. Falls Church area is a great place to eat. Pho and peruvian chicken will likely become staples of your diet.

In addition to many of the great ethnic recommendations here, I strongly recommend Flavors. www.flavorssoulfood.com

There are so many good peruvian chicken joints in this area, my favorite is El Pollo Rico in Arlington, but I also like Peruvian Chicken and Steak in Falls Church.

And, I might as well pile on to the Lebanese Butcher rec. I particularly like the lamb ouzi there but really everything I've had there has been good.

I've put links to a lot of the other places mentioned in this thread that I like so you can find them more easily

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Lebanese Butcher & Restaurant
109 E Annandale Rd, Falls Church, VA 22046

Flavors
3420 Carlyn Hill Dr, Falls Church, VA 22041

Peruvian Chicken & Steak
6198 Arlington Blvd Ste 2, Falls Church, VA 22044

Old Hickory Grill
7263 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22042

Pho 75
3103 Graham Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042

D C Sandwich
3103 Graham Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042

Eden Center
Falls Church, VA, USA, Falls Church, VA

Myanmar Restaurant
7810 Lee Hwy, Falls Church, VA 22042

Machu Piccho Restaurant
5912 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041

Bamian Restaurant
5634 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041

[chowser]

In addition to all the great place listed above, you can go south on the beltway one exit for A&J's (northern Chinese) and Kam San grocery. The last time I was there, in the parking lot, someone was selling these great looking flakey pastries (don't know what they're called in English) filled w/ red bean, black beans, etc.

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A & J Restaurant
4316 Markham St, Annandale, VA 22003

[NovaDave]

If you want a cheap dinner or lunch, try DC Sandwich, which is next to Pho 75 at 50 and Graham Rd. The sandwiches are cheap and filling. Pho 75 is good too. Across the street in Loehman's Plaza is a decent deli, Celebrity. Just outside the beltway, you can get some decent bar food at Grevey's and they carry all sporting events.

[bylinemjf]

Bamian, Old Hickory Grille, Hong Kong Palace, Huong Que, Viet Bistro, Mint Thai, Pho 75.

[MizYellowRose]

Another vote for Duangrat's. Its sister restaurant, Rabieng, is practically next door. While I've yet to go there, the food is supposed to be cheaper and spicier than Duangrat's.

[bacchante]

We used to like Rabieng just fine, but the last time a group of chowhounds had lunch there about a year & half ago, it was dismal. Dispite our attempts to make the point that we wanted it spicy, it was not. Beyond that, everything was lackluster.

Haven't been to Duangrat's in years, but there is no need with much better Thai food not that far away in Arlington.

[trail 6]

Great area. Peking Gourmet was sublime for Peking Duck. No advance order. Dungrat's was good Thai. There was a "training" restaurant next to it; same kitchen.

[ktmoomau]

Also Dungarats has good thai and a little market/grocery store beside their original location (sorry forget the address Hounds?). You are definately in a great location.

The hickory grill is good for the good ol American grub.

Also Argia's used to be good neighborhood Italian (especially their specials) but I haven't been there in years.

Lebanese Butcher mmm...

Duck Chang's used to have great Peking duck I don't know how is son is carrying on the tradition maybe some hounds have been more recently?

[Mulan]

Argia's is still good. Thumbs up to the mussels, beef tenderloin, spaghetti and meatballs and reasonably priced wine. Thumbs down to subbing goat cheese for mozzarella.

[BigEats]

All these responses and no Mark's Duck House? It's one of the best Chinese restaurants in northern Virginia, right there in Falls Church.

[Steve]

Falls Church is Chowhound central. Please search this board for the following:

Victor's: Bolivian steaks. I like the cafe/grill in Falls Church City.
Lebanese Butcher.
Myanmar.
Hong Kong Palace
Eden Center. Vietnamese shopping center.
El Pike. Good Bolivian snacks like saltenas, humintas
Punjab Dhaba
Old Hickory Grill
Miu Kee (dumpling soups)

Bailey's:
Machu Picchu
Mirage. Light Persian Meals
Peking Gourmet (go for the garlic sprouts)
Full Kee

[Gonzocook]

By the way Eden Center's web site lists 27 restaurants there, and that appears not to include the bakeries, which sell sandwiches and snacks.

Welcome to the area. Hope you have a big appetite.

PS No one seems to have mentioned two Afghan restaurants on Rte. 7: Panjshir, near West St.; Bamian, east of Bailey's. Or Lucky Three, for dim sum, near Bailey's.

[weezycom]

Hickory Grill at Loehman's Plaza is good standard American fare, Sweetwater Tavern the same but I imagine you'll enjoy the brewpub aspect of Sweetwater more, there's a good South American style rotisserie chicken place on Route 7 beside the Toys R Us, and a very nice Afghan restaurant called Bamian just a little north of that on the opposite side Route 7.

[stephenva]

Old Hickory Grill is quite good although it has more Carolina Low Country and Cajun food, in addition to some standard American fare. Sweetwater is good but often times so loud and parking so difficult as to make it a place to go at an "off time" from regular meal times. Thanks for reminding me about Bamiyan...need to try that one.

[AndreaD]

Welcome to Falls Church. There is a plethora of cheap and delicious places to eat - especially if you like ethnic. Tyler Cowen's dining guide is a good place to start for a tour de FC. I like to get spices, pitas, lavash, lentils and other staples at the Halal off I think Hillwood (right off rt. 29 a block away from Rt 7). The Lebanese Butcher right there has perfect baba ghanoush and hummus - which I have definitely picked up before a few dinner parties. H-Mart is great for cheap and higher quality veggies and fruit. The Safeway and Magruders in our neighborhood are terrible (small selection, produce is not fresh, etc). I love Pho Cyclo for veggie or tai pho and other Vietnamese items (at Gallows near 495), H-Mart has a tons of neat Korean prepared food & Zpizza has a great pizza with feta, eggplant, kalamata olives (Gallows & Rt 29), Mirage Kabob & Sweets (they have kuku...if I spelled this right) and Flavors for soul food - love the side dishes (near your office), and Panjshir for awesome Afghani chow (i love their stewed pumpkin) or if you are feeling pupusas and tamales go to El Zunzal (on Rt 7 - they do take out too)...and that is just skimming the surface.

[mattm]

The Lebanese Butcher in Falls Church is a board favorite for Lebanese food.

I recommend the baklava at Mirage on Rt. 7, next to Lucky 3(?). It's on the same side of the road as Border's, a 1/2(?) mile up towards Seven Corners.

And don't forget the many Vietnamese options at Eden Center, which is at Seven Corners.