Major Chowhound Father Coming to Town!
Hi everyone,
my dad will be in DC at the end of October (from San Francisco). He doesn't want fancy shmancy food. No foams, nothing like that. He wants to try the best hole-in-the-wall, down and dirty (well, not literally) places our great city has to offer. He will eat anything from amazing bread and pasta to tripe and brains. I am already on top of the Ethiopian food, so no need for those suggestions. But what are some other gems that he might enjoy?
Thanks so much!
By Melanie
on Sep 27, 2009 08:36 AM
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Oohhs and Aahhs for Soul Food. A true hole-in-the-wall. Four stools in front of a kitchen. Also a room upstairs where you can take your score of grilled shrimp, lemon pepper wings, or broiled crabcake in a styrofoam clamshell container. Coastal Carolia cookin' at its finiest. Sides of greens and rice with gravy.
Thai X-ing: only two tables here, so seating can be a problem. They open at 4pm. Everybody goes for the red curry salmon, a MUST ORDER. The tofu soup and the pad kana round out a great meal. Do not go here expecting spicy, but this is homey comfort food.
In Arlington, Cafe Assorti is a Kazakh bakery/cafe with various stuffed breads, hearty soups, several really great salads (beet and walnut, pickled vegetables, carrot) and enormous dumplings (called manti, get the pink sauce).
Chez Auntie Libe is a Senegalese place way up Georgia Avenue in DC. Really best with about four people, but whole fish, yassa chicken, manioc (cassava leaf with oxtail), and maffe (which is VERY rich, be careful). If you know at least a day in advance, you can call Libe and ask her to make Thiackry (pronounced Chock-ree), which is a wonderful dessert, kind of like a liquid cheesecake.
Probably the most exotic place you can go to right now is Bay Lo for Vietnamese in Eden Center. The goat roll, miscellaneous salad (that's how it's listed on the menu), and the Bay Lo 7 Special (shrimp, meatball, and pork) are my favorites, but many challenging choices here. Another hole-in--the-wall, but don't go too late in the evening or it may be closed. Eden Center is a great place to visit..
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While Steve knows the good stuff, any hole in the wall recs he gives are usually stellar.
Lead him to one of the many Peruvian chicken places. The El Pollo Rico in Arlington could fit the bill well, or you could cover two in one and hit Caribbean Grill in N. Arlington (and make sure he sees what they use to cook the fried yucca you just ).
I don't think SF has too much from So or Central America (tho I could be wrong). Victor's in Falls Church is a leading contender. You could also do a snack at a Steve discovery in N. Arlington (Steve I'm blocking on the name of the market) - but in a little store that looks like a house get the veggie tostada only.
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La Union Carry- Out is the market you're thinking of.
That does remind me: one exotic cuisine that they might not have in SF is Bolivian cuisine, which is not in DC, but Northern Virginia. Llajtaymanta in Falls Church is probably the most hardcore, but Luzmilla's in Falls Church (lunch only) is my favorite. Excellent tongue and terrific steak.
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Yep - that's it - La Union. But only for those tostadas (usually in the case - tho I pick off the egg).
I'll have to try these other two recs. So many places, so little time.
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Just got back from La Union, a friend and I ordered a pupusa revuelta, bean and cheese tamale, beef empanada, red salsa with cabbage, and the fried plantains with cheese and sour cream. All of this was less than $9 and it was excellent. I eat the pupusa here drenced with salsa and cabbage, very earthy and delicious. I slather a bit of the extra salsa on the beef empanada as well, bean and cheese tamale was ok, but the corn tamale is delicious. The fried plantains were good, but the added cheese and sour cream turned it into a rather good dipping food.
Definitely a nice spot to stop by for very good food at a great price.
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and i thought i was the major chowhound dad. here we go
1. Eat First: chinatown, get the real chinese menu and you get the good stuff. try the specials written on color'd paper and taped to the walls. I love the clay pot chicken, clams in black bean sauce and the shrimp dumplings in noodle soup with duck and pork. Plenty of opportunity for organ and weird stuff
2. Pho: get a bowl of Pho at one of the zillion pho restaurants in the area and get it with the works. squeeze some lime, tear some thai basil, pour some hoisin sauce and some sarachi sauce and you are good to go
3. Granville Moore's: get the steamed mussels and see how the owner/chef/ top chef contestant beat Bobby Flay in a moules and pomme frite throwdown
4. Ray's Hells Burger: just over the potomac in Arlington, the burgers truely are magnificent and worth the ride. makes my mouth water
5. Maryland Style Steamed Hardshell Crabfeast: don't know DC locations for that but if there is a location and they do it right.....a real local get your hands dirty fantastic meal.
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Quarterdeck in Arlington for crabs, although I believe the season ends October 15th or thereabouts. I would definitely make the trip to Eden Center for the sheer number of Vietnamese specialties. Not sure if there's anything quite like that even in San Fran.
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WOW - you have all given such excellent ideas, I think I'm just going to have to send him this link and let him pick. Thank you all so much - I knew I could count on you!
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greek deli is definitely hole-in-the-wall with great food...velvety avgolemno and addictive greek string beans. taqueria el charrito caminante, a little dive with awesome tacos (thanks, dennis, for opening my world to that one). fantastic bagels in courthouse (arlington) at brooklyn bagel bakery.
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