ulrath

Not wanting to cook on Friday night we gave this place a try for carry out.  We got the A2 - Pan fried dumplings (Beef), A7 - Seafood Pancake, C8 Bulgagi and e8 Bibimap.

Pretty much everyone enjoyed everything which is a feat when you have four kids.  My 3 year old daughter loved the dumplings and declared them one of her favorite restaurants (Entering the pantheon of ABC Canteen).

My favorite was the seafood pancake but really everything was strong.  Since they are conveniently located halfway between my office and my house I can see them entering the carry out rotation.  

This is the last outlet of what used to be a local chain.  There used to be outposts in Centreville and Burke.

Update.  Bawarchi has re-instituted the buffet on Fridays and Saturdays.   Selection is good and the food is excellent.  More important for them is that they are packed on buffet day so the people at least seem to be coming in.

Super Buffet is still Sichuan Village.  I was actually in there a few weeks ago for carry out.  Food is the same but I did not see the same older gentleman behind the counter (I hadn't been in two years).  

Dan Dan noodles and spicy wontons were good.  A friend of mine had a dry fry chicken thing which was actually really good.  

The one in Chantilly is perfectly adequate.  Some of the non-breakfast food is fine but you are better off sticking to the breakfast food.  The pancakes and sausage are actually quite good.  

I think we have done breakfast there all of once.  Usually we do dinner there where the crowds aren't as bad.

If you want Pancakes, and price is no object give them a try,

Pretty sure they are related.  Friend of mine knew the family.

Kanishka's comments seem to be an aberration to me.  Chutzpah's is steady.  One of the more solid places in Fairfax.  My favorite is the Mendel.  Try their breakfast, it is good as well.

I believe this restaurant is now Bawarchi - does anyone know if it's the same ownership? In Henrico, I'm not sure what happened to the property, but Karaikudi is definitely closed there.

Bawarchi was similar but not quite as good as Karaikudi.  With that said, the buffet was usually excellent.  Unfortunately when we went last week we were informed that they discontinued the weekday lunch buffet.  I imagine I will be writing another epitaph soon.

Just an update. This has become our go to Chinese place. We've been about 7 times and it has not dissapointed. The dishes are fairly standard but the preparation and flavor is a cut above other local places.

If you can, dine in. The food carries well but is better when fresh out of the wok.

Tried the gumbo from the Centreville location a few weeks ago. Unimpressed. Pricey, the roux was weak and the seasoning was off. I'd love to have a go to cajun place near me. This probably won't be it.

I concur with the above sentiments. He was an artist.

Questionable decision to open a chick fil e there when the one at the expo center is a mile away. If I was the franchisee I would be ticked off.

Arrrrgh. I loved that joint.

Best coffee in western fairfax. There. I said it. Really, this is a no lose scenario for me. If someone had one better, I will go there. I have 4 small kids. I need a lot of coffee.

I normally just get the house coffee which is damn fine. They normally use an Ethiopian blend. These days I get 2. One for the morning and one for the afternoon. Cold Stumptown is better than the office coffee.

The standouts at this place are the lattes. They were closed during December because of a fire. While they were off their batistas won a regional coffee competition. Artistically they look good but taste even better. My favorites are the rose latte and the honey cinnamon. If you don't like coffee the hot chocolate is good too.

They do pour overs too if you are into that. I normally like those but have never tried it because the house coffee is soo good.

Seriously. These guys are good. If you haven't tried them yet, you should. I only wish they were there back when I worked nearby.

I agree. For a little coffee shop they do a good job.

I agree with the above post.  The spicy wontons were gloppy.  I also had the Lili's dumplings pan fried which were quite good.  Service was a little slow.   Worth a repeat visit.

If you go here be sure to stop a few doors down at Cafein which serves the best coffee on this side of the county (IMO)

I was there before the holidays and Wesley was doing a brisk business selling bulk tamales (which were awesome).  New on the menu for that visit - Horchata.  Quite good.

The main problem with this place is that there are so many things I want to order off the menu that I wind up getting too much.

So what are you doing now?  Making dinner? Throw it away.  Grandmother's funeral?  She liked your sister more than you.  Getting married?  You know half of those end in divorce, right?  In Fairfax and feeling hungry?  There we go.  If you like Ramen, you should check this place out.

It looks like it is an old pizza hut.  I went at 7:00 on a Friday and had to wait 10 minutes for a table.  It was worth it.  According to their website, they spend 12 hours making their stock.  Verdict?  It's good - damned good.  I had the Shio Ramen with the recommended extras of marinated egg and pork belly.  Holy crap that was good.  In fact, when I go back, I will order the same thing and have them hold the ramen, the pork belly was that good. Hell, my 7 year old son proposed a toast to the pig that died to make us that pork belly.

Normally for Ramen I go to Tanpopo in Annandale.  Always solid, always steady.  I am not sure if I will go back now that this place is around.  It was really that good.  Now it was Friday and the place was mobbed, so service was a little slow but seriously, that soup was so good.  I'm looking forward to whatever excuse I can come up with to get out there again.

Everyone has one.  A go-to Chinese food place that you go to whenever you have the urge for good Americanized Chinese food.  I had one once but it closed 13 years ago.  The old Sampan café, back when it was run by Brian.  My family went there for 25 years.  I haven't found anything close since.

Sure, I still by Chinese food, but it is more for simplicities sake.  I am generally not happy afterwards, but when you have a bunch of kids, and no time to cook, Chinese food is in the rotation.  Flash forward to last night - I had some of the kids playing at an indoor playground while mulling over what to get for dinner.  We just did Café Rio and I couldn't stand to have Chick Fil e again.  We hadn't done Chinese food in a while, and I wasn't in love with the place we normally go to so I pulled up tripadvisor and searched for restaurants near me.  The number 1 restaurant in town, according to the wisdom of the massed happened to be this place.  Higher than Ford's.  Higher than Thai Basil.  I was intrigued.    I placed my order and headed over to Airline Pkwy to go pick it up.

The place was not that busy but the staff was very friendly and attentive.  I ordered: Triple Delight Soup with house made noodles, combination fried rice, governor's chicken (kung pao), and smoked tofu with pork.  The food had to travel home for 20 minutes but at the most part it ranged from good to very good.  I want to eat there in person sometime and there are a number of interesting things on the menu that I want to try.  Something noteable that the meats in the soup and fried rice were actually really good.  They actually tasted like meat.  Upon completing our meal, my wife commented "Why don't you go here from now on."  I agree, I think I will forego any of our other carryout places for this one.

I put this out there because I know many of this board's denizens live in the South Riding/Chantilly area.  If you do, I encourage you to give them a try and let us know your opinion.

The owner and I actually talked about the tamales.  He does them in small batches and when they are out, they are out.  He and I both agree that most tamales served in restaurants just are not very good.  I almost bought one on the spot to try it out but I couldn't even finish the fish and chips.  

Went back for a return visit.  The owner took my order and asked how I learned about the place.  I said I had been here before and liked it so much I left a review about it.  When I told him where he started quoting my review at the top of the thread.  That was pretty cool.

The fish was still great.  The tacos were still great.  The fries were different from last time.  This time they were shoestring potatoes more reminiscent of McDonalds (Back when the fries were good).  A nice improvement.  If you have not been here yet, you are missing out.

I will accept your thanks in advance as I am now full and can't breath.  I caught wind of this place on the cesspool that is Fairfax Underground and decided to check it out on my way back from DC today.

The old Fairfax institution Arthur Treacher''s has gone the way of the dinosaur.  Gone are the days of frozen deep fried fish and chips.  Instead lets say hello to the days of fresh deep fried fish and chips.  I showed up at 1 this afternoon and there were about 5 tables filled.  Since this was a scouting mission, I jumped on the grenade and over-ordered.  See the things I do for this community?

Fish and Chips - Fries - a solid 6, but nothing special.  The fish.  A solid 8 +.  Light batter and the fish was fresh and firm (that's what she said...)  They use Cod.  Tarter Sauce is homemade and good.

Hushpuppies - two gripes - they should throw a couple of these in an order of fish and chips.  Also, these would be better with some kind of butter or honey butter which was not offered.  Regardless, I got the appetizer and they were actually good.  Crispy, fluffy and not greasy.

Of course, they sell tacos so I got two of those.  Come on.  I dare you to name a single fish and chips joint that does not also sell authentic mexican street tacos....  Anyways, I had the Carnitas and Barbacoa.  Both were actually very good and the fresh tortillas were nice as well. The Carnitas had a good flavor and were not dry.  The Barbacoa was spicy and tender.  They also do chicken, chorizo and fish.

Now I am full thanks to you guys.  I would write more but I am going to hit the treadmill to see if I can regain some of my self esteem.  In the meantime, if you are in the area and need a cheap lunch - skip Chipotle and check them out.  When I go back, I don't know what I will get because everything I ordered was a standout.

Had a meeting here and went to see what the fuss was about.  I forget what I ordered but I do know that I:

1. Finished it quickly

2. Loved it

3. Ordered another one

4. Started planning next meeting in Rosslyn

I work in Herndon and someone had brought in some for a meeting.  At the end of the day when leftovers were brought to the kitchen I grabbed one of the day old donuts.  It was good.  Really good.  Or, if you look at my waistline you could say it was bad.  Very bad (for my waistline).

If it were closer, I would probably be in trouble.

I have.  That is good, this is better.