Jang Won - Carte

Soricha Tea Theater

➤ 7112 Columbia Pike, Annandale, United States Of America, 22003-3106

Carte • Tapas • Juice • Cakes • Coffee

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"When I thought the world of dessert ice couldn't get any better, in comes Soricha! The drinks were solid and the bing soo was the best I've ever had. Not to mention, the shop is super cute. I got the mugwort matcha latte 50% sweet and it was perfectly lovely! Tbh, I'm not sure what mugwort is, but I think it made the drink taste more earthy? Sweetness level was on point and the presentation with the separated layers was a simple, but great touch. They have a number of bing soo flavors, but I was super happy to see they had hojicha!! If you're unfamiliar, it's a roasted tea that has depth and is kind of nutty. It was this ginormous bowl with loads of toppings that provided the contrast in texture. The various nuts and cereal stayed crunchy the entire time and I was pleasantly surprised to find a layer on the bottom as well! There's a little mound on the top, and that's bc there's a scoop of vanilla ice cream in there. It was a fun surprise, but tbh overkill imo There's also a schmeer of of a thick brown sugar molasses on the bottom. I got less sweet 70%, but next time I'd do less sweet 50%. By far the fanciest bing soo I've ever had with an equally large pricetag lol And as a side note, if you want fruity bing soo, this isn't the place for you. The only negative is this location is in the back of a random shopping plaza. Despite that, all tables were filled during my Saturday afternoon visit on a scorching summer day. Looking forward to returning"

Marib

➤ 6981 Hechinger Dr, 22160, Springfield, United States

Carte • Cafés • Mexican • Desserts • Breakfast

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"Marib Restaurant is a must-visit! The food is absolutely perfect and incredibly delicious, and the staff are both friendly and efficient. Their Iftar buffet is exceptional, their delivery service is top-notch, and they serve the best lamb I've ever tasted. Experience the culinary excellence of Marib Restaurant. Whether you're dining in or enjoying their impeccable delivery, every meal is a delight. Don't miss out on their fantastic Iftar buffet and the mouth-watering lamb. Visit Marib Restaurant and see why it’s my favorite place to eat! The best Yemeni Restaurant!"

Ariake

➤ 8708 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax I-22031-3311, United States

Carte • Asian • Sushi • Casual • Japanese

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"Sooooo...I was recently discussing Ariake with some friends and while we all agree that Ariake is a quality sushi Japanese cuisine spot, they disagree on the overall rating. Their opinion was on the 3 star scale, while I deem it worthy of an overall 4 star rating. And surprisingly, one of their points of contention (if you will) is that Ariake is not an authentic Japanese restaurant. You know, James...this place is Korean owned, so how good can it be? Hmmm...that is an odd reason to ding a place since my rebuke to them was, Well, while that may be true, do you think that the majority of cooking occurring at XYZ (famous well regarded French Restaurant in DC) is being done by 'French cooks ' in the kitchen??? I can 100% guarantee, it is not. And for that matter, in many of the Chinese, Vietnamese, Italian, etc. kitchens, the food preparation cooking is being done with chefs not native to those cuisines. So in the end, we had to agree to disagree. Ariake occupies a building that was formerly a Pizza Hut as evidenced by the telltale hallmarks of slanted multi level hat like roof on the exterior and high ceilinged cavernous interior dining room. But other than these architectural hold overs, the interior space is very modern with faux marble table tops, a mix of wooden seating, tile and hardwood flooring, and abundant pendant and recessed lighting choices. My party of four ordered several dishes so as to obtain a wide sampling of flavors. I won 't really comment on the miso soup and house salad with ginger dressing, except to say they were forgettable. But the two sushi rolls the table ordered were quite good. Fresh tasting LARGE pieces of salmon and tuna were lightly seasoned with a spicy marinade, and wrapped in not too soggy sushi rice. Unlike at many sushi restaurants, the fish was not chopped up into a mushy paste (which places sometimes do to mask the flavor of fish that is not fresh), which really allows the quality of fish to be evident to the diner. As for the mains, of late, I 've been ordering ramen at sushi joints; and I was especially intrigued since the special of the night was a Truffle Tonkatsu flavor. The broth was hearty, rich, and had a discernable but not overpowering truffle flavor which enhances, as opposed to overpowered the dish. The pieces of char siu pork were tender and again unlike at many places, a good cut and portion size. The noodles were nice and chewy, and the pieces of seasoned nori provided briney flavor notes. The only detraction was the Ajitsuke Tamago or Ajitama. It was waaay too overcooked, since for ramen, this style of egg should be soft boiled to the point where it 's runny when you break it open. But I can live with it. I tried some of the other dishes, and I thought they were solid. Both the chicken teriyaki and the beef in the bento dinner box, had excellent grilled flavor. The teriyaki sauce was a tad sweeter than I usually like, but my friend and his wife seemed to enjoy the dish. If I hadn 't gotten the ramen, I would 've definitely ordered the bento dinner box. It had such a nice assortment of dishes, from a California roll, meatballs, grilled beef, and crisply fried shrimp tempura. Honestly, for $29 I think the dinner bento is a good value relative to the portion size and quality. I 've been back to Ariake a few times since my initial visit, and can see this being 2 3 month dining spot. I 've found the service to be attentive and most importantly, does not detract from the overall experience. Regardless of who 's preparing the food, Ariake is a four star place to me!"

2941

➤ 2941 Fairview Park DriveVA 22042, Falls Church, United States

Carte • Fish • Wine • Steak • French

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"It's a family lover. We tasted the cook with wine pairs. All courses, except Dessert, were excellent. Unfortunately, the Desserts were smarter than good. Most wines were excellent. One of the wine couples was out, so they gave us another wine. The service was not quite normal. Waiters and sommelier were nice, but not attentive. There were 3 in our party, and for all 5 courses they brought food to the wrong party. Something was amiss. Not much, except in comparison to previous experiences (and the price we paid and tipped). One of the best in North Virginia."

Thai Food

➤ 7031 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, 22003, United States Of America

Carte • Thai • Food • Asian • Chicken

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"This is my little neighborhood place that I've frequented for years but never reviewed. Every month or two, I get a hankering for Thai, and this place hits the spot every time. It might not be the very best Thai you ever have, but it has a special place in my heart. The food here is very consistent and you know exactly what you're getting. It's a family run, no gimmicks business and the staff have always been prompt and nice. There's limited seating indoors, and admittedly I've never eaten inside, but the decor is cute. I always order to go so I can eat in my pajamas with a good movie or show on at home perfect Friday night after a hard week. The portion sizes are excellent, more than your typical Thai places, and everything is flavorful. My orders are usually either the Thai or green curry fried rice, drunken noodles, or pad Thai. All of them are delicious. I usually get level two or three spicy. I can handle spice, but level four and up will give you spice high and a ton of heartburn. I recommend level one spicy for most people. My go to dessert here is mango with sticky rice and it always comes out perfect. I highly recommend giving this place a chance!"