For lunch this past Sunday, a few of us stopped by Paramount Cafe since they actually have 卤肉饭…read more(Taiwanese braised pork over rice) here. Who knew that there would be a cafe in Pentagon City with this option? The interior is a bit cramped with many cardboard boxes piling up. We were able to order the food at the counter and waited about 5-10 minutes before the food was ready. BRAISED PORK OVER RICE (卤肉饭) - 15.49 Lots of rice, more rice than I could finish with the amount of braised pork belly they give. The pork was very fatty, which made it tasty and juicy, but it wasn't very saucy. There were two halves of a bokchoy and half of an incredibly boiled egg, which was meh. Still, I finished all the toppings and maybe a little less than half of the rice. I was full, but $15.49 for the food was not worth it. Overall, 3.5/5 but bump it to a 4/5 since there's a scarcity of food like this in the area. They sell other comfort Asian dishes too, like coconut chicken cutlet rice and Japanese eel rice.

After working for years nearby this small bodega below a Crystal City apartment building, I finally…read morewent with my eight-year-old daughter. With an impressively high Yelp rating, I was disappointed to hear the new owners say the glowing reviews are from the previous owner (though I respect the honesty). Despite that, we really enjoyed our visit. The new owners live up to the legacy. First of all, the service is excellent. An older man makes the food and who I assume is his daughter takes the orders. Both are kind. At the end, she gave my daughter a granola bar for free. The menu is a mix of Korean food and the small market in the back sells Korean products and more. It's very fun to browse and pick up some snacks and treats. My daughter loved the juicy grape fruit snacks. To eat, we ordered the Japanese curry and milk tea. Both were full of flavor and made with love. "This is my new favorite meal of all time," said my daughter. She devoured the bowl herself! There's a small parking lot in front of the cafe. It's within walking distance from the Crystal City Metro.

Not sure why this restaurant is showing up under 2 separate names butttt my experience is worth…read morerepeating. Thursday, 6/25/26 ... mini reunion with my sisters today. Always of fan of Virginia restaurants and today was no exception. FIVE STARS ACROSS THE BOARD. Shout-out to Wynter for her EXCELLENT service. BEAUTIFUL restaurant. A little smaller than what we expected but GREAT use of space. EVERY cocktail, app, and entree were noteworthy ... from the presentation to the taste! Check out the pics. The standouts for me were the deviled eggs, Espresso martini, and short rib croquettes. FYI: The sweet corn waffles are savory, not sweet. A tad on the expensive side but still looking forward to experiencing a HH here.

We were in the area for the Marine Corps Marathon and stopped in to Social Hour for brunch and were…read morevery pleasantly surprised. There was no wait to be seated at around 11 am (which was surprising), and the service was incredibly quick and accurate. I loved my crab cake eggs Benedict (it was the best I had the entire weekend, and I had several...) and we ordered a Belgian waffle for the table to split which was so soft and fresh with the perfect side of whipped cream and fruit compote. Also bonus points for the juices on the menu being freshly squeezed! Beautiful bar inside, comfortable seating, they even had soccer games on the tvs. Would go back!

22 July 2026 Crystal City…read more Arlington, VA Whilst staying at the Renaissance Marriott Crystal City, what could be a better arrangement than having an Italian Caffé on premises? Ah? We love illy coffee. They make the best espresso, cappuccino and Crema Caffé IMHO. You can thank me later. Grazie mille!!

Great place for a fantastic doppio espresso. I really like this location as the staff are super…read morefriendly and they know what they are doing. Fast, efficient service Couple with a great product. Sitting inside and stand up areas also...just like Naples "A banco". Located within the hotel it also has external doors to the street. Prices are reasonable. Sparkling water, sodas, tea and ever present cafe. Great morning starter.

If you're looking for good food, good drinks, and a reminder that joy is an act of resistance, make…read moreyour way to Colada Shop. In a time when some folks are busy declaring "Nuclear Family Month" and trying to decide whose rights count, Colada Shop is over here doing what really matters: serving delicious Cuban food, amazing cocktails, and creating a welcoming space for everyone. The croquetas were incredible, the drinks were refreshing, and the vibe was immaculate. The Pride decorations made me smile because despite all the noise, people are still showing up for community, inclusion, and joy. Turns out diversity isn't scary--unless you're a croqueta at my table. Those things disappeared fast. In a city that can feel especially heavy these days, this place felt like a breath of fresh air. Sometimes resistance looks like marching. Sometimes it looks like supporting businesses that make everyone feel welcome. Happy Pride Month to everyone celebrating. The haters may be loud, but the mojitos are louder.

Great stop before flying back home. This is a small location & searing can get tight especially…read morewhen having to trail in carrying-on luggage but well worth a last yummy taste of Cuban goodness. This location has the same quality of food as their Wharf location. I was so happy to be able to get a couple of empanadas, a Cuban sandwich, sweet plantains and a couple of drinks before jetting off. The staff is super friendly but getting our drinks was a little slow. Having said that, it was during busy times so we totally get it. Didn't take pictures of the empanadas before they got in my belly. We got a chicken & beef-so good just a little on the small side so if you're sharing, keep that in mind. Cheers!!

Close enough I had an early meeting in a different time zone…read moreso strong coffee was on the breakfast menu. Yesterday I saw thus spot and planned to have coffee with them Friday morning, lol I did. The establishment inns large, open and clean. The 3 Batista worked together fluidly. The coffee was tasty, service was fast and price appropriate.

I was super excited when I realized I could order a Thai tea this early in the morning. Ordered it…read morewith a quickness, picked it up. The staff and I was super nice. Unfortunately, the tea itself is disgusting. Like, truly nasty. It taste like water. It tastes like when you order a Thai iced tea from a restaurant and drink 90% of it, then let the ice melt into the rest of it. Except, it just taste like the part that was watered down by the ice. Very disappointing, especially for the price. Would not recommend the drink.

Used Yelp to find a nearby coffee shop after a race. Glad we found Commonwealth Joe! The decoration…read morefrom exterior to interior was so cute/chic! Love the cherry blossoms! Long line to order. Also bought some coffee beans. Employees tried to work as fast as they could. Breakfast taco came out before the coffee. Food was delicious and super filling! My cookie butter latte was AMAZING! Just the right sweetness! Also got to try some of the earl grey matcha and it was good. Highly recommend this coffee shop!

Went on a Monday afternoon to get some work done in a different type setting from home. It's a…read moresmall place with a few bar height chairs at a bar by the window, a few regular chairs and booth seating by the wall and a separate room (but open) with a bar height table and chairs. I sat on the booth side by the wall and was not near an outlet. It was quite chilly even though it wasn't sweltering outside, so I'm glad I brought a jean jacket. Music was playing but it wasn't too loud. Stayed for a couple of hours. There was plenty of foot traffic but not enough to be disruptive. There was one restroom, which was clean. The baristas were pleasant as they helped other customers. I was going to order seltzer water, but they had it on tap (along with plain water) so it was free. I also ordered an iced tea to support the establishment. It was refreshing and I didn't even add anything to make it sweet. I would return here to work if I needed to, especially because I like the area (even though parking is mostly paid street spots), but plan on continuing my quest for the perfect coffee shop/remote work vibe.

A quick afternoon stop in for a cappuccino and matcha latte. Both good and the space wasn't super…read morecrowded sat afternoon. They added taller tables which makes the space feel a little crowded though.

I visited this coffee shop twice on my stay in Arlington! The matcha latte with vanilla was…read moredelicious! The BLT had an amazing sauce on it, but the crusty bread did make it a little hard to eat. The iced tea was refreshing, but a little sweet and not very citrusy. I did enjoy the outside seating which was very shady. The baristas were very kind and speedy!

MUST TRY their black sesame latte! Came by several times during my stay and the staff was always…read moresuper kind and helpful. Lots of fresh and healthy choices. Some other things we tried included the egg in a hole and the salmon lox sandwich on brioche, which were both delicious! Seating is plentiful, providing a nice peaceful start to the day or a nice quiet break in the day.

The food and beverage options are excellent - wide variety and all made-to-order with fresh…read moreingredients! Staff are awesome - whether it's the team ringing up or bringing out your order, they're focused on top-notch experience to go along with the great culinary options. It's a bustling place, so get takeout if you need it quiet.