Whenever I go to The Block for some food, I almost always end up getting Balo Kitchen. My go-to is the chicken & rice (soy glazed). I usually opt for the small size because it's filling. The chicken is tender, marinated and cooked to perfection, with fried shallots, pickled mustard greens, and scallion ginger oil on the sides. Oh, and it comes with fish sauce also on the side. The pork belly & rice is also really good! They cook their pork belly for 24 hours, which really captures the flavor. The pork belly pieces are always crispy, yet tender, and very delicious. If I'm feeling really hungry and indecisive, I end up getting a large bowl of half-chicken half-pork belly & rice. Other things I've tried here: Pig frites: fries drenched in spicy mayo with pork belly? So good! Sisig: Not great. Sisig is one of my top filipino dishes, so I hold it to a high standard. Unfortunately Balo's sisig doesn't make the cut for me. General Tso's Wings: Pretty good. I usually order them when I'm drinking at the bar. It's just your average chicken wings cooked and topped with General Tso sauce. The service is pretty fast and the staff is pretty friendly. Haven't had any issues in the number of times I've gone. read more

Great lunch and dinner fare with an ever changing menu. Be sure to check the specials board because they're constantly trying out new items--breakfast, garlic noodles, steak and fries, ramen, cucumber salad. I enjoyed the steak and fries, though was unable to finish since I was too busy eating the roasted brussels and the cucumber salad. My boyfriend ordered the ramen which was reportedly alright, and another friend ordered the belly on rice, of which I've only heard positive things. The chicken nuggets served up Taiwanese style are also freaking killer. It rivals that of chicken served in Rockville and Teas'n You. Impeccable seasoning, served up steaming hot and juicy. When it comes to food in the Block, I keep returning to this place time after time. Their food is consistent and worth the 10-13 minute wait. I believe breakfast has ended but they are keeping the condensed milk French toast on the menu as a mainstay. Overall Balo has my heart. read more

Stopped here after a hike and had an amazing banh mi! You have to eat it while it's fresh and hot though because the bread is extremely crispy (the way it should be). I love everything about this banh mi, I just wish I had asked for some jalapeños, that would've really hit the spot. The fries were perfectly fried as well. I took home half that I could not finish and it was still good later, but the bread wasn't crispy anymore. The only stipulation that kept this review from getting five stars was that the service was sub par. The worker at the register seemed as if he could care less. It wasn't that he wasn't nice, but it just seemed like he really did not care about his job or the service which was really off putting. None the less, will still return because the food quality far outweighed the service! Definitely will be back to try other items on the menu! read more

Balo Kitchen - Steak frites (left), banh mi with fries with soy glazed chicken thigh (right) - Comfort Food Near Me - Annandale, Virginia

Love this place. Love the wings, love the roti tacos (bring back the lamb cumin tacos please), love the lakhsa. Ask about the secret menu when you go. read more

Short rib banh mi with pho dip is the best thing to eat. Plenty of succulent meat while the flavor of the soup is wonderful. If you haven't ordered this yet, you are missing out. Popcorn chicken is a solid choice as a sharable appetizer with the friends. Beef noodle soup is also solid. Good broth, good amount of meat, ramen type noodles. read more

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We got the steak and rice and salt and pepper shrimp, and for what we paid it was not worth it. The steak and rice were really bland and the rice was hard. The steak was so tough and also very dry. The salt and pepper shrimp looked old, and was very dried. I was really looking forward to the meal and was very disappointed in the quality of the food. read more

Food use to taste ok but then last couple times they seem to put salt to the max. The crispy pig was really salty.

This is the best place ever I love it. So many options!!! Not great for large groups as seating is limited and offered on a first come first served basis. There is an ice cream bubble tea place which is awesome. I had the crispy pork belly with rice and lo mein. One of the best places in Annandale to eat. I highly recommend this place. read more

Wish I could give 0 stars..... $16 just to have a long hair intertwined with my food. This isn't the first "hiccup" we've had with orders here either. The quality of The Block must really be depleting. read more

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I've ordered here on several occasions and the food they turn out is pretty yummy. They also turn out a variety of Asian dishes from Ramen to bao buns and even Banh mi . Prices are pretty decent and portions are a good size. They are located in THE BLOCK!! Services is good from the guy who takes the order to the turn around for the food to come out . Today I ordered the special Beef Chow Fun and it was yummy. It's my youngest daughters favorite and she killed it read more

Love the pork belly tacos! They're delicious! It's hard not to go back everyday, especially when they're so close!

Balo Kitchen is such a treasure at The Block! In a food hall, it can be hard for a fast-casual stall to truly stand out, but Balo does it easily, and with such finesse. The food truly speaks for itself. I have had food here several times, and each time, I am completely blown away. I have tried their Loco Moco, Sisig, "Chicken Nuggets", Banh Mi, Smoked Chicken Wings, and their Beef Short Rib Pho with french bread. Their non-traditional remakes of classic dishes from a variety of Asian cultures are reminiscent of their inspirations, without being disrespectful. There is always a line for this particular stall, and the wait for food can take 20-30 mins on a busy day, but their buzzers will alert you when your food is ready. The people are always nice and more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Check out Balo Kitchen! Arguably, the BEST spot at The Block for food at any time of the day :) read more

I ordered the smoked wings with ganjang flavor and the spicy lamb tacos. Both items were unimpressive. The biggest thing was the overwhelming smoke flavor in both dishes. That seemed to be the only flavor you could pick up. The tacos are also not spicy as the name implied. After dressing them with sriracha sauce they were better. The wings once again were way too Smokey. There was an underlying sweet Asian sauce flavor you could pick up but it quickly went away with the smokey bitter aftertaste. Pros: The quality of the food itself was great, well cooked. The prices were about standard for what you will expect out of the block. Also their menu is very extensive and diverse read more

Balo Kitchen - Spicy lamb tacos - Comfort Food Near Me - Annandale, Virginia

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This is my hands down my favorite food stall at the Block. The first dish I ever ordered at Balo Kitchen was their Sisig on Rice special. I LOVED that special. The Sisig actually had pig ears and liver in it, which is rare. It packed so much flavor and quite a bit of heat and was honestly just so, so good. I'm actually super sad that they no longer serve Sisig. If Balo owners see this review, please consider bringing it back!!! My biggest regret was not being able to eat this multiple times. Ok, Sisig rant/rave over. I've also tried their Chicken Nuggets (which is basically Taiwanese popcorn chicken), Pig Frites, Brussel Sprouts, Spam Tacos (was a special), Belly and Rice, and the Pork Belly Bahn Mi. I highly recommend the Pig Frites, Brussel Sprouts, and the Banh Mi. Their 24-hour pork belly truly melts in your mouth, and their Bahn Mi bread is to die for. This place is definitely very much so an Asian comfort food spot. Nothing they make is particularly innovative but the food here is consistently delicious and always satisfies my cravings. read more

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I got the pork belly rice bowl with a poached egg on top. The meat was super flavorful, the egg was poached perfectly, and the bowl came with a lot of veggies in it (which is a plus, not a minus). The food also came out fairly quickly, probably taking around 10 minutes from time of ordering. The only complaint I would possibly have about the food is that there seemed to be a disproportionately large amount of rice compared to everything else, where in the end all I had left was rice. Out of all of the places in The Block, I'd say that Balo Kitchen is my go-to for a real meal. Everything I've tried so far is pretty decent and their menu is pretty large. However, if you come on a weekend be prepared to scramble for seats or stand around for a bit after waiting in the long line. read more

Balo Kitchen - Pork belly rice bowl with poached egg (extra) - Comfort Food Near Me - Annandale, Virginia

Been here a few times and tried different stuff. I've always been a fan of their crispy pork. I tried their dandan noodles and chicken lomein and favored the lomein better than the dandan. Although I wish it was spicy as well. Not a fan of the veggies they have with the crispy fried pork and rice but it's bot that bad. Their rice has a nice aroma/flavor that makes it unique. read more

Craving some delicious Asian food? Well sadly, D.C. friends but you gotta travel way out of your bubble and into Annandale, VA. But worry not! When you get here you will be rewarded with delicious food options ranging from bubble tea, to five spice fried chicken, and pork belly. Introducing my new favorite: Balo Kitchen!! FOOD: Garlic Noodles (on the specials board): A++ Holy Gnarlic, Batman! This is packed with delicious garlicky noodles and shrimp. The noodles are wok fried and comes sprinkled with parmesan cheese. I loved everything about this dish and lick the plate clean. Chicken Ramen: B- My bae ordered the ramen so I only had a small taste. Her exact feedback: "This was good but the broth wasn't as rich in flavor as other ramen I've had in the area. However, the noodles were excellent. But sadly, I wouldn't get it again" Alright moving on... Brussel Sprouts: A+ We shared a bowl of brussel sprouts and fought to the last piece. Oh so crispy and oh so mouthwatering. Needless to say, I'm definitely driving 40 mins and back to the far far land of Annandale. Next up are the pig fries and banh mi (spoiler alert: the banh mi comes with a whole fried egg on top. drool!!!) Stay delicious, Annandale. read more

Since I loved their food. I ordered again even though I knew their was something wrong again with the rice but it's a disappointment!! I order rice with chicken soy glaze. The rice was so dry I mean it was not even fully cooked I guess. You guys need to work on your rice recipe otherwise you're gonna loose many customers soon. I'll order again soon. Hope to change my review to 5 star after that! read more

Balo Kitchen is in the right corner of The Block. An Annandale foodcourt that we have "eyed" for a while. After last nights fiasco we felt like something new. We ordered the Chicken Nuggets, Chicken and Rice, Beef Noodles with Tongue, and Chicken Laksa. They were all brilliant. In general The Block needs a 'deep clean'. It is a bit trashy and out back it is pure slum valley. Never the less Balo has a good game and the food we had deserved 5 stars easily. read more

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great place to get some good comfort food - anything with rice or noodles is comfort food for me as I do t eat these starches on the daily :) The Nori sandwich was really good, substantial amount of pork belly inside and one was definitely filling as I was eating them with a huge bowl of roasted brussel sprouts. this is actually something I would definitely get again from Balo! Flavorful and very unique dish. the crsipy spicy panko chicken is SUPER SPICY. As soon as it touches your tongue you will know you're in for a real treat :) super crispy, and spicy, so the small amount of veggies it came with helps sooth the burning sensation from the chicken - so worth it. Last but not least - are the gojuchang chicken wings. They were good but they were a bit saucy for me. I wish it wasn't so drenched in th gojuchang as it was too hard to eat as it would slip off my hands. I give the food and service a 3.9 - delicious treats and very friendly staff, service was super fast as well! read more

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The food here is sooo good! Hot fresh and full of flavor. Try the wings! Ugh you won't be dissapointed !! read more

Balo Kitchen - Wings and rice bowl - Comfort Food Near Me - Annandale, Virginia

Balo is one of my go-to spots at the Block! You won't be disappointed in the dishes that they have. My favorites are: - Pig Frites - Fish Sauce Wings - Chicken and Rice Plate Also, Balo services the food at the Block Bar just FYI. If you want some good Asian comfort food, Balo is the place you want to check out! Also, they've added a couple of new items to their menu like steak and eggs, garlic noodles, etc. Don't forget to try their crack coffee as well! read more

Super solid and good Asian comfort food. I'm really here for the Vietnamese dishes because it feels like I'm eating out of mom's kitchen. Pork belly rice with egg is my go-to. Just pour all the fish sauce on it and worry about your sodium intake later. I love coming here with friends so we can order a bunch of things and go family style. I've had the garlic noodles, taiwanese fried chicken, and the sticky salty and sweet brussel sprouts. All which were seasoned very well and very addictive. I bet they're using nature's gift (msg) and I'm about it. Also had the short rib pho once which was really fun experience, but not very practical. Highly recommend this spot, hope they can open one in the Pike & Rose location too! read more

We had chicken tacos. The taste was not so bad but wS very greasy. It seems the quality of The Block is falling. Thats too bad. They developed a good reputation. I recommended the place to several People but my last experience was very disappointing. read more

I've come here to eat many times, and it's always worth the wait. I love how they change their menu with fresh new items frequently. I can't say I've ever had anything I didn't like, and the staff is always quick and friendly. Of all the places at the block, this is my go-to spot! read more

It may be a little out of the way, but coming here is completely worth it. The fried chicken tacos were truly amazing and paired with the spicy mayo, it was absolutely decadent. Also, the Pig Frites, with the Deep Fried Sous Vide Bacon were the perfect complement to the tacos. This is truly the definition of Korean Comfort Food. Also, Balo is one of six stands inside this smallish food court and all of the other stands looked great too. One of which had dessert, so if you're feeling up for it after all of the comfort food, you can grab an ice cream or bubble tea. read more

I've never really wrote a review. But due to some circumstances I've to write this down!!! I used to love Balo kitchen!! I loved their pork rice with tofu, chicken rice with those sauces. But I think they changed their rice. Before the rice was so soft and tasty with chicken stock. But now I think they don't make with the chicken stock anymore. I order their every two days a week. And I think there was something wrong with the rice. I told my husband to call them and ask if the rice is not made with the chicken stock then just let us know. And a girl working their just started to speak so rudely with my husband. But he was polite and she was like hey if wann order then order otherwise I've a long line here!! I know sometimes you get busy but tell me one thing "owner" ?? Customer satisfaction is also important. I hope you got my point. Will never be eating here again. P.S we loved your food but the customer service and they way that girl spoke was not acceptable!! read more

Its part of the block. We tried the chicken tacos and loved it ! read more

Balo Kitchen - Comfort Food Near Me - Annandale, Virginia

Came here around 11:30 on a Sunday afternoon and had a fantastic lunch. Since we had 6 people, we were able to try a ton of things from their menu and they did not disappoint! We tried all of the small plates and they were all delicious and there was enough to share. The chicken nuggets ($7) are Taiwanese popcorn chicken style and you can get mild or spicy. They were very crispy and flavorful and not greasy. The pig fries ($7) were my favorite- the fries were so good and covered with cheese, scallions, and a little bit of pork belly chunks. The Brussels sprouts ($4) were also tasty. My least favorite were the wings ($7). It comes with 6 pieces and they were fried nicely, but I didn't get any of the fish sauce caramel flavor which was disappointing. There were also a ton of mystery sauces that came on the trays and we had no idea what they were so we didn't end up trying them all. For the large plates, we got the belly and rice ($11.50 for large), chicken and rice ($11 for large), fried chicken tacos ($9 for 2) and the musubi tacos ($9 for 2). Since we had 6 people, we ended up asking for bowls to split up the rice and mixed the chicken and pork Belly. So good! Glad we got to try both flavors. I would skip the tacos. They are unique because they use roti bread for the shells but I thought they was a little overpriced and I would stick with the other dishes instead. This is a great place to come with friends- located inside The Block, they have a lot of large communal tables to share, and you can each pay for your own meal at the counter- so convenient! Prices are fair and the quality of food was excellent. We will definitely be back! read more

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Went back to Balo Kitchen at the block with my wife yesterday. It was trivia night, so the place was crowded and loud. I was disappointed to hear that the short rib French dip is no longer available. And so I tried to order the steak and eggs, which also was out. So u ended up getting the steak and rice with fried egg. It was good. The chicken nuggets were good as usual. Giving it a 4 star rating and not 5 because the short rib French dip is no longer available. read more

Bal Kitchen had the best menu items by far. Got a nice variety off the menu but have yet to try the street bread. Everything was delicious. read more

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Balo Kitchen describes themselves in serving Asian fusion/comfort food in small and large 'plates.' They also have a little board that tells you 1-2 items that they have as 'specials' of the day, in addition to the main menu. We ordered the ever-so-popular Pig Frites (handcut fries, sous vide bacon, Chinese sausage, permission mayo, and sliced scallions; you can opt to add a fried egg, but we avoided that; the fries were super soggy, even though it seemed to be 'cooked-to-order'; the sous vide bacon seemed to be little cubes of pork belly; I didn't notice any Chinese sausage in the dish, so I'm thinking this was just a missing ingredient; the permission mayo seemed to just be a yellow-tinted sweet mayo, and there was no taste of the persimmons; it also didn't complement the toppings and the fries, as it just seemed a bit too sweet; the cubes of pork were overcooked and a bit hard, so I think these were fried in advance); Belly + Rice (chicken fat rice topped with 24-hour pork belly, pickled mustard greens, scallion oil, fried garlic, chicken fat soy sauce, and pineapple fish sauce; I was excited for the chicken fat rice, but the rice was bland; the mustard greens were not pickled enough, and just seemed like steamed bok coy; there was no scallion oil, and the pineapple fish sauce was super sweet and had an off taste to it - it didn't complement or enhance the dish; the pork belly also didn't give a '24-hour' taste and seemed like regular sliced pork); and, a Banh Mi with Fries (the bread was soft, but the filling was just not tasty - there was a generous amount of the sliced thick pork, but the pickled daikon and carrots didn't partner well with the meat; it was just not a satisfying sandwich, and even though they may have gone for the 'simple' sandwich route, it was just not crunch/savory/good). The cashier was friendly, and if you need extra condiments, just ask. The food seemed to be 'made-to-order,' and a buzzer is given to you. I'm glad I was able to check this place out, but wouldn't go back. +overcooked pork +missing ingredients +bland ingredients +friendly cashier +adjacent to Roots +located in the back of The Block +plenty of parking in plaza lot read more

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While I found The Box to be lackluster and not as exciting as it had been described, Balo Kitchen lived up to my expectations. The pork belly bowl looks amazing online and I'm happy to say that it's just as tasty as it looks! For about $12 the large bowl came with a healthy amount of delicious pork belly, pickled vegetables and rice. We also ordered an egg roll for an extra $2. The pork belly is cooked well -- crispy enough but not over cooked so you can still taste the fatty goodness. The vegetables lend a nice edgy flavor component. The egg roll was completely forgettable and totally not worth it. Though it was pretty big, the flavor was just off. Didn't enjoy it at all. Service was friendly. Food was delivered expeditiously. I will definitely be back at some point! read more

3.5 stars. I usually go to the block to eat poke and ice cream, and my friend told me to try Balo Kitchen to switch things up a little. The menu has so many choices that it's kind of overwhelming, but I settled on the chicken nuggets and garlic fried rice with spam. The chicken nuggets were heaven! The best Taiwanese styled nuggets I've tasted in a while. So crispy and spicy, and dip it in the spicy mayo? Bomb. The garlic fried rice? Not so good. Rice tasted bland and burnt, with only one piece of spam for 9ish dollars. Underwhelming after the experience with the chicken nuggets. I also ate some of my friends pig frites and they were so good. I'll definitely be back to try the rest of their small plates, which portion wise isn't even that small. I thought small plates meant appetizers size and boy was I wrong. The entrees, I'll be more discerning about next time. ***edit*** I went again and the girl at the register had so much attitude that it ruined my food. I'm not expecting a smile or even deccent service but when someone orders or asks for water don't act like I'm disturbing you looking at your phone. read more

Balo Kitchen - Garlic fried rice w/ egg and spam - Comfort Food Near Me - Annandale, Virginia

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Balo is another go to besides Pokeworks and Snocream at The Block. I haven't had anything I didnt like. Order your food here first and then venture to the other places because it takes some time to get your food. My go to are the pig frites and the pork belly on rice. The pig frites is pork belly on top of fries and then they drizzle a sauce on top. You will have to eat it right away of everything will become soggy. These dishes are definitely asian comfort food so if you're trying to eat "healthy" stay away. Since they've been at The Block theres been lots of new items like the mayo shrimp and the garlic noodles. Both are decent dishes but I think I like the pork belly dishes more to switch. Mayo shrimp is best ordered at a chinese restaurant but Balo tried. read more

Balo Kitchen - Mayo shrimp - Comfort Food Near Me - Annandale, Virginia

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Terrible... the guy who answered the phone clearly didn't know what he was doing. I said I wanted sauce for the chicken nuggets several times and they gave me this tasteless chicken. So disappointed... read more

Balo Kitchen - Supposed Chicken Nuggets but didn't explain the general tso ones were not fried. - Comfort Food Near Me - Annandale, Virginia

My friend once got the pork belly tacos and let me have a taste and it was really good to me. I knew I wanted to have them again, this time all to myself. I asked for the smoked sriracha mayo on the side because I recalled there being a little too much sauce for my liking so I wanted to control how much was on there. Using the roti makes it so tasty. The pork belly was flavorful and tender. They give a good amount of it in the tacos too. I was happy to eat these again and want to try more of there dishes! read more

nice pork with rice, very nice service, supreme company and environment! any day is a wonderful day for balo kitchen read more

Delicious pork belly and rice bowl! I tried the crispy pork version, but I think I would've liked the soft/smoked version better. Nonetheless, the meat was delicious, and the vegetables were omg amazinggg. I love vegetables, and they were an absolute delight, compared to all the "horrible" American vegetables I've endured eating! The pineapple fish sauce was amazing and made everything slightly sweet but also umami and so flavorful and satisfying. read more

This is definitely one of my favorite places to go in Annandale, and especially in the Block. They deliver exactly what they advertise, which is a modern spin on classic Asian comfort food. Their dishes are extremely flavorful, the portion sizes are big, and the prices are very reasonable. Definitely try their pork belly, chicken nuggets, the Laksa curry noodle soup, and the banh mi sandwich. They are not dishes you would typically find in a standard Asian restaurant but they definitely are excellent. read more