This is my second time at Chay (the first time being 2 years ago), but it seems like I should be stopping by more often! Our meal took place on a Tuesday evening, yet the restaurant was constantly busy (though not packed to the point of having to wait for a table) with a diverse clientele, which speaks to Chay's popularity. Among the 3 of us, we split 2 mains and an appetizer, which was more than enough food. The fried calamari was nice and paired well with the spicy dipping sauce (which was actually spicy). I loved all the fresh veggies and generous amounts of peanuts and fried shallots in bún chả Hà Nội (vermicelli platter). As a saucy girlie, I REALLY liked the "fish sauce" accompanying the dish. Despite the deliciousness of those 2 dishes, the real star of the meal was thịt kho sả (lemongrass clay pot). Perfect flavoring; I almost forgot that it was vegetarian. The only downside to my experience was the service: it would have been great for a server to stop by and refill our water every once in a while. read more

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This is the place I recommend to my vegan and vegetarian friends as well as the omnivores. If you're someone who's tired of tofu dishes tasting bland, you've got to check this place out because the flavors and textures for various dishes will blow you away. I like the hú tiểu mì khô, hoàng thánh chiên, thịt kho sả, chả giò, bì cuốn, & cơm chiên tây thi. The chili sauce is house made and definitely has quite a kick so beware if you are sensitive to spice. read more

Absolutely delicious meal here to. Crispy fried shrimp, lemongrass chicken drumsticks, Tofu shrimp crepes, Vermicelli Platter with soy nuggets and Pomelo tapioca pudding for dessert. We will be back! Service was excellent and food was amazing. And there was a table of monks there! #vegan read more

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This restaurant is nothing short of amazing! Everyone that works there makes you feel like family. Warm, welcoming and so friendly! The food is AMAZING!!!!!!!!! I love their banh xeo!!! Man it's soooo good! For a family that is not vegan, this place is our go to. This place is like going to your uncle house. It's not loud nor overly packed. What's there not to love about this place. read more

Really great vegetarian food. The menu has so many different options from soups, rice dishes, stir fries to spring rolls and appetizers. My friend and I tried the shredded rolls and I got the bun bo hue. The flavor was really similar to a meat version I've had before. Perfect spice level as well. Come here if you want to try some vegetarian viet food! read more

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Over a year later and this place still kicks. Plenty of parking because it's a shared parking lot. Great spot and still really good food. The seating inside is pretty spacious, for a Wednesday night it wasn't too crowded so we were able to get a table relatively easily. This time I went with my vegetarian friend and I think it might have become her new favorite spot. First thing she said when I came in was "there's so many options" when usually it's what can I eat? With a full vegetarian menu, it's a great spot for those who like an Asian cuisine but suffer from the oh it's not vegetarian. Luckily the whole menu is vegetarian. The waiter/server also said they are doing great and planning on opening a second location in Chantilly soon! We ordered the vegan clam dip, shaky beef, and the fish (vegan) soup. Delicious food all around, I always prefer the clam dip and shaky beef. Really good flavors and a great combination. We definitely ordered too much food, so I would say if it's just two, two dishes is enough. Shaky beef was a little different this time around but still good flavor and you can taste that it's vegetarian or some other meat, but it's pretty darn close to beef. The flavors in the sauce and other bell peppers and onions elevate the flavor profile. The fish soup was a new dish, and definitely had a fish flavor but was a little overpowered by the tomatoe. I probably wouldn't go with that one again, but the others were still amazing. read more

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Chay Restaurant is highly praised in the vegan community for its extensive vegan options and authentic Vietnamese menu. I was very excited to enjoy lunch here with my family and see what the hype is all about. The inside was a bit cramped. They tried to pack as many tables in the venue as possible so the walkways are narrow. There isn't even room for a host stand near the front door so at first I thought it was a seat yourself restaurant. An employee greeted us promptly and pointed us to what table my family should sit at. Once seated I noticed I could not pull my chair out very far before hitting the person behind me. My 2 year old daughter wanted to sit on my lap but there was not enough space for me to do that without interfering with the person behind me. For reference I am 5 feet tall and 112 pounds. I very rarely feel cramped but the proximity of the tables was a little claustrophobic for me. We ordered Chay Nuggets, the vegan Banh Mi option, and Pho. All the food lived up to my expectations. Hands down the best Pho I ever had. The base of the broth was good on its own, and beyond compare once some of the available sauces and toppings were added. I was impressed with how many vegetables were included in this dish. This dish was hearty and I would definitely order it again. The nuggets were a great option for my daughter. They were less fluffy than an American style nugget and nicely crisped on the outside with slightly sweet sauces for dipping. The Banh Mi was good but my least favorite of the items ordered. My husband and I both wish the tofu was a little more prominent and hearty rather than shredded. I am not sure if the way they prepared it was more authentic. Regardless the flavor was good and the baguette was memorable with a little crispness on the outside and softness in the center. While the food was worth coming back for, the service and indoor dining would make me want to take my food to go. It did not feel like a family friendly business. My daughter wanted to get up and walk around and I felt some glares from the employees. In general there was no warmth from the employees. There was no checking in on our meals or any friendly conversation at the table. Thanks Chay for so many vegan options and I am happy I finally got to check out this highly rated business. read more

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Im not usually a fan of vegan food but this is really good! Came here as a party of 7 and was immediately accommodated. We did the dumb white people thing of ordering an entree per person but luckily that means we have plenty to take home! The faux meats at most have the texture of what they're trying to mimic, but they're still delicious especially if you can appreciate it for what it is read more

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Went here with my DD and SO for the first time for dinner. We loved this vegetarian place. My SO is a vegetarian, myself and DD are not though I trend that way. It was small and cozy with a cute decor. The staff were all super friendly and the service was great. We got the flower pot tea, which had a delicate floral herby taste. It is served in a clear teapot. We got fried avocado and vegan shrimp for appetizers. They were delicious. My DD got dumpling soup, I got the basil eggplant and my SO got caramelized ginger vegan fish. Everything was amazing. I can't wait to go back. read more

There's a reason why this place is in the Yelp top 100 list! Such an amazing vegetarian/vegan place. We tried the summer rolls, fried rice and the noodle soup and it was so comforting! Extra points for the ambiance and extra extra points for not decorating with fake plants! The place is busy so plan accordingly if you are visiting on a weekend or in the evening. read more

Chay Restaurant - Vegetarian Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

If you're craving flavorful Vietnamese vegetarian food, Chay Vegetarian is a must-try! We came during dinner time when the restaurant gets pretty busy, but service was still fast, friendly, and attentive. Their popular bún đậu mắm tôm did not disappoint -- everything tasted incredibly good, fresh, and full of authentic Vietnamese flavors. Portions here are huge, which makes the already affordable prices even better. We ordered two appetizers, a Diet Coke, and three large main dishes, and our total was only $85. Such a great deal for the amount of food and quality you get! The restaurant itself isn't very big, but they can still comfortably seat a group of 5-6 people. The menu focuses mainly on Vietnamese vegetarian dishes, and everything we tried felt thoughtfully prepared and super satisfying. Definitely recommend stopping by if you want delicious, generous, and affordable vegetarian Vietnamese eats! read more

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I came with my partner and his mom. We were seated quickly, and the menu was clearly labeled about what was vegan or vegetarian, as well as other potential allergens. Unfortunately, they delivered all of our food at different times. Mine came out quite quickly, and then around 10-15 minutes later, my partner's mom got her food. Then it was another 10 minutes until my partner received his food. So at least 20-30 minutes between my food arriving and my partners food arriving. And it wasn't as though we had ordered appetizers or things that would be easily shared family style! Aside from the awkwardness of waiting (I didn't want to start eating on my own!), this also meant that my soup was quite lukewarm by the time everyone had received their food and we began eating. It was kind of uncomfortable and I'm not sure what was going on. There were only two other tables with customers so it wasn't as though they were particularly busy. Maybe we just had an inexperienced server? As for the food itself, I got the crab noodle soup, as it seemed unusual and I like to try something I can't normally get as a vegan if I'm at a place which is specializing in plant based things. Of course, it was not particularly hot by the time i tried it, which was too bad. It was okay--I didn't love the crab cakes (was more like a sponge honestly, in two large chunks), but the noodles and mushrooms were yummy. The flavor overall I felt was rather bland, but my partner pointed out afterwards that they had several sauces available at the table. I honestly didn't even think to add those, as I don't usually need extra spice, but I wonder if that was the expectation? My partner's mom seemed to enjoy her dish (glass noodles). My partner's got the vegan squid noodles dish, which he was happy with, but not blown away. Overall, I felt a little let down given the high ratings on here. However, I'd be willing to give it a second try--maybe we just caught them on a day with a new server; and objectively vegan crab cakes are kind of a risky choice so it's possible I would have enjoyed one of their more classic dishes more. read more

Chay Restaurant - vegan crab noodle soup - Vegetarian Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

Tất cả các món ăn ở đây thật tuyệt vời! The dishes here are incredible and work of art. I was so impressed and couldn't believe that the dishes bursting with Vietnamese flavors were all vegetarian. Outstanding service and gorgeous ambiance. Can't wait to come back for more!!! read more

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Wow wow wow! It's bright, clean and colorful, the service is fast, friendly and helpful. The food is so good! Whether you're vegetarian or not you can't go wrong here. We had a selection the clam dip, crispy pancakes, spicy noodle soup, pomelo pudding, flower tea...everything was through the roof amazing! There were so may bright tastes and textures, sweet, salty, pungent, fresh. Can't wait to get back here! read more

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I'm not even vegetarian but I still love this place! If you want delicious Viet food this is the place to go. I've been here twice now and really enjoyed both meals. The bun bo hue was absolutely delicious and tasted really close to the meat version, it's my favorite dish from here so far. Also recommend the shaky beef. The fried avocado is also good (anything fried can't be bad!). The service here is top notch, super friendly every time. The restaurant itself is not too big, but can still fit a good amount of people. read more

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I've never had anything like the food they serve here! My family came here and tried a handful of menu options and everything was so delicious and didn't make me miss meat at all. The vegetarian clam dip is fresh and delicious, and the bun rieu had so many different tofu varieties with different textures. I think our favorite dish was the crispy fish with mango. It feels and tastes just like fish with a refreshing citrusy mango salad to go with it. I'm not even a vegetarian and I would absolutely come back and try more! read more

Chay Restaurant - Bun Rieu - Vegetarian Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

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I can't remember when the last time I've been into a vegetarian restaurant. My cousin suggested we go to Chay because it's her favorite. Honestly, I was very reluctant because it was my last day in town and eating "plain" didn't seem appealing. BUT. I'm glad we went. The restaurant was clean and you just sense good vibes when you walk in. There were a ton of dishes on the menu, and there were a few that caught my eye. Each of us got a different dish and then some to share at the table. I ended up choosing the Banh Hoi Dac Biet. Not only did it look appetitizing, it tasted just as good. Surprisingly it was flavorful and not bland. The portion size was huge though. I couldn't even finish it myself. We got two dishes to share for the table. Hen Xuc Banh Da was the bomb dot com. I've never had it before so it was pretty life changing. It's a must get appetitizer when you go to Chay in my opinion. Da Hu Non Cha Bong was also good. Cha Bong is my favorite growing up, so now being able to taste the vegetarian version of it seems like a full circle. Presentation of the dishes were on point. read more

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So even if you don't think you're into vegetarian or vegan, but are into Vietnamese cuisine, you'll love Chay. I did! Chay is located in Barcroft Plaza at the intersection of Lincolnia and Columbia Pike. Service was excellent and the restaurant has a very comfortable ambience. I wouldn't say Chay is inexpensive though. The best dish of the day, by far, was the crispy fried avocado. The very tasty breaded and deep fried avocado pieces come with tamarind sauce. I also had the Chay Baguette Sandwich, which is a delightful slightly crunchy baguette packed with pseudo ham, chicken, pickled daikon and carrots and mushroom sauce. This hearty sandwich is delicious and you do get the same satisfaction as you would from eating real meat. If you are into lemongrass, you will likely like the lemongrass chicken, but you better really like lemongrass. The stir-fried green beans with tofu and garlic are super yummy. This isn't just a side dish but a large entrée. Even though we dined in, the Vietnamese coffee I ordered came pre-mixed in a disposable take-out cup. However, I do prefer Vietnamese coffee where it's served black and separate from the condensed milk where you can then blend together as you see fit. read more

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The food here is even better than the meat version! I loved my experience here. The "clams" with sesame crisp was phenomenal. I loved the "nem nuong" and the "banh xeo." All on the chefs special menu seems fantastic. The flavors and the textures and the freshness of the veggies were a nice touch. I would skip the com tam. Really the only reason is that the "beef" was a little sweet for me and the "bi" didn't have the essence of the original meat version like the other dishes. It's also to be vegan here as they are very specific with their menu. I will definitely be back! read more

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Delicious food, and honestly so hard to tell it's vegan/vegetarian. It's easy to get to, with plenty of free parking right outside the restaurant, and very friendly staff. The setting is casual, comfortable, and relaxing. Everything I've tried has been fantastic. We spoke to the owner for a few minutes and he emphasized not sacrificing quality. The "meats" are unbelievably real, and one would never know it's vegetable based. This time I tried the Shaky "Beef", with brown rice; I could not tell the "beef" wasn't beef. Crazy, but delicious. My son had the Thit Kho Chay (Chay clay pot), which was also delicious. read more

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This place is a Vietnamese veggie and vegan place that is great for those interested in trying veggie and vegan meals and also have food restrictions. My friend and I shared the spring rolls, which were fantastic. I got the soft fried noodles and my friends got the pad Thai and tomato and tofu dish. Everything was great and we came back with leftovers. For anyone coming, it's a relatively small place but it was packed and we were seated quickly. They even had a nicely decorated area in the front. The service was a little slow and we had to ask the waitress where our appetizer was after 25 minutes. It was settled pretty quickly though, so I would definitely come back again. read more

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Once again the spring rolls and tea were excellent. However rather than lunch we had dinner this time. The two entrees we ordered were absolutely terrible unless one likes to punish their selves by abstaining from flesh no matter what. Soggy thrown on the plate eggplant and an unbelievable fake fish and mango dish. Took 2 days to get the ugly taste out. Stay with the spring rolls sandwiches and perhaps soups and stay away from entrees, read more

Went with a friend who is currently vegan for lent. I am so happy we went, everything was fresh and filling! Two of us got there at 7pm on a Saturday and only waited 15minites for a table. It seems like 7pm was a good turnover time from the early diners to the later eaters. The service was friendly and we didn't wait long for our fresh food. Not pictured was a viet iced coffee - yum. Can't wait to go back! read more

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We had read some great reviews of Chay and were excited to try a local Vietnamese (one of our favorite cuisines) that was vegetarian. We were so glad we did and we didn't miss the meat at all. There is a lot to choose from on their menu and we opted to try what we were told were some of the most popular dishes. One of our favorites was the vegan clam dip. I'm normally not a clam fan but I really liked the crunchiness and flavor of this dip which won me over the minute I saw and chomped on those great crackers. Another favorite was the chay clay pot which also brought the taste. Rounding out our meal were the summer rolls and the chay fried noodles. Both were good. Another popular dish, and one we really enjoyed on the streets of Vietnam was the golden crepes. Although they were really well fried and came in a more manageable size with lots of fresh lettuce and veggies to wrap in and around it, wasn't as strong a flavor as we would have liked. I liked them better when we doused them in the accompanying sauce and added a touch of the house made hot sauce (quite hot!). And everything was happily washed down with great Vietnamese iced coffees. Though the restaurant isn't that big and was doing a super business we were able to find a table and never felt rushed. The service was really helpful and the parking is easy. Chay will definitely be added to our list. read more

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I loved this place so much. Growing up in a small town with very limited options, I always knew vegetarian restaurants existed. This place had excellent customer service. The food options were great. I ordered the lemongrass chicken....it was so good. I'm still thinking about it right now.... I thought the prices were reasonable too. The bathrooms were nice and clean as well. read more

Chay Restaurant - Lemongrass chicken - Vegetarian Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

Our favorite vegan restaurant in the area. Their pho is fantastic, with super savory broth and very umami. The bun bo hue is tasty but I just can't get over the pho. Our other favorites are the clam dip (although I don't love the chips that come with it and would prefer getting lettuce to wrap the filling. Just trust me and get this, it's so tasty and nothing like a clam ). The large platters are also fun to order, we enjoyed the bun dau mam chay (S2) although we didn't love the shrimp paste sauce (honestly it's too realistic for us) and prefer the chay dipping sauce from S3 platter. Their shaky beef and lemongrass and pepper chicken are also super tasty. Everything has been so good it will be hard to go and try other dishes but where there is a will, there is a way! read more

Chay is a fully vegetarian Vietnamese restaurant. It's a cool concept and is well-executed. The restaurant has pretty murals inside. And the service here was very good. A lot of the menu has meat substitutes, which is not my favorite. But my main dish was very good. The portions were generous. We overall enjoyed our meal even though neither of us are vegetarian. read more

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As soon as we walked in, I noticed it smelled great! We started with the Fried Avocado. It was a generous portion. The inside was creamy and the outside crunchy. Dish was a hit. Then we got the spring rolls with peanut sauce. A good compliment to our other dish. Perfect size. Good vegetable to protein ratio. Peanut sauce was good but thinner than I usually see. For our mains, we got N18 soup (with dumplings) and the combo fried rice without bell peppers. Both were served family style, amazing, generous portions, flavorful, and lite. I ate leftovers for a few days. The broth in the soup was outstanding. I loved the dumplings as well as the noodles in it. It had fresh sliced mushrooms and bok Choy. The fried rice had lots of bits of cauliflower, peas, and carrots. Would order both again! read more

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Been here 3x and don't come enough. Love the food especially the Mango salad, bahn xeo and tea is always delicious read more

Chay Restaurant - Mango salad - Vegetarian Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

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Meat eater review. Family took my mom and I to this place... "surprised" us by revealing it was vegetarian when it was too late to turn back! Really friendly and hardworking owners and staff. Great place for full-time vegetarians. The crispy avocado rolls are the type deep-fried thing that would please literlly anyone at a tailgate party or something, meat eater or not. Creamy inside and really crisp shell. We tried two different tofu dishes, one was (in my opinion) noticeably tastier, but both were quite good. I thought there could have been a bit more depth of flavor, but I'm generally a meat-eater, so maybe I haven't gotten used to eating completely meatless Vietnamese food. The banana dessert is amazing. read more

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Been coming here since it opened ,but haven't been in two months ... I always get pretty much the same dish the Lemongrass "Beef" with noodles; went to get some takeout. I have had it a handful of times before. Came home and sat down to pouring the sauce on the noodles, ...went to eat but it was too spicy. And, it seems that the recipe changed a little more salty and the sauce is spicy and has some kind of red pepper that makes my mouth irritated. Now I live on budget and I had to throw it away most of it. I am disappointed, because I called to ask if they change the recipe, they said they didn't that the sauce is always spicy. But this was the first I ever had this reaction to the dish. No apologies or anything. So I lost my trust that the food will be always good. The staff is usually very nice and the food was always good before. But can't say I will going back again. Because I can't have that pepper on anything; my stomach does not like it either. I think I am allergic to whatever kind of pepper it is. read more

Chay Restaurant - Lemongrass "Beef" with noodles - Vegetarian Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

Chay is easily one of the best vegetarian spots I've been to in a while! I ordered the dumpling soup, and it was truly incredible. The broth was rich, aromatic, and full of comforting flavors that made it perfect for a chilly day. The dumplings themselves were tender and generously filled, with a savory mix of veggies and faux meat that melted in your mouth. On top of that, the fresh herbs and crispy onions sprinkled on top added a wonderful contrast in texture and flavor. The restaurant itself has a modern yet cozy vibe, with minimalist decor that lets the food take center stage. The staff were warm and welcoming, ensuring that we had everything we needed throughout the meal. My water glass never got below half full. This is a spot I'll be recommending to all my vegetarian (and non-vegetarian) friends! read more

Chay Restaurant - Vegetarian Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

This was my first time visiting a fully vegetarian and vegan Vietnamese restaurant and it did not disappoint. This definitely won't be my last trip and I am excited to take my family here. Egg Rolls (4/5): Tasty and fresh egg rolls, cant mess this up Bo luc lac (4/5): The flavor and texture was close to eating actual beef but I think the protein was more soft. This was bit on the sweeter side but still very good!! Salted "fish" fried rice (4/5): This dish was my favorite! It was flavorful and delicious. However I wish they didnt put carrots in it...still good though! read more

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Service was great. Super kind staff. Everything was vegetarian, as advertised. The "clam dip" was delicious!! Everything was "vegan" meat substitute, and very few options without the substitutes. Was hoping for less fake meat. Restaurant was clean and well cared for. Loved the water feature at the front of the restaurant. read more

Chay is a Vietnamese restaurant serving up traditional favorites but with a vegetarian spin. I had heard about Chay through social media and also read a review in the Washington Post. I was kind of skeptical that vegetarian food could possibly taste anywhere close to the real thing, but I can confidently say that I was surprised in a good way! Chay translates roughly to "vegetarian" or "no meat" in Vietnamese, and this restaurant accomplishes that by using other proteins like soy. During my trip here I tried the following: - Crispy wontons - Bun Rieu - Bun bo hue All of these dishes were super tasty, despite not having their traditional proteins. The bun rieu, for example, was so flavorful despite not having any crab. I don't know what their secret is, but it works! The next time that I come here--and there will be a next time--I want to try the pho as well as some of the desserts. Parking: There are plenty of places to park in the shopping center. Even if you're a little skeptical like I was, you should should definitely give Chay a try! read more

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This place will please all, not just vegetarians! This is a fantastic find for a Vietnamese spot because they're serving things you'd find on a Vietnamese dinner table as opposed to the same menus you'll see. It's more than pho and banh mi. So many dishes reminded me of my mom's cooking! Mi xao gion was fantastic, crispy noodles with a delicious saucy stir fry. The thit kho was amazing and the "meat" had such a great texture. Vietnamese home cuisine is comprised of many caramelized (kho) dishes on the menu as the clay pot dishes and stir fries. The sweet and sour tofu is so good with the little juicy pops of pineapple. Our vegan friend was overwhelmed by choice because you don't often find a menu where so much is accessible. It's a smaller joint that seems to get busy but service is quick so if you have to wait it won't be long. We'll be back for sure!! read more

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I was meeting a friend from out of town and went through the list of best restaurants from Tom Sietsema of the Washington Post. This was conveniently located in Falls Church and we chose Chay. It's a vegetarian Vietnamese restaurant but the food is so good that your won't notice it. Very good portions. Nice and clean restaurant with excellent decor. The employees are very friendly and great service. We had the crisp spring rolls, dumpling soup and the spicy noodles Bún bò Huế. Very fresh and no greasy food, this is a delightful place for a meal. read more

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Stopped in for an early Sunday dinner and it was packed! We were able to get a table though. The staff was so friendly and helpful. We got the fresh spring rolls, pad thai, and eggplant with Thai basil. Also the chay flower tea pot! The tea was chrysanthemum with goji berries and dates and it's delicious! Very light but flavorful and no caffeine. The fresh spring rolls were a star - veggies inside were crisp, the avocado was a nice touch, and the peanut sauce was perfect for dipping. Pad Thai was average and eggplant I would not get again. The eggplant barely had any flavor so I doused it in chili sauce that was on the table. I would try this place again though! read more

The server was so great and helped us make choices. He was patient and friendly, made us feel really welcome. The place was clean and cute decor. Food was yummy. read more

I cannot say enough good things about this place, so many options everyone is so friendly, the owner personally came by to talk to us. It's such a cozy little place and the food comes out quickly and is scrumptious. I love the food, the vibe, and the service. 10/10 experience absolutely recommend to everyone. read more