I'd never heard of this place before but came for the tornado fries from a yelp event. This place was super cool. In a very walkable area of Fairfax right off University Drive, tho be prepared for street parking. I got a grilled chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries that were delicious with a Sriracha sauce. The tornado fries were amazing. read more

High Side - Grilled Chicken Sandwich - Beer Bar Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

We had a great experience at this neighborhood pub.  My wife and I were greeted by some very friendly staff.  And once seated, we dove into both the drink and food menus. Starting with drinks, I was impressed with a long list of beer options (also represented by the large number of pulls behind the bar).  I was happy to see a variety to choose from.  I went for a lager and was quite pleased. Of course, this immediately required something to nibble on ... and the Tornado Fries were the perfect compliment. On to the real food.  I selected the Popcorn Chicken over Rice and enjoyed it!  The chicken was crispy with a wonderful sweet and spicy dipping sauce.  And the side of pickled cucumbers was a great match. All in all, a fun time.  Looking forward to return. read more

Came here for happy hour (T-F 4-7pm) on Friday at around 4:30pm. It is located right off 123 near old town Fairfax. There were maybe 2 or 3 parties here (including individuals sitting alone) when we got here. By the time we left at 6:20ish it grew to about 8-9 parties. It's a "petite" bar. It had a modern set up and several tables set up. It was my first time here, so we didn't know what to do...you can seat yourself and you order food and drinks at the bar. The drinks will be given to you right then and there and food is served to the tables. Food: 3.5-4 out of 5 We had tornado fries ($5 during happy hour), potstickers ($5 during HH) and popcorn chicken ($10). The food was good, but not extraordinarily good. Just good. Popcorn chicken has a bit of a kick to it bc of the pepper in the batter, and the tornado fries come with a tasty orange sauce. Potstickers were alright, but they tasted like the ones from costco. I would order tornado fries and popcorn chicken again. Drink 4 out of 5: We got the Farmhouse Dry Cider and Grapefruit/Passionfruit Mimosas ($4 during happy hour). The cider was great! Loved how clean it tasted and it was very smooth. A bit sweet. The mimosas were good, but again nothing out of the ordinary. Service: This is where I was the most conflicted. The first guy to "help" us at the bar (had a beard, tall) was a bit standoffish. I did not like him. The second guy was very nice and kind, a long with the people who brought out the food. So the first guy gets a 1/5 for service and the others get a 4.5/5. read more

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4/5 Multiple visits. There's quite a lot to like about High Side if you like beer. They have a great beer menu and you can get small (4oz) pours of their draft menu so you can try a bunch of beers without having to commit to a pint of each. I like this as I do like to try as many beers as possible. They also do a good job of having a well balanced beer menu with something for everyone. The food menu is Taiwanese small plates so it's not great for a meal but it is tasty. There are a few cons though. The beer is pricey. That's not surprising given the breadth of the menu. The space is well laid out but it isn't a huge place. Also the parking at High Side is limited. But there is free public parking in the vicinity so don't let that scare you off. I would definitely recommend High Side. read more

High Side - Beer Bar Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

The food was pretty good, nice flavor profile and decent price. I don't know if it was an off night for the serving staff but our table was pretty much ignored. Our waiter literally pulled up a chair and sat with the next table and talked while our food was finished for five minutes while we waited for the check. Not very impressed from this experience but open to trying it again if a friend wanted to go. read more

High Side - Braised Pork Belly over Rice (Lu Rou Fan) - Beer Bar Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

This is a solid 4/5 stars place. Food: the food was good, my favorite were the buns. The potato was very cute presentation but nearly impossible to eat. The pork dish was very fatty and filling. Atmosphere: can't tell if it's trying to be trendy or the decor is just rushed. Note: there is parking in the back! Take advantage of it read more

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This space isn't super huge so definitely not recommended for large groups! My friends and I went as a group of about 8 and that was still a bit cramped for us to be in the back. You have to go order at the counter as well. We went for brunch and there aren't a ton of options on the menu but you can also order from the lunch menu if you need more to choose from. They specialize in Asian fusion dishes. They have different flavor juices for their mimosas and they're pretty strong! We were good after 1.5-2 glasses! I loved the torpedo fries! So unique and so crispy! I got the roti john sandwich and it definitely has a bit of a spicy kick! The major downside was that there was only one server/cashier and one food runner so drink/food service was slow and some of our dishes were forgotten. But I would still give them another chance! read more

High Side - roti john with tornado fries - Beer Bar Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Really enjoyed going to High Side. The aesthetics were good and comfortable atmosphere. Service was great! Server had recommendations ready and fast service. Food was not my preference. They are known for the small plates rather than the entrees. The tornado fries were delicious and fun! I would recommend getting a few appetizers as the Dandan noodles I tried was a little sour for my taste but pork was delicious. But I would go back for another try and to get another dish! read more

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Super cute, small restaurant. The apps were the best selling point! But overall, all the food was delicious! The food came quick and the service was good. Would recommend and come back! read more

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I ordered the beef noodle, it doesn't taste good at all, very salty, no flavor the only taste is salt , the size is very small compared to the price $15... people are friendly, I won't come back again. read more

Interesting place, came here on a recommendation from a fellow Yelp Elite. I actually came here around their dinner opening time at 4pm and people were ready for happy hour haha. It's kinda quaint from the outside, giving a homely feel. It really does feel like going inside your grandma's house for food. I went for an order of their popcorn chicken over rice ($14), served over white rice with egg, pickled cucumbers. I also got a side of grilled Taiwanese sausage, and after perusing their drink menu, I went for an Eden Speciality Cider Rose from Vermont. If you want to try a lot of local brews, this is definitely the place to go and try. There are a bunch! Service here is good, as I chose the awkward area which was in the back corner just to let me be. The food came out promptly. The popcorn chicken (you're gonna need the sauce) is pretty good and is not dry (YAY!). If you need more flavor, use the egg and eat with rice. Seasoning is on point haha. It's super crisp. I don't know if it worth it though; I feel like getting the appetizer of the popcorn chicken might be worth more bang for your buck, but I really wanted the meal. Should have gotten more. Their Taiwanese sausage was flavorful, but it's not for me. If you're typically a fan of these, give these a try. Beware of garlic. I kinda like the idea of a place of beer and Taiwanese street food and actually, it's a nice idea. When they mainstream alcoholic boba drinks though.... haha. Their restrooms are gender-neutral; it took me a good 10 seconds to process since one said XX/XY and other XY/XX. Confusing, really confusing. I wonder if they've added an additional sign that says "Gender neutral" by this time haha. read more

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Finding gluten free Asian choices is always a treat. I have enjoyed their menu and options and found the pricing reasonable for the quality received. The close quarters and quick crowded feeling was the only reason to give 4 stars- however it is no surprise this establishment is usually crowded due to the great food! read more

We really enjoyed this place! The beer selection was surprising. I had a delicious stout at the recommendation of the server. The food itself was rich, and very filling, so we took leftovers home. My favorite would have to be the seasoned cucumbers and pork belly bao. The cucumbers were just enough sour and spicy, meat on the bao was tender and marinated thoroughly. Our server was accommodating and helpful. The only feedback I have: - The noodles were good, but the noodle itself seemed slightly over cooked and too soft. - The parking is tight and a bit confusing. Overall though, we thoroughly enjoyed the meal, the service and would try it again. read more

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Seriously, the best beer bar in town! My best friend took me here during their year anniversary. All the beers are amazing - I tried an IPA and Stout..both were delicious! Everyone who works here is super knowledgeable in beer, and are able to recommend any beers you like. The beers switch out depending on season, so you won't always find the same beer here, which is nice. You'll never know what to expect ;D The bar food is a Taiwanese style, which we did not try - but we will next time! It's located in the lovely Old Town Fairfax, and they have some parking in the back. If it's full, it's located pretty close to public parking so not too far of a walk. There is also happy hour during week days from 4pm-7pm. Highly recommend this place and will be coming back :) read more

We decided to visit HighSide because of all the good reviews and their expansive beer menu. My boyfriend is a huge craft beer fan and their menu sure was intriguing. We arrived there and sat indoors since it was a very cold day. It was empty inside and we were the only tae seated. The service was great, both our servers recommended beers on tap based on our preferences and were very knowledgeable. They were not doing flights due to COVID. Now the food was absolutely delicious. What an incredible idea of asian fusion food with craft beer. We had the tornado fries, popcorn chicken and the lemongrass chicken. It was our first time trying taiwanese street food and it definitely won't be our last. Absolutely loved it and anyone considering them should definitely give them a try! read more

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Very solid food and dining experience, seems to have a great beer selection though we haven't tried them. Love having good vegetarian / vegan options here, though truthfully the tofu is sometimes over fried or too hard. The Tornado Fries are a must try. Soooo good. Parking could be a challenge, so we try to come when it's during the week or outside of prime meal hours. read more

This is the seccond time I come here and it's always wonderful experience. The service is 10 out of 10, all of the staffs are friendly and thoughtful. The food is good with variety of beers to choose, and the asmostphere is cozy. Nothing can expect more. read more

Swanky microbrew pub with impressive selection of craft beers, hard ciders, and even some wine! My husband really enjoys trying new beers and sampling them without making the commitment to order a full one. He tried a few types and really liked the Oxbow Town Line and Old Ox Coopers Stout. The hard ciders are a bit dry, but refreshing. I enjoyed a glass of the Blue Toad Hard Cider Rum Barrel Aged Pineapple, which was fruity without much sweetness. I also got a glass of the Malbec and appreciate the generous pour. I was really excited to try the Asian Street food, but sadly there aren't many vegetarian options (fries, salad, cucumbers). I would love to see more vegetarian dishes added to the menu (maybe some shiitake mushrooms bao bao buns, veggie potslickers, veggie fried rice, tofu wings, veggie satay...). As the selection of beers and ciders change periodically, I'll come back again in a few months to try a new cider and order a scallion pancake. Hopefully there will be more a wider selection of food to choose from! read more

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This place was awesome!! Checked out for the first time after my friend recommended it and it was nothing but great! Their COVID protocols were very clean and accommodating, social distancing rules were met, outdoor seating available, with hand sanitizer at each table! We ordered the fried chicken baos, tofu Dan Dan noodles, and the three cup chicken wings. ALLL WERE DELICIOUS. The fried chicken baos make for the perfect snack! Quick, delicious, and simple. Definitely worth ordering, comes with 3 buns. The noodles aren't hot like you might think, they're served sorted of cooled down but that's the style of the dish, it's very peanut-y and rich but you don't feel gross after eating it. The chicken wings, were AMAZING. Incredibly well cooked, easy to eat. The taste was tangy and sweet, unlike hot wings it had a savory and sweet flavor to it- seemed very Asian flavors influenced. Definitely recommend checking this place out! We will definitely be coming back. read more

High Side - Tofu Dandan Noodles - Beer Bar Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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High Side is not only an amazing craft beer pub, but it has delicious food and a strong sense of community. I like that it's located in a small space that isn't loud like so many larger pubs, and is much more conducive to talking with friends and meeting new people. The staff is so attentive and knows their customers by name. It's always a fun experience and I highly recommend High Side even to people who don't drink beer. The food alone is worth it! read more

Great addition to Old Town Fairfax! This would be an ideal spot for a casual date or catching up with friends. Nice selection of craft beers and great food, according to my Taiwanese friend. I tried the Imperial Biscotti Break stout - highly recommend this one. My friend got the fried pork chops and said they were quite authentic as well. I'd definitely come back when I visit the NoVA area. read more

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A surprise find in Fairfax - a brew pub with a great selection of beer and surprisingly tasty Asian fusion food. My colleagues recommended High Side for our happy hour - I was a bit delayed so asked them to order the hoppiest IPA, they ordered all six for me. So I tasted all six and they were delicious, but not as tasty as the food. We had several selection of the appetizers - beef skewers, grilled Taiwanese sausage, scallion pancake with beef (the pancake was awesome), and Malaysian chicken satay. Needless to say, Parking will be sort of an issue as High Side is located in downtown Fairfax...after 1800, more parking becomes available. I will be back for a full dinner and more beer. read more

High Side - Small bar area to order/pick up craft beer - Beer Bar Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Gosh, this place has so much potential. If the food were only better. Let's start off with the good. The place was very cozy and had a cool vibe. The service was also friendly and spot on. And all the beers we tasted (approx 6) were all fantastic. The food was average unfortunately. We ordered 7 dishes and shared them all. 2 were tasty, 3 were passable, and 2 we all took one bite and didn't eat anymore. We'll absolutely come back for the beer, but not the food. read more

We tried this place in Fairfax City for the first time. They have a nice selection of beer and spirits. We tried the braised pork belly over rice. It comes with a braised hard boiled egg. This plate tastes like home cooked meal. It was delicious! I would highly recommend this place! It tastes like my mom's home cooking! Absolutely the best. The other plates were also delicious. We ordered the lemon grass fried chicken over rice with a fried egg. The chicken has a nice flavor and moderately spicy. The scallion pancake with stir fried beef was okay. I will definitely come back to try all the other menu items. Can't wait to come back here read more

High Side - Braised pork belly large piece with mustard green - Beer Bar Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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High side is on the high side for the price for the portion of food compared to other Taiwanese restaurants such as A&J that comes in on the low side. However the quality of the bar food is better than average with an Asian twist primarily Taiwanese style. Service is quick but make sure you know what you want to order at the bar especially when its busy. We came for Sunday lunch and ordered the special passion fruit and yuzu mimosa for $3 each which was both sweet and sour as expected. As a Taiwanese American, we ordered the Taiwanese sesame noodles, Taiwanese sausage and fried rice, and Mala pickled cucumbers as well as the spicy chicken wings to compare a typical bar snack. The Taiwanese sesame noodle had a flower like presentation with less taste than I expected however the cucumbers and wings made up the difference as one was really sour and slightly spicy and the other was extremely spicy with the chili sauce balanced out with the garlic flavor. Finally the fried rice provided the staple to mellow out the spiciness if needed and to fill you up. Next time we will have to try more of the craft beers and other food items especially the pork chop and rice. Tips: Know what you want to order beforehand and snag a parking spot down the alley behind the restaurant. read more

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Pretty cool beer bar in Fairfax Old Town! Located next to the gas station right across from Victoria's Bakery. High Side was one of my list to visit in Fairfax area because I loved their interior and casual theme. As I approach the place, I noticed their outdoor seating but the entrance seemed nothing like their exterior. They are similar to sports bar but more intimate vibe inside. Although their entrance reminds me of DC club, their interior was basic/minimalistic. I LOVED IT. You don't pay upfront. You order at the register and the employee will serve you foods and drinks once you take a seat. I'm not a beer person but I enjoyed their pilsner. I like the idea that this single place gives a chance to have a taste of different local beers. OH and not to forget, Taiwanese street food! Unique and tasty BUT it's very salty. I'm not sure they did it on purpose based on the equation "beer + salty/nutty food = amazing". Popcorn chicken isn't the one that I knew. I loved their fried fish tofu especially the hot sauce that they serve with. I'm definitely going there sooner or later. Highly recommend to grab a quick drink, or to go on a late night drink date. * PARKING AVAILABLE IN THE BACK * read more

High Side - Small plates and a big plate - Beer Bar Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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Cute place in the town of Fairfax, right next to Mason's campus! It's a relatively small place, very cute and trendy inside. Love that they have a lot of vegetarian options and reasonable prices as well. Plus when we walked in it smelled amazing! Service - Our waitress was really nice! She gave us a little sample of a beer that I was considering to make sure I liked it. She was personable and also very speedy! Beer - Great craft beer selection with sours, ciders, IPAs, stouts, and the like. I got a blueberry pecan cobbler sour that was very yummy. They also have cans for sale. Food - I got the shrimp tempura bao bun and tofu dan dan noodles. The bao bun was very yummy, to be honest I can't say I've ever had a bad bao bun, though. There was a carrot slaw, one piece of shrimp tempura, cucumber, and spicy sauce. I wish they'd taken the tail off the shrimp (especially for a bao bun), and maybe sliced the cucumber more instead of just putting one big chunk in. But it was tasty. My friend got the tofu bun and enjoyed it. For the tofu dan dan noodles - I liked the tofu a lot. Flavorful and cooked well. The noodles were decent but I didn't love them, they were spicy and also had a lot of peanuts in them but what I didn't like was the very sour taste to it. I also noticed that the noodles and sauce weren't really mixed or tossed properly together; it seemed kind of like the noodles were plated and the sauce poured on top after. I've had dan dan noodles elsewhere so this wasn't what I was expecting for sure. Overall a pretty good meal and good vibes at High Side. read more

High Side - Shrimp bao bun and tofu bao bun - Beer Bar Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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Definitely recommend trying for all that really enjoy micro brews. They have a great selection that ranges from light and fruity to hoppy and strong stouts. This place only opened up a few months ago but it seems like the staff has been operating for years. Everyone is extremely knowledgeable about the beers and is willing to provide recommendations to each customers taste. Don't be afraid to ask to sample different beers because these guys really want you to enjoy your experience. The decor is really nice with seating for about 20-25 people. They have a lot of small plates to enjoy and share. I ordered a few different things to get the full experience, (tawainese popcorn chicken, scallion pancake with egg, and tawainese sausage with pickled veggies on a hotdog bun). Everything was decent but took a while to finally get to the table. I would recommend the popcorn chicken to snack on while enjoying the beers. Make sure eat the scallion pancake with the accompanying sauce or else it may be a little bland. The tawainese sausage was average. Probably wouldn't get it again. Overall pretty good experience. Again customer service really makes the difference here. With so many types of beers, you want to rely on their recommendations and tasters to really get to the one you like. read more

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Really cool spot! Great selection of sours and IPAs to choose from, love the bottle shop area. Excited to try this spot again and grab food next time. Everyone else was ordering and it looked so good! read more

High Side - Taps - Beer Bar Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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First of all, WOW! Scrumptious food, had popcorn chicken, tornado fries and beef teriyaki. Sooooo good, oh and pot stickers. Top notch and great selection of beers, ciders and hard seltzers. Ciara was a delightful host who guided us through the menu and beverage choices. This IS our new hot spot. Happy hours (Tuesday to Thursday) sound amazing. The capper to our fun outing was the "pickle back". A shot of Jameson's Irish whiskey and a shot of pickle brine topped with chili. We sipped and loved. See pics! read more

High Side - Pickle back at high side! - Beer Bar Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

I was excited to try this place. The tornado fries and beef teriyaki were REALLY good. The pork belly and rice was decent but not the best pork belly I've even gotten. Their different Steam buns are really good. Korean fried chicken was my favorite! Parking can be a bit weird. So prepare for that. But it's a cute little spot. I'd def suggest you check it out. read more

The place looks like a dive bar, but the food is just incredible!!!! The people who work here are nice and helpful, but it felt more like an adult hangout (see earlier comment) place. read more

Located in old town Fairfax, High Side is a new Taiwanese bar that offers local as well as popular drinks from all over. I'm a fan of their brewery style beers and their food options are great. There are plenty of free parking around here. The owner really cares about the service here. He greets each party that comes in. It was good to see that. They have happy hour Tuesday through Friday 4-7 pm. When I went, it was jam packed with people and it was very lively. Music wasn't too loud and the atmosphere felt cozy. The bartenders are well versed in their job. They were nice about keeping a tab open or closing a tab. I tried the 3 cup chicken. I thought the flavors were simple and the chicken was fried well. The popcorn chicken had a strong garlic taste and was good. Sweet potato fries were seasoned well and paired well with the sauce. I liked all the beer I tried. I would come back when it is less busy. read more

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The beer is good, the food is better! Who knew Asian fusion food and beer would be such a good match. Don't forget to try the tornado potato. It's delicious read more

Came here with some friends after seeing recommendations on instagram. The atmosphere was really lively and it is a really nice place to hang out with friends. The food was Ok. We got the popcorn chicken and lemongrass chicken rice bowls and the dan dan noodles. The chicken was good and crispy, especially the lemongrass chicken was really fragrant and had great flavor to it. The egg yolk was nice and runny, my favorite way to eat an egg. I didn't really enjoy the DanDan noodles as much as the chicken. It was on the sour side which is not what I was expecting from dan dan noodles. I loved how it was pretty spicy but I wouldn't recommend if you can't handle spice. Overall, enjoyable experience! get the chicken:-) read more

High Side - Popcorn Chicken over Rice, Lemongrass Chicken Rice Bowl, Tofu Dandan Noodles - Beer Bar Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

We stopped by high side after craving some delicious authentic Chinese food and this place definitely delivered! During the COVID-19 pandemic this place has a number of outdoor seating available along with hand sanitizers at every table and "to go" serving plates/utensils for safety! We ordered the tofu spicy Dan Dan noodles and the 3 cup chicken sauce chicken wings. Both were absolutely delicious! The Dan dan noodles were perfectly coated with the Mala chili sauce and also gave a crunch of tofu. The chicken wings...ohhh the chicken wings were my favorite. Crispy and crunchy to the bite and perfectly seasoned between a honey glaze with a savory and spicy touch. Yum yum yum. If we had more stomach capacity we would have also ordered the Scallion pancake with stir fried beef, the egg fried rice with sausage, and tornado fries! We are definitely returning to try these things soon! read more

High Side - Tofu Dandan Noodles - Beer Bar Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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I would rate this 7 stars if I could. A large group of us came after a hike. They had a perfect large table nook that fit us all, they did separate checks, and the food was fantastic. Everyone's food was good. I had the spicy tofu dan dan noodles. I tasted several delicious appetizers and bits of other people's dishes. Everything was good. The servers were friendly and efficient. They have some parking behind the building and there is plenty of other parking nearby. I will definitely be back and soon. read more

Sometimes, secrets must be kept a secret. Not High Side. This is probably my 4th or 5th time here. So many good options for food and drinks. Thanks to Yelp Elite, my girl Teresa and I got two orders of tornado fries. I'd also highly recommend grabbing a drink or two on your way out. My favorite? Pulpit rock. Go out and grab some tornado fries! read more

High Side - Tornado fries - Beer Bar Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

I always love coming here ! Amazing staff that treats you like family and a beer selection unlike any other in northern Virginia. I could come here everyday and never get bored. Don't skip the beef pancake or the spicy wings read more

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It was my first time here and it was highly recommended. PARKING - there are some spots right behind the restaurant with a sign to designate you. You can also park in surround public parking lots and do a little walking. It's a cute little town full of stores and restaurants. RESTAURANT - small but very clean STAFF - they were attentive and helpful with suggestions on their beer selection and food menu FOOD - I thought it was good. We ordered a few different small plates and no main entrees. Vegetarian options are available by the way! I'd like to return to try more off the menu. The chicken satay was not as flavorful as other places so I was a little disappointed. The tornado fries were okay but it was really hard to pull the spiraled potatoes off of the skewer. So if you're looking to get this to share, be prepared to have your fingers all over it trying to pull it apart. Their bao buns were delicious and THICKKKK. read more