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.

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.

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!!

I've never had an authentic café con leche in Cuba or Puerto Rico, since I haven't visited these…read morecountries before. And the last time I had a café con leche was at a Dunkin' Donuts near Palm Beach around a decade ago. I'm not kidding. I was so amused that they offered these at a drive-thru window and my commercialized DD version wasn't bad. But, as I've traveled, my best option for a getting something close to a café con leche is just to request one, know that it won't be exact but/and keep your fingers crossed. Or - at least - order a café au lait. I'm no coffee snob so feel free to comment here. Wiki taught me that café con leches are made with scalded milk vs. steamed. And sugar cane is used in the grounds or the brew. This actual café con leche - at Crystal City's Colada Shop - is somehow the most authentic café con leche which I could reference drinking, in awhile now. I mean, I have had a few around Florida cafes, awhile back. At the Colada Shop register, you can order a regular café con leche or a 'sweeter' version. Hmmm ... how blessedly simple vs. and the mounds of adjectives I myself use when at a Starby's. I was assured that the sweeter version she offered was more gentle than it sounded, and she was correct. My steaming Cuban coffee was strong and not overpoweringly sweet. Like, I was relieved that I had ordered it sweet because otherwise I might have not been woman enough to drink it. The flavors of this beverage were complex. Rich and deeply smoky. This coffee was not like a Vietnamese coffee with a strong French roast and sweet cream. These flavors were more like - I don't have the culinary knowledge to say - like a deep, strong Cuban brew. I know that probably doesn't help. I enjoyed the beautiful, bright colors, the music and sips of my lovely and seriously respectable coffee, to go, here. The service was excellent. Each of the three team members I spoke with were all friendly and helpful. I liked my coffee and especially appreciated being able to find an establishment which markets and serves café con leches, Cuban-style. When I asked the Colada Shop employee what the most popular hot drinks were here, she said - obviously - its namesake Café con Leche, and secondly, the Carrot Cake con Leche coffee drink. Yes, please. She said the Dulce de Leche coffee is the third most popular drink here and her description of it as fabulous with the caramel and steamed milk. Well, there are at least two reasons to go back to the Colada Shop at Crystal City!

Great deal for lunch and especially kids…read more The two bowl is a great deal for getting a lot of food and tons of flavor. The paneer and chicken bases are very solid. The sauces/curries work. I was skeptical when seeing the mixes but a believer on the flavor. The saag really has a lot of depth and umami. The kids meal at $7 includes protein, rice, curry sauce, one side, and a juice. Hard to beat that. Parking is tricky but the lot adjacent was free if parking under one hour!

In town for a conference and wanted to grab a quick (non-conference food) bite. Rasa did not…read moredisappoint. Folks were friendly, service was quick and it was not overpriced. It was packaged well and made it back to my hotel room in one piece. I love paneer so that was my go-to. The paneer was a tad tough but the tikka was very flavorful. Not much to say about the ambience of the place- there was a place where it looked like they usually had a swing but no-swing. The outside of the building is under construction, so I'll give them a pass on vibe for this trip.

The ABSOLUTE Best pizza in the DMV! I love the fresh toppings, the crispy (and not burnt) crust…read morealong with the delicious taste. I'm no longer within walking distance, thank goodness, because I would've been there 2-3 times a week every week. But it's just a 15-minute drive up rt. 1 and it's sooooo worth it. And if I can wait until I get home, they've got a nice little eat-in area. (This is NOT a paid endorsement. )

Great Pizza! Extreme…read morePizza has some great pizza in the Crystal City area! The prices aren't bad and the service was relatively fast. I tried the Everest pizza & wings.....The pizza was nothing but delicious and loaded with toppings. The crust was a winner too. It was a great tasting crust ( not too thick...not too thin.... just perfect!). Between the topping and tomato sauce.....I am sold and will keep this place on repeat. The tomato sauce was so good that i asked for extra with my garlic twisted sticks....i literally had to ask for more! The wings were a standout as well. If you are looking for good pizza, I recommend coming here!

Best food in the airport everything else is poopy asf!!!! Good service lol! It's actually fresh…read morefood and not butt.

Ordered buy one get one free promotion on Uber Eats. The food portions are absolutely abysmal, and…read morethis is a genuine joke that I would be served this. I've never in my entire history as an ordering customer seen portions as small as this. Barely fills the takeout bowl half way. UPDATE: they reached out and have helped resolve my concern.

I saw many of these locations in the area and needed something to eat before my flight. It's a…read morepretty nice area and we were seated right aways for an early lunch. Steak & fries (5/5): I did not expect this to blow me away. The steak was tender and chewy and marinated in chimichurri. The fries may have been one of the best fries I've ever had. It seemed like it was fried in tallow and just packed it with flavor. I really enjoyed my experience here.

Erica is THEEE BEST bartender in the DMV area!…read more She gave me her recommendation for the Tini Takeover, and baby... she did NOT miss. If you go, you HAVE to try the Secret Garden 10/10 -- trust Erica!

This chain has to be one of my favorite salad places. Its quick, delicious, & ive never been…read moredisappointed.

I love this place! The salads are really good and you can make your own. Get the blackened chicken…read more(upcharge) and the pesto vinaigrette dressing.

90 minutes of unlimited plates, yes please!…read more I'm very been to Yunnan a couple of times but this was my first time trying their Chef's Endless Table experience. There are two tiers to the menu that are priced at $44 and $69 per person. The menu offered a little bit of everything from Bao buns to their popular Mixian noodles. The restaurant's design was clean, chic and minimal.

Stopped in after running some errands on a rainy evening an hour to close; figured I'd update my…read morereview. Ordered the Mogu Shiitake Mixian Noodles like last time; overall it was solid, though the hard-boiled egg probably could have benefitted from a little more time in the broth, but it was near-closing, so not a big deal. Unfortunately, the service quality has ebbed since my last visit. My server, while outwardly calm and friendly enough, was eager to remind me of their imminent closure thrice during my meal. I eventually had to say "Yes, I'm aware" to ensure I understood. I suffer from heartburn and need to pace my meals, so this felt like a rather passive-aggressive "get out" which I didn't appreciate for the sake of my own physical health. Moreover, I asked at the end of my meal if I could apply a $5 off coupon I received for my birthday. The server told me that the manager has to be on duty in order to apply the discount code, and that they already left. I found this bizarre, having worked with Toast POS systems before, I know this isn't a difficult thing to train your staff on. This was compounded by the fact that I had to wait an additional 10 minutes for another employee, ostensibly an assistant manager, to apply it, and she wasn't even aware until I flagged her down. Again, solid fare; always love when I get to stop in to Yunnan for that reason alone, so I still recommend it. Unfortunately, I think the management should circle back on a few items with the staff in terms of service quality.

I'm a huge fan of Panera Bread! This location is brand new and recently open in the Crystal City…read moreshopping district. The location is bright, airy, and a very open space. This location is for online, mobile app, and take out orders only. There is no seating our dining area like most Panera breads. So when coming here, keep in mind that it is mainly a grab and go spot. I was in the area for a business meeting and needed something quick. This Panera Bread location delivered! The young lady that assisted me at the counter was very polite and helpful. I ordered the pick 2 meal.... Which is always my go to. On this day, I tried the new. Pecan Apple Crisp Salad and a bowl of the House Chilli. Everything was fresh, made to order and delicious. The veggies on the salad were so fresh and crisp, and the apple cider vinaigrette really complimented the salad along with the crunch of the pecans as a topping. The salad was soooo good and will definitely be on repeat! The chili was very flavorful and full of you're a typical ingredients..... 3 beans, tomato, ground beef and spices. A double thumbs up on the taste and consistency. Most of all, it was meaty and not watered down. Not to mention, this place moves fast. The order came very quick..... and securely packed for me to grab and go. I highly recommend this place, when in the area and you need something quick. The food is healthy, delicious, and the menu changes frequently with the seasons. Not to mention, the baked goods selection are great and always an added, plus!

From the owner: From focusing on quality ingredients to serving our food to you in a warm and welcoming…read moreenvironment, Panera Bread is committed to being an ally to our guests. That means crafting a menu of soups, salads and sandwiches that we are proud to feed our families. You don't have to compromise to eat well. Whether you want to come in and enjoy a coffee and our complimentary Wi-Fi, or order online using Rapid Pick-Up so you can grab something quickly, Panera Bread Crystal City is here with warmth and welcome. Panera Bread. Food as it should be.

Had a quick morning bite at Toastique and I'm already thinking about going back! The Greek Toast…read morewas a 10/10, the combo of sourdough, hummus, fresh colorful tomatoes, pickled red onion, olives, and feta was dynamic and super flavorful. The blueberry lavender collagen latte came recommended and was the perfect refreshing drink to pair with it. Love how clean and bright the space feels. Bonus points for having cocktails on the menu for a later afternoon treat. Definitely a new favorite in the area! Service was friendly, quick, and efficient!

Smoothies are good but their processes are broken. Your order will never be ready if you order…read moreonline (and system minimum time is 20 minutes). They're 0/3 on online orders. Order in person and wait. $16 24oz smoothie with 30 minute wait is the math you should do when considering should I just make this at home? You can get a juicer online for $90. Employees can only do so much in lieu of poorly designed processes.