AN is a typical bowl spot with both set and build your own bowl options and a variety of Southeast…read moreAsian inspired bases, proteins, and toppings to choose from. I made my own bowl and liked the topping options but the bases (vermicelli noodles, bok choy, and veg mix) and were underwhelming as was the teriyaki chicken. The best thing by far is the crispy pork belly which for a $2 up-charge you can have 3pcs. It also comes with a complimentary cup of broth which was surprisingly aromatic and flavorful. It's a large portion but not one I'd spend $20 on again.

Thanks to IG for the recommendation of trying out this spot. This spot is like a Viet Chipotle. You…read morecan choose a bowl they have set or your can make your own. The service was really great! They were patient and answered all of our questions. The vibe is very modern and cozy. It may look small, but there is a lot of seating upstairs. I made my own bowl with a side of the chicken broth. Bowl was good but what really caught my attention is the BROTH! I would come here just for the broth! lol. That's what really gives my review 5 stars. I highly recommend this spot!

The food was delicious. My family and I went to DC for vacation and this was the first place we ate…read moreat after we landed from the airport. The service was super good even though we all looked like a total wreck and were tired haha. The young woman who served us was patient and quick. Atmosphere was as homey, calm, and warm. It looked clean and well kept. I would definitely come back.

Always a solid spot for a meal. The restaurant is always clean and I always have good service. One…read morething to note is that not all of the seating is comfortable. I would ask for a booth/regular seating if you don't want to sit on the high top stools. I tried the mushroom and eggplant bao for the first time and was pleasantly surprised. I could definitely eat more than two of these. The chicken katsu curry is a generous portion size and I took some home. My only note is that I would prefer more curry sauce for a more even sauce to rice ratio.

Dishonor to my cow and my entire family for not taking a picture of this food! The people here were…read moreso kind--literally the sweetest. I don't even know how to describe the energy in this place, but you can just feel it the moment you walk in. The restaurant has a dark aesthetic that gives it such a cool, cozy ambiance. My daughter and I ordered the Dan Dan noodles and spicy wontons. Everything was so filling that we ended up ordering another bowl of the Dan Dan noodles! And honestly, I still crave them. The Dan Dan noodles were SO good. The sauce was the perfect combination of creamy and spicy, and there was a generous amount of minced pork that balanced everything out really well. The wontons paired perfectly with the chili sauce that came with them! They were spicy--my ears turned red and my nose started running--but I literally could not stop going back for another bite. Even the wontons alone were incredibly filling. I don't live anywhere near this place, and I genuinely wish I did. I traveled pretty far to get here, and I'd absolutely do it again. This was one of those meals that stays on your mind long after you've left!

If you love spicy food and sichuan pepper seasoning you will love this vibey neighborhood spot. If…read moreyou are lucky enough to find a reservation, definitely go. Great cocktails, better food. Some of our favorites are the salt and pepper eggplant and the OG LaZy chicken. Inside is dimly lit with energetic music. There are only 6 or 7 tables inside and rest is seating. Outside is nothing special but you'll still have great food.

Great menu with lots of choices for all…read more Excellent service in a comfortable atmosphere.

Came here for dinner on a Wednesday night. Lots of people at the bar but not many diners around 8…read morePM. Was going to try their Japanese Ramen, but it didn't really hit the mark for traditional Japanese Ramen compared to the Ramen shops. Does it hit the spot? Sure because it's tasty but the noodles, the broth, the ingredients when compared to authentic Japanese is not quite there. Also tried the spicy beef pho. It really wasn't that spicy a lot more water down probably for more Americanized taste. I personally enjoyed it because I was actually afraid it would be super spicy, but it was more that it wasn't very aromatic. That was the missing piece for me.

They're were out of everything and I couldn't get a chance to try it. It's an airport and flights…read morecome in and out-if you're going to be open-you gotta have supply for the demand. Maybe on my way home I'll come back and get to try it.

I might be in the minority here but I liked it lol. I think the whole context that it's airport…read morefood matters here. If I was served the rice bowl in a restaurant, I'd probably give it some side eye but compared to MCdonalds or something, iam glad I choose this. Sure, the rice bowls are kinda visually unappealing. The taste was fine. I'd come back here for the bao. Don't expect an authentic experience, but if you want a dumpling and you're at the airport, this will meet that craving.

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

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

We had such a great time exploring Shōtō. We started with sushi and California maki rolls. The…read moresashimi was very fresh, and the hamachi was my favorite. From there, we moved on to the skewers, chicken and pork, then grilled steak and scallops. And of course, there's nothing quite like the feeling of Wagyu beef melting in your mouth. It was a lot of food, but everything tasted so good that at some point, you just stopped setting boundaries and kept exploring. You can tell how adventurous everyone was by the variety of desserts we ordered. Some had a perfect Japanese twist, especially the matcha tiramisu and yuzu cheesecake. The interior and ambiance are nice, stylish without being over the top. I think it's a great place for team building or business dinner.

Took my girlfriend here for her birthday and it was the right call. The edamame was a simple,…read morewell-executed starter -- nothing fancy, but it set the tone before the real highlights arrived. The toro tacos were a standout -- rich, buttery toro paired with a crisp shell, the kind of bite that balances luxury with a little bit of fun. We rounded things out with several maki rolls, all fresh and well put together, each one distinct enough that ordering a few felt worth it rather than repetitive. Beyond the food, the service made the night -- attentive without being intrusive, which is exactly what you want for a birthday dinner. The ambience matched too: romantic, trendy, dim lighting that made it feel like an occasion without trying too hard. Great pick for a celebration -- between the toro tacos, the maki, and the overall vibe, Shoto delivered on every front.

If you think you'll just walk up to Tiger Fork, think again. It's tucked away in an alley amid…read moremurals and a few other businesses. Reservations are encouraged as this place does get busy and it leads to the phone not being answered. Small staff but big hearts for the customers. I've enjoyed the high level of customer service during my visits. Can we talk about the pork belly? Chiillle, it runs out fast so go early. If they do run out, the soy garlic chicken dish will get you right. The mixologists do a kick butt job on the drinks and there are non-alcoholic options if you're not in a getting tipsy mood. I was pleased with the different flavors and portion sizes. There may have been one dish that I wasn't over the moon about, and even then it was still edible. The manager will come to discuss any substitutions if they run out of an item. When this happens, they more than make up for it by offering something comparably delicious. I would recommend and return to explore more of the menu.

My friends and I came here for dinner on a Sunday night! It was pretty chill and we got seated…read moreright away. The restaurant had a good ambiance and would be a good spot for a date night. For appetizers, we shared the salt and pepper calamari and the jah leung. The calamari was good was but was on the saltier side. I've never had jah leung; it was a very pretty dish and tasted interesting but not sure if I really liked the textures. For my entree, I ordered the beef brisket chow fun. I liked how tender the beef was but it was also on the saltier side. I got to try my husband's char siu place and my friend's crispy pork belly. Both were really tasty and I would probably get those next time instead! Overall, the service was good and I was pretty happy with the food in general (maybe I'm just sensitive to salt).