We all have our guilty pleasures, and more often than not, it’s food. Admittedly, who doesn’t enjoy great-tasting food? Whether you like to indulge yourself with a fine dining experience once in a while or you’re a loyal customer of one of your favorite local restaurants, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Every town is unique, and each city has its own people, culture, and food that gives it its charm. The same goes for the city of Fairfax VA, where you get to explore the unique cuisine of Northern Virginia through the variety of dishes presented in some of their top restaurants. If you never had the opportunity to explore, what is considered one of the best suburbs in the US through its culinary offering, you are in the right place.
We are about to create a comprehensive list of some of the top restaurants in Fairfax VA. Hopefully, we can provide a bit of insight into the culinary scene of Washington’s metro area. So without further ado, here are some of the best restaurants in Fairfax VA, according to customer ratings.
Artie’s
Not once has Arties received the Travelers’ Choice award for being one of the most desired restaurants amongst visitors and locals. Its 4.5 out of 5 stars rating makes it one of Fairfax’s go-to restaurants. The restaurant serves all your favorite American classic dishes, from chicken and waffles, cheeseburgers, and Bloody Mary’s to the iconic steak dinner, Mac’n cheese, and many others.
The dining area features a gorgeous setting with hardwood floors, walls, and ceiling, with booths and chairs upholstered with teal leather that complements the dining area nicely. With a full bar and enough seating to serve hundreds of hungry dinners, you can expect a complete dining experience accompanied by your favorite meals and drinks.
Artie upholds high standards, yet it is a reasonably priced restaurant where you can get all your favorite foods within a price range of $10 – $30. With vegan and vegetarian-friendly options, everyone can come to Artie’s and enjoy a great dining experience along with the gorgeous views of Lake Winnipesaukee.
Eerkin’s Uyghur Cuisine
Most of you probably didn’t even hear of Uyghur food before; however, the predictions from 2017 that Uyghur food is going to be the next best thing is undoubtedly gaining popularity in Fairfax VA. Eerkin’s Uyghur Cuisine is a restaurant located on University Drive, Fairfax, and the Uyghur cuisine is a mix of Chinese, Middle Eastern, and Central Asian food. This cuisine closely reflects the journey of the Uyghur people and their culture.
If you want to experience the full range of Uyghur delights, head to downtown Fairfax, where you can treat yourself to a range of unique dishes. Try their kathlama naan, four golden triangles that are buttery, crispy, and flaky, similar to a croissant but with much more depth. Lamb kabobs are what you would describe as a meat-on-a-stick embedded in loads of flavorful spices, and manta is a type of dumpling filled with a salty and savory sauce that coats your mouth with so much flavor.
The restaurant serves a variety of noodle dishes, which are for many the true joys from the menu. Reminiscent of Japanese undo, this housemade Laghman that is thick and chewy is best served with a giant plate of chicken and potatoes. If you want to explore the world of Uyghur cuisine, don’t hesitate to visit this excellent restaurant.
Mama Chang
Mama Chang restaurant offers one of the best Chinese cuisine experiences in Fairfax. The space is open, bright and the gleaming white with light wood sets up the atmosphere for an outstanding dining experience. Far from being a low-key strip mall dig, Mama Chang is inspired by the woman with the same name, the mother of Roger Wang.
One of their most famous dishes is the balloon-like scallion bubble pancake, which wows diners with its volume. The pancake can be accompanied by fiery dishes such as the spicy dry-fried cauliflower, chili flounder, and chile-cumin bits of lamb. With salty and snappy green beans and noodles coated in nutty sesame sauce, you are prone to a fantastic dining experience. You can top off the night with a delicious dessert such as a dark chocolate sesame flourless cake with a slim line of fudge or a simple pineapple bun.
Coastal Flats
Coastal Flats is everything you would expect from a top seafood restaurant. The menu focuses on fresh fish and seafood classics. You can order anything from lobster rolls, crab cakes, and burgers to their iconic short smoked salmon and grilled catch of the day. Even though the Coastal Flats restaurant is not located on the coast, it manages to bring that coastline vibe into the dining room.
With an inviting dining room and bar located in the middle, you can enjoy the top quality of fish and seafood. The menu features dishes such as the classic Bacon Cheeseburger with fries, pecan-crusted Trout, baby cake sliders, and key lime pie. You can pair all your favorite dishes with beer or crafted cocktails from the bar area and enjoy the whole experience for a reasonable average price between $10 – $30.
Meokja Meokja
We couldn’t think of a more frenetic affair than K-pop blasting various meats in marinades while smoking and sizzling that delicious Korean barbecue. If that sounds exciting, you are more than welcome to visit the Meokja Meokja restaurant in Fairfax VA. However, this restaurant brings a whole new meaning to Korean barbecue, and instead of hiding behind sweet sauces, the Meokja Meokja lets the beef shine by presenting you with some of the finest cuts.
Care for a 16-ounce prime rib-eye that is beautifully marbled and seasoned only with salt to bring out the fatty flavor? For sides, you can choose to go with a vat melted mozzarella and corn, or something more traditional such as gyeran-jjim, which is the custard-like steamed egg over broth. If your mouth is not watering yet, you have to come to Meokja Meokja to explore the vast land of Korean barbecue theatrics.
Conclusion
From some of the most well-known cuisines worldwide to some of the unique culinary experiences, the restaurant scene of Fairfax VA takes the culinary game to the next level in Northern Virginia. Some of the best restaurants in the area offer a one-of-a-kind dining experience, and through this article, we want to spread the word about these top-rated food places in the area.
If you feel like the restaurant scene is to be enjoyed for the rest of your life, consider relocating to the area. Get in touch with real estate agents in Fairfax VA and find a gorgeous home for you and your family and get to enjoy all the culinary delights and attractions of this great city. If you enjoy our content, make sure to show your support by sharing this blog with your friends on your social media platforms.
Laila Azzahra is a professional writer and blogger that loves to write about technology, business, entertainment, science, and health.