Now Open: Chicken + Whiskey, Nue and Turkish Coffee Cart Ballstonian

Northern Virginia’s dining scene is nothing if not dynamic, with new places popping up on a regular basis. Hungry for something new? Here’s the latest dish on area restaurants, including newcomers to check out now and much-anticipated openings on the horizon.

Now Open

Ballstonian

Author, film director and restaurant industry veteran Isa Seyran debuted his custom coffee cart earlier this month, serving Turkish coffee and baklava—a duo he refers to as one of the “three perfect pairings in the world” (along with champagne and oysters, and Oregon pinot noir with salmon)—from a three-wheeled vehicle he imported from his native Turkey. A portion of proceeds will be donated to rebuilding efforts in central Turkey following the earthquake that ravaged the region in early 2023. In the coming months, bring your pup with you when you stop by the cart; Seyran is working on a bone-shaped “barklava” for furry friends. Opened: June 19. // 4000 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Ballston)

Mpanadas

This family-owned South American cafe serves up barbecue pork and cheeseburger empanadas, birthday cake paletas, java chip macaroons, and other sweet and savory treats. Thirsty? Add an iced coffee or hot chocolate to your order. Opened: June 17. // 2602 Columbia Pike Suite B, Arlington

Chicken + Whiskey

For pollo frito sandwiches, pork belly arepas and yuca fries, head to this Peruvian rotisserie chicken chainlet. The Clarendon storefront is the brand’s fourth location, pouring pisco punch, green tea shots and, of course, plenty of whiskey. Opened: June 16. // 3033 Wilson Blvd., Suite 111R, Arlington (Clarendon)

Joon

From lauded cookbook author Najmieh Batmanglij and chef Christopher Morgan (of Michelin-starred Maydan in the District) comes this upscale Persian eatery in Tysons. The menu features shareable plates such as fried sardines with Aleppo chile, as well as filet mignon kabobs, Persian love cake with blackberry jam, and craft cocktails. Opened: June 14. // 8045 Leesburg Pike, Tysons

Good Company Coffee Bar

Ballston-based Good Company Doughnuts & Cafe expanded to National Landing in May with this lobby coffee shop inside Amazon’s new Metropolitan Park. Find coffee drinks and pastries, plus a full menu of soups, salads, sandwiches and dinner entrees at the freestanding cafe the company plans to open later this summer. Opened: May 22. // Metropolitan Park, 510 14th St. South, Arlington (National Landing)

Gyu San

Japanese barbecue restaurant Gyu San debuted in Ballston this spring, offering yakiniku (grilled meat), sushi and sake. Take your pick of appetizers such as ikura chawanmushi (cold steamed egg with ikura, uni and scallion), rolls like the flaming finale (spicy bluefin tuna, avocado, finished off with salmon, yellowtail, truffle sauce and red tobiko) and premium cuts of beef, lamb and pork. Opened: May 17. // 4300 Wilson Blvd., Suite 150, Arlington (Ballston)

Chasin’ Tails

Missin’ Chasin’ Tails at the corner of Langston Boulevard and Westmoreland Street? That location has closed, but in May, the restaurant resurfaced in Falls Church City, joining a host of new and forthcoming eateries at the new Founders Row development. Parent company Happy Endings Hospitality has rebranded the Cajun oyster, shrimp and crawfish destination as a “seafood social,” saying they “believe food is better when it’s shared with great company.” Opened: May 4. // 110 Founders Ave., Falls Church

Call Your Mother’s Lil’ Deli

Find peace, love and carbs at this mobile bagelry in McLean. The food-truck-meets-tiny-house is the ninth outpost for Call Your Mother, which opened its first shop in D.C. in 2018. Try the Bacon Sun City—a bacon, egg and cheese bagel sandwich with spicy honey—as well as chocolate babka muffins, pizza bagels and specialty lattes. Opened: May 4. // 6216 Old Dominion Drive, McLean

Big Buns Damn Good Burgers

This McLean burger joint is the ninth location for the 2023 Best of Arlington winner, which launched its flagship eatery in Ballston in 2007. Dig into horseradish bourbon burgers, Shirlington hot chicken sandwiches and Redonculous Reese’s shakes, scooped into peanut butter-and-Reese’s Pieces-rimmed cups. Opened: April 26. // 1336 Chain Bridge Road, McLean

Matchbox

The local go-to for wood-fired pizzas expanded this spring to McLean, where the ample menu also features white wine mussels, mini burgers, barbecue baby back ribs, miso salmon and walnut butter cake. Pull up a seat at the bar for a glass of prosecco or a Tito’s Texican Standoff, a vodka drink made with Topo Chico and lime. Opened: April 26. // 1340 Chain Bridge Road, McLean

Nue

Chic Vietnamese eatery Nue opened its doors at Founders Row in April. Enjoy lavish interiors and seasonal menus at the Happy Endings Hospitality restaurant, whose current offerings include grilled oysters, coconut curry risotto and dry-aged ribeye with a soy-black pepper glaze. Opened: April 25. // 944 West Broad St, Falls Church

Ellie Bird

From executive chef Yuan Tang and general manager Carey Tang, the husband-wife duo behind D.C.’s Michelin-starred Rooster & Owl, comes this laid-back cafe named for the Tangs’ younger daughter. On the menu, find house-made pastas, lamb shank, kimchi bouillabaisse, pineapple buns and a selection of kid-approved items like mac and cheese. Opened: April 14. // 125 Founders Ave., Falls Church City

Our Mom Eugenia

Family-owned Greek Taverna Our Mom Eugenia opened its third Virginia location in March, this time in Shirlington, where the kitchen is turning out spanakopita, moussaka, branzino and a clear must-order: the baklava ice cream sandwich. Opened: March 30. // 4044 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington)

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams

For those nights when you want to upgrade from a grocery-store pint to a giant cone packed with multiple flavors of Jeni’s ice cream, head to this Shirlington storefront, where the creative flavors include brambleberry crisp, wedding cake, goat cheese with red cherries, and limited-edition scoops. Opened: March 21. // 4150 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington)

Slipstream

This D.C. coffee shop hopped across the Potomac with a Ballston storefront serving cortados, espresso tonics, Mexican chocolate scones and shakshuka poached-egg sandwiches. Opened: March 20. // 4300 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Ballston)

Haute Dogs

This frank, brat and burger outpost in Arlington’s Williamsburg neighborhood grills next-level cookout fare. Think Banh mi dogs with jalapeno, cucumber and carrots. Buffalo Dogs with blue cheese, hot sauce and ranch. And a sriracha mayo-meets-sauteed onions-and-jalapenos concoction called the Betty White Burger. The shop—which also has locations in Alexandria, D.C. and a Nats Park concession stand—carries an array of tot options (including a cheesesteak rendition), and can make any dog or burger vegetarian. Opened: Feb. 25. // 2910 N. Sycamore St., Arlington

Jiwa Singapura

From Pepe Moncayo—the chef behind the Michelin-starred, Spanish kaiseki restaurant Cranes in D.C.—comes this fine dining eatery in Tysons. With soaring 30-foot ceilings, an open kitchen and a 3,000-square foot fireplace, the restaurant blends traditional Singaporean plates with elevated dishes derived from family recipes. Highlights include sardine curry puffs and snow crab with chili sauce, as well as cocktails such as “If Merlions Could Talk,” a rum drink named for the mythical fish-meets-lion creature popular in Singaporean culture. Opened: Feb. 15. // 1702U The Galleria at Tysons, Floor 3M, McLean 

Chase the Submarine

After a more than five-year hiatus, Chase the Submarine has resurfaced. The Vienna sandwich shop from chefs Tim Ma (Lucky Danger) and Scott Chung (Bun’d Up, Sparrow Room) has relocated to the small Westpost storefront that was formerly home to Bread and Water, serving banh mi, marinated mushroom, and peanut-butter-and-jelly subs. Later this year, the sub shop will be joined by a wine and cocktail bar called No Chaser (get it?), in the same space. Opened: Feb. 14. // 1201 S. Joyce St., Arlington (Westpost)

La Coop Coffee

Shorthand for “la cooperativa” (the cooperative in Spanish), La Coop dates back to 2006, when founder and coffee farmer Juan Luis Salazar Cano created a coffee cooperative among his friends and family members in his hometown of Unión Cantinil, Guatemala. Arlington Forest is now home to the company’s second brick-and-mortar location (the first in Virginia), a 1,200-square-foot space with a coffee bar and outdoor seating. On the menu, find single-origin coffee, dirty horchatas (house-made horchata with a shot of espresso or coffee), breakfast sandwiches, empanadas, pastries and ice cream. A lunch menu is on the way. Opened: Feb. 11. // 4807 First St. N., Arlington

Sabores Tapas Bar

Apple salad with jicama and manchego. Lomo saltado with peppers, tomatoes and fried potatoes. A ribeye steak sandwich with chimmichurri. Find these and other small plates at this new tapas joint on the Pike, specializing in culinary traditions from Spain and Latin America. Thirsty? The Penrose restaurant—from industry veterans Alex López, Carlos Olarte and Ernesto Valenzuela—also serves a host of beer, wine and cocktail options. Dinner and brunch service are now available, with lunch on the way. Opened: Feb. 11. // 2401 Columbia Pike, Arlington

Captain Cookie and the Milkman

This decade-old purveyor of sweet treats has set up shop in Courthouse, sharing delights ranging from fresh-baked snickerdoodles to strawberry ice cream sandwiches. Got a post-dinner sweet tooth? The shop—which began as a food truck in 2012—stays open late Thursday to Saturday, when it keeps the oven fired up till midnight. (Closing time Sunday to Wednesday is 10 p.m.). Opened: Feb. 10. // 2200 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington (Courthouse)

 

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Hangry Joe’s

If you love Nashville hot chicken, pay a visit to this new Ballston chicken joint, which also recently opened a storefront at Bailey’s Crossroads and has more than two dozen other locations in the DMV and beyond. Dig into chicken fingers, chicken and waffles, and the chicken “sando” (chicken breast, cider slaw, pickle and hangry sauce on brioche), all prepared to your degree of fire. Guests are advised to specify their “spice level” on a six-point scale, from no heat to “angry hot.” Opened: Jan. 30. // 875 N. Randolph St., Arlington (Ballston)

CinéBistro

This dine-in theater in Tysons, part of a cinema chain with theaters in multiple states, offers the chance to kick back with a film while enjoying a decadent meal from experienced chefs. Enjoy dishes like blackened salmon with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, or artichoke cakes with Old Bay remoulade and Brazilian tomato slaw, both of which are served in the theater as well as the CMX Stone Bar in the lobby. Can’t decide whether you’re in the mood for a drink or a treat? Opt for one of the boozy milkshakes on the menu. Opened: Jan. 27. // 2001 International Drive, 1700 U Level 3M, McLean

Foxtrot

For breakfast tacos, a bar and a market all in one, meet Foxtrot, an upscale cafe and food shop where you’ll find plenty of goodies to stock your pantry and refrigerator shelves, including gourmet queso, cashew dip, pistachio halva and key lime “icicle pies.” The Rosslyn eatery also offers made-to-order meals for in-house or takeout dining, including the veggie brekkie (frittata egg patty, pimiento cheese spread, arugula). Add some wine, beer, spirits or hard kombucha to your cart, or pull up a chair and enjoy a drink before you head home. Opened: Jan. 13. // 1771 N. Pierce St., Arlington (Rosslyn)

Phở Gà Vàng

This new Vietnamese restaurant in Eden Center is planning a grand opening celebration for the end of April, but is already welcoming diners during its extended soft opening. Chef Tony Le—who hails from Westminster, California’s “Little Saigon“—has also helmed the kitchens of pho restaurants in Atlanta, Las Vegas and Philadelphia. Opened: Dec. 25. // 6767 Wilson Blvd., Falls Church

Skydome

This revolving restaurant atop the Double Tree by Hilton Crystal City Hotel took a three-year hiatus during the pandemic. Now it’s back, with a new menu and the same incredible views of the D.C. skyline. Executive Chef Klaus Happel designed a menu of “American fare through a Mediterranean lens,” with options such as grilled octopus with potato-chorizo corn hash, and Wagyu burgers with cheddar and candied bacon. For a divine experience, sip the Nectar of the Gods, a blend of Absolut pear vodka, pear nectar, lemon, agave and 24-karat gold flakes. Opened: Jan. 10. // 300 Army Navy Drive, Arlington (National Landing)

Kirby Club

This Mosaic kebab outpost, from the folks behind D.C.’s Compass Rose and its Michelin-starred sister, Maydan, is helmed by executive chef Omar Hegazi (Bourbon Steak, Zaytinya). Try the beef-and-lamb kofta, chicken kebabs with hints of fenugreek, or a little bit of everything in a shareable spread known as the “kebab shindig.” Pair these Eastern Mediterranean dishes with a za’artini—made with za’atar-infused gin, olive bitters, vermouth and a lemon twist. And get comfortable: “Imagine you’re sitting down to eat kebab with your Lebanese grandmother for the first time,” reads the website. “Now imagine we’re your grandmother.” Opened: Dec. 20. // 2911 District Ave., Fairfax

Eli’s Taqueria

From father-and-daughter team Nevi Paredes and Elizabeth Marquez (a Yorktown High alum) comes this Columbia Pike eatery, an outgrowth of Paredes’ Taqueria La Ceibita food truck. Stop by for beef birria tortas, shrimp tacos and pupusas. And wash those down with agua de Jamaica, agua de tamarindo or horchata. Opened: Dec. 16. // 3207 Columbia Pike, Arlington (Columbia Pike)

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Coming Soon

Taco Bamba

Ever-expanding taqueria Taco Bamba is soon to open its second Arlington outpost (and the tenth for the region) with its Shirlington storefront. Expect a full bar and patio seating, as well as a menu of traditional tacos and preparations unique to Shirlington, including the pork al pao-pao (soy lemongrass pork, chili de arbol peanut spread and cilantro). Expected opening: June 29. // 4041 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington)

Toby’s Homemade Ice Cream 

Beloved local ice cream parlor Toby’s will launch its third location this summer with a shop at Amazon’s Met Park. Find flavors like ube, salted caramel and coconut chocolate crunch, as well as “sinfully delicious sundaes.” Expected opening: Mid-July. // 510 14th St. South, Arlington (National Landing)

Coco B’s

A tropical companion hangout spot to B Live in Clarendon is coming soon to Clarendon. Gear up for tropical drinks and a rooftop bar built into the former home of famed bar Whitlow’s on Wilson. Expected opening: July 2023. // 2854 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)

Astro Beer Hall

This bi-level beer hall—from Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken owners Elliot Spaisman and Jeff Halpern, and bar pros Tin Shop (Highline RxR)—will double as a doughnut shop and all-day cafe, serving lunch and dinner fare from loaded tots to fried portobello mushroom sandwiches. Did we mention the billiards, arcade games and big-screen TVs? Expected opening: Summer 2023. // 4001 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington)