Restaurants come and go in our area all the time, and we are here to help you keep track. Recently opened eateries are serving authentic Thai dishes, Nashville-style fried chicken and desserts that have their own desserts, like a cupcake-topped milkshake. Find your new favorites here.
Last updated Oct. 1.
October Openings
Best Buns Bakery & Burgers
What had three places to find baked goods and burgers now has four. The Falls Church location opened Oct. 1 in Commons Park of West Falls to serve freshly made pastries, sandwiches, salads and all-day breakfast. On the second floor, find the full food menu, plus cocktails, wine and beer. Besides burgers, you can build a meal with fried chicken sandwiches or salads, such as the Mango Chicken with Spiced Pecans. 265 W. Falls Station Blvd., Falls Church
September Openings
Bullfrog Bagels
Starting Sept. 28, you can grab hand-rolled and boiled bagels from the Ghostburger stall at Rosslyn’s Upside on Moore food hall. They’re a bread option when you order any breakfast sandwich, whether it’s a build-your-own or a house speciality like the Otto Superiore (scrambled egg, bacon, pimento cheese, pickled red onion, pickled jalapeño, cilantro jalapeño aioli). If it’s a dozen you seek, the counter will serve plain, everything, sesame, poppyseed, cinnamon raisin, asiago cheese and whole wheat bagels. 1700 N. Moore St., Arlington (Rosslyn)
Singha Thai
A small restaurant is generated big excitement with its soft opening Sept. 15. Get the meal going with Tom Yum Fries (fried potato with tom yum seasoning and spicy mayo) or a Grilled Beef Spicy Salad. Then, choose from five fried-rice dishes, four curries and seven noodle options. The eatery also has special bowls, such as the Spicy Larb Chicken Popcorn, which is made with popcorn chicken, chili, roasted rice powder, scallions, cilantro and lime juice all atop rice. 2900 N. Sycamore St., Arlington (Williamsburg)
Lil’ Cakes & Creamery
Who couldn’t use a little more sweetness these days? As of Sept. 11, there’s a new place to get it in dessert form at Founders Row. For a handheld treat, try the cupcakes, which come in fun flavors such as Banana Pudding and White Chocolate Vanilla Chai Latte. Or spring for a premium cookie like the Double Dubai Chocolate or Oreo Red Velvet Fudge. The place is a sugar lover’s playground with other options such as a cupcake milkshake (as in a cupcake sits atop a milkshake), ice cream, brownies and cake jars. This the chainlet’s seventh location in the DMV. 120 Founders Ave., Falls Church
Open Road Outpost & Biergarten
Taking over the former Él Bebe space at The Boro in Tysons is this spinoff of the Metropolitan Hospitality Group’s popular Open Road concept, which has three locations across Northern Virginia, including in Rosslyn and Merrifield. Outfitted with a colorful bar, multiple large-format TVs and an outdoor biergarten, the restaurant boasts a menu of American favorites, including smashburgers, house-smoked wings, hand-cut fries and a shrimp-topped salad. The beverage program includes craft beers, local brews and rotating drafts, plus cocktails made with spirits from Open Road Distilling Co. in Reston. The biergarten will be open Wednesday-Saturday, 4-9 p.m., weather permitting, with live music, corn hole, and full food and drink service. The grand opening was Sept. 11. 8354 Broad St., Tysons
Nash and Smashed
The fast-casual chain that started in Manassas in 2023 is now 27 locations strong, including two newbies in NoVa. On Sept. 10, the restaurant, which specializes in spicy Nashville fried chicken opened a shop in Falls Church and another on Glebe Road in Arlington a couple weeks ago. Besides the signature fried chicken—available as bone-in pieces, wings and tenders—the eatery also makes smashburgers and shakes. 2333 S. Eads St., Arlington (National Landing); 7450 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church; and 310 N. Glebe Road, Arlington (Buckingham)
Solace Outpost
Replacing El Rey, which closed over the summer, this new Solace Brewing location opened Sept. 9. On the beer menu are Ballston Lager, Vibrant Thing Strawberry Lemon and Lil Bit Cloudy. Food options include beer-battered onion rings, burgers, brats and bowls. Check the website for upcoming events (read: football watch parties). Swing by on a weekday from 3-6 p.m. for happy hour, or get growler fills for half off on Tuesdays. Feeling smart? Trivia Night is Wednesday. 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Ballston)
Il Radicchio
After closing its original location between Courthouse and Rosslyn, which enjoyed a 30-year run, this Italian staple is reopening Sept. 4 in Clarendon, in the former Mazaro space. The delivery menu includes build-your-own pastas, small plates (think fried burrata) and pizzas, including the Salsiccia Grigliata topped with Italian sausage, peppers, arugula, smoky tomato sauce and mozzarella. 2909 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
Wonder
With a grand opening on Sept. 3, Falls Church became the latest NoVa locale to welcome the concept with outposts stretching from the Mid-Atlantic into New England. (There are locations in Rosslyn, Reston, Manassas and Alexandria, too.) Wonder caters to diners or groups with a variety of cravings. Customers can mix and match dishes from any of the restaurants in a single order for dine-in, takeout or delivery. In Falls Church dining, those eateries include The Mainstay by Marc Murphy, Tejas Barbecue, Alanza, Royal Greens and Limesalt. 100 W. Broad St., Falls Church
August Openings
Tatiana Pizza
Bring your appetite for hearty slices of New York-style pizza from this Cherrydale newcomer, which opened Aug. 26, becoming the first Virginia location of a pizzeria that originated in Dupont Circle. In addition to the requisite cheese and pepperoni options, you can get a Chicken Bacon Ranch, Crab or Vegilicious pizza. Chicken wings, subs, pasta and salads are on the menu, too. 3610 Langston Blvd., Arlington (Cherrydale)
Sweetgreen
The salad specialist that started in Georgetown in 2007 opened its first drive-through spot in the area on Aug. 20 in McLean. The location opened last December, joining about 300 others nationwide, but now it has a “Sweetlane,” where people can place and pick up orders. 6220 Old Dominion Drive, McLean
MoMoGoGo
This AYCE sushi spot opened Aug. 15 in Penrose Square. Made-to-order special rolls include the Lisa Lisa, Golden Spider and Black Dragon. Prep your palate with a bowl of seafood miso soup or some seaweed salad. Prefer a hot, cooked meal? Order ramen, udon or baked mussels. 2501 Ninth Road S., Arlington (Penrose)
Shotted
What began seven years ago as a pop-up at D.C.-area events is now taking over brick-and-mortar locations throughout the area. As of Aug. 8, the sixth and newest spot to get the Saudi-inspired coffee is in the former Compass Coffee location at the Shops at West Falls Church. Bonus: It’s also the first location with a drive-thru. On the menu are rose, pistachio and red velvet lattes; sweets such as date toffee and saffron tres leche cake; and a slew of sammies and toasts topped with avocado, mozzarella or cookie butter. 7393 Route 29, Falls Church
Xi’an Famous Foods
This New York-born concept known for its Chinese hand-pulled noodles (which we mentioned in our story about dining in Queens) opened its first Northern Virginia storefront Aug. 7 at The Crossing Clarendon. For the family-owned chain with a James Beard Award-nominated chef, the Clarendon spot will be the biggest one yet. That means you’ll have plenty of space to slurp Stewed Pork Hand-Ripped or Cold-Skin noodles and pop Spicy & Sour Spinach Dumplings. 2800 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
Dolan Uyghur
Craving Uyghur and Turkish dishes? As of Aug. 3, there’s another spot to get your fix. The local chainlet opened its fifth location in Crystal City to dish up kebabs, hand-pulled noodles and savory stews. According to the menu, chef’s specialties include Arlash Korma (stir-fried lamb with onions, black wood ear mushrooms, cucumbers, oyster sauce and tomatoes) Red Chili Chicken with white rice. Vegetarian options are available, too, such as fried eggplant and spicy tofu. A storefront opened in Falls Church in 2024 at 400 S. Maple Ave. 320 23rd St., S., Arlington (Crystal City)
Ducky’s
In the mood for bite-size fast food? This food truck serves mini burgers made with Halal meat on freshly baked buns, chicken tenders and fries loaded with breaded beef-fried steak or shaved parmesan and truffle mayo. For something green, there’s the Leafy Crispy or Blaze Garden salads. Two signature dishes are the Crispy Bites (seven mini fried chicken sammies topped with cheddar cheese) and Ducky’s Original Bites (seven itty bitty cheese-topped beef patties). 1200 W. Broad St., Falls Church
Closings
Captain Cookie & the Milkman
Owner Kirk Francis closed the brick-and-mortar shop in Courthouse recently. But you can still get your sugar fix from his food trucks. Check the website to find out where they’ll be parked next. 2200 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington (Courthouse)
Chip City
The cookie has crumbled for the Northern Virginia locations of this dessert shop. The Clarendon, Shirlington and Tysons stores all closed Sept. 22. 2700 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon); 4014 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington); and 1961 Chain Bridge Road, Tysons
El Mercat Bar de Tapas
A year after opening at Westpost, the restaurant has closed. 1301 S. Joyce St., Arlington
Preservation Biscuit Co.
Owner and co-founder Tricia Barba announced Sept. 21 that the restaurant would close at the end of the month. “We’ll be here through Sunday, September 27, making biscuits and probably getting a little emotional about all of it,” the post states. 102 E. Fairfax St., Falls Church
Corso Italian
A staple at the Village at Shirlington for 15 years closed Sept. 17. It had been closed for several weeks after construction-related flooding forced what owner Jill Erber had hoped would be a temporary closure. “Flood remediation and repairs could not be completed on a schedule that would allow Corso to reopen in a timely fashion. Given that new reality, we and the landlord agreed to end the lease,” she wrote in an Instagram post. 4024 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington)
Mister Days
Bobby Lee, who opened the beloved bar in 1977, died at the end of August, and the restaurant closed permanently. Originally situated in D.C., Lee moved it to Clarendon in 1999. He closed it in 2019, but brought it back at a location across the street in 2024. 1101 N Highland St., Arlington (Clarendon)
Los Tios Grill
The Arlington location of this Tex-Mex and Salvadoran mini chain closed Aug. 30 after seven years. Its storefronts in Alexandria and Leesburg are still open. 515 23rd St. S., Arlington (Crystal City)
Él Bebe
The restaurant and biergarten at The Boro in Tysons shuttered Aug. 30 and is reopening as an Open Road concept Sept. 11. 8354 Broad St., Tysons
Matchbox
The Mosaic District location of this Thompson Restaurant Group concept closed Aug. 16. Makers Union, another eatery from the company, will replace it, although an exact date is TBD. 2911 District Ave., FairfaxÂ
Alta Strada
Mosaic District’s popular Italian restaurant closed July 25. 2911 District Ave., Fairfax
