Taco Bamba – Falls Church, Va

What's NEXT: Taco Bamba is led by Chef Victor Albisu, whose offering up his Mexican taco creations in Falls Church, Va. I had the urge to eat there after a long day at King’s Dominion and I was ready to devour some tacos. Each regular taco is $3, but you can get 3 for $8 which I get every time. They do offer specialty tacos at $4+.

The Menu is quite extensive with tacos featuring:

Carne Asado – Grilled Beef

Barbacoa – Shredded Beef
Carnitas – Shredded Pork Confit
Cecina – Seared Beef
Chorizo – Mexican Sausage
Enchilada – Spiced Pork
Lengua – Beef Tongue
Al Pastor – Pork and Pineapple
Tripa – Beef Small Intestine
Ting a- Stewed chicken

The tacos itself were surprisingly flavorful. I decided to order the lengua, carnitas and cecina. Each taco had heaping amounts of meat and by the end of the 3^rd taco, I was surprisingly full. Along with the chips and guacamole appetizer, I knew I couldn't fit another taco in my stomach.

There’s also a sauce bar featuring a multitude of different sauces and salsas available. I prefer what I call the “green crack sauce”. It’s a spicy blend of jalapenos, peppers, cilantro and lime. Trust me, after you've had it, you’ll understand why I call it what it is.

The service is quick and there’s barstool seating. There’s no tables,  but just enough seating for 15 customers. It’s slowing becoming a popular place among the locals for takeout or a quick meal.

Overall, Taco Bamba has fulfilled my 3 main taco criteria:

1.       The tortillas cannot break when eating

2.       Must be enough meat on each taco

3.       Affordable

4/5 Stars

Tacos and Sauces

3 Tacos for $8

Storefront

Jaleo Crystal City – Arlington, Va

Earlier this week, I was invited to a kickoff party for Jose Andres’s 11^th Annual Paella Festival (July 29^th – Aug 11^th) at Jaleo Crystal City. 

The event benefited Jose Andres’s charity, World Central Kitchen and was to promote the 2 week long festival. There were a number of paella stations set up for the event, each presenting its own types of flavors.

Paellas:

Arroz Iberico de bellota – A paella with Iberico belota ribs, sausage, and baby artichokes

Arroz Caldoso de Pollo, Conejo, y Acelgas – A soupy rice with chicken, rabbit, and swiss chard

Arroz de Verduras de Temporada – Traditional paella of summer vegetables

Fideuá Negra con Gambas – A paella of black "fideos" with head-on shrimp and calamari

Other Dishes Include:

Gazpacho

Flan

My favorites of the night were the Fideuá Negra con Gambas (shrimp) and the Arroz de Verduras de Temporada (summer vegetables). The Fideuá Negra con Gambas was great due to the texture of the black fideos and the head on tiger shrimp. The summer vegetable paella was a favorite since it had the greatest crust out of all the paellas. It was cooked thoroughly and charred to perfection, which is exactly what a paella should taste like.

I definitely need to applaud all the staff at Jaleo Crystal City. The event was run very well and everyone was having a great time. The addition of live music also added to the overall experience. I will probably having a paella craving within the next week so count me in. I’ll see you at Jaleo!

4/5 Stars

Arroz de Verduras de Temporada – Traditional paella of summer vegetables

Entrance Area

Arroz Iberico de bellota – A paella with Iberico belota ribs, sausage, and baby artichoke

Gazpacho

Fideuá Negra con Gambas – A paella of black "fideos" with head-on shrimp and calamari

Daikaya – Washington, DC

What's NEXT: When in need for a solid bowl of ramen, look no further than Daikaya. 

Located in the Gallery Place-Chinatown neighborhood, Daikaya was built from the ground up, literally. The old building was completely knocked down in 2012 and took a year to build. The shop opened its doors on Valentine’s Day earlier this year. It brings a modern decor with wood tables, providing customers an authentic ramen shop type feel.

Daikaya is a no-nonsense ramen shop where seating is limited and service is relatively quick. Customers are usually in and out in 30 minutes. I usually opt for the Shio or Mugi-Miso Ramen. Both have very clean flavors and bring out the tremendously rich broth. Since this is a Japanese based ramen shop, they also offer a Shoyu (soy sauce) ramen which I've found to be way too salty. There’s also a vegetarian option as well.

Typical with ramen shops, there’s an add-on for everything: nitamago (soft-boiled egg), chashu (roasted pork), butabara kakuni (roasted pork belly), bamboo, extra noodles etc.  At the end of it, you could easily be spending $20 for a bowl of ramen. I usually just stick with the addition of the chashu which I found to be very flavorful. This keeps my bowl of ramen budget friendly at around $15.

All in all, this is a great place to go if you’re craving ramen or prior to an event at the Verizon Center.

FYI - They also have a Japanese Izakaya upstairs which is relatively new. I definitely need to check that out as well!

4/5 Stars

Mugi-Miso Ramen with Pork Belly

Ramen Menu

Store Front

Horace & Dickies - Washington, DC

What’s NEXT: During the summer, one of my favorites things to eat is fried fish. Whether it’s tilapia, catfish, trout, or sea bass, it’s always hits the spot. When I need to satisfy that craving, I head to Horace & Dickies in the  rising H Street corridor. It’s only a few feet away from Toki Underground and H&Pizza which makes it a great option if you want to try out a few different restaurants (or split food) with a few friends.

Horace and Dickies has been frying up fish for decades and most known for their appearance on Man vs. Food. The man, Adam Richman himself, had high praise for the quality of its fried fish. The restaurant itself is extremely small, take out only, and has an assembly line setup where you order, get your food, and pay. They offer a few variations but I usually opt for the 6 piece fried fish meal  ($10) which comes with 6 pieces of  fried fish, white/wheat bread, tartar sauce and hot sauce. What I love about this place is that usually my 6 piece order ends up with about 10 huge pieces of fish. The orders come in styrofoam trays and they are usually piled high with fish. In addition, the fish is taken straight out of the fryer and right into your styrofoam trays. With their bare hands I might add. Insanely hot. Try not to drop a piece of fish on yourself since it’s served scolding hot.

The fish is flaky and tender, the way it should be. With the addition of the tartar and hot sauce, this is the perfect way to enjoy the summer. Just sit outside on a bench and enjoy the delicious meal in front of you. I usually end up packing leftovers since the portions are ginormous. I would recommend getting the 4 piece if you’re not extremely hungry.

I wish this place had more fish options to choose from or better sides, but it serves its purpose: Fried fish at very affordable prices with a very local feel. Amazing.

4/5 Stars

Store Front

Big Mamma's with Coleslaw, Fried Fish, and Bread

6 Piece Fried Fish Meal

UPDATE: 2013 DC Restaurant Week - August 19-25th

In case you're all waiting for the full list of DC Restaurant Week 2013 was just released!
Check out http://www.ramw.org/restaurantweek/ for a full list of restaurants!

To book a restaurant reservation, visit Open Table and check the available times.

Price Fixe 3 Course Meal:
- Lunch: $20.13
- Dinner: $35.13

Some of my Favorite Restaurants I've previously attended during DC Restaurant Week include:

1. Prime Rib DC http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-prime-rib-washington
2. Raskia West End DC http://www.yelp.com/biz/rasika-west-end-washington
3. Zaytinya DC http://www.yelp.com/biz/zaytinya-washington
4. Chima VA http://nextstopdc.blogspot.com/2013/06/chima-tysons-corner-va.html

Il Mee Korean BBQ Buffet - Annandale, VA

What’s NEXT: The Korean BBQ Buffet at Il Mee is definitely one not to miss if you’re a carnivore like me. During normal lunch and dinner hours, they offer a wide variety of hot food, sushi, and Korean food options.

DISCLAIMER: When I come here though, I’m talking about their late night 10pm-2am $12 AYCE Korean BBQ. You get all you can eat cuts of beef bugolgi, pork belly, spicy chicken and side dishes you want. They also have all the fixings such as spicy bean paste, garlic, jalapenos, lettuce, rice etc. They provide a grill for your table and you cook everything yourself. I usually add the spicy bean paste to everything to give it a little more flavor. 

If you’re more into the sides and tofu soups, I wouldn't recommend coming here. However, if you’re just really hungry and need a decent AYCE place without a long wait, definitely give Il Mee a try!

You can’t beat AYCE Korean BBQ for $12 after 10pm!

3/5 Stars

Lots of Meat Everywhere

Banchan

Sushi Yoshi – Vienna, VA

What’s NEXT: If there’s one place to get sashimi in Northern Virginia, it’s Sushi Yoshi in Vienna. This place has been a regular establishment for Japanese locals to enjoy the best chirashi deal in town and other japanese favorites.

It’s so good that I usually drive out once a month to satisfy my chirashi fix. The Chirashi Deluxe Lunch Special ($14) comes with tuna, salmon, whitefish, squid, picked radishes and more! The complex combination of flavors from the raw/cooked fish and radishes really make this dish absolutely perfect.

Every time I've been here at least half of the tables in the restaurant are ordering the special. It's no secret. Each chirashi special comes with miso soup, salad and a hefty amount of rice.

Service is great here and I would highly recommend making reservations if you’re bringing a large party. The entire restaurant serves less than 30 people. If you’re planning to go last minute like me, I would advise getting there when they open at 11:30am. I'm usually accommodated through bar seating which gives me a front row seat at the sushi chefs prepare the chirashi.

This place is truly something special and I hope every sushi/sashimi aficionado makes it here at least once.

5/5 Stars

Chirashi Deluxe Lunch Special

Kogiya - Annandale, VA

What's NEXT: Kogiya is the new kid on the block when it comes to Korean BBQ. While it’s only been open for a few months, it’s already making waves with the food community. 

Located in Annandale, VA (Korean Capital of VA), most people come here for the Grand Opening Special A for $18.99: All you can eat beef brisket, pork belly (regular, miso, spicy), and spicy chicken. The all you can eat option comes with those meats, unlimited banchan (about 10 varieties), steamed egg and tofu soup.

What separates Kogiya from a competitor such as Honey Pig is the atmosphere. We sat here for 2 hours and not once did we feel rushed by the servers. They bring out meat tray after meat tray once you’ve finished each one. In addition, since eating is more spread out, there was much better ventilation so all of your clothes didn’t smell like you’ve been eating Korean BBQ all day.

Service was great. The quality of the food was excellent given the price.

If you’re not into the buffet thing, they do offer food ala carte too. However, it’s probably more expensive in the end.

Overall, get the $18.99 Grand Opening Special A and you won’t be disappointed!

5/5 Stars

Banchan

Pork Belly

Spicy Chicken

#PhillyEdition Hot Diggity - Philadelphia, PA

Hot Diggity is located on South St in Center City Phildelphia and is serving up some of the best hot dogs of the city. Inspired by the different cuisines throughout the United States, Hot Diggity is aimed towards offering customers a multitude delectable hot dogs. 

The ones I enjoyed the most were the Windy City (Chicago) and the Big Kahuna (Hawaii). 

They a bunch of other hot dogs including the Texas Hold 'Em, the Cincinnati Skyline, the Saigon Fusion, the Desert Dog, the Seattle Grunge, the Fiesta Dog, the Southern Comfort, the Bronx Bomber, and the Philly Surf and Turf

The buns are also a little over sized, which is great. It prevents all of the ingredients from falling out after a single bite. 

4/5 Stars

Hot Diggity Wall of Hot Dogs

Menu

The Windy City

#PhillyEdition Spice 28 - Philadelphia, PA

What's NEXT: While Philadelphia is known for the cheesesteak, many people don't know that Szechuan cuisine is taking over this city by storm. With the addition of Spice 28 into the restaurant scene, restauranteurs are experience asian cuisine is a much different form: the use of Szechuan peppercorns.

I've been to Spice 28 a few times now and I'm always happy with the quality of the dishes. Since I enjoy eating food on the spicier side (aka sweating), we decided to order the chicken in hot chili oil, cucumbers in spicy sauce, green beans with black bean curd, spicy beef in dry pot, mango chicken, and sautéed spinach with garlic. Out of these dishes, my favorites were the chicken in hot chili oil appetizer and the spicy beef in dry pot. Both were extremely spicy and had a great texture as well. Since I enjoy eating Szechuan cuisine, I was sweating in no time. All of the dishes were well executed and I would definitely go back.

If you're not into Szechuan Cuisine (Spicy Food), they also offer a Asian Fusion menu as well with thai dishes etc.

Dishes were very fairly priced. Appetizers were $3-8, entrees were $10-15. The service was very smooth as well. I made a reservation for a group of 5 and we were seated immediately.

Also, if you check in on Yelp, they also offer 10% off you bill.


Stars: 4/4 Stars

Chicken in Hot Chili Oil

Cucumbers in Spicy Sauce

Green Beans in Black Bean Curd

Spicy Beef in Dry Pot

Mango Chicken

Sautéed Spinach with Garlic

Chasin Tails - Arlington, VA

What's NEXT: Located a few minutes from East Falls Church Metro, Chasin Tails is the new kid on the block when it comes to Louisiana style Crayfish. Opened in 2012, the restaurant focuses on Louisiana staples such as crayfish boils, gumbo, jambalaya, mac n' cheese and fried catfish.

For 3, we ordered 2 lbs of crayfish and 1 lb of shrimp. Each can get their own spice level (mild, medium, hot, or N' awlins hot) and flavor (original Cajun, lemon-pepper, garlic butter or shebang aka everything). We opted for the medium spiciness and shebang flavored crayfish and shrimp. If you're every been to Hot N' Juicy Crawfish before, it's a little bit less spicy. Overall, the crayfish were big and absolutely delicious. I would highly recommend them.

For appetizers, I would also recommend the fried green tomatoes which were great. Next time I'll need to try the Fred Gator Tails which I've heard are also amazing.

They have plenty of happy hour specials and weekday specials for dinner. Check out their latest menu here.

When it comes down to it, this place offers amazing food, a unique experience, and awesome service. Writing this review makes me want to go back for dinner tonight.

5/5 Stars

Crawfish Boil

Bar Area

Fried Gator Tails

Toki Underground - Washington, DC

What's NEXT: Toki Underground has gained claim to fame in DC with their famous ramen noodles. Located in the H Street Corridor, Toki serves up, in my opinion, the best ramen in the DC area. Better than Daikaya (Chinatown) , Ren’s Ramen (Rockville, MD), and Sakuramen (Adam’s Morgan).

I usually opt for the Tapei Curry Chicken Ramen or the Toki Classic. Both broths are rich in flavor and extremely tasty. I would recommend getting the Chashu Pork Cheek addon and the Extra Nitamago (Soft egg) as well.

For appetizers, we enjoyed the Taiwanese Style Cold Tofu which came with bonito flakes, scallions and a sweet hoisin based sauce.

The food is always executed flawlessly and consistent.

Tips:
- This place is only at 5pm daily and closed on Sun. Since it only seats 30 people and does not take reservations, I would recommend getting there right before the doors open. We went on a rainy day last week and there were still 8 people in front of us when the doors opened.
- Get the Taiwan beer! You can’t find this in many plays so I usually get it with my bowl of Ramen
- Sample the other H street restaurants if you get caught with a 2 hour wait! There are so many including H&Pizza and Horace and Dickies.

5/5 Stars

Taiwanese Style Cold Tofu

Taiwan Chicken Curry Ramen

Toki Classic