Noodle Nirvana and Dim Sum Dreams: Where to Find Asian Food in the DMV

For many years, I have taken the trip to the suburbs of Washington, DC (now known as the DMV, short for DC/MD/VA) to visit businesses built by Asian Americans, who comprise 10% of the population. Given the proximity to the nation’s capital, these communities largely in Falls Church, VA, Rockville, MD and Ellicott City, MD are a draw not only for people visiting the area but also for many of the diplomats living in the area who are interested in a taste of foods from home.

Vietnamese food at Eden Center.

I was familiar with Eden Center, which I have visited on several occasions. It’s a Vietnamese-founded retail complex with more than 120 family-owned restaurants, shops and supermarkets catering to the large community of immigrants who arrived in the area following the Vietnam War.

What less people may know is that there is a thriving Korean community and businesses catering to Japanese and Chinese people in the area. Rockville has long had a high concentration of Chinese immigrants and their businesses as a result of the opening of Asian grocery stores and the gentrification of Washington, DC’s Chinatown, where soaring rents contributed to the departure of a number of authentic businesses.

The area is seeing a transformation from low-rise sprawl on Rockville Pike to more urban development and continues to draw some big name businesses. In Falls Church, where celebrated Korean-American chef David Chang hails from, there is a vibrant Korean community with several dining and cultural experiences. While not explicitly designated as a "Koreatown," it has a notable Korean presence, particularly in its food scene. The same has more recently been true of Ellicott City, MDs which has officially been recognized as Maryland's Koreatown. This area, particularly along a five-mile stretch of Route 40, boasts numerous Korean-owned businesses, including restaurants, shops, and cafes.

New Japanese food market in Northern Virginia.

Excitingly, the area also has a number of businesses focusing on food and products from Japan. For many years, if you wanted an authentic product from Japan, you had to go to Hana Market, located in DC. But now, you can find a number of new offerings that are indeed very authentic shipping products daily from Japan.

I am fortunate that my family has been interested in exploring these regions as much as I am and we have come away with a few favorites that I wanted to share for anyone who is interested in exploring these cuisines and cultures further.

District of Columbia

As the capital of the United States, there are a number of restaurants catering to those who have lived or worked in a diverse set of nations.

Hana Market – This is a compact grocery store not far from Adams Morgan on the 17th Street NW that offers traditional Japanese staples including homemade onigiri, snacks and produce. The space is small, but it is packed to the brim and is a well worn stop for those in the know.

Love, Makoto – Featuring full service and quick options, this food hall is filled with wonderful options including Dear Sushi, Beloved BBQ, Love on the Run, and Hiya Izakaya. It’s a fun spot to visit after work and sit at the bar for happy hour with a few skewers of grilled meat, which is not that far removed from an experience that you might have in Tokyo. Located in the Judiciary Square area of the city, it’s not too far from Capitol Hill and an easy drive for anyone located east of the city as I am.

Trying matcha at Marafuji Market.

Northern Virginia

Diverse in its offerings, Northern Virigina encompassing Fairfax, Arlington, and Loudoun counties is famous for its Vietnamese and Korean populations but also includes a new Japanese market that is well worth checking out for shear variety.

Marafuji Japanese Market – This store encompasses 18,000 square feet of Japanese products from fresh sashimi and chirashi to wagyu and matcha. Located just a stone’s throw from Tyson’s Corner, it’s convenient to shopping and the metro. One of the most exciting offerings are the dozens of varieties of sushi-grade fish flown in from Toyosu Market in Tokyo or sourced domestically, such as bluefin tuna. The store also offers three types of uni, including smaller trays from $40 to $50 and super deluxe options closer to $200. This is well worth the visit and highly recommended.

Eden Center – Home to well over 100 Vietnamese themed businesses including restaurants, grocery stores, boba tea shops, and beauty stores to name just a few of what’s available, this is the heart and soul of the Vietnamese-American Community for the entire East Coast. Coming here feels like a trip to Saigon and the food tastes as authentic. The Center was erected as a reminder of the home away from home for the thousands of immigrants who settled in the DC metropolitan area after the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. One of my favorite ways to approach the center is to start with lunch at one of the wonderful eateries followed by a boba tea and a shopping expedition to the large bustling market.

Kogiya – Annandale, Virginia has long been known as an epicenter for excellent Korean food and Kogiya is one of the best for Korean BBQ. There are two all you can eat options for lunch. One is $30 and the other is $35. The more expensive option includes intestines which are authentic and delicious, however, is if that is not your cup of tea, the $30 option is excellent. Essentially, you choose from a list of meats and veggies. They allow you to choose up to three at a time and it’s brought to your table uncooked. The restaurant provides some accompaniments and three sauces to try with your meat, a sesame oil, an orange sauce, and a garlic sauce. The choices include spicy chicken, spicy sliced pork, soy garlic sliced pork, miso pork belly, spicy pork belly, pork belly, and sliced brisket. Everything is fresh and served in a fun atmosphere.

Meokja Meokja – This is another popular location for Korean BBQ in Fairfax that serves up a delicious round of meats along with an excellent panchan, including spicy kimchi and an ice-cream scoop of sweet-potato salad. There is also a skillet of melted cheese and corn that is a fun and unexpected offering. Their must-try dishes include the flavorful kimchi fried rice with cheese, Naengmyun or cold noodle soup, and a savory seafood pancake. Like many other places, however, the focus is on the meat and here its pork and beef that are the winners.

Rockville, MD

Rockville is known to those of us in the region for having the most authentic Chinese food and has the highest population of people from China in the entire region. Here you will find the ubiquitous Lottes and H Marts, but if you dig a little deeper, there are also a few hidden gems or well worn paths to nirvana or amazing foods from the Eastern part of the planet.

Ebisu Japanese Life Store – A bit more focused on beauty products and life style items, this store located on Rockville Pike, is filled with anime items, snacks, household goods and products including face masks, lip balm and the ever important sunscreen. Even more important, they carry my green tea covered macadamia nuts that I fell in love with in Japan, so a visit here is a must.

Bob’s Shanghai 66 – I would be remiss if I did not mention this long time Chinese restaurant famous for its homemade soup dumplings. A team of people can be seen making the soup dumplings behind glass while you wait – it’s about as fresh and authentic as you can get. It’s a cash only business, so come prepared. The other dishes beyond the soup dumplings are also fresh and delicious, with a series of daily specials depending on what’s available. It’s fun, affordable and a thoroughly memorable experience. My son Luke believes these are the best soup dumplings after trying them throughout New York’s Flushing area and in spots in and around DC. I tend to agree with him.

East Pearl Restaurant – the influence of this spot is primarily Hong Kong by way of Canton, Guangzhou, Japan, Singapore, and the West. It’s an intoxicating blend and a terrific place to try congee, roast soy glazed chicken, and shrimp and walnuts, which incidentally turned out to be my favorite option. Don’t miss the shrimp and mushroom dumplings.

Ellicott City, MD

Ellicott City has transformed into a vibrant cultural enclave, earning the distinction of "Koreatown" in 2021. This five-mile stretch along Route 40, previously known as "Korean Way," is now home to over 170 Korean-owned businesses, including restaurants, cafes, boutiques, and cultural centers. It's well worth a visit and it's fun to poke along the road and try out the different places.

Dim Sum Palace – One of my favorite new restaurants in the burgeoning and ever growing area of Ellicott City which is filled to the brim now with delicious Asian eateries is this spot which specializes in dim sum. But if you only eat the dim sum, you may be missing out on other treats. My mom who is a big fan of hot and sour soup, receiving a vat of it when we ordered it and it could not have been better. Probably the best version I have had in a very long time. The owner of this spot is originally from Hong Kong and owns other locations in Florida. His long time customers in those locales asked if he could open a place back home in Maryland and he obliged. Here four metal carts are wheeled around the restaurant with a variety of delicious offerings including steamed pork dumplings, turnip cakes, Hong Kong style egg tarts, and sticky rice. This is a must for anyone who finds themselves in the area.

Pepper House – For a fun trip to the Sichaun province of China, you have to look no further than Pepper House serving delicious and authentic noodles, dumplings, malatang, and side dishes. Sichuan cuisine is famous for being spicy and fragrant, as well as using the numbing Sichuan peppercorn. It’s a unique, mom and pop small space serving up delicious food, which means it is on the map to knowing locals as the strip mall location does not look like a draw. I can highly recommend the Chengdu Dan Dan noodles – you will thank me later.

From the sizzling woks of independently owned cafes to the fragrant aisles of neighborhood markets, Asian eateries and food purveyors offer more than just a meal—they serve up stories, traditions, and a deep sense of place. Whether you're hunting down the perfect bowl of ramen or discovering a new favorite snack in a hidden market corner, the culinary landscape across the DMV is as vibrant and diverse as the cultures that shape it. I highly recommend checking out this roadmap for a flavorful adventure through those tastes and textures—one bite at a time!