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a plate of loaded fries and a bottle Mexican Coke on an outdoor table at Fairfax’s Epicure
Epicure’s space includes plenty of outdoor seating options.
Epicure/Facebook

Where to Eat and Drink in Fairfax

Year-round crab feasts, perpetual Mardi Gras, and vegan cafes all part of the local charm

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Epicure’s space includes plenty of outdoor seating options.
|Epicure/Facebook

Fairfax is known for a rich history and the ever-evolving scene around George Mason University. A diverse group of restaurants has been feeding locals, college students, and their parents for decades.

The city has experienced a mini-beer boom in the past year with the openings of High Side craft beer bar and Ornery Beer Company, among others. But some evidence of the current pandemic remains (stalwarts such as American restaurant Artie’s, for example, are temporarily closed; and diners should double-check restaurant operating hours, given COVID-19). Meanwhile, homestyle institution 29 Diner wasrecently guttedby a kitchen fire. But the city perseveres — here are some destination places to drink and dine in Fairfax; headherefor tips for nearby Merrifield/Dunn Loring.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

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Pho Thang Long

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Assertive broth, springy meatballs, and quality meat help make this one of the standout bowls of pho in Northern Virginia. The bare-bones restaurant also has some additional soups and appetizers, from spring rolls to fish sauce-marinated chicken wings. Contact the restaurant directly for takeout.

A bowl of pho with meatballs with chicken wings and another pho bowl blurry in the background.
Pho from Pho Thang Long.
Missy Frederick/Eater

Chutzpah

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一個紐約式熟食,列舉了每一箱,from egg creams to complimentary pickles and matzo ball soup. Chutzpah serves all-day breakfast, which includes bagels and bialys, and has sandwiches packed with brisket, chopped liver, and tongue. Entrees stay classic, too, with corned beef and cabbage, chicken in a pot, and bacon-wrapped meatloaf. Takeout availablehere.

A pile of french fries with a loaded corned beef sandwich in the background.
A stacked sandwich from Chutzpah.
Chutzpah/Facebook

Meokja Meokja

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這韓國烤肉關節已迅速成為英足總vorite, commanding hours-long waits for its pork belly, bulgogi, and stellar customer service. Delivery availablehere.

Marumen

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One of Northern Virginia’s best options for ramen, the restaurant offers the soup in varieties like shio, curry, and spicy miso, as well as the dipping ramen known as tsukemen. There’s also a small selection of rice dishes and small plates, including super-crunchy karaage and a heaping portion of togarashi-spiked chicharrones.

Shio ramen topped with egg and chashu, with a pile of fried chicken fuzzy in the background.
Shio ramen from Marumen.
Missy Frederick/Eater

Mama Chang

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One of the area’s best Chinese restaurants, this offshoot of the Peter Chang empire focuses on the homestyle cooking of the women in the Chang family, particularly Lisa and Lydia Chang. There’s a selection of dim sum, plus standout dishes like hot and numbing beef in stone pot, dry-fried cauliflower and pickled chili flounder with tofu. Some Peter Chang classics like giant bubble pancakes and bamboo fish, also make a cameo. Order onlinehere.

Four crispy pastries topped with sesame seeds.
Mama Chang shaobing.
Rey Lopez/Mama Chang

Captain Pell's

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This long-standing crab house serves some seafood a la carte, including shrimp, scallops, and snow crab legs. Steamed blue crabs can be devoured as part of an all-you-can-eat option or sold by the dozen for carry-out. Order online through thewebsite.

A large platter of crabs, with two plates each of hush puppies and steamed shrimp, plus mallets, all on top of newspaper.
A tray of seasoned crabs at Captain Pell’s.
Captain Pell’s

Dolce Vita Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar

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A neighborhood favorite for more than 20 years, Dolce Vita excels at the red sauce-joint classics, from fried calamari to a mean penne vodka. Find Italian-American dishes here that aren’t universally prevalent around D.C., like veal saltimbocca and chicken sorrentino. The restaurant makes its own pastas and incorporates a festive wine bar with a generous early bird happy hour (from lunchtime opening until 6 p.m.) under the roof of the same restaurant. Order onlinehere.

Rings of calamari with red sauce on the side.
Calamari from Dolce Vita.
Missy Frederick/Eater DC

Anita's New Mexico Style Mexican Food

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Great Tex-Mex isn’t necessarily the D.C. area’s strongest point, but Fairfax is lucky enough to boast two solid destinations for it — quirky Austin-based national chain Chuy’s, and the local Anita’s mini-chain. Try enchiladas draped in both green and red sauce, crispy taquitos, and a very good breakfast menu, particularly for those nursing a hangover. Order online through thewebsite.

A crispy taco, Mexican rice, and enchiladas in red sauce all lined up next to each other on a plate.
A combo platter from Anita’s.
Anita’s/Facebook

Bakery, Bread & Grill

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This Latin American shop serves a rotating array of cheesy breads, saltenas, tamales, and traditional Bolivian dishes such as silpancho,which is breaded and fried ground beef served with rice, potatoes, and eggs. Up for a challenge? Try the tranca pecho, a giant sandwich filled with steak, fried eggs, rice, and pico de gallo.

An orange colored soup topped with sour cream and chives.
A soup dish from Bakery, Bread and Grill.
Bakery Bread & Grill

Epicure Cafe

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This former two-story biker bar transformed into an art collective also houses a restaurant covered in a canopy of twinkling lights. Live music by locals sets the stage for a Mediterranean menu that caters to vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free customers. Dishes often have a musical theme, like the “Jessie’s Girl” falafel wrap or the pesto-and-feta “Bohemian Rhapsody” pizza. The “Angry Vegan” cocktail (bourbon, lemon, ginger beer, bitters, and “magic”) is also a hit. Order online through thewebsite.

A pizza with a glop of cheese in the center.
A standout pizza at Epicure: the hummus-topped “Be My Lil Chickpea” with vegan cheese and olive oil and garlic base.
Epicure Cafe/Facebook

Ornery Beer Company

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Of Fairfax’s two breweries, Ornery has the more extensive food selection (though shoutout to Chubby Squirrel for offering both poutine and pierogi). Lunch, dinner, and brunch are all options at the full-service restaurant, with a full slate of pizzas, electic entrees ranging from jambalaya pasta to schnitzel, and lots of sandwiches. Order onlinehere.

The Auld Shebeen

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This traditional Irish pub is a destination for live music and offers formidable food to match. Give items like the french fries with curry sauce, or traditional fish and chips a try. Delivery available throughGrubHub.

Three slices of corned beef nestled atop braised cabbage.
Corned beef from the Auld Shebeen.
The Auld Shebeen/Facebook

High Side

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A wide selection of independent brews is paired here with an Asian menu of dumplings, bao, and fusion-y sandwiches like Taiwanese sausage or crispy tofu. There are some larger dishes, too, like fried rice and tofu dan dan noodles. Order onlinehere.

Eerkins Uyghur Cuisine

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After a tiny boom a few years ago, Uyghur food has again become tricky to find in D.C. But this Alexandria restaurant (which has multiple locations in the area) excels at the cuisine’s signature dishes, from cumin-scented kebabs to hand-pulled Laghman noodles and plenty of lamb dishes. Online orderinghere.

Little square pieces of noodle in sauce with chicken and vegetables.
Chop fried soman with chicken from Eerkins.
Missy Frederick/Eater DC

Curry Mantra

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For consistent, well-executed Indian food, Curry Mantra is a winner. Goat curries, tandoori dishes, biryani and more are handled with care and precision. Order onlinehere.

Grilled meats with an orange marinated hue on a steaming stone platter with vegetables.
A platter of grilled tikka at Curry Mantra.
Curry Mantra/Facebook

Pho Thang Long

Assertive broth, springy meatballs, and quality meat help make this one of the standout bowls of pho in Northern Virginia. The bare-bones restaurant also has some additional soups and appetizers, from spring rolls to fish sauce-marinated chicken wings. Contact the restaurant directly for takeout.

A bowl of pho with meatballs with chicken wings and another pho bowl blurry in the background.
Pho from Pho Thang Long.
Missy Frederick/Eater

Chutzpah

一個紐約式熟食,列舉了每一箱,from egg creams to complimentary pickles and matzo ball soup. Chutzpah serves all-day breakfast, which includes bagels and bialys, and has sandwiches packed with brisket, chopped liver, and tongue. Entrees stay classic, too, with corned beef and cabbage, chicken in a pot, and bacon-wrapped meatloaf. Takeout availablehere.

A pile of french fries with a loaded corned beef sandwich in the background.
A stacked sandwich from Chutzpah.
Chutzpah/Facebook

Meokja Meokja

這韓國烤肉關節已迅速成為英足總vorite, commanding hours-long waits for its pork belly, bulgogi, and stellar customer service. Delivery availablehere.

Marumen

One of Northern Virginia’s best options for ramen, the restaurant offers the soup in varieties like shio, curry, and spicy miso, as well as the dipping ramen known as tsukemen. There’s also a small selection of rice dishes and small plates, including super-crunchy karaage and a heaping portion of togarashi-spiked chicharrones.

Shio ramen topped with egg and chashu, with a pile of fried chicken fuzzy in the background.
Shio ramen from Marumen.
Missy Frederick/Eater

Mama Chang

One of the area’s best Chinese restaurants, this offshoot of the Peter Chang empire focuses on the homestyle cooking of the women in the Chang family, particularly Lisa and Lydia Chang. There’s a selection of dim sum, plus standout dishes like hot and numbing beef in stone pot, dry-fried cauliflower and pickled chili flounder with tofu. Some Peter Chang classics like giant bubble pancakes and bamboo fish, also make a cameo. Order onlinehere.

Four crispy pastries topped with sesame seeds.
Mama Chang shaobing.
Rey Lopez/Mama Chang

Captain Pell's

This long-standing crab house serves some seafood a la carte, including shrimp, scallops, and snow crab legs. Steamed blue crabs can be devoured as part of an all-you-can-eat option or sold by the dozen for carry-out. Order online through thewebsite.

A large platter of crabs, with two plates each of hush puppies and steamed shrimp, plus mallets, all on top of newspaper.
A tray of seasoned crabs at Captain Pell’s.
Captain Pell’s

Dolce Vita Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar

A neighborhood favorite for more than 20 years, Dolce Vita excels at the red sauce-joint classics, from fried calamari to a mean penne vodka. Find Italian-American dishes here that aren’t universally prevalent around D.C., like veal saltimbocca and chicken sorrentino. The restaurant makes its own pastas and incorporates a festive wine bar with a generous early bird happy hour (from lunchtime opening until 6 p.m.) under the roof of the same restaurant. Order onlinehere.

Rings of calamari with red sauce on the side.
Calamari from Dolce Vita.
Missy Frederick/Eater DC

Anita's New Mexico Style Mexican Food

Great Tex-Mex isn’t necessarily the D.C. area’s strongest point, but Fairfax is lucky enough to boast two solid destinations for it — quirky Austin-based national chain Chuy’s, and the local Anita’s mini-chain. Try enchiladas draped in both green and red sauce, crispy taquitos, and a very good breakfast menu, particularly for those nursing a hangover. Order online through thewebsite.

A crispy taco, Mexican rice, and enchiladas in red sauce all lined up next to each other on a plate.
A combo platter from Anita’s.
Anita’s/Facebook

Bakery, Bread & Grill

This Latin American shop serves a rotating array of cheesy breads, saltenas, tamales, and traditional Bolivian dishes such as silpancho,which is breaded and fried ground beef served with rice, potatoes, and eggs. Up for a challenge? Try the tranca pecho, a giant sandwich filled with steak, fried eggs, rice, and pico de gallo.

An orange colored soup topped with sour cream and chives.
A soup dish from Bakery, Bread and Grill.
Bakery Bread & Grill

Epicure Cafe

This former two-story biker bar transformed into an art collective also houses a restaurant covered in a canopy of twinkling lights. Live music by locals sets the stage for a Mediterranean menu that caters to vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free customers. Dishes often have a musical theme, like the “Jessie’s Girl” falafel wrap or the pesto-and-feta “Bohemian Rhapsody” pizza. The “Angry Vegan” cocktail (bourbon, lemon, ginger beer, bitters, and “magic”) is also a hit. Order online through thewebsite.

A pizza with a glop of cheese in the center.
A standout pizza at Epicure: the hummus-topped “Be My Lil Chickpea” with vegan cheese and olive oil and garlic base.
Epicure Cafe/Facebook

Ornery Beer Company

Of Fairfax’s two breweries, Ornery has the more extensive food selection (though shoutout to Chubby Squirrel for offering both poutine and pierogi). Lunch, dinner, and brunch are all options at the full-service restaurant, with a full slate of pizzas, electic entrees ranging from jambalaya pasta to schnitzel, and lots of sandwiches. Order onlinehere.

The Auld Shebeen

This traditional Irish pub is a destination for live music and offers formidable food to match. Give items like the french fries with curry sauce, or traditional fish and chips a try. Delivery available throughGrubHub.

Three slices of corned beef nestled atop braised cabbage.
Corned beef from the Auld Shebeen.
The Auld Shebeen/Facebook

High Side

A wide selection of independent brews is paired here with an Asian menu of dumplings, bao, and fusion-y sandwiches like Taiwanese sausage or crispy tofu. There are some larger dishes, too, like fried rice and tofu dan dan noodles. Order onlinehere.

Eerkins Uyghur Cuisine

After a tiny boom a few years ago, Uyghur food has again become tricky to find in D.C. But this Alexandria restaurant (which has multiple locations in the area) excels at the cuisine’s signature dishes, from cumin-scented kebabs to hand-pulled Laghman noodles and plenty of lamb dishes. Online orderinghere.

Little square pieces of noodle in sauce with chicken and vegetables.
Chop fried soman with chicken from Eerkins.
Missy Frederick/Eater DC

Curry Mantra

For consistent, well-executed Indian food, Curry Mantra is a winner. Goat curries, tandoori dishes, biryani and more are handled with care and precision. Order onlinehere.

Grilled meats with an orange marinated hue on a steaming stone platter with vegetables.
A platter of grilled tikka at Curry Mantra.
Curry Mantra/Facebook

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