Tysons is synonymous with shopping, thanks to its two high-end malls and luxury brand boutiques. But even the most die-hard shoppers need to take a rest and refuel. Plus, the neighborhood’s buzzy dining scene has become a destination in its own right as high-profile chefs have flocked to the area to open new restaurants. Here’s where to go for drinks in a sky-high garden, a fancy anniversary dinner, or even conveyor belt sushi.
Agora
It’s easy to follow a Mediterranean diet at Agora, which specializes in cuisine from Turkey, Lebanon and Greece. The longstanding Dupont Circle restaurant expanded a sister location in Tysons in 2019, outfitted with a sunny Mediterranean blue dining room. Start with a sampler of pillowy pita bread and an array of spreads from hummus to labneh. Tempting larger dishes include grilled octopus, manti beef dumplings and spiced rack of lamb. //7911 Westpark Drive, Tysons
CinéBistro
Looking for an alternative to streaming movies in your living room? Not only is this fancy movie theater chain inside Tysons Galleria outfitted with reclining leather seats, its food options go way beyond popcorn with in-theater dining. Dig into shrimp florentine linguine, tuna poke bowls, or chicken BLT sandwiches while watching the latest blockbuster. //11651 International Drive, U1700 Level 3M, McLean
Circa at The Boro
This outpost of the popular D.C. chainlet arrived in The Boro, a new mixed-use development, in 2022. A lengthy happy hour includes $9 cocktails, $7 glasses of wine, $5 draft beers and $2 off small plates or flatbreads with toppings such as wild mushrooms or barbecue chicken. The menu has something for everyone, from quinoa bowls to steak frites and fried chicken sandwiches with dill pickle aioli. Parent company Metropolitan Hospitality Group is also the owner of Trio Grill, Open Road and Salt, as well as Mexican restaurant Él Bebe, another newcomer to The Boro with a long list of tequilas and staple Tex-Mex dishes like fajitas, taco platters and burritos. //1675 Silver Hill Drive, Tysons
Han Palace
In search of dim sum? There are no roving carts, but Han Palace serves small dishes from the menu during busy weekends and also on weekdays. Try baked barbecue pork buns, lobster congee or a steamed shrimp rice crepe. A whole, deboned, stuffed duck requires 48 hours advance notice, but is a chef’s delicacy worth planning for. Don’t skip photogenic desserts like gilded purple-gold yolk buns or bunny-shaped coconut pudding. //7900 Westpark Drive, McLean
Ingle Korean Steakhouse
The brass grills are inset in granite tables at this new restaurant offering a sophisticated version of Korean barbecue. Ingle Korean Steakhouse also serves steak tartare and oysters, in addition to the traditional galbi, cooked for you at the table as you watch. The barbecue experience includes a lengthy wine list and plenty of wagyu beef. Go for a la carte options or the prix-fixe meals that include a choice of sides like japchae glass noodles or sweet corn mixed with parmesan and mozzarella. //8369 Leesburg Pike, Suite A, Vienna
Joon
Famed Iranian cookbook author Najmieh Batmanglij is part of the talent behind this new Persian restaurant in the former Chef Geoff’s space. Make a reservation for a special occasion or plan an outing with a group to share platters of saffron and turmeric-spiced lamb shoulder or whole roasted chicken with apples and apricots. Batmanglij teamed up with chef Christopher Morgan (whose resume includes Michelin-starred Maydan in D.C.) on a menu that showcases both familiar dishes (think kebabs) and harder-to-find delicacies like pistachio soup or tadigh (crispy rice) with sour cherries. Every meal begins with free house-made lavash, and you can add a sweet finish with Batmanglij’s own baklava or Persian love cake with strawberry and barberry compote, lemon curd, whipped cream and pistachios. //8045 Leesburg Pike, Suite 120, Tysons
The Kitchen Collective
Tiffany & Co’s new neighbor is a virtual food hall from prolific chef Chris Morgan (who’s also cooking at adjacent Joon). You can’t dine in here, but you can place online orders for everything from smoothies and kebabs to double fudge brownies. Try fast-casual takeout for either pickup or delivery from four different restaurants. Pizza Serata serves pies made with locally-sourced flour from Wade’s Mill in the Shenandoah Valley, and toppings like pistachio pesto or Calabrian chili oil. For Lebanese kebabs, order from Yasmine, which sells falafel platters and pita wraps stuffed with chicken, pickles and French fries. Soul Rebel is on the lighter side, offering salads covered with turmeric cashew dressing and “Green Monster” banana-pineapple smoothies. For dessert, treat yourself to brownies, blondies and cookies like snickerdoodle and chocolate chip from Franki’s. Two more dining concepts, including a taco spot, are in the works //8045 Leesburg Pike, Suite 160, Vienna
Kura Sushi
Watch as plates of sushi parade past you at Kura Revolving Sushi Bar, which uses a conveyor belt system to deliver its dishes to diners. Nigiri options include seared eel with miso cream cheese and garlic ponzu salmon, while rolls range from spicy popcorn shrimp to red dragon rolls draped in tuna. You’ll be entertained by the high-tech service, which even includes a drink delivery robot that roams the dining room. //8461 Leesburg Pike, Suite C, Tysons
Nostos
White-washed walls evoke the Greek isles at Nostos, a long-running hideaway for Greek cuisine like avgolemono (egg lemon soup) and spanakopita (layered phyllo with spinach and feta). Seafood shines here, whether that’s branzino or grilled octopus with fava puree. Explore Greek wines, too, from Santorini and beyond. //8100 Boone Boulevard, Vienna
Ometeo
Tucked inside Capital One Center and helmed by chef Gabe Erales, the latest venture from Long Shot Hospitality (The Salt Line, Dauphine’s) turns out coastal Tex-mex dishes like ceviche, fish tacos, fajitas, lobster tostadas and seafood towers. From the bar, whet your whistle with margs, mules, palomas, spiked agua frescas and ranch water. A Mexican-inspired Elote Old Fashioned features corn-Infused whiskey, tequila reposado, corn stock syrup and chocolate bitters. //1640 Capital One Drive, Tysons
Patsy’s American and Randy’s Prime Seafood & Steaks
Local hospitality group Great American Restaurants went all, opening three side-by-side restaurants. Patsy’s American (named after matriarch Patsy Norton) turns out fan favorite menu items like short smoked salmon salad and barbecue baby back ribs from the company’s various NOVA restaurants (including Carlyle in Shirlington, Sweetwater Tavern in Merrifield and Coastal Flats in Fairfax), and the kitchen stays open until 1 a.m. for night owls. Wood-paneled Randy’s Prime Seafood and Steaks next door is the pet project of owner Randy Norton (Patsy’s husband), complete with seafood towers, king-cut blackened prime rib and a five-layer carrot cake. The third eatery in the mix is Best Buns Bakery and Cafe, a spot for burgers, breakfast sandwiches and sweets like cupcakes and milkshakes. //8051 Leesburg Pike, Tysons
The Perch at Capital One Center
Sip a beer high above the traffic—11 stories up, to be exact—in this sky park atop new concert venue Capital One Hall. A large landscaped green space with walking paths, climbing elements for kids and a dog run provides the backdrop for drinkers at Starr Hill Biergarten, which opened in 2021 as a spin-off of the popular Charlottesville craft brewery. The pet- and family-friendly indoor-outdoor biergarten pours juicy IPAs, pale ales and lagers (some cans even have UVA branding) alongside pub fare like burgers, dogs, wings and soft pretzels. Catch live music or watch a game in the adjacent outdoor amphitheater, or practice putting at the park’s 18-hole mini golf course, Perch Putt. //1805 Capital One Drive, Tysons
Silver Diner
This DMV diner chain is known for its old-timey decor and a menu with health-minded options alongside classics like tuna melts and “Lumberjack” breakfasts with silver dollar pancakes. The lengthy menu includes innovative fare like bison huevos rancheros, breakfast shakshuka, shrimp and grits, and hand-spun shakes like a “Chunky Monkey Banana” with Oreos and chocolate chips. //8101 Fletcher St, McLean
Tasty Kabob
For a fast-casual option at The Boro, Tasty Kabob serves up halal meats with recipes influenced by the owners’ homeland of Afghanistan. The business began as a food truck, with standalone locations in D.C. and Tysons serving chicken, lamb and meatballs with your choice of rice, pita or salad. //1624 Boro Place, Tysons
Wren
This upscale Japanese izakaya restaurant in the Watermark Hotel shares a rooftop with The Perch, but chef Yo Matsuzaki’s cooking will make you feel like you’re on vacation in Tokyo (check out the “Tokyo chicken,” crispy fried chicken thighs tossed with sake and koji). Head here for a bowl of ramen, wagyu burgers and craft cocktails ranging from martinis to flaming mai tais (there are spirit-free options, too). For something substantially more indulgent, try the omakase experience, described as an “18-20 course culinary journey” with delicacies like toro tartare studded with Beluga caviar. //1825 Capital One Drive South, Tysons