Restaurants come and go in our area all the time, and we are here to help you keep track. Check out these recent openings, many of which are budget-friendly and filling for those of us on the go. Plus, we’ve got coming-soon eateries and new offerings at old favorites.
Now Open
Charga on the Pike
Operating as a soft open until its grand opening Sept. 21, this is the sister restaurant to Charga Grill (5151 Langston Blvd., Arlington), a casual street food restaurant. Although this second location will not sell rotisserie chickens, it will have chicken platters, quesadillas, sandwiches, gyros, falafel wraps, kabobs and samosas. // 3203 Columbia Pike, Arlington (Columbia Pike)
MidnighTreats
Joining the burgeoning number of specialty cookie shops popping up throughout the DMV is the area’s fourth location of this plant-based bakery. Coming in Monster Size (a third of a pound each) and Munchie Size, the baked goods feature flavors such as Birthday Bash, Iced Apple Cider and Brownie Cookie. Because no cookie is complete without milk, the shop also sells flavored oat milks and oat milk gelato, should you want your nondairy fix in iced form. Opened: Sept. 7. // Ballston Quarter, 4238 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Ballston)
Anita’s New Mexico Style Bar & Grill
What started as a doughnut shop almost 50 years ago is today a New Mexican eatery that just opened its 10th location in Northern Virginia. The pages-long menu of wallet-friendly dishes boasts burritos, enchiladas, flautas, tacos, fajitas and much more. Browse the breakfast menu for eye-opening dishes such as the Mr. T Breakfast burrito (grilled marinated pork and refried beans) and a breakfast quesadilla that has three scrambled eggs, cheese and your choice of bacon, sausage, ham or chorizo. Be sure to bring the kids. Opened: Sept. 6. // 3444 Fairfax Drive, Arlington (Virginia Square)
Kong Dog
If hot dogs wrapped in stuff are your thing, then you’ll be excited about the third area opening of this restaurant chain. Joining locations at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City (1100 S. Hayes St., Arlington) and Alexandria (6674 Richmond Highway) is a Little City outpost. Get your dog covered in potato (sweet or white), churro, ramen, Hot Cheetos or spaghetti. Not a hot dog person? The eatery also has chicken, ramen and tteokbokki (simmered rice cake). Hot dog prices start at $5.99. Soft opening: Aug. 30. // 7121 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church
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Te’Amo Boba Bar
With a name combining the words “tea” and “amor,” or love, this new Mosaic District eatery takes tea seriously. The first location for the chain outside of Chicago serves organic milk teas, loose-leaf and boba in addition to dalgona coffee and sparkling lemonade. Make it a meal by adding a sweet treat, including mochi doughnuts, mille crepe cakes, coconut jellies and cheesecake baos. Opened: Aug. 24. // 8190 Strawberry Lane, Fairfax (Mosaic District)
Fat Fish
Water Park at National Landing has added a new kiosk to its outdoor food hall. This is the first Virginia location for the eatery whose flagship is across the Potomac at The Wharf in D.C. Taking the spot previously occupied by DC Dosa, Fat Fish serves poke bowls stuffed with bang bang shrimp, spicy tuna and Fat Fish salad (salmon, tuna and whitefish); classic and signature sushi rolls such as the aptly-named Landing Roll (shrimp tempura and asparagus topped with seared steak, wasabi tsuyu, asparagus, black pepper truffle aioli, and crispy potato fries); and sides like Poke Wonton Nachos topped with tuna, salmon, whitefish, seaweed salad and more. Everything is less than $20. Opened: Aug. 16. // 1641 Crystal Drive, Arlington (National Landing)
Tortas y Tacos La Chiquita III
At this new Virginia Square restaurant, find authentic Mexican foods such as tacos, tortas, enchiladas, burritos and sopes. The dishes come with a wide variety of proteins, including beef birria, tongue, pork skin, chicken and fish. Vegetarian and gluten-free dishes are available, too, on the extensive menu, which also has 12 types of nacho plates. Note that the entire menu is priced at less than $16. Opened: July 16. // 3811 Fairfax Drive, Arlington (Virginia Square)
MQR Cafe
Get your caffeine fix from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. daily at this new café serving hot and cold brews plus specialty drinks such as the cardamom latte. Menu items include bagels, avocado toast, hummus with chicken shawarma, a harissa burger and a chicken schnitzel sandwich, all for less than $17 a plate. Opened: July 6. // 6343 Columbia Pike, Falls Church
Pho & Banh Mi Eatery Cafe
Get banh mi with tofu, grilled chicken or pork ($10.95); steaming bowls of vegetarian or meat pho ($13.99-$16.99); and poke bowls ($14.95 and up) to fill your belly. Then wash it all down with a creamy milk tea, refreshing fruit tea, smoothies, slushies and lemonade, starting at $5.95. Opened: July 5. // 3000 Washington Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
New Offerings
Cheesetique
This Del Ray cheese and wine haven celebrated its 20th year in business on Sept. 5 and launched a yearlong celebration, including the chance to win a year of cheese and a special birthday menu of owner Jill Erber’s and customers’ favorite artisan cheeses, wines and dishes. Think Lobster Mac, Gjetost and Banana Melt, Grasshopper Parfait, a pairing of 20-year cheddar and 20-year port, a deluxe wine flight from the original menu, and a brand-new apple martini. On Sept. 18 at 7 p.m., Erber will host an online class highlighting her fav cheeses from the past 20 years that includes a kit ($55-$104.98) with five cheeses, crackers, wine and chocolate, that you can pick up from the restaurant to enjoy with the presentation. And next month, the restaurant is partnering with Alexandria Celebrates Women to raise $2,000 to support the Alexandria Domestic Violence Safehouse. On Oct. 7, 5% of all retail and restaurant sales will be donated to the organization, as will $1 from every sale of women-made wines throughout the month. // 2411 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria
Corso Italian
Not to be left out of the attention, Erber’s Shirlington restaurant and Italian market now offers a $29 All-You-Can-Mangia Italian brunch and $5 peach bellinis, strawberry rossinis and bloody Marias, made with a house-made San Marzano tomato mix. Available weekends from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., guests get two hours to enjoy cooked-to-order dishes such as ricotta pancakes with berries, Eggs in Purgatory (sunny-side up eggs, ciabatta, San Marzano tomato and Calabrian chili), a broccolini and ricotta omelet, and handmade pasta. Children 12 and under eat for half price, and kids 3 and under eat free. // 4024 Campbell Ave., Arlington
Joon
On Sept. 4, Chef Chris Morgan launched a new fall menu at this Tysons restaurant that includes an arugula salad with heirloom tomatoes, feta, walnuts, pickled peaches, basil, and beet vinaigrette and Mushroom Khoresh with oyster and cremini mushrooms, tomato, Swiss chard, saffron and white truffle. // 8045 Leesburg Pike, Vienna
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
Find new seasonal flavors at this three-month-old scoop shop in National Landing. Through Nov. 28, indulge in Blueberry Jelly Donut (sour cream ice cream with blueberry jam and donut pieces), Pumpkin Cheesecake (pumpkin cheesecake ice cream with a cream cheese swirl and graham cracker crust pieces), Carrot Cake Dulce de Leche Swirl (cream cheese ice cream with carrot cake pieces and dulce de leche swirls) and Sweet Potato Marshmallow Pie (vegan sweet potato ice cream with marshmallows and swirls of caramel). Or sip the new milkshake—the Pumpkin Spice Chai. It’s made with pumpkin cheesecake ice cream, pumpkin spice chai, milk, caramel drizzles and whipped cream. // 269 19th Court S., Arlington (National Landing)
Pastries by Randolph
This staple Arlington bakery no longer has a kosher certification. In an email to Arlington Magazine, the staff said that the person who handled compliance doesn’t work there anymore. // 4500 Cherry Hill Road, Arlington (Langston Boulevard)
Coming Soon
Modan
Its name means “modern” in Japanese, and the 7,000-square-foot restaurant coming this fall to the new Heming apartment complex promises contemporary cuisine. Executive Chef Micheole “Chico” Dator—most recently executive sushi chef at Nobu DC—specializes in proprietary in-house dry aging, a process by which enzymes break down the protein and fat structures within meat and fish while drawing out moisture. The space will feature a bar, sushi counter, private omakase counter, private dining space and outdoor patio. // 1788 Chain Bridge Road, McLean
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The Salty Donut
For doughnuts with over-the-top toppings, you’ll want to head to the Mosaic District location of this Miami-based bakeshop when it opens this fall. Get ready for flavors such as Passion fruit and Coconut, Candied Pistachio and White Chocolate, and Vegan Mango Creamsicle. Pair the treat with a traditional coffee or something more interesting, such as the Cinnamon Cereal Milk Latte or Cold Brew and Lemonade. // 2905 District Ave., Fairfax (Mosaic District)
Seoul Prime
The dining scene at Founders Row will continue to expand with the planned October opening of this Korean steakhouse. Although the menu is not available yet, the website promises that it will showcase “the finest cuts of beed, cooked to perfection on traditional Korean grills embedded in each table.” What’s more, the restaurant will source its meat from nearby Shenandoah and Appalachian farms. // 106 Founders Ave., Falls Church
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Toastique
A gourmet toast and juice bar chain is opening a location in Clarendon on Sept. 28. The menu includes slabs of bread smothered with toppings such as avocado, prosciutto, smoked salmon and lump crab meat. If you have a sweet tooth, try the PB Crunch, a slice of walnut raisin toast topped with honey roasted peanut butter, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, berry jam, granola, peanuts, honey and mint. The eatery also serves acai bowls and Iced Collagen Lattes made with Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides. // 3100 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
Shut
Slipstream
The only Virginia location of this D.C.-based chainlet closed Sept. 2. Word is it will reopen as a Compass Coffee. // 4300 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Ballston)
DC Dosa
Less than a year after opening, this kiosk dishing up South Indian crepes has closed its window in National Landing. // 1641 Crystal Drive, Arlington (National Landing)
Kreole Seafood and Cocktails
The Mosaic District restaurant melding Southern and Far-Eastern cuisines permanently closed July 14. // 2985 District Ave., Fairfax (Mosaic District)