Tasty Bite: Saigon Bistro

Phở near Dupont! This place doesn't have the wiry little man who looks like he'd rather be shoving bamboo splinters under your fingernails like the Arlington standby Pho 75, but the phở is mean enough to compensate. Even the vegetarian Phở Rau Cái is especially good here, as far as meatless dishes go. It smells of cinnamon and exotic, sweaty climes. Not unlike A-lo.

Rating: n/a
Recommended: Phở Rau Cái, Phở Tái Chín


Saigon Bistro

2153 P St. NW

Washington, DC 20037

Get Directions

(202) 558-6188

• Yelp

A Second Look: Ipoh

Roti canai is sooo good, and everyone I know likes it. Can it be so hard? Why aren't there roti canai vendors on every street corner? A big pot of chicken curry, and whatever they use to cook that crispy, flaky, chewy pancake. Food cart entrepreneurs take note!

Until someone implements my fantastic business ideas, Ipoh does as fine a roti canai as you'll find anywhere in DC. It's only a tad spicy, too much so for A-lo's delicate innards, but nothing your average curry-friendly fellow can't handle. With excellent green curry and pad thai, and some easily avoidable misses like the mango chicken (life tip: in the daring game of pan-asian menu navigation, "mango" is always a minus, and "crispy" a massive plus), Ipoh should be dominating the Woodley Park asian delivery scene. If they do a good General Tso's, I can finally say a sweet goodbye to Mr. Chen's.

Rating: 3 stars
Recommended: Roti canai, green curry, pad thai


Ipoh Asian Cuisine

2625 Connecticut Avenue NW, 2nd FL

Washington, DC 20008

Get Directions

(202) 332-3636

• Yelp

Buzzworthy: Taylor Gourmet

The one convenience that I wish we had more of around here in the District would be more bakeries. Sure, there are Marvelous Market and Firehook, but they range from OK to not-so-OK.

Gourmet Taylor, an Italian-style sandwich shop in the too cool H St neighborhood sounds like a step in the right direction. Yeah, it's not a bakery, but they still deal in some baked goods—and truck bread in daily from Philly apparently!—so I think we should be grateful for that small crumb (ha!).

Both the Post and the City Paper have some recentish write-ups, and they appear to describe Gourmet Taylor as a quality hip establishment. I haven't tried it yet, but any new retail option enticing enough to get me out of my usual neighborhood circuit is enough for my Buzzworthy list. Hmmm, sounds like the perfect solution for the upcoming barrage of Spring picnics (if Spring ever decides to show its allergy-ridden face.)

Rating: n/a
Recommended: not yet tried


Taylor Gourmet

1116 H St NE

Washington, DC 20002

Get Directions

(202) 684-7001

• Yelp
• WaPo
• CityPaper
  

Tasty Bite: Ipoh - Superb Asian Delivery Finally?

One of the few negative aspects of living in Adams Morgan/Woodley/Dupont Circle is the lack of a reliable and worthy Asian delivery option.

Ipoh Asian Cuisine opened in the last few months in Woodley Park, and it promises to end our gastro curse. It's one of those nondescript Pan Asian restaurants that cooks everything from pad thai to lo mein to sushi. Normally, I would avoid such a place. The range of cuisines, while convenient, means the kitchen doesn't turn out anything memorable (see Banana Leaf in Dupont). But all these other offerings are mere distractions from the star attraction: Malaysian food. Apparently Ipoh is a city in Malaysia, and if there is one Maylaysian dish that can draw me in, it is the heaven sent, Roti Canai!

Roti Canai is a flakey, slightly greasy pancake, usually accompanied by a small side of chicken curry liquid for dripping. You just rip the roti apart, dip the buttery crispy chunks in the mildly spicy chicken curry sauce, and chomp away. It's a fantastic appetizer or light meal, and I'm happy to report that Ipoh's version is excellent. I'll admit that I'm no expert on Maylasian food, but Ipoh's rendition is the best that I've ever had. And best of all, they offer free delivery.

I haven't tried any of their other dishes, but I will definitely be rushing back, so keep an eye out for a review in the future.

Rating: n/a
Recommended: Roti Canai


Ipoh Asian Cuisine

2625 Connecticut Avenue NW, 2nd FL

Washington, DC 20008

Get Directions

(202) 332-3636

• Yelp

El Pollo Rico - Does it Live Up to the Hype?

Frequented by both cops and models, Arlington's El Pollo Rico is known as the place in DC for Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken. After having sampled a few of its competitors around town, I finally made it out to Arlington with Mistress KGB, our photographer, and Tintin in tow, eager to find out if El Pollo's chicken wares were worth the raves.

None of us had been to El Pollo Rico before, and a friend had described the exterior as resembling that of a dry cleaner, which surprisingly turned out to be a spot on observation. The industrial illusion turned out to be appropriate, as inside, the lines were long and the counter-staff were churning out chickens like a factor assembly line. Place your order–quarter, half, or whole–and bam, it's plopped down almost immediately in front of you.

Now normally, such quickly-produced food would warrant some suspicion. Perhaps these chicks had been sitting under a heat lamp and all the moisture had been sucked out. But alas, the food lived up to the hype. This chicken was thoroughly juicy, almost bordering on being too moist. The rotisserie flavors were strong and blunt, with a surprising, tangy edge that I hadn't experienced so fully at other chicken joints.

Tintin and I agreed that the chicken was indeed really good, making it easy for El Pollo Rico's chicken to rank as the best I've had in DC. Mistress KGB concurred, but claimed her favorite place in Falls Church produced equally good food.

Unfortunately, the accoutrements disappointed slightly. No traditional yuca fries were offered; instead stock french fries were served in their place. Normally, Cisco fries (if that's what they were) aren't my idea of good cooking, but these seem to have been cooked/thawed in the same grease and seasonings as the chicken, so they were surprisingly serviceable.

The coleslaw was forgettable, but the sauces were downright terrible. Almost more than the main dishes, I love the little green and white sauces that come with Peruvian fast food. I have no idea what they're called, but I expect them to be savory and spicy. The sauces at El Pollo Rico were too thick, bland, and almost inedible. Steer clear and opt for some ketchup instead, if you need some sauce for your fries.

While the chicken was superb, I have to admit that the overall experience left me a bit wanting. My favorite Peruvian place in the city, Granja de Oro, offers chicken that is almost as good on its best days, along with tasty yuca fries and spicy sauces. Otherwise though, El Pollo Rico has some of the best chicken around, and that's what you're looking for, right?

Rating: 3 stars
Recommended: Chicken, duh.


El Pollo Rico (also in Wheaton)

932 N Kenmore St

Arlington, VA 22201

Get Directions

(703) 522-3220

• WaPo Listing & Map
• Washingtonian - Best Cheap Eats
• Yelp
  

Best of DC: Burgers

Sir Noshalot hungers for:

1. Central Michel Richard - They probably make some other good shit here, but I wouldn't know because they serve the single most delicious cheeseburger this side of my childhood.




2. Ray's Hell-Burger - The meat is quality, and you can taste it. Options for au poivre, blackened, or straight up. A whole menu of cheeses, several hard to pronounce. Gratis sherried mushrooms and other fine toppings. Dominion root beer on tap (floats!), and Dracula's Blood (soda) in the bottle. It makes me sad when I think of all the other burgers in the world that could be Ray's burgers.
   
3. Elevation Burger - As close to In-N-Out as you can find in these benighted eastern states.

Still skeptical: Good Stuff Eatery hides dry, over-seasoned patties behind a shamelessly twee menu.


A-lo is launched into a food coma by:

1. Ray's Hell-Burger -Ray's is edged out by Central for the tastiest burger in town, but considering that a meal at Ray's will set you back by at least half as much, Ray's get the nod from my frugal self. Like Sir Noshalot, I'm partial to the "au poivre," blackened with pepper and topped with Ray's special sauce. Cut that sucker in half in order to handle it.
2. Central Michel Richard - My burger here was supremely tasty, but it had better be for $17. The patty was packed with beefy flavor, without being distracted by overpowering cheeses and sauces. My biggest complaint was the amount of meat juice which had made the otherwise excellent bun soggy. Sir Noshalot, usually sulking in the corner of the restaurant by himself, tells me that soggy buns aren't usually an issue.
3. Urban Burger - They have a lone, out of the way location in Rockville, but it's well worth stopping by, if you're in the area.
4. Busboys & Poets - The food at Busboys can be hit or miss, but the burgers are reliable and inexpensive, and the U-street location is always hopping. My favorite is the Gorgonzola burger, which also benefits from the best burger buns in town. If only Ray's used these babies...
5. Elevation Burger - I've never been to In-N-Out, but lord knows we East Coast folk are tired of hearing about it. I like these burgers for their compact size and tasty companion fries, so I don't leave the restaurant feeling like I need to run to the gym immediately (see Central and Ray's).
   
6. Honorable Mention - Call me crazy, but quite possibly the best burger I've had in DC was at the TGIFriday's in Foggy Bottom. I won't even dare suggest that TGIFriday's is an overlooked purveyor of fine American foods. Instead, there must have been a burger maestro working his magic at the grill on those two occasions years ago that I experienced such greasy bliss. I remember it was elevated by the fried onion rings within the burger that provided a contrasting but complementary crunch.

Best of DC: Pizza

A-lo's picks:

1. Pizzeria Paradiso - I don't care what the naysayers scream—this place is still the best.
   
2. 2 Amy's - A different style than Paradiso, but a far more comprehensive menu.
   
3. Pupatella - A pizza cart run by a cute couple in Ballston. Simple, cheap, and good enough.

Yet to try: Moroni Bros (forged in the Paradiso kitchens!), Posto (had some pasta but no pizza), Comet Ping Pong (I know, I need to get over there)

I tried Pete's Apizza once, and I can't say I'm eager to rush back. I'll give it another shot eventually.


Sir Noshalot champions:

1. Pete's Apizza - A-lo's on crack. This isn't exactly New Haven style, but it may be better, sitting very comfortably somewhere between generic pizza and the froofy kind.
   
2. Pizzeria Paradiso - I could eat an Atomica every day of the week.
3. Comet Ping Pong - Great crust, great toppings, great ideas, great space. If it were on the Metro, I'd actually think about going now and then.
   
4. A trip to Providence, RI for the deliciousness that is Al Forno
   

The Invasion of Pho & Shawarma?

The explosion of diverse, cheap food options Northwest DC continues, this time bringing not just one but 4 new locations of Pho and Shawarma spots (not all together)! Now all we need is a Camelot in Adams Morgan, and Sir Noshalot won't leave the neighborhood.

Holy Shawarmymuthu (Tamil joke...)
In Adams Morgan, two Shawarma options have recently appeared, helping cement Adams Morgan as the most well-rounded and inexpensive dining neighborhood. You can go from Brazilian to Drag Queen brunches to Himalayan in just a few blocks. Take that Crystal City.

Scooped from Prince of Petworth, Shawarma Spot is right in the middle of the neigbhorhood, taking over the once-anticipated but short-lived hot dog den, M'Dawg (which closed I think because of a dispute among its operators, and also because it wasn't worth the prices).

A little bit further along Columbia is Shawarma King, which looks polished from the pics. Let's hope both places are able to survive!

Shawarma Spot
2418 18th St
Washington, DC 20009

Shawarma King
1654 Columbia Road
Washington, DC 20009


Pho 5839101234340981
There are plenty of good pho options across the Potomac in VA, but the few places scattered around DC aren't terribly good, which is why the introduction of these new places in Metro-accessible neighborhoods is exciting.

Saigon Bistro on P Street in Dupont seems a little pricey from their menu and for pho, but some early tasting by Miss Crotchety suggests that Saigon Bistro could be worth it.

Meanwhile, over in Columbia Heights, Pho 14 will be opening soon (Feb?).

2 pho and 2 shawarma places within walking distance could mean my weekend lunch plans for the next few months are set. Coincidence that they're all opening with a new regime change in town?

Saigon Bistro
2153 P St. NW
Washington, DC 20037 (Dupont Circle)

Pho 14 (not yet open)
Near Park & 14th St NW
Washington, DC (Columbia Heights)

Untried But True

These are supposedly good places—old and new—that we haven't had a chance to check out yet. Hopefully we'll get around to it someday and these spots will be worthy of our awesome praise:


DC

---

HOWARD

Negril (Jamaican)
2301-G Georgia Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 332-3737

• Website
• Washingtonian
• Yelp

NYT on the "Real" DC

You may have seen this already, but the NYTimes profiled the food scene in 'recently' energized DC neighborhoods. I appreciate how they at least tried to get away from the Downtown area to mention the more neighborhoody places like Marvin and the late Colorado Kitchen, but jesus, I can't stand articles like this.

Why is it that the NYT runs a piece every 6 months about how DC has suddenly and only "recently" emerged from its crack-fueled blight for the sole purpose of attracting twittering New Yorkers? Sorry to disappoint, but eating in the Capital has been improving steadily for many years while you were busy opening Ninja restaurants (which sounds awesome fyi).

Now all these DC places will be overrun with self-important Manhattanites (recently transplanted from Nebraska) patting themselves on their backs for leaving their island fortress and venturing out to the provinces where they "discovered" this cute place that's "sooo New York". I don't want DC to be like NYC. That's why I'm living here and not there.

Marvin had a three hour wait this past Friday. I haven't had a wait that long since Planet Hollywood opened in Orlando 15 years ago, and that was at least a Michelin-starred institution. (Speaking of fried chicken, Popeyes needs to upgrade just a notch and I'd be there every other week.)

The one line I did like though was a quote from a local: "The D.C. culture has evolved now to a point where we can be proud of it,” said Lee T. Wheeler..." Seriously, let's have some more pride around here. Who is more interesting, the President of the US or the CEO of Citigroup? Chicago's nickname may be The Second City, but Chicagoans won't let anyone talk shit about their town, and DC'ers need to do the same.

Las Canteras - It's aight

Some time ago, Las Canteras struck the neighborhood with such promise as a more upscale ethnic, sit-down restaurant that Adams Morgan was just dying for. (Lauriol Plaza doesn't count because for some reason the ethnic label doesn't apply and it's not in Adams Morgan.) Unfortunately, after a few visits, I can't say that Las Canteras offers more value than the numerous Peruvian food shanties around town.

Las Canteras reminds me of El Chelan, that old (by DC standards) Peruvian stalwart downtown favored by IMF/WB jet-setters. The quality of food is similar although the service and prices are more favorable than at El Chelan. The wait staff is friendly and efficient. Ask, and they will help guide you to recommended dishes, favorites, and potentially tricky items (i.e. spicy).

The mixed seafood ceviche was pretty good, but for my next visit, I eagerly ordered my favorite Peruvian dish, Lomo Saltado, a holy union of beef, french fries, tomatoes, soy sauce and other food trinkets. Unfortunately, it was terrible. The chef must have been high on cooking fumes because there was far too much soy sauce in the dish, and it just seemed to lack that special Peruvian greasiness that binds all the ingredients together. The guava-flavored flan was rich and flavorful, but a bit too dense for my flan preferences.

If you want Peruvian food in a nice setting, give Las Canteras a shot. For me, it's worth revisiting to check out some of their other dishes.

Otherwise, if you want damn good and cheap Lomo Saltado, supremely juicy roasted chicken, and light, caramely flan, the amazing La Granja de Oro is just 3 blocks away.

Rating: 2 out of 4 stars
Recommended: Ceviche?

Las Canteras
2307 18th St NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-265-1780

WaPo Listing & Map

Corn fungus...it's what's for dinner. (Super Tacos)

Sir Noshalot Says:
At least it should be if you find yourself in Adams Morgan, near Super Tacos and Bakery, née Pepito's II. Black and slimy generally goes on my "do not eat" list, but huitlacoche is an exception, an earthy, savory Mexican delicacy. The name's Aztec for "raven shit," but don't let that deter you; near as I can tell, it refers to the shit-eating grin you'll have as you savor each bite. It's packed into Super's quesadilla Mexicana along with sweet corn, oozing queso fresco, and a tangy green salsa. The masa wrapper can be a little too tough, but this is a minor annoyance compared to the luscious mess within.

Rating: 4 out of 4 blight-ridden kernels
Recommended: quesadilla Mexicana, carnitas taco


According to A-lo:
Once upon a time, Pepitos II was my reliable go-to shack for cheap Mexican fare in Adams Morgan. A name change to Super Tacos seems to have wrought more than just superficial evolution. I'm not sure if the joint is under new ownership, but the consistency of the food has unfortunately become suspect. However, that's not to say that you can't get some very satisfying Mexican food here, but be warned that results may vary.

My favorite item used to be the carnitas tacos, which were crispy, juicy, and flavorful. The carnitas tacos are still very good, but they're now a bit too dense and lack that magical crispyness that previously elevated them to one of my favorite foods in the city. The tacos are still better, in my opinion, than those found at Taqueria Distrito Federal in Columbia Heights, which are slightly overrated.

As Sir Noshalot describes, the Quesadillas Mexicans are indeed worthy of purchasing, although I'm less smitten with the huitlacoche—it's different and tasty but needs some more punch. I'm more partial to the gorditas which are perfectly fried with a remarkably flavorful meat filling.

Overall, Super Tacos is still the place for fast, tasty, and cheap Mexican in the city. It's located in Adams Morgan, so you can't ask for a more convenient location. Just be sure to load up on the free sauces, and if you have a bad experience, don't be discouraged from trying the same dish again. I'll be sure to report back in case they regain their previously stellar touch.

Rating: 3 stars
Recommended: Carnitas tacos, gorditas, Quesadillas Mexicanas


Super Tacos and Bakery
1762 Columbia Rd. NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-232-7121 (they deliver!)

WaPo Listing & Map