We recommend the reviews on Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide (TCEDG.com).

See some of the places our faculty and authors like in "Faculty Favorites" on Hobnob Blog.

Also see:

• Washingtonian - Washingtonian magazine restaurant reviews. Generally reliable. Recommended

• Washington City Paper restaurant finder

• Washington Post restaurant reviews

Note: The places where we like to eat tend toward Asian cooking and seafood. Some of the restaurants we like have pleasant decor, but a good value is paramount. Unless otherwise noted, major credit cards accepted. 

• Kohindoor Dhaba - the best bargain Indian food in the DC area. 2800 South Eads Street, Arlington, VA 703-778-5005 [Yelp]  Amazingly good value.  Highest Recommendation

• Sichuan Pavilion - the best Sichuan Chinese food in the DC area. 410 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD 240-403-7351 [TCEDG]  Amazingly good value.  Highest Recommendation

• Ray's Hell-Burger - incredible burgers, reasonable prices, always busy. 1713 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA, 703-841-0001 [TCEDG] Very good value. Highest Recommendation

• Song Que - Vietnamese sandwiches and bubble drinks - try the crispy grilled pork sandwich with a bubble drink, a very good dinner for under $6. 6769 Wilson Boulevard, Eden Center, Falls Church, VA  [Yelp | Washingtonian]  Very good value.   Highly Recommended

• Bombay Curry Company - 3110 Mt. Vernon Avenue in Alexandria, VA  703-836-6363  [Washingtonian | City Paper] Good value.   Highly Recommended

• Kabob Palace - 2333 S. Eads St., Arlington, VA, 703-979-3000  Middle Eastern [Washingtonian | City Paper] Good value.  Recommended

• Al's Steak House - "Alexandria's First and Foremost Philly Cheese Steak Shop" - Good cheeseburgers, and great greasy onion rings (avoid the fries).  1504 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 703-836-9443 [Yelp | The Best Phlly Cheesesteaks] Very good value.   Recommended

• Ray's the Steaks - great steaks.  2300 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA  Reservations well in advance recommended. 703-841-7297  [Yelp | Washingtonian | City Paper] Good value.   Recommended

• Royal Restaurant Saturday and Sunday buffet brunch - cook to order omelet's, Belgian waffles, sausage, grits, biscuits, mac and cheese, fruit, and much more.  734 N. St. Asaph Street, at Madison Street, Alexandria, VA, 703-548-1616 [Yelp | WaPo | City Paper]

• Chart House - all we get here is the fried calamari appetizer and the Chocolate Lava Cake in the lounge.  One Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA  703-684-5080  [City Paper]

• Front Page Restaurant and Grille - good burgers and salads, near DuPont Circle. 1333 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington DC  202-296-6500

• Malaysia Kopitiam - our favorite Malaysian restaurant in DC (in NYC, try Sanur, 18 Doyers Street, 212-267-0088). Try everything. 1827 M St. NW (between 18th & 19th Sts.)  Washington, DC  202-833-6232 [TCEDG | Yelp | Washingtonian | City Paper]  Very good value. Recommended

• Full Kee - Try the wonton soup and steamed chicken. Just off Leesburg Pike and Columbia Pike, across route 7 from Borders Books in Baileys Crossroads Center (in the same shopping center as Trader Joe's at 5847 Leesburg Pike)  5830 Columbia Pike, Falls Church, VA  703-575-8232 [TCEDG | Yelp | City Paper]  Very good value.  Recommended

• Pho Bowl - Vietnamese Noodle Soup Restaurant.  Excellent.  6406 Landsdowne Center, Alexandria, VA  (just north of Ft. Belvoir at the south end of Beulah, near the CVS).  703-339-9101. Closes at 9:00 pm Excellent food [Yelp] Very good value.   Recommended

• Carlyle Grand Cafe - good, solid, reliable food (and one restaurant we go where the decor is good).  4000 S. 28th St. (just off I 395 at Shirlington) Shirlington, VA 703-931-0777  [Yelp | City Paper]   

• Although it's not a restaurant, the pizza, hot dogs and chicken bakes at the Costco food court are reliable and inexpensive - call ahead to order pizza at Pentagon City: 703-413-2324, extension 3250. Members only, cash or checks.  (Please, no whiny emails about this - Costco is not fine dining, it is not ethnic food, it IS a good $1.50 hot dog with drink and a good $9.95 pizza. If you don't agree, then don't go there.) Pentagon City, 1200 South Fern Street, Arlington, VA  Very good value. 

Also see our Visiting Washington, DC page

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