A number of Arlington and Falls Church restaurants were honored this week as some of “The 100 Very Best Restaurants” in the D.C. area.
Taking into account both food and atmosphere, Washingtonian’s annual rankings recognized 20 Northern Virginia restaurants as the best of the best. Three Arlington spots and a half dozen Falls Church spots are repeat winners — but the list includes a couple of newcomers.
Arlington
No. 57: Padaek
Washingtonian placed Padaek and its D.C. sister restaurant, Thip Khao, together at No. 57 — praising Padaek’s Laotian dishes and “well-executed Thai staples.” Located in the Arlington Ridge Shopping Center and also at Seven Corners in Falls Church, the restaurant serving up drunken noodles, curries and flavorful meat dishes has captured much praise since opening in fall 2023 — appearing not once, but twice in best restaurant lists by the Washington Post last year.
2931 S. Glebe Road and 6395 Seven Corners Center
No. 64: NiHao (new)
NiHao opened this past spring in Crystal City and clocked in at No. 64 for its menu combining small plates, modern Chinese cuisine and Sichuan flair. Washingtonian pointed out staples like Kung Pao chicken in addition to housemade Szechuan sausage and mapo tofu with black beans. NiHao is renowned chef Peter Chang’s second Arlington spot, joining a restaurant named after Chang in the Lee Harrison Shopping Center…