Yama Restaurant, Vienna. Janna and I have really enjoyed this local sushi spot in downtown Vienna recently. It’s nothing too different, but I’ve yet to have any sushi there that I haven’t liked. Some of my favorite nigiri there have included the yellowtail, unagi (eel), and the octopus. Prices seem about right and the service is quite good as long as the place isn’t too crowded, when we’ve noticed some slowdowns. Everyone needs a good neighborhood sushi place, and this certainly fits the bill for folks in Vienna. [Yelp]
Plaka's Signature Gyro
Plaka Grill, Vienna. I dare anyone to find better gyros in Northern Virginia than the Plaka Gyro at this great little restaurant right next to the Vienna Post Office. Rather than the tradition pre-made cone of beef and lamb, Plaka marinates and grills its pork on in the kitchen, resulting in a far more flavorful gyro than you typically find around the area, including at Amphora, whose more expensive version pales in comparison to Plaka’s. Plaka does to a “traditional” ”meat cone-style” gyro, which they call a Chicago Gyro, but even on their menu, they describe it as, “same old, same old.” I can also recommend their dip sampler, which includes hummus, a very nice feta spread called tyrokafteri, and a very good roasted eggplant spread. Also, don’t miss out on the fries here, which are crispy, very well-seasoned, and exceedingly addictive. [Yelp]
Super Chicken, Tysons Corner. Hard to spot from the road, Super Chicken opened in 2010 in the same shopping center as Marshalls, located next to the camera store. It doesn’t yet stack up to the area’s chicken king at Pollo Rico, but it is quite good, and a positive addition to lunch options to the thousands of worker drones in Tysons Corner. One area where Super Chicken deserves credit is in its sides. Rather than merely offering fries and/or a limp salad, this restaurant offers rice & beans, chickpeas, fries, yucca, onion salad, coleslaw, and even fried plantains. On some days, they also have a cooked vegetable “stew” as a side, which I recommend enthusiastically. [Yelp]
