By Stefanie Gans and Rina Rapuano
Rice Paper
Falls Church | Vietnamese | $$
People are creatures of habit, and it’s tempting to order the same dish every time at this Eden Center mainstay. But Rice Paper is a place where experimentation brings great rewards. Yes, the pho is delicious and totally hits the spot when the craving hits, but consider bringing a few friends and incorporating a new dish or two. Worthy options include the Rice Paper combo platter, a massive mound of veggies, fresh herbs, ground beef in grape leaves and grilled seafood and pork, all of which can be tucked into lettuce leaves or one of the DIY rice wrappers that guests soften in warm water at the table. The special-style fried rice with filet mignon and sweet Chinese sausage lives up to the title of “special”—it really is head and shoulders above your average fried rice, thanks in part to wonderfully tender, marinated chunks of beef and a sunny side up egg. Caramelized fish in a clay pot is a sweet-and-savory bowl of white fish chunks in a peppery sauce that might turn into yet another thing you need to order every time. // 6775 Wilson Blvd., Falls Church
This post originally appeared in our November 2019 issue’s 50 Best Restaurants cover story. For more food reviews, subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
