When I arrived in Northern Virginia in 2020, at the height of the pandemic, one of my first destinations was Eden Center. There’s no arguing that it’s a wonderland of Vietnamese eats, from banh cuon to cha ca thang long, the strip mall has fulfilled almost all of my Vietnamese food dreams. But one stone was left unturned.
I couldn’t find a version of bo ne, or Vietnamese steak and eggs, anywhere. Not at Eden Center, not anywhere in NoVA. This fall, that finally changed.
Hoang Viet debuted in Eden Center, around the corner from Firepan Korean BBQ, with a small menu of Vietnamese breakfast items, including my longed-for bo ne.
Food comes out swiftly at Hoang Viet. In fact, my cha gio (crispy spring rolls), were on the table before the extra-strong iced coffee. The appetizer crunches estimably, despite their juicy, well-seasoned pork filling.
The bo nes I’ve tried before have typically been chunks of tender beef, like a breakfast version of Vietnamese shaking beef (bo luc lac). Here, it’s a full steak, alongside a moist meatball, all sizzling in a lightly sweet sauce. The best part? Chopped liver paté that melts with onions in the hot pan, making it perfectly slick for spreading on the toasted baguette provided.
Thanks to Hoang Viet, Eden Center is one step closer to having everything a Vietnamese food fan could want. After a meal of bo ne, it’s hard not to leave with a full heart — and gut. 6795 Wilson Blvd., Ste. 32, Falls Church
See this: The small dining room is little more than utilitarian, but keep your eyes on the lucky cat and jade budai.
Eat this: Cha gio, bo ne, ca phe sua da
Open daily, 10 a.m to 8 p.m.
Feature image by Alice Levitt
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