From Yemeni to Uyghur, NoVA’s got practically any cuisine you could wish for. Since I arrived in the region, I struggled to locate one favorite, Vietnamese chay, or vegetarian. But I’m pleased to report that I finally found what I was looking for.
Rania’s Love in Falls Church serves all the Vietnamese classics, including egg rolls, pho and noodle bowls. But vegetarians can order everything on the menu without fear of encountering flesh. Don’t expect the rough-and-tumble experience of most chay restaurants I’ve tried. Rania’s is brightly lit and covered in both painted and three-dimensional representations of flowers and butterflies. There’s even the kind of relaxing music that usually accompanies a massage or yoga class.
I started with Rania’s Sampler, which includes egg rolls stuffed with tofu and taro (the latter led my dining companion to compare them to bean taquitos); fresh spring rolls filled with veggie ham, mint, lettuce and vermicelli; and my favorite, crispy wontons filled with imitation shrimp. Each comes with its own sauce, including imitation fish sauce, peanut sauce and a sticky red sweet and sour.
The bun noodle bowl (served in a takeout container due to pandemic-fueled caution) is bright with pickled veggies, mint and the homemade “fish” sauce. Though the shredded “pork” didn’t remind me much of meat its burst of umami flavor brought the elements together.
But the greatest success at Rania’s is their bun Hue. The spicy Central Vietnamese soup is usually filled with meat: beef, pork and shrimp paste. Could it work without them? Very well, it turns out. Hot with both chile oil and fresh slices of jalapeño, the broth brought a burn to its fillings that included veggie ham, spongy fried tofu, mushrooms and broccoli. The dish is the perfect antidote to a cold day for vegetarians or anyone who loves a hearty, flavor-filled bowl of soup. There’s no doubt diners will leave feeling Rania’s Love. // 1136 W. Broad St., Falls Church
For more restaurant reviews, subscribe to our Food newsletter.
