Falls Church's Own Eden

I love Eden Center so much, despite only having made a handful of visits so far. Whether it be the grocery stores with bitter melon by the pound, the plethora of Vietnamese restaurants or the availability of bubble tea, the Asian shopping center is a clear destination spot for me. In the past week alone, I've had the chance to visit two of the most talked-about restaurants in the plaza. How did they measure up?

First on the list to visit was Huong Que (or "Four Sisters"), which Tom Sietsema is raving about every other minute. It's got a cute, date-friendly atmosphere, and a novel-length menu.

I'd heard good things about the short ribs in a clay pot (I'm a sucker for short ribs). They tasted a bit more like boneless spare ribs than I'd expected, but they were DELICOUS, at once sweet and savory. The shrimp toast was arguably the best I've had in the area, crispy and featuring a plump portion of shrimp. My companion was a bit less fortunate - although he enjoyed his noodle dish, the waiter somehow never heard him order it. Luckily, one of the sisters approached our table to ask if everything was all right when she noticed my untouched meal, and both she and the waiter made hasty and apologetic repairations. Delicious food, polite service: I'll be back.

A friend and I returned a few days later on his quest to find natto. The grocery stores couldn't help us (too Japan-specific, I guess), but we tried not to make the trip a total loss, and ducked into Huong Viet for dinner. Definitely a more casual atmosphere than Huong Que, the place was bustling nonetheless.

When surveying the menu, I easily could have went for any of the many Pho and soup options on the list. Unfortunately, the temperature in the restaurant was almost stiflingly warm, killing my desire to consume any hot broth. I went with a meat and vermicelli dish instead - beef wrapped with bacon, accompanied by noodles. The dish was sweeter than I'd expected, with a hint of smokiness. Oddly, I could taste but not see the bacon. I went the "wrap your meat, veggies and noodles in rice paper" route, creating my own makeshift summer roll with my entree, and it all worked together nicely. My friend had a typical flat rice noodle dish with meat and seafood, and I definetely enjoyed what I could grab off his plate with my middling chopstick skills.

It'll take more than a visit to each to call a winner in the food category (Huong Que has a head start). If you're looking for a quick bite, Huong Viet fits the bill nicely (well, maybe not if you're seeking soup...). If you're looking for atmosphere, go the Que route. But my greatest recommendation would just be to visit Eden Center and start experimenting. And pick up some groceries and bubble tea while you're there!

Eden Center
Wilson Boulevard at 7 Corners
Falls Church, VA