Best Restaurants in Downtown Bethesda?

[Anonymous]

We like Aji Nippon and Tako Grill for Japanese food, and also Satsuma for the grill (yakiniku).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay no really - are there any actually good restaurants in Bethesda? Because the list so far is terrible. Passion fish only decent one mentioned so far

And you have eaten at all the suggestions so far?

[Anonymous]

Bethesda isn't great for great restaurants (like a celebratory dinner)-- there's been a lot of discussion over the years on why that is (county wine/beer monopoly, not enough business traffic, etc).

It does have some good casual/not quite casual restaurants like the ones listed.

[Anonymous]

Gringos and mariachis

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My favorite and my go-to is Jaleo. Also, Jose Andres is an incredible person

Jaleo has closed unfortunately

Wait, I thought it was just a "pause" during the pandemic. Did they really close permanently?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My favorite and my go-to is Jaleo. Also, Jose Andres is an incredible person

Jaleo has closed unfortunately

Wait, I thought it was just a "pause" during the pandemic. Did they really close permanently?

Paused and hibernating according to the website.

Fingers crossed.

[Anonymous]

To the PP who said Jaleo is closed, it’s not closed permanently and is available for takeout. This is a favorite of mine, also Duck Duck Goose (excellent) and Gringos & Mariachis. Olazzo for the cozy atmosphere, homey decent (not stellar) Italian. For some of the best Thai around, Thai Kitchen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We like Trattoria Sorrento on Cordell for Italian. Their food is delicious!

+ 1 really great food and nice people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the PP who said Jaleo is closed, it’s not closed permanently and is available for takeout. This is a favorite of mine, also Duck Duck Goose (excellent) and Gringos & Mariachis. Olazzo for the cozy atmosphere, homey decent (not stellar) Italian. For some of the best Thai around, Thai Kitchen.

We were incredibly disappointed with DDG but lots of people recommending on here so maybe need to give it another try..

Agree on Olazzo and G&M.

We hav never found good Thai in this area so we need to go to Thai Kitchen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Faryab is probably my favorite
Kadhai is good too

Was looking forward to trying Cubanos but haven’t since I think it opened right around the start of the pandemic.

Some people swear by Bangkok Garden but we fell into Sala Thai and haven’t tried it

I will have to check out Faryab.

I did not care for Kadhai. I was told they keep the spice levels down so it’s more Americanized so people will like the taste. I may have to give it another shot with a different dish and ask for more spicy.

I did not enjoy Thai food options in Bethesda at all. The pad Thai dishes I had at birth sala & Bangkok garden tastes like they threw a bunch of soy sauce in there and called it a day. They were lacking the sweet peanut sauce flavor with a kick of fish oil. The good places are in Wheaton and Rockville (Nava Thai, Kiin Imm, and Amina).

I think this is probably true, but I just ask them to make it extra hot and spicy.

IMO Kadhai is the best Indian in Bethesda, but that really isn’t much to boast about.

Kadhai is for non-Indians. They’re rude to Indians and the food is watered down, limited, and boring.

Passage to India is much better.

[Anonymous]

Yuzu.

[Anonymous]

I did not care for Kadhai. I was told they keep the spice levels down so it’s more Americanized so people will like the taste. I may have to give it another shot with a different dish and ask for more spicy.

We've had enjoyable (not terrific) meals in the restaurant pre-covid. Have ordered takeout during covid and it was awful.

Sadly, we've been very disappointed with Bethesda restaurants generally and cannot figure out why it is the way it is. One restaurant we are always happy food-wise with is Bacchus of Lebanon. also the outdoor seating on the patio is nice.

[Anonymous]

Ugh, gringos and mariachis is so bad. Its like hipster Mexican food. I’m a huge fan of Mexican food and was so excited to try it—I ordered like five different tacos to get a fair sampling. They were all pretty bad and the beans were also bad. A mexican restaurant that can’t do beans is like an Italian restaurant that can’t do pasta.

We ate at Guardado’s once and I thought it was pretty good. I lived in Spain for a short time and have eaten at a lot of Spanish restaurants. It’s homey Spanish food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, gringos and mariachis is so bad. Its like hipster Mexican food. I’m a huge fan of Mexican food and was so excited to try it—I ordered like five different tacos to get a fair sampling. They were all pretty bad and the beans were also bad. A mexican restaurant that can’t do beans is like an Italian restaurant that can’t do pasta.

We ate at Guardado’s once and I thought it was pretty good. I lived in Spain for a short time and have eaten at a lot of Spanish restaurants. It’s homey Spanish food.

I agree with a PP their paella is not the best, didn't have the classic crust, but the tapas were delicious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Faryab is probably my favorite
Kadhai is good too

Was looking forward to trying Cubanos but haven’t since I think it opened right around the start of the pandemic.

Some people swear by Bangkok Garden but we fell into Sala Thai and haven’t tried it

I will have to check out Faryab.

I did not care for Kadhai. I was told they keep the spice levels down so it’s more Americanized so people will like the taste. I may have to give it another shot with a different dish and ask for more spicy.

I did not enjoy Thai food options in Bethesda at all. The pad Thai dishes I had at birth sala & Bangkok garden tastes like they threw a bunch of soy sauce in there and called it a day. They were lacking the sweet peanut sauce flavor with a kick of fish oil. The good places are in Wheaton and Rockville (Nava Thai, Kiin Imm, and Amina).

I agree. Tanad Thai, in Tenelytown, was my go-to before it closed. I went there regularly for years, and I really, really miss it.

I agree.