Anonymous wrote:Pho - get the pho.

+1 and if you are getting vegetarian, make sure to ask if they have vegetarian broth and they understand what you are asking (many do now)

Korean- bibimbap. It's a bowl of rice with sautéed greens, bean sprouts, carrots, mushrooms, marinated beef and a fried egg on top. FRIGGIN DELICIOUS.

Anonymous wrote:Pho - get the pho.

All the pho, all the time.

Anonymous wrote:All this food talk is making me hungry!

Yeah! Thanks, DCUM, for sending me to the Indian buffet for lunch...

All this food talk is making me hungry!

Vietnamese - pho, bun cha, shrimp on sugarcane

Korean - bulgogi, japchae, all the different panchan or little dishes they bring out

Japanese - edamame, yakitori, teriyaki, udon noodles, tempura, miso soup, gyoza, cooked sushi (although once you try a really amazing fresh tuna sushi, you may never go back to cooked!)

Indian - Indian buffets are a great, inexpensive way to try new foods. Try chicken tikka masala, butter chicken, biryani, samosas, naan bread, mango lassi

Middle Eastern - hummus, falafel, baba ghanoush, pita bread, shawarma

Chinese - go to a dim sum place and sample a variety of yummy things like pork buns, shrimp dumplings, pot stickers, etc.

Pho - get the pho.

There's a good Thai buffet in Tyson at this place called i-Thai...it's in an office park across from the new Walmart on Rt 7. There's a good Indian buffet place there, too called Bombay Tandoor...sometimes they have a homemade saffron ice cream on the buffet- amazeballs!!

Thanks, guys! I am really excited to try new stuff!

Anonymous wrote:How about sushi recs -- I'm the aforementioned picky eater asking about Thai. I am not interested in raw fish in any way, yet everyone is always telling me sushi restaurants have more than that. What are good "starters" (not appetizers - but to learn that type of cuisine) when people want to go out for sushi?

Shrimp and Veggie Gyoza/Dumplings, Edamame (steamed and salted soybeans), and tamago sushi (sweet egg omelette over rice). Many places also have great ramen (delicious, rich soup) and when I am pregnant, I often go for veggie tempura. Also, there are now some Japanese places in the area that focus on cooked offerings rather than sushi. The main two that that come to mind are Izakaya Seki and Izakaya Daikaya: both have raw dishes, but the focus is actually on Japanese comfort food and the grill. In Rockville, there is Tamari Cafe, which is a tiny restaurant that does this kind of food as well, but in even more of a quaint and home-cooking kind of way. The value at Tamari is amazing: you can get a salmon teriyaki dinner (to include a soup, salad and tofu appetizer) for about $15, and they are known for their Japanese curry, a milder version than many other Asian curries that I have tried. Good luck and enjoy!

Anonymous wrote:How about sushi recs -- I'm the aforementioned picky eater asking about Thai. I am not interested in raw fish in any way, yet everyone is always telling me sushi restaurants have more than that. What are good "starters" (not appetizers - but to learn that type of cuisine) when people want to go out for sushi?

I'm also not a raw fish fan, and my sushi go tos are:

Shrimp tempura roll
Shrimp nigiri (these are not the rolls, but the individual pieces)
Egg
Eel
The ones wrapped in a bean curd wrapper

I'm not a fan of the veggie rolls because I don't like avocado and they almost always seem to have that in them. But if you like avocado, then those are a good option.

You can also get miso soup, edamame, pot stickers, or other apps to go along with your sushi so that you don't have to rely on only that to fill you up if you're not sure you'll like it.

I've had deep fried sushi as well (which is obviously cooked) and it's pretty tasty if done right (even if it might be sacrilege)

Korean - kalbi - bbq short ribs; bulgogi - bbq thin sliced beef; chicken bbq...any bbq meats... yummy.

Anonymous wrote:How about sushi recs -- I'm the aforementioned picky eater asking about Thai. I am not interested in raw fish in any way, yet everyone is always telling me sushi restaurants have more than that. What are good "starters" (not appetizers - but to learn that type of cuisine) when people want to go out for sushi?

Shrimp, crab, vegetarian rolls -- none of these are ever raw.
To start

California roll (imitation crab, cucumber)
Shrimp tempura roll (shrimp fried in crunchy batter)
Philadelphia roll (smoked salmon cream cheese)

Masago, roe = fish eggs. Anything you don't want on the roll just ask them to hold it

Happy sushi-ing

Anonymous wrote:Try the Indian lunch buffets. Good value for money, and you will be able to sample a whole variety of dishes.

Delhi dhaba