Northern Virginia Magazine has unveiled the results of an extensive reader poll to determine the best spots for dining, shopping and entertainment in the region.
Fairfax County establishments came out on top in several categories, claiming the region’s best barbecue, Chinese and Korean food, water park, outdoor shopping district and more, according to the annual poll. The results were published online yesterday (Monday) after first appearing in print in the magazine’s June issue.
Some winners were repeats from previous years, including The Auld Shebeen in Fairfax City — the area’s best Irish bar to an eighth consecutive year — and Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, which once again was named the best live music venue and the best outdoor concert space.
Chef Peter Chang’s empire continued its dominance in the Chinese restaurant category, only this time, the win went to Mama Chang in Fairfax City, which recently caught the attention of the New York Times. Peter Chang, whose McLean location was named one of the area’s best newcomers this spring by the Washington Post, was the runner-up.
Like in 2023, Open Road Grill was voted as the best sports bar, but this time, the company was also recognized as having the best cocktail bar in Heirloom, a speakeasy-style bar inside the distillery it opened at Reston Town Center last August. Open Road can also be found in Merrifield and Rosslyn.
Other categories saw upheaval. After coming in as runners-up in 2023, Fairfax City’s Marumen unseated Jinya for the “best ramen restaurant” title, while Elden Street Tea Shop prevailed in the best tea shop category, though it’s unclear whether its relocation from downtown Herndon to Lake Anne Plaza in Reston was a factor.
A total of 157 sites across Northern Virginia were recognized in 82 categories. A full rundown of the Fairfax winners is below.
Eating
- Barbecue: Mookie’s BBQ (1141 Walker Road, Great Falls)
- Brunch: Chloez Cafe (5622 Ox Road, Unit F, Fairfax Station)
- Butcher: The Organic Butcher of McLean (6712 Old Dominion Drive)
- Chinese: Mama Chang (3251 Blenheim Blvd, Suite 101, Fairfax)
- French: L’Auberge Chez Francois (332 Springvale Road, Great Falls)
- Fried chicken sandwich: Wooboi Hot Chicken (139 Spring Street, Herndon)
- Italian: Osteria Marzano (6361 Walker Lane Metro Park VI, Suite 140, Franconia)
- Korean: Ingle Korean Steakhouse (8369 Leesburg Pike, Tysons)
- Pizza: Pupatella (locations in Chantilly, Merrifield, Reston and Springfield)
- Ramen: Marumen (250 Old Pickett Road, Fairfax)
- Restaurant with a view: 2941 Restaurant (2941 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church)
- Tacos: Taco Bamba (locations in Fair Lakes, University Mall, Idylwood, Herndon, Springfield and Vienna)
Drinks
- Brewery: Honor Brewing (private event space at 14004 Willard Road A, Chantilly)
- Bubble tea: Tea-Do (locations in Annandale and Fairfax City)
- Cocktail bar: Heirloom (1871 Fountain Drive, Suite 300, Reston)
- Irish bar: The Auld Shebeen (3971 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax)
- Sports bar: Open Road Grill (locations in Reston and Merrifield)
- Tea shop: Elden Street Tea Shop (1633A Washington Plaza, Reston)
- Wine bar: The Wine House (3950 University Drive, Suite 212, Fairfax)
Entertainment
- Indoor kids’ entertainment: Children’s Science Center Lab (11948 Fair Oaks Mall)
- Live music venue and outdoor concert space: Wolf Trap (1551 Trap Road)
- Museum: Udvar-Hazy Center (14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly)
- Public park: Great Falls Park (9200 Old Dominion Drive)
- Pumpkin patch: Cox Farms (15621 Braddock Road, Centreville)
- Theater house: Northern Virginia Players (6206 Lavell Court, Springfield)
- Water park: The Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston)
Shopping
- Bridal shop: Brooke’s Bridal & Ball (3955 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 103, Fairfax)
- Clothing boutique: Monkee’s of Fairfax (11899 Grand Commons Avenue, Fairfax)
- Consignment shop, adults: Wardrobe Rescue Consignment (134 Church Street NW, Vienna)
- Independent bookstore: Bards Alley (110 Church Street NW, Vienna)
- Lingerie: Trousseau (306 Maple Avenue West, Vienna)
- Outdoor shopping district: Mosaic District (2905 District Avenue, Merrifield)
- Record store: Mobius Records (10409 Main Street, Suite D, Fairfax)
Beauty and fitness
- Barbershop: The Standard Barbershop (10409 Main Street, Suite B, Fairfax)
- Barre: Pure Barre — Reston (12975 Highland Crossing Drive, Suite 190)
- Boot camp: Hodges Fitness (8530 Cinder Bed Road, Suite 2200, Lorton)
- Cycling studio: New Trail Cycling & Strength Studio (1641B Washington Plaza North, Reston)
- Pilates studio: Club Pilates — Burke (5765 Burke Center Parkway, Suite S)
- Yoga studio: Beloved Yoga (11109 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 100, Reston)
