Taste of National Landing Dining Guide
From eating al fresco to date night ideas, here’s where to go in National Landing.
Lunch Spots
National Landing’s got burgers, tacos, and bowls covered for lunch. Check out baja fish tacos at NYC import Tacombi or birria tacos at Taqueria Xochi. Lapu Lapu in Pentagon City is known for its Filipino breakfast sandwiches, but it also makes a popular smash burger with double Wagyu patties. Meanwhile, refuel with a pair of tea egg bao buns or a mixian noodle bowl from Yunnan by Potomac. For Indian flavors on the go, fast-casual Rasa whips up make-your-own bowls featuring basmati rice, chicken tikka and lamb kebab.
Date Nights
French dining is très romantic, and Parisian-inspired bistro Bar Colline with its marble-topped bar is no exception. Fans flock to celebrity chef Peter Chang’s Sichuan restaurant, NiHao, for his signature dishes of dry-fried eggplant (or green beans), dan dan noodles and scallion bubble pancake. A cozy spot for drinks for pre- or post-dinner drinks is the intimate tasting room at Beauty Champagne & Sugar on 23rd Street, where you can sit down for a flight of bubbly. Or you could sing your heart out at the futuristic Lantern Restaurant & Bar, which combines spicy Sichuan cuisine with private karaoke rooms.
Brunch Spots
All the classics are represented on Social All Day’s brunch menu, when this all-day café cooks up buttermilk waffles, avocado toast, smoked salmon benedicts, acai bowls and more. At chef Enrique Limardo’s avant-garde restaurant Surreal, brunch can be all-you-can-eat experience with dishes like guava cheesecake waffles and queso fundido shakshuka. French cocktails and Chinese cuisine collide at Bar Chinois, where you can partake in an unlimited dim sum brunch with mimosa service on Saturdays.
Water Park
This one-of-a-kind outdoor food hall has something for every craving. Sonoran tortillas are flown in from Mexico for Monstera's San Diego-style burritos stuffed with fillings like beef barbacoa, scrambled eggs or cumin eggplant. In addition to noodle soup and banh mi sandwiches, PhoWheels adds Vietnamese flavors to tacos and cheesesteaks. Acclaimed chef “Rock” Harper specializes in crispy and saucy fried chicken sandwiches at Queen Mother’s Kitchen, while local chain Call Your Mother’s decadent bagel sandwiches are a breakfast hit. With eight different food kiosks nestled within a lush green setting and free programming year-round, Water Park is a destination.
Outdoor Patios
Colada Shop’s patio along Crystal Drive is studded with greenery and turquoise umbrellas is the perfect spot for a mojito, while Makers Union’s covered patio in Pentagon City feels like an extension of the pub’s dining room thanks to a retractable glass wall. For another great view, Water Bar’s indoor-outdoor dining room is perched on the top of Water Park’s infinity fountain with picturesque views.
Coffee Shops
Need a caffeine pick-me-up? Crystal City's Java Loco Coffee & Bubble Tea serves Vietnamese-style coffee with condensed milk in addition to matcha lattes. A bookstore and a coffee shop collide at Daydrift Books & Cafe, a light-filled café in Crystal City where you can pick up a new read to go with your strawberry cold foam latte order with ricotta sourdough toast. NYC chain Maman’s new National Landing outpost brings a French flair, with delicate blue-and-white décor and delicious almond croissant lattes and nutty chocolate chip cookies. Local roasters Commonwealth Joe in Pentagon City are known for their nitro cold brew. For a quick grab-and-go, stop by Spot of Tea’s kiosk in Water Park for a refreshing Hibiscus Mango or Vanilla Taro bubble tea.
