Aoba Japanese Restaurant
Sterling has quite an impressive array of different cuisines for a relatively small city, and this list begins with Aoba, home of the best sushi in town. With claims such as this, it is understandable that the sushi is the main draw here, although for those who are in the mood for something warmer, there are staple Japanese entrées such as yakisoba and spicy ramen that will satisfy. There is an expansive sushi menu to ponder through, and staff will be happy to make suggestions for the uninitiated, and the adventurous.
Aoba Japanese Restaurant, 20921 Davenport Dr, Sterling, VA, USA, +1 703 430 1234
Cheng’s Oriental Restaurant
Chinese food used to be the Asian cuisine of choice; however, with the rise in popularity of Japanese, Thai, Korean and Vietnamese food, it has fallen somewhat out of favor in recent years. Cheng’s Oriental Restaurant is here to remind the Eastern Seaboard why Chinese food used to reign supreme, and why Chinatown, rather than ‘other-Asiantown,’ earned its place in so many of the world’s major cities. As with many Chinese restaurants, the décor lets it down somewhat, but it is clean and tasteful even if it is slightly dated. But the food more than makes up for this. Much of the menu is Szechuan-style, with plenty here for spice fans and for those who want an authentic taste of the Orient. Savor the banquet.
Cheng’s Oriental Restaurant, 20921 Davenport Drive, Sterling, VA, USA, +1 703 450 0439
Joe’s Cafe
The sole all American restaurant on our list, Joe’s Cafe, a traditional diner that serves up breakfast, lunch and subs and is a big draw for Sterlingites, offers something for everyone. Pancakes, eggs, home fries, grits, platters, huevos rancheros, and even a few continental items. It can possibly lay claim to the coveted honor of being the best breakfast place in town, with huge offerings for breakfast fans of all persuasions. To guarantee a table, set your alarm very early or arrange a leisurely late lunch as it does get busy. At lunch, you will be treated to the best burgers in town, specialty sandwiches, or various lunch platters. This café is for those who want a good old-fashioned meal.
Joe’s Cafe, 45665 West Church Road, Sterling, VA, USA, +1 703 444 1118
An assortment of smoked fish | Courtesy of Mokomandy
Mokomandy
Multi-award winning Mokomandy brings a touch of refinement to Sterling’s Asian dining scene. With a spacious, simple, and elegant interior, complete with high-quality finishings, the restaurant is the town’s premier casual fine-dining establishment, the food being the ‘fine’ part, and the ambience being quite relaxed, helped along by the extensive list of handmade cocktails, wine and speciality beers. The restaurant, like the owners themselves, is a marriage of Korean, Cajun and American cuisine, giving one of the East Coast’s most exciting and varied menus. This is a place to go for those who want to excite their palate and try something truly different, all presented and seasoned to perfection.
Mokomandy, 20789 Great Falls Plaza #176, Sterling, VA, USA, +1 571 313 0505
Pattaya Thai Restaurant
Authentic Thai food is often hard to come by, but Pattaya transports diners straight to a beach in Ko Pha Ngan or a Bangkok market. The proof of any Thai restaurant really comes in the pad Thai, and Pattaya’s Ultimate Pad Thai, with a complexity of flavors and textures that will make you want to catch the next flight out East, really shines. The restaurant itself is understated, with its location in the Sterling Plaza Shopping Center not really doing it justice, but the food more than makes up for this. The main menu is an adventure through Thailand’s staple dishes, and the chef’s recommendations are always worth a try. Plus the generous portions are certain to keep you satisfied.
Pattaya Thai Restaurant, 22330 South Sterling Boulevard #A129, Sterling, VA, USA, +1 703 406 3700
Romano’s Special | Courtesy of Romano’s
Romano’s Deli & Pizzeria
Continuing the culinary tour through Sterling, go back to the old world at Romano’s Deli & Pizzeria, a family-owned and operated restaurant that brings the flavors of traditional Italian dishes to town. Well, Italian and New York-Italian, with the New York-style pizza, calzones and strombolis being quite irresistible. They are made with traditional red sauce, which includes a family blend of secret spices, a range of traditional and inventive toppings, plus their unique taco pizza, and dough that is freshly made daily. Their entrées are very much served in the traditional family style, with a mixture of Italian and Greek dishes to satisfy your tastebuds, just like mamma used to make it.
Romano’s Deli & Pizzeria, 1333 Shepard Drive, Sterling, VA, USA, +1 703 430 2080
A Taste Of Burma
This restaurant is an intriguing concept, not least because Burma is one of the most secretive countries in the world, and Burmese food has yet to catch on in any big way. So, for the diner who is looking to broaden their horizons, A Taste of Burma should be added to their must-visit list. Those who do visit will be rewarded with a satisfying menu of complex, tasty dishes that infuse the moreish flavors from the Golden Land. The Golden Mountain Noodles, or Shwe Toung Kaukswe, is the standout dish, with the fermented tea leaf salad also being a big crowd pleaser. The welcoming staff is more than happy to give recommendations, and their passion for the food really is quite infectious.
A Taste of Burma, 126 Edds Lane, Sterling, VA, USA, +1 703 444 8510
Taste Of Vietnam
The next stop on Sterling’s taste tour is Vietnam, with Taste of Vietnam showing that there is somewhat of a theme in the naming of Sterling’s restaurants. The restaurant has been serving the city with the finest Vietnamese food for two decades now, and it seems like the rest of the country is finally catching up with the appeal of this cuisine. The home-cooked Vietnamese fare has bold depths of flavor, which can be added to with the range of accompanying sauces. Again, you can ask the staff for their recommendations, and they will happily give their suggestions. For first timers, pho is always the best starting point. This restaurant offers one of the tastiest and healthiest cuisines in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere.
Taste of Vietnam, 46005 Regal Plaza, Sterling, VA, USA, +1 703 433 9543
tooSso Interior | Courtesy of tooSso
tooSso Restaurant
More than just a run-of-the-mill curry house, tooSso is a vibrant Pakistani kitchen that showcases the urban, contemporary way of experiencing the traditional tastes of Pakistan. Everything, from their rolls and bowls to their sides and sweets, are made freshly on-site, and all of their meat is halal. The décor is bright, welcoming and interesting, with the walls of kites and bottle caps being particularly enjoyable. It is a well-realized restaurant with flavors to rival any fine-dining institution.
tooSso, 20921 Davenport Drive, Sterling, VA, USA, +1 703 433 1233
Zeitoon Mediterranean Grill & Brick Oven Pizza
Mediterranean cuisine has long been among the culinary world’s most sought-after and has been incredibly influential on many restaurants in the old and new world. Zeitoon offers a whistle-stop tour around the famous sea — a multifaceted experience that allows diners to savor the flavors, textures and colors of the area. The menu offers a modern and creative twist on the classics, and they serve up some of the finest hummus, kebabs and olives that you will ever have the joy of tasting. Their ingredients are fresh and their dishes beautifully presented. Their menu has been decades in the making, prepared with passion, and will leave diners feeling satisfied well after they have left.
Zeitoon Mediterranean Grill & Brick Oven Pizza, 21950 Ste 155 Cascades Pkwy, Sterling, VA, USA, +1 571 313 0947