Huong Viet: Authentic Vietnamese dining at the Eden Center

By the editors of the Northern Virginia Restaurant Blog

This is as authentic as it gets. No question Huong Viet is the flagship restaurant of the famous Northern Virginia hub of Vietnamese food – the Eden Center at the busy Seven Corners intersection in Falls Church. 

This is arguably the best and certainly the oldest restaurant in the Eden Center – Huong Viet has been serving its delicious food for 23 years.

Spring rolls with pork and vegetables.

Huong Viet has received the Washingtonian Magazine’s best cheap eats or some other kind of award every year at least for the last 10 years, and when you come here, you’ll soon know why. The family-style dishes here are all mouthwatering.

Ethnic dives aficionados, like us, know to expect spotty service, and Huong Viet is no exception to that. Not all staff speak English and proactiveness is rewarded when asking for a water refill. Nonetheless, our waitress was knowledgeable and helpful, describing dishes and suggesting options.

Wait staff are quick to take orders and food is quick to come out; tables are quick to turn over. This restaurant seems to do a lot of takeout service, as diners were stopping by in a steady stream and leaving with lots of bags of delicious goodness.

Everything we tried – the shrimp pancake, veggie spring rolls, and pork and veggie spring roll appetizers and for entrees, fish in a clay pot, perfectly grilled and seasoned lemongrass chicken, and Chinese broccoli and shiitake mushrooms in garlic sauce – were all absolutely delicious!

The fish in a clay pot is fantastic.

Flavors are delectable. We ordered fish, chicken, and veggies that all complemented each other wonderfully. Dishes are family style, meaning if you order chicken, you get a plate of chicken with a few lettuce leaves and carrot slices. Any additional veggies must be ordered separately. A large bowl of white steamed rice accompanies each meal for no extra charge.

Decor is humble, showcasing the multiple awards along all the walls. Tables and chairs are clean, but, as ethnic dives go, it is shabbily charming.

Most importantly – this is an all-cash operation. We did not see an ATM on the premises, so come prepared.

Each item on the menu deserves to be ordered and savored, so we will have to visit many more times to make our way through the extensive list of choices.

To top off your meal with some sweets and a change of scenery, stroll a few doors toward your left as you exit Huong Viet for a refreshing and naturally sweet sugar cane drink.  Also, pick up some fabulous lotus cookies from the Cha Kim Phung Bakery to take home. Each time you eat a cookie, you’ll remember the great food of Eden Center.

Huong Viet Restaurant, the Eden Center, 6785 Wilson Blvd., Falls Church, 703-538-7110. Open 10 a.m. Sunday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.