Crispy Korean Rice Dogs Touch Down in Crystal City

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Korean rice dogs will land on Crystal City’s Restaurant Row when popular Korean chain Oh K-Dog and Egg Toast (509 23rd Street Street) opens in the space formerly occupied by Taj of India, which closed earlier this year. In addition to a Korean “corn dog” filled with “your choice of mozzarella cheese, squid-ink, rice cake, potato, and more,” the chain sells other popular Korean snacks like egg toast and a croissant/waffle mash-up known as a “croffle.” The outlet will likely open by Christmas.

Also, look for a second location opening at Ballston Quarter at 4238 Wilson Boulevard by the end 2022 or beginning of 2023 in the space that was formerly Mi & Yu Noodle Bar, which closed in February. The two new locations have different owners. [ARLnow.com]

Preservation season

Meanwhile, locals are worried that a whirl of development in Crystal City is endangering Restaurant Row, known as the area’s soul with “human-sized” buildings and collection of small, independently owned restaurants. They’ve organized to promote ideas for preserving and updating Restaurant Row. [ARLnow.com]

Food truck latkes

Schmaltz Bros./Facebook

Schmaltz Bros. food trucks will dish latkes with apple butter, matzo ball soup, and sufganiyot with honey roasted quince jam in celebration of Hanukkah from November 28 until December 6. The full truck schedule includes stops at GW Hillel on November 29 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Kemp Mill Synagogue on November 30 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and City State Brewing on December 2 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Pre-order through the website.

A new butcher heads for Takoma Park

Soko Butcher (7306 Carrol Avenue) will open in Takoma Park, Maryland by the end of the year with cured meats, cheese, pickles and more. [PoPville.com]

Booze news

Atlas Brew Works has a new beer club with mixed six-packs and discounts in the tap room and for events, available for pick-up (free pint while choosing the beer) or shipping to some areas.

Atlas Brew Works Half Street Brewery & Tap Room location is throwing a New Year’s Eve party with bottomless draft beers, some wines and cocktails, a live DJ, and food for purchase from Andy’s Pizza from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday, December 31. [Eaterwire]

DC Cocktail Week returns from November 29 to December 5 (also the 88th anniversary of Repeal Day) with more than 50 restaurants and other venues offering cocktail pairings and promotions, including a $7 cocktail menu during happy hour at The Commodore Service Bar; an ugly sweater cocktail dinner at Bastille in Old Town, Alexandria; a Prohibition-themed pop-up at Hook Hall’s Cocktail Club; and more. Full list of events here.

Gina Chersevani, the force behind Buffalo & Bergen, a nostalgic soda counter and deli; casual, divey Last Call bar; and Suburbia, a vintage airstream trailer and cocktail haven parked by Union Market, will compete the Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games on Wednesday, November 24, 2021 at 9 p.m. EST. Last Call will host a spirited “PJs & Palomas Watch Party.” [EaterWire]