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Choolaah Indian BBQ is cooking up tandoor-fired foods in Fairfax.
Choolaah Indian BBQ is cooking up tandoor-fired foods in Fairfax.
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Where to Eat in Merrifield/Dunn Loring Right NOW

Here's 13 newer dining options for those exploring the area

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Choolaah Indian BBQ is cooking up tandoor-fired foods in Fairfax.
| Official

This continuously evolving section of Fairfax County keeps attracting new restaurants as mixed use developments including Avenir Place, Halstead Square, and Mosaic District grow into their own.

Over the past four years, destinations including Neighborhood Restaurant Group's bar, B-Side, diner favorite Ted's Bulletin, and healthy cafe True Food Kitchen have all found their place in the neighborhood. Next up: a second location of D.C. bar The Black Squirrel is set to open in mid-June.

This isn't the only solid dining the neighborhood has ever seen, though. Consider longtime standouts like Vietnamese restaurant Four Sisters and Chinese restaurant Uncle Liu's Hot Pot. Add in slightly older establishments like sibling ventures Open Road and Trio Grill, additional branches of local chains Lost Dog Cafe and Matchbox, plus a wealth of fast-casual choices like Sweetgreen, Taylor Gourmet and Cava, and residents and visitors to the area have plenty to choose from.

Not all new arrivals have survived, however; D.C. import DGS Delicatessen closed in March, a few months shy of its second anniversary.

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Oklahoma Joe's BBQ

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This barbecue chain's first local location has seen plenty of crowds, and is serving up ribs, pulled pork, burnt ends, and more.

Spice 6

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This is the second location of the Hyattsville-based fast-casual Indian restaurant.

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Thai By Thai

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This local Thai chain's newest location is near the Dunn Loring metro.

Restaurateur Mike Isabella's Merrifield restaurant, originally a pop-up, now has a permanent home in the Mosaic District. Dishes are often French-influenced.

Photo by Eater

Puree Artisan Juice Bar

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Mosaic houses lots of workout options, so installing a new juice bar was a no-brainer. Puree also sells its cleansing beverages throughout Washington D.C. and in Maryland.

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Mom & Pop

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The Dolcezza team brought this all-day hangout to Mosaic District, serving up drinks, coffee, boards and more.

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Alta Strada

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Restaurateur Michael Schlow brought a second D.C.-area outpost of his Italian restaurant to Fairfax this year. Overseen by executive chef Nicole Belverd, a veteran of Zaytinya and the now-Michelin starred Inn at Little Washington, the menu plays up house-made pastas and pizzas.

Jinya Ramen Bar

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This ramen chain opened its first local branch at Mosaic District. Find 20 different ways to customize a variety of soups, along with small plates, cocktails, and other Japanese dishes. A second location is scheduled to debut on 14th Street NW this summer.

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Choolaah Indian BBQ

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Choolaah Indian BBQ landed at Mosaic in late 2016, modernizing the 5,000-year-old Indian cooking tradition called “tandoori.” Food is prepared in clay ovens that grill ingredients at 700 degrees. Next up for the fledgling chain: a new location in Sterling, Va.

Co-founder Travis Croxton and newly minted executive chef David Rabin remain committed to showcasing Mid-Atlantic-focused fare at Brine. The restaurant recently brought on The Passenger alum Alexandra Bookless to punch up the bar program.

Iron Chef House

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Rolls, tempura, hibachi, and more are all on the menu at Iron Chef House.

Sisters Thai The Ordinary Cafe

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Sisters Thai, which has its flagship restaurant in Old Town Fairfax, is now cooking up homey Thai dishes down the road in Merrifield.

Nando's PERi-PERi

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This South African chicken chain has brought its spicy birds to Mosaic District.

Official

Oklahoma Joe's BBQ

This barbecue chain's first local location has seen plenty of crowds, and is serving up ribs, pulled pork, burnt ends, and more.

Spice 6

This is the second location of the Hyattsville-based fast-casual Indian restaurant.

Official

Thai By Thai

This local Thai chain's newest location is near the Dunn Loring metro.

Requin

Restaurateur Mike Isabella's Merrifield restaurant, originally a pop-up, now has a permanent home in the Mosaic District. Dishes are often French-influenced.

Photo by Eater

Puree Artisan Juice Bar

Mosaic houses lots of workout options, so installing a new juice bar was a no-brainer. Puree also sells its cleansing beverages throughout Washington D.C. and in Maryland.

Official

Mom & Pop

The Dolcezza team brought this all-day hangout to Mosaic District, serving up drinks, coffee, boards and more.

Eater

Alta Strada

Restaurateur Michael Schlow brought a second D.C.-area outpost of his Italian restaurant to Fairfax this year. Overseen by executive chef Nicole Belverd, a veteran of Zaytinya and the now-Michelin starred Inn at Little Washington, the menu plays up house-made pastas and pizzas.

Jinya Ramen Bar

This ramen chain opened its first local branch at Mosaic District. Find 20 different ways to customize a variety of soups, along with small plates, cocktails, and other Japanese dishes. A second location is scheduled to debut on 14th Street NW this summer.

Official

Choolaah Indian BBQ

Choolaah Indian BBQ landed at Mosaic in late 2016, modernizing the 5,000-year-old Indian cooking tradition called “tandoori.” Food is prepared in clay ovens that grill ingredients at 700 degrees. Next up for the fledgling chain: a new location in Sterling, Va.

Brine

Co-founder Travis Croxton and newly minted executive chef David Rabin remain committed to showcasing Mid-Atlantic-focused fare at Brine. The restaurant recently brought on The Passenger alum Alexandra Bookless to punch up the bar program.

Iron Chef House

Rolls, tempura, hibachi, and more are all on the menu at Iron Chef House.

Sisters Thai The Ordinary Cafe

Sisters Thai, which has its flagship restaurant in Old Town Fairfax, is now cooking up homey Thai dishes down the road in Merrifield.

Nando's PERi-PERi

This South African chicken chain has brought its spicy birds to Mosaic District.

Official

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