La Chocita Grill

“For a taste of home away from home, try Leesburg’s La Chocita.” That is the motto of this small family restaurant, which is dedicated to serving customers with a real taste of Mexican, Central and South American food. Start your meal with a taste of a common Salvadorian snack, pupusas, which are made from corn tortillas and stuffed with either pork, cheese or beans. Then, choose from an abundance of traditional Latino dishes originating from Mexico, Honduras, Venezuela, El Salvador, Columbia, Peru and much more. Or, stick with one of the Mexican classics such as enchiladas, tacos, burritos or sizziling fajitas. La Chocita specializes in its rotisserie charcoal chicken, which is marinated in advance for 24 hours in a blend of Peruvian spices. This creation comes from an original Peruvian recipe from restaurant owner Julio Fuentes. This small scale restaurant is arranged to welcome its customers to dine in a friendly, home style environment, infused with a blending of traditional Latin American culture. At La Chocita, one can enjoy a generous portioned family meal for a very generous price, with all dishes under $18. The restaurant also caters for larger parties and offers free delivery to any office or home within five miles.

La Chocita Grill is located in Old Town Leesburg on Loudoun Street. For more information, visit http://www.lachocitagrill.com/.

Crispy beef tacos with rice & beans, Price: $6.95

Cheese pupusa, Price: $1.95

Charcoal Kabob

          For an exotic taste of South Asian culture and cuisine in a family friendly setting, Charcoal Kabob is your next stop. The restaurant features common Afghani favorites, with choices of chicken, lamb, beef, fish or vegetable kabobs grilled over fiery charcoal and served with spicy vegetable side dishes, yogurt dipping sauce and fresh baked tandoori bread. This establishment has been serving customers with authentic South Asian flavors for over 17 years and is located in the center of Herndon, among a large population of South Asian and Middle Eastern descent. Despite its small size, Charcoal Kabob captures the essence of Afghanistan culture with splashes of Afghani paintings, handmade rugs and artifacts across the walls. The restaurant caters to native and foreign tastes, serving only halal meats with a balance of exotic spices. According to customer reviews and testimonials from family friends, a collective favorite is the chicken karahi, which is mutton chicken cooked in a deep cooking pot, similar to a wok, and infused with ginger, chilies, tomatoes and select spices. The tandoori bread is also heavily praised by customers, often referred to as “the best in the area.” The prices for main dishes are mostly under $10 and no dish is over $25.
          For a more appetizing cultural experience, enjoy a meal at Charcoal Kabob. Visit http://charcoalkabobhouse.com/ for details. 

Chicken karahi (serves two), Price: $19.99

Combo #3: Lamb & chicken kabob, Price: $12.99

Pho Royal

Pho Royal Vietnamese Noodle Restaurant welcomes its guests to dine in a friendly environment, with a variety of authentic Vietnamese cuisine. The restaurant is known for its noodle soup, or pho, which consists of soup with rice noodles, choice of meat and onion. Pho is a common dish in Vietnamese culture and is heavily influenced by Chinese and French cooking methods, with Chinese spices and rice noodles and the inclusion of red meat added by the French. The soup is generally served with basil, mint leaves, bean sprouts and lime.

At Pho Royal, customers can play with a variety pho dishes, choosing from round steak, brisket, meatballs, chicken, shrimp, seafood or vegetarian. A local favorite is Pho Tai Chin, served with thinly sliced, eye round steak and well done brisket. Server Tony Le says, “I mostly recommend Pho Tai Chin to our first time customers. It’s a simple, delicious dish and is made from lean cut meats.” Other menu specialties include spring rolls, chicken, beef and rice dishes. Prices for general dishes range from $3.50 to $10.95, while prices for pho noodle soups are fixed at $7.45 for a small bowl and $8.45 for a large bowl.

So stop by at Pho Royal, located in Leesburg, VA, at Fort Evans Plaza, for a warm and tasty afternoon meal at an affordable price!

For more information, please visit http://phoroyalrestaurants.com/. 

Pho Chin: pho with well done brisket, Price: $7.45