Vietnamese Valentine

Nothing says lovin’ like the exotic spices and scents of Vietnamese cuisine right? Well, not exactly but after driving around for a while trying to figure out where to go for a tasty dinner minus the Valentine’s Day crush my wife and I ended up at one of our old haunts at the Eden Center in Falls Church.

The instant we walked through the door of Huong Viet, Greta and I were met by mouth-watering aromas generated from every table in the little joint. It was dizzying waiting for our table amongst the throng of Vietnamese dishes being served up around us. Trying to decide which ones looked best, most flavorful, or most interesting.

Huong Viet is a very small establishment that gets over-shadowed in the Eden Center by the larger, touristy, Vietnamese restaurants but it is the Center’s flavor heart and soul. The clientele are packed in every available space, which to some can be uncomfortable while to others (like us) adds to its charm. Surrounded by Vietnamese families and Valentine’s dates and the occasional older American couple ordering like old pros ordering at Huong Viet can be intimidating at first but eventually you master the art of “I’ll have what she’s having” after spying a dish that looks intriguing from across the room.

If the cramped atmosphere sounds like a turn-off it is the authenticity of the food at Huong Viet that keeps us going back. Nowhere have I tasted Vietnamese food seasoned, marinated, and spiced so well. Every bite of our meal tonight was a flavor explosion. From the chili and lemongrass chicken to the mind-numbingly good grilled pork skewers to the delictable fresh-rolled garden rolls every thing was perfect. And all under thirty bucks too.

Vietnamese Valentine – we’ll take it.

Huong Viet
@ the Eden Center
6785 Wilson Blvd.
Falls Church, VA.

Originally published on February 14, 2006.