Alexandria’s story is told through its people, and Asian American and Pacific Islander entrepreneurs are helping write some of its most culturally vibrant chapters. For decades, Asian Americans across the globe have driven progress through innovation, resilience, and generations of leadership. Their impact is felt across Alexandria, as the growing population of Asian American business owners brings Asian cuisine and culture to the heart of Alexandria.
Showcase your support for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by celebrating some of Alexandria’s Asian American and Pacific Islander restaurants and business owners.
If your business is Asian American or Pacific Islander-owned and located within the City of Alexandria, email the author at KSingh@visitalexva.com to be featured in this article.
We also invite you to Share Your Alexandria Story. Submitted stories will be considered for promotion, but promotion is not guaranteed.
Header image courtesy of Casa Luna
Creative Spaces and Retail Spots
Kyo Gallery
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Kyo Gallery on S. Patrick Street is an international art gallery showcasing the most talented artists from around the world. Gallery Director Jason Longfellow and his team often coordinate two simultaneous thematic exhibitions, with works available in three gallery showrooms. The gallery also has a robust online presence for collecting virtually.
The Parlour and Madame Coco’s Chocolates
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The Parlour bar, newly opened on S. Royal Street, is a coffee shop by day offering cocktails by night, alongside boxes of chocolate delicacies by Madame Coco Chocolatier. Explore the intimate, enchanted space where fantasy meets luxury in a whimsical setting of where you will enjoy Champagne elixirs, classic cocktails, boozy ice cream and kind service.
Must-Try: Sophisticated ice cream flavors including Strawberries & Rose (Veuve Cliquot), Highland Truffle (Mcallen), Lucky Brownie (Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream) and more.
Restaurants and Sweet Spots
Avanti Holdings Group Restaurants
Teddy Kim (pictured above) is an Alexandria native and principal of Avanti Holdings Group. Visit one of Teddy’s four Alexandria eateries. Sip a drinkable work of art at The Peoples Drug, sample tacos served from a revamped car garage at Chop Shop Taco, satisfy your pizza cravings at Handover by the Slice and order a round of rare Japanese whiskeys from The King’s Ransom. Try takeout from any of these Old Town spots for the perfect riverside picnic.
The Peoples Drug’s Must-Try Dishes: The People’s Burger and Roasted Garlic Egg Salad Sandwich.
Chop Shop Taco’s Must-Try Dishes: Crunchy Brisket Tacos, the smashed avocado appetizer and popular weekly specials.
Handover by the Slice’s Must-Try Dishes: Try the white pizza and keep an eye out for the daily specials.
The King’s Ransom Must-Try Dishes: Cocktail are the star here – try the Old Fashioned, Manhattan, VA’s only Toki Highball Machine and rare Japanese Whiskeys.
Hummingbird
The water-view restaurant Hummingbird, owned by Philippines-born Meshelle Armstrong (pictured above), is an energetic bar and kitchen inspired by the American spirit of cherished traditions: Clambakes and crab boils, fish fries and oyster roasts. “Our menu follows the rhythm of the seasons and celebrates the seafood pride of our favorite coastal waters,” says Meshelle. “It’s the little things at Hummingbird!”
Must-Try Dishes: Oysters on the half shell; bronzed crab-and-corn fritters; lemony lobster linguine; and whatever whole grilled fish is being offered.
KungFu Kitchen
Located in the West End’s Alexandria Commons shopping center, KungFu Kitchen serves Northern-style authentic Chinese food. Owner Amy Liang and her team specialize in dishes such as soup dumplings, hand-pulled noodles, handmade dumplings and wok recipes.
Must-Try Dish: Soup dumplings – made to order little buns filled with soup.
Pasara Thai Restauarant
Owner Thia Kongubol (pictured above) helms Pasara Thai, with locations in Carlyle and Kingstowne. For more than a decade, Pasara Thai has served the freshest, healthiest and most flavorful Thai food in the DMV area.
Must-Try Dishes: Savory and spicy drunken noodles and roasted duck curry, which features the perfect balance of chili paste and coconut milk.
Pho Nam
Pho Nam on King Street offers traditional recipes designed to spotlight authentic Vietnamese comfort food, served fresh in a rustic setting perfect for friends and family. Owner Quang Nguyen emigrated to the U.S. in 1977 and opened the original Pho Nam in Gaithersburg 20 years ago. His nephew, Ryan Le, is the general manager of the Old Town location. Explore the hashtag #theGreatTastefromYesteryear to explore mouthwatering menu items.
Must-Try Dishes: Famous pho bowls and Vietnamese sandwiches
Taqueria Picoso
D.C. native Lynn Umemoto and her husband Tom Voskuil deliver a taste of Mexico City via Taqueria Picoso in Alexandria’s West End. Voted number 3 in WTOP’s “Top Ten Best Tacos” competition, Taqueria Picoso has quickly become one of the region’s best taquerias during its 14 months of operation – most of which has overlapped with the pandemic. Lynn is a fifth-generation Japanese-American and is also a principal owner of Grafik, a branding and marketing agency that has called Old Town home for more than 40 years.
Must-Try Dishes: Crave-worthy orders include the tacos al pastor (check out the vertical roaster behind the counter!), barbacoa and birria tacos and elote (street corn).
Sisters Thai and The Magnolia Dessert Bar
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Owner Tammie Disayawathana and her team opened Sisters Thai and the Magnolia Dessert Bar in late 2020 with an Instagrammable interior, drinks and cuisine at the growing EDENS development at 530 First Street. Sample one of Chef Moo’s Thai specialties, such as pla yum mango—crispy tilapia topped with spicy mango salad—followed by decadent, decked-out desserts like lychee raspberry cheesecake. The venue’s stunning glass chandeliers, vibrant vintage movie sign, and Art Deco interior provide an inviting interior for creative minds and food lovers.
Must-Try Dish: Chef Moo’s Crispy Duck Krapow and Honey Toast for a sweet finish.
Taste of Asia
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In Alexandria’s West End, owners Ming and Judy Lu of Taste of Asia offer a menu of pan-Asian dishes in a welcoming, family-owned restaurant.
Must-Try Dish: Tonkotsu Ramen, which they call a “hearty warm meal to restore the soul.”
Spice Kraft Indian Bistro
Spice Kraft Indian Bistro is a family and friends-owned and operated restaurant which satisfies every customer by serving authentic Indian food in a contemporary way. Pick up raved-about samosas and palaak chat from the menu built by partners Anthony Sankar and Executive Chef Premnath Durairaj.
Must-Try Dish: Lamb shank rogan josh, which Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema says “looks impressive and taste ambitious.”
Thai Signature
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Located on the heart of King Street, Thai Signature offers unique dishes inspired by various types of street food across Thailand, enhanced with the freshest ingredients and paired with craft cocktails.
Must-Try Dishes: Taste regional plates such as E-Saan chicken named for the northeastern region of Thailand, consisting of grilled marinated chicken served with papaya salad and sticky rice. Or, try Bangkok-based Khao Mun Gai for steamed pilaf ginger rice topped with steamed chicken served with cucumbers and ginger bean sauce.
Wooboi Hot Chicken
Pick your piquant level at Old Town North’s new location of Wooboi Hot Chicken, Michael Choi’s raved-about regional franchise featuring chicken sandwiches to make your mouth (and eyes) water.
Must-Try Dish: The Sando, featuring a chicken breast, ciderslaw, butter pickles and “Comeback sauce” on a potato bun.
Yunnan by Potomac Noodle House
Dr. Zongmin Li brings the “soul food” of her childhood in China’s Yunnan Province all the way to Old Town North. To develop Yunnan by Potomac’s menu, the owner/general manager and her team traveled to southwest China to sample mixian rice noodles and glean secrets from local chefs. The silky, gluten-free mixian noodles form the perfect base for braised beef, shiitake mushrooms and more comforting combos.
Must-Try Dishes: In addition to the mouthwatering mixian options, try the new Spicy Fried Chicken Bao Buns, Garlic Butter Crab Dumplings and family-style Pu’er Tea Smoked Duck.
More Alexandria Businesses
Get Fit Studio
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Get Fit Studio is an Old Town fitness boutique specializing in HIIT and strength training, providing one-on-one and small-group training as well as group sessions across levels. Let the team helmed by Philippines native Carlo Pascasio and his wife, Ann Pham, help you reach your personal wellness goals.
Most Popular Service: Personal training with the skilled and motivating Get Fit team.
The Lion’s Den
Image courtesy of Traye Gilliam
The Lion’s Den is a Filipina-founded, DMV-based dance and wellness community dedicated to creating spaces for people to meet new friends and freely express themselves. Through heart-centered programming and community-focused practices, The Lion’s Den provides in-person and virtual classes, events, workshops and performance opportunities to help cultivate confidence and new connections. Founder Lauren DeVera can be found performing, teaching, curating events and coaching creatives and entrepreneurs across the D.C. metropolitan area and online community, as well as producing the wellness and creative podcast Thrive and Thread.
Most Popular Offerings: The Lion’s Den’s most popular offerings include the weekly open-level dance classes, outdoor yoga at Goodies Frozen Custard and Mindful Morning: an online meditation and journaling workshop.
Petal’s Edge Floral Design
Founded by Lead Designer Gerry Rogers in 2004, Petal’s Edge Floral Design specializes in custom floral design for D.C.-area weddings and events. In 2018, the team established the Old Town shop and continue to expand flower offerings for daily occasions, birthdays and other celebrations.
Most Popular Order: None! Clients consistently tell Gerry and her team that they appreciate the designers’ range and that they are not “one trick ponies.”
Sportrock Climbing Centers
Lillian Chao-Quinlan (pictured above) helms Sportrock Climbing Centers, whose largest location is off Eisenhower in Alexandria. Chao-Quinlan’s goal is to make Sportrock an inclusive and uplifting place, one where everyone can train and grow stronger together as climbers, as humans, and as a community.
Most Popular Class: Sportrock’s Introduction to Rock Climbing class will teach you the ins and outs of the facility and let you experience bouldering and top-rope climbing for yourself. Sportrock’s instructors will walk you through what bouldering on the shorter, steeper walls is all about and will also do all of the rope work for you on the taller walls. No prior experience necessary.
Bollywood Masala
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For many South Asians, growing up watching Bollywood films, replaying Shah Rukh Khan’s movies, singing along to Shreya Ghoshal’s songs and wishing you had Aishwarya Rai’s purple lehenga in Dil Ka Rishta are moments many Bollywood fans keep close to their hearts.
Owners Rajat & Punita Malhotra bring authentic Indian flavors to the heart of Alexandria’s King Street mile at Bollywood Masala. This spot uses a home-blend of spices to offer savory dishes with a depth and richness found only in menu items like Biryani, Paneer, Grilled Kabobs, and more.
Chop Shop Taco
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Housed within the walls of a former 1970s automobile chop shop, Chop Shop Taco imitates the building’s former life through its unique spin on traditional tacos called “off the spit.”
These hilariously named tacos are stuffed with chopped meats and served with other shareable dishes. Try the “California” style stuffed burritos for a piece of the West Coast, fresh fish, shrimp and smoked cactus tacos.
Indochen
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Executive Chef Ram Thapa is from Nepal and created the menu at Indochen, drawing on his experience cooking Indian- and Chinese-inspired dishes in his grandmother’s kitchen.
Located inside the Hyatt Centric Old Town Alexandria, Indochen faces King Street, welcoming passersby to explore the flavors of Indian and Chinese culinary traditions derived from the migration of Chinese merchants traveling to and from India.
King’s Ransom Bar
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Stumbling into King’s Ransom Bar feels like uncovering a secret only you were supposed to find. Nestled above a pizza shop, this speakeasy offers a relaxing ambiance for timeless craft cocktails and smooth drinks.
Try their Toki Highball Machine. Virginia’s first-ever machine that perfectly chills whiskeys and other rare spirits in a water bath, then mixes and produces water with three times the carbonation of champagne, adding a unique smoothness to highball cocktails. The seasonal rotation of highballs can be enjoyed year-round, offering an adventurous mix of drinks from complex and funky to simple. There is truly something for everyone to enjoy.
Kisso Asian Bistro
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Located right on the bustling corner of King Street and S. Fairfax Street is Kisso Asian Bistro, a lively dining spot welcoming all to explore East Asian cuisines all at one charming fusion spot. Explore flavors from Japan, China and Thailand at this family-owned establishment and sushi bar.
Handover By The Slice
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Handover by the Slice brings a taste of New York-style pizza to Alexandria. Although the shop describes itself as a small-slice shop, it produces big flavors. During the summer months, savor a glass of cold beer and enjoy dining at this casual restaurant. Peek into the back, and you will find a secret entrance to King’s Ransom Bar, a hidden speakeasy. Shh!
Mai Thai Restaurant
Image courtesy of Mai Thai Restaurant
Striking flavors inspired by Thailand’s tropical escapes can be found at Mai Thai Restaurant, a delicious restaurant located by Alexandria’s waterfront. From enjoying comforting rich coconut-based curries to freshly made house specialties like the shrimp clay pot and honey ginger duck, bring complex dishes right to Old Town. Enjoy flavors of Southeast Asia paired with a sweeping sunset view of the Potomac River.
The People’s Drug
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Co-founder Teddy Kim of The People’s Drug, the modern-day sandwich shop and casual bar, remembers, as a kid, sitting at the retro counter at the original 1905 location and thinking that placing an order “made you feel like a grown-up.”
People’s Drug Store was one of the most well-known general stores in the country. One of the chain’s original locations was founded in 1905 along King Street. Today, its co–founders reimagine Alexandria’s chain, offering modernized gourmet sandwiches and a chef-driven menu to passersby looking for a casual lunch spot or weekend brunch.
Royal Nepal
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Royal Nepal has been spotlighted throughout the Alexandria and Washington, D.C. region as one of the best places to enjoy authentic flavors of Nepalese and Indian cuisine. The founder, Subash Rai, and owner Raju lead the restaurant, bringing their combined culinary experiences to the establishment.
Expert chefs can be seen sautéing minced garlic and shallots over a fresh bed of spices, which are then steeped into beloved classics like jhol momo soup, royal chicken curry, and more.
Sake Japanese Steakhouse
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In Japanese, the word Taipanyaki translates to “broiled on a steel grill”. Japanese teppanyaki-style cooking is more than a simple cooking technique, it dates back to post-World War II and is an art form, meant to create a connective, interactive dining experience.
That’s why Sake Japanese Steakhouse is more than a traditional steakhouse. It’s a spot where guests can enjoy a variety of house-specialty rolls with delicate sauces, fresh sushi, and traditional Japanese cuisine from a kitchen that uses only the freshest ingredients.
Dishes of India
Image courtesy of Dishes of India
When he was 16 years old, Chef Ramanand Bhatt had grown up cooking at a roadside café in New Delhi and had dreamed of one day opening his own restaurant. From working as a chef for a fancy upscale Indian restaurant in Spain to working as a chef for Air India for 15 years, Chef Bhatt’s career took him across the globe. He eventually found his way to the U.S. in 1981, determined to fine-tune his skills and open his restaurant.
His childhood dreams came true in 1997, when he opened Dishes of India, a classic Indian restaurant offering regional favorites such as a range of tandoori dishes, beloved parathas, and seafood curries. In 2002, the restaurant faced an unexpected disaster. It was destroyed completely by Hurricane Isabel and was stuck in a tumultuous renovation period for a year. With the help of Alexandria locals and loyal guests, Chef Bhatt reopened the restaurant. His determination and passion for bringing an exploration of Indian food to the area.
Umiya Sushi
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Umiya Sushi brings premier culinary craftsmanship from Japan to Alexandria’s bustling eateries. This hidden gem offers an intimate sushi bar rooted in Edo-mae tradition.
Their expert chefs prepare daily fish deliveries into artful presentations of nigiri, stunning sashimi platters and endless flavorful rolls. Drop in to experience their minimal dining room with a koi pond mural and soft lanterns, a stunning backdrop for omakase experiences.
