Travel the World by Trying These 20+ Alexandria Restaurants

Expand your culinary palate by sampling some of the top international dishes and restaurants in the D.C. region here in Alexandria. Find flavors from Beirut to Berlin and from Athens to Addis Ababa to imagine yourself dining in a dream destination. Read on for some mouthwatering menu options.

Ethiopia

Sample a smorgasbord of East African flavors when you order from Makeda Ethiopian Restaurant in Alexandria’s West End. Use the injera bread to scoop up the Taste of Makeda platter, praised by The Washington Post for its “concert of flavors,” including doro wot (a spiced chicken stew), awaze tibs (sauce-soaked leg of lamb) and more. Or visit Feru Bar & Restaurant to sample a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony or dine on vegetarian kitfo in a relaxed and inviting setting. 

Vietnam

For a taste of Vietnam, head to Pho Nam in Old Town for traditional recipes designed to spotlight authentic Vietnamese comfort food. Try one of their famous pho bowls or a Vietnamese sandwich. 

France

Old Town classic Fontaine’s mouthwatering menu transports diners to a continental café, with more than 20 crêpes options filled with flavors from Tuscany to Oslo to Paris. Start with a quiche or the soup du jour, then enjoy entrees like coq au vain and beef bourguignon. Old Town North’s French fixture Bastille serves up steak frites, French onion soup and beignets, plus an extensive list of wine by the glass or bottle. Or, imagine yourself spirited away to the French countryside as you savor a roasted pear salad, escargot with garlic butter and Bouillabaisse from Del Ray Café.

India

Try the under-$10 lunch special from Del Ray’s Spice Kraft Indian Bistro, featuring a customizable curry bowl with your preference of protein, sauce and spice level. For a fusion of Indian and Chinese cuisine, drop by Indochen in Cameron Station or along King Street for an order of biryani, a luscious, spiced rice dish packed with your meat of choice and topped off with a hunk of naan, plus malai cake for dessert.

El Salvador

Sweeten your day with Latin American flavors in Arlandria-Chirilagua’s Veronica’s Bakery & Café for tres leches, Maria Luisa (a layer cake) and more bakes with Salvadorian, Mexican and Honduran infusions. Plus, try pupusas at El Pulgarcito, whose name translates to, “the little thumb,” in reference to El Salvador’s small size in Central America.

China

In Alexandria’s West End, KungFu Kitchen showcases Northern-style authentic Chinese food, including “miandian” (a Chinese pastry) made fresh daily, soup dumplings, hand-pulled noodle dishes and  much more.

Germany

Say “prost!” and order German comfort food at Old House Cosmopolitan Grill. Choose between goulash, spätzle or cevapcici sausage and savor a slice of Black Forest cake. Capture the spirit of Oktoberfest at Alexandria Bier Garten with Bavarian brews alongside pretzels, mustards, Kasekrainerwurst and more. 

Nepal

Longing for a Himalayan escape? Arlandria-Chirilagua’s very own Himalayan-Nepalese hideaway, Royal Nepal, has everything you need. Order from the main menu for golden-brown momos, steamed dumplings stuffed with yak or goat and accented with tomato sauce. Royal Nepal’s lunch meals come with rice, mixed vegetables, roasted chicken, daal, pickle and Royal Nepal’s ever-popular sel roti (sweet rice bread).

Italy

Aldo’s Italian Kitchen in Eisenhower serves up satisfying meatballs, loaded linguine, antipasti and pizza fresh out of the oven. Meanwhile, steps from the waterfront, Mia’s Italian Kitchen features a menu inspired by the owner’s great-grandmother from Naples.

Lebanon

For a taste of Lebanon, build your own mezze platter from The Pita House, loaded with house-made hummus, baba ganoush, labneh yogurt dip and more, plus the namesake bread for scooping. Then, try the chicken souvlaki sandwich with fries on the side.

Greece

Order a crowd-pleasing, Greek-inspired four-person meal from Delia’s Mediterranean Grill, with combos ranging from gyros to chicken souvlaki to pizza and wings and more to dream of dining seaside in Mykonos.

Thailand

Head to Sisters Thai and Magnolia Dessert Bar and 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. On King Street, try Thai Signature for unique dishes inspired by various types of street food across Thailand, enhanced with the freshest ingredients and paired with craft cocktails.