Northern Virginia's restaurant scene is absolutely packed with hidden gems waiting to be discovered by adventurous diners.

Too many food lovers waste time and money following overhyped recommendations that lead to disappointing experiences. I've spent years exploring NoVA's dining landscape, discovering that exceptional restaurants exist at every price point and in unexpected places. The thrill of finding those authentic spots serving phenomenal food is what keeps me searching for the next great meal.

In today's newsletter, I'll be sharing my recent discovery of a Korean bone broth specialist, plus the latest restaurant news you need to know about:

• A detailed review of Shin Chon, an unassuming Korean restaurant in Annandale
• Three exciting restaurant updates from around Northern Virginia
• Key tips for finding authentic ethnic cuisine in suburban strip malls

Let's dig in!

If you're looking to explore Northern Virginia's incredible culinary diversity without wasting time on tourist traps or overpriced disappointments, here are the resources you need to discover your next favorite dining spot:

Weekly Resource List:

• ​First Watch Coming to Reston (1-min read) Popular brunch chain First Watch is opening its newest Fairfax County location in the former Carrabba's Italian Grill space on May 19th, creating 30 jobs and offering unlimited Project Sunrise coffee to celebrate.
• ​Five Guys at Reagan National Airport (1-min read) The Northern Virginia-born burger chain has opened its newest location at Reagan National Airport near gate D35, operating daily from 5am to 10:30pm.
• ​Freddie's Beach Bar (5-min read) Arlington Magazine's profile of this iconic Arlington establishment reveals how owner Freddie Lutz has created Virginia's only "straight-friendly gay bar" that's been welcoming everyone for nearly 25 years.

Shin Chon: A Hidden Gem for Korean Bone Broth in Annandale

Shin Chon in Annandale has been serving up authentic Korean cuisine since early 2023, and it's quickly become one of my favorite spots in the area. Famous for its bone broth soup, this unassuming restaurant was the perfect choice for celebrating my friend's birthday recently.

A Stellar Start By the time I'd arrived, my friends had already ordered a starter to share - a seafood pancake that proved to be an excellent choice. It was delicious and crispy on the outside, similar to scallion pancakes many might be familiar with, but this had delicious seafood intertwined into the mix. Shrimp and squid amongst other things were all part of the occasion. And boy, oh boy, it was delicious. A little thicker than the standard scallion pancake because of the seafood, but that perfectly crispy outside with a really soft, savory, delicious middle meant each piece of seafood was cooked to perfection. Yum!

Alongside the pancake, some traditional Korean openers landed on our table. We had some pickled radish and kimchi, which was beautifully done. It's always a favorite of mine to nibble away at the smaller plates at the start of a Korean meal, and this was no exception - delicious and tasty with great preparation.

The Main Event: Bone Broth Soups Then the main event rocked up - the soups arrived. One of my friend had the same as me, which was a bone broth soup, top of the menu and obviously the most common order there. I expected it to be delicious, but it surprised and surpassed even what I was expecting. The broth came in slightly milky in texture - you'd expect bone broth normally to be darker in color. This was almost more milky in look, kind of more like a tonkotsu ramen in appearance, but certainly not in taste. It was very beefy, very rich, and very enjoyable all the way through.

My friend had rice cakes in his soup. I had one or two of those in mine as well. For those unfamiliar, they've got a texture similar to the mochi in Japanese ice cream - very good, very tasty, and a nice textural contrast to some of the other things going on.

Also in my soup were slices of beef which were tender and tasty, as well as the usual vegetables. I opted for dumplings in my soup which surprised me - they were huge, much bigger than I expected. There were only two or three of them, but you honestly couldn't have managed any more. They had really nicely cooked dough on the outside and were packed with ground beef, scallions, onions, all deliciously flavored and seasoned. I had a bit of a struggle personally with my chopsticks and then watched one disintegrate with the filling disappearing into the soup. So I grabbed the second one with my spoon.

The soup also contained some homemade noodles which were not many in number, so it wasn't noodle-dominated like a ramen might be. Rather, it was more of an addition or a bit of a side dish providing texture and flavor, and they were delicious.

Probably the star of the show was the birthday boy's choice - he had oxtail in his soup and it looked like a really decent chunk of oxtail that fell off the bone and added a depth of flavor to both the broth and the meat itself. A delicious choice he was super happy with.

Ambiance and Service The ambiance was basic, as you come to expect in places like this, letting the food be the star of the show. Spacious tables easily fit all of us, our stuff, and all the food that came. On this Friday lunchtime, there was a good mixture of colleagues and friends all enjoying themselves, as well as quite a few solo diners, which speaks both to the quality and affordability of the food. In the background, some gentle ambient piano music was playing at just the perfect volume, which was wonderful.

Service-wise, I'd describe it as polite, friendly, and attentive. The lady who served us was friendly, didn't rush us, was happy to help, asked clarifying questions about what we ordered to make sure we were getting what we wanted, and checked in throughout the meal to make sure everything was okay.

Value and Versatility One of the best things about this place? When the check came, it was in the region of $90 - about $110 including tip - and that was for all three of us. For a lunch of this quality, volume, and excellent taste, it was a really good deal that we certainly enjoyed.

My friends and I will continue to go back, especially while we keep unearthing wonderful spots like this that give us something unique and different for our more adventurous palates.

The occasion itself for my friend's birthday felt like a good celebration and an appropriate place to do that. This restaurant could serve all types of occasions - good for a celebration (though a little understated for the birthday boy's preferences), but also good for a solo lunch if you're looking for something tasty, or for a quick family dinner.

We lingered for probably an hour and a half, but you could have been in and out much more quickly if efficiency was what was important to you. But it's nice to know that you're not rushed if that's not high on the agenda.

In conclusion, Shin Chon is certainly a multi-purpose dining destination that's good for all the family, offering authentic Korean flavors centered around their exceptional bone broth soups at prices that won't break the bank. If you're in Annandale and craving something comforting yet adventurous, put this place on your list.

That's it.

Here's what you learned today:

• Shin Chon in Annandale serves exceptional Korean bone broth soups in a comfortable, unpretentious setting
• Northern Virginia's dining scene continues to expand with new openings from First Watch in Reston to Five Guys at Reagan National
• The best dining experiences often come from unassuming establishments where authentic food takes center stage over flashy ambiance

The next time you're considering where to eat in Northern Virginia, consider looking beyond the highly-marketed establishments and explore some of these hidden gems. The most memorable dining experiences often happen at restaurants that focus on doing one thing exceptionally well rather than trying to please everyone.

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