A&J's

A&J’s currently has two locations in the DMV Area: 1) Rockville, MD and 2) Annandale, VA.  I visit the VA one more so let’s talk about that one.  This Chinese café is located off of Little River Turnpike in a very non-descript parking lot / center.  It’s one of the very few non-Korean establishments in Annandale.  When you walk into the building, there really isn’t anything in there other than A&J, the Beautiful Life Salon (which gives some great haircuts if you’ve got Asian hair and want to keep up with the styles in Taiwan), a Ramen shop (which I haven’t tried yet but feel kind of skeptical about it), and one or two random shops.  Originally, the Chinese grocery store (Kam Sam) was there, but after the owner got into some questionable business that involved the police and a warrant, the grocery store and associated video store were shut down, but I digress….let’s talk about the food in A&J.

A&J is quite a small café, so expect it to be packed, particularly, lunch time on the weekends (especially Sunday!).  When it is very crowded, sometimes you are given the option to split one of the larger round tables with other strangers.  This can make for either a very personable meal if your table mates are up to talking and sharing or a somewhat awkward moment of staring and not trying to listen to each other’s conversations.  Unfortunately, I’ve experienced more of the latter and there is an unspoken rule to just not talk to one another, other than an occasional head nod or smile or question on what to order, but, again, I digress!

Wait staff is generally friendly, not much engagement, even if you do know Chinese.  The owner (white haired Chinese gentleman) will sometimes be around to assist but is typically not very chatty either.  However, if you do need help in figuring out what to eat, the wait staff will point you in the right direction.  And, if anything, sitting is a bit close quarters so you can check out what other diners are eating and just point to those as reference.  I have found that most folks are quite nice if you ask them what they’re eating.

When you sit down, you’re given the typical pot of hot tea.  If you want water make sure to ask since Chinese folks are usually fine with drinking some hot tea with their meals.  Personally, I like both.  You want some hot tea to cut through some grease, but you want that cold water since you can get quite thirsty or if you put too much spice on a dumpling hehe.

You’re provided a menu and a white slip to mark up your orders.  The menu has Chinese and English, while the white paper is just in Chinese, but no worries, just match up the numbers and you’re good to go.  When ordering noodle dishes, remember to provide your preference of thick or thin noodles.  A&J’s makes their noodles from scratch so you can’t go wrong either way (I usually go for the wide though).  If you come on the weekends prior to noon, you can also order off the breakfast menu, which is on a small white menu that you mark up. 

When I first started coming here, I thought A&J’s to be the equivalent of a Chinese tapas place.  You can order small little dishes or you can order a full dish.  So, here are some of my favorite eats (I’ll update with more pictures in the future.

Beef Noodle Soup: Beefy, brothy goodness



[Main Dish]  Chicken Soup with a side of Fried Chicken:  So the chicken version of the Beef Noodle soup.  The broth is flavorful, comforting, and gives you that great feeling when you eat mom’s chicken noodle soup.  Its broth is lighter than the Beef Noodle Soup and doesn’t have a very salty or MSG-like feeling.  The soup comes with a side of fried chicken, which is delicious.  Crispy, fried, seasoned goodness.  I think it has some of that five spice seasoning in there and it’s great to take a crunch bite of chicken while slurping down the noodles and getting a mouthful of the broth.

Power Combo: Fried Chicken & Chicken Soup



Close-Ups!

[Main Dish]  Fried Meat and Rice:  Related to the Fried Chicken Soup dish above, there is also a rice dish with the fried chicken and mustard greens with a side of soup broth which is also equally delicious.  This rice dish also offers fried pork chops (very good!).

[Main Dish]  Noodles with Ground Beef, Bean Sprouts, and Cucumbers: This is another favorite go-to dish of mine.  When you get the dish, meat, sprouts, and shredded cucumbers sit atop a bed of noodles.  Mix the ingredients together and the flavors combine to give you a nice beef flavor which the crunch of sprouts and cucumbers to contrast and lighten the heavier beef flavor. I like to add some spice to this to give it a bit of a kick. 

The Trifecta: Cucumbers, Ground Beef, & Bean Sprouts atop Noodles

[Main Dish]  Noodles with Peanut Sauce:  So, it’s a simple dish – you could ALMOST say it’s just noodles with peanut butter sauce BUT there’s something very appealing with the simplicity.  For starters, the home made noodles are really highlighted here and I definitely recommend the wide noodles for this one.  The peanut sauce is not just a slapping of peanut butter.  There are flavors of the peanut / sesame oil and just a hint of spiciness that make this dish good.  It’s basic, simple, and if you’re really wary of trying anything, this is safe (unless you’ve got peanut allergies of course….).

[Side Dish]  Pig Ears:  Thinly sliced pig ears with a crunchy, cartilage-like texture with a good kick of spice.  It tastes as if the pig ears were marinated in spicy oil.  It’s great to munch on while waiting for your other food or when eating with soup (or congee) to change up texture and taste.

Crunchin’ on Cartilage: Pig Ears

[Side Dish]  Mustard Greens:  Lightly tossed in oil, the mustard greens are mixed with edamame beans.  Again, it’s a great little side dish to munch on to change up textures and flavors while eating your main dishes.  I also like to eat this with plain congee to add flavor and texture.  

Green Veg Group: Mustard Greens & Edamame Beans

[Side Dish]  Smoked Chicken: This is delicious and I highly recommend this if you’re coming here for the first time.  I distinctly remember having this dish the first time I came and since then when I think smoked chicken I think of A&Js.  The quality of the smoked chicken has been a bit inconsistent in the past years (maybe bad economy or something) but it’s still delicious and memorable.  You can taste the smokiness of the wood and flavors in the chicken meat itself.  Good flavor, but it is a bit greasy, so maybe avoid eating the skin (as it’s not crispy anyhow). 

Smoked Chicken tastiness

[Side Dish]  Thinly Sliced Beef:  I like the simplicity of this dish.  It looks like mixed meat (think bologna) but it’s got some great texture and a sesame oil taste that goes well with the breads or congee. It can be greasy, but that’s why I recommend eating with some sort of starch (the sesame bread or the thousand layer pancake).

[Side Dish]  Thousand Layer Pancake:  This side dish is pretty straightforward.  A&J’s make it fresh, so the outer layers are hot and crispy.  Peeling off the layers make it fun to eat!  It’s great to dip into sauce or broth or on its own.  Personally, I like making a sauce of soy sauce, white vinegar, and hot chili paste and dip the pancake in there. 

Peeling off layers: I got so excited to eat it, I dug right into the center before taking a pic, doh!

[Side Dish]  Scallion Pancake:  It’s different from the Thousand Layer Pancake and is not quite as flaky or peel-able.  The Scallion Pancake is rather dense but is chewy and tasty.  As its name implies, scallions are embedded within the pancake.  When it arrives, it’s sliced into 4 pie pieces for easy eating.

Hidden, stuffed surprises

[Side Dish]  Stuff Meat Bun:  I don’t know the official name of this dish.  I saw an old Chinese couple next to us eating it and it looked scrumptious.  Apparently, you can get the Meat Option (ground beef) or the Vegetario Option.  Being the dedicated carnivore, I went with the beef.  Lots of great flavor in this one and when you bite in be careful!  There’s some beef soup / juices in there and it’s piping hot but it’s awesome. 



Soupy, juicy, beefy goodness inside 

[Side Dish]  Thousand Year Old Egg:  Ah I wish I had a picture of this.  So, it’s Thousand Year Old Egg sitting on top of mound of soft tofu with green onion / scallion.  So this dish is definitely textural and it could be more for those who are on the braver end of the eating chain.  The dish itself is not stinky but its appearance can be off-putting.  The egg is black and the yolk is very gooey since these are duck eggs that have been preserved in some combination of ashes, tea, salt, and other ingredients for approximately 100 days (give or take some depending on the restaurant).  I find that the combination of the hard boiled black part and the seasoned tofu is delicious, but I’m still not convinced that I like the yolk all that much.  It’s definitely stronger tasting than a typical chicken egg.  However, when this dish is eaten with congee, then it’s a powerful good combo.  I think the plain congee offsets the stronger, saltier flavors of the egg yolk.

[Side Dish]  Fried Dumplings:  I can’t recall how the hubby says it in Chinese, but it’s on the menu.  They’re long fried dumplings.  If you’re craving dumplings, try it.  A&J’s gets the bottom nice and crispy but the insides are still juice and flavorful.  Dip it in some chili paste / soy sauce and it’s great.  There are also soup dumplings but they’re just okay.

[Breakfast]  Sticky Rice Roll: This is offered as either savory or sweet.  It’s a roll of sticky rice with dried meat.  It’s filling but quite good.  I prefer the savory taste to the sweetness.

Sticky Rice Rolls: Easy to drive and eat

 

Inside Look

[Breakfast]  Breadsticks & Sesame Bread:  You typically insert the breadsticks into the bread and eat it like a giant carb sandwich and wash it down with some hot soy milk.  I like being atypical and will eat the sesame bread with meats sometimes.

Sesame Bread: Flaky, hot, and perfect for sandwiching

The Asian Breakfast Combo for Champions

Sesame & Fried...mmmm...

[Dessert]  There’s not much in the way of desserts other than Bubble Tea, which I don’t really recommend as it’s pretty standard or even sub par.  But there is this stuffed pastry with red bean and pine nuts which is delicious.  It’s heavy, sweet, nutty and all densely packaged in a flaky crispy pastry in the shape of a mini dumpling.  Yum.

So, overall, A&J’s is pretty solid.  Prices are decent, but just make sure to bring cash.  There is a lot of variety and different dishes to try.  Be adventurous and eat up.  You really can’t go wrong with too many dishes here.

Check it out: http://www.yelp.com/biz/a-and-j-annandale  

Food Quality: Good variety and authentic. There are some greasy / MSG issues but not too bad.  

  3.5 Moos

Service:  Wait staff can get incredibly busy but they’re efficient. 

  3.5 Moos

Overall Rating: Pretty good food, decent price, and I like the small plate options since that means more room to eat a variety of foods.  Just be prepared for a potential food coma =)

  3.5 Moos

Yen's Cafe

So I heard about this place through social media / stalking and from first-hand conversations with Taiwanese folks.  With that said, I had some relatively high hopes for this potential gem hidden away from the Beltway.  Coming from a trip in Taiwan, I was hoping for a restaurant with close-to-authentic Taiwanese food with unique offerings, especially the Taiwanese street food. 

Yen’s is a little place in Ashburn in Ryan Park Center tucked away in a little corner behind Giant.  When you approach the place, they advertise themselves as an Asian Fusion restaurant and Juice Bar.  As you approach the restaurant, you’ll see some advertised dishes (the dumplings) which I recommend you check out prior to entering.  Yen’s is pretty small, with multiple booths.  So, during the dinner rush, it’s quite packed and you could be waiting outside for a bit.

We received the standard menu and a Special menu.  Standard menu is pretty Americanized / Westernized.  Typical General Tso’s chicken, Sweet & Sour chicken, and Beef & Broccoli.  However, there are a few noteworthy items in there that’s worth checking out.  The Taiwanese Traditional dishes should be glanced at (even though there’s a small selection).  The Special menu has more of the unusual food fare (e.g., Crystal Sugar Pig Feet – and no, I didn’t try it.  I’m adventurous, but sometimes there are limits. So, there’s this identity crisis (or as they may refer to it – fusion) of your typical Americanized Chinese food served on nice plates, but then there’s the offering of the authentic stuff that’s lurking somewhere. 

There’s the Menu and then there’s the “Special” Menu

So, based on some conversations with the waitresses on what authentic / good food to order we ended up getting the following dishes:

• Moo Shu with Pork:  Pancakes with sautéed pork pieces.  So this dish is really the crepes pancakes you use when eating Peking Duck.  Assemble your own Chinese burrito with a pancake, some pork meat, and hoisin sauce.  Taste wise, it’s good, but boy, it is greeeeeaasssssyyyyy.  So beware, while it is good, it’s not that memorable other than the high grease factor.

Moo Shu Pancake & Sauce

The porky, greasy filling

• Crispy Sesame Beef:  Yes, yes, I know I seem to have an aversion to non-authentic foods and this is pretty Americanized.  BUT, I will say that this one was legit good.  Nice, juicy, crispy and fantastic with a mouthful of rice (which, by the way, is served nicely with a few black sesame seeds on top).

Don’t go for General Tso, go for this crispy tastiness

•  Pork Stew with Fried Tofu: This one feels like a home cooked dish.  In fact, I have had this dish from my mother-in-law and it’s quite similar to the way she makes (and she makes it well).  If the concept of fat on the pork bothers you, don’t eat it, but if not, it’s a very simple, straightforward dish that is reminiscent of Ma’s cooking.

Pork Stew & Fried Tofu: Just like Ma’s cooking

• Steamed Dumpling with Pork:  So this is a dish not on the menu and something my husband and I noticed as a special posted on the walls right before we entered the restaurant.  Remember me mentioning to check out the specials before entering?  This is why.  The dumplings are well-made and flavorful.  It is comparable to the dumplings in China Bistro (up in MD, also known as Mama’s Dumplings). 

Diggin’ the Dumplings

 While you are at Yen’s, I would recommend checking out their extensive tea / drink menu.  There are descriptions for each type of tea and why the tea is beneficial.  The drink menu is both informative and entertaining.  The tea comes out in an eye-pleasing clear tea pot tea set (from Thailand) and a serving of dried honey on the side to sweeten your tea.  The pot is quite large and is capable of serving up to 4 people (even though our order was tea for 2 people).  I think they do charge per person, so double check the price prior to ordering.  Also, be careful with the tea sets.  There is a hefty charge ($150) for damaging or breaking the tea sets (moo!).  

 

Cha Cha Tea

Spoonful of honey with your tea, sir?

I’m a sucker for hot tea any day or any type of weather, so I ordered a pot of the Mango & Passion Fruit Hot Tea.  The tea is pleasantly sweet on its own but can pack a more bitter / sharp bite as you get to the bottom of the pot.  So a sprinkle of dried honey is recommended depending on your taste buds.  I prefer tea naked but tried out the dried honey for one cup (which is sweeter than regular sugar). It’s delicious, refreshing, and was certainly a welcome addition to aid digestion after eating some of the greasy food.  Then again, I love hot tea after any meal since I feel it does aid in digestion overall.

The staff was very nice and gave us a little extra dessert.  I’m not sure if it was because we had some Taiwanese guests with us or if they generally provide this dessert, but it was appreciated nonetheless.  I don’t know what these yummy treats are called, but they reminded me of a mung bean-stuffed donut / munchkin.  It was delicious, particularly when served hot.

Dessert Balls? Yes, please

 The price is not too bad given the area’s prices.  For 4 people, the meal averaged $15 per person.  It’s not a bargain but it’s not too terrible either. 

Billin' Billing

 So, overall, I don’t think I’d make it a point to head back to Yen’s unless I have some business in that area.  It’s a satisfying meal but overall not very memorable.  And, it certainly wasn’t the authentic Taiwanese experience / taste I was looking for, but the dumplings hit a nice spot and the tea variety is good.  And a potential added plus (if it matters to you) is that the wait staff and management do speak Taiwanese.  So if you’re in the Ashburn area and have a hankering for Chinese food that’s not the same-old takeout, then give Yen’s a try.

                      

Menus and coupons can be found on their site: http://www.yenscafe.com/

Check it out: http://www.yelp.com/biz/yens-cafe-ashburn

Food Quality:

Just okay.  Dumplings and the crispy beef were good but the Moo Shu left a greasy memory.

  3 Moos

Service: 

Since the place is relatively new I think the staff is getting up to speed.  It took a bit before anyone approached us to ask about seating.  But, the staff was very friendly and accommodating.

  3.5 Moos

Overall Rating:

Oh, Yen’s, I had such high hopes but alas, it was not meant to be.  Okay food but nothing too spectacular. 

  3 Moos