The Washington Post’s Tom Sietsema, the newspaper’s food critic for nearly 25 years, has released his list of “The 40 Best Restaurants in and Around D.C.” Out of the 40 restaurants featured, 28 are in D.C., eight in Virginia, and four in Maryland, all located in Montgomery County. Here’s a closer look at the Maryland restaurants included in the list:
Chennai Hoppers (Gaithersburg): Located at 136 Paramount Park Dr. in Gaithersburg’s Spectrum Town Center, Chennai Hoppers offers exotic Indian dishes focusing on the cuisine of Tamil Nadu, the southern state of India where Chennai is situated. Chef and Owner John Rajoo describes himself as “a culinarian from Southern India who believes in deep-rooted culinary traditions and diverse indigenous ingredients.” He emphasizes the use of old cooking techniques combined with a contemporary touch that highlights fresh herbs and roasted spices. Sietsema notes, “Rajoo doesn’t pull punches in the kitchen. He wants customers to enjoy the level of spice they might experience in southern India,” adjusting the heat with roasted black peppercorns and dried red chiles.
Lime & Cilantro (Silver Spring): Opening this past spring at 1909 Seminary Rd., Lime & Cilantro took over the space previously occupied by Crown Fried Chicken. The restaurant presents itself as a “modern Latin casual restaurant,” offering new twists on familiar Latin favorites and quickly becoming a neighborhood favorite. Sietsema has praised the restaurant for its “masterful take on Latin food.” Chef Danny Chavez, whose passion for cooking began at an early age, has refined his skills at renowned establishments such as Michelin-starred Plume and Gravitas. Lime & Cilantro boasts an impressive 4.8/5 rating on Google with over 70 reviews and a similar 4.8/5 rating on Yelp from more than 20 reviews.
Melina (North Bethesda): Located at 905 Rose Ave., Melina opened in late 2021 with a vision to share traditional Greek recipes infused with creative spins. Chef Dimitri Moshovitis sought to showcase modern Greek cuisine after years in the restaurant industry. Collaborating with Chef Aris Tsekouras of Microwheat Bakery, he found inspiration for their venture. Sietsema remarks, “The menu tastes like you’re eating closer to the Aegean than the Atlantic,” highlighting dishes like soft roasted eggplant over walnut dip and charred lamb kebabs garnished with pickled onions and yogurt.
Sabor Mixteco (Wheaton): Sabor Mixteco opened recently at 2460 Ennalls Ave. in Wheaton. The restaurant is located in the space previously occupied by Kantutas, which moved to a larger location at 2400 University Blvd W in 2023. Menu items at Sabor Mixteco include carne asada. chilaquiles (breakfast), enchiladas, tacos, and tortas. Sietsema praises the tacos, “I appreciate whatever meat — zesty chorizo, earthy braised beef tongue, pork sweetened with pineapple — dresses his warm, saucer-size corn tortillas.” He says “the taqueria excels with the sandwich” regarding the tortas. The chiles rellenos may be the best he has ever had, “The list of daily specials might include one of the best chiles rellenos in memory.” The full article can be seen here. In addition to the love from Sietsema, the restaurant has earned a 5 star rating on Google with 49 out of 50 reviews giving the restaurant five stars. On Yelp, Sabor Mixteco has a 4.9 rating on 21 reviews with 19 of the 22 reviews giving the restaurant 5 stars.
