Cheap Eats 2007: Flavors Soul Food

Reviewed by Cynthia Hacinli , Michele Kayal , Todd Kliman , Ann Limpert , Don Rockwell

Flavors Soul Food

3420 Carlyn Hill Dr.
Falls Church, VA
Phone: 703.379.4411

Cuisines:
Soul Food, American, Southern

Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Nearby Metro Stops:
None nearby

Price Range:
Inexpensive

Dress:
Informal

Crowd:
Workday regulars during the week. On weekends, it's a quieter mix of churchgoers, couples, and solo diners.

Noise Level:
Chatty

Reservations:
Not Accepted

Website:
Click here to open in new window.

Best Dishes
Fried chicken; fried pork chops; fried whiting and croaker; smoked ribs; smoked-pork-shoulder sandwich; potato salad; candied yams; mashed potatoes.

Price Details:
Sandwiches $5.75 to $6.50; dinners $7.95 to $10.95


There might be six TVs going in this wood-paneled soul-food restaurant, but the first thing you hear is the hiss of a fryer sizzling up batches of flattened pork chops, battered chicken, and filets of trout.

The fried chicken is owner Francine Helton’s family recipe, and it’s terrific, all moist meat and spicy crunch. The hickory-smoked barbecue—either shreds of smoky pork or tender pork ribs—is worthy, too, and even better with a dash of the house-made pepper sauce.

Place your order at the counter—don’t forget sides like skin-on mashed potatoes, crusty mac and cheese, eggy potato salad, and crumbly cornbread—then grab a booth or a seat at the bar and wait the 15 minutes or so everything takes to make.

Open Tuesday through Friday for lunch and dinner, Saturday from 1 to 9, Sunday from 2 to 7.