Cheap Eats 2009: A & J Restaurant - Annandale

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Reviewed by Todd Kliman , Cynthia Hacinli , Ann Limpert , Kate Nerenberg , Rina Rapuano

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Great food, low prices, lots of fun.

A & J Restaurant - Annandale

4316-B Markham St.
Annandale, VA
Phone: 703.813.8181

Cuisines:
Chinese, Cantonese, Dim Sum, Breakfast

Opening Hours:

Wheelchair Accessible:
No

Nearby Metro Stops:
Dunn Loring-Merrifield

Price Range:
Inexpensive

Dress:
Informal

Noise Level:
Chatty

Reservations:
Not needed

Special Features:
Cash Only, Weekend Brunch, Kid Friendly

Best Dishes
Sesame biscuits with sliced pork or beef ; pickled spicy cucumbers; chicken-and-cucumber salad with mustard sauce dan dan noodles; noodles with stewed, ground pork; fried chicken over rice; soy-sauce chicken; chicken soup with noodles and bok choy; mustard-green soup; thousand-layer pancake; bean-curd-skin-and-soybean salad with mustard greens; shredded bean-curd salad with chili, cilantro, and peanuts; steamed spareribs; smoked on-the-bone chicken; spiced, boiled peanuts.

Price Details:
Dim sum, .95 cents to $5.95.

Reader's Rating:

4 out of 5

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Why go: There’s no rolling-out of carts, and the emphasis on Northern Chinese–style dim sum means a preponderance of starchy fare. But if these two sparely appointed diners lack the variety and big-event excitement of the more popular Southern-style dim sum halls, they don’t lack for satisfactions. You can cobble together a feast for a relative pittance.

What to get: Thick noodles with sesame sauce or peanut powder or topped with stewed beef; mustard-green soup; garlicky bands of pickled cucumber; boiled peanuts; wontons in red-chili oil; smoked and steamed chicken.

Best for: A good alternative to stir-fries.

Insider tip: Bring cash—the restaurant doesn’t take credit cards or checks.

Open daily for lunch and dinner.

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Reader ReviewsWrite your own review

Not Your Father's Chinese Restaurant

troutfang — December 11, 2009 5:40 PM

Everything here is great: Best fried pork dumplings we've found in NoVa (at least since Peking Village closed); they're slim round rolls open on the ends and very tasty. Very interesting "Chinese fried chicken soup": delicious little pieces of More ...

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