Cheap Eats 2009: Al Carbon

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

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Al Carbon

200 Park Rd.
Rockville, MD 20847
Phone: 301-738-0003

Cuisines:
Peruvian, South American

Opening Hours:
Mon,Tue,Wed,Thu:
General: 06:30 AM - 09:00 PM Fri,Sat:
General: 06:30 AM - 11:00 PM Sun:
General: 08:30 AM - 03:00 PM

Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Nearby Metro Stops:
Rockville

Price Range:
Inexpensive

Dress:
Informal

Noise Level:
Chatty

Reservations:
Not needed

Special Features:
Weekend Brunch, Kid Friendly

Best Dishes
Cheese-filled arepitas; beef soup with cassava and plantains; charcoal-grilled chicken with black beans and rice; charcoal-grilled tilapia in banana leaves.

Reader's Rating:

5 out of 5

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Why go: Venezuelan owner and cook Milvia Dinoran has taken a rundown storefront and created an appealing roadside canteen with Latin cooking, attentive service, and decor featuring Crayola-hued walls and coffee-can planters lining the windowsills.

What to get: Cheese-filled arepitas, mini-versions of the Colombian corn cakes known as arepas, made even better with a swipe of crema and house-made hot sauce; beef soup with chunks of meat, cassava, and green plantain in a fragrant broth; charcoal-grilled chicken with black beans and rice; charcoal-grilled tilapia on banana leaves (give it a finishing spritz of lime).

Best for: Big appetites with thin wallets.

Insider tip: This is a small operation, and nearly everything is cooked to order, so the kitchen sometimes runs out of items. Worth seeking out: the house-made sangría and Sunday breakfast, which includes Andean potato soup, eggs, shredded beef, beans, and more for $7.95.

Open Monday through Saturday for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Sunday until 7.

>> See all 2009 Cheap Eats restaurants here

General Store

Honey Pig (Gooldaegee)

Reader ReviewsWrite your own review

Great Food!

cmatthewsb — September 2, 2009 2:01 PM

I went to Al Carbon looking for Venezuelan food, and I have to say that their food is excellent!. The arepas rellenas and empanadas are delicious. The restaurant is small but cozy.

I definitely recommend this restaurant to all, specially More ...

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