Best Southern Style/Soul Food Places in NoVA (Alexandria, Chantilly: hotel, live)

[justtitans]

I have been looking for a good southern style place in VA but I have been struggling to find a good non chain restaurant. I have seen a few but I am not really interested in hole in the wall type establishments. I have a strong heritage in the south so I really like Eastern NC style BBQ (with vinegar) but those places appear nonexistent. I tried Dixie Bones in Woodbridge and it was very mediocre. As of right now the best place I can get southern style cooking is Famous Dave's (which really is good, not really NC style like I would like) but I am interested to see if anyone has tried a nonchain restaurant in NoVa and can give some recommendations. Thanks.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by pgtvatitans

I have seen a few but I am not really interested in hole in the wall type establishments.

Honestly, and this applies to all types of resturants, you are missing out if you automatically exclude the "hole in the wall" types. This is where some of the best food is found. It's usually a family run shop with recipes that go back generations. I can't help you with NoVa, but the (without a doubt) best Sould Food I've ever had was in a dingy, 200 SF, hole in the wall (there may have actually been a hole in the wall) in New Orleans.

[ChristineVA]

I don't think you will find it. I have spent years looking for the NC style BBQ with vinegar and cannot find it. All places around here seem to be stuck on the pulled meat in the heavy BBQ sauce. The closest I ever came around here was when I lived in southern PG County and would hit some of the roadside BBQ trailers. There are probably a couple of soul food places in DC (names escape me now) but I just think you might be out of luck in NoVA. I might have to give Famous Daves a try again. It's been years but it never really impressed me.

[80sbabe]

Try Flavors in Falls Church

www.flavorssoulfood.com

It's not cheap but it's good.

[irisheyes13]

I had a very tasty pulled pork sandwich at Copperwood Tavern in Shillington the other day and it was more the vinegar type BBQ than tomato.

Menu - Copperwood Tavern

[LynchburgLover]

Might be too far to go but if you're ever in Western Loudoun, try Smokin Willys in Purcellville

Smokin Willy BBQ and Grill in Purcellville, VA

There is also a real hole-in-the-wall, converted gas station kind of place (literally) in Winchester called Bonnie Blue. Great for a warm sunny day because the only seating is outside picnic tables. But if you do a day trip for the Museum of the Shenandoah and Patsy Cline's house, it would be a great lunch place. Bonnie Blue | Market & Bakery | Restaurants | Winchester, VA

[weezycom]

Unfortunately, Eastern NC bbq is not served around here. Jackson's in the Hotel Monaco in Old Town, Alexandria does a SC mustard sauce bbq that's pretty good (and very good collards).

You can get tubs of eastern NC bbq at Harris Teeter. Very nondescript looking little 1-lb plastic tubs, but the taste is right.

[LynchburgLover]

You can get 5 lb tubs at Schenck's Foods in Winchester, too. They sell to the general public as well as to restaurants etc.

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[matsmom]

The closest we have been able to find to NC BBQ is Carolina Brothers in Ashburn.

Welcome to Carolina Brothers Pit Barbeque

Willard's in Chantilly is just ok but they do have a good brisket.

[Mikemapva]

Here's a new soul food restaurant in Herndon. No BBQ, but most Southern fried foods. Johnny Ray's

Sultry SOUL Food - Home