Raking leaves and carving pumpkins can be exhausting — who has time to cook? Indulge this month with over 20 new restaurants in Northern Virginia. Just like that, you may discover your new favorite spot. 

Alexandria 

Crumbl Cookies 

Feed your cookie craving at this cult favorite, which opened a new location in the Bradlee Shopping Center in late September. Crumbl offers a few staple flavors, like semi-sweet chocolate chunk, but mixes things up by serving seasonal treats that rotate weekly. 3618 King St., Alexandria 

Arlington 

Colada Shop 

This newest addition to the Colada Shop family opened in National Landing last month. The local chain offers Cuban food, coffee, and cocktails. Order up a nice Cuban sandwich, some plantain chips and bean dip, and wash it down with a Havana cold brew. There’s plenty of authentic dishes to please every palate. 244 19th Ct. S., Ste. 35, Arlington 

Sushi Jip 

Sample Sushi Jip’s authentic sushi and sashimi à la carte, in entrees, and in combination platters. Poke bowls, classic rolls, hibachi, and noodles round out the extensive menu. 3000 Washington Blvd., Arlington 

Ashburn 

Route 7 Brewing 

Pull up a bar stool and order one of Route 7’s craft brews, innovative cocktails, and tapas-style dishes. The cuisine pairs nicely with the beverages — try the watermelon mint feta salad or Thai curry shrimp with a hazy IPA or whiskey sour.  20051 Riverside Commons Plz., Unit 148, Ashburn 

Dig 

The newest casual dining spot at One Loudoun is Dig, where comfort food is aplenty. Try the salmon harvest bowl, kale apple crunch salad, or hot honey crispy chicken sandwich. Seasonal favorites provide limited-time opportunities to sample fresh, nutritious dishes. 44743 Brimfield Dr., Ashburn 

Chantilly 

Mi Azteca 

Stop in this new family-owned Mexican restaurant, which opened September 7 with a menu of dishes including quesadillas, enchiladas, burritos, chimichangas, and more. 43053 Pemberton Sq., Ste. 100, Chantilly 

Wayback Burgers 

Three words: burgers, fries, and shakes. Wayback Burgers brings eye-popping options like bourbon bacon burgers, chili cheese hotdogs, and cinnamon toast crunch milkshakes to Chantilly. This is the third NoVA location, following spots in Woodbridge and Ashburn.  13938 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy., Chantilly 

Centreville

The Ramyun Zip

If you’re craving a bowl of ramen, head over to this new shop in Centreville. The DIY eatery features over 120 flavors of instant ramen that can be customized to your liking. Just grab your noodles, add some toppings, and heat it up for a quick meal. 14215T Centreville Sq., Centreville

Fairfax 

Momo Cafe 

Try Momo Cafe’s Asian dining in the heart of Fairfax. The casual restaurant offers a dazzling display of bento boxes, Taiwanese sandwiches and appetizers, and noodles. A selection of iced teas and ice douhua or Taiwanese shaved ice for dessert are the icing on the culinary cake. 10780 Fairfax Blvd., Fairfax  

Falls Church 

Raising Cane’s 

If you haven’t tried Raising Cane’s streamlined (and craveworthy) menu, stop into the first Fairfax County location, which opened its doors October 3. Order up some chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries and Texas toast, pronto — and don’t even think about skipping the life-giving Cane’s sauce to do some dipping. 6363 Seven Corners Ctr., Falls Church 

Te’Amo Boba Bar 

This new tea and dessert shop brings refreshing goodness to the Mosaic District. Consider options like pumpkin spice dalgona coffee with boba, matcha mille crêpes, ube cheesecake bao buns, and mango mochi donuts. There is so much to explore at this cute spot.  8190 Strawberry Ln., Ste. 5, Falls Church 

Gainesville 

Grain & Grog 

A new American tavern will host a grand opening October 5 and 6 in Gainesville. The team told Northern Virginia Magazine in May that the spot would be a welcoming, neighborhood-style spot. After some delays to open, it’s ready to serve the community with a menu of comfort food like wings, sandwiches, burgers, and more, plus beer, wine, and cocktails.  7960 Crescent Park Dr., Gainesville

Herndon 

Maharani Palace 

Be treated like royalty at this new palatial restaurant in Herndon. Located in the old Mellow Mushroom pizza joint, you’ll never recognize the space today. It’s been meticulously remodeled offering an exquisitely ornate dining spot. Order delightful dishes like coconut machi curry, lamb vindaloo and maharani butter chicken. 1030 Elden St., Herndon 

Peter Chang Herndon 

Renowned chef Peter Chang opened his latest restaurant September 28. Make plans to visit the pleasant eatery, where guests devour stars like Peking Duck, pork soup dumplings, vegan scallion bubble pancake, and Hunan twice-cooked pork belly. 2322 Silver Arrow Way, Herndon 

Manassas 

Osmow’s Shawarma 

Shawarma fans will flock to this franchised casual dining spot in Manassas. Wrap your head around hand crafted beef, chicken, lamb, and vegetarian wraps and shawarma plates. Salads, appetizers, and sides round out the tempting menu. 9685 Liberia Ave. Ste. 105, Manassas 

Sterling 

Taco Zocalo 

In the mood for a great taco? Stop in Taco Zocalo, a newly opened taqueria in the Town Center at Sterling. Tacos, burritos, bowls, and salads make up this tasty menu. This is the fifth NoVA location for the locally owned business. 21800 Towncenter Plz., Sterling 

Vienna 

Cupspops 

Here’s a fun idea: Why not try some Korean barbecue in a bowl? Cupspops gives you the power to build your own meal and take it on the go. Choose an entree from options like spicy chicken and pork bulgogi, then select a base of salad or white or brown rice. Finally, choose add-ons like kimchi salad, sweet corn, and furikake for a tailored bowl to your tastes. 1501-E Cornerside Blvd., Vienna 

Seray 

Enjoy modern Lebanese cuisine at this new restaurant in the heart of Vienna. Seray offers an upscale dining room with grilled meat and fish, spinach and cheese pies, salads, kibbeh, falafel, and other specialty dishes. 160 Maple Ave. W., Vienna 

Tysons 

Umai Ramen and Donburi Tysons 

Umai Ramen and Donburi Tysons recently opened in a chic space in Tysons West, where diners can find classic Japanese dishes like tonkotsu ramen, pork chashu, donburi rice bowls, and chicken katsu curry. Dishes can be paired with sake or craft cocktails. 1500 Cornerside Blvd., Tysons 

Warrenton 

Licorice Pizza 

Licorice Pizza offers far more than the average ’za joint. Of course diners dig the brick oven pizzas, but think outside the pizza box and order hoagies, burgers, hot dogs, loaded baked potatoes, or calzones. 32 Main St., Warrenton 

Woodbridge 

Kabobistan Afghan Cuisine

This new Afghan eatery in Woodbridge is worth a visit. Try kabobs with your choice of lamb, beef, chicken, and veggie, plus aushak (a type of Afghan leek ravioli), vegetarian dishes, and hummus. 13605 Richmond Hwy., Woodbridge 

Coming Soon  

Alexandria 

Spice Life Indian Fare 

A new Indian restaurant is under construction at Alexandria’s Bradlee Shopping Center, Alexandria Living reported. There is no official opening date yet, but there is an existing location in Gaithersburg, Maryland, which offers classic Indian dishes.  

Feature image courtesy Peter Chang Herndon

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