Rockville is known as “the Washington region's real Chinatown.” Many Chinese restaurant and business owners relocated here after being pushed out of D.C.’s Chinatown in the 90’s. This resulted in an international food and shopping mecca.
First, Coffee:
If you need coffee check out Soulfull Cafe, a sunny spot with espresso drinks and sandwiches. But, the best move is to grab milk tea from one of Rockville’s many A+ boba shops. I dream of the taro milk tea at BoBaPoP Tea Bar. They make their boba fresh and it’s *chef’s kiss*. Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea is outside the town center but worth the trip for its mochi treats and salted foam teas.
What to Eat:
Honestly, what ISN’T there to eat? Bob’s Shanghai 66 and A&J Restaurant should be required dining for all Washingtonians. They serve up Eastern Chinese classics and dim sum.
Yuan Fu Vegetarian is a no-frills vegan Chinese spot that makes scarily realistic (but delicious) “meat” dishes like kung-pao chicken and roast duck. I alsolike The Spot Food Hall, which has everything from popcorn chicken to beef noodle soup. And if you don’t want Chinese food? Sorry, I can’t help you.
The Spot Food Hall in Rockville. (Kaela Cote-Stemmermann/City Cast DC)
What to Do:
My favorite thing to do in Rockville is hit up the ethnic grocery stores. The Rockville Lotte has a fresh Taiyaki stand in front on weekends and a huge selection of international goods you can’t find in D.C. Yekta Market sells Persian and Middle Eastern groceries, and EuroMart sells Eastern European goods. To burn all those treats off, Movement Climbing Gym makes for a fun afternoon. Or, check out the Rockville pool!
What to Drink:
If you still have energy after all that, Pour Vino N’ Hops is a lovely little wine bar/store with a cozy atmosphere. Or you can wash it all down with a beer at Finnegan’s Wake Irish Pub and hit it off with the locals.
