10 Best Virginia Restaurants

Virginia is famous for Country Ham, peanuts, and Chesapeake Bay oysters. The state's food identity is deeply connected to its geography, from the coastal Tidewater region to the Appalachian Mountains. What sets Virginia's food apart is the specific curing process for its world-renowned country ham, a technique of salt-curing and aging pork that creates a distinct, savory flavor. The Chesapeake Bay watershed provides a bounty of seafood, making Virginia one of the leading producers of fresh oysters on the East Coast. Key ingredients that are central to the state's cuisine include Virginia peanuts, which are known for their large size and crunchy texture, and heirloom apples like the Albemarle Pippin from the mountainous regions. Appalachian soul food, with staples like Brunswick stew, also forms a significant part of the state's culinary heritage.

The average cost of a meal in Virginia at a budget restaurant is between $18 and $30 for one person. A three-course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant costs between $70 and $120. Meals at high-end or fine dining establishments like 2941 Restaurant or The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm start at $150 per person, while a meal at the three-Michelin-star The Inn at Little Washington starts at $348 per person.

Virginia has a strong presence of popular Southern and Mid-Atlantic fast-food chains, with Cook Out being a late-night favorite for its extensive menu and Biscuitville for its breakfast. These regional staples operate alongside all major national brands, making them part of the everyday food landscape.

• Cook Out: A North Carolina-based chain with a large following in Virginia, known for its char-grilled burgers, barbecue trays, and dozens of milkshake flavors.
• Biscuitville: Another North Carolina original that is very popular in southern and central Virginia, famous for its scratch-made buttermilk biscuits served fresh every 15 minutes.
• Wawa: A Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain with a devoted following in Northern and Central Virginia, known for its made-to-order hoagies, coffee, and snacks.
• Sheetz: A competitor to Wawa, popular in Western Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley, offering a similar made-to-order menu of sandwiches, burgers, and fried snacks.
• Bojangles: A Southern chain known for its Cajun-seasoned fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits, and sweet tea.
• Chick-fil-A: This national chain is extremely popular across Virginia for its chicken sandwiches and waffle fries.
• Tudor's Biscuit World: A West Virginia-based chain with locations in the western part of Virginia, famous for its large, hearty breakfast biscuit sandwiches.
• Five Guys: Founded in Arlington, Virginia, this national chain is known for its fresh, never-frozen burgers, hand-cut fries, and free peanut toppings.

The Virginia dining scene continues to evolve with exciting new openings across the state. Recent additions include Ripple Ray's, a Grateful Dead-themed restaurant in Richmond, and Electric Bull, a boutique South American steakhouse from a famed chef in Vienna. These new establishments bring fresh energy to the state's food culture.

• Ripple Ray’s: A new Grateful Dead-themed bar and restaurant in Richmond’s Carytown neighborhood. The restaurant features Southern cuisine, "hippie hour" specials, and live music. Located at 3123 West Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23221.
• Torch Kitchen + Bar: An upscale American restaurant in Midlothian offering a modern twist on traditional dishes. Located at 2077 Walmart Way, Midlothian, VA 23113.
• Electric Bull Steakhouse: A boutique South American steakhouse in Vienna from Chef Victor Albisu. Located at 176 Maple Ave W, Vienna, VA 22180.
• Redwood Smoke Shack: The Texas-style barbecue chain opened its third Hampton Roads location in Suffolk. The restaurant features wood-smoked meats such as prime brisket, house-made sausage, and pork butt. Located at 3881 Bridge Rd, Suffolk, VA 23435.

Virginia's main cities, Richmond, Arlington, and Virginia Beach, have several popular restaurants in their downtown and central areas such as L'Opossum, Green Pig Bistro, and Orion's Roof. The list below shows the best restaurants to try in Virginia's key urban locations.

• L'Opossum: Located in Richmond's Oregon Hill neighborhood, L'Opossum is known for its whimsical decor and its inventive, French-inspired menu from a James Beard Award-winning chef.
• Green Pig Bistro: At the heart of Arlington's Clarendon district, Green Pig Bistro is famous for its adventurous, pork-centric menu of French and American bistro classics.
• Orion's Roof: Virginia Beach's Orion's Roof is a highly sought-after restaurant on the 23rd floor of an oceanfront hotel, specializing in Asian-fusion cuisine and offering panoramic ocean views.
• Ruthie's All-Day: This Arlington restaurant is a popular spot near the I-395 corridor, specializing in wood-fired cooking for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Yes, there are lunch spots in Virginia worth trying, including the authentic Queen's Mother Kitchen, the creative Cochiloco, and the classic The Cheese Shop. Queen's Mother Kitchen in Arlington provides a unique lunch experience with its menu of traditional and flavorful Ghanaian dishes like Jollof Rice and Waakye. Cochiloco in Lynchburg is a vibrant spot for a casual lunch, specializing in inventive street-style tacos with fillings like pork belly and fried chicken. For a classic Virginia lunch, The Cheese Shop in Williamsburg's Merchants Square is a long-standing institution, famous for its sandwiches served on fresh-baked bread with its signature house dressing.

Yes, there are good places for dinner in Virginia, such as the world-renowned The Inn at Little Washington, the classic L'Auberge Chez François, and the scenic 2941 Restaurant. The Inn at Little Washington offers a once-in-a-lifetime dinner experience with its three-Michelin-star tasting menu of imaginative American cuisine in a lavish, theatrical setting. L'Auberge Chez François in Great Falls provides a traditional and romantic fine dining dinner with its classic French and Alsatian dishes served in a rustic country inn. For a more modern but equally elegant dinner, 2941 Restaurant in Falls Church serves upscale American cuisine with stunning views of a lake and waterfalls.

Virginia has a number of vegan restaurants, including Harrisonburg's The Friendly Fermenter, Richmond's Ipanema Cafe, and Norfolk's Fruitive. The Friendly Fermenter in Harrisonburg offers a fully plant-based menu of comfort food designed to pair with its house-brewed beers. Ipanema Cafe in Richmond is one of the city's long-standing vegetarian and vegan spots, serving an eclectic menu in a cozy basement setting. Fruitive, with locations in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, is a 100% plant-based cafe specializing in cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and healthy bowls and sandwiches. In Northern Virginia, GreenFare Organic Cafe in Herndon serves whole-plant food with a focus on health and wellness.

Restaurants in Virginia that serve gluten-free food include dedicated bakeries like The Happy Tart and restaurants with extensive gluten-free options. The Happy Tart in Falls Church is a Parisian-style patisserie that is 100% gluten-free, offering a range of pastries, breads, and cakes. For dining out, Burtons Grill & Bar, with multiple locations in Virginia, has a strong reputation for its allergy-friendly practices and offers a full gluten-free menu of American classics. The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm in Lovettsville can accommodate gluten-free diners for its tasting menu with advance notice. In Richmond, 821 Cafe offers a large diner-style menu with many vegetarian and vegan items that can be prepared with gluten-free bread or tortillas.

Virginia's most famous cuisines are Southern/Appalachian and Chesapeake Bay Seafood. The state's culinary traditions are shaped by its diverse geography, from the Atlantic coast to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Listed below are the most common and popular cuisines in Virginia.

• Southern / Appalachian: This is the foundational comfort food of the state. It includes dishes like fried chicken, Brunswick stew, and biscuits with country ham. In the western part of the state, Appalachian soul food is prevalent, with a focus on preserved foods, wild game, and ingredients foraged from the mountains.
• Chesapeake Bay Seafood: The Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries define the cuisine of Eastern Virginia. The region is famous for its blue crabs, served steamed, in crab cakes, or as soft-shell crabs. Virginia is also a major producer of oysters, with different river systems producing oysters with distinct flavors.
• New American: In urban centers like Richmond and Northern Virginia, as well as in destination restaurants like The Inn at Little Washington, chefs are using Virginia's agricultural bounty to create modern, refined American cuisine. This style emphasizes farm-to-table sourcing and seasonal ingredients.
• French: Virginia has several long-standing, high-end restaurants that specialize in classic French cuisine. Establishments like L'Auberge Chez François have been destinations for traditional French dining for decades, influencing the state's fine dining landscape.
• Vietnamese: Northern Virginia, particularly the area around Falls Church and Arlington, is home to a large Vietnamese-American community. This has resulted in one of the country's most vibrant and authentic Vietnamese food scenes, with a high concentration of restaurants serving pho, banh mi, and other regional specialties.