Ellie Bird
Credit : Albert Ting
Cherry Hills Farm
Home to restaurants touting major culinary cred , a bustling center of Asian commerce , and a main drag showcasing historic homes , the City of Falls Church isn ’ t just another close-in Washington suburb .
Dubbed “ The Little City ,” this 2.2-square-mile community lies nine miles west of the capital . Its ever-evolving downtown maintains an urban village vibe , even as mixed-use , mid-rise dwellings spring up at its hub around Broad and Washington streets .
Despite the growth spurt , home-grown businesses still rule . For instance , a stroll along the brick-paved sidewalk on W . Broad Street passes the Father & Son Barber Shop , a coffee roaster , a toy store , an antique shop , and Japanese , pizza , Thai , and Vietnamese restaurants into a single block . Across Washington on E . Broad is an area of carefully tended Victorian-era homes . ( Download a walking tour map at fallschurchva . gov .)
EATERIES WORTH THE TRIP
The Little City is bursting with restaurants — 160 in all , serving 40 different cuisines . You ’ ll likely need a reservation to get a seat at Ellie Bird ( 125 Founders Ave ) since it landed on The New York Times ’ 2023 Best Restaurants List only months after opening . Ditto for cozy Takumi ( 310 S . Washington ), which gets rave reviews for its sushi and other Japanese fare . The Laotian and regional Thai dishes at the familyowned Padaek ( 6395 Seven Corners Center ) have such a fan following that the restaurant now has multiple locations .
SOUTHEAST ASIA IN ONE-STOP
East of downtown is Eden Center ( 6751-6799 Wilson Blvd .), a mashup of Asian restaurants , grocery stores , and enough bubble tea shops to float a flotilla . It claims distinction as the East Coast ’ s largest Asian
mall . The Vietnamese , Thai , and Korean restaurants are perennials on local Best Affordable Restaurants lists . Even if you ’ re not hungry , it ’ s worth a visit for the cultural experience . With 100-plus enterprises , this is a go-to place for D . C .’ s Southeast Asian community . You ’ ll probably hear more Vietnamese than English spoken here .
HISTORIC TRAILS
The city takes its name from The Falls Church , founded in 1734 . ( And yes , George Washington worshipped there .) Civil War buffs can explore downtown sites that figured in the conflict . ( Find a site map at fallschurchva . gov .)
Among them is Cherry Hill Farm ( 312 Park Ave .), a homestead and barn open for tours . A paved portion of the 45-mile Washington and Old Dominion Trail runs through town . If you ’ re up for a spin , the city hosts multiple Capital Bikeshare stations with short-term rentals .
PARKS AND REC
Despite its compact size , the City of Falls Church has 14 parks , ranging from small plots outfitted with colorful Adirondack chairs to wellequipped playgrounds with picnicking spots . For live entertainment , check out the vintage State Theatre ( 202 N . Washington St .). The restored 1936 movie house is a venue for weekend perfomances — think cover bands and dance parties .
FUN FACT
The Americans , the 2013-2018 FX drama about a Soviet spy couple raising their family in suburban Virginia , wasn ’ t filmed here , but the City of Falls Church was the scripted setting .
SPRING 2024
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