Just one Alexandria restaurant made it onto the 2022 Yelp's Top 100 U.S. Restaurants list — Yunnan by Potomac Noodle House.
The restaurant came in at #42.
According to Yelp: "Married founders Zongmin Li and John Bruce brought the diverse cuisine of her native Yunnan, a region in Southwest China, to this Alexandria neighborhood. According to them, the “soul food” of Yunnan is mixian—delicious rice noodles prepared with braised meats, rich broths, and sweet, savory, and spicy sauces. While noodles are the center of the menu, you should also try the small plates, such as tea egg bao buns or Garden Party Jiaozi Dumplings (steamed dumplings with edamame, smoked tofu, and shiitake mushrooms)."
Yunnan by Potomac Noodle House — more commonly known by residents at Yunnan — is a family-owned restaurant in Old Town North, at 814 N. Fairfax St. It opened in 2019.
The restaurant shut down for a time in late 2020 for a major renovation. As it approached reopening in the spring of 2021, co-founder Bruce told Alexandria Living Magazine, "The space not only becomes beautiful, but it speaks to the region of Yunnan [a southwestern province in China] and the contemporary style of the area. The heart of the renovation is able to execute the menu that we have envisioned.”
The menu includes a variety of small plates, bao buns, dumplings and barbecue in addition to its featured noodle dishes.
