3 Must-Try Asian Restaurants in Rockville (DMV Foodie Guide)
Rockville’s dining scene is stacked with craveable Asian eats – think hand-pulled noodles, soup dumplings, and Filipino comfort classics you’ll dream about later. Here are three can’t-miss spots for those of you looking for something nomtastic!
And if you’ve got room for dessert, Japong Bakery on Rockville Pike is a great stop for cream puffs, matcha treats, and Taiwanese buns.
1) A&J – Northern-Chinese Style Dim Sum
A&J is one of Rockville’s longtime staples – the kind of place locals mention when you ask where to find real-deal noodles and dumplings. The vibe is no-frills and fast: bright room, clatter of chopsticks, servers gliding by with steaming bowls and small plates. Order a spread, pass dishes around, and let the table fill up with chewy noodles, crisp-bottomed dumplings, and delicious rolls.
What to order:
- Beef Noodle Soup – Savory, warming broth with springy noodles; the move on chilly days.
- Beef Roll – That glorious combo of a flaky, pan-crisped scallion pancake wrapped around slices of beef with a swipe of sweet-savory hoisin sauce to tie it all together. NOM!
- Pan-Fried Dumplings – Golden, juicy, and perfect!!! Easily some of the best dumplings I’ve had in the area.
- Scallion Pancake – Flaky layers; share so you still have room for noodles
📍1319-C, Rockville Pike
⏰11:30-9pm daily
2) Bob’s Shanghai – Best Soup Dumplings in MD
Bob’s is the MD spot where steamers never stop. Baskets of xiao long bao roll out fast. It’s efficient, consistent, and exactly where you go when the craving is “XLB, now.” You can even see them making your dumplings fresh in a little window in the dining room!
And if your craving runs toward made-to-order Cantonese dim sum, Corner Bites in Rockville is a newer spot delivering fresh har gow, egg custard tarts, and BBQ pork pastry worth knowing about.
What to order:
- Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings) – Delicate skins, rich broth; bite carefully (or poke/steam-vent first). Yah, I’m literally listing one because I *only* get XLB here, lol. They have 6 different flavors to choose from, but my faves are pork & pork + crab.
📍305 N Washington St
⏰Su-Th 1108pm, Fr & Sa 11-9pm
3) KuyaJa’s – Unbelievable Filipino Food
KuyaJa’s is pure magic. Their food’s so fire, but they’re famous for their crackly-skin lechon. It literally shatters under your fork, and the meat’s SO tender and aromatic. It’s friendly, unfussy, and built for sharing: order a spread, pass the noms, and save room for Gwenie’s afterwards.
I finally gave Gwenie’s its own feature, so check out my full Gwenie’s Pastries review for what to order there.
What to order:
- Lechon (Crispy Pork Belly) – Crackling skin, juicy meat; make it a combo and upgrade to garlic rice + add longanisa. Seriously. THIS is the move. They sell out of this ALL the time so call ahead or get their early.
- Lumpia – Snackable, golden rolls; perfect starter to share.
- Pancit – Noodles that play well with everything else on the table. Their portion’s HUGE and each bite is packed with flavor.
- Gwenie’s Desserts – if they have their donuts, OMG, get them. And ube anything. Andddd while you’re at it, all the pandan goodness, lol.
📍5268-H Nicholson Ln
⏰W-Sa 11-9pm, Su 11-8pm
Rockville is stacked for comfort cravings, and this trio nails the spectrum: Bob’s Shanghai for XLB, A&J for soul-warming noodle soups, and KuyaJa’s for crispy lechon. Do them one-by-one when the mood strikes – or turn it into a mini crawl and let your table evolve from soup dumplings → noodles → porky perfection. However you map it, you’ll leave full, happy, and already plotting your next visit.