If you only know Hanover as the place you drive through on the way to Arundel Mills, Nomsters, you are seriously missing out. This little stretch of Anne Arundel County has quietly turned into one of my favorite places to eat in Maryland, and honestly, it’s the range that gets me.
Within a few square miles you can get real Cantonese dim sum, some of the best mango sticky rice of my life, an Indian buffet with a weekend dosa station, tender Afghan kabob, comforting Vietnamese pho, honey old bay wings, and a plate of ribs that falls right off the bone. So I rounded up the must-visit restaurants in Hanover I actually keep going back to, the ones I send friends to without a second thought.
A couple of quick notes before we dig in. As usual, these are in no particular order, because ranking my favorites feels impossible when they’re all so different. Two of the picks sit right on the edge of Hanover (Copper Canyon’s at Arundel Mills, and Gianni’s is just over in Severn), but they’re close enough that I’d fold them into any Hanover food run. And every single one of these is a spot I’ve reviewed in full, so tap the name if you want the deep dive. Alright, here’s where I eat in Hanover.
1. Mai Dragon Hanover
Mai Dragon (you might also see it listed as Mai Dim Sum) is my go-to dim sum spot in the whole state, and it’s an unassuming strip-mall gem most people drive right past. The dim sum runs daily from 11am to 4pm, with rolling carts on weekends, and most orders land in the $4.95 to $8.45 range for three or four pieces, so it’s easy to try a bunch without overthinking it.
Load up on the har gow (plump steamed shrimp dumplings), the siu mai, the lo mai gai sticky rice steamed in a lotus leaf, and save room for the egg custard tarts. My one piece of advice is to get there right when they open on a weekend if you want the full cart experience, because it packs out fast and tables turn quickly once the carts start rolling. It’s casual, family-friendly, and there’s free parking right in the lot. When people ask me where to get great dim sum in the area, this is my answer every time!
2. Prino’s Mediterranean Grill
Prino’s is the Mediterranean spot I always tell people to kick off with the wings, and I mean it. The honey old bay flavor is that sweet-savory combo done right, and the crispiness is next level, they’re genuinely some of the best wings I’ve had in Maryland!
For the main event, the lamb gyro ($11.99, or $9.99 for chicken) comes fully loaded with tender meat, fresh tomatoes, onions, and tangy tzatziki, and it’s a great deal for the portion. If you’re hungrier, the platters at $16.50 get you a protein, rice, a Greek salad, grilled pita, and dressing plus tzatziki. And don’t skip the cookies on your way out, the white kourabiedes (five for $6.50) melt in your mouth. It’s a low-key hidden gem tucked into a Hanover shopping center, so if you haven’t been, get movin’.
3. Little Spice
Little Spice earns its spot on the strength of one dish alone: the best mango sticky rice I’ve ever had, served warm, with luscious coconut cream over chewy rice and perfectly ripe mango. Minje and I both mmMMMmm-ed embarrassingly loud at the first bite, lol.
Beyond dessert, the Bangkok Steak is a total showstopper, tender seasoned beef that arrives sizzling and makes the whole room jealous, and the Drunken Noodles are my reliable, saucy go-to after a long day. Real talk, the green curry came out a touch watery last time and I probably wouldn’t reorder it, but maybe you’ll feel differently.
The portions are generous, the prices are great, the spice levels are customizable from mild to fiery, and there are vegetarian-friendly options across almost the whole menu. It’s firmly in my regular Thai takeout rotation in Hanover.
4. Rangoli Indian Cuisine
If you’re after the best buffet in the area, Rangoli’s the answer. It’s an Indian restaurant right by Arundel Mills that covers a ton of ground, North Indian comfort food like butter chicken, South Indian dosas, and even some Indo-Chinese dishes.
The lunch buffet is one of the best deals going, $23 on weekdays and $24 on weekends, and you walk out completely stuffed on butter chicken, goat curry, dal, samosas, lamb biryani, fresh naan brought right to the table, and warm gulab jamun for dessert.
My move is to go on a weekend so you can hit the dosa station, which isn’t part of the weekday spread, plus the weekend adds a grill station. Not a buffet day? The full a la carte menu’s loaded too, with a big vegetarian selection and a full bar. It’s been around since 2011 and it’s the reliable, always-solid spot I keep in my back pocket for a takeout night.
5. Pho One-O
Pho One-O is my comforting Vietnamese pick in Hanover, the kind of spot you turn to when you need a warm hug in a bowl. The Pho Chin ($14 for a large) is our go-to, with a broth that’s always flavorful and satisfying and all the standard fixings.
Start with the fried spring rolls ($6 for two), which come with their signature fish sauce and are absolutely on point. And if you want something off the noodle-soup track, the Grilled Lemongrass Chicken Vermicelli ($15) is a generous portion of tender, beautifully marinated chicken over rice vermicelli with chopped lettuce, bean sprouts, pickled carrots and daikon, and basil to bring it all together. It’s a reliable, budget-friendly spot for a cozy Vietnamese dinner, whether you’re dining in or, like me on a rough day, keeping it takeout and staying home.
6. Maiwand Kabob
Maiwand Kabob has been one of my go-to carryout spots in Hanover for years, and the food’s so consistent I’ve yet to have a bad meal there. Start with the pumpkin, baked baby pumpkin seasoned with sugar and served with garlic yogurt and a ground beef sauce, it’s ridiculously tasty and it keeps well too.
The chicken kabob platter comes with salad, rice, and naan, and I always ask to sub spinach for the salad, which they do free of charge (their chickpeas are fantastic too, if you’d rather swap).
Chicken’s my favorite, but they do a mean lamb as well, so give that a try. The meat’s always so, SO tender, the sauce is unreal, and the fresh naan is so good you’ll cry tears of joy! Grab a few of their cut jalapeños on the side if you love spicy like I do.
7. Gianni’s
Gianni’s is technically just over the line in Severn, but it’s close enough that I fold it into any Hanover food run, and it’s been on my Italian rotation for ages.
Family-owned since 1985, it’s Italian-American comfort food done the way you actually want it, and it’s affordable enough that you don’t have to overthink the order. The Warrior Roll ($12.95) is the move, basically a pizza pinwheeled and stuffed with pepperoni, sausage, and freshly grated mozzarella, then served with homemade pizza sauce for dipping.
The Stuffed Shells ($12.95) are three jumbo shells of cheesy, generous comfort food with garlic bread on the side, and the tiramisu ($4.25) has been one of my go-to desserts around here for ages. Now, the white pizza wasn’t my personal favorite, but their Godfather pie has a seriously loyal following. Hearty portions, budget-friendly prices, exactly what a neighborhood Italian spot should be.
8. Copper Canyon Grill
Copper Canyon Grill at Arundel Mills is where I send you when you want a sit-down dinner instead of a food-court run. It’s a polished American grill where the portions are massive, one entree can easily turn into a meal for two, and the value genuinely holds up better than most mall-adjacent spots have any right to.
The BBQ ribs are the headliner (around $32 for a big plate), smoky and so tender they fall right off the bone, with great coleslaw and crispy fries. Start with the Fiesta Eggrolls, though the dipping sauce is the real star, the kind you keep going back to after the eggrolls are gone.
The Rattlesnake Pasta is loaded with huge chunks of rotisserie chicken and easily feeds two. They’ve also got a solid Social Hour Monday through Friday from 4:30 to 6:30pm at the bar, so it’s an easy way to try the place without a full dinner tab. Come hungry, because you’re leaving with leftovers either way!
And there you have it, Nomsters, eight spots that prove Hanover’s got way more going on than you’d ever guess from the highway. Whether you’re craving dim sum on a lazy weekend, chasing the best mango sticky rice of your life, loading up at an Indian buffet, or splitting a rack of ribs after a day at the mall, this little corner of Anne Arundel County has you covered!
Now I want to hear from you: which Hanover spot is your ride-or-die, and did I miss one I need to try? Drop it in the comments below, and save this for your next trip out to Arundel Mills.