Chinese-American take-out classics (kung pao chicken, egg foo yong) in a shopping-center locale.
Patrick Min
Nanjing Bistro is situated in the Fairfax Center, near Walmart in Fairfax, VA, serving authentic, homemade-style Chinese cuisine. The interior is clean, with white walls and LVP flooring. Service from an auntie was excellent; she was friendly and tried to accommodate us as best as she could. The food was fantastic, and we appreciated that the dishes weren’t overly seasoned, but just right. All dishes were freshly cooked in their kitchen, making it one of the best experiences we’ve had in terms of authentic Chinese food.
Some dishes we enjoyed and highly recommend:
1. Home Braised Pork Belly: The Sauce was just perfect— not too salty or heavy—and tasted terrific. The pork belly was soft and enjoyable.
2. Nanjing Style Shredded Tofu: The tofu, combined with egg and black fungus, had a pleasant overall texture, and the seasoning was not too heavy.
3. Homemade Small Meatball Casserole Soup: Small meatballs, vermicelli noodles, and cabbage in a hot, clear soup. All ingredients combined well to make a tasty soup.
4. Housemade Triple Delight Dumplings: Well-made savory dumplings with ground meat and veggies, even better with vinegar dipping.
… moreBo Vr
Three of us came to Nanjing Bistro for my birthday lunch. They have a great selection of traditional Chinese dishes you won’t find at typical American Chinese restaurants.
Our waitress was super friendly and spoke to us in Mandarin, which made the experience really warm and personal.
We ordered Salty Duck, Chive Buns, Beef and Beef Tripe in Chili Sauce, Fish Filets in Pickled Broth, and Hot Pepper Stir-Fried Pork Intestine. Every dish was flavorful and authentically prepared. It was my first time trying the Salty Duck, and I liked that it wasn’t too salty and had more meat than roast duck.
Overall, we all enjoyed our meal. Highly recommend this spot for great food and friendly service!
… moreHelenia Pan
Authentic Nanjing food. It’s like having dinner at an aunt’s house, the ladies here are very friendly, they tell you what they like or don’t like on the menu. Everything is made fresh, and taste like home cooking, not overly salted and soaked in sauce. Good portion for the price.
… moreJasmine Wang
This is an absolute hidden gem for authentic Chinese flavors! This is especially good for those who are comfortable with Chinese flavors and spices and want a taste of authenticity. Some dishes are better than the others, just have to know your dishes. I suggest ordering one entree and a bunch of appetizer/small dishes to get more of an experience out of this. Overall I highly recommend this hidden gem, not sure why the reviews are so low.
… moreBo
Nanjing Bistro is a hidden gem for Chinese food in Fairfax. Their large and diverse menu offers something for everyone, from spicy classics to unique Nanjing specialties. The beef brisket in sour soup was rich, flavorful, and deeply comforting, while the fish filets were perfectly tender and seasoned just right. Don’t leave without trying the dry pot cauliflower—crispy, savory, and absolutely addictive.
The staff were attentive and always ready with great recommendations and quick service, all without the need for a reservation. Walk-ins are welcome, and we were seated right away even on a weekend.
… moreAagya
Went in for lunch. Food was great. Service was fast and friendly. Would recommend. The pork bun is a must.
… moreBrandon Li
Cozy sit down restaurant with reasonable prices. Most of the food we ordered were good, especially the buns. I wasn’t a huge fan of their sweet and sour fish, but the fish was cooked really well, the sauce just got hard to eat after a couple of bites. I would definitely come here again to try their other dishes!
… moreJ C
I want to love Nanjing Bistro but it feels like Nanjing is trying too hard by adding Chinese cuisine that is not its forte. Traditional mainland China dishes rein supreme. Yes, can taste the wok hay in wok fried entrees. You won’t find any gooey glossy-laden General Tso’s, Orange, or Sesame chicken here.
The beef wide rice noodles was ok but the cooking was rushed because many rice noodles were still sticking to each other and revealed white, unflavored/unsauced color when pulled apart. The mala dry pot was not ma (numbing) nor la (spicy) at all despite requesting highest spice level; had to ask for chili sauce {“HAYIAA…”}.
Nanjing’s claim to good authentic Chinses food is the Lion head meat ball soup, cold appetizers, stirfied beef and green horn peppers, and various other entrees wok fried pretty well using fresh ingredients. So if you go, do what some other asians do and point to what patrons at other tables order that looks good as the best way to order the best menu items coming out of Nanjing’s kitchen.
… moreKiet TT
Decided to try a new restaurant today and I popped by here. The Chinese food here is very savory and authentic. My favourite was the Bao. The waiter is very friendly. It’s not crowded at all and I think this is a hidden gem restaurant in the area.
… moreMichelle owyang
This is my 2nd time here. The restaurant has been upgraded to be more modern since my last visit. It is still a cozy casual place with decent food, while the staff is friendly and attentive. I try to come here again for other dishes when in the area.
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