Tom Siestema's 2024 Spring Dining Guide
Yelp Top 100 Places to Eat 2026
Chay was recognized on Yelp’s Top 100 Restaurants in the United States in 2026, earning a place among the nation’s standout dining destinations.
We’re proud to be one of just three restaurants in the DC metro area to make this nationwide list, a recognition shaped by the experiences and reviews of the Yelp community.
Washingtonian 100 Very Best Restaurants 2026
“Some of the area’s best Vietnamese cooking happens to be completely meat-free. Papaya and seaweed salads are colorful and overflowing with vegan tofu jerky adding to the medley of textures. Chef Lan Tran makes many of her own faux meats and seafoods from tofu and vegetables, ranging from a peanut-studded “clam” dip with sesame rice crackers for scooping to soulful bowls of spicy lemongrass noodle soup with soy ham and vegan beef. Even the fried fish that’s not actually fish is a stunner thanks to a mountain of julienned mango and tangy-sweet chili sauce.”
Washingtonian 100 Very Best Restaurants 2025
“Soulful noodle soups, colorful papaya salads, and a signature ‘clam dip’ make this newcomer one of the best Vietnamese restaurants around. And, oh yeah, everything is vegan or vegetarian. The fragrant pho is enriched with mushrooms, fried shallots, and faux meats that chef Lan Tran makes from tofu and vegetables. The papaya salad? It’s topped with tofu jerky instead of pork floss. And the “clams” are fashioned from soy protein dressed in lime and vegetarian fish sauce.”
Featured on Signature Dish!
Chay Restaurant was featured on WETA PBS's Signature Dish, Season 3, Episode 9, in an episode celebrating plant-based cuisine. Chef Lan Tran showcased Chay's signature Bún Bò Huế, sharing her creative approach to reimagining traditional Vietnamese flavors through plant-based ingredients. The feature highlights Chay's passion for authentic Vietnamese cooking, culinary innovation, and making plant-based dining an experience everyone can enjoy.
Chay Featured on ABC7 – Good Morning Washington
We were honored to be featured on ABC7's Good Morning Washington on February 27, 2025! Owners Thi Le and Chef Lan Tran joined the show to spotlight Chay Restaurant and share their passion for Vietnamese vegetarian cuisine. It was a wonderful opportunity to introduce our unique approach to traditional Vietnamese flavors to an even wider audience and celebrate the creativity behind Chay.
Watch the Feature: ABC7 Good Morning Washington – YouTube
The Hot List: 10 Restaurants Around DC We’re Loving Right Now
Washingtonian | Anne Limpert, Jessica Sidman, Ike Allen | April 3, 2024
“Spicy lemongrass beef noodle soup without the beef? Bún bò huế is one of the many beloved Vietnamese dishes that chef Lan Tran has managed to satisfyingly reinterpret without meat.”
Tom Sietsema’s 5 favorite places to eat in February
The Washington Post | Review by Tom Sietsema | February 20, 2024
“Quick, what do the “clam” dip, shaky “beef” and spicy noodle soup at this young restaurant in Northern Virginia have in common? They’re all vegetarian versions of familiar Vietnamese dishes, and they’re all impressive.”
Vietnamese and vegetarian, Chay makes a splash in Falls Church
The Washington Post | Review by Tom Sietsema | January 19, 2024
“Shaky “beef,” for instance, is a dynamite stir-fry of what eats like marinated meat but is in fact nuggets of soy protein flavored with pineapple soy sauce and sesame oil. The dedicated carnivore I brought with me one visit insisted the leftovers go home with him.”