Montgomery County’s dining scene has been buzzing this fall, with several new openings drawing big crowds and plenty of excitement. From food halls to family-run cafés, and from late-night kebab spots to Michelin-recognized soup dumplings, the past few months have brought a wave of fresh flavors and local stories to the table. These six recent openings, each with its own unique backstory and menu, are among the most talked-about additions to the county’s ever-evolving food landscape.
Commas Food Hall (8661 Colesville Rd. Silver Spring, MD): Commas Food Hall, which opened last month on Level 3 of Ellsworth Place in Silver Spring, will hold a grand opening celebration on Saturday, September 27 from 11am-9pm and Sunday, September 28 from 12-6pm.. The 13,000-square-foot space features 10 food and beverage vendors offering global cuisines, with two stalls still available for future operators. A video of the experience during the soft opening phase can be seen here. Current vendor line up:
• 6 Skewers: Persian-inspired sandwiches, kabobs, and stews
• C³ Bar: Curated wine selection, self-pour beer taps, and zero-alcohol cocktails
• Claude Have Mercy: West African–inspired seafood (opening soon)
• J&J Mex-Taqueria: Family-owned Tex-Mex, serving the DC metro since 2015
• Kellem Coffee: Ethiopian coffee and café classics (opening soon)
• MV Asian Kitchen: East and Southeast Asian dishes (opening soon)
• Momo Hub: Nepalese dumplings and pancakes (second location)
• Tato’s: Fries, wedges, and loaded potato creations
• The Champs Kitchen: Caribbean cuisine from local caterer Keyerra Pits
• Tokoa Cheesesteaks: Cheesesteaks, tacos, and quesadillas
Neighbors Coffee (1101 Nelson Street, Rockville, MD): Neighbors Coffee, a new café founded by local couple Spencer and Lulu Trach, has officially opened its doors at 1101 Nelson Street in August, taking over the former Essex Bank location. A video of the experience can be seen here.
For Spencer and Lulu, this venture is a homecoming. They’ve known each other since their days at Ridgeview Middle School in Gaithersburg and are both graduates of Quince Orchard High School. Their journey into the coffee world began a few years ago with a stand at the Kentlands farmers market, a passion project that has now evolved into a full-fledged coffee shop. Spencer, who grew up in the Woodley Gardens neighborhood, is now joined full-time by his brother in this family endeavor.
Neighbors Coffee offers more than just a great cup of joe. In addition to being able to stop in for a coffee (indoor and outdoor seating), the shop features a convenient walk-up window, perfect for grabbing a quick coffee on the go. On weekends, they plan to highlight the talents of local bakers by serving their treats. Looking ahead, Neighbors hopes to expand its menu with homemade breakfast sandwiches.
Ah’haan by Bangkok Garden (237 Kentlands Blvd. Gaithersburg, MD): The highly anticipated full-service Thai restaurant Ah’haan by Bangkok Garden opened at 237 Kentlands Blvd. in August, in the space formerly occupied by Good Fortune Cafe. Ah’haan is a sister restaurant to the well-known Bangkok Garden, a MoCo family business that has been serving the community since 1984. The original Bangkok Garden served Bethesda for 37 years and its legacy continues with a Rockville location. A video of the experience can be seen here.
Bao Bei (12055 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD): Bao Bei opened its dine-in location late August in the Montrose Crossing shopping center. The fast-casual restaurant is serving up authentic Taiwanese street food. Founded by the talented and Montgomery County-raised Kevin Hsieh, Bao Bei has built a loyal following from its roots as a ghost kitchen and its national television appearance, and it is now ready to serve the community from its new brick-and-mortar location. A video of the experience can be seen here.
Kevin Hsieh’s grew up in Montgomery County and graduated from Gaithersburg High School. A former financial analyst, Hsieh decided to pursue his passion for food, inspired by his family’s culinary traditions. He launched Bao Bei as a “ghost kitchen” in a shared commercial space in North Bethesda, quickly gaining a reputation for his authentic Taiwanese flavors.
Bao Bei’s popularity exploded when Hsieh and his team competed on Season 17 of the Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race.” As a finalist on the show, Hsieh gained national recognition for his creative and authentic take on Taiwanese comfort food, setting the stage for the next chapter of his business.
YuXa Flame (1488 Rockville Pike A, Rockville, MD): Rockville has a new late-night spot for kebab lovers. Yuxaflame, located at 1488 Rockville Pike A (outside of Hulu Skewers), is now open from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. nightly, serving up a short but flavorful menu of just three dishes. A video of the experience can be seen here. The offerings include:
• Lula Lavash – a ground beef and lamb mixture wrapped in lavash bread, topped with onions, tomato, cilantro, and sumac ($9.99)
• Uyghur Kebab – seasoned lamb kebab served on top of bread, finished with onions, tomato, cilantro, sumac, and a touch of spice ($9.99)
• Chicken Lavash – chicken wrapped in soft lavash bread with onions, tomato, cilantro, sumac, and a touch of spice ($7.99)
Each item is prepared with bold seasonings and fresh toppings. Diners who have tried the menu say the chicken with yogurt stands out as one of the best non-breaded chicken dishes around, while the Uyghur lamb kebab has earned high praise as a must-try.
Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings (7101 Democracy Blvd. Bethesda, MD): Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings, a Michelin-recommended Shanghainese restaurant with roots in New York, has opened at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. The restaurant is currently in its soft opening phase and will operate daily from 12 pm to 8 pm. A video of the experience can be seen here.
Founded in Flushing in 2006, Nan Xiang has earned recognition for its authentic Shanghai-style xiao long bao, or soup dumplings, and has been Michelin-recommended for nine consecutive years. The new Bethesda location is a full-service restaurant, offering a menu that features its signature soup dumplings in a variety of flavors, including pork, crab meat, chicken, truffle, scallop, abalone, and vegetable. Diners can also order the “Lucky Six” basket, which includes one of each flavor.
