Peter Chang is coming to 637 N Frederick Ave in Gaithersburg, the former location of Ichiban Restaurant. Ichiban closed in September 2021 after 35 years in business. Chef Peter Chang’s signature dishes include Boneless Whole Fish, Dry Fried Eggplant, Crispy Pork Belly, Cilantro Lime Fish, Duck In Stone Pot, and Beef in Sichuan Chili.  Peter Chang opened its Rockville location at 20A Maryland Ave in 2016, and Q by Peter Chang opened at 4500 East-West Hwy in Bethesda in 2017. The restaurant is hoping to open by the beginning of February 2024.

In May, Peter Chang visited the culinary program at Paint Branch High School to teach students two recipes inspired by his family and culture as a part of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.


Charleys Cheesesteaks & Wings is now open inside of the Germantown Walmart at 20910 Frederick Rd, in the space formerly occupied by McDonald’s. Earlier this year, Charleys also opened a location at 19877 Century Blvd in Germantown, in the space that was previously home to Roll by Goodyear and Yogi Castle in the Shops at Town Center & Century Station shopping center.

Charleys is a Philly cheesesteak franchise that opened its first location across the campus of Ohio State University in 1986. While studying real estate at the school, Charley Shin worked in his mother’s Japanese/Korean restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. A wrong turn on a family trip to New York City resulted in Charley’s discovery of the Philly cheesesteak. Charley convinced his mother to sell her restaurant, and invest her life savings of $48,000 into Charley’s, a 450-square-foot restaurant across the street from Ohio State’s campus.


Wendy’s, located at 5001 Nicholson Ln. in Rockville, will hold its Grand Reopening celebration on Saturday, September 23rd at 10:30am. As with recent area Wendy’s Grand Reopening celebrations, the fast food chain will offer “free food for a year” to the first 100 guests in line.

As the fast food chain did with one of its Gaithersburg locations and its Derwood location, Wendy’s will give away 100 VIP ticket to those 16 and older and present in line at 10:30am when the dining room opens (a purchase is necessary to be considered for a card). Anyone who gets a VIP ticket will be able to come back to the store once a week for a year to receive a free sandwich, salad, or breakfast biscuit.


Brio’s Chicken has announced it will open a location at Westfield Montgomery Mall (7101 Democracy Blvd) in Bethesda. The restaurant will be located in the space previously occupied by Tara Thai, which closed this past spring.  Menu items at Brio’s will includes Peruvian charbroiled chicken, empanadas, paninis, steaks, and seafood. Brio’s plans to be open daily from 8am-9pm and will offer Sunday brunch (full menu below.) No opening timeframe has been announced.

Brio’s Chicken was scheduled to open a location in the Kentlands but after several years of delays and issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant never materialized.  Brio’s Chicken previously had a location in Aspen Hill in the Aspen Manor shopping center, where Outback is located, but that location is under new ownership and is now known as Gio’s Chicken.


While there are many wonderful restaurants in Montgomery County to enjoy brunch, Eater DC has included two Montgomery County restaurants in its list of ‘The Hottest New Brunches to Try Around DC’– Charley Prime in Gaithersburg and J. Hollinger’s in Silver Spring.

Charley Prime opened in Gaithersburg’s Rio Lakefront in May and has been generally well-received by the community. Last month it was listed by the Washington Post as one of food critic’s Tom Sietsema’s 6 favorite places to eat. Eater DC writes, “The stylish lakefront steakhouse in Gaithersburg added weekend brunch in July with plates of eggs, bacon, and hash browns; burgers, and roasted lamb French dip with fries. Go big with a lobster tail Benedict and decadent French toast on brioche with caramelized bananas. Brunch drinks include a (pomegranate) mimosa or espresso-tini, as well as coffee from Maryland roaster Ceremony. Go bottomless for $34.95, which includes any entree and bottomless mimosas or RAR lagers (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)


While there are many wonderful independent coffee shops located in Montgomery County, Eater DC has included one in its list of ‘15 Must-Try Coffee Shops Around DC,’ highlighting Takoma Park’s Takoma Bev Co (6917 Laurel Ave).

Per Eater DC, “The all-day coffee shop and bar from two Northside Socialalums brought pour-overs, rotating art exhibits, and mixed drinks to downtown Takoma Park in 2017. The popular cafe has since doubled its seat count by growing into the space next door. A custom espresso machine built for the restaurant is fed a strict diet of Counter Culture Coffee, and a front counter with a white quartz top features a display case stocked with pastries and other impulse buys. Open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. (and 10 p.m. on weekends) with cocktails, beer, and wine, too. Place orders online here.


Summer Metropolitan Restaurant Week runs from Monday, August 28 until Sunday, September 3, with various Montgomery County restaurants participating (listed below). The event is one of the area’s signature dining promotions that closes out summer and Labor Day Weekend.

“This year’s Summer Restaurant Week cycle is a special one,” said RAMW President & CEO Shawn Townsend. “Not only does the promotional week take place during the DC Jazz Festival, we have multiple restaurants participating from our region’s airports, allowing both locals and travelers to the area to take part in the special offerings.”


Ming’s, a new restaurant serving Chinese cuisine, is now open at 800 Pleasant Dr. Suite 120 in Rockville’s King Farm neighborhood. Ming’s is located in the space that was previously home to Imperial Chinese Gardens.  Menu specialties include Hunan Style Bamboo Shoots, Kongbao Jumbo Shrimp, House Style Cumin Lamb, and Sauteed Beef Intestines.  Full menu can be seen here. The restaurant is open 11am-9:30pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11am-9am Sunday, and closed Tuesdays.

In other King Farm news, coming soon signage is up for Pet Wants at 302 King Farm Blvd Ste 130 in Rockville, next to Montgomery County’s last remaining Baja Fresh. Pet Wants offers pet food that contains no corn, wheat, soy, or animal byproducts.  Pet Wants Rockville has been in business since 2021 operating as a delivery service and vendor at local farmers markets, and this will be its first brick-and-mortar location. The store is targeting a fall opening and plans to host regular pet adoption events with local rescues.


The ribbon cutting ceremony at Walmart (20910 Frederick Rd) in Germantown scheduled for Friday, August 25 has been rescheduled to Friday, September 1 at 7am. The event is being organized by the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce (GGCC) to mark the completion of recent renovations at the location.  According to the GGCC, “Join us for Walmart Supercenter’s ribbon cutting and unveiling of its new store remodel at the Germantown location! The $7 million remodel includes a new floor plan, parking lot project, new merchandise, food online grocery delivery , and 60 new associate hires. Walmart’s Germantown location currently employees nearly 500 people and is celebrating 20 years of being part of the community.”

Charleys Cheesesteaks and Wings will also opening inside the Germantown Walmart, possibly as soon as this weekend. Charleys is taking over the space formerly occupied by McDonald’s. A representative at the restaurant tells us that they are just waiting for final inspections to be completed.  Featured image courtesy of Google Maps.


Chef Max Zelenkov and his wife Iqra Zelenkov announced the grand opening of La Table Du Chateau at The Block at Pike and Rose (967 Rose Ave. North Bethesda) last month, debuting as a weekend-only breakfast/brunch spot on Saturday, July 22. One month later the two sides have concluded their working relationship. La Table Du Chateau will continue to operate as it did before this venture, as a catering company, and will also be available at area farmers markets in Olney and Maple Lawn going forward.

Chef Max Zelenkov’s journey began when he emigrated as a Ukrainian/Russian native to the United States and was raised and pursued his education in Montgomery County. MoCo, a melting pot of culture and tradition, was the perfect setting to foster Chef Max’s fascination with the world’s diverse culinary traditions. Iqra Zelenkov tells us the duo hopes to launch their own storefront in a year or so, if finances permit them to, but for now will just expand their catering and farmers markets presence.


It’s almost Back-to-School for the Kiddos so bring them in for a treat! The Greene Turtle in Burtonsville (15660 Old Columbia Pike) is offering a deal in anticipation of the school year beginning. “Kids Eat FREE, EVERY Day, ALL Day from Monday, 8/21 – Monday, 8/28!”(restrictions apply).

Kids Eat Free” is offered Dine-In Only. Receive One Free Kids Meal per Purchased Full Price Adult Meal. Purchased adult meal excludes appetizers, sides and desserts.


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