The founder of Sweet Frog, Derek Cha, is bringing his take on the Nashville-style hot chicken sandwich to MoCo.

The restaurant will be located in the Travilah Square Shopping Center (the shopping center is anchored by Trader Joe’s) in Rockville, between Pholuscious and Tropical Smoothie Cafe, in the 1,600 sf location that was home to El Mexicano at 10050 Darnestown Road, per H&R Retail.


Below you’ll find a list of restaurants that are expected to be open on Christmas Day, 2021. We suggest making a reservation or calling the business before you arrive, as many restaurants will be operating with abbreviated hours.

Did we miss a restaurant? Let us know in the comments so we can add it to the list!


Zinnia, the restaurant and beer/wine garden that took over the Mrs. K’s location in Silver Spring, has announced that it will be closed until Wednesday, December 29th, after an employee tested positive for Covid-19.

Per Zinni’a Instagram:


One of the most asked questions in recent weeks has been outdoor seating at MoCo restaurants. We have started to compile a list to provide our readers with as many options as possible.

Please comment below with any restaurants that currently have outdoor seating that are not yet on our list:


Below you’ll find a list of restaurants that plan to open in Montgomery County in 2022. Please let us know of any restaurants we may have missed.

&pizza was founded by Michael Lastoria and Steve Salis (Ted’s Bulletin, Federalist Pig, and Ensemble) in 2012 with their first location on H Street in D.C. The growing chain now has over 36 locations across the east coast including MoCo locations in Bethesda, Gaithersburg (Crown), Germantown, Pike & Rose, Silver Spring and a second Gaithersburg location coming soon.


It has been over two years since we let you know that True Food Kitchen would be taking the place of Joe’s Crab Shack in Rio.

True Food Kitchen has a 10:30am hearing on January 6th, 2022 with Alcohol Beverage Services, to obtain a license to sell alcohol at the new location (221 Rio Boulevard, Suite 0221, Gaithersburg, MD 20878).


Back in November of 2020, we let you know that Jongro BBQ, a popular New York Korean BBQ restaurant, is opening up shop at Wheaton Mall. The latest update we have received from Westfield Wheaton (this past October) is that the restaurant is expected to open in January, 2022.

On January 6th at 10am, the restaurant will have an ABS hearing for the alcohol license application on behalf of Jongro BBQ Corporation for a Class B, Beer, Wine, and Liquor License, On Sale Only, for the premises known as JongRo BBQ.


Update: Finnegan’s Wake has reopened. “We are back and HEALTHY! Thank you for your patience while we tested our staff to ensure everyones safety. We will be open today(Wednesday) for our normal hours.”

Finnegan’s Wake has announced a temporary closure via its social media, for the safety of staff and patrons


Nando’s Peri Peri has let us know that the last day of business for its Bethesda location (4839 Bethesda Ave) will be this Saturday, December 18th. Federal Realty recently announced that Madewell will be moving in to the location in 2022.

Nando’s is a South African fast-casual chain that specializes in flame-grilled peri-peri style chicken. The restaurant was founded in Johannesburg in 1987, and now operates over 1,200 outlets in 30 countries.


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