Several Montgomery County restaurants are closing out the year with major recognition after dishes from four local spots were named to Washingtonian Magazine’s year-end list of “Favorite Dishes of the Year in the DC Area.”
Restaurants
Viral cheesesteak spot 5th & Steaks is expanding in Maryland, with the popular Philly-inspired concept set to open its second location in Glen Burnie (Anne Arundel County), expanding its service area beyond the wildy popular first location in Catonsville (Baltimore County).
Laperaux, The Journeyman’s Bistro, has closed permanently in Germantown, ending nearly three years in business.
Buffalo Wild Wings GO is expanding its footprint in Montgomery County with the opening of a new Burtonsville location, marking the brand’s third delivery/carryout-focused concept in the county.
|
Slutty Vegan is officially coming to Washington DC. Founder and restaurateur Pinky Cole announced on social media that a franchise agreement has been signed for a Slutty Vegan location in the District. The restaurant opened its first Maryland location in Baltimore in December 2024.
Chip City has permanently closed its Bethesda location, marking the end of the New York- based cookie chain’s only Maryland outpost.
Lucky Strike is closing its location at Westfield Montgomery Mall, with its final day of operation set for Sunday, January 4, according to a representative who confirmed the upcoming closure to The MoCoShow on Friday evening.
As 2025 comes to a close, our very own “Mr. MoCo” Alex Tsironis is looking back on a year full of memorable meals across Montgomery County (photos available below). After countless restaurant visits, pop-ups, and takeout orders, narrowing the list down was no easy task. While there were dozens of dishes worth mentioning, these ten stood out as the ones that immediately came to mind when reflecting on the year.
One of the biggest transitions for a small business is scaling up from a food truck into a brick and mortar location without sacrificing the quality. Yai & Toya’s Cuisine in Park Heights, MD (Baltimore) has done that and kept their strong soul food flavors intact. Mr. 8 That recently visited their brick and mortar location on one of their open days.
Luna Hall is no longer moving forward with plans to open a food hall at the Pike Center in Rockville.
Sally’s Apizza, the legendary New Haven pizzeria frequently named Dave Portnoy’s favorite pizza place of all time, is setting its sights on a major expansion that includes plans for 15 locations in Maryland and another 15 in neighboring Virginia.