Ramadan begins on Tuesday evening, February 17, and concludes on March 18. Whether you’re breaking your fast with family or searching for a meal out, Northern Virginia offers a diverse array of restaurants serving delicious iftar options.
Joon
Joon will offer a $45 per person Iftar menu available through March 19. Items include stuffed Medjoul dates with walnuts and brown butter and hot pistachio soup with leek, ginger, saffron, and sour orange. Choose between roasted harissa chicken quarter with toum or lamb shoulder pavé, served with labneh harra, grilled carrots with harissa and lemon, dango, torshi liteh, and Joon lavash. 8045 Leesburg Pk., Ste. 120, Vienna
Naja Mediterranean
NAJA invites guests to break their fast with special Iftar pre-set menus, available nightly after 5:30 p.m. from February 18 through March 20. The restaurant is offering two menu options priced at $35 per person and $55 per person. Both menus begin with dates and Shorbat Adas, a traditional Middle Eastern lentil soup traditionally served when breaking the fast. 2911 District Ave. Unit 140, Fairfax
Courtesy Naja Mediterranean
Marib Restaurant
Marib offers Yemeni cuisine and Mediterranean favorites like slow-roasted lamb haneeth, fragrant mandi rice, and traditional saltah stew. 6981 Hechinger Dr., Springfield; 27 S. Gateway Dr., Fredericksburg
Sheesh Grill
Gather with family and friends as you sample Middle Eastern delicacies in Sheesh Grill’s iftar buffet, priced at $23 for adults and $17 for kids. Offerings include soups, salad, rice, kabobs, kofta, chicken korma, chickpeas and rice milk pudding. 13940 Route 50, Chantilly; 8190 Strawberry Ln. Ste 4, Falls Church
Ravi Kabob House
For a no-frills meal that hits the spot for iftar, visit this hole-in-the-wall Pakistani eatery. Sample daily soups and fresh pakora, along with other traditional offerings. 305 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington
Fava Pot
Fava Pot offers two tasty options to choose from for $45 per guest. Consider cuisine like baba ghanoush, lamb fattah, hawawshi, or chicken kofta at this Egyptian eatery, with two locations.7393 Route 29, Falls Church;1817 M St. NW, Washington, DC
Fava Pot (Photo by Rey Lopez)
Ottoman Taverna
for $49.95, dining on specialties like red lentil soup, hummus, falafel, and a variety of kebabs, koftas, and moussakas. Tempting desserts like baklava, tahini crème brûlée, or rice pudding round out the menu. 906 4th St. N.W., Washington, DC
ilili
Break your fast at Ilili with a special iftar menu for $75 per diner. Ilili offers delightful options, like stuffed dates with almond and pistachio nougat, Levantine lentil soup, mezza, and shared plates including lamb shank, roasted spring chicken, and eggplant stuffed squash. For a sweet ending, indulge in mixed baklava and mouhalabiyyeh, a Lebanese panna cotta. 100 District Sq. SW, Washington, DC
Feature image courtesy Joon
Dining and Cooking