Take a drive to the mall—the Asian mall, that is. Located in Falls Church, Virginia, just a short drive away from D.C., Eden Center is multiplex of Vietnamese restaurants and stores, brimming with delicious, authentic Vietnamese food. What used to be an average shopping mall began to morph into a Vietnamese community in 1984, and today, includes five different shopping areas and the Eden Center clock tower, an exact replica of a clock tower in downtown Saigon.

If you’re heading over for dinner, local favorites include Huong Viet, where the spring rolls (cha gio) and Vietnamese pancakes (bahn xeo) are popular; Sea Side Crab House, a Vietnamese take on Cajun seafood; Tay Do, where the bun dishes (meat, spring rolls or shrimp on top of vermicelli noodles) are highly praised; and Pho Xe Lua for the namesake pho. For lunch, pick up a bahn mi sandwich at Nhu Lan or at Song Que, which is also known for having the best bubble tea in Eden Center. And yes, the mall is open for breakfast as well—why not stop in Banh Cuon Saigon? There, the namesake dish, banh cuon, a type of Vietnamese crepe filled with pork and mushrooms or shrimp and a favorite breakfast item, reigns supreme.

The preceding post is part of the DCist Fall Guide, sponsored by Lexus.