A University of Maryland fan-favorite, a nonprofit cafe and a burger joint regarded as the best in the area are among the top new dining spots joining the area’s already bountiful restaurant scene.
Whether you’re in the mood for casual takeout, TikTok viral orders or a fancy night out, these newly opened (within the last couple of months) restaurants in Montgomery County offer something for everyone.
Shiki Fusion
7101 Democracy Blvd. #3200, Bethesda

Directly across from the entrance to the AMC theater at Montgomery Mall, Shiki Fusion offers a classy Japanese-Thai fusion restaurant to offset the casual options at the food court below it. The pork gyoza, wagyu fried rice, crispy spicy (a rice square topped with a heaping dollop of tuna and spicy mayo) and matcha mochi are among the vast menu’s must-orders.
La Baguette Antojitos
275 N. Washington St. B, Rockville

A case of pastries greets customers at La Baguette Antojitos, a French and Latin cafe where you can pile pretty affordable pastelitos, croissants, palmiers and more on a tray before ordering at the counter. But the savory street food is the real star, from a slew of cheesy pupusas made with handmade corn tortillas and stuffed with jalapeño, beans or chicken, to tamales and tacos — especially the steak option.
Mandala Kitchen
199 E. Montgomery Ave., Suite E, Rockville

A whopping menu awaits customers at Mandala Kitchen, an Indian, Chinese and Nepalese spot a few doors down from Regal Rockville. Generous portions of crispy samosa chaat, earthy dal tadka and creamy saag paneer make for a tasty, filling takeout meal.
Emma’s Torch
1200 East-West Highway, Silver Spring

Great food is served up for a cause at Silver Spring’s new casual cafe, a nonprofit that staffs and provides paid culinary training for refugees, asylum seekers and human trafficking survivors. Order a coffee, matcha latte or house-made chai to go, or choose carefully crafted breakfast and lunch menu items to enjoy on site. Savory lovers will appreciate the bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, made with a whopping biscuit made in-house. For something sweet, go for the brown butter skillet pancake: crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside and slathered with a blueberry compote and a lemon-zested whipped cream.
Steeze Burger
12141 Darnestown Road, Gaithersburg

For years, Steeze Burger only stood as a fast food pop-up in the capital region, once named the No. 1 burger in the DMV by The Washington Post. The burger joint finally has its own brick-and-mortar location on the edge of Darnestown and Gaithersburg, where customers can choose one, two or three patties made from locally sourced beef, topped with a gooey amalgamation of cheese, onions, pickles and Steeze Sauce within a sesame seed bun.
Marathon Deli
10619 Connecticut Ave., Kensington

College Park’s longtime late-night Greek deli got a glow-up at its new Kensington location. A bar, soft lighting and a new dinner entree section on the menu invite customers to a nicer sit-down dining experience. But don’t worry — the old casual staples including gyros and Marathon fries (crispy french fries paired with a mayo-y sauce) remain great as ever.
Wild Bean Coffee
1532 Rockville Pike, Rockville

Wild Bean Coffee is brewing up Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee on Rockville Pike. The brown sugar cinnamon shaken espresso and caramel shaken espresso have gotten some attention on TikTok lately, and we can confirm they’re worth the hype. The pastry selection leaves a little to be desired, but the drinks are well worth a return visit.
Six Ways to Sunday
8003 Norfolk Ave., Bethesda

Bethesda’s new Asian fusion restaurant paints a dreamy backdrop perfect for date night or special occasions. It’s tough to order wrong from the menu of flavorful small plates, including chicken and shrimp chili wontons, Cantonese barbecue chicken and a five-spiced duck confit atop egg noodles.





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