Sprig and Sprout

I randomly stumbled upon this restaurant a few years ago while on my way home from the grocery store and decided to take a quick pho detour, but Sprig & Sprout has been a staple in my dinner rotation ever since. They have an amazing selection of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options (as well as plenty of meat options for anyone accompanying us plant-based folks). The Roots, which is their vegan pho, is one of the best bowls of plant-based pho that I've ever had -- the burdock root-based broth is super flavorful, yet light and refreshing, and it's paired with a great selection of fresh veggies and fried tofu. The broth is the slightest bit sweet, which was a little unexpected, but that definitely doesn't stop it from being absolutely delicious! They also really load up the vegetable toppings, including the usual broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, and daikon, but also a few fun additions like tremella mushroom, which adds a wonderful pop of texture to the bowl. I would argue that the tofu is the weakest part of the entire dish -- it's a pretty standard fried tofu, with just a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Although the tofu does a great job of soaking up the burdock broth, the broth honestly doesn't have a bold enough flavor profile to really make a difference. The tofu is also usually added on cold, and by the time the broth warms it up, the noodles will have already gotten overcooked and soggy. If I'm not in the mood for pho, I usually turn to their lotus goi salad. Young lotus root has been one of my favorite ingredients for YEARS and I genuinely thought that I would never get to enjoy it in the DMV unless I carted myself all the way to the Eden Center. But, to my surprise, the answer to all of my lotus root woes was a mere mile away from my front door. If you've never tried a young lotus root salad before, I cannot recommend it enough -- the lotus root is beautifully snappy and refreshing, and pairs beautifully with the daikon, carrot, cucumber, and other veggies. The dressing is also phenomenal, but I would recommend (1) requesting it on the side, and (2) only putting on 1/4 to 1/2 of what they give you because they're a little heavy-handed with the sugar. You can also top the salad with whatever protein you want to make it a more complete meal.

Amazing food! Fresh and fulfilling to the soul. Awesome gluten-free options!