Falls Church on Tap

By Mark Byrne

Location: Hoang’s Grill & Sushi Bar, 502 W. Broad St, #5, Falls Church, VA 22046
    703-536-7777

Unique Taps: Kirin Ichiban, RedHook Long Hammer IPA

Upon stepping into the urban lounge-like atmosphere of Hoang’s Grill & Sushi Bar, one easily forgets that the City of Falls Church lies just outside. The restaurant has the all the look and feel of a hip downtown DC bistro. As Hoang’s opened at about the same time that I moved into Falls Church, I have always had a special affinity for what has become a favorite local haunt. Hoang’s is a very friendly, family-owned restaurant with both a dining and bar area to accommodate groups of any size.

The bar area doesn’t leave room for a many taps, so Hoang’s must choose wisely. The three taps cover three different styles for maximum variety, while staying within the light and refreshing arena so as to not overpower the sushi and seafood entrees that serve as Hoang’s specialty. Kirin Ichiban, a Japanese style rice beer, is the lightest offering and a favorite with the sushi crowd. Fairly uncommon on tap, this beer is one of the models for the U.S. “dry” beer fad from several years back. Kirin is very clean with a slight aftertaste and a hint of rice. Tap two, Widmer Hefeweizen, the first American-style wheat beer, helped introduce U.S. drinkers to this classic light yet flavorful German style. Imagine a beer light in body that actually had taste circa 1984! Now wheat beers stand alongside tasteless lagers in even the least microbrew friendly bars. Hoang’s serve the cloudy, clove induced hefeweizen without lemon as standard, but will happily accommodate if desired. The third tap, RedHook Long Hammer IPA, dishes out light hop flavor and aroma as a “session” beer, suitable for drinking over the course of a meal or sporting event, but with enough bite to keep you from falling asleep in your beer (i.e., most pale ales).

By covering three different styles with the three taps, Hoang’s reaches maximum coverage, allowing guests to bounce between differing types for enhanced variety. As an Asian fusion restaurant featuring Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese and Japanese themed dishes, Hoang’s features bottled beers to match: Vietnam (33), Thailand (Singha), China (Tsing Tao), and Sapporo (Japan). Old reliables like Guinness and Bass are also available. So the next time you seek urban chic in a little city, give Hoang’s a try.