The best restaurants in Silver Spring, MD.

The Big Greek Cafe at 8213 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland, is where diners go for a gyro. The pita sandwich with seasoned meat and creamy house-made tzatziki gets the strongest praise, and several say they do not usually like gyros but make an exception here.

Greek salad, chicken platters, falafel, salmon, spanakopita, stuffed grape leaves, and Greek fries with feta fill out the orders, with baklava cheesecake for dessert. Diners describe fresh food and a room that stays impeccably clean. Office groups order catering and delivery, and drivers help carry the food inside.

Practical notes: one diner had an item left out of a large office order, though the staff made it right after a call. Platters and sandwiches suit lunch, and delivery runs reliably for groups. The room stays busy at midday, so ordering ahead saves time.

Regina's Restaurant at 11423 Georgia Avenue is a Mediterranean room in the Wheaton area of Silver Spring, Maryland, serving Greek and Italian dishes with a few French ones. Diners describe a neighborhood spot where regulars are greeted warmly and newcomers are welcomed too, with attentive servers.

The falafel gets the loudest praise: crispy outside, fluffy inside, and spicier than most. Short rib ravioli, lasagna, lemon soup, French onion soup, spanakopita folded like a calzone, gyros, salmon, and lamb shank also appear in diner accounts. Tiramisu is called soft, with a good balance of coffee and chocolate, and a pina colada earned praise.

Practical notes: stained glass over the bar and ceiling gives the room its look. Many diners order desserts and entrees to go. The menu is wide, so asking the server for favorites helps when choosing between Greek and Italian sides.

La Casita Pupuseria & Market at 8214 Piney Branch Road in Silver Spring, Maryland, is a Salvadoran restaurant with a small market attached. Diners call the pupusas the best they have eaten and say the quality stays consistent from visit to visit.

Fillings named include revuelta, queso, chicharron, frijol, loroco, spinach, and soyrizo, with plant-based options for those who avoid meat. Curtido comes alongside. Tamal de elote, yuca with chicharron, fried plantains, a plantain and avocado bowl, and a beef soup with yuca and corn broaden the meal. Horchata, fruit drinks, and smoothies are popular. Breakfast plates draw families on weekends.

Practical notes: the room is family friendly with plenty of seating, and soccer plays on television at weekend breakfast. Pupusas come in packs of three that suit one hungry person. The market sells groceries on site, so diners can pick up items on the way out.

Kusshi at 8512 Fenton Street in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, offers sushi, ramen, and small plates in a room diners describe as classy yet comfortable. It sits around the corner from the Regal Majestic theater, which makes it a handy stop on a movie night.

The nigiri is fresh, with a mackerel nigiri surprising one diner. Rolls such as the Cherry Blossom and Pinstripe, shrimp shumai, spicy rock shrimp, chicken yakitori, and beef curry over rice show the range. A chirashi bowl and nigiri sampler are called good value. The tonkotsu ramen is called the best bowl in Silver Spring by one diner, and a miso bowl carries three slices of pork belly.

Practical notes: happy hour menus are popular, and lunch draws regulars. A few diners noted that rice seasoning on nigiri could be stronger and that tables were not always cleared before seating. Servers are friendly and happy to explain the menu.

Nazrawi Ethiopian Restaurant at 952 Sligo Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland, serves Ethiopian food on injera, with platters sized for sharing. Diners call the room warm and homey, say it beats a nearby Ethiopian rival on freshness, and note that servers treat guests like family.

Special kitfo, Nazrawi tibs in beef and lamb, and the Banatu platter with ribs firfir, kitfo, collards, lentils, and cabbage are named most. Asa goulash, a fried fish stew, is a favorite. The veggie platter, veggie sambusas, and crispy tofu suit vegetarian and vegan diners, and diners praise well-seasoned food and portions that leave leftovers. A sampler platter can feed two to four people.

Practical notes: groups can call ahead for large birthdays, and one party found the table decorated. The room has window seating for people watching. Order a platter to share so the table can sample meat and vegetable dishes together.

Parkway Deli & Restaurant at 8317 Grubb Road in Silver Spring, Maryland, houses a deli counter, a bakery, and a sit-down dining area. Diners say stepping inside feels like an old-school New York deli, with large portions and quick, friendly service.

The pastrami Reuben is the sandwich named most, and some diners call it the best around. Matzoh ball soup, including a vegetarian version, is a close second, and corned beef, turkey, burgers, chicken cheesesteak, smoked fish platters, and Belgian waffles also appear. Breakfast is strong, with omelets earning praise. Dine-in guests use the pickle and sauerkraut bar, and wine and beer are poured.

Practical notes: the line loops through the store and can confuse first-timers. A few diners called some dishes mild in flavor. Takeout calls have failed to register on occasion, so confirm the order by phone before heading out.

Firepan Korean BBQ at 962 Wayne Avenue in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, is an unlimited-meat Korean barbecue spot where diners praise the meat quality and the servers. Several name staff who kept the grill ready, the drinks filled, and the orders moving even on short-staffed nights.

The Firepan steak, thin-cut pork belly, spicy pork belly, bulgogi, and brisket lead the meats, and the Option B unlimited package earns praise for its variety. Banchan, spicy tofu stew, steamed egg, and a stone bowl dish round out the table, while Sapporo on draft and soju suit a group night out.

Practical notes: waits come up on busy evenings, though a Friday dinner at six had none. Parking can be tight, so use the garage across Wayne Avenue or look for street spots. Groups of friends and families both fill the room.

La Malinche at 8622 Colesville Road in Silver Spring, Maryland, serves Spanish tapas, and diners come for dinner, birthdays, and a bottomless brunch. The brunch option offers tapas and drinks from a set list, and diners say it lets a table sample widely.

Bacon wrapped dates are named most, alongside empanadas, patatas bravas, garlic gambas, albondigas, tortilla espanola, croquetas, jamon iberico, scallops, lamb shank, and paella. Sangria comes in red and rose, and churros are called a fitting ending. One regular lives nearby and visits monthly, picking four or five plates each time.

Practical notes: the dining room is compact, and one brunch guest seated near the kitchen still had room to eat. Walk-ins found tables quickly on a weeknight, though reservations help on weekends. Servers move in teams, so many people stop by the table.

All Set Restaurant & Bar at 8630 Fenton Street in Silver Spring, Maryland, is a seafood bar that diners describe as relaxed and well run. Oysters earn the strongest praise, called fresh and clean-tasting, and a local regular says the room is rarely more than half full, so walk-ins are easy.

Old Bay wings are named most often, followed by lobster rolls, crab cakes, fish and chips, chowder, mac and cheese, burgers, and a mushroom pizza. Happy hour is called a top pick in the area, and Sunday brunch has its own fans. Staff earned notes for handling a shellfish allergy for one party member.

Practical notes: a parking garage sits across the street at a reasonable price. A Sunday brunch reservation once ran twenty-five minutes late, so check in on arrival. Booths are limited, so ask for one when booking. Servers can be uneven on wine knowledge.

Mandalay Restaurant & Cafe at 930 Bonifant Street in Silver Spring, Maryland, serves Burmese food in a comfortable room that diners call unfussy. Portions are big, the menu is wide, and several say the cooking is closer to Burmese food than other versions they have tried in the United States.

Green tea leaf salad is named most, with ginger salad, papaya salad, samosas, and noodles close behind. Curries include pork belly onion curry, coconut curry, and the fish curry Ngar Hin. Vegetarian and vegan dishes are plentiful, including tofu entrees, and diners call the samosas good value. Some dishes look plain on the plate, but the taste is the draw.

Practical notes: heat ratings are not consistent. One regular warns that the scale runs hot, while another found a medium fish dish mild, so ask the server to confirm. Hours have changed over time, so check before going.

Samantha's Restaurant at 631 University Boulevard East in Silver Spring, Maryland, serves Latin dishes in a plain-looking building that fills with families. Diners say the staff goes out of its way for groups, including a table of ten adults and two children with a stroller.

Pupusas are called great, with cheese, beef, seafood, and pork and bean fillings named. Fajita plates are safe bets, and a couple who hunted for good fajitas across the area settled here. Ceviche, including the mixed seafood version, paella, Argentine steak, baked stuffed chicken, enchiladas, mussels, and nachos fill out the menu. Chips are thin and crispy.

Practical notes: the lot is tight and parking is limited, so some diners park in the neighborhood and walk. Allow time at dinner. A few diners found the room small and old, but the welcome and the food make up for it.

Charm Thai at 8408 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland, runs a busy takeout and delivery business alongside a quiet dining room. Diners say the lunch special is hard to beat and that prices stay reasonable for the portions.

Pad Thai is the dish named most, with drunken noodles, green curry tofu, panang curry, spicy eggplant, pineapple fried rice, kee mao fried rice, papaya salad, and Tom Kha soup also getting praise. The soup was described as tangy and sweet, filled with coconut milk, lemongrass, and mushrooms. Mango dishes and spring rolls appear too.

Practical notes: some diners found the pad thai sweet or wanted more heat, so ask for spice at ordering. Delivery runs smoothly for most, though transport can affect noodles. Dining in is calm, and lunch is the best-value meal of the day.