FAIRFAX CITY, VA — A Fairfax City Chinese restaurant known for its family-style dishes and scallion bubble pancakes earned its second major dining honor in less than a week, landing on The Washington Post's list of 40 best restaurants in the Washington, D.C., area.
Mama Chang, located at 3251 Blenheim Blvd., ranked No. 27 on the newspaper's annual list, published Wednesday. The recognition comes just six days after the restaurant appeared on Eater DC's fall 2026 list of the region's 38 essential restaurants.
Washington Post food critic Elazar Sontag praised the cooking at Mama Chang, calling it his favorite among acclaimed chef Peter Chang's restaurants.
Among the dishes Sontag highlighted were lion's head meatballs served in a lightly spiced brown gravy and a seafood stew with crispy rice, scallops and rice dumplings.
Sontag also recommended visiting with a group rather than dining as a couple, noting the restaurant's extensive menu and generous selection of dishes intended for sharing.
The newspaper listed main dishes ranging from $18 to $80, with the higher price representing a whole Peking duck.
The latest recognition follows Mama Chang's inclusion on Eater DC's "38 Best Restaurants Around D.C." list, released Thursday.
As Patch previously reported, Eater highlighted the restaurant's combination of Sichuan and Hunan cooking techniques, vegetable-focused dishes and family-style meals.
The publication singled out Mama Chang's scallion bubble pancakes as a must-try dish. Other specialties include dry-fried cauliflower, spicy flounder and hot-and-numbing beef served in a stone pot.
Mama Chang opened in 2019 and is part of Peter Chang's growing collection of Chinese restaurants throughout Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
Unlike some of his other restaurants, Mama Chang focuses on home-style Chinese cooking inspired by the women in Chang's family, particularly his wife, Lisa, and daughter, Lydia.
The menu also draws on the family's cooking traditions and Chang's childhood in China's Hubei province.
The Washington Post's 2026 ranking includes 40 restaurants across Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, representing a range of cuisines, dining experiences and prices.
Sontag, who joined the newspaper as its food critic after serving as restaurant editor at Bon Appétit, compiled the list after visiting 189 restaurants over 10 months.
His research included meals ranging from a $9.99 plate of bread and chickpeas at Chaatwala in Herndon, which ranked No. 36, to an expensive tasting menu at Jônt in Washington, which ranked No. 14.
The critic said the selections reflect the region's diverse dining scene, including its international cuisines, neighborhood restaurants and fine-dining establishments.
According to The Washington Post, restaurant visits were conducted anonymously, and the newspaper paid for the meals.
Mama Chang is open daily for lunch and dinner at 3251 Blenheim Blvd., Suite 101, in Fairfax City.
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