Deciding where to eat: a struggle that continuously threatens to foil plans for a fun, food-filled night out. Suddenly, every category, flavor, and variety of food flies out of your head. When you know you want to go out to eat, but can’t think of what to eat, epic food halls do the hard work for you, presenting an array of eats from various ethnicities, inventive chefs, and blossoming brands. There, you can see, hear, and smell each culinary option as you wander—a lightbulb is sure to go off, igniting a forgotten or newfound craving.
At UPSIDE on Moore food hall in Arlington, CEO Nick Freshman explains that curating the right mix of vendors is “a little bit of art, and a little bit of science.” Menus must provide “craveability, stability, and compatibility.” Ghostburger, Stellina Pizza, and LAOBAN Dumplings are among the eight culinary brands at Upside striking that balance. With an event space, bar area, and vast, scattered seating, Freshman adds, “going to a great food hall is more of an event than going to a restaurant.” UpsideOnMoore.com
Owners of Filipino-Hawaiian comfort food concept Kam & 46, posed at their stall at UPSIDE on Moore.
Sicilian style pizza from Stellina Pizza, winners of 50 best pizza makers in the world. Photos courtesy of UPSIDE on Moore
Cities across the state are diving into the food hall scene. Check out these spots to spark your appetite. The only challenge? Trying it all—which just means going back for seconds.
ChefScape • Leesburg
ChefScapeKitchen.com
Dairy Market • Charlottesville
DairyMarketCville.com
Quarter Market at Ballston Quarter • Arlington
BallstonQuarter.com
Roanoke City Market Building • Roanoke
CityMarketBuilding.com
Spice Village • Herndon
SpiceVillageDMV.com
The Block Foodhall & Bar • Annandale
TheBlockFoodhall.com
The Dell Food & Brew Hall • Leesburg
AtTheDell.com
The Market • Norfolk
WatersideDistrict.com
Ukrop’s Market Hall • Richmond
UkropsHomestyleFoods.com
This article originally appeared in the February 2025 issue.
