Richmond's Cutthroat Food Scene: My 7 Forever Favorites

When friends say "there's nothing to eat in Richmond," I laugh through my fifth visit to these gems. Here are the spots worth circling back to - including wings that taste like guo bao rou! 1. Bonpot Hot Pot 🍲 Chinese collagen chicken broth perfection $45 duo deal: Flower mushroom broth + seafood/meat platter + sides Must-try: Torched crab sticks & surprisingly elite soft-serve ice cream Hack: Order extra broth to take home (it makes killer congee) 2. Pho 37 🍜 Viet comfort food that beats downtown Pho: Clear, less-sweet broth with delicate noodles (portion = face-sized bowl) "Crispy Guo Bao Rou Wings": Sweet/sour glazed with all the crunch 3. Qin Dynasty Northwest Cuisine 🥙 Former food court legend gone brick-and-mortar MVP: Lean meat roujiamo (finally!) + hand-pulled potato noodles Secret: Their beef meatballs are chewier than boba - freezer packs available 4. One Café 🍛 Hong Kong-style cafeteria royalty Combo kings: Curry/onion chicken chop rice (crispy + saucy) Pro move: Split the giant fried chicken leg spaghetti (it's a two-person dish) 5. Fat Cat Sushi 🐟 Office park sushi oasis Bento star: Octopus balls + chicken udon box (only $15!) Vibe: Like eating in your coolest coworker's lunch break spot 6. Syu Japanese 🍣 Omakase-lite for meetings Chef's seasonal: Changing lunch sets (think: miso-marinated black cod) Why execs love: Quiet booths + actually fresh sashimi 7. Dong Shu Sichuan 🌶️ Even non-Sichuan fans will crave Binge-watch snacks: Numbing fried ribs + Northeast-style chicken skeletons Genius: Their ma la seasoning makes kale chips exciting 📍 The Loyalty List Bonpot: 4500 No.3 Rd Pho 37: 8300 Capstan Way ... (full addresses in bio) #RichmondEats #UndercoverFoodie