Living in DC is wonderful. We have access to the nation’s best museums, political activities, and Pakistani food. Whaa? Yes, Pakistani food. A 40 minute drive from the capital, in Sterling, Virginia you can find TooSso. Yes, you read that right, TooSso. “Stuff yourself.” TooSso means stuff yourself in Punjabi – it can be a funny language.

This appropriately named restaurant will force you to stuff yourself. That’s a fact.

The small restaurant was started by former photographer Amna Siddiqui and her husband and in-laws three years ago. The restaurant is very popular and on the many times that I have been with small and large groups I can barely find a seat. And the food is so good that I am happy to wait.

The restaurant has a creative Pakistani concept that reminds me of all my childhood visits. With the thousands of bottle caps that create the main display wall, you are instantly transported to a Pakistani highway restaurant – where the food is best – and reminded of crates and crates of glass soda bottles. The display wall took five weeks to put together, but the instant nostalgic power of it makes it worth it.

Another small touch is using milk containers that you see on the backs of bicycles throughout Pakistan as stools. Genius and creative!

These chai containers are exactly how you would be served chai in Pakistan.

Naan baskets. A colorful, whimsical touch.

Basanti flags line one wall of the restaurant for a playful, childhood reminder.

The food is simple and deliciously Pakistani. You will always see Atiya, Amna’s sister-in-law, behind the counter making sure your order is as perfect and delicious as it would be if you were visiting her home. Those kinds of touches set TooSso apart. It is traditional Pakistani home cooked food in an instant.

Let’s take a look at some of their famous dishes.

TooSso’s chicken tikka is legendary. It is made in a tandoor oven (that wasn’t on at lunchtime when I went to take pictures – womp). The conical oven is clay lined and heats to 900 degrees Fahrenheit and circulates hot air around so the food is perfectly barbecued. Meats and tandoori naan come out perfectly. Naan is slapped against the walls and puffs up. I wish I could’ve taken a picture of it.

This chicken tikka is a chicken breast that is perfectly marinaded and is always juicy. It is also wonderfully charred in some spots and is served with a nice chutney and naan – or roti since the oven wasn’t on. Amazing.

TooSso’s nihari is my favorite. I love nihari so it’s no surprise that on the weekends when this specialty is made that’s what I order. Every. Single. Time. Nihari is beef shank that have been slowly stewed in spices. The beef shank bones slowly stews and extracts flavor into the sauce. It is served with toppings of your choice: cilantro, lemon wedges, ginger, and green chiles.

My cousin dove right in during the pictures. I don’t blame her.

For dessert, TooSso is famous for their faluda. How do I describe faluda? Faluda is like a milkshake that is not blended. It is layers of ice cream, rose syrup, jello, tapioca pearls, vermicelli, and kulfi. It is absolutely delicious. There’s no surprise that people come to TooSso just for their faluda.

A little extra rose syrup never hurt anyone.

My cousin and her husband were visiting DC and we took them to TooSso twice. My cousin’s husband is the biggest runner I know and doesn’t eat dessert but he ate two whole faludas. This is to document his achievement.

I love pistachio so I am partial to their pista (pistachio) kulfi. Their regular kulfi is good too…but pistachio anything, it will be mine. Mmm…

Amna and her family took a chance opening this restaurant and it was a risk that has definitely been worth the reward. Their success has given them the chance to open a second location, and while that is in the works, the logistics of that might be difficult since there is only one Atiya. If they do open one I hope it’s close to me!

If you’re in Virginia please visit TooSso at:

20921 Davenport Drive

Potomac Falls, VA 20165

(703) 433-1233

Let them know you heard of them from Rehana Du Jour!

Xo,

Rehana