Heard so much about this place from every single Asian in the DMV. I am sorry to say but I was extremely underwhelmed by their Banh Mi sandwich. The meat had no flavor or personality. The culmination of flavors were rather dry and I’d prefer to not drench it in their side sauce. Boring and average little egg rolls. I rather get a crispy egg roll from Eden center for half the price. Food overall was very overpriced and lackluster. Trendy establishment but nothing else impressive to keep me coming back. Another thing I noticed is that 50% of their reviews are from friends of the owner. College students, family members, and even servers that work there rating 5 stars! You should let the food do the talking and not cheat your way to the top.
Angela K.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Ashburn, VA
Stopped by for lunch with a co-worker today & I can definitely say that we thoroughly enjoyed our experience. Before I did take out, but today we had the time to sit and eat. The food was ready within not even a full 10 minutes(soo fast!). Today I tried the Eggs-Rated Banh Mi(with Pork Belly) and the Side Phở(beef). Twitney(the owner) actually read my previous review and was kind enough to give me some of the improved Papaya Salad! Banh Mi: AWESOME! The bread was crunchy but not hard and held the sandwich together really well. The pickled medley and other toppings were fresh and added great flavor and crunch to the savory, soft pork belly. & I always love a fried egg on top of anything. It was DELICIOUS! Phở: The side portion of Phở was actually enough for me as a meal in itself. You can definitely tell it’s authentic and no additives were included in the broth. It was clean, and flavorful. I absolutely loved it. Papaya Salad: Last time I left comments about the lack of seasoning/flavor in the dressing, but I can say that they definitely upgraded it since the last time I tried it. There’s more of a flavor presence and accompanies the crunchy papaya and soft, grilled shrimp VERY well. It makes me want a giant bowl of it! it’s so fresh and yummy… I already loved their concept, and flavors before, but I am completely 10000% sold on this place now. I got to talk to Twitney, and what you see and taste is definitely the result of a lot of hard work and thought. I definitely appreciate the fact that they take the reviews we leave to heart and actually care enough to better the experience for the customers. AN D you definitely get your money’s worth. I was only able to eat half of my banh mi after finishing my side phở. If you have leftover food, the tops for the containers(as well as sauces) are available for you to grab and go. Oh and my co-worker… he is absolutely obsessed! He tried the side phở as well, and the Magnum Rolls. He could NOT stop raving about how good the food was! Again, the side portion of Phở is perfect. He was full off of the phở and one(of 3) magnum roll. The sheer size of those rolls are impressive, and is definitely enough as a meal. HIGHLY recommended. TENSTARS~!!!
Jessica B.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Arlington, VA
Fresh and fast! Awesome menu. I got the banh mi with lemongrass beef that was delicious. I also got the«young coconut» drink which is an actual coconut, awesome! My boyfriend got the phở and mini egg vegetable egg rolls. Both were very good. He also got the Vietnamese coffee which was absolutely amazing. Really looking forward to coming back and trying everything else on the menu.
Sesank H.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Great Falls, VA
I stopped by here on my way back into town. It is located right off of Rt. 7(Leesburg Pike). I walked in and was surprised and excited to learn that it is automated ordering and really easy to order. I decided to go with the Banh Mi with chicken and steak. I also got an order of the egg rolls. The total came to about 17 $ but i got plenty of food and had leftover egg rolls. The Banh Mi was the freshest best i have every had. The cilantro in the sandwich was a nice touch. The jalapenos were not spicy for some reason though. VERY surprised that a techy place like this was good at making the food. Seemed very authentic, i really liked the chicken. I think they marinate it or something, it is very tasty. The egg rolls were OK, but in my opinion too oily. I did not enjoy them as much and will not order them again. I think they have to be strained of oil for a minute before serving. The service was well as good as it could be i guess, this is a joint where you order your food and get it at the counter. You can choose to dine-in but they do not have servers. The place had about 6 people in it at about 3pm on a monday afternoon. I think lots of people in tysons will be getting takeout lunch here. I have to mention, they way they packed the Banh Mi to go was VERY impressive. They clearly took the time to wrap it up nicely and make sure it was not messy at all. Usually when i get a sandwich to go, topping fall out and it is hastily wrapped. My Take: I will definetly return for their Banh Mi, and as the location is literally right off Leesburg Pike i think i will frequent this place in the future.
Christiane V.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Vienna, VA
this was my second visit to roll play grill. i live right up the street so it’s super convenient. i have tried almost everything on the menu. my favorites are the shrimp rolls(with spicy peanut sauce) and banh mi. the ordering system is all electronic(think sheetz MTO but with vietnamese food). the price is average for the tysons area but a tad bit higher for vietnamese food in general. besides the food, what stands out to me the most is their level of service. usually with fast casual dining you would expect that to be at the minimum but they go above and beyond. on my first visit i was given other sauces to try with my rolls(had i not been given the spicy peanut sauce i probably would have never ordered it). this past time the computers were down and needed a reboot. the gentleman in the front stayed so calm as the large crowd started to roll in. i think how he reacted really set the tone for how the customers reacted(bc we all know they could have easily thrown a fit or two!). parking is a little bit of a pain but worth it. consistency is key and i would have to say both of my visits were great :) my only suggestion is to probably make a sign directing people to go in to the left and walk up to order. the area in front of the fountain sodas got a little busy as people were entering/leaving/filling up their drinks at the same time.
Evan B.
Rating des Ortes: 5 McLean, VA
I’ve only been here a few times, but each experience has been great. The atmosphere and food here is so unique. The staff here really seems to care about the guests overall experience. One employee was especially helpful assisting me with ordering during my first visit(everything is ordered via touchscreen — it’s really cool and convenient in my opinion). She even recommended a vinaigrette sauce for my bowl, and went ahead and added some to my bag. Everything was really great, especially the shrimp roll. I’d recommend opting for the extra protein, its well worth the extra charge.
Brian O.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Falls Church, VA
This place is amazing. Have been here four times in the last month since my family and I discovered them. Food is outstanding, the ordering process seamless and the staff is ultra friendly and helpful. We have gotten the rolls, the crispy rolls, the bahn mi and the bowls. All are great, no complaints. The rolls are my personal favorite. One of my new favorites in the area!
Ian M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Arlington, VA
Back for the second time this week, which should tell you something. Last time I got the bowl, this time I went for the banh mi(highly recommended from Gretchen F’s review). You could get me to do a lot of things for caramelized pork belly, including terrible unspeakable things. Lucky for me, roll play offers a caramelized banh mi sandwich, which they let you customize via a touchscreen(picture sheetz but with higher quality items). I added sricha mayo, jalepenos, pickled veggies, mint and some random veggies. It was spicy, sweet and the pork belly was great. I dont think I could ever get tired of this sandwich. Astrid got the salad with lemongrass beef, mango and a bunch of vegetables. Feems got the phở, and magnum rolls. Both said that they’ll be back. We went at 12 and it was hard to find a table, in the future we’ll probably go earlier or later. They also give parking tokens which allow you to park in the garage for free.
Stella C.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Centreville, VA
Been here twice and definitely plan to come back! There’s so much to love about this place… Fresh ingredients, very tasty, friendly customer service, cool ordering system(user friendly touch screen self ordering system with mouth watering photos!), hip atmosphere(beautiful wall mural and simplistic yet creative & appealing décor). I’ve tried their magnum rolls, phở, papaya salad, young coconut, limeade, everything was yummy! Next time I have to try their banh mi sandwich with the fried egg which looked so good in the picture. I went back to try the Eggs-rated banh mi, and it exceeded my expectations! Even though it’s not a traditional banh mi sandwich, it was soooo good it really hit the spot. The fried eggs in the sandwich are a nice touch; I’m a fan of fried eggs. The soft melt in your mouth grilled pork belly was so tasty. I also love the crunchy pickled carrots and crispy fried shallots. The whole stuffed to the max sandwich was just the right combination of soft and crunchy textures that were all so tasty!
Leanna C.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Arlington, VA
I only took takeout so I wasn’t about to get the full experience here but this place was very cozy as soon as I walked in. There’s a touch screen where you can do your full ordering which made it very easy to get what you want! I ordered the bahnmi sandwich, side phở, spring rolls and side of papaya salad. Definitely recommend the first 3, it was super delicious but the papaya salad was pretty bland and can skip. I got all those for about $ 35. A little more pricey than what you would pay at regular Vietnamese restaurants but they stuff the living heck outta these rolls and you’ll get your fill! I can’t wait to go back and try to the noodle bowls and egg rolls on the menu. Which means, yes I will be going back! Can’t wait!
Rachel Z.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Fairfax, VA
Finally tried this place and it’s definitely somewhere I’ll be eating at often. The ordering system they have is really modern. You go up and use their touch screen system to customize your order, pay and pick up your order number. When your order is ready, you can go up to the counter to pick it up. So easy! I’ve tried the Fully Loaded Bowl with beef, the Magnum Rolls with pork, and the Phở here. The bowls are great if you’re feeling healthy because it comes with loads of veggies. The rolls here are HUGE. At first I was a little hesitant to get them because for 3 rolls, I thought it was quite expensive. Turns out, it’s because those rolls might as well be 3 hot dogs because they aren’t kidding when they say magnum. The phở here is good but not out of this world. If you’re looking for phở, I’d go elsewhere but if you really need your phở fix, this place offers it as a side portion as well. Also, the iced coffee here is the bomb. I always think viet iced coffee is either too creamy or too sweet but it’s perfect here. A little pricey at worth it to me. A lot of people also get their fresh young coconut served right out of the coconut. Haven’t tried that yet but it looks super cute.
Ian M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Arlington, VA
Great addition to the tysons lunch scene. I got the bowl fully loaded except for jalapenos, with chicken, vermicelli and the Vietnamese vinaigrette. I love dishes like this where every bite is a little different. My favorite bites had both mint and mango together(awesome combination who knew). 5 spice chicken was great, and the Vietnamese vinaigrette with vermicelli combination is always on point. The drawbacks include parking(limited free parking, there’s also a 3 $ garage), and there is an upcharge for certain ingredients that isn’t well advertised(mango, shallots, peppers, peanuts, totally worth the extra 50 cents). The ordering process takes place on a touch screen tablet, with friendly staff members available to help. From the touch screen, you get to choose all the ingredients in your bowl, it’s a 3 min process if you’re good at making choices. I went at 11:30, and my order came out really quickly. I’m looking forward to coming back and trying the phở, as well as the banh mi.
Taylor E.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Falls Church, VA
I finally checked out Roll Play with some Unilocal friends and I wasn’t disappointed. I was very impressed by the décor and the obvious effort put into building a cohesive brand. I love the touch-screen ordering system. While there were no cashiers, there were still a ton of employees behind the scenes rushing to get orders done quickly. Our group shared an order of the mini egg rolls. They were really delicious, especially with the peanut sauce. My husband and I shared their signature bahn mi with added avocado slices as well as one of their three piece rolls. While the roll was good, the bahn mi really won the contest for tastiest meal. My only complaint about the bahn mi was that my egg was over hard – It would have been so tasty with a runnier egg. I definitely want to come back here to try some more things off the menu – or maybe just the bahn mi with different meat options :)
Gretchen F.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Falls Church, VA
Best. Banh mi. EVER. I’d been meaning to hit up Roll Play Grill ever since it opened its Tysons-area doors, but just hadn’t gotten a chance to try it out. until this past Friday night, that is! And oh Lordy, am I glad I finally went. Brought to you by the geniuses behind Chasin’ Tails, Roll Play Grill offers a fresh, modern take on Vietnamese cuisine. It’s a fast-casual joint with modern industrial décor and some hip technological touches like touch-screen ordering. They offer rice paper rolls, bahn mi sandwiches, noodle bowls, and phở, as well as a small offering of side items(spring rolls and papaya salad.) They also have a whole ton of beverage selections like vietnamese coffee and fresh young coconuts(and if you bring your coconut back to the counter after you’re finished drinking, they’ll carve the coconut flesh out for you!) I came with a pretty big group of people, so I got to taste pretty much the entire assortment of offerings(except for the phở). The rolls are HUGE and come 3 to an order, so you know you’re going to get your money’s worth, and the bahn mi is also very generously sized. I got the pork belly banh mi and it was probably the best sandwich I’ve ever had — no joke. The bread is more sub-like than baguette-like, which made it slightly less crispy on top but easier to eat. The banh mi was stuffed to the gills with deliciousness, including the pork belly(melted in my mouth!), slaw, jalapeño slices, cilantro, and two fried eggs. I would’ve preferred the yolks on the eggs to be runny(they were cooked totally through), but the sandwich was still so damn delicious, I didn’t even care. You can choose between getting Vietnamese mayo(it’s a little bit sweeter than traditional mayo) or sriracha mayo on your sammy, and you can also customize it by adding/taking away toppings, including premium ingredients like avocado. Seriously, man, that banh mi changed my life. I immediately wanted another one, and my brother agreed that it was supercalifragilisticespialidociously delicious. To quote him, «The rolls were tasty, but there’s no way I’ll order them again when I can order that banh mi.» I highly recommend getting the pork belly specifically, as it really was phenomenal and just complimented all of the flavors in the banh mi perfectly. Roll Play, you can bet your sweet bippy that I’ll be back! And soon!
Eddie S.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Reston, VA
Had lunch here today. Wow! The food was the BEST Vietnamese I’ve ever had. Taste and texture with a twist with unique and creative added ingredients. I have a Vietnamese sister in law and I thought she made the best food. Not any more. The crown goes to Roll Play. It’s so good Im bring my nieces home from college tomorrow. I have got a new favorite restaurant!
Annette Y.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Centreville, VA
I’ve been wanting to see what the hype was about and now I know! Even more than the food, I was very impressed with the friendly staff. I was wondering if they were still offering free Vietnamese coffee with Unilocal check in and one of the staff said not anymore but that she will gladly still give it to me just for mentioning it. Not only that but I was also offered a free limeade to try. They knew it was my first time there and it was definitely a nice gesture to give me an opportunity to try a variety from their menu :) Their ordering system was quick and easy, allowing you to choose your meat, sauce, and any sides with it, all from your fingertips on a screen. AND if they don’t serve your food within 10 minutes, they guarantee free food. The only reason Roll Play isn’t getting 5 stars is the price but overall, I’m very impressed with my first experience here. I’m definitely going back again :)
Duy V.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Fairfax, VA
Came here on a Sunday afternoon about 15 minutes after opening the the place was hopping. This was my first time to roll play and they have someone helping customers order on the kiosk. Later I also saw there is a portable one which is friendly for families or people with small children. My lady and I took a while on the kiosk to see what combination or food and price point was right. Let me say I am Vietnamese and this place and food is very friendly to the Tyson’s crowd of multicultural population. It isn’t by any means super authentic but its more of inspired by Vietnamese cooking. This doesn’t make it bad it’s just not the same. So if that’s what you want don’t expect it here. I got the bowl which is supposed to be like a bun(vermicelli) dish with definitely a lot more variety with pork. And my lady got a banh mi with steak and a young coconut. The banh mi was good and I can understand why it cost 8 bucks with the fresh ingredients and amount of beef. I wasn’t a huge fan of it but my lady called it the best banh mi she’s had. She was not a fan of her young coconut because she said it wasn’t young enough that she could eat the meat inside. She told me definitely not worth the $ 5. I enjoyed my bowl. I wish I had more noodles because it would be the only thing to fill me up. The mango was a nice touch and the pork was fatty and yummy. If there is one suggestion I could make it would be to change one name on the menu. Typically this dish is servers with nuoc mum but it isn’t on the menu as that name. It is under the name Vietnamese vinaigrette and I was like wtf is that. At least put it in parentheses so people can be exposed to the culture more. In closing, I probably wouldn’t spend that much on Vietnamese food but it’s location and quality of ingredients makes the price understandable. Also we left not quite full so my Vietnamese mother would be appalled. So I would go if people invited me but I wouldn’t seek it out on my own.
Junella T.
Rating des Ortes: 5 沖縄県, Japan
It’s not as authentic as I would like but their food is still delicious. It’s good for a fast lunch or dinner. The portions are generous and I always order too much food. The space is small so when you come during busy times you have to wait or share a table which is always interesting. Their viet coffee is strong but on the sweeter side. I like the limeade a lot as well. Their summer rolls are HUGE. I still like the traditional style better but theirs is def unique and worth checking out.
Van D.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Chantilly, VA
Five stars for a hip atmosphere and friendly staff. I love how even though it’s a self order kiosk, someone still greeted me with a smile and a welcome. Can’t complain about that! I like that this place is introducing more people to Vietnamese cuisine. I do encourage Unilocalers to try restaurants in Eden Center for a more authentic feel after this though(and frankly cheaper… almost $ 10 for spring rolls?! Blasphemy) This is a more Americanized fast food version of Vietnamese food, but still delicious nonetheless. Super filling and perfect for lunch on a work day!
Peter V.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Tysons, VA
TL;DR: You have to get the magum rolls at a place called«roll» play. Also must add the egg to your banh mi and the mango topping adds surprising flavor. We are excited to see another new food establishment in the Tysons area that’s not American(albeit more fusion, but pretty good flavors nonetheless)! We’ve been here 4 times in a month ever since we first visited. It is THAT good, people! The area right outside Roll Play has very limited parking. Roll Play itself only has one parking spot at the front. Dont worry, there’s free parking in the garage. On weekdays, you will need a token to exit the gate. You can get that from the register. On weekends, the gates are always open. Upon entering, walk to the front of the place right underneath the menu. There’s three computers for you to enter your custom order. The system itself is pretty intuitive. You can pretty much customize every single ingredient in the food. Good for people with diet restrictions! After you order, you can choose to pay with credit card or cash. If paying cash, you will pay at the register. Then wait for your number to be called and viola, you get food. So far we’ve tried their magnum-rolls with peanut sauce and Thai Chilli sauce, their eggs-rated banh mi, customized banh mi, fully loaded vermicelli bowl, Vietnamese coffee, and mint basil limeade. Yes… pretty much everything except the Phở. We love their well seasoned meat in each item(consisting of chicken, pork belly, and beef) and the toppings match so well! They really do stuff the crap out of their rolls, which are the size of a small burrito. Not complaining here! They use Café Du Monde for their coffee, the orange can brand, you know what I’m talking about if you’ve been to traditional Vietnamese place in Eden Center. One word — strong! Their limeade is the only disappointed item on the menu. It is way too sweet. Tone it down a little and you’ll have a refreshing drink for the summer. Overall, we really like this place, albeit it’s on the more expensive side. You can order ahead online for pick up. Super convenient for offices in the area. Friendly staff. Definitely worth trying when you’re sick of the food in the mall.
John K.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Chantilly, VA
My overall verdict is that this place is just ok. I’m giving three stars because the overall«experience» was not that great. I tried the beef phở and shared some spring rolls with my friend. I also ordered a banh mi sandwich to go and eat later. You place your order on an electronic kiosk which was a breeze and rather efficient. The phở was decent, but portion was pretty disappointing. Plus, it was served in a deep cup which made it difficult to eat. All the sides like basil, bean sprouts, etc. were all stuffed in a paper bag. The spring rolls were almost cold and and the outside was dark from overcooking. Convenient location considering where I work, but the private lot hardly has any spaces and the only other option is an adjoining parking garage which costs $ 3. Inside décor is industrial and the lighting is interesting. That said, it’s pretty cramped inside. It’s a rather narrow space and there are bar stools and tables that are stacked pretty close together. I kept bumping into the person sitting behind me which I’m sure was rather annoying. Oh, the banh mi sandwich? It was the highlight of everything I’d tried. The overall value just wasn’t there for me. $ 8.95 + tax for phở served in a deep cup just doesn’t cut it. Plenty of phở places in NoVA that offer better value.
Christopher G.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Fairfax, VA
Truth be told, I only started eating phở and banh mi about a year ago. I never really liked it up until that point. Whenever I would go to phở restaurants with family or friends, I would always get rice plates. Now that I actually eat phở and banh mi, it’s great to have a place that where you can build your own meal. Roll Play Grill allows you to create your own phở, banh mi, bowl, and/or spring rolls. It’s a great concept! The first time I tried this place out, I ordered a banh mi, some toppings(I forget which ones), and the roasted pork. It was so delicious that I wanted to get another one right after I devoured my first. I resisted, however. The second time I got pretty much the same thing: roasted pork banh mi with the toppings of my choosing. Only thing time, I sprang for the extra lemongrass beef for $ 2. It was fantastic. The pork and beef were so juicy(and delicious!) that the moistened bread broke, spilling the toppings. This place is great. If only the seating situation was better, then I’d probably give them 5 stars. This place is pretty small, so I would suggest ordering your food to-go just in case you can’t find a place to sit.
Will C.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Washington, DC
I am a fan of Roll Play, but I will say with only some of the items on their menu. To preface don’t expect to eat authentic Vietnamese cuisine here, it’s more on the fusion twist to it. At first I had a difficult time finding this restaurant, Google maps led me to the top of the building(by PNC and Gold’s Gym). After driving around a bit I discovered it was right across Capital Grille, in the same shopping plaza as Peet’s Coffee. There is parking right in front of the spot(very limited) but there is also garage parking. Upon walking in a very courteous staff member showed us how to order using the touch screen kiosks. There are 4 main items on the menu which are the vermicelli bowl, banh mi, rolls and phở. My group tried every single thing on the menu. Every entrée is customizable so perfect for all the picky eaters out there. I opted for the beef phở but honestly I would advise everyone to skip this item. Taste wise this was decent, not as fragrant as the phở you would expect at establishments like Phở 75. The portion size was also small and pricey compared to the standard phở places. One of the small issue I had was with the container they provide the phở in. Imagine eating phở in a medium size fountain cup, it’s deep and you will have a difficult time eating it once you’re approximately 50% done. Now with that being said, my favorite was the banh mi. The ingredients were very fresh and unique since it has an egg in it. The rolls were also very good. The vermicelli bowl was also very fresh, but once again the person eating this dish commented about the difficulty to mix the ingredients in the relatively small container. Seating can be a bit cramped and limited; you will most likely be sharing tables with other patrons. The ambiance of this place is hip– EDM is playing through the speakers. Overall I would highly recommend this place to everyone. The food is fresh and unique. If it’s your first time there I would recommend trying the rolls and the banh mi. Those two items stood out to me and I am definitely going to come back and order those items with different meat. Great addition to the Tysons Corner area.
Alexis K.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Washington, DC
My mom, brother, Will C., and I stopped by Roll Play yesterday afternoon for a late lunch. I’ve heard countless good things about Roll Play, and that played into my initial skepticism. But… I have to say that I’m impressed. I’m certain that I’ll be back again and again for Roll Play’s take on healthy, fresh, and fast Vietnamese food. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by a really sweet staff member who kindly showed our party how to use their automated ordering system, which is super easy to navigate and allows you to customize your order just the way you like it. Our party of four ordered just about every main entrée on their menu. My mom had their vermicelli bowl, my brother and I both had the banh mi, Will C had some beef phở, and we also decided to order their rolls(3 pcs per order) too. When ordering your main entrees, you also get the option of ordering sides with your entrée(mini egg rolls, papaya salad, or a mini phở). I tried a little bit of everything; the banh mi and rolls stood out to me most. When ordering, you get the option of going with their signature choice or DIY-ing. I’m lazy and not particularly picky with my fillings, so we pretty much ordered everything off their signature menu. The rolls were huge and came with vermicelli noodles, your choice of meet(pork, beef, chicken, shrimp, or tofu) with a lot of pickled veggies, cucumber, mint, lettuce, cilantro, mango, sauteed scallions, crispy roll, and your choice or sauce. Avocado is extra! The bowl comes with similar options minus the rice paper wrap. The banh mi comes on a flaky French baguette with your choice of meat. My brother and I both had the lemongrass beef and enjoyed it. The meat was perfectly pink, flavorful, and tender. The banh mi was generously stuffed with all the veggies and an over-medium egg(yasss). I am no phở connoisseur, but my boyfriend found the phở to be acceptable though difficult to eat because of the oddly shaped container they put it in. My mom also felt like the bowl was good, but difficult to mix because of the narrow shape of the container it was in. From my experience, I say go for the rolls and banh mi, skip the phở and bowl options. The food at Roll Play isn’t quite as ‘authentic’ as what you’d find in the Eden Center, and you shouldn’t expect that going into the establishment since Roll Play’s entire concept is all about that modern, fast-casual Vietnamese food. I know I’ll definitely be back for moar!
Amber G.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Arlington, VA
I’ve been so excited to try Roll Play and wasn’t necessarily let down, but wasn’t awed either. It’s a fast-casual restaurant located in a small strip mall right off of Tyson’s Shopping Mall. Overall, the Vietnamese-fusion options are good and it’s a good addition to the other grab-and-go lunch options in and around Tyson’s(plus it’s so nice to be able to get Vietnamese food without having to drive/park in the shithole that is the Eden Center parking lot). Service: Given that it’s fast-casual, there’s no waiters or formal service. You order at a touchscreen located in the front of the store. However, having no human interaction makes for an interesting ordering experience since you can’t really ask questions about the items and the pricing scheme isn’t always evident from just touching the options you want to add on the screen. You get a number on your receipt and your food is called out when it’s ready. It’s assembled on the spot, which is good since it accounts for peace of mind that your food is pretty fresh… But also annoying because the food was a little slow to come out. I can only imagine what it’s like during peak lunch hours or on weekends. Food: I got the fresh rolls with lemongrass chicken and pork belly(definitely recommend adding in pork belly!). The rolls are gigantic. It’s really a huge portion for lunch and I was only able to finish 2 of the 3. They were good, though, and the meat was pretty flavorful. I also loved that they added a crunch to the rolls with a crisped up spring roll wrapper inside. And there was a ton of fresh veggies/slivers of mango. You get your choice of sauces to dip your fresh rolls in too… but I’d recommend grabbing a spoon to spoon your sauces on so that all your ingredients arent constantly falling out into the sauce! The noodle bowls looked good but overstuffed with ingredients making it hard to mix up. I also thought the prices were a little on the high end. My fresh rolls(with pork belly added) and a bottle of water came out to $ 15. [[Btw, dont bother buying a bottle of the Fiji water… I noticed right after I did that there was a big jug of water with limes in it on a tap near the soda fountain.]]
Anne C.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Washington, DC
Excited is an understatement. Finally, there’s a legitimate vietnamese spot in Tysons! No more having to go to Eden Center/Falls Church! Better yet — everything tastes better too and the ingredients are fresh and you leave feeling like you had something healthy(sometimes when I leave other banh mi/phở restaurants, I feel like and I probably did — have 3 days worth of sodium and mystery meat). This is traditional vietnamese, with a modern twist! I love that when you come in, you can clearly see the menu and then order on the touch screens! I basically ordered half the menu — I was hungry! Some of my favorites: The pork belly banh mi(well, pork belly on anything), the summer rolls and their bowls! I think with a banh mi, one of the most important aspects is the bread. That perfect crunch meshes perfectly with the crisp vegetables and the savory pork belly. I also LOVEd the pork belly in a bowl — if you are thinking you want to go no carb — get all that meat without the vermicelli noodles on a pile of veggies and you are golden(fish sauce as dressing YUM)! I also tried the summer rolls — I tried chicken and shrimp — FYI they are GINORMOUS! like two baby burrito sizes lol. Both were more flavorful than I expected(i am SO biased to the pork belly, shoot me!!) and healthier too! my favorite part? the FRESHCOCONUTS!!! coconut waterrrr! i am so annoying — i asked the sweet awesome workers who were so patient with me to chop open the coconut in half so I can get to the best part — the meat! If I worked in Tysons, I“d probably come here everyday for a healthy salad or sandwich. I still need to come back for the Phở and everything else + side of pork belly, of course!
Karen C.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Washington, DC
I would give them more of a 3.5 star but not a 4 yet. The food here is good, place is clean but small and the guy that was cleaning up the place, refilling stuff and walking around was really nice and friendly but I spent almost $ 40 between myself and my daughter. We ordered a banh-mi, a noodle bowl, a limeade, an iced coffee and a side of phở… all that came to $ 37! Needless to say, I thought it was a bit pricey compared to ordering the same items at another Vietnamese establishment. In the end, I felt that I paid for the food and to eat at this trendy establishment. Most likely I won’t ever go back as I can get the same thing for a fraction of that price.
Angela K.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Ashburn, VA
I stopped in during my lunch break(take out) and I was in and out within 15 – 20 min at most. I do wish however they had more of an area for people to wait for their orders. I liked that you go up and order from the computer. It gives me the ability to look at everything and see all my options. I get really indecisive sometimes(esp when it comes to trying new places bc I want to try EVERYTHING), so this system made my decision-making a lot easier. I got the Steak Vermicelli(salad version), Papaya Salad, and Viet Coffee. The Viet coffee was super strong, and I struggled to finish it. The Papaya Salad was decent, crunchy, and fresh. It comes with grilled shrimp which went really well with the papaya. I just wish that maybe the dressing had a little more seasoning in it or something. I definitely plan to go again.
Hannah B.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Springfield, VA
So, my co-worker found out about Roll Play today and decided to head out during lunch break to pick up some Bahn mi & vermicelli bowl. I asked for lemongrass beef Bahn mi for a friend and grilled chicken bowl with sweet chili sauce on the side. My co-worker got those mini egg rolls, pork Bahn mi & side order of phở. After trying the dishes, we made the conclusion that it’s very flavorful, they use fresh vegetables & other ingredients but we just want little more meat to the dishes. Well, over all we decided the flavor is very good and would we go back again?! We shall see but if you ever crave fresh made Bahn mi or bowl & you are in Vienna(Rt7/Leesburg Pike) area, stop by Roll Play and give it a try…
Aubriel R.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Richmond, VA
Sheetz + Maketto + Four Sisters Vietnamese Grill had a baby and they named it Roll Play. Roll Play inherited Sheetz’s techy, order on your own kiosks; Maketto’s cool factor with an exposed kitchen and chic interior design; and Four Sisters’ fresh and delicious menu items. Hospitality and delicious Vietnamese food typically do not come in the same sentence, but Roll Play is an exception. This place is just plain old fun. You feel like you’re a part of something ultra trendy when you’re here. Perhaps it’s the attention to detail here: the cute to-go bags, the complimentary lime infused water, the easy to follow UX and clean graphic design of the kiosks. The user experience of the kiosks is helpful, especially for someone who is unfamiliar with Vietnamese food. All entrees have a pre-set option with recommended ingredients for optimal deliciousness or you can make your own. Afterwards They ask if you want side items, sauces, beverages, etc. Side note: Calling fishy nuoc mam«Vietnamese Vinegarette?» nice touch!
Annie K.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Fairfax, VA
I absolutely love the concept of Roll Play. They offer customized banh mi, mini egg rolls(pork or veggie) rice paper rolls, phở, and noodle bowls. They have Vietnamese coffee and REAL fresh coconut as well. Everything is ordered on a computer screen and you can either customize your order or choose their signature items(plus adding and modifying what you’d like in it) and you receive a receipt with a number which is called out when your order is ready to be picked up. They offer dine-in(there are a few seats) and takeout. I LOVE their Eggs-rated banh mi – one of the best banh mi sandwiches that I’ve ever tasted. The bread is perfectly crisp, the quality of the meat is succulent, and the sriracha mayo gives it a great kick. The prices are higher for Vietnamese food compared to Eden Center and the establishments off 50, but you have to consider the location and the originality of the restaurant. The service is friendly and everybody is always happy to help you. They also serve Puck’s sodas here which is another plus!
Tina V.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Springfield, VA
Imma let you finish but. Eden has the best Vietnamese food. Let me break it down for you, some things I didn’t like about the place: Cramped, mediocre food, unorganized, and expensive. Parking situation: Every single level in the garage was packed. Structure: I like idea of placing your own order on a touch screen and then paying for it at another station with a cashier, but Roll Play was way too unorganized to make it work. As a first time comer to Roll Play, I didn’t know what to do or where to begin. I stood in the wrong line thinking this was a «normal-order-at-the-cashier-place». Maybe some signs on where to begin or people to guide us would be nice. The restaurant is very small with limited seating, reminded me of dining in DC. If I really had a personal bubble, it would have been popped the very moment I walked through the door. Food: I don’t remember the exact prices, but this was a pricey meal that wasn’t worth my money. I order my own customized Banh mi for I believe $ 8.50. My boyfriend got Phở(10) size of a large yogurt cup at a yogurt franchise, Vietnamese coffee, and the Spring rolls(5). The Banh mi is 5/10, phở was 3/10, Coffee was 3/10, and Spring rolls 6⁄10. Banh mi was okay, I was hoping for pâté in it, but I should have remembered that this is not an authentic Viet place. Phở broth was disappointing no aroma of beef at all and noodles were overcooked, Coffee was way too sweet with too much condensed milk, and Spring roll was the best part of the meal. I liked the crispy egg roll skin that was inside the Spring roll, very nice touch. I know the gimmick behind this place is «Vietnamese fast food», but I’d rather drive ten more minutes down the road for faster, better quality, authentic, and good priced food at Eden.
Albert L.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Sterling, VA
After visiting again today and meeting Boaz, I’ve got to bump up the rating not just for the personable service but also for the actual, tangible improvements in fulfillment times that translate directly to the customer experience. Ordered an «Eggs-rated» banh mi with grilled pork + jalapeño + sriracha mayo as my selections, and it came out in just several minutes, perfectly wrapped up and ready to go. The bread is that perfect combination flaky-crusty on the exterior and soft and chewy in the middle, giving a platform for the filling ingredients to shine. The grilled pork mates up well with the sriracha mayo and jalapeño for some kick, and you just want to keep going to town with this sandwich. It’s great to see that Roll Play is using actual stats and data collected from their ordering system to improve their quality and customer experience — this is a rare thing in most fast-casual dining places, but it goes a long way to making everything just come together.
Vicky N.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Falls Church, VA
Roll Play provides a modern twist to traditional Vietnamese cuisine; a unique and exciting addition to the area! The restaurant is small and located down the street from Tysons Corner Mall. Orders are placed by customers via touch screens and there are 3 available kiosks. The touch screens provide a modernized, step-by-step method of ordering and are super easy to use. The restaurant features an artsy mural, funky lights, and cute little bicycles. The decorations showcase the most common form of transportation in Vietnam — bikes and mopeds! Spring Rolls, Vermicelli Bowls, Banh Mi, and Phở make up the main dishes at Roll Play. They are made to order and can be customized based on their ingredients — an awesome feature! Customers can also add side dishes including Phở($ 4.50), Mini Egg Rolls($ 4.50), and Papaya Salad($ 5.85). Special drinks include Vietnamese Iced Coffee($ 5), Young Coconut($ 5), and Limeade($ 4). Eggs-Rated Banh Mi($ 9.85) — The banh mi came in a French baguette with a fried egg, cilantro, and traditional pickled veggies. Protein choices included five-spice chicken, lemongrass beef, grilled pork belly, garlic shrimp, and honey glazed tofu. Spreads included Vietnamese mayo and Sriracha mayo. I had the lemongrass beef with Vietnamese mayo and it was delicious! The beef was very well-seasoned and tender. While I wish my baguette was more toasted, the overall banh mi was well-executed and tasty. Custom Spring Rolls($ 12.45) — The highlight of my meal! I customized my rolls with veggies, crispy rolls, garlic shrimp, grilled pork belly, and a side of peanut sauce. Topping choices included cucumber, lettuce, pickled veggies, bell peppers, mango, jalapeño, and more! Premium choices included crispy rolls, scrambled eggs, and avocado($ 1 each). The spring rolls were ridiculously good! Super fresh, tasty, and PACKED with flavor. The crispy rolls were also a great addition, with an added texture that you don’t normally get in traditional spring rolls. Highly recommend! Mini Egg Rolls($ 4.50) and Limeade($ 4) — The veggie rolls came out piping hot in a cup of 6. The rolls had a strong peppery taste and were very crispy. The sweet chili sauce paired nicely. The limeade was also well-balanced between being tangy and sweet — a refreshing drink. Overall I was extremely satisfied(and stuffed!) following my meal. While the prices here are higher in comparison to other Vietnamese restaurants in the area, I do believe their unique concept and fresh ingredients make it worthwhile. Plus, similar to what you’d find at Chasin’ Tails, the service here is unbeatable! Roll Play did an excellent job of representing traditional Vietnamese cuisine and I look forward to visiting again very soon!
Victoria L.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Chantilly, VA
Classic vietnamese food with a twist. I knew about this place last year when they were at the Unilocal Event promoting Chasin Tails, Teas Me and Rollplay(all same owners) so I’ve been waiting for it! You walk in and theres 3 touchscreen computers where you order and customize to your liking. Options such as Phở, Noodle Bowl, Banh Mi or Spring Rolls. Tons of different toppings to choose from and proteins such as 5 spice chicken, pork belly, lemongrass beef or shrimp. Like everyone else said, its like a Chipotle or 5 guys. Very smart idea! I ordered the vermicelli noodles with chicken and pork belly with Nuoc Mam(mix of fish sauce) aka they call it «vietnamese vinaigrette». The chicken was flavorful as well as the pork belly(you can’t go wrong with pork belly) and they also put a generous noodle to meat ratio. The only thing I didn’t like is that the fish sauce is way too sweet, it needs to be a more tangy or a bit more fish sauce and not as much sugar. I literally drink Nuoc Mam when I get it in a dish and this one is just too sweet for me. Mini egg rolls were perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. If you like coconut, you will love that they have fresh coconut here! I could sit here and drink/eat it all day if I could. I will be sure to be back to try the phở and banh mi. This place is affordable and great for a quick lunch/dinner! Viet food is the best! Not saying that because I’m Viet or anything :)
Oliver C.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Gaithersburg, MD
From the creators of Chasin’ Tails comes Roll Play Vietnamese Grill. Even though this restaurant is still in its soft opening stage, they appear to be off to a good start. I can’t say anything bad about this place. They have three kiosks where you can place orders, lessening the possibility of a mix-up. This provides the liberty to add and subtract what you want. Tonight, I ordered the Banh Mi, which is a Vietnamese subway sandwich. Mine was with grass fed beef and chicken, with Vietnamese mayonnaise, mango, and fried egg(I left off the jalapeño). Next time I order a Banh Mi I will get it with shrimp, supposedly like a poboy in New Orleans(I’ve never been there). I also ordered some egg rolls, and got a free Vietnamese iced coffee with my Unilocal check-in. That coffee was the BOMB! It is very sweet, due to Café du Monde French-pressed, chicory-laced coffee, blended with sweet condensed milk. They recommend adding ice to lessen the sweetness. Oh, I will also order fresh coconut next time. So many options. I came around 7:30 on a Monday night, however this location seems geared towards a lunchtime crowd. If you are going to drive, they offer parking in the garage, although tonight when I came, the levers were up. It is normally supposed to be $ 3, but the stores offer a token which will make it complimentary. There’s handicapped parking on level P1. Having an office party or short notice get together? Call 844-CRAW-DAD and they will bring the Bayou to you!