🌳 Virginia’s Finest Flavor: I-95 Food Stops
🌳 Virginia’s Finest Flavor: I-95 Food Stops
Welcome to the Virginia segment of your I-95 culinary journey!
As you traverse the Old Dominion State, winding through the Tidewater region (near Richmond), the historic heart of Fredericksburg, and the edge of the bustling Northern Virginia corridor, you’ll find a wealth of authentic Southern cuisine, Virginia BBQ, and unique local specialties that make for perfect SoFloDining Approved pit stops. We believe that road trip meals should be a chance to slow down, enjoy local flavor, and savor the state’s distinct character.
Our recommendations in this section focus on dining experiences in and around the Richmond and Petersburg areas, which offer convenient interstate access, as well as unique local joints along the rest of the I-95 corridor through Virginia, particularly near Fredericksburg and the southern border. These are the places that serve food that is good, clean, and fair, offering a true taste of Virginia hospitality.
Welcome to the Virginia segment of your I-95 culinary journey!
As you traverse the Old Dominion State, winding through the Tidewater region (near Richmond), the historic heart of Fredericksburg, and the edge of the bustling Northern Virginia corridor, you’ll find a wealth of authentic Southern cuisine, Virginia BBQ, and unique local specialties that make for perfect SoFloDining Approved pit stops. We believe that road trip meals should be a chance to slow down, enjoy local flavor, and savor the state’s distinct character.
Our recommendations in this section focus on dining experiences in and around the Richmond and Petersburg areas, which offer convenient interstate access, as well as unique local joints along the rest of the I-95 corridor through Virginia, particularly near Fredericksburg and the southern border. These are the places that serve food that is good, clean, and fair, offering a true taste of Virginia hospitality.
Bubba’s 33 – 1725 DeBaun Avenue, Chesapeake, VA: yeah, it’s a franchise-we don’t usually do chains-But the California chicken was juicy, the shotgun shrimp po’boy was perfect, and now we can’t wait to try that Bubba Burger everyone raves about. Definitely going back. www.bubbas33.com
Decoy’s – 3305 Ferry Road, Suffolk, VA: hushpuppies, Old Bay shrimp, crab-corn chowder – all insane quality. Then the plates – me with the fried ESVA shrimp basket, Doris with blackened salmon and shrimp on risotto with béarnaise. Portions so huge we took half home. Diamond in the rough – locals are spoiled. www.decoysva.com
El Ranchero – 921 West Atlantic St., Emporia, VA: probably the most authentic Mexican we’ve hit on the whole I-95 run. They just moved down the street from their old spot in the Quality Inn-new digs, same killer tacos, same hand-pressed tortillas. www.elrancheroemporia.com
New York Kabob House – 537 Warrington Drive, Fredericksburg, VA: looks like an Italian joint-red awning, checkered curtains-but walk in, hit that hummus, and suddenly you’re inhaling Persian herbs and smoky rice. Doris and I blinked, then booked a return trip before the bill even hit the table. www.newyorkkabob.com
Little Italy – 10404 Blue Star Highway, Stony Creek, VA: one of those places you drive past without slowing, but man, the chicken quesadilla appetizer was crisp, the penne shrimp a la Sambuca burst with anise and cream, and the scampi-bright lemon, garlic, white wine-this is what people mean when they say hidden gem. www.littleitalyva.com
Don Pepe Mexican – 2102 West Hundred Road, Chester, VA: one-room cantina, the front-desk clerk from our hotel flagged us right over-he said, ‘Trust me, go there’. And we did-shrimp quesadilla, chicken-beef quesadilla, flan sliding in its caramel pool, Modelo and sangria sweating on the table. www.donpepemexican.com