2 MOCO Restaurants Named Great Affordable Dining By Post Food Critic

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Two Montgomery County eateries are on a list of great, affordable restaurants in the D.C. area shared recently by Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema.

"My response to restaurant prices going up, up and away is not to eat out less, but to vary my diet with bargains. They still exist; you just have to keep your eyes open," Sietsma said.

These Montgomery County venues were recommended:

Peter Chang Gaithersburg, 637 N. Frederick Ave.

"The small plates hover around $8 on average. Equally enticing, the list runs nearly 70 choices long. … The gems include tingling, “Chengdu spicy” sliced steamed chicken scattered with peanuts and scallions; “Mama’s” handmade wheat noodles, slick with chili oil; walnut shrimp tossed with mayonnaise and just the right amount of lemon and honey; and several larger platters."

El Chante Comedor y Fritanga Nica, 11265 Triangle Lane, Wheaton/Silver Spring

"When it comes to quantity, this Nicaraguan outpost … delivers. My eyes pop when my carne asada is dropped off. Flanking the grill-crisped beef are nubby rafts of warm fried cheese, tangy slaw, rice and beans, and curvy fingers of fried plantains.

"My strapping, $20 entree is the most expensive item on the menu and tastes of care as much as bitter oranges, garlic, oregano and mildly nutty annatto in the marinated flap steak. The rice is unusually delicious, too; the red beans in the mix are cooked a day ahead, then refried before serving, intensifying their flavor."

*The restaurant's website says it's located in Silver Spring; the Post story locates it in Wheaton.

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