The Best Restaurants in Short Pump
When Richmonders hear “Short Pump” they often think of chain restaurants and the mall. But in the past few years, Short Pump has had a boom of local restaurants and now, it’s become a bit of a foodie destination in its own right. If you find yourself in the West End of Richmond, here are a few places to check out!
The Daily Kitchen + Bar
The Daily is everything we love wrapped up in one: local, sustainable, organic, and inclusive. They partner with local farms – all of which they list on their website – to provide healthy, delicious food no matter your dietary restrictions. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and paleo foodies welcome! They also have a great brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays.
Cupertino’s Bagels
Every town needs an authentic New York deli, and Cupertino’s takes its role seriously! Owned by the grandson of Frank Cupertino, an Italian immigrant who operated his own bakery in Little Italy for half a century, there is nowhere better to go for a breakfast bagelwich or any fresh baked bread you’re craving.
Peter Chang
A name known well far beyond Richmond, and for good reason. Award-winning chef Peter Chang tucked a location of his eponymous restaurant right in Short Pump. whether you’re looking for the comforting Chinese takeout classics or want to be put into a food coma with our favorite golden mountain beef, Peter Chang has your dinner plans taken care of.
Tazza Kitchen
Wood-fired pizza, Mediterranean-style bowls, and street-style tacos have to be the trifecta of treat-yourself dishes, and you can find them all here! Tazza Kitchen has a few locations around Central Virginia (and have expanded to a few in the Carolinas as well!), with one at the heart of Short Pump. They have some great happy hour specials for both food and drinks. Just like The Daily, Tazza takes pride in their food, sourcing as many ingredients as possible through local farms and listing them all on their website.
Buttermilk & Honey
The king and queen of southern comfort food set up shop on West Broad – and Buttermilk and Honey tastes as good as it sounds. The husband and wife duo behind this fast casual restaurant make the best chicken sandwich in America, according to Restaurant Hospitality. Foodies can find great sandwiches (including gluten free sandwiches!), mac and cheese, fried green tomatoes and more at this quaint shop.
Wong’s Tacos
It’s date night. You want Mexican, but your significant other wants Chinese. Enter: Wong’s Tacos. This Mexinese fusion destination pulls the East and West together for food like no other! If you’re familiar with the former Wong Gonzalez, that was previously in the Arts District, this tasty restaurant is now located in the burbs. (They also have a location in Midlothian.)
YaYa’s Cookbook
YaYa’s knows that a sushi plate should be just as instagrammable as the location. Take a seat at the bar in an adorable hanging basket chair and order yourself some handcrafted cocktails and excellent Thai cuisine – we’d take a page out of YaYa’s Cookbook if we could!
Anokha
Looking for Indian cuisine like no other? Then set your sights across the street from Short Pump Town Center! Anokha touts its food as “unique,” and we agree – it’s the perfect blend of the flavors of India with seasonal ingredients and global cooking techniques. This menu has all the Indian dishes you’re looking for, from tikka masala to tandoori, along with an expansive bar and to-die-for kulfi (Indian ice cream) to boot.
Farm + Oak
Farm + Oak knows how to do elevated southern cuisine. Their brunch, lunch, and dinner lineups are stacked with comfort foods that have been taken up a notch – you won’t think of short rib or egg rolls the same after fighting over who gets the last short rib egg roll with your friends.
Mama Cucina
Sometimes, you can visit a restaurant and tell a lot of love goes into the food. That’s what it’s like to visit Mama Cucina. They hand-make their own sausage, tiramisu, and plenty more in between, making their Italian cuisine stand out amongst the crowd.
Lehja
Okay, we couldn’t keep our list to just one Indian restaurant. Lehja offers an upscale dining experience backed by more than a few local awards, and you can visit them for coconut curry scallops and cocktails for dinner or grab gulab jamun for brunch!
Chen’s Chinese Restaurant
Food so good, the chef couldn’t help using names like “four treasures,” “double happiness,” and “seafood delight.” You’ll have plenty to choose from; the menu of Chen’s Chinese Restaurant just keeps going (and that’s alright with us). Stop in for nostalgic classics like General Tso’s chicken – or if you’re having a night in, Chen’s will deliver to you! (P.S. They also have a location in Chester, so be sure you order from the right spot if you’re ordering takeout!)
The Wine Whisperer
Foodies are allowed to enjoy drinks, too! The Wine Whisperer is a boutique wine bar where you can find your next favorite rosé or split a few dishes of “nibbles” at the bistro. The menu rotates weekly, so you can keep coming back for new, seasonal selections whenever you want a bite with a perfect wine pairing.
