Virginia is packed with amazing restaurants that most travelers never hear about. From secret Italian spots tucked above Richmond streets to roadside pizza joints praised by National Geographic, the state hides incredible food in the most unexpected places. These 15 restaurants prove you don’t need fancy addresses or flashy signs to serve unforgettable meals that keep locals coming back for years.
1. Edo’s Squid – Richmond
Up a mystery stairwell near VCU campus, this place still operates like an exclusive dinner club where only the regulars know the password. Handwritten menus cover the walls, tables practically touch, and every dish arrives on plates big enough to share with your whole crew.
The fried squid earned its spot in the restaurant’s name for good reason. Crispy, tender, and piled high, it’s become the stuff of Richmond food legend. Mixed seafood spaghetti comes loaded with fresh catch, while the broccoli rabe with creamy ricotta offers a perfect vegetable break between bites of protein.
Tiramisu caps off the meal with layers of espresso-soaked ladyfingers that regulars say rivals anything in Italy. The whole experience feels like eating in someone’s very cramped, very delicious living room.
2. Lehja – Short Pump (Richmond area)
Don’t judge this book by its strip-mall cover. Tucked between chain stores in Short Pump, Lehja has racked up Forbes mentions and James Beard recognition that most downtown restaurants would envy. Chef Sunny Baweja’s modern Indian cooking has turned a suburban shopping center into a legitimate food destination…