Roll Play, a Vietnamese street food chain, advertises itself as “Viet food that loves you too,” emphasizing avocado oil over seed oils and healthier food options, like low-carb Shirataki noodles, for those watching their diet. After dining in their Falls Church location, we discovered that everything about this restaurant is designed to make customers feel good. To start, the store stays open until 1AM, so any late-night snackers can enjoy its tasty food. Despite the impressive quality of its dishes, Roll Play could almost be described as a fast food joint given how quick their service is. After ordering food at screens in a non-stressful fashion, dishes are brought out to customers within minutes. There is also a fresh jug of water on the side so customers can drink without having to ask or wait for water. The only challenging part of dining here is that there is extremely limited seating in the small space. However, for those able to obtain a table, there is also outdoor seating that is excellent for a meal on warmer days.
Avocado Oil Vegetarian Egg Rolls: 4.5/5 stars
Our first taste of what this restaurant had to offer was the vegetarian egg rolls, and they did not disappoint. Fried to crispy perfection, the first bite had our mouths watering for more with its satisfying crunch and flaky texture. Inside, the blend of carrots, taro, onion, and shallots added a cool contrast to the fried wrapping, while still maintaining the tasty crunchiness. We could have eaten the entire roll on its own, but the sweet chili sauce definitely added to the dish with its savory and spicy flavors.
Beef Steak Pho: 3.5/5 stars
For how quickly my pho arrived, I was shocked at the quality. I could immediately smell the spices I had added to the order, and their taste was even better, adding the perfect kick and flavor to the bowl. The beef was soft and so plentiful that I began to wonder if I would ever eat all of it. My one mistake was substituting for the low-carb noodles, which were tougher in consistency than I was expecting and didn’t absorb the broth as well. However, for their relatively low net carbs, they were still delicious, and I would expect the regular version to be even better. The other issue bringing down my rating of the pho is the amount of oil that was in the broth. I was nervous to spill any on my clothes or get it on my face because it was so greasy, and I could taste that in the soup. The dish still earned a high rating though because the spice overpowered the grease for my taste buds, and I was very satisfied with my meal.
Power Bowl: 5/5 stars
For anyone growing tired of Chipotle and Cava bowls, McDouble meals or personal pizzas, Roll Play has the best fast-casual meal that will keep you full for a long time and at a reasonable price. The protein bowl, which comes with a choice of meat/tofu (I got lemongrass chicken) as well as a fried egg, was a colorful melting pot of flavors and food groups that combined warm components, like the garlic rice, egg, chicken and sauteed vegetables, with cooler elements like fresh avocado and pickled medley. The rice was buttery, soft and flavorful, and complemented each bite well, essentially cushioning each new flavor with a familiar garlic taste. The chicken was also extremely flavorful and full, and was paired well with the sweet chili sauce I drizzled over my bowl, though customers are offered a wide variety of sauce options including peanut sauce, vietnamese vinaigrette, and cilantro jalapeno aioli among others. This bowl is perfect to follow a long day at school, hard workout, or for any occasion worth celebrating with feel-good food.